Stevens Point Journal du lieu suivant : Stevens Point, Wisconsin • Page 10

YOUR CONTACTS Email: Phone: 715-345-2052 Fax: 715-345-2069 STEVENSPOINTJOURNAL.COM NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 10A Editorial Board Mike Beck, General Manager Linda Taylor, Managing Editor Doug Wojcik, Photographer Jim Dowling, Terry Arnold and Jim Stokes, citizen members OUR VIEW Dozens of local businesses, all connected hen we began work on the first cial were "Made section in amazed Central last by the year, we Wisconsin" breadth quickly and spevariety of products and businesses that are thriving here. It's the sort of thing that you know without really thinking about it: There are a lot of businesses here, including some that have found a surprising or unique niche. But when you really start to dig into the details of how, for example, Marshfield's The Hearing House connects its customers with the newest, most advanced computer for enhancing hearing, you can't help but be struck by the unique and fascinating ways people make their livings here in central Wisconsin. With the print edition of today's paper, we've included a new special section, "Connections: Made in Central Wisconsin." This publication continues our project of fanning out across the region in search of all the fascinating stuff that here. comes from I CONNECTIONS! we've put a speThis year MADE IN cial emphasis on the dependence inter- CENTRAL of the economy.

region's WISCONSIN It's really true: A strong local economy depends upon a strong local economy. There is a web of connections and self-reinforcing symbiotic relationships among many of our local businesses. You can play "six degrees of separation" among local businesses, and it doesn't take long to realize how connected we all really are. Employees at manufacturers like the Domtar paper mill in Rothschild or Rib Mountain's TC Teardrops, which makes trailers, will take their wages and head to Townline Market in Wausau or Cafe 27 in Stevens Point. The engineers at REI Engineering in Wausau design bridges, while construction companies like Wausau's County Materials Corp.

supply the concrete to build them. We've featured dozens of local businesses, and tried to find some of the connections among them, from manufacturers, service companies and retail outlets. We can barely scratch the surface here of all the businesses that are featured in this year's "Connections Made in Central Wisconsin" special section. But because we can't resist, here's a taste from another fascinating feature within the section, a long list featuring when some popular local retailers and other businesses opened. Did you know Delta Dental was founded in 1962? Did you know that the Stevens Point Brewery has been at work since 1857? A few more: Marathon Savings Back was founded in 1902.

Grebe's has been around since 1946. Mall Furniture started in 1974, and Rib Mountain Cycles opened its doors in 1996. We think you'll enjoy learning more about the history, the connections and the products made here in our own backyards. Some will be familiar but we bet there are more than a few businesses featured here that you didn't even know about, that you're connected to whether you know it or not. We always hear that "America needs to make things again." These companies forgot the "again" part they've been making things all along.

SHARE YOUR VIEW Open Letters must be signed and include the writer's name, address and a phone number where the writer can be reached during the day for confirmation. Limit is 350 words; Open Letters may be published every two weeks. Submission deadline for election-related letters is one week before that election. Open Letters will be edited for accuracy and will be condensed for clarity or brevity. Open Letters, Guest Views and columns submitted to the Journal may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.

To submit materials, send via mail to Stevens Point Journal, 1200 Third Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481; email to stevenspointjournal.com; or fax to 715-345-2069. BECAUSE WEVE HAD COMP TO PAY SOME TAXES, EXIT WE'VE HAD TO LETPEOPLE GO! NEN A COPP IL AND GET NEW ACCOUNTANTS WHO WILL FIND LOOPHOLES SO WE WON'T PAY ANY school board meeting. Watch the exchange between former Stevens Point Area Education OPEN LETTERS event Sept. Memorial 11, 2011, at Presbyterian Frame the friends Muslim from faith, Baha'i to faith our I together recognized was far worshiping more shows God Church. A community, who shared a reading important than thinking inter-religious, (not inter- from their founder given I as a Christian had the hears all faiths Christian) commemora- in 1912, to a Taoist prayer sole corner on truth.

God, tion of grounded in a offered by our Unitarian Allah, Adonai, He, She, hope nurtured by a unity Universalists friends, I the holy one, the ground There certainly was no of faith in God brought us same message. of our being was present, doubt what Sunday, together. And the message I heard and if that presence was was. The documentaries The "scandal" of course was that every faith hears not recognized, it was by on TV were countless, was that we dared to God's desire for love, choice. reflections on from believe we could worship peace and justice for all, The musical selection what seemed to be every together: Muslims, Jews, not just for some.

provided by the commuconceivable perspective. Christians, Unitarian Not one group has the nity choir was enough I watched one that kept Universalists, Baha'i and corner on the market to confirm that God was switching from the Twin anyone else who chose to not even us Christians, present and was pleased Towers to the Pentagon be there. For me, it was who can be a bit arro- with our coming together. to the farmland of an extremely heart-warm- gant about our religion at How sweet it was how Pennsylvania, chronicling ing experience. In a way times.

sweet hope is, when manithe details of the horrible I have never experienced Father Lindner from the fested in the gathering of morning. before, it became real that Newman Center on the all God's people. I must admit, it still God does not favor one University of Wisconsinleaves me unable to fath- group of people. Stevens Point campus Howard Hintzman om it all. But, something As I listened to the rabbi spoke of hope, and I real- Co-pastor of the United I can fathom occurred from the Jewish com- ized the hope I experi- Methodist people of the late in the afternoon on munity, to a woman from enced Sept.

11 was when greater Stevens Point area Former school Association and President that's calling somebody to be forced to pay a porBoard a liar). In short, he's mad tion of your own retireunion leader President Renae Sheibley because collective bar- ment, but this i is the new and Superintendent gaining is gone. reality. Embrace it, drive must move on Attila Weninger. Well, Mr.

Reindl, rewind on and have a good year Mr. Reindl started with to the day when you were teaching. Please do not a diatribe about lost prep SPAEA president, and you use precious school board Please take the time time, too-heavy teach- told the board you and meeting time to re-negotito watch (the Sept. 12) ing loads and ended with your membership had a ate a contract you no lon- the off-handed comment he did not believe the school board's budget estimates (in my world, contract and did not have to bargain. I am sure it is hard to have had it all and now ger have.

Dave Dailey Plover Jobs must be priority in fall session I his tral spent throughout summer, Wisconsin, time cen- in for Point) ability Stevens People to the ties "The Patoka and Wisconsinites," of services CAP thousands said provided Services. of Mary by of jobs, year's People the need damage divisive high-quality done good-paying agenda. public by this listening to the concerns serve many CDFIs will enable small schools, quality services, and opinions of many more people business owners to start or and prospering communiresidents. These one-on-one by incentiv- expand. When businesses ties.

We as state legislators dialogues with individual izing private prosper, employees in turn would be wise to take the citizens were particularly LOUIS investment spend at the local groceries lessons we have learned important this summer, MOLEPSKE into these and other area businesses, from these past few months given everything that has financial building community and use them to confront happened since January. institutions. Wisconsin has the challenges we face as As I spoke with cen- 21 CDFIs, including one CAP Services helped we fight for what our contral Wisconsin residents, operating through Stevens Central Waters Brewery stituents want and need. I the message was loud Point-based CAP Services. Company in Amherst and am proud to say that my and clear: the people of CDFIs have enormous posi- also Intevation Food Group, representation is focused on Wisconsin need jobs.

That tive impacts on the commu- LLC in Plover create jobs our economy and your indimessage deserves our nities they serve. The pas- both of these businesses, vidual success. primary attention in the sage of Assembly Bill 211 initially, looked to non-tra- I am very hopeful that state capitol, so that we can will no doubt spark more ditional financing to start the Legislature will come rebuild our economic secu- development throughout their businesses. together and work overtime rity and move Wisconsin the state. With greater investment, to create family supporting forward.

Under Assembly Bill 211, CDFIs will help people jobs and boost economic I also heard, loud and individuals would receive start or expand businesses, security for the people of clear, that you want your tax credits for making upgrade machinery and Wisconsin. I am working legislators to work togeth- long-term private invest- buy homes. This is just on a new statewide develer. Extreme and polarizing ments in Wisconsin-based one step forward to enable opment opportunity zone agendas must be left in the CDFIs; this will help offset the people of Wisconsin to initiative, a venture capital past. Instead, Wisconsin the reduction in public dol- change their economic cir- and revolving loan fund and needs its legislators to lars.

CDFIs have a primary cumstance for the better. a proposal to reduce the work together to create sta- mission to provide finan- Rep. Williams and I put time and cost of complybility for all individuals and cial products and services the interests of our con- ing with state regulations families. such as entrance coun- stituents ahead of partisan for new and existing busiEven though Assembly seling and financial train- politics, and hopefully this nesses. Republicans only sched- ing for people who borrow glimmer of bi-partisanship I hope you will continue uled one session day this money -to low-income can light a bigger economy to contact me with your month, Rep.

Mary Williams individuals and families. focused spark in the thoughts, ideas and opin(R-Medford) and I teamed The services CDFIs pro- Legislature. ions so that I can effectiveup to pass the bipartisan vide will help the entrepre- In the spirit of bipartisan- ly serve the 71st District Assembly Bill 211, which neurs and small businesses ship, we also recognized and all of Wisconsin, espeaims to create a Community throughout Wisconsin use the bill's original author, cially on getting people Development Financial their financing effectively. Rep. Steve Hilgenberg (D- back to work.

Institution (CDFI) tax credit This in turn will help stabi- Dodgeville) who passed to increase private job-cre- lize our communities and away earlier this year after State Rep. Louis Molepske, D- ating investments in our alleviate economic stress. a long battle with cancer, Stevens Point, represents the communities. "Increasing invest- by naming the tax credit 71st state Assembly District, Assembly Bill 211 will ment in CDFIs will have after him. which includes including much give Wisconsin CDFIs a positive and meaningful It is so important that we of Portage County and northern (like Community Assets impact on our communi- slow down and repair some Waushara County..