The sixth annual Shawano Jazz Festival, also known as SHAZZ, will feature about 20 high school bands, two well-known professional jazz musicians and a special event benefiting one special jazz aficionado. “It is so rare for a small town like this to have something this big,” said Christopher Kent, Shawano Community High School band director and one of the event’s key organizers. The festival, presented by the Shawano Jazz Foundation in partnershi

Tractors are a fairly common sight along Shawano County’s roads, but not the sort of vehicle one tends to find in the Shawano Community High School parking lot. However, nine Shawano FFA members left their cars and trucks at home Wednesday in favor of their John Deeres, Kubotas and Case Internationals. The students drove their tractors to school in observance of National Ag Day, which is a chance for farmers, agricultural associations, government

It’s time for people to get fired up about e-cigarettes and the dangers they pose, especially to area youngsters, according to presenters at a Shawano-Menominee Counties Board of Health program this week. Only 12 people turned out for the presentation Monday night at Shawano Community High School, but that did not deter Jamie Bodden, public health officer for Shawano and Menominee counties. “It would have been great to have had more people come,”

After months of discussion, the Clintonville Common Council this week approved asking department heads to collectively cut $47,000 from the budget over the next year. As recommended by interim City Administrator Chuck Kell, each department will cut the same percentage of its budget. The cuts, by department, are police, $19,269; public works, $12,280; general government, $7,336; parks and recreation, $5,335; fire, $2,780. Faced with a budget defic

Shawano plans to sell Center Street Park to United Cooperative, as part of the cooperative’s redevelopment project, and to establish a new park elsewhere, under an agreement approved by city officials Wednesday. However, the city will first have to prove it owns the property it has been using as a park for more than 30 years. The ownership wrinkle came up during back-to-back special meetings of the Plan Commission and Common Council. City Attorne

Dennis W. Hoffmann, 71, of Shawano, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2015, in Shawano. Arrangements are pending with Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano. www.swedbergfuneralhome.com

John Charles Bastar, 70, of Shawano, died on Friday, March 13, 2015, in Appleton. John was born on Oct. 14, 1944, in Shawano to the late Hilbert and Hattie (Melendy) Bastar. On Dec. 31, 1966, John married Peggy Ainsworth and together they raised five children. John had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved dogs and horses and enjoyed painting, sketching, wood-working, hunting and fishing.

Arthur G. Strelow Jr., 76, of Marion, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015, at the Appleton Medical Center after a strong-willed fight with cancer. Arthur Gerald Strelow Jr. was born at home in Gresham on Dec. 3, 1938, to Arthur and Eleanor (Reedy) Strelow Sr. He moved with his parents to a farm in the town of Pella, Shawano County, where he attended Willow Creek School.

Lena Marie Gardner (nee Besaw) received her eternal reward on Saturday, March 14, 2015, after a brief illness. She was born in the town of Red Springs on Feb. 26, 1939, to the late Bernard and Ella (Bowman) Besaw. Lena graduated from Bowler High School in 1957. On April 23, 1960, she married Ralph Gardner, of Bowler, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Morgan Siding. They resided in Milwaukee until 1978, when they returned to their home town.