Good morning, Wausau.

Good News Project announced that 18 volunteers will travel to St. Lucia in the West Indies in 2026 to build a playground after pausing international trips during the pandemic — the project will support an elementary school that has been neglected and includes local youth fundraising with porch pots. The service trip aims to renew the organization’s tradition of international community work.

The 18th annual Festival Foods Turkey Trot is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning in Stevens Point and Marshfield — residents can choose from a 2-mile walk, fun run, pet-friendly dog jog, or timed 5-mile run, with registration closing at 7:30 a.m. all proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA.

Local hunters with extra deer hides can help veterans by donating them at the Wausau Elk's Lodge or at 1327 Grand Ave. The Lodge will send the hides to a Tennessee tannery to make leather items for veterans, continuing a tradition that has lasted more than 30 years—donations will be completed before the end of the year for distribution by spring.

The 28th annual Festival of Trees began with a gala event Tuesday, November 25 — the fundraiser runs daily until November 30 at the Central Wisconsin Expo Center in Rothschild to support Aspirus comfort care and hospice services.

Monk Botanical Gardens in Wausau will charge non-members a fee beginning April 23—this change is meant to help cover rising maintenance costs as the gardens have relied on donations and grants.

Members will continue to have free access and the gardens will offer free admission days for some visitors.

Opening weekend of the 2025 gun deer season ended with hunters registering 90,671 deer, including 48,748 antlered and 41,923 antlerless animals—a modest gain over last year.

The DNR noted that with snow forecast in the north, hunters may face changes in deer movement during the remainder of the season.

Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez visited Wausau on Tuesday to meet with local business owners at Downtown Grocery and Janke Book Store—where she learned about community challenges and local history—and to speak with community groups about boosting support ahead of Small Business Saturday. She also visited the Ho-Chunk Tribal Aging Unit and HOLA to hear how government could help local efforts.

Free suicide prevention training sessions for farmers, veterans and first responders will be held from Dec.

15 to Dec. 19 at venues in Wausau, Marshfield and Stratford — each day offers QPR and CALM courses with refreshments and lunch provided — early registration is required due to limited seating.

NewsChannel 7 Football All-Stars marked 65 years by naming 13 offensive players chosen by local coaches.

Senior quarterback Treve Stoffel, who threw nearly 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, led the group while running backs and receivers such as Edgar’s Maverick Butt and Xavier Edwards also shined—showing strong play across north central teams.

Guided Tour: Birds in Art Fifty

1-3 p.m. — Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum — $5 entry (includes lunch) — Explore the intersection of avian beauty and artistic expression in a guided tour.

Central Wisconsin Holiday Gift and Craft Show

9 AM - 4 PM — Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center — $5 admission — Discover unique handmade gifts and crafts from local artisans in a festive atmosphere.

Sweating with Santa 5K 2025

8 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Greenheck Turner Community Center (GTCC) — Proceeds support youth sports scholarships — Experience a unique indoor 5K run with Santa for the whole family.