It took five months of delays for the Shawano Plan Commission to recommend a special zoning exception for a private zoo at Anello’s Torch Lite, but the Common Council made it official Wednesday in a matter of minutes. The restaurant at 1276 E. Green Bay St.

The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday approved several equipment purchases for the Park and Recreation and Public Works departments, along with a new squad for the Police Department. Items included a regular cab pickup with plow from Shawano Auto Sales for $14,460; a riding sweeper with dump hopper, for use at the cemetery, from Horst Distributing, of Chilton, for $28,895; a paint striper with auto layout and bead dispenser, for $6,950 from Bra

City of Shawano officials Wednesday limited parking on Washington Street alongside Charlie’s County Market in hopes of eliminating sight-line issues that have been responsible for several accidents there. It was the city’s second effort to address safety concerns for vehicles coming in and out of the parking lot. The store is located at 521 S. Main St.

Two downtown business properties were sold at a sheriff’s sale Wednesday, but the owner of one of those businesses says his shop will remain open in spite of the foreclosure. Dallas Pingel, owner of Pingel’s Old Time Sausage Shop, at 528 S.

Area fire chiefs took a message to the Shawano County Public Safety Committee on Wednesday to be sure they were heard loud and clear. They apparently were a lot clearer than some of the messages dispatched on the county’s new simulcast system, which had been guaranteed to provide 95 percent coverage across the county.

The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday agreed to partner with ThedaCare to hire a consultant to market the Shawano Medical Center property to prospective developers. The hospital at 309 N. Bartlett St.

GIRLS BASKETBALL WHAT: Bonduel at Wittenberg-Birnamwood WHEN: 7:15 p.m. Thursday WHERE: Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School WHY IT MATTERS: The Central Wisconsin Conference-8-leading Chargers will look for some payback against Bonduel for a 31-29 loss Jan. 21. These two teams and Amherst are separated by 1.5 games in the CWC-8 standings.

Shawano Community High School junior Zack Soper is the top-ranked swimmer in two events in the WIAA Division 2 sectional Saturday in Stevens Point. The Hawks’ 200-yard medley relay team, which includes Soper, received a No. 2 seed. Event winners and the top 12 individuals and relay teams from across the state will qualify for the state meet Feb.

Corrina Romandine, a freshman at Oconto Falls High School, has been selected to be a student ambassador for the People to People organization in June. To fund her trip, she is coordinating a spaghetti dinner and show Feb. 21. The dinner will be served from 6-8 p.m. at Oconto Falls High School. The show is scheduled from 8-10 p.m.