Oconto County Times Herald

Shawano Masons donate device to Gillett Fire Department

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:29pm

Shawano Area Masons have presented the Gillett Fire Department with a fire suppression device on behalf of the fraternal order’s now-defunct Gillett Lodge.

“We decided because we have history here in Gillett that we are going to provide Gillett with a fire suppression tool,” said Dan Ascher, who made the presentation during the Oct. 6 meeting of the Gillett City Council.

The eight-pound, $1,200 device is easy to use — an early responder pulls two pins and throws it through the window of a fire scene, Ascher said.

Gillett school officials state their case to city council

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:27pm

Gillett Public School District officials got a little pushback when they presented the Gillett City Council with their case for a Nov. 8 referendum question.

The district is asking voters for permission to exceed state-imposed revenue limits by up to $600,000 a year. A similar question was defeated in April by a 53% to 47% margin.

During a presentation to the council, Superintendent Todd Henscik said the district is just trying to maintain existing services, which had been supported for three years by a successful referendum question in 2018.

New Gillett chamber off to a strong start

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:25pm

The newly formed Gillett Area Chamber of Commerce plans to hold its first official meeting at noon Oct. 13 at the Gillett Fire Station, 310 W. Park St., Gillett.

The chamber was organized earlier this year and played a key role in making this year’s Gillett High School homecoming a community-wide celebration, including the first-ever Harvest Days event downtown and at Zippel Park on Oct. 1, said Katie Daul. She made her remarks during her tourism and marketing commission report to the Gillett City Council on Oct. 6.

Gillett council learns about police mutual aid

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:23pm

The Gillett police chief used his monthly report to the city council Oct. 6 to explain how mutual aid agreements work to provide safety across Oconto County.

Chief Shane Breitenbach said he heard some comment in the community after his squad car was spotted recently responding to an incident in the Breed-Mountain area.

The incident — a serious car crash — fell in the realm of mutual aid among the county’s small cadre of law enforcement agencies, Breitenbach said.

Not guilty pleas in fatal UTV crash

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:18pm

The Waukesha man charged in a fatal UTV accident in the Town of Doty pleaded not guilty Oct. 6 in Oconto County Circuit Court.

Scot A. Haas, 53, Waukesha, is being charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, homicide by using a vehicle with a prohibited blood-alcohol content and homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle, in connection with the accident that claimed the life of David Weinmann, 56, of West Chicago, Illinois, on May 29.

Oconto County Circuit Court proceedings

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:18pm

Proceedings of Oct. 6

• Charles J. Hartleben, 37, a Wittenberg native currently housed at the New Lisbon Correctional Institute, was sentenced to 12 months in the Oconto County Jail for fleeing an officer and three months for a misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer in connection with an incident that occurred Aug. 12, 2021. Judge Michael T. Judge ruled the sentences are consecutive to each other and any other current sentence.

Oconto County Sheriff's Department dispatch logs

Published by admin on Wed, 10/12/2022 - 4:17pm

Oct. 9

Deputies responded to 31 incidents, including drugs at an address in the Town of Lakewood, trespassing on Molitor Road in the Town of Stiles, property damage on Jesinski Road in the Town of Riverview, one traffic stop, three traffic hazards, one traffic offense, three citizen assists, two miscellaneous traffic incidents, one welfare check; two 911 hangups and one open line; one ambulance call; five crashes, three involving deer.

Oct. 8

One person dies in fiery crash

Published by admin on Mon, 10/10/2022 - 1:54pm

A Gillett man died in a fiery crash in the Town of Gillett on Oct. 7.

An Oconto County Sheriff’s Department traffic report identifies the victim as Lawrence J. Woodke, 66.
Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban said the Emergency Dispatch Center was notified of a one-vehicle accident on Old 22 Road near Finnegan Lake Lane about 11:10 p.m.

Suspect in custody in Little Suamico double homicide

Published by admin on Fri, 10/07/2022 - 3:21pm

A Little Suamico man is being held in connection with the Oct. 2 shooting deaths of a woman believed to be his mother and her new husband at the home the three of them shared.

Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban said David W. Steinmetz, 27, was arrested in connection with the deaths of David R. Brennan, 75, and Lori (Steinmetz) Brennan, 55, who obtained a marriage license from the Oconto County Clerk’s office on June 24.

World Walleye Championship boosts Oconto County

Published by admin on Wed, 10/05/2022 - 10:41am

Organizers and participants in the World Walleye Championship fishing tournament sang the praises of Oconto and the Bay of Green Bay as the tournament wrapped up Oct. 1.

“Oconto County is one of those quintessentially small-town hospitality places that specifically caters to anglers,” said tournament manager Jeff Kelm of the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC). “You’ve got affordable places to stay, you have a beautiful harbor, great employees that work here, you know they’re on the angler’s side … and amazing fishing.”