And welcome back, it is the WXCO morning report, part of mornings with Pat Crite-Low on 98.9 WXCO.
I am Chad Holmes and every other week we get an opportunity to speak about what is happening at the Grand Theater, normally with the executive director.
Sean Wright, but today we're very happy to welcome in another of the higher archae I would say at the Grand, the marketing and communications coordinator, Anya Hannington.
And Anya, good to see you again.
Good to see you too.
Absolutely.
And before we start, for folks who may not have heard you with us before, what does your job entail?
Oh, so I handle basically everything that people see online, sometimes on TV, on the radio, I make all your all those ads that you see.
Everything goes up on Facebook or Instagram.
and the emails you get, so hopefully they're not bothering you.
How long have you been with The Grand?
Almost three and a half years now.
How would you describe your job?
Is it something that you just love going into every day?
I do, I really do.
It's really such a fun opportunity to get to, I mean, see all the amazing
shows that come to The
Grand.
But the environment is just so fun.
Everyone has a good time.
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, I
would definitely recommend it
to anybody who has the opportunity to, it's a great job.
Right now we're right at the end of July.
And so often, I think for many years, there was a sense that, well, this is sort of the downtime, the season has come to an end, the new season will be coming soon, but.
I've noticed in the last couple of years that it really never slows down at the ground.
What may slow down a little bit, but boy, there's always shows coming in.
In fact, this week, another show coming in, right?
Yeah, that's, that's correct.
Actually, uh, tonight on Thursday,
July 31st, we have a
show, uh, we have straight no chaser coming back to the grand.
They're doing their summer, the nineties tour.
So they're an acapella group and they're a lot of fun.
And they'll be singing, uh, all these hits from the nineties that you know and love.
They're like in tropical shirts.
It's very summery.
It's very
fun.
silly and it's going to be a great time.
So if you don't have plans tonight or don't have your tickets yet, you should come on down and see Straight No Chaser tonight.
I just really like the idea that you still have opportunities to see shows at the Grand even during the summer months.
Oh, I think absolutely.
Um, you know, we had nitty gritty dirt band here a couple of weeks ago and that like sold out so quickly.
We have the Righteous Brothers coming up in August.
That's the first technically the first show on our 2025-2026 season.
And I think already
We have under 200 tickets left for that.
Plus, we bring in shows from outside promoters as well.
Every show fluctuates.
That's just true throughout the whole season.
Some shows bring in more people than others, but there's, we've definitely not noticed any sort of indication
in
the summertime that people don't want to come see a great performance at the Grand.
One of the things that I imagine for everybody at the Grand is when something kind of helps in terms of getting the attention or maybe they can have people notice, hey, I want to get those tickets.
And especially when you got them scheduled already and you have a comedian that's coming up as part of your new season that has a new Netflix.
special dropping.
Yes, that's correct.
So Dusty Slay, he is coming in November on us Friday, November 21st, and he just released a new special on Netflix.
This released on Tuesday.
It's called Wet Heaped, and it's very ridiculous
and
funny.
He's obviously observational comedy.
He's from the South.
He's a very sort of dry, humor-working, class blue collar sort of observation, things like that.
And he's very silly.
It's very fun and just dropped.
So if you're looking for
something to do to beat the heat I guess you know right
now and you're like
I want to stay inside check out that special and then check out Dusty Slay in person again coming on Friday November 21st to the Grand Theater we love getting to bring in these you know hot
new
comedians or performing comedians who yeah they're just fun it's a fun show every time I laugh
out loud.
Anya Handington is a marketing communications coordinator at the Grand Theater with us here on 98.9 WXO.
It is coming up very quickly on the new season.
And I know there's a few shows that you want to kind of focus on here in order for people to think about, you know, because it's never too early.
If you think you want to see a show, what are some of the shows that people should be thinking about maybe early on as the new season gets coming up?
Well, I will say there's a number of shows that are definitely approaching sellouts.
So you
should definitely I mean, again, if you go on to
to our Facebook, I do try to keep people posted about things like that.
And
like I mentioned,
Righteous Brothers is one of those shows.
Red Light Alert, something like
that.
But you know, it is July 31st, which means that we're only like three months away from Halloween.
But
I love
Halloween, and we have a couple shows coming up, one in September, one in October.
I mean, we have more than those, we have many, many shows.
But these two shows in particular, kind of perfect for the Halloween season.
So on Saturday, September 20th, we have, here come the m-
which is a like funk group, and they're mummies.
They are fully dressed as mummies and they play this very fun funk rock music with very silly names.
It's gonna be a really good show.
That was just gonna be a lot of fun.
The music is great, the atmosphere is great.
It's gonna be just exciting
and entertaining.
I mean,
what more can you want?
And so that is definitely a show I would check out Saturday, September 20th, here come the mummies.
And then of course,
The
Addams
Family is coming, the Addams Family musical, that is October 14th and 15th.
This show is just hilarious.
This is a hit show.
It has been touring for years.
Audiences love it.
It's very silly.
It is, of course, based off of the Addams Family cartoon strip and then the TV show and the movies and what so on and so forth.
About Wednesday Addams, the daughter falling in love with a regular guy.
all the
shenanigans that are gonna happen when these two families collide.
Is that not the show that you had said earlier when we were talking about when the season came out?
Yeah, I'm super excited to see that show.
Have you got your tickets yet, Ian?
My mom and I already have a...
Tickets for that you do have the tickets.
Hey, that's what you like to hear.
I do like to hear that folks that super excited for that show It's always great when they say why are we really gonna go and see I want to see it get the tickets
And it's two nights and we have a 730 show on the 14th and a 7 p.m Show on the 15th so get your tickets early.
You don't want to wait
You know these are they're just they're both gonna be some really fun shows at every show coming to the grand is gonna be a fun show So
you can learn more
about our entire season at grand theater org that is theater with an ER not an RE
Yeah, just go there.
All of our shows are there.
All of our newly announced shows are there.
All the rental shows are there.
Anything coming to the Grand is going to be on that website.
It is the best place to go to get information about what is coming to the Grand and to get your tips.
Well, Ania, it's always great to have you on board.
Hopefully, it won't be as long.
It's been a long time.
It has.
It's
been a
while.
I will be back.
I will be back
soon.
Fantastic.
Ania Hannington from the Grand Theater joining us in place of the executive director, Sean Wright.
The time is 7.29 coming up next.
It is the farm report and then more of mornings with pack right low coming up here on 98.9 WXEO.
Morning.
Once again, everyone, it is the WXO morning report on 98.9 WXO online at WXO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXO and on the civic media app.
It is a really, really nice morning.
I mean, you talk about refreshing the temperatures have gone down a bit and very refreshing start.
There is partly cloudy skies, some haze out there.
56 degrees is the temperature in downtown Wausau.
We are at the corner of Washington Street and North Third Street in downtown Wausau.
I am Chad Holmes along with Ian Welsh.
here on 98.9 WXCO.
Again, if you're not familiar with how we do things nowadays, during the 22 and 52 after the hour segments in the seven and eight o'clock hours during mornings with Pack Right Low, we have what we call the WXCO morning report.
We talk about things going on here in Central Wisconsin.
We talk to folks involved in activities in Central Wisconsin.
We had Anya Hannington from the Grand Theater on in the 22
after the hour segment here this morning.
And again, we are part of the mornings with Pat Crichtlow team here on 98.9 WXDL.
Also, please note that, yes, it is refreshing out there, but as it's been throughout the course of the week, the air quality is not good.
There is an air quality alert basically for the entire 98.9 WXCO listening area.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory for all the counties in our listening area, including right here in Marathon County, as it's been this way, and actually it's not just our listening area.
It's the entirety of the state of Wisconsin.
You don't see that very often but
the
entirety of the state of Wisconsin has an air quality alert in effect until noon today, so please be aware that if you go outside and you feel some symptoms some health issues because of the air quality make sure that you
Get inside and don't push it and also people with asthma.
Follow your asthma action plan and keep a quick relief medicine handy.
So again, keep outdoor activity shorter and less intense or go inside if you have symptoms.
And of course our weather team will keep you up to speed on that as we continue throughout the course of the day here on 98.9 WXCO.
You heard the voice that is Ian Welsh who is on the other side of the window here in
in our studios.
Good morning, Ian.
Good morning, Chad.
What's happening with you?
Well, last night, my family and I went to the concert on the square last night.
It was actually a very ideal weather last night.
It wasn't too hot.
There was a little bit of a breeze and it actually wasn't as...
crowded at the concert last night because a lot of people and a lot of the food vendors were also at the Wisconsin Valley Fair.
So there's actually a few more spaces as I need to sit.
It was actually a very nice concert as well.
The band that was playing was very talented.
I performed a lot of classic hits and they didn't even have a drum.
It was all string instruments and it was really cool.
Very good.
And again, I remember the name of the band.
Oh, sorry.
It's always interesting that some of these events that are.
pretty weekly during the course of the summer
months.
And then you have a big event like the Wisconsin Valley Fair going on, you wonder, how it's going to affect things.
And yes, as you said, perhaps maybe not as many folks were there, but at the same time, it still provides the entertainment.
And it may be even sometimes where you have a little bit of elbow room and you're able to truly enjoy it a little bit more.
So I'm glad that events such as that, that everything doesn't shut down just because that we have the fair coin on.
from Anya about the event going on tonight at the Grand Theater.
So there'll be activity here in downtown Wausau, but that doesn't mean you can't still go over.
I mean, even during the daytime hours, of course, the doors open early at the fair, get there on lunchtime and enjoy some of the food and some of the activities.
A lot of the entertainment does not occur until later in the evening, but at the same time, there's just a lot going on here as we get to the final day of July.
July the 31st that means we are at the end of the Seventh month of the year that means five months to go of go here in 2025 We're two
thirds
of the
way
through summer.
Yeah, basically We're getting to the the point where I know I remember back when many years ago many many many years ago When I was a kid you get to the month of August and all of a sudden you start thinking well
Pretty soon got to go out with the folks and buy the school supplies for the new school year by the new
clothes get those new blue jeans and get ready for the start of another school year and in fact I look at when I get to August I start thinking oh wow I mean we're about three weeks away it'll be three weeks from tomorrow actually three weeks from tonight that's our first high school football broadcast because this year Wausau West begins their season on Thursday night not Friday so that's a good thing for me because then I can do a game on Thursday night and then do New Macathic on Friday night but yeah Wausau
West opens up their season three weeks from tonight to then do my Catholic will open up their season three weeks from tomorrow night.
We are in the midst right now of trying to get the support that we need from advertisers.
And if you're somebody that appreciates what we do when it comes to our high school sports coverage, uh, Leah and myself.
Leo's our salesperson here in our wasa office We have broadcasting packages and I would love for you to reach out to me We can just provide the package to let you look at not gonna twist your arm But if it's something you feel like it's worthwhile and we do think it's worthwhile We do think that it's important that
we
are the only wasa radio station that still provides play-by-play of high school sports with the wasa west warriors and the new mcathik Cardinals So if you are interested reach out to me Chad
homes at civicmedia.us and we'll get you that information.
Ian, we have another hour.
We're
going to try to
get you on the winning track with the number for the day at the end of the next hour.
That's right.
But coming up, I will be joining Pat Crite Low at 806 here on WXCO.
you
And welcome back it is the WXCO morning report part of warnings with pack right low here on 98.9 WXCO online at wxco.fm mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the civic media app
Overcast guys, some haze out there, temperature up a few degrees.
Right now it is 60 degrees here at our downtown studios at the corner of Washington Street and North Third Street in downtown Wausau with Ian Walsh.
I'm Chad Holmes.
I want to kind of continue on the topic that I was talking about with Pat Crite low for the last few minutes about good government.
Wisconsin for decades, it was known as a place for good government.
I agree and And I think that going back to the Walker era that has been Chipped away at in a lot of different ways and And here in central, Wisconsin we discussed this a bit yesterday again just to kind of reset where we are the ethics board of the wasa ethics board has concluded their investigation right now into
the Dropbox issue, but they will have a September hearing on the case.
And now they're talking about having subpoenas for witnesses.
And there's a dozen witnesses they requested information from.
And I am really annoyed by this, to be honest with you.
I think that in a situation like this, public servants should be not compelled
to give information, they should be volunteering information in order to get to a result.
If they have information that is good for the mayor, bring it out.
If they have information that does not make the mayor look so good, bring it out, whatever
it may
be.
And I really, and frankly, again, I don't mean this to be, you know, personal in any way, but when you have the chief of police who is not,
Giving the facts without being prodded that really bothers me because there's 12 different folks that have been asked for information with the communications and other documents involving this case and again for folks I'm sure many of you as if not all of you realize it's been almost a year since last September when Mayor Doug Denney removed a
Voter Dropbox from outside City Hall, but the Sub the ethics board sent letters to 12 different folks including city council president Lisa Rasmussen police chief Matt Barnes Public Works director Eric Lindman Others as well seven of the 12 replied of those
The chief of police Matt Barnes and the public works director Eric Lindman provided nearly identical responses declining to provide statements and calling the board's request for written statements and documents overly generalized vague and ambiguous The police chief Saying that he's not gonna release information that is part of this investigation is
Disturbing to me.
Yeah, I don't understand the idea that a police chief who?
Asked folks for information all the time while investigating Crimes or potential crimes, right?
Would that would that be okay with him if he was asking for folks for information?
Well, I'm not good.
That's an overly vague request He is a public servant
And the idea that he is not going to provide information that could help determine what exactly happened in this case in my viewpoint is unacceptable.
And it's not just for the police chief, but other public servants.
And again, that's the term I'm going to use, public servants.
The idea they can hide behind technicalities, in my opinion, is wrong.
It's
very wrong.
Am I off on that?
No, I believe you're absolutely right.
I think the fact that the police chief is chief is Saying that it's to generalize and vague release information is I think it reflects that badly on him on his position and also on the police department because you know
You're saying things like this You're kind of lessening people's Faith and you know your duty to serve the public good
Let me let me put it this way if he has information that is exculpatory for the mayor Or if he has information that is not exculpatory for the mayor.
It should be released It doesn't matter.
I mean
all information needs to be shared the idea that there could be information
That could help finally determine the fact of this case and that he's hiding behind Generalized vague and ambiguous,
you know
statements technicalities is just not right.
So again, I just talk, you know going back to the point I made at the start good government
We need folks that are willing to be good public servants and stand up and not Be compelled to give the information that they have but to be Voluntary to try to get to the facts in this case.
So again, that's just my opinion and not just be be
like called to give an insight they should be Proactive almost a one.
Yeah, a proactive.
You're gonna be proactive it if you information
You should get on your phone and call them right away.
Yes.
It's not that complicated.
You shouldn't wait for things to happen.
You should make things happen.
Nope, you're exactly right.
So again, just my thoughts on it here this morning.
Coming up, Pat Crite-Lowe is back.
Joseph Hecke will be discussing the gubernatorial race and a whole bunch more politically.
That's coming up next after an information update here on 98.9 WXEL.
WXCO morning report on 98.9 WXCO online at WXCO dot FM mobile devices and Alexa by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.
The time is 8.53.
Again, cloudy skies, a little bit of haze out there, temperature now 61 degrees and really look at the forecast.
No rain in the forecast pretty much throughout the rest of this week, throughout the weekend and even
early next week at really the next chance that we have of any rain.
It's only a 20% chances on Tuesday.
So again, look for the dry conditions to continue.
And that means if you're heading out to enjoy some of the outdoor activities here in North Central Wisconsin, including the Wisconsin Valley Fair tonight, the grandstand entertainment at the fair will be Night Ranger.
If you're from my era night rangers right in the sweet spot so night ranger at the grandstand at the Wisconsin Valley Fair at 7 30 tonight Also earlier this week.
We had Nathan Grunman and Terry alle Odo of the Central Wisconsin area community theater
discussing this weekend's production of Romeo and Juliet, which is being performed at the Smeakley Reserve in Steve's Point.
But that gets underway tonight, the first night of that production, so if you can.
Looking for some
breaks every passing crew
Shakespearean entertainment Goes on tonight tomorrow and Saturday at 6 p.m.
And then Sunday at 2 p.m.
In the outdoors So again another idea on some great entertainment as we get to the end of July into early August should be pretty nice Weather for that as well.
Yeah,
they're very fortunate I mean sometimes
is you well
know that the weather can be a bit of a curveball
But no problem
when you're doing
outdoor theater.
Absolutely.
And you have outdoor theater coming up way down to about, but
how many weeks till your
show?
I think it's actually about, uh, uh, yeah.
Two weeks from today, actually.
Two weeks from today.
So yeah, you're getting down to the nitty gritty.
Yeah.
Everything going okay with it.
Yeah.
Honestly, it's a lot of fun.
Just it's a very funny show.
Everybody in the.
Cass is doing a great job with their characters and memorizing the lines.
And we're all just having a really good time and hopefully if the weather cooperates, it should be another great outdoor theater opportunity indeed.
Yep, absolutely.
And hopefully we'll get some folks in from your production to talk about it before.
Yes, very
soon.
get to the opening of it, and again, outdoor theater, there's something different about it, isn't it?
Yeah.
It's definitely a different, a very cool experience, because you don't have, you don't really have to, well, you can't really have microphones, so you really have to work on your projection.
Yeah.
And it's a space that we're performing at at Stewart.
The park is pretty open and there's a lot of room to move so We're not to adjust to that as well, but you know wrong Last time I did she's been apart was a lot of fun.
So I have no reason to doubt that this show Won't be even more fun
fantastic so again so many great things to do and if you get out there and enjoy
some
of the outdoor activities whether it's the theater whether it's the fair or anything else the weather looking pretty good and have a lot of fun again really this time of year one of the great times of the year to be living here in north central Wisconsin I was talking to somebody the other day that's from
Not this area and the thing that we have are the seasons.
We have the four seasons and
We do we
have the summertime right now And of course we will get into the fall soon enough and then of course we'll have the winter and the spring is but If you if you're bored with one type of weather you do not get bored here in central, Wisconsin So again so many great
outdoor
activities in all four of the seasons to partake in here in north central, Wisconsin.
Yeah.
All right.
Well, let's wrap it up with our
number for the day quiz because dog on it.
You got to get on the winning track today.
Your pressure is really on
your over three this week.
That's not good.
And
I think with all the previous answers have been the middle.
Well, we'll see whether or not it stays that way here today or not.
But you have to get two out of five.
in order to have a passing grade, because based on the math, you get three choices every day, one of which is correct.
That's 33%.
So if you're above 33%, you're a passing grade.
If you're below 33%, it's a failing grade.
Of course, we always like to have you get the winning week, which is more right than wrong, but that's already out the window.
And a
grade is four out of five, and the gold star is a perfect week.
Five out of five, which you've done one time previously.
But today,
Okay.
Our topic is the census.
Coming up on Saturday, August the second, it is the 235th anniversary of the first census.
Census.
Yep.
Back in 1790, federal marshals counted the folks in the United States, living in all 16 states and territories.
Okay.
The first census found Virginia to be the most populous state with about 750,000 people.
The number for the day is what was the United States total population?
States and territories in 1790 in the first census So okay your choices are One million people approximately one million people okay approximately 2.5 million people or approximately four million people
So 1 million 2.5 million 4 million so You
know what I'm gonna say Just remember
remember Virginia had 750,000 just for your knowledge.
Okay,
so I'm gonna say This is the total population of the US, right?
Yep 16
states and territories.
So I'm gonna say
Precious really on hurry Okay, I'm gonna say one million one million is my final one
million seven hundred fifty thousand was Virginia The rest of the country is at 250,000 we'll try again tomorrow.
Yep.
We will
