The holiday season is just around the corner, and Shawano County Toys for Tots is preparing to make Christmas brighter for children and families throughout the community.

With the 2026 campaign underway, organizers are inviting families to apply for assistance and encouraging community members, businesses and organizations to help spread holiday joy.

Megan Suehring, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension 4-H educator in Shawano County, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of Extension 4‐H Youth Development Professionals during its annual conference held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Sacred Heart Catholic School’s older students spent Oct. 6 making a meaningful difference in the lives of others by participating in the annual Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event in Green Bay.

“Discover Wisconsin,” the nation’s longest-running travel and tourism TV series, highlights the rich cultural heritage of the Ho-Chunk Nation in its newest episode, “Ho-Chunk Nation — Carrying Culture Forward.”

The Salvation Army of Shawano County is in need of volunteers to ring bells during the Red Kettle Campaign, which runs Nov. 20 through Dec. 24.

Bell ringers are needed at Charlie’s County Market, Qualheim’s True Value and Walmart. Ringing takes place on Fridays and Saturdays during the season.

The Universities of Wisconsin has announced registration is now open for the 2027 Wisconsin Civics Games, a statewide academic competition that challenges high school students to deepen their understanding of civics, government and democratic participation while developing critical thinking and teamwork skills.

Try something different this year when planning dinner parties. Dress up the table with a centerpiece of fresh herbs. Family and guests will enjoy snipping a few fresh sprigs of herbs to season meals to their taste.

Purchase plants so they will be ready to harvest in time. Check local garden centers, the grocery store produce department or online.

Oconto Falls senior Izzy Otto was named North Eastern Conference’s volleyball Player of the Year, and the Panthers also won the conference title in 2026.

Otto was a unanimous choice for the first team as a setter. She was joined by senior Lucy Ripley, an outside hitter and also a unanimous selection, and senior Brylee Gorman, a middle hitter.

Senior Rhiana Van De Yacht, an outside hitter, was named to the second team.

Nearly a dozen Shawano athletes and four Wittenberg-Birnamwood swimmers won team and individual first-team honors in the Bay Conference this fall.

Cross country

Shawano senior Josiah Kuehl and junior Teagan Harkey were picked for the boys cross country first team.

Second-team honors went to juniors Aloysius Frechette and Quinten Harley. Honorable mention awards were earned by sophomores Beckett Hendricks and Brayden Fish.