Former police chief Ed Whealon took the reins of Shawano city government Tuesday with his official swearing in as mayor at the Common Council’s reorganizational meeting.

Whealon succeeds former mayor Jeanne Cronce after defeating her in the April 4 election by a vote of 734-700.

The swearing-in was attended by Whealon’s friends and family and several members of the Shawano Police Department.

Whealon made no formal statement about his new job during the meeting, instead reserving his comments to praise public works crews and law enforcement officers for their handling of the blizzard that buried the city in nearly three feet of snow this past weekend.

“I think everybody was shocked at how much snow we did get,” he said. “My hat’s off to the city crews that did a great, great job, and the law enforcement officers here in the city and the county and all of them working in this kind of weather.”

Tuesday’s meeting was also the last for longtime City Attorney Tim Schmid, retiring after 39 years of providing legal counsel to the city.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience serving the citizens of the city,” Schmid said after the meeting. “I look forward to some fun retirement activities that I’ve planned with my wife.”

Schmid, who has also been legal counsel for a number of other communities, said he was retiring from all of his municipal law practice.

“I won’t be doing any more municipal law,” he said. “There’s still a few cases I’ll be wrapping up. I’ll be working a little bit, but not as much as I have been for the last number of years.”

Schmid will still be somewhat active with the city.

Whealon appointed Schmid, as well as Cronce, to serve on the Shawano Redevelopment Authority beginning in May.

Tuesday’s meeting had an otherwise relatively light agenda with little discussion.

The Common Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the following:

• A bid in the amount of $843,250 from Ellis Construction to complete the first phase of a public works building expansion. The low bid came in about $74,450 over budget, necessitating pushing a couple of capital improvement projects off to 2019.

• A bid in the amount of $117,050 from Sommers Construction Co. for the 2018 concrete sidewalk program.

• A quotation from Shawano Auto Sales for a 2018 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton truck in the amount of $22,999 for the Department of Public Works.

• Changes in the city’s permit and fee schedule that lowers or eliminates several fees.

In other business, the council unanimously voted for Alderwoman Sandy Steinke to continue as council president.

The city of Shawano has extended its snow emergency declaration until 7 a.m. Wednesday as the community and the rest of Shawano County continues digging its way out of a spring blizzard and nearly three feet of snow dropped over the weekend.

There were reports of 33 inches of snow in Shawano and at least 30 inches of snow in Tigerton.

Even with the snow beginning to taper off Monday morning, the amount dumped in the preceding 48 hours was more than enough to shutter schools and close most government offices Monday except for emergency or essential personnel.

Shawano initially expected its snow emergency, during which vehicles were prohibited from parking on city streets, to expire at 6 a.m. Monday.

Under the extended declaration, no vehicles will be allowed to park on any city street between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

“This will allow our public works employees an opportunity to remove snow safely and efficiently from key areas of the city,” the Shawano Police Department said. “Vehicles parked on city streets during those hours may be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense.”

Police said property owners would not be cited for failure to clear their sidewalks of snow within the usual 24-hour deadline.

“Due to the magnitude of the storm this weekend and keeping in mind this is mid-April, we will not be issuing citations.” the police department said. “We do encourage folks to do the best they can with their sidewalks even if that is just a walking path.”

County roads were reported to be impassable Saturday morning and a countywide tow ban was announced.

“All vehicles will be left in the ditch and you will be taken to a gas station to wait out the storm. Vehicles will only be towed if it’s a traffic hazard,” the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said.

Things have improved somewhat since then.

The Shawano County Highway Department reported early Monday that all state highways and county roads in Shawano County are now passable, as well as 40 percent of town roads maintained by the county.

Some of those roads are maintained by the townships or their contractors.

Shawano County deputies logged dozens of minor accidents and disabled vehicles over the weekend due to the storm.

Shawano police also had a large number of disabled vehicles stuck in the snow — including a squad car in one incident — and at least two reports of carbon monoxide detectors being set off at homes where snow was blocking the furnace pipe.

Shawano Department of Public Works crews had pretty much plowed all city streets by Monday morning and were working their way through the alleys, according to Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard.

Clearing the snow will present challenges of its own, however, given the weight and the amount crews will have to deal with.

ThedaCare has given the city permission to use a parking lot at the former Shawano Medical Center property to store snow to supplement the city’s other locations.

The SMC parking lot also has the advantage of being on asphalt, with drainage. The city’s usual storage locations are on grass, with ground still frozen — a situation that could become, Sheppard said, “a mess.”

Shawano Police Department

April 17

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

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

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Accidents — Police responded to a property damage accident at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., and a minor two-vehicle accident at Green Bay Street and Green Bay Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 17

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Theft — A boat and motor were reported stolen on Pine Street in Eland.

OWL — A 43-year-old man was cited for operating without a license on state Highway 29 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Clintonville Police Department

April 17

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

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

A federal court judge has granted a summary judgment dismissing a sexual harassment suit against the city of Shawano and a former police chief.

Laura Chartraw filed the suit against the city and Mark Kohl in 2016 for discriminating against her based on her sex and then retaliating against her when she complained.

She alleged Kohl began sexually discriminating against her in February 2015, and when she complained to him and to city officials, Kohl retaliated by creating a hostile work environment.

In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge William Griesbach stated, “Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to her, the evidence she offers could not support a verdict in her favor.”

Chartraw has been employed by the Shawano Police Department as a clerical specialist since 1998, promoted to lead clerical specialist in 2003 under former chief Ed Whealon.

Kohl was chief from January 2001 to August 2002 and then from April 2014 to April 2017.

Chartraw’s suit alleged Kohl commented on Chartraw’s appearance, telling her she wore “hooker boots” and remarked about her lack of makeup and her hair style.

When Chartraw complained to Kohl, he told her that is the way he talks to his wife and called Chartraw his “work wife,” according to her court filing.

Chartraw alleged that Kohl’s pattern of sex discrimination included requiring female employees to tell him when they come or go to lunch. Chartraw claimed she was also required to personally greet Kohl, smile more and make eye contact with him when she is around him, according to the suit, which maintained Kohl did not require the same behavior from male employees.

When Chartraw told Kohl she does not appreciate the way he treats female employees, Kohl called her “insubordinate” and told her she “can’t handle her job,” despite no documented performance deficiencies, according to the suit.

The suit also alleged Kohl created a hostile environment at work by isolating Chartraw physically in her office, excluding her from management meetings and advising other employees not to speak to her.

On Nov. 4, 2015, Kohl yelled and belittled Chartraw at a meeting to a point where she feared for her safety and her job, the suit alleged.

Chartraw talked to then-Mayor Lorna Marquardt about Kohl’s harassment. The suit claimed Marquardt took no action and Kohl continued to threaten Chartraw’s job and intimidate her.

Chartraw complained to City Administrator Brian Knapp, which resulted in the city hiring an outside attorney to investigate her complaints.

The investigation characterized the incidents between Chartraw and Kohl as “communication issues” and not sex/gender-based conduct, and did not analyze any of the incidents as retaliation.

The investigation found there was not sufficient evidence of illegal discrimination to pursue further action. The report did not recommend any disciplinary action against Kohl.

Chartraw had previously filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EEOC issued a ruling saying the commission was unable to conclude the city or Kohl violated the law.

Griesbach’s ruling noted that Chartraw on at least two occasions sent Kohl lewd and inappropriate emails.

Griesbach also noted that Chartraw admitted that male employees were equally subjected to Kohl’s rude workplace behavior.

“The court cannot conclude that she experienced severe or pervasive harassment that altered the terms and conditions of her employment,” Griesbach wrote.

He ruled that Kohl’s behavior “does not rise to the level of severe or pervasive conduct.”

He stated in his ruling that Chartraw provided no evidence regarding the frequency of Kohl’s alleged sexual comments.

“To a considerable extent, Chartraw complains about the unprofessional work environment to which she herself contributed,” Griesbach wrote. “In the context of the parties’ work relationship, Kohl’s isolated comments on their own do not form the basis of a hostile work environment.”

Griesbach’s ruling does take a hit at Kohl’s management of the police department, however.

“Though Chief Kohl’s conduct was at times unprofessional and representative of a less than ideal working environment, the record does not support an inference that his statements and conduct possess the requisite pervasiveness or severity necessary to create a hostile work environment,” Griesbach wrote. “Though inappropriate, the events Chartraw believes support a verdict in her favor do not show a workplace permeated with discriminatory ridicule and insult.”

Chartraw can still appeal the ruling.

The case was one of two filed against Kohl during his tenure with the Shawano Police Department.

Officer Nicole Fischer, formerly Hoffmann, claimed in a lawsuit filed in federal court in May 2016 that Kohl delayed hiring her at the department because of her gender.

The city reached a settlement in that case under which the city agreed to pay Fischer $155,000 within 20 days, covering compensatory and punitive damages, court costs and attorney fees.

If this weekend’s snowstorm is remembered for anything, other than the intensity and amount of the snowfall, it might be the random acts of kindness that took place, not just from law enforcement but citizens stepping in to help one another.

“Our officers have seen a lot of neighbors helping neighbors this weekend, and that is what makes this community great,” said Shawano Police Chief Dan Mauel.

“This weekend, during a historic snowstorm we witnessed many acts of kindness,” Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber said. “Neighbors, friends, and strangers helping others in need.”

Those acts ranged from shoveling or snow-blowing out a neighbor’s driveway to helping push a stuck vehicle out of a snowdrift.

Some residents posted their thanks on Facebook, including a woman snowbound elsewhere in the county whose 88-year-old father had his driveway and walks cleared by a group of neighbors in the city.

Law enforcement officers also went above and beyond the call of duty.

Police assisted Shawano Area firefighters and Shawano Ambulance at a medical call Sunday morning after a report of a carbon monoxide detector going off.

In this case, there was snow blocking a furnace vent.

Officers Brandy Hoffman and Heidi Cartwright, along with public works employees and Shawano paramedics, helped clear a path and shoveled the snow from around the furnace vent for the elderly resident.

The weekend blizzard put a strain on resources in the city and countywide.

Shawano County dispatchers took 2,848 calls from the public between Friday afternoon and Monday morning and deputies responded to 104 crashes and 165 disabled vehicles.

Shawano police responded to 60 calls for service between 9 p.m. Friday and Sunday afternoon, including 22 vehicles stuck in the snow.

Problems continued well after the snow stopped falling as residents sought to dig out from the blizzard.

A Shawano police officer on Tuesday located an elderly man stuck in a snowbank in his yard. The man had been trying to check on his furnace vents. The officer was able to get the man out of the snowbank and back in his house.

Later in the day, an officer helped another man out of a snowbank and back into his home.

Shawano County’s 57-member highway crews were out practically around the clock over the weekend to get state and county roadways passable by Monday morning, along with about 40 percent of town roads maintained by the county, according to Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol.

Many of those crews put in 20 or more hours without sleep, he said.

Complicating matters were two jackknifed semis on state Highway 29 Sunday morning and numerous vehicles stuck in the snow that blocked the snowplows.

“We came up to these cars and they basically immobilized our plows,” Bystol said.

In the city, after two days of pulling snow from the sides of the streets, the Shawano Department of Public Works is now turning its attention to what happens when the snow starts to melt.

Though temperatures have been inching up gradually since Tuesday and not yet causing a problem, the weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-50s and into the 60s by Monday.

Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard said crews will be focused on clearing drains and catch basins over the next few days to ensure the water has someplace to go, but the sheer volume of the last weekend’s snowfall could cause some problems when it begins to melt.

The National Weather Service Wednesday released official snowfall figures that included 29.8 inches for the city of Shawano and 30.6 inches for the village of Tigerton, though those numbers don’t take into account the much higher snow drifts that resulted.

Shawano Police Department

April 18

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1800 block of Estates Lane.

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 600 block of East Center Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 18

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on County Road M in the town of Germania.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on High Street in Birnamwood.

Shoplifting — Dollar General, 472 U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood, reported a shoplifting incident.

Warrant — A 40-year-old Keshena woman was arrested on a warrant on River Heights in Shawano.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Grand Avenue in Wittenberg.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Hill Street in the town of Fairbanks.

OAR — A 33-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating after revocation on Robin Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Disturbance — A juvenile was referred to Shawano County Human Services after a disturbance on Menominee Drive in the town of Wescott.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Maple Road in the town of Maple Grove.

Clintonville Police Department

April 18

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on West Madison Street.

Disturbance — Officer assisted with a family disturbance on North Main Street.

Northeast Wisconsin farm managers, agricultural lenders and other ag industry professionals are encouraged to attend the annual University of Wisconsin-Extension Farm Management Update for Ag Professionals on May 4 at Liberty Hall in Kimberly. Deadline for registration is April 28.

Topics will range from a grain and cattle market outlook and milk price predictor seminar to rental rates and crop budgets as well as “Train to Retain” resilient farm leadership. Representatives from UW schools as well as county ag agents and other specialists will be presenting.

Cost, including the noon meal, is $40 per person. Registrations should be sent to the Waupaca County UWEX Office, 811 Hardin St., Waupaca, WI 54981. For information or any special needs or accommodations, call 715-258-6231.

With the sale of the Shawano library to the county still up in the air, city officials this week opted to move money back into the library maintenance fund they had previously zeroed out for 2018.

The city did not set aside anything in its 2018 capital improvements budget to fund library repairs, maintenance or maintenance-related supplies because it was expected the county would assume ownership of the building around the first of the year.

The county was expected to purchase the library building for $1, and the parking lot for an additional $1, as part of its countywide library consolidation plan.

The deal quickly took a complicated turn when the city included a deed restriction in the agreement stating the parking lot would continue to be available for all public parking as well as library parking.

Though the purchase agreement was unanimously approved by the County Board, there were questions raised about the fate of the parking lot if the county at some point in the future decided to relocate the library and sell the property.

County Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus sent an email to City Administrator Brian Knapp after the Jan. 24 County Board meeting stating the parking lot would remain available to the public as long as the library remained in operation.

However, he wrote, county board members were unlikely to agree that the parking lot should remain available to the public forever, even if years down the road, the library went away.

Kordus offered new language for the purchase agreement that would have kept the parking lot public “as long as Shawano County continues to own and operate the library on the property.”

Knapp responded that the city’s intent was to keep the lot available for public parking indefinitely.

The county’s public property committee held a meeting April 3 at which options were discussed, including moving the library contents to some other vacant location such as the former Pick’n Save or former Kmart properties, the Fellman Center or even the former Dennison’s lumber building in Wescott that the county purchased to merge its Human Services offices.

In the end, however, the committee voted to make a new offer to the city to purchase just the library building without the parking lot.

Knapp said the city has not yet received that offer.

In the meantime, the Common Council voted Wednesday to move $5,000 from the Common Council Contingency Fund to the newly restored Public Library Repair Maintenance Supplies fund.

Knapp said, if the county chooses to purchase just the library building, a survey will have to be conducted to adjust the boundaries of the library building. Part of the parcel on which the library is located juts out into the parking lot.

Shawano County could see a contested race for the sheriff’s office with two potential candidates already taking out papers to run in the Republican primary.

Incumbent Sheriff Adam Bieber has been circulating nomination papers for another four-year term, but he could face a challenge from former chief deputy John Gutho, who retired from the sheriff’s department in January 2016.

The filing period opened on April 15, which was the first day candidates could circulate nomination papers.

The candidates have until June 1 at 5 p.m. to return at least 200 signatures in support of their nominations. The maximum the county clerk will accept is 400 signatures.

With the two candidates so far both running as Republicans, a primary will be needed on Aug. 14.

The general election takes place on Nov. 6.

Bieber was a Shawano police officer starting in 2003 until he challenged and defeated former sheriff Randy Wright in the 2014 election.

Gutho started with the sheriff’s office in 1988 as a jailer, then moved up through dispatch, patrol and the captain’s position before serving for eight years as chief deputy.

“I’m looking forward to the conversation about the next four years,” Bieber said. “What my plans are and I’d like to hear what his plans are.”

Bieber said he was proud of the department’s accomplishments over the past four years, including a long-awaited evidence storage facility, establishment of a drone division and additional services offered to the public.

Gutho said he had been mulling over running for the last several months and had been encouraged to run by friends and family as far back as his retirement.

“I still have a lot of desire for law enforcement and administration,” Gutho said. “I have the knowledge and can work with the County Board to make the department better and keep it moving forward.”

Also up for re-election this fall are incumbent Clerk of Courts Sue Krueger and incumbent Coroner Brian Westfahl. Both have taken out papers seeking another four-year term, and so far have no challengers.

Shawano Police Department

April 19

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Tires were reported slashed in the 700 block of South Main Street.

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Fire — Authorities responded to a laundry fire at the Work Release Center, 1240 E. Engel Drive.

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

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of East Randall Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 19

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ho-Chunk Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Old Keshena Road in the town of Wescott.

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

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on County Road G in the town of Grant.

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

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on County Road CC in the town of Belle Plaine.

Shawano Police Department

April 23

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 27-year-old Bowler woman was arrested for probation violation and a 35-year-old Shawano man referred for two counts of bail jumping after a disturbance in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Burglary — A burglary was reported at Fire Fitness, 212 E. Green Bay St.

Burglary — A burglary was reported at Pomp’s Tire and Auto, 126 N. Andrews St.

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

Theft — An attempted theft was reported at Shawano Community High School, 220 County Road B.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 600 block of South Union Street.

OWI — A 32-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation of license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

April 22

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

April 21

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

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

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 1200 block of Prospect Circle.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of East Division Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of East Randall Street.

April 20

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Randall and Cleveland streets.

Burglary — A burglary was reported in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of East Division Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of West Division Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 23

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a telephone scam complaint on Balsam Row Road in the town of Wescott.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on State Street in Bonduel.

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

April 22

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on Cedar Court in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a reported fight in progress on County Road D in the town of Aniwa.

OWI — A 21-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Green Bay Street and Rusch Road in Shawano.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Schmidt Lane in Gresham.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Freeborn Street in Cecil.

April 21

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Probation Violation — A 45-year-old DePere man was taken into custody on a probation and parole hold on Cedar Street in Birnamwood.

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

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

Fleeing — A 19-year-old Appleton man was arrested for fleeing an officer on Hofa Park Road in the town of Lessor.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Hofa Park Road in the town of Lessor.

April 20

Deputies logged 58 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Green Valley Service Center, N5727 Co-op Ave., town of Green Valley, reported a theft of aluminum.

OAR — A 62-year-old Green Bay man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 117 in the town of Hartland.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on County Road S in the town of Lessor.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Keshena man and 21-year-old Keshena woman were taken into custody for warrants and obstruction.

Drug Offense — A 27-year-old Minneapolis man was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and distribution or manufacturing on Poplar Road in the town of Richmond.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Sandy Drive in the town of Waukechon.

Warrant — A 30-year-old Neopit woman was arrested on a warrant on Old Keshena Road in the town of Wescott.

OWL — A 26-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating without a license on Sawyer Street in Shawano.

Clintonville Police Department

April 23

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Accident — A property damage accident was reported on West Greentree Road.

Trespass — A trespassing incident was reported on Garfield Avenue.

Assault — A sexual assault was reported and is under investigation.

Warrant — A 24-year-old Clintonville woman was taken into custody on a Shawano County warrant on North Main Street.

April 22

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on South Main Street.

Disturbance — A family disturbance was reported on South Main Street.

Disturbance — A domestic dispute was reported on South Main Street.

April 21

Police logged five incidents, including the following:

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

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on Fifth Street.

April 20

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Truancy — Police logged seven truancy complaints from the Clintonville School District.

Theft — A theft was reported on South Main Street.

Shawano County is joining a program previously unavailable in this area that will allow businesses in the county to obtain low-interest, long-term financing for clean energy projects.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is made up of a coalition of counties and municipalities in the state that enables commercial property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation improvements.

Shawano County will appoint a County Board supervisor to sit on the commission overseeing the program, along with 29 other counties in the state already involved.

It has been endorsed by the Wisconsin League of Municipalities and Wisconsin Counties Association.

The PACE program is also available in 32 other states.

The Shawano County Board unanimously approved joining the program last week.

“I’m excited about the opportunities it presents,” said County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller.

“It’s an innovative way for property owners to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for renewable energy,” Miller said. “The nice thing about this PACE financing is it extends through the useful life of the product, whether its a HVAC system, solar lights or whatever it is.”

There are no matching or other upfront costs for the borrower, who could have up to 20 to 30 years to pay off the loan, according to Miller.

He said the savings in energy costs more than pay for the low-interest financing over time.

“The average commercial building wastes 30 percent of its energy. It’s lost,” Miller said. “Your return on investment is huge on this.”

The county won’t actually be making the loans and there is no obligation for the county other than providing a member to sit on the commission.

The loans will be administered and overseen by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council’s Energy Finance Solutions.

EFS specializes in financing program consultation, design, and delivery services in support of energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through partnerships with utilities, contractors, and other agencies.

The loans can be used by a range of business sectors, including commercial, multi-family, nonprofit, agriculture, warehousing, hospitals, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing.

“It’s something we can offer to help our businesses in ways that we can’t right now,” Miller said.

The county is working with Shawano County Economic Progress, Inc. and the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce to get the word out about the program. SCEPI and the chamber are planning presentations to local businesses going forward, Miller said.

Miller said he has already heard from businesses that are interested in the program.

“They’re saying, ‘This could significantly help us,’” Miller said.

Melanie Buenning is excited about starting her own children’s resale business, Three Little Bees. It’s a consignment store for kids from newborn to size 10/12 with clothes, shoes and accessories, along with new toys, books and baby gift items in the former Sears store.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about the last five years,” Buenning said.

The name of the store was an easy choice as she is the mother of Adele, 5, Connor, 4, and Brynlee, 3.

The décor is all original by Buenning and her husband, Jeremy, who made all the clothing display racks. It is airy, colorful and calming with antiques among the items that hold displays.

“I didn’t want it to look like an everyday store,” Buenning said.

There are also two rooms that people can rent to host birthday parties and baby showers. People can pick their theme from three décor packages and bring in their own food. The larger room can hold 100 people, and the smaller one accommodates 50.

There is also a reading area where children can pick a book and sit and read while their parents shop. Buenning said if her kids don’t have daycare, they can be at the store. “It gives me flexibility with my kids,” she said.

Buenning’s mother, Audrey Zempel, makes bibs, aprons and animals to sell in the store. Consignees can bring in freshly laundered, gently worn clothes. Intake information is on the website, mythreelittlebees.com.

“It’s filling a void in the community,” Buenning said. “It’s something that we don’t have here.”

Buenning will be offering specials on the Saturday before Mother’s Day with treats, snacks and special gifts for moms. The same will happen before Father’s Day.

There will be a grand opening June 23.

Three Little Bees is at 824 E. Green Bay St., Shawano. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Sunday. For details, call 715-201-1555.

Top officials from Taher Inc., the food service provider for the Shawano School District, assured the school board on Monday that it was taking steps to make sure an incident that happened three months ago would never happen again.

Ramon S. Vazquez, a Taher employee, allegedly brought and displayed a holstered firearm in the kitchen area at Shawano Community High School on Jan. 17. The school district contacted police after high school administrators were notified.

The gun was in the kitchen office, and Vazquez was taken into custody by police. The district claimed there were no threats, and staff and school employees were never in any danger.

Judy Cameron, Taher senior vice president, said her company was made aware of the matter, although not specifying the firearm, and that concerns about management and training were raised.

Jim Madden, Taher regional vice president of operations, added that it was an unusual issue for Taher to deal with.

“We talked about the incident, and we talked about things we could learn. I think that was positive,” Madden said. “We also went back and shared details with our food service directors in other districts to make sure that they wouldn’t make the same kinds of mistakes, because they were surprised at the news.”

Madden said he planned to make unannounced visits every two months, and he planned to have others in the company make random checks, as well.

In addition, Taher has developed an incident form that managers are supposed to fill out when there are concerns about bullying, harassment, safety and other issues.

“Regardless of the tenure of the manager and how confident they are to make the decision, it still has to be reported,” Madden said. “One of the mistakes was that we didn’t know anything about the history of what had gone on.”

Employees will be told about the form at an annual training session and encouraged to report any incidents. There will also be something posted where employees can report to higher-ups if school managers aren’t taking action.

“Looking at what happened here, employees brought things to the manager’s attention, and they didn’t see enough of a change,” Madden said. “They assumed it wasn’t going to change and accepted that.”

Taher announced a new food service director for Shawano schools. Bobby Reed started earlier this month, replacing Sarah Moesch.

“Bobby’s been with the company for five years, so we’re excited about the strengths that he has from a culinary perspective and food,” Cameron said.

Moesch had been in food service for 20 years, according to Madden, but it was important for Taher executives to get out for more frequent visits so site directors don’t feel like islands.

“Unannounced visits are even more important,” Madden said. “If they know I’ll be here, it won’t be as obvious that there’s anything wrong.”

Madden said Taher conducts background checks of all new employees going back seven years. There was nothing to indicate there would be a potential firearms incident, he said.

On April 23, 200 members and guests attended United Cooperative’s 82nd annual meeting at the Watermark Community Center in Beaver Dam.

At the meeting, David Cramer, United Cooperative president and chief executive officer, reported revenues for 2017 were $647 million. United Cooperative’s core cooperative businesses of feed, grain, agronomy and energy generated $33 million in profits, up $8.5 million from 2016.

The investment United Cooperative made in ethanol contributed $8.5 million to its net income in 2017, down from the $13.8 million this investment returned the year before.

Patronage from regional cooperatives was down 600,000 from 2016, at $5.4 million. All combined, United Cooperative had a total net income before income taxes in 2017 of $48.5 million, up $3 million from 2016.

With those profitable numbers, United Cooperative is returning $30.1 million in total patronage to members. Forty percent of this patronage, or $12 million, will be distributed in cash to United Cooperative’s patron member owners in April, while $18.1 million, will be retained in equity credits.

In addition, the cooperative plans to continue to revolve stock in October, retire stock at age 77 and pay all estates as requested.

Thirty-eight employees were recognized by Cramer for their years of outstanding service with United Cooperative. They represented 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years of service. Among the local honorees are,

40 years​: Steven Bougie​, Pulaski; and Matthew Grueb​​, Shawano.

30 years​: Connie Zernicke​, Shawano.

25 years​: Scott Gwidt​​, Pulaski.

10 years: Daniel Schnell​​, Shawano; and Gregory Wilson​, Pulaski.

This month’s record-setting snowstorms caused losses of all sorts for area farmers.

Producers who suffered livestock feed or grazing losses could be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, said Emily Schildgen, executive director of Shawano County’s USDA Farm Service Agency.

“The recent blizzard conditions affected many livestock operations,” said Schildgen. The emergency livestock assistance program, known as ELAP, “provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs.”

ELAP covers physically damaged or destroyed livestock feed that was purchased or mechanically harvested forage or feedstuffs intended for use as feed for the producer’s eligible livestock. In order to be considered eligible, harvested forage must be baled.

Producers with a qualifying loss must contact the Farm Service Agency office to file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent. Additionally, the deadline to submit an application for payment for 2018 ELAP assistance is Nov. 1.

Producers should also maintain records and receipts documenting costs of transporting livestock feed to eligible livestock, receipts for equipment rental fees for hay lifts, feed purchase receipts and the number of gallons of water transported to livestock due to water shortages.

ELAP applications are paid after they are reviewed and approved — a change to the program by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

For beekeepers, ELAP covers beehive losses (the physical structure) in instances where the hive has been destroyed by a natural disaster including flooding, high winds, wildfire and tornadoes. Colony losses may also be eligible.

For information, contact the FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster.

Shawano Police Department

April 24

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 51-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint at Pizza Hut, 816 E. Green Bay St.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Lincoln Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 24

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Northridge Drive in Shawano.

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

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on U.S. Highway 45 in Tigerton.

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

Clintonville Police Department

April 24

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on Green Tree Road.

Disturbance — A neighbor dispute was reported on Harriet Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on East 14th Street.

Issues about safety in schools have revolved around keeping students from bringing guns to campuses, but there are still everyday occurrences where students are at risk of being hurt.

Shelby Kaveinga, a mother of three students with LEADS Charter School, which is part of Hillcrest Primary School, approached the Shawano School Board on Monday with concerns that the district’s policies on bullying and student fights are not strong enough.

“My children have been in the schools for three years, and in that time, they have been touched inappropriately by a student,” Kaveinga said. “They have been the recipients of racial hate speech, and they have been physically assaulted one or more times by another student.”

Some of the assaults and hate speech allegedly occurred after her children stood up for classmates, Kaveinga said. After each incident, she reported what happened to teachers and administrators.

“Some of them have just occurred because some kids believe hate and ugliness is the way they deal with their issues,” Kaveinga said. “When I sent them to school three years ago, I had no idea that this was going to be the experience they would be having.”

Kaveinga noted that she has no qualms about the school’s staff or how well her students are learning, only with the policies that staff have to follow. She said she spoke with board member Michael Sleeper one-on-one about the issue because she didn’t want to come off as attacking the school as a whole.

The latest incident of assault occurred two weeks ago when Kaveinga’s son backed into another student in the lunch line. She said the student’s reaction was to take her son’s hat and throw it to the ground, and when her son objected, the other student allegedly punched him in the nose.

Kaveinga was informed that school policy states students get three chances to modify their behavior in a given month following an incident before more serious punishment is doled out. She expressed surprise that being punched in the nose was classified as an “incident.”

“The student was able to get his lunch and go back to class,” Kaveinga said. “Two more times he can punch or hit or kick a student.”

Kaveinga lamented that it has gotten to the point where she asks her children first if school was OK instead of what they learned. She said that she is concerned that the problem students, if not dealt with appropriately, could continue to be a problem when they move up in the school system.

“My concern is that the consequence or the punishment is not fitting the crime,” Kaveinga said.

She recommended that the school district review its policies and modify them so that physical assaults and other serious incidents result in more than just behavior modification for the perpetrators.

Board member Derek Johnson noted later in the meeting that the district is already moving forward on changes in policy.

“We met maybe two weeks ago with several administrators to address the problems you mentioned,” Johnson said. “For the same reasons you brought up — the repeat offenders, the multiple chances — we need to figure a way to correct that.”

He added he wouldn’t tolerate what happened to Kaveinga’s children if it were happening to his own.

State Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, is likely to face a challenge for his Sixth District Assembly seat in the fall, with two Democratic candidates and a Libertarian declaring their candidacy.

William Switalla, a Shawano County supervisor and Wittenberg village president, is hoping have a second go at Tauchen’s seat after an unsuccessful bid two years ago.

He will first have to go up against Shawano doctor Richard Sarnwick, who has also declared his candidacy as a Democratic nominee.

The primary for that nomination is Aug. 14. The general election is Nov. 6.

Shawano resident Mike Hammond, a 30-year dairy farmer who now runs a small greenhouse business, has also declared his candidacy as a Libertarian.

The candidates have until June 1 to turn in at least 200 signatures supporting their nominations.

Tauchen was elected to the Assembly in 2006. He has overcome Democratic challengers four times in what is seen as a staunchly Republican district.

He defeated Switalla with 70 percent of the vote in 2016.

“Our area needs to be better represented than it is right now,” Switalla said, adding that Tauchen “is not fighting for infrastructure, housing, jobs or agriculture.”

Switalla said he felt he would have a better chance against Tauchen this year.

“If people are paying attention to what he’s doing, I think I’ll have a better shot,” he said.

Switalla said he was pleased to see an additional candidate in the Democratic race and that it showed increased interest in the Democratic party in the area.

“I wish him the best of luck,” Switalla said of Sarnwick’s declaration. “Any new Assembly member would be better than what we have now.”

Sarnwick said he was excited about running for the Assembly.

“It might sound corny, but I’ve lived in Wisconsin for decades. I’ve got a great life and a good job,” he said. “I just feel it’s my duty to give back some of my time.”

Sarnwick said he has made a lot of contacts over the years and after seeing thousands of people in his medical practice, which he feels gives him a good shot at winning the seat.

“People are looking for a change in leadership in Madison,” he said.

Switalla, Sarnwick said, “seems like a great guy to me,” but he feels he has a better chance of winning after the “landslide” in Tauchen’s favor two years ago.

“I think maybe I have more of a following in Shawano where there are more voters,” he said.

Hammond could not be reached for comment by press time.

Tauchen said it was good for voters to have a choice in the election.

“This is part of the democratic process and people who want to run ought to do that,” he said.

Tauchen said he was standing by his record from more than 11 years of serving in the Assembly.

“A lot of good things have moved forward,” he said. “Our message is one of hope and opportunity for the citizens of Wisconsin.”

Tauchen said he was not concerned about the talk of a “blue wave” coming in the fall that could benefit the Democrats.

“I’m more concerned about the weather,” he said, noting that inclement weather had hampered two recent statewide elections.

“It’s always a challenge when your rural citizens can’t get out to vote,” he said.

Shawano Police Department

April 25

Police logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Arrest — A 37-year-old woman was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Fraud — A counterfeit $100 bill was found in the 300 block of North Main Street.

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

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized at Family Dollar, 413 S. Main St.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported in the 400 block of South Union Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

April 25

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road E in the town of Green Valley.

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

Theft — A boat motor was reported stolen on Sycamore Road in the town of Richmond.

Burglary — A burglary was reported on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Morris.