APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - An Appleton committee will unveil several new designs for the Erb Park Pool improvement project Monday night.

The city's Park and Recreation Committee presented the 4 design concepts at Appleton City Hall during its meeting.

Three of the designs feature a pool and one of the concepts has a splash pad only.

Options 1A and 1B both include a 25-meter competition pool.

Option 1A includes a training pool and small splash pad. In option 1B the training pool is removed and replaced with a larger splash pad. Option 1B also includes a deep water area with a climbing wall.

The cost estimate for option 1A is $10,742,000. The cost estimate for option 1B is $11,144,000.

Option 2 includes a 50-meter competition pool, a medium size splash pad and a deep water area with a climbing wall and dual slides. The cost estimate for option 2 is $10,175,000.

Option 3 includes a large state-of-the-art multi-age splash pad area without a pool. The cost estimate for this option is $2,947,000.

Officials say the city will need to borrow money to pay for the project, no matter which one is chosen.

For the average home in Appleton, valued at $130,000, options 1A, 1B, and 2 would add about $30 per year to the average tax bill for the 10-year borrowing period. Option 3 would add about $8 per year for the same time period.

A budget public hearing will be held Nov. 4 and a budget adoption meeting will be held Nov. 11. Both meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.

For more information on the Erb Park Pool project, click here.

The designs come after the 36-year-old main pool began losing water late this summer.

Appleton's mayor, Tim Hanna, suggested the pool be replaced by a splash pad, while some members of the community said a splash pad wouldn't be a fair replacement of the pool.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

Madison, WI (WTAQ) - The State Assembly Tuesday will take up a bill that would return millions of dollars in taxpayer money, to Brown County communities.

The extra money comes from Brown County's half-percent sales tax for Lambeau Field.

The tax was in place for 15 years, but it expired at the end of September, with a surplus of about $17 million.

Under a proposal, a quarter of that money would go to the county to redevelop the Brown County Arena.

The rest would be given to communities for things like debt reduction and property tax relief.

The State Senate has already passed the bill.

So if the Assembly approves it, the measure would go to Governor Scott Walker for his consideration.

RHINELANDER, WI (WTAQ) - A Fox Valley man is suspected of breaking into a northern Wisconsin house where one of the state's most publicized murders of the year took place.

38-year-old Mark Spietz of Kaukauna was arrested for allegedly busting into a empty house near Rhinelander, and stealing numerous items which have since been recovered.

Spietz is free on a $5,000 bond after an Oneida County court hearing Monday.

The house is where 17-year-old Ashlee Martinson allegedly killed her mother and step-father in March and locked her three sisters in a bedroom before taking off with her boyfriend.

The property is currently in probate.

The case attracted national publicity because Martinson wrote an unrelated blog which had stories about mutilation and death.

Authorities say Spietz is not related to the girl's family. He was booked on possible charges of burglary, theft, and identity theft. He's due back in court November 9th.

Sheriff Grady Hartman says his officers are monitoring the house -- and anyone caught there will be arrested for trespassing.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Manitowoc have arrested a woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend Monday afternoon.

Authorities were called to an apartment in the 800 block of Washington Street.

Officers found a 52-year-old man with a stab wound in his upper back. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The woman appeared to be intoxicated and was uncooperative, according to police.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - More than 200,000 Wisconsinites who get their health insurance from the federal exchange will pay less than the national average next year.

Federal health officials say the average Obamacare Silver plan will cost Wisconsin residents 4.7 percent more in 2016. That's lower than the 7.5 percent jump in the 37 states that use Healthcare.Gov.

But it's higher than the previous year's increases of 2 percent for both Wisconsin and the nation.

Clients can start enrolling on Sunday for coverage that begins at the start of 2016.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton police say four Michigan men were arrested Monday for using stolen credit card information apparently bought off the Internet.

Police say a store employee contacted them Monday afternoon to report a group of men using multiple credit cards to buy gift cards. The employee knew from past experience that this was likely a fraudulent credit card situation. The worker described the men and gave their license plate number to police.

Four men from the Detroit area were arrested in Northeast Wisconsin for using stolen credit card information.

Authorities then worked with a financial institution to track the purchases, leading them to the Green Bay area. The suspects were buying gift cards and "large quantities" of cigarettes. 

Appleton police alerted law enforcement in Brown County, and Green Bay police arrested the men and kept them detained until Appleton police could get a search warrant for the vehicle and travel to Green Bay to interview them.

Authorities say one of the men admitted buying stolen credit card information and a credit card reader on the Internet. The man said they had come to Northeast Wisconsin to shop with the cloned credit cards.

Police found gift cards, cigarettes and other newly purchased items with the men.

The suspects have been identified as: 20-year-old Antoine C. Jones of Ferndale, Michigan; 22-year-old Robert K. Smith of Detroit, Michigan; 23-year-old Jourdan A. Williams of Ferndale, Michigan; and 23-year-old Timothy D. Reed of Ferndale, Michigan.

All are being held in the Outagamie County Jail on multiple charges, and those are being referred to the district attorney's office.

Appleton police say they will spread the word about the men to other law enforcement agencies.

Allouwez, WI (WTAQ) - Battle lines being drawn in Allouez as the fight over a proposed Kwik Trip convenience store marches on.

After shooting down one proposed store on Webster Avenue earlier this year, the Village Planning Commission has approved a smaller version just down the road.

The issue now moves to the Village Board, where member Rob Atwood says zoning regulations that stopped the earlier store, aren't an issue here.

That's because the property at 1401 South Webster is already zoned for a gas station.

The Kwik Trip being talked about would be a  2,736 square foot store.

It would include 6 gas pumps and would face Garland Street.

And Atwood is aware there's a number of residents who just don't want Kwik Trip in the neighborhood.

They object to the noise, traffic and overall congestion the store would bring.

The Village board will have a say on things like parking spaces, water runoff and the size and placement of signing.

The board will look at those issues next month.

PULASKI, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say a love triangle was the main ingredient during a home invasion Tuesday night in Pulaski. 

Officers were called to the home at 131 Lincoln Street around 8:30 p.m.

"The suspect, the victim and a third female knew each other so there was personal contact there," says Pulaski Police Officer Paul Grunert. "The ex-boyfriend (the suspect), the new boyfriend (the victim) and another female who is now the new girlfriend of the victim."

Grunert says it's unclear what triggered the 26-year-old Green Bay man to force his way into the home armed with a knife. A verbal argument began, the suspect showed the knife and a scuffle ensued. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries and have been released from the hospital.

"Several charges are pending, but we're still investigating," says Grunert.

Authorities have not named any of the people involved.

Madison, WI (WTAQ) - The State Assembly has passed a bill that would return millions of dollars in taxpayer money, to Brown County communities.

The extra money comes from Brown County's half-percent sales tax for Lambeau Field.

The tax was in place for 15 years, but it expired at the end of September, with a surplus of about $17 million.

Howard Assemblyman David Steffen was a main sponsor of the legislation.

“This bill is about keeping a promise to the taxpayers of Brown County, that any excess revenue collected through the sales tax would be returned to the taxpayers.

I am proud that today, my colleagues in the Assembly supported this measure, which not only upholds this promise, but provides the most timely and efficient path for returning this excess revenue. "

“I am pleased at how smoothly this bill has moved through the legislative process and look forward to having these funds returned to Brown County and its communities within the year.”

Some of the money, about a quarter of it, would go to redevelop the Brown County Arena.

The rest would be given to local communities for things like debt reduction and property tax relief and economic development.

The state Senate already unanimously passed this legislation last month.

The bill is now in Governor Walker’s hands, and he has indicated he will sign the bill into law within the year.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Two regional credit unions say they will merge.

Officials with both UW Oshkosh Credit Union and Prospera Credit Union announced the move Wednesday.

Managers at UWOCU say the credit union had increasing difficulty competing in a changing marketplace with regulations along with expensive and complex technology. 

Officials say the merger promises UWOCU members more services and products, with both credit unions expanding their number of branch locations.

All current members of both credit unions are eligible to become members of the merged institution, which will operate as Prospera Credit Union. The Appleton-based Prospera will have about 20,000 members, $215 million in assets and five branch locations from Appleton to Oshkosh following the merger.

UWOCU members are set to vote on the merger December 1 at the UW-Oshkosh Alumni Center. A presentation and question-and-answer session is set for 5 p.m., with the vote at 6 p.m.

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man convicted of killing a pregnant woman in Door County will not get a new trial.

Brian Cooper was given a life prison sentence without parole for the murder of Alisha Bromfield on August 19, 2012. Cooper killed Bromfield and her unborn child.

Cooper argued he should get a new trial because his attorney was deficient for not trying to get a lesser murder charge of reckless homicide.

Online court records reveal that Door County Judge Todd Ehlers denied that motion Wednesday.

Cooper can appeal this decision.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The full closure of Velp Avenue under Interstate 41 scheduled to begin Wednesday night has been canceled.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says it has been rescheduled for Tuesday, November 3 through Thursday, November 5, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The closure is for bridge demolition. Residents near this intersection will experience some nighttime construction noise and lighting during this demolition.

Velp Avenue full closure under I-41:

• Tuesday 10 p.m. - Wednesday 5 a.m.
• Wednesday 10 p.m. - Thursday 5 a.m.
• Thursday 10 p.m. - Friday 5 a.m.

All lane restrictions and work operations are weather dependent and subject to change.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - One person is hurt after a stabbing in Grand Chute.

It happened at 1412 North Hine Street just before 1 a.m. Thursday.

Cops say the male victim had returned home with a friend and was approached by two male suspects.

One suspect stabbed an Appleton man a couple times. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.  

Police Chief Greg Peterson says the two suspects were wearing masks and blue hoodies. But one of the suspects is between 5'6" and 5'8", the other is thought to be between 5'9" and 5'11". Peterson says both the victim and the witness says they suspects were fair-skinned.

Peterson says it appears one or both the men knew the suspects, and that they were either followed from where they were earlier that evening or waited for them to arrive.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Grand Chute Police Department at (920) 832-1575 or text "GCPD" and your tip to 847411.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Online court records reveal that one of the suspects in a major heroin ring bust in Brown County was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Judge Tammy Jo Hock last week also put Samuel Fuss on extended supervision.

The alleged ringleader, Jafari Mahonie, was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this month.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a boy suffered a bruised arm after he was hit by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities say it happened after the 8-year-old boy got off the bus and attempted to cross Bader Street. He walked into traffic and was hit.

The vehicle sped off and no description was given. 

Police say their investigation continues.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Shopko says they won't oversee the workers at its De Pere distribution center starting next year.

The Ashwaubenon-based retailer said they're turning the operation over to Spectrum Supply Chain Solutions. Spectrum is a Canadian-based logistics company.

Officials with Shopko says the move will ultimately improve operations and customer service.

Right now, 247 people work at the distribution center located at 1717 Lawrence Drive.

Shopko officials say no one is expected to lose their jobs. Employees were notified of the transfer back in July.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The Appleton Common Council has voted to raise the hotel room tax to 10 percent during a special meeting Wednesday night.

Currently, Appleton's room tax is 6 percent. Most of the new funding is slated to go toward a possible Fox Cities Exhibition Center. The cap for the cost of the new facility has been set at $29 million.

The rest of the new funding would go toward a new sports tourism fund.

But it's just the first step in the process. Nine other municipalities will also have to raise the room taxes to the same rates. Those include Grand Chute, City of Menasha, Town of Menasha, Sherwood, Little Chute, City of Neenah, Town of Neenah, Kimberly and Kaukauna.

Here is a breakdown of that 10% rate:

• 3% goes to the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
• 2% goes to pay bonds on the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
• 3% goes to fund bonds to pay for the construction of the Fox Cities Exhibition Center
• 1% goes to the municipalities
• 1% goes to Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Development Fund, specifically for sports tourism.

The 2% for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is expected to be paid off in 2017. At that point that plan is to roll it into the Convention and Visitors Bureau's sports tourism development fund.

Council members voted 13-1 to approve the raise.

"This is a first step, a first step of many, but it's very positive. It's a strong statement by our city council and that's what we were looking for," Mayor Tim Hanna told FOX 11, adding he hopes other municipalities will follow suit. "They are very supportive. They understand that we live in a regional economy and this is a good thing for all of us." 

The nine other municipalities have until November 30th to raise their room tax rates. That's Appleton's deadline to buy land for the exhibition center from Outagamie County.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

MENOMINEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe is speaking out for the first time since a raid by the DEA last Friday on what he calls their industrial hemp grow.

Gary Besaw says a federal raid should've never happened on tribal land, no matter if the plants were industrial hemp or high-grade marijuana. The DEA claims it was high-grade pot.

"We believed we were well within limits," Besaw told FOX 11. "If it was above limits, we were ready to take the appropriate action."

Besaw is referring to the limits of THC. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, industrial hemp can't have a THC level above 0.3 percent. That's what distinguishes industrial hemp and marijuana.

Besaw says the tribe has tried to work in good faith with federal authorities since it started its hemp operation in early July.

"We had an open door policy," said Besaw. "Come see us, you can come look, test it. If we were trying anything clandestine, I don't think that would have been a wise approach to do that."

According to DEA officials, they seized 30,000 high-grade marijuana plants. A search warrant shows federal agents tested several random plants. An initial test came back negative, with a second being positive. 

The warrant also says federal agents found Colorado residents working with the tribe, including one advertising himself on the social media site LinkedIn as a cannabis consultant.

In July, Besaw says he gave federal authorities a list of everyone who would be involved with the hemp project.

"It's not a secret," said Besaw. "I'm perplexed by what happened. This doesn't make sense to me."

Tribal officials say they plan to go to court in order to get clarification on whether its operation was compliant under the farm bill. 

The DEA has said the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - If you don't slow down in front of Green Bay's Aldo Leopold School, then you are a big problem that some parents want fixed.

Parents are speaking out just one day after a pet dog of one of the students was hit and killed as the child and parent tried crossing Monroe Avenue.

"It's really frustrating, it's like playing Frogger, every morning and afternoon," parent Danielle Hille told FOX 11 as she dropped her son, Warhol, off at school.

"Kids cross every day," said parent Shannon Malott, while holding a sign urging drivers to slow down. "You've got to cross with them, otherwise, they're not seen."

Malott's daughter, Nora, joined her before the school day began to hold up signs along Monroe Avenue. For the record, the posted speed limit is 25 but drops to 15 miles per hour when children are present.

Hille says the danger not only lies between the lines of the crosswalks for students, but parents as well.

"A lot of parents have almost been hit by cars," she said. "I don't know if it's going to take a child getting hit for people to realize what they're doing."

Green Bay police officers pulled over at least 3 vehicles for speeding between 7:30 a.m. Thursday until classes began at 8 a.m. Another cop was parked at the corner of Monroe and Eliza with a speed gun.

Parents are worried about what happens when the police presence goes away, calling it a "Band-Aid" for the time being.

Green Bay Alderman Tim De Wane, who's the district alderman, says he's circulating a petition to change city laws that prohibit in-street pedestrian signage. De Wane says he'll present copies to parents and staff at Aldo Leopold.

Then, he hopes to present the petition to the city's traffic commission next month.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - Some tense moments Thursday afternoon as emergency crews respond to a mercury spill.

It happened at the former Suamico Sewer Treatment Facility on Mink Ranch Road.

Just before noon, 5 employees were cleaning the unused facility when an unmarked vile, containing less than a half-ounce of mercury, accidentally fell through a box and hit the floor.

Suamico Fire Chief Troy Noe says the workers were wearing normal clothes and the spill splashed onto some of their pants.

Noe says the workers were decontaminated and there's no serious concerns for their health. He says a cleaning operation at the facility will take place Friday.