PULASKI, WI (WTAQ) - One Pulaski bakery takes the cake, rather Paczki, when it comes to one of the most popular Polish pastry treats on Fat Tuesday.

People come from all over the Midwest come to sink their teeth into the delicious sweet filled dough from Smurawa's Country Bakery.

Owner Greg Smurawa says people were lined up early to get their fix.

"We open at 5:30 a.m., we started selling at 4:30 a.m. Someone got past the front door."

Yes, their Paczki's really are that popular. Smurawa says thousands of people come through the door each year with a ticket in hand, ready to pick their favorite flavors.

And with 19 different kinds to choose from, you really can't go wrong. Just ask Doreen Cooney from Howard.

"French cream, chocolate, key lime, lemon, blueberry cherry, and custard."

She's not keeping them all for herself. Cooney took a box to share with her co-workers.

"I'm going to take them to work with me so that everyone can have a little bit of Paczki-land."

Smurawa says they've had visitors, not only from Wisconsin, but Chicago, Minnesota, and the U.P.

He's also takes orders from all over the country.

"We've shipped Paczki to the Carolina's, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Washington, Seattle," Smurawa said.

The bakery's recipe has been in their family for over 100 years.

Last year they sold over 30,000 Paczkis.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A 27-year-old Manitowoc man is being treated at a mental health facility after being spotted with a gun near a school.

Manitowoc Police received several calls Tuesday morning reporting a man walking past Jefferson Elementary School with a rifle. 

When officers arrived, they approached the subject, who was not carrying a weapon.

Officers located the gun nearby, which turned out to be a plastic BB gun that was designed to look like a rifle.

Police say the man was suffering from mental health issues.

He was walking to a relative's house, and officers do not believe the man intended to harm anyone. 

However, charges of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon while on a School Premises and a Facsimile Firearm Violation have been referred to the District Attorney's Office.

The Manitowoc School District sent a letter home to families, explaining the preventative measures that were taken during the school day.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A total of 106 films and documentaries will be shown on the St. Norbert College campus between Thursday and Sunday.

For a second straight winter, the school is hosting the Green Bay Film Festival, which enters its seventh year.

While many of the films will focus on local and statewide issues, such as the growing drug epidemic and gang problems, Festival Director Cyndee Sweetland says works from around the world will be screened.  

Sweetland believes its important to give festival goers a look into different cultures as those people are "no different from us despite living in a different place," calling the insight into their lives "precious."

Typically, Sweetland says over 30 countries are represented, expecting a similar number this year.

In addition to watching the films, Sweetland says attendees will have the opportunity to speak with roughly one-third of the filmmakers after the screenings and can also vote on their favorite films for the 'Audience Choice Awards.'

Sweetland says the 106 films fall into a variety of categories including: animation, thriller/horror, children's films, Native American films, and In Focus, which deals with social issues.

This year, Sweetland says there were over 400 entries for the festival.  She says the panel considered the films' story, casting, and technical quality when deciding which ones would make the cut.

Sweetland believes St. Norbert's communications and film students benefit by having the festival on their campus as it gives them an opportunity to network with filmmakers and also learn more about the tools that are locally available to help them tell their stories through film.  

A full event schedule and ticketing information is available at http://www.gbfilmfestival.org/.

SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - High water from the Wolf River is at flood stage in the Village of Shiocton.

The recent warm up has the Wolf flowing above its banks.

Shiocton Fire Chief Eugene "Butch" Bunnell tells WLUK it happens most every year, just not this early.

That sign is under several feet of water. Bunnell says ice on the part of the Wolf River in Shiocton melted about a week ago.

"This time of year, it's not normal to have that high of water. We usually have break up about another 20 day or so. It's early this year" Just upstream, others are dealing with a wet backyard.

"It's getting crazy right now," said Carmen Polanco. Polanco says the water can creep close to property in the neighborhood.

"Yeah, it goes up to their windows in the little house there. Yes, it's pretty high. I don't know how they do with that"

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Shiocton area. Bunnell says the level of the Wolf River here rose more than a foot, in the last three days.

"The firemen here in the Village, they know where to watch. Houses have all been pretty-well flood-proofed. Right now, we're really just setting and watching. Just waiting to see what happens"

Bunnell says rain drops on the river won't help.

"If we get a quarter of an inch, I'm not concerned. But, if we get 6-8 inches of snow, then I'm starting to watch it a little more"

Regardless of the spring-like conditions, Bunnell knows it's still winter.

"We still can get a lot of snow. I've seen it snow, the 15th of April. So don't count nothing out. I mean, what comes, comes. You can't change it"

The Shiocton Fire Department has about 2,000 empty sand bags in case flooding becomes serious.

In Shiocton, flood stage is 12 feet.

The all-time high crest on the Wolf River in the area was 14.1 feet, on April 1, 1922.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Another competency exam will be performed on the suspect in a double homicide.

Jacob Cayer is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Sabrina Teague, and her mother, Heesun "Sunny" Teague, and injuring another man at a Hobart home on June 7th.

Cayer had been declared mentally unfit to stand trial, placing the case on hold.

However, a recent evaulation by a state-hired psychistrist deemed him competent.

Cayer's attorneys are challening that finding, and Tuesday Judge Timothy Hinkfuss ordered that a defense-hired psychiatrist will evaulate Cayer.

A hearing is set for March 30 to review the findings.

At issue is if Cayer is able to understand the proceedings against him and assist in his own defense.

It does not address his competency at the time of the crime; that issue could be raised at trial.

If convicted, Cayer could spend life in prison.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Drivers on Appleton's south side will soon be dealing with the start of two years of construction on a busy stretch of road.

City and state projects impacting about a mile and a half of Oneida Street are scheduled to begin in mid-March.

A detour will be in place between Midway Road to the south and the Oneida Skyline Bridge to the north.

This year, the city plans to do underground utility work.

That includes replacing sewer lines -- some of which are about 90 years old. Private companies will also be working on cable and telephone lines, and overhead electrical wires will be buried.

In 2018, the road will be repaved.

The new road will include bike lanes, new decorative street lighting and sidewalks, while maintaining the Marigold Mile, a popular feature maintained by community volunteers.

Drivers will be able to access businesses throughout the project.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation is doing work in the Midway Road area in preparation for rebuilding the Hwy. 441/Oneida Street interchange.

The total cost of the project is $13 million, with the state paying $5.4 million.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ- WLUK) - Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is celebrating the opening of its new Center of Information Technology.

It’s a part of the $66.5 million referendum voters passed in 2015.

“A lot of wows, especially the students that were in the old space,” said Mike Teske, a network specialist instructor.

Teske tells WLUK the information technology wing of NWTC was last updated more than ten years ago.

$2 million in renovations and additions has given the school a state of the art facility.

Justin Steiner, a network specialist student, calls it a game changer.

“It's also really cool to have a bunch of new equipment to play with and work with because that's what I'm going to be working with out in the industry”

Some of the new equipment includes dual-monitor computer stations that rise and store in the desks and a climate-controlled data center, allowing new hands on opportunities.

“Before, our infrastructure, meaning the servers that we use, all the technology we use was spread across in different closets and what not,” said Teske. “Now what we have is everything consolidated downstairs.”

Also part of the new space, you'll find a variety of small study spaces called 'people pockets.' They were designed to give students somewhere to go when they aren't in class, something that was lacking before.

“On a scale from one to ten, they've gone from a five to a ten,” said Mitch Weckop, the CEO of Skyline, an IT consulting company.

Weckop says the new technology at NWTC better reflects what his company sees from customers.

“You know a lot of times for students it’s hard to go from the theoretical to practical application and I think they've really upgraded the way to give people hands on experience”

That experience will come in handy quickly for those who complete the school's network specialist program. The job placement rate for graduates is currently 100 percent.

Teske says the average starting salary for a network specialist graduate is in the high $30,000 range.

BRILLION, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -A letter went out to dozens of high school administrators.

That includes Jeff Vande Hey of Brillion High School.

"A lot of them are going to have jobs set up already, but probably in the $9.00 to $10.50 range, I think this may be appealing."

Ariens is looking to increase production this summer to keep up with new product updates.

Ariens makes snow removal products, like the Sno-Thro, as well as a wide range of other mowing equipment.

To help meet the needs, Ariens is looking to hire some temporary help.

Lauren Bornemann, a recruiter at Ariens, tells WLUK that wages start at $12 an hour.

"So traditionally this was something that was reserved for children of our employee's here, local Brillion students, but this year we're expanding it to fill the need. Targeting those students to help build their resume, and continue the partnerships we have in local schools"

Bornemann says over the four-month time period, students have the opportunity to make up to $6,000.

"All these positions, painting, material handling, machine operation, assembly."

Counselors like Vande Hey says it's an alternative for seniors who are unsure about college.

"Not only Ariens but there are good places in construction, companies like Keller Structures that are in our area. There's good opportunities out there"

In what Bornemann says could become a career.

"If students are interested in the roles turning into full time, we've love to have them apply at the end of summer"

The list of high schools include:

Appleton East High School

Appleton North High School

Appleton West High School

Ashwaubenon High School

Brillion High Shool

Chilton High School

De Pere High School

Freedom high School

East High School

Preble High School

Southwest High School

West High School

Bay Port High School

Kaukauna High School

Kiel High School

Kimberly High School

Little Chute High School

Lincoln High School

Menasha High School

Mishicot High School

Neenah High School

New Holstein high School

North High School

West High School

Reedsville High School

Stockbridge High School

Valders High School

West De Pere High School

Wrightstown High School

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - March is greeting Northeast Wisconsin drivers with a fresh blanket of wet snow.

That's leading to slippery road conditions in many parts of the area.

All of Northeast Wisconsin is under a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m.,

Snow totals are expected to reach 3-5 inches.

While slippery and potentially dangerous conditions are all over the area, morning crashes were especially bad along Highways 29 between Bonduel and Shawano.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - No trial date was set Wednesday in a lawsuit against the City of Oshkosh by a landlords' association about the city's rental inspection program.

The city is embarking on a program which mandates inspections of all rental properties at least once during a five-year cycle.

The Winnebago Apartment Association sued, claiming the landlords' Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search are being violated.

A scheduling conference was held Wednesday.

The attorneys were ordered to file motions in the case before Sept. 15. If necessary, a trial date would be set after that.

The judge previously denied the landlords' request for a temporary restraining order stopping the program while the lawsuit continued.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Christians in Northeast Wisconsin and around the world are observing Ash Wednesday.

This begins the annual Lenten period of reflection, in preparation for Easter.

One gathering Wednesday was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Appleton.

The day's rituals include rubbing ashes on the forehead as a reminder of mortality.

Lent is also a time where many Christians strive to give something up before the Easter holiday, like sweets or alcohol.

LIMA, WI (WTAQ) - A two-vehicle accident took the life of an 85-year-old Cedar Grove woman Wednesday morning.

Sheboygan County authorities received word of the Town of Lima crash on Highway 32 south of Ourtown Road at 9:06 am.  

Officers determined the Cedar Grove woman's northbound Buick Century crossed the centerline and struck a southbound Ford Fusion driven by a 70-year-old Hingham woman.

There were no passengers in either vehicle. 

Both women were taken to the hospital.  No update has been provided on the Hingham woman's condition. 

Since the accident occurred during a period of heavy snowfall, officials say weather may have been a contributing factor.  

The Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office was aided by the Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department and Orange Cross Ambulance.  

The driver's names will be released after 8 am Thursday.

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - No one was injured after a car was found hanging off the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Kaukauna Wednesday afternoon.

Rescue crews say they were called to the bridge at 1:15 p.m.

When they arrived one of the passengers was able to get out of the car.

Firefighters used a 9,000-pound side winch to stabilize the car and safely extricate the driver.

Officials say some of the guard rails had to be cut to get the car back onto the roadway. 

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton Police are taking a new approach in their effort to reduce the number of deaths caused by opiate drug overdoses.  

On Wednesday, the department unveiled L.E.A.A.P, which stands for Law Enforcement Addiction Assistance Program.  

The program allows Appleton residents or students to voluntarily turn over their drugs and paraphernalia at the police department, free of legal consequence.

Upon doing so, the person is given a brief assessment to determine if they are eligible for L.E.A.A.P.

If so, the person is sent to a local hospital to receive medication to begin the withdrawal process.

After that, the addict is referred to an area treatment specialist to begin a recovery program that officials say can last anywhere between four weeks and six months, depending on the specific case.

According to Mooring House Executive Director Jamie Loehnis, that recovery has multiple elements including: educating the person about the disease aspect of addiction, teaching them how to refuse drugs, and discussing any life event that may have led to the drug use.

While the person is discharged upon successful completion of the program, they are released without legal consequence if unsuccessful.  

Appleton Police Chief Todd Thomas feels this new approach is necessary since previous efforts such as educating the community and expanding the availability of NARCAN, a drug which counteracts the effects of an opiate overdose, have not done much to reduce the number of drug-related deaths in the area.

Thomas says Outagamie County averages 13 overdose deaths per year and notes his officers administered NARCAN 42 times in 2016 alone.

Nationally, Thomas says the number of heroin-related deaths has risen by 300% since 1999.  

The chief says this program is similar to ones already seen in the Wisconsin communities of Greenfield and Madison and notes that there are 160-170 comparable efforts nationwide.

According to Loehnis, his treatment facility has seen positive results in his 11 years with the agency. He says four out of ten people make a clean recovery their first time through the facility.  

However, Loehnis notes there has been a significant rise in opiate-related cases during the last two years, with that cause now accounting for 40% of all intakes.

Thomas says the matter resonates personally with him since his wife's cousin died of a heroin overdose 12 years ago.  

Anyone interested in signing up for the program or learning more about it should visit the Appleton Police Department at 222 South Walnut Street.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay woman is left badly burned after a homeless man she befriended poured boiling water on her.

Police say 51-year-old Aaron Bear was arrested by police Tuesday after he fled the woman's residence in the 1100 block of Pine Street on Saturday when the incident happened.

Green Bay Police Commander Jim Runge says there was some drinking involved.

"(The woman) allowed him to stay at her apartment occasionally. She describes it as a few, maybe three nights a month."

Bear started to pass out on the couch and the woman asked him to leave.

"While this was going on she was preparing a meal, cooking soup or something...had boiling water on the stove."

Bear poured the boiling water on the woman causing 2nd degree burns, then left.

Bear is facing 3 felony charges: Mayhem, Aggravated Battery-Intend Bodily Harm, and 1st Degree Reckless Injury. 

According to court records, his initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday in Brown County.

STOCKBRIDGE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The ice shoves along Lake Winnebago got a little too close for comfort for one homeowner in Calumet County Wednesday.

That homeowner is state senator Roger Roth.

"It was ridiculous. I could not believe the power it had"

Roth tells WLUK he was across the lake when he was admiring the ice shoves.

"I watched it just sort of climb and climb and get higher and higher and it was a beautiful scene until I realized this is hitting my house" Roth said the ice shoves took out his dock and it pushed his house back about two feet.

"I could see the smoke coming from the foundation and I realized we have a problem here"

Fire crews were called to the home near Faro Springs Road and Harrison Road around 3:00 p.m.

Stockbridge fire chief, Michael Funk said the ice shoves moved the house off the foundation and caused an electrical short in the wall. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes.

The ice filled the basement and moved its way through the house.

No one was in the home at the time of the incident.

Funk says it's not often the ice becomes so high, it destroys buildings.

Both Funk and Roth agree, the home is a total loss.

Crews walked along the lake shore to check if other homes may be at risk.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - At St. Anne's Episcopal Church, a snow-filled day didn't stop Deacon Mary Lynn Adams from leading the church's first ever ‘Ashes-to-Go’ service.

She tells WLUK it's all about being flexible.

“With work schedules and school schedules it can be very difficult for people to get to church. I think people will come who really desire to get the ashes and to start their Lent in this way.”

About a dozen vehicles pulled up for ashes and a minute-long prayer in two separate morning and evening offerings.

De Pere's Denise Tomlinson was one of them

“We were going to go to our church for Ash Wednesday, but with the storm and I picked up my boys early and saw the drive by, I thought let's check it out”

“It's kind of nice and quick, so you don't have to like wait for a long time in a church service,” said Riley Tomlinson.

Christians opting for a traditional service braved the weather as well, like at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Green Bay.

“I've never missed Ash Wednesday, so I make it a priority to go to church,” said Erin Murray, a UW-Green Bay student.

“We've told our people if it's inclement weather to be safe, to be prudent, stay at home,” said Rev. Bill Hoffman of St. Philip Church.

Hoffman says the church's morning service saw more than double the amount of people expected, likely because of the forecast. But he has reservations when it comes to something like a drive-up Ash Wednesday service.

“To take it out and say this is the important thing, the external sign, I think it takes something away from it”

“I wouldn't do it normally, but it was a good fit for the storm,” said Denise Tomlinson.

Deacon Adams says she is already looking forward to holding the drive-through services again next year.

Saint Anne's also held traditional services both in the morning and evening.

FOND DU LAC CO., WI (WTAQ) - Eleven people have been charged with dealing more than $1 million worth of heroin in Fond du Lac County.

Prosecutors say about 7,000 grams -- 15.4 pounds -- of the drug was distributed between March 2015 and February 2017.

The multi-agency investigation began with a traffic stop that resulted in more than 100 grams of heroin being seized.

As the investigation grew, prosecutors say more than 150 grams of heroin, seven grams of crack cocaine, guns and thousands of dollars in cash were seized.

The heroin itself was worth between $30,000 and $60,000.

Prosecutors have called a 2:30 p.m. news conference to release more details about the investigation.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - One man is dead after being pinned between two semi tractors at a business in Howard.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office was called to Klemm Tank Lines at 2204 Pamperin Rd., just after 5 a.m.

Deputies say one of the tractors was stuck and the victim was trying to free it when he became pinned.

Rescue crews freed him and began CPR. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators say foul play is not suspected.

The man's name has not been released as deputies are still working to notify relatives.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)) - The Green Bay Packers announced Thursday that ticket prices will go up $7 per ticket for the 2017 season.

“We project this increase will place us just below the NFL average,” Murphy said in the brochure. “This pricing model continues to assure an excellent value for the highly regarded gameday experience at Lambeau Field while also providing a fair visiting team share to our NFL partners.”

Season ticket holders are reminded that the Packers will again be using variable pricing for the preseason and regular season games.

With the $7 increase, tickets in respective areas in 2017 will cost:

• End zone seats – $52 for preseason, $102 for regular season (in 2016, prices were $45 for preseason, $95 for regular season).
• South end zone, 700 Level – $57 for preseason, $112 for regular season (in 2016, prices were $50 for preseason, $105 for regular season).
• End zone to the 20 yard line – $60 for preseason, $115 for regular season (in 2016, prices were $53 for preseason, $108 for regular season).
• South end zone, 600 Level – $64 for preseason, $119 for regular season (in 2016, prices were $57 for preseason, $112 for regular season).
• Between the 20-yard lines – $69 for preseason, $129 for regular season (in 2016, prices were $62 for preseason, $122 for regular season).

Payment is due in the Packers’ ticket office March 31.

The team will again offer the "Pay as We Play" option for the post-season, including allowing Green package holders to get special ticket prices for the Wild Card round if they commit to purchase.