Oconto County Times Herald

Baraboo man charged in shooting death at Star Lake

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 10:29pm

A Baraboo man was being held in the Aug. 21 shooting death of his sister at their mother’s home near Mountain.

Christopher G. Halase, 29, is charged in Oconto County Circuit Court with second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by the negligent use of a dangerous weapon, and a misdemeanor charge of operating a firearm with a controlled substance.

Woman killed at Star Lake residence; suspect held

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 5:32am

Oconto County authorities are holding a Baraboo man in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 21.

Sheriff Todd Skarban said the Emergency Dispatch Center received a call about shots fired at a residence in the Town of Doty at about 12:52 a.m. The dispatch log indicates the call was from a residence along Heller Lane, on Star Lake northwest of Mountain.

Deputies and the Mountain Ambulance Service responded and found a 31-year-old woman from Reedsburg with a gunshot wound.

Gillett School Board gets reopening update

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 5:03pm

New teachers were scheduled to report to work at the Gillett School District on Monday, with returning teachers joining them Tuesday, as the district prepared to open the 2020-21 academic year in the shadow of a pandemic.

The Gillett School Board was updated during its Aug. 20 meeting on the upcoming 2020-21 school year, a year that begins with students and staff required to wear masks most of the time and football games without spectators.

“We’re working on the safety measures, they’ve been tweaked, they’re as ready as possible,” Superintendent Todd Hencsik said.

Oconto County COVID positives continue to rise

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:56pm

The number of positive tests for coronavirus in Oconto County continued to spike through the month of August, county Health & Human Services Director Mike Reimer told the County Board during its regular monthly meeting Aug. 20.

From March 27 to May 1, the county recorded 15 positive tests, Reimer said. That figure grew by 23 to 38 on June 1 and by another 23 on July 1, to 61.

Oconto County experienced a jump of 117 positives by Aug. 1, when the total stood at 178, and another 139 positive tests had been recorded by Aug. 20, when Reimer reported to the board.

Support seen for Oconto Falls downtown plan

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:09pm

A plan to hire a consultant to draft a downtown Oconto Falls revitalization plan drew general support at a public hearing Aug. 18.

The City Council, the city Main Street Committee and Oconto County Economic Development Corp. are working together to apply for a $75,000 planning grant from the Community Development Block Grant-CLOSE program, so named because the money comes from the now-closed revolving-fund loan program that CDBG once funded.

Fischers are Suring parade grand marshals

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:06pm

Philip and Elaine Fischer will be the guests of honor Sept. 7 as grand marshals of the 90th annual Suring Labor Day Parade.

The Fischers will also be feted during the annual Senior Citizen/Grand Marshal Award Ceremony at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Veterans Memorial Park grandstand, part of the four-day Suring Labor Day Celebration. The parade itself is scheduled for 10 a.m. Labor Day down Main Street in Suring.

Oconto County hires emergency management director

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:02pm

Oconto County has a new emergency management director to replace Tim Magnin, who recently was named full-time Oconto Falls fire chief.

The County Board on Aug. 20 approved the hiring of Jon Spice, an 18-year employee of the county highway department, to take over the emergency management office starting Aug. 24.

Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann said the county received 19 applications for the post, which Magnin held for 13 years, and interviewed three top candidates before recommending Spice.

Oconto County Sheriff’s Department

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 3:00pm

Aug. 23

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — reported near state Highway 22 and Van Hulle Lane, Town of Oconto, 1:18 a.m.

Disturbance — reported in the 9000 block of Holt Park Road, Spruce, 1:26 a.m.

Suspicious — reported in the 300 block of North Oakland Avenue, City of Oconto Falls, 5:15 a.m.

Suspicious — reported in the 2500 block of East Frontage Road, Abrams, 12:23 p.m.

Harassment — reported in the 3000 block of Rocky Ledge Road, Pensaukee, 12:37 p.m.

Hillside Assembly to host open house

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 2:58pm

Hillside Assembly of God Church will begin a new year of youth and children’s programs on Wednesday evenings, kicking off with a special open house event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 5890 State Highway 22 West, Gillett. Prizes, hot dogs and ice cream will be provided.

Schmidt earns funeral director license

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 2:54pm

Gruetzmacher Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Suring has announced Mandalyn Schmidt recently earned her Wisconsin funeral director license.

Schmidt graduated from Des Moines Area Community College with a Mortuary Science - Advanced Standing diploma. Prior to this she earned her associate degree from Indian Hills Community College.