Steven Schinke has been appointed to fill the vacant District 13 position on the Shawano County Board. Schinke was appointed by Shawano County Board Chairman Tom Kautza at the board’s Jan. 22 meeting. The current term will expire in April 2026. The seat was held by Kevin Conradt, who died Jan. 3. He served on the county board for nearly 30 years. “I’ve lived in the Town of Navarino all my life after I was 17 years old,” Schinke said.

This week I chose a book that turned out to be very difficult to read. “Daughter of the King” by Kerry Chaput is a historical novel set during the bloody Catholic suppression of Protestants in France. It is hard for us to imagine the absolute powerlessness of Protestants at this time. Isabelle Collette’s family lived in La Rochelle for generations.

• Omaha S. Tucker, an Appleton man serving time at the Redgranite Correctional Institution, pleaded no contest Jan. 15 to felony bail jumping and misdemeanor counts of operating while revoked, violating an ignition interlock device order and bail jumping. Judge William Kussel Jr. assessed $2,358 in fines and fees and sentenced him to 180 days in jail concurrent with his present sentence. • Matthew C. Malone, 41, Bowler, pleaded no contest Jan.

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin is looking into how the new Donald Trump administration’s plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants would impact tribal members, according to a letter Chairwoman Gena Kakkak sent out Jan. 24. “We know there is a lot of confusion, uncertainty, and concern within our community regarding some of the decisions and changes happening within the new U.S. Administration,” Kakkak wrote.

Phyliss I. Goltz, 89, of the Town of Matteson, passed away Jan. 22, 2025. Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory, Clintonville.

Vian Carol (Long) Kersten, 90, of Wittenberg, died on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at House of the Dove in Marshfield. Vian was born on July 22, 1934, in the Town of Almon, the daughter of Harold and Adeline (Zeinert) Long. On Oct. 1, 1955, Vian was united in marriage to Milan Kersten in Wittenberg. He preceded her in death on July 27, 2014. Vian was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and was on the altar guild for many years.

Participating in youth sports has long been a cornerstone of the American experience — or at least it used to be. Fewer American kids are playing sports, and shifting trends are leaving countless kids on the sidelines. The importance of reversing this trend cannot be overstated. Youth sports are not just games; they are a critical component of childhood development.

The Shawano Recreation Center had to shut down briefly after equipment problems attributed to the extreme cold that blanketed Wisconsin last week. Officials posted Jan. 20 on Facebook that the air handler was struggling to keep up with the demand for hot air, and a boiler was out of service. Fixes were on the way, according to the post, although it would take time for parts to arrive. On Jan.

School districts usually approve school year calendars one year at a time, but the Shawano School Board took the unusual step Jan.