MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Menasha police are investigating the robbery of a gun by a gun-wielding suspect.

It happened in the 700 block of Third Street around 12:30 p.m. Monday. Officers learned that a man who knew someone at the home had been visiting with 3 other people.

At one point, he pulled out a handgun and took what police believe was a gun. No one was hurt in the incident.

The robber was described as a black male, between 5'7" and 5'10", with a slim build. He was wearing a red baseball hat, a white shirt and may have been wearing blue jeans. Police don't know if he left on foot or if he had a vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to call Menasha police at (920) 967-3500.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's a chance to do some fall cleaning and throw away any unused medications in your home.

On Thursday, Bellin Health will be partnering with the Green Bay Police Department and the DEA in hosting an unused prescription drop-off event.

The drop off site will take place in the parking lot of the Bellin's Medical Arts Building at 704 S. Webster Ave. from 10a.m.-2p.m.

Bellin Health spokesperson Kelly McBride Moore says it's important to dispose of old drugs properly.

"People look through those medicine cabinets, find any prescription drugs, maybe expired over the counter drugs, even inhalers, creams, pet medications, and just bring those in for safe and convenient disposal."

The event helps households get rid of unused medications that can cause safety concerns because they can be abused or accidentally ingested.

"It's estimated literally millions of individuals nationwide are addicted to prescription drugs and thousands of people will die of drug overdoses each year," says McBride Moore.

Last year's event was very successful. They had more than 200 cars drive through the 4 hour event and sorted more than 470 pounds of drugs.

For more information, you can go to www.bellin.org.

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - A concerning post on Craigslist has led to a police investigation and a reminder.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office is investigating a post on Craigslist seen Monday which advertised "Children for Sale -- Forest Glen Elementary". It also read -- "Hundreds of kids to choose from. Pick and Run. Male or Female ages 5 to 9."

"At this time we're thinking this is a joke," says Lt. Jim Valley, Brown County Sheriff's Department. "We're looking into it to see if we can find out who posted that ad."

Valley says the post has been taken down and it's a reminder for parents and the community.

"Be aware of your children and your children's surroundings," Valley says. "The school and the sheriff's office can only do so much and sometimes we rely on parents and relatives to help protect our community and protect our kids."

School officials had required all students who walk or bike home from Forest Glen Elementary to be picked up or escorted by an adult. Parents who normally pick up their kids from school were asked to pick them up from the gym.

In a letter sent home to parents on Monday, Principal Angie Sorenson wrote:

"I am writing to notify you that we received a phone call from a parent at 11:30 a.m. today regarding a posting on Craigslist titled, “Children For Sale - Forest Glen Elementary,” that was concerning to us. Your children’s safety is our highest priority. We immediately consulted the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and they are investigating the situation.

Out of precaution we are requiring students who walk or bike home from school to be picked up or escorted home by an adult today. If your transportation home consists of pick-up, bus or day care transportation - this will continue as normal.

Today proceeded as a typical day. The only exception was that after we were notified of the posting we continued with indoor recess.

While we have no reason to believe student safety is at risk for dismissal today, we are proceeding with caution and will have parents pick up any students who are scheduled to walk or bike home from school.

We will follow up with you if and when we learn more from the Sheriff’s Department."

A school district official said Tuesday that recess and dismissal procedures have returned to normal.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Green Bay are investigating the theft of five vehicles from an east side vehicle detailing business.

Officials say the vehicles were stolen from Car Gard, 1666 Cass Street, according to Capt. Kevin Warych. 

The remaining vehicles missing are:

• 2014 Ford F150 Truck, bright blue, WI truck tag AE7517
• 2006 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro Station wagon, red, WI auto 557-XSG
• 2001 Honda Civic LX 4 door, black, no plates

Warych says a 2003 Mercury Sable and a 2001 Honda Civic were already recovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (920) 448-3200.

GIBRALTAR, WI (WTAQ) - School district leaders in Door County are mourning the loss of a student who died over the weekend in a plane crash.

On Tuesday, Gibraltar Area Schools issued a statement calling 16-year-old Olivia Dahl "a remarkable young woman" who was "courageous and bold in all aspects of her life."

Dahl was killed Sunday night when the small plane she was in crashed into Peninsula State Park while trying to land at nearby Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport. The sheriff's department said that Dahl was a flying enthusiast who was pursuing her pilot's license. The pilot, 69-year-old Ralph Keller, had volunteered to take her to and from a flight lesson in Green Bay.

Staff members at Gibraltar Secondary School have been offering counseling services to students.

"Our first priority is to ensure that students, families, and staff members have the support they need," the statement read.

Parents who feel their children need additional help are asked to contact the school.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brown County Sheriff John Gossage is expected to give a presentation at Wednesday's Brown County Board of Supervisors meeting on jail overcrowding and a possible expansion.

"This is a big dollar item, this isn't going to be something that we're looking at that will have a minimal impact on the county, on the taxpayers," says Sheriff Gossage. "Brown County is growing and we will need the space, it's just a matter of when and I want to provide them factual information so they can make that determination."

According to statistics that Gossage will present in his 76-page power point to supervisors, the total inmate growth of the Brown County Jail, including those in the Electronic Monitoring Program, has risen 4.1 percent each year from 2001 to 2016. In the year-to-date slide, the average daily population of adult inmates housed is 677.5 or about 95 percent of adult bed capacity.

"Brown County is ever growing, it's at a point where there are more felonious crimes. 70 percent of our inmates are felons or have been charged with felonies," Gossage says. "The demographics of the jail, which is one of the things I'll be discussing at County Board, has changed so much."

Officials say that felony offenders are, "less likely to be released from custody resulting in an increase in the percentage of inmates being housed."

Another key statistic board members and the public will likely will be what the Wisconsin Department of Corrections guidelines recommend for the "operating maximum" number of inmates based upon capacity of the jail. In the case of the Brown County Jail, that would be 673 inmates. The actual maximum per DOC guidelines is 733 adults.

The slides from Sheriff Gossage estimate that, "with an ADP (average daily population) of 678.8 adults, the Brown County Jail is already over the recommended 673 capacity if adults were in Juliet (this is a 20 bed increase from current housing)."

Officials will apparently be transitioning the "Juliet" pod, which currently houses juveniles, to adults while moving the juveniles to the "Kilo" pod. They say while it increases the bed space available for adults, it will negatively affect juvenile programming due to the space available in the "Kilo" pod. Jail revenue will also decline due to the, "loss of contract juvenile bed days."

"Whether they're going to want to spend money on boarding out prisoners, or an architectural study and a build out of a dormitory-style area attached to the facility," says Gossage. "We will need the space."

Another concept that's been raised in the past has been having court commissioners hold hearings on Saturdays. Currently, they do not hold hearings on weekends or holidays leading to the population in the "India" pod being the highest on Mondays prior to court.

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. inside Green Bay City Hall.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt's loudest critic, Alderman Guy Zima, taking steps to remove him from office at the beginning of Tuesday's Green Bay City Council meeting, asking the council President to review the options.

"He could have been charged with 20 felonies and it's been reduced to three misdemeanors. We don't know if the judge is going to accept it or not but one way or another, he's got to toe the line"

Mayor Jim Schmitt says he will not resign despite pleading guilty to 3 misdemeanors dealing with campaign finance violations..

During last night's meeting, the mayor did not address the charges against him or Zima's request.

Schmitt did talk briefly before the meeting, saying based upon his attorney's request, he will not address the charges against him until after it is settled in court.

A hearing is scheduled for October 5th.

Alderman Bill Galvin says lets wait until then.

"We can't be judge and jury before this thing is all said and done. We have to see what the final outcome of the court hearings are going to be and then from there we'll have to see what happens"

There are a number of ways the mayor could be removed from office.

If the council is going to do it, nine of the 12 aldermen will have to agree on removal.

A recall election is also possible, but so far, no effort has been started.

KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) - People in Kewaunee County will soon be paying a bit more on purchases.

The county board voted Tuesday night to add a half-percent sales tax starting in April.

Here's county board chair Robert Weidner....

"In view of most of the board members it's a fair tax, it's a tax on consuming, the more you consume the higher the tax is. Not all taxes are fair, but this is the fairest we could think of"

The tax was proposed because the county said since the Dominion Power Plant shut down in 2013, the county has lost about seven percent of its annual budget.

But some board members, like Chris Rasmussen, say more could have been done before adding this sales tax.

"I just don't think people know what's really going on and I think the best way to have done it would have been through a referendum and if we had that good of a case, we could make a case to the public, but unfortunately the board felt otherwise"

The half-percent sales tax will go into effect in April and is due to sunset by the end of December 2021.

The county expects it to bring in more than $750,000 each year.

With the added half-percent, sales tax in Kewaunee County will be 5.5 percent.

Currently 62 of the state’s 72 counties have a sales tax. Sheboygan County added the tax, effective Jan. 1, making it 63. Kewaunee County will make it 64.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of amputating a woman's finger and drinking her blood will stand trial.

In court Wednesday, Jonathan Schrap waived his preliminary hearing and will next enter a plea to counts of mayhem and second-degree reckless injury on October 6.

According to the criminal complaint, Schrap allegedly cut off the woman's left pinky with a machete, then put it in a freezer. He's also accused of cutting her arm and drinking the blood.

The woman told officers that she didn't want to be considered a victim, as she had volunteered to get her finger severed.

She claims that several people had gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of a friend when this incident took place.

OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - A teenage boy has pleaded no contest for spiking his teacher's drink.

On Wednesday, Gavin Gilbertson entered that plea to a charge of placing a foreign object in an edible. Online court records show that two other counts will be dismissed.

Gilbertson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9.

According to the criminal complaint, Hailey Brock admitted to pouring cleaning solution for a dry-erase board in the drink of Gillett High School teacher Ray Johnson. Police say Gilbertson helped the so-called "prank", which forced Johnson to seek medical treatment.

Brock was previously sentenced to 14 days in jail and ordered to perform 32 hours of community service. If Brock follows all terms of her 2 years of probation, her record could be cleared of the conviction.

MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The latest Marquette University Law School poll shows Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s lead among likely Wisconsin voters is holding relatively steady.

The poll released Wednesday shows Clinton with a 44 to 42 percent lead against Republican nominee Donald Trump among likely voters. That was down slightly from a 45-42 lead for Clinton in poll results released in late August.

About 12 percent of those responding said they would not vote for either candidate or remain undecided.

Expanding the field to include Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein, Clinton continued to lead among likely voters at 41 percent. Trump was at 38 percent, Johnson at 11, and Stein at two.

The numbers were unchanged for Clinton and Trump from the late August poll, while Johnson saw a slight gain and Stein lost two points.

The poll of 802 registered voters, 667 of which classified themselves as likely voters, was conducted September 15-18. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.8 points among likely voters.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton police are reminding the public that College Avenue between Drew and Lawe streets will be closed for most of Friday and Saturday for License to Cruise and Octoberfest.

In a statement, police say that part of downtown Appleton's main road will close at noon Friday to allow for staging for License to Cruise, a classic car show. College Avenue between Memorial Drive/Richmond Street and Drew Street will close at 3 p.m.

Side streets will close as follows:

• Appleton Street and Morrison Street will close at College Avenue between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. All other cross streets along College Avenue from Memorial Drive/Richmond Street to Drew Street will be closed the entire event starting at 3 p.m.

Vehicles are set to begin lining up on College Avenue at 3:30 p.m. Drivers are reminded that they should not have motors running during the actual event and that shows of power such as spinning tires and burnouts are not allowed. Once pedestrians have cleared the area, officers will let drivers know when to restart their vehicles and how to leave the area.

College Avenue will remain closed throughout the night and all day Saturday for Octoberfest. The road is scheduled to reopen to traffic around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Side streets closing on Saturday are as follows:

• Appleton Street and Morrison Street will be closed at College Avenue between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. All cross streets along College Avenue from Memorial Drive/Richmond Street to Lawe Street will be closed for the entire event starting at 5 a.m. and will not reopen until event clean-up is completed (at approximately 9 p.m.). Event attendees can assist in the cleanup process by giving crews from the City of Appleton Department of Public Works the space they need for equipment operation.

Drivers headed north or south through downtown can follow a marked detour using W. Prospect Avenue, S. Memorial Drive, N. Richmond Street and W. Franklin Street.

Those going to the downtown events are asked to pay attention to the message board in the Houdini Plaza area for alerts, including weather warnings. Police also plan to have a command vehicle at Appleton Street and W. College Avenue for those who need help. Those who become separated from children are asked to go to City Center Plaza. Police recommend taking a photo of the child at the event to help in the search process.

Police also say they will post updates on their Facebook and Twitter accounts throughout the weekend.

Finally, officers remind event-goers of the following rules:

• No alcoholic beverage carry-ins allowed at the events
• No glass containers
• A wristband is required for the purchase of alcohol at Octoberfest. Wristband and ticket sales end at 5 p.m. The sale of alcohol ends at 5:30 p.m.
• No animals are allowed at special events
• Pedestrians must obey all traffic laws at intersections around the event
• Individuals consuming alcoholic beverages should plan a safe ride home.
• Extra patrols will be out during and after the events to help ensure a safe time for all.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - City officials in De Pere provided the media a sneak peek of its new green roof on Wednesday.

The roof, which officials say is in need of repairs, is going green rather than replacing it with a standard roof.

FOX 11 reports that officials say the new installment will help practice sustainability as well as do something good for the environment. 

But it also makes financial sense.

"The roof that we're putting in is roughly $240,000 to $250,000. However, the payback on it is around 19 years. A standard roof has a life expectancy of around 20 to 30 years, our green roof, as our consultants knowing what we believe to be, is close to about 75 years. So we feel it's a good economic decision for the city to put in this green roof," said Marty Kosobucki, of De Pere's Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

Officials say the roof will also result in energy cost savings.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay's finest will soon be showing off their law enforcement skills on national television.

The city of Green Bay and the police department will be featured on Saturday's episode of "COPS" on Spike TV.

Captain Kevin Warych explains the scenario on this weekend's show.

"This incident is really going to involve several officers responding to a residence with in the city in which they encounter several individuals, some cooperative some not, some intoxicated, some not."

Warych says when the city was approached by producers of the popular law enforcement reality show, there was no hesitation in saying yes.

Video crew from the show filmed 40 hours a week for 8 weeks.

"So we went through the proper channels and got everyone on board, the mayor approved, and he was pretty excited about showcasing the city on a national spotlight, so we made it happen," explains Warych.

The show will air at 7p.m. Saturday, September 24 on Spike TV.

Be sure to watch for future episodes featuring footage from the city of Green Bay.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Retail theft continues to be the biggest crime problem in the city of Green Bay.

An Appleton man was caught Tuesday stealing from the Shopko at 2430 E. Mason Street.

Surveillance video showed 28-year-old Wang Lor tried to return items without a receipt, items he never entered the store with. He then left with the items.

Appleton Police were contacted and the stolen items were later recovered from Lor's vehicle. Lor was then driven to the Green Bay Police Department to be photographed, fingerprinted and given a citation.

Police Chief Andrew Smith says they are cracking down on catching petty theft criminals like Lor.

"But here's a guy stealing a razor and a hair straightener. I think his goal was to steal some small items that were rather costly, and he could take them and get cash back right away for whatever reason."

Scams like this are a common occurrence in Green Bay.

"They'll (criminals) try to switch stickers, they'll try to take things out of one box and put them in another box, or they'll stack extra thing inside a box, bring the box up and try to get that through."

Smith admits the department is cracking down on catching petty theft criminals like Lor and hopes new stricter procedures will make individuals think twice before committing a petty theft in the city.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The state is asking the judge in charge of the Steven Avery case to schedule a hearing regarding evidence which may undergo new testing.

Assistant Attorney General and special prosecutor Thomas Fallon filed a letter this week asking Sheboygan County Judge Angela Sutkiewicz to schedule a hearing sometime during the weeks of October 24, October 31 or November 7.

Fallon wrote, "This should give the State ample time to locate and inventory all items which are the subject of the Defendant's Motion. Additionally, this should provide the State with time to determine which items are covered by the April 4, 2007, Preservation of Blood Evidence and Independent Defense Testing Order entered by Judge Patrick L. Willis at the conclusion of Defendant's trial."

Wisconsin's appeals court directed Judge Sutkiewicz earlier this month to handle a motion from Avery's attorneys seeking scientific testing of some evidence in the case earlier this month. Sutkiewicz is now handling the case at the circuit court level following the retirement of Manitowoc County Judge Patrick Willis.

No hearings have been scheduled. Avery's attorney, Kathleen Zellner, has not formally responded to the letter at this point.

Avery is serving a life sentence for killing Teresa Halbach in 2005. Last month, Avery's attorney filed another appeal, seeking testing of evidence, suggesting it could point to someone else being the killer.

The case of Avery and his then-teenage nephew Brendan Dassey, who was convicted in a separate trial of playing a role in the murder, was thrust into the worldwide spotlight late last year with the release of the series "Making A Murderer" on Netflix. Dassey's conviction was overturned earlier this summer, but the state is appealing that decision.

FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ) - The Village of Fox Crossing board has unanimously approved acquiring the remaining eastern half of the Town of Menasha on Thursday morning.

The move means there is no more Town of Menasha, only the Village of Fox Crossing.

Earlier this year, residents in the western part of the town voted to incorporate into a village. The move split up the town, leading to two separate municipalities. Now, after no objections were filed by Wednesday's deadline, the eastern half of the town will be acquired.

Officials say the deal includes all but 3 parcels in the Town of Menasha currently owned by one person. Administrator Jeff Sturgell says those parcels could be annexed by the City of Menasha, but if that doesn't happen by November 1, they will move into Fox Crossing.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Ahead of the Green Bay Packers regular season home opener, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is reminding drivers about some traffic problems they could run into on Sunday.

DOT officials say heavy traffic coupled with ongoing construction projects are expected to lead to backups at Interstates 41 and 43, and Hwy. 172, specifically the I-41 interchanges at Oneida Street, Hwy. 172 and I-43. Traffic is also expected to be heavy on Ashland Avenue in De Pere and Ashwaubenon.

Here are some conditions on specific roads leading up to Lambeau Field:

Brown County

• Full closure of I-41 entrance and exit ramps at Velp Avenue
• Full closure of Velp Avenue under I-41

Brown County

• Motorists should expect heavy congestion and potential long delays at the I-41/WIS 172 interchange and on WIS 172 in Brown County from I-43 to the WIS 172/I-41 interchange before and after the game. Motorists should consider alternate routes if possible.

Brown County

• Drivers can expect slow-downs within the I-41 Project work zone between Grant Street and Lineville Road. The speed limit is reduced to 55mph in this area.

Winnebago County

• Drivers will encounter reduced speed limits on I-41 near the US 10/WIS 441/I-41 interchange. Drivers should also watch for reduced lane widths and reduced shoulder widths on northbound and southbound I-41.

Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties.

• Drivers should be aware of orange barrels, narrow lanes, and barrier walls and reduced speed limits.
• US 10 eastbound between County CB and I-41 northbound is reduced to a single lane.

• US 41 from US 141/US 41 split to the south end of Oconto may be reduced to one lane for US 41 resurfacing prior to Sunday.
• Both lanes of southbound US 41 will be open on Sunday for Packer travel.

• US 141 southbound is closed in the village of Wausaukee from WIS 180 to north village of Wausaukee limit. A detour using local streets is posted.

Kickoff for the Packers and Detroit Lions is noon. DOT officials say the heaviest travel times are expected to be three hours before through three hours after the game.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus confirmed Thursday that a future littoral combat ship will be named for Marinette.

During an announcement, Mabus said that littoral combat ships 25 and 26 in the fleet will be named for the cities in which they are built, Marinette and Mobile, Alabama.

Both cities split the construction of the ships. Fincantieri Marinette Marine builds Freedom-variant LCS, while Independence-variant LCS is built at Austal USA in Alabama.

The USS Marinette is scheduled to be finished and delivered to the Navy in 2020, according to Lockheed Martin, which oversees LCS construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. The future USS Marinette is the first ship with that name, while the future USS Mobile will be the 5th ship to bear that name.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Friday is the deadline for economic development project applications for the City of Green Bay.

The city is looking for ways to spend $1 million of excess stadium tax money on projects located within Green Bay's municipal boundaries. 

"I'm looking for projects that are going to make Green Bay a place people want to come visit, live," says Alderman Bill Galvin. "That are going to help create jobs and more income for the people of Green Bay."

Galvin, along with Alders Barbara Dorff and Guy Zima, Green Bay Finance Director Dawn Foeller, City Attorney Vanessa Chavez and Economic Development Director Kevin Vonck make up the sub-committee tasked with reviewing those applications.

The deadline for applications, to be handed over to Foeller, is 4 p.m. You can access the application here.

Foeller said, as of noon Thursday, just 5 applications have been submitted. It's a number Galvin hoped would be bigger.

"I'm hoping that some people are just waiting until the last minute to make sure they have everything in order because I heard so many other ideas out there," Galvin said. "I'm even guilty of this...I have a great idea, but when it comes time to actually write up a proposal, that's where a lot of these ideas lose their initiative and fall by the wayside."

The sub-committee will consider the applications between September 26 and October 10. They will then present their recommendations to the city's Finance Committee on October 11, and the full Common Council on October 18 for final approval.