Local Antigo Headlines

Liquidation near for Brokaw paper mill equipment, property

The former Wausau Paper Mill in Brokaw will be sold at auction and likely dismantled in the coming months. Brokaw Development LLL, in conjunction with Niagara Worldwide, this week announced that liquidation and at least five auctions of the 52-acre plant and its equipment will take place in January and February. According to Eric Spirtas, president of Brokaw Development and Niagara Worldwide, several local manufacturers have shown interest in parts of the facility for storage... Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Shop locally to find one-of-a-kind gifts

Looking for a unique Christmas gift that exudes quality, craftsmanship and perhaps a bit of the gourmet? Then shop locally. While many people will find their stockings stuffed and gift bags filled with Chinese do-dads and overseas thingamajigs, a growing number of northwoods residents are learning that the best presents are produced and sold close to home. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Crocker Kids 4-H Club makes a substantial humane society donation

The animals at the Langlade County Humane Society are having a warm, comfortable and rather tasty Christmas, with help from the Crocker Kids 4-H Club. As a community service project, the members of the club spent much of November and December collecting items for the shelter, placing boxes at local businesses with the theme, “Help Those Who Can’t Help Themselves.” Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Volunteers working on Yule dinner

The tables are set and the crew working on the community dinner for Christmas are moving ahead with food preparations to host hundreds of people for a holiday treat. Serving starts at 11 a.m. and is capped at 1:30 p.m. “We want everyone to come,’’ Mary Ellen Draeger said as the finishing touches were being put on the big Edison Club dining area late Sunday morning. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Fines ordered here for pair of retail thefts, traffic violations

A mix of items made their way through Langlade County Judge Fred Kawalski’s courtroom this week. Crystal S. Brewton, 24, of 933 Sixth Ave. was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay $316 in restitution after pleading no contest to being party to a crime of retail theft. She and a co-defendant were charged this spring for removing items from store shelves at the Antigo Walmart store and returning the unpaid merchandise for a refund. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Crestwood students put on a show

Christmas and concerts—especially featuring elementary youngsters—are a special combination. All seven elementary schools in the Antigo school district held holiday concerts over the past couple weeks, with some located in the high school’s spacious Volm Theater and others in the cozy confines of school gymnasiums, generally packed to the rafters with parents. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Students make, donate blankets for Christmas to families, babies and pets

The fourth grade students at Crestwood are even more excited with the arrival of Christmas this year. Their teacher, Sandy Gallagher, foster grandmother Virginia Robinson, volunteer bus driver Butch Duchac and Mid-Wisconsin Bus Co. joined the students and the management of the AVAIL facility welcoming the donation of blankets for the center’s clients as the holiday nears. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

As predicted, snow arrives early today

The first major snowstorm of the season began a slow crawl across Antigo, Langlade County and most of the Upper Midwest today closing schools and bringing out dozens of plows, graders and other snow removal devices throughout the region. At noon the winds predicted for today had not appeared, but they are creating treacherous, sometimes deadly driving conditions in other areas of the Midwest. Schools closed in Antigo and most surrounding communities on Wednesday afternoon as forecasts on the storn became more certain and harsh. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

White Lake school project ends nicely

The White Lake board of education closed out the books on its recreation center project, coming in under budget and with a community excited about future possibilities. At its regular December meeting this week, District Administrator Bill Fisher gave the board a final construction update, noting that a few “odds and ends” remain but otherwise the $3.5 million project is completed. “We’re closing out the books,” Fisher said, with the entire project coming in $16,000 under budget “It was pretty tightly watched, I can tell you that.” Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Area churches prepared to mark the joyous Christmas season

For the seventh year, a decorated Christmas tree has mystically appeared near Elcho, a rather magical sign of the holiday season. The tree, which this year is located off the west side of Highway 45 just north of town, is on its way to becoming a community tradition, and no one is talking about who is responsible for the decorating. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

A glance at the schools decision

The decision Tuesday delaying school consolidation and appointing a new long-range study committee: —Delay any closure of elementary schools until the 2014—2015 school year. —The board will make necessary changes to balance the budget for the 2013—2014 school year. —Authorize the superintendent to establish a broad-based representative task force to study and seek solutions to our current and future financial and educational needs. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

School board stalls consolidation plans

Calling it an issue of credibility, the Antigo school board Tuesday delayed implementing any school consolidation plans for next year, instead placing the issue in the lap of a yet-to-be appointed long-range planning committee. The committee, another in a long series of groups that have studied school needs and finances over the past three or more decades, will be charged with making a recommendation to the board by July 1, well in advance of any referendum dates and decisions that would affect schools and students for the start of the fall, 2014 term. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Warm weather, rain cause big problems for lake ice in area

Warm weather, weekend drizzle and rain have deteriorated ice conditions and sent shacks tumbling into open water on lakes across the northwoods. A substantial shanty, constructed from an old camper trailer, broke through the ice on Pelican Lake off Keeler’s landing late Sunday or early Monday, and it will require some cleverness to recover until conditions improve. Anglers were on Pelican Lake early this month, testing the four of five inches of ice in Guth’s Bay, but then a substantial warm-up caused the entire lake to open up before icing over again a week or so ago. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Ambulance Service Price Increases for Nonresidents

ANTIGO - If you need an ambulance, it might cost you more in 2013. Antigo City Council bumped up the price for critical care rides and for people in surrounding towns who don't pay taxes to the city. Nonresidents will pay 5.5 percent more for ambulance service this year. But for city residents and those in the surrounding 10 townships, the base price for an ambulance will stay the same. Full Story: WJFW

Antigo School Board Backs Down on Consolidation Plan

ANTIGO - For the past two years, the Antigo School Board has asked for a referendum, and for the past two years, the referendum has failed.

This year, the board had warned the community: pass the referendum, or the rural elementary schools will have to close.

Tuesday night, it backed down and decided not to close those schools, even though the community voted down the referendum.

Instead, the board voted tonight to create a task force to discuss different options.

Full Story: WFJW



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County Board says thanks

The Langlade County Board of Supervisors held its December meeting today at the Jack LaMar Pavilion at Elcho, and it was a pleasant affair. Best wishes were offered to former officials, employees and the man whose facility was hosting the event. And the board stressed the assistance of the Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe of Mole Lake for assisting with the rescue of the fairgrounds speedway. The supervisors presented awards to David Cunningham for his 24 years as a member of the Langlade County Highway Department as a mechanic. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Referendum set in April for Elcho school support

Voters in the Elcho school district will be asked in April to ante up to support their school. The board of education Monday voted unanimously to schedule a referendum authorizing the district to exceed revenue limits by $400,000 per year for four years to maintain existing programs. Annual tax impact would be about 54 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation, or $54 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. “This is just to maintain the status quo,” District Administrator Bill Fisher said. “It’s replacing a prior authorization that had expired.” Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

County holds a great timber sale

The Langlade County Forestry and Recreation Department reported that the fall, 2012 timber sale opening on Dec. 13 provided record shattering receipts of $1,161,340.25. These were the last timber sales overseen by Steve Jackson, as forest administrator shortly before his death in November. The department stressed that it is important to understand that the Langlade County forest is being harvested on a "sustained yield" basis. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Langlade Co. Man to see No Jail for Cocaine Conviction

Richard Leseberg

A Langlade County man convicted on two counts of possessing cocaine will see no jail time, only probation on those charges.

According to an Antigo newspaper citing court documents, Richard Leseberg, 35, told investigators he would purchase two or three “8 balls”-- 3.5 grams of cocaine, from a Milwaukee supplier when they met in Antigo. Leseberg was originally charged with six counts of possessing cocaine, however four of those charges were dismissed during a plea deal.

Full Story: WSAW



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Facing deadline, school board will meet to discuss elementary woes

The Antigo school board, facing a Christmas deadline for a decision on whether to close all or some rural elementary facilities at the end of the current school year, may be ready to make a decision Tuesday.

The board will convene for its regular December session at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Library.

The agenda item states that the board will discuss and perhaps act “on options to address the 2013-14 budget,” an all-encompassing statement that could include everything on closing elementary schools to conducting an April referendum.

The board has held a series of special meetings on consolidation in the wake of its failed November referendum, which would have replaced all seven elementary schools with one central facility.

Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal



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Plan moving ahead for big Yule dinner, this year at Edison Club

The community Christmas dinner is changing locations this year. It is shifting to the Edison Club, 623 Edison St., on Christmas Day with the traditional fare, including turkey and ham and all the trimmings served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mary Schmoll and Mary Ellen Draeger said they are again welcoming the community to attend. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Deal may bring more dollars to fairgrounds

The Langlade County Board will hold its December meeting on the road Tuesday, and it appears the fairgrounds will be the main topic of discussion. The session will start at the usual time, 9 a.m., but in a new location. It will be at the Jack LaMar Pavilion at Elcho. The building is located just east of the United Church of Christ off Highway 45. The public is encouraged to attend. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Elcho board may act on referendum

The Elcho school board will act on the initial resolutions to hold an April referendum vote on exceeding state-imposed revenue limits. The board will convene on Monday at 5 p.m. in the school theater. Leading the discussion will be approval of the paperwork seeking voter authorization to exceed revenue limits by $400,000 per year for four years to maintain existing programs. Annual tax impact would be about 54 cents per $1,000 of equalized valuation, or $54 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Firestarters might be great stocking stuffers, and raise funds for students

Ray Churchill’s students at Antigo High School have developed the perfect way to get that Yule log burning. The 14 students, members of a program for pupils with cognitive disorders, are manufacturing and marketing attractive and unique firestarters perfect for getting any holiday fire—or bonfire or campfire for that matter—blazing. Interviewed during class last week, Churchill and his students, who range from freshmen to seniors, explained that the project began shortly after the start of the school year. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Police: Driver dead before Shawano County crash

ANIWA — Authorities think a man died moments before he was involved in a crash Saturday in rural Shawano County. The driver of the car, Thomas V. Koszarek of Antigo, was pronounced dead, according to the news release. Police did not say why they think Koszarek was dead before the crash. Test results from blood taken from White and Koszarek are pending. Full Story: Wausau Daily Herald

School board moves near elementary plan

After over five hours of discussion over two evenings, the Antigo school board appears to be moving closer toward a decision on elementary school consolidation. Meeting Thursday evening, the board reviewed the pros and cons of various consolidation models and heard from a mix of community members, who shared a consensus that something needs to be done to staunch the flow of red ink the district is experiencing. The devil, as always, is in the details and there are a wide range of options under consideration as the board prepares to make a decision at its regular December session on Tuesday evening. That meeting is currently scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Middle School library. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Forward Service offers training, support to people in this area

A private nonprofit corporation that provides employment, training and support services to persons across a wide swath of northern Wisconsin is seeking increased involvement from area employers. With a vision of “transforming lives, one individual at a time,” Forward Service Corporation hosted an employer open house recently at its offices at 613 Fifth Ave. “The focus of the open house was to provide an overview of the no-cost services that we offer to program participants as well as employers and discuss ways that we can partner to provide valuable opportunities for both parties,” Erica Berg, one of the corporation’s adult case managers, explained. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

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