Local Antigo Headlines

Raptor center leading in vote for much-needed funds

The Antigo-based Raptor Education Group. Inc. has advanced to the next round of judging in a national online contest that carries a substantial financial reward. According to Marge Gibson, founder and director of the center, voting closed this week in the Eagle Rare “Lead a Rare Life” contest, with the center receiving an event-leading 241,671 votes. That’s about 64,000 more votes than the runner-up. Voting could be done once daily. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Rural schools panel pleased, shocked

Members of the state’s Task Force on Rural Schools were pleased—and shocked—by the status of northwoods districts and the challenges they face Wednesday. The panel, which is chaired by 34th District Assemblyman Rob Swearingen of Rhinelander and 35th District Rep. Mary Czaja of Irma and 36th District Rep. Jeff Mursau of Crivitz, toured the Elcho school district and Antigo High School, prior to a public hearing that stretched into the late afternoon hours held in the Volm Theater. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Judge sets bail in criminal matters, local man cited for repeat battery

Bail was set here at $5,000 cash Monday for an Antigo man accused of repeat allegations of assault. Todd G. Hayes, 48, of 1130 Fifth Ave. stands charged in Langlade County Circuit Court with three felony counts of substantial battery, an additional felony count of strangulation or suffocation and a felony charge of intimidating a witness. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Full slate running for school board posts here

School boards are apparently a hot political topic this election season. As of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline, races had emerged for four seats on the Antigo school board and two out of three available seats at White Lake. Only Elcho will see a quiet spring election, with incumbents Dave Visser, the board president, and Bob Jensen running unopposed for new three-year terms. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Some races for County Board April 1

There will be five races for the 21 posts on the Langlade County Board of Supervisors in the April 1 election as of the close of filing Tuesday. There will be some new faces on the panel when the organizational meeting is held during the spring including Peter Pennington in District 13, which includes the town of Antigo, Ward 1 and Angela Schreiber in the city of Antigo’s District 8. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Meeting on rural schools moved to Volm

Antigo school district Director of Business Services Mary Jo Filbrandt will be among the featured speakers when the Assembly Speaker’s Task Force on Rural Schools convenes Wednesday in Antigo. The public hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Volm Theater. The location was changed from the media tech center due to logistical issues and expected public interest. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Light agenda for council on Wednesday

The Antigo Common Council will convene Wednesday for an exceptionally light agenda, with the main item delayed due to the exceptionally frigid weather. The council will convene at 6 p.m. in the chambers at City Hall. Aldermen were expected to approve an economic development incentive for land acquisition and infrastructure improvements for Sartori Company, which is expanding its local plant that produces high-end Parmesan and other artisan cheeses. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Man arrested at motel for domestic feud

A New London man who made a stop with his girlfriend at an Antigo area motel over the weekend was arrested Saturday for attempting to strangle her. The Langlade County Sheriff’s Department investigated the domestic squabble which evidently grew heated after the couple returned to the motel following a visit to a local tavern. The woman said the man, age 41, placed both hands around her neck to a point where she couldn’t breathe. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo will host rural school hearing

The future of rural schools—a critical issue in the sprawling and sparsely populated northwoods—will be discussed at a series of tours and hearings in Antigo and Elcho on Wednesday. The Assembly Speaker’s Task Force on Rural Schools, chaired by 34th District Assemblyman Rob Swearingen of Rhinelander, will tour the Elcho and Antigo school districts as well as take comments at a public hearing. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

'Polar vortex' already brings cancellations

Antigo is bracing for a potentially historic blast of cold air beginng tonight, and just the warnings of what’s to come is causing early school closures, cancellations, and, in at least one instance, businesses closing early. The reason? A “polar vortex,” as one meteorologist calls it, which will send cold air piled up at the North Pole down to the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Packers on TV Sunday, tickets sold

All tickets have been sold for Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, the Packers announced Friday morning. In addition to fan sales, a group of Packers corporate partners, led by Green Bay-based Associated Bank, purchased the remaining available tickets Friday to ensure a sellout and TV broadcast of the game throughout Wisconsin. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Already cold here, but things sure to get worse

The weather here is fearful, and the National Weather Service said the situation will only get worse next week. In Antigo it was 10 below zero at 8 a.m. today, but things next week are sounding far more dire. The service said this morning that another arctic blast is expected to move across northern Wisconsin including Antigo and Langlade County on Sunday with the coldest temperatures on Monday into Tuesday. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

First Baby race nearly here, '13 winner well

As little Camron prepares to celebrate his first birthday, it’s time once again for the Journal’s annual “Baby Watch,” a most delightful contest. When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the crew in the birthing center at Langlade Hospital will be preparing for the first baby of 2014, and that lucky newborn and parents will be the recipient of hundreds of dollars worth of gift certificates and products from Antigo Daily Journal advertisers. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo, county have had quite a year, cite business

Artisan Cheese, industrial gears and agricultural mesh bags combined for quite a year in the Antigo area. A poll of the Antigo Daily Journal editorial staff found plenty of options for the top stories of the year, but the easy pick for number one was the resurgence of the area’s manufacturers, with major projects either in the works or completed at three of Antigo’s most viable industries. Full story: Antigo Daily Journal

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