The Wisconsin State Patrol is joined by law enforcement agencies throughout the state stepping up patrols to stop impaired driving during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which is underway now through New Year’s Day. With the holiday season approaching and celebrations in the works, drivers are urged to plan for a sober ride ahead of time. Impairment can cloud judgement, so designate a sober driver prior to celebrating.

Gift cards are a convenient way to celebrate special occasions, but they are also a favored tool for fraudsters. When someone asks you to pay for a product, service or debt with a gift card, it’s a major red flag for fraud. Fraudsters often pressure victims to purchase gift cards, claiming it’s the quickest way to settle a debt, pay a fine or avoid legal trouble.

Dec. 12 Wittenberg-Birnamwood 76, Shiocton 64 Wittenberg-Birnamwood defeated Shiocton 76-64 in Central Wisconsin East Conference action. “We had valuable contribution from everyone tonight,” coach Garrett Rogowski said. “It was fun to watch the boys play together and move the ball effectively vs. both man and zone defenses. In addition, we shot very well from the free throw-line.

This week I selected Mike McCrary’s “Table 13” without any idea what the book was about. It turned out to be both heartbreaking and terrifying. Hank Quinn’s childhood was filled with his father’s drunken beatings. Eventually, Hank had enough and shot his father. He and his mother took the body to the woods and rigged it to look like a suicide.

Rising early I have a morning routine that suits my getting-up-before-the-crack-of-dawn-gets-pants-on farming background. Drinking a glass of water to hydrate after the night, I don warm clothes and head outside to fire up. In our house we have a rule — the first one up fires up. This farmer man of mine, for years too numerous to count, arose every morning at 3:30 a.m. to trek out to the barn to begin yet another day of chores.

Michael Ingold is still waiting on a new attorney after his last attorney stepped down just before a four-week trial was scheduled to begin in his homicide case. Two status conferences on Dec. 5 and Dec. 11 yielded no results, so another conference was scheduled for Dec. 23 in Branch II of the Shawano County Courthouse. Ingold has filed a speedy trial demand. This is the third time an attorney has needed to be found for Ingold.

Shawano School District officials aren’t wasting any time in moving forward after voters agreed in November to a $51.23 million building project. School board members agreed Dec. 9 to the issuance of $14 million in bonds to get the ball rolling. Appearing by video conference, Erik Kass, a director, public finance, with PMA Securities LLC, said that morning’s bond sale drew five bidders, with Robert W. Baird and Co.

Magdaline “Maggie” Smith, 89, of Birnamwood, died on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at Cloverleaf Terrace in Birnamwood, under the care of Interim Hospice. Maggie was born on Nov. 7, 1935, in the Town of Rolling, the daughter of Joseph and Frances (Brunner) Servi. Maggie was one of the Servi triplets. Maggie graduated from Eau Claire River Grade School in the Town of Harrison, Marathon County, and then went to Antigo High School. On Jan.