County employees honored at monthly Wood Board meeting

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – When the Wood County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, they started with an invocation and followed with a Pledge of Allegiance.

There weren’t enough chairs for those present to hear the acknowledgements and recognitions that followed. Some county board staff members lined the back wall to see their colleagues receive recognition.

Several department heads spoke eloquently to honor the work of long-term county employees.

Those honored include William England, who’s spent 25 years at Norwood Health Center; Betty Ninneman (30 years) and Jennifer Garfield (35 years) of Edgewater Haven; Shannon Lobner, who’s spent 30 years in Child Support; and Randy Kundinger, who’s spent 35 years in the Highway Department.

Wood County Health Department receives award

Angela Nimsgren is the Regional Director, Office of Policy and Practice Alignment with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. She attended to present the Wood County Health Department with a Level 3 Chapter 140 designation — the highest level a health department can achieve.

The designation means the Department meets state requirements as well as the latest innovations to modernize the public health system.

Less than half of the departments across the state have achieved the same standards and requirements for the designation.

“By us being sure that each jurisdiction across the state is living up to what is required, we ensure a strong health within our Wisconsin communities,” said Nimsgren.

Wood County Health Officer Sue Smith received the award for her department.

Opioid funds disbursed; cremation fees will rise

The Wood County Board passed multiple resolutions including disbursement of opioid settlement funds.

They also increasing the cremation fee and death certificate signature fee for the Coroner’s Office, and authorizing the Highway Department to enter into a funding agreement to purchase property.

Public comment period included one speaker

During public comment, Cecile Stelzer-Johnson, affectionately known as Frenchie by her former students in the Wisconsin Rapids School District, spoke about her parents living under German occupation in France.

“Hate is a very powerful tool,” said Stelzer-Johnson. “We need to guard against that and the human psyche is uniquely vulnerable to it. Just like today, people were disappeared daily, never to be seen again.”

She drew comparisons to the present day, taking aim at federal immigration enforcement and calling on the Sheriff to end cooperation with ICE.

“We are here now!” said Stelzer-Johnson.

“Board members, good people, Sheriff, don’t be a “collabo”.

The Board closed with a moment of silence to honor former supervisor Leroy Joosten, who passed away in October. The next scheduled county board meeting is January 20, 2026.