Local Antigo Headlines

Health care facilities working on possibility of finding Ebola virus

Health care facilities across Wisconsin, including Langlade Hospital, are focusing on education and safety of patients in the wake of concerns over the potential spread of the Ebola virus in the United States.

Local community leaders have been meeting regularly to discuss the education and safety of patients. Those involved include Carolyn Cahak, environmental services supervisor; Mary Moore, education services coordinator; Cindy Hurlbert, infection prevention coordinator; Bob Raganyi, safety services manager; Sue McVey, emergency preparedness coordinator; and Betsy Kommers, marketing and communications manager.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

United Way campaign is launched

The United Way of Langlade County has officially launched Campaign 2015 and is once again asking for financial help for the many local organizations that rely on it for ongoing support.

Last year, the United Way distributed $45,050 to 16 local not-for-profit organizations and to disaster relief efforts that it supports. The board of directors hopes to meet or exceed last year’s successful campaign, with a 2015 goal of $55,000.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Winds roar through area Tuesday, take down some trees, power lines

A Tuesday afternoon wind storm plunged more than 1,500 customers of Wisconsin Public Service, the electric utility serving the city, into the dark.

The wind storm, which had been cooking up for most of the afternoon, hit a peak shortly after 3 p.m. as lights at industries and homes flickered, and then some of them simple went out.

Kelly Zagrzebski, a spokesman for Wisconsin Public Service, which serves the Antigo area with electric power, said the problems started here shortly after 3 p.m. when trees fell on lines as winds gained.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

NTC's wood program offering rare opportunity for public access

Northcentral Technical College’s Wood Technology Center is offering a rare opportunity for the general public to work in a state-of-the-art facility, under the direction of a renowned craftsman.

Tom Gallenberg will lead a mini-course on designing and constructing a custom dining room chair beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. in the center, located on the grounds of the technical college’s Antigo campus.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

So far, 24 caught in Wisconsin sex sting

More than a dozen males, and even one female, are charged in a sex sting that posed as a set-up for people looking for sex and young girls.

The sting, dubbed Operation Aegis, has led to 24 arrests from 11 jurisdictions, stretching from Brown County to those surrounding Langlade County.

Of the 24 people arrested, the suspects include an 18-year-old captain of a Green Bay area football team to a Rothschild-based volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Chuck Sleeter retires Oct. 1 from Nashville leadership post

By WALT FERGUSON

Pickerel resident

Not all heroes are found in the sports pages or on the battlefield. Political life in the town of Nashville has given us a hero in its former Chairman Chuck Sleeter, who retired from his chairmanship on Oct. 1 after 18 years of leadership during which the communities and lakes benefited markedly and directly.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Oktoberfest celebrated here Saturday

It was perhaps almost too nice for Saturday’s Oktoberfest celebration at the Langlade County Fairgrounds.

Sunny skies and crisp, pleasant temperatures combined for a perfect autumn afternoon, with revelers at the annual tradition lingering outside the open doors of the livestock pavilion.

“It’s was a fun afternoon,” Deena Grabowsky, executive director of the Antigo/Langlade County Chamber of Commerce, the event sponsor, said. “We had several of our volunteers really get into character wearing Oktoberfest outfits, and that added to the festive air.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Richard Winter, local attorney, dies at age 80

Richard T. Winter, passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 at his home, surrounded by his family, after a spirited battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Winter was born on Aug. 21, 1934 in Antigo, to the late Gustav and Gertrude (Tesch) Winter.

He was honored to have graduated from Antigo High School with the class of 1952, where he met his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Norma Stasek.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Raptors put on a show for an Antigo fund-raiser Saturday

Raptors preened for the crowd at the first annual Fly into Fall fund-raiser held Saturday at the Antigo Veterinary Clinic.

The event was hosted by Dr. Sarah Lautzenhiser and staff to benefit Raptor Education Group Inc., the internationally-renowned rehabilitation center for bald eagles and other raptors located just southeast of Antigo. The clinic works closely with REGI on meeting the medical needs of its feathered patients.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

As harvest nears end, value of potatoes in Badger state estimated at $522 million

As farmers across Wisconsin are digging up potatoes – and consumers are enjoying them baked, fried and mashed – a new study has revealed the crop’s substantial economic impact.

Potatoes contribute $522,278,361 to Wisconsin’s economy annually and are responsible for 3,122 jobs.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Local Ice Age Trail celebrated, 18 receive anniversary patches

Eighteen persons were awarded 40th anniversary hiker patches for making two of the five hikes held in 2013 and 2014 or thru-hikers by the Langlade County Ice Age Trail Chapter at a celebration dinner. The special event was held Saturday evening at Swartzendruber’s Supper Club.

The program included a reading by Nancy Blood of her poem on the trail, congratulatory comments from John Madden, Ice Age National Scenic Trail superintendent and Mike Wollmer, Ice Age Trail Alliance executive director.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

1970s Antigo football standout writes about those fond memories, observations

By TOM SCHREMP

Class of 1976

When I was asked to be an honorary captain for the Antigo vs Rhinelander football game I was honored to be given an opportunity to contribute to rebuilding the tradition that has made Antigo football one of the best high school athletic programs in the state of Wisconsin.

By bringing back team members who had played on the great teams of the past, present players could learn from them what made Antigo such a strong program for so many years. Perhaps the old players could share what a special responsibility and privilege it is to be an Antigo Red Robin.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

AHS marching band hitting its stride a week before state competition

With just over one week until the state band championship, the Antigo High School Marching Red Robins have hit their competitive stride.

The musicians, performing a mix of Irish and Celtic music, are coming off first place performances at D.C. Everest’s Music in Motion on Saturday and the Merrill Marching Invitational on Sunday.

The band scored 72.26 at the Music In Motion competition and improved to 75.45 on Sunday.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

Nasty virus raises concerns, health officials suggest using soap, water

A nasty virus is sickening children across the nation, and the best prevention is plain old soap and water.

Enterovirus D68 is being blamed for five deaths across the nation and may be linked to an unusual form of muscle weakness seen in about a dozen children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 664 people have been diagnosed with it across the country since mid-August, an unusual level of activity.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Forest County jail employees facing criminal charges after probe

Three Forest County residents, two of them sheriff’s department employees, are expected to be in court any time on an assortment of charges linked to an ongoing theft and drug investigation.

A female and male arrested Tuesday are being held in the Marinette County lockup. The spouse of one of them was also cited and is being held on a series of charges. Sheriff John Dennee explained that the sheriff’s department launched an undercover investigation several months ago working with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Langlade County becoming manufacturing hub, open houses being held later today

Quietly, Langlade County is becoming a manufacturing hub of northern Wisconsin.

Now, industries are using some “heavy metal” to get the word out.

Local industries are welcoming eighth graders to their facilities today as part of a Heavy Metal Manufacturing Tour, designed, according to Bill Bockes of Johnson Electric Coil, to get students thinking about job opportunities in their future.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Emerald ash borer threat found in Oneida County, it's not surprising

Firewood from Oneida County will be quarantined following confirmation of emerald ash borer in the city of Rhinelander.

“It’s disappointing, but not surprising, when emerald ash borer shows up in an entirely new area like this,” Brian Kuhn, director of the Bureau of Plant Industry in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said. “The borer hitchhikes on firewood and other ash wood very easily, and can end up many miles from any previously known infestation. It’s hard to detect at low levels, so it’s generally three or four years before we find an infestation after it first begins.”

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

DNR confirms two cougars were spotted, one in neighboring county

A cougar may be taking up residence in the Langlade County area.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologists confirm two cougar sightings this year, in Lincoln County east of Merrill and in Marinette County just north of Crivitz.

DNR wildlife biologist David MacFarland says the sightings are about 90 miles apart and a cougar could easily cover this distance in the 33 days between the photos, a route that almost certainly would have taken it through Langlade County.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Local industries plan open houses on jobs with help from tech college

Local manufacturers are looking for employees to fill good, family-sustaining jobs, and Northcentral Technical College is helping fill the void.

The Antigo campus will hold a community open house on Wednesday between 4:30 and 7 p.m. to give students and parents an opportunity to visit with faculty and staff and learn about program options, financial aid, campus life, and flexible learning options, including late start courses and virtual college. Credits may also transfer to four-year colleges.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Langlade County 4-H holds a centennial celebration on Sunday

A 100th anniversary only comes once, so local 4-H members didn’t let some nasty weather stop the celebration on Sunday afternoon.

As the kickoff to National 4-H Week, members from some of Langlade County’s 11 4-H clubs gathered at City Park for an afternoon of fun and games and to create a giant 4-H symbol.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

'Fly into Fall' with raptor center, clinic

Supporters of Antigo’s Raptor Education Group are invited to “Fly into Fall” at a first-of-its-kind fund-raising event that combines education and fun.

The Antigo Veterinary Clinic will host Fly into Fall on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with tours, special activities for all ages and an opportunity to win a lifetime of free preventive health care for a pet.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Monday's Never Forgotten Honor Flight will include eight area veterans

Eight Korean War veterans from the Antigo area will join the Never Forgotten Honor Flight for a free trip to Washington D.C. on Monday.

The eight are among 96 veterans from throughout central and northern Wisconsin on the one-day trip to the nation’s capital, designed specifically to allow them to tour the war memorials erected in their honor.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Jail term set here for repeat drunk driver

A Marion man arrested in Antigo for his third offense of drunken driving was sentenced in Langlade County Circuit Court this week to serve 160 days in jail.

Paul J. Knitt, 43, was arrested for the crime in March. Police said he had a blood alcohol level of .23 percent, nearly three times the .08 reading considered legal evidence of intoxication.

Knitt was additionally fined $2,450, he had his driver’s license revoked for 28 months and he was ordered to undergo an alcohol assessment. He must also equip his vehicle with an ignition interlock device for one year.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Amron holds successful job fair

Amron Corporation held a pleasantly successful job fair in Antigo Wednesday and Thursday.

Amron, part of Antigo’s industrial mix for more than four decades and one of the community’s major employers, has upcoming projects and needs additional employees, and for the first time gave the jobs fair concept a try.

“We are very pleased with the turnout and the quality of the applicants,” Amron President Doug Faragher explained.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Brats, burgers and music will be offered at White Lake Oktoberfest

Brats, burgers, music and more are on tap when the White Lake Area Historical Society hosts its Oktoberfest celebration Saturday.

Activities will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Depot Museum and Historical Center.

George Rock, president, of the historical society, said this is a community and county wide event and everyone is invited. Already, he said, “a number of former White Lake area residents are planning to attend and meet up with some of their old neighbors and friends.’’

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Fines ordered, probation terms set for defendants convicted of local drug crimes

A southern Wisconsin man arrested on drug charges during a trip through Langlade County in March will serve a term of probation.

Brian Loring, 30, of Waunaukee was placed on supervision for one year and assessed costs of the court action after pleading no contest to possessing marijuana. A drug paraphernalia count was dismissed during a hearing this week before Judge Fred Kawalski.

Loring and others were cited for the offense after their vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the town of Wolf River.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

County agency accepting home heat assistance applications, winter nears

The Langlade County Department of Social Services has begun taking applications for home heating assistance.

According to Kim Van Hoof, department director, assistance is available through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program from Oct. 1 until May 15, 2015. The state estimates that 227,000 households will receive assistance in paying their heating bills this season.

“We’ve been busy,” Van Hoof said Wednesday afternoon.

Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Gleason man to face charge for acts of 'road rage'

Langlade County sheriff’s officials advised today that a 43-year-old Gleason man will be referred to the district attorney’s office on a count of disorderly conduct for a case of “road rage” exhibited Tuesday morning along Highway T.

According to witness statements, the motorist approached another vehicle from behind at a high rate of speed, kept tight to its bumper and then swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic to run parallel to the other vehicle before dropping back.

Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

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