Shawano Leader News

Work begins on co-op’s $6.9M expansion in AprilBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano plans to sell Center Street Park to United Cooperative, as part of the cooperative’s redevelopment project, and to establish a new park elsewhere, under an agreement approved by city officials Wednesday.

However, the city will first have to prove it owns the property it has been using as a park for more than 30 years.

The ownership wrinkle came up during back-to-back special meetings of the Plan Commission and Common Council.

City Attorney Tim Schmid said a title search didn’t turn up any record of who owns the property.

The property “showed up” in the records as a tax-exempt tax parcel in 1981, Schmid said, but no further history could be found.

The Common Council approved taking the matter to court with the expectation of a declaratory judgment that the property belongs to the city.

“Since the city has been using it as a park, we can make the case it does belong to the city,” Schmid told the council.

He said if there are no other parties objecting, the court process could take two to six months.

City Administrator Brian Knapp added the city is not aware of any other would-be owners laying claim to the property.

The park is adjacent to the United Cooperative property at 660 E. Seward St. The cooperative property borders East Green Bay Street on the north and extends south about four blocks to Center Street.

The cooperative plans to tear down and replace some of the buildings, remodel office, warehouse and fertilizer storage space, and add grain bins and a feed manufacturing facility.

The cooperative plans to bring truck traffic onto the property off Green Bay Street and have it exit on Center Street.

That caused some concern when the plan was first presented in September because of the proximity of the park and potential safety issues.

Under the revised plan, United Cooperative will purchase the Center Street Park property for $158,000, according to the developer’s agreement.

That money will go toward establishing a new neighborhood park on existing city property adjacent to the Mountain Bay Trail and Richmond Street, about three city blocks from Center Street.

The new location, at about 4 acres, is roughly half an acre larger than the Center Street site, Park and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks said.

United Cooperative has also entered into contracts to purchase several other adjacent properties that will slightly expand the boundaries of their redevelopment project first presented in September.

United Cooperative will begin work on the $6.9 million feed mill and warehouse buildings by the end of April. A $200,000 remodeling of office and retail space will begin by the end of June and be completed by the end of the year.

Construction of grain storage and drying bins are expected to take place in the first half of 2017. That part of the project is expected to cost $3.5 million.

All structures on the property considered blighted are to be removed no later than June 30, 2017.

The city will contribute $850,000 in tax incremental finance grant money to the project, and another $300,000 in infrastructure work, including reconstructing Center Street from Hamlin to Fairview Way to accommodate heavier truck traffic.

There are still several more approvals required from the Plan Commission and Common Council in coming months, including a site plan that will show United Cooperative’s landscaping plans and its plans for a fence or some kind of buffer between its property and adjacent residential areas.

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All departments asked to trim equal shareBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

After months of discussion, the Clintonville Common Council this week approved asking department heads to collectively cut $47,000 from the budget over the next year.

As recommended by interim City Administrator Chuck Kell, each department will cut the same percentage of its budget.

The cuts, by department, are police, $19,269; public works, $12,280; general government, $7,336; parks and recreation, $5,335; fire, $2,780.

Faced with a budget deficit, the council opted in November to use $176,000 of its fund balance to balance the budget. With the action this week, the city will use $129,000 of the fund balance for its operations in 2015.

The vote was was 7-2, with Aldermen John Wilson and Bill Zeinert voting no. Alderman Phil Rath was absent.

In a memo, Kell said the city’s healthy fund balance is due to the exceptional job the department heads have done over the years to keep costs down.

“The fund balance would still be very healthy, even with the amount taken out for 2015,” Kell stated in the memo. “Cutting services further is detrimental to the safety of the community.”

The council did not decide whether to close the city’s outdoor pool or former armory, which houses the park and recreation offices.

“The department heads have a tough job to make the cuts and how it will impact services,” said Alderman Mark Doornink, chairman of the city’s finance committee. “We are making an effort to get some facts to make a decision on the pool to keep it open or not with facts and not emotion, and it is similar for a decision on the armory.”

Finance Committee members earlier this month directed park and recreation director Justin McCuly to form an ad hoc pool committee, to be approved by the council, to study the pool options and present a recommendation to the council by June.

McCuly was also told to gather information on the recreation center, housed in the former armory. The finance committee wants to know what it would take to keep the building usable, what would it cost to close it and other options.

The council also learned Tuesday that the Graceland Cemetery had sufficient funds, and the city will not need to take over cemetery operations in the near future. The city gives the cemetery $17,000 a year.

Kell said the city also is getting new revenue this year with a new crop lease and logging revenue at the airport.

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Youth use on the rise in WisconsinBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Vapor Shoppe co-owners, from left, Sonny Morales, Craig Pieper, Catie Woodward and Cris Campos explain their store’s policy of not selling electronic cigarettes to minors during a community presentation on the subject Monday at Shawano Community High School. The program was sponsored by the Shawano-Menominee Counties Board of Health.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Wendy Vander Zanden, executive director of Community Action for Healthy Living Inc., discusses the dangers and myths of electronic cigarettes at a community presentation Monday at Shawano Community High School. The program was sponsored by the Shawano-Menominee Counties Board of Health.

It’s time for people to get fired up about e-cigarettes and the dangers they pose, especially to area youngsters, according to presenters at a Shawano-Menominee Counties Board of Health program this week.

Only 12 people turned out for the presentation Monday night at Shawano Community High School, but that did not deter Jamie Bodden, public health officer for Shawano and Menominee counties.

“It would have been great to have had more people come,” she said, “but I appreciate the interest of those that attended.”

The program was intended to draw attention to what organizers said is a growing problem.

According to the 2014 Wisconsin Youth Tobacco Survey, for example, 7 percent of state high school students reported using electronic cigarettes within the 30 days preceding the survey, compared to a national average of 5.4 percent.

The 2014 annual report by the National Institutes of Health also found electronic cigarettes have surpassed traditional smoking in popularity among teens.

E-cigarettes, which first appeared in the U.S. in 2006, often are described as a less dangerous alternative for regular smokers who can’t or don’t want to kick the habit. The battery-powered devices produce vapor infused with potentially addictive nicotine but without the same chemicals and tar of tobacco cigarettes.

“While e-cigarettes may reduce the harm and potential health effects of traditional cigarettes, the juice used still contains nicotine, which is incredibly addictive,” Bodden said.

Electronic cigarettes are considered a tobacco product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has proposed regulating them, including banning sales to minors. (Ten states permit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.) There is no timetable for final federal rules.

Wendy Vander Zanden, executive director of the Kaukauna-based Community Action for Healthy Living Inc., whose mission is to initiate and promote healthy lifestyles in area communities, noted while there are no federal or state laws regulating electronic cigarettes, some communities have passed ordinances addressing vaping.

Ashwaubenon, for example, last year banned e-cigarette smoking in public places, and Onalaska has also passed a law, Vander Zanden said.

Vander Zanden also dispelled the common e-cigarette myth that the products help people quit smoking, saying there is no scientific evidence to support the claim.

Organizers of Monday’s session also discussed e-cigarette marketing efforts that target young people, similar to tobacco companies’ efforts. Candy-flavored e-cigarettes, for example, are available in cherry, vanilla and lime.

“It’s important for the public to be aware and cognizant of youth access to these products,” Bodden said. “It’s important to keep any tobacco product out minors’ reach, whether it is traditional cigarettes or vapor products.”

Stuart Russ, an associate principal at Shawano Community High School and member of the district’s safety committee, noted the school has a policy on vaping in the student handbook — no tobacco products of any kind allowed on school grounds — but questioned how much access students have to e-cigarettes outside of school.

Electronic cigarettes are available area drug stores, retailers and specialty stores such as the Vapor Shoppe in Shawano.

Cris Campos, co-owner of the Vapor Shoppe in Shawano and Clintonville, said her stores do not allow children younger than 18 to enter unless accompanied by a parent.

“We are pushing very hard not to sell to minors,” said Campos, who also shared a story with the audience about one of her potential customers.

“They were trying to buy a starter kit for a minor that already smokes,” she said. “So to get them off of cigarettes, they were going to buy them a starter kit for electronic cigarettes. So since the kid was under 18, we opted not to sell it to them.”

Working with Vander Zanden’s group, Wisconsin Wins, which describes itself as a science-based, state-level initiative designed to decrease youth access to tobacco products, each year conducts compliance checks of area businesses for tobacco sales to minors.

Shawano County had one of the lowest noncompliance rates (5 percent) in the eight counties surveyed in 2014.

Wisconsin Wins plans to add electronic cigarettes to the list in this year’s survey, Vander Zanden said.

Campos said responsible businesses should not be worried about compliance checks.

“Bring it,” Campos said. “They can come check us. We card. That is fine.”

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Two Grammy winners will perform, judge studentsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

The sixth annual Shawano Jazz Festival, also known as SHAZZ, will feature about 20 high school bands, two well-known professional jazz musicians and a special event benefiting one special jazz aficionado.

“It is so rare for a small town like this to have something this big,” said Christopher Kent, Shawano Community High School band director and one of the event’s key organizers.

The festival, presented by the Shawano Jazz Foundation in partnership with SCHS, is a major fundraiser for the music department, helping fund summer music camp scholarships.

The competition segment of the festival kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday and concludes at 3 p.m. with a finale concert that features performances by the SCHS jazz band and Grammy Award winners saxophonist Eric Marienthal and trombonist Andy Martin.

In addition to performing, Martin and Marienthal also will serve as judges for the high school musicians’ performances.

“They will both be clinicians at the event, sitting in separate rooms, to judge the performance,” Kent said. “It does not happen anywhere else.”

Judging will be based on Wisconsin School Music Association standards, with scoring for technical and artistic merit on a 100-point scale.

A trophy and individual medals will be awarded to the first-place band. The band placing second receives a certificate. Outstanding musicians receive trophies and certificates, and members of the all-star band will receive medals.

A “Class Act” award will be presented to one band for demonstrating respect for others, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Shawano bands will not compete, but Shawano students will be eligible for individual awards.

The music continues at 6:30 p.m. with the “One Night Only” event at the Gathering in Shawano. Some of the proceeds will help pay medical and transportation costs for Brittany Sperberg, a 2011 SCHS grad, trombone player and a key contributor to the festival.

A senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sperberg was well on her way to getting her bachelor’s degree in music education before an undiagnosed illness forced her to leave school. She and her family have made several trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Martin, a 2015 Grammy Award-winning trombonist, was invited to the festival specifically to perform a duet with Sperberg as thanks for all the work she had put into the foundation.

When Sperberg was in high school, she met Martin at an event in Green Bay. He graciously spent about 30 minutes with her, discussing jazz and the music industry.

Although Sperberg won’t perform, “it is still a special appearance by Martin,” Kent said. “He took the time to talk to someone he did not know. He is her role model. That is the type of guy he is.”

Kent also expressed appreciation for Marienthal’s return to the festival for the fourth straight year.

“He really likes coming to our festival and is impressed with what we have going,” Kent said.

Kent said he believes Marienthal keeps returning to Shawano because he appreciates the community’s dedication to improving the musical skills of students.

The public can attend the festival for free throughout the day. Admission to the finale concert is $15. Admission to the 6 p.m. “One Night Only” is $50, which includes dinner, coffee and dessert. People can also arrive at 7:30 p.m. and pay $15 for coffee and dessert along with the second and third musical sets.

Tickets will not be available at the door. They can be purchased through Friday at the Shawano Community High School office, 220 County Road B, or online at www.shawanojazzfest.org.

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Shawano Police Department

March 17

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police investigated a suspicious person at a residence in the 600 block of East Fifth Street.

Suspicious — Police investigated an intoxicated man in the 100 block of South Washington Street.

Hit and Run — A report of a hit and run was made in the 200 block of South Andrews Street. Police notified the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department after it was determined that it occurred outside city limits.

OAS — A 22-year-old man was issued a citation for operating after suspension on Fifth and Main streets.

Suspicious — Police investigated a suspicious person in the 800 block of South Main Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle in the 1100 block of Birch Hill Lane.

Welfare — Police investigated a 47-year-old intoxicated woman at a residence in the 100 block of Prairie Street. She was later taken into custody on a probation and parole warrant.

Fraud — Police investigated an incident of fraud in the 400 block of West Third Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 17

Authorities logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — Authorities logged a hit-and-run complaint from an incident on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott. Complainant declined ambulance.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle on County Road BE and River Road in the town of Hartland.

Assist — Authorities assisted Marion police with a stolen vehicle on Main Street in Marion.

Disorderly — Authorities investigated four students for disorderly conduct at Bonduel High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

Truancy — Authorities logged a two truancies and two curfew complaints at Bonduel High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

Accident — Authorities responded to an accident involving injury on Camp 14 Road and County Road A in the town of Bartelme.

Harassment — Authorities investigated a harassment complaint at Bowler School, 500 S. Almon St., Bowler.

Welfare — Authorities responded to allegations a person was deceased in a wooded area on Hofa Park Drive in the town of Maple Grove.

OWL — A 41-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 29 and Spruce Road in the town of Richmond.

OWL — A 22-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 22 and Freeborn Road in the town of Washington.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious circumstance on Rocky Rodge Lane in the town of Belle Plaine.

Accident — Authorities logged one deer-related crash on Upper Red Lake and Schroeder roads in the town of Red Springs.

Clintonville Police Department

March 17

Police logged four incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — A report of disorderly conduct was made at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.

Assist — Police and the K-9 unit assisted Marion police with a concern at Marion High School, 1001 N. Main St., Marion.

Fraud — A counterfeit bill was turned in to the Clintonville Police Department.

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Later start times would impact more than schoolsBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Shawano School Board put the brakes Monday night on a committee recommendation to delay the start of school by 30 minutes for the 2015-16 school year.

The postponement was requested by the ad-hoc committee that has spent six months looking into school start times to see whether changes were needed. The committee received a number of comments on the recommended changes since they were presented to the board March 2.

“There were some pretty interesting things brought up, and quite honestly, a few things we think we missed,” said Tyler Schmidt, School Board president and ad-hoc committee member.

Under the committee recommendation, school would start at 8 a.m., instead of 7:30 a.m., for high school and middle school students, and the elementary schools would start at 8:45 a.m., instead of 8:15 a.m.

The committee also recommended keeping two separate bus runs before and after school. Having all the schools start at the same time would require an additional six buses and would increase annual transportation costs by about $200,000.

To get more public input, the committee plans to hold a community forum April 16.

One of the issues discussed Monday was how the proposed change would affect local parochial schools and day care centers.

Joan Urban, director of St. James Childcare Center, said her program would lose high school employees who help care for children in the late afternoon. To accommodate the change, Urban would have to overhaul when her programs start and when she served snacks and meals.

“We would have to change a lot of things to accommodate the change in times,” Urban said. “It also means that if our school at St. James were to start at its normal time, that means our little ones would be riding with high school and middle school students, which isn’t real appealing.”

Dr. Mindy Frimodig, a member of the ad-hoc committee, pointed out that much of the motivation behind the change was to help high school and middle school students. Research done by the committee showed that once children reach adolescence, they typically fall asleep around 11 p.m. and wake up around 8 a.m.

“The early middle school and high school start times are not healthy,” Frimodig said. “It’s not their natural sleep cycle, and you can’t just say ‘Go to bed’ at 9 o’clock. Their first two hours, they’re in a fog.”

Frimodig said she knows the later time for the elementary school students was not ideal, pointing out that she has a child in 4-year-old kindergarten.

School Board member Michael Sleeper said he was told parents of high school students would prefer a start time later than 8 a.m.

“They’ve been fully supportive,” Sleeper said. “I’m very confident there’s an accommodation out there that can address the legitimate concerns for the younger kids and take advantages of the best opportunities for the older kids.”

THE NEXT STEP

WHAT: Shawano School District ad-hoc committee will hold a public forum on school start times.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. April 16

WHERE: Board Room, Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B, Shawano

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Police also say stops help drug investigationsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Authorities made 32 criminal arrests and issued numerous citations over the course of two recent high-profile traffic enforcement operations in Shawano.

The Wisconsin State Patrol was the lead agency in the effort that included Shawano police and K-9 units from the police department and Shawano County. The operations ran from 4-8 p.m. Friday and previously on Feb. 27.

The federally funded Domestic Highway Enforcement Initiative “promotes collaborative, intelligence-led, unbiased policing in coordinated and mutually supportive multi-jurisdictional law enforcement efforts on the nation’s highways,” Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

“This effort allows us to concentrate on specific traffic violations and criminal drug activity,” he said. “It’s our goal to reduce traffic related crashes, reduce drug activity and pursue criminal charges against those that traffic in illegal drugs.”

As many as 12 state troopers participated, working the city, state Highway 29 and surrounding townships.

“During traffic stops, officers use their training and experience to identify possible indicators of criminal activity, such as drug smuggling,” Kohl said.

Kohl said 32 people were arrested during the operations for criminal violations that included a concealed handgun in the vehicle, bail jumping, obstructing, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Vicodin, marijuana and other illegal drugs.

Nine people were also taken into custody on outstanding warrants.

Authorities also issued 16 seat-belt citations and 18 other citations for things such as speeding, driving without a license or without insurance, and operating after suspension.

Authorities also issued 123 written warnings.

Kohl said the operation also opened up new leads in ongoing drug investigations in the city.

“K-9 Officer Heidi Thaves was instrumental in setting up this spring enforcement effort as we begin our traffic grant work for the spring and summer months,” Kohl said.

The department was recently awarded a $20,000 traffic safety grant from the state Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officers will be working during peak traffic movement periods enforcing laws such as mandatory seat belt law, occupant seat belt and child safety laws, and impaired driving. The grant period runs through September.

“Our goal is to make this a very safe community for all that live, work, visit and play here,” Kohl said.

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3 squad cars damagedBy: 

Leader Staff

A 59-year-old Clintonville man was arrested Tuesday morning after a high-speed chase in a stolen SUV.

Clintonville police received a call about 9:30 a.m. of a vehicle stolen from Steinke Auto on West Street in the city.

The vehicle was later spotted by Marion police who tried pulling it over.

Instead, the SUV sped off and a chase ensued going north on U.S. Highway 45 into Shawano County, then west on state Highway 29 into Marathon County.

Officers attempted several times to deploy stop-stick deflation devices, but the fleeing driver drove around the sticks as well as through the median area between eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 29, according to a news release from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department.

The fleeing driver crossed over through the median area several times and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, then would cross back over through the median area and continue fleeing in the westbound lanes, the department said.

The vehicle struck three squad cars trying to contain it at one point during the chase.

The chase reached speeds of 80 mph and finally ended in Rib Mountain after the damaged vehicle went into an embankment along U.S. Highway 51.

The driver was taken into custody without incident. No further information was available.

Numerous agencies were involved in the chase, including Clintonville and Marion police, sheriff’s deputies from Waupaca, Shawano and Marathon counties, along with the Everest Metro Police Department, Rothschild Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Wausau Police Department.

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Shawano Police Department

March 16

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of East Division Street.

Fraud — Police investigated fraudulent use of an ATM card at CoVantage Credit Union, 911 E. Green Bay St.

Sex Offense — A sex offense in the city reported by the Shawano County Social Services Department was under investigation.

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

Warrant — A 28-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at Franklin and Swan streets.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint on Prospect Circle.

Drug Offense — A 26-year-old man was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia at Huckleberry Harbor, 222 N. Sawyer St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 16

Deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Grunewald Street in the town of Herman.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Bonduel Elementary School, 404 W. Mill St., Bonduel.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged three accidents, including one deer-related crash.

Clintonville Police Department

March 16

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officers removed an unwanted person from a business on Waupaca Street.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on East Green Tree Road.

Disorderly — A juvenile was warned for disorderly conduct on Auto Street.

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported in Olen Park.

Theft — A theft was reported on Wilson Street.

Accident — A two-vehicle property damage accident was reported on North 12th Street.

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Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. will provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of economic growth in action Thursday at its 10th annual Economic Summit.

The event at The Gathering, 2600 E. Richmond St., Shawano, begins with networking at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m.

Dennis Heling, SCEPI’s chief economic development officer, and others will share local success stories and spotlight important economic development efforts. The summit is also an opportunity for SCEPI to thank contributors and supporters.

Registration is $30 per person or $55 per couple. Corporate tables that seat eight are available for $225. Registration fees include dinner and dessert.

For information or reservations, contact SCEPI at 715-526-5839 or [email protected].

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Shawano Police Department

March 15

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint at Lieg Avenue and Hamlin Street.

Warrant — A 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at Sawyer and Center streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of East Center Street.

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident at County Road B and Airport Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 600 block of South Franklin Street.

March 14

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 300 block of East Maurer Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1200 block of South Andrews Street.

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

Theft — Police responded to a theft attempt at Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St.

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported two girls in custody for shoplifting.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — Money was reported stolen in the 1600 block of Timber Trail.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.

March 13

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1400 block of Waukechon Street.

Accident — Police assisted Shawano County sheriff’s deputies with an accident investigation on state Highway 22 at River Bend Road.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Airport Drive and Green Bay Street.

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident at Richmond and Lincoln streets.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 900 block of East Randall Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 500 block of Prospect Circle.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 15

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 42-year-old Bowler man was taken into custody on a warrant and a charge of disorderly conduct on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Disturbance — A 47-year-old Shawano man and 29-year-old Shawano woman were arrested on disorderly conduct charges after a domestic disturbance on Edgewater Road in Waukechon.

OWI — Authorities responding to a reckless driving complaint arrested a 30-year-old Bowler man for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in Richmond.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Riverside Drive in Wescott.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Dent Creek Road in Morris.

OWI — A 32-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Big Lake Road in Red Springs.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Prouty Street in Wittenberg.

March 14

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Charges were referred against a 31-year-old Shawano man for disorderly conduct, bail jumping, criminal damage and battery after a domestic disturbance on Cedar Drive in Maple Grove.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Cloverleaf Lake Road in Belle Plaine.

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

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Harrison Street in Wittenberg.

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

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on state Highway 156 in Maple Grove.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including one deer-related crash.

March 13

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

OWI - A 27-year-old De Pere man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in Waukechon.

Assault — Authorities investigated a sexual assault on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

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

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

OWI — A 24-year-old Tigerton man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in Richmond.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on state Highway 156 in Maple Grove.

Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including an injury accident in Belle Plaine and three deer-related crashes.

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Police Department undergoes changesBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Crime statistics included in the Shawano Police Department’s annual report are probably not as telling as what’s been going on behind the scenes over the past year, according to Police Chief Mark Kohl.

Incidents logged in 2014 compared to 2013 have seen some slight fluctuations, but no drastic increases or reductions in those crimes. In many cases, the numbers are low enough that any small change can result in a huge percentage swing.

The biggest increase logged over the past year was the number of code violations, nearly doubling from 170 in 2013 to 309 in 2014.

That increase is not so much because more violations are occurring, but because more of them are being reported, which, according to Kohl, goes back to the behind-the-scenes efforts to partner with the community and get residents more involved.

Kohl made it a priority when he came aboard in May to address aesthetic, quality-of-life issues, including such things as weed control and clearing snow from sidewalks, and working with the community to make that happen.

“More people are reporting it, more people are making a conscious effort to police their own neighborhoods,” Kohl said. “That’s what I’m happy with, because we’re working in partnerships with them.”

In most cases, the complaints result in a talk with the home owner, who complies, and no ticket has to be issued.

Most crime statistics over the year were relatively flat.

There were 30 residential burglaries reported in 2014 compared to 36 in 2013; arrests for operating while intoxicated crept up to 67 in 2014 from 61 the year before; theft, including shoplifting, decreased in 2014 to 279 from 319 in 2013.

“My goal as chief here and the great men and women of the Police Department is to show a continued reduction in those types of calls,” Kohl said.

Kohl said community policing and efforts such as the citizen police academy and neighborhood watches would continue to be a priority in 2015.

“I’m hoping the partnerships with the community will really help drive down some of those crimes,” Kohl said.

The department had 8,465 calls for service in 2014, compared to 7,952 in 2013.

The highest number of calls were for welfare checks, 404; truancies, 395; suspicious persons or incidents, 375; assisting other law enforcement agencies, 373; animal problems, 372; ambulance or medical assists, 365; and vehicle lockouts, 347.

One area where Kohl expects the numbers to go up is drug incidents, which rose from 87 in 2013 to 104 in 2014.

The city has earmarked additional money specifically for drug enforcement efforts, though those efforts have been slowed by manpower shortages.

The department is in the process of filling two patrol vacancies and will add a detective position later in the year.

That will mean overtime spent to keep the streets patrolled will instead be shifted to overtime work on drug investigations.

Kohl said the result would be more drug cases and arrests in the coming year.

“I would predict that number will significantly increase in 2015,” he said.

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College does not reduce classes, services to studentsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Declining student enrollment has led to an unprecedented 12 layoffs at the College of Menominee Nation.

Enrollment at the 23-year-old tribal community college in fall 2014 was 588, down from 668 in 2013 and 691 in 2012.

Although other colleges and universities have experienced consistent enrollment declines, “this is the first time in our history it has happened,” CMN President Verna Fowler said.

“I remember walking into a meeting and they were talking about low enrollments,” Fowler said. “What I learned is that there is a historical pattern at colleges. They said you have four years of increasing growth and then four years of declining growth.

“We have only been around 23 years and I was not aware of that pattern. … It is happening around the country.”

Fowler said CMN’s enrollment levels remained stable until 2013, when the count dropped from 691 to 668.

In response to the enrollment decline, CMN laid off 12 employees and changed some job classifications. The changes affected two associate deans, an operations administrator, campus planner, maintenance and housekeeping staff, and a handful of administrative assistants.

CMN declined to disclose names of people who lost their jobs. They were notified in February.

“It is a very difficult,” Fowler said. “These are some of my most loyal employees. They have made this college a wonderful success. My employees go beyond the call to help this college.

“I wouldn’t have a problem hiring any of them back. People don’t understand and realize how heart-wrenching the decision is to do that to people.”

According to data released by CMN, 31 of 61 faculty members in 2013 were full-time equivalents, but the numbers fluctuate annually.

“Our employee numbers change each year,” Fowler said. “Sometimes we have to hire more adjuncts to make up for the higher number of students; sometimes I don’t hire as many adjuncts.”

There were also 128 nonteaching employees in 2013.

Increasing tuition — now $2,600 for full-time students — is not a viable option for the college, Fowler said, because of the economic climate of Menominee County, where the unemployment rate is consistently the highest in the state.

“People here can’t afford it,” she said. “That is why we are here.”

Fowler fears higher tuition could push enrollment even lower. “That is self-defeating,” she said.

Fowler noted, despite the cutbacks, CMN has been able to maintain all of its course offerings.

“My ultimate goal is to make sure that we do not lose any services to students,” she said.

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Editor’s note: The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department reports scam complaints are on the rise again in the county. Sheriff Adam Bieber on Friday issued the following information about some recent scams and what people should watch out for:

You receive a phone call telling you that you’ve one a lottery you never entered. To collect, all you have to do is contact someone, usually out of the country, to make arrangements for payments of your winnings.

Does this sound too good to be true? It is.

There are always strings attached. You must pay up front to cover your end of the costs for collecting, or your phone is being automatically billed a high rate just for making the call. At the end of it all, you will never receive the promised winnings.

This is a common variation of a typical scam: “Pay us something now and you will get much more in the near future.”

A distant relative calls from overseas and tells you they have been arrested for some petty crime. They beg you to wire their bond money or they will have to stay in a horrible jail.

Does that sound too far-fetched to fall for? Some do, only to find out their loved one is safely at home and their money is now in an account in a foreign country.

There are many versions of these scams and they all have common themes: pay now and get what you want later.

Later will never come, and there is little your local police agency is going to be able to do to help. You could be out hundreds or thousands of dollars, and many of these thieves will use the name of reputable companies to lure you in.

Lately, we’ve once again seen a rise in these attacks in our area both by phone and through email accounts.

Our best advice is to tell them you are contacting the police and hang up, or don’t open or respond to emails you don’t recognize or that look suspicious.

Unfortunately, as technology increases, so do the opportunities for scammers to try their same tricks in different ways. At the end of the day, you never get something for nothing.

If you want to learn about scams or are suspicious about a call, email or special offer you receive, a great place to check is at www.phonebusters.com. This site outlines just about every version of scams that are out there and will actually list the types of wording these criminals will use to lure you in.

The best protection against these attacks is understanding how they operate.

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Shawano Police Department

March 12

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Truancy — Police logged three truancy complaints from Hillcrest Primary School, 1410 Waukechon St.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at the PDQ Car Wash, 1272 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a lewd and lascivious behavior complaint in the 600 block of Lakeland Road.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint in the 100 block of East Elizabeth Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint at Green Bay and Fairview streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 12

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Assist — Authorities assisted Pulaski police in attempting to locate a suspect vehicle involved in a hit-and-run.

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

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

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 29 in Bonduel.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Mills Street in Shawano.

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

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

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Owners, officials exploring optionsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Cathy Frey, right, a Bonduel police officer and Howard Village Board member, shares her thoughts about forming a Bonduel chamber of commerce or business association at a meeting Thursday at the Village Hall. Seated, from left, are plan commission member Troy Westcott and Village Board members Shawn Thorne and Sharon Wussow.

Bonduel business leaders will proceed with plans to form a chamber of commerce or association to better promote and develop their businesses.

Nearly 20 area residents and business owners attended a meeting Thursday at the Bonduel Village Hall to explore creating a local business organization. It was the second meeting in the last two months to discuss the proposal initiated by Shawn Thorne, a member of the Village Board and its plan commission.

“The plan commission was in support with this, and I contacted some business owners to see if we can try to get something happening here,” Thorne said.

Thorne said he reached out to 45 of the nearly 70 businesses in the community to gauge support for the idea.

“Overall, it has been positive,” he said. “Some people could not make it, and they asked me to provide information to them.”

“There are 55 to 70 businesses here in Bonduel, including the schools and churches, and there are residents that do not know that we have these businesses,” Thorne said.

Attendees offered several suggestions on how to make Bonduel more appealing to potential businesses and to promote existing businesses.

Cathy Frey, a Bonduel police officer and member of the Howard Village Board, suggested improvements to the village website to give area businesses more exposure.

“The website should be your top priority,” Frey said. “The first thing people are going to do is check your website. … Having the website that you have says nothing about what this community is about and how good the people are.”

Village Board member Sharon Wussow said the website is being updated, but there has not been a timetable established.

Frey also suggested the community needs to clean up the streets, including removing weeds protruding in front of businesses and enforcing village codes.

Business recruitment also was discussed.

Village President Mel Wendland said Bonduel is too small to attract some businesses, such as Shopko.

“I approached Shopko when I heard they were adding more (Hometown) stores and gave them a traffic study for the last 10 years,” Wendland said. “But when I told them the population, they said no.”

In February, Thorne and seven others met with Nancy Smith, executive director of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, which is based in Shawano and serves Shawano and Menominee counties, and Sharon Rzentkowski, president of the Cecil Chamber of Commerce.

The group considered merging with the Cecil chamber but have decided against that option, Thorne said.

Smith and others will be invited to the Bonduel group’s next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Village Hall, 117 W. Green Bay St.

“(Nancy Smith) has been absolutely willing to give us support and be helpful in any way she can,” Thorne said. “The Cecil chamber has also offered support.”

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Boardwalk part of plans for this summerBy: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

The Navarino Nature Center maintains 12 miles of recreational trails but plans to construct its first disability access trail and boardwalk this summer, according to Tim Ewing, executive director.

The NNC board of directors recently accepted a $214,000 bid from Miron Construction and is within about $20,000 of funding the project, said Ewing, who hopes two pending grants will provide the remaining funds.

When the trail project is completed, probably by the end of the year, physically challenged visitors to the NNC can travel a hard-packed limestone trail about 200 feet to Glenn’s Pond, where a 360-foot boardwalk will span the pond and connect to an existing trail back to the NNC.

Located 10 miles south of Shawano off Lindsten Road, the NNC is visited by 3,000 to 4,000 school children and 12,000 to 15,000 adults annually, Ewing said. The boardwalk/trail project is designed to allow physically challenged individuals to participate in the center’s environmental educational programs.

“We have very sandy soil here, which extremely limits where people using wheelchairs and walkers can go,” Ewing said. “This project will alleviate that and give everyone access to the prairie, pond and forest area immediately next to the center.”

The NNC building is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. Within the Navarino Wildlife Area, there is ADA compliant observation deck overlooking Pikes Peak Flowage, a main staging area for 5,000 to 15,000 migratory sand hill cranes during the spring and fall, Ewing said.

There is a hunting blind on the McDonald Flowage that also is ADA compliant, Ewing said.

The NNC is a nonprofit and not directly funded by the state or Shawano County but through donations and grants. The Department of Natural Resources manages the surrounding 15,000-acre Navarino Wildlife Area and partners with the NNC on some trail projects.

Terry Moede, president of the Friends of Navarino Nature Center, called the boardwalk project “wonderful.”

“Anybody that crosses that pond has a beautiful view of the sunset. This project opens that area up for people like me who are getting a little older,” Moede said.

The boardwalk will be 8 feet wide and have two 20-foot observation circles over the pond to facilitate study and contemplation.

Some of the initial trail clearing will be done by Rawhide Ranch residents who have volunteered their labor on other projects over the years, Moede said.

“They’ve been a big help to us,” he said.

If the trail is completed, Ewing would like to dedicate it at the NNC’s annual open house in October; otherwise a dedication will be held later this year.

The project has been Ewing’s biggest assignment the past 12 months, he said.

“There’s been some discussion about adding a spur trail to connect this boardwalk to another boardwalk that crosses a bog nearby,” he said.

That would be a quarter-mile trail project that would require more fund raising and permits, he said.

“That’s what we do. We work with service groups and organizations in the area and write grants; and whether it’s a $1,000 or a $10,000 grant or donation, it all adds up,” Ewing said.

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Bids come in slightly over budgetBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Two city parks will get some new playground equipment after approval Wednesday by the Shawano Common Council.

Kuckuk Park will have some of its existing equipment replaced, while the smaller neighborhood park on Circle Drive will be completely refurbished.

The council approved a quotation from Lee Recreation, of Cambridge, for $25,641 worth of playground equipment for both parks, along with a bid from mulch manufacturer DTAK, LLC, of New London, for $7,650 worth of surfacing material for a fall zone in case any kids take a spill.

Meanwhile, city park and recreation staff are already getting an early start on sprucing up all of the city’s parks and preparing the shelters for opening.

Shawano Park and Recreation Director Matt Hendricks said the warmer temperatures this week could draw park visitors sooner than expected and it’s hoped the higher temps will mean an earlier than usual spring for the area.

The city budgeted $25,000 in its capital improvement projects for the playground improvements at Kuckuk and Circle Drive.

Though the lowest bids, from Lee Recreation and DTAK, are over that amount, it’s anticipated there will be savings from other under-budget capital improvement project purchases to offset that.

Improvements at Kuckuk call for the removal of existing tot swings, the merry-go-round and spring rocker.

The tot swings will be replaced and two new spring rockers will be installed.

Other new equipment at Kuckuk will include a climbing structure, tire swing, balance surfer, spinning device, seesaws and three benches.

Circle Drive Park will get new swings, tot swings, a slide, a climber, a balance surfer and one new bench.

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25 to 30 restaurants, vendors will share waresBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Junior Achievement of the Wolf River District will present its annual Taste of Shawano one week earlier than usual this year because of area schools’ spring break schedule.

The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 23 at Shawano Community High School, 220 Country Road B, Shawano.

Co-chair Melissa Olsen said 25 to 30 restaurants and vendors are expected to participate in the event, which is a major fundraiser for Junior Achievement.

Junior Achievement involves about 2,500 students in Shawano and Menominee counties. The organization emphasizes work-readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy skills and community participation.

Taste of Shawano raises from $8,000-9,000 annually; 100 percent of the proceeds remain in the district.

Participating restaurants will include Longhorn Saloon, Bubba’s BBQ Co., Angie’s Main Cafe, Red Rooster of Bonduel, The Gathering, Farm Inn on Main, and Perkins.

“There will be lots of types of food,” Olsen said. “We will have everything from ribs to meatloaf, desserts, sodas and cheeses. The restaurants will bring their signature dish, so we have quite the variety.”

The attendees are as diverse as the offerings, she said.

“There are people from all demographics,” said Olsen, who enjoys the camaraderie of the event.

“The food is phenomenal and the event is attended by up to 600 community members, so being able to see a lot of familiar faces that we hadn’t run into for a few years is really great,” she said.

Additionally, there will performances by Shuffles Dance Studio, Ignite Dance Studio and the Shawano Community Middle School jazz band. A disc jockey also will provide music.

Olsen, who has volunteered with the event for seven years, said about 30 businesses have contributed toward gift baskets and raffle prizes, including a golf package donated by the Shawano Lake Golf Course and KerberRose, a getaway package to Menominee Casino Resort and a gift basket donated by Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats of Wittenberg.

“It is still ongoing. We might get more,” Olsen said.

Olsen praised the 13 volunteers from area businesses who have collaborated on planning the event over the last seven months for creating a truly community event.

“There is something for everybody,” she said.

Taste of Shawano was conceived by the Leadership Shawano County class of 2007-08 and then adopted by Junior Achievement.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Eighth annual Taste of Shawano

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 23

WHERE: Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B

FYI: Tickets are $15 for adults in advance, $20; $10 for students; free for children younger than 5. Advance tickets can be purchased at CoVantage Credit Union, 911 E. Green Bay St.

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Shawano Police Department

March 11

Police logged 35 incidents, including the following:

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

Theft — Police investigated a theft complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — Money was reported stolen from a wallet in a gym locker at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Waukechon and Richmond streets.

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

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of West Richmond Street.

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

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

Burglary — Police investigated an apparent burglary attempt in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Warrant — An 18-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody on a warrant at Division and Andrews streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 11

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a report of a fight in progress on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in Wittenberg.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Frailing Road in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Valley Road in Hartland.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on River Road in Morris.

Accidents — Authorities logged two minor traffic accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

March 11

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Six worthless check complaints were under investigation.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident on South Main Street.

OAR — A driver was cited for operating after revocation on South Main Street.

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