Clintonville rules out water system in search for mysterious sounds

CLINTONVILLE - City Administrator Lisa Kuss tells FOX 11 officials once again ruled out the water system Tuesday morning.

The sounds began Sunday night and intensified again overnight Monday into Tuesday.

The original reports came mostly from the northeast part of the city, but more recent reports indicate the sounds are being heard farther to the south and west, Kuss said.

Kuss says the city is working with an engineering firm over the phone to try to identify other possible causes. But that is becoming increasingly difficult.

Kuss says ground shifting at the landfill, dam problems on Pigeon Lake and large industries in and around the city have all been looked at and ruled out.

City officials even toured an old underground tunnel, but found nothing.

And the noises, that seem to increase in frequency late at night, have some residents, like Mike Sexton, nervous.

"Everybody's on edge," said Sexton.

Sexton bought his unimposing, blue-gray two-story home overlooking the Pigeon River about five years ago.

Its purpose was to get away from the hectic life in the Fox Valley area.

But the recently retired Pierce Manufacturing worker has had that life turned upside down the last couple of nights.

"It was about quarter after 12 (in the morning), it woke me up," said Sexton of the booming noises. “There was like three booms and then one good shake."

Sexton says he has heard the explosion-like noises for the past couple of days. However, his 7th St. home didn't shake until early Tuesday morning.

Sexton's home is south of where initial reports of the mysterious noises and vibrations started.

"Little further south, and little further west," said Clintonville City Administrator Lisa Kuss.

Kuss that is where there are new reports of booms and vibrations in city, compared to where they were first heard in the northeast area.

"Certainly, we want to assure people that we're still doing everything that we can," said Kuss.

That included revisiting the city's potable water system as a possible source of the noises and shaking.

However, after surveying the seven city wells Tuesday morning, the Kuss says the city ruled the water system out for a second time.

"Most importantly, we want people to continue to call us and let us know so that we can track if it really is moving," said Kuss.

In downtown Clintonville at Studio 22 Salon on Main St., owner Pam O'Connor considers herself one of the few people that haven’t been privy to the noises and shaking.  She hasn't heard or felt anything at her business at all.

"I don't believe that people aren't feeling it and hearing it," said O'Connor. "But I haven't heard anything."

Tom Mitchell lives on Torrey St., one of the areas now reporting the vibrations. Mitchell says while he doesn't know the cause, he has a slightly optimistic take on the situation.

"Nobody seems to know," said Mitchell. "It could be terrible, could be bad, could be good, who knows? There might be gold down there!"

Kuss says the increased number of reports could be because more people are aware of their surroundings and watching and waiting for something to happen.

The city is in touch with geology and engineering experts. However, Kuss says none of these people are coming to Clintonville, yet.

Kuss still says if people hear or see anything to call Clintonville police at (715) 823-3117.

There will be a public meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Clintonville High School to address the situation.