GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The company in charge of restoring Green Bay Preble High School said Monday that the building will not be ready in time for the start of fall classes in September.

J. Murphy with Paul Davis National says smoke and soot traveled through the entire building and it needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. The crew of over 100 people began cleaning on Friday.

“In some areas it’s light and in other areas it’s more involved,” Murphy told FOX 11. “We don’t know the totally of what we have to do.” 

Murphy says the building is being assessed and won't know the full damage until after reports come back later this week. He adds that night crew cleaning will begin on Wednesday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The EPA's regional leader says the Bay of Green Bay could develop the same type of algae that caused Toledo Ohio's water to be undrinkable for several days.

During a visit to Milwaukee, EPA Midwest administrator Susan Hedman said Green Bay has significant blooms which are ripe for the development of blue-green algae and other types.

Phosphorus runoff from farms appeared to feeding blue-green algae that's related to a toxin in the Toledo area's water supplies for 400,000 people.

Hedman said federal funds are being spent on the problem in a number of places, including the Bay of Green Bay.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes praises the EPA's efforts there -- as well as the DNR's effort to keep phosphorus in check elsewhere in Wisconsin. However, Lyman Welch of the Alliance tells Wisconsin Public Radio that voluntary measures may no longer be enough -- and it's time to address the entire watershed and address all phosphorus pollution sources.

The state approved standards to reduce phosphorus levels in 2010. In the last legislative session, Republicans gave businesses and communities up to 20 years to comply, after some said it cost them too much to do so now.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

PULASKI, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say a woman is dead and a man is facing charges after a fatal motorcycle crash early Sunday.

The Brown County Sheriff's Department says it happened just after 3 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 32 and County Highway B.

The motorcycle was headed northbound on Highway 32 when the driver lost control and crashed. The driver's 29-year-old wife died in the crash. 

He was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, then released and taken to the Brown County Jail.

Pulaski police are seeking charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. Authorities say speed and alcohol was a factor in the crash.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An emergency water conservation notice has been lifted by the Green Bay Water Utility.

All residential and commercial water customers in the city of Green Bay, town of Scott and villages of Ashwaubenon and Hobart can now resume normal water use.

Utility crews were able to repair one of the city's two incoming water transmission lines that had a leak.

FLORENCE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 70-year-old man has been arrested in Florence County after authorities say he threatened tubers on the Pine River Oxbox at gunpoint.

The man appeared from shore as tubers floated on the river on Saturday in Commonwealth Township.

The man told the tubers that the river belonged to him and that he was "King of America."

According to the sheriff's department, the man then pointed a shotgun at the group as they floated by. The gunman also confronted other groups of tubers.

Deputies arrested the man, who had two guns and 280 rounds of ammunition. He has not been formally charged.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police need your help finding a person who stole sporting goods and electronics from a store.

Authorities say the thefts happened at the Walmart, 351 S. Washburn Street, around 1:20 p.m. on July 22. The shoplifter may have been cut while taking the items out of their packages, according to police.

Investigators wouldn't specify what was taken.

The suspect had dark hair and was wearing a white t-shirt, police said. He left in a pickup truck that was maroon with tan trim.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5700. Anonymous tips can also be left with Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 231-8477, by text message with the keyword IGOTYA to 274637 or online.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Fire investigators have determined that spontaneous combustion was the cause of last Friday's morning fire that heavily damaged Green Bay Preble High School.

Green Bay Area Public School District employees, who were cleaning up from the resurfacing of the gym floor, improperly disposed of rags used to clean up a chemical.

"They placed rags that were used to clean up some of the product that was used to resurface the floor, that product actually spontaneously combusted with those cotton rags and started the plastic garbage can that was placed next to the bleachers on fire," says Green Bay Metro Fire Lt. Nick Craig. "We were able to conclude that through scene examination and video footage from a camera that was placed in the gymnasium."

Craig reiterated that there was no intruder, and that the motion detectors were initially set off by the fires sometime around 1:20 a.m. Friday.

Officials were adamant that the fire was not set on purpose, but stopped short of calling it an accidental fire.

"I can't say...I mean if you're saying was it done on purpose, I can guarantee that it wasn't done on purpose," says Mike Stangel, director of facilities for the Green Bay Area Public School District.

"Was something done wrong, were they improperly disposed of? Yes they were improperly disposed of," says Craig. "Did they do it on purpose? Obviously not."

Preble High School principal Natasha Rowell confirmed earlier reports that the damage to the school building is worse than they first thought, and that has led to the reality that the building will not be ready for the start of classes on September 2.

"The district staff is already looking at different scenarios to make up the lost school and instructional time," said Rowell. "At this point, we're just throwing some ideas around and nothing is really formalized at this time."

Rowell would only go on to say that they are considering different ways of providing instructional material to students. 

In the meantime, a website has been dedicated to keep students, parents, and the public up to date with the latest on what officials are doing in response to the fire.

A crew of more than 100 people is cleaning up the damage.

“We don’t know the totality of what we have to do,” said J Murphy with Paul Davis National.

Murphy says the entire school will have to be cleaned because smoke and soot travelled throughout the building.

“It’s really going to be a lot of odor control and a lot of just physical wiping of surfaces,” Murphy said.

Murphy says crews will begin working throughout the night starting Wednesday evening. That could push the total number of workers on this cleanup project to over 400.

In the meantime, Danz Avenue between the school and the football field will be closed so the restoration company can use the area.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man from New Franken has been charged with causing a fatal rollover crash on Saturday morning.

25-year-old Stephen Gruselle is facing three counts, including homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

Green Bay police say it happened near the 3800 block of E. Mason Street just before 5 a.m. The site is near Finger Road.

Authorities say 23-year-old Nicole Behnke was found on the ground 100 feet away from her car. She was rushed to the hospital and later was pronounced dead.

Gruselle and two other people in the vehicle were also hurt.

In court Monday, prosecutors say Gruselle's blood alcohol content was .107. That's above the legal limit of .08. 

Bond for Gruselle was set at $25,000 and he's due back in court August 19.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Pulaski man has been charged in the weekend motorcycle crash that killed his wife.

31-year-old Jonathan R. Cherney appeared in court Monday and was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.

Early Sunday morning, the motorcycle Cherney was driving lost control at the intersection of Highway 32 and County Highway B in Pulaski. Investigators say Cherney's 29-year-old wife Anna was killed.

Cherney was treated and released from a hospital.

Authorities indicated that speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. Prosecutors say Cherney's blood alcohol content was .125, above the .08 legal limit.

Neither person was wearing a helmet at the time.

A judge set Cherney's bond at $25,000.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - It's primary election day in Wisconsin.

The statewide contests have not generated much excitement, and officials predict a 15 percent voter turnout.

The biggest item on the ballot is a three-way Democratic primary for the open attorney general's post. Lawmaker Jon Richards and prosecutors Susan Happ and Ismael Ozanne are running for a spot on the November ballot against Republican prosecutor Brad Schimel.

The most hotly-contested primary has been for the open U.S. House seat in eastern Wisconsin, where 4 Republicans hope to replace retiring GOP incumbent Tom Petri. State lawmakers Glenn Grothman, Duey Strobel, and Joe Leibham are running, along with retired technical college instructor Tom Denow.

For governor, Democrat Mary Burke faces long shot opposition from Assembly Democrat Brett Hulsey -- although Burke has ignored Hulsey and focused instead on trying to beat Republican Scott Walker in November.

State Senate Democrat John Lehman and activist Mary Jo Walters are running for their party's lieutenant governor nomination.

There are also GOP primaries for state treasurer and secretary of state -- but there's been little interest, after lawmakers have stripped both jobs of virtually all their duties.

There are also numerous primaries for state Legislature and county offices. All polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A groom in Manitowoc County spent his wedding night in jail, for throwing a full mug of beer during an argument at a tavern.

Police said the 28-year-old man from Two Rivers was celebrating his wedding on Saturday night, and was still wearing his tuxedo, when he got into a loud spat at a bar.

Officers said he threw a beer mug against the wall, and almost hit a woman in the head -- and he was said to be abusive and profane.

The bar owner called police, but the groom left before officers got there. They later found the groom, the bride, and others in a vehicle about 1 a.m. Sunday.

The groom was booked in jail for violating a previous probation. He faces a possible charge of disorderly conduct.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

NEW FRANKEN, WI (WTAQ) - A memorial service will be held Wednesday near Green Bay for a World War II soldier whose remains came home almost 70 years after he died.

Air Force Staff Sergeant David Kittredge of Oneida was a radio operator whose B-26 bomber was shot down in 1945 over Germany.

Human remains from the crash were found there in 2012, and an Armed Forces lab identified Kittredge through DNA.

His relatives accepted his cremated remains Monday. They were taken to Nicolet Memorial Gardens at New Franken, where a service is planned Wednesday with full military honors.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Construction begins Friday on a new domestic violence shelter for Manitowoc County.

The Wisconsin Domestic Violence Center says its current 19-bed facility is often over capacity -- and its living rooms and library often have to be used as bedrooms.

The Manitowoc shelter had its largest average capacity on record in 2013.

Center officials say the new shelter will have more bed space, plus more room for various services and meetings. $1.8 million has been raised for the project, and another $100,000 is still being sought.

The new center is expected to be ready in about nine months.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - New home construction continues to lag in Wisconsin's largest metro areas.

MTD Marketing Services said the numbers of building permits for new one and two-family homes fell by just over 10 percent last month.

369 permits were issued in the Milwaukee, Madison, Fox Valley, Racine-Kenosha, and Green Bay-Door County regions. That's 42 fewer home permits than were issued in July of 2013.

There were declines in all five regions.

For the first 7 months of the year, MTD said building permits for new homes dropped by almost 3 percent, to around 2,200.  

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Leaders in the Appleton area say they cannot find room for unaccompanied children who've been crossing into the U.S. at the Mexican border.

The federal government was hoping to locate up to 400 children in the Fox Valley, as they escape violence in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

However, the Appleton Post-Crescent says Outagamie County officials are concerned about funding and education for the youngsters.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department said federal money would pay for the shelter itself.

The agency has been looking around the country for large shelter facilities within 100 miles of airports.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Voters in Northeast Wisconsin had a number of key local races in Tuesday's primary election.

In the 4th Assembly district Republican race, David Steffen won a 3-way primary over Jeff Goelz and Corrie Campbell. Steffern garnered 59 percent of the vote, while Goelz got 26 percent and 15 percent for Campbell.

For the Brown County Clerk of Courts Republican primary, John Vander Leest was victorious in the four-way race with 63 percent of the vote over Donna Mason with 22 percent, Thomas Smith with 8 percent and Julie Hornburg with 6 percent.

In the Republican primary for Door County Sheriff, Steve Delarwelle defeated Jeffrey Farley, Carl Waterstreet and Chris Neuville with all precincts reporting. Delarwelle garnered 48 percent of the vote.

In the Republican primary for Fond du Lac County Sheriff, incumbent Mick Fink defeated Bill Ledger 75 to 25 percent.

For the Republican primary for Outagamie County Sheriff, incumbent Brad Gehring leads challenger Ron Viaene 78 to 22 percent, with just under half of precincts reporting.

In the Republican primary for Shawano County Sheriff, challenger Adam Bieber knocked off incumbent Randy Wright 52 to 48 percent.

And in the District 13 race for the Outagamie County Board, Leroy Van Asten defeated Jason Fischer 58 to 42 percent.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Two men have been charged with beating and sexually assaulting a homeless man in the Appleton area.

48-year-old Anthony Gomez and 28-year-old Alexsander Mirkovich were jailed under $10,000 bonds, after appearing in Outagamie County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Both are charged with first-degree sexual assault and substantial battery.

According to prosecutors, Gomez and Mirkovich attacked a man they met at the Fox Valley Warming Shelter -- and he suffered a broken nose and other facial injuries.

Mirkovich told police that he and Gomez were visiting from Florida, and he denied hurting the victim. Online court records list Appleton addresses for both men.

Mirkovich is due back in court August 22nd for a preliminary hearing. Records for Gomez do not list an upcoming court date.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OCONTO FALLS, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin school referendums had mixed results.

Voters in the Oconto Falls School District said yes to borrowing $3.4 million for various projects. They'll include an outdoor track, roof repairs, more computer access, and more funding for teachers.

71 percent of Brown Deer school voters agreed to refinance almost $4 million of previous obligations.

A $4 million referendum was defeated in the Blackhawk Technical College district near Janesville, which would have exceed the state-mandated taxing limit to keep current programs going. That vote was 57 to 43 percent against.

In southwest Wisconsin, voters in the North Crawford School District voted 505 to 199 against a $1.3 million package. It would have included a new school wellness center, classroom renovations, and related equipment. 

A referendum to exceed the state revenue caps was approved in Green Lake, while a similar one was rejected in Princeton.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - In the days after a fire tore through Preble High School, some community members decided to help out with monetary support to help the school.

However, officials with the Green Bay Area Public School District say they're not seeking money and are working on ways to use any money that is coming in.

District chief financial officer Alan Wagner tells FOX 11 that the district appreciates the support from Cousin Subs on Green Bay's east side and the efforts of the Green Bay Bullfrogs. 

Cousins is donating 20 percent of profits from goods sold Wednesday evening from 4 until 8 p.m. The S. Webster Avenue location says Cousins corporate foundation will provide a matching donation. Last Friday, the Bullfrogs held a 50/50 raffle and took donations totaling $880.

Wagner says the school district has a special account that will pool all the money being donated for Preble. 

He does say the district's insurance policy will likely cover the majority of the replacement costs needed to restore the gym and other areas that were damaged.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

TOWN OF CARLTON, WI (WTAQ) - The Kewaunee County Board has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday at 7 p.m. to talk about the challenging of an assessment by the owner of the Kewaunee Power Station.

The nuclear plant's owner is fighting an assessment of its property valuation that may double what it has to pay the government.

Dominion did not pay property taxes on the generating facilities while the plant was operational. Instead, it made a utility tax payment to the state of Wisconsin. In turn, the state made payments to Kewaunee County and the Town of Carlton.

According to Carlton town clerk Linda Sinkula, those payments totaled about $4 million per year.

Dominion's Mark Kanz says in 2013, the town received $356,631, while the county received $713,262.

Under state law, those payments must decrease by 20 percent over 5 years. However, the town could assess the property and levy regular property taxes. Any such payments would have to be deducted from the state's payment.

Sinkula says that the Town of Carlton's assessment put the property's value at $502,424,800. She estimates that would be a tax bill to Dominion of around $8 million annually combined to the county, town, public school and technical school district.

Dominion has filed six objections to the assessments, arguing the total value of the property is $1,559,600. The company also says that three of the properties have no taxable value.

Sinkula says on Tuesday night town officials set the contested appeals hearing for September 20.

Kanz says his company wants to agree to a negotiated settlement over the value of its property. Dominion paid $219 million for the plant back in 2005.

Kewaunee County Board Chairman Ron Heuer has called an emergency meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the administration building. Officials with the state Department of Revenue will also be there.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).