Sunday will mark 15 years since the shootings at Columbine, Colo., High School resulted in the deaths of 13 students and one teacher. Rachel Joy Scott, 17, was the first student killed at Columbine. She chose to remain at school that day to eat lunch with a friend in need rather than accept an invitation from a group of friends to eat out. Rachel’s Challenge is a series of programs and strategies based on Scott’s writings and life.

The Oconto Falls School Board will consider presenting a referendum at the Aug. 12 primary election.

Back when I was in college, there was a sort of burgeoning popularity of Jewish humor that took place in American entertainment. “The Ed Sullivan Show” often featured comedians such as Alan King and Shelly Berman. Jack Benny and George Burns were already popular from their own TV and radio shows. Buddy Hackett, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Alan Sherman, Don Rickles, Sid Caeser, Milton Berle, Carl Reiner, Woody Allen.

Global warming advocates living near the path around the Falls took another hit on the chin when Mother Nature surprised residents by magically transforming Sunday night’s rain into Monday morning’s snow. The 2-inch layer of slush on the drive into work that morning allowed drivers to be reminded of the physics of hydroplaning, a phenomenon in which a thin layer of water can cause a heavy vehicle to be lifted above the surface of the road.

Public school districts throughout the state will share $30.2 million in library aid, which will be paid April 28 from the Common School Fund, the only state funding specifically designated for the purchase of materials for school libraries. Oconto County districts and the funding they will receive are as follows: Suring, $14,670; Lena, $14,795; Gillett, $15,569; Oconto, $32,909; and Oconto Falls, $63,098. Aid is based on the number of children b

Sixteen members of the Oconto Falls High School FBLA Chapter competed at the FBLA State Leadership Conference on April 6 in Appleton. Three qualified for the National Leadership Conference: Liz Coopman, Brittany Russell and Matthew VerVelde. Russell placed first in Public Speaking I and first with Coopman in Partnership with Business. VerVelde placed second in Cyber Security.

Five students from Gillett High School were honored guests at the annual Marinette & Oconto Conference honors banquet April 7 at Romy’s Holiday Inn in Kelly Lake. Organized and sponsored by the M&O Conference principals, the program was first held in the spring of 1982.

The Gillett Secondary School boys track team finished in 11th place Saturday at the Mustang Invitational in Little Chute. Freedom won the boys meet, and Notre Dame won the girls meet. Gillett junior Akeem Bates took fifth in the long jump, going 17 feet, 11 1/2 inches. Junior Colin Weiss finished tied for seventh in the pole vault. Gillett’s girls did not score.

The Oconto Falls High School baseball team nearly won its season opener Friday in Luxemburg-Casco, but a seventh-inning run by the Spartans gave them the 4-3 victory. The Panthers (0-1, 0-1 Bay) scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game. “Our kids were down,” Oconto Falls coach Charlie Rochon said. “We’re pretty young, but they battled. They gave themselves a chance to win.