Editorial Columns

Western bean cutworm affecting fields in area

Published by admin on Mon, 08/03/2020 - 3:05pm

The annual flight of western bean cutworm, or WBCW, moth has reached the Marinette and Oconto county area. As you read the name, you would think that this is an insect which would affect green bean fields being raised for the Gillett cannery, or maybe soybean fields in the area. However, their primary target is actually corn. They can affect all types of corn and can affect sweet corn patches in home gardens, along with corn fields.

Our past actions don’t show equity

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 9:16am

“…with liberty and justice for all.”

How often have we said those words when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and not really thought about what the words really meant. Being free within a society from the oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life is liberty. It means civil rights and human rights.

Just behavior or treatment is justice. It means fairness and equity.

Raise the bar on police transparency

Published by admin on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 11:35am

Recently, the National Freedom of Information Coalition and the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information issued a statement calling for greater transparency and accountability from law enforcement. They were joined by more than 50 groups, including the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Wisconsin Transparency Project.

Emerald ash borer: an invasive insect with major impact

Published by admin on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 11:31am

The emerald ash borer, or EAB, is a small, bright green metallic wood-boring beetle that is not native to North America. It is responsible for killing millions of ash trees in the Upper Midwest, including many in Marinette County. EAB is only currently known to be found in the town of Wagner, the town of Goodman and the city of Niagara within Marinette County and not found within Oconto or Florence counties at all.

Opinion: Your Right to Know

Published by admin on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:16pm

In March, as Wisconsin enacted Safer at Home, state and local governments scrambled to build new ways to govern from remote locations while still complying with our open meeting laws. Even in the age of COVID-19, we still have the right to watch public bodies in action.

In a positive step for government transparency, people all across Wisconsin can now watch the live-streamed workings of government on our phones, tablets and computers.

How America would have lost World War II

Published by admin on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 3:58pm

The president’s daily press briefing on developments in World War II. June 7, 1944.

REPORTER: Mr. President, now that we’ve landed at Normandy, is there a timeline for how much longer this war will go on?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: It’s over. It’s over now. We just had the greatest invasion in history at Burgundy. Which, by the way, was my idea. So I think we can start winding down now. It’s over. We won.

REPORTER: But, Mr. President, the Germans still occupy France and are still bombing London. Don’t we need to continue fighting?

Stronger county leadership needed in COVID-19 crisis

Published by admin on Tue, 03/31/2020 - 8:50pm

The COVID-19 virus is here. It will spread, and we need to be ready when it does. Many local individuals, businesses and agencies have stepped up to the challenges ahead.

Sadly, Shawano County missed many opportunities as they waited for a case to be confirmed here before taking on a leadership role in planning for the local impact of the pandemic.

The go-slow approach may have been intended to keep residents calm, but the effect has been a lack of sense of urgency that may mask the actual threat.

A winning program for March madness

Published by admin on Fri, 03/27/2020 - 7:35pm

Brad Luepke is hanging up coaching basketball at St. Paul Lutheran School in Bonduel, and as his assistant, I will, too. I’m writing this for two reasons. First is to thank Brad for the fun ride. Second is to alert any high school in the area that has had the same dismal, depressing ending to their season year after year, you can change that. Ask Brad to be your varsity coach, if you’re tired of losing and would like a winning program.

Class of 2020 has been forged through adversity

Published by admin on Tue, 03/24/2020 - 11:50am

Over the past two weeks, nothing has weighed more heavily on my mind than you, Wittenberg-Birnamwood Class of 2020. I know your emotions have to be running between disappointment, sadness and confusion.

Happy hour just got a little easier

Published by admin on Tue, 03/24/2020 - 11:41am

For about 30 years now, I have been getting together with former roommates for a few weekends each year. The ritual helps us reconnect and blow off a little steam. I jokingly refer to those getaways as our Wild Women Weekends, the joke being they never were all that wild and seem to be getting less so with the passage of time.