Shawano Leader News

Schools trying to get students to eat healthierBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Shawano School District’s food services provider is trying to develop new ways to get students to eat school meals while keeping within the strict guidelines laid out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The district saw a decrease in the number of lunches served by Taher Inc. According to a report presented to the Shawano School Board this week, Taher served 32,525 lunches in September, compared with 33,850 for September 2013.

Most of the decrease was in the number of free and reduced meals. Paid meals were almost flat with 12,752 in September and 12,820 in September 2013.

Breakfast counts, however, were up; the number of paid meals decreased.

Breakfast numbers were up at every school except Shawano Community Middle School. The biggest leap was at Shawano Community High School, where a daily average of 104 breakfasts were served, compared with 25 in September 2013.

Food services director Sarah Moesch attributed the 300-percent jump to two main factors. The school started providing four breakfast choices for high school students, and breakfast is no longer limited to before school, which starts at 7:30 a.m.

“Breakfast is now served from 7:15 in the morning to 10:15, which allows kids to eat breakfast a little later, when they’re hungry,” Moesch said.

New guidelines were put into place this year for sodium content in school meals, which required Taher to re-examine the entrees served at the schools. Moesch said the middle school used to offer pizza five days a week. To meet sodium guidelines, pizza is now available twice a week. Instead, the school is offering options such as made-to-order sub sandwiches, chicken wings, baked potatoes and pasta.

“Those were things that were never offered before at the middle school; they were just offered at the high school,” Moesch said.

More salad and wrap options also are being offered at the high school, Moesch said.

School Board member and physician Derek Johnson expressed concerns last year and reiterated them this week that parents and students, especially athletes, want larger portions because they’re still hungry after meals.

Moesch said options are available for students who are not getting enough to eat from the entrees. They can take as many fruits and vegetables as they like, and more grains are offered, she said.

“Some meals are bigger than others. It all depends on the caloric totals,” Moesch said.

The guidelines are weekly, not daily, totals, so Taher can squeeze more into meals during shorter weeks.

“I don’t really have a lot of control over the menus. They’re put together by our corporate dietitians, with approval from the USDA,” Moesch said.

The district tries to purchase food locally whenever possible, she said, including buying crates of apples from Everflow Farms and Orchards in Bonduel and heirloom tomatoes and sweet potatoes through Reinhart Food Services in Shawano.

Taher also provides opportunities for students to prepare and learn about food. A Cooking with Kids program is offered at Hillcrest Primary School for students and their families, while high school students are participating with Taher officials to plan and seek healthy snack options for their peers.

Taher served 13,837 free breakfasts and 18,272 free lunches during the 24-day summer school, according to Moesch. The meals were available to all students, regardless of whether they qualified for the free/reduced meal program or were enrolled in summer school.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 4 (1 vote)

5 agencies participate in $10 drug buyBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A multi-agency drug sting on Halloween combined city, county and other area law enforcement agencies with a couple of new recruits in the war on drugs—a pair of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

According to a criminal complaint filed this week, officers costumed as the turtles executed a drug buy from a Shawano man after making contact with him at the Longhorn Saloon, 1181 S. Main St., in Shawano.

The bust was part of an organized “bar crafting” operation aimed at ferreting out suspected drug activity in the city.

The undercover turtles went into the Longhorn around 10:20 p.m. Friday, according to the criminal complaint, with one of them wired for sound and carrying a transmitter in a purse.

According to the criminal complaint, the turtles arranged to buy $10 worth of marijuana from a customer at the bar, Jarrid J. Curtin, 23, of Shawano.

They followed him out to a vehicle in the parking lot where, the complaint alleges, Curtin had a bag of marijuana and a grinder in the trunk of his car.

According to the complaint, the turtles purchased 0.5 grams of marijuana from Curtin before other uncostumed authorities moved in and made the arrest.

According to police, the arrest was made without incident; no ninjutsu was required.

The operation was organized by Shawano police, who were assisted by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department and officers from the Stockbridge-Munsee, Bonduel and Gillett police departments.

Curtin was charged Monday with felony counts of manufacture and delivery of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and $10,000 fine on each count if found guilty.

Curtin posted an $800 cash bond and is due in court for an adjourned initial appearance Nov. 17.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 4 (1 vote)

By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano police Wednesday were investigating a burglary at the Shawano County Fair office that had apparently occurred late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

The break-in at the fairgrounds, 990 E. Green Bay St., was reported Wednesday at 10:40 a.m. by Dale Hodkiewicz, president of the Shawano County Agricultural Society, according to police.

Police were not releasing any details Wednesday and said the incident was under investigation.

Physical evidence taken from the crime scene was being processed, Capt. Jeff Heffernon said.

There was no information released as to whether anything was taken from the office or whether there were any suspects at this point.

Heffernon said he could only say at this point that “people entered the office with the intent to commit a felony.”

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 Average: 4 (1 vote)

Shawano Police Department

Nov. 4

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Warrant - A 24-year-old male turned himself into Probation and Parole, 1340 E. Green Bay St., on a warrant.

Suspicious - Police responded to a suspicious man outside City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St.

Reckless - Police investigated an incident of reckless driving on Randall and Union streets.

Assist - Police assisted Menominee County Sheriff deputies in serving a restraining order in the 2600 block of East Richmond Street.

Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious vehicle behind the Pick ‘n’ Save parking lot, 190 Woodlawn Drive.

Threatening - Police investigated a man for threatening a peer at Evergreen Health Care Center, 1250 S. Evergreen St.

Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious person wandering around South Bartlett Street and West Wescott Avenue.

Suspicious - Police investigated a suspicious vehicle on South Andrews Street and Highview Avenue.

Suspicious - Police responded to two suspicious men running near the 700 block of South Main Street.

Truancy - Two truancies were reported at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Nov. 4

Deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Burglary - Authorities investigated a burglary in the 600 block of Schabow Street in Gresham.

Disturbance - Authorities responded to a disturbance between a mother and daughter on Cherry Road in the town of Herman.

Damage - Authorities investigated damage to a slot machine at North Star Casino, W12180 County Road A, Gresham.

Theft - An automobile was stolen on County Road G in the town of Red Springs.

Harassment - A report of harassing behavior through use of the Internet was made on County Road M in the town of Pella.

Littering - Authorities logged a complaint of an individual rolling 16 tires onto a property on West Range Line and Elm Grove Road in the town of Pella.

Theft - A complaint of identity theft was made on North Broadway Road in the town of Hartland.

Disturbance - Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road F in the town of Angelica.

Threatening - Authorities responded to a threatening note on state Highway 160 in the town of Angelica.

Domestic - Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West Alder Street in Tigerton.

Animal - Authorities responded to stray horses on Valley Road in the town of Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Nov. 4

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Disturbance - Police responded to a domestic disturbance on North 12th Street.

Domestic - Police took a man into custody on a domestic abuse disorderly conduct complaint and possession of drug paraphernalia on South Main Street.

Warrant - Police arrested a 53-year-old man on a Probation and Parole warrant.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Wright write-in effort falls far shortBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Shawano City Clerk Karla Duchac checks with election poll workers at City Hall during Tuesday’s election as voters wait to use the touch-screen to cast their ballots.

There will be a new sheriff in town come January after Shawano police officer Adam Bieber validated his August primary win over incumbent Shawano County Sheriff Randy Wright in Tuesday’s election.

Bieber faced Independent challenger Lucas Christenson on Tuesday’s ballot, but Wright launched a write-in campaign after the Aug. 12 primary in which Bieber defeated Wright for the Republican nomination, 2,688-2,459.

At the Leader’s press time, 42 of 43 precincts were reporting, with the tally at:

Bieber: 9,432

Wright: 4,949

Christenson: 1,283

The village of Bonduel had not yet reported its results.

“I want to thank Randy for his years of service and I appreciate what he and his family have done for Shawano County,” Bieber said.

Bieber also thanked his supporters.

“My supporters have been amazing,” he said.

Bieber said he was looking forward to working with the Shawano County Board and Sheriff’s Department staff.

There has never been a countywide write-in campaign in Shawano County that has succeeded.

It was a deeply contentious race that divided many in the community and flared up in sometimes heated exchanges in social media.

Turnout varied around the county but in the city of Shawano, election officials said voter response was unlike anything they had seen before in a mid-term election.

Dozens were waiting to vote when the doors opened and a steady, heavy stream continued throughout the day, picking up even more around 5 p.m. as people got off work.

Same day registration for new voters was also heavier than usual.

One poll worker said the turnout was as high, if not higher, than would be normal for a presidential election.

Another said absentee and early ballots cast before Tuesday were about double the typical volume.

The state Government Accountability Board was reporting heavier than normal voter turnout throughout the state.

Wright said about Tuesday’s results he was proud of having waged an open campaign.

“We didn’t lie, we didn’t deceive,” he said.

Wright said the results were “God’s will” and he would see what the cards held for him in the future. He said he still had other avenues, whether that was still law enforcement or being grandfather to his grandchildren.

Wright said that after 40 years in law enforcement, “I can hold my head up and say I did the best I could.”

Wright previously said rules covering partisan primaries contributed to his primary loss in August, preventing Democratic voters from crossing over and picking a preference in the sheriff’s race. He also said he received numerous calls from supporters after the primary who said they didn’t vote because they assumed he would “win in a landslide.”

Since the primary loss and his announcement as a write-in candidate, Wright’s campaign took in more than $10,400 in contributions, according to campaign finance statements filed Oct. 27.

Bieber raised $7,074 since beginning his campaign in May; $2,399 of that since his primary win in August.

Christenson claimed the $1,000 spending limit that exempts him from having to file campaign finance disclosures.

Wright made his experience a staple of the sheriff’s race. He started out at the sheriff’s office in 1976, working as a jailer, then a dispatcher and then a patrol deputy. He spent 25 years at the Shawano Police Department as a patrol officer before successfully running for sheriff in 2006 and winning re-election in 2010.

Bieber has worked in law enforcement for 14 years and has been with the Shawano Police Department since 2003.

Bieber made cooperation between other law enforcement agencies and government entities a key issue in the campaign, while Wright maintained that much of the cooperation Bieber was calling for was already taking place.

Bieber also hit at Wright’s often difficult relationship with the County Board, saying he would do a better job of working with county supervisors.

Wright said his problems with the County Board have been limited to a faction of about eight or nine supervisors who have the power to block the supermajority needed for borrowing and who, Wright said, were holding up progress in the county.

He said the race would be as much a referendum on the County Board as about the election of sheriff.

Another contentious issue was the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 unit.

Both Wright and Bieber said they believe the department’s K-9 unit should be funded by the county rather than through the fundraising efforts of a private group.

Wright said the County Board has not been willing to increase the budget for the K-9 unit and it would take $20,000 to $30,000 in cuts to other programs or services to put it into the budget.

Bieber had said he would make cuts elsewhere, including the possibility of eliminating some of the department’s take-home squads.

The candidates also differed on the extent of evidence storage needs and the proposed purchase of a mine resistant armored personnel carrier.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Governor gets about 53% of voteBy: 

The Associated Press

Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker won a hard fought election Tuesday over Democratic challenger Mary Burke, overcoming fierce opposition from unions and other liberal groups for his third victory in four years and cementing his position as a possible contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.

Walker told The Associated Press after he was projected the winner that any decision about running for president “will have to wait,” as he focuses on quickly passing his agenda through the Legislature next year.

In his victory speech to a raucous crowd of supporters, however, Walker sounded like a presidential candidate as he railed against Washington and talked of America’s virtues.

“In America you can be and do anything you want,” Walker said.

While he downplayed talk of a 2016 run on the campaign trail, his victory in a state that voted for a Democratic president and U.S. Senator in 2012 will immediately shift the focus to his intentions for 2016.

“The bottom line is people elected me to get the job done in Wisconsin,” Walker told AP. “We’re going to spend the next couple months putting together our legislative agenda.”

Walker became a hero to conservatives for taking on public sector unions, stripping them of nearly all collective bargaining authority. The move angered them and led to a recall election in 2012, which he won.

The race this year was the toughest of Walker’s long political career. Polls showed it was deadlocked for months, even as Walker and Burke and their backers flooded the airwaves with attack ads to influence a sliver of undecided voters and motivate partisans to show up.

With 73 percent of the votes counted late Tuesday, Walker had 53 percent of the vote, Burke 46 percent.

Walker argued he deserved a second term because he balanced a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, took on special interests such as the unions, cut taxes $2 billion and presided over the addition of more than 110,000 private-sector jobs.

Doug Szudy, a 70-year-old retired insurance claims agent from Madison, voted for Walker because he liked his tax cuts.

“He keeps taxes in line,” Szudy said. “Everybody else raises taxes.”

Josef Litchfield, 34, of Madison, who is about to become a father for the first time, said he voted for Walker because he thought his policies were better for his young family.

“He’s held down my property taxes, down as much as they’ve been held down as long as I’ve been a homeowner,” said Litchfield, who has owned his house for nine years. “The more in my pocket, having a young family, is important.”

Burke said Wisconsin could have done better. Walker did not come close to delivering on his promise to add 250,000 new private-sector jobs and the next state budget faces a $1.8 billion shortfall. Burke also argued that Walker was divisive instead of bringing people together.

Burke told her supporters in her concession speech that, “For many of us, it feels a little bit like getting knocked down.” But she said that Wisconsin is full of people and communities “that can take a hit but that never waiver in getting right back up.”

Burke congratulated Walker on what she called a “hard fought victory.”

Walker said he planned to meet with his cabinet on Wednesday and then tour the state visiting technical colleges on Thursday.

Walker’s win comes two years after Wisconsin voters re-elected President Barack Obama by 7 points and elected a liberal Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. But Republicans typically do better in midterm elections.

Walker has spent nearly his entire adult life in politics, having first been elected in 1993 to a state Assembly seat. Burke’s father started Trek Bicycles in the 1970s and she worked there two different times as an executive. She was elected to the Madison school board in 2012.

Burke spent $5 million of her own personal wealth on the race, one-third of the $15 million her campaign brought in. Walker raised $25 million since the middle of 2013, but outside groups spent millions more.

Total spending on the race was expected to reach up to $60 million.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Shawano Police Department

Nov. 3

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

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

Hit and Run — A Menominee Tribal Police squad car was struck in a hit-and-run at Main and Richmond streets. No injuries were reported.

Juvenile — Police logged 13 truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

Hit and Run — Police responded to a property damage hit-and-run in the parking lot at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Hit and Run — Police responded to a property damage hit-and-run at Waukechon and Green Bay streets.

Accident — Police responded to a car versus deer accident in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Nov. 3

Deputies logged 57 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on North Shore Lane in Wescott.

Warrant — An 18-year-old female was taken into custody on a warrant on Oakcrest Drive in the town of Waukechon.

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

Theft — An LP cylinder was reported stolen on state Highway 55 in Maple Grove.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Berg Road in the town of Morris.

Shoplifting — Authorities responded to a shoplifting complaint at the Dollar General, 243 S. Cecil St., Bonduel.

Warrant — A 45-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on Cedar Avenue in Wescott.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Morning Glory Lane in the town of Herman.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a computer scam complaint on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Gas was reported stolen from a skid steer on Sunrise Road in Hartland.

Vandalism — A globe light was reported shot out on Elm Road in Angelica.

Accidents — Authorities logged nine deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Nov. 3

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported on West Greentree Road.

Warrant — A 44-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on outstanding warrants on South Main Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a hit-and-run property damage accident in Olen Park.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

The Shawano-Menominee Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Shawano County University of Wisconsin-Extension office will hold informational meetings beginning next week on the new commodity programs available under the 2014 farm bill.

The Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs replace the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP).

The informational meetings will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Grant Town Hall, W12610 County Road M, Caroline; 1 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., Shawano; and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the courthouse.

Cheryl Bergold, FSA county director, said learning more about ARC and PLC is extremely important for producers who must make a one-time decision about base and yield updates, as well as election and enrollment decisions.

“We have a fairly aggressive schedule to implement the ARC and PLC programs and the programs are complex,” she said. “That is why we strongly urge producers to attend one of these meetings, so that they can make an informed choice as to the best options for their farm operation.”

If special accommodations are required to attend the meetings, call 715-524-4814, ext. 2.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Shawano Police Department

Nov. 2

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1000 block of South Franklin Street.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 2400 block of East Lieg Avenue.

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

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

Nov. 1

Police logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 20-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant at Green Bay Street and Lakeland Road.

OWI — A 26-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Hamlin and Randall streets.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Green Bay Street and Eberlein Park Drive.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of East Division Street.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 1000 block of South River Street.

Arrest — A woman was taken into custody on a Probation and Parole hold in the 1200 block of Beauprey Road.

Warrant — A woman was taken into custody on a warrant at Sawyer and Fifth streets.

Oct. 31

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Arrest — A male subject was taken into custody for a violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 700 block of South Franklin Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Nov. 2

Deputies logged 52 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — A squad car and house were reported egged on Chic-a-Watha Circle in Wescott.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

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

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen on Angela Street in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 156 in Maple Grove.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Christmas Tree Lane in Richmond.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road BE in Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged 10 deer-related crashes.

Nov. 1

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a report of a fight in progress on Main Street in Gresham.

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

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road Z in the town of Herman.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on River Bend Road in Belle Plaine.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Richmond and five deer-related crashes.

Oct. 31

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 26-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Cedar Avenue in Wescott.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Spaulding Street in Tigerton.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Springbrook Road in the town of Washington.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on County Road J in the town of Morris.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on County Road M in Pella and five deer-related crashes.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

One of the most contentious local races seen in Shawano County comes to an end Tuesday as voters go to the polls to cast their ballots in the race for sheriff.

Republican candidate Adam Bieber, a Shawano police officer, and Independent candidate Lucas Christenson will be on the ballot. Incumbent Sheriff Randy Wright is running as a write-in.

Bieber defeated Wright in the Aug. 12 Republican primary race, 2,688-2,459.

The race, which has been a flashpoint on social media for months, has been marked by questions of experience, cooperation with other law enforcement and government entities, funding for the department’s K9 unit, evidence storage needs and the proposed purchase of a mine resistant armored personnel carrier, MRAP.

The Leader wrote a series of stories on these issues, including interviews with the candidates, that can be found in the online archive at www.shawanoleader.com.

We also posed a series of questions tailored for each of the candidates in Q&As in today’s edition.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Adam Bieber

Age: 36

Family: Wife Amy and three sons, Will, West and Wyatt

Education: Pensacola Christian College, Lakeland Christian College, and Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College. Bieber has an Associate Degree in Police Science.

Experience: Village of Coleman, Village of Lena, Marinette County Forestry Department, and Shawano Police Department. He has been serving since 2000, been a drug officer since 2003 and was a liaison officer from 2004-07.

Community Involvements: Head wrestling coach since 2003, president of the Shawano Wrestling Club, Shawano Youth Baseball coach. He runs strength and conditioning for youth wrestlers September through November and is involved in men’s softball league and Shawano Men’s football league.

Both you and Sheriff Wright are reportedly in support of additional county funding for the K-9 unit, which has been denied. While the current situation of having the unit funded by a private group is certainly not the best choice, it does appear to be working. Why disrupt the department’s budget to try and squeeze it in if there is other funding available?

The K-9 unit is our best tool for drug detection, search and rescue for the elderly or lost children and tracking suspects of burglaries; also clearing buildings so officers are not put at risk. I like the community involvement the SOS K-9 group brings to our community and would continue to use that program to raise funds. I will try to find ways to find money within our budget or ask the County Board to provide additional funding so our K-9 handlers can focus on drug enforcement efforts instead of fundraising efforts.

A lot has been made of your comments that law enforcement won’t be there in time to help and people need to protect themselves. While that may be a valid point, what does it mean in terms of budgeting for Sheriff’s Department resources? Does it mean we could save money by putting fewer deputies on the road because they won’t be there in time, anyway? Does it mean we should spend less money trying to protect people?

The average response for law enforcement is about 10 minutes. I will encourage people to be vigilant in protecting their property and lives of their loved ones. Putting fences up, motion lights, cameras, and having a dog all help prevent crime. Taking classes in self defense, CPR, Heimlich maneuver, and weapon training are all steps one can take. The Sheriff’s Department should partner with people, educating people on the facts of law enforcement’s response time and help provide training. We will always have law enforcement but that does not mean you should be less vigilant in protecting yourself, wearing your seat belt, driving defensively, self-defense training, weapon training, and learning what you can do to save yourself or the life of a neighbor after dialing 911.

Have you given any further consideration to the costs of your proposal to turn the Shawano Medical Center into a multi-agency Justice Center, and have you been in contact with other agencies regarding this idea? Have you looked at the costs of renovation and whether this is a viable option for the taxpayers?

The idea to use the Shawano Medical Center for a Justice Center is just an idea, and it has allowed us to start a conversation about saving money. Shawano County and the city of Shawano should make long term goals of combining services that will in the end be more efficient and yet provide better service. Government agencies like the Department of Social Services, Community Programs, DMV, police and sheriff’s department, DNR would benefit by being in the same building creating better communication and community awareness. This is not a new idea; many communities combine their agencies into one building to create better services for taxpayers.

Have you toured — or requested to tour — the Sheriff’s Department facilities to see whether additional evidence storage is needed or reviewed any of the consultants’ reports regarding the department’s needs? If you have not toured the facility, what is your objection to additional storage space based on?

It appears the County Board and the current Sheriff agree that additional evidence space is required. The disagreement is want versus need. The Sheriff has proposed a very expensive project. The board’s proposal is more modest. I’m hoping I can work with the board and come to an agreement that is satisfactory for everyone. As sheriff, I will also communicate with the Shawano Police Department to see what their needs might be and hopefully work together to share resources and eventually save money.

You have put a priority on having school liaisons and officers in the schools. Would you take patrol deputies off of the roads to accomplish that?

Our children’s safety and future should be a priority. I will work with our leadership and schools to find ways we can provide better protection for our children at school. Presence in and around the school is number one and doesn’t cost any extra.

It has been said that, given the minimal cost to the county of an MRAP vehicle, the saving of even one life would be worth it. What is your view?

The MRAP is excessive and impractical. It’s a tool that is very restrictive in how it can be used. Many departments across the nation are finding that MRAPs are expensive to maintain and are tricky to operate. Many departments are swaying from its intended use for officer safety and now use it to intimidate. I would not purchase or support the acquisition of an MRAP. There are more practical tools that can be purchased that are more versatile and will also save lives.

How will you proceed if there’s something you firmly believe the Sheriff’s Department needs, but the County Board is not willing to fund?

I will look for alternatives, and if there is no alternatives, we will move along and operate as best we can as budgets allow us. Just like in any household there are always wants or needs. We all make decisions within our own budget and learn to live or operate with what is at hand. It does not mean I will take the board’s decision as an attack against law enforcement.

You have mentioned that a number one goal is cooperation, shared resources and shared training with the Shawano Police Department. How does this assist the citizens of, for example, Aniwa or Maple Grove? What are your plans to improve the service to residents outside the jurisdiction of the city of Shawano?

Cooperation, sharing resources, and shared training between departments will ultimately save money and make our departments better and more efficient. There is no question that folks living outside of populated areas or far away from the safety of law enforcement presents a challenge. We will work to educate those who live out in rural areas of our response time and encourage them to take steps to ensure the welfare of their property and of their personal lives.

Interviews with Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl and Capt. Jeff Heffernon, as previously reported in the Leader, have suggested there are practical and logistical considerations that have prevented multi-jurisdictional training with the Sheriff’s Department. Have you asked the Police Department why some of this training is not going on with the county? Also, are you asserting there is currently no cooperation between the departments?

There is little to no cooperation between the departments. Most communication is through email. Since the election, there seems to be a push to work together on drug cases, and the dive team has always trained together. I plan on working with the Shawano Police Department to remove barriers and policies that prohibit our training together. There has always been an “us versus them” mentality, and we need to change that. The K9 units should work/train together; drug units should work/train together, investigations and information sharing can improve. It seems the current sheriff recently gave “all access” to one of our computer investigators, which is a step in the right direction, but we can do more.

In a Facebook posting in August you said the MRAP vehicle “does not stop people from using drugs … it does not stop anyone from transporting drugs in out of our county … it does not help our youth from bad influences … it does not make you safer while driving A to B on our roadways.” The dive team doesn’t do any of those things, either, so is the dive team unimportant?

The dive team is important and serves a specific purpose (mostly a recovery team). The dive team should not be compared to the MRAP. As stated before, there are more practical and effective tools that would provide safety for high-risk situations as opposed to the MRAP. My sheriff’s department will focus on our youth. We will focus on preventing drug use instead of just focusing on treating the devastating results of drug use. We will focus on sending our youth on the right path instead of focusing on what to do with them once they are in the system. Our priorities need to change from expensive buildings and military equipment to providing a brighter future for our youth.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Randy Wright

Age: 58

Family: Wife Mary, four grown children and 10 grandchildren.

Experience: Sheriff 2006 to present; Shawano police officer 1981-2006; Shawano County deputy 1976 to 1981. Homicide death investigation; evidence technician; front-line supervisor; incident command structure; Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center data entry; Wisconsin Sheriffs Training 2007; Fox Valley Technical College-Executive Development Institute 2007-2008; National Sheriff Institute and Sheriff Training 2009; National Sheriffs Association Training.

Education: Suring High School; NWTC-Green Bay, associate degree in police science; Fox Valley Tech College recruit class.

Community Involvement: Junior Achievement volunteer; fundraisers for SOS-K9; Matthew Chapter 25 Homeless Committee; ThedaCare Community Health Advisory Team; Homme Home Advisory Committee; help keep up the grounds of the St. James Retreat; past Boy Scout troop leader; past Little League coach; past PTL St. James Lutheran School; past PIE organization Shawano High School.

Some have said that, as a Republican, you should accept that Adam Bieber is the Republican nominee rather than challenging that. How do you respond?

Adam Bieber won the primary and is the Republican candidate. I’m a Republican running as a write-in. Within a week of the primary, I received over 100 phone calls from people all over the county who said that they did not vote because they assumed I would win in a landslide. I have been contacted by Republicans, Democrats and Independents in the county wanting to support me. People should always have the choice to vote for the most qualified and experienced individual. I was humbled by this outpouring of support and felt that I owed the taxpayers of Shawano County a choice.

You’ve said the roughly $10,000 in transportation and outfitting costs for the MRAP would be funded by asset forfeitures and $300 a year in maintenance would come from bond forfeitures. Why not use that money, or money from your 1 percent carryover, to fund the department’s K-9 unit?

Asset forfeiture money cannot be used for wages or salary, only for equipment. As for the 1 percent, the amount of money in the budget depends largely on how much money is left over in our operational budget at the end of the year. Each year, this 1 percent amount varies. Also the 1 percent is used for equipment failures or unexpected costs that occur throughout the year. Furthermore, the 1 percent cannot be utilized for salary and fringe benefits or ongoing expenses. Placing the K-9 units under either of these two options is not viable.

How do you respond to concerns that local law enforcement is becoming too militarized?

In a recent article in the Wausau paper, the Marathon sheriff outlines their use of an MRAP. Officers wear body armor to protect themselves. In selected situations when we can use this to provide safety to officers or to residence we will. Drugs are a concern and drug dealers are becoming more heavily armed. Every chief of police in Shawano County supports getting the MRAP. Please talk to your chief. The MRAP would be just another resource available to the police agencies in Shawano County, should it be needed.

Some County Board officials maintain there could have been an evidence storage building years ago if your office had compromised. What is your view of the previous proposals and the reason there is no evidence storage facility today?

There have been compromises made throughout the planning for the building; a wood structure, rather than concrete. There was talk about it being a three-year project to spread out the money borrowing, rather than a one-time borrowing. The only recommendation that was made was for it to be completed within three years. It was not my decision to stop the process. In 2012, I was informed that all of the studies done to research the most feasible options for buildings from 1999 to then would roughly add up to $400,000. Still to this date, the County Board has not made a decision on what to build.

The attorney hired by the county’s Administrative Committee — as well as the county’s corporation counsel — appear to have differing views from you regarding the county’s ability to investigate and discipline your staff. Do you believe you and your staff are not accountable to anyone outside your office?

The committee and the attorney are conducting an investigation; the purpose is not clear. The only purpose I can see is to diminish the role of the voter-elected sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office is not the same as a department head. This misunderstanding is the base cause of disagreements with a small number of board members. The sheriff’s deputies are disciplined by the sheriff working in concert with the County Board. This is a simple explanation but this fact has been defended on numerous occasions. Correcting this misunderstanding will be my number one goal should I be honored with another term.

Your opponent has argued that there is not enough cooperation or sharing of resources with other agencies. He has also said there is no interdepartmental training going on. Is there a reason for this, or are there examples you can cite that would dispute this?

Earlier in the campaign (the Shawano Leader) did an article; please reference that. Talk to the chief of police for your area about the cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office and their department. City police officer Lenzner has unlimited access to the Sheriff’s Office forensic and computer lab. The Sheriff’s Office has conducted 14 training events this past year and agencies inside the county and outside were invited. Many crimes worked in the county require cooperation and collaboration between agencies. Please do not take my word for it but do contact your chief of police for verification of cooperation.

Regardless of your contention that it’s been a minority of the County Board that has been the problem, what reason is there to believe there will be any change in the relationship with the board or any progress made on evidence storage and other outstanding issues if you are reelected? Won’t we simply be looking at more gridlock and contention?

Every person who is aware of county politics knows that it is a very small number blocking and hijacking the process. Many people around the county have expressed their frustration with this small group. My number one goal will be to educate everyone on the difference between an elected sheriff verses a hired department head. My objective with this education effort would be to heal the differences in Shawano County. Should I be honored with another term, I will see that as a mandate from the voters and will work to educate everyone on the relationship that is constitutionally protected.

Your relationship with the county has included ethics complaints, cease-and-desist orders over retirement contributions and public comparisons at committee meetings to dictatorial rule. Do you have any regrets about the way you’ve conducted yourself with the county?

I do not have any issues with the majority of the county board. There is a small group that needs to be corrected or informed from time to time. I swore an oath as your sheriff to not only protect and serve you but also to protect the sanctity of the office of sheriff. I speak the way I see it.

You’ve called the Administrative Committee’s investigations of your department a witch hunt intended to influence the election. Yet you are the one who made those investigations public. Why?

The county board was making my deputies appear at specific dates and times for questions and the deputies could talk about the case. So it was not being conducted in secret or a closed secession hearing. The fact that there was an investigation was already made public anyway, so I felt I needed to get in front of this. Because I did not get in front of issues earlier this year there is now too much false information in the public. I did not want that to happen, plus I wanted to protect my deputies.

You were a Shawano police officer when you ran for sheriff. Adam Bieber is a police officer now. How does the experience you had in 2006 differ from what he has today?

Prior to becoming a Shawano police officer I worked at Oconto and Brown County while going to police science. Then I started working for Shawano County as a jailor, dispatcher, courthouse and road deputy prior to being hired by the city. By the time I was honored with my first term as the Shawano County sheriff, I had twice as much law enforcement time as Bieber. Another advantage was my time at the Sheriff’s Office gave me a good understanding of what the difference between the two departments is.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Lucas Christenson

Age: 38

Family: Married to Kimberly last year. He has three children of his own, Tayler, Trevor, London; and two stepsons, Andre and Dominick.

Occupation: Overseeing the parts department at American Marine and Motorsports.

Why have you done so little campaigning? Why no yard signs?

The lack of signs does not mean I am not campaigning. I tried to use as little funds as possible. People work hard for their money. I’m not going to waste it on signs that “may” never be used again. That doesn’t save money and definitely doesn’t make sense.

Some people in the community are saying a vote for Christenson is basically a vote for Bieber, because it’s one less for Randy Wright. How do you respond to that?

This statement, made predominantly by write-in supporters, is false. People are going to vote for me, because they believe in me standing up as an Independent. I have accomplished one of my objectives already — informing the public. In four years from now, there will more than likely be more than three people vying for the office of sheriff. Why is that? Plainly put, they now know they can.

Do you think your lack of any law enforcement background in a race against two other candidates for sheriff with law enforcement background will hurt you?

It is indeed possible that not having a background in law enforcement may impede people from voting for me. Having said that, there is also the other side. People see me as an individual, like themselves. I’m all about the citizens.

What qualifications do you feel you have for this office?

The position of sheriff is first and foremost an administrative position. You delegate job duties. It’s endless paperwork, meetings and budgeting. Yes, there is patrol also, but that should be a mere fraction of what needs to be done. I have encountered all of these things except patrol, in the last twelve years of my employment. In those years, I have had to be monetary and safety conscious. Whether running a utility inspection crew, doing construction, ordering and maintaining inventory, applying chemicals within EPA regulations, safety of employees and those around is always a concern, all while staying in a budget and not wasting inventory.

How would you address evidence storage solutions?

The evidence storage facility does not have to be a new building. There are properties near the sheriff’s department that could be used if it were determined it is a needed purchase. Why build a new facility and abandon more properties in the area. I think there is enough vacant properties around already.

Do you think the Sheriff’s Department needs an MRAP? Why or why not?

The thought of an MRAP being brought in is terrible in my opinion. When the department has called to other counties to barrow an armored vehicle, it was never used as a tactical piece of equipment to protect law enforcement officers. It’s used as a fear tactic. The maintenance, for now, “seems” reasonable. There is a reason why the military is off loading these. What’s going to happen when the transmission goes out on it? It’s one of its flaws. Let’s use the money for transporting this debt incurring machine. Let’s use this money on items related to the personal protection of our law enforcement agents.

How would you address funding for the K-9 Unit?

If the drug task force is so profitable, there should be no problem using monies from the drug forfeitures. Cost is kept down and we get to keep a valuable asset to the force. The K-9 unit isn’t just used to assist is drug searches. It can be used to aid in a missing person situation as well.

Which is a priority for you: Taxpayer dollars or public safety?

Public safety trumps the taxpayer dollar. That doesn’t mean an endless checkbook at one’s disposal. There are other ways to perform public safety. It doesn’t always have to be a patrol or an officer being dispatched. Informing the citizens on how to protect themselves could prove to be invaluable.

Are there places in the budget you would cut or changes you feel you could make without hurting the service the Sheriff’s Department provides?

I’m not going to lie. I haven’t ran enough numbers to give an adequate answer for making cuts or changes in the department.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 30

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Longhorn Saloon, 1181 S. Main St.

Theft — Shawano City-County Library, 128 S. Sawyer St., reported an attempted theft.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint at CoVantage Credit Union, 911 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 30

Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Angle Road in Pella.

Assist — Deputies assisted Shawano police with a disorderly conduct incident at the Longhorn Saloon, 1181 S. Main St., Shawano.

Warrant — A 28-year-old man was arrested on a warrant on Morning Glory Lane in Tigerton.

Theft — License plates were reported stolen on County Road G in Caroline.

Theft — A pontoon trailer was reported stolen on Webers Point Road in Wescott.

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

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Kildeer Lane in Aniwa.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged 11 deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Oct. 30

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident/damage to property complaint was reported on North Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a family disturbance on McKinley Avenue.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

City, county officials hoping for less severe winterBy: 

Jason Arndt [email protected]

Some Wisconsin counties are paying as much as 14 percent more for road salt this year due to increased demand driven by last year’s record snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.

The winter budget outlook is a little better in Shawano County, where highway department officials say prices have gone up about 8 percent. The city of Shawano, meanwhile, is paying about 10.7 percent more per ton than a year ago.

Shawano County purchases its salt from the state, which has a contract with Cargill. The county buys 6,000 tons annually. The Shawano Public Works Department gets 1,400 tons.

The city of Shawano will pay $78.25 per ton of salt, $7.60 more than a year ago, said Eddie Sheppard, assistant city administrator and public works coordinator.

Grant Bystol, Shawano County highway commissioner, said the county will pay $7 more per ton this year compared to last year, when the price was $70 per ton.

“When supply is down, demand is up, but we will be OK,” Bystol said.

Bystol and Sheppard are hopeful the winter will be less severe than the previous two. The back-to-back harsh winters drained salt reserves and budgets more quickly than usual.

“We are hoping for less snow this year,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard said the city used 1,015 tons of salt last year, up from 941 in 2012-13.

The county used 5,500 tons of salt last year — 300 tons more than in 2012-13, Bystol said.

“We typically use about the same each year,” he said. “If it is a severe winter, we will use more salt/sand mix on our roads to stretch our salt supply through the winter.”

The highway department tapped cash reserves to pay for a 20 percent budget overrun in 2013 and cut back on its summer road projects. The county remains on track for this year, however.

“It looks like we will be OK if we have a mild November and December,” Bystol said.

The county has 2,000 tons of salt available for November and December and $125,000 remaining in its snow removal budget, which totals $950,000 annually.

Shawano has used $44,959 of its $68,000 2014 snow removal budget. Sheppard said Friday that the city’s proposed 2015 budget has $76,000 earmarked for road salt and sand.

“We are usually done with snow removal by the end of March, but in 2014 we went to nearly the end of April,” Sheppard said.

Faced with rising prices and dwindling supplies last winter, some municipalities across the state mixed sand with road salt to conserve the supply.

The county highway department uses the salt/sand mixture for 65 percent of county highways, Bystol said, with salt reserved for roads with the highest average daily traffic.

Salt for state highways in the county is kept in separate sheds and paid for by the state. Salt purchased through the state is delivered by truck, all at once. The county has already received its 2015 allocation.

Prices and supplies vary across the state.

The price in Manitowoc County, for example, went up from $55 per ton to $63 per ton — 14.5 percent — over the last year.

In the western portion of the state, Chippewa County’s contract price for salt is $75.67 per ton.

The current marker for municipalities without a contract is more than $100 per ton, according to a recent report to the county board there.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 29

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — A couple having a dispute came to the Shawano Police Department. The woman reported her boyfriend was following her. They were interviewed separately and no probable cause was found for any police action. However, the boyfriend, a 33-year-old Green Bay man, was arrested on an outstanding Green Bay Police Department warrant.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 29

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road M in the town of Germania.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Woodlawn Road in the town of Herman.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Camp 14 Road in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Oct. 29

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft from a vehicle was reported on West Greentree Road.

Juvenile — An officer was requested for a disruptive student on South Clinton Avenue.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Administrator says using fund balance would prevent more cutsBy: 

Grace Kirchner Leader Correspondent

Clintonville’s interim city administrator says the city is in good enough financial shape to use some of its fund balance to balance its 2015 budget rather than cut staff or services.

Chuck Kell told the city Finance Committee on Tuesday that using $177,000 from the $1.7 million fund balance would prevent further budget cuts.

The latest budget proposal includes a total levy of $1.98 million and tax rate of $8.62 per $1,000 of equalized value, up from last year’s rate of $8.58 per $1,000 of equalized value. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $862 in city taxes under the proposal, compared to $858 this year.

The fund balance is money that has been levied over the years but not spent. It has been tapped in the past to balance the budget.

“This is an excellent fund balance,” Kell said. “Most communities carry a 25 percent fund balance and yours is 46 percent. You could take from the fund balance to balance the budget or make it up in cuts.”

Acting Mayor Jeannie Schley said without using the fund balance, the city would need to cut three employees.

“Using the fund balance may be short-sighted, but it may be the fiscally responsible thing to do for the citizens and the employees,” Alderman Greg Rose said. “This is a one-time budget and has to be looked at as a whole. … It could straighten out a lot of problems.”

Several aldermen spoke against tapping the fund balance.

“You’re not balancing the budget,” John Wilson said. “You are taking from savings.”

“You have to look at salaries and positions,” Bill Zeinert said. “You cannot run a structural deficit as a city or we will be back next year. It is time to get serious. Stop talking about flowers.”

Cuts that have been discussed include eliminating the city flower baskets, cutting or eliminating pay for council members, closing the outdoor pool, eliminating a squad car, asking the Clintonville School District to pay a larger percentage of the liaison officers, not plowing streets until there is more than 2 to 3 inches of snow, and reducing the city’s share of health insurance expenses. There might be no cost of living raises for the employees.

“I’ve been involved in some of the same kind of problems and it took staff cuts, salary and benefits,” Kell said at the Oct. 21 committee meeting. “I don’t see a lot of staff here. It is going to be difficult.”

The city lost $89,000 in shared revenue this year because it had exceeded the state-imposed expense restraint cap, Kell said.

General fund expenditures are estimated at $3.74 million in the latest 2015 budget plan. To receive the “expenditure restraint” payment of about $89,000 from the state, the city would need to cut an additional $8,884.

Also contributing to the city’s problems is a projected increase in health insurance costs.

“With health insurance changes with Obamacare and the makeup of the group being insured, the costs are going up over 30 percent,” said Mark Doornink, chairman of the Finance Committee, at last week’s meeting.

Police Capt. Jim Beggs urged the city Tuesday not to implement proposed changes in the health insurance plan that could cost the 44 employees $2,000 a year. Premiums are projected to increase 27 percent.

Kell said officials were still evaluating the insurance plan.

A public hearing on the proposed buget will be held Nov. 18. The council is expected to approve the budget Nov. 25.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

School proud of state awardBy: 

Jason Arndt [email protected]

Contributed photo Students of Gresham School cheer during an assembly celebrating five consecutive years as a state School of Recognition.

Gresham Community School on Thursday celebrated five consecutive years of being designated a Title 1 School of Recognition.

The award recognizes schools that have demonstrated success in educating students from low-income families.

“If it wasn’t for the effort of our students and staff and the support of our parents and community, we would not be here this morning,” Keary Mattson told students and staff during the morning assembly in the school gym.

Gresham and 172 other schools were recognized at a ceremony Oct. 13 in Madison.

Teachers Thomas Haight and Sean Anday accompanied Mattson to accept the awards. Haight accepted the award on behalf of the elementary school while Anday represented the upper grades.

Both the Gresham elementary and secondary schools received a plaque and $500. The high school was also given a special flag to mark five straight years as a School of Recognition recipient.

The district opted to use the money to reward students for their achievements, including movies, games, popcorn, soda and juice.

“You are the reason we won this award and we are spending the money on you. This is truly an all-school award,” Mattson said.

“It is a celebration of their efforts and it is time to sit back and have fun with their friends,” Mattson said following the assembly.

Newell Haffner, assistant principal and math/science teacher, said the entire community shares in the school district’s success.

“It is all of the staff we have hired, and they like what they do; and also parents, they are dedicated,” Haffner said. “They come in when we need them. … And they keep in touch.”

Criteria for School of Recognition awards include the following:

• Have above-average student academic performance on WKCE test scores (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam) in reading and mathematics when compared to similar schools.

• Fall into one of the top three Accountability Index categories of “Meeting Expectations,” “Exceeding Expectations” or “Significantly Exceeding Expectations” on the School Report Card.

• Meet the state’s test-participation, attendance and dropout goals.

The state Department of Public Instruction uses the WKCE exam to shows how well students, schools and districts are performing in four main areas: student achievement in reading and math on statewide assessments, student growth in those assessments, closing achievement and graduation gaps, and readiness for college or careers.

Schools and districts receive scores of 0-100 in each category. Gresham scored 71.9 overall; second among 10 area school districts. Pulaski had the area’s high score — 73.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

By: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Shawano County Sheriff Randy Wright, who is waging a write-in campaign in a bid to keep his office, has raised and spent twice as much as his opponent, Shawano police officer Adam Bieber, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.

Wright has raised $14,881 since beginning his re-election campaign in April through Oct. 20, when the latest reporting period ended. He has spent $11,952 since April, leaving him with a cash balance of $2,929.

Bieber has raised $7,074 since beginning his campaign in May. He has spent $6,829, leaving a balance of $245.

Bieber defeated Wright in the Aug. 12 Republican primary and will face Independent candidate Lucas Christenson on Tuesday’s ballot.

Christenson has claimed the $1,000 spending limit that exempts him from having to file campaign finance disclosures.

At the end of the first financial reporting period, which covered April through June, Bieber was outspending Wright by more than $700.

Both candidates roughly doubled their spending through July, leaving them only a few hundred dollars apart when the previous finance reports were filed just before the primary in August.

Since then, contributions to Wright’s campaign have more than tripled, with $10,407 taken in, according to his financial report.

That figure includes in-kind donations in which supplies or services were provided at no cost. By law, the value of those supplies and services need to be included as contributions.

Wright has also spent $7,795 since August, nearly three times what he spent in the race for the Republican primary, including more than $2,500 for newspaper, radio and Facebook ads. He also spent $400 for video ads posted on his campaign Facebook page.

Wright’s largest contributions during this reporting period have come from individual donations of $20 or less at events he has hosted, according to his financial report. They include $2,283 collected at chili dumps and bake sales and $2,928 taken in at multiple wine and cheese events.

Individual contributors include Oconto County Sheriff Mike Jansen, who donated $400 to Wright’s campaign, and Walworth County Sheriff David Graves, who donated $300.

Contributions to Bieber’s campaign this reporting period totaled $2,399, according to his financial report, including $550 of his own money for a total of $1,000 in self-donations since his campaign started.

He has also received financial support from several county supervisors, including $230 from Deb Noffke, $400 from Michael McClelland and $419.50 — the legal limit for an individual contributor — from Marlin Noffke.

Bieber also received $250 from the Republican Party of Shawano County.

Bieber has spent $2,318 since August, with $1,435 of that going for newspaper, radio and Facebook ads.

Other expenses for both candidates have included yard signs, lumber, paint and materials for larger signs, T-shirts, printing costs, gas used in their door-to-door efforts and parade candy.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 28

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Probation — Police responded to a probation and parole violation in the 500 block of North Franklin Street.

Burglary — Jewelry was reported stolen in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Shoplifting — Two incidents of shoplifting were reported at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St. A citation was issued to an 18-year-old female.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance involving two neighbors on South Washington and Prairie streets.

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile problem in the 600 block of South Maiden Lane.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance behind Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Welfare — Police conducted two welfare checks, one in the 1200 block of South Franklin Street and the other in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

Accident — Police logged a car versus deer accident on Waukechon Street and McDonald Road.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 28

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Walkaway — A report of a 23-year-old man not returning from work release was made on Engel Drive in Shawano.

Assist — Authorities assisted in escorting a disorderly male at the North Star Casino Resort, W12180 County Road A, Gresham.

Reckless — Deputies responded to reckless driving on state Highway 117 and Pine Road in the town of Washington.

Disorderly — A report of a male harassing a female was made on Cherry and Maplewood streets in Gresham.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle on First Street in Aniwa.

Animals — Authorities responded to two complaints of stray cows, on state Highway 22 and River Bank Road in the town of Belle Plaine, and on Lawn Road in Lessor.

Reckless — Authorities investigated reckless driving on state Highway 29 and South Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disorderly — Authorities investigated a disorderly male at Homme Home Acceptance Unit, W18090 Hemlock Road, town of Wittenberg.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to juveniles throwing sticks and rocks at motorists on U.S. Highway 45 and County Road Z in Aniwa.

Juvenile — Authorities responded a juvenile complaint in the 600 block of Boettcher Lane in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities investigated a disturbance involving an intoxicated woman in the 1200 block of Fischer Street in Gresham.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint involving a 12-year-old girl on County Road A in the town of Washington.

Domestic — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance between parents on Weasel Dam Road in the town of Grant.

Debris — Multiple reports were made regarding debris on Lake Drive and Old Lake Lane in the town of Wescott.

Identity Theft — A report of identity theft was made on Amber Lane in the town of Belle Plaine.

Accidents — Authorities logged six deer-related accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Oct. 28

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police investigated a suspicious incident on Green Tree Road.

Assault — Police investigated a sexual assault.

Rate this article:  Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet