Shawano Police Department

March 29

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 19-year-old Keshena man was arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct after a domestic disturbance at Prospect Circle and Valley Lane.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 302 S. Main St.

Shoplifting — The Consign Shop, 124 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of West Picnic Street.

Drug Offense — Police responded to a drug complaint at Sunset Avenue and Franklin Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 29

Deputies logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Fourth Street in Mattoon.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road D in the town of Pella.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on Balsam Road in the town of Herman.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on First Street in Aniwa.

Accidents — Authorities logged four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

March 29

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Accident — Accident report completed for a two-vehicle property damage accident at Madison and Bennett streets.

Disturbance — A male party was arrested for domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct on Eighth Street.

Truancy — Police logged a truancy complaint from the high school and a contributing to truancy complaint on Auto Street.

Area residents are invited to learn more about new technologies available to farmers at “A Day with Agriculture Engineers.”

The University of Wisconsin-Extension program will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12 at the Gillett Community Center, 204 E. Main St., Gillett.

Experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Biologic Systems Engineers Department will discuss the following topics: “Dairy Modernization: Remodeling facilities, farmstead planning, livestock barn designs for calves, heifers and cows,” with Dave Kammel; “Manure and agriculture by-products handling, processing and transport systems,” with Becky Larson; “Precision agriculture and machinery issues,” with Brian Luck; and “Milking machines and management, robotic milking and farm energy issues,” with Doug Reinemann

Participation will be limited to 12 farms due to the interactive style of the meeting. Registration for the workshop is requested by April 7.

The workshop fee, which includes meals and materials, is $25 per person or $40 per farm operation (limit of two individuals per farm).

Participants are asked to bring building plans, aerial photos or other information if they will help with their specific questions.

To register, call the the Oconto County UW-Extension office at 920-834-6845 or send an email to Sarah Mills-Lloyd, Oconto County agriculture agent, at sarah.millslloyd@uwex.edu.

The term “fake news” has been gaining in popularity, used regularly by current President Donald Trump.

So what constitutes fake news, and how can people discern what is fact and what is fiction?

Julie Chapman, supervisor of library instruction at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, gave local residents some tips on how to detect fake news reports during a presentation Wednesday at the Shawano City-County Library.

She noted that there is no definitive list of trustworthy sites, as things keep changing in a world where information is instantly transmitted.

“From what I’ve found through my research … there isn’t one perfect list that will tell you, ‘These are the resources that you should trust,’” Chapman said. “Then you would have to ask, ‘Well, who decided that they should be trusted?’ and then the cycle starts over again.”

Chapman noted there are some telltale signs that reports are fake. Stories that have all capital letters or where pictures have been altered are probably fake, she said, and sites where there are lots of pop-up ads and that have web addresses such as “.co” are usually fake sites.

Chapman recommended verifying a story that seems unlikely by finding a reputable outlet that is reporting on the same thing. She urged checking multiple sources, and if there are not multiple outlets reporting on a national or international story, the story could be fake.

Social media is infamous for resurrecting outdated stories, Chapman said, so she recommended checking the date of the story. She noted that there were some recent fake stories on school shootings that were using quotes from legitimate news stories about incidents several years earlier.

“I’ve seen quotes pulled from news stories about the Columbine massacre, which was in 1999, but have been used in stories about current school shootings,” Chapman said. “The quotes themselves are not fake, but they’re used in a way that’s not truthful.”

News in the initial hours after something has happened might be fast, but it might not be accurate, Chapman said, so articles that come out several days or weeks later tend to paint a more accurate picture.

Analyzing sources can help determine whether a story is true. Chapman noted that fake news articles tend to cite anonymous sources, unreliable sources or no sources at all.

Chapman uses a website called AllSides.org, which looks at stories from multiple news outlets and posts headlines and initial blurbs side by side to show which stories are biased toward the right, the left or the center. She noted it served as an example of how, while stories might be true, they tend to be slanted one way or another because it’s human nature to be biased.

She also recommended using fact-checking websites like factcheck.org and politifact.com to see if a story is fact or fiction.

“After the election and everything that has followed after that, we’ve been sort of overwhelmed by the term ‘fake news,’” Chapman said. “If somebody is upset about the information they’re given or they’ve heard, they say, ‘Well, that’s fake news.’ If you say that, you don’t have to address it. It’s lazy thinking.”

There are three Shawano Common Council seats up for re-election Tuesday, though only one of them is contested.

Seth Mailahn is running for the District 3 aldermanic seat being vacated by Woody Davis, who chose not to run again.

Sandy Steinke is running unopposed in District 5.

In District 1, however, incumbent Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz is facing a challenge from Jessica Van Buren.

The Leader posed the following six questions to each of them.

Why are you running?

KURKIEWICZ: I’ve always felt an obligation to serve the community I live in. I feel this is a trait passed down from my father. As a young person I was influenced by John Kennedy who said it best, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

VAN BUREN: I think there’s a need for some fresh view points on the council.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

KURKIEWICZ: I certainly feel my energy and experience is one reason. Being the incumbent, citizens know my record. They know I am fiscally responsible. I’m not afraid to raise questions and challenge issues. They know that I will not be rushed into making snap decisions. They know that I am a team player, I support transparency and I’m a proven leader. The department heads know that while I support them that I ask them to defend their recommendations. I make a sincere effort to understand issues before voting. If re-elected I (as always) will strive to do my best for Shawano.

VAN BUREN: I grew up in Shawano and I live in Shawano year round. I want to help to improve the community that we live in and have always been a part of.

What is your highest priority or the issue you most want to address on the council?

KURKIEWICZ: Annually, the budget is always a high priority. This year will be as difficult as ever. Doing more and more, trying to maintain and improve services and resources while holding the line on expenses will be a daunting task. Park renovations and Redevelopment Authority are current major challenges that need addressing. We have two key positions that must be filled: Police Chief Mark Kohl has retired and the pending retirement of Nancy Schauer, financial manager for Shawano Municipal Utilities. Significant effort will be needed for recruiting, vetting and interviewing candidates.

VAN BUREN: To have the council really think about the plans that they have for the future and the longevity of their current plans.

Do you support or oppose the park improvements borrowing referendum that will also be on the ballot?

KURKIEWICZ: I am neutral on this issue, until citizens in District 1 vote on the referendum. The parks referendum is on the ballot so that the citizens can advise council how to proceed. I intend to vote the way District 1 voters respond. I encourage everyone to vote.

VAN BUREN: I think the splash pad is a great idea for the community, but I think the current plans need some work. I would rather see a few of our current shelters upgraded rather than building new ones at the parks that are under construction. Currently, the newer shelters at Huckleberry Harbor and Eberlein Park are mainly used for tournaments and soccer games. I don’t want to see that happening for the “to be built” shelters and amphitheater.

What is your view of the city Redevelopment Authority and the actions it has taken so far?

KURKIEWICZ: I absolutely support the RDA. They have a sound mission with objectives that encourage property owners to remodel, restore or renovate. After some initial delays they are moving forward. Thus far they have assisted Roloff’s Auto with demolition of the veterinary clinic and the asbestos removal; the old Ponderosa building has been demolished with a raze order; and they are currently working with property owners at 214 and 143 S. Main St. RDA is also dealing with several applications for remodeling and renovations.

VAN BUREN: I think that the RDA is heading toward the right direction. It will help give the city an overall nicer look in the future.

Do you feel the city is going in the right direction in terms of business growth, taxes and other issues of interest to voters, or is there something you’d like to see changed?

KURKIEWICZ: Yes I do. While there is always more that could be done, there are numerous reasons to be optimistic. Some examples of new businesses, expansion and industry are Tumbleweed clothing, Bolin’s Speedy T’s, Tower Clock, Stubborn Brothers Brewery, Dunham’s Sporting Goods, Belmark Industry and the residential training center. Prevea Health has submitted site plans, Gresham State Bank has taken building permits, United Co-op continues its renovation, and ALDI Foods has plans for expansion. These businesses will help our tax base. Shawano businesses are in hiring mode as evidenced by the recent job fair held. I feel we compare favorably with Wisconsin cities of similar size with taxes and exceed most with services.

VAN BUREN: The business growth within the city is nice for the community, bringing to Shawano more jobs and more consumers. I think the taxes are currently on the high side being that they are the highest taxed municipality in the county. The city has multiple Tax Incremental Finance districts, a higher garbage fee and higher school taxes than neighboring communities. I think the city needs to take a look at the impact this has on the current homeowners.

A newly created at-large seat on the Shawano School Board has attracted two familiar faces who are squaring off in Tuesday’s election.

Voters throughout the school district will go to the polls and choose between former board member Bruce Milavitz and retired school teacher Mart Grams.

Milavitz is emphasizing his experience as a former board member, while Grams says he would bring a teacher’s perspective to school board issues.

The winner of Tuesday’s election will serve a one-year term, after which the position will be back on the ballot in 2018 for a full three-year term, as approved last fall in a district realignment.

Three other seats representing specific geographic areas will be filled by voters Tuesday in uncontested races for incumbent board members Michael Sleeper and Beth McFarlane and newcomer Alysia Pillsbury.

School board members serve three-year terms and get paid $60 a meeting.

Milavitz, a local business owner, served on the school board for one term before losing a re-election bid in April 2016. He finished in fourth place in an election to fill three board seats.

Milavitz said supporters in the community have since urged him to run again to bring his experience and business background to school issues.

“I would just like to continue improving the direction that the board is going,” he said.

The owner of American Car Care Center said he wants to operate the district in a manner that is fiscally responsible while also taking steps to attract and retain quality employees.

“The school district is really the heart of the community,” he said. “We’re fortunate with how well the district is performing.”

Grams is making his first run for elected office after spending 29 years in the school district as a teacher. He taught social studies, economics and government, including 10 years at Shawano Community High School.

Grams said he wants to serve on the school board to address issues that he says are causing the district to lose teachers. Teachers are working harder and longer hours for stagnant salaries and dwindling benefits, he said, adding that it seems board members do not show teachers any gratitude.

“We keep expecting more and more from teachers, and we respect them less,” he said.

The retired teacher also said he would work to improve the district’s teaching of basic life skills, so that students can learn to work with their hands, to balance a checkbook and other necessities to becoming self-sufficient adults.

“Every kid needs to leave this district to be a functioning citizen,” he said.

A threatening text message from a former student sent the Bonduel School District into a lockdown for about an hour Thursday, until Bonduel police took the subject into custody.

Bonduel Police Chief Todd Chaney said a student at the high school reported to school officials shortly after 10 a.m. that he had gotten a text from a former student who was threatening to bring a gun to the school and shoot another student.

“The school went into its security protocols,” Chaney said, and notified parents of the situation.

Police officers went to the residence of the 18-year-old former student and took him into custody without incident. He was being held at Shawano County Jail on a probation hold.

No weapon was found.

Chaney said the text message appeared to be “a lot of bravado,” with no indication the teen planned to actually carry out the threat. He said it apparently involved a relationship with another student at the school.

Chaney said he was cooperative when arrested and admitted to sending the text.

Charges were still being determined. At the least, the teen could face a disorderly conduct charge, Chaney said, but the district attorney’s office could go as far as bringing a charge of making a terrorist threat.

The school ended its lockdown around 11 a.m. Parents were once again notified.

Chaney commended the school for its handling of the situation.

“They did a really good job,” he said. “Their system worked flawlessly.”

He said the school’s security plan, including its alert to parents, worked as designed.

Chaney also credited the student who came forward after receiving the threatening text.

“I appreciate the student who reported it to staff,” he said.

Charter Communications says a cut fiber optic line is responsible for internet, television and phone service outages across much of Wisconsin, including the Shawano area.

The outage hit Shawano about 7:10 a.m. Friday. The outage is widespread, according to the Charter outage website.

Charter officials were not sure, as of 9 a.m., when repairs would be completed.

Shawano Police Department

March 30

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Shoplifting — O’Reilly Automotive reported the theft of a battery jump pack.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 30

Deputies logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Nauman Road in the town of Green Valley.

Fire — Authorities responded to a shed fire on Freeborn Street in Cecil.

OAR — A 37-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Main Street and Alpine Drive in Shawano.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a telephone scam complaint on Herman Creek Road in the town of Lessor.

Clintonville Police Department

March 30

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported at Clintonville High School, 64 Green Tree Road.

Accident — Officer assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department in checking on a two-vehicle accident on County Road C at Brandy Creek Road.

The Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department arrested a 69-year-old man in the town of Hutchins and have forwarded charges of crimes against children and child pornography to the Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney.

The man was arrested Friday by detectives with the tribal police and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department following the execution of a search warrant at the man’s home. The investigation is still ongoing, according to a release from the police department.

The police received information March 22 about possible inappropriate conduct by a teacher at Gresham Community School. Detectives spoke with the teacher the next day and took several electronic devices, which were turned over to the sheriff’s department for analysis, according to the press release.

The police department was informed on March 23 that the teacher resigned his position at the school, according to the press release and a post on the school’s Facebook page.

Volunteers and vendors who keep the Shawano Farmers Market running each year gathered Thursday for their 10th annual meeting amid expansion plans and hopes for seeing the market grow in the coming years.

“Ten years ago, I don’t know that we envisioned this day,” said Bob Dumke, vice president of the market’s board of directors. “In that time, we have seen tremendous growth and support of the market.”

The market, which used to occupy the parking lot at City Hall, moved to Franklin Park three years ago.

The first phase of expansion of Franklin Park is set to get underway early next week, while further development will depend on an advisory referendum Tuesday. The first phase is expected to be complete by the time the market opens in June.

“We’re very grateful for the substantial support we have gotten throughout the years from the city of Shawano, which has allowed us to build one of the finest markets in the area,” Dumke said.

“Part of the vision of the market is to reach out to local farmers and crafters and area people to present their products to the public in the hope of pursuing a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “It’s a collaborative thing where people learn from each other, share with each other and benefit from that collaboration.”

Dumke thanked in particular the vendors who, he said, were more responsible for the market’s success than its board of directors.

Dumke said the board’s goals in the coming years include expanding the market’s volunteer base, broadening the number and variety of vendors and finding new funding resources.

The market’s expenses in 2016 were about $10,500, according to market treasurer Jennifer Langlois. Revenue was roughly $12,800.

“A good chunk of that was vendors fees, but also had some very large donations,” she said. “The goal is to decrease reliance on donations and hopefully make this thing run on its own.”

The market is expecting $13,000 in expenditures this year, with much of that increase due to higher insurance costs.

Langlois said revenue is expected to be about the same as last year.

“Hopefully, it will be up it a little bit,” she said.

One person at the meeting asked whether there was any chance of limiting vendors that sell the same products, particularly when it comes to produce. She said two vendors have quit the market because the competition was reducing their profits.

Dumke said the board had discussed that issue, but didn’t feel it had the right to favor one vendor over another.

He said all vendors are welcome if space is available and they fit the qualifications.

“It becomes a market force situation, where those who are doing well will do well. If not, they have to make a decision,” Dumke said. “You have to find a way to work through that. Sometimes you find other things to offer and a way to be successful.”

Clintonville School Board member Ben Huber was chastised by a school district resident Monday for opposing the $24.9 million referendum on the spring ballot Tuesday.

Voters will decide whether to spend the money to raze Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School and build a new elementary school on the South Clinton Avenue site.

Pat Danforth told Huber that he should not have stated publicly that he opposes the referendum after voting to hold it.

“You stated that the referendum was too expensive,” Danforth said. “You are just kicking the can down the road. Have you seen the mold, the cracked floor, the cracked stairwell and the catwalk (in the elementary school)? You were elected to support kids for this district. What changed?”

“The (ad hoc) committee had spoken, and I wanted to allow the people of the district to decide,” Huber said. “I did not think that we should spend $24.9 million in that manner. I didn’t support to spend money that way with so much interest up front.”

The Dellwood Early Learning Center would be closed under the plan, and the new school would house grades 4K-4. The district is considering options for the Dellwood building if the referendum passes.

A task force that studied elementary school needs in the district for several months recommended a new school as the best solution in November. A month earlier, a survey conducted for the school district found more residents supported building a new elementary school than renovating the current school. The school board approved the referendum proposal in January.

Huber said he would prefer spending up to $10 million to remodel the Rexford-Longfellow complex. He also has said residents had told him they would prefer waiting until the high school debt was paid, in 2022, before building a new school.

The referendum would cost the owner of a $150,000 home about $7,700 in property taxes during the 20-year payback, or an average of $385 a year, according to the school district.

Business manager Lynette Edwards agreed that the repayment plan was unusual, but it came from the district’s financial consultants who determned it was best for the district.

The district held two public informational sessions in March , and last week Edwards and Superintendent Tom O’Toole met with the media to explain the project’s financing.

“No one that wanted to served on the task force was turned away,” O’Toole said.

If the referendum is approved, design work should be completed by December, with bids sough in January and contracts awarded in February. Construction could begin in March, with completion expected in August 2019.

Demolition of the existing building would take place from June to August of 2019.

O’Toole said the district does not have a contingency plan if the referendum fails.

A section of the Rexford-Longfellow complex was built in 1918 as a high school. Additional classrooms were added in 1956. Classrooms and a gymnasium were added in 1964. A cafeteria was added in 1992, and offices were added in 1996.

The task force found that the structure needs tuck pointing, the windows and doors need to be repaired or replaced, a portion of the roof needs to be replaced, the heating system is aging, and parts of the building do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards or fire codes.

The Rexford-Longfellow infrastructure also does not support modern technology, according to a facilities assessment done by Bray Architects.

The 154,000-square-foot building is larger than what is needed to serve the current and projected student enrollment, and is more expensive to heat and operate due to age, the committee concluded.

At 104,000 square feet, the new building would be more energy efficient, with improved traffic flow and parking, according to school officials.

Information about the referendum can be found at www.clintonville.k12.wi.us.

It is an off-year for high-profile races, but voters throughout Shawano County will have important choices to make in Tuesday’s spring election, including deciding the fate of several referendum questions.

Voters in the city of Shawano will be asked for their opinion in a non-binding advisory referendum on whether the city should approve $1.85 million in additional borrowing for park improvements to Franklin and Smalley parks and a splash pad at Memorial Park.

If subsequently approved by the Common Council it would add 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to the tax bill, or $25.00 per $100,000 home.

Voters in the city’s aldermanic District 1 will also decide whether that seat should go to incumbent Bob Kurkiewicz or to challenger Jessica Van Buren.

Other contested races and referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday include the following:

TOWN OF ANGELICA

Two supervisor seats: Mike Kurzynske, James Lloyd Przybylski, Wilbert Lewis (incumbent), Greg Van Asten (incumbent)

Clerk: Connie Lynn Przybylski, Janet Powers (incumbent)

TOWN OF BIRNAMWOOD

Chairman: Mike Fandrey, Pete Stewart (incumbent)

Supervisor 1: Frank Groh Dennis Van Prooyen (incumbent)

Supervisor 2: Steven Steinke, Mike Fandrey (incumbent)

TOWN OF HERMAN

Supervisor 2: Howard J. Schultz (incumbent), Clayton D. Arndt

TOWN OF HUTCHINS

Two supervisor seats: Paul Reichert (incumbent), Jeremy Metko, Daniel Wolf (incumbent)

TOWN OF LESSOR

Supervisor 2: Jeff Nass, David Owen

TOWN OF MAPLE GROVE

Treasurer: Bonnie Taylor, Steven Holewinski

TOWN OF MORRIS

Chairman: Guy Murdock, Kurt Klinner (incumbent)

Supervisor 1: Kenneth Weisnicht (incumbent), Dale C. Clark

TOWN OF RICHMOND

Two supervisor seats: Ricky Brockman, Matt Hietpas, Ken Damveld (incumbent)

TOWN OF WASHINGTON

Two supervisor seats: David Korth, Daniel Sumnicht (incumbent), Steve Wegner (incumbent)

Constable: Charley Fritsch, Marvin Gehm (incumbent)

TOWN OF WAUKECHON

Supervisor 2: Alan Beyer (incumbent), Jim Bahr

TOWN OF WESCOTT

Chairman: Donald Anker, Mike Schuler (incumbent)

VILLAGE OF CECIL

President: Jeff Nolan (incumbent), Eric Thomas

VILLAGE OF ELAND

Two trustee seats: Carol Welker (incumbent), Shane Larson, Dee Dorow, Linda Spaude (incumbent)

VILLAGE OF GRESHAM

President: Lyle Grosskopf, Kenneth Beyer (incumbent)

VILLAGE OF MATTOON

Three trustee seats: Corey Zarda, Donald Fuller (incumbent), Rachel Torres Rodriguez, Paul Beck

VILLAGE OF PULASKI

Three trustee seats: Robert Gajewski (incumbent), Richard Styczynski, Roger Brzeckowski (incumbent), Chris Smith (incumbent)

VILLAGE OF TIGERTON

Three trustee seats: David Herb Dent, Holly Weatherwax (incumbent), Angela Jensen (incumbent), Bonnie Clark

BOWLER SCHOOL DISTRICT

Town of Almon representative: Shannon Thiex, Jane Schultz

MARION SCHOOL DISTRICT

Two Shawano County representatives: Bill Schoen, Lynn Tober-Steinke, Jerry Ahlers

MENOMINEE INDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Keshena area representative: Randal Chevalier, Toni Caldwell

SHAWANO SCHOOL DISTRICT

At-large representative: Mart Grams, Bruce Milavitz

TIGERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT:

Town of Fairbanks/Wyoming: Jill Brown, Tara Hoppe-Schmidt

CLOVERLAKE SANITARY DISTRICT (Town of Belle Plaine)

Commissioner, District 1: Dennis Thornton, Dennis Krubsack

BONDUEL SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM

Asks whether the district should be allowed to exceed its revenue limit by $1 million annually for school years 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, for a total of $3 million, for the purposes of the operational needs of the school district as determined by the school board from time to time.

CLINTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM

Asks whether the Clintonville School District should borrow up to $24.9 million for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing and equipping a new elementary school on the existing Rexford-Longfellow school site, razing and removing the existing school building and making site improvements related to said project.

Around a long conference table in downtown Shawano, volunteers gather over bottles of cold Sun Drop Soda to work on a big idea with seemingly a hundred details that require attention.

From the group’s efforts, a new community tradition could be born.

The big idea is Sun Drop Dayz, a two-day outdoor festival named for Shawano’s signature soft drink and conceived as a summer kickoff event to rival anything found in the surrounding area.

The inaugural Sun Drop Dayz is scheduled for June 2-3, and organizers are keenly aware that they have just two months left to arrange every last detail surrounding the entertainment, food, security and other components involved in creating a major new event from scratch.

“We’ve come a long way,” organizer Wendy Crawford said. “But we still have a lot to go.”

The festival, which organizers hope to make an annual event, is being planned to include two days of live music, food and beer vendors, children’s games, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and many other activities. Based along Elizabeth Street near Main Street, the festival will spill over into surrounding downtown areas.

The idea of the festival was to establish a way of ushering in the summer season as a bookend alongside the longstanding end-of-summer blowout that is the Shawano County Fair.

Sun Drop Dayz was conceived last year by Leadership Shawano County, a group organized annually by the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce to brainstorm about civic improvements. Implementing the festival idea has grown into such a large endeavor over the past several months that members of last year’s leadership group have returned to help this year’s group pull it off.

Jeff Ballwahn, a volunteer who is chairman of the organizing effort, said he feels a sense of commitment to follow through on the proposal and help to make the event a success.

“There’s an awful lot of people involved in this,” Ballwahn said. “You don’t want to let them down.”

Organizers have ambitions to grow Sun Drop Dayz into a tourist attraction on the scale of jumbo-sized events that draw crowds every year to other communities in the region.

For now, however, they are pouring all their energy into making sure the festival’s first incarnation goes off without a hitch.

Shawano City Clerk Karla Duchac, another volunteer, said she is helping the current Leadership Shawano County group because she wants to demonstrate that Shawano is capable of producing a major community festival just like Appleton and others nearby cities. Duchac said she is happy to see months of planning starting to gel into a cohesive blueprint.

“It is coming along very well,” she said. “All of us are more than willing to put in the extra time.”

The core planning group includes about two dozen volunteers who have divided up the work into specific areas, including logistics, security, fundraising and marketing, among others. Committees focused on each area meet every week, and the oversight organizing group meets every two weeks.

The group gathered March 28 around a conference table inside the Sun Drop Soda museum to pore over their plans with maps, binders and, yes, plenty of cold Sun Drop on hand. On the agenda for the day were such issues as hiring private security, renting portable restrooms, promoting the festival on social media, and choosing which brands of beer to offer for sale.

Dan Hartwig, president of Sun Drop bottler Twig’s Beverage Inc., said he is pleased to be lending the Sun Drop name to the event. Hartwig and his family also are working with organizers to make it a success.

Hartwig said he envisions Sun Drop being part of the festival into the foreseeable future.

“I think it’ll be good for the community — everybody working together for a good cause,” he said.

Proceeds of the festival will be shared with nonprofit partners that this year include the Boys & Girls Club of Shawano and Junior Achievement of Wisconsin-Wolf River Region.

Organizers believe planning for the event in subsequent years will get a little easier, as volunteers build on the experience they are gaining this year.

Crawford, the chamber of commerce’s program manager for Leadership Shawano County, said she expects some of the same volunteers will be back next year, especially if the inaugural event is a success.

“Something tells me there will be a lot of familiar faces around the table again,” she said.

Shawano Police Department

April 2

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 300 block of North Lafayette Street.

OAR — A 26-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Raasch Street and Lakeland Road.

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

April 1

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of Easy Green Bay Street.

Shoplifting — A 26-year-old woman was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

March 31

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of East Center Street.

Theft — Money was reported stolen in the 900 block of South Franklin Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of South Cleveland Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint at the AmericInn, 1330 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 2

Deputies logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Bail Jumping — A 44-year-old Shawano man was arrested for bail jumping on Elm Grove Road in the town of Pella.

Disturbance — A 43-year-old Birnamwood man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct on Birch Street in Birnamwood.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on Main Street in Gresham.

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

Bail Jumping — A 31-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for bail jumping on Broadway Road in the town of Richmond.

April 1

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A vehicle break-in was reported at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in the town of Wittenberg.

OWI — A 46-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 22-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on Industrial Drive in Shawano.

Drug Offense — A 32-year-old Gresham woman was cited for possession of marijuana on Townline Road in the town of Aniwa.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Maple Avenue in the town of Richmond.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old 47 Road in the town of Lessor.

OWL — A 22-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on County Road MMM in the town of Richmond.

March 31

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 40-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation and taken into custody on a warrant on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

OAR — A 20-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.

OAR — A 27-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on state Highway 29 in the town of Hartland.

Theft — Items were reported stolen from a vehicle on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on County Road F in the town of Angelica.

Shawano Police Department

April 3

Police logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a vehicle versus deer accident in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Main and Green Bay streets.

Truancy — Police logged eight truancy complaints from Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 600 block of East Schurz Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 3

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Probation Violation — A 26-year-old man was taken into custody on a probation violation on state Highway 29 in the town of Maple Grove.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on First Street in Eland.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Draeger Road in the town of Green Valley.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Rainbow Circle in the town of Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Lawn Road in the town of Maple Grove.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Pathfinder Court in the town of Wescott.

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

Clintonville Police Department

April 2

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A cell phone was reported stolen on West Green Tree Road.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on North Main Street.

A Gresham teacher who resigned last month amid a police investigation was charged Tuesday with 24 felony counts, including possession of child pornography and sexual assault of a student.

Timothy J. Schmidt, 69, was ordered held on a $100,000 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday.

According to a statement issued last week by the the Gresham School District, school officials learned on March 21 that the music teacher was the subject of a police investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, Stockbridge-Munsee police on March 22 met with a parent of a Gresham Community School student reporting suspicious activity between Schmidt and her 16-year-old daughter.

Police were informed in the afternoon of March 23 that Schmidt had resigned, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges the activity stretches back to October.

The investigation revealed emails between the two that included discussion of sexual contact, according to the criminal complaint, as well as alleged exchanges of nude photos.

The girl also told police about alleged sexual encounters with Schmidt and gifts he had allegedly given her, some of which were sexual in nature and which she found “embarrassing,” according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, a school counselor was told in December about a bracelet Schmidt allegedly had given to the girl and a note written to her.

The complaint doesn’t say whether any action was taken by the school district at that time, and the district has not responded to requests for further information.

The complaint states that Schmidt was warned by Principal Newell Haffner on March 14 that a ride home he had personally given the girl was inappropriate. Schmidt was also told by Haffner on March 16 that it was inappropriate for the girl to be having lunch in his office with the door closed and locked, according to the complaint.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department performed forensic examinations of computer devices belonging to Schmidt to determine whether sexual photos had been exchanged, according to the complaint.

The examination also turned up images of suspected child pornography, according to the criminal complaint, and a new search warrant was requested.

According to the complaint, more than 1,000 images of child pornography were located.

Schmidt was charged Tuesday with felony counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff, child enticement, causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity, exposing a child to harmful materials, sexual exploitation of a child, and 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

Schmidt could face a maximum 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the sexual exploitation charge if convicted, and 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the child pornography counts.

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker told the court on Tuesday that more charges are expected.

“There will be many more counts forthcoming,” he said. “Not only is there a real victim in this case, that is a 16-year-old girl, but there are many, many other victims as we typically see in child pornography cases.”

The court also heard comments from attorney Jack Bartholomew, who is representing Schmidt’s wife in divorce proceedings that were also filed Tuesday, requesting that any bond posted should not involve marital property.

The president of a tribe that plans to withhold nearly $1 million from the state over a casino dispute told Wisconsin lawmakers and officials Tuesday that the state will be stronger if tribal leaders and state leaders are “united as allies.”

Stockbridge-Munsee President Shannon Holsey did not refer to the tribe’s threat to withhold gambling payments from the state while delivering the annual State of the Tribes address at the Capitol.

The Stockbridge-Munsee tribe wants Gov. Scott Walker’s administration to block the Ho-Chunk Nation’s plans to expand its Wittenberg casino, which it believes violates Ho-Chunk’s compact with the state and will draw gamblers from the tribe’s own casino 17 miles away. The $923,000 payment tribal leaders have said they plan to withhold is due June 30.

In her speech, which was made on behalf of all 11 of the state’s federally recognized tribes, Holsey instead focused on finding common ground with lawmakers and affirming shared goals, including protecting the Great Lakes, battling opioid addiction and expanding broadband access.

“When you take away the fancy titles that each of us holds as elected leaders, we share the title of public servant,” she told an audience that included members of the state Assembly and Senate, state Supreme Court Justices Patience Roggensack and Rebecca Bradley, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers.

Throughout her speech, she urged lawmakers to use their roles as leaders to include a wider range of people in conversations and understand other sides.

“Unity does not have to mean uniformity,” she said. “It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within everyone. ‘We the people’ means everyone.”

While Holsey applauded Walker for opposing President Donald Trump’s proposal to defund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, she said the state could do more to prevent a mine proposed over the Michigan border that threatens nearby burial sites of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. While she recognized Walker and state lawmakers for the work they’ve done to combat opioid abuse — a priority of all of state’s tribes, she said, she urged them to work with tribal leaders to expand access to health care, especially for the elderly.

“It still amazes me that the United States is still the only major country not to guarantee health care to all of its people,” she said, which earned a standing ovation only from Democratic lawmakers.

Each year, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, which includes members from Wisconsin’s 11 tribes, selects one of its members to give the address, which is in its 13th year.

Megan Hakes, a spokeswoman for the Stockbridge-Munsee, said Tuesday she is not aware of any discussions between tribal leaders and Walker’s administration since the tribe notified Walker of its intent to withhold the gambling compact payment on March 6. The tribe can file a lawsuit against the state if the two sides haven’t reached a resolution within 30 days of notification.

The Clintonville School District referendum seeking $24.9 million to raze Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School and replace it with a new building seemed headed for defeat Tuesday as the Leader went to press.

Unofficial returns showed voters rejecting the proposal 87-73 in Shawano County sections of the school district and 499-266 in the Waupaca County areas.

A task force that studied elementary school needs in the district for several months recommended a new school as the best solution in November. A month earlier, a survey conducted for the school district found more residents supported building a new elementary school than renovating the current school. The school board approved the referendum proposal in January.

Former Shawano School Board member Bruce Milavitz on Tuesday captured a newly created at-large seat on the board.

Unofficial final results in Tuesday’s election show Milavitz defeating retired teacher Mart Grams by a margin of 1,119-1,026.

Milavitz will serve a one-year term in the at-large seat, after which the position will be back on the ballot in 2018 for a full three-year term, as approved last fall in a district realignment.

School district officials created the at-large seat as part of a strategy to improve representation in a geographic region where no school board candidates were coming forward.

Three other seats representing specific areas were filled Tuesday in uncontested races for incumbent board members Michael Sleeper and Beth McFarlane and newcomer Alysia Pillsbury.

School board members serve three-year terms and get paid $60 a meeting.

For the at-large seat, voters throughout the district went to polls Tuesday to choose between Grams and Milavitz.

Milavitz had emphasized his experience as a former board member, while Grams said he would bring a teacher’s perspective to board issues.

Milavitz, a local business owner, previously served on the school board for one term before losing a re-election bid. In April 2016, he finished in fourth place in an election to fill three board seats.

Grams was making his first run for elected office after spending 29 years in the school district as a teacher. He taught social studies, economics and government, including 10 years at Shawano Community High School.

Shawano Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz was re-elected Tuesday to his District 1 seat on the Shawano Common Council, defeating challenger Jessica Van Buren.

Unofficial results reported by the city Tuesday were:

Kurkiewicz 163

Van Buren 103

The results still need to be verified by the Board of Canvass.

Kurkiewicz said he was very pleased and thanked everyone who supported him, but that he also planned to reach out to Van Buren given the amount of support she also had.

“I’d like to get her input on any ideas she might have and find out what fresh ideas she might have for the council,” Kurkiewicz said.

“I’m disappointed in the election results,” Van Buren said. “It’s disheartening to know that the people of my district would vote for an alderperson who doesn’t reside here year round and attends his city council meetings via Skype. I will consider running again in the future.”

Kurkiewicz, a retired Shawano school principal, has served for 14 years on the Common Council and has been involved in city government on various commissions for 28 years.

Van Buren is a property lister for Shawano County.

Two other races for the council were uncontested Tuesday.

Seth Mailahn ran for the District 3 aldermanic seat being vacated by Woody Davis, who chose not to run again, and picked up 135 votes.

Sandy Steinke ran unopposed in District 5, where she netted 161 votes.