GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Metro Fire get the call for a commercial fire last night in the 1100 block of Velp Avenue on the city's west side.  The call came in at about 9:30 at Windows of Wisconsin, a one story building.  

First arriving units found heavy fire showing on the backside of the commercial/manufacturing building.  Due to the volume of fire, the fire was fought defensively and took several hours to bring under control. The building’s roof partially collapsed during the fire. Crews remain on scene for hours extinguishing hotspots.

Multiple streets in the area had to be shut down as crews responded.  Firefighters say it took several hours to get the flames under control.  The roof is partially collapsed.  At least $300 thousand in damages, and that number could climb.  No reports of injuries.

Crews remain on scene extinguishing hotspots.

Ashwaubenon, WI (WTAQ) - One of Hilbert High School's top girls' basketball players wasn't on the court again Tuesday night. She is suspended for five games for a profane social media post directed toward the WIAA.

April Gehl's post was critical of a WIAA email reminding schools to focus on sportsmanship. The WIAA memo says student sections should not be chanting things like 'airball' or 'fundamentals' at opposing teams.

Now, some other schools are showing their support for Gehl, and objections over the punishment she is facing and the rules imposed by the WIAA.

At last night's game between the Ashwaubenon Jaguars and De Pere redbirds, the AHS students protested the new WIAA rules by wearing duck tape over their mouths. Then they removed the tape and chanted the banned chants.

While Hilbert High School parents don't condone Gehl's profane social media post, they say they agree with her stance on the WIAA's sportsmanship rules.

"I just think they are taking away freedom of speech," said Eric Duchow, a parent of a Hilbert basketball player.

Last month the WIAA sent an email about sportsmanship to schools across the state. Part of it read, "..any action directed at opposing teams or their spectators with the intent to taunt, disrespect, distract, or entice an unsporting behavior in response is not acceptable sportsmanship."

The WIAA says it only meant for its memo to serve as a friendly reminder.

The WIAA says it didn't recommend any punishment to Hilbert for Gehl's profane post. It says any punishment would have been up to the school.

The story has generated national media attention.

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Manitowoc, WI (WTAQ) - A new law on the books in Manitowoc will get its first test.

Police responding to Revolutions Bar at 902 York St. last night for a report of a fight in progress inside. Upon their arrival, the police officers were able to identify the two primary combatants, both of whom were local Manitowoc men, ages 30 and 34.

Both men were placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct. Once arrested and seated in a squad car, the older of the two men unleashed a verbal barrage of profanity toward one of the assisting officers, and finally told the police officer he was going to kill him and kill his family. This threat was captured on the squad car’s audio recorder.

The man making the threats was then transported to the Manitowoc County Jail where he was held on the felony charge of Battery or Threats to a Judge, Prosecutor, or Law Enforcement Officer, a statute newly amended and enacted on November 11, 2015.

The statute reads: “Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm or threatens to cause bodily harm to the person or family member of any judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer under all of the following circumstances is guilty of a Class H felony: (A) At the time of the act or threat, the actor knows or should have known that the victim is a judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer, or a member of the judge’s, prosecutor’s, or law enforcement officer’s family. (B) The act or threat is in response to any action taken by a judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer in an official capacity”. 

The Manitowoc Police Department says it will simply not tolerate anyone threatening the lives of our police officers or their family members.

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Fond du Lac, WI (WTAQ) - The Solutions Center homeless shelter in Fond du Lac is a safe haven for dozens of homeless people. But Tuesday, some were forced to leave early and head out into the cold. Jimmie Godfrey was one of them. "I stay there because right now I have no place to go."

The director at Solutions Center, Nicole Johnson, says the cold weather has put them at or above capacity with all of their beds full. And they've also been very short staffed. Johnson says "I pulled an extra 14 hour shift last night myself to make sure that we were open."

Staffing is so limited right now, the center says it had to consider closing down for some days this week and next week. So leaders at Saint Paul Episcopal Cathedral, the building that hosts Solutions Center, is working on a back up plan so a situation like what happened Tuesday doesn't happen again.

Father Brian Beno with the Cathedral says "I was fairly confident that one way or another, we'd make it work. I was concerned for the people, especially if they're on the street, it's cold."

He says they have an extra room in their building, where people can stay, overnight, if the Solutions Center ever does need to close. It's been checked out by the Fond du Lac fire department and is good to go.

The shelter's director says they're doing everything they can to stay open, no matter how thin they are stretched.

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The Outagamie County Sheriff's Department says an Appleton Walgreens was targeted in an armed robbery Wednesday morning.  

The incident happened at aaround 6 at the store at 729 W. Northland Avenue, which is near Richmond. No one was injured.

The robber was described as a white male, about 6 feet tall, with a large build. He was wearing an olive green hooded jacket that had a pocket on the upper left arm. Police say the jacket may have been made of wind or rain-resistant material. His face was covered with a camouflage-patterned scarf. He was also wearing blue jeans and black gloves.

A K9 unit was brought in to track the suspect, but that had to be halted due to the cold.  

This could be connected to a string of recent armed robberies in Appleton. On Monday, there was an armed robbery at the Family Dollar Store. Then on Tuesday, there was a burglary at a laundromat.

Anyone with information on this or any other in a string of robberies in the past two weeks is asked to call Sgt. Brian Leitzinger at the Appleton Police Department at (920) 832-5541. Anonymous tips can be left by sending a text message to 274637 with the keyword APDTIPS.

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Oconto, WI (WTAQ) - A woman has been charged with mistreatment of animals for allegedly dragging a dog behind her car for three miles, killing it.

Jordan McDonald made an initial court appearance Monday, where a $10,000 cash bond was set, according to online court records. She returns to court Thursday for the balance of initial appearance.

According to the criminal complaint, McDonald got into an argument Sunday night, and when she left a residence, the dog was tied to the vehicle.

The person McDonald was arguing with called police, who pulled over McDonald. The dog was lying in the road, still attached by a leash to the vehicle.

"The nylon lead rope that was in the passenger side door was tied around the dog's bneck and it had tightened up as the animal was dragged approximate 3 miles to the stop sign," the complaint states.

The officer loosened the rope but the dog died a few minutes later.

McDonald denied knowing the dog was tied to the vehicle, according to the complaint, and accused the person who called police of tying to the vehicle.

If convicted, she faces a maximum of three years, six months in prison.

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - The fallout of the Netflix docu-series "Making a Murderer" now apparently has a soundtrack.

This week, the half-brother of Brendan Dassey released a rap song entitled "They Didn't Do It" on YouTube and Soundcloud.

32-year-old Brad Dassey, an Oshkosh native who describes himself as a Christian rapper, believes that conflicts of interest during the investigation into the death of Teresa Halbach in 2005 and an unfair trial hit Brendan Dassey in, "the face with a plank," according to the New York Daily News.

Dassey goes on to say that the 10-part series that's captivated America has made a star out of Steven Avery, while largely ignoring the injustice his half-brother has suffered.

This comes in the wake of Avery filing his latest appeal, without the representation of his new Chicago-area attorney.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Residents in southern Brown County upset with last month's decision by the county's health director not to order a shutdown of the Shirley Wind Farm spoke out during a meeting Tuesday evening.

The Brown County Board of Health put room on its agenda to allow for follow up to Health Director Chua Xiong's call not to formally classify the turbines in Morrison and Glenmore as a public health hazard.

"Please help us, this is serious business," said one of the approximately 40 people attending the meeting solely to urge Xiong to change her mind.

"You are now part of the problem," said another resident. 

Ben Schauer is an Army veteran who lives in Denmark near the Shirley Wind Farm.

"I'm imploring all of you, fight for me, fight for my family as hard as I've spent 22 years fighting for this country and your rights to sit there," said Schauer, who was accompanied by his wife and sons who told the board their personal illnesses they say are from the wind turbines.

Xiong was largely silent during the meeting, while some board members backed her conclusion that insufficient evidence links turbines to illnesses suffered by residents.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR GOES AFTER XIONG

Among the attendees Tuesday was Brown County Supervisor Patrick Evans. He was one of the several who spoke during the public forum on the Shirley Wind Farm.

"It's almost borderline on misconduct in public office, it's almost criminal," Evans said, directing his remarks toward Xiong's announcement during the December 15 meeting. "I don't like it that she comes out and tells the people yes I know you're not crazy and there's a problem, but then doesn't do anything to help them."

In 2014, the Brown County Board of Health declared that turbines do emit low-frequency noise which can endanger health. But it is Xiong who holds the power to order a shutdown of those turbines in the southern part of the county.

"She has to make a decision based on the best available evidence she has," said board member and Brown County Supervisor Richard Schadewald, who echoed fellow board member Karen Sanchez in saying there is no "direct causality" shown.

NEXT MOVE?

Talk during the public feedback portion of the meeting ranged from performing more studies, to courses of action in a potential lawsuit to whether or not the Board could do anything moving forward.

But for many of the residents impacted by the daily issue of wind turbines, time is running out.

"If this was happening in Allouez or the City of De Pere, you'd be on this in a flash, because people getting this sick this fast, you'd do something about it," said one woman.

"We cannot wait any longer," said Steve Deslauriers. "Holding off for future study, the process at the state level is corrupt enough that it will likely turn out that we get a response like we did last month."

Evans, who chairs the Brown County Human Services Committee, says at their January 27 meeting that Xiong will speak.

"She hasn't taken the science to say why I've made this decision," Evans said. "I would hope that we would hear some explanation from her, I think she's probably working on it right now instead of before."

Evans added he doesn't expect Xiong to change her mind and that while he supports her background, in his view, she's dropped the ball on this decision.

Xiong was unavailable for comment after the meeting.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One of the men convicted in the murder of Green Bay paper mill worker Tom Monfils in 1992 had his bid for a new trial rejected.

On Wednesday, retired Judge James Bayorgeon issued his 29-page decision. Bayorgeon is the judge who presided over the original trial.

Kutska, along with Rey Moore, Dale Basten, Michael Hirn, Michael Johnson and Michael Piaskowski were convicted of killing Monfils. All are currently serving life prison terms except for Piaskowski, whose conviction was overturned by a federal judge.

In the ruling, Bayorgeon writes about critics of police investigatory techniques:

The decision by appellate counsel James Connell not to seek an independent forensic review is not grounds for a new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel. "It is pure speculation by Kutska that Attorney Connell had contacted an independent forensic pathologist, at that time, that individual would have disagreed with Dr. Young as Dr. Sens now does with the benefit of 20 years of scientific advances. Accordingly, the court cannot conclude that Kutska has demonstrated the reasonable probability of a different result if Attorney Connell had consulted with an independent forensic pathologist," he wrote.

At a hearing last summer, Kutska's attorneys also argued that there is new evidence in the case.

Bayorgeon responded:

The judge says Brian Kellner's recantation of a supposed demonstration of the murder at a bar is not basis for a new trial. "The Court remains unconvinced at Kutska's broad and generalizing statement that the evidence he seeks to introduce was not available at the time nor that he was unaware of its existence. Based on the testimony presented at the post-conviction hearing, Kellner had already recanted his statement to witnesses before Kutska even proceeded to trial," Bayorgeon wrote.

You can read the entire ruling here.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The combination of helping those in need with supporting the Green Bay Packers is being exhibited by a local shelter.

Residents and volunteers at the New Community Shelter are continuing to make cheesy scarves to benefit the homeless shelter.

Sales of the handmade scarves to Packers fans worldwide helped to raise nearly $153,000 last year.

"Of course the revenue is really important to our organization, but the comradery that now exists between the shelter and our community is priceless. Cheesy scarves have brought people to our doors that never knew we existed, some to purchase scarves and others to volunteer," New Community Shelter Executive Director Terri Refsguard said in a statement.

You can purchase a cheesy scarf at the New Community Shelter at 301 Mather Street in Green Bay or online at Newcommunityshelter.org.

Each scarf is $10, personalized scarves are $15. Shipping is available for an additional cost.

Refsguard said revenue from the scarves help all aspects of the shelter. The mission of the New Community Shelter is three-fold. First is an Emergency Shelter Program, which is the community's only year-round program to help homeless adults in an atmosphere of respect and accountability; second is a Transitional Living Program for those individuals in need of additional help and resources while they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency; and third is a Community Meal Program, which is the only meal program that serves children and adults 365 days a year.

If you would like to volunteer to help make the cheesy scarves, you can email Kari Watt at KariW@newcommunityshelter.org.

Howard, WI (WTAQ) - No one was injured after an early morning fire in Howard.

The fire broke out before 5 a.m. at a home on Cardinal Lane. Officials say there were reports of explosions and a fire in the garage. The house was engulfed when they arrived.

Three family members, mother, father and daughter got out safely.  The family cat had to be rescued. It took about 30 minutes to control the fire.

The cold weather created several challenges, including freezing hoses.

The house is a total loss, but a damage estimate is not available.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Steven Avery's ex-financee is speaking out against him. Jodi Stachowski, who initially defended Avery in the Netflix docu-series "Making a Murderer," now calls him a "monster."

Jodi Stachowski talked to CNN Headline News ... She says Avery beat her before he went to prison. "I want people to know the truth...what a monster he is and that he's not innocent"

Stachowski was with Avery for two years and actually Avery in the Netflix docu-series," but says she was pressured to do so. Now, Stachowski says she's speaking out because of petitions signed by thousands for Avery's release...

"I actually ate two boxes of rat poison to get away from him....get to a hospital and ask them to get the police to help me"

Meanwhile, law enforcement says her story is believable. “I really believe her story and think this is a critical piece to this puzzle,” said Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann.

Police agencies working on the case have come under intense criticism from those who believe Avery and his nephew, Brendan Dassey, were framed.

Avery was convicted of the murder of Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc county in 2005. Avery has filed numerous appeals in the case, the latest was filed Monday. To date, all of them have been rejected.

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A man has been arrested after getting into Manitowoc Lincoln High School without permission, eventually getting into a fight with janitors.

Manitowoc police say that a student told office staff Thursday morning that a man was inside the building around 6:45 a.m. Janitors then went up to 58-year-old Steven Grimm, who was not cooperating. That led to a fight with one of the janitors getting punched in the face.

Police say Grimm wanted to reach the top of the tower at the school. Grimm admitted using drugs, including marijuana, and alcohol Wednesday night.

Assistant Police Chief Scott Luchterhand says a rescue squad was sent to the school, but the injuries suffered by the janitor were minor. 

Grimm did not have any weapons on him at the time. He's facing charges of substantial battery, burglary, damage to property from breaking a window at the school and trespassing.

Lincoln High School went into lock down mode so police could secure the building. Students and staff already inside the building at the time waited in the auditorium and cafeteria until about 8:05 a.m. Those students and staff not inside were required to stay outdoors during that time.

At that time, the building was secured and classes went on as normal.

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - Teresa Halbach didn't want to go to the Avery Auto Salvage Yard on Halloween in 2005, but Auto Trader magazine begged her to do them the favor.

That's according to a report from People, who spoke with an unnamed friend of Halbach's.

The article says that the 25-year-old Halbach's photography business was becoming so successful, Halbach put in her two-week notice to quit.

But on the morning of October 31, Steven Avery allegedly called Auto Trader asking specifically for Halbach to photograph his van.

"She said she didn’t want to go," the source told People. "Auto Trader begged her to go – to do them this one favor – do one more picture." 

That day would be the last time Teresa Halbach was seen alive. 

The murder investigation led to the convictions of Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey in 2007. Interest in the case has hit new heights, thanks to the release of the Netflix series "Making a Murderer."

This week, Avery filed a new appeal and his ex-fiancée said he was guilty.

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials say a fire that heavily damaged a Green Bay business this week started in a room where varnishing and painting took place.

The Green Bay Metro Fire Department issued a statement Thursday regarding the investigation into a fire at Windows of Wisconsin on Velp Avenue Tuesday night.

Crews were called around 9:30 p.m. to the business. 

Investigators say a piece of heating equipment used in the manufacturing process can't be ruled out as a cause of the fire. It caused about $300,000 in damage.

Officials say the shop of the building is a total loss. The showroom was damaged, but can be salvaged.

The building was closed at the time. No injuries were reported.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - An inmate's suicide at the Outagamie County jail is under investigation.

According to the sheriff's department, a 35-year-old inmate was found dead during a routine check Thursday morning. The check happened at 2:12 a.m., and officials say the male inmate used a bed sheet to hang himself.

Officers and medical staff performed CPR on the man. Paramedics were called in, but efforts to revive the man were unsuccessful.

Jail officials say the man had last been checked at 1:17 a.m.

The man's name has not been released, pending notification of family. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Thursday.

According to authorities, the man was initially booked into jail on January 7. Officials say he had been jailed 28 times since 1997.

OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - The Pulaski man charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash last month has pled not guilty.

35-year-old Joseph Anderson entered that plea in Oconto County Court on Thursday. 

A trial date was not set and Anderson is due back in court February 11.

According to police, Anderson struck and killed 51-year-old George Birr on County Road S back on December 21. Anderson claims he didn't know he hit a person.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A plea deal has been reached for a Menominee Indian Reservation resident charged with paying a teenager for sex.

Court documents show that Brian Kelley is due in federal court in Green Bay on February 4.

The girl was 14 when she began working for Kelley, who paid her $20 or $25 each time they had sex. Court documents reveal that they had sex on numerous occasions from 2010 through 2015.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - More surveillance photos and videos have been released by Appleton police as they continue investigating a pair of armed robberies.

Police released a video showing the suspect in the armed robbery of the Family Dollar store, 808 W. Wisconsin Avenue, from Monday. The suspect was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall with a slender build. He was wearing a dark jacket over a dark hooded sweatshirt with blue jeans and dark boots. His face was wrapped with a scarf and he wore sunglasses at the time.

Surveillance images were released from an armed robbery on Wednesday. That happened at Walgreens, 729 W. Northland Avenue. The suspect was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall with a large build. He was wearing an olive green hooded jacket that had a pocket on the upper left arm. Police say the jacket may have been made of wind or rain-resistant material. His face was covered with a camouflage-patterned scarf. He was also wearing blue jeans and black gloves.

In addition, police released two images (shown above) of someone they call a "person of interest," but said was not necessarily a suspect, in the Walgreens investigation. Police say they would like to talk to him.

The armed robberies this week were the 4th and 5th reported in the past two weeks in Appleton and Grand Chute. Police are not sure if the crimes are connected.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Brian Leitzinger at the Appleton Police Department at (920) 832-5541.

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - The state Court of Appeals has ordered a new attorney be appointed in connection with a Green Bay murder case.

Jeffrey Wickman was sentenced 36 years in prison for the murder of Daniel Kuehl.

An appeals attorney filed what's known as a "no-merit report," stating there were no grounds for Wickman to appeal his sentence.

But in a recent decision, appellate judges disagreed, and ordered a new attorney be appointed.

"Upon review of the record and the submissions regarding the merits of an appeal, we conclude that Wickman can pursue an arguably meritorious challenge to the legality of his sentence for felony murder as a repeater and to the DNA surcharge," the court wrote. "We must conclude that Wickman can pursue an arguably meritorious claim that the extended supervision portion of his sentence is unlawful."

Police said Wickman broke into the home in May 2013, looking to steal guns to trade for cash or drugs, and eventually strangled Kuehl. Officers recovered a stolen gun, leading to Wickman's arrest.

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