Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of East Center Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Smalley Street.

Accidents — Police logged five minor accidents. No injuries were reported.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 14

Deputies logged 106 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 33-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Oak Street in Bowler.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Almon Street in Bowler.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Main Street in Birnamwood.

Accidents — Authorities logged 70 weather-related accidents. No injuries were reported.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint on West 13th Street.

Theft — A theft was reported at Clintonville High School, 45 W. Green Tree Road.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 13

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A charge of reckless endangerment was referred against a 24-year-old Keshena woman after an attempted stabbing incident at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint on Elizabeth Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Humphrey Circle.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 13

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 22 in Cecil.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on County Road M in Pella.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Valley Road in Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged three minor accidents.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Snow quickly covers a pickup truck that slid off Old 47 Tuesday about 9:45 a.m. Nearly 30 accidents were reported by mid-afternoon.

A relentless band of heavy snow that lingered for most of the day brought a virtual standstill to all but essential services and plow drivers Tuesday.

The storm forced early school closings and event cancellations throughout the area and was a factor in at least 29 county traffic accidents between 6:40 a.m. and mid-afternoon.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said none of those accidents involved injuries.

“We’ve had a lot of cars in the ditch,” Chief Deputy John Gutho said.

Highway and public works crews went into triage mode, making heavily traveled roads their first priorities.

Assistant Shawano County Highway Commissioner Casey Beyersdorf said keeping state Highway 29 open was first on the county’s list.

“We can’t risk a plug-up on that road,” he said.

A brief warm-up of temperatures in the days before the storm caused a thin layer of ice to form when the snow hit, adding to the treacherous conditions on Highway 29, “where the traffic speeds are already higher than they should be,” Beyersdorf said.

Beyersdorf said crews would continue plowing through the night on Highway 29, after the Department of Transportation requested 24-hour service for the road.

Crews planned to knock off around 9 p.m. for the other roads and start on them again in the morning.

The Highway Department had 41 plows out Tuesday; 14 of them on Highway 29, 14 on county roads and the rest making the rounds of town roads. Even the department’s staff of five mechanics were out driving plows Tuesday, along with three on-call drivers from the department’s management staff.

“You have to have the mentality to stay steady and slow,” Beyersdorf said, rather than reacting to the storm in a panic and racing all over.

“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” he said.

Beyersdorf said the drivers often don’t get the kudos they deserve for putting in their 16- or 17-hour days.

“If it weren’t for the talent, experience and skill of dedicated staff, this would be a lot more difficult,” Beyersdorf said.

Shawano Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard said the constant snowfall was tough to keep up with, but that crews managed well given the conditions.

“Traffic is moving,” he said.

Sheppard said there were several cars in ditches, primarily on East Green Bay Street where some drivers apparently missed their targeted driveways.

The weather seemed to be keeping some traffic off the streets.

“There’s not so many people out,” Sheppard said.

Heavily traveled routes in the city like Green Bay and Main streets got top priority, along with emergency and school routes, Sheppard said.

Green Bay Street took some doubling up of plows and it wasn’t until the afternoon that crews were able to start hitting residential streets, he said.

Schools closed early, many of them calling it a day around noon, and after-school activities were cancelled. Most area clubs and organizations called off their plans for the evening.

Shawano city and county government offices remained open, but some employees were allowed to leave early.

It was also business as usual at City Hall, and apparently not all city residents were overly fazed by the weather. The staff at City Hall reported one man came in to conduct city business wearing a pair of shorts.

Nearly eight inches of snow was reported by Tuesday evening, with an additional two to four inches still in the forecast overnight.

The city of Clintonville declared a snow emergency that remains in effect until noon Wednesday. The emergency means cars may not park on city streets.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano County officials are hoping a wage study being conducted here will get a better reception than a similar study did in Oconto County.

The Oconto County study was done by Madison-based Carlson-Dettmann Consulting LLC, which the Shawano County Board of Supervisors voted 25-1 last month to do a wage and job classification study here at a cost of $42,000.

Though Oconto County officials expected some dissatisfaction, administrators estimated perhaps 10 percent of the county’s 250 employees would appeal the new pay scale adopted in November.

Instead, 73 employees are taking part in the appeal process that gets under way this week.

Under the plan, compensation increased from 0 to 8 percent. No employees had their wages cut; the few determined to be overcompensated had their pay frozen.

Shawano County Administrative Coordinator Tom Madsen said it’s still too early to tell how the local study will shake out or what recommendations will be made.

“We’re in the very early stages of this,” he said.

Madsen said Carlson-Dettmann is also involving employees in the process.

“They’ve had meetings with the employees and those meetings were well-attended,” he said. “They had a representative here for two days meeting with staff all over the county.”

Employees are currently filling out questionnaires about their jobs and job duties and Carlson-Dettmann will be back for another round of interviews, Madsen said. The study is expected to be wrapped up and in front of the County Board in March.

The first round of appeals for Oconto County employees is scheduled to be discussed Friday and Monday between department heads and Carlson-Dettmann representatives. The firm performed an employee classification/compensation study for a fee of $55,000 and recommended the pay scale approved by supervisors.

The county’s Personnel and Wages Committee is scheduled to review Carlson-Dettmann’s recommendations on Feb. 6 and hold a second round of appeals on Feb. 7 and 13. Any changes to the pay plan will require approval from the committee and the County Board, which is scheduled to review the committee’s recommendations on March 20.

According to Oconto County Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann, whatever appeals are granted will take effect with the March 23 pay period; no retroactive pay will be given.

Oconto County officials set aside $250,000 in the 2014 budget to cover the wage increases resulting from the study. Employee compensation increased about 30 percent in 2014 for a total of about $235,000 — an additional $178,000 for wages and $57,000 for fringe benefits.

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With 5 to 8 inches of snow expected in the region,.Shawano public schools and Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano are closing two hours early Tuesday, and afternoon Early Childhood sessions have been canceled.

Menominee Indian schools and Menominee Tribal School will close at noon. Menominee Indian Head Start will close at 12:30.

Gresham public schools are closing at 12:30 p.m.

Marion has canceled afternoon 4-year-old kindergarten.

Bonduel public private schools will close at 1 p.m.

Clintonville public and private schools will close at 1 p.m., with the recreation center closing at 1:30 p.m.

Pulaski will close in-town schools at 12:30 p.m. and out-of-town schools at 1:30 p.m.

Gillett schools will close at 1 p.m. Afternoon kindergarten is canceled.

Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout today and tonight.

With snow expected to continue throughout the day, motorists are being asked to
refrain from travelling unless absolutely necessary as the Winter Storm Warning
continues for many counties in North Central Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Patrol has responded to several run-offs and crashes across the
region. Highway crews are out plowing state highways, but the snow and gusting
winds is making snow removal difficult. Roads are icy, and motorists are advised to
be extra cautious on interchange ramps.

If you must travel, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds
motorists to be prepared for the unexpected and check winter road conditions before
leaving home by visiting 511.wi.gov.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 12

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 1400 block of South Lincoln Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 100 block of North Airport Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Presbyterian Street.

Theft — A chainsaw was reported stolen in the 900 block of South Sawyer Street.

Burglary — Police investigated an attempted burglary in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of South Smalley Street.

Jan. 11

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of East Center Street.

Burglary — Police responded to a residential break-in in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Prospect Street and Ridlington Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Andrews Street.

Jan. 10

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Prospect Circle.

Accidents — Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at Park Street and Birch Hill Lane, a single-vehicle accident at Airport Drive and County Road B, and a two-vehicle accident on East Green Bay Street. No injuries were reported.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Old Lake Road.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 12

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 55-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after a traffic stop on County Road A in Bowler.

Fire — Authorities responded to a house fire on Welhaven Road in Lessor.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Northwestern Avenue in Angelica.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ah Toh Wuk Circle in Bowler.

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

Jan. 11

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Gumaer Road in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Koonz Lake Lane in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged 12 accidents, including an injury accident on County Road N in Birnamwood and four deer-related crashes.

Jan. 10

Deputies logged 56 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Maders Circle in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road T in Waukechon.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Maple Court in Shawano.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Glenwood Court in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged 25 accidents, including an injury accident on North Branch Road in Seneca and two deer-related crashes.

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By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski The Crescent Pitcher Show is scheduled to be sold off at a sheriff’s sale in February. The theater, which ran movies after their circulation ended in first-run movie theaters, closed in December.

The Crescent Pitcher Show in downtown Shawano, which closed in December, is scheduled to be sold off at a sheriff’s sale next month, according to court documents.

A ruling granting the foreclosure was issued in October. A three-month redemption period during which owner Paul Routhieaux had the opportunity to make good on the outstanding debt and retain the property expired Wednesday.

BMO Harris Bank filed a civil suit in August against Routhieaux and his parents, James and Jean, who had taken out the original mortgage on the property in 2005, according to the suit. Routhieaux bought the business from his parents in 2008.

The suit maintains Routhieaux also signed a promissory note backing up the debt.

The original amount of the mortgage was $146,250, according to court documents. The suit alleged the unpaid balance and principal left on the debt was $104,191.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. in October granted the bank’s motion for foreclosure, ruling that the total amount due the bank with court costs and legal fees came to $106,460.

Court records do not show any response from Routhieaux to the suit and Kussel noted in his ruling that there had been no argument from the defendants.

The property is scheduled to be sold off at 9 a.m. Feb. 12 at a public auction in the lobby of the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St.

Late in November, Routhieaux announced the theater would have one more weekend run before closing on Dec. 1.

During an interview after he made the announcement, Routhieaux said he was unable to secure financing for the roughly $50,000 he estimated it would cost for the movie house to convert to digital projection.

Studios have been pushing theaters to go digital and have been making it more difficult to get the 35 mm prints the Pitcher Show had relied on, Routhieaux said.

The original Crescent Theater, at 220 S. Main St., closed down in the mid-1980s. In 1996, Routhieaux and his parents revived it, with the added twist of pizza, sandwiches and other menu items, lounge-style seating with tables and a wait-staff.

The theater showcased Hollywood movies after they left first-run theaters, usually four to seven weeks behind first-run showings — and preferably before they’re on home video. However, the window between first-run showings and a movie going to DVD was getting increasingly narrower, Routhieaux said.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Seymour man was sentenced to prison Thursday for sexual assaults that took place in Shawano and Calumet counties.

Norbert DeGroot, 73, was given 15 years in prison and another 10 years extended supervision for repeated sexual assault of a child.

DeGroot was sentenced in Calumet County in a case that was consolidated with the Shawano County charges.

In handing down his sentence, Calumet County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Froehlich called DeGroot “the monster that haunts children’s dreams.”

DeGroot was previously convicted of second degree sexual assault of a child in Shawano County Circuit Court in February 1989. He was sentenced to five years probation.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies started investigating new allegations in 2006 involving sexual contact with two children. However, the children involved did not disclose the alleged assaults until 2012, according to the criminal complaint.

Several agencies subsequently joined Shawano County authorities in the investigation, including the state Department of Justice, the Calumet County Sheriff’s Department, and the Seymour and New Holstein police departments.

DeGroot pleaded no contest in October to sexually assaulting a 4-year-old child on at least three occasions from January through May of 2006. Another charge of first-degree sexual assault of a child was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 9

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Assist — Police assisted Shawano County with locating a suspect in a domestic disturbance incident.

Harassment — Police investigated a Facebook harassment complaint in the 400 block of East Division Street.

Juvenile — Police logged two truancy complaints from Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Harassment — Police investigated a Facebook harassment complaint at Shawano Community Middle School.

Fraud — Police investigated a credit card fraud complaint on Prospect Circle.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 9

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

OAR — A 28-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 117 in the town of Washington.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an Internet fraud complaint on Freeborn Street in Cecil.

Vandalism — An ice shack was reported vandalized on the west shore of Shawano Lake.

Fraud — Shawano County Social Services reported a fraud complaint on Humphrey Circle in Shawano.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Cherry Street in Bowler.

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

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Marion business owner is facing criminal charges for allegedly passing a couple of worthless checks that totaled more than $5,000.

Tom A. Wulf, 47, who is listed in the complaint as doing business as Big Lug Trailers, LLC, is charged with one felony and one misdemeanor count of issuing a worthless check. The felony count was due to one of the checks being more than $2,500.

Wulf allegedly wrote a check in June of last year to the Al Ko Kober Corp. of Elkhart, Ind., in the amount of $3,223.02, according to the criminal complaint. The check came back for non-sufficient funds.

Wulf is also accused of writing a check for $2,226.13 in July to Redneck Trailer Supplies of Springfield, Mo. That check also bounced, according to the criminal complaint.

Wulf could face a maximum penalty of 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the felony count if convicted. The misdemeanor count carries a maximum nine months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

Wulf was released on a $1,000 signature bond after a hearing Monday in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court. He is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on March 10.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 8

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 31-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint on Humphrey Circle.

Warrant — A 36-year-old man was taken into custody on an Outagamie County warrant in the 1000 block of Waukechon Street.

Disturbance — A charge of domestic violence-related battery was referred against a 32-year-old man after a disturbance in the 1100 block of South Smalley Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 8

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Pioneer Avenue in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Gresham School.

Assault — A reported assault on Alberts Lane in Waukechon was determined to be unfounded.

Accidents — Authorities logged one minor accident.

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A Gresham man was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges of running a marijuana operation out of his home.

Larry E. Antonsen, 43, is facing felony counts of maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

Stockbridge-Munsee Police and Shawano County sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant at Antonsen’s residence Monday morning and seized three one-gallon bags of marijuana containing a total 288.6 grams from a padlocked closet, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities maintain in the complaint that the amount of marijuana found, along with scales and a backpack containing items used for harvesting marijuana, indicated the drug wasn’t intended for personal use, but “would be consistent with an individual growing marijuana and selling it.”

Antonsen was taken into custody at the scene.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck set a cash bond for Antonsen of $2,500; half of what was requested by the district attorney’s office, according to court records.

Antonsen could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and 3 1/2 years and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of maintaining a drug trafficking place.

He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Antonsen is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

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By: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

A Keshena man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Green Bay to 11 years and three months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release for sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl last summer.

Jacob J. Zhuckkahosee, 20, was sentenced at the top of the advisory federal guidelines because of the age of the victim, a prior sexual assault conviction as a juvenile, and his need for substance abuse and sex offender treatment, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Whittemore said.

According to the criminal complaint:

Between June 15 and July 17, Zhuckkahosee went to a friend’s residence on the Menominee Indian Reservation on the day of the assault and got high on synthetic marijuana. The friend left but the girl victim came over and sat next to Zhuckkahosee.

No one else was present when Zhuckkahosee made sexual contact with the girl. The girl began to cry and Zhuckkahosee stopped and told her to go home.

The girl’s mother told reservation police on July 17 that her daughter complained about being sexually abused by Zhuckkahosee.

During a July 23 interview at the Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center in Green Bay, the girl told staff that Zhuckkahosee took off her clothes except her underwear before making the sexual contact.

Zhuckkahosee told the FBI that he was sorry for what he did and wanted to get treatment or counseling. He entered a guilty plea on Oct. 15 to a federal indictment charging him with the sexual abuse of a person under the age of 16 years.

Zhuckkahosee’s attorney, Thomas Phillip, sought a sentence near the bottom of the 108- to 135-month guideline range. District Judge William Greisbach considered Zhuckkahosee’s early guilty plea to the charge, his expressed remorse and desire to get counseling but still sentenced him at the top of the guideline range, Whittemore said Thursday.

Zhuckkahosee has been in custody since being charged on Aug. 19. He will be assigned to a federal prison soon.

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By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Students file outside of Olga Brener Intermediate School at the end of school Wednesday to wait for the bus or be picked up by parents. Schools were back in session Wednesday after two days of closing due to subzero temperatures combined with lower wind chills.

The polar vortex that gripped Wisconsin and half of the United States in its frigid grip this week impacted area schools as much as any other entity.

Schools were closed Monday and Tuesday after temperatures approached minus 20 degrees and wind chills went beyond minus 40 degrees at times. Tigerton and Wittenberg-Birnamwood school districts, along with Menominee Tribal School, made the decision Friday to cancel school for at least one day, followed by the Shawano and Menominee Indian districts on Saturday, and Bowler, Bonduel and Gresham on Sunday.

Schools plan extra days in their calendar for inclement weather, usually days where heavy snow has fallen and traveling on roads can be treacherous. The subzero temperatures this week took a huge chunk out of districts’ reserve days.

For Shawano School District, the reserve is depleted. District Administrator Gary Cumberland said Wednesday that the district only had two extra days built into its calendar, so he is uncertain what could happen to the district’s schedule if schools have to be closed again.

“I don’t have the answer on how we’re going to make it up,” Cumberland said. “Frankly, I was hoping we wouldn’t have to use two of them.”

In the past, some school districts have shortened spring break, cancelled teacher in-service days and, in extreme circumstances, extended the school year so the school year totals 180 school days as required by state law.

Cumberland noted that there have been occasions when the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has set aside closures due to an “act of God.” He said he hopes a polar vortex qualifies.

Bonduel School District is in a slightly better situation, according to District Administrator Peter Behnke. The district scheduled four snow days into its calendar and used two this week.

Behnke said closing the schools Monday and Tuesday was a no-brainer, even without the wind chills, as the district has a past practice to close school if the temperature is expected to dip below minus 20.

“We don’t have a way to test wind speeds,” Behnke said. “We use the bus garage here in Bonduel (as a gauge) because we know the temperatures vary across the district.”

Behnke has usually closed school when there is heavy snow, and he recalls closing occasionally when road conditions were extremely icy. The last time Bonduel had to close because of subzero temperatures was January 2009, he said.

For Shawano, it has been considerably longer. Cumberland said records showed the last temperature related cancellation was in 1996.

Shawano’s policy is to delay school by an hour or more when the temperature reaches minus 20 and cancel if it is expected to approach minus 30. Cumberland said he felt he should err on the side of caution.

“I came to school one of the mornings, and it was minus 18, but the wind chills were nearly 50 degrees below zero,” he said. “(Wind chills) weren’t a big part of the equation, but it was too cold for kids to be out there.”

Bonduel bus drivers started the buses Tuesday to see how they would run, and there was a “gelling effect,” in some of them, Behnke said. He noted the temperature that day approached minus 20, but the temperature went below that around Navarino.

“Even this morning, we had trouble with the filters and gel collecting on some of them, which affects their performance,” Behnke said. “Fortunately, our mechanics did a good job getting everything cleaned up and going.”

Shawano’s contracted company, Grosskopf Bus, did not have as much difficulty starting buses during the freeze, but Cumberland noted Green Bay school administrators he contacted had a problem with their buses, which is why that district decided to close for a third day, even though temperatures crept above zero Wednesday.

“They had some problems yesterday getting their buses started,” Cumberland said. “That was a factor that went into their decision (to close Wednesday).”

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By: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

There will be several races on the ballot in Clintonville for the April 1 general election, but it was not clear Wednesday whether the ballot would include a challenge to Mayor Judith Magee.

Tricia Rose, publisher of the Clintonville Chronicle, planned to file papers to challenge Magee. Rose was backing out of a parking space to take her nomination papers to City Hall about 12 minutes before the 5 p.m. filing deadline Tuesday when she struck a parked car, she said.

After calling 911 to report the accident, she called her husband to pick up the papers and file them for her, Rose said. He arrived at City Hall at 5:05 p.m. City Clerk Peggy Johnson contacted the Government Accountability Board on Wednesday morning to determine if the papers could be accepted. The board asked for additional information, and as of late Wednesday had not made a decision.

Three of five alderpersons whose terms expire this spring will face opposition.

Incumbent Al Miller and former Alderman James Krause will compete in District I. Incumbent Alderman Steve Kettenhoven will be opposed by former Alderman John Wilson in District III. Longtime incumbent Mike Hankins will fact opposition from Mary Beth Kuester in District IV.

Incumbents Gloria Dunlavy and Jeannie Schley will run unopposed in District II and V, respectively.

Incumbent Clintonville Board of Education members Tim Neely and Ben Huber will face opposition from retired teacher Jim Schultz.

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By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

District 5 Supervisor Sandy Steinke said in an interview Wednesday that she quit her new job because she couldn’t get time away to attend Shawano County Board meetings.

Steinke originally said last month she would not run for another term on the board because of time conflicts with her job.

The board meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday from May through September and at 9 a.m. the remaining months.

Steinke’s announcement sparked a push by the county Administrative and Insurance Committee to move County Board meetings to the evening year round. The measure was defeated 16-10 on the County Board floor last month.

In a surprise turnaround, Steinke took out papers last week for another two-year term.

“I chose that it was important that I stick it out with the County Board,” Steinke told a Leader reporter after a Shawano Common Council meeting Wednesday.

Steinke said she gave her notice at the Eye and Vision Clinic in De Pere on Tuesday.

She said she is looking for a new employer she hopes will be more flexible regarding her board commitments.

“I enjoy it,” she said. “I enjoy working with the people of Shawano and want to continue to do so. I’ll be looking for hopefully a job in the area.”

Steinke’s continuation on the board, however, is not guaranteed beyond April. She is facing a challenge for the seat from John Granchay.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Shawano teen facing multiple felony charges for a joyriding spree last year pleaded no contest Tuesday to five counts of auto theft, as well as felony counts of reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and bail jumping.

Lindsay R. Holstrom, 17, was scheduled for sentencing on March 3 following a pre-sentence investigation.

Three other felony counts of bail jumping and 12 misdemeanor bail jumping counts were dismissed under the plea agreement, along with misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer, theft and criminal damage to property.

Holstrom was accused of stealing three cars and trying to steal a fourth during a 12-hour crime spree in the city of Shawano on May 12. She was waived into adult court on the charges.

She was later accused of stealing another car in the city on June 21 after she was released on a $3,000 signature bond in the earlier case. A $10,000 cash bond was ordered after her second arrest.

During the June 21 incident, Holstrom allegedly drove through several yards attempting to elude police, striking and damaging a boat trailer at one point and ramming the front driver’s side corner of a patrol car that had pulled up alongside her.

The roughly quarter-mile pursuit ended with Holstrom ditching the vehicle and fleeing on foot. The Police Department’s K-9 unit was brought in and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies assisted in the search. She was located in a nearby backyard.

Holstrom could face a maximum 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine for reckless endangerment. She is accused of endangering the safety of a police officer when she allegedly rammed his squad.

Holstrom could also face six years and a $10,000 fine on the felony bail jumping charge, and 3½ years and a $10,000 fine on each of the felony charges of auto theft and fleeing an officer.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 7

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of River Heights.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Prairie Street.

Warrant — An 18-year-old male was taken into custody on a warrant at Washington and Prairie streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of South Union Street.

Shoplifting — Goodwill Industries, 300 Lakeland Road, reported a shoplifting incident.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 7

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road K in Waukechon.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., Shawano.

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

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 7

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Police investigated an identity theft complaint on South Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on South Main Street.

Theft — A theft was reported on South Main Street.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Nearly a third of incumbent Shawano County Board supervisors will face challengers in April’s spring election, though one less than expected after one candidate learned he had filed in the wrong district.

The deadline was 5 p.m. Tuesday for potential candidates for area municipal races to return their nomination papers and supporting signatures. Candidates for local school boards, who aren’t required to gather signatures, also had until 5 p.m. to file a declaration of candidacy.

All 27 county supervisors are up for re-election and all have filed for another two-year term. Eight of them will have opposition on the April 1 ballot.

• District 5 incumbent Sandy Steinke will face a challenge from John Granchay. The district includes Wards 9 and 10 in the city of Shawano. Another possible candidate, Billy Suprise, did not return his nomination papers.

• District 10 incumbent Robert Krause will be up against challenger David Korth. The district includes Ward 3 of the town of Washington and Wards 1 and 2 of Green Valley.

• District 12 incumbent Kathy Luebke will face a challenge from Ken Bierhals. The district includes the town of Maple Grove, Ward 2 of the town of Lessor and the part of Pulaski in Shawano County.

• District 18 incumbent Steven Gueths will be up against challenger Cheryl Klapste. The district includes Wards 2 and 3 of the town of Richmond.

• District 19 incumbent and County Board Vice Chairman Arlyn Tober will face a challenge from Leone Schneidewend. The district includes the town of Pella, Ward 2 of the town of Herman and Ward 1 of the town of Grant.

• District 20 incumbent Rick Giese will face opposition from challenger Lauralee Roe. The district includes Ward 1 of the town of Herman, Ward 2 of Red Springs and all of the village of Gresham.

• District 23 incumbent Ray Faehling will go up against challenger Annette Rockey. The district includes Fairbanks and Tigerton.

• District 27 incumbent Marion Wnek will face a challenge from former county supervisor Jon Zwirschitz. The district includes the towns of Hutchins and Almon and the village of Mattoon.

In addition to County Board races, there will be a three-way contest for two seats on the Shawano School Board.

Incumbents Julie Van Dyck and Marcia Yeager are seeking re-election in Area 4, as is challenger Beth McFarland. The two top vote-getters will be elected.

Michael Sleeper, who was appointed to Area 2 last year to replace Jim Heinz, is running unopposed.

In the city of Shawano, Mayor Lorna Marquardt, City Attorney Tim Schmid and alderpersons Rhonda Strebel, Fred Ponschok and John Hoeffs are unopposed.

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By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A Caroline man who filed last month to run against County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann in the spring election was notified shortly before the filing deadline Tuesday that he was running in the wrong district.

Ronald Grunewald had expected to be a candidate for the District 22 seat held by Erdmann, but he was informed about 3 p.m. Tuesday that his home address was in District 19.

The filing deadline for the April 1 election was 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The confusion apparently stems from the redistricted map of County Board seats approved by the board after the 2010 Census.

District 22 covers the towns of Seneca and Morris and Ward 2 of the town of Grant. It borders Ward 1 of the town of Grant, which is located in District 19.

Though the color-coded map clearly shows the district boundaries — with District 22 in blue and District 19 in pink — a tiny portion of District 19 pink juts out into the blue of District 22 south of the Embarrass River and north of County Road G.

The pink patch is partly obscured by the line representing Elm Street, where Grunewald lives.

Grunewald, who moved to the district in July, said he had turned in some 50 signatures from District 22 residents in support of his nomination — 30 more than he needed.

“People were excited” about his candidacy, he said, and he was preparing campaign signs.

Grunewald said he was stunned to get the call from the county clerk’s office.

“I took out papers in the second week of December, and nobody said anything,” he said, even though he listed his address when he got his papers.

Grunewald said the map he was given at that time was not as detailed as the “blown-up” version sent to him when the clerk’s office notified him of the mistake.

“The map doesn’t look like (District 19) comes into Caroline,” he said. “I’m 100 feet from the right district.”

Grunewald said it “seems awfully convenient” that he was notified of the mistake just two hours before the filing deadline. He said there were others who might have been interested in running against Erdmann if he had not filed.

“This took the wind out of our sails,” he said. “We could have had somebody else run.”

Grunewald said he wouldn’t have been interested in running in District 19, represented by Vice Chairman Arlyn Tober.

“I don’t want to run against someone I like,” he said.

Grunewald said there is nothing to be done about the situation.

“I don’t see how I could contest it,” he said. “I’m in the wrong district.”

County Clerk Rosemary Rueckert said she only learned about the problem Tuesday afternoon, when someone brought it to her attention. That prompted a closer look, she said.

Rueckert said she called Grunewald within 10 minutes of discovering the error.

Ultimately, Rueckert said, Grunewald should have been aware of which district he was in.

“He was given a map and a legal description,” she said. “He had a copy of everything. … If you look at the description, it’s pretty clear where the boundary is.”

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