News & Announcements | Page 176 of 380 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Madeline Westberg named managing editor of Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle

May. 28, 2021

Adams Publishing Group has named Madeline Westberg managing editor of The (Cottage Grove / Monona) Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle.

Since October 2018, Westberg had served as associate editor of the Cambridge News & Deerfield Independent, another newspaper in APG’s southern Wisconsin group. Prior to her time with APG, she was a summer intern for Unified Newspaper Group and a news reporter UW-Madison's Badger Herald student newspaper.

U.S. Postal Service announces starkly higher postage rates

May. 28, 2021

The United States Postal Service today announced a planned adjustment of postage rates for the public and commercial mail users, the National Newspaper Association announced. For community newspapers using periodicals mail to reach readers, the average rate increase will be nearly 9%, effective August 29. The first-class stamp will move from 55 to 58 cents.

The rate increase is part of a new USPS business plan that also includes a weakening of service standards for mail that is moving across the country.

Evers signs bill advancing state’s public notice laws

May. 28, 2021

Gov. Tony Evers last week signed into law legislation that further ensures our industry’s role in the continued publication of public notices.

Each amendment aims to cement the position of community newspapers as papers of record, while also promoting ease of access and increased readership of legal notices. The legislation does not change the eligibility status of newspapers currently certified to publish legal notices.

Amid pandemic’s upheaval, school enrollment down, graduation rates up

May. 26, 2021

Wisconsin K-12 school enrollment is down by more than 25,000 students for the 2020-2021 school year, one of many far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that may warrant a response from state and local policymakers.

Robins find unusual nesting spots

May. 25, 2021

The Hardies have had robins build nests in many places through the years — including on the rear bumper of a pickup truck when it was parked for a while with the tailgate down.

Wisconsin officials bullish on summer tourism outlook

May. 24, 2021

Acting Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers says the Joint Finance Committee’s vote to continue a $1.5 million addition to the Department of Tourism’s base budget will help Wisconsin remain competitive with other Midwestern states.

Ancient human remains unearthed at proposed Kohler golf course site in Wisconsin

May. 24, 2021

Archeologists have unearthed human remains of Native Americans who lived up to 2,500 years ago during excavations of the Sheboygan County site along Lake Michigan where Kohler Co. wants to build an 18-hole golf course.

Wisconsin sports reporter Jerell Rushin leaves to join The Tuscaloosa News

May. 21, 2021

Sports reporter Jerell Rushin has left USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to join The Tuscaloosa News.

Rushin had covered sports for the news network since October 2019. Based in Oshkosh, he primarily wrote for the Oshkosh Northwestern and The (Fond du Lac) Reporter. In his new role, he will cover Alabama sports recruiting for the USA TODAY Network and high school sports for The News. The move also takes him closer to his hometown of Atlanta.

Star News adds Shawna Konieczny as reporting intern

May. 21, 2021

College senior and Medford native Shawna Konieczny has joined The Star News as a reporting intern.

Konieczny is currently attending Boston's Emerson College, studying screenwriting, film and books. While at Emerson, she has served as a staff writer for The Berkeley Beacon student newspaper, where her work has included stories on books, movies and TV, among other topics.

Bernice Schnell, former Herald Times Reporter staff, dies at 88

May. 21, 2021

Bernice Schnell, who worked many years at the (Manitowoc) Herald Times Reporter, died Friday, May 14, in New Holstein. She was 88.

Schnell worked at the Herald Times Reporter until her retirement. Outside work, she enjoyed baking, camping and fishing, and she served as a 4H leader in Cleveland.