With Medicare annual enrollment period running through Dec. 7, Aspirus Health Plan is encouraging community members to make sure their coverage meets their needs for the 2026 plan year.

For some, the process may feel especially stressful this year. Certain Medicare Advantage plans are no longer being offered through their current carriers, leaving many to wonder what steps to take next.

Aspirus Health has introduced the TriClip G4 System, the first FDA-approved technology that allows physicians to repair the tricuspid valve without open-heart surgery.

The device, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 4, 2024, offers a groundbreaking, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with tricuspid valve disease, according to an Aspirus Health news release.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has announced its selection as one of the community colleges invited to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).

Supported by a generous $25,000 grant aimed at enhancing access to high-wage degree programs, 20 eligible NWTC students will gain vital financial support with scholarships of up to $1,000 each.

Taking a drive down Tree Farm Road in northern Oconto County is like going back in time.

Nestled in the woods and lakes of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest five miles northwest of Mountain is Camp Lake Resort, which Steve Larson’s family has owned and operated since his grandfather, Wilmot Swanson, purchased an abandoned logging camp and began building cottages near Camp Lake more than a century ago.

As you prepare your gardens for winter, consider marking the location of late emerging perennials to avoid accidentally weeding them out next spring. Use bulbs, commercial or DIY plant labels, stones or simply leave their stems intact to help guide your cleanup efforts next spring.

As a kid growing up on our dairy farm, October was my favorite month. It was high harvest season. After-school hours and weekends were filled with hard physical labor that seemed more palatable when working in the cool, crisp fall days. I remember watching my father tour the farm buildings every year around Halloween.

Have you heard of the free eBird app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology? I use it to record the birds I see and other data including date and location of the sighting. It keeps track of my “Life List” — my personal cumulative record of every bird species I’ve ever seen. I also use it to generate reports using a variety of filters.

Grace Lutheran Church, 501 S. Main St., Oconto Falls, is this area’s point of collection for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection.

Last year, over 1,000 shoeboxes were gathered from individuals, churches and organizations, then loaded and shipped from Grace. These shoeboxes provide supplies to children around the world.

The Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization of women educators, has announced that it is offering one $500 scholarship to an eligible college student who is pursuing a degree in education.

Applicants must be college or university students who have been admitted to an education program. Interested college students from Waupaca and Shawano counties are encouraged to apply. Completed applications are due Nov. 8.