Shawano County is looking at merging two departments — Social Services and Community Programs — into a single Human Services Department, emulating a vast majority of counties in Wisconsin. The County Board voted 23-4 Wednesday to form an ad-hoc committee to look into the costs and procedures required to complete the merger.

A proposed new facility for housing recently released offenders in the community is raising concerns less than a week before it was due to go into operation. The state Department of Corrections has contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St. in Shawano, replacing the New Era House at 105 E. Richmond St. New Era’s contract expires at the end of this month.

The inaugural Northwoods TimberFest, a celebration of the Northwoods lifestyle, is scheduled Friday through Sunday at the Lakewood Pavilion Grounds in Lakewood.

The Gillett Public Library received a grant for thinking “outside the box.” The library will partner with Redbox, the Project for Public Spaces and Online Computer Library Center to revitalize the new Community Square to create a public space for community events.

To be a leader, you need confidence.

Larry W. Rotter found peace on June 19, 2014, at the age of 61. Loving husband of Barbara (nee Radtke). Dear father of Alex Rotter, John and Kelly Clough. Dear brother of Ron (Sharron), Dale (Jodi), and Patricia Rotter. Beloved son of Cora Rotter-Boerst. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A memorial gathering was held Sunday, June 22, at Church and Chapel Funeral Home, 1875 N.

John E. “Butch” Hermann Jr., 55, passed away unexpectedly in the Aurora Medical Center-Pleasant Prairie on Thursday, June 19, 2014. He was born in Racine on Sept. 5, 1958, the son of John E. and Carol (nee: Subotnik) Hermann Sr. Butch graduated from Oconto Falls High School. He had been employed by Per-Mar Security as a supervisor. He was an avid citizens band radio operator, using the handle Orange Cowboy.

Irene Forncrook, 78, Oconto Falls, died peacefully at home on Sunday, June 22, 2014. She was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Milwaukee to Stanley and Marie (Wall) Sutrick. When Irene was a young girl, she moved with her family to the Brookside area, where she attended grade school, later graduating from Oconto Falls High School with the Class of 1954. On Nov. 5, 1955, Irene married her high school sweetheart, Eugene “Sonny” Forncrook.

The Oconto Falls American Legion baseball team snapped a four-game losing skid, capturing its first North Division victory, 3-2, against Antigo on Saturday. Hunter Magnin struck out seven in seven innings, allowing two earned runs to win the second game of the doubleheader.