News

The staff at Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School received a unexpected surprise this week when they found an increase of 16 students enrolling in the fourth grade.

This has resulted in the Clintonville School Board agreeing to hire an additional fourth grade teacher.

Information provided by Superintendent Dr. David Dyb on Monday showed there were two fourth-grade classes projected at 25 students each and two other classes taught by special education teacher Al Soldner that would have 21 and 19 students.

“The biggest issue with fourth grade is our co-taught classes are 21 and 19,” said Tom Burkhalter, Rexford-Longfellow principal.

Pam Skokan, a fourth-grade teacher, said she was concerned about the class sizes. She favored hiring another teacher now and not trying to figure it out later in the school year.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 29

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint in the 100 block of Mountain Bay Trail Drive.

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

Juvenile — Police investigated a juvenile alcohol complaint in the 700 block of East Green Bay Street.

Disturbance — A domestic disturbance was reported at Main Street and Lieg Avenue.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 29

Deputies logged 42 incidents, including the following:

Drug Offense — Authorities investigated a drug complaint on Norrie Road in the town of Birnamwood.

Disturbance — Authorities responded to a disturbance on Webb Street in Wittenberg.

Theft — Authorities responded to a property theft complaint on Honeysuckle Lane in Tigerton.

Water rates could go up this fall for Shawano customers if the city gets approval from the state for another increase.

The city’s Water and Sewer Utility plans to file an application for a 3 percent increase with the Public Service Commission next month.

If approved, the increased rates would go into effect on Oct. 31.

Assistant City Administrator and Public Works Coordinator Eddie Sheppard said the increase is needed to keep up with the rising costs of operation the utility is facing.

Those inflationary costs, he said, have resulted in a drop of the rate of return approved by the PSC when the utility last requested a rate increase in 2014. New rates reflecting a 13 percent increase went into effect in February 2015.

To help accommodate traffic flow over the Labor Day weekend, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will temporarily halt work on most highway construction projects around the state.

Still, drivers will need to watch out for work zones, lane restrictions and potential delays. Peak travel periods are expected to occur between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday and Monday.

Due to recent flooding and the potential for more rainfall, motorists may encounter closed roads or road crews working to reopen flooded highways. Information regarding state highways impacted by flooding can be found on 511wi.gov.

Motorists are advised to be aware of changing travel conditions and drive with caution at all times; never drive through standing water or around barriers; and follow designated detour routes

Area veterans took center stage at the opening ceremony Wednesday for the 137th annual Shawano County Fair.

Groups that made up the honor guard for the ceremony included Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of American and AmVets.

“We remember all of those who are with us in spirit and with us in our hearts,” said Dennis Bohm of AMVETS Post 10.

Dale Hodkiewicz, president of the Shawano Area Agricultural Society, welcomed visitors to the first night of the fair, which runs through Labor Day.

“We’re looking forward to having great weather,” he said. “Come every night and enjoy yourselves. We’ve got a lot of activities, great music. Please come and enjoy the fair. Enjoy your friends and neighbors, make some new friends and spread the word how great the Shawano County Fair is.”

Shawano Mayor Ed Whealon called the Shawano County Fair “the biggest and longest running fair in the state of Wisconsin.

The father-daughter optometrist team members Ray and Erin Goga are switching offices.

For the past nine years, Dr. Erin Goga has been at the Family Vision Center’s Wittenberg clinic two days a week and at the Marathon City clinic two days a week. Dr. Ray Goga has been working out of his Envision Eyecare clinic in Wausau, which he owns with Dr. Chris Marquardt and Dr. Jeff Sarazen.

With two of her three children in school full time, Erin Goga next week will begin working out of the Wausau clinic. She will be working five days a week instead of four, but it will be easier for her to manage the needs of her family by being in the same city, she said.

Ray Goga will adjust his schedule so that he is in Wittenberg every other Monday as well as the regular Tuesday and Thursday schedule. This will help reduce the waiting time for patients to get an appointment, he said.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of actions the U.S. Department of Agriculture will take to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation by foreign nations.

President Donald Trump directed Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the administration works on trade deals to open more markets to help American farmers compete globally. As announced last month, USDA will authorize up to $12 billion in programs.

Perdue said he was instructed by the president to make sure farmers did not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs.

“Our farmers work hard and are the most productive in the world,” Perdue said, “and we aim to protect them.”

These programs will assist agricultural producers to meet the costs of disrupted markets:

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 28

Police logged 23 incidents, including the following:

Theft — A shotgun and rifle were reported stolen in the 300 block of West Picnic Street.

Harassment — Harassment was reported in the 100 block of Military Road.

Shoplifting — A 27-year-old Neopit man was referred for retail theft after a shoplifting incident at Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St.

Disturbance — A 21-year-old Shawano man was arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property after a domestic disturbance in the 200 block of South Smalley Street.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department

Aug. 28

Deputies logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Fire — Authorities responded to a vehicle fire on state Highway 29 in the town of Seneca.

OAR — A 32-year-old Shawano man was cited for operating after revocation on Cecil Street in Bonduel.

Gov. Scott Walker recently approved $1.9 million to improve 8.2 miles of state Highway 156 in Shawano County from state Highway 47 in the town of Lessor to the Waupaca/Shawano County line. The project is scheduled to begin Tuesday and finish in November. Highway 156 will remain open during construction.

Northeast Asphalt, Inc., of Greenville, is the prime contractor.

The project is needed to improve the condition of the roadway and culverts. Work on Highway 156 includes resurfacing the asphalt surface, widening the paved shoulders, replacing and cleaning cross-culvert pipes, marking the pavement and installing signs.

Highway 156 will have single-lane closures and flagging operations while construction takes place. Minor delays may occur.

The project will extend the pavement life, improve drainage under the highway and increase safety.

Shawano Police Department

Aug. 27

Police logged 28 incidents, including the following:

Harassment — Police responded to a harassment complaint in the 700 block of South Main Street.

Disturbance — A disturbance was reported at Acorn and Waukechon streets.

Theft — A tire was reported stolen in the 300 block of Madison Way.

Disturbance — A fight in progress was reported in the 600 block of South Maiden Lane.

Arrest — A 49-year-old man was taken into custody at the probation and parole offices, 1340 E. Green Bay St.

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

Shoplifting — Charlie’s County Market, 521 S. Main St., reported two shoplifting incidents.

Drug Offense — Police investigated a drug complaint in the 800 block of East Richmond Street.

Aug. 26

Police logged 25 incidents, including the following: