By the end of 2025, nearly half of all Wisconsinites will be required to pay a fee to their municipality or county to register their vehicle.

Statewide revenues from local option vehicle registration fees – commonly called wheel taxes — totaled more than $70 million in fiscal year 2025. This marks a dramatic increase from a decade ago, when such fees raised less than $10 million for local governments throughout Wisconsin.

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Nick Mechelke was happy with the balanced scoring of his girls high school basketball team in the Chargers’ 69-29 rout over Wausau West.

The Chargers were easily in the lead 45-12 at the break and won the second half as well, 24-17.

Melaina Granquist led Wittenberg-Birnamwood with 22 points.

With a large crowd on hand for Alumni Night, the Shawano/Bonduel boys hockey team treated everyone to a 7-2 win over Rhinelander on Nov. 25 at the Crawford Center.

Bonduel senior Gavin Hundt scored three goals and assisted on two others.

The Hawks led 3-0 after one period and 5-1 after two periods. They outshot the Hodags 25-15 in the contest.

Online sales platforms get more popular every year, but many consumers are still unaware of the unique risks online shopping can present or do not know how to shop online safely.

During the busy holiday season, e-commerce can be a convenient and time-saving option for consumers buying gifts for their friends and loved ones.

UW-Whitewater

The following local students are among the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scholarship recipients receiving financial awards for the 2025-26 academic year

Evan Yuma, Oconto Falls, who is studying Finance, won the Karl E Fraedrich-Admissions and Chancellor Scholars.

Lauren Brovold, Bonduel, who is studying marketing, won the Rising Warhawk Scholarship.

Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of its students who earned a place on the honor roll for the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year. Students earning honors maintained a GPA of 3.0-3.49 with no D’s or F’s. In front, from left, are Mila Cook, Azalea Lorge, Ella West, Caden Wassenberg, Ryder Wassenberg, Liam Radek and Dylan Reyes.

Officials at Wittenberg Middle School have announced the names of students who earned placement on the 2025-26 first trimester honor roll.

Legendary PBS painter Bob Ross never made a mistake while painting during his long-running “The Joy of Painting” show. He only had “happy accidents.”

A 5-point buck finally fell to my recurve bow, and it was a combination of 51 years of patience and a happy accident.

John “Jack” Charles Magnin

April 8, 1939 – Nov. 22, 2025

John “Jack” Charles Magnin was born on April 8, 1939, in Oconto Falls to Elmer and Ruth Magnin.