Penokee mine protester gets jail time

HURLEY — An environmental activist from Weston who wants to stop a proposed iron mine in northern Wisconsin will serve nine months in jail for disrupting mine workers in 2013.

Katie M. Kloth, 27, formerly of Stevens Point, was among a group of about 20 protesters, many wearing bandanas covering their faces, who threw cans and water bottles at workers in an effort to intimidate them as they drilled exploratory holes, according to court records.

Kloth, or "Krow" as she also is known, appeared to be the leader and became enraged when she saw Stacy Saari, of the Ideal Drilling Co., videotaping the protest. Kloth pulled the camera from Saari and a male protester grabbed a cellphone from Saari's back pocket.

Many of the protesters then climbed over the drilling equipment, damaged some of its controls, began throwing shovels, swore at and verbally threatened the workers during the hourlong incident. They fled just prior to police arriving at the remote scene.

Saari said damage to the camera and drilling equipment totaled $2,400.

In September, Kloth pleaded no contest to robbery and misdemeanor party to the crime of criminal damage to property in connection with the incident. She faced combined maximum penalties of 15 years and nine months in prison and fines of $60,000.

Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske said he recommended four years of probation and that a probation-only sentence is not that uncommon for a first-time offender who is in her 20s.

Judge Douglas Fox ordered the jail time and five years of probation, telling Kloth that "you're a zealot and feel strongly about mining, but this had nothing to do with mining; this was an assault on people," Lipske said.

Fox also ordered Kloth of pay restitution of $2,400, Lipske said.

The court received numerous letters of support for Kloth and Lipske said there was a "substantial turnout" for the sentencing befitting someone who protests to raise concerns.

Kloth also entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in 2010 after being cited for trespassing by Steven Point police for protesting the use a lot for a residence instead of a community garden.

Mining in the Penokee Hills of Ashland and Iron counties has been controversial since GTAC purchased mineral rights to 21,000 acres there in 2011. The Florida-based company has been pursuing what could be the world's longest open pit mine, 4.5 miles long by a half-mile wide by 1,000 feet deep, since the Legislature rewrote mining laws in 2013.