Oconto County Times Herald

Gillett School Board discusses referendum question

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:29am

The Gillett School Board discussed an updated referendum question during its June 16 meeting.

Voters in the April 5 spring election turned down a referendum by a 53% to 47% margin that would have permitted the Gillett School District to exceed state-imposed revenue caps by $450,000 a year for another three years.

Gillett parade will be a family celebration

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:19am

Diane Rivard says it will be a bittersweet July 4 parade through downtown Gillett this year.

She and her husband, Stuart, were selected to ride in a horse-drawn carriage as parade grand marshals in recognition of the couple’s long history of service to the community.

Stuart Rivard died April 13 after a long struggle with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood condition.

Diane Rivard thought that would be the end of the marshal duty.

$1.2M broadband grant approved for Lakewood

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:14am

A project serving businesses and residents of the Town of Lakewood is among the latest to benefit from grants approved to improve internet access to rural Wisconsin communities.

The state Public Service Commission on June 23 approved a $1.279 million broadband expansion grant to the Oconto County Economic Development Corp. in the second round of grants announced in 2022.

School bus drivers still needed

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:13am

The search continues for people willing to serve as bus drivers for the Oconto Falls School District.

As school bus drivers retire or otherwise leave the district, it’s been increasingly hard in recent years to find replacements, Superintendent Dean Hess told the school board June 20.

“We currently have two main routes that are not covered, and we do not have subs to sub in on those routes,” Hess said. “So to finish up the year, we had mechanics as well as supervisors driving those routes, then district office staff would cover the phones for them.”

Elderly double-murderer passes away

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:11am

The elderly Lakewood man convicted last year of murdering a Green Bay couple in 1976 has died in prison, 10 months after being sentenced to consecutive life prison terms.

Ray L. Vannieuwenhoven, 85, was 39 years old and living in Suamico when David Schuldes, 25, and Ellen Matheys, 24, were shot to death at the McClintock Park campground in the Town of Silver Cliff. Matheys was also sexually assaulted.

Oconto County board passes 2023 budget guidelines

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:04am

Oconto County officials were somewhat blindsided June 1 when WEA Trust abruptly announced it is leaving the insurance business as of Jan. 1, 2023.

The county is in the first year of what had been a two-year contract with WEA Trust, so officials are scrambling to find a new carrier, County Administrator Erik Pritzl told the Oconto County Board on June 23.

“It wasn’t like this was being signalled before that or broadcast; we all kind of learned about it at the same time, and it was a surprise,” Pritzl said.

Oconto Falls forming new referendum committee

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:03am

The Oconto Falls School District is assembling a planning team to draft a revised referendum question to present to voters in November.

District residents in April rejected a $49.9 million proposal to build a new middle school for $31 million, replacing the aging Washington Middle School, along with remodeling and safety upgrades to the district’s three other school buildings. The question failed by a 54.8% to 45.2% margin.

Oconto County Circuit Court proceedings

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:02am

Proceedings of June 23

Cynthia Annette Pecore, 26, Appleton, waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on a charge of fleeing an officer in a vehicle, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 13. Arraignment was scheduled for July 14.

Tri-County United Way seeks new director

Published by admin on Wed, 06/29/2022 - 11:00am

Tri-County United Way has announced it is seeking an individual with great communication and leadership skills to serve as the next executive director.

Gillett becomes ‘city for all seasons’

Published by admin on Wed, 06/22/2022 - 10:08am

The city of Gillett will soon be rebranding itself as “A city for all seasons” after roughly 15 years as the “ATV Capital of the World.”

The city will begin transitioning to the new logo, designed by Macy Franti, a recent graduate of Gillett High School who is majoring in marketing in the fall.

The logo incorporates the school colors of black and red because, “We wanted to ensure it incorporated the school to rededicate our partnership to the district and the students and families who call Gillett home,” said Mayor Josh McCarthy.