For the past decade, Ankur Desai has been working with collaborators from across the country to study the uptake and emission of carbon in northern Wisconsin’s forests, wetlands and lakes. When Desai measures greenhouse gases, he’s not just helping to illuminate how ecosystems modify climate.

Karelyn Malliet is preparing to defend her 2014 Badger State Spelling Bee title next week, and her chances of advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee have improved, courtesy of a new wrinkle. Rather than only first-place winners, the top three spellers in Wisconsin will advance to the national bee this year. Malliet, an eighth-grade student at Shawano Community Middle School, is taking nothing for granted as she prepares for the state bee

It was a behind-the-scenes look at economic development with a rock-and-roll soundtrack Thursday at Shawano County Economic Progress Inc.’s 10th annual Economic Summit. Economic development and growth happen every day in Shawano and Menominee counties, but much of it happens quietly behind the scenes, said Dennis Heling, SCEPI chief economic development officer. SCEPI pumped up the volume on those behind-the-scenes activities with a uniquely them

There will be more reasons for families to attend the Shawano Farmers Market this season. Officials announced at the organization’s eighth annual meeting Thursday that they will add weekly activities for children. The meeting was held at Angie’s Main Cafe in Shawano and attracted about 25 people. “Families come to the market and they have children, and the kids always want to do something. The parents want to visit.

St. Paul Lutheran School The numbers are in! Thanks to organizer Jesse Rose Schultz, St. Paul’s 2015 Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart raised $2,350 for the American Heart Association. St. Paul students will also help raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Relay for Life in Shawano. Team Faith is headed by cancer survivor and seventh-grade teacher Peggy Buchholz.

Navarino Nature Center will again host award-winning songwriter and actor Tim Grimm at 6:30 p.m. April 10. Grimm’s music has been described as walking the fine line between folk and country, while maintaining a strong footing in tradition. Critics searching for comparisons most often cite Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie and “Nebraska” era Bruce Springsteen.

Doris Lorraine Hanke, 89, Wittenberg, died Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at the Homme Home of Wittenberg under the care of Asera Care Hospice. She was born Sept. 18, 1925, in Wittenberg, the daughter of the late Guy and Emelia (Dahl) Jensen. On October 30, 1943, she was united in marriage to Donald R. “Pete” Hanke in Wittenberg. He preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 2007. Lorraine worked as a clerk at Hanke’s grocery store for many years.

Myrtle Marcella Schutt, 89, of Pulaski, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2015, in Green Bay. Myrtle was born in Cecil on July 6, 1925, the daughter of the late William and Lenora (Rueckert) Wilke. On July 2, 1941, in Shawano, Myrtle was united in marriage to Ervin A. Schutt. Ervin preceded her in death on Aug. 3, 1996. Together they lived in Shawano, where she worked at Martin Cleaners for 17 years.

Dennis Wayne Hoffmann, 71, of the town of Belle Plaine, passed away peacefully, at home, with his loving family by his side on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. Dennis was born to the late Emil and Wilma (Sabrowksy) Hoffmann on Jan. 27, 1944, in New London. Dennis served in the Army Reserve for six years. On May 21, 1980, at the St.