By Lucas Jagodzinski
100 Years Ago

Local farmers were encouraged to prepare samples for the 2nd Annual Local Potato Show. The show promised to provide considerable prizes for the winning potato submissions. The Annual Potato Show, which was part of the Portage County Potato Week, would also have the goal of gathering enough samples of quality potatoes to participate in the state potato competition in Milwaukee. Potato week activities for the year also included a competition to crown a “Potato Queen”.

The Stevens Point School Board asked for an additional $7,000 to add to its yearly operation budget for the next school year. The board reasoned that the money would be needed due to larger attendance, barracks and additional teachers. The total requested budget for the upcoming year came to $124,758.84. $600 of that budget request was to go to office expenses, $3,735 was set aside to pay supervisors and teachers amongst other listed expenses.

20 Years Ago

The Portage County Humane Society prepared to host its Annual Fur Ball fundraiser. The 2001 edition of the event would include complementary appetizers, a cash bar and live music. Hosted at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point, the event was free to enter and all proceeds from the raffled items went to benefit the Portage County Humane Society. Among the items raffled were a complete home computer system, two 50-yard line Packers tickets, a $400 diamond heart pendent, and $200 in travel vouchers. The event also hosted a special jewelry auction, a cash prize raffle and a silent auction. A drawing for a 19-inch color TV with a built in VCR was also a highlight of the event.

Remnants of an ancient Native American civilization were found in Amherst. While conducting an archeological dig, Steve Kuehn an archeologist with the Museum Archeology Program of the State Historical Society, confirmed earlier assumptions that the Oneota civilization had settled in the area. The dig, being supervised by the State Bureau of Environment, took place in advance of the expansion of Highway 10 to four loans between Stevens Point and Appleton. The Oneota, were estimated to have occupied the site in central Wisconsin from 1030 A.D. to 1300 A.D.

10 Years Ago

Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) senior Hailey Thompson won a National Championship in women’s singles canoe paddling.

Thompson, who had been invited by the French Canoe Federation to train with them in Europe, spent the summer training and competing in world class competitions in 10 different countries over a three-month period. “It was pretty awesome,” said Thompson. “I experienced so many cultural things that just blew my mind. I can’t even say how fortunate and how grateful I am for the experience.” Thompson then parlayed her experiences over the summer into winning a national championship in October of 2001.

Pacelli High School inducted its 11th Hall of Fame Class during a banquet at the Ramada Inn on October 8th of 2001. The inductees were Shaun Sullivan (Class of 1984), Lyndsey Gagas Vandenberg (Class of 2001) and Dave Wysocki as a special contributor. Also honored at the event were the Girls Cross Country Teams that won Wisconsin Independent School Athletic Association State Championships in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.