Shawano Police Department

May 7

Police responded to 38 calls, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a call about a vehicle all over the road at the intersection of Green Bay Street and Airport Drive.

Suspicious Person — Police responded to two calls about a man carrying a bag full of pill bottles, one at Zander Dental, 152 Woodlawn Drive, and another at the Shawano Park and Rec Center, 220 E. Division St.

Arrest — Police arrested a 28-year-old man at New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St., Shawano, for a probation/parole violation.

Animal Noise — Police responded to a report of a barking dog in the 1400 block of South Evergreen Street.

Property Theft — Police responded to a call about a stolen bike in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Truancy — Police responded to a truancy complaint from Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Suspicious Person — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, 100 County Road B.

May 6

Police responded to 21 calls, including the following:

Gas Theft — Police responded to a call about someone driving off without paying for gas at Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St.

Property Damage — Police responded to a complaint about a damaged car at East Green Bay Street and Woodlawn Drive.

Disturbance — Police responded to a call about two men fighting in the 400 block of South Union Street.

May 5

Police responded to 24 calls, including the following:

Controlled Substance — Police responded to a call that a man was snorting something off a book he was carrying at Sturgeon Park, 811 S. Water St.

Burglary — Police received a call about a possible burglary in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

May 4

Police responded to 39 calls, including the following:

Suspicious Person — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 500 block of East Randall Street.

Threatening — Police responded to a complaint about a verbal altercation at Cobbler’s Closet, 118 S. Main St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile disturbance complaint at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 7

Deputies responded to 43 calls, including the following:

Animal problem — Deputies responded to an animal complaint on Fischer Street in Gresham.

Property theft — Deputies responded to a call of stolen property on state Highway 29 in the town of Hartland.

Assault — Deputies responded to an assault complaint at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St. in Shawano.

Vehicle Fire — Deputies responded to a vehicle fire on Slab City Road in the town of Hartland.

Accidents — Deputies recorded five accidents, two deer-related.

May 6

Deputies responded to 24 calls, including the following:

Disturbance — Deputies responded to a disturbance call on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation.

Child abuse — Deputies responded a child abuse complaint on State Street in Bonduel.

Drugs — Deputies responded to a call regarding drugs on First Street in the town of Aniwa.

Accidents — Deputies recorded two accidents, one deer-related.

May 5

Deputies responded to 39 calls, including the following:

Debris — Deputies responded to a road debris call on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Reckless Driving — Deputies responded to a reckless driving complaint on South Airport Drive in Shawano.

Reckless Driving — Deputies responded to a reckless driving complaint at Blind Squirrel, N6017 Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Accidents — Deputies recorded three accidents.

May 4

No report from the sheriff’s department was received by press time.

Clintonville Police Department

May 7

No report from the police department was received by press time.

May 6

Police responded to 10 calls, including the following:

Warrant — A 40-year-old Milwaukee man was taken into custody after a traffic stop on South Main Street.

Alarm — An alarm was checked on Spring Street, but no problem was found.

Sexual assault — A sexual assault is under investigation.

May 5

Police responded to 13 calls, including the following:

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on Franklin Street.

Vandalism — Vandalism was reported at Olen Park.

Illegal dumping — Illegal dumping was reported on Sixth Street.

May 4

Police responded to eight calls, including the following:

Noise — A noise complaint was reported on Fifth Street.

Theft — A theft was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Domestic Abuse — Domestic abuse was reported on East 14th Street.

The price tag for the new Shawano FFA greenhouse could go up a little, but the Shawano School Board approved a cushion Monday that will let the summer project continue unimpeded.

The board in February approved an $89,000 bid on the project at Shawano Community High School, which did not include the $20,000 pledged by the Shawano FFA Alumni to pour a concrete slab.

However, unforeseen costs have come up since then, according to Jeff Easter, the district’s maintenance director. So the board unanimously approved a $13,440 increase to the budget.

“What I was trying to figure out was how to get a water line out to the greenhouse from the (main school) building,” Easter said in his presentation to the board. “The problem is, I have to get it down low enough so that it doesn’t freeze up in the winter.”

Easter’s research revealed it would cause major damage to the high school itself, mainly to the floor and foundation, to connect a water line to the greenhouse. However, he said he discovered that there is an adjacent city water and sewer line on South Lincoln Street to which the district could connect. The original greenhouse project did not include a sewer line.

Gruenewald Construction, based in Bonduel, provided a $12,550 bid to connect the greenhouse to the city line, according to Easter.

“I think it’s a better way to go, because we’ll be assured that we’ll have a water line that’s deep enough to not freeze and not do any damage to the building,” Easter said. “We have the added benefit of having a sewer line. If we wanted to add a sink or something, we could do it.”

The other increased expense was the excavation to put in the foundation for the new greenhouse. However, Easter is still hoping to reduce some other costs so that the full $13,440 is not needed.

“At this point, I’m thinking it’s a worst-case scenario,” Easter said.

Board member Bruce Milavitz expressed concern about how structurally sound the new greenhouse would be, in light of reports that the FFA greenhouse at Pulaski High School collapsed after a late-season blizzard last month dropped almost three feet of snow on the region. Although a large snow drift at the current Shawano greenhouse covered much of the building, there was no structural damage.

Easter pointed out that the engineered drawings for the greenhouse took into account heavy snowfalls and drifts, and the building should come out unscathed if another blizzard of the century should strike.

Shawano Mayor Ed Whealon wants to make good on his wish to increase the time between committee and Common Council meetings, but it might not come to pass until 2019.

Particularly troubling to him is the short turnaround for items recommended by the city’s finance committee going to the council for approval. The committee meets on a Monday, and the council meets just two days later for final approval.

In his bid to be mayor, Whealon said he wanted to see that the public had ample time to research the information discussed by committees before it came to the council for a final decision.

“There should be time for the public or the media or even the council members to digest the proposals that are there,” Whealon said at Wednesday’s council meeting. “This gives the media, if there is something there of interest, to do their story or do whatever they’d like to do with that.”

Whealon had hoped to develop something that would take effect in short order, but he found that would be difficult because the calendar for regular committee meetings has been established through the rest of the year.

“People have plans for different things, but the council should seriously look at moving those meeting dates and spread them out so there is some time to digest a lot of information,” Whealon said.

Alderwoman Rhonda Strebel, who sits on the finance committee, said the issue was discussed by the committee, but because of the current scheduling, the earliest any shifts could take place would be in January 2019.

“It was nearly impossible with the schedules of just the six of us (on the council), but with all the committees, we decided it would be best to wait until Jan. 1,” Strebel said. “Now is not the right time.”

Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz acknowledged the action could wait, but discussions should move forward sooner rather than later.

“I think we should start the conversation now so we can have some lead time,” Kurkiewicz said.

Shawano’s forester warned the Common Council that an invasive beetle could threaten trees in the area within the next 10 years.

Mike Kroenke told the council that there are a number of ash trees within the city limits, and they could be at risk if the borer finds its way here. Kroenke say there have already been beetles found in Green Bay and Waupaca, along with other Wisconsin communities.

The borer is an exotic species first discovered in southeast Michigan near Detroit in 2002. Adult beetles nibble on the foliage, but their larvae consumes the inner bark, which disrupts trees’ ability to access water and nutrients.

“It’s in 40 counties in Wisconsin, and there’s a quarantine against transporting emerald ash borers in any wood products,” Kroenke said. “The etymologist with the DNR says it’s going to hit Shawano within 10 years.”

Kroenke estimated that 7 percent of the trees on city property, including all of the parks and the cemetery, are ash. He said the city was “lucky” in comparison with other communities.

“If you look at Port Washington, and other counties in Wisconsin, they had a huge impact,” Kroenke said.

The city’s tree advisory committee is looking at developing a management plan to deal with the emerald ash borers.

“Other communities have those plans in place already,” Kroenke said. “We’ll probably talk with some of those people to develop our plan.”

Possible action could be preemptive removal of some ash trees, according to Kroenke, and replanting to keep them away from the beetles.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, adult beetles emerge from beneath an ash tree’s bark between late May and mid-July and create a D-shaped hole as they exit the tree. The beetles live about 3-6 weeks, and when they find a mate, the female will lay 60-90 eggs.

Shawano Police Department

May 10

Police responded to 26 calls, including the following:

Shoplifting — Police received a report of two televisions stolen at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Property theft — Police responded to a complaint about a stolen television in the 1100 block of East Richmond Street.

Attempted theft — Police responded to a call about an attempted theft in the 500 block of South Union Street.

Domestic disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of South Franklin Street.

Property theft — Police responded to a call about a wallet allegedly stolen at Perkins, 1398 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 10

Deputies responded to 44 calls, including the following:

Truancy — Deputies responded to two truant juvenile complaints at Birnamwood Elementary-Middle School, 337 S. Main St. in Birnamwood.

OAR/OAS — Deputies responded to a complaint about a driver operating after revocation or suspension on state Highway 22 in the town of Washington.

Repossession — Deputies responded to a repossession call on Chestnut Road in the town of Maple Grove.

Drugs — Deputies responded to a drug complaint at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Threatening — Deputies responded to a threatening complaint on Swanke Street in Tigerton.

Assault — Deputies responded to an assault complaint on South Mill Street in Wittenberg.

Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department

May 10

Police responded to nine calls, including the following:

Disorderly Conduct — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Bowler School, 500 E. Almon St. in Bowler.

Clintonville Police Department

May 10

Police responded to 12 calls, including the following:

Accident — Police assisted the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department with a vehicle in the ditch on Klemp Road at state Highway 156.

Sexual assault — A sexual assault was reported on West Morning Glory Drive.

Sexual assault — A sexual assault was reported on Brix Street.

ATV — An ATV violation was reported on Pershing Street.

The Clintonville Common Council on Tuesday approved the low bid of $426,785.82 from Michels Corp., of New Berlin, to repair the community’s dam.

The city has applied for a Department of Natural Resources grant that could provide up to $225,000 to help cover the cost of the repairs. The bid is for drawing down the water and then repairing the dam.

A $21,339 contingency was included if a change order were necessary during the project. Alderman Jim Supanich said the contingency is needed because it is not known what the actual condition of the dam is and there may be some unforeseen problems that happen during the dam repair.

“Until we draw the pond down and see the actual condition of the dam under the water, they’re not absolutely sure what they’re actually going to find,” Supanich said.

Public Works Director Kray Brown said the drawdown would actually be 50 percent, but it might look like a full drawdown upstream.

“It’s going to draw down to what it was original, just a stream coming through the area,” Brown said.

Supanich said the Pigeon Lake Association favors the drawdown in order to make repairs. He said the association hopes to get permits to dredge some of the pond area during the drawdown.

Alderwoman Maggie Tichauser wanted to know if there could be hydro power from the dam.

Supanich said such a study was done about 10 years ago and it was not feasible; however, he said he would not be opposed to doing such a study again.

The Pigeon Lake District says the lake is only three feet deep in places, the silt is high, and the oxygen levels are down and in a couple of years there may be no fish, according to Supanich.

The drawdown will likely take place in fall and go through the winter. The amphibian population would be killed off, but the district believes the lake will be healthier when the dredging is completed.

Much of the Menominee reservation is covered by trees, but at one time, the Menominee people planted food for their survival.

“We have archaeological evidence that the Menominee were the first farmers, and we had some very sophisticated farming methods,” said Jennifer Gauthier, community, natural resources and economic development agent for the Menominee County University of Wisconsin-Extension office. “We just want to help everyone remember and reconnect to it.”

The Extension office, along with the College of Menominee Nation and the Menominee Tribal Clinic, are hoping to bring its tribal members back to its roots by providing seeds to plant at home and in community gardens. More than 2,000 seed packets were distributed Thursday at Keshena Primary School.

In addition to handing out the seeds, a number of nonprofits showcased health alternatives. Dinner was also served, and a green corn dance was held as a blessing for the seeds.

The tribe has a wellness initiative, and providing resources for tribal members to produce their own food is one way to ensure the healthy well-being of the tribe as a whole, according to Brian Kowalkowski, dean of continuing education at CMN.

“Every year, we’ve done a seed distribution, but this is the first time we’re doing the green corn dance,” Kowalkowski said. “It’s a blessing of the seeds for healthy growth and making sure they get good produce.”

In previous years, the seed distribution has taken place during the reservation’s farmers market or providing seeds directly to tribal members in community visits.

“We go through all the seeds,” Kowalkowski said. “It’s usually a pretty good turnout.”

Distributing the seeds will have an impact on the reservation’s status as a food desert, Gauthier said.

“We do have a grocery store that has fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said. “It makes it a little easier, but it’s still a long way for many people to drive.”

Tribal members living in Zoar and South Branch still have to travel a long way — 25-30 miles — to get to the reservation’s grocery store, Save A Lot. Being able to grow those fresh fruits and vegetables will allow them to not be so dependent on off-reservation resources for sustenance, Gauthier said.

Another challenge is the amount of produce available at Save A Lot, Kowalkowski said. The reservation only has 4,615 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 population estimates, which provides a limited number of customers, he said. Therefore, there is only so much fresh produce that can be stocked.

“Being able to get that local food grown here will make it healthier for people so people aren’t so dependent on those off-reservation resources,” Kowalkowski said.

Gauthier believes the relocation to reservations was what caused the Menominee to stray from their farming roots. The tribe once lived on 10 million acres of land, she said, but now are on a reservation of 235,000 acres.

The tribe already supports family gardens and community gardens, Gauthier noted, and the seed distribution is one more way to encourage members to self-sustaining.

“We want to support our community members who want to engage in gardening — grow their own fruits and vegetables and grow their own relationship with the outside,” Gauthier said.

In addition to the seed distribution, there are plans for a food summit to discuss food sustainability and eating healthier, according to Kowalkowski. The summit will take place June 6-7.

“This was kind of the kickoff to that,” Kowalkowski said about the seed distribution.

Menominee Indian High School teacher Benjamin Grignon received a surprise in April when he learned that he was receiving a Herb Kohl fellowship.

That surprise was nothing to the one he received Monday in front of the entire school.

Grignon’s eyes widened when state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers announced that the traditional arts and crafts teacher was named Wisconsin’s High School Teacher of the Year. Grignon was selected from hundreds of nominees, according to Evers.

“At some point in our lives, a teacher has done some extraordinary things for you,” Evers said. “I’m here today because we have lots of great teachers in our audience, but we also have an excellent teacher in our audience. Each year, thanks to the generosity of former Sen. Herb Kohl and his foundation, we recognize teachers who go the extra mile for their kids, and we call them teachers of the year.”

Evers noted that there are 2,000 schools in Wisconsin, with over 60,000 teachers coming to school daily to educate students, so to be picked from such a diverse field is special.

Grignon, known to his people as Waqnahwew (the lightning you see off in the distance), started his career at MIHS 10 years ago as the school’s librarian. About five years ago, the position for the traditional arts teacher opened up, and he got the job.

Grignon teaches beadwork — he has beginning, intermediate and advanced classes. A new class he introduced this year is described as “wood, stone and bone,” an experimental archaeology class.

There is also a traditional pottery class, and Grignon shows students how to make the clay the way their ancestors did it, using pit firing to harden the clay. He also teaches basketry and weaving, and he shows how to use plant materials to re-create the textiles needed for the baskets.

Grignon has a film class during which he showcases films of indigenous peoples and discusses how accurately they’re portrayed.

Grignon also co-sponsors a language club at the school with Jennifer Gauthier, Menominee County University of Wisconsin-Extension community, natural resources and economic development coordinator. Although the club incorporates 4-H traditions, it mainly immerses students in the Menominee language.

Grignon was still a little shellshocked when he took the stage and accepted the plaque from Evers.

“Wow. You guys really kept this a surprise. I don’t even know what to say,” Grignon said. “I’m glad I washed off all the clay and stuff before I came down here.”

He added later on that he couldn’t accept full credit for influencing MIHS students, as he is part of a team of strong teachers working to implement not only what the state requires but also what is needed to keep the Menominee culture alive.

“We all care about each and every one of you guys,” Grignon said. “We really strive to create a wonderful program for all of you.”

Evers said after the ceremony that the state tries to reward teachers who are not only innovative in the classroom but also in the communities they serve.

“He has taken the Menominee culture and language, and he uses art to make sure those things are respected,” Evers said.

MIHS Principal Jim Reif, who nominated Grignon for the fellowship, said the teacher creates a classroom atmosphere of peace and respect. Reif said the students feel welcome in Grignon’s classroom, and Reif often slips away to the class himself to “get a little positive energy,” he said.

“There are a lot of good things that go on at Menominee Indian High School, and as Ben said from the stage, it is a team effort,” Reif said. “We’re building a good cohort of teachers who care about our kids and who want to be here every day, but it’s a great honor to have somebody as unique as Ben who really cares about the kids.”

Besides the plaque, Grignon will also receive $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Foundation, which is on top of the $12,000 he received for the fellowship — half for the school and half for himself.

Before teaching at MIHS, Grignon taught Menominee language classes at Menominee Tribal School for kindergarten through eighth grade.

“All the education I’ve received, it was to come back and share with you,” Grignon told his students. “I hope you take what we all teach you and share it with people in the future.”

After the ceremony, Grignon said he hoped he could be an example of how Menominee people can succeed in the world.

“I want them to know they can do it, too,” Grignon said.

With a renewed focused on community affairs and local journalism, Wolf River Media LLC, the parent organization of The Shawano Leader, Super Shopper and shawanoleader.com, will now operate as NEW Media Inc.

This announcement marks the completion of a capital restructuring, which included Wolf River Media’s exit from the commercial print business and divestiture of its real estate holdings to focus exclusively on its newspaper, shopper and website businesses.

NEW Media Inc. is based in Shawano and located at 1464 E. Green Bay St. on the city’s east side. NEW Media also operates and manages the Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News, Your Community Shopper and the Oconto County Times Herald, along with their respective websites.

“Wolf River Media has now completed its transition to a publishing-only operation,” said Paul Seveska, president and CEO. “With the consolidation in the print marketplace, our exit from the commercial printing business was an important strategic move. We also divested our real estate holdings since we no longer required the manufacturing, warehousing and bindery space necessary for commercial printing.”

NEW Media will continue to produce locally focused products under the leadership of Greg Mellis, who will serve as president and CEO. Seveska will remain with the company as a managing partner.

A Shawano County Jail inmate will be arraigned Monday on charges of battery to two correctional officers during an altercation at the jail last month.

Anthonee J. Kelley, 18, is accused of striking the officers and causing bodily harm to two officers who were performing a call inspection during a lockdown on April 30.

Kelley allegedly struck an officer in the face as he exited his cell for the inspection and continued to attack him, according to the criminal complaint, until he was subdued by another officer, who was also allegedly struck in the mouth by Kelley.

The first officer momentarily blacked out after being struck in the head and jaw, the complaint states.

Kelley could face a maximum possible sentence of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count if found guilty.

He was previously convicted of two felony counts of throwing or expelling bodily substances at an officer, according to court records.

Kelley requested that he be able to defend himself in the case rather than having counsel appointed during a court appearance Friday, where he also waived his preliminary hearing.

Shawano Police Department

May 14

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Child Abuse — Police investigated a child abuse or neglect complaint at ThedaCare Medical Center, 100 County Road B.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of Madison Way.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 800 block of South Weed Street.

OAR — A 25-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Green Bay Street and Fairview Road.

May 13

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Bowling items were reported stolen from a vehicle at Lakeshore Lanes, 210 N. Airport Road.

Shoplifting — A 25-year-old woman was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

May 12

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 300 block of South Hamlin Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the VFW Clubhouse, 202 W. Lieg St.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 400 block of East Fifth Street.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of South Union Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Humphrey Circle.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Kuckuk Park, 500 Oak Drive.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of West Picnic Street.

May 11

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.

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

OAR — A 28-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Green Bay Street and Fairview Road.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Quality Inn and Suites, 104 N. Airport Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 14

Deputies logged 48 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Country Lane in the town of Washington.

Fleeing — A fleeing/pursuit incident with a motorcycle was reported on state Highway 45 in the village of Birnamwood.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem at Bowler School, 500 S. Almon St., in the village of Bowler.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on Pathfinder Court in the town of Wescott.

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

May 13

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Aniwa.

Vandalism — A door was reported kicked in on County Road D in the town of Pella.

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

Vandalism — Ferns were reported vandalized on Reed Street in Wittenberg.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized on Express Way in Bonduel.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Green Valley Road in the town of Angelica.

May 12

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on County Road D in the town of Aniwa.

Theft — A phone and debit cards were reported stolen at the North Star Casino, W12180 County Road A, in the town of Bartelme.

Disturbance — A charge of disorderly conduct was referred against a 36-year-old Wittenberg man after a domestic disturbance on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint on County Road M in the town of Grant.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Harrison Street in Wittenberg.

Accident/Pedestrian — Sheriff’s deputies and Stockbridge-Munsee police responded to an accident involving a 12-year-old girl struck by a truck hauling a boat at Richards and Main streets in Gresham. The girl was reported in critical condition Monday.

May 11

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

OAR— A 23-year-old Birnamwood man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman.

Disturbance — A 27-year-old Shawano woman was arrested on a probation and parole warrant after a disturbance on Maders Circle in the town of Wescott.

Burglary — Stockbridge-Munsee police investigated a reported burglary on Murphys Road in Bowler.

Accident — A charge of operating after revocation was referred against a 39-year-old Shawano woman after an injury accident on Leopolis Road in the town of Herman.

Clintonville Police Department

May 14

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on Eighth Street.

Assault — A sexual assault complaint was under investigation.

Disorderly — A 32-year-old Clintonville woman was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting/obstructing after officers responded to an unwanted subject complaint on South Main Street.

May 13

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officers assisted with a domestic disturbance on Anne Street.

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance was reported on East 14th Street.

Disturbance — Officer responded to a neighbor dispute on Fifth Street and subsequently arrested a female for disorderly conduct and resisting/obstructing an officer.

Robbery — Officers responded to a robbery on South Main Street. The incident is still under investigation.

May 11

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Theft — Medication was reported stolen on West Street.

Fraud — Fraud was reported on South Main Street.

Theft — A theft was reported on South Main Street.

Theft — Two retail thefts were reported on South Main Street.

A New York man who traveled to Shawano to have sex with a 15-year-old girl was sentenced Monday in federal court to 30 years in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release.

According to court documents, James A. Huskisson, 46, of Ozone Park, New York, was a sex offender when, in September 2017, he struck up an internet relationship with a female student at Wolf River Lutheran High School. The girl told Huskisson that she was 15 years old. Their conversation turned sexual, and they began sharing sexually explicit photos.

Huskisson drove to the Shawano area in late September.

A car with New York license plates was observed in the Lutheran high school parking lot and reported to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 26. A deputy was sent to the school but could not locate the car.

Hours later, police received a shoplifting complaint from the Shawano Walmart and stopped a car with New York plates. Huskisson and the girl were in the car, but the officer was unaware of the suspicious vehicle report made earlier that day. The officer also did not know that Huskisson was a registered sex offender with a 1999 forcible rape conviction in New York.

Huskisson and the girl were cited for shoplifting and released.

A school official called the sheriff’s department the next day to report that the girl was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a New York man. The girl had told school staff that the man’s name was James Lee, that he had been at her house, had bought her clothing and a cell phone.

Huskisson was also known as Lucky, Jason Desantes and James Lee.

A sheriff’s deputy spoke with the girl’s mother, who said she doubted that her daughter’s story about a relationship was true. The deputy advised the woman to talk to her daughter and report back any information.

On Oct. 13, a school official told the sheriff’s department that the girl was in a relationship with the man from the suspicious vehicle complaint, and the girl was calling him from school. The school seized the girl’s phone.

Photos and text messages recovered from the girl’s phone indicated that she and Huskisson were in her bedroom on Sept. 27.

The school official told police that the girl had told Huskisson that he was being sought by law enforcement.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Detective Christopher Gamm got the girl’s permission to log into her Facebook messenger account. He saw that the girl and Huskisson began chatting on Sept. 16, and she had told him that she was 15 years old.

Huskisson had returned to New York but was arrested there and returned to Wisconsin where he was indicted in December for sexually exploiting a child.

He has been in custody since Dec. 15 and pleaded guilty to the exploitation charge in February.

A Shawano police officer and former county sheriff’s detective has joined the race for Shawano County sheriff.

Incumbent Adam Bieber is seeking a second four-year term and is already facing a challenge for the Republican nomination from former chief deputy John Gutho, who retired from the sheriff’s department in January 2016.

Shawano police officer Keith Sorlie recently declared his candidacy for the sheriff’s office as an Independent.

Sorlie had been with the sheriff’s department for 20 years before leaving to join the city department in December 2015.

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

The general election takes place on Nov. 6, which would pit Sorlie against either Bieber or Gutho.

Sorlie began his law enforcement career in November 1991 as an inspector, then trooper with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

He started with the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department in August 1995 as a patrol deputy and was promoted to detective in July 2000.

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.

Shawano Police Department

May 15

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at County Road B and Main Street.

Warrant — A 30-year-old Bonduel woman was arrested on a warrant at Main and Richmond streets.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Airport Drive and County Road B.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 15

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A charge of harassment was referred against a 33-year-old Wittenberg man after authorities responded to a theft complaint on Willow Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Pioneer Court in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on State Highway 117 in the town of Washington.

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

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Main Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — Charges of battery, false imprisonment and disorderly conduct were referred against a 35-year-old Lublin man after domestic disturbance on Rollman Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — Charges of battery and disorderly conduct were referred against a 31-year-old Keshena man and charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest were referred against a 31-year-old Bonduel man after authorities responded to a fight in progress on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

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

Clintonville Police Department

May 15

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Fraud was reported on South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on South Main Street.

A Green Bay man is facing a felony charge of theft in a business setting for allegedly stealing nearly $10,000 from Annie’s Campground near the village of Gresham while he worked there last year.

John J. Wauters, 45, was hired in March of last year to set up a point-of-sale software program for the campground and was the sole administrator for the program.

The criminal complaint alleges Wauters used the program to divert $9,698 from the campground’s funds for his own use between March and September.

The funds were taken out in the form of cash from the campground itself by the issuance of refunds for no cause, according to the complaint.

Wauters could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted.

He is due in court for an initial appearance on June 11.

Shawano County is looking at pledging funds for broadband expansion in a handful of underserved communities, provided the state comes through with an equal share.

The state has earmarked $7 million through the Wisconsin Broadband Expansion Grant funding program, which is administered by the state Public Service Commission.

The next round of funding through the program will become available in July.

Shawano County Economic Progress, Inc. is working with wireless provider Bertram Communications of Shawano to come up with a broadband expansion plan that will reach the towns of Belle Plaine, Washington, Wescott and Richmond and the villages of Cecil and Gresham.

SCEPI Chief Economic Development Officer Dennis Heling said the project is vital to attracting and retaining businesses and families in the county’s rural communities.

“The business community expects to have good broadband service,” Heling said, “and so do households.”

Heling compared broadband expansion to the build-out of electrical service the country saw in the last century.

“It’s not just a desire. It’s an absolute necessity,” he said.

Heling said he has heard from area Realtors who say there are families that refuse to move to areas where internet speeds or either too slow or where access is non-existent.

“It’s important for this area,” Heling said. “It’s critical for the future.”

The communities included in the first round of grant applications would be followed later by other communities in additional grant applications as the project moves further west across the county.

Heling said the project has to be built out from existing towers and other infrastructure.

Bertram is currently working out the engineering analysis, project parameters and cost estimates for the first phase.

At this point, it’s estimated SCEPI’s grant application will be requesting anywhere from $300,000 to $400,000, Heling said, about half what the project would ultimately cost.

But the grant amount will have to be matched for SCEPI to qualify for those funds.

Heling said Bertram has committed 50 percent of the cost of equipment for the project.

SCEPI, which itself has pledged $1,000, is looking to also get some financial support from the towns and villages that would benefit.

“That’s likely to be a token amount,” Heling said, mainly intended to show support for the project. “The bulk of the (matching) funds is coming from Bertram.”

The county’s finance and administrative committees this week approved forward to the County Board a resolution pledging $25,000 to the project contingent on receiving the grant money.

“The Broadband Expansion Grant process is extremely competitive and applications that demonstrate public-private partnership are evaluated higher than those that do not,” the resolution states.

“It would be a huge benefit for businesses, households, tourists and others if we can get this,” said County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller.

The County Board will consider the resolution Wednesday.

The Clintonville Public School District has received a $41,587 incentive check from Focus on Energy.

The incentive check was presented at Monday’s School Board meeting. The check was presented by Nicole Zaidel, energy consultant with Focus on Energy, and Jeremy Bellile, owner of BNH Lighting, LLC.

Last December, Bellile met with the school district to discuss concerns related to the existing lighting in the high school and explained the advantages of replacing their aging T8 lighting systems with energy efficient LED fixture technology.

BNH Lighting was contracted to conduct a detailed audit of every room within the high school structure, including the exterior lighting, comparing the existing equipment to currently available state-of-the-art LED lighting technologies.

The company designed a high efficiency, cost-effective lighting solution to eliminate the T8 system which allowed most of the existing lighting fixtures to be retrofitted rather than replaced.

Durie Electric from Big Falls provided the most competitive bid and was awarded the installation contract. The overall lighting project was implemented from March to May.

Superintendent Dr. David Dyb said that a Clintonville High School teacher commented that the new lighting in their classroom has had a positive impact. Over the past years they had not been able to turn all the lights on in the classroom as some of the fluorescent bulbs/fixtures emitted a high pitched whine. The noise was a distraction for students, Dyb said.

In addition, the fluorescent lighting caused issues with some students that had issues with their vision and ocular migraines, according to Dyb. The new lights now emit a softer light that contributes to a more pleasant learning atmosphere in the classroom.

This project will generate over $48,078.28 per year in energy savings for the school district, according to Dyb.

Shawano Police Department

May 16

Police logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 500 block of North Main Street.

Truancy — Police logged three truancy complaints from Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 1000 block of East Fifth Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 16

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on MBC Drive in the town of Richmond.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on Hirt Road in the town of Fairbanks.

OAR — A 21-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Pioneer Drive in the town of Washington.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on Ashley Road in the town of Navarino.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Elm Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on State Highway 29 in Shawano.

Clintonville Police Department

May 16

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — A 22-year-old Tigerton man was arrested for operating under the influence, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia after a traffic stop on North Main Street.

Disturbance — Police assisted with a domestic situation on Coleus Court.

Disturbance — Police assisted with a domestic situation on North Main Street.

Disturbance — Police assisted with a family disturbance on West Morning Glory Drive.

Shawano Police Department

May 17

Police logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — CoVantage Credit Union, 604 S. Main St., reported a counterfeit $100 bill.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of River Heights.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of West Lieg Avenue.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

May 17

Police logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Items were reported stolen from Lakeview Convenience, 417 S. Warrington Avenue in Cecil.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Bonduel Middle/High School, 400 W. Green Bay St. in Bonduel.

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

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on U.S. Highway 45 in the village of Tigerton.

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

Clintonville Police Department

May 17

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Officer assisted Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department with a vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 45 and County Road O.

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

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance was reported on 13th Street.

Dozens of representatives from area governments, businesses, social services, health care, law enforcement, school districts and tribal organizations gathered in Shawano on Friday for an in-depth, daylong working session addressing the problem of childhood trauma and its potentially lifelong consequences.

The event was hosted by the Community Health Action Team (CHAT), which is sponsored by ThedaCare.

The day was structured as a community plunge, when participants travel together to a series of locations, organizations, and speaking engagements for high-intensity first-person exposure to a pressing community issue.

In Friday’s case, it was an exploration of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how to recognize and support people who have experienced trauma, or to be trauma-informed.

Attendees gathered at the SAM25 homeless shelter and traveled by bus to locations throughout Shawano.

ACEs are stressful or traumatic events during childhood that can involve abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction including domestic violence, substance abuse, incarcerated family members, and mental illness.

People who experience ACEs are less likely to maintain relationships or hold a job as adults and more likely to end up in foster care, homeless, or in jail. It is estimated that about 10 percent of people in the Shawano area have four or more ACEs.

Research indicates that a person with four or more ACEs is six times more likely to struggle with depression, seven times more likely to become alcoholic, 10 times more likely to inject drugs, and 12 times more likely to attempt suicide. He or she is twice as likely to have heart disease or be diagnosed with cancer.

Jennifer Frost, a licensed marriage and family therapist and manager of behavioral health services at the Shawano County Department of Human Services, co-chaired Friday’s event along with Bill Schmidt, CEO of ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

“What happens to us when we are young changes our brain development and becomes part of who we are,” Frost said. “We need to facilitate a cultural shift and stop asking, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and instead seek to understand, ‘What happened to you?’”

Matty Mathison, a retired Shawano Community High School health and physical education teacher, is a CHAT member. In her 37 years in education, she facilitated small groups for youth who abused drugs and their parents.

Mathison invited local young people to speak at the plunge about their ACEs and educate participants about what is happening in the lives of young people today.

“Our guests are people who had trouble, but they are survivors who have gone on to make a tremendous difference in our communities,” she said. “They share the negative and positive ways they dealt with trauma and the importance of mentoring. We need to help young people cope and protect them from further trauma and build resilience.”

Key presenters also included Jonathan Cloud, a Wisconsin-based national expert in special initiatives in youth outreach, family support, community organizing, and child protective services; Dennis Winters, chief economist at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development; and Dr. Mindy Frimodig, ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano, who has specialized training in providing trauma-informed care.

Frost said she hopes Friday’s community plunge helped highlight what is being done to address the effects of ACEs and how to fill in the gaps that remain.

“We can wrap our community around this issue just by recognizing the effects of ACEs in our personal lives, workplaces, or even at the grocery store,” Frost said. “When we work together to build more protection and resilience, we build hope, and that’s often what’s missing in the lives of people who experience trauma.”