By Ray Barrington
News-Chronicle
In 2003, the area marked the end of some long-running stories, and continued building the foundations for new ones.
Indeed, a top-10 list of the year's biggest local stories compiled by The News-Chronicle could be evenly split between those extremes, or among three if you include those stories that arose and died within the confines of a year.
It seems appropriate, then, to pick as a top story one that both ended a long-running argument and points toward a changed future for one of the defining features of our area.
1. FOX CLEANUP DEAL
In October, a $50 million settlement between two of the paper companies that discharged PCBs into the Fox River and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was announced.
Both P.H. Glatfelter Co. and WTM1 (formerly Wisconsin Tissue Mills) will pay $25 million for cleanup work at the head of the lower Fox River on Little Lake Butte des Morts, known as Operable Unit 1. The estimated cost is $61.7 million for the cleanup itself, plus $4.5 million for long-term monitoring.
Glatfelter and WTM1 are two of the seven paper companies responsible for discharging polychlorinated biphenyls into the Fox River between 1950 and 1970 by the production of carbonless copy paper.
"We basically took what we felt the costs were going to be to clean up OU1 and we went to the parties, and they agreed to split the cost of it," said Region 5 EPA Administrator Tom Skinner.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced at a news conference in Menasha the consent decree is the largest environmental settlement ever reached in Wisconsin.
That followed an announcement earlier in the year that Georgia-Pacific Corp., one of the paper companies which released toxic chemicals into the lower Fox River during the 1950s and '60s, had agreed to a $4 million settlement for preliminary design work on the river's cleanup.
Georgia-Pacific agreed to pay $4 million for preliminary design work on a 7-mile stretch of the river below the De Pere dam. This area represents the first two of the sections designated by the DNR in the river cleanup plan, including Lake Butte des Morts and Appleton to Little Rapids.
"This agreement today is what allows us to get in there this summer and not have to wait a year," said Tom Skinner, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5, which is based in Chicago. "The best remedy is to just get started on this and get it done."
Polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, were released into the Lower Fox River by seven paper companies as a result of processing carbonless copy paper between 1954 and 1971.
PCBs were connected to human and wildlife health problems and have since been banned.
2. REBIRTH OF A LEGEND
Much of the early-season interest in the Green Bay Packers was architectural rather than sporting, as the team opened the $295 million renovated Lambeau Field after two years of work.
Fans were treated to new amenities, including restaurants, concession stands, extra restrooms and a new Hall of Fame and Pro Shop. Players lounged in a new training and locker room facility. And the team and city hoped for new money from a year-round activity center.
A week of ceremony led up to the first regular season game in the new Lambeau, including the dedication of statues of Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi and a live statewide TV show the night before the game. Only a 30-25 loss to Minnesota spoiled the week.
Other controversy about the name of the stadium continued, as the city tried to get the Packers to pay because, some city officials felt, the team had not tried hard enough to sell the name of the stadium to recoup the Brown County half-percent sales tax.
3. WATER TORTURE
At the end of 2003, it looked like Green Bay and its suburbs were close to an agreement on selling water to the communities to help them avoid 2006 deadlines for water purity.
That proved to be a false hope, as the two sides spent the year going back and forth, with Green Bay seeming to back away as an agreement drew near. The breakingpoint seemed to have come in September, when the suburbs filed with the Public Service Commission to try to force Green Bay to sell it water as part of Green Bay's application for its own new pipeline to Lake Michigan
Green Bay then announced its new plan - increasing its pumping capacity but not building a pipeline. Rebuffed, the suburbs looked at either their own $145 million pipe to Lake Michigan or - a late entry - buying water from Manitowoc.
In a last attempt to keep talks going, Mayor Jim Schmitt fired the city's Water Commission, later reappointing two members, in an attempt "to take a new look at the situation."
The sides are still talking, with the city utility expected to present a new proposal later this month to the Green Bay City Council.
4. POLITICAL WARS
Three long-time leaders in the area bowed out - Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum, Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin and Ashwaubenon Village President Ted Pamperin - and were replaced by new faces who had rough first years.
Nusbaum's replacement, former state Rep. Carol Kelso, found herself in the center of a fractious County Board that was more interested in attacking each other than attacking county problems - a battle that reached its climax when new board chairman Ken Simons had to apologize for a remark during a racially-charged board debate.
Kelso's opponent in her race, Hobart village president Len Teresinski, was later recalled from office over several issues, including the expansion of water service in the village and his role in the suburban water authority. Jim Schmitt, who defeated David Nennig for Jadin's old job, and Norbert "Nubs" De Cleene, who beat Mer Meyer in Ashwaubenon, were also busy with water issues.
De Cleene, at least, could claim a notable achievement, as the new Brown County Veterans Memorial, championed by a group he chaired, was dedicated.
5. SAYING GOODBYES
They left in the predawn cold of a January Sunday, getting last hugs from family, friends and children.
In June, they returned to the smell of grilling bratwurst, yellow ribbons, cheers and the tightest hugs anyone may ever receive.
The Marines of Detachment, Bulk Fuel Co. B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Group, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, had been the first local unit to head for Iraq.
And even as fighting continued, the 432d Civil Affairs battalion followed in March, set to go for up to two years to try to help turn around that devastated country.
"I wish I was going with you," said former commander Sgt. Major Bob Haglund, who offered some simple advice:
"Keep your heads down."
Some, wounded, came back earlier than others. Some got brief time off and hurried back to the state to visit with family.
But many are still over there, and local residents didn't forget, sending letters and care packages. WTAQ-AM show host Bill LuMaye even went over for a week of shows in December, connecting Iraq and Brown County.
And as news both good and bad comes out of that region, we still remember.
6. BUDGET BATTLES
The annual fights over what local governments will pay for in the upcoming year were made even tougher in 2003 by the losses in state and federal money that propped up many a program. With those cuts, and with taxpayer calls for no additional spending, the arguments were long.
Green Bay's budget session went until nearly 4 a.m., focusing on cuts to police and fire protection and garbage pickup. The public safety cuts were eased by compromises with unions after the firemen had waged a public campaign to have their cuts overturned.
At the county level, Kelso's proposed budget focused on major cuts on human services and the sheriff's department as she tried to avoid nonmandated services and slim down the number of sheriff's staff. Many of the human services cuts were replaced by board members, however, and the sheriff got some of his budget back.
Still, both city and county managed to come in with budgets showing no tax levy increase.
7. DOWNTOWN CHANGES AWAIT
There were successes in the ongoing story of downtown redevelopment, mostly on south Washington Street, where a headquarters for Johnson Bank was finished while construction went on the new St. Brendan's Inn.
But the centerpieces had only plans, not concrete.
A deal was struck to have the city condemn and sell the Younkers building to Juza Acquisitions for redevelopment as mixed-use, with Younkers signing a shorter lease but being able to get out faster and consolidate its business in an Ashwaubenon store that opened this summer.
Meanwhile, Baylake Bank agreed to purchase the Boston Store site for a new downtown headquarters, to stay connected to Washington Commons and include the Children's Museum.
The property at the corner of Washington and Walnut streets was also open for discussion. Paul Kaczrowski proposed a 14-story building for the site, but could not find enough tenants to keep his option open with the city. In September, Nicolet Bank proposed a 4-story building for the north half of the property, leaving the south half open for the "signature" building the mayor wants on the site.
8. EXIT BANKS, ENTER ZUBIK
For area Catholics, 2003 will be remembered as a year of change at the top. In February, Bishop Robert Banks of the Green Bay Diocese announced his retirement, ending a 13-year term. It ended in shadow when reports came out that while Banks served in Boston under Cardinal Bernard Law, he did not notify authorities or parishes about priests accused of sexual abuse.
9. REMEMBER THEIR FACES
Until June 6, 2053, Tyson Kreuscher will have to look at the faces of two Hobart/Lawrence police officers he killed when he crashed his truck into their parked squad car in 2002.
Kruescher was sentenced in June after being convicted of the murders in March. To force the 28-year-old to acknowledge the aftermath of his actions, Judge Donald Zuidmulder ordered the man to spend the next 50 years of his life in a prison cell, confronted by the photographs of his victims, Stephanie Markins and Robert Etter.
By no coincidence, Kreuscher's earliest chance at release would be June 6, 2053, the anniversary of Etter's birthday.
Although the defendant pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, a jury found Kreuscher sane after listening to mental health workers testify about the 28-year-old's struggle with depression.
10. DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
Green Bay Packers fans are used to late-season drama, but 2003 marked a new level.
The Packers had gone through the season with mixed success, reaching a low point (and a 6-6 record) on Thanksgiving Day with a loss at Detroit.
From there, the Packers won their next four games to finish 10-6, but in a fashion that was stunning.
One week before the season finale - and a day before a Monday night game at Oakland - Brett Favre's father, Irvin, died of a heart attack. Brett decided to play, and inspired his team to an easy victory.
But as the final game neared, hopes of a playoff spot faded as other teams that could have helped the Packers did not. Joy at an easy victory over Denver was tempered by the likelihood that Minnesota would beat Arizona and, despite its late-season slump, win the NFC North.
Shockingly, Arizona came back as Nathan Poole became Wisconsin's favorite non-Packers player, catching a controversial touchdown pass on the game's last play to beat the Vikings and setting off a celebration in Lambeau Field.
The next day, Poole got a call from Schmitt inviting him to watch the playoff game he had made possible.
Like much of 2003, it was an "only in Green Bay" moment.
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