A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of Greater     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News September 29, 2004 By Karen Madden, Daily Tribune Staff Residents who attended a Tuesday night Community Progress Initiative want to find a way to keep their elementary school open and replace the community's grocery store that closed. In March, Vesper Foods closed its doors. Currently, the Wisconsin Rapids School Board is considering several options for dealing with its tight budget, one of which is closing Vesper Elementary School, the village's only public school. Laura Huber, 30, thinks the community needs to work together to solve its current problems. "We need to become more cohesive if we have any hope of saving our school," Huber said. "We need to speak with one strong voice." Dan Vruwink, 38, also thinks the community needs to be united in an effort to build up the community. "We need to show support for our school and our local businesses," Vruwink said. The adults weren't the only ones with input at Tuesday's meeting. Vesper Elementary School students wrote their ideas for improving the community. To encourage adults to read the students' ideas, the papers were posted on a wall at the community center, where the meeting was held, and people were asked to vote for their favorite. Dan Vruwink's son, first-grader Jack Vruwink, said the community needs more trees, and it needs to help people clean up the messy trees and shrubs around their homes, Jack said. He also thinks the town needs a fishing store. Fifth-grader Joshua Weigel tried to give the adults a practical suggestion for helping the community. He suggested holding a car wash to raise money to keep the school open. He suggested $10 per wash. Tuesday's meeting is what the community needs to move forward, said Wendy Haas, 43. Vesper is a beautiful community near larger cities. Residents can have the rural life with the conveniences of the cities. "We have the best of both worlds," Haas said. About 30 of Vesper's 451 residents attended Tuesday's meeting. The group came up with a vision statement that says it wants the community to keep its safe family-friendly environment that celebrates its small town characteristics. Residents also want their community to have thriving businesses that celebrate the community's agricultural heritage. To do that, the community needs to patronize local stores and speak with one voice to save its school, residents said. You can reach reporter Karen Madden at 422-6729 or kmadden@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome