Wrongful death suit dismissed at request of Halbach family

June 15, 2015, 9:07 am

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SHEBOYGAN, WI (WTAQ) - The family of Teresa Halbach has asked and received a dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey.

Both Avery and Dassey are serving life prison terms for the murder of Halbach in 2005. 

In March 2006, Halbach's estate filed the civil lawsuit. Then after a hearing in November 2013, the case was put on hold while the criminal appeals continued.

Last month, Sheboygan County Judge Angela Sutkiewicz received a letter from the estate's attorney Patrick Coffey saying their position had changed.

“At this point, my client would like to dismiss this action against Mr. Avery regardless of his appeal status in the criminal case. To that end, attached please find a voluntary dismissal that has been executed by me on behalf of the Halbach Family,” Coffey wrote.

Earlier this month, the judge signed the order.

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Bicyclist critically hurt after being hit by minivan in Menasha

June 15, 2015, 11:20 am

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MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Menasha police say a bicyclist was critically injured Monday after being struck by a minivan.

Authorities say it happened in the 700 block of Valley Road around 8:45 a.m.

The cyclist was rushed to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah where they're listed in critical condition.

No other information is available at this time.

70 mph speed limit signs going up this week

June 15, 2015, 11:27 am

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - You can start going 70 this week on non-urban Interstates in about the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin.

The DOT said Monday morning that county highway departments would start putting up around 470 updated speed limit signs -- mostly Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last month, Governor Scott Walker signed the law which allows 70 on Interstate-style freeways with entrance and exit ramps -- but not on expressways where country roads cross the high speed traffic lanes at the same grade.

The law does not take effect until you can actually see the 70 speed signs through your windshield.

It gives the DOT the authority to determine which lanes of expressways can safely handle 70. For now, the top speed will remain 65 pretty much north of Hudson, Eau Claire, Wausau, and Green Bay.

The DOT has been evaluating the roadways. It recently added about 85 miles of roadways to the list of those with the top speed of 70.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Victim in Hobart house fire identified

June 15, 2015, 1:33 pm

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HOBART, WI (WTAQ) - State and local authorities continue to investigate a house fire that killed a former long time volunteer firefighter at his home in Hobart.

The victim was publicly identified Monday as 89-year-old Harold Ambrosius.

The blaze was reported early Friday afternoon, at a home where Ambrosius lived alone.

A woman escaped unharmed.

According to an obituary, Ambrosius spent 26 years as a volunteer for the Hobart Fire Department.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Hit-run driver that struck bicyclist sought in Manitowoc

June 15, 2015, 1:57 pm

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc police are looking for a hit-and-run driver that struck a bicyclist Sunday morning.

Authorities say it happened in the 100 block of Maritime Drive around 8:45 a.m.

The bicyclist was hit in the rear tire by a car, causing the rider to go off the roadway and slam into the metal post of a traffic sign. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, suffered abrasions on his back and required stitches in his left forearm.

He was transported to the hospital for treatment and his injuries are considered to be non-life threatening.

The bike rider says he was on the road due to runners using the Mariners Trail for the HFM Marathon. 

Authorities recovered a piece of the car at the scene. They're looking for a 2005 to 2008 Toyota Corolla that is bluish green in color. The car could be missing the front bumper insert which is a filler piece where a fog lamp would normally be, had the car been equipped with fog lamps. The car may or may not have sustained much damage other than this missing part.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call the Manitowoc Police Department at (920) 686-6551.

Flooding causes traffic backups, stranded vehicles in Northeast Wisconsin

June 15, 2015, 4:13 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Heavy rainfall Monday afternoon in the region led to flash flooding and traffic backups for drivers looking to get home.

Street flooding and standing water was a problem in places like the east side and downtown Green Bay, along with the on-ramp from Velp Avenue on I-41.

Reports of vehicles getting caught in the high water and drivers becoming stranded were coming in as well.

"We had a couple of people that were stranded that came in to try to find spark plugs or spark plug wires to try to figure out what was causing their car to stall out," said Scott Grenier, Manager at the Advance Auto Parts store at Lime Kiln Road and Main Street. "And then they pushed them across the street and had some wreckers take them away."

Grenier says he's only been at this location for 3 months, but long-time employees say when it rains that heavy the streets do tend to flood in front of the store. 

"It is affecting business as far as, we've had a couple of customers that came in and said they didn't even want to stop because they were afraid they weren't going to be able to get back out of the parking lot," said Grenier.

Grenier says drivers need to slow down, not speed up, when coming upon accumulating water.

Flooding was also bad in the Appleton, Grand Chute and Freedom areas. 

The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department put out a statement Monday saying they called in extra staff members to work as the flooding continued.

Employees worked to identify flooded areas and barricade streets as soon as possible. Some roads reported having very deep water, making them impassable.

 

Bad weather blamed for Oshkosh Corp. cutting profit forecast

June 16, 2015, 8:56 am

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The Oshkosh Corporation has reduced the profit forecast for its current fiscal year.

The company that's best known for its military vehicles says its sales of aerial lift construction equipment has been hurt by bad weather.

Oshkosh reduced its projected adjusted earnings per share by 25 cents. It's now at a range of $3.75 to $4 a share, down from its earlier forecast of $4 to $4.25 a share.

Oshkosh ends its fiscal year at the end of September. 

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Little Chute man sentenced in underage sex case

June 16, 2015, 12:17 pm

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A judge has given a Little Chute man a total of 27 months in jail after he drove to Sun Prairie to meet and bring home an underage girl for sex.

Brian Hansmann pled no contest to 3 charges: having sex with a child age 16 or older, exposing genitals and child enticement. Hansmann also received 10 years' probation for the May 2014 encounter.

The girl told police she met Hansmann on MeetMe.com and told him she was 19, when she was really 16, according to the criminal complaint.

The girl said Hansmann drove to Sun Prairie, picked her up and brought her back to his Little Chute home for the night. They had sex 3 times.

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Kaukauna house fire

June 17, 2015, 2:24 am

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ)- No one was injured in an overnight house fire in Kaukauna.

The fire broke out around 10 p.m. Tuesday at a home on West Henry Street.

Fire officials say a dehumidifier started the fire and smoke filled the house.

All four people in the home got out.

They are staying with relatives.

The fire caused $15,000 in damage.

Kaukauna police look to identify this vehicle tire deflator suspect

June 17, 2015, 7:36 am

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - Kaukauna police need your help identifying a man they say has been letting the air out of vehicle tires in several nearby communities.

Police say at least 10 incidents have been reported in Kaukauna, Little Chute and Wrightstown.

Anyone who has information about the man in the picture above is asked to call the Kaukauna Police Department at (920) 766-6333.

Packers legend Bart Starr takes part in stem cell trial, family says

June 17, 2015, 11:07 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The family of Packers legend Bart Starr say he's taking part in a clinical trial using stem cells as he recovers from two strokes and a heart attack.

According to the family, Starr returned home Friday from the first of two treatments.

In a statement made through the Packers organization, "While we welcome everyone’s interest and support of Bart’s health, at this time, we’d like to allow him a chance to fully participate in the clinical trial and let the results, if any, to speak for themselves,” the statement reads. “At an appropriate time in the future, our family looks forward to sharing the details of Bart’s participation in this most important clinical exploration of what role stem cells may play in the treatment of stroke."

The statement goes on to thank fans for their love, prayers and support.

The 81-year-old former Packers quarterback and coach suffered the strokes and heart attack last September.

Menasha PD: Van driver fell asleep before striking bicyclist

June 17, 2015, 2:55 pm

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MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - The driver of a van which struck a bicyclist in Menasha Monday morning had fallen asleep at the wheel.

That's what investigators with Menasha police say happened while a 57-year-old Menasha resident drove home from working all night around 8:45 a.m.

Police say the van was westbound in the 700 block of Valley Road, when it crossed the center line and hit the bicyclist on the other side of the road.

Authorities say the driver has submitted to a blood test and is cooperating with the investigation.

The victim, a 29-year-old Menasha man, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

Police: Intoxicated Sturgeon Bay man tries driving backhoe on construction site

June 17, 2015, 3:01 pm

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STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Sturgeon Bay say an intoxicated man wandered onto a construction site and nearly wrecked a backhoe before he was tackled by construction workers.

Officers were called just before 8 a.m. Wednesday to a construction area on Maple Street. Cops arrived to find the 58-year-old man being held down by the workers, who had to coax him off the backhoe before he started running toward the trench. That's when the tackled the man until police arrived.

The Sturgeon Bay man was taken into custody on a probation hold and police are recommending disorderly conduct charges against him.

Preparations being made for upcoming Lambeau Field concert

June 17, 2015, 3:20 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Workers are preparing Lambeau Field for the second major concert event ever on the so-called "Frozen Tundra".

Crews were out building the stage for Saturday's Kenny Chesney-Jason Aldean concert, four days before the country music superstars take to the stage.

Officials say it takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days to make the needed changes to Lambeau Field.

“It's figuring out how many forklifts do we need, how many trucks do we need to get and of course finding enough workers,” Terry Charles with PMI Entertainment Group told FOX 11.

The Packers organization are also preparing by ensuring ticket takers, ushers, and concession stands are ready to go. They are treating it similar to a game day, and say fans should do the same, especially with rain in the forecast.

“So what that means is no umbrellas, come prepared for the weather, bring your rain gear, those types of things,” said Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety officials are also warning concert-goers that Cormier Road under Interstate 41 is not passable, and the residential side streets are not designed for heavy traffic.

In a release Wednesday, authorities say drivers should plan alternate routes. Certain areas around Lambeau Field marked "No parking day of Lambeau Event" will be enforced just like during a Packers home game.

APS also says they will not issue burning permits for the concert or the days preceding the event.

Gates for the event open at 4 p.m. Saturday. The first concert starts at 4:30 p.m.

PMI says it has sold about 50,000 tickets to the concert, which is about 5,000 more than the 2011 concert. There are still tickets left, if you're interested in going.

Fire at Cher-Make facility in Manitowoc

June 18, 2015, 1:23 am

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters are still trying to figure out what sparked a fire at a meat plant in Manitowoc.

It happened just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Cher-Make facility on Calumet Avenue.

Firefighters say there was black smoke coming from the roof of the plant.

Workers were evacuated for about 90 minutes, while firefighters put out the fire.

There's no word how much damage the fire caused, but fire officials say the facility was back up and running Wednesday night.

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Kaukauna police arrest man in 'Deflategate' investigation

June 18, 2015, 7:52 am

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - Kaukauna police have made an arrest in their own personal "Deflategate" investigation.

On Wednesday night police arrested Clint Stutzman, the man they believe has been letting air out of the tires of vehicles in several communities including Kaukauna, Little Chute, Wrightstown and Kimberly.

Officers arrested Stutzman on charges including disorderly conduct and trespassing. He has not been formally charged.

Lt. Jamie Graff on Wednesday said nearly two dozen complaints had been filed in those communities, with many more possible after a posting on the department's Facebook page.

City leaders vote down new Appleton public library plan

June 18, 2015, 7:57 am

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton city leaders have voted down a plan to purchase properties on the Fox River Bluffs in order to build a new library.

The deal rejected on an 8-6 vote Wednesday would have paid $3 million to relocate Trinity Lutheran Church and Fox Banquets.

During the crowded common council meeting, nearly 50 people spokes about the proposed $37 million library project. That number was roughly split in half between support and opposition.

"As a taxpayer I'm getting very, very concerned as far as where our dollars are going and I do not believe that the bluffs site is the best site for the library," Laura Leimer said, according to FOX 11.

Opponents of the plan say while they support improving the library, the bluffs site is inaccessible and too costly. Supporters argued the site is the best fit for the future library's needs and preventing future operating costs from going up.

"Shouldn't we choose now not to spend more money to keep running the library? Every alternative to the bluffs site would cost more to run by added service points," Josh Dukelow said, according to FOX 11.

"I don't think truly that we have explored long and hard about doing something with our current, existing site and so there's just too many unanswered questions. Like Paul Harvey used to say, 'and now you know the rest of the story,' I had pushed all along for more of the story if we did build on that site and the information never came," said Ald. Curt Konetzke.

Mayor Tim Hanna expressed disappointment with the vote, saying the library board will have to come up with a new plan for a future library. Hanna said the bluffs site is no longer on the table.

Manitowoc police looking for drivers after hitting boy on bike

June 18, 2015, 9:16 am

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Manitowoc need the public's help tracking down the drivers of two vehicles in a hit-and-run incident involving a boy on a bike.

Police say it happened in the 3100 block of Dewey Street around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. One vehicle's passenger side mirror hit the boy, knocking him off his bicycle. A second vehicle then ran over the bike.

Authorities say the driver of the first vehicle stopped just to pick up the mirror, which had broken off. Both drivers then fled the scene.

Police say the boy, whose age and name wasn't released, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Manitowoc police at (920) 686-6551.

Green Bay religious leader reacts to South Carolina church massacre

June 18, 2015, 11:20 am

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Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) - The shock over the mass killings at the church in Charleston, South Carolina stretches all the way to northeast Wisconsin.  

Pastor L-C Greene, with Green Bay's Divine Temple church believes the massacre qualifies as a hate crime says.  

Greene is watching the investigation unfold very closely.  He has friends who are members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.  

Greene says the important thing is for people to stay calm and not to lash out or become bitter over this.  

He says it would be very easy for people lose their focus as frustrations and emotions take over.

But Greene also admits he's not sure what to make of all the recent acts of high profile violence that we've seen around the country.

Tonnage up 23% at Port of Green Bay

June 18, 2015, 12:25 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Industrial activity appears to be on the rise in the Midwest, if an increase in traffic at the Port of Green Bay is any indication.

Officials say the total tonnage exported from the Green Bay harbor is 23 percent more than a year ago in the first two months of the shipping season.

A warmer spring allowed the port to open earlier, thus increasing port activities in April. In May, about the same number of ships came in and out of Green Bay as the previous year -- 24 of them.

Cement, salt, and coal shipments are on the rise.

Port director Dean Haen said exports of gasoline, ethanol, and diesel fuel spurred the overall increase in tonnage this year. 

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)