Two Shawano men with links to what authorities have called one of the largest drug conspiracy cases ever seen in Shawano County were indicted in federal court this week for allegedly purchasing firearms on behalf of California drug smugglers, according to court records.

Gary W. Hancock, 24, and Jesus S. Zepeda, 29, are charged with conspiring to violate federal firearms laws and three counts of making false statements in connection with purchasing firearms.

Both had also been in contact with a third party charged in connection with the Shawano County drug conspiracy, though that person was not indicted in the federal case.

In August 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seized 16 firearms from a vehicle attempting to cross the border from Arizona into Mexico. The firearms turned out to be purchased by at least 10 other parties in seven different states.

Two of the firearms were traced back to Hancock.

Authorities subsequently learned that Hancock had allegedly also supplied at least one firearm that was seized in August 2014 during a search warrant on a Santa Rosa, California, residence where marijuana and other weapons had been seized.

According to a criminal complaint, Hancock admitted to authorities he had been a “straw purchaser” who had provided firearms to a drug and firearm trafficking organization in late 2013 and early 2014.

According to the complaint, Zepeda arranged for Hancock to purchase the weapons because Hancock was not a felon or otherwise prohibited from buying firearms.

Hancock bought three guns “with cash supplied by individuals from California” and gave them to Zepeda, according to the complaint.

Authorities also interviewed a third party who has not been federally indicted, but is one of 10 people charged in connection with a Shawano County drug smuggling conspiracy that allegedly involved transporting marijuana between California and Wisconsin.

According to the complaint, Zepeda asked this party if he would sell marijuana. He also told authorities Zepeda was accompanied by three other people who “came from California to traffic large amounts of marijuana with Zepeda’s knowledge,” according to the complaint.

He also told authorities that Zepeda, Hancock and the California subjects were taking marijuana stored in Zepeda’s attic and distributing it in Chicago and Ohio, and that on one occasion Zepeda and Hancock were paid $10,000 to bring 200 pounds of marijuana back to Shawano from California.

According to the indictment filed in federal court Tuesday, between December 2013 and February 2014, the defendants, and others, allegedly conspired to purchase firearms for residents of California.

The indictment alleges Hancock and Zepeda received money from the California residents and purchased firearms for them at licensed firearms dealers in the Green Bay area. Hancock allegedly made false statements on firearms transfer forms in order to purchase two semiautomatic rifles and a semiautomatic handgun.

Hancock and Zepeda each face a maximum of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and up to three years of supervised release, on the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and up to three years of supervised release, on each of the false statement charges.

Shawano Police Department

July 27

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

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

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the 400 block of East Division Street.

Arrest — A 45-year-old woman was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at the Super 8 Motel, 211 Waukechon St.

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

Fraud — Police investigated a scam complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of South River Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 27

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Riverside Drive in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 22-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on County Road OO in the town of Wittenberg.

Burglary — A cabin was reported broken into on County Road D in the town of Pella.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Red Oak Lane in the town of Wittenberg.

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

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on County Road P in the town of Germania.

Clintonville Police Department

July 27

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Assault — A sexual assault complaint was under investigation.

Hit and Run — A property damage hit-and-run was reported on South Main Street.

Editor’s note: In response to a flyer published anonymously opposing the Bonduel School District referendum on the ballot Tuesday, the Bonduel Area Action Committee on Friday issued the following statement:

The Bonduel Area Action Committee is a fact-finding group intending to share only accurate information about the upcoming Aug. 1 school district referendum. Based on what we’ve learned, we are a vote yes committee. Over the past several weeks there have been inaccuracies that we have worked hard to correct. The most recent information that has been floating around the Bonduel community also has several pieces of information that are not accurate, including the following:

• Why do we need a referendum? The district has $1.1 million in its savings account.

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, the fund balance is not like a personal savings account. When it is used in certain ways, less state aid is given to the school, which will hurt students and taxpayers alike in the future.

• If the district has declining enrollment, why hire four more teachers?

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, staff can adjust with enrollment. This year the district could add some, next year they might not. It is more fluid now than we all remember. Just because there is hiring doesn’t mean the staffing budget increases. The district has been cutting staff positions for several years as enrollment has declined.

• How can we trust the school board and administration to handle the money wisely if they got us into this mess?

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, a handful of years ago the state took $800 million away from education. Almost all districts have been cutting since. Bonduel, like many other districts, has reached its tipping point and needs our help. The Bonduel School Board has been fighting for our village and students for years.

• I am hearing conflicting information about the new elementary principal. What is this about?

FACT: As far as the new principal is concerned, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has a solid process and we have to let that process unfold. In the end, the BAAC is confident that the best person for the job will be in front of the students and staff. Also, this referendum has nothing to do with the new principal hire. The hire and referendum are separate platforms. Let’s not muddy the waters between the two.

• Why would cutting the school lunch program help the budget when it’s paid for by federal money?

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, only parts of the lunch program are supported by federal dollars. Much of the monies for the program to operate are from district funds. A sound school board needs to explore everything, and we believe the Bonduel board has been doing that for years.

• Why a four-day school week? Isn’t that just a made-up idea?

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, this was another cost savings exploration by the school board. Members of the BAAC know that districts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have done this. Once again, this possibility shows that the Bonduel School Board is doing all they can to explore avenues to support both students and taxpayers, as everything is on the table.

• The School District of Bonduel will never close. That’s just a scare tactic.

FACT: As the BAAC understands it, the school board and the community are doing everything they can to support Bonduel and the children. Therefore, the hope is Navarino, Cecil, Bonduel, and the surrounding area will always have a home district. However, in Wisconsin, districts have closed and have been split up. It is a truth that needs to be stated. In the end, however, we (the BAAC, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and supporters of the village of Bonduel and neighboring communities) will vote yes on Aug. 1 and together we will all move forward achieving great things for the community and children.

ditor’s note: In response to an anonymous opponent of the Bonduel School District referendum on the ballot Tuesday, District Administrator Patrick Rau on Friday issued the following statement:

Recent information included in a letter has been shared by a concerned, but anonymous person. Which led me to think that more community members may have similar questions. I would like to take this opportunity to provide more information and our rationale.

$1.1 Million Savings Account

The letter refers to a savings account for the district with a balance of $1.1 million. In reality, it is a fund balance. For school districts, a fund balance is not solely made up of cash in a bank. It is rather money on hand, money that is expected, minus liabilities to pay (bills, payroll, payroll taxes, etc.). The fact is that the district does not begin the year with all of its revenue for the school year. Local property taxes are received in three installments (the last one in August) and the state spreads aid payments out over nine months.

Our independent auditors recommend at least a fund balance of 30 percent and a bare minimum of 15 percent of our state aid and local property tax revenue. Currently we are at 12 percent.

Further reduction of the fund balance will put the district in fiscal instability that may cost taxpayers more in the long run as at some point we need to replace those funds for emergency cash and to maintain an acceptable credit rating.

Staffing Plans

It sounds great in theory that as enrollment declines, for every 10 students the district loses, a teacher could be reduced. However, it is never that simple as declining enrollment never to rarely happens in one grade level. Please consider this example: For kindergarten we have 38 students and two teachers. Instead eight students move away. The district will have about $80,000 less in revenue but we would not reduce our staff to one teacher. It is difficult to argue that 30 kindergarten students with one teacher has the best interests of the children in mind.

On an annual basis the board and administration reviews staffing needs for the now and future.

Elementary Principal

The letter alludes to a hiring process that is closed with only a handful of people privy to the information. In all actuality the district’s hiring process for principals includes support staff, teachers, administration, and the entire board. After the process and a thorough background check, Brad Grayvold was approved by the school board.

Inaccurate information has been printed by the media and shared by outside parties in the community. I encourage you to be patient and allow for the process used by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to be completed. Due to the requirement of confidentiality during this process, I cannot comment further.

The board and I believe your children and our staff are safe.

Budget Shortfall

The $200,000 budget shortfall was approved by the community at the 2016 annual meeting and approved by the school board. The budget is based on the educational needs of our students along with accounting for utilities, transportation, and maintenance projects. Every attempt is made to balance the budget annually, however the priority is to pass a budget based on our student needs. The board weighed using a portion of our fund balance to offset the rising costs versus cutting staff or programs. This decision was not made overnight, but rather over the course of months of work.

One reason for the shortfall was the need for an additional teacher after the enrollment of our kindergarten class increased by 12 students. After observations of the class along with input from the teachers and parents, the board approved a third teacher.

Our process works, as we have great schools and the local mill rate has been reduced from 10.45 in October 2014 to 9.55 in October 2016. On a $100,000 house, the local property taxes for the schools dropped by $90.

Threats

The letter alleges the use of threats in communications: cutting the lunch program, a four-day school week, and the schools will close. The board and administration always strive to be transparent through their decision-making and budget process. As the board and administration weighed different reductions, we felt it was important to share with staff, parents, and community during the spring meetings and again during the informational meetings in July. The board and administration are candid about all of the considerations and after further research some reductions are not being deliberated.

The closing of the schools has never been discussed by the board. However, this fear apparently came from a question on the community survey from the fall of 2016. Again, this goes back to the board and administration being transparent and asking the community to consider all options. Closing the schools received very little support from the survey and zero support from the board and administration.

The school closing would be devastating to the community.

You are always welcome at every board meeting or to visit me anytime to become more involved in our school system. Our board meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month, with our annual meeting on August 21 at 6 p.m.

Yours in Education;

Patrick Rau

Superintendent

School District of Bonduel

Shawano School District officials have just about finished their summer homework assignment: a remodeling of the district’s administrative headquarters.

The administrative offices inside Shawano Community High School have been reconfigured and updated to accommodate district staff employees who had been located elsewhere.

The project was recommended by a management consultant as a way of centralizing operations to improve communication and efficiency within the school system’s administrative leadership.

When the new school year begins Sept. 5, the district superintendent, business manager and curriculum director will be joined by the pupil services staff and the building and grounds management.

“The most important thing is just to have everybody together,” said Craig Young, the district’s director of technology.

Starting in May, crews remodeled the central offices and the board room across the hall by erecting new walls, in an endeavor that also involved adjustments to the heating and air-conditioning system, some windows and the facility’s electrical grid.

Contractors were hired for some of the improvements, while the school district’s own staff handled the drywall, painting and other less technical parts.

The project also included new furniture and new carpeting in some areas, along with a planned new security entrance at a door leading to the administrative offices.

Jeff Easter, the district’s building and grounds director, said the project was budgeted for $95,000 and should end up within budget — and possibly a little under.

Easter said he was impressed at how much was accomplished for a relatively small amount of money.

“We were trying to address as many things as possible,” he said. “Everything is basically pretty much what we need.”

The consulting firm of Springsted Inc. last year issued a report that offered a comprehensive analysis of the school district’s administration. In addition to changes in structure and operation, the firm recommended the central office remodeling and consolidation.

The analysis called it inefficient to have the director of pupil services based at Shawano Community Middle School or the director of building and grounds based at Olga Brener Intermediate School.

Crews remodeled the central offices to create new accommodations for the pupil services staff and building and grounds director, while also establishing a more clearly defined reception counter to greet visitors. The board room across the hall was transformed into a smaller conference room alongside new offices for the district’s human resources and payroll staff.

No determination has been made about whether school board meetings will be moved into the smaller conference room or remain in the high school library, where they have been held since the remodeling project started.
Although some details of the remodeling project still need to be completed, most of the work is finished and staff has been reassigned.
Easter said he is pleased about joining the central administration office and having easier access to other staff employees when needed.

“That’s already more efficient,” he said.

Other employees agreed that the new arrangement is comfortable and effective.

“It’s worked out really well,” Young said. “It definitely has improved our communication.”

Wisconsin State Fair officials have banned the Freak Out ride from its amusement area in the wake of an accident on a similar ride that killed one person and injured seven others at the Ohio State Fair.

However, local officials do not plan to eliminate the ride from the Shawano County Fair.

An 18-year-old man was killed Wednesday when the Fire Ball ride he was on broke apart in mid-air, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Fire Ball was not one of the rides planned for Wisconsin, but the fair issued a statement Friday pulling the plug on “a similar ride,” the Freak Out, that was planned for the SpinCity Amusement Ride and Game Area.

“Out of respect for the families affected by the tragedy, as well as the pending investigation into why the accident occurred, Wisconsin State Fair Park Chairman of the Board John Yingling, along with Kathleen O’Leary, Wisconsin State Fair Park CEO, have made the decision to not have the Freak Out at the 2017 Wisconsin State Fair,” the statement said.

The Freak Out has become one of the prime amusement ride attractions at the Shawano County Fair in recent years, and Dale Hodkiewicz, president of the Shawano Area Agricultural Society that organizes the annual fair, said there is currently no plan to eliminate the ride.

“That’s a decision that will have to be made,” he said. “That’s a month away.”

However, at this point, Hodkiewicz said, he saw no reason to eliminate the ride and no plan to take the matter to the fair board for discussion.

“We’re not going to take that ride off unless we’re forced to,” he said.

Hodkiewicz said he also wanted to wait until the Fire Ball investigation is completed.

After that, he said, “state inspectors will have to make a decision” regarding the safety of the Freak Out.

Hodkiewicz said that if state inspectors and the carnival owner give their approval, the ride will go on as planned.

“It’s a month away, and a lot can change,” Hodkiewicz said. “I’m not going to get too excited about something that’s not in our control.”

The manufacturer of the Fire Ball, KMG International, put out a statement Thursday saying that the Fire Ball and similar rides should cease operation until further notice.

However, that statement did not include the Freak Out.

In an interview Friday, Kristi Chuckel, communications director for the state fair, said the Freak Out was considered a similar ride by the state fair because it is “a pendulum-swinging ride that rotates.”

Shawano Police Department

July 31

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Medication was reported stolen in the 500 block of Lakeland Road.

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

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

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 100 block of East Division Street.

Theft — A wallet was reported stolen in the 1000 block of East Cleveland Street.

July 30

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at the flea market at the Shawano County fairgrounds, 900 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 200 block of Airport Drive.

July 29

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 22-year-old woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Main Street and Northridge Drive.

Aircraft Problem — A 65-year-old Cecil man was piloting a paramotor near the Shawano channel when the engine failed. The operator was able to drift the paramotor into the water near the end of River Pine Drive. The operator was uninjured and was picked up by a passing pontoon boat. Shawano Police, Fire and Shawano County Sheriff’s departments responded. Shawano Fire was able to remove the paramotor to Huckleberry Harbor.

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

July 28

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 1100 block of South Evergreen Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.

Theft — Police responded to an attempted theft complaint in the 100 block of River Heights.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 400 block of West Richmond Street.

Fire — Authorities responded to a stove fire in the 700 block of South Franklin Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 31

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Basswood Road in the town of Richmond.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Radke Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Assault — Authorities responded to an assault complaint on Pioneer Avenue in Wittenberg.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Main Street in the town of Angelica.

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

Fraud — Authorities investigated a forgery complaint on Red Oak Lane in the town of Wittenberg.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in Tigerton.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Willow Creek Road in the town of Herman.

July 30

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities responded to an assault complaint on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Woodland Road in the town of Washington.

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

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Main Street in the town of Angelica.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Magnolia Lane in Tigerton.

Accidents — Authorities responded to injury accidents on state Highway 29 in the town of Wittenberg and Korth Road in the town of Washington.

July 29

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Kolpack Road in the town of Almon.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Cardinal Lane in the town of Wittenberg.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Trespass — Authorities responding to a trespassing complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Birnamwood arrested a 32-year-old Wild Rose woman on charges of bail jumping and obstructing an officer.

July 28

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 23-year-old Cecil man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Freeborn Street in Cecil.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a report of an attempted burglary on Hofa Park Road in the town of Lessor.

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

Clintonville Police Department

July 31

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — A warning was issued for trespassing on Flora Way.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was checked on Anne Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was checked South Clinton Avenue.

July 30

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Officers assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department with a disturbance on East Main Street in Embarrass.

July 29

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Accident — A two-vehicle property damage accident was reported on West Madison Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on East Madison Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on North Main Street.

July 28

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic situation on Garfield Avenue.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run on South Main Street.

Theft — A cellphone was reported stolen on Franklin Street.

Public health officials are reminding Shawano-area residents to be mindful of West Nile virus after a dead crow tested positive for the transmittable virus.

The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department said the dead crow found on July 26 became the first to test positive since West Nile surveillance began for the season on May 1.

Officials said the positive test means that residents in both counties should be more vigilant about protecting themselves from mosquitoes, which can transit the virus from infected birds.

“The West Nile virus seems to be here to stay,” Health Director Judith Sengstock said, “so the best way to avoid the disease is to reduce exposure to and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Other safety tips include: Limit time outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; apply insect repellent to clothing and exposed skin; ensure that window screens are in good condition; trim tall grass and weeds; clean and chlorinate outdoor pools and tubs; and prevent water from pooling in low-lying areas.

For the second time in four months, voters in the Bonduel School District said “no” Tuesday to a referendum aimed at rescuing the public school system from a difficult budget crunch.

In a special referendum called in the hope of reversing the earlier defeat, voters again rejected the school district’s request for an extra $2.7 million over the next three years by a vote of 1,004-851.

A similar measure in April was defeated by a vote of 708-602.

Bonduel school administrators had warned that the district and its 800 students would face potentially painful budget cuts if the voters rejected the new ballot measure.

District Administrator Patrick Rau extended thanks Tuesday to those in the community who turned out to vote and those who participated in discussions the past couple of months about the district’s financial issues.

“The residents have spoken and are choosing to spend within the state revenue limit,” Rau said. “The board and administration will continue to provide the best learning environment possible for the students that is possible within those limits, just as we have in the past.”

The referendum would have allowed the district to exceed state tax limits and collect an additional $900,000 in property taxes annually for the next three years to protect staffing levels and classroom operations. Officials calculated that the initiative would have cost the owner of a typical $100,000 house about $162 a year extra in taxes.

Voters turning out at the polls Tuesday expressed strong feelings on both sides of the issue.

Jan Ramseth, of Cecil, said she has a grandson going into sixth grade this year, and she supported the referendum because she does not want his education to suffer because of financial problems in the school district.

“None of us like tax increases,” she said. “But we need to educate our children.”

David Holmes, of Bonduel, said he opposed the referendum because he believes spending is out of control in the school system. Holmes said he does not see the logic in wanting to hire more teachers when student enrollment has been declining.

“It’s just getting to be too much,” he said.

Of the nine different municipalities where voting took place within the school district, only the village of Bonduel registered a majority of votes in support of the referendum.

The district serves about 800 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on a yearly 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 in future years.

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 belt-tightening plans, however, parents and others spoke out in favor of trying another referendum to stave off the budget axe.

District officials cautioned that if the second referendum failed, the resulting budget deficit would require the district to consider drastic budget cuts, possibly including academic programs, extracurricular activities and perhaps even a school week shortened to four days.

If the measure was approved, officials said, they could avoid such cuts and could move to restore three teaching positions at the elementary school, plus a teaching position at the high school level.

Parents, teachers and others in the community formed a group called the Bonduel Area Action Committee and spent weeks promoting the referendum. Volunteers went door to door, distributed yard signs, and decorated a float in holiday parades to drum up support.

The group issued statement Tuesday expressing concern for what the future now holds in the school district.

“The Bonduel Area Action Committee accepts the voting results,” the statement said. “We are concerned about upcoming cuts that need to be made, but we know that our administration, staff and families will band together to do our best with the landscape we must navigate in the future.”

Although there was no sign of organized opposition leading up to the referendum, someone anonymously mailed literature to households last week encouraging “no” votes.

Voter Suzanne Hutter, of Bonduel, said she disregarded the anonymous mailing and voted “yes” because she values the school district’s role in the community and wants to maintain quality facilities and programs.

“We need to do whatever is best for our children,” Hutter said.

Rebecca Bonnin, of Cecil, however, said she opposed the referendum because she believes schools have lost sight of teaching fundamentals and instead are spending money frivolously. Bonnin noted that she herself had to teach a 12-year-old granddaughter how to write cursive.

“They’re not teaching kids the basics,” she said. “I think they’re putting too much money in things that don’t matter.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 1

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of Hill Street.

Warrant — A 40-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 1

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 39-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Balsam Row Road in the town of Wescott.

OWI — A 53-year-old Neopit man was arrested for fifth offense operating while intoxicated on state Highway 29 in the town of Waukechon.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigating a drug complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45, in the town of Wittenberg, arrested a 26-year-old Birnamwood man for obstruction and a 24-year-old Birnamwood woman for battery to a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on County Road MM in the town of Richmond.

Burglary — Storage units were reported broken into on Lyons Road in Birnamwood.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Old Shawano Road in the town of Pella.

Warrant — Deputies assisted Stockbridge-Munsee police with locating and arresting a 47-year-old Gresham man on a warrant on Main Street in Gresham.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 1

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 35-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on a Shawano County warrant.

Disturbance — Warnings for disorderly conduct were issued after a family disturbance on 17th Street.

Wisconsinites love their alcohol, but depending on the business, different rules apply to different spirits.

State Rep. Gary Tauchen seeks to even out the playing field.

Tauchen, R-Bonduel, announced this week that he and other lawmakers would introduce legislation that would lift some of the restrictions on wineries and craft breweries, as well as increase the number of liquor licenses municipalities can approve.

Tauchen said in a phone interview Wednesday that Chapter 125 of state law, which addresses alcohol, had not been reviewed by the Legislature since 2011, and some of the restrictions are out of date.

“What we’re trying to do is modernize the three-tiered system,” Tauchen said. “In its simplest form, with the three-tiered system, you can be a producer, a wholesaler or a retailer. With certain exceptions, they’re separated.”

Wineries are only allowed to be open through 9 p.m., for example, while mainstream bars and pubs get to stay open much later. The bill, if passed, would allow wineries to stay open as late as 2 a.m.

“They certainly don’t want to be open every day until then,” Tauchen said. “There are special events or weddings where people want to spend a little more time at the facility, and this allows that to happen.”

The bill would also increase, from 25,000 to 50,000, the amount of wine a winery could generate and still remain a small winery.

Breweries would be able to increase annual production from 10,000 barrels to 20,000, and increase their maximum production locations from six to 12.

Tauchen noted the number of Class B liquor licenses that municipalities can issue to businesses has stayed the same for 20 years, determined by a formula based on the number of existing licenses and community population. The bill would increase the number of liquor licenses by 10 percent, he said.

Microbreweries are currently not allowed to sell their product on the site where they brew, but the new bill would allow them to do so, according to Tauchen. Also, restaurants would be allowed to operate distill pubs, similar to brew pubs, that sell hard liquor.

“In the Legislature, we try to bring balance to things, and what we’re doing with this piece of legislation is trying to promote flexibility and allow competition through a free-market system,” Tauchen said. “We value all the groups — the tavern owners, the distributors, the wineries, the brew pubs, the distillers and anyone else that is involved of the infrastructure — and our goal is to get a hearing and encourage a conversation.”

Tauchen believes the state has a “tremendous” opportunity to turn the bill into a positive for tourism. He noted that, since Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011, visitation to the state has increased by 35 percent.

“We believe that it’s the right thing to do for small businesses, and of course, we want them to flourish and do well,” Tauchen said. “The bars and supper clubs are part of our identity and part of our heritage, part of our culture. We should take advantage of that.”

The bill is not expected to move through the Legislature quickly. Tauchen said it could take two or three legislative sessions to get the bill passed because it is so comprehensive.

“Hopefully, this will get the conversation going,” Tauchen said.

The signs they are a-changing. Call it just another time of the signs.

The Shawano Plan Commission on Wednesday backed off a plan that would have forced variable electronic messaging signs in the city to display any single text or graphic for at least eight seconds before changing.

The proposed change would have amended the ordinance in the city’s new code book, adopted in 2015, that requires a single message display time of at least 30 seconds.

One problem with the current rule is that few if any businesses are complying with it.

Some 19 businesses and public organizations in the city, including churches and schools and organizations such as the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, have electronic messaging centers with LED or other types of displays that rotate every 2-4 seconds.

Most were in place before the 2015 code changes and were grandfathered in.

On Wednesday, Tony Zielinski, owner of the Four Seasons Resort, appeared before the commission to argue that even lowering the minimum time to eight seconds was unreasonable.

Zielinski is planning on adding an electronic messaging center outside the Four Seasons that would promote not only his business but also other community events.

“This technology has been around for 30 years and has been used successfully in town,” Zielinski told the commission.

Zielinski said it would be unfair to hold his sign to a different standard than the 19 that have already been grandfathered in.

Roger Brown of Daktronics, a South Dakota-based firm that designs video displays and related products for electronic messaging centers, told the commission that studies have shown no safety concerns as a result of variable electronic messaging signs.

After lengthy discussion, the commission recommended a minimum of three seconds for text massages or static images before they could change, and six seconds before any changeover of animated displays.

Zielinski said after the meeting that it was frustrating to have to put in so much time and effort to challenge the regulation, but he was pleased with the commission’s recommendation.

He said the shorter display time had many supporters in the business community.

“I want to thank the commission for having an open mind,” he said, and for a recommendation “that will be beneficial to the city and to businesses within the city.”

The office that coordinates 4-H Club activities and other educational efforts in Shawano County is bracing for budget cuts that could mean a smaller staff starting in 2018.

The Shawano County University of Wisconsin-Extension office is absorbing its share of a $250 million statewide cut to the University of Wisconsin System that has prompted restructuring of the UW-Extension organization.

Starting Jan. 1, the office at the Shawano County Courthouse will become part of a four-county region overseen by a regional director who also is responsible for extension outlets in Menominee, Oconto and Marinette counties.

In addition to such consolidation, state budget cuts are forcing Shawano County to either allocate more county resources for UW-Extension or trim staffing and services in the office.

County officials have tentatively decided against spending increases and instead have endorsed a strategy for reducing the number of educators while scaling back activities in family living and economic development.

Jamie Patton, who heads the UW-Extension office in Shawano County, said she and her colleagues are prepared to work more efficiently in the hope of implementing the budget reductions without significantly affecting the many services that the office provides.

“It’ll be a new system,” Patton said. “How this transition will transpire is still yet to be determined.”

The state’s decision in 2015 to slash $250 million from the UW System led to a $3.6 million budget cut for UW-Extension, prompting a restructuring for the organization whose mission is to connect local communities with the university’s research and educational resources.

Dubbed the “nExt Generation” project, the reorganization has been studied and planned slowly over the past two years, with local offices in Shawano County and elsewhere eager to learn the impact.

The Shawano County office consists of about a 12-person staff that works on agriculture, 4-H youth activities, business development, and family living and health. Using a combination of county, state and federal funding, the office spends about $380,000 a year and serves more than 30,000 people annually.

The staff has been in flux ever since department head Joe Stellato retired last August and community resource development educator Jay Moynihan died a couple of months later.

Under a plan approved last week by the county agriculture and extension committee, two positions in the office in 2018 would be trimmed from full-time to half-time: the community resource development educator and the family living educator. Community resource development is focused on economic development and tourism, while family living includes parent education, nutrition, health and volunteerism.

County Supervisor Marvin Klosterman, a member of the agriculture and extension committee, said final decisions on funding for the UW-Extension office will come later in the county’s budget approval process for 2018.

“We hate to lose any of them,” he said. “But sometimes you have to face reality.”

The county budget typically is approved by October of each year.

Another change being implemented under the restructuring is squeezing counties to pay more because the state’s contribution to fund certain UW-Extension salaries is based on a flat-fee structure rather than a percentage that had been set at 40 percent.

Effective Jan. 1, budgetary management and other administrative oversight for the county Extension office is being assigned to an area director. The regional director will assume duties previously fulfilled by staff in each individual county office.

The area director, Nancy Crevier, is a longtime UW-Extension educator from Marinette County. She will remain based in Marinette County.

Crevier said she is confident that UW-Extension will continue serving its counties well, and will remain true to its mission of being responsive to local residents’ needs.

“That is something that we stand by and will continue to stand by,” she said. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Now that county officials have identified preferred staffing levels for next year, Patton said she and her colleagues will prepare a budget for the office for 2018. They will likely rely more heavily on volunteers, she said, and they might seek out new partnerships with neighboring counties or others to achieve efficiencies.

Patton said she hopes the changes trickling down from the state budget cuts will be largely unfelt by the people who rely on UW-Extension for services.

“The community members won’t see any difference,” she said. “We’re going to do our best.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 2

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, 100 County Road B.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint at Lakeland Road and Richmond Street.

Arrest — A male subject was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 2

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Spaulding Street in Tigerton.

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

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Red Oak Lane in the town of Wittenberg.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Maple Street in Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Deputies assisted Stockbridge-Munsee police with a disturbance on Morgan Road in the town of Red Springs.

OWI — A 62-year-old Oshkosh man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on County Road A in the town of Richmond.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road B in the town of Waukechon.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Westgor Avenue in Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 2

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A theft by fraud complaint was reported on South Main Street.

Disturbance — A neighbor dispute was reported on West Second Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on South Main Street.

The Shawano Plan Commission this week agreed to consider an ordinance amendment that would allow beekeeping in the city once draft language is presented at a future meeting, possibly as soon as next month.

The initial request to consider such a move came from Cameron Oliver, who moved to the city two years ago, and whose family began a hobby beekeeping operation unaware that city ordinances prohibit it.

The hobby already has a number of enthusiasts outside the city limits, according to Orren Frederick, a member of the Brown County Beekeepers Association.

“There’s probably a dozen people in the area already keeping bees,” Frederick told the commission Wednesday.

He said the beekeepers association is hoping to branch out into Shawano County.

Plan commissioners had some concerns they hope will be addressed in whatever ordinance amendment is proposed, including possible objections from neighbors.

“Some people are very allergic to bees,” commissioner Lorna Marquardt said.

An amendment passed earlier this year allowing backyard chickens initially required the approval of immediate neighbors, but that requirement was dropped after it was determined to be “too onerous and not reasonable,” according to City Administrator Brian Knapp.

Another issue was the possibility of swarming, which could happen if a hive becomes overcrowded.

Frederick said swarming does happen, but beekeepers try to manage their hives to prevent it.

Commissioner and Alderwoman Lisa Hoffman said the possibility of that happening was a concern.

“That’s my fear, is someone in town maybe not knowing what they’re doing exactly and that happening,” she said.

Another concern was the tendency for bees to gravitate to nearby sources of water, which could be an issue for any swimming pools in the area.

Beekeeping has been growing in popularity in recent years.

Wisconsin municipalities that have adopted ordinances allowing urban beekeeping include Milwaukee, Madison, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Hobart, Ashwaubenon and Green Bay.

The ordinances limit the size of hives and set fencing and other requirements.

Knapp said the city will review those ordinances before bringing a draft back to the plan commission to consider.

Revenue from city building permits is already outpacing all of 2016, according to a summary from the Shawano Building Inspection Department.

Though the number of building permits issued so far appears to be on track to closely match last year’s total, many of the permits being issued this year are for much larger projects.

Those permits become more expensive when square footage is being added, as opposed to simple fee-based permits that involve making improvements to existing space.

The city has taken in $62,073 in fees through July from 190 building permits, including new construction and remodeling, compared to $48,548 from 334 building permits issued in all of 2016.

The total for all permits — including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fencing and other — totals $79,829 from 375 permits through July, compared to $70,331 from 628 permits for all of 2016.

“There are a lot of bigger projects this year,” said Brian Bunke, zoning administrator and building inspector. “That drives up a lot of the numbers.”

Those projects include Belmark, with a 125,000-square-foot production area and an additional 5,000 square feet of office space; the 3,600-square-foot Shawano branch of State Bank; the 11,354-square-foot Prevea Health Clinic; and the first stage of a new medical residency training center.

The cost of materials and labor being invested into the projects approved by these permits, at $26.8 million, is also far ahead of last year’s total, compared to $18 million for all of last year, according to Bunke.

City officials say it’s not just large projects that are on the rise in the city. Smaller business and home remodeling projects are also increasing, they say.

“People have more cash and they’re fixing up their places,” Bunke said.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said there’s a lot of residential remodeling going on.

“People are fixing up their homes,” he said. “They’re repairing roofs, they’re doing patios, they’re doing driveways, fencing, windows, doors. The level of activity is outpacing last year’s by 25-30 percent.”

Knapp said the general improvement in financial conditions over the last couple of years might be partly responsible for the increased activity.

“It’s probably a perfect storm of finally getting through the recessionary impacts that everyone was dealing with for the last seven, nine years and finally feeling better,” he said.

Mayor Jeanne Cronce said that in addition to a little extra money, there is a community spirit aspect at work in some of the improvements being made.

“People have a little more money and they’re looking at how they can improve their city,” she said. “And the city is trying to improve the looks of different homes, and we’re reminding people of the ordinances and we’re reminding them that the houses do need new paint jobs and sometimes when you live with it, you don’t see it. Sometimes it needs to be pointed out and sometimes that’s just the jump-start that people need.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 3

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 800 block of East Maurer Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 3

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Airport Drive in the town of Wescott.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized on Broadway Road in the town of Richmond.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Yakel Court in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Witt-Birn Townline Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Hummingbird Street in the town of Wittenberg.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Lake Drive in the town of Washington.

Warrant — Stockbridge-Munsee police arrested a 46 year-old Bowler man after responding for a welfare check on Murphys Road in Bowler.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 3

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to an injury accident at Second and Main streets.

Theft — A theft was reported on Eighth Street.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on Third Street.

Theft — A theft was reported on West 13th Street.

Friday was the final day for Tom O’Toole as superintendent of the Clintonville Public School District.

O’Toole submitted his resignation on July 24 after 16 years leading the district. He plans to retire.

In his resignation letter, O’Toole stated: “I have enjoyed the many interactions with outstanding administrative staff members, seen wonderful teachers in action at all levels of the district and the hard work and energy displayed by outstanding students over this time.”

O’Toole also said that with the birth of a new grandchild, it was time to do something different. He stated that he was thankful that his three children all graduated from Clintonville High School.

Lance Bagstad, Clintonville High School principal and district technology director, will be acting superintendent until an interim superintendent is named.

The school board has sought assistance from the Cooperative Educational Service Agency 8 to find an interim superintendent. As of Tuesday, there were nine applicants for the interim position.

A request to paint a mural at a local business led to a Shawano Plan Commission discussion this week about whether the city should or can regulate what goes up on privately owned walls.

As it stands, there is nothing in the city codes preventing property owners from painting just about anything they want on their buildings.

Plan commissioners Wednesday debated whether some limits should be put in place.

The city has received a request to allow the mural to be painted on the South 40 building at 704 S. Main St.

Officials did not express any objection to the mural being requested, which would be a logo of the five clans of the Menominee Tribe and seven generations represented by seven eagle feathers. The logo was created by Menominee artist James Webster III.

What concerned plan commissioners was future murals and the city’s present inability to regulate their content.

City Attorney Tim Schmid said the city cannot put any limits on content.

He was asked if that would apply even if someone wanted to paint a swastika.

“That’s free speech,” he said. “Under the Supreme Court rules, I think it would be.”

Schmid said the city is in its rights, however, to regulate what color palette and building materials can be used in certain districts.

“That’s a little bit different than content,” he said. “You could pass a code if you want to that says you can’t use the color purple.”

City Administrator Brian Knapp said the bottom line was whether the commission felt there should be any city oversight of the issue in the city code.

“Do you want to be able to review murals or not?” he said. “Do you care?”

The general consensus was negative.

Assistant City Administrator Eddie Sheppard also noted that regulating murals has never been an issue for the city before.

“You’ve been able to do it all this time, and how many murals have you had?” he said.

The city does have other regulations, however, that could limit what goes into a mural, particularly advertisements.

“There’s still going to be a determination that you can’t do some of those things,” Sheppard said.

Fatal accidents on state Highway 29 in Shawano County are prompting state transportation planners to consider new safety measures at several intersections.

The state Department of Transportation has hired a consultant to examine a recent surge in traffic collisions at five intersections along the state highway.

The intersections are located where the four-lane highway connects with the following county roads: F near Angelica, MMM just outside Shawano, U south of Gresham, D (Rock Road) near Seneca, and J north of Tigerton.

Depending what the consultant finds, state transportation officials could recommend such added safety measures as additional warning signals and new intersection configurations.

Brent Matthews, a regional traffic supervisor for the state, said a wide variety of possibilities would be considered, and he is relatively certain that at least one of the intersections will end up getting some sort of upgrade.

“We’re going to try to explain all the different ideas and see what’s out there and what might work the best,” Matthews said.

The consulting firm of Strand Associates Inc. of Madison is expected to complete its study by the end of the year.

State officials ordered the Shawano County study after becoming aware of a recent spate of crashes on Highway 29, some of them deadly.

County officials have urged the state to take action, citing five fatal collisions within the past five years and another 15 crashes that resulted in injuries.

Gresham Village President Lyle Grosskopf said he is pleased to hear the state is taking notice of the intersection at County Road U, just south of Gresham. Grosskopf said he suspects it is the most dangerous intersection in the entire county.

“I hope they do something with it,” he said. “We need something there.”

Matthews said the consultant would first compile data on traffic incidents associated with the five intersections. From that, officials would determine which intersections need safety upgrades and what sort of improvements would work best. Then comes the work to identify funding sources for the improvements.

When county officials learned the state was taking action, the county highway safety commission sent a letter expressing support for safety improvements on Highway 29.

Commission Chairman Steve Gueths said some of the hazardous intersections were designed for 55 mph speed limits, before the speed limit on Highway 29 was raised to 65 mph. Many drivers also are careless, typically either driving too fast or not paying attention, he said.

Gueths said some safety upgrades could require significant investments, and he questions whether the state would have enough money.

“Money is the big problem,” he said. “Whether or not they’ll have it remains to be seen.”

Matthews said the state might seek federal funding.

Shawano County highway safety became a priority, Matthews said, when state officials became aware of multiple recent traffic crashes reported on Highway 29. The state works to stay abreast of such problem areas in need of safety improvements, he said.

“The issue kind of came up,” he said. “It kind of hit our radar.”