New computers for a library are in, but radios for sheriff deputies and iPads for county supervisors are out, as Shawano County officials debate capital spending priorities for 2016.

It is the part of the county budget where officials try to fund the county’s most pressing infrastructure needs separate from traditional road maintenance.

Officials have identified more than $1 million in projects for next year, including park improvements, courthouse upgrades and bridge repairs.

But the introduction of two new proposals midway through the process has raised the possibility that the reshuffling of priorities is not over yet.

The Shawano Area Agricultural Society is seeking funds to renovate a county fairgrounds building, while the Shawano Area Waterways Management group wants help with its water-quality protection efforts.

County Supervisor Kevin Conradt, chairman of the committee overseeing the county’s capital projects review, said he finds it objectionable that outside groups would step forward with funding requests long after the review process has started.

“I think they should meet the deadline and go through the proper channels,” Conradt said.

County officials gather information about infrastructure needs and assemble funding requests earlier in the year. An advisory committee then reviews and ranks each project’s significance before deciding which projects to recommend to the County Board for funding.

The County Board is scheduled later this month to take action on a final list of capital spending projects to include in the 2016 county budget.

The largest project approved so far is $510,625 for interior improvements to the Shawano County Courthouse, mostly re-carpeting and removal of asbestos from outdated flooring. The project also includes some repainting and woodwork refinishing inside the building.

County Administrative Coordinator Brent Miller said the courthouse upgrades have been planned for years.

Although the County Board could still make changes on capital spending, Miller said he believes the advisory committee conducted a thorough review of proposals and gave careful consideration to the county’s infrastructure needs.

“I do think they did a good job,” he said.

In addition to the courthouse renovations, the committee tentatively recommended $100,000 for waste-water treatment lagoons, $93,500 for Heritage Park improvements, $76,000 for new sheriff’s department ventilation equipment, $71,500 for Hayman Falls County Park repaving, $50,000 for bridge repairs along the Mountain Bay Trail, and $15,000 for a new parks lawn tractor, among others.

The Shawano City-County Library won approval for $20,000 to acquire new computers for its downtown Shawano library. Under the city-county cooperative arrangement in the library system, the city of Shawano would contribute another $5,000.

Library director Kristie Hauer said the $25,000 would be enough to replace about 37 computers in the library, some as much as eight years old. Hauer said the capital investment would provide new computers both for public use and library staff use.

Computers provided for library patrons drew about 17,000 users last year, Hauer said.

“It’s definitely an area where we see a lot of demand and a lot of use,” she said.

Three proposals that committee members have recommended defunding include equipping all County Board members with iPads at a cost of $16,000, providing new radios and communication equipment to the sheriff’s department for $53,200, and conducting a lake management study at White Clay Lake for $6,000.

White Clay Lake spokesman Dennis Muck said he was disappointed but not surprised that county officials were unwilling to support his lake improvement project. Doing so, Muck said, probably would mean other lake management districts would line up for county funds.

However, he added: “The county should be willing to invest in lakes.”

Of the two projects proposed recently, the county agricultural society is seeking $125,000 to renovate the Junior Fair Building on the county fairgrounds, and the waterways management group is seeking an unspecified amount to conduct weed removal on the Shawano Lake system.

Gary DeFere, president of the waterways group, said the nonprofit organization did not request funding sooner because members were unaware of the county’s schedule for soliciting and examining such projects.

DeFere said he asked county officials to reconsider, and he apologized for being late to the process.

“This is possibly our fault,” he said. “I’m not blaming anyone.”

Shawano Police Department

Sept. 10

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 500 block of East Green Bay Street.

Fraud — Police investigated a fraud complaint in the 400 block of South Lincoln Street.

Accident — Police responded to a property damage accident in the parking lot at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shoplifting — Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St., reported a juvenile stole liquor from the store.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Sept. 10

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on North Shore Lane in town of Wescott.

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on Ponderosa Road in the town of Wescott.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Oak Ridge Court in the town of Wescott.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Oak Street in Bowler.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Poplar Road in the town of Richmond.

Clintonville Police Department

Sept. 10

Police logged 10 incidents, including the following:

Suspicious — A suspicious incident was reported on 10th Street.

Disturbance — Police responded to a family disturbance on Coleus Court.

Disorderly — Police responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on Harriet Street.

Drug Offense — A driver was cited for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia after a traffic stop at Main and Sixth streets.

The newly constructed ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano will be unveiled to the public on Sept. 16 with a ribbon-cutting, open house and tours of the $52 million hospital.

TCMC-Shawano, which replaces the 82-year-old Shawano Medical Center, will begin providing patient care on Sept. 20, but hospital officials will celebrate its grand opening four days early starting with a ribbon cutting at 4:15 p.m.

The public will then be invited to tour the new facility at 100 County Road B in Shawano and take part in the open house, which runs until 7:30 p.m.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will also showcase its new 5,000-square-foot nurse education center, located as part of a shared learning center inside TCMC-Shawano.

Remarks will be shared by Dorothy Erdmann, CEO, Shawano Medical Center, and H. Jeff Rafn, president, NWTC.

“We are uniquely positioned to work together toward a common goal — to train nurses exactly where they will be needed, in Shawano’s own community health care setting,” Rafn said. “This partnership provides more access to education for Shawano, more supervised patient care practice for NWTC students, and more health care graduates for the region. It’s a great opportunity for everyone involved.”

Erdmann credits these community partnerships founded on good stewardship and cooperative spirit for making possible the new Shawano hospital.

“We’ve worked hard to be good stewards of our community’s health care and education resources,” she said. “We’ve affirmed our belief in excellent quality health care close to home. This will be a very special day when we unveil our new community hospital to the people who helped build it and who will sustain it for future generations.”

Facility highlights

The main hospital doors will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Adjacent to the existing ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano clinic, the 128,000-square foot addition is Silver LEED-certified for green building practices.

Patient care units are served by four separate nursing hubs, just steps away from a small number of patient rooms. The design of the new hospital emphasizes views of nature and natural lighting. Spaces have been designed to flex for different purposes, including visiting specialists, and weekend and walk-in clinics.

Outpatients will have easy access to lab and X-ray services, and surgery and birthing suites are located convenient to one another.

The cooperative learning center, the first of its kind in Wisconsin, will be used by about 60 NWTC nursing students per year and current ThedaCare staff for orientations and continuing education.

The dream continues

The founding hospital in the ThedaCare family, Theda Clark Medical Center, began as a vision for Theda Clark Peters, a woman who cared so deeply for her community that she devoted her life to doing everything possible to improve the lives of people around her.

One of her greatest dreams was to bring health care to people in rural areas of the state.

Shawano Medical Center joined the ThedaCare family in 2011 with a continuing commitment to serving people in Shawano, Menominee and Waupaca counties.

Much like Theda Clark Peters, the staff at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano is devoted to working tirelessly to improve the health and well being of the community.

Firefighters and other emergency workers were honored Friday during a somber ceremony in Bonduel marking the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

More than 100 people gathered inside the Village Park pavilion in remembrance of the hundreds of first responders who were killed on that historic day 14 years ago.

“We want to remind those who tried to hurt us that we will never forget,” said state Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, who was keynote speaker at the event.

Tauchen compared the terrorist attack, which brought down the World Trade Center towers in New York City with hijacked airliners, to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He remembered watching the horrific events unfold on television at his home on that morning in 2001.

“You knew that we were in a world of hurt,” he said.

Members of the Bonduel High School band and choir treated the crowd to the “Star-Spangled Banner” and other patriotic songs, while the colors were presented by American Legion Post 217, Boy Scout Troop 24 and Cub Scout Troop 304.

Marvin Klosterman, the master of ceremonies, noted that many children aspire to become firefighters because they dream of a glamorous occupation. Klosterman, however, said local first responders are committed to public service without any expectation of glamour or recognition.

“Thank goodness we have them,” he added.

The crowd delivered heartfelt applause as certificates of appreciation were handed out to individual members of the Bonduel Fire Department, Police Department and emergency medical crew.

Leaders of the three first-responder agencies also addressed the crowd and expressed thanks for the show of support.

“Your being here tonight makes it all worth it,” Police Chief Todd Chaney said.

Rodney Hoppe, director of the emergency medical team, described the commitment that his crew members and other first responders bring to the job.

With support from their own family members, each first responder knows that the call of duty can come at any hour of the day and any day of the year, Hoppe said. But all share a commitment to race into action whenever an emergency takes place.

“You don’t know where it’s going to happen, and you don’t know when it’s going to happen,” he said. “You just go.”

The state Department of Corrections on Friday dodged questions about what tighter sex offender residency restrictions in Shawano might mean for a temporary placement facility due to open in October.

Milwaukee-based Matt Talbot Recovery Services has contracted with the DOC to operate a six-bed facility for recently released felons at 118 S. Union St. Some of the facility’s residents are likely to be convicted sex offenders.

The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday added further restrictions to a city ordinance that makes an exception to its residency rules for sex offenders if they are placed in a DOC Temporary Living Placement (TLP) facility.

The new rules require sex offenders to be approved by the Shawano Sexual Predator Ordinance Committee and will require the facility to have an on-site supervisor living at the residence.

Talbot had not been planning to have live-in supervisory staff. The company’s plan called for residents at the TLP to be checked on three times a day.

Talbot did not return calls seeking comment Friday.

The live-in supervision requirement would only apply to sex offenders. The facility wouldn’t require live-in supervision for other types of offenders.

DOC officials were asked what this could mean for Talbot’s contract with the state, given that the bid Talbot submitted did not account for the expense of full-time, live-in staff at the facility.

Questions were directed to Joy Staab, director of public affairs, who responded with the following email statement: “The Department of Corrections will review the local ordinance changes and the impact they may have on department operations and local resources available to assist individuals on community supervision who are transitioning back into their community.”

Talbot was one of four vendors that submitted bids for the operation of a TLP in Shawano.

The bidders included New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St., which the DOC had been using as its contracted TLP facility until last year when new bids were put out as mandated by state law.

The DOC has continued to use the New Era House since then, even without a contract, on a “pay-as-you-go” basis.

Talbot emerged as the low bidder for the TLP services, with a bid of $27.69 per bed, for an estimated annual cost of $60,641.

New Era House submitted a bid of $30 per bed, for an annual cost of $65,700.

The other bidders were Attic Correctional Services Inc., of Madison, at $33.92 per bed and $74,284.80 annually, and Trinteam Inc., of Eau Claire, at $28.30 and $61,977 annually.

Neighborhood uproar over the TLP location moved city officials to tighten their TLP exception to sex offender residency rules.

The city restricts convicted sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet of any facility where children are likely to congregate, including any facility used for or that supports a school for children, licensed day care center, library, park, recreational trail, playground or place of worship.

Under the old rules, an exception kicked in if the convicted sex offender “has been placed in a temporary living center by the Department of Corrections under electronic monitoring and said person meets with the Sexual Predator Ordinance Committee as requested.”

Though that exception was tightened Wednesday to add committee approval and on-site supervision, there is no state law requiring the city to make any exception for a DOC facility.

Legally, the city could have applied its sex offender residency rules to the TLP and barred sex offenders from living there.

However, that possibility was not presented to the Common Council because it was not the recommended option, City Administrator Brian Knapp said.

“Part of the problem was, if the DOC maintains a relationship with the New Era House, a blanket prohibition would have eliminated that option, too,” he said.

City officials had been hoping the DOC would continue its contract with the New Era House, which Shawano police said has been working well.

Knapp also said that while the city could have done away with exceptions for TLP’s, it wasn’t presented to council because an exception was already in the city code.

“The starting point was the existing rule,” he said. “Our recommendation to address community concerns was to strengthen the ordinance.”

Not all council members were aware that the city wasn’t required to make an exception to its sex offender residency rules for a DOC facility.

Council members Sandy Steinke and Bob Kurkiewicz said Friday they were under the impression that a DOC exception was required under state law.

“I thought it was a state mandate, the way it was presented to us,” Kurkiewicz said.

However, Kurkiewicz said, he still would have supported the exception because repealing it would also have applied to the New Era House and kept sex offenders from being placed there.

“Everyone is satisfied with the New Era House,” he said.

Council President Woody Davis, who cast the sole no vote against the new exception language Wednesday, said he was aware that an exception isn’t mandated.

He said his opposition was not directed at a TLP facility, but at its location in a residential area.

“If it was at the New Era House, there wouldn’t be a problem,” he said.

Another dairy farm in Shawano County has mapped out an expansion plan that calls for more cows and an improved waste-management system.

Schmidt Hilltop Haven, located in the town of Pella, is planning to build a new barn and new manure pit to accommodate a growing herd of perhaps 1,000 or more cows.

It could become the eighth farm in Shawano County to qualify as a “concentrated animal feeding operation,” or CAFO, the term used by state regulators to describe Wisconsin’s growing number of megafarms.

Town and county officials have endorsed Hilltop Haven owner Robert Schmidt’s expansion, calling it a healthy sign of growth and progress.

“Good for him if he can expand and have a successful business,” Pella town planning commissioner Wayne Heidemann said.

Matsche Farms Inc., located near Birnamwood, recently unveiled plans for expanding to about 9,000 cows, which would make it one of the state’s largest dairy farms.

Schmidt, who has been farming in Pella for 20 years, said he intends to stay below the CAFO threshold as long as possible, to avoid the hassles of state government regulation.

He hopes to finish building a new barn by next spring to relieve his cows of overcrowding and provide them added comfort to improve their milk output. Animals that feel too congested and uncomfortable are not as productive, the 53-year-old farmer said.

“It’s just like people,” he said. “You like to have a little room.”

Plans submitted to the town and county also include construction of a manure storage pit capable of holding 4 million gallons of animal waste for months at a time.

The barn is estimated to cost $1.2 million and the manure pit another $300,000.

Schmidt, who said he hopes to have the storage pit built within a year or two, currently hauls manure away every day and applies it immediately to surrounding crop fields. The approach is not always ideal during certain times of the year, including when the fields are frozen in winter.

Hilltop Haven covers about 1,095 acres along County Road D just north of the Waupaca County line.

Shawano County land conservationist Scott Frank said officials were pleased to see an improved waste-management system in Schmidt’s plan. On-site storage of manure decreases the chances of excessive runoff into nearby creeks or streams, Frank said.

Hilltop Haven will be required to submit waste-management plans to the county every year under the approved expansion plan.

Frank said the farmer has demonstrated a commitment to managing his growing operation.

“There’s been a good track record,” Frank said.

The county’s planning, development and zoning committee approved the expansion earlier this month, following approval by the Pella planning commission last month. Neither the County Board nor Town Board is required to take action.

The threshold for becoming a CAFO is measured as 1,000 “animal units,” a number than can differ slightly from the number of cows on a farm.

Hilltop Haven has a county permit for 630 animal units, and the new permit will allow a herd of up to 1,150 units. Schmidt said he does not intend to reach the maximum, although family members might do so when they take over the business in the future.

The state Department of Natural Resources has licensed about 270 CAFO’s throughout the state, including seven in Shawano County.

Pella Town Chairman Charles Bartz said he never thought he would see such a large dairy farm in Pella. Bartz, who has 100 cows on his farm, said family farms seem to be giving way to larger operations.

Although the chairman said he supports the Hilltop Haven expansion, he called it a sign of changing times in agriculture.

“It’s tough to keep in business,” he said. “You’ve got to expand nowadays.”

From manual typewriters to laptop computers, Rosemary Rueckert has seen it all.

After 42 years of service to the people of Shawano County, Rueckert is stepping aside as county clerk to enjoy retirement with her family.

Rueckert, 64, plans to retire effective Oct. 2 after a career in which she witnessed dramatic changes in the way elections are conducted, records are maintained and even telephone calls are handled.

When she started in the 1970s, one of her duties was operating a manual switchboard for all outgoing long-distance phone calls at the county courthouse.

“I’ve always enjoyed my job tremendously,” she said. “I just feel it’s time to step down.”

County Board members are expected to appoint longtime Deputy County Clerk Pam Schmidt to replace Rueckert until the position’s current term expires in November 2016. Schmidt at that time would have to decide whether to campaign for a full term.

County clerk is a partisan position elected to four-year terms at a salary of about $56,000 a year.

County leaders had high praise for Rueckert’s dedication and work ethic in the county job that handles everything from hunting licenses to car registrations.

“Rosie never shirked,” County Board Vice Chairman Arlyn Tober said. “When you asked her to do something, she did it.”

Rueckert started with the county in 1973 as an administrative secretary, and quickly was promoted to deputy county clerk. She served in that capacity for 17 years until running as a Republican for county clerk in 1990.

Serving two-year terms at first and later four-year terms, she was re-elected by voters repeatedly, including in her most recent election in 2013.

Through it all, Rueckert guided Shawano County government through years of technological evolutions and changes. Some of her favorite memories involve the countless young couples who arrived at the county courthouse to apply for marriage licenses.

“It’s really been something else — all different personalities,” she said.

Although Rueckert knows she will miss being county clerk, the Bonduel resident said she is looking forward to volunteering in the area, traveling with her husband, Joe, and spending more time with their children and grandchildren.

County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann said Rueckert’s longevity in county government is a testament to how well the public was served in her county clerk’s office. Erdmann said Rueckert also developed a strong institutional memory and could recollect details of county board actions from many years ago.

“She’s been a wealth of knowledge,” he said. “She has been an asset to the county.”

Added Tober: “We’re going to miss her — no doubt about it.”

Sexual assault of a child

A Shawano man has been charged with felony counts of repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 for allegedly having intercourse with two girls over the course of the summer.

Austin R. Kalata, 20, could face a maximum 40 years in prison and $100,000 fine on each of the two counts if found guilty.

Both girls were 15 at the time of the alleged assaults, which took place in June and August, according to the criminal complaint.

Kalata was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond after his initial court appearance. He is due back in court Monday for an adjourned initial appearance.

Felony OWI

A Plover man is facing a felony charge of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated after being pulled over in the town of Wittenberg last week.

William J. Wald, 45, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Wald was spotted by sheriff’s deputies driving erratically and speeding on state Highway 29 on the night of Sept. 7. At one point Wald’s vehicle veered and almost struck the squad car, according to the complaint.

An initial breath test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.197 percent, according to the complaint.

Court records show Wald has previous OWI convictions in Milwaukee, Washington, Portage and Adams counties.

Wald is free on a $2,500 signature bond and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Dec. 7.

Battery by prisoner

A Shawano County Jail inmate has been charged with a felony count of battery by a prisoner for allegedly causing bodily harm to another inmate during an altercation on Aug. 7.

Trevor L. Thunder, 21, could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if found guilty.

The other inmate sustained an injury to his eye, according to the complaint.

No court date was set in the matter.

Shawano Police Department

Sept. 15

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Animal — A pedestrian reported two dogs running loose and chasing people from a residence in the 1100 block of South Franklin Street.

Theft — A resident accused a neighbor of stealing a bicycle from a yard in the 200 block of East Center Street.

Fight — A caller reported a fight in progress involving several men at Flamingo’s Family Restaurant, 1017 E. Green Bay St.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Sept. 15

Deputies logged 29 incidents, including the following:

Lewd Behavior — Authorities investigated a report of a female student inappropriately touching a male student on a Bonduel school bus.

Suspicious Vehicle — A woman reported two males in a truck posing as police officers in the town of Maple Grove.

Clintonville Police Department

Sept. 15

Officers logged 15 incidents, including the following:

Mischief — A malicious mischief complaint was filed and investigated at an undisclosed location.

Theft — A theft of undisclosed property was reported on South Main Street.

Juvenile — An unattended child was found on Auto Street and returned to a caregiver.

The public turned out in huge numbers Wednesday to get a look at the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

At least 200 people packed a tent to hear comments from ThedaCare officials and others involved in the project, while well over 100 more gathered in the parking lot waiting to tour the new facility.

Reasons for being there ranged from simple curiosity to the practical.

“The main reason I wanted to be here was so that I know where I need to go when something happens,” said Jan Ebert, who came from Gresham for the event.

“I’m interested in seeing how the inside is laid out. I donate blood on a regular basis and I needed to find out where I need to go the next time,” said Barbara Wetzl, who has been a blood donor for about 40 years.

Some were drawn by the novelty.

“It’s something new; got to check it out,” said Dennis Fredrick, of Clintonville.

A lifelong visitor to the former Shawano Medical Center, Fredrick said he will continue to use the new hospital.

There was also a sense of civic pride for many.

“It’s a big event for our city; something that will be here for a long time and take care of a lot of people,” August Spitzberger said. “It’s a nice addition.”

At least one visitor Wednesday may have been the happiest to see the new hospital open, outside of ThedaCare officials.

That would be Phil Hagen, who lives across the street and has been contending with the inconveniences of the hospital construction.

“I’ve been putting up with this for three years when they were building it,” he said, “so I wanted to see what it was all about.”

Hagen said he looks forward to continued use of ThedaCare.

“ThedaCare is my clinic,” he said. “I’ve been coming here for years to the old place and I’ll continue to.”

Getting ready for Wednesday’s event was no small task.

“We’ve had group meetings for maybe six months or so,” Community Relations Manager Carol Ryczek said. The meetings included SMC staff and ThedaCare’s corporate marketing department.

“There was a lot of it coordinating (about) how can we make this happen and still have semis coming through the parking lot tomorrow morning,” she said.

About 200 chairs were set up in the tent where the speakers gave their remarks. That space quickly filled to overflowing.

Meanwhile, a constant flow of shuttles went back and forth to the nearby high school parking lot, where visitors were diverted for parking.

After the speeches, people crowded around the front entrance of the new hospital for the ribbon cutting and began to pour into the building for the tours.

Those who took the tour were then given a memento courtesy of ThedaCare and the Menominee Indian Tribe — a sprig of cedar attached to a thank you card, assembled by Menominee Indian School District students.

“It’s a gift from the Menominee Language and Cultural Department,” Ryczek said. “Cedar is a traditional healing plant. It’s really meaningful to the Menominee culture. So this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to people. As they leave the tour they’re going to get this little thank you remembrance.”

ThedaCare opened its new Shawano hospital Wednesday with an invitation for residents to visit the $52 million facility for healing, gathering or learning.

“Today is a time for celebration,” hospital Chief Executive Officer Dorothy Erdmann told a crowd of several hundred outside the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

“Our new, very special place is ready for you,” Erdmann said. “Its doors are open and waiting for you.”

The crowd erupted in applause as ThedaCare executives gathered with civic leaders, employees and supporters to celebrate the success of four years of planning and 24 months of construction that will change the face of health care in Shawano forever.

When the new 128,000-square-foot hospital begins seeing patients on Sunday, the old Shawano Medical Center will close its doors after more than 80 years in operation across town.

Brian Burmeister, senior vice president of Appleton-based ThedaCare, said Wednesday he wanted to thank Shawano residents for “trusting our sincerity” as the company moved into the area with the promise of building upon the quality health care already available here.

Burmeister recalled his company’s emergence over many years from a small clinic operator to a long-term partner in the community.

“This community is now positioned to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art medical care right here in your own backyards for many generations to come,” he said.

Following welcoming remarks under a large tent outside the new hospital, officials and dignitaries participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the main entrance. Hundreds of people then stood in line to tour the facility, which will offer services in oncology, cardiology, maternity, surgery, rehabilitation, hospice and more.

About 400 doctors, nurses and others will work there alongside another 200 employed at ThedaCare’s adjacent outpatient clinic.

The new hospital also includes a 5,000-square-foot center where Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will maintain classroom and laboratory space for nursing students, in the first such collaboration in Wisconsin between health care professionals and educators.

NWTC President Jeffrey Rafn told the crowd Wednesday that his institution felt privileged to be part of ThedaCare’s new endeavor in Shawano. Rafn said although there were many skeptics when the hospital-college partnership was first suggested, the result is a unique combination of healing and learning under one roof.

“It really is truly something special,” he said.

ThedaCare, which operates six other hospitals and 35 clinics in Wisconsin, had been competing with Shawano Medical Center for many years by offering similar services at the local outpatient clinic. The two competitors forged an alliance in 2011 and began making plans for a new hospital.

Led by general contractor Boldt Construction Co., crews for ThedaCare began work on the new hospital in July 2013. Later, dozens of hospital employees began weekly meetings to plan their transition to the new facility.

“The number of collective hours put into this is unfathomable,” said Jim Meyer, president of the board of directors for ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

Erdmann told those gathered for Wednesday’s festivities that she hopes the community will embrace ThedaCare’s vision for a “campus of care.” Just like the old hospital, she said, people will go there to bring new children into the world, to take on the challenge of fighting diseases, and to prepare for their end-of-life days.

“This beautiful new medical center will hold such powerful meaning,” she said. “Today our vision has become a reality.”

The old Shawano Medical Center property, which was landlocked and could not be retrofitted, faces an uncertain future after Sunday’s closure.

Charlie’s County Market in Shawano will feature learning activity signs for young children throughout the store starting this month.

SMART, which stands for Super-Market Activities Really Teach, is a local program designed to take full advantage of the many learning opportunities a grocery store provides so that families can turn an everyday errand into something fun and engaging.

While different than the Born Learning Trails installed this summer in Shawano parks, SMART is a home-grown program that is based on the Born Learning philosophy of turning “everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.”

Jamie Bodden, public health director for Shawano and Menominee counties, said the community benefits from teaching children in a variety of ways at a young age.

“Having a community that supports and nurtures children in and out of the classroom demonstrates a greater commitment to our little ones,” Bodden said. “Even little things like a supermarket scavenger hunt can have lasting impacts for a young child, and it is exciting to have Shawano as a community promote early learning and be a city that values health and wellness.”

Born Learning, a campaign available through the United Way, offers take-home guides for parents to use in daily activities such as riding in a car or doing household chores. SMART takes these guides one step further by making them available and visible to the whole community, promoting an environment that nurtures early learning and supports young families.

The SMART signs at Charlie’s are geared toward toddlers to kindergarten aged children, when early learning activities have the most impact on child development. SMART signs will be placed in the produce, dairy, bakery, and canned goods sections at Charlie’s.

Signs will be changed each month and feature 12 learning concepts, including shapes, letters, colors, rhyming, counting and more. Each sign has specific activities for young children to do, but also tips for adults about the importance of early learning.

The content of the signs were created by four local teachers: Kris Going, Joann Edwards, Colleen Smurawa and Sally Slezewski.

The idea for SMART came from Born Learning committee members Donna Thomas and Ed Grys, with the desire to continue the success of the Born Learning Trails into other parts of the community.

“The SMART signs are intended to help promote positive and educational concepts in the everyday environment,” Grys said. “Studies have shown early education of kids age 0 to 5 can be of great benefit to them as they enter the formal school setting.

“There is often a great disparity in vocabulary and real-life experiences between kids entering school. It is hoped that SMART will be one more opportunity for learning as children are out and about.”

Grocery stores, with plenty of colors, letters and shapes to use as learning tools, were targeted as a location for SMART.

When approached as a potential partner, Charlie’s, owned by Charlie Harvey, quickly agreed.

“His store was the first to come to mind to try an activity like SMART,” Grys said. “He is cooperative, accessible and community minded. If the concept is successful, we may seek to install it in other stores as well.”

Shawano Police Department

Sept. 16

Police logged 27 incidents, including the following:

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

Hit and Run — Police responded to a property damage hit-and-run at Walmart, 1244 E. Green Bay St.

Disorderly — Police responded to an intoxicated person complaint at Huckleberry Harbor, 222 N. Sawyer St.

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

Fire — Police assisted with a car fire at state Highway 29 and County Road K.

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

Warrant — A 31-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant at the New Era House, 105 E. Richmond St.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of West Lieg Avenue.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Sept. 16

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Disorderly — Authorities responded to a disorderly conduct complaint on state Highway 22 in Cecil.

Theft — Toolboxes were reported stolen on Hillcrest Lane in the town of Wescott.

Harassment — Authorities responded to a harassment complaint on Blueberry Road in the town of Herman.

Theft — Gresham Utilities reported a theft of water service on Fischer Street in Gresham.

OAR — A 61-year-old man was cited for operating after revocation on Main Street in Gresham.

Fire — Authorities assisted with a car fire at state Highway 29 and County Road K.

Warrant — A 20-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant on Ho Chunk Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Hemlock Road in the town of Wittenberg.

Two men accused of coming to Wittenberg in February with an arsenal packed in their vehicle to kidnap a relative pleaded no contest Wednesday to some of the charges against them on the day they were set for a jury trial.

Paul M. Neuman, 60, and Benjamin D. Sheldon, 32 — both of Stacy, Minnesota — are scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 17, pending the results of a pre-sentence investigation.

The men arrived at a residence on Mission Street shortly before 9 a.m. Feb. 9 armed with a sawed-off shotgun and other weapons to demand custody of Neuman’s grandson, according to the criminal complaint.

The residents were Neuman’s daughter and son-in-law, who attempted to defend themselves with a crossbow, according to the complaint.

The complaint states Sheldon rushed the son-in-law and was able to get the crossbow away from him, after which he allegedly held a gun to his head. The complaint also alleges Neuman held a gun on his daughter when she tried to call police.

Neuman’s son-in-law was able to go upstairs at one point during the encounter and called 911.

According to the complaint, Neuman told the couple he would return and kill them if he didn’t get custody of the child.

Shawano County sheriff’s deputies arrived as the men were getting back into their vehicles.

Deputies followed the vehicle a short distance until there was another squad on scene and conducted a traffic stop. The men surrendered without incident and were taken into custody.

Deputies found handguns on the men and numerous other weapons in the vehicle, according to the complaint, including a .380 caliber pistol, a .32 caliber Derringer pistol, a .357 revolver, sawed-off shotgun, a rifle with scope, a Ruger LC9 pistol, multiple boxes of ammunition and magazines, brass knuckles, a Smith and Wesson knife set, and several other knives.

Deputies also found a grinder and containers of suspected marijuana, along with smoking devices, according to the complaint.

Neuman pleaded no contest to felony charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, intimidating a victim with the threat of force and possession of a short-barreled shotgun, along with misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Felony counts of burglary and forceful abduction were dropped under the agreement.

Sheldon, who was originally charged with the same counts, pleaded to reckless endangerment and felony intimidation. The other counts were dropped.

Their sentences will be argued at the Dec. 17 hearing.

First-degree recklessly endangering safety carries a possible maximum sentence of 12 1/2 years and a $25,000 fine; intimidating a witness, a maximum 10 years and $25,000 fine; and possession of short-barreled shotgun, six years and a $10,000 fine.

Investigators are expected Friday to review the remains of a fire that destroyed a barn in the town of Hartland early Thursday.

There were no animals in the barn and no one was injured, but several pieces of equipment, including combines and a chopper, were damaged.

Firefighters spent nearly 12 hours at the scene after being paged around midnight to a fire at W3367 County Road BE.

Initially, there were about 50 to 60 firefighters from area fire departments battling the blaze, including units from Bonduel, Cecil, Pulaski, Green Valley, Navarino, Richmond and Shawano.

Firefighters remained on scene to control smoldering patches and flare-ups from the burning straw and hay in the barn for several hours.

A backhoe was used to take down the remaining portions of the structure after the blaze, and foam sealant was eventually used to put the fire out completely.

Bonduel Fire Chief Robbie Woldt said the cause of the fire was under investigation with the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s department and insurance company investigators were expected to examine the scene Friday.

Woldt had no estimate of the damage.

School administrators, business representatives and others in Shawano County say they are satisfied with how public health officials have responded to the county’s first cases of tuberculosis in nearly 10 years.

Records released by the Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department show that many people in the Tigerton area raised questions and concerns before the health department publicly acknowledged Aug. 19 that tuberculosis had been detected in the rural community.

It was Shawano County’s second confirmed case of tuberculosis within a few months, and it had people around town talking long before health officials confirmed the presence of the deadly communicable disease.

Sue Hintz, office manager at Tigerton Lumber, said rumors were circulating about tuberculosis. So lumber mill officials contacted the health department Aug. 13 to ask under what circumstances employees should be sent home to avoid the risk of spreading the disease.

“We’re such a small town, and everybody knows everybody,” Hintz said. “We thought we needed to get answers.”

Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a bacterial disease that commonly attacks the lungs and can be spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing around others. There are about 50 cases reported annually in Wisconsin, although Shawano County had not experienced any tuberculosis since 2006.

Records obtained by The Shawano Leader under the state’s open records law show that county health officials considered alerting area news media to the tuberculosis case in early August, but they opted instead to keep the situation quiet out of concern for the patient’s confidentiality.

A previous case detected elsewhere in the county in early April also had not been disclosed to the news media at that point.

Other new information disclosed in records released by the health department:

- The earlier case involved a military veteran who tested positive for tuberculosis at the Tomah VA Medical Center and who had relatives in Illinois.

- The state health department committed $3,000 to help Shawano County with costs associated with managing its tuberculosis cases.

- Law enforcement officials considered using an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor the movements of the TB patient in Tigerton.

The Shawano Leader requested access to health department records in the TB cases not to attempt to identify either patient, but to examine how government officials detected and managed the public health issues raised in both of these unusual cases.

Members of the community whose interaction with the county health department was documented in the records say they were pleased with the health department’s response and felt the TB episode was managed effectively.

“I think they handled it very well,” said Tigerton School Principal David Battenberg.

School administrators reached out to county health officials before any official public TB announcement had been made. With a new school year approaching, Battenberg said, administrators wanted assurances that there was no public health emergency.

Health officials were forthcoming with information, the principal said, and were able to field all manners of questions about the situation.

“They were very pro-active,” he said.

The situation began in early April when representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notified county health officials that a veteran had tested positive for tuberculosis at the Tomah VA Medical Center. The county responded with a request for information from the Tomah facility, as officials began mapping out their strategy to treat the patient and check whether he could have spread the disease to others.

In an email April 3 to county public health nurse Kristine Labby, county health director Jaime Bodden wrote, “I know that there will be lots for you to do early next week on this.”

Officials made no public announcement of the TB case and have since declined to say where in Shawano County the veteran lives.

State health officials separately have indicated that both of Shawano County’s TB patients were men in their 50s.

The second case emerged in early August involving a man from Tigerton who officials said had no relation or connection to the first patient. Like the first patient, the second agreed to remain in isolation to avoid spreading the disease while officials checked family members and others for symptoms of tuberculosis.

As rumors swirled in Tigerton that a local resident had contracted TB, county health officials wrestled with whether to notify the news media and alert the general public.

In an email to county officials on Aug. 10 — about one week after the Tigerton case was confirmed — state public health regional director Chris Culotta offered a draft press release for consideration and wrote, “I understand there are pros and cons to sending out a media release.”

Inquiries and concerns continued to mount from residents of Tigerton and the surrounding area, so the county health department started keeping a written log of individuals and organizations who had sought information or guidance.

Josh Gartzke, plant manager for Top Brass Inc., a manufacturer in Wittenberg, called to ask health officials if he had any reason for concern about employees who lived in the Tigerton area. Gartzke said health officials could not provide details, but they disclosed enough information to put his mind at ease.

He said the health department handled the situation responsibly.

“They did what they’re supposed to,” he said.

Word leaked out to the news media on Aug. 17, and Tigerton village leaders persuaded the county health department to conduct a public information meeting, which was held Aug. 19. At that meeting, Bodden acknowledged under questions from reporters that the Tigerton case had been preceded by an earlier case of TB elsewhere in the county.

In an email later to a communications specialist with the state heath department, Bodden wrote that she felt “blindsided” to be questioned about not one, but two, TB cases.

“As the local contact for the case and the brunt of the media attention,” she wrote, “we want to put our best face forward and look competent, in control, and authoritative.”

A check on a suspicious vehicle in the town of Herman early Friday led to a high-speed chase and the arrest of a De Pere man on charges of fleeing and ninth-offense drunken driving.

David W. Bourassa, 47, was ordered held on a $500 cash bond, along with a $4,500 signature bond, after an initial appearance before Judge James Habeck in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court.

Stockbridge-Munsee Police and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies were investigating a suspicious vehicle complaint on Richards Street in the village of Gresham around 12 a.m. Friday when a black SUV accelerated rapidly southbound on Main Street.

Deputies caught up with the vehicle and pulled it over on County Road U, but the vehicle sped off again at high speed before a deputy could make contact with the driver, according to the criminal complaint.

The chase continued along County Road U reaching 65 mph until spike strips were deployed at the intersection of County Road M.

The vehicle went through the strips and continued through the stop sign at the intersection, ultimately sliding into a ditch along County Road M.

Bourassa was treated at Shawano Medical Center for minor injuries and then arrested.

He faces felony charges of ninth-offense operating while intoxicated and attempting to flee an officer, as well as a misdemeanor count of operating after revocation.

Bourassa could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of ninth-offense OWI, and 3½ years and a $10,000 fine for attempting to flee an officer.

According to court records, Bourassa has four previous OWI convictions in Michigan, one in Minnesota, two in Vilas County and one in Wood County.

Bourassa was also wanted in Vilas County, according to court records, on charges of burglary and theft.

Court records also show he was on probation for a Shawano County burglary in 2014.

Bourassa is scheduled for an adjourned initial court appearance on Monday.

A Born Learning Trail was dedicated Thursday at Kuckuk Park in Shawano to provide kids and their parents with a fun interactive way to enjoy the park. Signs written in several languages will guide visitors along the trail with messages such as, “Look. Listen. Touch. Think.” A similar attraction was added to Eberlein Park, also in Shawano. The Mielke Foundation funded the improvements after hearing about the concept from Shawano Pathways. The attractions at both parks are free and open to kids of all ages.

Residents of the Shawano School District have their say next week on the district’s proposal to increase property tax collections by $140,000 this school year.

The district’s annual meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday at Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St., Shawano.

All residents aged 18 or older can participate in an advisory vote on the proposed $13.1 million property tax levy to fund schools in the 2015-16 school year.

Administrators propose to increase the levy about $140,000 from last year, which they attribute to rising property values within the district. Although final figures have not been released yet, the state has forecast increases of as much as 6 percent for some areas of the school district.

The tax rate for Shawano schools is expected to change little from its current level of $10.34 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, which translates to a school property tax bill of $1,034 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

School Board President Tyler Schmidt said he expects to hear little debate Monday about the tax levy or the district’s 2015-16 budget.

“It’s a pretty standard and basic budget,” he said.

Spending in the district would total $26.7 million under the proposal — down slightly from last year — and would include a 2 percent pay raise for employees as well as $500,000 in capital improvements for the middle school. The school board is scheduled to take final action on the budget next month, after updated property value figures and student enrollment numbers are available.

The budget is unrelated to a Nov. 3 district-wide referendum authorizing officials to spend another $9.25 million on renovations and upgrades to the middle school.

Also on the agenda for Monday’s regular school board meeting is a closed-door session to discuss Superintendent Gary Cumberland’s contract with the district. The regular board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, also at the middle school.

Schmidt said he anticipates strong reviews for the superintendent’s performance entering his third year on the job.

“There won’t be any surprises there,” Schmidt said. “We are very, very pleased with Gary.”

Shawano Police Department

Sept. 17

Police logged 26 incidents, including the following:

Burglary — Police investigated a burglary at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St.

Curfew — Two juveniles were warned for curfew violations at Evergreen Street and Birch Hill Lane.

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

Juvenile — Police responded to a juvenile problem in the 1500 block of Estates Lane.

Theft — A vehicle break-in was reported in the 800 block of East Randall Street.

Disturbance — A 31-year-old Shawano woman was taken into custody for a probation violation after a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of South Franklin Street.

Burglary — A report of an attempted burglary in the 100 block of South Main Street was determined to be unfounded.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Sept. 17

Deputies logged 39 incidents, including the following:

Juvenile — Authorities responded to a juvenile problem on County Road Y in Belle Plaine.

Theft — Deer stands were reported stolen on Maple Road in the town of Herman.

Threatening — Authorities investigated a threatening complaint on County Road G in the town of Red Springs.

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

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Lakeview Way in the town of Washington.

OWI — A 46-year-old De Pere man was arrested for operating while intoxicated and fleeing an officer after authorities responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Richards Street in the village of Gresham.

Clintonville Police Department

Sept. 17

Police logged 11 incidents, including the following:

Dumping — A warning was issued for illegal dumping on County Highway I.

Leak — Firefighters assisted with clean-up of a fuel spill from a vehicle in a parking lot on South Main Street.

Juvenile — Officers assisted with taking a juvenile runaway into custody on South Main Street.