WGBA -Upside Down Flag, Dividing Community
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A flag on Crivitz's main drag is flying upside down. A sign of distress to protest a decision made by the village. But, the symbol itself has opened the doors to a whole new battle.
Vito Congine Jr., just finished building a restaurant on the 600 block of Henriette Avenue in Crivitz. He says he put $180,000 into the project. The Village Board denied Congine a license citing, "Current economic conditions and concerns within the community as to an additional licensed establishment and concerns regarding the location of the establishment". Congine says he was promised support from the Village at a previous meeting. "We put everything we own in this," said Congine. He says his family may have to file bankruptcy if they can't open up the restaurant. In protest to the Village's decision, and to show his personal distress, he has been flying his flag upside down since the board's decision in June. This is creating a lot of anger in the community.
When NBC26 was speaking with Congine, a man carrying a knife approached the property, threatening to tear the flag down. He even scaled the pole, to turn it right side up, "raise the flag properly," he demanded. Marinette County Deputies were called to the property and told the former veteran to leave. But, one neighbor who plans to work with Congine says this is not the first time someone has tried to take the flag down. "I saw the Village police- 2 fulltime officers and 2 part -time officers- stealing my American flag from Vito Congine's property," said Steven Klein, who owns the property directly adjacent to the restaurant, "They had trespassed on Vito Congine's property, stole the flag-that's illegal search and seizure." The Village President confirms that Crivitz Village police removed the flag on July Fourth, under the Marinette County District Attorney's advice. But no one from the Village would speak with NBC26. The Marinette County District attorney did not return a phone call.
The Village did issue a statement that reads, "The applicant has a legal right under Chapter 125.12 (29d)) of the Wisconsin State Statues to appeal the denial of the Marinette County Circuit Court for review. Due to the potential for future legal action on this matter, the Village Board of the Village of Crivitz will make no other statements regarding this matter."
Vito Congine Jr. says he served as a Marine in Iraq recently, and this was not meant as a sign of disrespect for the troops. "I go over to other countries to fight tyrannical governments from doing whatever they want to their citizens. And then I have to come home and deal with that here," said Congine, "That is not fair. Not right that the American people should have to fear their local government bodies."
Vito says he plans to fight the Village's decision.
