The Shawano Area Writers has kicked off the 2026 George Putz Memorial Student Writing Contest.

Information about the contest is being distributed to public and private schools and homeschoolers in Shawano and Menominee counties. The contest is open for four grade groups: 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. There are three categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.

Capital Credit Union has announced that applications are now being accepted for the Tom Young Educational Scholarship.

This year, $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 10 outstanding high school seniors who are members of Capital Credit Union and are pursuing higher education in the fall.

The Bond Community Center in Oconto has received a generous $27,000 donation to support the Emplify Health by Bellin Kids’ Triathlon and bring a new toddler tumbling room to the fitness center thanks to grant from the Leon H. and Clymene M. Bond Foundation.

Angel Dick and Kyle Waupoose’s newborn daughter received the distinction of being the first baby born in 2026 at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano. The baby, named Klaira Diana Waupoose, was born at 2:55 p.m. Jan. 2, just missing the mark for being designated a new year’s baby. She weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces at birth and was 19½ inches long.

Second grade students, from left, front row, Aliyah Redmerski, Ava Carroll, Rylea Cumberland, Olivia Kast, Nakoma Daugherty and Elijiah Radek; back row, Joseph McDougal, Wyatt Zoellner, Alfred Gueths, Elli Farley, McCoy Miller and Abel Mathwich; under the guidance of art teacher Sue Simeons, students crafted beautifully designed Sacred Hearts recently. As part of the lesson, the Rev.

As winter storms impact communities across the upper Midwest, Aspirus Health is urging residents to take precautions when shoveling snow to avoid injury.