Each summer, girls have a chance to improve their softball skills courtesy of the Shawano Girls Softball program. “We usually are very competitive,” President Bryan Zook said. The league has two age groups — 14 and under, and 15 to 17. The older group starts as soon as the high school teams are done with their season.

Dorothy Gouine is a member of several veteran auxiliaries. She was born in Shawano, graduating from Shawano High School. She worked at F.W. Woolworth, L&L, Eagleknit and Little Rapids. Then Dorothy went with her husband, Larry, who was in the Army, to Germany for 5½ years. Larry, who was from Detroit, was a Vietnam vet who served for 23 years; 15 years in the Army and then the Reserves.

Edith A. Flessert, 86, of Shawano, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, and joined her loved ones in heaven. Edith was born on Aug. 29, 1928, in Madison, the daughter of the late Alfred and Dorothy (Neu) Denton. She was united in marriage to Fred Flessert on Sept. 13, 1946. Fred preceded her in death on July 10, 2003. Edith was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano.

The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is just a month away, and among the nearly 9,000 runners taking part is a group of police officers running in full uniform. They’re trying to raise money and awareness along the way, in honor of some very special people. Among the sea of marathon runners dressed head to toe in athletic gear, Kyle Betzner will quickly stand out.

Darwin “Nubby” Higgins, 81, has spent the past eight months in hospitals in Appleton, Milwaukee and West Allis. He and his wife, Shirley, are now hoping they can be back in their rural Clintonville home before the end of the month. A fundraiser is being planned May 2 at Clintonville Lanes by family and friends to help Higgins with the medical care that he needs. On Mother’s Day last year, Higgins fell and tore his rotator cuff.

Night one of the 2015 racing season is in the books, and defending track champions Ron Berna in the Late Model ranks and Travis VanStraten in the IMCA Stock Car division had strong showings on the way to feature wins. Berna passed early leader Brett Swedberg and subsequently held off challenges from Swedberg en route to victory. For Swedberg, it was a rough weekend.

Shawano Police Department April 23 Police logged 41 incidents, including the following: Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Lafayette and Second streets. Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St. Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S.

The Bonduel Village Board on Thursday approved the new village president’s appointment of Luka Zischka to fill a vacant trustee seat. Zischka teaches social studies and is an assistant girls basketball coach at Bonduel High School. He graduated from St. Norbert College in 2011. Zischka will take the seat vacated by Sharon Wussow, who was elected president in the spring election.

A fundraising campaign is under way to help New Beginnings Community Thrift Store in Clintonville purchase 11 gondola shelving units. The units are wheeled, can be adjusted to different heights and can accommodate a wide variety of shelves and bins.