The Shawano School District received a very vocal majority from the 100-plus residents in attendance supporting the 2013-14 school budget of $26.7 million during Monday’s annual meeting. However, some residents questioned why they were approving the budget now instead of waiting until key final numbers are available in October. The budget is preliminary, and the final budget will not be approved by the School Board until the end of October.

Smokey Bear will stick to the main drag in Oconto Falls, but the ranger station he represents will move a few blocks away. That’s the vision proposed by representatives of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, who want to purchase land in the Oconto Falls industrial park to upgrade and enlarge the ranger station. The Oconto Falls City Council last week approved the DNR’s offer of $15,960 to purchase a 4.56-acre parcel on Hank Marks Drive

A local outreach office has outgrown its facility and plans to move to a new location. The Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Wolf River Region requested a permit to move to the Custom Metals Specialists building, 229 Van Buren St., Oconto Falls. Since it opened in January 2012, the center leased the front rooms of Kallies Electric, 7436 REA Road, Oconto Falls, just off state Highway 22. The Oconto Falls City Council on Aug.

The Oconto Falls High School girls golf team will play three matches this week and three more next week. After the Panthers played on a perfect day Friday for the Oconto Falls Scramble, temperatures are set to climb for the team’s marathon start to the golf season. “It’s supposed to be in the 90s,” Oconto Falls coach Paul Luebke said. “That’s a whole different ball of wax. (The players) are going to have to go up against the elements.

McKenna Larsen has one less thing to worry about as she begins her final year at Oconto Falls High School. The OFHS senior has verbally committed to Winona State University, a Division II school in Winona, Minn., where she will play volleyball and softball. “It’s a big relief,” Larsen said. “Going into senior year, it’s the last time to play with friends.

Jim Kohlwey has been named trustee of the village of Suring to replace Ron Strehlow, who is moving out of the village. The Village Board on Aug. 13 accepted Strehlow’s resignation and unanimously approved Kohlwey’s appointment.

The Gillett School Board is close to hiring a new school superintendent to replace Kyle Ransom, who resigned in June. “We think we’re to the point of having someone in place by Sept.

Gillett School Board members on Thursday expressed surprise over the resignation of Jeremy Pach, principal at the middle and high school for the past two years. School Board member Cliff Gerbers said the resignation was completely unexpected. “He is an individual that has the respect of the community,” Gerbers said.

The parking lot at the Oconto Falls Library will be reconstructed this fall, adding eight to 10 additional parking spaces and providing better access for handicapped patrons. The $10,000 project will be funded by a donation from ST Paper, which contributed $20,000 to the library. The remainder of the donation will be set aside for a new roof for the library, 251 N.