Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

March 31

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of South Washington Street.

Probation — Police took a 30-year-old woman into custody on a probation hold.

Vandalism — Police investigated vandalism to porch furniture at a residence in the 500 block of South Cleveland Street.

Threatening — A report of threatening behavior by a juvenile was made in the 400 block of South Washington Street.

Drug — Police investigated a man attempting to complete a drug transaction at the Wisconsin House Inn, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Animals — Police logged two complaints of dog at large and one stray cat.

Disturbance — Police responded to a physical altercation between a man and woman in the 300 block of South Sawyer Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 31

Authorities logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities investigated an altercation between two inmates at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St.

Truancy — Two truancies were reported at Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, 400 W. Grand Ave., Wittenberg.

Vandalism — Authorities investigated an incident of vandalism to an abandoned property in the 100 block of North Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Theft — A stereo was stolen from a vehicle in the 1200 block of Ebert Street in Gresham.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious circumstance at a residence in the 100 block of East Freeborn Street in Cecil.

Reckless — Deputies logged three complaints of reckless driving.

Threatening — Authorities investigated a complaint of threatening behavior in the 200 block of West State Street in Bonduel.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

March 31

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police issued a disorderly conduct warning to a juvenile on Garfield Avenue.

Theft — A theft was reported on 11th Street.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Mayor Lorna Marquardt is looking for residents interested in filling openings on several Shawano committees and commissions.

Marquardt will be making the appointments at the Common Council’s reorganizational meeting April 21.

Openings include three-year terms on the Plan Commission and Business Improvement District Board, and one-year terms on the Sexual Predator Ordinance Committee and People With A Disability Committee. Anyone with or without disabilities is eligible to serve on the disability committee.

Those interested can pick up an application form at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St., or stop in and talk with Marquardt.

“It is an opportunity for citizens to get involved in planning and decision-making for their community,” Marquardt said. “It is less time consuming than an elected position and it gives citizens an opportunity to become a part of the process.”

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Board will make final cuts May 4By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Some Shawano School District employees received preliminary layoff notices last week, but it is uncertain whether those staff members will be cut when the School Board makes a final decision May 4.

The board emerged from closed session on March 23 and agreed to issue the notices. Superintendent Gary Cumberland would not say how many employees received notices but confirmed it was in the double digits.

“I don’t want to hand these things to people,” Cumberland said regarding the layoff notices. “That was not a good day when I had to go do that. I did not feel good about that at all.”

Cumberland said the potential layoffs are one scenario the district is looking at to cut expenses after learning that Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed biennial budget could impact Shawano by almost $1 million next year.

Walker’s budget suspends school districts’ categorical aid, which equals $150 per student, which in Shawano will result in a $370,000 loss, according to Cumberland.

The budget also includes a freeze on school districts’ levy limits, which will cause an additional loss up to $580,000 in the 2015-16 school year, Cumberland said.

“When we look at our budget, we have to look at potential increases — lights, cost-of-living type things, fuel we purchase, potential raises people would get, potential health insurance increases, etc.,” he said.

Cumberland said Shawano’s representatives in the state Legislature have assured him the budget will change, although they did not give him specifics on what those changes would be.

By law, teachers have to be notified by May 15 if their job is to be eliminated.

Cumberland said he has met with his administrators to see what can be done to cut costs in case the worst-case scenario happens in Madison.

“I told all of my principals, all of my supervisors, ‘You’ve got to put everything on the table. We got to see what we can, if we need to, scale back,’” Cumberland said.

Some of the positions targeted for elimination are at Shawano Community High School. Cumberland said reduced student numbers, along with some courses not garnering enough student interest, will allow the school to reduce positions without major impacts on student learning.

Cumberland felt it was prudent to issue preliminary notices, even though all the positions might not be cut, to give employees plenty of time to search for other employment. This week is spring break for the Shawano schools, so employees will be able to use the time for job searches, Cumberland said.

“We don’t want these employees to leave, but we also understand they’ve got to protect themselves and their families,” he said.

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Heirs will get $250K for SMC propertyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

The heirs to the original Shawano Medical Center property will get both a park and a cash settlement under an agreement approved this week by the Shawano Common Council.

The deal puts an end to months of negotiations and opens the way for development of the property after the hospital relocates this fall to a new site adjacent to ThedaCare Physicians on County Road B.

City officials will meet in closed session with three potential developers on April 15.

The city and ThedaCare entered into an agreement to market the property for development, but a deed restriction attached to the property more than 100 years ago, when the property was acquired by the city, had held up those plans.

The city acquired a roughly 3.5-acre parcel from Susan Smalley in 1901. According to the deed restriction, the property reverts back to the heirs if it is used for anything other than a park.

The site became home to Shawano Medical Center in 1931. Officials have no explanation for why a hospital was allowed to locate on the property.

SMC purchased additional land for expansion over the years, and the hospital campus now occupies about 10 acres. The deed restriction applied only to the original 3.5 acres.

Under the agreement approved Monday, the city will create a new Smalley Park along the Wolf River from Fifth through Third streets. It will include what is currently known as Wolf River Park.

The heirs will also get $250,000 in exchange for their rights to the original property. The cost will be shared by the city and ThedaCare.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said it’s hoped the city will recoup its share of the costs through development of the property.

The appraised value of the original 3.5-acre parcel is $875,000.

The appraised value of the new Smalley Park is $546,000.

The deal was unanimously approved at special back-to-back meetings of the Shawano Finance Committee and Common Council.

“The agreement honors the wishes of Susan Smalley’s heirs while creating a pathway for redevelopment of the Shawano Medical Center site,” the city and ThedaCare said in a joint statement. “The agreement is one result of a two-year partnership between ThedaCare and the city of Shawano.”

Mayor Lorna Marquardt said she was pleased with the agreement.

“We believe community members will be happy a portion of Smalley Park will remain a public property with river access,” she said.

“It represents our commitment to do what is right for the community,” SMC President Dorothy Erdmann said. “It shows that by working in partnership with the city, we can develop what will be an asset for the neighborhood and the city.”

City officials hired the law firm of Davis and Kuelthau in December 2012 to track down the heirs.

Eleven heirs were identified and contacted early last year.

The city budgeted $50,000 for Davis and Kuelthau, but their legal fees had come to $45,000 through February.

Knapp said he expects the total to exceed the budgeted amount by the time all the bills come in.

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Malliet finishes in tie for fourthBy: 

Leader Staff

Karelyn Malliet’s third trip to the Badger State Spelling Bee ended with a top-five finish Saturday but not a trip to the national bee.

Malliet, an eighth-grade student at Shawano Community Middle School, competed with 47 other students Saturday in Madison and finished in a tie for fourth place, narrowly missing her second straight trip to the E.W. Scripps National Spelling Bee.

She won the state bee last year and came up one point short in a vocabulary test of qualifying for the semifinals at the national bee. She finished 11th in the state bee as a sixth-grader.

Ashwin Sankrithi, of New Berlin, placed first Saturday, followed by Martius Bautista, of Madison, and Meghna Datta, of Cross Plains. The state’s top three spellers advanced to the national competition, a first since the Wisconsin State Journal began sponsoring the event in 1949.

Craig Ferch, school psychologist and Shawano School District spelling bee coordinator, said Malliet, who was not available for comment early this week, believed she was told the word “maleta,” defined as a usually rawhide bag, was not a homonym and spelled it “moleta,” which is a Portuguese fishing boat.

A homonym is one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning.

“It was clearly identified as a homonym, and we had three judges observe to make sure it was done correctly,” said Rhonda Reese, state spelling bee coordinator.

Ferch said he also followed up with Reese, who determined all rules were followed, including reading the definition of the word.

“It is, what it is. You can’t change it now,” Ferch said. “That is the nature of competition. … She came up tied for fourth among 48 spellers in Wisconsin, which is still pretty darn good.”

Ferch said the dedication Malliet demonstrated while preparing for the bee over the past few years will serve her well in her future endeavors.

“Any kind of goals that she has in life, she will excel in it,” Ferch said. “She has been impressive.”

Malliet captured her fourth straight school district spelling title Jan. 21 at SCMS and third straight CESA 8 title Feb. 9 at Clintonville High School.

After winning the district bee, the 14-year-old said she had been studying the list of 450 bee words since the start of the school year.

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Investigation, departure agreement prove costlyBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

The city of Clintonville spent more than $100,000 on the Common Council’s investigation and subsequent agreement with former City Administrator Lisa Kotter.

Alderperson Lois Bressette disclosed the information at a recent council meeting “in the interest in transparency.”

Bressette said the city spent $14,851 on outside legal help, $7,450 on the investigation, $58,611 to Kotter as part of the agreement, $18,729 in benefits for Kotter and a vacation payout of $9,475, for a total of $109,116.

Bressette also asked that the cost of hiring interim City Administrator Chuck Kell and the cost for the search for Kotter’s replacement be available for the next council meeting.

Kotter resigned in September after two suspensions and months of controversy. Her resignation took effect just eight days after her 17-year anniversary as the city administrator. The city agreed to pay her through May 15, 2015, and she agreed not to file any complaints against the city.

Her departure, according to a joint news release issued by Kotter and the city, was not based on any misconduct but rather on “philosophical and stylistic differences.”

Alderperson Mary Beth Kuester said the council was told if it challenged the agreement, expenses would have continued to climb.

Council President Jeannie Schley said expenses would not have accumulated if Mayor Judith Magee had supported the council’s investigation.

Kotter was initially suspended May 13 by the Common Council after members raised undisclosed allegations against her.

The council voted 6-4 on May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. Magee vetoed that vote June 2, and Kotter returned to work.

“That threw a monkey wrench in the whole thing,” Schley said.

On June 10, the council, with a 6-4 vote, failed to override Magee’s veto, falling one vote short of the required supermajority. Many city residents spoke in support of Kotter and Magee at the June meeting, which had to be moved from City Hall to the Community Center because of the overflow crowd.

The council then voted 7-3 in July to indefinitely place Kotter on administrative leave while continuing its investigation.

When she resigned, Kotter was making $80,200 annually. She subsequently accepted a similar position in Geneseo, Illinois, that pays $90,000.

Although the council never discussed its concerns about Kotter in open session, area media reported the allegations involved misuse of city funds for family vacations while on work trips. Kotter said she did nothing wrong.

Magee also has clashed with council members. She took a medical leave of absence from Oct. 1 to Nov. 26 citing stresses of the job and working with the Common Council.

The controversy, at least in part, prompted resident William VanDaalwyk to launch a successful recall effort against District 4 Alderman Greg Rose. It was the first recall in city history.

In December, council members accused Magee of illegally authorizing checks and approving stop signs not OK’d by the council.

Trica Rose, publisher of the Clintonville Chronicle and wife of Greg Rose, has since filed a complaint accusing Magee of misconduct in office, abuse of power, theft of property, willfully destroying public property, releasing confidential information and concealing a crime.

Tricia Rose ran unsuccessfully against Magee in the April 2014 mayoral election.

The council voted unanimously, with one member absent, Feb. 10 to hire the firm of David and Kuelthau to choose a special investigator to handle the probe of Magee.

Rose’s filing is termed a Chapter 17 complaint, referring to the Wisconsin state statute that deals with removing elected officials from office. The procedure, which can be initiated by a resident taxpayer, includes written verified charges and a speedy public hearing at which the accused official can present a defense.

The Common Council could remove Magee from office if the proposal is supported by three-fourths of the members.

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Shawano Police Department

March 30

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 400 block of West Picnic Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — Scrap metal was reported stolen at Packer City International, 1695 E. Green Bay St.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 900 block of South Cleveland Street.

Vandalism — A picnic table was reported vandalized at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1100 block of South Weed Street.

Theft — A Play Station was reported stolen in the 400 block of North Franklin Street.

March 29

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

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

Warrant — A 19-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1100 block of South Weed Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

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

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized at the Super 8 motel, 211 Waukechon St.

March 28

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Several juveniles were cited for curfew violations in the 200 block of Waukechon Street.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at Lakeland Storage, 722 Waukechon St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Smalley Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of East Fifth Street.

March 27

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 1000 block of South Bartlett Street.

Auto Theft — A Shawano woman reported her brother stole her vehicle at Hardee’s, 1120 E. Green Bay St.

Arrest — A 22-year-old man was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 500 block of South Cleveland Street.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 30

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A 31-year-old Wausau man was arrested for a probation and parole violation after authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint at the Little Star Convenience Store, W12140 County Road A, Gresham.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Big Lake Road in Red Springs.

Fire — Authorities responded to a dryer fire on Alder Street in Tigerton.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old Lake Road in Wescott.

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

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

March 29

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities responding to a juvenile alcohol complaint on Welhaven Road in Lessor arrested a 21-year-old Pulaski man for a probation and parole violation.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in Hartland.

Accidents — Authorities logged three minor accidents.

March 28

Deputies logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on state Highway 156 in Lessor.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on County Road A in the town of Herman.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 22 in the town of Washington.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on state Highway 29 in the town of Morris.

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

March 27

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on March Road in Aniwa.

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

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Knoke Street in Gresham.

OWI — A 42-year-old woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in Waukechon.

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

Clintonville Police Department

March 30

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Harassment — A harassment issue was reported on Felshow Street.

Accident — A minor accident report was completed for a two-vehicle property damage accident in a parking lot on South Clinton Avenue.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Truancy — Three truancy complaints were received from the high school.

March 28

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on West Morning Glory Drive.

Disturbance — Police responded to a family disturbance on South Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on East 12th Street.

March 27

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — A hit-and-run property damage accident was reported on South Main Street.

Harassment — A warning for harassment was issued on North Park Street.

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Heirs will get $250,000 for SMC propertyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

The heirs to the original Shawano Medical Center property will get both a park and a cash settlement under an agreement approved Monday by the Shawano Common Council.

The deal puts an end to months of negotiations and opens the way for development of the property after the hospital relocates this fall to a new site adjacent to ThedaCare Physicians on County Road B.

City officials will meet in closed session with three potential developers on April 15.

The city and ThedaCare entered into an agreement to market the property for development, but a deed restriction attached to the property more than 100 years ago, when the property was acquired by the city, had held up those plans.

The city acquired a roughly 3.5-acre parcel from Susan Smalley in 1901. According to the deed restriction, the property reverts back to the heirs if it is used for anything other than a park.

The site became home to Shawano Medical Center in 1931. Officials have no explanation for why a hospital was allowed to locate on the property.

SMC purchased additional land for expansion over the years, and the hospital campus now occupies about 10 acres. The deed restriction applied only to the original 3.5 acres.

Under the agreement approved Monday, the city will create a new Smalley Park along the Wolf River from Fifth through Third streets. It will include what is currently known as Wolf River Park.

The heirs will also get $250,000 in exchange for their rights to the original property. The cost will be shared by the city and ThedaCare.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said it’s hoped the city will recoup its share of the costs through development of the property.

The appraised value of the original 3.5-acre parcel is $875,000.

The deal was unanimously approved at special back-to-back meetings of the Shawano Finance Committee and Common Council.

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City, ThedaCare want to market propertyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

City officials Monday will consider a proposed agreement with the heirs of the original Shawano Medical Center property that could clear the way for its future development.

Special back-to-back meetings of the Shawano Finance Committee and Common Council have been scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St.

The city is not releasing any details of the proposed agreement until officials have a chance to discuss it at those meetings.

City Clerk Karla Duchac said Friday not all Common Council members have had a chance to review the agreement.

Attorneys for the city and the heirs have been in negotiations for months over a deal that would have the heirs sign off on waiving a deed restriction on the property that is home to Shawano Medical Center.

The hospital is relocating later this year adjacent to ThedaCare Physicians on County Road B.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said in January that attorneys were drafting an agreement, but he wouldn’t say whether there was any financial offer being made.

“We’re involved in producing an offer to the heirs to address their interests in the property,” Knapp said at the time.

The appraised value of the original 3.5-acre parcel is $875,000, Knapp said.

The city and ThedaCare entered into an agreement to market the property for development, but a deed restriction attached to the property more than 100 years ago, when the property was acquired by the city, has held up those plans.

The city acquired a roughly 3-acre park property from Susan Smalley in 1901, according to a news article in the April 30, 1931, edition of the Shawano County Journal about plans for a hospital on the site.

According to the deed restriction, the property reverts back to the heirs if it is used for anything other than a park.

The site became home to Shawano Medical Center in 1931.

Officials have no explanation for why a hospital was allowed to locate on the property, and there is nothing in the record that shows the deed restriction was ever waived.

SMC purchased additional land for expansion over the years, and the hospital campus now occupies about 10 acres. The deed restriction applies only to the original three.

City officials hired the law firm of Davis and Kuelthau in December 2012 to track down the heirs.

Eleven heirs were identified and contacted early last year.

The list of heirs includes no direct blood relatives of Susan Smalley, who died in New Jersey in 1909, according to a genealogy chart provided to the city by Davis and Kuelthau.

Instead, the heirs are the descendants of the second marriage of Georgianna Hoadley, of New York, who was previously married to Susan’s son, William. The park property was part of a marital settlement when the first marriage ended.

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Discover Wisconsin to produce piece for television, other mediaBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Shawano County Board this week approved earmarking up to $10,000 from its general fund to go toward a two-year marketing promotion through Discover Wisconsin.

The Discover Wisconsin Media Network plans to put together a television piece about the Wolf River. Besides three showings on television, Discover Wisconsin also plans to use the piece for radio, website, trade shows and other venues.

Also investing $10,000 each in the documentary are the Menominee Nation, Langlade County and the village of Fremont. The total cost for the project is expected to be around $250,000, according to Supervisor Arlyn Tober, but sponsors are paying for most of it.

Tober said the piece is expected to include interviews with people who lived and grew up along the Wolf River.

There will also be segments on the different activities people can do along the river, including rafting and fishing, according to Dennis Heling, chief executive officer for Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., as well as the ski show performed each summer by the Shawano Ski Sharks.

Sturgeon will be a key factor of the promotion, as well. Every spring, the prehistoric fish make their way up the Wolf River to the Shawano dam to spawn. Historically, the sturgeon traveled up to the Menominee Reservation before the dam was built, and tribal members feasted on the fish as a cultural event.

“They have a network where it will be shown in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois,” Tober said of Discover Wisconsin. “The Wolf River is so important for this area, especially for tourists and even the city of Shawano, which probably wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for the Wolf River.”

Heling said he had preliminary discussions with the city Wednesday to invest so the county was not on the hook for the full $10,000, and he planned to talk with representatives of other communities and civic organizations.

“The county has worked previously with Discover Wisconsin, at least twice,” Heling said. “It’s really going to be an impactful program.”

Calls to the Menominee tribal chairman’s office for comment were not returned by press time.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A customer lunching at Flamingo’s Family Restaurant was injured Thursday morning when a vehicle ran into the building.

The 47-year-old Abbotsford woman was seated in a booth at the restaurant at 1017 E. Green Bay St. when a Dodge van struck the southwest corner of the building about 11:20 a.m., according to a Shawano police report.

The driver, a 93-year-old Shawano woman, told police she had entered the parking lot looking for her daughter and didn’t see the building in front of her, according to the report.

The collision pushed a booth forward, pinching the customer between the booth chair and the table. She was treated at the scene by Shawano Ambulance for an injury to her rib area, according to the report.

There was minor damage to the van and moderate damage to the building.

The driver was not injured. A driver behavioral form was filled out, meaning she will have to take a test to determine whether she will keep her driver’s license.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Shawano man convicted of multiple counts of child sex assault was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison.

Dick R. McKenna, 57, will also have to serve an additional five years extended supervision after his prison sentence and register as a sex offender.

McKenna was originally charged with five counts of repeated sexual assault and intercourse with a person under the age of 12, as well as a felony count of causing mental harm to a child.

A jury trial in January went through a full day of testimony before McKenna accepted a plea agreement. He pleaded no contest to two counts of repeated sexual assault of the same child and one count of child sexual assault involving intercourse.

The offenses took place between 2003 and 2007 when the child was between 3 and 7 years old, according to the criminal complaint. The incidents came to light when the girl disclosed them to a counselor.

McKenna was arrested after a joint investigation involving Shawano police and Shawano County sheriff’s investigators.

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Grant portion would not need to be repaidBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

The Clintonville Common Council recently voted unanimously to support interim City Administrator Chuck Kell’s proposal to seek a Rural Development grant and loan to help pay for extensive upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The application is due April 1.

Kell told the Common Council on March 16 that if the city invests $10 million in the project, it could obtain a grant of $2.5 million to $2.8 million from the Rural Development agency that would not have to be repaid.

Residential customers now pay $27.60 per month, based on usage of 4,000 gallons of water per month.

If the city uses the Rural Development loan and grant program, the rate would increase to about $29.33 per month for a $10 million project. The loan portion of the funding would be for 40 years, which Kell said was a concern.

With the use of grant money, the monthly increase would be $1.73 for residential customers, Kell said. A shorter payback period would increase the monthly rates.

In contrast, if the city went through the Department of Natural Resources for a 20-year $7.5 million loan, at 2.25 percent interest, the monthly residential fee would increase to $35.33. If the loan were for $10 million, the fee would go up to $42.27.

“The grants allow the city to do a lot of work, to get a lot of stuff fixed and then you will have some breathing room for the waste treatment system for quite a while,” Kell said.

Kell also added that the grant is not guaranteed but he believes the city will qualify.

He also recommended the city prepare as many sewer and water replacement projects as needed, including sewer replacement on Main Street and moving the tank from the airport to the treatment plant site.

Kell said the program covers not only sewer replacement, but also 50 percent of the cost for road replacement if a sewer or water project is done.

If the total cost of the projects doesn’t equal $10 million, the grant money is withdrawn first, Kell said.

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Shawano Police Department

March 26

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of South Weed Street.

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Warrant — A 32-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Warrant — A 31-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody on a warrnt in the 300 block of North Franklin Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 26

Deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on U.S. Highway 45 in Aniwa.

Theft — A wallet was reported stolen from a bus at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, Wittenberg.

Theft — A dirt bike and BMX bike were reported stolen on Green Valley Road in Green Valley.

Warrant — A 23-year-old Clintonville woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Lake Drive in Wescott.

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

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Menominee shows fastest growth rateBy: 

The Associated Press

New census figures show the population fell in nearly half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

The population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show 35 counties lost people from 2013 to 2014. It continues a trend of dropping populations in rural counties that’s due mainly to residents moving out.

Menominee County, one of the counties with population growth, showed the fastest growth rate — 3.2 percent — from 2013 to 2014. Its population increased 140, from 4,382 in 2013 to 4,522 in 2014.

Population in Shawano County declined by 15, from 41,594 in 2013 to 41,579 in 2014.

Manitowoc County lost 463 people during in the time measured, the largest decline among counties. Next was Wood County with a decline of 336 people, followed by Adams County’s loss of 289 people.

Overall, the population in 37 counties grew slightly. The Journal Sentinel reported Wisconsin as a whole gained approximately 14,600 people from 2013 to 2014 for a total population of about 5.76 million. Since 2010, the state’s population has risen 1.2 percent.

Dane County, home to Madison, had the widest margin of growth from 2013 to 2014, gaining about 6,200 people. It has grown by 5.6 percent since 2010.

Milwaukee County’s population rose by just 20 people in that timeframe, a slowdown from recent years. Counties neighboring Milwaukee saw somewhat more population growth.

The Milwaukee metropolitan area’s population grew by roughly 2,100 people from 2013 to 2014, and it ranked 39th among all U.S. metro areas. It was 45th out of 53 metro areas in terms of growth, behind St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas City, but ahead of Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.

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Representative must live in town of HermanBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

School district officials are hoping for a write-in willing to fill the Shawano School Board seat representing the town of Herman in the April 7 election.

Incumbent Jay Jones decided not to run for another two-year term, and no candidates came forward to take his seat.

Shawano School District Deputy Clerk Lori Sherman said she is not aware of anyone mounting a write-in campaign.

She said it’s the first time in her 24 years with the district that any of the seats had no candidates at all.

Sherman said the district will have to see who voters decide to write in and approach whomever has the most votes to see if the person wants the job.

The write-in winner will have to live in the town of Herman.

Sherman expects there could be a number of write-ins for people who don’t live in that area.

If the top write-in doesn’t want the seat, the school officials will continue down the line until they find someone who does.

If none of the write-ins is interested, the School Board could recruit and appoint someone.

“It could be interesting,” Sherman said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Incumbents Tyler Schmidt, representing the city of Shawano, and Al Heins, representing Richmond, are also running. They are unopposed.

Jones was elected to the board in 2009, replacing Wendy Gueths, who chose not to run.

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Shawano Police Department

March 25

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Sacred Heart School, 124 E. Center St.

Assist — Police assisted probation and parole with a complaint regarding unexcused absences of a client at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Old Keshena Road and Frailing Lane.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 25

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the North Star Casino, W12180 County Road A, Bowler.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in Maple Grove.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Stark Road in Wescott.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on state Highway 22 in the town of Washington.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on White Birch Road in Birnamwood.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Holy Hill Road in Green Valley.

Accidents — Authorities logged 16 weather-related accidents. All were minor and no injuries were reported.

Clintonville Police Department

March 25

Police logged four incidents, including the following:

Child Abuse — Officer assisted another agency with gathering information for a child abuse report.

Accident — Officer assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department with a car-versus-deer accident on U.S. Highway 45 and Silver Creek Road.

Disorderly — Several juveniles were warned for disorderly conduct at Main and 16th streets.

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Menominee County again ranks as the least healthy county in the state, according to the sixth annual County Health Rankings released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Shawano County, which ranked 60th last year among Wisconsin’s 72 counties, moved up to 46th this year for health outcomes (length and quality of life). The county ranked 52nd for health factors (health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, physical environment).

Menominee was 72nd in both categories.

In a release issued with the rankings, the foundation said that this year’s results nationwide highlight the correlation between unemployment rates and the healthiest and least healthiest regions.

Researchers found that the jobless rate is 1.5 times higher in the least healthy counties in each state compared to the healthiest counties.

Menominee County reflects that trend. The county’s unemployment rate is regularly the highest in the state, and more than 31 percent of the county’s residents live below the poverty level, according to the latest census information.

Communities are encouraged to use the rankings, which are compiled for each county in all 50 states, to identify and garner support for local health improvement initiatives among government agencies, health care providers, community organizations, business leaders, policy makers and the public.

“Since the County Health Rankings began in Wisconsin more than a decade ago, we’ve seen them serve as a rallying point for change,” said Karen Timberlake, director of UWPHI in the School of Medicine and Public Health. “Communities are using the rankings to inform their priorities as they work to improve health for all their residents.”

The rankings, which are mostly based on data reported from 2006-2014, included information from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national random digit dial telephone survey, the USDA Food Environment Atlas and National Center for Health Statistics.

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He will be city’s 1st Native American officer in more than a decadeBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano’s newest police officer will be the first Native American member of the force in more than 10 years.

Antonio Escalante, who joins the department Monday, has been with the Menominee Tribal Police Department for more than 17 years, most recently as a detective in the investigations bureau. Prior to that, he was interim police chief until the recent election of Mark Waukau.

Escalante has an associate’s degree from ITT in Green Bay and is taking classes for his bachelor of arts degree at the College of Menominee Nation. He is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He is married and has several children.

Police Chief Mark Kohl said he has been looking for an opportunity to add Native American officers.

“It’s important to ensure the our workforce, our police officers represent the community in which we serve,” he said. “Currently, the U.S. census indicates Shawano has a Native American population between 10-12 percent.”

Kohl said that percentage doesn’t take into account those who work in and visit the city.

“It was my desire to hire more qualified minority candidates to better serve our community,” Kohl said. “Increasing collaborative partnerships with those that reside, work and play in our community can only enhance our efforts to reduce crime, and make a positive impact on our quality of life.”

Kohl said the department’s last Native American officer was Gary Burr, who retired in 2002.

Escalante will first go through a field training program, which will last a minimum of 12 weeks. His swearing-in date is not yet set.

The department has two more vacancies to fill over the next few months.

Sheriff Adam Bieber last week announced that Shawano Police Officer Kurt Kitzman will be joining the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department on April 2. Kohl said Kitzman has not yet turned in his resignation papers.

The Police Department will also move one of its officers into a newly created detective lieutenant position, probably in June, which will create another officer vacancy.

Interviews for the detective lieutenant post are scheduled for May 19 before the police and fire commission.

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State budget proposal shifts responsibility from municipalities to countyBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Shawano County Board showed unanimous support Wednesday for a resolution opposing the part of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget that would require counties, instead of municipalities, to handle property tax assessments.

Walker’s biennial budget proposal would require the county to start the process next year and have it fully implemented in 2017. County officials estimate the unfunded mandate could cost the county as much as $1 million annually for additional staff and work with assessors.

The shift in assessment duties is expected to save the state $300,000 by eliminating five positions, as state employees would only have to deal with 72 counties instead of more than 1,700 cities, towns and villages, according to Supervisor Arlyn Tober.

“For the state to save $300,000, we’re supposed to pick up the rest of that,” Tober said.

The county would have the option of seeking reimbursement from the 38 municipalities within its boundaries, but the reimbursement cannot exceed 95 percent of what they paid this year for assessment services.

Supervisor John Ainsworth noted very few municipalities have assessors on staff; the work is usually contracted out.

“Very seldom does a township have a local resident assessor,” Ainsworth said. “We used to have an assessor that came out and looked at the property. Now it’s all done electronically. I haven’t seen an assessor in years.”

County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann said there were too many unanswered questions, and the county could not afford to absorb the costs without knowing all the logistics.

“These municipalities that have contracted with an assessor, now that the state wants the county to do the assessing, what’s going to happen to those contracts?” Erdmann said. “There are too many ifs here, and it’s not good.”

Supervisor Gene Hoppe, who attended a meeting of the Wisconsin Counties Association regarding the proposal earlier this month, said all of the counties have submitted resolutions to Walker and the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voicing their opposition. The WCA and Wisconsin League of Municipalities also oppose the plan.

“We’re not the only people who think this is wrong,” Hoppe said. “The whole state is thinking that.”

The county’s finance and administrative committees supported the local resolution.

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