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Winter storm expected to strike southern Wisconsin

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The National Weather Service predicts the Kenosha area could be covered with up to 10 inches of snow by Monday morning.

A winter storm warning was issued Saturday. Lake-effect snow could be combined with a low pressure system to the south of Wisconsin which would increase the snowfall totals.

Milwaukee is bracing for a possible 9 inch snowfall. Wisconsin counties which border Illinois are expecting heavy snow totals. The snow could fall for 24 straight hours.

Winds from Lake Michigan could gust to more than 30 miles per hour, making travel dangerous Sunday. The Madison area is expecting 4 to 7 inches of snow.

FOX 11 expects snowfall around Sheboygan and Manitowoc will be near 5 inches, while 2 to 4 inches is possible in Appleton and Oshkosh, and less than 1 inch for Green Bay. The Northwoods will likely stay dry with overcast skies.

Sunday’s high will be near 14 degrees so the snow will be fluffy and blow around easily. The winds will average 15-25 mph out of the northeast. Snow will end between 7 and 9 p.m. Then cold air sticks around for much of the work week.

People attending Super Bowl parties were being warned to plan ahead and be aware of snowy road conditions.

(Additional reporting from Wheeler News Service)


Teenager arrested for multiple armed robberies in Appleton

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton police say they've arrested a teenager who confessed to the armed robbery of two convenience stores Saturday.

Authorities say the 17-year-old was taken into custody after a group of Lawrence University students reported a person matching his description displayed a gun on E. College Avenue.

The loaded gun was found in the suspects' waistband by officers when they arrested him around 7:30 p.m.

Officers say the teen also admitted to stealing a purse at knifepoint and stealing a vehicle from a downtown Appleton parking ramp on Thursday night.

Authorities say that vehicle has been recovered, and no one was hurt during any of the robberies.

The teenager is facing multiple charges and is currently behind bars.

Southeast Wisconsin digging out from weekend storm

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MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A snowstorm that moved from the Great Plains to New England dumped up to 14 inches in southeast Wisconsin.

Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County had the most in the Badger State as of early Monday morning.

Milwaukee broke a 100-year-old snowfall record for a single day, with 10.4 inches as part of a storm that dumped almost a foot since late Saturday night. Beloit had 8 inches, and Madison had just under 7.

Oshkosh had 4 inches. Lesser amounts of snow fell to the north and west.

A 64-year-old suburban Milwaukee man with a history of heart trouble died right after shoveling snow. Officials said he was found dead in his Shorewood garage late Sunday afternoon.

Snow emergencies were declared in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha so plows could clear streets and highways that had dozens of accidents.

Northbound Interstate 43 near Milwaukee was closed for a half-hour due to a rollover crash on a curve. Numerous flights were canceled at Milwaukee and elsewhere.

Kenosha still had light snow at 4 a.m. Milwaukee and Burlington had lingering flurries as the storm headed east.

It's the coldest day in a few weeks in the far north, with temperatures as low as 14-below at Hayward at 4 a.m. with very light winds if any. Milwaukee had wind gusts of 25 miles an hour, with actual readings of 10-above.

A dry day is predicted statewide, with highs in the teens.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Neenah police believe reported shooting was a hoax

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Neenah believe that a reported shooting incident overnight is a hoax.

Authorities were called around 11 p.m. Sunday about a person being shot inside a home near Henry and Adams Streets.

The caller also indicated another person was in jeopardy of being shot.

Neenah Police called in the SWAT team to the scene, but couldn't find any evidence of a shooting. Officers spoke with the homeowner and found out no one has lived there for several months.

Police say they believe it was a hoax and are investigating who was behind it.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Neenah Police Department or Winnebago County Crimestoppers.

Charges dropped against Kandi Siveny in '07 murder of Lara Plamann

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A woman who was scheduled to go on trial in two weeks for allegedly helping to kill her mother's domestic partner had her case dropped Monday.

Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider cited evidence and changing facts for dismissing homicide and other charges against Kandi Siveny. Circuit Judge Nancy Krueger dismissed the case without prejudice, which means it could be re-filed in the future.

The Appleton Post-Crescent says the DA plans a similar request to drop the case against Siveny's mother Dianna.

Both mother and daughter were accused in the 2007 shooting death of Dianna's lover, Lara Plamann in Greenville. Authorities said Kandi Siveny was upset that Plamann cheated on her mother.

A person allegedly hired to pull off the shooting backed out at the last minute -- but she still got prison time for witnessing the incident.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Fight leads to arrest of two men in Manitowoc County

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TOWN OF MISHICOT, WI (WTAQ) - Two men have been arrested after a fight involving a beer bottle and a gun Saturday night in Manitowoc County.

Sheriff's deputies were called to a residence on Cherney Road in the Town of Mishicot at 6:45 p.m.

According to authorities, a 21-year-old man hit a 28-year-old man on the head with a beer bottle. The 21-year-old man left the scene and went to a nearby home to seek help from a friend.

The 28-year-old man then followed the 21-year-old man and started another fight. The 28-year-old eventually left, but returned with a .22-caliber rifle. He forced himself into the home and threatened to shoot the 21-year-old. One round from the rifle was fired inside the home causing the bullet to hit a cabinet.

Upon arrival by police, the two men were physically fighting and had to be separated. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and later transferred to the Manitowoc County Jail.

Outagamie County crash injures three people

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TOWN OF ONEIDA, WI (WTAQ) - A head-on crash in Outagamie County has left three people hurt.

Sheriff's officials say it happened on Highway 55 at Fish Creek Road in the Town of Oneida just before 10 a.m.

No word on how serious the injuries were. Authorities called in the Eagle III rescue helicopter from Brown County. One person was airlifted to the hospital.

Part of Highway 55 was shut down to traffic, but reopened around noon.

 

Security upgrades unveiled at Hortonville School District

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HORTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - A small eastern Wisconsin school district is among those adopting tight security measures in the wake of recent school violence around the country.

Hortonville schools no longer keep most of their doors open, in an effort to protect their nearly 4,000 students.

District security director Andy Kolosso tells FOX 11 that visitors must show photo ID's which are scanned for passes they must wear around the building. Also, school employees run the visitors' names through the state's sex offender registry -- and if a person's name pops up, e-mail alerts are sent to administrators and a police-school liaison officer.

Radios are connected directly to emergency dispatchers should something happen. Cameras monitor the halls and doors, which lock at the push of a button.

Kolosso said the enhanced security was prompted by the heavily-publicized violence at Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, and elsewhere.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)


Fremont man jailed on $50,000 bond for multiple armed robberies

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WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - A Waupaca County man accused of robbing a tank truck driver and two businesses within 25 hours is now in jail under a $50,000 bond.

41-year-old Matthew Otto of Fremont appeared in court Tuesday on 3 felony charges of armed robbery.

Prosecutors said Otto held up a tank truck driver at 3 a.m. last Thursday at a BP gas station in Waupaca. The second holdup was at a BP station in New London, where a clerk was robbed just before closing time.

The third incident was reported at 4 a.m. last Friday at the Waupaca Mobil Travel Plaza. That's close to a hotel where officers said they followed footprints, and arrested the suspect the next morning.

Officials said he was caught with much of the stolen cash, plus clothing and a mask.

In court, Otto's attorney said he had a conflict in representing him. Otto was given more time to find another lawyer, and his formal initial appearance was delayed until next Tuesday.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Sturgeon Bay city leaders approve moving unpopular hotel plan forward

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STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Sturgeon Bay's common council has approved rezoning waterfront property for a controversial hotel plan.

The move Tuesday night came despite hundreds of people voicing opposition to the plan at the council meeting.

“We already have that kind of stuff,” Linda Cockburn of Sturgeon Bay told FOX 11. “We have two areas that have boutique hotels.”

To fit everyone, the meeting had to be held in the fire department’s garage. For half an hour, people took turns explaining why they don’t want a four-story, 76-unit hotel going up on this property near the Oregon Street Bridge.

“Currently capacity for both lodging and restaurants in the city is in excess and I don’t think the city needs to further exacerbate that problem,” Stephen Hellmann of Sturgeon Bay said, according to FOX 11.

Despite no one from the public speaking in favor of the plan, the council members voted 6-0, approving a zoning change, making way for the hotel.

“No comment, I don’t have any comment tonight,” said Mayor Thad Birmingham when asked if he felt an obligation to talk to the people after having so many people speak in opposition.

The hotel plan, however, is not a done deal yet. Developers behind the plan were not at the meeting to explain what is next in the process.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

Green Bay Packers DT Guion arrested for marijuana in Florida

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STARKE, FL (WTAQ) - Green Bay Packers' defensive lineman Letroy Guion was charged Wednesday with possession of marijuana and a firearm in his hometown of Starke Florida.

Both counts are felonies.

Police stopped the 27-year-old Guion late Tuesday night for not driving in a single lane -- and the officer smelled marijuana in the player's pickup truck.

Police officials posted photos Wednesday of the drugs they claim to have seized -- 357 grams of pot, plus a semi-automatic handgun and $190,000 in cash.

According to police reports, Guion asked the officer if he knew who he was -- and after he left the vehicle, the player became "uncooperative and hostile" once police secured the gun. The officer said Guion rushed to the vehicle to take a package from the front passenger side -- and the Packer was handcuffed at that point.

He was jailed at last word under a $100,000 bond.

Guion signed with Green Bay as a free agent from Minnesota last spring. He had three-and-a-half sacks this past season, as he started all year in place of the injured B.J. Raji.

Guion is the first Packer to be arrested since Erik Walden in 2011.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Appeals court: No requirement to confess out of state OWI conviction

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WAUSAU, WI (WTAQ) - If you're convicted of drunk driving in another state, and Wisconsin authorities don't catch it, you do not have to confess to it.

That's what a state appeals court ruled, when it threw out a criminal OWI case against 38-year-old Benjamin Strohman of Suamico.

He was convicted of driving drunk in Illinois in 1999. But when he was arrested in Green Bay for OWI in 2005, a municipal court treated him as a first offender. He pleaded no contest and paid a fine.

In 2013, Strohman tried getting the municipal conviction dropped, saying he should have been charged with a second offense instead. The conviction was vacated, but he was later charged with 2 criminal misdemeanors for second-time OWI.

Strohman said the charges were not valid, because a three-year statute-of-limitations had long expired from his 2005 case. But a judge didn't buy it, siding with prosecutors who said Strohman had an obligation to tell the municipal court about his Illinois conviction -- and that took the statute-of-limitations clock back to the beginning.

The 3rd District Appellate Court in Wausau disagreed, saying Strohman was under no obligation to come clean about any offenses the state didn't know about. That dismissal could help him in a pending case in Portage County, where Strohman was charged January 16th with third-time OWI.

He's due in court for that February 16th. He could face a lesser penalty now that one of his two convictions is wiped out.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Nearly 90 jobs will be eliminated at Georgia-Pacific

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - 89 positions will be eliminated by Georgia-Pacific in mid-April.

According to Georgia-Pacific Public Affairs manager Mike Kawleski, the Green Bay company will transfer the shipping department at the Broadway mill to another Green Bay company, RGL Logistics.

Kawleski says they currently have about 50 open positions at the Broadway mill that affected workers could apply for. There may also be opportunities at RGL Logistics as well.

Georgia-Pacific will also make severance packages available.

Gov. Walker's budget would cut 60 prison tower guard jobs

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The state's largest employees' union raises safety concerns about the governor's budget proposal to eliminate tower guards overnight at Wisconsin prisons.

Republican Scott Walker's proposed two-year budget would cut 60 jobs in the Corrections Department, and about 400 jobs throughout state government. Walker recommended technology and ground patrolling to secure prisons during the third shift.

State Employees' Union director Marty Beil tells FOX 11 that several inmates have tried escaping during the third shift, and were stopped by guards keeping watch from the towers.

The Corrections' agency told the TV station it's confident that its staff will implement the plan without risk to either the public or internal safety. Officials said the idea has been brought up since the mid-1990's -- and it's being looked at by others nationwide.

Corrections' officials called it a "question of modern technology (and) innovations related to prison design, versus historical precedence." It said towers were included in nearly every prison design from the 1800's through the late 1900's.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Federal judge won't dismiss ricin charges against Oshkosh man

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A motion to drop ricin possession charges against an Oshkosh man has been rejected by a federal judge in Green Bay.

21-year-old Kyle Smith appeared in court Wednesday and still faces two counts: knowingly developing and possessing ricin for use as a weapon, and having ricin not in its naturally occurring form and not for a reasonable purpose.

The first count carries maximum penalty of life in prison, while the second count has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Oshkosh police and the Wisconsin National Guard found one-and-a-half grams of ricin inside Smith's apartment last Halloween, according to the criminal complaint.

The attorney for Smith argued both statutes were vague and too similar. Judge William Griesbach denied that motion Wednesday.

Another motion from the defense is pending, which asks that Smith's statements to police be ruled inadmissible due to violations of Smith's Miranda rights. No decision has been made on that.

Both sides return to court February 17.

Also Wednesday, the judge pushed back Smith's trial from February 17 to March 16.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).


Ex-VFW bar manager pleads not guilty to stealing over $30k

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Online court records show that a former VFW bar manager has pled not guilty to stealing over $30,000 from the post.

An April 21 trial has been scheduled for Kelly O'Connor.

Prosecutors say O'Connor stole money from the post's gaming deposit box in order to fund her gambling habit.

 

Police investigate armed robber of Clintonville convenience store

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CLINTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Clintonville police are searching for a suspect involved in the armed robbery of a convenience store.

Cops were called to the Schroeder Shell, 325 S. Main Street, around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday. 

Authorities say the robber showed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect ran out the back door with an undetermined amout of cash.

Suspect was wearing a green hooded winter jacket, gloves and a camouflage face mask.

Police used a search dog to find some evidence while searching the area. Officers also plan to use security video to help in the investigation.

 

World of Beer opening in Appleton March 2

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A franchise that takes its beer very seriously is opening a second location in Wisconsin.

On March 2, World of Beer will unleash their 50 rotating draft beers and 500 bottled brews on Appleton.

General Manager Darold Doris says the demand is there.

"I think the community is screaming for something like this," said Doris. "The craft beer movement is at its highest level, I think, in Appleton."

The 4,200-square foot tavern with an 800-square foot outdoor patio will feature the franchise’s archetype design, providing guests with a warm and inviting interior complemented with modern, sleek touches.

It'll be located at 149 N. Mall Drive, which Doris thinks is a great spot.

"It's right in the middle of what we're starting to see as a craft beer area. We have several hotels that are walking distance," said Doris. "But there are several different businesses that really feature craft beer. With us joining the team, you're looking at over 220 craft beer taps just in this neighborhood."

World of Beer taverns showcase the hundreds of bottled beers offered through the windows of the tavern’s signature beer cooler and the long bar features rows of taps.

Doris says it's not just the worldwide and nationwide craft beer stars that will be featured. This location is partnering with Appleton's Stone Arch Brewery, Appleton Beer Factory and Fox River Brewing along with Green Bay's Hinterland Brewery.

“Customers that enter the World of Beer can anticipate an international exploration of beer they won’t find anywhere else,” said Doris. “Whether you’re a passionate beer lover or simply looking for a friendly place to gather for great casual food and a drink, we hope to see you here.”

Signature craft spirit cocktails, ciders and wine along with nonalcoholic beverages are also available. World of Beer also pairs its craft brews with the franchise’s signature “Tavern Fare” menu featuring a variety of comfort foods and traditional bar offerings with a contemporary spin, such as Giant Bavarian Pretzels, a Guinness “Brat” Slider and the Chimay Burger topped with melted Chimay cheese made at the brewery in Belgium.

World of Beer will serve lunch and dinner daily and on Sundays will offer a unique BEERunch menu. They will also host live music performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

World of Beer-Appleton will be open from 11 a.m.- 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11a.m. - 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday

The first World of Beer location in Wisconsin is located in Wauwatosa.

UPDATE: Nobody hurt from fire inside Greenville barn

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GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - A Greenville barn is considered a total loss following a fire Thursday morning.

It broke out around 5:30 a.m. at Green Acres Organic Farm on Spring Road. No people or animals were hurt.

Officials say hay inside the barn had caught fire. When crews arrived, people were already moving animals out of the barn.

More than 20 fire departments and close to 100 firefighters were involved. 

The Red Cross was called in to provide relief for firefighters on the scene.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

Health insurer Anthem hacked; personal data accessed

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INDIANAPOLIS (WTAQ) - The nation's second-largest health insurer is contacting customers affected by what it calls a "very sophisticated" cyber attack.

Anthem said all of its product lines were affected. Among them are Blue Cross-Blue Shield plans in Wisconsin and 13 other states.

The Indianapolis-based Anthem said the breach was discovered last week. Hackers gained access to personal data from "tens of millions" of customers and employees, including CEO Joe Swedish.

They obtained names, street addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates, e-mail addresses, employment details, and incomes of past and present policyholders. The firm said credit card data was not compromised, and there's no indication that medical records were targeted.

The company says it's working with federal investigators to determine who instigated the attack. Anthem has hired the Internet security firm of Mandiant to improve its cyber defenses.

Anthem says it will provide free credit monitoring and identity protection services to those affected. The FBI urges Anthem customers who are contacted to report identity theft if they suspect it.

Media reports said Anthem had previous security weaknesses and breaches in 2013, 2008, and 2006.

Swedish was not running the company back then. He apologized to customers on a special Web site to explain the latest breach -- AnthemFacts.Com.

According to Anthem's Web site, it offers Blue Cross-Blue Shield plans at 5 Wisconsin offices -- Pewaukee, Madison, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, and Eau Claire.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

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