The Shawano Leader

Menominee school referendum victorious

Published by LPulaski on Wed, 04/06/2022 - 12:42am

The Menominee Indian School District saw a request for a $35 million referendum sail to victory on election night, and there will be some changes on the Shawano County Board of Supervisors, the Shawano School Board and other government entities after voters brought in some new blood.

Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting in person again

Published by admin on Tue, 04/05/2022 - 10:45am

Members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Shawano County, as well as around the world, now have an opportunity to meet in person.

For the first time in two years, Jehovah’s Witnesses are meeting in person. These meetings were suspended as the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up in early 2020. Open meetings started again on April 1.

“The reaction of our congregates has been jubilation,” said Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman Aaron Purvis. “We have had a strong desire to be back together. There have been so many things that we have missed.”

Board urged not to cut staff, programs

Published by admin on Tue, 04/05/2022 - 10:24am

Parents, students and community members spent nearly an hour April 4 urging the Shawano School Board to listen to the people they serve, to find cuts somewhere other than teachers and support staff to close a $2 million budget gap, and to stop initiating new programs that are going to cost the district money until the budget is balanced.

Over 100 people packed the library at Shawano Community High School, and with each speaker delivering a different message, the applause emboldened people to speak out about what some consider to be an atmosphere of mistrust in the schools.

Reed sentenced to 10 years for arson

Published by LPulaski on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 4:28pm

The first of four people charged in connection with trying to conceal a fatal drug overdose by burning a car with the victim inside was sentenced Monday in federal court to 10 years in prison.

Emerson K. Reed III had previously pleaded guilty to arson in connection with a federal felony involving the 2020 death of a Green Bay woman whose charred remains were found in a vehicle on the Menominee Reservation.

Walk shows support for local teachers, staff

Published by LPulaski on Sat, 04/02/2022 - 6:28pm

The last gasp of winter didn’t deter more than 70 parents, children and community members from a walk in support of Shawano School District teachers and staff April 2 through downtown Shawano.

Many carried signs showing their love for the educators who teach their children and their disappointment in administrators who recently reported that there will be a $2 million cut in the 2022-23 schools budget and listed reducing staff as one of the potential options to stop the district from hemmorhaging red ink.

Board gets update on referendum discussion

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 2:02pm

The school closure has been taken off the table for closing next year’s $2 million budget gap, but it might still be coming down the path eventually if the Shawano School District continues to tumble in its student count.

Shawano plans new TIF for downtown area

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 11:21am

The city of Shawano is planning a new tax increment finance district for the downtown area to replace the one expiring later this year.

The Shawano Plan Commission voted March 30 to recommend approval of the boundaries for TIF District 9 to the Shawano Common Council, which would include properties along and near Main Street from the city’s northern border to Oshkosh Street.

Update: Shawano County shooting now appears to be murder-suicide

Published by admin on Thu, 03/31/2022 - 3:16pm

It now appears a March 25 shooting incident in the Town of Richmond was a murder and suicide.

Officers were called to a storage unit facility on Oak Avenue for what turned out to be a domestic disturbance call from a woman. The responding officer saw a man shoot a woman and then exchanged gunfire, according to the state Division of Criminal Investigation, which investigates all officer-involved shooting incidents.

Shawano County approves 1.5% wage increase

Published by admin on Wed, 03/30/2022 - 10:32am

The Shawano County Board of Supervisors approved a 1.5% wage increase for non-union, full-time county employees during its March 23 meeting.

Chairman Tom Kautza said that Shawano County lost ground in relation to wage increases, compared to surrounding counties.

“I believe some around us gave 2-2.5(%) and in some cases a 3% increase,” said Kautza.

He added that it appears that the county will have money left over from its budget.

Shawano business owner refurbishing 1800s building

Published by admin on Mon, 03/28/2022 - 2:57pm

One Shawano business owner is working to restore a building on Main Street in the city.

Jesse Krajenka is the owner of The Shawano Barbers, 113 S. Main St., and is working to raise money to refurbish his building, which dates back to the 1800s.

“I renovated the whole downstairs area of the barbershop,” said Krajenka. “I am almost done renovating the entire upstairs. There was nothing up there. I got heating, electric and plumbing all installed. There are windows all around this building. There are four big windows all along the front of the building.”