Every morning I feed heifers with our skidsteer. Trekking out to the shed to retrieve it, I plunk down in the seat and, getting comfortable, reach for the roll bar that keeps me safe, snugly positioned across my lap. Firing up the skidsteer, I flip the lights on and back out of the shed. Driving over to the silage bags, I lift my eyes to the sky, and on a clear, predawn morning, the stars twinkle back at me.

If anyone doesn’t have time to bake, Peace United Church of Christ’s Cookie Walk can help. A big selection of Christmas cookies and candy will be available to help the busy homemaker. Bobbi Sager and Sharon Gueths are co-chairs for the event, which will be held from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 7 at the church, 208 E. Maurer St., Shawano. Twenty-one years ago, church member Marianne Gleisner brought the idea of the Cookie Walk from her former church.

The Council of Catholic Women of St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at the church, 1050 Main St. The bazaar includes Christmas ornaments and decorations, baked goods, candy, handcrafted gifts, crochet items, children’s games and raffles. Coffee and dessert are served at 9 a.m., followed by lunch from 11 a.m.

The use of American Indian mascots continues to make headlines — both nationally, with protests targeting the NFL’s Washington Redskins, and statewide, as Gov.

The Detroit Lions were dominant after a shaky start and snapped a few losing streaks. Matthew Stafford made up for some mistakes with three touchdown passes, including one to Calvin Johnson, to help Detroit score 37 straight points to beat the Green Bay Packers 40-10 on Thursday. The Lions (7-5) had lost their last two games, five consecutive against Green Bay and a franchise-record nine straight in their annual showcase on Thanksgiving. The Pack

Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. The race is on — for customers seeking bargains, and businesses seeking customers — in the crucial Christmas shopping season, when both brick-and-mortar and online retailers can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when stores traditionally opened early with “doorbuster” sales to launch the Christmas shopping season, has lost some of its lustre

Shawano Police Department Nov. 27 Police logged nine incidents, including the following: Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St. Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 900 block of South Andrews Street. Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the Wisconsin House, 216 E.

Garth Ashley, 92, a resident at Kindred Hearts Assisted Living in Shawano, passed away on Monday evening, Nov. 25, 2013. Garth was born on Oct. 27, 1921, in Green Bay to Ed and Margaret (Touchette) Ashley. He attended high school in Shawano, where he graduated in 1941. After graduation, Garth served his country for four years in the Army during World War II. On April 26, 1947, he was united in marriage to Jeannette Huntington at St.

Grace E. Pockat, 80, of Marion, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, at Shawano Medical Center. The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Marion, is assisting the family. www.beil-didier.com