Compared to the enrollment of 652 in 1997, this semester's enrollment is at 1,170 students, the second-highest enrollment ever. The campus offers a two-year degree in Letters and Sciences and bachelor's degree programs in business administration, general studies and nursing. In addition to conventional students, the facility also tries to provide opportunities for other groups, said Judi Wittkopf, director of university relations. Those efforts include College for Kids, arts events and programs for older residents. Construction is to start next spring, according to area developer Bill Creske.
Stone looks forward to it.
His family's business has roots at its current location that go back to 1883 and he figures the additional emphasis the area will receive in the community can only help. He's curious about what will be found when digging begins, though, because so much of it was filled in with sawdust. There was so much sawdust, in fact, from the mill on the north side of Bridge Street that large pneumatic tubes were built so the sawdust could literally be blown through them over the broad street and to piles on the south side. When his grandfather formed a partnership with Jacob Mortenson 116 years ago to operate the sawmill, all their lumber came from either near Wausau or floated down the Wisconsin River. Now 95 percent of it comes from Canada or Western states.