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Meet Jojo See page 14
Jail administrator allegedly cashing funds illegally
by Regan Kohler SHELL LAKE – A criminal complaint filed against Washburn County Sheriff’s Department Jail Administrator Capt. Bruk Sweeney alleges he misappropriated jail funding and committed forgery with the help of unsuspecting individuals. Sweeney, 37, Comstock, has been formally charged with three counts of misconduct in public office by fraud and two counts of forgery. All five counts are felonies. The charges stem from an investigation in which the Shell Lake State Bank notified the sheriff’s department of a transaction on Oct. 28 that was visually recorded by the individual receiving the money. According to the investigation, an individual who was serving time in the county jail, with Huber release and electronic monitoring, had been corresponding with Sweeney the week before the transaction. The man said Sweeney contacted him to say he was due a refund on his jail account, which is a calculation of inmates deposited paychecks, from Huber, monitoring or canteen expenditures. The complaint said the man had thought he actually owed $7, but Sweeney was insistent he had a refund coming and could pick it up at the jail. The two met, the complaint said, and the man received two checks, payable to him, for $420 and $175.30. The man said Sweeney told him there was a glitch in the account system, so he asked him to cash both checks, then put $420 in an envelope with Sweeney’s name on it, and to return it to him at the
See Sweeney, page 3
Fill ‘em up, ship ‘em out See back page
SPORTS Pages 12,13
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Vol. 121, No. 15 • Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Not quite Bingo
Kindergarten student Nevaeh Root Chenal looks disappointed as she sits with one number left to win in the number Bingo game during Family Math Games at Shell Lake School. More photos on page 23. — Photo by Larry Samson
Movie shoot draws many actors to Shell Lake
by Regan Kohler
SHELL LAKE – Downtown Shell Lake was the scene of a postapocalyptic movie shoot in the early-morning hours Sunday, Nov. 28, with dozens of “infected” people swarming Main Street. TRIWAR Pictures/Chasing Autumn, a film company out of Ham Lake, Minn., shot scenes from “Discursion,” a movie that tells the story of the sole survivor of an airborne chemical warfare attack, and the isolation and survival that comes with it. In the movie, the main character has to fight off inhuman victims of the attack, who have been infected with the chemical. The film’s director, Mitchel A. Jones, said the film blends classic horror into a modern setting, with emphasis on suspense that plays on isolation and uncertainty. The definition of discursion, he said, is “to wander, physically or from thought to thought.” The company chose Shell Lake as the location after the film’s associate producer, who has a cabin on the lake, showed the directors photos of the area. The company loved the setting and felt much of the movie could be tailored to the town, and the city council approved the movie shoot at last month’s meeting. The company also sought extras, and many signed up to be a part of the movie, to play the infected. The film began shooting the weekend of Nov. 19. Sir Brian Sterling-Vete, the movie’s cinematographer, said, “It was fantastic. It
Scenes from the movie, “Discursion” were filmed in downtown Shell Lake early on Sunday, Nov. 28. More photos on page 2. — Photo by Laurel Stellrecht
went really, really well.” The extras began filming last weekend. They showed up between 1 and 2 a.m. to city hall, some coming from as far as Minneapolis. The extras were made up with bulging veins, blackened teeth, ice crystals on facial hair (to get the winter effect), bloody mouths, and some were given contact lenses that had the effect of reddened eyes. Throughout the night, scenes were shot on Main Street, and everyone involved had a great time. Becky’s Food & Spirits provided food for everyone. Shannon Klopp, who was one of the main four infected and had to wear the special contact lenses, said, “It’s pretty neat, a great experience.” John Maher said it was “very interesting.
“I can’t wait to get home and scare the heck out of my kids,” he added. Kyle Porter, Minneapolis, said he heard about the movie from a press release at work. It was his first time acting, as was the case for most of the extras. “It was realistic,” he said of the scary makeup. “I didn’t even recognize myself. I can’t really smile.” Mayor Sally Peterson said the movie will be a great promotional avenue for Shell Lake. “I think we should feel honored that they picked us,” she said. TRIWAR’s Nicole Kruex, who played the lead, said that shooting in Shell Lake was phenomenal, and thanked everyone who participated for doing a great job. “The entire town has been more than generous,” she said. Sterling-Vete is working with the city on getting shots from the film on the Minnesota Film and TV Board Web site, and Wisconsin when it develops a similar board, where pictures of the town can be seen, and from which more opportunities to use the city as a movie location could come. “You can actually bring business into the town [this way],” Sterling-Vete, a 13-time world record producer, said. Kruex said “Discursion” is scheduled for release around summer 2011.
See Movie, page 2
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