Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Clough, Jurgaitis, Mohr, Anding
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/07/2016
NIC Information Kiosks in Neillsville (Unveiling - 2016)
NIC Unveils Information Kiosks in Neillsville
By Todd Schmidt
The Neillsville Improvement Corporation (NIC) announces the placement of three information kiosks at various locations in the community.
They are located near the gazebo downtown, the WCCN Pavilion at the east entrance to town, and the Listeman Arboretum parking lot at the west entrance to town.
NIC president Don Clough said Thursday the NIC group settled on a theme of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” The backbone of the “yesterday” panel is the new Historic Walking Tour brochure created by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. There will also be information about the 1897 Jail Museum.
The “Today” portion is a new community brochure put together by the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC). The “Tomorrow” portion is based around the city and NACC community events calendar. Some event flyers will also be posted.
NIC researched kiosk types and prices, worked with the city and private entities on locations, networked with the groups previously mentioned on content and raised the money. The Listeman Foundation graciously donated $10,000 to the project, which covered purchasing the three kiosks and building the bases. Local contractors built the bases. Volunteers assembled the kiosks and with city help, mounted them.
“There projects are a reminder of what all of us can do when we work together and coordinate our efforts,” Clough said. “The hope is these kiosks will be a source of information for local people as well as travelers. They are aimed at pulling more people into town and educating them as to what Neillsville has to offer.”
Clough said partners on the kiosk project included NIC, the Listeman Foundation, the city Public Works Department, Workforce Resource, the city Historic preservation Commission, NACC, WCCN Radio and many volunteers.
The kiosk at the entrance to the Listeman Arboretum will be unveiled during the dedication of the new Wisconsin Historic marker Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m.
Clough credits Mary Jurgaitis for her efforts in heading up the historic marker project. Jurgaitis worked with the NIC, the city Historic Preservation Commission, the city Public Works Department and State Department of Transportation to facilitate the project.
“She also arranged funding and help from the LDS Church,” Clough said. “This marker gives some of the early history of Neillsville and the impact of white pine on the founding of Neillsville.”
Clough said the projects emerged from a Placemaking process started two years ago. A series of six public meetings were held to collect input.
“These meetings identified locations that could be improved and projects to improve them,” Clough noted. “Priorities were assigned and people volunteered to head up projects.”
Alex Mohr and Haleigh Anding headed up a Geocaching project to establish more sites in and around Neillsville. They and their friends established new sites and registered them on the Internet so Neillsville now has over 15 geocaching sites, and counting, within three miles.
Clough said additional projects were identified during the Placemaking process that will be worked on in the future. To volunteer to help or for more information, stop by The Thirsty Bookworm located on Hewett Street in downtown Neillsville or call Clough at 715-743-3440.
This new information kiosk is set up near the entrance to the Listeman Arboretum in Neillsville. Other information kiosks are located at the WCCN Pavilion and near the gazebo downtown. (Contributed photo)
