Wausau Daily Herald from Wausau, Wisconsin • Page A3

WAUSAU DAILY HERALD PAGE 3A local region The New Horizons spacecraft flew within 7 ,800 miles of Pluto. The distance was incorrect on page 1A of pa- per. Gannett Central Wis- onsin Media regrets the error. Correction Afederal jury will decide this week if a former Stettin town chairman violated a constitutional rights by removing him from two public board meetings. Roger Hoeppner brought a First Amendment lawsuit against the town and former Chairman Matthew Wasmundt, claiming Wasmundt was rying to silence his critical remarks by ordering him to leave the meetings in 2013.

The trial began Monday with Jeff Scott Olson, attorney, tell- i ng the eight-woman jury hat a long-simmering legal battle between his client and the town boiled over during a board meeting when Hoeppner and asmundt each called the ther a liar. oeppner became a regular speaker at board meetings after the town successfully sued him for a zoning violation involving abandoned vehicles his 22-acre property. The trial centers on remarks Hoeppner made during the public discuss ion part of board meetings. I a but tone on July 22, 2013, oeppner questioned the truthfulness of a statement Wasmundt had made, Olson said. Was- undt then questioned veracity and asmundt ultimately closed the discussion and told Hoeppner to leave or he would call the epartment and have him ejected.

oeppner left and returned to the next eeting on Aug. 12, 2013. asmundt again ordered him to leave after Hoeppner questioned whether Wasmundt had taken the oath of office and suggested that the town chairman mow grass, Olson said. Hoeppner mince words but other speakers were equally forceful and get cut Olson said. I his opening statement, attorney, Michael Roman, said Hoeppner was not the all- American type person Olson ortrayed him to be.

oeppner had supported asmundt when he ran against an incumbent town chairman, but felt betrayed when Wasmundt continued the zoning en- orcement action his redecessor began a gainst Hoeppner. evidence will show that Hoeppner like to be told what do, particularly when Wasmundt turned against Roman said. Hoeppner hurled when speaking to and about Was- undt and was silenced because he was disrupt ive, Roman said. cut off hen he became critical, but at some point it got to be too much and Was- mundt told him to leave he Roman told jurors. I jurors find Was- mundt violated First Amendment rights, they can award im damages for emotional harm.

DAILY HERALD MEDIA Roger Hoeppner sued town of Stettin officials, claiming they violated his First Amendment rights. Stettin free-speech case goes to trial KEVIN MURPHY FOR DAILY HERALD MEDIA Wausau chool District announced its two-year pro- ect to modernize their planetarium after receiving a from the Walter Alexander Foundation, Inc. Monday. According to a Wausau chool District media release, the 2015-16 modern- i zation plans include in- ernal changes: new hardware, software and an enhanced projection ystem. Structural plans during the 2016-17 school include a complete update and redesign of the planetarium into a modern, tilted dome theater.

lanetarium Director hris Janssen said in the release facility of this uality is a true testa- ent to dedication and support of the sci- nces in central The Planetarium is supported, maintained and upgraded by the Board of Education a nd Administration as a hallmark program, acc ording to the release. or more information, contact Janssen at 715261-0886. Raina Beutel can be reached at or 715-845-0658. Find her on Twitter as ARCHIVE Ren Gunning, 8, of Wausau, pushes his seat back to get comfortable for the Season of Light show at Wausau West High School planetarium. Wausau School istrict planetarium wins $230,000 grant RAINA BEUTEL DAILY HERALD MEDIA Bob Tesmer, aco-owner of the Arrow Sports Club bar and grill, died Sunday evening.

Tesmer, 61, was an active member of the local music scene. As an owner of Ar- row Sports Club, he rought local musicians and other talent to the club on weekends. This year, the bar was able to bring in bands including Led West, The Natural and others. The bar worked hard to bring live music to Weston every weekend, according to its Facebook page. esmer also brought a variety of other events to the Weston community through Arrow Sports everything from stock car races to game-day specials.

Tesmer was born in Wausau and graduated from Wausau West High School; he worked toward ontributing to the community through Arrow Sports and through music. He is survived by his brothers Bill and Brian Tesmer, as well as his children Logan LaPorte and Hunter Tessmer, and granddaughter Everly LaPorte. Tesmer, owner of Arrow Sports Club, dies at 61 ROBIN OPSAHL DAILY HERALD MEDIA Apole arn in the town of Corning that authorities said was in arly Sunday morningis atotal loss, according a spokesman for the Lin- oln County Department. irefighters respond ed to a report of a struc- ure fire at about 5:20 a.m.on Leafy Grove Road, about 6 miles west Merrill, according to a media release. The barn and two ve- icles were damaged in the fire.

injuries were rep orted. esponders were on scene for nearly four hours, Lincoln County ommunications officer Mike Caylor said Monday. he cause of the fire remains under investiga- ion. Raina Beutel an be reached at 715-845-0658. Find her on Twitter as Fire destroys Corning barn RAINA BEUTEL DAILY HERALD MEDIA Alaser tag enter- ainment center that would double as a haunted house attraction uring the Halloween season may come to Wausau by the fall of 2016.

According to a conditional- se request application filed with the city, the owners of Dim ension of Horrors LLC a local company that coordinates the haunted house in Rib Mountain every year want to bring a new business called Phantom Laser Tag to 640 S. Third near-west side. The entertainment facility would occupy the building formerly home to Hobby- and, a local arts and crafts store hat closed in 2013 after 50 years i business. According to the city records, the main level of the square-foot building would be devoted to laser tag for adults, while the lower level would be a kids laser tag arena which could also be used for birthday parties and other events. However, during the month of October, the ownstairs space would transform into a haunted house attraction.

are going see things that no other laser tag facility as ever owner Corey Huotari said. oughly 20 players could participate in one laser tag game, hich would employ special effects such as fog and audio to en- ance the experience. And unlike other facilities, Phantom Laser Tag would have military- style laser tag equipment and be tyled as an urban combat scenario, similar to the game play in he video game of Huotari said. Players would also be able to interact with the many rops and devices. you shoot at a window, you ill hear glass he explained.

Huotari said he envisions eventually bringing a haunted- ouse-themed laser tag game to hantom Laser Tag, where play- rs would be pitted against zombies, werewolves and other frightening monsters. would be very much a like aregular haunted house, but the only difference would be that you would have the option of having a gun to shoot the he explained. According to city records, he year-round lager tag facility would be open to the public on weekends, although extending the days of operation could also be a possibility down the road. hantom Laser Tag would also offer memberships, leagues and ournaments for those interested in frequenting the entertain- ent spot, Huotari said. However, the Dimension of orrors owners the only ones who want to bring a laser tag facility to the city.

There are also plans currently in the works hat would bring a family entertainment center, equipped with a laser tag arena, to riverfront. The center, called Wausau On Water also known as ould open as soon as this November. A nd nothing is set in stone. Phantom Laser Tag still needs approval from the city, and on Aug. 11, its conditional-use re- uest will be considered by the ommon Council, Huotari said.

I the approved and all goes smoothly, Huotari said he would like to begin renovating the former Hobbyland by the end of this August and open by next fall. For more information on Dimension of Horrors, go to dohorrors.com. Out Reporter Melanie Lawder can be reached at or 715-845-0607. Find her on Twitter MELANIE HERALD MEDIA Alaser tag operation may move into the facility formerly home to Hobbyland. LASER AG ACILITY MAY COME TO WAUSAU MELANIE LAWDER DAILY HERALD MEDIA.