The steps you take to protect your personal information before you start your vacation are the key to mitigating potential identity theft if your devices or documents are stolen or misplaced during your trip. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) offers some simple pre-, during, and post-trip tips to help travelers limit the threat of identity theft.

“When you are on the go and making memories, you don’t want to constantly worry about whether someone is snooping through your online accounts or making new credit accounts with your identity,” said Lara Sutherlin, Administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. “Some small preventative measures like updating the operating system and antivirus software on your mobile devices can go a long way toward fending off identity thieves.”

Devote a couple of pre-trip minutes to shoring up your online accounts, strengthening the protection around your mobile devices, and limiting your risk of information exposure. While traveling, avoid sharing sensitive information over public WiFi networks and keep the trip details you share on social media accounts to a minimum. When you return home, run an antivirus scan on your devices and update passwords for your social media, email, and financial accounts.

Here are additional pre-, during, and post-trip tips:

Before you start your trip:

Make sure that your mobile devices are password protected and update the operating systems and antivirus packages.

Alert your financial institutions about your travel plans and ensure that fraud alerts are in place on your accounts – this will allow you to be immediately notified of suspicious activity while you are traveling. Use the number on the back of your credit and debit cards to contact the banks.

Put your mail on hold. Identity thieves could steal mail from unattended mailboxes, giving them the information they need to misuse your identity and open credit lines in your name. The post office can hold your letters and packages until you return.

Limit what is in your wallet. Keep your bank cards to a minimum and do NOT pack your Social Security card or carry it in your wallet or purse if it is not necessary.

Photocopy your documents and cards. Leave the relevant information from the front and back of your passport, driver’s license, credit cards, tickets, and hotel reservation confirmations with a friend or family member at home in case your original documents are lost or stolen during your trip.

Share your plans with friends and family to avoid “grandparent scams.”

Turn off auto-connect to WiFi and Bluetooth connections.

Tighten the security around your social media accounts. Your public posts could give a thief the tools to steal your identity or rob your home while you travel. Adjust the security settings on your accounts to only allow friends and family to view your posts, and consider turning off the location services on your phone so the photos you post online are not tagged with GPS data.

​While on vacation:

​Use caution with public WiFi. Avoid banking or sharing sensitive data over public WiFi networks. Only send sensitive information over password-protected networks and in secure websites (those that start with “https” – the information is encrypted).

Use caution with public computers – even those in your hotel.

Keep personal documents close. Make use of a room safe when available for mobile devices, valuables, and sensitive documents like passports, ID cards, credit cards, and airline tickets.

Always keep your mobile devices in a secure location. Your smartphone, tablet, and laptop contain a wealth of personal information. Know where these devices are at all times and keep them secure in public. Log out of all websites so your accounts are not accessed if your device is lost or stolen.

When you get home:

Change passwords. Any website you accessed on your trip was fair game for scammers, so change all of your passwords – especially for your email account.

Check accounts. Take a look through your bank and credit card accounts and identify any irregularities. Bring them to the immediate attention of your financial institution.

Check credit reports. Review your credit reports to ensure that no unexpected accounts have been created in your name.

Taxpayers who pay quarterly estimated tax payments may want to revisit the amount they pay. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the way most taxpayers calculate their tax. These taxpayers include those with substantial income not subject to withholding, such as small business owners and self-employed individuals. The tax reform changes include:

Revised tax rates and brackets

New and revised business deductions

Limiting or discontinuing deductions

Increasing the standard deduction

Removing personal exemptions

Increasing the child tax credit

As a result of these changes, many taxpayers may need to raise or lower the amount of tax they pay each quarter through estimated taxes.

Alternatively, many taxpayers who receive income not subject to withholding, but who also receive income as an employee, may be able to avoid the requirement to make estimated tax payments by having more tax taken out of their pay. These taxpayers can use the Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov to perform a Paycheck Checkup. Doing so now will help avoid an unexpected year-end tax bill and possibly a penalty in the future.

Taxpayers with more complex situations might need to use Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, instead. This includes people who owe self-employment tax, the alternative minimum tax, or tax on unearned income from dependents, and people with capital gains or dividends.

Form 1040-ES can also help taxpayers figure these payments simply and accurately. The estimated tax package includes a quick rundown of key tax changes, income tax rate schedules for 2019 and a useful worksheet for figuring the right amount of tax to pay.

Estimated tax penalty relief

The IRS is waiving the estimated tax penalty for many taxpayers whose 2018 federal income tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total tax liability for the year. This relief is designed to help taxpayers who were unable to properly adjust their withholding and estimated tax payments to reflect an array of changes under TCJA.

The IRS will generally waive the penalty for any taxpayer who paid at least 85 percent of their total tax liability during the year through federal income tax withholding, quarterly estimated tax payments or a combination of the two. The usual percentage threshold is 90 percent to avoid a penalty. For more information about the penalty and requesting the waiver, see Form 2210 and its instructions.

Separately, farmers and fishermen qualify for a waiver if they file their 2018 tax return and pay all taxes due by April 15; April 17 for residents of Maine and Massachusetts. The usual deadline is March 1.

The tax filing season is a busy time for taxpayers, but scammers also stay busy. Taxpayers should be aware of several types of tax scams, but phone scams start to increase during the beginning of tax season and then remain active throughout the remainder of the year. Here’s how this scam generally works:

Scammers impersonating the IRS call taxpayers telling them they owe taxes and face arrest if they don’t pay.
The scammer may leave a message asking taxpayers to call back to clear up a tax matter or face arrest.
When taxpayers call back, the scammers often use threatening and hostile language.
The thief demands that the taxpayers pay their tax debts with a gift card, other pre-paid cards or a wire transfer.

Taxpayers who receive these phone calls should:

Hang up the phone immediately.
Report the call to TIGTA using their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or by calling 800-366-4484.
Report the number to phishing@irs.gov; put “IRS Phone Scam” in the subject line.

Taxpayers should remember that the IRS does not:

Call taxpayers demanding immediate payment using a specific payment method. Generally, the IRS first mails a bill to the taxpayer.
Threaten to have taxpayers arrested for not paying taxes.
Demand payment without giving taxpayers an opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

Shawano Police Department

March 14

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 300 block of Madison Way.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 200 block of Mills Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of Madison Way.

OAR — A 24-year-old woman was cited for operating after revocation at Engel and Airport drives.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 14

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Threatening — Authorities responded to a threatening complaint on Range Line Road in the town of Richmond.

Fraud — A telephone scam was reported on Poplar Road in the town of Richmond.

Disturbance — Stockbridge-Munsee police responded to a disturbance on Butternut Road in the town of Red Springs.

Clintonville Police Department

March 14

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Theft — An attempted theft was reported on North Main Street and two thefts were reported on West Madison Street.

“If there’s one missing element from younger wind players, it’s keeping the wind moving forward.”

This was some of the advice offered by saxophonist and accomplished jazz musician Eric Marienthal to some 20 middle school and high school jazz bands from 12 northeast Wisconsin schools at the Shawano Jazz Festival—Shazz for short—in its tenth rendition at Shawano High School last Saturday.

Keeping a strong base of energetic wind moving forward would be an effective descriptor if a decade of intensive jazz clinics could be articulated within a single metaphor. The event has proven to be an invaluable resource for growing musicians, helping strengthen bridges between junior high and high school.

Bill Dennee, Denmark Middle School band director, has been at nine of the ten festivals, bringing his band to compete and his expertise to critique. Having extended time to focus on jazz and to introduce growing students to professional players can be a transformative experience, he said.

“I think for middle school kids, it’s that chance for them to have the opportunity to try it. At this age level they’re so willing to try anything, and as they get a little bit older that willingness kind of goes away,” Dennee said, “A big thing that’s important is when they get to come to the faculty concert they get to hear professionals playing their instruments. They’re right next to them—we sit and play with the kids…just that, being right up next close to somebody, it’s that interaction that can make a big difference.”

That difference goes farther than finding a new appreciation for the music of the soul. In many cases, as the several Shawano alumni donning Shazz t-shirts as the event’s volunteers visually attested, being exposed to the highest levels of musicianship can with no exaggeration change a student’s life.

The Shawano Jazz Foundation sponsored Emily Jones to attend a variety of jazz camps while she was a student at the high school, immersing her in, “the language of jazz” and providing a certainty to her direction. She volunteers with the organization today not just to give back to an organization she says has given her much, but also to pass on the torch of inspiration whose light guided her path.

“As a student to come and watch all these alumni in the all-star band; these alumni that graduated from Shawano and were in your shoes a couple years ago and now they’re doing what you want to do—seeing someone from Shawano doing that and seeing you can achieve that goal,” she said, “I think it’s so inspiring.”

“Andy Martin,” an accomplished trombonist with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and with more than 100 movie credits to his name who served as one of many high profile Shazz guest artists, “I played with him my sophomore year, and he was this musical icon—someone that you want to model your trombone sound off of,” said Jones, who graduated in 2017 and is now studying music education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. “I got to sit next to him, and he says, ‘Oh, nice solo’ and I’m like ‘Oh my God! Andy Martin just told me I had a nice solo!”

Neither Martin’s name nor that of this year’s guest artist Eric Marienthal may sound familiar to the casual listener, but that’s somewhat the point. Showing young, aspiring performers the magic of professionals they are not necessarily familiar with displays the complexity and liveliness of jazz culture.

“A lot of people think that jazz has kind of fizzled out, or if you ask them who their favorite jazz artist is they’ll name someone classic, and that’s great obviously the classics are good, but we get to introduce them to some of the newer ones,” said Public Relations Administrator Laura Arens, herself a 2017 Shawano alumni.

Arens continued, “Jazz in particular is like its own language; it speaks, it got history, its got a story and they get to be a part of it. They go from ‘Oh, yeah, I have a jazz band class or an extra-curricular’ and then they go ‘Wow. This music we’re playing is deep.’”

But to become fluent in the tongue requires practice, a staple of every music instructor’s lecture. While Marienthal dazzled the students with his playing, it was his story of practicing endlessly when attending the Berklee College of Music that earned the most admiration. He told of spending upwards of ten hours a day in the college’s practice rooms perfecting etude books, all because he wanted to live up to the example his professor had set.

“I had a really inspiring teacher that really encouraged me and I wanted to impress him—the more you practice the better you play and the more you play the more you want to practice, so it feeds itself,” Marienthal told The Leader.

Engaging with students at clinics around the country every year isn’t about elevating all to pursue a profession in music, Marienthal said. More so, its about helping them find their voice and fostering a mindset of constant, passionate self-improvement.

“Not everybody here, obviously, is going to go on to become a professional musician but everybody here is clearly doing it because they enjoy doing it—its an elective. Its nice to be able to do something or say something to somebody that might inspire a student to either practice a little bit more or to become inspired,” Marienthal said.

The Shawano Jazz Festival’s make-up provides ample opportunities for those inspiring bits to come out. Most clinics give bands about 30 minutes to perform their pieces before receive either quick verbal critiques or written comments afterward. Shazz carves out one-hour slots, giving clinicians and students an intimate and deep learning experience, something that most of the alumni volunteering on Saturday said was an invaluable feature.

Arens said that, on the technical and operational side, the Festival has undergone just minimal changes since 2010 when then-senior Alexandra Isaacson built the Foundation with a $250 scholarship she used as seed money the year before. In the ten years of its life, the Festival has brought in more than 3,000 students and in so doing has built a reputation that stretches far beyond the local area.

“We get to speak for the larger jazz community,” Arens said, “we have people come in from not even just Shawano, but around the state because they come and they know we bring in Grammy artists and they love to support that kind of a gig.”

“We’re very lucky,” Arens said.

What couldn’t be chalked up to luck, though, was the Shawano Middle School Jazz Band earning first place among their peers.

Three people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for burglary and firearms offences that allegedly occurred on the Menominee Reservation in May of last year.

Brett L. O’Kimosh Jr., 41, of Shawano, Mary Ann Dodge, 32, of Taycheedah, and Anthony J. Boyd, 22, of Waupun, are all charged with one count of burglary.

O’Kimosh and Boyd are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, on or about May 16, 2018, the defendants entered a building or dwelling in Keshena without consent from the homeowner and with the intent to steal.

The same day, O’Kimosh and Boyd allegedly possessed a .22 rifle. O’Kimosh and Boyd were prohibited from possession of firearms at the time of the incident.

The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

The burglary charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 7-1/2 years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted, as well as 5-1/2 years of supervised release.

The firearms charged carries a maximum 10 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine, plus up to three years of supervised release.

The Shawano Common Council Wednesday approved a contract for the design of a long-awaited downtown bathroom that would be adjacent to Franklin Park.

The lack of a public restroom downtown has been an issue plaguing downtown business owners for years and the improvements recently made to Franklin Park that hope to draw even more visitors to events there has exacerbated that need.

The bathroom was originally part of the Franklin Park improvement project but was flushed out to cut costs and made a separate project.

It was also decided the bathroom should be located outside the park to provide more access to visitors patronizing downtown businesses.

The council approved a contract with Nordin Design Group, Inc., of Shawano, in the amount of $10,500 for the design and engineering work for the Franklin Park public restroom.

Under the contract, Nordin will prepare plans, specifications, bidding documents, and provide contract administration for a restroom facility to be constructed in the parking lot west of the Senior Center on Washington Street.

The building will include a men’s room with a water closet, urinal and lavatory, and a women’s room with two water closets and a lavatory.

The facility would be operated from the spring through fall and shut down during the winter, with plumbing systems designed to be shut down for the season.

It will also include minimal heat and a ventilation system, according to the design contract.

Nordin will create two sets of bidding documents, one for a constructed concrete masonry unit as the base bid, with an alternative bid for a prefabricated concrete structure.

The actual structure itself is estimated to cost between $80,000 to $90,000.

A middle school student warned classmates not to come to school Friday after seeing a school shooting threat posted on Snapchat, sparking the message to spread among other students and their parents.

The parents of at least 17 students informed the Shawano School District Friday they were keeping their children home over what Shawano police said was a non-specific threat lacking credibility.

School Superintendent Gary Cumberland said there was no reason to believe the Snapchat post had any local connection.

“The person it came from, we don’t have on our rolls anywhere,” he said. “I’m assuming the person is from out of the area, but I don’t know.”

Cumberland said, from what he knows at this point, the threat could have been posted from anywhere in the world.

“Anything on the internet and social media could come from just about anywhere,” he said.

That might have been the end of the story except that the student that saw the Snapchat post, and reported it, also decided to spread the word.

“The student that supposedly saw this message and reported it also sent some things out to kids saying, ‘hey, don’t come to school because there’s going to be a shooting,’” Cumberland said, “and those kids sent things out to other kids in the community.”

Cumberland said because of the traction these warnings were getting on social media he felt he should send a notice explaining the situation to school district parents.

“We didn’t think there was a whole lot to it, but I didn’t know how far these messages had gone out with the kids sending things back and forth,” he said.

“I wish I didn’t have to send a message like that out and we might not have had to, but we started to get some phone calls from parents saying, ‘hey, what’s going on,’ so we felt it best to send something out,” Cumberland said.

The Shawano Police Department also issued a news release late Thursday noting that the individual making the threat does not match any student in the district and the message was not specific to any school.

“After investigation, we believe the non-specific threat lacks credibility,” said Police Chief Dan Mauel. “The safety of students and staff are of the utmost importance,” Mauel said.

No incidents were reported at any of the schools as of Friday afternoon.

“We always have a presence at schools and encourage our officers to routinely walk through or park near schools as often as they can during their shifts,” Mauel said.

Mauel said police were continuing to investigate to try and determine where the Snapchat message originated, but there was no reason to believe it was local.

“Snapchat can originate from anywhere,” he said.

Mauel also said the student who received the message did not know the name on the account but opened the message anyway.

“Kind of like opening an email from someone you do not know,” he said.

The parents of nine students at Hillcrest Primary School and eight at Olga Brener Intermediate School specifically told the school district they were keeping their children home because of the shooting threat, Cumberland said.

“There were other calls where they just said they were keeping their kid home but they didn’t give a reason,” he said.

The middle and high schools also reported a higher than normal number of absentees Friday, but none of the parents cited the shooting threat as a reason.

Cumberland noted that next week is spring break and that could have played a part in some of those absences.

Cumberland said it hasn’t been determined whether the student who spread the word about the Snapchat post and warned others not to come to school should face any disciplinary action.

“We’re working on that,” he said.

State and local agencies are investigating the Salmonella outbreak that has affected at least 4 people in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, and local health departments are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections.

To date, the investigation has identified four Wisconsin residents who are infected with the same strain (DNA fingerprint) of Salmonella. The four Wisconsin patients are linked to Butterball raw ground turkey products.

Additionally, a Minnesota resident with the same strain of Salmonella also reported eating ground turkey, but the brand is unknown. Testing of leftover raw ground turkey received by the Wisconsin patients was also positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella.

As a result of this outbreak, Butterball is voluntarily recalling 78,164 pounds of raw ground turkey products. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional and retail locations nationwide.

48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC codes 22655-71555 or 22655-71557 represented on the label.
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71556 represented on the label.
16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71546 represented on the label.
16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC codes 22655-71547 or 22655-71561 represented on the label
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Kroger GROUND TURKEY FRESH 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label.
48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “FOOD LION 15% fat ground turkey with natural flavorings” with sell or freeze by date of 7/26/18, lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label.

Anyone who may have Butterball ground turkey products in their freezer should check to see if it product is included in the recall, and if so, are advised to discard any remaining product. Food pantries, food banks, and patrons of those establishments are especially encouraged to check any ground turkey they have received because this product was also distributed through these routes.

Raw turkey and other poultry products can be contaminated with Salmonella or other pathogens. When handling raw poultry products, it is important to take the following steps to protect you and your family:

Wash hands and surfaces often when handling raw poultry.

Separate raw meats and poultry from other foods in the refrigerator.

Refrigerate or freeze raw poultry promptly after purchasing.

Cook all raw poultry to an internal temperature of 165ºF.

Always follow manufacturer’s instructions provided on product packaging.

Place cooked poultry only on a clean dish before serving.

Report suspected food poisoning to your local health department.

Salmonellosis is caused by Salmonella bacteria that are spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by direct or indirect contact with fecal matter from infected people or animals. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pains, fever, and vomiting that lasts for several days. Bloodstream infections can occur, but are rare, and can be quite serious in young children and older adults. Most people recover from salmonellosis on their own, but may require extra fluids to prevent dehydration.

If you have consumed any of the recalled Butterball raw ground turkey products and are experiencing symptoms of salmonellosis, contact your health care provider. Consumers experiencing symptoms should also contact their local health department.

The Shawano Area Silver Society Club will meet to learn about the benefits of essential oils for relaxation, headaches or just to stimulate the senses. They can help elicit memories of the past and stimulate conversation.

The club will meet 1:30-3 p.m. April 2 at the Shawano County Library, 128 S. Sawyer St., Shawano.

The club provides a comfortable environment where people with early stage memory loss, along with their companions and/or caregivers, can relax, engage and enjoy the company of others. There is no cost to attend.

The Shawano Area Silver Society Club is sponsored by the The Wolf River Region Dementia and Caregiver Network Chapter and the Forget-Me-Not Fund.

For information, contact Heidi Russell of Shawano County Human Services at 715-526-4686.

With snow melting and rain falling on frozen soil, Wisconsin’s Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast is completely pink today, meaning the risk of manure runoff is severe statewide.

DATCP encourages farmers to keep this in mind as they consider emptying manure storage that may be full. Spreading manure while the risk of runoff is severe could cause manure runoff into streams, threatening water quality.

At the click of a mouse, farmers can check the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast, available online at manureadvisorysystem.wi.gov, for the latest information on spreading risks. The runoff forecast provides maps showing short-term runoff risk for daily application planning, taking into account soil saturation and temperature, weather forecast, snow and crop cover, and slope. It is updated three times daily by the National Weather Service.

“It’s always a bad idea to spread manure during high-risk runoff times, and we strongly advise against it,” says Richard Castelnuovo, chief of resource management with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Farmers should contact their crop consultants, county land conservation offices, or the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for help identifying alternatives to high-risk spreading, such as stacking manure away from lakes or rivers, drinking water wells, or areas with sinkholes or exposed bedrock. If farmers must spread manure, crop consultants and county conservationists can help identify fields where the risk is lower. You can find contact information for county conservation offices in the WI Land + Water Directory at http://wisconsinlandwater.org.

Farmers should always have an emergency plan in place in case of manure spills or runoff. The plan should include who to call and what steps to take if runoff or a spill occurs, how to clean it up, and perhaps most important, how to prevent it from happening. Information about preventing and planning for manure spills is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/agbusiness/manurespills.html.

A Shawano woman charged in the death of her 2-month-old child waived her preliminary hearing Tuesday in Shawano County Circuit Court and was scheduled for arraignment next month.

Catherine R. Barker, 22, faces felony counts of neglect resulting in the death of an infant, failing to report the death of the child and attempting to hide or bury the corpse.

The infant, Brandon Barker, was her son. He was discovered by police during a welfare check Sept. 28.

In a separate civil action Tuesday, a Shawano County judge ruled in a paternity case that Shawn Duster Daney, 34, currently an inmate at Oshkosh Correctional Institution, is the child’s father.

Barker was initially found not competent to stand trial in November and was ordered to be temporarily institutionalized to receive treatment and therapy that could make her mentally competent in the future.

She was subsequently ruled competent at a hearing on March 4.

Barker is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges on April 1.

Being ruled competent to stand trial does not rule out the possibility of a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, though there would have to be foundation for such a plea and a court-ordered evaluation would have to be done.

According to the criminal complaint, Barker had sent text messages to two people, telling them the infant had died of suffocation from a blanket he had pulled up over his face and stating she planned to bury the child somewhere out in the country.

She also stated she planned to leave the area after burying the child, according to the complaint.

Barker could face a maximum prison sentence totaling nearly 35 years if convicted on all three counts. She is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

According to statements from Barker to police in the criminal complaint, the infant’s father, her fiance of three years, has been in prison since June, and there has been no contact since then.

District Attorney Greg Parker said he had no information on the paternity case that was adjudicated Tuesday and that it was a matter outside the scope of his office.

Shawano County Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus, who handles paternity cases on behalf of the county child support office, said there could be any number of reasons why a paternity case would move forward even after the death of a child.

“In general, there are certainly issues that a paternity judgment would help solve, even after a child dies,” Kordus said, adding he was not speaking directly about the Barker case.

Some examples of those could include matters of inheritance, restitution, payment for pain and suffering and loss of companionship, he said.

“If you’re not the child’s father, you’re not going to have a claim,” Kordus said. “If you are, you will. I’m not saying any of that applies in this case. I’m just telling you that just because a child dies, that doesn’t mean that paternity issues all of a sudden vanish.”

Kordus also said that if a related criminal case were going on, “as a parent, you’d have standing to be heard in that action, say, for example, when it comes to sentencing.”

Kordus said he doubted the paternity ruling would have any impact on the criminal case.

A Shawano woman accused of handing out marijuana-laced cookies during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Wescott Saturday is facing two felony drug charges in connection with her alleged activities.

Cathleen K. Krause, 57, was arrested after Shawano County authorities received a call reporting that a woman was handing out drug-laced cookies during the annual holiday parade in Wescott’s Mooseyard.

According to the criminal complaint, a sheriff’s deputy was told that a woman wearing a green St. Patrick’s Day hat and wearing a leather coat had handed out a cookie that she said had marijuana in it.

The reporting party had taken a picture of the woman, later identified as Krause, and showed it to the deputy, who located and questioned Krause.

The complaint states Krause was visibly intoxicated, and her breath smelled of alcohol and marijuana.

After being asked about the cookies, Krause pulled out a large gallon-sized bag of cookie crumbs and consented to a search, according the complaint.

During the search, a number of prescription pills were found along with a package of gummy candy, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, the cookie that Krause allegedly gave to the person who reported it to authorities and the gummy candy tested positive for marijuana.

Krause is facing a felony count of manufacture and delivery of marijuana for allegedly handing out the cookies, and a felony count of possession of marijuana for the drug-laced gummy candy.

Each count carries a maximum possible penalty of 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

She also faces three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance for being in possession of amphetamine and Alprazolam and Tremadol without a valid prescription.

According to court records, Krause was previously convicted of a misdemeanor count of possessing marijuana in Shawano County in 2015.

Krause was released in this new case on a $1,000 cash bond and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on April 1.

Shawano Police Department

March 18

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

OAR — A 28-year-old Fond du Lac man was cited for operating after revocation at County Road B and Industrial Drive.

Disturbance — An 18-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for disorderly conduct/domestic violence in the 1500 block of Estates Lane.

Drug Offenses — Police investigated drug complaints in the 800 block of South Park Street and the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Theft — A license plate was reported stolen in the 200 block of North Airport Drive.

March 17

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Police investigated a theft complaint at McDonald’s, 1202 E. Green Bay St.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 200 block of Airport Drive.

Drug Offenses — A 17-year-old Shawano female was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and an 18-year-old Shawano female was cited for possession of marijuana and arrested for an outstanding warrant at Lieg Avenue and Lutz Street. In a separate incident, charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were referred against a 43-year-old Suring man at Rusch Road and Richmond Street.

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

March 16

Police logged 29 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 23-year-old Shawano man was arrested for operating while intoxicated at Green Bay Street and Fairview Road.

Theft — A speaker was reported stolen in the 200 block of East Division Street.

Disturbances — Police responded to disturbances in the 800 block of East Richmond Street and 1100 block of South Weed Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 800 block of South Main Street.

Warrant — A 29-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for an outstanding warrant and cited for operating after suspension at Main and Randall streets.

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

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 300 block of West Richmond Street.

March 15

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

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

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 500 block of West Richmond Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 200 block of East Division Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 18

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious vehicle was reported on County Road MMM in the town of Richmond.

OAR — A citation for operating after revocation was issued at Main and Sawyer streets in Shawano.

Theft — A property theft was reported on Oak Street in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged six minor accidents.

March 17

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 30-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road D in the town of Aniwa.

OAR — A 62-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged three minor accidents.

March 16

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 31-year-old Shawano man was arrested on a warrant at Airport Drive and Richmond Street in Shawano.

Theft — A dog was reported stolen on Stony Hill Road in the town of Pella.

Drug Offense — A 57-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for possession of marijuana and illegal prescription pills after allegedly handing out marijuana-laced cookies on Lake Drive in Wescott.

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on state Highway 22 in the town of Green Valley.

Intoxication — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged four accidents, including one deer-related crash.

March 15

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Disturbances — Authorities responded to two domestic disturbances on Main Street in Bowler. Two people were arrested in the separate incidents on charges of domestic violence-related disorderly conduct, including a 31-year-old Bowler woman and a 46-year-old Bowler man.

OAR — A 24-year-old Pulaski man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a credit card fraud complaint at Kwik Trip, 102 Express Way in Bonduel.

Clintonville Police Department

March 18

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft and damage to property were reported on 15th Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on South Main Street.

March 17

Police logged 12 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Suspicious incidents were reported on South Main Street and in the area of the Pigeon Lake.

Warrant — A 38-year-old female was taken into custody on a Department of Corrections warrant on North 12th Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on South Main Street and on Auto Street.

March 16

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — A juvenile problem was reported on North Clinton Avenue.

Theft — A theft was reported on South Main Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Bennett Street.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on Sixth Street.

March 15

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported at Clintonville Middle School, OVERSET FOLLOWS:255 N. Main St., and on Olen Park Road.

Shawano County Library, UW-Extension, and Wolf River Master Gardeners are offering a monthly series of gardening classes at the main library in Shawano, 128 S. Sawyer St, Shawano.

The class will meet on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Topics will be:

April 1: Spring bulbs

May 6: Vegetable gardening

June 3: Rhubarb and strawberries

August 5: Dividing perennials

September 9: Garden art

October 14: Putting the garden to bed

For more information, contact the Shawano County Library at shawanolibrary.org or (715) 526-3829. The Shawano County Library consists of the main library in Shawano, branches in Birnamwood, Bonduel, Mattoon, Tigerton and Wittenberg as well as a county-wide delivery service.

State Sen. Robert Cowles and Rep. Gary Tauchen will hold two listening sessions in Shawano County on Monday.

The first session will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the community room at Shawano City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St., Shawano. That will be followed up with a session at noon at Schultz’s Cozy Cafe, 112 U.S. Highway 45, Tigerton.

The legislators want to hear what their constituents have to say on state legislative issues, including the budget or proposed legislation for the 2019-20 Legislative Session.

Shawano Police Department

March 19

Police logged 18 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Suspicious incidents were reported in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street and 600 block of East Elizabeth Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 900 block of South Cleveland Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 19

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 27-year-old Green Bay man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after an injury accident at state Highway 29 and Cecil Street in Bonduel. He was also cited for operating after revocation.

Farm Spill — Authorities responded to a non-hazardous liquid farm spill at state highways 55 and 160 in the town of Angelica. The spill stretched about five miles and caused traffic alerts for motorists to avoid Highway 55 from Hofa Park Road north to Highway 160, County Road S from Highway 55 west to County Road F, and County Road F from County Road S to the north.

Fraud — Scam complaints were reported on County Road C in Angelica and Willow Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Theft — A debit card was reported stolen on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — A 57-year-old Seymour man was arrested for strangulation and disorderly conduct and a 39-year-old Pulaski woman was arrested for disorderly conduct and bail jumping after a domestic disturbance on Hidden Lane in the town of Lessor.

A second community meeting in the Clintonville High School commons was held March 14 to gather information from the public that could guide a school district referendum in April 2020.

Attendees were asked what services they expect the school district to provide for the school and the community.

Those in attendance listed academics and real world skills experiences as very important. Other items of importance included history (including local history), the arts, partnerships with employers, good student behavior, performances in the community and mental health concerns.

Some of the other concerns that were listed included trade and art skills, career readiness, the need for additional supports, conflict resolution, having a positive climate, a safe harbor when needed, opportunity for adult education at Fox Valley Technical College, a food truck and reaction to community and employment needs.

The group was asked what the community believes the educational programming should include to ensure the students become lifelong learners who can think independently, critically and creatively in becoming successful, contributing members of our society.

Those attending listed the need for Spanish at an early age, proper etiquette, independence and confidence, learning robotics, a sense of responsibility, work ethic, volunteering in the community and more hands-on opportunities earlier.

They also asked for tech ed courses, as not all students will go to college, and feeder programs to the arts and music. Others listed having a debate team, more students going abroad, social media literacy and safety, inquiry-based learning, real world hands-on experiences, partnerships with local businesses, youth apprenticeships and college visits.

They asked for guidance counselors to help to examine college and career plans, an understanding of government, financing a degree and the ability to look at both sides of an issue.

The group addressed the features of buildings and grounds they believe would best support the desired educational programming and services expected by the community.

The items that were listed the most often were the fab lab (community partnership with hands-on learning with use of printers, lathes, welding equipment), pool access for all, more gym space, robotics, storage space and technology for Clintonville Middle School without travel.

Other items included expanding the greenhouse and a community garden, They also said they wanted equal opportunity for the community and school in the pool, and a community multipurpose area. They would like to see a community coffee shop with Wi-Fi and a school store.

Superintendent David Dyb introduced representatives from Hoffman Planning, Design and Construction, Inc. of Appleton, including Chad Ulman, Kim Eparvier and Jody Andres. The firm was selected to organize the facility analysis and planning for a future referendum, possibly by April 2020, addressing the outdated elementary school complex and needs of the school district.

Andres said he was pleased with the information that was gathered, but he also encouraged attendees to address the obstacles the district might face.

Dyb said he had 30 email messages from residents after the first community conversation was held. He can be reached at ddyb@clintonville.k12.wi.us.

Senior citizens will have an opportunity to learn about the needs of the school district and to express their views at a breakfast March 29 at 8:30 a.m. in the high school commons. The cost is $2. Contact Dyb or email ckopplinger@clintonville.k12.wi.us for reservations.

Clintonville has become just the third known municipality in the state of Wisconsin to offer paid maternity, parental, and adoption leave, according to City Administrator Sharon Eveland.

The Common Council voted to implement a new personnel manual at its regular meeting March 12. This was the culmination of almost two years of work by city staff to completely overhaul the previous manual that was implemented back in 2003 and had been changed very little since that time.

“If we are to ensure we are able to continue to attract quality staff to serve our community, we must proactively adjust and adopt to provide the work environment the emerging generations expect and deserve,” Eveland said. “Part of the vision for this new manual involved doing just that.”

This benefit includes paid benefit time of 240 hours for the birth mother, 80 hours for the non-carrying parent, and 80 hours for adoptive parents. The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not have a national law that mandates paid maternal leave. The majority of employers do not offer paid maternity leave and even fewer provide parental or adoption leave.

“When pregnant women do not have access to this benefit, they typically end up working later into the pregnancy and returning to work much sooner, sometimes to the detriment of their physical and mental well-being and that of their newborn,” Eveland said.

Paid maternity leave acknowledges the necessary and beneficial role that women bear in society. The city of Clintonville took it a step further by also providing leave for the non-carrying parent and adoptive parents as well. It is critical that parents bond with their children after birth or placement and this benefit acknowledges that crucial aspect of parenthood.

“This is a momentousness event for the city and for its staff,” Eveland said. “While Clintonville is not the first municipality to implement this, we are nonetheless proud to join the ranks of Sun Prairie, which offers 240 hours of parental leave for all parents, and Madison, whose specific benefit structure was unable to be determined. We appreciate and value our staff and this policy is just one way the city proves that.”

Eveland said that she was very proud to have been part of the process to make this happen. It is an incredible moment for the city, she said, and hopes that other municipalities, the state, and the country will one day, sooner than later, follow suit.

More than three dozen employers ranging from the U.S. Air Force to Culver’s set up shop Wednesday at The Gathering in Shawano for the Shawano County Job Center’s annual job fair, but it seemed to be an open question as to who needed whom more.

According to some potential employers, the current job market seems to favor those looking for a job instead of those doing the hiring.

“I think a lot of people that would need a job have a job,” said Cassandra Reichardt, general manager at Culver’s. “There’s enough employment opportunity that if you want one, you have one.”

Reichardt said, however, that Culver’s is always on the lookout for top-quality employees.

“We’re always looking to hire the next best employee,” she said. “You never settle with what you have.”

Many of the prospective employees at the event were high schoolers bused in from Bowler and Clintonville. One job center staff member said Shawano schools were not bused in because they are on spring break this week.

The Shawano job fair also faced competition Wednesday from another job fair in Oconto.

For many employers, the event was a matter of public relations.

“We’re here to get our name out. To get our name out and let the public know we’re here and that we’re hiring,” said Tracy Winkler, human resources assistant at Northpoint Marine of Gillett.

“We’re always looking for new employees,” she said.

Winkler said the company’s biggest challenge is employee attendance.

“Being punctual, being there and willing to work,” she said.

Some of that might be tied to the number of opportunities currently available in the job marketplace.

“There’s an array of jobs out there,” Winkler said. “They have to pick and choose what fits them.”

Winkler said Northpoint competes for those employees in terms of wages and benefits along with others who are hiring.

“We’re competitive right along with everybody else,” she said.

Jennifer Bishop, human resources assistant at Aarrowcast in Shawano, said a lot of potential employees came through during Wednesday’s event, about two-thirds of them being high schoolers.

“A lot of kids came through that were interested in looking and listening to what I had to say,” she said. “It actually was very beneficial for us.”

Bishop said part of the reason for participating in the job fair was to let people know what the company has to offer and how it benefits the community.

She also said that Aarrowcast doesn’t have a problem finding employees. Similar to Northpoint, retaining workers is the big challenge.

“I don’t care if you work at McDonald’s. I don’t care if you work at the Family Dollar or you work at Aarrowcast,” Bishop said. “It’s getting the people to want to come in and continue to work and continue to better themselves in the position that they’re in.”

She said employees at Aarrowcast can advance into higher posts in all different areas, and that getting the word out about what the company has to offer is a key to hiring and retaining employees.

Bishop noted that Aarrowcast covers many of the expenses that employees would incur, such as uniforms and footwear, and offers a starting wage at more than $14 an hour.

“It’s necessary to be competitive,” she said. “That way we can be up there with everybody else.”

The Shawano County Job Center contracts with Forward Service Corp. to run the annual job fair.

None of those employees were willing to talk on the record, saying they would need to get permission from the corporate office’s communications department.

A listing of employers showed there were 43 participants in Wednesday’s event, some of which included local restaurants and fast food chains, manufacturers and retail outlets.