Recent victories earned by Raul Beltran Jr.’s jiujitsu team were more than just a win. Beltran’s father had recently died and was buried June 7. “I told my team of my dad’s passing and told them that it would mean a lot for me to fight for his spirit and to fight for the honor of their fathers and the fathers’ spirit,” he said.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for Wisconsin Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants. This round of funding became available when Gov.

Lydia Rasmussen has been named the 2024 Fairest of the Fair for the Shawano County Fair. She is the daughter of Jeannine and Erik Rasmussen. The Shawano County Fair will be held Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. In the fall, Rasmussen will be a senior at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she is studying dairy science with a science emphasis.

Wisconsin had three days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 7, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. More rain fell throughout the state this week, limiting fieldwork particularly later in the week. Reports indicate farmers are weighing options for the remaining unplanted cropland. Topsoil moisture condition rated 49% adequate and 51% surplus.

Carrie Anderson, 68, of Oconto Falls, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 5, 2024, at home with her family. Carrie was born in Oconto Falls on June 10, 1956, to the late Bernice and William Wall. She attended school in Gillett and married Joseph Anderson 49 years ago on Sept. 28, 1974, at the Tabor United Methodist Church in Gillett. Carrie was a loving wife, mom, sister, aunt and grandma.

Kenneth M. Niemer, 47, of Clintonville, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024. Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory, Clintonville.

Many folks reading this today probably are doing so with Christian faith, and a good chunk of readers are probably looking at this column while comfortably having a roof over their heads.

Although I’ve been fishing for just shy of 60 years, I finally bought my first muskie lure last month. I have spent a small fortune on fishing lures over the years, but I was shocked to find muskie lures averaged $20 to $30 each at the Appleton Fleet Farm store. Ouch. Since I’m a bargain hunter and Dutch, I managed to find one for $9. I had no idea if it would catch fish, but it was big.

Decided to read J.D. Robb’s “Payback in Death” during our drive to Sioux Narrows. As expected, it held my interest all the way. Lt. Eve Dallas and her super-rich husband Roarke have been on a much-needed vacation. A lazy two weeks in Greece, followed by a chaotic week with Roarke’s family in Ireland, did the trick.