Valentine’s Day used to be the highlight of this one-room school going person. All eight grades were educated in the same school, with the different grades divided into different rows of desks. For the most part, this worked out well, and somehow the teacher kept order despite all the different age groups. I was that shy kid who never wanted to be noticed.

Darvin Pieper is the treasurer for the Gresham American Legion. He was born in Gresham and graduated from Gresham High School. Pieper was in the Army for two years, serving stateside during the Korean War. He worked for 30-plus years at Little Rapids, retiring in February 1997 as supervisor on paper machines. Pieper and his wife, Patsy, who works part time at Town Mart in Gresham, have been married 56 years and live in Gresham.

The Rotary student foreign exchange program has been working well in Shawano for several years. It is just one of the many ways the Shawano Rotary Club helps locally and internationally. “Shawano has generally hosted an inbound student,” President Glen Gilbert said. This year’s exchange student, Livia, is from Brasil. In other years, students from Sweden, Chile, Peru and Italy have spent a year of high school in Shawano.

To the editor: In the true fashion of neighbors helping neighbors, the supporters of the Shawano Farmers Market rallied to match a generous $3,500 challenge by the Harold E. Pevonka Trust. They raised this, and more, giving the fundraiser a total of $7,185. The donations came from individuals and businesses, vendors, artists, local market fans and out-of-town visitors.

To the editor: As a trustee for the village of Bonduel for almost four years, I have been in a position to closely observe the three candidates for village president. In my opinion, Sharon Wussow is by far the best person for the job. Sharon is very enthusiastic about village activities and is knowledgeable regarding village operations. Sharon has served on the Village Board for many years and also on various committees.

Loretta M. Salzman, 85, of Tigerton, passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at the Homme Home of Wittenberg. Funeral arrangements are pending with the Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton.

Virginia E. Jones, 89, of Shawano, passed away Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, in Belle Plaine. Virginia was born on Jan. 23, 1926, in Milwaukee, the daughter of the late Ferdinand and Clara (Schneider) Lechmaier. Virginia was united in marriage to Orval E. Jones on June 18, 1949, in Waukegan, Illinois. Earl preceded her death on Dec. 20, 1975.

Edith A. Flessert, 86, of Shawano, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, and joined her loved ones in heaven. Edith was born on Aug. 29, 1928, in Madison, the daughter of the late Alfred and Dorothy (Neu) Denton. Edith was united in marriage to Fred Flessert on Sept. 13, 1946. Fred preceded her in death on July 10, 2003. Edith was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano.

Shawano Police Department Feb. 12 Police logged 25 incidents, including the following: Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident. Code Violations — Police logged eight complaints of snow and ice not cleared from sidewalks. Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Farm Inn on Main, 123 N.