Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

July 9

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a male juvenile in custody for shoplifting.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of East Green Bay Street.

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

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Bowler woman was arrested on a warrant after a traffic stop at Fifth and Ellis streets.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Fairview and Center streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 9

Sheriff’s deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Animal — A caller reported being chased by a bear on Fairview Road in Bowler.

OWS — A 21-year-old Suring man was cited for operating while suspended after an accident on County Road R in the town of Waukechon.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Gollnow Road in the town of Grant.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Main Street in Bowler.

Fire — Authorities responded to a shed fire on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at Arby’s, N4543 State Highway 22, in Belle Plaine.

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

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Council places Kotter on administrative leaveBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

For the second time in two months, the Clintonville Common Council has told the city administrator to go home.

The council voted 7-3 Tuesday to indefinitely place Lisa Kotter on administrative leave, with pay.

Voting in favor were Jeannie Schley, Mary Beth Kuester, Greg Rose, John Wilson, Jim Krause, Gloria Dunlavy and Jerry Jorgenson. Voting no were Bill Zeinert, Phil Rath and Mark Doornink.

Kotter was initially suspended by the council on May 13 pending an investigation into alleged misconduct.

On Tuesday, Kotter asked the council to adjourn into closed session to discuss the allegations against her. The council voted instead to approve the agenda with the request deleted.

“It has been two months and you have never spoken to me,” Kotter said. “The five things that I have been accused of can’t be discussed. You don’t care what I have to say.”

Doornink said he thought it was ridiculous that the council would not discuss the issues with Kotter.

“I only want to tell you my side,” Kotter said. “You are not treating employees fairly.”

Mayor Judith Magee, who vetoed a council vote in May to extend Kotter’s suspension, said she was concerned about resolving the conflict.

“It is time to help the city move forward,” said Magee, who could not be reached by the Leader to determine if she was considering vetoing Tuesday’s vote.

Attorney Warren Kraft was hired to investigate the allegations against Kotter following the May 13 suspension and later made a presentation to the council in closed session, but the allegations have not been discussed publicly.

The council voted 6-4 on May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. 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.

Jorgenson, who voted against the suspension extension and the veto override, on Tuesday voted in favor of placing Kotter on leave.

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.

At the citizens forum prior to Tuesday’s council meeting, residents again chastised council members for the feud.

Charlotte Olmsted, manager of Econo Foods in Clintonville, said some council members were not listening to their constituents.

“Don’t continue the witch hunt, and appreciate what (Kotter) has done for the community,” she said. “Make this a city our children can be proud of.”

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By: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

People have been asked to stay out of the Pigeon River in Clintonville as the Department of Natural Resources investigates a wastewater release from a dairy farm located along Reinke Road.

DNR officials say the wastewater flowed into Honey Creek, a local tributary that discharges to the Pigeon River, last week. Honey Creek flows into the Pigeon River near the Memorial Bridge in Clintonville.

DNR and city officials decided to post signs along the river, from where the creek flows into the river through WA Olen Park. People have been advised not to wade, swim or fish in the water. Pets also should be kept out of the water and should not drink the water.

The DNR has confirmed that the discharge from the farm has stopped, though wastewater already released is still impacting Honey Creek. The DNR is working with local officials to investigate the incident.

The farm, which has a DNR wastewater discharge permit, is taking actions to collect released wastewater.

For information, contact DNR spill coordinator Tauren Beggs at 920-662-5178 or [email protected].

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Small business, residential customers to pay moreBy: 

[email protected]

Objections from industrial customers might shift some of the burden of a proposed hike in electric rates to smaller customers, despite initial projections that they wouldn’t be affected.

The state Public Service Commission held a review July 2 of Shawano Municipal Utilities’ request for a rate increase and decided to split the increase 60-40 between industrial and smaller customers.

That means small businesses and residential users would also see an increase if the split goes forward.

SMU is 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.

Though a 60-40 split has been traditional for many rate increases, a PSC rate analysis initially concluded large commercial and industrial customers needed to pay a greater share this time. Their bills would have gone up anywhere from 2 to 6.6 percent, depending on their size.

That was before a hearing in May at which representatives from Aarrowcast and the Shawano Paper Mill voiced their concerns about the increase.

The paper mill and Aarrowcast are the only two customers in the CP-4 category of SMU’s large industrial companies, which would have seen a total increase of $208,000 a year in their electric bills. That works out to an increase for Aarrowcast of about $128,000 per year.

Shawano Paper Mill estimated the increase would cost the company an additional $80,000 a year.

The companies advocated using the traditional 60-40 allocation instead.

Brian Knapp, SMU general manager and city administrator, said it’s likely now that small commercial users and residential customers would see an increase “as a result of large customer intervention” in the rate case.

Knapp said the 60-40 split is consistent with past practices and an argument could be made that it’s reasonable.

Knapp said he hasn’t yet seen the new PSC rate analysis and doesn’t yet know what the impact will be.

SMU has until Monday afternoon to respond to the new analysis, but it’s still unknown what that response will be.

“We’re calculating the impact of the change,” Knapp said.

SMU originally requested an increase that would allow for a 5.5 percent rate of return in net revenue, with hopes that a rate increase would be in place by the end of last year.

Delays in the approval process led PSC to suggest the utility request a 6.25 percent rate of return, which the SMU Commission voted to support.

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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Judge rejects Church's claims of memory issuesBy: 

[email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Darrin H. Church, left, seated next to his attorney, Steven Weerts, listens as his sentence for robbing the CoVantage Credit Union last year is handed down in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

A Shawano man convicted of robbing the CoVantage Credit Union last year was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison and another 10 years extended supervision.

Darrin H. Church, 48, pleaded no contest in March to charges of using the threat of force to rob the CoVantage Credit Union at 911 E. Green Bay St., Shawano, and attempting to rob Cash Tyme at 705 E. Green Bay St.

Church also pleaded no contest to several misdemeanor counts in two other cases, including issuing worthless checks, bail jumping and defrauding a taxicab driver.

A few hours before the CoVantage robbery, Church took a City Cab to Bonduel and back, then refused to pay the $40 fare.

According to the criminal complaint, Church walked into the CoVantage Credit Union just after 3:30 p.m. April 8, 2013, and passed a note to the teller demanding money.

Shortly before the CoVantage robbery, he passed a similar note to a teller at Cash Tyme, then told the teller it was only a joke. Earlier in the day he visited another bank, where he also wrote a robbery note but didn’t use it.

Church made off with more than $6,000 in cash from CoVantage but was arrested a short time later. The money was recovered. Church was a customer of the credit union, according to the criminal complaint.

“Maybe not the the most intelligent action of committing a crime,” District Attorney Greg Parker said.

However, Parker said, Church showed a “level of sophistication” in the way he cased the financial institutions before robbing CoVantage.

Parker also outlined Church’s previous criminal record, which included burglary, disorderly conduct, possession of a firearm, issuing worthless checks and a conviction in federal court of making false and fraudulent statements.

Parker also emphasized a doctor’s evaluation of Church calling into question initial claims of incompetency.

Church was initially found to be not competent to stand trial after a court hearing in June 2013, but it was also determined he could become competent if treated.

He was ordered held for treatment and incarcerated at the Mendota Mental Health Institute until a November court hearing, at which he was found to be competent.

Parker said the doctor’s report concluded that Church had been faking his incompetency. He said it showed a pattern of manipulation.

“He is an opportunist,” Parker said. “He is a thief. He is a dishonest person.”

Parker’s recommended sentence was the same as imposed by the court Wednesday.

Defense attorney Steven Weerts had requested probation for Church, calling the time he has spent been in custody since his arrest in April 2013 adequate punishment.

Weerts cited Church’s mental and medical problems, including neurological damage from muscular sclerosis, as factors in Church’s crimes.

“We see a lot of problems here and probably reasons for his behavior,” Weerts said.

Church also cited his confused mental state in his statement to the court.

“I just want to apologize for being here,” he said. “It’s not me, to do a thing like this.”

In passing sentence, Judge William Kussel Jr. said there was a “pattern of dishonesty” in Church’s behavior.

He noted that Church performed poorly on memory tests when being evaluated for competency but had no memory problems otherwise.

“Muscular sclerosis can affect memory, but it can’t affect it in a selective manner,” Kussel said.

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Wonderling replacing RauBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Jane Wonderling

Jane Wonderling will be making a large transition as the new principal of Bonduel High School.

The Prairie du Chien native will succeed Patrick Rau, who was elevated to the role of district superintendent following the retirement of Peter Behnke.

Wonderling began her new job July 1.

“The biggest challenge was to get moved from Prairie du Chien and get my family settled down here,” Wonderling said. “From the school side, it will be familiarizing myself with not only the students but the families and community.”

She and her husband, Tom, have been married 10 years and will reside in Pulcifer in the town of Green Valley. They have two sons: Dillon, who attends the University of Minnesota-Mankato, and Kirk, who goes to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Wonderling was part of the Prairie du Chien School District for 16 years before taking a role as internal building coach, tasked with developing goals and objectives for students, at Dodgeville High School last year.

She received her undergraduate and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1985 and 1990, respectively, her principal license from Winona State University in Minnesota in 2012, and certification as director of special education and pupil services from Viterbo University in La Crosse this year.

One of the programs that attracted Wonderling to Bonduel was the school’s partnerships with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and UW-Green Bay, she said.

Wonderling also likes that her predecessor will be nearby and available to help.

“I think it’s a wonderful situation where Patrick worked under Dr. Behnke, and to have that support is critical,” she said.

While she will miss some of her colleagues, friends and family in Dodgeville and Prairie du Chien, Wonderling said she expects to be comfortable working the Bonduel School District.

“The staff I worked with, administration I worked with were outstanding (at Dodgeville). I noticed similarities between there and Bonduel, so I knew it was a good opportunity,” she said.

Her family supported the move.

“When an opportunity like this arises, you have to take advantage of it and my whole family is very proud of this achievement,” Wonderling said.

For now, Wonderling is getting to know the Bonduel community and said she looks forward to meeting with parents and students when the school year starts.

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By: 

[email protected]

Travis W. Keiler

A Gillett man charged with taking a hostage during a standoff with sheriff’s deputies in Wittenberg in April entered a plea of no contest Wednesday under an agreement that found him not guilty by reason of insanity.

Travis W. Keiler, 29, will now undergo a pre-disposition review by the state Department of Health Services before the court decides where he goes from here and for how long.

Keiler could still face a maximum penalty of 40 years in an institution on the charge of taking a hostage. He could also face a maximum 3½ years on a felony count of failing to comply with an officer’s attempt to take him into custody.

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

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker said there would be no recommendation until he sees the pre-disposition report.

That report will be the subject of a hearing scheduled for Aug. 26. In the meantime, Keiler is being held at Shawano County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

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.

Keiler let everyone out of the building except for a lone McDonald’s employee, whom he kept as a hostage for about an hour.

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 his hostage as a sign of good faith after about an hour. Keiler surrendered peacefully an hour after that.

Keiler entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect at a hearing last month and a psychological evaluation was ordered.

Parker said at Wednesday’s hearing that the state was accepting the psychologist’s conclusion that Keiler qualified for the insanity plea.

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Shawano Police Department

July 8

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at the Pick ‘n’ Save parking lot, 190 Woodlawn Drive.

Accident — Police investigated a two-car accident in the Walmart parking lot, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Suspicious — Police received a complaint of a suspicious person at the Farm Inn on Main, 123 N. Main St.

OAR/OWI — Police took a 59-year-old man into custody for operating while intoxicated at the intersection of Airport Road and Gumaer Road.

Fraud — Police investigated an incident of fraud at Associated Bank, 129 E. Division St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 8

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Deputies responded to suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road M in Grant.

Juvenile — Deputies responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of Maple Street in Birnamwood.

Theft — A jewelry box was reported stolen in the 400 block of Birch Street in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Deputies responded to a disturbance complaint involving a female on Cherry Street in Bowler.

Juvenile — Deputies received a report of a juvenile runaway on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Suspicious — Deputies investigated a complaint of an attempted break-in on Knollwood Court in Wescott.

Forgery — Authorities investigated a complaint of a forged check in the 1200 block of Bartelt Street in Gresham.

Warrant — A 21-year-old man turned himself in to the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St., on an outstanding warrant.

Suspicious — Deputies received a complaint of a suspicious motorist in the 600 block of South Mission Street in Wittenberg.

Accident — Authorities received report of a deer-related accident on state Highway 29 in Seneca.

Clintonville Police Department

July 8

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Property — Police received a complaint of property damage on South Main Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-car accident on the intersection of West Madison Street and Bennett Street.

Trespassing — A complaint of trespassing was reported to police on Fifth Street.

Suspicious — Police received a complaint of a suspicious person on South Clinton Avenue.

Warrant — Police took a 36-year-old woman into custody on a Department of Corrections warrant on Waupaca Street.

Warrant — Police took a 25-year-old man into custody on a warrant through New London Police Department on South Clinton Avenue.

Property — A complaint of property damage was reported on North 12th Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious incident on East Green Tree Road.

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SCHS open pool, weight room hours endingBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Effective immediately, Shawano School District is ending the open swim and open weight room programs at Shawano Community High School.

Administrators told the School Board on Monday that the costs of providing access to the facilities far exceeded the revenue they generated.

“The cost differential between what we provide and what has been brought in is drastic,” Superintendent Gary Cumberland said.

Cumberland said, through June 1, in 2014 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.

“This is something that was utilized a lot more in the past, but currently not as much,” Cumberland said.

Board members said there were other fitness options available to residents in the community.

“We felt we were comfortable with doing this because we are not reducing community opportunity,” Michael Sleeper said. “In both cases there are other options within the community.”

The city’s Recreation Center pool is open to the community, and private fitness centers, such as Snap Fitness and Total Fitness, have weight training equipment available, board members noted.

Jean Darling, owner of Shawano Total Fitness and a former School Board member, said she appreciated the difficulty of the board’s decision.

“It is a challenging decision for them to make since the school was built on an open door to the community,” she said. “I assume it will bring in more business at the Recreation Center and at the other fitness centers in the community.”

Open swimming at the Shawano Community High School pool had been from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Open weight room hours were from 5-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Daily fees for the pool ranged from 50 cents to $2 depending on age and residency. Weight room daily fees ranged from $1 to $3. Participants also could buy annual weight room passes for $100.75 and swimming pool passes for $133. Reduced rates also were available through a membership to Shawano Community Education, which costs $33 per year.

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Officials encourage residents to ask questionsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

The Shawano School Board will hold public meetings about the school district’s proposed 2014-15 budget on July 15, 16 and 31.

“We want to be as open and as transparent as possible,” Superintendent Gary Cumberland said.

Board members discussed the budget sessions Monday.

“There will be three opportunities here in July for community input,” Michael Sleeper said. “We are very hopeful that the community will turn out and hope they will ask critical questions. We are hoping it can turn into a positive process.”

Board president Jay Schmidt encouraged residents to attend any of the sessions so “questions can be answered accordingly.”

Residents will be able to vote on the tax levy at the district’s annual meeting Aug. 18.

A preliminary budget discussed by the board in May included a $14 million levy, which would translate into a tax rate of about $11.20 per $1,000 of equalized value. The district levied $12.9 million in 2013-14, about $700,000 below the cap allowed by the state.

The district’s tax rate went from $8.98 per $1,000 of equalized value in 2011 to $9.95 in 2012, and to $10.31 last year, meaning the owner of a home valued at $100,000 paid $898 in school taxes in 2011, $995 in 2012 and $1,031 last year.

The district learned last week it is expected to receive $13.4 million in general state aid for 2014-15—a 5.15 percent, or about $700,000, increase over this school year, according to Department of Public Instruction estimates. Officials cautioned, however, that the final numbers won’t be known until October.

“That is anticipated at this point,” Cumberland said. “It is not a concrete number.”

Shawano School District received $11.9 million in state aid in 2011-12, $12.1 million in 2012-13 and $12.7 million in 2013-14.

The final aid numbers are dependent on the official enrollment count, which is taken on the third Friday of September, property values from each of the state’s 424 districts and shared costs of each district. The DPI certifies the general aid amounts on Oct. 15.

The DPI’s general aid estimates do not include per-pupil categorical aid, which is paid in March. The appropriation for that aid is $127 million, or $150 per pupil, a $75 per-pupil increase over 2013-14.

AT A GLANCE

Shawano School District public meetings on 2014-15 budget:

- 7 p.m. July 15, Large Group Instruction Room, Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B

- 9:30 a.m. July 16, Civic Center, 225 S. Main St.

- 7 p.m. July 31, Large Group Instruction Room, Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

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Owner mulls offer to extend contractBy: 

[email protected]

The owner of the New Era House said she was not given a chance to bid for a renewal of her contract with the state Department of Corrections for transitional housing services for recently released felons.

The DOC had contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St. in Shawano, replacing the New Era House at 105 E. Richmond St., but the Shawano Plan Commission last week refused to allow a special exception to the zoning ordinance for the new facility.

At a public hearing before the commission Wednesday, DOC program and policy analyst Joe Sumner said that New Era House “for whatever reason chose not to bid.”

Ruth Paterick, who has been contracting with the DOC for eight years, said that’s not true.

“That isn’t the way it went,” she said.

Paterick said Sumner “did a private bid” with ATTIC.

“He never posted it,” she said.

Paterick said Sumner had stopped in at some point earlier this year and told her the DOC had signed with someone else.

Sumner did not respond to calls seeking a comment for this story.

Shawano Field Supervisor Julie Krause referred questions to the DOC director of public affairs, Joy Staab, who did not return a message left for her Thursday and was out of the office this week.

During an interview in May, after the contract change was announced, Sumner said the DOC opened the service up for bids with the pending expiration of New Era’s contract. He said the two-year contract would be renewable for another four to five years, up to seven years, when the DOC would have to go out for bids again.

Vicki Trebian, chief executive officer of ATTIC Correctional Services, said after last week’s Plan Commission meeting that the company had been looking for a location for the new facility in Shawano since January.

Paterick said she wasn’t given any explanation for the DOC decision. She said she has worked well with the DOC for eight years without any problems. She also said she has never raised her rates during that time.

Residents at the New Era House basically have 24-hour a day supervision, because she also lives at the facility, Paterick said. Meals and laundry facilities are also provided.

Trebian told the Plan Commission last week that there would be three visits a day at the new facility by ATTIC staff, but no on-site supervision. Residents would be wearing electronic monitoring, she said.

Trebian did not return a call Tuesday seeking more information.

New Era’s contract was set to expire June 30 but was extended until the end of July.

Paterick said she was contacted via email by Sumner after last week’s Plan Commission decision asking whether she would be willing to continue her contract through October.

Paterick said she has not yet made a decision.

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Shawano Police Department

July 7

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A car dolly was reported stolen from Big D Automotive, 1003 Waukechon St.

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

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint on Cherry Court.

Theft — Liquor was reported stolen in the 700 block of East Randall Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of East Fifth Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 7

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road Z in Aniwa.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run at the Shawano County Fairgrounds, 900 E. Green Bay St. in Shawano.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on County Road M in Tigerton.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Bowler man was taken into custody on a warrant on County Road A in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on Cypress Road in Richmond and one deer-related crash.

Clintonville Police Department

July 7

Police logged three incidents, including the following:

Auto Theft — An auto theft and burglary were reported on North 12th Street.

Animal — A warning was issued for animal neglect on South Main Street.

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Intimidation of a witness

A Bonduel man is facing a felony charge of intimidating a witness for allegedly threatening a man who tried to report an assault outside a Cecil tavern in April.

Kyle J. Korzeniewski, 23, could face a maximum 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine if found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Korzeniewski threatened physical harm against another man who attempted to call 911 after the assault of Kyle J. Patzer, 27, of Gillett, outside the Castaways Bar, 100 N. Warrington Ave., on April 19.

Patzer was hospitalized with skull fractures and a blood clot after being thrown to the ground outside the bar.

Korzeniewski allegedly told the witness not to call an ambulance or police “or you’ll be the next one laying on the ground,” according to the complaint.

Korzeniewski is also charged with a misdemeanor count of failing to aid a victim or report a crime. He is due in court Monday for an initial appearance on the charges.

Cody R. Chapin, 22, of Black Creek, later turned himself in to authorities in connection with the assault and has been charged with second-degree reckless injury. He could face a maximum 12½ years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted.

Chapin is free on a $15,000 signature bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 29.

Identity theft, bail jumping

A Crandon woman has been charged with four felony counts of bail jumping and a felony count of identity theft for allegedly trying to give law enforcement a fake name after a traffic stop last month.

Ashley S. White, 24, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Shawano County sheriff’s deputies in the town of Red Springs on June 25.

According to the criminal complaint, White gave deputies the name of Ashley S. Denasha. Her real identity was confirmed after finger-printing.

Authorities found that White has four felony cases pending in Shawano, Langlade and Forest counties. Conditions of her bond in those cases require that she not commit any new crimes.

White could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the new charges if convicted. She is being held on a $30,000 cash bond and is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance July 21.

Felony OWI

A Shawano man involved in a single-vehicle crash in Wittenberg in May has been charged with a felony count of being under the influence at the time of the accident.

Marc J. Bernarde, 45, was initially charged with a misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated, but the criminal complaint was amended last week to a felony, alleging his fourth drunken driving offense within the last five years. He is also charged with a felony count of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration.

According to the criminal complaint, Bernarde had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.44, more than five times the legal limit.

Bernarde was trapped in his vehicle after it went off the road at Elliot and Mohawk streets and ended up in a stand of trees during the early morning hours of May 3. He was freed by the Wittenberg Fire Department.

Bernarde could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the felony charges if convicted. He is scheduled for a plea hearing on Aug. 25.

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Shawano Police Department

July 6

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at Randall and Cleveland streets.

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

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 200 block of South Lincoln Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Fireworks - Police logged two fireworks complaints.

July 5

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Main and Green Bay streets.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 600 block of South Main Street.

Theft — A campaign sign was reported stolen in the 100 block of Robin Lane.

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

Fireworks - Police logged four fireworks complaints.

July 4

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of County Road B.

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

Disturbance — A 23-year-old Shawano woman was arrested on charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct and a 23-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a bail jumping charge after a disturbance in the 300 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 900 block of South Park Street.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the Brickstone Inn, 622 E. Green Bay St.

Fireworks — Police logged seven fireworks complaints.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 6

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on River Bend Road in Belle Plaine.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary at the Railway Street Bar, W450 Main St., in Green Valley.

Hit and Run — A hit-and-run accident with injuries was under investigation on West Seneca Town Line Road in the town of Morris.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Cattau Beach Drive in Wescott.

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

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 S. Home St., in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — A 19-year-old Bowler man was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and battery after a disturbance on Rollman Street in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

July 5

Deputies logged 60 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 34-year-old Weyauwega man was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Spaulding Street in Tigerton.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Anderson Avenue in Wescott.

Disorderly — Authorities responding to a suspicious person complaint on County Road MM in Richmond arrested a 29-year-old Park Ridge man for disorderly conduct.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on U.S. Highway 45 in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Frailing Road in Wescott.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Charges of disorderly conduct and physical abuse of a child were referred against a 25-year-old Weston man after a disturbance on Big Lake Road in Red Springs.

Fireworks — Authorities logged eight fireworks complaints.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

July 4

Deputies logged 50 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 44-year-old Gillett man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on County Road BB in Green Valley.

OAR — A 40-year-old Wittenberg man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in Wittenberg.

OWI — A 49-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after an injury accident on County Road CC in Waukechon.

Fire — Authorities responded to a microwave fire on Sunset Circle in Wescott.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on state Highway 22 in Cecil.

Fireworks — Authorities logged nine fireworks complaints.

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

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Shawano Police Department

July 3

Police logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 27-year-old Cecil man was taken into custody on a warrant after a traffic stop at Green Bay Street and Green Bay Court.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 500 block of West Division Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 900 block of South Washington Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint on Cherry Court.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Fireworks — Police responded to a fireworks complaint in the 900 block of South Bartlett Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 300 block of South Washington Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 3

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Pioneer Avenue in Wittenberg.

Drug Offense — The Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in Wittenberg, reported finding drug paraphernalia by one of the gaming machines.

OWI — A 27-year-old Neopit man was arrested for operating while intoxicated and auto theft after putting what turned out to be a stolen car into a ditch along state Highway 29 in Maple Grove.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a lewd and lascivious behavior complaint on Highway 29 in Hartland.

Vandalism — Authorities investigated a criminal damage complaint at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St. in Shawano.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road A in Bowler.

Warrant — A 34-year-old Keshena woman was arrested on a warrant on Highway 29 in the town of Waukechon.

OAR — A 22-year-old Appleton man was cited for operating after revocation on Highway 29 in Waukechon.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Butternut Road in Richmond.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Grand Avenue in Wittenberg.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Swan Acres in the town of Washington.

Clintonville Police Department

July 3

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Noise — Officers responded to a noise complaint on Bennett Street.

Fire — A fire call was reported on Hemlock Street.

Fireworks — A firework violation was reported on Memorial Circle.

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Final numbers unknown until OctoberBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

The Shawano School District will receive an estimated 5.15 percent more in state aid in the 2014-15 school year than this year, according to estimates released this week by the Department of Public Instruction.

More than half of Wisconsin’s 424 public school districts also will receive increases, according to the DPI.

The DPI projects Shawano will receive $13.4 million in general aid for 2014-15, up from $12.7 million this year.

Three other area districts — Marion, Gresham and Menominee Indian — also will receive more aid, according to the projections, while Bonduel, Bowler, Clintonville, Tigerton and Wittenberg-Birnamwood would get less aid than this year.

Officials cautioned, however, that the projections are just estimates and that final numbers won’t be known until October.

“If we get that much, it would be great, but not all districts have submitted their audits to the state,” said Louise Fischer, Shawano School District business manager.

State statutes require the DPI to submit estimates to each school district by July 1. The districts use the estimates as they prepare their budgets for the following school year.

“We have a placeholder for equalized aid, and between now through early October are just estimates,” Fischer said.

The final aid numbers are dependent on the official enrollment count, which is taken on the third Friday of September, property values from each of the 424 districts and shared costs of each district. The DPI certifies the general aid amounts on Oct. 15.

Shawano School District received $11.9 million in state aid in 2011-12, $12.1 million in 2012-13 and $12.7 million in 2013-14.

Statewide, general school aid is set at $4.5 billion for 2014-15, a 2.1 percent increase over this year. Actual aid payments are estimated at $4.3 billion because of reductions for the Milwaukee school voucher program and independent charter schools in Racine and Milwaukee counties.

The DPI’s July estimates do not include per-pupil categorical aid, which will be paid in March. The appropriation for that aid is $127 million, or $150 per pupil, a $75 per-pupil increase over 2013-14.

FYI

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction state aid projections:

District 2013-14 2014-15 Difference Percent

Bonduel 4,725,449 4,525,701 -199,748 - 4.23

Bowler 2,989,598 2,955,069 -34,529 -1.15

Clintonville 9,227,063 8,946,500 -280,563 -3.04

Gresham 1,624,860 1,719,938 95,708 5.85

Marion 2,562,966 2,687,444 124,478 4.86

Menominee Indian 6,360,415 6,949,328 588,913 9.26

Shawano 12,755,625 13,412,680 657,055 5.15

Tigerton 1,439,793 1,223,054 -216,739 -15.05

Witt-Birn 7,103,890 6,958,512 -145,378 -2.05

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Illegal fireworks could result in finesBy: 

Leader Staff

The Fourth of July weekend has arrived with the usual holiday festivities, including parades, brat and burger picnics, fireworks displays and, of course, fireworks of the illegal variety.

Shawano police and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies have already logged numerous fireworks complaints over the past week, in spite of the possibility of fines being levied for their use.

Both the city and the county have fireworks ordinances on the books prohibiting the use of anything that shoots up into the air and/or explodes.

The ordinances are in line with state statutes that make those type of fireworks illegal to use, even though they are legal to buy and sell for licensed dealers.

Sparklers, confetti poppers, snakes and noise makers are among the legal variety, with no age restrictions for their use.

Anything that contains more than one-fourth of a grain of explosives falls into the illegal category.

In some municipalities, permits are available. In Shawano, for example, a permit costs $50, and you’ll also need $1 million in liability coverage.

Police Chief Mark Kohl said those permits are usually requested for events such as block parties and family reunions.

Even with the fireworks permit, there must be adult supervision of their use. There also must not be any fire hazard nearby and some way to extinguish the fire if one breaks out.

In the city, use of illegal fireworks without a permit can net a fine of $189 for the first offense and $313 for the second.

However, Lt. Dan Mauel said, most users are let off with a warning the first time.

A warning is also typically the first response for sheriff’s deputies, but the county’s ordinance also calls for a possible fine of $263.50.

The county’s fireworks ordinance also covers the sale of fireworks by anyone without a license. Violations could bring a fine of $767.50.

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Shawano Police Department

July 2

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — The school liaison officer responded to an issue with a student at summer school at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Noise — Police responded to a noise complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 2

Deputies logged 50 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Gift cards were reported stolen from St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Cecil.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on County Road D in Pella.

Vandalism — A garage door was reported vandalized on Red River Road in the town of Herman.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to fireworks complaints in Wittenberg, Wescott and Gresham.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a report of a fight in progress on Poplar Road in Richmond.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

July 2

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Assault — A sexual assault complaint was under investigation.

Disorderly — Police responded to a complaint of an intoxicated male at a business on West Madison Street.

Animal — Police responded to four separate complaints of stray dogs, including one that was captured, placed in the pound and escaped.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A 20-year-old Shawano man died Wednesday afternoon in a vehicle versus pedestrian accident, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said.

Alex Mastey was struck by a pickup truck just after 4:30 p.m. on County Road K north of County Road T in the town of Waukechon.

The driver of the pickup truck, Blair Christianson, 23, of Shiocton, was not injured, the Sheriff’s Department said.

County Highway K was closed for about four hours following the incident.

Sheriff’s deputies, State Patrol, Shawano Ambulance Service and the Shawano County Highway Department responded to the scene.

The accident was still under investigation.

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DOC has no place here to send clientsBy: 

[email protected]

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Department of Corrections Field Supervisor Julie Krause and ATTIC Correctional Services CEO Vicki Trebian answer questions from residents and the Plan Commission about a proposed facility for recently released offenders Wednesday at Shawano City Hall.

The Shawano Plan Commission on Wednesday rejected a proposed facility that would have housed recently released felons, leaving the state Department of Corrections with nowhere to send them starting next month.

The DOC had contracted with ATTIC Correctional Services for an eight-bed facility at 227 E. Richmond St. in Shawano, replacing the New Era House at 105 E. Richmond St. The contract called for ATTIC to provide transitional housing services for convicted felons that are under the DOC’s supervision, including recently released sex offenders.

New Era’s contract was set to expire June 30, but was extended until the end of July so the matter could go before the Plan Commission and Common Council.

The commission’s vote, however, means the matter will not go to the council for consideration.

Commissioners voted 7-1 against a special exception to the zoning code that would have allowed the facility.

Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard cast the sole vote in favor. Commission member Dave Passehl was absent.

In calling for the vote, Mayor Lorna Marquardt, who chairs the commission, clearly encouraged rejection of the proposal.

“Think about if you were placing this vote for this facility to be next door in your home, in your neighborhood, next door to you, would you make the same vote?” she said.

Marquardt noted the New Era House would continue to operate, though not as a DOC-contracted facility, and the proposed ATTIC facility would double the number of offenders in the neighborhood.

“This area is going to have an abundance of these people,” she said.

Nearly two dozen residents turned out for a public hearing on the facility before the commission vote.

“I don’t feel safe with it being such a residential area,” Adina Bunke said.

Bunke said she was also concerned about the turnover of residents at the facility, most of whom would be staying there for 60 days.

“That’s a lot of different people in and out of our neighborhood,” she said.

“Our greatest concern is the kids in the church,” said John Meyer, president of nearby Peace United Church of Christ at 208 E. Maurer St. “With our kids’ activities, this is not a good spot.”

Elaine Knope also noted the facility would be within a block of the Skate Park and Memorial Park, and near a major through-way for children on their way to school.

Vicki Trebian, chief executive officer of ATTIC Correctional Services, and Julie Krause, DOC field supervisor in Shawano, sought to allay residents’ concerns, assuring them that clients of the facility would wear either GPS or electronic monitoring devices.

Though no one would be supervising them at the facility, the clients would be checked up on by staff three times a day, in addition to visits by a DOC case manager.

Krause told the Plan Commission that the alternative would mean releasing convicted felons into the community with no structured living arrangement, and no way to monitor them beyond their reporting in to the DOC once a day.

Trebian said after the vote that it was very disappointing for the clients that need the services in the Shawano area.

“People are going to be homeless. They’re going to be without services and it’s going to be hard to monitor these people in your community,” she said.

Trebian said ATTIC had been looking for a facility in the city since January and the location proposed was the only one that would have accommodated the facility’s needs.

Jim Hoffman owns the house at 227 E. Richmond St. and had intended to rent it to ATTIC.

He noted the New Era House is only a block away and closer to Sacred Heart church and school.

He said he didn’t think the commission’s vote would be good for the city.

“You’re not going to know where these people are,” he said.

Rose Thiel, who is on the city’s Sexual Predator Ordinance Committee, also supported the ATTIC facility.

She said there had never been a problem with offenders placed at the New Era House re-offending, and the facility allowed the DOC and law enforcement to keep track of them.

“Who knows now when they get out of jail where they’re going to go?” she said.

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