Shawano Leader News

By: 

Leader Staff

An arrest warrant was issued this week for a Hatley teen accused of leading authorities on a high-speed chase before fleeing on foot in the town of Wittenberg.

Amos W. Wodora, 18, could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and bail jumping.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies around 11:30 p.m. Monday spotted a vehicle going nearly 90 mph on southbound U.S. Highway 45, according to the criminal complaint.

A chase ensued that wound through Wittenberg for about three miles and reached speeds of over 100 mph, according to the complaint.

The vehicle was located in a driveway on Webb Street, where two teenage passengers went into a residence. The driver had fled the scene on foot.

The passengers identified the driver as Wodora, according to the complaint.

The complaint also alleges that deputies found a baggie of marijuana in the vehicle, along with an open bottle of vodka.

The passengers were cited for underage drinking and possession of open intoxicants.

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By: 

Leader Staff

An Oshkosh man is facing charges of sexually assaulting a child in Shawano and two other counties.

Jeremiah J. Roberts, 28, was charged in Shawano County on Thursday with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 12. He could face a maximum 60 years in prison if convicted.

Oshkosh police were investigating sex assault allegations against Roberts there when they learned of the Shawano County connection.

The Oshkosh case involved two female juveniles who said the assaults also occurred in Shawano and Forest counties.

The Shawano County assault allegedly took place in January 2013 in the town of Washington, according to the criminal complaint. The girl would have been 12 years old at the time.

Roberts is scheduled for a plea hearing in Winnebago County Circuit Court on Feb. 23 on felony charges of child sex assault-sexual contact with a person under the age of 13 and exposing genitals to a child.

He is also scheduled for an initial appearance in Forest County Circuit Court on Feb. 11 on two felony counts of child sex assault, sexual contact with a person under the age of 13 and intercourse with a person under the age of 12.

Roberts’ initial appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court is scheduled for Feb. 16.

He is being held in Winnebago County on a $15,000 cash bond.

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By: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Following a one-year hiatus, the Mooseyard Winterfest Bar Olympics return Saturday.

Seven bars and restaurants along Lake Drive will offer a variety of activities to soothe the winter blues, said Tony Powers, manager of the Shawano Lake Golf Course, one of the participating businesses.

“It is just a time to for everyone to come out during the winter time and enjoy themselves,” Powers said.

Registration of two-person teams begins at 11 a.m. at the Cotton Patch Supper Club; the cost is $20. The top two finishers will receive a 100 percent pay out, after the last place team receives its money back.

“They can take that $20 and spend it on a round of drinks somewhere,” Powers said.

Activities will include a hockey game at the Coachlight Bar and Grill, a clown game at Sigrids Bavarian Trail, darts, pool and bowling at other locations, including The Blind Squirrel.

This will be first Winterfest for Symbas owner Tim Sprague, who took over the business in October 2014.

“It is all new to me,” he said. “I am excited for it, to see the turnout. From what I heard, it is a great time.”

Sprague plans to have a game of blind darts, where the numbers on the dart board are covered. If the turnout is bigger than expected, his Plan B is poker pool.

“You will be dealt a card, and shoot based on what cards you are handed,” Sprague said.

Awards will be presented at 6 p.m. at The Coachlight, where a disc jockey will provide the music.

Classic’s Restaurant and Lounge will have a live band — Mike Murphy and the MOB.

“All the different businesses will have specials and discounts throughout the day,” Powers said.

Additionally, Shawano Lake County Park and Shawano Lake Golf Club will be open.

The event was cancelled last year due to a scheduling conflict with the Figure-8 Fishing Derby.

“Everyone decided to go to the fishing derby instead,” Powers said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Mooseyard Winterfest Bar Olympics

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Cotton Patch, W4890 Lake Drive.

COST: $20

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Donations, grant bolster finances

Contributions from Shawano Farmers Market supporters, and a matching $3,500 grant from the Harold E. Pevonka Trust, have earned the market $7,185, the market board reported this week.

After learning about the matching grant opportunity, the board sent letters to individuals and businesses to let them know their contribution would, in effect, be doubled by the grant. The result was $3,685 in contributions from individuals and businesses from Oct. 20 through Dec. 31.

“We couldn’t be happier with the response of the community,” said Richard Sarnwick, Shawano Farmers Market board president. “Their contributions, with the match from the Pevonka grant, will give us a strong start for the 2015 market.”

The Shawano Farmers Market depends on donations, grants and vendor booth fees. The market does not receive a percentage of any farmer, producer, or artisan sales. Expenses include items such as operations and site improvements, market management, insurance, advertising, and community outreach.

“We feel the ongoing, positive results of this endeavor will benefit our community for years to come,” Sarnwick said. “We are already planning for this year’s market, and looking for ways to include more family activities and attract more vendors.”

The Shawano Farmers Market will run from June 20 through Oct. 10 in the 200 block of South Washington Street, at the corner of Washington and Division streets.

For vendor information, contact Nathan Falk at [email protected].

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 22

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a customer left the deli without paying for her food.

Shoplifting — Game Stop, 1233 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting complaint that was under investigation.

Missing — Persons reported missing on Humphrey Circle were located at the casino.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 1000 block of South Airport Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 22

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Swan Acre Lane in Cecil.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Lakewood Court in Wescott.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road M in the town of Grant.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Theft — A dog was reported stolen on County Road D in Pella.

Warrant — A 49-year-old woman was taken into custody on outstanding warrants on One Mile Road in the town of Herman.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint at the Elbow Room, 201 S. Warrington Ave., Cecil.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 22

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Officer assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department on High Street in the village of Embarrass with a disorderly intoxicated subject.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident was reported on McKinley Avenue and 15th Street. The ambulance was dispatched for non-life threatening injuries.

Disturbance — An officer was requested at the middle school for an uncontrollable juvenile.

Hit and Run — A hit-and-run accident was reported on South Clinton Avenue and Eighth Street.

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By: 

The Associated Press

Walker rejects Menominee request for Kenosha casino
TODD RICHMOND, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker on Friday denied the Menominee Nation's request for permission to build an off-reservation casino in Kenosha, saying approving the project could leave the state owing a rival tribe hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Republican governor, who is mulling a run for president in 2016, said the state's compact with the Forest County Potawatomi requires the state to refund payments that tribe has made to the state if a Kenosha casino became a reality.

"After a comprehensive review of the potential economic impact of the proposed Kenosha casino project, the risk to the state's taxpayers is too great," Walker said in a news release.

Menominee Chairwoman Laurie Boivin said the project would have improved tribe members' lives, but that their hopes have been dashed by the other tribe and Walker's presidential aspirations.

Potawatomi Attorney General Jeff Crawford said in his own statement that Walker gave the project a thorough review "and we agree with his determination that this project is not in the best interest of Wisconsin."

The Menominee have been pushing for a casino at Kenosha's former Dairyland Greyhound Park dog track for years, hoping the $800 million facility would lure gamblers from Milwaukee and Chicago and help pull the northeastern Wisconsin tribe out of poverty. The tribe has claimed the project would create more than 10,000 jobs.

The Potawatomi have been fiercely opposed to the project, fearing the casino would siphon profits from their Milwaukee facility about 30 miles away. The Potawatomi's gambling compact with Wisconsin mandates the state reimburse the tribes for any losses linked to a Kenosha casino as well as refund payments the tribe has made to the state in exchange for the exclusive right to offer gambling in southeastern Wisconsin. Walker's administration has estimated those payments could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The tribe also has argued it wouldn't have to make any future payments to the state if the new casino went through since their guarantee of exclusivity would be gone. The Potawatomi has already withheld $25 million from the state out of concerns Wisconsin would end up owing the tribe if the governor approved the new casino.

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs earlier this month nixed a deal between the Potawatomi and the state that would have established the financial terms for reimbursement, however, raising questions about whether the state remains on the hook. The Potawatomi have filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., challenging the BIA's ruling.

The Menominee and the state brokered a new compact that called for the Menominee to pay the state 7.5 percent of its annual winnings and cover revenue losses if the Potawatomi stopped paying. But state Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch warned the governor in a memo this week that the deal wouldn't cover back payments.

Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, a Kenosha Democrat, issued a statement slamming Walker, saying the decision would cost the state thousands of jobs and millions of tourists. He hinted that approving the casino wouldn't play well with conservatives on the presidential campaign trail.

"This is an economic mistake of colossal proportions," Barca said. "The fact that Gov. Walker couldn't bring people together and find a way to get to 'yes' is a painful failure of leadership that hurts the hopes of thousands of citizens."

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Schultz receives citizen of year awardBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Cathy Kirshling, left, and Jill Birr, of Jill’s Pet Shoppe, share a laugh during the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce awards banquet Thursday at Menominee Casino Resort.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Winners honored at the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce awards banquet Thursday are, from left, Wendy Crawford, Leadership Shawano County; Jill Birr, Jill’s Pet Shoppe; Julie Nowak, Salon 2140; Stephanie Ferris, accepting the award on behalf of Lighthouse Pub; Nancy Schultz, Distinguished Citizen of the Year; Stacey Cicero, chamber ambassador; and Phil Kersten, Woodstock Hardwood Flooring and Design Center.

Hundreds of business leaders donned masks and colorful costumes Thursday for the 88th annual Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce awards banquet at the Menominee Casino Resort in Keshena.

Nancy Schultz was recognized as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year for her efforts throughout the community. She was nominated by last year’s winner, Matty Mathison.

“This award means a lot to me and it shows that all the work that I and others have been doing in this community is truly making a difference in the lives of those living in Shawano County,” Schultz said. “It also confirms that even the smallest action can have a positive impact.”

Schultz served as secretary of Shawano Pathways, where she helped create the Safe Routes to School program, nutrition chairperson of the Healthy Shawano and Menominee County Task Force and on ThedaCare’s Community Health Action Team.

As the University of Wisconsin-Extension family living educator for Shawano County, she launched the Strong Bones program, which progressive features weight training, flexibility and balance activities for women and men of all ages.

Schultz was also involved in launching the new Shawano Area Matthew 25 organization, a homeless task force.

Schultz commended the people she has worked with in her community projects.

“I could not have achieved this award without the inspiration I have received from my colleagues,” she said. “I am grateful to have all of you as partners as we continue to move forward.”

Stacey Cicero, executive director of Safe Haven, an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, was honored as the chamber’s Ambassador of the Year.

A former executive director of the chamber, Cicero said she enjoyed the camaraderie of the chamber’s ambassadors.

“This was an incredibly fun group of people that really enjoyed their own professional work and promoting Shawano businesses,” Cicero said.

Other award winners were Lighthouse Sports Bar and Grill, Small Business of the Year; Salon 2140, Service Business of the Year; Jill’s Pet Shoppe, Retail Business of the Year; Woodstock Hardwood Flooring and Design Center, Manufacturer of the Year.

Nancy Smith, chamber executive director, thanked the more than 400 chamber members for their support.

“Our accomplishments are made possible by our hardworking members who give their time for the greater good,” Smith said.

Wendy Crawford, program manager for Leadership Shawano County, was honored by the Shawano Area Young Professionals for helping launch the program last year with a bouquet of flowers and a gift bag coined the “Fountain of Youth.”

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Decision criticizes Krueger’s actionsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Two Shawano County judges Thursday denied a Bonduel couple’s petition to have Clerk of Courts Susan Krueger removed from office, but they also faulted some of her actions and imposed conditions on their ruling.

A petition filed in November by David and Karen Patza, of Bonduel, alleged that Krueger used her position in an attempt to influence the sentencing of a personal acquaintance in a Brown County felony case.

Judges James Habeck and William Kussel Jr. presided jointly over a hearing in the matter last month.

In their written decision filed Thursday, the judges harshly criticized some of Krueger’s actions, but found insufficient grounds to remove her from office.

Krueger declined to comment on the 11-page decision, saying she had not yet read it.

David Patza, informed of the decision Thursday evening, said it was disappointing.

“We’re disappointed with the response, but we appreciate that they took it seriously,” he said.

Patza said the conditions imposed on Krueger by the judges were a positive step.

“She’ll be watched more closely,” he said. “But I don’t think much is going to change.”

Krueger wrote a letter on Shawano County Clerk of Court letterhead in May to Brown County Circuit Court Judge Kendall Kelley on behalf of Eric Hodkiewicz, 35, of Shawano.

Hodkiewicz had been found guilty after a jury trial in March of substantial battery with intent to do bodily harm, strangulation and suffocation, stalking, burglary and several other charges. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and 13 years of extended supervision.

Krueger’s May 13 letter to the Brown County court, written “on both a personal and professional level,” defended Hodkiewicz as someone incapable of “the alleged violence” against the victim.

Krueger wrote that Hodkiewicz was a close friend of her son. She said she has known Hodkiewicz since he was in high school.

Krueger went on to say in the letter that the court system failed in this case.

“The state abuses its authority by overcharging, and using it as leverage for potential plea bargaining,” she wrote. “I’ve seen victims file report after report with law enforcement to bolster their stories in restraining order, custody and criminal cases, making unsubstantiated testimony more believable.

“Often it is the better ‘liar’ not ‘lawyer’ that can win a case before a judge or jury for the state or defense.”

Krueger went on to defend Hodkiewicz’s character and asked the court not to include prison as part of the sentence.

In their ruling, the judges found that Krueger had not violated state statutes covering criminal misconduct in office because she did not stand to gain anything from her actions.

“There is no evidence that her advocacy of Mr. Hodkiewicz in any way benefited her or her immediate family,” they wrote.

The judges also found that the petition didn’t meet the burden of proving that any great harm was done.

“If clerk’s letter had a significant impact on the sentencing decision, it merely lowered prison time to eight years of initial incarceration, a lengthy sentence,” they wrote.

The judges were highly critical, however, of Krueger’s comments questioning the fairness of criminal court proceedings in terms that were “derogatory and insulting” to the judicial system.

“If clerk were a state employee in the Office of Court Operations, she would likely face discipline, including possible termination,” they wrote.

However, they wrote, no provisions of law covered those opinions expressed by a county clerk of courts.

“Ethical standards are not adopted for clerks in Wisconsin,” they wrote.

The judges also took issue with Krueger’s use of public property to send her letter and e-mails she wrote to Department of Corrections staff regarding the Hodkiewicz case.

They called those actions inappropriate, as well as a violation of Shawano County technology policy.

Among the conditions imposed in Thursday’s decision, Krueger will be required to attend ethics and domestic violence training, and will have to write a letter to Judge Kelley clarifying that her previous letter expressed her own views and was not an official action of her office.

Another condition already imposed when the petition was filed in November will continue. That condition bars Krueger from having any contact with or access to any court file having to do with the victim or her family.

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Menominee willing to post bond up to $250MBy: 

The Associated Press

The Forest County Potawatomi filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the federal government’s rejection of compact language that would have left the state on the hook for reimbursing the tribe if the rival Menominee Nation gets a casino in Kenosha.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., the Potawatomi contend that the Bureau of Indian Affairs incorrectly interpreted the language to mean the Menominee would have to reimburse the Potawatomi. The tribe also says the decision deprived it of its right to freely negotiate compacts with the state and restricts Gov. Scott Walker’s discretion to set the terms for approving the new casino.

“Good government requires clear rules, and we think the BIA violated those rules,” Potawatomi attorney Jeff Crawford said in a news release. “The federal government’s decision only creates more questions and uncertainty for the Kenosha casino project.”

Agency spokeswoman Nedra Darling didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. A spokesman for Walker declined to comment. In a statement, the Menominee accused the Potawatomi of trying to create confusion and predicted the courts will uphold the BIA’s decision.

“Federal courts give agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) a lot of latitude in making decisions,” the statement said.

The Menominee late Thursday afternoon announced the tribe plans to post a bond that would ensure Wisconsin taxpayers are protected. Menominee spokesman Michael Beightol said the bond amount likely would be between $200 million and $250 million.

The lawsuit is just the latest twist in the complex, high-stakes saga surrounding the new casino.

The federal government approved the Menominee’s request to build a casino in Kenosha in 2013, leaving the final decision up to Walker. He has until Feb. 19 to make a call. The Potawatomi fiercely oppose the project, fearing it would cut into their Milwaukee casino’s profits.

The Potawatomi say their gambling compact with the state requires the state to reimburse the tribe for any losses linked to a Kenosha casino. The tribe also maintains that the agreement requires the state refund payments the tribe made to the state to guarantee exclusivity in the region if the new casino is built. Walker’s administration has warned that those back payments could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The tribe has already withheld its $25 million annual payment to the state out of concerns Wisconsin will end up owing the tribe if the casino goes forward.

The state and the Potawatomi turned to arbitrators last year to determine the financial terms for reimbursement. The arbitrators produced a compact amendment establishing that the state is responsible for ensuring the Potawatomi are reimbursed and laying out the process for determining the Potawatomi’s losses. The Menominee have said they would reimburse the Potawatomi but under the new language the state would ultimately be responsible for making sure the Potawatomi get paid.

Kevin Washburn, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, rejected the amendment on Jan. 9. He wrote that the new language shifts the cost of any impact on the Potawatomi to the Menominee in hopes of preserving the Potawatomi’s “monopoly profits.”

The Potawatomi argue in their lawsuit that this interpretation was completely wrong.

“The 2014 Compact Amendment is carefully crafted to create no contractual duty upon Menominee or any entity other than Potawatomi and the State of Wisconsin,” the lawsuit said.

The Menominee and the state notified the BIA this week that they have reached a deal that calls for that tribe to pay the state 7.5 percent of its net winnings in Kenosha and make up the difference if payments from the Potawatomi and the Ho-Chunk Nation — another tribe that opposes the Kenosha project — dip below $37.5 million in a fiscal year.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — A 27-year-old man was cited after a property damage hit-and-run at Airport Drive and Green Bay Street.

Code violations — Police logged nine complaints of snow and ice not cleared from sidewalks.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

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

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

Hit and Run — A property damage hit-and-run at County Road B and Airport Drive was under investigation.

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 21

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Elm Grove Road in Pella.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road G in Green Valley.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Tomahawk Lane in the town of Washington.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint at Kwik Trip in Bonduel, 102 Express Way.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Rose Brook Road in Belle Plaine.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Cherry Road in Aniwa.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 42-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody on South Main Street on warrants through Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department and Stevens Point Police Department.

Juvenile — Police logged seven truancy complaints from Clintonville High School.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct incidents were reported at the high school, middle school and elementary school.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in a parking lot on South Main Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on 11th Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint on 19th Street.

Warrant — A 24-year-old man was arrested on South Main Street on a Shawano County warrant.

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City has not done study or initiated fundraisingBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Story clintonvilleswimmingpool

It appears there will not be an advisory referendum on the future of Clintonville’s outdoor swimming pool on the April ballot.

Although the Common Council voted in November to hold a referendum, it has not followed through with any concrete plans. The deadline to get the referendum on the April 7 ballot is Tuesday.

The council voted 5-3 Monday to put the question to voters, but, with two members absent, six votes were needed for the motion to pass.

The proposal would have asked voters whether the city should “pursue design and explore funding options, including grants, bonds and fundraising, to renovate/rebuild the Clintonville outdoor municipal swimming pool with the understanding that future taxes will be impacted.”

Resident Stephanie Hintz urged the council to sound out voters for direction. She noted the vote would only be advisory and not bind the city to any specific plan or costs.

Alderwoman Gloria Dunlavy, however, said the Park and Recreation Commission had decided it did not have enough information to move forward with a referendum.

After the pool’s opening was delayed last summer because leaks were discovered, council members asked former City Administrator Lisa Kotter and park and recreation director Justin McAuly to get more detailed information on repair costs, as well as the costs of a new pool, and initiate a fundraising effort.

Dunlavy said a member of the Park and Recreation Commission is looking into grants, but no other action had been taken.

Alderwoman Lois Bressette questioned why no study had been completed.

“I am disappointed we don’t have information,” she said. “The pool has value to our community. We need it to market the community. People value our pool.”

“We don’t have to explain ourselves now,” McAuly said. “We are exploring funding and our options.”

Alderman Jim Krause said there was no money for a survey, a study or to get cost estimates. He was not convinced the pool is needed.

“We have a perfectly good indoor pool,” he said. “Why has New London, Green Bay and Shawano closed their outdoor pool? They are not feasible in this climate. It is like dumping water into a hole.

“We do not have money for a survey. We would be voting on a whim. Why saddle this city with more debt? … I have heard some flimsy excuses for a pool.”

Alderman Mark Doornink said he supported the referendum to hear what residents want to do about the issue.

Alderwoman Mary Beth Kuester said residents would want to know how much a pool would cost, and that information was not available.

The referendum would be just one step, Mayor Judith Magee noted. She reminded council members that the first step to building the new high school was to ask people if they supported the idea. It took three years to get the issue on the ballot for a final decision.

Interim City Administrator Chuck Nell said he would prefer to have details before a referendum is put on the ballot.

“The more information you have for the public, the better chance of success,” he said. “There has been no development done. There can be a wide range of costs, and no study has been done on options. There is no money in the budget to look at it. It hasn’t been budgeted for.

“If it (the resolution) is too general, you risk the chance it will get turned down before you get started. There is a proper way to go about it.”

A study by Neuman Pools in 2013 concluded there could be a million dollars worth of repairs and upgrading needed at the pool.
story created on Thursday 1/22/2015 at 10:13:44 am by Jody Otros

AT A GLANCE

The Clintonville Common Council voted 5-3 to place an advisory referendum about the city’s outdoor swimming pool on the April 7 ballot. Six votes were need for the measure to pass.

YES: Gloria Dunlavy, Phil Rath, Lois Bressette, Jeannie Schley, Mark Doornink

NO: Mary Beth Kuester, John Wilson, Jim Krause

ABSENT: Amy Steenbock, Bill Zeinert

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Potawatomi could fight casino plan in courtBy: 

The Associated Press

The Menominee Nation’s new gambling compact doesn’t protect the state from potentially losing hundreds of millions of dollars if Gov. Scott Walker approves the tribe’s plans for a new Kenosha casino, according to the governor’s top aide.

The new compact calls for the Menominee to pay the state 7.5 percent of its winnings from the new casino for 25 years. If the rival Ho-Chunk Nation and Forest County Potawatomi’s casino payments dip below $37.5 million in a fiscal year, the Menominee would cover the difference.

The Menominee insist the deal gives Walker the cover he needs to approve the $800 million project. State Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch wrote in a memo to Walker on Tuesday that the compact won’t protect the state if the Potawatomi decide to challenge the new casino in court.

A judge could find that the state is responsible for reimbursing the Potawatomi for losses linked to the Kenosha casino, he said. A judge also might rule that approving the Kenosha facility violates provisions in the Potawatomi’s compact that guarantee the tribe the exclusive right to offer gambling within a 50-mile radius of its Milwaukee casino, Huebsch wrote. In that case, the Potawatomi would likely stop making payments to the state and Wisconsin might have to refund payments to the tribe, he warned.

“Overall, in each of the scenarios … the potential exists for the State to lose hundreds of millions of dollars if the Potawatomi successfully challenges approval of the proposed Kenosha casino,” Huebsch wrote.

The Menominee have been pushing for years to establish an off-reservation casino in Kenosha, hoping a facility between Milwaukee and Chicago would help pull the tribe out of poverty. The federal government gave the OK in 2013 but final approval rests with Walker. He has until Feb. 19 to make a decision.

Complicating matters are the Ho-Chunk and the Potawatomi. Both tribes oppose the project, fearing it would cut into their own casino profits.

The Ho-Chunk’s compact allows it to reduce its payments to the state to offset losses to Kenosha. More problematic for Walker is the Potawatomi’s compact, which requires the state to reimburse it for Kenosha-related losses.

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs earlier this month rejected language that would have formally established the state was responsible for reimbursing the Potawatomi, raising questions about whether the state remains on the hook.

The Potawatomi also contend its compact requires the state to refund hundreds of millions in back payments if the new casino goes through. The tribe already has withheld $25 million from the state out of concern Wisconsin could end up owing them.

“It’s clear that (the Menominee compact) … does not remove the risk that a Kenosha casino could put a substantial hole in Wisconsin’s budget,” Potawatomi spokesman George Ermert said in a statement.

Gary Besaw, chairman of the Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority, the entity working to bring the casino to Kenosha, called Huebsch’s legal scenarios unlikely.

“We believe the governor is in a much better spot to approve this knowing what the Menominee has committed to,” Besaw said. “This is how we help the governor get to that win-win-win.”

The BIA has 45 days to approve or reject the new compact. Walker and the Menominee have asked the agency to make a call before the Feb. 19 deadline. A BIA spokeswoman didn’t immediately return an email message Wednesday.

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DOC says contract being put out for bidBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

The state Department of Corrections is continuing to use the New Era House in Shawano as a temporary placement facility for recently released felons, even though it has been six months since the contract with the facility expired.

The DOC’s eight-year relationship with New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St., was thrown into flux last year when the DOC awarded a new contract to a different provider.

The DOC contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St.

The contract called for ATTIC to provide transitional housing services for convicted felons that are under the DOC’s supervision, including recently released sex offenders.

That location was shot down in July when the Shawano Plan Commission refused to allow a special exception to the zoning ordinance for the new facility.

The New Era House contract, which was set to expire in August, was given a one-month extension while ATTIC looked for some other location in the city.

In September, however, the contract with ATTIC “was rescinded because they couldn’t secure a site,” according to DOC Director of Public Affairs Joy Staab.

Staab said the DOC plans to put the contract back out for bid, but there was no timeline on when that would happen, other than it would be “in the near future.”

In the meantime, Staab said, New Era House is still being used “on an as-needed basis.”

The DOC has “pay as you go” options that can be used for living arrangements that are not contracted.

Ruth Paterick, owner and operator of the New Era House, said she is not sure at this point whether she will bid for the new contract.

“I’m just waiting to see what (the DOC) is going to do,” she said.

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Hiring is part of department restructuringBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A new officer will join the ranks of the Shawano Police Department on Monday.

Nicole Hoffman, currently an officer with the Bonduel Police Department and a part-time transport deputy for the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, will go through an extensive 12-week training program after she begins her duties Monday, Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

Hoffman is a graduate of Manawa High School in 2003. After high school, she attended Fox Valley Technical College for criminal justice, graduating in 2008.

She worked as a reserve deputy for Waupaca County in 2008 and was promoted to reserve sergeant before resigning in 2013. She also worked part-time with the water patrol on the Chain O’ Lakes.

Hoffman worked special details for Shawano County while on the Bonduel police force in 2012 and was put on the road as a uniformed patrol officer in 2013.

Hoffman’s hiring comes as the department is doing some restructuring and filling vacancies created by the election of Officer Adam Bieber as sheriff and the retirement of Capt. Jeff Heffernon.

The department opted not to refill the captain’s post. Kohl said the vacancy provided an opportunity to add another patrol officer instead and add a newly created detective lieutenant position.

The department previously did not have a detective’s position. The new post will be taken by an existing patrol officer who will be promoted. The department has not announced which officer that will be.

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City looking to reduce expensesBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Grace Kirchner The old Clintonville armory is showing signs of deteriorating, and some members of the Common Council would like to close the building rather than spend the money to repair it.

The future of the former Clintonville armory is in doubt as the Common Council looks for $176,000 in savings to replenish the city’s undesignated fund balance.

To balance the 2015 budget, the council in November tapped the undesignated fund balance, with the stipulation that the money be replaced by March 31.

Closing the armory is one of the options being considered to help come up with the money. The city is also considering closing its outdoor swimming pool.

The armory, at 55 E. 12th St., houses the city Park and Recreation Center, a food pantry, evidence for the Police Department and items stored there by the Clintonville Historical Society. It also is available for public use.

The park and recreation department uses space in the basement to repair picnic tables and other items.

The building also houses the office of Justin McCuly, city park and recreation director.

Council members have indicated it is expensive to heat the building, which was dedicated in 1923, that it is not handicap accessible and needs some repairs.

No firm alternative location has been discussed for occupants of the building.

David Schmidt, speaking on behalf of the food pantry, told the Common Council at its last meeting that he thought improvements could be made to the building without using city funds. He said he knew of a person who would donate funds if someone would match them.

The council is also looking at closing the outdoor pool. McCuly said it could operate only one more year without some major repairs.

Plans are being made to have a referendum on the April 7 ballot asking residents if they would like to fund repairs for the pool, build a new pool or close it.

The council had hoped to save money by changing to the state’s health insurance plan for the employees. Interim City Administrator Chuck Kell, however, recently reported that would not happen.

Kell has said that the $35,000 ambulance subsidy might not be needed, and the money could be used to help restore the fund balance.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A man was taken into custody at the New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St.

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

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

Trespass — A subject was served with a no trespassing order after police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of East Division Street.

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 400 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 20

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

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

Theft — A chainsaw was reported stolen on Red River Road in the town of Herman.

Disorderly — A juvenile was cited for disorderly conduct at Bonduel Middle/High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

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

Fire — Authorities responded to a stove fire at a residence on County Road D in Pella.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged four incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A woman was taken into custody on Shiocton Police Department warrants.

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No indication whether Walker favors proposalBy: 

The Associated Press

The state of Wisconsin and the Menominee Nation have agreed to a new gambling compact over a proposed casino in Kenosha that the tribe said would bring $1 billion in revenue to the state over 25 years.

Gov. Scott Walker said in a Tuesday letter to Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn that the compact was recently negotiated “in an effort to help define the potential economic and fiscal impact of the proposed Kenosha casino.”

Walker also wrote that the compact “in no way indicates whether I support or oppose Menominee’s proposal for a casino in Kenosha, Wisconsin.”

The compact requires approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but Walker has sole authority to approve or reject the casino and must make a decision by Feb. 19.

The Menominee tribe hailed the amended compact, saying it eliminates the state’s risk in approving the $800 million facility at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park. Tribe chairwoman Laurie Boivin said in a statement that the compact answers the state’s concerns and Walker now has a “clear path” to approve the project.

The compact lays out gambling rules and outlines how much the Menominee would pay the state if Walker approves the project. WISN-TV reported the tribe would pay the state 7.5 percent of its net winnings from the Kenosha facility.

The compact also states that the tribe would make up any budget shortfall caused by a reduction in payments from compacts with the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk tribes, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The Potawatomi tribe, which runs one of the state’s most lucrative casinos in Milwaukee, has led the opposition to the Menominee proposal, fearing that a new competitor would cut into profits.

The Menominee tribe said the Kenosha casino would bring in $1 billion in revenue for the state over the 25-year-life of the compact and generate 10,600 new jobs.

Department of Administration secretary Mike Huebsch said in a Tuesday memo to Walker that Wisconsin could lose hundreds of millions of dollars if the Potawatomi tribe successfully challenges the proposed casino.

The amended compact with the Menominee doesn’t fully remove that risk, according to Huebsch.

“If the Potawatomi are successful in their litigation against the state, the state may be required to pay Potawatomi hundreds of millions of dollars that will not be offset by payments to the state by the Menominee,” he wrote.

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California man crashes into shantyBy: 

Leader Staff

A California teen is facing a felony count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety for allegedly almost running over a group of people earlier this month on Shawano Lake.

Anthony B. Kotula Jr., 19, of Eureka, is accused of crashing into an ice shack on the lake Jan. 3 and nearly striking a group of four people as he sped away from the scene.

Kotula could face a maximum 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

He is also charged with a felony count of second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana, which carries a possible maximum of 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property for damage to the shack and fishing equipment inside.

Kotula posted a $500 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 16.

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Strangulation

A Bonduel man has been charged with a felony count of strangulation and suffocation after an alleged domestic incident in the village earlier this month.

Robert C. Evans, 28, is accused of choking a woman during an altercation Jan. 3. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic abuse-battery and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Evans could face a maximum possible penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

He is free on a $2,000 signature band and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 23.

Felony OWI

A Crandon man has been charged with a felony count of operating while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.

Brian Jacobson, 29, was arrested in the town of Angelica on Jan. 7 after a state trooper spotted him speeding on state Highway 29 in the town of Angelica, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint alleges he was going about 80 mph.

It is allegedly Jacobson’s third drunken driving offense, but the presence of two children in the vehicle makes it a felony charge.

Jacobson could face a maximum two years in prison and $4,000 fine if convicted. He is also charged with operating a motor vehicle while revoked.

Jacobson is due in court for an adjourned initial appearance on March 9.

Forgery

A Shawano man is due in court for an initial appearance Monday on four felony counts of forgery.

Christopher M. Miller, 37, allegedly stole four blank checks from a woman in Menominee County and passed the bogus checks in the city over the course of several days in November, according to the criminal complaint.

The checks bearing the woman’s forged signature totaled $540, according to the complaint.

Miller could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the four counts if found guilty.

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Board approves extra $8,000By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

The deteriorating starting blocks at the Shawano Community High School swimming pool will be replaced as soon as possible.

A unanimous vote Monday by the Shawano School Board will allow the district’s maintenance department to exceed its emergency repairs budget by up to $8,000 so the repairs can take place during the current school year.

The blocks have been in place since the high school was built in 1997. Jeff Easter, the district’s maintenance director, told the board that some of the existing blocks were repaired previously, but they’ve reached a point where patchwork will no longer cut it, according to Easter.

“We can’t tie them down anymore. They’re starting to have a wiggle to them,” Easter said. “You can imagine a swimmer trying to push off of this thing, and it moves on them.”

The district had $6,000 in its 2014-15 budget for emergency repairs. However, the estimated cost of the blocks is close to $13,854, Easter said, although he is hoping to find them for a lower price. District staff would perform the labor.

Board member Jay Jones agreed the money should be made available, as students could be at risk if the existing blocks give out completely.

“It’s quite a safety issue. The tops aren’t coarse enough anymore; you can slip off very easily,” Jones said. “They’re only anchored in two locations, whereas the new ones are anchored in four.”

The additional funding was endorsed by the district’s Buildings and Grounds and Finance committees.

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