Russell Paul Krueger, 62, was called home to rejoice in the kingdom of Heaven with his parents, Rudy and Anne Krueger, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. Born on Oct. 8, 1951, in Shawano, no one knew the positive impact he would share with his family, friends and colleagues. Married on Oct.

James C. “Mr. Jim” Wayka, 68, of Keshena, left his family and friends suddenly on Tuesday morning, Feb. 4, 2014, at the Shawano Medical Center. Mr. Jim was born Dec. 25, 1945, in Keshena, a son of the late Frank & Elizabeth (Davis) Wayka. He attended the St. Anthony Catholic School in Neopit and later Shawano High School, graduating in 1966.

The CMH Auxiliary will host its annual Valentine Salad Luncheon and Love Baskets Auction on Thursday, Feb. 13, at Community Memorial Hospital. The annual luncheon features hot chicken salad, hot and cold salads, sliced ham, cheese, rolls, coffee, milk and desserts. Tickets are $7 at the door for all you care to eat. The luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Memorial Hospital dining room.

The jingle of the bell and the sight of the red kettle have disappeared since the Christmas season, and the money collected in the campaign is quickly diminishing. The financial crises the Salvation Army responds to remain constant year-round, and the kettle donations are falling short of meeting the growing need for emergency assistance. Robert Reinhart, who coordinates the Salvation Army campaign for Oconto, estimated the county will deplete it

Vincent Romeo, 61, Gillett, passed away Jan. 26, 2014, at a local hospital. He was born Dec. 11, 1952, in the Bronx, N.Y. The family moved to California in 1969. He and his mother came to the Lord at approximately the same time, when Vincent was about 14 years old. He graduated from high school in Van Nuys, Calif., and worked at Riverside Hospital as an orderly in his early life.

Randy L. Fisher, 53, Suring, passed away on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, following a courageous battle with cancer. Randy was born in Green Bay on Dec. 9, 1960, to Lyle and Barbara (Gretzon) Fisher. Randy married Laura Heins at St. John Lutheran Church in Hayes on Nov. 12, 1993. Randy worked for the Oconto County Highway Department and loved plowing snow. His hobbies were mowing his lawn, gardening and being outside.

At 7:15 p.m. Feb. 1, a pickup truck driven by a man from Suring was northbound on state Highway 32 at Valley Line Road in the town of Gillett. As he was rounding a curve, his truck began to slide sideways and struck a westbound truck driven by a man from Antioch, Ill. Both trucks sustained moderate damage. No injuries were reported. At 4:10 p.m. Jan.

Proceedings from Jan. 31 Robert J. Gartzke, 62, Lakewood, entered no contest pleas to five counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested July 14 in the town of Lakewood. A six-month jail sentence was imposed on each count, then stayed. He was placed on probation six months on each count, to run concurrent.

For an 18-unit motel in Suring, paying $2,700 per month in utility costs was too much of a burden to bear.