Customers at Shawano’s Dairy Queen may have noticed a new face in the popular restaurant. Akash Barot and his business partner, Ravi Patel, purchased the business, located at 1005 E. Green Bay St., earlier this year. “I purchased this restaurant on Jan. 24,” Barot said.

Oconto County wants its employees who serve as volunteer firefighters and EMS workers to know their work is appreciated. The board voted 27-1 on March 20 to continue paying those workers in the rare occasions when they’re called away during their regular hours. Shelly Schultz, the county human resources director, told the board she recently received an inquiry about whether the county should pay its volunteers who have to leave because of a major

The man suspected in a series of burglaries late last year waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a brief appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court on March 21. Alfred Duane Gristeau, 25, Gillett, is charged with eight counts of burglary to a building or dwelling, one count of theft of movable property — special facts, and 19 misdemeanor charges: 11 counts of theft of movable property worth less than $2,500, five counts of criminal dama

The Oconto County Historical Society will host its monthly speaker series program at 6:30 p.m.

March 20 Deputies responded to 34 incidents, including property damage on Green Meadow Lane in the Town of Townsend, theft on Sugar Bush Road in the Town of Little River, suspicious activity on Flat Rock Heights Lane in the Town of Gillett, drugs in the Town of Riverview, fire on County Road G in the Town of Brazeau, three traffic stops, three traffic hazards, two traffic offenses, four citizen assists, two welfare checks; one 911 hangup and one

• Landan L. Kroening, 24, Bowler, pleaded no contest March 17 to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. A related felony charge was dismissed but read into the record in a plea agreement. Judge William Kussel Jr. withheld sentencing and placed him on two years of probation with conditions. • A jury found Andrew R. Piotrowski, 24, Bowler, guilty Jan.