For the City Times

Winners of the fourth annual Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Writing, Art, and Photo contest have been announced, and works will be public displayed in downtown Stevens Point this December.

Winners in each category will be honored at an opening reception at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Portage County Public Library, 1001 Main St. in Stevens Point. The public is welcome to attend.

All contest entries will be on display through December in one of the library’s street-facing display windows.

“Once again, area writers, artists, and photographers have captured the essence of Schmeeckle Reserve,” said Jerry Lineberger, Friends of Schmeeckle board president. “Schmeeckle Reserve is a treasure in our community, and local citizens have expressed their love and appreciation of this resource in creative ways.”

The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve hosts the contest to raise awareness of the reserve and the friends group, which supports the natural area. Winning entries were submitted by:

· Photography: First place, Emily Steinhorst, Stevens Point. Second place, Alexis Brauner, Stevens Point. Third place, Angela King, Stevens Point. Honorable mentions, Michelle Herman and Ashley Wasmundt, Stevens Point; Bob Mosier, Plover; Dan Rozak, Plover; and Nick Bielski, Stevens Point.

· Writing: First place, Cristin Hopp, Verona. Second place, Kong Meng Vang, Stevens Point.

· Artwork: First place, Michael LeClair, Plover. Honorable mentions, Angelica Alger, Plover; and Krystyna Eiden, Stevens Point.

All winners will receive a certificate of recognition. First-place winners also will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Browse Shop, a gift shop in the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center that features natural and cultural gifts.

Contest submissions and winning entries are posted on the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve website. Visit www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle and then click on “Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve” and “Arts Contest.”

Schmeeckle Reserve is part of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Visitor Center is located at 2419 North Point Drive.