Local Antigo Headlines

Sartori breaks ground for big expansion

Sartori Company officials, joined by Gov. Scott Walker and a host of other state and local dignitaries, held a ceremonial ground-breaking for a massive expansion at its Antigo plant this morning. The $14 million project will be spread across Sartori’s Antigo and Plymouth facilities, but the lion’s share of the work—over $11 million—will take place in Antigo. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Freeze-up costs top $225,000 in Antigo

The winter of 2013-14 was costly in dollars as well as manpower to Antigo’s water utility. Mark Desotell, the city’s director of administrative services, said Friday that the state of Wisconsin is assembling costs on the impact of the severe weather and may issue an emergency declaration, which could open up the potential of federally reimbursed expenditures. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Bits and Pieces for May 3

After missing two Bits & Pieces columns and being out of town for a few days for what was another of those Fred’s Big Adventures, the return was pitiful. There have been huge winds, rain, snow and more rain. It could have been worse, my sister’s yard in Eagle River was covered in snow and, of course, we are aware of the loss of life and property damage due to storms across the South. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Fishing opener will be challenge

Northern Wisconsin anglers can expect some “hard water” fishing for the 2104 opener on Saturday. Anglers will find many lakes in northern Wisconsin still have significant ice cover and will likely be inaccessible for fishing. Lakes are mostly free of ice now from about Highway 8 south, although Pelican Lake and Summit Lakes along Highway 45 in northern Langlade County remained icy this morning. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Plow Days showcases nostalgia

The venerable Sheppard Diesel, a workhorse of a machine that helped shape the northwoods agricultural scene for decades, will be featured when the Northwoods Tractor Club hosts its third annual Old Time Plow Days on Sunday. The event will be hosted by Wally and Barb Igl at Golden Arch Farm, located five miles northwest of Antigo at the corner of Angle Road and County Road I. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo man, 66, charged with seventh count of drunk driving

Bail was set in Langlade County Circuit Court this week at $2,000 cash for an Antigo man facing prosecution for his seventh offense of drunken driving. Paul C. Artz, 66, of 800 Deleglise St. was jailed on the count, a felony, as well as a charge of driving with a revoked license during a traffic stop on April 27. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Community garden planning begins

It was snowing in Antigo this morning, but that’s not stopping plans for the upcoming community garden season. The Antigo Community Garden, located behind the Antigo United Methodist Church, will have 71 plots available to anyone interested in growing a garden this year. During the 2013 growing season, the community garden produced over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce for gardeners. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Joe Servi, Sarah Duff reign over Antigo prom

It was one sweet night as Antigo High School celebrated its junior prom, featuring the theme “Candyland,” Saturday evening. Selected as king and queen of the annual springtime gala was Joe Servi and Sarah Duff. They received their crowns from the 2013 king and queen Colin Bastle and Morgan Burkhart, assisted by the miniature royalty, Amaya Samolinski and Garrett Tomczyk. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Elcho prom night is 'Frozen in Time'

Shelby Ruhland and Dakota Littleton reigned as king and queen over Elcho High School prom festivities. The couple were coronated before a crowd of family and friends at an evening “Frozen in Time” in the school gymnasium. Joining them on the court were Kyleigh Decorah and Trinton Menomin, Theresa Guth and Dan Pless, and Savannah Henckel and Ben Rustick, Miniature king and queen were Alyssa Vonderen and Bryce Malitz. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Girl crusades for diabetic doll

A young Antigo girl, diagnosed six months ago with Type I diabetes, wants other children to gain comfort from her experiences. Anja Busse, 11, is spearheading an effort to have American Girl, the popular doll maker headquartered in Middleton, create a special diabetic doll, complete with diabetic supplies and insulin pump. She has created an online petition that, in just a few weeks, has already gained over 2,500 signatures. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Electronics recycling opens

The trucks and vehicles were lining up at the Langlade County Fairgrounds’ multi-purpose building this morning, filled with old computers, televisions and other electronics bound for the scrap heap. The electronics recycling event will run today until 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon as a cooperative fund-raising effort between AVAIL, Inc., Advocates for Domestic and Sexual Abuse in Langlade County, and the Good News Project of Wausau, which promotes e-cycling. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Kindred tells sale of Eastview facility

Kindred Healthcare has made a strategic decision not to renew the operating leases for some of its nursing centers, including Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab-Eastview. Wanda Hose, the facility’s executive director, said that the long-standing health care facility will be transitioning to a new operator, MGM Healthcare, in the next 60 days with a goal of completing the transition by June, 2014. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Wittenberg gripped by hostage standoff

There were some tense moments at a Wittenberg convenience store Tuesday. An armed gunman, a 28-year-old man from Gillett, was taken into custody without incident after he held a worker captive for about one hour before surrendering himself to authorities. Just what sparked his actions, which occurred inside a Shell service station which also houses a McDonald’s restaurant, remains unknown. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

'Taste of the Town' will showcase restaurants, raise United Way funds

Everyone is invited out for a “Taste of the Town,” a fund-raising event for the Langlade County United Way. The special evening of dining and entertainment will take place on Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Edison Club Event Center. According to Jenny Schlundt, a member of the Langlade County United Way Board of Directors, “Taste of the Town” is designed as a new fund-raising event to provide additional support to local United Way affiliated. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

UPDATE: Gunman in custody after hostage situation in Wittenberg

SHAWANO COUNTY (WAOW) -- A gunman has been taken into custody after a hostage situation in Shawano County at a Shell gas station. This happened at 413 N Genesee Street in Wittenberg. The gas station is in the same building as a McDonald's. A Shawano County Sheriff's official said the suspect was armed with a small caliber gun Tuesday afternoon and took a McDonald's employee hostage. Full story: WAOW

UW alumni chapter meets in Antigo

Local students who will be packing in a few months to make the move of a lifetime, to the University of Wisconsin, gathered Thursday evening to be a key part of the annual spring Founders Day program. Held annually by the Antigo Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the dinner, singing of “Varsity,” speaker and selection of officers came off without a hitch at the Edison Club. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

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