Clintonville center boasts high employment rates

By Erik Buchinger

Fox Valley Technical College in Clintonville released a report showing its students have a high employment rate following graduation.

The report stated that 92.5 percent of FVTC students find jobs six months after graduating from its Clintonville campus.

“What we do is look at what business and industry that is offered in region,” Director of the FVTC Clintonville Regional Center Kim Manteuffel said. “We have an advisory committee asking what they like us to have here and what their needs are. Then, we talk to the instructors and see if we can work it out.”

Manteuffel said the college is used to further students’ education in their work as well as provide more opportunities for students through education.

“We want to bring out education that is going to benefit our community,” Manteuffel said. “The hope is they’re going to continue to grow in their current position or obtain opportunities they were unable to prior to education.”

FVTC offers four degrees or diplomas at its Clintonville campus, including farm business and production management, business management, management development and nursing assistant.

Farm business and production management, a one-year technical diploma, has a job rate of 100 percent because most of the students are looking to further their education on jobs they already have.

“Those individuals are working on the farms, and they ask if they can join the program,” Manteuffel said. “Our farm program can go in and teach them decisions from business to production. A lot of those are already in the field, and we’re just going to give them instructions to help them grow their farms.”

Business management, a two-year Associate degree, has a job rate of 96 percent. The program offers a broad variety of topics, not specified to a particular field of study.

“Business management gives a wide variety,” Manteuffel said. “It provides a rounded education, so when they leave, they can go to lots of different directions. Some students realize what they like and go pursue certificate that program.”

Nursing assistant, a one-year technical diploma, has a 91 percent employment rate due to its demand in the area.

“There is a huge demand in nursing assistants in our county right now,” Manteuffel said. “Every student that comes into our program is offered multiple positions. Some may decide not to use it and go right on into nursing school, but a lot of students do. It’s a great way for students who want to get into nursing program to make sure that’s really something they’re interested in doing.”

Gauerke, Briquelet, Podgorny top grads

The hope is that the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class will be well-rounded individuals who have successfully navigated challenging academic coursework and engaged in multiple opportunities to give back to their school and community.

Iola-Scandinavia High School Principal Sara Anderson feels that Abigail Briquelet, Angela Gauerke and Brooklyn Podgorny are outstanding representatives of just that.

“Not only have they all worked hard to achieve high levels of academic success but they have also been very involved in school and community events,” Anderson said. “Whether leading a National Honor Society or Student Council fundraising event or participating in athletics and the musical, all three of these young ladies have demonstrated their commitment to being positive role-models and their willingness to serve.”

Gauerke and Briquelet will serve as Co-Valedictorians, while Podgorny will be Salutatorian for the Iola-Scandinavia graduating class of 2017.

Gauerke
Angela, the daughter of Tom and Gwendolyn Gauerke, believes that her hard work and mindset got her here.

“For me, it was about putting forth my best effort and seeing where that would take me,” she said. “I am honored that my hard work has led me to this spot.”

According to Gauerke, she has spent countless hours making flashcards, studying and researching.

“Nobody likes doing homework over the weekend or over a long break and sometimes it seems impossible to keep doing that,” she said. “That’s where a positive mindset about the future comes in. I thought that by doing my best and putting the time and effort in now, I would get where I needed to be.”

She gives credit to her mom, and sister Natalie, for being the two people who have been most influential in my academic life.

“My older sister Natalie has been one of the most influential person in my academic life,” Gauerke said. “She was valedictorian when she graduated high school and she has always been a role model to me. That was in the back of my mind. She was the one who always encouraged me to do it, and to do it well.”

While her mom served as her biggest cheerleader.

“She was always motivating and encouraging me,” Gauerke said. “Every day before I would head off to school, she would tell me to do my best. I now realize what a difference that made. I am so very thankful that these two people are in my life.”

Gauerke plans to attend the UW-LaCrosse in the fall, where she is considering majoring in Business Administration.

“I have really enjoyed all the math courses I’ve taken in high school, but I don’t think that a math major is the thing for me,” she said. “I figure that something in the business world will allow me to work with some numbers while providing a service to others.”

She admits she is a little nervous moving forward.

“I am so excited to meet new people and be in a completely different environment, but at the same time that is what scares me,” she said. “I’ve only known Iola and La Crosse is going to be a whole new experience for me.”

She offers this advice to underclassmen.

“High school may seem like the worst four years of your life,” she said. “If you do the best you can, your future will be that much brighter.”

Gaurke will share the honor of Valedictorian with Abigail Briquelet.

“I feel extremely excited to be sharing this honor with my fellow classmate, and dear friend, Abigail Briquelet,” she said. “Throughout high school, we have pushed each other. Now, we can both look back at our years of hard work and smile, knowing that we’ve made it together.”

Briquelet
For Abigail Briquelet, being valedictorian means an end to an era of incredibly hard work.

“It means being able to inspire others to work hard,” she said. “It proves to myself that I am capable of achieving my goals, no matter how unattainable they appear.”

According to her, as soon as she got started high school she strived to be valedictorian.

“I didn’t know what all it would take, but I felt I owed it to myself to at least try,” she said.

“Over the past four years it was that initial goal that I set that has continued to propel me forth.”

The daughter of Kathy and Chris Briquelet, she plans to attend UW-Madison in the fall, with the intent of then going on to law school.

“My major is currently undeclared, but I am looking at pursuing a degree in either political science, environmental studies, psychology or cconomics,” she said. “I chose this path so that I may advocate for those that don’t have a voice.”
With a law degree she hopes to practice either environmental or civil rights law.

“Through the many opportunities that I have had, I have seen the problems that our world as a whole faces,” she said. “I feel that by going into one of these fields I will be able to, no matter how small, negate the amount of pain that is felt throughout the world today.”

Moving forward she is excited to see what impact she will have.

“I am nervous about the unknowns the future holds,” she said. “But I cannot wait to see the people that I will meet and the places throughout the world I will get to see.”

Going on from Iola-Scandinavia she will never forget the importance of hard work and empathy.

“It is these things that have built the person that I am, and the education that I have received, and to abandon them would be to abandon what has defined me,” she said. “Without a doubt I will miss the people that I have spent the last four years with. They have all contributed significantly to my experience in this place, and to no longer see many of them will be a great loss.”

She couldn’t be happier to share the role of Valedictorian with classmate Angela Gauerke.

“I believe that by having multiple valedictorians we are sending a message to all the younger students that being valedictorian is possible, that hard work really does have rewards,” she said.

“To finish off my high school career with somebody that has been so instrumental in my success, who has been through the ups and downs, makes the experience even more gratifying.”

Podgorny
Brooklyn Podgorny, daughter of Michael and Destiny Podgorny, says she was surprised to learn that she was the Salutatorian.

“To be completely honest, I was not expecting this at all,” she said. “At the beginning of senior year when I found out I was ranked third in my class I was pretty surprised. It has always been important to me to try my hardest to get A’s, but I never thought that it was bring me to this.”

Podgorny recalled a time last year when her parents questioned why she was always working on homework.

“They would always say, ‘Brooklyn, how can you possibly have so much homework?’” she said. “It wasn’t that I had a lot of homework all the time, it was that I always wanted to do the best that I could so it took me a long time.”

She plans on attending UW-Stevens Point in the fall where she will major in early childhood education.

“I chose UWSP because I am one who likes to stay close to home,” she said. “I chose early childhood education because I have always loved working with kids.”

Though she is excited about what the future holds, she too is a little nervous moving forward.

“I am most excited about meeting new people,” she said. “I am scared to see how the workload is in college. I hope my high school teachers prepared me enough.”

Podgorny credits I-S High School language arts teacher Terrell Bonnell for being the one person that has influenced her the most.

“I have had her since I was a sophomore and she has always pushed me to be the best I can be,” she said. “Speech wasn’t easy, but she always kept pushing and helping me.”

She is going to miss the teachers at Iola-Scandinavia the most.

“As much as some of teachers make me mad, I really am going to miss them,” she said. “Just the way I interact with some of my teachers is going to be hard not having in college.”

Reierson, Hass ready for new challenges

The top of the class at Little Wolf Junior/Senior High School in Manawa are looking back fondly while also being excited for what the future brings.

Haley Reierson, valedictorian, is excited to continue her education at UW Oshkosh, and hopes to obtain a degree in elementary education.

“I want to be a teacher because there’s so many teachers that have impacted my life and I want to do that for other people,” Reierson said. “But I really enjoy being with children, so I think it would be a good fit.”

Reierson called a teaching opportunity in Food for America through FFA one of her favorite moments of high school.

The program involves FFA members going to a farm and teaching visiting third graders about food and agriculture.

“We had the best weather ever last year and it was just fun being on the farm and spending time with kids teaching them while you are having fun,” she said.

Reierson, whose parents are Carla and John, will graduate with a 3.99 GPA. She took AP Calculus, CAP English and a medical terminology course through Fox Valley Technical College.

Aside from FFA, her other extracurricular activities include, volleyball, basketball, softball, track, student council, National Honor Society and Friends of Rachel. She captained volleyball and basketball and held three different officer positions in FFA.

Her commencement ceremony counterpart is Ethan Hass, salutatorian.

Hass, whose parents are Lori and Rodney, will graduate with a 3.92 GPA. He plans to attend UW Madison in the fall and start work on a two-year agriculture program.

After graduation he wants to come back and work on the family dairy farm.

“I live on a farm and I love working on the farm,” Hass said. “I like how there’s always something to do and I’m never bored.”

Like Reierson, one of Hass’s favorite high school memories comes from the FFA.

Last year he competed in a statewide FFA competition for tractor driving. The event tested his operator of the vehicle, along with a written test and mechanical problem diagnosis.

Hass’s other extra-curricular activities include football, basketball, track and National Honor Society.

This year his 4 x 100 team took third at state. He also captained for all teams throughout his high school career.

After high school graduation he said he is excited about “Learning more about agriculture and how to improve our farm.”

Manawa graduation is from 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, May 26, in the school gym, located at 515 E. Fourth St., Manawa.

Mathwig, Gilbert to speak at commencement

The two students graduating at the top of Weyauwega-Fremont High School’s Class of 2017 grew up together.

Both went to Fremont Elementary and in high school, took challenging courses, participated in countless extracurricular activities and also found time to volunteer and work.

They attend the same church and are close friends.

Jenna Mathwig is this year’s valedictorian, and Kimberly Gilbert is the salutatorian.

Jenna Mathwig
Mathwig, the daughter of Thomas and Kelly Mathwig, finished last semester with a cumulative 4.274 weighted grade point average.

“I’ve been taking weighted classes and AP classes since sophomore year,” she said. “This year, there’s probably only one or two classes that are not weighted, AP or college.”

Outside of the classroom, Mathwig participated in athletics and numerous extracurricular activities.

“I tried a little bit of everything except golf and softball,” she said of the sports she played.

Mathwig played volleyball and basketball and is on the track team.

She is a member of National Honor Society and FFA.

This year, Mathwig is the president of W-F’s FFA chapter.

She participated in the school plays and musicals, was on the Math Team and the committees for prom and homecoming and also served as a Badger Girl State representative.

Much of her volunteer work in the community is related to her involvement in FFA and the church she attends, Hope United Church of Christ.

Mathwig has volunteered at a warming shelter, Food for America, Adopt a Highway, the Wisconsin State Fair and more.
She also worked seasonal jobs at Mathwig Excavating, Anchor Point Marina and Hotel Fremont.

In the fall, Mathwig will head to the University of Georgia in Athens, where she plans to be a premedicine major.

“I foolishly only applied to out-of-state schools,” she said.

She did so for several reasons.

Mathwig wants to study abroad and in the future, travel for her work.

She wants to do mission trips to Africa.

“I don’t want to be tied down,” she said. “I knew if I stayed in Wisconsin, I would stay (after college).”

Mathwig is also a triplet.

Her sister, Maddy, and her brother, Gus, will attend colleges in the state.

“I’ve always had someone there I could rely on,” Mathwig said. “I need to be my own person.”

She has family in Georgia, including an uncle who is soon retiring from the university she will attend.

Mathwig is particularly interested in genetics.

“I want to do cancer, epidemiology research,” she said.

When asked who impacted her the most, Mathwig said her parents and her uncle in Georgia did.

That uncle always told her to “treat people like they matter.”

When her father was diagnosed with Lyme Disease a few years ago, he did not let it stop him, she said.

“He always does what he says,” Mathwig said. “He’s always told me, ‘Your actions speak for you.’”

Of her mother, Mathwig said, “She knows what she wants, and she will get it. I admire her for that.”

What Mathwig learned most growing up in Fremont was that “you can work very hard. You can do everything great, but there’s always going to be someone who people like better, someone better than you, someone who has an in. If you work hard and keep going, things will happen.”

Kimberly Gilbert
Gilbert, the daughter of Douglas and Susan Gilbert, completed the past semester with a cumulative 4.139 weighted grade point average.

She took numerous weighted, AP and college classes during high school.

Gilbert’s extracurricular involvement included FFA, student council, National Honor Society, Math Team, Morals and Ethics and the prom and homecoming committees.

“Through NHS, I tutor high school students with whatever help they need,” she said.

She played volleyball and softball and was on the track team.

Gilbert was also in the high school’s play this school year and was a Badger Girl State alternate.

The past two years, she was a member of the honors band.

As a member of Hope United Church of Christ, Gilbert has volunteered in a variety of ways, including at homeless shelters, community dinners and a daycare.

“Ever since eighth grade, I always worked at the VFW Tent, at the Iola Car Show,” she said. “I have helped park planes at the Greenville airport for EAA.”

Much of her other involvement in the community centers around being a member of FFA.

That has included working at Breakfast on the Farm, Fourth Grade Conservation Day and Ag Olympics.

Gilbert helped with the student council blood drives and with testing the water of Lake Weyauwega.

In addition, she has worked at Gala Resort, Anchor Point Marina and Hahn-A-Lula Resort & Supper Club.

Next fall, Gilbert will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she plans to be a premedicine major.

She recently decided to attend UW-Madison after also considering Marquette University and St. Norbert College.

“Almost my entire immediate family has worked in the medical field,” she said in regard to her decision to be a premed major.

Gilbert is interested in becoming a surgeon.

“I’d like to go into surgery. I really enjoy helping people,” she said. “That’s why I like doing community service – the whole aspect of caring for people.”

There is also another reason for her interest in the medical field.

She broke her right arm three different times.

Gilbert said many people have inspired her.

“My entire family has influenced me throughout my life, and so have my friends and my teachers especially,” she said.

Gilbert also spoke about her friendship with Mathwig.

They sought advice from each other through the years, and both excelled in the classroom.

“She always pushed me. I knew I couldn’t catch her, but I was always right there with her, right behind her,” Gilbert said.”

The two of them went through much together and spent summers hanging out together.

As for what growing up in the Fremont area taught her, Gilbert said. “You honestly have no idea what anyone else is going through. Treat people like you want to be treated.”

Gilbert said people should not let the judgment of others affect them.

“You can go past boundaries,” she said. “Always keep strong bonds with your friends and families.”

Four valedictorians, one salutatorian selected

Four valedictorians and one salutatorian will participate in Waupaca High School’s commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 28. in the gym.

Micaela Porod, Max Menzies, Robert Durfee and Larkin Hooker-Moerich are the valedictorians. Ryan Dayton is the salutatorian.

Micaela Porod
Porod plans to attend the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she will major in art and pre-med.

She said she wants to go to medical school while staying involved in the art community.

Porod is an award-winning artist whose work has appeared at the Waupaca Community Art Center, the Waupaca Art Show and the local library.

Porod has taken Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history, psychology, biology, statistics and calculus AB.

Her extracurricular activities included Art Club, Forensics, National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, band and soccer, where she was a captain on the JV team.

When asked what she most appreciated about Waupaca High School, Porod mentioned the variety of activities offered.

“The staff is always very supportive of our decisions, our activities,” she said.

Ryan Dayton
Dayton plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and major in secondary education.

“I plan to teach middle school or high school in the Waupaca area,” Dayton said.

Dayton has taken AP classes in English, communications, English 101 and statistics.

A pitcher for the Comets, Dayton has played baseball for Waupaca for four years. basketball for four years and Saturday morning baseball for three years. He is also a member of Spanish Club.

He said he most appreciates the extracurricular activities and the nice people at Waupaca High School.

Max Menzies
Menzies plans to attend the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and major in mechanical engineering.

He hopes to attend graduate school and “find a job that’s not too far away from this area.”

Menzies’ AP classes included statistics, physics, calculus AB and calculus BC.

“They offer a lot of opportunity for harder classes, like AP or CAP courses,” Menzies said. “You can push yourself as hard as you wish for your own education.”

A member of NHS and student council, Menzies played baseball and hockey for four years, has been captain on the hockey team, and a football player for three years.

Robert Durfee
Durfee plans to major in computer science and electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

After college, Durfee said he would like to launch a startup or work as cryotologic analyst for the CIA or NSA.

His AP classes included calculus AB, calculus BC, physics 1, physics 2, chemistry, statistics, American literature, communications and U.S. history.

In addition to being captain of the debate team and co-president of student council, Durfee has been a member of NHS, the math team, Solo and Ensemble, pit orchestra, jazz ensemble, the golf team and Forensics.

He has won District and State first-place awards in Solo and Ensemble, Michigan Tech Summer Program, acceptance into the Stanford Summer Academy and two-time consecutive state champion with Dakota Marlega in WHSFA Debate.

He is a National Merit Scholarship finalist and award recipient.

“The staff was really flexible with different paths you could take throughout high school,” Durfee said.

Larkin Hooker-Moericke
Hooker-Moericke plans to attend Michigan Technological Univeristy in Stoughton and major in chemical engineering.

After college she would like to work in cosmetic or food production.

She has taken AP classes in calculus AB, calculus BC, statistics, physics 1, chemistry, U.S. history and Spanish.

A member of student council for four years, Hooker-Moericke served as co-president her senior year.

Her other extracurricular activities have included four years with SADD (two as co-resident), two years in National Honor Society (one as co-president), FFA and 4-H with expertise in horses, Badger Girls State, Michigan Tech Summer Program, three years in soccer (one as captain), four years in curling, two years in Spanish National Honor Society, three years in pit orchestra, three years on the math team and one year on the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support committee.

Hooker-Moericke has also been a member of the city of Waupaca Parks and Recreation Board for four years and served with Young Neighbors in Action for two years.

City forms economic development team

By Angie Landsverk

The city of Waupaca will now use a team approach for economic development.

This group will be called the Development Review Team and will include City Administrator Henry Veleker, Development Director Brennan Kane, Director of Public Works Justin Berrens and Finance Director Kathy Kasza.

In cases of historic preservation, Scott Christie, the chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, will be added to the discussion.

If it involves information technology, Josh Werner, the city’s IT and community media director, will be brought in for it.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” Mayor Brian Smith said when he announced the move at the end of the May 16 common council meeting.

In addition to the team being tasked with economic development efforts, its topics may include some planning and zoning, he said.

Smith talked to Veleker and Kane about moving in this direction.

“It should improve response time for development requests,” the mayor said. “We will be proactive instead of reactive.”
Smith wants to improve the city’s image.

He wants the city to be seen as welcoming, having an open door and doing whatever it can to help others be successful – if it fits into the city’s plan.

Time will be set aside twice a week for the team to discuss economic development in the community.

Veleker will be the team’s lead, and Kane will develop the calendar and agendas.

Smith said Kane will continue to handle development agreements and put together development terms.

“Brennan’s office will continue to take development requests, permits, be the lead for planning and zoning, when it is something that fits within the zoning code,” Smith said.

When there is a need for discussion, the matter will go to the team, so “decisions are not just being made by one person,” he said.

In addition to Veleker leading the team, he will be the person people meet with for economic development, Smith said.

He said the team will also be tasked with making sure the city’s zoning plan fits the city today.

“We have had some controversy in some zoning issues because we have an outdated plan,” Smith said.

Filling buildings on Main and Churchill streets, as well as the former Churny plant, vacant land and the industrial parks will be the priorities, he said.

Smith said if something makes sense for the whole team, as well as the council, the city will want to move forward with it.

Members of the council said it is a good idea, and Smith credited Veleker and Kane for coming up with the details.

When Ald. Dave Peterson questioned how these four staff members will squeeze this additional time into their schedules, Smith said. “This isn’t open for discussion.”

The mayor said he believes one of the most important things the city does is economic development.

Kane said this move will streamline the process “so everyone is at the table at the same time.”

Veleker said it will create efficiencies and improve communication between the departments.

“Think of it as a customer service approach,” Veleker said. “We can get development in front of the departments.”

One of the group’s first tasks will be to come up with a working group to study first-floor residential housing in the downtown district.

“We want people to know that Waupaca is open for business,” the mayor said.

Downtown feedback
Before Smith announced this new direction for economic development, some downtown business owners expressed their concerns about Main Street.

They did so during the public input portion of the council meeting.

Anita Olsen owns Embellishments on North Main Street.

The business has been located there for 16 years.

Olsen listed the businesses that have come and gone during that time, including Mid-life Cycle, Jonny Salsa, Uptown Pizza, Book World, Passport Travel, Edgewood Arts and Waupaca Tattoo Company.

There are nine empty storefronts on North Main, Olsen said.

She said a number of the current businesses on the street are owned by older people, and she hopes the city looks positively at creating a retail/arts community downtown.

Michele Drake and her husband, Tim, own Lucky Tree on North Main Street.

She is also the chair of the Waupaca, King and In Between retailer’s group.

Drake said a lot of people attended the May 16 council meeting not only to support the project a couple wants to do downtown but to also encourage the city to find ways to bring businesses into Waupaca.

That project involves a request to allow residential housing on a floor other than the second floor.

“We are concerned about the empty buildings,” Drake said. “We hope we can work with the city and council to explore what options we have to make Waupaca as best as we can.”

John Skyrms and his wife, Deb, have lived here the last 12 years.

For more than 20 years, they have owned buildings in historic downtowns, including in Neenah’s district.

He commended the city of Waupaca for its vision of recognizing the need to invest in its downtown.

Skyrms said he is a strong advocate for people of all socioeconomic groups to live in downtowns.

“If you have people willing to invest in your downtown, the community needs to welcome them, support them and encourage them,” he said.

Both men in 2016 killing now face prison

The second of two men involved in the April 11, 2016 death of Matthew Pagel near Clintonville has been convicted.

Zachary Hohn, 17, Tigerton, entered a plea of no contest to first-degree reckless homicide Tuesday, May 23.

He had been slated for a jury trial, starting June 12.

Hohn and Adam Ozuna, 25, Bear Creek, were both initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide and faced life in prison if convicted.

Ozuna also pleaded no contest to the lesser reckless-homicide charge on March 27.

Both defendants could now serve a maximum of 60 years of a bifurcated sentence. That means 45 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision.

Ozuona is scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday, May 30. Hohn’s sentencing is set for Aug. 25.

“When someone takes a life there is no amount of time that will make the victim’s family whole,” Waupaca County District Attorney Veronica Isherwood said. “Matthew Pagel no longer has a life and his family must live out their days without him.

“Homicide is the most heinous crime someone can commit and the behavior of Zachary Hohn showed utter disregard for Matthew’s life. There is no sentence that is long enough to adequately punish this defendant,” Isherwood said.

Pagel was 25 years old when his body was found in a ditch along Airport Road near Clintonville.

Investigators were unable to identify the body for several hours until Pagel’s mother called Clintonville police to report that he was missing. Her description matched that of the body.

Pagel’s roommate at the Clintonville Motel told investigators she last saw Pagel at 11:50 p.m. April 10, just before she left for work.

She also said she received a text message from Pagel indicating he was meeting with Adam Martinez, which police say is an alias used by Adam Ozuna, in order to buy Adderall.

Police say Ozuna and Hohn picked up Pagel at the motel, attempted to rob him, killed him in the ensuing fight, then dumped the body.

The two men also took Pagel’s cellphone, jacket and $200 in cash, which were later turned over to the police as evidence.

Little Wolf seeks to join municipal court

The town of Little Wolf will start the process of joining a municipal court in order to crack down on traffic violations.

At a meeting of the Committee to Work with Little Wolf Wednesday, May 24, Manawa and Little Wolf mutually agreed this is the first step to issue citations on a problematic road.

The issue that will ultimately be addressed is on County Yard Road.

During the meeting, Manawa Mayor John Smith said he received numerous calls from the few residents on that road regarding speeding, cutting corners and not obeying the stop sign.

“With County Yard Road, the county will not touch that. They will not write a citation. That’s why we need a municipal court – because it’s a town ordinance for a six-ton weight limit,” Little Wolf Clerk Jackie Beyer said.

The town would need to join Manawa, Iola, Marion and Clintonville in Northern Waupaca County Joint Municipal Court.

From there, it can work with Manawa on having police officers patrol the road and issue citations for violations. Those violations would then go to the municipal court.

Beyer said 10 hours a week would be a good starting point, but that number could increase or decrease once word gets out about violators facing citations.

“If there’s a couple citations written, and I speak of one particular, then word gets out quickly and then people don’t want to pay them,” Beyer said.

Currently, one half of County Yard Road sits in Manawa, and the other half sits in the town of Little Wolf.

Once the town has completed the process of joining the municipal court, then the groups will meet and discuss more particulars relating to compensation for the Manawa Police Department.

Johnson goes the distance

By Greg Seubert

Iola-Scandinavia needed an extra inning to advance to the second round of the WIAA softball tournament.

The fourth-seeded Thunderbirds came up with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning May 24 to hand fifth-seeded Phelps/Three Lakes a 1-0 loss in a Division 4 regional matchup.

The T-Birds will play the winner of the May 25 game between No. 1 Shiocton and No. 8 Crandon Friday, May 26, for a regional championship.

If Shiocton beats Crandon, the game will be played in Shiocton. If Crandon wins, the game will be played in Iola.

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Iola-Scandinavia's Bryanna Kisting tags Phelps/Three Lakes' Macy Sowinski for an out at second base May 24 in a WIAA Division 4 regional in Iola. Holly Neumann Photo

Police say a woman started shooting a heroin-meth cocktail as they arrested her and a friend.

Olivia C. Wiskerchen, 27, Waupaca, is charged with illegal entry into a locked building, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia from a May 13 incident.

She is also charged with possession of narcotics, illegal possession of prescription drugs, theft and misdemeanor bail jumping from a May 20 incident.

Wiskerchen’s friend, Nathan G. Buss, 31, Black Creek, is charged in Waupaca County with illegal entry into a locked building and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On the morning of May 13, the owner of Quality Auto Body in Waupaca found a man and a woman sleeping on a couch when he opened his shop.

They said they needed a place to sleep and left.

When Waupaca Police Officer Wesley Zube spoke to the auto shop owner, he recognized the couple from a complaint the previous night. Police had been called out to a home because Wiskerchen and Buss were no longer welcome there.

Later, police arrested the couple at the Big Squirt laundromat on West Fulton Street.

While Waupaca Police Officers Zube and Thomas Grant were focused on handcuffing an apparently reluctant Buss, Officer Nicole Hahn noticed that Wiskerchen had a syringe in her hand.

Zube reported, “I asked Wiskercechen why she would shoot up right in front of the police and Wiskerchen stated, ‘You guys were going to find it anyways so I might as well.’”

According to the criminal complaint, Wiskerchen told the officers that she injected herself with a mixture of heroin and meth.

Police reported finding prescription pills and three used syringes in Wiskerchen’s possession.

At approximately 4 a.m. on May 20, Waupaca County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Tower Mobil on Royalton Street.

Deputy Kyle Wiskirchen spoke with a clerk who said a man and a woman came into the store after pumping gas into their car.

After the man paid for the gas, he began piling merchandise, including cell phone chargers as well as food, on the counter. He attempted to pay for it with a Wisconsin food share card, but the clerk said the store did not accept that form of payment.

The man, identified as Buss, returned the merchandise and left the store.

The woman, identified as Wiskerchen, went into the bathroom, where she remained for an estimated 20 minutes. The clerk called 911.

Deputy Wiskirchen inspected the bathroom and found two cell phone chargers in the waste bin beside the toilet and an empty package for a charger in the garbage can.

The deputy also found a large amount of wet, wadded paper towels in the garbage can and on the bathroom floor.

When the deputy searched Wiskerchen, he reported finding a bag with several needles in her left sweatshirt pocket and a cellophane bag with two prescription pills.

Jail staff later found two chargers concealed in Wiskerchen’s bra.

Paula S. Sengstock, age 63, of Neenah, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.

Paula was born on March 29, 1954 in Clintonville as the daughter of the late Henry and Suzanne (Swanke) Sengstock. She graduated from Clintonville High School in 1972 and went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Computer Programming from Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. Paula then worked for Appleton Medical Center, now Thedacare Medical Center – Appleton, for a short time before settling at Secura Insurance Company in Appleton. Paula loved working for Secura for the last 37 or so years until her recent retirement and considered all of her co-workers there to be her second family. She even went back to school at Lakeland College to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Programming. Paula self-proclaimed to be the world’s biggest Packer’s fan and was a supporter of the Olympics; especially when it came to figure skating. She had a great sense of humor and was very clever and wry. Paula also looked forward to casino trips with Judy where she enjoyed a good game of bingo and liked to play the slot machines. She also enjoyed reading, traveling, babysitting her sister’s dogs, and volunteering as a “Big Sister” mentoring youth. Paula was a devoted daughter and a loving sister and a spectacular aunt.

Survivors include her siblings: Stephen (Cathy) Sengstock, Shawano; Karen (Sam) Schultz, Shiocton; Judy Sengstock; Shawano; and Robert (Karen) Sengstock, Kaukauna; nieces and nephews: Peter (Elie) Sengstock, Patrick Sengstock, Travis Schultz, Laney Schultz, Kathy (Bart) Larson, Dr. Sarah Sengstock, Paul Sengstock, and Scott Sengstock. Paula was preceded in death by her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Paula on Friday, May 26, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the St. Rose Catholic Church in Clintonville with Rev. Jack Mullarkey and Deacon Lincoln Wood officiating. Interment will follow at the Graceland Cemetery in Clintonville. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting her family with the arrangements. www.eberhardtstevenson.com

Mildred J. True, age 86 of Clintonville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, May 24, 2017 at St. Joseph Residence, New London.

Mildred Jane True was born January 6, 1931 in Neillsville, WI, daughter to the late Elmer and Frances (Wilm) Erickson. She attended school in Granton, WI and graduated from high school there. She was united in marriage to Jack L. True at Pleasant Ridge Methodist Church in Neillsville, WI on July 1, 1950. The couple settled in the Madison area where they started a family; three years later, the young family moved to Clintonville. Mildred found work at the John Dahl Veterinary Office; later she managed the Clintonville Veterinary Office for 25 years until retirement. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church, Clintonville, where she was involved with the UW Methodist Women as well as Circle. Mildred loved to travel. She enjoyed short trips with everyone for family vacations, but also had the opportunity to go to places like: Hawaii, Alaska, and even Germany. Her hobbies included playing bridge with her friends; and she also loved birds, especially Cardinals. Mildred will be remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Survivors include: daughter, Barbara (Steve Balke) Balke, Clintonville; sons, Rodney J. (Patty) True, Libertyville, IL; Michael J. True, Neillsville, WI; grandchildren: Scott (Kari) Balke, Steven (Lauren) True, Timothy (Lisa) Balke, Kyle True, Kelly True, Kurt Balke, Cory True, and Douglas (Megan) True; great-grandchildren: Dayne and Daelyn Balke, Sebastian and Sophia Balke, and Addison and Ava True; and a sister, Doris Braatz. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack; five brothers and one sister.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Clintonville with the Rev. Jill Meyer officiating. Inurnment will take place at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends may call on Saturday at the church from 9 AM until the time of the service. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville has been entrusted with her arrangements. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

Highway maintenance truck rear-ended on U.S. 10

A county worker was injured Thursday morning when a car rammed into the attenuator behind a highway truck.

According to Waupaca County Sheriff’s Deputy Traci LaBrosse, a county truck was stopped in the left westbound lane of U.S. Highway 10 near Fremont for road work.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., a westbound car in the left lane attempted unsuccessfully to merge into the right lane.

Instead the vehicle rear-ended the attenuator, which is a device mounted to the backs of highway work trucks to protect road crews.

The car then went into the north ditch and started smoking.

Fremont firefighters were called to the scene.

LaBrosse reported that the car was speeding through the posted work zone and the front driver’s side tire was blown and bald.

The county worker was transported by ambulance to ThedaCare Medical Center in Waupaca and later released.

The driver of the car was not injured.

No names have been released  yet. The crash remains under investigation.

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Taylor Giefer picked up the win on the mound for Waupaca May 23 in the Comets' 12-3 WIAA Division 2 regional win over Xavier. Greg Seubert Photo

Comets win opener over Xavier

By Greg Seubert

After winning its first WIAA state tournament game since 2014, the season is over for the Waupaca softball team.

Waupaca opened state tournament play May 23 with a 12-3 win over Xavier in a Division 2 regional, but dropped a 5-1 decision the following day to Freedom.

Freedom 5, Waupaca 1
Abby Cardew’s three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning snapped a 1-1 tie.

Miranda Brunner and Victoria Nowak each had two of Waupaca’s seven hits, while Cardew had three hits to lead the top-seeded Irish.

Waupaca 12, Xavier 3
A seven-run fifth inning helped the eighth-seeded Comets knock off the ninth-seeded Hawks.

Kat Otter-Giese and Caroline Ogden had three hits and drove in seven of Waupaca’s runs. Nowak, Mya Johannes, Markie Ash and Cadie Ash also had two hits for Waupaca.

Taylor Giefer held the Hawks to one run in the second inning and two in the fifth.

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Rick and Tammy Wolter bought this former hair salon at 112 N. Main St. and have ideas to convert it into a live/work space. Angie Landsverk Photo

Street-level residences considered

By Angie Landsverk

A group is being established in the city of Waupaca to study the idea of allowing first-floor residential housing downtown.

The common council unanimously approved the idea when it met on May 16.

“It will be a semi ad hoc committee. It will be a working group,” said Mayor Brian Smith.

The group is expected to make a recommendation to the city’s Plan Commission in July.

Smith said 60 days is “pretty aggressive.”

While it is a zoning issue, it is also about economic development, the mayor said.

He said it might help bring more businesses downtown.

“We have to make sure it is right for the city and right for the downtown area,” Smith said. “We have to do our due diligence as we go through the whole process.”

Residential housing on Main Street has been a topic of discussion the past two months for the city’s Plan Commission.

“My department has received a couple requests from downtown business owners about the possibility of having residential on the first floor,” said Brennan Kane, the city’s community and economic development director.

Under the city’s current ordinance, residential housing must be on the second floor in the city’s Central Business District.
There are a few single-story buildings on Main Street.

The former hair salon Rick and Tammy Wolter recently bought at 112 N. Main St. is one of them.

The couple wants to turn the building into a live/work situation.

She is an artist and wants to have about 750 square feet of retail space on the Main Street level.

The couple wants to create a living space on the back side, which faces Cooper Street, as well as a studio in the lower level.

They noticed the building while wandering down Main Street in January.

The Wolters were looking for space to rent when they discovered this building was in foreclosure.

Building a second story on the building for residential to comply with the city’s current ordinance is cost prohibitive for them.

She believes the Cooper Street side of Waupaca has “amazing potential” and said they have met a few neighbors.

“There is some living happening back there on other levels,” she said. “We need further input before we move forward.”

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Members of the Weyauwega-Fremont School Board and the district's administrative team are among those scooping up a bit of sand during the May 22 groundbreaking. Angie Landsverk Photo

School construction project underway

By Angie Landsverk

The Weyauwega-Fremont School District celebrated the upcoming start of its building and improvement project with words, music and confetti.

The groundbreaking took place outside the high school on Monday, May 22.

Community members, students and staff gathered there as District Administrator Scott Bleck welcomed them and extended his appreciation to the community for its support of the project.

Representatives from Miron Construction Company, the construction manager for the project, as well as from the architectural firm ATS&R also attended.

Bleck called the groundbreaking a “celebration of success and the future opportunities which will take place over the next year and a half in the district.”

The first phase of the project, which will include mechanicals, is set to begin Monday, June 5.

Steve Lenz, the project superintendent, said the bulk of the work will begin in August, when the additions to the high school will start to be constructed.

Some of the interior remodeling will begin in June, he said.

Last November, voters in the school district approved spending up to $21 million on a building and improvement program.

The approved referendum includes a $339,432 project at Fremont Elementary and $20.6 million in improvements and additions at W-F High School.

The additions at the high school will include a a new secure entry, four new classrooms for science, a 400-seat auditorium and a multipurpose gym.

The estimated completion date for the project is the fall of 2018.

“I’m just excited to get started on it,” Lenz said.

Doug Ehrenberg, the president of the school board, said the children of the school district will see the positive effects of the approved referendum.

“Thank you for making education a priority of this community,” he said.

Bleck said the project will touch numerous areas of the high school.

The school community appreciates the commitment and support for the upcoming transformation of the high school, he said.

When the school board met for its regular meeting that same evening, Bleck said, “I don’t think people will really understand what it means until they walk through the door.”

Kisting to defend two titles

By Greg Seubert

Erika Kisting will have a chance to defend her state track championships from last year.

The Iola-Scandinavia junior is one of several area athletes that have qualified for the WIAA State Track & Field Meet, set for Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Kisting won the girls’ Division 3 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at last year’s state meet and won both events May 25 at the Rosholt Sectional. She has the fastest qualifying time at state in the 3,200 and the second-fastest in the 1,600.

Besides qualifying for state in both distance races, she will also join teammates Leighten Fischer, Makenna Brown and Jada Beacom on the Thunderbirds’ 1,600-meter relay team.

Fischer also qualified for state in three individual events after placing second in Rosholt in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles and third in the 100-yard dash.

Manawa also qualified a boys’ relay team for state, as Zach Kreklow, Brett Zielke, Ethan Hass and Bo Koehn teamed up to place fourth in the 800-meter relay race.

Wild Rose also had a big day in Rosholt, with several individuals and relay teams heading to La Crosse.

They include Ashley Caswell, first, 100, and second, 200-meter dash; Maya Dix, first, long jump, and third, triple jump; Candice Milne, fourth, 400-meter dash and 800-meter run; David Lauritzen, third, triple jump; Mike Fitzgerald, fourth, 110-meter hurdles; the girls- 800-meter relay team of Caswell, Dix, Olivia Jenkinson and Olivia Bennot, first; the boys’ 800 relay team of Paul Hernandez, Lauritzen, Friday and Nolan Jenkinson, second; the boys’ 3,200-meter relay team of Friday, Jacob Lund, William Dorsett and Hayden Schwartzman, second; the girls’ 400-meter relay team of Addy Lauritzen, Jenkinson, Bennot and Dix, third; and the boys’ 1,600 relay team of Friday, Hernandez, Lauritzen and Schwartzman, third.

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Manawa's boys' 800-meter relay team of Bo Koehn, Ethan Hass, Zach Kreklow and Brett Zielke placed fourth May 25 at the Rosholt Sectional with a time of 1:34.42. The foursome have advanced to the WIAA State Track & Field Meet, set for Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, in La Crosse. Holly Neumann Photo

Division 2 qualifiers out of the Freedom Sectional include Weyauwega-Fremont’s Becky Schroeder, first in the high jump; Amherst’s Josh Cisewski, first in the triple jump; and Clintonville’s Allysin Booth and Kara Pyatskowit, first in the 100-meter hurdles and 1,600, respectively.

Hortonville qualified two individuals and a relay team out of the Division 1 Ashwaubenon Sectional, held at St. Norbert College in De Pere.

Hannah Lohrenz, Claire Van Beek, Alyssa Rafuse and Steph Jarvis placed second in the girls’ 3,200 relay race, while Nathan Lichtfuss placed second in the 800 and Dean Kuettel was third in the pole vault.

Waupaca celebrates Father’s Day at the airport

Waupaca Lions will host a Fly-in/Drive-in Father’s Day pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 18, at the Waupaca Municipal Airport.

The event will include a bake sale, raffle tickets and an opportunity to view the airplanes.

Funds raised help support Wisconsin Lions Camp for children with disabilities, leader dog schools, eye bank substations, glasses for those in need, Waupaca Special Olympics, Wisconsin Society for Prevention of Blindness, Wisconsin School for the Deaf, scholarships, Tomorrow’s Children and other charitable programs.

Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children and free for children under age 6.

Breakfast is also free for licensed pilots flying in to the event.

Waupaca County sheriff’s report May 30

• May 25 – Caller at Kwik Trip, in the 200 block of West Fulton Street, Waupaca, reported, two kids, one in a grey hoodie and shorts, in a white Kia at the gas pumps acting strange.

• May 24 – Caller reported they saw a man unload boxes from a delivery truck in front of Kwik Trip, in the 200 block of West Fulton Street, Waupaca, and load them into a small blue car.

• May 24 – Caller in the 500 block of North Street, Waupaca, reported her debit card was stolen.

• May 24 – Caller in the N1300 block of Holmnlane Road, Waupaca, reported her restraining order paperwork was stolen.

• May 24 – Caller in the E2500 block of Crystal Road, Waupaca, reported his apartment was broken into and his camera was stolen.

• May 24 – Caller at the Crossings Bar and Supper Club, in the E5400 block of North Shore Road, Weyauwega, reported he found what looked like a bag of marijuana in the parking lot.

• May 24 – Caller reported four juvenile males fighting by the Waupaca Thrift Store, 100 block East Fulton Street, Waupaca, and heard someone say put the knife away.

• May 24 – Caller in the 100 block of South River Road, Fremont, reported two people fishing under the bridge where it is marked no fishing.

• May 24 – Caller in the E7400 block of Horn Road, Marion, reported someone opened a bank account in her name with Synchrony bank in Orlando, Fla. A few days ago she received a bill from the bank for $1,455.

• May 24 – Caller in the N2600 block of County Trunk QQ, Waupaca, reported $51 was missing.

• May 23 – Caller at the C Store, in the 200 block of North Main Street, Scandinavia, reported a male stole a bottle of vodka.

• May 23 – Caller in the E10000 block of Seventh Street, Clintonville, reported some items were stolen, including a tiller, a generator and a power saw.

• May 23 – Caller in the E7300 block of State Highway 54, New London, at the Royalton Station, reported a gas drive off of $29 by a blue Chevy truck.

• May 23 – Caller in the N8000 block of Roland Road, Ogdensburg, reported someone gained entry to her woodshop and stole woodworking tools, a socket set, a tool box, a skill saw and an air compressor.

• May 23 – Caller in the 600 block of Eighth Street, Waupaca, reported there is a possible drug deal going on by her house. A male entered the passenger side of of a silver car.

• May 23 – Caller at the Dairy Queen, located in the 300 block of Badger Street, Waupaca, reported a male and female who are out of it. The female was hanging over the counter, unable to stand up and the male is wearing yoga pants and a pink sweatshirt.

• May 23 – Caller at the Little Wolf Cemetery, located in the N6300 block of County Trunk O, reported a woman in a blue car pulled up and placed a blanket down on a grave.

• May 23 – Caller in the 100 block of Granite Street, Waupaca, reported someone hit her car on the back passenger side door this morning.

• May 23 – Caller in the 100 block of South State Street, Waupaca, reported a male with a skateboard, jeans and a backpack is threatening to beat the caller up. The male had been drinking.

• May 23 – Caller at The Store, 400 block of Bridge Street, Manawa, reported a gas drive off of $46 by a black truck with a trailer.

One seriously hurt in crash
A crash on Sunday, May 21, left one person with suspected serious injuries.

The accident happened at 11:52 a.m. on County Trunk T, just north of Crain Road, in the town of Lebanon.

Anthony Oftedahl, 26, Waupaca, was driving a 1982 Suzuki motorcycle owned by Jacob White, Weyauwega.

Oftedahl was northbound and trying to negotiate a curve when he lost control and entered the east ditch.

He was transported by ambulance to ThedaCare Medical Center for suspected serious injuries. He was not wearing a helmet.

Oftedahl was cited for operating after suspension.

The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Manawa Police Department, Gold Cross Ambulance and the New London Fire Department.

Richard “Dickie Doo” Paulbicki of Waupaca, age 69, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home.

He was a veteran of the US Army, serving during the Vietnam War. He enjoyed music and could play several instruments, playing in the Midwest Rock Revival Band. He worked at Koeppen’s Medical Transport.

He is survived by his daughter, Stacey (Lyn Barker) Manny of New London; grandchildren: Kortney (Dominick) Maggio, Selena Manny and James Manny Jr.; great-grandson, Tanner; sisters, Sue Davies and Cheryl Golja; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ron and Howard and special friend, Sandra Lauer.

The Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca. The visitation will be on Wednesday at the funeral home from 12 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial with Military Honors will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Weyauwega. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.