An Oconto Falls man was taken into custody Aug. 28 after he allegedly struck his wife several times and threatened to kill her at gunpoint. Bond was set at $75,000 cash Sept.

Funds from the former Revitalize Gillett nonprofit organization have been transferred into the new Gillett Area Chamber of Commerce under the title Forever Fund. “We are currently accepting applications out of that fund to help beautify the city, maybe do some facade work and things for businesses,” Alderperson Jerry Luther said during the Sept. 5 meeting of the Gillett City Council.

The Gillett Public Library is collecting Halloween costumes to share with children whose parents may not be able to afford them. Shannon Stoner, library director, reported to the Gillett City Council on Sept. 5 that people are invited to drop off gently used, clean Halloween costumes at the library, starting Sept. 17. “Throughout the whole month of October, kids can come in and choose a costume,” Stoner said.

Shawano’s finance director, Greg Smith, will be leaving in October to take a finance position with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. The news broke during a Shawano Common Council work session on Aug. 28 and was presented to NEW Media during a meeting Sept. 4 at Shawano City Hall. “We’re all very excited for him,” said City Clerk Lesley Nemetz. “He was able to take on a different position, but obviously we’re very sad that he’s leaving.

The city of Shawano is getting closer to the finish line on its 2025 budget but still has to navigate some things for the Shawano Common Council to approve the final document in November. The levy limit for the city set by the state is increasing $116,691 next year, a 3.1% bump.

Shawano County Sheriff George Lenzner is adamant when it comes to his department’s budget for 2025. He and other department heads have been told to trim 5% from their requests for next year. “Our budget is basically wages and fringe benefits,” he said. “That 5% we have left is $230,000, and we’re supposed to cut $366,000.

Marilyn Joan “Mary” Anker, 84, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away on Sept. 4, 2024, at her home with her daughter and husband by her side. Marilyn was born on July 14, 1940, at Shawano Municipal Hospital to the late Oden and Ann (Peterson) Lenning.

The Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual homecoming parade Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. on South Main Street with lineup on Elizabeth Street beginning at 9 a.m. Parade participants will have to enter the staging area off Lincoln Street.

As summer winds down and Wisconsin families, educators and staff head back to school in the coming days, I am reminded of the amazing opportunities our public schools provide. Our public schools are places where every student — regardless of their background, abilities or needs — should have equal access to education and opportunity. Classrooms in Wisconsin are often the most diverse communities in our state.