Shawano Police Department

March 20

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 30-year-old Neopit woman was arrested on a warrant at Lieg Avenue and Prospect Circle.

Fleeing — Police attempted to pull over a vehicle for speeding at Park Street and Robin Lane. After a short vehicle and foot pursuit, the following people were taken into custody: The driver, a 28-year-old Black River Falls man, was arrested for fleeing an officer, disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and an outstanding warrant. Among the passengers, an 18-year-old Green Bay man was arrested for obstructing an officer and bail jumping; a 30-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for obstructing an officer, possession of a schedule 4 narcotic and possession of drug paraphernalia; and a 19-year-old Suring woman was arrested for obstructing an officer.

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

Arrest — A 23-year-old Keshena man was arrested for a probation violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Drug Offense — A 25-year-old Gresham man was cited for possession of marijuana at Main and Fourth streets.

Hit and Run —A 23-year-old Green Bay man who fled on foot from a property damage hit-and-run in the 1000 block of South Park Street was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and an outstanding warrant.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the 100 block of Aspen Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 20

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint at the Schmidt Schulta Funeral Home, 445 Main St. in Birnamwood.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Hidden Lane in the town of Lessor.

Accident — Authorities responded to an injury accident at state Highway 22 and Cloverleaf Lake Road in the town of Belle Plaine.

Clintonville Police Department

March 20

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Harassment was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance on West Second Street.

The man arrested last week after DNA tests linked him to a 1976 double homicide is scheduled to make his first appearance in Marinette County Circuit Court Friday afternoon.

Raymand L. Vannieuwenhoven, 82, was taken into custody March 14 as Marinette and Oconto county deputies executed a search warrant at his home in the town of Lakewood. Prosecutors filed a criminal complaint Thursday charging him with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree sexual assault in the deaths of David Schuldes, 25, and Ellen Matheys, 24, of Green Bay.

The defendant is scheduled to appear at 2 p.m. before Judge James Morrison.

According to the complaint, the couple left their homes on the morning of July 9, 1976, for a camping weekend. They were seen driving through Goodman Park in Marinette County, but that campground was already full, so they headed south to McClintock Park, which was empty, and set up their camping materials there.

Schuldes and Matheys then apparently went for a nature walk. Investigators concluded that Schuldes was shot in the neck with a .30 caliber firearm while waiting outside the women’s restroom while Matheys was inside, the complaint said. He died instantly.

Matheys either ran or was led to a wooded area nearby, where she was sexually assaulted, then shot twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen. Schuldes’ body was found a short time later by a park worker, and Matheys’ body was found the next day.

The case remained unsolved for more than four decades, but authorities had carefully preserved DNA evidence found inside the woman’s body and her shorts.

In March 2018, the county enlisted the help of Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia firm that uses DNA and genealogical research to identify suspects. Within three months, Parabon told lead detective Todd Baldwin that “the suspect’s DNA had ancestry mainly from the northern European area. The suspect has fair to very fair skin color, blue eyes, reddish brown hair color, and some or few freckles,” the complaint said.

Based on its research Parabon was also able to provide images of what the suspect may have looked like at age 25 and 65, which were widely circulated last summer.

By December, further research narrowed the list of possible suspects all the way down to the sons and grandsons of Gladys Brunette and Edward K. Vannieuwenhoven, a Green Bay area family, the complaint said.

Detectives surreptitiously gathered DNA samples from two of the men in January and February. A State Crime Lab analysis ruled both men out but found their Y-STR DNA — DNA from the short tandem repeats from the Y chromosome — indicated another male in the family was the likely culprit.

On March 6, Oconto County Chief Deputy Darren Laskowski came to Raymand Vannieuwenhoven’s home and asked if he would fill out a short survey about policing in the various townships, further asking him to seal the completed survey in an envelope.

The crime lab was able to develop a DNA profile from the saliva on the envelope and conclusively match it to the Lakewood man, the complaint said.

When deputies arrested the defendant and search his homes, they confiscated a 30-30 lever-action rifle from his garage and a box of shell casings from a shelf above the washer-dryer, according to the complaint.

Five intersections along state Highway 29 in Shawano County have been identified as the county’s most dangerous, with a total of 466 crashes over the last five years and seven fatalities.

Of highest concern to county authorities is the intersection of Highway 29 and County Road U, where there have been four fatal crashes since January 2013, according to sheriff’s department records.

Some steps have already been taken to address that particular intersection, including rumble pads, stop signs with metal orange flags, LED flashing stop signs on County Road U, and double-marked intersection warning signs with 55 mph advisory speeds on the westbound highway approach to the intersection.

The county has been urging the state Department of Transportation to make additional safety improvements.

The county’s highway safety commission reviewed four alternatives, including a J-turn, median U-turn, lowering the hill to the east of the intersection to increase sight distance, or an interchange.

A resolution calling for the DOT to construct an interchange at that location was placed on the County Board’s agenda last month, but was pulled from the board’s agenda.

According to county Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol, that’s because the county is already in talks with the DOT about alternatives to addressing the 29/U problem.

“The DOT would like to continue developing their alternatives and then come out and meet with us,” he said. “They want to give us a little more information before we make a decision.”

The DOT will meet with the county’s highway safety and public safety committees at a joint meeting on April 23.

The intersection at County Road U remains the top priority, but there are four others along Highway 29 identified by the highway safety committee that are also of concern.

They include the intersections at County Road MMM in the town of Richmond, where there have been 126 crashes over the past five years, one of them fatal; County Road J in the town of Morris, where there have been 93 crashes, one fatal; County Road D (Rock Road) in the town of Seneca, 65 crashes; and County Road F in the town of Hartland, 64 crashes.

Bystol said the intersections have a combination of problems, including vertical profile issues, such as the hill east of the County Road U intersection, or roadways that meet the highway on a skew or at a curve.

“Crash trends show a pattern that we want to address,” he said.

Tegan Griffith, communications manager for the DOT’s north central region, said Highway 29 was constructed to meet what the needs and traffic volumes called for more than 20 years ago.

“The need for a four-lane facility spanning east to west across central Wisconsin was identified as a need in the early 1990’s and was originally constructed to federal and state four-lane expressway standards in the mid to late 1990s,” she said. “Since that time, traffic patterns and volumes have changed.”

In the fall of 2017, the DOT met with Shawano County officials to review the Highway 29 and County Road U intersection and identify immediate low-cost safety enhancements, Griffith said.

The following items have been completed to date:

• Rumble pads were reground on the County Road U approaches.

• Left side “stop-ahead” signs with metal orange flags were added to the County Road U approaches.

• Double-marked intersection warning signs were installed with 55 mph advisory speeds on the westbound approach for the intersection.

• LED blinker stop signs were installed on County Road U.

Griffith said funding had been approved through the Highway Safety Improvement Program for further improvements to the intersection, scheduled for construction in 2021.

The alternatives approved under those funds include a J-turn, U-median turn, or grading “to improve intersection geometry and sight,” Griffith said.

Public information meetings will be held later this year to present design alternatives and project costs, she said.

The DOT has its own crash statistics for the Highway 29 corridor and also sees the intersection at County Road U as a priority.

As for the other intersections, Griffith said, “Additional locations will continue to be monitored and evaluated and measures to address safety issues will be applied as feasible.”

Chief Deputy George Lenzner of the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said the county would love to see an interchange at all of the intersections, but the reality is that it’s not economically feasible.

However, he said, “we will continue to push DOT to move forward with improvements or hopefully an interchange at 29 and U.”

Lenzner said that when time permits deputies have provided extra patrol at the intersections flagged by the highway safety committee, making sure people are driving the speed limit and that they are coming to a complete stop at the stop signs.

Lenzner also said that, in spite of the design problems at these intersections, motorists themselves have to take some responsibility for the accidents taking place there.

“The majority of the fatal crashes that have occurred at these intersections involve inattentive driving,” he said. “Vehicle operators need to be more aware of their surroundings.”

Shawano Police Department

March 21

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 37-year-old Shawano man was taken into custody for a probation violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Humphrey Circle.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 21

Deputies logged 43 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 33-year-old Clintonville man was arrested on a warrant and charged with obstruction after a traffic stop on state Highway 29 in the town of Seneca. The man was a passenger in the vehicle. The driver, a 27-year-old Tigerton man, was cited for operating without a valid license and a seatbelt violation.

Fleeing — A 33-year-old Shawano man was arrested for fleeing from authorities on Hoffman Lane in Gresham.

Disturbance — A 42-year-old man was arrested on a warrant after authorities responded to a disturbance on U.S. Highway 45 in Birnamwood.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on Hidden Lane in the town of Lessor.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a scam complaint on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

Clintonville Police Department

March 21

Police logged seven incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Theft — A theft was reported on West First Street.

Tractor Supply Company, in partnership with National 4-H Council, is gearing up for its Spring Paper Clover event, a semi-annual fundraising campaign that provides millions of dollars in scholarships for 4-H youth. Donations from the program provide opportunities for youth to attend enriching camps, conferences and other developmental programs across the country.

From March 27 through April 7, Tractor Supply customers and team members can participate in the Paper Clover fundraiser by purchasing a paper clover for a donation during checkout at stores nationwide or by making a purchase online at TractorSupply.com.

Now in its ninth year, the partnership between Tractor Supply and 4-H has generated more than $12 million in essential funding. This past fall’s initiative raised nearly $2 million, impacting more than 14,000 students.

“Tractor Supply has an unparalleled partnership with the National 4-H Council, and our biannual Paper Clover program is a true representation of the incredible value 4-H brings to youth, families and communities,” said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply Company. “We look forward to this program each year because it allows us to invest in youth who are passionate about impacting the world around them.”

Fundraising efforts from Tractor Supply’s Paper Clover event provide scholarships for numerous state level 4-H programs nationwide, and every donation benefits youth within the state it was collected. Scholarships are used for camps and leadership conferences, where attendees learn everything from animal care and woodworking to professional networking practices and civic responsibility.

4-H clubs are encouraged to contact a Tractor Supply store to participate during the in-store fundraiser. Those who participate with their local store are eligible to win a $100 Tractor Supply gift card through the Paper Clover Participation Sweepstakes. For more information on Paper Clover or how to enter the sweepstakes, visit TractorSupply.com/4h.

A Shawano man is facing felony counts of fleeing from authorities and reckless endangerment after a high-speed chase Thursday.

Brandon J. Nahwahquaw, 33, is accused of fleeing after Shawano County deputies arrived to check out a suspicious vehicle parked alongside a fence at a utility station at a dam in the town of Herman.

The criminal complaint alleges Nahwahquaw led Stockbridge-Munsee police and sheriff’s deputies on a chase that reached 90-100 mph through the village of Gresham.

The vehicle ultimately crashed at the end of Mill Creek Road in the town of Red Springs and two occupants, including the driver, later identified as Nahwahquaw, came out of the vehicle and surrendered.

Nahwahquaw faces two counts of reckless endangerment for putting at risk the safety of his passenger and the safety of the Stockbridge-Munsee police officer who began the chase.

Those counts each carry a maximum possible penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

Nahwahquaw could also face a maximum 3½ years and a $10,000 fine if convicted of fleeing.

He was ordered to be held Friday on a $3,000 cash bond and is scheduled for an adjourned initial court appearance April 1.

A Marinette County judge set bail at $1 million cash Friday for the man accused of killing a Green Bay couple in July 1976.

Raymand L. Vannieuwenhoven, 82, was 39 years old when David Schuldes, 25, and Ellen Matheys, 24, were shot to death at the McClintock Park campground in the town of Silver Cliff. Matheys was also sexually assaulted.

His criminal record had been clear for nearly 60 years until modern forensic technology matched evidence collected in 1976 to his DNA profile, and he was arrested March 14 at his home in Lakewood.

District Attorney Deshea Morrow asked Judge James Morrison for the high bond because of the seriousness of the crime.

”These are brazen crimes that occurred at midday in a county park in Marinette County,” Morrow said. “Up until this month, there had not been an unidentifiable suspect. We now have an identified defendant, and I do think that there is a very great flight risk because of the greatness of the potential penalties.”

Morrow added that although her office has not been able to find a history of criminal convictions, Vannieuwenhoven was arrested in 1957 in Green Bay for an assault on two females, and in 1960 he was arrested for “fugitive non-support.” Records are incomplete regarding the disposition of those charges.

”The allegations in this case could not be more serious; the potential consequences could not be more significant,” Morrison said in granting the bail request.

Vannieuwenhoven appeared in court without an attorney, and his daughter, Susie Helms, explained to the judge that she has not yet been able to find an attorney willing to take on the case. The State Public Defender’s Office has already concluded that he does not qualify for its assistance.

“I just want you to understand that there’s nothing your father faces today that could be as conceivably important as he getting a lawyer to assist him in this case,” Morrison said.

Earlier, when the judge asked Vannieuwenhoven if he understood he faced two life sentences plus up to 15 years in prison if convicted of all three crimes, the defendant replied, “Not guilty, not guilty, and not guilty.”

“I’m not asking you, sir, to enter pleas, I’m asking you if you understand the maximum potential consequences that you’re facing,” Morrison said.

“I understand, yeah,” he replied.

The judge read the three counts, and Vannieuwenhoven appeared to shake his head slightly when Morrison read the first-degree sexual assault charge.

Morrison adjourned the initial court appearance until 2 p.m. April 30 – or sooner if Vannieuwenhoven is able to hire an attorney before then.

A trial date has been set in the felony burglary case against Wittenberg Village President and Shawano County Supervisor William J. Switalla.

The case is scheduled to go before a jury in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on June 12.

Switalla’s attorney, Paul Payant, requested the case be heard by a jury rather than having a court trial before the judge.

The trial date was set after a pre-trial conference Friday. There is one more pre-trial conference scheduled before the trial, on June 6.

Switalla is accused of breaking into a garage and taking a grill from a property the county had acquired in foreclosure.

Payant has previously argued that there had been no felony committed; that Switalla removed the grill from the property along with garbage he offered to clean up for the county at the property the county had acquired.

Payant also questioned whether County Treasurer Deb Wallace, who signed the non-consent form stating Switalla had no authority to take the grill, was in a position to claim ownership of the property.

It was Wallace who referred the matter to the county’s corporation counsel, who referred it to the sheriff’s department for investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, Switalla was among several county officials who went out to view the property at 715 Webb St. in Wittenberg on April 24 to establish a sale price.

When the county treasurer’s office held an open house at the property for interested buyers on May 23, the staff noticed that the house and garage door were unlocked and items appeared to be missing from the garage.

Neighbors informed them that they had seen Switalla loading a grill from the garage into his van, according to the complaint.

The grill was later returned to the property.

Neighbors also told authorities that numerous other people had been at the house since the previous owner had left.

The criminal complaint charges Switalla with one felony count of burglary, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 12½ years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine if found guilty.

He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of theft.

Switalla is free on a $2,000 signature bond.

Switalla will be on the election ballot April 3 in his bid for another term as village president. He is not facing any challengers.

The Shawano Farmers Market annual meeting will be held March 28, 6:30 p.m. at Angie’s Main Café, 132 S. Main Street, Shawano.

The Farmers Market is entering its 12th year in Shawano, and will be unveiling plans to move the market inside the boundaries of Franklin Park.

If attending the meeting, park behind in the Shawano City Hall parking lot and use the rear Daily Grind entrance.

Vendors can obtain 2019 rules and applications online at www.shawanofarmersmarket.org/forms.html. Forms will also be available at the annual meeting.

Season spaces will be $240 each this year with a “Free Vendor Day” discount. Details on the discount for new vendors will be discussed at the annual meeting.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay will partner with Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee to host a retreat honoring all birthmothers on April 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the Wilderness Resort, 511 E Adams Street, Wisconsin Dells.

The theme is “Always in My Heart: Remembering a Birthmother’s Love.”

“Our goal each year is to provide a safe space for women to build connections with others who have a very unique life event in common. Although others can try to empathize, it is hard to truly understand the journey of a birthmother unless someone has lived it themselves,” said Cassandra Krueger, child and family services case manager for Catholic Charities. “Over the years, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the support and relationships that are created as a result of this event.”

This evening of self-care and learning is for birthmothers at any stage in the adoption process. With opportunities to share as they are comfortable and hear from other birthmothers, the hope is that attendees are able to build a support system through shared experiences and each other.

The Catholic Charities birthmother retreat is free for all attendees. To help offset the cost of transportation, gas cards will be provided to all who register by April 8. For more information or to register, please contact Cassandra Krueger at 920-680-1407 or ckrueger@gbdioc.org.

Founded in 1918, Catholic Charities provides social services to residents in the 16 counties of Northeastern Wisconsin that make up the Diocese of Green Bay, regardless of their background or faith.

Shawano Police Department

March 24

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Police responded to juvenile problems in the 600 block of East Center Street and 700 block of East Ridlington Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1000 block of South Lafayette Street.

Auto Theft — A vehicle was reported stolen in the 800 block of West Picnic Street.

March 23

Police logged 21 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Police responded to a property theft complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

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

Theft — A woman visiting the Shawano County Jail at 405 N. Main St. in Shawano reported her wallet was stolen.

March 22

Police logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at the People’s Express East, 1206 E. Green Bay St.

OAR — A 36-year-old Cecil man was arrested for operating after revocation and bail jumping at Olson and Richmond streets.

Shoplifting — Walgreen’s, 401 E. Green Bay St., reported a shoplifting incident.

Warrants — A 29-year-old Green Bay woman was arrested for an outstanding warrant at Green Bay and Andrews streets. A 20-year-old Shawano woman was arrested for an outstanding warrant in the 800 block of South Park Street. A 28-year-old Shawano man was arrested for an outstanding warrant at Union and Elizabeth streets.

Arrest — A 27-year-old Shawano woman arrested for a probation violation at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported at the VFW Clubhouse, 202 W. Lieg Ave.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported in the 400 block of East Green Bay Street.

OWI — A 55-year-old Shawano man was arrested for third offense operating while intoxicated in the 1000 block of East Green Bay Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 24

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A 25-year-old Gresham man was was arrested for disorderly conduct and endangering safety with a dangerous weapon after authorities responded to a fight in progress on North Street in Bonduel.

Harassment — Harassment was reported on Vinal Street in Wittenberg and on River Drive in the town of Wescott.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Primrose Lane in Tigerton.

OWI — A 45-year-old Bowler man was arrested for operating while intoxicated on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

OAR — A 35-year-old Clintonville man was cited for operating after revocation on state Highway 22 in the town of Belle Plaine.

March 23

Deputies logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on state Highway 156 in the town of Navarino.

OWI — A 22-year-old Mattoon man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after a property damage accident on Maple Road in the town of Herman.

Assault — A 34-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for disorderly conduct and an outstanding warrant on County Road D in the town of Pella.

Warrant — A 22-year-old Caroline man was arrested on a warrant on Mielke Road in the town of Grant.

Fleeing — Two teenage males were taken into custody after a chase that began in Waupaca County ended after they crashed the stolen vehicle on state Highway 156 in Shawano County.

March 22

Deputies logged 38 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a mail scam complaint on Wall Street in Bowler and a fraud complaint on Chrissie Circle in the town of Washington.

Shoplifting — Dollar General, 309 N. Genesee St. in Wittenberg, reported a shoplifting incident.

OAR — A 32-year-old Oneida man was cited for operating after revocation on Lake Drive in the town of Wescott.

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

Warrant — A 21-year-old Neopit woman was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

Clintonville Police Department

March 24

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

Theft — Thefts were reported on South Madison Street and on Sunset Drive.

Disturbance — A 44-year-old Clintonville man was arrested after police responded to a fight in progress on South Main Street.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on East Third Street.

Two teenage runaways from the Rawhide Boys Ranch near New London were arrested Saturday in Shawano County after a high-speed chase that ended with them crashing the vehicle.

According to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department, the two boys, ages 15 and 17, stole a SUV from a rural New London home.

The vehicle was spotted by New London police, who gave pursuit, but cut off the chase because of the high speeds.

The chase was picked up by Waupaca County deputies and then by Clintonville police when the pursuit ran through the city shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Both agencies also cut ended the pursuit because of high speeds.

According to authorities, those speeds reached an excess of 125 mph.

The chase entered Shawano County at which time deputies here took over the pursuit on state Highway 156 around 6 p.m.

The vehicle lost control and rolled over, according to authorities.

The teens sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken into custody.

They were cited in Shawano County for imprudent speed, operating without a license and operating a vehicle without permission of the owner.

The Waupaca County charges were still pending.

A certified nursing assistant at Birch Hill Health Care Center has been charged with the sexual assault of a resident at the facility.

Samantha A. Cornell, 30, of Shawano, is accused of having sexual contact with a 72-year-old woman on March 22.

Cornell could face a maximum 40 years in prison and $100,000 fine if convicted of second-degree sexual assault.

According to the criminal complaint, Cornell kissed the woman and sexually fondled her while assisting her after a bathroom visit.

The woman told police that Cornell told her “You are just so sweet; I love you so much” as she kissed her on the cheek, the complaint states.

The woman asked Cornell for her medication, according to the complaint, but Cornell instead brought her ice cream and the medication never came.

The complaint alleges Cornell assaulted the woman a second time during another bathroom visit later in the day, even after the woman told her seven or eight times not to touch her.

The woman told police that the second time was more “erotic,” involving more pressure and stimulation.

According to the complaint, another nurse told police she had seen Cornell also kiss six to eight other residents.

The complaint states Cornell’s last day at Birch Hill was to be Wednesday because of a move to South Carolina.

Cornell was ordered held on a $2,500 cash bond at a court appearance Monday.

She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will celebrate Rural Life Day on April 2 at 10:30 a.m. Rural Life Day is an opportunity to have soil, seeds, animals and machinery blessed, and build community throughout the Green Bay Diocese’s rural communities.

Monsignor James Dillenburg will be celebrating with the Rev. Tom Farrell.

There will be a luncheon with door prizes after the mass. Tickets are available at the Sacred Heart Parish Center, 321 S. Sawyer St., during regular business hours. Call the center at 715-526-2023 for assistance.

Participants may bring animals such as calves, piglets, lambs, chickens, ducks to Farrell’s backyard for Dillenburg to bless after mass. Animals should be contained, held, or restrained with a halter.

The church also welcomes participants to bring all farm equipment such as tractors, planters, milk trucks, and cattle haulers for blessing after mass. Park at the Sawyer Street entrance of the parking lot. This will make the items available to be displayed for the Sacred Heart Catholic School students and Rural Life Day mass guests.

Anyone bringing animals or equipment is asked to contact Lori Mathwich at 715-526-4104 or lmathwich@sacredheartshawano. Contact Rural Life Days coordinator Mary Lou Kugel at 715-524-3597 or charm5@frontiernet.net with event questions, to volunteer, or to learn more.

Shawano Police Department

March 25

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Disturbances — A 30-year-old Shawano man was arrested for disorderly conduct/domestic violence and a probation violation after a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street. Police also responded to a disturbance in the 200 block of South Sawyer Street.

Intoxicated Person — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of North Andrews Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Center and Andrews streets.

Warrant — A 28-year-old Bowler man was arrested for an outstanding warrant at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

March 25

Deputies logged 32 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a credit card scam complaint on Forest Haven Road in the town of Richmond.

Suspicious — A suspicious vehicle was reported on Cherry Road in the town of Herman.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to reckless driving complaints on state Highway 29 in Shawano, the town of Maple Grove, the town of Herman and the town of Grant.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Louisiana man was arrested on a warrant on state Highway 47-55 in the town of Wescott.

The dark vans kidnapping young girls out of parking lots — that’s what many folks believe is the common scenario that begins a victim/survivor’s life into human trafficking.

It’s not, according to Dawn Spang, a clinical director for Eye Heart World, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking cope in the aftermath and working with lawmakers to put stronger measures in place to deal with human traffickers. Spang told a full house Tuesday at Boarder Inns and Suites that people think it’s like the movie “Taken,” but in real life, there’s rarely a protagonist played by Liam Neeson coming to the rescue.

“It’s modern-day slavery,” Spang said. “It’s one person preying upon another person’s vulnerability. These human traffickers are master manipulators. They are masters at watching someone and observing someone and figuring out what is the way to prey upon that person’s vulnerability for maximum profit.”

Spang, whose presentation was sponsored by Shawano County Home and Community Education, described a Milwaukee-Green Bay-Minneapolis triangle that provides a convenient travel corridor for traffickers.

In many cases, traffickers are predators that groom their victims, and it can take many months before they move in to force those victims into sex slavery, according to Spang. Those who are trapped and forced to sell their bodies often have quotas of $800 to $1,000 per night, she said, with the average cost for “service” being $150 an hour.

Human trafficking brings a cash flow of $150 billion worldwide, with more than $33 billion in the United States alone, according to Spang. It is the fastest growing criminal industry behind drugs and gun misuse.

“This is what makes this type of crime so hard to fight — the amount of money that is involved in this,” Spang said. “A lot of people who were once selling drugs are now moving to selling human beings. The reason being is that drugs can be sold one time. A human being can be sold 10-15 times in one night. There’s a lot more money that can be made selling human beings.”

There are two types of human trafficking. Sex trafficking, which Spang dwelled the most on in her presentation, has occurred in all 72 counties in Wisconsin, she said. The other type is labor trafficking, where illegal immigrants are used to work on farms. Spang noted there have been quite a few of those cases in central Wisconsin.

The vast majority of human traffickers, 95 percent, are white males in the 35-45 age range who are married with kids, according to Spang. However, some traffickers are female.

The average age of girls forced into sex trafficking started in the 12-14 age range, although Spang knows of some who were forced into the industry at the age of 7. For boys, the average age is 11-13.

In more than 70 percent of sex trafficking cases, survivors are runaways or children who were in the foster care system, with only about one in four coming from a traditional family background. In the majority of cases, Spang said, there has been a history of abuse before the victims were pushed into sex trafficking.

“We’ve talked to traffickers who have said, ‘Thank you to all the stepdads, to all the uncles, to all the family friends who started abusing this girl at such a young age because you twisted her idea of what love and sex was, so it made my job easier,’” Spang said, noting that 85-90 percent of sex trafficking survivors have also been sexual abuse survivors.

The cost of a slave in the 1800s was equivalent to $40,000 in modern-day dollars, according to Spang, but the cost today is around $90.

“This is not that typical ‘Pretty Woman’ scenario, where they’re given the best clothes and the best shoes, and their hair is always done,” Spang said. “It may start out that way, but that’s not how it continues. When we’re working with law enforcement and pulling a survivor out of sex trafficking, she’s not dressed to the nines. She’s wearing scrubs or ripped jeans or stained clothes or pajama pants.”

Milwaukee is known to be a national hub for human trafficking and has been called by law enforcement as the Harvard school of pimps, according to Spang. She explained that, in lieu of the “diplomas” the traffickers share their information with aspiring predators that plan to start operations in other communities around the country.

“As long as you’re not going to invade their territory, they will share with you all about their operation because they believe that they run a valid business,” Spang said.

The traffickers are not so easy to identify, Spang said. They’re not the stereotypical types seen in 1970s movies, she noted, and they’re not always in grubby condition like their victims.

“All of the men in here, they could be one,” Spang said.

Wisconsin is in the top 10 for human trafficking arrests and for survivor rescues, Spang said, but she feels more needs to be done. After her presentation, Spang traveled to Madison to testify before the Wisconsin Legislature to urge the passage of the Safe Harbor Bill, which would keep victims under the age of 18 from being charged with prostitution.

“Currently, if you’re under 18 in Wisconsin, you can’t legally consent to sex, but you can still be charged with prostitution,” Spang said.

A Shawano man charged with reckless homicide in the death of a 41-year-old Appleton woman in a crash two years ago was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Brian J. Krueger, 32, is accused of recklessly causing the death of Naomi Gregurich in a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 29 near the intersection of Rangeline Road in the town of Herman on June 29, 2017.

Krueger was the driver of a 2013 Ford Focus that was traveling east on Highway 29, when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed the median, and struck a westbound 2008 Saturn being driven by Gregurich.

Krueger’s vehicle was a delivery vehicle for the Bumper to Bumper auto parts store in Shawano, according to the sheriff’s report.

Krueger and two juveniles that had been traveling with Gregurich were treated for non-life threatening injuries. However, according to the criminal complaint, the juveniles still require treatment for those injuries.

According to the complaint, Krueger had epilepsy and suffered a seizure while driving.

The complaint states Krueger had had several recent seizures — including one just the night before — and alleges he was aware that he was required to stop driving.

Krueger also had methadone in his bloodstream at the time of the crash.

“It is not clear if the loss of control of the vehicle Brian Krueger was driving was due to a seizure, the concentration of methadone in his system, or a combination of both,” the complaint states. “What is clear is that Brian Krueger ingested a narcotic drug, and knew that operating a vehicle after having recent seizures was wrong and that his reckless behavior caused a crash that took the life of Naomi Gregurich, and injured her two sons.”

The complaint also states Krueger’s license had been cancelled in November 2016.

Krueger could face a maximum 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of second-degree reckless homicide.

He is also charged with two counts of second-degree reckless injury, each of which carries a maximum 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

A former Gresham choir teacher was sentenced Tuesday to a total of eight years in prison and 10 years extended supervision on 62 counts of child porn possession, sex assault and child enticement.

Timothy J. Schmidt, 71, of Birnamwood, pleaded no contest to those charges in October.

Schmidt was originally charged in April 2017 with 24 felony counts, including sexual assault of a student and 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

He has been in jail since then and will be given credit for the nearly two years he has already served.

Schmidt was charged in July of last year with an additional 91 counts of possessing child porn. Some of the charges were dismissed under the plea agreement.

Schmidt, who had a one-year contract with the Gresham School District, resigned in April 2017 amid a police investigation that led to his arrest.

The investigation began in March 2017 when Stockbridge-Munsee police met with a parent of a Gresham Community School student reporting suspicious activity between Schmidt and her 16-year-old daughter.

The activity allegedly stretched back to October 2016.

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

Schmidt denied in court Tuesday that nude images were exchanged.

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

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker told the court that the incidents continue to affect the victim’s life, including being forced to change schools because of bullying by other classmates.

“There is a great deal of emotional trauma to this young lady,” he said.

Parker read a statement from the girl’s mother in which she said, “these years that should have been filled with fun and excitement and new experiences were literally robbed from her because of Mr. Schmidt.”

Parker said the psycho-sexual evaluation of Schmidt showed he had a “pedophillic disorder” and that he had a penchant for prepubescent children judging by the volume of images found on his computer showing children as young as 3-5 years old in sexual poses or engaged in sexual activity.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department performed forensic examinations of computer devices belonging to Schmidt to determine whether sexual photos had been exchanged with the 16-year-old girl, according to the complaint.

The examination turned up more than 1,000 images of suspected child pornography.

Schmidt’s attorney, Jeremey Campshure, said the images of younger children were downloaded while Schmidt was searching for images of older children and that those images were deleted.

Campshure also said the photos exchanged between Schmidt and the girl had been “exaggerated” and did not constitute child pornography.

“The pictures they exchanged mostly involved clothing in some degree,” he said.

Campshure also said his client felt sympathy for and was protective of the girl and made the mistake of allowing that to blossom into a romance that clouded his judgment.

Schmidt, in a 20-minute statement to the court, disputed the state’s characterization of some of his behavior and said some of the incidents alleged by Parker were not true.

About 10 minutes into his statement, Schmidt took responsibility for his actions with the girl.

“I’m accountable for allowing that friendship and compassion to go farther,” he said. “There were numerous times when I could have changed the course of events, but I failed to do so.”

Schmidt broke into tears as he told the court he was sorry for hurting the girl and his family.

Schmidt then turned to criticizing the news media for the way it has “sensationalized” the story.

He said the photos exchanged with the girl contained nothing graphic, lewd or pornographic.

“The continued reporting of these words, ‘exchanging nude pictures,’ was slanderous and defaming to both of us,” he said.

Schmidt also defended a Christmas letter he sent to the girl from jail in violation of a prohibition against his contacting the victim.

The letter included multiple biblical verses.

“My own devastation of losing so much was helped only by my returning to God and scripture,” Schmidt said. “This was made clear to her in the letter, and the scriptures I selected all discuss how God was the protector, defender and provider to those who seek him.”

Schmidt sobbed again as he talked about his child porn collection and how his efforts to educate children had been his true passion all his life.

“I don’t understand why I did what I did,” he said. “I have no idea where my interest in such debauchery comes from. All I know is that I recently have struggled with it. I sincerely apologize to all my acquaintances for disappointing them. A man can be embarrassed no lower than I am today.”

Langlade County Judge John Rhode, who heard the case after Schmidt’s request for a judicial substitution, said he saw some genuine remorse from Schmidt and some acceptance of responsibility for his actions.

“I would like to have seen more,” he said, adding that Schmidt still apparently sees a need to explain and justify his actions.

Rhode called Schmidt “his own worst enemy” and chastised him for repeatedly interrupting Parker’s sentencing argument with denials during the hearing.

Rhode said Schmidt had “unnatural sexual attractions” and noted that the distribution of child pornography continues to re-victimize the children involved every time it’s viewed.

He said prison time for Schmidt would send a message of deterrence for other who might want to view child porn.

Schmidt was given three years in prison and three years extended supervision on each of the 62 counts of possessing child porn, all running concurrently.

He was also given the same sentence on the charge of sexual assault of a student by school staff.

His heaviest sentence, running concurrently with the others, was eight years in prison and 10 years extended supervision on the charge of child enticement-sexual contact.

As flood waters continue to recede from the recent rapid snowmelt and rain, Wisconsin homeowners may be assessing property damages and taking steps to find repair help.

State officials ask property owners in affected areas to beware of transient contractors promising quick help at a great price and to contact their insurance providers for guidance before signing any work contracts.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) are warning Wisconsin residents to be leery of promises made by “storm chasers” as these types of operations have a history of doing subpar work for high prices or simply running off with a victim’s money. These crews may make fraudulent claims about their ability to work with your insurance provider and will likely rush you to sign a contract.

Storm chasers know that affected homeowners in hard-hit communities may be enticed by great deals on immediate cleanup or repair help, and they are banking on these homeowners jumping at the first offer of assistance they receive.

These teams come and go from an area without a trace, leaving consumers empty-handed and with no recourse for any work left unfinished or any damage they have done to a homeowner’s property. They are also known to pressure homeowners for upfront payments or increase their prices arbitrarily as they work.

“Water can do a lot of damage, so property owners may be in a hurry to start repairing their buildings and landscaping,” said Lara Sutherlin, administrator for the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection. “We ask those seeking repair services to do their research to find a reliable contractor and to turn away transient work crews, despite the appeal of their pitches.”

DATCP and OCI offer these tips for homeowners with storm damage:

• First, contact your insurance agent to begin the claims process. Contact them again if an adjuster has not been assigned to you within several days.

• Take photos of the damaged property and save samples of damaged materials, such as carpeting, curtains, and upholstery.

• Mitigate the damages to the extent that you can — without actually beginning repairs. For instance, put a tarp on the roof to stop additional damage, or lift items up off the floor to get them out of standing water.

• Don’t throw away damaged property without the claims adjuster’s agreement. If local officials require you to dispose of damaged items for safety, photos and swatches will help.

• Be wary of any contractor who knocks at your door. If your municipality has a door-to-door sales ordinance, call municipal officials to find out if the contractor holds the proper permits.

• Hire a contractor based on referrals. Ask friends, neighbors or your insurance agent for recommendations and ask contractors for references. Before you sign a contract, contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection’s hotline (800-422-7128) to see if there are complaints about the business.

• Try to get a local contractor and know who will be doing the work — the contractor or a subcontractor.

• Get lien waivers from anyone you pay for home repairs. It is necessary to do this because if the person collecting the money does not pay the supplier or worker, a lien could be put on your property.

• Get a written contract with a start and completion date and warranty information. Also, make certain that the contract states exactly what work is to be done and what materials are to be used. Never rely on a verbal commitment.

• Check with your local building inspector to see if the work requires a permit and make sure an inspector visits the job site before you provide final payment.

• Request a copy of the contractor’s certificate of liability insurance.

• Keep all receipts that document the cost of repairs or the replacement of damaged items.

For additional consumer protection information or to file a consumer complaint, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau at datcp.wi.gov​, send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128.

For a specific complaint about your insurance, refer it first to the insurance company or agent involved. If you do not receive satisfactory answers, contact OCI at 800-236-8517, by email at ocicomplaints@wisconsin.gov, or by visiting oci.wi.gov.