Shawano Leader News

Humans test vocal mettle, tooBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Angie Schultz, left, tries out her crowing skills Monday morning at the Coliseum. Schultz took top honors in the adult crowing category.

Lots of crowing could be heard from the Shawano County Fair Coliseum on Monday as humans and chickens showcased their best crowing abilities.

The annual fair event gave the opportunity for county residents to show how well their roosters can crow and fly, and once the birds were returned to their cages, the owners showed off their best imitations of their birds’ cry.

Rachel Valeria, a member of the Maple Grove Countryside 4-H Club, took top honors with her Americana blue wheaten, which crowed an impressive 19 times during the contest. Many of the roosters did not crow at all.

Valeria said she is used to her rooster crowing — at all hours of the day.

“Sometimes he’ll even do it in the middle of the night,” she said.

After the chickens did their crowing, the people took their turn. Valeria also won the youth contest, while Angie Schultz, of Gresham, took the honor in the adult category.

Schultz said it was her first time participating in the contest, and she was surprised at how well she did. She hopes to try again next year.

What made her decide to give it a try?

“My kids told me to go, so I did it,” Schultz said. “You got to try new things every year.”

Besides the crowing contest, chicken owners gave their birds a chance to spread their wings and fly. Some flew around the Coliseum, while others just fluttered to the ground after being gently nudged out of a giant imitation mailbox.

Georgia Schultz, Angie’s daughter and a member of the Gresham Town and Country 4-H Club, saw her bantam chicken fly the farthest at 26 feet, 10 inches. For standard chickens, Belle Plaine 4-H Club member Forrest Netzel’s chicken flew 20 feet, 9 inches.

Georgia Schultz said her chicken does not normally fly a lot on the farm. The exception is when someone leaves the cage door open.

“If I forget to close his cage, he’ll fly out,” Schultz said.

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By: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Races returned to the Shawano Speedway after two days of postponements due to rain. Spectator Eliminator races led off Sunday’s events at 1 p.m.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Dairy judge Molly Sloan talks with Sawyer Patton at the dairy pee wee showmanship competition at the Coliseum Sunday. Colin Wussow, of Cecil, assisted Sawyer with maneuvering the calf.

Several area residents were honored Sunday for their dedication and volunteerism during the annual awards program at the Shawano County Fair.

Friends of the Fair awards were presented to Clayton McHugh, of Hometown Real Estate and Auctioneer Company, Shawano; Mike and Mark Mitchell, of Mitchell Auctions, Bonduel; and Yoap and Yoap Auction, Pound.

McHugh has donated his time an auctioneer at the fair for about 20 years.

“We made some money for the kids at the fair, and that is great,” said McHugh, who grew up in Caroline.

Brothers Mike and Mark Mitchell have donated their services for the small animal and cake auction at the fair for 15 years.

“It is nice to be acknowledged like this. It is a real nice thing,” Mike Mitchell said.

Joanne Yoap accepted the award on behalf of Yoap and Yoap Auction. The company has donated its services to the annual livestock auction for about 10 years.

“It was an outstanding surprise and was much appreciated to receive the recognition,” said Leonard Yoap, Joanne’s brother.

Helen Raddant and Chris Baldwin received Dedicated Senior Citizen awards.

Raddant was nominated by the University of Wisconsin-Extension for nearly 30 years of service, including her time as president of the county Home and Community Education program.

“Last week I got the letter and was very honored because a lot of the work I do in the community is volunteered,” Raddant said.

The Red River Riders nominated Chris Baldwin for his years of dedication to 4-H clubs and Special Olympics. Baldwin was instrumental in forming the club, whose volunteers provide therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities.

Century Farm Awards were presented to Ralph and Shirley Dalke, of Wittenberg, Raymond Hangartner, of Bowler. and Wayne and Doris Jeske, of Tilleda.

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Funds go to kids, ag society and 4-HBy: 

Leader Staff

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Sydney Dallman, of the Seneca Stinger 4-H Club, shows off her 153-pound sheep for bidding at the livestock auction in the coliseum at the Shawano County Fair on Friday.
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Benjamin Brown, of the Angelica 4-H Club, shows his 1,515-pound grand champion dairy cow for bidding Friday during the livestock auction in the coliseum at the Shawano County Fair.

Hundreds of spectators, interested buyers and 4-H families packed the coliseum at the Shawano County Fair on Friday night for the annual market auction of beef, swine and sheep.

The fast-moving, raucous event was marked by spirited bidding on more than 130 animals, accompanied by frequent cheers and applause, especially when bidding standoffs heightened the drama.

Young members representing 21 4-H clubs from all over the county displayed their prized animals for scores of bidders.

For many who were buying, the animals were secondary to the financial contribution they were making. A number of buyers immediately donated the animals back to rebid and be sold a second time.

“The youth get most of the funds from the sale,” said Joe Stellato, 4-H agent with the Shawano County University of Wisconsin-Extension office. “Most of the kids use it for college or technical school. Some of the younger ones might use it for buying another project animal next year.”

The Shawano County Agricultural Society gets 2 percent sales commission to help keep the fairgrounds up, and the 4-H livestock committee takes 1.5 percent for the expenses of running the auction.

“There’s quite a few animals this year,” Stellato said. “There’s a lot of high quality livestock here, a lot of well-muscled animals. They’ll make a lot of good steak and chops and bacon, etcetera.”

Some of Friday’s most vociferous bidding went to 4-H members presenting this year’s grand champion animals, including:

• a 1,351-pound beef cow entered by Emma Toellner, of Bonduel 4-H;

• a 1,515-pound dairy cow entered by Ben Brown, of Angelica 4-H;

• a 271-pound hog entered by Ashlyn Schnell, of Country Korner 4-H;

• a 152-pound sheep entered by Clint Dallas of Wolf River 4-H.

The auction was conducted once again this year by Yoap and Yoap, of Coleman.

“They donate their time every year to do this for us,” Stellato said. “They really keep the auction moving along really well.”

Stellato said he wanted to thank all the people who came out to buy and bid.

“We’re very grateful to them for coming and participating and supporting the young people,” he said. “It’s a great program.”

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By: 

By Leader Staff

The Shawano School District will begin the 2014-15 school year Tuesday, and Shawano police want to remind drivers — as well as students and their families — to be cautious on the roads.

“We’ll see an increase in children on bicycles, walking and school bus traffic in the coming days,” Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

Kohl warned drivers to obey the school zone speed limits and school crossings to safeguard the children.

Kohl said there would be more police patrols in the school zones to remind motorists schools are open and to drive safely.

The Police Department provided the following tips from AAA of Wisconsin for safe vehicle operation and a few tips for students and their families:

• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving, for example.

• Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles.

• Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.

• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3-7 p.m.

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Council expected to discuss administrator’s status next weekBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Clintonville resident William VanDaalwyk has submitted more than the required number of signatures after circulating a petition for the recall of District 4 Alderman Greg Rose.

City Administrator Lisa Kotter, meanwhile, could learn next week whether she will keep her job.

VanDaalwyk, who began the recall effort against Rose in July, needed to get at least 56 signatures of qualified voters in the district. The exact number of signatures he obtained was not available, but city officials indicated there were more than the minimum required.

Clerk Peggy Johnson has 31 days to determine whether the signatures are valid. Rose, who was elected to a two-year term in April 2013, has 10 days after that to challenge the decision.

Former Alderperson Lois Bressette has filed papers indicating her intention to oppose Rose in a special election if the recall petition is validated.

VanDaalwyk said Rose’s actions have proved to be hostile to business and industry in Clintonville, and have incited divisiveness within the community. He also said Rose breached his fiduciary duty by voting to replace a competent municipal attorney with an inexperienced relative of two council members.

Rose called the effort “a knee-jerk reaction” to the council’s investigation of Kotter, who has been on paid leave since July 8.

A special Common Council meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall. The council is expected to go into closed session to consider Kotter’s suspension and could reconvene in open session for possible action.

Council members have refused to discuss the concerns about Kotter and denied her request to meet with them.

Kotter was initially suspended by the council on May 13. Attorney Warren Kraft was hired to investigate the undisclosed allegations following the suspension and later presented his findings to the council in closed session.

The council voted 6-4 on May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. Mayor Judith Magee vetoed that vote on June 2, and Kotter returned to work.

On June 10, the council, with a 6-4 vote, failed to override Magee’s veto, falling one vote short of the required supermajority. Many city residents spoke in support of Kotter and Magee at the June meeting, which had to be moved from City Hall to the Community Center because of the overflow crowd.

The council then voted 7-3 in July to indefinitely place Kotter on administrative leave while continuing its investigation.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 28

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of East Maurer Street.

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint at Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St.

Aircraft — A report of an airplane headed into Shawano Airport on only one wheel was unfounded.

Disturbance — Police responded to report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of West Pine Street. Parties involved said it was only a verbal dispute.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile complaint in the 1100 block of East Green Bay Street.

Juvenile — Three juveniles were cited for curfew violation in the 900 block of East Green Bay Street.

Juvenile — Two juveniles were cited for curfew violation at Center and Andrews streets.

Alcohol Offense — People were warned about carrying alcoholic beverages outside of the fairgrounds in the 900 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 28

Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A saw was reported stolen on Camp 14 Road in Bowler.

Theft — A wicker love seat was reported stolen from a patio on County Road N in Birnamwood.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle on Rollman Street in Bowler.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road G in Gresham.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Main Street in Gresham.

Theft — A trailer was reported stolen on Angle Drive in Maple Grove.

Warrant — A 32-year-old Michigan man was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 29 in Angelica.

Accidents — Authorities logged five accidents, including four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 28

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported in Olen Park.

Accidents — A property damage accident was reported on McKinley Avenue.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint on Franklin Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a family complaint on Sixth Street.

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Awards, fireworks honor state organizationBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Fireworks light up the sky above the Shawano County Fairgrounds grandstand Thursday night to celebrate the Wisconsin 4-H centennial. The show was produced by Fireworks Country.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski 4-H member Kathryn Kugel prepares to launch a stuffed cow, one of many prizes, into the seats at the Shawano County Fairgrounds grandstand Thursday night during the county’s 4-H centennial celebration.

The Shawano County 4-H program celebrated the centennial of Wisconsin 4-H with a bang — a few hundred actually — as fireworks lit up the Shawano County Fairgrounds.

Members of 4-H, past and present, came together Thursday to commemorate the occasion and pay tribute to many longtime leaders and volunteers. They also recalled how 4-H was in years past.

For example, to send a child to 4-H camp cost $6 in 1948. Today, the cost is still very low — $9.

For the centennial, the University of Wisconsin-Extension is creating a Wall of Fame featuring 100 longtime 4-H leaders. One of Shawano County’s longest serving leaders and volunteers, Marilyn Ebert, will be one of the honorees. She has been involved in 4-H for 55 years.

Doug Clark, one of the county’s 4-H leaders, noted that Ebert became an adult volunteer after spending years involved with 4-H as a young girl. As an adult, she has helped youth with projects in many fields, including music, art, exploring and sheep.

Ebert also served three terms on the county’s 4-H executive board, including several stints as vice president.

“She has provided leadership to the entire county, not just the club,” Clark said.

When asked by Clark how many more years she planned to volunteer with 4-H, Ebert adamantly said she was never retiring.

The 4-H volunteer of the year award was presented to Nancy Schauer, whom Clark said has been a dedicated leader even while raising three children.

“All of our leaders are real movers and shakers, but we have a special one every once in a while who has been overlooked,” Clark said. “One of her children even told me she didn’t know how she did it.”

Clark described Schauer as “the glue” that helps to keep the county organization together. Schauer has also served on many county key committees with great enthusiasm, Clark said.

One pet project of Schauer’s is the 4-H club penny wars. There are jugs at the fairgrounds for people to drop their loose change in to support 4-H programs.

The county 4-H also recognized Jim Leuenberger for 28 years of dedicated service, Ellie Borre for 26 years and Gary Retzlaff for 25.

The ceremony ended with the fireworks display from Fireworks Country.

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Former Bonduel man has been committed for 16 yearsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Jackson Carpenter, right, confers with defense attorney Paul Zilles during a court trial Thursday in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Carpenter’s petition for release from forced commitment as a sexually violent person.

A convicted sex offender who has been kept in forced commitment as a sexually violent person since his prison sentence ended in 1998 was granted supervised release Wednesday after a hearing in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.

Jackson D. Carpenter, 41, was convicted in 1993 of second degree sexual assault of a child and child enticement of a 12-year-old girl. The incident took place in the town of Navarino in 1991.

In 1998, a Shawano County court determined that Carpenter could be classified as a sexual predator and thus could be held indefinitely in a state facility for treatment.

Carpenter, formerly of Bonduel, has petitioned numerous times over the past 16 years for his release but up until now has been denied.

This time, however, the court heard from three doctors — including the head of the evaluation unit at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Madison, where Carpenter is being held — who testified that Carpenter is making progress in his sex offender treatment and has been exhibiting good behavior for the past few years.

“Four to five years ago, he was a different person,” Sand Ridge’s Dr. Stephan Kopetski said.

Kopetski said Carpenter underwent testing last year that showed he was successfully suppressing his arousal to deviant sexual activities. That differed from the same tests back in 2006 that showed he was aroused by underage females.

Scott Woodley, a psychologist for the state Department of Health Services, said there was “less than a 50 percent chance” of Carpenter re-offending.

Under state law, a sex offender can be held under forced commitment if it’s found that he is more likely than not to re-offend.

Anthony Jurek, a forensic psychologist, disagreed with Woodley on whether Carpenter was ready for release.

He said Carpenter has an anti-social personality disorder and is predisposed to sexual violence.

“He would be considered psychopathic by most standards,” Jurek said.

According to court records, Carpenter’s history of sexual offenses stretch back years before his 1993 conviction.

Court records showed an assault of a 12-year-old girl in July 1989; an allegation of sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl in the summer of 1990; sexual relations in September 1992 with a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant with his child; and a March 1993 offense against a 13-year-old girl where the charge of second degree sexual assault was later dropped.

Jurek said there was no way of knowing whether Carpenter’s treatment at Sand Ridge was reducing his risk of re-offending, even though, he said, “he has made significant progress in the last three years.”

He said that can only be known by having Carpenter out in the community, but still under supervision, where he could “road-test his treatment.”

Judge James Habeck said he believed Carpenter was ready for supervised release.

“All of our witnesses today were impressed with the progress he’s made,” Habeck said.

Habeck also said Carpenter had shown a significant increase in his ability to control his urges.

The Department of Health Services will draw up a supervised release plan for Carpenter over the next 90 days. That plan will come back to court for approval before Carpenter is released into the community.

Woodley said the plan would probably call for initial confinement in a residence for at least the first year, with Carpenter closely supervised. The length and conditions of his supervision beyond that are still to be determined.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 27

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized at Aarrowcast, 2900 E. Richmond St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1000 block of Robin Lane.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Lieg Avenue and Franklin Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Sawyer and Stevens streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance involving a drunken and unruly patient at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Theft — A chainsaw was reported stolen in the 700 block of East Center Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 27

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on Oriole Road in Wittenberg.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Angle Drive in Maple Grove.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Baehr Street in Cecil.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident at the Shawano County Fairgrounds and two deer-related crashes.

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Tribe opposes Menominee casino planBy: 

The Associated Press

The Forest County Potawatomi could lose about 2,000 electronic slot machines at its Milwaukee casino if it continues withholding its $25 million annual payment to the state, an attorney for Gov. Scott Walker’s administration said.

The tribe is trying to convince Walker to nix the Menominee Nation’s plans for an off-reservation casino in Kenosha. The Potawatomi fear the new facility would cut into their Milwaukee profits.

The Potawatomi’s current compact with the state requires the state to reimburse the tribe for any losses suffered due to a Kenosha casino. The tribe also maintains that the compact requires the state to refund previous annual payments if the governor approves the new facility. Walker’s administration maintains that the state could end up owing the Potawatomi as much as $100 million.

Fearful that the state won’t follow through on the refund, the tribe has placed its payment, which was due June 30, in a reserve account.

Walker has until Feb. 19 to make a decision on the Kenosha casino. His administration argues that nothing has changed so far and that the Potawatomi has no right to withhold the payment. The administration contends that the compact doesn’t require a refund. It spells out only that the two sides must enter arbitration over how to compensate the tribe.

The compact states that the two sides shall enter arbitration to determine both the state’s and tribe’s rights and obligations if the governor approves a casino within 50 miles of the Potawatomi’s Milwaukee facility. It states that the tribe’s last best offer “may provide for a reduction in, or refund of, the payments to the State.”

R. Lance Boldrey, an attorney that Walker’s administration hired to handle the dispute, sent a letter to the Potawatomi in late July reiterating the state’s stance that circumstances hadn’t changed. If the tribe wants to argue that the current compact has been invalidated, Boldrey warned, a 1998 deal that the tribe signed with the state would go back into effect. That agreement limits the Potawatomi to 1,000 electronic games in Milwaukee until 2019, when the deal is set to expire.

A 2012 state report found that the tribe offered 3,104 electronic games at the casino.

A Potawatomi spokesman said Thursday that Boldrey’s letter may make a good headline, but that his legal theory has no merit.

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Agreement reached with Ho-ChunkBy: 

The Associated Press

Labor and political leaders from southeastern Wisconsin called on Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday to immediately approve the Menominee tribe’s proposed casino in Kenosha because it would put people to work.

Pressure has been building on Walker to make a decision about whether to approve the proposed $810-million casino and Hard Rock Cafe before the Nov. 4 election. The Bureau of Indian Affairs gave its approval for the casino a year ago, but Walker has until Feb. 19 to sign off on it.

Walker ordered an economic impact study and has been negotiating with the two tribes that oppose the project — the Ho-Chunk and Forest County Potawatomi.

Walker, in a letter Tuesday to Democratic lawmakers who were calling on him to act, did not indicate when he would make a decision, saying only that he would take the “appropriate time necessary” while taking into consideration how the state budget could be affected by approving the casino.

Walker revealed in the letter that the Potawatomi has refused to make its annual casino revenue payment to the state while talks continued. A Potawatomi spokesman said Tuesday that the tribe was withholding its annual payment, estimated to be at least $25 million, because the state may end up owing the tribe money if Walker approves the new casino.

Walker administration spokesman Cullen Werwie said Wednesday that the state could end up owing the tribe as much as $100 million, based on the current compact that requires the state to refund previous payments made by the tribe if a new casino is approved.

The tribe opted to place this year’s payment in a reserve account to be drawn from if the state ends up owing the tribe. Walker’s administration contends that the Potawatomi have no right to withhold the payment and that the tribe’s concerns are hypothetical.

The Potawatomi runs a lucrative casino in Milwaukee just up Interstate 94 from Kenosha and opposes the new facility, fearing it could hurt profits by luring customers away.

While talks continue with the Potawatomi, an agreement has been reached with the Ho-Chunk, Walker’s top aide said in a memo released by the governor.

Under the Ho-Chunk’s current compact, its payments to the state would decrease by how much it loses due to the Kenosha casino. The compact with the Potawatomi does not spell out as clear of a process, resulting in “substantial challenges,” said Mike Huebsch, secretary of the Department of Administration in the memo.

Casino advocates on Wednesday argued that Walker should be persuaded to approve the project because of the jobs that would be created. Supporters say the casino would create 1,400 construction jobs, 3,300 direct permanent jobs and 1,800 indirect jobs.

“We’ve got a lot of people who haven’t worked steadily in the construction trades,” said Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman. “It will put people back to work. It’s good for the state of Wisconsin.”

Unemployment in Kenosha last month was 8.1 percent, the fourth highest of any major city. It was 11.3 in neighboring Racine, highest in the state.

“We really need jobs,” said Keith Kemper, representing the sheet metal workers union.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a supporter of the casino, said he thought Walker was moving as quickly as he could, but he shouldn’t feel pressure to decide before the election.

“The governor owes it to voters to make a good decision,” Vos said. “If that’s before the election, that’s fine.”

But Democratic lawmakers said Walker, who promised to create 250,000 private sector jobs over his first term but is less than halfway to reaching that goal, should approve the casino to show he’s serious about putting people back to work.

“We just think there needs to be urgency around the jobs issue,” said Rep. Peter Barca, Democratic minority leader in the state Assembly.

A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday showed that 49 percent of respondents support the casino and 35 percent oppose it. The poll of 815 registered voters was done between Aug. 21 and Sunday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

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Man says gun taken from truckBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Two Shawano teenagers are facing burglary charges for an alleged break-in that involved the theft of a semi-automatic pistol and, according to the teens, a stash of pot.

Nicholas J. Menore and Travis L. Seifert, both 17, could each face 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine on the burglary charges if found guilty; a stiffer penalty than normal for burglary because they allegedly armed themselves with a dangerous weapon.

They could also face six years and a $10,000 fine on a felony count of theft if convicted.

A Shawano man on Monday reported that a .45 caliber pistol had been stolen from his truck in the city at some point the day before. He said he forgot to lock the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

Police investigated a possible connection between the theft and a disturbance Sunday night involving a 17-year-old male — later identified as Menore — who had a pistol in his possession, according to the complaint.

Menore initially denied having the gun but later turned it in to police.

According to the complaint, Menore admitted to breaking into a residence with Seifert “because they knew it had marijuana there.”

According to their statements to police, the teens made off with the gun, ammunition, cigarettes, a knife and a pill bottle containing marijuana from the residence. There was no mention of breaking into a truck.

Police said Wednesday the marijuana aspect of the case was under investigation.

Menore and Seifert were both released on $1,500 signature bonds after court appearances Tuesday. They are due back in court for adjourned initial appearances Sept. 8.

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4-H centennial celebration todayBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Darrell Wolf drives his Case IH model 686 tractor Wednesday in the tractor pull on the opening night of the Shawano County Fair.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Emma Gwidt and Danielle Michalski prepare their steer Shotgun at the Shawano County Fair on Wednesday night. They will be presenting the steer at the beef show at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Wisconsin 4-H is not alone in celebrating a milestone at this year’s Shawano County Fair, which opened Wednesday evening at the fairgrounds in Shawano.

A couple of local officials also are marking fair anniversaries.

Shawano County Supervisor Bob Krause told people attending the opening ceremonies that he showed his first animal at the fair 50 years ago this week.

“This year is very exciting,” Krause said.

While Krause was showing his first animal, Shawano Alderman Woody Davis was attending the fair for the first time.

“My wife and I moved to Shawano 50 years ago, and we have been at the fair every year but one, and we enjoy every activity,” Davis said.

Fairgoers are invited to join the 4-H centennial celebration Thursday with a program at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

The program will include past members sharing their experiences, a trivia contest, singing and T-shirt giveaways.

“After all these years, it is really awesome and still going strong,” Krause said. “I would like to congratulate the 4-H for their celebration.”

Wednesday’s opening ceremonies included a welcome from Shawano County Fairest of the Fair Ashley Bergsbaken, who encouraged everyone to visit the fair throughout its six-day run.

“I hope you guys have a good time and come back for a few extra days,” Bergsbaken said.

Dale Hodkiewicz, Shawano County Agricultural Society president, said this year’s fair drew nearly 12,000 exhibits.

After the ceremonies, many fairgoers headed to the grandstand for the feature event: the tractor pull, which featured both antique and modern tractors.

After opening at 5:30 p.m., Wolf River Harmony ran out of cream puffs by 8:30 p.m. The first day’s final count was 174.

The group ran out of cream for the pastry sooner than expected, but will back in business Thursday.

Wolf River Harmony sold 3,627 cream puffs during the 2013 Shawano County Fair, up from 3,199 set in 2012.

BY THE NUMBERS

Weigh-in

Hogs: 341 (2 open)

Beef: 136 (2 open)

Sheep: 125 (19 open)

Goats: 67

Vendors: 74

Exhibitors: 523, junior; 330 open

Exhibits: 5,811 junior exhibits; 5,328 open exhibits.

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By: 

Leader Staff

Shawano County authorities were investigating an attempted abduction of a 14-year-old girl in the town of Birnamwood on Wednesday afternoon.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department received a report just after 1 p.m. that a girl was walking along a road between cornfields when a male subject attempted to grab her. The girl was able to break free and went to a nearby home, where authorities were called.

The male is described as being in his mid to late teens, Caucasian, and approximately 6 feet, 2 inches tall, wearing a black sweatshirt or long sleeve T-shirt, blue jeans with holes and white tennis shoes.

A person of interest has been identified. Officers were still trying to locate that person Wednesday evening, the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The investigation is continuing.

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County wants dedicated fund for court mattersBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

An attempt to cap the amount of money put into the Shawano County Courthouse security fund was referred back to committee Wednesday by the Shawano County Board.

The resolution, which supervisors rejected by a 17-9 vote, sought to cap the amount put into the security fund annually at $6,000 and overall at $50,000. The money comes from criminal bond forfeitures.

The board last month passed a resolution that allowed for half of the bond forfeitures to go to courthouse security and the other half to the county’s general fund. Officials estimated the county receives $13,000 to $15,000 annually in forfeitures.

Some supervisors Wednesday expressed concerns that if bond forfeitures are lower than expected, the security fund might not receive enough money.

They noted that the county’s Courthouse Security Committee was unaware of how much money was available for additional security officers, temporary metal detectors or other measures that might be needed for major cases.

“If we only have $10,000 (in bond forfeitures), then they will only get $5,000,” Supervisor Robert Krause said. “Why don’t we give them $6,000 from the bond money, and then they’ll know how much will be in there.”

Supervisor Deb Noffke saw the effort as a “shell game.”

The problem was that the security committee didn’t know how much money was available, she said.

“This might have made it worse for them,” Noffke said.

Several supervisors said it would be wise to invest in security needs.

“They need the money for security purposes that we don’t need to know about,” Supervisor Bert Huntington said. “I think it’s a good idea.”

Supervisor Richard Ferfecki spoke against delaying the resolution.

“The Public Safety Committee spent a lot of time on this resolution,” Ferfecki said. “You’re going to get into some high profile cases, and they need extra safety at the courthouse. … I really don’t know the sense of postponing this.”

Shawano County Finance Director Diane Rusch said she could make the most recent information available if the security committee wants it on its agenda. As of the end of 2013, $37,677 earmarked for security had been carried over from previous years, according to information from the Finance Department.

The resolution was sent back to the Public Safety Committee, which recommended it by a 4-1 vote Aug. 6. The resolution also received a favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee on Aug. 18.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 26

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly - Police investigated a disorderly conduct complaint in the 300 block of South Main Street.

Disorderly - Police investigated a complaint of disorderly behavior, including property damage, in the 800 block of Olson Street.

Attempt to Locate - Police attempted to locate a male on supervision in the 1000 block of South Franklin Street.

Reckless - A complaint of reckless driving of a motorcycle was made at West Richmond and South Bartlett streets.

Theft - An electric trolling motor and battery were reported stolen in the 900 block of South Smalley Street.

Disturbance - Police investigated a disturbance involving a juvenile attempting to sell drugs to a child in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Suspicious - Police investigated a complaint of breaking and entering in the 1200 block of South Smalley Street.

Threatening - Police investigated a complaint of threatening messages sent through Facebook on Lake Drive.

Vandalism - Police investigated a complaint of a vehicle vandalized in the 2900 block of East Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 26

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Traffic - Authorities responded to a report of a male driving without a license at state Highway 29 and County Road K in the town of Grant.

Disorderly - Authorities responded to a report of a driver squealing his tires at County Road MM and Plum Lane in the town of Richmond.

Disorderly - Authorities responded to a disorderly male on Beach Drive in the town of Hartland.

Hit and Run - Authorities investigated a hit-and-run of a vehicle on North Pathfinder Court in the town of Wescott.

Theft - A Packers lawn ornament was reported stolen on Homewood Avenue in the town of Wescott.

Reckless - Authorities investigated a report of reckless driving at state Highway 29 and Kroenke Creek Road in the town of Herman.

Animal - Authorities responded to an injured deer at Range Line and Oak Grove roads in the town of Pella.

Scam - Authorities investigated a scam complaint at Fairview Road in the town of Bartelme.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 26

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Property - Property damage was reported on Lincoln Avenue.

Harassment - Police investigated a harassment complaint on Wilson Street.

Burglary - Police investigated a burglary on North Clinton Ave.

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

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Tribe concerned about Menominee casino proposalBy: 

The Associated Press

The Forest County Potawatomi has refused to make its annual casino revenue payment to the state as Gov. Scott Walker mulls whether to approve a competing facility, causing what the governor is calling a “significant” impact on the state budget.

A tribal spokesman issued a terse statement Tuesday evening saying the tribe made the move because the state may end up owing the Potawatomi money if Walker approves the Menominee Nation’s plans for an off-reservation casino in Kenosha.

The Potawatomi runs a lucrative casino in Milwaukee just up Interstate 94 from Kenosha and opposes the new facility, fearing it could suck customers away. The Potawatomi’s gambling compact with the state requires Wisconsin to reimburse the tribe for any losses it suffers due to a Kenosha casino. Walker’s administration is trying to negotiate a deal with the tribe on how to offset losses.

It’s unclear how much money the Potawatomi owes the state. The tribe’s compact calls for it to pay the state 6.5 percent of its net win in Milwaukee, but those winnings are confidential and a Walker administration spokesman had no immediate response when pressed for details Tuesday.

Walker, a Republican, has until Feb. 19 to make a decision on the Kenosha casino. Democrats have been pressing him to make up his mind before the November elections. In a letter to Democratic legislators Tuesday, Walker said he’s moving cautiously because he’s concerned about the effect on the state budget.

“Already one of the tribal governments is withholding payments to the State, and that is having a significant impact on the status of the State budget,” Walker wrote. “Needless to say, we are moving forward with legitimate caution as we cannot risk putting that size of a hole in the current and future State budgets. Therefore, we will take the appropriate time necessary to insure that we appropriately manage the finances of the State of Wisconsin.”

Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch wrote in a memo that Walker included with his letter that the Potawatomi compact former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle reached doesn’t lay out how the state should reimburse the tribe for losses due to a Kenosha casino and instead says the two sides must enter into arbitration on a compact amendment establishing a process. The federal government must sign off on any changes.

“Substantial challenges lie ahead with the Potawatomi,” Huebsch wrote. “One thing is clear — taking action on the proposed Kenosha casino project prior to following the processes laid out in the Doyle compacts could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Menominee spokesman Michael H. Beightol said in an email to The Associated Press that the tribe wouldn’t comment on one tribe’s missed payment. He noted that the Menominee has offered to help cover impacts on the state’s payments from other tribes.

The Ho-Chunk Nation, which runs a half-dozen casinos around the state, also opposes the Menominee casino.

The Ho-Chunk’s compact also requires the state to offset any losses tied to a Kenosha facility. Huebsch said in his memo that the Ho-Chunk’s deal lays out a clear process that calls for the tribe to reduce its annual state payments to correspond with the Kenosha casino’s impact. That means the Ho-Chunk likely would owe the state nothing by the time the Kenosha casino was fully operational. What’s more, the state could end up paying the Ho-Chunk, Huebsch noted.

Menominee Tribal Chairwoman Laurie Boivin on Aug. 23 released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the federal government’s approval of the casino project after a nine-year wait.

“The Menominee Hard Rock Hotel & Casino symbolizes our tribe’s desire to achieve self-determination and financial stability while building better lives for our members and residents from Kenosha to Keshena,” she said in the statement. “As the Menominee people continue their patient wait for a final decision, our needs continue to grow. As a tribe we struggle to provide even basic services to all our people.

“It is hoped that our patience and cooperation will be rewarded because the need is greater than ever.”

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State Supreme Court takes actionBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

A Minnesota attorney for the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology (SIST) has lost the right to practice law in Wisconsin for a year over what the state Supreme Court called a pattern of bad faith litigation.

The court’s Aug. 20 ruling against Rebekah Nett mirrors a similar ruling in Minnesota in November that suspended her license to practice law in that state.

A complaint filed by the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation in February requested reciprocal discipline against Nett in keeping with the Minnesota ruling. The complaint alleged Nett had made false and harassing statements toward judges and others involved in litigation against her clients.

The complaints against Nett stem from a November 2011 bankruptcy court filing involving SIST subsidiary Yehud-Monosson USA Inc.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Nancy Dreher fined Nett and her client, Naomi Isaacson, $5,000 each for bigoted and anti-Catholic slurs included in the filing.

Isaacson is SIST chief executive officer and president of Yehud-Monosson USA. SIST and its subsidiaries own a number of properties in Shawano.

A federal appeals judge upheld the fines in a May 2012 ruling.

In her unsuccessful attempt to appeal the fines, Nett said the comments in the filing — including phrases such as “black-robed bigot,” “ignoramus, bigoted Catholic beasts,” and “Catholic Knight Witch Hunter” — were written by Isaacson.

However, Nett also submitted a written response claiming that all of the statements in the Nov. 25, 2011 court filing were “supported by fact.”

Nett’s 26-page memorandum detailed what she called the “infiltration of our justice system” by “the Roman cult and their military arm — the Jesuit Order.”

It alleged the Jesuits’ involvement with, among other things, the African slave trade, the French Revolution, the American Civil War, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the Vietnam War, JFK assassination, terrorism in the U.S. and the sinking of the Titanic.

Nett can petition for reinstatement in nine months.

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Gillett man could be confined 26 yearsBy: 

Tim Ryan, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Travis W. Keiler, left, appears in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Tuesday beside his attorney, Steven Weerts, for sentencing on charges related to a standoff and hostage-taking incident in Wittenberg in April.

A Gillett man who took a hostage during a standoff with sheriff’s deputies in Wittenberg in April was committed Tuesday to a mental institution.

Travis W. Keiler, 29, was ordered confined for 26 1/2 years, though he will have the right to petition for a conditional release as soon as six months and can try again every six months after that.

Keiler had entered a plea of no contest last month to charges of taking a hostage and failing to comply with an officer’s attempt to take him into custody under an agreement that found him not guilty by reason of insanity.

Misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon were dismissed under the plea agreement.

Keiler was arrested April 22 after a two-hour standoff. He was accused of going armed into the Wittenberg Shell station and McDonald’s, 413 N. Genesee St., where he said he “wanted to shoot it out with the police,” according to the criminal complaint.

Shawano County deputies, with the assistance of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, secured the area and closed U.S. Highway 45 for the duration of the incident. An armored vehicle and a Marathon County sniper were among the resources brought in during the incident.

Nearby Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District elementary and high schools went into lockdown for about 45 minutes as a precaution.

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing praised employees at the business for their courageous handling of the situation.

Judge William Kussel Jr. added that the employees showed a level-headedness that probably kept a bad situation from ending in tragedy.

Keiler let everyone out of the building except for one McDonald’s employee, 26-year-old Jacob Kujawa, of Wittenberg, whom he kept as a hostage for about an hour.

Kujawa spoke at one point with a Shawano County hostage negotiator and told him he was unharmed but that Keiler was holding a gun on him, according to the criminal complaint.

Keiler told a hostage negotiator he had quit his job in De Pere and had been driving around before ending up at the Wittenberg Shell station.

The negotiator convinced Keiler to release Kujawa as a sign of good faith. Keiler surrendered peacefully an hour after that.

Both the state and Keiler’s defense agreed that Keiler suffered from severe mental illness that required his placement in an institution, but differed on how long he should remain there.

Defense attorney Steven Weerts described Keiler as normally “a very gentle person” who had no previous criminal record.

According to a witness account that Parker read in court, Keiler initially tried to take one of the McDonald’s customers as a hostage rather than Kujawa, telling Kujawa he could go because “you look like you’ve had a bad day.”

Keiler also said at one point that it was “not my intention to harm anyone.”

Weerts said the April 22 incident was the result of increasing delusions and paranoia that stemmed from Keiler’s mental illness.

Parker said his concern was that Keiler was already taking medication to deal with those problems and stopped.

That was also Kussel’s concern in passing sentence. He said Keiler’s confinement needed to be substantial to allow for treatment and issued an order that Keiler must take his medication.

Kussel ordered the maximum confinement of 25 years on the hostage-taking charge and another year and a half on the charge of failing to comply with an officer’s attempt to take Keiler into custody.

If Keiler successfully petitions for an early release into the community, he will be monitored by Wisconsin Probation and Parole and the Department of Health Services and could face recommitment if there are any problems.

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Shawano Police Department

Aug. 25

Police logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 600 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of South Union Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of South Washington Street.

Theft — A pistol was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 700 block of East Center Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at the Lighthouse Bar, W6440 Gumaer Road.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen in the 700 block of South Union Street.

Theft — Electric meters were reported stolen in the 1100 block of South Cleveland Street.

Burglary — Police investigated an attempted break-in to a storage unit in the 1400 block of East Green Bay Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 25

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old Shawano Road in Pella.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized on East Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Oak Lane in Belle Plaine.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint in the town of Bartelme.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on West Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen on Highview Road in Lessor.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on East Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Spur Road in Red Springs.

Theft — A firearm was reported stolen on east Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road F in Angelica.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Oriole Road in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 25

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on South Main Street.

Fraud — Counterfeit money was reported on South Main Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint on Stewart Street.

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