APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The LGBTQ community in Appleton is helping people cope with the recent tragedy at an Orlando gay nightclub.

The Fox Valley LGBTQ Anti-violence Project is holding a candlelight vigil at Rascals Bar at 702 E. Wisconsin Avenue starting at 7p.m.

Kathy Flores is with the organization and explains how she felt when she heard the news of Sunday's Orlando nightclub attack.

"I was just devastated, you know, I called individuals to talk about it and just kind of followed the news that morning but was transfixed on how young the victims were, the parents that were looking for their sons and daughters who were inside the club and just how long the perpetrator was inside the club."

Flores says LGBTQ bars and nightclubs are considered their safe spaces, so it's shocking when something violent happens at them.

"Every day we have hate crimes and suicides and violence against the LGBTQ community and this is just a further reminder of how at risk we are."

There will be music and a moment of silence at the vigil and afterwards there will be a celebration of life and love.

For more information contact Kathy Flores at 920-475-4405.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man has been arrested after police say he left a baby inside his car Sunday to go to Titletown Brewing Company.

"The complainant waited for a period of time where she felt a parent should've come and check on the child, in which she contacted the police department," said Capt. Kevin Warych of the Green Bay Police Department. "Officers arrived on scene, quickly assessed the baby, and contacted the Green Bay Metro Fire Department to provide any medical aid. They wanted to make sure the baby was in good condition."

It's unclear how long the baby was inside that car, but the child is approximately 1-year-old. 

"Officers were able to locate the father of the child," Warych said. "The father was subsequently arrested and taken to the Brown County Jail."

Jail records indicate that 30-year-old Andrew S. Yee was booked on a felony charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and a misdemeanor count of neglecting a child.

Warych adds that this is a lesson for parents.

"If they have to run an errand, go into a store or if they have to do anything, their child should always come with them," Warych explains. "Children can disappear in a second and parents need to constantly be aware and have good vision of where their children are at all times."

The investigation is ongoing and Yee is expected to appear in Brown County Court Monday afternoon.

FISH CREEK, WI (WTAQ) - Plans to rebuild Eagle Tower at Peninsula State Park are underway.

In May 2015, park officials closed the tower to the public after an inspection report revealed structural problems.

"Repairing the existing tower is not feasible based on the overall condition of the wood members and load bearing abilities of the current structure as identified in the engineering reports," Ben Bergey, director of the Wisconsin State Park System, told FOX 11.

Deconstruction of the tower is scheduled to begin next month, and it could cause temporary trail closures near the tower, as well as rerouting traffic from a section of Shore Road.

The tower will be taken down in 3 sections. 

Park officials also say there will be opportunities for visitors to view the deconstruction process.

• You can learn more about the deconstruction process here

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Summer Food Program in the Green Bay area has started at local parks and schools.

Children in the community will have access to free breakfast and lunch at schools, while lunch is available at the parks. 

It's rooted in a federal program providing free meals to all children 18 and younger on weekdays until August 12. The exceptions are July 4 and July 26.

• Here's a list of participating schools and parks

School officials says it's a way to try and ensure children don't go hungry during the summer months.

"Many kids eat breakfast, lunch and sometimes even dinner at school and the summer meal program is a way to continue those meals during the summer when kids might not be in school or don't have meals at home," Amy Zellner of Green Bay Area Public Schools told FOX 11.

Adults can eat for $2.00.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A vigil last night (MON) at Union Congregational Church in Green Bay...trying to spread the message that "love is stronger than hate."

In the face of tragedy, people gathered for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

Oliver Aldrich came to the vigil to led support.

"a lot of me friends are really hurting, and I'm hurting too. and, I wanted to be with people who sdhared the pain and could comfort me"

Attendees joined together in prayer and song. And each victim's name of the Orlando shooting was read aloud.

Michelle Becker is Facilitator of the Adult Gay/Straight Alliance...

"it's not us and them....it's we. we're a community and when one community member hurts, we all hurt"

Something that members of that community say they appreciate.

Ady Cunningham, from Green Bay says....

"it's not something you see a lot of, and so to have a church that's so accepting of us, its really wonderful."

An online fundraising page has already raised 2 and a half million dollars with the hosts saying the money will go to the victims.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The fate of a Green Bay Alderman looks to now be in the hands of his peers on the city council.

The city's ethics board ruled Monday night that Chris Wery violated the city's ethics code.

Two months after losing to Wery at the polls, Debbie Jacques scored a victory against her former city council opponent with the ruling.

Days before the spring election, Jacques accused Wery of using his temporary position at Associated Bank to illegally access her bank accounts.

Since the election, Jacques has filed a lawsuit and an ethics complaint against Wery.

"once he viewed it, he has everything, from my home address to my telephone to my social security number"

Court records reveal Associated Bank confirmed Wery accessed Jacques' accounts without authorization and was fired as a result.

In closed session, the city's ethics board heard from both sides, then made a unanimous decision.

No comment coming from Wery as he left the hearing.

The next move is up to the City Council. A decision could come at the Council's July 19th meeting.

Possible punishment for a city ethics code violation includes suspension and removal from office.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - During the morning of June 13th, 2016, Manitowoc Police were dispatched to a vehicle crash in the YMCA parking lot at 205 Maritime Drive.

When officers arrived, they learned that a 45 year-old Two Rivers woman was driving her vehicle southbound on Maritime Drive when her vehicle went out of control.

She reported that her brakes did not work, the car pulled to the left, and police later determined that the vehicle’s tires was not properly maintained.

The vehicle entered the YMCA parking lot uncontrolled, crashing into a tree and a total of eight parked vehicles, causing significant damage to all vehicles.

Fortunately, there were no pedestrians walking through the parking lot at the time of the crash and the driver was not injured.

Most vehicles were towed from the scene of the crash and the driver of the vehicle was cited for Failure to Have Control of her vehicle. 

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Menasha say Highway 114, also known as Washington Street, will be closed until Tuesday evening due to a crash.

According to a post on its Facebook page, police say a semi crashed into an electrical pole and it will take time to clear the scene.

Highway 114 will be shut down from Main Street to Nicolet Boulevard.

Police say no one was hurt in the crash.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - After Green Bay's ethics board found probable cause that Alderman Chris Wery broke ethics rules by using his bank job to look at his primary opponent's financial records, it now heads to the full city council.

Days before the spring election, Debbie Jacques accused Wery of using his temporary position at Associated Bank to illegally access her bank accounts. Court records reveal Associated Bank confirmed Wery accessed Jacques' accounts without authorization and was fired as a result.

Since the election, Jacques has filed a lawsuit and an ethics complaint against Wery.

Now the city council sans Wery will decide their colleagues' fate, likely at their meeting on July 19.

"It'll take a couple weeks to go through our attorney's office and write up their findings as to what it is exactly that they found," said Council President Tom DeWane. "Then present it to our city council."

On Monday, Jacques and Wery each told their side of the story to the ethics board in closed session. DeWane feels they shouldn't go behind closed doors to decide on a punishment.

"Well I would believe it would have to be done in open session because the work has been done," DeWane says. "So I don't know what would be in closed session, other than tell us what our choices are, but I wouldn't vote to go into closed session because it should be public record anyway."

Possible punishment for a city ethics code violation includes suspension and removal from office.

"You talk to bankers and they say this kind of stuff does happen. Should he have done it? No. But did he break any laws? He did not. So that's the thing you've got to consider," said DeWane. "It's the first time this is coming through. I certainly wouldn't recommend any harsh punishment, that's for sure."

WTAQ reached out to Wery for comment, but we did not get any of our calls returned. He also declined comment to the media following Monday's ethics board decision.

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - The NEW Zoo in Suamico is helping dads celebrate their special day Sunday.

Fathers get free admission into the zoo and adventure park.

Operations Manager Patricia Jellen says there's plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

"Well, we just had some swans born, so we have some baby cygnets that are hanging around with their mom and dad right now and that's a fun thing to watch. They will be released into the wild in Iowa in a couple of months before they start their first flight. We also have giraffe feedings a couple of times throughout the day."

More courageous dads can try out the zip line at the adventure park for half-price.

"You climb the tower and you can zip down to the bottom and race whoever you want to be with. So, it might be fun for dads to race their kids and see who wins and create some great memories."

Regular admission is $7 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors.

The zoo is open from 9a.m. to 8p.m. daily for the summer.

Find more information at www.newzoo.org.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The National Weather Service is confirming that a weak tornado developed during severe weather last Friday night.

According to the National Weather Service, officials used radar and photographic evidence to confirm the tornado, which developed southwest of Mackville around 8 p.m.

It was rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which means wind gusts reached 65-85 mph.

• Click here to read the NWS report

The National Weather Service says a few tree branches fell, but largely no damage was reported with the tornado.

KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) - Harsh winters come easy in northeast Wisconsin, but utilizing that cold to make precious wine is hard to do.

Parallel 44 Vineyard and Winery in Kewaunee has put in that intensive labor to produce an ice wine that will be released to the public on Saturday.

"We are excited and proud to release this rare wine that reflects the soul of our region here in northeast Wisconsin,” says owner and winemaker Steve Johnson. "Here on the Frozen Tundra we are among the very few places in the world that can make authentic ice wine."

Johnson explains the arduous process needed so that they could create this highly sought-after dessert wine.

"You need about three consecutive days where it's below 15 degrees. Then you're picking frozen grapes so it's not for the faint of heart," Johnson says. "But then the pressing takes a very long time because you're literally pressing marbles and you need pressure of about 300 psi to push the ice crystals out of the berries."

A single press of those frozen grapes can take up to half a day, according Johnson, which comes before the fermentation which is three times longer than the normal fermentation process of a wine.

"When it's finally finished, you get this multi-layered flavor which is really something to savor," says Johnson. "It's just a very concentrated, deep rich lingering flavor that you get on the palate."

The finished product, made using Frontenac Gris, costs $55 for a half bottle. Johnson says it will only be available at Parallel 44 and Door 44 wineries, along with their website. 

“I think this nectar of the Frozen Tundra will please both the wine connoisseur and those wine drinkers just starting to explore their taste,” Johnson adds.

Parallel 44's Ice Wine is a sweet, intense, full bodied dessert wine bursting with flavors of apricot and honey. It's recommended to pair with fruit based desserts, such as apple pie or cherry tort, or cheese cake.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - The trial in a 26-year-old murder has begun in Fond du Lac County. 

18-year-old Berit Beck disappeared back on July 17, 1990, when she was traveling from Sturtevant to Appleton for work. 62-year-old Dennis Brantner, who was arrested in March 2015, is charged with killing Beck.

Prosecutors say that Beck made a stop at a Walgreens on her way.

"We have a pretty good idea that she made the purchase and then she disappeared," said Dennis Krueger, Fond du Lac County's Assistant District Attorney.

Two days later, Beck's van was found in the parking lot of a Fond du Lac shopping center. Beck's body was recovered six weeks later in a ditch near Waupun.

"His fingerprint on a window of the cargo doors that open on the passenger side of the vehicle," said Krueger, who focused mainly on the fingerprint DNA. "Draw the conclusion from the evidence, that's what the facts prove beyond a reasonable doubt he killed Berit Beck."

"You'll hear no evidence of connection between the two. They never crossed paths; they were never in the same area, they are strangers," Brantner's defense attorney, Craig Powell, said according to FOX 11.

Powell explained to the jury that key evidence in the case disappeared.

"Items in the state's procession, the investigators' procession, charged with keeping these things, safekeeping them, gone," said Powell.

Powell also said there is other DNA evidence which was found in the van that isn't linked to Brantner.

"The evidence in this case will not show you when she died, where she died, why she died and the evidence will certainly not sow you that it was Mr. Brantner who intentionally caused her death," Powell said.

Opening statements wrapped up Tuesday morning, then witnesses began being called to the stand in what's expected to be a two-week trial.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Tuesday night, Green Bay's finance committee heard pitches from organizations looking for a piece of $5.3 million in Lambeau Field excess sales tax money.

More than $1 million has already been spent on debt relief.

Mayor Jim Schmitt recommended dividing $1 million equally among the beach restoration efforts at Bay Beach, the nature center expansion at the Wildlife Sanctuary, the Grand amphitheater project at the Botanical Garden, and new exhibits at the Children's Museum.

Staff has set up a matrix to determine each project's economic impact and other factors. Alderman Bill Galvin .....

"I think if we have all the facts and figures down there we can look at it and compare apples to apples"

Galvin says finding a way to compare things to a standard set of requirements makes sense.

"make the best decision on how are these dollars going to benefit this community going forward...and where are we going to get the biggest bang for our dollars"

The committee decided to wait a month before making any recommendations.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - People in the Fox Valley are standing in solidarity with Orlando Tuesday night.

A vigil held at Rascals Bar in Appleton, a club primarily catering to the LGBTQ community, brought out a big crowd.

Kathy Flores helped organize the vigil.

"think it's important that we come together and mourn the victims of Orlando, but more importantly that we come together as a community"

Flores says there's a message that's being sent as well.

"celebrate our lives and who we are, and hate is not going to win....love is going to win"

Earlier in the evening in Menasha, a similar vigil was held, but for local youth.

Earlier in the evening Tuesday, a youth vigil was held in Menasha, for those under 21 years old.

Haruka Yukioka helped organize the youth vigil

"I think it's so incredibly important. Youth are the future of this nation and for the LGBT movement, youth are going to be able to continue this movement"

A vigil on the UWGB campus is set for today.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - We're learning more about last month's drunk driver who slammed into a Green Bay pub and injured three people.

50-year-old Lanard F. Hollenquest is charged with seven counts including 3 for second offense OWI causing injury, injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle and second offense OWI.

According to the criminal complaint, Green Bay police were called just before midnight on May 20 to Karen's Pub at 324 N. Roosevelt Street for a vehicle that drove into the building and hit people outside.

Officers arrived to find a gold colored car up against the west entryway into Karen's Pub. A bouncer pointed out to officers that a black man, later identified as Lanard F. Hollenquest, was the driver of the car. Other bystanders also pointed out Hollenquest as the alleged suspect.

Hollenquest allegedly tried walking away, and one cop fearing he might escape, placed him under arrest. Hollenquest apparently tried resisting, but was unable to avoid having handcuffs placed on him.

One of the women seen by authorities had a severe leg injury. An officer noted that, "Her right leg was torn open and he could clearly see her bones and flesh and tissue were hanging onto the bone."

A man had used his belt and placed it around her leg as a temporary tourniquet, per the complaint.

Another woman was lying on her stomach, while a third woman who tried running inside when the car approached was thrown into the pool table.

A bouncer at Karen's Pub told police that he was standing right behind the bar at the west end of the building where he heard tires screech. "All of a sudden it was like bam, people were flying," the bouncer stated.

The bouncer told one officer that he allegedly, "Saw the driver was trying to shift gears and he ran out the back door. He opened the driver's side door of the car and told the driver he wasn't going anywhere."

The complaint reads that the bouncer described the driver as a black male with a thin build, wearing a gray t-shirt. The bouncer then reached over and pulled the keys out of the ignition and that the driver got out of the car saying, "Give me the keys." 

The driver allegedly wanted to leave and tried swinging at him. A passenger inside the vehicle was described as a heavier set black female wearing a white tank top. She had been taken to a hospital for injuries.

An officer went to meet with the passenger, and she allegedly muttered that the driver was, "Lanard." She also stated she remembered turning a corner and hitting a building. Upon impact, she said she felt pain in her tailbone and her head.

Meantime, Hollenquest was placed in the back of a squad car. Officers there said, "His speech was slurred, his eyes were glassy and red and he could smell the odor of intoxicating beverages." 

"The defendant stated that he had been drinking prior to driving," according to the complaint.

Officers allegedly had Hollenquest perform some field sobriety tests, which he failed. Submitting to a preliminary breath test, the results came back that Hollenquest had a .197. A check of Hollenquest's record revealed that he is subject to mandatory minimums after being convicted of OWI on March 19, 2014 for an offense the month before.

Hollenquest remains in the Brown County Jail on a $25,000 bond. A future court date, per online court records, has not been set.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A teen in Door County has died from bacterial meningitis.

According to the Sevastopol School District, 8th grader Matthew West died recently. District officials say his organs were donated.

The Door County Public Health Department has sent a letter to parents of students who participated in athletic activities with West. The letter asks parents to be on the lookout for symptoms of the illness, including sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, fatigue, lethargy, nausea and/or vomiting, a stiff or rigid neck, rash and sensitivity to light.

Anyone whose child shows symptoms is advised to contact a doctor immediately.

• You can learn more about meningitis here

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of causing a standoff at Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah will wait until next year for his trial.

In court Wednesday, Brian Flatoff's new attorney asked for more time to prepare his defense. Prosecutors did not object to the motion. 

Now, Flatoff's trial is scheduled for March 13, 2017. He returns to court January 12 for a motions hearing.

Flatoff is charged with 16 counts, including felony murder, two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and a count of conspiracy to commit homicide.

Back on December 5, Flatoff alleged went into the cycle shop and held people inside hostage. One of those hostages, Michael Funk, was shot and killed by police officers during the incident.

According to the criminal complaint, Flatoff is charged with felony murder for Funk's death, as the death was allegedly triggered by Flatoff's crime of false imprisonment.

Flatoff has pleaded not guilty.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Dash cam video captured a crash involving a Winnebago County Sheriff's Department squad car from Monday.

• You can watch the video posted to the agency's Facebook page here

Authorities say the squad was parked in the middle lane of Interstate 41 around 12:30 a.m. Monday. Up ahead, other squad cars had blocked the left lane. Behind the scene were traffic cones indicating that the 2 left lanes were closed.

All squad cars had their flashing lights on. 

The driver who slammed into the squad car suffered minor injuries. Officials say the driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

No one was in the squad car at the time of the crash.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Dozens of students, faculty, and supporters gathered on the UWGB campus Wednesday for the "We Stand with Orlando" vigil.

It was a chance for members of the LGBTQ community and others to connect and reflect on the attack in Florida.

Stacie Christian is the Director of Inclusive Excellence and the Pride Center on campus and spoke at the event.

"I realize that this is a day for some people that brings on fear, brings on some memories for some. Some people are angry, some people are just looking for opportunities to show how they care for others."

The names of the 49 lives lost in the mass shooting were read alongside 49 chimes of the Weidner Carillon.

Attendees watched on with lit candles in hand.

Kai Pyle is a recent graduate and came to Phoenix Park to show her support.

"I'm just really glad that the campus was able to come together."

Senior Lacy Kroll says the UWGB campus is unique.

"I don't think I've ever been to another place where I felt like there was more support and more kindness toward people."

Christian asks the people of Green Bay to continue to show support for those in the LGBTQ community.

For information on the Pride Center go to www.uwgb.edu/pride-center.