Olga Brener Intermediate School The fifth-grade students at Olga Brener study and do presentations on different countries throughout the world. As part of learning about countries, they got the opportunity to learn about Sweden from a foreign exchange student attending Shawano Community High School, Vendela Anderson.

A Shawano man, maintaining his innocence, was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum penalty allowable for the double murder of a brother and sister in 2009. Daniel Schmidt, 30, was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of life in prison, without chance of parole, for the intentional homicides of his ex-mistress, Kimberly Rose, 32, and her brother, Leonard Marsh, 22, on May 19, 2009. Schmidt was arrested in September 2012 and found guilty by an Oconto

The Oconto Falls School Board heard welcome news from its auditor Jan. 13 regarding its post-employment obligations. Dave Maccoux of Schenck Associates said previous reports had overstated the district’s liability because payments for sick leave were also counted as post-employment obligations.

An international company with local ties has thrown its support behind the Oconto Falls softball complex in an effort to improve the community. According to a spokeswoman for Saputo Cheese, the $25,000 donation proposed for development of the fields is a way to improve the health of area residents. “From a community outreach perspective, we want to support projects that get kids moving … and help people live healthier lives,” said Olivia Goodfell

At 5:35 a.m. Jan. 15, a car driven by an Oconto Falls woman and a pickup truck operated by an Oconto Falls man were both southbound on U.S. 41-141 in the town of Abrams. As the woman was changing lanes to pass the truck, she lost control and struck the truck in the rear quarter panel. There was minor damage to both vehicles. At 7:20 a.m. Jan. 17, a female from Oconto was driving a van south on U.S.

Proceedings from Jan. 16 Christopher R. Nelson, 28, Coleman, made an initial appearance on charges of being party to theft, party to operating another’s vehicle without consent and party to entering a locked building, all which allegedly took place between Jan. 11 and 14 in the town of Townsend. His bond was set at $1,500 cash, with his case continued to Feb. 13. An initial appearance was held for Howard R. Lucas, 39, Green Bay.

A retired teacher and beef farmer has been selected to serve as town clerk of Oconto Falls. Mike Kaczmarek, 70, was appointed to replace Janice Boucher who resigned, effective Dec. 31, saying she was too busy to continue in the position she was elected to in April.

Although it’s still penniless, an Oconto Falls historical society is pursuing plans to purchase and move a vacant two-room schoolhouse for use as a historical center. The Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center association is beginning a fundraising push to obtain $150,000, the projected cost to purchase Spruce School and move it to Oconto Falls. According to preliminary figures, the project is “doable,” said Dale Seeling, association president, “if we

The Gillett and Suring school districts are working toward establishing joint high school baseball and softball programs for the 2015 season. Preliminary efforts to form a cooperative are moving forward after Suring received a draft agreement from Gillett. “We’ve had interest over the years and are trying to move forward with this,” Suring Superintendent Robert Ray said.