Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

May 17

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 200 block of West Green Bay Street.

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

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported two female shoplifters stole liquor and a diaper bag.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 17

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Authorities responded to a drug complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in the town of Wittenberg.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on East Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Grand Avenue in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Marsh Road in the town of Aniwa.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

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Patient traffic drives service changes

Walk-In Care at ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano will change its weekend hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, effective May 28. Current weekend walk-in hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Weekday hours remain 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Patients must be registered 15 minutes prior to closing time to be seen that day. Traci Berry, ThedaCare practice administrator in Shawano, said the clinic staff evaluates patient needs based on the time they arrive and register. Having an earlier start time on weekend mornings will better meet patient demand, she noted.

Berry also announced the addition of two more nurse practitioners to the walk-in care staff. Physician assistant Kendra Konitzer will be joined by advanced practice nurse prescribers Margaret Anderson and Kathleen Elertson. Konitzer and Anderson are both full time; Elertson is part time.

Walk-In Care is located within ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano, the clinic adjacent to ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, at 100 County Road B. It was established in January when the prior FastCare model was discontinued at the old hospital.

“Walk-in care is not urgent care,” Konitzer said.

Patients should expect 15- to 20-minute appointments and be prepared to wait, based on the popularity of the walk-in care clinic.

“We see about 30 patients a day,” Konitzer said.

ThedaCare Walk-In Care patients can be treated for most ailments that would normally be treated at a regular physician’s office appointment, including bronchitis, cough, thrush, rash, pain/strains, eczema, diaper rash, insect bites, urinary tract infections, cold, flu, shingles, ear wax removal, asthma, cellulitis and strep. Sports physicals are also available. Walk-in care is not for well visits or the management of chronic conditions.

“We help people who might otherwise end up in the ER,” Konitzer said. “We’ll connect them to their primary care providers for follow-up appointments, or if they need referrals to specialists, we can start that, too.”

ThedaCare serves over 240,000 patients annually and employs more than 7,000 health care professionals. It has seven hospitals, located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose, as well as 34 Cares in nine counties.

For information, visit www.thedacare.org.

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Ribbon-cutting on FridayBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Part of the former Kmart store will reopen later this week with new tenant Dunham’s Sports. Tenants are also being sought to fill the remainder of the former Kmart space in Shawano Plaza on East Green Bay Street.

The much-anticipated arrival in Shawano of Dunham’s Sports takes place this weekend, with a ribbon-cutting Friday to mark the sporting goods chain’s opening in the space vacated by Kmart nearly two years ago.

Dunham’s will move into roughly a third of the 87,000 square-foot former Kmart site in the Shawano Plaza, 1211 E. Green Bay St. Tenants are being sought to fill the remainder of the space.

Shawano Plaza is owned and managed by Atlanta-based RCG Ventures LLC, a privately funded real estate investment group that acquires and develops commercial real estate.

Earlier this year, the city approved a developer’s agreement that called for the city to provide RCG with a $300,000 grant to assist with remodeling and renovation.

RCG is investing about $1.8 million in the project.

The city also expanded a Tax Incremental Finance district along East Green Bay Street to include the Shawano Plaza so that financial assistance could be provided.

“We’re very excited to see it opening,” said Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., which worked with the city on the agreement. “It will be really great for the community.”

Heling said the closing of Kmart was a blow to the community and the city was concerned about filling the vacant space.

The Shawano Kmart closed in July 2014, laying off 55 employees. It had been in business at that location since 1989.

“The owners made a concerted effort to fill that space,” Heling said. “This will be a great fit for that area. I’m looking forward to seeing all the goods they will have available for the community.”

The ribbon cutting will be held at 9 a.m. Friday.

The first 100 adults in line Friday will receive a Dunham’s Sports T-shirt. There will be free six-packs of Coke or Diet Coke to anyone making a $10 purchase, while supplies last.

The first 100 adults on Saturday will receive a Dunham’s Sports baseball cap. On Sunday, the first 50 people or families in line will receive a $10 Dunham’s Sports gift card.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday,

“We are excited to be opening a store in the Shawano community,” said Jeff Lynn, chairman and chief executive officer of Dunham’s Athleisure Corporation.

With the opening of the Shawano location, there are 22 Dunham’s Sports in Wisconsin and over 225 chainwide.

The new Shawano store offers a full line of traditional sporting goods and athletic equipment, as well as a wide variety of active and casual sports apparel and footwear, Lynn said.

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Event deemed success despite low turnoutBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Michelle Keshena shares some of the views held by Menominee tribal members regarding police attitudes toward Native Americans during a question-and-answer session Saturday at City Hall in Shawano, while Tribal Chairman Joan Delabreau looks on. The forum was hosted by the Shawano Police Department as part of an outreach to the Native American community.

Shawano police sat down with members of the Menominee Indian Tribe for a question-and-answer session and a behind-the-scenes look at departmental operations Saturday as part of an outreach effort to the Native American community.

Only five members of the community attended, including Tribal Chairman Joan Delabreau and Tribal Police Chief Mark Waukau, but all felt the event was a good start at opening the lines of communication and understanding between the communities.

“I was very appreciative of the invitation,” Delabreau said. “I thought this was an excellent presentation, and getting that knowledge about the city of Shawano, I think it was eye-opening.”

Delabreau said she appreciated the openness and transparency that Shawano police are trying to get out to the community, whether it’s geared to Native Americans or others.

“I just think it was a wonderful opportunity to engage with the police force,” she said.

Waukau said tribal and Shawano police have collaborated on projects in the past, but Saturday’s program allowed a chance to get word about that cooperation out to both communities.

“We can show people how we can work together and do things,” he said. “We’ve worked on a number of projects before and we want to do more good things and build those relationships. If people can see those things, we can get along and make our communities safe for everybody.”

Waukau said people need to have an understanding about how police operate and why they do what they do.

“People have concerns about law enforcement issues,” he said.

Some of those issues, including stereotypes and suspicions about the police, were discussed Saturday.

Lt. Dan Mauel highlighted the department’s effort to train its officers in fair and impartial policing, aimed at addressing unconscious biases that officers might have.

The initiative is part of a recent nationwide effort in law enforcement.

Officer Tony Escalante, a former tribal officer who joined the Shawano department last year, went into detail about how and why traffic stops are conducted, and addressed the perception among some that Native American drivers were being targeted.

The four-hour session was patterned much along the lines of the citizen police academies the department has been holding over the past year for the public, with demonstrations of various aspects of police operations and officer presentations.

Police Chief Mark Kohl said he felt Saturday’s event was successful despite the low attendance.

“Even though the event did not have as many attendees as I had hoped, the exchange of ideas and what the Shawano Police Department has to offer was hugely beneficial,” he said.

Kohl said the department has been invited to present the program in Keshena in the near future.

“Our hope is to invite more tribal members from the Menominee, Stockbridge-Munsee and Ho-Chunk Nations that want more information on the Shawano Police Department and how we can partner-up in crime fighting,” he said.

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Feds say effort is running out of moneyBy: 

The Associated Press

Dozens of American Indian communities on Tuesday joined an initiative to return millions of acres of reservation land to the control of tribal governments as U.S. officials warned the $1.9 billion program will run out of money before the task is completed.

A total of 63 reservations, including the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, in 16 states in the West and Midwest were added to the Interior Department’s “Land Buyback Program,” bringing the total number involved to 105.

The land purchases resulted from a legal settlement with American Indians led by Elouise Cobell of Montana, who said the U.S. mismanaged trust money held by the government on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Indians.

The program has paid more than $742 million to landowners since 2013. Looking ahead to its 2022 expiration date, Interior officials indicated the remaining money will be gone and they’ll need to go back to Congress to work out a solution.

The 1.5 million acres restored to tribes to date represent the “low-hanging fruit” of relatively inexpensive land, said John Dossett, general counsel for the National Congress of American Indians. Land that’s more valuable — for example, because it has timber, oil or other natural resources — could cost more and take longer to acquire, he said.

“Tribes were hoping for this $1.9 billion obviously, and it’s a very significant down-payment, but it’s not going to be enough,” Dossett said.

The goal is to consolidate land that has split or “fractionated” ownership, freeing it up for economic development or other uses by tribal governments.

An 1887 law, the Dawes Act, split tribal lands into individual allotments that were inherited by multiple heirs with each passing generation.

As a result, parcels of land on some reservations are owned by dozens, hundreds or even thousands of individual Indians. That can make property all but impossible to sell or develop.

There are nearly 3 million fractional land interests owned by 245,000 people spread over 150 reservations that are eligible for the program. Many of the purchases to date comprised large parcels on Western reservations with a large land base.

Interior Deputy Secretary Michael Connor said in a Tuesday statement that time limits and the money available from the Cobell settlement “do not provide enough to consolidate all fractional interests across Indian Country.”

Connor has been told by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to craft options by early July for extending the life of the program.

That could include bumping back the expiration date, adding more money or some combination of the two, Interior spokeswoman Treci Johnson said.

AT A GLANCE

Wisconsin tribes added to the U.S. Interior Department program that seeks to restore land to tribal ownership:

- Forest County Potawatomi Community

- Ho-Chunk Nation

- Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

- Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

- Stockbridge-Munsee Community

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DNR working with farmer on nonlethal deterrentsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano County has two confirmed wolf attacks so far this year, the first time there have been any reported here in three years.

A Bowler woman lost her pet dog to a wolf on May 4, only three days after a wolf killed a heifer on the Paiser Dairy Farm in the town of Richmond.

David MacFarland, large carnivore specialist for the Department of Natural Resources, said it’s too early to tell whether the wolf threat is increasing for Shawano County.

According to a wolf depredation report on the DNR website, the two incidents would be the first confirmed wolf attacks in Shawano County since 2013.

The wolf harassment threat increases as one goes farther northwest in Wisconsin, according to the DNR’s map of wolf depredation and threats in the state as of 2015.

There have been 17 confirmed wolf attacks in the state so far this year, according to the DNR, which have included pets and hunting dogs as well as livestock. There were 70 attacks in 2015.

The gray wolf population has grown since being put back on the Federal Endangered Spices list in 2014, according to the DNR.

The last available figures put the population at anywhere from 746 to 771, though those numbers are nearly a year old.

MacFarland said the DNR is about a month away from wrapping up this year’s count.

MacFarland said the Bowler attack, which he called “unfortunate and traumatic for the pet owner,” fits the pattern for wolf attacks on unaccompanied pets during the night.

In the case of the heifer attack, McFarland said, the DNR is working with the farm owner on nonlethal efforts to repel future wolf attacks.

He said there are a number of tools, including flashing lights and noise-producing devices that can discourage the wolves.

Other methods are electrical fences and or fences draped with flags that blow in the wind and scare off the predators.

“We’ve had good success on other farms with these methods,” he said.

The DNR has a hotline for reporting wolf attacks at 800-228-1368.

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Shawano Police Department

May 16

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Police investigated a reported burglary in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 600 block of West Picnic Street.

Warrant — A 28-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant in the 100 block of North Main Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of West First Street.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle at Hillcrest Primary School, 1410 Waukechon St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 16

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on County Road A in the town of Red Springs.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Loon Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 50-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on state Highway 29 in Bonduel.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Warrant — A 58-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

May 16

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Warning issued for disorderly conduct on South Main Street.

Disturbance — Neighbor dispute on Shaw Street was resolved.

Harassment — Warning issued for harassment on Bennett Street.

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Shawano Police Department

May 15

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the parking lot at Flamingo’s, 1017 E. Green Bay St.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

May 14

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle injury accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Main and Green Bay streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Hamlin Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at Center and Hamlin streets.

May 13

Police logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 800 block of East Green Bay Street.

Truancy — Police logged 12 truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

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

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Airport Drive and Green Bay Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint at Division and Lincoln streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 15

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 22-year-old Bonduel man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 117 in Cecil.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Town Hall Drive in the town of Angelica.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a report of an attempted burglary on Loon Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on County Road Z in the town of Aniwa.

May 14

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 38-year-old Appleton man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

OWI — A 19-year-old Black Creek male was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Park Street in the town of Angelica.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on River Band Lane in the town of Belle Plaine.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Rollman Street in Bowler.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

May 13

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — A 31-year-old Rosholt man was cited for possession of marijuana at the Ho Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in the town of Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Cedar Street in Tigerton.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Carlson Lane in the town of Green Valley.

Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Aniwa and logged three deer-related crashes.

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By: 

Leader Staff

One person was killed and three others were injured Sunday in a a two-vehicle, head-on crash in the town of Pella.

The crash occurred on County Road D, just north of County Road DD, at 3:49 p.m. Sunday, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

One driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was air-lifted to a hospital.

Two passengers also were transported to a hospital by ambulance.

The crash remains under investigation and names had not been released Monday morning.

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Fundraising efforts netting ‘virtually nothing’By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

The leader of an Ohio ministry that focuses on cults is targeting Shawano for what it calls a cult recovery center, though fundraising efforts so far make it seem unlikely to ever happen.

Jay Howard, head of the Religious Research Project, has been trying since last year to raise $172,000 to purchase the New Era House at 105 E. Richmond St. The property is listed for sale.

Fundraising efforts that have included email lists and a 45-day stint on redbasket.org have so far produced “virtually nothing,” according to Howard.

At the same time, the ministry has been fundraising for what it says are its day-to-day operations, raising only $45 in May to cover $700 in expenses, according to a recent email report from the group.

In spite of the financial hurdles, Howard has given interviews to TV stations in Green Bay and Minnesota about his plans for the facility; even going as far as showing a news crew the building where he hopes it will someday go.

Howard remains confident he will raise the funds.

“If God wants this, He will help with the funding,” Howard said.

Money might not be Howard’s only problem. So far, he is unable to cite any support in the community for his project.

Howard said he has talked to a number of pastors in Shawano hoping to get them to bring him in on a speaking tour this summer on the topic of cult education.

He has had no takers.

Because of the resistance, Howard said there was no reason to push just yet for support for the recovery center, “if I can’t get a church to bring me in on cult education.”

Nevertheless, Howard said, he is still eyeing the New Era House.

He said there were several reasons for choosing Shawano, including it’s rural location and its “bucolic feel.”

Also, he said, the New Era boarding house has the amenities his recovery center would need.

“That’s harder to come by than you think,” he said.

Howard said he looked at one facility in Minnesota and two others in Wisconsin before deciding on Shawano.

Another factor, Howard said, was a “mystique” associated with Shawano because of various groups.

He cited in particular the group that was known, some 40 years ago, as the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, headed by Rama Behera.

Behera later changed his name to R.C. Samanta Roy and then to Avraham Cohen, and now heads the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology.

SIST is known to the community primarily as an entity that owns a number of businesses and properties in the city.

“It’s morphed quite substantially,” Howard said.

Howard said Shawano has a number of groups that he would define as cults, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a denomination of the Pentecostal Church known as Oneness Pentecostalism.

For that reason, Howard said, Shawano was a perfect fit for his recovery center.

“You want to put a hospital where sick people are,” he said.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said he hasn’t been approached by Howard with any proposals. He said the facility would likely need a conditional use permit from the plan commission and Common Council, depending on how it’s defined.

A treatment center or institutional use would be allowed at that location with a conditional use permit.

That would mean a public hearing on the proposal, with community members weighing in for or against it.

Howard conceded there could be some community resistance to the center.

“To a degree, your town is sort of war-weary,” he said.

Howard said the center would keep a low profile.

“It would be very low-key,” he said. “There would be no billboards, no ads, no external signs. Only a handful of people will ever know.”

Howard said he wants to tour the building again this summer before making any inquiries with the city.

Howard said there is a real need for a recovery center to help the “handful of thousands” who manage to leave cult groups each year.

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Government defends raid on cropBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Menominee Tribal Chairwoman Joan Delabreau, right, addresses reporters Friday outside the federal courthouse in Green Bay after a judge heard arguments in the tribe’s civil lawsuit against the federal government.

Attorneys battling over a federal raid on a cannabis crop planted by the Menominee Tribe of Indians differed Friday on whether the tribe can legally disregard Wisconsin’s state law banning such crops.

U.S. District Judge William Griesbach heard arguments in a civil lawsuit filed by the tribe after federal drug agents Oct. 23 raided and confiscated the crop, which had been growing on the tribe’s reservation north of Shawano.

Agents later said the crop included thousands of illegal marijuana plants, but Menominee officials insisted it was industrial hemp and they are seeking a judge’s ruling that the tribe is within its rights to grow hemp.

Hemp is a milder form of the cannabis plant and is used legally in many commercial products such as clothing, paper and detergents.

Under farm regulations, the federal government has permitted hemp crops in states where growing such crops is allowed under state law. Wisconsin, however, has not legalized hemp farming, and that has become a central issue in the Menominee tribe’s fight in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.

Lawyers for the tribe argue that the reservation should be regarded as its own state, partly because Wisconsin in the 1970s agreed that the Menominee tribal government could enforce its own criminal laws free from state jurisdiction.

“Wisconsin gave up its right to have its criminal laws apply on the reservation,” tribal attorney Timothy Purdon said in court Friday.

Attorneys for the federal government counter that only states can authorize hemp farming under federal law, and that extending the powers of state government to a native American tribe would go beyond anything that federal lawmakers intended.

“I don’t think Congress was trying to make it very complicated,” government attorney Kathryn Wyer said Friday.

Griesbach gave no indication how soon he would issue a ruling.

The judge questioned attorneys on both sides of the dispute frequently during the 90-minute hearing. He quizzed the tribe’s representatives on the statehood issue, and he asked the government’s lawyers to explain why drug agents chose to confiscate the Menominee crop rather than try a different approach to resolve the matter.

“It seems heavy-handed,” Griesbach said of the raid. “I’m just wondering.”

Tribal Chairwoman Joan Delabreau said after the hearing that she was pleased the tribe had its day in court. The federal drug raid was troubling to Menominee leaders, Delabreau said, adding that she felt confident the tribe’s lawyers had made a compelling case that the tribe’s rights were violated.

Referring to the government’s attorney, Delabreau said: “I was really shocked. I felt her arguments were relatively weak.”

According to tribal leaders, they had alerted federal officials last year when the tribe legalized hemp production and then planted a crop on tribal property along County Road M. Raised in partnership with the College of Menominee Nation, the crop was cited as an experiment to determine whether hemp production could create a new source of economic activity for the impoverished tribe.

Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided the site on the morning of Oct. 23 and confiscated what they later described as 30,000 marijuana plants, some up to 6 feet tall. A federal affidavit said consultants from Colorado were assisting in the operation on a 20-acre site that was protected by security guards. A sign posted at the scene declared it “a permitted and experimental industrial hemp field.”

Menominee tribal leaders objected to the law enforcement action and then filed their federal suit Nov. 18.

The question of whether the tribe’s crop was marijuana or hemp has not been an issue in the civil case.

Lawyers for the tribe have asked Griesbach to issue a summary judgment in their favor, while the government has argued that the matter should be thrown out.

Wyer said Friday that tribal officials have failed to make a credible case for a judge’s ruling because they are challenging the government’s rationale for raiding the cannabis crop rather than challenging the raid itself.

“It’s backwards, your honor,” Wyer said.

Purdon responded that the court does have authority to judge the current dispute. He pointed out that the federal government is disregarding marijuana sales in states where local drug laws have been relaxed, and yet the government, he said, sent armed agents to raid a hemp crop where an impoverished tribe was hoping to find a new source of revenue.

The disagreement between the tribe and government, Purdon said, is not merely hypothetical.

“This a real dispute,” he told the judge. “It does go to the perception of the tribe that they have been treated unfairly.”

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Shawano Police Department

May 12

Police logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 28-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody on a probation warrant at McDonald’s, 1202 E. Green Bay St.

Truancy — Police logged a truancy complaint from Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 300 block of South Main Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 800 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 12

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Old Lake Lane in the town of Wescott.

Theft — A wallet was reported stolen on Elm Street in Bowler.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint on County Road BE in the town of Waukechon.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Clintonville Police Department

May 12

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officers responded to a reported disturbance and damage to property complaint on South Main Street. A 26-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody on a probation hold.

Harassment — Harassment was reported at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.

Harassment — A harassment issue was reported on South Main Street.

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Shawano Ambulance Service has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for patients.

“Shawano Ambulance is dedicated to making our service among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all acute coronary syndrome patients,” said Patrick Trinko, director of operations. “We are pleased to be recognized for our achievements in pre-hospital care for all cardiac patients. Of the roughly 450 ambulance services in the state of Wisconsin, only eight were recognized as Gold level providers, so this is extra special for us.”

EMS agencies perform 12-lead electrocardiograms, which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology. The correct tools, training and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify an appropriate medical center, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Dr. James Jollis, chairman of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals.

“We applaud Shawano Ambulance for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who suffer severe heart attacks.”

Shawano Ambulance Service serves central Shawano County, providing paramedic response to 911 calls in a 324-square-mile area, intercept with outlying ambulances that have patients needing advanced procedures or medications, and transport critically ill and injured patients to specialized facilities throughout the state.

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By: 

Lorna Marquardt, Leader Columnist

I would like to welcome you to my new weekly column “Up Close and Personal” with Lorna. Thank you to the many readers who asked me to continue writing. My previous column, “Positively Shawano,” focused primarily on city government and what was occurring in the city. My new column will expand to include human interest stories, local happenings and events. Once a month, Mayor Jeanne Cronce will co-write the column with me to bring us all up to date on city issues.

There is a Leader reporter who loved to write satire. Seems he enjoyed having a little fun with elected officials, me included. I must admit, I enjoy satire, too, so one of my upcoming articles might have a top 10 list of why the reporter joins Rachel Maddow in supporting Donald Trump.

Many of you told me you like the trivia questions. I will continue to end my column each week with a question to ponder.

I am often asked, “How are you enjoying retirement?”

I will be the first to admit, it is taking a little getting used to. I miss the staff, the residents and the challenges. For those of you who are already retired, perhaps you experienced what I have; the feeling of loss of purpose and identity. I found myself asking, “Who am I now that I am no longer Mayor Marquardt?” As I thought about it, I acknowledged I have several identities: wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, neighbor and now a columnist. I smiled and consoled myself as I thought about the time I will have to spend fulfilling these roles.

I guess life is about change. One day before I retired, my hubby said, “Lorna, I think I will look for a part-time job. Now you will be home to take care of some of the things I have been doing, and you might like some time to yourself.”

I agreed, some alone time might not be bad, but I didn’t really take him too seriously. I thought now that the weather would be getting nicer, he would want to spend his time fishing and enjoying himself outside.

To my surprise, he applied for a few part-time jobs, but no one called and he soon became discouraged. I remember one evening as we were having dinner he said, “I guess no one needs an old guy like me.” I smiled and told him I had lots of jobs for him!

Then one day the call came. He had an interview with Running Inc. to drive city cab. He was so excited. It was exactly the kind of job he wanted: a chance to be with people and to lend a helping hand. After a few weeks of paperwork and background checks, he was hired!

This has turned out to be a good thing for both of us. He is meeting so many nice people. He makes lots of trips to the clinic, hospital and dialysis center. My hubby is a good guy, and I know he is kind as he cheerfully helps those in wheelchairs and others who need assistance.

He told me although he has lived here his entire life, he is learning areas he didn’t know were here. For example, one day he came home and asked, “Do you know where Military Road is?” I told him I didn’t have a clue. Well, I do now because he insisted I get in the car so he could show me.

My hubby is a saver. Having him gone is going to give me a chance to do a little cleaning. While he is driving cab, I will be making several trips to donate items to local charities and Goodwill. Then I just have to hope he doesn’t go to Goodwill and come home with what I took there!

Thank you, readers, I am so happy to be back visiting with you. Keep it positive out there!

This week’s trivia question is: Who was the city assessor in 2000?

Lorna Marquardt is a former mayor of Shawano.Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Group will attempt world mark hereBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

This summer could be one for the record books when it comes to water skiing on the Wolf River.

A group has chosen the Shawano riverfront as the site for a world record attempt at the largest number of people water skiing barefoot simultaneously.

The event is scheduled for June 12, and organizers are encouraging area residents to come out and watch Shawano reach for a place in the annals of water skiing history.

“We hope we pull off a record and stamp Shawano’s name on it,” organizer Eric Gran said.

Gran, a former member of the Shawano Ski Sharks water skiing team, is leader of a group that broke the record last year with 27 barefoot water skiers. Known as The Big Pull, the group this year hopes to include 30 skiers — or more.

With room needed for such a carefully orchestrated achievement, the group has persuaded local officials to temporarily close down the Wolf River to outside boat traffic, approximately between the railroad trestle on the north and the dam on the south.

The river will be closed from 5-9:30 a.m. June 12, giving organizers enough time for multiple attempts at breaking the record.

Richmond town clerk Rick Stadelman said town officials were happy to accommodate the unusual request, both as a safety precaution and as a way of giving area residents a chance to witness a world record.

“I think this is exciting for the Shawano area,” Stadelman said. “It is not often that this type of event would originate in our area.”

Admission for spectators will be free, and organizers say the best place for watching all the action will be the same bleachers at Smalley Park where fans watch the Ski Sharks shows throughout the summer.

Two members of the Ski Sharks are scheduled to be among the skiers on the team attempting the world record. Mick Siolka and Alex Tessar will join 28 others attempting to ski barefoot side by side, traveling at least 300 meters, all pulled by the same boat.

Ski Sharks President Dave Passehl said skiing barefoot is especially tricky because the boat must be traveling faster than normal. Getting 30 barefoot people to stay upright over a distance equal to about three football fields is quite challenging, Passehl said.

“They’re world records for a reason,” he said. “They’re hard to be broken.”

Other members and staff of the Ski Sharks will provide assistance during the event, which will require precise measuring, videotaping and verifying to qualify with the Guinness World Records organization.

The Big Pull group, based in the Midwest, set the record last September on a lake in Wisconsin Rapids.

When the group discovered that the Wisconsin Rapids venue was unavailable this year, organizers had to find a new place to try breaking their record. Gran decided that his old Shawano stomping ground was ideal.

A member of the Ski Sharks from 1988 to 1994, Gran remains closely associated with Shawano. His parents live in the area, and he returns regularly to reconnect and train with the Ski Sharks.

He said establishing a world record on the Wolf River would give him great pleasure.

“It’s a way of bringing something back,” he said, “to a place that will always have a special place in my heart.”

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No impact on current uses, zoningsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano officials made changes to the city’s long-range comprehensive plan Wednesday, primarily to clear the way for a still unnamed manufacturing company to locate here.

They also designated a large swath of land south of the city for a future business park.

The future land uses are not set in stone and can be changed if necessary, city officials said, and proposed future land uses have no impact on current zoning or land uses.

Cities are allowed to plan for future development a mile and a half beyond their borders in the event any of that land is ever annexed.

The revamp of the comprehensive plan was set in motion by expectations that the city will need to rezone a roughly 15-acre parcel of property in the near future for a manufacturing firm that, according to officials, could add more than 100 jobs to the community over the next five years.

City officials have not divulged the name of the company because of confidentiality agreements; but the project was dubbed “Dorothy 2” by a consulting firm that selected the site for the company.

The business would occupy 15 acres of city-owned property in an undeveloped area north of County Road B, east of Waukechon Street and west of Industrial Drive.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said that area is designated as “rural holding” in the comprehensive plan, which would prevent the city from making the zoning change necessary to allow for Dorothy 2 to locate there.

The changes to the comprehensive plan approved by the Shawano Plan Commission and Common Council on Wednesday included designating the area’s future use as light industrial.

“Until someone comes in and asks for it to be zoned for light industrial, the current zoning stays,” Knapp said.

The rezoning would also have to be approved by the commission and the council.

Officials also approved the addition of a new future land use designated “redevelopment mixed use.”

Jaclyn Mich, of Vandewalle and Associates, the firm that worked on the comprehensive plan for the city, said it applies to areas already developed but that have potential for redevelopment.

The new future land use map shows an area east of Main Street between Elizabeth and Richmond streets slated for redevelopment mixed use. It is currently zoned light industrial.

Mich said the new land uses “will provide more reinvestment, more flexibility and more options for property owners.”

The revised comprehensive plan also calls for a future business park south of County Road B stretching south to state Highway 29 in what is now the town of Waukechon.

“It’s the largest policy forward-thinking change in this document,” Knapp said.

Future uses could include offices, institutional uses, professional services and light industrial businesses.

Mich said the goal was to exclude the types of retail businesses and restaurants that might be found along East Green Bay Street in order to protect the Green Bay Street corridor.

“This is a way for the city to grow in a planned and organized fashion,” she said.

Some council members questioned whether some housing shouldn’t also be allowed.

Eddie Sheppard, assistant city administrator, said the city can’t dictate zoning in that area unless or until it is ever annexed from the town of Waukechon; something that would have to happen at the request of a developer.

He said if housing developments do start to pop up in that area, the comprehensive plan could be reviewed again.

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10 ‘focus group feasts’ planned

The Menominee Tribal Clinic recently received a $10,000 grant for its Menominee Food Sharing Focus Group Feasts project.

The grant came from the First Nations Development Institute of Longmont, Colorado.

Ten “focus group feasts” will be held to discuss food sovereignty and food sharing practices featuring native/local foods of the community.

The clinic has been a partner in the Community Engagement Work Group, which identified childhood obesity as a key community issue and helped create the Menominee Wellness Initiative.

“This is a great opportunity for the Menominee community,” said Joan Delabreau, Menominee Tribal chairwoman. “Our tribal partners, through the Community Engagement Group, have worked diligently on gathering the necessary data that identified childhood obesity not only as a crisis for our community, but also a larger symptom of historical trauma.

“Through this initiative, we are in a better position to not only work to change obesity factors with our children, but also work to heal the long-standing wounds of the generations, present and future, brought on through historical and intergenerational trauma. This opportunity will serve as a bridge for our people to connect to our past practices of food sovereignty that yielded a healthier way of life.”

Meanwhile, Menominee students participating in the University of Arkansas School of Law’s 2016 Native Youth in Agriculture Summer Leadership Summit will be eligible to receive $1,000 mini-grants to conduct their own food sovereignty assessment activities in the community.

The information obtained will be used to inform future planning and tailoring of efforts to build a sustainable local food system.

Also, an art contest, “Menominee Youth Feed Ourselves,” will be held over the summer for grades K-12.

Under the Native American Food Systems Initiative, supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, First Nations has awarded grants to 10 native communities looking to conduct food assessments and learn more about the historical, current and future state of their local food systems.

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Shawano Police Department

May 11

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 34-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Shoplifting — A 33-year-old man was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Shoplifting — A 28-year-old woman was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen at Sacred Heart Catholic School, 302 S. Main St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 11

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Morgan Road in the town of Red Springs.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a reported burglary on Big Lake Road in the town of Red Springs.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Juniper Road in the town of Red Springs.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Pine Drive in the town of Red Springs.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on U.S. Highway 45 in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

May 11

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported at Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School, 105 S. Clinton Ave.

Disturbance — A family issue on East 12th Street was reported and matter resolved.

Disturbance — A family issue on Felshow Street was reported and matter resolved.

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct conduct complaint was reported on South Main Street and warning issued.

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Motel/restaurant was popular placeBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams The vacant Bonduel Inn property at 505 W. Green Bay St. includes a former restaurant and bar where area residents once gathered and enjoyed good times together.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams The eight motel rooms are no longer in use, but police got reports recently that someone had broken in and was living there without permission.

The Bonduel Inn, a motel and restaurant that once drew crowds for dinner, drinks and good times, has been condemned as a public health hazard.

The action by the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department means that the vacant property on the western edge of Bonduel at 505 W. Green Bay St. is uninhabitable and faces an uncertain future.

The condemnation imposed May 6 marks a stark reversal of fortune for a business that once brought area residents together to share festive occasions close to home.

“It was kind of a hangout — a place where people went,” former customer Don Reinke said. “We had some fun there.”

The years, however, have not been kind to the Bonduel Inn.

Village officials urged the county health department to get involved after recently discovering that the business had deteriorated and was exhibiting signs of flooding, mold, pest infestation and possibly structural hazards.

Village President Sharon Wussow said demolition could become an option for a property situated in a high-profile location on County Road BE.

“It’s an important entrance to the village, and you want it to look nice,” Wussow said. “And it’s not looking real pretty.”

Property owner Linda Krezinski could not be reached for comment.

Largely vacant for at least the past several months, the compound includes one building with eight motel rooms, another building with the restaurant and tavern, and another that appears to be a private residence for the property’s owner or manager.

Originally known as Trader Charlie’s Bar & Motel, the business thrived during the 1960s and 1970s under owner Charlie Hillenbrand and his wife, Lillian.

Village archives indicate that Hillenbrand sold the business in the mid-1970s to Dave Basterash, who changed the operation’s name to The Viking.

Another former customer, Arlene Grunewald, recalls having dinner and enjoying herself there when the business was doing well and the property was maintained nicely.

“It was a lovely place,” she said. “It started out great, but then it fell apart.”

County tax records indicate that Krezinski acquired the property in 2008. With an assessed value of about $90,000, Krezinski has been paying about $2,000 a year in property taxes on the 1 1/4-acre property.

Neighbors report that the motel and restaurant operation gradually slowed down in business, and the condition of the property deteriorated noticeably in recent years.

“They don’t do anything with it,” said Jesse Bartelt, who operates the neighboring J&B’s Oil & Repair shop.

Krezinski reportedly moved out of town last year, and the property today appears littered with overgrown lawns, broken signs and abandoned vehicles.

“It’s awful. I just get sick over it,” said Grunewald, who lives nearby.

Bonduel police discovered the condition of the buildings recently after investigating a report that someone had broken into one of the motel rooms and was living there without permission. When officers found evidence of flooding, mold and other problems, they contacted the health department.

Health officials inspected the property and reported finding 2 to 3 feet of standing water, several dead rodents, feces from rodents and cats, mounds of trash, moldy carpets and ceilings, and buckling ceiling tiles.

The health department condemned the property, effective May 6, posting orange placards on the property declaring it off-limits to anyone. The action means the owners must submit a plan within 30 days to either fix the problems or demolish the buildings.

Wussow said she is unsure what the future holds, indicating that officials have tried unsuccessfully to contact Krezinski.

Recalling a time in the ’70s when Trader Charlie’s was a popular spot, Wussow said: “It used to be a happening joint. It’s just taken its toll now in time.”

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Vote follows complaints from neighborsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

City officials Wednesday pulled sidewalks for three properties out of a street improvement plan after hearing concerns from neighbors.

The vote by the Common Council also followed a long and often confusing discussion about Shawano’s sidewalk policy and which side of which streets should or shouldn’t have sidewalks.

At first, the council inadvertently scrapped the entire project when it voted 4-2 to reject the resolution assessing property owners for half the cost of the sidewalks.

Council members Bob Kurkiewicz, Lisa Hoffman, Sandy Steinke and John Hoeffs cast the no votes.

Council members Woody Davis, who expressed concern about the precedent being set, and Rhonda Strebel voted in favor of the original resolution.

After it was realized the council voted down not only the assessments, but also portions of a street a project already underway, Kurkiewicz sought to rescind his motion that initially brought the resolution forward for discussion.

However, he was advised by City Attorney Tim Schmid that it was too late to do that and a new motion would have to be brought forward to restore the project and also specify exactly where the council wanted to install sidewalks.

That took another lengthy discussion as council members attempted to hammer out the proper wording that would keep new sidewalks on only the western side of the street.

In the end, three properties in the 900 block of Evergreen Street that had been slated for sidewalks were pulled out of the project.

Hoffman, who lives on Evergreen Street, passed around a petition from neighbors in the 900 block opposed to the sidewalks.

“I know this is a hot-button issue every year,” she said. “You’re talking about people’s property, you’re talking about their money, you’re talking about their ability to control what happens to their property. These are sensitive issues for people. They don’t want a governing body telling them what they can or can’t do with their property and telling them they have to do it and they also have to pay for it.”

Eddie Sheppard, Public Works coordinator and assistant city administrator, said the city has been playing catch-up when it comes to sidewalks.

“Most communities, when developments happen, sidewalks go in. That didn’t happen here,” he said.

Sheppard said if Shawano were getting state grant money for street improvements the city would be required to add sidewalks. He said traffic counts, connectivity to existing sidewalks and safety were also considerations.

Sheppard said after the meeting he didn’t think the council vote would alter the city’s sidewalk policy.

He said the 900 block of Evergreen Street didn’t quite meet the criteria for sidewalks on both sides of the street, which would be vehicle traffic of at least 2,000 per day. He said the intention was to look toward future growth and to connect portions of the street where sidewalks are already installed.

Sheppard said the important thing is that the council voted to go with a consistent sidewalk path on the western side of the street, connecting Shawano Community Middle School with the Mountain Bay Trail.

“That’s obviously big for kids and traffic and safety,” he said.

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