LEDGEVIEW, WI (WTAQ) - Officials in Brown County have arrested a driver on suspicion of OWI following a crash Wednesday morning.

Deputies say it happened on Highway G, just east of Highway GV, in Ledgeview around 8:30 a.m.

According to a news release, an SUV driving eastbound on Highway G crossed the center line and struck a dump truck heading west. The driver of the dump truck tried to avoid the SUV, but could not.

The dump truck was not loaded.

Both drivers were taken to the hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released. The driver of the SUV was then arrested.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office did not release the names of those involved.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A day after the special prosecutor in Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt's criminal case requested the judge give him a fine and community service, Schmitt's attorney believes that's too harsh of a penalty.

Attorney Patrick Knight submitted a 15-page sentencing memorandum Wednesday, which outlines why he believes Schmitt should be fined $1,500 for the three misdemeanor offenses in connection with violating Wisconsin's campaign finance laws.

In the memorandum, Knight wrote:

"The offenses are not violent, vicious or aggravated in nature, and arose out of a poorly managed campaign and a misunderstanding of campaign finance law."

Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf in his sentencing memorandum recommended $4,000 in fines and 40 hours of community service. Landgraf added that he didn't seek jail time, per the plea agreement reached by both parties ahead of charges being filed earlier this year.

Knight says Schmitt has donated the remainder of his campaign funds - $23,197.56 - to the School Fund. He also wrote that Schmitt continues to face the added penalty of "public shaming" as the result of this case.

Schmitt will be sentenced in Brown County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 5.

SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - More arrests are expected to be made after Shawano County investigators busted up a large burglary ring.

According to criminal complaints obtained by FOX 11, the stolen property recovered thus far includes guns, other hunting equipment, power tools and TVs.

Sheriff's officials say four people have been arrested and charged at this point in connection with about 30 burglaries this year in western Shawano County and neighboring counties.

In just the past two weeks, investigators searched homes in Almon and Mattoon.

One of those properties belongs to Keith Bernarde. His property on County Road N in Almon is filled with garbage bags, old appliances and tires. Investigators also found over 60 guns which are believed to have been stolen.

"He's a hoarder," said Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber. "He collects items and keeps them forever. If you've ever seen the show Hoarders, it's a lot like that. There's rooms that are just filled with items. Rooms that you can't walk into because they're so full of stuff."

According to Bieber, Bernarde would buy or trade for items his nephew, Lorenzo Thiex, stole across the area.

“He’s either giving drugs or money for those stolen items," said Bieber. "That’s how the relationship works.”

Sheriff Bieber called it a massive case.

"It's a big case, it really is," said Bieber. "It's probably one of the biggest ones we've ever worked on, our detectives have ever worked on."

Bernarde has been charged with 3 felonies. Thiex is charged with 16. Ayesha Dodge and Forrest Sparks are each charged with one felony for allegedly helping with the burglaries.

Investigators say they've recovered about $70,000 worth of property. Bieber adds there may be victims in neighboring counties.

"We're encouraging people to report what was stolen, even if it was back in July. Give us a call, give us a list of what was stolen, and we'll try and help them out."

The sheriff recommends people need do a better job of locking up and documenting their property.

Anyone with information on the burglaries should call the Shawano Co. Sheriff's Department at (715) 526-3111.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Things got pretty hairy at the Green Bay Police Department during the month of November but on Wednesday that all ended.

The force hosted their 2nd annual "No Shave November" judging to help raise money for Special Olympics.

Male employees were allowed to grow facial hair and females were allowed to wear a "thin blue line" hair extension during the month.

But if employees wanted to participate, they had to pay $25 for a goatee, $50 for a full beard and $25 for females to wearing the hair extension.

Some officers like Taylor Clark will miss the extra hair and warmth.

"I am going to miss it. That means I have to do twice as much work day to day," said Clark. "I wanted to keep growing it actually. I just came out from a different assignment where I was allowed to grow facial hair, so it was great to keep it going instead of coming back and shaving every day."

Clark ended up winning for "best goatee."

Officer Matt Knutson pulled out as the front runner with "best beard." Which also means he gets the traveling trophy with consists of a black and blue ax.

"I'm really excited that I won. It's just a great cause. I'm glad to be here with the Special Olympics and glad we could raise so much money for their cause."

Officer Stephanie Dantoin won the award for wearing the "thin blue line" hair extension the best.

All winning officers received a gift card from Kwik Trip.

The department raised $2,785 dollars for the charity.

A total of 68 officers participated in the event.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A heartfelt donation is the motivation behind one man's passion for ringing bells this season.

Tom Blaney of Green Bay suffered a heart attack in 1992 and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.

After an 11 year wait, he finally got the call that saved his life.

"I didn't believe it at first. I had just gotten home from the hospital on that Sunday and about 4:00 in the afternoon on a Monday morning they gave me the call," said Blaney.

By that time, there was no time to waste. He needed that new heart fast and was headed to a hospital in Madison.

"By the time I got there, they said we've never seen anybody so calm and I said well, it's not in my hands anymore and whatever happens will happen."

From that moment on it's been Blaney’s mission to give back and he does that by donating his time as a red kettle bell ringer around the city.

He volunteers for the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay at least 5 hours a day during the Christmas season as a way “pay it forward.”

Blaney never tires of giving warm wishes to people walking by and telling them "Go Pack Go, always." And people never tire of seeing his smiling face and warm voice as they walk by.

"I do it to give people an opportunity to give back. I say hello and wish everybody a Merry Christmas and if they do want to give, they can give," Blaney said. "I just want to make everyone leave here with a smile on their face."

HORTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Questions still remain about the future of the Hortonville Police Chief.

Wednesday evening the Hortonville Police and Fire Commission discussed the issue in a closed session.

Chief Michael Sullivan has been on administrative leave since late October.

Village leadership still refuse to say why.

The village president said in a recent statement only that complaints were made against Sullivan. Those complaints were brought to the village board.

According to the president, charges were then filed against the chief with the police and fire commission on November 18th.

The commission will consider whether to hold a public hearing on the case.. then decide Sullivan's fate.

That hearing could be scheduled for sometime this month.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Instead of preparing for 12 days of Christmas, county clerks across Wisconsin have been busy prepping for potentially 13 days of recounting ballots.

Today, clerks and volunteers will start recounting the state's presidential ballots, under an effort launched by Jill Stein. Clerks will have less than two weeks to finish the job.

In Shawano County, they'll be using a combination of hand and machine counting to recount its votes.

Shawano County clerk Pam Schmist spoke to WLUK.

“It's only going to be counting the votes just for the one race, so it should go generally pretty quick”

According to the state, Shawano is in the minority as one of ten counties using a combination to count the ballots.

14 counties will use machines to count ballots. 48 will count by hand, including Calumet County.

Clerk Beth Hauser says the decision was made for a couple of reasons.

“Cost was one of them and also I think it's going to put to rest the conspiracy theory that there are problems with the machine, so if our hand count comes out the same as our machine count, I hope it puts that to rest.”

Hauser's high-end estimate is it will take seven days to recount the county's nearly 27,000 ballots.

Calumet County predicts the process will cost $10,368. Shawano estimates its cost will be $52,700.

Both Schmidt and Hauser believe they can keep their costs below those figures.

The Stein campaign will be refunded or charged if the recount ends up going under or over budget.

SEYMOUR, WI (WTAQ) - As county clerks around Wisconsin started recounting ballots Thursday from last month's presidential election, Governor Scott Walker slammed the idea of the exercise.

"Well I think we need to call it what it is, this is nothing more than a fundraising scheme for the Green Party," Governor Walker said. "They're using this to both raise money for the recount, for which they haven't committed to using all of it for a recount, they'll probably keep some of it, and then they'll create a long-term mailing list that they'll use for their political function."

Green Party candidate Jill Stein requested the recount, citing concerns election machines used in the state may have been tampered with. Stein has yet to provide evidence of such tampering, as Walker believes that the outcome in the Badger State likely won't change.

"Even though it seems ridiculous to put clerks across the state, who are in the process of making sure property tax bills are out, collecting those property taxes through the end of the year, they've already had a big election cycle to go through," said Walker. "It's unfortunate, but it's legal, they can do it."

Walker added that a Republican Party billboard campaign is only looking to ensure that the recount is handled properly. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, anyone wanting to see the recount process in your county must show a photo ID. You can find out more about the process here.

VICTORY TOUR STOP

Governor Walker says that since November 8th's election, he has been in contact multiple times with both President-elect Donald Trump and vice president-elect Mike Pence. On Thursday, the victorious Republicans kicked off their "Thank You" tour in Cincinnati.

With planned stops in other states which helped win the election like Michigan and Pennsylvania, will Wisconsin be on the list?

"My guess it would be no later than the next two weeks," Walker said. "And I've heard multiple sites from Green Bay to Eau Claire to Milwaukee, Kenosha. So I'd image that would change multiple times."

Walker, a former GOP presidential candidate himself, said at first he had heard something was planned for Friday or Saturday of this week. However, that never came to fruition.

"I think a lot of it depends on what's happening with his transition team," said Walker, adding that he will be in attendance whenever and wherever that stop is finalized.

EXPANDING BROADBAND

Speaking to a small group at the Muehl Public Library in Seymour, Walker announced his proposal to invest an extra $35.5 million for broadband expansion and technology program efforts over the next three years.

"Over the past year, we've conducted more than 70 listening sessions in communities throughout the state, and one of the topics we hear brought up all the time is access to reliable broadband internet," Walker said. "This will allow Wisconsin communities, especially in rural areas, to compete for jobs, improve education and provide a higher quality of life."

The bill, which will be formally introduced in January, appropriates an additional estimated $35.5 million for broadband expansion efforts and TEACH grants over fiscal years 2017, 2018 and 2019. It would also eliminate a barrier to broadband development by prohibiting the state Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation from requiring appraisals or charging any fee prior to granting any permits or easements for the construction of broadband infrastructure in underserved areas.

"As Wisconsin continues to compete in the global economy, it is crucial for our small businesses, schools and households to have access to the internet," said Walker. "This legislation helps expand broadband access for areas in need as we work towards building an infrastructure where every community is able to connect to fast and reliable internet."

According to a news release, the funding comes from a surplus in the Universal Service Fund. The broadband expansion funds would be administered through the Public Service Commission and the TEACH program funds would be administered through the Department of Administration.

The TEACH program provides money to eligible schools, libraries and other educational institutions to upgrade technology and train teachers from small and rural school districts on technology.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - The long process of recounting ballots got underway Thursday across Wisconsin's 72 counties.

In Brown County, 130,000 ballots arrived to paid tabulators at an office space on Willard Drive in Ashwaubenon. Those tasked with going over the votes from last month are prepared for 12 ten-hour days.

"It was kind of a hectic morning to start with, but that was expected," Brown County Clerk Sandy Juno told FOX 11. "But I think they're getting their rhythm now."

Juno explains that they will recount all reporting units through a machine, while selecting some each day to also count by hand. 

"We start with the towns, work through the villages and then to the cities," said Juno.

If the totals end up different in some municipalities that would likely be because of absentee ballots. According to Juno, tabulators may reconsider ballots that weren't counted for several reasons on Election Day.

Down Interstate 41 in Outagamie County, clerk Lori O'Bright is overseeing their recount at the county highway department building in Little Chute.

"There are ten municipalities that initially, even on Election Day, are hand tallied," said O'Bright. "There are also touchscreen ballots that all must be hand counted. Right now we're working with the City of Appleton which is optical scan ballots, and those ballots will be machine read."

Before noon, O'Bright says workers found one absentee ballot that wasn't counted on Election Day because of questions about signatures on its envelope - a question resolved Thursday.

"In that one case, that ballot will now get counted in the tabulation," said O'Bright.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission says it will be posting a spreadsheet around midday which summarizes the previous day’s recount totals.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A 26-year-old Manitowoc man is in custody for his fist offense of operating while intoxicated.

Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, police received a call from a witness who saw a truck hit a traffic light at N. Rapids Road and Broadway Street, and the driver kept going.

The witness followed the truck, and police found the driver at S. 15th Street and Marshall Street.

While investigating, police learned the suspect also knocked down two other traffic lights on N. Rapids Road and Michigan Ave.

Police also say a Volkswagen emblem was found in the debris. If anyone's Volkswagen was struck, you should call the Manitowoc Police Department at (920) 686-6551.

SEYMOUR, WI (WTAQ) - Still no formal plans yet for President-elect Donald Trump to return to Wisconsin, but Governor Scott Walker believes it will happen soon.

While Governor Walker believes a lot of the when and where depends on Trump's transition team, he thinks it could happen in the next two weeks.

"At one point we thought it could be this afternoon, then Saturday, then it was next week. A lot of it depends on his transition team"

And when plans are finalized, Walker says he'll be there...

"I was just with the Vice-President elect the other day. I talk to VP elect Pence two or three times a week about things. I've talked to the President-elect two or three times since the election"

As for where in Wisconsin a Donald Trump appearance might take place, Walker says that's a moving target.

Several locations are possibilities.

"I've heard multiple sights from Green Bay to Eau Claire to Milwaukee-Kenosha. I would imagine things will change multiple times.

Trump and V-P-elect Mike Pence started their 'Thank You' tour Thursday in Cincinnati, and will visit multiple Midwest states in the coming weeks.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - Despite unseasonably mild weather in most areas of the state, there were 13 more traffic deaths last month compared to November 2015.

Preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation show traffic crashes in the state last month claimed 62 lives.

Five people died in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, which was one of the busiest holiday periods on the road in the state in more than a decade.

Over the first 11 months of the year, 550 people have died in Wisconsin traffic crashes – 33 more than during the same period in 2015 and 40 more than the five-year average.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - A federal judge has denied a request to stop Wisconsin’s recount of its presidential ballots.

In an order issued late Friday afternoon, U.S. District Judge James Peterson denied a motion to temporarily halt the recount while he considers a lawsuit filed by a man who voted for President-elect Donald Trump and two pro-Trump political action committees.

Peterson wrote that those behind the lawsuit had not proven they would be “irreparably harmed” by allowing the recount to continue until briefs are filed and a hearing is held.

Peterson has scheduled a December 9 hearing for the lawsuit, which will take place just three days before the deadline for county clerks to complete the recount.

The lawsuit argues the recount risks invalidating Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes and violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, because of the short time frame clerks have to complete the process and because Wisconsin lacks a uniform system for recounting its ballots.

Clerks across the state are using a mix of hand and machine-reliant methods to verify the ballots cast in the November 8 election.

The recount, which began on Thursday, was requested by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Her campaign is also funding the process.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man's body found inside a van at an east side Green Bay parking lot is under investigation.

Green Bay police say they got a call about the body around 10:45 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby on East Mason Street.

According to officials, the caller stated the van had been running for several hours.

Police have not identified the man and foul play is not suspected. Officers expect to be on the scene for several more hours.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A reward offered for information leading to the finding of a Pittsfield woman who's been missing for over three years will stay the same.

The family of Victoria Prokopovitz is offering a $17,000 reward until March 1, according to the Brown County Sheriff's Office. That reward has been increased several times over the years, but since last November it's remained at $17,000.

The then-60-year-old Prokopovitz was last seen on April 25, 2013, at her home on Kunesh Road. She left behind her purse, which held her ID, money and cell phone.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Investigative Division by phone at (920) 448-4230, the Crime Stoppers hotline by phone at (920) 432-7867 or by text message with the keyword GBTIP to 274637.

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A former Door County Humane Society director will spend nine months in jail after being convicted of stealing from the organization.

The Door County Clerk of Courts office says Carrie Counihan was also fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $22,803.02 in restitution on Friday.

Counihan had pled no contest to 5 misdemeanor counts of theft in a business setting, while 7 others were dismissed.

In order to operate the shelter, Counihan was allowed to make purchases under $1,000 without board approval. When board members became suspicious of the finances, a review of expenses was done. Those questionable expenses included clothing, food and hair appointments.

The criminal complaint says that over a five-year period, the questionable charges was "estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars."

Counihan admitted to using the shelter credit card on 86 transactions totaling $13,197.12. There may be another $9,605.90 in personal expenses she charged to the shelter, according to sheriff's report attached to the complaint.

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The search is on for a vehicle which damaged a street light in Sturgeon Bay Wednesday night.

Sturgeon Bay police say the light on N. 18th Avenue and Iowa Street was reported damaged and laying in a yard Thursday morning.

According to officials, evidence at the scene shows a vehicle had gone off the road and struck the light pole. 

Police say the suspect vehicle should have front end damage.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sturgeon Bay Police Department at (920) 756-2450.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The woman charged in connection with the 2015 death of her child will stand trial.

According to court records, Keshia Waupoose was ordered to stand trial on Friday during a hearing where there was testimony. An arraignment date was not immediately available.

Waupoose is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the August 27, 2015, death of her 3-month-old daughter. She was arrested and charged last month.

Investigators say the child's death happened following a night of drinking at Waupoose's then-Story Street home.

"People were intoxicated and at some point during the night the 26-year-old mother made a decision that was a tragedy really," Appleton Police Sgt. David Lund said.

Lund says that decision was to lay in a makeshift bed where her daughter was sleeping. At some point in the night, Lund says Waupoose laid on the child.

The autopsy listed the girl's cause of death as asphyxia.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - A concerning finding for public health officials in Wisconsin, where the rate of adult obesity has been found to be higher than previously thought – at 39.4 percent.

The state’s obesity rate is 4.5 percent higher than the national average obesity rate of 34.9 percent. Obesity rates are higher in persons who are older, poor, less educated, minorities or who live in a community with high economic hardship.

The prior estimate of 31 percent for Wisconsin was based on phone surveys and self-reported height and weight.

Dr. Patrick Remington, associate dean of public health at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said the finding is concerning.

“It means that more Wisconsin residents are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and other obesity-related illnesses, and, in turn, our state is at greater risk for higher health care costs and lost productivity due to these illnesses.”

The Obesity Prevention Initiative, established by the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, emphasizes the need for broad-based efforts to align research, education and community partnerships that lead to sustainable changes in obesity prevention.

The Initiative, which addresses individual-level health through population-level health changes, has the potential to help Wisconsin become a national model for obesity prevention.

“Our research shows that Wisconsin could benefit from policy changes that promote healthier living,” says Dr. Alex Adams, principal investigator of the Obesity Prevention Initiative. “These types of changes – like school policies that provide healthier meals and promote physical activity – result in less weight gain, increased physical activity and better health for our children and families.”

Boys

Wrightstown 57, Fox Valley Luthyeran 48

Denmark 57, Freedom 54

Appleton East 46, Neenah 43

Crivitz 63, Bonduel 46

Oostburg 72, Reedsville 50

St. Mary Srpings 60, Winnebago Lutheran 59

Hilbert 67, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 23

Howards Grove 65, Mishicot 42

Oshkosh North 63, Appleton West 44

De Pere 62, Marshfield 60

Kaukauna 87, Hortonville 55

Marinette 64, Little Chuyte 61

Manitowoc 77, Green Bay East 66

Merrill 62, Shawano 50

Clintonville 60, Oconto Falls 29

Gibraltar 52, Omro 51

Oshkosh West 68, Fond du Lac 61

Luxemburg-Casco 99, Waupaca 60

Random Lake 51, St. Mary Catholic 41

Girls

Algoma 58, Sturgeon Bay 13,

Appleton North 49, Kimberly 41

Valders 60, Brillion 44

Kiel 43, Chilton 30

Shawano 50, Green Bay East 34

Hortonville 73, Kaukauna 52

Neenah 61, Appleton East 47 

West De Pere 57, New London 36

De Pere 47, Notre Dame 39

Winneconne 56, Berlin 32

NEW Lutheran 47, Gibraltar 41

Kewaunee 55, Southern Door 50

Lourdes Academy 76, Princeton/Green Lake 16

Niagara 54, St. Thomas Aquinas 20

Oconto 82, Sevastopol 52

Ashwaubenon 59, Green Bay Preble 44

Seymour 75, Green Bay West 43

Coleman 36, Oneida Nation 33