By Ryan Wilson
The Denmark News

In August, we reported on a number of issues residents of the Olympic Village mobile home community had been experiencing in the midst of an expansion project that is set to double the number of units on the site. Residents at the time cited safety concerns, unfair pricing practices and overall issues with management leading to a deteriorating quality of life in the community.

Recently, downtown Denmark gained a brand new business aimed at offering patrons a range of professional beauty services as well as a "customized beauty experience". Founded and operated by cosmetologist Stella Schley, the Stella Siren Beauty Bar opened its doors in the former home of Dave's Hometown Haircare in October promising to bring "big-city beauty to small-town charm".

Next month, the Denmark Community Cupboard will be one of six organizations to receive much-needed funds through a one-of-a-kind event that fuses healthcare, the arts and community. This year's Doctors in Recital performance will take the stage at the Weidner Center on January 24 with an array of local physicians lending their musical talents to raise funds for deserving organizations and programs.

On Saturday morning, the acclaimed Kris Kringle braved the bitter cold to make his annual appearance with the Denmark FFA. Claus, who is of course accustomed to the frigid temperatures, joined the FFA and a number of his young fans for this year’s Movie with Santa in the Denmark High School (DHS) cafeteria and Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Last Monday, the Denmark Performing Arts Center was filled with people and the holiday spirit as the Denmark Middle School (DMS) and Denmark High School (DHS) presented back-to-back winter concerts. Over two musical hours, hundreds of talented students delighted audiences with a number of Christmas classics as well as a variety of other holiday tunes.

During the week of December 1-5, the Denmark High School Student Council rallied their peers to give back to their community this holiday season. The Student Council hosted its annual Toy Drive in which any donations would be distributed around the community. The four classes competed rigorously to donate the most toys. In the end, the seniors won with 86 toys. Overall, the Student Council received 174 donations.

On Saturday, the Denmark American Legion Johnson-Hershman Post 363 hosted this year's district level of the Legion's High School Oratorical Scholarship Competition at Denmark High School (DHS). That morning, two DHS students competed by each presenting two timed speeches on subjects relating to the United States Constitution. The Denmark News stopped by to learn more.

Earlier this month, B.J. Goral stopped by our office with an interesting piece of local history that was too good not to share. This photo comes from a 1949 issue of The Green Bay Press-Gazette and shows the first-ever passengers to fly out of Green Bay from Austin Straubel Airport on a regularly scheduled airline in October 1948. As it turns out, the first commercial fliers from Green Bay were native to the Denmark area.