Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News

Change your bookmarks to get the most out of newmedia-wi.com

Published by admin on Thu, 09/12/2019 - 12:04pm

SHAWANO - How you find newmedia-wi.com matters and, after October 5, 2019, it will matter even more.

On that date, shawanoleader.com and octimeherald.com will be de-activated.

          That means if you enter "shawanoleader.com" or "octimesherald.com", you will NOT be taken to newmedia-wi.com.

          If you routinely enter the website name into a search engine like Google, the link you click in the results will NOT take you to newmedia.com.

Wittenberg water rates could go up 60%

Published by admin on Thu, 09/19/2019 - 6:06pm

MADISON — An Oct. 10 public hearing on a request to double the cost of water for Wittenberg Municipal Water and Sewer Utility customers adds another event to the utility’s unusually active year.

In March, the water utility filed its first comprehensive rate case since 1995 on an order from the Public Service Commission. The utility had reported losses of $141,317 during the two previous years and had little cash on hand, which triggered the PSC to require a utility to file a rate case.

School board approves bid package number 2

Published by admin on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 10:24am

WITTENBERG — The Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District board on Sept. 12 approved bids totaling over $5.65 million for construction at the high school and two elementary/middle schools. Bids for the second phase of projects approved by voters in November as part of a $13.1 million referendum came in on budget for the bids collected so far.

Matt MacGregor, project manager for Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc., told the board he was pleased with the bidder turnout for this phase of construction.

Wittenberg teen sings at Carnegie Hall

Published by admin on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 10:20am

Not everyone can say they sang at Carnegie Hall, but one lucky Wittenberg teen has added that to her list of credits.

Seventeen-year-old Brianna Schmidt went to New York with her vocal group Bella Voce in March to sing in an a capella choir event produced by Distinguished Concerts International New York.

DCINY provides opportunities for singers and instrumentalists to perform in prestigious concert halls.

Superintendent: Mill rate could be lower than promised

Published by admin on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 1:18pm

WITTENBERG — If property values in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District continue to climb, residents could pay even less in school property taxes than previously expected.

At the district’s Aug. 26 annual meeting, Superintendent Garrett Rogowski updated district residents and the school board about upcoming budget numbers and how they could affect the amount of taxes collected.

The property value in the district has been consistent at roughly $526 million. Rogowski expects that number to be even higher this year, which will have a positive impact.

Bryson Bernarde heads up his own business

Published by admin on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 1:14pm

Editor’s Note: NEW Media recently chatted with Bryson Bernarde, CEO of United Social Media Marketing. He runs his business out of Wausau and lives in the Wittenberg/Elderon area.

Q: How did you get started in your business?

A: From a young age, I have always picked up technology quickly. Among all of what I learned, social media was a large part of it. After trial and error, I was able to take my knowledge and experience to piece together the digital marketing agency I own today.

Years Gone By

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 10:25am

Sept. 3, 2009
10 Years Ago

Discover Wisconsin TV show came to Wittenberg to tour the Walls of Wittenberg murals and to interview Lois Smith.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood Schools to receive $463,216 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Wisconsin raises cigarette tax another 75 cents, which brings the total cigarette tax up to $2.52 per pack.

Obit: Sally J. Taylor, 77, of Standish, Maine.

Sept. 7, 2000
19 Years Ago

W-B construction timeline for referendum updates set

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 10:18am

WITTENBERG — Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District Superintendent Garrett Rogowski updated the school board about the construction timeline at the Aug. 26 board meeting.

To date, new entrances with security enhancements were completed this summer at each of the district’s three schools — Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School, Birnamwood Elementary-Middle School and Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School.

Autumn Acres fun for the whole family

Published by admin on Tue, 09/03/2019 - 10:15am

BIRNAMWOOD — Energetic, artistic and a true entrepreneur, Karen Schairer has built a business the past eight years out of giving people a fun on the farm experience.

Owner of Schairer’s Autumn Acres, the secret to her success is adding something new each year and always striving to give great customer service.

This year, she’s trying out a “Sips and Succulents” workshop. For $40, you can sample wine while crafting a centerpiece out of succulent snips and little pumpkins to take home.

Goga retires and sells Family Vision Center

Published by admin on Fri, 08/30/2019 - 11:39am

WITTENBERG - A chance discussion at the gym paved a path for retirement for one and a path to owning a business for another.

Doctors of Optometry Raymond Goga and Ken Martell struck up a conversation at the YMCA one day discussing their futures.

Goga was thinking about retirement but hadn’t made any plans toward that goal. Martell, working for Shopko Optical since 2000, was thinking about going into private practice. What grew out of that conversation was a win-win scenario for both.