Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) -  Business and education are teaming up.

The end result ? The grand opening today (Fri) of City Stadium Automotive at Green Bay East High School.

The program teaches high school kids how to prepare for jobs as mechanics.

The school expanded it's work areas to meet student interest at the school and throughout the district..

The equipment they use is state of the art...donated by local car dealerships.

Instructor Rich Sawyer it's a credit to the business community to step up and bankroll the program's expansion.

Not only that.....top mechanics from area shops and service department come by and offer their expertise and job advise to the students.

Manuel Almos is a senior at East High School. What drew him to this class ?

Getting the chance to become familiar with the tools used in the service department at the area's leading car dealers.

It's a 3 year program at East that combines direct instruction with lab work.

Workforce experts say auto and machine repair are growing industries across the state.

TOWN OF MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Police in the Town of Menasha are crediting a dog for helping tip authorities off to a house fire Friday morning.

According to police, a Town of Menasha water department employee was working in the 800 block of E. Shady Lane when he saw a dog running loose.

The employee realized the dog had jumped out of a window at its home. Then the worker noticed there was smoke inside the house. He was able to get into the house, where another dog was inside.

The worker called police, who found the fire near the stove in the kitchen. Officers used fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Fire crews arrived soon after and confirmed the fire was out.

No one was home at the time.

OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Oconto County Sheriff's officials say a woman has died following a one-vehicle crash.

Authorities say it happened in the Town of Little Suamico.

Deputies were called to the scene just after 9:30 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, officials found a vehicle in the ditch. Two drivers had stopped and were performing CPR on an unresponsive woman.

The 53-year-old Sobieski woman was taken to the hospital where she later died. Her name has not been released.

Officials don't believe speed or alcohol were factors and the crash remains under investigation.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters in the Fox Valley are battling flames at an apartment complex fire Friday afternoon.

The fire is at Parkview Estates, on Tri-Park Court, in Grand Chute. Crews were called around 3 p.m.

Part of the roof to one of the buildings collapsed due to the fire. 

No word yet on any injuries or what may have sparked the blaze.

The Red Cross Disaster Team was called to help out displaced residents.

KESHENA, WI (WTAQ) - A high speed chase involving Menominee Tribal Police has officers searching for three men.

It began around 11 p.m. Thursday just outside of Keshena. Police Chief Randy Mark Waukau says an officer tried to pull over a vehicle, but the vehicle didn't and the chase was on.

The vehicle ended up in a wooded ditch area, and the 3 men ran from the vehicle. 

According to police, 4 shots were fired from the suspects while the officer didn't return fire. No one was hurt.

Authorities have impounded the vehicle and do not have a description of the men.

Waukau doesn't believe one of the escapees from the Winnebago Correctional Center, Leland Larock, is one of those suspects.

NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin consumer protection officials are warning residents in the Fox Valley area after a report of an asphalt crew scam.

The report came from the New London area Friday that suspicious crews were around. One person wrote a check for $4,000 for resurfacing of their driveway, but was later told by a local contractor that the work could've been done for $1,500.

State officials say a neighbor paid the crew in cash.

According to a news release, the crews' vehicles have out-of-state license plates and their business cards list out-of-state addresses. They show up unannounced at homes and businesses, claiming to have leftover materials from a previous job and offer to blacktop a driveway for a cheap price.

The crew does the job quickly and poorly and then overcharges the driveway's owner, officials say. In some cases, the workers only apply a base coat and never add the promised top coat that was paid for.

State officials say these types of crews are always on the go, and generally don't stay in one area for too long.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection recommends those who want their driveway resurfaced contact local trusted contractors, get multiple bids and never pay the full price of a project upfront.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with the Waupaca County Sheriff's Department are warning residents to double check their $20 and $100 bills.

That's after deputies got several reports of counterfeit bills.

Authorities say the fake $100 bills look rough and one of them has pink-colored Chinese and anti-government writings on it. The fake $20 bills appear to look brand new.

Residents should be cautious when accepting these types of bills and businesses should check them with a counterfeit detector pen, according to deputies.

If you do find a suspicious bill, you can bring it to a local financial institution to check it out.

Anyone with information about this type of activity is asked to contact your local law enforcement agency.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - A basketball coach from Portland, Oregon has been arrested in Shawano County on child sex crime charges.

Sheriff's deputies arrested the 23-year-old coach Friday night around 8 p.m.

According to the Shawano County Sheriff's Department, a woman alerted authorities when the man began texting her 13-year-old son after he attended a traveling basketball camp on Tuesday.

Officials say in the beginning, the texts were about the Shawano boy's athletic talents. But police say it soon became sexually explicit, and with support of the family police took over communications.

The coach arranged to meet the boy Friday evening.

Authorities arrested the coach at the meeting point and is currently held in the Shawano County Jail, pending child enticement charges.

Over the past two-and-a-half weeks, five men have been arrested by the Shawano County Sheriff's Office on accusations of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The city of Green Bay's new code of conduct for elected officials was just approved last month, but now the president of the city council wants to get rid of it.

Tom De Wane tells FOX 11 that after he voted in favor of the 11-page code of conduct for aldermen and the mayor, he's changed his mind.

"I told them right away I was going to support it until I looked further into it and I did," said De Wane.

The code outlines possible consequences for inappropriate behavior, ranging from fines to suspensions. 

However, De Wane spoke with other municipalities and lawyers and now says there's no reason for the code. De Wane cites state guidelines and Robert's Rules of Order.

"Right now with this ruling and these changes, it pits aldermen together and that's something as council president I don't want to see," said De Wane.

"I think it's a bogus argument," Alderman Randy Scannell told FOX 11. "I don't buy it."

Scannell drafted the code, which came after behavior were made against Mayor Jim Schmitt and Alderman Guy Zima.

Scannell admits the city's code of conduct isn't much different than state guidelines or Robert's Rules of Order. However, he says it provides something the others do not: an opportunity to restore public confidence in the council.

"What we have there gives a good basis for the public to understand what a standard of professional behavior is, what some possible consequences are for infractions," said Scannell.

"The mayor has got to settle down and Guy Zima has got to settle down a little bit, and everything is fine," said De Wane.

The council will take up De Wane's request next Tuesday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An historic performance was thwarted with the help of Damarious Randall's hand, as the Green Bay Packers hold off the San Diego Chargers 27-20 at Lambeau Field Sunday.

The Packers cornerback knocked down a pass to wide open running back Danny Woodhead on 4th and goal to seal the victory and push Green Bay to 6-0 heading into their bye week.

The historic part of the story belonged to San Diego (2-4) quarterback Philip Rivers, who was 43-of-65 for 503 yards with 2 touchdowns. Rivers set new franchise records for pass attempts, completions and yardage.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who usually is the one with the eye-popping stats, finished 16-of-29 for 255 yards and 2 TD's. Running back James Starks ran for 112 yards on 10 carries and a score.

The Packers defense, while sacking Rivers 3 times, allowed the most completions in team history.

Get a full recap of the Packers win with Mark Daniels and Matt Z on the 5th Quarter, Monday at 5 p.m. exclusively on 1360/97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.

SHERWOOD, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Calumet County say one man was injured after falling down at High Cliff State Park.

Sheriff's officials say the man was laying down looking up at the stars, when he stood up, lost his balance and fell.

The man was taken to an area hospital with a broken clavicle.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Public Service says several reports of power outages are affecting nearly 5,000 customers.

According to WPS, 4,600 customers are without power in Oshkosh after some equipment damage. Officials indicate both feeders should be back up and running around 2 p.m. Sunday.

WPS offers updates on both its twitter page and webpage.

Meantime, WE Energies officials say a broken piece of equipment is causing 300 customers to be without power near Gillett. Crews believe this was caused by a wildfire.

Officials said all power should be back and restored by 1 p.m.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Shawano County are crediting a mom for helping them catch an alleged child sex predator on Friday night.

23-year-old Nicholas Bennett of Portland, Oregon, was arrested after arranging to meet a 13-year-old Shawano boy who attended his traveling basketball camp three days before. 

Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber says Bennett allegedly began texting the child about his athletic skills, but then they gradually became sexually suggestive and explicit.

"The kid was using the mom's cell phone for the day, and she saw some of the text messages the coach was sending the boy and it was very concerning obviously," said Sheriff Bieber.

After seeing the messages, she contacted the sheriff's office and they then took over the conversation. Deputies arranged a meeting with Bennett for Friday night, and that's when he was arrested.

"The lesson is that there are predators out there that want to harm and abuse our children and we have to be vigilant as parents," Bieber says. "So it's very important for parents to be very active and involved in their children's devices and do routine checks on them."

Bennett appeared in Shawano County Circuit Court on Monday and is charged with using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and attempted child enticement. He's being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

MORE VICTIMS POSSIBLE NATIONWIDE

Detectives with the Shawano County Sheriff's Department are investigating whether there are more victims of Bennett, given that he's coaching with a traveling basketball camp.

"What I read through the (criminal) complaint that this guy, no doubt, does this often," says Sheriff Bieber, who's trying to find a schedule or itinerary of where this group has been and where they were headed.

According to Bieber, Bennett was working with the camp tied to the Pro Shot Shooting System. Its founder, Paul Hoover, was with Bennett in Shawano on Friday night.

"We had contact with the founder, the founder was traveling with this coach," Bieber said, adding that he wouldn't speculate as to Hoover's role in this case. 

Authorities believe there's plenty of smoke with this potential fire, especially after hearing from Bennett's sister.

"His sister was on our Facebook page commenting," says Bieber. "From what we understand this was not the first time, and she believes there's more victims out there."

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A not guilty plea Monday came from the former Brown County sheriff's deputy accused of stealing from the D.A.R.E. fund.

Kevin Vanden Heuvel is facing four charges, including two of theft, and will stand trial January 13.

According to the criminal complaint, Vanden Heuvel and volunteer Early Fuller were taking money from the D.A.R.E. parking program on Packers game days for 7 years.

Officials say Vanden Heuvel and Fuller would park cars, give out fake passes and pocket some of the cash. 

Meantime, Fuller is due to be arraigned on charges in connection with the case November 16.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of causing the death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old child will stand trial.

John Brush is facing 8 charges, including first-degree reckless homicide and child abuse. His arraignment is set for November 3 in Waupaca County.

According to the criminal complaint, police went to New London Family Medical Center on June 14 when the child was taken there. The child's mother, Brush's girlfriend, says she left her son in his care. Brush told her the child fell down the stairs. He died 9 days later.

However, autopsy results show the child died from blunt force trauma not consistent with such a fall.

"None of Brush's multiple explanations of the cause of injuries to the child are consistent with expert medical opinions, and the child could not have received life threatening injuries in the manner described by the only person present with him when the injuries occurred," the complaint states.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ)- Police are investigating a suspicious fire that seriously hurt two of six children in a Milwaukee house.

A two-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy were taken to the hospital after they were found by firefighters on the second floor of the house early Tuesday. The children's 52-year-old grandmother and four other children suffered minor injuries at most.

Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Lipski says the grandmother was able to get four of the children to safety as the fire burned.

Police say no suspects are in custody. Investigators have not said why they believe the fire is suspicious.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon with business leaders in the Fox Valley regarding the push to keep major highway projects on time.

Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), says his office received a request Monday for the committee to release $200 million in increased bonding this budget year. Currently, the budget panel can issue up to $200 million this year and $150 million next year.

Assembly Republicans have indicated that they've wanted to hold a meeting on the request from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. But Senate Republicans on the committee have expressed resistance to approve additional borrowing.

Nygren tells FOX 11 that he believe the Joint Finance Committee could meet within the next few weeks after receiving the DOT request. That would be the first step, with the second step getting the votes to approve the bonding.

The other JFC co-chair, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), said back on October 8, "Well right now we're looking for a solution that will be in the best benefit of our taxpayers and the safety of our state, so stay tuned and we'll let you know." 

Last month, the DOT announced that work on the Highway 10/441 interchange project will be stretched out until 2022 because of a lack of funds. Also, work on Highway 15 near New London and Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan will be pushed back 2 years.

Gov. Walker has said that completing these projects on time is vital to growing the state's economy. Local leaders also have safety concerns about delaying the projects and keeping orange barrels and workers on the roads longer.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A convict accused of killing a Green Bay woman in a drug deal gone bad claims he's innocent.

26-year-old Percy Sims pleaded not guilty Tuesday to first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon in the shooting death of Krystal Torres-Smith.

The incident happened on June 8 in a UW-Green Bay parking lot.

Sims did not have a trial date set, but returns to court on January 11.

Sims was released from prison in April 2014 for armed robbery with the threat of force in the Milwaukee area. He served just half of a 12-year sentence.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - A school in Shawano, which hosted a traveling basketball clinic involving a coach arrested last week for child sex crimes, were shocked to learn about it. 

The clinic on October 13 involving Ohio-based Pro Shot Shooting System was actually the second one at Sacred Heart Catholic School this year.

"We first hosted the camp last spring, and for a second time last week," says Sacred Heart principal Elisha Wagenson. "We originally were made aware of Pro Shot on a recommendation of one of our coaches who attended the camp in a different city."

Wagenson says they did check into the group.

"We reviewed the information about the company that was available to us and then proceeded with an invitation to have the camp here," says Wagenson.

The principal says there are more steps they take whenever the school hosts an event.

"We always are concerned with the safety of our students, participants and our campus grounds. Because of that we have certain protocols in place called 'Safe Environment'," says Wagenson. "In this case, we had exceeded the standards for supervision by our own Safe Environment trained and background checked volunteers. So we have done due diligence in the planning of this event to ensure the safety of participants,"

Wagenson adds they first learned about what took place with basketball coach Nicholas Bennett on Friday from the parents of the 13-year-old boy and law enforcement. 

The 23-year-old Bennett has been charged with using a computer to facilitate a sex crime and attempted child enticement. Bennett lives in Portland, Oregon and is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

Wagenson says they will review their protocols again to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Calling it one of his toughest budgets ever, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt rolled out his 2016 plan to the city council Tuesday night.

The proposal includes new spending on police technology, including 144 body cameras and new smart phones for officers. Overall spending, however, drops slightly.

Schmitt's budget holds the line on taxes, but also eliminates 4 firefighter positions for a nearly $400,000 savings.

"We have to find some way to reduce our expenses," Schmitt said, according to FOX 11. "No matter how you slice it that department is high and it's nothing political. I like those guys. They work hard."

"I think it's definitely the wrong way to go," City council president Tom De Wane said, according to FOX 11. "The council already approved having these men and women in the force and I think there will a big debate about it."

A committee will meet on the budget on November 3rd. The full council is scheduled to meet to adopt the budget on November 10th.