Quantcast
Channel: The Shawano Leader - News
Viewing all 5341 articles
Browse latest View live

Officials: Bonduel schools face deep cuts

0
0
Student lunches could be eliminated
By: 

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Bonduel School Board President Jay Krull leads a community discussion Monday in the high school cafeteria during a special board meeting to discuss the failed referendum.

Student lunches, teaching positions and athletic programs are among budget cuts under consideration in the Bonduel School District after a failed referendum last week that would have raised more revenue for the schools.

School board members outlined the potential spending cuts Monday at a special board meeting organized after voters rejected the school district’s plea for financial relief.

The district faces a growing budget deficit after 54 percent of voters last Tuesday defeated a proposal to stabilize the district’s finances with up to $1 million annually in additional property taxes.

Dozens of students, parents, employees and others turned out at the special board meeting to voice support for the schools, with many people urging administrators to consider another referendum.

While some district officials expressed interest in the idea of another referendum, board members moved forward with potential spending cuts that the district had warned voters would be necessary without passage of last week’s ballot measure.

“It’s things we have to look at,” board President Jay Krull told the crowd. “We have to look at everything.”

The budget-balancing strategy unveiled for the 2017-18 school year includes cutting funds for student lunches at the high school and middle school, the equivalent of about five teaching positions, the elementary school principal position, two food service positions, athletic programs for sixth-graders and some student bus transportation.

The plan also calls for imposing new athletic fees for sports participation, collecting other fees for fitness center and building usage, trimming some salaries for coaches, and reconfiguring pre-school services.

The package of cuts, which could come to a vote at the April 17 school board meeting, would nearly eliminate a $400,000 deficit projected in the school district’s budget for next year.

The prospect of such painful spending cuts elicited an emotional response Monday from many of the estimated 75 people who crowded into the high school cafeteria. Voters rejected the measure by a vote of 708-602.

Parent Nicole Onesti choked back tears as she described her children offering to break open their piggy banks to support the teachers that they appreciate.

“This community needs this school, and we need our teachers,” Onesti said. “They mean a lot to us.”

No details were announced indicating specifically which teaching positions would be cut, although they would include three full-time teachers at the elementary school.

Bonduel Elementary School Principal Peggy Jones, who has already announced retirement plans, would not be replaced, and oversight of the elementary school would be shared by other administrators.

On the issue of student lunches, District Administrator Patrick Rau said he was exploring options for dropping school-provided lunches at the high school and middle school. If the lunches are eliminated, the district might try to bring in outside providers to offer lunches for sale.

“I have to find answers,” Rau said.

The district employs more than 100 teachers, counselors and others to serve about 800 students at the high school, middle school and elementary school. The annual budget of $12.4 million, including $4.3 million in property taxes, has been strained in recent years by flat property values and declining student enrollment.

The referendum defeated last week would have authorized the district to collect an additional $1 million in property taxes annually over the next three years.

At Monday’s meeting, many community members questioned whether the district had done enough to promote the ballot measure and to make clear that the alternative would involve painful budget cuts. The district held community meetings, private meetings and distributed direct mailings.

Resident Jim Watry, who said he voted for the referendum, said he suspects that opposition was fueled by uncertainty over how the extra $1 million a year would be spent.

“I just heard a lot of people say ‘no,’” Watry said. “I was kind of surprised by that.”

Others in the crowd urged school administrators to consider holding another referendum. Some even offered to take an active role in campaigning for passage this time.

Officials said state law would allow the district to hold another referendum in a couple of months.

Parent Jason Wesenberg said some voters might have been confused by recent reports that state funding for public schools could be increasing next year. He said local residents should take responsibility for funding their own schools.

“I’m very confident that the people of this community will support the children,” he said. “It’s just a question of finding that price point.”


Public Record

0
0

Shawano Police Department

April 11

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Goodwill Industries, 300 Lakeland Road.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported two shoplifting incidents.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Union Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 11

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 19-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 29 in the town of Hartland.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on state Highway 29 in Bonduel.

OWI — A 32-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged two deer-related crashes and a dog hit by a truck.

Clintonville Police Department

April 11

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly/Theft — Two disorderly conduct incidents and two theft incidents were reported at Clintonville High School, 64 Green Tree Road.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported and an agency assist was completed at Clintonville Middle School, 255 N. Main St.

Disturbance — An unwanted subject was removed from a residence on Modoc Street.

Health department wins accreditation

0
0
National group recognizes local agency

The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The local department joins fewer than 200 health departments nationwide — and 10 others in Wisconsin — that have achieved this accreditation since the Public Health Accreditation Board started in 2011.

The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, tribal and territorial public health departments.

“We are so very excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Jaime Bodden, health officer for the Shawano-Menominee county department. “The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our counties.”

The department offers a wide range of programs and services, including childhood immunizations, communicable disease surveillance, environmental health, and maternal and child health. The department also participates with others on emergency preparedness, physical activity, early childhood development, chronic disease prevention, and mental health.

The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards through which the nation’s nearly 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a multi-faceted assessment process.

Judith Sengstock, accreditation coordinator for the national board, said the organization’s seal of accreditation means the Shawano-Menominee health agency meets standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health.

“By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible,” Sengstock said.

The national accreditation program was created collaboratively over a 10-year period by hundreds of public health practitioners. Hundreds of public health departments have applied for accreditation.

Council delays vote on parks borrowing

0
0
Proposed financing details need to be worked out, city says

City officials had been expected Wednesday to vote on additional borrowing for park improvements that voters overwhelmingly supported in an advisory referendum last week, but the agenda item was put off until next month so financing details could be worked out.

The April 4 referendum question passed by a margin of 767-440 and received more than 60 percent approval in each of the city’s aldermanic districts.

The non-binding advisory referendum asked voters whether the city should approve $1.85 million in additional borrowing.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said after the meeting Wednesday that the council vote was delayed to provide time to work out a couple of technical financing issues.

For one thing, the borrowing will put the city above a self-imposed limit of keeping its debt to less than 80 percent of what the state says can be borrowed compared to a municipality’s equalized value.

Knapp said that policy would be revisited and a resolution could be brought forward recommending that the figure be pushed to 90 percent.

Also, the city typically takes out 10-year notes when it borrows but this time would use a 20-year bond, which is more complicated.

“We want to make sure all our ducks are in a row,” Knapp said.

The question is expected to be back before the council in May.

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

At Franklin Park, the improvements would include an amphitheater for music, movies and community events; public restrooms, and pavilion space available for public rental; a water fountain with benches and trees for visual interest; parking, electrical, landscaping and infrastructure to accommodate community events; walkways, picnic tables and benches; and space for a future playground.

At Smalley Park, plans call for a park pavilion with restroom facilities and a rentable picnic shelter; a canoe and kayak launch; boat landings and boat slips; improved parking, lighting and security; walking trails that connect all of the major park features; trees and other native plantings, including native plantings along the waterway to deter geese; and continued revitalization of the beach and the improvement of beach amenities.

The plans also call for replacement of the wading pool at Memorial Park with a splash pad.

Shawano County remains low in health rankings

0
0
Menominee County at the bottom again
By: 

Leader File Photo An ongoing effort to promote healthier food choices in Shawano County and Menominee County encourages consumers to seek out fresh food, such as the fruits and vegetables available at this stand last summer in Shawano.

Shawano County and Menominee County are getting low scores again in a ranking of the healthiest counties in Wisconsin.

An annual report issued by the University of Wisconsin-Madison school of health puts Shawano County at 45th out of 72 counties statewide.

Menominee County remains at the bottom with a ranking of 72, where it has been for many years as the least healthy county in the state.

It is the eighth consecutive year that UW has teamed with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to rank the state’s healthiest counties.

Ozaukee County, located just north of Milwaukee, retains its No. 1 ranking as the healthiest.

The ranking is based on such factors as a county’s prevalence of cigarette smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and other health issues. It also takes into account air pollution, water quality, violent crime, preventative health care, and poverty, among other issues.

Jaime Bodden, health officer for the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department, said the yearly report is helpful in assessing the success of existing public health efforts and in pointing the way to continued improvement.

“It is easy to get discouraged because a lower ranking doesn’t necessarily reflect the positive work and initiatives going on in our communities,” Bodden said. “However, we can use the rankings to keep the conversation about health improvement going which motivates us to continue to engage partners on a wide range of health issues.”

Shawano County has ranked as low as 63rd statewide in previous rankings, but it has remained in the mid-40s for the past three years.

Among the health initiatives under way in both Shawano and Menominee counties are efforts dealing with early childhood development, alcohol abuse, mental health, food security and health care insurance.

Jerry Waukau, health administrator for the Menominee Tribal Clinic in Menominee County, said the tribe is working with partners to address its public health issues.

“Being ranked 72 has its challenges and opportunities,” Waukau said.

Former city employee facing charges

0
0
Schoenhofen was DPW operations director

A former city employee is facing felony counts of theft and misconduct in office that allegedly occurred while he was working for the Shawano Department of Public Works.

James D. Schoenhofen, 57, is due in court Monday for an initial appearance.

Schoenhofen was operations director at the DPW from January 2000 until February 2015, when he retired. He had been a city employee in other capacities since June 1978.

The investigation began on Feb. 10, 2015, with a retail theft complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., in which store security personnel reported someone had taken an ice augur from the sporting goods department, put it into a shopping cart and left the store without paying for it.

Authorities identified the suspect as Schoenhofen from security video, according to the complaint.

Two days later, Schoenhofen was apparently attempting to leave the store with another ice augur and a jig pole, but was spotted by Walmart employees, who called police.

Schoenhofen was approached by officers and admitted to the earlier theft, according to the complaint. He was cited for that theft and paid the fine, along with restitution to Walmart for the merchandise.

“As a result of the retail theft incident at Walmart, information began to circulate in the community that Schoenhofen had also stolen a trailer from the American Marine Store,” the complaint states. “The City of Shawano mayor’s office received information in late February (2015) that Schoenhofen had stolen a new trailer and took it to a business on Richmond Street in the City of Shawano to have it sold.”

That information was passed on to the Police Department to investigate, but was then transferred to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department because of Schoenhofen’s status as a former city employee.

According to the complaint, the trailer was posted for sale online by a local businessman on Schoenhofen’s behalf in September 2014 and was sold for $1,250.

The complaint states the businessman believed it belonged to Schoenhofen.

American Marine, which placed the value of the trailer at $2,354, noticed it was missing from its inventory in October 2014.

According to the complaint, Schoenhofen later admitted to authorities that he had stolen the trailer to have “some extra spending money,” and also took a second trailer a few weeks after he had stolen the first. He said he took the trailer early in the morning while on his way to work.

Authorities also learned during the course of the investigation that power tools, including a leaf blower and weed wacker, were missing from the DPW inventory, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges Schoenhofen used his position as operations director and a DPW account to purchase the items in June 2011 but kept them for private use.

According to the complaint, the power tools have been returned to the city and Schoenhofen has begun making restitution payments to American Marine for the trailers.

The Shawano Common Council briefly discussed the charges against Schoenhofen at its meeting Wednesday, with City Attorney Tim Schmid explaining that the city can submit a request for restitution and weigh in on what officials believe Schoenhofen’s sentence should be if he is convicted.

The council will hold a future meeting in closed session to discuss that further.

Schoenhofen could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of using the city’s identifying information or documents to obtain goods for his personal use.

He’s also charged with misconduct in office and acting in excess of his authority, and with one count of felony theft related one of the trailers, which was valued at more than $2,500.

Those counts each carry a maximum possible penalty of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of theft and altering identification numbers on one of the trailers.

Public Record

0
0

Shawano Police Department

April 12

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the 200 block of North Main Street.

Accident — Police responded to a minor accident in the 300 block of South Main Street.

OAR — A 29-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Lakeland Road and Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 12

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Micks Road in Bowler.

OAR — A 47-year-old Green Bay woman was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 117 in the town of Hartland.

Disturbance — A charge of disorderly conduct was referred against a 17-year-old Bowler male after authorities responded to a disturbance on Almon Street in Bowler.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Derby Lane in the town of Washington.

OAR — A 31-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on County Road Q in the town of Aniwa.

Clintonville board examines failed referendum

0
0
Residents cite multiple reasons for result
By: 

Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent

Several residents told the Clintonville School Board on Monday why they thought voters rejected the district’s $24.9 million referendum in the April election.

The proposal to raze Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School and build a new school failed, 1,140-733, April 4 despite the support of a 31-member task force that spent months studying the issue.

Concerns focused on the decision to replace rather than renovate or repurpose the existing facility, communication issues with the public, the number of teachers and district employees on the committee, the proposal to pay interest-only for the first five years of the loan, and the plan to invest in facilities rather than teachers and student performance.

Mary Kautz, a member of the task force, urged the board to consider retirees who “have a hard time deciding to pay for medicine or taxes so they can stay in their homes” and to increase salaries to avoid losing good teachers. She also was not convinced the existing building could not be saved.

“I challenge you to go to the high school in Marshfield that is repurposed into new apartment buildings. It was not left empty or torn down,” she said. “There is a lot of good left in those buildings and some people resent spending millions to tear down.”

The task force found that the 154,000-square-foot Rexford-Longfellow structure is larger than needed, 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, parts of the building do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards or fire codes, and the infrastructure does not support modern technology.

Board members said they learned a lot through the referendum process.

“Maybe we need less administration on the committee,” board member Jim Schultz said. “Maybe we moved too fast. … We cannot give up. We must do what’s best for the district. We need to be more vocal about the needs. We have to do better next time and we need everyone on the board in favor.”

Board member Ben Huber opposed the referendum because of the financing arrangement that called for paying interest-only for five years, until the district paid off its high school loan. He said there are less expensive options than the one presented to voters.

The task force recommended the 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.

“It astonished me about the confusion (on the referendum) right up to the end,” board President Jim Dins said. “Many did not get the survey that was supposed to go out to every taxpayer in the district.”

Superintendent Tom O’Toole defended the process, saying the committee, not administrators, came up with the plan.

“The needs are not going away,” he said, noting that the district needs to spend $10,000 to $20,000 to fix a boiler at the high school, and interest rates are likely to increase.

Greg Rose, a middle school teacher and member of the task force, suggested the district try another referendum, perhaps in a few years.

“I hope the committee will move forward and not be dissolved but will keep the ball rolling,” he said. “I hope they use the Elementary Facilities Task Force knowledge and move forward.”

The board is expected to continue its discussion of the referendum at its reorganizational meeting April 21.

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.


Council bids farewell to Woody Davis

0
0
He served as alderman for more than 18 years

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Alderman Woody Davis cuts into a cake at a farewell bash at City Hall, where he took part in his last Common Council meeting Wednesday after 18 years in office.

Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Woody Davis poses with his certificate of appreciation and his wife, Donna, Wednesday after sitting in on his last Common Council meeting after 18 years in office.

City officials Wednesday bid a fond farewell to Alderman Woody Davis, who chose not to run for office this year after nearly two decades on the Shawano Common Council.

“It’s just been such a pleasure for 18 years,” Davis said. “It’s been a super place to do business.”

Davis said he hasn’t decided what he’ll do with his spare time, saying he and his wife, Donna, haven’t made any plans.

“We love Shawano, and we’ve been here for a long time, and we’d just as soon stay here rather than go traveling all over the country,” he said.

Donna attended the meeting Wednesday, doing so in person for the first time during her husband’s 18-year tenure, though she said she has watched every meeting on the city’s public access channel.

Davis said he appreciated all of the support he has received over the years.

“I was a rookie going into this,” he said. “I learned a lot from the people that were on the council at that time. I just truly enjoyed working with the people that are here and making the city of Shawano a better place.”

Davis also heard warm regards from other city officials and staff, and was presented with a certificate of appreciation from council President Sandy Steinke.

Davis had been council president for most of the years he served on the council but gave that post up to Steinke last year.

Davis had originally been appointed to the council to fill out the term of Mayor Jeanne Cronce’s father, Oscar Reinholz, who had passed away. He was re-elected every two years since then.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘I have big shoes to fill,’” Cronce said. “And he filled them wonderfully and was very dedicated to the city and still is.”

Davis had strong praise for Cronce.

“She’s doing a wonderful job,” he said.

Davis said he would still be willing to serve on committees or commissions as a citizen.

“I’m a meeting kind of a guy. I don’t want to give it all up,” he said.

Public Record

0
0

Shawano Police Department

April 13

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 700 block of South Lincoln Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Franklin Street and Lieg Avenue.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 13

Deputies logged 19 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Prouty Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Wood was reported stolen from a property on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in the town of Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

April 13

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — An unwanted subject was reported on Anne Street and left upon officer’s arrival.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident was reported on South Main Street and County Road I. Ambulance and fire were dispatched.

City adopts underage sexting ordinance

0
0

City police will be able to fine minors who share explicit images and other sexually explicit material under a new ordinance adopted by the Shawano Common Council on Wednesday.

The minor sexting ordinance covers nudity and other graphic content that could be considered harmful to minors sent over a computer or other electronic device.

“The reason we wanted the ordinance is we needed a consequence for under-age persons who engage in sharing, via electronic devices, inappropriate images of themselves to other under-age persons,” Interim Police Chief Dan Mauel said.

“The only alternative we had was to charge a felony offense that upon conviction would require the person to register as a sex offender with the state,” he said. “In the past a lot of these cases were not charged because the child would end up with a felony conviction. With the sexting ordinance in place there is a consequence for the child’s actions that will not follow them throughout their lives.”

A fine for a first offense totals $313, including fees and court costs. A second offense would bring a fine of $565.

Safe Haven hosts Voices of Men

0
0
Group encourages men to help prevent violence

The Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Shelter hosted a presentation Wednesday of Voices of Men, a program aimed at encouraging men to help address the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Shannon Kenevan, a community engagement leader with Fox Valley Voices of Men, said one of the biggest misconceptions about those social problems is that they are solely women’s issues.

“That’s just how society defines them,” he said. “When men think of it as women’s issues, we don’t get engaged. We think we can just go on and do other things because the women will do that, and traditionally the women have done all the work on domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.”

Kenevan said those problems need to be re-framed as human issues.

“They’re issues that we all have to be working on,” he said.

Ninety percent of the perpetrators in sexual assault and abuse cases are men, Kenevan said.

“Men should be a part of the movement against sexual assault,” he said. “We need men speaking up and taking action, teaching our boys differently so they don’t become perpetrators when they’re older.”

About 20 people attended Wednesday’s presentation at City Hall.

“I think it was a good turnout,” Safe Haven Executive Director Stacey Cicero said. “It was a great opportunity for the men at the table to learn about sexual assault and domestic violence and ways that they can help through education and creating awareness.

Cicero said a Shawano chapter of Voices of Men has been started.

“We have a Voices of Men committee that’s kind of in its fledgling stages, so we’re looking for more participation from men in the community to join the movement, for lack of a better word; to join us and attend the committee meetings and move the group forward,” Cicero said.

Kenevan said the first step is getting men educated on the issues and learning their root causes, which are often based in behaviors that perpetuate assault and violence.

“We can either help or hurt in our community with just the words we choose and how we live our life,” he said. “So learning ourselves is the first thing.”

The second step is taking action, he said, which could include volunteerism at places like Safe Haven, taking the message to schools, youth groups and businesses, or “just speaking up,” Kenevan said.

The program was one of a number of events Safe Haven is involved in this month as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

ONLINE

For information about Voices of Men, visit http://voicesofmen.com.

Village remembering a hometown champion

0
0
Bonduel approves new basketball court
By: 

JACOB THORNE

Leader File Photo Jacob Thorne, center, handles the ball during his playing days with Bonduel High School, which captured a conference championship during his senior year.

Growing up in Bonduel, few things meant more to Jacob Thorne than basketball.

So his father is working with Bonduel village leaders on a fitting tribute to the community’s fallen champion — a new public basketball court built in his memory.

Thorne, who excelled as a basketball player in high school and college, was killed May 9 in a traffic accident on the night of his 22nd birthday.

At the time of his death, he was an assistant basketball coach in the same Bonduel School District program that he helped lead to glory only a few years earlier with a conference championship for the varsity high school team.

His father, Shawn Thorne, is planning a fundraising drive to build a new full-sized basketball court at Village Park in memory of his son. Other than a few small schoolyard courts, it would be the first real public place in Bonduel where kids could shoot hoops.

“Basketball was a big part of his life,” Shawn Thorne said. “This is a nice way to give back to the community.”

Village officials have endorsed the concept at Village Park, both as a tribute to Jacob Thorne and as a worthwhile improvement in public recreation.

Village Board Trustee Joan Kamps said the basketball court could inspire other boys and girls in the Bonduel area to try basketball and to strive for the sort of success that Thorne achieved.

“I think it’s a terrific idea,” Kamps said. “Jacob was an inspiration to a lot of people in the community.”

Thorne, who graduated from Bonduel High School in 2012, was a starter on the basketball team that captured the conference championship during his senior year. He later played for Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee before returning to Bonduel and becoming a coach.

Nathan Doell, a teammate on the conference championship team, recalled that he and Thorne as children had a difficult time finding a place in Bonduel to play the game they loved. Years later, there is still no high-quality facilities available to the public, Doell said.

Building a new public court in Thorne’s memory would be a wonderful gesture, Doell said. He added: “I can’t think of a better way to remember Jacob.”

Shawn Thorne said he envisions a full-size basketball court with enough hoops that the park could host basketball tournaments or camps. He also wants to have a healthy supply of basketballs available for the public, so people can just show up and enjoy themselves.

Thorne said early estimates show that his vision could cost $60,000 or more. Although he is willing to invest his own money, he also is planning a drive to raise donations to move the project forward. He hopes to see the basketball court complete by next year.

He would like to see Jacob’s name imprinted on the basketballs, but he is unsure whether the entire court should be named after his son.

“Jacob wasn’t one to get recognition,” he said. “He was more about the result.”

Tribe asks judge to halt Ho-Chunk expansion

0
0
State officials say plan complies with compact
By: 

The Associated Press


Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Construction is in progress for the expansion of the Ho-Chunk Gaming facility along U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg. The expanded facility is in violation of state gaming compacts, according to the neighboring Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, based near Bowler.

Contributed Illustration This rendering provided by Ho-Chunk Gaming shows the new hotel and renovations planned for the Wittenberg property. The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans has filed a federal lawsuit to block the project.

The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday asking a judge to block another tribe from expanding a competing casino, arguing the project violates both tribes’ gambling compacts with the state.

The Ho-Chunk Nation wants to add hundreds of slot machines, table games, a restaurant and a hotel to its casino in Wittenberg, and construction has begun. The Stockbridge-Munsee say the development, less than 20 miles from its North Star Casino, could lure away gamblers and cost the tribe $22 million per year.

“We don’t relish having to take this step, but do so to protect our sovereign right to self-determination,” Stockbridge-Munsee President Shannon Holsey said in a news release announcing the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues the Ho-Chunk’s compact allows them to run only what is called an ancillary facility in Wittenberg — one where less than half the revenue comes from gambling — and the expansion would violate that agreement. The suit also asserts the land wasn’t placed into trust until 1993, and federal law prohibits gambling on trust land acquired after 1988.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs determined the Ho-Chunk placed the land in trust in 1969, and a 2003 amendment to the Ho-Chuck’s compact allows expansion, according to a February letter from Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel. The letter came three months after the Stockbridge-Munsee asked Gov. Scott Walker’s administration for help.

The lawsuit alleges the state is violating its compact with the Stockbridge-Munsee because Walker has done nothing to stop the expansion.

Department of Administration spokesman Steve Michels said in an email to The Associated Press that the state has been consistent in honoring gambling compacts with all tribes. He insisted that under the 2003 amendment to the Ho-Chunk agreement the tribe is authorized to conduct gaming in Shawano County.

Ho-Chunk spokesman Collin Price didn’t immediately return email messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The Stockbridge-Munsee filing seeks a preliminary injunction to stop construction while the lawsuit is pending. In lieu of that, the tribe asks the judge to declare that the tribe doesn’t have to make its annual revenue-sharing payment to the state. The tribe already has warned Walker’s administration that it intends to withhold nearly $1 million in payments this year because of the dispute.

Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wittenberg is one of three Ho-Chunk Nation casinos slated for major renovations and expansion as part of a $153 million project dubbed “Project Forward.”

Groundbreaking for the $33 million project, which will be completed in phases, was held in September.

Statewide tornado drills today

0
0

The National Weather Service says today’s statewide tornado drills are a “Go.”

At 1 p.m., the National Weather Service will issue a statewide test tornado watch and at 1:45 p.m. a statewide test tornado warning. This drill ends at 2 p.m.

A second drill will occur at 6:45 p.m. with another mock tornado warning. There is no risk of severe weather in the state on Thursday.

Many Wisconsin radio and TV stations will participate in the drill. In addition, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (also known as emergency weather radios) will issue alert messaging. Many outdoor warning sirens across the state will also be activated. This is an ideal opportunity for schools, businesses and families to practice safety procedures for severe weather.

These drills are possible through a partnership with the National Weather Service, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and Wisconsin Emergency Management.

For information, go to http://readywisconsin.wi.gov.


Public Record

0
0

Shawano Police Department

April 19

Police logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 2500 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Theft — A basketball hoop was reported stolen in the 1100 block of South Bartlett Street.

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

Disorderly — Police responded to a lewd and lascivious behavior complaint at Richmond and Main streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 19

Deputies logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Line Road in the town of Aniwa.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on state Highway 29 in the town of Hartland.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Ellms Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Authorities investigated a theft complaint at Maple Lane Health Care, N4231 State Highway 22, in the town of Belle Plaine.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road MMM in the town of Richmond.

April 18

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle at the Dollar General, 309 N. Genesee St. in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on County Road MM in the town of Richmond.

Theft — A baby tortoise was reported stolen from Doc’s Harley Davidson, W2709 State Highway 29, Bonduel.

Burglary — A break-in was reported at the Cecil Storage Center, 535 Lake Drive, Cecil.

Clintonville Police Department

April 19

Police logged five incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Citations were issued for truancy and disorderly conduct after an incident at Clintonville High School, 64 W. Green Tree Road

Clintonville chamber has new executive director

0
0

SUZANNE WITTMAN

The Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the appointment of Suzanne Wittman as its new executive director.

Wittman replaces Katherine Haen, who resigned earlier this year to accept a full-time position elsewhere. Haen succeeded Sandy Yaeger, who retired in January.

Wittman has a diverse background in economic development, event planning, retail merchandising, marketing and procurement. As a consultant for the retail industry, she has worked with both corporate businesses as well as independent retailers throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

“We believe Suzanne will be an asset to our organization,” said Sara Mullen-Hornung, chamber president. “Her ability to connect people and businesses will benefit both the city of Clintonville and the surrounding communities.”

Wittman is a member of Appleton Downtown Inc.’s economic development committee. She is responsible for business recruitment and property tracking. Wittman is also chairperson for the Clintonville School District’s reconsideration committee.

Wittman has an associate degree in fashion merchandising from Lasalle College in Montreal, Canada, and a Bachelor of Science degree in retail Merchandising and management, with a minor in business administration, from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

She and her husband have been living in Clintonville for almost 10 years. They have three children.

City approves medical residency training center plans

0
0
Some in public still skeptical whether it can succeed

The Shawano Common Council on Tuesday approved plans for a medical residency training center despite hearing another skeptical voice in opposition.

A development agreement between the city and RTC Real Estate Holdings LLC approved in November calls for a 25-bed residency training hospital and medical clinic, along with eight 12-unit residential apartment buildings, that would be located north of County Road B and east of Waukechon Street in Shawano.

The apartments would be a mix of multi-family housing and senior assisted living facilities.

The council heard negative reactions to the center from about half a dozen residents, mostly local doctors, in November when the development agreement was approved.

Retired Shawano County Public Health Director Jan Lewellyn also lodged her opposition at the council’s annual reorganizational meeting Tuesday.

“This whole medical residency idea, I can’t tell you how uncomfortable I am with that,” she said.

Lewellyn said she has experience in training hospitals and said the RTC plan didn’t seem to be well-thought out.

“I know about credentialing. I know what this takes,” she said. “I don’t get the sense that what’s going on here is going to be successful for a lot of reasons. The last thing we need is another sort of slum scenario.”

Lewellyn called the project “almost guaranteed to fail,” and compared it to the city’s misbegotten venture into the telecommunications business.

“This isn’t the first time the city’s made a mistake,” she said. “A lot of us voted for the fiber optics, and that money just floated away.”

Todd Schultz, who worked as a lead consultant for the project on behalf of RTC Real Estate Holdings, said in an interview Thursday he didn’t feel it was his role to address the objections.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” he said.

Schultz added, however, that the six to eight people who have objected at city meetings had never reached out to the RTC board to ask questions or seek an explanation of the group’s plans.

Schultz said he would be back before the plan commission and council within the next two months to provide more information as building permits are requested for the first phases of the project, which would entail the residential housing piece.

Credentialing for the training center would come later.

“The first phase doesn’t require credentialing,” he said.

The 39-acre complex, located in Tax Incremental Finance District 7, would be just south of the new Belmark packaging development.

RTC expects to make a roughly $63 million investment in the project, according to the agreement.

The $780,000 cost of the property would be offset by credits RTC would receive if it meets all of its obligations under the agreement, basically providing the property to RTC at no cost.

The agreement calls for RTC to construct a 45,000-square-foot medical clinic in three phases, with the first phase completed by January 2018.

The residency training hospital would be up by January 2020.

Four 12-unit apartment buildings would go up in 2019 and 2020, with 48 units of additional apartments and/or senior assisted living beds by January 2023.

The last phase of the medical clinic would be completed by January 2026.

The residency training hospital portion of the project would be tax-exempt, but RTC would make an annual payment to the city in lieu of taxes starting 10 years after the project’s completion.

The city would also issue a municipal revenue bond of $2.5 million on RTC’s behalf once the early phases of the project are completed.

The 22-acre hospital portion of the project is expected to increase the value of the property by $38 million and create 210 full-time jobs, according to the agreement.

Improvements to the 9-acre housing and senior care portion should add $8.5 million to the taxable land value and create 25 full-time jobs.

The clinic and professional building portion is expected to add $7.5 million in taxable valuation improvements and create 50 full-time jobs.

A plan to turn the former SMC property into a residency training hospital was approved by city officials two years ago but fell through after ThedaCare, which owns a portion of the property, refused to sign on.

ThedaCare objected over concerns that the training center would compete with ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

Teacher’s degree a work of fiction

0
0
Grams admits years of Ph.D. fakery
By: 

MART GRAMS

Leader Photo by Scott Williams Mart Grams keeps a framed Ph.D. indicating he earned the degree from Patrick Henry University in Cleveland, Ohio, which he acknowledges is a fictional university.

As a school teacher in Shawano County for almost 30 years, Mart Grams borrowed frequently from author Ayn Rand’s influential novel “Atlas Shrugged” when discussing politics or economics in his classroom.

Grams also got something else from Rand’s popular work of fiction: his own Ph.D.

Known for years as “Dr. Grams” to students and colleagues in the Shawano School District, the now-retired teacher and author is acknowledging that he holds no doctorate and that he has falsely claimed a Ph.D. from the same fictional university featured in “Atlas Shrugged.”

Grams said he and some friends concocted his degree from the non-existent university as a way of protesting what they perceived as the troubled state of higher education in America.

“I guess you could say it’s just a tad rebellious,” Grams said in an interview. “It was kind of a slap to a system that’s gone pretty bad.”

Grams, 58, who still serves as a substitute teacher in Shawano, has continued using the Dr. Grams title not only in the classroom but also in selling books he has authored, and also in making a recent unsuccessful bid for election to the Shawano School Board.

His self-published 2015 textbook, “Economics for the Remnant,” has been posted for sale at amazon.com for as much as $86 a copy. The author is listed online as Dr. Mart A. Jacob Grams.

‘Ph.D.’ brought respect

Those who have known Grams during his distinguished teaching career say that claiming he had a Ph.D. — which is rare among teachers at the high school level — brought the longtime social studies teacher added respect in the halls of Shawano Community High School.

Former student Elena Bohm recalled seeing Grams make a point of correcting people who addressed him merely as Mr. Grams. Bohm said the teacher had a sharp sense of humor and might have been joking at times, but she assumed he was telling the truth about having a Ph.D.

“I didn’t even think to question it,” she said.

Officials at Viterbo University in La Crosse confirmed that Grams in 2004 earned a master’s degree in education from that institution.

After creating the fictional Ph.D. starting around 2010, Grams was described frequently as Dr. Grams in the Shawano high school newspaper, and also in the official online syllabus for his course on civics and government. The same syllabus included a caution for students: “You are expected to abide by an honor code in all you do for this course. Plagiarism is defined as ‘an act of academic dishonesty.’”

Former Shawano School Board member Julie Van Dyck called it “horrible” that Grams misled people about his credentials.

Van Dyck, who served on the school board until 2015, said she had heard murmurs that Grams’ Ph.D. was not legitimate. The advanced degree seemed to come out of nowhere, Van Dyck said, but nobody in the school district ever confirmed whether it was real.

Despite the fact that Grams has retired after a long career of service, Van Dyck said she believes people in the community should know that the former school teacher is not who people think.

“I think that’s rotten,” she said of the phony Ph.D. “I think he needs to be exposed.”

Credentials questioned

Questions about Grams’ academic credentials surfaced during his recent campaign for Shawano School Board. In the April 4 election, he lost a close race to Bruce Milavitz. The retired teacher had talked about running for political office before, but this was the first time his name appeared on a ballot locally.

In a pre-election interview with The Shawano Leader, Grams said he held a Ph.D. from a university he identified as Patrick Henry University in Alabama.

His profile on the social media website LinkedIn also showed that he attended a Patrick Henry University between 2008 and 2011 and that he earned a Ph.D. in Austrian economics.

When the Leader could not locate such a university, Grams changed his story several times before acknowledging that his advanced academic degree was not real. He showed a framed copy of a Ph.D. awarded from Patrick Henry University in Cleveland, Ohio — the same institution from the fictional story in “Atlas Shrugged.”

“It is, at best in the United States, a fictional, honorary doctorate,” he said.

He explained that he had approached Shawano School District administrators about the district’s pay scale for teachers at a time when his master’s degree and years of service put him at the top of the scale, just below $60,000 a year. Although the district offered nothing more for earning a Ph.D., Grams said the salary issue “kind of pushed me into doing this.”

After deciding that getting an actual Ph.D. would cost too much money, he dreamed up the “Atlas Shrugged” doctorate in partnership with some old friends who shared his frustration about the state of higher education. Referring to his old friends, whom he declined to identify, Grams said: “If it’s a doctorate, it’s because these guys say so.”

Shawano School District Superintendent Gary Cumberland said none of the school district’s teachers have a Ph.D. Cumberland said that while he heard other employees talk about Grams’ claiming a Ph.D., the subject never came to his attention as superintendent.

“There is no indication in our files that he holds a Ph.D. from any institution, real or fake,” Cumberland said.

Retired teacher an author

Grams retired in 2016 after 29 years with the Shawano School District, including many years at Gresham High School before switching to Shawano Community High School. His salary at the time of his retirement was $62,936.

In addition to his economics textbook, Grams self-published a 2013 book on U.S. history, called “The Great Experiment,” and a 2016 philosophical work called “Words My Grandfather Gave Me.” All three books show the author’s name simply as Mart A. Jacob Grams.

However, the back cover of “Words My Grandfather Gave Me” refers to him as Dr. Grams, and the book is marketed at amazon.com using the author’s doctorate title in the same way as the economics textbook.

The acknowledgements listed inside “Economics For The Remnant” also include a reference to “Atlas Shrugged.”

Published in 1957, “Atlas Shrugged” offers a politically charged story about big industry striking back against government regulation. The book has enjoyed revived popularity in recent years since House Speaker Paul Ryan and other national Republican figures expressed an affinity for it.

Bohm, who is cited as a teaching assistant on “Economics for the Remnant,” said Grams referred to “Atlas Shrugged” many times in his classes. He also allowed students to watch a film version of the book, she said.

Now a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bohm said she suspects that claiming he had a Ph.D. from the story’s fictional university was Grams’ way of “strongly endorsing” the Ayn Rand book.

“I don’t think it’s being dishonest,” Bohm said. “But I can see how people who don’t know him would completely disagree.”

Upon returning to SCHS this school year as a substitute teacher, Grams was a familiar face to many students. He recalls that students greeted him with shouts of “Dr. Grams.”

Students have been using that title for years, Grams said, which he interprets as a simple sign of respect. He said he does not believe he misled students or others by telling them he had a Ph.D. from the fictional Patrick Henry University.

“Everybody knows that there’s no such place,” he said.

Asked how anyone would know he was talking about a fictional university, he said: “I don’t know how they would know, unless they’re well-read.”

Sturgeon putting on show in Shawano

0
0
Mating season arrives despite bad weather
By: 

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Spectators brave Thursday’s rain to watch the annual ritual of sturgeon spawaning at the Shawano dam on the Wolf River.

Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Workers net, weigh, tag and return sturgeon to the Wolf River on Thursday. The annual run is expected to last at least another day or two.

Sturgeon spawning season in 2017 is proving that less-than-ideal weather conditions will not dissuade these magnificent fish from doing what comes naturally.

Despite cloudy skies and chilly temperatures, the seasonal mating ritual is under way on the Wolf River at the Shawano dam at Sturgeon Park.

On the second day of spawning season in Shawano, crowds gathered under a drizzling rain Thursday to catch a glimpse of the fantastic prehistoric creatures, some more than 6 feet long.

Mary Ann Peters, of Green Bay, marveled at the spectacle, even though she admitted that the experience is more fun when the weather is more pleasant.

“It doesn’t matter to the fish,” she said.

Thousands of sturgeon swim north up the Wolf River each spring from Lake Winnebago or other distant habitats, racing upstream for the yearly mating ritual. The frenzied splashing exhibition draws crowds of onlookers to the Shawano dam and other favorite spots.

The sturgeon are regarded as the oldest and largest fish in the Great Lakes.

Ryan Koenigs, a biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, said crews monitoring and tagging the sturgeon had recorded more than 1,000 specimens as of Thursday, including one female in Shawano that measured more than 6 feet long.

Koenigs said spectators can expect spawning to continue through Friday at least. The inclement weather conditions were not disrupting the mating activity much, he said.

“It’s slowing things down a little bit,” he said. “But they’re still spawning pretty heavy.”

Onlookers gathered along the shore of the Wolf River at the Shawano dam Thursday to watch the excitement.

Glenn and Carol Westphal, of the town of Washington, said they thought the poor weather would spoil everything, and they were surprised to see so many sturgeon in the water.

“You can still see some action,” Glenn said.

Viewing all 5341 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images