Record rainfall makes for soggy Thanksgiving in Wisconsin

November 27, 2015, 6:59 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin is drying out Friday from one of its wettest Thanksgivings ever.

For the most part, the state's southwest and mid-section escaped sleet and freezing rain that was predicted. But holiday motorists still had lots of rain to deal with -- 1.55 inches in Milwaukee, a record for both Turkey Day and November 26th.

Madison also broke both records with almost 1.2 inches. La Crosse had its wettest Thanksgiving since 1940 with a half-inch.

Green Bay had just short of 1.25 inches, much of it falling on national TV during Thursday night's 17-13 Packers' loss to the Chicago Bears.

The National Weather Service says it was warmer than expected ahead of an approaching cold front.

Parts of Ashland and Iron counties in the far north had 3 inches of snow behind the front.

Skies are clearing Friday. It's supposed to stay dry into next week.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

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One person killed, two others injured in Outagamie County crash

November 27, 2015, 7:01 am

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TOWN OF CENTER, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities are trying to figure out what caused a head-on traffic crash that killed one person and hospitalized two others.

It happened north of Appleton on Thanksgiving morning.

Outagamie County sheriff's deputies say a minivan and a pickup truck collided head-on in the town of Center on County Trunk A.

The truck driver died at the scene. The van driver and a passenger were seriously hurt, and were sent to a Neenah hospital.

No names were immediately released.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

New bargains found during Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving

November 27, 2015, 7:06 am

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - Black Friday shoppers have started hitting the stores in Wisconsin.

They're expected to find lots of deals, even though retailers served up bargains on Thanksgiving night and throughout November.

State officials say more folks are avoiding the crowds and shopping online, and they're not waiting for Cyber Monday.

Consumer protection administrator Frank Frasetto says shoppers should read the fine print to make sure they're getting the discounts they think they're getting. Also, he warns shoppers to watch for fake ads -- many of which give themselves away with incorrect spelling and poor grammar.

State Senate Republican Leah Vukmir of Wauwatosa says shoppers would find even bigger bargains if Wisconsin's minimum markup law is repealed. She introduced a bill to that effect earlier this year.

The Depression-era law requires stores to charge various markups for certain items -- and retailers cannot sell goods below their wholesale cost except to match competitors.

It's designed to keep large chains from putting mom and pop stores out of business.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Bart Starr, former teammates help Brett Favre celebrate number retirement

November 27, 2015, 7:17 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brett Favre says he got a bigger thrill from seeing 1960's Packers' legend Bart Starr than seeing his retired Number 4 unveiled on the Lambeau facade.

The 81-year-old Starr, who's recovering from a pair of strokes and a heart attack, made it from his Alabama home to take part in Favre's halftime ceremony Thursday night.

Starr and his wife Cherry rode to the 50-yard-line stage on a golf cart, and he embraced the 46-year-old Favre.

That was after Favre hugged a number of players from his two 1990s Super Bowl teams, and then watched his number unveiled next to Green Bay's five other retired numbers on the green facade along the stadium's north end zone.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Four people displaced after house fire in Shiocton

November 27, 2015, 7:20 am

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SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ) - A house fire in Outagamie County kept firefighters busy on Friday morning.

The fire happened at N6288 Kopeke Road in Shiocton around 5:30 a.m.

Three kids, ranging in age from 2 to 12, and one adult were inside the home at the time. All got out safely.

No word on what caused the fire.

Pre-Christmas fun continues on Black Friday

November 27, 2015, 9:03 am

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - Thanksgiving may be over, but the holiday season is just beginning in the Badger State.

According to Travel Wisconsin.Com, holiday parades will take place tonight in Beloit, Sun Prairie, Princeton, Portage, Plymouth, and Tomah.

Tree-lighting ceremonies have already been held in some cities like Milwaukee. But Delavan, Beloit, and Sun Prairie are among those saving their ceremonies for Black Friday.

Light festivals begin tonight in Marshfield, Hudson, and Green Bay, among other places.

Holiday festivals are planned this evening in River Falls, Egg Harbor, and Viroqua.

There's a Christmas Walk in Boulder Junction. And the Vienna Boys Choir entertains tonight in Madison.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

"Best Efforts" blood drive to honor Ledgeview Fire captain

November 27, 2015, 9:50 am

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LEDGEVIEW, WI (WTAQ) - A special blood drive Friday is being held to honor the captain of the Ledgeview Fire Department.

Back in July, Jason "Jake" Pansier was critically hurt in a tractor rollover accident. Pansier received 300 units of life-saving blood over the time he endured 26 surgeries. He also lost his left leg.

The blood drive takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Ledgeview Fire Department. That's at 3700 Dickinson Road in De Pere.

Pansier, who's an active farmer, has named the drive "The Best Efforts Drive" to recognize the work that firefighters and farmers do every day.

Donors will get a little taste of Pansier's community, surrounded by local firefighters and treated to dairy products, including milk and cheese.

The Pansier Family is also hosting a benefit to help raise money to fund Jason's medical bills as well as a prosthetic leg.

The benefit is Saturday, Dec. 5 at Beverly Gardens, 5911 Pine Grove Road in Denmark. The event will run from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with an auction and raffles. Dinner is also available for $25.

Green Bay woman causes gas leak after drunk driving crash

November 28, 2015, 4:00 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a woman has been arrested after slamming her vehicle into a home, causing a gas leak early Saturday.

Authorities say it happened when the vehicle struck a meter on the side of the house in the 800 block of Howard Street around 1:25 a.m.

No one was hurt.

Residents in the homes surrounding the scene were evacuated as a precaution, but have since been allowed back home. WPS crews and the Green Bay Metro Fire Department were on scene.

The 25-year-old Green Bay woman was arrested on OWI charges.

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Convicted sexual predator arrested by U.S. Marshals in Appleton

November 28, 2015, 4:04 am

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The U.S. Marshals Service reports the arrest of a convicted sexual predator after he cut off his GPS and electronic monitoring bracelet last Monday.

63-year-old L.C. Streeter was taken into custody in Appleton.

Streeter had been released two years ago on probation. He was convicted of 4 separate sexual assaults over a nine-year period ending in 1986.

He was civilly committed in 1996 as a sexually violent person. Streeter served 17 years before being released.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Green Bay apartment fire Sunday morning

November 29, 2015, 7:55 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An apartment fire in Green Bay Sunday leads to multiple fire crews responding.

Crews were called to the 2100 block of Elmview Drive around 7:30 a.m.

People living at the apartment were evacuated safely. No injuries have been reported.

No word yet on what caused the fire.

Brown County committee takes up Austin Straubel Airport name change

November 29, 2015, 7:58 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County Board committee is scheduled to discuss a proposal to rename Austin Straubel International Airport on Monday.

The airport is named for Green Bay native Austin Straubel, who was a World War II lieutenant colonel and airman who died after a bombing mission 73 years ago.

Supporters of the name change believe putting the name "Green Bay" will capitalize on the city's name recognition, and help promote the city.

The meeting of the Planning, Development and Transportation Committee takes place at 6:15 p.m. Monday at the UW-Extension office, room 161, at 1150 Bellevue Street.

Outagamie County convict on the lam

November 30, 2015, 3:50 am

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Oneida, WI (WTAQ) - The search is on for a missing inmate from Outagamie County.

Officials say Phillip Burton, Junior was reported missing around 9 p.m. Sunday from the Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in Oneida.

It's a minimum security facility.

Burton is 23 years old.

He's about 5'9" tall weighing around 177 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call local law enforcement.

Study: Sentences for same crimes vary widely in Wisconsin

November 30, 2015, 8:32 am

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - A new study confirms that sentences vary dramatically for the same crimes in Wisconsin, depending on the judges who issue them.

Gannett Wisconsin Media found that multiple marijuana offenses produced average initial sentences of 10 months in jail to less than one month. 5 and 6-time drunk driving netted 10 to 25 months.

In Sheboygan County, a judge gave a child molester 6 months in jail in 2010, even though prosecutors sought 8 years for a charge that carried a maximum 40 years.

Sentences hinge on an offender's character, the need to protect the public, and the severity of the offense.

Marquette professor Michael O'Hear says it's a "problematic" system in which judges are isolated from each other.

Wisconsin does not have firm sentencing guidelines, unlike 18 states and the federal government. State courts director Denis Moran says there have been "snapshots in time" in reviewing sentences, but the state is "large investments away" from ongoing guidelines and comparisons.

Gannett, which owns 10 daily newspapers in the state's mid-section, compared 140 judges who sentenced at least ten offenders in 5 of 12 crimes it studied.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Wisconsin hunters take over 192,000 deer in 8 days of gun season

November 30, 2015, 8:35 am

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin hunters shot more deer in the first eight days of this year's gun season, than in all nine days a year ago.

The state DNR says more than 192,000 deer were registered statewide through Saturday. That's about 775 more animals than in all of last season, which was the lowest total in 30 years.

The gun season ended Sunday. Hunters who were successful on the final day have until 5 p.m. Monday to register their deer online or by phone. We expect to get final totals Monday night or early Tuesday.

The DNR says almost 92,000 bucks were harvested through Saturday, along with 101,000 antlerless deer.

For the second year in a row, does were off limits in a number of northern Wisconsin counties in an effort to increase small herds in that region.

As of Thanksgiving, 610,000 Wisconsin deer licenses were sold -- up two-tenths of one-percent from the year before.

The season had its first fatal shootings since 2012. Two were confirmed, and a possible third death is being investigated in Marathon County.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Man admits to injecting heroin into woman who died in Hobart

November 30, 2015, 8:52 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man has been charged with reckless homicide in connection with a fatal heroin overdose incident last July.

Matthew Belekevich is expected to make an initial court appearance Monday on a charge of first-degree reckless homicide.

21-year-old Destinie Lara was found dead in a Hobart apartment.

According to the criminal complaint, Belekevich admitted he injected heroin into Lara's arm twice.

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House fire in Two Rivers early Monday

November 30, 2015, 8:55 am

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TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ) - An overnight house fire in Two Rivers puts three family members out into the cold.

It happened at a home on Adams Street around 2:30 a.m. Monday.

The family members were alerted by their smoke alarm.

Officials say a woman and her two children escaped. They are staying with family.

New London man busted in underage sex sting

November 30, 2015, 9:01 am

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NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ) - Police say a New London man has been arrested for allegedly trying to meet with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex.

The 42-year-old man started chatting with the girl online. The girl was actually a New London police officer.

Authorities say the conversations between the two happened over Facebook and through text messages. They talk became sexual. Investigators say the man suggested the "girl" lie to her parents and come to his house for sexual activity last Saturday.

Police arranged a time to meet in Hatten Park. When he showed up there on Saturday, he was arrested.

Formal charges have yet to be filed.

Gov. Walker signs excess Brown County sales tax bill at Lambeau Field

November 30, 2015, 9:12 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker has signed a bill into law returning $17 million in excess Lambeau Field sales taxes to Brown County during a visit to the Atrium Monday.

The bill requires the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to give one-quarter of the money to Brown County for redeveloping the aging Brown County Arena.

The remainder will be distributed to municipalities in Brown County, based on population, in order to lower property taxes, debt relief or for economic development.

A half-cent sales tax went into effect in January 2001 in Brown County to help pay for stadium upgrades. The tax paid for $160 million in borrowing for the $295 million renovation. The tax technically ended this spring but retailers could keep collecting it until September, resulting in $17.6 million in excess taxes.

GREEN BAY GRINCH: Police trying to identify Christmas light thief

November 30, 2015, 1:01 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police are looking for help identifying a suspect they say stole Christmas lights from a west side Green Bay home.

Authorities say it happened at a house in the 2600 block of Shady Oak Drive sometime during the evening of Wednesday November 25.

The homeowner said the suspect stole about $80 worth of lights, and was seen on surveillance video.

If you have any information on this incident, contact Officer Lind at (920) 448-3208. To remain anonymous, and be eligible for a cash reward, contact Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text "GBTIP plus information" to 274637.

Driver sought after Little Chute hit-run crash

November 30, 2015, 1:05 pm

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LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A driver involved in a hit-and-run crash in Little Chute last week is being sought by police.

Fox Valley Metro PD says a vehicle was stopped at a red light at Buchanan Street and North Avenue on Thursday November 26 around 4:40 p.m. when it was hit by a pickup truck.

The truck then drove off heading east on North Avenue. 

The pickup is described as a darker-colored truck, possibly a Dodge Ram. The driver is described as a heavier set white man in his mid-40's, possibly has a short beard.

If you have any information on this incident, contact Fox Valley Metro Police Department Officer Brad Boucher at (920) 788-7505 or at Brady.Boucher@fvmpd.org. If you wish to remain anonymous, and still be eligible for a cash reward, contact Crime Stoppers at *(920) 788-9090 or at tips@stopcrimenow.org.