Show choir grand champion
DE PERE – The De Pere High School show choir, Jam Session, earned grand champion honors at the 1st annual New London Show Choir Spectacular Jan. 22.
The group of 34 singers/dancers, 15 instrumentalists and seven stage crew members also won best choreography at the event.
De Pere High School will host its own festival, “Destination De Pere: Let’s Jam!” Feb. 5.
Green Bay Preble’s Center Stage won First Runner-up, Best Vocal and Best Band awards.
Green Bay Southwest Spotlight Singers also performed. The Spotlight Singers will host its first Packerland Powerhouse Showcase event March 12.
Area 4-H Club finalist in ice cream flavor contest
ROCKLAND – Cedar Crest Ice Cream and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation announced the winner and finalists of the 2021 Cedar Crest Ice Cream Flavor Creation Contest.
The Rockland 4-H Club was named a finalist for its suggestion – Sweet & Salty Dreams, which includes vanilla ice cream with peanut butter-stuffed pretzels and a swirl of fudge syrup.
As a finalist, the Rockland 4-H Club receives a Cedar Crest Ice Cream party.
Knellsville 4-H Club in Ozaukee County was named the grand prize winner with Haystack, which features vanilla ice cream with layers of peanuts, caramel and crunch candies.
Sexual Assault Center seeking advocates
GREEN BAY – The Sexual Assault Center of Family Services announced it is experiencing a shortage of volunteer advocates in Brown County.
Family Service staff said at least 10 additional volunteers are needed to help on nights and weekends to ensure that no call goes unanswered.
Last year, staff and volunteers of the Sexual Assault Center answered 1,690 hotline calls and provided support and resources to 1,189 individuals in Brown, Door, Oconto and Marinette Counties.
No experience is necessary, but volunteers must be over the age of 18.
Anyone interested in volunteering should call (920) 436-8899 or apply online at familyservicesnew.org/get-involved.
Millions of masks distributed so far in 2022
WISCONSIN – Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the state has distributed more than 5.4 million N95/KN95 respirator masks to more than 130 different locations across Wisconsin since the start of January.
As part of these distribution efforts, more than 533,000 masks have been distributed to school districts across the state.
Primary candidate forum
GREEN BAY – The League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay (LWVGGB), a non-partisan voting advocacy non-profit, is hosting a virtual The Green Bay City Council Candidate Forum from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31.
he candidates and their districts are:
• District 2 – Jim Hutchison, Cassidy McGowan, Michael Shea
• District 4 – William Galvin (I), Douglas Yates, Natalie Hoffman
• District 6 – Andrew Gerlach, Aron Obrecht, Paul Boucher
All registered candidates for these positions were invited to participate.
Community members may participate via zoom to hear candidates’ positions on the issues.
The zoom link for this forum is: http://bit.ly/LWV-City-Council-Forum
LWVGGB board member Jean Marsch will moderate the forum.
20 years of service
DE PERE – West De Pere School Board member Barb Van Deurzen was recognized by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for her 20 years of school board service at the Wisconsin State Education Convention Jan. 19.
Prevea Health appoints senior vice president and COO
GREEN BAY – Prevea Health appointed Jason Helgeson as its senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO).
Helgeson has been a part of the Prevea family for more than 20 years, first as a licensed athletic trainer and then serving in various leadership roles in departments, such as orthopedics and neurology.
As senior vice president and COO, Helgeson will continue to focus on leadership development, and implementing strategic plans related to how and where Prevea Health can continue to grow.
“My goal is to be consistent, transparent, and authentic in an effort to remove any barriers that may prevent Prevea from being the best place to give care and the best place to get care,” Helgeson said.
WPS Volunteer award nominations
BROWN COUNTY – Nominations are now open to submit volunteers who have had a big impact on our community for the 34th annual WPS Volunteer Awards.
Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 25.
For more information on the Volunteer Awards and to nominate an individual or group, visit volunteergb.org/general/2022-wps-volunteer-awards.
Firefighter accomplishments
LITTLE SUAMICO – The Little Suamico Fire Department recently recognized a handful of its firefighters for their years of service, including:
• Billy Dufresne – 5 years
• Mike Schultz – 10 years
• Kurt Sheedy – 10 years
• Todd Zuge – 15 years
• Craig LaCount – 20 years
• Ken Kleczka – 45 years
The Firefighter of the Year award for 2020 and 2021 went to Dave Detiege.
Detiege also received an award for responding to every service call in 2020.
The volunteer department was established in 1957.
Angler recruitment grants now available
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting Angler Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Grant applications now through end of day, Feb. 15.
The grant provides financial assistance to partners who support the angling community through local fishing programs and activities.
Grants aim to enhance angler education programs at schools, increase fly-fishing classes for women and veterans, help to train anglers who are disabled and build capacity for fishing programs at camps.
Funding can also aid in the creation of family and youth angler programs at community and recreation centers.
Apply by visiting: dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/angler.html.
Dance team success
The Ashwaubenon High School dance team did well at the Kaukauna Dance Classic Jan. 15 – taking home first place in D3 Pom and D2 Kick, as well as the Judge’s Kick Choreography award.
It follows a double-header competition Jan. 8 when the team took first in both categories at Oshkosh West and second in Freedom.
Historical Society events
HOWARD-SUAMICO – The Howard-Suamico Historical Society(HSHS) recently announced its February events.
They include:
David Jolly and other members of the Abrams Spotlight Production Theater will talk about what it takes to put a production together. The show starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3 at Lifebridge Church.
HSHS will celebrate its 14th anniversary with a Memories Show at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Weyers-Hilliard Library. This event is open to the public, free and family-friendly. Light refreshments will be served.
Scooter’s open for business
ASHWAUBENON – Scooter’s Coffee, best known for its drive-thru, is officially up and running – following a grand opening Jan. 21.
Located on South Oneida Street in Ashwaubenon, it is one of more than 350 locations in 23 states across the nation.
The menu features an array of specialty espresso beverages, single-origin coffee, fruit smoothies, Red Bull infusions, cold brew, baked-from-scratch pastries and savory breakfast options.
Scooter’s Coffee also recently released its first-ever ready-to-drink canned flavored lattes.
Year of Pals mentorship
BROWN COUNTY – Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, along with the Green Bay Packers, Oneida Nation and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced a partnership to help recruit volunteer adult mentors to provide support and guidance to youth involved with Brown County Child Protective Services (CPS).
A joint proclamation declaring 2022 as the “Year of Pals Mentorship” was unveiled Wednesday, Jan. 26, along with a calendar of events aimed at meeting Brown County’s goal of establishing a team of 100 adult mentors for the at-risk youth currently awaiting a mentor, and children who haven’t yet been referred for a mentor but could use one.
Streckenbach said this intentional effort looks to address social inequalities in Brown County, as a disproportionate percentage of children involved with CPS are Native American and children of color.
He said the goal is to inspire adults in the community to “Be the Inspiration.”
‘The Bias Inside Us’
GREEN BAY – “The Bias Inside Us,” an exhibit organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, is now open to the public in the Grand Foyer of the Weidner Center on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus.
Through images, hands-on interactives and testimonials and videos, the traveling exhibition explores the concept of bias.
The exhibition features six sections, including:
•Introduction
•The Science of Bias
•Bias in Real Life
•Serious Consequences—Bias is All Around Us,
•#RetrainYourBrain
•Personal Reflection
Admission is free and no registration required.
The exhibit runs through Feb. 13.
Comments sought for County J improvements
GREEN BAY – A design project website is now available to view proposed improvements on WIS 29 between the west county line and County J in the towns of Pittsfield and Oneida and the villages of Howard and Hobart.
The website includes maps of the project limits and location, proposed scope and schedule, possible traffic impacts, displays, exhibits, temporary business signing information for businesses in the work zone, a downloadable project information handout, and various methods for the public to provide comment, and is available at wisconsindot.gov.
Workforce development training
GREEN BAY – The University of Green Bay’s Institute for Women’s Leadership received a $10,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to create and fund a Workforce Development Certificate – allowing 100 candidates to earn a certificate at no cost.
The Workforce Development Certificate offers a pathway for displaced, underemployed or underserved employees to upskill to meet changing market dynamics.
More about the certificate can be found at uwgb.edu/certificate-programs/workforce-development.
Spots left for January babysitting class
GREEN BAY – Center for Childhood Safety is offering Safe Sitter, which is a life and safety training program for kids as young as 10.
Participants learn how to prevent injuries and handle emergencies when home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting.
For more information or to register, visit centerforchildhoodsafety.org/safe-sitter.
East Vs. West Silent Night
Crosstown rivals Green Bay West and Green Bay East high schools will hold their 9th annual Silent Night fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 29 at West to help raise awareness of youth homelessness.
The crowd in attendance will be asked to remain silent until a team reaches 10 points scored, at which point, raucous cheering will occur to show support for the unaccompanied homeless youth in the area.
“The gym is dead silent, except for the players talking to each other on the court,” East head coach Rick Rosinski said, “and then, on the 10th point, it doesn’t matter if it’s East or West, everybody goes berserk. From that point on, its a regular game.”
The girls game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with the boys to follow at 4, along with a whole slate of events planned, including:
• A raffle full of stuff local businesses, as well as a football signed by Packers Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams.
• The two schools will square off in a wings-eating contest, courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings.
• There will be a pep band competition.
• And the gymnasium will be decorated by the student councils from each school, with one end of the facility decked out in Red Devils red and the other in Wildcat purple.
“The goal is to bring the two schools together, to fight this together,” Rosinski said. “Even though we’re competing, we’re working together to fight for this cause.”
Through its first eight years, the fundraiser has brought in more than $50,000 to help families in the community who are struggling with their housing situation.
‘Snow Much Reading’
BROWN COUNTY – The Brown County Library is challenging children to build a snowpal by reading every day through Feb. 28, as part of the ‘Snow Much Reading” winter reading challenge.
Readers color a part of their snowpal for every day they read.
Reading logs are available at each Brown County Library location, as well as online, at browncountylibrary.org.
Completed snowpals/reading logs, should be returned to the library by Feb. 28, to be entered into a random prize drawing.
Five winners will be notified on March 4.