Almost two dozen organizations from the Shawano area got together May 7 for Connections for Change to showcase what they’re all about in the hopes of finding ways to combine volunteer forces and even find some new volunteers in the process. “The goal of the event is to connect these volunteers with 22 nonprofits here,” said Uriah Williams, executive director for the Shawano County United Way.

The Shawano School District plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4 p.m. May 20 at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St., Shawano, to celebrate the start of improvements to the school, along with Hillcrest Primary School and Shawano Community Middle School. The ceremony will feature remarks from key stakeholders.

Students at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano were part of a historic moment May 8 as they joined millions around the world in watching the live coverage of the election of Pope Leo XIV. The event sparked excitement and curiosity among the students.

May is National Grace Trail Month, and Shawano Pathways has invited the community to experience the transformative power of the Grace Trail. These trails offer a unique opportunity to connect with nature while engaging in personal contemplation. Two special events are planned for the Shawano Grace Trails. • May 19, Alpine Shores Grace Trail, 286 Northridge Drive, Shawano. Third-grade students will walk the trail throughout the day.

Wisconsin had 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork statewide for the week ending May 4, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainy conditions, especially in northern areas of the state, hampered planting efforts. Pastures, hay and small grains benefited from the moisture. Topsoil moisture condition rated 7% short, 66% adequate and 27% surplus.

Northcentral Technical College Northcentral Technical College announced the president’s list for outstanding academic achievement for the fall 2024 term. The following students enrolled in a post-secondary program, earned a 3.75 grade-point average or above, and successfully completed a minimum of six credits during the fall term. Aniwa: Emily Kassler Sobieski: Natasha VandenBush Tigerton: Jacqline Swenson

Venture Architects has kicked off its master planning phase for Shawano County, with schematic designs of new buildings to follow by the end of summer. Corey Beyer, with Venture Architects of Milwaukee, told the public property committee May 8 he has laid out the process for which the company was hired. “For master planning, a couple months here in May and June … eventually we’ll interview all our departments, get some feedback from them, collect

Steve Breaker lives in Shawano County, but hunts deer on family property in Waupaca County. That’s why he showed up May 1 for Waupaca County’s County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) meeting in Manawa. Besides being interested in the council’s recommendations for Waupaca County’s upcoming 2025 deer hunting seasons, Breaker also wanted to share his thoughts on chronic wasting disease, which first showed up in Wisconsin more than 20 years ago and has r

Shawano County officials will stay out of the henhouse now that the ordinance governing the birds has been eliminated from the books. The planning, development and zoning committee agreed May 7 to scrap any reference to chickens or coops from the ordinance dealing with standards associated with farm animals. Towns, villages and cities within the county will continue to have their own rules and regulations; the county rules applied only to those a