Community

A tradition started 10 years ago as a fundraiser for the Gillett Area Historic Society has developed into an important part of Gillett’s Christmas celebration.

Held on the same day as Christmas in the Park and the annual Christmas parade and fireworks show, the GAHS Christmas tea and tour of homes invites guests to visit Christmas past.

The tradition began in 2003 when Deanna Smith, who purchased the historic Sohr house at 129 W. Main St., opened her home for a Christmas tea to raise funds for the newly formed GAHS. The Sohr House, built in 1903 as the residence of the George and Emma Sohr family, is one of two private homes included in the 2013 tour.

On Saturday, individuals will have the opportunity to wander through the home and imagine it as it might have been in the early 1900s.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s great fun to have people come,” Smith said.

The cost of Thanksgiving dinner could be higher in Oconto Falls than the state average, unless savvy shoppers can find the deals.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau recently released its annual survey of food prices for a dozen items regularly used in preparing the annual Thanksgiving meal, and the results show the cost in Oconto Falls is $6 higher than the state average. The cost to feed 10 people in Oconto Falls is $54.40, compared with a state average of $48.40 and national average of $49.04.

The lion’s share of the increased local cost can be found in the turkey prices. While the state cost for a 16-pound turkey is $22.40, Oconto Falls residents were paying $27.04 for the same bird when WFB volunteers surveyed stores in early November.

Brazeau Emergency Services held an open house Oct. 8 at the fire department building.

The open house featured a visit from Smokey Bear, a smoke house demonstration and fire extinguisher demonstrations. Kids learned safety rules by playing games, and families received safety items and information. The emergency service vehicles were available for tours, and emergency personnel mingled with guests.

Door prizes for adults included smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, life jackets and first aid kits. Two bicycles were given away as prizes for the kids.

The Gillett community will celebrate the season with Christmas in the Park on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Sponsored by the Gillett Business Association, the event includes activities at Zippel Park from 1-4 p.m. and a parade on Main Street at 4:30 p.m., immediately followed by a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks display.

Activities in the expo building of Zippel Park include a bake sale, cake walk and craft sale. Individuals interested in selling their crafts may call Irene Drake at 920-598-0074.

The Gillett Library staff will provide children’s activities, including Snowminton and the annual Jingle Bell Skate. Kids are encouraged to bring their own roller skates.

Food will be available for purchase.

Hints for the eighth annual holiday wreath hunt will be distributed at Christmas in the Park. Families will have until the end of December to visit area businesses and complete the hunt. Prizes will be donated by Gillett area businesses.

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. will close their 10th anniversary season with a performance of one of the world’s most beloved shows, “The Sound of Music.” The musical marks the final collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

When a postulant proves too high-spirited for religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the captain’s immediate service in their navy. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theater. The motion picture version remains the most popular movie musical of all time.

The Machickanee Players will present comedy, drama and suspense in their 31st season of community theater.

The season opens with Charlotte Hastings’ “High Ground.” This drama, a thrilling tale of coincidence, will be presented Feb. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. On a stormy night, the waters are high and the fear of the dam breaking brings the town together at the chapel on the highest hill. Little do they know a killer is among them. Sarat Carn has been convicted of murdering her brother and is sentenced to death, but one of the nuns believes she is innocent. The show’s twists and turns will leave the audience guessing what’s next.

A five-year community health improvement plan targets nutrition and physical activity, alcohol and other drugs, and mental health as top health improvement priorities.

Healthy Oconto County 2018 is an ongoing initiative led by Bellin Health Oconto Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital and Oconto County Public Health. A group of individuals representing public health, education, health care, law enforcement and business have been working on the plan since February. The committee assessed community health data, strengths and resources, and identified opportunities for improvement.

The purpose of the plan is to foster successful collaboration over the next five years in order to achieve specific goals for three priority areas: to reduce alcohol and drug abuse, to increase healthy nutrition and physical activity, and to improve mental health via access and education.

Initial work groups are in place, and coalitions are being formed for each priority area.

Suring: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27

Gillett: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Lena: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Oconto: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Oconto Falls: 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Little Suamico: 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Abrams: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31

Thirteen nurses from Community Memorial Hospital were honored for achieving advancements in the CMH Achieving Clinical Excellence program. The professional advancement program encourages continuing education, performance improvement and service to CMH and the community.

“We have made some outstanding accomplishments,” said Kay Baranczyk, CMH chief nursing officer and director of hospital operations. “We designed this program to have strict standards at each level of advancement. Having three nurses reach level four this year is quite an achievement.”

Four paid employees have joined the staff of a local ambulance service to strengthen coverage during the hard-to-fill weekday shifts.

The Oconto Falls Area Ambulance Service (OFAAS) added a full-time administrative position and three part-time positions to sufficiently cover 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the time frame most volunteers are unavailable.

New part-time employee Carrie Zoeller said she is happy with the change.

“It’s worth it. It gives peace of mind that our schedule is covered,” she said. Zoeller is an Intravenous Technician (IV Tech) and four-year veteran of the ambulance service. Wendy Zoeller, Carrie’s sister, is another part-time employee. Rachelle Reed is a third part-timer, generally working on-call from home.

Kim Magnin was hired as full-time emergency medical services coordinator, effective Aug. 5. She has been a staffer for the ambulance service since 1992.