Shawano Police Department

Aug. 15

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 54-year-old Shawano man was arrested for first-offense operating while intoxicated at Lieg Avenue and Lafayette Street.

Theft — A wallet was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 600 block of East Maurer Street.

Theft — An air conditioner was reported stolen in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of East Division Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 15

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

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

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on County Road MM in the town of Richmond.

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

Disturbance — A charge of disorderly conduct was referred against a 26-year-old Shawano woman and charges of disorderly conduct and bail jumping were referred against a 28-year-old Minneapolis man after a domestic disturbance on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

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

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 15

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

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

Rob and Nancy Mickelson, owners of Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano, announce the addition of Jacob Wege to their staff.

Wege was born and raised in Shiocton, graduating from Shiocton High School with the class of 2009. He went on to study at Fox Valley Technical College for a year before deciding to become a funeral director.

He joined the mortuary/funeral services program at Milwaukee Area Technical College, where he served as a board member for his class. Wege graduated in 2012, obtained his funeral director license and worked in Oshkosh assisting families for six years. In May 2018, Wege joined Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service Inc.

Utility customers in Shawano and Clintonville can expect a decrease in utility rates starting in September, which they’ll see on their October electric bills, partly thanks to corporate tax breaks passed in Congress last year.

While tax breaks given to private corporations might or might not trickle down to employees and customers, companies dealing with the private sector — such as wholesale suppliers of power — are required to pass those savings along.

The Badger Power Marketing Authority, where Shawano Municipal Utilities and Clintonville Water and Electric get their power, is reducing its electric rates starting next month by about 5 percent, according to SMU General Manager Brian Knapp.

Badger Power Marketing Authority is a partnership between the cities of Shawano and Clintonville started in 1984 as a way to join together and purchase wholesale electric power in larger contract blocks to save money for the electric customers of SMU and CWE.

“Our wholesale costs are going down 5 percent,” said Knapp, who is also general manager of the Badger Power and Marketing Authority.

Badger buys its power from Great Lakes Utilities, which buys power from the power producers themselves that benefited from the federal Tax Cuts and Job Creation bill.

“With the corporate tax cuts that went into effect, the power producers’ income tax has gone down and they have to pass those cost savings on to the wholesale customers,” Knapp said. “And we get to pass those on to our retail customers.”

The impact of the tax cuts has varied in the public sector, but, “in a regulated environment it’s working perfectly,” Knapp said.

While a “good share” of the savings is related to the tax cuts, Knapp said, about 2 percent of the savings is related to lower operating costs and increased sales volume.

Industrial customers that use a lot more power will see a bigger percentage decrease, but the average decrease for residential customers will be about $1.50 on their monthly power bill, Knapp said.

They will see those savings on their October bills for their power usage in September.

“We expect that to be sustainable through at least 2019,” Knapp said.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 16

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

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

Sex Offender Registry — A 51-year-old Shawano man was cited for violating the sexual offender residency ordinance in the 800 block of South Park Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 300 block of South Sawyer Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 16

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized during an apparent theft attempt on North Shore Drive in the town of Wescott.

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

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault at the Shawano County Jail, 405 N. Main St. in Shawano.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized on Silver Creek Road in the town of Aniwa.

Disorderly — Stockbridge-Munsee police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Oak Street in Bowler.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on County Road E in the town of Washington.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 16

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Three juveniles were cited for curfew violation after police responded to a suspicious incident on South Park Street and McKinley Avenue.

Disturbance — A domestic abuse incident was reported on Morning Glory Drive.

Disturbance — A domestic situation was reported on North Clinton Avenue.

The city of Clintonville has received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to draw down Pigeon Lake to help with repairing the city’s dam.

City Administrator Sharon Eveland said the city initially planned to begin the process of drawing down mid-September but will instead begin Sept. 3. The DNR told the city must stop the process by Oct. 1.

The Clintonville Common Council had approved the drawdown in May.

According to Eveland, it is the city’s intent to refill the lake as soon as possible but the DNR will not allow the refilling until May 15, 2019, even if repairs are completed before that date. She said the city has been talking to the DNR about help with restocking the lake with fish.

The project was rebid with consideration for a drawdown. The city received three bids to rebuild the dam if they draw down the water. The Michaels Corp. bid for $426,785 was approved.

The city has received a grant to cover $218,182 of the cost to repair the dam, and the rest of the money will come from the capital projects fund.

Alderman Jim Supanich stated at the May meeting that the Pigeon Lake Rehabilitation District agreed with the drawdown.

“They think it’s a good opportunity,” Supanich said. “The amount of silt is building up. If it’s not removed within the next few years, the average depth in the pond is going to be around three feet. And with the organic buildup from the weeds that are dying off, the oxygen content is actually dropping and in a few years it will not support fish life.”

The Pigeon Lake Rehabilitation District has $220,000 to do some dredging of the lake. They have not decided if it will be by hydro dredging, which is more expensive than mechanical dredging.

Supanich warned that if there was an imminent dam failure the DNR will likely not allow the city the opportunity to rebuild the dam.

Eveland said that while the decision to downdraft the lake is going to have a short-term negative impact, in the long run it is the best decision for the city and the repairs to the dam, along with the dredging work the Pigeon Lake District intends to do, will result in major improvements to the lake.

Shawano’s Department of Public Works will hold a public meeting Tuesday to answer questions about the water main saddle replacement along Main Street that will commence the middle of next month.

The west parking lane of Main Street will be torn open from just south of the channel to the end of the 200 block of South Main Street starting on Sept. 17.

The project is expected to take until Oct. 26.

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 last month approved borrowing up to $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 project is being done by DeGroot Inc.

The intention is to keep Main Street open for traffic during the duration of the project, DPW Coordinator Eddie Sheppard said.

Sheppard said the timing and logistics of the project are still being worked out for the least disruption to downtown business owners and residents.

He said the project would also be worked around the Octoberfest festivities hosted by the Business Improvement District on Oct. 6.

That would mean work in the 100-200 blocks of Main Street would either be completed before then or done after, but those details haven’t been determined yet, Sheppard said.

“We’re not exactly sure how they’re going to phase it yet, but we’ll have an answer for everyone Tuesday,” he said.

Funding for the project will come from the DPW’s water utility fund, though the utility will borrow the money from the State Trust Fund.

Sheppard said there would be no money taken from the general fund that would impact taxpayers.

A corroded saddle was blamed for a water main break outside Dreier Pharmacy at 117 S. Main St. on Jan. 4, the latest in a series of saddle failures over the last several years.

The city has been plagued with failing saddles starting 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.

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 backfill will be added to protect the saddles from the chloride.

The open house meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room at City Hall, 127. S. Sawyer St.

The city of Shawano will pull back on street reconstruction projects next year as the state Department of Transportation moves in to carry out some massive roadwork of its own on state highways.

“It’ll seem like the whole darn town’s being torn up,” said City Administrator Brian Knapp.

Department of Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard said the city has had “a couple big years in a row” catching up on overdue projects.

Next year, the DOT will be working on a Green Bay Street overlay from Main Street to east of Airport Drive that’s expected to last through the summer, reconstruction of both of the city’s railroad crossings and a project from the state Highway 22 bridge on Main Street north to Zingler Avenue.

“Also, Fifth Street is going to be done, and we’re coordinating that with Green Bay Street so they’re not closed at the same time,” Sheppard said.

“We’ve got a lot going on in city-state projects, so we’re kind of taking that as an opportunity to scale back our capital reconstruct a little bit, for this year and even into the next year,” Sheppard said.

Typically, the city borrows for a two-year capital improvements project budget of anywhere from $3.5 million to $5.5 million, Knapp said.

“This year it’s going to be a big pullback from where we were the last several years,” he said. “There will be less city-related work because of all the state roadwork being done.”

Residents should not necessarily expect a big drop in taxes, however.

The city’s tax rate jumped from $9.29 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2017 to $9.89 per $1,000 in 2017.

“It will at least stay the same,” Knapp said, “and maybe go up a little bit because we have inflationary costs.”

Knapp said health care costs “are a big unknown” this year and there are general cost increases associated with wages and general operations and management.

“I don’t expect that we’re going to be looking at any significant increases in our budget,” he said. However, he added, “it’s too soon to tell.”

At least in terms of capital improvement projects, “the pressures that were there last year are not there this year,” Knapp said.

The city last year voted down proposed a wheel tax on car registrations that left a $100,000 hole in the capital improvements project budget.

Knapp said cost savings on CIP projects this year have made up for that shortfall.

Friends and acquaintances of longtime Wescott Town Chairman Mike Schuler remembered him this week not only for his three decades of service to the town, but as well for his dedication to Shawano County and a host of community organizations.

“It’s a tremendous loss to our community and to his family,” said Shawano Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz.

Schuler passed away Saturday at the age of 75 after a battle with leukemia.

“He was involved in so many community service things,” said Ron Stuber, who became head of the Department of Social Services back when Schuler was a county supervisor.

“Then I got to know him when Social Services moved over to the job center and we were able to get state grants to start a nonprofit to actually manage that and he was on the board of directors and had been the chairperson since that initial startup,” Stuber said.

Stuber also worked with him on the Wolf River Treatment Plant Commission.

“I got to know him even better when he started playing senior softball just like I did,” Stuber said. “So we knew each other both professionally and privately.”

Stuber said Schuler was a great resource on the job center board.

“When I had a question, I didn’t have to spend all the time looking it up,” he said. “I just called Mike and asked him. When you have a person that’s been involved 30-35 years in community functions, you rely on them instead of having to do the research. You can get an answer right away.”

But it wasn’t only Schuler’s commitment to various boards and commissions that he will be remembered for, Stuber said.

“It was what he did out in the community,” he said.

Stuber said all of Shawano County will miss him.

“He’s been involved in so many of the projects going on,” he said.

Wescott Town Supervisor Marlene Brown worked with Schuler on the town board for about 14 years.

“He was a great guy,” she said. “He was a wonderful mentor for all of us. Very knowledgeable.”

Brown said Schuler helped keep the tax rate down, improved roads and improved the town’s equipment.

“He was an asset to the entire community,” she said. “He did a wonderful job. He was very dedicated. We’re going to miss him greatly.”

Terry Moede, Wescott’s zoning administrator and a friend of Schuler’s, said Schuler was very involved in the community at multiple levels.

“He had a very giving heart,” Moede said.

Schuler’s participation in community groups like Toys for Tots, the Shawano County Humane Society and Navarino Nature Center were just a few of many, Moede said.

“He’s helped so many people,” he said. “It was pretty much a constant for him, being involved with things, helping people out if he could. He was a kind-hearted guy.”

Moede, who had known Schuler since the early 1980s, said Schuler worked well with the town board.

“He’ll be missed, but he’ll still be overseeing things, I’m sure,” Moede said.

“Mike was a good leader,” said Jerry Weisnicht, administrator of the Shawano Lake Sanitary District.

“He served as president for years on our commission,” Weisnicht said. “He always looked out for the customers’ well being and tried to keep the rates low. He was always looking out for the future, also, to make sure that the equipment and the system got updated when it needed to be updated. He was always looking long term and had a good eye for the future. He’s going to be s0rely missed that’s for sure. He had a wealth of knowledge.”

Former Shawano mayor Lorna Marquardt said she and Schuler enjoyed a strong political friendship.

“I considered Mike a true friend of the city of Shawano,” she said. “He was a dedicated public servant who served with integrity and enthusiasm. I respected him as a mentor and I loved him as a friend.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 20

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1000 block of South Andrews Street.

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

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 300 block of East Richmond Street.

Theft — Gas was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 600 block of Mills Street.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 1000 block of South Sawyer Street.

Aug. 19

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of West Picnic Street.

Assault — Police investigated an assault complaint in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Aug. 18

Police logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 500 block of West Second Street.

Theft — Police responded to a theft complaint in the 1300 block of East Green Bay Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1300 block of Valley Lane.

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 800 block of East Randall Street.

Aug. 17

Police logged 30 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Highview Avenue and Andrews Street.

Trespass — Trespassing was reported in the 800 block of Olson Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 20

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on First Street in Aniwa.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile complaint on Highway 156 in the town of Maple Grove.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road MM in the town of Richmond.

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

Aug. 19

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the Village Inn at 500 S. Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — A money box was reported stolen from the boat launch at Pella Park, N4167 County Road D in the town of Pella.

Theft — Signs were reported stolen on Belle Plaine Avenue in the town of Belle Plaine.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Freeborn Street in Cecil.

Disturbance — A 16-year-old Rothschild girl was referred to Human Services after a domestic disturbance on Mission Street in Wittenberg.

Disorderly — A 27-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct on Gumaer Road in the town of Wescott.

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

OWI — A 29-year-old Pulaski man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 117 in Bonduel.

Warrant — A 36-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a warrant on Old Lake Road in the town of Wescott.

Aug. 18

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Theft — An attempted theft was reported on Elm Street in Tigerton.

Fleeing — A 24-year-old Keshena man was arrested for operating while intoxicated and fleeing an officer on Frailing Road in the town of Wescott.

Hit and Run — A property damage hit-and-run was reported on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — A 68-year-old Birnamwood woman was arrested for disorderly conduct and battery on Mathew Drive in Birnamwood.

OAR — A 43-year-old Milwaukee man was cited for operating after revocation on Curt Black Road in the town of Wescott.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Glenwood Court in the town of Wescott.

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

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident on Green Valley Road in the town of Angelica.

Aug. 17

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 51-year-old Mosinee man was cited for operating after revocation on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Theft — A trailer was reported stolen on County Road N in Birnamwood.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Magnolia Lane in Tigerton.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Nabor Road in Cecil.

Arrest — A 51-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a probation hold on Clark Drive in the town of Richmond.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Main Street in Bowler.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 20

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Bail jumping — A 27-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for bail jumping after a traffic stop on Seventh Street.

Fraud — Police investigated two worthless check complaints.

Theft — A theft was reported on Anne Street.

Bail jumping — A bail jumping incident was reported on Bennett Street.

Aug. 18

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Harassment was reported on East 14th Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic situation on Anne Street.

Aug. 17

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic situation on East Morning Glory Drive.

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

Disturbance — A family disturbance was reported on East Morning Glory Drive.

Disturbance — A neighbor dispute was reported on East 12th Street.

The sidewalk on Clintonville’s Ninth Street that was repaired last summer after months of discussion by the city and the property owners involved is now leaking.

According to Clintonville public works director Kray Brown at the Aug. 14 meeting of the Common Council, there are cracks in the sidewalk more to the side entrance of B & H and would be a warranty item.

According to information released by the city, a metered hydrant was used as a water source on July 24, to spray water on top of the curb and sidewalk apron areas of the Ninth Street vaulted sidewalk to determine the locations of the leaks.

Neither MSA Professional Services, the engineering company for the project, nor Norcon Corporation who did the sidewalk work have communicated to Brown as to a remedy for the leaking.

Alderman Steve Kettenhoven said he was disturbed with how long this sidewalk issue has gone on and thought it may be time to get the city attorney involved.

“When they are not even responding to anything, calls or letters, or whatever the case may be, I think we have to go after them from a legal aspect,” Kettenhoven said.

Brown said he would like another month to deal with the matter before getting an attorney involved.

The public will have two opportunities to give their input on the Shawano School District’s 2018-19 budget prior to September’s annual meeting.

The district is holding public forums at 5 p.m. Wednesday and Aug. 29 to explain the new budget and answer questions.

Business manager Louise Fischer gave a dress rehearsal of the budget presentation Monday to the Shawano School Board, showing a $29 million budget with a $91,000 deficit that will be taken from the district’s fund balance.

However, the numbers could change, depending on several factors. One of them is the student count.

The district had 2,458 students when the last official count was tallied in September 2017, a drop of 42 students from the year before. Fischer’s budget figures are calculated with the contingent that the district will see enrollment decline again this year by 40 students, but the numbers won’t be known until the next official count, which takes place the third Friday in September.

“We never know what that’s going to be until we see the little ones here,” Fischer said.

If enrollment numbers continue to drop, the district might have to look at some tougher measures, such as delaying filling staff positions when someone leaves or evaluating if the position is still needed. Fischer noted that all schools and departments are seeing a 10 percent decrease in their individual budgets.

“We’re going to use 2018-19 to strategize for 2019-20,” Fischer said. “There will probably be other budget cuts to look at in the spring of 2019. It’s not a good strategy to use our fund balance for operations.”

Taxes are expected to drop again this year. Currently, property owners pay $9.71 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, but even if property values stay flat, they can expect to pay only $9.58 per $1,000 for school taxes.

Fischer said she has heard preliminary reports that the property values could go up around 1 percent, which would lower the tax rate to $9.48. If the values go up 2 percent, the tax rate would be $9.39, and it would by $9.29 if the values increased 3 percent.

Also of concern is the district’s open enrollment numbers. More students still come into the district while living in other school district boundaries compared with students living within Shawano School District who go to other school districts, but the gap is shrinking.

Five years ago, the district received an additional $446,689 from the state from open enrollment students attending Shawano schools. This year, the district expects to receive only $168,657 because fewer students from the outside are coming to Shawano schools.

“We could easily become an open enrollment expense district instead of a surplus district,” Fischer said.

There is also a concern that the generosity to schools given in the state’s biennial budget in 2017 might not be repeated next year when the Legislature debates a new budget, according to Fischer, which could mean less money from the state and more money the district will have to seek from taxpayers in future years.

“I’m afraid of what the next state budget will look like, and we might be having $10 per $1,000 (tax rates) again,” Fischer said. “We just don’t know.”

If it had been up to Pat Crawford, the Crawford Center in Shawano that he funded and that bears his name would be called something else.

He finally relented after he was assured that at least his first name wouldn’t appear on the building.

“He was a very humble man,” said Jeff Huntington, president of the Shawano Hockey League, which operates out of the center.

“That was one thing with him, he always was willing to donate, but he was a very humble person and he didn’t want that recognition,” Huntington said. “He just wanted to help out.”

The hockey league was just one of many groups and organizations that Crawford, his wife Ruth and the Crawford family foundation donated to over the years.

Pat Crawford passed away Sunday at the age of 92.

“Pat was a man with a big heart,” Huntington said. “He always felt that especially in youth athletics like hockey that kids should never have to sit out playing games because of financial situations. He was always very adamant that all kids play hockey if they want to.”

Huntington said Crawford was always there, ready to donate and help out.

“His family foundation donated a lot of money to the hockey league over the years to help, whether it was buying equipment that we needed or other situations that arose to help us out financially,” he said.

Huntington said the Crawford family’s help enabled the hockey league to offer hockey at a rate that normal families could afford.

‘The building itself, the Crawford Center, was pretty much donated by Pat to give us a place to play,” Huntington said.

A number of area groups and organizations benefited from the largess of the Crawford Foundation, including Red River Riders Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled.

“They’ve been wonderful supporters for quite a few years,” said Chris Baldwin, executive director of Red River Riders.

“They have enabled us to update our indoor arena, which has made riding much more comfortable for the riders and horses and volunteers,” she said.

“They’re just on top of wanting to help,” Baldwin said. “They contact us and say, ‘What do you need?’ and its been such a godsend for us. They’re wonderful people. I’ve enjoyed knowing them immensely. They’ve helped so much and we appreciate everything they do for us and everyone in the community.”

Tim Ewing, director of the Navarino Nature Center, said Crawford and the family foundation have been very supportive of the nature center.

“In recent years, they’ve been doing a donation of scholarships that allowed any Shawano County, or any school in the area that needed assistance, to attend the nature center and the programs down here,” he said.

“It basically waived the fees for the classes to be able to come out here and do the programs,” Ewing said.

He said a lot of the teachers and parents that came out with the kids didn’t know at first that the foundation was responsible for their field trips.

“Without the scholarships, the way the situations are at the schools, many of them may not be able to participate,” Ewing said. “The foundation has been very supportive in getting the kids into the outdoors and I know that’s what Pat liked to do is get outside and active in the woods.”

When parents and teachers learned who was responsible for their visit to the nature center, they sent along their thanks.

“I’ve heard through the grapevine that Ruth really appreciates getting all those thank-you letters the kids send her,” Ewing said. “They definitely left a big impact.”

The Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Support Center was also a recipient of the foundation’s generosity.

“Pat was just such a kind and generous man and a good steward of the community,” said Stacey Cicero, executive director of Safe Haven.

“Just this past year, the Crawford Family Foundation supported our capital campaign,” she said.

The shelter has sought funding for an expansion of its facility to accommodate a growing need for support services for domestic violence.

Cicero has also done fundraising for Leadership Shawano County, which is managed by Pat Crawford’s daughter-in-law, Wendy, and in which Pat has been active.

“He would go into the schools and do presentations in the kids’ classrooms,” Cicero said.

Some of the Leadership sessions have also been held at Crawford’s company, Timbco.

“Pat would be there and he would have given a presentation on Timbco and the things that the company does,” Cicero said.

It was more than just nonprofit and charitable groups that Crawford was involved in.

“People don’t realize he had quite an impact on many other businesses going and financing them so they could get established, and they’ve been very successful,” said former Shawano mayor Russ Schmidt, who was a friend of Crawford’s.

Schmidt said that as a businessman Crawford was dedicated to his customers.

“He was quite unique in that he had a very personal contact with all of his customers,” Schmidt said.

“I remember one time that a part broke down on one of their machines in Canada, and Pat puts that part in his car and drives all the way up there and back so they can keep their machine running,” he said.

Schmidt said Crawford was highly respected in the logging industry.

“When he’d go to these logging shows and so forth, all kinds of people would gather around him,” Schmidt said.

“He started out with a very humble beginning when he came to town and started,” Schmidt said. “He was a poor man, but he was very ambitious.”

Another longtime friend of the family is Nancy Syndergaard.

“He and Ruth were some of the nicest people I’ve ever known,” she said. “I was always amazed at the work ethic that both of them had. Most of the time, up until shortly before he passed, they both were at work all the time out at the plant. They’re just a wonderful family and very dedicated to this community.”

Nancy Smith, executive director of the Shawano Area Chamber of Commerce, said Crawford played a vital role for the area’s business community.

“Our chamber and community have benefited in so many ways from Pat’s generosity and the example he set for other entrepreneurs,” she said. “He lived his life with integrity and shared his success with many — quietly supporting individuals, organizations, and other business people. He was one of the most generous, authentic, creative, and hard working individuals I have had the privilege of knowing. He will be greatly missed.”

In November 2016 with Thanksgiving Day approaching, The Shawano Leader sought essays from local community leaders on what they were thankful for.

Here is an excerpt from Pat Crawford’s response:

“I’m thankful for finding a vocation that I love, starting a company that I’m proud of and having it thrive in Shawano. I often say that I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’m thankful for all of my employees, past and present, who have helped make it a reality.

“I’m most thankful for marrying the right woman and having eight wonderful kids. They have enhanced my life in immeasurable ways. They are a source of joy and pride. I could not have done it without them.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 21

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 41-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant at Lincoln and Randall streets.

Accident — A minor accident was reported at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Suspicious — A suspicious vehicle was reported in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 21

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on East Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Trespass — A trespassing complaint was reported on Witt-Birn Town Line Road in the town of Wittenberg.

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

Trespass — A trespassing complaint was reported on First Street in Aniwa.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

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

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 21

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Curfew — A warning was issued for a curfew violation on South Main Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on East 12th Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on Eighth Street.

Disturbance — A neighbor problem was reported on Eighth Street.

Hunter Micolichek is the new part-time school resource officer for the Pulaski Community School District.

“We are excited to have Hunter Micolichek back in our school community as a school resource officer,” said Nicole Borley, Student Services director. “Hunter is great at developing relationships and is a positive role model for students in the school environment and in the community. He is eager to mentor, serve and provide early interventions in our school community.”

Micolichek is a 2015 Pulaski High School graduate and a graduate of the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Law Enforcement Academy. He joined the Pulaski Police Department in March after serving as a corrections officer for the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

“I am grateful for all of the opportunities this community has given me,” Micolichek said. “I am willing to do whatever it takes to be successful with my position with the Pulaski Police Department and my new position with the Pulaski Community School District.”

Micolichek said he has three goals for the position. He wants to continue as a positive role model for all the students in the PCSD, build relationships with the students’ parents and the staff within the district, and be visible and approachable at all times within the school.

“I am going into this position with the mentality of no child left behind,” he said.

“Hunter was raised in Pulaski and is already well integrated into the community through his work with youth wrestlers,” said Superintendent Bec Kurzynske. “We believe he will be able to make a positive difference right from the start,” she said.

Currently, he is an assistant wrestling coach for the district. The fact that many students already know him will be beneficial, he said.

“I want the kids to be able to come to me if they need any help,” he said.

Micolichek will provide 10 to 13 hours of weekly service to the district including 2½ hours at Fairview Elementary, 2½ hours at Lannoye Elementary and five hours at Hillcrest Elementary. He will also assist full-time school liaison officer Adam Winkler at the direction of the district. Winkler works with students at Pulaski High School, Pulaski Community Middle School and Glenbrook and Sunnyside elementary schools. Micolichek will serve as a community police officer the remainder of his work time.

“The Pulaski Police Department and the Pulaski Community School District have common goals to promote education, school safety, and student well-being in our community,” said Pulaski police chief Mark Hendzel. “Through this engagement with our youth, we are able to enhance the positive perception of law enforcement in our community.”

The Shawano County Democratic Party opened its new headquarters Wednesday at 105 N. Airport Drive, despite concern that one of the guests of honor might not make it to the unveiling.

Beau Liegeois, the Democratic candidate running for Mike Gallagher’s Congressional seat, was scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m., along with Dr. Richard Sarnwick, who is running for the Wisconsin Assembly Sixth District seat, but Liegeois was delayed due to a fundraising event in Kewaunee County.

Liegeois said he has met Democratic candidates for other state and federal seats in November, and he feels the party has a good chance of unseating some longtime Republicans.

“We have the best roster of candidates in northeastern Wisconsin this year,” Liegeois said, noting there was a good turnout in the Aug. 14 primary for the Democrats.

Liegeois praised the county party for establishing a headquarters, noting that having one in every county is vital if the Democrats want to win in the next few months.

“When they drive by and see that the Democratic Party has a physical presence, they’re going to know that we’re serious this year about getting our message out to every neighborhood,” Liegeois said.

Liegeois, a Brown County assistant district attorney, said his daughter, who just turned 2, is his inspiration for running. He said the current tone in Washington is not positive for the next generation of young Americans.

“We didn’t like that there was a lack of compromise, and we believed that I needed to step forward for my daughter and not wait for someone else to do it,” Liegeois said, noting his wife supports his Congressional aspirations.

One issue Liegeois wanted volunteers with the Democratic Party to emphasize is healthcare. He noted that the Republican-led Congress voted to “take health insurance away from millions and millions of people” and criticized Gallagher for voting with the majority.

“Is that what people in your community would want?” Liegeois asked.

Water quality is also another issue volunteers should emphasize when canvassing neighborhoods, Liegeois said. From Door County to the Fox River, he’s concerned about water not being drinkable due to contaminants.

The latest concern waterwise is the Menominee River, Liegeois said. The approval of permits for the Back Forty Mine, put harmful sulfide materials within 50 feet of where the river flows, he said.

“The Menominee River is a tributary to the bay of Green Bay, and if the bay of Green Bay is affected, then we’re talking about a major issue for our entire region,” Liegeois said.

Sarnwick said he had talked to his primary competitor, William Switalla, earlier in the evening and got his support as he tries to unseat Gary Tauchen. As a family physician in Shawano, Sarnwick’s reasons for running for office mirror what prompted him to be a doctor — to help people.

“How many times have you heard that? A lot?” Sarnwick asked the crowd. “For me, I really feel it’s true.”

He criticized the fact that high-speed internet in rural areas is hard to come by, saying most of the money to improve access goes toward the southern part of the state. Sarnwick said the lack of high-speed internet impacts small businesses in rural communities in an age when access to customers beyond brick and mortar is vital.

“I have many patients who are small farmers, and they’re pretty high-tech people. They need access to the internet to run their business, but they can’t get that internet coverage,” Sarnwick said. “I live out in the country, and I see a lot of families running their kids into the city just so they can use the internet.”

Sarnwick also wants to see term limits on legislators and feels the current system favors incumbents.

“I think term limits would help out our state and clean up some of this money coming into this whole election cycle,” Sarnwick said.

Prioritizing issues that serve the common good and don’t serve to increase personal wealth is necessary in Wisconsin, according to Sarnwick.

“I believe our hopes and aspirations are more important than the politics of fear,” he said. “I want to build bridges, not walls.”

A Keshena man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 16 years and eight months in prison followed by 20 years’ supervised release for abusive sexual contact with a minor.

Ricki A. Mahkimetas Jr., 25, pleaded guilty in June to having sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl he was babysitting in August 2017 while other minor children were in the same residence.

Mahkimetas’ supervisory role over the child constituted the abusive component of the charge.

Mahkimetas denied having sexual contact with a child when interviewed by Menominee Tribal Police in late September 2017. He was arrested in October on tribal charges for similar alleged child sexual conduct and remained in custody.

In December, a federal grand jury in Milwaukee indicted him on a child sex charge. That was amended later to add two more alleged child victims.

Mahkimetas agreed to plead guilty after his attorney failed to get a federal judge to throw out incriminating statements Mahkimetas made to FBI agents while being transported from the tribal jail to federal detention in Green Bay.

The plea agreement stated that the U.S. Attorney’s office would recommend a 15-year sentence for Mahkimetas.

The abusive sexual contact charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Although he was sentenced on one count of abusive sexual contact with a child, District Judge William Griesbach could factor in the two other similar counts in Mahkimetas’ sentence.

Griesbach described Mahkimetas’ crime as “horrendous” and noted the impact of the offense on the victims’ families and the entire Menominee Indian community. He also said that Mahkimetas abused the trust placed him in by the child victims and their parents.

A convicted sex offender being placed by the state in a Birnamwood residence starting this weekend is rattling the nerves of neighbors, but Shawano County authorities say there is nothing they can do to stop it.

The placement was ordered by a Milwaukee County judge, who approved a supervised release plan from the state Department of Health Services.

Shermell G. Tabor, 41, was convicted in Waukesha County in 1995 of second degree sexual assault, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.

According to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access web site, the specific charge was aiding and abetting a second degree sexual assault.

Tabor pleaded guilty to that charge and was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to Shawano County Sheriff’s Detective Troy Ugoretz, Tabor was also convicted of two counts of first degree sexual assault of a child, but those charges aren’t listed on the state’s circuit court web site or the Sex Offender Registry web site, possibly because Tabor would have been a juvenile at the time of the offense.

In 2001, the state petitioned for the right to label Tabor a sexually violent person which allowed him to be held after his prison sentence in a secure mental facility, according to court records.

After five years of legal wrangling, during which Tabor was kept in custody, the petition was granted in 2006.

Tabor continued to be held in custody while receiving treatment at the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston during an appeal that was finally resolved at a Milwaukee County court hearing in September of last year.

The court found that Tabor had made “significant progress” in treatment and that his progress could be sustained while on supervised release.

It was also determined, based on the testimony of doctors, that it was substantially probable that Tabor would not engage in sexual violence while on supervised release.

The court also found that “a reasonable level of resources can (be) provided for the level of residential placement, supervision, and ongoing treatment needs that are required for the safe management of the person while on supervised release.”

A supervised release plan was ordered, but Tabor was still waiting for a placement location in December when the court determined there was “good cause to search for placement throughout the State of Wisconsin.”

It’s not clear how or why the Birnamwood location was chosen.

“I just basically get told they’re coming,” said Ugoretz, who distributed fliers in Birnamwood notifying residents of the placement.

A posting on the sheriff’s Facebook page indicates the department is not pleased with the placement.

“While the Sheriff’s Office does not agree with this placement we do not have the ability to stop it,” according to the posting.

Ugoretz said there is really no recourse either for neighbors objecting to the placement.

“It’s a court order,” Ugoretz said. “It’s not based on whether you want people in your neighborhood or like people in that area in your neighborhood.”

Ugoretz said it’s better for neighbors to be aware of the placement, which is why notifications were put out.

“I’d rather know where people are,” he said, “and our job at the sheriff’s department is to get the information out so that we can have more eyes and make sure people are aware of who is living in the area. I think they’re better off knowing than not knowing. I think they’re better off being informed, being able to help us, than being what I call blissfully ignorant.”

Tabor is being placed at N8995 Bluebird Road and will be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.

He will also be wearing a monitor and be under GPS tracking.

“He’ll be monitored,” Ugoretz said. “He’ll be escorted everywhere he wants to go off the property. If he wants to go to the grocery store, somebody has to take him there. He’s not going to be going anywhere alone at this point.”

The residence where Tabor will be placed already houses one other convicted sex offender who has been there about three or four years, according to Ugoretz.

State law prohibits sex offenders being from placed within 1,500 feet of any location where children might congregate, such as a school or playground.

They also cannot be placed adjacent to a property where children reside.

Tabor’s new address will be 796 feet away from the nearest residence, but that residence has no children, Ugoretz said.

There is a home with children on the other side of the adjacent residence.

“The property that is adjacent isn’t the one that has the children, it’s the next property over,” Ugoretz said. “That’s been a point of contention with the people that are living there. They’re within 1,500 feet but they’re not the adjacent property so it’s within statutory requirements.”

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 22

Police logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 25-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct/domestic violence and two counts of bail jumping after a disturbance in the 400 block of West Third Street.

Theft — Money was reported stolen in the 1200 block of South Lincoln Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 800 block of South Weed Street.

OAR — A 47-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Lincoln and Division streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance involving a juvenile in the 1100 block of Lieg Avenue.

OWI — A 19-year-old Shawano male was arrested for operating a vehicle with a detectable amount of controlled substance and an outstanding warrant at Elizabeth and Evergreen streets.

Disturbance — Police responded to a reported fight in progress at the Four Seasons Resort, 201 N. Airport Drive.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 22

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on David Court in the town of Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Elm Road in the town of Angelica.

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

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Kopitzke Road in the town of Grant.

Disturbance — Authorities assisted Shawano police with a reported fight in progress on Airport Road in Shawano.

Clintonville Police Department

Aug. 22

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Five thefts from vehicles were reported on Robert Street and on Park Street. An entry to a vehicle was also reported on Anne Street.

Theft — A Food Share card was reported stolen on North 12th Street.

The outside grill at Charlie’s County Market destroyed by fire Thursday was quickly replaced on Friday, allowing the popular the Red Barn that relies on the grill to be back in business without missing a beat, or a brat for that matter.

The Red Barn outdoor grilling feature at Charlie’s, 521 S. Main St., is used by churches, clubs and various organizations for fundraisers.

The Shawano Area Fire Department, assisted by Shawano police, was called out to the grill just before 4 p.m. Thursday.

The person operating the grill had placed sawdust underneath to catch grease from the grill. But the hot grease ignited the sawdust, causing the fire, according to Fire Chief Shawn Borlace.

The store did not have information immediately available Friday as to which group had been operating the barn Thursday.

“There was no major structure damage to Charlie’s or the Red Barn or anything like that,” Borlace said. “Just the grill burned up.”

No one was injured in the fire.

Shawano County is joining a lawsuit against the federal Department of Interior in hopes of picking up a share of increased financial reimbursement for lost tax base that the suit maintains the DOI hasn’t paid out for the last three years.

The lawsuit in question is Kane County, Utah v. United States, a class action lawsuit allowing local governments like Shawano County to opt in to qualify for a potential financial award owed to it under the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act.

The PILT payments pertain to the amount of land a county has within its borders held in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe, such as the Stockbridge and Ho-Chunk tribes in Shawano County.

The PILT Act has been around for decades, but was expanded in 2015.

The suit maintains the DOI did not pay out all of the funds it should have to eligible counties under the recently expanded legislation for the fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The tribes themselves are not part of the lawsuit.

“It has nothing to do with the tribes,” said Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus. “It’s money that gets thrown in by the federal government to be doled out by the Interior.”

Kordus said there’s no way of knowing how much money Shawano County could be eligible for, if any.

“We are way, way down on the list of potential takers,” he said.

Kordus said there are many counties, particularly out west, that are comprised nearly entirely of non-taxable reservation property that would be ahead of Shawano County in line for the money.

“If there are a few pennies on the dollar to be doled out, great,” Kordus said.

It isn’t costing the county anything to join the lawsuit.