Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

June 16

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Runaway — Police investigated a juvenile runaway complaint in the 500 block of South Cleveland Street.

OAR — Police investigated a 25-year-old man for operating after revocation and bail jumping on Richmond Street and Airport Drive.

Property — Police responded to a three vehicle rear-end car property damage accident at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St. One driver was issued a citation for inattentive driving.

Theft — A television was reported stolen in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police investigated a man who allegedly struck a woman in the 800 block of West Picnic Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 16

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint involving an air soft gun on North Shore Drive in Wescott.

Theft — Authorities investigated theft of a check on Old Dump Road in Hartland.

Harassment — Authorities responded to harassment involving text messages on County Road G in Herman.

Warrant — Authorities investigated a man for an outstanding warrant in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street in Shawano.

OWL — Authorities cited a 34-year-old man for operating without a license.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an allegation of fraud at Bonduel State Bank, 130 N. Cecil St., Bonduel.

Burglary — Authorities responded to a burglary attempt of a shed on Curt Black Road in Wescott.

ATV — Authorities responded to children riding unsafely in an all-terrain vehicle on Ash and Broadway roads in Richmond.

Animal — Authorities investigated a report of a stray cow on state Highway 29 and County Road MM in Herman.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary and missing money on County Road A in Bartelme.

Scam — Authorities investigated a possible scam in in the 300 block of Golden Bear Court in Cecil.

Accident — Authorities responded to a vehicle rollover involving injuries on state Highway 32 in Angelica.

Warrant — Authorities took a 32-year-old woman and 35-year-old man into custody on a warrant on Lake Drive and Old Lake Road in Wescott.

Harassment — Authorities investigated harassment involving text messages and phone calls on Lakewood Court in Wescott.

Vandalism — Authorities investigated vandalism of a pontoon boat in the 200 block of Date Street in Tigerton.

Drugs — Authorities investigated a report of drug possession at Shawano County Work Release, 1240 Engel Drive, Shawano.

Deer — Deputies logged two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 16

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a family disturbance on Harriet Street.

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No info being released in homicide investigationBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Laurie Waddell, mother of Heather Szekeres, stands beside a memorial photo collage with Heather’s daughter, Santana, and Heather’s husband, Robert, holding their daughter, Serenity, at Arlington Park on Saturday.
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan A collage of photos on display at Arlington Park on Saturday celebrates the life of Heather Szekeres, who was 32 when she disappeared from Shawano in June 2013. Her remains were found a year ago in the town of Richmond.

The obituary notice for Heather Szekeres, posted on the Swedberg Funeral Home web page, lists her date and place of death as May 10, 2014, in the town of Richmond.

That’s when and where she was found nearly a year after going missing, but the real date, as well as the cause, remain either unknown or at least not disclosed by authorities. The case, which is being treated as a homicide, is being led by the state Department of Criminal Investigations.

On Saturday, Heather’s family and friends held a memorial gathering at Arlington Park.

Her mother, Laurie Waddell, said she had wanted to hold the memorial at Huckleberry Harbor but wasn’t able to book it.

“I wanted to have it at the harbor because that’s where she liked to go,” Waddell said. “She used to take Serenity, her youngest, down there a lot. We spent a lot of time down there.”

Waddell said she has gotten a lot of community support since authorities confirmed in April that that the remains found in Richmond last year were Heather’s.

“A lot of people I don’t know stop me and talk to me,” she said.

Confirmation of Heather’s identity didn’t come as a surprise to Waddell.

“I knew it was her from the time they found the remains,” she said.

Waddell said she is frustrated by the lack of information about the investigation into Heather’s death. She said authorities have not shared any details.

“I guess they’re trying to keep the case as air-tight as they can,” she said.

Heather and Robert Szekeres had been married almost six years and moved to Shawano about three years ago, where they lived with Waddell.

“She was a good person, a good mother, a good wife,” Robert said. “I was pretty devastated to think that someone could actually take her away, for being as good a person as she was.”

Heather and Robert have a daughter, Serenity, who will be 3 years old next month. Heather also has a 15-year-old daughter, Santana, with Don Peplinski, who was also at Saturday’s memorial.

“We were together on and off for about 10 years,” he said. “We were really good friends. We were always close. Even after we weren’t together, we were really close still. We remained really good friends. She was a good person; very generous, even when she didn’t have money.”

Heather was last seen at the former Final Lap Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Shawano at 11 p.m. June 21, 2013.

“When I first heard that she was missing, I just had a bad feeling,” Peplinski said. “There were times when she maybe got in a fight with her mom or Rob and she’d maybe be gone for like a week or something, but she’d always call either me or her daughter. After two weeks and my daughter’s birthday had passed, I knew for sure something wasn’t right.”

Peplinski said he hopes authorities will bring further closure for the family by solving the mystery of Heather’s death.

“I hope the police come up with something,” he said. “We haven’t heard anything yet. It seems like nothing is happening. I’d just like for something to happen.”

Numerous friends also attended the memorial, including John Anderson, who met Heather and her mother shortly after moving to Shawano.

“She was an outgoing person,” he said. “She did her own thing.”

Heather’s death, which is being investigated as a homicide, came as a shock, Anderson said.

“This is not a great thing happening here in Shawano,” he said. “It was crazy when we found out. It doesn’t happen to us here.”

Anderson said he was thankful for the memorial.

“I’m just thankful that we can give this time to her on her behalf,” he said. “We all know that she’s in a great place right now. She doesn’t have to worry about anything. She has two beautiful daughters and her mother. It’s a great thing to have this memorial for her.”

Another friend, Mike Lusiak, said he and his family became instant friends with Heather and her mother as soon as they met.

“I loved her presence. She had real good vibes to her,” he said. “She was the type that could walk into a room and she had such a bubbly, upbeat personality. She was real fun to be around. She liked to joke around and was real supportive as a friend. She would be there for you if you’re going through a hard time. She was a good listener.”

Anderson said it was nice to be able to gather with Heather’s family and friends in her honor.

“Being here right now, I can feel her in spirit,” Lusiak said.

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Shawano Police Department

June 15

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Theft — The Flower Bucket, 113 S. Main St., reported the theft of a planter.

Disturbance — Police responded to a verbal dispute in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Theft — An Xbox was reported stolen in the 1100 block of South Franklin Street.

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident at Main and Green Bay streets.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint at Perkin’s, 1398 E. Green Bay St.

June 14

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Wescott and River streets.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 800 block of South Evergreen Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of Fairview Way.

Fire Call — Humidity set off a fire alarm on Eberlein Park Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of South Main Street.

June 13

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

OWL — A female subject was cited for operating without a license at Lieg Avenue and Washington Street.

Theft — A cell phone was reported stolen in the 700 block of South Union Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint after residents were reported throwing water on vendors and yelling at them at the Jumpin’ June Jamboree in the 100 block of West Division Street.

Theft — A game system was reported stolen in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at Green Bay and Sawyer streets.

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of Fairview Way.

June 12

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at Huckleberry Harbor, 222 N. Sawyer St.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 15

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Butternut Road in Richmond.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Cypress Road in Richmond.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen from a vehicle on state Highway 22 in Cecil.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a report of an attempted burglary on Elm Road in Bowler.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Cedar Street in Bonduel.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

June 14

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 29-year-old Bowler woman was arrested for disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Big Lake Road in Red Springs.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on County Road C in Angelica.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Hillcrest Drive in the town of Washington.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on County Road A in Gresham.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Railroad Street in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.

June 13

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 28-year-old Green Bay woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated and possession of marijuana after a single-vehicle accident on state Highway 29 in Richmond.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Redwood Drive in Maple Grove.

Disturbance — A 44-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road Q in Wittenberg.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hofman Street in Cecil.

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

June 12

Deputies logged 54 incidents, including the following:

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Cedar Street in Eland.

Disturbance — A charge of disorderly conduct was referred against a 53-year-old Caroline woman after a disturbance on County Road M in the town of Grant.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road G in Red Springs.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Broadway Road in Richmond.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on County Road M in Tigerton.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Cedar Drive in Maple Grove.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood and two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 15

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A worthless check complaint was under investigation.

Disturbance — Police responded to a family situation on East 12th Street.

June 14

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Parties were warned after a verbal disturbance on Eighth Street.

Disturbance — Officers responded to a family disturbance on Anne Street.

Disorderly — A damage to property and disorderly conduct incident was reported on East 12th Street.

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Schmid seeks several months of payBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Clintonville’s former attorney this week filed a civil suit against the city seeking damages for alleged breach of contract.

Tim Schmid served as city attorney in Clintonville until May 2014 when he was replaced by the Common Council about two weeks into a new two-year term.

However, there was some uncertainty about his post prior to that, after the Common Council in April rejected Mayor Judith Magee’s reappointment of Schmid to the position.

The council subsequently voted to spend up to $1,000 to review its options in selecting an attorney, and hired Madison attorney Warren Kraft to meet with a special committee about the issue.

The committee recommended hiring April Dunlavy, daughter of Alderwoman Gloria Dunlavy and niece of Alderwoman Jeanne Schley, as new city attorney at a salary of $28,000 per year. Schmid was paid $38,000 per year.

Dunlavy was appointed and sworn in on May 13.

Schmid’s term began on May 1, according to the suit.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Waupaca County Circuit Court maintains Schmid was never formally removed as city attorney.

The city stopped paying his salary on June 15, according to the suit.

The suit seeks payment of $33,250 for the remainder of the first year of what would have been his current term of office, and $38,000 for the second year, for a total of $71,250.

City officials were unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

Schmid did not return a call seeking comment.

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By: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

The Clintonville School Board this week rejected a list of improvements suggested by administrators to improve school safety.

The proposed changes outlined by Steve Reinke, district buildings and grounds manager, included adding a glass wall at the main entrance at Clintonville Middle School so workers could see people as they pass through two sets of doors, estimated at $98,519; camera and buzzer system on the north side of the middle school, $2,250; locking a second set of doors at the main entrance of the high school and adding a window to the office, $43,981; improvements to the rec center, $16,433; camera and buzzer system for a delivery door at the rec center, $3,100; camera at entrance of Dellwood Early Learning Center, $1,225; updated cameras at Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School, cost undetermined.

The board voted down the administration’s recommendations for each building, but then approved a motion to update the rec center hallway, update the current cameras and install more cameras in each building. The money will come from the district’s maintenance budget and fund balance.

Board Members Tom Neely, Dirk Weber and Clyde Tellock voted against the proposal. Voting yes were Ben Huber, Jim Schultz, Jim Dins and Judith Magee.

Huber said he liked the idea of adding cameras and a buzzer system, but was concerned about the cost of a glass wall.

“There is not a window in this building that will stop a determined person from coming in,” he said. “To assume the door is the only place a person will come in, I think, is $100,000 wasted.”

Huber thought it was a good idea to know who is in the buildings, but that could be accomplished in a more economical way.

Telleck suggested that all doors be locked at all times and that the district needs a system that has sensors on all doors so staff would know when a door is open.

Dins suggested installing cameras and intercoms at each building.

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Failing roof affects 2 businessesBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Grace Kirchner Mid Town Laundromat and Off the Top beauty salon along with a vacant business have been determined to be unsafe due to a failing roof. The laundromat has closed, and the beauty salon has relocated.

Two businesses on 11th Street in Clintonville have been declared unsafe and ordered closed as the city works to get the building razed. The properties share a common roof that has been deemed unsafe.

The businesses are Mid Town Laundry and Off the Top beauty salon. Another unit affected has been vacant for several years.

Clintonville River North Corporation Condominium turned the properties into condominiums in 1998. Unit 9B and 9C are now owned by James Krause, of Clintonville. Unit 9A is owned by Joseph Larson, of Marion, who acquired the property from Waupaca County after a previous owner owed back taxes on the property.

Interim City Administrator Chuck Kell said a raze order was issued for one of the units in 2008, but was never recorded with the county or implemented.

“We don’t know exactly why,” Kell said.

Krause said he was never notified of the raze order.

Krause said that he wanted to repair the roof as part of a pending sale of the laundromat. The buyer already purchased the washers and dryers. Krause had $7,000 worth of construction materials delivered to repair his portion of the roof, he said, and planned to seek a building permit. The materials have been returned.

Scott Nordin, of Nordin Design Group Inc., said the roof is damaged beyond repair and is a safety hazard. Wood purlins have rotted, he said, and many have already failed and are sagging. He said failure of the roof system is imminent. Steel girder trusses are rusted and decayed in some areas.

Nordin also said the supporting walls and remainder of the building must also be evaluated for decay and structural integrity. Because it is a commercial building, plans for repair must be submitted to the Department of Safety and Professional Services for approval.

Nordin said he did not believe repairing the structure would be economically feasible or prudent.

In a letter to Toby Kersten, city public works manager and building inspector, Jed Wohlt, environmental health manager with the Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services, recommended the entire building be deemed unfit for human use.

Building inspector Dan Coffey, of Independent Inspections, LTD, found the damage is so severe that the building needs to be razed.

Coffey determined the assessed value of the building is $135,800. The estimated cost for repairs would be $365,500, according to Kell.

Action is being formalized to get the building razed, Kell told the Common Council on Tuesday.

Krause said he is working with attorney to determine his options.

The beauty salon has moved to 42 S. Main St.

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Shawano Police Department

June 11

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

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

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 400 block of South Bartlett Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 1100 block of South Evergreen Street.

Vandalism — A mailbox was reported vandalized in the 900 block of East Kadletz Street.

Arrest — A 20-year-old male was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Threatening — Police investigated a threatening complaint in the 600 block of South Maiden Lane.

Vandalism — A house was reported paintballed in the 1100 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 11

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road N in Birnamwood.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Mink Ranch Lane in Richmond.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Boldig Road in the town of Morris.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Huntington Road in Red Springs.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Hiawatha Court in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Maple Grove and three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 11

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to two complaints of disruptive students at Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School, 105 S. Clinton Ave.

Drug Offense — A driver was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop on South Main Street.

Disturbance — A woman was referred for domestic abuse and battery after a disturbance on Seventh Street.

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Work scheduled for 2017 or earlier if funds are availableBy: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

Airport Drive, from state Highway 22 to state Highway 29, is scheduled for resurfacing and widening as early as next year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The project could cost as much at $2.5 million, DOT officials said this week.

Pavement on Airport Drive, which also is state Highway 47, has deteriorated, shows severe cracking and uneven surfaces, and has simply reached the end of its useful life, DOT spokesperson Kristin McHugh wrote Wednesday in response to a reporter’s questions.

The project removes existing asphalt and adds a new overlay the entire length of the project. Storm sewers inlet, curb and gutter, and signage also will be replaced where necessary.

Airport Drive is a mix of two and four lanes, divided and undivided roadway. It will be reconfigured to a three-lane roadway with one travel lane in each direction and two-way left turn lanes, based on public input.

The Airport Drive and Green Bay Street intersection has a higher than average accident rate and planned safety improvement include the following:

• Adding left turn lanes in each direction.

• Modifying the median on the intersection’s southwest corner to accommodate turn lanes.

• Retiming traffic signals to optimize traffic flow.

At the Airport Drive and County Road B intersection, plans include the following:

• Installing a four-way stop to reduce delays for County Road B motorists crossing or turning onto Airport Drive.

• Adding traffic islands and modifying medians to accommodate turn lanes.

The DOT calls the new roadway design an enhanced two-lane configuration, which creates shoulders between travel lanes and the curb, and also allows adding left turn lanes at Beauprey Road and Richmond Street.

Two-way, left-turn lanes added between intersections will provide access to adjacent properties.

A right turn acceleration lane will be added from Richmond Street to Airport Drive as another safety measure.

Gates will be added to the rail cross due to inadequate sight lines. A curbed median will be added between opposing lanes of travel, and bus pullout lanes will be installed in each direction to improve traffic flow.

Six trains traveling at 40 mph maximum use the Airport Road crossing daily, and about 6,900 vehicles travel the roadway daily, according to the DOT.

Airport Road’s 45 mph speed limit will remain after construction is completed.

The DOT will not know if project funding is available until the next state budget is finalized, McHugh noted.

Construction is scheduled for 2017, but could begin next year if funds are available. The project is scheduled to be bid in May 2016.

Traffic will be detoured for two or three months from Airport Drive between County Road B and Green Bay Street via Highways 29 and 22.

Construction will be staged to balance traffic safety and mobility with progress of the work so traffic impacts are minimized.

Access to adjacent properties will be maintained through the construction process, which is scheduled to last several months.

Because Highway 47 is a connecting highway, the state picks up 75 percent of the construction cost with local government sharing 25 percent, which the DOT calculates at $75,000. Local utility costs are an estimated $6,000.

A call to Brian Knapp, city administrator, was not returned before deadline.

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1st phase expected to be completed in OctoberBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Workers are finishing repairs and adjustments to the detour route this week for the Main Street (state Highway 22) reconstruction route in Clintonville.

Main Street will be closed from 10th to 13th streets beginning at 6 a.m. Monday. Workers plan to begin removing the surface of the street and cutting the sidewalk. They will also begin installation of sanitary sewer and water next week.

During the closure, traffic will be detoured via Seventh Street, Lyon Street, 12th Street, SSGT Warren Hansen Drive and state Highway 156. Tenth Street will be open; the intersection at 13th Street will not be. The area south of the Pigeon River Bridge will not be affected now.

An inspector will begin checking the conditions of basements in the area. A video will be made of the inside of the basement to keep track of any cracking that might occur because of the work being done.

The Department of Transportation will hold weekly meetings for the public at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Community Center, 30 S. Main St., to keep them informed of the project’s progress.

Clintonville Public Works Director Toby Kersten suggests that residents check the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce website (http://www.clintonvillewichamber.com) for updates. Completion is expected in October.

Businesses will be open as usual on Clintonville’s Main Street during the reconstruction. Some will have rear entrances available as well.

The entrance to the Community Center will remain open temporarily, and the farmers market will continue. Eventually the market and Community Center will be accessed from the driveway off 10th Street.

The Main Street project, estimated to cost up to $5 million, is being done in two phases. The work beginning next week is the first phase. The second phase includes the section between 13th Street and Green Tree Road, which is scheduled for 2017, but might occur as early as 2016 if federal funds become available.

The project includes replacement of the Pigeon River Bridge; reconstruction of Main Street including pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewer, street lighting, and traffic signals; replacement of water and sewer; along with modifications to several intersections to improve safety.

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Pavement problem blamed on changing temperatureBy: 

Leader Staff

Authorities responded to three two-vehicle crashes Wednesday, while a section of buckling pavement on state Highway 29 added further complications.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies first responded to a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 156 near the intersection with Laney Road in Maple Grove about 7:50 a.m.

The sheriff’s department reported that a 1997 Dodge Ram, operated by Bryan Anderson, 36, of Prentice, had been eastbound on Highway 156 when it rear-ended a 1999 Kenworth dump truck travelling in the same direction.

Both Anderson and his passenger, a 51-year-old Pulaski man, were transported to a Green Bay hospital for treatment, the sheriff’s department said. The operator of the dump unit was reportedly uninjured in the crash.

While the accident remains under investigation, Anderson has been issued citations for fifth-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and fifth offense operating after revocation.

Authorities next responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 near County Road J in the town of Morris just after 1 p.m.

The sheriff’s report indicates one vehicle rolled over and air bags were deployed, but did not indicate whether there were any serious injuries.

The accident was being investigated by the State Patrol and further information was not available.

A third accident occurred about half an hour later on Highway 29 in the town of Hartland.

According to the sheriff’s department, a 27-year-old woman from Green Bay was traveling eastbound on Highway 29 and was struck by a 64-year-old woman from Green Bay who was traveling westbound and went to take a left turn across the highway into Doc’s Harley Davidson.

Authorities said both drivers were wearing seat belts and sustained minor injuries.

The 64-year-old driver received a traffic citation for failure to yield right of way.

Then, about 6 p.m., Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials closed down the left lane of eastbound Highway 29 near Spruce Road due to pavement buckling. The temperature changes with a cool roadbed and sunshine rapidly heating up the pavement caused the buckling, the DOT said.

There were no accidents caused by the pavement failure.

County road crews made some temporary repairs. The lane was closed for about an hour and a half.

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GI was married in Shawano in 1940, drove truck in ClintonvilleBy: 

The Associated Press

A Dutch man has succeeded in his quest to find family members of a central Wisconsin World War II soldier buried in the Netherlands.

For the last decade, Jo Winkens, a 54-year-old customs officer, has cared for the burial site of Pfc. Wayne Clark, who was killed in action in Germany during the last weeks of the war. Clark, who was 26, was buried with 8,300 other Americans at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, near Winkens’ home in Vaals.

Winkens called the News-Herald Media office on May 26, spurred on by a Memorial Day celebration at Netherlands American Cemetery the day before. Winkens’ idea was that a story in the newspaper would spur public interest and help find living relatives of Clark.

He was right.

On Tuesday morning, Winkens received an email from Sydney Wayne Clark of Ashdown, Arkansas, about 150 miles southwest of Little Rock.

“Thank you for caring enough to (take) care and visiting Dad’s grave,” Sydney Clark wrote. “My sister has visited The Netherlands and Dad’s grave. I have not, but talked to her about visiting. In fact, we talked about (it) a few weeks ago.”

Winkens said he intends to follow up with Sydney Clark.

Sydney Clark’s sister, Leah Jeanne Woods, 72, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, also called Daily Herald Media.

“I’m so excited (at the prospect of connecting with Winkens),” Woods said. “I’ve been over there a couple of times, and I knew someone was taking care of Dad’s grave. I asked someone at the cemetery, but he didn’t know.”

Woods was 2 years old when word reached her mother that her father was killed in Germany.

“I was so little, I don’t remember my father. I have just some vague memories,” Woods said. “I remember a Christmas in a trailer house, and I got Boston baked beans. Things like that.”

Wayne Clark was born in Mosinee, attended Waupaca High School and was a truck driver in Clintonville before being inducted in the Army in May 1944, according to a front-page Wausau Daily Record-Herald story about his death that ran on April 28, 1945.

That same day, the Wausau newspaper ran a story under the headline, “Nazi Surrender Offer to America, Britain Reported.”

Wayne Clark left for Europe on Dec. 26, 1944. He fought in the 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, Third Army, which was led by Lt. Gen. George S. Patton. The 89th Division was known as the “Rolling W” and troops from that division liberated Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the infamous Buchenwald death camp, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, on April 4, 1945.

Five days later, April 9, Wayne Clark was killed, one of 325 men from the 89th Division who lost their lives in the war.

Woods said she does not know the precise circumstances of her father’s death. She believes he was a “runner,” she said, a soldier who moved ahead of larger units to scan for snipers, and that he was shot.

Much later, Woods said she received an offer to bring her father’s body home to the United States for reburial: “But I said, ‘No, he’s been there for so many years.’”

Winkens said he’s one of many Dutch volunteers who cares for the American graves at Margraten. “We owe our freedom today to them,” he said.

Wayne Clark married Beatrice McCabe in 1940 in Shawano, and the couple had four children, David, Sydney, Leah Jeanne and Arletta Rae. David is deceased, Woods said. Her younger sister, Arletta, is married, goes by the name Cookie Burton and lives in Phoenix.

Life for Wayne Clark’s children was not easy after the loss of their father.

Beatrice gave up the care of the four children after Wayne Clark died, Woods said. David went to live with Beatrice’s parents; the younger three lived with Wayne Clark’s sister, Delia Green, and her husband, Lawrence Green, on a farm near the Portage-Waupaca county line.

“Mother was out of my life,” Woods said. “She was my mom in name only. … I know it was very difficult for her.”

Woods connected with Beatrice later in life, and is close to the daughters Beatrice had after Wayne Clark’s death. Beatrice died years ago and is buried in Fond du Lac, Woods said.

The remaining three siblings have dealt with their loss as best they can, she said.

“Being a child, you have this hurt,” Woods said. “There are a lot of things you think about, and wonder.”

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Shawano Police Department

June 10

Police logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 100 block of South Washington Street.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 700 block of South Maiden Lane.

Juvenile — Police responded to a complaint of juveniles playing in the road at Second and Lafayette streets.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Kuckuk Park, 500 Oak Drive.

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a probation and parole warrant in the 200 block of North Main Street.

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

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen from a van in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 10

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A wooden wicker basket was reported stolen on Cloverleaf Lake Road in Belle Plaine.

OWL — A 61-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on County Road B in Waukechon.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen on Elm Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — Charges of disorderly conduct and battery were referred against a 43-year-old Shawano man after a domestic disturbance on River Road in Waukechon.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault on Knoke Street in Gresham.

Disturbance — A 31-year-old Green Bay woman was taken into custody on a probation and parole hold and a charge of disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged five accidents, including injury accidents in Maple Grove, Morris and Hartland, and one deer-related crash.

Clintonville Police Department

June 10

Police logged five incidents, including the following:

Theft — Money was reported stolen on Bennett Street.

Drug Offense — A 25-year-old man was cited for possession of paraphernalia on Flora Circle.

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Fred Laack has announced his retirement from the board of directors of Premier Community Bank. He will continue to serve as director emeritus.

Laack, owner of the Dupont Cheese Inc., served on the board for 25 years. He is succeeded by Alyssa Brooks, of Waupaca.

During Laack’s time on the board, Premier grew in assets from $49 million to $270 million. Additionally, Laack was instrumental in the bank’s addition of nine new offices and the acquisition of two insurance agencies.

“We appreciate all of the great things Fred Laack has done for his community and our organization,” Premier Community Bank President/CEO Tom Pamperin said. “Fred’s hard work, dedication and vision were critical to our growth and success.”

Brooks is a 2003 graduate of Waupaca High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, where she studied business management with a pre-med emphasis. She earned a doctorate degree at Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri, specializing in pregnancy and pediatric care. She is working to earn a diploma in pregnancy and pediatric care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

Brooks is the owner of Brooks Family Chiropractic in Waupaca.

Premier Community Bank is headquartered in Marion and has 10 branches across central and northeastern Wisconsin.

For more about Premier Community Bank, visit www.premiercommunity.com.

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New book chronicles county projectBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Jim Leuenberger, author of “The Barn Quilts of Shawano County Wisconsin” holds up a freshly published copy as he stands next to a barn quilt in progress at the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce. The book is an update of a previous book published in 2013 and features more than 300 quilts in Shawano County.

Lovers of the local barn quilts now have a way to fit all of them in the palm of their hand.

Jim Leuenberger, the Shawano photographer who started the barn quilt project in 2010, came out with a new book this week featuring photos of all the barn quilts and details of all the farms where the quilts are installed. Leuenberger said quilt fans have been demanding a detailed book on the quilts for more than two years.

In August 2013, Leuenberger published an initial book featuring the first 222 quilts, but he had said that another book was in the works. The new book, “The Barn Quilts of Shawano County Wisconsin,” features 305 quilts and includes two full-sized maps to show the locations of the quilts.

“The nice thing about the book, in my opinion, is we’ve got maps of every one, pictures of every one, who sponsored it, who the host farm is. We’ve got historical information on every one,” Leuenberger said.

Leuenberger had written detailed individual stories about each barn quilt and had them published in The Shawano Leader and other media. The information accompanying each barn quilt photo is a pared down version of each story.

“There are almost 28,000 words in the book,” Leuenberger said. “That’s a lot of words and a lot of typing for me.”

Leuenberger worked with Brenda Mainz, a graphic designer with North Star Casino, on the design and layout for the 64-page book. Leuenberger knew Mainz from when both had worked at Cooperative Resources International years ago.

When the Shawano County Barn Quilt Project started five years ago, Leuenberger anticipated 25 or 30 quilts maximum to come out of the project, but the county’s agriculture community loved the idea and requested more and more quilts, most done by Leuenberger and his wife, Irene.

The project is slowly coming to an end, though, after the celebration of the county’s 300th barn quilt in May. Leuenberger said he will still paint barn quilts on request, but he has ended the active solicitation that has keep the project going strong.

“We’re probably not going to add any more quilts to the book, even if we get more quilts,” Leuenberger said, noting he has four more quilts in the process of being painted and installed. “We will still do some quilts if people want one.”

The books are available at the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, 1263 S. Main St., Shawano, for $15, with future distribution sites in the works. Copies can be ordered by mail, but will cost an additional $3 for shipping.

Leuenberger will be signing copies of the new barn quilt book during the Jumpin’ June Jamboree on Saturday.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Jim Leuenberger will be signing copies of his book “The Barn Quilts of Shawano County Wisconsin.”

WHEN: 2-3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: ‘Til the Cows Come Home, 154 S. Main St., Shawano, which will be part of the Jumpin’ June Jamboree

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Council approves spending resolutionBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano officials Wednesday approved a slew of spending resolutions, most of which had already been budgeted for in the city’s capital purchases budget.

However, the resolutions included one unexpected expenditure to address the deteriorating condition of the boat launch at Huckleberry Harbor.

The city recently took temporary steps to address the problem, making improvements to the boat ramp that should see it through this year, according to Eddie Sheppard, public works director.

A study by MSA Professional Services showed more substantial repairs are needed for the longer term.

The Shawano Common Council approved contracting with MSA for engineering services needed at Huckleberry Harbor, in the amount of $13,200, which includes a site survey, permit application, plan development, grant application, bidding administration and project management services.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said there is some grant money available for the project, and it’s hoped the rest of the expense can be covered by other capital improvement projects and purchases coming in under budget.

Other spending approved by the council Wednesday included the following:

• A $12,500 bid awarded to Knope Heating and Air Conditioning for five window air-conditioning units in the amount of $12,500 to cool well equipment at the municipal wells. The city budgeted $16,000 for the purchase after a recent DNR assessment that the city’s use of an open window to cool the equipment was no longer an acceptable practice.

• A $32,475 bid from Buss Automotive Inc. for a 2015 ¾-ton pickup for the DPW. The item had been budgeted at $35,000.

• A $17,997 bid from TAPCO for two Siemens traffic controllers and Opticom system updates. Over the past three years, the city has been phasing out its existing traffic controllers due to failures with the controllers and lack of technical support.

• A $50,137 bid from Resco Electric Utility Supply; a $6,728 bid from Crescent Electric Supply Company; and a $7,555 bid from WESCO Distribution for the annual purchases of various pad-mounted transformers for Shawano Municipal Utilities.

• A $9,500 bid from Knope Heating and Air Conditioning for a Carrier rooftop gas heating/electric cooling 10.5-ton unit that will serve both City Hall and the Police Department.

The city also rejected the only bid that came in for a site redevelopment plan for Spirit of Shawano Park.

The parks and recreation department received a $184,096 bid from Martell Construction Inc. that came in about twice the amount expected.

Park and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks said the inflated price was likely due to timing, given that most construction companies are already well-booked for this year.

The project will be re-bid either this fall or early next year.

In another park-related matter, the council approved a $5,600 proposal from Rettler Corp. for the completion of a master plan for the newly designated Smalley Park along the Wolf River near the Shawano Medical Center.

Hendricks said the department will be looking for input from the community on what they would like to see at the park.

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Sturgeon sculptures ‘hidden’ throughout downtown areaBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Contributed Photo This is one of the brass sturgeon sculptures that will be permanently mounted and hidden in plain sight on the exteriors of buildings throughout the downtown Shawano area as part of a project generated by the 2015 Leadership Shawano County class.

The search for sturgeon will move from the waterways to the roadways of downtown Shawano this weekend.

The Great Sturgeon Search is being billed as a fun-filled scavenger hunt to find 10 sturgeon sculptures hidden around the Shawano downtown area. The search starts Saturday at the annual Jumpin’ June Jamboree.

Sturgeon hunters will be able to pick up clues at The Great Sturgeon Search booth on Main Street. All the sturgeon are “hidden in plain sight,” according to organizers.

The event, modeled after similar projects in Greenville, South Carolina, (Mice on Main) and Hendersonville, North Carolina (Bears of Hendersonville), was the brainchild of the 2015 Leadership Shawano County class. Planning began in October.

“The goal of the project was to create a fun activity that highlighted something unique to Shawano and created a positive economic impact for downtown businesses,” said Kathleen Ciantar, one of the program’s 14 graduates.

Eddie Sheppard, another graduate of the class and the city’s public works director, said the group wanted to create a unique promotion for the downtown.

“It feels great to do this, and the businesses were supportive of everything,” Sheppard said.

Businesses were not the only ones who got behind the project.

Local artist David Aschenbrener provided the vision for the sculptures, the original wax mold and finishing touches such as coloration, fins and whiskers; Sheppard and the city provided 100 decommissioned brass water meters; Aarrowcast Inc. donated the time, talents and materials to create the mold; and Shawano Community High School trades students melted down the meters to create the brass sculptures — each about 12 inches long.

“The most challenging part of the project was getting the initial mold and determining just how to create the sculptures,” Ciantar said.

Aschenbrener relied on his memories observing the sturgeon run along the Wolf River for inspiration.

“I have been going to the Shawano dam since I was a kid, and it is a neat thing to design since it has not changed in hundreds of years,” Aschenbrener said.

Ten sculptures have been placed; an 11th should be up by the fall.

“We hope that The Great Sturgeon Search will encourage families to talk about the history and importance of the sturgeon in our area while exploring all that the downtown has to offer,” Ciantar said.

For information, visit The Great Sturgeon Search Facebook page.

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Car show, live music among jamboree attractionsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

The 11th annual Jumpin’ June Jamboree will kick-start the summer festival season in Shawano with a car show, music and some new attractions Saturday.

Sponsored by the Shawano Business Improvement District, the event promotes Main Street area businesses.

“All of the businesses downtown will have their doors open, and we have a variety of music this year, including traditional folk,” said Marisa Rycroft, BID coordinator.

The car show will feature classic, antique and muscle vehicles; trophies will be presented in each class. Visitors will select the People’s Choice winner.

Live music at the jamboree will include a performance by local folk musician Skip Jones.

One of the new attractions this year is The Great Sturgeon Search, coordinated by the Leadership Shawano County Class of 2015. People searching for the 10 brass sturgeon hidden throughout the downtown area can pick up clue cards at the group’s booth at the jamboree.

Shuffles Dance Studio will again be among the performers.

“We will also have belly dancing this year, which is different from what we usually see,” Rycroft said.

Rycroft also invited Bear Creek-based Kruzickis Kemo Kritters to bring their alpacas, which resemble llamas, to the festival’s petting zoo.

“They have therapeutic alpacas,” Rycroft said. “We always heard about (horses) being therapeutic, but never the alpaca.”

Chris Marcks of Shawano Big Brothers Big Sisters is organizing the children’s activities, which will include a bounce house and a variety of games starting at $1. Children can get unlimited access to the bounce house for $10. Proceeds from the activities will benefit Shawano Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“We have a variety of kids games, about six to nine, and there will be prizes,” Marcks said. “Kids will have plenty of opportunities to win prizes.”

Local business are sponsoring a bike raffle; children must be present to win.

Jumpin’ June Jamboree is held in conjunction with the seventh annual Rhubarb Festival at Heritage Park. Horse-drawn carriages and buses will be available to transport people between the events.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Jumpin’ June Jamboree

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Main Street in downtown Shawano

ADMISSION: Free

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Heidi Cartwright

Officer Heidi Cartwright is Shawano Police Department’s newest officer. She began field training as a police officer this week.

Cartwright has been employed for the past 13 years at the College of Menominee Nation as a member of the faculty, teaching courses related to the criminal justice and social science disciplines. Prior to working at CMN, she was a police officer for the city of Manawa, where she still holds a part-time position.

Cartwright was raised in Shawano and is a graduate of Shawano Community High School. She has a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and an undergraduate degree in administration with a minor in psychology from Marian University in Fond du Lac.

She attended the Fox Valley Technical College recruit academy to gain her law enforcement certification.

Cartwright is married and has two children.

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Possession with intent to deliver marijuana

A Shawano teen has been charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana after a traffic stop Friday in the town of Washington.

Austin J. Lundell, 18, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Lundell was pulled over after a sheriff’s deputy spotted him speeding on Lake Drive.

The complaint alleges authorities discovered more than 300 grams of marijuana in 11 plastic bags, along with about $800 in cash.

Lundell is free on a $2,500 signature bond. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set.

Possession with intent to deliver marijuana

A Freedom teen was bound over for trial Tuesday on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

Brianna C. Geiger, 18, could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Shawano County authorities checked on Geiger’s vehicle after it had a flat tire on state Highway 29 in the town of Hartland on May 19.

The complaint alleges sheriff’s deputies spotted green plant material in the vehicle and detected an odor of marijuana.

According to the complaint, deputies seized 12.8 grams of marijuana, along with a scale, pipe and zip-close baggies.

Geiger is free on a $1,500 signature bond and is due back in court for arraignment on June 22.

Auto theft

A Neopit man is scheduled for arraignment Monday on felony charges of auto theft and fleeing an officer.

Merwin J. Wynos, 27, could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and $10,000 fine on each felony count if convicted. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated with a minor passenger in the vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, a vehicle pursuit on June 1 that started in Menominee County entered Shawano County and ended in an accident on Broadway Road. The passenger fled on foot and Wynos was taken into custody at the scene of the crash, according to the complaint.

Wynos was being held on a $2,500 cash bond. He was bound over for trial after waiving his preliminary hearing last week.

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Prentice man was allegedly driving drunkBy: 

Leader Staff

Shawano County authorities say the driver of a pickup truck that rear-ended a dump truck in Maple Grove on Wednesday, sending the driver and his passenger to a Green Bay hospital, was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 156 near the intersection with Laney Road about 7:50 a.m.

The initial investigation indicates that a 1997 Dodge Ram, operated by Bryan Anderson, 36, of Prentice, had been eastbound on Highway 156 when it rear-ended a 1999 Kenworth dump truck travelling in the same direction.

Both Anderson and his passenger, a 51-year-old Pulaski man, were transported to a Green Bay hospital for treatment, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

While the accident remains under investigation, Anderson has been issued citations for fifth-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and fifth offense operating after revocation.

Upon completion of the investigation additional allegations may be forwarded to the Shawano County District Attorney’s Office for review, the sheriff’s department said.

The operator of the dump unit was reportedly uninjured in the crash.

No additional information was being released Wednesday.

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