Jackson Smits, a recent Shawano Community High School graduate, was inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2026 on June 30, beginning six challenging weeks of basic midshipman training as part of Plebe Summer. Approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year out of 16,000 applications for the academy’s “plebe” or freshman class, and each student is required to participate in Plebe Summer.

The Shawano Area Writers held a meeting June 16 in the Elsie Engel Room of the Shawano Public Library. Members attending were Tom Thorstenson, Manuel Moraleda, Barb King, Wendy Goerl, Trudy Bosman and Marilyn Kroenke. President Tom Thorstenson called the meeting to order. The minutes were approved. Treasurer John Mutter had a previous commitment, so Thorstenson read the treasurer’s report.

The Lena Lions Club honored Maverick Diehlmann, son of Nicole Behnke and Karl Behnke as the Lions’ student of the month for June. Maverick is a senior at Lena High School, where he is a member of the Lena High School Band. His friends describe him as tall, funny, trustworthy and paranoid. Maverick’s hobbies are leather working, reading, and working.

UW-Eau Claire The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has announced that 2,461 students named to the spring 2022 dean’s list. Students from the area who were named to the list are: • Bonduel: Alexia Folkman • Gresham: Savana Olsen • Shawano: Sarah Bergmann, Nolan Buck, Caitlin Daniel, Michaela Schnell • Wittenberg: Wesley Johnson • Eland: Thomas Severson • Abrams: Emily Elliott, Rickaela Vrooman • Lena: Cameron Mercier • Oconto Falls: Autumn Canav

The 2022 Shawano County Brunch on the Farm was remarkable. It was a true blessing witnessing the community coming together as they enjoyed this event, seeing the cows, touring the farm, eating, laughing, and visiting with each other. This event was made possible because there are so many people and groups who give their time and talents freely.

To help promote Electricity Safety Month in May, linemen from Central Wisconsin Electrical Cooperative (CWEC) conducted electricity safety demonstrations for fourth-grade students in Birnamwood, Bowler, Tigerton and Wittenberg. “Knowing the importance of electricity safety, we were excited to once again be able to bring these safety demonstrations back to the classrooms of area schools,” said Bert Lehman, member relations specialist at CWEC.