Opinions

Reimer says farewell to NEW Media readers

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 12:17pm

Graduating from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in a pandemic was an interesting experience in my life. Businesses weren’t open, people were staying indoors and nobody was looking to hire a recent college grad. After six months of not being able to find a job, I came across a posting for a newspaper reporter position in Shawano County.

LETTER: Wood chips, litter cause eyesores at Franklin Park

Published by LPulaski on Thu, 05/18/2023 - 6:04pm

To the editor:

It’s spring, and I’m back to doing my once-a-week walk around Franklin Park, but as of late, it’s not so enjoyable. I don’t like what’s happened on the corner of Division and Franklin streets. Why that corner, where the lady is on the bench?

You spoiled the looks with all that mulch or wood chips (whatever). Grass would be more appealing to the eye, in my opinion. It just dries up, fades out and blows around the rest of the grounds.

A fun journey is coming to an end

Published by admin on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 1:15pm

In late April of 2018, I began serving as the sports editor. Here we are nearly exactly five years later to the day and I’m writing to tell you that this spring season will be my last couple months in the position.

What started as just a job to give me my first full-time position out of college quickly turned into a passion. The expectation was to fill the position for a couple years, but I’ve since had the chance to watch some athletes go through the entire high school process, from freshmen year to graduation and even into college for some.

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: End Wisconsin’s secretive ‘pocket veto’

Published by admin on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 9:00am

Recently, Wisconsin Watch revealed how members of the Wisconsin Legislature’s powerful budget committee secretly hold up projects or programs they don’t like.

LETTER: Shawano County Board yielded to intimidation

Published by admin on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 8:55am

To the editor:

The Shawano County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 13-21, which supported the people’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. A rough-looking group of individuals attended the board meeting and intimidated most of the County Board to vote for this resolution. The individuals at the meeting looked like the Shawano County chapter of the national Proud Boys. No other county board in Wisconsin adopted a similar resolution except Florence County.

Blatant transparency should guide decisions

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 1:04pm

At this time last year, the Shawano School District was in a crisis situation. Without launching into a detailed timeline — as most of us almost know it by heart by this point — the schism of trust between the administration/school board and the community was broadening.

LETTER: Gillett approach to misbehavior is better

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 1:00pm

To the editor:

I read the article about the Gillett School Board meeting, in your March 24 Oconto County Times Herald, with interest and applause. The statement by Gillett’s Secondary School Principal Shawn Limberg that “the way we do school does not work for some students” made public something we all knew but rarely say out loud. The idea that skills, learned in places other than the classroom, should count as credits toward high school graduation is refreshing. More carrot, less stick.

LETTER: American insanity about guns needs strong cure

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 12:59pm

To the editor:

Does it bother you that gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children in the United States? What about the fact that there have been 130 mass shootings so far this year with so many occurring in our children’s schools?

It has been said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” America has become an insane nation, at least when it comes to guns.

LETTER: Schools need more guns, users for protection

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 12:57pm

To the editor:

Six minutes. That’s 360 seconds.

This is the average time, start to finish, of a mass shooting.

Coincidentally, according to FBI and other records, it’s the same amount of time it takes on average for a police response.

What does this tell us?

No matter how fast the police drive to the scene or go inside and try to take down the crazy person with a gun, it’s almost always too late.

LETTER: Stripping Suring youth of athletic opportunities

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 12:55pm

To the editor:

On Oct. 12, 2022, the Suring School Board, with a vote of 7-0 without any input from students or parents, voted to eliminate dual sports as an option from the district. This is an option that has been available in Suring for decades and used in Division 1, 2 and 3 schools throughout Wisconsin and America.