Oconto County Times Herald

Child sex assault trial to proceed

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 1:00pm

An Oconto County judge Sept. 20 denied a defense motion to dismiss charges against an Oconto man accused of child sex assault, but the judge did confirm dismissal of three charges that he had dismissed before an April 2022 trial ended in a mistrial.

Elks Fly-In draws thousands of visitors

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:36am

Chad Angus named new chief deputy

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:32am

Oconto County Sheriff’s Patrol Lt. Chad Angus has been promoted to chief deputy of the department, Sheriff Todd Skarban announced at the Sept. 19 meeting of the Oconto County Board.

“I’ve known Chad my entire law enforcement career. We became fast friends when we were road patrol deputies together,” Skarban said. “He’s steady, he’s trusted, he’ll always tell the truth even if you don’t want to hear it. It’s important for this position to be able to have that kind of feedback.”

Zastawniak gets 25 year for child sex

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 6:21am

A Peshtigo man was sentenced Sept. 20 in federal court to 25 years in prison for sexually exploiting numerous minor girls in Oconto County and Northeast Wisconsin, coercing them in sex acts, some of which he recorded.

Zachary A. Zastawniak, 24, pleaded guilty this summer to one count of child sex exploitation but District Judge William Griesbach could consider allegations of many other minors as relevant conduct.

The count to which Zastawniak pleaded to involved a 14-year-old girl in Oconto County whom he persuaded to send him a sexually explicit video of herself.

Big melon

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 5:45am

Not guilty pleas entered in fatal crash

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 5:42am

Not guilty pleas were entered Sept. 18 for an Oconto man charged in connection with the 2023 car-motorcycle crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend.

Austin Scott Laakonen, 22, is charged with homicide by operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and a misdemeanor count of possession of THC, for the June 30, 2023, accident that killed Aubrey Williams, 19, also of Oconto. He also was ticketed for carrying a passenger in violation of his probationary motorcycle permit.

Lena, Suring downtown improvement sessions set

Published by kjpasson on Tue, 09/24/2024 - 5:41am

Residents of the villages of Lena and Suring have an opportunity Oct. 1 to provide input and feedback toward revitalization of their downtown areas.

Jayme Sellen, executive director of the Tourism and Economic Development Corporation for the Oconto Region, said the agency obtained a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to help the two municipalities.

Driver in fatal crash ticketed for OWI

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 09/20/2024 - 1:27pm

Authorities say the driver who crossed the center line in a fatal head-on crash Sept. 8 was driving under the influence and after his license had been revoked.

Zackery Dale Wimber, 30, of Fond du Lac, was ticketed for operating under the influence and causing injury for at least the second time, operating while revoked and three other traffic violations, according to an Oconto County Sheriff’s Department traffic report released Sept. 18.

Oconto Falls dog gets high marks

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 09/20/2024 - 10:01am

Corn in the dough stage reaches 94%

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 09/20/2024 - 9:58am

Wisconsin had 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork statewide for the week ending Sept. 15, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Dry weather allowed for good progress on many field activities, including harvesting corn silage, cutting hay, seeding winter wheat and manure application.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 5% very short, 35%, 59% and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 23% short, 72% adequate and 2% surplus.