Richard William Blank, 90, of Ovid, Michigan, formerly of Birnamwood, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Welcome Home Assisted Living in Owosso, Michigan.

The best place you never hunted is yours for the asking.

The reason you probably never went there is because the stories about public hunting probably scared you away.

“There are too many crazies out there,” the story goes. “You’ll run into squirrel hunters, hikers and maybe even anti-hunters who will scream at you.”

Purchasing land for hunting — whether it’s a 40-acre property or a multimillion-dollar parcel — is a major investment.

Companies like Whitetail Properties Real Estate can help make that purchase easier for buyers and sellers.

Gillett is in need of more housing, and more development of the city’s downtown is needed.

Both were key points in a presentation Nov. 5 to the Gillett Common Council of the city’s strategic plan, which was made possible through a grant from the Thrive Rural Wisconsin program, an offering of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Members of the Gillett Common Council almost had to plug their noses Nov. 5 as they reluctantly approved a 10% increase in residential sewer rates.

Residential sewer meter costs will go up $2.80 per month. This comes on the heels of a 40% increase in the city’s water rates Oct. 1.

Fritz Wolf was a stellar athlete at Shawano High School and later at Carroll College (now University) in Waukesha.

The Shawano Area United Way is aiming to get $100,000 during its 2026 campaign in hopes of helping out some community nonprofits.

United Way is already 15% of the way to the goal, according to Uriah Williams, executive director. However, the local organization has set $100,000 goals for the last few years and not quite reached them. Williams said the 2025 campaign brought in $89,000.

From new recreational opportunities to local trail improvements, Shawano Pathways has plenty to share about the past year.

The organization will highlight its 2026 accomplishments and plans for 2027 at its annual social and report to the community on Nov. 17 at the American Legion Hall, 850 S. Lincoln St., Shawano.

A parcel of land has a long memory. It has witnessed a past whose story was known to those who walked before us, and it has a future that will endure long after we all are gone.