The Oconto County Board on Thursday adopted a compensation plan for its 250 employees that simplifies the system that evolved over several decades of collective bargaining. With the passage of Act 10 in 2011, the bargaining rights of public sector unions were restricted, with the exception of protective service employees.

Oconto County and the town of Brazeau reached an agreement last week that names the Brazeau Dive Team as the water rescue service for the county and compensates the town $5,000 annually for the service. The rescue service was in jeopardy of folding, as town officials struggled to justify the team’s $5,000 annual expense in an era of ever-tightening municipal budgets. “We’ve been working on this for a long time, for months, trying to work somethin

The governor and first lady, for a second year in row, reveled in the magic of cutting down a Christmas tree at an Oconto County tree farm. “Good to be back!” Gov. Scott Walker said at his Nov. 13 visit to Whispering Pines Tree Farm. The Walkers visited the farm to cut down a tree that will be displayed in the Governor’s Conference Room at the state Capitol.

A former volunteer firefighter convicted of five counts of arson was sentenced last week in state and federal courts to a combined 15 years in prison followed by eight years extended supervision. On Monday in Oconto County, a judge added four more years of prison and six more years of extended supervision for Drew Christensen, 29, of Suring, rejecting a joint recommendation that would have required no additional prison time and two additional yea

Dorothy May Luebke, 88, Gillett, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. She was born on May 11, 1925, to the late Charles and Hilda (Bourassa) Loberger, of Oconto. Dorothy married Carl H. Luebke in August 1946 in Oconto. He preceded her in death on March 1, 1984. Dorothy taught elementary school 30-plus years. She belonged to the VFW Auxiliary, NORTA, WREA and volunteered at the Oconto Falls Hospital. She was a faithful member of St.

William “Bill” Heaney, 59, Gillett, died Friday evening, Nov. 15, 2013, at the Woodland Village of Gillett. He was born March 6, 1954, in Oconto Falls to Ervin “Charlie” and Stella (Smits) Heaney. Bill was an avid hunter, especially for bear, and enjoyed being outdoors with family and friends.

Lori Linzmeyer, 51, Suring, passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 11, 2013, after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. She was born on Jan. 16, 1962, to Charles M. Wolcott (Porkie) and the late Beverly Honeyager Wolcott. Lori married Michael Linzmeyer on June 20, 1997. Lori loved animals and ran a therapy and rescue. There was not an animal that was not welcome into Lori’s home and heart, be it horses, birds, dogs or flying squirrels.

In Act I of Madison native Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” Rebecca, the central character, tells her brother about a letter her friend received. Here’s the dialogue: Rebecca: “I never told you about that letter Jane Crofut got from her minister when she was sick.

Even though it may have been far from the path around the Falls, the vast majority of the Boomer Generation can tell you exactly where they were 50 years ago this Friday. It was a Friday afternoon, and most were in class. They might remember the class, the room and maybe where they were positioned in the room when they got the word that President Kennedy had been shot. Instruction ground to a halt.