Appleton Community News

Downtown Appleton. Appleton Community News photo by Dan Plutchak

Coach LaFleur’s message of perseverance for the Menasha High School football team

MENASHA — Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach Matt LaFleur had some words of encouragement for the Menasha football team Sunday. The Bluejays watched training camp practice from the stands before being invited onto the field for the Packers’ team huddle after practice. LaFleur told them the adversity the team is facing is one of those […]

Appleton’s Nelson authors sweeping history of the Green Bay Packers

APPLETON — Appleton author Tom Nelson, whose day job is Outagamie County Executive, will release his latest book, “The Green and Gold Standard: A People’s history of the Green Bay Packers,” on Sept. 1 just ahead of the new football season. Hailed as “A complete history of the team…not just an exciting read but an […]

Kaukauna Youth Baseball raises more than $5k for Menasha baseball

KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna Youth Baseball recently raised more than $5,000 to help the youth baseball and softball club in tornado-ravaged Menasha. A few weeks ago, KYB announced that 100 percent of their concession sales for that weekend would be donated to Menasha Youth Sports, whose facility was heavily damaged in the storm. The club on […]

Kaukauna football practice photo by Dave Vissers

Kaukauna Ghosts football has sights on an eighth straight post-season run

KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts football team has qualified for the WIAA playoffs for seven consecutive seasons under head coach Matt Binsfeld from 2019 through 2025. ​During this streak, the program has emerged as a powerhouse, highlighted by three straight Level 4, state semifinal appearances in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Ghosts will make […]

Fire department credits smoke alarm with saving resident from basement fire in Kaukauna

KAUKAUNA — The resident of a Kaukauna home escaped safely from their smoke-filled basement Wednesday after being woken from their sleep by their smoke detectors. According to a news release, the Kaukauna Fire Department responded about 8 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a house fire on the 100 block of Grant Street in Kaukauna. […]

Kaukauna Police Department squad car, crime

Kaukauna fifth-grade teacher arrested; faces possible charges of attempted exposing a child to harmful materials

KAUKAUNA — A Kaukauna Area School District fifth-grade teacher was arrested Monday and faces possible charges of attempted – exposing a child to harmful materials or harmful descriptions or narrations. Ty M. Maki, 43, a Kaukauna fifth-grade teacher at River View Middle School, was booked into the Outagamie County Jail pending formal charges being presented […]

Firefighter from Fox Crossing station destroyed in tornado seeks return of missing helmut

MENASHA — A firefighter from the Fox Crossing station destroyed by the July 27 tornado is seeking the return of one of his most beloved possessions — his helmet that likely fell from his vehicle after being recovered from the rubble. Indie Skye Novitzke posted about her husband’s missing helmet in the Appleton Community News […]

Kaukauna Police Department welcomes newest officer

KAUKAUNA — Officer Dylan Solis is the newest member of the Kaukauna Police Department. Solis originally is from Holland, Michigan, and now calls the Fox Valley home. Outside of work, Dylan enjoys hunting, fishing, and biking, according to a news release. “We are excited to have Officer Solis as part of our team. Officer Solis […]

Elks donation boosts Kaukauna Public Library school-supply drive

KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna Elks recently purchased $1,600 in school supplies using a Grant from the Elks National Foundation. The supplies will be distributed next week at the Kaukauna Public Library. Member Jerry Brien posted a photo of the supplies on Facebook. Donations for the school-supply drive currently are being accepted at the Kaukauna Public Library. Pickup […]

Fox Crossing Fire Department digging out after station demolished by tornado

FOX CROSSING — Despite sustaining minor injuries when the July 27 tornado demolished their fire station, three Fox Crossing firefighters climbed out of the rubble and jumped into action to help the community. The department posted photos and shared their story Monday about the events of that day. On the day of the tornado, three […]