2018 electrofishing assessment released

By John Faucher

A three-year post-drawdown survey of Black Otter Lake revealed bigger and better bluegill and largemouth bass populations, according to the 2018 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Electrofishing Assessment Report.

DNR Senior Fisheries Biologist Ryan Koenigs and DNR fisheries staff conducted the assessment on the lake last May.

Black Otter Lake, geographically nestled in the center of Hortonville, had been drawn down in 2008 for aquatic plant treatment and again in 2015 for dam repairs.

Koenigs said previous to the recent report, the last assessment had been done in 2016, when technicians were only able to sample weed edges offshore because of dense aquatic vegetation.

“This year’s assessment was less affected by dense aquatic vegetation than the last, and we were actually able to shock along the majority of the shoreline,” Koenigs said in the report.

In May, technicians sampled 2.3 miles of the 75-acre lake with electrofishing equipment.

Black Otter Lake has a total of 3.2 miles of shoreline.

“We had some pretty impressive results with high catch rates of bluegill and largemouth bass and a nice size structure for bass,” Koenigs said in the report.

He said largemouth bass catch rates increased “drastically” from 2016 and had reached the near pre-draw down levels of 2008, particularly for legal size fish.

“As a result we will be ceasing our bass stocking efforts,” the report said.

The DNR and Black Otter Lake District have continued bass and panfish stocking efforts since the drawdown.

Bass caught in the 2018 assessment ranged in sizes from 3 inches to 21.5 inches.

Bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish abundance ratings were high as well while black crappie and yellow perch catch ratings were low.

Bluegills caught ranged in size from 2 to 8.5 inches and pumpkinseed sunfish from 3.5 to 7.1 inches. Perch ranged from 5.6 to 11 inches and black crappies were 7.5 to 9 inches.

According to the report, the next survey will be conducted in three to five years.

It also states the DNR will continue working with the lake district to evaluate best management practices for aquatic plant management.

Weed harvester grant

Last August, the Black Otter Lake District board approved purchasing a 2018 Eco-Cutter weed harvester with a conveyor and trailer for $89,898.

It plans to sell its current harvester, which is in need of critical repairs, according to Al Habeck, president of the Black Otter Lake District.

In December, the lake district applied for a DNR grant that would help fund the purchase of the harvester.

The Hortonville Village Board authorized Village Administrator David DeTroye to help author the grant.

The application deadline was Feb. 1, with a determination meeting set for April 9 at Rib Mountain.

DeTroye wrote in an email to the Press Star Tuesday, Feb. 5: “No grant is a slam dunk, and it usually comes down to what monies have been allocated. Being the only recreational lake in Outagamie helps, a fishing retreat helps the cause as well.”
After an initial review in March, a Black Otter Lake District group representative will meet with the state weed commissioner in Wausau to make the group’s case for funding.

“At this meeting a decision is made as to success or failure and a dollar value granted. At that point [Black Otter Lake District] will need to pay the balance forward and arrange for delivery,” DeTroye said.

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Clintonville native to coach North Carolina team

By Erik Buchinger

Clintonville native Justin Jirschele took the next step in the Chicago White Sox organization as the new manager of the Winston-Salem Dash.

Jirschele spent the previous two seasons with the Class A affiliate Kannapolis Intimidators in North Carolina.

Winston-Salem, also in North Carolina, is the organization’s Class A-Advanced team.

“I think at any workplace, everybody is in it to move up one step on the totem pole,” Jirschele said. “I’m fortunate the White Sox gave me the opportunity to move on to the High-A level and continue to help develop these young players into major league players and help us in Chicago ultimately.”

Jirschele guided Kannapolis to playoff appearances in the 2017 and 2018 seasons with an overall record of 143-132. He was named White Sox Minor League Coach of the Year in 2017.

Jirschele said he does not expect much of a difference from his previous position.

“The speed of the game will be quicker, and it’s another level up talent-wise,” Jirschele said. “As you move up each level, the game gets cleaner as well.”

Jirschele does not know what the team’s roster will look like this season, but he said he should see some familiar faces of players he managed the last two years.

“I’ve been enjoying it each and every day,” Jirschele said. “Every day I’m getting up to the ballpark knowing I have a job to do, and that’s to help guys move along to their journey to the major leagues.”

Jirschele was the youngest manager in minor league baseball when he started two years ago, but at 28 years old, he has had no challenges as a younger manager.

“There are some things that may be different as far as being a younger guy as opposed to a seasoned veteran, but I don’t think about my age a whole lot except when people ask me about it,” Jirschele said. “So far I haven’t had any challenges being younger.”

Jirschele played for Winston Salem in 2014 and 2015. He said it helps to relate with players knowing he was in the system as a player just a few years ago.

“Sometimes it helps a little bit in being able to relate to these guys,” Jirschele said. “I’m freshly removed from playing, so I think sometimes it benefits me and our players with me being so freshly out of the game as a player.”

Jirschele said he and his father Mike Jirschele, who is the third base coach for the Kansas City Royals, talk several times a week during the baseball season breaking down each other’s games.

“I would say throughout the course of the week, we talk on the phone at least five times,” Jirschele said. “It’s a lot. A lot of times it’s late-night phone calls where one of us will text when the game is over, and the other will immediately call.”

Jirschele said the two go through each other’s games and big moments from that night.

“Sometimes I’ll write things down on my phone or get a note pad from the office to jot down questions I have for him that may have come up that night,” Jirschele said. “We talk about baseball, and I continue to try and pick his brain on things. Things I see on a given night, he has probably seen several times over the course of his career.”

In the offseason, Jirschele resides in Madison where he lives with his wife Liz and their dog Enzo, named after Brett Lorenzo Favre.

Jirschele said he tries get away from baseball and enjoy other aspects of his life during the offseason.

“I get to unwind and get away from baseball a little bit,” Jirschele said. “I just try to spend as much time as I possibly can together with friends and family and cherish those times.”

Jirschele said he provides one-on-one hitting lessons as a side job in the offseason, but bird hunting and family comes first in the winter months.

“I do a lot of bird hunting and first and foremost spending time with the family,” Jirschele said. “My wife and I have our small family, so I like to meet with friends and family as much as possible because I’m gone for so long during the season.”

Jirschele has goals set for himself but said if he continues to work hard, he has a chance to reach his dream.

“Would I love to get to the big leagues some day? Absolutely,” Jirschele said. “At my age and just getting going, I don’t really think about it a whole lot. In order to get to the top, I have to continue to learn and never be satisfied with where I’m at. I’m fortunate enough to be in the position I’m in now. If I work hard and perform to the best of my abilities, the rest will take care of itself. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have goals, but right now it’s about how I can make the players I’m coaching better every single day.”

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W-F has five wrestling championships

By Greg Seubert

Five individual titles added up to a Central Wisconsin Conference championship for the Weyauwega-Fremont wrestling team.

Carter Greening, Cian Fischer, Justin Kempf, Logan Kicherer and Tyler Wetzel won their respective weight classes at the 11-team CWC meet, held Feb. 2 at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena.

Three other W-F wrestlers advanced to a championship match and two others placed third as the Indians won their second CWC championships in three years.

The Indians won the meet with 218 points, followed by Shiocton (145), Bonduel (142), Manawa (128), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (123.5), Pittsville (103), Amherst (98), Rosholt (65.5), Menominee Indian (57), Tri-County (42) and Almond-Bancroft/Pacelli (31.5).

The top three teams in the tournament standings were also the top three teams in the CWC dual meet standings. W-F finished 10-0 in duals, followed by Shiocton (9-1) and Bonduel (8-2).

Four of the Indians’ championships came on pins. Greening needed only 57 seconds to pin Shiocton’s Jericho Helser to win the 113-pound championship, Fischer pinned Bonduel’s Max Sokolski in 4:37 at 126, Kempf pinned Tri-County’s Ryan Applebee in 1:25 at 132, Kicherer handed Amherst’s Mason Haas a 4-2 defeat at 152 and Wetzel pinned Shiocton’s Tyler Hess in 2:32 at 195.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Will Urquhart beat Ean Marker 5-4 at 145, Shiocton’s Billy Reif pinned Ben Strehlow in 5:15 at 160 and Amherst’s John Farkas pinned Austin Bartel in 1:26 at 285.

Easton Groskreutz and Adam Batten placed third at 120 and 138, respectively, while Skylor Maynard finished fifth at 220.

Meanwhile, two Manawa wrestlers won championships to help the Wolves place fourth. Colten Klemm beat Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Pierson Potrykus 7-0 at 106 and Bryan Griffin beat Pittsville’s Beau Merritt 9-4 at 138. Andrew Elmhorst made it to the 220-pound final but was pinned in 56 seconds by Bonduel’s Jacob Giese.

Kevin Klemm placed third for Manawa at 113.

W-F led all teams with 19 pins at the meet.

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Weyauwega-Fremont's Skylor Maynard tries to break the hold of Almond-Bancroft/Pacelli's Derek Lockhart Feb. 2 during a 220-pound match at the Central Wisconsin Conference meet at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena. Lockhart went on to pin Maynard and eventually placed third. Although Maynard came up short in the match, the Indians went on to win the 11-team meet. Greg Seubert Photo

“We wrestled really well,” coach Tim Potratz said. “The kids competed hard and could not have done a better job of showing their wrestling skills. We won almost all of the close matches and pulled off several upsets as well.

“It was a contagious thing,” he added. “Every kid on the team believed they could win their matches and they just went out and got after it.”

Greening (32-6) won his third straight conference title with a pin, a decision and a pin in the finals.

“He wrestled up at 120 pounds most of the season, but came down a weight class and pinned the No. 7-ranked wrestler in the state from Shiocton in less than a minute in the finals,” Potratz said.

Fischer also won his third championship, improved to 37-0 on the season, won each of his matches by pin and was named the CWC’s outstanding wrestler.

Kempf (35-3) became only the second wrestler in the 56-year history of W-F’s wrestling program to win four conference championships, joins current assistant wrestling coach Rich Tomaszewski, who won four titles from 1975-78. Kempf pinned all three of his opponents in the first period.

Kicherer (31-8) became a two-time conference champion with a 4-2 overtime victory over Haas.

“Logan is the last of the great Kicherer family of wrestlers that includes brother Dylen, dad Jason and uncles JJ and Kevin, who combined to win 314 – and counting – matches,” Potratz said.

Wetzel (34-5) pinned all of his opponents to win his first individual title. He leads the team with 22 pins this season and has placed in the top three at all six of the team’s tournaments this year.

W-F’s Marker, Strehlow and Bartel also made it to the finals.

“Marker (26-13) came within seconds of winning the 145-pound title when he was reversed and lost a tough 5-4 decision at the buzzer,” Potratz said. “Strehlow (25-12) wrestled a fantastic tournament at 160, but came up short against ninth-ranked Billy Reif from Shiocton. Austin Bartel (25-13) moved up to heavyweight from his normal 195-pound weight class and beat top the seeded 285-pound wrestler from Wittenberg-Birnamwood before losing in the finals.”

Groskreutz (12-2) and Batten (21-12) placed third for the Indians.

“Groskreutz was out most of the season with an injury and after losing in the semifinals, won a huge 17-4 match over a ranked Rosholt wrestler in the bronze medal match,” Potratz said. “Batten has wrestled really well all season, but never better than his 4-2 win over a ranked Shiocton wrestler in his third-place match.”

Maynard (15-12) placed fifth with two pins after an opening-round loss.

“We could talk about the achievements of every kid on the team, including Max Meyerhofer, who did not win a match but moved up a weight class and wrestled tough in both his matches,” Potratz said. “It was a total team effort. The kids and their families should be proud of their effort and achievement.”

The Indians will host a WIAA Division 3 regional Saturday, Feb. 9. Manawa, Almond-Bancroft/Pacelli, Rosholt, Shiocton, Tri-County and Wittenberg-Birnamwood will also compete. Matches are scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m. and the final are scheduled to start at about 12:30 p.m.

The top two finishers in each weight class will advance to the Bonduel Sectional, set for Saturday, Feb. 16, at Shawano High School.

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Visitors urged to wear masks, wash hands

In an effort to prevent the spread of the flu and to protect the health of patients, families and staff, ThedaCare has set visitor restrictions.

Beginning on Wednesday, Feb, 6, children under the age of 12 are temporarily not allowed to visit patients in all seven ThedaCare hospitals.

This does not apply to outpatient or clinic services.

One exception to the restriction is siblings, who do not have cold or flu symptoms, may visit the OB unit.

“The safety of patients and families is our main priority at ThedaCare,” said Dr. Jennifer Frank, Chief Medical Officer, Clinically Integrated Network at ThedaCare. “The flu is a serious, contagious respiratory illness that is best avoided by staying away from other sick people, if possible; washing your hands well with soap and water to rinse away germs that could infect your mouth, nose or eyes; and getting vaccinated.”

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, during the 2017-2018 flu season, 7,530 people in the state were hospitalized due to flu-related complications, and 379 people died, including three children.

ThedaCare advises that people should not visit if they have a cough, fever, diarrhea or vomiting. Visitors are highly encouraged to wear masks and frequently wash or sanitize hands while at the hospital.

“If they are around infants, visit older people, or come in contact with people with compromised immunity, they can deliver influenza germs to these people who do not have the same capacity to recover,” said Frank.

ThedaCare is implementing the temporary restriction at hospitals in Waupaca, New London, Appleton, Neenah, Shawano, Berlin and Wild Rose. It will be assessed on a regular basis as new information about the influenza season becomes available.

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Stanley “Smiley” E. Miller, age 96 of New London, formerly of Clintonville, passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family.

Stanley “Smiley” Emil Miller was born on January 19, 1923 in the Town of Union, son of Emil and Irma (Henschel) Miller. “Smiley,” as he was known, earned his nickname in school, because of his trademark, contagious smile. He later graduated from Marion High School in 1942. He was united in marriage to Elaine J. Kostrzak at Manawa Methodist Church on June 23, 1951; the couple was blessed with three children. Stanley farmed in the Town of Union; in addition to the farm, he also started his own farm equipment and snowmobile business known as Miller Supply. He was an active member of St. Martin Lutheran Church, Clintonville and served on the Waupaca County Board. Stanley loved to spend time engaging in all kinds of sporting activities including: fishing, hunting, and baseball. He owned and managed the Symco Bombers Baseball Team for over 35 years, and was the commissioner of the BABA Association for many years. Continuing his passion for baseball, he also managed Clintonville and Manawa youth sports. He will be remembered as a hard-working man with an inspirational will that was hard to stop once he set his mind to getting something done.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughters, Marcia (Jim) Smick, Greenville and Melessa (special friend, Gary) Miller, New London; son, Bryan (special friend, Brenda) Miller, Symco; grandchildren: Tiffany (special friend, Nick) Holtz, Greenville; Dustin (Daina) Drath, La Crosse; Tarra (Brad) Buschke, Phoenix, AZ; BJ (Nyke) Block, Appleton; Ansley (Andy) Staats, Appleton; and Mandy Smick, Appleton; great-grandchildren: Olivia Holtz, and Kinley and Jayda Drath; sister, Carol (Mae) Kratzke, Neenah; and a brother, Robert (Sandy) Miller, Three Lakes. Stanley was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Ken (Betty) Miller, Roger (Janice) Miller, and Lloyd (Elaine) Miller; brothers-in-law, Gerald Kratzke and Ronald Kostrzak; sisters-in-law, Donna Stutleen and Eunice (Wesley) Ferg.

Funeral services will be held 12 noon, Saturday, February 9, 2019 at St. Martin Lutheran Church, Clintonville, with the Rev. Christian Burg and the Rev. Vilas Mazemke officiating. Interment will take place at Union Cemetery, Symco in the springtime. Friends may call on Saturday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Stanley’s name are preferred to be directed to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date.

The family also wishes to thank caregivers Mary, Karen, and Cathy, as well as SouthernCare Hospice for all their love and support.

The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting his family. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

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Ernest Jon Christensen passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the age of 79.

Ernie was born on March 11, 1939 in Esterville, Iowa, son of the late Ernest and Lucille (Theesfield) Christiansen. He moved with his family to Iola, Wisconsin in 1953. He attended Platteville University in 1961 where he earned his degree in farming. After college he worked in Hurley at the UW extension office as a 4-H county agent. In 1968 he married Nancy Grandelis while residing in Gile, Wisconsin, until moving to their residence in Iola in 1970. He worked temporarily driving bus for Iola-Scandinavia schools before accepting a position at the United States Postal Service in Iola, where he worked for 32 years until retirement at the age of 67. Ernie’s hobbies included trips up north to the cabin, which consisted of fishing and Saturday morning rummage sales. He enjoyed spending time with the family, collecting old trains, wood working in his shop, and playing cards and games with the grand and great-grand kids.

He is preceded in death by his wife Nancy, son Jonathan, parents, Ernest and Lucille; sister Colleen Sykes, brother Leon, and brothers-in-law, Donald Sykes and David Bestul. Survivors include: sister JoAnn (Doug) Lytle, sister-in-law Janice Christiansen, son Robert (Robin) Christiansen of Iola,WI; daughters: Teresa McClung of Charlotte, NC; Ann (Robert) Bydynkowski of Iola, WI; Elizabeth (Michael) Baron of Vernon, WI. Grandchildren include: Jessica, Robert, Carmen, Alan, Emily, Samantha, Nicholas, Amber, Isabella, and Brianna. Great-grandchildren include: Cheyenne, Taedym, Jonathon, Elizabeth, Sophiah, Rownan, and Rosaleigh.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 8, 2019 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola with the Rev. Ken Hanson officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be in Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Scandinavia. Voie Funeral Home of Iola assisted the family with arrangements.

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Steven “Steve” A. Skipchak, of Waupaca, age 72, passed away on Monday, February 4, 2019.

He was born in Milwaukee on December 9, 1946 to the late Arthur and Leona (Pickart) Skipchak. His love of country was shown by serving in the Navy for four years during Vietnam, aboard various ships: U.S.S. Oriskany, U.S.S. Forrestal and the U.S.S. Hancock. He continued service in the reserves for the next 30 years with the Seabees; after which continued friendships to this day with many of whom he served with. He was a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church. Steve was a baker for many years at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King. He enjoyed fishing, camping, cutting wood and spending his nickels at the casino. He also enjoyed hunting with special friends, Jeff, Bobby, Tommy and Wayne. His love of nature led Steve and Ann to their summer home – camping in Eagle River – where they met many wonderful friends. In his last years, these friends helped him out with chores to make their stay easier (camping angels!). When we get up to Heaven, we will find him chopping wood and making a campfire with a drink in his hand.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Ann; son, Jeffrey (Amy) Levy; sisters and brother: Rose Mary Wichman, John (Cindy) Skipchak, Linda (friend, Duke) Kubczak; special mother-in-law, Nancy Chavez, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Michael and two brothers-in-law, Jeff and Dennis.

The Funeral Mass will be on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 1 p.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church. The visitation will be on Monday at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be in the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King. The Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Katherine J. Harris, age 66, of Waupaca, WI passed away on Monday, February 4, 2019 at Manawa Community Nursing Center after a brave battle with cancer.

She was born in Waupaca, on August 14, 1952, a daughter of the late William and Sarah “Sally” (Sporleder) Anderson.

Survivors include her daughter, Tracy (Nathan Warnke) Harris, Madison, WI; sisters, Kim (Dave Raether) Anderson, Marion, WI and Cindy (Jerry) Nankee, Waupaca, WI. Katherine was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial Visitation will be held at the Holly Funeral Home in Waupaca on Monday, February 18, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Following the visitation there will be a luncheon and celebration at Simpson’s Restaurant.

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Calendar of events

Friday, Feb. 8
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Open gym, Augie Austin Gym.
12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Open gym, blue gym.
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Youth Center ($1 admission), lower level.

Saturday, Feb. 9
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Open gym, Augie Austin and blue gyms.
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Youth Center ($1 admission).

Sunday, Feb. 10
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Open gym, Augie Austin and blue gyms.

Monday, Feb. 11
7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Open gym, Augie Austin Gym.
11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Open gym, blue gym.

Tuesday, Feb. 12
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to noon, 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Open gym, Augie Austin Gym.
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Toddler Group, Augie Austin Gym.
Noon to 5:30 p.m.: Open gym, blue gym.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Adult chess, Waupaca Area Public Library, Meeting Room B.

Wednesday, Feb. 13
7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon, 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Open gym, Augie Austin Gym.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Open gym, blue gym.

• Recreation Center open to the public from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays from November through April.
• Daily walking and recreation hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
• Open gym is reserved for the public from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the blue gym.
• To register for youth and adult programs, set up an account and pay in our fast and easy Active Net program at https://apm.activecommunities.com/waupacaparknrec.
• Want the latest info on what’s happening at the Parks and Rec Department? Join NIXLE by texting WAUPARK to 888777 or like us on Facebook at City of Waupaca Parks and Recreation.
• The Recreation Center is closed from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays from May through October.

Pool

Weyauwega Leagues
Thursday League
Gill’s on Main 22-14
Brickhouse 21-15
Corner Bar 20-16
Hitching Post 20-16
Hidden Waters 8-28
Jan. 31 results: Hitching Post 6, Hidden Waters 3; Corner Bar 5, Brickhouse 4; Gill’s on Main had bye.

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Event set for Sunday at Parfreyville UMC

The Greater Waupaca Area Parks and Trails group will hold a fundraiser from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Parfreyville United Methodist Church, N1979 County Trunk K, Waupaca.

The group promotes the development of multi-use trails and is under the fiscal sponsorship of the Waupaca County Natural Resources Fund.

Come and enjoy a meal of pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, bean salad, chips and drinks, with ice cream and trail mix as dessert. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Families with will not have to pay for more than two children.

Attendees will be able to purchase three roses for $5.

There will be a silent auction of items donated by local merchants with a biking and hiking theme. Door prizes will also be donated by area businesses.

Proceeds from the event will help to purchase and place signs warning motorists that there are bicyclists, hikers and walkers on the town and county roads. Aldo Leopold benches are also in the budget to be placed at designated spots along the roads.

There will be cross country skiing and snowshoing on Lyman Dayton trails, located near the Dayton Town Hall.

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Jones, Sweet Medicine receive awards

By Holly Neumann

The Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce named Joe and Maggie Jones as Citizens of the Year and Sweet Medicine as Business of the Year for 2018.

“We are very blessed to have such great people and businesses in the Iola-Scandinavia area,” said Chamber President Greg Loescher. “Joe and Maggie Jones have been active in so many areas for decades, not just in Iola but Waupaca as well.”

According to Loescher, they started Jones Publishing (now JP Media) in 1986 and have contributed in leadership roles for various activities and organizations, as well as to local economic development.

“My mom and dad were both very involved in community service, and I guess they passed that desire on to me,” said Maggie. “I’ve so enjoyed all the volunteer opportunities in Iola, and I like to think I’ve done just a little bit to make our town a better place. We have a community of people who enjoy working together. There are so many options for helping out. We are truly blessed in Iola.”

Loescher said Sweet Medicine has provided pharmaceutical services to the Iola area for 22 years.

“Susan Shambeau and her staff are very friendly, informative and the pharmacy has lots more to offer besides prescription fulfillment. In this day of big-box stores, an independent, locally owned pharmacy is unique and welcome.”

“Thank you so much,” said Susan Shambeau. “We have truly enjoyed serving the community.”

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Planning commission chooses residential-only proposal

By Scott Bellile

A 16-acre subdivision in development immediately west of New London High School will not contain commercial buildings.

The New London Planning Commission unanimously approved a fully residential proposal on Jan. 24.

This occurred after commissioners received feedback from town of Mukwa residents who opposed commercial-use suggestions offered last year by developer Carl Romenesko, the president of Appleton’s Romenesko Developments Inc.

While Romenesko always planned for his development to be primarily residential, he said at a November planning commission meeting that, if the city desired, he could set aside 4 acres to develop commercial buildings for uses such as medical offices, a gymnasium, a day care or a gas station.

Commissioner and New London Mayor Gary Henke said last week he recently received emails from four or five New London and Mukwa residents who were not on board.

“The consensus from those [complaints] seems to be they do not want commercial out in that area,” Henke said. “This [is] residential area, and they would prefer it remain residential.”

In this satellite image, the shaded area shows the town of Mukwa property Carl Romenesko owns where he proposes building a subdivision. Pictured to the right is New London High School’s athletic complex.
Image created using Google Maps

Per a development agreement approved by the New London City Council on Jan. 15, Romenesko must develop at least 26 residences on his farmland located between County Highway W and Klatt Road near Dawn Drive. At least 10 lots must be developed within the next 10 years.

A total of 36 residences will likely be developed, according to New London Zoning Administrator Paul Hanlon. The option also includes two cul-de-sacs and a detention pond.

The land is vacant except for a farmhouse Romenesko owns on County W just west of New London High School’s athletic stadium.

Commissioners agreed Romenesko should demolish the farmhouse rather than keep it as part of the development.

The state Department of Administration is in the process of reviewing Romenesko’s request to annex his town of Mukwa property into the city of New London.

The city of New London, seeking to benefit from the subdivision’s estimated $8 million increase in property value, has offered to pay to extend water and sanitary sewer service to Romenesko’s property if he annexes into the city. The city’s contribution will total no more than $320,000.

About 20 town of Mukwa residents attended the planning commission meeting to learn details about the proposed subdivision.

The residents were not offered the opportunity to comment on the matter during the meeting. They will have to wait until the public hearing, which must be held when the city places a formal zoning designation onto the property. Hanlon said that will take place in April or May.

Mukwa resident Paul Drzewiecki, who attended the meeting, told the Press Star he and his neighbors showed up because they were against allowing Romenesko’s property to become commercial.

Drzewiecki said surrounding residents did not want increased traffic, noise or nighttime lighting that would come with having businesses nearby.

People live outside the city to avoid such distractions in the first place, Drzewiecki said.

Soil boring approved

To move ahead with the subdivision project, the New London City Council on Jan. 15 approved a $3,135 bid by Neenah-based Engineering Consulting Services to perform soil borings in preparation of extending sanitary sewer lines and water lines to Romenesko’s site.

The soil borings will help provide information about the soil types and groundwater conditions.

The city’s engineering firm, McMahon Associates, will then pass along that information to the contractors that will eventually bid on performing the utility extensions.

“[T]he purpose for the soil borings is to help the engineers and especially the contractors know the potential need for dewatering and trench wall stability for the project,” New London Public Services Director Chad Hoerth wrote in a memo to the city council on Jan. 11. “If we run the sewer [lines] near the road, poor soils could result in wider than normal trenches which the contractor would need to know to accurately estimate their costs [for extending utilities] instead of throwing out high bid numbers for unknown conditions.”

In other words, the fewer surprises the contractors can expect to encounter when they dig into the soil to extend the utilities, the lower they will bid to do the job, saving the city money.

Hoerth stated in his memo ECS will provide the results of the soil boring in mid-February, allowing for the city to put the utility extension project to bid at the end of February.

ECS provided the middle-cost bid of three firms. But the firm was selected by the city council because the lowest bidder, Professional Service Industries of Kaukauna at $2,795, would have completed the soil borings two weeks later than ECS.

The post County W subdivision will not contain businesses appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

School district seeks residents’ input

By Erik Buchinger

The Clintonville School Board discussed holding community input nights regarding a potential 2020 referendum.

The board is in the process of hiring a firm that would provide analysis of the district’s facilities, associated community engagement and bond referendum campaign services.

The district leadership and firm would host various public meetings to involve citizens of the district in all levels of the proposed project.

“I think there is no problem with doing this any time, but if we are hiring the professionals, we might want to have their input and at least listen to them,” School Board President Ben Huber said during a Jan. 28 school board meeting.

The school already held a community conversation circle in October to discuss the school district’s needs and wants with the community.

Board member Larry Czarnecki recommended bringing the original group from the October meeting back for additional feedback.

“I don’t know that you can over-communicate,” Czarnecki said. “One of my thoughts was to have another meeting with the same groups we had the first time to provide any feedback of things that were brought up.”

Czarnecki suggested additional conversation circles with other groups to get more of the community involved.

Additionally, Huber recommended using feedback from the previous referendum process conducted by the community task force.

The district’s administrative team compiled the feedback from the previous community circle meeting, Superintendent David Dyb said.

“If we have one before April, we could take this to that group, invite them back and say here is an update on what has been addressed relative to the findings from October,” Dyb said. “The second piece is whether we all still feel these are relevant from a facilities question.”

Huber said he would be concerned about holding too many community meetings.

“The one thing I might caution about having one in the next month or two – many of the firms we are considering hiring will have their own plans for meetings,” Huber said. “We don’t want community burnout either.”

Board member Kris Strauman said people should know what has been done since the last meeting.

“I don’t think you’d get burnout, but I like Larry’s idea because this was back in October,” Strauman said. “They’ve heard nothing, and people are going to say, ‘Well what good was that?’ Because they haven’t heard anything back. This way, they’ll see, and when we get to those other meetings from the [request for proposal], then they might be more apt to come back or new people can come back.”

Business Manager Holly Burr said holding off on a community meeting until the firm is hired would be too long to wait.

“Just a timeline issue – if we’re looking at this and we hire them in mid-March or early April, they’re not going to have their assessment done or a report back to us till mid-May or June,” Burr said. “That’s too long to not do something in my opinion.”

Dyb recommended a late February or early March timeline for the next community circle discussion.

He said the administration team will decide on potential dates for the next meeting.

“I’d like to send a personal email out to the people that attended the first time and broadcast to the group before to people who did not attend,” Dyb said. “There were a number of people who could not attend that would like to attend the next one. We’ll take whoever would like to come. If we get 25, great, and if we get 45, even better.”

School district seeks requests for proposals

During that same school board meeting, the board authorized Burr to send requests for proposals as part of the facilities concepts planning process.

The district seeks a firm that will provide analysis of its facilities, associated community engagement and bond referendum campaign services.

“This is just the preliminary stuff with the design, helping community engagement, the pre-referendum work,” Burr said. “The architects will come in and do the facility analysis, which we have a really decent one from last time for Rexford-Longfellow, but not for the other three buildings from what I found. That’s something I will stress.”

In the proposal, it stated the facility analysis should address the following:

• Quality learning and work environments.

• Safe, secure, environmentally-friendly facilities that foster teaching and learning.

• Healthy learning and work environments including appropriate lighting and indoor air quality.

• Maximum school and community use of facilities and sites.

• Cost-effective solutions for new space and infrastructure.

The proposal listed a tentative schedule of a Feb. 20 deadline to receive written proposals, March 4 for interviewing selected finalists and March 11 for the school board making an offer to a firm.

“It is an aggressive timeline, but with your approval, we’re ready to move forward to see what type of response we get,” Dyb said.

Existing documents and studies the district has completed include a capacity study, community survey and facility assessment of Rexford-Longfellow.

The scope of services includes the firm developing costs for solutions that include remodeling and/or expansion of the existing spaces and cost of new construction.

Dyb and Huber said they were both contacted by three different companies interested in bidding for the proposal.

The post Clintonville School Board talks potential referendum appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Wandtke, Huettner to play football in college

By Holly Neumann

Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches, Iola-Scandinavia High School seniors Kellan Wandtke and Bryce Huettner each signed national letters of intent Feb. 6 to play football.

Huettner will play for Bemidji State in Minnesota, while Huettner is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Both players helped the Thunderbirds win the school’s first state football championship in November and Huettner broke the state’s all-time rushing record.

“I am very proud of both of these young men for getting the opportunity to play football again for another for or five years,” I-S football coach Scott Erickson said. “It shows the hard work that they have put in over the years to get to the level they are now. It shows what hard work can do.”

“This is so awesome,” said Wandtke, an offensive lineman. “It is incredible to get to this point.”

Wandtke recalled the first time he walked into the weight room as a seventh-grader.

“It was then that I realized what I had the potential to be,” he said. “All those years of hard work have paid off.”

He hopes the T-Birds’ winning culture carries over to Bemidji State.

“Obviously everyone likes winning, but not everyone knows that work that has to go into that,” Wandtke said. “I hope that my work ethic transfers over. I am excited to get with a bunch of like-minded guys that are ready to get to work and do some damage in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.”

Bemidji State, a Division 2 program, had a 7-4 record in 2018.

Wandtke, the son of Tim and Jen Wandtke, is considering a degree in sports management.

While Wandtke is heading several hours north of Iola, Huettner, a running back, will stay closer to home in Oshkosh.

“This is a really good fit for me,” he said. “Everything just felt right when I went and visited there.”

College football has always been a dream for Huettner.

“I love football,” he said. “I love everything about the game. I have seen myself progress and get stronger and faster. It has really helped me become the player that I needed to be to go on and play at the next level.”

Huettner not only broke the state record for rushing yards, but he also ran for 156 yards and scored three touchdowns in the T-Birds’ 43-14 win over Racine Lutheran in the WIAA Division 6 state championship game.

“I am trying not looking too far ahead,” he said. “First things first. I just want to get on the field at UW-Oshkosh and become a starter. Long-term goals, you always want to strive for the best.”

UW-Oshkosh is a Division 3 program that competes in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Titans were 6-4 in 2018.

Huettner, the son of Paul and Shannon Huettner, is planning to major in kinesiology and would like to become an athletic trainer.

Both players offered advice for younger athletes.

“Play because you love the game and never stop,” Huettner said. “Always do the best that you can and it will take you places.”

“You will never regret giving maximum effort,” Wandtke said. “Every day, strive to be better than yesterday. Do something to improve yourself. Be the best you can be at everything that you do.”

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State law limits effort to remove fixture near memorial

By Scott Bellile

When New Londoners head to the polls this April, they will not weigh in on whether the city should remove a dumpster located next to the veterans memorial in Taft Park.

A citizen-led attempt at calling a direct legislation referendum failed after multiple attorneys determined it would not be permissible under state law.

The New London Veterans Memorial Foundation did not file a petition for referendum, signed by a required minimum of 384 city residents, before the Jan. 18 deadline, according to City Clerk Jackie Beyer.

According to a legal opinion from the Wisconsin League of Municipalities, direct legislation can be used for legislative matters such as creating new policies or plans.

Direct legislation cannot be used to make administrative decisions in a municipality, according to state statute 9.20. A matter is administrative in nature “if it merely pursues a plan already adopted by the legislative body itself.”

The dumpster question could not be subject to referendum because the city council already voted on where to locate the dumpster pad and implemented it, New London City Attorney Earl Luaders stated in an email to city officials.

“My opinion is that the referendum requiring the City to relocate the dumpster is administrative in nature and, therefore, not subject to direct legislation or, if legislative in nature, is concerning a decision that’s already been made,” Luaders stated in his email. “If the circulators of the petition wish to contest this, they would have to commence a ‘Mandamus Action’ [lawsuit] in Waupaca County Circuit Court. Obviously, that’s premature because we have not received any referendum petition. If a petition for referendum is received, then we should revisit this issue based on my opinion and proceed accordingly.”

Jim Jaeger, chairman of the New London Veterans Memorial Foundation, told the Press Star that after consulting two attorneys, his organization will not file a referendum petition in the future.

An enclosed fence that will house a dumpster next to Taft Park is visible from the city’s veterans memorial, to the dismay of New London Veterans Memorial Foundation members.
Scott Bellile file photo

Last year Jaeger declared his intentions to put the matter to referendum this April or during another upcoming election.

Jaeger said the foundation’s two options for undoing the dumpster pad ordinance – neither of which he sees being plausible – are to pursue a statewide referendum to change the laws surrounding how direct legislation works, or to get a considerable number of people who are sympathetic to the cause elected to the city council.

The current city council is largely in support of the dumpster pad, having voted 9-1 in November to implement the ordinance establishing centralized trash collection. Second District Alderman Tom O’Connell voted no.

“There’s nothing more that we can do,” Jaeger said.

The two newly installed dumpster pads – one on public right-of-way immediately east of Taft Park and the other by St. John’s Park – officially went into use on Jan. 1.

The initiative is a city-led effort to clean up the alley along the Wolf River. Businesses and tenants within three blocks of the south side of West North Water Street must dispose trash and grease in one of the two dumpster pads. They are prohibited from having their own dumpsters or trash bins outdoors.

Veterans against the dumpster pad have cited its aesthetic appearance, possible odors and disrespect toward fallen veterans as their reasons for opposing the installation.

Jaeger said the foundation will discuss more strategies to communicate its stance on the issue to the public.

Some foundation members suggested entering a float in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade that protests the city’s dumpster decision, Jaeger said.

Currently there is not another protest in the works like one the foundation held in Taft Park last November.

Jaeger has kept open communication with the New London Parks and Recreation Committee about the dumpster. In December, the foundation agreed to give the central trash collection process time to operate and then revisit the matter with the committee next August.

At that meeting, the parks and recreation committee also agreed to consider planting shrubs or arborvitae around the dumpster pad to obscure it from Taft Park visitors.

Jaeger said he has seen some garbage on the ground around the Taft Park dumpster pad, but overall it is staying clean so far.

Jaeger

The foundation is considering installing a mural within view of the veterans memorial on the west wall of the adjacent Coppershot bar, Jaeger said, but half of the membership opposes such a project as long as the city continues operating its dumpster pad.

Some veterans are now hesitant to follow through with the foundation’s original plan of transferring management of the memorial’s operations to the city, Jaeger said.

Jaeger said he believes if the foundation could have held a direct legislation referendum, New London citizens would have voted to undo the dumpster pad by Taft Park, based on the 1,500 signatures the foundation collected when it circulated its petition last fall.

“The general discussions we’ve had … with people in the community is they just don’t understand at all how the city council could have approved that site there, that it was totally disrespectful,” Jaeger said. “I have no doubt if we could have proceeded legally somehow with it, we would have been able to get [the ordinance] turned over.”

The post Veterans won’t put city dumpster to referendum appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

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Sophia Schreiner flies through the air with perfect form Feb. 3 during a ski-jumping competition at the Iola Winter Sports Club complex. The event was part of Iola's Winter Carnival. Holly Neumann Photo

Event attracts 10 teams

Ten ski clubs from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois competed Feb. 3 in a ski-jumping event at the Iola Winter Sports Club complex as part of Iola’s Winter Carnival.

Participating clubs included the Blackhawk, Flying Eagles, Oconomowoc and Tri-Norse clubs from Wisconsin; the Cloquet, Itasca, Minneapolis and St. Paul clubs from Minnesota; the Ishpeming club from Michigan; and the Norge club from Illinois.

Results from the competition are:

U8 Female (5m): 1. Brianna Barnes, Oconomowoc; 2. Lucia Hassrick, Blackhawk; 3. Addi Mjolsness, Itasca.

U8 Male (5m): 1. TJ Gregor, St. Paul; 2. Asher Seegers, Norge; 3. Jack Misurek, Flying Eagles; 4. Finley Dickman, Tri-Norse; 5. Matthew Gregor, St. Paul.

K5 Open (5m): 1. Otto Schwinn, Flying Eagles.

K10 Open (10m): 1. Connor La Mauche, Tri-Norse.

U10 Female (10m): 1. Kaija Copenhaver, Ishpeming; 2. Nika Pellettere, Norge; 3. Ivy Dickman, Tri-Norse; 4. Madalynn Victor, Norge; 5. Lucia Hassrick, Blackhawk.

U10 Male (10m): TJ Gregor, St. Paul; Jack Misurek, Flying Eagles; 3. Asher Seegers, Norge; 4. Finley Dickman, Tri-Norse.

U12 Female (30m): 1. Sandra Sproch, Norge; 2. Annie Misurek, Flying Eagles; 3. Kaija Copenhaver, Ishpeming; 4. Greta Dickman, Tri-Norse; 5. Madalynn Victor, Norge; 6. Kenidee Pike, Itasca; 7. Gracie Amundson, Flying Eagles.

U12 Male (30m): 1. Tristan Mclynn, Itasca; 2. Nathanial Berg-Stojak, Tri-Norse; 3. Elijah Gundry, Flying Eagles; 4. Isaac Danielson, Itasca; 5. Leo Houle, Itasca; 6. Isaac Larson, Ishpeming.

U14 Female (30m): 1. Estella Hassrick, Blackhawk; 2. Clara Thompson, Cloquet; 3. Gwyneth Paavola, Ishpeming.

U14 Male (30m): 1. Maxim Glyvka, Norge; 2. Andreas Laue, St. Paul; 3. Trevor Bush, Flying Eagles; 4. Gavin Mjolsness, Itasca; 5. Mason Gorski, Flying Eagles; 6. Connor Swanson, Itasca; 7. Logan Mackey, Itasca; 8. Luke Eggert, Blackhawk.

Masters (60m): 1. Tony Benzie, Flying Eagles; 2. Patrick Kruegel, Minneapolis.

U16 Female (60m): 1. Daisy Forester, St. Paul; 2. Estella Hassrick, Blackhawk; 3. Sophia Schreiner, St. Paul; 4. Sabina Sproch, Norge; 5. Charlotte Ripp, Cloquet; 6. Sandra Sproch, Norge; 7. Iyana Flett, Itasca; 8. Anna Zigman, Minneapolis.

U16 Male (60m): 1. Maxim Glyvka, Norge; 2. Casey Flett, Itasca; 3. Stewart Gundry, Flying Eagles; 4. Mason Gorski, Flying Eagles; 5. Karl Thompson, Cloquet; 6. Finn Cherveny, Minneapolis; 7. Payton Swanson, Itasca; 8. Nathan Krotz, Minneapolis.

U20 Male (60m): 1. Woody Waugh, Cloquet; 2. Erik Gessner, Blackhawk; 3. Timothy Ziegler, Ishpeming; 4. Logan Gundry, Flying Eagles; 5. Jacob Fuller, Norge.

U8 Female (1km): 1. Addi Mjolsness, Itasca.

U8 Male (1km): 1. TJ Gregor, St. Paul; 2. Finley Dickman, Tri-Norse; 3. Jack Misurek, Flying Eagles; 4. Matthew Gregor, St. Paul.

U12 Female (2km): 1. Greta Dickman, Tri-Norse; 2. Annie Misurek, Flying Eagles; 3. Gracie Amundson, Flying Eagles; 4. Kenidee Pike, Itasca.

U12 Male (2km): 1. Elijah Gundry, Flying Eagles; 2. Nathanial Berg-Stojak, Tri-Norse; 3. Isaac Larson, Ishpeming; 4. Isaac Danielson, Itasca; 5. Tristan Mclynn, Itasca; 6. Leo Houle, Itasca.

U14 Female (2km): 1. Clara Thompson, Cloquet; 2. Gwyneth Paavola, Ishpeming.

U14 Male (2km): 1. Gavin Mjolsness, Itasca; 2. Connor Swanson, Itasca; 3. Mason Gorski, Flying Eagles; 4. Luke Eggert, Blackhawk.

U16 Female (5km): 1. Charlotte Ripp, Cloquet; 2. Sophia Schriener, St. Paul.

U16 Male (5km): 1. Stewart Gundry, Flying Eagles; 2. Casey Flett, Itasca; 3. Karl Thompson, Cloquet. Did not score: Maxim Glyvka, Norge; Finn Cherveny, Minneapolis.

U20 Male (5km): 1. Timothy Ziegler, Ishpeming.

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Waupaca junior raising funds for trip

By Greg Seubert

A concussion has sidelined Madi Wennesberg for part of the basketball season.

However, that’s not stopping the Waupaca High School junior from making plans to head to Australia this summer to participate in the Down Under Hoops Classic.

She’s currently raising money for the trip, scheduled for July 14-23.

Wennesberg would be the second Waupaca basketball player to compete in the 16-team tournament, which includes teams from the United States and Australia.

Senior Brandon Wanty competed last year and his team of Wisconsin players ended up winning the tournament.

“I heard about Brandon doing it last year,” Wennesberg said. “I know I have a lot going on in the summer and Brandon told me it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

The Down Under Hoops Classic is part of the Down Under Games, which also includes competition in football, cross country, golf, track and volleyball.

The trip will include two days of practice before the two-day tournament, as well as sight-seeing and a trip to a wildlife sanctuary.

Wennesberg averaged 4.3 points a game for the Comets before her concussion.

“I’ve been out for three weeks and I hate not being there to support the girls,” she said. “I’m not allowed at the games yet because it’s too much. It’s definitely been a step back because if I try to do a physical activity, I’ll get a little dizzy. I’ll catch up with time.”

Wennesberg, who also plays volleyball, hopes to return to the lineup within two weeks to finish out the season.

Although the trip is five months down the road, Wennesberg expects to be ready to play.

“I’m going to start working at Bethany, so I’ll practice after work,” she said. “I’ll shoot around a lot and I’m going to talk to my coach and see if she has any time to practice with me a little. We have a gym in our basement, so I’ll make sure I’m in shape.”

Wennesberg is currently collecting donations for the trip.

“The fundraising’s going pretty good,” she said.

Anyone interested in contributing can contact Wennesberg’s mother, Heather, at 715-281-6349. Checks should made out to Down Under Sports.

Donations can also be made online at https://downundersports.com/URD-WBP and the deadline for donations is Sunday, May 12.

“I’ve thought about it a lot lately,” Wennesberg said. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, especially to go to a different country and meeting new people. I’ve been to Mexico once and Canada, but going across the world, that’s something else.”

The post Wennesberg heading Down Under appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Roscoe Q. Much, age 87, of Tigerton passed away Saturday, February 9, 2019 in Shawano.

The post Much, Roscoe Q. appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Otto B. Hodel, age 95, of Manawa, passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

He was born on April 4, 1923 in Naperville, Illinois, son of the late William and Emma Hodel. Otto attended schools in Naperville, Illinois. He was then drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II on February 18, 1943, serving with the 3406th Ordinance, 7th Army, obtaining the rank of T5. He was honorably discharged in January 1946. After proudly serving his country, he worked for Hass & Getz Plumbing in Naperville where he obtained his Master Plumber’s license. He was also the Plumbing Inspector for the City of Naperville. In 1963, he bought the True Value Hardware Store in Manawa and owned and operated the store until 1978. During that time, he also owned and operated Hodel’s Plumbing & Heating in Manawa where he continued to work until his early 90s where he finally said “it’s time for me to retire.”

On May 9, 1983, he married Karen (Dey) Fahser in Winona, Minnesota; she survives him. He is also survived by his children: Patrick Hodel, Jack (Sherry) Hodel, Troy (Lisa) Fahser and Terrie (Steve) Carter; grandchildren: Michael (Amanda) Hodel, Kimberly (Jake Balthazor) Hodel, Kaylin and Kasey Fahser and Trevor, Taylor and Torin Carter; great-grandchildren: Owen and Caleb Hodel, Rozlyn and Blake Balthazor. He is further survived by a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Shirley (Ronald) Johnson, also cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Louis, Ernie, Fred “Fritz”, Arnie, Rose, Irma and Barb.

Following Otto’s wish, private family services will be held. The family would like to thank the staff at the Manawa Community Nursing Center for their care and concern of Otto. The Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa is serving the family.

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Allan “Moose” Radtke, age 71, of Marion passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019 in Appleton.

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