GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The highest percentage of voters who cast a ballot in last week's spring election lives in the village of Denmark.

Because of that, Denmark was awarded the Voter Challenge trophy from the non-partisan Project VOTE committee. 

Denmark got a 40.7 percent voter turnout, leading all Brown County municipalities in last Tuesday's election.

The town of New Denmark finished second with 39.4 percent and the village of Ashwaubenon came in 3rd with 35.9 percent.

"Certainly there are many people throughout Brown County who take the responsibility of voting to heart," Project VOTE chair Glen Tilot said in a statement. "We want to congratulate Denmark as the winner of the spring voter challenge and encourage everyone to do their homework and get to the polls in September and November."

It's the third time the village of Denmark has won the trophy, previous taking home the honors in fall 2006 and spring 2010.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One Green Bay City Council race will have a recount.

District 11 candidate John Vander Leest is asking for a recount after losing to incumbent Brian Danzinger by ten votes in last Tuesday's race.

Vander Leest says the thin margin and new election machines are the reason for seeking the recount.

City clerk Kris Teske says it will take place on Friday.

In the unofficial count, Vander Leest lost to Danzinger by 11 votes. The challenger did pick up one vote during canvassing on Monday. The official total after canvassing is 680 for Danzinger and 670 for Vander Leest.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County Drug Task Force says they arrested a 49-year-old Green Bay man for trafficking heroin.

Lt. Dave Poteat says they found 24.5 grams of heroin inside a diaper bag in the suspect's car.

"Obviously that quantity of heroin I would consider significant," said Poteat during a press conference Wednesday. "It's a sizeable arrest as far as heroin goes."

The task force, along with the Green Bay DEA, was conducting a joint investigation into this suspect's trafficking of heroin from Chicago to Green Bay. Officers believe he had been doing this for the past 8 months.

The man, who lives on the city's west side, had previously sold 4.3 grams of heroin to undercover officers on Monday. Then, Poteat says, they tracked him Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

"We did follow that person into Illinois, we know they went there and returned sometime later," said Poteat. "We conducted surveillance back to the Green Bay area, where we attempted to make a traffic stop."

That stop was on Lime Kiln Road near Debra Lane. When cops activated their emergency lights and sirens, the suspect fled and tried to get away. A chase ensued that lasted about 5 minutes and covered 3.1 miles. 

The suspect's vehicle struck another vehicle, causing some damage but no injuries. The man fled on foot after dumping the vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment building on East Mason Street near Clay Street. A K-9 unit was brought in, and helped track down the suspect in the backyard of a nearby residence. He was hiding under an overturned boat.

The K-9 bit the man, who had to be taken to the hospital. He was later cleared and taking to jail.

He's facing multiple charges and will make his initial court appearance Thursday.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Three units of a Grand Chute apartment complex were damaged by fire Wednesday morning.

Fire crews were called to the 3200 block of W. Fourth Street near Bluemound Road around 5:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters woke up residents and evacuated them from the 12-unit complex safely.

No injuries were reported. Early estimates have damage at about $150,000.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Public works crews in De Pere are working on a water main break that forced the closure of an intersection Wednesday morning.

Officials say it affected the corner of Erie and Chicago Streets.

Drivers had to take an alternate route during the morning commute.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Here's something that may never happen again. A complete aircraft crew from World War II will make a flight on Monday in Oshkosh.

The Experimental Aircraft Association has brought together veterans from Wisconsin to represent each of the ten bomber-crew positions in a B-17. That in itself is a real accomplishment, since most 1940's war veterans have died and the remaining ones are getting into their 90s.

The EAA crew includes the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, bombardier, radio operator, and gunners -- all from World War II.

They'll fly an aircraft that the EAA will take on a national tour of over 40 cities starting April 18th. The plane is the Aluminum Overcast. It was built as the war was ending, so it never made a combat mission.

The EAA has owned the plane since 1981. It's among the last remaining B-17's that are air worthy.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - With highs approaching 70 Wednesday, it seems impossible to believe that Wisconsinites still face the risk of having their water pipes freeze.

But there's a lot of frost underground that's putting pressure on those pipes.

Because of that, dozens of communities continue to order residents to keep a tiny stream of water going 24-7 from one of their faucets. Those orders have ended in some places like Mosinee and Thorp.  

But FOX 11 still lists 20 communities which have orders to run water -- including Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac.

Most communities have said they'll pick up the tab for the extra water that's used -- and in some places, those who don't follow the orders will get billed if their pipes freeze.  

Folks in Clintonville have let an extra 1.4 million gallons a week drip from their faucets. The water running orders were first imposed in January, after the wind chills got down to 55-below in the far north.

Now, the temperatures are more spring-like -- at least above the surface.

Highs Wednesday are expected in the mid-50's in the north to the upper 60's in west central and southern areas under sunny to partly cloudy skies.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - The latest St. Norbert College poll shows Governor Scott Walker with a comfortable lead over challenger Mary Burke among likely Wisconsin voters.

In the latest Wisconsin Survey released Wednesday, the Republican Walker holds a 56 to 40 percent advantage over the Democrat Burke.

Poll results also find that 97 percent of Republicans plan to vote for Walker, while 88 percent of Democrats intend to vote for Burke.  Among independents, Walker leads 53 to 34 percent. The first-term governor is up for re-election in November.

Walker’s approval ratings are also up from the last poll. Fifty-nine percent of respondents say they either approve or strongly approve of Walker, up from 50% last fall. Walker’s disapproval rating stands at 39%.

• Click here for complete poll results

The poll involved 401 adult Wisconsin residents who were questioned between March 24 and April 3. It has a margin of error of 5 percent.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The 2014 preseason for the Green Bay Packers will start with back-to-back games on the road.

During week one (August 7-10), the Packers will travel to Tennessee to face the Titans. Week two (August 14-18) Green Bay will head to St. Louis to take on the Rams.

Week three will be a nationally televised game, as the Packers host the Oakland Raiders on August 22 at 7 p.m. That will air on CBS.

In the preseason finale, the Packers will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs on August 28.

Exact dates and times for the first two games have not been announced.

It's the third straight year the Packers will not face any regular-season opponents in the preseason.

The National Football League will unveil the regular season schedule later this month.

You can hear all Packers games right here on 1360-97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - Sheriff's in Waupaca County are on the lookout for a registered sex offender who cut off his monitoring bracelet and is on the loose.

Around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, authorities say 52-year-old Phillip Rath walked away from his mother's home in the Town of Dayton. Sheriff's officials believe Rath went to the Stevens Point/Plover area.

According to deputies, it's the second time this year Rath has cut off his monitoring bracelet and wandered away. He was found within 24 hours last time.

Online court records show Rath was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child in 1993.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department at (715) 258-4466.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - An envelope manufacturer in Grand Chute is closing its facility.

The move by Cenveo is putting 150 people out of a job. 

Last fall, Cenveo bought National Envelope out of bankruptcy. The company has been attempting to work out a lease with the firm that owns the building, but has been unable to agree to a deal with Arizona-based Spirit Leasing.

“It’s a difficult decision and a tough day for those impacted,” Mark Hiltwein, president of the envelope group for Cenveo, told FOX 11. “We don’t take these things lightly but the landlord put us in a difficult situation.”

The facility in Grand Chute is expected to operate for another 60 days before shutting down. 

Cenevo is also shuttering three facilities in other state. But officials say they may relocate two of them.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - A national conservative group has released hidden video Wednesday showing state Senate President Mike Ellis discussing plans for setting up an illegal political action committee.

The recording was done by Project Veritas, which is a non-profit group run by James O'Keefe.

In the video, the Neenah Republican said he had a separate political operation with between $400,000 and $500,000 to help him in his re-election bid against state Representative Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton).

"I'm putting together my own Super Pac...I don't need to kiss anybody's ass," Ellis said in the recording.

Ellis went on to say that he didn't want to personally attack Schaber during the election, but was giving that job to the committee and the handiwork of consultant Judi Rhodes.

"I have a $400,000 committee and Judi Rhodes will...I'm raising the money, she will manufacture the crap," Ellis said.

Wisconsin state law prohibits candidates campaign's from coordinating with any independent group. 

Ellis would not respond to a request for an interview with WTAQ to explain his actions, but did talk to other media.

Another topic of conversation in the recording was the John Doe probe. Ellis called it, "a blessing in disguise and the Scott Walker is only looking out for Walker."

NEW HOLSTEIN, WI (WTAQ) - A gas main break in the city of New Holstein has forced some residents to evacuate their homes.

Authorities say a road construction crew struck the main at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Mason Street around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Wisconsin Public Service officials say natural gas service was turned off to about 600 customers while crews make repairs.

The homes on the intersection were evacuated by police because of the initial release of natural gas before it was shut off. After repairs are made and service is restored, WPS will call in extra workers to go door-to-door to re-light appliances and furnaces.

A shelter has been set up at city hall for those people who were evacuated.

New Holstein police, fire, emergency management, Calumet County Emergency Management, and Wisconsin Public Service are on scene.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County Sheriff’s Department is looking for two men it says robbed the BP gas station on Taylor Street in Howard.

The armed robbery happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Deputies say two men walked into the gas station and one of them showed a hand gun. They got away with 30 packs of Newport cigarettes and $276 in cash.

No one was hurt.

According to the Brown County Sheriff's Department: The robber with the gun was described as a black male, 5'10" to 6-feet tall, weighing 200-220 pounds. His hair had braids just below his ears. He was wearing black sweatpants, a black sweatshirt, a black knit hat, black gloves, red and white athletic shoes and a ski mask up to his nose.

The robber with the backpack was described as a black male, 5'8" to 5'10", weighing 160-180 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, black pants, white athletic shoes, black gloves and the same type of ski mask as the other robber. His backpack was black with large “DC” letters on the back.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Rick Davidson at (920) 448-6192 or davidson_rt@co.brown.wi.us. Anonymous calls can be made to (920) 432-7867; text messages can be sent to 274637 with the keyword GBTIP.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A report of shots fired early Thursday sends Green Bay police to the city's far east side.

The incident was reported around 2:45 a.m. in the area of Gershwin Drive and Lake Largo Drive. That's near the UW-Green Bay campus.

"The campus was never in any danger, we never had any type of alert systems for that," says Lt. Jeff Brester with the Green Bay Police Department. "We don't think they were intentionally shooting at any one person or property."

Brester says they pulled a suspect vehicle over and found a shotgun and ammo inside.

Two 24-year-old men, George Morgan of Bellevue and Kyle Peterson of Green Bay, were arrested and face charges including OWI and intoxicated possession of a firearm.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with Oshkosh Defense are announcing about 760 workers will be laid off beginning this summer.

The company says that, starting in June, about 700 hourly employees will be cut. Then in July, approximately 60 salaried positions will be eliminated.

During a news conference Thursday, the company says most of the layoffs involve temporary workers and retiring employees.

The head of the Oshkosh defense division, John Urias, said the firm went to "great lengths" to delay the impact of lower defense spending on the Oshkosh workforce. He said the firm carried out alternatives like not filling vacancies and using outside contractors -- and it has tried pursuing relevant international opportunities for making vehicles.

But now, Urias says Oshkosh must reshape its workforce and return to peace time operations. 

FOX 11 reports that UAW Local 578 President Joe Preisler was informed of the layoffs earlier in the day.

With these latest job cuts, Oshkosh Defense will employ about 1,850 workers.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11 and Wheeler News Service).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A Winnebago County judge has sentenced William Doemel to 17 years in prison for causing a fatal drunken crash.

On December 15, 2012, Doemel slammed into another vehicle in Nekimi, killing Robert Zentner and injuring Zentner's wife.

A criminal complaint details that Doemel had a blood-alcohol content of 0.285, which is over three times the legal limit. His driver's license was also suspended at the time.

In court Thursday, Judge Karen Seifert sentenced Doemel to 12 years in prison for the fatality and another five years for the injuries.

After his release, his driver’s license will be revoked for five years, and then he would be required to have an ignition interlock for five years.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - The dean of St. Norbert College's new school of business and economics has been named.

Kevin Quinn has been tabbed to be the dean of the Donald J. Schneider School of Business and Economics.

The new school will pair St. Norbert’s existing business administration and economics departments with a master’s of business administration program. Classes are expected to begin in fall 2015.

“It is a significant honor to have been chosen as the founding dean of St. Norbert’s new Donald J. Schneider School of Business and Economics,” Quinn said in a news release. “It’s not every day that one gets to help build and lead something that will have a positive impact for many decades on students and our community.”

Quinn earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Loyola University in Chicago and an MBA in marketing and economics from the University of Illinois-Chicago. 

Quinn has been at St. Norbert College since 1994, focusing primarily in recent years in the field of sports economics. He's expected to begin his job by July 1.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

TOWN OF BUCHANAN, WI (WTAQ) - A Wisconsin State Trooper who had part of his right leg amputated just three months ago says his goal is to go back to work.

Trooper Justin Hansen spoke for the first time Thursday since he was severely injured after responding to a crash on a slippery stretch of Highway 41 near Winchester Road in Neenah.

While removing traffic cones from his squad car, a driver lost control of his vehicle and struck Trooper Hansen pinning him between both vehicles.

"We have had to overcome a great deal of adversity," said Trooper Justin Hansen during a press conference at Buchanan Town Hall. "And we're learning and adapting to our new lives every day."

Both of Hansen's legs were broken in the crash and required surgery. His right leg was severely injured and had to be amputated below the knee.

“I heard the crash and I looked in my rear view and saw he was sideways,” said Brian Wood, who Hansen was responding to right before he was struck by the vehicle. Wood, along with two Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputies, provided first aid to Hansen before the ambulance arrived.

"When we got there and we're helping him, we knew how much pain and damage there was," said Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Burns. 

All three men applied tourniquets to stop the bleeding from Hansen's injury. Officials credit their actions with likely saving Hansen's life.

So far in his recovery, Hansen's wife Katie says she's been amazed at how far he's come.

"Ever since he got out of ICU, his first questions were when can I go back to work," says Katie Hansen. 

Justin Hansen gave lots of thanks and credit to his family, friends, fellow officers and the community for the outpouring of support. 

"Every card, letter, e-mail, every text, phone call, donation and visit has contributed to my recovery," said Justin Hansen, who walked into the town hall with a cane.

Brian Wood is also doing something else to help Hansen and his family. Wood, who owns 1 Bar in Kaukauna, is holding a benefit for Trooper Hansen and his family on April 19. 

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department was the lead investigative agency for this crash. Capt. Nick Scorcio of the Wisconsin State Patrol says the investigation is not yet complete, and the driver of the Nissan that struck Hansen could still get a ticket.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Appleton say an officer was involved in a shooting Thursday evening on the city's south side.

Cops were called to the 1300 block of S. Monroe Street, near St. Elizabeth Hospital. They were responding to a shoplifting complaint. Upon arrival, cops say the suspect pulled out a gun.

The officers ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, and when he didn't officers opened fire.

Appleton police say the suspect was injured and is in custody. No officers were hurt.

Police didn't say what business the suspect targeted, but police say it was on S. Oneida Street.

The Green Bay Police Department is helping with the investigation.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).