Shawano County Supervisor Peter Schmidt joined more than 3,000 county leaders July 13-16 in Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee, at the 83rd National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference and Exposition.

Attendees adopted positions on pressing federal policies affecting counties and exchanged innovative solutions to challenges facing American communities.

More than three dozen educational workshops and meetings explored topics including affordable housing, technology, reducing the number of mentally ill individuals in jails, the opioid epidemic, disaster preparedness and recovery, and other topics important to counties across the country.

Supervisor Schmidt participated in several workshops, including ones one the economy, dealing with critical confronations and juvenile justic reform.

Notable speakers included U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.; Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund; representatives from the Trump Administration; and Eddie George, National Football League athlete and entrepreneur.

Conference delegates discussed federal policy and legislation on a wide range of key topics, like transportation and infrastructure, rural and urban development, energy, federal public lands and active forest management, public safety, emergency preparedness and response, housing and community development, health, and other topics.

More information is available at http://www.naco.org/counties-matter.

Shawano Police Department

July 31

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Andrews Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a scam complaint in the 500 block of North Lafayette Street.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

July 31

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

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

Vandalism — Vandalism was reported at Cedar Park, 305 W. Park St., in Bonduel.

Shoplifting — Wittenberg R Store, W17256 Red Oak Lane in the town of Wittenberg, reported a shoplifting incident.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Park Street in Bonduel.

OWI — A 45-year-old Keshena man was arrested for seventh-offense operating while intoxicated on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a telephone scam on River Road in the town of Waukechon.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a credit card fraud complaint on Weasel Dam Road in the town of Grant.

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

Clintonville Police Department

July 31

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A fraud incident was reported on South Main Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported in Olen Park.

A Green Bay man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 29 in the town of Herman on Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Patrol reported.

Roger J. Mogan, 88, driving a Lincoln Town Car, was southbound on County Road U around 4:30 p.m. when he stopped for the stop sign at the highway, then proceeded through the intersection and into the path of a westbound Chrysler 200 being driven by Holly M. Schwecke, 21, of Shawano, according to the state patrol.

The Chrysler struck the Town Car on the driver side.

A passenger in the Town Car was taken to ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano and then to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. No further information regarding the passenger was disclosed.

Schwecke was taken to ThedaCare Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

A condemnation review hearing that had been scheduled for Wednesday to address two blighted downtown properties owned by the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology has been delayed for a second time.

The Shawano Redevelopment Authority filed a condemnation petition in March against the properties at 214-216 S. Main St. and 143-145 S. Main St.

Shortly after that, however, SIST filed a condemnation review suit seeking to prevent the RDA from moving forward with its plans.

A hearing was originally set for May 24, but was moved to Aug. 1 due to a scheduling conflict in Shawan0-Menominee County Circuit Court.

That hearing was taken off the docket just days before it was supposed to take place so that SIST’s review could also be considered.

Both the RDA’s condemnation petition and SIST’s condemnation review are currently scheduled for a telephone scheduling conference on Sept. 19.

Assistant City Administrator Eddie Sheppard, who provides staff support for the RDA, said he was notified Tuesday about the change, as were City Administrator Brian Knapp and Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector Brian Bunke, who had also expected to be at Wednesday’s hearing.

“As we’re notified of the changes, we’re working with those,” Sheppard said.

The RDA is offering $37,000 to SIST for the 214-216 S. Main St. property, using the figure SIST provided in its own appraisal, and offering $46,000 for the real estate and buildings at 143-145 S. Main St., along with relocation expenses of $28,000.

The Hunan Chinese Restaurant currently leases the building at 145 S. Main St. from SIST. The building at 143 S. Main St. is vacant.

SIST is arguing the RDA has not shown any eminent domain right over the properties.

The complaint also alleges 145 S. Main St. is not blighted. It alleges the city prevented SIST from making repairs to 143 S. Main St. by putting “unreasonable pre-conditions” on permits to repair the building’s leaking roof and other defects.

A proposal for a recreational business along the Wolf River was shot down Wednesday before it could even get to the Shawano Plan Commission, which had scheduled a public hearing on the proposal.

Wolf River Tubing LLC had been proposing a summer business that would have provided the community and tourists the ability to float the Wolf River by means of a tube, kayak or canoe, either individually or in groups.

Its planned location was 1112 S. Water Street, which is currently zoned for single-family residential use.

The plan commission and Common Council would have had to approve rezoning the property to neighborhood mixed use to allow for the business.

However, the proposal never got that far.

City Zoning Administrator Brian Bunke said he was forced to deny the project because the lot size at the proposed location was too small.

The zoning for neighborhood mixed use requires a minimum lot size of 9,000 square feet under the city’s zoning code. The location proposed was only 7,500 square feet.

“I couldn’t allow it to move forward without a variance on that property,” Bunke said.

Wolf River Tubing owner Jeffrey Kammerer took his case to the city’s Board of Appeals to seek a variance.

The board met just before the plan commission meeting and voted 3-2 to allow the variance.

However, overturning the zoning administrator’s ruling requires at least four votes in favor and the variance was defeated.

A group of neighbors attended the Board of Appeals meeting to oppose the variance, voicing concerns about inadequate parking and the traffic congestion the business would cause.

Representatives from Shawano Pathways also attended the meeting to speak in support of the business.

With the variance defeated, the public hearing and agenda item were scrubbed from the plan commission’s agenda.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing,” Kammerer said after the vote. “I’m trying to help the Shawano community. Everyone thinks it’s for my gain and my benefit financially. No one does anything around here or puts themselves at risk financially without trying to get some financial gain out of it. Moreso, it was for the community. I’m a physical education teacher in town that wants to see kids just get out and enjoy themselves.”

Kammerer teaches a Challenge by Choice class at Shawano Community High School that includes kayaking and canoeing as part of the curriculum. He said in his rezoning application that the business would promote healthy lifestyles and wellness alternatives, as well a offering recreational opportunities.

Kammerer said he understood the concerns raised about parking and traffic, but said those issues already exist with other events, such as Little League games.

“There’s cars up and down the roads, no matter what kind of event,” he said. “If it’s a popular event, there’s going to be traffic.”

Kammerer said he wasn’t sure whether he would continue to pursue the idea.

“I have to take a little time and think things over,” he said.

Nancy Smith, executive director of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, also attended the Board of Appeals meeting. She said she had no comment on the vote, but noted the chamber does support this type of business.

Smith said she hopes a new location can be found and said there is a demand for it from people who want to recreate on the Wolf River.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District residents will be asked in November to approve up to $17.5 million for new construction and upgrades at all three district buildings.

“We are excited about the plan to improve our building infrastructure throughout the district,” Superintendent Garrett Rogowski said. “Allowing our residents the opportunity to help make that decision is the right thing to do.”

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood School Board approved the language for two referendum questions in July; one for improvements across the district estimated to cost $13.1 million and a second for a new “physical education space” ($4.4 million) at the high school.

If voters approve both questions, officials estimate the tax, or mill, rate would increase from $8.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $9.99, which translates into $184 more in taxes on a $100,000 home for each of the next 20 years. If just the first question passes, the rate would increase $1.39, to $9.54, or $139 more per year on a $100,000 home. If just the second question passes, the rate would increase to $8.60, or $45 more per year.

The first question calls for a new 7,800-square-foot building, primarily for agriculture classrooms and maintenance storage, next to the high school, a two-story addition to Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School and two new classrooms at Birnamwood Elementary-Middle School.

Three 900-square-foot classrooms would be added at Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School and two 1,200-square-foot classrooms at Birnamwood. Both buildings would be reconfigured to provide more classroom space for the music program.

In addition to the new building for ag programs, the first question also includes major changes at the high school, including the following:

• The family and consumer science room would be renovated with stainless steel appliances, table and prep area with restaurant-quality equipment.

• The technical education area would get a new dust-collection and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Upgrades in the STEM and computer lab area would allow the area to be used by teachers throughout the school. The work includes more electrical outlets and upgrades to computers and servers.

• The wood shop would get new lathes, planers and table saws. The metal shop would replace drill presses and welding equipment. A finishing room equipped with a new exhaust system would be shared by the wood shop and the new art department.

• A small-engine work room would occupy the former ag space.

• Storage space would be created directly across the hall from the stage area to house the theatrical props and scenery.

The new building in the second question would help alleviate scheduling issues with the current gymnasiums and would be used by youth programs as well as middle and high school programs, according to Rogowski. The price includes a gym and bleachers. locker rooms? bath rooms? wrestling mats?no weight room equipment?no the devil is in the details, right? includes scoreboards and basketball hoops and there will be bathrooms in the lobby area

The district will also upgrade safety measures at all three of its schools, with controlled-access entrances, shatter-resistant film for windows and trauma-sensitive training for staff. The district recently received a $64,275 grant through the state’s school safety legislation passed in March to help with the upgrades.

Board members Tammy Pestka, Kristy Meredith, Chuck Wendler, Tammy Wendler, Bree Krueger-Schmidt, Dan Stewart and Laura Magee voted in favor of placing both resolutions on the ballot. Chris Pietz and Dennis Rew supported the first question but voted against including the second question.

Before the vote, Rew expressed concern that the estimated construction and labor costs could increase while the referendum is debated. Rogowski said a cushion had been built into the proposals.

The district’s numbers are based on an estimated 4.25 percent interest rate. Land that is used for farming, recreation or forest management is taxed at a different rate not reflected in the above estimates.

The board plans to schedule listening sessions to hear district residents’ opinions about the proposal. The public’s first opportunity to share their views will be the district’s annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the high school.

A planning committee formed nearly three years ago developed initial plans regarding the district needs, and a group of 35 community representatives and district staff held several meetings to create a long-term vision for the district. The vision came with a price tag ranging from $6 million to $22 million.

The Nov. 6 ballot also includes races for U.S. Senate and House, governor and other state offices, state senate and assembly, and county offices of sheriff, clerk of circuit court and coroner.

A former Gresham choir teacher who was expected to plead Thursday to multiple child porn and sexual assault charges opted instead to back out of the agreement at his plea hearing in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.

Timothy J. Schmidt, 70, was charged in April of last year with 24 felony counts, including sexual assault of a student and 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

A jury trial that had been scheduled for later this month was pulled off the docket after Schmidt agreed to plea.

Judge John Rhode said there could be a significant delay in proceedings if a new jury trial has to be scheduled.

Schmidt was charged last week with an additional 91 counts of child porn possession.

Schmidt’s attorney, Tara Guelzow, told the court that Schmidt could still qualify for a public defender and would like to have the same attorney represent him in both cases.

The door was left open to Schmidt pleading at a future date.

District Attorney Greg Parker said the plea deal that was offered remains on the table.

Kussel set a new plea hearing date of Oct. 30. An initial court appearance on the new charges was also delayed until that date.

Schmidt resigned from the Gresham School District in April 2017 amid a police investigation that led to his arrest. He has been held on a $100,000 cash bond since then.

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.

Schmidt is charged in the original complaint with 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 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.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 1

Police logged 35 incidents, including the following:

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

Theft — A camper was reported stolen in the 400 block of South Andrews Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1400 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Quality Inn and Suites, 104 N. Airport Drive.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 800 block of South River Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 1

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on County Road Y in the town of Belle Plaine.

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

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

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

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Holy Hill Road in the town of Green Valley.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 1

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported on Spring Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on 13th Street.

Tractor Supply Co. in Shawano​ is dedicating the entire month of August to showing its appreciation for animals.

The rural lifestyle retailer will host a variety of animal-centric happenings and deals as part of Out Here With Animals, its monthlong event for animals of all kinds and the people who care for them.

Out Here With Animals kicked off Wednesday with a monthlong pet supplies drive. The community can show its support by dropping off new sealed food, toys, cleaning supplies and other essential pet accessories such as beds, scratching posts, leashes and bowls to be donated to local rescues and shelters.

In addition to the supplies drive, Tractor Supply will host a pet adoption event Aug. 25. Local animal organizations interested in participating are encouraged to sign up online at www.TractorSupply.com/EventPartners or by contacting the Shawano​ Tractor Supply. Registration closes Aug. 22.

“Out Here With Animals allows the Shawano​ community to come together to celebrate their pets while supporting the great work of their local animal organizations,” said Mary Lawley, vice president of store administration at Tractor Supply Co. “Whether you have a dog, cat, horse, pig or goat, we hope families will bring their leashed, friendly pets to the store to show how special their animals are and help us find homes for the local adoptable animals that deserve a family too.”

Tractor Supply is also shining a spotlight on animal organizations through the return of its popular Rescue Your Rescue contest. The retailer will donate a total of $25,000 in grants to 10 animal nonprofits that deserve a boost.

The city of Clintonville, with the support from the East Central Regional Planning Commission, has begun to update its five-year Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Now the public has the opportunity to have input. An open house is planned for Monday to involve residents in the needs assessment.

The open house will be held from 5:45-7:30 p.m. on Monday at the Community Center, 30 S. Main Street, Clintonville. to hear your opinions and ideas on what is needed in terms of Parks and Recreation for Clintonville.

Another opportunity for a public hearing will be held prior to the formal adoption of the plan, which is anticipated for later this fall.

The city kicked off a nine-month planning process in June to complete the update to the plan. This process will include a comprehensive examination of the park and recreation facilities while identifying recommendations for improving the system and its services. A survey of the parks and recreation facilities was offered over the summer for community input.

For information, contact Justin McAuly, parks and recreation manager, at 715-823-7660 or Trish Nau with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission at 920-751-4770.

A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a storage building behind 88 S. Main St. in Clintonville Friday morning.

Mary-Beth Kuester, who lives nearby, said she reported the fire after hearing a popping sound at about 2:30 a.m. coming from a nearby small brush pile.

“My dad and his brothers built that building in about 1938 before the war,” Kuester said. “For a time, FWD stored snowmobiles in there. During the ’50s, the school district located the industrial arts and the ag classes in there. There was a walkway from the nearby high school over.”

Fire Chief Shane Krueger said there were no injuries. ATH Window Company had been using the building to store its trucks. One truck was lost in the fire.

Residents in the area were told to evacuate their homes as a precaution.

The Clintonville Fire Department had some difficulty in getting at the fire because they had to wait until the overhead power lines could be shut off, according to Krueger.

Fireman remained on the scene Friday morning to extinguish any hot spots.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 2

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Auto Theft — Police assisting with a Shawano County stolen vehicle complaint arrested a 43-year-old Suring man after a foot chase in the 200 block of East Center Street for resisting arrest, bail jumping and two Oconto County warrants. The vehicle theft is still under investigation.

Disturbance — A 30-year-old Shawano man arrested for disorderly conduct and battery/domestic violence after police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of East Green Bay Street.

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint at Qualheim’s True Value, 1345 E. Green Bay St.

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

OAR — A 43-year-old De Pere man arrested for operating after revocation and a Door County warrant at Franklin and Stevens streets.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 2

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Fleeing — A 24-year-old West Virginia man was arrested for fleeing an officer on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Aniwa.

Terrorist Threat — A 22-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested for making terrorist threats and resisting an officer on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Conservation Lane in the town of Lessor.

Disturbance — A 38-year-old Pulaski man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct after a domestic disturbance on Middle Drive in the town of Angelica.

Assault — Authorities responded to an assault complaint involving a juvenile on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

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

National Night Out is finally coming to Shawano on Tuesday, as the police department hosts its first local event.

“I am cordially inviting you and your family to spend the evening with our law enforcement family and friends to make our 1st annual National Night Out a success,” Police Chief Dan Mauel said. “This is an opportunity for you and your family to meet the people who provide emergency services within this community and learn about some of the programs each offer.”

The free family event will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park.

The 100 block of East Elizabeth will be blocked throughout the event, and many emergency vehicles will be on display within the barricaded area.

National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, which introduced the program in 1984, when 400 communities in 23 states took part.

It has since grown nationwide, and this will be the first time the Shawano Police Department is sponsoring a local event.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime awareness and promote drug awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts like Neighborhood Watch, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“We are asking businesses and citizens to turn on outside lights, lock their doors and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement at Memorial Park,” Mauel said. “The goal of National Night Out is to build camaraderie within our neighborhoods and create an energy and enthusiasm to promote a safe place to live and play.”

Mauel said the department plans on making this an annual event.

“There will be free food, soda, water and fun,” he said.

There will be K-9 and drone demonstrations, car seat safety checks, and an opportunity to sign up for neighborhood watch, Citizen’s Academy and Rad Kids.

Other agencies expected to be on hand include Shawano EMS, Shawano Fire, Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Sate Patrol and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department and its dive team and Special Response Team members.

A Wittenberg man has been charged with making terrorist threats while leading authorities on a manhunt in the village Thursday.

Lawrence L. Walker III, 22, claimed to have explosives and hostages as he communicated by phone with Shawano County dispatchers.

The incident started as a welfare check shortly after 3:30 a.m. after Walker called dispatch to say he was on the roof of Associated Bank, 504 S. Webb St. and wanted to die, according to the criminal complaint.

He said he was going to jump off the roof and that he had a rifle with an extended clip of 30 rounds. He also claimed to have 17 hostages and said he had placed explosives around the building and would blow it up if authorities interfered.

According to the complaint, Walker told dispatch “to think of the event as an awakening to the American public that the government does not have control over us.”

He threatened to shoot down any deputies who responded and said this was “the new world order,” the complaint states.

He also said he would “whack” any civilians that showed up, according to the complaint.

The sheriff’s department’s Special Response Team responded to the incident.

A Birnamwood Fire Department drone was brought in to locate the subject and was able to view the roof of the bank and several other rooftops in the area.

GPS plotting from his cellphone placed him at the bank. After that, GPS showed he was on the move.

The suspect was in contact with dispatch during the manhunt and made comments about various location he was at, including the roof of the bank, by a casino, and on a seven-story building, according to the complaint.

An SRT negotiator made contact with Walker by phone. Walker said he wanted $3 million in $20 bills in a half-hour.

Dispatch reported that Walker was moving north and east from the bank, with the last location reported in a wooded area to the south and west of Reed Street and the WIOUWASH recreation trail.

Walker was spotted leaving the trail and walking behind a residence.

Walker resisted arrest and was subdued with a Taser, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges Walker made threats to fight with jail staff and to kill two of the deputies.

Walker could face a maximum possible penalty of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine for making terrorist threats.

He is also charged with two counts of threatening a law enforcement officer, which carries a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine.

He also faces misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer.

Walker waived a preliminary hearing at his initial court appearance Friday and was scheduled for arraignment Monday.

He was ordered held on a $10,000 cash bond.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 6

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at ThedaCare Medical Center, 100 County Road B.

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

Fraud — Police responded to a fraud complaint at Perkins, 1398 E. Green Bay St.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Lieg Avenue and Prospect Circle.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Aug. 5

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported three shoplifting incidents.

Fraud — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a fraud complaint.

Shoplifting — People’s Express South, 716 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

OAR — A 28-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation at Main and Elizabeth streets.

Aug. 4

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Bikes were reported stolen in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

Theft — Police responded to a property theft complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious vehicle was reported at River and Stevens streets.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Franklin Park, 235 S. Washington St.

Aug. 3

Police logged 36 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 30-year-old Shawano man was arrested on multiple Shawano County warrants at Prairie and Washington streets.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 200 block of South Washington Street.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint at Kuckuk Park, 500 Oak Drive.

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

Hit and Run — A property damage hit-and-run was reported at People’s Express East, 1206 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Home Plate Cafe, 804 S. Main St.

Shoplifting — People’s Express South, 716 S. Main St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Threatening — Police responding to a threatening complaint in the 400 block of North Lafayette Street arrested a 41-year-old Shawano man for disorderly conduct and a 27-year-old Shawano man on charges of disorderly conduct/domestic violence, possession of meth paraphernalia, possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of LSD, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, possession of heroin, possession of narcotic drugs, maintaining a drug house, bail jumping and possession of a controlled substance near a park.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 6

Deputies logged 36 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 31-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on County Road BE in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Honeysuckle Lane in Tigerton.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on U.S. Highway 45 in the town of Birnamwood.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Elm Road in the town of Aniwa.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Woods Road in the town of Wescott.

Aug. 5

Deputies logged 46 incidents, including the following:

Welfare Check — Authorities conducting a welfare check on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott arrested a 24-year-old Shawano man for disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

Assault — A 51-year-old Gresham man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct on Schmidt Lane in Gresham.

Disturbance —A 39-year-old Illinois man was arrested on a warrant after authorities responded to a disturbance at the North Star Casino, W12180 County Road A in the town of Bartelme.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Warrant — A 53-year-old Green Bay woman was arrested on a warrant on state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old Keshena Road in the town of Wescott.

Aug. 4

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

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

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

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Lawn Road in the town of Maple Grove.

Drug Offense — A 20-year-old North Fond du Lac man was arrested for possession of marijuana, and a 19-year-old Fond du Lac woman was arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia on state Highway 29 in the town of Belle Plaine.

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

Assault — A 28-year-old Bonduel man was arrested for disorderly conduct after authorities responded to an assault complaint on Adams Street in Bonduel.

Accidents — Authorities responded to injury accidents on state Highway 32 and in the town of Green Valley and North Street in Bonduel.

Aug. 3

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:Disturbance — A 45-year-old Tigerton man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct on Magnolia Lane in Tigerton.

Disturbance — Charges of battery and disorderly conduct were referred against a 27-year-old Green Bay woman after a disturbance at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St., Shawano.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Marble Avenue in Mattoon.

Drug Offense — Charges were referred against a 24-year-old Birnamwood man for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia on Winter Street in Aniwa.

OAR — A 38-year-old Wittenberg man was arrested on a probation hold and charges were referred for operating after revocation and tampering with an ignition interlock device on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Weapon offense — A 24-year-old Tigerton man was arrested for bail jumping and referred for possession of an electronic weapon on County Road Q in the town of Wittenberg.

OWI — A 21-year-old Birnamwood man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Main Street in Birnamwood.

OAR — A 56-year-old Birnamwood man was arrested for bail jumping and cited for operating after revocation on Norrie Road in the town of Birnamwood.

Warrant — A 42-year-old Neenah man was arrested on a warrant on Lone Maple Road in the town of Fairbanks.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 6

Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Trespassing was reported on West Morning Glory Drive.

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance was reported on Anne Street.

Disturbance — A neighbor problem was reported on Shaw Street.

Aug. 5

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Curfew — Citations were issued for curfew violation on Memorial Circle.

OWI — A 44-year-old Antigo man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Madison and Waupaca streets.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on South Main Street.

Aug. 4

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Curfew — A warning was issued for curfew violation on West 12th Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic situation on River Lane.

Aug. 3

Police logged 19 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Theft from a vehicle was reported on South Main Street.

Theft — Bicycles were reported stolen on South Main Street.

Vandalism — Police received six complaints of criminal damage to property on Modoc Street, Main Street, Fourth Street and 12th Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Spring Street.

Jerry Jiter has accepted the position as the new principal of Wolf River Lutheran High School.

Jiter comes to the school with more than 30 years of Lutheran school teaching experience, including 10 years as principal of St. Martin Lutheran School in Clintonville.

Wolf River Lutheran High School will also have a new office secretary, as Jean Beauprey has accepted the school board’s offer of employment. Beauprey has 21 years of secretarial experience with the Shawano Community School District.

The 2018-19 school year will begin Aug. 15 with 34 students enrolled, including 13 freshmen — which is the school’s largest class to date. The opening service will be held at 9 a.m. in the school commons area and will include the installation and rededication of the faculty.

There is still time to enroll new students. Contact Jiter at 715-245-2400 to set up an appointment or email j.jiter@wrlhs.org.

A West Virginia man arrested for fleeing from a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy Thursday said he feared for his life because of a wide-ranging human trafficking conspiracy that he wanted to report.

Thomas J. Brock, 24, was spotted by the deputy speeding on U.S. Highway 45, going an estimated 77 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to the criminal complaint.

The vehicle sped up to about 100 mph when the deputy tried to pull it over.

The deputy pursued the vehicle into Langlade County where the chase was terminated.

The vehicle was later stopped by Antigo police after being spotted going nearly 80 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The Shawano County deputy responded to the scene of the traffic stop.

According to the complaint, Brock told authorities he fled from the deputy because he feared for his life.

He said there was a “national conspiracy” underway, and he was on his way to Rhinelander to talk to the mayor.

“Brock stated he was coming from Jefferson County, West Virginia, and the human trafficking there is bad,” the complaint states. “Brock stated he had been shot at, and his whole family was plotting against him.”

Brock asked the deputy if he was a Reptilian, according to the complaint. The deputy replied he was not. Brock said Reptilians are shape-shifters.

Brock also claimed that the Masons are involved in the human trafficking.

At an appearance in Shawano County Circuit Court Monday, Judge William Kussel Jr. ordered a competency evaluation for Brock.

A status conference in his case was scheduled for Sept. 4. He is being held on a $5,000 cash bond.

Brock could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and $10,000 fine for the felony count of attempting to flee or elude an officer.

A Wittenberg man charged with making terrorist threats while leading authorities on a manhunt in the village Aug. 2 entered a plea Monday of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

An evaluation will be scheduled for Lawrence L. Walker III, 22, who claimed to have explosives and hostages as he communicated by phone with Shawano County dispatchers.

The incident started as a welfare check shortly after 3:30 a.m., when Walker called dispatch to say he was on the roof of Associated Bank, 504 S. Webb St., and wanted to die, according to the criminal complaint.

He claimed to have 17 hostages and said he had placed explosives around the building that he would detonate if authorities interfered, the complaint said.

Walker was eventually located and subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody.

He could face a maximum possible penalty of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine for making terrorist threats.

He is also charged with two counts of threatening a law enforcement officer, which carries a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine.

The Shawano School District has received more than $85,000 in school safety grant funding from the state, but it’s not waiting for the check to arrive in the mail.

The Shawano School Board gave its blessing Monday night to three projects worth more than $110,000 intended to enhance security at the district’s four schools. All of the funding will come out of the district’s fund balance, but most of it will be replenished once the state issues the grant money.

“This grant money will cover some of these projects we need to do, but we don’t have it now,” Superintendent Gary Cumberland said. “It’s going to come, but we want to get these things done now.”

The first project will place wireless sensors on every exterior door and provide software that will immediately alert officials when a door is open during times when school is in session. The project is expected to cost $49,336.

Jeff Easter, the district’s building and maintenance director, told the board that he recommended TECC Security, based in Neenah, get the project. The district currently works with Faith Technologies, which has several locations in northeast Wisconsin, but that company offered hard-wired sensors that would have cost the district $128,368.

“There are collector components (through the wireless system) throughout the buildings in different locations as needed that will actually wirelessly talk to these sensors,” Easter said. “So that when the door gets opened, you get the signal, but it’s through Wi-Fi.”

The monitoring system will also alert the district whenever the sensor batteries are getting low. Easter said the district will have to replace the batteries every two years.

In order to avoid having two companies handling the district’s system monitoring, TECC will also be taking over other monitoring systems like fire alarms, Easter said.

“The software they use is much more user-friendly, and it’s going to solve some problems we have,” he said.

The second project addresses interior security at Shawano Community High School. The district plans to put card readers on a number of interior doors at a cost of $12,000, also through TECC. This project will not receive any grant funding, according to Easter.

He explained that, although the school requires visitors to buzz in at the front office during the day, there are a number of activities in the evening — Community Education classes, sporting events, theatrical performances, to name a few — where security is not as tight.

“The concern being that people could go down the halls unsupervised, getting into the lockers and putting things into the lockers,” Easter said. “We don’t want that.”

School board member Derek Johnson, who sits on the district’s building and grounds committee, said he was concerned about visitors having unfettered access to the high school, too.

“Lots of different people have access to this building at night, on the weekends,” Johnson said. “We’d like to control access to other parts of the building as much as we can. You can have a pool event with several people from out of town, and they have the run of the entire building.”

The last project will replace the district’s current radios with newer ones at a cost of $49,183, with about 60 percent of the costs being covered by the state grant. Nielson Communications, based in Green Bay, had the low bid to provide more than 80 radios to the district.

Easter said the radios would be provided to administrators, special education teachers and other key officials. The new radios have the ability to reach the other schools in the district and the Shawano Police Department in the event of an emergency.

A test of one of the radios resulted in a clear signal as far as Hope Community Church, located on the east end of Shawano.

“We found we could even get down into the boiler room in the middle school and get a good signal,” Easter said. “We tried everywhere to find a dead spot, but we found we have good coverage.”

A proposed tubing business that would let customers recreate on the Wolf River has a new location in mind, a week after its originally proposed site was shot down by Shawano’s zoning administrator and Board of Appeals.

Owner Jeff Kammerer said the new location would be disclosed later, once everything is finalized.

“I found a different building,” he said. “I’ve got the equipment, the inventory pretty much taken care of, and when the time is right, I can announce where it’s going to be. Right now, I’m just working on getting advertising and marketing and everything else going.”

The business was originally to be called Wolf River Tubing, but Kammerer said that would change so as not to be confused with Wolf River Trips and Campground in New London, which also offers tubing.

It 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, with designated pickup points.

The original location, 1112 S. Water St., was deemed too small by Shawano Zoning Administrator Brian Bunke.

The zoning for neighborhood mixed use requires a minimum lot size of 9,000 square feet under the city’s zoning code. The location proposed was only 7,500 square feet.

“I couldn’t allow it to move forward without a variance on that property,” Bunke said.

Kammerer sought a variance from the Board of Appeals, but a group of neighbors attended the meeting to oppose it, voicing concerns about inadequate parking and the traffic congestion the business would cause.

The board voted 3-2 to allow the variance, but overturning the zoning administrator’s ruling requires at least four votes in favor; thus, the variance was defeated.

Kammerer said the new location has more than enough room and most likely will be approved.

He said he hopes to have the proposal before the plan commission no later than October.

“I look forward to working with people to get it accomplished,” Kammerer said.

Kammerer said that after the story ran in the paper of the Board of Appeals’ denial, he was inundated with phone calls and text messages from people offering other locations for the business.

“I wanted to get the word out that we’re OK. We’re good to go,” he said. “We’re coming back with a better plan, and I’m very confident it’s going to be a go.”

Kammerer said he also wanted to thank all of the people who have offered their support of the business.

“We’ve found a great alternative that hopefully will not be so controversial and still very accessible to people in town and tourists,” he said. “It is going forward and hopefully everybody is going to be happy with the location and the service we’re going to provide. And we’re excited to open up in the spring of next year — Memorial Day weekend, if not before.”

Kammerer teaches a Challenge by Choice class at Shawano Community High School that includes kayaking and canoeing as part of the curriculum. He said in his rezoning application that the business would promote healthy lifestyles and wellness alternatives, as well as offering recreational opportunities.