Shawano Leader News

Police waiting for word on other devices foundBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Police on Tuesday were still waiting to hear from Brown County authorities on the status of possible explosive devices, including a deactivated hand grenade, found in a village of Gresham apartment over the weekend.

A man flagged down Stockbridge-Munsee police around 4:20 p.m. Saturday to report he had found a potential grenade in the apartment complex in the 1100 block of Main Street.

The man, who had just moved into the apartment, said he found a box on a closet shelf that contained the grenade and two canisters with markings, according to Stockbridge-Munsee Police Chief Jim Hoffman.

The immediate area was evacuated and the Brown-Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was called in, and its team took possession of the device.

Hoffman said the grenade was an actual military device but had been deactivated.

He said it was not clear whether the other two items were explosive devices or whether they were functional.

He said he was waiting for a report from the bomb squad.

Meanwhile, police have been talking with the landlord and neighbors to determine who had left the items.

Hoffman said the apartment had been vacant for a while.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 15

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Police responded to a property theft complaint in the 100 block of River Heights.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 200 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

Shoplifting — Auto Prep, 220 N. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported an adult female shoplifter in custody.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Aug. 14

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 23-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated in the 1000 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Waukechon Street and McDonald Road.

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

Aug. 13

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of South Hamlin Street.

Disturbance — A male subject was arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct after police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of East Division Street.

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Aug. 12

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of South Sawyer Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of West Wescott Avenue.

Vandalism — A house was reported egged in the 500 block of South Franklin Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 15

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Beech Road in the town of Richmond.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Daffodil Lane in Tigerton.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Resort Road in the town of Washington.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Nichols Road in the town of Lessor.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Primrose Lane in Tigerton.

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

Aug. 14

Deputies logged 54 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly —Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Willow Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Willow Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Disorderly —Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Lawn Road in the town of Lessor.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Main Street in Bowler.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Old Shawano Road in the town of Pella.

Aug. 13

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — A burglary was reported on Maple Road in the town of Herman.

Fraud — Identity theft was reported on Lily Road in the town of Birnamwood.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on County Road Z in the town of Herman.

Disorderly —Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

OWI — A 35-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Airport Drive in the town of Wescott.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on North Avenue in Mattoon.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on County Road G in the town of Red Springs.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on state Highway 29 in the town of Wittenberg.

Aug. 12

Deputies logged 57 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — A mailbox was reported vandalized on Elm Street in Tigerton.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Neopit woman was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 15

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on South Main Street.

Robbery — A robbery reported near Morning Glory Drive was under investigation.

Aug. 14

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Coleus Court.

Aug. 13

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Battery was reported on South Main Street.

Drug Offense — A subject was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on South Main Street.

Aug. 12

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Rohrer Street.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in Pickerel Point.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano County authorities responding to a suspicious incident complaint Sunday located an explosive device on Main Street in Gresham.

A man flagged down Stockbridge-Munsee police around 4:20 p.m. to report he had found a potential grenade in the apartment complex where he had just moved in, according to the sheriff’s report.

The immediate area was evacuated and the Brown-Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was called in, and their team took possession of the device.

The investigation is ongoing.

The incident was one of 102 deputies logged over the weekend, including an arrest for operating while intoxicated in the town of Wescott; a domestic disturbance in the town of Lessor; drug complaints in Wittenberg and the town of Red Springs; a burglary in the town of Herman; identity theft in the town of Birnamwood; property theft complaints in the town of Wittenberg and the village of Bowler; and disorderly conduct complaints in the town of Wittenberg, town of Seneca and village of Gresham.

Shawano police logged 38 incidents over the weekend, including disturbances in the 400 block of South Hamlin Street, 200 block of East Division Street, 800 block of East Richmond Street and 900 block of Olson Street; an arrest for operating while intoxicated in the 1000 block of East Lieg Avenue; a property damage hit-and-run in the 100 block of South Main Street; and a property damage accident at Waukechon Street and McDonald Road.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 11

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 400 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

Theft — Mail was reported stolen in the 400 block of West Third Street.

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

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

Warrant — A 23-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 11

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — A 46-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia and a 42-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody on two outstanding warrants on Highway 29 in the town of Maple Grove.

Drug Offense — A 35-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and a 20-year-old Clintonville woman was arrested for felony bail jumping and possession of a controlled substance at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Vandalism — A mailbox was reported vandalized on state Highway 32 in the town of Angelica.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Cherry Street in the village of Bowler.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on County Road MM in the town of Richmond.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 11

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

OAR — Citation issued for operating after revocation after a traffic stop on Anne Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on South Main Street.

Juvenile — A juvenile was cited for underage possession of tobacco products on Anne Street.

Harassment — A warning was issued for harassment on West Morning Glory Drive.

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Mattoon pushing to become its own school districtBy: 

Tim Ryan [email protected]

A civil suit seeking a court injunction against the Antigo school district to keep it from closing Mattoon Elementary School was dismissed last week, but court records offer no explanation as to why.

A court order issuing a settlement and stipulation to dismiss was issued on Aug. 4.

The village of Mattoon and two parents of Mattoon Elementary students filed for a court injunction in May to stop the Unified School District of Antigo from closing the school.

They asked the court to order that Mattoon Elementary be kept open until at least the end of the 2016-2017 school year to give parents adequate time to find other educational options for their children.

Mattoon Village President Brian Owen said Friday he wasn’t aware the case had been dismissed, but he said he wasn’t surprised.

“They closed (the school) already,” he said.

Owen said many parents have open-enrolled their students into the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District.

Owen said the nearest alternative in the Antigo district is Crestwood Elementary, about six miles away. He said the nearest schools in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood district “are about the same difference.”

Meanwhile, efforts are underway for the village to break away from the Antigo district and become a school district of its own, much like the village of Gresham did some years ago.

However, Owen said, it would be a long process.

“It’s going to take a couple of years,” he said.

Some 1,900 signatures have been collected on a petition to break away from Antigo, according to Owen.

At some point a public hearing would have to be held and the idea would have to get the blessing of the state Department of Public Instruction.

Owen said the school district has been “bucking to get a new school” for about 10 years, but the effort has continually failed in referendums.

He said the district has been forcing the issue by closing schools until there is no choice but to build a new one.

A message left for Antigo school officials for comment was not returned Friday.

The civil complaint maintained that the school’s closure will make the village of Mattoon a less attractive place to live, leading to a decline in population, business presence and economic vitality.

Antigo school officials voted twice to close the elementary school. Some parents say the School Board’s first vote in April was taken without any public notice. The board held a special meeting in June to vote again and came down to the same 5-4 decision.

In a response to the civil complaint, the school district and board maintained the vote was a valid exercise of school officials’ power and that the court lacks jurisdiction over school district actions.

The response also denied the complaint’s allegation that board members “conspired to surprise the public with the action to close Mattoon Elementary School without proper notice and out of spite and retaliation against the residents of Mattoon for the board members’ perception that residents of Mattoon did not show sufficient support for the board’s proposed referendum.”

The $25.9 million referendum plan would have closed five of the district’s seven elementary schools, renovated the remaining two, and built a brand-new, centralized school in Antigo.

Mattoon and Crestwood schools would have stayed open under that plan.

The referendum failed by a vote of 3,787-2,615.

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Local drivers finding alternate routesBy: 

Tim Ryan [email protected]

Traffic congestion on Green Bay and Main streets as a result of the Airport Drive reconstruction detour has eased over the past week, according to Shawano Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard.

Last week, the city was considering altering the timing of traffic lights along the detour route, particularly at the intersection of Green Bay and Main, where congestion was the most intense.

In the days immediately following the Aug. 1 closure of Airport Drive, traffic on Main Street was often backed up a block down to the south at Division Street.

The official state detour during the project is Highway 29 to Highway 22 (Main and Green Bay streets), which is also the route truck traffic is expected to take.

However, local drivers have apparently been opting for other routes within the city to avoid the traffic along the state’s official detour.

“The locals have been finding alternate routes,” Sheppard said.

That was also the expectation of the Department of Transportation at a recent public hearing.

“I’m sure people will take the roads they know to get around inside the city limits,” said Jim Volkmann, DOT project manager.

The work on Airport Drive includes reconstructing the existing four-lane road to a two-lane road between Green Bay Street and County Road B; repairing curb and gutter and storm sewer; improving intersections; and reconstructing the railroad crossing.

Work is expected to be wrapped up by late October.

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East side loses power for over 2 hoursBy: 

Scott Williams [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Shawano Municipal Utilities crews work on restoring power Friday during an outage along Green Bay Street on the city’s east side.

Several businesses and some residences on Shawano’s east side lost electrical power for about two hours Friday.

Shawano Municipal Utilities reported the outage began about 5 p.m. and created traffic congestion along Green Bay Street when stoplights went dark during the evening rush hour.

Power was restored by 7:30 p.m. in most areas.

Brian Knapp, city administrator and utility manager, said crews identified an underground equipment failure and were working to pinpoint what caused the failure.

Although skies were cloudy and temperatures were high, there was no severe weather apparent at the time of the outage.

“It has to be something fairly significant,” Knapp said of the cause.

Officials said the outage covered an area that stretched from around Waukechon Street east to the city limits at County Road BE. The outage was concentrated along Green Bay Street and did not extend far into surrounding residential areas, Knapp said.

Affected businesses included Qualheim’s, Anello’s Torch Lite restaurant, El Tequila Mexican Restaurant and Wolf River Media, which publishes The Shawano Leader.

Shawano police worked to direct traffic after stoplights went dark at major intersections along Green Bay Street.

Lt. Mike Musolff of the Shawano Police Department said the power outage struck during heavy traffic at the end of a Friday workday. Musolff reported that there were no major incidents.

“We were able to keep it under control,” he said. “People were keeping their cool pretty good.”

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Cleanup starts at vacant motel propertyBy: 

Scott Williams [email protected]

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Bonduel Inn manager Emilia Nunez, right, takes a break from cleanup work Friday with, from left, son Carlos Flores, son Harjot Nunez and sister Yolanda Gonzalez.

The Bonduel Inn is making a comeback.

Condemned by health inspectors earlier this year, the property at 505 W. Green Bay St. in Bonduel is under new management with plans to revive the once-popular motel, restaurant and tavern.

Manager Emilia Nunez has arrived with family members to begin an arduous cleanup effort aimed at resurrecting the business, possibly by next summer.

“This is a challenge,” Nunez said. “It’s not impossible.”

The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department condemned the vacant property in May, declaring it uninhabitable because of mold, standing water, mounds of trash and other signs of neglect. Health officials set a Dec. 31 deadline for the property owner to correct the problems.

Bonduel Police Chief Todd Chaney called it encouraging to see cleanup efforts under way, starting earlier this week.

“It’s a good sign,” Chaney said.

Originally known as Trader Charlie’s and later as The Viking, the business thrived during the 1960s and 1970s as a popular spot for dinner, drinks and nightlife. The high-profile property along County Road BE includes one building with eight motel rooms, another building with a restaurant and tavern and a private residence for an owner or manager.

Owner Linda Krezinski acquired the property in 2008, but neighbors report that the condition deteriorated noticeably in recent years.

Family and friends have indicated that Krezinski developed health problems that made it physically difficult for her to operate the business. It appeared that the compound was vacated before county health inspectors issued their condemnation order on May 6.

Nunez, a Milwaukee resident relocating to Bonduel, said she and Krezinski are friends and that they have agreed that Nunez will take over management of the property with an eye on purchasing it through a land-contract deal.

Nunez said she previously operated a child-care business, while family members have experience with restaurants and taverns. Many family members have joined the Bonduel cleanup effort to help Nunez revive the business.

“My mom has done a lot,” said her son, Harjot Nunez. “If anyone can do it, it’s definitely her.”

After spending days clearing out all the motel rooms and other facilities, the cleanup crew is having a rummage sale this weekend featuring a variety of furniture, tools, TV sets, fixtures, pots and pans, and other merchandise.

That will be followed by several months of repairs, cleanup and renovation to bring the property back to life. Nunez said she might ask the county health department for an extension of the Dec. 31 deadline, with the hope of restarting the motel and tavern first, followed by the restaurant later.

“I’m trying to get the full potential,” she said.

Jon Gardebrecht, a Shawano resident who stopped at the rummage sale Friday, said he remembers seeing the motel, restaurant and tavern in full operation during the property’s heyday. Gardebrecht said he is happy to see Nunez and her family working to restore the place.

Gardebrecht and his fiancee might even become customers later once the restaurant reopens.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “It’s better than it just sitting here being an eyesore.”

Nunez said she and her family do not have a lot of money to spend fixing up the place. But they are encouraged by the progress they have made so far.

Nunez said she is confident the business will become successful again.

“My goal is to get it up and running,” she said. “I think it has a lot of potential. It just needs a very nice face-lift.”

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Rummage sale

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Bonduel Inn property, 505 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

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Spend it or lower taxes, some questionBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

The Shawano School District is enjoying budget surpluses worth more than $1 million, but the money might not go back into taxpayers’ pockets.

School Board members are wrestling with whether to reduce property taxes next year or use surplus funds for facility improvements such as new football stadium bleachers.

The debate has started as administrators close the books on the 2015-16 school year and prepare to unveil a new spending plan for 2016-17. The school district’s most recent budget was $26.7 million, including property tax collections of $13.1 million.

Officials say the district finished the 2015-16 school year with a surplus of about $500,000 and that another surplus of nearly $600,000 is forecast for next year.

Members of the district’s Finance Committee went back and forth earlier this week on different options for using the uncommitted funds.

Board member Derek Johnson argued for fiscal restraint and questioned whether the district could hold down property taxes. Johnson repeatedly asked administrators to identify the minimum amount needed to operate the school system for the coming year.

The school district should not collect $15 million in taxes if it only needs $10 million to function, Johnson said.

“I think it’s an honest question,” he said. “If we can have an honest discussion about it, I’d like to know how much we need to bring in.”

Administrators reported that past budget surpluses have generally been used to pay for building upkeep and other capital improvements.

They presented a list of potential expenditures at the high school that include $325,000 for football stadium bleachers, $300,000 for lighting system upgrades, $200,000 for heating improvements, $100,000 for expanded restrooms, $75,000 for concession stand renovations and $35,000 for new gymnasium curtains. Other possible expenditures were identified at the middle school, including $300,000 for new bleachers in the gym.

Louise Fischer, the district’s business manager, said the surpluses have resulted from lower-than-expected employee health insurance costs and other savings achieved elsewhere.

Having a surplus is better than facing a deficit, Fischer said, adding, “There’s a lot of school districts that are very envious.”

Looking ahead to the 2016-17 budget to be presented Aug. 22, administrators told the finance committee that the budget also will be affected by projected increases in student enrollment, more faculty members, rising utility costs and uncertainty about state funding.

Despite the current and projected budget surpluses, officials urged caution about reducing property taxes, saying that such a move could mean the district would get less state aid under the state’s current formula for public education funding.

Board member Beth McFarlane voiced frustration that the state’s formula seems to punish districts by cutting state aid to those giving local taxpayers a break.

“We’re in a difficult spot,” McFarlane said. “We’re trying to be frugal, and if we’re frugal, we get punished.”

Johnson and others, however, argued against spending surpluses on unplanned capital projects. Instead, they said, the district should have long-range capital plans and should create a separate fund where surpluses could be maintained and spent in an orderly manner.

Administrators expressed enthusiasm for creating such a fund, possibly starting with some of the current surplus funds.

The district plans community meetings on the 2016-17 budget for Aug. 31 and Sept. 6, followed by the districtwide annual meeting Sept. 19.

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By: 

Leader Staff

ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano has been cleared to return to normal water usage following a flood inside the building earlier this week, officials said.

ThedaCare issued a statement Thursday that state and local regulators have declared water quality safe inside the hospital, 100 County Road B.

Hospital officials said they were flushing and clearing pipes in preparation for a lifting of all water restrictions, which was expected later Thursday.

Crews have been cleaning up and assessing damage since the building’s first floor was flooded Tuesday in an incident that officials have attributed to a malfunctioned fire hydrant on the hospital grounds. More details on the cause of the flooding are expected to be released later.

Although some patient services have been postponed or relocated, officials said surgeries have been rescheduled starting Friday.

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Strangulation

A Shawano man is accused of choking a woman during a domestic disturbance on July 12 in the town of Washington last month.

Steven D. Pleshek, 26, faces a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation.

He could face a maximum prison sentence of six years and a $10,000 fine if convicted. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic abuse-related battery.

He is due in court for an initial appearance on Aug. 29.

Threat to law enforcement officer

A Shawano man has been charged with a felony count of making a threat to law enforcement officers that allegedly occurred while he was being arrested for bail jumping in the town of Wescott earlier this month.

Derek J. Wilke, 29, could face a maximum six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

He was arrested after passing out outside the Blind Squirrel bar on Aug. 4, according to the criminal complaint.

According to court records, Wilke was out on bond on a pending misdemeanor disorderly conduct case and was prohibited from having alcohol as one of his bond conditions.

During his arrest, he allegedly threatened two deputies with bodily harm when he saw them out of uniform.

Wilke is also charged with misdemeanor counts of bail jumping, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and contempt of court.

He is being held on a $2,500 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday.

Substantial battery

A Shawano man is facing a felony charge of substantial battery after a domestic incident in the city last month.

Paul A. Pamanet, 36, is accused of causing substantial bodily harm to a woman during a domestic disturbance on July 31.

Police responding to the scene found the woman lying on the kitchen floor with facial bruises and her eyes swollen shut, according to the complaint, which states she was also kicked and beaten with a frying pan and sustained rib injuries.

Pamanet could face a maximum 3 1/2 years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted.

He is being held on a $2,500 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 10

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Assist — Police assisted probation and parole agents with taking a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old man into custody for rules violations at the Department of Corrections housing facility at 118 S. Union St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Military Road.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1100 block of Birch Hill Lane.

Warrant — A 27-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at Richmond and Kadletz streets.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 10

Deputies logged 55 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Red River Road in the town of Herman.

Theft — Money was reported stolen on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — A drill hammer, chainsaw and security camera were reported stolen from a machine shed on Railroad Avenue in Mattoon.

Vandalism — Graffiti was reported on Main Street in Bowler.

OAR — A 31-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in the town of Waukechon.

Theft — A road sign was reported stolen on County Road BE in the town of Hartland.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen on Knoke Street in Gresham.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on County Road A in the town of Wescott.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 10

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Accident — A one-vehicle accident was reported on North Main Street and ambulance was dispatched to evaluate the driver.

OAR — Citation was issued for operating after revocation after a traffic stop on Anne Street.

Disturbance — Officers assisted Marion Police Department with a domestic situation in Marion.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on S. Main Street and upon arrival all parties involved had left the area.

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RDA will create plan to address issuesBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Despite continued resistance from some property owners, the Shawano Common Council on Wednesday decided that any lingering questions about a proposed blight elimination district had been addressed sufficiently enough to approve a boundary map for the district.

The unanimous vote came a month after the council rejected the map and voted 5-1 to send it back to the Redevelopment Authority for reconsideration.

City officials, however, never provided the RDA with any guidance on what the new boundaries should look like, so it came back to the council Wednesday unchanged.

In a separate resolution, the council unanimously approved designating the RDA district a blighted area and empowering the RDA to create a plan for addressing blighted properties in the district.

The plan will go through a public workshop session and public hearing before it goes to the council for approval.

Wednesday’s meeting included a presentation from RDA consultant Vierbicher, seeking to address some of the questions residents and council members had at last month’s meeting.

One of those concerns was whether the city was ceding any powers to the RDA; any RDA actions would have to be approved by the Common Council.

There was extended discussion of what it meant to be on the so-called list of blighted properties and how a property gets off it once the property is improved.

“There’s really no getting in or out or off the list,” RDA Chair Amanda Sheppard said, explaining that the boundary only designates an area where some of the properties are blighted and need to be addressed.

She said the only list the RDA has is a list of priorities within the district in need of the most attention.

“I think that’s where this list has come from that has come into people’s minds,” she said.

Quasan Shaw of Vierbicher said the blight label would not affect the value of a property, which prompted a round of guffaws from some audience members.

“The physical condition of your property will affect the value and that will affect your tax value,” he said, “but being labeled blighted in terms of this plan, it will not affect the valuation of so much property.”

City Administrator Brian Knapp said a property within the district boundary would still be on the list of properties in the district but would no longer have the blight designation.
RDA member Dave Kerber said property values in the district are already falling because of blight.

“Just because we’re creating this RDA (district) does not decrease the value of anyone’s property. They’re already down,” he said. “In some cases, when a property owner doesn’t take care of their property, the property values (in that area) already drop.”

Kerber said he saw the RDA as a proactive measure for business and property owners.

“I think everything we’re trying to do here as an RDA will raise values,” he said.

The council heard from about half a dozen property owners who remained unconvinced, however. Most of them raised the same objections at last month’s council meeting.

“I think you need to think hard and long about what you’re doing to this city,” Bart Huntington said.

Jim Oberstein encouraged the council not to approve the boundary map and to send it back to the RDA for changes.

“There are major issues with these resolutions that have not been resolved. Take the time to do it right the first time,” he said.

Deb Noffke said city officials haven’t listened to property owners’ concerns, saying it wasn’t the creation of a district that was the problem.

“It’s the declaration of blight,” she said.

Noffke also maintained the city could not certify the extent of blight in the district because of improvements made to some properties since the survey of the area was taken.

She also said local businesses were being over-regulated.

“It would be nice if we could be a little more business-friendly town,” she said.

There were also concerns raised about the possibility of condemnation proceedings and the use eminent domain, but city officials said they wanted to work with property owners to improve their properties, not acquire them.

“It does no advantage to the city to own property and take it off the tax rolls,” Assistant City Administrator Eddie Sheppard said.

Alderwoman Lisa Hoffman, who voted against the boundary map last month, said questions raised by the public were answered Wednesday, even if some property owners were not willing to accept the answers.

“I hope this doesn’t sound harsh in saying this but if you choose not to listen to the answer that was given, then there’s not anything this council is going to say over and over again that’s going to change opinion on that,” she said.

The RDA district roughly follows the contours of Tax Incremental Finance districts already designated for blight elimination along Main Street from the Wolf River bridge on the north to Wescott Avenue on the south, and along Green Bay Street from Main Street on the west to Rusch Road on the east.

There are 391 properties within the boundaries of the RDA district. Just over half of them are considered blighted or in need of redevelopment.

Under state law, a municipality can designate a blight redevelopment district if at least 50 percent of the property within the proposed district is blighted, which means “a predominance of structures, buildings, or improvements that are dilapidated, deteriorated, obsolete, or conditions that are detrimental to public health and safety.”

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Cleanup to continue ThursdayBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Contributed Photo Employees inside ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano are shown cleaning up from flood damage that has displaced patients and postponed services.
Contributed Photo A corridor inside ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano shows small areas of standing water after Tuesday’s flood inside the hospital.

Surgeries and other patient services were being postponed Wednesday at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano as crews spent a second day cleaning up from a flood.

Officials said patients had been transferred to other hospitals from the emergency room, while the flood also prompted postponement of non-emergency surgeries, tests and treatments.

A monthly blood drive also was canceled Wednesday because of the flooding.

Although the hospital and adjoining clinic remain open, officials said they expect disruptions to continue Thursday while crews assess the damage caused by a fire hydrant that malfunctioned.

ThedaCare spokeswoman Megan Mulholland said the flooding hit the hospital laboratory and imaging center, both on the first floor of the medical center at 100 County Road B. The damage involved about one-third of the hospital’s first floor, with no damage reported in the clinic.

“It’s not a huge section of the hospital,” Mulholland said, “but it’s a vital section.”

Operations also cannot return to normal until testing is complete on water supplies in the building to ensure no contamination has affected water used to sterilize medical instruments, Mulholland said.

“We want to make sure everything is up to par,” she said.

Shawano city officials said tests have indicated that the incident caused no loss of water pressure to the hospital, making it unlikely that any contamination occurred.

The fire hydrant malfunctioned about 10 a.m. Tuesday near the hospital’s main entrance, causing water to flood into the building.

Hospital spokeswoman Carol Ryczek said contractors have removed all the standing water and were working Wednesday to gauge the extent of damage to walls, floors and elsewhere. Crews and employees also were working to clean hospital equipment from the flooded areas.

“They’ve made good progress,” Ryczek said.

Officials could not estimate how many patients were displaced, but they said the hospital had rescheduled or relocated appointments Wednesday and Thursday for elective surgeries, MRIs, chemotherapy treatments, cardiac stress tests and other services. Sixteen patients were transferred to other hospitals from the emergency room, either because of the flooding or because of their medical conditions.

ThedaCare, based in Appleton, opened the 128,000-square-foot hospital in September after investing about $50 million to bring updated and expanded services to the Shawano area.

In a prepared statement issued Wednesday, the hospital said that while the facility remains open “there are limitations on the services provided.”

The Blood Center of North Central Wisconsin on Wednesday canceled a monthly blood drive at the hospital, citing the flooding problem.

Becky Bremer, spokeswoman for the blood center, said the event generally attracts between 35 and 50 blood donors. Organizers were urging donors to make their donations elsewhere or to come back to the Shawano hospital for the next drive, scheduled for Sept. 14.

“It’s unfortunate,” Bremer said of the flood. “But these situations happen.”

ThedaCare officials said bottled water was being used for all purposes throughout the hospital and clinic until public health tests show that the property’s water supply is clean and safe. Test results were expected by Thursday.

Shawano City Administrator Brian Knapp said city public works crews drew water samples at the hospital and found that there was no loss of water pressure from the incident. That makes it highly unlikely that tests will show any sign of contamination, Knapp said.

“We don’t believe there’s any reason for concern on our part,” he said.

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Complaint says incident started as domestic disputeBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Both drivers and a passenger in an altercation last year that ended in a rollover crash and serious injuries are facing felony charges for their alleged roles in the incident.

Jeremy N. Young, 43, of Shawano, who was paralyzed from the waist down in the crash, is facing three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety through the use of a dangerous weapon. Each count carries a maximum possible sentence of 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Sheri L. Young, 41, of Shawano was charged with hit and run-causing great bodily harm and hit and run-causing injury. She could face a maximum 15 years in prison and $50,000 fine if convicted of the first charge, and imprisonment of up to nine months and a $10,000 fine for the second.

Craig L. Roberts, 43, who is incarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution, is charged with two counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of reckless injury using a dangerous weapon.

That last charge normally carries a maximum possible penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine, but because of previous convictions, Roberts’ sentence could be enhanced by as much as 11 years.

He could also face an enhanced penalty on the reckless endangerment counts.

The incident on July 22, 2015, began as a domestic dispute, according to the criminal complaints, involving Jeremy Young, his estranged wife and her boyfriend, Roberts.

Roberts was a passenger in Sheri Young’s vehicle. The Youngs’ daughter was a passenger in Jeremy’s vehicle.

The altercation started in the city of Shawano, with Roberts brandishing a knife at Jeremy Young as Roberts and Sheri Young drove by, according to the complaint.

Roberts told authorities he had flashed a set of keys at Jeremy Young, though a silver knife was found in the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Jeremy Young followed, catching up to the other vehicle as it stopped at Richmond Street and Airport Drive, where Jeremy allegedly got out of his vehicle and pounded on Roberts’ passenger window.

As Sheri Young’s vehicle drove off, her husband allegedly continued following it onto County Road BE.

The vehicles were going about 55 mph, according to the complaint, as Jeremy Young drove alongside his wife’s vehicle on the gravel shoulder.

Jeremy Young was holding a fillet knife in a case and was yelling at Roberts, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges Sheri Young’s vehicle then struck her husband’s vehicle, which went off the road and overturned.

Jeremy Young was ejected from the vehicle. His daughter sustained minor injuries, according to the complaint.

The parties gave conflicting reports as to whether Sheri Young turned her vehicle into her husband’s or whether the steering wheel was grabbed by Roberts.

The complaint against Roberts accuses him of pulling the steering wheel.

Sheri Young allegedly then drove off and was stopped by authorities a short time later.

Both Jeremy and Sheri Young are scheduled for initial appearances in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Aug. 29.

No court date is yet set for Roberts.

Roberts was on probation at the time of the incident for failing to maintain his status with the state’s Sex Offender Registry, according to court records.

His probation was revoked for rules violations, which included testing positive for THC and cocaine the day after the traffic crash, according to the criminal complaint.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 9

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Prospect and Elizabeth streets.

OWI — A 45-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated in the 100 block of South Sawyer Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Smalley Park, 211 N. Riverside Drive.

Fire — Police and Shawano Area Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in the 200 block of South Union Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 9

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Now Road in the town of Aniwa.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Oak Street in Bowler.

Theft — Items were reported stolen from a shed on Maple Road in the town of Herman.

OAR — A 27-year-old Shawano woman was cited for operating after revocation on Main Street in Gresham.

OAR — A 28-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating after revocation on Main Street in Gresham.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Lake Street in Aniwa.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on Butternut Road in the town of Richmond.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 9

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Damage to property was reported on North Main Street.

Trespass — Trespassing was reported on East Morning Glory Drive.

Vandalism — Damage to property was reported at the Skate Park.

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Wallace wins GOP primary, alone on Nov. ballotBy: 

Scott Williams, [email protected]

Shawano County Treasurer Debra Wallace appeared headed for re-election Tuesday after turning back a challenge from fellow Republican Mary Hagen.

With 100 percent of the votes counted, Wallace defeated Hagen by nearly a 2-to-1 margin in the countywide Republican primary.

Unofficial results showed Wallace with 1,963 votes to Hagen’s total of 1,087 votes.

With no Democrat running in the November election, Wallace is virtually assured of re-election, unless a write-in candidacy or some other surprise occurs.

Wallace, a Bonduel resident, said she was thankful to the voters and she believes Tuesday’s results represent a “total validation” of the job she has been doing the past four years.

Although her opponent had raised job-performance questions, Wallace said she remains certain that county residents support her.

“I’m glad it’s over,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to do this another four years.”

Hagen, who was making her first run at elected office, said she does not think voters got the message about how the county treasurer has been operating.

A longtime employee in the county finance office, Hagen, a Shawano resident, said she intends to challenge Wallace again in four years.

“Not enough people know what’s going on,” she said. “There’s not much I can do about it now.”

The winner of the November election will serve four years in a $56,000-a-year position responsible for overseeing all county property tax collections, processing other payments to the county, issuing employee paychecks and balancing the county’s main bank account.

The position’s salary is scheduled to increase to $61,000 a year by 2020.

Voters elected Wallace in 2012 to succeed Kay Schroeder, who stepped aside after 20 years as county treasurer.

During this year’s campaign, Hagen said Wallace had been improperly withholding information from county finance staffers related to the county’s main bank account.

The county collects about $15 million a year in property taxes, plus another $25 million in other revenues, and processes about $16 million a year in employee paychecks.

Wallace responded that all her financial records are all open to the public, but that county finance staffers must balance their own records in order to maintain integrity and a system of checks and balances in county government.

Wallace served as deputy treasurer under Schroeder before her election in 2012.

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By: 

The Associated Press

House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected the idea that his easy win Tuesday over a longshot Republican primary challenger whom Donald Trump had praised signals doom for the GOP presidential nominee in Wisconsin come November.

All the huge primary win means, Ryan insisted, is that he’s really well-liked in the congressional district where he was born and raised and has won election to represent since 1998.

Businessman Paul Nehlen had been courting Trump supporters and won praise from Trump last week. Despite their strained relationship, Trump endorsed Ryan days later.

“I don’t think it means he’s doomed in November,” Ryan said of Trump. “I think it means right here in Wisconsin, people know me very, very well.”

Ryan had largely ignored Nehlen in what had been a sleepy primary before Trump thanked Nehlen on Twitter for his comments defending Trump. Nehlen won the backing of some prominent conservative figures, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Ryan’s popularity in his southeastern Wisconsin district.

Ryan won by about 70 percentage points, based on unofficial results.

“We knew we were going to do well,” Ryan said. “We got the votes we were hoping and expecting to get all along. The outcome is exactly what we were hoping for.”

Ryan was first elected in 1998 and this is his first re-election win since becoming speaker last fall.

He went into the primary with massive advantages in name recognition and money. Ryan had outraised the unknown Nehlen by a 17 to 1 ratio through the latest reporting period, and was largely ignoring his opponent and was expected to win easily.

Trump changed all that the week before the primary, when he tweeted thanks to Nehlen for support while Trump was being vilified for remarks about the Muslim American parents of a U.S. soldier slain in Iraq. Trump also said he wasn’t ready to endorse Ryan, who had joined in that criticism.

Trump shifted course a few days later under heavy pressure from Republican leadership, but by then Nehlen had gotten a burst of national publicity.

Ryan had other advantages, including widespread popularity in the district where he was first elected in 1998. Ryan had also worked hard to maintain those home ties, traveling back to Janesville as much as possible to be with his wife and three children.

Nehlen, an executive at a water filtration company, first made a splash with a web video of him riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, showing his tattooed arms. He challenged Ryan to an arm-wrestling match if he wouldn’t debate him.

He ran well to Ryan’s right, accusing Ryan of betraying Trump and favoring a “globalist agenda” of disastrous trade deals and porous borders. Nehlen attracted support from Sarah Palin and conservative provocateur Ann Coulter, with the latter appearing alongside Nehlen in the district the weekend before the election.

Nehlen said in a message on Twitter after the crushing defeat that his candidacy “damaged Paul Ryan’s ability to continue growing government. That’s the beginning of a fight we’re ready to get started.”

Ryan will fac Democrat Ryan Solen on Nov. 8. Solen beat Tom Breu in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Solen is an Iraq war veteran who lives in Mount Pleasant.

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Frederick advances in 35th Assembly raceBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Area voters had several primary choices to make Tuesday, setting the stage for general election match-ups in November.

Mike Gallagher, of Green Bay, was headed toward a lopsided victory over two opponents for the Republican nomination for the District 8 Congressional seat being vacated by Reid Ribble.

With 67 percent of precincts reporting, Gallagher had won 73 percent of the vote over Frank Lasee, of De Pere, with 20 percent, and Terry McNulty, of Forestville, at 6 percent.

Gallagher, a former Marine, served as national security adviser for Gov. Scott Walker’s presidential campaign last year. Gallagher had Ribble’s support and picked up late endorsements from a slew of GOP heavyweights.

“I commend both of my primary opponents for throwing their hats into the ring, fighting hard during this campaign, and working to make this country safer and more prosperous,” Gallagher said in a victory statement Tuesday night. “We are lucky to have such strong conservatives here in Northeast Wisconsin.”

“Now the real work begins,” he said. “We’re going to build off tonight’s momentum and continue to spread my common-sense conservative vision to voters across the district. We are going to fight every single second until November to take our government back from the career politicians.”

In November, Gallagher will go up against Tom Nelson, of Kaukauna, the Democratic Outagamie County executive who ran unopposed. Nelson is a former state representative.

In the primary for the Democratic nomination for the 35th Assembly District, Renea Frederick looked on track to defeating opponents Derek Woellner and Erik Pfantz, all of Merrill, for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Mary Czaja, of Tomahawk, in November.

With 86 percent of precincts in, Frederick had 48 percent of the vote compared to 30 percent for Woellner and 22 percent for Pfantz.

AT A GLANCE

Other highlights from Tuesday’s primary election:

- Democrat Russ Feingold easily dispatched his longshot primary challenger to set up a rematch with Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Feingold defeated Kenosha private detective and polygraph examiner Scott Harbach. Johnson ousted Feingold, an 18-year incumbent, from the Senate in 2010. Libertarian candidate Phil Anderson, of Fitchburg, will also be on the ballot for that race in November.

- Republican U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy defeated primary challenger Donald Raihala to advance to the general election. Duffy is running for a fourth term representing the 7th District. Duffy easily won Tuesday’s primary over Raihala, a real estate agent from Superior who ran for the seat twice before.

- Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind defeated his primary challenger for his seat in Congress. Unofficial returns Tuesday showed Kind defeated former high school history teacher Myron Buchholz, of Eau Claire, in the race for western Wisconsin’s 3rd District. No Republicans ran for the seat.

- Democrat Sarah Lloyd will take on Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman in his first re-election bid. Lloyd beat Michael Slattery in Tuesday’s primary in the 6th District, in east-central Wisconsin. Independent Jeff Dahlke of Mequon also is running.

- Milwaukee Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore fended off a primary challenge from a convicted felon and former state senator. Moore defeated Gary George. She advances to face Libertarian Andy Craig in the Nov. 8 general election for her 4th District seat.

- Former state Sen. Dan Kapanke has won the Republican primary for a shot to take on the highest ranking Democrat in the state Senate. Kapanke defeated John Sarnowski in Tuesday’s primary. He will face Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling in the Nov. 8 general election. That will be a rematch of the 2011 recall election that Shilling won in the wake of the Act 10 budget battle. Shilling beat Jared Landry in Tuesday’s primary.

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Hydrant problem affects servicesBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Hospital officials late Tuesday were still mopping up and assessing the damage caused by a malfunctioning fire hydrant that caused flooding and water damage to portions of the first floor at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

The exterior hydrant, which is maintained by the hospital, malfunctioned about 10 a.m. Both the hospital and the clinic remained open, but there were limits on the services provided, said Dorothy Erdmann, chief executive officer.

“Incident Command was opened and the Shawano team, supported by colleagues throughout the system, has been working hard to minimize the impact on patients,” she said in a statement. “At this time, the hospital and clinic remain open for patient care.”

The emergency department has continued treating and assessing patients as they arrive, Erdmann said.

“At this time, no one has been diverted to another hospital,” she said.

Surgeries that had been set for Wednesday have been rescheduled, Erdmann said.

She also said some imaging and lab services have been impacted.

“Those areas are being dried and assessed by our biomedical teams,” she said.

Erdmann said the hospital is also using bottled water for all purposes until the water system can be tested and declared safe by public health.

“Structurally, the hospital is safe, but engineers are evaluating the damage to determine what needs to be repaired or replaced in the flooded area,” Erdmann said. “Our New London hospital has also opened Incident Command and is ready to help with patient care if needed.”

Hospital officials said patients were not at risk during the incident.

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