A law firm hired to search for heirs to the estate that deeded Smalley Park to the city has located some 20 people who could have some claim on the property, including some prominent East Coast names. The site became home to Shawano Medical Center (SMC) in 1931, in spite of a deed restriction saying the property had to be used as a park. With SMC planning to relocate, city officials engaged the law firm of Davis and Kuelthau to track down the hei

Terry L. Raddant, 57, of Shawano, passed away Friday, July 12, 2013, at ManorCare in Shawano. Born on June 19, 1956, in Shawano, he was the son of the late Marvin “Boots” and Donna (Pleshek) Raddant. Terry was raised in the Shawano area and attended Shawano High School. He later worked as a union welder and later did concrete work.

A fun time is in store for the whole family at this year’s Pulaski Polka Days, with musical entertainment, reasonable prices and a variety of different attractions, says event chairman and organizer Harold Otto. “We are reasonable so you can bring the family,” Otto said. “A lot of people enjoy coming and bringing their children. It’s just something for everyone.” The festival opens July 18 and runs through July 21.

The Pulaski Polka Days dance contest has been given an overhaul this year as it becomes the home of the Wisconsin State Polka Dance Championships. “What’s happened is there used to be a polka festival in September in Wisconsin Dells, and that has been discontinued,” said John Pinter, a member of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters. “At that festival we had the Wisconsin State Polka Dance Championship, for 15 years at least.

Robert “Bob” Wilke, age 75 years, of Tigerton passed away Friday, July 12, 2013 at his home. Robert David Wilke was born September 29, 1937, in West Bend, WI, to David and Lucille (Hess) Wilke. His family moved to Milwaukee in 1946 and they lived across the street from Old Orchard Field for many years. Early in life, Bob was a printing press operator at Evert Container in Milwaukee. He entered the U.S.

Gordon B. Parsons, 85, of Shawano, was called home to his Lord on July 13, 2013. Gordon was born on July 16, 1927, in Norwood. He was a hard-working man, holding many jobs in his lifetime such as farmer, logger, cattleman, truck driver, coach bus driver and owner/operator of a milk transport company and the Cecil Diner. During his retirement he worked as a janitor for St. James Early Child Care Center and for Wolf River Lutheran High School.

With the arrival of the Pulaski Polka Days’ 35th anniversary, founder Harold Otto can reflect on the success of the festival that has brought countless visitors to the small town over the years. “There are a lot of them (festivals) in Michigan and elsewhere that are not even running anymore, and we are still growing,” Otto said.

Marilyn and I are fans of the PBS series “Call the Midwife,” a BBC period drama based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth and set in east London in the 1950s.

Whether one chooses to gracefully grow old somewhere along the path around the Falls or picks up stakes and moves to some other location after retirement, there are some anxieties about those years. One of the greatest fears is that a person will revert to a childlike state of mind. Giving up independence can be a definite hit on one’s pride. That particular reversion is still off in the distance, at least we hope.