GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) -- A chimney fire caused $5,000 worth of damage to a Green Bay home just after 7 p.m. Sunday on the city's east side.
The Green Bay Metro Fire Department says the fire was caused by "radiated heat from the fire box" inside a home on the 1600 block of Farlin Ave.
Fire officials say the ceiling on the second floor had to be opened to help and they were able to put the fire out quickly.
The fire department says no one was injured or displaced by the fire.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - With the new year comes a new baby and his name is Cody.
He was born early Sunday morning a few minutes before 2:30 at HSHS Saint Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.
All wrapped up in blankets and a Happy New Year hat, Cody's mom says he was born 19 days early.
His mom also says she's feeling a number of different emotions now that he's here.
"Joy, thankfulness for my doctors and nurses and family and just excitement to have him here and get him home and have him to hold," Tiffany Haldiman told FOX 11.
Cody is the first child to be welcomed into the Haldiman family.
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -The upcoming Packers playoff game against the New Yor Giants at Lambeau Field comes as a welcome surprise to many businesses in the area. It's a surprise that adds up to millions.
Jerry Watson from the Stadium View Sports Bar spoke to WLUK and says a home playoff game is a great way to start a new year.
"My employees love it. They're here because they make really good money on a Packer game. Any and everybody does"
Just down the street, rooms at the SpringHill Suites are going fast.
"The phones have been ringing since eight o'clock," said hotel general manager Tara Campbell. "We are half full. So if anyone hasn't booked a room I suggest you book it relatively soon."
The Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates a playoff game at Lambeau generates $14-million for the local economy.
While hotels, restaurants and bars will be busy, CVB President Brad Toll says other businesses will see a boost, too.
"We also see gas stations; people are fueling their vehicle here. They're buying water from the convenience stores. These dollars really spread throughout the entire economy."
A home playoff game at Lambeau Field is not that uncommon. In fact, this will be the seventh one in the last 10 years.
But what makes it so special is that a lot of people weren't expecting it.
Toll says no matter how the Packers got to this point, a home playoff game is something we should all appreciate.
"We have been so fortunate, really for decades. We just come to expect these games in January. I have a lot of colleagues in a lot of other NFL cities around the country that don't have what we have had."
Packers fans can get ready for Sunday's game Friday afternoon at 3:30.
That's when Downtown Green Bay, Inc. is hosting a Packers pep rally downtown at the Heritage Trail Monument.
MADISON, WI (WRN) The legislative session officially kicks off Tuesday in Madison. Legislators will take the oath of office at the Capitol.
Republicans have held complete control of state government since Governor Scott Walker took office in 2011, and they enter this session with a 64-35 margin in the Assembly, their largest since 1957, and a 20-13 margin in the Senate, their biggest since 1971.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald will again lead the GOP in their respective chambers.
Among the hot debate topics for this session.
1. DOT funding. Experts says the state needs to invest millions of dollars for road and bridge improvements....but how to do that is the big question.
Some lawmakers, including Republicans, think a tax or fee hike should be considered. But Governor Scott Walker has been holding firm in saying he won't go there unless those hikes are offset by cuts somewhere else.
2. School Voucher expansion.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says his members don't yet have any consensus on expanding school choice vouchers in Wisconsin.
He expects Republicans will give serious consideration to several possible options.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay residents will be able to share their thoughts about plans to ease overcrowding issues in the school district.
The school board will take public comments during this afternoon's meeting.
It starts at 4:30 at the school district office on South Broadway.
The board is trying to decide what should go into a referendum.
Some options were proposed after a year-long study, including building a new high school, building a new 4-K through-eight school, and replacing Baird Elementary School.
The school board needs to have a final referendum question approved by January 24, in order for it to be put on the April ballot.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A suspect who allegedly planted credit card skimmers on convenience store gas pumps pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Leonardo Chacin-Paredes faces 10 counts of misappropriating identification information for the incidents. He returns to court Feb. 27
Police say Leonardo Jose Chacin-Paredes and Orlando Romero-Santaella obtained credit card information of at least 40 people.
Romero-Santaella's arraignment is Jan. 17.
FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ) - A man's body has been found in a ditch in Fox Crossing.
Police and the Winnebago County Coroner's Office are on scene and investigating at the intersection of Shady Lane and American Drive.
The Wisconsin State Patrol has been called in to do reconstruction in case the man died as a result of a crash, but police say there is no definitive evidence that a crash took place.
The man's body was found around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
He was face-down in water in a culvert. Police have not been able to identify the man, but say he appears to be a middle-aged white man. He was dressed appropriately for the weather.
Police are also checking with local businesses to see if anyone saw anything or has any information.
Fox Crossing is the former Town of Menasha.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The man who shot a Kimberly boy with a BB gun as he ran a lemonade stand was sentenced Tuesday.
Evgeniy Tetzlaff was convicted of injury by negligent use of a weapon for the July 25 incident.
9-year-old Jayden Grant, was struck in the face when Tetzlaff shot him while driving past the stand.
Tetzlaff will serve six months in jail and three years probation. If he breaks probation, he will need to serve another six months in jail.
Tetzlaff was also sentenced to 100 hours of community service and must pay $577.61 of restitution.
He will have work-release privileges.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A Fond du Lac man has been charged with his 11th drunk driving offense after a traffic crash Sunday night in downtown Appleton.
42-year-old Steve Johnson was charged Tuesday in Outagamie County.
Johnson's blood alcohol level was allegedly three times the legal limit.
According to the criminal complaint, a police officer was dispatched to a downtown tavern for a report of a hit & run crash.
A witness pointed out the driver, leaving the scene. An officer followed the truck, eventually pulling Johnson over. Johnson told the officer he had left the bar after having about three beers and was headed home.
Johnson failed a field sobriety test. A preliminary breath test showed a result of .27 - more than three times the legal limit for driving of .08. Blood test results are still pending.
Officials say Johnson had a valid driver's license.
The complaint lists ten previous drunk driving suspensions, revocations or convictions for incidents which happened on:
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's a week of excitement for Green Bay Packers fans as the team gets ready for Sunday's Wild Card game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field.
Kandi Goltz is the Packers Game and Fan development manager and says all this week there's been fun for fans everyday.
Monday, was Mailing Monday, where fans were encouraged to send mail to the team through the Letters to Lambeau program, presented by Cenex.
Tuesday marked Paint the Town Tuesday with people demonstrating Packers pride throughout Northeast Wisconsin and Wednesday is Win It Wednesday.
"We'll have an Ariens Sno-Thro, we have some jerseys and I think there might even be some tickets thrown in there. So, there's a lot of different opportunities to win Packer's prizes," said Goltz.
The next day is Thank You Thursday, where the team will express to fans how grateful they are for all their support.
Friday, is Green and Gold Friday. Fans are asked to celebrate by wearing green and gold Packers gear to school or work.
Then Saturday marks the Packers Everywhere pep rally.
"It begins at 6 p.m. It's free, open to the public. Come on in. We have 2 Packers alumni, Ahman Green and Dorsey Levens."
Find more information at www.packers.com.
The Packers take on the Giants this Sunday at Lambeau Field. Kick-off is a 3:40 p.m.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Green Bay's city council voted to uphold Mayor Jim Schmitt's veto of the Colburn Park Pool project.
The council voted 6-to-6 on whether to support Schmitt's veto. The council would have needed eight votes to override Schmitt's veto.
The vote solidifies that the Olympic-sized pool at Colburn Park will not be rebuilt, leaving doubt whether any pool will be part of the park's future.
Last month, the council voted to approve the funding to rebuild the pool but Schmitt vetoed the plan, saying it was too expensive.
Green Bay's city council faced a standing room only crowd Tuesday evening as dozens of people took turns explaining why they support or oppose Mayor Schmitt's veto of the Colburn Park Pool project.
"I think what the mayor did was perfect. I am for a pool. I'm not for this kind of money," said Green Bay resident, Craig Hermsen.
"I do know that people are looking at the cost, but in the long run, you're going to prevent a lot of social issues that could happen to these young children," said Jody Ebeling of De Pere.
The cost of rebuilding the Olympic-sized pool is $6.8 million; that's $2.3 million more than what the council had originally budgeted for the project.
That difference has kept a handful of council members from supporting the project.
Afterwards, pool supporter Olivia Crooks spoke to WLUK.
"I cannot even find the words to express just how horrified I am that one week this was all approved and ready to move forward and now its completely over"
Meanwhile, Mayor Schmitt says the city will still work toward building some sort of pool at Colburn.
"I want to talk to those donors. I want to work with the parks department and work closer with that neighborhood to come up with something that is fiscally responsible and that works"
Longtime pool supporter, Alderman Chris Wery, said after the meeting, he would not take the lead working toward building a smaller pool at Colburn.
Other pool supporters said there is no point to building a smaller pool, because they believe the price tag will not be much lower than what it would have been for the Olympic-sized pool.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay school board met Tuesday to discuss possible solutions on overcrowding in east side schools.
The district says schools at all levels on the east side of the city are running out of room.
The school board is debating the possibilities of an April referendum to ease the overcrowding.
Several referendum combinations from $50 million up to $110 million for the upcoming April ballot are on the table.
School Board president Brenda Warren spoke to WLUK.
"Not every district is in this position. We have a very strong financial situation. We have debt that's coming off so we can replace that debt with more debt and have that level property tax"
The public was able to voice its opinions Tuesday.
Many focused on the overcrowding at the elementary schools. District estimates show a need of 1,100 spots for new elementary students in the next few years.
Of particular concern is Baird Elementary School. A new school there would cost upwards of $25 million.
"Students are crammed into classrooms that are typically the size of, maybe, our bedrooms at home," said Elizabeth Chatham.
"We don't want our kids to go to a school where you have to pull out a five gallon bucket to sit on, I think we want an art room where you don't have to go to the bathroom," added Julie Piton.
But not everyone thinks the new school is the answer, or even necessary.
Some, like Edward Jensen, say the cost is too high and that overcrowding issues can be solved by shifting students to other schools.
"That's the thing that needs to be done first. Whether Baird needs to be replaced, that's immaterial. We've gotta solve the real problem that nobody seems to have the guts to do: fix the attendance areas"
The board did not make any final decisions about what will be in the final referendum. Members DID agree, it's not likely they'll put plans for a new $80 million high school on there.
They also decided to start a task force to figure out space needs at Preble High School long term.
The board has until January 24th to decide on the referendum question or questions to get it on the April ballot.
The district is also planning listening sessions for citizens between now and then.
MENOMINEE, MICH (WTAQ-WLUK) - In Menominee County Michigan those entering the County Courthouse Tuesday, experienced some changes.
They were greeted by increased security, and one single entrance point.
Menominee Deputy Sheriff Jeanne Albert was helping people through the new routine
"Had a few come in with knives that were sent back out, and they've complied with the program, so it's going pretty well."
Menominee County Sheriff Kenny Marks spoke to WLUK and says it is an effort to keep both the public and employees safe.
"The reason I think is just the change in times, I mean you look all around our region at the things happening. It helps to bring order and provide security."
Marks says the new technology is similar to an airport security system, making for a quick and easy process.
"The security system leverages a lot of technology walk through metal detector, hand-held metal detector and also a x-ray scanner"
The security changes were made as part of a 900 square-foot courthouse expansion. The project was paid for using tax payer dollars and grant money.
Albert says at the end of the day, a few extra steps are worth the peace of mind.
"It makes everyone in the court house feel a lot more secure, there was so many access points originally"
The Sheriff's office says there are still some additional construction that needs to be completed.
The entire project is expected to be finished sometime next month.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - As the temperatures start to drop, ice on area lakes continues to form.
Experts on Lake Winnebago report ice thickness to be eight to ten inches across the lake.
About a quarter mile off the western shoreline of Lake Winnebago, a solitary ice fisherman tried his luck Tuesday morning in Oshkosh.
Don Herman, of Sunk? Dive & Ice Service, spoke to WLUK after checking the conditions on the lake Tuesday morning.
"Right here along the shore, we got about 12 inches"
Herman says the season is off to a good start.
"I was pleasantly surprised. When I went out yesterday, that there was eight inches and we actually found some places where it was 12 inches"
Ice experts say recent warm temperatures and even that rain around Christmas actually helped, by melting areas of snow that insulated the ice.
"It's going to freeze real quick. If we don't have any snow on the lake, we can gain almost an inch and a half, to two inches a night, if it stays around zero for a 24-hour period"
Herman says fishing clubs report no areas of open water in the middle parts of the lake.
The Otter Street Fishing Club in Oshkosh, installed two bridges capable of carrying ATVs on the ice Tuesday afternoon.
As always, law enforcement, and ice experts warn that no ice is ever 100 percent safe.
FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ) - Police say they know the name of the man whose body was found in a ditch Tuesday afternoon.
Fox Crossing officers say the man was identified as 54-year-old John Schaus of Fox Crossing.
The autopsy was scheduled for 9 a.m. in Madison. They plan to release preliminary results from an autopsy later today.
The man's body was found face-down in a ditch near the intersection of Shady Lane and American Drive around 1:30.
He was described as a middle-aged white man. Police say he was dressed appropriately for the weather.
The Wisconsin State Patrol was called in to do crash reconstruction in case the man was involved in a crash, but police have not said whether any evidence supports that theory.
If you have information, you are asked to call police at (920) 720-7109.
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.
TOWN OF OMRO, WI (WTAQ) - One person has died in a crash that has closed a stretch of Hwy. 21 between Oshkosh and Omro.
Winnebago County Sheriff says a van heading westbound on Hwy. 21 crossed the center line and was struck by a semi.
The driver and lone occupant of the van died at the scene.
The driver of the semi had minor injuries.
The highway is closed between Sand Pit Road and Highway FF, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says.
Westbound traffic is being diverted off on Leonard Point Road, going north and west to Reighmoor Road, then back south to Highway 21.
Eastbound traffic will go the opposite way.
Reconstruction crews expect to be on scene for several hours.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The man caught on dash cam video belly-flopping on to a Menasha police car was charged Wednesday.
25-year-old Cody Romano of Kimberly faces five counts, including two felony counts of battery to a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, and two misdemeanor battery counts.
He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Officers were dispatched to a disturbance early Sunday morning.
When officers arrived, Romano allegedly jumped onto the windshield, causing extensive damage.
Two officers suffered minor injuries taking him into custody.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Alderman Chris Wery is speaking out after the city council voted to uphold Mayor Jim Schmitt's veto of the Colburn Park Pool project.
The council voted Tuesday 6-to-6 on whether to support Schmitt's veto. The council would have needed eight votes to override the veto.
So, is the pool issue at Colburn Park a dead one?
"The Olympic sized pool that the community wanted and that we raised a million dollars on and that the city council basically promised, is dead at the mayor's hands," says Wery. "The mayor has pretty much been 'my way or the highway' and it's been that way on this issue. So, it will be interesting to see what he comes up with."
Wery doubts the Friends of Colburn Pool will be satisfied with a smaller vision.
"Several people, especially some of the larger donors, have said they want their money back and they won't pay the rest of it. I think when all is said and done you might have less than half of the million dollars really to go toward a smaller pool."
Mayor Schmitt has said the city is willing to work toward building some sort of pool at Colburn.
The cost of rebuilding the Olympic-sized pool is $6.8 million; that's $2.3 million more than what the council had originally budgeted for the project.
That difference kept a handful of council members from supporting the project.
MADISON, WI (WRN) - Governor Scott Walker is ordering a special session of the state Legislature and has issued new orders to state agencies, as part of ongoing efforts to fight a heroin and opioid epidemic in the state.
The governor said he plans to sign a series of executive orders Thursday, which implement a series of recommendations made by a special Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
“This is a public health crisis, and that’s why I’m calling a special session of the Legislature and directing state agencies to ramp up the state’s response,”
The orders include the special session call, which asks lawmakers to act on a long list of legislative proposals.
The list includes legislation dealing with opioid treatment and diversion programs, some immunity from criminal prosecution for those receiving treatment for a drug overdose, and almost $2.1 million in state funding for different programs and law enforcement resources.
Walker is also directing the state Department of Health Services to apply for federal funding through the 21st Century CURES Act, which makes up to $7.6 million per year available to the state over the next two years.
That money can be used for programs that are designed to respond to the opioid crisis.
The governor was touring the state Thursday to announce the action, with stops in Weston, Green Bay, and Chippewa Falls planned.
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Shattuck Middle School students in Neenah were evacuated for about an hour Thursday afternoon following a bomb threat.
The call came in around 12:15 p.m. from a person reporting a threat, but did not say exactly when or where, just that it was happening Thursday.
Students were evacuated to St. Margaret Mary School while police searched the school.
Nothing was found in the sweep and students were allowed to return to classrooms around 1:25 p.m.
Although the call came from an actual person, it was not automated like the calls going around last May.
Neenah Police is investigating the incident.
