Around Town
FIREBIRDS COMPETITION: The Firebird cheer program earned top honors at its latest competition, with the PWA Black Team placing first and the PWB Orange Team finishing third among five teams. Both squads performed demanding routines showcasing their preparation, teamwork, and confidence. The program also captured the traveling team trophy for the second consecutive year after posting the competition’s highest combined score. Coaches credited the achievement to the athletes’ dedication, repeated practice, and support from families and community.
NEW PAINTING GATHERING: Let’s Art Paint Social will be held at Lessons from the Art on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $25. Join others for an evening of painting, learning, and socializing. Bring your current painting to work on or start a new one. Bring your paint, canvas, and brushes to share ideas, get direction, and feel encouraged in your craft. For additional information, email Lisa Benitiz.
Business Hours
THE CRYSTAL CAFÉ announced updated seasonal regular hours for its location at 126 N. Main St. The local restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant remains closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Around the County
TOWN OF UNION — One person died after a UTV crashed on Symco Road east of Bridge Road at 5:34 p.m. The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office reported on Saturday, Oct. 17. Two occupants were airlifted to ThedaCare Medical Center–Neenah, where one was pronounced dead. No other vehicles were involved. Multiple emergency agencies responded, and investigators are still looking into the crash.
CLINTONVILLE — City leaders are reviewing plans for a major housing development in the North Industrial Park that could add more than 700 units. City Administrator Craig Moser said the phased project includes 40 new buildings. The county must resolve financing and tax incremental financing questions before construction begins. (Source: WAOW 9)
WAUPACA — County officials issued an updated warning regarding a sophisticated property tax scam targeting local homeowners. The fraudulent notices threaten immediate seizure of property for unpaid taxes. Residents are urged to verify any balance directly with the Waupaca County Treasurer’s Office before sending payments. (Source: FOX11)
NEW LONDON — The New London School District projected a 3.75 percent increase in its property tax levy after approving the 2026-27 academic year budget. Officials confirmed the operational budget will also increase overall spending by 2.4 percent to support local educational programming. (Source: NBC26)
WAUPACA — The City of Waupaca announced it has suspended all Flock safety cameras pending further evaluation. City officials will coordinate with county departments to evaluate the long-term viability of the automated license plate recognition transit tracking system before deploying the technology again. (Source: WFRV Local 5)
Around the State
Here are the top overnight news stories from across Wisconsin:
DATA CENTERS could deliver significant economic development benefits to Wisconsin communities, but concerns about their water and energy consumption and potential costs for residents have fueled growing controversy. Wisconsin Policy Forum researchers examined the tax incentives supporting these projects, along with their water and energy use. Read the Wisconsin Public Radio story here. Read the Wisconsin Policy Forum report here.
WISCONSIN DIESEL PRICES have risen sharply, climbing from about $5.30 to more than $6.50 a gallon over the past month, according to AAA. Global conflicts and refinery disruptions in Illinois and Indiana have strained Great Lakes fuel supplies. The surge adds pressure on family farms already confronting financial distress, bankruptcies and longstanding concerns about farmer suicide. (Source: Wisconsin Public Radio)
AN 80-YEAR-OLD Wausau man died Sunday morning following a two-vehicle collision in Marathon County. Authorities said the man’s vehicle was traveling south on North 60th Avenue at approximately 9:03 a.m. when it struck a vehicle heading east on County Highway L. Two other individuals suffered serious injuries. (Source: Wausau Pilot and Review)
AN INNOCENT bystander lost his leg Saturday evening after a Milwaukee police pursuit ended in a sidewalk crash near 35th and Hadley streets. Fire officials dispatched crews at 6:46 p.m. and transported at least two people to a local hospital. Milwaukee police continue to investigate the circumstances of the chase. (Source: WISN 12)
A RACINE woman was arrested Sunday in connection with a fatal shooting on Russet Street. Racine police responded to the scene at approximately 3:11 a.m., discovering a 30-year-old male victim who died of his injuries. Authorities took the 63-year-old female suspect into custody, and charges are currently pending. (Source: TMJ4)
TWO MEN died in separate, unrelated weekend shootings in Milwaukee. One fatal incident occurred Saturday night at the Deer Trail Apartments on Menomonee Park Court on the city’s northwest side, where a 26-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities continue searching for unknown suspects. (Source: FOX6)
MILWAUKEE POLICE issued a critical missing person alert Sunday for a 23-year-old woman last seen on the city’s north side. Investigators said Keyshawn Harmon disappeared around 11 p.m. Saturday near 32nd Street and Sheridan Avenue. She is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds. (Source: TMJ4)
STATE REGULATORS unanimously approved a proposal Thursday to build two natural gas power plants in southern Wisconsin to meet rising electricity demand from data centers. The Public Service Commission authorized Invenergy to build the Foundry Ridge facility in Walworth County and the Red Oak Ridge facility in Kenosha County. (Source: WPR)
WISCONSIN REGULATORS agreed Friday to conduct a comprehensive statewide environmental review of data center developments as part of a lawsuit settlement. The Department of Natural Resources reached an agreement with the Sierra Club and Vantage Data Centers over a disputed $15 billion data center campus in Port Washington. (Source: WPR)
WEST ALLIS police are investigating after discovering dozens of pianos inside a local storage facility over the weekend. Authorities are attempting to return the instruments to customers of a business facing legal trouble. Police determined they lacked a legal basis to seize the items and returned them to the facility. (Source: FOX6)
MADISON’S POLICE Civilian Oversight Board faces internal turmoil after its chair, Maia Pearson, suddenly resigned at a meeting last week. The board is now reportedly seeking independent legal counsel to challenge the city. This follows the city’s independent police monitor’s resignation last year. (Source: Channel 3000 / WISC-TV)
Today in History
Here are notable moments from Today in History:
1781 — BRITISH forces under Lord Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending major fighting in the American Revolution.
1789 — JOHN Jay was sworn in as the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in New York City, then the nation’s capital.
1812 — NAPOLEON Bonaparte began his army’s retreat from Moscow, Russia, after its invasion failed to force the Russian Empire to surrender.
1847 — CHARLOTTE Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre,” published in London under the pen name Currer Bell, marked her first solo book release.
1943 — ALBERT Schatz discovered streptomycin at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The antibiotic became the first effective treatment for tuberculosis.
1952 — ALAIN Bombard launched an inflatable raft from the Canary Islands, beginning a 65-day Atlantic voyage to demonstrate how shipwreck survivors could sustain themselves at sea.
1985 — BLOCKBUSTER opened its first video-rental store in Dallas, featuring thousands of tapes and computerized checkout as the chain began expanding nationally.
1985 — A-HA’s “Take on Me” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, propelled in part by its animated music video.
1987 — STOCK markets plunged worldwide on “Black Monday.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 22.6% in its largest one-day percentage decline.
1989 — GUILDFORD Four had their convictions for IRA pub bombings overturned by a British court, and were released after nearly 15 years in prison.
