The Newcomer-Silverthorn Funeral Home being built on the northwest corner of the intersection of STH 11 and North Coon Island Road shows additional signs of construction each day as members of Naatz Construction pour a basement, raise walls, and erect roof rafters, giving the building its own identity. Tom and Beverly Newcomer who operated their funeral business on West Beloit street, continue the business started by Harry F. Silverthorn at the turn of the 1900 century. Most residents will only remember the funeral home at 503 West Beloit Street address (across from Orfordville Elementary School). The original funeral home was housed in a building in downtown Orfordville on West Beloit Street. Harry Silverthorn owned the Ford dealership which was located on the property now occupied by Verizon North Central Office. A building to the east (only the floor of the building can be seen now) was his furniture store and funeral home.

Fennimore's Rayovac plant has shown their support for US Troops with a generous donation of 120,000 batteries! Richard Lofthouse Jr., son of Sandy and Richard Lofthouse of Fennimore, accompanied other members of his unit on March 27, to Fennimore to transport the batteries.

When Linda Parrish - Promotion Coordinator for the City of Fennimore, asked how this all came about - the following story was told by Jim Stoeffler who serves as the human resource representative for Rayovac's Fennimore Plant. Stoeffler explained "several Grant County school districts are putting together care packages to be sent to the troops. They asked if Rayovac would consider donating some batteries to go into the packages." After making a couple of phone calls Stoeffler explained "I think we can do a little better than that". A phone call was made to Fort McCoy and arrangements were made for soldiers to come to the Fennimore Rayovac plant and pick up nearly 4 tons of batteries.

Fennimore Plant Manager, Bruce Cobb, was pleased to give the military men a tour through the plant to show how batteries are made. Cobb stated "it is a pleasure to donate the batteries to soldiers to use in their personal electronic devices or wherever they are needed." Batteries will first be distributed to the members from the 229th Unit from Prairie du Chien and other units at Fort McCoy then others across the state of Wisconsin and eventually to other service personnel. Cobb explained "Rayovac is pleased to show our support to the troops in this manner, time goes by slowly when you are waiting to be shipped out. We hope that this gesture will help keep the troops occupied and entertained during this waiting period."

A spokesperson from the 229th Unit explained they will be shipped out once their baggage is loaded on train cars, they are not sure when that will take place. So in the mean time a large number of troops will spend part of their time enjoying music, games and entertainment thanks to Rayovac's generosity.

The Fennimore Rayovac plant employees approximately 400 including production and office workers. The Fennimore plant is the largest of Rayovac's plants in the United States; they produce the alkaline battery line.

Earlier this month Fennimore's Rayovac plant received an Environment Award from Governor Doyle for their efforts to reduce waste in the plant. Cobb explained, "we are one of only six companies statewide to receive this honor this year. Actually this is our second such award and we hope to submit another project for next year. If we are recognized for the third time it will break a record as no other company in the state has achieved this."