Ethel Mary Schwartz, 79, died at The Cottages in Shawano on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. Ethel left us less than 24 hours from when she lost her beloved husband, Loren. She was born July 16, 1935, on a dairy farm in Nadeau, Michigan, to Antone and Rose (Frazer) Poupore. The youngest of four children, she graduated from Stevenson High School, where she played half-court basketball, in 1953.

The village of Suring, for the 84th year, will celebrate Labor Day with a four-day festival at Veterans Memorial Park. The celebration, from Aug. 29-Sept. 1, features carnival rides and games by Spectrum Entertainment, plus music, food and entertainment for the whole family. Carnival ride wristbands are available for purchase at local businesses. The advance price is $16 for one four-hour period; the cost on Labor Day weekend is $20.

The Brazeau Fire Department on Aug. 9 received $900 from the Lee Lake Conservation Club. Roy Lawrenz, president of the club, started the Greater Lee Lake Open 14 years ago to raise money for the fire department. The first year, 13 golfer participated; this year, 43 golfers took part. More than $8,400 has been raised over the past 14 years. Parkway Golf Course hosted the event.

Hillside Assembly of God Church in Gillett will begin a new year of adult, youth and children’s programs on Wednesday evenings, beginning with an open house at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. Prizes, hot dogs and ice cream will be provided. Royal Rangers is a boys program for ages 3-11.

Loren Charles Schwartz, 84, died at The Cottages in Shawano on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. He was born Jan. 13, 1930, on a dairy farm in Porterfield to Carl and Cecelia (Wiedemeier) Schwartz. The oldest of five children, he attended school through the eighth grade and then worked the family farm and on his Uncle Toby’s fox farm.

The Oconto Falls School District’s effort to clear its name from a 130-year-old deed took a surprising twist Aug. 4 when an attorney informed the district it no longer owns the property. The School Board in recent months has discussed the future of the land on the city’s west side where Jefferson School once stood.

Special sign-up opportunities are open until Oct. 3 for on-farm energy, organic and seasonal high tunnel conservation practices and landscape-based initiatives.

Aug. 21 Deputies logged 22 incidents, including the following: Accident - Authorities investigated an accident between a semi truck and a cow on County Road A and Hillcrest in Oconto. Ambulance - Authorities assisted with a 4-year-old male who was unresponsive on Harley Street in Lena. Disorderly - Authorities investigated a report of a male who was punched in the face by another male on Biolozynski Road in Pulaski. Aug.

The Oconto County Board granted raises for 82 county employees Thursday. Employees who successfully passed an evaluation and were eligible for a step increase on the wage schedule will earn an average of 2.7 percent more in pay and benefits, effective Dec. 28. The estimated cost to the county is $112,000, which will be included in the 2015 budget. Another 140 employees were ineligible for raises because of their placement on the wage schedule.