Shawano Leader News

By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Mary White, chief financial officer of Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats in Wittenberg, officially took over as president of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s annual banquet Thursday, inheriting the gavel from Jim Feeney.

A Shawano area resident since she was 2 years old, White has been with Neuske’s for four years and was on the chamber’s executive committee last year as president-elect.

White said she feels it’s important to be part of the chamber for the support it provides businesses.

“Why go at it all alone?” she said. “Instead of leaving your future to chance, build your network that will be there to support you through thick and thin. The chamber offers many opportunities to network with others who are in one way associated with hundreds of local businesses.”

White said achieving success requires businesses helping one another.

“Success doesn’t focus on ‘What can this person do for me?’ but rather, ‘What can I do to help this person?’” she said. “Then the success magically follows.”

White said she hopes to work with others providing networking and educational opportunities that promote financial security throughout Shawano and Menominee counties.

She said the chamber would continue to be a resource for businesses to go to for help and advice, as well as staying abreast of new regulations and staying educated in such areas as finance, marketing and staffing.

“Another important area we need to stay focused on is the education of our youth,” she said. “We want to ensure we continue to offer opportunities to prepare them for their futures and enable them with the needed tools for future education beyond high school for a successful career. We can even hold high hopes they return to our area and bring back to us new, fresh business knowledge or even become an entrepreneur where their roots began.”

White said she hopes to see the chamber continue and enhance the “Shop Local” program, along with promotion of Miles of Art, the Bike the Barn Quilts ride and the new biking trail.

She said the chamber also has plans to generate some new ideas promoting the “vacation treasures” in Shawano County.

“This will require futuristic thoughts of how to best brand our tourism area so others can’t wait to visit us and enjoy the recreations of fishing, boating, snowmobiling, camping, snowshoeing, skiing, geo caching and ice skating,” she said.

White said she is proud of the chamber’s achievements over the past year, including its collaboration with Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. on the Vision 2017 program aimed at creating 1,000 jobs in the area.

White said the program has seen a lot of community support.

“This support has made others within our communities not only aware of the challenges our economy has presented to us but sparked excitement leading others to put a little skin in the game,” she said.

The program has raised $960,000 of its $1.27 million goal.

“We aren’t done yet, but we’re proud of what several dedicated individuals have done to secure our successful futures up to this point,” White said.

“The collected funds have allowed grants to be given to four businesses throughout Shawano County, allowing them to upgrade their business facades, and three additional businesses to enhance their interiors,” she said. “It has also awarded a local business a cash payment in recognition of several new jobs secured within their organization.”

White said other highlights of the past year include the continued success of the Leadership Shawano County program, which gives business leaders the chance to collaborate, share and learn from each other, and the successful launch of SAYPro (Shawano Area Young Professionals).

White said growing up in Shawano has made the success of the area business community important to her.

“My heart will always be here,” she said. “It’s important to me to ensure our counties thrive and remain successful, to ensure others continue to have the chance to raise families with the sense of belonging and community support I was lucky enough to experience.”

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By: 

Leader Staff

A semi rolled over on state Highway 29 east of Shawano early Thursday, closing down both lanes of eastbound traffic for about four hours.

A 37-year-old Manitowoc man had to be extricated from the truck with the Jaws of Life, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said. He suffered an eye laceration. Shawano Ambulance Service responded to the scene.

The accident occurred at about 8:45 a.m. at Spruce Road. Eastbound traffic was re-routed through the town of Richmond during the lane closure.

The semi was owned by Schultz Trucking of Green Bay. The Department of Natural Resources and Shawano Area Fire Department responded to assess any issues resulting from spilled diesel fuel. The Shawano County Highway Department also assisted sheriff’s deputies and state troopers at the scene.

The incident is under investigation by the State Patrol.

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Program cultivates girls' interest in medicineBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Perry Initiative seeks to inspire young women to pursue careers in the medical sciences, and it is coming to Shawano this spring.

With the help of ThedaCare and Shawano School District, a day-long outreach program will be held April 12 at Shawano Community High School. The event is expected to include lectures and laboratory sessions where students perform mock surgeries.

“It’s a group out of San Francisco that tries to encourage women in two areas that are underrepresented — engineering and orthopaedic surgery,” said Dr. Derek Johnson, a ThedaCare physician and School Board member. “We will be the only program in Wisconsin.”

The Perry Initiative started in 2009 with 15 students at one site. In 2013, the program reached 950 students at 24 locations nationwide.

Johnson said that the outreach programs typically take place at medical schools, noting that programs are being offered soon at Harvard and Yale universities.

The Shawano program will be open to 36 sophomore, junior and senior girls. Participation is not limited to SCHS students, Johnson said.

The girls will be provided with everything they need to go through six types of orthopaedic surgeries.

Johnson said Perry Initiative officials “hope that this will be an ongoing event, an annual event.”

Details on enrollment are still being worked out, but applicants will be required to write an essay, Johnson said.

“I was just ecstatic that they wanted to do this. They tried to do something at the medical college in Wisconsin, but it’s fallen through,” Johnson said. “It’s a big deal for them to choose our site.”

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By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Hillcrest Primary School officials set a goal this school year of increasing parental support by 10 percent, but it might be tough to achieve.

It is not a matter of effort; it’s simple mathematics. The latest survey done by the school last month shows an overall satisfaction rating of 95 percent out of 184 surveys, with 66 percent of respondents strongly agreeing that they’re satisfied.

“As you know, this goal was set ahead of time, and this is the first time we’ve had this goal, so we set up a figure we thought would be achievable,” Principal Troy Edwards said. “There’s always room to improve.”

The survey also showed 93 percent of the respondents agreeing the school was safe, 94 percent agreeing that staff and students form strong academic bonds, and 91 percent agreeing that the school staff welcomes parents and other visitors.

At least 90 percent of the respondents answered agreeing or strongly agreeing to all but four of the 16 questions. The lowest score (84 percent) was in response to a question whether children were excited about going to school, but only 6 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed. The remaining respondents were neutral.

The other three questions asked if communication between schools and families is respectful (89 percent), if students respect teachers (87 percent) and if student conduct rules are consistently enforced (86 percent).

Although parents were not asked specifically about playground supervision, several parents wrote comments about the number of staff members watching the children, Edwards said. There are two staff members in orange vests on the playground for all grades, and most times two teachers keep watch, as well, he said.

“The teachers that go out do not wear orange vests at this time,” Edwards said. “When (the parents) speak of only having two people out there for recess duty as they are looking and scanning, I don’t know if they’re seeing the teachers.”

Edwards plans to have additional vests available for the teachers in the future.

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Felony possession of marijuana

Criminal charges and an arrest warrant were issued Tuesday for an Appleton man who was allegedly keeping drugs in a safe at a Red Springs residence where he stays on weekends.

Donald R. Benzel, 40, is charged with felony counts of second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana and second offense possession of a controlled substance. He could face 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count if convicted. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possessing drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance.

Stockbridge-Munsee Police and Shawano County sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on Aug. 6. Authorities seized 10.9 grams of marijuana, as well as LSD, according to the criminal complaint.

Felon in possession of a firearm

A Birnamwood man convicted in 2011 of manufacture and delivery of heroin faces a new charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ryan S. Matsche, 31, is accused of having a .22 caliber handgun that he purchased over the summer from a private party. He could face 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

Matsche is free on a $1,000 signature bond and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Feb. 3.

Assault by a prisoner

An Embarrass woman arrested for disorderly conduct in Belle Plaine last week is facing a felony charge of assault by a prisoner after allegedly spitting at a sheriff’s deputy after she was taken into custody.

Tina M. DeCleene, 51, could face 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. She is also charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer.

Authorities were called to check on a woman trying to flag down traffic on state Highway 22 on Jan. 16. DeCleene told sheriff’s deputies she was trying to get home, according to the criminal complaint.

Probation and Parole asked deputies to do a breath test on DeCleene, who was on probation for resisting an officer in Waukesha County last year, at which point she became verbally and physically abusive, according to the complaint. She was taken to Shawano County Jail, where she allegedly spit on one of the deputies.

DeCleene was being held on a $2,500 cash bond and is due back in court Monday for an adjourned initial appearance.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 22

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the emergency room at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.

Theft — Items were reported stolen from a residence in the 800 block of South Kadletz Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 300 block of South Washington Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1200 block of East Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 22

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Accidents — Authorities logged 16 accidents, including one deer-related crash.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Scrap metal and piping were reported stolen at Wood Port Doors, 1275 Industrial Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 21

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on County Road C in Green Valley.

Juvenile — Bowler School reported a truancy.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Main Laney Drive in Maple Grove.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Elm Grove Road in Pella.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Park Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged eight accidents, including four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department>

Jan. 21

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officers responded to a domestic disturbance on South Main Street and conducted a warrant pickup on a warrant through New London Police Department.

Accidents — A property damage accident was reported on Sixth Street and Bennett Street, and another was reported on South Main Street and Ninth Street.

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By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

A measure to increase the Shawano County sheriff’s budget for unanticipated health insurance costs was referred back to committee Wednesday.

The County Board voted 25-2 to send the request for an additional $19,622 to pay for a new employee’s health insurance back to the Finance Committee for clarification after a supervisor questioned whether the figure was accurate.

During 2014 budget talks last fall, the employee told administrators he and his family would not enroll in the county’s insurance program, according to Chief Deputy John Gutho. After the budget was approved, the employee’s situation changed, and he asked to join the insurance plan at the family rate, Gutho said.

Supervisor Deb Noffke pointed out another employee in the department dropped out of the insurance plan at the end of 2013. The employee was on the single plan, which costs the county $560 per month. The family rate costs the county around $1,635 monthly. Noffke suggested the county should only be adding money to pay the difference, or $1,075 per month.

“You would be looking at a shortfall of maybe $12,000, because you’d be making up the difference, not padding the budget,” Noffke said.

Supervisor Gene Hoppe opposed increasing the budget.

“If we’re going to do the $19,000, why not do it out of the (department’s) 1 percent carryover?” Hoppe said. “In next year’s budget, we can put it in. We have a lot of expenses, and we couldn’t even give a raise to any of our employees.”

Supervisor Bonnie Olson pointed out that there were likely to be additional changes in employees’ insurance needs throughout the year and making a request for the total amount at the end of the year would be a smarter move.

“This is just January, so why wouldn’t you use up the money and then, at the end of the year, if you’re short, ask for the $19,000?” Olson said. “Things could change in the department over the course of the year, and someone could drop their insurance.”

Finance Director Diane Rusch pointed out that the board approved a similar request from Shawano City-County Library in December.

The county saw an overall decrease of 2 percent in its health insurance costs in 2013, and the money being saved was put into a contingency fund to anticipate changes as new requirements for the Affordable Care Act took effect, Rusch said.

Noffke, who sits on the Library Board, pointed out the library’s resolution added two employees to the insurance plan, and no library employees were leaving the county insurance plan.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 100 block of West Division Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a juvenile shoplifter fled the store.

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a female juvenile in custody after attempting to steal alcohol.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of Richmond Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 20

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Menominee Drive in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious incident complaint on Lake Road in the town of Herman.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 117 in the town of Washington.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on Wood Avenue in Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on White Birch Road in Aniwa.

Theft — A credit card was reported stolen on County Road HH in the town of Washington.

Accidents — Authorities logged five accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A worthless check was reported on Industrial Avenue.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on Ninth Street.

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Shawano man maintains his innocenceBy: 

Joan Koehne, [email protected]

Wolf River Media Photo by Joan Koehne Daniel Schmidt, right, confers with his attorney, Eric Maciolek, Tuesday at Schmidt’s sentencing hearing for the murders of Kimberly Rose and Leonard Marsh. Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge sentenced Schmidt to two consecutive sentences of life in prison, without parole.
Wolf River Media Photo by Joan Koehne Special Prosecutor Richard Dufour reads a statement from Larry Marsh at the sentencing hearing Tuesday of Daniel Schmidt, who was found guilty in October of murdering Marsh’s twin brother, Leonard, and sister, Kimberly Rose. Their photos were on display in the courtroom, facing Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge, who sentenced Schmidt to the maximum penalty allowed.

A Shawano man, maintaining his innocence, was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum penalty allowable for the double murder of a brother and sister in 2009.

Daniel Schmidt, 30, was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of life in prison, without chance of parole, for the intentional homicides of his ex-mistress, Kimberly Rose, 32, and her brother, Leonard Marsh, 22, on May 19, 2009.

Schmidt was arrested in September 2012 and found guilty by an Oconto County jury in October of the shotgun slayings, which occurred at the home Rose and Marsh shared in the town of Gillett.

In his short remarks to the judge, Schmidt offered his condolences and prayers to the family of Rose and Marsh, but offered no apology.

“I can’t apologize for something I did not do,” he said with a clear voice.

According to testimony at the trial, Schmidt and Rose began an affair in November 2008, but Schmidt later ended the relationship and tried to mend his marriage. Special Prosecutor Richard Dufour said Schmidt went to the Gillett home on the morning of May 19, 2009, shot Rose in the face and neck to stop her from disrupting his marriage and shot Marsh three times in the back, while he laid in bed, because he was a witness to the murder.

Dufour, during a 30-minute statement to the judge, recommended the maximum sentence, saying the murders ended two young, promising lives.

Schmidt’s attorney, Bradley Schraeven, recommended Schmidt be eligible for parole as soon as possible, claiming the jury’s verdict was based on circumstantial evidence.

“No one knows exactly what happened on that night,” Schraeven said. “He does maintain his innocence, and friends and family are still supportive of him and maintain his innocence.”

He said Schmidt is a young man with a wife and two little children who have suffered greatly.

Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge said Schmidt wasn’t thinking of the emotional trauma he would cause his wife, his children and the family of the victims when he planned and committed the murders, then lied about the crimes to his wife and law enforcement agents.

“There’s no question that Mr. Schmidt committed two cold-hearted, depraved, obscene, vicious acts of murder,” Judge said.

The seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the community were the two main reasons he issued the maximum sentence, he said.

“I choose to treat your sentence the same as the sentence you gave to Kimberly, to Leo and their family for the remainder of their lives,” Judge said.

Donna Marsh, the victims’ mother, fought back tears as she recalled the murders and the weeks of upheaval that followed, as she took in Kimberly’s son, Donovan, and buried two of her three children.

Larry Marsh, Leo’s twin brother, submitted a statement, read by Dufour, that told of the loss he felt over the deaths of his brother and sister.

“Do you have any idea how it feels, going 22 years on your birthday, no matter what, to find a way to meet your twin to celebrate your day, and then all of a sudden they are gone?” Dufour read.

Larry Marsh and his mother asked for life in prison without parole.

“You took two lives away and don’t deserve to walk around as a free man,” Larry Marsh wrote in his statement.

Kimberly Rose’s son, Donovan, 16, told the court how his life changed forever five years ago. He said his mom is no longer around to be his friend and confidant, to see him sing at concerts and in musicals, and experience other milestones in his life.

“My mother was not just a mother, she was my best friend,” he said. “I could talk to her about anything. Sometimes she was my only friend. She was the one person I loved more than anyone else.”

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By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

While a school shooting has not happened in Shawano, local officials don’t plan to wait for one to happen to take action.

Shawano schools, both public and private, plan to implement a new method of dealing with a shooter, one that involves taking action instead of hiding and locking doors.

Scott Zwirschitz, Shawano Community High School principal, informed the School Board on Monday that steps are being taken to train students and staff in the program known as ALICE, short for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

The issue first came before the board in November when officials with the Shawano Police Department gave a brief overview of the program.

The program’s premise is that locking down a school when there is an active shooter is an inadequate defense. ALICE focuses on minimizing casualties by encouraging active resistance.

According to proponents of ALICE, most situations with violent intruders end within five to seven minutes, and in many cases, the first emergency officials arrive after that time has passed. Research shows civilians have stopped shooters more often than police officers.

The next step is setting up training dates. Zwirschitz said he is working with ALICE instructors to find a suitable date in March or April. He wants to get everyone trained by the end of the school year in June.

The program also is expected to be implemented at the parochial schools in Shawano, as well as the local Northeast Wisconsin Technical College campus, which is next to the high school.

Zwirschitz said he also has received a call from the Pulaski Community School District expressing interest in the training program.

After the staff is trained, the district plans to work with parents to help them understand ALICE.

Zwirschitz said the biggest concern about the program is the Counter aspect. He told the board there is no intention of asking students to stop a shooter.

“If they’re in harm’s way, they can do things to protect themselves,” Zwirschitz said. “We don’t have to just sit there and take what this person doing harm is doing. We can take action to stop the threat.”

Board members praised Zwirschitz and others on the safety committee for being proactive. Several members commented that sitting back and waiting for the inevitable was not a comfortable position.

“You’ve got to make some changes,” board member Al Heins said. “Instead of being a mother hen and cuddling underneath something, if there’s something you can do, it’s important to do it.”

Board member Michael Sleeper referred to the recent school shooting in Roswell, N.M., where a 12-year-old boy entered the middle school and shot two students. A teacher intervened and persuaded the shooter to lower his gun.

“That was the end of the story,” Sleeper said. “I don’t know if it was formal training or just a natural reaction on the person’s part, but this is an example of the kinds of things that we’re talking about.”

ONLINE

For more about ALICE, visit www.alicetraining.com.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 19

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 800 block of South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Sunset Avenue.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Jan. 18

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 1200 block of South Lincoln Street.

Jan 17

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 200 block of North Washington Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of South Main Street.

Theft — Police logged four theft complaints from the Shawano City-County Library, 128 S. Sawyer St., for unreturned library materials.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 19

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Fire — Authorities responded to a barn fire on Willow Road in Angelica.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on state Highway 22 in Waukechon.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Bartelt Street in Gresham.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on County Road BE in Hartland.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

Jan. 18

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Warrant — A female subject was taken into custody on a warrant on Bernitt Road in the town of Grant.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on County Road MMM in Richmond.

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on Short Lane in Birnamwood.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Angle Road in Pella.

Accidents — Authorities logged 12 accidents, including a deer-related crash.

Jan. 17

Deputies logged 55 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities investigated a reported assault in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., in Shawano.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Elm Street in Birnamwood.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Ebert Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged 24 accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano County is still looking for public input on its outdoor recreation plan after a lightly attended informational meeting Wednesday.

Parks Manager Keith Marquardt said only about a dozen people attended the meeting hosted by the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Shawano County Parks Department at the Shawano County Courthouse.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s hard to get people to come out on a Wednesday evening during the winter,” he said.

The public is still invited to express their opinions through the end of the month by completing a survey about the county facilities at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ShawanoCoParks. The survey is also on the county’s web site.

The ECWRPC and Shawano County kicked off a 12-month planning process to complete a Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for the Parks Department in the spring of last year. It will be the first update since 2007.

The process includes a comprehensive examination of the county’s parks and recreation facilities, and recommendations for improving the system and its services over the next five years.

Among other things, having a comprehensive plan will make the county eligible for potential grants.

The revised plan will focus on four key areas, adding more public participation in determining the destiny of the county parks, along with developing health-related purposes to the original plan’s goals for outdoor recreation and preserving unique natural and cultural resources.

Marquardt said there was some feedback given at Wednesday’s meeting, focusing mainly on paths and walking trails at the Mielke Arts Center and possible improvements at Heritage Park and Sunset Island, where there is a need for additional parking.

Marquardt also said attendees were happy with improvements made under the old plan over the past seven years, including new shelters and bathroom facilities.

The outdoor recreation plan will be on the Highway and Parks Committee agenda on Feb. 18. Marquardt said it is hoped a finalized plan will be before the County Board at its March meeting.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano police Thursday rescued a man with an apparent heart condition after his vehicle went into a ditch on East Green Bay Street.

Police were called to what was thought to be a minor accident, but discovered a 66-year-old man inside who was unresponsive, the Police Department said.

Officers Elinor Harris and Ryan Atkinson were forced to break the window of the vehicle to get it opened. The man was still unresponsive, and officers shocked him twice with a defibrillator.

Paramedics then arrived on scene and continued CPR. The man was transported to Shawano Medical Center.

Police could not give out any other information because of the privacy concerns related to medical issues.

The hospital would not release any information on the man’s condition.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 16

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Accident — A woman was taken to Shawano Medical Center after pickup versus car crash at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive. Citations were expected, but the incident was still under investigation. No further information was available. Police also responded to three other minor accidents.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.

Disturbance — A warrant was issued for a 52-year-old Embarrass woman after a disturbance in the 600 block of South Union Street. The woman left the scene before police arrived.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 16

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Bierman Road in Almon.

Theft — A 22-year-old Birnamwood man was taken into custody on a warrant after authorities responded to a theft complaint on County Road Q in Almon.

Assault — Charges of assault and resisting arrest were referred against a 52-year-old Embarrass woman on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Keshena man was taken into custody on a warrant and a charge of obstruction after authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Pleasant Street in Gresham.

Disorderly — Charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property were referred against a 24-year-old Bowler man on Main Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — A 58-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for battery after a domestic disturbance on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Warrant — A 51-year-old Wescott woman was arrested on a warrant on Upper Red Lake Road in Red Springs.

Warrant — A 24-year-old man, address unknown, was arrested on a warrant and a charge of operating after revocation on County Road N in Birnamwood. A 30-year-old Birnamwood woman was also taken into custody on a warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Accidents — Authorities logged 15 accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 16

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on East 12th Street.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of South Washington Street.

Juvenile — Police logged 11 truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

Theft — Cans were reported stolen in the 500 block of Lakeland Road.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

Accidents — Police logged three minor accidents.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 15

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a house fire on Waukechon Road.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Branch Lane in Belle Plaine.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hillcrest Road in Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged nine accidents, including an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Hartland.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged four incidents, including the following:

Theft — A retail theft was under investigation.

Accidents — Police logged two property damage accidents.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Neopit mother and daughter have each been charged with a felony count of forgery for allegedly cashing a bogus check from a closed account at CoVantage Credit Union in Shawano.

Melody J. Summers, 53, and Shawn M. Summers, 21, could each face six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

In August, according to the criminal complaint, Melody Summers deposited a $622 check from the St. Peter’s Lutheran Congregation Funeral Fund into her daughter’s account. The complaint alleges Shawn Summers later withdrew about $400 of that money from her account.

A treasurer at St. Peter’s Church told police the funeral fund account had been closed some years ago and he didn’t know how anyone had gotten access to the closed account’s checks.

The criminal complaint also states that Shawn’s sister, Kari Pocan, had been arrested for theft in Brown County after being found in possession of similar checks belonging to St. Peter’s Church.

Melody and Dawn Summers are both scheduled for initial appearances in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Feb. 3. In addition to the felony forgery charge, they each also face a misdemeanor count of fraud against a financial institution.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Keshena woman is facing a felony charge of reckless endangerment after allegedly trying to stab her mother, but only managing to wound herself during a domestic disturbance in Shawano on Monday.

Danielle J. Julius, 24, could face a maximum 12 1/2 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if found guilty. She also faces a misdemeanor count of domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct.

Police responded just before 1 a.m. Monday to a report of a stabbing incident at the Wisconsin House.

Julies came out of one of the rooms covered in blood, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint states Julius told authorities she tried to kill her mother.

The knife slipped as Julius’ mother tried taking it away from her, causing a cut to Julius’ hand, according to the complaint.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck ordered Julius held on a $5,000 cash bond. She is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Tuesday.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Felony drunken driving charges were filed this week against a Hortonville man accused of crashing into a horse and buggy on Thanksgiving Day and seriously injuring two people.

Robert J. Egbert, 38, is charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated-causing injury and two counts of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration-causing injury. He could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the counts if convicted.

Egbert allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent — more than twice the legal limit — when authorities say he struck the buggy at County Road G and Gollnow Road in the town of Grant on Nov. 28.

Egbert told Shawano County sheriff’s deputies at the scene that he didn’t see the buggy until he struck it, according to the criminal complaint.

A 21-year old Marion woman who was a passenger in the buggy sustained a concussion and a head wound that took 12 staples to close, according to the complaint. The operator of the buggy, a 23-year-old Marion man, sustained contusions and abrasions.

It was allegedly Egbert’s third drunken driving offense, following two previous convictions in Outagamie County.

A man identifying himself as Egbert’s brother later arrived at the crash scene and told authorities they had been at a Thanksgiving Day gathering at their parents home. He said they tried to talk Egbert into staying the night because he had had “more than enough” to drink, but he wanted to go home.

Egbert is scheduled for an initial appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

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By: 

Carol Wagner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Carol Wagner Kayla VonBehren is the hostess at Max’s Restaurant, formerly Amicos, just south of the state Highway 22 bridge.

Max Shabani and his wife, Buki, have opened Max’s Restaurant at the former Amicos location at W7389 River Bend Road south of Shawano.

The couple has 40 years of experience in the restaurant business, most recently in Illinois.

Max’s menu includes breakfast, Angus burgers, melts, chicken sandwiches, appetizers, hot sandwiches, wraps, club sandwiches, salads, diet plates, stir fry, homestyle meals with old-fashioned recipes, seafood, Italian specials, a senior menu, and kid’s menu.

“Everything is fresh,” Max Shabani said.

The restaurant has a bar, two dining areas — with one equipped for meetings, and a kitchen that was updated. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with plans to open at 6 a.m. in the summer.

Asked whether any other changes are planned, Max Shabani replied, “The future will tell me.”

Originally from Macedonia (Yugoslavia), the Shabanis have family in northern Wisconsin.

For more information, call 715-201-1020 or 715-201-1002.

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