Shawano city officials approved the 2016 budget Wednesday after a public hearing. The Shawano Common Council made a few adjustments to the budget before voting on it, adding $25,000 to the contingency fund for wages. The budget calls for a 1-percent, across-the-board increase in wages. However, negotiations are still going on with the police union. The new figures give the city a tax levy for 2016 of $4.44 million, down from from $4.64 million.

The Shawano Common Council Wednesday approved amending one of its Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) districts to include the Shawano Plaza so that financial assistance can be provided for a remodeling of the vacant Kmart space. Sporting goods chain Dunham’s Sports is looking to move into roughly a third of the 87,000 square-foot space. Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., said Dunham’s hopes to b

An estranged couple involved in a road-rage incident this summer in Shawano County are now parties to a potential court fight over a hospital bill for more than $250,000. Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah has filed a claim in Winnebago County Circuit Court for unpaid medical bills stemming from the July 22 traffic accident. Named as co-defendants in the civil matter are Jeremy Young, 43, who was hospitalized after the incident, along with his

Paul John Kurtz, born Sept. 24, 1939, in Neenah, died Nov. 15, 2015, in Shawano. He is the son of the late Ruth (Jacobs) and William Kurtz. Paul is survived by his wife, Tina Kurtz; son, William Kurtz (fiancée Julie Behm); and two granddaughters, Lindsey and Kristina Kurtz, all of Shawano. Also survived by other relatives.

Ralph “Squirt” Schmeisser, 88, of Shawano, died on Nov. 14, 2015. Ralph was born in Shawano on Feb. 4, 1927, the son of the late Walter and Hattie (Schultz) Schmeisser. Ralph worked at the Shawano Evening Leader for over 51 years. He started his career as a paperboy, moving on to the back shop, and finally as a pressman and printer, going through many evolutions in the newspaper industry.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 59-year-old Tigerton man Tuesday for seventh-offense operating while intoxicated after a single-vehicle crash on County Road J at Swamp Road in Fairbanks. The vehicle rolled over at about 3:44 p.m., according to the sheriff’s department. The man was taken to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau with unknown injuries, the sheriff’s department said, after being trapped and being extricated from the vehicle. During

An armed and intoxicated man was taken into custody by Clintonville police who responded to a disturbance Saturday night. Police responded at 9:42 p.m. to a complaint of an intoxicated man disturbing his neighbor and reportedly threatening that he had a gun on East 14th Street. Officers responded and while questioning the intoxicated suspect, Sgt.

At least two local businesses were hit by phone scams over the past several days after receiving calls from supposed utility companies threatening to turn off their electricity. Bubba’s BBQ, 114 S.

A Bear Creek teen was arrested early Saturday after an alleged drunken driving chase in Clintonville that also resulted in six hit-and-run violations. According to the Clintonville Police Department, Officer Matthew Wright located and attempted to stop a suspected hit-and-run vehicle at about 3:10 a.m.