Shawano Police Department

Dec. 9

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — A 16-year-old male at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., was taken into custody for retail theft and possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary at Hensel’s, 134 S. Washington St. A television was among the items reported stolen.

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

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Prairie Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Theft — An iPhone was reported stolen at Shawano Medical Center, 309 N. Bartlett St.

Warrant — A 26-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 200 block of East Randall Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Dec. 9

Deputies logged 46 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A Green Valley man reported two people trying to get into his truck who fled the scene when he confronted them with a gun.

Vandalism — Damage was reported as a result of two vehicle break-ins on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Hemlock Road in Wittenberg.

Juvenile — Authorities logged a truancy complaint from Tigerton Middle/High School.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Ash Lane in Wittenberg.

Accidents — Authorities logged 11 accidents, including six deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Dec. 8

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on West Morning Glory Drive.

Fire — The fire department was called out to a chimney fire on Pearl Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a family dispute on West 13th Street.

The issue of what time of day the County Board should meet is rearing its head again, but with committee backing this time.

The Administrative Committee approved a recommendation Monday to approve a resolution changing the County Board meetings to evenings year-round. The measure, which would alter County Board Rule 1, will go before the County Board on Dec. 18.

The County Board usually meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month from May through September and at 9 a.m. from October through April.

Supervisor Gene Hoppe, committee chairman, said he was concerned that Supervisor Sandy Steinke was opting not to run for another term in 2014 because daytime meetings would not fit into her new job schedule.

“I was called up and asked, ‘Gene, could it go back on the agenda?’” Hoppe said.

Supervisor Jerry Erdmann said he knows of at least three County Board members who have issues with daytime meetings. He has also fielded several calls from potential board candidates with similar concerns.

“To them, it would make a difference whether it was a day meeting or a night meeting,” he said.

“We’re structured so that you have to be either unemployed, retired or self-employed in order to run for this position, and there’s something wrong with that,” Supervisor Deb Noffke said. “I think it’s Sandy Steinke who is bringing this to a head because she’s an asset to the board.”

Noffke noted that former Bonduel supervisor Tom Martell did not run in 2012 because the meeting times conflicted with his work as an attorney. She also said former Shawano supervisor Tyler Schmidt used up his vacation time at work to serve out a term on the County Board, before having to leave in 2006.

“That’s a terrible thing, when you have somebody who wants to serve and realizes they just can’t afford to,” Noffke said.

Supervisor Kathy Luebke, who predicted the resolution call for all night meetings would be defeated, questioned whether meeting at 1 p.m. would be an acceptable compromise. She suggested it would be a good thing for committee meetings, as well, as the committees generally meet during the day.

Supervisor William Switalla said that he thought the County Board meetings were at night when he ran for his Wittenberg seat in 2012. He noted he has a hard time making daytime board meetings.

“Committee meetings are a little easier because you can adjust them, meet on a different day,” Switalla said.

Supervisor Bonnie Olson spoke against the resolution, noting some potential board candidates might have difficulty attending night meetings, and suggested continuing the current schedule.

At least six Shawano County Board races are shaping up for the spring election.

All 27 county supervisors will be up for re-election April 1. Potential candidates have until Jan. 7 to get their nomination papers and 20 signatures returned to the county clerk’s office.

All but three incumbents have taken papers out for another run.

District 5 Supervisor Sandy Steinke has said she is not seeking re-election due to time conflicts with her job. Two people — John Granchay and Billy Suprise — have taken out papers to fill the seat, which includes Wards 9 and 10 in the city of Shawano.

Potential challenges are also looming for County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann and Vice Chairman Arlyn Tober.

Erdmann represents District 22, which covers the towns of Seneca and Morris and Ward 2 of the town of Grant. He could find himself in a race against Ronald Grunewald, who has taken out papers for a bid for that seat.

In District 19 — which includes the town of Pella, Ward 2 of the town of Herman and Ward 1 of the town of Grant — Tober could face a challenge from Leone Schneidewend. Both have taken out nomination papers.

District 12 Supervisor Kathy Luebke and District 20 Supervisor Richard Giese have not taken nomination papers out, but also had not declared their non-candidacy as of Tuesday.

If Luebke chooses to run again, she would have possible competition from Ken Bierhals, who has taken out nomination papers for the seat. The district includes the town of Maple Grove, Ward 2 of the town of Lessor and the part of Pulaski in Shawano County.

David Korth, of Cecil, has taken out papers to challenge District 10 Supervisor Robert Krause, of Krakow. The district includes Ward 3 of the town of Washington and Wards 1 and 2 of Green Valley.

Cheryl Klapste has taken out papers for the District 18 seat, comprised of Wards 2 and 3 of Richmond, held by Steven Gueths.

In District 23, which includes Fairbanks and Tigerton, Annette Rockey has taken out papers for the seat held by Ray Faehling.

Krause and Gueths have also taken their papers out for re-election bids. Faehling has already returned his nomination papers.

The former Lincoln School has made the grade when it comes to history; winning a spot on both the state and national registers of historical places.

The property was entered last month in the National Register of Historic Places by the Secretary of the Interior, and listed in the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places by the State Historic Preservation Office.

Lincoln School joins the Shawano post office and the Shawano Main Street Historic District as nationally recognized historic locations in the city.

City officials were notified about the school’s historic status this week.

“Many area residents attended the school and it holds many memories within its walls,” Shawano Mayor Lorna Marquardt said. “Preserving Shawano’s history is vital.”

Jeanne Cronce, who served as a principal at the school for seven years and a fourth-grade teacher there for 22 years, said she was “super excited” by the historic designation.

“This makes Shawano proud,” she said.

“So many lives have been impacted by what went on in that building,” Cronce said. “We’ve had doctors who came out of that school.”

Commonwealth Development Corporation, of Fond du Lac, plans to renovate the interior of the former school into a 16-unit apartment building and to construct eight cottage units on the north side of the property.

The exterior of Lincoln School will remain the same, and a monument located in front of the school will be retained.

The bronze/stone monument was erected in 1931 in memory of Lorenzo D. Roberts, the first principal of Shawano High School. The monument contains the names of cities, towns and villages in Shawano County.

Some building features that were changed over the years will be restored to their original appearance.

That includes going back to the original style of windows to replicate the same look the exterior had in 1931, Commonwealth Vice President Marissa Downs said.

Other elements that will be restored include the original wood flooring and cabinetry, Downs said.

“It is definitely more costly,” she said, but the historic designation means the development is eligible for historic tax credits that will offset some of the cost of the $4 million project.

The project was also awarded $2.86 million over the next 10 years through a Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority program designed to increase affordable housing statewide.

Downs said Commonwealth will close this month on the purchase of the school from the Shawano School District, after which work can begin.

Commonwealth, which specializes in housing projects, has done similar renovation projects — including an elementary school in Rhinelander now called the Historic West Elementary Apartments and a maternity ward in Milwaukee that was turned into a 51-unit apartment complex.

The company’s offices are located in a renovated church.

The 31,826-square-foot Lincoln School was built in 1924. It was retired after Hillcrest Primary School was completed and students were moved there and to the remodeled Olga Brener Intermediate School.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Dec. 10

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint on Highland Drive in the town of Washington.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a complaint of money fraudulently withdrawn from a bank account on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on County Road A in Richmond.

Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

Shawano Police Department

Dec. 10

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police logged three truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a male shoplifter fled the store.

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 500 block of South Union Street.

A new company will take over operation of the city’s shared-ride taxi program starting next month, but riders are not expected to notice much difference.

Starting Jan. 1, Viroqua-based Running Inc. will be operating City Cab, under the same service terms and fares that Top Hat Inc. of La Crosse operated under since 2008.

The Shawano Common Council unanimously approved an agreement with Running Inc. on Wednesday.

Under rules attached to state grant money that helps fund the program, the city is required to put operation of the taxi service out for bid every five years.

Running and Top Hat both submitted bids, as did Racine-based Ktown Transportation.

An Evaluation Committee was formed to review and score the proposals without knowing which company was being evaluated. Running finished with the highest score, according to city officials.

“We didn’t really know who we were selecting with the point values that we used,” said Council President Woody Davis, who was one of the Evaluation Committee members.

City Administrator Brian Knapp, who was also on the committee, said the scoring system was based on a well-defined process set up by the Department of Transportation that includes factors such as capacity, experience and finances.

Once the evaluations were scored, the bids were opened and Running Inc. turned out to have not only the highest evaluation score, but also the lowest price, Knapp said.

Under the first year of the five-year agreement, Running would ostensibly charge the city $25.82 per hour of service, which would total $237,899 a year.

However, that would be offset by the fares Running collects. The city would be responsible only for the amount left over, if any, after fares are collected.

Knapp said the evaluation results were no slight against Top Hat, adding the city had been happy with the company’s operation of the service.

“They did a great job,” Knapp said.

Mayor Lorna Marquardt said Top Hat was made aware of the results and understood the situation.

“They did stop in and extended thank yous to all of you,” Marquardt told the council. “They said they enjoyed their time that they served in the city of Shawano, and maybe after five years they’ll come in and bid again.”

Marquardt said she was looking forward to the same level of service and operation from Running Inc.

Other Evaluation Committee members included City Clerk-Treasurer Karla Duchac, Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard, Joint City-County Transportation Committee member Frank Wozniak and Holly Konitzer from the county Social Services Department.

A separate agreement with the city requires Running Inc. to provide taxi service to the elderly and disabled and to accept tickets in lieu of cash payments equaling $3. Social Services will reimburse the cost to Running using resources from a state transportation assistance program for counties.

Authorities executing a search warrant Tuesday busted an alleged drug operation in a town of Aniwa trailer protected by weapons and a surveillance system.

A 42-year-old Aniwa man was taken into custody pending possible drug and firearm-related charges.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies, assisted by Antigo police, executed a search warrant on the residence and had to force their way in after the man failed to comply with orders to open up, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The residence was equipped with a fortified door and other protections, according to Capt. Tom Tuma, who said authorities are seeing a disturbing trend in the most recent drug busts.

“This is the third in a series of recently executed search warrants where deputies encountered loaded firearms and the second in a row that was equipped with surveillance systems,” Tuma said. “Clearly, these circumstances present a threat to local authorities and potentially others.”

During a 4 1/2-hour search, authorities located numerous controlled substances and paraphernalia in various locations around the property, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The department said there was probable cause to believe the chemicals and substances found were part of a distribution operation.

Tuma said an initial evaluation indicates some of the substances found were designer chemical compounds now making their way through the area.

“Some of what we encountered are the very substances we’ve been speaking to local groups about during public presentations,” Tuma said. “The sheriff’s office feels strongly that our community should understand what we are encountering, as well as the impact these drugs have on our communities. Our approach is to continue these discussions and remain aggressive from a law enforcement perspective.”

Additional testing, along with a continued investigation into this matter is anticipated, Tuma said.

Additional persons of interest were also being examined, he added.

Numerous charges are being considered against the man authorities said was the lone occupant of the trailer when the search warrant was executed. Possible charges include felon in possession of a firearm, maintaining a drug house, possession of harmful substances, possession of suspected bath salts, possession of illegal substances, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tuma said the Sheriff’s Department is forwarding the matter to the Shawano County District Attorney’s Office for examination and formal charges, as well as alerting the U.S. Attorney and Federal Drug Enforcement Administration for review.

“This incident is only the latest in an increasing number of incidents involving extremely harmful controlled substances,” Tuma said. “The sheriff’s office is receiving vast amounts of intelligence regarding these types of cases and continues to examine information and investigate thoroughly.

“Authorities strongly recommend that if the purveyors of controlled substances wish to remain home for the holidays, they cease and desist from the possession and sales of illegal substances.”

Shawano Police Department

Dec. 11

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — Police arrested a 34-year-old man for a state Sex Offender Registry violation in the 100 block of South Andrews Street.

Arrest — A 26-year-old man was taken into custody at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Noise — Police responded to a noise complaint at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Dec. 11

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Sunset Circle in Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Kildeer Lane in Birnamwood.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Madison Street in Bonduel.

Arrest — A 19-year-old Wausau woman was taken into custody on a Probation and Parole warrant, and a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was referred after authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Lake Street in Aniwa.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven accidents, including five deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Dec. 11

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on 12th Street.

OWI — A traffic complaint and operating while intoxicated was reported on South Main Street.

Charges were still pending Thursday against an Aniwa man arrested Tuesday in connection with an alleged drug operation at his residence.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old Wausau woman who went to his residence on Wednesday was taken into custody on unrelated charges.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department received a suspicious person complaint shortly before 6:30 p.m. from a caller who said someone was crawling through the window of the residence where authorities executed their search warrant the night before.

The caller also said there was a woman on the front porch.

As it turned out, the woman was apparently there to take care of a dog left behind by the man arrested Tuesday, according to Capt. Tom Tuma.

Tuma said that when the man was taken into custody he was concerned about trying to find someone to take care of his dog.

When deputies responded to the suspicious person complaint, they discovered the woman on scene had an outstanding Probation and Parole warrant and was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Charges against her have been referred to the district attorney’s office.

Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by Antigo police, executed a search warrant on the residence Tuesday and had to force their way in through a fortified door.

Deputies located numerous controlled substances and paraphernalia in various locations around the property, along with several loaded weapons, the Sheriff’s Department said.

A 42-year-old Aniwa man was taken into custody pending possible drug and firearm-related charges.

Probable cause paperwork was filed Thursday to allow the man to be held beyond the maximum 48 hours without being charged. The district attorney’s office said a criminal complaint could be filed today.

It is Leader policy not to name suspects in cases until criminal charges have been filed.

A man accused of browsing Internet obituaries to find vacant homes to break into in several counties, including Shawano, was sentenced in Chippewa County on Tuesday to three years in prison.

Seth R. Furgason, 32, of Junction City, was also sentenced last month to two years in prison for a similar burglary in Trempealeau County. He pleaded guilty in both cases.

Furgason is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on charges of burglary and theft that occurred in the town of Grant in January.

His alleged accomplice — Casandra M. Miller, 24, of Wisconsin Rapids — is scheduled for her preliminary hearing Friday.

They are accused of breaking into the residence of Eldore and Malinda Mielke, who passed away about a day apart in early January. The burglary was reported Jan. 9.

A safe containing about $12,000 in currency and more than $10,000 in coins and collectibles, as well as jewelry, was reported stolen.

The criminal complaint states Miller told authorities that her boyfriend, Furgason, searched online to find recent obituaries, then used the White Pages and an Internet map application to locate the addresses of the deceased people.

She said Furgason usually selected rural locations for the crimes and that she drove him to and from the burglaries, according to the complaint, and that the burglaries started in September in Portage County.

DNA from a cigarette butt left at the scene of the Mielke burglary tied Furgason to the crime, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, Shawano County sheriff’s deputies had previous contact with Furgason on Dec. 13, 2012, when he claimed to have run out of gas going to a residence in Wittenberg about 3:40 a.m. Furgason fled the scene before deputies arrived, leaving Miller in the vehicle.

Furgason was taken into custody April 17 by authorities investigating the Chippewa County case.

Miller was found at Furgason’s residence when authorities, including Shawano County investigators, executed a search warrant the same day.

Among the items seized at the residence was a Confederate $5 bill believed to have come from the Mielke burglary.

Furgason and Miller could each face a maximum 12 1/2 years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted of burglary, and 10 years and $25,000 for felony theft.

Shawano County Jail inmates assigned to the Huber Work Release Center might have to pay a little more per day for the privilege of going to work.

The Public Safety Committee discussed increasing the fee from $17.50 per day to $20 on Wednesday, but decided to postpone a decision until January in order to gather more information.

According to Jail Administrator Steve Borroughs, the fee has not changed for five years.

The fee will not require County Board approval. The ordinance on the Huber rates, which took effect in 1995, allows the Public Safety Committee to make the decision.

Borroughs told the committee earlier this week that the fee increase would double the amount of money he needs to increase the wages of some of his jail staff, especially the five that have been hired after Jan. 1, 2012, and have not received a pay increase.

“I understand there’s a wage study coming, but they have still received nothing (since being hired),” Borroughs said.

Also, Borroughs wants to make sure all of his jail sergeants are making the same wage. He said that several of them, including one who was hired in 1994, make less than the sergeants who have been there longer.

“They’ve made their bones. They’ve been on the job long enough,” Borroughs said.

Huber has a capacity of 144 prisoners, but the average daily occupancy is 90, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Borroughs said 75 percent of the inmates at Huber are working. If they are all working the new rate would provide an additional revenue of about $168 per day, or about $61,000 annually.

Only prisoners who are allowed to leave for jobs are charged the daily rate, according to Borroughs. If inmates are housed at Huber because of overflow at the main jail, they are not charged.

“We can make them pay even if they aren’t working, but creating a debtor’s prison is not something I want to do,” Borroughs said. “They have no money to begin with.”

He said the current rate is on the lower end of what other counties around the state are charging.

Supervisor Bert Huntington said he wanted to know specifically what the counties that border Shawano County were charging. He said what Brown and Milwaukee counties charge should not be a factor because they are so much larger.

Borroughs did not have the rates for Oconto, Waupaca, Langlade and Menominee counties but said he would bring them next month.

It will still be a bit chillier than originally hoped when Santa Claus finally comes to town Friday for the rescheduled downtown parade in his honor, but conditions should be better than last week when frigid temperatures forced the parade to be postponed.

Whatever the weather, there won’t be another postponement tonight, said Marissa Rycroft, coordinator of the downtown Business Improvement District.

“We’re not cancelling again,” she said.

Rycroft said she has been contacted by two participants who had planned to be in the parade, but have dropped out. All of the other participants were still on board.

Downtown businesses are also with the program. They will be open and some of them will be offering refreshments, Rycroft said.

The after-parade wagon rides that were also postponed last week will be part of tonight’s festivities.

Last week, a number of participants contacted Rycroft informing her they were bowing out due to the single digit temperatures and subzero-wind chill being forecast.

The annual Holiday Stroll’s indoor activities went ahead as scheduled, but the outdoor events were cancelled for the first time in the stroll’s 19-year history.

Last Friday’s high temperature only got up as far as 12 degrees, with a low of 1 degree. While today’s forecast high of 16 degrees is only a tad better, the temperatures are not expected to dip below 12. The parade starts at 6 p.m.

A Wisconsin program that sends nurses to farms to provide basic care is expanding.

The Rural Health Initiative currently serves Shawano, Outagamie and Waupaca counties in central Wisconsin. Executive Director Rhonda Strebel says it will expand to Marathon County next year.

Nurses in the program check farmers’ blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels and screen them for other health risks. Farmers with signs of serious problems receive referrals to a doctor or clinic.

The program served 510 people from January through October this year.

Half of the program’s funding comes ThedaCare Inc., in the existing counties and half comes from donations. Other health care organizations will help support the expansion into Marathon County.

A traffic stop in Antigo on Tuesday led authorities to execute a search warrant the same day on a trailer home in the town of Aniwa, where one of the residents was arrested on felony drug charges.

Michael J. Waldner, 42, of Aniwa, was charged Friday with manufacture and delivery of marijuana, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of marijuana and possession of narcotic drugs.

According to the criminal complaint, Langlade County sheriff’s deputies made a traffic stop about 2:45 a.m. and took a male subject into custody. The subject told deputies he had purchased illegal prescription drugs and bath salts from a woman in Aniwa.

The 44-year-old woman, who has not yet been charged in this case, shares a trailer home in Aniwa with Waldner, according to the criminal complaint. She was being held for a probation violation in Langlade County Jail, according to the complaint.

Shawano County deputies, assisted by Langlade County authorities and Antigo police, executed a search warrant on the residence just before 7:30 p.m.

Waldner was inside but wouldn’t open the door, according to the complaint, forcing authorities to break open a door heavily secured with several deadbolts.

Authorities located a large plastic baggie of prescription drugs, a vial with white powder and pills, a ziplock bag containing what was believed to be bath salts, bindles of marijuana stored in a freezer, syringes, digital scales and several loaded firearms, according to the complaint.

Waldner could face a maximum 3 1/2 years and $10,000 fine on each of the felony counts if convicted. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possessing a hazardous substance with intent to abuse it and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Waldner was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond after a court hearing Friday. He is due back in court Dec. 23 for an adjourned initial appearance.

Aggravated battery

A Birnamwood man has been charged with a felony count of aggravated battery of an elderly person for allegedly striking a fellow resident of the Cady Memorial Home in the village.

Buck L. Johnson, 51, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a fight at the home Thursday and found a 64-year-old resident of the facility with facial injuries. Staff at the home reported the man had been in a fight with Johnson.

No court date has been set in the case.

False imprisonment

A Shawano man is facing a felony charge of false imprisonment for allegedly preventing a woman from leaving during a domestic incident Monday.

Auston F. Johnson, 22, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of domestic abuse-related battery and disorderly conduct.

Johnson is free on a $1,000 signature bond and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 8.

Felony OWI

A Bowler man has been charged with a felony count of operating while intoxicated after being pulled over in the town of Morris on Dec. 1.

Larry W. Moede, 26, could face a maximum six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of his fourth alleged drunken driving incident within the last five years. He is also charged with felony bail jumping, which carries the same possible penalty.

Moede was being held on a $500 cash bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Shawano Police Department

Dec. 15

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Richmond Court.

Dec. 14

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1200 block of South Prospect Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen in the 100 block of South Washington Street.

Dec. 13

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 1400 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Dec. 15

Deputies logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on County Road G in Gresham.

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

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Accidents — Authorities logged 10 accidents, including eight deer-related crashes.

Dec. 14

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 21-year-old Black Creek man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

OWI — A 23-year-old Bonduel man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Express Way in Bonduel.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Ah Toh Wuk Court in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged 13 accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

Dec. 13

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in Waukechon.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on County Road M in Pella.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road A in Bowler.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Blueberry Road in Herman.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated an underage drinking complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Accidents — Authorities logged five accidents, including an injury accident on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in Birnamwood.

Shawano Police Department

Dec. 16

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

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

Accident — Police responded to an accident at Cleveland and Maurer streets involving a vehicle that struck a city plow truck. No injuries were reported.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Bail Jumping — Police responded to a bail jumping complaint in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Dec. 16

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Drug Offense — An inmate was found in possession of drugs while being booked into the Shawano County Jail.

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

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Fourth Street in Mattoon.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ah Toh Wuk Circle in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged nine accidents, including an injury accident on U.S. Highway 45 in Aniwa after a driver swerved to avoid a deer and went into a ditch. Authorities also logged a vehicle versus pedestrian accident on Old Lake Road in Wescott. No serious injury was reported.

Clintonville Police Department

Dec. 16

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Theft — A retail theft on South Main Street was reported.

Juvenile — A missing child was reported on North Main Street and was located.

Fines and forfeitures in the city of Shawano will go up across the board starting Wednesday due to an increase in municipal court fees.

The court fee, which is included in the total cost of fines and other penalties assessed by the city, will go from $28 to $38.

The Shawano Common Council approved amending the city’s bond schedule to reflect the rise court fees at a meeting Monday.

The increase comes as a result of a change in state law that allows municipalities to raise the amount being assessed to cover municipal court operations.

Shawano-Bonduel Municipal Court brought in $121,156 in revenue last year through fines and fees. The city budgeted municipal court revenue this year of $130,000, but because actual revenue has been falling short of that, the city lowered its expectations for next year.

The 2014 budget estimated an 11.5 percent drop in municipal court revenue next year, down to $115,000. However, that was before the increase adopted on Monday.

Total municipal court expenditures for 2014 are budgeted at $80,773, a 1.9 percent increase from this year’s budget of $79,290.

The sale of the former Lincoln Elementary School closes Wednesday. The Shawano School Board approved final sale documents Monday night.

The documents signed by Julie Van Dyck, School Board president, and clerk Diane Hoffman give Commonwealth Development Corporation, a Fond du Lac-based company, full ownership of the building that was recently named to the state and federal historic registers.

Marissa Downs, senior vice president of development for Commonwealth, was on hand to accept the documents.

“I can’t believe that it’s time to close, but it’s time to close,” Downs said. “We’re just getting a couple of last minute things together, this one being a big one, and then we close on Wednesday, and then we can start construction.”

Commonwealth plans to construct 16 apartments in the building, plus an additional eight cottage units elsewhere on the property. They would be two- to three-bedroom, low-income homes.

Work inside the school, which was supposed to start in the fall, will commence soon, while the individual cottages are expected to be built in spring.

The 31,826-square-foot Lincoln School was built in 1924. It was retired in 2010 after Hillcrest Primary School was completed and students were moved there and to the remodeled Olga Brener Intermediate School.

Van Dyck said it was a privilege to sign on behalf of the district, noting the school’s strong foundation in the community.

“My children all went through Lincoln School, and my father went to Lincoln,” she said.

Downs said Commonwealth hopes to have a grand opening once the apartments are finished to show off the work.

“I’ll be looking forward to taking everyone through,” she said.

The development was one of two rural projects in Wisconsin to receive low-income housing funds totaling $2.86 million over 10 years.

A Shawano man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges stemming from a hit-and-run in the city last year that injured another driver.

Thomas J. Anker, 45, pleaded to felony counts of sixth offense operating while intoxicated, OWI causing injury and hit-and-run causing injury, as well as a misdemeanor count of operating after revocation.

Under the plea agreement, the state said it would cap its sentencing recommendation at three years in prison.

Two other felony counts of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration and causing injury while operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration were dropped under the agreement.

The crash happened Nov. 10, 2012, just before 12:30 p.m. near McDonald’s when a vehicle headed eastbound on Green Bay Street was struck by a Volkswagen at Woodlawn Drive.

A witness told police that the driver of the Volkswagen — later identified as Anker, according to the criminal complaint — appeared to have a head injury but fled the scene on foot. Other witnesses reported seeing Anker running into the woods.

The other driver — Peter L. Rodgers, 71 — sustained a leg injury and was treated at Shawano Medical Center, the complaint states.

Anker was located a short time later near Walmart. According to the complaint, he had numerous cuts to his head and a bloody shirt and smelled of alcohol.

Anker told police he had not been in an accident and had not been driving. However, the key to the Volkswagen was found in his pocket, according to the complaint.

Anker is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 11 after a pre-sentence investigation is completed.

According to the criminal complaint, Anker has four previous OWI convictions in Shawano County and one in Brown County.

After his fifth conviction in March 2010, Anker was sentenced by Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck to a year in jail as a condition of three years probation.