The main suspect in a string of knife-point armed robberies in Brown and Outagamie counties will have a plea hearing before Brown County Circuit Judge Marc Hammer on Friday, May 11. Joshua Way, 654 Factory St., Seymour, is charged with 13 felonies. Codefendant Jeff Gross, 34, De Pere will have a plea hearing on April 11 on two felonies and one misdemeanor, while Darrin Hill, 28, Oneida, is scheduled for a status conference on April 12 on three felony and one misdemeanor charge.
The trio was arrested in Seymour on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 after a Seymour officer made a traffic stop. According to the criminal complaint, Way committed the robberies at fast food, two Dollar General locations and convenience stores between Dec. 5-29, 2017 while the other two men served as drivers. A knife was reported used in the holdups.

By Greg Bates
ACN & Times-Press sports correspondent
For the first time in program history, the Shiocton boys basketball team played in a sectional final.
The players had hopes of heading to the WIAA Division 4 state tournament, but that dream came up just short.
A big, athletic Marathon team wore down Shiocton in the second half and came away with a 60-48 victory at Wausau East on Saturday, March 10.
“We hung in there really well, but we needed to shoot better,” Shiocton coach Chad Schmidt said. “I felt like if we could shoot it better, I knew we’d get some looks. And we did, we just couldn’t get the ball to fall.”
The Chiefs shot just over 30 percent from the field and hit six 3-pointers.
Shiocton didn’t have as much depth as it usually does. Three of its top bench players missed the game: Deven Bedor was nursing an ankle injury from the team’s sectional semifinal victory, and Jack Fielding and Jordan Ott were on a school field trip.
“We had to have a couple of other guys step up, guys that have primarily been JV the second half,” Schmidt said. “It’s not an easy puzzle piece to put together because when they don’t get a lot of reps, they don’t always remember what we kind of do.”
Marathon features a solid inside-outside game. The Red Raiders have a pair of guys who shoot over 45 percent on 3-pointers. Nathan Stoffel, a 6-foot-5 monster inside who is a University of South Dakota football signee, had a big game with 21 points.
“They got us on the physical piece, no doubt about it,” Schmidt said.

“They’re the best inside team we faced all year. They’ll deliver from the top, they’ll deliver from the side. If you’re fronting them, they’ll slide out a little bit and go get it, and then they’re attacking you.”
Shiocton (19-6) went on a 7-0 run to go up 23-22. But Marathon’s Cameron Schilling nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give his team a 30-28 lead at halftime.
“We felt good where we were,” Schmidt said. “We were hoping to wear them down a little bit.”
Shiocton took the lead back for the final time of the game, 35-34, as Matt Peterson converted a layup with 13:28 remaining.
Marathon (22-4) answered with a 6-0 run. Shiocton’s Corbin Lorge hit one of his four 3-pointers to make it 40-38, but Schilling hit a shot and Marathon added a pair of free throws to bump its lead back up with 7:29 left on the clock.
“We had two chances for a couple of bunnies that just didn’t fall for us,” Schmidt said. “It got to be four and missed again, it got to be six. We got to that stretch there where we couldn’t hit a basket.”
Down the stretch, Shiocton got within four points, but could never get over that hump.
Marathon flustered Shiocton with its 1-3-1 defense, utilizing its long and rangy players. The Chiefs committed 18 turnovers.
“We haven’t seen that type of 1-3-1 with that type of athleticism and length,” Schmidt said.
After scoring 28 points in Shiocton’s victory over Oconto in the sectional semifinals, Peterson scored just six points in his final game. Fellow senior Wesley Brouillard had five points. The duo combined to average over 25 points per game during the season.
Super sophomores Lorge and Austin VandenBosch had big games. Lorge scored a team-high 18 points and Vanden Bosch added 16.
Shiocton closed out its season with 19 victories, which is the third straight year of 17 or more wins. Schmidt couldn’t have been happier with how his team played all season.
“I’m really pleased with how we developed into the new roles, especially with some of the adversity we had with Derek (Bedor) with mono and Matt (Peterson) with the fractured ankle early on and Joe (Herrmann) with a fractured thumb recovering from surgery early on,” Schmidt said. “I was super pleased with our performance as a group to be able to play as well as they did together with seniors and sophomores. It doesn’t always happen really easily.”
Shiocton loses a strong senior class with starters Peterson, Brouillard and Herrmann and two reserves, Ott and Kyle Stedjee. Peterson and Brouillard were three-year varsity players who helped the Chiefs go 37-5 in conference play and captured two regional titles during their careers.
But the future is bright for Shiocton. Lorge and Vanden Bosch will lead a talented sophomore class, and Schmidt has a good freshmen group as well.
The seniors helped the young players mature this season, and the guys will be better off come next season.
“Those guys got to see really, really good leadership and the way things are done and how kids take things seriously in practice, what we do in games,” Schmidt said.
“We’re not going away. We’re going to have a presence in the sectionals, and hopefully we can bust through in the next couple of years. Right: Jack Fielding fights for the shot against a Marathon opponent, Shiocton lost 60-48 at Wausau East on Saturday, March 10. – Photo by Dave Gomm
Left: Sophomore Corbin Lorge drives to the basket against a big, athletic Marathon team who wore down Shiocton in the second half and came away with a 60-48 victory at Wausau East on Saturday, March 10. Lorge scored a team-high of 18 points.

by seymour

Belle VanBoxtel was named the new 2018 USA National Miss Wisconsin Jr. Teen on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Wisconsin state competition that took place at Southwest High School in Green Bay.
She will now travel to Orlando, Fla. to represent Wisconsin at the National competition from July 1 – 8 and vie for the National title of USA National Miss Jr. teen.
Delegates came from across the state of Wis. and competed over a weekend (starting on Thursday.)
VanBoxtel had to compete in three required phases of competition: Interview, Evening Gown and Runway. These competitions along with the entire competition weekend were to teach young ladies poise, grace, empowerment of each other, and self confidence. All delegates also had a private tour of Lambeau Field, lunch with new friends and a Pink Party where they were able to continue to bond and share the philanthropy work they do within their own communities. By the end of the competition weekend, no matter who took the overall title, crown, banner, and prize package home; they all took home new found friendships, memories, and skills to last a lifetime.
VanBoxtel said, “When I was younger I competed in a pageant called NAM, National American Miss and I was the top runner-up against around 170 other girls.”
She also participates in All Star Cheer which takes up a lot of her time but was invited to try-out for this pageant through some connections with the All Star Cheer program.
VanBoxtel said, “I was bullied for four months verbally and through social media and decided to make my voice heard through this pageant.”
She said her inspiration was Brittany Georgia who she met through All Star Cheer. Georgia pursued her dream and is now Miss Colorado, and VanBoxtel thinks she is a great role model and can’t wait to see her again at Nationals.
VanBoxtel said she learned so much from her experience and it was an amazing opportunity for someone as young as her.
She feels more confident and empowered as a young lady through this experience.
VanBoxtel is also a straight A student and dedicated athlete at Northern Extreme Athletics (All Star Cheer) where she practices in Wausau three times a week.
This pageant is not just a beauty pageant, it’s about being a leader, gaining confidence, healthy living and becoming a role model for the younger girls.
VanBoxtel used her platform to bring awareness of bullying, teen suicide and the need of donations for the local humane societies. She will be making appearances throughout the year, traveling and being a voice for her platform. She also brought awareness to the Seymour police department K9 fundraiser, where they have met their goal.
VanBoxtel is in the seventh grade and 12 years-old and remarked for her birthdays she asks for dog and cat food to donate to the local humane societies.
She would like other girls to follow her footsteps and she is a good inspiration for all young people. Her parents are very proud of her.

by seymour

Raven Vanden Langenberg signs her letter of intent to St. Cloud University for softball. Her club softball coach, Kevin LaPoint said that Raven brought a spark to his team and every team needs a teammate like Raven, every coach asks for one more day and he gets to watch her with his daughter for four more years as she signs for St. Cloud.
Family and friends, teachers, students and coaches attended the signing.
Vanden Langenberg thanked everyone for coming and supporting her. This has been her dream for as long as she can remember and she was happy to share it with family and friends. She thanked her parents for their love and support, endless car trips they endured and sacrifices that they made to make her the best person and player that she is today.
Vanden Langenberg thanked her mom and talked about how much she will miss her and how she will have to learn to cook now since she is going to college.
She thanked her dad for coaching her since she was little and always wondered why he was always harder on her. She said he was always there for her when she needed him and she loves to make him proud.
She then thanked her sisters Kylee and Brynn, and admitted that she will miss them also.
Vanden Langenberg told a story about her sister Kylee, stating that she was really hungry and asked Kylee to make her a potato.
If she refused Raven was going to take Kylee’s thank you out of her speech. Raven said, “it was a really good potato.”
She told Brynn to keep pushing herself in sports and remember that their dad does know what he’s talking about – sometimes.
She thanked her grandparents for all their support and for traveling to her games.
Vanden Langenberg thanked her coaches Jason Setliff and every other coach that taught her over the years, not just in softball but in all the sports she was in.
Last but not least she thanked her teammates, and said she would not be where she is today without them.
Karrie Vanden Langenberg, (second from left) Raven’s mother and softball coach said, “We have coached Raven all her life and as a family we talked many times about putting our “coach’s hat” on and then having to switch and put our “parent hat” on. Today I decided that it was more important to support her with my “Parent hat.” Raven Vanden Langenberg (middle) with her family, left to right, sister, Kylee, mother Karrie, father Todd and sister Brynn.

By Greg Bates
ACN & Times-Press sports correspondent
Hailey Oskey received some unexpected news on March 5.
Seymour girls basketball coach Bobby Kuchta and the school’s activities director Ryan Spaulding gave Oskey the good word that she had been named Miss Basketball 2017-18 in the state by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
“I didn’t say anything at first because I was really surprised that I got it,” said Oskey, who recently wrapped up her senior season at Seymour. “I was happy that I did. It was pretty exciting.”
In a long line of solid basketball players produced in Seymour, Oskey is the first girls or boys player to be named the state’s top player.
“It’s an awesome honor,” Seymour girls basketball coach Bobby Kuchta said. “For our program, all these younger kids look up and see they’ve got something to shoot for – an awesome role model to look up to.”
According to Jack Hervert from the WBCA, there were six finalists for the award. The names of the other five student-athletes weren’t revealed.
“I didn’t know who the other candidates were,” Kuchta said. “Was I surprised? Maybe a little bit, because she didn’t have the 30-point average per game. I think she’s certainly one of the best in the state for sure.”
It was announced to the public on the Saturday morning of the state girls basketball tournament that Oskey had won the award. That night at halftime of the Division 2 state championship game at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Oskey was honored at midcourt.
Oskey and Kuchta were able to talk to Hervert about why she was chosen.
“He said that what stood out for me from the other players was that I was a more all-around player with passing and rebounding – doing more than just the scoring part,” Oskey said. “Obviously, all of us that were nominated could probably score. But for me, I think that’s something I’ve improved on anyway the last two years is being an all-around player.”
Oskey, who will play next season at Green Bay, averaged 18.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game during her senior year.
“I think it was her overall body of her work for the season and just kind of how she’s improved,” Kuchta said. “She just became more of an all-around player this year than she was last year. Points were up by a little; her rebounds were up by quite a few – 2 ½ or 3 a game – that’s something she really focused on. I challenged her just to be more of an all-around player.”
Said Oskey: “I thought my senior year was my best year out of all four years.”
Oskey’s assists and steals were up, too. She was a more efficient player as well, shooting 51 percent from the field.
“She didn’t have games where she was like 4-for-20 like last year,” Kuchta said. “It was much more efficient, 12-for-20 or 15-for-20 this year.”
Oskey was just so hard to defenses to stop. Her ability to do everything on the court and get her teammates involved made her shine on the court.
“Just so explosive and versatile,” Kuchta said. “To do it in so many different ways: shoot the 3, get to the rim, get to the free throw line, get a big steal or a transition bucket. Tough matchup for anybody, too. That’s got to be their No. 1 focus, to stop her.”
The school’s all-time leading scorer for girls and boys, Oskey led her team in scoring all four years in high school. She also helped the program win 75 games during that span. Seymour went 23-2 this season and reached the sectional semifinals.
“A big part of the reason she got picked, too, is the team success,” Kuchta said. “I think that has something to do with it. People notice the team and they’re watching who’s on that team. Obviously, she couldn’t have done it without her teammates. We were a really solid team this year. We had girls that pushed her and made her better and got her the basketball, too.”
Oskey and senior teammate Jenna Krause were both named to the WBCA All-Star Division 2 North team.
Oskey committed to Green Bay as a sophomore and can’t wait to get to college and help the perennial top 25 team in the country. Kuchta believes with Oskey’s ability as a scorer and slasher, she translates to a shooting guard/small forward at the next level.
Oskey plans on working hard over the summer to get ready for Division I basketball.
“She had a heck of a year, but there’s a lot she can improve on yet,” Kuchta said. “I think with time and that level of coaching, I think she’s just going to excel.”
Hailey Oskey, third from left was honored at midcourt during the Division 2 state championship game at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon. Her coach Bobby Kuchta is at her side.

by seymour

20 days, $20,000 for Seymour Police Department K9 program
A generous offer from Carl and Mary Ellen Kuehne was the final push needed for the Seymour Police Department’s K9 fundraising initiative. Their offer to match any donations received from Feb. 18 to March 10 up to $10,000 spurred the community to action. At the end of the 20 day period, the community raised $15,735.83 for a total of $96,858.69.
“Thanks to our supporters, we have reached our goal which will allow us to launch the K9 program,” said Seymour Chief of Police, Richard A. Buntrock. “We’re so thankful for the community and individuals from as far away as Virginia that helped us make the most of this generous matching donation, which exceeded our fundraising goal.”
“Having a K9 unit at the police department will be an incredible tool to not only reduce drug activities in our community, but also track suspects and find missing and endangered people,” said Buntrock. “This program will directly impact the quality of life in northeastern Outagamie County by keeping our students safe at school and providing us with search capabilities for lost children and elderly individuals.” The K9 program will also be available, through existing mutual aid agreements, to help neighboring agencies when they need assistance.
The $96,858.69 raised will now allow us to set-up the K9 program. “With that, I want to commend the leadership, diligence and compassion that Jim and Nancy Campbell provided to help us with this campaign. Additionally, I would like to thank Leonard and Finco Public Relations and Virtualtech Website Design and Promotion RelyLocal Fox Cities.” said Buntrock
We will continue sustainability efforts for the K9 program. To make a tax-deductible donation visit the online fundraising page, www.gofundme.com/seymourk9 or the police department website, www.seymour-pd.com. Donations can also be accepted via cash or check (checks payable to the Seymour Police Department K9 Unit Donation Fund).
CONTACT: Chief of Police, Richard A. Buntrock, (920) 833-2366, RBuntrock@seymour-pd.com.