The Sheboygan Press from Sheboygan, Wisconsin • Page A1

PREP PROFILE Sheboygan Falls' Maria Mueller is this week's featured athlete SPORTS, A7 he JSbffaqjpt Thursday, October 24, 2013 A GANNETT COMPANY www.sheboyganpress.com Laning predicts tight 9th District contest Deonna Michel of The Costume Shop, LLC, poses in a kimono at her shop Tuesday in Sheboygan. Halloween spending is down slightly this year, photo bygaryc. kleinsheboygan press media TRICK-OR-TREAT TIMES Saturday, Oct. 26 Adell, 3-5 p.m. Waldo, 4-7 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27 Cascade, 2-5 p.m. Elkhart Lake, 3-5 p.m. New Holstein, 3-5 p.m. Plymouth, 3-5 p.m.

Random Lake, 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 Cedar Grove, 4-7 p.m. Howards Grove, 5-7 p.m. Kohler, 5-7 p.m.

Oostburg, 4-7 p.m. Sheboygan, 4-7 p.m. Sheboygan Falls, 4-7 p.m. By Justin Kabbes jkabbessheboyganpress.com Martha Laning, speaking to a crowd of about 40 at the Plymouth Intergenerational Center that she helped found, said she wants to help change the polarized partisan environment in Madison as she announced Tuesday that she is running for the state Senate. "When it comes to creating jobs, protecting families and building a strong future, party doesn't matter," Laning said.

Laning, 48, who has no political experience, is running as a Democrat against Republican Joe Leibham for the Ninth District Senate seat in the November 2014 election. Liebham won 71 percent of the vote in 2010, overwhelming Democratic challenger Jason Borden. Laning attributed that to Leibham's vastly superior financial resources, making it difficult for Borden to get his message out. Laning said she is more confident in her fundrais-ing ability and that won't happen to her in this election. "I don't think (Leibham) won by a large margin because he was the better candidate," Laning said.

"I think it's going to be a race My experience with raising money will definitely play into that." Laning helped raise almost $4.7 million to help build the PIC. It was launched in the fall of 2009 and began construction in April 2010. The center officially opened in May 2011 with $573,000 left to raise. Fundrais-ing was completed earlier this year. She resigned from the Plymouth Intergenerational Center last April to help her father move from Wisconsin Rapids to Madison, she said.

When she left the center she said she had no aspiration to run for the state Senate. But when she saw her children's class sizes getting larger over the last few years and saw money for education being cut at the state level, she started seriously con-See LANING, Page A5 DRESSING UP IS DOWN SLIGHTLY Economy weighs on Halloween spending this year, analysts say By Josh Lilltereur jlintereursheboyganpress.com The scraggly beard and camouflage look isn't just for deer hunters this fall. Local retailers say a similar getup albeit with much longer beards inspired by the Robertson family from the reality series "Duck Dynasty" has become one of their most sought-after Halloween costumes this year. "We've sold more beard and wig sets for that than anything," said Deonna Michel, co-owner of the Costume Shop, 3893 Enterprise Drive in Sheboygan. Michel and other retailers are hoping those and other popular costumes help them get through what's otherwise projected to be a relatively down year for Halloween-related sales.

The National Retail Federation has projected consumer spending on Halloween costumes, candy and decorations to fall to $6.9 billion, down from $8 billion a year ago as people tighten their budgets in light of higher payroll taxes, a weak economy and slow job growth. Either way, the holiday continues to mean big business, with the average consumer who is celebrating Halloween predicted to spend about $75 on those items. At Hobby Lobby in Sheboygan, store manager Joel Crouch said sales of ghosts, ceramic pumpkins and other Halloween decor has outpaced last year. "We're actually running out, so it's been a good year, thus far," Crouch said. The store doesn't sell costumes, though Crouch said they carry paint-your-own masks See HALLOWEEN, Page A2 MORE ON HALLOWEEN IN WEEKEND Read about one couple's search for the perfect costume and find a complete listing of haunted houses in eastern Wisconsin in today's Weekend section.

WATCH VIDEO Scan this code with your phone to see Deonna Michel donning her kimono costume and talking about popular costumes for this Halloween. Or go to sheboyganpress.com, where you also can view a photo gallery. Girls help local families eat better Annual Stock the Shelves campaign off to good start STOCK nn urceuiEiwiEie to commit to Nourish. "As Senior Girl Scouts, we wanted to pursue our Gold Award. Focusing on a local level for our Gold Award, our plan is designed so that children of today will grow up healthier enabling them to pursue their dreams and become healthy, productive adults," the girls said.

"Our goal is about putting children and families on the path to a healthy future by giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices for See DIFFERENCE, Page A2 Special to Sheboygan Press Media In recognition of Make a Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, Sheboygan Press Media this week is publishing a series of articles each day from the Volunteer Center of Sheboygan County on local volunteers who "Make a Difference." Making a difference is high on the priority list for Marlea, Klohie and Stephanie. Two years ago Marlea, Klohie and Stephanie got involved with Nourish, a program of the Sheboygan Coun- Sheboygan Press Media The Stock the Shelves campaign is off to a good start. The fundraiser, which began Oct. 13 and runs until Dec.

1, is trying to raise $30,000 for the Sheboygan County Food Bank. With just over a week in, the local campaign has brought in $7,420. "I was happy," said Liz Kroll, coordinator of the food bank. "I remember we were very worried (at this time) last year." The effort got a big push right out of the gate with a MAKE A Difference Day ty Interfaith Organization, through a farm-to-table tour with their Girl Scout troop. With their decision to pursue the Gold Award, a prestigious Scouting award that challenges girls to change the world, they made the decision $5,000 donation from Kohler's Natalie Black, Kroll said.

Last year, Black gave the same amount but at the end of the campaign instead of the beginning. To have just over $7,000 in hand already is a welcome relief, Kroll said, and it represents See SHELVES, Page A2 INDEX Get Local News On Your Smart Phone High Low 30 INSIDE TODAY Local chef Stefano Viglietti will be the featured chef and speaker at Maywood's annual banquet. See Community, A3. County supervisors vote to shift retirees to federal exchange. See A6.

A look at what's popular this year in Halloween costumes. See Weekend, B1. Advice B8 Astrograph B8 Classified B5 Comics B7 Community A3 Crossword B7 Lotteries A8 Obituaries A6 Opinion A4 Sports A7 Television B8 Weather A8 download our app "40901 "51 950' Partly sunny with a northwest wind around 15 mph during the day, then partly cloudy throughout the evening. wkohlerCa CREDIT UNION QQs $1 Retail For home delivery pricing see Page A2. 2 sections, 16 pages.