Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 19

Shawano police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of Teddington Lane.

Theft — Police investigated a theft complaint at the New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of East Fifth Street.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Accident — A 22-year-old woman was cited for failure to yield after a two-vehicle injury accident at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 19

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

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

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary to a barn on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on North Shore Lane in Wescott.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Old Lake Road in Pella.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 19

Clintonville police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A family situation on Bennett Street was reported and resolved.

Disturbance — A family disturbance on Ruth Street was reported and resolved.

Disturbance — A family disturbance on Franklin Street was reported and resolved.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Authorities on Monday released the name of the man found dead Thursday in the wreckage of a home destroyed by fire in Green Valley.

Kenneth P. Lawniczak, 55, was the home owner and sole resident, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

Firefighters responded to the fire on Town Line Road in Green Valley, just west of Krakow, shortly after 6 a.m.

The house was already engulfed when they arrived. Lawniczak was unaccounted for and believed to still be inside.

Crews battled the blaze for several hours, but the house was declared a total loss. Lawniczak was recovered from the structure once the fire was extinguished.

Authorities are awaiting toxicology reports before officially releasing a cause of death. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 18

Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug offense involving a juvenile in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

OAR — A 31-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of South Main Street.

Theft — Luigi’s Pizza Palace, 607 S. Main St., reported two men left without paying.

Disturbance — Police assisted Menominee Tribal Police in the 600 block of East Division Street investigating a domestic disturbance that occurred in Keshena.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of South Washington Street.

Jan. 17

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Slackers, 146 S. Main St.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 800 block of South Prospect Street.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 600 block of West Eagle Street.

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

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Jan. 16

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 48-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Main and Wescott streets.

Juvenile — Police logged two truancy complaints from Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the parking lot at ThedaCare Clinic, 100 County Road B.

Code Violation — Police logged four complaints of unshoveled sidewalks.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 18

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A domestic incident on Ho Chunk Road in Birnamwood was under investigation.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Theft — A jacket was reported stolen at Micksters, N2754 County Road Y, in Belle Plaine.

Theft — A trailer was reported stolen on Sandy Drive in the town of Washington.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on U.S. Highway 45 in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — A 34-year-old Bowler man was arrested on charges of battery and disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Bartelt Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.

Jan. 17

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Disturbance — A 30-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested on charges of domestic violence-related battery and disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Tools, a tool box and other items were reported stolen from a garage on Wisconsin Avenue in Belle Plaine.

Shoplifting — Dollar General, 243 S. Cecil St., Bonduel, reported two female shoplifters left the store.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance between two students at Bonduel High School, 400 W. Green Bay St., Bonduel.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — A 39-year-old Birnamwood woman was arrested for physical abuse of a child and disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Cherry Road in Aniwa.

Accidents— Authorities logged an injury accident on County Road A in Gresham and one deer-related crash.

Jan. 16

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in Aniwa.

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

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

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

Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 27-year-old man was arrested for a probation violation after police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at Sturgeon Park, 811 S. Water St.

OWI — A 26-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated in the 400 block of South Main Street.

Juvenile — Police logged 10 truancy complaints from the Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance reported to have occurred in the 200 block of North Franklin Street was under investigation.

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

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported three juveniles in custody for shoplifting.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 15

Deputies logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Curt Black Road in Wescott.

Theft — Aluminum ramps were reported stolen from a moving van on state Highway 29 in Angelica.

Theft — Authorities investigated a theft complaint on Old Keshena Road in Wescott.

Theft — Movie rentals were reported stolen at John’s One-Stop, N5847 State Highway 47-55, Wescott.

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

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance on County Road BE in the town of Hartland was under investigation.

Accidents — Authorities logged six accidents, including an injury accident on Shore Road in Waukechon and three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

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

Gas Leak — Police and fire responded to a gas leak at 12th and Main streets.

Theft — A theft was reported on East 12th Street.

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After-hours incident prompts reviewBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A downtown Shawano bar will have to close its doors for 10 days as punishment for an after-hours violation that resulted in two arrests.

After a hearing Friday, the Shawano Common Council imposed a 10-day suspension of the liquor license held by Wendy Warrington, owner of Slackers, 146 S. Main St.

Shawano police responded to a call that the bar was still open after 2:30 a.m. closing time Dec. 21.

Police first went to the bar at 2:38 a.m. Bartender Matthew Dodge said he had been trying to clear the last of the customers out, but some were refusing to leave, according to testimony at Friday’s hearing.

Several stragglers just inside the door were sent on their way and Dodge was warned there would be a citation if police had to return.

Police were called back to the bar about 10 minutes later, responding to a complaint that there were still people inside.

Police initially found the bar dark but the door open when they arrived. Two customers were found hiding behind the bar, where Dodge was cleaning up, and a woman was found hiding in the bathroom, according to police testimony.

Dodge said the woman came back in to use the bathroom and the two men ran into the bar to hide just as police pulled up.

One of the men was subsequently arrested for a probation violation and the woman for outstanding warrants.

Police Chief Mark Kohl testified the bar had numerous violations over the past year, but Warrington was apparently unaware of those.

The city’s Finance Committee on Dec. 8, acting on Kohl’s recommendation, voted to dismiss any violation points the bar had racked up from those previous incidents and start fresh now that Warrington had been informed of the problems.

The Dec. 21 incident alone, however, totaled more than enough violation points under city ordinances to consider either revocation or suspension of the bar’s liquor license.

Such action could be taken after 125 violation points.

The Dec. 21 incident totaled 175 points, including 50 for violating closing hours, 50 for a person being on the premises after closing hours, 50 for allowing disorderly conduct on the property and 25 for failure to light the premises.

Dodge conceded he should have called police in the first place when some customers refused to leave. He said he also neglected to lock the door after they finally did leave, which allowed them to come back in after police left the first time.

He said, however, the bar should not be punished for his mistake.

Kohl recommended to the council a 10-day suspension of the bar’s liquor license, as well as revocation of Dodge’s beverage license.

City Attorney Tim Schmid said, however, that Dodge’s license couldn’t be revoked without another hearing, and Kohl withdrew that recommendation.

After closed session discussion of the matter, the council voted to impose a 10-day suspension, effective Monday.

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No name releasedBy: 

Leader Staff

An autopsy was planned Saturday for a man found dead Thursday in the wreckage of a home destroyed by fire in Green Valley.

Authorities on Friday were not yet releasing the man’s name.

Firefighters responded to the fire on Town Line Road in Green Valley, just west of Krakow, shortly after 6 a.m.

The house was already engulfed when they arrived. The owner and sole occupant of the house was unaccounted for and believed to still be inside.

Crews battled the blaze for several hours, but the house was declared a total loss. Authorities recovered a body from the structure once the fire was extinguished.

Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Gresham man died when he tried to stop a runaway vehicle Thursday afternoon.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department says it appears John Ballbach, 75, was loading logs on the bed of the truck when the truck started to move.

As he tried to stop the truck, it struck a tree, pinning Ballbach in the door of the cab.

He later died from his injuries.

Bowler Fire, Tigerton Rescue, the sheriff’s department and Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the emergency call just before 2 p.m.

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Local agencies working togetherBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Several area law enforcement and social service agencies Wednesday signed on to a memorandum of understanding that establishes guidelines for responding to and dealing with sexual assault complaints.

“It’s a better understanding that all agencies know what each other are doing,” said Stacey Cicero, executive director of the Safe Haven domestic abuse shelter in Shawano.

“It’s a collaboration and coming together,” Cicero said, so that all agencies are on the same page when it comes to responding to sexual assault complaints.

“It shows we’re all working together to end sexual assault,” she said.

Much of what is outlined in the guidelines is already the policy for many of the agencies involved, Cicero said, but the memorandum sets that down in writing for everyone.

Also, Cicero said, there might be law enforcement officers who don’t go out on sexual assault calls all that often.

“This sets out the steps that they can take, the resources that are available, who they can call if there is sexual assault that is going to the hospital for an exam, how that process works, things like that,” she said.

“It’s a really good tool on how to deal with victims of sexual assault,” Cicero said.

Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said the guidelines are really nothing new to his department, which has already been following them.

However, he said, other agencies might have a different view, or response that is different from what police were expecting.

“We weren’t meshing as well as we could,” he said.

“This lets everyone know what their responsibilities are,” Kohl said, “and it doesn’t force us or require us to do something that we’re not already doing.

“To help people not be revictimized, and to help the people that need help, is going to be of our utmost importance,” Kohl said.

The agreement was the result of efforts by a multi-jurisdictional Community Coordinated Response Team, which includes Shawano County agencies as well as Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee agencies.

“The purpose of the Shawano County CCR team is to create a partnership of community agencies that will confront and work cooperatively to end sexual assault and domestic violence in our community and to ensure that the rights, dignity and safety of victims are our top priority,” Cicero said.

Agencies collaborating in the memorandum of understanding include Safe Haven, Shawano County Human Services, Shawano Medical Center and ThedaCare, Shawano County Probation and Parole, Shawano police and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A ruptured gas line forced Clintonville authorities to evacuate and seal off streets in the area of the leak Thursday morning.

Police and fire authorities were notified of a ruptured natural gas line under the street at a construction site at Main and East 12th streets about 9:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Clintonville Police Department.

Authorities immediately sealed off and evacuated the area in the vicinity of the leak. We Energies responded with crews and equipment to make repairs to the damaged line.

A number of businesses and homes were checked and evacuated, police said.

Street department personnel were called in to erect barricades and set up a detour route once it was determined that the leak was significant and would take time to resolve. City Utilities personnel shut off electricity in the affected area and worked with We Energies to get services back up as soon as possible.

Officers from the Wisconsin State Patrol, Marion Police Department and Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department responded and assisted with sealing off the area and rerouting traffic.

Services were restored about 3 p.m.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police logged four truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of Humphrey Circle.

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of Riverside Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 14

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Wedge Road in Hartland.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a telephone scam complaint on County Road A in Richmond.

Theft — Money was reported stolen on County Road E in Green Valley.

Accidents — Authorities logged nine accidents, including an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Waukechon and seven deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

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

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported on Flora Way.

Drug Offense — A 20-year-old Clintonville man was cited for possession of paraphernalia after a traffic stop on Auto Street.

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County says Borroughs retired suddenlyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano County Jail Administrator Steve Borroughs is no longer with the county after what the county says was his decision Tuesday to retire suddenly.

“It was his decision and it became a mutual agreement,” County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller said.

Miller said Borroughs informed him Tuesday of his retirement, which was effective immediately. Borroughs had not yet submitted a retirement letter as of Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re working on that,” Miller said. “Him and I; so that it’s worded correctly.”

Supervisor Bert Huntington, who chairs the Public Safety Committee that oversees the sheriff’s department and jail, referred any questions about the Borroughs matter to Miller and Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus.

Borroughs’ departure comes in the midst of an Administrative Committee investigation into the sheriff’s department and jail, but Miller and Kordus declined to say whether there was any connection between those investigations and Borroughs’ sudden retirement.

The Administrative Committee hired attorney Dan Borowski in May to investigate $1,000 in jail bond money that went missing in 2013. The investigation ultimately expanded to include the actions of several sheriff’s department employees at a Republican Party picnic in July.

After then-candidate and now Sheriff Adam Bieber presented his platform, three deputies, who have not been named publicly, questioned Bieber in a way that some witnesses likened to harassment.

“The investigations are still ongoing,” Kordus said.

As for Borroughs’ departure, he said, “Given that it’s a personnel matter, I can’t comment.”

Miller said he couldn’t discuss the investigations because they’re still going on and could result in “other, different action,” being taken, including actions that could involve personnel issues.

The Public Safety Committee met jointly with the Administrative Committee in closed session Friday to discuss, among other things, “ongoing personnel-related investigations.”

Upon returning to open session, the Public Safety Committee voted to “support the action of the Administrative Committee looking at the results of investigations at the jail.”

Kordus, who was at that meeting, said he couldn’t be any more specific about what that action was.

“Personnel issues are subject to protection, which was why that was vague,” he said.

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Reed was offered severance packageBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Tim Reed, Shawano County’s former planning and development director, has filed a grievance with the county over his firing.

Reed was terminated from his post in December.

Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller on Wednesday confirmed the grievance had been filed, but said he couldn’t divulge what Reed was seeking, whether it was a settlement or reinstatement, because it was a personnel issue.

Reed was terminated Dec. 11 and escorted from the courthouse, more than a week after a county committee voted to end his employment.

According to minutes from a Dec. 2 meeting, the Planning, Development and Zoning Committee went into a closed session to discuss Reed’s job performance evaluation “and to confer with legal counsel” concerning the evaluation.

After coming out of closed session, the committee voted unanimously to put the evaluation on file, then voted 4-1 to direct the county’s corporation counsel and administrative coordinator to “take action as directed by the committee concerning (the) personnel issue discussed in closed session.”

Reed’s situation was complicated by the fact that he also answers to two other committees: the Land Conservation Committee and Solid Waste Management Board, both of which gave him positive evaluations.

According to Tom Madsen, who was the county’s administrative coordinator at the time, Reed was offered a severance package and was given a week to decide whether he wanted to accept it.

“It was a generous offer,” Madsen said. “He never responded.”

Under the county’s grievance policy, the administrative coordinator makes the initial determination whether to sustain or deny a grievance.

If denied, the matter is heard by an impartial hearing officer appointed by the Administrative Committee. That hearing would take place 30 to 90 days after denial.

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Position had been vacant for 2 yearsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt New DNR conservation warden Alyssa Gove patrols the Shawano Lake area Friday during her first week in the position.

A new Department of Natural Resources conservation warden is settling into a position that has been vacant for two years.

Alyssa Gove, 25, of Mishicot, began her work in Shawano County last week with 29-year DNR veteran Jim Horne.

“It is good to have help, and right now our team is shorthanded,” Horne said.

Gove is filling a slot that has been open since Mark Schraufnagel transferred to Waupaca County in 2013.

Gove’s primary coverage area will be eastern Shawano County. She will also patrol a small portion of Menominee County around Legend Lake.

She was hired by the DNR last year and completed 12 months of training before taking the role in Shawano. A four-month session at Fort McCoy was followed by stops in Columbia, Wood and Florence counties.

“I love the outdoors just as much as any other person that lives here and I want to make sure that the environment and our wildlife and recreation activities are done correctly so hundreds of years from now … we are going to still have those resources,” Gove said.

Gove spent her first week meeting local police and sheriff’s department personnel. She plans to visit local schools to educate students about hunting safety.

She said she is looking forward to witnessing the annual sturgeon run along the Wolf River in the spring and will meet with Sturgeon for Tomorrow, the nonprofit organization responsible for organizing the sturgeon guard.

“That is going to be a huge part of my job, going out and making sure people are not stealing the sturgeon, or violating the sturgeon,” Gove said.

However, her job entails more than being an enforcer, she said.

“The misconception is that we are mean people, and we are out to get everyone in trouble, and that is not the case,” Gove said. “Yes, there are rules we need to follow, and, yes, there are enforcement that we have to do, but on a daily basis we educate just as much as enforce.”

Gove has been involved with archery and bow hunting since she was 12 and participates in the spring turkey season.

Prior to joining the DNR, she served as a State Patrol officer.

The former summer employee of the state parks department in Door County obtained an associate degree in law enforcement from Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland and is working toward her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

FYI

- If people see any violations of wildlife, recreational and environmental regulations, they can call the DNR’s toll-free hotline at 800-847-9367, 24 hours per day. Callers may remain anonymous.

- People with general questions about DNR regulations, including hunting and fishing licensing, can call the DNR at 888-936-7463 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 13

Police logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Truancy - Shawano School District reported 12 truancies.

Accident - Police responded to a minor property damage accident at Shawano Cinema, 1494 E. Green Bay St.

Scam - Police investigated a phone scam at a residence in the 900 block of Waukechon Street.

Warrant - Police attempted to a serve a warrant at a residence in the 800 block of South River Street.

Shoplifting - Police investigated two shoplifting complaints at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Juvenile - Police logged a juvenile problem in the 1100 block of South Weed Street.

Property Damage - Police investigated a property damage complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Property - Police logged property damage to a car in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious vehicle on Plank and Bay Lakes road.

Disorderly - Police investigated a disorderly conduct complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 13

Authorities logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Noise - Authorities responded to a noise complaint in 200 block of East Rollman Street in Bowler.

Domestic - Authorities responded to an altercation between two men on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Welfare - Authorities conducted a welfare check on a 76-year-old man on Mill Creek Road in Herman.

Accident - Authorities logged a workplace accident in the 300 block of West North Street in Bonduel.

Harassment - Authorities investigated a harassment complaint at Stockbridge Health Care Center, W12802 County Road A, Bowler.

Disorderly - Authorities issued to a disorderly conduct citation at Birnamwood Elementary/Middle School, 337 Main St., Birnamwood.

Accident - A two-vehicle accident was reported in a parking lot in the 200 block of East Westgor Avenue in Wittenberg.

Harassment - Authorities investigated a harassment complaint involving a cellular phone on River Drive in the town of Wescott.

Suspicious - Authorities responded to a suspicious person on Murphys Road in Bowler.

Failure to Register - Authorities investigated a 44-year-old man for failure to register as a sex offender in the 100 block of South Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Theft - A pontoon trailer was reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of West Wallrich Road in Cecil.

Assault - Authorities responded to an assault complaint on Mork Road in the town of Wescott.

Intoxicated - Authorities responded to an intoxicated male at Johns One Stop, N5847 State Highway 47-55, in the town of Wescott.

Accidents - Authorities logged two deer-related accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 13

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious - Police responded to a report of a suspicious person on Waupaca Street.

Check - A report of a worthless check was made by a business.

Harassment - Police responded to a harassment complaint on South Main Street.

Juvenile - Police responded to a juvenile problem on Anne Street.

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Officials hope to develop SMC propertyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Attorneys for the city of Shawano are drafting an offer to the heirs of the original Shawano Medical Center property who have yet to sign off on waiving a deed restriction that would open the property up for development.

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

The city and ThedaCare entered into an agreement to market the former hospital property for development. A deed restriction attached to the property more than 100 years ago when the property was donated to the city has held up those plans.

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

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

The city had hoped the heirs would agree to a quit-claim deed, but since then “there have been some discussions and negotiations,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said.

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

Knapp wouldn’t say whether that was specifically a financial offer.

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

The site became home to Shawano Medical Center in 1931.

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

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

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

Eleven heirs were identified and contacted early last year.

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

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

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Police urge residents to be cautiousBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A legitimate local police association raising funds for an event it will host has found itself competing with scam artists claiming to be local law enforcement, according to the Shawano Police Department.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls about our number and the sheriff’s department number being hijacked,” Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

According to authorities, scammers have the technology to fake incoming numbers that show up in Caller ID.

That has caused some confusion over the past several days for residents unsure whether they were being contacted by scammers or the Shawano Professional Police Association (SPPA), which happens to be doing some fundraising.

The SPPA is soliciting money for a music concert fundraiser to be held at the Shawano Community High School on March 6.

Police have logged about eight or 10 calls, according to Kohl, from someone claiming to be from the department and asking for money for various charities.

Another caller asked for a person’s personal information instead of a donation.

Yet another caller was a 71-year-old woman asking for a check to donate to the department.

“The Shawano Police Department is not soliciting money or any other type of donation,” Kohl said.

Kohl said there have been more bogus calls being made than calls from the SPPA.

“The majority are scam calls,” he said.

Any doubts about who is really calling can be resolved by contacting SPPA President Kurt Kitzman at 715-524-4545, Kohl said.

ONLINE

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department recommends two websites for keeping up to date on various scams:

• www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/index.html

• www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

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Robert Nueske dead at 67By: 

Leader Staff

Robert “Bob” D. Nueske, who along with his brother Jim grew their father’s smokehouse into a nationwide concern, died Monday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was 67.

Nueske was president of Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats in Wittenberg.

The Nueske family came to Wisconsin in 1882, bringing Old World skills for smoking, spicing and curing meat. Company founder R.C. Nueske couldn’t find smoked meat as good as what his family made, the company website states, so in 1933 he started selling smoked bacon, sausage, turkey and ham from the family farm, which was located not far from the present store/plant.

Bob Nueske was born on Feb. 22, 1947, and grew up working closely with his father.

Bob and his brother Jim — who passed away in February 2009 at the age of 59 — learned the business well, taking over leadership in the mid-1970s after R.C.’s death, and taking steps to expand.

The company developed from selling only in Wisconsin to nationwide sales, and later adding customers through catalog and online marketing. Since 2006, the plant at 1390 Grand Ave. in Wittenberg, has doubled in size with new slicing and packaging equipment installed to keep up with demand.

“All who know him will miss his unwavering dedication to quality in everything he accomplished and how he shared his values with others, said Megan Dorsch, marketing manager at Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats.

Tanya Nueske, Bob’s daughter, is the third generation of the Nueske family to run the smokehouse, and she is heavily involved in taking the same care of her family’s products as her father, Dorsch said.

“Bob will be missed but the recipes and traditional smoking of his family’s fine Applewood Smoked Meats will continue to be part of memorable meals taking place across the country,” she said.

Nueske’s received the gold Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation award in 2009 for its Applewood Smoked Bacon from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

Nueske’s was named the 2010 Retail Business of the Year by the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce not only for its strong performance in sales and service, but also for its community involvement. The company donates to a variety of area organizations, such as Dollars for Scholars, Shawano County Economic Progress Inc., numerous local academic and athletic clubs and activities.

In 2013, the historic bandshell in Washington Park in Wittenberg was rededicated thanks to the financial support of the company.

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By: 

Leader Staff

There’s probably little chance of a complaint being filed with the Consumer Protection Agency, but apparently those marijuana containers advertised on the web as being immune to pot-sniffing police dogs is another case of false advertising.

Within the past week, the Shawano Police Department’s K-9, Caryk, has successfully sniffed pot being stored in containers at two traffic stops in the city, according to the Police Department.

The most recent incident was Friday morning, when police stopped a suspicious vehicle shortly after midnight at Industrial Drive and County Road B.

Caryk sniffed out a black container holding 18 grams of marijuana and a pot pipe, worth about $125 combined.

According to K-9 handler Heidi Thaves, it was the second container in the past week used to hold drugs that Caryk found.

The ads claim the containers are air-tight and scent-proof so dogs don’t alert to them.

Apparently Caryk hadn’t read those ads.

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Gerrard Diaz passes away at age 35By: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Photo Courtesy of Kelsey Kubale Gerrard Diaz enjoyed covering the Green Bay Packers for The Shawano Leader and NFL.com. Diaz passed away Saturday at the age of 35.

Gerrard Diaz, sports editor for The Shawano Leader, passed away Saturday while doing what he loved — covering sports. He was 35 years old.

Diaz was hired as a sports reporter for The Shawano Leader and its sister paper, the Oconto County Times Herald, in August 2011. He was promoted to sports editor a few months later. During his time with Wolf River Media, the Leader’s parent company, he covered high school sports and the Green Bay Packers.

Diaz also worked as a Packers/NFL writer at NFL.com since July 2010 and was a contributing writer for St. Norbert College Magazine since December 2008. Prior to coming to the Leader, Diaz worked at the Green Bay Press-Gazette for three years as a copy editor and reporter, followed by a stint as an NFL correspondent for CBS Sports in 2009 and 2010.

Diaz graduated from Preble High School in 1997. He attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, graduating in 2004.

Kim Diaz, Gerrard’s mother, said her son was smart enough to have embarked on a variety of different careers, but he was very passionate about print journalism, and she was happy that he was working at what he loved.

“Way back as long as I can remember, he wanted to be a writer,” Kim Diaz said. “That was his strongest ambition — even more than sports. He loved writing.”

Diaz played football in high school, which helped spark his interest in a variety of sports, according to his mother. However, it was an interest in hockey that helped him find common ground with his longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Kubale.

“One of the few sports we could agree on was hockey,” Kubale said. “A bunch of our first dates were to St. Norbert hockey games.”

When Diaz wasn’t indulging his sports interests, he enjoyed playing the guitar, according to Kim Diaz. He enjoyed Irish music, as well as Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton.

“I always loved hearing him play his music, because I knew he was feeling good,” Kim Diaz said.

Diaz also loved philosophy, his mother said, and the two enjoyed bonding time watching the television show “Lost.” Diaz also had a keen interest in reading whatever he could get his hands on; he was particularly influenced by the book “Animal Farm” by George Orwell.

As much as Diaz loved sports, he knew when to set it aside to spend time with family and friends, Kubale said.

“He kind of turned it off at home, which was kind of nice,” she said. “We liked to road trip to Door County. I’m originally from Madison, so we would do little foodie trips down there. He loved doing cuisine and all that.”

Whenever he watched the Packers away games from home, pizza was an absolute must, Kubale said.

“He would live tweet about the game from my couch, and it was my responsibility to order the pizza and have the pizza ready for him, because he couldn’t live without his pizza,” Kubale said.

Duke Copp, Bonduel High School boys basketball coach, was shocked by Diaz’s passing and described him as a “great friend” for Bonduel’s athletic programs and for the basketball teams in particular.

“He did a great job of covering our games and student athletes,” Copp said. “He was always very courteous and was a pleasure to work and communicate with. He will be sadly missed by all of us at Bonduel High School.”

Shawano Community High School football coach Al Tomow said Tuesday he was saddened to hear of Diaz’s passing.

“I always enjoyed working with Gerry during football season,” Tomow said. “He was sincere in covering our program and had a genuine interest in recognizing our athletes and their accomplishments. I will especially miss our post-game conversations that were always positive regardless of the outcome of the game.”

Leader Editorial Director Roger Bartel said the newspaper will miss Diaz.

“Gerry was a good employee, co-worker and, most of all, a good man who will be missed by many,” Bartel said.

Even though some folks in his life might believe his life ended too soon, his mother firmly believes that his 35 years were full, and she is grateful that he accomplished everything he did.

“He did what he wanted to do,” Kim Diaz said.

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Shawano Police Department

Jan. 12

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of Robin Lane.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint at the AmericInn, 1330 E. Green Bay St.

Code Violations — Police logged 11 complaints of snow and ice not cleared from sidewalks.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of South Sawyer Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 12

Deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 25-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Old Keshena Road in Wescott.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Oak Avenue in Richmond.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint after an inmate was sent a bogus check and instructions at the Shawano County Work Release Center, 1240 E. Engel Drive in Shawano.

Vandalism — Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St., reported criminal damage caused by an inmate.

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on Moh He Con Nuck Road in Bowler.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at North Star Casino, 12180 County Road A, Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 12

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to two disorderly conduct complaints at the middle school.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on North Main Street.

Warrant — A 35-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody on East Second Street for two warrants through Black Creek Police Department.

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