Local Antigo Headlines

Man linked to local burglary through DNA gets probation

A man linked to a Langlade County crime through DNA found on a discarded cigarette butt will serve a term of supervision for felony charge of theft.

Nathanial J. McKee, 22, of Little Chute entered a plea of no contest to the charge during a hearing Tuesday before Judge Fred Kawalski. Additional counts of burglary and theft were dismissed in a plea agreement.

McKee, a current resident of the Wisconsin state prison system at Stanley, was charged after the state’s crime lab identified his DNA as matching that found on a cigarette butt left behind at a town of Elcho cottage in June of 2010.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Peace gala Friday evening

The final decorations are being put in place for the fourth annual Shining the Light of Peace Christmas Gala slated Friday in the Peace Lutheran Church gathering hall.

There are several new touches this year. As a fund-raiser, students have created an outdoor tree made of all things good for wildlife to eat, set in a wash tub and filled with corn.

“Squirrels will love it too,” Dave Reineke, school administrator, said. “It’s the ultimate bird feeder.”

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Early snow has sports fans excited

The storm cleanup largely done—for now—so its time for winter fun to begin.

Antigo’s 10 inches of snowfall Monday and Tuesday have people eager to hit the slopes and the trails, and there are some early season opportunities.

For downhill skiers. Granite Peak at Rib Mountain will open Saturday with a limited number of runs. Snow-making equipment is augmenting the eight inches that fell on the Wausau area.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Blessing and cookout mark Habitat house dedication, family 'ecstatic'

Habitat for Humanity of Langlade County dedicated its eighth home Sunday afternoon, with an exceptional crowd enjoying a cookout, program and blessing.

Rev. Donald Sprengler led the group in prayer and a blessing with future homeowners Jason and Crystal Moore along with their two daughters Mackenzie and Daisy stressing how much this home means to their family and how thankful they are for all the volunteers and community members who came together to make it a reality

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Wet snow fouls roads, walking here

It is difficult to understand how the weather can be as bad as it is today in Antigo, with well over a month to go before winter officially arrives on Dec. 21.

A mixture of snow, sleet and rain has fallen in the past 24 hours creating a tremendous mess across northern Wisconsin, leading to school cancellations and very difficult travel.

While it is not cold today, readings are expected to slide as the week continues with the lows Wednesday at nine, then it slips to six degrees on Thursday and continues down to four on Friday.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

City council to work on budget, ambulance issues Wednesday

The Antigo Common Council will take final action on a 2015 spending plan, plus resolve a lingering dispute over an ambulance purchase when it convenes Wednesday.

Aldermen will meet for the regular November session at 6:30 p.m. in the chambers at City Hall. A special closed session as a committee of the whole will begin at 5:30 p.m. to consider a retirement agreement for a public works employee.

The main order of business for the evening will be the budget, a $13.9 million spending plan that was the focus of just one special meeting on Sept. 24.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Home on leave, solider joins cast of 'State Fair' musical

Padraic Kelly was home on leave from his U.S. military service over the weekend, and he spent it among friends, on stage.

Kelly, visiting his dad, Cavan Kelly, and grandparents, Beth and Bill Kelly, had a walk-on role in Antigo Community Theater’s production of “State Fair,” joining the cast for performances Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.

“I had about two or three nights of rehearsal,” Kelly said.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

Winter's grip arrives early this year

With snow on the ground and forecasts of a polar vortex early next week, it appears that Langlade County and much of the northwoods finds itself in an unusually early icy grip.

According to officials with the Department of Natural Resources, the animals are feeling it too. Dropping temperatures have triggered rutting activity among whitetail deer, which is now reaching peak in some areas. More bucks have been seen chasing does as the rut gets into full swing, and archers have reported some very good success in the last week.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Motorized vehicles on trails are subject now of Wisconsin survey

Residents and visitors to Langlade’s “County of Trails” have an opportunity to comment on how they use nonmotorized trails in Wisconsin and what can be done to improve them through an online survey available through the end of the year.

The Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council is seeking to gather up-to-date information about the state of nonmotorized trails in Wisconsin from individuals who use nonmotorized trails as well as groups, organizations and municipal and government agencies that develop and manage trails.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Winter arrives here with a bang, snow may be heavy

The first major winter storm of the season has arrived in western and north-central Wisconsin.

The local weather forecast does not predict the deep snow other sources are, but it still will be substantial for early November and icy roads have already been and most likely will continue to be a problem.

Antigo police and Langlade County sheriff’s deputies responded to a number of traffic accidents today as the snow began to fall heavily during the morning hours before slowing, at least temporarily prior to the noon hour.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

At 107, Marie Kretz marks true landmark

Marie Kretz, believed to be the oldest resident living in Langlade County, marked her 107th birthday this week at Rosalia Gardens with friends and family.

Mrs. Kretz has spent her life in the Antigo area after being born in Embarass and married Ray Kretz in Antigo.

The couple lived most of their lives together, had a son, Dan, who resides in Antigo, but Ray is deceased. Mrs. Kretz lives very comfortably at the hosptial-owned residential complex on the northeast side of Antigo.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Theater troupe's 'State Fair' opens tonight

The Antigo Community Theater’s fall production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “State Fair” opens tonight.

The curtain will rise at the high school’s Volm Theater on the show following a 7:30 p.m. reception. It will continue Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.; and next Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, all at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students for gerenal seating.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Polar vortex making return visit

A couple weeks ago, forecasters confidently stated that it would be very unlikely for the nation—and Wisconsin—to experience a return of the polar vortex which brought bone-chilling cold last winter.

They were right, in a way. The bone-chilling air, which waited until January to arrive this past last winter will make a pre-Thanksgiving appearance beginning next week.

According to the AccuWeather.com forecasting service, arctic air associated with the polar vortex will dive into the north central United States early next week and will expand southward and eastward to affect about 200 million people as the week progresses.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Employee who stole cash placed on probation

A former Antigo man accused of stealing $100 from his employer was placed on probation for two years after entering pleas of guilt to counts of theft and obstructing an officer.

According to documents filed in Langlade County Circuit Court, Derek Sparby, 24, of Marshfield took the money from a till at Arby’s restaurant. When confronted he fled on foot and was ultimately captured by police.

He must pay restitution plus costs of the court action which includes $400 in state-assessed fees for DNA analysis.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Dedication Sunday for new Habitat home

Habitat for Humanity will hold a dedication ceremony Sunday at its latest home, an attractive three-bedroom bungalow located on the city’s northwest side.

“It has really come together nicely,” Gary Kieper, a representative for Thrivent Builds, a partner in the project, said. “The home is extremely inviting and we hope to have the family in it by Thanksgiving.”

The home, located at 1136 Lincoln St., is being built for Jason and Crystal Moore and their daughters, Mackenzie and Daisy.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Gilbert, with ties to local grocers, opens Sentry Foods in Hortonville

Gilbert’s Sentry Foods opened today at 7 a.m. at 323 E. Main St. (Hwy. 15) in Hortonville.

The new $3 million, 20,000-square-foot store is actually a relocation, expansion and rebranding of the older, smaller Gilbert’s SuperValu Foods store on Nash Street. It’s the only full-line grocery store between Appleton and New London.

The move was done to gain visibility, meet customer needs and to own instead of rent.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Churches asked to call with Thanksgiving schedules

As a service to its readers, the Antigo Daily Journal will publish a list of special worship services planned for the week of Thanksgiving.

Church secretaries or pastors are asked to contact Wendy Noskowiak at the Journal office, 715-623-4191, with their schedules of special services and programs planned for Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Thursday, Nov. 27.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

White Lake referendum fails at polls

White Lake school officials are regrouping today after a stunning referendum defeat.

For the second time in seven months, voters in the White Lake school district have rejected attempts by the board of education to exceed state-imposed revenue limits.

Vote was 430 opposed to 405 in favor, a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent. The question also failed in April, 179 to 177.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Greening earns third term as sheriff after tense election night showdown

A confident but somewhat tentative gathering of family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers were at Fifth Avenue Restaurant and Lounge Tuesday evening to await the election returns. Bill Greening was seeking his third term as sheriff of Langlade County.

It was a tense and thrilling night for both Greening and his opposition, Joe Stegall of Bryant, as the men continued to exchange leads as the evening advanced, ending with Greening in the lead by 168 votes.

The incumbent finished with 4,268 votes to Stegall’s 4,100.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

State, local races draw people to polls

A mix of state and local races, headlined by hotly-contested contests for Langlade County sheriff and Wisconsin governor is bringing people to the polls in droves across Langlade County today.

As of the Antigo Journal’s traditional noontime count, 1,115 people had cast votes across the city’s nine wards. That compares to 1,007 at lunchtime in 2010, when there was a race for governor, senator and congressional representation, and 1,342 in 2006, a year that carried a full slate of contests topped by governor and sheriff races.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Moose Lake shoreline is restored through county, volunteer efforts

The Moose Lake boat launch was recently the focus of an extensive shoreline restoration project hosted by the Friends of Moose Lake in partnership with Langlade County.

The project was led by Langlade County’s Land Conservation Technician Molly McKay and Tyler Betry, Langlade County’s shoreland protection specialist, assisted by Friends members June Hoddel, Karen Trembath, and Joan Resch.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Lukas stuns Breeders Cup crowd with 61-1 longshot, a young filly

Never count a master horseman out, especially double-digit odds.

Antigo native D. Wayne Lukas stunned the totes on Saturday, when his two-year-old filly, Take Charge Brandi, went wire-to-wire in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.84 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

At odds of 61-1, the casual player took home a cool $125.40 for putting down a $2 bet.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Congressional candidates explain positions, vote nears

U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, a Wausau Republican, faces Democrat Kelly Westlund, an Ashland councilwoman in the race for the Seventh Congressional District, which includes a huge portion of northern and western Wisconsin, including Antigo and all of Langlade County.

Also on the ballot is Green Party candidate Lawrence Dale, an Eagle River insurance salesman. The election will be held on Tuesday.

Westlund visited Antigo recently, visiting with Democratic supporters at Fifth Avenue Restaurant and Lounge and touring local businesses.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Daylight Savings ends early Sunday morning

Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, at which point most of the country will set their clocks back one hour.

This is also a great time to check the things that keep us safe and ready for emergencies. ReadyWisconsin urges you to check these items.

—Smoke Detectors: Check and replace batteries if needed and make sure the devices around your house are working properly.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Critical school referendum is on the White Lake ballot Tuesday

It’s simple economics, White Lake District Administrator Bill Fisher said, small rural schools need referendum dollars in order to operate.

On Tuesday, White Lake voters will go to the polls to decide whether the district should be allowed to spend $250,000 above state-imposed revenue limits for each of the next three years in order to maintain programs and meet expenses. It is the same question White Lake asked in spring, when it lost by the slimmest of margins, with just two votes separating the nays and the ayes. Final tally was 179 opposed to 177 in favor.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Humane Society offering waffles

Enjoy some great specialty waffles while supporting the Langlade County Humane Society on Sunday.

The Society, which operates the county animal shelter, will host its first annual waffle-Mania Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Vickie and the Vets.

Nick Salm will be cooking up renowned Belguim waffles with 10-plus toppings available. There will also be sausages and chicken tenders from Edelman’s Meats, Culver’s frozen custard and Mark Steckbauer’s maple syrup. Cost is $7.50 per plate, including coffee and juice.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Day of fun with owls set at Raptor Center

Raptor Education Group Inc. will celebrate “Owl”-Oween Friday, with some not-so-spooky fun, mixed with a bit of education and a chance to view some spectacular birds.

The wildlife rehabilitation center, located southeast of Antigo at N2160 W. Rollwood Rd, will be releasing three Great-Horned Owls, providing an exceptional opportunity for people to observe and learn.

“People are fascinated by owls and the biggest thing is them to be able to see the owls up close,” Abby Krumrie, REGI’s education director, said.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

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