APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The Appleton Police Department says that a story circulating on Facebook about an attempted abduction at a store is a hoax.

Police say no arrests have been made yet and the investigation continues.

The APD says the alleged incident at the Walmart store on E. Calumet Street/Highway KK Wednesday night did not happen.

Here’s the note police posted.

Sgt. Dave Lund says the 25-year-old Menasha woman admitted to making up the story and there was not an attempted abduction. Lund did not say what the possible motive may have been.

Authorities reviewed Walmart's video cameras and didn't find any evidence to support the woman's claim. 

Police are requesting an obstruction charge against the woman.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - Last weekend's controversial pig wrestling event put on by an Outagamie County church has drawn the ire of an animal rights group.

The group, called SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness), showed video Thursday of several dozen alleged animal cruelty violations conducted by St. Patrick Catholic Church in Stephensville.

President and founder Steve Hindi says they found cruelty to animals, animal fighting and child neglect - specifically, juveniles encouraged to wallow in mud contaminated with animal feces and urine. Hindi says, under state law, spectators, organizers and participants could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony.

"I mean, somebody tell me what constitutes a fight if it's not that, and a fight between an animal and a human in Wisconsin is a felony," said Hindi. "We don't like animal abuse as an organization, we don't like corruption, we don't like people who lie and we don't like churches whose mission has been so thoroughly perverted."

Hindi showed a photo (above) that details a July 28, 1995 article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is which then Assistant District Attorney Mitchell Metropulos that the pig wrestling fundraiser, "could violate two state laws."

Asked why, if the event was canceled then, it has been allowed to continue every year?

"I have one word for situations like this...its corruption," said Hindi, who explained why he won't be filing a complaint with the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department. "The sheriff was marching in the parade...I think the sheriff is bent. I think it's the state police and the attorney general's office that needs to take a look at this."

Hindi says they're continuing to compile evidence from the video footage shot last weekend, and plans to issue that complaint sometime next week. He also walked with the media across the street from the Hawthorne Suites in Allouez to the Diocese of Green Bay chancery to try and meet with Bishop David Ricken.

Ricken wasn't available, but communications director Justine Lodl did speak with Hindi and his camera person. Lodl didn't speak with the media after the meeting, but did say, "We are going to review all of your materials and discuss this."

WTAQ sought comment from both Deacon Ken Bilgrien with St. Patrick Church and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson for reaction, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

Last Friday the Appleton Post-Crescent reported that Nelson came to the defense of the church, saying he's attended the roundup since he became county executive and has never watched the Pig Rassle. Nelson did attend on Sunday.

"He was shaking hands when people were going in the line, and I said I wanted to get a picture with you, he didn't know who I was," said Hindi. "We certainly will be speaking to him now."

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The trendy "ice bucket challenge" has made its way to Green Bay City Hall.

Mayor Jim Schmitt decided to take part in the challenge, which aims to raise money to fight ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Schmitt climbed to the top of the Zippin Pippin roller coaster at Bay Beach Amusement Park to perform the "ice bucket challenge" in the YouTube video above.

After completing the challenge, Schmitt called out fellow mayors Michael Walsh of De Pere, Justin Nickels of Manitowoc and Tim Hanna of Appleton to participate.

According to the ALS Association, about $5 million in donations have been made in the past several weeks since the challenge has caught on. Celebrities, politicians and athletes have taken part; including Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, along with Milwaukee Brewers players Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Kyle Lohse.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - WTAQ toured the damage and work being done at Green Bay Preble High School for the first time since last week's fire inside the field house.

On Thursday J. Murphy, Senior VP of Operations with Paul Davis Company, says they don't know the extent of the contamination throughout the building.

"The soot and the smoke that we can see is not a concern to us,” said Murphy. “It’s what we can’t see. So what we’ve done up to this point, is we’ve taken air sampling and we’ve taken what’s called swipe samples. And the hygienist has gone through the building numerous times and they’ll take the samples and they’ll get readings for us and tell us what kind of contamination is in there.”

At that point, Murphy says they'll have a better timetable for when Preble High School can reopen. 

Classes were supposed to start on September 2, but officials with the Green Bay Area Public School District haven't decided on a new start date. Officials also haven't determined how students will make up the lost hours of instruction.

Murphy said when the school re-opens, the field house where the fire started will not be ready for students to use. The school does have a smaller gym that will be ready.

Teachers and staff are able to go into some of their rooms and inventory what items have been damaged and need to be replaced.

"We're giving the teachers the opportunity to throw away anything that they don't want," says Murphy. "It would cost far more to clean it than it would be to make a duplicate of it, so that's being evaluated on a room-by-room basis."

Fire investigators said spontaneous combustion ignited the fire. They indicate the fire might have been prevented if district employees had cleaned up correctly after resurfacing the gym’s wood floor.

School officials say insurance will likely cover most, if not all, of the replacement costs.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc Police stopped a car late Wednesday night for not having its headlights on, and the driver turned out to be just 13 -- and intoxicated.

The officer was a drug recognition expert who arrested the young girl for OWI, and for having child passengers in the vehicle at the time.

Five young people, ages 14 and under, were on board. One had a pending custody order, and was taken to the juvenile detention center in neighboring Sheboygan County.

The 13-year-old driver was released to her mother.

Others in the car were also released to relatives, although one had an apprehension request from the local human services agency.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

CHICAGO (WTAQ) - The Oneida Indian tribe says it should not have to pay $400 million in connection with a stalled energy project in Green Bay.

The tribe has asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit filed against the Oneidas in March by the firm of Generation Clean Fuels.

That company said it struck a partnership with the tribal-owned Oneida-Seven Generations Corporation for a proposed waste-to-energy recycling plant in Green Bay. The suit also said Generation Clean Fuels agreed to lease the plant's equipment.

The project came to a halt after Green Bay officials withdrew a permit for it.

The Oneidas said neither the tribe nor its Generations firm signed contracts with the Illinois-based clean fuel outfit. They said a tribal affiliate entered the deal without letting Oneida leaders know about it.

The company says it will respond in court soon. The case is being heard in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Several people were arrested Thursday after Green Bay police got several complaints of magazine solicitors going door-to-door.

The complaints came from the Red Smith neighborhood, and when officers arrived they arrested two people after learning they didn't have a permit to sell door-to-door.

Then three more solicitors were taken into custody near Christa McAuliffe Park after they also failed to have a permit.

One of the solicitors was also charged with obstructing an officer. Police also found out the van they were driving was reported stolen out of Indiana.

The people claimed to work for Freedom Sales or Ultimate Solutions. Both companies have received an "F" rating by the Better Business Bureau for multiple complaints by customers.

Authorities say if you gave money to any of these magazine solicitors, and you want to cancel your transaction, you need to contact your bank and cancel the check.

If anyone comes to your door to solicit anything, ask to see their Green Bay Solicitor's Permit. It will show that it was issued by the City of Green Bay and will have an expiration date on it. They must be carried by the seller at all times.

Should they fail to display their permit, you're asked to call the Green Bay Police Department to report the incident.

Officials also stress that just because the solicitor may have the proper permit with the City of Green Bay does not mean that the City of Green Bay deems the business or product they are selling to be legitimate.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Outagamie County prosecutors say they want to delay, and possibly drop charges temporarily, in the murder trial of a woman accused of helping to kill her domestic partner.

Dianna Siveny is charged with being party to murder and solicitation of substantial battery in the 2007 death of Lara Plamann.

Siveny allegedly offered Rosie Campbell $5,000 to kill Plamann, but when Campbell backed out, Siveny's daughter Kandi, allegedly shot Plamann.

Last year, Campbell confessed to police and was expected to testify against the Sivenys. Dianna's trial is scheduled for August 25, while Kandi's is set for September 29.

According to court documents filed Thursday, Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider says that Campbell has now refused to testify, even under an offer of immunity. Schneider called Campbell's testimony, "an important component and necessity in the prosecution of this defendant."

Prosecutors are looking to delay Dianna's trial until after Campbell's, which is scheduled to begin October 6.

It's the latest twist in this case. A judge previously ordered both Sivenys to be released on bond, ruling that the state violated their right to a speedy trial. Because of that, the state's petition outlines another alternative.

“The state needs to needs to proceed in a manner which requires this case to be moved until after Ms. Campbell’s trial. The state understands the exceptional circumstances and request that is being made. In the alternative, if the Court will not grant this request for a new date, the State is also submitting a Motion to Dismiss the matter. The state will then act and pursue prosecution of this matter until after other mattes have been resolved,” wrote Schneider.

FOX 11 reports that if Campbell is not convicted at the time of Dianna Siveny's trial, Campbell could invoke her 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination. However, if she's convicted and then is called as a witness, the rules change in terms of her rights and how her testimony can be addressed by the attorneys.

There is scheduled to be a motions hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday before Outagamie County Judge Nancy Krueger.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Door County say they have arrested a man and woman suspected of stealing purses and using stolen checks at grocery stores in Bellevue and Sturgeon Bay.

Brown County Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Sanborn says the suspects were found camping at Potawatomi State Park. Door County sheriff's deputies were able to identify them through store surveillance video.

Authorities say on Tuesday, August 12 around 8:30 a.m., a man was caught on video stealing a purse from a shopping cart while a woman was unloading groceries from her cart into her vehicle in the Festival Foods parking lot in Bellevue.

Then on Thursday, August 14, the same man and a female accomplice were seen stealing a purse from a woman at Econo Foods in Sturgeon Bay.

Video of the same man found him buying a large amount of camping supplies at the Walmart in Sturgeon Bay.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A court commissioner in Brown County has ruled that Terry Shepard will stand trial in a Green Bay murder.

Police say Shepard shot Steven Sims at an apartment on Stuart Street on the city's east side April 15. Shepard claims he did it in self-defense.

Arraignment for Shepard on the charge of first-degree intentional homicide is set for October 20.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Area School District said late Friday afternoon that Preble High School will be ready for the start of classes on September 15.

The school was heavily damaged by fire a week ago that started in the gym.

The original start date for classes was September 2. 

District and school officials are still working on how they will make up the required instructional minutes. However, they said their plans will avoid using weekends and holidays.

In a news release, district officials said there will be no changes to end of the school year dates. The last day of school remains June 10, 2015 (June 4 for seniors).

Teachers will have workdays on September 10 and 11 to prepare classrooms for students.

Registration will take place inside the Preble commons September 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. and September 12 from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Workers from Paul Davis Company have been making progress, and Friday night is the first night they will be in the school overnight.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The city of Green Bay was supposed to announce Friday that a deal has been reached to sell the Clarion Hotel to a Michigan based company.

However, there is still no word on a deal.

Last March, city leaders bought the hotel for over $2.5 million to ensure the nearby KI Convention Center expansion moved forward.

The plan was for American Hospitality to purchase the hotel for $2.7 million and spend about $5 million on renovations.

Work was expected to be done by August 2015.

If a deal is not reached, the city council will have to discuss what to do with the hotel during its next meeting on Tuesday.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - U.S. Senator Ron Johnson was challenged and he came through.

As part of a fundraising effort for ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease – Johnson poured ice-cold water over his head in the Utah mountains, where he is camping.

He had been challenged by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. 

Johnson tweeted a photo of the act Friday. In that same tweet, the Republican challenges three conservative radio talk-show hosts, including WTAQ's Jerry Bader.

Word is, Wisconsin Republican Congressman Paul Ryan wrote a check.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

TOWN OF FAIRBANKS, WI (WTAQ) - Shawano County authorities say a man is dead after the motorcycle he was riding struck a deer Friday night.

Sheriff's officials say it happened on Hirt Road in the Town of Fairbanks around 9:06 p.m. That's just outside of the Village of Tigerton.

According to authorities, a 23-year-old Tigerton man suffered serious injuries after hitting the deer and died shortly after the crash.

No one else was on the motorcycle at the time.

Officials say speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

ST. LOUIS (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Packers first-team offense looked to be in mid-season form on the opening drive, marching down the field for a touchdown which put the green and gold ahead for good in a 21-7 win over the St. Louis Rams Saturday.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers went 6-for-6 passing on that drive, including a 14 yard run, en route to an 11-of-13 afternoon for 128 yards and a 3-yard TD pass to Randall Cobb.

Running back Eddie Lacy carried the ball 5 times for 25 yards, and caught 2 passes for 22 yards.

“The offense got off to a great start. I really liked the production that we were able to get done in the first two series," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

It wasn't all good news for the Packers, as tight end Brandon Bostick left the game in the first half with a lower leg injury. Bostick had one catch for 9 yards.

The Packers move to 1-1 in this preseason and will play their final two exhibition games at Lambeau Field starting Friday against the Oakland Raiders.

Two Rivers, WI (WTAQ) - More than a dozen houses had to be evacuated in Two Rivers because of a gas leak. 

The Two Rivers Fire Department says the leak was reported about 1 a.m. this morning (Monday).

Crews isolated the leak in the 1700 block of Columbus Street and say it was a pretty large leak. Repairs handled by Wisconsin Public Service.

The process to make repairs and make sure everything is safe took a few hours.  

WPS says those evacuated were allowed back into their homes by 7a.m.

No one was hurt.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has closed the U.S. Highway 41 interchange at Lineville Road in the Howard-Suamico area.

The closure is for crews to build four roundabouts at the interchange between W. Deerfield Avenue and Lakeview Drive. It will be shut down for the next 60 days.

Officials say E. Deerfield Avenue will remain open for access to local businesses.

Drivers should use Lakeview Drive or County B as alternate routes. Due to the closure at Shawano Avenue, motorists may want to avoid the Velp Avenue interchange for at least another couple weeks.

Businesses will have directions posted on blue signs to help drivers find their way to them.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A judge is expected to decide Monday whether to delay or drop the case of an Appleton area woman accused of shooting her domestic partner to death.

55-year-old Dianna Siveny is scheduled to go on trial a week from Monday, and the prosecution is missing some key evidence in the case.

Siveny is charged with homicide and substantial battery in the death of Lara Plamann, whose body was found in October of 2007 in the shed of a home the two had shared.

Authorities said Siveny's daughter Kandi did the actual shooting, which reportedly occurred because Plamann had cheated on Kandi's mother.

A third person, Rosie Campbell of St. Paul, is also charged in the case -- and she's refusing to testify against Dianna Siveny even if her remarks get immunity from her prosecution.

Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider says Campbell's testimony is a "necessity" in the state's case. Campbell reportedly made a confession which resulted in the arrests.

Schneider has asked that next week's trial be delayed -- and if the judge refuses, she'll seek to dismiss the charges without prejudice so she can re-file the case in the future.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - Fire crews in Kaukauna responded to a possible structure fire at one of the Fox River locks Saturday.

Officials responded around 6:15 p.m. to the north lock gate #5 and found flames. The lock is made of heavy timber and metal, according to officials.

The flames were quickly extinguished. No one was hurt.

On Friday, a demolition crew was working on removing the gate and was using a torch. Officials say due to the size of the timber, it had not been properly extinguished before the crew left.

Damage is estimated to be less than $5,000.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The local "wheel tax" is making a comeback.

At least a couple places in Wisconsin are considering their own tax for each vehicle registered within their boundaries, to help pay for road maintenance and repairs.

The Chippewa County Board discussed the idea of a wheel tax last week, in part to keep the roads clear of snow. The county highway department in Chippewa Falls said snow removal is already a half-million dollars over its budget for this year, due mainly to the long and hard winter.

Appleton's finance committee endorsed a $20 a year wheel tax last week, and it goes to the Common Council. The Appleton tax would not apply to larger trucks and semis -- and it would partially eliminate special assessments for major street work.

The cities of Milwaukee, Janesville, and Beloit collect annual wheel taxes, along with St. Croix County. They cost an average of $20 per car.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)