The city of Marion received a federal Community Development Block Grant of $383,000 to complete improvements to West Garfield Avenue.

The grant is a 50/50 grant, where the city had to contribute matching funds. According to engineer Dave Herzberg, the city is doing a complete reconstruction of the street including roadway, water main and sanitary sewer.

There will be new curb and gutters, sidewalks and driveways along Garfield Avenue. It started at Milbauer Street and worked to Lions Lane and will include sewer laterals being redone at Lions Point and the Marion Senior Center.

While the project is underway, Lions Point and the surrounding area is accessible by way of Wood Street.

Herzberg said the project should be completed by October.

— Grace Kirchner, correspondent

Shawano Police Department

July 19

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint at the Shawano County Fairgrounds, 900 E. Green Bay St.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 1400 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — A firearm was reported stolen in the 1000 block of South River Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 19

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a phone scam complaint on Shady Lane in the town of Belle Plaine.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on North Shore Drive in the town of Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged three deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

July 19

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Fireworks — Police received a 911 call regarding fireworks on Anne Street.

Warrant — A 21-year-old man was arrested on West Green Tree Road on outstanding Shawano County warrants.

Bail Jumping — A 36-year-old woman was cited for an ignition interlock device violation and referred for bail jumping at Green Tree Road and Clinton Avenue.

Safe Haven, Shawano County’s domestic abuse and sexual assault support center, has reached 78 percent of its $425,000 campaign goal to raise money to expand the facility.

Safe Haven currently consists of five available rooms for those living at the shelter. The addition will bring the total room count up to eight.

“In 2017, there was only one day out of the entire year where the shelter was not at or over capacity,” said Stacey Cicero, Safe Haven’s executive director. Many people get frustrated having to share a hotel room with their own family. Think about sharing a room with complete strangers during a time of crisis. It’s not conducive to healing.”

In 2017, the shelter ran at over capacity for 189 days, with the highest count at 10 families at a time. That is a 23 percent occupancy increase from 2016.

Along with additional rooms, the campaign will fund an expansion of the communal space on the main floor. Currently, group meetings are held in the basement, which can be an issue for the injured, elderly or disabled, Cicero said.

Donations will also cover the increasing need for staff. There are currently seven full time staff members and nine part time staff members. There is a staff member on duty at all times, everyday of the year.

“Our staff has grown from a group of volunteers, to three staff members when the shelter itself opened in 2002, to seven full-time staff members and nine-part time staff members at the moment. They help our clients gain safety, set goals and function as a support system,” Cicero said.

The increasing staff helps with outreach responsibilities. Shelter programming is the most visible component of Safe Haven, though 88 percent of clients are outreach participants, meaning they do not stay in the shelter, but receive assistance in the forms of one-on-one therapy, support groups, legal assistance and referrals.

The campaign for expansion began in September 2017, and the building is almost complete. Cicero said the project should be finished in September of this year, with an unveiling in October.

Studies show that survivors who use the services of a domestic violence program witness a 60 percent reduction in the risk of a severe re-assault, Cicero said.

“To realize that potential, our task as advocates, family members, friends and community members is to reach out to those in danger, break through their isolation and ensure that they are able to access the services of our program,” Cicero said.

An 80-year-old Mukwonago man died Saturday as result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle versus car crash on state Highway 29 in the town of Richmond, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Raymond Fredlund was traveling westbound on Highway 29 at about 11:30 a.m. when he struck a vehicle driven by an 80-year-old Wausau woman. He was taken to ThedaCare Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The sheriff’s department said the driver of the car was eastbound on Highway 29 and turned left onto Hickory Road when the crash occurred.

The accident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Shawano Police Department

July 23

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

Bail Jumping — Police investigated a bail jumping complaint at Quality Inn and Suites, 104 N. Airport Drive.

Fraud — A scam was reported in the 100 block of West Division Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of South Andrews Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at Green Bay Street and Eberlein Park Drive.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 1100 block of South Evergreen Street.

OWI — A 36-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Union and Division streets.

July 22

Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 20-year-old Bonduel man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Main and Green Bay streets after police responded to a reckless driving complaint.

Warrant — A 39-year-old man was arrested on a warrant in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — A 21-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct/domestic violence and criminal damage to property after a disturbance in the 1000 block of South Lutz Street.

Theft — A phone was reported stolen at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Accident — A 17-year-old Shawano female riding a bicycle was treated for minor injuries at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano after being struck by a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old Shawano woman at Lincoln Street and Lieg Avenue.

July 21

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Bail Jumping — A 37-year-old Shawano man arrested for bail jumping at Washington and Presbyterian streets.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

Theft — A stereo was reported stolen out of a vehicle in the 200 block of South Union Street.

Warrant — A 23-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for an outstanding warrant after police responded to a report of a stolen cell phone in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

July 20

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — A 28-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct after police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of Richmond Court.

OAR — A 23-year-old Shawano woman was cited for operating after revocation at Green Bay and Lincoln streets.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at Green Bay Street and Woodlawn Drive.

Shoplifting — A 33-year-old Oshkosh woman cited for retail theft and operating after revocation after police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 22

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on County Road R in the town of Washington.

OAR — A 20-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Sabrowsky Road in the town of Fairbanks.

Fireworks — Authorities responded to a fireworks complaint on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

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

July 22

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 41-year-old Shawano woman was arrested on a warrant on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Charges of disorderly conduct and bail jumping were referred against a 21-year-old Bowler man after a disturbance on Main Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Hofa Park Drive in the town of Maple Grove.

Burglary — A burglary was reported at the Main Event, 206 N. Lemke St., in Cecil.

OAR — A 30-year-old Bowler man was cited for operating after revocation on Murphys Road in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on U.S. Highway 45 in Tigerton.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Fourth Street in Mattoon.

OWI — A 28-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Genesee Street in Wittenberg.

July 21

Deputies logged 51 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Prouty Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle on Beech Drive in the town of Angelica.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Main Street in Gresham.

OAR — A 30-year-old Oconto man was cited for operating after revocation on Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ebert Street in Gresham.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Maple Street in Birnamwood.

July 20

Deputies logged 55 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 27-year-old Bonduel man was arrested on a warrant on Express Way in Bonduel.

OAR — A 55-year-old Oconto man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 29 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Shoplifting — Hanke’s Sentry Foods, 110 S. Mission St. in Wittenberg, reported a shoplifting incident.

OAR — A 58-year-old Wittenberg woman was cited for operating after revocation on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Birnamwood.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on County Road D in the town of Pella.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint at Annie’s Campground, W12505 Roosevelt Road in the town of Seneca.

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

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Bluebird Road in the town of Birnamwood.

Clintonville Police Department

July 23

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

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

July 21

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct reported on South Main Street.

Juvenile — Juvenile alcohol reported on Coleus Court.

Despite the looming threat of rain and bad weather, Pulaski Polka Days’ 40th anniversary saw a great turnout.

This year’s Polka Days featured 22 polka bands from Pulaski, other parts of Wisconsin and out of the state. Likewise, audience members included both locals and those from around the country.

“We have polka festivals back home, but I have never been to an event quite like this,” said Emma Hawkins, visiting from La Grange, Illinois. “The energy is outstanding.”

Many different styles of polka were played, including the German, Slovenian, Bohemian and, of course, the Polish style. Listeners were invited to dance the polka along to the music.

“I went on Friday and participated in the polka dance lessons, having never danced the polka before. It was so fun that I had to go back on Sunday to get a chance to show off my new dance moves,” said Lynelle Wagner, of Green Bay.

Along with the polka bands, the festival featured the Miss Pulaski Polka Days competition, a firework display, the eighth annual Polka Trot, free polka dancing lessons, a garden walk, an arts and crafts fair, worship services and the annual polka parade.

“Everything went super, even better than expected,” said Harold Otto, founder and longtime coordinator of Polka Days. “Thousands of people showed up. We have a good variety of great music. It’s just unreal.”

Polka Days coordinators survey those in attendance to gather feedback and to book the bands people want to hear for the next festival, said Otto. As long as the audience continues to demonstrate enthusiasm for the festival, Otto believes Polka Days has a bright future.

“It’s for the people and the polka lovers,” Otto said.

Butterburgers have arrived in Shawano.

Following a VIP event last week, Culver’s formally opened its doors to the public on Monday. A ribbon-cutting prior to the restaurant’s regular opening at 10 a.m. was the quietest point of the day for owner Brian Lovelien and his employees, as locals quickly descended on the restaurant, creating long lines in the dining room and parking lot at 1220 E. Green Bay St.

Lovelien wasn’t surprised. He said Shawano residents have been very supportive in the weeks leading up to his restaurant’s opening.

“We’re so thrilled to be here,” Lovelien said. “My whole experience in Shawano has, just in the couple of weeks we’ve been here, has just been fantastic — going to the post office and people saying hello, people waving when I’m driving by.”

Lovelien noted he didn’t get that kind of love back in Sheboygan, where he has helped to open three Culver’s restaurants. His restaurant in Shawano is the 670th in the Wisconsin-based chain.

Lovelien is getting a helping hand this week from Ken and Kenny Horkan, who own the three Sheboygan Culver’s restaurants. The Horkans are also Lovelien’s business partners.

“They’re why we’re here,” Lovelien said.

Lovelien’s wife, Mary, will also be part of the community, working as a physician’s assistant with the Prevea Shawano clinic.

Shawano Mayor Ed Whealon noted that local residents have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of butterburgers and frozen custard a little closer to home. The closest Culver’s for Shawano residents was in Clintonville.

“The city is thrilled to have Culver’s as a part of our community,” Whealon said in his brief comments to the public. “It’s a huge step for us to have this here. We’ve been constantly hearing, ‘When’s Culver’s coming?’ Well, here they are.”

Former Mayor Jeanne Cronce was also on hand for Monday’s opening, as the push to bring Culver’s happened during her tenure. She said the city worked very hard to push the project through, and she’s pleased to see it’s finally happening.

“The building is beautiful,” Cronce said. “The people here are dedicated to making it work, and we’re thrilled for another opportunity for our citizens to enjoy some good food. They’re a Wisconsin-based company, which is even better.”

Cronce noted her husband, Dennis, is a custard fanatic, so she will likely be patronizing Culver’s often.

“I call him the Cronce Burger, because he loves the burgers, too,” she added. “It’s an all-in-one package.”

Nancy Smith, executive director for the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, said she has been with the chamber 16 years, and much of that time, she has heard questions about why Shawano didn’t have a Culver’s.

“They have a quality product,” Smith said. “They’re very consistent in their customer service, and it’s always a pleasant experience.”

Lovelien is excited to be the owner of a Culver’s after 10 years of managing restaurants.

“It’s a journey that I’ve really enjoyed, and since day one, it was my goal to have my own one day,” Lovelien said. “It doesn’t even seem like it’s real yet.”

He noted that the people providing the service is a primary attraction for repeat customers, but the food is also a factor. Culver’s doesn’t freeze its beef prior to preparing the burgers, and the custard is made in small batches during the day.

Culver’s has also worked to “clean up the menu,” Lovelien said. He explained that the chain has been trying to develop food with fewer additives.

“Most people here have been to a Culver’s already, and that’s the exciting part,” Lovelien said. “They won’t have to travel as far to get their fix.”

One of the attractions for Culver’s is its custard flavor of the day. The chain has released some new flavors this summer — cappuccino cookie crunch, blackberry cobbler and chocolate pretzel crunch — and it plans to entice customers with dark chocolate decadence, peanut butter cookie dough and peanut butter salted caramel before the season is over.

Lovelien said the local restaurant had a great VIP event on Friday, which gave the employees a chance to make sure everything was working properly before Monday’s formal opening.

“With the standard Culver’s has, we look forward to providing that to the community,” Lovelien said.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northeast Region office announced it will close access to County Road F as part of the state Highway 29 pavement rehabilitation project.

The road work is taking place in Shawano County from Highline Road in Bonduel to the Shawano/Brown County line in the town of Angelica.

The state Highway 29/County Road F intersection closed Wednesday and will stay closed for the remainder of the Highway 29 project due to safety concerns with the intersection skew and sight distance during the temporary bi-directional traffic configuration. Motorists will not be permitted to cross Highway 29 from County Road F or turn onto County Road F from Highway 29. The highway will remain open to traffic.

A detour will be posted to direct County Road F traffic to County Road C to cross Highway 29.

The $6.3 million project to improve 13 miles of Highway 29 in Shawano County began June 22 and is expected to finish in October. For more information regarding the rehabilitation project, go to https://projects.511wi.gov/wis29resurface.

Shawano Police Department

July 24

Police logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 600 block of East Elizabeth Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Qualheim’s True Value, 1345 E. Green Bay St.

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a report of kids on the Ski Sharks ramp, 211 N. Riverside Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Fraud — Police investigated an internet scam complaint in the 200 block of Lakeland Road.

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

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 24

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Elm Road in the town of Wittenberg.

OAR — A 45-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation on River Heights in Shawano.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Broder Road in the town of Wescott.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Madison Street in Bonduel.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on Shawano Shores Circle in the town of Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities responded to injury accidents on Mission Street in Wittenberg and U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Clintonville Police Department

July 24

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Warnings for harassment were reported on East 14th Street.

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

Republicans in Shawano County gathered for their annual picnic Tuesday, and for speakers, the safety of students in area school districts and across Wisconsin loomed large.

In his keynote address, Attorney General Brad Schimel touted the recently enacted $100 million school safety plan signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker earlier this year. Developed after a February shooting in Parkland, Florida, the grant program funds physical security enhancements as well as mental health training, which Schimel said would be a bigger focus in the next round of awards.

“The second phase is going to take the mental health aspect up to a whole other level,” he said. “Now, we’re going to require this time 10 percent of teaching staff in schools must go through a training program we’ll put on and fund for 12 hours of training. We’ll even cover the cost if there has to be a substitute teacher in the classroom to cover while someone is at training. They can include that from the grant money.”

As reported by the Associated Press, the $45 million secondary phase of the plan has not been without criticism. State Superintendent and Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers recently said Schimel was using the plan to “control the narrative,” and others like Schimel’s challenger, former federal prosecutor Josh Kaul, have urged more work be done on issues some say are related to mass shootings, such as universal background checks.

Asked what Wisconsin could do to prevent mass shootings overall, Schimel said there wasn’t much his department could do with its existing authority to stop incidents in the private sector but would help if they could.

“It is much more difficult for us to get into employment places where these will happen,” Schimel said. “I don’t have the same kind of means to get my foot in the door, but private employers are taking steps to be safe; at an awful lot of businesses, you’re getting buzzed in the door and a lot of times security things are in place. We’re happy to help, but the place where we clearly have a responsibility is on protecting our kids.

“We won’t prevent all bad things from happening, but we know when these cowards are confronted it ends. Security and law-abiding citizens with guns can prevent bad things.”

Later in the evening, the Republican candidates for Shawano County sheriff also spoke about the matter. According to Sheriff Adam Bieber and retired Chief Deputy John Gutho, who served under Bieber for a year before retiring, what is being done in Wisconsin is working. Shawano Police Officer Keith Sorlie was not invited because he is running as an independent.

“I want to continue working for safe schools,” Bieber said. “Like Schimel talked about earlier, we’re at a really important junction in our history where kids are dying in our schools. We need to continue to harden targets like he said. Sometimes educators don’t see this, but I am willing to reach out to any school willing to listen.”

Gutho said he would also continue to enhance school safety, if elected.

“I have researched this and I knew there was this money available,” Gutho said. “There’s a need to continue to work well with our schools and keep our schools safe. I would get professionals in if needed who could look at school security, there’s a lot of little things someone outside wouldn’t miss.”

School safety was once again an issue where Bieber and Gutho had tough words for their rival to represent the Republican Party on the ballot in November. When asked to respond to the current sheriff’s comments about having no record of actively preparing or promoting school safety, Gutho pointed out times when advice he offered on this issue was ignored.

“I respect Sheriff Bieber,” he said. “We never argued, but when suggestions I had on certain things were not considered, I knew it was time to just step away.”

Bieber could not be reached for comment on the remarks from Gutho before deadline. The primary between the two men will take place Aug. 14, before the winner faces independent candidate Sorlie in November.

Shawano Police Department

July 25

Police logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — A 35-year-old Wausau women was arrested for bail jumping and obstructing an officer after police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 200 block of South Union Street.

Disorderly — A 31-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct after a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of South Union Street.

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 1000 block of Waukechon Street.

Shoplifting — Goodwill Industries, 300 Lakeland Road, reported a shoplifting incident.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Goodwill Industries, 300 Lakeland Road.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

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

Burglary — An attempted burglary was reported in the 200 block of Teddington Lane.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 25

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Charges of strangulation, battery and disorderly conduct were referred against a 26-year-old Birnamwood man after a domestic disturbance on County Road N in Birnamwood.

Warrant — A 21-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a warrant on Smalley Street in Shawano.

Theft — An ignition key was reported stolen from a moped on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 32-year-old Wausau man was cited for operating after revocation on County Road T in the town of Waukechon.

Theft — A motorcycle license plate was reported stolen on Sandy Drive in the town of Washington.

Drug Offense — A 21-year-old Neopit woman was arrested for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of prescription drugs on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Ho-Chunk Casino, N7198 U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Wittenberg.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on state Highway 29 in the town of Belle Plaine and logged four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

July 25

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Two worthless check complaints were under investigation.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on McKinley Avenue.

U.S. Rep. Michael Gallagher, R-Wis., has spoken his mind on the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Now, the freshman congressman is going his own way on campaign finance.

Earlier this month and in cooperation with Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., the 34-year-old introduced the “Go to Washington, Go to Work Act” which, if approved, would ban members of Congress and congressional candidates from any forms of political fundraising while Congress is in session.

According to Gallagher, who is from a district where President Donald Trump won by 10 points or more, the issue is one all Americans can agree on, regardless of political affiliation.

“I’m at the tail end of my first term, and I have been astonished and dismayed at how much time members of Congress spend raising money for re-election rather than doing the work people sent them here to do, and it gets worse every year,” he said. “The whole fundraising apparatus is more disgusting. Regardless of whether you’re a hardcore progressive or conservative, we all need to think about how the system is broken.”

Gallagher is not wrong in thinking most Americans are troubled by money in the political sphere. According to a new poll done by the online Daily Beast site and Ipsos polling, 64 percent of respondents wanted Trump to appoint a justice to the Supreme Court who would limit the amount corporations and unions can spend on political campaigns. In addition, 70 percent of polled Democrats and 67 percent of polled Republicans said curbing this trend was important to them.

Asked whether his new bill would be a first step into restoring limits on donations that were overturned in the 2010 Citizens United decision, Gallagher said it was difficult to say, but called for more information to be included in ads from political action committees and unaffiliated groups.

“I think I will concede it is a problem; the broader constitutional question on whether money is speech is difficult to answer,” Gallagher said. “Even if you believe Citizens United was constitutional, we can agree dark money shouldn’t be in politics. Campaigns should not be proxy wars between billionaires and interest groups, so this is why I support a common sense middle ground where, like on the soft money side, there needs to be full disclosure about where dark money is coming from. A political action committee can’t just be ‘Americans for Good Stuff’; they should have to disclose.”

Gallagher’s legislation is currently sitting in committee. Though it may not come to a vote anytime soon, he hopes it will gain steam in the coming years and eventually be signed into law.

“This will be difficult and always is when you put together something very forward thinking,” he said. “Even though my colleagues are skeptical, Wisconsinites and people I’ve heard from across the nation have been overwhelming in their support. Real people get it, and so I will put my faith in the majority of hardworking Americans.”

The Shawano Leader reached out to Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson for comment on the proposed partial fundraising ban; neither got back with comment before press time.

A former Gresham choir teacher scheduled for a plea hearing next week on multiple child porn and sexual assault charges is now facing an additional 91 counts of possessing child pornography, according to a new criminal complaint.

Timothy J. Schmidt, 70, resigned from the Gresham School District in April 2017 amid a police investigation that led to his arrest and the filing of 24 felony counts, including sexual assault of a student and 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker said at the time that “many more” charges would likely be filed against Schmidt as the investigation continued and authorities proceeded with a forensic analysis of electronic devices owned by Schmidt.

Stockbridge-Munsee police met in March of last year with a parent of a Gresham Community School student reporting suspicious activity between Schmidt and her 16-year-old daughter.

The activity allegedly stretched back to October 2016.

Schmidt, who had a one-year contract with the school district, resigned the day after the police investigation started.

The investigation revealed emails between Schmidt and the student that included discussion of sexual contact, according to the criminal complaint, as well as alleged exchanges of nude photos.

The girl also told police about alleged sexual encounters with Schmidt and gifts he had allegedly given her, some of which were sexual in nature and which she found “embarrassing,” according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, a school counselor was told in December 2016 about a bracelet Schmidt allegedly had given to the girl and a note written to her.

Schmidt was also warned by the school principal shortly before the police investigation that a ride home he had given the girl was inappropriate and that it was also inappropriate for the girl to be having lunch in his office with the door closed and locked, according to the complaint.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department performed forensic examinations of computer devices belonging to Schmidt to determine whether sexual photos had been exchanged, according to the complaint. The examination turned up more than 1,000 images of suspected child pornography.

Images listed in the new criminal complaint include prepubescent children, some estimated to be between 3 and 5 years old in sexual poses or engaged in sexual activity.

Schmidt is scheduled for a plea hearing Thursday on the original charges of sexual assault of a student by school staff, child enticement, causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity, exposing a child to harmful materials, sexual exploitation of a child, and 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

He will also make his initial court appearance on the 91 new counts of child porn at the same time.

Schmidt could face a maximum 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the sexual exploitation charge if convicted, and 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the child pornography counts.

He has been held on a $100,000 cash bond since his arrest in April 2017.

For those looking to Shawano County’s past for an afternoon of entertainment on a weekend, the Gresham Depot Museum has a diverse display of items from bygone times.

Opened in 1907 and relocated to its present position at 1311 N. Main St. from a position further south on the same road in 1974, the depot is open 1:30-4 p.m. Saturdays in the summer and has more than 2,000 pieces in its collection.

Visitors can peer at an old telegraph machine and wince while they wonder what it would’ve been like to be subject to the foot-powered dentist’s drill in another part of the museum. Though people aren’t always standing in line to see the community and train-related items, for caretaker Janice Ebert, interest seems strong.

“We have lots of people come in,” she said. “There have been programs where people come by who used to work here and run the telegraph machines for people, and we even get a lot of people interested in the items for the town. We’ve got stuff from the doctor, service uniforms and really there are a lot of memories. Everything you can think of belongs to the people in here.”

For more than 50 years, the building functioned as intended to support the Soo Line Railroad, which ran through the area. A mix of freight and passenger service ran daily and even mail was delivered through the system, but, with time and technological advances, this came to an end.

In 1963, the train depot closed and sat unused until the Gresham Women’s Club and former depot agent Russell Ferrall worked together to move it and place the building into the hands of the Shawano County Historical Society. Since the beginning of its museum days, maintenance for the depot depends on donations given by the public. According to county historical society board member Ron Schumacher, donated money handles the basics, but a lot of work needs to still be done.

“Usually we operate on a pay-as-we-go model,” Schumacher said. “We spend what we take in. In September, we hope to do some painting; the building needs a new coat of paint.”

Ultimately, though the museum has its slow days and it’s more often closed than open, Ebert and the historical society keep efforts going to maintain the building and the past of Gresham preserved inside. When the young connect with what they have to offer, this is when Ebert feels fulfilled.

“The other day a man stopped in with his children, and they were really excited and asking all kinds of questions,” she said. “When they signed up in our guestbook afterward and put down little hearts, I almost cried. I’m the last of the women’s club members in town, I keep this going for the community and to remember other times. It means a lot when people want to learn more.”

The Gresham Depot Museum is open every Saturday from June through August. For information or to give a donation, call Ebert at 715-787-3271.

The public will have a chance to weigh in Wednesday on a proposed recreational business that would operate along the Wolf River during the summer months.

The Shawano Plan Commission will hold a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St., on a proposal from Wolf River Tubing LLC that would provide the community and tourists the ability to float the Wolf River by means of a tube, kayak or canoe, either individually or in groups.

The business would be located at 1112 S. Water St.

Participants would begin their float at the County Road M bridge at Judd Park and have a designated pick-up spot two hours from there on Riverview Road, according to an application for a zoning map amendment filed with the city. Pick-up spots up to eight hours away could be designated at some point in the future.

The plan commission and Common Council would have to approve rezoning 1112 S. Water St. from single-family residential use to neighborhood mixed use to allow for the business.

Jeff Kammerer, the owner of the proposed business, teaches a Challenge by Choice class at Shawano Community High School that includes kayaking and canoeing as part of the curriculum.

Kammerer said in his application that the business would promote healthy lifestyles and wellness alternatives, as well a offering recreational opportunities.

Kammerer hopes to start using the location as a temporary business site for the remainder of this summer, with construction of a permanent building on the property in the spring.

The plan would be for an official grand opening of the new business on May 25, 2019.

Hours of operation would be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The zoning amendment is one of two public hearings the plan commission will hold Wednesday.

The other hearing will focus on proposals to alter the city’s Tax Incremental Finance District 7 to accommodate the relocation of Reinhart Foodservice and create a TIF District 8 to assist with the development of a luxury housing complex proposed for the former Shawano Medical Center property adjacent to Smalley Park.

Main Street will have to saddle up for some road work and possible disruptions in water service starting just after Labor Day as work begins to address failing water main connections that have plagued the city.

At issue are the stainless steel saddles holding in place the service connection to the water main that were installed during the Main Street reconstruction project in 2002 and 2003. The project stretched from the channel to the Mountain Bay Trail at Oshkosh Street.

The Shawano Common Council this month approved borrowing $180,000 from the Shawano Lake Sanitary District to cover the cost of replacing 71 saddles along Main Street.

The loan will be paid back over a five-year period with an interest rate of 3 percent.

The Department of Public Works plans to notify all who will be directly affected by the project with a mailed letter, as well as door-to-door notification in early to mid-August.

The DPW will also hold an open house at City Hall the third week in August to provide project information to anyone interested.

The project is expected to take three to four weeks.

Main Street will remain open for the duration of the project, but it will briefly interrupt water service to businesses at times, according to the DPW.

The city started experiencing problems with the saddles in 2009.

Two water main breaks occurred in the 100 block of North Main Street in February 2009 and December 2010, only about 50 to 75 feet away from one another. Another saddle failed in the 200 block of South Main Street in September 2013.

In the most recent incident, a corroded saddle was blamed for a water main break outside Dreier Pharmacy at 117 S. Main St. on Jan. 4.

It was determined that high levels of chloride in the soil were responsible for those saddle failures.

Random soil tests were done in 2015 by Mach IV Engineering, of Green Bay. Out of 20 locations sampled, chloride levels above 500 parts per million were found at three locations. Five others had chloride levels above 300 ppm.

The stainless steel used in the saddles could start to deteriorate at chloride levels over 300 ppm, according to city officials. At levels above 500 ppm, the deterioration is much faster.

Chloride levels in the area of the three previous water main breaks were in the range of 900 ppm, as a result of years of street salt seeping into the soil.

The city hoped it had the problem licked after it hired Grunewald Inc. in September 2015 to replace stainless steel saddles at eight Main Street locations where they were at risk for potential corrosion.

Three of the saddle replacements took place in the 100 block of North Main Street, two in the 100 block of South Main Street, one in the 200 block of North Main, one in the 200 block of South Main and one in the 100 block of West Fourth Street.

One of the saddles replaced was just south of the one that failed on Jan. 4.

The new saddles, which will be brass this time, will be wrapped in heavy plastic, and additional back fill will be added to protect the saddles from the chloride.

Shawano Police Department

July 30

Police logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Memorial Park, 909 S. Lincoln St.

Theft — Police responded to a property theft complaint in the 900 block of South Park Street.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 1100 block of South Water Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Wolf River Beach, 211 N. Riverside Drive.

Theft — Items were reported stolen from a garage in the 900 block of South Washington Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

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

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

Drug Offense — Police investigated a juvenile drug complaint at Andrews and Division streets.

July 29

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

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

Shoplifting — Kwik Trip, 1241 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

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

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Shoplifting — Family Dollar, 413 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1100 block of East Lieg Avenue.

July 28

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1600 block of East Green Bay Street.

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

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

July 27

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

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

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint at Huckleberry Harbor, 222 N. Sawyer St.

Fireworks — Police responded to a fireworks complaint at Main Street and Lieg Avenue.

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

Fireworks — Police responded to a fireworks complaint at Franklin and Stevens streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 30

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 30-year-old Shawano woman was cited for operating after revocation on Main Street in Shawano.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 156 in the town of Navarino.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

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

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

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Lake Street in Aniwa.

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Woodland Road in the town of Washington.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Ebert Street in Gresham.

July 29

Deputies logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle on County Road D in the town of Seneca.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Shepley Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint on Norton Road in the town of Wescott.

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

Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on state Highway 32 in the town of Angelica and logged three deer-related crashes.

July 28

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Mork Avenue in the town of Wescott.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle on Prouty Street in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on County Road Y in the town of Belle Plaine.

Theft — A campaign sign was reported stolen on Rustic Drive in the town of Belle Plaine.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Tower Road in the town of Fairbanks.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ebert Street in Gresham.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Chickadee Lane in the town of Aniwa.

July 27

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Sandy Lane in the town of Waukechon.

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

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

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Oriole Road in the town of Birnamwood.

Accidents — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Leopolis Road in the town of Herman.

Clintonville Police Department

July 30

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 25-year-old man was arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant on Coleus Court.

July 29

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — A hit-and-run accident was reported on West Madison Street.

Disturbance — A family disturbance was reported on Glendale Court.

July 28

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Seventh Street.

July 27

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Warnings for disorderly conduct were issued after a family disturbance on South Main Street.

Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir stopped in Shawano on Sunday to christen the new Shawano County Republicans’ campaign headquarters at 501 S. Main St.

Both were making their way around the state Sunday to campaign for the November election. Walker is running for his third term as governor, while Vukmir, a state senator, is looking to unseat U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin — although she must first face Kevin Nicholson in the primary in about two weeks.

“This headquarters building you are in will be the hub of the Wisconsin Republican conservative movement for Shawano County,” said Larry Romuald, vice chairman for the county GOP. “It will be used to energize our base, to educate the public about the accomplishments of the Walker administration and for the empowerment of Wisconsin citizenry.”

Romuald said the Republicans could not keep looking to the past when Democrats were in control of the state, and that it was important to push forward and elect GOP candidates in November.

“We cannot let our guard down this election,” Romuald said. “First, we must get Leah through the primary and into the November election to beat Tammy Baldwin. Most important, Gov. Scott Walker has to continue the conservative movement in the state of Wisconsin and keep moving Wisconsin forward.”

Walker entertained the 50 or so people in attendance with tales of when he brought his family up to Shawano Lake 22 years ago. He noted that it rained five days out of the week the family was there, and he and his wife, Tonette, were dealing with five children under the age of 6.

“You think we’ve been through some stuff at the Capitol?” Walker said. “If we could make it through that week at Shawano Lake, we could do anything.”

The governor encouraged Republicans to keep up their work, noting that Democrats are eager to gain enough seats to be the majority power in state government.

“The left is angry, and they are motivated,” Walker said. “The rhetoric is filled with anger and hatred. Unfortunately, those are pretty powerful motivators.”

He noted that a couple of seats were already lost in special elections earlier this year, and an NBC poll has him down 13 points to Tony Evers, the state superintendent of public instruction who is one of a handful of Democrats vying for his seat.

“We can’t sit back and pat ourselves on the back and say we carried the state for (U.S. Sen.) Ron Johnson, and we carried it for President Trump and Vice President Pence,” Walker said. “We’ve got to go out and work harder than before.”

Walker also touted the health insurance waiver he signed later in the day in Green Bay. He noted that insurance premiums are expected to drop a weighted average of 3.5 percent from what they were in 2018, adding that not everyone with insurance through the federal marketplace will see a drop in rates.

“What we found for individuals on the health insurance market — farmers, small business owners, people who don’t work for big corporations where health insurance is included — have seen astronomical increases in their health insurance premiums,” Walker said. “In fact, people in this part of the state saw increases as much as 120 percent. Statewide, the average increase was 44 percent.”

Vukmir noted the absence of county GOP chairman Richard Kucksdorf, who had to bow out from the opening to celebrate his mother’s birthday. Vukmir said she had no problem with that.

“I talked to Rich this morning,” she said. “We don’t let our moms down.”

Vukmir said she has been to all 72 counties in the state and estimated her car would have about 78,000 miles on it by the time she got home Sunday night.

“The same thing I keep hearing is, ‘Leah, keep charging. Take on Tammy; she doesn’t represent us. It’s time for her to go,’” Vukmir said.

Vukmir happened into politics by happenstance. She was perfectly happy being a nurse and a military mom, but she said she decided to venture into the arena after she saw how public schools were teaching reading — “or not teaching reading.”

“It turned me into a mom with a cause,” Vukmir said. “The next thing I know, I’m running for Scott Walker’s seat in the Assembly. Then when he ran for governor, I ran for the state Senate.”

Vukmir recalled how happy she was that the Republicans got both chambers of the Legislature and the governor’s seat, and then protesters came out en masse to the Capitol when Act 10 was going through hearings in 2011. Act 10 limited the powers of unions representing public employees.

“Under the governor’s bold leadership, you stayed with us. You prayed for us; you fortified us,” Vukmir said. “We made it through, and we’ve been charging the ball down the field ever since.”

A Marion man is facing an attempted homicide charge for allegedly strangling a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy after a drunken driving arrest Friday.

Chad R. Kohel, 45, was ordered held on a $100,000 cash bond after his initial court appearance Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities received a tip that Kohel would be leaving a residence on Cloverleaf Lake Road and had been drinking.

Deputy Sandra Finger observed Kohel’s vehicle driving erratically, including crossing the centerline, and pulled him over, according to the complaint.

Finger was assisted at the scene by another deputy who gave Kohel a preliminary breath test that showed a 0.29 percent blood-alcohol level, more than three times the legal limit.

Finger transported Kohel to ThedaCare Medical Center for a blood draw.

Finger was buckling Kohel’s seatbelt for transport to jail when Kohel grabbed her by the throat, according to the complaint.

The complaint states Kohel continued to choke Finger as she backed out of the squad car and tried to scratch and hit him to no effect.

Finger blacked out as she reached for her Taser and could still feel Kohel’s hands around her throat when she came to, according to her statement included in the complaint.

Kohel began walking away but saw Finger had drawn her Taser and gave himself up, according to the statement.

Finger than hit the emergency button on her radio and called for backup. Another deputy, a city police officer and a state patrol officer arrived to take Kohel into custody.

According to the complaint, Finger sustained scratches and bruises during the altercation.

Kohel has been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 60 years in prison if convicted.

He is also charged with felony counts of strangulation and suffocation, battery to a law enforcement officer and escape, each of which carry a maximum six years and a $10,000 fine.

The alleged offenses that led to his initial arrest, brought misdemeanor counts of third-offense operating while intoxicated and operating after revocation.

His next court date is not yet scheduled.

The two challengers in the race for Shawano County sheriff appeared for a forum Monday to field questions on staff turnover, morale and use of resources in the sheriff’s department, as well as other topics.

Incumbent Sheriff Adam Bieber did not attend the forum at the Shawano Civic Center, but provided the Shawano Area Women’s Network, which organized the event, with written responses to topics that would be covered.

Bieber will face former chief deputy John Gutho in the Aug. 14 Republican primary. The winner will go on the face independent candidate Keith Sorlie in November.

Each of the candidates were given the topics in advance for Monday’s forum, but not the specific questions that would be asked, according to SAWN.

The topics of staff turnover and morale have been key issues for both Gutho and Sorlie in their campaigns.

“One of my goals on day one is to get together with command staff, the line staff, and figure out what’s going on,” Gutho said.

Sorlie said an open records request has shown that 39 people have left the jail division over the past four years — basically amounting to a complete turnover of jail staff — while 13 employees have quit dispatch during that time and eight deputies have left the patrol, investigative and administrative divisions.

“It’s a huge problem,” Sorlie said. “Nobody’s sat down with these people. My plan as sheriff is to sit down with people and have conversations with them.”

Gutho said he has also been told that morale at the department “is at an all-time low.”

He said the sheriff needs to be able to connect with his employees.

“Give them the credit if they came up with an idea, and you embraced the idea, then recognize that employee,” he said, “And don’t take credit that it was my idea.”

In Bieber’s written statement on the topic, which was read at the forum, he maintained that the turnover rate at the department is average to below average compared to many other departments across the state.

“In fact, compared to other departments within Shawano County we are doing very well,” Bieber wrote.

“Morale at our office is very good, evidenced by our work product and low turnover rate,” he also wrote.

Gutho disputed Bieber’s statement, saying the “cold, hard facts and research” show there is a turnover problem.

Sorlie also criticized the pay raise Bieber requested that was granted by the County Board and kicks in next year.

“When you go forward and say you need a raise over the top of people you know aren’t getting paid properly anyways, it sends a message, and it’s not a very good message,” Sorlie said.

Gutho and Sorlie both also said they wanted to improve the department’s allocation of resources.

“We need to make sure we have our personnel spread across the county so our response time is minimal,” he said.

Staffing in the northwest part of the county is particularly lacking, according to Gutho.

“We have nobody in the Birnamwood, Aniwa, Mattoon area,” he said.

However, Gutho added, “I don’t know that there’s any misuse of resources at this time that I can identify.”

Sorlie said the department needs to look at creative ways to get more coverage into the outskirts of the county and floated taking a fresh look at deputies’ schedules and possibly offering a property tax incentive to deputies who move into undeserved areas.

“It’s important for a county this size that we use our resources to the best of our ability, and sometimes we’re not doing that, in my opinion,” he said.

In his written statement on the topic, Bieber wrote that resources are currently spread out evenly throughout the county.

“When there is a community experiencing an influx or rise in crime we tend to focus extra resources and personnel to those areas,” he wrote.

Sorlie also took aim at the use of other resources, criticizing the time spent working on the filing of new charges against former Gresham choir teacher Timothy J. Schmidt.

Schmidt, 70, is due in court Wednesday for a plea hearing on child porn and sexual assault charges and an initial appearance on 91 new counts of child porn possession.

“If a 70-year-old guy is already facing 25 years in jail for child enticement, what’s the point of putting another 40 years on it?” Sorlie said. “I disagree that we’ve spent our money wisely there. I think we need to take some of these detectives, put them out on the street get them after the drug problems.”

Drug use — including the opioid crisis — was also a topic of discussion, though all candidates agreed it was not a problem that law enforcement would arrest its way out of.

“We need to continue to teach and educate our community members and children about the ill effects of drug use,” Bieber wrote in his statement. “I’m happy to say that our department has been very active in our schools warning of the effects of drugs.”

Gutho said all of the candidates were “on the same page” in stressing the importance of education and treatment along with enforcement of drug laws.

Each of the candidates also criticized the over-prescription of opioids by doctors and drug companies.