By Owen Reissmann for Wausau Pilot and Review

The Southwest Jones meeting held Oct. 22 began with a schedule change. So that the group’s cicty council member can attend, future meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month.

One resident commented on the confusion caused by the dates of leaf removal being changed just days after the city newsletter was released. It seems many residents remained unaware of the change and did not have their leaves out in time, leading to a lot of leaves being put out after cleanup and remaining. It was shared that after yard waste sites close it will be decided whether another leaf pickup is needed.

The police officer present shared that Wausau’s two therapy dogs and the officers who oversee them were sent to be of assistance to the Barron community whose residents have been recently affected by the murder of James and Denise Closs and the disappearance of their daughter Jayme.

Wausau has two therapy dogs and four drug detection dogs. Several central Wisconsin counties with dogs on their force got together to produce a calendar which is available for sale at the Wausau Police Station. Stuffed animal replicas of each of the dogs were also commissioned. This effort is to raise money to support Police dogs, which require a lot of intensive and ongoing training–of the dogs as well as their officer companions.

A discussion came up which clarified a term used by police—referred. This month a few young adults were referred for charges (mostly for possession of THC). The individual is still charged with the crime just like when they are arrested and taken. However, when a person is referred for charges, that means they simply are not physically transported to the police station. This is done in cases where the individual is not a flight risk.

A resident asked whether there would be an area set aside for protesters at the Mosinee airport during the Presidential rally on Wednesday or if—as was the case during a visit from President Bush—only registered Republicans will be allowed to attend. As this is handled specifically by the Sheriff’s Department, the officer had no information.

Editor’s note: The Wausau Pilot and Review Documenters program is made possible through individual donations and grants from several organizations including the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. The program aims to democratize news and information at the local level through a group of local contributors