By Taylor Hale
STEVENS POINT – Pacelli Junior Amelia Jacoby learned the ropes of local government during her two weeks interning at city hall in Stevens Point.

Jacoby worked alongside Mayor Mike Wiza, rubbing elbows with department leaders in an attempt to learn more about local government.

“We had to pick something to do for J-Term at Pacelli,” Jacoby explained. “My dad thought this would be a good opportunity for me to learn more about how city government works.”

Jacoby worked in the clerks and community development departments, while also contacting local businesses to assess their standing and future needs as they grow within the city.

“The school offered programs for cooking, or how to pay taxes, and some traveling trips to New York and Peru,” Jacoby said.

But the young learner had her sights set on her hometown.

“I think a lot more people should try something hands-on like this,” she said. “A lot of what we learn in school is about state and national government, we don’t really learn much about what happens locally.”

Wiza was thrilled to show his new intern how local government worked, and admitted it is not always fun and games.

“Sometimes what we do is boring, it’s work, that’s why it is called work,” Wiza said. “But I hope that she leaves learning something new.”

Jacoby’s internship ran until Jan. 14.