Significant alfalfa winterkill across the region has put many farms in a bind this summer when it comes to forage stocks.

To answer fall forage establishment questions, the Shawano County Forage Council is hosting a workshop July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Fall Forages — Selection, Planting and Harvest” will be held at the Green Valley Community Center, W1734 County Road E, Cecil, which is just west of Advance.

Topics will include forage options after wheat, best management strategies for fall alfalfa establishment, fertilizer considerations for fall forages, new seeding alfalfa and more. The workshop is free with the Shawano County Forage Council providing a light lunch.

To ensure an accurate head count for the meal, RSVP with the Shawano County UW-Extension office at 715-526-6136.

Shawano Police Department

July 12

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

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

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the 1000 block of South Washington Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 100 block of East Richmond Street.

Disturbance — Police responding to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street cited a 26-year-old Shawano woman with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 12

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in the town of Richmond.

Warrant — A 35-year-old woman was arrested on a Shawano County warrant and a 38-year-old man was arrested on a probation warrant on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious incident complaint on State Street in Bonduel.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Webers Point Road in the town of Wescott.

A Shawano County committee this week recommended the hiring of a retiring army colonel and Shawano native to take over as emergency management director.

James Davel was unanimously approved by the public safety committee after two interviews. The recommendation will go the administrative committee on Wednesday for consideration and the full County Board on July 25.

Davel currently serves in the United States Army at the rank of colonel, and will be retiring after 27 years. He has received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and he has been stationed in many countries during his service, according to the county resolution recommending his hiring.

Davel is originally from Shawano and will be returning to Shawano permanently, together with his family, after his retirement.

Davel has accepted the position. If approved by the County Board, his start date would be Sept. 17.

The county’s emergency management duties have been overseen by a regional director since February when Natalie Easterday left the post to take a job with Wisconsin Emergency Management.

The emergency management director is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive emergency management programs, as well as overseeing mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery capabilities for emergencies resulting from natural and man-made disasters.

The county had 46 applicants for the job, seven of which were chosen to be interviewed, though two of those were no-shows, according to County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller.

Miller said applicants for the job came from all over the U.S., including California, Hawaii, Alaska, Connecticut, Vermont and Virginia.

Two of the finalists behind Davel included a Marine and a Navy commander, Miller said.

Davel would be paid an annual salary of $65,873.

Though Joe Dawidziak has only been on the job for a week, the seasoned educator is excited to be in charge of the Bonduel School District and happy to be working in Shawano County.

A seasoned educator with prior experience in teaching, administration and work as a superintendent before taking former Bonduel head Patrick Rau’s job (Rau left in June for a superintendent position with the Peshtigo School District), Dawidziak came to the area after living in Burlington and running the Raymond School District.

According to Dawidziak, he and his family made the move because he wanted a bit more difficulty, but in a similar setting.

“I was looking for a bit more of a challenge,” he said. “The district I was in was from K-8, and this is K-12 and roughly twice the size of where I was previously working. It is familiar, though. It is a place with similar values and beliefs and the same kind of farming community.”

Through seeing the plain and largely undecorated superintendent office space within the district’s building in Bonduel, one gets a sense Dawidziak has not yet established plans for his time overseeing the area, this is correct. Though Bonduel has faced challenges with revenue due to cuts in state funding in recent years, concerns like this are not on the mind of Dawidziak for the moment. Right now, the father of two boys is observing, plans (if any) for what will come next are due in the future.

“It makes sense for me to get to know the district and community right now,” Dawidziak said. “I’m kind of sitting back and watching and learning how things are done here versus the experiences I am used to. I know funding is going to continue to be an issue across the state and it is too early in my career here to gauge if we need to speak to the public about that. I think I’ll probably have to be asked about it again six months from now.”

When asked whether his children will be joining him in the district, Dawidziak said they’ll be learning elsewhere, not due to lack of trying, but because of real estate options.

“I am biased but my boys are super awesome,” he said. “They won’t be attending here due to us getting a home in Howard. In a perfect world, you’d be able to live where you work always, but a home has to be available before that can happen.”

Shawano police have completed their end of an investigation into the motorcycle crash Sunday that took the life of 31-year-old Justin Kleczka of Shawano, but toxicology results and a full accident scene reconstruction are still pending from other agencies, according to Police Chief Dan Mauel.

Kleczka was killed in a motorcycle crash Sunday night on South Airport Drive about a quarter-mile south of Richmond Street.

The investigation determined Kleczka was southbound on Airport Drive and attempted to pass a southbound pickup truck and struck the rear of the truck.

Kleczka was wearing a helmet, police said.

The operator of the truck, a 30-year-old Shawano man, was not injured.

Mauel said the accident investigation is completed “to this point,” but the Wisconsin State Patrol is handling the accident reconstruction.

“Those reports take a while to get compiled and sent to us,” he said.

“We’re also waiting for autopsy results, toxicology results and things like that,” Mauel said. “If something comes up in that, then we would have to go further.”

Mauel said the crash location is hazardous for attempting to pass other vehicles, and is in fact a no-passing zone.

He said the pending accident reconstruction would determine whether speed was a factor in the crash and the toxicology report could determine whether other factors were involved.

“There’s a lot of variables there,” Mauel said.

However, he said, the police department is confident in the details of the crash released so far.

“We’re confident that’s what happened and we’re confident it is correct,” Mauel said. “But with that said, we’re also waiting for the reconstruction results from the state patrol. So we’re not in a position to say speed for either vehicle and we’re not in a position to say there aren’t other factors for either vehicle until everything comes back.”

Mauel said it would be premature to draw any final conclusions.

“What we put out was what we had at the time,” he said. “We weren’t going to make any assumptions or things like that and have them come back to be false.”

For Justin Kleczka’s widow April, it’s how he lived, and not how he left this world, that matters.

Together with Justin since the pair met in their late teens while working together at the local Hardee’s, what started out as a romance where she was unsure of his interest blossomed into a family with three sons, two daughters, multiple dogs and a home filled with fond memories and personal struggles.

“When I met him, I really wanted to hang out and he kept going home,” April Kleczka said. “I thought he wasn’t into me because he was going home so early after work. So, one day I called Hardee’s and asked him if he wanted to watch movies and he never left my life.

At the time, April did not have her late husband’s phone number. After their first date, he stuck around and intended to be with her far into the future, even helping April with mental issues during their time together.

“I was his first everything, we’d made plans for the future of our lives and that’s why this is so hard, he even helped me fight depression,” April said. “I never wanted to be on any medications and he helped me battle through things.”

Last Sunday, 31-year-old Justin died while attempting to pass a truck on South Airport Drive. Police determined the lifelong Shawano native struck the rear of the vehicle with his motorcycle and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a home with walls filled with photos of the pair’s children, April discussed various aspects of her life with him. Through their 12 years of time together, she says there wasn’t a moment he would decline to help with anything she or their children needed.

In one instance mentioned by the stay-at-home mom during her eulogy at his funeral Thursday, Justin carried around his two daughters in his arms for six hours during a recent visit to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

At first, the pair struggled financially to afford visits like this, but over time, Justin worked hard and moved up to a better income for the family, getting hired at the Georgia-Pacific manufacturing corporation in Green Bay after working for Wisconsin Film & Bag Inc. in Shawano for a number of years.

According to April, she and Justin went the extra mile to make sure he landed a job with the company.

“I took him to get his interview suit,” she said in the eulogy. “We picked out khakis, a white shirt with a blue blazer and a red tie … he ended up getting the job. Like always, he had his paycheck go right into our account to pay bills and never asked for a dime.”

April said the support from friends of Justin and family has been tremendous.

Although calls to Wisconsin Film & Bag and Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano could not confirm information before press time about how the public reacted to Justin’s death, he was liked by those he worked at Georgia-Pacific with as much as he was loved by his family. According to Mike Kawleski, a public relations official at the company, Justin’s line was shut down so those he worked with could attend his funeral, something not commonly done at a paper mill.

“The women who hired him for his jobs came to the funeral,” April said. “With the help and support of a lot of people who really love us, my kids are keeping their minds busy. My cousin, Levi Lyons, is doing a phenomeonal job, he’s helping with finances and working on trying to figure out what is best for the longevity of our family.”

Now, nearly a week into being without her husband, April questions how she’ll handle life without Justin and, though she says it is silly, the mother of five smiles as she recalls how the pair finished sentences, had a hundred-day long messaging streak on mobile messaging app Snapchat and had plans to live out in the country together.

For April, the road ahead is challenging, but knowing her husband wouldn’t want her to feel bad helps make the days pass.

“He would want me to stay and be here for the kids,” April said. “He wouldn’t want me to be sad and feel burdened. One of the last cards he sent me was about learning strengths and handling fears you didn’t know existed and that’s how I am feeling about right now.”

Shawano Police Department

July 16

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Fraud — Police investigated a fraudulent account complaint at State Bank, 1213 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 400 block of South Smalley Street.

July 15

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a fight involving juveniles at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Theft — Keys were reported stolen in the 500 block of East Fifth Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Lincoln Street.

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

July 14

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Police responded to a property theft complaint in the 700 block of Oak Drive.

OAR — A 31-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Richmond Street and Airport Drive.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 2500 block of East Lieg Avenue.

July 13

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 26-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of bail jumping after a disturbance in the 200 block of East Center Street.

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

Shoplifting — Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Traffic Stop — A 25-year-old Shawano man was arrested for bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia, a 32-year-old Neopit man was arrested for outstanding warrants and operating with a revoked license and a 24-year-old Keshena man arrested for outstanding warrants after a traffic stop at Waukechon and Richmond streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 16

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Main Street in Birnamwood.

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

Warrant — A 27-year-old woman was arrested on a Milwaukee County warrant on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Fourth Street in Mattoon.

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

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

Burglary — A burglary was reported on County Road VV in the town of Red Springs.

July 15

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

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

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Old Shawano Road in the town of Pella.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Hunting Road in the town of Belle Plaine.

July 14

Deputies logged 50 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on First Street in Aniwa.

Vandalism — Bathrooms were reported vandalized at the baseball diamond on Main Street in Gresham.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Maders Circle in the town of Wescott.

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

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on U.S. Highway 45 in Eland.

July 13

Deputies logged 53 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 25-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after a minor accident on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Vandalism — A window was reported vandalized on Cherry Street in Wittenberg.

OWL — A 43-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating without a license on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Warrant — A 19-year-old Shawano woman was arrested on a warrant on Poplar Road in the town of Richmond.

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

Warrant — A 25-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on a warrant on County Road Y in the town of Belle Plaine.

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

OAR — A 32-year-old Wittenberg woman was cited for operating after revocation on Vinal Street in Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

July 16

Police logged five incidents, including the following:

Accident — A two-vehicle accident was reported at Main and Madison streets.

July 15

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A warning was issued for disorderly conduct after a disturbance on East Morning Glory Drive.

Disturbance — A warning was issued for disorderly conduct after a disturbance on Coleus Court.

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

July 14

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Battery — A battery incident was reported on East Second Street.

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

Accident — A two-vehicle accident was reported on South Main Street.

Harassment — A warning was issued for harassment on West First Street.

July 13

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

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

Arrest — A 27-year-old Clintonville man was taken into custody on a probation hold on Eighth Street.

Warrant — A 35-year-old New London man was taken into custody on warrants through Waupaca and Outagamie counties.

The Bridge The Gap for Autism in Shawano will hold its second annual walkathon in Shawano next month.

All aspects of the fundraiser, Steps for Autism Awareness, will be overseen by a local teenager.

McKenna Montour, 16, a client at Bridge The Gap, was motivated to give back to the organization after a stay in the hospital last year for a physical ailment. During her nearly two months stay, the teen was inspired to develop the idea, and Steps for Autism Awareness was born. According to Montour, she does the event due to what the program means to her.

“When I was in the hospital, I said to myself, ‘Hey, I want to do an event,’” she said Tuesday. “This organization means a lot to me, here I have gotten to make new friends with similar qualities.”

Montour’s event takes place Aug. 8 at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St., Shawano. Individuals will walk around the track and can pay either a flat donation or have individuals sponsor them at the rate $1 for each lap they do. Last year, Montour’s idea raised $2,500 for Bridge The Gap, but this year she has her sights on a larger number.

“I’m thinking this year our goal will be $3,000,” Montour said.

For leadership at Bridge The Gap, having one of their clients give back to the organization is of deep meaning. According to center director Lesley Laluzerne, McKenna is an example of stereotypes being discredited.

“She has done an amazing job,” she said. “She is on the autism spectrum but shows the community people with autism can do anything just as well as anyone else and sometimes even better.”

For information, call 715-526-3791.

The Shawano County Finance Committee debated and forwarded a resolution on dark store tax loopholes to the administrative committee Monday.

If approved by the Shawano County Board later this month, voters will be asked to weigh in on the retail issue in November in an advisory manner.

Dubbed a “tax shift” by the Wisconsin Counties Association, the term “dark store” refers to a part of property assessment law in the Badger State which allows single space properties like Walmart to argue their stores should be assessed as if they were vacant when it comes to property taxes. The policy came in the aftermath of a 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision, which ruled the city of Madison had over-assessed Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. stores in the area and has prompted a backlash from counties and municipalities across the state.

Although officials attempted to get the Legislature to recently address the problem, Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and his counterpart Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said legislation on the matter would not pass this year when speaking at the Wisconsin Counties Association’s Legislative Exchange event in February. According to comments Fitzgerald made to The Associated Press, the issue was too complicated and needed more study before any action was taken.

In response, counties across Wisconsin — including Outagamie, Kenosha and Shawano counties — are asking residents to weigh in, hoping the Legislature will listen to input from voters.

In Shawano County, Supervisor Deb Noffke questioned whether such a vote would be worth it for the area, pointing out Monday that such a vote is not binding, but would cost the county money to hold.

“We can’t enact anything,” Noffke said to the committee. “It is beyond our ability. Without legislation, there is nothing we can do. So why should we spend $4,000 on this question?”

According to Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller, it would be good for the area to hold a referendum in order to get the attention of state officials. From his perspective, the cost of such a vote is worth it if it gets the law changed.

Miller warned the committee that without a shift in policy, the county would have to make up the difference on further dark stores in the future.

“If this doesn’t pass and something isn’t done by the state in the future, it will cost us significantly in taxes,” he said. “We’d have to make up any differences.”

Ultimately, the matter was forwarded to the Shawano County Administrative and Insurance Committee for their examination before the county board’s review July 25. For Noffke, it still doesn’t make sense; in her view, politicians should listen without a vote.

“What difference will it make if our constituents overwhelmingly say yes?” she asked. “What are we getting? All we’re trying to do is get attention; Jesus, they’re our legislators. We shouldn’t have to.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corp. has announced interest rates for July. The borrowing rate-based charge for July is 2.25 percent, which is unchanged from June.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during July is 3.25 percent, also the same as June.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for July are as follows: 2.625 percent with three-year loan terms, the same as June; 2.75 percent with five-year loan terms, down from 2.875 percent in June; 2.875 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 3 percent in June; 2.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 3 percent in June; and 3 percent with 12-year loan terms, the same as June. The interest rate for 15-year Sugar Storage Facility Loans for July is 3 percent, the same as June.

Visit www.farmers.gov for information on loan eligibility, the application process or to find your local service center.

Shawano Police Department

July 17

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

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

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 600 block of South Maiden Lane.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — An attempted theft was reported at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Theft — Police investigated a theft of money at Subway, 1230 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Odisha House of Rest, 1330 E. Green Bay St.

Burglary — An attempted burglary was reported in the 900 block of South River Street.

Disturbance — A 13-year-old Shawano girl was referred to Social Services for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after a disturbance in the 400 block of South Weed Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 17

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Main Street in the town of Angelica.

Theft — Mail was reported stolen on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Warrant — A 32-year-old woman was arrested on multiple warrants on County Road E in the town of Green Valley.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Deputies assisted Shawano police with a disturbance on Weed Street in the city.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

July 17

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A citation was issued for theft on Rohrer Street.

Warrant — A 25-year-old Bear Creek man was arrested on a Waupaca County warrant.

Accident — A two-vehicle property damage accident was reported at Main and Eighth streets.

Warrant — A 43-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant.

Assault — A sexual assault complaint was under investigation.

Shawano County’s administrative committee approved creating a website where employees can buy county branded T-shirts Wednesday, and board member Mark Bolin may benefit.

According to a document presented at the meeting, the internal site will offer short sleeve polo shirts, zip-up jackets and softshell jackets ranging in price from $20-$40. At one point, the committee was going to select Bolin’s Speedy T’s business to be the sole provider but decided to include rival Bonduel-based bidder Custom Creations of Wisconsin LLC to promote competition.

“We have a member of the County Board selling shirts,” Supervisor Ken Capelle said. “I don’t think the county should be in business with itself. Why don’t we include both? One may cost more, but it could be of a higher quality and then at least people could make a choice.”

County Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus pointed out this is not illegal as long as those voting on the decision were informed of Bolin’s status. Under the county code of ethics, which builds from language set by the state, elected officials are free to do business with the area they represent so long as they properly disclose their roles. Bolin is free to provide service to the county; he just can’t try to affect the decision.

“There’s nothing wrong with him providing a service to the county,” Kordus said. “He just can’t play a role in deciding anything where he is involved. So, when the administrative committee selected him, it was fine. They knew about his background and he was not on the committee to improperly influence the vote.”

Kordus also added that very few shirts are estimated to be sold through the site, meaning Bolin — who has also made shirts for the sheriff’s department in the past — will not stand to make much from the venture if workers select his products. When asked about the news on Wednesday, he had nothing to say, as the decision was so recent.

“I haven’t been notified about it yet,” he said.

Current Shawano County Board members are paid $75 for board meetings and $70 and mileage reimbursements for any committee or outside meetings they attend while in office.

Shawano Community High School has been working to obtain the latest, most up-to-date materials to educate students.

This week, the school announced it would be showcasing materials for the science department that are a century old, and accepting a $900 donation from Dr. Jeff Zander to help.

Angela Kowalewski, the school’s science head, said her department has been trying to make the pod where science classes are held more of a “museum of scientific art.” She said the project started with another science poster purchased two years ago, and now the school has come into possession of several anatomical charts with a 1918 copyright.

“The hallways into the pod are kind of stark,” Kowalewski said. “Some of our teachers, when they walk into the building and have never seen the building before, they look at these walls and think that it’s too sterile.”

Kowalewski said she hopes that the installation of older science materials like the charts will inspire students.

There are four anatomical charts total, and they’ve been part of the Shawano School District before. Zander noted the charts were from the old high school, and he was part of the team that transferred them from an old science classrooms to a newly built addition.

“In the 1960s, I spent one of my summers as a volunteer at the high school,” Zander said. “I was part of the team of unpaid student volunteers who carted the charts from one part of the school to the other, but we cleaned up everything because these charts already had the dust of ancient civilizations on them.”

Zander added the charts have been moved around ever since, usually left forgotten on a high shelf.

Matthew Brunette, chemistry teacher at SCHS, said he plans to use Plexiglas and plywood to keep the charts preserved, and they will be attached to the wall via French cleats, moldings with 30 to 45 degree angles.

“It’s a fast and easy way to do things,” Brunette said. “We don’t have to spend money on fasteners or anything else. When it’s all said and done, we’re going to put some trim that matches the door jams so that it’s going to be the same trim pattern.”

Doing it this way, Kowalewski said, prevents further damage to the charts because there will be no further penetration of said charts with screws or other fasteners. It will allow the school to move the charts elsewhere, if necessary.

The Shawano School Board approved accepting Zander’s $900 donation, which will go toward the materials to display the charts. Brunette said the total expense is estimated around $1,200, but there are already some funds to help offset the cost.

Kowalewski said the charts should be on display by the time SCHS holds its open house in August.

Retired chief deputy John Gutho, who is challenging Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber in his bid for reelection, is outpacing the incumbent in both contributions and campaign spending, according to documents filed this week.

Gutho and Bieber will go head-to-head in the Aug. 14 Republican primary. The winner will face Shawano police officer Keith Sorlie, who is running for the office as an independent, in the November election.

Each of the candidates this week filed their first campaign finance reports, covering the period from the date they registered as candidates through the end of June. Gutho and Bieber registered in mid-April. Sorlie registered in May.

Further campaign finance reports will be due in August, September and October.

So far, according to the reports, Gutho is leading the pack in terms of money coming in, money spent and cash on hand.

However, more than a third of those contributions came out of Gutho’s own pocket for campaign expenses, according to his report.

Gutho’s campaign took in $14,441 as of the end of June, with $5,738 coming from Gutho himself.

The campaign had expenses of $10,297 and a cash balance of $4,144 on June 30, according to the filing.

Contributions to Bieber’s campaign totaled $7,035 at the end of last month, with $5,526 in expenditures and a cash balance of $1,500, according to his filing.

The report does not list any personal contributions from Bieber.

Campaign signs and related materials such as wood and paint accounted for the biggest expenses for both campaigns, but each campaign also had large expenditures for other items such as vinyl decals and magnetic Packers calendars for Bieber and brochures and a meet-and-greet event for Gutho.

Sorlie’s campaign took in $3,148 and had expenditures of $2,598 at the end of June for a cash balance of $550.

Sorlie also contributed $677 of his own money, according to his report.

The race this year is shaping up to be significantly more expensive than the sheriff’s race in 2014, when Bieber defeated former sheriff Randy Wright.

According to campaign finance statements filed that year, Wright had raised $3,437 and Bieber $2,885 as of the end of June.

Wright had spent $1,987, while Bieber had spent $2,701.

The 34th annual Summer Twister motorcycle rally will take place in Birnamwood next week, and organizers say this year’s event will be different from before.

Originally founded in the 1980s by Vietnam veterans in Wisconsin, the Twister raises money for veterans and features live music. In recent years, the initial organizers were looking to hand off the event to someone else and did so in 2015, giving up control to Leathernecks Motorcycle Club International Inc.’s Wisconsin chapter.

“We just recently took this over,” Wisconsin club president Chad McVay said. “In the last couple of years, we’ve been in the hole but we’ve got some updates this year. We’ll have newer bands and even a beer trailer, which is essentially a refrigerated semi trailer.”

McVay said the Leathernecks like to select one group that works for veterans to be the recipient of any funds raised each year. While past efforts have given more than $100,000 to various groups that do things such as provide service dogs, nothing has been selected for 2018.

“We haven’t decided on anything at this time,” he said. “But one thing we will do with whatever we pick is we want to show people where their money goes and what is actually done with it.”

Although the event does draw a crowd to the Birnamwood area, officials aren’t sure it brings in any significant revenue to the community. Birnamwood Clerk-Treasurer Lauri Klumpyan said Thursday the Summer Twister was really separate and she didn’t have information on whether it benefitted the village.

In addition, club treasurer John Richmond said the Twister usually attracts more than 2,000 people, but much of the money is donated, and not spent in the area. However, it’s spent on what he calls a good time.

“Usually the focus is on supporting veterans,” Richmond said. “There should be some money spent at gas stations, but we don’t have anything on whether the town benefits. Really it is a fun event with bands, beer and bikes for people to show off. It’s basically like a music festival and for a good cause.”

The Summer Twister will take place from July 26 at noon to July 28 at the Wildlife Bar and Campground, N4597 Willow Lane, Birnamwood. The Utah-based veterans band American Hitmen will be performing on Saturday, free beer and root beer will be offered and tickets are either $50 in advance or $75 at the gate.

For more information, visit wisconsinsummertwister.com.

Shawano Police Department

July 18

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — A window was reported vandalized in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Assault — A sexual assault complaint was under investigation.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 600 block of West Green Bay Street.

Intoxicated Person — An intoxicated person was reported in the parking lot at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen in the 100 block of Aspen Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 18

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint at Cady Memorial Home, 380 Maple St. in Birnamwood.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint at Maple Lane Health Care, N4231 State Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Fraud — Gresham Town Mart, 1129 S. Main St. in Gresham, reported receiving counterfeit money.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on River Road in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

One of two brothers charged in a multi-county burglary spree waived his preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes in Shawano County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Sanome R. Wheelock, 26, of Madison, is charged with 24 felony counts of burglary, 13 counts of theft and numerous counts of criminal damage to property related to alleged break-ins to cabins, trailer homes and garages in Shawano County last year.

His brother, Wyatt J. Wheelock, 20, of Keshena, faces the same charges.

Sanome Wheelock also pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony count of fleeing an officer in a vehicle in a separate Shawano County case.

He is due back in court Aug. 30 for a pre-trial conference.

The cases have taken some time to move forward locally because of other pending cases against the brothers in other counties.

Sanome Wheelock was sentenced in Oneida County last week to 2½ years in prison for auto theft. A felony count of fleeing an officer and several misdemeanor counts including hit-and-run were dismissed under a plea agreement.

He is also charged with 13 felony counts of burglary in Langlade County, all of which took place in July of last year. A status conference in that case is scheduled for Sept. 17.

The incidents in Shawano County occurred between March and July 2017 in the towns of Wescott, Seneca, Hutchins and Aniwa, according to the criminal complaint.

Televisions, tools, hunting and fishing items, sporting goods, an all-terrain vehicle, and a generator that was later pawned at the Shawano pawn shop were among the items reported stolen.

At least 10 guns were also stolen at some of the burglaries and later sold, according to the complaint.

Sheriff’s deputies found shoe prints and DNA evidence at the scenes of some of those crimes, according to the criminal complaint.

One of the suspects reportedly cut his hand breaking through a window, and DNA was found on a cigarette butt and can of soda at two other locations.

The cigarette was eventually linked to Wyatt Wheelock, and DNA from the soda can was linked to Sanome Wheelock, according to the criminal complaint.

Wyatt Wheelock, who is incarcerated at Menominee Tribal Jail, admitted to authorities his and Sanome’s part in the burglaries, according to the criminal complaint.

He is also charged with 21 counts of burglary in Langlade County, stemming from three separate cases filed between October and January.

Each of the felony burglary counts carries a maximum possible penalty of 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

Owners of the Clintonville Riverside Golf Course have told the city of Clintonville a draw down of the Pigeon Lake could put them out of business.

A draw down has been proposed by the Pigeon Lake District during the dam repair to allow for dredging the pond in an effort to clean it up.

Clintonville Common Council Alderman Jim Supanich said at a meeting Thursday that the start date for the project would be mid- to late September including a pond draw down pending Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permits and approval for November, with the dam repair completed in the fall and a refill of the lake in April.

The city has received a DNR grant of $218,182 to help pay the costs to repair the Pigeon River dam. The city had budgeted $220,000 for the dam repair that is expected to cost $442,000. The amount above what is budgeted will come from the Capital Fund balance.

“The timing doesn’t give much time to do anything with the pond if it is refilled by April,” said Myron Radtke, a member of the Pigeon Lake District.

The golf course has a DNR permit to pump water from the north shoreline of the Pigeon Pond to irrigate the golf course. About 500,000 gallons of water is used from the pond during a night. Without the irrigation, the greens would dry up in two days with temperatures 80 degrees and higher.

The suggestion was made to possibly connect the golf course irrigation system to the city’s water supply during the project.

“I am not willing to jeopardize the city water supply to furnish the golf course,” said Dave Tichinel, water and wastewater manager.

Tichinel said he did not have the size pipes or the pressure to do that. He said the water has dropped two feet in the wells during the recent dry spell, and if he needed to pump another 300,000 gallons a day, it could open cavities where arsenic is.

Alderman Steve Kettenhoven said that he had been told that it would not be possible to install a high-capacity well at the Golf Course as it could cause damage to the wells in the area. It is not uncommon for golf courses to be built near public waterways.

Kettenhoven said that, according to the DNR, it would be ideal to have the draw down for two summers as there could be physical compaction of sediments.

It was suggested that a coffer dam be installed to provide the water the golf course needs during a drawdown. Dennis Krueger, president of the Pigeon Lake District, said the district would not be responsible for a coffer dam.

Supanich said the committee is committed to start something in 2018 to repair the dam. The DNR has said the dam must be repaired or it may be removed.

Mayor Rich Beggs said the city can’t let the dam removal happen as there must be something that can be done to solve the problem but if something isn’t done with the lake and dam there won’t be a lake in the future.

A low-cost bus exists to transport people to the Shawano Farmers Market when it is running, but now, Shawano County officials are warning the service may not last if more people don’t use it.

Launched last year and funded through county tax money and part of more than $100,000 in grants from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the county contracts the service through Menominee Regional Public Transit. Although reviews for the rides have been good, user rates are still low, worrying county Director of Aging Heidi Russell.

“We haven’t had more than two to three riders per weekend,” she said. “This has been our grand total, and I am not sure why. The service has been top-notch, it is cheap and I haven’t heard a single complaint about it yet. We’ll try one more year, but it will ultimately come down to my decision.”

Costs to ride are $1 per trip. Pickups begin at 8 a.m. every Saturday and then make their way from The Cottages Memory Care assisted living facility on a route to Oakridge Gardens Nursing Center and several other apartment complexes and care facilities before going back to the market.

Though representatives of some other apartment complexes visited by the bus confirmed their residents know it exists, they aren’t sure how many ride or how to get more people to do so.

“We have posters on the bulletin board at Waterview,” said John Wartman, Waterview Apartments manager. “I can’t really say how many people use the bus or how to do more, it’s all on their own really.”

“I honestly don’t know what happens with it here on the weekend,” said Jill Kamke, Elizabeth Manor occupancy specialist. “I know some of our residents do use the other buses for shopping, but for the farmers market, if someone wants to advertise it more with flyers, I guess we’d put them up.”

Shawano Farmers Market Manager Nathan Falk said his organization would try to promote the bus service more after having already mentioned it in a June press release, though, for Russell, one thing that should really sell it is the healthy options available to riders at Franklin Park.

“The farmers market has a lot of buying options which are less expensive,” Russell said. “What I am hoping is for the bus to be promoted and encourage its use and healthy eating. This is so important and it enables more socialization for some of our older county residents.”

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College announces Dr. Kathryn Rogalski has been named vice president of learning.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve as the vice president of learning at a college that has such a positive impact on the lives of its students and local community members,” said Rogalski, who has more than 18 years of experience in higher education administration, student success and teaching. She was most recently the dean of Business and Social Sciences at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois.

“Kathryn is a relationship builder, which will lend itself to the college’s culture of collaboration,” said Dr. Jeff Rafn, the college’s president.

Rogalski has three grown children. She said she and her husband, Chris, are looking forward to moving to Northeast Wisconsin. Rogalski will join the college Aug. 6. She is replacing Dr. Lori Suddick, who is now president of Lake County College in Illinois.