Shawano Leader News

Event to address importance of collaborationBy: 

Jason Arndt [email protected]

The Shawano County University of Wisconsin-Extension will hold a Connecting the Dots workshop May 5 at The Main Event in Cecil.

Connecting the Dots was spearheaded by Nancy Schultz, family living educator, and Jay Moynihan, community resource development coordinator.

“We really wanted to convey to the community about collaborative impact, and how to collaborate better with one another,” Schultz said. “We have a need right now, and that is with poverty and workforce development.”

The event will kick off at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. It will address concerns related to poverty, quality of life and workforce development.

According to the United States Census, 11.5 percent of Shawano County, along with 13.1 percent of the city of Shawano, lives below poverty level.

The UW-Extension sent out invitations to more than 100 local agencies to participate in the event, including local officials, financial institutions, school districts, nonprofit organizations, medical professionals and law enforcement agencies.

Schultz hoped to have 100 individuals registered by this week’s deadline, but about 40 are joining in the collaborative effort.

“We were hoping to get 100 people, but we are still going to give it a shot,” Schultz said.

The program’s mission to learn what each agency is doing to address community concerns, develop cooperative efforts and share ideas of reducing costs through collaborative efforts.

“Right now, we are finding out what each business is doing to address concerns and actually go across the board and come together,” she said, indicating efficiency is key to improving the quality of life in Shawano County.

Following introductions, UW-Extension registered dietician and nutrition education specialist Amy Korth will explain the importance of collaboration for a community impact.

Lynn Hrabek of the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention will coordinate a community cafe aimed to encourage open thinking through small group discussions during her presentation.

A community cafe is a structured conversational process intended to facilitate open discussion and link ideas within a larger group. Participants move between a series of tables where they continue discussion in response to specific questions.

Schultz hopes the program will benefit residents in Shawano County, and looks forward to the event.

“Maybe we can work more efficiently on these problems that we have in our community … and help address those issues,” she said. “It should be a good event, there will be a lot of sharing, and hopefully we can learn a lot from this experience.”

Co-sponsoring the event is Thrivent Financial, UW-Extension and ThedaCare.

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Book examines state’s fascination with sturgeonBy: 

Jason Arndt [email protected]

Leader photo by Jason Arndt Book author and science writer Kathleen Schmitt Kline explains the history of sturgeon to about a dozen residents at the library Thursday. The writer and member of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute co-authored the book “People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish.”

Even after the sturgeon spawning season, there were still about a dozen residents in attendance Thursday at a Shawano City-County Library presentation regarding the prehistoric fish.

Kathleen Schmitt Kline, co-author of the book “People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish,” explained the history of the sturgeon, which goes back to ancient times.

“I had seen her speak at another conference in Green Bay, so I was aware of the presentation and I enjoyed it and thought it would be timely here,” said Mikki Moesch, tech services representative for the library. “I was very happy she came, I was very excited because I felt it would be something people would be interested in.”

Schmitt Kline, an outreach coordinator at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, began writing the book alongside Department of Natural Resources sturgeon biologist Ronald M. Bruch and senior scientist Frederick P. Binkowski of the Wisconsin Great Lakes WATER Institute.

Her historical research gave her insight on the Native American connection, origins of sturgeon spearing season and the development of nonprofit agency Sturgeon For Tomorrow.

“I knew a little bit about sturgeon but the more I learned about it from the two scientists, the more I wanted to write about them,” Schmitt Kline said. “They are such a cool fish, they have been around for a couple million years, so they are kind of unlike any other fish that we have in Wisconsin.”

She noted Native Americans initially conceived the idea of sturgeon spearing and demonstrated the methods to residents surrounding the Lake Winnebago region more than a century ago.

The DNR began tagging sturgeon in the 1950s to monitor the fish population after the species endured substantial population loss, Schmitt Kline said.

Sturgeon For Tomorrow was developed in 1978 with a mission to conserve the fish’s population along the Lake Winnebago system, including the Wolf River.

During the 4-year process of gathering information, Schmitt Kline credited members of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for assisting in the book published in 2009.

“We started talking with the members of Sturgeon For Tomorrow, and they were really excited about the book,” Schmitt Kline said. “They wanted to go out into the community and interview people, which is a big help, it takes a long time to interview all of the people involved.”

The interviews were transcribed at the UW-Madison, and are now stored at the Oshkosh Public Museum.

While it has been five years since Schmitt Kline last visited the Shawano dam during spawning season, she recalls the memories, and believes local residents should be proud of the unique ritual.

“It is really spectacular seeing the sturgeon spawning in Shawano, there is all the turbulent water, and you see these gigantic fish coming up and porpoising on the water,” she said. “It is very dramatic, it is much more dramatic than anywhere else along the Wolf River.”

Moesch agreed, citing the community’s enthusiasm during spawning season, which draws hundreds of people to the dam on an annual basis.

“Sturgeon are important to this community and in the spring when they are spawning, it is a well attended event,” Moesch “It is the right time for her to come out here.”

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Authorities responding to a domestic disturbance near Bonduel on Wednesday arrested a male subject on battery and drug charges.

The call came in shortly after 10 p.m., according to a posting on the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.

The victim reported being pushed down a flight of stairs after trying to stop the suspect from operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The victim also indicated the suspect was growing marijuana plants inside the home. Several marijuana plants were located inside the home, along with paraphernalia, and weapons.

The ambulance service provided care for the victim and the suspect was taken into custody on charges of battery, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, manufacturing marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

There were no charges filed as of Thursday afternoon.

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No new light shed on dog parkBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Expectations of public comment on the city’s plans for a dog park fetched about a dozen residents at Wednesday’s meeting of the Shawano Park and Recreation Commission, but the meeting ended without an opportunity to speak.

Though the dog park was on the agenda, the item was intended only to update commission members on what happened with the park proposal when it went before the finance committee earlier this month.

After concerns about the proposed location were raised by neighboring residents, the finance committee curbed the dog park and kicked it back to the commission for further review of the site and possible alternative locations.

“Somehow word got out that this was the meeting to attend to give input on the dog park,” Park and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks said. “It was just an update. There was no new information and no action taken.”

Other than one question seeking a clarification, there was no discussion among commission members after hearing the update.

Hendricks said there will be an opportunity for public comment, but it could be months before there is anything to comment on. In the meantime, comments already made at the April 8 finance committee meeting are being taken into consideration, he said.

“We’re taking the feedback we heard and we’re going back and evaluating that site and other sites,” Hendricks said. “The process will take time.”

Hendricks and Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard looked at about a half dozen city-owned sites for a dog park before proposing a 6-acre portion of property along Sunset Boulevard, between Pick ‘N Save and Channel Trace.

A number of residents at the April 8 meeting raised concerns about noise from the park and its impact on property values.

The Willow Shores Condo Association sent a letter to the city objecting to “a smelly dog park with a cyclone fence around it in our backyard.”

Hendricks said there will be future meetings dedicated solely to the dog park discussion.

“We’ll look at the sites and listen to the concerns,” he said. “Those meetings will be a good opportunity for people to come out and give their input.”

However, at this point, no meeting dates are set.

Hendricks said it could be midsummer or later before the meetings take place.

“There won’t be any action taken in the meantime,” he said.

Many respondents to a 2013 survey seeking public input on Shawano parks said they wanted a dog park.

Dog park enthusiasts approached the Shawano County Board on two occasions in 2012 to establish the park at a clay borrows site on Rosebrook Road in the town of Belle Plaine. It was voted down twice over concerns about the proposed lease, the expense and what entity would be responsible for it.

The city included $50,000 in this year’s capital improvement projects budget for the park. The expected cost of the project at the Sunset Boulevard location would have been $49,794, with $28,793 of that going for a fence around the park.

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On May 9, the National Association of Letter Carriers, United States Postal Service, Feeding America and other partners are asking the people of Shawano to help Stamp Out Hunger. The annual food drive has grown into a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, held on the second Saturday in May, has become the nation’s largest single-day food drive. In 2014, generous Americans donated 72.5 million pounds of food, feeding 30 million people. This was the 11th consecutive year of at least 70 million pounds collected by letter carriers. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has collected well over one billion pounds of food since it began.

“We’re proud to support this food drive,” Shawano Postmaster Pam Donner said. “We’re asking residents for their support to help make this another successful year. It’s easy to make a donation: Simply leave a bag of nonperishable food items by the mailbox to help your neighbors in need.”

The need for food assistance exists in every community in America. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 50 million Americans are food insecure, meaning they live at risk of hunger. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that nearly 16 million children in America are struggling with hunger. In addition 4.8 million seniors face choices between paying rent, utilities, and having nutritious food.

To participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing nonperishable food items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 9. Letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to local food banks.

For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit www.feedingamerica.org and www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive.

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By: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Ben Huber was elected president of the Clintonville Board of Education at the board’s annual reorganizational meeting Monday at the middle school.

Huber, who was one of three candidates elected April 7, replaces Dirk Weber in the president’s role. Weber was elected vice president. The board re-elected Jim Dins as secretary and Clyde Tellock as treasurer; both were re-elected to the board April 7. Superintendent Tom O’Toole administered the oath of office to Huber, Dins and Tellock.

Huber also was elected to be the board’s delegate to the CESA 8 annual convention May 28 in Gillett. Jim Schultz was designated the delegate to the WASB convention in Milwaukee in January. Tellock is the alternate.

The Clintonville Tribune Gazette was selected as the official publication.

— Grace Kirchner, correspondent

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Shawano Police Department

April 28

Police logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Welfare — Police checked the welfare of a woman in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street.

Accident — A minor accident was reported in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Welfare — Police checked the welfare of an elderly woman reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street. It was determined she was test driving a vehicle; no violations were issued.

Warrant — A man was arrested on a warrant at the intersection of South Prospect and East Richmond streets.

Shoplifting — Police investigated two juveniles for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Trespass — Police investigated an unwanted man at a residence in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Reckless — Police investigated a drag racing complaint on South Union Street and East Lieg Avenue.

Theft — A Social Security card was stolen from a vehicle in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.

Probation — Police responded to an alleged probation violation involving text messages in the 1200 block of South Prospect Street.

Drugs — Police investigated two women, ages 27 and 28, for an alleged drug offense.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 28

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a juvenile disorderly complaint at Bonduel Middle School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

Work Release — Authorities investigated a man for violating a work release order.

Warrant — Authorities attempted to locate a 54-year-old man on a warrant on North Broadway Road in the town of Hartland.

Animals — Authorities issued a code violation of too many animals in the 30 block of Honeysuckle Lane in Tigerton.

Welfare — Authorities checked the welfare of a man in the 1100 block of Park Street in Gresham.

Property — Authorities responded to a complaint of a broken van window on River Road in Bowler.

ATV — Authorities logged two complaints of juveniles driving recklessly.

Suspicious — Authorities investigated a suspicious person on Hickory Road in the town of Richmond.

Fire — Authorities responded to a barn fire on County Road V in the town of Washington.

Accident — Deputies logged two deer-related crashes, including one involving Tigerton Ambulance on state Highway 29 and County Road J in the town of Morris.

Clintonville Police Department

April 28

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct complaint was reported at Clintonville High School, 64 Green Tree Road.

Property — A report of property damage was made on Seventh Street.

Domestic — Police responded to a domestic incident on Hemlock Street.

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Fire chief grateful for community donationsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Fire Chief Robbie Woldt says firefighters are able to remain seated while fighting fires on the new Polaris Ranger 570 acquired by the Bonduel Area Fire Department. It has been used four times since the middle of March.

A new utility terrain vehicle acquired by the Bonduel Area Fire Department has already been field-tested four times since it arrived in mid-March.

The Polaris Ranger 570 UTV is equipped with a slide-on unit containing a 75-gallon water tank, motor and a storage area.

“We have already been out four times this year, and last year we only went out for one grass fire,” Bonduel Fire Chief Robbie Woldt said.

The vehicle, including a trailer and other pieces of equipment, cost about $17,000, Woldt said. A $3,260 Wisconsin Forest Fire Protection grant from the Department of Natural Resources and local donors paid for the vehicle.

Woldt said the UTV can go where fire trucks cannot.

“This is an off-road vehicle,” he said. “You can’t take the trucks out there, so this can get people out to the fire. It saves firefighters’ health and fatigue. … They can even stay seated in the vehicle and point the hose directly at the fire.”

Woldt said he became interested in obtaining a UTV after the Shawano Area Fire Department, which has three of them, assisted Bonduel with a fire in 2014.

“Last year we had a cornfield on fire, and requested Shawano to come out here,” Woldt said. “And after watching Shawano do what they do with their UTV, it saves firefighters health and maintains safety.”

Woldt noted all four deployments this spring were in response to mutual aid requests.

“That unit goes anywhere in Shawano County, even beyond, even in Keshena if requested,” Woldt said. “We will take it and help them.”

The vehicle arrived at an appropriate time. Gov. Scott Walker last week declared a state of emergency to deal with elevated wildfire conditions.

“It’s been busy, as dry as it, as windy as it is,” Woldt said. “(I’m) hopeful it does not get worse.”

Donors contributing to Bonduel’s UTV fund included Grunewald Excavating, Bonduel Polar Bear Snowmobile Club, Bonduel Emergency Medical Service, Bonduel Area Fireman’s Fund, June Bethke, Smitty Parts and World Wide Signs.

“The members of the fire department want to thank everyone for this needed equipment,” Woldt said.

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More sidewalk work possibleBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

The city’s 2015 street reconstruction program is on schedule and running smoothly so far, according to Shawano’s Public Works Department Coordinator Eddie Sheppard.

Crews have been at work on Presbyterian and Center streets since last month and should be wrapped up by the end of May.

“We’re making good progress,” Sheppard said.

The city had planned to do just three streets this year, but bids came in low enough that a fourth was added to the list, Sheppard recently told the Common Council.

The city budgeted $1.29 million. Degroot Construction, of Green Bay, was awarded the contract with a low bid of about $1.28 million.

“We were very pleased with where the numbers came in,” Sheppard said.

The work in progress includes Presbyterian Street from Franklin to Main streets and Center Street from Hamlin to Cleveland streets.

Something not included in the plan, but which the city is considering, is continuing the sidewalk along Center street. The sidewalk ends about halfway between Hamlin and Cleveland streets.

The city’s field committee Tuesday approved moving forward with the process of getting the new sidewalk approved, which will first require a public hearing for property owners who would be affected.

Work will be done this summer on Randall Street from Main to Lincoln streets and Andrews Street between Randall and Division streets.

Sheppard said those projects are timed for when school is out for the summer and should be wrapped up before the students return in the fall.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A man already serving time for a string of 2014 tavern burglaries has been charged with another felony count of burglary.

Stephen M. Childs, 30, was convicted last year of burglarizing the Coachlight in Wescott, the Golf Side Bar in Wescott, Salty’s Saloon in Richmond and Billy’s Bar in Shawano. Those crimes took place between November 2013 and June 2014.

He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 5½ years in prison.

During those investigations Childs became a suspect in other break-ins because of similarities between the crimes, according to the criminal complaint.

The new charges filed Monday allege Childs burglarized a residence in the town of Wescott in July 2013, allegedly making off with coins, cash and a laptop, and attempting to break into another residence the same day before being spotted by the homeowners and fleeing.

Childs could face a maximum 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted on the felony count of burglary.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass, theft and criminal damage to property.

Childs is incarcerated at Stanley Correctional Institution and is scheduled for an initial court appearance June 1.

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Shawano Police Department

April 27

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A key was reported stolen in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported egged in the 400 block of West Second Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported egged in the 400 block of North Franklin Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 900 block of Olson Street.

Theft — Police responded to a theft attempt at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

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

Warrant — A 35-year-old woman was arrested on a warrant in the 1100 block of South River Street.

Warrant — A 29-year-old woman was arrested on a warrant in the 500 block of South Hamlin Street.

Warrant — A 33-year-old man was arrested on a warrant in the 700 block of East Randall Street.

Warrant — A man was arrested on a warrant in the 700 block of South Maiden Lane.

Warrant — A 47-year-old man was arrested on a warrant in the 500 block of South Washington Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 27

Sheriff’s deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities investigated a suspicious vehicle complaint on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in Wittenberg.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Curt Black Road in Wescott.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Porter Road in Hartland.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Clintonville Police Department

April 27

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — A driver was cited for a hit-and-run accident on Second Street.

Theft — A retail theft involving a juvenile was under investigation.

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Felony OWI

A Shawano man is facing a felony count of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated after being pulled over in the town of Wescott on Sunday

Robert J. Krueger Jr., 46, could face a maximum six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Krueger was stopped on East Green Bay Street about 2:20 a.m. after a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy spotted him driving erratically.

A preliminary breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.1 percent, according to the complaint.

Krueger has four previous drunken driving convictions in Shawano County, according to court records. The most recent was in 1999.

Krueger was ordered held on a $2,500 cash bond and was scheduled for an adjourned initial court appearance Tuesday.

Deliver a prescription drug

A resident at the Homme Home Acceptance unit in Wittenberg was charged with a felony count of delivering a prescription drug after allegedly giving his medication to another resident.

Jacob R. Bailey, 18, could face a maximum six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

Bailey is accused of providing the other resident with Trazadone, an anti-depressant.

Bailey was ordered held on a $100 cash bond. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing May 11.

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Shawano Police Department

April 26

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint at the Shawano Recreation Center, 220 E. Division St.

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

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 100 block of Sunset Avenue.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 600 block of South Washington Street.

Disturbance — A juvenile was referred to social services after a disturbance in the 600 block of East Schurz Street.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

April 25

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of West Picnic Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at People’s Express, 1206 E. Green Bay St.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint on Richmond Court.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Hamlin and Center streets.

Theft — A lawn ornament was reported stolen in the 600 block of South Washington Street.

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

Theft — Wood was reported stolen in the 100 block of West Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — A 42-year-old man was arrested on a charge of domestic violence-related disorderly conduct after a disturbance in the 100 block of Teddington Lane.

April 24

Police logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A male subject was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 400 block of West Picnic Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 500 block of South Cleveland Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at County Road B and Airport Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Sturgeon Park, 811 S. Water St.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 26

Sheriff’s deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 46-year-old Shawano man was arrested for fifth-offense operating while intoxicated on Green Bay Street in Shawano.

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

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Knoke Street in Gresham.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Park Street in Bonduel.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on North Avenue in Mattoon.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Elm Street in Bowler.

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

April 25

Sheriff’s deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Oak Avenue in Richmond.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Old Lake Road in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in Wittenberg.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Main Laney Drive in Maple Grove.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Third Street in the town of Herman.

Accidents — Authorities logged 10 accidents, including an injury accident in Maple Grove and four deer-related crashes.

April 24

Sheriff’s deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Quieta Court in Angelica.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Gumaer Road in Wescott.

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

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Recipients share how scholarships helped themBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Shawano Community High School senior Threse VanDyck performs a solo as the school’s jazz band entertains the audience at the Dollars for Scholars gala Friday at The Gathering.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Dollars for Scholars President Michael Sleeper addresses more than 200 people at the organization’s annual gala Friday at The Gathering.

Shawano Dollars for Scholars will provide a record $450,000 in scholarships to area students this year, the organization announced Friday at its annual gala at The Gathering in Shawano.

Nearly 100 Shawano Community High School seniors will be among the scholarship recipients.

Of the $450,000, $240,000 will be earmarked for graduating seniors at SCHS headed to college or technical schools, with the average scholarship totaling $2,000. All seniors who complete the process receive at least $1,000.

Dollars for Scholars, which selected “Mission Possible” as the theme for this year’s gala, distributed $435,000 in scholarships a year ago.

“Dollars for Scholars has always been outstanding,” said Michael Sleeper, the organization’s president. “As of this year, we have surpassed $2 million in scholarships. That is Mission Possible.”

The group’s endowment fund totals $11.5 million, thanks primarily to a $7.5 million donation from the Judge Michael and Joanne Eberlein estate announced at the 2011 gala.

Scholars treasurer Adam Gafner said it is imperative to preserve the endowment for future generations.

“Our ultimate goal is to not have the endowment run out of money,” he said. “We want to be able to give out money forever. … We want it to go future generations. Our goal is to prevent it from going down to zero.”

Three area residents who used Dollars for Scholars scholarships to further their education spoke at the gala about how the program affected their lives.

Wendy Burr Fritz, a 1995 SCHS graduate, earned a dental hygienist degree and landed a job in Shawano.

“There weren’t many choices of dental hygiene school, so I went to NWTC-Green Bay,” Fritz said. “By having the support of Dollars for Scholars, it pushed me more to get my degree.”

Adam Steinback, a 2012 SCHS graduate who is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh studying radio and television, received a continuing education scholarship.

“I can honestly say this has had a huge impact on my college career,” he said. “It is more than just getting a check, it was getting an experience we might otherwise miss.”

Tracy Zook, 43, received a New Vision Scholarship in 2013 and became a registered nurse at ThedaCare, where she is able to give back to the community, she said.

Dr. Robert Johnson, past president of the organization, said Judge Eberlein Second Chance Scholarships will be awarded for the first time this year.

“We have our first two winners, and they will be getting it in the coming days,” Johnson said. “It is very satisfying. We feel we are doing what Eberlein would do — giving people a second chance.”

The Dollars for Scholars board also recently extended the deadline for continuing education scholarship applications to June 1.

“Traditionally it has been May 1, but we found that a lot of those college students are currently working on testing or preparing for final exams, so we extended it to give them more time,” Johnson said.

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Museum shows off Shawano’s pop cultureBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Luke Hartwig prepares sodas Thursday for the tasting area of the new Twig’s museum and gift shop at 920 S. Franklin St., behind the bottling plant, in Shawano. Hartwig is a third-generation bottler, carrying on a tradition started in 1951 by his grandfather, Floyd “Twig” Hartwig.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski A small theater, featuring a robot serving Sun Drop, is part of the tour of the new museum, and patrons will have the chance to learn the history of bottled soda.

Most museums frown on visitors enjoying beverages while viewing exhibits, but Twig’s Beverage officials don’t mind. In fact, they encourage it.

Twig’s will officially open its museum and gift shop to the public May 1, although some groups have gotten a sneak peek at the tribute to the history of soda pop in Shawano. The Shawano County Historical Society and We Are People visited the facility this week, and a number of elementary school classes have visited on field trips.

Visitors will be able to enjoy samples of Sun Drop and an array of new flavored sodas that Twig’s has come out with recently in a tasting area created to look like a 1950s style diner. The area includes two stained glass windows depicting scenes of preparing and distributing Sun Drop in northeast Wisconsin.

“Any other bottler or brewer that has a museum, they allow you to sample the beverages they make, so you can experience exactly what we do here,” said Luke Hartwig, son of owner Dan Hartwig and the third generation to go into the beverage business in Shawano. “Besides, who would want to turn down free samples?”

Among the samples is the Farmer’s Brew, a butterscotch-flavored root beer made in tribute to the old Farmer’s Brewery on Main Street. Other new Twig’s flavors include blue raspberry, lime, caramel apple and rhubarb berry. Visitors will also get to try Twig’s classic cream soda and black cherry in glass bottles.

There are also several viewing areas where visitors can watch the soda being made and bottled. A small theater allows visitors to see a short film on the history of Twig’s Beverage.

The entryway to the new museum and gift shop on Franklin Street has been transformed into the Shawano streets of yesteryear. One window shows off a classic barbershop with a vintage striped pole, while another window showcases an old-fashioned soda fountain.

Hartwig said his father has been trying to develop the museum for more than a decade. It is a labor of love from countless nights and weekends, when the senior Hartwig has not been busy managing the beverage facility.

“He had it planned for quite a while. He wanted to do something that was dedicated to Sun Drop and the history its had with Shawano,” Luke Hartwig said. “He’s been doing it mostly on his own, but it’s taken quite a while. Most of this has been done in the after-hours.”

A number of metal signs, which Hartwig said his father collected over the years, line the walls of the new museum. Once it was decided to start the museum, the Hartwigs searched antique stores and online sites for vintage Sun Drop items and other assorted memorabilia, including a pair of antique traffic signals, 1950s-era bottling equipment and old soda dispensing machines.

“I can’t forget the customers and the patrons that stop in and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this cool item, this Sun Drop memorabilia,’” Hartwig said “Some have actually donated big signs to the museum, and it’s good to have them involved so they have a piece (of the museum) for themselves.”

The name Twig’s is synonymous with soda pop in the Shawano area, especially with Sun Drop, deemed to be locals’ favorite beverage. The company was started more than 60 years ago by Luke’s grandfather, Floyd, known to locals as “Twig.”

“He was actually shot and up in a hospital over there in Korea, and he sent his paychecks from the military back to his mom to start investing in bottles,” Hartwig said. “That way, when he got back, he’d have these bottles because he wanted to start a beverage bottling business.”

The company started at the Farmer’s Brewery, across the street from where Twig’s Beverage is today. It was moved to the existing facility due to the difficulty of hauling 50-pound bags of sugar up two flights of stairs, Hartwig said.

It wasn’t long before Sun Drop officials came calling and asked Floyd Hartwig to bottle their soda locally.

Luke Hartwig hopes the museum will give patrons a sense of nostalgia, hearkening back to a time when soda came exclusively in glass bottles, before plastic became the container of choice for carbonated beverages.

“We’re still trying to keep that going,” Hartwig said. “Everybody has that inclination to try and hold on to something from the past, and this is one of those good things that people like to remember and still come back and experience — being able to taste how soda is made with real granulated sugar, which not many people do anymore.

“Although it takes more time, the more time you put into it, the more natural feel to the soda they’re going to have.”

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Neopit man hit woman with hammerBy: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

A Neopit man who attacked his girlfriend with a hammer last fall was sentenced this week in federal court to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Scott A. Rettler, 45, pleaded guilty in January to an assault that caused substantial bodily injury in an Oct. 14 attack on a woman he was dating, according to court records. He has been in custody since Nov. 19.

The woman, identified in documents only as E.W., told Menominee Tribal Police that she was lying on a bed at Rettler’s Knot Landing Drive residence when he hit her on the lower back with something that caused her extreme pain, later identified as a hammer. E.W. said Rettler terrorized her for about 30 minutes, yelling at her, kicking her, smashing her phone and throwing the pieces at her, smashing a hole in a door with the hammer and punching a hole in a wall with his fist.

When Rettler began banging dishes in the kitchen, E.W. opened a bedroom window, pushed out the screen and jumped out, according to court documents. She went to a neighbor’s house, phoned police and hid in a bathroom until they arrived.

When interviewed again on Dec. 4, E.W. said she still had tremendous pain in her lower back and right leg and was unable to do everyday tasks. She also delayed physical therapy due to pain issues and was prescribed Vicodin for it.

E.W. is a Native American. Rettler is a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe. Both of them live on the Menominee Indian Reservation, giving federal authorities jurisdiction over the case.

Rettler faced a maximum of five years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Whittemore recommended a sentence at the top of the guidelines, noting that Rettler used a deadly weapon.

Whittemore said he recommended a five-year sentence because “of the severity of the offense and his prior criminal record.”

District Judge William Griesbach’s sentence factored in Rettler’s six prior OWI convictions, the use of a deadly weapon, the substantial bodily injury and his guilty plea.

Griesbach also gave E.W. 90 days to seek restitution from Rettler for expenses she incurred related to the attack.

A call to Rettler’s attorney, Krista Halla-Valdes, was not returned by deadline.

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Social studies teacher chosen from 3 candidatesBy: 

Leader Staff

The Bonduel Village Board on Thursday approved the new village president’s appointment of Luka Zischka to fill a vacant trustee seat.

Zischka teaches social studies and is an assistant girls basketball coach at Bonduel High School. He graduated from St. Norbert College in 2011.

Zischka will take the seat vacated by Sharon Wussow, who was elected president in the spring election. He will fill out the remaining year of her two-year term.

The Village Board unanimously approved Wussow’s appointment of Zischka after hearing comments from him and two others who were interested in the post.

The others were Adam Wussow and past village president Grant Staszak, who ran against Sharon Wussow in the April election.

Wussow defeated Staszak by a vote of 146-117.

Outgoing president Melvin Wendland finished third in the February primary.

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Shawano Police Department

April 23

Police logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Lafayette and Second streets.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

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

Theft — Lumber was reported stolen from a yard in the 100 block of West Lieg Avenue.

OAR — A 53-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Washington and Division streets.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 400 block of Humphrey Circle.

Theft — Police investigated an attempted theft at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of Fairview Way.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 23

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a residential fire on First Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Ebert Street in Gresham.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on County Road M in the town of Grant.

Fire — Authorities responded to a grass fire on Witt-Morr Town Line Road in the town of Morris.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Menge Road in the town of Fairbanks.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Anderson Avenue in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 22 in Green Valley.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in Tigerton.

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Simulation held at park pavilionBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Muffy Culhane, board member of SAM25, attempts to take out a loan from Robert Little, of Gresham, during a poverty simulation exercise Thursday at the Shawano Lake County Park pavilion.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Cari Schindel, of Gillett, and Dr. Sagar Shah, of Madison, review their family information packet for the poverty simulation Thursday at the Shawano Lake County Park pavilion.

More than 40 area residents walked a mile in the shoes of people living in poverty at a simulation Thursday at the Shawano Lake County Park pavilion.

The event was sponsored by Shawano Area Matthew 25, ThedaCare, Thrivent Financial and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Nancy Schultz, family living educator at the UW-Extension, was pleased with the turnout.

“I was hoping to have 30 to 40 people attend, and we surpassed that,” Schultz said.

The simulation was designed to sensitize participants to the issue and to expose them to the day-to-day challenges faced by low-income families in Shawano County and elsewhere.

According to the United States Census, 11.5 percent of Shawano County resident live below the poverty line.

Each participant was assigned roles within a family and given a budget, which included rent, utilities, weekly food allotments, clothing expenses and loan payments. They also were forced to deal with family emergencies and medical issues.

They were also given fake money to pay their bills and other living expenses, but Schultz noted the simulation was not a game.

“This is not Monopoly,” she said. “This is real, based on real-life experiences of a low-income family.”

Participants were required to learn about community resources such as FoodShare, pawn shops, legal aid and banking services.

Some participants expressed frustration about the long wait to enroll in FoodShare.

“Think about how tough and frustrating it is for them to go through the process,” Schultz said.

One scenario included a single parent trying to make ends meet while dealing with a problematic child.

“It was difficult to believe and trust my child while I went to pay my bills,” Diane Patza, of Shawano, said, recounting the simulation.

Christy Hay, of Shawano, said she learned a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by low-income families.

“I felt disillusioned by it all,” she said. “I lost trust in people and trust in agencies.”

The simulation showed, Schultz said, that addressing poverty requires a communitywide effort and multiple support resources.

“Poverty is huge in this community,” she said. “People need to be sympathetic and listen to the needs of people that are struggling and lend a helping hand when needed.”

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Additional sessions being plannedBy: 

Leader Staff

Contributed Photo Shawano police visit with customers Wednesday at McDonald’s during Coffee with a Cop. The Police Department is planning two or three such informal gatherings annually.

Shawano police mingled with McDonald’s patrons during the inaugural Coffee with a Cop event Wednesday morning.

The coffee klatch brought police and community members together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.

“It takes down the walls, the fear of the police that some people have because the public’s most frequent contact with us is a traffic stop or a police call,” Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

A number of customers stopped in to chat with the officers, including some who initially came through the drive-through, then decided to park and stop in, Kohl said.

Four of the visitors were recent graduates of the department’s Citizen Police Academy.

Many of the regular customers, including a group of retirees who breakfast at McDonald’s daily, also spent some time with the officers.

“They were very receptive, very appreciative,” Kohl said.

A state trooper also joined the event, which Kohl said he appreciated.

“We work with a lot of those agencies,” he said.

The event ran from 8-10 a.m., though things slowed down during the second hour.

“In future, we might just do an hour,” Kohl said.

Kohl said the department is planning two or three Coffee with a Cop events annually at different locations around the city.

No date has been set yet for the next one.

“We hope that community members will feel comfortable to ask questions, bring concerns or simply get to know our officers,” Kohl said. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”

Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by The United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the county, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.

The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

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