FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - More than two years after the killing of a man in Fond du Lac, a sister-in-law of the victim has been charged.

4 charges were filed Tuesday against Tina Ewell in connection with the 2013 murder of Tim Nance, according to online court records.

Ewell is expected to appear in court Wednesday morning.

Eve Nance was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide for the murder, and is scheduled to be sentenced May 27.

His body was found on Thanksgiving 2013 with two bullet wounds to the head in a wooded area.

Ewell was held in jail for two weeks at the start of the case, but hadn't been charged criminally. She later filed a federal lawsuit against multiple officials, claiming her civil rights were violated by that detention. Those claims, however, have been dismissed.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man has pleaded guilty in a drug-related murder last year in Green Bay.

27-year-old Percy Sims appeared in Brown County court Wednesday.

Sims is accused of killing Krystal Torres-Smith at a parking lot at Lambeau Cottage on the UW-Green Bay campus.

Officials said Sims shot and killed Torres-Smith at close range after he met with her to buy marijuana.

Sims is expected to be sentenced on June 28.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay man is facing weapons charges after police followed up on a domestic abuse complaint.

21-year-old Justin D. Cornelius is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon and bail jumping. All counts have repeater enhancers.

According to the criminal complaint, Green Bay police got a visit on March 20 from a woman who claimed her daughter's jaw was broken by her boyfriend. The woman had gotten a text photo from her daughter allegedly showing her injury, and also heard that he wouldn't let her daughter leave their residence.

Officers were sent to 1000 block of August Street, when they learned the boyfriend had left the residence on foot. He was described as a black man in his mid-20's wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a multi-colored skull cap with the first name of Justin.

A man matching that description hopped inside a car, which began to pull away. Officers followed that car to the 700 block of Schoen Street. Two white men got out of the front car when it stopped, but the suspect never left the back seat.

One officer approached and asked the man in the back seat for his name. He identified himself as Justin Cornelius. Cornelius was asked to step out of the car, and without further questioning said that, "He never did anything to her and that I was looking for someone else."

A short time later, a woman came running down a driveway area of an apartment complex and Cornelius began yelling for her to come over and tell the cops he didn't do anything.

While that was going on, two other officers noticed a barrel and rail system of what appeared to be an Uzi I-style firearm often referred to as a Tec 9 or Mac 10 in the car. One of the cops recognized Cornelius, saying he knew him as a gang member with a history of weapon-related offenses.

A search warrant was approved for the car, and officers recovered the firearm with was, "a semi-automatic Uzi-style 9 mm firearm. Also found in the back passenger side door was a large, high capacity magazine which contained seven 9 mm bullets."

Per the complaint, the girlfriend texted her mom to say, "Don't say I told you n he gotta gun tec n a mac." Cornelius was also overheard on his phone saying, "Pray for me, pray for me. Imma try to get down to Milwaukee tomorrow."

According to online court records, Justin Cornelius was previously convicted of felony burglary in February 2012 in Milwaukee County court.

Cornelius is due in court Wednesday for his arraignment. If convicted on all counts, he faces more than 18 years in prison.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - A man wanted across Wisconsin and Illinois for a number of smash-and-grab thefts has been arrested.

Calvin Walker is facing 56 charges in Sheboygan County, mostly entry into a locked vehicle, theft and criminal damage to property counts. A plea hearing for Walker is set for May 24, ahead of a scheduled June 8 trial.

The 39-year-old Walker is also suspected in Brown County for incidents that happened February 3. He allegedly smashed the windows on 2 vehicles at the Bellevue YMCA, stole financial transaction cards, then went shopping at a nearby department store and mall. Charges for these incidents have not been filed.

Walker is being investigated by multiple other departments, including:

• Mt. Pleasant Police Department
• Kohler Police Department
• Sheboygan Police Department
• Brown County Sheriff's Office
• Elkhorn Police Department
• Lake Geneva Police Department
• Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office
• Sheboygan Falls Police Department
• Brillion Police Department
• Elmhurst, Illinois Police Department
• Gurnee, Illinois Police Department

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man will stand trial for shooting and killing someone at a Bellevue Street duplex in December.

Antwon Powell had a preliminary hearing in court Wednesday. Powell will be arraigned on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide May 17.

According to the criminal complaint, Powell accused David Shorter of breaking into his home and stealing money and marijuana earlier on December 3.

Both men argued back on forth on the phone all day. That night, Powell went to Shorter's home on Bellevue Street and shot him when he went outside for a cigarette.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Bay Port High School just got word of a substantial gift to their music program this week.

World renowned singer-songwriter Barry Manilow announced that he would be donating a new Yamaha piano to the school. 

The Manilow Music Project has conducted music instrument drives all over the country to assist local schools with their music programs.

Orchestra Director Audrey Nowak says it was a big surprise.

"It's so nice when someone like him, of his caliber calls attention to what we're doing by making a donation like this. It's just a wonderful thing and we're really grateful."

Manilow will be visiting the Resch Center April 21st for a performance during his One Last Time! Tour.

Nowak and others will be celebrating the donation by seeing him in concert.

"Yes, we are going to go and have an evening and celebrate together and listen to some great music."

Manilow is inviting fans to donate new or gently used musical instruments the week prior to his show, April 14-21 at the Resch Center box office, in exchange for a pair of tickets.

Ticket prices are from $19.95-$169.75 and can be purchased at www.reschcenter.com.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Before we know it, summer will be here and so will those pesky mosquitos that we love so much.

Mike Reed is the Director at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and says it's hard to tell if it's going to be a bad season for those biting bugs.

"It will depend whether we hit a dry spell and everything dries up or if we keep getting rains and the areas still stay flooded, then that will determine what the mosquito population will be like."

Reed says he doesn't think Zika will be a problem in Wisconsin this year however West Nile Virus usually shows up in the mid to late summer.

"Those types of mosquitos breed in small puddles. So, keep your eave troughs drained, keep the base of flower pots empty, no old tires or any little areas that can hold water, make sure those get drained out."

Reed says if you're worried, there are easy ways to ward off the bloodsuckers.

"If you have long sleeve shirts and long pants that does help. Deet is the most affective spray to use. It doesn't have to be in excessive concentrations."

He suggests using products with no higher than 40 percent Deet.

Many people use herbal remedies or even sonic bug repellents that you can get at your local sporting goods stores.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - For the first time ever, Wisconsin will perform 2 mock tornado drills Thursday as part of Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association are teaming up to sponsor the statewide drill.

A mock tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m., and a mock tornado warning will be issued at 1:45 p.m. Many radio and TV stations statewide will issue the test tornado warnings. In addition, mock alerts will be issued on NOAA Weather Radios and many communities will sound their tornado sirens.

New this year will be a mock tornado warning issued at 6:55 p.m. to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans.

"I think this will be a great reminder for folks to just take 10 minutes of time to sit around the kitchen table and talk to your family about how you're going to be ready for tornado season," says Tod Pritchard with Wisconsin Emergency Management. "Where are we going to go when the storm hits, what's the safest place in our home, do we have some supplies to take care of ourselves in case we may be held up in our homes for a while."

According to the ReadyWisconsin website, the basics of tornado safety are 3 words: Listen, Act and Live.

• In a home or building, avoid windows. Move to a basement, and get under a sturdy table or the stairs. If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and cover yourself with towels, blankets or pillows. If possible, get under a sturdy table, desk or counter. Put as many walls as possible between you and the storm. Wearing a bike helmet will help protect your head.
• If outdoors, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to shelter, stay in your vehicle with the seatbelt on and place your head below the windows. Do not seek shelter under an overpass.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the designated storm shelter or the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building.
• At school, go to the interior hall or room. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums.

Here are some essentials for an emergency kit:

Start out thinking about the basics of survival – fresh water, food, safety, warmth, sanitation and clean air.

• Water (1 gallon per person per day for 3 days)
• Food that does not need electricity for storage or preparation
• Manual can opener (if kit contains canned food)
• Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and a commercial radio or hand crank radio
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• First aid kit and emergency medical reference manual
• Prescription medications and eyewear
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels, moist towelettes, garbage bags and ties
• Complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and sturdy shoes

• Formula
• Bottled water to mix with formula and to wash bottles
• Bottles
• Blankets (both emergency blankets and receiving blankets)
• Diapers – keep the diaper size current
• Disposable wipes
• Copy of a current shot record
• Bath towels and wash cloths
• Burp cloths, bibs
• Cotton swabs
• Medications
• Diaper rash ointment
• Binkies and toys
• Cotton swabs
• Medications
• Diaper rash ointment

• Identification tags on collars
• Medications, immunization records
• Food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter/pan and can opener
• Sturdy leashes or carriers to transport pets safely (Carriers should be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down)
• Towels or blankets
• Current photos of you with your pets
• Feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian
• Pet beds and toys

• Cash in small denominations or traveler's checks and change
• Copies of important family documents, such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach it can be used to disinfect)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) and plastic sheeting/duct tape (to shelter where you are)
• Local maps
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
• Paper and pencil
• Fire Extinguisher
• Whistle to signal for help

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A domestic abuser is facing over a half-dozen charges following a night of rage, violence, abduction and a shooting.

25-year-old Vai Yang is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, false imprisonment, robbery with use of force and take and drive vehicle without consent among others. 

According to the criminal complaint, Green Bay police were called to a home on Danz Avenue around 10:40 p.m. on February 26 for a disturbance complaint.

A woman told officers that her boyfriend's son, identified as Vai Yang, arrived at house, kicked her in the shoulder near the back door, grabbed the keys to her car and left. She said that she's afraid of Yang, who's been living at the home since last year, because she believes he may kill her.

About 20 minutes later, police responded to a weapons call at a gas station in the 900 block of W. Mason Street. Officers on the way learned that one person was in the street with a gunshot wound to the leg next to a truck and another vehicle was driving off towards the Mason Street Bridge.

Cops arrived to find a man sitting next to his truck. He told them that he was involved in a crash with another car, and then, "The guy started punching him in the face when a struggle over his firearm occurred." The gun did go off during the struggle, and while he was hit, he also believed the other guy was hit.

That victim say he was driving just past Webster Avenue when a car tried to wedge between his truck and another vehicle. That car hit his truck and spun the other vehicle out. He then followed the car across the Mason Street Bridge and that somewhere near the west end of the bridge the car suddenly slammed on its brakes. This caused his truck to rear-end the car.

Both vehicles pulled over near the gas station. The driver got out and walked towards him with his fists clenched. He told police he was, "Frightened and didn't know what the man was capable of so he pulled his pistol from under his seat." The man claimed to have a valid concealed carry permit.

Once his door opened, the man wasn't scared by the gun pointing at him and began hitting him while trying to grab the gun.

Another officer spotted that car, with Vai Yang in the driver's seat with an apparent gunshot wound to his abdomen. Yang was taken to the hospital, where he had surgery.

In the car with Yang was a man who reported that he was kidnapped from his Bellevue trailer home. According to this man, someone he didn't know broke into his trailer. That someone was Yang, who kept yelling at him about someone named "Tyler" with a black Cadillac. 

The man told police he thought maybe Yang was confusing him with someone else, because he kept telling Yang he didn't know a "Tyler". At the time, Yang was smoking a cigarette which he threw down on the bedroom floor.

Yang, per the complaint, told the man that he would be coming with him. The man objected, to which Yang responded, "You are coming with me the easy way or the hard." He was scared that Yang would harm him if he didn't go, so he did. 

Yang ordered him to get into the front passenger seat of the stolen car. He sped off in an erratic manner, almost hitting a parked vehicle and a pole as they drove down Bellevue Street. The victim estimated they were going 80 miles an hour. 

When approaching E. Mason Street, Yang passed the stopped traffic on the right and made a left turn against the red light. Yang continues to speed down Mason, weaving in and out of traffic. He slammed into a vehicle at the Quincy Street ramp, then continued driving recklessly over the Mason Street Bridge before they were hit from behind by another vehicle. 

As the altercation near the gas station was happening, the kidnapping victim said he was afraid to run away because he, "Did not know where he would run to and was afraid Yang would shoot him."

He heard the gunshots fire, then watched Yang get back in the car and drive around the block. Yang pulled over a short time later, gave the man his cell phone and told him to call an ambulance. 

Investigators later went to the kidnapping victims' trailer, and saw both the damage to the door of the trailer and a brown cigarette butt on the floor. 

Vai Yang is due back in court for his arraignment on May 2. If convicted on all counts, Yang faces more than 45 years in prison.

TOWN OF VINLAND, WI (WTAQ) -  A Kaukauna-area woman was killed and three other people were injured in a Winnebago County crash Wednesday afternoon.

The crash happened on Highway 76 and Highway G in the Town of Vinland, between Neenah and Oshkosh.

Officials say the woman is approximately 20 years old.

The other three people sustained non life-threatening injuries.

Both lanes of Highway 76 were closed for several hours after the crash.

Lanes reopened around 7:30 p.m.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Charges have been filed against the suspect involved in a pair of Green Bay area jewelry store thefts.

32-year-old Andrew Schultz faces 4 charges, including two counts of theft of property worth over $2,500 and two counts of bail jumping.

Authorities say Schultz stole earrings from Zales in the Bay Park Square mall on June 29, 2015, and D&M Jewelers on Oneida Street in Ashwaubenon on July 8. In both incidents, police say Schultz went to the counter, asked to see some earrings, then ran off with them.

Schultz was released from prison February 24, 2015, after serving a sentence for fleeing an officer and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He was returned to prison August 31, 2015, for violating terms of his extended supervision. Schultz is currently scheduled for release from prison in July 2019, according to the Department of Corrections.

No initial court date has been scheduled on the new charges.

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Preliminary approval has been given for an $18 million development project by the Village of Bellevue.

The plan includes building a mix of single family homes, apartments and an assisted living facility near the corner of Ontario and Eaton Roads.

"People want houses over here," Steve Bieda of Mau and Associates, the group representing the project developer, told FOX 11. "I hear it every day, but there is nothing available."

The village board had approved a plan for senior living houses, apartments and an assisted living center about a year ago. But there wasn't much of a response for it.

"We still feel there is a demand in this community for that type of development, but it wasn't the right timing," said Andrew Vissers, the community development director for Bellevue.

This new plan for the 35-acre piece of land lifts the restriction on age. It currently has 41 single family homes, eight 8-unit high-end apartment buildings, an assisted living facility and 2 acres reserved for future commercial use.

The developer says the single family homes would be between $250,000 and $300,000 apiece. Rent for the apartments would be about $1,100 a month.

"There is a huge need for multi-unit buildings," said Bieda.

Back in February, village board members denied a larger scale, $27 million neighborhood plan for the corner of Huron and Willow Roads, not far from this project. The Huron Road project was turned down after neighbors complained about proposed apartments.

For the Ontario Road project, only one neighbor spoke against the plan. Her concern was for the assisted living center.

"You have ambulances," said Nicole Bisick of Bellevue. "You have workers that come and go basically increased volume. It's going to be almost directly across from my house, so I'm pretty concerned."

The board voted 4-1, giving preliminary approval for the development. The developers must apply for final approval within the next year.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Leaders in Brown County met Thursday highlighting the benefits of a proposed Day Report Center.

It's part of Brown County's $1.15 million mental health initiative contained in their 2016 budget.

The day report center would be a new option for people in the criminal justice system identified for pre-trial release and involvement in one of the Brown County Treatment Courts. They could receive out-of-jail services and daily monitoring.

Day report center staff, working with the county jail, local law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office and other community agencies, would address the needs of participants as well as public safety concerns.

Brown County District Attorney David Lasee says they've gotten smarter in terms of realizing how the jail should be utilized. 

"It's not designed to be light on crime. It's not designed to let dangerous individuals out of jail. The people that belong in jail will still be in jail."  

The county says day-to-day accountability and intensive case management would provide the most effective services while reducing jail population growth, recidivism and taxpayer costs.

Brown County's Human Services Committee approved the proposal and will be taken up by the newly elected county board next Tuesday.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker on Thursday signed a bill into law allowing the construction of the Fox River Navigational System Visitor Center.

Appearing at a lock and dam in Appleton, Walker gave final approval for the state Department of Administration to sell land to the city of Appleton. The Fox River Navigational Authority will now be able to lease the land from the city and build a visitor's center.

"Wisconsin's rivers are not only an important method of transportation, they also serve as a major attraction for tourists to our state as well," Governor Walker said in a statement.  "Assembly Bill 810 allows for the construction of a Fox River Navigational System Visitor Center, which will benefit the region as a whole as it continues to grow as a tourist destination and serve the needs of the community, including students who will be able to visit the center for educational purposes."

The Fox River Navigational Authority will also be required under the bill to establish an escrow amount with money sufficient to dispose of the visitor center, if necessary, in the future.  

Authored by Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton), the bill passed the Assembly on a voice vote and was concurred by the Senate on a voice vote. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Warmer temperatures are on their way and that means bathing suit weather will be here before we know it.

Many of us are looking to lose a few pounds before baring all that skin.

Dr. Kristen Lindgren is a Functional Medicine physician at Prevea Health and says to focus on your diet first.

"Losing weight and getting in shape is much easier if we are incorporating healthier, whole foods into our diets like grass fed meats, fish, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, eggs and healthy oils like coconut, avocado, and olive."

Lindgren says the current recommendation is 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days a week but says another form of exercise may be just as important.

"I personally, however, recommend that patients focus the same, if not more, on strength training and resistance exercise. I feel strongly about this because muscle helps to drive our metabolism."

If you're looking to begin a new health regimen it also might be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

"Prevea Health has a new medically supervised weight loss program, called Ideal Weigh. This is a really versatile program which really can be for anyone; People that just want to lose a few pounds or even for people that have a lot of weight to lose."

You can find more information on kick-starting your diet at www.prevea.com.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A lawyer for the Fond du Lac woman charged in connection with the killing of her brother-in-law wants the case thrown out.

Tina Ewell appeared in court Thursday morning, facing 4 counts in the death of Tim Nance.

Eve Nance, Ewell's sister, was convicted of killing Tim Nance and dumping his body in a wooded area in Milwaukee in the fall of 2013. Eve Nance will be sentenced next month.

Ewell's attorney filed a motion Thursday to have the case dismissed, claiming the criminal complaint is defective. A hearing date was not set.

A judge ordered a signature bond for Ewell. She's due back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 12.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A convict is facing decades in prison for allegedly trying to talk an underage girl into prostitution and dealing drugs.

34-year-old Lorenzo D. Harris is charged with 7 felonies, including second-degree sexual assault, child enticement, trafficking of a child and possession with intent to deliver drugs.

According to the criminal complaint, two underage girls were hanging out with a friend of theirs and a friend of his they didn't know on January 16. 

Once their mutual friend was dropped off, they drove around Green Bay getting to know this man who was identified only as "P". He told the girls he was going to drive to Milwaukee, and they went along with him.

Once in Milwaukee, "P" made several stops which kept the girls in the minivan. "P" and his cousin got into the van and looked at, "The drugs he scored." Both men started coming on to the girls, who rejected their advances by saying they were both too young.

The cousin didn't stop making sexual advances, while sitting in the back of the van. He forced himself on one of the girls as they drove back to Green Bay that night.

The van went to a Howard gas station, and both girls were worried about getting away. They approached a man pumping gas, and he had witnessed a verbal altercation. The man offered to give the girls a ride home.

The girls then called police and explained their story.

On February 17, per the complaint, one of the girls got a call from "P" looking to get her to become a prostitute in Milwaukee. Police were contacted, and arranged to have her try to meet up with "P". 

After several phone calls, "P" agreed to pick her up at the Fleet Farm gas station in Howard. Once his minivan arrived and was identified, authorities swooped in and arrested him.

"P" later identified himself as Lorenzo Harris, who claimed he was just, "Coming to meet a girl and that they were going shopping."

A search of Harris' minivan tuned up a clear, plastic baggie containing numerous other baggies of either off white rock-like material or a brown powder/chunky material. The investigation determined that Harris had about 2.2 grams of crack cocaine and 0.9 grams of heroin.

Also found inside the van was a black and silver .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the glove compartment under the front passenger seat. The pistol was loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition in the magazine. One additional round was found in the glove box separately.

At the time, Harris was on active probation for a 2007 felony armed robbery conviction in Milwaukee County.

Lorenzo Harris is due back in Brown County court on April 29 for his pre-trial hearing. If convicted on all counts, Harris faces more than 180 years in prison.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Ashwaubenon residents can keep proudly displaying Packers flags, but there's still an issue with signs.

There was confusion after a man put on social media that the village asked him and his neighbors to take down their Packers flags and signs at the Game Day apartments on Oneida Street.

Andy Sevick lives there.

"spitting distance from Lambeau Field, right across from the Don Hutson Center....it would almost be crazy not to have Packers flags and what-not hanging off"

Sevcik wasn't happy when his neighbor told him someone from Ashwaubenon's inspection department came by telling him his Packers and Badgers signs had to be taken down.

But Village President Mike Aubinger says it's not the flags they have issue with.....it's the signs.

"the ordinance says you can't put up temporary signs for more than 30 days....and you need a permit to do it"

There were signs at the apartment building up for longer than 30 days and the village took action after multiple complaints.

The problem was with three plywood signs hanging from the building. The signs have rope lights in the shapes of a W, G, and number 4.

Sevcik says his other flags will be staying up. He says he has more being shipped to hang up as well.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The death of a toddler in Appleton is under investigation.

Appleton police say they were called early Thursday evening to a home on Purdy Parkway on the city's north side.

A 3-year-old child died and an autopsy is planned for Friday.

Police say they are not releasing any more information as the investigation is in its early stages.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Downtown Appleton is gearing up for the fourth year of the Mile of Music festival.

On Friday, festival organizers announced the first 50 acts for the August 4-7 gathering. They include 30 new acts and 20 returning performers. The total lineup is expected to surpass 200 acts when completed.

• Click here for the complete lineup and the latest festival information

The initial lineup has performers from 25 states and four countries.

Organizers say this year, attendees can expect to see more artists and more venues, including more outdoor plazas and parks.

There will also be a big education component this year, with 15 music mentors from Lawrence University hosting interactive performances to engage attendees.