Shawano taxpayers will see another increase in their tax bills this year, but less of a hike than they were hit with last year, under the 2014 budget being considered by the city. The Shawano Finance Committee has not formally signed off on the proposed budget and will not do that until its Nov. 11 meeting.

Richard A. “Geronimo” Thomas, 80, of Menasha, passed away Monday, Oct. 28, 2013. He was born June 10, 1933, in a log cabin in the town of Bartleme to the late Otis and Tillie (Rasmussen) Thomas. On April 26, 1958, he married Elaine Pluedeman. Dick is a proud United States veteran, having served in Libya and New Mexico as a part of the Air Force. He was also a retiree of American Can after 34 years.

Esther M. Engel, 95, of Bonduel passed away on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Shawano. Esther was born on Jan. 9, 1918, in the town of Waukechon to the late Adolph and Minnie (Toellner) Moede. She was united in marriage to Edward Engel on Nov. 27, 1943. He preceded her in death in 1970. After marriage they went to Dodge County and worked in factories. Later they bought a farm in the town of Hartland. After Edward passed away, Esther moved to Bonduel.

Joyce Bytof, of Appleton, was called to heaven after a long and courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013. It has not always been an easy battle, but one she continued to fight because she knew there was a purpose far greater than she ever understood. Her will to live outweighed even the toughest days. She would not let cancer dampen her positive attitude.

“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew; just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” — Dr.

Sleep is such a blessing. I don’t always appreciate my ability to fall asleep at the end of a long day. I certainly don’t enjoy my accidental naps when I sit down to read the newspaper. I don’t like napping during the day, but I do like sound sleep at night. Normally I can brush my teeth, put on my sleep apnea mask, crawl into bed, say my prayers and curl my left arm under my pillow and fall right asleep.

Once a year we have our barn whitewashed. It gives the interior a nice face-lift. Brightening and freshening up the place makes working satisfying. I am more content in an organized, clean working environment, be it in the barn or in the house. Just before the whitewashers were scheduled to come, we started preparing. Taking everything out of the barn that we possibly could, the outside of our barn looked like we were having an auction.

Mary Beversdorf volunteers for St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Wittenberg Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was born in Wausau, moving to Wittenberg when she was 11 years old. After graduating from Wittenberg High School, she earned a two-year secretarial science degree from Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Her first job was at Wausau Abstract & Title, followed by 32 years at the Wittenberg Telephone Company.

The Crossroads Community Theatre will be presenting Neil Simons’s “The Odd Couple” at the WOWSPACE in Wittenberg on Nov.