Shawano Leader News
Protesters rally against big money in politics
Leader Staff
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Protesters rally against the influence of big money — and in particular that of the Koch brothers — at a Day of Action event promoting awareness outside the Shawano County Courthouse on Thursday.
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Delores Graham, 94, of Arizona, enjoys the milder temperatures of Wisconsin at a Day of Action rally protesting big money’s influence on American politics Thursday. Graham joined the rally outside the Shawano County Courthouse while visiting relatives here.
A small but impassioned crowd of people gathered outside the Shawano County Courthouse on Wednesday evening for a pro-democracy rally aimed at exposing the influence of big money in American politics.
Their chief target in particular were the Koch brothers, Charles and David, oil industry billionaires who have spent the last few years pumping money into the campaigns of candidates who support what critics say is the Koch brothers’ ultra-conservative agenda.
“They have $80 billion. They have a lot of money to spend on elections,” said Jan Koch, of Shawano.
No relation to the brothers, she also notes the names are pronounced differently. Hers is pronounced “cook” not “Coke.”
“We believe that what the Koch brothers are doing is against democracy,” she said. “If it continues, we will not have the environment we have now, we won’t have the education, we won’t have a lot of the things we take for granted, like good-paying jobs. They would even like to abolish the minimum wage.”
Koch recently held a movie party at her home at which about two dozen people viewed the documentary, “Koch Brothers Exposed,” detailing their political involvements and financial influence.
The video was being promoted by the Progressive web site moveon.org, which also encouraged rallies and events to protest the brothers.
“Our action in Shawano County is to make people aware of what’s going on,” Jan Koch said. “We want to make sure that people know who the Koch brothers are. They chose the candidates that will support their agenda of getting rid of regulations, abolishing Social Security, Medicare and government programs that the poor people rely on.”
Rick Adamski, a farmer from Maple Grove, said he was at Wednesday’s rally to advocate for democracy.
“Our democracy is at risk if we allow for corporations to buy the politicians,” he said.
Adamski said the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United made it even easier for the Koch Brothers and other large corporations to influence elections by giving the same rights to corporations as those held by individual citizens.
“What is the population of this country if corporations are people?” Adamski said.
“Some people get to be counted several times,” he said. “We thought we were supposed to be one-person one-vote. We have reinvented the Constitution with this horrific ruling.”
About a dozen supporters were on hand, bearing signs to passing traffic as the rally got underway.
On a few occasions motorists responded with an approving honk of their horn.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetRate hike approved for SMU
Shawano Municipal Utilities customers will start paying more for electricity next month, though how much more depends on what class of customers they are.
The Public Service Commission on Tuesday issued an order granting SMU a rate increase sufficient to provide the utility with a 6 percent rate of return.
The increase will start to show up on September bills covering usage for the month of August.
Residential customers and the largest industrial class will fare best under the new prices.
Bills for the residential class will go up 0.9 percent, while the largest industrial customers will pay 0.93 percent more.
The remaining commercial classes will see larger increases ranging from about 2 to 6.5 percent.
SMU was looking for a rate of return that would generate an additional $610,000 a year. The PSC determines how those additional costs are allocated among SMU customers.
The Shawano Paper Mill and Aarrowcast are the only two customers in the CP-4 category of SMU’s largest industrial companies.
Both companies filed objections after an initial PSC rate analysis that would have placed most of the burden of a rate increase on them.
Shawano City Administrator and SMU General Manager Brian Knapp said the net effect on an average residential customer will be less than $1 per month. Average general service (small commercial) customer will pay an increase of a little more than $2 per month.
SMU last increased its rates in 2010 after being given approval for a 4 percent rate of return, but revenue has fallen short since then due to a decrease in industrial power use and higher labor costs.
The utility had a rate of return of only 1.07 percent for 2013, compared to 3.21 percent in 2012.
Because of the economic conditions at the time, the SMU Commission had mixed feelings about its 2010 rate hike and initially debated asking for a 6 percent rate of return before settling on a request for 4 percent.
However, some commissioners felt it was inevitable the utility would have to come back and ask for more.
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Lee Pulaski, [email protected]
The Shawano County Board voted 20-4 Wednesday to restore the county’s administrative coordinator position to full time.
The position had been full time until 2012, when Frank Pascarella left to become county administrator in Chippewa County. Tom Madsen was hired part-time in the interim, and when the time came for a permanent coordinator in June 2012, the board retained Madsen in a part-time role.
The resolution approved Wednesday allows the Administrative Committee to conduct a search for a new coordinator. No timetable has been set for when a coordinator would be hired.
A full-time coordinator could cost an estimated $120,180, according to Finance Director Diane Rusch, who based the estimate on what Pascarella was paid.
Madsen, who receives $56,897 annually in salary and benefits, said he was considering applying for the job.
Madsen has previously stated that he works more than 40 hours some weeks despite being contracted for 25 hours per week. Currently, he is working with county employees and consultants on major projects such as a new wage study and merging the Social Services and Community Programs departments.
Supervisor Rick Giese, who voted against the resolution, said it was unwise to spend the money on a full-time coordinator.
“We’re getting top-heavy in admin when we’ve still got people that are stuck on probation (pay),” Giese said.
Supervisor Randy Young questioned why it was necessary for the committee to oversee every aspect of the search, noting a separate ad hoc committee was formed in 2008 when the board hired Pascarella.
The resolution was unanimously endorsed by the Administrative Committee just prior to the County Board meeting.
The position requires a bachelor’s degree in business management, public administration, government, finance, economics, accounting or investment. Seven years of experience in administration or management is required, and the county would prefer the coordinator live in Shawano County.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetBieber floats justice center at SMC site
Shawano County sheriff’s candidate Adam Bieber is floating the idea of a multi-agency mega-complex that would be housed at the Shawano Medical Center property after the hospital moves to its new location.
In a Facebook posting Tuesday, Bieber wrote that an ultimate goal would be moving the Sheriff’s Department, Shawano Police Department, Shawano County Social Services, Department of Community Programs and the state Department of Natural Resources into the facility.
“Together we would work better together and provide a better, more efficient service and save money in the long run,” Bieber wrote.
Bieber is challenging incumbent Randy Wright in the Aug. 12 Republican primary race for Shawano County sheriff.
The winner faces a challenge in the Nov. 4 general election from Independent candidate Lucas Christenson, of Shawano.
Shawano Medical Center, at 309 N. Bartlett St., will move to a new building adjacent to the ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano clinic on County Road B in early 2015.
The Shawano Common Council in February agreed to partner with ThedaCare to hire a consultant to market the Shawano Medical Center property to prospective buyers for commercial development. That’s contingent on gaining clear title to the property from the heirs of Susan Smalley, who originally donated the land for park use.
An ad hoc task force that studied future possible uses for the property recommended options that included a waterfront supper club and lodge and a mix of condominiums and town homes, along with additional green space and a park shelter, and two single-family residential lots.
Shawano City Administrator Brian Knapp said a property developed along the lines recommended by the task force could add anywhere from $5 million to $10 million to the tax base.
Wright on Wednesday criticized Bieber’s proposal.
“I don’t think this has been researched very well by him,” he said.
Wright said the relocations of those offices to the SMC site would leave behind numerous vacant properties in the city and take a valuable waterfront property off the tax rolls.
It would also separate the sheriff offices from the county jail, which the department also oversees, he said.
Wright said the cost of converting the aging building for law enforcement use is another consideration.
“It would be more costly than building brand new,” he said.
Bieber said in an interview Wednesday that he has not yet looked at the costs. He said the idea originally came from some members of the Common Council and County Board.
“Having everyone together in one justice center would be great,” he said.
He said several of those agencies would save the rent they’re paying where they are currently located.
Bieber also said involving other law enforcement and government agencies would allow the cost of moving to a new or remodeled building to be shared, if the cost turns out to be reasonable.
“If it’s not cost-effective, let’s not do it,” he said.
Bieber said it was just one option he would present to the County Board.
“There are other ideas out there and I would see what the board wants to do,” he said. “I’m not married to any plan and if they say no, I’m not going to throw a fit.”
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Shawano Police Department
July 22
Police logged 37 incidents, including the following:
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint on Mountain Bay Trail Drive in Shawano.
Theft — Change and other items were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 100 block of South Smalley Street.
Theft — A pocket knife was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 800 block of Picnic Street.
Theft — Items were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 400 block of West First Street.
Accident — Police responded to complaint of a vehicle hitting a parked car in the 1000 block of County Road B.
Property — Police responded to a two-vehicle accident in the Walmart parking lot, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Property — A tree being cut down fell on a neighbors house in the 500 block of Sawyer Street.
Probation — Police took a 26-year-old man into custody on a probation and parole violation.
Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of South Smalley St.
Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 400 block of Main Street.
Warrant — A 24-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at the Wisconsin House Inn, 216 E. Green Bay St.
Theft — A bicycle was stolen at Thrifty Metals, 701 S. Prospect St.
Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of East Schurz Street.
Curfew — Police issued a curfew citation to a juvenile at Sunset Island, 100 N. Franklin St.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
July 22
Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:
Restraining — Authorities investigated a complaint of a restraining order violation in the 1000 block of Bartelt Street in Gresham.
Burglary — Cash and a firearm were stolen from Porter’s Patch, W4314 State Highway 156, in the town of Lessor.
Missing — Authorities received a report of a missing baby in the 1000 block of Park Street in Gresham. The baby was found moments later.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Elm Street in Bowler.
Animal — Authorities received a report of animal neglect involving a dog locked inside a vehicle on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.
Theft — A side rake was stolen on Box Elder Road in the town of Wescott.
Traffic — Authorities received a complaint of a juvenile driving a golf cart recklessly at Riverside Drive and Maple Avenue in the town of Wescott.
Juvenile — Authorities investigated a complaint of underage drinking on Butternut Road in the town of Richmond.
Accident — Authorities responded to a traffic accident involving a truck and deer on County Road T and First Street in the town of Waukechon.
Suspicious — Authorities received a complaint of a suspicious vehicle on Hillside Drive in the town of Belle Plaine.
Debris — Authorities received a report of a round hay bale obstructing the intersection of state Highway 156 and Erb Road in the town of Navarino.
Fraud — Deputies investigated two fraud complaints.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetBieber outspending Wright in sheriff’s race
Financial disclosure statements turned in this week show Shawano police officer Adam Bieber outspending incumbent Randy Wright in the Republican primary race for Shawano County sheriff.
Wright, however, has taken in more contributions and has a significant cash balance going forward.
Wright and Bieber are both vying for the Republican nomination for sheriff in the Aug. 12 primary.
The winner faces a challenge in the Nov. 4 general election from Independent candidate Lucas Christenson, of Shawano.
Christenson has claimed the $1,000 spending limit that exempts him from having to file campaign finance disclosures.
The disclosure statements, which were due Monday, cover what was taken in and spent through June 30. Finance reports for this month aren’t due until Aug. 4.
The statements show Wright took in $3,437 in contributions for this reporting cycle of the race, which covers April through June.
However, nearly half of that — $1,614 — were contributions Wright made to himself, according to his statement.
Wright had spent $1,987 as of June 30, leaving his campaign with a cash balance of $1,450.
Bieber’s statement shows he took in $2,885 in contributions and had spent $2,701 of that by the end of June, leaving a cash balance of only $183.
Bieber contributed $200 of his own money to the campaign, according to his statement, which also shows contributions from two sitting County Board supervisors.
District 4 Supervisor Michael McClelland contributed $300 and District 1 Supervisor Deb Noffke contributed $100.
Yard signs were the single biggest expense for both candidates, with Bieber spending significantly more than Wright.
Bieber spent $1,617 on yard signs compared to $645 for Wright.
Lumber, paint and materials for larger signs, T-shirts, printing costs, parade candy and, in Bieber’s case, refrigerator magnets with Packers schedules, made up some of the other assorted expenses of the candidates.
Wright, who has been sheriff since 2007, is seeking another four-year term.
Bieber, a Shawano police officer, has worked in law enforcement for 14 years and has been with the Shawano Police Department since 2003.
Christenson works in the parts department at American Marine & Motorsports in Shawano.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetSchool district planning to spend $5M on asphalt
Leader Staff
The Shawano School District has set aside more than $5 million for asphalt replacement projects in its proposed 2014-15 budget.
Other big-ticket maintenance projects on the $10 million list include $1.5 million on heating/air conditioning work at Shawano Community Middle School, $840,000 on roof replacement at Shawano Community High School, $600,000 on an addition to the high school theater, $350,000 for football field improvements at the high school, $250,000 on curriculum upgrades and $100,000 on locker room renovations at SCHS.
The 2014-15 budget plan recommends a $13.5 million tax levy, the maximum the district would be allowed to tax and about $600,000 more than this year’s levy of $12.9 million.
The board will hold the final of three public meetings on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. July 31. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.
Following is a complete list of maintenance projects described by District Business Manager Louise Fischer as “needs” in her budget presentations to the School Board and public:
Hillcrest Elementary
Technology $84,000
Storm water collection $16,500
Seal asphalt $15,000
Update HVAC $20,000
Playground improvements $20,000
Additional parking/traffic flow $60,000
Associate principal/dean of students Unbudgeted
Olga Brenner
Playground improvements $25,000
Asphalt replacement $900,000
Security cameras $25,000
Middle School
Updated camera system $25,000
Classroom technology Unbudgeted
Student technology Unbudgeted
Asphalt replacement $1,180,000
Heating/AC $1,500,000
Repair/resurface tennis courts $47,000
Kitchen remodel/update $75,000
Lighting upgrade $20,000
Asbestos removal $60,000
High School
Roof replacement $840,000
Asphalt replacement $3,000,000+
Upgrade security $25,000
Caulk building $25,000
HVAC $500,000
Football field improvements $350,000
Add on to theater, bathrooms, music $600,000
Locker room renovations $100,000
Sidewalk at back of building $25,000
District
Card access security $50,000
Curriculum updates $250,000
District server upgrade $71,750
Maintenance
Truck/snow plow $30,000
Genie lift $30,000
Fuel storage tank $10,000
Special Education
Homeless bus transportation $23,000
TOTAL: $10,002,250
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet3 vehicles reported stolen over weekend
A pickup truck involved in a brief chase in the city early Monday morning was one of three vehicles reported stolen over the span of a few hours, according to Shawano police.
The pickup was later involved in a crash, and another vehicle has since been recovered. The third vehicle was still unaccounted for as of Tuesday afternoon.
The chain of events started shortly after 1:30 a.m. when police spotted a vehicle driving without headlights in the area of Richmond and Lafayette streets.
There was an attempted traffic stop and a short pursuit that was ultimately terminated, police said.
However, the pickup was found about two hours later at Circle and First streets, where it had hit a house. A male driver had fled and a 57-year-old female passenger was still in the vehicle. No injuries were reported.
The Toyota pickup turned out to have been stolen from the 800 block of West Picnic Street.
Police subsequently received two more auto theft complaints, including a Pontiac in the 500 block of North Franklin Street, a short distance from where the pickup was crashed.
The Pontiac was later recovered on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
A third vehicle was reported stolen in the 500 block of North Franklin Street. Authorities were still looking for that one.
Capt. Jeff Heffernon said physical evidence collected from the recovered Pontiac had helped develop leads and possible suspects in the auto thefts, all of which, he said, are believed to be related.
Heffernon said multiple parties are believed to have been involved.
Heffernon also said the incidents serve as another reminder for people to lock up their vehicles and take their keys. He said that means not just taking them out of the ignition, but also glove compartments, cup holders or anyplace else in the vehicle.
“Car thieves will look through many cars before they find one with the keys inside. That’s the one they take,” Heffernon said. “The days of hot-wiring a car are long gone.”
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Shawano Police Department
July 21
Police logged 44 incidents, including the following:
Fleeing — A vehicle involved in a short pursuit in the city was later found after hitting a house at First and Circle streets. The driver had fled on foot.
Auto Theft — Police logged two reports of stolen vehicles; one in the area of First and Circle streets and another in the 500 block of North Franklin Street.
Juvenile — A juvenile was cited for curfew violation at Smalley and Richmond streets.
Disturbance — A 43-year-old Suring man was arrested on charges of substantial battery, strangulation and false imprisonment after a disturbance at Andrews and Green Bay streets.
Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint at the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, 1263 S. Main St.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.
Theft — Police investigated a theft complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.
Shoplifting — Walmart reported a female shoplifter had fled the store.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of West First Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
July 21
Deputies logged 46 incidents, including the following:
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Rollman Street in Bowler.
Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.
Fire — Authorities responded to a fire at a livestock feed mill in Angelica.
Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Oak Drive in Wescott.
Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on First Avenue in Birnamwood.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Green Bay Street in Bonduel.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Lane in the town of Washington.
Clintonville Police Department
July 21
Police logged five incidents, including the following:
Accident — Accident report completed for a two-vehicle property damage accident in a parking lot at a South Main Street business.
Suspicious — Warnings were issued after police responded to a suspicious incident on Morning Glory Drive.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetFeed mill fire causes extensive damage
A livestock feed mill sustained more than $1 million in damages from a fire Monday.
The Pulaski Tri-County Fire Department was called to the Nutrition Service Co. livestock feed mill at W249 Deer Drive, about two miles northwest of Pulaski, around 1:30 p.m.
No injuries were reported.
More than a dozen local agencies, including the Shawano, Bonduel and Cecil fire departments, helped battle the flames from a soybean dryer.
About 20 fire trucks from local agencies worked to extinguish the flames from early afternoon into the night. Flames were no longer visible about an hour after the first firefighters were called, but black smoke could be seen from the area where the media were allowed.
Pulaski Tri-County Fire Department Chief Randy Wichlacz told area media outlets that damages were estimated at more than $1 million.
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Shawano Police Department
July 20
Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.
Disturbance — A 30-year-old Shawano woman was cited for disorderly conduct after a disturbance in the 100 block of South Main Street.
OWI — A 23-year-old Keshena woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated in the 100 block of South Sawyer Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Andrews Street.
Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.
Disturbance —A 47-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting and operating while intoxicated after police responded to a disturbance at Richmond and Franklin streets.
July 19
Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:
OWI — A 26-year-old Bonduel woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated at County Road BE and Wedge Road.
Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Main and Fifth streets.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 900 block of East Randall Street.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of South Sawyer Street.
Fireworks — Police responded to a fireworks complaint in the 1200 block of South Lincoln Street.
July 18
Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:
Theft — A tape measure was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 1000 block of South Washington Street.
Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a van in the 1100 block of South Franklin Street.
Warrant — A 43-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at Green Bay and Ellis streets.
Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of River Heights.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
July 20
Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on River Bank Road in Belle Plaine.
Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Riverside Drive in Wescott.
Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Church Street in Wittenberg.
Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on County Road MMM in Richmond.
July 19
Deputies logged 50 incidents, including the following:
Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on County Road D in Aniwa.
Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.
Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Stony Hill Road in Pella.
Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Green Bay Street in Bonduel.
Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Loon Lake Road in Wescott.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Shawano County Fairgrounds, 900 E. Green Bay St. in Shawano.
Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on Maplewood Road in Birnamwood and four deer-related crashes.
July 18
Deputies logged 63 incidents, including the following:
Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.
Theft — Gasoline was reported stolen on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.
Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Little Road in Gresham.
Theft — A camper was reported stolen on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.
Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint at Genesee and Pioneer streets in Wittenberg.
Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on River Road in Bowler.
Rate this article: Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yetShawano school lunch prices increasing
Lee Pulaski, [email protected]
The Shawano School Board was clearly divided Monday as members voted 5-3 to increase school lunch prices by a dime.
Elementary school students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunches will be paying $2.20 per lunch this fall. Middle and high school students will be charged $2.35 per meal. Adult meals will be $3.20.
Breakfast prices will not be affected.
Board members Bruce Milavitz, Derek Johnson and Beth McFarlane voted against the increase.
“At some point, the people who pay won’t be able to continue to pay,” Milavitz said.
Congress in 2010 passed stricter guidelines for school lunches. Championed by first lady Michelle Obama, the new standards have been phased in over the last two school years, with more changes coming in 2014-15.
While the government provides additional funding to schools that meet updated nutritional standards for federally subsidized lunches, some schools say the reimbursement is inadequate to pay for the healthier foods required by the law.
Schools implementing the changes also say students are throwing away more food that they are required to take in lunch lines but don't want to eat.
Fischer said she anticipates lunch participation will go down this year, like it did last year, but attributed the decline to the stricter nutritional guidelines rather than meal prices.
The a la carte items are expected to go away within a year as the guidelines tighten even further, she said.
“Next year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose money based on that,” Fischer said.
According to statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 51.3 percent of Shawano public school students qualified for free and reduced meals during the 2013-14 school year.
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Leader Staff
Shawano police were investigating two stolen car complaints Monday morning, one of which they believe could be connected to an earlier incident involving a man who fled on foot from an accident.
The chain of events started shortly after 1:30 a.m. when police spotted a vehicle driving without headlights in the area of Pine and Franklin streets. There was an attempted traffic stop and a short pursuit that was ultimately terminated, police said.
However, the same vehicle was found about two hours later at Circle and First streets, where it had hit a house. A male driver had fled and a 57-year-old female passenger was still in the vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Police subsequently received two auto theft complaints, including one in the neighborhood of Circle and First streets. Another vehicle was also reported stolen in the 500 block of North Franklin Street.
Capt. Jeff Heffernon said the incidents serve as another reminder for people to lock up their vehicles and take their keys. He said that means not just taking them out of the ignition, but glove compartments, cup holders or anyplace else in the vehicle.
“Car thieves will look through many cars before they find one with the keys inside. That’s the one they take,” Heffernon said. “The days of hot-wiring a car are long gone.”
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A Birnamwood man accused of trafficking in bath salts was ordered Friday to serve three years in prison for multiple drug offenses in a case that was the first of its kind in Shawano County.
Jessie L. Bierman, 30, pleaded guilty in May to felony counts of manufacture and delivery of amphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of amphetamine, distributing a hazardous substance, and manufacture and delivery of marijuana.
“This was one of the first bath salt cases we’ve dealt with in this area,” Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker said at Bierman’s sentencing hearing Friday. “This is what put bath salts on the radar here in Shawano County.”
Bath salts is the street name for designer drugs that contain synthetic chemicals similar to amphetamines and cocaine, and can cause violent or hallucinogenic reactions.
Federal law passed in 2012 made it illegal to possess, use or distribute many of the chemicals used to make bath salts, but some companies still sell bath salts over the Internet as “research chemicals,” with a disclaimer that they are not to be ingested.
Authorities were alerted in May of last year that a package from a Texas company known for selling bath salts through the mail had arrived at Bierman’s post office box.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for the package and found two baggies containing 12 grams of a cream-colored powder. The powder was sent to the state crime lab and tested positive for illegal chemicals, according to the criminal complaint.
Bierman was arrested when he picked up the package at his post office box.
A search warrant executed at Bierman’s residence also found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Bierman told authorities that he allowed visitors to use his drugs but never took money for them.
However, Parker told the court on Friday that whether Bierman was paid for his drugs didn’t matter.
“He was a supplier,” Parker said.
Parker said an aggravating factor in Bierman’s crimes was that Bierman’s 8-year-old son lived at the home and saw the drug activity.
“He was running this drug house, and all the while, he had this child present,” Parker said.
Defense counsel John Rhode argued that Bierman suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his service in Iraq.
“This is a combat hero; someone to be looked up at and someone with a horrible drug addiction,” Rhode said.
Rhode argued for a long term of probation that would allow Bierman to get treatment.
In a statement to the court, Bierman apologized and said he took responsibility for what he had done.
He choked up several times as he told the court he wanted to get back on track and be a good parent.
Judge James Habeck said he was taking several points in Bierman’s favor into consideration, including his military service and the fact that he sought treatment after his arrest.
However, Habeck said Bierman put not only his child at risk, but also others whom Bierman allowed to use his drugs.
Habeck also said that, given Bierman’s limited disability income, it was unlikely that he wasn’t getting money for the drugs.
Habeck said it also appeared that Bierman might have been exchanging drugs for sex, prompting Habeck to add a condition to Bierman’s extended supervision that he is not to engage in unmarried sex.
Bierman was ordered to serve three years extended supervision after his prison sentence.
In a related felony bail jumping case Friday, Bierman was also ordered to serve one year in prison and one year extended supervision. However, he was given credit for the 289 days he has already spent in custody.
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Lee Pulaski, [email protected]
The possibility of having a dog park somewhere in the Shawano area could be rekindled after the issue came up during a joint meeting this week between city and county officials.
Sandy Steinke, who sits on both the Common Council and the County Board, brought up the issue during a presentation on the city park system. She noted that the issue was brought to the county previously, but the board rejected a recommendation to set up a dog park at a clay borrow site near Belle Plaine.
“That is something that I think a lot of people in the city would like to see — a small dog park — but it’d be huge,” Steinke said.
There are more than 25 parks within the city limits, but signs on all the park fences state dogs may not enter.
Matt Hendricks, city park and recreation director, noted that the city recently put up plastic bag stations along the Mountain Bay Trail, as that is the only outdoor rec area maintained by the city where dogs are not forbidden.
Hendricks pointed out that more municipalities are setting space aside for dog parks.
“There are a couple of things about dog parks that are nicer than the standard park,” Hendricks said. “For one, it’s fairly common to charge a user fee, although you’re not going to recoup 100 percent of your initial cost up front. You generally don’t need a huge area. Five to 10 or 12 acres is usually sufficient.”
Hendricks noted the city, if it were to develop a dog park, could set up a user fee that could be tacked onto the annual dog licenses that the city requires. That money could be applied to park maintenance, he said.
Setting up fencing and signs would be a cost, but the area would likely be grass free, so park staff would not have to mow the area, Hendricks said.
Hendricks suggested a park area near the landfill in Shawano, noting it was far enough away from city residents and could be accessed by vehicles. Pitfalls, however, are that dog owners could not easily walk to the area, and much of the land is cedar swamp.
“This would be a great project for us to work on (with the county), because people from the county would probably use it, too,” Hendricks said. “I would expect the usage to be greater than just the people who live in the city limits.”
Supervisor Deb Noffke noted that the group that had brought the dog park issue to the county in 2012 was enthusiastic, but much of the expense of creating the park would have rested on the county.
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Jason Arndt, [email protected]
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt The Shawano Recreation Center offers a handicapped-accessible ramp for its swimming pool. The detachable ramp can also be converted into stairs leading into the pool.
The director of Shawano Community Education does not think many people will miss the open swimming and weight room hours cancelled recently by the School Board.
“It is not like we have a whole lot of people coming and we are shutting the doors,” Sandra Kane said.
The Shawano School Board voted July 7 to discontinue the open hours at the Shawano Community High School facilities, citing high costs and low participation.
“On a good day, we have maybe 10 people (swimming),” Kane said. “It is not like we have a lot of people going to open swim. We don’t.”
School district officials said, from July 2013 through June 1, the swimming pool and weight room generated $785 and $196 in revenue, respectively, but the district spent $9,782 on staffing and maintenance for the pool and $5,290 for the weight room.
State regulations mandate a supervisor and lifeguard must be present during the open swim hours.
Kane said SCE sold only eight annual memberships, covering 12 people, for either the weight room or swimming pool open hours. Those people will be able to use their memberships at the Shawano Recreation Center, 220 E. Division St., or can receive refunds if they want them.
The open swim hours (7-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at SCHS will end July 30. Open weight room hours (5-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday) will continue through Aug. 28.
Kane noted that swimming and aerobics classes held at the high school will not be affected.
Some residents expressed concerns at a school budget meeting Wednesday that the SCHS pool was the only handicap-accessible pool in the city.
Shawano Recreation Director Matt Hendricks, however, said that perception was wrong, noting that the Recreation Center purchased a detachable wheelchair ramp/lift for its swimming pool within the last three months.
“It is handicapped accessible,” Hendricks said. “We have the ramp for anyone who needs it.”
Kane and Hendricks also said they are working on new classes to be held at the SCHS pool.
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Shawano Police Department
July 17
Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:
Warrant — A 42-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody on a warrant at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.
Animal — A skunk was reported trapped in a window well of the chapel at Woodlawn Cemetery, 100 Woodlawn Drive.
Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 300 block of South Sawyer Street.
Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
July 17
Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:
Warrant — A 49-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested on a warrant on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.
Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., Shawano.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road E in Green Valley.
Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Valley Road in Waukechon.
Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Anderson Avenue in Wescott.
Prowler — A prowler was reported in the 600 block of Beech Street in Tigerton.
Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Seneca and one deer-related crash.
Clintonville Police Department
July 17
Police logged nine incidents, including the following:
Drug Offense — Citations were issued for obstructing, curfew, underage consumption, possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana after officers made contact with multiple subjects inside a closed business on South Main Street.
Warrant — A 25-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody on a warrant through the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department.
Accident — Officers responded to a two-vehicle injury accident on Greentree Road and Industrial Avenue.
Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported on West Street.
Accident — A two-vehicle property damage accident was reported on Main at 11th Street.
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Asphalt repairs on Fifth Street are lingering, but, for the most part, major street reconstruction in Shawano has wrapped up for the year and has come in within budget, according to the Department of Public Works.
“We’re very happy with the results,” Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard said.
The Shawano Common Council in March awarded this year’s street and utility reconstruction projects to DeGroot Inc., of Green Bay, on a bid of $966,975.
Sheppard said there are still a few bills coming in, but the most recent calculation showed the projects coming in around $15,000 under budget. He said he expects the projects to be right along budget lines by the time all the bills are in.
“Everything went smoothly,” he said.
The city completed four major street reconstructions this year, but still needs to cover its asphalt from the controversial Fifth Street project that was delayed and not fully completed last year.
The project, which included adding a sidewalk between Fairview Way and Humphrey Court, drew the ire of Fifth Street residents. The sidewalk was originally intended for the south side of the street until it met opposition from businesses that would have been impacted.
The Shawano Field Committee eventually voted to move the sidewalk to the north side, but the reconstruction shifted the street seven feet to the south.
The controversy delayed the project until the fall, and weather delayed pouring the final layer of asphalt.
The under coating that was put down has suffered from winter weather and spring rain, with portions being washed out and potholes popping up.
The plan now is for a new first layer to be put down, followed by the finishing coat.
Sheppard said that should take five to seven days, and the hope is it will be completed by Aug. 1.
Major street and utility reconstruction projects this year included Bartlett Street, from Division to Eagle streets; Third Street, from Lafayette to Washington streets; Lafayette Street from Eagle to Picnic streets; and Franklin Street from Third to Fourth streets.
Another project — Hamlin Street, from Fifth to Schurz streets — was pulled out of the budget earlier this year for planning reasons, Sheppard said.
The DPW is already looking toward street reconstruction projects for 2015. Crews are out evaluating city streets and utilities to see which should be prioritized in the 2015 Capital Improvement Projects plan, which will be adopted along with the budget this fall.
Completion of major street reconstruction projects doesn’t mean the orange cones are gone for good, however.
There are still several smaller street pulverizing and relay projects to be done.
Those projects include Park Street, from Ridlington to Robin; Stevens Avenue, Lincoln to Union; Danks Street, Bartlett to Franklin; and Stevens Avenue, Bartlett to Lafayette.
Those projects shouldn’t cause the kind of disruption that major reconstruction projects cause, Sheppard said.
He said it will mostly mean some lane closures here and there for a couple of weeks at a time.
The DPW has just put those projects out for bid and the work is expected to be done in August and September. The city budgeted a total of $345,000 for the four projects.
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Shawano Police Department
July 16
Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:
Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive.
Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at People’s Express South, 716 S. Main St.
Warrant — A 22-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant after a traffic stop at Cleveland and Maurer streets.
Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a juvenile female in custody for shoplifting.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Department
July 16
Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:
Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in Birnamwood.
Theft — A wallet was reported stolen from a vehicle at the Shell gas station, 504 E. Grand Ave., in Wittenberg.
Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Teddington Lane in Shawano.
OAR — A 35-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.
Theft — A credit card was reported stolen on County Road M in Richmond.
Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug paraphernalia complaint on County Road D in Pella.
Accidents — Authorities logged a vehicle versus pedestrian accident at Prouty and Vinal streets in Wittenberg; no injuries were reported. Authorities also logged two deer-related crashes.
Clintonville Police Department
July 16
Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:
Vandalism — A vehicle was reported damaged on Hudson Road.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Bennett and Madison streets.
Fraud — Police investigated two worthless check complaints.
Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Main and Madison streets.
Assault — Police investigated a battery complaint on Anne Street.
story created on Thursday 7/17/2014 at 11:36:12 am by Tim Ryan
Safety concerns raised over crosswalk
Shawano officials recently raised safety concerns about the crosswalk that takes the Mountain Bay Trail across East Green Bay Street, with some worried it’s only a matter of time before an injury or death occurs.
“We’re setting somebody up for a disaster,” Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz said at a meeting last week of the Common Council.
The city has been applying annually since 2007 for grant money that could make the crosswalk safer and has been denied every year. That’s because, so far, there haven’t been any accidents at the crosswalk.
“It isn’t meeting the warrants necessary to be eligible for the grant funding,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said.
The absence of injuries or accidents could be because many people are afraid to use the crosswalk, according to city officials.
The crosswalk, located just west of Lakeland Road near Woodlawn Cemetery, traverses a four-lane state highway that is perhaps the busiest street in Shawano.
“Pedestrians are having a difficult time with that,” Kurkiewicz said. “Even if you slow down to stop, they’re leery about the other traffic.”
The crosswalk does have a warning sign in the middle of the four lanes designating it for pedestrian right-of-way, and state law requires motorists to stop for them, as well as for bicyclists and snowmobilers who use the trail.
Typically if anyone does stop, it’s the motorist in the lane closest to the pedestrian.
“Unfortunately, the other motorists don’t necessarily see the pedestrian waiting,” Knapp said. “They may just keep blasting through there.”
A pedestrian has to either enter the crosswalk or be near the curb for the mandatory stop law to kick in.
Knapp said the crosswalk danger has limited the number of people who might otherwise be making use of the Mountain Bay Trail.
“It does inhibit the use of the trail,” he said. “They’re uncomfortable trying to get across themselves, and they’re uncomfortable letting their kids use the trail.”
The city has regularly applied for grants to cover to a design estimated to cost anywhere from $250,000 to $350,000.
It would provide flashing lights to alert motorists that someone is in the crosswalk and trying to get across, along with a pedestrian refuge in the middle so that pedestrians would only need to cross two lanes at a time.
“The pedestrian refuge isn’t as convenient for snowmobiles,” Knapp said.
If grant funding continues to be denied, the city might have to consider borrowing for it.
“It may be an option,” Knapp said. “It is a dangerous intersection.”
However, Knapp said, even flashing lights and a pedestrian refuge might not completely guarantee safety.
He said similar measures were taken in a community where he used to work.
“We went through a lot of design work to come up with something that would be functional and accommodate the traffic as well as the pedestrians,” he said. “When it was all said and done, the traffic by and large still ignored it.”
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