Local Antigo Headlines

Jace Jorgensen has some growing to do, but the infant is following in some big footsteps. Jace was born on Dec. 12, 2012—Aaron Rodgers Day in Wisconsin—to enthusiastic Green Bay Packer fans Sarah and Nate Jorgensen of Bryant, and it wasn’t just a coincidence. “My due date was Dec. 19 and my doctor wanted to schedule a C-section,” Sarah said. “I asked him if 12-12 was OK.” Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

The Antigo school board will continue working toward an elementary school consolidation option Thursday, and there will be an opportunity for public comment. The board will meet for the second of two work sessions at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School library, with a goal of developing a recommendation that can be forwarded to its regular December session on Tuesday for final action. According to District Administrator Dr. Steve Smolek, the focus of the meeting will be to consider the pluses and minuses of six elementary consolidation options. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

The city of Antigo’s ambulance service, including increases in rates and intercept fees, leads the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Antigo Common Council. The panel will convene for its year-end meeting at 6 p.m. in the chambers at City Hall. The first resolution will be to increase the base rate for ambulance services by 5.5 percent, applicable to nonresidents of the city of Antigo. The resolution also authorizes a new rate for interfacility specialty care, which the service is now able to provide due to recent upgrades in paramedic training. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

The tallest structure in Antigo, and a flurry of new apartment complexes hint at a busy building season ahead in the city. In his monthly report to the Antigo Common Council, building inspector/assessor reviewed a mix of commercial and residential projects, plus heightened interest among developers interested in constructing apartment complexes and assisted living facilities. The ongoing commercial projects are led by Freshtech, a division of Plaspack, which has started erecting the steel framework for its massive new structure at 2611 Clermont St. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo High School class of 2005 graduate Rachel Wittrock recently completed a weeklong Media and the Military workshop at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. During the week of Sept. 23 to 28, Wittrock and 13 other reporters from around the world received an in-depth look into the life and training of today’s service men and women in the United States Army. The Antigo native was the only Wisconsin-based reporter invited to attend. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

A young Elcho man has been ordered in Langlade County Circuit Court to pay the $3,200 he stole from a family member as part of his punishment on a series of criminal offenses. And that’s on top of the restitution owed for the thefts he and others committed during a “car shopping” spree from unlocked vehicles parked in the Antigo area this summer. Tyler J. Brand, 18, pleaded guilty this week to eight counts. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo elementary school children dined on super salads on Tuesday and Thursday, their palates were treated to diced butternut squash and grapes alongside their chicken nuggets and ranch mashed potatoes. At the Middle School, the menu includes popular pizza and tacos, but there are also sub sandwiches, and broccoli and carrots with dip. And high schoolers long-accustomed to pizza and burritos can also choose from salad and southwest cheesy tomato soup and chunked fruit. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Substances retrieved from a 10th Avenue home Wednesday have been sent to the state crime lab for further testing on suspicions they may contain bath salts, a highly-addictive and mind-altering drug which has hit the Antigo and Langlade County area hard in recent months. Three people are facing criminal prosecution in connection with the find — two females, ages 19 and 17, and a 21-year old man. All three are being referred to the district attorney’s office on charges which could include possession of the bath salt drug and drug paraphernalia. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

The Antigo school board will hold a work session Thursday, focused entirely on options for elementary school consolidation. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School library. It is one of two special sessions scheduled for the topic, with the second coming on Dec. 13. No firm decisions are expected until the board’s regular monthly session on Dec. 18. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo High School’s Sheldon Fieldhouse erupted into cheers reminiscent of a sectional championship this morning, but it wasn’t for an athletic contest. The entire student body was on hand as Dennis Wayda, manager for Cellcom’s Merrill office, and David Crabill, Cellcom’s area retail manager, announced that the high school had won grand prize—and a $30,000 check—through the company’s Project Innovate. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

The structural steel is taking shape at an expansion by the Volm Companies at its Freshtech facilities on Antigo’s north side.

The 37,000 square foot structure is an addition to the firm’s existing Freshtech plant for the three-generation Antigo owned and based company. Ground was broken for the new facility on Oct. 2 when personnel from Volm Companies... Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

A Wausau man who nearly overdosed after injecting himself with the pain-killer Fentanyl earlier this spring made an appearance in Langlade County Circuit Court this week. Roger Zelechowski, 22, entered pleas of no contest to counts of possessing narcotic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Judgment on the narcotics charge was deferred for one year. A 20-day jail sentence, which has already been completed, was ordered on the other. According to court documents, Zelechowski retrieved a used Fentanyl patch which had been discarded by a family member at a Langlade County home. He melted the patch and injected its contents into his bloodstream, nearly killing him. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Antigo High School musicians will present “The Great Songs of Christmas” in a holiday performance Monday night. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Volm Theater at the high school. Performing groups will include the jazz ensemble, brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble and symphonic band. “The ‘Great Songs of Christmas’ is the theme of the concert this year,” Director Jeff Dewey said. “Featured selections will include Robert Lowden’s ‘Great Songs of Christmas’ and ‘Great Songs of Christmas—Set II. The Band Boosters will provide refreshments at intermission and a number of raffle items will be available.” Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal

Although many have heard of Langlade County’s “Lost Nation,’’ few really know the meaning of the term and what is represented. Also, very few are acquainted with the difficulties encountered in organizing our county and in establishing our county seat. With the hope that more light on the situation might please those who are partially familiar with the story, and that others may become interested who never knew it, this is written. As late as 1875 the northeastern part of Wisconsin was virtual wilderness, heavily timbered with the best of pine and hardwood, with wonderful lakes and waterways, and the usual share of wild animal life. Truly a land of promise for adventures and speculators. Full Story: Antigo Daily Journal