The Shawano School District will begin the 2014-15 school year Tuesday, and Shawano police want to remind drivers — as well as students and their families — to be cautious on the roads. “We’ll see an increase in children on bicycles, walking and school bus traffic in the coming days,” Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said. Kohl warned drivers to obey the school zone speed limits and school crossings to safeguard the children. Kohl said there would

Marijean Rice Walker passed away on Aug. 4, 2014, a few weeks after her 83rd birthday. Mari was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She will be remembered in every pretty pink flower, in the sparkle of a child’s eye and in the beauty of sunset on the lake. Raised with a loving, lively family in La Crosse, Mari was the eldest of seven children born to Robert and Elizabeth Rice.

SATURDAY, AUG.

Editor’s note: Reporter Tom Beschta was granted inside access to Coach Al Tomow and the Shawano Community High School football team as it prepared over the last seven days for its first home game of the 2014 season. Here is his report: 10 a.m.

A grandfather’s love of John Deere tractors inspired the cake that brought the highest bid at the Shawano County Fair cake auction Friday at the fairgrounds. Kayla Jung, a freshman at Marion High School, baked the cake, and her grandfather, Bill Bowers, submitted the winning bid. Bowers chuckled and said the John Deere-themed funfetti cake was Kayla’s idea. “We have a lot of tractors on our farm and we only like green,” Bowers said. The second hi

Packing her basket and then some The Leader caught up with Ashley Bergsbaken, Shawano County Fairest of the Fair, Friday afternoon as she was filling her Fairest of the Fair auction basket.

Hundreds of spectators, interested buyers and 4-H families packed the coliseum at the Shawano County Fair on Friday night for the annual market auction of beef, swine and sheep. The fast-moving, raucous event was marked by spirited bidding on more than 130 animals, accompanied by frequent cheers and applause, especially when bidding standoffs heightened the drama. Young members representing 21 4-H clubs from all over the county displayed their pr

FOOTBALL Washburn 52 Menominee Indian 8 The Menominee Indian High School football team turned the ball over six times, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns, in a 52-8 loss to Washburn. Running back Alphonso Smith had seven carries for 58 yards for the Eagles (0-2).

It appeared that, as the Shawano Community High School football team gained the momentum against New London on Friday night, Mother Nature decided to put a stop to it. Trailing 19-7 and set up by a Zack Sousek kick return into New London territory, the Hawks (1-0, 0-0 Bay Conference) had third-and-1 from the Bulldog 1-yard line.