Shawano Leader News
Public Record
Shawano Police Department
June 9
Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:
Fraud — Police logged a report of banking fraud at Associated Bank, 129 E. Division St.
Animal — Police responded to a dog complaint in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.
Vandalism — Police investigated damage to a door in the 400 block of Fairview Way.
Restraining — Police investigated a woman for violation of a restraining order in the 700 block of South Cleveland Street.
Noise — Police investigated a noise complaint at a residence in the 700 block of South Union Street.
Welfare — Police conducted a welfare check in the 200 block of East Center Street.
Suspicious — Police logged a suspicious vehicle complaint at East Richmond and South Kadletz streets.
Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile problem in the 400 block of Fairview Way.
Suspicious — Police investigated a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of South Washington Street.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of South Union Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 9
Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:
Theft — Authorities responded to a vehicle theft complaint in the 100 block of West Railroad Street in Bowler.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to an allegedly intoxicated girl report on Lake Drive and Ponderosa Court in the town of Wescott.
Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Springbrook Road in the town of Washington.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of East Hofman Street in Cecil.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a complaint involving a man soliciting educational books to children on Forest Haven Road in the town of Richmond.
Animal — An animal bite complaint was logged on Huntington Road in the town of Red Springs.
Accident — Authorities responded to a vehicle versus building crash at Wittenberg Family Restaurant, 101 N. Genesee St., Wittenberg.
Trespassing — Authorities responded to a vehicle trespassing complaint on Green Valley Road in the town of Green Valley.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road G in the town of Red Springs.
Welfare — Authorities conducted a welfare check on a 10-year-old girl in the 100 block of North Beech Street in Tigerton.
Vicious — Authorities logged a vicious dog complaint on Deer Lane in the town of Washington.
Drug — Authorities responded to a group of men allegedly using drugs on Third Street in the town of Herman.
Accident — Authorities responded to a two-vehicle accident in the 300 block of state Highway 22 in Cecil.
Abuse — Authorities responded to a report of child neglect on state Highway 160 in the town of Maple Grove.
Welfare — Authorities conducted a welfare check at a residence on Main Street in the town of Angelica.
Suspicious — Authorities investigated a suspicious person in the 800 block of West North Street in Bonduel.
Accident — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes and one vehicle-bobcat accident.
Clintonville Police Department
June 9
Police logged seven incidents, including the following:
Assist — Police assisted the Marion Police Department on a K-9 search.
Welfare — Police conducted a welfare check at a home on West 13th Street.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetSki Sharks host adaptive ski training program
Jason Arndt, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Matt Barber is helped out of the water by Tyler Leurquin, Travis Lukens and Ski Sharks member Alex Tessar following an adaptive skiing lesson Saturday at Wolf River Beach. The program hosted by the Ski Sharks provided training for other state skiing clubs that plan to offer adaptive water skiing.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt From left, Shawano Ski Sharks president Dave Passehl helps Matt Barber, of Green Bay, and Richard Legois, of Burlington, during an adaptive water skiing training program Saturday at Wolf River Beach.
When the Shawano Ski Sharks unveiled adaptive water skiing last year, no one knew it would become a widely recognized program.
The Wisconsin Water Ski Federation over the winter selected the Sharks to help train other groups interested in adaptive skiing. Saturday, five teams from around the state completed the training at Wolf River Beach.
“They were looking for a host team to facilitate this training, and we were graciously selected to do that,” said Dave Passehl, president of the Ski Sharks. “We have skiers from different areas of the state — Green Bay, Wausau and even farther than that — that have come over here.”
Tyler Leurquin, 24, of the Mosinee-based Central Wisconsin Water Ski Show Team, was among the participants. Noting that the team’s boat driver is paraplegic, Leurquin said adaptive skiing gives the disabled an important opportunity.
“It gives people the ability to go out on the water and do things regardless of what their limitations are,” Leurquin said.
Matt Barber, of Green Bay, was one of a few adaptive skiers who participated Saturday. He suffered a spinal cord injury and paralysis in an accident eight years ago.
“I’ve recently just gotten into the pool, but (this was) the first time I have gotten out onto a body of water and first time on a ski,” Barber said. “No matter what your disability is, there is definitely an opportunity here for you to get out on the water and enjoy the day.”
Other teams represented at Saturday’s session were the Brown’s Lake Aquaducks, Merrimac-based Colsac Skiers, Pewaukee Lake Water Ski Club and Webfooters Water Shows Inc. based in Fremont.
Passehl said the Ski Sharks, which held their first adaptive skiing program in August, plan to add a second adaptive session this season, which opens Wednesday. The sessions will be held June 26 and Aug. 14.
Last year, the Ski Sharks brought in five members from the community to hit the water for the first time.
“I know this community has those willing to do that, and so my hope, ultimately, is to start integrating the adaptive water skiing into our show,” Passehl said. “It is safe, it is fun and we love for them to help expand our program.”
The Sharks’ efforts to build an adaptive skiing program were bolstered last year when Prime Powersports in Shawano donated a 2014 SeaDoo Spark personal watercraft, to help with fundraising.
The Ski Sharks spent $5,000 on adaptive water ski equipment, which can include items such as sit-skis, outriggers, wakeboards and shoulder slings.
Passehl said he is willing to meet with guardians, parents, social workers and directors of disability programs to discuss adaptive skiing.
“I don’t think people know how convenient it is for people to get out on the water and enjoy the freedom of doing anything that you did before being injured,” Barber said. “No matter what your disability is, there is definitely an opportunity for you to get out on the water.
The Ski Sharks provide the equipment and also pay into an insurance plan after the volunteer signs a waiver.
“We have everything they need as far as equipment goes. They only need to sign an insurance waiver, and we pick up the costs for them,” Passehl said.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet‘Ski-Hard Cafe’ open for business
Jason Arndt, [email protected]
“Ski-Hard Cafe” is the theme of the weekly shows for Shawano Ski Sharks’ 38th annual season, which is slated to open Wednesday at Wolf River Beach.
The club’s 38th season will include weekly water ski shows on Wednesdays through Aug. 19, two Sunday performances (July 5 and July 12), two learn-to-ski days (June 19 and June 26) and two adaptive water ski exhibitions (June 26 and Aug. 14).
Ski-Hard Cafe is a fictitious radio station struggling to stay in business. The shows will feature a variety of musical genres, director Brad Keuschel said.
“The radio station is coming on hard times, just like our team with losing members, and we are going to try to keep the radio station going and keep everything afloat,” Keuschel said.
Ski Sharks President Dave Passehl promised the show will provide quality entertainment for the whole family.
While the nonprofit organization has a few more members than last year, more are needed, especially men and older boys to provide strength on the team’s pyramids, Passehl said.
The weekly shows help the Ski Sharks prepare for competition at the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation state championships, which this year will be held from July 16-19 at Red Sand Beach near Wisconsin Rapids.
Keuschel and Passehl were members of the Sharks’ 2010 Division 2 championship team.
The club accepts donations and sponsors raffles at its weekly shows. Additional funds are generated through membership fees, concession stand revenue, fundraisers, grants and community support.
“Please understand that as a nonprofit organization, we have to raise (money for) everything, including the dock, boats, jump ramp and bleachers,” Passehl said. “Everything is owned by the Ski Sharks.”
The club also gives back to the community and is planning special nights this season to help the Shawano County Humane Society, Safe Haven domestic abuse and sexual assault support center and Shawano Area Waterways.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Shawano Ski Sharks shows
WHEN: 6 p.m. Wednesday through Aug. 19; 6 p.m. July 5 and July 12.
WHERE: Wolf River Beach, Riverside Drive, Shawano.
ADMISSION: Free
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetSeveral people hurt in truck rollover
A rollover crash in Shawano County involving six people in a pickup truck, including three riding in the back, that sent several people to hospitals was still under investigation.
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said charges could be forthcoming, but nothing was filed as of Wednesday afternoon.
The truck was driving east on state Highway 156, west of state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor about 8 p.m. Saturday when the driver lost control and the truck overturned, according to the sheriff’s office.
Three people were inside the truck’s cab, and three were riding in the truck’s bed. There were numerous injuries, and several passengers were transported to various medical facilities, according to the sheriff’s office.
Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash, authorities said.
Names and conditions of the driver and passengers weren’t released.
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Shawano Police Department
June 8
Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — Two juveniles were cited for a curfew violation at Union and Green Bay streets.
Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.
Theft — An air conditioner was reported stolen in the 100 block of Acorn Street.
Obstructing — Police responding to a 911 call in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street arrested a 23-year-old man for obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.
Assault — Police investigated an assault involving juveniles at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 8
Deputies logged 30 incidents, including the following:
Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Morgan Road in Red Springs.
Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized on County Road G in the town of Grant.
Restraining Order — A 28-year-old man was arrested for a restraining order violation on County Road MM in Richmond.
Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on Upper Red Lake Road in Red Springs.
Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including three deer-related crashes.
Clintonville Police Department
June 8
Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:
Theft — A theft was reported on Felshow Street.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident on South Main Street.
Disturbance — A neighbor dispute on East First Street was reported.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetSeveral people hurt in crash Saturday
Tim Ryan, [email protected]
A rollover crash in Shawano County involving six people in a pickup truck, including three riding in the back, has sent several people to hospitals.
The truck was driving east on state Highway 156, west of Highway 47 in the town of Lessor, about 9:20 a.m. Saturday when the driver lost control and the truck overturned, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office.
Three people were inside the truck’s cab, and three were riding in the truck’s bed. There were numerous injuries, and several passengers were transported to various medical facilities, according to the sheriff’s office.
Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash, authorities said. Conditions of the driver and passengers weren’t released.
The crash remains under investigation.
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Shawano Police Department
June 7
Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:
OWI — A 22-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Richmond Street and Industrial Drive.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 2400 block of East Lieg Avenue.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of West Eagle Street.
Burglary — Police investigated a burglary in the 900 block of South Weed Street.
Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of South Washington Street.
Fire — Police responded to a grass fire in the 300 block of East Zingler Avenue.
Theft — License plates were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 300 block of South Andrews Street.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of North Franklin Street.
June 6
Police logged 29 incidents, including the following:
OAR — A 52-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Union and Schurz streets.
Accident — Police responded to a motorcycle versus car accident at Richmond and Waukechon streets. The motorcycle rider reported a leg injury.
Theft — Bikes were reported stolen in the 700 block of South Union Street.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Lincoln and Green Bay streets.
Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Lieg Avenue and Franklin Street.
Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500 block of South Franklin Street.
Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.
June 5
Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Kuckuk Park, 500 Oak Drive.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of Madison Way.
Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the 300 block of South Washington Street.
Theft — A backpack was reported stolen in the 500 block of West Lieg Avenue.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Richmond Court.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 7
Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:
Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Thurner Lane in Red Springs.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Oak Street in Bowler.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on County Road N in Birnamwood.
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Morgan Road in Red Springs.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Fourth Street in Mattoon.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Cherry Road in Aniwa.
Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including one deer-related crash.
June 6
Deputies logged 54 incidents, including the following:
Drug Offense — An 18-year-old Shawano man was arrested on charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and operating while intoxicated on County Road HH in the town of Washington.
OWI — A 68-year-old woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Cecil Street in Bonduel.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Loon Lake Circle in Wescott.
Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a juvenile drug complaint on Lake Drive in the town of Herman.
OWL — A 46-year-old Cecil man was cited for operating without a license on Freeborn Street in Cecil.
Accidents — Authorities logged eight accidents, including an injury accident in the town of Lessor and four deer-related crashes.
June 5
Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Circle Drive in Red Springs.
Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Oakcrest Drive in the town of Washington.
Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Loon Lake Circle in Wescott.
Fraud — Authorities investigated a Facebook scam complaint on Belle Plaine Avenue in Belle Plaine.
Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Buss Drive in the town of Washington.
Accidents — Authorities logged three accidents, including two deer-related crashes.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetFarmers market gearing up for another season
Leader Staff
Shawano Farmers Market is gearing up for its second year of operations in its new home at Franklin Park, with new offerings and expectations of more vendors.
The market operated for six years in the parking lot at City Hall before moving last summer to the park in the 200 block of South Washington Street.
“We like the location,” said Richard Sarnwick, farmers market board president. “The old location was asphalt and when it heated up it was unbearable. It’s much cooler now, and we’re happy about that.”
Sarnwick said the market averaged about 20 vendors per Saturday last year, and he anticipates a 20 percent increase in vendors this year.
Some vendors pay for their space week by week; others pay for the entire season.
“We have a lot of vendors prepaid for the season,” Sarnwick said. “That’s a positive for us that they trust in the market and are willing to make that commitment.”
Musical entertainment is already a staple of the market, but this year there will be other offerings and activities, beginning with a recognition of June Dairy Month when the season opens on June 20.
Activities will include magic shows and kite flying, as well as educational presentations on topics such as boating safety and food preparation and preservation.
Local nonprofit groups will also set up space each week along with the produce vendors and crafters.
Sarnwick said the market would welcome more community growers, including those with small gardens, to be food vendors at the market.
“We like to have community people selling their produce,” he said.
The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon June 20 to Oct. 10, but the all-volunteer five-member board meets monthly throughout the year to plan the event. Many others volunteer their time and help out as well.
The Shawano Farmers Market depends on donations, grants and vendor booth fees. The market does not receive a percentage of any farmer, producer or artisan sales.
Expenses include items such as operations and site improvements, market management, insurance, advertising and community outreach.
As a nonprofit organization, the market welcomes donations, which are tax-deductible.
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Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
The Clintonville Park and Recreation Committee voted this week to recommend the Common Council approve plans for creating a dog park on a site near the Clintonville Area Waste Service location off Seventh Street.
The committee also suggested a fundraising campaign, with a goal of $18,000, should begin as soon as possible.
Katie Kettenhoven, a Fox Valley Technical College student who has lobbied the city for a dog park, told the committee that she found, as of April 21, there were 493 dogs licensed in the city. She said the city needs a safe, secure place where “dogs can be dogs.”
Justin McAuly, park and recreation department director, said fencing for the area would cost about $14,000. He also estimated signage would cost about $1,000 and maintenance about $3,000 to start. Most of the maintenance will eventually be taken care of by volunteers, he said.
Kettenhoven said other communities have Friends of the Dog Park organizations that help with fundraising, maintenance and promotion. Grants also might be available, she said.
Kettenhoven said the area would be large enough to have separate areas for small and large dogs. She also noted there is only one residence nearby, noise would not be a problem and there is ample room for parking. Owners would be responsible and liable for their dogs. Dogs in heat would be prohibited, as would food and glass bottles.
McAuly said he has been approached several times by citizens who would like a dog park.
Alderman John Wilson said he favored the park because it would help keep dogs out of the city parks.
The council is expected to consider the proposal when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 50 10th St.
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Shawano Police Department
June 4
Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:
OAR — An 18-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Maurer and Hamlin streets.
Arrest — A 44-year-old man was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.
Theft — Police investigated an attempted theft at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Theft — Police investigated a theft complaint in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.
Accident — Police responded to an injury accident at Eberlein Park and Green Bay Street.
Theft — Items were reported stolen from a van in the 400 block of Riverside Drive.
Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Washington Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 4
Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.
Vandalism — A mailbox was reported damaged on County Road D in Seneca.
Warrant — A 78-year-old Wittenberg man was taken into custody on a probation and parole hold on Oneida Street in Wittenberg.
Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Loon Lake Circle in Wescott.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Almon Street in Bowler.
Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on state Highway 32 in Angelica.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Schabow Street in Gresham.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.
Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetMedical residency training center proposed for former hospital site
Tim Ryan, [email protected]
A medical residency training center that would be the first of its kind in Wisconsin would move into the former Shawano Medical Center after the hospital relocates later this year under a preliminary agreement reached between the city, ThedaCare and a development group.
The center would cater to medical school graduates, potentially from across the country, who will need additional training in residency to qualify for licensing.
“There’s no limit in my mind how big or how far this could go,” said Dr. Jonathan Boy, who would serve as director of development for the center.
Boy, a Shawano resident since March, is originally from Tennessee and served 22 years in the Army as a health care administrator.
“The only thing limiting us is our imagination and our will to succeed and our audacity in approaching the market,” he said. “There’s no reason why this can’t set a new standard and Shawano become a household word throughout the state and maybe throughout the country.”
City Administrator Brian Knapp said the initial agreement between the three parties is a first step in the process.
“The point at which we’re at now is, we’re making the facility available for them to plan and prepare for and get everything they need to open it up and utilize it as a residency training center,” Knapp said.
There was no specific timeline for how long it would take to be fully in operation, but expectations were that it would happen within the next two years.
The group would take immediate occupancy of the hospital, however, after SMC vacates and would maintain the building and set up offices there.
“This is a very complicated project,” said Todd Schultz, lead consultant on the project. “There are layers of certifications and other activities that have to take place to get the program started.”
Schultz represents a for-profit holding company that would acquire the property, which would go on the tax rolls. A nonprofit 501(c)3 would be set up to operate the program.
Knapp said the center would create 100 jobs within the next two years, with the possibility of additional jobs to follow.
That could translate to a roughly $14 million a year economic boost for the community, according to Knapp.
“That’s just from the employment,” he said. “That doesn’t include the purchasing of equipment and supplies in the area.”
Currently, only the hospital clinic is on the tax rolls, assessed at about $2 million. The addition of the rest of the hospital campus would triple that, Knapp said.
The agreement also calls for the development group to reimburse the city for the costs it has incurred marketing the property and clearing the title.
That includes the $250,000 settlement that was paid to the heirs of Susan Smalley, the original owner of a roughly 3.5-acre parcel acquired by the city in 1901 that eventually became home to Shawano Medical Center.
The hospital expanded over the years, and ThedaCare now owns about two-thirds of the hospital campus.
“In the spirit of partnership with the city, ThedaCare will essentially donate the Shawano hospital building and about 6 acres of land to the development in return for releasing ThedaCare of all future liabilities associated with the existing building and land and the development of the property,” SMC President and CEO Dorothy Erdmann said.
“The Schultz group also will purchase the six residential properties in the area that Shawano Medical Center Foundation currently owns,” she said.
The project won’t change the existing public access to the Wolf River or have any impact on the neighborhood, according to city officials.
Knapp said an asset purchase agreement being negotiated should be before the Common Council no later than its meeting in July.
Schultz said he and his associates had been evaluating different locations and facilities in Wisconsin for a residency training center for about three years, and started evaluating the SMC property in October 2013.
He said the group entered into discussions with the city and ThedaCare last August.
“Geographically, this wound up to be the perfect scenario to be able to build this program in this part of the state, with the emphasis on rural medicine,” Schultz said.
Schultz said different studies have shown that there is a shortfall of anywhere from 85 to 120 physicians a year, particularly in primary care.
“We have an opportunity to have a major impact on that problem,” he said.
Schultz said studies have also shown that 2,500 young men and women from Wisconsin apply to medical schools every year, while an average of 250 students — not all of them from Wisconsin — are accepted into medical schools in the state.
“So you can see how many kids leave the state of Wisconsin,” Schultz said.
The residency training center, according to Schultz, would not only address the doctor shortage, but also would stem the “talent and brain-drain” of students leaving the state.
“Eighty-five percent of the people who conduct their residency in a geographic region stay there for most of their life practicing,” Schultz said.
“I think everybody’s aware of the doctor shortage nationwide and in Wisconsin in particular, and it’s getting worse every day,” Boy said. “The federal government increased medical school slots by 10 percent and several osteopathic schools opened at the same time. So now there’s going to be a huge influx of physicians who have an MD who have no place to go for training and many places are actually reducing their residency slots.”
Mayor Lorna Marquardt said the project has the potential to substantially enhance the local economy.
“I see this as a project that will create excitement throughout the state and put Shawano on the map,” she said. “It will bring to Shawano trained medical staff of private practice professionals from across the state and possibly even from out of state. It will bring medical students here to receive training.
“I am glad the existing hospital building will have this new exciting purpose and will continue to be utilized. The job creation and increase to our tax base will have a huge impact on our city’s ability to move forward in a very positive way.”
Dennis Heling, chief economic development officer for Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., said the project could also spur growth in other health care-related activities.
“Once you have an industry cluster, you start attracting other services,” he said. “You might see a business that would develop to manufacture health-related components or parts.”
Heling said the project could have long-term positive impact for decades.
“I think this is one of the most impactful, if not the most impactful project I’ve been involved in,” he said. “I think it’s going to position us for the future, not only in health care, but technologies. I think it’s really an exciting time for this community, the region and adjoining counties.”
Erdmann said ThedaCare was pleased to have reached an agreement with the city on a possible redevelopment proposal for the hospital property.
“Over the past two years, we have worked in partnership with the city to identify redevelopment opportunities for the 11-acre site,” she said.
That included a city-led task force that gathered community input through public forums in 2013 with the assistance of Vandewalle and Associates, which had been hired by ThedaCare.
The city and ThedaCare also partnered to hire a firm to market the property.
The training center was one of two proposals discussed in closed session in April by the Common Council, Plan Commission, Industrial and Commercial Development Committee and ThedaCare representatives.
Marquardt said the council and the two committees unanimously endorsed the training center.
According to sources at the city, the other proposal was an assisted living facility, but that could not be confirmed because of the closed session nature of the discussions.
“As the city takes the lead on this project, we are confident that Mayor Marquardt and her team will work hard to turn their concept into a reality for the Shawano community,” Erdmann said. “The mayor’s passion and willingness to take ownership of this project has been the difference from the start and demonstrates her commitment to the project going forward.”
story created on Thursday 6/4/2015 at 10:44:46 am by Tim Ryan
story modified on Thursday 6/4/2015 at 7:05:04 pm by Lee Pulaski
Officials look to raise elder abuse awareness
Jason Arndt, [email protected]
Elder abuse is on the rise in Shawano County, and human services officials are hoping to increase awareness of the issue next week.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, but local officials have several events planned leading up to a presentation at the Shawano City-County Library that day.
In 2014, the county investigated 109 referrals of elder abuse and neglect, an uptick from 66 in 2013, according to Lynnae Zahringer, director of the Shawano County Aging Unit.
Zahringer said that “abuse crosses all economic, social and ethnic groups.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Human Services, abuse is defined as an act of intentional harm that causes pain or injury, substantial disregard for an individual’s rights and emotional damage. In an abuse case, harm is intended; neglect is often not intentional.
Zahringer noted most of the referrals concern issues such as financial exploitation, hoarding, unsafe living conditions, self-neglect and physical abuse.
Complaints can come from a variety of agencies, including law enforcement, family, financial institutions and medical personnel.
“Our department has noticed an increase in financial exploitation referrals,” Zahringer said. “This may be attributed to the economy or unemployment.”
Investigations, she said, can range from just checking on a person to a detailed investigation. Most cases are resolved through informal services; others, on rare occasions, become court matters.
Events, such as ice cream socials and cookouts, will be held at Pine Manor, Evergreen Care Center, Birch Hill Care Center, Maple Lane, Kindred Hearts and The Cottages throughout the week to raise awareness of the issue.
“Besides the daily events, each location has a tree drawing that is placed on a wall,” Zahringer said. “When people come in and promise to keep an elderly person safe, they can sign their name on a colored leaf and place it on the tree.”
Participants who donate $1 can write their name on a apple cutout to place on the tree. Proceeds will go to the Shawano Memory Cafe, a program for those with dementia and their caregivers.
The presentation at the library by Marla Etten, Safe Haven domestic violence victim advocate, and county social worker Tracy Porath will discuss elder abuse in more detail.
AT A GLANCE
Elder Abuse Awareness events include the following:
Ice Cream Social: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Pine Manor, 1625 E. Main St., Clintonville.
Petting Zoo: 1:30-3 p.m. Tuesday, Evergreen Care Center, 1250 Evergreen St., Shawano.
Ice Cream Sundaes: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Birch Hill Care Center, 1475 Birch Hill Lane, Shawano.
Root Beer Floats: 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Maple Lane, N4231 State Highway 22, Shawano
Ice Cream/Pie Social: 1:30-3:30 p.m. June 12, Kindred Hearts, 1377 S. Lincoln St., Shawano.
Barbecue: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 14, The Cottages, 103 Madison Way, Shawano.
Elder Abuse Presentation: 1-2:30 p.m. June 15, Shawano City-County Library, 128 S. Sawyer St., Shawano.
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Shawano Police Department
June 3
Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:
Fraud — An Internet fraud case in the city was under investigation. No location was provided.
Arrest — A 33-year-old man was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Arrest — A 20-year-old man was taken into custody on a probation and parole hold in the 600 block of South Union Street.
Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of South Bartlett Street.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 800 block of East Green Bay Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of East Lieg Avenue.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Weed Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 3
Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:
OAR — A 40-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on County Road A in Red Springs.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Red Oak Lane in Wittenberg.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Willow Road in Angelica.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Marcus Street in Birnamwood.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Rebecca Street in Birnamwood.
Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes.
Clintonville Police Department
June 3
Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:
OWI — Officer assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department on a traffic stop with an intoxicated driver on Lakeshore Road at U.S. Highway 45.
Harassment — A harassment complaint on Seventh Street was under investigation.
Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident on North Main Street.
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Tim Ryan, [email protected]
Spirit of Shawano Park will get its planned renovation, but a shortage of contractors interested in doing the work is delaying the project for a while.
The Shawano Park and Recreation Department had gotten only one offer when bids were opened Tuesday, and that bid turned out to be more than twice what the department was expecting to pay.
Matt Hendricks, park and recreation director, said a price tag of around $90,000 was anticipated for the project, based on estimates from consultant Rettler Corp., of Stevens Point.
Instead, the one bid that came in was just over $184,000.
“We didn’t see what we wanted to see,” Hendricks said.
The bid was presented Tuesday to the park and recreation commission, which recommended that the Common Council reject the offer when it meets next week.
Hendricks said the problem could be an issue of timing.
“Contractors are having a good summer,” he said. “They’re very busy and they’re not necessarily looking for work.”
He said that might account for the inflated price and the lack of bids from other contractors.
Hendricks said 10 contractors requested specs for the job, but only one followed through with a bid.
Rettler Corp. will contact the contractors who didn’t bid to see why they decided not to bid.
“If it was a timing issue, we’ll rebid,” Hendricks said. “Maybe this fall, maybe in the winter, but we’ll wait for feedback.”
Hendricks said the city still plans to go forward with the renovation of the park.
Earlier this year, the Common Council approved a $14,500 contract with Rettler Corp. to draft the design and construction plans.
The park is located on the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection of Green Bay and Main streets, and features statues paying tribute to farming and logging.
Those monuments will stay, but their location might shift a bit under the renovation plan.
The names of more than 1,300 donors cut into stone blocks at the site will be re-engraved on some other type of surface because the stone they’re engraved in now has degraded.
The plan also calls for new trees, plantings and landscaping, along with a welcoming sign that would stretch across Green Bay Street.
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Shawano Police Department
June 2
Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:
Criminal Damage - Police investigated a woman for criminal damage to a door in the 100 block of Acorn Street.
Disturbance - Police investigated a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of South Sawyer Street.
Accident - Police logged a deer-related crash at state Highway 22 and Cedar Avenue.
Parking - Police investigated a parking violation at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.
Disturbance - Police investigated a physical disturbance in the 200 block of East Center Street.
Hit and Run - Police investigated a hit-and-run complaint at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.
Threatening - Police investigated a complaint of threatening behavior through use of social media in the 500 block of Fairview Way.
Fraud - Police received a report of fraudulent use of a credit card in the 200 block of North Airport Drive.
Juvenile - Police investigated a juvenile problem in the 1200 block of Birch Hill Lane.
Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious vehicle and individuals near the Richmond Town Hall, N5170 County Road MM.
Drug - Police investigated a 22-year-old woman for a drug offense in the 1100 block of East Green Bay Street.
Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious incident involving juveniles attempting to break into a vehicle in the 300 block of Fairview Way.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 2
Deputies logged 65 incidents, including the following:
Hit and Run - Authorities responded to a hit-and-run in the 300 block of West Walker Street in Wittenberg.
Theft - Authorities responded to a report of a juvenile stealing from peers at Tigerton Elementary, 500 Elm St., Tigerton.
Theft - A solar light angel was stolen from a gravesite on County Road A in the town of Herman.
Truancy - Authorities logged two truancies at Bowler School, 500 Almon St., Bowler.
Suspicious - Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle on Acorn Court and Woods Road in Wescott.
Scam - Authorities responded to a scam on Wisconsin Avenue in the town of Belle Plaine.
Warrant - Authorities took a man into custody on an outstanding warrant on County Road Q in the town of Morris.
Disturbance - Authorities investigated an altercation between a man and woman at HoChunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, Wittenberg.
Harassment - Authorities investigated harassment through use of telephone in the 400 block of West Mill Street in Bonduel.
Truancy - Authorities logged a truancy complaint at Tigerton Middle School, 213 Spaulding St., Tigerton.
Theft - Authorities responded to a report of a stolen dog on Redwood Drive in the town of Maple Grove.
Trespassing - Authorities investigated a trespassing complaint on Cypress Road in the town of Richmond.
Harassment - Authorities investigated a male for stalking on County Road N in Wittenberg.
Property - Trees were damaged in the parking lot of Brothers Pub, N5867 Lake Drive, in Wescott.
Fraud - Two complaints of welfare fraud were made and are under investigation.
Burning - Authorities investigated an allegation of illegal burning on Alberts Lane in the town of Waukechon.
Pedestrian - Authorities responded to a man stumbling along the road at state Highway 29 and Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.
Drug - Authorities investigated a drug offense at U.S. Highway 45 and Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.
Suspicious - Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle on North Lafayette Street and Anderson Road in the town of Wescott.
Disturbance - Authorities responded to a disturbance between a couple in the 200 block of South Ellms Street in Wittenberg.
Suspicious - Authorities investigated a disturbance at Homme Home for the Aged, 604 S. Webb St., Wittenberg.
Accident - Authorities logged nine deer-related crashes and a dog-related accident on County Road M in Pella.
Clintonville Police Department
June 2
Police logged six incidents, including the following:
Court - Police investigated a court order violation.
Juvenile - Police responded a disruptive student at Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School, 105 S. Clinton Ave.
Truancy - A truancy was logged at Clintonville High School, 64 W. Green Tree Road.
Disorderly - Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Clintonville High School, 64 W. Green Tree Road.
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Shawano Police Department
June 1
Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:
Burglary — Police investigated a break-in at Moede Plumbing, 810 E. Center St.
Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 700 block of East Green Bay Street.
Arrest — A 28-year-old woman was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Waukechon and Green Bay streets.
Theft — Items were reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of South Franklin Street.
Theft — Prescription drugs were reported stolen from a vehicle at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Fraud — Police investigated an identity theft complaint in the 1400 block of South Union Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Sawyer Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
June 1
Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.
Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint in the 1100 block of East Green Bay Street in Shawano.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Postal Court in Wescott.
Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Grand Avenue in Wittenberg.
Assault — An assault at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St., was under investigation.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Knoke Street in Gresham.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.
Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of East Fifth Street.
Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 100 block of North Airport Drive.
Clintonville Police Department
May 31
Police logged six incidents, including the following:
Hit and Run — A property damage hit-and-run was under investigation on West Madison Street.
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Shawano County ranks among the highest counties in the state for deer-related crashes and the odds of running into a deer on the road will increase in June, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Deer activity increases this time of year as does search for places to give birth and young deer separate from their mothers. With this increased activity, drivers may encounter more deer darting into the paths of their vehicles without warning.
Although motor vehicle collisions with deer peak in the fall months, June is one of the worst months for driver and passenger injuries due to deer crashes, the DOT said. In four of the last five years, June ranked as the worst or second worst month for motorists’ injuries from deer crashes.
“The best way to avoid crashes with deer is to slow down, put down your cell phone and eliminate all distractions while you drive. You also need to buckle up in case a crash can’t be avoided,” said David Pabst, director of the DOT Bureau of Transportation Safety.
“Motorcyclists must be especially careful because collisions with deer can be fatal to motorcycle operators and passengers,” he said. “Last year In Wisconsin, eight out of the 10 people killed in crashes with deer were motorcyclists.”
Law enforcement agencies reported 18,312 deer vs. motor vehicle crashes last year.
Shawano County had the second most deer-related crashes in the state last year with 725; second to Dane County with 863. Waukesha County was third with 700.
More than half of all reported crashes in Shawano County last year involved deer, according to the DOT.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation offers the following advice to avoid deer crashes:
• Be vigilant in early morning and evening hours, the most active time for deer.
• Eliminate distractions while driving and slow down.
• Always wear your safety belt — there are fewer and less severe injuries in crashes when safety belts are worn.
• If you see a deer by the side of the road, slow down and blow your horn with one long blast to frighten the deer away.
• When you see one deer, look for another one — deer seldom run alone.
• If you find a deer looming in your headlights, don’t expect the deer to move away. Headlights can confuse a deer and cause the animal to freeze.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path.
• Do not swerve. It can confuse the deer as to where to run. It can also cause you to lose control and hit a tree or another car. The one exception is if you are riding a motorcycle. In this case, you should slow down, brake firmly and then swerve if you need to in order to avoid hitting the deer. When swerving on a motorcycle, always try to stay within the lane if at all possible to avoid hitting other objects.
• If your vehicle strikes a deer, stay in your vehicle and do not touch the animal if it is still alive. The injured deer while attempting to move could hurt you or itself. Walking or stopping on the highway is very dangerous — you could be hit by an oncoming vehicle if you get out of your car. The best advice is to get your car off the road if possible, and call law enforcement.
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Lee Pulaski, [email protected]
Shawano School District continues to have more students coming in through open enrollment than going out.
On Monday, the School Board unanimously approved 65 applications for students living outside the district to attend Shawano schools next school year. There were 71 applications in the latest cycle, which ran from Feb. 1 to April 30, but six were rejected due to special needs that district officials felt they could not adequately provide.
The applications approved will bring the number of open enrollment students coming into Shawano to 176. Students who have applied for open enrollment in prior years are not required to reapply every year, although the district has the option each semester to terminate the arrangement for a variety of issues.
In the 2015-16 school year, 52 students living within the school district boundaries will attend school in other districts. Of those, 33 never attended Shawano schools, Superintendent Gary Cumberland said, and 13 are currently enrolled in the district. Two students seeking to go to school elsewhere are from private schools, and four are home-schooled.
School Board member Derek Johnson urged district officials to keep a close eye on whether the students coming into Shawano schools next year attend on a regular basis. A report earlier in the meeting revealed the truancy rate at Hillcrest Primary School had increased from 8 percent to 9 percent, despite school officials’ efforts to bring the rate down.
“If they’re showing they don’t care enough to come to our district, then fine. Go to another district; they obviously don’t care about ours,” Johnson said. “There are other kids who want to come to our district. We waste time, energy and resources to help kids get to school and get through whatever.”
Cumberland explained that the board could not use attendance rates from a student’s prior districts as a determining factor whether to approve an application, but attendance in Shawano could be used as cause to terminate the open enrollment arrangement if the student is habitually truant.
“We will definitely look at that in the future,” Cumberland said.
Of the 176 students who will attend Shawano schools from outside the district, 71 are high school students. Shawano Community Middle School will have 38 open-enrollment students when the new school year begins in September. The remaining 67 students will attend the district’s two elementary schools, Hillcrest and Olga Brener.
Previously, the district noted reasons for attending or leaving Shawano schools have been convenience for parents who commute, as well as specific programs the school district offers, such as the high school’s technical education program.
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Lee Pulaski, [email protected]
The Shawano School Board got its first glance at its 2015-16 budget Monday, but, with several factors still to be determined, it might as well have been through beer goggles.
The most important unknown factor is how much state aid the district will receive in the next two years. Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed two-year state budget included cutting existing categorical aid of $150 per student in the first year, which would result in the district losing $380,000.
Business manager Louise Fischer said that there has been talk in Madison that the Joint Legislative Finance Committee could restore or change the categorical aid before the final budget is passed in June.
Walker’s proposed budget also seeks to continue the freeze on school districts’ levy limits, which would mean that the district could only seek $13.7 million from local taxpayers to cover expenses.
The district assessed taxpayers $10.34 per $1,000 of equalized valuation for the current school year, which means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $1,034 in property taxes earmarked for schools. If property values stay stagnant, the tax rate could increase to $10.94, according to Fischer, while a 2-percent increase would only increase the rate to $10.73 and a 4-percent hike would make the rate $10.52.
Fischer did not give estimates on what the tax rate would be if property values dropped.
“We kept tabs on Madison, but we did not rely on a Madison decision or rumors to direct our budget process,” Fischer told the board.
Only a few things in the budget are certain, Fischer said. Among them are health insurance rates and contracted services like transportation, cleaning and food service.
“That’s about it,” she said.
The budget will continue to evolve in the coming months, with several committee meetings planned to provide updates once the state budget is finalized and local expenses can be determined. At least three public forums are planned for residents to weigh in on the budget, but no dates have been finalized.
The district’s annual meeting will be Sept. 21, when residents will vote on the tax levy. The final tax rate will not be determined until Oct. 26, after the latest property value figures are released.
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Tim Ryan, [email protected]
Ryan Swadner
The teenage driver in the October crash that claimed the lives of his three young passengers was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Monday.
Ryan M. Swadner, 18, of Cecil, faces multiple counts of vehicular and reckless homicide, along with multiple drug charges.
He is accused of being under the influence of marijuana Oct. 21 when he swerved to avoid another vehicle stopped in his path on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine and lost control on a gravel shoulder.
The Ford Mustang he was driving crossed into the path of an oncoming sport utility vehicle and was hit broadside, according to the accident report.
Two Shawano Community High School seniors, 17-year-old Cody Borsche and 18-year-old Tyler Welch, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A Bonduel High School sophomore, 15-year-old Paige Brunette, was transported to Shawano Medical Center for medical attention and later died.
Swadner was also hospitalized. The SUV driver sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities found nearly 12 grams of marijuana in six plastic baggies in Swadner’s vehicle, along with the pieces of a glass pipe and a digital scale.
According to the complaint, Swadner initially intended to loan his vehicle to Welch in exchange for marijuana on the day of the crash but later agreed to give Welch a ride.
The complaint alleges the vehicle was on its way to the Highway 22/29 Shell Station for “a narcotics transaction,” based on text messages included in the complaint that were exchanged with a “Drug Customer D.”
Swadner told authorities Welch was making the drug transaction and he was giving Welch a ride.
Lab results showing Swadner had marijuana in his system were presented at Monday’s hearing.
Swadner’s attorney, Nila Robinson, has suggested the trace amount of marijuana found in her client’s system indicated it could be the result of second-hand smoke.
After the hearing, Judge William Kussel Jr. ruled their was sufficient probable cause to bind the matter over for trial.
Swadner, who is free on a $10,000 cash bond, is due back in court for arraignment on July 20.
Swadner is charged with three counts of homicide by use of a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance, and three counts of second-degree reckless homicide.
Each of those charges carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
He is also charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place in reference to the vehicle being used to traffic marijuana. The charges each carry a maximum 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Swadner is also facing misdemeanor counts of causing injury while under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
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