Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce — the combined state chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association — presented Rep. Brent Jacobson with the organization’s Working for Wisconsin Award.

The first round of bids for a new Shawano County Courthouse, 150-bed jail and jail auxiliary services resulted in a multimillion-dollar cost savings from what was budgeted.

Members of the public property committee approved and forwarded to the county board the bids recommended by Kurt Berner, of The Samuels Group.

“You had a great bid day,” he said. “You’re currently $6.5 million under the budget for bid pack 1.”

Officer Calvin Schultz with the Shawano Police Department received a commendation Oct. 14 during the Shawano Common Council meeting for his role in saving a suicidal teen.

Police Chief Mike Musolff said the Aug. 16 incident saw Schultz and two Shawano County sheriff’s deputies being called to help with a girl who appeared to be ready to jump from a bridge. The officers hurried forward and stopped the girl from jumping.

Two deer harvested on the Menominee Reservation have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

One deer was a doe which was harvested in the Jackson Creek area and the other was a spike buck harvested near Southeast Pine Lake. All positive results to date have come in the southeast corner of the reservation.

Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities’ not-for-profit wholesale power provider, WPPI Energy, presented utility foreman Jason Valentine with its Shining Star Award during WPPI’s annual member gathering held Sept. 17.

The award recognizes those who “go above and beyond” for their community.

“I’m grateful for this honor,” Valentine said. “I try every day to make our utility, and the community it serves, even better.”

Rep. Elijah Behnke is running for his fourth term in the Wisconsin Assembly, facing a challenge from Shirley Hinze.

Behnke, a Republican who is moving into a home in the Town of Angelica after two years in the Town of Chase, is looking for a second two-year term representing the 6th Assembly District, which includes most of Shawano County, all of Menominee County, and segments of Oconto, Waupaca and Outagamie counties.