Shawano Leader News
Crews fight lake’s invasive plants
Scott Williams [email protected]
The battle to save Shawano Lake from destructive plants growing underwater has kicked into high gear.
Aiming to clear the lake’s waters for better boating, fishing and swimming this summer, crews carried out large-scale herbicide treatments this week to combat weed infestation that has troubled the lake in recent years.
The effort spearheaded by the group called Shawano Area Waterways Management is funded by $200,000 from the state and another $235,000 in local donations.
Unlike past efforts targeting small sections of the lake, the current treatments are designed to dramatically reduce invasive weeds throughout virtually the entire 6,000-acre lake.
“You’ve got to do the whole lake,” said Ray Zuelke, a board member of the waterways management group. “We wanted to do something that was going to have a huge, positive ecological impact on the whole lake.”
Within a few weeks, organizers anticipate that recreational users of Shawano Lake will see water that is clearer and healthier for boat traffic, fish populations and more. The attack on invasive plants comes just as the summer tourism season is starting to draw crowds to the lake and its related attractions.
State Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, who helped win state funding for the cleanup effort, said he was pleased to see state resources at work for such a vital public improvement in Shawano County.
“This is a very important tourism issue, along with quality-of-life,” Cowles said. “We want to have water that is nice and clean.”
Officials estimate that the herbicide treatments will eliminate 75 percent or more of the existing invasive plants, most notably the destructive Eurasian Water Milfoil, a type of seaweed that grows so large and thick that it can impede fish populations and snag motorboats trying to navigate.
Shawano Area Waterways Management, a private nonprofit association, has been working to monitor and control invasive plants that threaten water quality and disrupt healthy habitats for native plants and wildlife.
Representatives involved in the newest cleanup effort discussed their strategy Monday in a presentation to the Shawano Rotary Club.
Brenda Nordin, a lake biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, told those in attendance that state officials have been monitoring Shawano Lake for many years to gauge the impact of destructive non-native plants, along with pollutants that have seeped into the water.
“There’s a whole lot of issues that are occurring,” Nordin said. “So we all have to do our part.”
In 2014, a herbicide treatment of limited areas of the lake showed good success against the unwanted weeds. So when the waterways management group requested state funding this year for a broader attack, state officials agreed to contribute $200,000 — the maximum amount available and one of the largest grants ever approved for such an effort anywhere in the state.
Zuelke’s group collected another $238,000 in local donations, after conducting a survey of lakefront property owners and finding strong support for an aggressive move to improve water quality.
“They wanted somebody to do something about it,” Zuelke told the Rotary Club.
The group enlisted the De Pere consulting firm of Onterra LLC to identify areas throughout the lake where Eurasian Water Milfoil and other invasive species were most dense. Then a California-based firm called Clean Waters Inc. deployed three boats on the lake to apply the herbicide, starting on Monday and intending to continue on Tuesday.
The boats were equipped with long hoses so that the herbicide was released deep underwater, close to the unwanted plants growing below.
The targeted zones ranged in size and combined for a total of 928 acres of the lake.
Officials said the herbicide, known as DMA 4, is the same product that was used in the earlier test on Shawano Lake, and has been used elsewhere in Wisconsin to combat invasive plant species. Nordin said the herbicide was being applied at levels that are safe for fish, native plants and people using the lake for normal recreational activities, including swimming and fishing.
Zuelke told the Rotary Club that support for the cleanup effort was widespread, especially considering the importance of water quality to tourism.
“Our lake is beautiful,” he said. “But like all lakes, it needs help.”
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Shawano Police Department
May 23
Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:
OAR — A 33-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.
Arrest — A 25-year-old Wittenberg man was taken into custody at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Shoplifting — A 24-year-old woman was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of River Heights.
Theft — Police investigated a property theft complaint in the 700 block of South Union Street.
May 22
Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:
Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.
Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 400 block of South Smalley Street.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Kuckuk Park, 500 Oak Drive.
Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.
May 21
Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:
Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.
Burglary — A burglary to a vacant residence in the 900 block of East Maurer Street was reported.
Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of West Richmond Street.
Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Theft — A dog was reported stolen in the 400 block of West Fifth Street.
Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 300 block of West Swan Street.
May 20
Police logged 43 incidents, including the following:
Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Maurer and Union streets.
Warrant — A subject was taken into custody on a Langlade County warrant in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.
Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 100 block of East Maurer Street.
Burglary — Police investigated a report of an attempted burglary in the 600 block of East Fifth Street.
Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.
Arrest — A 36-year-old man was taken into custody at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
May 23
Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:
Suspicious — A 24-year-old Mosinee man was arrested for a probation violation after authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Hatchery Road in the town of Seneca.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Main Street in Birnamwood.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.
Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes and a vehicle versus bear cub.
May 22
Deputies logged 30 incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint at Shawano Lake County Park, W5785 Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.
OWL — A 45-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 29 in the town of Angelica.
Burglary — Authorities investigated a report of a burglary on Boehm’s Road in the town of Bartelme.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.
OWI — A 38-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Old 47 Road in the town of Lessor.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Putnam Lane in Bowler.
Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes and a vehicle versus cow.
May 21
Deputies logged 50 incidents, including the following:
OWI — A 26-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Holy Hill Road in the town of Green Valley.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Shioc Street in the town of Navarino.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Aniwa.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.
OAR — A 52-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on County Road G in the town of Red Springs.
Warrant — A 34-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on Old Lake Road in Shawano.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Smalley Street in the town of Wescott.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Primrose Lane in Tigerton.
Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Curt Black Road in the town of Wescott.
May 20
Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:
OWI — A 33-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.
Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road E in the town of Green Valley.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Bonduel Middle/High School, 400 W. Green Bay St. in Bonduel.
Warrant — A 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on County Road U in the town of Herman.
OAR — A 61-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation and was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 117 in the town of Washington.
Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Highway 29 in Wittenberg.
Clintonville Police Department
May 23
Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:
Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported on Hughes Street.
Truancy — A citation was issued for truancy on West Green Tree Road.
Theft — Retail theft was reported on South Main Street.
Disorderly — A citation was issued for disorderly conduct on Wilson Street.
May 22
Police logged nine incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — A juvenile was warned for malicious mischief in Olen Park.
May 21
Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on South Main Street.
Theft — A theft on South Main Street was reported.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Torre Street.
May 20
Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious incident on South Main Street.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious incident on North Main Street.
Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on West Green Tree Road.
Theft — A theft was reported on North Main Street.
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Scott Williams [email protected]
Leader File Photo A tent stands on the site where federal drug agents Oct. 23 raided a Menominee tribal farming operation where thousands of plants were confiscated.
The Menominee Indian Tribe cannot grow industrial hemp on its reservation, a federal judge has ruled while rejecting the tribe’s argument that it should be treated similarly to a state.
U.S. District Judge William Griesbach ruled that the tribe must abide by a federal law that permits growing hemp — which is similar to marijuana — only where it is allowed by state law.
Hemp farming is not legal in Wisconsin, but Menominee tribal leaders declared it legal on their reservation and then planted a crop that was raided and seized by federal drug agents last October.
The tribe responded by filing a civil suit against the federal government and asking a judge to rule that the tribe was within its rights to pursue hemp as a potential new source of revenue for the impoverished tribe north of Shawano.
In a ruling issued Monday, Griesbach threw out the tribe’s case, likening the federal hemp law to one authorizing native American gambling casinos only in states were such gambling is permitted.
“It is not unusual for Congress to incorporate state law as the standard for conduct allowed on Indian lands,” the judge stated.
Menominee tribal leaders issued a statement expressing disappointment in the judge’s decision, but offered no clear indication whether the tribe planned to appeal. The statement was issued by the office of tribal Chairwoman Joan Delabreau.
“The tribe is disappointed with this recent setback that challenges our sovereignty as a tribal nation and inhibits our ability to pursue research initiatives exploring the viability of this versatile and sustainable crop,” the statement said. “The tribe is currently reviewing the decision to determine what options it may or may not pursue.”
The dispute stemmed from an Oct. 23 raid conducted on the Menominee reservation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Agents later reported that they confiscated and destroyed about 30,000 marijuana plants, some up to 6 feet tall.
Tribal officials disputed that the crop was marijuana, insisting that it was industrial hemp, a milder form of the cannabis plant used legally in such commercial products as clothing, paper and detergents.
Whether it was marijuana or hemp was not an issue in the tribe’s civil suit filed in federal court in Green Bay.
In its suit, the tribe argued that its crop should be permitted because of the federal law allowing hemp farming in states where it is legal. Attorneys for the tribe pointed out that the state of Wisconsin since the 1970s has allowed the Menominee tribal government to enforce its own criminal laws free from state jurisdiction.
Attorneys for the federal government argued that Congress exhibited no intent to extend the same hemp-farming rights to native American tribes as it did to states.
The judge heard oral arguments May 13 in Green Bay.
On some procedural issues raised in the case, Griesbach ruled in the tribe’s favor. However, he granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case, and he rejected the tribe’s motion for summary judgment, on the grounds that the federal law is clear that industrial hemp can be grown only where state laws allow it — and nowhere they do not.
Acknowledging the “unique trust relationship” that native American tribes have with the U.S. government, Griesbach wrote that many federal statutes involving tribal governments are construed liberally in favor of the tribes when challenged in court.
“Tribal sovereignty is preserved,” he wrote, “unless Congress’ intent to the contrary is clear.”
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 1.9 (49 votes)Coach seeks suppression of evidence in sex crime case
Tim Ryan [email protected]
A traveling basketball coach accused in Shawano of attempting to facilitate a child sex crime and possessing child porn was in court Tuesday for a hearing on a defense motion to suppress evidence collected in the case.
Nicholas R. Bennett, 24, of Portland, Oregon, was a basketball coach with Pro Shot Shooting Systems, which offers basketball camps and clinics in various venues across the United States, including schools.
He was arrested Oct. 17 after allegedly trying to arrange a sexual rendezvous with a 13-year-old boy who had attended an Oct. 13 basketball camp held at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano.
Detective Sgt. Gordon Kowaleski of the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department testified Tuesday that authorities initially sought a search warrant for a duffel bag and a backpack that were in a room at the Super 8 motel where Bennett was staying. The backpack contained a laptop, iPad, PlayStation and USB drive.
The warrant specifically stated that evidence was being sought in the investigation of the computer sex crime charge; but after child porn turned up on the laptop, a second warrant was sought specifying evidence of child porn possession.
Kowaleski said he wanted to err on the side of caution with a new warrant because, “we had a new crime.”
According to the criminal complaint, authorities found thousands of videos and images of child pornography.
Defense attorney George Pappas questioned whether detectives had the authority to do the forensic analysis of the laptop and other items found in the duffel bag and backpack, saying the authority came from Kowaleski’s “interpretation” of the initial search warrant.
State and defense attorneys will make their arguments in briefs expected to be filed with the court within the next two months.
Bennett is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Bennett could face a maximum 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the 201 counts of child porn possession, if convicted.
He could also face a maximum 40 years in prison and $100,000 fine if found guilty of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and 25 years and a $100,000 fine if convicted of attempted child enticement.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 5 (4 votes)Neopit burglar gets 3 years in prison
Kevin Murphy Leader Correspondent
A Neopit man who aided a convenience store burglary, stole a car, nearly sideswiped a tribal police officer and fled law enforcement at a 100 mph was sentenced Monday in federal court to three years in prison and was placed on three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Merwin J. Wynos Jr., 28, drove a male juvenile to the Thunderbird convenience store early on June 1, 2015. The juvenile smashed a window to enter the store, took liquor and other items and left. Not hearing the alarm, Wynos and the boy returned to the store, and the boy took more items and they drove away on County Road VV.
Wynos pulled to the side of the road as Menominee Tribal Police Sgt. Vincent Grignon was responding to the burglary alarm.
Grignon stopped his squad near a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt that Wynos was in and got out, according to court documents. Grignon recognized Wynos from other contacts but did not know the front seat passenger.
Grignon ordered the occupants to show him their hands and while the passenger complied, Wynos instead accelerated toward Grignon who was standing between the two cars, according to court documents. Grignon jumped on the door frame of his squad and pulled the door close to his stomach just as Wynos sped past him.
Grignon said he could have reached out and touched the Cobalt, according to court documents.
Grignon sped into Menominee County where a sheriff’s deputy joined Grignon in pursuit at speeds exceeding 100 mph, according to court documents.
Wynos ran stop signs and eventually crashed after failing to turn a corner on Broadway Road.
He was drinking alcohol from a bottle taken from the Thunderbird when approached by Menominee sheriff’s deputies, according to court documents. His passenger ran but was later arrested.
Bottles of alcohol and cartons of cigarettes were recovered from the car.
Wynos later told police that before he was arrested, he and juvenile pushed a car out of a driveway so as not to alert the residents and then started it and drove to the Thunderbird.
Wynos admitted he fled officers at speeds exceeding 100 mph in an attempt to get off the reservation and into Shawano.
In connection with the incident, Shawano County charged Wynos with fleeing an officer, driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent and OWI with a passenger under 16 years old.
In July, Shawano County Circuit Judge William Kussel Jr. placed Wynos on two years’ probation, one year in jail and revoked his driving privileges for 14 months, according to online court records.
In federal court, Wynos pleaded guilty to impeding an officer and aiding and abetting a burglary.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Maier said Wynos’ dangerous conduct toward the officer and prior convictions factored into the sentence.
“Judge (William Griesbach) said this was a seriousness offense,” which had potentially serious consequences for Grignon, Maier said.
Wynos’ attorney sought a 2½-year sentence but Griesbach adopted Maier’ sentencing recommendation.
Wynos has prior convictions for burglary, solicitation, obstructing an officer and possessing THC.
He is scheduled to be arraigned before Kussel on Tuesday on an escape charge.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 4.4 (8 votes)Click It or Ticket crackdown under way
Hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin, including Shawano police, will be on the lookout for unbuckled drivers and passengers during the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization that started Monday.
The stepped-up enforcement effort runs through June 5.
“More officers will be on patrol for longer hours during the mobilization, and whenever they see an unbelted driver or passenger, they will stop the vehicle and issue a citation,” said David Pabst, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety.
“Their goal is not to write more tickets. They’re simply trying to get everyone to buckle up through effective enforcement and education,” he said.
The Shawano Police Department received two Bureau of Transportation grants for 2016, including $24,000 for Click It or Ticket enforcement.
In addition to the two-week Click It or Ticket mobilization, the funds also pay for enhanced seat belt and child safety seat enforcement that runs from March through September, according to Lt. Mike Musolff.
The department also received a $12,000 grant, primarily for speed enforcement that runs from April to September.
Musolff said both grants also include enforcement for operating while intoxicated and other violations.
The grants keep track of citations and warnings, he said.
Citations will be issued for seat belt violations.
“Please take an extra moment to put your seat belt on and make sure your kids are safely secured,” Musolff said. “Also please stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and keep your cell phones put away focusing on your driving.”
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department also receives grant funding for enhanced enforcement efforts throughout the year.
In conjunction with stringent law enforcement efforts during Click It or Ticket, the Department of Transportation is using federal funding to broadcast TV, radio and web messages featuring Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading receiver.
In the TV spots, he surprises some unsuspecting Wisconsin drivers with questions about their seat belt use.
The DOT also will display reminders to buckle up on its electronic message signs on major highways.
According to DOT statistics, approximately 86 percent of Wisconsin motorists buckle up, which is an all-time high in the state. However, approximately half of the drivers and passengers killed in crashes last year in Wisconsin were not wearing a safety belt.
In 2015, there were nearly 55,000 convictions in Wisconsin for failure to fasten a safety belt, according to the DOT.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 1 (1 vote)Airport terminal project advances
Scott Williams, [email protected]
Leader File Photo The terminal building at the Shawano Municipal Airport is a cinder block structure that officials say was built in the 1940s or 1950s.
Shawano Municipal Airport officials are seeking clearance to move ahead with a long-discussed effort to build a new terminal building for the airport.
Members of the city-county airport commission have decided to seek city and county approval to request federal funding for the terminal project.
Officials said early estimates show that the terminal would cost between $400,000 and $500,000.
Commission Chairman John Seidel said he hopes city and county officials recognize the growing significance of the airport as not only a hub of transportation, but also an outlet for recreation and business.
“The airport’s important to the community for a lot of different reasons,” Seidel said.
The existing terminal, which dates back to the 1940s or 1950s, is an uninsulated cinder block structure that requires frequent repairs.
If the City Council and County Board approve, the airport will ask state officials to allocate federal funds that could cover as much as 90 percent of the cost of building a new terminal. Typically in such projects, the state covers another 5 percent, which would leave the remaining 5 percent to the city and county, joint owners of the airport.
Shawano airport officials have talked for years about building a new terminal.
Commission member Doug Engel said asking the city and county to approve a funding request is the first step in what could be a long process.
“It seems like the right time to get the process moving forward,” Engel said.
The commission voted Thursday to seek the city and county’s backing.
If federal and state funding become available, officials believe the new terminal could be constructed in 2017 or 2018.
Located along Shawano Lake in the town of Wescott, Shawano Municipal Airport has been operating since the 1940s. Although there is no commercial or charter airline, the airport serves private pilots who live in the area and out-of-town pilots who stop for fuel, maintenance or to visit.
The airport logs an estimated 2,000 takeoffs and landings a year.
Shawano Flying Service, which is contracted by the city and county to manage the airport, also offers aircraft maintenance, flying lessons and airplane tours.
In recent years, the city and county have made other improvements, including resurfacing the main runway, purchasing additional acreage and erecting a fence around the perimeter. A contractor has been hired to demolish some old airplane hangars in a spot that could become the location for a new terminal.
Although cost estimates for the terminal have gone as high as $1 million in the past, officials said they intend to get the project done for about half that much.
“We’re still trying to evaluate all the features we need,” Engel said.
No decisions have been finalized yet on the project, as officials first await a decision on funding. If the city and county agree, officials hope to have a decision from the state later this year on federal funding controlled by the state.
It was not immediately clear when the matter would go before the City Council and County Board.
Shawano Mayor Jeanne Cronce, who visited the airport for Thursday’s commission meeting, could not be reached for comment.
Seidel said the proposed new terminal is part of a broader effort to create a long-term vision for the airport’s potential impact in the region. It is a subject on which Seidel hopes to engage city and county officials, as well as Wescott town leaders.
Referring to airport commissioners, Seidel said, “That vision has got to be not just our vision.”
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetPonderosa site back on auction block
Tim Ryan, [email protected]
Nine months after an expected sheriff’s sale of the former Ponderosa restaurant in Shawano was cancelled, the vacant property is back in foreclosure, according to court records.
The former Ponderosa Steak House at 1247 E. Green Bay St. has again been slated for a sheriff’s sale, this time on June 8.
The property originally was one of 15 included in a sweeping, half-million dollar foreclosure suit against the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology.
The suit was dismissed after a newly formed company purchased the debt. The Ponderosa was carved out of that agreement and set aside for a separate sheriff’s sale last August, but the sale was called off shortly before taking place.
The property has remained in the hands of VDG LLC, a company that was incorporated in July 2015, according to the state Department of Financial Institutions.
No other information about VDG is available.
SIST purchased the Ponderosa property in 2003. The restaurant closed its door in 2008 and the property has been sitting vacant since then.
According to the civil suit originally filed in December 2014, a number of mortgages and land contracts on the SIST properties, including the Ponderosa, were bundled into a single consolidated loan agreement with M&I Bank in 2008 and were backed by a promissory note signed by SIST founder R.C. Samanta Roy, who has since changed his name to Avraham Cohen.
The debts were eventually acquired by Wells Fargo Bank of Dallas, which claimed in the suit that SIST and Cohen defaulted on the agreement.
The suit maintained that $526,388, including interest and fees, was still remaining on the debt.
In addition to the former Ponderosa, the targeted properties in the foreclosure action included the Midwest Gift and Fudge House, 104 Old Lake Road; vacant properties at 201 N. Main St. and 202 N. Washington St.; the former Subway at 951 E. Green Bay St.; the former Taco John’s restaurant at 1214 E. Green Bay St.; a property at 143 S. Main St., being rented to Hunan’s Chinese Restaurant, and 145 S. Main St., a vacant property next door; vacant properties at 128 E. Green Bay St. and at 311 E. Green Bay St.; an apartment complex at 117 Mills St.; and three other Wescott properties, N5654, N5660 and N5670 State Highway 47-55.
The action was dismissed after VDG reached an apparent agreement with Wells Fargo. Details were not disclosed and are not filed in the court record.
SIST has nearly lost several properties over the years to foreclosure actions that were settled at the 11th hour.
However, SIST and its subsidiaries also have lost a number of properties to successful foreclosure suits over the last several years, including the following: an apartment building at 463 Humphrey Circle and 1024 E. Fifth St. in Shawano; the USA International Raceway in Wescott; Kiryat Hotel, now the Four Seasons Resort, 201 N. Airport Drive; El Mariachi Cantina and Grill, 635 S. Main St.; former Family Dollar property at 229 E. Green Bay St.; former Qualheim’s building at 153 S. Main St.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetSenator to address CMN graduates
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin will be the keynote speaker May 28 at graduation ceremonies for the College of Menominee Nation.
The Wisconsin Democrat will address graduates during ceremonies starting at 10 a.m. at the Menominee Casino Resort Conference Center ballroom, N277 State Highway 47-55, Keshena.
The graduates will include bachelor and associate degree recipients from both the college’s Keshena and Green Bay campuses, as well as students completing technical diploma programs.
Audience members are encouraged to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.
Baldwin, a champion of education issues, is a frequent visitor to the college’s Keshena campus. She holds the distinction of being Wisconsin’s first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and first in the U.S. Senate.
Baldwin served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. In 2012, after seven terms in the House, Baldwin won election to the U.S. Senate. Her service in the 113th Congress has included membership on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Senate Budget Committee; Energy and Natural Resources Committee; Special Committee on Aging; and the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
She is active in legislative efforts to support middle class-affordable higher education and in summer 2015 introduced the America’s College Promise Act to aid students attending community colleges.
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Shawano Police Department
May 19
Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:
Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.
Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 200 block of Alpine Drive.
Harassment — Police investigated a harassment complaint in the 500 block of Humphrey Circle.
Shoplifting — Pick ‘N Save, 190 Woodlawn Drive, reported a shoplifting incident.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
May 19
Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:
Warrant — A 21-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Cattau Beach Drive in the town of Wescott.
Warrant — A 33-year-old Gresham man was arrested on a warrant on Mill Creek Road in the town of Pella.
Fraud — Authorities investigated a welfare fraud complaint on Prouty Street in Wittenberg and determined it was unfounded.
Truancy — Authorities logged five truancy complaints from Bonduel Middle/High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.
Burglary — Authorities investigated a report of a burglary on Fourth Street in Mattoon.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Park Avenue in Mattoon.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Main Street in Birnamwood.
Clintonville Police Department
May 19
Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:
Disorderly — Officers responded to a disorderly subject on 10th Street.
Burglary — Officers responded to the report of a possible attempted burglary on West Second Street.
Disorderly — Officer responded to the report of a disorderly conduct complaint on South Clinton Avenue.
Fraud — Officer received a complaint of fraud on East Green Tree Road.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetClick It or Ticket crackdown starts Monday
Leader Staff
Hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin, including Shawano police, will be on the lookout for unbuckled drivers and passengers during the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization starting Monday.
The stepped-up enforcement effort runs through June 5.
“More officers will be on patrol for longer hours during the mobilization, and whenever they see an unbelted driver or passenger, they will stop the vehicle and issue a citation,” said David Pabst, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety.
“Their goal is not to write more tickets. They’re simply trying to get everyone to buckle up through effective enforcement and education,” he said.
The Shawano Police Department received two Bureau of Transportation grants for 2016, including $24,000 for Click It or Ticket enforcement.
In addition to the two-week Click It or Ticket mobilization, the funds also pay for enhanced seat belt and child safety seat enforcement that runs from March through September, according to Lt. Mike Musolff.
The department also received a $12,000 grant, primarily for speed enforcement that runs from April to September.
Musolff said both grants also include enforcement for operating while intoxicated and other violations.
The grants keep track of citations and warnings, he said.
Citations will be issued for seat belt violations.
“Please take an extra moment to put your seat belt on and make sure your kids are safely secured,” Musolff said. “Also please stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and keep your cell phones put away focusing on your driving.”
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department also receives grant funding for enhanced enforcement efforts throughout the year.
In conjunction with stringent law enforcement efforts during Click It or Ticket, the Department of Transportation is using federal funding to broadcast TV, radio and web messages featuring Donald Driver, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading receiver.
In the TV spots, he surprises some unsuspecting Wisconsin drivers with questions about their seat belt use.
The DOT also will display reminders to buckle up on its electronic message signs on major highways.
According to DOT statistics, approximately 86 percent of Wisconsin motorists buckle up, which is an all-time high in the state. However, approximately half of the drivers and passengers killed in crashes last year in Wisconsin were not wearing a safety belt.
In 2015, there were nearly 55,000 convictions in Wisconsin for failure to fasten a safety belt, according to the DOT.
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Contributed Photo Ho-Chunk Nation representatives Darren Brinegar, left, and Kathy DeCamp present a $24,975 check to former Wittenberg Fire Department Chief Dave Owens. At right is Caroline Koukos.
Contributed Photo James Stoltz, center, Eland village president, accepts a check for $5,000 from the Ho-Chunk Nation. Shown, from left, are Marnie Osterbrink, Linda Spaude, Stoltz, Darren Brinegar and Kathy DeCamp.
The Ho-Chunk Nation recently donated gaming compact funds to two Shawano County entities.
The Ho-Chunk made a $24,975 donation to the Wittenberg Area Fire Department and Ambulance Service on May 9. The donation will be used to replace breathing apparatuses. Representatives from both organizations met at the Wittenberg Fire Department for a check presentation.
“On behalf of the fire department, we would like to thank the Ho-Chunk Nation for the donation, which will help upgrade our equipment to better assist our community members,” Fire Chief Brian Hamm said.
The village of Eland also received $5,000 on May 9 and plans to use the money to replace playground equipment in Mill Pond Park.
Darren Brinegar, Ho-Chunk Nation vice president, and District 3 Representative Kathy DeCamp met with Town Board members for the check presentation.
“Thank you for this donation,” village President Jim Stolz told the Ho-Chunk officials. “We contacted the company to order the Slide Step equipment, which will cost $5,917. We raised the additional funds for this project. This project wouldn’t have been possible if we didn’t receive the donation from the Ho-Chunk Nation. We greatly appreciate the donation. Thank you.”
Both of the donations are gaming compact deductions. Gaming compact deductions are donated to public projects that benefit both the community and Ho-Chunk Nation.
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Scott Williams, [email protected]
High school graduation season is nearly here, with Shawano Community High School students scheduled to collect their diplomas on May 27.
Here is a list of graduation events throughout the area:
Bonduel High School: May 27, 7:30 p.m., high school, 400 W. Green Bay St. Valedictorian: Cathryn Siolka. Salutatorian: Jared Letter.
Bowler High School: May 27, 7 p.m., high school, 500 S. Almon St. Valedictorian: Justin Kriefall. Salutatorian: Jared Rickert.
Clintonville High School: May 28, 1:30 p.m., high school, 64 W. Green Tree Road. Valedictorian: Doniven Coenen. Salutatorian: Claire Crocker.
Gillett High School: May 29, 1:30 p.m., high school, 208 W. Main St. Valedictorian: Brooke Rotter. Salutatorian: Brian Zahn.
Gresham High School: May 27, 7 p.m., high school, 501 Schabow St. Valedictorians: River Otradovec, Levi Ludvigsen and Tatelyn Ferguson. Salutatorian: Beau Hoffman.
Marion High School: May 27, 8:30 p.m., field house, 1001 N. Main St. Valedictorian: Madeline Pamperin. Salutatorian: Katlin Hahn.
Menominee Indian High School: May 27, 5:30 p.m., Woodland Bowl, Fairgrounds Road, Keshena. Valedictorian: Ty Latender. Salutatorian: Tasha Chevalier.
Pulaski High School: June 1, 7 p.m., high school, 1040 S. St. Augustine St. Valedictorian: None. Salutatorian: None.
Shawano Community High School: May 27, 6 p.m., high school, 220 County B. Valedictorians: Teagan Monfils and Ezekiel Gueths.
Tigerton High School: May 27, 8 p.m., high school, 213 Spaulding St. Valedictorian: Ceara Lebo. Salutatorian: Summer Kopitzke.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School: May 28, 7 p.m., high school, 400 W. Grand Ave. Valedictorian: Callie Nueske. Salutatorian: Jennifer Schrank.
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Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Robert Meisel
Dr. Robert H. Meisel has been selected to receive the Clintonville School District’s Distinguished Alumnus Honoris award.
The award is given to a past graduate of Clintonville or Bear Creek high school only when the selection committee feels a nominee is worthy of the honor. The award will be presented at the Clintonville High School graduation ceremonies May 28.
Meisel was born in Clintonville in 1947 and attended Woodland, a one-room school for eight grades. After graduating from Clintonville High School, he worked for a year before becoming the first in his family to attend college.
He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in psychology in 1969. He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Oregon in 1973.
While a fourth-year student in his doctoral program at Pacific, Meisel was awarded a military scholarship and began his career in the United States Navy. After leaving active duty, he joined the Naval Reserve and served with Marine Corps units.
Meisel was assigned to military hospitals in Spain, Italy and Germany during his Reserve years. In the latter stages of his career, he served as an adviser to the Navy surgeon general and with Navy operations at the Pentagon. He retired after 31 years as a captain with many honors, including the Clarence Gibbs Award, the highest honor given to a Reserve Medical Service Corps member.
Starting in 1981, Meisel owned two private practices in San Diego. He served as an expert examiner for the California State Board and Food and Drug Administration investigator for new contact lenses and solutions, and was one of the first recipients of the California OD of the Year award.
Meisel co-founded a laser eye care center in San Diego and served as director and chairman of the board. He sold his offices in 2007 but continues to serve on the board of the San Diego County Optometric Society and was named its Optometrist of the Year in 2014. He was awarded the 2015 Key Person of the Year award by the California Optometric Association.
Meisel regularly donates his time at the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic. He serves as the coordinator of the vision screenings and exams at a school for homeless children in downtown San Diego. He has helped people in Haiti, Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico through Lions In Sight. He also helps raise funds for his church and the optometric charities he supports.
Meisel continues to visit Clintonville regularly as much of his family lives here.
He and his wife, Lois, and have been to all 50 states and over 60 countries. They reside in Alpine, California, with their horse, mule and dog.
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Scott Williams, [email protected]
Renovation work at Shawano Community Middle School is moving forward on schedule and within budget under a newly assembled team of construction contractors.
Construction manager Miron Construction Co. has enlisted specialists for plumbing, electrical and other work on the nearly $10 million project approved by voters.
Getting the team together, however, was not easy.
Miron officials said they struggled to find contractors because many were busy elsewhere and because the Shawano school project is on such a tight schedule. In the case of the electrical job, no contractors submitted bids until Miron persuaded one to step forward.
Contracts have been awarded, and officials say work is progressing smoothly.
“We’ve got a very good group,” Miron project executive Randy Boden told School Board members on Monday. “It’s going well. Everybody is working together very well.”
Voters in the school district last November approved a referendum to borrow $9.25 million — and combine that with another $700,000 in district funds — to complete a long list of improvements at the middle school, 1050 S. Union St.
The 62-year-old building is getting a new main entrance, an enlarged cafeteria, new gymnasium locker rooms, an updated kitchen, a new heating system, improved band and orchestra rooms, and more. School administrators have said the upgrade likely would extend the building’s life another 25 years or more.
Crews started work in April with the goal of having the project done by August.
After awarding contracts to other firms working on the job, Miron officials reported that the total anticipated cost of the project is $9,949,927 — just under the budgeted figure of $9,950,000.
Although the current plan includes a $300,000 contingency, Boden told School Board members that the construction management firm is watching costs closely to ensure that the project does not exceed the budgeted amount presented to voters last November.
“We can’t have surprises,” he said, “because we can’t go over that final number.”
Of the various contractor jobs for which bids were requested, Miron Construction itself ended up winning one of the jobs. Miron landed the general construction contract with a bid of $2.5 million, underbidding Sustainable Construction of Green Bay, which bid $2.6 million.
Miron also is being paid $176,819 for its work as construction manager, and the budget includes another $217,361 that officials described as Miron’s operating costs associated with the project.
August Winter and Sons Inc. of Appleton won both the heating/air-conditioning and the plumbing contracts, neither of which attracted any competing proposals. August Winter will be paid $4.1 million under the heating/air-conditioning contract and $432,350 under the plumbing contract.
Shawano-based Radtke Reuter Electric LLC won the $882,350 electrical contract after the contract initially drew no bids, and officials persuaded Radtke Reuter to submit a proposal.
An elevator contract worth $55,059 was awarded to Otis Elevator and Co. in Kaukauna.
Other expenses with the project include $590,477 for design and engineering work by the Green Bay architectural firm Somerville Inc., insurance and bonding costs totalling $129,843, kitchen equipment and furnishings costing $44,796, and office furniture and lunch tables costing $40,000.
Another cost of $193,275 for “general conditions” covers such expenditures as trailers and portable toilets at the construction site.
School Board members accepted the report Monday and indicated they were pleased with how the project was progressing.
SCMS Principal Mary Kramer thanked the construction management officials for getting work started without disrupting daily school activities. Kramer said employees and students have enjoyed watching the renovation’s early stages while still being able to use the building.
“It’s clean,” she said. “It’s well taken care of.”
Once the school year ends, the entire building will be declared off-limits for the summer while crews focus on getting the project done by August.
The tight schedule discouraged some construction firms from bidding on work, Boden said, because they would have needed to increase manpower to meet the deadline. With so many other projects under way in the region, many companies could not meet those demands.
In persuading Radtke Reuter Electric to join the team, officials helped the Shawano firm identify extra manpower resources and meet all the requirements of the job.
“We wanted to make sure that he had the best opportunities to succeed,” Boden said.
Company owner Mike Reuter declined to comment.
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Leader Staff
Four Bonduel High School students are recovering at home from injuries suffered Wednesday in a two-car traffic incident, School Administrator Patrick Rau said.
The students — two boys and two girls — were released from St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay after being treated for their injuries, none serious enough to warrant admission to the hospital.
The students were traveling north on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when another motorist rammed their SUV from behind. The other driver said he took his eyes off the road momentarily to check his vehicle’s air-conditioning.
Shawano County sheriff’s officials indicated that they planned to issue citations to the other driver, who walked away from the incident uninjured.
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Shawano Police Department
May 18
Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:
Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 1000 block of South Andrews Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the parking lot at Walgreen’s, 401 E. Green Bay St.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.
Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 300 block of South Sawyer Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Office
May 18
Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Mill Street in Bonduel.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Bergs Road in the town of Washington.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Memory Lane in the town of Red Springs.
Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Hillview Road in the town of Herman.
Assault — Authorities investigated an assault reported on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 156 in the town of Lessor.
Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.
Clintonville Police Department
May 18
Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:
Disturbance — Officers responded for a family disturbance on North Main Street that was resolved with the removal of a subject.
Accident — Property damage accident reported on 12th at Main Street.
Theft — A theft was reported on Sixth Street.
Accident — Property damage accident reported on South Main Street business where a pole was struck by a semi.
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Tim Ryan, [email protected]
Shawano County has filed a response in federal court to a lawsuit filed by a former sheriff’s detective, denying charges that he was harassed and forced out of his job.
Wade Wudtke maintains he was targeted by Sheriff Adam Bieber and several members of the Shawano County Board over his support for then-incumbent Sheriff Randy Wright in the 2014 election.
The suit specifically names Bieber and five county supervisors who were serving at the time on the county’s administrative and insurance committee: Jerry Erdmann, Deb Noffke, Bonnie Olson, Gene Hoppe and William Switalla.
The suit maintains several County Board members “actively supported Bieber, donating funds, providing information and publicly campaigning for him.”
The group also included supervisors Marlin Noffke, Bert Huntington and Mike McClelland, according to the lawsuit, though they were not named as defendants.
The suit seeks damages for both past and future wage and benefit loss; compensatory damages for emotional distress, loss of reputation and loss of earning capacity; punitive damages against the individual defendants; and legal fees and court costs.
There is no dollar amount specified. However, Wudtke filed a notice of claim against the county in July maintaining he had suffered damages in excess of $50,000, including loss of employment opportunities, income and benefits, emotional and psychological distress, and loss of reputation.
The county’s response maintains that many of Wudtke’s allegations are “vague and ambiguous” and that county officials were acting within their authority under state law.
The response also maintains the six officials named “did not all ‘actively’ support Bieber.”
The county also maintains in its response that the officials were acting within the scope of their duties and are immune from suit under state and federal law.
A telephone scheduling conference in the case is set for June 7.
Wudtke’s suit demands a jury trial.
Wudtke resigned in March 2015, about two months after Bieber took office, and took a job with the Clintonville Police Department; a job that the suit maintains involved “harder hours and a much lower rate of pay.”
The starting salary for a Clintonville patrol officer in March of last year was $23,073. Wudtke was making $26.69 an hour in Shawano County.
The suit maintains Wudtke “was ultimately constructively discharged from his position as a deputy sheriff because of his protected political activities in violation of his rights.”
His suit maintains the resignation was the result of a harassment campaign that followed an incident at the Shawano County Republican Party picnic on July 22, 2014.
Bieber spoke at the picnic as a candidate for sheriff. Wudtke raised several questions with Bieber after the speech in an exchange that apparently became confrontational.
The incident led to an investigation by the county’s administrative committee, which hired an attorney to look into the matter.
The county has not released any information about the attorney’s investigation or what conclusions were reached.
The suit maintains that supervisors supporting Bieber in the sheriff’s race launched the investigation into the picnic incident to retaliate against Wudtke. It argues that Wudtke’s rights of free speech and political affiliation were violated, and that Wudtke did not violate any county policies or law enforcement code.
In addition to financial damages, the suit is also asking for a court order finding that the defendants violated Wudtke’s First Amendment rights.
Wudtke had been a deputy sheriff for Shawano County since 1999. He was hired as a patrol officer and became school resource officer in July 2006. He became a detective in December 2007.
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Scott Williams, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Emergency workers assist victims after a traffic collision Wednesday involving an SUV carrying four students from Bonduel High School.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Authorities said a Ford Explorer SUV carrying four Bonduel High School students was rear-ended Wednesday by another motorist.
Four Bonduel High School students were taken to the hospital Wednesday after their vehicle was rear-ended by another motorist south of town, officials said.
The students were transported to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, but a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy said it appeared that none of them suffered life-threatening injuries.
Bonduel School District Administrator Patrick Rau said the students — two boys and two girls — were returning to campus from an FFA activity off-campus when the incident occurred about 2:15 p.m.
According to witnesses and officials, the students were traveling north on state Highway 47 when they stopped behind a tractor and got rear-ended just north of Landstad Road in the town of Lessor.
Rau said all of the students’ parents had been notified.
The 19-year-old driver of the other vehicle, who escaped injury and had no passengers, said at the scene that he was traveling about 50 mph when he looked down momentarily to check his vehicle’s air-conditioning. Looking up, he realized traffic ahead of him had stopped, but he was unable to avoid a collision.
“I swerved, and I just clipped them a little bit,” he said.
The driver, whose vehicle landed in a ditch, is not being identified because authorities were still investigating the incident and had not issued any citations.
Shawano County Deputy Bruce Leiser said the Bonduel students were traveling in a Ford Explorer SUV when they stopped to allow a tractor to turn off the road. The other vehicle, a Jeep SUV, slammed into the Explorer from behind and briefly caught fire.
Leiser said the students, as well as the other driver, appear to have been wearing seat belts. Otherwise, the injuries could have been much worse, he said.
“They all got lucky,” he said.
Traffic on Highway 47 was blocked in both directions for more than an hour.
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Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent
A Keshena man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to six years in prison for facilitating underage prostitution.
Brian L. Kelley, 36, pleaded guilty in February to one count of inducing or coercing a female under 18 years of age to engage in prostitution between 2010 and 2015.
Kelley faced a maximum 10-year sentence, but Chief U.S. District Judge William Griesbach imposed six years after Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Humble and Kelley’s attorney, Aaron Schenk, requested a six-year term after Kelley agreed to name additional minor victims.
Kelley “fully cooperated in identifying all victims,” according to Dean Puschnig, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office. Puschnig did not disclose the number of victims involved in the case.
According to the plea agreement and other documents filed with the court, Kelley used his position as owner of Legends Bait Shop and the Fades and Braids barber shop to hire minors for the purpose of paying them in return for sexual activities.
In imposing the sentence, Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charges and that the sentence is in the best interest of the public and especially the victims, stating “the real damage here is to the victims,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Calls to Schenk were not returned by the Leader’s deadline Wednesday.
According to the plea agreement, Kelley paid a 14-year-old girl $5 to $10 to sweep up his barber shop. Shortly after she began working, Kelley asked her to have sex with him and paid her $25 and $30. Kelley subsequently began to have sex regularly with the teen, contacting her by phone, text or Facebook.
When Kelley asked the girl to come into “work,” she understood it to mean having sex for money, according to court documents.
After the girl turned 16, Kelley continued to have sex with her sometimes in the backroom of his newly opened bait shop. Other times they had sex in his vehicle. Kelley once paid the girl to have sex with another minor, according to court documents, and Kelley discussed involving the girl in sexual activity with him and his wife.
Kelley admitted to knowing the girl was a minor when they had sex and acknowledged he persuaded or coerced her and other minors to have sex for money. He told the girl not to tell anyone about their arrangement and if asked she was to deny engaging in any sexual activity with Kelley and instead say she was sweeping or mopping at the store.
Following the prison term, Kelley must serve 10 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police and the FBI.
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