NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - The Menasha Corporation plans to construct a new headquarters facility that will also house the offices of the Menasha Packaging Company.

The privately-owned maker of corrugated and plastic packaging announced the project Wednesday morning.

It will be located at the site of Menasha's current headquarters in Neenah. The firm did not release a cost estimate.

The existing headquarters will be torn down starting in April, and its employees will either move to other company facilities, or temporary offices to be leased in the Fox Valley.

The new building is expected to open in the fall of next year.

The 165-year-old Menasha Corporation employs about 5,000 people in the North America, Asia, and Europe.

Menasha Packaging is its largest subsidiary, employing over 3,200 people in North America.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - An overnight fire has damaged two businesses in Greenville.

Fire crews were called to the businesses at W6916 Wisconsin Avenue around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The building houses Coyote's Western Shop and Cleary Building Corp. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze in about 20 minutes.

No one was hurt, and officials are unsure what caused the fire. Both businesses have smoke damage.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay says that when Pope Francis visits the United States later this year, the pontiff will not make a stop in Titletown.

In a statement Wednesday, Bishop David Ricken said, "I would like to thank all those involved with the ‘Pope to Green Bay’ initiative,” said Bishop Ricken. “It was a great effort on the part of many. And while we will not see the Holy Father on this trip, with Our Lady of Good Help Shrine in Champion, it certainly does not eliminate the possibility of a visit to our area in the future.”

Last year, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt formally invited Pope Francis to visit the Brown County shrine. A website was also started, including an online petition, in the hopes of luring the pontiff to Northeast Wisconsin.

According to the release, Pope Francis plans to canonize the 18th-century missionary Junipero Serra during his Washington D.C. stop, likely at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Serra is recognized for his role in establishing nine missions in California to convert American Indians.

Pope Francis is also expected to visit the White House and address Congress. During a stop in New York, he will speak at the United Nations, and conclude his trip at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - 22 tornadoes touched down in Wisconsin last year, and only four took place outside the month of June.

The National Weather Service released an update this week on the state's 2014 tornadoes.  

The total was one short of the state's annual average of 23 twisters.

Last year's strongest was an EF-3 tornado on June 17th that heavily damaged the Country View Elementary School in Verona. At least 30 homes also had major damage from that storm.

The EF-3 severity was slightly above the mid-range in a 0 to 5 rating system. The Verona twister was only on the ground for a few minutes, with estimated wind speeds of 136 miles an hour.

According to the weather service, 17 of last year's 22 Wisconsin tornadoes landed in 5 south central and southwest counties -- Dane, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, and Grant. The others landed in Bayfield, Pierce, Dunn, Winnebago, and Outagamie counties.

The 2014 total was just over a-third of the record number of tornadoes for a one-year period in Wisconsin -- 62 back in 2005.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County Sheriff's Department has arrested a Crivitz man following a short chase on Highway 41.

It began when a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper spotted the 31-year-old man's vehicle near the Highway 29 exit. The trooper noticed neither he nor his passenger was wearing seat belts.

When the trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, he sped off southbound on Highway 41. The man eventually lost control and struck the median wall, before heading into a ditch near the Glory Road overpass.

Police say the man and his passenger tried to run off after crashing. Both were caught shortly thereafter. 

The man was arrested for 5th offense OWI. The passenger was jailed on charges of obstructing an officer and possession of marijuana.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Ashwaubenon Public Safety is investigating an incident where they say a man impersonated an officer.

On January 20th around 9:45 p.m., a 16-year-old girl reported to them that she was pulled over while driving eastbound on Highway 172 near Oneida Street.

The girl said a car that pulled her over had small red and blue lights in the windshield only and appeared to be similar to a Ford Crown Victoria police car.

The girl then stated that the man got out of the car, walked up to her driver's-side window and looked at her for what she claimed felt like was a long time. She asked the man if she had done something wrong, and he replied that he was just checking to make sure she had her seat belt on and that she was okay.

She said she was fine and the man said she could go. He did not ask for a driver’s license or proof of insurance and he did not give her any paperwork. When she pulled away, the car did not follow her and she said she did not know where it went.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety contacted other agencies around the area, and no one has a record of a stop being made at that time and location or any request for information on the girl’s license plate.

The girl described the man as white, around 40 years old, between 5'8" and 5'10", between 200 and 220 pounds, with short hair. The girl said the man had a badge pinned to his shirt, but she did not see any other patches or signs of identification.

Anyone with information is asked to call Ashwaubenon Public Safety at (920) 492-2995. Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or online.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - The state Division of Motor Vehicles says that a Green Bay-area driving school has shut down.

DMV officials were notified last week that Excel Driving Center would be closing. The agency says that it affects about 250 students at different levels of training.

Bureau of Driver Services supervisor Deb Kraemer said they're working with other driving schools in the area to figure out ways students can complete their training.

The DMV says it will contact students within the next two weeks with information on how to complete their training and how to recoup lost tuition payments through Excel’s state-required bond.

The DMV also offers these tips on choosing a driving school:

• Use accredited driver training schools. Check http://wisconsindmv.gov and search Driver Training Schools for a list of accredited independent driving schools in Wisconsin.
• Contact local schools as some public and private high schools still offer driver education programs.
• Explore online training options through South West Technical College’s accredited online course.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - If you want to know if an Appleton area murder trial is on for next month, you'll have to ask the clerk of court.

The state's online court records have sealed the file that describes Kandi Siveny's homicide and substantial battery case.

According to FOX 11, defense lawyer Daniel Sanders convinced Outagamie County Circuit Judge Nancy Krueger to hide the online file. He said he wanted an impartial jury, and he didn't want those getting notices for jury duty digging up official information about the case.

The 35-year-old Siveny is scheduled to go on trial February 16th. She's accused of shooting and killing her mother's domestic partner, Lara Plamann, in 2007 on suspicion that Plamann was cheating.

Authorities said Rosie Campbell of St. Paul was hired to kill Plamann -- but she backed out at the last minute, and watched Kandi Siveny carry out the shooting. Campbell had a homicide charge dropped in exchange for her testimony against both Kandi Siveny and her mother Dianna -- who's due to stand trial in June.

Sanders still has a request pending to bar Campbell from testifying against his client. Campbell was sentenced earlier this month to five-and-a-half years in prison for her role in the slaying.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ) - Three people are hurt following a three-vehicle crash in Outagamie County Thursday.

It happened on Highway 45 about a half-mile north of Highway 15 in the Town of Hortonia. That's just outside of New London.

According to the sheriff's department, a 36-year-old Wittenberg man driving southbound crossed the center line and slammed into a car driven by a 19-year-old Clintonville woman. Her car then struck a pickup truck driven by a 19-year-old Clintonville man.

The truck driver, woman and a passenger in her car were rushed to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Authorities believe the 36-year-old man was impaired. The investigation is ongoing.

WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Waupaca County sheriff's officials say a suspect tied to at least three armed robberies this week has been arrested.

Police were able to track the 41-year-old Fremont man through the snow after a robbery of a truck stop in Waupaca Friday morning. The tracks led officers to a nearby hotel.

The man is suspected in an armed robbery on Wednesday in Waupaca, Thursday night in Mukwa and the third Friday morning.

In each incident, a masked man showed a gun, took cash and ran from the scene.

The suspect is due in court Monday.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The Manitowoc Company's board of directors has approved a plan to split its food service and building crane operations into two separate publicly-owned businesses.

CEO Glen Tellock said the move would let each firm take advantage of expected long-term improvements in demand, and other opportunities in their respective markets.

Chief financial officer Carl Laurino calls the split a logical proposition -- and both would keep playing big roles in the food service and crane industries "as they stand today."

The spin-off is expected to be finalized by early next year. The firm said it would provide more details later on the structure and management of the newly-separated firms.

A couple of shareholders have been advocating for the separation of Manitowoc's crane and food service businesses -- including billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who owns more than 7.5 percent of Manitowoc Company stock.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

BRILLION, WI (WTAQ) - Slow sales of snow throwers is forcing Ariens to lay off ten workers.

Spokesperson Ann Stilp tells FOX 11 that the permanent layoffs affect salaried employees in the operations department primarily at its Brillion corporate offices.

“Ariens has experienced significant growth over the last several years and this change is a course correction to balance that growth against the unpredictable weather impact that drives the outdoor power equipment business, especially the snow thrower business,” she said.

Ariens will also be shutting down its plant for 14 days for maintenance in February. The closure is tied to a high level of inventory built up in the snow thrower retail channel. Much of the blame is shoveled on the lack of snow this winter.

Stilp tells FOX 11 that workers may take vacation or file for unemployment during that time. 

The company is covering employee medical, dental and vision contributions during the shutdown.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A scam involving the city of Oshkosh helped two men get away with stealing jewelry from a home this week.

The Oshkosh Police Department says in the early afternoon hours Thursday, a man went up to a home in the 600 block of Florida Avenue and told the homeowner he was with the city and needed to trim trees.

While the man was talking with the homeowner, another man got inside the home and stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry.

The homeowner described the man as 5'5", Hispanic, stocky and wearing a red sweatshirt. The two men drove off in a white van.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.

Police are reminding homeowners that if a city worker comes to your door, they should have identification to prove they are. You should also not allow individuals enter your home and do not walk outside with them if they cannot provide proper identification.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The measles outbreak from Disneyland that is spreading across a dozen states, coupled with two cases in nearby states, is forcing Brown County health officials to put out a warning.

While there are currently no cases of measles in Wisconsin, it may not be far off from hitting the Badger State.

"It might be because of how it's traveling," said Brown County Health Department Interim Health Officer/Director Chua Xiong. "Now we've got cases around us."

This week, health officials in Minneapolis and suburban Chicago have confirmed cases of the measles.

According to the Brown County Health Department, measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus. It begins with cold-like symptoms including a cough, runny nose, high temperature and red watery eyes. By the second day after onset, a red blotchy rash appears at the hairline and spreads down the body to the arms and legs.

The rash disappears in the same order of appearance, head to foot in about 5-6 days. Symptoms appear one to two weeks after exposure, which is airborne.

"Measles is transmitted from contact with another person who's been coughing or sneezing," said Xiong. 

There is no specific treatment for measles. Measles vaccine, usually in combination with measles, mumps and rubella -- MMR, is the best protection from measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine normally provide life-long immunity.

Xiong advises people to review your immunization status to make sure you have received 2 doses of MMR. 

"The best thing that they can do is talk to their health care provider," said Xiong. "Not only that, if their child is immuno-compromised in any way that the health care provider is taking a good look at that."

More information can be found here about measles.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Packers have announced the first post-season change to their coaching staff.

In a statement Friday afternoon, the Packers said that special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum has been "released".

“I would like to thank Shawn for all of his contributions over the past nine years,” Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. “He was a positive contributor to our success, including helping us win Super Bowl XLV. We wish Shawn, Michelle and their family the best moving forward.”

The Packers struggled this season on special teams with 7 kicks (extra points, field goals and punts) getting blocked. Also, punter Tim Masthay was last in the NFL with 14 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

Scorn was also voiced by Packers fans at the botched onside kick late in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Tight end Brandon Bostick could not catch the football, causing the Seahawks to recover, aiding their 4th quarter comeback.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Formal charges have been filed against a Howard man accused of stabbing his girlfriend.

On Monday, 51-year-old Daniel Nilsson was arrested after police responded to his home. Authorities say his 52-year-old girlfriend was stabbed 4 times.

Nilsson is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

A judge set bond at $10,000 Friday for Nilsson. He'll return to court on February 13.

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - An apartment complex fire on Friday night forced 20 people out into the cold in Menasha.

Fire crews were called around 5:30 p.m. to the Elizabeth Court Apartments.

Officials say the blaze was inside one of the apartments. Three other units were damaged by smoke and water.

Firefighters believe the fire was not suspicious, and residents should be able to return to their apartments by the end of the weekend.

About 14 of the affected residents were able to spend the night at a Red Cross shelter at Jefferson Elementary School.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - The man convicted in the 1989 murder of Michael Fitzgibbon in Winnebago County will not get a new trial.

Mark Price had argued the prosecutor in his case, then Winnebago County DA Joe Paulus, used false testimony to get a conviction.

The 55-year-old Price attended a hearing on Friday by phone from the New Lisbon Correctional Institute.

Price was convicted in the 1989 shooting death of Fitzgibbon. However, the defendant claims he did not shoot Fitzgibbon, but was present during the murder and helped put Fitzgibbon’s body under the ice of Lake Butte des Morts.

Price says two other men actually committed the crime.

On Friday defense attorney Jeremy Newman told the judge the prosecutor in Price’s original case bribed witnesses and allowed false testimony to convict Price of murder.

“Assuming there was false testimony and assuming the prosecutor knew or should have known about that testimony and it wasn’t corrected and it was presented before the jury, a new trial is mandated if there is any likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury," Newman said, according to FOX 11.

Paulus was later convicted of misconduct in other cases, but he was never found guilty of misconduct in Mark Price’s case.

Friday’s hearing was held in Fond du Lac, although it is a Winnebago County case. Winnebago County judges removed themselves from the case.

On Friday Winnebago County Deputy District Attorney Scott Ceman admitted Paulus mishandled Price’s trial.

“But it was on points that were so minute compared to the overall, overwhelming guilt of Mark Price that justice, in this case, at the end of the day, was served. The evidence was overwhelming of Mark Price’s guilt,” said Ceman.

Judge Richard Nuss agreed with Ceman. He told the court Price’s own testimony proves his guilt in Fitzgibbon’s death.

“But for his actions at the apartment on the date in question, you know, it’s highly likely Mike Fitzgibbon might be alive today,” Nuss explained.

The judge decided Price will not get a new trial. As of now, Price has served about 25 years of his life sentence.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The general manager given most of the credit for bringing the Green Bay Packers back from mediocrity, Ron Wolf, has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wolf told reporters there were a lot of great players and coaches responsible for the honor he received. He says he never thought the Hall of Fame was a possibility for him.

Wolf inherited a team which had just 5 winning seasons in the 24 years before he took over in 1991.

He hired Mike Holmgren to coach and traded for Bret Favre a few weeks later. Wolf also recruited Reggie White to come to Green Bay in 1993.

The Packers never had a losing season while Wolf was GM from 1992 to 2000.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

PHOENIX (WTAQ) - Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers claims his second NFL Most Valuable Player award and it wasn’t a close vote.

Rodgers got 31 of the 50 ballots cast.

Finishing second was former Wisconsin standout and this year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. He got 13 votes.

Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and Tony Romo each got two votes. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner got the other two votes.

Rodgers got the top award after another outstanding season. He threw 38 touchdown passes and only had 5 interceptions. He was also strong in the postseason, despite playing with an injured calf.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)