Local Antigo Headlines

Clarence “Butch” Duchac has guided hundreds of youngsters on field trips, tutored them on the intricacies of modern mathematics and taught them vanishing northwoods crafts during his time as a volunteer at Crestwood Elementary School.

Now, during the Christmas season, children at the school are shepherding him back.

Third, fourth and fifth graders from Crestwood recently trekked the short distance to Duchac’s home to decorate a “Tree of Hope,” creating a festive reminder of the holidays and all good things while Duchac is facing treatment for lung cancer.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Governor Scott Walker directed the Wisconsin National Guard and Wisconsin Emergency Management to once again provide assistance for a special holiday traveler tonight, as he makes his annual rounds through the Badger State.

“This is a mission we look forward to every year,” Governor Walker said. “By tasking the Wisconsin National Guard and Wisconsin Emergency Management with providing food and water for the reindeer, along with hot cocoa and weather updates for Santa Claus, we are doing our part to help the jolly old elf deliver presents to all the good boys and girls in Wisconsin.”

Major General Don Dunbar, Wisconsin adjutant general, said the Wisconsin National Guard and Wisconsin Emergency Management are up to the task.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

One of the biggest cooking assignments of the year will certainly be underway on Wednesday.

Mary Schmoll and Mary Ellen Draeger, who have been at the helm of the community dinner for Christmas for 14 years, are preparing for a real crowd.

“The number has gone up just about every year,” Schmoll said today.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The true “reason for the season” will be celebrated at churches throughout the northwoods on Wednesday and Thursday.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will bring a host of special programs, some with candles, carols and perhaps children, as Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Jesus amid the hubbub of a commercialized holiday.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The Antigo school district is losing two veteran administrators.

At its meeting Tuesday, the board will act on the retirement of Mary Jo Filbrandt, director of business services, and the resignation of Dr. Janene Beck-Hafner, director of pupil services.

The board may also approve a proposal to hire an outside media consultant to create a “brand” for the school district and act on a variety of other matters at the session, slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the media tech room at the high school.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Just in time for Christmas, nine residents of the Park View Apartments complex are getting settled into their renovated apartments.

“It’s wonderful,” Wendy Carter said as she unpacked boxes and totes in her fourth-floor corner unit. “It seems much more spacious and the view over the walkway is the best in Antigo.”

The relocation is part of a multi-phased project at Park View, Antigo’s “high-rise” complex, that is completely revamping the structure.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Man’s best friend is good for more than playing fetch.

Area mushers Melissa and Keith Omernick and Rachel Colbath, who are members of the Wisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club, demonstrated the sport of skijoring at the Minocqua’s Winter Park ski trails on a foggy Saturday.

Despite the unseasonable and damp conditions, several spectators stopped by to harness up and enjoy cross country skiing behind a dog. The event was part of Demo Days at Winter Park ski trails west of Minocqua on Squirrel Lake Road south of Highway 70.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

When people in this part of Wisconsin were buying Texaco oils and fuel products and Pontiac automobiles, no one dreamed that the man selling them would one day be one of this area’s leading philanthropists.

Before his death in April, 2010, Elwyn “Al” Remington established the Remington Foundation and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, an assortment of community projects and the local aquatic center.

Since his death, the foundation, now headed by a board led by his longtime friend, Jeanne Lucht, has continued the philanthropy unabated.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Santa Claus is as old as Christmas and as young as the gleam in a toddler’s eye.

The Jolly Old Elf is inviting youngsters to visit him at the Langlade County Historical Society Museum through Sunday, sharing stories of life with Rudolph and the elves at the North Pole, trolling for cookies and milk under the balsams on Christmas Eve, and reminding children to be nice, not naughty or risk getting coal in their stockings.

“I bet three out of four households in Antigo have a photo of me,” Santa says, suggesting that he has been visiting with three or even four generations of families since he made Antigo his wintertime headquarters over 40 years ago, “I love it, every minute of it.”

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

With a solid “thunk” into a red bucket, Langlade County’s Salvation Army campaign got a $1,200 boost Monday.

Sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., an anonymous donor placed a $20 gold coin into the collection bucket outside Mills Fleet Farm, during the shifts of either Geno McKenna or Scot Peterson, both longtime bell-ringers.

The coin, in exceptional condition, was discovered during the evening’s count by Cavan Kelly, and quickly identified as a Saint-Gaudens double eagle, produced at the Philadelphia Mint in 1922.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Marathon County officials are releasing a sketch of a suspect in a summertime bank robbery in hopes of shaking loose some leads.

Sheriff Scott Parks released the sketch this morning of the man suspected in an August robbery at Banner Bank in Hatley. The sheriff said that he hoped someone will recognize the man and be able to provide information about him.

The robbery occurred at approximately 2:41 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo may be in the driver’s seat as the economic engine revs up across the northwoods.

A rare three-agency shuffle has placed Langlade County residents—all women—in charge of public entities guiding development efforts at the local and regional level. Angie Close is now the director of the Langlade County Economic Development Board while her old boss, Chris Berry, has assumed duties as regional account manager for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. And Angi Schreiber, who has worked with Berry and Close on a variety of projects, has been named executive director of the Grow North Regional Economic Development Board.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

A Christmastime mystery has returned.

The little Elcho Christmas tree, which has been decorated anonymously every holiday season since 2005 emerged this week on Highway 45 south of town, a few hundred feet north of the 2013 model.

The only clue to the identity of the decorator, or decorators, are the footprints that ring the little evergreen located just off the east side of the roadway. Someone must know the perpetrator of the delightful caper, but no one is talking.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The 22nd annual Lights of Love luminary service, a memorial tribute held in the midst of the holiday season, will be held Monday in Elcho.

The event, a fund-raiser for the Elcho School Scholarship Fund, will take place at 7 p.m. along the sidewalks that ring the Elcho School. It is being held in conjunction with the high school Christmas concert.

Luminaries purchased prior to the ceremony will be placed along the sidewalk, lighting the route to the school. Luminaries may also be purchased that evening. The luminaries can all be taken home to memorialize loved ones during the holidays.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal