Nicolet Plastics Inc., a manufacturer of custom plastics parts and components in Mountain, was one of 10 finalists for a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award. It was nominated for the Grand Award in the small size category and was one of 29 competing in the Workforce Development Grand Award category. On Feb. 26, General Plastics Inc., of Milwaukee, was selected as the winner of the Small Category. E.K. Machine Co.

The construction of a law enforcement center in Oconto looks to be a half-million dollars over budget, causing the county to label some design aspects as alternatives before sending the project out to bid. On Thursday, the two committees overseeing the construction project learned costs have surpassed the budgeted $30 million by $475,700.

Who would’ve guessed that a student sitting in Art Paulson’s tech ed classes in the mid-1990s would someday design the sports fields just steps outside those classrooms at Oconto Falls High School. On Monday night, the Oconto Falls School Board presented BJ Eisch with the Friend of Education award for nurturing the seeds planted by Paulson and producing the basis for designs of the softball complex and football stadium, as well as the renovated e

Sweeping energy-savings upgrades performed in the Oconto Falls School District in 2012 and 2013 fell just short of their promised return. The $2.7 million project, coordinated by Ameresco, a provider of energy efficiency solutions, was designed to guarantee energy savings of just over $137,000 per year over the next two decades. The project included upgrades and improvements in heating systems, lighting improvements, air infiltration reduction, r

Earl Roy Vaughn Jr., 73, passed away at home with his wife by his side March 5, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born July 19, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Earl and Edith (Martin) Vaughn Sr. Earl married Marcella Denowski on May 13, 1972. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Region for five years and was a member of the American Legion.

Carol Ann Sobeck, 72, Stiles, went home to be with the Lord on Friday evening, Feb. 27, 2015, with her family present. She was born Nov. 6, 1942, to Harry and Anna (Markiewicz) Sobeck. Carol spent her childhood on the family farm in the Lena area, moving away after college to teach in the Waupun School District for 35 years.

Elizabeth M. (Ratz) Sommerfeld, 87, Gillett, died March 4, 2015. She was born to the late Henry and Minnie (Peisler) Ratz on Nov. 24, 1927, in Milwaukee. Elizabeth married Herbert Sommerfeld 69 years ago on Nov. 17, 1945, in Gillett. She was an active member of St.

Paul Pfeiffer, 91, Stiles, formerly of Chicago, died peacefully Wednesday morning, March 4, 2015, at home, surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Yugoslavia to Paul and Elizabeth Pfeiffer. On July 10, 1949, he married Notburga in Austria. The couple traveled by boat with their two small children in 1952 to Chicago.

Leroy W. Lutzke, 91, Two Rivers, formerly of Valders, Reedsville and Oconto Falls, went home to the Lord on Saturday morning, March 7, 2015. He was born April 24, 1923, in the town of Liberty to Arthur and Linda (Lemke) Lutzke. Leroy grew up on the family farm, where he learned the lessons of hard work, making ends meet with what you had and dedication to family.