Local Antigo Headlines

The Antigo school board will begin work on the 2014-15 budget and receive an update on a consultant’s study of district facilities on Tuesday. The board will convene for its regular January session at 7 p.m. in the media tech room at the high school. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The frigid conditions are making home heating systems work overtime, and that’s leading to some extra hours for furnace technicians and city firefighters as well. According to Dan Jahnke of City Gas Company, and Antigo Fire Chief Jon Petroskey, the long spell of below-zero temperatures is taxing heating systems and leading to technical and safety concerns. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

With the best riding conditions in years, snowmobilers across the northwoods are gearing up for the county-wide trail ride on Saturday. This is International Snowmobile Safety Week, and state Snowmobile Administrator Warden Gary Eddy is urging riders to mark it in two ways: Ride with a safety mindset and take a friend snowmobiling. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo Firsts, a two-year-old organization working to develop Antigo’s core, drew an excellent crowd to the Edison Club Events Center Thursday evening for a meeting to eye and pass the plan for the future. The group is knit from people interested in bringing back a bit of the glory days to the main streets. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Joe Draeger was harassed this morning when he said, “everybody is in the same boat.” He sells LP gas in the northwoods area through Draeger Propane and is being constantly called as customers run out — or nearly out — and the cost goes through the roof. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Customers at Northwoods National Bank in Elcho should notice few—if any—changes following the announcement of the sale of the Rhinelander branch. Peoples State Bank, based in Wausau, announced plans Wednesday to acquire Northwoods National Bank of Rhinelander, a deal that includes some of the loans of the Elcho branch, but not the deposits or the actual facility. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

White Lake district taxpayers, who have shown a willingness to support their school through higher property taxes time and time again, will be asked to dig deeper into their pockets in April. The board of education has formally approved the paperwork necessary to hold an April 1 referendum seeking $250,000 annually above state-imposed revenue limits over the next three years to maintain existing programs. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

An Antigo woman is awaiting the filing of criminal charges for a weekend fight at a town of Ainsworth tavern. Reports compiled by the Langlade County Sheriff’s Department indicate that the 35-year-old woman allegedly punched one woman with a closed fist, breaking her nose, and hit and bit another woman. The incident evidently occurred around midnight Sunday while she and a male were being escorted out of the bar following an altercation between the man and another male patron. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Shortly after the River City Jazz Band started to perform Saturday night at the Edison Club Events Center, dancers moved onto the floor for the fund-raiser for Langlade Area Arts and its plan to build a downtown theater and cultural center. Read more: Antigo Daily Journal

The Langlade County Board of Supervisors meets on Tuesday with a heavyweight resolution on its agenda. The board session, which begins at 9 a.m. on the lower level of the Safety Building, will consider purchase of a tract of forest land in the town of Langlade in the northeastern section of the county. The Forestry and Recreation Committee has been studying the proposed purchase from Plum Creek Land Co. for months, and County Forester Eric Rantala said. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

With funding from Langlade County, the Boys & Girls Club has opened an extension site at White Lake School, allowing rural youth to have an opportunity to engage in educational programs and services. “We’re excited,” Program Director Dave Corcoran said. “We’re hoping it takes off and people give it a chance and see what we’re like and what the Boys & Girls Club can provide for our community’s youth.” Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

While the 10-inch snowfall Tuesday was a bit unexpected, the Langlade County Highway Department and the Antigo Street Department took the situation in stride, but it was a ton of work. “We went out at 2 a.m.,” Tim Rusch, commissioner of the county’s highway operations said, adding that progress was made, despite the fact that the snowfall made it difficult to tell. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

A winter storm which dropped between six and 11 inches of snow across Wisconsin — including in upwards of eight inches in Antigo — turned deadly in Oneida County Tuesday. Officials said three people died in the town of Cassian when an automobile slid across Highway 51 west of Rhinelander and collided with a propane tanker truck. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

The Langlade County Humane Society had a board meeting recently to discuss a shortage of operating funds. Monthly expenses include payroll and taxes, utilities, animal expenses and lesser figures for advertising and promotions, supplies, computer expenses, fuel for the society’s van and the shelter needs about $13,000 a month to provide the services it does for the homeless animals of Langlade County. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal