High school basketball games will be longer in the 2015-16 season, but play should flow more smoothly, according to area coaches. The WIAA board voted Thursday to change varsity games from four eight-minute quarters to two 18-minute halves for a one-year trial.

“Havoc on the Half Mile” lived up to its name Saturday, as all feature races at Shawano Speedway were marred by caution flags. Jake Redetzke made his drive from Eau Claire worthwhile in taking home the $2,000 winner’s share in the Late Model feature.

Roger “Rog” R. Habeck, 85, of Seymour, passed away Tuesday morning, June 30, 2015, at Good Shepherd Nursing Home. He was born Sept. 20, 1929, son of the late Julius and Lenora (Jesse) Habeck. Roger was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour. Roger graduated from Shawano High School and served in the U.S. Army from March 1951 to March 1953.

Lloyd E. Schoenfeld, 67, of Cloverleaf Lakes, passed away on June 27, 2015, at his home after a long courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Lloyd was born in Shawano on March 25, 1948, to the late Lloyd H. and Edna (Bistoff) Schoenfeld. On Dec. 10, 1988, Lloyd was united in marriage to Lola Volp. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and snowmobiling.

Erwin Miles Stenzel, local artist and entrepreneur, died at Shawano Medical Center on June 29, 2015, at the age of 92. Erwin was born in Milwaukee on May 29, 1923, to the late Erwin and Norma (Berndt) Stenzel. He graduated from Solomon Juneau High School in 1942. Erwin served honorably in the U.S. Navy from Feb. 27, 1943, to March 24, 1946. He married Marie Elizabeth McKillop on Oct. 25, 1947.

Wisconsin is known for its dairy cows, its cheese, its potatoes and much more related to agriculture. On Sunday, more than 2,500 people got to see up close and personal the animals and the land that provide the food that many folks take for granted. Shawano County’s 32nd annual Brunch on the Farm at the Beran Dairy in Birnamwood featured several delicacies representative of Wisconsin farm products, including cheese curds and cottage cheese from m

Organizers say this will be the last year Cloverleaf Lakes Fireworks Inc. will sponsor the Fourth of July fireworks at Pine Lake. Dennis Thornton, president of the Cloverleaf Lakes Protective Association, said in a statement that the fireworks group has notified contributors that the Saturday show will be its final one. The group indicated in a letter that it is having difficulty finding volunteers and raising money.

Shawano County is asking some towns and villages to help pay for the county’s financially ailing landfill, even if they send their trash elsewhere. County officials say the municipalities all signed long-term contracts to use the landfill, and that sluggish participation is contributing to the losses exceeding $200,000 a year.

The Bonduel American Legion baseball team crushed struggling Marion/Tigerton 12-0 Tuesday in Bonduel. Bonduel batted around and scored half of its runs in the third inning. Leadoff hitter Colton Dobratz was 2 for 3 and collected both of his hits in the third. “He had a good game and hit the ball, and he got the job done,” Bonduel coach Kevin Thiel said. Dobratz was not surprised by his team’s performance. “We played them two weeks ago, and we bea