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Fox Valley community invited to National Day of Prayer event

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TOWN OF MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - With Thursday being the National Day of Prayer, a Fox Valley chaplain has set up a prayer event to help the Menasha community heal.

Event organizers say they will start at 5:30 p.m. on the Trestle Trail Bridge with a 15-minute prayer.

Afterward, people attending the community event may then head to Fritse Park for a potluck meal. Organizers ask you bring a lawn chair and food to pass, with all leftovers going to local food pantries.

"I think that this event is going to be a great step in the healing process," says Town of Menasha Police Officer Jason Weber. "Allowing people to come and grieve a little bit, to ask some questions and get those answers."

Weber says up to 500 people are expected and the department has made arrangements to handle the large gathering. Overflow parking for the event will be at Kimberly Clark, 401 N. Lake Street. Shuttle buses will be provided to the park and back. 


Body found in Fox River in Appleton

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A body has been found in the Fox River in Appleton.

Authorities say the body was discovered by a kayaker Wednesday around 4 p.m. near Memorial Drive and River Road.

Outagamie County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Carpenter says it's unclear exactly how long the body had been in the water.

"It appears that the body has been there in the water for quite awhile, several months," Carpenter told FOX 11.

The body is an adult male of an unknown age. Authorities won't rule anything out at this point and an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Pulaski School Board leader mum on fight fallout

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PULASKI, WI (WTAQ) - The Pulaski School Board met Wednesday night for the first time since documents were made public about suspensions handed down in connection with a fight between high school students on March 18.

The board went into closed session, where the issue was discussed to some degree. 

Pulaski School Board President Bob Skalitzky refused to say much after the meeting.

"Can't discuss closed session," said Skalitzky.

Principal John Matczak was suspended 5 days without pay, while physical education teacher Dave Shaw was suspended 3 days without pay.

When asked if there would be further action taken, Skalitzky replied, "I would have no comment on that at this time," adding he supported the decision made by the district.

Skalitzky said he met with the parties involved in the incident this week, calling it "productive". He did say when asked that the Pine family is ready to move past the issue.

Tim Pine is the parent who posted the video to Facebook.

As for Superintendent Milt Thompson, he was suspended with pay earlier this year. Skalitzky responding to a question regarding his status said, "Everything has been in closed session so I have no comment."

Responding to a question about if there were any reason why Thompson would not be at work, Skalitzky kept to his standard response, "no comment."

Interim Superintendent Bec Kurzynske issued a video statement last month in concert with the releasing of the documents.

 

Missing Dodge County man found safe.

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DODGE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ)- A Dodge County man has been found safe after a Silver Alert was issued for him early Thursday morning.  

78-year-old Delbert Pierson of Neosho was reported missing by his family. 

He’s originally from the Milwaukee area and likes to frequent the Hartford area.

 

Deadly crash in Door County

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TOWN OF BRUSSELS, WI (WTAQ)- Officials say speed may be to blame for a deadly crash in Door County.

Officials say the crash happened around 10 p.m. Wednesday on County Highway DK in the Town of Brussels.

The vehicle missed a curve and went into a field and rolled several times.

Both males inside the vehicle died at the scene.

Both are from Brussels.

More details released in Menasha massacre

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MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Menasha Police have released more information about Sunday night's random shootings that killed a father, his 11-year-old daughter, a passer-by, and finally the gunman.

Investigators said 27-year-old Sergio Valencia del Toro shot Jonathan Stoffel of Neenah seven times -- his 11-year-old daughter Olivia three times -- and passer-by Adam Bentdahl of Appleton once.

Stoffel's wife Erin was shot three times and survived her wounds. She was listed in serious condition Wednesday at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.

Valencia del Toro died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. Also, police disputed a claim from del Toro's ex-fiancee that the couple never broke up.

They said Haylie Peterson directly told investigators that she and Valencia del Toro called off their planned wedding -- and others corroborated it. Peterson had told the Oshkosh campus newspaper the couple never broke up, and reports that they argued before the shooting were wrong.

She also told an Appleton newspaper that Valencia del Toro suffered from depression -- and she had left their house on Sunday before he went off to a park bridge where he committed the shootings.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Funeral services set for Jon, Olivia Stoffel

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Arrangements have been set for the father and daughter gunned down during the Menasha massacre on the Trestle Trail Bridge last Sunday.

A visitation for 33-year-old Jon and 11-year-old Olivia Stoffel will happen from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Bible Church in Neenah. 

Their funeral will happen at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Jon, Olivia and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl were killed in what Menasha police call a random attack on the trail. 32-year-old Erin Stoffel was wounded and remains hospitalized.

Ex-Hortonville admin pleads not guilty in child porn case

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Patrick Vaile has pled not guilty to child pornography possession charges in court Thursday.

The former Hortonville administrator is facing 16 charges in the case that's scheduled to go to trial on August 17.

According to investigators, over 150 child pornography images were found on Vaile's computer and a flash drive. Court documents reveal that Vaile admitted to viewing and saving photos of nude children, usually between the ages of 12 and 16.

On the same day Vaile was charged, he resigned from his job.


3 injured in Shawano County crash

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TOWN OF LESSOR, WI (WTAQ) – Three people have been injured in a three-vehicle crash in Shawano County.

It happened just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday on Highway 47 in the Town of Lessor.

Investigators say a vehicle was stopped and waiting to turn left, when it was hit from behind by another vehicle.

The impact pushed the first vehicle into oncoming traffic, and it was hit by another vehicle.

A 31-year-old Texas man was cited for following too closely.

A 55-year-old man and 53-year-old woman from Pulaski were injured. So was an a 18-year-old woman from Bonduel.  

The extent of their injuries is not known.

Authorities say the highway was closed for about an hour after the crash.

DNR: Snowy owl first wild bird to die from avian flu

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OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - A snowy owl in northeast Wisconsin has died from the same avian flu virus discovered on ten poultry farms in the Badger State.

The DNR said Thursday that one snowy owl in Oconto County tested positive and died from the H5N2 bird flu virus.

It's the first wild bird in the Badger State reported to have the disease. Most of the other cases occurred on commercial chicken and turkey farms, and one backyard flock.

The DNR's Tami Ryan said the snowy owl was found dead around mid-April near a breakwater of the Bay of Green Bay at Oconto. The owl had no outward indications of poor health, but a necropsy at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison revealed that the bird died from the virus.

Ryan says there's no way to know how the snowy owl contracted it. That's because there are no poultry operations close to where the bird was found.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 59 birds in the U.S. were known to be infected with avian flu strains since mid-December. Wisconsin's case is the 60th. Most of the others were in the Western U.S.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Iconic Fisher Hamilton smokestack to be demolished May 31

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TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ) - An iconic smokestack in Two Rivers will be coming down this month.

Crews will use dynamite to demolish a 230 foot tall brick structure on May 31st at the former Fisher Hamilton plant close to Lake Michigan. It's the last remaining structure on a site where 1.2 million square feet of factory and office space has been cleared over the last year.

Fisher Hamilton was a mainstay in Two Rivers for over 130 years. It used to be Manitowoc County's largest employer. City Manager Greg Buckley says the demolition day will be bittersweet.

Thursday, city leaders met with the general contractor for the project, the Geiss Companies of Ohio, along with blasting subcontractor SX of Menomonee Falls.

Prior to the demolition, buildings within 200 feet must be vacated -- and no one will be allowed with 500 feet during the tear-down. Other details, including possible public viewing parties, will be announced soon.

The city remains optimistic that the former Fisher Hamilton site will be redeveloped successfully.

The 12-and-a-half acre site is next to Downtown Two Rivers, and it includes a quarter-mile of harbor frontage.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Body found in Fox River identified

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - We now know the identity of the man whose body was pulled out of the Fox River in Appleton this week.

According to the Outagamie County Coroner's Office, a kayaker found the body of 54-year-old Thomas J. Kelly around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Sheriff's deputies say Kelly's body was located in the water off of W. River Road and Memorial Drive. Investigators say it appears the body had been in the water for a while.

The coroner says autopsy results are pending.

Pulaski high school student pleads not guilty to battery, disorderly conduct charges

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The student caught on video punching a fellow student inside Pulaski High School has pled not guilty to charges from the incident.

The attorney for 17-year-old Ethan Peters appeared in Brown County court on his behalf Friday morning. Peters was not required to appear on charges of battery and disorderly conduct.

Peters has been ordered not to have any contact with the 15-year-old boy he punched in the March 18th incident, according to a court commissioner. The commissioner said he would be willing to lift the no contact order if the boy or his family gave permission.

FOX 11 reports that Peters' attorney declined comment after the proceeding. Peters is scheduled to return to court June 29.

Peters was suspended for 4 days by the Pulaski Community School District.

Hospital officials: Erin Stoffel upgraded to fair condition

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - The lone survivor in the random shooting last Sunday on Menasha's Trestle Trail continues to improve.

Officials with Theda Clark Medical Center say Erin Stoffel has been upgraded to fair condition.

The 32-year-old Neenah woman was shot three times in the massacre that claimed the lives of her husband Jon, her 11-year-old daughter Olivia, and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl.

Menasha police says the gunman, 27-year-old Sergio Valencia del Toro, died of a single self-inflicted gunshot. Del Toro was apparently distraught over his relationship with an ex-fiancée, who told authorities he suffered from depression.

Sheriff: Vanden Heuvel, 2 others implicated in DARE embezzlement scheme

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - We're learning more about the investigation into the embezzling of funds from Brown County's DARE program. 

During a press conference Friday, Brown County Sheriff John Gossage expressed his feelings publicly for the first time.

"Betrayal, disappointment, anger, victimization, disbelief. Just a couple words to describe how I felt when Kevin Vanden Heuvel admitted to embezzling cash from the DARE parking funds," Gossage said.

Vanden Heuvel, who for years was the face of the DARE program, was placed on administrative suspension back in October as part of the department's investigation. Two days later, Vanden Heuvel resigned.

"I did not accept it," said Gossage. "I couldn't in good conscience accept a resignation or retirement from him because I knew there would be pending criminal charges based upon his admissions."

It all stemmed from the Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings game on Thursday night October 2. For over a decade, volunteers and sheriff's department employees helped park cars at the old Kmart parking lot on Packers game day. 

Increasingly, more and more campers or RV-style, larger vehicles have been attending. Many arriving the night before a game.

"We select two people, one being Officer Vanden Heuvel, one being a reputable drug and alcohol abuse counselor, the night before to go out to the Packer parking lot when the campers are there, to not only to collect the money but get them parked in a location that we can manage," explains Capt. Jeff Sanborn, who added this was a simpler way to sell the parking passes and create room for regular cars and trucks to park on game day.

That Thursday, a man who tailgated with friends ahead of the game and purchased a $20 pass decided he didn't want to stay. He went up to a long-time parking attendant.

"He says here, I'd like to turn this back in to your DARE program to make another donation," says Sanborn. "She looks at that pass, and it's not on the same card stock that all of our passes that we've used for years is on. It's on a flimsy piece of paper, same color and design."

Investigators say the passes would be tough to duplicate because they change color each game, are printed just before the game, plus are handled by only a few county employees.

The next day, investigators went back out to the DARE parking lot to check on the passes sold to campers. Because they're larger, it costs $20 to get into the lot plus an additional $20 for each parking space a camper takes up. Those driving the camper are supposed to receive a parking pass for each $20 spent.

“Say its $100, you took up four spots plus $20 to get in the lot, that’s $100,” said Sanborn. “They should have got five passes for that $100. They were given one pass. That means $80 is missing from that one camper. It happened over and over and over as we talked to the campers.”

Investigators add that Vanden Heuvel and his assistant admitted to pocketing cash by handing out those extra, flimsy, parking passes while not providing campers with enough passes.

“With all the different variables in place with our amounts being different weekly and with our accounting for the cards, we never in our wildest dreams thought two people that you entrust with this would go bad together and get into a conspiracy for something like this,” said Sanborn.

Authorities say a third person, an unnamed former county employee, would print off 52 extra parking passes on that flimsy paper for a while. All told, it would equal more than $1,000 that could be made for one game.

Sheriff John Gossage says this scheme has been taking place at least for the past 4 years. Why would Vanden Heuvel do this??

"He did mention he felt entitled numerous times," says Sanborn. "He felt entitled for what he has done for the DARE program over the years."

Formal charges have not been filed, but the Brown County Sheriff's Department has referred charges to the district attorney's office against the 3 suspects for theft. The investigation is ongoing and charges could be filed in the next several weeks.

As for the future of the DARE program in Brown County?

“I don’t want everybody lumped into this DARE program thinking that everybody was corrupt. Kevin was the corrupt one. I want to make that well known. That he was the one who made an independent decision to take these funds,” said Gossage.

Gossage says two officers are currently assigned to the DARE program, and they continue to speak at schools across Brown County about drug and alcohol abuse.

The department says they will continue to utilize many of the same volunteers and others to help park cars for Green Bay Packers games this fall in order to continue raising money for the program.


Town of Menasha grass fire sparked by train

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TOWN OF MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - A grass fire that authorities say was sparked by a passing train burned about three acres Friday afternoon.

Fire crews battled the blaze near railroad tracks south of the Outagamie County Airport, by County Highway CB.

FOX 11 reports that sparks coming off a passing train ignited some dry grass and brush. Crews from several fire department were able to quickly put out the blaze.

Condition of Trestle Trail survior Erin Stoffel upgraded

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - The lone survivor in the random shooting last Sunday on Menasha's Trestle Trail continues to improve.

Officials with Theda Clark Medical Center say Erin Stoffel has been upgraded to good condition.

The 32-year-old Neenah woman was shot three times in the massacre that claimed the lives of her husband Jon, her 11-year-old daughter Olivia, and 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl.

Menasha police says the gunman, 27-year-old Sergio Valencia del Toro, died of a single self-inflicted gunshot. Del Toro was apparently distraught over his relationship with an ex-fiancée, who told authorities he suffered from depression.

2 men arrested in Manitowoc

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – Two men have been arrested in connection with an assault in Manitowoc.

Police say they got a call a little after 6 p.m. Sunday, about a man running down North 9th Street bleeding.

The man told officers that he was assaulted by two acquaintances with baseball bats, and one of them held a gun to his head.

Officers found the two suspects in a vehicle, along with a baseball bat, brass knuckles, knives and a small amount of marijuana.

Police say they believe the assault happened at a home on the north side of the city, where they found more baseball bats and a handgun.

Police say a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were arrested on charges including recklessly endangering safety, false imprisonment and battery.

Card-making, hand holding events upcoming for Menasha shooting victims

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - The remembrances continue for a Neenah family which lost a father and his young daughter to a random gunman eight days ago.

Monday night, the church where Jon Stoffel's family attends is holding a card making party. People can express condolences, best wishes, and thanks for the victims and the rescuers who came to the family's aid.

The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Calvary Bible Church in Neenah.

Last Sunday night, 32-year-old Jon Stoffel, his 11-year-old daughter Olivia, and Adam Bentdahl of Appleton were killed walking on the Trestle Trail Bridge at Menasha where a random gunman opened fire. The 27-year-old gunman, Sergio Valencia del Toro, also killed himself.

Jon Stoffel's wife Erin continues to recover from her wounds. Next Sunday, a hand-holding event will take place across the bridge where the shootings occurred. From 7 to 8 p.m., people will gather on both sides of the bridge until they meet in the middle.

Organizers want them to hold hands at that point, and hold a moment of silence for the shooting victims and emergency personnel who responded. The event is called "Hands Over the Fox."

Photo from Appleton mom wins Packers Ticket Takeover Contest

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A photo submitted by an Appleton woman will appear on a Green Bay Packers ticket for one game this upcoming season.

Team officials announced Monday that Laura Fischer's photo was selected as the winner of the Packers Ticket Takeover Contest.

The photo features Fischer's 3-year-old son, Declan, wearing a full Packers uniform, in a three-point stance ready to spring off the line of scrimmage.

In a release, Fischer says her son's support of the green and gold is a way for him to be closer to his late father.

“One of the reasons I believe he enjoys watching the Packers so much is because it is how he continues to hold a strong connection to his ‘Dada,’ who passed away in November of 2013,” Fischer said. “When Declan sees himself dressed up as a Packers player on 80,000 tickets, it will give him a chance to be closer to his father and truly make his dreams come true.”

Fischer's photo will be printed on the official tickets to the Packers' Fan Appreciation game on January 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. Fischer also receives 2 tickets to the game and hotel accommodations.

She says it'll be the first Packers game Declan attends.

Packers officials say over 9,200 photo entries were received. A panel of team officials picked 5 finalists, with the winner determined by an Internet vote of 24,500 cast. 

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