Organizers of the Relay for Life have got cancer on the run again in Shawano County.

More than two months before the American Cancer Society fundraiser, a kickoff event Thursday set the pace for what organizers hope will be another successful year.

“It’s a good start,” said Heather Krawinkel, community manager of the event.

The 2016 American Cancer Relay for Life of Shawano-Menominee will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B, in Shawano.

The walkathon-style event last year attracted 202 participants and raised $45,129.

At Thursday’s kickoff inside the Four Seasons Hotel & Resort in Shawano, organizers and volunteers agreed to set the goals for this year’s event at 225 participants and $46,000 raised.

Participants generally form teams, with the goal of having at least one team member walking on the track at all times during the relay.

As of Thursday, organizers said 11 teams had registered with a combined 45 participants ready to do their part in the fight against cancer.

Tomina Marquardt said 12 people have signed on to join her team, which goes by the name “Sweet Peas” in honor of her sister, Melissa, a cancer survivor whose nickname is Sweet Pea. Marquardt said she looks forward to the relay every year, knowing that the fundraiser makes a difference.

“It’s a lot of effort going into it,” she said. “But it’s rewarding in the end.”

Proceeds help the American Cancer Society in its efforts for research, education, advocacy and service in the fight against cancer.

Another team known as the “Zion Walkers” is returning this year after distinguishing itself among last year’s top fundraisers.

Kathy Beyer, a member of the Zion Walkers and herself a cancer survivor, said about 20 team members are enthusiastically looking forward to tackling the relay again. The team includes other cancer survivors, too.

“We’re all warriors,” Beyer said. “We’re celebrating every day, celebrating winning the fight.”

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 39-year-old Keshena man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

Theft — Lebakkens Rent-to-Own, 1200 E. Green Bay St., reported two incidents of failure to return merchandise.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1100 block of South Lafayette Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 21

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Charges of domestic violence-related disorderly conduct and battery were referred against a 47-year-old Shawano man after a disturbance on Oakwood Drive in the town of Wescott.

Theft — License plates were reported stolen on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Warrant — A 46-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody on a warrant after a minor accident on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

OWI — A charge of operating while intoxicated was referred against a 49-year-old Shawano man, who was transported to the ThedaCare Medical Center emergency room after an accident on County Road E in the town of Wescott.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on 10th Street.

Hit and Run — Police took a report of a property damage hit-and-run.

Three Bonduel men were arrested Thursday afternoon after authorities raided an alleged drug operation in the town of Angelica.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at a residence in Angelica after an ongoing, multi-jurisdictional investigation revealed probable cause that drug activity was occurring, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.

Authorities seized a substantial amount of marijuana, cash and a numerous items identified as potential drug paraphernalia, the sheriff’s department said.

A 22-year-old Bonduel man was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and charges alleging possession of heroin and marijuana were referred to the district attorney’s office.

A 21-year-old Bonduel man was arrested on allegations of delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and being keeper of a drug house.

Also arrested was a 23-year-old Bonduel man on charges alleging delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s detectives and deputies were assisted by the state Division of Criminal Investigation, the Shawano Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The incident remains under investigation and no further information was being released Friday.

Supporters and opponents of selling Shawano County’s old county farm property are planning to meet face to face before sending the matter to the County Board for a final decision.

At issue is a proposal to sell an estimated 150-acre portion of the town of Belle Plaine property that housed the county’s poor farm and asylum starting in the early 1900s.

County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann and others want to sell the property as a way of unloading surplus real estate, getting it back on the tax rolls and raising money that the county could use elsewhere.

Opponents contend that the farm remains a valuable asset to the county and that redevelopment of the site would be troublesome.

The County Board will not take up the issue at its meeting Wednesday, and instead two committees will attempt to thrash out the future of the farm property in a special joint meeting.

“We’ll try to get everybody on the same page,” said Supervisor Robert Krause, chairman of the agriculture, extension and conservation committee.

Krause has voiced strong opposition to selling the farm — a proposal that has been endorsed by the public property committee.

The two committees are planning a joint meeting next month.

Supervisor Bert Huntington, chairman of the public property committee, said he anticipates that his committee will take another vote on the proposal at the upcoming joint committee meeting.

Huntington said that while he could not forecast how the debate will end, he still favors putting the property up for sale.

“Most definitely I’m in favor of disposing of some of that property,” he said. “There’s other things we can use that money for.”

The proposal calls for seeking a buyer for an estimated 150 acres currently used for agricultural purposes on the north side of state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine. Other real estate used for public recreation south of Highway 22 would not be affected by the sale and would remain county land.

Shawano County acquired the entire site in the early 1900s and operated it for several decades as a place where the mentally ill and indigent worked on crop production while living on public assistance. Part of the site later was converted into the now-former Maple Lane senior citizen facility, which remains under private ownership north of Highway 22.

The vast surrounding acreage of farmland is believed to be worth at least $4,000 an acre, which would make the county’s estimated 150 acres potentially worth $600,000.

A previous estimate put the site at 120 acres.

Krause, whose committee has taken no action yet on the sale proposal, said he still has many questions, including the reasons that members of the public property committee decided to recommend seeking a buyer.

“We’ve got to figure out why they thought it was a good idea,” he said. “The ‘why’ seems to be a stumbling block.”

Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce Executive Directory Nancy Smith has been named to the the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives board of directors.

Smith was one of four new WCCE board members announced this week. Philip Fritsche, president of the Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, takes over as president of the board, succeeding Karen Szyman, executive director of The Chamber of Manitowoc County.

WCCE is a division of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

“The WCCE board is looking forward to partnering with and supporting our state chamber, WMC, in 2016. We’re engaging in exciting projects and programs both in our respective communities and at the state level with initiatives like the Future Wisconsin Project,” Fritsche said. “We are all optimistic about the future of Wisconsin.”

Founded in 1916, with more than 200 dues-paying members, WCCE trains and supports Wisconsin chamber professionals as they promote and enhance the economies of communities around the state.

For information, visit www.wichamberexecs.org.

Four people have been charged in connection with a pair of armed robberies earlier this month, in which masked intruders allegedly accosted a homeowner and a man living in an ice shack in search of drugs and money, according to criminal complaints filed Wednesday.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies responded to two reports of back-to-back home invasions in the town of Richmond on on the morning of Jan. 17.

In one, a man living in an ice shack on Ash Road reported that three armed, masked men broke down the door of the ice shack, pointed a gun at his head and demanded drugs and money, according to the complaint.

The man said he did not have either, and the intruders left empty-handed. Before leaving, however, one of the intruders struck the man in the head with the butt of a handgun, according to the complaints.

In the other incident, a homeowner not far from the ice shack reported being awakened by a vehicle in his driveway, after which he saw three men with handguns exit the vehicle.

There was a confrontation at the door of the residence, according to the criminal complaints, which ended when one of the residents at the home chased the intruders off with a board.

In both cases, the victims told authorities they believed they knew one of the suspects.

Anthony M. Fecarotta, 20, of Shawano, Nicholas J. Menore, 18, of Tigerton, Brandon Reinke, 19, of Shawano, and Kari J. Wilson, 37, of Shawano, are each facing felony counts of being party to the crimes of committing battery on a person during a burglary, two counts of armed robbery, and burglary while armed with a dangerous weapon.

According to the complaints, Wilson drove the vehicle used in the robberies.

Fecarotta, who is also charged with a felony count of bail jumping, was ordered held on a $20,000 cash bond and is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance Monday.

Menore and Wilson were ordered held on $15,000 cash bonds.

Menore is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance Monday.

Wilson has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

An arrest warrant was issued for Reinke.

A realignment of the department that oversees Shawano County’s $51 million budget has been judged a success and will continue.

County Board members on Wednesday agreed to maintain the arrangement implemented last summer with the merger of the county’s finance and administration departments.

Coming after the retirement of longtime county finance director Diane Rusch, the move meant reassigning Rusch’s duties rather than refilling her $81,000-a-year post.

County supervisors said Wednesday they were pleased with how finance operated under the management of County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller and Accounting Supervisor Darcy Smith.

“As long as Brent and Darcy are here, I think this will have no problem whatsoever,” said Supervisor Arlyn Tober, vice chairman of the board.

The department merger meant moving finance and administration into the same county offices and entrusting Miller and Smith with handling most of the work involved in assembling the county’s annual budget.

The $51 million spending plan for 2016 was approved in October without any major issues or disagreements.

County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann said he was pleased with how smoothly the budget-making process went under Miller and Smith’s management.

“They really worked hard, and they brought it in,” Erdmann said.

The departmental restructuring initially was approved on an experimental basis through the end of 2015.

Board members voted unanimously Wednesday to continue the arrangement indefinitely.

No decision was made yet on whether Miller or Smith’s salary will be adjusted. Under the temporary realignment last year, Miller’s salary was increased from about $87,000 to $92,000 and Smith’s salary was increased from $57,000 to $67,000.

One of the tallest buildings in Shawano is now owned by one of the best known names in business.

Twig’s Beverage Inc. has purchased the former Farmers Brewing Co. property on Main Street with plans to restore and renovate the 100-year-old building that towers over the city’s downtown.

Saying they are unsure what they will end up doing with the old brewery, Twig’s officials have reached out to members of the community for ideas on reusing the vacant seven-story structure.

Suggestions offered by the community so far include an art museum, business incubator, restaurant, youth center, condominiums, dance club, supper club, community center, hotel and comedy club.

Dan Hartwig, owner of Twig’s Beverage, said it could take a couple of years before the property is refurbished and the owners are ready to commit to a new identity. One thing is certain: Hartwig does not plan on demolishing the old brewery.

“This is like history in Shawano,” he said. “I don’t want to see it ripped down.”

Built in the early 1900s, the Farmers Brewing facility at 713 S. Main St. operated as a brewery. Its products included Shawano Club Beer. The operation then was taken over by Van Dyck Brewing of Chicago before beer production ceased there in the 1950s.

Another local business called Wright Broiler Co. later converted the structure into a warehouse for frozen chickens and other poultry products.

The property has been vacant since approximately the 1990s.

Jesse Borlen, curator of the Shawano County Historical Society, said the building harkens back to a time when as many as six breweries operated in Shawano, all of which have since faded into the history books.

Borlen said he was pleased to hear that the Farmers Brewing facility had been acquired by someone intent on historic preservation rather than demolition.

“It’s a good thing that they saved it,” he said. “We’re very excited.”

The former brewery was acquired about 10 years by Sal and Dominic Badalamenti, the brothers who own Luigi’s Pizza and Pasta restaurant, located one block away at 607 S. Main St. The brothers had hoped to open a new brewery in the seven-story building, but their dreams never materialized.

Sal Badalamenti said the brewery concept proved to be too expensive of an undertaking, and the brothers were forced to give up on the idea.

“It never worked out,” he said.

A few months ago, Twig’s Beverage started showing interest in the property, which stands across the street from the bottling plant where Twig’s produces its beloved Sun Drop Soda and other soft drinks at 711 S. Washington St.

The two sides completed the transaction earlier this week, although terms of the sale have not been disclosed.

Badalamenti said that while he remains disappointed that his new brewery development fell through, he is happy that the property ended up in Hartwig’s hands.

“I’m glad that he got it,” Badalamenti said. “At least it’s somebody from Shawano.”

Hartwig and his family have more than just a passing interest in the Farmers Brewing building. His father, Floyd Hartwig, started the soft drink business in the 1950s as a tenant on one of the upper floors of the old brewery. When he got tired of hauling materials up and down so many floors, Floyd Hartwig moved his business across the street to where the Twig’s bottling plant still operates.

Dan Hartwig said he was delighted to acquire the old brewery and to embark on a redevelopment effort with his own children — sons Lucas, Jacob and Ben.

“We’ve kind of been working on this for a while,” Hartwig said.

The buyer of the property is an investment group called Pordnus III LLC. Pordnus is “Sun Drop” spelled backwards.

Excited by the potential of the large brewery property, Lucas Hartwig immediately took to the Facebook social media site to solicit redevelopment ideas from the general public. Lucas Hartwig said the central location and history of the building make this an important project for all of Shawano.

“This is only going to be a success,” he added, “if the community accepts it.”

With much of the building’s interior currently in piles of rubble, significant repairs will be necessary before the property’s future comes into clearer focus.

Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., said the unique size and shape of the former brewery make it an ideal spot for creative new concepts, possibly including a mixture of uses.

Heling said he was pleased to hear that Twig’s Beverage had purchased the property, and he looked forward to seeing what they come up with.

“That’s an iconic building in this community,” he said.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 27

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — A 19-year-old female subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Fraud — Police investigated an identity theft complaint in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Threatening — Police investigated a threatening complaint in the 1300 block of South Union Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Main and Fifth streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 27

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile complaint on State Street in the town of Herman.

Threatening — Authorities investigated a threatening complaint on Swanke Street in Tigerton.

Drug Offense — Charges of operating after revocation and possession of drug paraphernalia were referred against a 47-year-old Gresham man on Hillview Road in the town of Herman.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint on Main Laney Drive in the town of Maple Grove.

Threatening — Authorities investigated a threatening complaint on Angle Road in the town of Pella.

Accidents — A 48-year-old Gillett man was injured in a vehicle versus semi crash on state Highway 47. Authorities also logged seven other accidents, including one deer-related crash.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 27

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A warning was issued for a disturbance on South Main Street.

OWI — A 39-year-old Clintonville woman was arrested for third-offense operating while intoxicated at 12th Street and Clinton Avenue.

Accident — A two-vehicle property damage accident was reported at Main and Eighth streets.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported at the Clintonville High School, 64 W. Green Tree Road.

Theft — A theft was reported on East Madison Street.

The Clintonville Transit Commission voted Tuesday to have Truck City Taxi provide Sunday morning service on a trial basis.

The service will start after the company hires a driver and has time to market the new service.

Commission member Mary-Beth Kuester said seniors told her they would use the service.

“This is an aging population,” Kuester said. “We need to provide service to the people. Overwhelmingly. the people I talked to felt it was a good idea.”

City officials said no one responded to a taxi service questionnaire sent to city residents with their recent utility bills.

Kuester said it would cost the city $124.80 per month for adding four hours on Sunday. The service, operated by Richard Koeppen, receives state and federal funds through the shared-ride taxi program, with the city paying 20 percent of the costs.

“In the past, Sunday morning service was available, but … there were only three people riding,” Koeppen said. “We operate as efficiently as we can.”

Koeppen said he would advertise for a Sunday morning driver.

Truck City Taxi currently offers service from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

A photoshopped image of Shawano Mayor Lorna Marquardt in a Nazi uniform has been greeting web surfers over the past few days who browse for Shawano on the Google search engine.

The image appears alongside a map of the city of Shawano in Google’s search results, which also lists a number of other Shawano area links, including the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, Shawano School District and the city’s official web site.

The image appears to have originated from an August 2011 blog post on wordpress.com written by Naomi Isaacson, CEO of Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology.

Attempts to reach a representative at Google for an explanation of why the image was suddenly popping at the top of Shawano web searches were unsuccessful.

Marquardt declined to comment.

City Administrator Brian Knapp also had no comment other than to say that steps were being taken to contact Google and have the image taken down.

“City staff is looking into it,” he said.

SIST representatives could not be reached for a comment.

A new classroom assignment process for elementary school students will be implemented without Shawano School Board consideration, the district superintendent said.

Superintendent Gary Cumberland said the new process prohibiting parents from requesting specific teachers will begin with the 2016-17 school year.

Cumberland said he will not seek School Board approval, because he is satisfied that the change was approved by the board’s executive committee Jan. 13.

“We were told to proceed, and we’re proceeding,” he said.

A process that previously allowed parents to request specific teachers now will permit parents only to articulate their children’s needs in the classroom for the coming school year. Administrators will hand out teacher assignments in a method designed to meet children’s needs and maintain balanced classrooms.

Officials said teacher requests previously were creating imbalanced classrooms, with some parents trying to group their kids with friends or keep the same teachers who taught older siblings.

The change affects how classroom assignments will be determined next fall for about 650 children at Hillcrest Primary School and 550 at Olga Brener Intermediate School.

Parents have voiced mixed feelings about the new procedure, with some objecting that they were losing control of their children’s education.

Dawn Walker, president of the Olga Brener parent-teacher organization, said she supports the new process, partly because the school district has many new teachers who are not well known among parents.

Walker said other parents will disagree, but she likes the idea of school administrators making classroom assignments without parents requests.

“The school knows who they hired,” she said. “They know who they have in their building.”

Officials say students will be matched with teachers based on the student’s academic record, medical needs, behavior and counseling needs, gender and other issues that include information provided by parents.

Some parents already have received the new form being used to gather parental feedback, as the process gets under way to assign students to classrooms for next fall.

At Olga Brener, parents have until March 15 to return the form.

Olga Brener Principal Terri Schultz said she has heard no concerns from parents, some of whom already have returned the forms outlining their children’s classroom needs for next year.

Schultz said the process seemed to be working well.

“We’re really excited to see the input that we’re getting,” she said.

The Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce set sail Thursday for its 89th annual Membership Banquet and Awards Ceremony, with about 250 passengers from the community along for the cruise.

“It may be a three-hour tour, but we promise to get you back to the mainland safely,” chamber Executive Director Nancy Smith said.

Smith thanked chamber members for the support she said was vital to the organization’s success.

“I want to personally thank you for all you do,” she said. “It is because of your membership and support that we are able to accomplish so much.”

Smith also paid tribute to longtime chamber member John Gallagher, who passed away in December at the age of 81.

“On a sad note, we lost one of out great chamber promoters this past year,” she said. “John was one of the chamber’s most enthusiastic and ardent supporters.”

Gallagher had played a number of roles at the chamber over the years, from board member to volunteer to even serving as part-time secretary greeting new businesses.

“John’s love and commitment to the chamber was very evident, and we have all benefited from his hard work and dedication,” Smith said.

Chamber President Melissa Olsen said she was proud of what the chamber has accomplished recently and was looking forward to the future.

“I’m very excited about the progress that we’ve seen over the past years, especially with Vision 2017 and with all the potential that we have for continued growth,” she said. “We must all be vigilant about identifying opportunities and strategies for continued growth.”

She urged members to take advantage of the chamber’s resources and become involved.

“We’re all responsible for continuing the development and growth of our community,” she said.

The chamber handed out six awards Thursday night at The Gathering in Shawano.

Lisa Meisner was awarded Ambassador of the Year.

Old Glory Candy was honored as 2015 Retail Business of the Year.

ThedaCare’s new $52 million hospital, ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, was awarded Service Business of the Year.

Four Seasons Hotel & Resort was given the award for 2015 Small Business of the Year.

Stone Creations of Wisconsin Inc. was selected Manufacturer of the Year.

Jim Leuenberger was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

Barn quilts and other new attractions have boosted tourism in the Shawano area into an industry worth $60 million a year to the regional economy.

Other major tourist draws include the Menominee Casino Resort and other gambling outlets, the Doc’s Harley-Davidson of Shawano County complex, and the many recreational spots associated with Shawano Lake.

Promoting all of them and more is the Shawano Country Tourism Council, a division of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.

From the chamber of commerce headquarters at 1263 N. Main St. in Shawano, the tourism council promotes area attractions through marketing, advertising, trade shows and other activities.

“It’s definitely a big part of who we are,” said Patti Peterson, the chamber’s tourism manager. “We have a lot to promote.”

According to chamber statistics, tourism in 2014 supported more than 900 jobs in the Shawano area and generated $60 million in economic activity, an increase of more than 6 percent from the previous year.

While the region has been known for decades as a popular summertime destination, visitors in recent years have found year-round attractions, including the new Twig’s Beverage Museum, the Fall Festival and fall art studio tours, and improved casino facilities.

“There’s just so much,” said Sharon Rzentkowski, owner of the Cecil Fireside Inn. “Any weekend, it seems like there’s something going on.”

Rzentkowski also serves as vice president of the board overseeing the tourism council.

With revenue from hotel taxes collected throughout the area, the council receives about $100,000 a year to promote tourism in Shawano County and Menominee County. Those efforts also are supported financially by grants, event income and visitors guide income.

About 65,000 copies of the visitors guide are printed and distributed annually.

In the past year or so, the tourism council has succeeded in generating buzz about area attractions through numerous major news outlets, on websites and in specialty publications all across the Midwest.

Peterson said much of the recent attention has centered on the barn quilt sensation that has put Shawano County in the spotlight. Starting in 2010, more than 300 area barns have been adorned with the unique colorful decorations, creating perhaps the biggest such collection in the country.

Tour groups by the busload have flocked here to see the barn quilts, while others have enjoyed a “Bike the Barn Quilts” option. Still others have combined the barn quilts with changing seasonal colors for a combination tour during the fall.

“It’s just been phenomenal,” Peterson said.

Gresham has introduced its own variation on the barn quilts concept, with a similar collection of about 60 decorations on local barns and other structures.

Tourists also enjoy visiting Wittenberg for the Walls of Wittenberg attraction, which features more than 20 murals painted in spots throughout the community.

Although many visitor spots are year-round, the height of tourism season remains the summer months, when crowds flock to the area to enjoy what Shawano Lake, the Wolf River and other waterways have to offer for boating, fishing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, canoeing and tubing.

Two particular hot spots include American Marine & Motorsports and Mountain Bay Outfitters, both of which offer a variety of choices for boat rental and water fun.

Hotel rooms also are booked more frequently during the summer, along with area cottages and summer homes available for rent.

For many visitors, a trip to the Shawano area has become a summer tradition for their family. Merchants report seeing the same vacationing families coming back year after year.

Ron Schumacher, owner of Bamboo Shores Vacation Rental Homes, said he applauds the efforts of the tourism council in promoting the region. He also believes the tourism industry owes much of its success to local residents, who treat visitors like friends — not strangers.

One major reason why Shawano remains a big tourist draw, Schumacher said, is that visitors feel comfortable and relaxed here.

“They can get away and enjoy themselves,” he said. “The local people make them feel welcome.”

Bonduel High School head coach Chris Rank knew Thursday’s wrestling meet against Wittenberg-Birnamwood was going to be his team’s most difficult home dual meet of the season.

He decided to make it alumni night in hopes a packed gym could help energize his team.

It didn’t work, as the Bears fell, 51-18, but there was plenty of energy as the program inducted three people into its Hall of Fame: Randy and Renee Godin, parents of two former wrestlers and a current manager, and Dusty DeLorme, a 2005 BHS graduate who was the Bears’ first four-time regional champion.

“(The Godins), from day one, have dove in and just done so much. They’ve been instrumental in us hosting our sectionals,” Rank said. “It was an easy choice to pick those two as far as fans and parents to come in and induct them. They are just great people. Any time you ask them to do something, they’re going to be there for you.”

DeLorme recorded the seventh-most wins in program history at 131.

“We’ve had a couple four-timers (regional champions) since then, but that’s pretty amazing what he’s done in his four years with us,” Rank said.

Rank sees some of those traits in his current wrestlers, and expects some of them to earn just as many accolades a DeLorme did in his four-year career.

“As soon as I got done with handing out those awards, we got together before we wrestled, and I said, ‘I wonder how many of you guys are going to make the Hall of Fame some day,’ Rank said. “I’m certain there will be some.”

Rank said a big match like Thursday’s, with the bleachers crowded for the meet and the Hall of Fame induction, creates more excitement around the program and helps sustain it.

“We want to fill these stands so these kids are excited about coming out here and competing,” Rank said.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 28

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Police investigated a complaint of criminal damage to a vehicle at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Assault — Police assisted the county with an assault investigation in the 300 block of 300 S. Washington Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Theft — Money was reported stolen in the 1000 block of East Zingler Avenue.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint on Kleeman Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 28

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities responded to an assault complaint on County Road B in the town of Waukechon.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on County Road BE in the town of Waukechon.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Taylor Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on White Clay Lake Drive in the town of Washington.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on County Road G in the town of Red Springs and logged eight other accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 28

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported on West Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic dispute on North 12th Street.

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct complaint was reported on West Campus Drive.

University of Wisconsin-Extension officials want to absorb Gov. Scott Walker’s budget cuts by reducing the number of agents and researchers helping people with everything from growing crops to family finances.

The Extension is a University of Wisconsin System division designed to apply UW research and expertise across the state. Its responsibilities include providing online degrees, running public broadcasting, and working with people on the local level on agricultural, parenting and economic development issues through offices in all 72 counties.

Extension Provost Aaron Brower said this week that the 700-person Cooperative Extension, the branch that assists people with local issues, could shed up to 80 positions. He estimated as many as half of those positions are already vacant.

The two-year state budget Walker signed in July cut the UW System by $250 million. The cut means a $3.6 million annual loss for Cooperative Extension.

Extension officials are trying to get through the first year of the budget by holding vacant positions open and turning to their surpluses, but say that’s a stop-gap approach. They’ve presented a draft plan to Chancellor Cathy Sandeen to deal with the cuts going forward. The outline could change the face of Extension, resulting in fewer researchers to advise farmers and help them deal with emerging threats to their crops and fewer educators covering larger swaths of the state.

The vaguely worded document recommends saving $1.2 million annually by combining services into four-county quadrants and potentially sharing educators that help farmers, families and local economic development efforts. Right now, each county has four educators.

It also recommends saving another $2.4 million per year by “strategically reducing” the number of researchers who help farmers deal with emerging threats to their crops and making more extensive use of digital technology.

Sandeen is expected to sign off on the recommendations within the next few weeks. Extension officials and stakeholders plan to spend most of the spring refining the recommendations and implement them by July, when the 2017 state fiscal year begins.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the Wisconsin Association of Professional Nutrient Applicators, the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association have all come out against the plan to cut researchers, saying in a joint letter to Sandeen last week that Extension needs to fill and retain researcher positions ahead of other positions.

“We have more questions than answers at this point,” said Karen Gefvert, the farm bureau’s government relations director. “Our big concern is agriculture needs to have those researcher positions filled in order for farmers to get answers they need.”

Brower acknowledged that the plan is vague but people need to prepare themselves for change.

“We’re doing the best we can given the resources we have,” Brower said. “A lot of people are now realizing the implications of the state budget cuts.”

The Shawano Area Community Foundation has approved $29,840 in grants from its Shawano Area Fund to 11 charitable organizations serving people in Shawano County.

The Shawano Area Fund is an endowment that accepts donations of any amount to be used to provide annual grants. The foundation’s volunteer grants committee selects grant recipients through a competitive application process each fall. The grant dollars come from the endowment fund and proceeds from the foundation’s annual August golf outing.

The 2015 recipients, intended use and grant amounts are as follows:

• Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin, to provide program support for Shawano Area Memory Cafés to reduce isolation for individuals who suffer from dementia and for their caregivers. Amount awarded: $3,000.

• Belle Plaine EMS, to purchase AED machines to provide faster cardiac care to Belle Plaine patients until advanced care arrives. Amount awarded: $2,500.

• Boys & Girls Club of Shawano, to support the printing and advertising costs associated with creating awareness of the newly formed Boys & Girls Club charter in Shawano, which is working to address a void in community youth programming. Amount awarded: $1,940.

• CHAPS Academy, to provide psychiatric support for children from Shawano County who are suffering from mental illness and take part in the Hope Lives suicide prevention and intervention program. Amount awarded: $2,500.

• Junior Achievement of Wisconsin in Wolf River District, to support expenses for Shawano County youth interested in attending a summer camp focused on building entrepreneurial skills. Amount awarded: $2,500.

• Lutheran Counseling & Family Services of Wisconsin, to support mental health counseling sessions for Shawano County clients who are unable to pay the full cost of their services. Amount awarded: $2,000.

• Navarino Nature Center, to support the production of trail maps and replace outdated trail signage. Amount awarded: $2,500.

• Navarino-Lessor EMS First Responders, to purchase two portable radios that will replace outdated equipment. Amount awarded: $5,000.

• nIc Foundation, to support the purchase of supplies and marketing expenses associated with Character Camp, a summer camp experience for children in grades 4K-5 in Shawano County. Amount awarded: $1,200.

• Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Support Center, to provide clients with computer and Internet access to assist with their job searches and other activities required for becoming self-sufficient. Will also provide keyless entry to client rooms, which will offer more privacy. Amount awarded: $1,700.

• Shawano County, to support training instructors and purchasing equipment to expand the Strong Women, Strong Bones program that takes place in rural areas of Shawano County. Amount awarded: $5,000.

This year, the Shawano Area Community Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The SACF was established in 1990 by community volunteers to preserve and improve the quality of life in Shawano and the surrounding area. It is an affiliate of the Appleton-based Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the second-largest community foundation in Wisconsin (www.cffoxvalley.org).

More information about the SACF is available online at www.ShawanoFoundation.org, by calling 715-524-6627 or by emailing info@shawanofoundation.org.

Consumers using ThedaCare health system facilities can rest easy through 2016 about whether their Network Health Plan coverage is still accepted.

The two companies announced Friday that they have agreed to maintain their partnership to avoid any disruption of services for customers through the end of the year.

ThedaCare had previously announced plans to drop Network Health coverage effective July 31 because of a disagreement over how much the insurer was reimbursing ThedaCare for services.

The situation left hundreds of consumers in the Shawano area uncertain how they would pay for services at ThedaCare facilities if Network Health Plan coverage was no longer accepted. The Menasha-based insurer covers an estimated 3,700 people in Shawano County, most of them senior citizens.

Four months ago, ThedaCare opened its new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano and closed the former Shawano Medical Center hospital.

ThedaCare, based in Appleton, announced in mid-December it was ending its five-year-old relationship with Network Health.

In a prepared joint statement released Friday, the two companies said they would extend their partnership through Dec. 31 without any change in terms or any effect on customer costs.

ThedaCare President Dean Gruner said the deal gives patients “peace of mind that nothing changes for them in 2016.”

“I am delighted that our patients in our 14-county service area will continue to see the doctors they know and trust, and get the same high-quality care they have been for years,” Gruner said.

In the same statement, Network Health President Sheila Jenkins extended a word of thanks to customers who were affected by the situation.

“Our customers and partners have been overwhelmingly supportive and patient during this negotiation,” Jenkins said. “As a locally owned and community-minded company, our focus continues to be on being more than a typical health plan, providing superior service to our members and partners.”

The statement gave no indication what will happen to the ThedaCare-Network Health association after 2016.

Aspirus and WPS Health Solutions this week announced they are creating a new health insurance company in north-central Wisconsin.

Starting later this year, Aspirus Arise Health Plan of Wisconsin — known publicly as Aspirus Arise — will begin marketing individual marketplace, small group, large group and self-funded plans in 16 counties in north-central Wisconsin, including Shawano County, for 2017 effective dates, pending approval from the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and other appropriate regulatory agencies.

Aspirus is a nonprofit health system based in Wausau. The integrated system has more than 7,000 employees and includes four hospitals in Michigan and four hospitals in Wisconsin, 50 clinics, home health and hospice care, pharmacies, critical care and helicopter transport, medical goods, nursing homes and Aspirus Network providers.

Arise Health Plan is part of the family of brands of WPS Health Solutions, which is based in Madison. Arise offers comprehensive health plan options and service to businesses and individuals.

“Aspirus and Arise have a successful record of working together to offer high-quality care with affordable prices,” said Mike Hamerlik, president and CEO of WPS Health Solutions. “Now, by expanding our relationship to form this health insurance company, we are better positioned to serve patients in a more personalized way.”

A holding company that is equally owned by Aspirus and WPS will provide governance for the new Aspirus Arise company.

“Aspirus and Arise are committed to improving the health of our communities by working together,” said Matt Heywood, CEO and president of Aspirus. “Our goal is to tackle the problem of affordability. At Aspirus, we believe we can best achieve that goal by partnering with a trusted insurance company that understands the marketplace in this region.”

Brett Davis, president of Aspirus Arise, said, “Aspirus Arise will provide direct access to high-value, personalized health care that improves health and wellbeing across all stages of life and every care need. We are focused on meeting the needs of individuals, families, and businesses in north-central Wisconsin.”

For 2016, Arise Health Plan will continue to offer cobranded Aspirus Arise individual and small-group health plans both on and off the federal health care marketplace.