And welcome back.
It is the WXCO morning report part of mornings with Pat right low on 98.9 WXCO and another opportunity to find out what's going on here downtown Wassa just down the road at the Marathon County Public Library and very happy to welcome back into studio Robin Vargas Robin.
Good morning.
Good morning
Chad.
Well, let's jump into it because we are in the middle of summer time and I know you've been very busy over at the library having a chance to talk to you in a few weeks, but
pretty much right in the middle of summer.
What's happening at the library?
Because I know it's a very busy time of the year.
Yeah, for sure.
So we've got all sorts of events coming up.
We've got stuff for kids, adult scenes, everyone in between.
All sorts of fun stuff for all ages.
So performers.
Coming up next week, we've got a couple really fun ones.
We have Miller and Mike's comedy juggling show.
That's coming up on July 22nd.
They're going to be at Edgar at Oak Street Park at 10 30 AM and then at our Hatley branch at 1 30 PM.
They've been to a couple other locations.
in the past few weeks and just been really fun.
Lots of energy, you know, lots of tricks and juggling and all sorts of things that I could never attempt to do, but so much fun for the kids and they've just been loving it.
So we're excited to have those.
And then also next week, another performer that's coming back.
We had him here last summer and it was a ton of fun.
We have the magic of Isaiah.
And so that's gonna be at Marathon Elementary on Thursday, July 24th at 10 a.m.
and then at George Street Park in Rothschild at 1.30 p.m.
Another chance to
to catch some magic shows.
Fantastic.
It's always great to have these programs for the kids.
And I just think, especially this time of year, we've kind of touched on it.
It is great just to make sure that they stay active because it can be so easy just to be down, you know, hang out at home and then beyond, you know, the video games and whatever to have these kind of events.
I think it's very special.
Yeah, for sure.
And it's just, some of them are at the libraries, but we really do try and have them outside as much as we can, you know?
You're out at Oak Street Park for the show and then might as well hang out.
out by the park after, go for a walk by the river and so
take
advantage of those opportunities.
And especially in this area of the world, take advantage of all those outdoor activities especially.
But again, those are a couple great activities for the kids.
I don't know if there's more kids activities or as you said, there's activities for others as well.
Yeah, all ages.
So out at the branches this week, we've got some week long crafts happening.
So out at Athens, they have a pressed flower lanterns.
That one is for all ages.
For kids, they've kind of got like a milk carton version and then adults have a nice
glass jar version.
So that's anytime the branch is open, folks can step out and do that.
And Edgar, they've got a paper bead craft, kind of taking some old paper and recycling it into some paper beads and making some crafts out of that.
Step out all week and then out in Spencer, they've got a paper snail craft that
they're doing.
So that's pretty cute.
Yeah.
Paper snail craft.
Yeah, they take colored paper and then you like roll it and quill it and it makes these fun coil shapes and yeah.
Just
kind of
something out of the box a little bit.
Well, there's never a lack of imagination when it comes to the programming at the library.
Yeah,
we try and use it all up.
See what we got going on in our brains and yeah, bring it on out.
Again, we're talking to Robin Vargas from the Marathon County Public Library here on 98.9 WXEL.
One thing that always jumps out is you've got this long list right here in front of you.
We're just scratching the surface in terms of some of the activities, aren't
we?
We kind of are, yeah.
maybe
a
fourth of the way through.
What else are we focusing on?
Yeah, so later on this week on Thursday evening out at Rothschild, we have read Do A Therapy Dog.
That's at 5.30.
That one's always popular, always super fun.
Get to cuddle with the dog and give it some pets.
So you read a book, nothing better than that.
And then Thursday evening in Mosini, they've got an evening yoga class.
So that's free.
Come on down for teens and adults.
That's at 5.30.
So after work, need a chance to unwind.
come on down, do some yoga in Mosini.
We've got a couple Lego block parties happening for kids this week.
So you can stop out in Wausau on Thursday afternoon at three o'clock, Marathon City on Friday at one to three, and then in Hadley Saturday morning from 11 to one.
So lots of
Lego
building opportunities
this
week.
You mentioned the word free as well.
And that's one thing that I think people need to realize that, hey, this is for everybody.
They don't have to worry about, you know, maybe some additional costs where you're
trying to keep a close eye on the budget, so much of what you do at the library is free.
Yeah, all of what
we do.
All of our programs
are free.
If the library is putting it on, it is a free program, and we are just so proud to offer that to our community, and it is important that folks know that.
There aren't a lot of free opportunities out there these days where you can just show up and do something, and you don't need a library card.
Obviously, we would love it if folks had one, but you can just show up.
there's no barriers.
We just want you to come and attend and have a good time and maybe check out the library afterward, but yeah, free.
It's awesome.
Before we continue in a few other programs, you mentioned the library card aspect.
I don't think we've talked about that.
For folks that, you know, sometimes it's one of those simple things that's almost like you're afraid to ask.
You should be like, I should know how to, but I'm not really sure what I should do.
What's saying, there's somebody out there tuned in right now and they think, well, I like to get that library card, take that first step and be able to,
We'll check out the materials at the library, be involved in some of these programs.
What should they do?
Yeah, super easy.
Come on down to any of our nine locations, fill out an application, show us a photo ID, whether that be a driver's license or other state ID of some other sort.
And as long as it has your current address on it or you can show us proof of current address, that's all we need.
And you can get signed up and you can check out 100 books that day.
Be on your
way.
That's the limit, 100 books.
So more other items are different.
Bring a wagon then though.
Yeah, that's really all it takes.
It's really not a whole lot of time.
It's like a one-page application.
You fill out your basic info, and that's all
we need.
And
then you get your card that same day, and you're on your way.
We do have an application on our website as well,
so
folks can fill that out, and then just stop in, and we'll get your card and do it that way.
So if you want it even a little bit quicker than that, but yeah, super easy.
So come on in.
If you don't have a library card yet, stop on in.
Any of our locations, we'd love to get you signed up.
Absolutely.
And I know there's still a few other activities you want to make sure we mention before we wrap up.
Yeah, a couple other.
We've got some fun things happening in Wausau this week.
So later on this afternoon, we have upcycled fashion for teens.
That's at 130.
So bring an old clothing item to kind of bring some new life to.
We've also have a community game night happening tonight at Wausau from five to seven, playing some modern board games.
That one's always been pretty fun.
And then a couple of D&D events.
We've got a teen D&D club this Thursday at 230.
and then for adults, we're having another Gather Your Party session.
Now the sad part.
Yes.
This is our final conversation because you're moving on.
I
sure
am.
Bigger and better things.
It's been a joy having you come in every other week to talk about what's going on.
Thank you so
much for having me and having me talk about the library and being able to share the library with your listeners.
It's been a blast for me and thank you so much.
The library appreciates it.
Wonderful to have you and best of luck.
of your future endeavors.
Thank you so
much.
Robin Vargas from the Marathon County Public Library.
More coming up on 98.9 WXCO.
The time is 7.52.
Currently another mild start here in north central Wisconsin.
Cloudy conditions.
Temperature stands at 72 degrees.
Another muggy start as well.
Relative humidity of 84% and in fact it's calm out there.
So all this thick air is not really moving around a whole bunch.
Right now it may be dry, but it's expected to not stay this way.
In fact,
Right now again, there's no real rain or precipitation going on throughout the central Wisconsin the Wet weather is moving from
We will be getting some showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon.
again tonight.
We are scheduled for American Legion Softball, the Wausau Post 10 American Legion Softball team taking on Meryl up in Meryl.
Scheduled to be on the air at 620 for the pregame show and 630 for the first pitch right here on 98.9 WXCO online at wxco.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
Like to say good morning as well to our in-studio engineer and producer Ian Welsh.
Ian.
Good morning.
Good morning, Chad.
Last night I had a broadcast as well with Wausau taking on Marshfield.
I gave that, Marshfield defeated Wausau 14-9, but the real winner, and I think for folks here in the Wausau area and in Wisconsin generally, the real winner last night were the mosquitoes.
Man, oh
man,
I gotta tell ya.
I'm surprised there's anything left of me because it was as bad as I can recall in a long time.
And I think a lot of it is that we've had plenty of rain.
during this summer, it's not been a drought summer by any means.
It was a thick evening as well, but boy the bugs came out and they were just going and going and going and I'm looking out there as well.
I'm swatting them away the entire time while I'm doing the broadcast.
I'm looking out there as well, watching the players, swatting at them as well.
It was, it was just thick.
It was thick in terms of the air.
It was thick in terms of the mosquitoes as well.
And I think I learned a lesson.
My insect repellent was sitting back at home.
But I did have a good Samaritan come by late in the game saying that apparently somebody was tuned in and they had some repellent and they were able to share a little with me.
So that was nice of them.
Yeah, absolutely.
But again, I've been going out to Sunnyvale Softball Complex for more than 40 years.
Back when I was a kid, my dad would play.
in the softball league at Sunnyvale.
So every week I'd go out with my dad and be out at Sunnyvale.
And it's always been a place that's had mosquitoes, but I was reminded of that fact last night.
It was just, it was amazing.
So I guess my piece of advice for anybody with the outdoor activities around here, especially right now, be aware, those mosquitoes are gonna come and get you.
Yep, always bring the bug spray, whether it's humid or not.
Better to be safe than, sorry, especially when it comes to the...
Mosquitoes in the summertime and they can be a very annoying.
Yes, they can
and
also just Last couple of nights the the warm and humid weather.
It's not been great sleeping weather at all here in North Central, Wisconsin.
No, it has And not because it just makes you feel restless and then you're tossing and turning and you don't really get a lot of sleep so
The good news is that it is going to be much cooler coming up tonight and then tomorrow as well.
Tonight, in fact, once these storms go through later in the afternoon
and
into the evening, we are going to see our low temperatures take a real dip.
And tonight, the low temperature here in the Wasa area expected to be around 54 degrees.
And then tomorrow night, the low temperature around 50.
So the sleeping weather will be much improved in terms of the next couple of nights
because I noticed myself.
Sitting outside as well.
Absolutely.
Yeah, exactly right, but it's just been no thick and Everywhere I went yesterday.
I stopped at a couple different places I stopped at a convenience store on my way over to the game Yesterday and the person behind the counter says how do you like this this hot weather?
What are you doing?
I said it's just you know, you just got to deal with this that time of year, but everybody was noticing I and
the whole idea behind it is that we've been, I would say more fortunate than many areas around the country the last few years.
We've seen a lot of heat waves, but I think here in North Central and Northern Wisconsin, in terms of not being in hot weather that is just absolutely miserable, we've been more than fortunate than many parts of the country.
No, I would agree.
Absolutely.
The temperatures aren't in the.
100s and we don't have to worry about hurricanes.
So No, we don't at
least not up to this point.
Yeah,
and this tornado for kind of
time, you know, sometimes we get those sort of in fact, I did see there was a Tornado warning in the northern part of the state last night when I got home from my ballgame I was checking things out and and I saw there had been a tornado warning just in the northern part of the state I'm not surprised I was just the way this weather is, you know when you have that juicy weather things can start to
build up and that's one of the things we're going to keep an eye on later today when these thunderstorms do move through the area.
When you do have the hot and the humid weather meeting with maybe some cooler weather behind it, it can lead to some severe weather, whether it's thunderstorms or even tornadic activity.
And of course, Brittany Merlot and the rest of the 98.9 WXCO and Civic Media Weather Team will keep us up to speed on any potential for severe weather as we get later into our
Wednesday.
A phone about 15 minutes ago that said we had a flood warning in certain parts of Wisconsin.
So watch out for that, too.
Yep, absolutely.
Do not go plowing through water.
You never know how deep it is.
No, it's really bad for your tires.
The time is 7.59.
Coming up, we will have an information update to have the news, weather, and sports from around the country, around the world, around Wisconsin, and around the area, plus a look at the weather and also entertainment.
It all is put together in a nice, tidy package at the top and the bottom of every hour.
With Ian Welsh, I'm Chad Holmes.
We'll get it back to a pack right low another hour still to go.
It's mornings with pack right low on WXCO.
It is mornings with pack right low on 98.9 wxco online at wxco.fm both devices and Alexa by searching wxco and on the civic media app 73 degrees under cloudy skies here in downtown wasa live from our downtown studios at the corner of washington street and north third street I am champ Holmes along with Ian Welsh and I wanted to remind folks again I wanted to one of the things I'm gonna be keeping an eye on over the next year or so as we head towards 2026
and the midterm elections is where the parties go, especially here in Wisconsin, here in central Wisconsin.
We heard a conversation in the last hour of Pat Crichtlow's program with Christian Phelps talking about how he voted against the state budget and explained where he stands in terms of a member of the Democratic Party.
And I do think that it's going to be interesting to see where Democrats decide
the move in terms of trying to get more electoral victories and also with a gubernatorial race coming up where the Republicans are going.
And before I discuss that, one area that average voters and citizens have in terms of letting their voice be heard on where they want their politics to go, whether it's
through their representatives or within their parties is showing up at certain events.
And we do have three different events that you can have your voice be heard here in Wausau over the next couple of days.
I have mentioned yesterday about a couple of events coming up tomorrow.
There's going to be another Tom Tiffany rally at his Wausau office on Steward Avenue, 2620 Steward Avenue in Wausau.
Again, it is a noontime rally to let Congressman Tiffany know that
that there are folks that do not appreciate his vote when it came to the so-called big, beautiful bill.
But from 12 until 1.30 p.m.
2620 Stewart Avenue in Wasaw in front of Tom Tiffany's Wasaw office.
There is going to be another rally.
So again, you can show up there and let your voice be heard.
Also, there is going to be an event at the Marathon County Public Library tomorrow, a Fair Maps community hearing that's being put on, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, as of course, Fair Maps is still a very important issue and it's always a temporary issue because the maps get changed all the time.
But if you want to let your voice be heard in terms of this Fair Maps issue, and again, in terms of ultimately how many representatives in state government there are from the Democratic Party or from the Republican Party, the maps do have a very, very important aspect.
This Fair Maps community hearing at the Marathon County Public Library in downtown Wausau will be at 6 p.m.
also tomorrow on Thursday.
And there's one other event that is coming up on Saturday.
There is going to be a Defend Democracy protest going on at the corner of Stewart Avenue and 17th Avenue in Wasa from 12 noon until 2 p.m.
And it is a Defend Democracy protest to speak out against the unconstitutional actions of the current administration.
So again, there are opportunities for folks here in Wasa to speak out, to let their voice be heard, and also just generally let people know they don't like
where a lot of things are going.
That's right.
And often you think, well, what does it mean?
What does it matter?
If you look at American history going back many, many years, you see that often the protests take a lot of time.
They grow and one protest will not move the needle.
Maybe not two or three, but if you continue to go out and just say, hey, we see what you're doing, we disagree with what you're doing, ultimately,
Elected representatives do listen and if you just let them get away with it if you're like you're not listening They won't listen as well So again these three opportunities to get out and let your voice be heard twice tomorrow and then on Saturday afternoon as well Something else I wanted to mention here because as we go into the next year or so it's gonna be very interesting to see how
Members of both parties react to recent results and I think we heard a little bit in the last hour with Christian Phelps But also in this one I kind of take oh boy.
Oh boy already, but what happened?
Well the race for governor is gonna be starting up big time Sometime in the future because in November 2026 there's gonna be another gubernatorial election in Wisconsin, but We are going to start seeing the first ads
for the governor's race.
There's a man named Bill Barion.
He is a Republican businessman.
He is the first candidate for Wisconsin governor to buy campaign ads in this race.
He is a wealthy businessman.
He is spending $400,000 in cable, TV, radio and online ads.
But the thing that kind of jumps out about this first
Republican jumping into the ad pool Trying to win the Republican primary for governor and be on the general election ballot In the ad and again, this is something I'm gonna keep an eye on how are people gonna run are they gonna run towards Donald Trump if you're a Republican or try to give a little space between themselves and Donald Trump because Donald Trump's numbers are not good right now, but Barry is definitely a dipped barion in his commercial says quote
I'm an outsider and a businessman like president Trump Oh boy as somebody who is not a supporter of Donald Trump I say Bill Barri and go for it Wrap yourself around Donald Trump because I don't think that's a winning strategy Maybe it's a winning strategy to win a primary for a Republican governor Yeah, but I don't think it's a strategy to win a general election
Cause I don't see Donald Trump turning it around big time, uh, before 2026, but I'm going to warn everybody out there, be aware that the respite from campaign ads will be coming to an end pretty soon.
But Bill Barry and, and the thing about it is an outsider and a businessman.
Well, Donald Trump's a lousy businessman.
That's my opinion, folks.
Hey.
We got coming up in our final segment, our number for the day quiz.
Yes.
As you are one for two so far this week.
So that means you have a chance, if you get it right today, to clinch a passing grade for this week.
Yep, I gotta focus on today.
And I always try to give you a topic that maybe you're gonna like.
And today I'm gonna give you one that you're gonna like as well.
Okay, what is it?
It is...
Disneyland!
You're Mr. Disney here, so we're going to give you a Disneyland number for the day.
So we're going to have that coming up as part of our final segment at 8.52.
We're going to have an information update and then back to Pat Critello for more of Mornings with Pat Critello on 98.9 WXCO.
Welcome back it is mornings with pack right low on 98.9 WXCO online at wxco.fm Both devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app the time is 8.52 again 73 degrees in downtown Wasa it is still cloudy, but
It's not going to stay that way apparently.
It looks as though we could get some significant rainfall as we get later into the day.
In fact, we've seen a rather large area of rain that's been moving over the border in the western part of the state from Minnesota.
And it's expected that later this afternoon that we could be getting some of this rain.
In fact, I'm looking at the radar right now.
Maybe not even this afternoon, but it looks as though we will be getting some rain Hopefully not so much that it does postpone or cancel our scheduled American Legion softball broadcast tonight I am scheduled to be in Merrill as wasa post 10 takes on Merrill 620 airtime right here on 98.9 WXCO Obviously get a chance to see some of the young people on the softball diamond But Ian and myself yesterday had an opportunity after the show to go on over to wasa east high school and
of their summer courses, a social studies course, and had a chance to talk a little bit about the media, talk about journalism, talk about just general things that we deal with here on WXCO, with a group of students at Wausau East, and I found it to be very interesting, found it to be thought provoking in certain ways, to have to think about, you know, be asked about, you know,
where do we get our information from in terms of news and the like and to think about, you know, the young people and their voting patterns and how it may affect, you know, elections in the near future with some of the young people.
I found it very interesting.
What did you think about our visit to Wassa East yesterday morning?
I thought it was very cool.
To me, it's always nice to, you know, pass down some of our knowledge and experiences.
to the younger generation to give that knowledge and see what they'll take away from it in their lives and lives and They actually had some really good questions as well.
It got me
Thinking too
and I just you know when you when you are in the room and you think about and I think for folks out there tuned in right now You think about how you look at the political world you talk talk we think about the world of news and what we Digest on a daily basis and then you have a chance to sit in a room with
a number of young people, teenagers, and you think about how they are getting their information and how they are digesting the information and digesting what's going on politically in this world.
It's really interesting to think about in terms of where we are now and what it could mean for the future.
And at a time where there's, I think, a lot of concern about where we are politically and where we are journalistically in terms
of
we're seeing
some of these issues involving major media corporations and the maybe lack of independence within their journalistic departments because of
pressure and lawsuits from the administration, there are so many questions that need to be answered, but also in terms of, boy, how you get your information because it changes so very quickly, the era of AI, the era of this incredible speed when it comes to information going from one part of the globe to another part of the globe.
And at times I get confused by it and I get worried by it.
So again, I found that
to be able to be involved with, see those kids and to think about where they are.
And also because I'm older, I'm not as old as you are, but I mean, I am, you're not as old as I am.
I'm much older than you are, but I'm thinking about where I stand and how these kids and they're going to be, you know, going even deeper into the future.
Again, I just think that's why we need to be
Engaged and then we talked about these events coming up and there's different ways to be engaged You can send a letter to the editor We see often see in the wasp highlighted and reviewed the letters to the editor you can make a call and one of the things here on civic media all of our shows take the phone calls and Folks can call in and talk to our statewide hosts and give their opinions on what's going on politically Be an or just as simple as reading a story
I mean, that's being involved as well.
So I just found situations like we had yesterday to be around young people, to think about, you know, not just where we are today, but where we're going in the future.
I just, I think it's very...
It's a
very incredible experience.
And I think as well for folks out there, you have young people in your lives talk to them about what they're reading or what they're hearing when it comes to politics and news and the like as well.
So I was very happy to be able to...
talk to Ian as well, to these folks at Wausau East.
In fact, the teacher of that.
group is gonna be coming in here.
We'll be hearing from him on Monday of next week.
So talk a little bit about maybe what he hears and what he sees when it comes to the young people and the way they digest politics and news.
And find out a little bit more about that because sometimes I do think that we focus on the older folks and maybe I think we need to focus a little bit on the younger folks and how they are digesting the information that they're getting during this very, very interesting time in our country's history.
I agree.
But let's wrap things up as we do each and every weekday with our number for the day quiz Yes, we give Ian a quiz one of which we have three choices one of which is the number for the day and Based on the math he should get one out of three right 33% so anything about 33% is a passing grade if he gets more right than wrong It's a winning week four out of five right as an A grade and then of course he gets the gold star for a perfect week That's right today Disneyland Disneyland
Today is the anniversary of the opening of the Disney Disneyland Park
in
Anaheim, California.
The number for the day is what year did Disneyland open in Anaheim, California?
OK, what are my choices?
Your choices are 1955, 1965, 1975.
OK, I'm
going to say 1955.
55 is my final answer.
Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California on this very date, July the 16th, 1955.
Yes.
70
years ago today.
Man.
Well, two out
of three.
Happy
anniversary,
Disneyland.
You have a passing grade.
Go for a winning week tomorrow.
Awesome.
We'll see you then.
Happy Wednesday, everybody.
Have a great day.
Matanare on air coming up next on WXC.
