Shawano Leader News

The first Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Summit will be held March 30-31 in Wisconsin Dells.

“LUV-R-AG” will bring together leaders in tourism and agriculture, ag tourism business owners, marketing professionals and industry experts. The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association.

Program topics include liability laws, safety, marketing opportunities and public relations, understanding customers, farm business succession planning, ag tourism success stories and event planning.

WATA will also introduce its new “Field Trips” initiative to promote bus group visits to ag tourism destinations throughout Wisconsin. The initiative will be promoted in partnership with Midwest Itineraries Magazine and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to reach more than 12,000 tour operators.

A highlight of the summit will be a sneak-peek premiere of the ag tourism episode set to air on Discover Wisconsin TV in April. The episode showcases the educational aspects of visiting a family farm and also highlights a unique field-to-plate dining experience at a WATA member’s farm.

WATA membership is open to farms, farm markets, cheese factories, wineries, corn mazes, breweries, distilleries, food discovery centers, wedding barns, rural bed and breakfasts, farm stay vacations, orchards, rural arts initiatives, agricultural heritage museums and festivals that celebrate locally sourced Wisconsin products.

Membership also includes visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, growers associations, and rural or ag service businesses. Membership is $100 per year.

To register for the summit, visit www.luv-r-ag.com. The rate for WATA members is $130, which includes three meals and a banquet. The rate for nonmembers is $180. Lodging is available at Ho-Chunk Conference Center for a special rate through March 15.

For more information, contact Kelly Murray, WATA executive director, at 608-343-0201 or [email protected].

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16 rooms available, including shared suitesBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Grace Kirchner Tracy Sirna (with scissors), director of the new Care Partners, gathers with employees and members of the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce to cut the ribbon for the grand opening Thursday afternoon. Chamber president Jeff Hoffman presented Sirna with a plaque to welcome her.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday for Clintonville’s newest assisted living facility, Care Partners.

Director Tracy Sirna said the facility at 59 Industrial Ave. is taking applications and still in the process of hiring employees. There will be two full-time and two part-time caregivers on each shift, she said.

The assisted living facility offers a place for individuals who do not require a nursing home but need some personalized care. The facility has 16 rooms, including private rooms and shared suites.

Services include salon, daily housekeeping and laundry.

“A single bed and night stand are provided. Residents bring other furnishings,” Sirna said. “They may bring a full-size bed if they wish, and we will still wash their bedding.”

Also, “there are heated floors, and we like that it is all on one floor,” Sirna said.

Sirna said the philosophy at Care Partners is that the quality of a person’s life can be significantly improved by creating an environment that allows individuals daily life choices. The goal is to ensure that the residents and their loved ones can see the difference in the care received, she said.

The keys to ensuring excellent care, according to Care Partners’ approach, are proper training, ongoing education and specialty enhancement programming.

According to Sirna, once the new facility is filled, Care Partners will construct another building for memory care residents.

Care Partners has locations in 26 cities around the state.

For more information, contact Sirna at 715-460-3466 or [email protected].

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1 well shut down, in need of repairBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

With one of five Shawano water wells shut down for rehab, the city is considering entering into an annual contract for the repair of its closed well and continued maintenance on all of them.

The Shawano Field Committee on Monday recommended contracting with Utility Service Group at a cost of $10,000 per well; a total of $50,000 per year.

The recommendation now goes to the Finance Committee for consideration and then to the Common Council.

Eddie Sheppard, public works coordinator and assistant city administrator, said the asset management contract would call for Utility Services to identify and address needs for the city’s wells.

Well No. 9 in the Bay Lakes Industrial Park was taken off line for rehabilitation. The city budgeted $50,000 for that work this year, but after bids came in higher than expected, the Department of Public Works floated the option of contracting with Utility Services Group, Sheppard said.

Sheppard said repairs on well No. 9 need to be completed before the summer, when water usage increases.

“Time is of the essence,” he said.

Shawano has five interconnected wells that serve the entire city. Four earlier wells are no longer in operation.

The water system is bypassing well No. 9 while it’s shut down.

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Committee recommends 30-minute delay to help teensBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Shawano School Board could decide March 16 whether to delay school start times by 30 minutes for the 2015-16 school year.

On Monday, an ad hoc committee that has met for six months recommended moving the start times back for all schools, even though the change is intended to help middle school and high school students the most.

If approved, the start time for Shawano Community High School and Shawano Community Middle School would be 8 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m., and Olga Brener Intermediate School, Hillcrest Primary School and LEADS Charter School would start at 8:40 a.m. instead of 8:10 a.m.

The school day would end 40 minutes later than now, to include the 10-minute increase in class time approved by the board in February when the 2015-16 school calendar was adopted. Classes at secondary schools would end at 3:10 p.m., while elementary school students would be dismissed at 3:55 p.m.

The proposal is not ideal, according to Matty Mathison, a retired physical education teacher who sat on the ad hoc committee, but it is closer to what is best.

“As we continued to do research, we found more and more reasons to change the school start time to later,” Mathison said.

Mathison noted that a panel of Shawano and Bonduel high school students said they could easily access alcohol and prescription drugs after school let out and before parents got home from work. Later release times would cut down on the time students would be on their own, Mathison said.

Mindy Frimodig, a family physician at ThedaCare, said that, when she started practicing in Shawano more than seven years ago, she saw a number of adolescent patients with generalized fatigue who complained about having difficulty concentrating during their first-period classes. Some parents were even asking for doctor’s notes to excuse their children from early classes.

“At that point, I said to just tell them to go to bed earlier,” Frimodig said.

Once she started doing research, however, Frimodig discovered studies that say teenagers are wired to go to bed and rise later than most adults and younger children.

At the onset of adolescence, the secretion of melatonin — the hormone that allows humans to sleep — is delayed, Frimodig said.

“It delays the sleep-wake cycle by about two hours from middle childhood,” she said. “After puberty, they cannot fall asleep as early as they used to, and they cannot fall asleep as easily as they used to.”

Teens typically fall asleep around 11 p.m. and awaken around 8 a.m., she said. The current start time at the middle and high schools is not healthy, especially with some students having to be at the bus stop around 6 a.m.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 60 percent of teens are sleep deprived for one reason or another.

Chronic sleep loss in adolescents also tends to increase the risk of depression, motor vehicle accidents, deficits in learning, poor impulse control and other health issues, Frimodig said.

Experts recommend middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m., according to Frimodig.

“I appreciate the hardship that this will put on families,” she said, noting her family’s schedule will also be impacted. “This is what is best for the kids.”

Judy Holzmann, a spokesperson for Johnson Bus Company, said the proposal would not have much financial impact on busing. There could be logistical problems, however, in planning adequate busing on days when athletic teams have to travel to away games, she said.

School Board President Tyler Schmidt, who also sat on the committee, said the idea of flip-flopping the elementary and secondary school start times was examined, but school districts the committee contacted said the idea did not work.

The committee also examined having all schools start at the same time, but it would require six additional buses daily, costing the district an additional $200,000 annually, according to Schmidt.

THE NEXT STEP

WHAT: The Shawano School Board will vote on a recommendation to delay the start time for all schools by 30 minutes in the 2015-16 school year.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. March 16

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

FYI: The board is seeking input on the school start times from the public. Suggestions should be emailed to [email protected].

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Felony OWI

A Seymour man has been charged with a felony count of sixth-offense operating while intoxicated after being pulled over in the town of Washington earlier this month.

David O. Klapper, 54, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of operating after revocation.

Klapper was pulled over by a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy on County Road R on the evening of Feb. 19 for having a defective headlight.

A preliminary breath test showed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.22 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

According to court records, Klapper has three previous OWI convictions in Shawano County and one each in Forest and Oneida counties.

He is free on a $3,000 signature bond.

Felony OWI

A Green Bay man is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday on a felony charge of sixth-offense operating while intoxicated.

Quinton R. Martin, Sr., 32, was pulled over Saturday in the city of Shawano after he was spotted driving erratically, according to the criminal complaint.

Martin refused to submit to a blood test, but a blood draw was done after a warrant was obtained, according to the complaint. The results were not available.

Martin could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty.

According to court records, Martin has four prior OWI convictions in Minnesota and one in Brown County.

He is being held on a $3,500 cash bond.

Felony retail theft

A Neopit couple is facing felony retail theft charges after allegedly trying to shoplift more than $700 worth of goods from the Shawano Walmart on Thursday.

Latoya L. Tucker, 30, and Timothy L. Escalante, 34, were apprehended while trying to leave the store with nearly 100 items, including clothing and cosmetics, totaling $749.08, according to the criminal complaint.

Each could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

Tucker is free on a $500 signature bond and is due back in court March 16 for an adjourned initial appearance.

Escalante, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest at the time, is being held on a $500 cash bond.

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Shawano Police Department

March 1

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Division and Franklin streets.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 47-55.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

Feb. 28

Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 25-year-old man was arrested for seventh-offense operating after revocation at Green Bay and Washington streets.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of East Division Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at Richmond Street and Airport Drive.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 700 block of East Center Street.

Feb. 27

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 34-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

OAR — A 28-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation in the 700 block of South Union Street.

Drug Offense — Two 22-year-old men were arrested by the Wisconsin State Patrol for possession of drug paraphernalia after police assisted with a K-9 search of a vehicle in the 1100 block of East Green Bay Street.

Warrant — A 19-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody on a warrant at Franklin and Picnic streets.

OAR — A 30-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Green Bay Street and Green Bay Court.

Disorderly — A 33-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct after an incident at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 1

Deputies logged 27 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 38-year-old Keshena man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Drug Offense — Charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, operating after revocation and bail jumping were referred against a 30-year-old Antigo man after authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road D in Seneca.

Warrant — A 36-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Sunset Circle in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged one deer-related crash.

Feb. 28

Deputies logged 28 incidents, including the following:

OAR — Charges of operating after revocation and tampering with an interlock ignition device were referred against a 27-year-old Oneida man at state Highway 29 and Mill Creek Road.

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

OAR — A 23-year-old Plainfield man was cited for operating after revocation on County Road V in the town of Washington.

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.

Feb. 27

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 29-year-old woman was arrested for operating after revocation on state Highway 22 in the town of Washington.

OWI — A 37-year-old Green Bay man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in Richmond.

Drug Offense — A drug complaint was investigated on Juniper Road in Red Springs.

OAR — A 28-year-old Iola man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in Wittenberg.

Warrant — A 24-year-old Florida woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

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Shawano Police Department

Feb. 26

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1100 block of South Lafayette Street.

Theft — Tennis shoes were reported stolen in the 300 block of South Washington Street.

Shoplifting — A 34-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant after police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Feb. 26

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a fight at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St.

Disturbance — Charges of disorderly conduct, battery, criminal damage to property and bail jumping were referred against a 32-year-old Bowler man and a 29-year-old Shawano man after a disturbance on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

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

Theft — Doc’s Harley Davidson, W2709 State Highway 29 in Hartland, reported a theft.

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

Disorderly — Charges of disorderly conduct and battery were referred against a 19-year-old Gillett male on County Road C in Green Valley.

Theft — Money was reported stolen on College Avenue in Wittenberg.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Ranch Road in Waukechon.

Arrest — A 52-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody for a Probation and Parole violation on Old Lake Road in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Feb. 26

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officer was requested for a disruptive student at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on McKinley Avenue.

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Schoerner given 3-year sentenceBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A Shawano man who had already been remanded back to prison to finish out a life sentence for murder pleaded no contest Thursday to felony charges related to a domestic incident in the city last year.

Randy L. Schoerner, 57, was on lifetime parole for a 1976 first-degree murder conviction when he was accused of choking and assaulting a woman and holding her against her will at his residence in Shawano on March 3, 2014.

A jury was selected for a two-day trial that was getting underway Thursday morning, but Schoerner accepted a plea deal just before opening arguments.

Schoerner pleaded to a felony count of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer.

Charges of strangulation, sexual assault, disorderly conduct and battery were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Schoerner was then sentenced to three years in prison and three years extended supervision for false imprisonment, and a consecutive nine months in jail for obstructing an officer.

The sentence is concurrent with the life sentence he is serving for his 1976 murder conviction in Sheboygan County.

Schoerner was 18 when he was charged with the deaths of two women, one of whom was stabbed and the other shot to death, according to 1976 newspaper reports. He initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Schoerner’s parole was revoked last year in the wake of the Shawano domestic incident.

According to the Shawano County complaint, Schoerner sought the assistance of a female acquaintance to help him pack for a return to Sheboygan, where his parole was being transferred.

The complaint states Schoerner became upset that the woman was talking with another man on her cell phone, and he began yelling at her and prevented her from leaving.

The complaint alleges Schoerner choked the woman and tried to force her pants off. The complaint also alleges Schoerner threatened her with a knife during the incident.

According to the complaint, the woman was able to escape the residence when someone came to the door.

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Municipal property tax assessments could become county’s responsibilityBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Gov. Scott Walker’s 2015-17 biennial budget proposal includes a measure that would transition property tax assessments from a municipal system to a county system.

This proposal has some Shawano County officials worried, and an announcement was made during this week’s County Board meeting that the county planned to fight it.

The changes would begin in 2016 if passed by state legislators, and full implementation would take effect in 2017.

Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller said he intends to present a resolution to the Finance Committee in March that would oppose Walker’s proposal. He said the change would be a burden, financially and in man hours, for the county.

Miller said the county would be required to establish an assessment department and create an administrative position.

Counties would be permitted to charge a municipality 95 percent of what the municipality paid for assessment services in 2015, but the county would be on the hook for the rest.

“It could cost us significant money in future years,” Miller said, although he did not know how much money. “The Wisconsin Counties Association is opposed to this.”

Local boards of review would go away, and one board at the county level would hear appeals from property owners.

Miller noted the county does not have experience in the assessment process.

“This is a bad idea for the counties,” he said. “Instead of the individual towns handling appeals to request what their property is assessed at, you’d have it at one central location. If you don’t think that would upset somebody having to come appeal here versus the town of Aniwa or Mattoon, that’s just going to add to the fire.”

Counties have the option of pooling their resources in assessment regions under Walker’s proposal, similar to what counties do with aging and disability funds and revolving loan funds.

Supervisor Arlyn Tober spoke against the measure as well, noting that the proposed budget would keep state-shared revenue with counties flat in 2016 but reduce it in 2017.

“All your local assessors will be dumped, and the county will do the assessing,” Tober added. “It’s going to cost a lot more than what we’re doing now with the local townships having their own assessors.”

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Habeck rules no evidence to show defense counsel was ineffectiveBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A Shawano teen convicted last year of multiple felony counts related to a pair of joyriding sprees in 2013 failed to have her 6½-year prison sentence vacated after a motion hearing Wednesday in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.

Lindsay R. Holstrom, 18, was sentenced in March after pleading no contest in January 2014 to five counts of auto theft, as well as felony counts of reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and bail jumping.

The sentence also called for her to spend another 6½ years on extended supervision after she serves her prison time.

Holstrom was 16 at the time of the offenses, but was tried as an adult.

Holstrom claimed ineffective assistance of counsel and that the sentence was unduly harsh in her post-conviction relief hearing Wednesday.

However, Shawano-Menominee Circuit Court Judge James Habeck, who passed sentence on Holstrom last year, ruled there was no new evidence showing her counsel had been ineffective.

The ruling clears the way for Holstrom to take her case to the court of appeals.

Holstrom was accused of stealing three cars and trying to steal a fourth during a 12-hour crime spree in Shawano on May 12, 2013. She was waived into adult court on the charges.

She was later accused of stealing another car in the city on June 21, 2013, after she was released on a $3,000 signature bond in the earlier case. A $10,000 cash bond was ordered after her second arrest.

During the June 21 incident, Holstrom drove through several yards attempting to elude police, striking and damaging a boat trailer at one point and ramming the front driver’s side corner of a patrol car that had pulled up alongside her, according to the criminal complaint.

The roughly quarter-mile pursuit ended with Holstrom ditching the vehicle and fleeing on foot. The Police Department’s K-9 unit was brought in, and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies assisted in the search. She was located in a nearby backyard.

Three other felony counts of bail jumping and 12 misdemeanor bail jumping counts were dismissed under the plea agreement, along with misdemeanor counts of resisting an officer, theft and criminal damage to property.

Habeck’s 6½-year sentence was harsher than recommended by the state.

District Attorney Greg Parker had recommended a withheld sentence and a year in jail as a condition of four years of probation.

In comments after the sentencing, Parker said he agreed with Habeck’s decision. He said Habeck saw Holstrom as a risk to the community, given a record that included additional offenses while she was out on bond.

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Changes expected to produce efficienciesBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano’s Department of Public Works is making the most of two high-level staff retirements with a restructuring of duties and job titles expected to make the department a little more efficient.

Operations Manager Jim Schoenhofen retired last month and Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Flaig will retire as of March 13. Both have been with the city for about 35 years.

Flaig was a Shawano Municipal Utilities employee until water and sewer services were incorporated into the DPW several years ago.

Andy Daniels, who was promoted to lead operator in December — essentially serving as assistant to the operations manager, has already been moved into Schoenhofen’s position. Daniels has been with the DPW for about 25 years.

Flaig’s job will be divided between two existing DPW staff.

Engineer Scott Kroening will take on additional water and sewer administrative duties. In addition to engineering technician, he will also take on the new title of assistant public works coordinator.

Patrick Bergner, who was a water and sewer operator, will become water and sewer foreman as of Monday.

Eddie Sheppard, public works coordinator and assistant city administrator, said an initial savings of $20,000 is expected from the restructuring.

Beyond that, he said, “we’ll gain some efficiencies and some more field hours.”

Sheppard said the changes mean there will be another person available in the field to respond to emergencies.

“I’m very excited about the crew we have now and the ideas and energies they bring,” Sheppard said. “I’m excited about the team we have in place now.”

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Students can earn science creditsBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Clintonville High School students will be able to take four new agriculture classes as science credits next year.

The Clintonville Board of Education this week approved a proposal from school administrators to apply to the state Department of Public Instruction for approval of the courses.

The classes are Ag Processing, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science and Genetics.

The board discussed the proposal Feb. 9, but delayed a vote after member Jim Schultz asked that the science department be consulted as part of the process. He said he was not opposed to the plan, but wanted more discussion and research on the plan, which he said had not, to that point, included the science department.

“We want to encourage our teachers to be leaders,” Schultz said. “We have to be open enough to include them in the process.”

Principal Lance Bagstad told the board that ag teacher Crystal Retzlaff has taught the courses in the past.

Bagstad said the courses were designed to meet the criteria needed for DPI-approved science credits. He also said that sometimes course offerings are determined by the number of students who sign up. In most cases, at least 15 students are needed before it becomes scheduled and available.

The proposal was tabled until Monday, then passed by the board.

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Shawano Police Department

Feb. 25

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 600 block of East Schurz Street.

Theft — Packages were reported stolen from a mailbox in the 100 block of Northridge Drive.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of South Prospect Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Feb. 25

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 35-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after authorities did a welfare check on a man reported to be slumped over his steering wheel on School House Road in the town of Morris.

Warrant — A 44-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Red Oak Lane in Wittenberg.

Warrant — A 33-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a warrant on Cypress Road in Richmond.

Warrant — Authorities responding to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in Seneca arrested a 21-year-old Green Bay woman on a warrant.

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

Warrant — A 27-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on Maple Street in Birnamwood.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Oak Ridge Lane in Red Springs.

Trespass — A 31-year-old Shawano man was arrested for criminal trespassing and felony bail jumping on County Road B in Waukechon.

Drug Offense — A 34-year-old homeless man was taken into custody on a probation and parole warrant and charges of possession of marijuana, narcotics and drug paraphernalia on Ranch Road in Waukechon.

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Some offenses will result in citationsBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The Shawano County Board took steps Wednesday to keep more money in the county from certain drug and prostitution crimes.

The board approved three ordinances that will allow local law enforcement to issue citations rather than have the district attorney pursue criminal charges for state offenses. Officers have the option when it comes to acts of prostitution, along with possession of small amounts of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids.

In regard to the drug ordinances, first offenses would be fined a minimum of $100; second offenses in a 12-month period would cost at least $150. Court and prosecution costs will be added to the fine.

The prostitution ordinance would establish a minimum fine of $200 for the first offense and $500 for the second offense.

According to the ordinances, the change gives local officials “the flexibility to employ an ordinance citation instead of recommending formal criminal charges when doing so is in the best interests of Shawano County.”

The county expects to receive anywhere from $3,135 to $6,415 annually, based on an average of six prostitution cases, 12 synthetic cannabinoid cases and 20 marijuana possession cases.

Supervisor John Ainsworth, who voted against all three ordinances, said he saw the proposals as slaps on the wrist.

“Is there any other action that can be taken?” Ainsworth said. “It’s just a small increase in the cost of what they enjoy doing. Next month, they could be back at it.”

Ainsworth saw the marijuana ordinance as particularly foolhardy, in light of recent news that the Menominee Nation, just north of Shawano County, might explore the legalization of marijuana on the reservation.

Supervisor Arlyn Tober, who voted against the marijuana ordinance and for the other two ordinances, said he was particularly dismayed that there was no threshold for when a drug possession goes from a misdemeanor offense to a felony.

“It says a ‘small amount.’ How much do you have to have before it becomes a felony?” Tober said. “I don’t want this so open ended.”

Supervisor Sandy Steinke said the threshold came down to common sense.

“If you catch somebody with 100 pounds of marijuana, you’re going to arrest them,” Steinke said. “We’re talking minute traces and small amounts for the misdemeanor (charges).”

Chief Deputy John Gutho of the sheriff’s department said the ordinances will allow more money to stay with the county, as opposed to a state case, where the bulk of fines goes into state coffers.

Gutho said the changes would also cut down on the time spent prosecuting some crimes. Ordinance offenses are usually through the court system in about a month, but when it goes to the district attorney for prosecution, the time varies depending on case load and urgency, he said.

Sheriff’s Capt. Tom Tuma pointed out that ordinance offenses also have a lower threshold of evidence than criminal cases.

“You’re going through this lengthy criminal process and bring it before a jury and wave a tiny baggy of marijuana before the jury. Is it cost effective to do that?” Tuma said. “A lot of this rests with the totality of the circumstances.”

The ordinances received unanimous endorsements from the Public Safety and Administrative committees, along with recommendations from the sheriff’s department and the Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney’s Office.

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Former tavern operator returns to jailBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A former Shawano tavern operator charged with child sexual assault now faces a new sex assault charge, as well as charges that he tried to enlist two juvenile relatives to lie in his defense.

Darwin R. Davis, 47, who had been free on bond while awaiting trial in the pending case, was ordered back to jail Wednesday on a $150,000 bond after an appearance before Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck.

Davis’ attorney had filed a motion in the pending case seeking to waive the rape shield law and introduce testimony that the alleged victim in that case had sexual relationships with other males while working as a babysitter for Davis, according to court records.

That testimony was supposed to come from children the alleged victim was babysitting.

According to the new criminal complaint filed Tuesday, the children subsequently admitted to authorities that statements made to Davis’ attorney about the alleged victim were false. They also said Davis had instructed them on what to say.

The children’s mother told authorities that Davis had sent threatening text messages “to be sure that the children would testify and lie in court,” according to the criminal complaint.

Davis was scheduled for a four-day jury trial in the pending case starting March 4.

Davis is charged in that case with repeated sexual assault of a child and second-degree sexual assault of a child for incidents that allegedly occurred in the town of Wescott and in the basement of the former Final Lap tavern in Shawano, according to the criminal complaint.

Davis used to run the Final Lap but was not the license holder.

According to the new criminal complaint, one of the children told authorities she had seen Davis and the babysitter during a romantic encounter in the basement of the bar.

Davis is charged in the new complaint with one count of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.

He is also charged with two felony counts of obstructing justice and four felony counts of bail jumping, along with misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and obstructing an officer.

If convicted, Davis could face a maximum 40 years in prison and $100,000 fine on each of the sex assault charges from this and the pending case.

He could also face 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of the counts of obstructing justice, and six years and a $10,000 fine on each felony count of bail jumping.

In an unrelated case that is also pending, Davis is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine; second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic drugs, each of which carries a maximum of 3½ years in prison and $10,000 fine; and one count of felony bail jumping.

The case is scheduled for a status hearing March 10.

Davis is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on the new charges Wednesday.

According to court records, Davis was previously convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in Langlade County in 1994 and was sentenced to five years in prison.

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Board signs off on reorganization planBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Shawano County will not fill the planning and development director position left vacant by the termination of Tim Reed.

Instead, the county is reorganizing the Planning, Development and Zoning Department to disperse the director duties to two employees. The County Board unanimously signed off on the plan Wednesday.

Zoning Administrator Robert Jacobson, who had been serving as the department’s interim head, will continue to be in charge of planning and development tasks and report to the county Planning, Development and Zoning Committee. Matters of land conservation will be overseen by Scott Frank, the county conservationist, and he will report to the Land Conservation Committee.

Jacobson and Frank will be in charge of their respective budgets. Previously the director oversaw the entire budget.

The county can expect to see a savings of about $85,000, with most of it coming from not having to pay salary and fringe benefits to a director, according to figures provided by Finance Director Diane Rusch.

Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller told the board that he met with Jacobson and Frank prior to the plan coming to the board, and both were in favor.

The reorganization is expected to be official Sunday.

The Administrative and Planning, Development and Zoning committees endorsed the reorganization. Input was also sought from the Land Conservation Committee and the Solid Waste Management Board.

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Shawano Police Department

Feb. 24

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A man was taken into custody for operating while intoxicated at Richmond and Kadletz streets.

Theft — Plastic decorations were reported stolen from a yard in the 1100 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shoplifting — Walgreen’s, 401 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 300 block of Lakeland Road.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Feb. 24

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Ah Toh Wuk Court in Bowler.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to two disorderly conduct complaints at Bonduel Middle/High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an Internet fraud complaint on First Street in Bonduel.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

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

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Monthly increase is about $2.85 for residential customersBy: 

Kevin Murphy, Leader Correspondent

Shawano Water and Sewer Utility residential customers will soon pay 13 percent, or about $2.85 per month, more for water, according to an order issued Monday by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

Residential customers currently paying $22 monthly for 3,750 gallons of water will pay $24.85 for the same amount of water when the new rates take effect Saturday, according to Nancy Schauer, financial manager for Shawano utilities.

The $24.85 includes the $8.50 monthly meter charge applicable to most residential customers and the public fire protection charge, which reimburses the utility for hydrant maintenance and other firefighting costs the utility incurs.

The utility sought an overall 22 percent rate increase in the application it filed in July. However, that was based on the 6.5 percent rate of return on the value of the utility’s infrastructure the PSC granted in 2007, the last time the city increased water rates, Schauer said.

Instead, PSC staff trimmed the request to the 5.25 percent rate of return benchmark it has been authorizing more recently, which cut into the utility’s requested revenue.

Water utility income increased from $1.471 million in 2010 to an estimated $1.634 million last year, according to PSC analysis. Operating expenses also grew from $1.066 million in 2010 to an estimated $1.12 million last year.

That caused the utility’s net operating income to decrease from $416,965 in 2010 to an estimated $346,713 last year, which, would have earned a 3.57 percent rate of return, according to the PSC.

The new rates boost annual income by $163,123, to $1.634 million. After total expenses of $1.124 million, which includes depreciation and payments in lieu of taxes, the utility has a projected $509,836 net operating income this year, according to the PSC.

Schauer said she was “very happy” with the authorized rate increase and referred further questions to Eddie Sheppard, public works director.

Efforts to contact Sheppard on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

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Charges are for drugs, shotgunBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Three Bowler men are facing various felony charges after authorities executed a search warrant at their residence last week.

The search warrant followed an undercover operation involving one of the men conducted by Stockbridge-Munsee Police and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies last summer.

DC Walker Welch, 36, is accused of selling prescription drugs to a confidential informant on two occasions in July and once in August, according to the criminal complaint.

He was arrested and charged after authorities executed the search warrant Feb. 17 at the residence he shares with two other family members.

Welch is charged with delivery of narcotics, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, and two counts of possession with intent to deliver a prescription drug, which carries a maximum six years and a $10,000 fine.

He is free on a $2,000 signature bond and is due back in court Monday for an adjourned initial appearance.

During the search, authorities located numerous plastic baggies, a pipe and 3.5-gram bag of synthetic marijuana in the bedroom of Tad A. Welch, 29, according to the criminal complaint.

A shotgun was also located in a bedroom belonging to Keith D. Welch, 78.

Tad Welch is charged with a felony count of second or subsequent offense possession of synthetic cannabinoid, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is free on a $1,000 signature bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 17.

Keith Welch is due in court for an initial appearance March 9 on a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He could face 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if found guilty.

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Robert Van Asten has been named president and board member of First State Bank.

Van Asten has 27 years of banking experience, joining First State Bank in 1991 as an assistant vice president responsible for developing and maintaining commercial and agricultural loan relationships. He was promoted to vice president in 1996 and became the branch manager for the bank’s Clintonville and Cecil offices in 1997.

In 2005, Van Asten was promoted to senior vice president and business banking manager. He became senior credit officer in 2008 and has served on the bank’s Officer Loan Committee and Asset/Liability Committee since that time.

Van Asten is director and past chairman of the board of directors for the Clintonville Area Foundation. He has been a member of the New London Rotary Club since 1991 and is currently its treasurer. Van Asten has also served on the board of directors and as past board chairman for the New London Family Medical Center, as a director for the Wolf River Area Heath Care Foundation, and as a director and president of the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Van Asten succeeds Harry Radix, who announced he will retire in January 2016. Radix will continue as the bank’s chief executive officer until his retirement.

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