Shawano Leader News

Madsen might need to reapply for jobBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Tom Madsen

Tom Madsen might need to reapply for his job, if the Shawano County Board approves a resolution changing the administrative coordinator job from part time to full time.

The Administrative Committee voted unanimously Monday to draft a resolution for the County Board to make the position full time, which it had been until two years ago, when Frank Pascarella left the position. At the time, the committee and the County Board voted to make it a part-time position of 25 to 30 hours per week.

The situation has changed, however, with the county implementing a wage study and considering whether to merge the Social Services and Community Programs departments into a Human Services Department.

Supervisor Gene Hoppe noted that Charlie Carlson, a consultant assisting with the wage study, and Dan Borowski, a consultant for the revamped employee handbook, both recommended that the county make the administrative coordinator a full-time position.

“If we’re going to run the county, we’re going to need to make sure we have the right tools,” Hoppe said. “A full-time administrative coordinator is probably what we need. I know it’s an extra expense.”

Madsen is working about 35 to 40 hours per week, he told the committee Monday, but only gets paid for 25 hours per week at a rate of $40.60 an hour. Madsen’s salary is $52,780 annually.

“I don’t have a dog in this hunt. This is your decision,” Madsen said.

Committee members also said if the position is made full time, the recruitment process should be opened to ensure the county has the best candidate for the job.

Madsen said he had no objections to being a full-time coordinator, but Supervisor Jerry Erdmann said that “more than half of the board” would object to making the position full time but leaving Madsen in the seat.

“We need to make it public. We need to start from scratch,” Erdmann said.

The committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting is 12:30 p.m. July 1, although the committee has the option to meet prior to the County Board’s meeting on June 25 to vote on the resolution.

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Shawano Police Department

June 8

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

OWI — A 25-year-old Illinois man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 400 block of North Main Street.

Theft — A lawn mower was reported stolen in the 600 block of East Green Bay Street.

June 7

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 30-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Juvenile — Three juveniles were cited for curfew violations at Green Bay and Lincoln streets.

Shoplifting — Pick N Save, 190 Woodlawn Drive, reported a shoplifting incident.

Theft — Medication was reported stolen in the 200 block of River Heights.

Warrant — A 30-year-old Seymour man was taken into custody on a warrant at Green Bay and Sawyer streets.

Drug Offense — A 23-year-old Green Bay man was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at Washington and Stevens streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of North Washington Street.

June 6

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Sawyer and Center streets.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Main and Mills streets.

Theft — Money was reported stolen in the 500 block of South Webb Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Fraud — Police investigated an Internet scam complaint in the 700 block of South Hamlin Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of South Andrews Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 8

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — A burglary was reported on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman.

OWI — A 34-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on County Road A in Wescott.

Vandalism — Glass doors were reported shattered at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Birnamwood.

Theft — A phone was reported stolen on Bartelt Street in Gresham.

Disorderly Conduct — Authorities responded to a lewd and lascivious behavior complaint at the boat landing on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Theft — Fuel was reported stolen from a tractor tank on Zachow Road in Hartland.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Rustic Circle in Belle Plaine.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes and one vehicle versus turkey.

June 7

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 37-year-old Seymour man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after a motorcycle accident on County Road MM in Richmond.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on at the Shawano County Park, W5791 Lake Drive, in Wescott.

Theft — Fuel and fuel filters were reported stolen from a garage on Grandview Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road N in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

June 6

Deputies logged 56 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on County Road MMM in Richmond.

Burglary — Authorities investigated an attempted burglary on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraudulent check complaint on County Road D in Aniwa.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged injury accidents on County Road BE in Wescott and Crest Drive in Maple Grove and three deer-related crashes.

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By: 

Leader Staff

There were no same-sex couples at the Shawano County Courthouse at the start of business Monday seeking marriage licenses, and Shawano County Clerk Rosemary Rueckert said she would need a new form from the state before she could legally issue the licenses.

A federal judge ruled Friday that Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen was expected to petition a federal appeals court Monday to stop county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Rueckert said Shawano County forms for marriage licenses say “bride” and “groom” and that she cannot legally alter the document. She said she has been in contact with the Wisconsin Department of Vital Records and was told a new form with gender-neutral terms was being drafted, although she had no timetable on when she would receive it.

Rueckert was not expecting a rush similar to Dane and Milwaukee counties, where dozens of couples were married Friday and Saturday, pointing out that she has only processed seven applications for same-sex domestic partnerships since that law took effect on Aug. 3, 2009.

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Interviews slated for later this monthBy: 

[email protected]

A vacant patrol post at the Shawano Police Department had drawn 65 applicants as of Friday afternoon, with the possibility of even more coming in under the wire of the deadline.

The job had been posted for only about two weeks. Applications were to be postmarked by Friday, which means more might arrive in the mail early next week, Police Chief Mark Kohl said.

“I’m very happy and encouraged that so many people want to come here and serve the citizens of Shawano,” Kohl said.

The job had been open for about three months as a result of an officer resignation, but the Police and Fire Commission decided to wait until a new chief was in place before posting the position.

Kohl took over the department on May 1 after Ed Whealon retired.

The department is allotted 19 officers and has 18. An eligibility list for potential new hires in the future will be drawn from candidates who aren’t hired this time around.

The vacancy has drawn a wide range of applicants, including recent graduates and some still in academic programs, Kohl said, as well as seasoned veterans from Northeast Wisconsin police and sheriff’s departments.

The starting salary for an entry level officer is $42,716.

Testing of selected applicants will take place over the next couple of weeks, followed by interviews by the end of the month.

There is also an extensive training program the new hire will have to go through before he or she is ready to start.

Kohl said the department has been jockeying shifts and paying a lot of overtime to make up for the vacancy.

“I thought it was important we get this implemented,” he said.

Police have responded to 3,339 calls this year as of the end of the day Thursday.

Kohl has also been backing up officers on patrol, but that won’t change after the new hire.

Kohl said he looks forward to taking and responding to calls and even making traffic stops.

“It shows the officers I’m one of them,” he said.

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Artwork and craft items also availableBy: 

Carol Wagner, Leader Correspondent

Photo by Carol Wagner Jolene Hedtke is the owner of Antiques & Collectables on Main in Shawano.

When she was 4 years old, Jolene Hedtke’s house burned down and she lost all her toys.

“I collected them when I got older,” she said.

She also collected many other things, which are now on display and for sale at her new store, Antiques & Collectables on Main at 122 S. Main St. in Shawano.

“I’ve been collecting antiques for years,” Hedtke said.

There’s a lot to look at in the new store, which has a plethora of antiques, art work and craft items.

Hedtke is friends with Ann Peebles, owner of The Consign Shop, which is next door.

“I was just walking by,” Hedtke said, when she found the location.

The owner had already painted and rewired the building, so Hedtke didn’t have to do a lot of work getting it ready.

About 25 percent of the stock belongs to Hedtke. The rest is on consignment from other antique collectors and artists from Shawano, Gresham, Bonduel, Appleton, Neenah, Weyauwega, Bear Creek and Pella.

Hedtke and the consigners come to an agreement on prices which is split 70/30.

“It’s been a lot of positive feedback,” she said.

Hedtke tries to find items that she knows people are looking for.

“I have a small shop so I have to be selective,” she said.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

On Aug. 10, Mark Moran, an appraiser from Antiques Roadshow, will be at the store beginning at 1 p.m. The price is $15 per item; pre-registration is required.

Hedtke can be contacted at [email protected].

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Shawano Police Department

June 5

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary in the 200 block of East Randall Street. A TV was reported stolen.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Shoplifting — Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Picnic and Smalley streets.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 1200 block of South River Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 400 block of South Andrews Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 5

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Old Keshena Road in Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road J in Tigerton.

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

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on County Road D in Pella.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint at Mia’s Bar, 211 E. Grand Ave., in Wittenberg.

Theft — A trailer was reported stolen on Resort Road in the town of Washington.

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident on state Highway 47 in Hartland and three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

June 5

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated after an ambulance call on 18th Street.

Theft — Money was reported stolen on South Main Street.

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More than 100 East Green Bay Street properties includedBy: 

[email protected]

A proposal to create a new tax increment financing (TIF) district aimed at spurring development along East Green Bay Street drew nearly two dozen business owners from along the proposed route to a public hearing Wednesday before the Shawano Plan Commission.

TIF districts are areas where municipalities invest in infrastructure, such as sewer and water, to attract development where it might not otherwise occur, or to make improvements, such as eliminating blight. Whatever increase in tax revenue that results from development in those districts goes to paying back the debt the municipality incurred from making improvements to the district.

Business owners were mainly concerned about whether property taxes would increase and whether there could be some negative impact from being in a so-called “blight elimination district.”

City Administrator Brian Knapp said the district would have no effect on taxes unless improvements are made to a property that raise that property’s assessed value.

“You wouldn’t pay any more or less than you would if it was not a TIF district,” he said.

Knapp also said he doesn’t like to use the word “blighted,” but said it’s statutory term required for the district.

State law requires the city to show that at least 50 percent of property within a proposed TIF district is a “blighted area.”

Mary Bohm of Bohm Builders, 1213 E. Green Bay St., said the term could hurt the resale value of properties within the district.

“When I hear ‘blighted,’ I think of a tomato plant with a disease,” she said.

Plan Commission member Dave Passehl said there are a few properties in the district that could be considered truly blighted as opposed to simply in need of improvements.

“The Ponderosa building is a potentially blighted property,” he said, referring to the former restaurant at 1247 E. Green Bay St., which has been closed since 2008. “There are properties that are vacant and haven’t been maintained.”

Knapp said there are several vacant properties along East Green Bay Street that are “a blight on the area.”

He said the expectation that those properties will eventually change hands and be made available for development was a key reason for proposing a TIF district.

“That’s why we considered moving forward with this,” he said.

Knapp also said the blighted designation will not show up on tax deeds or any other documents outside of the report prepared for the city by planning consultant Vierbicher Associates Inc. of Madison.

The city also has a “blight elimination district” covering the downtown that was established six years ago.

“I don’t believe that has had any negative impact on development or property owners’ ability to sell or transfer their properties,” Knapp said.

The proposed district would stretch from mid-block between Sawyer and Andrews streets east to just past Rusch Road.

It would encompass more than 100 properties, but would zigzag around those properties that are sufficiently developed, including a major detour around the Shawano County Fairgrounds.

The plan envisions spending about $8.6 million, including $4 million in infrastructure improvements, such as road work and sewer and water utilities, and $1.5 million in incentives to property owners.

However, those numbers are flexible and, Knapp said, the city would prefer to spend more on incentives to property owners.

Knapp said the city is in the process of developing a program and the criteria necessary to provide grants and low-interest loans to property owners.

However, nothing would be spent unless there is an expectation of a return in revenue of about four or five times what was invested, he said.

Knapp said that, assuming the necessary approval is given, funds could be available for property owners as soon as August.

Shawano resident Ron Dahm said business owners should support the idea.

“This is a win-win situation for business,” he said.

The Plan Commission unanimously approved the proposed TIF district after the public hearing. The plan next goes to the Common Council.

Other taxing entities — including Shawano County, the Shawano School District and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College — would have to approve of the plan, because they would not share in any additional revenue from new development in the district until the improvements are paid off.

A Joint Review Board made up of representatives of those entities has already been presented with the plan and will take a vote on it next month.

Shawano has one TIF district that has already been paid off and four that are still active: Raasch Industrial Park; a residential area targeted for blight elimination from Main Street east to Lincoln street and Zingler Avenue south to Pearl Avenue; a downtown TIF district running from the Main Street bridge south to Sunset Avenue; and the Bay Lakes Industrial Park.

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Hawk Time aims to bolster students' test scoresBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Students at Olga Brener Intermediate and Hillcrest Primary schools in Shawano will spend an extra 30 minutes per day on both math and reading/language arts starting in the 2014-15 school year.

Officials described what they called an intervention program, dubbed “Hawk Time,” to the School Board on Monday.

The intervention periods raised questions about how other classes would be affected.

“You added an hour. What else are you going to take off?” board member Beth McFarlane asked the administrators.

Principal Karen Smith said she expects classes will start 10 minutes earlier than usual at Olga Brener, lunch periods will be reduced from 60 to 45 minutes, library time will be reduced from 45 minutes to 30 minutes, and the snack/milk break will be incorporated into class periods to save another 15 minutes. That leaves about five minutes to be shaved from other areas.

Principal Troy Edwards told the Leader plans to incorporate Hawk Time into the schedule at Hillcrest were still being developed. He said the school would not change its start time or length of the lunch period.

He said the scheduling will be “quite tricky” and complicated, and would be developed further during staff training this summer.

“We are not taking anything away nor chopping anything, we are just refocusing,” Edwards said. “Our instruction times will still maintain Department of Public Instruction guidelines.”

Edwards and Smith said Hawk Time is based on a similar program they observed at Valley View Elementary in Ashwaubenon.

“We are always looking at our school and looking at how we can do better,” Smith said. “We were very impressed with what they were doing there.”

The 30-minute Hawk Time intervention periods will be a key part of the district’s efforts to improve students’ scores on standardized tests. After about a three-week assessment period at the beginning of the school year, all students will be placed in one of three tiers.

More advanced students will be placed in Tier 1, where one teacher will work with 25 students during each Hawk Time. In Tier 2, a teacher will work with four to eight students. The teacher-student ratio in Tier 3 is 1-to-3.

Students will have the ability to move up or down tiers throughout school year. Teachers and specialists will meet weekly to monitor the students’ progress.

“Every kid will get a targeted 30 minutes (in each subject) of intervention time daily,” Edwards said.

The intervention periods will integrate lessons from various classes to ensure there are no serious reductions in time spent on other subjects such as science and social studies.

“If a student is studying butterflies in science, he or she might be reading about it during the reading intervention time,” Edwards said.

Shawano schools performed below the state average in both math and reading last year on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination, which will be replaced next year by the Smarter Balanced assessment system.

Administrators say the Smarter Balanced assessment includes more rigorous content than WKCE and is more closely aligned with the Common Core State Standards.

Common Core, which has been adopted by 45 states, established consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English/language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Because the Smarter Balanced exams are computer-based, students also will be scheduled for 30 minutes of computer time each week to help bolster their performance.

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Sturgeon Trail will take years to developBy: 

[email protected]

Shawano officials are considering a purchase that would add another piece of the puzzle to the Wolf River Sturgeon Trail.

The trail would eventually link Sturgeon Park and Kuckuk Park. The city has been purchasing properties for the trail, which would run along the Wolf River, as they have become available for about 10 years.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said the trail is part of a long-range plan that could take years to complete.

“This could take 20 more years, maybe longer,” he said.

There are still six private properties between the two parks, including a property at 1219 S. River St. that the city is now looking to buy.

The Plan Commission on Wednesday recommended to the Common Council moving forward with an offer to purchase the property at a cost from $100,000 to $110,000, depending on appraisals of the property.

An appraisal done by the owner in September placed the value at $100,000.

Because the city wouldn’t need the entire property for the corridor, the section not needed for the trail would likely be put back on the market for sale.

“We don’t necessarily want to eliminate residential use of those areas,” City Administrator Brian Knapp said. “It would make sense that we split the property.”

Knapp said he was confident the remaining parcel would sell for a minimum of $50,000.

The city could be eligible for a Department of Natural Resources grant that would cover half the cost of whatever portion of the property the city retains.

The property in question is separated by just one other private property from Kuckuk Park. Four other properties lie between that property and what the city already owns.

“It would be landlocked until we have access to other properties,” Knapp said.

The city is also open to getting easements from other properties along the Wolf River for the trail, which wouldn’t require purchasing the entire properties. Much of the waterfront along those properties is wooded and apparently unused by the property owners.

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Stockbridge-Munsee won't seek licenseBy: 

The Associated Press

A development group that wanted to build a casino in the Catskills is dropping out, saying the possibility of a competing casino closer to New York City would make their proposal unsustainable.

Trading Cove and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Wisconsin said Thursday they will not bid for a gaming license in the Sullivan County town of Thompson. The developers said the possibility of a casino in neighboring Orange County would dilute the market.

The tribe and its partner in April paid a $1 million non-refundable fee to apply for a commercial casino in Sullivan County. Plans called for a $750 million facility on 330 acres in the town of Thompson. The tribe also planned to pursue an off-reservation casino at the site under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Thompson Supervisor William Rieber said an Orange County casino could make it harder for the remaining three Sullivan County proposals to get financing.

There are 18 groups vying for four licenses that will be granted in the Albany-Saratoga area, the Southern Tier-Finger Lakes region and the Catskills and mid-Hudson Valley.

The Catskills region, about 90 miles north of New York City, will receive two of the commercial casino licenses. The actual fee for a license is expected to run as high as $70 million.

Applicants must submit proposals by June 30.

Last November, voters approved a referendum to authorize up to seven casinos in the state.

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A USDA program will provide free meals this summer for qualifying children of the Shawano School District.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are unavailable.

Free meals will be available to eligible children 18 and younger. Persons older than 18 who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private nonprofit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well.

Free breakfasts will be served from 7:45-9 a.m. and free lunches from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day during summer school at Hillcrest Primary School and Shawano Community High School. Summer school runs from June 16 to July 18.

Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.

“This program fills a void created when school breakfast and lunches are not available,” said Sarah Moesch, food service director, Taher, Inc., for the Shawano School District. “Helping parents meet the nutritional needs of their children is the strength of this program.”

For more information, call 715-526-2175, ext. 8250.

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Shawano Police Department

June 4

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Theft — A flag was reported stolen in the 900 block of South Smalley Street.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen from the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

June 4

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Church Road in Cecil.

Bail Jumping — A 30-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody for bail jumping on County Road B in Shawano.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Almon Street in Bowler.

OWI — A 29-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on County Road BB in Green Valley.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Water Street in the town of Grant.

Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes.

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Commission sends proposal to councilBy: 

[email protected]

Shawano residents hungry for a steady supply of fresh eggs from their own backyard chickens moved a step closer to their dream coming true Wednesday.

The Plan Commission recommended a new city ordinance that would allow the birds to be kept within city limits. The commission voted 8-1 to overturn the city’s ban on urban poultry and adopt a new ordinance allowing up to four chickens.

The matter now goes to the Shawano Common Council for consideration.

Commissioner Richard Felts cast the sole no vote after telling fellow commissioners that every resident he spoke with was opposed to the idea.

“I talked to about 20 to 25 different people,” Felts said, including some residents who thought he was joking. “I did not find anybody that was in favor of having this chicken ordinance passed.”

Commissioner Chad Kary said he had gotten the opposite reaction.

“A lot of people are very enthusiastic about this sort of thing,” he said.

No one from the public spoke on the issue during the meeting.

Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz, who is also on the commission, said he had heard only one negative comment.

Kurkiewicz also said the rules that would govern the keeping of chickens as set down in the ordinance would likely guarantee that only the most devoted chicken fans would go through the trouble of complying.

“It really is going to have someone who is a die-hard chicken person before they would just randomly get chickens,” he said. “This is not a fly-by-night thing where everyone’s going to get a chicken because we have an ordinance.”

The ordinance would require chicken owners to get a permit from the city and approval in writing from their neighbors.

It would allow up to four chickens, but no roosters, on a single-family detached dwelling.

Sanitary enclosures would be required that would have to be kept clean, ventilated and predator-proof.

The proposed ordinance also sets down regulations for the size and location of chicken coops and requires feed to be kept in rodent- and predator-proof containers.

Permits would be good for one year and could be revoked by the Common Council on the recommendation of the city clerk or building inspector.

The commission recommended to the council that the price for a permit, which would cover all four chickens, should be $10.

Scott Krueger, a dietitian who has lived in the city for 18 years, brought the backyard chicken proposal to the Plan Commission last month. He said he had 20 letters of support from other Shawano residents.

Similar ordinances are already on the books in more than a dozen other municipalities in the state, ranging from the village of River Hills (population 1,641) to the city of Oshkosh (population 65,000). A number of other communities, including several in Brown County, are also looking at similar ordinances.

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The investment group, which also owns and operates The Cottages on Golden Pond Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shawano, will operate the MeadowLands under the new name of The Cottages at MeadowLands.

Cara Peterson, general manager of the Shawano facility, will oversee The Cottages at MeadowLands.

“I’ve managed The MeadowLands in the past and now return home with gained knowledge and continued strong beliefs in providing excellent care for those who are in need of intermediate care in a home-like apartment setting,” said Peterson, who is originally from Oconto Falls. “I believe in working together as health care professionals and a community to create a healthy living atmosphere for loved ones.”

The Cottages will operate the MeadowLands facility as a licensed and certified Residential Care Apartment Complex and plans to break ground on a new Community Based Residential Facility later this summer that will focus on dementia care.

“We are very excited to bring our high level of care to Oconto Falls, and in doing so, create jobs and service the needs of the local market,” said Wade T. Micoley, owner president of The Cottages Investment Group, LLC.

Once approved, the new facility will be built adjacent to the current assisted living facility at 751 E. Highland Drive in Oconto Falls and focus on dementia care, specifically Alzheimer’s disease.

“Alzheimer’s has touched my family, like it has so many others, and that makes this new facility even more important to our community,” Peterson said. “I am very proud to bring this area of health care into Oconto Falls. Working closely with the area chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, we will be able to bring innovative treatments and techniques to our residents and their families.”

Although a diagnosis of dementia is not required for admission to the new facility, the staff will be specially trained to accommodate the needs of those with mild to moderate memory problems. Short-term stays, respite and hospice care will be available also.

“Our staff take pride in the reputation they have built for The Cottages of Shawano, and this will be no doubt the same at The Cottages at MeadowLands,” Peterson said. “We all do this for one reason: to make life healthier and easier for elderly and their families in our community. Our tenants and their children trust us to provide the best care possible. And we do a very good job at that.”

For more information on The Cottages Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities in Oconto Falls or to inquire about admission, call 866-380-8174 or visit www.meadowlandsretire.com.

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Economic impact study being done this summerBy: 

The Associated Press

Supporters of a proposed casino in Kenosha say they are moving ahead with their plans for the $810 million, multi-phase project while they wait for approval from Gov. Scott Walker.

The first phase of construction would include more than 400,000 square feet and feature an entertainment venue and retail space. It would also include 2,700 slot machines, 100 table games and 24 poker games.

A temporary casino at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park site would be opened while construction of the new facility is under way.

The second phase of the project would feature a hotel, spa and pool and be completed about four years later, said Jeff Hook, vice president of marketing for Seminole Gaming, which owns Hard Rock International.

The Menominee Tribe has been pushing to open an off-reservation casino for more than 20 years, saying it will help pull its tribal members out of poverty. The tribe wants to open the casino at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park site. It would be operated by Hard Rock International.

“We are ready to get started,” Hook said.

Walker’s administration has commissioned an independent study on the project and its economic impact on the Kenosha and Menominee tribes, as well as the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk tribes, which operate other casinos in Wisconsin and oppose the project.

Walker has said he wouldn’t approve the casino unless all of the state’s 11 tribes agree to it.

The study is expected to be finished this summer. Walker has until Feb. 19 to approve or deny the project.

Even with approval, the project could face lawsuits from opponents, Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority chairman Gary Besaw said.

George Ermert, spokesman for the Potawatomi, said the tribe believes Walker will reject the casino.

“This is a project that will be developed and managed by a Florida Indian tribe who will take hundreds of millions of Wisconsin money back to Florida,” Ermert said in an email.

Supporters say the casino would create 1,400 construction jobs, 3,300 direct, permanent jobs and 1,800 indirect jobs.

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Most of $20K loan paid offBy: 

Lee Pulaski, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Rhonda Strebel, Rotary president and city alderwoman, cuts the ribbon officially opening the Sturgeon Park gazebo to the public.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Shawano Rotary members and local residents gather on Monday for a dedication ceremony for the new gazebo in Sturgeon Park. The structure cost $20,000 to build and will be available for community activities.

Shawano residents and visitors have another reason to visit Sturgeon Park.

The Shawano Rotary cut the ribbon Monday on a new gazebo that will be available for a variety of activities. There is electricity available for evening activities and anything involving a sound system.

“This gazebo project was chosen by the Shawano Rotary to showcase the beautiful Wolf River,” said Rhonda Strebel, club president and city alderwoman. “It’s a place where the sturgeon spawn in the springtime, where many visitors come to the site annually. We wanted to provide a shelter for those living in the community and for those who come to visit.”

Alderman Woody Davis, speaking on the city’s behalf, noted that Sturgeon Park is one of the most visited parks in the city. The park was built in 2002 with the aid of a $150,000 grant from the Urban Rivers Fund from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and is the midway point on the 76-mile Mountain Bay Trail.

“This beautiful gazebo will be enjoyed by many,” Davis said. “It is a wonderful and much appreciated asset for the park. It is another example of a successful partnership project in our community.”

The gazebo is still a work in progress. Strebel said a monument noting all the donors and volunteers will be posted, similar to the one that stands in Kuckuk Park. Also, a blue steel roof will be added to the existing wooden frame.

“If you look up at the sky right now and see the color blue that it is, that’s the color that the roof will be,” Strebel said.

The gazebo project cost $20,000, with the city fronting the money. Strebel said the $5,000 balance on the loan will be paid off this year.

The Rotary got half of the money to pay back the city via a grant from the Sikora Family Fund, facilitated through the Shawano Area Community Foundation, which paid for the supplies.

Rotarian and consultant Scott Nordin was the manager for the project. Cerveny Construction also helped to build the gazebo. Work progressed despite a wet and cold spring.

“This was a rough spring, so we didn’t know when this was going to be built exactly,” Strebel said.

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Captain cites finances, 'political climate'By: 

[email protected]

Capt. Tom Tuma dropped his bid Tuesday for the Shawano County Sheriff Department’s top job, saying that a prolonged campaign for sheriff would not be financially sustainable.

Tuma was one of three candidates vying for the Republican nomination for sheriff in the Aug. 12 primary, along with incumbent Randy Wright and Officer Adam Bieber of the Shawano Police Department.

The winner will face Independent challenger Lucas Christenson in the Nov. 4 election.

Tuma’s name will still appear on the August primary ballot, said County Clerk Rosemary Rueckert, because Tuma’s withdrawal came a day after the deadline for filing nomination papers.

Tuma is asking that voters not consider him.

Tuma also cited the “current negative political climate,” as another factor in his decision to drop out of the race.

Since announcing his bid last month, Tuma had steadfastly refused to say anything critical of his primary opponents; even declining to say why voters should elect him over the other candidates.

Tuma also said he did not view his bid as a challenge against Wright.

“I was applying for a job,” he said.

Tuma said he entered the race because of the challenges the department faces in the form of increasing drug-related crime and difficult economic times ahead.

“It is my sincere belief that my ability to approach such issues in a multi-faceted manner would have been beneficial as we confront these issues,” he said. “My efforts in this area will continue with the sheriff’s office.”

Tuma also declined to endorse either of the remaining candidates.

“The sheriff’s office is a complex multi-million dollar a year agency. It has a lot of moving parts,” Tuma said. “It is therefore critical that leaders have a thorough understanding of how to apply these resources and how they interact.”

Tuma said the number one message he heard while campaigning was that people were looking to see unity among county officials and an end to division.

“In calling attention to the tone of ongoing debates it is my sincere hope that, as a whole, we can move forward with a positive spirit,” Tuma said.

Tuma said he understood many of his supporters would be disappointed with his withdrawal.

“They have my profound thanks for their encouragement and counsel. This decision was as difficult for my entire family as was the one to join the race. This truly was a family decision,” he said. “This early departure is simply an acknowledgement that a drawn-out race would not be in anyone’s best interest.”

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Mayor uses veto to lift suspensionBy: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Lisa Kotter returned to work Monday after Mayor Judith Magree lifted a three-week suspension of Clintonville’s city administrator.

The City Council voted 6-4 May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer the issue to the city’s labor attorney.

Magee, however, vetoed that decision Monday, saying an investigation’s findings did not warrant Kotter being fired.

The council could override Magee’s veto with a two-thirds majority (seven votes). The council’s next scheduled meeting is June 10.

Magee said removing Kotter would not be in the best interest of the city, and that a majority of people attending council meetings opposed the action being taken against the administrator.

“It is not in the best interest of the city of Clintonville to be without a city administrator any longer while work is continuing to not get done,” Magee said in a prepared statement. “The volume of work that is not being completed in the absence of our administrator is reaching a level that could jeopardize our city further and jeopardize ongoing projects.

“This is exasperated due to two key department head positions being vacant and a new city attorney that was not involved in the city work prior to the administrator’s suspension.”

Magee pointed out several projects that have been neglected during Kotter’s suspension: the Main Street reconstruction project, an industrial real estate transaction on Industrial Avenue, the airport runway expansion, funding for the 2015 waster water treatment facility upgrade, hiring a utility manager, training the public works manager, monitoring the sidewalk assessment program and others.

Kotter issued a statement saying she was glad to be back at work.

Kotter was suspended by the council on May 13 pending an investigation into alleged misconduct. The investigation was conducted by attorney Warren Kraft and presented to the council in closed session.

The city agreed to pay up to $10,000 from its contingency fund for the investigation.

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An investigation was continuing Tuesday into the death of a 24-year-old Appleton woman in Clintonville over the weekend.

A 38-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody during the course of that investigation and was being held on a probation violation, according to the Clintonville Police Department. No charges had been filed as of Tuesday.

Police assisted the Clintonville Area Ambulance Service shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday responding to a report of a female who had been “seizuring and was pulseless and not breathing,” according to a news release.

Resuscitation efforts failed and the victim, identified as Kayla Marques, 24, of Appleton, was later pronounced dead at the scene by the deputy coroner.

Results of the autopsy were still being processed and were not yet available, police said.

Police said the woman died of a suspected drug overdose in their initial news release, but an updated news release omitted that reference.

The Clintonville man being held was one of two other people at the residence at the time. A 26-year-old Clintonville woman was also questioned by police and released.

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Changes will bolster securityBy: 

Jason Arndt, [email protected]

Renovations planned at two Shawano schools this summer are intended to help keep students and staff safe.

Changes to the entry areas at the high school and middle school will force visitors to pass through the office area before entering the main portion of either school.

Although visitors now have to be buzzed in by school personnel, the “blind” entrances at both schools enable guests to enter the building unseen by staff, other than via a security camera.

Both schools were built when school safety was not considered an issue. School shootings, most notably in Columbine, Colo., in 1999 and Newtown, Conn., in 2012, have raised awareness of the issue and prompted districts across the U.S. to improve security.

“As parents and community members are concerned over school violence across the country, you want to make sure it does not happen to us,” said Jeff Easter, district maintenance director.

Easter said the entry areas will be similar to both Hillcrest Primary School and Olga Brener Intermediate School.

“This is the way most schools are operating now,” he said. “Hillcrest was built in the manner where it was addressed immediately.”

Scott Zwirschitz, principal at Shawano Community High School, has lobbied for the changes for two years.

“We have been looking to always make our school as secure as possible,” Zwirschitz said. “When you look at school security, the biggest thing that keeps a building secure is being proactive, not reactive.”

The work, which will begin in July and be completed prior to the start of the 2014-15 school year, is expected to cost less than $10,000 and will be done by Felts Construction.

Both schools have two sets of doors, exterior and interior, at the entrances. Workers will cut a hole in the wall between the entrance and office at each school, install a locked door there, and add locks to the interior doors leading into the school from the entrance.

Visitors will still need to be buzzed in to gain entry to the office area before proceeding into the school.

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