Shawano Police Department

Jan. 12

Police logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 1400 block of South Lincoln Street.

Vandalism — A vehicle was reported vandalized in the 100 block of North Airport Drive.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Presbyterian Street.

Theft — A chainsaw was reported stolen in the 900 block of South Sawyer Street.

Burglary — Police investigated an attempted burglary in the 1100 block of South Main Street.

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

Jan. 11

Police logged 13 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of East Center Street.

Burglary — Police responded to a residential break-in in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.

Accident — Police responded to a two-vehicle property damage accident at Prospect Street and Ridlington Avenue.

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

Jan. 10

Police logged 24 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance on Prospect Circle.

Accidents — Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at Park Street and Birch Hill Lane, a single-vehicle accident at Airport Drive and County Road B, and a two-vehicle accident on East Green Bay Street. No injuries were reported.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem on Old Lake Road.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 12

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

OWI — A 55-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after a traffic stop on County Road A in Bowler.

Fire — Authorities responded to a house fire on Welhaven Road in Lessor.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Northwestern Avenue in Angelica.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Ah Toh Wuk Circle in Bowler.

Accidents — Authorities logged eight accidents, including three deer-related crashes.

Jan. 11

Deputies logged 33 incidents, including the following:

Vandalism — Authorities responded to a vandalism complaint on Gumaer Road in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Koonz Lake Lane in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged 12 accidents, including an injury accident on County Road N in Birnamwood and four deer-related crashes.

Jan. 10

Deputies logged 56 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on Maders Circle in Wescott.

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

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Maple Court in Shawano.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a domestic disturbance on Glenwood Court in Wescott.

Accidents — Authorities logged 25 accidents, including an injury accident on North Branch Road in Seneca and two deer-related crashes.

With 5 to 8 inches of snow expected in the region,.Shawano public schools and Sacred Heart Catholic School in Shawano are closing two hours early Tuesday, and afternoon Early Childhood sessions have been canceled.

Menominee Indian schools and Menominee Tribal School will close at noon. Menominee Indian Head Start will close at 12:30.

Gresham public schools are closing at 12:30 p.m.

Marion has canceled afternoon 4-year-old kindergarten.

Bonduel public private schools will close at 1 p.m.

Clintonville public and private schools will close at 1 p.m., with the recreation center closing at 1:30 p.m.

Pulaski will close in-town schools at 12:30 p.m. and out-of-town schools at 1:30 p.m.

Gillett schools will close at 1 p.m. Afternoon kindergarten is canceled.

Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout today and tonight.

With snow expected to continue throughout the day, motorists are being asked to
refrain from travelling unless absolutely necessary as the Winter Storm Warning
continues for many counties in North Central Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Patrol has responded to several run-offs and crashes across the
region. Highway crews are out plowing state highways, but the snow and gusting
winds is making snow removal difficult. Roads are icy, and motorists are advised to
be extra cautious on interchange ramps.

If you must travel, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds
motorists to be prepared for the unexpected and check winter road conditions before
leaving home by visiting 511.wi.gov.

Shawano County officials are hoping a wage study being conducted here will get a better reception than a similar study did in Oconto County.

The Oconto County study was done by Madison-based Carlson-Dettmann Consulting LLC, which the Shawano County Board of Supervisors voted 25-1 last month to do a wage and job classification study here at a cost of $42,000.

Though Oconto County officials expected some dissatisfaction, administrators estimated perhaps 10 percent of the county’s 250 employees would appeal the new pay scale adopted in November.

Instead, 73 employees are taking part in the appeal process that gets under way this week.

Under the plan, compensation increased from 0 to 8 percent. No employees had their wages cut; the few determined to be overcompensated had their pay frozen.

Shawano County Administrative Coordinator Tom Madsen said it’s still too early to tell how the local study will shake out or what recommendations will be made.

“We’re in the very early stages of this,” he said.

Madsen said Carlson-Dettmann is also involving employees in the process.

“They’ve had meetings with the employees and those meetings were well-attended,” he said. “They had a representative here for two days meeting with staff all over the county.”

Employees are currently filling out questionnaires about their jobs and job duties and Carlson-Dettmann will be back for another round of interviews, Madsen said. The study is expected to be wrapped up and in front of the County Board in March.

The first round of appeals for Oconto County employees is scheduled to be discussed Friday and Monday between department heads and Carlson-Dettmann representatives. The firm performed an employee classification/compensation study for a fee of $55,000 and recommended the pay scale approved by supervisors.

The county’s Personnel and Wages Committee is scheduled to review Carlson-Dettmann’s recommendations on Feb. 6 and hold a second round of appeals on Feb. 7 and 13. Any changes to the pay plan will require approval from the committee and the County Board, which is scheduled to review the committee’s recommendations on March 20.

According to Oconto County Administrative Coordinator Kevin Hamann, whatever appeals are granted will take effect with the March 23 pay period; no retroactive pay will be given.

Oconto County officials set aside $250,000 in the 2014 budget to cover the wage increases resulting from the study. Employee compensation increased about 30 percent in 2014 for a total of about $235,000 — an additional $178,000 for wages and $57,000 for fringe benefits.

A relentless band of heavy snow that lingered for most of the day brought a virtual standstill to all but essential services and plow drivers Tuesday.

The storm forced early school closings and event cancellations throughout the area and was a factor in at least 29 county traffic accidents between 6:40 a.m. and mid-afternoon.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department said none of those accidents involved injuries.

“We’ve had a lot of cars in the ditch,” Chief Deputy John Gutho said.

Highway and public works crews went into triage mode, making heavily traveled roads their first priorities.

Assistant Shawano County Highway Commissioner Casey Beyersdorf said keeping state Highway 29 open was first on the county’s list.

“We can’t risk a plug-up on that road,” he said.

A brief warm-up of temperatures in the days before the storm caused a thin layer of ice to form when the snow hit, adding to the treacherous conditions on Highway 29, “where the traffic speeds are already higher than they should be,” Beyersdorf said.

Beyersdorf said crews would continue plowing through the night on Highway 29, after the Department of Transportation requested 24-hour service for the road.

Crews planned to knock off around 9 p.m. for the other roads and start on them again in the morning.

The Highway Department had 41 plows out Tuesday; 14 of them on Highway 29, 14 on county roads and the rest making the rounds of town roads. Even the department’s staff of five mechanics were out driving plows Tuesday, along with three on-call drivers from the department’s management staff.

“You have to have the mentality to stay steady and slow,” Beyersdorf said, rather than reacting to the storm in a panic and racing all over.

“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” he said.

Beyersdorf said the drivers often don’t get the kudos they deserve for putting in their 16- or 17-hour days.

“If it weren’t for the talent, experience and skill of dedicated staff, this would be a lot more difficult,” Beyersdorf said.

Shawano Public Works Director Eddie Sheppard said the constant snowfall was tough to keep up with, but that crews managed well given the conditions.

“Traffic is moving,” he said.

Sheppard said there were several cars in ditches, primarily on East Green Bay Street where some drivers apparently missed their targeted driveways.

The weather seemed to be keeping some traffic off the streets.

“There’s not so many people out,” Sheppard said.

Heavily traveled routes in the city like Green Bay and Main streets got top priority, along with emergency and school routes, Sheppard said.

Green Bay Street took some doubling up of plows and it wasn’t until the afternoon that crews were able to start hitting residential streets, he said.

Schools closed early, many of them calling it a day around noon, and after-school activities were cancelled. Most area clubs and organizations called off their plans for the evening.

Shawano city and county government offices remained open, but some employees were allowed to leave early.

It was also business as usual at City Hall, and apparently not all city residents were overly fazed by the weather. The staff at City Hall reported one man came in to conduct city business wearing a pair of shorts.

Nearly eight inches of snow was reported by Tuesday evening, with an additional two to four inches still in the forecast overnight.

The city of Clintonville declared a snow emergency that remains in effect until noon Wednesday. The emergency means cars may not park on city streets.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 13

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — A charge of reckless endangerment was referred against a 24-year-old Keshena woman after an attempted stabbing incident at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Reckless Driving — Police responded to a reckless driving complaint on Elizabeth Street.

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

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 13

Deputies logged 31 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on state Highway 22 in Cecil.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on County Road M in Pella.

Theft — Authorities investigated a property theft complaint on Valley Road in Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged three minor accidents.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 300 block of East Center Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

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

Accidents — Police logged five minor accidents. No injuries were reported.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 14

Deputies logged 106 incidents, including the following:

Warrant — A 33-year-old woman was taken into custody on a warrant on Oak Street in Bowler.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Almon Street in Bowler.

Hit and Run — Authorities investigated a property damage hit-and-run on Main Street in Birnamwood.

Accidents — Authorities logged 70 weather-related accidents. No injuries were reported.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 14

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Trespass — Police responded to a trespassing complaint on West 13th Street.

Theft — A theft was reported at Clintonville High School, 45 W. Green Tree Road.

Max Shabani and his wife, Buki, have opened Max’s Restaurant at the former Amicos location at W7389 River Bend Road south of Shawano.

The couple has 40 years of experience in the restaurant business, most recently in Illinois.

Max’s menu includes breakfast, Angus burgers, melts, chicken sandwiches, appetizers, hot sandwiches, wraps, club sandwiches, salads, diet plates, stir fry, homestyle meals with old-fashioned recipes, seafood, Italian specials, a senior menu, and kid’s menu.

“Everything is fresh,” Max Shabani said.

The restaurant has a bar, two dining areas — with one equipped for meetings, and a kitchen that was updated. They are open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with plans to open at 6 a.m. in the summer.

Asked whether any other changes are planned, Max Shabani replied, “The future will tell me.”

Originally from Macedonia (Yugoslavia), the Shabanis have family in northern Wisconsin.

For more information, call 715-201-1020 or 715-201-1002.

Felony drunken driving charges were filed this week against a Hortonville man accused of crashing into a horse and buggy on Thanksgiving Day and seriously injuring two people.

Robert J. Egbert, 38, is charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated-causing injury and two counts of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration-causing injury. He could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the counts if convicted.

Egbert allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 percent — more than twice the legal limit — when authorities say he struck the buggy at County Road G and Gollnow Road in the town of Grant on Nov. 28.

Egbert told Shawano County sheriff’s deputies at the scene that he didn’t see the buggy until he struck it, according to the criminal complaint.

A 21-year old Marion woman who was a passenger in the buggy sustained a concussion and a head wound that took 12 staples to close, according to the complaint. The operator of the buggy, a 23-year-old Marion man, sustained contusions and abrasions.

It was allegedly Egbert’s third drunken driving offense, following two previous convictions in Outagamie County.

A man identifying himself as Egbert’s brother later arrived at the crash scene and told authorities they had been at a Thanksgiving Day gathering at their parents home. He said they tried to talk Egbert into staying the night because he had had “more than enough” to drink, but he wanted to go home.

Egbert is scheduled for an initial appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

A Keshena woman is facing a felony charge of reckless endangerment after allegedly trying to stab her mother, but only managing to wound herself during a domestic disturbance in Shawano on Monday.

Danielle J. Julius, 24, could face a maximum 12 1/2 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if found guilty. She also faces a misdemeanor count of domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct.

Police responded just before 1 a.m. Monday to a report of a stabbing incident at the Wisconsin House.

Julies came out of one of the rooms covered in blood, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint states Julius told authorities she tried to kill her mother.

The knife slipped as Julius’ mother tried taking it away from her, causing a cut to Julius’ hand, according to the complaint.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck ordered Julius held on a $5,000 cash bond. She is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Tuesday.

A Neopit mother and daughter have each been charged with a felony count of forgery for allegedly cashing a bogus check from a closed account at CoVantage Credit Union in Shawano.

Melody J. Summers, 53, and Shawn M. Summers, 21, could each face six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

In August, according to the criminal complaint, Melody Summers deposited a $622 check from the St. Peter’s Lutheran Congregation Funeral Fund into her daughter’s account. The complaint alleges Shawn Summers later withdrew about $400 of that money from her account.

A treasurer at St. Peter’s Church told police the funeral fund account had been closed some years ago and he didn’t know how anyone had gotten access to the closed account’s checks.

The criminal complaint also states that Shawn’s sister, Kari Pocan, had been arrested for theft in Brown County after being found in possession of similar checks belonging to St. Peter’s Church.

Melody and Dawn Summers are both scheduled for initial appearances in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Feb. 3. In addition to the felony forgery charge, they each also face a misdemeanor count of fraud against a financial institution.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged 37 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary in the 200 block of East Maurer Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint in the 100 block of South Washington Street.

Juvenile — Police logged 11 truancy complaints from the Shawano School District.

Theft — Cans were reported stolen in the 500 block of Lakeland Road.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 200 block of North Bartlett Street.

Accidents — Police logged three minor accidents.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 15

Deputies logged 47 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a house fire on Waukechon Road.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Branch Lane in Belle Plaine.

Fraud — Authorities investigated an identity theft complaint on Lake Drive in Wescott.

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

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Hillcrest Road in Waukechon.

Accidents — Authorities logged nine accidents, including an injury accident on state Highway 29 in Hartland.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 15

Police logged four incidents, including the following:

Theft — A retail theft was under investigation.

Accidents — Police logged two property damage accidents.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 16

Police logged 20 incidents, including the following:

Accident — A woman was taken to Shawano Medical Center after pickup versus car crash at Green Bay Street and Airport Drive. Citations were expected, but the incident was still under investigation. No further information was available. Police also responded to three other minor accidents.

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 500 block of South Sawyer Street.

Disturbance — A warrant was issued for a 52-year-old Embarrass woman after a disturbance in the 600 block of South Union Street. The woman left the scene before police arrived.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 16

Deputies logged 45 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Bierman Road in Almon.

Theft — A 22-year-old Birnamwood man was taken into custody on a warrant after authorities responded to a theft complaint on County Road Q in Almon.

Assault — Charges of assault and resisting arrest were referred against a 52-year-old Embarrass woman on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Warrant — A 26-year-old Keshena man was taken into custody on a warrant and a charge of obstruction after authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Pleasant Street in Gresham.

Disorderly — Charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property were referred against a 24-year-old Bowler man on Main Street in Bowler.

Disturbance — A 58-year-old Clintonville man was arrested for battery after a domestic disturbance on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Warrant — A 51-year-old Wescott woman was arrested on a warrant on Upper Red Lake Road in Red Springs.

Warrant — A 24-year-old man, address unknown, was arrested on a warrant and a charge of operating after revocation on County Road N in Birnamwood. A 30-year-old Birnamwood woman was also taken into custody on a warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Accidents — Authorities logged 15 accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 16

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Theft — A theft was reported on West Green Tree Road.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported on East 12th Street.

Shawano police Thursday rescued a man with an apparent heart condition after his vehicle went into a ditch on East Green Bay Street.

Police were called to what was thought to be a minor accident, but discovered a 66-year-old man inside who was unresponsive, the Police Department said.

Officers Elinor Harris and Ryan Atkinson were forced to break the window of the vehicle to get it opened. The man was still unresponsive, and officers shocked him twice with a defibrillator.

Paramedics then arrived on scene and continued CPR. The man was transported to Shawano Medical Center.

Police could not give out any other information because of the privacy concerns related to medical issues.

The hospital would not release any information on the man’s condition.

Shawano County is still looking for public input on its outdoor recreation plan after a lightly attended informational meeting Wednesday.

Parks Manager Keith Marquardt said only about a dozen people attended the meeting hosted by the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Shawano County Parks Department at the Shawano County Courthouse.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s hard to get people to come out on a Wednesday evening during the winter,” he said.

The public is still invited to express their opinions through the end of the month by completing a survey about the county facilities at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ShawanoCoParks. The survey is also on the county’s web site.

The ECWRPC and Shawano County kicked off a 12-month planning process to complete a Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for the Parks Department in the spring of last year. It will be the first update since 2007.

The process includes a comprehensive examination of the county’s parks and recreation facilities, and recommendations for improving the system and its services over the next five years.

Among other things, having a comprehensive plan will make the county eligible for potential grants.

The revised plan will focus on four key areas, adding more public participation in determining the destiny of the county parks, along with developing health-related purposes to the original plan’s goals for outdoor recreation and preserving unique natural and cultural resources.

Marquardt said there was some feedback given at Wednesday’s meeting, focusing mainly on paths and walking trails at the Mielke Arts Center and possible improvements at Heritage Park and Sunset Island, where there is a need for additional parking.

Marquardt also said attendees were happy with improvements made under the old plan over the past seven years, including new shelters and bathroom facilities.

The outdoor recreation plan will be on the Highway and Parks Committee agenda on Feb. 18. Marquardt said it is hoped a finalized plan will be before the County Board at its March meeting.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 19

Police logged 14 incidents, including the following:

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 100 block of Sunset Avenue.

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 1200 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 block of Waukechon Street.

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Jan. 18

Police logged nine incidents, including the following:

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

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 1200 block of South Lincoln Street.

Jan 17

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

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

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 200 block of South Main Street.

Theft — Police logged four theft complaints from the Shawano City-County Library, 128 S. Sawyer St., for unreturned library materials.

Suspicious — Police responded to a suspicious person complaint in the 500 block of South Main Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 19

Deputies logged 34 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 47-55 in Wescott.

Fire — Authorities responded to a barn fire on Willow Road in Angelica.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on state Highway 22 in Waukechon.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Bartelt Street in Gresham.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on state Highway 22 in Belle Plaine.

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on County Road BE in Hartland.

Accidents — Authorities logged seven accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

Jan. 18

Deputies logged 40 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Main Street in Gresham.

Warrant — A female subject was taken into custody on a warrant on Bernitt Road in the town of Grant.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on County Road MMM in Richmond.

Warrant — A male subject was taken into custody on a warrant on Short Lane in Birnamwood.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Angle Road in Pella.

Accidents — Authorities logged 12 accidents, including a deer-related crash.

Jan. 17

Deputies logged 55 incidents, including the following:

Assault — Authorities investigated a reported assault in Bowler.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St., in Shawano.

Trespass — Authorities responded to a trespassing complaint on Elm Street in Birnamwood.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Ebert Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged 24 accidents, including two deer-related crashes.

While a school shooting has not happened in Shawano, local officials don’t plan to wait for one to happen to take action.

Shawano schools, both public and private, plan to implement a new method of dealing with a shooter, one that involves taking action instead of hiding and locking doors.

Scott Zwirschitz, Shawano Community High School principal, informed the School Board on Monday that steps are being taken to train students and staff in the program known as ALICE, short for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

The issue first came before the board in November when officials with the Shawano Police Department gave a brief overview of the program.

The program’s premise is that locking down a school when there is an active shooter is an inadequate defense. ALICE focuses on minimizing casualties by encouraging active resistance.

According to proponents of ALICE, most situations with violent intruders end within five to seven minutes, and in many cases, the first emergency officials arrive after that time has passed. Research shows civilians have stopped shooters more often than police officers.

The next step is setting up training dates. Zwirschitz said he is working with ALICE instructors to find a suitable date in March or April. He wants to get everyone trained by the end of the school year in June.

The program also is expected to be implemented at the parochial schools in Shawano, as well as the local Northeast Wisconsin Technical College campus, which is next to the high school.

Zwirschitz said he also has received a call from the Pulaski Community School District expressing interest in the training program.

After the staff is trained, the district plans to work with parents to help them understand ALICE.

Zwirschitz said the biggest concern about the program is the Counter aspect. He told the board there is no intention of asking students to stop a shooter.

“If they’re in harm’s way, they can do things to protect themselves,” Zwirschitz said. “We don’t have to just sit there and take what this person doing harm is doing. We can take action to stop the threat.”

Board members praised Zwirschitz and others on the safety committee for being proactive. Several members commented that sitting back and waiting for the inevitable was not a comfortable position.

“You’ve got to make some changes,” board member Al Heins said. “Instead of being a mother hen and cuddling underneath something, if there’s something you can do, it’s important to do it.”

Board member Michael Sleeper referred to the recent school shooting in Roswell, N.M., where a 12-year-old boy entered the middle school and shot two students. A teacher intervened and persuaded the shooter to lower his gun.

“That was the end of the story,” Sleeper said. “I don’t know if it was formal training or just a natural reaction on the person’s part, but this is an example of the kinds of things that we’re talking about.”

A Shawano man, maintaining his innocence, was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum penalty allowable for the double murder of a brother and sister in 2009.

Daniel Schmidt, 30, was sentenced to two consecutive sentences of life in prison, without chance of parole, for the intentional homicides of his ex-mistress, Kimberly Rose, 32, and her brother, Leonard Marsh, 22, on May 19, 2009.

Schmidt was arrested in September 2012 and found guilty by an Oconto County jury in October of the shotgun slayings, which occurred at the home Rose and Marsh shared in the town of Gillett.

In his short remarks to the judge, Schmidt offered his condolences and prayers to the family of Rose and Marsh, but offered no apology.

“I can’t apologize for something I did not do,” he said with a clear voice.

According to testimony at the trial, Schmidt and Rose began an affair in November 2008, but Schmidt later ended the relationship and tried to mend his marriage. Special Prosecutor Richard Dufour said Schmidt went to the Gillett home on the morning of May 19, 2009, shot Rose in the face and neck to stop her from disrupting his marriage and shot Marsh three times in the back, while he laid in bed, because he was a witness to the murder.

Dufour, during a 30-minute statement to the judge, recommended the maximum sentence, saying the murders ended two young, promising lives.

Schmidt’s attorney, Bradley Schraeven, recommended Schmidt be eligible for parole as soon as possible, claiming the jury’s verdict was based on circumstantial evidence.

“No one knows exactly what happened on that night,” Schraeven said. “He does maintain his innocence, and friends and family are still supportive of him and maintain his innocence.”

He said Schmidt is a young man with a wife and two little children who have suffered greatly.

Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge said Schmidt wasn’t thinking of the emotional trauma he would cause his wife, his children and the family of the victims when he planned and committed the murders, then lied about the crimes to his wife and law enforcement agents.

“There’s no question that Mr. Schmidt committed two cold-hearted, depraved, obscene, vicious acts of murder,” Judge said.

The seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the community were the two main reasons he issued the maximum sentence, he said.

“I choose to treat your sentence the same as the sentence you gave to Kimberly, to Leo and their family for the remainder of their lives,” Judge said.

Donna Marsh, the victims’ mother, fought back tears as she recalled the murders and the weeks of upheaval that followed, as she took in Kimberly’s son, Donovan, and buried two of her three children.

Larry Marsh, Leo’s twin brother, submitted a statement, read by Dufour, that told of the loss he felt over the deaths of his brother and sister.

“Do you have any idea how it feels, going 22 years on your birthday, no matter what, to find a way to meet your twin to celebrate your day, and then all of a sudden they are gone?” Dufour read.

Larry Marsh and his mother asked for life in prison without parole.

“You took two lives away and don’t deserve to walk around as a free man,” Larry Marsh wrote in his statement.

Kimberly Rose’s son, Donovan, 16, told the court how his life changed forever five years ago. He said his mom is no longer around to be his friend and confidant, to see him sing at concerts and in musicals, and experience other milestones in his life.

“My mother was not just a mother, she was my best friend,” he said. “I could talk to her about anything. Sometimes she was my only friend. She was the one person I loved more than anyone else.”

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the 100 block of West Division Street.

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a juvenile shoplifter fled the store.

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported a female juvenile in custody after attempting to steal alcohol.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of Acorn Street.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 100 block of Richmond Court.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 20

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious person complaint on Menominee Drive in Wescott.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious incident complaint on Lake Road in the town of Herman.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on state Highway 117 in the town of Washington.

Juvenile — Authorities investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint on Wood Avenue in Wittenberg.

Fraud — Authorities investigated a fraud complaint on White Birch Road in Aniwa.

Theft — A credit card was reported stolen on County Road HH in the town of Washington.

Accidents — Authorities logged five accidents.

Clintonville Police Department

Jan. 20

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Fraud — A worthless check was reported on Industrial Avenue.

Disorderly — Disorderly conduct was reported on Ninth Street.

A measure to increase the Shawano County sheriff’s budget for unanticipated health insurance costs was referred back to committee Wednesday.

The County Board voted 25-2 to send the request for an additional $19,622 to pay for a new employee’s health insurance back to the Finance Committee for clarification after a supervisor questioned whether the figure was accurate.

During 2014 budget talks last fall, the employee told administrators he and his family would not enroll in the county’s insurance program, according to Chief Deputy John Gutho. After the budget was approved, the employee’s situation changed, and he asked to join the insurance plan at the family rate, Gutho said.

Supervisor Deb Noffke pointed out another employee in the department dropped out of the insurance plan at the end of 2013. The employee was on the single plan, which costs the county $560 per month. The family rate costs the county around $1,635 monthly. Noffke suggested the county should only be adding money to pay the difference, or $1,075 per month.

“You would be looking at a shortfall of maybe $12,000, because you’d be making up the difference, not padding the budget,” Noffke said.

Supervisor Gene Hoppe opposed increasing the budget.

“If we’re going to do the $19,000, why not do it out of the (department’s) 1 percent carryover?” Hoppe said. “In next year’s budget, we can put it in. We have a lot of expenses, and we couldn’t even give a raise to any of our employees.”

Supervisor Bonnie Olson pointed out that there were likely to be additional changes in employees’ insurance needs throughout the year and making a request for the total amount at the end of the year would be a smarter move.

“This is just January, so why wouldn’t you use up the money and then, at the end of the year, if you’re short, ask for the $19,000?” Olson said. “Things could change in the department over the course of the year, and someone could drop their insurance.”

Finance Director Diane Rusch pointed out that the board approved a similar request from Shawano City-County Library in December.

The county saw an overall decrease of 2 percent in its health insurance costs in 2013, and the money being saved was put into a contingency fund to anticipate changes as new requirements for the Affordable Care Act took effect, Rusch said.

Noffke, who sits on the Library Board, pointed out the library’s resolution added two employees to the insurance plan, and no library employees were leaving the county insurance plan.

Shawano Police Department

Jan. 21

Police logged 16 incidents, including the following:

Theft — Scrap metal and piping were reported stolen at Wood Port Doors, 1275 Industrial Drive.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Jan. 21

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a chimney fire on County Road C in Green Valley.

Juvenile — Bowler School reported a truancy.

Suspicious — Authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Main Laney Drive in Maple Grove.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Elm Grove Road in Pella.

Burglary — Authorities investigated a burglary on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Park Street in Gresham.

Accidents — Authorities logged eight accidents, including four deer-related crashes.

Clintonville Police Department>

Jan. 21

Police logged six incidents, including the following:

Disturbance — Officers responded to a domestic disturbance on South Main Street and conducted a warrant pickup on a warrant through New London Police Department.

Accidents — A property damage accident was reported on Sixth Street and Bennett Street, and another was reported on South Main Street and Ninth Street.