Fellowship worth $12,000 total

By Angie Landsverk

Before Patrick Martin became a teacher, he was a software engineer, a stay-at-home dad and a tutor.

“I’ve always found that explaining things to people was something I was successful at,” he said. “The more I grew, the more I realized it was more of a natural gift. I can see the confusion and how I can help.”

Martin is a math and Project Lead the Way teacher at Weyauwega-Fremont High School.

He is among Wisconsin’s 100 teachers chosen to receive a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship this year.

Fellowship recipients are educators chosen for their ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, motivate others and provide leadership and service within and outside the classroom.

Being chosen for the award was exciting and overwhelming for Martin, who is in his fourth year of teaching.

“Having not grown up in the teaching ranks, I hadn’t realized the esteem of it,” he said. “There are two rounds. I learned I made it through the first round and realized they give 100 of them. I started thinking, ‘Wow – that would be really cool.’”

Martin will be recognized during a Sunday, April 15 luncheon, at Fond du Lac High School.

He will receive $6,000, and the high school will also receive $6,000.

Jeremy Schroeder, W-F’s high school principal, nominated Martin for the fellowship.

“He has a good rapport with students, teachers, staff and parents and other community stakeholders,” Schroeder said. “Mr. Martin is involved not only in his classroom but outside of his classroom working with students and creating opportunities both fun and educational for them.”

Martin and his wife Catherine owned a local business.

As a result, he teaches students about knitting and crocheting on special interest and activity days.

“Mr. Martin engages and interacts with students on a regular basis at school through sporting events, concerts and other events. Mr. Martin was a professional tutor prior to beginning his teaching career here, and his care and compassion for student success and well-being are very evident,” Schroeder said.

Martin is also the district’s sound technician, a skill he uses as well at the church he and his family attend.

In addition, Martin works at and attends most athletic competitions and offers to help students with their schoolwork and futures, said Schroeder.

Teaching path
Martin received his Wisconsin licensure through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Alternative Careers in Teaching program.
He explained the road he took to becoming a teacher.

Martin grew up throughout the United States, living in Louisiana, Alaska, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina.
“My dad was a civil engineer,” he said. “We moved a lot.”

Martin also pursued a career in engineering and graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in electrical engineering.

His first job took him to Colorado, where he was a software engineer.

Then he moved to New Orleans and worked in information technology.

Martin moved there when Catherine was in medical school. Her residency then took them to Kentucky and eventually to Wisconsin when Catherine joined ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca.

They moved here 20 years ago, and for much of that time, Martin was a stay-at-home dad. He homeschooled their two children: Lydia and Chris.

Catherine worked for 10 years and then stopped working due to her own medical issues.

“I went back to work,” he said.

Martin tried different things before deciding to go back to school.

“I had worked in IT before, but had been out of it 15 years,” he said. “Things had changed so much.”

With a degree in engineering, he only needed the education side to become a math teacher.

It did not take him long to complete the program.

He took a long-term substitute teaching position in Waupaca.

“At that point, we made the assumption when Catherine quit that she would do the homeschooling, but she was still not feeling well,” Martin said.

That is why he became a tutor.

It allowed him to continue homeschooling their children and schedule tutoring sessions around it.

Around the same time, he and Catherine opened a yarn store in Weyauwega.

They also signed Chris up to attend W-F High School.

He was already going to the school for choir and band.

With Chris making it apparent he wanted to go to college, they wanted him to experience the ebb and flow of the classroom.

“Right before school starts, I get a call from (District Administrator) Scott Bleck,” Martin said. “Scott said he wanted to stop by the store to talk about school.”

Martin thought the visit had to do with Chris, who was going to start his junior year there.

Instead, Bleck stopped by the store and said, “I need a math teacher. I hear you have a license.”

It was a few days before the start of the school year.

“It was calculus. It’s been like 20 years since I’ve done calculus, but I have the weekend,” Martin said. “It was a long weekend.”

His philosophy
He loves interacting with his students, but says the organizational side of teaching is still challenging for him.

“I do really well with the self-motivated kids who want to learn,” Martin said. “The ones who are just there because they have to be are the ones I really want to reach.”

One of the classes he teaches is integrated math.

Working with those students has resulted in him wanting to see a change in education, with a shift in attitude toward the skilled labor positions.

“I was raised with the expectation that I would go to college,” Martin said. “For most of my life, I passed that on to my own children.”

When he started teaching integrated math, he searched for things that would motivate his students.

As Martin looked at manufacturing, he realized there is a need for employees in the skilled trades.

They are good paying jobs, with more positions available than people to fill them, he said.

“I’m trying to get kids in high school interested in these skilled labor positions,” Martin said.

He works to prepare all of his students for the future, regardless of what direction they will take.

“I want them to have confidence going forward in whatever it is they’re going to do,” Martin said.

The post Teacher wins Kohl award appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Burning permits now required

While spring is always welcome after Wisconsin’s long winters, seasonal warm and dry conditions can result in increased wildfires.

That’s why Jason Hennes with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Hartman Creek State Park office is gearing up for spring wildfire season and reminding residents to get their burning permit now.

“Weather is the single most important factor influencing how fires start and spread. Temperature, wind, humidity and precipitation are the key weather components that determine the daily fire danger,” Hennes said.

Debris burning is the No. 1 cause of Wisconsin’s wildfires and fires caused by careless burning become more frequent this time of year.

This year’s fire season is following historic patterns with peak activity expected during April.

Wildfires can happen just about any time of the year, but history has shown 60 percent of all wildfires in Wisconsin each year occur in March, April and May alone.

“Many people are eager to get outside to clean-up their properties by raking leaf litter, brush and pine needles so it looks good and is ready for new growth. Then, they choose to burn their debris pile,” Hennes said.

Rainy weather does not mean conditions are safe for debris burning. Light fuels, such as leaves, grasses and pine needles in sandy soils can dry out quickly turn into hazardous conditions in a matter of a day.

Fire control officials stress the importance of knowing the local fire danger.

Throughout the spring, DNR monitors the weather and fuel conditions daily. This influences the fire danger, most often communicated on Smokey Bear fire danger adjective level signs. Fire danger sign levels range from “low” to “extreme.”

“The signs describe the potential for a fire to start and spread and the intensity at which a fire will burn in the wildland,” Hennes said. “Our hope is that the public will take note of these signs, check our website or hotline and adapt their behavior and act responsibly.”

Penalties exist for anyone found responsible for causing a wildland fire.

“You could be liable for the costs it takes to suppress that fire and potentially any damages. Getting your permit and checking those daily fire restrictions is a much cheaper and safer option,” Hennes said. “To avoid these concerns altogether, consider composting your yard waste or hauling it to a transfer site. Burning debris should always be the last alternative.”

As soon as the snow cover is gone, burning permits are required in DNR Protection Areas. Permit holders are authorized

to burn vegetative materials, such as leaves, brush and pine needles and are designed so that burning is done safely with minimal wildfire risk.

“Obtaining a burn permit is easy, fast and the best part is: they are free. For the average customer, it takes less than two minutes to go online and apply. It’s good for the calendar year and we can even email or mail it right away,” Hennes said. “With a little planning and dedication to getting your burn permit and following the rules, we can all work together to prevent wildfires.”

To obtain an annual DNR burning permit go online at dnr.wi.gov, keyword “burn permit,” or call 1-888-947-2876. to have it mailed or instantly emailed. Residents also can visit a local DNR office or designated Emergency Fire Warden.

Once an individual has a burning permit, he or she must call or go online after 11 a.m. on the day of the planned burn to check daily fire restrictions to hear the legal burning hours and size limitations or if burning has been suspended for the day.

Some areas of the state are not regulated by DNR so it’s important to check with local municipal or fire department officials for any ordinances or other burning restrictions.

For more information on burning permits, fire danger and preparing for wildfires around your home and property, visit dnr.wi.gov search “fire.”

The post Wildfire season appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Candidate to challenge Hardel

By Robert Cloud

Wilz

A patrol sergeant has filed to run for Waupaca County sheriff.

Sgt. Tim Wilz will challenge Sheriff Brad Hardel in the Aug. 14 Republican primary.

A 1979 graduate of Hortonville High School, Wilz earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Fox Valley Technical College in 1993.

He began his 27-year career in law enforcement with the Manawa Police Department in 1991 and then became a corrections officer with the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office in 1995.

After one year as a transport officer, Wilz moved into the patrol division in 1997.

In 2007, he was promoted to patrol sergeant.

“As a first-line supervisor, I make sure we have efficient patrol division operations during my shift,” Wilz said.

Wilz said he is a training coordinator, responsible for training officers in the use of firearms, stun guns, defensive tactics, basic strikes and control, pursuit and high risk traffic stops.

He is also a coordinator for snowmobile, ATV and boat patrols.

Wilz said one of his goals is to “work closely with school administrators and state government to obtain grants to improve school safety with a focus on adding a school resource officer in all our schools in the county.”

School resource officers, like those in Waupaca and Clintonville, help build trust and relationships between law enforcement and students.

“Until students realize that the school resource officer is there for them, we will not be able to stop bullying or be aware of students of interest,” Wilz said.

He said his office could use part-time or retired deputies as school resource officers, while working with municipal agencies.

Among his concerns, Wilz said he wants to examine the department’s budget carefully and establish priorities based on public safety needs.

Drug abuse and addiction are critical issues Wilz wants to address as sheriff.

“Currently, we have two drug enforcement officers and we’re working diligently trying to stop or control drug use in Waupaca County,” Wilz said. “Adding a third or fourth drug officer through available grants would be a step in the right direction.”

Wilz noted that a growing number of traffic stops involve drivers under the influence of drugs, while drug use is the motive behind more and more burglaries and thefts.

Helping people in trouble is a major reason Wilz became an officer.

“I chose to be a law enforcement officer to serve my community through protection and intervention,” Wilz said.

“Often times, we deal with people who are down and out, emotionally unstable, violent drug abusers. Typically, these people are at the lowest point in their lives,” he added.

Wilz, whose wife has an insurance agency, said she had a client he arrested for drunken driving about 10 years ago.

Wilz spent about an hour talking with the offender after the arrest.

“He explained to my wife how I changed his life,” Wilz said. “He never drank a drop since then and he now owns his own business.”

Wilz believes helping people move beyond bad situations and bad decisions is the most “rewarding and satisfying” aspect of being in law enforcement.

If elected sheriff, Wilz said he is committed to having “a professional office with transparency, accountability, fairness and integrity. I plan to be a sheriff who’s on duty at all times for the citizens and employees of Waupaca County.”

The post Wilz runs for sheriff appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Janssen to meet with board Friday

By Robert Cloud

More than two dozen students, parents, alumni and retired teachers attended the Waupaca School Board meeting Tuesday, April 10, to show their support for Joe Janssen.

The district administration sent a preliminary notice to Janssen that his teaching contract would not be renewed next year.

Fifteen people spoke to the board on Janssen’s behalf.

They presented a petition with 423 signatures supporting Janssen, who teaches history at Waupaca High School.

“The overwhelming consensus is that Janssen doesn’t just have his students memorize facts in his history class but he teaches them to be critical thinkers and have civil, open-minded discussions among people with differing beliefs,” said Nancy Miller.

She noted that Janssen is the only teacher qualified to teach Advance Placement history.

“If he is let go this year, the students who need AP credits to apply for college will be out of luck,” Miller said.

Three students spoke in favor of Janssen, including Rachel Luedtke who said, “I think letting him go would alienate not only a good person but a very good teacher and it would disappoint much of the student body.”

Ann Buerger Linden said she was concerned with “how this proposed action of nonrenewal might be be perceived by the rest of the staff and students.

“I think it may cast a pall over the morale and productivity and enthusiasm of our dedicated teachers,” she said. “I also think you might lose some teachers and I think it may impact your ability to recruit excellent teachers in the future which is not good for out community at all.”

“In the public eye, this whole situation seems to be a clear case of discrimination against a very good teacher,” Carol Elvery said. “This situation also has the appearance of being managed underhandedly by placing the nonrenewal of two teachers’ contracts on the consent agenda of the board’s March meeting without notifying at least one of the individuals whose job is going to be affected.”

Barbara Laedtke was among those who attended the three-day WaupacaWay2K30 community conversation about the school district’s future.

“During those sessions I remember hearing a few people talking about getting rid of teachers who were trying to teach their own views,” Laedtke said. “It makes me think that those opinions might be the reasons why Mr. Janssen’s job is in jeopardy.”

As a former history teacher, Laedtke said Janssen’s view of world history was post-colonial, which is what University of Wisconsin students are currently learning.

“It’s the view of history from the perspective not of the conquering populations, but of the enslaved people, the conquered, indigenous people and the poor,” Laedtke said.

One parent, a school bus driver whose son is in the military, spoke in favor of not renewing Janssen’s contract at the school board meeting.

“Last year, they were all asked to wear their uniforms to school for Veterans Day,” Flonnie Pliska said. “He was not allowed to come to class because he had his uniform on.”

Pliska described Janssen’s actions as disrespectful.

“I agree to let him go and I wish that more people understood the things that have gone on,” Pliska said.

Janssen will meet with the school board in a private conference regarding the nonrenewal of his contract on Friday, April 13.

The post Supporters speak out for teacher appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

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Tom Burkhalter joins the podcast to talk about his new job as the Clintonville football coach. Pictured: Burkhalter celebrates with the team after a homecoming victory in the rain last season. Erik Buchinger file photo

Football and futbol

By Erik Buchinger

Clintonville football coach Tom Burkhalter: 1:31

Team of the Week – Hortonville girls’ soccer: 9:44

New London Teacher Power Rankings: 17:19

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or SoundCloud.

Music was downloaded from Accelerated Ideas and Audionautix.

Sponsors: Klein Automotive, Nicolet Coffee, New London Press Star, Clintonville Tribune-Gazette

The post Prep Sports Weekly Replay podcast appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

TV show host to visit Waupaca

By Angie Landsverk

Inga Witscher will share stories about farming and filming during a Saturday, April 21, cooking demonstration, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.

Her program will begin at 11 a.m., and reservations are not necessary.

Witscher, host of Wisconsin Public Television’s “Around the Farm Table,” will make a Smörgåstårta.

“It’s a Scandinavian sandwich cake,” she said.

Made with bread and filling and garnished on the top, Witscher describes it as “just kind of funky.”

She loves to hear from the people in the audience as they share their farm stories.

“It becomes a big conversation,” she said.

“Around the Farm Table” highlights Wisconsin agriculture and encourages people to eat local.

It is described as part cooking show, part farming adventure.

Lifetime of farming
Witscher grew up on a dairy farm in Washington state and moved to Wisconsin about 10 years ago.

“Back in the 1990s, a lot of families moved from Washington state to Wisconsin,” Witscher said.

Her family’s farm was about an hour outside of Seattle.

Urban sprawl began.

“Wisconsin is the perfect place to dairy farm,” she said. “I kind of fell into farming by accident.”

Her parents moved to Wisconsin about five years before she did and bought a hobby farm.

“They always wanted to have dairy cows,” Witscher said.

Her parents brought up the idea with her brothers and then with her.

“I was 24,” Witscher said.

She had no idea what she wanted to do, other than wanting to be a hairdresser, and soon found herself in Wisconsin.

“My first milking took eight hours and I was only milking 35 cows,” she said. “After that, I just fell in love with it. It was that thing that filled the gap in my life.”

Both Witscher and her father enjoy visiting farms and talking to people.

That and seeing a British show about a chef visiting a farm became the inspiration for their show.

As Witscher tried to market her grassfed beef, she had friends struggling with marketing their own farm products.

“We just need to do a TV show,” her father said.

Their idea was to go to farms in the state and show how to use ingredients from those farms.

“We found a camera guy, and he starting filming shorts,” she said.

They submitted the shorts to Wisconsin Public Television (WPT).

“They loved it,” Witscher said.

WPT asked for a 26-minute pilot, and they are now filming their sixth season.

“My parents have taught me that anything is possible,” Witscher said.

As Witscher travels around the state, she loves hearing stories from people.

When she started milking cows in November 2006, she was surprised by how much she enjoyed it.

“What I love most about it is I don’t ever feel I have a job,” she said.

Witscher farms near Osseo, and her parents live in Eau Claire.

Her dad visits her often to help her do the things she once helped him do.

“It’s so nice to have a lifestyle where everyone can be included,” Witscher said.

She looks forward to visiting Waupaca.

“One of the nice things about the show is I get to see different parts of the state,” Witscher said. “It is the best place I’ve ever lived. It has the kindest people. It’s just an incredible place to live.”

The post Around the Farm Table appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Raising drug awareness in Manawa

By Holly Neumann

Ted Neitzke, with CESA 6, recently visited the Manawa School District to talk with staff and community members’ about drug awareness, parenting skills and risky decision making.

Tim Dehring with the West Bend Police Department also spoke.

“We want to help you build your own personal awareness of what your kids may or may not know,” Neitzke said. “We want to give you some tools and conversations that you need to have with them.”

Some of the main concerns parents in attendance had involved pregnancy, drinking, peer pressure, drugs and even death.

“The number one thing that is going to deter your kids from making bad choices, is your love,” Neitzke said. “Your regular presence in your children’s lives, your regular re-enforcement in conversations and your ability to create a channel of conversation with them is so important.”

He noted that all children make bad choices and adults need respond to those bad choices in a way that help the youth grow into mature adults.

“Somewhere between the grades of 7-12, your child is going to hate you as their parent,” he said. “When that time comes, finding other trusting adults in their lives is critical. They need to have someone that they can talk to.”

According to Dehring, the root cause of some the problems facing youth today is lack impulse control, an inability to delay gratification and consider long term consequences.

“How does this apply to your family,” asked Dehring. “It’s up to us as parents to help them with that. You can make a difference.”

Dehring said there are biological reasons for children making bad choices.

“The brain is not fully developed until the age of 23 to 25 years old. It develops from back to front,” he said. “The back teaches you to breath, teaches you to walk. Your mid-section is about excitement seeking, pleasure seeking and new experience seeking and emotions. It develops from 12 to 18. The front is critical thinking and impulse control.”

He pointed out that biologically the odds are stacked against them.

On a social level, children have less time to be kids.

“There is pressure to succeed, there is early sexualization,” he said. “And adoration of adults and social media amplifies it all.”

There is also a social acceptance to have risky behavior.

“It is important to set up barriers, expectations and standards for your children,” he said. “It is important that we allow our kids to be kids.”

Dehring said kids are going to make mistakes.

“You cannot focus on just that,” he said. “You have to remember that your kids are awesome and they do great things every day. Stay strong, learn to communicate and love them. You will get through this.”

Both Neitzke and Dehring will be back in Manawa from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Jr./Sr. High School commons.
Parents and their children are invited to join them for conversation.

The conversations will provide both the parent and the child insight into what kids know about alcohol and drugs, how parents will react if the child makes a bad choice and strategies for peer pressure.

This event is free.

The post Tips for parents appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Hopes to be women’s wrestling pioneer

By Erik Buchinger

Former New London wrestler Maddie Ruckdashel will be on the roster for the state’s first ever women’s college wrestling team this fall.

Ruckdashel signed her National Letter of Intent in the New London High School auditorium in March to compete for Lakeland University.

“It was really awesome,” Ruckdashel said of Signing Day. “It felt a little surreal just because it happened fast for me. The opportunity came up, and I just took it right way. It was a good feeling to get it done and totally committed.”

Ruckdashel graduated from New London High School in 2017 and said it was important for her to hold her Signing Day in New London.

“That’s where I found my passion for wrestling, and it was nice to have all my friends and family there to support me,” Ruckdashel said. “Some of my best friends are from that team.”

Ruckdashel started wrestling in first grade when she would walk with her younger brother Garrett to New London Middle School where her father Earl was the wrestling coach.

In high school, Earl finished fifth in the state tournament, and Garrett recently finished his high school career at state for New London.

Ruckdashel’s older sister Abbie works for the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation and writes articles for Wisconsin Wrestling Online.

“Wrestling is a really big part of our family,” Ruckdashel said. “It just brings us together. My brother, sister and I for the last two years went to the Big Ten Championships together. It’s just a good thing to bond over, and we get to talk about it. It’s just something special to us.”

Ruckdashel said she has always enjoyed the wrestling because of its individual and team aspects.

“I enjoy that it’s an individual sport and that it’s all on you, but it’s also a team sport too when you’re in the dual situation and everybody is there to support you,” Ruckdashel said. “Wrestling is the toughest sport in my opinion, and it just builds your character and helps you in the real world.”

From wrestling at an early age, Ruckdashel noticed a gradual increase in girls in the sport.

“I remember when I was younger there would be a few girls at tournaments,” Ruckdashel said. “I referee now, so when I go to youth tournaments on the weekends, there are so many more girls, and I actually referee some strictly girls tournaments. On the national level, there are states that are introducing it in high schools, so girls have their own high school teams. It’s really taking off.”

After she finished wrestling in high school, Ruckdashel said she thought her wrestling career was over.

“Once I was done, I thought I had hung up my shoes for good,” Ruckdashel said.

Ruckdashel is a freshman studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, but when she heard the news about a women’s wrestling team coming to Wisconsin, she made plans to transfer.

“I didn’t want to go out of state, so when this came up, I knew I had to take the opportunity,” Ruckdashel said.

Ruckdashel said she heard rumors about the potential for a women’s team before Thanksgiving at a coaches’ clinic she was working for in Green Bay. Then in late November, Lakeland University announced it would be the first in Wisconsin to provide college wrestling strictly for women. Ruckdashel’s national coach Gary Quackenbush helped put her in contact with the Lakeland University coaching staff.

Ruckdashel visited Lakeland University before Christmas. She will be studying psychology to become an elementary school counselor or sports counselor.

“It’s a small campus, and I actually think I’m going to enjoy that because there’s less distractions,” Ruckdashel said. “It’s easier to make friends when you’re in a smaller community.”

Ruckdashel said the team expects to have 10 to 14 athletes to begin its first year, and she is excited to help grow the sport.

“That’s really what inspired me to go there,” Ruckdashel said. “I want to go there to be a part of the pioneers that are moving women’s wrestling forward throughout the nation.”

The post Ruckdashel signs for college wrestling appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

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A crew member with Mid State Tree Service sets chopped wood into a truck bed during a tree removal operation on March 12 to prepare for the Division Street reconstruction project. Scott Bellile photo

Division Street closes next week

By Scott Bellile

Road closures will begin next week when the $3 million Division Street reconstruction project kicks off.

Starting Monday, April 9, crews will spend the next four months upgrading storm and sanitary sewer systems and performing minor water main updates.

Homeowners were originally given a start date of Monday, April 2, but frost in the ground delayed that.

Road construction will kick off early August and last through mid-fall. The project will end at the Beckert Road intersection 1 mile south of Wolf River Avenue.

Work will begin at the intersection of Beacon Avenue and Division Street and move south. This is a change from the original starting point of the Wolf River Avenue intersection.

Crews will return later to work on the stretch between Wolf River Avenue and Beacon Avenue.

The costs will be shared between the city of New London and Waupaca County Highway Department because Division Street is also County Trunk D except for the three blocks north of Beacon Avenue.

New London Public Services Director Chad Hoerth said the project is estimated to cost $3.1 million to $3.4 million including the engineering expenses. The city of New London will fund the utility work, 50 percent of the roadway work between Beacon Avenue and Beckert Road, and 100 percent of the street reconstruction between Beacon Avenue and Wolf River Avenue.

Waupaca County Highway Department will pay for half of the roadwork between Beacon Avenue and Beckert Road, which is estimated to come in around $700,000.

Residents living along Division Street were mailed information and invited to a public information meeting held March 1.

“We had probably about one-third of the property owners that we invited along the street attend,” Hoerth reported to the New London Board of Public Works on March 5. “It was a little bit lighter than I would have liked to see but it is what it is. I thought the meeting went well.”

To reach the two-thirds of residents who did not show, Hoerth mailed out a 53-minute video explaining the project. The video is available to the public on the New London Access YouTube channel.

The city council on March 13 held a public hearing regarding the special assessments that will be levied against property owners. Several residents attended but none spoke.

The reconstruction project should stay on schedule because it is the only project on Waupaca County Highway Department’s calendar for 2018, Mayor Gary Henke said at the March 5 board of public works meeting.

“They aren’t going to be running between here and the town of Farmington and Iola and whatever [working on other projects],” Henke said of county highway crews. “They’re here, period.”

Project scope
The undertaking will address drainage problems and aging pavement, bring the street up to state standards, and expand sidewalk coverage.

Work will be divided into two segments.

The first is the northern portion from Wolf River Avenue to Oak Street. Crews will widen the roadway to one consistent width; replace sidewalks, pavement, curb and gutter; and install new storm and sanitary sewer systems.

The second segment runs south of Oak Street to Beckert Road. This portion is not receiving new storm and sanitary sewer or being reconstructed. Rather, crews will lay new asphalt and extend the sidewalk.

“Not everybody wants new sidewalks but it’s a safety thing. We feel that there’s a lot of kids that walk to the schools in the area so having that sidewalk continuously all the way throughout the Division Street project is definitely a benefit and a safety feature for those children using it,” Hoerth said in the video mailed to residents.

Other elements of the project will include:
• At the intersection of Division and Algoma streets, reconstructing storm sewer outfalls, which are the outlets where rainwater is discharged into the river.

• On Wolf River Avenue, putting in a turn lane for eastbound traffic turning right onto Division Street.

• On short segments of Warren and Jennings streets just off of Division Street, performing mill and overlay to eliminate potholes.

Property owners between Wolf River Avenue and Oak Street will be required to replace their private sanitary sewer laterals to their homes if they do not meet building codes.

Hoerth said the city televised the laterals and found tree root growth, blockages and cracks inside.

Residences will be assessed for the portions of lateral running from their property line to their house unless they hire their own contractor to do the job.

About a dozen lead service water laterals will also be replaced by New London Utilities. The properties that currently have lead lines will be assessed for replacement of the water laterals between the curb box and the home.

Commuting, detours
Division Street will remain open to local traffic only. Driveways will be accessible unless the contractor is working in front of the property. Residents will be given a two-day notice before their driveway is closed.

At the beginning of the project when the Beacon Avenue intersection is closed, the posted detour will be Beckert Road to Mill Street to Wolf River Avenue.

Later on when the Wolf River Avenue intersection closes, the detour will become Mill Street to Beacon Avenue to Pearl Street to West Wolf River Avenue.

Two sets of through streets will remain open except when their respective intersections are under construction: Rowland/Oak streets and Washington Street.

East Washington Street, which is near three public and parochial schools, could get congested after school hours, School District of New London Business Services Director Joe Marquardt cautioned the public during the March 12 school board meeting.

“I think we all know, if we’re talking about it realistically, construction is a challenge,” Marquardt said, “and I have a feeling that there will be some frustrating days, but we will do our very best to have folks move through that challenge as safely as possible.”

No parking zones will be in effect only during school hours on parts of the neighborhood streets surrounding Lincoln Elementary School, Most Precious Blood Catholic School and Emanuel Lutheran School. The reason is to allow room for school buses to pass through streets they normally did not take.

For the duration of the project, parents are asked to drop off Emanuel Lutheran and MPB students in the parking lots of their respective schools. Lincoln Elementary School students should be dropped off in the parking lot of First Congregational United Church of Christ next door.

Tree cutting, replanting
Mid State Tree Service of New London chopped down between 40 and 50 city-owned trees inside the terraces last month. The company will head the replanting efforts after the project.

“We have a plan to put the same number, if not a couple more [trees] back into the street,” Hoerth said in the video. “However, depending on the location of the new utilities or the location of private trees in that area, that’s going to kind of dictate where the new trees would go. It’s not going to be the case where if a tree comes out, a tree is going to go back in that place.”
The trees were cut down because they were close to dying or would have experienced “significant trauma damage” during the project, Hoerth said.

Some younger trees were spared and will be replanted in city parks.

Division Street residents were invited to suggest tree species the city should plant in the public terraces. Hoerth sought a variety because homogenous tree populations would be susceptible to disease outbreaks or emerald ash borers.

Trash, recycling, mail
Graichen Sanitation and Outagamie County’s recycling contractor Inland Services will continue curbside trash and recycling pickup when the streets are accessible to trucks.

When trucks cannot pass through, residents will have to wheel their carts to a communal spot at the corner of the nearest side street for emptying. Hoerth asked residents to tape their address to their cart.

As for mail delivery, houses north of Warren Street will see no change because mailboxes are attached to the houses.

South of Warren Street, where the mailboxes are located along the curbside, residents must temporarily remove their mailboxes so construction crews can access curb, gutter and sidewalks. Those residents will use temporary communal mailbox banks.

Residents living between Warren and Roland streets will find their mailbox bank at the Jennings Street intersection.

Residents from Roland Street to Beckert Road will access their mailbox bank at the Martin Street intersection.

“I know it’s going to be an inconvenience,” Hoerth said about the project as a whole in the video. “There’s going to be dust. There’s going to be mud. There’s going to be loud noises. There’s going to be inconveniences with garbage removal and with the mail pickup. But we’re hoping that this six-month window of this inconvenience is going to have … years of benefit.”

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Water association recognizes local achievements

By Erik Buchinger

The city of Clintonville’s water and wastewater crew earned three awards during at the Wisconsin Rural Water Association Conference in late March.

The city’s certified water supervisor Bob Stanislawski earned a Lifetime Achievement award.

Certified water operator Kyle Gruetzmacher was named Operator of the Year.

As a team, the wastewater crew won the Conservation Award.

The city’s water/wastewater manager Dave Tichinel nominated the award winners.

Bob Stanislawski
“It means a lot,” Stanislawski said. “Being in the business for over 30 years, it’s a great accomplishment, and it’s a pleasure to be picked in the state conference like that.”

Stanislawski has been employed by the city since 1979 and said he enjoys the different aspects of his job.

“I enjoy getting out with the public,” Stanislawski said. “Every day is something different. You think you’ve seen everything, but something always pops up and you learn something new. Even with the new technology, it makes your job a lot easier.”

Stanislawski has been a supervisor for nearly 20 years and is responsible for the day to day issues with his crew.

“In my absence, he takes over as the manager when a decision needs to be made,” Tichinel said. “He’s very good. He’s what I like to call a walking dictionary when it comes to the Clintonville water system. He has got wisdom in this field especially when it comes to Clintonville. He knows where everything is. We use his knowledge that he knows that nobody else does since he’s been here for so long.”

Kyle Gruetzmacher
“I was pretty excited to know my boss nominated me for it, and it feels really nice to be recognized as a water operator throughout our district,” Gruetzmacher said.

Gruetzmacher started working for the city in 2008.

“I worked in the public sector over my summers while I was in college, and I saw that a job was open and applied for it,” Gruetzmacher said. “They gave me a chance, and here I am today.”

Tichinel said Gruetzmacher is a hard worker and talented in his job.

“Kyle is a very dedicated worker, capable of high-level performance under minimum supervision,” Tichinel said. “I have nothing but good things to say about Kyle. He does a lot for the city, and he does the work of a guy and a half pretty much.”

Gruetzmacher said he likes being able to work outside on a daily basis.

“The best part about this job is being outside every day even though it’s cold sometimes in the winter,” Gruetzmacher said. “I also enjoy the amount of variety there is in the job.”

Tichinel said Stanislawski will likely retire next year, and Gruetzmacher would probably step in as the supervisor.

Wastewater staff
“I absolutely love my staff,” Tichinel said. “It makes my job easier. As a supervisor, I still have to make hard decisions, no doubt about that, but it makes it a lot easier when you have seasoned employees that have been here a while that know the job.”

Tichinel said he was happy to earn the award as a team.

“They’re outstanding employees,” Tichinel said. “When you get an award, that means you’re protecting the environment, protecting what you’re releasing into the rivers and doing the best you can to make things better.”

Tichinel said he is proud of his group’s effort with the inspection of Main Street during construction and the $10 million Wastewater Treatment Plant project.

“That’s where the conservation comes in because in the last few years, we maintained compliance, which is pretty outstanding,” Tichinel said. “I’m pretty proud of my water and wastewater staff. I’m blessed to have some very good operators for the city.”

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Waupaca's Ava Schwenn and Wrightstown's Grace Van Zeeland track down a loose ball April 12 during a North Eastern Conference girls' soccer game at Comet Field. Van Zeeland and the Tigers hand Schwenn and the Comets an 8-0 defeat. Greg Seubert Photo

Tigers score eight goals

By Greg Seubert

Wrightstown kept the Waupaca girls’ soccer team scoreless in its season opener.

The Tigers handed the Comets an 8-0 loss April 10 in a matchup of North Eastern Conference teams at Comet Field.

Hannah Clancy, Lindsey Kugler and Carlie Hendricks scored to give Wrightstown a 3-0 halftime lead. Clancy found the net twice in the second half, while Cassidy Burke, Sami Van Asten and Hailey Horkman also added solo goals.

The Tigers outshot the Comets 30-4.

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Man charged with felony endangerment

A Clintonville man faces weapons and drug charges.

Joe L. Oppor, 52, is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, felony possession of marijuana, two counts of intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, operating a firearm while intoxicated, carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a handgun into a tavern.

Oppor faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of endangerment. He was released on a $2,500 signature bond co-signed by his mother.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7, Clintonville police officers Craig Kamke and Cody Rollin responded to a 911 call that Oppor broke a basement window and was trying to enter a home on Torrey Street.

Minutes later, a second call reported a man wearing camouflage had pointed a pistol at two people at Torrey Street and North Clinton Avenue.

When Kamke arrived at the scene, a woman flagged him down and said the man who pointed the gun at them had fled the area on foot, heading east on Torrey Street.

She and another witness reported they were driving by when they saw a man behind a bush. He allegedly yelled and pointed the gun at them.

Officers began checking the area with their weapons drawn.

Rollin located Oppor and directed him to the ground at gunpoint.

“Officers knew the defendant from prior contacts,” according to the criminal complaint. “Based on those prior contacts officers were aware that the defendant does have some delusional ideologies.”

Oppor told Kamke he had not spoken with his son in three days. He said he suspected the family who lived in the house he tried to enter was holding his son down in the basement, the officer reported.

Oppor reportedly said he was walking back home from a bar when he had a feeling his son was in the basement and his “feelings are never wrong.”

Police found a handgun in a hip holster under Oppor’s jacket. The handgun was loaded and a round was chambered. They also found marijuana and a pocket knife.

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Q&A with head coach Dave Moe

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years coaching the team: 21st.

Returning varsity athletes: Our returning letter winners that will be the strength of the program this year are Carter Kundinger, Lucas VanHandel,Keaton Cottrell, Brandon Conger, and Cade Nelessen.

Athletes to watch: A newcomer to the team that has shown promise and may battle for a varsity spot is Dillon Fox.

Team goals/expectations: Our team goals seem to be familiar to me each year. We want each dual and each tournament played as though it will be our last. In other words, never give up, play as hard as we are able and add the scores up when our last player comes in. If we do that, the season will be a great success.

Team(s) to beat in conference: As you already know, the FVA is a very good, highly-skilled golf conference. I think we and many other schools see Kaukauna as the favorite. As they are our first conference match, we will have a good yardstick by which to measure our early progress.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: If our athletes compete as hard as they can and have fun doing it, they and our coaches will have gotten more than most ever do out of any season.

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Lee David McIlraith, age 85 died on Thursday, April 5, 2018, at Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino, Idaho.

Lee was born November 9, 1932 in New London, Wisconsin and raised by his grandmother Martha Handschke. Lee attended a Lutheran grade school and in high school he was a star athlete in track, softball and swimming. He graduated from Washington High School, New London in 1951. Lee then went into the Air Force and trained as an airplane mechanic. When he left the Air Force, Lee worked as a diesel mechanic in Wisconsin. In the late 1970s, he was tired of the cold and moved to Idaho. Lee was an all-time sports competitor. He enjoyed a good game of cards, pool and darts, as well as, hunting and fishing. However, golf was his passion; he was a Country Club Champion at the Orofino Golf and Country Club. The golf course is where he met his wife, Eva Hubbard. They married in 1980 and he inherited her family.

He was preceded in death by his wife Eva. Survivors include step-sons, Lane (Joan) and Richard (Robin) Hubbard; step-grandsons, Stuart, Troy, Jamie and Rick Hubbard and their families, and family in New London, Wisconsin.

At Lee’s request a private Memorial Service will be held.

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Waupaca Community Children’s Theatre will hold auditions for its summer musical production of Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast Jr.”

Auditions are scheduled from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, April 23 at the Waupaca Learning Center’s music room on Shoemaker Road.

Auditionees must come prepared with a short song to sing and may be asked to read from a script. Any youth auditioning without a parent or guardian present must have a signed note from home stating that he or she has permission to audition.

Parents are also responsible for picking up their child promptly at the end of auditions.

If callbacks are needed, they will be held from 3:30-5:30 Tuesday, April 24.

Based on the original Broadway production and the Academy Award-winning motion picture, Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast Jr.” is an adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance and features songs by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman.

The story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress.

If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

In addition to Belle and Beast, featured characters include the town bully Gaston, his sidekick Lefou, Belle’s father Maurice, the enchanted servants Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babette, Mrs. Potts and Chip as well as villagers and castle servants.

The show has a number of popular songs including “Be Our Guest,” “Something There,” “Belle,” “Home,” and “Beauty and The Beast.”

Mary Zelinske, assistant director of the Waupaca Community Children’s Theatre’s productions of “High School Musical” and “Xanadu”, will direct.

Rehearsals, tentatively beginning June 5, will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Four performances will take place the week of July 23-26.

Parents are asked to not double-book students in activities such as summer sports, swimming lessons, or any other weekly activities during scheduled rehearsal times.

The Waupaca Community Children’s Theatre is part of the Waupaca Community Theatre and the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival.
For more information visit www.fineartsfestival.org or “Waupaca Community Children’s Theatre” on Facebook.

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LA band with local connections

By Angie Landsverk

Peridot will perform at the Gerold Opera House on Thursday, April 19. Submitted Photo

A band with a local connection will perform at the Gerold Opera House this month.

Peridot’s evening of music begins there at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19.

The band is made up of Hillary Reynolds, Trevor Jarvis and Marton Bisits.

Reynolds, an Appleton native, is the granddaughter of Ron Reynolds and niece of Marci Reynolds, both of Waupaca.

That is how Wega Arts connected with her.

“I know her through Marci and Ron and think she’s great,” said Kathy Fehl, artistic director of Wega Arts.

Fehl said the opera house will be the perfect venue for Peridot.

There will be unreserved general seating for the concert, with tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

People may purchase advance tickets at wegaarts.org, as well as the Book Cellar in Waupaca and Wega Motors in Weyauwega.

The doors of the opera house open at 6 p.m. that evening.

The Gerold features a full bar and light refreshments.

Reynolds attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she began recording her own music.

She has several CDs under her own name, others with her former band the Hillary Reynolds Band and some with her current evolution of that band, Peridot.

Peridot is based out of Los Angeles, which is where Reynolds lives.

“We marry folk songs with pop melodies, drawing inspiration from elusive emotions that we all feel, but often struggle to articulate,” Reynolds said of Peridot’s music. “Some of our sonic influences are The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac, Ray LaMontagne and Nickel Creek.”

She said they love writing and recording with acoustic instruments.

Reynolds and Jarvis have been writing together for years.

“At the Gerold Opera House, we’ll be sharing a timeline of songs, old and brand new,” Reynolds said. “It will be a fun evening of wine and nostalgia.”

Peridot has been in Los Angeles for the last year, recording, performing and writing.

“One of the sweeter gigs we’ve had recently was playing for a proposal on the beach. We’ve also started all kinds of other projects – one being a bluegrass collective with a combination of players from the LA and Sacramento area,” she said. “Peridot will likely be back to Wisconsin in August for Mile of Music.”

The Last Big Band is playing at Weyauwega’s Gerold Opera house on May 19. Submitted Photo

Wega Arts is also preparing to host the Last Big Band on Saturday, May 19.

The band is based out of Green Bay, and Fehl said the evening will feature a lot of dancing.

“We’re happy to have them here, because everyone loves to come here and dance,” she said.

In early July, Wega Arts will hold its third film workshop.

“This one will again be a workshop with the kids,” Fehl said. “It will be a narrative feature, and it will be based on a farm.”

The film workshop will be open to youth age 12 and up.

Those interested in participating may receive more information by emailing info@wegaarts.org or calling 920-867-4888.

The Gerold Opera House is located at 136 E. Main St., in Weyauwega.

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Weyauwega-Fremont first baseman Mike Hickey picks off a Bonduel runner April 10 during a game in Weyauwega. Greg Seubert Photo

Bonduel wins in eight innings

By Greg Seubert

Three runs in the top of the eighth inning gave Bonduel a 10-7 Central Wisconsin Conference East Division win over Weyauwega-Fremont April 10.

W-F took a 3-0 lead with a run in the first inning and two more in the third, but the Bears tied the game in the top of the fifth. The Indians answered with three runs in the fifth and took a 7-5 lead into the seventh after coming up with a run in the third.

However, Bonduel forced extra innings with two runs in the seventh.

Both teams had eight hits and four errors. Brandon Scheer had three hits for the Indians, while Bryce Weier led Bonduel with three. Isaac Boldt got the win the mound and Wes Flease took the loss.

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Lawrence Conrath, a resident at Kindred Hearts in New London, shows off one of his toilet paper roll tractors that was in the works earlier this year. Scott Bellile Photo

Farmer turns to art after retiring

By Scott Bellile

For most people, a roll of toilet paper becomes trash the moment they tear off the final strip.

But for 86-year-old Lawrence Conrath, when the TP runs out, the cardboard tube becomes the foundation of his art.

A lifelong farmer whose brain is jam-packed with agriculture memories, Conrath enjoys molding toilet paper rolls into mini cardboard tractors.

Upon first glance, one might not realize his projects are made of toilet paper rolls. They do not look like four wheels glued to a tube.

Conrath’s style, rather, is cutting up the roll and shaping it to his liking. He is so attentive to detail that he uses vice grips to bend the cardboard hood into 90-degree angles and a template to keep his tractor wheels as round as possible.

Besides toilet paper, Conrath’s choice supplies include popsicle sticks (for the base of the tractor), dowel rods (to form the axles and steering shaft), copper wire, paint, Sharpie markers and plenty of glue.

“It just overwhelms me what he could and still can [do] with all these toilet paper rolls,” said John Knudsen, a friend of Conrath’s for five decades who fetches his supplies.

Conrath has designed about 50 toilet paper tractors so far. He often puts smiles on people’s faces by giving them as gifts.

Terri Kersten, an optician at Wolf River Eye Care, learned of Conrath’s projects when he gave one to the office.

She commissioned a tractor for her father-in-law, who farmed near Caroline until he was 80 and was in the hospital this past winter. Her father-in-law was “just tickled” by the surprise, Kersten said.

“He was thrilled with the tractor, and everybody that comes in, he’s got to show them,” Kersten said.

Conrath moved to the Kindred Hearts assisted living facility in New London five years ago after a medical emergency.

Prior to relocating, he built both real and replica tractors and farm machinery in his sawmill outside his farm on Old Highway 45 in the town of Lebanon.

When he was growing up, he built himself a real, drivable tractor.

“This was my first car years ago,” Conrath said. “I didn’t have no driver’s license.”

Not even losing his right index finger to the blade killed his joy for working in a sawmill.

Once he moved into assisted living, Conrath was no longer permitted to work with hazardous tools. He got creative and switched to art supplies and toilet paper rolls.

“And the best thing about it is it keeps him busy, sharp,” Knudsen said. “I don’t know if I could even get a wheel made and I’d throw it in the garbage because I don’t have the patience.”

Conrath works on and off on his tractors so a typical project takes at least three days. He admits it can get frustrating. If he messes up, he said, he may quit and go do a puzzle or start over at the beginning.

“It keeps you going,” Conrath said of his hobby. Without it he said he would be “ugly and crabby,” which, he joked, would make him less popular with the ladies.

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Volunteers document frogs, toads

Wisconsin’s largest frog appears to be staging a comeback.

That’s a welcome trend documented over the last generation by hundreds of volunteers who’ve travelled roads near rivers, lakes and wetlands listening for the breeding calls of male frogs and toads.

The Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey will get underway in the coming weeks and volunteers are likely to hear more of the booming call of the American bullfrog this summer when its mating season begins.

Ranging from 3 1/2 inches to 8 1/2 inches from snout to vent, the American bullfrog is the largest frog in Wisconsin and North America and has a foghorn call to match, said Andrew Badje, a state Department of Natural Resources conservation biologist who coordinates survey volunteers.

“Our volunteers are increasingly reporting more bullfrog calls since the Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey began in 1984,” he said. “That’s great news for several reasons. While American bullfrogs are considered a pest in western states where they’ve been introduced, they are native to Wisconsin and a valuable part of the food chain. Their comeback also shows we can take protective actions and make a difference.”

Bullfrogs were widely used in the 1900s for biological supply companies, the bait industry and for use in the food industry as frog legs.

DNR regulations have helped prevent the overharvesting of adult bullfrogs in Wisconsin and have helped the population build again, as have increased conservation education efforts from the agency’s Natural Heritage Conservation program and several partners.

The Wisconsin Frog and Toad survey began in 1981 as a response to known and suspected declines in the 1960s and 1970s in numerous Wisconsin frog species, including the northern leopard frog, American bullfrog, pickerel frog and Blanchard’s cricket frog.

A dedicated volunteer base has made the survey the longest-running citizen science amphibian calling survey in North America, according to Badje.

“Over the years, these citizen scientists have helped DNR conservation biologists define the distribution, status and population trends of all 12 frog and toad species in the state,” he said.

Volunteers have logged more than 8,700 survey nights and 87,000 site visits since the survey began. Their data have documented the American bullfrog’s good news in Wisconsin, but also a downward trend for the northern leopard frog over the course of the survey. Spring peepers, boreal chorus frogs and green frogs have been on more stable paths since the survey began.

Volunteers survey three nights a year along a pre-set route in early spring, late spring and early summer. Each volunteer makes 10 stops per night – five minutes at each site – and documents the species calling and the relative abundance of each species.

A few survey routes for 2018 are not yet spoken for. Available routes can be found at wiatri.net. Interested volunteers also can ask survey coordinators about open routes or to be placed on a waiting list for future years as desired routes or counties become available.

Volunteers also are invited to participate in phenology surveys to help monitor when frogs and toads first start calling. Phenology volunteers choose one wetland to monitor throughout the frog-calling season and record data as often as possible for five minutes per night.

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Q&A with head coach Tom Frederick

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years as head coach: Fourth.

Returning varsity athletes: Garrett Heise (12), Jake Hoier (12), Dylan Moeller (12), Will Wohlt (12), Kyle Wolf (12), Blake Dey (11), Logan Locy (11), Myles Parker (11), Brooks Griffin (10).

Athletes to watch: Eli Huntley (12), Connor Titterton (12), Landen Guyette (11), Briley Johnson (10), Tucker Kohl (10), Joe Kosmerchock (10).

Team goals/expectations: We expect to have a good year and compete in every game. Our expectations are high. Having said that, our goal is the same as last year, and that is to focus on the process and get better every day.

Team’s strengths: Pitching and defense. All team speed is much approved.

Team’s weaknesses: Last year, it was scoring runs. The kids are working really hard to make that a strength.

Team(s) to beat in conference: West De Pere, Xavier and Menasha.

Biggest games on the schedule: The next game.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: A great sense of accomplishment.

Why fans should be excited for this year’s team: If the kids come together as a team and work hard to get better every day, they will be fun to watch.

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