Bonduel residents urged village leaders to stop fighting among themselves Wednesday during an emotional exchange that followed weeks of political rancor in the normally peaceful village.

“How could this happen in our town?” resident Gina Shatters asked before a crowd of about 50 people gathered for a village board meeting at Bonduel High School.

Residents and elected officials alike broke into tears as they grappled to understand or explain circumstances that have led to the turmoil linked to the resignation of the community’s police chief and others.

One of the resignations was reversed Wednesday when Village Trustee Shawn Thorne announced that he would rescind his decision to step down and would continue to serve on the seven-member board.

Some in the crowd shouted “Resign” at other board members, and there was talk of attempting recall elections to remove some elected leaders.

Much of the criticism from residents and village officials was directed at three trustees — Joan Kamps, Mary Barney and Margie Qualheim — who have been accused collectively of creating an atmosphere of hostility and negativity in village government.

All three defended themselves, with Qualheim tearfully asserting that they have been subjected to a “witch hunt” because they question the status quo in the village. Referring to a national trend of more women in leadership positions, Qualheim said: “We finally have a say. Now that we finally have a say, I’m not going to stop asking questions.”

Village President Sharon Wussow broke into tears, too, as she turned toward Qualheim and said that Qualheim had called her a bully during their very first meeting at the village.

“I’m sorry — I cannot hold that in,” Wussow said. “You have not apologized to everybody that you disrespected.”

The exchange took place during a 90-minute public forum before the village board got down to more routine business at its regular meeting. The meeting was moved from village hall to the high school commons to accommodate the crowd of spectators.

Kamps and then Qualheim both left the meeting as the public forum was winding down.

It was the first regular board meeting since most people around town learned about the political upheaval that has developed within the village government.

Since the municipal elections in April, heightened tensions and sharp words have been exchanged among elected officials and village staff, involving such issues as committee appointments, a code of ethics and liquor license procedures.

After a pointed debate about how the village handles liquor license applicants, Police Chief Todd Chaney announced he was retiring following six years on the job. Deputy Village Clerk Katrina Schroeder then resigned after being questioned about how she handled a monetary donation that Kamps made to the village.

Thorne followed by announcing his resignation, which was scheduled to take effect Thursday before he changed his mind at Wednesday’s meeting.

Earlier this week, village board members agreed to forgo their usual $30-per-meeting stipends for special meetings that have been necessary to deal with fallout from the resignations. Some trustees felt the board should take responsibility for the political turmoil and should offer a gesture of apology to taxpayers by working for free.

Residents at Wednesday’s meeting scolded village officials for allowing personality differences to interfere with their duties as government officials.

“Please, please think about what you’re doing,” resident Kristy Hesse said. “We have faith in you. Do us proud.”

After tensions flared visibly among board members and both Qualheim and Wussow broke down crying, resident Cheri Weier stepped forward and urged officials to find a way of working together.

“Right now,” Weier said, “this is a not a good face for our community.”

A decision released to the media Wednesday clears two Shawano County sheriff’s deputies of any wrongdoing in the shooting of a Wittenberg man during a disturbance in the town of Almon in February.

Daniel W. Onesti, 53, survived the incident and faces felony counts of reckless endangerment and fleeing an officer.

The officer-involved shooting aspect of the case was investigated by the state Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigations. The results were referred to Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker.

In a June 28 letter to Sheriff Adam Bieber provided to the Leader on Wednesday, Parker wrote that “there is no basis to conclude that Deputy Spencer Russ and Deputy Chase Mason committed any crime when they shot Daniel Onesti.”

Authorities responded on Feb. 17 to a report of a distraught individual who had allegedly made comments threatening violence.

A Shawano County dispatcher made contact with Onesti via cellphone. According to the criminal complaint, he said he had guns with him and would shoot the first cop he saw.

Parker’s conclusion highlighted Onesti’s two conversations with a sheriff’s dispatcher in which he threatened to shoot an officer and wanted to commit “suicide by cop.”

The Shawano County Special Response Team, including members of the Shawano Police Department and the Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department, were dispatched. An armored vehicle, from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, was also called to assist.

It was believed Onesti was in a pickup truck in a field near his residence.

A drone was used to locate the vehicle, which was spotted a short time later on County Road D headed back to his residence.

A short chase ensued, including a failed attempt to stop the vehicle with spike strips even though they shredded two of the vehicle’s tires, as Onesti returned to his property and began driving around several barn buildings and a silo.

Russ and Mason were in a patrol vehicle, one of several that were pursuing Onesti’s vehicle as it drove around the barnyard on the property, according to the report.

At one point, Onesti’s vehicle stopped and came back toward them in reverse. They pulled over and took position while waiting to see what he would do next, according to the report.

According to the criminal complaint, Onesti rammed a sheriff’s squad just prior to the shooting, pushing it back some 30 feet and injuring a deputy.

Russ and Mason heard that information over the radio and drew their duty pistols “as they recognized that this situation had become a deadly force situation,” according to Parker’s letter.

The deputies spotted the vehicle rounding a corner of a silage feed bag, “bouncing” over the terrain and not slowing.

The vehicle turned in their direction, and “floored it,” according to one of the deputy’s accounts, at which point the deputies opened fire and stopped firing when the truck came to a stop. About four or five shots were fired.

Onesti was hit in the shoulder and was still in his vehicle when he was taken into custody.

Parker, citing state statutes, concluded that the deputies “had an actual and reasonable belief that the use of force was necessary to protect themselves personally, to protect each other and to protect other officers that were in the immediate area from a significant threat of death or serious bodily injury.”

He wrote that deputies believed Onesti might have faced an additional threat to the public if he had escaped the scene.

Onesti could face a maximum 12½ years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and 3½ years and $10,000 if found guilty of using a vehicle to flee an officer.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment July 11. He is being held on a $10,000 cash bond and is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Oct. 26.

Parker declined to add any further comment.

“As there is an open criminal case, I cannot make any public comment other than what is contained within my decision,” he said.

State education officials are investigating whether Bonduel Elementary School Principal Brad Grayvold lied on his state license application to conceal a 2010 conviction for domestic violence.

Grayvold could lose his license and become ineligible to continue as principal if the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction determines that he falsified his application.

The Shawano Leader obtained a copy of the license application on which Grayvold answered “no” to whether he has ever been convicted of a crime, including one that was later expunged from his record.

Grayvold was found guilty in August 2010 of misdemeanor domestic violence after a physical altercation with a woman outside the school where he worked in Michigan. The conviction was expunged after Grayvold completed a year of probation, although it remains a matter of public record.

DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy said the investigation launched Thursday would include both the domestic violence case and the question of whether Grayvold was truthful on his license application.

Depending what the investigation shows, McCarthy said, Grayvold could lose his license to work as a school district administrator in Wisconsin.

“That is always an option that the department has,” said McCarthy, who declined to discuss other options.

Bonduel School District Administrator Patrick Rau said in an email Thursday that Grayvold had a valid state license when the district hired him, and officials had not been notified why the state was investigating the license.

“Until we receive further information from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction,” Rau said, “we are not going to speculate on the reason for the status change.”

Grayvold, who was hired June 12 to become principal at Bonduel Elementary School, said he was unaware of the DPI investigation.

Grayvold said he believes he was truthful on his license application because, he said, the domestic violence case in 2010 was “dismissed” without any investigation or conviction, under a deal worked out with prosecutors and the judge.

“I’ve done what I needed to do,” he said. “We’re just being positive going forward. I’ve done a great job, and I continue to do it.”

Grayvold began his principal’s job in Bonduel effective July 1, overseeing about 300 students from kindergarten to fifth grade, with sixth-graders joining the school this year when classes resume Sept. 5.

McCarthy said he could not estimate how long the investigation into Grayvold’s license would take or whether it would be completed before the school year starts.

Grayvold, 50, a longtime school teacher and administrator in Michigan, was hired from a pool of 42 applicants to succeed Peggy Jones, who retired after 16 years as principal at Bonduel Elementary School. Grayvold previously had worked as a social studies teacher, football coach and elementary school principal in Norway, Michigan.

The Shawano Leader reported June 29 that Grayvold’s past involved reports of alcohol abuse and domestic violence. His conviction in 2010 stemmed from an altercation with a woman who had confronted him about having alcohol on his breath. At the time of his arrest, Grayvold told police he was an alcoholic.

Records show he was originally charged with a felony and was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Grayvold signed a disclosure to the Michigan Department of Education indicating that he had been convicted of a crime. His school superintendent at the time, Randall Van Gasse, also filed a notification to the state that Grayvold had pleaded guilty to domestic violence.

Grayvold served about six more years as principal of the elementary school in Norway before seeking out new opportunities in Wisconsin.

DPI records obtained by the Leader show that Grayvold received a license to become an administrator in Wisconsin effective Jan. 1 of this year. As part of the license application process, he completed a “conduct and competency” questionnaire regarding his background.

Grayvold answered “no” on two questions related to criminal history: whether he had ever been convicted “of any criminal or other offense” including cases that had been expunged, and whether he had ever participated in a prosecution agreement “to dispose of charges resulting from a criminal investigation,” again including cases later expunged.

Disclosing a prior conviction for domestic violence might not have prevented Grayvold from getting his license, but it could have made the process more complicated.

McCarthy said state officials in those situations typically seek out court records and request an explanation from the applicant to determine if the conviction constituted “immoral conduct.” State law covering school license applicants defines immoral conduct as behavior that is “contrary to commonly accepted moral or ethical standards and that endangers the health, safety, welfare or education of any pupil.”

According to the DPI website, state officials generally learn about potential incidents of immoral conduct from mandatory school district disclosures, from parent or other citizen complaints, or from the news media.

After publishing the June 29 report about Grayvold’s criminal history, the Leader obtained his Wisconsin license information and asked state officials about their review of the application. As part of that inquiry, the newspaper provided DPI with copies of public records of Grayvold’s criminal history in Michigan.

McCarthy said the state conducts a background check on every license applicant, but Grayvold’s background turned up no information about the domestic violence case in Michigan. Officials are unsure why the 2010 case went undetected, he said.

On the DPI website, Grayvold’s license status was changed Thursday from “valid” to “under investigation.” State officials were also working Thursday to notify Grayvold and Bonduel school administrators of the investigation.

McCarthy said he could not recall the last time the state investigated whether someone had falsified a license application.

“It’s not the usual reason that people go under investigation,” he said.

Shawano Police Department

July 19

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 30-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Lieg Avenue and Waukechon Road.

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

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 700 block of South Maiden Lane.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 19

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

OWL — A 52-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Hofman Street in Cecil.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Schenk Street in Bowler.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Witt-Birn Townline Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Campfire Road in the town of Grant.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Third Street in the town of Herman.

Clintonville Police Department

July 19

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Lincoln Avenue.

Theft — A bicycle was reported stolen on Lincoln Avenue.

An internationally known branding expert will spend a week visiting Shawano and Menominee counties to help gauge the area’s strengths and weaknesses in attracting tourists and new residents.

Roger Brooks, CEO of Roger Brooks International, will spend the week “secret shopping” local communities and tourist attractions for the local Brand Development Team, which is made up of area leaders, stakeholders and businesses. Funding is provided by Shawano Country Vision 2017 and a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Brooks will evaluate things such as directional signage, overall appeal, things to see and do, places to eat, customer service, nightlife, retail shops and lodging.

The results of his community assessment will be presented during two free workshops Aug. 7 at Menominee Casino Resort Conference Center in Keshena.

The first workshop, “The Art of Branding,” from 8-9:15 a.m., will explain the process of branding the Shawano Country area, why it’s important and long-term benefits. Brooks will also unveil an online questionnaire.

The second workshop, “Through the Eyes of Our Visitors,” from 9:30 a.m. to noon, will include the findings of Brooks’ “secret shopping” assessment.

The workshops are open to the public, but reservations are requested. For information, call the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce at 715-524-2139.

Brooks’ visit and workshops will kick off a larger branding initiative facilitated by his company.

Trish Kieckhafer, co-owner of Shawano-based Stone Creations of Wisconsin, is a member of the BDT and is excited about undergoing the branding process with RBI.

“Watching the transformation of our Shawano Country over the last 20 years has been amazing. Now it is time to step up our efforts in bringing more tourism, businesses and full-time residents to our beautiful area,” she said. “This will increase revenues for our retail and tourism sectors but will also help our industrial base — attracting more companies that will invest in our towns and bring more employees to live here. The next months of focus groups and polling will be exciting as we narrow down our message that we want to present to the world.”

Early in August, Brooks and his team will hold stakeholder interviews and public meetings to continue the research process necessary for developing a brand. Targeted groups will be interviewed and the public educated on the branding process.

Brooks is the author of “Your Town: An Amazing Destination — The 25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism.” His firm has assisted in the development, marketing, and branding of nearly 1,000 communities, plus numerous states, provinces, and regions around the world. Clients include notable locations such as Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado, Whistler Resort in British Columbia, and Wisconsin Dells and Door County in Wisconsin.

Romy Snyder, Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau executive director, said Brooks assisted Wisconsin Dells with establishing its brand.

“It was that initial assessment that convinced us our brand had to be the ‘Waterpark Capital of the World.’” Snyder said. “A destination’s brand must have a very narrow focus to be memorable, and that is where Roger excels.”

Vision 2017 is a five-year economic development plan designed to address various needs of area businesses and communities. The plan’s overall goal is to spur capital investment and grow the economy by implementing steps in key areas, including business expansion, attraction and recruitment; tourism/retail development; workforce issues; and community development.

This plan was initiated four years ago by the board of directors of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. and the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.

Shawano city officials this week closed on a bond issuance deal that includes additional borrowing for park improvements approved in an April referendum with better terms and rates than initially expected.

However, those terms are not expected to significantly affect the projected tax rate increase.

Voters approved $1.85 million in additional borrowing over the city’s usual borrowing for capital improvement projects over the next two years, bringing the total borrowed to $7.48 million.

The amount is about $150,000 less than the city expected it would need to borrow, thanks to what’s called a bond premium, according to City Administrator Brian Knapp.

That means investors were willing to pay more and cover the city’s legal fees and insurance costs in order to buy the city’s debt, according to Knapp.

“The buyers were willing to pay more for our debt because of the way we structured it,” he said.

The total 20-year bond issue came with an interest rate of 2.57 percent, but the park improvements portion of that — calculated separately — came in at 3 percent, instead of the 3.5 percent city officials had expected.

“The impact of the parks borrowing will be less than the 25 (cents per $1,000) that we had anticipated,” Knapp said.

But not significantly less.

The city made it clear in the run-up to the referendum that approving the additional borrowing for park improvements would raise taxes by $0.25 per $1,000 of equalized value, or $25 on a $100,000 home.

The reduced interest rate will probably put that figure at about $0.2425 per $1,000, Knapp said.

The city increased its self-imposed debt limit to allow for the additional borrowing; something that still would have been necessary even giving the better-than-expected terms of the bond issuance.

The city previously did not have a resolution on the books limiting its debt, but has had a policy that its debt would be capped at 80 percent of what the state says it could borrow. The policy is laid out in the budget approved each year by city officials, stating the city’s debt limit should be 20 percent more stringent than the state mandate.

The state mandates a municipality’s debt cannot be more than 5 percent of its assessed value, which means the city was holding itself to about 4 percent of that amount.

The resolution adopted by the Common Council in April allows the city to go as high as 85 percent of the state debt limit, or roughly 4.5 percent of its assessed value.

The parks borrowing will fund improvements at three parks.

At Franklin Park, the improvements will 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 plan also call for replacement of the wading pool at Memorial Park with a splash pad.

Two trustees resigned Thursday from the Bonduel Village Board amid accusations of political infighting that pushed village staff out the door.

Trustees Joan Kamps and Mary Barney both submitted written resignations one day after an emotional meeting where village residents called for an end to turmoil in local government.

Neither Kamps nor Barney offered an explanation for resigning, and neither could be reached for comment.

The seven-member village board has been troubled by heightened tensions and disagreements since the April municipal elections, with trustees and staff clashing over such issues as committee appointments and liquor license procedures.

Police Chief Todd Chaney announced his retirement and Deputy Village Clerk Katrina Schroeder resigned her position, both citing what they described as an environment of hostility and negativity.

Trustee Shawn Thorne submitted his resignation, too, but he changed his mind and decided to stay.

At a public board meeting Wednesday night, residents urged village leaders to put their personal differences aside and restore civility to local government. Some shouted “resign” while other residents and village officials broke down in tears.

Shawano Police Department

July 20

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Welfare — An anonymous caller reported a small boy standing outside unsupervised near the corner of Picnic and River streets.

Suspicious — A resident reported a suspicious vehicle parked outside with an occupant who tried to hide his face in the 1100 block of South Union Street.

Theft — A parent reported the theft of her daughter’s bicycle in the 400 block of West Fourth Street.

Vandalism — A homeowner reported that someone broke lights hanging outside the garage in the 1100 block of South Cleveland Street.

Traffic — A traffic collision with injuries was reported in the 1100 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 20

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A caller reported suspected drug abuse and a convicted sex offender around children in a residence on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman.

Disturbance — A woman called to report physical and verbal abuse by a man at a residence in Birnamwood.

Animals — A neighbor reported concerns about a newborn calf and other cows being neglected on a farm on County Road E in the town of Green Valley.

Clintonville Police Department

July 20

Officers logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — A burglary was reported on Flora Way.

Disorderly conduct — A warning was issued for disorderly conduct on 10th Street.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on Auto Street.

Disorderly conduct — An incident of disorderly conduct was reported on East Morning Glory Drive.

Ron Buelow got into the bar business on an impulse, and he is getting out the same way.

The owner of Double Vision tavern near Cecil has decided to retire, and is welcoming new owners to the establishment he has operated for the past 27 years.

Situated about halfway between Cecil and Bonduel, this has been a place to stop for drinks or a game of pool for as long as anyone can remember. Although the tavern has changed owners and changed names many times, it has been a fixture in eastern Shawano County for decades.

Buelow has marveled at the loyalty of his customers, many of whom have been frequenting Double Vision ever since they reached the legal drinking age. He attributes the steady success to the friendly small-town atmosphere that patrons find inside.

“Everybody gets along with everybody,” he said. “It’s a place to meet.”

The new owners have their own personal connection to Double Vision.

Back in 2001, the cozy tavern was where Bret and Terri Hughes met, with Terri working as a bartender. Four years later, it was where Bret proposed marriage to Terri on Christmas Eve.

So when the couple heard recently that Buelow was discussing selling the bar, they felt a sense of destiny. The establishment soon will go by the name Hughes’ Double Vision.

“It’s got sentimental value,” Terri Hughes said. “It’s a place we always hang out at.”

That is sort of how Buelow ended up buying the place, too.

Back in 1990, Buelow was a Green Bay paper mill worker who enjoyed spending time at the tavern, then known as Mitch’s II. On one Friday night, he overheard the owner talking about trying to sell the business. So without giving it much thought, Buelow made an offer.

Before long, he quit his paper mill job and was working 18-hour days at the tavern. He also lived in an apartment behind Double Vision — a name he picked for the place because he thought it sounded good.

“I do a lot of things on the spur of the moment,” he said. “That’s how it is.”

Now 63 years old, Buelow had not really given much thought to retirement. But it seemed like a good idea at the time the Hugheses made him an offer.

He is confident the new owners will do well, considering the tavern’s high-profile location at N5296 State Highway 117 in the town of Washington.

“It’s a perfect location,” he said.

Jim Mitchell thought the same thing in 1964 when he purchased what was then known as Bishop’s Bar. Mitchell said he believes the tavern was built in the 1940s and that he was the third owner.

Mitchell renamed the place “Mitch’s” and added the living quarters. When his son, Mike Mitchell, took over the business in 1978, the son installed air-conditioning in the barroom — a luxury at the time.

It was his son who decided in 1990 to sell the tavern to Buelow.

Mitchell has been impressed at how well the bar has survived all these years. He still drops in every once in a while to visit. He still recognizes some faces in the crowd.

“There’s a lot of history there,” he said. “There’s quite a lot of memories there.”

A member of the Bonduel School Board said Friday board members knew nothing about Brad Grayvold’s troubled past when they hired him as the new elementary school principal.

“We should’ve known all that information,” board member Greg Borowski said. “It wasn’t brought up.”

Grayvold was hired June 12 as principal of Bonduel Elementary School, a position that pays $82,500 a year to oversee about 300 students.

The Shawano Leader reported June 29 that Grayvold was convicted of domestic violence in Michigan in 2010 after an altercation on school property with a woman who accused him of having alcohol on his breath. At the time of his arrest, Grayvold told police he was an alcoholic.

Records of the case show that Grayvold was found guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence and served a year on probation. After the probation, the case was expunged from his record.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced Thursday it was investigating whether Grayvold falsified information on his state license application to conceal the domestic violence case. His application shows he answered “no” on whether he had ever been charged or convicted of a crime, including one later expunged from his record.

Grayvold said Thursday he believed he was truthful on the license application because he believed the domestic violence case constituted neither an investigation nor a conviction.

If state investigators determine that he falsified his application, he could lose his license to serve as a school administrator in Wisconsin, with Bonduel students returning from summer vacation Sept. 5.

Bonduel School Board members expressed varied opinions on the matter Friday, and some declined to comment.

Board member Dennis Bergsbaken said he was not concerned about the investigation into whether Grayvold was truthful on his application for a license to work in Wisconsin schools.

“It’s none of my business,” Bergsbaken said.

Bergsbaken declined to say whether school board members were aware of the domestic violence case or reported alcohol abuse when they voted to hire Grayvold. Bergsbaken called it “terrible” that The Shawano Leader was asking questions and reporting about the situation.

“Just leave the guy alone,” he said. “Why dig up the past?”

Board members Judy Rank and Kara Skarlupka declined to comment. Board President Jay Krull and others could not be reached for comment.

Grayvold, 50, a longtime school teacher and principal in Norway, Michigan, was hired from a pool of 42 applicants for the job at Bonduel Elementary School. He began work effective July 1.

District Administrator Patrick Rau in June said he was aware that Grayvold had a troubled past. Although Rau would not elaborate, he said he had shared everything he knew with school board members before they voted to hire Grayvold.

On Friday, Rau issued a statement declining to comment on the state license investigation of Grayvold. Rau also said state law does not allow employers to consider a job applicant’s past criminal charges unless those charges result in a conviction.

“Contrary to Shawano Leader’s statements, there is no record of any past convictions of Mr. Grayvold,” Rau said.

Records released by the Michigan Department of Education include a statement signed by Grayvold in August 2010 indicating that he was working in a public school “having entered a plea of guilty or no contest or having been found guilty by a judge or jury of a crime.” The records also include a signed statement from Grayvold’s then-school superintendent reporting that Grayvold “did enter a plea of guilty to the charge of domestic violence.”

The same woman in the domestic violence case filed a request in 2011 for a protective order against Grayvold, telling a judge that Grayvold had been “convicted of domestic violence” and that he was in the hospital that day with a .31 blood-alcohol level. A judge denied the woman’s request for a protective order.

Upon request, the Leader provided copies of all such records to Bonduel School District officials after the newspaper’s June 29 report was published.

Rau said the district had done its own background check on Grayvold and found nothing that would disqualify him from consideration for the principal job.

Borowski said board members were not told anything about the Michigan domestic violence case or any other problems from Grayvold’s past.

“We didn’t know that,” he said. “That probably would’ve made my decision.”

The board vote to hire Grayvold was unanimous except for Borowski, who abstained on the vote because his wife works at the elementary school.

Borowski said that while Grayvold would not have been his first choice for the principal’s job, he still supports the new principal. Borowski voiced uncertainty about how parents and others in the community would respond to the domestic violence case or to the state investigation.

“Public perception,” he said, “is what we’re up against.”

Shawano Police Department

July 23

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 38-year-old man was arrested on a warrant at Alpine Drive and Main Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of South Franklin Street.

July 22

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Accident/Pedestrian — A 58-year-old Shawano man was making a left turn onto Franklin from Division Street. While turning, the truck’s mirror struck a 67-year-old Shawano man knocking him to the ground. The pedestrian was transported to ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano with injuries that were not life-threatening. The operator of the truck was cited for failure to yield right-of-way to a pedestrian.

Theft — A .22 caliber Ruger was reported stolen in the 200 block of Hill Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of East Maurer Street.

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

July 21

Police logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident in the 1100 block of East Lieg Avenue.

OWI — A 51-year-old Shawano woman arrested for operating while intoxicated at Main and Randall streets.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 1500 block of Estates Lane.

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

Warrant — A 32-year-old woman was arrested on a warrant at Green Bay and Sawyer streets.

Accident — A vehicle eastbound on Eagle Street from Smalley Street crossed into the westbound lane, went across a lawn and struck a porch attached to a house. The lone occupant and driver, a 46-year-old Shawano woman, had minor injuries and refused medical transport. The driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated. She was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 23

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Probation — Authorities investigated a probation violation on State Road in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Charges were filed against a 31-year-old Wittenberg man for disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia after a disturbance on County Road D in the town of Aniwa.

Burglary — An attempted burglary was reported on School House Road in the town of Seneca.

Threatening — Authorities investigated a threatening complaint on County Road Y in the town of Belle Plaine.

July 22

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a report of a fight in progress on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 40-year-old Gillett man was cited for operating after revocation on Green Bay Street in Shawano.

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

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

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on County Road K in the town of Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities responded to injury accidents on Division Street in Shawano, Airport Drive in the town of Wescott, and County Road Q in the town of Wittenberg.

July 21

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Puppies were reported stolen on state Highway 156 in the town of Navarino.

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Cozy Oaks Circle in the town of Wescott.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 25-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Shawano Police Department

July 24

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

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

Burglary — A break-in was reported at J Doggs, 344 S. Main St.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of East Elizabeth Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 900 block of Prospect Street.

Arrest — A 31-year-old woman was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 100 block of South Smalley Street.

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

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 300 block of East Fifth Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 700 block of South Lincoln Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 24

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Express Way in the village of Bonduel.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — A charge of disorderly conduct was referred against a 22-year-old Bonduel man after a domestic disturbance on County Road F in the town of Hartland.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Emma Street in the village of Aniwa.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old Lake Lane in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 35-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Cardinal Lane in the town of Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

July 24

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A worthless check was reported on South Main Street.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on North Clinton Avenue.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Bennett Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on South Main Street.

A Shawano man who was looking to overturn his conviction on more than 100 counts of child porn possession died in prison on Friday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

Damon J. Anker, 38, was sentenced in April 2013 to 34 years in prison and another 17½ years of extended supervision. He had been convicted in February of that year after a five-day jury trial.

He was appealing the conviction on the grounds of ineffective counsel.

Anker was still awaiting an opinion and/or decision from the state Court of Appeals at the time of his death, according to court records.

The last activity in the case had been briefs filed in February.

The Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney’s office and its victim/witness office were notified of Anker’s death on Monday.

The notice states only that Anker died while incarcerated on July 21 and that any victims involved in the offenses for which he was convicted should be notified.

No cause of death was revealed.

The district attorney’s office had no further information.

The DOC issued this response via email to a Leader request for more information: “Inmate Damon Anker, who was confined at Green Bay Correctional Institution, was transported to the hospital the evening of July 21st. He subsequently died on July 22nd. DOC has begun an internal investigation and contacted the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, which is standard procedure following an inmate death. DOC is not confirming the cause of death.”

Anker was denied on a motion to appeal his case in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court in July 2015, but that was only a first step allowing him to take his case to the state appeals court.

During that hearing, Anker’s attorney for the appeal, Greg Petit, argued that the original defense counsel Kevin Musolf conceded several elements of the state’s case against Anker by not challenging whether the children depicted in the images and videos found on Anker’s computer were underage or were engaged in sexually explicit activities.

Musolf had argued during the trial that the images and videos were inadvertently downloaded while Anker was browsing for legal porn. His defense rested on the claim that Anker did not knowingly possess child porn and had not looked at the material.

Musolf said his reason for not challenging the age of the children or the explicit nature of the videos was simple.
“The jury was going to see them,” he said. “They could tell if they were old enough or not, under 18 or not. If I’m sitting there arguing that this person, who would at least clearly appear to be under the age of 18, and I say, ‘They’re not under the age of 18,’ the jury would in my opinion potentially just say, ‘Well, this guy’s an idiot. Obviously this person’s under 18 and he’s trying to tell me they’re not.’ Therefore, we’d lose credibility on our good argument, of the knowledge element.”
Anker testified at the trial, denying knowledge of the images and videos but never addressing the age of the children or the acts depicted.

In his ruling denying the motion to overturn the convictions, Judge James Habeck said Musolf made a reasonable strategic decision not to challenge the age question.

“He made a strategic evaluation as to the fact that you call wolf if you keep saying this child isn’t under 18 and everybody on the jury is looking at an 8-year-old girl with no breast development and no pubic hair, ‘Who are they trying to kid?’” Habeck said. “All you do is ruin your own credibility.”

With one week to go, Bonduel School District supporters are working hard to promote a referendum aimed at rescuing the district from a painful budget crunch.

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday for a referendum on whether to authorize a property tax increase of $900,000 annually for the next three years to fund operational costs in the schools.

District officials and boosters are cautioning that if the referendum fails, the public school system faces deep spending cuts in personnel and programs.

At a public informational meeting Tuesday to help voters prepare for the referendum, District Administrator Patrick Rau said the resulting cuts could result in fewer academic programs, fewer extracurricular activities and perhaps even a school week shortened to four days.

“Everything is on the table,” Rau said.

Parents, teachers and others in the community have been working all summer to encourage support for the measure as a way of offsetting state funding cuts and maintaining quality public schools.

Voters in the school district defeated a similar measure in April by a vote of 708-602.

Participants at Tuesday’s public meeting exhibited lingering uncertainty.

Resident John Boettcher said school administrators should have waited longer after April’s referendum was shot down before going back to the voters. Boettcher said there are still unanswered questions about future state funding for schools and other factors.

“I would’ve given it some time,” he said.

Parents Bob and Rachel Bloedorn, however, said they support the referendum as a way of helping the public schools provide the services that students need immediately. If the measure fails and the district imposes deep cuts, the Bloedorns said, they would consider moving their kids to another district.

“To have a strong community,” Rachel Bloedorn said, “you need strong schools.”

With about 800 students, the Bonduel district operates on an annual budget of $12.4 million, which includes $4.3 million in property taxes. With declining enrollment and dwindling state aid, the district is confronting a budget deficit that is projected to surpass $400,000 next year and then worsen with each passing year.

Voters in April rejected a proposal to boost property taxes by up to $1 million annually for the next three years. When school administrators responded with budget-trimming plans, parents and others spoke out in favor of trying another referendum to stave off the budget axe.

A volunteer group called the Bonduel Area Action Committee has spent weeks educating the public about the school district’s financial condition and urging voters to get behind the referendum. There has been no sign of organized opposition to the measure.

Julie Felhofer, a parent active in the Bonduel Area Action Committee, said she is hopeful that residents throughout the district got the message when the April referendum defeat was followed immediately by the administration’s move toward painful budget cuts.

Felhofer said her group is knocking on doors, circulating yard signs and doing whatever else is needed to promote awareness of the issue.

“People are talking about it,” she said. “So hopefully the right information is getting out there.”

About 15 people attended Tuesday’s public meeting inside the high school, which was the second such gathering for community members.

Rau told the crowd that if the referendum passes, he would be able to restore three teaching positions at the elementary school, plus a teaching position at the high school level. If the referendum fails, he said, those cuts would remain in effect and more would likely follow.

As a public employee, Rau said, he must remain neutral and not engage in campaigning for or against the referendum. He assured those in attendance, however, that school officials have been good stewards of the public’s money.

“We use it wisely,” he said, “and try to get the most bang for each buck we spend.”

Shawano city officials and supporters of the Franklin Park development project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday to officially designate the park after completion of the first round of improvements.

“This is just the beginning,” said Matt Hendricks, parks and recreation director.

Further work is expected next summer as improvements that were approved by voters in an April referendum are added.

Phase 1 of the project included an archway at the main entrance at the northeast corner of the park, at Division and Washington streets; landscaping with native plantings; a concrete walkway; 18 parking stalls; electric utilities available for the farmers market and other public use; lighting at the main entrance and the east entrance across from the Civic Center; a 1o-foot-wide sidewalk on the other side of the parking stalls; and a pedestrian crossing across Washington Street from the park to the civic center parking lot.

The city spent more than $185,000 for its part of those improvements — about $45,000 more than expected — with an additional $30,000 coming from the Shawano Country Tourism Development Fund Committee, $15,000 donated by the Rotary Club and $20,000 from the Egan Foundation.

Hendricks also noted the contribution of Bob Dumke and the Wolf River chapter of The Wild Ones, a national organization with local chapters that promote the use of native plants and natural landscaping to benefit the critical ecosystems that sustain life.

The group provided “hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts,” Hendricks said.

Speakers at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting included Mayor Jeanne Cronce and representatives from the Rotary and the farmers market, with the dominant theme of continuing the community relationships and partnerships that made the Phase 1 work possible.

Designs are expected to be completed by November for additional park improvements included in the April referendum, followed by a public input session.

Bids for the work will go out after that, and expectations are for the work to be done between May and June of next year.

Voters in April approved $1.85 million in additional borrowing over the city’s usual borrowing for capital improvement projects to pay for improvements at three city parks, which will raise taxes by slightly less than $0.25 per $1,000 of equalized value, or about $25 on a $100,000 home.

At Franklin Park, the improvements will 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 plan also call for replacement of the wading pool at Memorial Park with a splash pad.

The Bonduel Village Board has three new faces after another trustee stepped down in the aftermath of a political squabble that was linked to village staff resignations.

Trustee Margie Qualheim followed Joan Kamps and Mary Barney in submitting her resignation from the village board Monday, just three months after her election.

All three trustees had come under harsh criticism from colleagues and residents in recent weeks because of a heightened sense of tension and animosity within the village government.

Police Chief Todd Chaney and Deputy Village Clerk Katrina Schroeder both announced plans to step down, blaming the same three trustees for infighting on the village board.

Qualheim, a political newcomer who was elected in April, said she reluctantly gave up her village board seat because the turmoil was making it impossible for her to function effectively on behalf of the voters.

“It was very difficult to do, because I’m not a quitter,” she said of her resignation. “It was the only way to settle this whole thing down.”

Kamps and Barney both submitted their resignations last week, one day after an emotional meeting in which Bonduel residents urged elected leaders to set aside their personal differences in the interest of the community.

Appointed to fill the three vacant village board seats are former Village Clerk Barb Wickman, Bonduel Civic Association organizer Gina Shatters and business owner Kevin Bartlett. All three were approved Monday by the remaining trustees on the seven-member board.

Each earning a village salary of $1,800 a year, the new appointees can continue until the current two-year term expires in April 2019.

Village President Sharon Wussow said she was glad to see that Qualheim, Kamps and Barney had followed the wishes of local residents by stepping down.

”We can move forward now,” Wussow said.

The village president called the new appointees a diverse group, noting that Wickman brings a depth of experience, while Shatters offers a younger voice and Bartlett provides a business owner’s perspective. In addition to Wussow, the rest of the board includes Dick Sibert, Luka Zischka and Shawn Thorne.

Since the April elections, the village board had experienced frequent disagreements over such issues as committee appointments and liquor license procedures.

Qualheim accused Wussow of scolding her for taking the wrong seat at her first village board meeting, and Wussow accused Qualheim of calling her a bully. Both women broke into tears at last week’s meeting with residents inside Bonduel High School.

Wickman, who served as village clerk for 16 years before retiring in 2014, said she stepped forward as an applicant for village board because she wanted to help end the bickering. With the other two new trustees, Wickman said, she believes she can help create a more positive environment for village staff and officials.

“We’re all partners in this. We’re a team,” she said. “So we need to support each other.”

Shawano Police Department

July 25

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Curfew — Two juveniles were cited for curfew violation at Lincoln and Center streets.

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of East Fifth Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 25

Deputies logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Town Line Road in the town of Waukechon.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

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

Clintonville Police Department

July 25

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

OWL — A 20-year-old Clintonville man was cited for operating without a license on Industrial Avenue.

Theft — A theft was reported on Mill Street.

Disturbance — A domestic abuse and battery complaint on 11th Street was under investigation.

OWI/Injury

A Shawano man has been charged with four felony counts related to an accident in the town of Richmond last month.

Leland J. Okimosh, 29, is charged with fourth offense operating while intoxicated and operating with a prohibited blood alcohol count, causing injury while driving under the influence and causing injury while driving with a prohibited alcohol count.

He is also charged with a fifth felony count for allegedly threatening a law enforcement officer during his arrest.

Okimosh, who also faces several misdemeanor counts, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the felony counts.

He was arrested June 13 after authorities responded to a single-vehicle rollover on Broadway Road.

A male passenger in the vehicle had to be extricated with the Jaws of Life, according to the criminal complaint.

Okimosh is due in court for an initial appearance Monday.

OWI/Injury

A De Pere woman is facing felony charges for an alleged drunken driving incident in which she is accused of striking a pedestrian in Cecil in May.

Tamara J. Mikowski, 26, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine for causing injury while driving under the influence and causing injury while driving with a prohibited alcohol count.

The complaint alleges Mikowski struck a pedestrian on Warrington Avenue in the village of May 20, causing injury to the pedestrian’s leg and tail bone.

Mikowski posted a $1,000 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 31.

Felony OWI

A Bonduel man is scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday on a felony drunken driving charge and misdemeanor drug counts.

Scott P. McKeever, 64, was arrested in the village July 17 by authorities responding to a reckless driving complaint.

According to the criminal complaint, an initial breath test showed a blood-alcohol count of 0.22 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

McKeever could face a maximum 10 years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

He is free in a $3,300 signature bond.

Fleeing

A Keshena woman has been charged with a felony count of fleeing an officer and also faces misdemeanor counts of drunken driving and causing injury.

Roberta R. Sanapaw, 23, was arrested June 29 after a pursuit that began on the Menominee Indian Reservation and ended in a crash in the town of Wescott. A male passenger sustained head and arm injuries, according to the criminal complaint.

Sanapaw could face a maximum 3 1/2 years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted of fleeing. She is also charged with misdemeanor counts of first offense operating while intoxicated- causing injury and obstructing an officer.

She was ordered held on a $1,000 cash bond and is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Aug. 25.

Felony OWI

A Shawano man is facing a felony drunken driving charge after being arrested during a traffic stop in the city July 9.

Kevin E. Traxler, 55, was pulled over for a noisy muffler by Shawano police who noticed an odor of intoxicants and observed signs that Traxler might be intoxicated, according to the criminal complaint.

He could face a maximum six years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated.

Traxler posted a cash bond of $500 and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Aug. 14.

Shawano Police Department

July 26

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 400 block of South Union Street.

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

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the VFW clubhouse, 204 W. Lieg Ave.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 200 block of East Randall Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 26

Deputies logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Spruce Road in the town of Angelica.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Winter Street in Aniwa.

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

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Kersten Lake Road in the town of Fairbanks.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Clintonville Police Department

July 26

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — A subject was cited for possession of paraphernalia on 11th Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious incident on South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded for an intoxicated unwanted subject on South Main Street.

Matsche Farms Inc., one of Shawano County’s largest dairy farms, is working to resolve a state regulatory finding that the farm improperly discharged waste into the Embarrass River.

An inspector for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources cited Matsche Farms in May after discovering runoff from the farm near Birnamwood had reached the north branch of the Embarrass River.

Farm representatives say the incident was an accident caused by excessive rainfall, and that they plan to improve stormwater management to prevent it from happening again.

The state inspector issued a notice of violation alleging that Matsche Farms built facilities on the farm without state approval, failed to prevent waste runoff into the river, applied manure near wetlands, and failed to properly record its manure storage capacity, among other problems.

Farm spokeswoman Heather Matsche said the family-run operation is committed to protecting the environment, and nobody expected to see the state issue a long list of alleged violations.

“We were surprised,” Matsche said. “We thought we were cooperating with them.”

Matsche Farms, located at N9035 River Road in the town of Almon, has assured the state Department of Natural Resources that the farm would take temporary corrective measures and then make permanent improvements later this year to address the regulatory issues.

The river discharge and other problems have been reported as Matsche Farms is seeking approval to build a new 1,500-foot-long barn, install another manure storage pit and add 5,000 more cows to a herd currently estimated at 6,600. The expansion would propel Matsche Farms past Green Valley Dairy LLC near Pulaski as the largest dairy farm in Shawano County.

All such farms with more than 1,000 animals are permitted and regulated by the state as “concentrated animal feeding operations,” or CAFOs. There are about 270 such operations in Wisconsin, including seven in Shawano County.

DNR officials have not yet approved the Matsche Farms expansion, although both town and county leaders have endorsed the growth plan.

County Conservation Director Scott Frank said his understanding was that Matsche Farms was working with state regulators in response to the Embarrass River discharge and other alleged violations.

“All of our natural resources are important,” Frank said. “I am pleased that the issues identified are being addressed.”

Members of the county’s land conservation committee voted July 13 to approve a permit for the expansion despite hearing concerns from Matsche Farms neighbors that the large dairy farm could be creating potential public health hazards to water quality and air quality.

Kelly Brien, a neighbor along the Embarrass River, said the state should postpone action on the expansion plan and impose a probationary period in response to the new alleged violations. Brien said she has long been worried that the large dairy farm was a risk to water quality, wildlife and property values.

Of the DNR violations, she said: “It’s just unacceptable. Don’t keep rewarding them for breaking the rules.”

Matsche Farms representatives said part of the problem is that state regulators are raising objections over facility designs and operations that were previously implemented with the state’s approval. Staff turnover at the DNR also has led to a new approach toward the farm, they said.

“They changed the rules,” farm owner Scott Matsche said.

In a response dated July 10 to the notice of violations, Matsche Farms reports installing a temporary sump pump and gutters to help control stormwater, as well as installing curbs to contain manure on concrete lots, and improving a system for preventing runoff from stockpiles of livestock feed.

The farm also agreed to September and October deadlines for submitting plans to the DNR for permanent upgrades.

Karl Roovers, environmental enforcement specialist for the DNR, said officials have been pleased so far that Matsche Farms has shown a willingness to address problems found in the inspection. Whether the situation affects the farm’s expansion plan, Roovers said, will be up to the DNR staffers who are reviewing the expansion and keeping an eye on the current enforcement effort.

“It all kind of adds up,” Roovers said. “They need to believe the facility’s in significant compliance.”