Almond, Wisconsin Public Records

In addition to the Almond, Portage County Sheriff's Office, several municipal police departments operate within the county, including the Stevens Point Police Department, Plover Police Department, and Amherst Police Department. Each department is responsible for law enforcement within its respective city limits, handling local crimes and community policing efforts. These agencies often collaborate with the Sheriff's Office on major investigations and emergencies, ensuring comprehensive law enforcement coverage across the county.

The Portage County Jail, located in Stevens Point, is the primary detention facility for individuals arrested within the county. The booking process involves photographing, fingerprinting, and documenting the personal information of the detainee. Inmate lookup is available through the county's online portal, allowing family and attorneys to find information on current inmates. Visitation at the jail is regulated, with specific hours and rules that must be adhered to, including scheduling visits in advance. The bond and bail process in Wisconsin allows for the release of detainees pending trial, with conditions set by the court.

Almond residents are served by the Portage County Circuit Court, located at the Portage County Courthouse, 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481, phone (715) 346-1351. The Circuit Court is Wisconsin's trial court of general jurisdiction and handles all criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors), civil cases with damages exceeding $10,000, family law matters (divorce, child custody, paternity, adoption), probate and estate matters, small claims cases up to $10,000, juvenile matters, and mental health commitments. Traffic and ordinance violations for Almond are also handled through the Circuit Court system. Portage County has four circuit court judges (Branches 1-4) who rotate through different case types. Court records for Portage County are available through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/, a free online database that allows the public to search by party name, case number, or attorney name to view case information, filings, judgments, and hearing schedules for cases dating back to the late 1980s. The WCCA system provides free access to basic case information and docket entries, though complete case files and exhibits typically require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Courts office at the courthouse. Certified copies of court documents cost $5.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page. The Portage County Clerk of Courts office, phone (715) 346-1351, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and handles public counter requests for case files, certified copies, and filing new cases. Copy fees for non-certified documents are $1.25 per page. For cases older than what appears in WCCA, records must be requested in person or by mail from the Clerk of Courts with specific case information.

The criminal records system in Portage County encompasses a variety of records, including felony, misdemeanor, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. These records are maintained by different agencies, with the Sheriff's Office and local police departments handling arrest and incident reports. Background checks in Wisconsin can be conducted through the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Crime Information Bureau, which provides access to statewide criminal history information. The Wisconsin Bureau of Investigation also plays a role in supporting local law enforcement with resources and expertise.

Arrest records in Portage County are maintained by the Portage County Sheriff's Office. These records include details of the arrest, charges filed, and personal information of the arrestee. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records through the Sheriff's Office, typically requiring a formal request under the Wisconsin Open Records Law. An arrest record in Portage County will generally include the date of arrest, charges, and the arresting agency, providing a comprehensive overview of the incident.

Property and land records for Almond are maintained by Portage County at the county seat in Stevens Point. The Portage County Land Records Office, located at 1516 Church Street, Room 202, Stevens Point, WI 54481, phone (715) 346-1428, provides public access to property assessment information, tax records, and parcel data. Property records can be searched online for free through the Portage County Land Information Portal at https://gis.co.portage.wi.us/landrecords/, which provides searchable access to property information by owner name, address, or parcel number. The online system displays current assessed values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, number of bedrooms and bathrooms), tax district codes, recent sale information, and assessment history. The Portage County Register of Deeds, also located at 1516 Church Street, phone (715) 346-1548, maintains and records all documents affecting real property ownership including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and other land-related instruments. Wisconsin law requires recording of real estate transfers and mortgage documents to establish legal ownership and priority of interests. The Register of Deeds office provides free online access to recorded land records through the Portage County Land Records website at https://gis.co.portage.wi.us/landrecords/, where users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, or parcel number to view and print scanned images of recorded documents dating back to approximately 1985. Documents recorded prior to the digitization period require an in-person visit or written request. Recording fees are established by Wisconsin Statutes §59.43 and typically cost $30 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. The Portage County GIS/Parcel Viewer at https://gis.co.portage.wi.us/Html5Viewer/ provides interactive mapping tools showing parcel boundaries, zoning, floodplains, aerial imagery, and property ownership information for all properties in Almond and throughout the county.

Almond's economy is fundamentally agricultural, with the community situated in one of Wisconsin's most productive farming regions. The area's primary economic drivers are potato farming and cranberry cultivation, with numerous commercial cranberry marshes surrounding the village taking advantage of the region's suitable wetland terrain and sandy soils. Major agricultural employers and operations in the immediate Almond area include family-owned cranberry operations and potato growers who supply major Wisconsin processors. The cranberry industry is particularly significant, as Wisconsin produces approximately 60% of the nation's cranberry crop, and Portage County is among the top cranberry-producing counties in the state. Ocean Spray Cranberries maintains receiving stations and works with local growers throughout the region. Agricultural support businesses, including equipment dealers and farm supply companies, provide additional employment. Many Almond residents also commute to Stevens Point, approximately 20 miles northwest, where major employers include Sentry Insurance (headquarters), the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (approximately 600 employees plus 7,000 students), Ascension Saint Michael's Hospital, and Georgia-Pacific paper mill. The median household income for the Town of Almond is estimated at approximately $52,000, somewhat below the Portage County median of around $59,000. The area has seen gradual development of rural residential properties as some residents seek affordable housing outside Stevens Point while maintaining employment in the city. The community retains its rural, agricultural character with limited commercial development concentrated along State Highway 49, and the local economy remains closely tied to seasonal agricultural cycles and the broader agricultural processing industry of central Wisconsin.

The Almond area is served by the Portage County Sheriff's Office, located at 1500 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point, WI 54481, phone (715) 346-1400, website https://www.co.portage.wi.us/department/sheriff. As an unincorporated community, Almond does not have its own police department, and the Sheriff's Office provides primary law enforcement services including patrol, criminal investigations, and emergency response to all unincorporated areas of Portage County including Almond. The Sheriff's Office operates a 24-hour dispatch center and maintains records of incidents, accidents, and calls for service in the community. To request police reports or incident records from the Portage County Sheriff's Office, residents must submit a written request under Wisconsin's Open Records Law, Wisconsin Statutes §19.35, either in person at the Sheriff's Office, by mail, or by email to sheriff@co.portage.wi.us. There may be a fee for copying records, typically around $0.25 per page for photocopies. Arrest records and jail bookings for Almond residents are maintained at the Portage County Jail, also located at 1500 Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point. The Portage County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster search at https://inmatesearch.portagecountywi.gov/, where the public can search current inmates by name and view booking information including mugshots, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and expected release dates. Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat. §§19.31-19.39) establishes that all government records are presumed open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law, and law enforcement agencies must respond to records requests as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay, typically within a few business days to two weeks depending on the complexity of the request.

Vital records for Almond residents, including birth and death certificates, are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Vital Records Office, 1 West Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703, phone 608-266-1371, website https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/index.htm. Birth and death certificates can be ordered online through the state's vendor VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com/ for a fee of $20 per certified copy plus a $12.50 VitalChek processing fee and shipping charges. In-person requests can be made at local Register of Deeds offices; the Portage County Register of Deeds at 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481, phone (715) 346-1548, accepts walk-in requests for vital records with a fee of $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Processing time is typically immediate for in-person requests at the county office and 2-3 weeks for mail or online orders through the state office. Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. §69.20-69.24) restricts access to birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years, with certified copies available only to the registrant (if of legal age), immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with a direct and tangible interest, with valid photo identification required. Marriage licenses are issued by the Portage County Register of Deeds office at 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, phone (715) 346-1548, with a fee of $110 for Wisconsin residents. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. There is a 6-day waiting period after the license is issued before the marriage ceremony can occur, and the license is valid for 30 days. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $20. Divorce records are maintained as part of family court case files in the Portage County Circuit Court, 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, phone (715) 346-1351, and can be searched through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page from the Clerk of Courts office.

As an unincorporated community within the Town of Almond, there is no city-level business licensing requirement specific to Almond village. Businesses operating in the Almond area may need to obtain permits or licenses from the Town of Almond for certain activities; contact the Town Clerk at W5186 State Road 49, Almond, WI 54909, phone (715) 366-2828, for information about local zoning compliance, building permits, and any town-specific requirements. Portage County does not maintain a general business license registry but does regulate specific activities such as alcohol sales, food service, and certain trades through various county departments. The Portage County Zoning Department at 1516 Church Street, Stevens Point, phone (715) 346-1351, handles conditional use permits, zoning compliance, and land use applications for unincorporated areas including Almond. Wisconsin state-level business entity formation and registration is handled by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services. Businesses can search existing corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other registered entities for free through the Wisconsin Business Entity Search at https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/. This database provides information on entity status, registered agent, business address, formation date, and annual report filing status. New business entities are registered online through the same portal, with fees of $130 for LLC Articles of Organization and $100 for corporation filings. Fictitious name registration (doing business as/DBA) is filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at a cost of $25 and can be searched through the business entity database. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches and filings, which establish secured interests in business personal property, are also managed by the Wisconsin DFI at https://www.wdfi.org/fi/ucc/. Property tax assessments for commercial properties in Almond can be researched through the Portage County Land Records portal at https://gis.co.portage.wi.us/landrecords/, where business owners can look up assessed values, property classifications, and tax history by address or parcel number.

Almond voters are served by the Portage County Clerk's Office, which administers elections for all municipalities in Portage County. The office is located at 1516 Church Street, Room 108, Stevens Point, WI 54481, phone (715) 346-1430, website https://www.co.portage.wi.us/department/county-clerk/elections. Wisconsin residents can register to vote online through the MyVote Wisconsin portal at https://myvote.wi.gov/, which allows registration up to 20 days before an election. Wisconsin also offers same-day voter registration at the polls on Election Day with proof of residence (such as a Wisconsin driver's license with current address, utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck). Acceptable photo ID is required to vote in Wisconsin under 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, including Wisconsin DOT-issued driver's license or ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal ID. As an unincorporated community within the Town of Almond, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Local governance is provided by the Town of Almond, which holds elections for Town Board Supervisors, Town Chair, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer during the spring election held on the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years. The next Town of Almond elections will be held in April 2025 and April 2027. Almond residents also vote in county, state, and federal elections. The MyVote Wisconsin website at https://myvote.wi.gov/ allows Almond residents to find their specific polling place by entering their address; voters in the Town of Almond typically vote at the Almond Community Center, W5165 State Highway 49, Almond, WI 54909. In the November 2024 presidential election, Portage County recorded approximately 67% voter turnout with approximately 47,500 ballots cast out of 70,850 registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement typical of Wisconsin's competitive electoral environment. On November 3, 2026, Wisconsin voters will decide several significant races: all of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House of Representatives seats will be contested; all 99 Wisconsin State Assembly seats and 17 of 33 State Senate seats (odd-numbered districts) will be on the ballot; and county offices including Portage County Board Supervisors for certain districts may be up for election depending on district schedules. The Wisconsin Governor's race is not scheduled for 2026 (next in 2026); however, statewide constitutional offices and judicial seats may appear on the ballot. Wisconsin does not have U.S. Senate elections in 2026 (next in 2028 for Tammy Baldwin's seat). Absentee voting in Wisconsin is available to any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Voters can request an absentee ballot online through MyVote Wisconsin at https://myvote.wi.gov/ or by submitting a written request to the Portage County Clerk. Absentee ballot requests must be received by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the municipal clerk's office by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Public election records available under Wisconsin law include voter registration lists (available to candidates and political parties under Wis. Stat. §6.36), campaign finance reports searchable through the Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS) at https://cfis.wi.gov/, candidate filing information, and precinct-level election results published by the Wisconsin Elections Commission at https://elections.wi.gov/ and by the Portage County Clerk after each election.