Opinions

To the editor:

Shawano City-County Library will observe National Library Week from April 13-19. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee’s goals ranged from “encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time” to “improving incomes and health” and “developing strong and happy family life.”

We are pleased to use this time to showcase our library with the various materials and activities we have to offer and the ongoing changes that have taken place.

To the editor:

Thanks to your publication and other area media for helping bring issues involved in the coming elections in Clintonville to the attention of voters. For the first time in 10 years voters in Clintonville’s 4th District will have a choice on the ballot.

I am challenging the incumbent at the urging of residents in our district. Growth of Clintonville’s population and support of local business are some of my goals, set after holding listening sessions with citizens. I will donate my salary and fees for attending committee meetings back to taxpayer-supported activities.

Candidate information can be obtained by checking Facebook pages, area newspaper candidate profiles and calling candidates with questions. The local radio station has been running candidate profiles on the Clintonville elections.

The important thing is competition on the ballot should increase voter turnout. Exercise your right to vote April 1.

To the editor:

The Shawano City-County library is not just books and movies anymore. We also do a wide variety of programming.

Do your children like story time and a craft? We have a program for that. Do you have an e-reader or device that you would like help with? We have a class for that. Do you like to knit? We have a weekly group for that.

March is National Craft Month, and we definitely have a class for that! For the second year, a monthly craft or DIY project is offered to the public. From hammered plants and button flowers to homemade fabric softener and lip balm, this once-a-month program offers a fun variety of projects. Crafts and More: DIY, for the clever and crafty, meets the fourth Monday of every month from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on the main floor of the library. All materials needed are supplied, and there is no cost to you to participate as the program is sponsored by the Friends of Shawano County Libraries.

To the editor:

I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the hard working farmers in Shawano and Menominee counties on March 25, National Ag Day. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and 7 Billion Mouths to Feed.”

USDA is proud to stand behind the producers who rise before dawn 365 days a year in order to put food on the table for 7 billion people.

We recognize the importance of agriculture and hope that the recent passage of a new Farm Bill is a sign that 2014 will be a banner year for the industry. There is no better way to show our support for farmers than to begin implementing a new Farm Bill — legislation that will provide farmers and consumers alike supportive results.

To the editor:

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, I had the privilege of watching the staff of the Wolf River Treatment Plant receive a major award and recognition from the state of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

I congratulate the entire staff and their board for providing outstanding service to the greater Shawano community. According to the DNR staff, this is the first time ever in history that the department has recognized a facility and staff multiple times.

As vice chairman of the Natural Resources Board, this was another time when I was very proud be to a member of the Shawano community.

Well done.

Terry Hilgenberg,

Shawano

To the editor:

Doctors play an important role in our lives. March 30 is set aside each year as National Doctor’s Day, a time for all of us to stop and say thank you to the men and women who are there to help us at every stage of our lives.

As president and CEO of ThedaCare, I want to publicly thank all of the doctors who are always there to take care of the people in our community. The doctors within ThedaCare along with our independent physician partners make a difference in Shawano and the surrounding communities through their outstanding work. They are committed to providing the best possible care to each and every one of their patients.

“Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.” — Doug Larson

What a long winter this has been. Now that the weather is getting warmer, you might be looking for something enjoyable to do. There are several exciting events being planned for Shawano and the surrounding area, and I have space to tell you about a few of them.

Tonight should prove to be a wonderful evening of entertainment as some of Shawano Community High School’s best musicians perform. The award-winning SCHS jazz band and alumni will be featured. There will be cameo appearances from legends Eric Marienthal and Gordon Goodwin. Alumni Stephanie Vidalakis, Jeremy Seelig, Joe Tierney and Chris Felts will be joining in.

The doors at The Gathering open at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $50. There are also dessert-only tickets for $10 with admission after 7:30 p.m.

“Wishing her well in retirement is easy, but saying goodbye is not.” — Dana Dillenburg

It was a week filled with stories, laughter, hugs and tears. On Friday, Park and Recreation Director Judy Judd retired from a position she held for 31 years.

Judd commented, “It has been a privilege to work for the city of Shawano. It is a wonderful group of devoted employees. Not only is this team dedicated to serving the public, they are a ‘family.’ Together they celebrate the joys and find strength in each other when the going gets rough.

“I will miss the people — my work family, the senior swimmers who are such a delight and the patrons of the Rec Center. I remember many of them as youngsters taking swimming lessons and now they are bringing their children. We have shared quite a journey.”

“A kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner.” — Hebrew proverb

Tonight is the Shawano County Humane Society banquet. It will be held at The Gathering. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35. The master of ceremonies will be Jill Birr, of Jill’s Pet Shoppe. There will be raffles and a silent auction. Volunteers contribute a great deal of time and effort to make the banquet successful and fun.

This week has been very busy. Tuesday there were several meetings to attend, and I was out of the office on Wednesday and Thursday. There wasn’t much time available to write an article. Being an animal lover and someone who really appreciates the efforts of the humane society, here is one more story that tugged at my heart strings. Maybe it will touch you, too.

Today’s technology has many practical and positive aspects, the instantaneous sharing of information and photographs with family and friends being among them. There are various platforms and applications that facilitate this activity, and certainly our young people and teens are up-to-date and much more adept with these programs than their parents. Despite the advantages these systems offer, this is truly a knife that cuts both ways.

The sheriff’s office is increasingly investigating incidents where young people are being first lured and then victimized over extended periods of time by predators that use these tools for nefarious purposes.