The Suring School District has developed a five-year plan to show how $3.5 million in referendum funds will be spent. Voters in April gave the School Board the go-ahead to exceed the state-imposed revenue limit by $700,000 for each of the next five years, beginning with the 2015-16 school year. Referendum funds are to be used for operating expenses in order to maintain the district’s programs without taking money from its fund balance.

The Gillett School Board on June 25 renewed its food service contract for the 2015-16 school year with a Minnesota-based company. For a second year in a row, Taher Inc. will provide meals for students and staff at the elementary and secondary schools.

To the editor: My name is Roger VanHaren. My column has shared the editorial page of the Times Herald with Dave Polashek’s “Path Around the Falls” for several years now. I have met Mr. Polashek only once, but I have enjoyed and appreciated his column, especially when he has talked about the state of education in the Oconto Falls district and in Wisconsin. I am a retired teacher, and I agree wholeheartedly with Mr.

I once had a student who was quite a good writer except for the fact that her prose was very “flowery,” filled up with adjectives and adverbs piled almost on top of each other. Her ideas and her approach to most topics were novel and interesting, but the floweriness got in the way. She’d become upset with me when I’d point out excessive uses of modifiers.

With this weekend’s Fourth of July holiday, a lot of people traveling the path around the Falls were wearing their patriotism on their sleeves, backs, heads or any place stars and stripes apparel would fit. Flag-related items were popular at all of the family and community gatherings. Born and bred in the USA was an important theme.

When it comes to working with sheet metal, Oconto Falls graduate Jake Lubenske is one of the best in the nation for his age. Lubenske placed third of 18 high school students in his competition at the 51st annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held June 22-26 in Louisville, Kentucky. It was his third trip to the national contest; he placed sixth last year and 16th as a freshman. “Good way to end it,” he said of his bronze meda

The Gillett FFA celebrated 86 years of leadership, personal growth and career success at the Wisconsin FFA Convention from June 15-18 in Madison. The convention attracted more than 3,000 members, advisers, parents, alumni and sponsors. Gillett FFA members Ashley Britton, Kalea Britton, Hanna Brock, Elizabeth Kahler, Samantha Kahler, Danielle Timm and Jacob Timm attended the convention. Danielle Timm was recognized for receiving a gold rating on h

High school basketball games will be longer in the 2015-16 season, but play should flow more smoothly, according to area coaches. The WIAA board voted June 25 to change varsity games from four eight-minute quarters to two 18-minute halves for a one-year trial.

Ryne Scopp defended his overall championship for the second straight year Saturday as the Scopp family claimed three titles at the Kelly Lake Triathlon. The 22-year-old Kenosha resident clocked in at 1 hour, 10 minutes, 52 seconds, eight minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Schmidt, of Menasha, and two minutes faster than Scopp’s winning time last year. Scopp has posted the best time three times in the five-year history of the triathlon. Scopp’s 15-ye