With the signing of seven heroin and opiate prevention bills into law recently in Wisconsin, health care professionals hope to bring awareness of local addiction problems to their communities. On April 22, a panel of health care providers and hospital personnel met with state Rep.

Ethel “Teddy” Mikkelson, 88, of Gillett, passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2014. She was born to the late Albert and Alma (Johnson) Anderson on June 20, 1925. Ethel taught school in Spruce before marrying Dale Mikkelson on Oct. 27, 1951, at Section Eight Baptist Church in Pound. Teddy was a substitute teacher for three area school districts. The couple farmed in the town of Maple Valley until moving to Brillion in 1964.

Donald J. Holtger, 85, Klondike, died early Sunday morning, April 27, 2014, at home, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Visitation will continue after 9 a.m. Monday, May 5, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls until the time of the service. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. A complete obituary will follow.

Dennis Gwidt, 66, of De Pere, died Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at home, surrounded by family, having lost a courageous battle with brain cancer. The son of the late Adam and Ione (Moesch) Gwidt, Dennis was born Nov. 30, 1947, and was a graduate of Pulaski High School. He grew up on his family dairy farm in Pulaski. On Jan. 19, 2000, he married the former Tracy Larsen in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dennis served his country in the U.S.

Judith Jean Christiansen passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Orem, Utah, on April 21, 2014, after having the opportunity to visit with family members and friends. She was born on Nov. 7, 1923, to Robert and Mildred (Monson) Gehling in Oconto Falls and spent her years growing up in Suring. She was the second of three children. She graduated from Suring High School in 1941 and from the Green Bay Cosmetology School in 1942.

John A. Hill, 81, Oconto, died early Sunday morning, April 27, 2014, at a Green Bay hospital with his family by his side, following complications from pulmonary fibrosis. He was born Aug. 3, 1932, in New Hampshire to Charles and Hazel (Crossman) Hill. While attending high school, John participated in all sports. As a young man, John served in the U.S.

Panthers edged by Denmark The Oconto Falls High School softball team lost to Denmark 17-13 in a Bay Conference game April 22 at Denmark. The Panthers (2-3, 2-3 Bay Conference) led 4-2 after two, but Denmark (4-5-1, 1-4-1 Bay) pulled ahead 8-5 at the end of four. Oconto Falls scored five runs in the fifth, but Denmark answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning. McKenna Kussow took the loss.

The New London High School softball team has certainly found the formula early in the season to beat Oconto Falls. For the second time in three weeks, the Bulldogs had their bats going and their pitcher at her best.

It’s amazing what a little hitting will do for a slumping squad. Oconto Falls got out of an early-season offensive rut Saturday by scoring three or more runs in three different innings. Panthers pitcher Hunter Magnin did the rest as Oconto Falls toppled Coleman 13-5 for its first victory of the season in a nonconference high school baseball game at Memorial Field. “We hit the ball hard,” Oconto Falls coach Charlie Rochon said.