GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A former Green Bay area teacher is pleading not guilty to charges he sexually assaulted a student.

On Friday, Christopher Wieber entered that plea to counts of sexual assault of a student by a school staff member and child enticement-sexual contact.

According to investigators, Wieber pursued a relationship with a girl he taught in his Bay Port High School biology class last fall.

The student says her relationship with Wieber began when she was his teaching assistant in biology class. But, she told investigators, it didn’t end there.

“We refer to as a grooming process,” Capt. Dave Konrath of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department told FOX 11. “It was slow and incremental, and he established a relationship with the young woman over a period of time.”

The girl told investigators the relationship started last September. Court documents say she confided in Wieber about a problem with her boyfriend. Wieber “put his hand on her knee and kept it there while he talked to her.” The girl told investigators it “felt weird and strange,” but “she did not pull away.”

The girl told investigators on a different day, Wieber “kissed her on the lips” in his classroom. He then said he, “was sorry and that it should not have happened.”

Wieber told investigators the girl was “flirtatious at times,” and that “one time they were in his classroom and she gave him a hug.”

Court documents show in October, Wieber texted the girl when his wife wasn’t home. He asked her to come over to his house to talk.

The girl told investigators she and Wieber talked “before they started kissing.” Court documents say Wieber touched her chest over her clothes. The girl told investigators Wieber, “begged her not to tell anyone” they had kissed.

Howard-Suamico School District officials say it wasn’t until September that the girl told a different teacher about Wieber. Then administrators called the sheriff’s department.

If convicted he could face up to 32 years in prison. The trial is scheduled to begin February 25.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - Prosecutors in Shawano County are considering criminal charges against a school bus driver for causing a fatal crash.

75-year-old James Mueller was driving the Pulaski High School girls' volleyball team back from a match in Seymour September 2. Just before 9 p.m., the bus was trying to cross Highway 29 to get to St. Augustine St. when a car headed west on the highway slammed into it.

Two traffic citations were issued, but now have been dismissed as prosecutors review the case for possible criminal charges.

A December 29 court appearance had been scheduled. Formal criminal charges have not been filed yet.

24-year-old Shannon Hall was a passenger in the car and died as a result of the crash. Her fiancé, 27-year-old Justin Cyzan, was driving. He, along with over a dozen people in the bus, was taken to the hospital for injuries.

The couple was returning to their home near Wausau from a pre-marriage counseling session in Green Bay.

SEYMOUR, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc-based Lakeside Foods says its Seymour facility is now closed.

The company issued a statement saying the plant will be closed as of December 2nd.

The warehouse remains open until April 30, 2015, which is the end of their fiscal year. Workers affected will be offered employment at other Lakeside locations or receive a severance package.

Company officials blamed economic conditions for Tuesday’s surprise shutdown.

This Lakeside Foods plant processes and cans vegetable, meats and organic products.

The statement included a quote from Dave Yanda, Lakeside’s President & CEO. Yanda said, “Decisions like this are never easy. In this case, it was especially difficult as the plant’s performance has been exceptional. However, when it became clear that Seymour production could be readily absorbed into other Lakeside plants, it became apparent that the decision to close the plant was the correct, though very painful, business decision to make.”

The Seymour facility was built in 1902. Lakeside Foods bought the plant in 1999.

Lakeside Foods, founded 127 years ago, has 11 plants and six distribution centers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio. The company employs 1,700 people.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The City of Green Bay and the Green Bay Packers have reached an agreement for plaza naming rights for the KI Convention Center expansion.

City planning director Kim Flom says the team will pay the city $200,000 for the naming rights over 20 years. Flom says the conceptual name is Packers Plaza at KI Convention Center.

Flom says the plaza, located at the northwest corner of Main Street and Adams Street, will feature custom paving that includes the Packer logo, four season landscaping, furniture and other decorative site fixtures.

“The agreement is another example of the Packers continued commitment to the community and strong working relationship with the City of Green Bay,” Flom told FOX 11. “Partnerships like this provide a unique opportunity to capitalize on our community’s local assets in order to create authentic and memorable public spaces.”

Green Bay’s Redevelopment Authority will vote on the agreement at its meeting on Tuesday.

The KI Convention Center expansion is expected to cost $23 million. It is expected to be complete by August of next year.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A day care center for people with special needs that closed without warning earlier this year is preparing to be resurrected.

Back in August, Haven of Hope in the village of Little Chute shut its doors. 

The very next month, parents and volunteers began raising money and working on helping out the adults with special needs now without a place to go during the day.

"We've had so many wonderful volunteers here painting and cleaning, just getting the building physically ready, but now we're just doing all the legal and the paperwork," says Lorraine Yarbrough, executive director of A Very Special Place. "We would like to have a soft launch before the end of the year, and the first of the year would truly be our goal to open up fully."

A Very Special Place is located in the same building as Haven of Hope, 1000 W. Main Street in Little Chute, and offers adult day care services and a respite center. Eventually, officials hope to also include child day care services.

"We're really focused on what did or didn't work," says Yarbrough. "I think we're stronger, we're very excited that we're going to be opening soon and offering the services to help those families."

Yarbrough says fundraising efforts are ongoing, and when their website gets up and running, will be able to accept donations that way. Until then, if you'd like to volunteer or donate to A Very Special Place you can call their office at (920) 687-6454.

In the meantime, a benefit later this month will help out A Very Special Place. It will be December 19 at the Office Sports Bar, inside the Starlite Club, W2091 County JJ in Kaukauna. It features live music from The Cougars, food and raffles. 

Then on May 17, a benefit concert will take place at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton headlined by Heart. Tickets for that show go on sale December 12.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) – Police have arrested an armed robbery suspect after he allegedly took money from a DVD store in Green Bay.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety was called to the PrePlayed DVD store at 2418 S. Oneida Street around 7:25 p.m. Friday.

Officials say the man entered the store and walked around for sometime until customers left, then showed the clerk a handgun and demanding money.

The man got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Saturday, a 30-year-old Green Bay man was arrested at a west side apartment. Investigators with APS were helped by the Green Bay P.D.

The suspect was booked into the Brown County Jail on outstanding warrants and charges of armed robbery have been referred to the district attorney's office.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety thanked the public and the media for their assistance in locating the suspect.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Snow will return to Northeast Wisconsin starting later on tonight.

After mostly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-30s today, FOX 11 says snow moves in and by Monday morning there will be total accumulation of 1 to 3 inches.

That will make for a slick morning commute Monday. Snow is expected to change to patchy drizzle and flurries in the afternoon for a high of 34 degrees.

For the Packer game on Monday night, temperatures will be near 32 degrees with a few snow showers possible during the pre-game. Winds will likely be westerly at 5-15 mph for the game.

Tuesday through Thursday will be dry with highs around 30.

Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) - The October suicide of their 14 year old daughter has Nikki and Tim Rogers looking create something positive.  

Skyler Rogers took her life on October 23rd, another victim of bullying.

Skyler struggled with a learning disorder and was bullied by some students at Green Bay's Red Smith School.   

Nikki and Tim Rogers have established a non-profit called "Skyler Rogers Stay Strong".  It's also a Facebook page.

The goal is bring awareness to the issue of bullying, and some of the different steps and ideas out there that can adress the issue.   

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Packers must beat Atlanta tonight if they want to keep sole possession of first place in the NFC North Division.

The Lions moved to within a half-game of the Packers with a 34-17 home win over Tampa Bay Sunday.

Matthew Stafford threw for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Joique Bell scored twice as the Lions improved to 9-4.

The Packers are 9-3. They'll play a Falcons' team that's 5-7, but can take a one-game lead in the NFC South with a Monday Night upset at Lambeau.

The Falcons got a break Sunday when New Orleans dropped to second place with a 41-10 loss to Carolina.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have the Packers as a 13 point favorite for tonight. The Pack is 6-0 at Lambeau Field. Atlanta is 2-4 on the road.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsinites are waking up to mixed precipitation as they start the new work week.

Sleet and freezing rain fell in spots overnight in the southern half of the state. Parts of central Wisconsin had light snow.

Three inches of the white stuff fell near Superior in the far north as of 5:30 a.m. There were slight ice buildups in some places, but not bad enough to cause significant power outages in the state.

The National Weather Service said a low pressure system brought warmer air into Wisconsin during the night, along with the mix of precipitation. It's supposed to continue into the evening, when it will diminish as the low heads east out of the Great Lakes region.

After that, dry weather is in the forecast all week, with a chance of rain next weekend.

Today's highs are projected to be in the 30's, with lows in the teens and 20's. Much of Wisconsin could be in the 40's by Friday.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with the Brown County Sheriff's Department say four people have been arrested and a fifth is still at large in connection with an armed robbery and police chase last week.

Authorities say the reported armed robbery happened around 12:33 a.m. Friday at the Kwik Trip, 2618 Monroe Road.

Officers were told that a dark skinned man, in his mid to late 20's, about 6'4" and weighing about 200 to 220 pounds, with long brown hair tied in a pony tail and wearing glasses, parked his vehicle next to a semi truck. 

The suspect got out and stepped onto the truck's running board and pointed a small black handgun at the victim, demanding his wallet. The victim complied and the suspect they got into his vehicle and drove off.

During the early part of the investigation, the Shell station at Cedar Hedge Lane was contacted and asked if a vehicle matching the fleeing suspects had been in the area. The clerk said a vehicle matching that description was in the lot with another vehicle.

"It was just a hunch that our guys thought they might be perpetrating other crimes of that nature," says Brown County Sheriff's Department Captain David Konrath. "We got lucky and the two vehicles were down there,"

The suspect’s vehicle and another car were pursued by police northbound on Interstate 43. A traffic stop was attempted on Highway 172 and County Highway GV, but neither vehicle complied and fled.

Two separate pursuits happened starting on westbound 172. One vehicle, while trying to turn onto the Pilgrim Way off-ramp, lost control driving down into a steep downhill gore area and crashed. Both people inside fled on foot into a heavily wooded area. A K-9 team tried but failed to track down the suspects.

The other chase continued on westbound 172 until the suspect vehicle lost control at the roundabout at Austin Straubel International Airport, near Oneida Casino and crashed. A fire started beneath the vehicle with 3 suspects inside. Two of the suspects were ordered from the vehicle and arrested. A third suspect was unconscious and needed to be removed from the burning vehicle.

Both vehicles involved were stolen from Illinois.

Three people arrested at the scene in Ashwaubenon were 19-year-old Iroquois E.J. Regazzi of De Pere, 20-year-old Manuel A. Vazquez of Milwaukee and a 16-year-old Green Bay girl.

The girl is facing unknown charges. Regazzi is charged with being party to the crime of armed robbery. Vazquez is facing several charges including armed robbery, eluding an officer and possession of a controlled substance.

One of the suspects from the crash at Pilgrim Way was later located at a residence in the Village of Hobart and arrested. 23-year-old Alicia Hunt was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and faces other charges.

Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect still on the loose is asked to call the Brown County Sheriff's Department at (920) 448-6192. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text "GBTIP" and your tip to 274637 (crimes).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The race director of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon has announced his resignation.

In a letter Monday, Sean Ryan said, “My decision is based on ongoing disagreements with Cellcom’s leadership regarding the event’s future as well as my own loss of trust in the power and authority of the board.”

Ryan felt that moving the half marathon to Saturday and keeping the full marathon on Sunday in 2015 could accommodate more runners and improve the overall experience. While Ryan said the plan had widespread support, Cellcom President Pat Riordan rejected the plan.

Ryan has been in charge of the event since 2004.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County committee has decided not to recommend the full board take action on a proposal to create a referendum on enacting a half-percent sales tax to replace the stadium tax.

At an executive meeting Monday night, the committee took up the issue. However, that doesn't mean the sales tax proposal is dead.

The proposal by Supervisor Dan Robinson drew mixed reactions.

“I’m not suggesting that we should have a sales tax. What I’m suggesting is that we should spend a little more time and look at the question and give people time to possibly weigh in and then possibly have a referendum,” Robinson said, according to FOX 11.

The half-percent Lambeau Field stadium sales tax is set to expire September 2015. The sales tax in Robinson’s proposal would not go toward Packer projects. Instead, money could possibly go towards a Community Investment Fund.

The referendum would be an advisory referendum, meaning it’s meant to gauge voter’s opinions.

“I am in favor of an advisory referendum, of course. I just think it’s important to let the people have a say on this. Obviously, the supervisors hear from their constituents. And that’s great for the supervisors, but let everybody have a say on this,” said Dan Aude, who lives in Green Bay.

However, some who spoke at the meeting say there shouldn’t even be a discussion.

“No, we don’t need the tax. We got enough tax already. We got people moving out of this state to begin with. Too much tax already,” said Robert Graf, who lives in the Village of Howard.

The Brown County Board will meet next Wednesday. Robinson says he hopes the board will take up the sales tax discussion. But, members are not required to.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A Fox Valley man asked the State Claims Board today for $450,000 to compensate for what he claimed was a wrongful conviction.

Maxwell Verkuilen, who's now 37, was convicted by a jury in 2004 of sexually assaulting a woman he met at a bar in Appleton.

A state appeals court ordered a second trial in the case, after ruling that Verkuilen's public defender failed to challenge a nurse's testimony. However, the charges were dismissed after the alleged victim refused to release her medical records.

Verkuilen and his lawyer said the state is responsible for the public defender's error -- and the defendant needs to be compensated because the case had no basis.

However, a prosecutor said Verkuilen was never officially exonerated -- and therefore, he shouldn't be paid.

It's not known when the Claims Board will decide whether or not to pay the man.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - Adults with physical and developmental disabilities in the Fox Valley will soon have another option for day care.

Cerebral Palsy, Inc. is expanding and will open a CP Center satellite facility next month at 1113 W. Kennedy Avenue in Kimberly.

"This summer, our Foundation raised a significant amount of money to help individuals with disabilities in the Fox Valley," said Nicolet Bank President and COO Mike Daniels. "We are happy that CP is one of the organizations to step forward and fill this important need in the community."

The new center, modeled after the Lakeshore Adult Day Services' facility, will offer functional skills training in core program areas and focus on providing opportunities for individuals to achieve personal skill development goals including communication, fine and gross motor development, sensory integration and self care.

"CP has a storied history of serving people with disabilities in the Northeast Wisconsin region for over 60 years," said CP Executive Director Jon Syndergaard. "Our service model and capable team are well documented in their ability to move individuals with physical and cognitive challenges to a higher level of self-sufficiency and we are anxious to share those services with the Fox Cities and surrounding communities."

Syndergaard added that it's been in the works since the summer and they're happy to see this come to fruition. The center will have capacity for 20 clients to start out.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay committee has approved a deal involving naming rights on part of the KI Convention Center expansion project.

On Tuesday, the city's Redevelopment Authority okayed a 20-year naming rights agreement with the Green Bay Packers for $200,000. It will be the naming rights for a future outdoor plaza.

The agreement, according to city leaders, was priced based on prior naming agreements. It still needs to be approved by the full city council.

However, Mayor Jim Schmitt says that a much larger deal involving naming rights for the grand ballroom is ready to be announced in a few weeks.

“We have a verbal commitment on that, we still want to make sure everybody’s in town when we announce that," Schmitt told FOX 11. "So, you know, it’s a lot of good people here in Green Bay and they were happy to do that, and we’re just kind of working out some details.”

CALUMET COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says a manure spill near Lake Winnebago could impact groundwater in the area.

Cleanup crews are on the scene of the spill at the Meyer Farms dairy at the corner of St. Charles Road and Highway G in Brothertown.

Road culverts have been blocked to hold manure on site, and vacuum trucks have been called in to collect some of the spilled manure.

DNR officials are asking private well owner to closely monitor water quality. Any changes in odor or color should be reported to the DNR and local health officials immediately.

The DNR is working with Calumet County officials and farm representatives to notify neighbors of the situation.

The Meyer Farms is not classified as a CAFO, or concentrated animal feeding operation, by the department.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police need the public's help identifying a suspect in a theft by fraud case from last month.

Police say on November 15 around 8:05 p.m., a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and eyeglasses used a credit card that was not his to buy items at the Fleet Farm store.

The photos above of the suspect were taken from surveillance video at the store.

If anyone has any information on this incident, please contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.

If you would like to remain anonymous, you can contact Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 or text IGOTYA and you crime tip to 274637 or go to www.winnebagocrimestoppers.org and submit your text via the web.

You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Less than a month after an area veteran died that soldier's stepfather is trying to raise money for the family left behind.

25-year-old Brent Dehne of Manitowoc committed suicide on November 29, according to Steve Walker. Walker says that upon returning home from serving in Afghanistan, Dehne struggled with daily life.

Through an account on GoFundMe.com, money is being raised for Dehne’s wife and 3-year-old daughter. The page says Dehne did not have insurance, so the money will help his family with funeral and housing expenses.

Dehne was a 2007 graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

Ashwaubenon, WI (WTAQ) - Ashwaubenon Police have picked up a 2nd suspect in connection with an armed robbery at the Pre-Played store on December 5th. 

30 year old Jason Cole was taken into custody on December 6th. 

Now, Ashwaubenon P-D, with the help of Green Bay Police, have arrested 24 year old Walker Nueman for his alleged involvement in that crime. 

He's being referred to the D-A's office as party to the crime of armed robbery. 

Ashwaubenon Police are continuing the investigation.