On a night where four racers were inducted into the Shawano Speedway Hall of Fame, Seymour’s Tim Jorgenson made the biggest move to the checkered flag, starting in 10th place in the sport modifieds. It was Jorgenseon’s first feature win of the season after 10 starts on the circuit.

The next election for governor is still 17 months away, but Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann is wasting no time moving around the state in an attempt to garner name recognition. Schoemann paid a visit to Shawano County Republicans on June 5 to introduce himself to local GOP members and explain why he’s running for the seat currently occupied by Tony Evers, who has not announced whether he’s running for a third term.

James R. Rickert, 69, of Birnamwood, died on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Jim was born on March 8, 1956, in Antigo, the son of Louis and Leah (Dabil) Rickert. On May 15,1976, Jim was united in marriage to Cheryl Noskowiak. Jim attended Bowler Grade and High School.

More than two dozen Shawano Community High School athletes earned all-conference honors in the Bay Conference spring sports season. Senior infielder Pete Bruette was a first team unanimous selection for baseball. Senior infielder Crew Weisnicht was named to the second team.

The Shawano Area Writers handed out certificates of achievement, cash prizes and Writer’s Digest magazines to 37 student writers May 18 at the Mielke Arts Center. This year, the George Putz Memorial Student Writing Contest yielded 177 entries. Winners in the 2025 contest are: Fiction • Grades 1-2: Briella LaRock, first place; Alayah Lyles, second; Ellie Cumberland, third; Emily Nguyen, honorable mention. • Grades 3-4: Brielle Arndt, first; Marcia

Kenneth R. Smith, 87, of Marion, passed away June 5, 2025. Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home and Crematory, Clintonville.

The Shawano Civic Center, 225 S. Main St., Shawano, is looking for community members interested in playing cards, cribbage, dice games and board games — all of which are supplied at no charge. Organizers said the games offer a chance to socialize, make new friends, enjoy a cup of coffee and have some fun. Currently, the civic center offers the Silver Foxes exercise group from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Bingo at 10:30 a.m.

As a tweener, I heard the phrase “the birds and the bees” quite a few times. Being a sheltered farm kid, I couldn’t help but wonder: What are they talking about? Alas, I knew little about reproduction at the time, but when I began my education on the topic, I approached my mother with a simple question. “So where do babies come from? And don’t tell me the stork.

Sunflowers are one of those happy plants many gardeners can’t resist planting. Kids love to watch the plants reach for the sky, and everyone enjoys all the visitors. You are likely to see hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators on the flowers, songbirds munching on the seeds, and squirrels practicing acrobatic contortions as they try to gain their fair share of the harvest. What we call the “flower” is made of 1,000 to 2,000 individual flowers.