The city of Shawano has identified eight locations along Main Street at risk for water main breaks due to potential corrosion.

High levels of chloride in the soil were responsible for three water main breaks along Main Street since December 2010 and recent random soil tests found eight other spots where chloride levels are high.

The Shawano Field Committee recently approved adding $20,000 to next year’s Capital Improvement Projects budget to cover the costs of replacing stainless steel saddles in those eight locations. The saddles hold in place the service connection to the water main.

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

Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard said the stainless steel used in the saddles could start to deteriorate at chloride levels over 300 ppm. At levels above 500 ppm the deterioration is much faster.

Chloride levels in the area of the three water main breaks were in the range of 900 ppm, he said, adding that those kinds of levels are rare.

“That’s from years and years of street salt seeping into the soil,” Sheppard said.

The saddles were installed during the Main Street reconstruction project in 2002 and 2003, which stretched from the channel to the Mountain Bay Trail at Oshkosh Street.

The contractor on the project was Degroot Construction, of Green Bay, which purchased the saddles from Davies Water Equipment of Appleton. The saddles were manufactured by Smith Blair Inc. of Texarkana, Texas.

The eight problem areas discovered during this summer’s soil testing are scattered between the 200 block of South Main Street and 200 block of North Main Street.

Sheppard said the city is looking at replacing stainless steel saddles in those areas with either coated stainless steel or brass saddles. The work will probably be done in the spring.

“Stainless steel is the industry standard,” Sheppard said, “but chloride is like kryptonite for them.”

The first two water main breaks occurred in the 100 block of North Main Street in February 2009 and December 2010, only about 50 to 75 feet away from one another. The most recent was in the 200 block of South Main Street in September 2013.

It was initially uncertain whether there was a soil problem or the saddles were defective, but tests done by TPS Consulting Engineers, of Green Bay, found the saddles met metallurgical standards and had been properly welded in place.

City officials said the high chloride levels pose no health concerns because there is no contact between the chloride and the city’s water.

The first of three family co-owners of a Wescott supper club charged in connection with a home-based marijuana operation was sentenced Friday to four months in jail as a condition of three years’ probation.

Lynn Himebauch, 67, pleaded no contest in July to felony charges of manufacture and delivery of marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Sentencing is still pending for her husband, William R. Himebauch, 63, and their daughter, Nicole H. Himebauch, 33. They have also pleaded no contest to the same charges.

Under the plea agreements, the state has agreed to recommend sentences of jail time and probation for all three defendants.

Shawano-Menominee County Assistant District Attorney Catharine White told the court Friday that Lynn Himebauch was the “least culpable” of the three defendants.

She said the marijuana was grown by her husband and there was no proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Lynn Himebauch was aware that marijuana was being sold.

White said Lynn Himebauch was aware, however, of the growing operation and smoked much of the marijuana herself.

Authorities seized 87 plants from the residence during the execution of a search warrant in February 2013.

Defense attorney Michael Rudolph told the court his client believed the marijuana was for personal use.

“There was no intention to have any of this leave the family,” he said.

Some 50 people crowded into the courtroom Friday to show their support for Lynn Himebauch, who read an emotional statement to the court before sentence was passed.

She described her dependency on marijuana, which she said she took to alleviate health problems, the financial struggles that led to the decision to grow the drug at home and the devastating aftermath of the arrests and charges that have fractured the family.

“To say that I am sorry that I did this, is the understatement of my life,” she said. “The consequences that have resulted from my poor decisions were things that I never thought could happen to me in my life.”

Judge William Kussel Jr. accepted the joint recommendation of the state and defense for sentencing, along with conditions of probation that include an alcohol and drug assessment and treatment. He also imposed a fine of $200 and court costs.

Manufacture and delivery of marijuana carries a maximum possible sentence of 12 1/2 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine. Maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver marijuana each carry a maximum 3 1/2 years and $10,000 fine.

Lynn, William and Nicole Himebauch are co-owners the Classic’s Restaurant and Lounge.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department deputies executed a search warrant at a residence in the same building as the supper club in February 2013 and arrested Nicole Himebauch on felony charges of manufacture and delivery of marijuana, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

That same day, deputies executed another search warrant in the town of Richmond at the home of her parents, who were taken into custody on the same felony counts.

According to the criminal complaint, marijuana growing operations were found in two areas of the Richmond residence.

According to the complaint, Nicole Himebauch was the suspect in a controlled marijuana buy with a confidential informant on Feb. 5, 2013, at the supper club. The complaint alleges she sold the informant “high-grade marijuana” at $325 an ounce for a total 0f $950.

The informant also told authorities Nicole Himebauch had gotten the marijuana from her parents’ residence, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges marijuana was sold directly from the bar at the supper club.

According to the complaint, a converted room in the upstairs of the Richmond residence contained numerous marijuana plants, along with equipment to trim, grow, clean and clone new plants. A second grow room was found in the basement, according to the complaint.

Nicole Himebauch is scheduled for sentencing Tuesday.

William Himebauch had been scheduled for a jury trial, but entered his no contest plea Wednesday. He is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 24.

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 5

Police logged 17 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Hamlin and Richmond streets.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Prairie Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Oct. 4

Police logged 22 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Police responded to a vandalism complaint in the 400 block of West Picnic Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 500 block of South Cleveland Street.

Theft — A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle in the 400 block of South Bartlett Street.

Vandalism — A truck was reported egged in the 700 block of South Union Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1300 block of East Lieg Avenue.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of South Lafayette Street.

Oct. 3

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 100 block of River Heights.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident at Green Bay and Andrews streets.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem at Danks and Lafayette streets.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 5

Deputies logged 49 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to an intoxicated person complaint on state Highway 22 in the town of Washington.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Oriole Road in Wittenberg.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Landstad Road in Lessor.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Old Lake Road in Wescott.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ganschow Street in Bonduel.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven deer-related crashes.

Oct. 4

Deputies logged 44 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on County Road J in the town of Morris.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint on Buss Road in the town of Grant.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Lake Drive in Wescott.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Buss Road in the town of Grant.

Accidents — Authorities logged injury accidents in the towns of Pella and Herman and three deer-related crashes.

Oct. 3

Deputies logged 54 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a phone scam complaint on Hauman Road in Green Valley.

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

Assault — Authorities investigated a sexual assault complaint on Cedar Street in Tigerton.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Express Way in Bonduel.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile alcohol complaint on Buss Road in the town of Grant.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Oak Avenue in Richmond.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

C.J. Doxtater, from End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, will present the keynote address at a Domestic Violence Awareness Day program Wednesday at Menominee Casino Resort, N277 State Highway 47/55, Keshena.

The program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 9 a.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Doxtater is an outreach coordinator for End Domestic Abuse, an Oneida member and an outspoken advocate working to curb the violence that overtook much of his life when he was an addict and alcoholic.

Several breakout sessions will be held throughout the program. Topics include Human Trafficking in Indian Country, Men's Batterers Group, Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Shelters, Roles and Resources.

Other participants include the Young Eagle Bear drum group and the Veterans of Menominee Nation honor guard.

Free transportation to the program will be available beginning at 8 a.m. Menominee Transit will pick up attendees at designated sites in Shawano and Menominee counties. A special transit will pick up Stockbridge-Munsee Community tribal members at the Family Center.

The program is sponsored by Native American Indians Against Abuse and Oskeh Weapeqtah Domestic Violence Shelter, Safe Haven and the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation.

For information, call Oskeh Weapeqtah at 715-799-3931, Safe Haven at 715-526-3421 or the Stockbridge-Munsee Domestic Violence Program at 715-493-4863.

The Shawano School District is having difficulty competing with other school districts for substitute teachers, and it’s willing to shell out more money to ensure its classrooms are manned.

The School Board voted 6-1 Monday night to increase substitute teacher pay from $90 daily to $120—triple the increase requested by district officials. Business manager Louise Fischer had recommended increasing the pay $10 per day, to $100.

With the increase, Shawano will pay more than other districts in Shawano County and northern Waupaca County, but will still trail larger area districts such as Wausau ($144) and Green Bay ($146).

Derek Johnson, who voted against the pay increase, said the $30 hike was too much for a temporary solution. He suggested the district should be looking at adding staff members who could serve as floating subs.

“Do we really want to launch ourselves ahead of everybody except for the Green Bay schools?” Johnson said. “Other schools are just going to follow suit, whatever we set.”

Johnson estimated the increase would raise district expenses for substitute teachers $100,000 per year. The district already spends about $300,000 annually for subs.

Board member Michael Sleeper noted that asking someone with a four-year degree—a requirement for substitute teachers—to work for $11.25 an hour was unacceptable. He felt $15 per hour would be more attractive to subs.

“It’s not out of line,” Sleeper said. “I have talked with people who said (the current pay) is not worth the aggravation at that price.”

Fischer said the district has a pool of about 50 people it uses to fill in for absent teachers, but despite the large pool, the district has difficulty filling all its open classes.

The district will need to hire five to 13 subs daily next week, according to Fischer, but that’s only to cover the expected absences. Family emergencies, illnesses and other circumstances could require additional subs.

During standardized testing weeks, the district has had to hire 30 to 35 subs daily, she said.

“It’s numerous how many subs we need to have, and it’s not by our choice,” Fischer said.

When the district cannot find enough subs to handle classrooms, it asks teachers to give up their prep periods or asks guidance counselors to fill in, Superintendent Gary Cumberland said.

Fischer expects the district will need to revisit the pay issue next year, as several area school districts are also looking at increases.

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 6

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A bike was reported stolen from Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.

Theft — A ring was reported stolen at Manor Care, 1436 S. Lincoln St.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance at Randall and Union streets.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 800 block of South Park Street.

Fraud — CoVantage Credit Union, 911 E. Green Bay St., reported a counterfeit $50 bill.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance involving juveniles in the 600 block of East Schurz Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 6

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 29 in Angelica.

Reckless Driving — Authorities responded to a reckless driving complaint on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint at North Star Casino, W12180 County Road A, Gresham.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Olson Road in Green Valley.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Cloverleaf Lake Road in Belle Plaine.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Boettcher Lane in Bonduel.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on County Road U in the town of Herman.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes and a vehicle vs. bear in Seneca.

Clintonville Police Department

Oct. 5

Police logged five incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Officer was requested for a missing juvenile on East 12th Street and upon arrival to complete the report the juvenile returned home.

Vandalism — Vandalism was reported on Seventh Street.

The second of three family co-owners of a Wescott supper club charged in connection with a home-based marijuana operation was sentenced Tuesday to five months in jail as a condition of two years’ probation.

Nicole H. Himebauch, 33, pleaded no contest in August to felony charges of manufacture and delivery of marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Her mother, Lynn Himebauch, 67, was sentenced Friday on the same charges after also pleading no contest. She was given four months in jail as a condition of three years’ probation.

William R. Himebauch, 63, who has also pleaded no contest to the same charges, is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 24.

Under the plea agreements, the state has agreed to recommend sentences of jail time and probation for all three defendants.

According to the criminal complaint, Nicole Himebauch was the suspect in a controlled marijuana buy with a confidential Sheriff’s Department informant on Feb. 5, 2013, at Classic’s Restaurant and Lounge in Wescott.

Lynn, William and Nicole Himebauch are co-owners of the supper club.

The complaint alleges Nicole Himebauch sold the informant “high-grade marijuana” at $325 an ounce for a total 0f $950.

As part of her sentence, she was ordered to repay that money to the Sheriff’s Department.

The informant told authorities Nicole Himebauch had gotten the marijuana from her parents’ residence, according to the complaint.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department deputies executed a search warrant at a residence in the same building as the supper club and arrested Nicole Himebauch on felony charges of manufacture and delivery of marijuana, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

Deputies also executed a search warrant in the town of Richmond home of her parents, who were taken into custody on the same felony counts.

According to the criminal complaint, a converted room in the upstairs of the Richmond residence contained numerous marijuana plants, along with equipment to trim, grow, clean and clone new plants. A second grow room was found in the basement, according to the complaint.

Authorities seized 87 plants from the residence, according to court records.

As with her mother, Nicole Himebauch was joined at her sentencing Tuesday by a crowd of supporters.

She told the court she took responsibility for her actions and was sorry.

A federal judge in Wisconsin on Tuesday lifted her hold on an order allowing same-sex marriages to take place in Wisconsin.

Judge Barbara Crabb declared Wisconsin’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional in June, but she put her ruling on hold a week later while the state appealed. The hold was set to expire as soon as the appeals ended.

That happened Monday, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeals court decision upholding Crabb’s ruling.

Crabb said Tuesday that Wisconsin can no longer enforce its gay marriage ban.

The announcement came as welcome news to many same-sex couples, especially more than 500 couples that married in June before Crabb’s decision was put on hold.

Rejecting appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans, the Supreme Court effectively made such marriages legal in 30 states, up from 19 and the District of Columbia.

Challenges are pending in the other 20 states.

Directly affected by Monday’s orders were Wisconsin, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia. Couples in six other states — Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming — should be able to get married in short order since those states would be bound by the same appellate rulings that have been on hold.

Jamey Spencer, of Shawano, was among the state residents eager to move forward with wedding plans and hopes to soon obtain a marriage license with his fiance, Ivan Machmueller. They’ve been together for nearly five years.

Spencer said Tuesday he was a little surprised at the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the appeal and had expected it would be almost a year before Wisconsin’s case was resolved.

“I think that was the fastest resolution for it, instead of being in court for a really long time and having to hear all these arguments,” Spencer said. “They basically indicated they had better things to do than worry about who marries who.”

After Crabb stayed her decision, Spencer and Machmueller put wedding plans on hold, saying it made no sense to put down deposits for services when it wasn’t clear when or if they could be legally married.

“Now I’ve got to get busy,” Spencer said.

Shawano County Clerk Rosemary Rueckert said Tuesday that the county was making marriage licenses available to all couples.

“The ban against same-sex marriage has been deemed unconstitutional, so Shawano County will now be issuing the licenses,” Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus said. “Marriage licenses will be issued regardless of gender or the combination of genders.”

Couples will still have to go through the five-day waiting period, Rueckert said. Licenses cost $80.

Kordus noted that the county will be using the existing forms, which list the applicants as “bride” and “groom,” during the interim, but he didn’t believe the licenses would be disqualified by the state if a man’s name was listed under “bride” or a woman’s name was listed under “groom.”

“We’re hopeful they’ll update their forms quickly, but the fact that the form is inarticulate based on the current status of the law doesn’t mean we’re going to utilize that as a reason to get around following the law,” Kordus said.

Rueckert said she had one same-sex couple request a marriage license on Monday.

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 7

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 30-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 900 block of East Randall Street.

Warrant — A 36-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 600 block of East Division Street.

Shoplifting — An 18-year-old male was cited for shoplifting at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Prairie Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 7

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Spruce Road in Wittenberg.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Richards Street in Gresham.

Warrant — A 34-year-old Bowler woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Murphys Road in Bowler.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Mill Street in Wittenberg.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Oct. 7

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Theft — A retail theft was reported on North Main Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at the middle school, 255 N. Main St.

Disorderly — A disorderly conduct incident was reported on South Clinton Avenue.

Plans are in place to reopen the Gordon Noren Skate Park in Clintonville.

The park at 55 E. 12th St. was closed more than a year ago after it was decided that it was unsafe due to the condition of the equipment, such as the ramps and railings.

Justin McCuly, city park and recreation director, recently told the Common Council that he was able to find some surplus equipment in good shape.

The council approved spending $10,028 for the equipment. The money will come from a recreation center building fund and will be paid back.

“Kids have been asking, ‘When will we get our skate park back?’ They are going to be very surprised,” Mayor Judith Magee said.

Police Chief Terry Lorge said the skate park was used by lots of kids when it was open. He donated the use of his trailer to get the new equipment.

The park is named after Gordon Noren, the driving force behind the park’s creation in the late 1990s. He passed away in 2013.

Noren built the first ramp in his garage with materials donated by the Lions Club. The city then provided a fenced-in area on the paved portion of the Old Armory parking lot for the skaters.

To help bring back the skate park, Polly Goodell, Noren’s daughter, donated money she had received in her father’s memory to the city and earmarked it for a new skate park. So far she has donated $1,470.

Alderperson Glory Dunlavy said the Lions Club has donated $2,500 toward the new equipment.

No date has been set for the reopening.

Five days after receiving a stinging rebuke from the state Government Accountability Board, the Clintonville Common Council on Tuesday voted to hold a recall election targeting District 4 Alderman Greg Rose on Nov. 18.

The recall is believed to be the first in Clintonville, but it might not be the last.

Resident William VanDaalwyk, who launched the recall effort against Rose, told the council Tuesday that it should put money in a contingency fund because there will be more recalls.

He said he was speaking to the council members who voted to investigate former City Administrator Lisa Kotter, who subsequently resigned last month in a deal with the city in which both sides agreed Kotter had done nothing wrong.

The city, which has spent more than $17,000 on legal bills related to the Kotter controversy, also agreed to continue paying Kotter until May 15, 2015.

The Common Council voted unanimously, with Rose abstaining, Tuesday to accept the certification of sufficiency issued Sept. 22 by Johnson that the recall petition met all the necessary criteria. The campaign collected 87 signatures; 56 were required.

The council voted 4-2 not to accept the certification Oct. 2, prompting an order from the GAB telling the council that it must call the election.

VanDaalwyk also called out Alderperson Gloria Dunlavy during Tuesday’s meeting for claiming the recall would cost $5,000. City Clerk Peggy Johnson has indicated it will cost about $2,500.

Rose was elected to a two-year term in April 2013. VanDaalwyk claims Rose has been hostile to business and industry in the city, and breached his fiduciary duty by voting to replace a competent municipal attorney with an inexperienced relative of two council members (Dunlavy and Alderperson Jeannie Schley).

Nomination papers for the recall election will be due by 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Former Alderperson Lois Bressette has already indicated she will oppose Rose. If more than two candidates run, the primary will be held on Nov. 18, and the recall election would then be Dec. 16.

Schley presided over Tuesday’s meeting as acting mayor. Mayor Judith Magee announced Oct. 2 she was taking a medical leave of absence to last no longer than Nov. 26. She cited the council turmoil of recent months as a reason.

The Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano to celebrate the renovation at the church that began in May and was completed in September.

“We’re excited to invite everybody from the community to see our beautifully renovated church,” said the Rev. Luke Ferris, pastor at Sacred Heart.

Following the ceremony the community was invited to tour the church.

“It’s a community celebration,” said Autumn Gee, Sacred Heart development director.

Nancy Smith, the chamber’s executive director, praised the results of the project.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “We appreciate the use of local contractors and business people.”

The renovation involved adding stained windows, a cross and a heart mosaic to The Gathering Space. In the church, all the wood was stained a darker cherry, a new front and back altar were constructed, statues and stations of the cross were renewed, and new flooring was installed.

Parish council member Randy Mallmann was pleased with the renovation, noting the money was well spent.

“It turned out absolutely beautiful,” Mallmann said. “More than what I expected. It’s nice that we went back to a traditional look.”

Shawano County Sheriff Randy Wright on Wednesday called for a halt to investigations of his department by a private attorney hired by the county’s Administrative Committee.

Wright said the attorney is investigating money that went missing from the jail in 2013 and an incident that took place at a Republican Party picnic between three detectives and Shawano police officer Adam Bieber, who is running against Wright in the Nov. 4 election.

“I think it’s a shame that a private attorney is being used in what I kind of term as a witch hunt only to discredit my office and staff during an election cycle and on taxpayers’ dollars,” Wright said.

Wright made his comments during a meeting of the Public Safety Committee, which oversees the Sheriff’s Department.

Supervisor Bert Huntington, committee chairman, said he only recently found out about the investigations.

“I was very surprised when I heard it,” he said. “It was like getting hit in the back of the head by a two-by-four. I knew nothing about it.”

Huntington said he should have been told of the investigations and that disciplinary actions should not be handled solely by the Administrative Committee.

“I think that that committee has a little more power than it should have,” he said.

However, Huntington backed away from Wright’s request to ask that the investigations be dismissed.

“I don’t think we have the right to step in,” he said, “because there’s an investigation in progress.”

Wright said the Administrative Committee’s actions did not follow procedures set down by statute for investigations of alleged improper activity in the Sheriff’s Department.

He said there needs to be a complainant who brings a complaint and signs it under oath.

False allegations can lead to a charge of perjury, Wright said.

“Do we even have a complainant with these investigations?” he said.

Wright also asked under what authority the investigations were approved and how much it’s costing the taxpayers. He said the attorney was granted permission to access the department’s electronic files.

“It troubles me that someone is going through files of this office, many of which are law enforcement-sensitive,” he said.

Wright said three of his detectives and Jail Administrator Steve Borroughs have been questioned.

“The stress and strain being placed on my employees and their families is uncalled for and it should be stopped,” Wright said.

Wright said the missing jail money had been thoroughly investigated, though the investigation did not turn up what happened to the money or who might have been responsible.

The other incident, he said, involved detectives who were off-duty at the Republican Party picnic.

“They have the right to do political things on their time off,” he said.

There have been conflicting accounts of what happened at the picnic, with some witnesses saying the detectives attempted to ask follow-up questions of Bieber after his campaign speech and others who say their questions crossed the line into harassment.

Supervisor Bonnie Olson, a member of the Administrative Committee who attended Wednesday’s Public Safety meeting on another agenda item, told Wright she could not address any of his questions given the closed session nature of those discussions.

Wright tried to pursue those questions, anyway, but was cut off by Huntington.

“I’m going to stop this right here because I don’t want to get involved in no legal stuff,” Huntington said. “I don’t want to jeopardize anything over this.”

Felony OWI with injury

A Tigerton man is facing felony drunken driving charges in connection with a two-vehicle crash in August that injured a passenger in the other vehicle.

Joseph A. Derus, 31, has been charged with felony counts of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated, fifth-offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, OWI causing injury and operating with a prohibited alcohol count causing injury.

He could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each count if found guilty.

He is also charged with three felony counts of bail jumping, which carries the same possible penalty.

The crash occurred at state Highway 29 and County Road J in the town of Morris on Aug. 22.

According to the criminal complaint, Derus pulled onto Highway 29 from County Road J in front of the other vehicle.

The passenger in the other vehicle sustained a broken sternum and a broken foot, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges Derus had a blood-alcohol level of 0.26, more than three times the legal limit.

Derus was ordered held on a $3,000 cash bond and is due in court Tuesday for an adjourned initial appearance.

Identity theft

Arrest warrants have been filed for two Florida women accused of using stolen credit card information to rack up more than $2,500 in charges for the town of Almon cardholder.

Breanna S. Jefferson, 24, of Daytona Beach, and Rosalind W. Potter, 33, of Marianna, have been charged with identity theft for financial gain. They could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty.

An Almon woman reported in June 2013 that someone had made unauthorized purchases using her credit card information, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities were able to identify Jefferson and Potter by making contact with businesses in Florida where the card was used. According to the complaint, that included several hotels and casinos.

Felony OWI

An Appleton man is due in court Monday for an initial appearance on felony drunken driving charges stemming from his arrest in Bonduel in August.

Edward W. Krueger III, 48, was pulled over on state Highway 117 on Aug. 3 by a state trooper responding to a reckless driving complaint. According to the criminal complaint, Krueger had a blood-alcohol level of 0.28, more than three times the legal limit.

Krueger could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty on each of the felony charges of fourth-offense operating while intoxicated within the last five years and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration.

Child abuse

A Shawano man is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday on a felony charge of child abuse-intentionally causing harm.

Cook is accused of pushing an 11-year-old girl over a coffee table, causing her to bang her head, during an Oct. 4 domestic disturbance in the city.

He could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty. He is also charged with felony bail jumping, which carries the same possible penalty, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
story created on Wednesday 10/8/2014 at 12:46:16 pm by Tim Ryan

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 8

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 1000 block of East Fifth Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a scam complaint in the 700 block of East Maurer Street.

Theft — A bike was reported stolen in the 700 block of South Hamlin Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 8

Deputies logged 35 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

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

Assault — Authorities investigated an assault complaint at Bowler School, 500 S. Almon St., Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Elbow Room, 201 S. Warrington St., Cecil.

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

Accidents — Authorities logged an injury accident in Wittenberg and six deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department

Police logged eight incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Anne Street.

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on South Clinton Avenue.

Wolf River Lutheran High School will hold a Family Fun Fair and Auction on Saturday at Boarders Inn & Suites in Shawano.

It will be the first major public event since a fundraising effort was launched in April to support building a new high school, but proceeds Saturday will go toward meeting the school’s expenses this year.

“It is just going to help us pay for this year and to keep the school running,” said Karen Baker, secretary of the school’s board of directors. “This is mainly for helping us get through the year.”

A larger event, featuring astronaut Jerry Ross as speaker, is being planned in November.

The school earlier this year announced a fundraising campaign to finance building a new school, estimated to cost $1.3 million, on 25 acres the school owns at the intersection of state Highways 22 and 29 in Shawano.

Baker said the campaign has barely gotten started.

“We hope to have something going within a year or two,” she said. “It is not only toward the capital campaign but to also make people aware of Wolf River Lutheran.

“The location has been the problem. We are trying to get people to think about coming to our school.”

After opening in 2004 and initially holding classes at St. James Lutheran in Shawano, Wolf River Lutheran High School moved into the former Cecil Elementary School in 2012.

Enrollment in 2013-14 was 18. The staff included four Lutheran-trained teachers and Principal Jay Lindsey, the school’s first full-time administrator.

Lindsey resigned to accept a position in Plymouth and was replaced this year by Carolyn Bedroske, who also teaches history.

The school has 14.25 students enrolled for the 2014-15 school-year.

During his tenure, Lindsey said the Cecil building no longer meets the high school’s needs as it expands academic and extracurricular offerings and that the future of WRLHS could hinge on a new building.

The proposed 18,000-square-foot building would consist of five classrooms, a gymnasium with two locker rooms, office space and other basic needs.

The school early this year hired Cornerstone Stewardship Ministry, based in Lake Mills, to conduct a survey to determine the level of support for such a capital undertaking.

After reviewing the survey results, the school’s board of directors voted in April to begin the capital fundraising campaign with the assistance of Cornerstone.

“They think it is a really good idea because it benefits the community, and right now we are trying to get other church leaders involved,” Baker said. “We are just starting to go around to collect money.”

The campaign, as initially outlined, was expected to run until June 2015 with the goal of raising at least $800,000.

The initial, or silent, phase of the campaign began with organizers soliciting potential lead gifts and educating area Lutheran congregations about a potential “Partnership in Ministry” campaign.

In a partnership campaign, funds would be raised for not only the high school, but also for area congregations and could be used as they see fit.

With that approach, Jeffrey Davis, a managing partner with Cornerstone, speculated the campaign could raise an estimated $1.8 million to $2.4 million.

The bulk of the funding is estimated to come from four congregations. Three of them — St. James in Shawano, St. Paul in Bonduel and St. John in Suring — operate elementary schools. The fourth congregation would likely be St. Jakobi in the town of Richmond because of its close proximity to where the school would be built, according to Davis.

Proponents also have suggested St. Martin Lutheran Church in Clintonville might be interested, as the proposed location would be more convenient for Clintonville parents.

A steering committee gave its blessing Thursday to a proposed zoning code rewrite, sending it off to the Shawano Plan Commission and Common Council for consideration after a lightly attended open house.

Though only about a half dozen people attended the open house, suggestions they made were discussed at length by the Zoning Code Rewrite Steering Committee, which incorporated several of the recommendations into the proposed code.

The most significant of those was the adoption of an overlay district that would protect woodlands within the city limits.

The new district would require a permit for clear-cutting more than a third of designated woodland areas.

City Administrator Brian Knapp said there probably wouldn’t be a problem with the Plan Commission granting the permit to allow for new development, but the requirement would give the city some control over clear-cutting.

“I’ve had a lot of people ask about the clear-cutting that took place on Airport Drive,” he said. “Maybe there would at least be a way to monitor that and require that it be cleaned up and not be an eyesore. Right now, it’s a mess, and it’s a 40-acre eyesore.”

The new code would replace the one that has been in effect for 31 years.

It would put a premium on landscaping for any new development, setting a score that proposed developments would have to meet. They would get points toward the score for various types of landscaping included in the site plan.

The requirement would only apply to new development and to those portions of existing properties that are significantly remodeled or expanded.

The new code would toss the “legal nonconforming” designation for properties that don’t fit in with the zoning in their neighborhoods.

The code would reserve its most rigid requirements for downtown Shawano, which under the proposed new zoning map would run from the 100 block of North Main Street to Presbyterian Street on the south and would promote two-story storefront buildings with no setback from the sidewalk.

Any proposed renovations, designs or projects in that area would be closely scrutinized by the city, down to which storefront colors would be appropriate.

The code was last adopted in October 1983. Though it has been frequently amended, this is the first complete overhaul in 31 years.

The city hired Vandewalle and Associates for the project, which was budgeted at $50,000.

There will be a public hearing before the Common Council and possible adoption of the code Nov. 12, with another public hearing Dec. 10 on the new zoning map that will accompany the code.
story created on Thursday 10/9/2014 at 8:46:32 pm by Tim Ryan

Shawano County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann said Thursday there will be no halt called to investigations of the Sheriff’s Department until they have run their course.

“When we feel we have investigated thoroughly, it will stop,” he said.

Erdmann responded in an interview with the Leader to comments made by Sheriff Randy Wright at a Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday calling for an end to investigations of his department by a private attorney hired by the county’s Administrative Committee.

The investigations involve money that went missing from the jail in 2013 and an incident that took place at a Republican Party picnic between three detectives and Shawano police officer Adam Bieber, who is running against Wright in the Nov. 4 election.

Wright said his hope is that a County Board member would bring a resolution to the floor to dismiss the investigations, which he called a witch hunt timed to influence the election.

Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus said the board does have the authority to do that.

“The County Board is the ultimate arbiter and has the ultimate oversight regarding these matters,” he said.

Wright also maintains the Administrative Committee doesn’t have authority to investigate or take disciplinary action against his department’s employees.

However, according to Kordus, the county’s administrative manual gives the Administrative Committee or its designee authority to independently investigate alleged misconduct and take appropriate disciplinary action, if necessary, “in matters involving potential severe misconduct.”

Kordus also said that the attorney general has held that disciplinary action against a sheriff’s office employee is not solely within the sheriff’s power, and may be undertaken separately by a committee or board.

The Administrative Committee voted to hire labor Attorney Dan Borowski after a May 19 closed session discussion.

“Borowski was hired to look into the missing money and there were things he found that led him in other directions,” Erdmann said.

Borowski’s investigation apparently grew to include the events at the July 22 Republican Party picnic, though minutes from subsequent meetings do not show any vote taken to expand Borowski’s investigation.

There have been conflicting accounts of what happened at the picnic, with some witnesses saying the detectives attempted to ask follow-up questions of Bieber after his campaign speech and others who say their questions crossed the line into harassment.

“When it gets loud enough that Adam’s son gets scared and starts crying … the detectives had no business doing that,” Erdmann said.

Ultimately, Erdmann said, the point of the investigations is to bring accountability to the Sheriff’s Department.

He said no one has been held accountable for the missing jail money.

Wright said there was a thorough investigation of the missing money, which included polygraph tests administered to several staff, all of whom passed.

Wright also said the investigation was assisted by Brown County authorities and a retired Marinette County detective, and new money handling policies and procedures were put in place.

“If there was someone to hold responsible, I would have done it,” Wright said.

Wright said Erdmann’s claim that Wright doesn’t hold his staff accountable was a lie. He said there were at least 10 times since he took office in 2007 that employees lost their jobs over disciplinary actions.

“Some resigned, and some were walked out the door,” he said.

Wright also took issue with the investigation of the picnic incident, saying the Administrative Committee was bypassing a long-standing Sheriff’s Department policy for handling complaints against employees. That policy calls for a complainant to sign a complaint under oath, he said.

Bieber said in an interview Thursday that he had no interest in filing a formal complaint, but he said he was glad the Administrative Committee had chosen to investigate the incident.

“I am concerned about what happened there,” he said. “I’m glad they’re looking into it to see if there was anything inappropriate.”

Bieber said he has been questioned about the incident but wasn’t involved in the Administrative Committee’s decision to investigate.

Bieber said he doesn’t expect the investigations to hamper his relationship with staff if elected.

“Everybody should be able to be adults and put this aside,” he said. “I expect it will be put aside and I expect everyone to work and act professionally on and off duty.”

Twenty-five vendors are expected Saturday as the Shawano Farmers Market wraps up its first season at Franklin Park.

Market director Nathan Falk said the market has attracted more customers and vendors than in previous years.

“We have attracted new vendors that have found our market pleasing,” he said. “We hope to have a strong end to our farmers market season.”

The market was held in the City Hall parking lot for its first six years before moving to the park at the corner of Division and Washington streets in June.

The market is operated by Shawano Farmers Market Inc., a nonprofit group organized last year after the Business Improvement District relinquished responsibility and management of the seasonal weekly market.

Shawano Police Department

Oct. 9

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Arrest — A 34-year-old man was taken into custody for a violation at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

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

Warrant — A 25-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at the Probation and Parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

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

Vandalism — A refrigerated trailer was reported vandalized at Twig’s Beverage, 711 S. Washington St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Oct. 9

Deputies logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Sign posts were reported vandalized on Beech Road in Richmond.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on County Road D in Bowler.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Frailing Road in Wescott.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Waukechon Road in Waukechon.

OWI — A 42-year-old Sturgeon Bay man was arrested for operating while intoxicated and a probation violation on state Highway 29 in Wittenberg.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a report of a fight in progress on East Green Bay Street in Bonduel.

Accidents — Authorities logged five deer-related crashes.