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Hunt for the Hungry

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Only a few short days until the 9 day gun-deer hunting season begins.

But what do you do if you have extra deer meat?

Director at Paul's Pantry, Craig Robbins, encourages hunters to make a meat donation at 1529 Leo Frigo Way at no cost.

"After you've registered you're deer, we ask that you field dress it. But you just drop the deer off here and we take it to the processor. All of the venison is processed into hamburger."

Robbins says they try to give at least 1 pound of hamburger per household.

"One thing about the venison is that it's higher in protein and lower in fat than regular hamburger and it can be used in the same way. So it's really more nutritious."

The program "Hunt for the Hungry" has been around for 23 years but they've been excepting donations for much longer.

Robbins says even if you have left over meat in your freezer from the previous year, they'll take that as a donation as well.

Find out more information about Paul's Pantry and the "Hunt for the Hungry" program at www.paulspantry.org. http://www.paulspantry.org/


Family Deals with Unsolved Murder

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Ten years ago Tuesday, an Appleton woman was found murdered inside her home.

56-year-old Connie Boelter failed to show up for work at Wolf River Community Bank in Hortonville on November 15, 2006. Her co-workers were concerned since Boelter was never late, and called her daughter Dawn Gunderson. Dawn went to her duplex at 1134 E. Northwood Drive and found her mom dead.

In the decade that has passed, Boelter's family has searched for answers to the question of who would want to kill their beloved Connie and why?

On the 10th anniversary, Gunderson along with Lynn Kolling and Mike Boelter spoke out in an effort to jog people's memories to determine if someone can help bring the person responsible to justice.

"Somebody knows something and when we did interviews 9 years ago, we said the same thing," Kolling says. "Does it bring her back? No, but it does bring justice to our earthly world."

"For people to put themselves in our shoes, if you had someone who was very important to you who was murdered, you'd want people to come forward," says Gunderson. "Whether they felt inconvenienced or didn't want to get involved or whatever. Just maybe have some compassion for us that we would like to know, come forward if you can help with that, in any way, shape or form."

LIFE GOES ON

While they have gone through the gamut of emotions in dealing with the murder of the family matriarch, they each say that the desire to find justice hasn't consumed them. And that's how mom would've wanted it.

"I feel like my mom would want me to live the life that I would be living if she was here," Kolling says, while heaping praise on her husband and their two children. 

"If you're absorbed in it, you've ruined your life," explains Mike Boelter. "And that's what she would never want any of us to do."

Boelter recalls a story as an example, that should Connie be driving and someone cuts her off, then flips the middle finger in her direction despite them being at fault, his mom would just give that person a kind wave.

"Hope your day gets better," Mike Boelter says, echoing his mom. "If you let the bad guy ruin your day, they win. So, if you don't, you win. Appreciate what you have, because somebody else has it worse."

Kolling says that when they've needed to lean on someone, aside from each other, the investigators with Appleton police have been there for them every step of the way.

"I know I can call on a bad day and just go off," says Kolling. "And then at the end, they say okay. Then I'll probably follow up with an email 2 hours later saying I'm really sorry, I'm just really struggling today."

All three credit their ongoing relationship with the investigative division, citing the respect they have for the jobs detectives must do and seeing how much it weighs on them searching for justice.

The Appleton Police Department declined our request for an interview about this case.

SPRINGTIME "SURPRISE"

Appleton police confirmed back on May 1 a report in USA Today Network-Wisconsin that former Wolf River Community Bank president James K. Olson was a person-of-interest in the Boelter murder.

Olson was Boelter's boss at the bank where she worked as a loan processor.  Investigators found Olson had significant debt and appeared to violate bank practices and federal loan requirements.

He was then quickly put on administrative leave from the bank's board of directors.

Just a few days later, the police department put out a release seeking information on a green four-door 1996 Ford Taurus that had been seen in the area of Boelter's home in the time leading up to her death.

At this point, the three Boelter children felt this was a big moment.

"It felt like a really big step in the case, having a person of interest named," Gunderson says.

"It felt a little bit like a dream come true," says Kolling. "It was almost that joy of 'thank you', this got brought forward because we were privy to information for some time that we can't share and we trust the police department in keeping the case as solid and protected as possible."

To a person, Dawn Gunderson, Lynn Kolling and Mike Boelter believe strongly that Olson is the man responsible for killing their mother. However, they understand that police have a job to do and the most important aspect for everyone involved is to get it right.

"The moment his name came out, nothing would've made us happier than for him to be arrested and know that this was moving forward," Gunderson says. "But, we do trust that they (law enforcement) know the system better than we do and how it needs to proceed because we do only get that one chance. We don't want to throw it away just because we're being impatient. It's not going to bring mom back, so we do want it to be the best chance that we have."

Information related to this investigation can be forwarded through the Appleton Police Department's non-emergency number (920) 832-5500, to Lt. Polly Olson (920) 832-6089 or to their private message on Facebook.

The Appleton Police Department also utilizes Text-a-Tip for anonymous referral of information. Individuals can text CRIMES (274-637) with the keyword APDTIPS at the start of their message.

School Funding Plan Goes To The Governor

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) --  The man heading up public schools in Wisconsin wants more money for education.  

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers has sent his proposed budget to Governor Walker and lawmakers, calling for an increase in state funding of 707-million dollars over the next two years.

Evers wants the money to go to special education programs and to bring equity to funding statewide.

He added it's not right that 55 school districts had to go to voters last week to ask for more money locally.

Evers says he's hopeful the plan will be well received in the legislature -- where GOP leaders have already indicated that K-12 funding is a priority.

School Fire Sends Students, Staff Out The Door

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FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - Officials are investigating the cause of a fire inside a Fond du Lac High School bathroom Tuesday.

At 1:50 p.m. fire crews were called to the school at 801 Campus Drive for a fire in a second floor men's bathroom.

The building was evacuated without incident. No one was hurt.

The fire was quickly extinguished by staff.

Officials say the fire destroyed a plastic trash container attached to the bathroom wall and created a significant amount of smoke throughout the hallways.

Students and staff were allowed back inside the building approximately one hour later.

Plans Move Forward For Mall Makeover

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Green Bay's city council has brought new life to plans to revitalize the city's struggling East Town Mall.

On an 8 to 3 vote last night, the council passed a term sheet to redevelop the mall.

As recent as last week, it looked like the plan to redevelop East Town Mall was no longer possible. However, with the New Jersey developer behind the plan ready to walk, some of the city's council members decided to change the votes they made in October.

City Council President Tom Dewane spoke to WLUK.

“I was never against this project, but I understood and I agreed with Alderman Nicholson and Alderman Zima, let's try to see if we can renegotiate something”

City leaders say the developer wouldn't budge on receiving up to $3 million in city assistance to purchase and renovate the mall.

The entire plan would cost about $12 million, transforming the traditional interior mall setup, into bigger box stores with exterior parking lot entrances.

A sporting goods store, Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market, and other national retailers would be involved in the redevelopment plan. East Town's current Kohl's and Hobby Lobby stores would remain.

Kevin Vonck, Green Bay’s economic development director, says a development agreement still needs to be reached before construction can begin.

“The developer, we’re lucky they're still interested and want to move forward, so we'll start working on it right away”

The project is contingent on the county agreeing to move the east branch library to the mall. The county is also considering expanding its current location on Main Street or moving to the UW-Extension building on Bellevue Street.

City leaders say the developer hopes to have an answer from the county in the next few months.

Reed to Stand Trial in Double Murder

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A man accused of murdering an Oneida couple will stand trial.

19-year-old Vance Reed appeared in court Tuesday and will enter a plea to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the deaths of Harry and Lorraine Brown Bear on November 28.

Investigators say the three got into an argument, leading to Reed allegedly stabbing the couple. Reed admitted the murders to police.

Judge: Dassey Must be Released by Friday

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UNDATED (WTAQ) - Brendan Dassey must be released from prison no later than 8 p.m. Friday.

That's the ruling Wednesday by U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin, who denied the state's motion to block Dassey's release.

Following Duffin's decision, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago to block the release order.

The state is asking the appeals court to make a ruling by Friday.

Dassey's attorney's responded to the state's motion, arguing that releasing Dassey would cause no harm to the public.

Earlier this week, Duffin granted Dassey supervised release from the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage as he waits for the appeal process.

Duffin overturned his 2005 conviction in the murder of Teresa Halbach, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice has appealed that ruling.

Duffin says the U.S. Probation Office has approved Dassey's proposed residence and completed all pre-release investigation. State officials have not say when Dassey will actually be released.

According to a September filing, Dassey's attorneys said he would spend the initial 1 to 3 months living in a family-owned trailer with his mother about 100 miles from Manitowoc. Dassey would then move to an apartment in Brown County so he could participate in educational, vocational and therapeutic services in the area.

Gun-Deer Season Means Big Business

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin's gun-deer season begins this weekend, but the business momentum this annual "right of fall" generates is already being felt.

Popular northwood tourist destinations in the summer are just as busy, maybe more, during the 9 day hunt.

"We'll start seeing things increase on Thursday, and then it will be very busy on Friday"

Bob Wolf is busy stocking shelves at the Piggyly-Wiggly in Crivitz. He says this weekend will be one of their busiest.

The date is marked months in advance and plans are made to have the shelves and coolers well stocked.

"It takes a lot more planning, it takes a lot more to get things in order so that we can give people a quality store to shop in"

Even cooped up in the store, Wolf knows what a bonding, family tradition, type of thing the deer season is.

He says there are many familiar faces he sees coming in around this time, every year.

"People are in here, anticipating the hunt. They're getting whatever items they need to make the week enjoyable"

Wolf says there's no single item they have to have....most anything edible, or most any beverage, will see a spike in sales.

Pretty much the same story for any service-based business in Crivitz, from restaurants, to hotels, to gas stations.

The 9 day season goes by quickly and the northwoods is ready to cash in.


Fake Movie Money Strikes Again

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - There are more victims in the Green Bay area of people using movie prop money to buy items and getting actual cash in change.

According to Green Bay police, six reports have come in recently from restaurants, gas stations, taverns and individuals. The victims say they're out $600 so far.

The fake money has the phrases "motion picture use only" stamped on both sides. Police are reminding businesses to check money they get and to review security features included in legitimate money.

The prop money has the phrases "motion picture use only" stamped on both sides. Police remind businesses to check money they receive and to review security features included in legitimate money.

It's not the first time these kinds of bills have been seen in the Green Bay area.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Green Bay police at (920) 448-3200. Anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 432-7867, by text message with the keyword GBTIP to 274637 or online.

Image of Armed Robbery Suspect Released

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police are publicly releasing a surveillance image of the suspect involved in the armed robbery of a gas station earlier this month.

Police say it happened at the Citgo, 834 N. Main Street, around 11 p.m. on November 1. An employee told officers a man walked into the store, showed a gun and demanded money.

The suspect then got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He's described by police as between 30 and 40-years-old, between 5'8" and 5'10", weighed between 175 and 185 pounds, and had gray stubble on his face.

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

Police: Suspect Likely Has More Victims

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A man was arrested last week for inappropriately touching someone in Oshkosh, and police believe there may be more victims out there.

51-year-old Richard C. Conn is charged with 8 misdemeanors, including fourth-degree sexual assault, lewd and lascivious behavior in public and knowingly failing to notify a school of his status as a sex offender.

According to police, an investigation started November 8 when they arrested Conn for inappropriately touching a female. Investigators are now looking into other incidents involving Conn during the first week of November.

Officials say Conn is a registered sex offender who was released from prison in late September.

Anyone who may have been victimized by Conn is asked to call Det. Paul Frey at (920) 236-5267.

Former Packer Shares Bullying Message

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Former Packer player Leroy Butler stopped by Preble High School Wednesday afternoon with a special message to kids about bullying.

He shared stories about how he was bullied as a kid and how to rise about it. He hopes his story will open the conversation for other students going through a similar experience.

"I once had to go through a lot of bullying and things of that nature. So, when the kids hear my story, I think it resonates with them a little bit. It's important for me to let the kids know that at one point I used to be in a wheelchair. At one point I went through bullying...again poverty growing up to one day playing for the Green Bay Packers and to win the Super Bowl. To me it's fantastic and I just love being a role model for kids."

It's all part of his "Butler vs. Bullying" campaign.

Kathryn Jarvey is a special education teacher at the school and says it's a societal problem but speeches like this benefit the kids greatly.

"We have issues with it here at Preble. I think we have a really solid program that students know where to go and who are safe people to talk to."

Preble is just one of 35 schools Butler will be stopping at this year to promote his message and new book.

His ultimate goal is to find a solution to end bullying.

To learn more about Leroy Butler and his mission or to order his book, go to www.leroybutlerinc.com.

 

Disturbed Man Safe After Climbing Tower

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc police say a 40 year old man who climbed to the top of a communications tower came down safely after negotiations went on for several hours.

Police say they man started climbing the tower at the Manitowoc County dispatch center, near the County Courthouse, around 5:00 Wednesday night.

The man made threats that he had a weapon in his possession, and due to safety concerns, the tower rescue team that was called in from Appleton was not able to immediately assist him down from the tower.

Finally, at around 2:00am, crisis negotiators convinced the man to climb down, at which time he was taken into protective custody.

He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for prolonged exposure to the cold.

Police say they know who the man is and he just recently moved to the area.

This incident is being referred to the Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office for review of the charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass possibly being filed against the subject.

Smooth Sailing For Pulaski Boat Builder

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PULASKI, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A boat building company in Pulaski is offering between 75 and 100 jobs.

That's because Larson Boat Group is closing its Little Falls, Minnesota plant and moving the work to Pulaski.

However, it's still too early to tell how many of those jobs will be filled by the current Minnesota employees.

Rob Parmentier, president and CEO of Marquis-Larson Group, tells WLUK that after Larson Boat Group's 100-year history in Little Falls Minnesota, Pulaski will now be its new home.

"Really what it came down to was infrastructure. At our core here, we have a much more talented engineering group and we have many more capabilities at this facility"

Pulaski Area Chamber of Commerce President Laurie Fischer hopes the Minnesota employees will consider moving to the village. She's also excited about the additional job growth.

"It's a great boost for every business in the area, including our Pulaski school district"

Parmentier says 141 employees are currently working at the Minnesota facility and some have plans to visit Pulaski.

"I was just talking to on the phone with our plant manager today and we're going to schedule a bus to bring some of them over and check out the community"

Parmentier says the boat-building company is looking for hard-working and motivated people.

"You're building a boat but if you come in here with a little bit of construction skills, or a good work ethic, we'll train you"

Despite the new jobs, Parmentier says at this point there are no plans to expand the Pulaski facility.

Worker Dies in Sawmill Incident

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TOWN OF TIPLER, WI (WTAQ) - The Florence County Sheriff's Office says a man was killed in an incident at a sawmill Tuesday.

Officials were called to Chitko Brothers Lumber Company, 11226 Shannon Road, in the Town of Tipler just after 2 p.m.

A 53-year-old Laona man was trying to repair a log deck, which moves logs to the saw. While working on the machine, a hydraulic system was activated and the man was crushed between a hydraulic ram and the stationary frame of the log deck.

By the time rescue crews arrived, he was lying under the deck and was unresponsive.

Officials say just two people were present at the time of the incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been called in to investigate.

The victim's name has not been released as relatives are being notified.


Bank Fraud Case Gets New Trial Date

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Court records indicate that a new trial set has been scheduled for a De Pere businessman and his wife on fraud charges.

Ron Van Den Heuvel and Kelly Yessman Van Den Heuvel will stand trial on July 31, accused of bank fraud for allegedly illegally arranging a series of loans.

The couple's former banker, Paul Piikkila, agreed to plead guilty and testify against the Van Den Heuvels. 

According to the federal indictment, Piikkila, a loan officer at Horicon Bank in Appleton, allegedly approved a series of loans totaling more than $1 million. The indictment says Horicon Bank had told Piikkila not to loan any money to Van Den Heuvel, so none of the loans mentioned in the indictment were written to him by name.

The couple has pleaded not guilty.

No Charges in Fatal School Bus Crash

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Kaukauna say that criminal charges will not be filed against a school bus driver who struck and killed a child in September.

12-year-old Justin Johnson was hit by the bus while walking home from River View Middle School on September 6.

Police say that a decision on charges against the driver, Anthony Ritacco, would be dependent on toxicology results. Those results have come back negative for drugs and alcohol.

"After consulting the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office it has been decided that Mr. Ritacco will not be charged criminally. Mr. Ritacco will be issued a citation for Failure to Yield right of way to a pedestrian, State Statute 346.23 (1), which carries a $98.80 forfeiture," Kaukauna Police Lt. Jamie Graff said in a statement.

Appeals Court Keeps Dassey in Prison

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CHICAGO (WTAQ) - Brendan Dassey will not be released from prison.

That's after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the state's motion to keep Dassey behind bars while an appeal of the decision overturning his conviction for the murder of Teresa Halbach is appealed.

The two-page order released Thursday says the state's motion is granted.

In a statement, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said:

"Moments ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted the State of Wisconsin’s motion to stay U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin’s order to release Mr. Brendan Dassey. Mr. Dassey will remain in prison pending the outcome of the appeal."

Dassey's attorneys, at the Center for Wrongful Convictions of Youth, posted this statment on its website following the ruling:

"The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Brendan Dassey must stay in prison until his appeal is resolved.  We are disappointed more than words can say.  The fight goes on."

Earlier this week, federal Magistrate Judge William Duffin ordered Dassey's request for supervised release from prison while awaiting the appeal process. On Tuesday, the state filed a motion to block Dassey's release which was denied by Duffin on Wednesday morning

Schimel then filed a motion with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay Duffin's ruling, which was granted Thursday.

 

Drug Dealer to Get Life in Prison

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man has been convicted of causing the heroin overdose death of a Neenah man.

47-year-old Donald Harden of Fort Atkinson now faces a mandatory life sentence in connection with the September 2014 death of 24-year-old Frederick Schnettler.

According to prosecutors, Harden bought heroin in Chicago and repackaged it in Watertown before distributing it in the Fox Valley area.

Harden, officials say, arranged a meeting with one of his Fox Valley distributors in a Waupun parking lot on September 4, 2014. At that meeting, Harden gave one of his co-conspirators 11 grams of heroin, telling her to "be careful with this stuff, it's got bodies on it."

The same heroin was later used by Schnettler.

Harden has prior convictions for manufacture or delivery of cocaine in 2000 in Jefferson County and manufacture or delivery of heroin in 2007 in Dane County.

Based on his prior drug convictions, he faces a mandatory life sentence. Harden is due back in court in February.

Green Bay Schools Struggle In Latest Report Card

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Report cards came out Thursday for Wisconsin school districts and Green Bay meets few expectations with its overall score of 61.

That's based on the state Department of Public Instruction's report card for the Green Bay Area Public School District.

Stephen Miller is the district's Director of Assessment...

"I think the important thing to remember about these reports cards is that they're a re-boot of previous years report cards. We haven't reports for two years"

Miller says they now know what it needs to improve...

"All four of our high schools, with these new report cards, now know which students groups they would need to target for participation....and also for performance"

New report cards released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction show five districts in the state and 99 schools all received a failing grade during the 2015-2016 school year.

The report card ratings are based on the following four areas: student achievement, student growth, closing gaps and readiness for graduation and post-secondary success.

Under the system, schools can face sanctions if they receive a failing grade for two years straight.

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