Looking at both the future and the past has resulted in a good outlook for Wittenberg during the year 2025.
Topping the list of stories was the push for a new museum in the village that resulted in a gift from the Nueske family. Across town, new apartments breaking ground filled the second slot in the Wittenberg Enterprise and Birnamwood News’s top 10 list.
Here’s a look at what made headlines in 2025:
1. New museum planned for Wittenberg
History is always expanding, and for the Wittenberg Area Historical Society, that poses a problem with its current building.
The historical society made a formal announcement Feb. 21 that it planned to build a new building next to the existing 1904 one-room German Lutheran parochial schoolhouse, allowing it to showcase more of the memorabilia that makes Wittenberg and its surrounding communities unique. That changed later in the year when the Nueske family offered the building they own at 106 W. Vinal St. to become the new museum.
The building was originally going to be restored by Bob Nueske before he died. The historical society wants to keep much of the existing structure but doesn’t want to completely renovate it, as that’s an expensive proposition. The building was built in 1901 and served as the village’s drug store until 1969 when the Gwidt family moved out of the building. The historical society is hoping to at least have the first floor ready within a year.
2. Swiderski breaks ground on apartments
More housing for the Wittenberg area has been an issue for years, but the village took steps this year to bring more people to the area as S.C. Swiderski broke ground on a new apartment complex near its industrial park.
Swiderski already has locations in more than 25 cities in Wisconsin, including Shawano, but officials are looking forward to making a home along Freedom Way in Wittenberg, near the Nueske’s training facility on the east end of the village. The project expects to create 60 apartments on seven acres in the community.
Wittenberg Village Board President William Switalla noted that Nueske’s, top brass and the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District have worked to bring in top talent to work at their respective facilities, but many of those new employees have had to look outside Wittenberg to find available housing. He said the new apartments would allow employees to live closer to where they work.
3. Matsche sentenced on gun charges in April
Kyle Matsche was sentenced April 22 by Shawano-Menominee Circuit Court Judge Katherine Sloma to 11 years in prison, followed by eight years of probation for felony weapon possession. Matsche’s 490 days in the Shawano County Jail were credited in the sentence. Sloma’s sentence was closer to District Attorney Greg Parker’s recommendation of 12-15 years than it was to defense attorney Kirk Everson’s recommendation of four years.
Normally, gun ownership would not be an issue for most people due to the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. However, Matsche was convicted of felony bail jumping in instances between 2008 and 2010, and his felony status prohibits him from owning any firearms.
Matsche was originally charged with 71 counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, seven counts of selling or possessing a firearm silencer and one count of possession of narcotic drugs. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4. Rachel’s named to ‘America’s Best Restaurants’
Rachel Rasmussen had some incredible goals 20 years ago when she started working as a bartender at the junction of state Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 45 and, soon after, bought the business. Since then, she’s achieved a lot. However, the achievement of being featured as one of “America’s Best Restaurants” is one that the owner of Rachel’s Roadside Bar and Grill probably didn’t see coming.
“America’s Best Restaurants” visited Rachel’s Roadside on Sept. 23 to try some of the signature items the Wittenberg restaurant has to offer, including: Christmas curds, a variation of cheese curds with an added sweet flavor; a French onion soup with cheese curds added for some extra kick; and the Wittenberger, a half-pound burger with sauteed mushrooms and onions, smokin’ barbecue sauce and melted cheese curds.
“America’s Best Restaurants” searches for independent restaurants and profiles them online, having featured almost 2,000 eateries across 46 states. The episode filmed recently is expected to be available for viewing in late November or early December.
5. Sidewalk project finally happens for village
The village of Wittenberg is finally getting new sidewalk segments following an effort four years in the making.
Potrykus Construction began work in July on nearly $1 million worth of sidewalk work totaling about a mile.
New segments included North Genesee Street, East Grand Avenue, South Webb Street, East Vinal Street, Pond Park, South Ellms Street and West Reed Street.
6. Straight Home recognized for burgers
Amanda and Drew Schmidt have owned Straight Home Bar and Grill for eight years, and for the past seven years have won several categories from Best Bar, Best Happy Hour and Best Burger in the yearly readers’ poll of the Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News.
Last year, they were also nominated to a new contest created by the Wisconsin Beef Council and found themselves in the Elite Eight of Wisconsin’s Best Burger Contest. Although they did not take home the trophy for Best Burger, this year they were back in the inner circle of the Elite Eight hoping to get the trophy and bragging rights of coming in first place.
7. Pair of tornadoes strike area in April
A pair of tornadoes were reported in western Shawano County the night of April 28 with no injuries or deaths reported, according to the National Weather Service’s Green Bay office.
According to NWS, one tornado touched down at 10 p.m. 3 miles east of Birnamwood. A second tornado touched down at 10:02 p.m. a mile south of Mattoon. Both were rated EF0, with estimated peak wind speeds of 80 mph. The first tornado was on the ground for two minutes, it covered a path 1.88 miles long and 55 yards wide. The second was on the ground for eight minutes, it covered a path 6.2 miles long and 65 yards wide.
8. Teacher spends summer with sharks
Bowler High School science teacher Kate Hansen spent much of her summer in the Bahamas, specifically Bimini, learning about sharks. The whole experience started when Hansen received notification from a Facebook group dedicated to helping teachers get scholarships for extended learning opportunities at museums, NASA and other places. When the notice about the shark lab came up, Hansen’s interest was captured.
The specific lab, the Bimini Biological Field Station, has been operational for more than 30 years, according to Hansen. They research lemon sharks, a vulnerable species that can grow up to 11 feet in length and is known for its yellowish skin. They’re more commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean inhabiting areas from the coast of New Jersey all the way to southern Brazil.
9. Birnamwood resident running for Congress
Birnamwood resident Ben Hable is tired of seeing representatives in Congress who don’t look like him and don’t hold his values, so he’s planning to be the voice of the people as he announced his candidacy for the 8th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Tony Wied.
So far, three Democrats have announced their candidacy, with the primary just shy of a year away. Besides Hable, Rick Crosson, of Green Bay, and Mark Scheffler, of Appleton, have thrown their hats into the ring. Whoever wins the primary Aug. 13, 2026, is expected to face off against Wied.
10. Ho-Chunk offers meals during shutdown
Ho-Chunk Gaming wanted to help the community during the government shutdown. The Wittenberg-based casino, hotel and entertainment center started handing out free to-go meals at its River’s Edge Restaurant on Nov. 4.
The meals ended Nov. 7 after SNAP benefits were reinstated that day for thousands of Wisconsin residents. More than 100 meals were served over the four days, and the program was called a success.
