RUSK COUNTY INFORMATION CENTER

As the picture exemplifies, the Center is open on
a year around basis, five days weekly during the off
season - or winter months, and seven days a week
for four months, June through September.
The Center's operation is under the guidance of
the  Tourist Promotion    Committee   of the
LADYSMITH AREA CHAMBER OF COM-
MERCE, a non profit association. Funds for the
center's operation are received from the City of
Ladysmith, Rusk County, the Ladysmith Area C of
C, and the Flambeau JC's. Some of the Center's
benefits and accomplishments are to furnish a year
around source of information distributed by mail,
and to travelers stopping at the Center. Records
reveal that between six and seven thousand persons
register each year. Besides furnishing information,
the Center is an outlet for around 140 Rusk County
Senior Citizens for the sales of handcrafted items.
About $12,000.00 a year in sales, which amounts to
an average of about $1,000.00 per month. Persons
qualifying for this privilege must be 62 years of age
and a landowner in Rusk Co.
A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE CENTER
After repeated suggestions by many concerned
citizens, one, Mr. O.J. Falge comes to mind, that an

information center could be of great value. The
Tourist   Promotion    Committee     of the
LADYSMITH COMMUNITY CLUB accepted
the challenge. As a result, the Center was built in
1966 for a total cost of $14,000.00. The committee
at that time consisted of the following persons. Jim
Weisenberger, Robert Klake, Harold Billings,
Huston Dennis, Donald Lent and Floyd Davis -
(all of which are still active in 1983) - Don
Walsdorf, Willis Peterson, Jack Kramer, George
Haasl, Joe Leiser, Jim Moran, Leonard Boss,
Jeanette Recore Tiews and Mickey Boettcher. The
$14,000.00 was raised by pledges from 116
businesses totaling $6,000.00, $3,500.00 was ac-
quired from the former defunct JC's, $500.00 value
on lot received from the County Forrestry Commit-
tee, $3,000.00 from the City and $1,000.00 from the
County. Soon after the Center was completed, we
became eligible for funds from the Stats Commis-
sion on aging. These funds lasted for three years,
and from that time on, the City, County and the
Ladysmith Area Chamber of Commerce have been
the principle underwriters for the whole basic
Center activities. In addition to the six members
that served on the Committee in 1966 and still serv-
ing in 1983 are John Rauhut, Harold (Pete) Peavey,
John Gehler, Dee Walker, Marilyn Kulibert and
Bill Virgil.

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