Shawano Leader News

Shawano Police Department

June 17

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police investigated a disturbance in the 100 block of Military Road.

Juvenile — Police confiscated a knife belonging to a juvenile at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Property — An apartment unit was reportedly damaged in the 300 block of Channel Trace Street.

Theft — Two bicycles were stolen at the Shawano Recreation Center, 220 E. Division St.

Trespassing — Police responded to an intoxicated male trespassing in the 300 block of South Andrews Street.

Disturbance — Police investigated a disturbance at Qualheim’s True Value, 1345 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — A political campaign sign was stolen in the 1000 block of South River Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 17

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Deputies received complaint of a suspicious vehicle on Oak Park Circle in Shawano.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a break-in and theft of money from Salty’s Saloon, W8599 Broadway Road, in Shawano.

Accident — Deputies responded to an accident involving logging equipment on McDivitt Road near County Road M.

Property — Authorities received a complaint of damage to property land on Wahl Road in Cecil.

Accident — Deputies responded to an accident involving a car and tree on County Road E in Cecil.

Theft — A license plate was stolen in the 4000 block of N. Broadway Road in Bonduel.

Possession — Authorities cited a male for drug possession near the intersection of Main Street and River Road in Gresham.

Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the parking lot of Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in Wittenberg.

Warrant — Authorities took a 32-year-old male into custody along the intersection of County Road G and Richards Lane in Gresham on a Brown County warrant.

Harassment — Authorities received a harassment complaint on Rustic Drive in Clintonville.

Disturbance — Deputies investigated a disturbance in the 400 block of Cedar Street in Tigerton.

Accidents — Two deer-related accidents were reported.

Clintonville Police Department

June 17

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Check — Police issued a citation for a worthless check.

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Larry retiring as SCMS principalBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Shawano School Board members approved the contracts of two new administrators Monday.

Mary Kramer will replace Daniel Labby, who recently announced his retirement, effective June 30, as principal of Shawano Community Middle School. Labby served the district as an administrator for 12 years, including the last nine in his current position.

Stuart Russ will become an associate principal at Shawano Community High School. Guidance counselor Rex Wachtel held the position on an interim basis following the departure in August of Steve Linssen, who became principal at Gillett Secondary School.

Kramer is originally from Wausau and brings 18 years of education experience to the job, most recently as associate principal at Oregon High School.

“What really struck us is her positive attitude … and (she) has a lot of new ideas, which is what we were looking for,” Superintendent Gary Cumberland said. “She is an outgoing person and was looking for more cultural diversity.”

Kramer received bachelor degrees in Spanish and secondary education from St. Norbert College in De Pere in 1996, and a Master of Education degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

“Cultural diversity strengthens those who have the opportunity to experience it,” Kramer said. “My goals for the coming year have a direct connection to developing and enhancing a robust, collaborative school culture.”

Prior to working in Oregon, she was bilingual associate principal at Green Bay Preble, where she was part of a Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Focus on Attendance subcommittee. She also served as director of instruction at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

Kramer will earn $88,000 as the new middle school principal, an $8,000 increase from her job in Oregon. Labby made $95,000 this year.

Russ will be closer to his hometown of Wausaukee following three years as a social studies teacher at Laconia High School in the Rosendale-Brandon School District.

“Shawano is little closer to where I am from and it is beautiful school,” Russ said. “I am very excited about working with the administrative staff and helping to promote learning.”

He earned a degree in history with a minor in secondary education from Ripon College and his administrative degree from Marian University in Fond du Lac. He began his full-time teaching career at Luxemburg-Casco in 2009.

Cumberland said Russ has a proactive approach to student needs. He also was involved in projects at Cirrus High School, Rosendale-Brandon’s charter school.

“I come from a family of teachers, principals and superintendents, and this is something I want to do for the rest of my life,” said Russ, in regards to his new assistant principal position.

“I am sad to see that part of my life end, but am really excited to be in Shawano,” Russ said.

Russ will receive $70,000 annually from the district, up from $42,000 with the Rosendale-Brandon School District.

With Labby’s retirement, the district has lost six administrators within the last year.

Superintendent Todd Carlson took the same position with the Gillett School District just days before the start of the 2013-14 school year, the same time Linssen departed for Gillett.

Tim Mayer, former high school associate principal and athletic director, joined the private sector in December, and Gail Moesch retired as the district’s business manager in February.

Tami Bagstad, associate principal at Shawano Community Middle School, will leave the district June 30 to become principal of Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School in Clintonville.

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Meals available to all studentsBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

While most students are out enjoying the sunshine, more than 1,000 students returned to Hillcrest Primary School and Shawano Community High School on Monday for the first day of summer school, which will continue until July 18.

Superintendent Gary Cumberland told board members Monday there was a transportation glitch on the first day that caused a delay of 20 minutes along one bus line.

“We did have concerns over timing and buses,” Cumberland said. “Things got a little behind schedule.”

Curt Angeli, summer school principal at the high school, said there were no problems Tuesday.

“Today’s buses went right on schedule with a few adjustments,” he said. “The first day of summer of summer also takes more time to ensure that every student is placed on the correct bus at the end of the day.”

The district reported 530 kindergarten through second-grade students were attending summer school at Hillcrest, with 500 third- through eighth-grade students at the high school.

In addition to offering basic reading and math courses, both schools have enrichment courses in outdoor life, including fishing and golf, and other areas. There is also a class in mythology .

Classes are in session from 8 a.m. until noon. The students will be served lunch before dismissal at 1 p.m.

The district provides free breakfasts and lunches for summer school students, as well as any school district residents ages 4-18. There are no income requirements.

“We will provide for any child in the Shawano community, even off the street,” said Sarah Moesch, food service director for the district.

Breakfast is served from 7:30-9 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:40 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at both schools.

“We are already busing kids there, so (we thought) it was an easy choice,” Moesch said.

School districts receive subsidies and food for the meals from the United States Department of Agriculture, which requires the schools to serve food meeting USDA requirements.

There will be no summer school classes or meals on July 4.

Jesse Hanssen is the summer school principal at Hillcrest.

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Chief says community partnership neededBy: 

[email protected]

Shawano police are planning a more aggressive stance on public nuisances that disrupt the aesthetic quality of life in the city, targeting everything from graffiti to unkempt lawns.

Chief Mark Kohl said the philosophy goes back to the “broken windows theory” that has been a staple of law enforcement for some 30 years.

“If there’s a neighborhood that’s in disrepair, if not addressed, that neighborhood will continue to be run-down,” Kohl said. “That also attracts the criminal element and also, the people living in that neighborhood get a sense that no one cares about them.”

The city has various ordinances covering such things as grass height, junked vehicles and the condition of abandoned buildings, but little has been done to enforce those ordinances unless someone complains.

“What the mayor and the Common Council have seen is that we’ve kind of dropped the ball there,” Kohl said. “It’s not just the police, not just the council, the (Department of Public Works) or the community, it’s everyone.”

Reporting problems

Kohl said what’s needed are partnerships with the community to address quality of life issues.

The department’s community service officers will also be on the lookout for ordinance violations.

“If they see something — for example, a property where the lawn is not kept up — they’re going to report it,” Kohl said.

The first step will be letting the property owners know and giving them time to address it. But if it’s not addressed, there are alternatives, such as having a vendor come in and cut the lawn and assessing the property owner the fee.

The same approach will apply to such things as yards strewn with junk, abandoned vehicles in driveways, dilapidated buildings and graffiti; things, Kohl said, that attract the criminal element.

“If we see neighborhoods that are dilapidated, let’s go in there and fix it up, so we drive that criminal element out of there, or at least the invitation,” he said.

“The mayor and the Common Council really have a strong desire to give the impression that we’re really inviting others to come visit, vacation and live here,” Kohl said. “So we want to make sure that the community is aesthetically pleasing; that those quality of life issues are addressed quickly, timely and correctly; that those lawn care issues, dilapidated buildings, those safety issues are going to be addressed.”

Landlord training

Kohl said solving those problems will take community partnerships.

To that end, one of the first steps the department is taking is a landlord training program. The free program will take place from 5-8 p.m. July 9 at City Hall.

“What we’ve been seeing is more complaints coming from neighbors on activities at rental apartments,” Kohl said. “Loud music, potential drug activity, nuisances like garbage and junk. We know what the ordinances are, but the landlords don’t.”

The training program will cover such things as “crime-free housing philosophies,” Kohl said, as well as preparing rental agreements and spotting warning signs of drug activity.

“Our philosophy is that we want to create partnerships with those landlords and have them be our advocates for a safer community,” Kohl said. “We want to decrease the amount of repeat calls we get to their properties of unruly renters or concerns of safety or health issues.”

Kohl said landlords would be cautioned, however, against crossing the line into invasion of their tenants’ privacy.

“We’re not asking them to be the eyes and ears of the police,” he said. “We don’t want them, as a result of them having access or more information about their tenants, to report that to us. That’s not our interest.”

Kohl said the department’s interest is in giving landlords somewhere to turn when they see something that should be addressed.

“They see that the children at this residence don’t seem to be clothed all the time; they’re always running around in all different kinds of inclement weather with no shoes. Who can they call?” Kohl said. “They see that the property is starting to deteriorate. What alternatives do they have?”

Kohl said landlords should not take any investigative action that police might take.

“If we hear that they’re doing something like that, we’ll tell them, ‘No, you’re not the right hand of the law enforcement agency,’” Kohl said. “Just be a good witness and report anything you think is necessary to report.”

Kohl said the landlord training program isn’t intended to give the impression that people who rent are necessarily a problem.

“There’s very good renters out there,” he said. “There’s people I know of, people that retire and would rather rent because they don’t have to worry about the upkeep of their property.”

Kohl said renters don’t typically have the responsibility for the upkeep of the property.

“The perception is that the renters are at fault. That’s why we’re inviting the landlords here,” Kohl said, “to let them know their responsibility of keeping the property up, keeping the lawns cut, falls on the landlord.”

Kohl said if there’s a rental agreement that makes it the tenant’s responsibility, that’s an issue between them.

Kohl also said it’s not just rental properties where aesthetic issues and nuisance violations take place. The same occurs, he said, even with long-term homeowners.

Proactive steps

The landlord training program, along with plans for a heightened neighborhood watch program and a citizen police academy that will provide insight into how the department works, are all proactive steps aimed at helping drive crime out of the city, Kohl said.

The goal, he said, is to have Shawano residents feel that someone cares about them and their neighborhoods.

“From their neighbor to the police to other public and private entities, it will give them that buy-in that they’re part of the community, not apart from it,” Kohl said.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A Shawano man is facing 10 counts of possessing child pornography that he allegedly downloaded from several locations over the course of six months.

Roylee W. Nowell, 20, could face a maximum possible penalty of 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each count if found guilty.

He was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond after an appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Monday. He is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance June 23.

According to the criminal complaint, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department was advised by the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) that child pornography was being downloaded and distributed over the Internet from two IP addresses in Shawano County.

Sheriff’s detectives linked those addresses, as well as a third, to Nowell, according to the complaint, which alleges he lived or was staying at those locations when the DCI observed child porn being downloaded.

The addresses were in the towns of Richmond and Wescott and in the city of Shawano, according to the complaint. The child porn was allegedly downloaded at those locations between November 2012 and April 2013.

According to the complaint, the DCI recovered 10 video files observed being downloaded at those locations from Internet sharing services known to traffic in child porn.

The videos feature prepubescent girls, some as young as 6 years old, engaged in sexual activity, according to the complaint.

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Shawano Police Department

June 16

Police logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 900 block of East Randall Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Lincoln and Fifth streets.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1400 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen in the 100 block of Sunset Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Lafayette Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Madison Way.

Juvenile — Two juveniles were cited for curfew violation in the 200 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 16

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Lyndhurst Road in the town of Herman.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road A in Bowler.

Theft — Ammunition was reported stolen on Lower Lake Road in the town of Herman.

Warrant — A 22-year-old Oshkosh woman was taken into custody on a warrant after authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Butternut Road in the town of Herman.

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

Clintonville Police Department

June 16

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Morning Glory Drive.

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Shawano Police Department

June 15

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Lieg Avenue and Union Street.

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary complaint at Joker Fireworks, 105 N. Airport Drive.

Vandalism — A truck was reported egged in the 600 block of Wolf River Avenue.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 900 block of South Union Street.

June 14

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of River Heights.

Disturbance — A female subject was removed from the scene after police responded to a disturbance at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Warrant — A 26-year-old man was arrested for a Probation and Parole violation at the New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Main and Division streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Robin Lane.

Disturbance — A 31-year-old woman was arrested on charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct in the parking lot at Kmart, 1211 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Prospect Circle.

June 13

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A decorative globe was reported stolen in the 300 block of Fairview Way.

Juvenile — A female juvenile was turned over to the Department of Social Services after police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.

Fraud — Police responded to a telephone scam complaint in the 900 block of East Green Bay Street.

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

Disturbance — Police issued a citation after responding to a disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of South Lafayette Street.

Theft — A wallet and money were reported missing at the soccer field at Eberlein Park, 100 Eberlein Park Drive.

Disturbance — A woman was removed from the scene after police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

OAR — A 52-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Main Street and County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 15

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Little Road in Gresham.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on County Road D in Bowler.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged 10 accidents, including an injury accident on County Road C in Angelica and six deer-related crashes.

June 14

Deputies logged 46 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault between inmates at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St.

Juvenile — A juvenile alcohol complaint on Primrose Lane in Tigerton was determined to be unfounded.

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

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

Theft — A utility trailer was reported stolen on County Road B in Wescott.

OAR — A 24-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St.

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

June 13

Deputies logged 56 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Theft — Money was reported stolen at the Timeline Saloon, 2707W State Highway 29, in Hartland.

Vandalism — Mailboxes were reported vandalized on Sugarbush Road in Birnamwood.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Lodge Road in the town of Washington.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged seven deer-related crashes.

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Bonduel farm to host 31st annual eventBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Cletus Kurowski maneuvers a Case tractor on his farm in Bonduel. Cletus and his wife, Gloria, are hosting the 31st annual Brunch on the Farm on June 22.

Kurowski Dairy of Bonduel will host the Shawano County Farm Bureau’s annual Brunch on the Farm on June 22.

Leading off the 31st annual event will be the inaugural 5K Dairy Dash and Stroll, at 7:15 a.m., with proceeds benefiting Feeding America, a nonprofit group with a mission to feed families in need.

“We are always looking to add something new, and to promote family fun,” said Deb Mielke, president of the Shawano County Farm Bureau. “We try to diversify the event every year.”

At 8 a.m., Mielke will lead the brunch’s nondenominational worship service for the third consecutive year.

Brunch consisting of scrambled eggs and ham, pork, sausages, hash browns, cheese, cinnamon bread, milk and juice will begin at 9 a.m. Participants in the dairy dash will be given a ticket to the brunch.

Kurowski Dairy co-owner Cletus Kurowski said the Farm Bureau first approached the family about hosting the brunch three to five years ago.

Cletus and his wife, Gloria, took over the 550-acre property in 1990 after Cletus’ parents purchased the land in 1975.

“We were honored to do it, but nerve-wracking right now,” Gloria Kurowski said Thursday. “But it gives people an opportunity to see what a dairy farm is like.”

The Kurowskis have 100 milking cows and 20 dry cows, and also grow corn and soybeans.

One of the attractions will be the swing parlor, where visitors observe the cow milking process.

“The main objective is to see how well the cows are cared for,” Mielke said. “It will have a live video feed of them and it allows people to see what they eat.”

The event also includes tours of the dairy, live music by KNX Party Band and a petting zoo. Games and activities for children will be available, including a bouncy house and barrel train rides.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Shawano County Brunch on the Farm

WHEN: 5K Dairy Dash and Stroll 7:15 a.m., worship service 8 a.m., brunch 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Kurowski Dairy, W3052 Swamp Road, Bonduel

TICKETS: $7 per person, $4 for children 5-12, free for children under 4

FYI: To preregister for Dairy Dash and Stroll, visit www.active.com.

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Shawano Police Department

June 12

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 500 block of South Union Street.

Theft — Solar lights were reported stolen in the 800 block of East Randall Street.

Theft — A gas can and a chainsaw were reported stolen in the 600 block of South Weed Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 12

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

OWL — A 28-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 29 in the town of Waukechon.

Theft — A TV was reported stolen on Rolling Hills Drive in Belle Plaine.

OAR — A 28-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in Waukechon.

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on County Road Q in Wittenberg.

OWL — A 35-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 29 in Waukechon.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint at Main Street and Lieg Avenue in Shawano.

Drug Offense — A 22-year-old woman was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Green Valley Road in Angelica.

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

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on County Road M in Pella.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 12

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on East 12th Street.

Vandalism — A juvenile referral was completed for damage to property on South Clinton Avenue.

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Limit increased from 2 to 4By: 

[email protected]

Shawano officials loosened rummage sale rules in the city Wednesday, but some hinted more regulations might be needed in the future.

The Shawano Common Council voted 5-1 to double the number of rummage and garage sales that can be held on an individual property in any given year from two to four.

For some officials, their yes vote was an acknowledgement that there are residents who are already holding numerous rummage sales, anyway.

“I believe there are people currently that have four rummage sales,” said Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz, adding that it has apparently not been an issue.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a police report that we’ve had a problem with that,” he said.

Mayor Lorna Marquardt said she had gotten several calls from residents asking why the city restricts the number of such sales.

“I was told by by several people, ‘Every community allows more than three rummage sales, what’s wrong with Shawano?’” Marquardt said.

Officials debating the issue Wednesday were apparently under the impression that the city limits rummage sales to three.

However, a check of the ordinances by City Clerk Karla Duchac on Thursday found that the current limit is two.

Marquardt said she researched similar ordinances in other communities and found many have no limits, but the average for those that do impose a limit is four.

“I don’t think that most people have enough things to sell to warrant four rummage sales in a year,” Marquardt said, “but there are those that are saying, ‘We want to be able sell things on our own property.’”

Alderman John Hoeffs, who cast the sole no vote, said he was concerned additional rummage sales would lead to people bringing in merchandise from other vendors and passing it off as a rummage sale.

“There’s going to be some type of commercialization of this; there always is,” Hoeffs said. “There’s too much coming in from different areas. They couldn’t have that much in their place.”

Alderman Woody Davis supported the increase, but suggested other restrictions might be needed in the future.

The city allows rummage sales to take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three consecutive days.

Some residents have held their sales on consecutive weekends, leaving their goods outside during the week, Davis said.

“There have been places in my district that simply put tarps over the tops of things and let them go until the following weekend and pull the tarps off and there’s junk all over the place,” he said. “There are several places around the city that I’ve seen that do the same thing.”

Davis said at some point restrictions should be added that merchandise be removed between sales.

“They can’t have them in their yard from one weekend to the next weekend to the next weekend,” he said.

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Store closing next monthBy: 

[email protected]

The company that owns the Shawano Plaza, where Kmart will close its doors next month, has been working to find a new tenant — or possibly multiple tenants — to fill the soon-to-be-vacant space, according to Shawano County Economic Progress Inc.

“They said they are working very hard on it,” said Dennis Heling, SCEPI chief economic development officer, who gave an update on the situation Wednesday to the Shawano Common Council.

The store began its liquidation sale on May 4 and will close its doors in mid-July.

The property at 1211 E. Green Bay St. was developed in 1989 and also houses Pick ‘n Save, JC Penney and a number of other tenants. It is owned and managed by Atlanta-based RCG Ventures, LLC, a privately funded real estate investment group that acquires and develops commercial real estate.

The company owns 93 properties in 21 states, including two in Wisconsin, with tenants ranging from small stores to chains as large as Walmart.

Heling said RCG is serious about filling the upcoming vacancy.

“You can imagine as the owner of a property and also managing it, the last thing you want are vacancies,” he said.

Heling said there was some concern about the size of the space that needs to be filled, roughly 87,000 square feet. He said it’s possible that Kmart could be replaced with several new tenants.

“They are probably envisioning that that space will be split in half or maybe even quarters,” Heling said.

Another consideration is the size of the Shawano area market.

“They have to have a prospective tenant that would have a business that would be successful in our size market,” Heling said.

Heling said RCG has had “several good conversations” with prospective tenants, but wasn’t told who they were for reasons of confidentiality.

“They’ve ferreted out as many leads as they can,” Heling said. “They’re reaching out and they’re trying to do everything they can to make sure that that space is filled.”

Meanwhile, the Shawano Job Center recently reached out to the 55 employees expected to lose their jobs in Shawano next month. Some of those employees will have an opportunity to relocate to other stores, according to parent company Sears Holdings.

The Job Center held two work information sessions on May 28. According to Heling, 31 of Kmart’s employees participated in the sessions.

They were given information on unemployment insurance and health care issues, community resources and options for training, Heling said.

The session included representatives from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and the College of Menominee Nation who identified areas where additional training was available if needed.

“There was also a Q&A to help workers understand what their rights would be and what they need to do,” Heling said.

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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will conduct a public meeting June 24 to discuss proposed improvements to state Highway 47 (Airport Drive) between state Highway 29 and state Highway 22 (Green Bay Street) in Shawano.

The existing pavement on Airport Drive is deteriorated and has reached the end of its service life, according to the DOT. The improvement project will also address safety concerns at the Green Bay Street and Highway 47/County Road B intersections.

Construction is scheduled for 2016.

The meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m., in the Community Room of Shawano City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St. A brief presentation is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be an open house.

The objective of the meeting is to discuss the purpose and the need for the Highway 47 project as well as obtain the public’s input on proposed improvements, construction schedule and traffic impacts.

Shawano City Hall is handicapped accessible. Citizens who are hearing-impaired and require an interpreter may request one by contacting Kristin McHugh at least three working days prior to the meeting via the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay system (dialing 711).

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Shawano Police Department

June 11

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 900 block of Olson Street.

Recovered Property — Police recovered a bike reported stolen last year chained up behind the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Threatening — Police responded to a complaint of threats being made in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 11

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Ellms Street in Wittenberg.

Vandalism — Tires were reported slashed on a vehicle on Highland Drive in the town of Washington.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Cedar Street in Tigerton.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Derby Lane in the town of Washington.

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

Accidents —An 88-year-old Marion man and an 87-year-old Marion women sustained injuries in a two-vehicle crash at state Highway 29 and County Road MMM in Richmond after a car driven by a 38-year-old Minnesota woman pulled out into the path of their minivan. The couple was transported to Shawano Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries, the Sheriff’s Department said. Authorities also logged seven deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 11

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 40-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on a Shawano County warrant.

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

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious incident on East 12th Street.

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Council rejects backyard chickens proposalBy: 

[email protected]

Anyone who might have been counting their backyard chickens before the city was done hatching its poultry ordinance can stop counting.

A proposal that would have allowed Shawano residents to keep up to four chickens was roasted by a majority of the Common Council on Wednesday, a week after the Plan Commission recommended its approval.

The council rejected the ordinance by a 4-2 vote.

Alderman John Hoeffs said he had not spoken with anyone in the community who supported backyard chickens.

Hoeffs also said he had experience raising chickens commercially, and there were more problems associated with the practice than people might realize, including lice, mites, disease and predators.

“You can put all the chicken wire you want up,” Hoeffs said. “A weasel is going to get in. He’s going to kill them anyway.”

Alderman Woody Davis, who supported the ordinance along with Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz, countered that people wouldn’t be raising chickens in the city.

“They’re having chickens on their property for eggs,” he said.

Davis also said a permit to keep chickens would require approval of that property’s immediate neighbors.

“That’s the safeguard that’s involved in it,” he said.

However, that safeguard would not have been a hard and fast rule, according to City Attorney Tim Schmid.

Schmid said the Plan Commission and Common Council would consider neighbor objections, but the council could still grant a permit for the chickens.

“Your neighbors don’t have veto authority. They just have the right to express their opinion,” Schmid said.

Council members also raised concerns about enforcement of the ordinance’s many restrictions and questioned who would be responsible for that.

Mayor Lorna Marquardt said she supported the ordinance when the Plan Commission she chairs voted 8-1 in favor of it last week.

She said she had not heard much from the community about the issue until after that vote.

“Since that time I have learned more about chickens than I ever wanted to know,” she said.

One of the concerns raised by residents, Marquardt said, is what would happen if a chicken goes stray the way cats and dogs often do.

“What are you going to do when you’ve got a chicken out on the street or on someone’s lawn? Where are you going to take it? Because the humane society does not take in birds,” Marquardt said.

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Many residents admonish council majorityBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

A sharply divided Clintonville Common Council on Tuesday passed a no-confidence vote against Mayor Judith Magee after failing to override her veto of its decision to extend the city administrator’s suspension.

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

The council voted 6-4 to override the veto Tuesday, falling one vote short of the required supermajority.

Council members Greg Rose, John Wilson, Mary Beth Kuester, Jeanne Schley, James Krause and Gloria Dunlavy voted to override the veto. Bill Zeinert, Phil Rath, Mark Doornink and Jerry Jorgenson voted against.

“I have done nothing wrong,” Magee said. “The state statute gives me the power to veto.”

Kuester said Magee had promised there would be no veto and had lost the council’s trust.

So many city residents turned out for the meeting that it had to be moved from City Hall to the Community Center after the Fire Department declared the crowd exceeded the 100-person capacity at City Hall.

The council heard about 2 1/2 hours of public comment, with most of the speakers supporting Magee and Kotter.

“This is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen, this snipping at each other,” former Alderman Gary Hagberg said. “Work together, get along here.”

Clintonville resident Tracy Sirna said the six council members targeting Kotter and Magee were not listening to their constituents.

“You are not hearing what the population wants,” she said. “We’re telling you that you are heading in the wrong direction, but you continue anyway. Get back on track. You have the ability tonight to work together.”

Resident Bill Vandaalwyk agreed.

“Lisa (Kotter) has done a good job,” he said. “The mayor vetoed the suspension and now you go after her. I don’t get it.

“We’re going in the wrong direction. I’m proud of this community, but you are not representing it well. Some of you should be ashamed.”

Alderman Greg Rose used the public comment portion of the meeting to defend his actions.

“Residents realize that what I am doing is seeking the truth and holding people accountable,” he said.

Kotter was suspended by the council on May 13 pending an investigation into alleged misconduct. Attorney Warren Kraft was hired to conduct the probe and recently made a presentation to the council in closed session, but no specifics have been released.

Kotter, who returned to work following Magee’s veto, urged the council to reveal the results of the investigation, but her critics said it has not been officially completed.

The city agreed to pay up to $10,000 from its $20,000 contingency fund for the investigation. About $6,600 has been spent to date.

“Honor the veto and go forward. We have spent enough money,” resident Robyn Rindt told the council.

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Shawano Police Department

June 10

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police investigated a harassment complaint in the 300 block of Madison Way.

Accident — Police responded to a two-car accident in the intersection of West Stevens Street and South Main Street.

Trespassing — Police investigated a complaint of trespassing in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

OAR — A 27-year-old man was charged with a third offense operating after revocation on the intersection of Fifth and Hamlin streets.

Assist — Police assisted Menominee Tribal Police, taking a runaway into custody in the 300 block of West Picnic Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 10

Deputies logged 46 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Authorities responded to a report of a car-deer accident on the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and County Road GG in Tigerton.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road C in Krakow.

Burglary — Cooper wire was reported stolen at Bauer Plumbing and Heating, W19077 First St., in Aniwa.

Vandalism — Authorities investigated property damage to a door on Lakewood Court in Shawano.

Threatening — Deputies investigated a threatening phone call made by a bill collector on Country Lane in Cecil.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a report of a broken glass door and window at the Wittenberg Town Hall, W17712 County Road Z.

Restraining — Authorities responded to a restraining order violation at the Matsche Center, 362 Railroad St., in Birnamwood.

Accident — Authorities responded to a two-car accident at the intersection of state Highway 32 and Lake Sandia in Krakow.

Animal — Authorities responded to reports of a bear on Cedar Avenue in Shawano.

OWI — Authorities took a man into custody for an OWI violation on the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and Spaulding Street in Tigerton.

Suspicious — Authorities investigated a complaint of suspicious individuals on Oak Park Road in Shawano.

Clintonville Police Department

June 10

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle accident on East Second Street.

Stolen — Police received a report of a stolen vehicle from Marion Police Department.

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By: 

Leader Staff

A 20-year-old Shawano man was arrested on drug charges Monday after he inadvertently brought police to his home with an accidental call to 911.

He has been charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, as well as obstructing an officer. The Leader policy is to name only those suspects charged with felony offenses.

Dispatchers received the 911 call about 3:30 p.m. The man said he had accidentally dialed 911 again and would meet with an officer later.

Both the city and the county last year adopted ordinances that include stiff fines for repeated abuse of 911.

The city’s ordinance provides for warnings for the first two abuses, and fines after that starting at $100 and getting as high as $1,000 for numerous repeat offenses in a year.

This was the fourth 911 misdial from the man’s cell phone since June 2013, according to police.

An officer went to the man’s home later that day intending to issue a citation for the misdial, Capt. Jeff Heffernon said.

While talking with the man, the officer saw marijuana and smoking devices in plain view, Heffernon said.

The apartment was secured, a search warrant was obtained, and police seized marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The man was ordered held on a $300 cash bond after a hearing in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Tuesday and is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on June 25.

He was also cited for misuse of 911.

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Sex Offender Registry violation

An arrest warrant was issued Monday for a Bonduel man who went missing from the state Sex Offender Registry.

Jason R. Mann, 33, was charged with a felony count of violating the requirements of the registry by failing to keep the state apprised of his address. His whereabouts are unknown.

Mann was convicted in 1998 in Shawano County of second degree sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to four months in jail and three years probation.

Mann was due to start a 60-day jail sentence in Brown County last month after a conviction for theft and concealing stolen property, but never showed up at the jail, according to the criminal complaint.

Mann could face a possible maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of the Sex Offender Registry violation.

Felony OWI

A Seymour man is facing a felony charge of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated after his arrest in Shawano on Saturday.

Jeffrey J. Leurquin, 30, was pulled over about 7 p.m. after police spotted a passenger in his vehicle not wearing a seat belt.

According to the criminal complaint, police could smell alcohol on him. An initial breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.103, the complaint states.

Leurquin could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted.

He is also charged with three counts of felony bail jumping, each of which carries the same possible penalty, and a misdemeanor count of operating after revocation.

Leurquin was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond. He is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance Wednesday.

Felony theft

A Shawano teen has been charged with two counts of felony theft for allegedly shoplifting more than $1,200 worth of merchandise from Walmart.

Jedidiah D. Narlock, 18, was arrested Monday at the Shawano Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., after employees allegedly caught him attempting to steal an Apple router.

According to the criminal complaint, Narlock was the same person seen in surveillance video on two other occasions shoplifting electronics from the store.

Those incidents allegedly occurred on May 30 and June 3. Monday’s incident led to an additional misdemeanor count of theft.

Narlock could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of the felony counts if found guilty.

Narlock posted a cash bond of $500 and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 26.

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5-day waiting period still appliesBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Contributed Photo Shawano residents Jamey Spencer, left, and his fiance, Ivan Machmueller, are hoping to take advantage of the federal court ruling that overturned Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriage. The two have been engaged since December 2011.

The Shawano County clerk’s office is accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb late Friday declared Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban unconstitutional but did not issue an order telling the state how to implement her decision. She is mulling whether to adopt a proposed order from the American Civil Liberties union that would force clerks to issue licenses.

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, meanwhile, says the ban is still in place since Crabb didn’t issue a clear order halting enforcement. He has appealed the decision and asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to order that licenses stop being issued.

The court has given Van Hollen and the ACLU until 5 p.m. Wednesday for motions on whether it has the authority to act before Crabb does.

On Monday morning, Shawano County Clerk Rosemary Rueckert told the Leader she would need a new form from the state before she could legally issue the licenses.

Rueckert said Tuesday, however, that her office will now accept marriage applications from same-sex couples but, on the advice of Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus, could not waive the five-day waiting period like some other counties are doing.

The latest count Tuesday by The Associated Press shows clerks in 49 Wisconsin counties are issuing licenses to same-sex couples who want to get married.

Twenty-three of the state’s 72 county clerks’ offices say they are waiting for direction from the court or state.

Rueckert was not expecting a rush on licenses similar to Dane and Milwaukee counties, where more than 200 couples were married Friday and Saturday. She said she has processed seven applications for same-sex domestic partnerships since that law took effect on Aug. 3, 2009.

“I had one person inquiring, but no one that came down here,” Rueckert said Tuesday.

Crabb’s ruling was welcome news to Jamey Spencer, a Shawano resident engaged to Ivan Machmueller, whom he met 4½ years ago. Spencer and Machmueller did not expect that Wisconsin’s same-sex marriage ban would be overturned this soon.

“I was shocked. I thought we would have been waiting many years,” Spencer said. “I thought Wisconsin would have been one of the last ones (to get same-sex marriage rights).”

Machmueller proposed to Spencer on the steps of the state Capitol in December 2011 during a visit to see the annual Christmas tree display. The couple moved in 2012 to Shawano.

“We just want to get the same rights as everyone else,” Spencer said. “We’re basically like any other couple. We’re just wanting fair treatment.”

Although some couples opt to have a wedding without the legal benefits of marriage, Spencer said he and Machmueller felt it was best to wait until it was legal.

“We’re in the works of setting a date and planning it all,” Spencer said.

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Shawano Police Department

June 9

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at Lieg Avenue and Washington Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

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

Drug Offense — A 20-year-old Shawano man was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and resisting arrest in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Disturbance — Charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct were referred against a 53-year-old Neopit man after a disturbance at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — A 22-year-old Shawano man was arrested on charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct after a disturbance in the 700 block of South Lincoln Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 9

Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — A 19-year-old Elderon male was cited for underage drinking after authorities responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint on Cozy Oaks Circle in Wescott.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Flint Avenue in Mattoon.

OAR — A 28-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation and taken into custody on a Probation and Parole hold on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disorderly — A 47-year-old Bowler man was cited for disorderly conduct on Rollman Street in Bowler.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Camp 14 Road in Bowler.

Theft — A gun was reported stolen on Basswood Road in the town of Herman.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on Deer Drive in Angelica and two deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 8

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Citations were issued for disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer after an investigation on South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a family disturbance on East 12th Street.

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