PEOPLE
Senior Card Group
The Senior Citizens card group met on March 20 for weekly card playing at the Athens Area Fire and Ambulance Hall.
Two games of Sheepshead were played. Butch Boris won first place and Norbert Lake came in second in the first game. Wil Strack won first and Rick Schaetzl came in second in the second game.
Low score was Sally Stubbe. Newcomers are encouraged to come play Sheepshead every Thursday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Athens fire hall.
College notes The following students have graduated from UW-Eau Claire: Shauna Belter earned a bachelor of science degree in communication sciences and disorders and Kaitlyn Riehle earned a bachelor of business administration in marketing.
Foundation grants
Progress Athens Foundation is excited to receive applications for its next grant cycle. Information related to the grant opportunity may be requested from progressathens@gmail. com or by mailing Progress Athens Foundation, Inc., PO Box 147, Athens, WI 54411. The grant application is due April 30.
Lenten fish fry
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church will host its final Lenten fish fry on Friday, April 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The menu includes deep-fried fish or shrimp or baked fish, baked potato, potato salad or fries, plus coffee, milk and dessert.
Family Story Time
Children of all ages and their parents or caregivers are invited to the Athens Branch Library for a 30minute Family Story Time. Library staff will read books, sing songs, and offer other literature-based activities. Family Story Times will held every Wednesday in April, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Medicare basics class Adults are invited to the Athens Branch Library on Thursday, March 27, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for a free class on understanding the different parts of Medicare. Medicare can be a complicated landscape of choices, but it doesn’t have to be. This program is designed to provide an overview of Medicare and help make sense of the parts, what they mean, and how to navigate them. Participants will look at defining Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, when and how to sign up, and costs associated with coverage.
For more information or to register, call 715-257-7292.
Book club The Athens Book Club will meet at the Athens Branch Library on Tuesday, April 8, at 2 p.m. to discuss “Weather” by Jenny Offill. Hired by her famous podcaster mentor to answer letters from increasingly polarized fans, a librarian who has acquired her education from a lifetime spent reading struggles between the limits of her knowledge and growing crises in the outside world. For more information, call 715-257-7292.
EDGAR
College notes Desirae Rausch was one of nine New York Institute of Technology undergraduate and graduate students who assisted in the grant review process for the university's 2025 Mini-Research Grant Awards program. The program recognizes outstanding high school student-researchers with $300 awards intended to help offset the cost of materials and related expenses pertaining to a research project proposal or continuing project in STEM and related disciplines.
A faculty committee, assisted by the team of New York Tech students, reviewed the submissions and awarded 35 grants to projects from 22 high schools across the country. Nearly 150 research project submissions were received; the number of student applications totaled 243.
Family Story Time
Children of all ages and their parents or caregivers are invited to the Edgar Branch Library for a 30minute Family Story Time. Library staff will read books, sing songs, and offer other literaturebased activities. Family Story Times will held on Tuesdays, April 1 and 15, from 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Book club
The Edgar Book Club will meet at the Edgar Branch Library on Tuesday, April 8, at 12 p.m. to discuss “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. Nearing the end of his life, Enzo, a dog with a philosopher’s soul, tries to bring together the family, pulled apart by a three year custody battle between daughter Zoe’s maternal grandparents and her father Denny, a race car driver. Call 715-352-3155 for more information.
Weather Week
Learn about weather through a variety of fun crafts and activities at the Edgar Branch Library. Drop in during regular business hours the week of April 7-12. Craft options include cardboard tube wind socks and pet clouds, among others. On Friday, April 11, you can make a coffee filter rainbow. The activities are free, no registration required. Call 715-352-3155 for more information.
Wien Wildcats
The Wien Wildcats 4-H group met on March 16. At the meeting, members were nominated for officer positions starting in October.
Elections will take place at the next meeting. Members brought ideas for the fair board theme. The winning theme was “Surfing with Success.”
The Veterans Dinner committee presented their plan for April 27 where Wien Wildcats will host Veterans from Edgar and Athens for a meal. After the meeting members learned about swine, how to fold origami, fishing, and a fly fishing demo. Anyone can join the Wien Wildcats 4-H at any time.
The next meeting is on April 27 at 6 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church.
MARATHON
College notes The following students have
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graduated from UW-Eau Claire: Allyson Lahnala earned a bachelor of arts in English, and Matt VandeBoom earned a bachelor of business administration in management.
Scouting for Food The Marathon Scouts BSA Troop 458’s Scouting for Food program will be collecting for the Marathon/Edgar Circle of Joy again this year. On April 5, residents should find a card on their front door asking for food donations. The pick-up date will be on April 12, starting at 9 a.m. The can corral will be out by April 5 in Village Hall parking lot. Residents are asked to place only bagged aluminum cans in the corral. Any questions can be directed to Charlie at 715573-3730.
Spring Break Craft Week Kids and teens are invited to stop by the Marathon City Branch Library during spring break to get creative and crafty. Drop in during regular business hours from March 26-29 for fun and easy craft projects. All supplies will be provided for free. Call 715443-2775 for more information.
Family Story Time
Children of all ages and their parents or caregivers are invited to the Marathon City Branch Library for Family Story Time. Library staff will read books, sing songs, and offer other literature-based activities during to 30-45 minute program. Family Story Times will held every Thursday in April, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Book club
The Marathon City Book Club will meet at the Marathon City Branch Library on Monday, April 14, at 5:45 p.m. to discuss “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi. An award-winning young neurosurgeon describes how – after receiving a terminal diagnosis with lung cancer – he explored his roles as a patient and care provider, the philosophical conundrums about a meaningful life, and how he wanted to spend his final days. Call 715-443-2775 for more information.
STRATFORD
College notes
Ashley O’Neil has graduated from UWEau Claire with a bachelor of science degree in nursing.
Scholarship awarded Will Cordes, the research program manager/ supervisor for University of Wisconsin- Marshfield Ag Research Station, is one five students accepted into the 2025 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Cornerstone Dairy Academy who earned a scholarship to the program from the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF).
Cordes regularly interacts with USDA and UW researchers to ensure that research projects are on track and following protocols. Previously, he worked as a dairy nutritionist before returning to his family’s dairy farm, consulting and seed-corn business, then accepted the role at UW-Marshfield in 2015. His goal is to further develop skills in managing and communicating with people.
Medicare basics class
Adults can learn Medicare basics on Thursday, March 27, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Stratford Branch Library. Free, no registration required. For more info, call 715-6874420. This presentation, led by a local life and health insurance agent, will include the difference between Medicare parts, what steps you should take when you turn 65, and answering any questions you may have about Medicare. Like all of library programs, this one is non-commercial in nature and for informational purposes only.
This event is free and open to all ages, no registration is required. For more info, call the Stratford Branch at 715-687-4420.
Family Story Time
Children of all ages and their parents or caregivers are invited to the Stratford Branch Library for Family Story Time. Library staff will read books, sing songs, and offer other literature-based activities during this 30minute program. Family Story Times will be held Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
Book club
The Stratford Book Club will meet at the Stratford Branch Library on Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. to discuss “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. After her husband dies, Tova Sullivan starts working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where she forms a special bond with a giant octopus who holds the key to solving the mysterious disappearance of her 18-year-old son, Erik, over 30 years ago on the Puget Sound. Call 715-687-4420 for more information.
MARATHON COUNTY
Grilled Cheese Competition
A Marathon County Grilled Cheese Competition is scheduled for April 18 and 19 at Northcentral Technical College, 212 River Dr., Wausau. The individual youth competition, will be Friday, April 18, at 6 p.m., and is limited to 10 competitors. The youth team competition will held Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m., and is limited to 10 teams of two youth per team.
The competitions are open to youths aged 8 to 17. Cooking supplies will be provided; no outside materials allowed. There is a small cost to sign up.
The registration deadline is Friday, April 4. More information about the competition can be found at: https://go.wisc.edu/guide.
