Shawano Leader News

Crates found unopened in courthouse atticBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Wooden crates dated 1957 turned up in the Shawano County Courthouse attic containing feather pillows sent by the U.S. government in case of war with the Soviet Union.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams The exterior of each crate is dated 1957 and marked to indicate it was part of a planned Civil Defense Emergency Hospital.

If the Russians had started World War III in Shawano during the 1950s or ’60s, local citizens would have been prepared, at least in one way.

Supplies shipped from the U.S. government were stockpiled around town to establish an emergency hospital for civilian casualties, should the Red Menace attack here.

The crisis never happened, of course, and some relics of that tense Cold War era are still collecting dust in Shawano.

In the attic of the county courthouse, officials recently uncovered crates filled with feather pillows that arrived in 1957 to provide comfort, if needed, to hospital patients struck down by Russian artillery.

After nearly tossing the crates into the trash, county officials realized that people would enjoy owning the pillows, not only because of the peculiar historic value but also because the pillows remain in surprisingly good condition.

Slightly larger and heavier than many pillows sold in stores nowadays, the artifacts may feel familiar — even nostalgic — to anyone old enough to remember the ’50s or ’60s. The sturdy gray-and-white striped fabric is a throwback to the days of Ozzie and Harriet.

“This is what just about everybody grew up on,” county building maintenance director Steve Dreher said. “A lot of people’s grandmothers still have these.”

Posted for sale on the county’s website, the Cold War pillows are fetching about $27 each for the county.

John Marquardt, of Tigerton, snatched up six of them, saying that pillows of such high quality likely would cost much more elsewhere, assuming they were available anywhere else. The back story of how the pillows ended up in Shawano also makes for an amusing story to tell visitors, Marquardt said.

“It was pretty interesting,” he said. “And we really like the pillows.”

Despite spending decades in wooden crates, the pillows are sealed in individual plastic bags and show no sign of deterioration.

Each tagged Federal Civil Defense Administration, they were found in crates dated 1957 and marked “C.D. Emerg. Hosp.,” which stands for civil defense emergency hospital. With seven crates containing 20 pillows each, the county inventory totaled 140 pillows, of which about 40 have been sold so far.

The Civil Defense Administration was created in the 1950s amid escalating public fears of war with the Russian-led Soviet Union. From coast to coast, communities turned their attention to military and civilian readiness.

Eric Green, founder of the Civil Defense Museum in Texas, said the U.S. government envisioned wartime evacuation of major cities, with throngs of civilians fleeing to the countryside and needing medical care. The government planned for emergency makeshift hospitals by equipping places like Shawano with surgical equipment, portable toilets, lanterns and other supplies.

Much of the material has long since been thrown away or donated to charity, Green said, but stockpiles occasionally turn up in odd places.

Of Shawano’s feather pillow inventory, Green said: “That’s really neat that the stuff is still usable after all these years. It’s really surprising it’s still out there.”

Dreher said the county periodically cleans house just like everyone else. He estimated that the crates of pillows had been sitting in the courthouse attic for at least 15 years.

Although the pillows never were used for their intended purpose, Dreher said government officials in the 1950s made sure that these relics were built to last — and would remain ready to use for a very long time.

“It was planned that way,” he said. “They knew this stuff was going to sit around in a box.”

FYI

To purchase one of Shawano County’s vintage Cold War pillows, click on the link at www.co.shawano.wi.us/news_and_announcements.

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New mayor, council members take officeBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Grace Kirchner Lois Bressette presides over her first meeting as mayor Tuesday in Clintonville. In the foreground is Mike Hankins, who was elected council president.

City Clerk Peggy Johnson administered the oath of office to newly elected Mayor Lois Bressette at the Clintonville Common Council’s reorganizational meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

Bressette had been acting mayor in the absence of Judith Magee, who resigned, effective Jan. 1, to settle a complaint filed against her by local resident Tricia Rose, publisher of the Clintonville Chronicle newspaper. Magee denied Rose’s allegations but agreed not to seek re-election.

Magee’s decision followed months of rancor within the council, which led to the resignation of the city administrator and the city’s first recall election, removing Greg Rose, Tricia’s husband, from the aldermanic seat that Bressette then filled.

Also sworn into office Tuesday were council members Lance Bagstad, District 1; Charles Manske, District 2; Amy Steenbock, District 2 Alderperson3; Mike Hankins, District 4; and Mark Doornink, District 5.

The council approved the appointment of Jim Supanich as the District 4 alderman to fill out the remaining year of Bressette’s term due to her election as mayor. Supanich, who has served on the Clintonville Utility Board and the Badger Power Marketing Authority, will be up for election next April if he decides to seek a full two-year term.

Others who applied for the District 4 seat were former three-term Alderman Gary Hagberg and Timothy Zilch, a 25-year resident of Clintonville.

Hankins was elected by unanimous vote to serve as council president, a position he held during a previous term as alderman.

The council also selected the Clintonville Tribune-Gazette as the city’s official newspaper, replacing the Chronicle.

Without discussion and by unanimous vote, the council voted to approve the appointment of Keith Steckbauer as the new city attorney. He replaces April Dunlavy, who was hired in April 2014. She is the daughter and niece of former Alderpersons Gloria Dunlavy and Jeanne Schley, respectively.

Gloria Dunlavy and Schley lost re-election bids on April 5, along with Mary-Beth Kuester and Jim Krause.

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Tribes want to draw attention to proposed mine

Members of the Menominee Nation, other tribes and organizations, and supporters will hold a Menominee River Water Walk this weekend to create awareness of the Back Forty Mine proposal in Michigan.

The goal of the walk Saturday through Monday is to create awareness of the threat that the proposed mine poses to water, fish, wildlife and the newly seeded wild rice.

The walk will follow the tribal ancestors’ 107-mile journey to carry the sacred water to the the mouth of the Menominee River, considered the birthplace of the Menominee People.

The walk will begin at noon Saturday at Keshena Falls with the sacred water ceremony and “Taking up of the Water” be led by First Nations Grandmother Josephine Mandarin, of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge. She is also known as “the original water walker,” responsible for starting the worldwide water walk movement.

The walk is scheduled to end Monday at the public boat landing across the street from the Aquila Resources Stephenson Field Office in Stephenson, Michigan.

In November, Menominee tribal members, school children and other supporters gathered at the mouth of the Menominee River to seed wild rice in the waters for the first time in hundreds of years.

Two weeks later, the Back Forty project, which is an expansive open pit and underground mine, applied for a mining permit upstream from the very place where the wild rice was seeded. A mine could contaminate the Menominee River and destroy the newly seeded wild rice, according to the Menominee.

Aquila Resources Inc. projects mining 16.1 million tons of mineralized material, including zinc, copper, gold and silver, over the 16-year life of the mine, of which 12.5 million tons would be open-pit and 3.6 million tons would be underground.

For information about the walk, contact Menominee tribal members Guy Reiter at 715-853-2776 or [email protected], or Oralann Caldwell at 715-799-1586 or [email protected].

ONLINE

To contribute to the Menominee River Water Walk, visit https://www.gofundme.com/vqxpgxys.

For daily monitoring of the walk, rest locations and more, visit www.motherearthwaterwalk.com.

To view the walk route, visit https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z-GcBuwY88xQ.kUruoAITRlN4.

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More intensive drill planned in AugustBy: 

Leader Staff

Area law enforcement and emergency responders were put through the paces Thursday of a simulated incident they hope will never happen — an active shooter opening fire at a local school.

The drill hosted by Shawano County Emergency Management focused mainly on the communication aspect of such an incident, ensuring that all parties could quickly and properly respond.

Most of the exercise was carried out via radio communications, though emergency response units did show up at some locations — including Olga Brener Intermediate School — as part of the drill.

The exercise simulated the coordination, command and control response to an active shooter scenario at a local school. The exercise also provided a training opportunity for local emergency response agencies to practice their skills in a situation that was not life-threatening.

Natalie Easterday, county emergency management director, said the drill went very well and had good participation.

Easterday said there were a few “communication hiccups” that were worked around and a few lessons learned, mainly dealing with response plans on the part of some agencies that needed to be updated and put into writing.

None of those hiccups impeded the response to the mock situation, however, she said.

“Leadership bridged the gap,” according to Easterday.

Thursday’s drill served as a kind of dress rehearsal for a more intensive drill scheduled for Aug. 24.

That exercise will include “mock victims and boots on the ground” in a full-scale response to an active shooter, Easterday said.

Exercise participants Thursday included members from the following agencies: Shawano County Emergency Management, health department, sheriff’s office, administration, technology services and coroner; Shawano police, public works and parks and recreation; Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department; ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano; Shawano Area Fire Department; Shawano Ambulance; Shawano School District; American Red Cross; Wisconsin Emergency Management; Menominee County Emergency Management; and North Central Regional Planning Commission.

Exercise observers included representatives from Gresham, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

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Shawano Police Department

April 20

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Hillcrest Primary School, 1410 S. Waukechon St.

Truancy — Police logged four truancy complaints from Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Arrest — A 35-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 400 block of South Union Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a complaint of a combative patient at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, 100 County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 20

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a a garage fire on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Drug Offense — A pot pipe was found and turned in to authorities on Swan Acre Drive in the town of Washington.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Bowler School, 500 S. Almon St. in Bowler.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

OAR — A 44-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on East Green Bay Street in Shawano.

Drug Offense — A 17-year-old Keshena boy was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Drug Offense — A 32-year-old Shawano man was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and operating after revocation on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Assault — Authorities responded to an assault complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

April 20

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the middle school, 255 N. Main St.

Assault — A battery and disorderly conduct complaint was under investigation.

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Shawano union still in negotiationsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano police lieutenants will go to 12-hour work days next month after approval Tuesday by the Common Council, but union patrol officers who were expected to do the same are still negotiating the issue.

The Shawano Professional Police Association has been without a new contract since the end of the year after a hangup over contract language associated with the new 12-hour schedule, according to city officials.

The council in January approved a letter of agreement with the police union that would have extended the terms of the existing contract but would have also allowed a move to 12-hour work days.

Under the existing schedule, officers work 7 1/2-hour shifts for six days in a row before getting three days off.

Under the proposed 12-hour shifts, officers would work two days in a row, followed by two days off, then three days on and two days off, followed by two days on and three days off.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said the city believed the agreement was acceptable to the union when it was approved by the council in January, but both sides have not been able to reach agreement since then over language issues.

Knapp said the city is still in negotiation with the union over a new contract beginning in 2017 that “may or may not” include the 12-hour shift schedule.

Knapp said the new schedule for the union is “off the table” for 2016.

In spite of that uncertainty, the city went ahead with plans to offer the department’s three non-represented lieutenants the same shift schedule that had been offered to the union.

The lieutenants will work an additional 130 hours a year under the new schedule, putting in 2,080 hours instead of 1,950, but at the same hourly rate of pay as previously approved.

“It gives us more supervisory time and it extends to the lieutenants more (days) off,” Knapp said. “And it should result in better supervision of the shifts that we do have.”

The agreement with the lieutenants was approved by a vote of 5-1, with Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz objecting.

“Are we putting the cart in front of the horse with this?” Kurkiewicz said, noting that the union hasn’t yet accepted the new schedule.

Kurkiewicz also objected to the additional expense of roughly $13,000 a year that had not been budgeted and would have to come out of the city’s fund balance to pay for the extra hours.

Knapp noted that the council approved spending as much as $80,000 for additional hours for the entire police force, including the lieutenants, in January when it was thought the union would accept the new schedule even though that amount also hadn’t been included in the budget.

“Now we’re talking about simply rolling it back to only $13,000 for three individuals,” he said.

“I’m not saying they’re not worthy of it, I’m just questioning the process and the way we’re following it,” Kurkiewicz said. “Is this an area where I feel comfortable spending the contingency fund? Not at all. I think this is something that should go through the budgeting process.”

Alderman Woody Davis, who chairs the finance committee, said the committee spent a great deal of time going through negotiations with the Police Department.

“We came down to the idea that this was the proper thing to do; that this was the right decision,” he said. “There were changes being made in the department — different hours, different times — and we simply felt this was the proper thing to do.”

Knapp said the lieutenants and Police Chief Mark Kohl had also requested the city consider the change.

“There would seem to be enough benefits, morale and supervision wise, to justify it,” he said.

Alderwoman Rhonda Strebel said the new schedule was also intended to help address the wage compression issue between patrol officers and lieutenants.

“Compression has been a big issue for many years,” she said. “We’ve been slowly chipping away at it. That’s what we’re doing here. We’re finally starting to make some headway so that there is a difference between the represented and the nonrepresented police force.”

Strebel said the wage compression issue “severely affects the morale and the leadership in that department.”

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At 6-foot-8, not quite a recordBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Ty Maurer, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, wades through the Wolf River in Shawano on Wednesday with a sturgeon he captured as a volunteer for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Onlookers enjoy watching large sturgeon being hauled out of the water Wednesday by state conservation crews during the yearly mating season at Sturgeon Park along the Wolf River in Shawano.

Scientists joined the sightseers Wednesday as sturgeon spawning season in Shawano brought conservation advocates a new opportunity to study and nurture the magnificent fish.

Crews from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spent all day capturing and tagging sturgeons that have gathered on the Wolf River for their annual mating ritual.

Spectators marveled as crews wrestled the enormous fish out of the water one at a time so that each new specimen could be examined and tagged before being released back into the river.

DNR biologist Ryan Koenigs said as many as 600 sturgeon were likely to be processed by day’s end, including one that measured an impressive 81.7 inches long — or roughly the same size as NBA All-Star LeBron James.

Although that is 6 inches short of the all-time record, Koenigs said it is rare for officials to capture a sturgeon quite that large.

“It’s obviously not that many,” he said. “That’s a big fish.”

Starting with the warmth of spring, sturgeon at Lake Winnebago and elsewhere swim up the Wolf River for a mating season that takes place in full public view by the dam at Sturgeon Park, just south of downtown Shawano.

Spectators gather by the hundreds to observe the seasonal tradition and catch a glimpse of the largest and oldest fish in the Great Lakes.

Angela Bahr, a teacher at Shawano Community High School, brought a busload of students to watch Wednesday, as crews were netting and hauling specimens to shore. Several students on a field trip to the county courthouse were foreign exchange students, and Bahr thought they would be interested in learning about Shawano’s yearly sturgeon experience.

“It’s very cool,” she said. “It’s a part of our community, as far as our place in the biological circle of life.”

Although the spawning season typically continues for seven days or longer, the unusually warm weather in recent days has accelerated the process. Officials said the best opportunities to observe nature at work are likely to wind down by Thursday or Friday.

DNR officials tag as many sturgeon as possible to advance scientific understanding of the prehistoric species — where they live, how far they travel and so forth.

Other conservation groups capitalize on the opportunity to collect eggs and increase sturgeon populations elsewhere in the United States.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had a crew on site Wednesday to haul about 150,000 eggs to hatcheries in Georgia and Tennessee.

Carlos Echevarria, manager of the government’s Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery in Georgia, brought his three-person team to Shawano as soon as he got reports that temperatures here hit the 70s and that sturgeon were starting their run up the Wolf River.

The federal agency shows up every year and uses eggs gathered here to hatch thousands of baby sturgeon, which are then distributed to promote the species in locations throughout the southeast.

Because the warm weather in Shawano has accelerated the 2016 spawning season, Echevarria and his group were able in just a few hours Wednesday to complete an egg collection protocol that sometimes takes several days. He said the weather conditions were favorable for a successful season.

“It warmed up really quick. It happened very, very quick,” he said. “You’re at the mercy of Mother Nature.”

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Davis held post since 2002By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Alderwoman Sandy Steinke was elected Shawano Common Council president Tuesday, the first time in 14 years that the title hasn’t gone to Alderman Woody Davis.

Davis, who has one year left in his current term as alderman, said he chose not to run for council president again.

“It’s good to get someone new in there,” he said. “It was a good time to make a change.”

The change comes as Jeanne Cronce was sworn in as the city’s new mayor, replacing Lorna Marquardt, who decided not to seek re-election after 14 years in office.

Davis nominated Steinke as president at Tuesday’s reorganizational meeting of the council. She was unanimously elected by her fellow council members.

“I think things will continue to run smoothly,” Davis said.

Davis, who joined the council in 1998, was first elected council president in 2002.

“I learned a lot and I enjoyed it,” he said. “Hopefully I did the job people expected me to do.”

The council president’s duties include making committee assignments for other council members and filling in for the mayor when needed.

Steinke said one goal she has would be splitting the finance and personnel committee into separate committees, so that more focus can be placed on the needs of city employees and their concerns.

She said she plans to talk with Cronce about her proposal.

“I’d like to meet with all the employees and get to know who they are,” she said. “Give them a little bit more of a voice and meet with them more often.”

Steinke said that, as an example, employees at the parks and recreation department and the department of public works are increasingly expected to perform more duties than their original job descriptions outline.

Steinke said she was thankful to have the council’s support as president.

“I look forward to working with all of them,” she said.

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Social media controls urged for kidsBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams About 50 parents and other adults attended the free social media awareness event held in a lecture hall inside Shawano Community High School.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Detective Jesse Sperberg of the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department used a computer and big screen to demonstrate how easily children can access pornography or other dangerous content on the Internet.

Parents got an eyeful when they gathered in Shawano this week to learn the hazards of allowing children to explore social media and other risky places on the Internet.

Representatives of the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department showed pornographic images in an effort to dramatize how easily children can be exposed to dangerous content when given unrestricted access to the online world.

The sheriff’s department joined the Shawano Police Department, Shawano School District, Safe Haven and other local groups in presenting the program on social media awareness for parents and others.

The event conducted Monday evening inside Shawano Community High School was limited to adults only, and participants were required to sign a form acknowledging that they were warned to expect explicit content.

About 50 parents, teachers and others attended the free event.

Flashing pornographic images captured online during the live demonstration, Detective Sgt. Gordon Kowaleski of the sheriff’s department said parents and other caretakers need to understand the seriousness of permitting children free reign on laptops, cellphones and other online devices.

With images of nudity projected on a big screen behind him, Kowaleski said he never would have guessed the severity of online porn until he got started doing undercover sex offender stings for law enforcement.

“I think this is a shocker,” he said, referring to the live images displayed in the high school lecture hall. “This stuff is out there.”

Spectators said they turned out for the program in hopes of learning more about the phenomenon of Facebook and other social media sites, as well as steps they could take to protect children.

John Arens, a parent of three, said that while he has never detected any problems with how his children use online resources, he knows the hazards of kids making bad choices. He wants to stay ahead of any issues.

“I just really want to know, ‘Where is this going?’” Arens said.

Betty Raddant, a child day care worker, said she worries about how social media affects healthy early childhood development. Although not much of an Internet surfer herself, Raddant said she watches pre-teens use the Internet and post content to the general public with seemingly little regard for the consequences.

“Once it’s out there, it’s out there forever,” she said. “I don’t think kids realize what ‘forever’ means in their lifetime.”

Another parent, Kim Klement, said her three children, ages 12, 13 and 14, are regular users of cellphones or other electronic devices. All of the devices are programmed to shut down automatically at bedtime, but Klement said she worries about the content available to her children whenever they can access the Internet.

Saying she hoped to learn some new control methods at Monday’s program, Klement said of her kids: “They certainly get wrapped up in things that pull them in a different direction than I would want.”

During the 90-minute program, Detective Jesse Sperberg of the sheriff’s department listed sites where kids can unknowingly come across pornographic images, or find themselves being stalked by predators. Even sites as well known as YouTube or Craigslist can turn risky, Sperberg said, if parents have not talked with their kids about the importance of avoiding inappropriate content — and reporting it when it turns up.

Children exposed to sexual or violent content often feel ashamed, he said, so their parents never know about it.

“If they get scared, they’re going to hide it,” Sperberg said. “That’s why we need to have discussions.”

Recounting graphic details of online predators who have been caught pursuing kids in Shawano County, Kowaleski and Sperberg urged parents to make sure their kids do not use social media sites where they can interact directly with strangers, such as www.meetme.com.

The detectives also encouraged parents to become aware of all applications on their kids’ electronic devices, and also to set ground rules for online activities, such as not allowing a child to go online unsupervised.

“We’re in a day and age where we’ve got to start paying more attention,” Kowaleski said.

ONLINE

For more information about avoiding inappropriate content on the Internet, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department recommends www.netsmartz.org.

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Shawano Police Department

April 19

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 300 block of South Union Street.

Theft — Tools were reported stolen from a construction site in the 600 block of East Seward Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 700 block of South Franklin Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 100 block of Humphrey Circle.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of Military Road.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 19

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Beech Drive in the town of Hartland.

Fire — Authorities responded to a brush fire on Green Valley Road in the town of Angelica.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Old 22 Road in the town of Washington.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a telephone scam complaint on Stony Curve Road in Bowler.

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By: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

A state appeals court Tuesday refused to overturn a Shawano County man’s domestic abuse enhancement on grounds he only resided with the victim five or six nights a week for a few months.

The District II Court of Appeals concluded that although Donald R. Weso, 36, of Keshena, did not legally reside with his female victim, statutes did not require Wesco to have a “spousal type” relationship to be convicted of the abuse enhancer.

“The focus of the statute is on the individuals’ living arrangements, not solely the length of their relationship or the degree of their commitment to one another,” District III Court Judge Thomas Hruz wrote in the ruling.

Weso’s former girlfriend told authorities that Weso stayed with her up to six nights a week for a few months and kept two baskets of his clothes, which she washed and folded, at her residence. That was sufficient for the court to find that the couple had resided together before Weso struck her.

Shawano police arrested Weso in February 2013 at a local bar after he reportedly struck a woman in the face with a closed fist. The woman told police that Weso became angry because she was talking with other men.

Weso was subsequently charged with misdemeanor battery for domestic abuse, possession of cocaine, resisting an officer, and two counts of disorderly conduct for domestic abuse.

Each domestic abuse enhancement carried a $100 surcharge fine and prohibits the person from possessing a firearm under federal law.

Weso pleaded guilty to the domestic abuse enhancer and no contest to the battery charge. In April 2014, Circuit Judge James Habeck placed Weso on three years extended supervision with 90 days in jail.

Weso appealed the enhancers, arguing they did not apply to him because he did not live with his victim, did not have a child with the victim and was not married to the victim.

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Spawning season under wayBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Eyeing a sturgeon, Miranda Vele points as she and her family, Brendyn Vele, 4, Cornell Zhuccahosse, 3, and Leila Vele spot sturgeon Tuesday from the shores of Sturgeon Park in Shawano. Males arrive at the spawning sites ahead of the females, cruising in groups of eight or more, often so close to the surface that their tails, backs or snouts are out of the water.
Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Onlookers spot sturgeon in the Wolf River in Shawano on Tuesday. Lake sturgeon migrate each year to their annual spawning grounds, preferring to spawn in shallow, rocky areas along river banks.

Those fantastic fish are at it again on the Wolf River.

Measuring up to 4 feet long and weighing as much as 200 pounds, sturgeon made their way upstream Tuesday for the start of spawning season.

The seasonal mating ritual of the largest and oldest fish in the Great Lakes also touches off a brief but intense annual tourist phenomenon in Shawano and elsewhere.

Dozens of people gathered at the Shawano dam to witness the arrival of the prehistoric species for a spawning season that generally takes place in full public view directly along the Wolf River’s shores.

By Tuesday afternoon, some sturgeon were “porpoising,” which means rising to the water’s surface and even jumping out of the water — an activity that grows in intensity among the fish as actual mating interaction draws nearer.

“Unbelievable,” said Ruth Anne Rebman, who traveled from Pulaski for her first sturgeon sighting. “They’re bigger than I thought. Oh, my goodness.”

Starting at Lake Winnebago and other distant year-round habitats, the enormous fish make the annual run up the Wolf River every spring to their favorite locations for doing what comes naturally during mating season.

The spawning generally lasts between seven and 10 days, although state wildlife officials believe this year’s season could be condensed to just four or five days.

Ryan Koenigs, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, said last weekend’s sudden onset of near-record temperatures around 80 degrees seems to have accelerated the process. Rather than starting slowly in just a few spots, the spawning is breaking out at multiple locations, Koenigs said.

“They’re kind of all starting at once,” he said.

With spawning already under way Tuesday in Shiocton and New London, spawning was expected to begin in Shawano as soon as Wednesday. That would mean the season could start winding down by the weekend.

Koenigs said tourists, as usual, were flocking to catch a glimpse of the mating ritual. Although lake sturgeon exist elsewhere around the world, the Wolf River might offer the best opportunity, he said, to witness the biological process happening “at your feet.”

“This is truly a unique experience,” he said. “They’re a majestic fish.”

To discourage eager tourists from trying to touch or perhaps even poach the fish, state officials partner with volunteers known as Sturgeon Guard to patrol the river banks.

Those sightseers gathered Tuesday in Shawano were happy just to marvel at the spectacle.

Byron Wendy, of Appleton, said he never gets tired of witnessing nature at work with the arrival of the impressive sturgeon by the dam.

“It’s just amazing,” he said. “If you think about it, it’s a lot of work for them to get up here.”

Green Bay resident Randy Perra said he remembers visiting his grandmother in Shawano each spring and racing down to the river to see the sturgeon. Although his grandmother is gone, Perra still makes the trip every year for a sight that never ceases to amaze him.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “It’s like you have to see it every year.”

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City administrator sees transition as ‘momentous’By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Newly elected Shawano Mayor Jeanne Cronce visits with friends and family on her first official day of office Tuesday. Cronce was sworn into office prior to the start of the Common Council meeting. She replaces Lorna Marquardt, who did not seek re-election.

Jeanne Cronce was sworn in Tuesday as Shawano mayor just before overseeing her first meeting of the Common Council.

“I’m thrilled with the reception I’ve received from City Hall and staff,” Cronce said as she opened the meeting. “I’d like to thank all those that were supportive of me, and especially my family. They showed up tonight. Hopefully we can continue on a strong path moving our city forward.”

Cronce defeated Jim Oberstein in the April 5 election by a vote of 1,434-1,290 to replace Lorna Marquardt, who chose not to seek another two-year term after 14 years in the office.

“This is sort of a momentous occasion,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said. “I do want to extend a welcome to Mayor Cronce and I look forward to working with you and also Alderperson (Lisa) Hoffman.”

Hoffman was also new to the council, replacing Fred Ponschok, who also chose not to run again.

“But I also want to say thank you to former Mayor Marquardt and Alderman Ponschok,” Knapp said. “Very long-serving public servants whose dedication to this community and their leadership and guidance are reflected in much of what you see around Shawano today. Thank you, and we will miss you.”

Marquardt won’t be completely absent from future city business, however. At Tuesday’s meeting, she was appointed to serve on the Shawano Plan Commission, replacing Cronce.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Contributed Photo A 520-pound bear killed after being struck by a car last week is seen in this photo taken at the Department of Natural Resources field office in Shawano.

A 520-pound black bear struck by a vehicle in the town of Herman on Thursday night became a social media sensation this week, largely due to its unusual size for this time of year.

The bear was hit on state Highway 29 around 8:45 p.m. by a Lincoln Town Car that was totaled, according to the Shawano Counthy Sheriff’s Department report. The vehicle occupants, a Shawano couple, were not injured.

The bear survived long enough to run off but was later found near Spruce Road.

Kay Brockman-Mederas, wildlife biologist the the Shawano DNR office, said the bear’s size was unusual for this time of year.

Bears coming out of hibernation lose a lot of their weight, she said. The size of this one suggests that after a summer of feeding it probably would have weighed well over 600 pounds by the fall.

Most bears claimed by hunters weigh between 200 and 400 pounds, Brockman-Mederas said.

The bear carcass was picked up by the Shawano County Highway Department.

“It took a lot of guys to get it into the truck,” Brockman-Mederas said.

The bear’s skull will eventually go to the Navarino Nature Center for educational purposes, she said. A tooth from the skull will also be cross-sectioned to determine the bear’s age.

Photos of the bear were featured on the Gresham Bear Hunters’ Facebook page.

According to the organization, the heaviest known bear in Shawano County weighed in 736 pounds.

Brockman-Mederas said the timing of the accident is fitting for the message the DNR puts out to the public this time of year: using caution on the roads as wildlife becomes more active.

Though bear collisions are not uncommon, a more prevalent danger are deer, which will be increasingly on the move into May, she said.

Brockman-Mederas also suggested people discourage bears from foraging by taking down their bird-feeders and not putting their garbage out on the curb overnight.

“They’ll be looking for food,” she said.

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Erdmann says he won’t run againBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Taking the oath of office Tuesday are newly elected Shawano County Board members, from right, Aimee Zeinert, Jon Zwirschitz, William Switalla, Roger Miller and Thomas Kautza.

Shawano County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann survived a challenge Tuesday and narrowly won re-election to what he said would be his final term in the leadership post.

By the slim margin of 14-13, newly elected board members elected Erdmann over Randy Young to lead the County Board for the next two years.

It was the third consecutive time that Erdmann overcame a challenge from Young for the chairmanship, and it was the closest margin yet.

The incumbent from Tigerton signaled that there would be no more rematches, as he announced that he would give up the chairman’s seat after this term, his fourth as chairman.

“My wife is retiring,” he said after the votes were counted. “I have the right to retire also.”

The new 27-member County Board, chosen by voters April 5, features six new faces in county government, including a former county administrative coordinator, a former county jail administrator and perhaps the first-ever representative from the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian tribe.

Board members were sworn in for their two-year terms Tuesday and immediately set out to elect board leaders by secret ballots.

For vice chairman, Supervisor Robert Krause, of Green Valley, was elected by a 16-11 margin over Supervisor Arlyn Tober, of Pella, who was seeking his fourth term as vice chairman.

In the chairman’s race, supervisors initially nominated four candidates. But after Supervisors Richard Ferfecki and Kevin Conradt both declined their nominations, the race came down to Erdmann and Young.

Both addressed their colleagues on the board floor before balloting began.

Young, a Shawano representative entering his sixth term on the board, said that while he respects Erdmann, he wanted to bring county government more transparency and better relations with county employees. Citing high staff turnover, Young said many county employees are “looking over their shoulder.”

“It seems to be an us-against-them kind of attitude,” he said. “We need to treat our employees with respect and give them the tools they need.”

Erdmann, entering his seventh term on the board, cited several accomplishments since he became chairman in 2010, including a downsizing of the board, the hiring of a new administrative coordinator, and a streamlining of county departments.

Some of the decisions he has advocated have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, Erdmann said.

“All in all, we’re on the right track,” he added. “The decisions that have been made have been made for the right reasons and to keep Shawano County moving forward.”

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Agreement ensures proper management of tribal forestBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski College of Menominee Nation President Verna Fowler, left, joins Kathleen Atkinson, a forester with the U.S. Forest Service, in signing a memorandum of understanding Tuesday at CMN regarding the CMN forest. This is the third consecutive MOU the two entities have signed.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Fourth-grade students at Menominee Tribal School stand in the back of the auditorium at the College of Menominee Nation Cultural Learning Center during Tuesday’s signing ceremony between CMN and the U.S. Forest Service. Behind the students are posters showing what they’ve learned about the forest through the partnership.

College of Menominee Nation officials joined with U.S. Forest Service representatives Tuesday in signing a memorandum of understanding that will keep a long-standing partnership between the two going at least through 2020.

CMN and federal officials first signed an MOU in 2003, establishing a partnership that has helped to ensure the tribe’s 235,000 acres of forest will continue to be managed by educated people who will blend western science with the knowledge of indigenous people.

Joan Delabreau, Menominee tribal chairwoman, noted at a presentation at CMN that her tribe’s ancestral land once encompassed five states, including Wisconsin, but was reduced to what it is today through federal treaties.

“It’s a wonder sometimes, as you look at our lands, that non-Menominees thought the land they were giving us was worthless,” Delabreau said. “Sometimes we fool them.”

The work of protecting the Menominee forest land is a “prescribed balance,” according to Delabreau, as tribal foresters deal with regular harvesting of the trees, storms that sometimes damage the forests, and, recently, invasive species causing harm and spreading disease.

“To the untrained eye, our forests may seem pristine as you drive through our land,” Delabreau said. “To the trained eye, it is a managed, tracked forest that has been managed almost 2 1/2 times over, but yet today we have more volume in our forest than we did in 1854 when harvesting started.”

CMN President Verna Fowler noted the college is very careful about entering into partnerships with other entities, but its partnership with the Forest Service is one that has paid off for the college and students.

“In the early years of the college, we had the partnerships, but not so much anymore because our reputation speaks for itself,” Fowler said. “We do not enter into partnerships easily.”

The partnership includes a variety of opportunities for students who pursue internships in sustainable development arenas. CMN has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture on 26 internships over the last three years to collect ecological data related to forestry, forest products and forest management.

The partnership has also allowed the college to work with Menominee Tribal School and other K-12 schools to work on environmental problem solving. A fourth-grade class from the tribal school was present at the signing ceremony, presenting posters on what they’ve learned about forests and the environment.

Fowler noted that Menominee County is a forest island in Wisconsin, but today’s culture demands that it should not be an island unto itself.

“Our learning here does not occur in a vacuum,” Fowler said. “Our students pretty much have tackled issues all over the world, learning from farmers, foresters, rangers and all types of scientists so that, in the future, the Menominee forest is sustained and continues to be the backbone of the Menominee economic development.”

Arthur Blazer, deputy undersecretary for natural resources and environment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said he hopes the continued partnership will continue to develop, not just locally but throughout Indian Country.

“You’re really starting to set up a model for the rest of Indian Country to look at,” Blazer said.

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Shawano Police Department

April 18

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 29-year-old man was arrested on charges of battery and strangulation after a disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Suspicious — Police investigated a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of South Andrews Street.

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 2400 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Assault — Police investigated a report of an assault in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Shoplifting — Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Shoplifting — Walgreen’s, 401 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 18

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 22-year-old Rothschild man was arrested on a warrant and a 25-year-old Kronenwetter woman was arrested for bail jumping after authorities responded to a dug complaint at the Ho Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in the town of Wittenberg.

Disturbance — A 46-year-old Wittenberg woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and obstruction after authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Warrant — A 28-year-old Keshena man was arrested on a warrant at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., Shawano.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on County Road PP in the town of Germania.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Slate Avenue in Mattoon.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

April 18

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Accident — A car/deer accident was reported by Graceland Cemetery.

Fraud — A counterfeit bill was reported on North Main Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on 10th Street.

Disturbance — A neighbor dispute was reported on McKinley Avenue.

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Training will last several hours Thursday

Shawano County Emergency Management will host an active shooter exercise from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.

The exercise will begin at Shawano City Hall and will expand to include Zion Lutheran Church and ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

The exercise will simulate the coordination, command and control response to an active shooter scenario at a local school. The exercise also provides a training opportunity for local emergency response agencies to practice their skills in a nonlife-threatening environment.

Exercise participants include members from the following agencies: Shawano County Emergency Management, health department, sheriff’s office, administration, technology services and coroner; Shawano police, public works and parks and recreation; Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department; ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano; Shawano Area Fire Department; Shawano Ambulance; Shawano School District; American Red Cross; Wisconsin Emergency Management; Menominee County Emergency Management; and North Central Regional Planning Commission.

Exercise observers include representatives from Gresham, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

During the exercise, residents can expect to see additional first responders at the exercise locations. The exercise does not involve students and will not impact school operations.

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The Menominee Tribal Enterprises and U.S. Forest Service will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the opening of a new biomass district energy system.

The event will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Menominee Tribal Enterprises facility in Neopit. Officials will provide a tour for guests starting at 11:10 a.m.

The combined heat and power facility will replace aging equipment, improve air quality and reduce operating costs at the facility.

The new, high-efficiency energy system will generate roughly 85,000 million Btu of heat and 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

The system is expected to consume 8,500 tons of woody debris per year, considerably less than the 20,000 tons consumed each year by the previous system. It is anticipated to save up to 11,500 tons of wood residue and reduce energy and maintenance costs by as much as $500,000 annually. Particulate emissions will also be reduced by more than 115 tons each year.

“I applaud the collaborative effort, led by the Menominee Tribal Enterprises, that has resulted in the successful development and completion of this exciting wood energy project,” said Arthur Blazer, USDA deputy under-secretary for natural resources. “I am confident that this pending Tribal Wood Energy success story will lead to others out in Indian Country.”

MTE specializes in wood products. The company operates a sawmill and a lumber drying operation in Neopit. All of its wood products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The company manages more than 219,000 acres of forestland on tribal lands. MTE employs more than 50 people and celebrated its centennial in 2008.

About $3.8 million grants and technical assistance helped make the project possible. Participating agencies and organizations included the U.S. Forest Service, USDA Rural Development, U.S. Department of Energy, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Focus on Energy, U.S. Endowment for Community and Forestry, and the Indian Land Capital Company.

The U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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By: 

The Associated Press

Grammy Award-winning musician Bill Miller, who was born on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation near Shawano, is hospitalized in intensive care in Nashville after emergency surgery for life-threatening blood clots.

Miller, a Native American of Mohican heritage, underwent the surgery Monday to remove clots in his heart, lungs and legs, according to Native News online.net.

The 61-year-old Miller earned his musical chops in La Crosse.

“I claim it as my home city because I first started playing there,” Miller said during an interview last May before he kicked off the annual Moon Tunes summer concert series at Riverside Park. “I credit La Crosse with treating me as part of the family.”

In addition to winning three Grammys, Miller also is a songwriter, activist, painter and world-class flute player.

He has won several Native American Music Awards, including NAMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

A Nashville resident since 1984, Miller has been touring recently in support of a collaboration album titled “Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited,” on which he has the title track.

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