Alex Nelson left the University of Wisconsin-Madison three years ago with an engineering degree and plenty of college experiences.

They include attending events over three years as Bucky Badger, the school’s official mascot.

It’s been 75 years since Bill Sagal became the first person to wear a Bucky Badger costume.

The official mascot of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will also celebrate its 85th birthday Oct. 2, and to mark that milestone, former UW students that served as a Bucky Badger mascot over the years are spreading the word about an endowment fund that will help set the mascot program up for the future.

Teachers on Call, the company that the Shawano School District has used to recruit and hire substitute teachers and staff, has merged with Kelly Education. A representative of the new company spoke to the Shawano School Board on Sept. 22 about what will stay the same and what will change in terms of substitute services.

Clarence Schampers, longtime Shawano Municipal Airport manager, was recently honored at a retirement party to commemorate his 54 years with the airport.

“I had just gotten my commercial license and was looking to build some time in the air,” Schampers said of his early days at the airport in May 1971. “Until you get 1,500 hours, there isn’t much anyone will let you do.”

Shawano County Board Chairman Tom Kautza voted no and Supervisor Heather Pahl abstained on a resolution to give county employees a 2% pay raise effective Oct. 1.