News

Gillett board sets 2023-24 school budget

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 12:24pm

The Gillett School Board made a slight increase in the property tax levy Oct. 26 before giving final approval to an $11.1 million budget for the 2023-24 school year.

School districts must finalize their annual budgets after the beginning of the fiscal year, which is July 1, because the state of Wisconsin does not provide final numbers on school aid until mid-October. District bookkeeper Heather Schowalter said the state aid figures came in Oct. 13 this year.

Oconto County establishes new loan fund for businesses

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 12:21pm

The director of the Oconto County Economic Development Corp. (OCEDC) told the county board Oct. 26 that there has already been some interest in the new OCEDC Capital Catalyst Fund.

The board passed a resolution Sept. 21 establishing the revolving loan fund with a one-time, $500,000 commitment of county sales tax and federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, “for the purpose of funding capital projects for the continued improvement of the economic climate of the county.”

ELL surge stresses Gillett school resources

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 12:19pm

Gillett School District resources are being stressed by an influx of students who speak little or no English, and the school board plans to work on doing a better job of meeting their educational needs.

Superintendent Wayne Johnson mentioned the issue Oct. 26 during a report on a board planning retreat that took place a few days earlier, on Oct. 21.

After a discussion on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the seven-member board developed three overriding board goals in addition to administrative goals that were already in place, Johnson said.

Public Record

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 12:13pm

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 30

Deputies responded to 38 incidents, including trespassing on Evergreen Road in the Town of Pella; three 911 calls; two reckless driving incidents; one traffic hazard; seven crashes, five involving deer.

Oct. 29

Broeffle gets 40 months for hurting elderly woman

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 7:44pm

A Keshena man who struck and severely injured an 84-year-old woman was sentenced Oct. 27 in federal court to three years and four months in prison.

According to court documents, Edmond S. Broeffle, 24, was at a “run-down house” last March near Keshena when a melee broke out among Broeffle and four other individuals, who all were drunk, high or both.

A sixth person, Virginia Waupoose, 84, was struck by Broeffle which caused some dental injuries, lacerations and bleeding on the brain.

Waupoose was taken to the hospital, where she spent two days before being released.

County board supervisor passes away

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 4:00pm

A moment of silence was held at the start of the Oconto County Board meeting on Oct. 26, in memory of Supervisor Chris Augustine, who died Oct. 7 at age 64.

Augustine was elected to the board in April 2014, representing part of the Town of Little Suamico, and served until May 2018, a month after his third term began, when he resigned because of increased responsibilities at his workplace. He rejoined the board in 2022 after his successor, Elizabeth Paape, decided not to run for re-election. He was a member of the county land and water resources committee.

Spacey OFHS one-act play moves to sectionals

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 3:58pm

Oconto Falls High School is scheduled to host drama teams from 14 other schools Nov. 1-2 in a sectional event in the state one-act play competition, sponsored by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association.

The OFHS Drama Team competed at the regional level Oct. 14 in Tomahawk and earned the right to take part in sectionals on their home stage.

Faculty adviser Gayle Gander said this year’s one-act is in a new genre for the acting troupe: science fiction. “Andromeda’s Galaxy,” by Alan Haehnel.

Pumpkin contest entries enliven courthouse entrance

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 3:34pm

Visitors to the Oconto County Courthouse in October were greeted to a cheerfully macabre sight if they walked through the original main entrance.

At the top of the stairs was a collection of decorated Halloween pumpkins.

County employees participated in a second annual pumpkin contest, with two categories: Painted Pumpkins and Carved Pumpkins.

New project deals with mental health, substance abuse

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 3:32pm

The College of Menominee Nation’s Department of Continuing Education announces a new project, Building Menominee Teen Resilience.

In addition to everyday adolescent issues, young people in tribal communities have to deal with historic trauma passed down through generations. Building Menominee Teen Resilience will put tools in the hands of the service providers, but it will also put them in the hands of the teens that go through this project; therefore, they can assist their peers in preventing overdoses and suicides.

Gerbers recognized by state Rural Schools Alliance

Published by admin on Mon, 10/30/2023 - 3:30pm

Cliff Gerbers, longtime treasurer of the Gillett School Board, has been named Board of Education Member of the Year by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.

The award was presented Oct. 23 during the alliance’s annual state conference, held this year at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Gerbers was first elected to the school board in 1983 and has been treasurer for 39 of those 40 years. He and his wife, Mary, were grand marshals of the 2017 Gillett Independence Day Parade.