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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016
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Menominee hires new assessor
Hiring of Bastien approved by a 7-2 council vote By PENNY MULLINS EagleHerald news editor/digital director pmullins@eagleherald.com
MENOMINEE — The Menominee City Council voted 7-2 at a special meeting Wednesday to hire Peg Bastien as the new full-time city assessor, despite animated discussion and without a committee recommendation. Rob Jamo, interim city manager/attorney, told members of the Judicial & Legislative/Personnel &
Labor Committee, and later, the full council, that he had appointed Bastien, subject to approval of council on a two-thirds vote. His reasons: Bastien, as a Level II assessor and a 35-year employee of the city, was ready to step in immediately and take on the dayto-day duties of the department — despite the looming possibility the Michigan State Tax Commission may take over the 2016 tax roll by the end of the month. “I believe the appointment of
the city assessor is required at this time because it is mandated by our charter,” Jamo told the committee at the 5 p.m. meeting. Later, he told the entire council that he had spoken to the director of the State Tax Commission Tuesday, who concurred that the city’s appointment of a new assessor was not prohibited by the pending action of the commission. Jamo said it was essential for the city of have an assessor of record going into the final steps of
completing the 2017 tax roll. Council members Bill Plemel and Josh Jones, who voted against the council motion to approve Jamo’s appointment, also voted against the issue in committee. “I told Rob where I stand,” Plemel said in committee, after Mayor Jean Stegeman made the motion to recommend Jamo’s appointment and Council member Frank Pohlmann seconded it. “Once the tax rolls are straightened out, I’m in favor of the appointment.” But Plemel said Bastien had worked with part-time assessor
Mari Negro to complete the corrective action plan on the 2015 tax roll seized by the state, as well as the 2016 roll — which may also be taken and Plemel said he was concerned if Bastien didn’t see mistakes being made, or knew and didn’t tell anyone. Jamo said Bastien was not involved in the decision made by Negro, whose last day was Monday. “She (Negro) was responsible for that office, Peg Bastien was not,” Jamo said. Pohlmann said he was “hearSee ASSESSOR, A5
Expanding the fight against domestic violence
Rainbow House seeks help from men in trying to end DV
By DAN KITKOWSKI EagleHerald editor dkitkowski@eagleherald.com
MENOMINEE — Leaders of Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services of Marinette are trying to spread the message through the area that domestic abuse and sexual assault is not just a female issue — it’s a community issue. To that end, Jessica Honish, lead advocate, and Jennifer Koceja, legal advocate, led a meeting Wednesday at the Serving Spoon in Menominee. Fourteen men from various walks of life — a middle school principal, a police detective, a retired judge, a carpenter, a tattoo artist and more — watched a live stream breakfast meeting of Voices of Men, a group of more than 550 men from the Fox Valley area who are devoted to helping to end domestic violence and sexual assault. About 1,100 people — mostly men — attended the sold-out session at Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton. Thousands more — including the local group — viewed it via live stream. Honish said 25 men were invited to watch Wednesday’s event. She was pleased with the 14 who were able to fit it into their schedules. “I think we have a great diverse group of men from different professions in the area,” she said. “Hopefully they can come together and make a difference going forward.” According to its website, Voices of Men was founded in 2007 in the Fox Valley
EagleHerald/Rick Gebhard
Mike Whisler, Marinette Middle School principal (far right), speaks during the discussion portion of a Voices of Men meeting Wednesday at the Serving Spoon in Menominee. The session was conducted by the Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services of Marinette. The men watched a live stream of a Voices of Men breakfast meeting in Appleton, Wis. region when our four domestic violence/ sexual assault agencies (Christine Ann Center, Harbor House, Reach Counseling, and Sexual Assault Crisis Center) gathered men for a “Men’s Summit” after Harbor House brought Ben Atherton-Zeman to the community. Atherton-Zeman’s message focused on engaging men and boys in the work of ending sexual assault and domestic violence. Inspired by the Men’s Summit, a group of 40 men wanted to do more. The effort received a boost through a 2008 CHAT (Community Health Action Team) plunge
on domestic violence led by ThedaCare. Following the plunge, a steering committee was formed to plan an intensive four-month initiative starting in January 2010. This effort culminated in a community breakfast that drew more than 400 well-meaning men who wanted to be part of the solution. This breakfast has become an annual event to learn about simple everyday behaviors that can either foster a culture that enables violence and sexism, or can help elevate women and girls and create a culture of safety and dignity. Honish explained what the Rainbow
House is looking for in this endeavor. “Our goal coming into this was to raise awareness ... to emphasize there is a need for males to have a voice against violence that is happening to women,” she said. “It’s exciting to know that there’s such a great group of guys in this room today who can all come together in some way or another to help our agency continue to grow.” Another meeting is planned for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at a location to be determined. Honish said she hopes the men in the room See MEN, A3
Ribble campaigns with Gallagher at stop in Marinette
By EMMA KUHN EagleHerald staff writer ekuhn@eagleherald.com
MARINETTE — With five days to go before what some are calling the most important election of the century, local and regional candidates are out in force to connect with their supporters and win votes. Some are even lucky enough to have the incumbent’s endorsement and support along the way. U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), who represents Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district, attended a campaign event on Tuesday with the Republican candidate seeking his seat, Mike Gallagher of Green Bay. Because of Ribble’s upcoming departure at the end of his term, an intense race is being run for the seat between Gallagher and Democrat Tom Nelson of Kaukauna, Wis., the County Executive of Outagamie County. Ribble and Gallagher held a “Pints & Politics” meet-and-greet session Tuesday evening with voters and supporters, hosted by the Republican Party of Marinette County in the Best Western
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Riverfront Inn, 1821 Riverside Ave. in Marinette. Gallagher said the campaign had been a challenge so far, what with the spread out nature of the 8th congressional district, but he was enjoying the Ribble opportunity to speak with voters from all over northeast Wisconsin. “That’s the aspect of it I like, I love,” he said. “You get to meet so many different people.” Gallagher has been through the community multiple times for campaigning purposes, but Tuesday was the first time Ribble attended an event with him in Marinette. However, Ribble said he and Gallagher have been campaigning together for some time. “It’s been remarkable to watch him,” Ribble said. “I’m really proud of the work he does. I think he’s going to win, and I think he’s going to be a terrific member of Congress.” “He’s been really helpful here in the final stretch,” Gallagher said of Ribble’s accompaniment on his
campaign trail. According to Gallagher, the most-discussed topic he talks about during his campaign, particularly in the last few weeks, is the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. He said voters are worried about the premium hikes across the country, and even though Wisconsin is “doing better than the rest of the country,” he said plans are still going up on average as much as 20 percent. “It’s failing, it’s collapsing under its own weight,” he said. “Average family premiums go from $13,000 to $17,000, deductibles rising, people losing their plan, losing their
DEATHS
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Mullen, Patrice R. Zubko, Dimitri
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Bricks fall at Lloyd House II
Details on A5
By PENNY MULLINS EagleHerald news editor/digital director pmullins@eagleherald.com
doctor, our generation not participating, participating at less than 26 percent, it’s not working.” Another topic Gallagher said he heard a lot from citizens is a growing concern for their physical safety and security. He cited the growing threat of the Islamic State and homegrown terrorism in the United States as a source for a large part of the concern. “This has gone from an over-there problem to a right-here problem,” he said. “Northeast Wisconsin is one of the last places in America where you can leave your garage door open and not worry about it. Well, that’s
MENOMINEE —A portion of the southeast corner of the Lloyd House II building on 1st Street collapsed Wednesday, sending a wall of bricks from the second floor to the ground. According to workers on the scene, no one was injured. Nancy Douglas, executive director of the Menominee Economic Development Corp., told the Menominee City Council Wednesday that she had spoken to Woda Construction officials, who said an old steel beam, which was due to be replaced Wednesday, rolled out and caused the brick to fall to the street below. A senior engineer with the company is expected to be in Menominee by Monday to develop plans for
See GALLAGHER, A3
See BRICKS, A3
EagleHerald/Rick Gebhard
Mike Gallagher talks to his campaign volunteers at a meet and greet at the Best Western Riverfront Inn Tuesday in Marinette.
TODAY’S INDEX
Music: Country music handed out awards at the 50th annual CMA Awards show. A3 Sports: The UW-Marinette mens’ and womens’ basketball teams won their home openers. B1
TODAY: Partly sunny and dry with mild wind gusts HIGH: 55 LOW: 34
Advice B7 Comics B6 Classifieds B4-5 Crossword B7 Deaths/Obits A5 Local stocks A2 Lottery A5
Opinion A4 Records A5 Sudoku B7 Scoreboard B2 Sports B1-3 TV listings B6 Weather A2