Jamie Gen Kellogg, 22, Shawano, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Jamie was born Sept. 7, 1990, to Randall Kellogg Sr. and Amy (Cochenet) Knippenberg. She graduated from Gillett High School with the Class of 2009. Jamie was studying graphic design at College of Menominee Nation.

An official with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) last week encouraged Shawano County to keep public health in mind when making decisions about the future. Tom Baron, ECWRPC associate planner, spoke to the county’s Planning, Development and Zoning Committee about the importance of making physical activity and other health factors part of county planning. Baron noted that inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor

If you were in the Shawano Speedway grandstand on Saturday night, you were in the right spot on a picture perfect night. In addition to fast and furious racing, fans were treated to a post-race corn roast and concert. Brandon Czarapata, Lucas Lamberies, Nick Anvelink, Marcus Yarie and Jasper Drengler picked up feature wins in their respective divisions. IMCA Stock Car The IMCA Stock Car division again provided some of the best on-track action.

For almost 20 years, Suring resident Dora Slang has entered her unique Rosemaling paintings in the Open class competition of the Oconto County Fair. As the fair approaches this month, Slang said there is no plan to stop painting or exhibiting anytime soon. “From the first time I did it, that’s what I wanted to do,” Slang said.

The Lena Dairyfest committee has selected William “Bill” and Carol Pytleski as the parade marshals for the Lena Dairyfest parade being held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, on Main Street in Lena. The Pytleskis owned and operated a dairy farm west of Lena, and they were among the first in Oconto County to milk cows in a milking parlor. The herd consisted of 50 cows at the time.

A free course at Community Memorial Hospital teaches lifesaving skills such as CPR basics, automated external defibrillator use and choking relief.

Residents in the Oconto Falls School Board District on Monday will review a budget of just over $18.5 million for the 2013-14 school year. The budget includes an overall expenditure increase of 1.5 percent, or $285,000, in the general fund over the previous year. The two main sources of revenue for the district are state equalization aid and property tax.

A countywide dive team may debut as early as 2014, at the request of the town of Brazeau, which is looking for support of the emergency team it solely operates now. The Law Enforcement/Judiciary Committee on Aug. 7 considered contracting with the dive team for service or taking ownership.

On a dark and stormy night last week in a number of different locations along the path around the Falls, Mother Nature decided to push the start of the fall wood-cutting season. The rain and wind Wednesday night combined to topple all or major portions of three mature trees in this observer’s farm yard, closing one driveway but missing the buildings and power lines.