APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Dogs will not be allowed in Appleton city parks.

The city's common council voted 8-6 last night to keep existing ban on dogs in city parks.

Supporters of the ban say they worry some people would not clean up after their pets.

But backers of the move argued there are already people who break the rules.

They say lifting the ban would have allowed responsible pet owners into the parks.

More than 700 people signed a petition to have the banned removed.

According to the Appleton Police Department, officers do find dogs in parks regularly.

However, only one formal warning was given to an owner in the last year.

But the PD did come out against lifting the ban on dogs in parks.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - In 2016, it has become daily routine for Brown County Sheriff's officials to look at the county jail population.

Brown County Sheriff John Gossage calls it a growing problem.

“We're crammed in there, literally. We've got inmates sleeping on the floor, but when I say floor they are on mattresses. We're trying to make it as comfortable as possible.”

According to the sheriff’s department, the capacity between Brown County's jail facilities is 750 inmates. The average capacity this year is just under 695.

However, that doesn't include inmates on electronic monitoring or those shipped to Outagamie County. Currently, Brown County has eight inmates in Outagamie County's jail. That number has been as high as 18.

Brown County Supervisor Pat Evans.

“Our jail is busting at the seams and we have to look at ways at ways to house people”

Gossage asked the county's public safety committee to bond next year for an architectural study to expand the jail. Gossage says the addition, or pod, the department would like to build would likely cost between $14 million and $17 million.

“It's a buildout of about two years before you actually see it breaking ground or being completed, so every year that we wait we're looking at about a million dollars added on of those costs."

In the meantime, the sheriff's department is shifting juvenile inmates to a new pod to open up 20 beds for adult inmates.

However, Sheriff Gossage warns that is only a temporary fix for a jail population projected to grow one percent each year moving forward.

Gossage says it costs about $55 a day to house inmates in Outagamie County's jail, which is the same price to house inmates in Brown County's jail. However, there is added cost in transporting the inmates, and if they need medical treatment.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Smoke detectors woke up a family during an overnight fire in the Denmark area.

The fire broke out around 4 a.m. Thursday at a home on County Road R.

Fire officials say the fire was put out quickly.

Two people, a father and daughter got out safely.

There's substantial damage to the roof and the back of the house.

Officials don't believe the fire was suspicious.

As of now, there's still no word on what caused the fire.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A specialized bus route from near Lambeau Field to downtown Green Bay is back.

Riding the route is free. The cost of the service is covered by both the city and the Packers.

Last year the service totaled just under four-thousand rides during the two-month period.

Organizers say with the service now in its second year, they are hoping to get the word out.

Patty Kiewiz is Transit Director for the Green Bay Metro Transit Center.

"We're expecting the numbers to grow. I think that as the developments continues downtown, and the district out there, we're hoping to be able to offer that service even longer next year"

The G-line runs Monday through Friday from 10:15 A.M. to 6:45 P.M.

It starts an hour later on Saturdays.

The service will be available through September 3rd.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A reward has been announced for information on a burglary at a gun shop on Green Bay's west side.

Police say two rifles and two shotguns are missing from Nelson Tactical, 1317 Velp Ave., following the break-in early Monday morning.

The guns are worth a total of $5,589, police say.

Investigators believe the suspects got into a silver SUV after the burglary and drove off.

At a news conference this morning (THU), police announced that the shop's owner, Rick Nelson, is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people involved.

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call Lt. Rick Belanger at (920) 448-3236.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area overnight Sunday into Monday is asked to call Green Bay police at (920) 448-3208.

And anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Lambeau Field hosted the annual Green Bay Packers shareholders meeting on Thursday.

Thousands of owners showed up to hear about financial information from the Packers' last fiscal year, along with getting a preview of the upcoming season. 

• Check out our photo gallery from the shareholders meeting

Many fans we spoke with call this day the "unofficial kickoff" to the football season each year, and believe that the Pack will win the Super Bowl.

Thunderstorms caused a slight delay to Thursday's meeting, but shareholders braved the wet, humid weather to be a part of the green and gold atmosphere.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Strong thunderstorms rolled through northeast Wisconsin Thursday morning, causing power outages and damage to trees and power lines.

• Click here for current Wisconsin Public Service outages
• Click here for current We Energies outages
• Click here for current Alliant Energy outages

Wisconsin Public Service says more than 9,000 utility customers are in the dark as of 2 p.m. Officials say they're dealing with numerous downed tree limbs, along with broken power poles.

If you're reporting a power outage, WPS is asking that you call (800) 450-7240. You should only use 911 for emergencies only.

They also warn people to stay away from downed power lines.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - With high heat and humidity in the forecast for the next several days, officials with the Packers and Bellin Health are taking extra precautions for their 1K and 5K events.

Misting fans will be added at the start and finish of the 1K Kids Run, and additional ice and water will be available for all participants at each race. Medical professionals and staff will be stationed at the medical tent and will be available to assist.

Race officials are encouraging participants to be aware of the color-coded Emergency Alert System, which will keep them informed of course conditions on race day. Signs with the current course conditions will be posted at the start line and at each water station along the course. The system indicates conditions as follows:

• Green is a low-level alert meaning conditions are good, but participants should stay alert for changes.
• Yellow is a moderate alert level indicating less than ideal, but not dangerous, conditions. Runners/walkers should dress appropriately, adjust their pace and be prepared for changing conditions.
• Red is high alert, meaning potentially dangerous conditions exist.  Participants are asked to adjust their pace, observe any course changes and proceed with caution or consider stopping.
• Black is an extreme alert that will only be issued if conditions are dangerous and the event is canceled. If that happens, the timing mats will be turned off and no results will be reported after that point. Everyone will be asked to stop running and then walk to the nearest aid station.

Along with additional course preparations for the heat, the race organizers are reminding participants, including parents, families and children, to take an active role in their race day safety.

Attendees should remain diligent and smart about other event preparation and should:

• Arrive hydrated and consume plenty of fluids during the race. Water and Gatorade will be available at the start line of each race, at each mile along the 5K route and at the finish line of each race.
• Wear light colored, loose-fitting clothing, preferably something that wicks moisture.
• Participants should pay attention to how they feel. If anyone feels lightheaded, can’t catch their breath or if something else doesn’t feel right, should stop or slow down and seek help from any volunteer, medical personnel, or the police.
• Turn down personal listening devices to increase awareness of breathing and instructions from public safety officers and course officials.
• Have realistic expectations. Those who have not trained in high temperatures and are not highly conditioned should not try to set a personal best record.
• Those with underlying health conditions that may be impacted by the heat should consider not participating this year.

Neighbors along the 5K route are also asked to do their part to help participants handle the heat and stay safe by putting out a garden hose or sprinkler for participants to run or walk through. If any neighbor along the route or spectators see a person fall or in distress, notify the nearest volunteer or call 911.

1K Kids Run, presented by Humana, invites kids 10 years old and younger to run a Lambeau Lap on Friday at 6 p.m. Registration for the Kids Run is $10 and all participants will receive a Packers 1K Run t-shirt, a logoed bag and a participant medal.

The seventh annual ‘5K Run/Walk at Lambeau Field,’ is set for Saturday at 8 a.m. The computer-timed run is highlighted by a neighborhood route that ultimately takes participants into Lambeau Field and around the famed gridiron. The event has a special finish line – the Packers’ ‘G’ painted on turf located in the parking lot. 

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Sturgeon Bay say a woman arrested for OWI apparently mixed prescription drugs with alcohol.

Officials say the 47-year-old Sturgeon Bay woman slammed into a parked car around 10 p.m. Tuesday on N. 4th Avenue near Jefferson Street.

She told officers that she thought she fell asleep while driving home from a bar on 3rd Avenue. Police say she eventually admitted to taking 2 pills, which come with a warning not to drink alcohol while using it.

In addition to the OWI arrest, the woman was also cited for driving without headlights on, driving left of center and driving without insurance.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say a jet skier is okay after he got stranded overnight on the beach along Long-Tail Point.

According to officials with Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard, a fishing boat called them around 8 a.m. Thursday after the man was seen flagging for help.

Officials say the man had been out on the water since Wednesday afternoon and didn't have a working cell phone to call for help. 

It's unclear whether the jet ski ran out of gas or if the machine had a mechanical issue, Coast Guard officials say.

The man suffered non-life threatening injuries and was brought back to safety at the Fox River Dock where he was later released.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Charges are pending against a dog owner after police were called to rescue it from a hot car.

Green Bay police were dispatched to the parking lot of Aurora Baycare, 2845 Greenbrier Road, just after noon Thursday for a report of a dog locked inside a vehicle.

Officers say the vehicle had all the windows rolled up, it was not running, and the dog looked to be in distress because it was panting heavily without moving.

One of the officers used his police baton and broke the car window to remove the dog from the car.

After using an infrared thermometer, officers say the inside temperature of the car was approximately 100 degrees.

The dog's owner was inside the hospital at the time, and told police he had brought the dog with him and forgot about it.

The Green Bay Police Department is reminding people to leave dogs at home and not leave them in vehicles during hot weather. It only takes a matter of minutes during summer heat for your dog to become distressed inside the vehicle

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Northeast Wisconsin Technical College celebrated the opening of its newest training facility.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday for the Universal Driving Facility in Howard.

It will allow students and law enforcement the chance to practice driving emergency vehicles through a roundabout and an obstructed hill.

With a price tag of roughly $3 million, the facility is the first project from the college's 2015 referendum.

NWTC President Jeffrey Rafn is excited about the expansion.

"It's really important for them to have the opportunity to practice situations where they have to get out of trouble or things are not going quite the way you wold expect them to go... when your driving, and to be able to drive safety"

Construction on a training building will begin this summer.

The entire project is set to be complete by spring.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Five people were transported to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in Kewaunee County.

The crash happened at the intersection of County Highway C and County Highway K in the Township of Lincoln.

Officials say a car, driven by a 33-year-old woman from Tomah with three children inside the vehicle, was traveling eastbound on County Highway K when it failed to stop at a stop sign at County Highway C.

The car struck another car traveling northbound on County Highway C.

The northbound vehicle was driven by a 35-year-old man from Casco.

The injuries are non-life threatening.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The NFL will interview Green Bay Packers players Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers about the Al-Jazeera America report which linked them to performance enhancing drugs.

Packers president Mark Murphy confirmed to ESPN the two will be interviewed when the team opens training camp next week.

Murphy says there has been resistance from the NFL Players Association regarding the accuracy of the report.

Both Peppers and Matthews have denied allegations in the report that they have used performance enhancing drugs.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A happy ending in the search for a missing Green Bay man.

81 year old Thomas J. Curren was last seen around midnight.

He has dementia , was last seen on foot at the Blackstone West restaurant, 706 Walnut Street in Green Bay.

Green Bay Police reporting Curren was found shortly after 6 this morning.

Green Bay Police report he was found by officers on the east side of town and is in good condition.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A federal lawsuit filed by former residents who claim Green Bay violated their rights when the city destroyed their garden without permission - twice - has been settled.

Margaret and Steve Gerhard, who now live in Fence, were seeking at least $125,000 in damages. But no details of the settlement have been released publicly, and the recording of Thursday's 4.5-hour mediation & settlement conference has been sealed, according to court records.

The settlement needs to be approved by federal Judge William Griesbach, but no date was set for that.

According to the suit:

* In 1994, the Gerhards stopped having a traditional lawn, and converted it into a 'natural garden' over the course of 15 years.

* On July 15, 2009, the city posted a 24-hour weed removal notice on their door. However, they were out of town. "Prior to their return, City employees entered their property without a warrant, without consent, and without prior notice to be heard, and destroyed all of the plants within that fenced in garden by digging them up and spraying chemical herbicides," the suit claims.

* The city later determined the property did not violate the obnoxious weed ordinance, so the couple rebuilt.

* In 2011, the Gerhards received another removal notice. The couple started working on getting variance. But, while out of town, the city again destroyed all of the plants.

* Ms. Gerhard worked to get naturally-landscaped lawns permitted in the city - but because their five applications for a permit were not approved, they moved.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - After the Outagamie County Board this week approved using eminent domain to purchase land in Appleton for a new sheriff's office, County Executive Tom Nelson says he plans to veto that decision.

In a statement released Friday, Nelson said:

"In light of new information on Wednesday that a company is interested in using the Goodland property to create about 100 new jobs, it would not be prudent to support this legislation. Therefore I am vetoing Resolution 28 2016-17."

At question is the property located at 3030 E. Goodland Drive in Appleton's Northeast Business Park. That's near the Interstate 41/Highway 441 interchange. 

The property has been on the marked for nearly a year. The county put in an offer, but the property owner rejected it in favor of an offer from JF Ahern, a fire-protection manufacturer based in Fond du Lac.

County officials say they were not given a chance by the seller to make a counter offer. However, the attorney for the seller says the county wouldn't entertain any counteroffers on price.

In a statement released Friday, County board chair Jeff Nooyen, supervisors Dean Culbertson and Jim Duncan, and Sheriff Brad Gehring said:

"The county board would not have proceeded down the road of eminent domain had we not been assured by the executive that he was firmly behind the concept from his office to reduce the project costs for the sheriff’s facility," they wrote.

"The county executive had the opportunity to voice his concerns at the July 19th county board meeting and suggest either defeat of the resolution or have it held for further study. Although he was in attendance at the meeting, he chose not to comment on the matter," the statement continued.

"In our opinion, he has failed to display the leadership necessary for someone in his position. It is apparent that political ambitions have taken precedence over his county administrative obligations."

Nelson is currently running for the 8th Congressional District seat.

Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna opposed the eminent domain vote, concerned about the property coming off the city's tax rolls and saying he believed the use of eminent domain would make the area seem anti-business.

The sheriff's office, currently in downtown Appleton, has been looking for a new location for several months. Last month, the Wisconsin DOT passed on a proposal to build a joint headquarters for the sheriff's office and State Patrol in Grand Chute.

After Wednesday night's meeting, Sheriff Brad Gehring told FOX 11 the Goodland Drive property would not only save money, but make citizens safer. He said it would help reduce response times for deputies headed to calls in other parts of the county.

County leaders believed they could reuse the existing building on the Goodland Drive property, saving $2 million.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Green Bay are releasing new information about the suspects who broke into a west side gun store and stole four firearms.

Officers were called around 3:30 a.m. Monday, July 18, to Nelson Tactical at 1317 Velp Avenue for a report of a burglary.

According to police, three suspects being sought are described as:

1. Lighter skinned male/black, with a medium build
2. Stockier built male/black. Spiked hair and minor amounts of facial hair down the sides of his face. 
3. Medium build male/black, spiked hair, dark pants, and likely has a recent right shoulder injury and potentially has a soft cast on. 

Officials are working fast with the goal of getting these guns off of the street.

Nelson Tactical is offering a $25,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those involved in this burglary.

Those with information and wishing to be eligible for this reward are encouraged to call the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3236. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text “GBTIP” to 274637.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Oshkosh say a victim was able to fend off two would-be robbers, including knocking one unconscious.

Police say it happened behind a business in the 2000 block of Witzel Avenue around 10 p.m. Tuesday. Two boys, about 16 or 17-years-old, knocked on the window of the victim's vehicle and told him to get out.

When the man got out, they had him give up his wallet and phone. The victim fought with one of the boys, eventually knocking him out. Then, the victim was able to get back into his vehicle and drive away.

According to police, the victim described the robbers as black males, both wearing t-shirts and dark-colored jeans. One of the shirts had a shiny graphic on it. One of the robbers was wearing a baseball cap. Police say the one who was knocked unconscious may have injuries to his face.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5700. Anonymous tips may be left with Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 231-8477, by text message with the keyword IGOTYA to 274637, or online.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A judge has sentenced Samson Gomoll to life in prison for killing his girlfriend.

Gomoll was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide after shooting and killing Stacey Strange during an argument on September 20.

Winnebago County Judge Scott Woldt ruled that Gomoll will first be eligible for parole in 32 years.