Making decisions is something done nearly every moment in life. When to get up in the morning? What to do that day? What to wear? What to eat? Those are the mundane everyday kinds of things. There are more life changing things that go on in the course of a lifetime. What school to go to? Who to marry? How many children to have? Where to live? What job to pursue?

“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.” — Anonymous The Shawano County Humane Society annual banquet and fundraiser, one of my favorite events of the year, will be held Feb. 22. The society was formed in 1991 by a small group of animal lovers who saw the need for a more humane way to handle stray and unwanted animals. The 5,500-square-foot shelter is at 1290 Jaycee Court in the industrial park.

The Friends of the Library play an important role for the Shawano City-County Library and its branches. “The library, including the branches, is the focal point of the community,” said Marsha Hoeffs, Friends president.

Menominee Tribal Enterprises has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the second annual Menominee Indian School District Scholarship Gala. The gala will be held from 6-9 p.m. March 14 at the Menominee Indian Casino and Resort, N277 State Highway 47/55. “We are so thankful for MTE’s continued support of this event,” MISD Superintendent Wendell Waukau said.

“You gotta have heart, miles and miles of heart.” Frank Sinatra sings that song as only he can, and the message is to not give up, but to go for it. With the Shawano-Menominee Relay for Life coming up March 22, it reminds me of all the people out there fighting for their lives against cancer. Talk about having heart. Join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

One very cold day (of many) I was washing up milkers after morning milking when my husband strode purposefully into the milkhouse. He reached for the flashlight, all the while giving orders in a no-nonsense-listen-up type of voice, which makes me very antsy. “Silage not coming. You’ll have to run the last cart out while I’m up there. Turn elevator switch to the left, silo unloader switch to the right, crank it down 20.

Andy Boivin, of Shawano, is the commander of the Veterans of the Menominee Nation, which will hold their annual fishing derby on Legend Lake on Feb. 15. Boivin was born in Keshena and graduated from Shawano High School. He attended Marquette University for one year and then joined the Air Force. He spent 15 years working as an aircraft mechanic in the military.

Today’s opening day comes down to three questions for thousands of sturgeon spearers and their supporting family, friends and onlookers: Will I see a sturgeon? Will I spear a sturgeon? Will I break the state record? Water clarity is everything for spearers. That’s one reason there’s a lottery for licenses to spear over the upriver lakes of Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts.

Shawano Police Department Feb. 6 Police logged 31 incidents, including the following: Disturbance — A 20-year-old male subject was taken into custody on charges of disorderly conduct and domestic violence after a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue. Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Prairie Street. Juvenile — Police logged eight truancy complaints from Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S.