At the Shawano Optimist Club’s 49th installation and awards banquet, held recently at Stubborn Brothers in Shawano, Kristine Rankin was named the club’s Optimist of the Year and Jim Black received the James Leuenberger Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition, the officers and board members for the 2025-26 year were installed, and members achieving perfect attendance at club meetings and participating in club projects were recognized.

“The cows are out!” Four dreaded words a farmer loathes to hear. During the course of our years of dairying we did hear (or holler) those words a time or two.

Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, fight heart disease, boost your immune system, and add a bit of flavor to your meals by growing your own garlic. This vegetable has been used as both food and medicine for thousands of years.

Flowers and more are thriving at Bloomed on Dairy, located at N4863 County Road F outside of Bonduel.

Owner Kaci Wolf has flowers for just about every occasion, noting: “Flowers fill the void when words fall short.”

Callie Davis, owner of a mobile pet-grooming business, has been grooming pets with a passion and a mission — to fill a need, because pets deserve better.

Located in rural Marion in Shawano County, Davis treats pets with utmost respect and the unique attention their owners appreciate.

People planning to get their annual flu shot should also consider getting vaccinated against pneumonia, a ThedaCare physician has advised.

Pneumococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. The pneumonia vaccine may help reduce the likelihood of developing or becoming seriously ill from pneumococcal disease, according to Dr. Samuel Beschta, family medicine physician.