When Oconto Falls High School opens its inaugural athletic season in the North Eastern Conference in a week, football coach Jeff Trochil is most elated, while two other fall sports coaches see the move as minimal. The Panthers’ departure from the Bay Conference was part of a massive realignment plan, impacting 76 schools and eight conferences, implemented last year by the WIAA. Oconto Falls, Denmark, Luxemburg-Casco and Marinette moved from the B

Shawano Police Department Aug.

A sheriff’s sale of the former Ponderosa restaurant in Shawano that had been planned for Wednesday has been cancelled. The property was one of 15 included in a sweeping, half-million dollar foreclosure suit against the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology. The suit was dismissed last month after a newly formed company purchased the debt, but the former Ponderosa Steak House at 1247 E. Green Bay St.

Lon Swedberg, of Swedberg Funeral Homes in Shawano, has expanded services to the Cecil area by purchasing Zastrow Funeral Homes in Cecil and Bonduel, effective Aug. 1. “Neil and Sheila Zastrow said they wanted to retire Aug. 1 so we purchased their business,” Swedberg said. The Zastrow Funeral Home began in 1975 with Norman Zastrow. His son, Neil, eventually partnered with his father and became the sole owner in 1991.

The Shawano School District will move forward with its referendum for Shawano Community Middle School, but with fewer projects than proposed. The School Board voted unanimously Monday to ask voters on Nov. 3 to approve a referendum for $9.25 million to upgrade the middle school’s infrastructure.

A local nonprofit group will try for a second time Wednesday to gain approval for an emergency homeless shelter. Shawano Area Matthew 25 is looking to lease a vacant building at 213 E. Green Bay St. for the shelter.

Exasperated city officials Tuesday took a page out of the Old West playbook and set up a showdown with ThedaCare for high noon on Wednesday to either sign or reject a deal that would allow the former Shawano Medical Center to become a medical training facility. After a special emergency meeting of the Shawano Common Council, officials approved a motion giving ThedaCare until noon to respond before the city would start looking for an alternative l

Shawano Police Department Aug. 10 Police logged 19 incidents, including the following: Burglary — Police investigated a break-in in the 100 block of River Heights. Shoplifting — Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St., reported a male suspect left the store with a number of breakfast sandwiches. Arrest — A 23-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E.

Austra Culver (nee Anderson), 94, of Shawano, went to join her beloved husband, Roy Culver, and loving son, James Culver, on Friday, Aug.