Fire damaged building had no insurance

By Bert Lehman

Firefighters extinguish a fire at 46 S. Main St. in Clintonville on Nov. 23. The building was uninsured and the city says it needs to come down. Jeff Hoffman file photo

The owner of the building located at 46A S. Main Street did not have insurance on the building when it was damaged by fire.

Now, the city of Clintonville is on the hook for up to $47,000 to remove the building.

The Clintonville City Council and the Finance Committee had both previously asked that the building situation at 46A South Main Street be rectified as soon as possible.

What to do with the building was discussed at the Finance Committee meeting Feb. 14.

Clintonville City Administrator Chuck Kell told the Finance Committee that the city was finally successful in locating the owner of the building, but there is no insurance on the building and the owner doesn’t have the funds to fix or remove the building.

After more research, Clintonville City Attorney Keith Steckbauer found provisions in the city’s municipal code where the city can take “emergency action” to remove a structure when there is danger to the public, Kell said.

“We feel that’s definitely the case here, with the parapet wall that is not supported, it’s up in the air, and it could fall on the Bluebird Cafe or potentially into the sidewalk or street,” Kell said.

Kell said Steckbauer has issued orders and served those orders to the owner. This meets all legal parameters to allow the city to move forward with removing the building. In the meantime, Kray Brown, Public Works director for the city of Clintonville, had sought proposals from companies for removal of the building.

“We’ve had an asbestos inspection done,” Kell said. “Kray’s also worked with We Energies and the DNR with the permits that are required and disconnecting gas service.”

The city received bids from four companies to remove the building. The low bid came from Go Green of Menasha for $46,000. Kell said bids came in as high as $76,500.

Kell added that when other costs such as permits and inspections are added in, the total cost will be around $47,000.

“We’re ready to hire a contractor and get this going but we need approval of money to do it,” Kell told the committee.

An agreement was also written and agreed to by the adjourning property owners, where those property owners are giving the city approval to stabilize the wall with supports off of surrounding buildings, so the building will tip in, instead of out, and not damage other buildings.

Committee member Lance Bagstad asked if the bid from Go Green included liability insurance if problems occur during the demolition.

“I just don’t want to see us open ourselves up to additional liabilities,” Bagstad said.

Kell said Go Green does have insurance as that was part of the bid package.

The former China King building is blocked off as crews begin demolition on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Jeff Hoffman photo

Kell added that the city has contacted the owners of the two buildings next to the building to be removed and informed them that the city is not responsible for the condition of any walls of their buildings, once the building in question is removed.

“In the case of the Bluebird (Cafe), that’s a common wall,” Kell said. “When that building gets pulled away there could be open (wall). They’ve been apprised that they need to have a contractor ready to go to fix and seal up their building and make sure it’s weatherproof.”

“If they (Go Green) do something wrong, it’s on them to fix,” Brown added. “There are a lot of unknowns to this so with the requirement of having adjacent owners having contractors there, (we’re) making them well aware that anything can happen.”

A garage on the property behind the building to be removed also needs to be removed, Kell said. This must be done first in order to get access to remove the building. Removal of the garage is included in the bid.

Brown said it should take two to three days to remove the building and garage.

“It depends on the asbestos inspection,” Brown said. “We aren’t able to go in there to do an actual inspection, but what we are looking at doing is knocking the building down. If there appears to be asbestos in it, that will be set to the side. Everything else will be recycled.”

If the items set to the side test positive for asbestos, it will go through the normal procedures for removing asbestos material.

“We don’t know what’s in there,” Brown said.

Kell added that the bids were structured as a worst case scenario.

Bagstad asked if city administration had a recommendation as to where to pull the funds out of the budget to cover the cost of removing the building.

Finance Committee Chairman Mark Doornink said the only place there are funds available is undesignated fund balance.

Bagstad agreed, adding that these are the types of situations that undesignated fund balance is to be used for.

“It’s a one-time expense, not a recurring expense,” Bagstad said.

Doornink said he didn’t know if the city would have any recourse to recover the funds from the owner of the building, but said the city would try to recover the costs.

Kell said it would have to be placed as a charge against the property.

The committee was also informed this property is behind on its property tax payments.

“Obviously this is something that the city is going to have to incur,” said Lois Bressette, mayor of Clintonville. “I understand that the taxes have not been paid for the last couple years. However, I still think that we should try to recover this as an indication to other business owners that they need to be responsible for their business.”

She added that the city has paid a lot of money over the last year to remove buildings in the city.

“Even if this goes nowhere in regards to trying to get that money back from the property owner, I still think we need to demonstrate to the public that we’re going to go after every means possible because this can’t continue.”

Doornink agreed.

The committee voted to recommend to city council that the city use $47,000 from undesignated fund balance to cover the costs for the removal of the fire damaged building at 46 and 46A S. Main Street. The city council approved the recommendation at its meeting the next night.

Becker resigns

The Waupaca School Board accepted the resignation of Rob Becker, the Waupaca High School principal, Tuesday.

According to  District Administrator Greg Nyen, Becker’s resignation will not be effective immediately so as to allow him to serve as a resource during the transition.

“We know that staff, students and community members may have questions about this decision,” Neyn said. “The board and the administration hope to have more information available to share soon concerning the leadership at the high school.”

Nyen placed Becker on non-disciplinary, paid administrative leave on Feb. 8.

Scott Van Ess was named the interim high school principal.

Van Ess has been the high school’s dean of students since August 2015.

Previously, he was a teacher, then the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports coach at Waupaca Learning Center.

Arthur William Barber, age 95, of Iola, formerly of Scandinavia, passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point.

Arthur was born in Cook County, Illinois on September 7, 1921, a son of the late Alice (Peterson) and William A Barber. Arthur married Rose Marie Favretto on March 9, 1946 in Illinois. Art worked as the payroll manager at the Waupaca Foundry for over 30 years. He was a member of the Iola Lions Club. He enjoyed golfing, watching the Packers and looked forward to visiting with his friends over coffee every Thursday morning at the Scandinavia Village Library. Art also served in the United States Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie Barber, of Iola; son, Art (Sharon) Barber, of Stevens Point; grandchildren, Dale Hicks of Iola, Jackie Ridge of Stevens Point and great-grandson, Christopher. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathleen Hicks.

Funeral Service will be held at Scandinavia Lutheran Church at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25th, with Reverend David Eisele officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Register Book and online condolences may be sent by visiting www.voiefuneralhome.com

Clarence J. Samson, age 78, New London passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.

He was born on December 13, 1938 in Black Creek, son of the late Alonzo and Elizabeth (Latza) Samson. Clarence lived in New London his entire life and worked at Ort’s until his retirement. He enjoyed playing pool, cards and going for rides with his brother Bob.

Clarence is survived by his daughters, Virginia Schweitzer and Connie (Gordon) Gabrielson; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; his brothers, Bob, William (Monica) Samson and John (Rose). He is further survived by the mother of his children, Florence Hammel; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Barbara Ritchie, a son Clarence Jr. and brother Loran.

Per Clarence’s request no services will be held. The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com

Larry W. Butzin, age 65, of Waupaca, was reunited with his wife in heaven on Saturday, February 18, 2017.

He was born in Milwaukee on December 16, 1951, the son of William and Lucille (Becker) Butzin. Larry was united in marriage to Gail Shelton on March 4, 1972, and they celebrated 42 years together before her passing on January 9, 2015. He enjoyed off road racing, motor sports, going to the cabin up north, but above all, he loved time with his family.

He will be deeply missed by his children: Becky (James) Keilty of Waupaca, Clint (Kesha) Butzin of Almond, and Luke (Sara) Butzin of Waupaca; grandchildren: Avriel, Joe, David and Tara Keilty; Brianna, MacKenzie, Eryn, Triston and Ryan Butzin; Brooklyn and Alexander Butzin; great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary (Jerry) Deuman of Amherst and Carol (Dave) Makuski of Ogdensburg; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail; parents; and a brother, Michael.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 12 noon at the Maple Crest Funeral Home, followed by burial and military honors at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in the town of Dayton. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Jeanne Neuman of Waupaca, age 86, passed away at home on Monday, February 20, 2017.

She was born in Waupaca on June 2, 1930 to the late Peter and Agnes (Petersen) Jensen. On June 30, 1951 she married Calvin “Buster” Neuman; he preceded her in death on November 7, 2014. Jeanne was a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca. She was a Girl Scout Leader for 15 years, a member of the VFW Auxiliary and Auxiliary President for 25 years. Jeanne worked in the VFW Auxiliary Store Room at King and ended her volunteer work when she reached 9,500 hours in 2002.

She will be sadly missed by her children, Roger A. Neuman, and Kim (Terry) Schroeder; grandchildren: Jessica (Joshua) Deisnger, Mike (Kari) Schroeder, Katie Neuman and Jacob Neuman, great-grandchildren: Austin, Madisen, Dakota, Brooklyn, Callista, and Talan; foster sister, Rosie Schofield; other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald (Eleanor) Jensen.

The Memorial Service will be on Monday, February 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Maple Crest Funeral Home. Friends and family may gather on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Central Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in King.

Harlan Jule Loken, age 89, of Iola, passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Iola Living Assistance.

Harlan was born in Township of Harrison, Wisconsin on May 17, 1927, a son of the late Clara (Johnson) and Louie Loken. He was united in marriage to Mildred Lorraine Schulke on Aug. 20, 1949 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manawa. Harlan farmed, sold potatoes, pigs, silos, and corn bins. Harlan was a member of Hitterdahl Lutheran Church where he served on the church council, was a Sunday school teacher and sang in the church choir. He also served on the REA and the Iola-Scandinavia School Board.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mildred Loken; dear sons, David (Pat) Loken, Dan (Sharon) Loken, all of Iola; special grandchildren: Jodi (Jason) Long, Jill (Tom) Sharp, David (Debbie) Loken, Denise (Kevin) Willis, DJ and Caleb Loken also special great-grandchildren: Kiedra, Preston, Alex, Ethan, Olivia, Cooper, Korz, Dane, Roen, Jacob, Aspen; sister-in-law, Arlene Roland; sister and brother-in-law, Delores and LeRoy Armon; sisters-in-law: Janice, Audrey, and Pat Schuelke along with very special relatives and friends. Harlan was preceded in death his parents, Louie and Clara Loken; sister, Bernice (Ernest) Erickson; brother, Lawrence (Elaine) Loken; his other brother, Hollis (Eileen) Sether; sister-in-law, Irene Reisonberg; brothers-in-law: Bill Heineman, Roy Reisonberg, Rudy Roland, Maynard, Martin, and Gordon Schulke.

Funeral Service will be held at Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, Iola, Wisconsin, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25th, with Reverend Dale Wilson officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at Hitterdahl Lutheran Church. Interment will be in in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established. Register Book and online condolences may be sent by visiting www.voiefuneralhome.com

Gary L. Tate, age 79, New London passed away on Monday, February 20, 2017 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.

He was born on March 18, 1937 in New London, son of the late Lue and Lorraine (Seager) Tate. On May 11, 1957, Gary was united in marriage to Mary Recker in New London. He worked at Neenah Foundry for several years, then at Curwood for 34 years, retiring in 2003. Gary was a member of the New London Volunteer Fire Department for 34 years, and received the Firefighter of the year award in 1990. He enjoyed working in his garage; he loved working on and watching race cars, and sitting around the campfire with friends and family. Gary was a very loving father to his four children.

He is survived by his wife Mary, children: Janice Platte, Fremont; Becky Tate (friend, John Vullings), Hortonville; Jon (Kelley) Tate, Appleton and David (Sarah) Tate, New London; grandchildren: Kevin Platte, Tyler Kempf, Damian Stillman, Phelan Stillman (Sara Parker), Angela Roman and Emily Roman; three great-grandchildren, Austin, Kyle and Lola; siblings, Sandy (Jim) Massonet, New London; Patsy (Tom) Scott, Florida; Barb (Bill) Roesler, Dale and Robert (Linda) Tate, Weyauwega. He is further survived by numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts, uncles, stepfather Irvin Handschke and mother and father in-law, Joseph and Florence Recker.

Funeral Mass for Gary will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, New London with Fr. John Kleinschmidt officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the New London Volunteer Fire Department. The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com

The family would like to especially thank the staff at ThedaCare, Appleton, St. Joseph Residence, and ThedaCare, New London.

Priest, physicist publishes new book

By Robert Cloud

Jim Trainor, an Episcopalian priest and physicist who now lives in Waupaca, has published his fourth novel in four years.

“The Mountain Goat” is a road trip story, a guide to scenic vistas in the American West, a romance, a suspense thriller and a spiritual journey.

Ryan Browning and Amanda Seward take a 2,000-mile journey in an old camper van from Manhattan Beach, California, to Glacier National Park, Montanna.

Along the way, they visit the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Grand Teton National Park.

Browning, who has just been fired from his job as a researcher for a corporation, meets Seward for the first time when he closes his bank account. He spontaneously asks if she would like to go on a road trip with him.

To his surprise, she says yes.

Before long, they realize they are being followed and Browning suspects his former employers are searching for him.

Among the novel’s highlights are insightful, heartfelt discussions of how art, science, faith and love are interrelated.

“The Mountain Goat” also expresses a common theme in Trainor’s work that people are less interested in scientific proofs for the existence of God than they are in experiencing God in their lives. One way to have that experience is through personal relationships.

“I believe faith often begins with experience, as opposed to a rational analysis – even speaking as a scientist – as happens with the rational character Ryan in ‘The Mountain Goat,’” Trainor told the Waupaca County Post. “Faith will seek understanding, as St. Anselm once said. We see that begin to happen in Ryan’s discussions with his uncle Wil.”

Both Browning and Seward have experienced personal struggles, disappointing relationships and a near hopeless sense of the future.

These personal struggles lead Browning to ask Seward to accompany him on his road trip and Seward to accept.

“The character of Amanda has had a hard go of it over the past few years,” Trainor said. “At the beginning of the story, we find her in this pathetic situation, and that leads to her readily accepting Ryan’s surprising invitation. As she puts some distance between her and her troubled past, we see the real Amanda – that strong girl from Wausau, Wisconsin – begin to emerge: thinking of others, acting more independent, and even considering reconnection with a long lost faith.”

One of the first experiences that connect the couple with each other and with other people occurs outside a Walmart restroom in Kingman, Arizona, where Seward encounters an employee whose husband is in the hospital in Flagstaff, more than 200 miles away. The woman has no car and Seward offers her a ride.

“When we encounter God, one of the things that happens, I believe, is that we begin to become our true selves, the person we were meant to be, the person we always were at the deepest levels,” Trainor said.

As part of its focus on personal experience, “The Mountain Goat” presents the story in the third-person subjective, with alternating chapters presenting the thoughts and feelings of Seward and Browning.

Readers see the natural wonders that Browning and Seward visit on their journey through the characters’ eyes.

“There’s a line from The Psalms that says, ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,’” Trainor said. “The places my characters visit are all places I have visited many times and have been deeply affected by, and I believe these are the kinds of beautiful – yes, even holy, perhaps – places the psalmist may have had in mind.”

“At one point in the book, there is the mention of ‘thin places,’ places where the separation between heaven and earth seems small. I wanted the reader to experience these places with Ryan and Amanda and experience how they grew as a result,” he added.

Trainor is a Wisconsin outdoorsman with a doctorate in physics from the University of California. He was a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and wrote more than 60 technical articles.

He has also served as pastor to churches in New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin. Trainor lives in Waupaca with his wife Mary.

Copies of “The Mountain Goat” are available at The Bookcellar in downtown Waupaca.

Attorney general visits Waupaca

By Robert Cloud

Methamphetamine is replacing heroin as the No. 1 drug problem in Wisconsin.

Meth is also making its way into Waupaca County.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel visited with area law enforcement and municipal officials Monday, Feb. 20, at the Waupaca County Courthouse.

He held his 19th county listening session since his election, seeking input on local crime and social problems.

Schimel said meth has been spreading from the northern counties into the rest of the state.

“Heroin has been rampant for the last two to four years,” according to Waupaca County Sheriff Brad Hardel. “In the last few months, meth has started to take over.”

Schimel noted that the drug cartels in Mexico and Central America are shifting from heroin to meth.

“Only about 5 percent of the methamphetamine in Wisconsin is made in local labs,” Schimel said. “Meth is more profitable than heroin.”

Schimel said meth costs less to produce because it only requires chemicals and a laboratory, while heroin requires farmland to grow poppies.

Schimel said meth distributors are entering markets with free samples.

“With methamphetamine, people are becoming addicted after the first time,” Schimel said.

Hardel said local law enforcement is struggling to keep up with all the drug-related cases.

“We’re opening new cases weekly,” Hardel said, adding that Waupaca County has two full-time officers focused on drug enforcement, in addition to deputies making arrests during traffic stops.

Drug cases may take months to investigate since drug dealers have become more sophisticated.

Schimel held up a cellphone and said that this technology has replaced the traditional drug house. He noted that dealers use their cellphones to contact buyers and arrange meetings in parking lots. They discard the cellphones after a short period of time to avoid being traced.

Hardel also pointed to the increase in thefts, burglaries and robberies as addicts, who often do not have jobs, turn to crime to pay for their drugs.

Selling drugs can also be lucrative.

Hardel said a drug dealer can drive to Milwaukee and purchase $800 worth of heroin, then sell it locally for as much as $4,000 to $6,000.

Several of the police chiefs spoke about the expense of keeping up with technology at a time when public sector budgets are shrinking.

The software and devices used to open and read cellphones must be updated every year as new devices come on the market. This can cost more than $20,000 a year.

“What we face right now is more than a public safety issue, it’s a full-blown public health crisis,” Schimel said. “We can’t arrest our way out of the problem.”

Chuck Price, director of the Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services, said drugs not only impact users, they also impact the users’ families.

“How do we help the next generation?” Price asked. “How do we help mitigate some of the trauma?”

Price noted that the children can be traumatized by both the experiences of living with drug addicts and the experience of losing their families.

He said there are underlying mental health issues that need to be addressed, but those who need the most help seldom have the financial resources to pay for long-term treatment.

Hardel said the county jail has become a detox facility because it is often difficult to find a place for those arrested for drug crimes.

“It’s a huge struggle and challenge for us, seeing so many in our jail who need mental health treatment,” Hardel said.

Hardel said the county jail now has 24-hour nursing coverage, in large part due to the inmates’ mental health issues.

Schimel said Waupaca County’s decision to start a drug treatment court is a step in the right direction.

Instead of incarceration, a person who goes through drug treatment court is closely monitored, has multiple meetings with probation agents and counselors every week and is randomly tested for drug use on a regular basis.

As the Waukesha County district attorney, Schimel introduced a drug treatment court there in 2012.

He found that drug treatment court cost about $2,700 per person for 12 months.

“We can’t keep someone in jail for more than a month for that price,” Schimel said.

Schimel said drug treatment courts are not only less expensive, but are more effective in reducing recidivism.

Although drug courts are relatively new in Wisconsin, Oregon has used them for more than 20 years.

Research found that 75 percent of the graduates of Oregon’s drug courts did not re-offend, while only 30 percent of those sentenced to prison re-offended after being released from prison.

Hardel said if drug court has a 50 percent success rate for the 12 or so people charged each year, then “that’s six people we don’t have to deal with in the future.”

The sheriff said it also means six people whose families may stay together and six people who will not be committing other crimes to pay for their drugs.

Fischer scores 24 in final game

By Greg Seubert

An 11-3 scoring advantage in overtime lifted St. Mary Catholic to a 42-34 win over Iola-Scandinavia Feb. 21 in the opening round of the WIAA girls’ basketball tournament.

Leighten Fischer scored 24 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Thunderbirds. The team’s other senior, Kendall Johnson, had six points and five steals and Mia Wandtke chipped in with six rebounds.

Fischer scored 10 points in the first half as the T-Birds took a 17-13 lead at the break.

I-S led by as many as six points in the second half, but couldn’t stop the Zephyrs’ Abbi Thelen, who led her team with 24 points. Thelen’s three-point play with 3:17 remaining gave the Zephyrs a 31-29 lead, but Johnson tied the game with 1:11 to go.

The teams went into overtime tied at 31-31 and Thelen scored the first seven points of the overtime period to give the Zephyrs a 38-31 lead.

Fischer answered with her second three-pointer to cut the lead to four points, but St. Mary Catholic’s Alicia Thone sealed the win with four free throws in the closing minutes.

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St. Mary Catholic's Sydney Anderson can't stop Iola-Scandinavia's Leighten Fischer from scoring two of her team-high 24 points Feb. 21 in a WIAA Division 4 regional at Iola-Scandinavia High School. Fischer and the Thunderbirds fell to the Zephyrs 42-34 in overtime. Holly Neumann Photo

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Brothers Evan (left) and Ashton Graham are in third and fourth grade respectively at Weyauwega Elementary. They are pictured with Ashton's Black Snake project. Angie Landsverk Photo

Wega-Fremont holds annual science fair

By Angie Landsverk

The cafeterium at Weyauwega-Fremont Middle School turned into a space full of science experiments last week.

The school district held its annual K-8 Science Fair there on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Some projects spilled over into the middle school gym.

“Science is all about doing,” said Lynn Ponto, who is a science teacher at W-F High School.

Each school year, students create projects for the event.

This year, 140 students registered for the science fair.

Zac Harley, a fifth grader at Weyauwega Elementary, was among them.

He called his project “Hamster Running.”

Harley did not think his hamster spent enough time running, so he created a maze for his pet.

It took Harley five days to build the maze.

He then observed his hamster named Denny go through the maze and recorded the results.

The first time Denny tried, his time was a minute and 12 seconds. The next time, it was about 2 1/2 minutes.

The third through sixth times Harley watched Denny go through the maze, it took his hamster five minutes to do so.

Harley learned that as his hamster “got used to running the maze, he didn’t seem to like doing it as much.”

Students demonstrated their experiments for judges, who included community members and a number of Ponto’s former students.

The students had the necessary ingredients on hand for their experiments, and the judges asked them questions and made notes on clipboards.

It was during the 1993-94 school year that Ponto took over what was formerly called the PTO Science Fair.

That was her second year teaching in the district.

The prior school year, Ponto served as a judge.

That year, 19 students entered projects in the science fair, she said.

Student participation has grown.

Ponto’s students visit every classroom at both Fremont and Weyauwega elementary schools and do science demonstrations for them.

“It’s fun for my kids to plan,” she said.

At the fifth-grade level, a high school student is paired with a fifth grader to develop a science project.

Ponto said all the fifth graders are required to do something.

While it is not required that each fifth grader participate in the science fair, quite a lot of the fifth graders do, she said.

Ponto said the elementary students like the hands-on aspect of the projects.

She described all the ideas in this year’s science fair as good ones.

W-F High School science teachers Mike Hansen and Nick Winn were also onhand for last week’s event to do demonstrations, Ponto said.

“It’s a great staff,” Ponto said.

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Tyler Sobiesczyk (left) and Derek Vos were neck and neck coming into the finish line during the quad races at the Manawa Snodeo. Holly Neumann Photo

Snowmobile races on Bear Lake

Although Sunday’s races were cancelled, Friday and Saturday activities were good to go at the 10th annual Manawa Snodeo on Bear Lake.

Saturday’s races included ProVintage Oval Racing, Lakecross and Radar Runs.

Fundraiser to honor student, teacher

By Angie Landsverk

Students at Waupaca Learning Center will honor a classmate and remember a teacher when they participate in this year’s Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart.

The fundraiser for the American Heart Association will take place on Thursday and Friday, March 2 and 3, at the school.

Students will honor Carter Fermanich, who is a fourth grader at the school, and the late Mary Jensen, who was a speech pathologist at Waupaca Learning Center (WLC) for 23 years.

Jensen passed away on July 25, 2015 from an aortic dissection of her heart.

“We knew since last year we were going to do it (the fundraiser) in her honor this year,” said Lisa Ash, who teaches physical education at WLC.

An aortic dissection may be caused by high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

It may also be hereditary.

Since Jensen had regular check-ups and knew she did not have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, the assumption is genetics caused her aortic dissection.

Ash said Jensen grew up in Amherst and then lived there with her husband, Gregg, and their three children.

Gregg is a physical education teacher in that school district.

“She was very special in our building – just a very special person,” Ash said. “Her memory should be honored. It’s a perfect way to honor her.”

The event will take place in the gym, where at the end of the 2015-16 school year, the Jensen Family and the school’s Parent/Teacher Group made two rock walls (one on either side of the gym) possible for the school’s students.

The Jensen Family donated memorial money, and the Parent/Teacher Group donated funds as well, Ash said.

“Mary loved working at the Waupaca Learning Center, and we like hearing about the ways in which she made a difference at the school. We’re glad that she’s being remembered through the rock walls and now Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart activities,” Gregg said.

He said, “Anyone who’s lost someone they love knows there are good days and there are bad days. But hearing from the Waupaca Learning Center and seeing how they cared about Mary just as much as she cared about all of them, it gives us more better days. We hope that Mary’s story will continue to teach the WLC kids about not only their heart health, but staying healthy in general.”

This will be the second consecutive year the students honor Fermanich when they jump rope and shoot basketballs.

Fermanich was three days old when he had his first heart surgery to correct the coarctation of his aorta.

When he was 10 months old, he had his second heart surgery.

That one was to remove the fibrous tissue growing over his mitral valve.

He and his family knew a third heart surgery would eventually be needed.

On Jan. 11, Fermanich had that surgery to open his aortic valve by removing fibrous tissue that had been growing over it.

He returned to school on Feb. 1 and continues to recover from his surgery.

When asked how he is feeling, Fermanich said, “Good.”

Fermanich has restrictions, including no physical education, recess or the lifting of more than five pounds for eight weeks.

He is in Louise Dayton’s class this school year, and she said his friends are being very helpful.

Fermanich’s brother also carries his backpack for him, she said.

“I don’t really like missing recess and phy ed,” Fermanich said.

That means while he was able to participate in Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops for Heart last year, he will be watching his peers do so this year.

WLC students will participate in the event next week, during their physical education time periods.

They will rotate from one station to another, with each station involving basketball or jump roping.

Leading up to next week’s event, the focus is educating the students about heart health, Ash said.

“The prevention part and education is so important. The community service is a benefit,” she said.

With heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, Ash said they are teaching students what they can do to keep their hearts healthy.

Those five things are exercising, eating a healthy diet, drinking water and cutting back on sugary beverages, lowering their salt intake and living tobacco free, she said.

In early February, WLC kicked off a month of heart activities with a Go Red for Women Day.

She said the educational aspect of this American Heart Association program is important.

“Fitness and eating healthy have to be a habit, a routine,” Ash said. “You have to commit to being fit and healthy. It’s a daily process. It’s hard work.”

Community members who want to be part of the school’s fundraising effort this year may drop off donations, written to the American Heart Association, at Waupaca Learning Center or mail them to the school at 1515 Shoemaker Road, Waupaca, WI 54981.

Donations are due on March 3.

Last year, the school raised $15,768.

Ash said people may support the fundraising efforts of a student they know or honor Jensen.

“Hopefully, by starting when they are young, we are teaching them these concepts, how the heart works, how its a muscle,” Ash said.

All lanes of traffic on State Highway 54 are closed west of Royalton due to a traffic crash near Marsh Road.

The crash occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office.

Traffic delays can be expected for up to two hours as the site is cleared.

Motorists will need to find alternative routes.

Further updates will be posted as they become available.

An  investigation of an Ogdensburg couple resulted in a heroin sting.

Michael J. Lozier, 22, and Julia A. Slattery, 19, are each charged with possession of narcotics, one felony count of theft and four misdemeanor counts of theft.

On Dec. 16, 2016, Waupaca County Deputies Patrick McClone and Bryan Strobusch were conducting surveillance of Lozier and Slattery, who were suspected of transporting heroin from Milwaukee to Waupaca County.

They began following Slattery’s gold 2003 Buick Century westbound on U.S. Highway 10, then north onto State 110. They pulled it over after Slattery turned onto County Trunk KK. Lozier was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Strobusch’s unmarked vehicle was stopped in front of the Buick, while McClone’s was behind it.

As he approached the Buick, McClone observed Lozier remove something from the center console.

The deputies separated the two suspects for questioning.

McClone asked Lozier where the heroin was in the vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, Lozier initially denied having any heroin.

McClone then said he knew that Lozier and Slattery had driven to Milwaukee to make a purchase. He suggested Lozier be honest with him.

Lozier reportedly replied that he had tossed the heroin out of the car on State 110.

McClone continued questioning Lozier, who then admitted to dumping the heroin onto the vehicle’s floor and crushing it with his foot.

Investigators recovered 1.26 grams of heroin from the Buick’s passenger-side floor.

Lozier and Slattery allegedly began snorting the heroin while returning from Milwaukee.

Slattery told the officers that she had been paid $300 that day and only $40 was left.

On Dec. 23, 2016, McClone questioned Lozier and Slattery about several vehicle break-ins in September and November.

An estimated $2,800 in cash was reported stolen Sept. 27 from an SUV parked at a farm on Sunny View Road in the town of Waupaca.

The owner had planned to deposit the cash in the bank on Sept. 25, but ran out of time before doing so. She discovered that the cash was missing on Sept. 27.

Another $100 was stolen from the same vehicle on Nov. 23.

On Nov. 5, residents of two homes on Veysey Lake Road in rural Waupaca reported that cash and blank checks had been stolen from their parked vehicles.

On Nov. 25, a resident of County Trunk E in rural Waupaca reported that someone stole a personal check and more than $600 in cash from his pickup truck.

According to the criminal complaint, Lozier admitted to stealing more than $2,000 from the SUV on Sunny View Road. He reportedly said the money was gone because they spent it on drugs, gas and cigarettes.

A semi-tractor and a passenger car crashed at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday on State Highway 54.

According to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, a 70-year-old New London woman was driving the car eastbound on State 54 about one-quarter mile east of Marsh Road in Royalton.

She stopped to turn into a driveway when a semi, driven by a 58-year-old Marinette man, attempted to pass her on the shoulder. The car turned in front of the semi and the semi struck the car.

Both the car’s driver and a 92-year-old female passenger were seriously injured and airlifted for medical treatment.

The semi driver was not injured in the crash.

The crash blocked traffic in both lanes and caused State 54 to be closed for nearly two hours.

The accident remains under investigation by the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office. Names have not been released at this time.

Yolanda Ginnetti Perry, age 91, of Waupaca, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Theda Care Medical Center-Waupaca.

She was born in Waupaca on February 26, 1925, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ginnetti. Yolanda was a R.N. and had graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in Oshkosh, WI. From the University of Minnesota, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a major in Public Health Nursing. Her avocation was vocal music and was known in this area for her vocal talent. Her professional vocal training was obtained from McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. After 44 years in the nursing profession, she retired. Politics became her next interest. She served as Alderperson for the 3rd Aldermanic District in Waupaca for numerous years.

She is survived by her daughter, Yolanda (Joe) of Austin, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters – Rosina and Filomena.

A Private Graveside Service was held at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Cemetery in Waupaca with Father Curt Klismet officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society are appreciated. The family would like to extend a special Thank You to the staff at Bethany Home for all of their kind and compassionate care. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.

Junior Merle Greely, 79, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, formerly of Clintonville, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017, at his home.

Junior was born March 6, 1937 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, son of the late Merle and Laura Greely. Junior has lived in North Carolina since the ‘60s, but has always managed to return to his roots. He loved Wisconsin and his family very much.

Junior is survived by his wife, Christine, Mount Holly, NC; daughter, Patricia (Tony) Henderson, Lowell, NC; sons, Richard (Marte) Greely, Mount Holly, NC and James Greely, Dallas, NC; siblings, James (Margaret) Greely, Crandon, WI; Kenneth (Dianne) Greely, Shiocton, WI; Willard “Buck” Greely, Shiocton, WI; Geraldine (Kenneth) Hansen, Shiocton, WI; Susan (James) Dahlke, Appleton, WI and Sandy Williams, New London, WI. Junior is further survived by Christine’s family and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as grandchildren in North Carolina. Junior was preceded in death by his parents; son, Junior Merle II; sister, Judith Manley; sister-in-law, Marilyn Greely; brothers-in-law, George Williams and Lyle Manley and nephew, Shawn Robert.

A funeral service was held 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service, 1503 South York Rd. Gastonia. The family receivde friends an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment was held at Westview Gardens Cemetery in Bessemer City, NC. Arrangements were with the South Chapel of Greene Funeral Service and Crematorium, Gastonia. A memorial fund has been established in Junior’s name at Grace Lutheran Church “Building Fund”.

Bulldog to become a Peacock

By Erik Buchinger

New London senior goalkeeper Liz Tank signed her national letter of intent to play for NCAA Division II’s Upper Iowa University on Feb. 7, despite playing soccer for just three years.

Tank said making her college choice was a relief because of all the hard work she has done, and it meant the recruiting process has been completed.

“It was a huge milestone for me, and I felt a huge weight off my shoulders,” Tank said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt happy because of all the hard work for the past few years I’ve been doing as the goalkeeper. It paid off in the end.”

Tank was reluctant to play soccer until an injury playing basketball forced her to see the trainer in her freshman year.

“The athletic trainer said, ‘You should play soccer because you’re athletic. You’re a post, and you’d do amazing at goalkeeper,’” Tank said. “I told her no and that I’m never going to play soccer.”

Tank went with her mom Cathy to Subway later that night and saw New London girls’ soccer coach Joe Messina at the restaurant, and they told him what the trainer had said to her.

Liz Tank signs her national letter of intent to play goalkeeper for the Upper Iowa University Peacocks soccer team on Feb. 7. Erik Buchinger photo

“He said, ‘Yeah, come on in. Put on a red shirt, and I’ll see you at practice tomorrow,’” Tank said. “So I went to practice the next day, and I fell in love.”

Tank said she first knew she could play at the collegiate level during Camp Shutout, which is a camp dedicated to goalkeepers with former professional and college players giving instruction.

“My trainer Eric [Wiberg] told me I have real potential, and when I was at Camp Shutout, the coaches showed me that as long as I put my heart to it that I can get to wherever I want to be,” Tank said.

Goalkeeper guru Stan Anderson is the founder of Camp Shutout, and he told Tank she has potential to play at the college level.

“When [Anderson] said he saw a bright future for me, that’s when I was like ‘OK, I can actually do this,’” Tank said.

Tank said she was offered to play by several Division III schools, including colleges in Indiana, Rhode Island and Florida. She also could have received a scholarship to play for Stephens College, a NAIA school in Columbia, Missouri.

Upper Iowa contacted Tank in late October of 2016, and after she visited the campus in Fayette, Iowa prior to Thanksgiving, she was offered an $8,000 scholarship that can increase as she continues with the program.

Tank accepted the offer after Christmas.

“I picked Upper Iowa University because the education they could provide for me as a lot better than Stephens College,” Tank said. “With the opportunities that I have, it will be better for me to get to where I want to be for my future job.”

Tank said the biggest help throughout the recruiting process was from her mom and trainer.

“Without my mom, I would have committed to the Division III schools right away and wouldn’t have thought of reaching out to other school,” Tank said. “She would help me to figure out what to ask them and what to be looking for, rather than just pick a school because they’re giving me an athletic scholarship. Actually putting education first made everything a lot easier. And of course my trainer Eric because he’s just amazing.”

Tank will conclude her high school soccer career with the Bulldogs this spring.

“I hope to have a successful year with my teammates and become the greatest leader that I could possibly be,” Tank said.

Tank said she is most excited to meet new people in college to make lifelong friendships and learn about different cultures, as Upper Iowa has a few foreign exchange players on the roster. She plans to major in Biology with an emphasis in Medical Laboratory to research cancer as a cytotechnologist.

Tank joked there will be a transition in regards to her college’s nickname, which is the Upper Iowa University Peacocks.

“It’s different,” Tank said. “It’s a pretty animal, but you wouldn’t think it’s a very powerful mascot. Going from a Bulldog to a Peacock, that’s going to be different.”