More local news

Dusting Off the Files

95 Years Ago – September 17, 1931 Building operations were begun Thursday of last week, on the remodeling of the Legault Hospital building, and today foundations are completed for the new …

Aspirus Health promotes year-round suicide prevention through conversation and connection

A simple conversation can help create hope and connect people to support During Suicide Prevention Month, Aspirus Health is encouraging people to start conversations about mental health and suicide …

BBB Tip: Managing your child's online privacy

While you buy new supplies and clothes for your children before they return to school this year, it's also important to think about their online safety. With technology being used in the classroom …

Two common car seat mistakes and how to avoid them

For children and teens ages 1 to 19, motor vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of death. For younger children, improper use of car seats and booster seats can increase the risk of serious …

Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association team up to promote safe driving near school buses

The Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association (WSBA) are teaming up to promote safe driving near buses during the annual Operation Safe Stop Week, September 21-25. The collaborative …
Community

Owen Public Library and O-W Book Club to hold a Right to Read event

The Owen Public Library and O-W Book Club are holding a Right to Read event during Banned Books Week. It will be held on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Owen Public Library. At a time when …

As a kick-off to the fair, Friends of the Old School held an America Sings Sing-Along at the Old School gym on Thursday, September 10. The evening began with Reveille played by Phil Greschner …
The Class of 1955 from Owen High School held their 71st Class Reunion at the Curtiss Travel Center on September 11, 2026. The Class of 1955 had 33 graduates. The following year, there were 78 …
On Monday August 24 three division winners and a wild card team participated in a semi-final playoff to determine which two teams would face off in the finals. In the semi-finals Smith Brothers Meats …

EHS Class of 1956 celebrates 70th reunion

The Ellsworth High School Class of 1956 met for its 70th reunion Thursday, Sept. 17 at Prairie View Senior Living in Hager City.

The Ellsworth High School Class of 1956 met for its 70 th reunion Thursday, Sept. 17 at Prairie View Senior Living in Hager City. The classmates try to get together every year. Pictured are (front, …

Camp Victory dedicates new cabin at annual open house

Camp Victory celebrated another step in its mission of providing “health, hope and healing” on Saturday, August 22, with the dedication and ribbon cutting of a new cabin during the …

W-O-W Kids’ Meals and area churches and organizations continue Shoe Box Christmas Gifts Program

In 2023 the Owen United Church of Christ and St. Katherine’s Episcopal churches began (what we hope will be a long-standing) tradition of packing “shoe box” Christmas gifts for the students at …

Warren and Mary Dona German celebrated 70 years of wedded bliss

Warren and Mary Dona German at their anniversary party. Submitted photo Warren and Mary Dona German celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Saturday, August 8 at Meadowview Golf Course in …
Obituary
William S. "Willie" Bielecki,
William S. "Willie" Bielecki, age 79, of Thorp, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026 at Clark County Rehab & Living Center in Owen. A Celebration of Life to honor Willie will be held on …
Leslie “Les” H. Himes
Leslie “Les” H. Himes, age 89, of Wausau, passed away on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at …
Arden Carl Fritz
Arden Carl Fritz, a devoted family man, dedicated minister, and proud veteran, passed away peacefully in Mesa, Arizona, on August 22, 2026, after a lengthy illness at age 89. Born on May 28, 1937, in …
Local sports

Blackhawks leave scores on the field

Depending on what poll you were looking at, the Wisconsin Rapids Assumption Royals were ranked in the top three teams in the state in 8-man football when they came to town for a big North …

Owen-Withee girls at Badger Girls State

While in attendance at the 2026 American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls state program at UW-Oshkosh last week, these young ladies made new friends from all over Wisconsin, engaged in leadership …
Coached this year by Morgan Earnest and Rachel Devine, the Owen-Withee Cross Country team headed to Stanley-Boyd Thursday, September 10, Cora Simenson finishing first with a time of 14:00.24 for the …
The Owen-Withee Blackhawks fell to Gilman with a final score of 36-6 at Owen-Withee last Friday. Above, Crandon Dallman takes the ball downfield for Owen-Withee. Cami Simenson photo
The Owen-Withee girls golf team headed to the PFC Girls Golf meet in Clear Lake on Thursday, September 3, but it was rained out. Coach Wade Hatlestad shared more later. “Our only golf meet of the …
The day was warm and humid as 15 early-bird golfers reported to the Meadowview Golf Course for the weekly Tuesday Golf Fun League. Another new member showed up and had a great time competing with his …
More news
Education

Meet the New Teachers at O-W Schools this fall

Isabella Ciolkosz 4th grade Hello! My name is Isabella Ciolkosz, soon to be Isabella Shackleton, and I am so excited to be joining Owen-Withee as the new fourth grade teacher! I earned my Bachelor of …

Features

Fritz ~ Tyskowski

Seth Fritz and Sara (Tyskowski) Fritz were married on August 5, 2025 in St. Augustine, FL. Seth is the son of Julie Johnson, St. Augustine, FL and Scott Fritz, Owen, WI. He is the grandson of Mildred …

Opinion
Columns

A Bird's Eye View

We find ourselves in the heart of campaign season as we are now less than two months away from this year’s mid-term elections. With the primaries behind us, the national parties are moving quickly …

A lesson in the beauty of surprises

A wife can be sneaky. Get your mind out of the gutter. Not that kind of sneaky! I recently had a milestone birthday. The one that’s north of 70 and south of 80. Hard to believe about such a fine …

Campaign ‘26: Hope from the Heartland

Ideologues always overplay their hand. Can’t resist. Two recent observations serve as reminders the die-hards operate inside echo chambers, deaf and blind to how regular folks live their lives. …

Cardinal's Tweets

The primary is only a few days away and I don’t know how to vote. I had my governor candidate picked out and then they dropped out of the race. I had a maybe second choice and then they dropped out …

Cardinal's Tweets

Some people are saying it is disrespectful and wrong that some of the major networks didn’t carry President Trump’s speech last week. My question is why? Why should they give up primetime …

Increased consumer reliance on digitized information and the role of data centers

As increased consumer reliance on digitized information sparks a critical new addition to energy infrastructure, energy consumers are no longer passive recipients of electricity and utility services …
Web Extras
How to stay healthier this year: Schedule your flu shot
(BPT) - It's that time of year again: Temperatures are dropping, kids are heading back to school — and cold and flu season isn't far behind. To help you and your family stay healthier this fall …
Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent?
Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.
Sequoia Grove Winery’s playbook for elevating game day entertaining
(BPT) - For decades, hosting a football game meant the same thing: buffalo wings, a bowl of dip and a cooler of canned beer. But as the sport has evolved over the past 30 years, your Sunday spreads …
Unwrapping Holiday Shopping: What 44 Billion Emails Reveal About When Consumers Really Buy
Unwrapping Holiday Shopping: What 44 Billion Emails Reveal About When Consumers Really Buy
(NewsUSA) - Analysis of more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages uncovers surprising patterns in when holiday shoppers buy, and what brings them backBlack Friday and Cyber Monday …
Protect Yourself and Others This Flu Season
Protect Yourself and Others This Flu Season
(NewsUSA) - Several seasonal celebrations are nearly upon us, but an unwelcome time of year also awaits—flu season.The “flu,” short for influenza, is a viral respiratory illness that often …