From the Stevens Point Journal April 8, 2003:

City prepared for Trivia event

BY KATE GARSOMBKE
JOURNAL STAFF

With 33 years of Trivia tradition behind them, residents and city officials say they're ready for anything the contest might bring, from die-hards hunting for Trivia Stone clues to participants craving junk food.

Sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated Trivia teams aren't as rowdy as people think, said Stevens Point Police Officer Marty Skibba.

"Trivia has been going on for so long, it really has settled into its own," he said. "We don't get the disturbances one might equate with a larger gathering."
People began registering their teams Monday afternoon for Trivia 34: Survivor Trivia. The annual Trivia parade will start at 4 p.m. Friday, with 54 hours of questions beginning at 6 p.m.

Other than allowing over-night parking during the contest, the city doesn't take any steps to prepare for the contest. Neither does the Stevens Point Fire Department, said Fire Chief Mark Barnes.

Last year, the fire department responded to a fire alarm in a dorm at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Al-though the call ended up being a false alarm, students refused to leave because they were playing Trivia.

There haven't been problems on campus resulting from Trivia in the past, said John Taylor, security supervisor for UW-SP's Protective Services. But to be safe, he beefs up his security staff over the weekend.

Normally, two security officers work over the weekend. On Trivia weekend, there will be three officers - possibly more, he said.

"We advise staff that over the weekend they could see different or unusual things," he said. "Trivia doesn't seem to generate any criminal activity. People are too interested in Trivia to do anything else."
Trivia's home base - the WWSP-FM studio - sits in the Communication Arts Center on campus.

Taylor said more often than complaints, people call the security office if a campus-related question comes up during the contest.

"They think we can maybe get them going in the right direction," he said.

Local grocery stores also prepare for Trivia customers.

"We try to plan for the customer's shopping habits," said Jim Schickert, store director of County Market, 1600 Academy Ave. "The weather has a lot to do with it. If it's nice out, we're talking steaks and charcoal."
Schickert said there are not any specific products - like chips and dip - that the store sees a run on over the weekend. "It runs the gamut as far as what customers' likes are," he said.


Garsombke can be reached at 344-6100, Ext. 2509, or at kate.garsombke@cwnews.net.