Mike Friedman was halfway through his race and he was locked in. The Oconto Falls High School runner was virtually in a four-way tie with Little Chute’s Joe Van Grinsven and Freedom’s Matt Vosters and Sam Hinz.

The Oconto Falls High School girls golf team finished tied with Seymour for seventh place at Thursday’s Bay Conference match at Shawano Lake Golf Course. Denmark (191) and Marinette tied for first at the meet. Oconto Falls finished with a season-best 220 points. “We’re chopping strokes off every time we go out,” Oconto Falls coach Paul Luebke said, “which is nice.” Oconto Falls was led by Liz Coopman, who shot a 53.

Lester E. Nitzske, 72, of Laona, passed away on Monday, Sept. 2, 2013.

Gary M. Troutman, 67, died at McMinnville, Ore., on Aug. 29, 2013. Born Sept.

Last week’s flashes of yellow and red on the path around the Falls were early indicators of the approach of the autumn season. The yellow flashes were of school buses with their first of 180 daily journeys transporting students. These flashes are very predictable and usually coincide with the first day after the long Labor Day weekend. Those flashes of red come on the sides of the road, rather than the road itself, and are much less predictable.

I admit it: I talk to my golf ball. But I’m not the only one; lots of the guys I play with talk to their golf balls. Some of them even to talk to other players’ golf balls. I’m a reasonably quiet golfer, but I sometimes yell at a drive or whisper to a chip shot. When Marilyn plays with me, she’ll say something like, “Who are you talking to?

Faculty, staff, family and friends gathered Aug. 4 at Romy’s Holiday Inn, Kelly Lake, to celebrate the retirement of Duane Rogatzki from Oconto Falls High School. Rogatzki was honored for his 40 years of service to the Oconto Falls School District as a math and science instructor and as a coach.

CESA 8 will present a series of free training and learning opportunities for parents this fall. The workshops take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the CESA 8 office, 233 W. Park St., Gillett. A light dinner will be provided. The first session, on Sept. 12, is titled “We’re Not Broken: Empowering Labeled Students,” presented by nationally known speaker Jonathon Mooney. Mooney is a dyslexic who did not learn to read until he was 12.

Community Memorial Hospital will host a dinner seminar for seniors titled “Getting You Back on Your Feet” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. Prevea Health podiatrist Dr. Mark Kachan will talk about how to get relief from common foot and ankle conditions and how to prevent future problems.