News

The Shawano County Board approved changes Wednesday to livestock facilities licensing and waste management permitting after running afoul of state rules.

At issue was a permit granted by the county’s Land Conservation Department and the land conservation committee for an expansion of operations at Matsche Farms in Birnamwood.

The Wisconsin Livestock Facilities Siting Review Board remanded the permit back to the county for reconsideration after faulting the county for policies and procedures that were not in line with state law.

County Corporation Counsel Tony Kordus said the county will reconsider the permit using the revised ordinances adopted Wednesday.

Supervisor Bob Krause, who chairs the land conservation committee, expressed frustration with the state’s imposition of rules over the county, particularly a rule stating the county cannot seek a recommendation from local municipalities on livestock facilities siting issues.

Two brothers are working hard to save a landmark in the city of Shawano.

Aaron and Erik Gilling purchased the former Crescent Pitcher Show in downtown Shawano and are renovating it to house their micro-brewery, brewpub and entertainment venue.

The Crescent marquee, in various forms, has been an iconic fixture in the city since the early 1900’s when the building st 220 S. Main St.served as a vaudeville theater.

Recently the brothers posted a question on social media asking if they should save the marquee. They said the answer was overwhelmingly “yes.”

Over the years, the current marquee has aged, and some portions are gone, but the Gillings are hoping to bring it back to its full glory.

The cost to refurbish the existing marquee is about $25,000. The cost for replacing the vertical 1920s style perpendicular sign that once adorned the building is around $50,000. Not amounts that were in their original budget.

Incumbent District 3 Shawano County Supervisor Milt Marquardt will face a challenge Tuesday from Kevin Barkow. The district includes Wards 5 and 6 of the city of Shawano.

Name: Milton “Milt” Marquardt, Jr.

Age: 74

Address: 1043 S. Main St., Shawano.

Family: Married to Janice; four adult children and two granddaughters.

Occupation: Retired. Employed by the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department for 30-plus years, retiring in May 2002 as chief deputy. After retirement, worked part time as a contract guard with the U.S. Marshal Service for the Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court in Green Bay.

Incumbent District 8 Shawano County Supervisor Rosetta Stern will face challenger Devin Krizan in Tuesday’s election. The district includes Wards 3 and 4 of the town of Wescott.

Name: Rosetta Stern

Address: W5049 Stark Road, Shawano

Family: No children, husband deceased

Experience/Community involvement: Deputy county clerk, 1968-1980; county clerk, 1981-1990, retired. County Board supervisor for past 16 years, serving on various committees.

Name: Devin M. Krizan

Age: 26

Address: N6971 State Highway 47-55, Shawano

Family: Parents John and Lois and brothers Trevor and Nathan

Occupation: Milking Supervisor at B&A Dairy Farm as well a partner in Krizan Beef Cattle farm

Experience/Community involvement: I have some experience in going over budgets for our farm but otherwise I would like to get my start in community involvement at the County Board level.

Why are you running?

Stern: No response.

Former Shawano County supervisor Roger Guex is seeking a return to the board against newcomer Peter Schmidt for the District 14 County Board seat in Tuesday’s election. Incumbent Bill Berkhahn chose not to run. The district includes all of the town of Hartland, Ward 1 of the town of Angelica and Ward 2 of the town of Washington.

Name: Roger Guex

Age: 68

Address: W4325 Country Lane, Bonduel

Occupation: Transporter of Oversize Loads

Experience/Community Involvement: County Board 2006-08

Name: Peter Schmidt

Age:25

Address: N3394 State Highway 47, Bonduel

Family: Single. Parents are Paul and Renee Schmidt along with four brothers and one sister.

Occupation: Dairy Farmer

Former County Board supervisor Bert Huntington is looking to reclaim his District 21 seat against Joe Miller in Tuesday’s election. The seat is currently vacant. The district includes all of the town of Bartelme and village of Bowler, and Ward 1 of the town of Red Springs.

Name: Bert A. Huntington

Age: 54

Address: W11108 Huntington Road, Gresham

Family: Wife, Mary Beth; children Luke, Eden, Mary Ellen.

Occupation: Self-employed livestock trucker and auctioneer.

Experience/Community Involvement: Served six years on the County Board. Donate to Gresham and Keshena scholarship funds. Active member of Gresham FFA Alumni. Donate/help at Gresham American Legion. Received Friend of American Legion Award, Sept. 2017.

Name: Joe Miller

Age: 60

Address: N9109 Mohheconnuck Road, Bowler.

Family: Wife, Jackie, sons Jon & Quinn.

Occupation: Mohican Family Center, Security Manager.

Shawano County Economic Progress, Inc. (SCEPI) will highlight economic successes at its annual summit at 5:30 p.m. April 5 at The Gathering, 2600 E. Richmond St., Shawano.

Now in its 13th year, SCEPI’s annual event allows business and community leaders the opportunity to network and learn about economic issues and progress throughout Shawano County.

According to Dennis Heling, SCEPI’s chief economic development officer, it has been a stellar year for the organization in terms of new business growth.

“The list of business start-ups and expansions for the past year is very impressive. In the city of Shawano alone, over 20 new businesses have opened or will open soon and at least a dozen major expansions have been completed the last couple of years,” Heling said.

Shawano Police Department

March 28

Police logged 41 incidents, including the following:

Hit and Run — Police investigated a property damage hit-and-run in the 100 block of Sunset Avenue.

Theft — A debit card was reported stolen in the 200 block of Teddington Lane.

Harassment — Harassment was reported in the 1200 block of South River Street.

Theft — A wallet was reported stolen in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Threatening — Police responded to a threatening complaint at Olga Brener Intermediate School, 1300 S. Union St.

Theft — A stolen debit card was reported used at KFC, 102 N. Airport Drive.

Warrant — A 28-year-old man was taken into custody on a warrant in the 1200 block of East Richmond.

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

Disturbance — Police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of West Green Bay Street.

The Shawano County Board approved a higher salary for the sheriff’s office Wednesday in an effort to bring it more in line with other sheriff’s salaries around the state and closer to the higher salary already being paid to the department’s own chief deputy.

The board approved what amounts to a roughly 8 percent increase for the sheriff starting in January 2019 while taking pains not to frame it as such.

The board voted 20-6 to give the sheriff a 3 percent pay increase in 2019, then adjust that salary upward by $4,000.

That will give the sheriff a salary of $79,569 versus the $73,368 that the job currently pays.

Even with the increase, the salary will remain below what many other sheriffs are making in similarly-sized counties, and still slightly below the department’s chief deputy, who will make $80,288 in 2019.

Lindsay Johnson is on the job as the new coordinator for Shawano’s downtown Business Improvement District (BID).

“It’s an exciting time for downtown Shawano as it continues to develop into a destination for residents and visitors,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to working with the businesses and helping with the growth of the downtown area.”

Johnson will organize BID events, meet with downtown businesses and find ways for those businesses to work together in promotional efforts. Johnson will also act as a liaison between the BID and the Shawano Downtown Business Association, promote the BID’s facade grants, and organize the BID annual meeting.

Her start date was March 16.

Johnson was chosen from a field of seven finalists for the job.

“She came in with a lot of ideas about how we could do things differently,” according to BID Board President Jennifer Hoffman. “She’s very organized and already knows a lot of the businesses downtown.”