Foth

A man accused of punching his wife in a bar now faces a felony charge.

Michael K. Foth, 47, Clintonville, is charged with possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Saturday, March 18, New London police were called out to Easy Street Bar on the 500 block of West North Water Street.

According to the criminal complaint, Foth’s wife told officers that Foth punched her twice in the face.

When officers searched Foth, they reported finding a film canister with marijuana in it and a glass pipe with burnt residue.

Sgt. Tom Algiers and Officer Ryan Denu reported that Foth began resisting orders after they handcuffed him.

As Denu was escorting Foth from the New London police station to his squad car in order to transport him to jail, Foth pulled away and ran north down the station’s driveway, the complaint says.

Denu pursued Foth, caught him and directed him to the ground.

Officers called an ambulance because Foth’s ankle appeared to be injured.

Cost estimated at $10,000

By Bert Lehman

The Clintonville Finance Committee has requested more information before authorizing spending around $10,000 to crush 3,000 tons of concrete and asphalt stockpiled at Clintonville Area Waste Services.

Kray Brown, public works director for the city of Clintonville, first requested the funds at the April 4 Street Committee meeting.

He told the committee few companies will contract to crush less than 7,000 to 10,000 tons of material. He said he is in contact with Go Green, which is willing to crush the city’s stockpile of concrete and asphalt for $3.40 per ton, for a total cost of a little more than $10,000.

Once the material is crushed, it can be used for the base for roads, gravel roads and shoulders, among other things. If the city does not crush the concrete and asphalt, it would need to purchase gravel for these projects.

Brown also informed the committee that there isn’t much room at CAWS to store more concrete and asphalt.

Since the city’s utilities also uses gravel, Clintonville Utilities could pay for part of the cost of crushing, Brown said.

“We’re working together, we might as well share some of this stuff,” Brown said.

Brown added that he originally planned to wait to pursue crushing the material because he wanted to see how much concrete and asphalt the city would receive from the Main Street reconstruction project. He said he found out the city won’t be getting any of that material.

“If we are going to look at redoing some of our roads this year, we’re going to be going through some stone,” Brown said.

Committee member Jim Supanich asked if the city has money to cover the cost of concrete and asphalt crushing.

Brown said it was not included in the budget.

The committee recommended the city contract with Go Green to crush the city’s stockpile of concrete and asphalt for $3.40 per ton pending approval of funding at the Finance Committee scheduled for Monday, April 10.

Finance meeting
When Brown addressed the Finance Committee at its meeting Monday, April 10, he told the committee that the reasons he wants to crush the city’s stockpile of concrete and asphalt is to clean up the property at the CAWS location, and to use the crushed material instead of purchasing gravel, which in the long run will save the city money.

He told the committee the Public Works Department uses around 500 tons of gravel per year, spending around $3,200 each year to purchase gravel. As he said the cost for gravel is $8.32 per ton if purchased from a company in New London or $6.35 per ton if purchased from a company in Shawano. This cost does not include the city’s labor costs to pick up the gravel or the gas used by the city’s trucks to pick up the gravel.

“We need material, no matter what,” Brown said. “I’m looking at this as a cost savings, not only for this year, but potentially for the next couple years.”

Brown told the committee that the crushed material could be used for various projects. He said when the city reconstructs some of its streets in the future, a better base needs to be created, and this material could be used to build that base.

The city would save around $9,000 if it crushed 3,000 tons of concrete and asphalt versus purchases 3,000 tons of gravel.

Later in the meeting, Brown said the Public Works Department currently has no gravel in reserve.

Supanich, who is also on the Finance Committee, asked where the money would come from to pay for the crushing.

Brown said it’s not in the budget, adding that if he had been with the city when the budget was created, he would have included it in the budget.

Finance Committee member Lance Bagstad asked Brown what happens to the material if it isn’t crushed.

Brown said it would remain in piles at its current location. He said material won’t be added to the area because of the risk of damaging tires on city equipment.

“When you look at the yard out there, obviously it’s scattered,” Brown said. “We don’t have any room.”

Bagstad asked Brown what he expected to pay in gravel purchases through the end of the year if the concrete and asphalt isn’t crushed.

Brown said roughly $3,000 to $3,500.

Supanich suggested holding off on crushing the material so it can be included in future budgets.

Brown said there is no guarantee the cost of crushing the material won’t increase in the future.

“We’re getting a really good deal now,” Brown said.

Brown added that he is working on creating a maintenance plan for the city’s streets. Once that is developed, the city’s need for gravel may be more than 500 tons per year.

Committee Chairman Mark Doornink asked Brown if this decision could wait one month, while he continued to gathered information for the street maintenance plan.

Brown said it could, but he can’t wait one month without purchasing gravel.

Clintonville City Administrator Chuck Kell told the committee that the Maize Street reconstruction came in under budget last year, and some of that savings could be used to cover the cost of crushing the concrete and asphalt stockpile. He added that he was holding those funds to the side to help pay the city’s portion to repair the sidewalk on Ninth Street.

Kell added that using undesignated fund balance to cover the cost of crushing probably doesn’t meet the city’s financial policies.

The committee asked Brown to gather more information about how much gravel the city plans to use in the future, and present that information at the May Finance Committee meeting.

Council meeting
Concrete and asphalt crushing was on the agenda when the Clintonville Council met Tuesday, April 11.

When Brown addressed the council, he told the council that he has achieved savings in the Public Works capital improvement budget through the first three months of the year. He asked that a portion of those savings be used to pay the cost of crushing the city’s stockpile of concrete and asphalt.

“I have monies left over to do this project,” Brown said.

He also told the council Go Green is willing to honor its price quote if the city waited, but Brown said with the upcoming projects in the next couple weeks, he will have to purchase gravel if the city doesn’t crush the concrete and asphalt.

“I’m looking at [purchasing] approximately $1,200 [of gravel], and that’s only going to get me to about 60 tons of gravel,” Brown said.

If the city crushes the concrete and asphalt, it would have approximately 300 tons of gravel for a little over $10,000, Brown said.

“I would rather take the $1,200 and actually put it towards having a substantial amount versus just a small amount,” Brown said.

The council unanimously approved funding the crushing of the city’s stockpile of concrete and asphalt for the amount of $10,500 with that funds coming from the savings Public Works has realized in its capital improvements budget in 2017.

<

>

An electrical outlet that has corroded over the years from humid air in the New London Aquatic and Fitness Center's chemical storage room. City Building and Grounds Superintendent Ted Christian said the outlet tends to either shock him or not work at all. Scott Bellile photo

Workers have received minor shocks

By Scott Bellile

New London Aquatic and Fitness Center will address safety concerns and facility needs when a $16,000 electrical system upgrade takes place in May.

Electricians will replace electrical panels that have degraded from humidity and airborne pool chemicals over the years.

“It won’t have any energy savings, but it is a serious concern that should be addressed as soon as possible,” Brent Schmidt, program manager for McKinstry Essention, warned last July. The consulting firm evaluated the pool last year and made recommendations to improve its conditions.

Pool maintenance staff have reported receiving “minor electrical shocks” from touching the panels, McKinstry states in a contract between it and the city.

“Some electrical subpanels in different locations throughout the facility have become corroded and create a significant shock hazard to maintenance staff,” the contract states.

The electricians will also remove unused panels upstairs. Some of those panels became unnecessary after electrical equipment was removed over the years. Abandoned wires upstairs also still pose safety risks.

The New London Parks and Recreation Committee on April 5 recommended to the city council contracting Master Electrical Services of New London to perform the upgrade for $16,171. Master Electrical Services offered the lower bid of two companies.

The city council was set to approve the bid on Tuesday, April 11, after press time.

Building and Grounds Superintendent Ted Christian told the Press Star Monday, April 10, the news on the upgrades will be useful to the public. He said while New London Aquatic and Fitness Center patrons may think the main pool area looks fine, they do not see the rusted fuse boxes or outlets in the closed-off maintenance rooms. These sometimes shock him on the job.

“It’s overdue,” Christian said of the proposed upgrades.

The electrical system will be upgraded during the pool’s annual spring shutdown, scheduled for May 1-15. The pool will reopen May 16 at 9:30 a.m.

The electrical system upgrade is step one in a series of aquatic center improvements. The plan later calls for updates to the air handling system as well as the mechanical system.

“We really do need to look at taking the next step, and we’ll work on those other suggestions in that study that McKinstry did,” New London Parks and Recreation Director Chad Hoerth said April 5. “Because there’s air quality issues that we can address. We can look at doing UV filters … that’ll reduce the chloramines that are in [the pool]. The chloramines are a byproduct of the pool chemicals that really are corrosive in the air.”

The end goal is to connect all the pool’s systems through computers so the units can communicate to one another via internet to keep the facility operating.

At the February parks and recreation committee meeting, Aldermen Rob Way and Tom O’Connell suggested the upgraded electrical system should be large enough to support a bigger facility should the city decide to expand the swimming pool. Currently there are no plans to do so.

Besides the electrical issues, Hoerth said he is looking into other aquatic center problems. Patrons complain the women’s locker room is too cold. There is also a mysterious spike in water and natural gas usage.

The pool used 700,000 to 800,000 gallons of water a year until two years ago, when the amount leaped to about 1.2 million gallons annually.

As for heat, between 2005 and 2010, the pool used 17,000 to 19,000 therms annually. The amount jumped in 2011 and hit a high of 44,000 therms in 2016.

“We’re basically using double the amount of gas now than we did five to 10 years ago,” Hoerth said in February. “There’s nothing really operational-wise to understand why that’s happening. We’re looking in to see what’s going on the best that we can.”

Hoerth said on April 5 the water levels have returned to their normal levels this year, but the gas problem persists. His staff has not solved the mysteries yet.

Church program serves homebound

By Angie Landsverk

A local church is delivering meals to homebound residents in the Waupaca area.

St. John’s Lutheran Church calls its Meals for Others.

“I’m just really impressed at the willingness of the congregation to take on this project and run with it,” said Roger Nielsen, the church’s pastor.

Nielsen’s wife, Alice, said the church started the project out of concern for some members.

Some members were losing weight, she said.

A couple members of the church brainstormed and came up with the idea while at Mama Z’s Bakery & Java Hut for coffee.
Those members were Sharon Mangert and Anne Wiegert.

Mitzi Wohlrabe owns Mama Z’s Bakery & Java Hut.

Since she has a commercial kitchen, she is able to prepare the meals for the program.

Wohlrabe and Mangert work together to plan the menus.

The recipients of the meals receive enough food for about two meals.

Meals for Others began a couple weeks ago.

Volunteers from the church are currently delivering meals to 14 people on Mondays and Wednesdays.

While the church is located at County Trunk KK, Weyauwega, meals are being delivered not only in the Weyauwega area, but also around Waupaca and Scandinavia.

Many of the recipients are church members or their relatives.

Unlike Meals for Wheels, which are delivered warm, these meals are delivered cold.

For that reason, the church needed coolers.

Farmers State Bank donated three coolers for the project.

It was Fran Vergauwen, the former president of Farmers State Bank, who told Mangert the bank had coolers.

He told her to contact the bank, according to Adam Ross, who is the bank’s marketing director.

“We were willing to donate three of them to the church to use,” he said. “The philosophy of the bank is to give back where we can.”

The congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church is mission oriented. Each year, it gives between $15,000 and $16,000 to missions.

The cost of Meals for Others will be covered through that mission fund.

People may also donate funds toward the project.

Several families have already done so.

Those who volunteer to deliver the meals say this is also a way to visit with other church members.

Those who cannot make it to the church service may receive a church bulletin with their meals.

The church is also involving its Sunday School children in the program by having the children do craft projects for the meal recipients.

“This is what the Lord commanded us to do – take care of the widows, poor, unfortunate,” Nielsen said. “We’re just glad to be able to provide a service. Plus, we get a chance to visit with them. Many older people are lonely. It’s an outreach of the congregation.”

Teacher recognized for school forests

By Jane Myhra

Rhonda Fechter, a teacher at Iola-Scandinavia Elementary, recently received a state award.

Fechter was recognized with a School Forest Award by the LEAF Program for her contributions to the school forests registered to the Iola-Scandinavia School District.

LEAF, the Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program, recognizes students, individuals and organizations that have provided leadership and made significant contributions to their local school forests.

Wisconsin School Forest coordinator Gretchen Marshall presented the award to Fechter at Jorgens Park Preserve in Scandinavia.

“Fechter has been an inspiration in the development and growing use of the district’s school forest properties,” Marshall said. “Her dedication and commitment towards environmental education and the use of the school forest is amazing. She works tirelessly to make sure the forests are accessible and used by students, staff and the community.”

According to Marshall, Fechter has served on various boards that oversee the forests, written grants to fund supplies and facilities, planted trees with her students, provided professional development opportunities for staff and encouraged learning opportunities for all Iola-Scandinavia students at the forest.

“I am very proud to have been nominated and chosen for this award,” Fechter said. “However, the success of the Iola-Scandinavia school forests is also due to the staff, students and community members that participate in stewardship of our natural resources.”

“Fechter is an integral part of Iola-Scandinavia’s school forest committee. This team has provided hands-on learning experiences for community members and students and continues to build new opportunities at the school forest,” Marshall said. “Their talent, passion and love for integrating the environment with quality education shine through in their service to others, leadership style, love of learning and ability to create innovative learning experiences for Iola-Scandinavia students and staff.”

The Iola-Scandinavia School District currently has three school forest properties that function as outdoor classrooms, including Jorgens Park Preserve.

“We are fortunate to have the friends of Jorgens Park Preserve participating alongside the Iola-Scandinavia school district to provide this beautiful, diverse property for educational and recreational enjoyment,” Fechter said.

Wisconsin’s school forest program was created more than 80 years ago to allow schools to own property for forestry programs. The primary focus was to engage students in replanting forests.

Since those early days, the program has grown considerably due to the efforts of many individuals and organizations.

Today more than 400 school forests are available to integrate environmental education into schools’ curriculum, provide experiential learning for students, teachers and the public, meet state-mandated education standards, demonstrate sustainable natural resource management, strengthen school-community partnerships, and provide income for education activities.

“The current strength of the school forest program would not be possible without contributions from students, resource personnel, educators, community members and school administrators that help their school forests reach new heights.” Marshall said.

For more information about the School Forest Awards or the statewide school forest program, contact Gretchen Marshall, Wisconsin School Forest Coordinator, at 715-346-2633 or Gretchen.Marshall@uwsp.edu or visit www.leafprogram.org.

Waupaca falls to Assumption, SPASH

By Greg Seubert

The Waupaca girls’ soccer team dropped recent nonconference games to Assumption and Stevens Point. Assumption handed the Comets a 6-0 loss April 7, while Stevens Point outscored Waupaca 11-1 April 4.

Assumption 6, Waupaca 0
Gracie Wendels scored four times and added an assist for the Royals.

Bridget Matott and Kenzie Wagner also found the net for Assumption.

SPASH 11, Waupaca 1
Ava Schwenn scored Waupaca’s goal in the first half on a penalty kick.

Anna Zajakowski, Abby Gemza and Lauren Johnson each scored twice for the Panthers as SPASH built a 7-1 halftime lead.

<

>

Waupaca's Lily Sletten (left) and Assumption's Gracie Wendels battle for the ball April 7 during a nonconference girls' soccer game at Waupaca High School. Wendels and the Royals handed the Comets a 6-0 loss. Greg Seubert Photo

Recent convictions, sentencing and dismissals from felony cases in Waupaca County Circuit Court:

• Judge Raymond Huber sentenced Austin Merryfield to one year in jail with work-release privileges and 157 days credit for his time in custody on a cash bond since his arrest last November. Huber also placed Merryfield on 7 1/2 years of probation.

Conditions of his probation include that he obtain a high school equivalency degree, maintain full-time employment, not possess any illegal drugs, not go upon any premises where there may be illegal drugs, not consume alcohol, no contact with his mother and participate in any counseling recommended by agent. He’s been assessed $971 in fines and court costs. The state has 90 days to file for restitution.

Merryfield was convicted of felony discharge of a weapon toward a vehicle and misdemeanor criminal damage with a weapon. Charges of reckless endangerment, carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct were dismissed but read into the court record. A charge of attempted homicide was dismissed on a motion by the prosecutor.

On Nov. 1, 2016, Merryfield shot a handgun at a pickup truck driven by another teen on Shawano Street near the travel plaza. At the time of the incident, he was in a vehicle that his mother was driving. She later brought him to the police.

• Judge Vicki Clussman sentenced Stephanie A. Jones, 36, Taycheedah Correctional, to nine months in jail and ordered her to pay $733 in court costs.

Jones was convicted of receiving stolen property. A felony charge of burglary was dismissed but read into the court record.

The Waupaca County jail sentence will be served after Jones completes a prison sentence from Winnebago County, where her extended supervision for possession of meth precursors was revoked.

• Judge Philip Kirk revoked the probation of Ryan R.D. Vandergate, 22, Marion, and sentenced him to 12 months in jail.
Vandergate was convicted of felony possession of narcotics and obstructing an officer and placed on two years of probation in August 2016.

Vandergate’s probation was revoked on March 23, after he was convicted of misdemeanor sex with a child 16 or older and sentenced to nine more months in jail.

• Kirk placed Nicholas J. Graff, 22, Waupaca, on four years of probation, sentenced him to six months in jail as a condition of probation, then stayed 90 days.

Graff was convicted of burglary, while a theft charge was dismissed but read into the record.

Conditions of his probation require that he maintain full-time employment, obtain a high-school equivalence degree and pay $1,362 in restitution and court costs.

If his probation is revoked, Graff will have 107 days credit for the time he spent in custody on a $2,000 cash bond after his arrest.

• Clussman ordered Bree-Ann L. Leone, 32, New London, to pay $894 in court costs after accepting her no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. The charge was amended from felony possession of amphetamine.

Leone was also convicted of a second drunken driving offense, sentenced to 80 days in jail with 73 stayed under the Safe Streets Treatment Options Program, assessed $1,660 and her license revoked for 15 months.

• Huber placed Dustin A. Stelse, 25, Manawa, on two years of probation and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service and pay $1,671 in fines and court costs.

In three separate Waupaca County criminal cases, Stelse was convicted of felony bail jumping, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct. Charges of battery, victim intimidation and bail jumping were dismissed but read into the record.

Stelse was charged with retail theft in Waupaca County on April 6.

He currently faces narcotics and meth charges in Outagamie County.

• Huber placed Tiffany N. Tetting, 35, Weston, on two years of probation and assessed her $528 in court costs.

Tetting was convicted of identity theft. Five more counts of identity theft were dismissed but read into the record.

• Clussman placed Chad M. Scrivner, 43, Waupaca, on one year of probation and ordered him to pay $3,279 in restitution and $771 in court costs. Partial payment of the restitution was made from the $1,000 cash bond that Scrivner posted to be released from jail after his arrest.

Scrivner was convicted of misdemeanor battery, which was amended from felony battery. Charges of bail jumping and disorderly conduct were dismissed but read into the record.

• Huber placed Tanner C. Ater, 22, Neenah, on one year of probation. As conditions of his probation, Ater must write a letter of apology to all of his victims and pay $2,667 in restitution and court costs. If he successfully completes probation, Ater’s record will be expunged.

Ater was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of theft. Three felony counts of burglary were dismissed on a motion by the prosecutor. One count each of burglary and theft from a separate incident were dismissed but read into the record.

• Kirk placed Somantha D. Shankin, 23, Weyauwega, on one year of probation and ordered her to pay $443 in court costs and to have no contact with her mother.

Shankin was convicted of disorderly conduct. Charges of strangulation and intimidation of a victim were dismissed but read into the record.

• Huber revoked the probation of Cory M. Studzinski, 18, Waupaca, and sentenced him to four months in jail.

Studzinski was placed on two years of probation on Nov. 10, 2016, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, pay $972 in court costs and restitution, not possess any illegal drugs and maintain full-time employment or obtain a high school equivalence degree.

Studzinski was convicted of one count of theft and two counts of taking a vehicle without consent, amended from a felony to a misdemeanor. Two more counts of theft and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping were dismissed but read into the record.

• Kirk placed Timothy J. Ort, 27, Clintonville, on one year of probation and ordered him to pay $3,563 in restitution and court costs. Partial payment of the restitution was made from the $1,500 cash bond that Ort posted to be released from jail after his arrest.

Ort was convicted of felony hit and run involving injury.

• Kirk placed Matthew J. Spencer, 36, Kewaunee, on three years of probation, ordered him to serve nine months in jail, pay $1,759 in restitution and court costs, and banned him from going into the Waupaca Kmart.

Spencer was convicted of felony retail theft in Waupaca County. A second felony theft charge was dismissed but read into the record.

In Monroe County, Spencer was convicted in two separate cases of possession of burglary tools, criminal damage to property, felony retail theft and felony bail jumping. He was sentenced to nine months in jail and ordered to pay $3,057 in restitution and court costs.

Weyauwega library, nutrition site work together

By Angie Landsverk

The Weyauwega Public Library is finding new ways to reach members of the community.

It is working with the Weyauwega Nutrition Site to provide books and programming for those who participate in the meal program.

“We wanted to reach out to the community somehow,” said Kristi Pennebecker, who is the library’s director.

She visited the site last month and explained the new program.

Those who receive home-delivered meals or eat lunch at the nutrition site may participate in it.

They provide ideas of books they are interested in reading, and Pennebecker then delivers the library books to the site.

The Weyauwega Nutrition Site is located in the community room of City Hall, and the library is a few blocks away.

Pennebecker is also able to help those without library cards get them.

Kenny Johnson was the first person to borrow books from the library through this new program.

Since he did not have a library card, Pennebecker first helped him obtain one.

Johnson told her about his interests, which include animals and plants.

Three library books about animals were delivered to the nutrition site for him.

Johnson lives in Weyauwega and does not drive.

Three days a week, he walks to the nutrition site, where he is also a volunteer.

He has been doing so for more than 11 years.

Johnson works on the other two days of the week and said he was happy to learn about the library’s new program.

“It’s something different,” he said.

This is the not first time Pennebecker tried this idea.

Several years ago, she approached the nutrition site’s former manager with the idea of delivering library books to the homebound.

“We tried it a couple years ago. Nothing ever happened,” Pennebecker said.

She decided to give it another try.

There are different people going to the nutrition site and receiving home-delivered meals. The site’s location inside City Hall is also new, she said.

In addition, the library is now bringing adult coloring to the nutrition site.

The first session took place on Wednesday, April 12.

Bingo is offered on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

Pennebecker says adult coloring could be offered on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

“Then every Wednesday, there would would be a special program after the meal,” she said.

More contact between the library and nutrition site opens up more possibilities, she said.

Shani Appleby is the manager of the nutrition site.

She said those who receive the home-delivered meals also have information about the library’s new book lending program.
Their books would be delivered with their meals.

“I think it’s very good for the community, especially with our senior population. It’s giving them options, something to look forward to. I hope they pick up on what Kenny’s doing and enjoying,” Appleby said.

Pennebecker said she is also able to order large print books, audio books, magazines and DVDs.

Once someone finishes reading books from the library, either Appleby returns them, or Pennebecker picks them up at the nutrition site.

Johnson already read the first books he received from the library.

When asked if he plans to continue getting books this way, he said, “I hope so.”

<

>

Collin Jorgenson dives back to first base for Weyauwega-Fremont during the Indians' nonconference win over Algoma. He later scored the winning run in a 3-2 game. Greg Seubert Photo

Bosquez drives in winning run

By Greg Seubert

Collin Jorgenson reacts after scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Weyauwega-Fremont’s 3-2 win over Algoma. Jorgenson scored on a double from Logan Bosquez. Greg Seubert Photo

Close games have been the norm so far this season for Weyauwega-Fremont’s baseball team.

One day after picking up a 1-0 Central Wisconsin 8 Conference win over Shiocton, the Indians came up with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning April 11 to post a 3-2 nonconference win over Algoma.

W-F came up with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Wolves scored twice in the fifth on Casey Stangle’s double. The score remained 2-1 until the Indians tied the game in the sixth.

Collin Jorgenson started the seventh-inning rally and eventually scored the game-winning run on Logan Bosquez’s double.

Algoma outhit the Indians 9-4.

Cole Hudziak tripled for the Indians and also picked up the win in relief of Kolden Baehman. Gavin Curtis also had a double.

The Indians will return to CWC-8 play at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at home against Manawa.

Thunderbirds win six events

By Greg Seubert

Leighten Fischer lands a jump of 16 feet, 9 inches to take first place for Iola-Scandinavia in the girls’ long jump event. Holly Neumann Photo

Six first-place finishes helped the Iola-Scandinavia girls’ track team place second April 13 at Rosholt High School’s Early Bird Invitational.

The Thunderbirds finished behind Rosholt in the girls’ standings with 116 points, while Weyauwega-Fremont finished fifth with 90. W-F and I-S placed fifth and seventh on the boys’ side with 77 and 38 points, respectively.

Placing first for the T-Birds were Leighten Fischer, 200-meter dash (27.5) and long jump (16 feet, 9 inches); Erika Kisting, 800- and 1,600-meter runs (2:29.38, 5:22.3); Makenna Brown, 400-meter dash (1:05.42); and the 1,600-meter relay team of Brown, Kisting, Jada Beacom and Fischer (4:20.81).

Seconds went to Fischer, 300-meter hurdles; Beacom, 1,600; and Payton Wester, triple jump.

Thirds went to Brown, 200-meter dash and high jump; and Beacom, 800.

Fifths went to Haley Ullom, 100-meter dash; the 400-meter relay team of Aleah Petrosa, Wester, Ana Holder and Magan Ellioff; and the 800-meter relay team of Ullom, Ellioff, Wester and Petrosa.

Gwynette Koch and Hannah Sroka led the W-F girls by placing second in the shot put and pole vault, respectively. W-F also had a pair of second-place relays in the 400 team of Anna Bubolz, Morgan Monty, Sroka and Natalie Schneider and the 800 team of Josie Kicherer, Kaitlyn Monty, Mikyla Reeck and Bubolz.

Katie Bleck turned in the Indians’ only third-place finish in the discus.

Fourths went to Koch, discus; Sroka, long jump; Allison Halat, 3,200-meter run; Bleck, 100-meter hurdles; and the 1,600 relay team of Schneider, Morgan Monty, Reeck and Sroka.

Fifths went to Josie Kicherer, 100 hurdles; Bleck, 300 hurdles; Abby Wheaton, 1,600; and Schneider, triple jump.

Sixths went to Haley Dearth, triple jump; and Kaitlyn Monty, 200.

<

>

Makenna Brown finished third for Iola-Scandinavia in the girls' high jump event. She also won the 400-meter dash and was on the winning 1,600-meter relay team as the Thunderbirds placed second April 13 at the seven-team Early Bird Invitational in Rosholt. Holly Neumann Photo

The I-S boys had two third-place relays in the 800 team of Will Cady, Erick Kriewaldt, Kyle Beske and Scott Van Gunten and the 1,600 team of Jalen Block, Kriewaldt, Tyler Bricco and Cady. Cady also placed third in the 300 hurdles and long jump.

Austin Buss and Noah Olson placed fifth in the shot put and triple jump, respectively, while 400 relay team of Cameron Boris, Van Gunten, Garrett Brown and Erik Grenlie placed sixth.

Drew Vandervest placed second in the 100 and third in the high jump for Weyauwega-Fremont.

Other thirds for W-F went to Kyle Loehrke, discus; the 400 relay team of Brock Brunner, Vandervest, Jacob Hablewitz and Lupe Hernandez; and the 3,200-meter relay team of Jacob Carroll, Duane Brazil, Patrick Long and Chris Strehlow.

Fourths went to Hablewitz, high jump; Justin Kempf, pole vault; Hernandez, long jump; Austin Bartel, shot put; and the 800 relay team of Trevor Fletcher, Brunner, Josue Rosas and Hernandez.

Brazil placed fifth in the 3,200, while Loehrke and Long finished sixth in the discus and 3,200, respectively.

Police say a driver claimed she crossed the centerline because she was looking at the sky.

Angela G. Jankowski, 40, Marion, was charged with a fourth OWI, obstructing an officer, operating after revocation, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shortly before 11 p.m. April 7, Marion Police Officer Bryan Hauser stopped a vehicle on Bertram Street because it crossed the centerline.

The driver, who had no license with her, was later identified as Jankowski.

Initially, however, Jankowski gave Hauser the name of a relative when he asked who she was, according to the criminal complaint.

Hauser reported Jankowski exited the vehicle and began shooting photos of the sky. She then reportedly said she drove across the centerline because she was looking at the sky at the time.

Police say Jankowski had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Eric Heinz arrived at the scene. He found a bottle of vodka and a clear cup of liquid that smelled like alcohol.

Heinz also located several prescription bottles in the center console with Jankowski’s name on the labels.

Officers reported finding a small amount of marijuana and a black glass pipe.

Frederick K. Wohlrabe, age 89, of Ogdensburg, passed away on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Theda Care Hospital in Appleton.

He was born on October 23, 1927 in Fremont, son of the late Herbert and Elcie Wohlrabe. Fred married Emily Fox and she preceded him in death in 2012. Fred worked for Northwestern Railroad in Pekin, Illinois for 30 years until his retirement. Fred and Emily enjoyed watching the turkeys and deer on his land, and also feeding the squirrels.

He is survived by his siblings: Orville Wohlrabe and Margaret Wege. He is further survived his wife Emily’s family, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond and Everette; and a sister Evelyn Greer.

A memorial service for Fred will be held at the Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Little Wolf Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. The Cline Hanson Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa is serving the family. www.clinehansondahlkefuneralhomes.com

Susan Zietlow of Scandinavia, age 66, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 13, 2017.

She was born in Iola on December 27, 1950 to the late Jesse and Florence (Trinrud) Sannes. On November 22, 1969 she married Robert Zietlow. Sue was an active member of Victory Church in Waupaca. She worked for many years in customer service. Bob and Sue worked together on their farm from 1969 until just a few years ago. Most important to Sue was her family; they came first and she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

She will be sadly missed by her husband, Robert; children: Don Zietlow of Maple Grove, MN; Dave (Vickkie) of Almond; Abbie (Jon) Grancorvitz of Marshfield; grandchildren, Sebastian and Ashley; sister, Vickie (Les) Thoe of Waupaca; brother, Gregg Sannes of Los Angelas, CA; mother-in-law, Jeanne Zietlow of Waupaca; sister-in-law, Marlyce (Jim) Jueds, nieces, nepehws, other relatives and friends.

The Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Victory Church, E3443 Appletree Lane, Waupaca, with Pastor Philip Thompson officiating. The visitation will be on Monday at the Maple Crest Funeral Home from 4 until 7 p.m. and again on Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.

Shirley A. Mielke, age 71 of Marion passed away unexpectedly on Friday evening, April 14, 2017.

Irene B. Krueger, age 96 of Clintonville, passed away Saturday afternoon, April 15, 2017 in Clintonville.

Waupaca County votes yes

By Greg Seubert

Fifty-two of Wisconsin’s 72 counties – including Waupaca – support a sandhill crane hunt in the state, according to voters attending annual spring fish and wildlife hearings April 10.

The overall vote wasn’t as lopsided, however.

According to figures from the state Department of Natural Resources, 2,349 people supported a question regarding the hunt, while 2,049 people voted no.

The question asked if voters support legislation which would give the DNR the authority to begin the process to develop a hunting season for sandhill cranes, one of two crane species found in North America.

The question passed 44-14 in Waupaca County, 23-19 in Waushara County, 88-41 in Outagamie County, 63-37 in Winnebago County and 36-14 in Shawano County. Portage County was split 76-76.

The proposal also passed in Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Rusk, St. Croix, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vilas, Washington and Wood counties.

It failed in Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Dane, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jefferson, Marquette, Milwaukee, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn and Waukesha counties.

Lafayette County also had a tie vote.

The strongest opposition to the question came in Dane and Milwaukee counties. Dane County turned down the vote 328-89, while it failed 132-46 in Milwaukee County.

A sandhill crane hunting season would require legislation to become reality. The state Legislature would have to approve a quota-based season before the DNR can develop a season.

Seventeen states currently have a hunting season for sandhills.

North America’s other crane species, the whooping crane, is an endangered species that has been reintroduced in Wisconsin. Unlike the white whooping crane, sandhills are gray and are often mistaken for a great blue heron.

Four decades of medical care in Waupaca

Peterson

After caring for Waupaca area patients for more than 40 years, Dr. Robert L. Peterson celebrated his 70th birthday in mid-March by retiring.

“I decided it was time. I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and doing all the things I enjoy, like hunting and fishing and managing our property for wildlife, and sharing those passions with my seven grandchildren,” said Peterson, who was medical director of the emergency department at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca when he retired.

As he was finishing medical school, Peterson came to Waupaca to shadow family medicine physician Jerry Salan and fell in love with the people and the area.

Dr. Salan was simply called “Dr. Jerry,” to distinguish him from his father, Sam Salan. Similarly, Dr. Peterson became “Dr. Bob” to distinguish him from the “other” Dr. Peterson in Waupaca, cardiologist Lowell Peterson.

After completing his residency in 1975, Peterson and two other new family medicine physicians, Drs. Mark Lochner and Terry Hankey, joined Dr. Salan to form Waupaca Family Medicine Associates.

During his residency, Peterson was able to incorporate surgical training and brought that knowledge to his own practice, adding laparoscopic surgeries, obstetrics including caesarean sections and other procedures.

“Being a family medicine physician has been wonderful. You get to know the people and you are not just their doctor, but their friend,” he said. “The nursing staff and others at the hospital have been wonderful to work with. My practice was large and I delivered babies of the babies I delivered. I just really enjoyed caring for my patients.”

In 1987, Peterson wanted more flexibility in his schedule to spend more time with his family, and decided to open a solo practice on the hospital campus. In 2009, Dr. Peterson sold his practice to ThedaCare.

“I was already thinking about retirement and what would happen to my patients when I retired. I wanted there to be a smooth transition for them.,” he said.

When Peterson first came to Waupaca, all of the physicians took turns working in the emergency room. Peterson, who enjoyed working part-time in the emergency room while also managing his practice, played a vital role in encouraging the hospital to hire physicians to work in that department full-time.

When ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca hired a new physician in 2010 to accommodate Peterson’s patient load, he moved full-time to the emergency department.

Audrey Rosin, a registered nurse and manager of the emergency department at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca, said Peterson was instrumental in raising the bar on safety, quality and patient satisfaction in the emergency department.

“Dr. Peterson rarely gets flustered and would keep the department moving forward no matter how busy it got. As a nurse, I have to say the most wonderful thing about him is his support for the nursing profession at ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca,” she said. “It is really special when you have a physician who empowers nurses and views them as partners and key drivers in reaching high quality care.”

Peterson said he enjoyed working in the emergency department and caring for patients with a variety of illnesses and injuries.

“Every once in a while, I would see one of my former patients come through and I would tell them that I would rather see them out in the community than in the emergency room,” he said. “That’s one of the things I enjoyed about working in Waupaca – it is a great community and you form lasting relationships with patients and you regularly see them when you are out and about.”

Rosin said Peterson will be missed.

“He has touched so many lives including patients, families, staff members and the community,” she said. “As his friend, the most wonderful thing about him is his commitment to others. The man would literally give you the shirt off his back. I know if I or my family ever needed anything he would be there at a moment’s notice.”

Looking back at his decision more than 40 years ago to move to Waupaca, Peterson said he is pleased with the outcome.

“Waupaca has been a great community to live in, raise kids in and now retire in,” he said. “I’m also appreciative of having the opportunity to work for ThedaCare. They really care about their people and care about providing patients with the best possible medical care.”

Officers found an AR-15 and a loaded 30-round magazine in the car of a man who went to prison for armed robbery.

He remains in custody on a $25,000 cash bond.

Christopher L. Dominick, 31, Stevens Point, is charged in Waupaca County with felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed knife, obstructing an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, Waupaca County Sheriff’s Deputy David Huberty intercepted a vehicle that had been under surveillance in Waupaca’s South Park. He followed it into the Holiday gas station on Badger and School streets.

The driver, later identified as Dominick, asked why he had been stopped and wanted to speak with Huberty’s supervisor.

According to the criminal complaint, when Huberty’s supervisor, Sgt. Kevin Studzinski, asked to see his driver’s license, Dominick refused.

Before exiting the vehicle, Dominick reportedly removed a knife from his pocket and placed it on the front seat.

During pat down, Studzinski reported finding a small gem bag with white residue.

Deputies also found an A-15 rifle in a case on the floor behind the driver’s seat. A loaded magazine was also found in the case, the complaint says.

A records check indicated there was an active warrant for Dominick’s arrest.

Dominick was convicted of armed robbery and burglary in 2003 in Portage County and sentenced to five years in prison.

Waupaca County sheriff’s report April 18

• April 16 – Juvenile Problem – Caller reports there is possible underage drinking at Pup’s Irish Pub in Northport.

• April 16 – Noise Complaint – Caller reports neighbors are having a party and being loud in the 1000 block of Algoma Street, New London.

• April 16 – Burglary – Caller pushed an office door, located in the 9500 block of County Trunk T, open to find the tool room broken into and tools missing.

• April 16 – Trespassing – Caller reports a truck was tearing up a field in the E7900 block of Barber Lane, Mukwa. The truck got stuck in the unplanted field and a wrecked came to pull them out.

• April 16 – Controlled Substance Problem – Caller reports a broken syringe on the ground in the N1300 block of Holmnlane Road, Dayton.

• April 16 – Vandalism – Caller reports the driver’s side door of his vehicle was keyed outside of Silver Lake Lanes, Scandinavia.

• April 16 – Theft – Caller at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, King reports that a restaurant gift certificate was either stolen or lost.

• April 16 – Threatening – Callers reports her daughter and grandchildren were recently threatened at the N7800 block of County Trunk G, Iola.

• April 16 – Fish and Game – Fish and game reported being out with a vehicle where marijuana buds and a pipe were present on Zeusky Road, Matteson.

• April 15 – Mailbox – Caller at the N11000 block of County Trunk Y, Clintonville, reports her mailbox was struck by a vehicle the previous night.

• April 15 – Mailbox – Caller at the N11000 block of Quarterline Road, Marion, reports a vehicle struck her mailbox the previous night.

• April 15 – Vandalism – Callers reports that five to seven juveniles were spray painting the old Moore-O-Matic building located at the intersection of Redfield and Oak streets in Waupaca.

• April 15 – Hit and Run – Caller in the Festival Foods parking lot in New London states a white Chevy purposely hit a parked maroon Chevy on the door.

• April 15 – Theft – A caller at the Chain One Stop Cenex in the N2400 block of County Trunk QQ, Waupaca reports a gas drive off by a hispanic male in a black Ford SUV.

• April 15 – Noise Complaint – Caller in the N1300 block of Marcia Drive, Dayton, reports loud music is coming from Holmnlane Road area and loud music was also present last weekend past 11 a.m.

• April 15 – Trespassing – Caller states he is out of town but he received a call that juveniles are in his apartment, located in the 100 block of Main Street, Waupaca, partying.

• April 15 – Utility Problem – Caller in the 300 block of East Main Street, Weyauwega, reports the strong smell of gas. WE Energies was dispatched and fixed the problem.

• April 14 – Vandalism – Caller received a phone call from his neighbor to inform him his front bay window was smash out in the 6300 block of County Trunk T in Lebanon.

• April 14 – Fraud – Caller on the 600 block of Berlin Street, Waupaca, reports he lost a few hundred dollars on a computer scam.

• April 14 – Property Damage, Not Vandalism – Caller reports a car entered a ditch on his property and is no longer there, but downed a tree and left vehicle parts on the scene located on the N2400 block of State Highway 45, New London.

• April 14 – Theft – Caller on the N2900 block of Smith Lane, Waupaca, reports a Waste Management garbage can was stolen.
• April 14 – Controlled Substance Problem – Caller at the N5600 block of State Highway 22-110, Manawa, states needles were found at the location. Needles were picked up and placed in a hazardous materials container.

• April 14 – Water Skiing – Caller at the N2200 block of Fern Avenue, Waupaca, reports water skiers on Long Lake in a beige, fiberglass boat.

• April 14 – Fraud – Caller at the 400 block of Scott Street, Waupaca, states that someone took her food stamp card and has been using it.

• April 14 – Traffic Hazard – Caller at the intersection of State Highway 49 and County Trunk P, Harrison, reports 2 inches of cow manure on the roadway.

• April 14 – Suspicious Person – Caller reports that someone left on a note on his truck on the N3200 block of Silver Lake Drive, Farmington, on a dry erase board stating that the writer knew what the caller did and if the caller harmed the writer’s children the writer would end the caller’s life.

• April 14 – Crimestoppers – A caller in Waupaca stated she has seen money and baggies exchanging hands.

April 13 – Theft – A caller reported that someone broke into his storage unit in the 7500 block of Lind Street, Fremont.

• April 13 – Theft – A caller reported that someone tampered with a padlock at his storage unit in the 7500 block of Lind Street, Fremont.

• April 13 – Theft – Caller reported two paddles and hunting stand ladders were stolen from his storage unit in the 7500 block of Lind Street, Fremont.

• April 13 – Theft – Caller reported that his storage unit was broken into, but nothing was stolen in the 7500 block of Lind Street, Fremont.

• April 13 – Disorderly Conduct – Caller from the Wisconsin Veterans Home, King, reported that two males were in an altercation, resulting in no injuries.

• April 13 – Hit and Run – Caller reported that a Lexus SUV struck his Chevy Cruze at the intersection of U.S. Highway 10 and County Trunk X, Weyauwega.

• April 13 – Suspicious Person/Circumstance – Caller in the E8800 block of Manske Road, New London reported that two people pulled into the driveway and entered the home with flashlights. Caller believes the homeowner lives in Milwaukee.

• April 12 – Theft – Caller reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on the E1800 block of Patricia Street, Waupaca, and stole a wallet and skateboard.

• April 12 – Theft – Caller on the N2600 block of Melody Lane, Waupaca, reported that someone entered his wife’s unlocked vehicle and stole loose change and four egg coloring kits.

• April 12 – Theft – Caller on the N2600 block of Chad Street, Waupaca, states his car was gone through and a phone charger and sunglasses are missing.

• April 12 – Neighbors – Caller on the N4900 block of Stoltenberg Road, Waupaca reported that a neighbor came over and threatened her husband to stop throwing beer cans and trash in the man’s lawn. The husband stated it wasn’t his, and the neighbor, who has a gun strapped to his side, said he would handle it on his own and the man would be dead.

• April 12 – Theft – Caller reported that someone entered his unlocked vehicle on the E1700 block of Amy Street, Waupaca, and stole his stereo, speakers and amplifier.

• April 10 – Theft – Caller stated that her and her fiance’s vehicles were broken into on the E900 block of Columbia Lake Drive, Waupaca and more than $300 in cash was stolen.

One injured in crash
A Waupaca man sustained minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Thursday, April 6.

At 4:55 p.m. Martin Wydeven, 72, Waupaca, was driving a 2004 Buick Rendezvous on Buchholz Road when he failed to stop at a stop sign prior to attempting a left turn onto Little River Road.

Wydeven pulled into the path of a 1996 Ford F-250, driven by Daniel Moseng, 37, Weyauwega.

Moseng struck Wydeven.

Wydeven suffered minor injuries and was cited for failure to fasten seat belt.

Open house set for April 24

By Angie Landsverk

The redevelopment plan for Waupaca’s downtown will be unveiled on Monday, April 24, during an open house at Danes Hall.

The open house will be held from 4-7 p.m. and will include a 5 p.m. presentation by RDG Planning & Design, the city’s consultant on the project.

The public is invited to attend.

“The purpose (of the open house) is to get public input on the plan. Then we will finalize the plan, which will be presented to the city for adoption,” said Brennan Kane, the city’s director of community and economic development.

The April 24 open house will be followed by gallery hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, also at Danes Hall.

People will be able to stop by during those hours and discuss the plan with the city’s staff and consultants, Kane said.

That evening, there will be a workshop at Danes Hall for the Waupaca Common Council.

Kane said the workshop is intended to be a one-on-one with the council.

“No decisions will be made that night,” he said.

The workshop will allow the Koehler family, the new owners of Danes Hall, to introduce themselves to the council, Kane said.

When Main Street is reconstructed, the city intends to shift North Main a bit to the east to realign it with Water Street.

Kane said doing so will provide a safer and more pedestrian friendly intersection.

It will also result in an opportunity for the Koehler family to develop an plaza outside their building.

The April 25 council workshop will include city staff and the consultants laying out the next three to four years of capital projects associated with Main Street and the downtown area, Kane said.

He said the council needs to provide guidance on funding levels to put toward Main Street.

The reconstruction of Main Street, from Badger to Water streets, is scheduled to begin in 2021.

The infrastructure is more than 100 years old.

In 2018, the city plans to reconstruct the parking lot behind City Hall and the public library.

Kane said the reconstruction of the parking lot will include a landscape redesign for the lawn in front of City Hall and the library.

While City Hall and the library do not front Main Street, the city’s landscaped lawn does, he said.

The city wants that area to align with the vision of the downtown plan and provide a better front door to City Hall and the library, Kane said.

“The other piece we will look at will be presenting an idea to update the park plan for Rotary Riverview Park,” he said.

That is because throughout the city’s planning process, there has been a collective vision to re-engage the Waupaca River into the city’s overall downtown feeling, Kane said.

The river came up during the city’s downtown visioning process.

That process began in early 2014, when Mayor Brian Smith recommended appointments to the city’s new Concept Planning Committee.

The committee worked with East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to develop a concept plan.

In March 2016, the city hired RDG, of Des Moines, Iowa, to develop a downtown vision and redevelopment plan as the city prepares for the reconstruction of Main Street.

Kane said the river was brought up during that planning process as well, including at last June’s design studio.

The design studio allowed people to comment on a variety of visuals that could be incorporated into the city’s plan.

Kane said some of the “design concepts for Main Street are coming from the river.”

Arts, culture
As the city prepares to unveil the downtown redesign – and the streetscape and parking that are part of it – another planning process is underway.

On April 11, about 50 people attended an arts and culture planning meeting at Danes Hall.

“It’s a continuation of last year’s arts summit,” Kane said.

Since that summit, there have been conversations about integrating arts more into the community and into the downtown development plan, he said.

The idea is not just about doing so in Waupaca, but in the region, Kane said.

“I’ve seen a lot of headway over the last year with the arts organizations,” he said.

Anne Katz, executive director of Arts Wisconsin, and Megan Matthews, coordinator of the Arts Management Program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, facilitated last week’s meeting.

Matthews said the top three skills employers will be looking for in 2020 are critical thinking, creativity and complex problem solving.

“That’s why I get excited about this,” she said.

An economy based on being creative is “the economy we live in now,” Katz said.

She said the arts are essential to economic vitality, regardless of a community’s size.

Those who attended last week’s meeting began the process of developing an arts and cultural action plan for the community.

“We will be working on the process over the next couple of months,” Katz said.

Kane said a steering committee will be created to represent the different arts groups and activities in the area.

The plan also includes having focus groups.

Kane said this planning process will work in tandem with the other efforts taking place in the city.

“The plan is only as good as the participation,” Katz said.