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Mayor To Outline Bay Beach Vision

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt is using his State of the City Address invitations to send a message on the future of Bay Beach Amusement Park.

The invite shows what it could look like to have a beach and boardwalk back at the park.

“At a minimum is what you see in that rendering,” said Schmitt.

The city's parks department is currently preparing an application to receive the necessary permitting to construct the beach.

More than $200,000 has already been spent on engineering design work.

Schmitt tells WLUK the beach would extend along the park's east end, with the boardwalk going out approximately 400 to 500 feet.

“While we don't have the exact footage, that would be the ballpark”

Schmitt has also said the ballpark construction cost is between $1 million and $3 million.

He believes that money will mostly be privately raised, with some coming from people who remember the days of swimming at Bay Beach, more than 70 years ago.

“I do think there is a group of people, philanthropy in this community, that will help fund this”

“The Friends of Bay Beach have been phenomenal,” said Randy Scannell, a Green Bay alderman.

“I expect they'll step up again, so I don't think the city will have to put too much into it.”

But another Green Bay alderman, Chris Wery, tells WLUK that private fundraising doesn't grantee anything

“As we've seen with Colburn, people privately funded it and the project didn't go forward, so I think people might be a little hesitant to give towards something like this”

Wery also has water quality concerns.

“I want to hear definitively is it safe to swim there?”

In 2015, the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission released results from three years of water quality testing. Those results showed no concerns were found with utilizing the beach for swimming and recreation.

Schmitt says he will release more details about the project at his State of the City Address on April 12th.

Schmitt's goal is start construction next year.


Fit To Serve Also Means Exercise

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KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Kewaunee County Sheriff's Office is encouraging its deputies to stay fit, through the "Fit for Duty" program.

Kewaunee County Sheriff, Matthew Joski, tells WLUK deputies can spend a good part of their day with very limited physical activity.

"Typically what we are doing, running radar, doing reports, responding to calls"

Joski says the department also wants to ensure deputies can keep up with physical demands on the job, as well.

"So if and when they're called to serve their community in that kind of situation, they're mentally, and in this case physically prepared to so"

One part of the program is an ongoing competition, to see who can get in the most steps.

"The primary focus was the Fitbits, we wanted to start small, get people off the couch," said Sheriff's Assistant, Angie Mueller.

She is a part of the department's "core team', which discusses department improvements, and helped organize the program.

Mueller tells WLUK a majority of the department is participating.

"One of our deputies has lost 25 pounds already, so we're really seeing positive results."

The department also turned unused space in its evidence building, into a 24-hour training facility. "It isn't just about working out or training, but really about networking, and the debriefing, being able to discuss the calls, the situations," said Joski.

The Kewaunee County Sheriff's Office says its training facility is open to other area law enforcement agencies as well.

Kid At The Wheel Injures Man

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TOWN OF LIND, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - At last word, a 31-year-old Waupaca man was in critical but stable condition after being hit by a truck in the Town of Lind, in Waupaca County.

The sheriff's department says the accident happened around 10 p.m. Monday at a residence on County Highway E in Lind, which is south of Waupaca.

Sheriff Brad Hardel says an 11-year-old boy was backing the truck into a garage when he took the truck through the garage and struck the man.

The man was breathing but unresponsive. He was flown to a hospital in Neenah.

The 11-year-old is described as a 'family friend,' and Hardel notes it is not illegal for minors to operate vehicles on private property when permission has been given.

The sheriff says a 13-year-old boy was also driving the truck Monday night but says neither took the vehicle onto any public right-of-way. 

While he says there are no plans to file charges in the mishap, Hardel says it is possible if the investigation reveals there was any negligence.  

City Is Buzzing Over Beekeeping Ordinance

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - For some, keeping bees is an enjoyable hobby.

For this and other reasons, city leaders in Neenah are considering a new ordinance that would allow city residents to become beekeepers.

Marge Bates, City of Neenah Alderperson, tells WLUK....

"There's been a popular trend toward beekeeping in residential areas"

Not to mention, experts say the honeybee population has been rapidly declining.

Kevin Jarek, with UW Extension Outagamie County...

"Years as recent as 2014, 2015, where we had really tough winters, we saw as much as a 60% hit on some of those populations"

If the beekeeping ordinance were to pass in Neenah, there would be parameters.

Keepers would be allowed one hive for every 5,000 square foot lot... it would have to be fenced in and have its own water supply.

Honeybees are not known as aggressive bees, but they can sting if they feel threatened.

Jarek tells WLUK...

"Be courteous of your neighbors. We do know that there are people who do have moderate or severe reactions to bee stings, so certainly being aware of those potential downfalls."

Bates said any neighbors near a beekeeper's home would be notified, and they're open to any feedback on the ordinance.

"I'm hoping that we can get a little of both, everybody can understand each other and we can work out some points in this ordinance that would make everybody happy"

The experts say there are many benefits of beekeeping.

Jarek said, "Anything we can do to increase their food source is going to be a good thing as far as their long term sustained survival"

Which they say is good for the bees, plants, animals... and us.

The proposal will be discussed next week at the Public Services Committee. It is set for March 28th at 7 p.m. at Neenah City Hall.

Police Checkout Shots Fired Report

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police are investigating after reports of shots fired early this morning.

The call came in around 1:15.

Officers sent to the area of Velp Avenue and Mather Street.

Cops located spent casings near that location, at the corner of Lincoln and Phoebe Streets.

They say no one was hurt and there was no property damage.

Anyone with information is asked to call Green Bay Police at 920-448-3208.

Names Released in Oconto County Crash

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OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The names have been released of the two people who were killed when their mini-van was involved in a head-on crash with a semi in Oconto County Friday.

The accident happened around 11:40 a.m. on Highway 64, about a mile west of Highway 32 in the Town of Mountain.

Police say 22-year-old Jeremy Sutrick and 20-year-old Kelli Kile-Sutrick's minivan was traveling east on Hwy. 64 when it apparently crossed the center line and collided with a westbound semi.

The Sutricks were pronounced dead at the scene.

The 55-year-old semi driver from Custer was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injures.

The Oconto County Sheriff's Office believes road conditions were a factor in the crash.

Woman Arrested for Stealing Food

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police say they've arrested the woman who stole a cart of food from an area Pick n Save on Friday.

Officers say 55-year-old Donna Ledesma filled her cart with groceries and then fled the 1819 Main Street store without paying.  She was not located.

However, police say Ledesma tried doing the same thing at the same store on Monday when an off-duty police officer, Captain John Laux, recognized her from photos that were provided to the department by the store's loss prevention team.

"I walked around and made sure I passed by her cart and sure enough, it was just loaded with stuff. Turned out to be like $351 worth of groceries," said Laux.

Laux detained Ledesma in the store's parking lot until on-duty officers arrived to take her into custody.

Police say Ledesma has been charged with seventh offense Retail Theft and had 11 outstanding warrants totaling over $14,000.

Ledesma is scheduled to make her initial appearance Tuesday afternoon.

 

 

 

Four Sentenced on Drug Counts

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CRANDON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Sentences have been handed down for four people who were facing drug charges.

Kole W. McGeshick, Tony E. Quintana, Karen L. Quintana and Diana F. Alvarado were arrested in a drug bust last August. The bust was the result of a 10-month-long investigation, authorities said. During that time, local, state and federal undercover agents arranged for meth, oxycodone and marijuana deals.

Federal authorities say the drug ring was operating on the Mole Lake Indian Reservation.

McGeshick, 26, was sentenced in Forest County court to three years in prison, followed by five years extended supervision.

Tony Quintana, 42, was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years extended supervision.

Karen Quintana, 39, was sentenced in federal court to two years in prison, followed by five years extended supervision.

Alvarado, 40, was sentenced in federal court to two and a half years in prison, followed by five years extended supervision. She also faces state charges in Forest County.


PFC Maintains Stance on Hortonville Chief

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HORTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Hortonville's Police and Fire Commission is not changing its ruling on the village's police chief.

In February, the commission suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan two weeks for violating department policies.

The given reasons included: discrimination, harassment, disclosing confidential information, threatening officers if they filed grievances against him, and lying about facts during the investigation into his actions.

Roughly one week after the commission's decision, an attorney for Sullivan's accusers asked for the ruling to be reconsidered.

On March 14, the commission met to review the new responses it requested from both sides. Tuesday, it announced the meeting resulted in the decision to maintain its previous stance.

However, new complaints against Sullivan have been filed by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, the village administrator, and Hortonville Police's full-time officers, alleging that the behavior for which Sullivan was punished has continued.

No hearings have been set for the new complaints.

 

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High-Speed Chase at Oshkosh Airport

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Manitowoc man was taken into custody after authorities say he led them on a high-speed chase that ended on the runway area of Wittman Regional Airport.

Officials say around 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, a Wisconsin State Trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for a speed violation on I-41 northbound, south of State Highway 44.

The suspect vehicle failed to stop and led authorities on a chase to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Officials say the vehicle entered the airport property by ramming through the gate and drove around a few of the airport access roads before going onto the runway.

The chase ended when the vehicle became disabled between two of the runways in the middle of the airport.

The 56-year-old driver sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Airport personnel were notified of the incident to divert any air traffic that may be affected.

Green Bay Police Hold Retail Theft Summit

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Police Department holding their third Retail Theft Summit on Tuesday at police headquarters.

Area law enforcement and representatives from retail stores around the city shared ideas on how to reduce and prevent retail thefts in the community.

Alison from one Green Bay area big box retailer attended the meeting. She says conversations in the past have been very helpful.

"This gives us an opportunity to share information from store to store so we can identify someone, say we have at our store that they may have already had. So, it helps us put faces with names."

She didn't want to say where she worked, but she did say thefts has been an issue at her company since she started a year ago.

"It cuts down on bonuses for people, I mean it affects the company all around. It's really sad," said Alison. "We have a lot of repeat offenders as well. That's why meetings like this are really important that we can come and share information and put our heads together and try to get better ideas."

Attendees were given a packet of detailed information regarding crime and theft statistics in the city as well as a booklet with retail theft intervention strategies to implement in their place of employment.

Police say food, clothing and alcohol are the top 3 items stolen in the area.

So far this year, the average value of stolen property per incident is $126 dollars.

Retail thefts account for an estimated 28% of all thefts in the city.

The Green Bay Police Department averages over 600 retail theft incidents per year.

Wheelchair Journey Ending at Lambeau Field

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Six weeks ago, a Beloit native set out to travel the 170 miles from nearby Janesville to Lambeau Field, in his wheelchair.

Dennis Schulze, who lost his leg in a truck crash five years ago, has been traveling in five-mile increments to raise money for five charities he supports: Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and a group that supports the families of fallen police officers.

Schulze arrived in Brown County in the past week and will make the final stage of his journey this Saturday at 9 am when he puts on a prosthetic leg and walks from Stadium View Bar and Grill, 1693 Holmgren Way, to the iconic football stadium.  He is encouraging the public to attend.

Schulze has not been alone on the trek.  His friend Joan Sohn has either led or followed him in her car throughout the trip and has ensured they get hotel accomodations.

At each stop, Schulze says he has visited various police departments, schools, nursing homes, factories, and museums to speak with locals and tell him about the trip.

Despite the pauses, Schulze says he and Joan have been sticking to their task as they are a week ahead of schedule.

This is not the first time Schulze has set out such a trip.  Last fall, he traveled the 103 miles from Beloit to Chicago's Wrigley Field after his beloved Cubs won the World Series.

While he originally wanted to make the trip with hopes of meeting some of the team's players once they heard his story, Schulze decided that was a selfish motive and instead elected to collect money for his favorite charitable organizations.  

Schulze is not saying how much money he has raised thus far.  

He has indicated there will be another trip later in 2017 but would not indicate the travel plans.  

 

CNA Accused of Viewing Child Porn at Work

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ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - A Hobart man is accused of downloading and viewing child porn while working at an Allouez senior care facility.

Christopher Anderson is facing ten counts of Possessing Child Pornography.

The 43-year-old ceritifed nursing assistant was arrested Monday after he allegedly used his employer's, Allouez Parkside Village, Wi-Fi to download and view child porn on his personal laptop computer last month.  Anderson worked there since June.

He reportedly admitted to viewing child porn at both work and his home.

Upon execution of a search warrant at Anderson's residence, investigators say they seized 13 electronic devices that contained additional child pornography.

They also reportedly found small children's toys and electronics in the basement, consistent with video and recording equipment.

 

 

 

 

Work & Play Along The Fox River

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DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The spring time warm up mean busy times along the Fox River.

The billion dollar PCB cleanup project is once again underway for the season. And so is the annual walleye spawning run.

Steven Sowinski tells WLUK he came up for a day of fishing with his brother. "Chasing the walleye. It's a slow day. A little windy out there, but we ended up with about four or five, I think it was" 

Walleye fishing wasn't the only activity on parts of the Fox River. For the ninth season, PCB dredging operations are underway as well.

Scott Stein is the Fox River Cleanup Project Spokesperson.

"The original start date was supposed to be April 3rd. But we started two weeks ahead of time. The weather cooperated, so we're ready to go"

Stein say three dredging barges started cleanup Monday.

"The barges now, are actually near our processing facility, doing some residual dredging in that area. And then as the year goes on, we'll see more activity downstream"

Support boats of different sizes cruised up and down the river, delivering equipment where it needed to go.

Big orange pipelines pumped sediment to the processing facility nearby. Signs and buoys alerted boaters traveling through.

"We always want to make sure that everyone is safe on the river, whether it's the people out fishing, or our operations as well," said Stein.

Sowinski is paying attention.

"You got to be careful. You got to go slow, especially when it's dark out. You got to watch out because a lot of times they put them buoys out. You obviously don't want to run into one of them. But yeah, you got to go slow, take your time"

PCB dredging is scheduled to continue through November.

The entire cleanup project is expected to be completed, in 2018.

Deputy Gets An Unwanted Ride

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WAUPUN, WI (WTAQ) - A 22-year-old Waupun man is facing multiple charges after he reportedly dragged an officer roughly 50 feet down a Town of Chester road.

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt says one of his lieutenants made a traffic stop around 11:40 pm Tuesday night.

During the stop, the lieutenant noticed the man became nervous and saw him put the keys in the ignition.

The lieutenant opened the car door but was unable to reach the keys before the driver took off.  

Schmidt says the officer was dragged roughly 50 feet before escaping the vehicle.

He was taken and released from the hospital where it was determined he sustained minor bruising but no broken bones or serious injuries.  

The driver later crashed his vehicle and fled.  He was arrested at a nearby home a short time later.

Schmidt says an investigation into the incident is ongoing but tells us alcohol was not a factor.

He says charges of Knowingly Fleeing an Officer and Obstructing an Officer Causing Injury have been referred to the District Attorney's Office.


Still Not Sure How He'll Vote

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - As the U-S house prepares for Thursday's vote on the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, the question remains as to whether there's enough Republican votes to get the legislation through.

Some G-O-P members of Congress don't think the bill goes far enough to dismantle Obamacare.

Wisconsin's 8th District Congressman, Mike Gallagher, isn't sure how he'll vote.

"Getting coverage is meaningless if you're not getting the healthcare access and the healthcare that you actually need"

Gallagher sees last minute changes to the replacement bill as being rushed to make a deadline that might not be reasonable.

"When you're dealing with not only one-fifth of our economy, but you're dealing with people's livelihoods, it's a very complex issue"

President Trump put the heat on lawmakers to pass the plan, saying their re-election could depend on it.

It's already been an interesting week in Washington D-C, with the revelation the FBI is investigating Russian involvement in last fall's Presidential election, and the head of the FBI publicly saying there's no evidence to support President Trump's claims that former President Obama had him wire-tapped.

Mike Gallagher tells WTAQ's Jerry Bader says all this just diverts time and energy from the legitimate issues facing the country.

"And the more time we spend talking about the President's twitter account, the less time we are solving problems the American people elected us to solve"

And to the discredited connection of the British Government in the Trump Tower wire-tap

"I think it would be good for him in particular to reach out to our allies, the British in particular. It's just bad to have that kind of mistrust"

Some have suggested the President should apologize for the wire-tap claims that have not been proven....but Gallagher says don't hold your breath.

'Quick Change' Scammers Strike in Bellevue

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BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police are looking for multiple people who they say used a 'quick change scam' to illegally obtain money from the Bellevue Wal-Mart.

Investigators say the 2292 Main Street location was targeted in two separate instances.

On February 14, a woman in a white jacket requested change from a sales clerk once her transaction was complete.  She reportedly went back and forth with the cashier until she received an extra $67.77.

The woman left the store in a blue/purple Chevrolet Tracker along with two men. She is pictured above.

The second incident occurred on March 13.  After trying multiple registers, a heavy set man wearing a black hat convinced a cashier to make change.  Police say he ended up with an extra $350.

The suspect left with another man, both pictured above.

Wal-Mart Asset Protection says similar incidents have happened throughout Wisconsin, indicating that the suspects may not be from the Green Bay area.

Anyone with information on any of the suspects is asked to contact Deputy Omdahl of the Brown County Sheriff's Office at 920-621-4916 or by emailing omadhl_mh@co.brown.wi.us

No Plans to Replace Airport Gate

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Wittman Regional Airport officials say there are no plans to repair the gate damaged during a high-speed chase Tuesday.

A Manitowoc man was taken into custody after authorities say he led them on a pursuit that ended on the airport's runway area.

No charges have been filed, and the man has not appeared in court.

The airport gate is currently being held together by chains.  

Officials say around 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, a Wisconsin State Trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for a speed violation on I-41 northbound, south of State Highway 44.

The suspect vehicle failed to stop and led authorities on a chase to the Oshkosh airport.

Officials say the vehicle entered the airport property by ramming through the gate and drove around a few of the airport access roads before going onto the runway.

The chase ended when the vehicle became disabled between two of the runways in the middle of the airport.

The 56-year-old driver sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Airport personnel were notified of the incident to divert any air traffic that may be affected.

Police Searching for Runaway Teen

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police are looking for a 15-year-old girl who ran away from her home on the city's west side.

Officers say Noemi Faustino  is listed as a runaway, and is not belived to be missing under suspicious circumstances.

Faustino was last seen Wednesday morning and is possibly with 30-year-old Samuel Cannon, who has a felony warrant through Probation and Parole.

Anyone with information on Faustino's or Cannon's whereabouts is asked to call Green Bay Police at 920-448-3208 or Crime Stoppers at 920-432-STOP(7867) or text GBTIP to 274637.

 

 

Preparations Begin for Bellin Run

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ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Roughly 75 people gathered at Bellin Health in Ashwaubenon Wednesday evening to begin training for one of Green Bay's largest runs of the year.

The 41st annual Bellin Run will take place on the morning of Saturday, June 10.

Each Wednesday until the 10K run/walk, Bellin Health officials are holding free community training sessions at 6 pm.

Bellin Running Expert Nate Vandervest says the goal is to prepare people for the run as the distances covered in the training sessions will increase each week.

He says it is also a chance for people to meet fellow runners and form training partnerships that allow participants to hold each other accountable ahead of race day.

On Wednesday, both veterans of the Bellin Run and first-timers were on hand.

Doug Marsh is competing in the run for a fifth straight year in 2017.  He says his goal is to finally complete the course in less than one hour.

Newcomer Karissa Rasavong is up for a similar challenge, saying she too wants to finish with a time south of 60 minutes.

Marsh says the practice gatherings have benefitted him each of the last four years, and Rasavong says she looks forward to learning techniques that could make her a better runner.

The training sessions will be held at 1630 Commanche Avenue in Ashwaubenon each Wednesday through June 7 at 6 pm.

Anyone interested in particpating in this year's Bellin Run can register by visiting http://bellinrun.com/.

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