Local Antigo Headlines

State Representative Mary Czaja has been appointed by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to serve on the Joint Finance Committee. It is widely considered to be the legislature’s most powerful committee, and has the responsibility of reviewing all state appropriations and revenues.

“I am honored to be chosen to serve on the Joint Finance Committee,” Czaja, a Republican from Irma, said. “I believe my experience as a small-business owner and representing our rural district will bring an important perspective as we consider the next state budget.”

Czaja represents the 35th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Antigo, Merrill, and Tomahawk, covers all of Lincoln County, and portions of Langlade, Marathon, Oneida, and Shawano counties.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Bail originally set last week by Court Commissioner Jerry McCormack was continued at $100,000 cash by Langlade County Judge Fred Kawalski Monday for an Antigo man accused of having sex with a pre-teen girl after the pair allegedly smoked marijuana at his home.

Adam J. Marten of 633 1/2 Fifth Ave., faces seven counts in all including felony charges of first degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 by use or threat of force or violence, child enticement and manufacture or delivery of marijuana, specifically involving the distribution to minors.

He also stands accused of contributing to truancy, contributing to the delinquency of a child, obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

Harsh winter road conditions—and drivers in too much of a hurry—combined for a brutal Monday afternoon and evening in Langlade County.

Snow began falling just after lunchtime, and continued with no letup well into the evening hours, accumulating on sidewalks, highways and county and local roads despite efforts from crews.

“Conditions were bad out there,” Sheriff Bill Greening said, noting that his officers responded to two potentially serious crashes in the county.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

As the busy holiday season arrives, families will pause to give thanks on Thursday for blessings received.

St. John Catholic Church will host ecumenical Thanksgiving worship service on Wednesday, featuring clergy from a variety of local congregations. It is open to all.

The service will be held at 7 p.m. Participating pastors include Rev. David Schmidt, Rev. Charles Hoffmann, Rev. Karen Tews, Rev. Debbie Pimm, Rev. Wes Jedras, Rev. Dick Kendall, Rev. Nancy Richmond, Deacon Andy Bures, and Rev. Jeremiah Worman.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Opening weekend deer harvest numbers were down about 10 percent a good result considering the weather and overall whitetail population.

Eric Borchert, wildlife technician with the Department of Natural Resources in Antigo, called the opener “fairly uneventful” with good hunting weather Saturday erased by a gloomy, foggy Sunday that brought hunters out of the woods.

“So far it is looking pretty good,” Borchert said. “There were no surprises.”

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

An Antigo man has been arrested and remains jailed on a cash bond of $100,000 on allegations he had sex with a pre-teen girl after the pair smoked marijuana at his home.

The suspect, Adam J. Marten of 633 Fifth Ave., was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with a search warrant executed at his downtown residence.

The counts filed in Langlade County Circuit Court Friday afternoon are serious, numbering seven in all, with a combined maximum term of imprisonment in excess of 83 years.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The clock is ticking toward the opener of the 2014 gun deer season, a fall tradition that brings thousands of hunters to the northwoods.

According to officials with the Department of Natural Resources, hunting is an important contributor to Wisconsin’s economy as well as an historical and culturally significant pastime. Eighty-eight percent of hunters participated in deer hunting in 2011, making it the most popular form of hunting in the state by a wide margin.

Those hunters hitting the northwoods this year can expect a mixed bag, both of weather and of the chances for success, according to Eric Borchert, DNR wildlife technician based in Antigo.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The White Lake school district is facing very limited options, and could look very different or perhaps even cease to exist, in the wake of a failed November spending referendum.

That was the message at Tuesday’s board of education meeting, held before a full house of interested residents and dominated by a discussion of what do now.

Earlier this month, voters for the second time rebuffed the board’s request to spend $250,000 annually for the next three years above and beyond state-imposed revenue limits. The money would have replaced a referendum that expired at the end of the 2013-14 term.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Langlade Hospital has been recognized as a 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the United States.

Langlade Hospital was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2014 annual report “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety,” for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for pneumonia and surgical care. It is one of 1,224 hospitals in the United States to achieve the 2013 Top Performer distinction.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

A career sparked by a television commercial broadcast in Milwaukee four decades ago is being capped in the Langlade County Courthouse.

Nina Bostwick of Antigo, for the past nine years a fixture on the local judicial scene, is retiring from her position as court reporter. Her last official day won’t be marked until early January but on Monday she was feted by friends and fellow co-workers during a luncheon held in her honor.

“This job is the best thing I have ever gotten into,” she said.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The “State Fair” is on, and everyone is invited to come down and join the fun.

Antigo Community Theater’s production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical concludes tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Volm Theater at Antigo High School.

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance at Neve’s Furniture or at the door. Donate a new or gently used coat for the area’s needy and an anonymous benefactor will make a donation to the Salvation Army. Coats may be dropped off at the high school after 6:30 p.m.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Jim Zdroik brought the impressive Spudmobile to Antigo for stops at Langlade Hospital and Schroeder’s Gifts, telling the story of one of Wisconsin and Langlade County’s primary cash crops, potatoes.

The Spudmobile has been in the works for about three years as the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association worked through the concept and then the details of getting the machine on the road.

Zdroik, who is from a potato-growing family in the Rosholt area, knows the topic well and is able to explain it to students and adults offering a touch of entertainment, too.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo lost a true racing legend recently.

While Antigo native D. Wayne Lukas has captured the headlines with Triple Crown and Breeders Cup wins—most recently with Take Charge Brandi in the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1—Larry Uelmen quietly made a career as a trainer, breeder, and jockey’s agent.

And what a career it was.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Langlade County law officers are calling it one of the largest drug seizures in recent history following Wednesday’s arrest of a local man who was armed with a massive supply of bath salts, a synthetic and hallucinogenic drug which ran rampant across the area last year.

“It is a good indication that while we had initial success in slowing down the distribution of this drug, it hasn’t been eradicated,” Sheriff Bill Greening said, explaining that the discovery took a large chunk of the drug off the streets.

“We will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue those involved in the distribution and use of illegal narcotics,” he added.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal