TOWN OF COLOMA, WI (WTAQ) - A Waushara County vehicle rollover resulted in one death and another person going to the hospital.
Officers say the crash was reported around 11:40 am Tuesday on I-39 northbound, north of Highway 21, in the Town of Coloma.
The vehicle was on its roof when crews responded.
The driver, Taylor Noland of Wausau, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger was transported. No word on the extent of the Medford woman's injuries.
The rollover is still being investigated.
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - A 20-year-old Manitowoc man is charged with killing his friend after he drunkenly crashed his vehicle into a tree.
Zachary Potts is facing felony counts of First Degree Reckless Homicide, Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle, and Homicide by Use of a Vehicle with a Prohibited Alcohol Content.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a car-versus-tree accident in De Pere during the early hours of November 9.
Officers say Potts was found in the driver's seat, injured and asking for help. While he denies driving after the two left a party that night, investigators say Potts DNA was found on multiple driver's side car parts, including the airbag.
The complaint says Potts' 20-year-old passenger, Brian Kwarciany, was taken to the hospital and died several days later from injuries sustained in the crash.
Neither man was reportedly wearing a seatbelt.
Prosecutors say Potts' blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit and believe he was traveling 88 miles-per-hour in a 25 mile-per-hour zone just seconds before the collision.
Potts was scheduled to make an initial appearance in a Brown County courtroom Wednesday.
If convicted on all counts, Potts faces up to 95 years in prison.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Ground was broken Wednesday afternoon on the host site of the Milwaukee Bucks' new Development League team in Oshkosh.
The city was selected last month to host the team, which plans to begin play this fall.
The arena, located on the site of the former Buckstaff Furniture factory, is expected to be complete in time for the start of the 2017-18 season.
Oshkosh officials believe hosting the Bucks' D-League team will bolster the downtown economy.
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Ashwaubenon leaders say their village president has taken an indefinite leave of absence.
They note Mike Aubinger is dealing with an illness but did not further elaborate.
At the boards Tuesday meeting, Trustee Mary Kardoskee was appointed interim president.
Aubinger is in his third term as village president.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of one of their beloved K-9 dogs.
Ure, born April 15, 2003 and was almost 14-years-old when he died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning. He had been retired for one year.
His handler, Deputy Tony Tasch says he worked with the Belgian Malinois for 10 years.
One thing he'll always remember about his partner, is the way he chattered his teeth.
"And it was just him releasing stress, him releasing drive...he had so much drive in him as a typical Malinois does. His teeth-chatter was very, very unique."
Tasch says he has a lot of good memories with his furry ally.
"As an explosive detective dog, he was phenomenal. Every certification I had, other bomb dog handlers followed me around while he was testing, just to watch him because he was that good," remembers Tasch. "Patrol work, there's a lot of things I could tell you about that. There were a lot of good apprehensions, very good apprehensions. Took a lot of bad guys off the road."
But as Tasch's heart heals, he has the chance now to bond with his third K-9 partner of about a year. His name is Nero. He's is a Belgian Malinois and serves duel-purposes, as a patrol and bomb sniffing dog, just like Ure.
Although Tasch is moving forward after such a big loss, he'll always remember his former colleague in crime fighting fondly.
"He was a great police dog. He had a year of retirement. He got fat and happy and he deserved that. He was a good dog. It all worked out really, really well."
KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Kewaunee County is Wisconsin's second healthiest.
That's according to the 2017 County Health Rankings released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The list is compiled each year to monitor the progress of community efforts to improve health in Wisconsin's 72 counties.
Kewaunee County placed second in the 'health outcomes' category, which looks at residents' length and quality of life.
That is up eleven spots from 2016 and returns Kewaunee County to its 2014 placement.
Public Health Director Cindy Kinnard says that jump was partially due to the county's higher grades in sub-categories that look at clinical care and social/economic factors.
Kinnard says the county has also taken recent steps to combat drug and alcohol problems in the community, specifically by partnering with law enforcement and human services to create more school programs that help kids who may be susceptible to those substances affecting their school performance.
While she is pleased with Kewaunee County's high marks, Kinnard notes they are still working to make improvements.
Currently, Kinnard says county leaders are discussing ways to get people more physically active and more mindful of nutrition while also looking at offering expanded resources for people dealing with mental health issues.
She notes they are also seeking to expand their partnership with law enforcement to create a program that helps students with difficult home lives.
Kewaunee County also ranked tenth in the state on the 'health factors' list, which looks at things such as health behaviors and physical environment.
Brown County placed 31st in both outcomes and factors.
A complete list of the rankings is available at http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/wisconsin/2017/overview.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The weather this time of year can turn on a dime with conditions becoming dangerous if you're not paying attention.
We were reminded of that after three storm chasers were killed while following tornados this week in Texas.
Roy Eckberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay, says it's a dangerous hobby.
"If you're not knowing what you're doing, you can get yourself in trouble, in the path of a tornado or very large hail."
Eckberg says if you're interested in becoming a weather spotter, they have training classes you can sign up for.
"They talk about the different type of storm clouds. They talk about weather safety, spotting and how to report severe weather to your nearest law enforcement agency."
You can find a list of dates for those classes at www.weather.gov.
A reminder that Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin is April 17-21.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Anyone who may have witnessed a fatal rollover crash in Appleton late Tuesday night is asked to step forward.
Police Sergeant Dave Lund says the person who reported the overturned SUV on the 2900 block of South Eisenhower Drive shortly after 11 pm Tuesday did not actually see the accident.
Lund notes the location of the crash also complicates the investigation since there are no traffic cameras in that area.
According to Lund, people occasionally witness a crash but do not report it, especially if they are doing something illegal at the time such as driving impaired or operating without a license.
Lund says additional information could help the victim's loved ones get closure.
A 56-year-old man from the Grand Chute area died in the crash. His name has not been released.
Lund notes speed was a likely factor when the northbound SUV left the road and rolled.
Anyone with information should contact the Appleton Police Department at 920-832-5500.
OSHKOSH (WTAQ-WLUK) - Groundbreaking at the future site of a Milwaukee Bucks development, or "D-League" team.
The clock is now ticking to complete the venue in time for the 2017-2018 season.
Oshkosh City and Bucks team leaders put their shovels in the dirt Wednesday. The move symbolized the start of the D-League arena.
"The journey we're gonna start today is just phenomenal," said the president of the new team, Steve Brandes.
Although the groundbreaking ceremony was Wednesday, work started weeks ago.
Greg Pierce, President Fox Valley Pro Basketball, spoke to WLUK.
"We've been putting pilings into the ground to support the foundation. So those things are happening"
Bayland Buildings out of Green Bay is the lead contractor. Dean Hunt is Bayland's marketing director.
"We're putting everything we have on this. We've got all our best people. We've moved people around from different projects on to this project to make sure we hit the timelines"
There's about seven months to get the 3,500 seat facility built.
Developers said it's still very early in the building process, but they say at this point everything is on schedule and Pierce says they said they really have no choice but to get the arena done in time for the 2017-2018 season.
"We've got a basketball season that begins in November. We've got a team that has to have a place to play" Brandes also has work to do, building a team of his own.
"A front office team, the first step, you know, human resources"
And, he says his team will be working to get the community invested too.
"We wanna make sure that we not only reach out for the tickets, but we wanna make sure we are part of the community and we're ingrained in the fabric of the community"
The long term plan is to make the arena the cornerstone plans for more development in this area, which will be called the 'Sawdust District.'
No name yet for the new team, but officials say that will be addressed very soon.
CLEVELAND, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An expansion and remodeling project at Lakeshore Technical College is giving students the tools they may need to succeed, literally.
The $3 million price tag includes two new automotive laboratories.
The Advanced Automotive Technology Center at Lakeshore Technical College is a 10,000 square foot high-tech classroom.
Pat Staszak, Lakeshore Technical College Dean of Energy, Agriculture and Transportation, tells WLUK.
"Each student will have their own vehicle to work on. They each have their own lift. The student is doing engine work. They're learning about transmissions, things of that nature"
And there are changes to the auto collision lab as well.
There's three times the space, twice as many students, and the program has expanded to include a two-year degree, instead of a one-year degree.
"We're trying to raise the level of skill. We're trying to help our students be able to work in more jobs than they could before," said Jack Charles, Lakeshore Technical College Auto Collision Instructor.
Charles says from computerized spray painting to a high tech fender-bender, instructors say it's just easier now, to teach.
"The students are really benefiting. It really brings our program into the modern age"
And that's good news for DeWayne McFadden. He is scheduled to finish the auto collision program in May.
"They offer an internship, which you need to graduate. But which also helps you get used to like a real shop, and kind of helps you further, like get ready for the real world"
Staszak says the need is out there.
"We're trying to fill that gap. locally along the Lakeshore, with expanding our facilities, in order to help our industry partners, with their needs for additional staffing"
Lakeshore Technical College has about 4,000 students, and offers about 60 different programs.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Four people displaced and two dogs rescued after fire breaks out in a Green Bay home Wednesday afternoon.
Crews called to a home on the 200 block of Oak Grove Avenue a little after 4 p. m.
At this point it appears the fire started in the living room.
The Green Bay Fire Marshal's Office in investigating.
The fire caused an estimated $10 thousand in damages.
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) - The daughter-in-law of Schneider National Incorporated founder Donald Schneider is looking at jumping into politics.
"Media-Trackers" reports Nicole Schneider of Green Bay is considering challenging U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin for that office next year.
In a statement Schneider criticized "career politicians" as "all talk and no action," adding "everyone blames each other and nothing gets done."
Schneider is a mother of four and a graduate of Brandeis University with a doctorate in social policy and management.
She works as a researcher for the Green Bay Area Catholic Education System.
If she gets into the race she will run as a Republican, saying she will be “a conservative voice.”
There are several other possible GOP candidates who might get into the race including State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Madison business leader Eric Hovde, and State Senator Leah Vukmir.
The MetroSource news wire contributed to this report.
MADISON, WI (WRN) - Governor Scott Walker has named two new members to serve on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
Walker on Wednesday announced that he’s appointing Mike Jones and Bob Atwell as citizen members of the board.
Jones is an attorney with the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich, and previously worked at Miller Coors for 30 years.
Atwell is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Green Bay-based Nicolet Bankshares.
Jones and Atwell replace Regents Mark Bradley and Edmund Manydeeds. Their seven-year terms expire in May.
“We look forward to the leadership of Mike and Bob and thank them for their willingness to serve in this capacity,” Walker said in a statement.
“Their diverse experience and expertise will be valuable additions to the UW System Board of Regents.”
If confirmed by the state Senate, both will serve seven year terms.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - March has been a busy month for prostitution arrests in Oshkosh.
Police say 13 men were taken into custody in connection with two investigations.
The men ranged in age from 22 to 73 and were from a variety of cities including: Appleton, Fond du Lac, Hilbert, Manitowoc, Neenah, Oshkosh, Tomahawk, Viroqua, Watertown, Wautoma, and Lawrence, Mississippi.
All of the men were taken to jail on charges of soliciting prostitution. Officer Joseph Nichols says the investigations involved the use of undercover informants.
While previous operations have often targeted females who are seeking clients, Nichols says the department's Vice and Narcotics Unit decided to go after men in this sting.
He notes recent studies have shown that targeting male 'johns' helps curb prostitution in a municipality.
Nichols says the focus has shifted over the years from letting the justice system take care of those apprehended to getting help for those taken into custody, specifically people dealing with substance abuse issues.
Over the years, Nichols says the means used to bust prostitution crimes has changed. He notes the internet is now a useful tool for officers as ads are often placed on sites such as 'Backpage.'
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The woman who created Project Semicolon, which aims to lower suicide rates around the world, died March 24.
Amy Bleuel said in the past, a semicolon is used to declare a person's story isn't over yet.The 31-year-old's obituary says she was born in Wausau and graduated from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
"The way she lived her life, the way she ran her organization, it was from her heart," said Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention Chairman Jeff Strommen.
He met Bleuel a couple of years ago and worked with her in the past.
"Her loss is felt tremendously both by myself and our community here."
It's still unclear how Bleuel died. A message on Project Semicolon's website said, "Your story isn't over."
Bleuel created her organization in 2013 with a goal in mind, to help people struggling with mental illness, suicide, and addiction. She also said the semicolon is used to encourage, love, and inspire.
Strommen says Bleuel's legacy will continue to live on.
"Just being real, being who you are, not being ashamed, or afraid to talk about things that are difficult to talk about, she did that well."
For more information about suicide prevention, click here.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County judge has ruled that an Ashwaubenon man is competent to stand trial on murder charges.
Jacob Cayer is facing three counts of First Degree Intentional Homicide, along with one felony Burglary and two felony Bail Jumping charges, for allegedly stabbing and killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother in 2016.
The 26-year-old faces life in prison for reportedly killing Sabrina Teague and her mother Heesun Teague in their Hobart home on June 7. Cayer is also accused of injuring another person.
Further proceedings are set for April 19.
BONDUEL, WI (WTAQ) - An 18-year-old man has been arrested for reportedly threatening Bonduel High School.
Police say the former student texted a threat to a current student that mentioned coming into the school with a loaded gun to shoot people.
Officers note the student received that message around 10:15 am Thursday and notified school admininstrators.
The man was arrested at his Bonduel home on a probation violation. No gun was spotted during an investigation of the property.
Bonduel schools went into lockdown until the suspect was taken into custody.
Law enforcement is determining what criminal charges to request against the man.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - American Heart Association volunteers met with Wisconsin lawmakers Wednesday asking that all 9-1-1 dispatchers in the state, be trained and able to give callers CPR guidance over the phone.
A plan to draft a bill is in the works.
Cullen Peltier is the Director of Public Safety Communications for Brown County and says their dispatchers are already CPR certified.
"We use a program called Emergency Medical Dispatch and that walks the dispatchers through those CPR instructions or pre-arrival instructions for the first responders with the person on the phone."
Cullen explains how that program works.
"We get the chief complaint, whether it would be unconscious and not breathing or whatever the case may be and then we launch that program on our computer screen. Then that walks the dispatcher through the appropriate questions to ask."
Cullen says 9-1-1 dispatchers with the county have had to be certified in this critical training for over 10 years.
"I think it's very important. I think it's providing those, possibly life-saving instructions to the callers in the interim before the first responders can get there," said Cullen.
Not all dispatchers in Wisconsin are trained to give CPR instructions to callers.
Those precious minutes between when the emergency call is made and when medical professionals arrive on the scene, can literally mean the difference between life and death.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Free tax services are being offered to qualifying Wisconsinites.
For a sixth straight year, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College accounting students are taking part in the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program.
While VITA gives students real world experience preparing state and federal tax returns, NWTC Accounting Instructor Theresa Grover says it also offers free tax help to individuals and families with a household income under $60,000.
To be eligible for the service, Grover also notes that people cannot have any rental properties or have small business expenses totaling over $5,000.
Grover says the ten NWTC students participating in VITA this spring have each completed a 15-week personal tax course and notched scores of 80% or higher on an IRS-issued exam.
According to Grover, this program has led to student success stories. She notes that accounting graduates have said putting VITA participation on their resume has given them an edge in landing jobs.
In fact, Grover says the school started participating in VITA after local accounting professionals told administrators that while NWTC graduates had great technical skills, they lacked practical skills that come from interacting with real clients.
Grover says appointments are offered at the Mason Street Goodwill location from 9 am to Noon on April 1st, 8th, 11th, and 15th.
She notes clients should set aside 45 minutes for the student to prepare the forms and says it is necessary for the person to stick around throughout the process.
According to Grover, over 500 people utilized the school's program last year.
Tax Day is Tuesday, April 18.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Additional charges have been filed against the two men accused of stealing thousands of dollars' worth of diapers from a charity.
It is not known if the two new theft counts against both John Forbes and Jason Havel are tied to the alleged theft of 1,700 cases of diapers that were being stored at Valley Packaging for the Fox Cities Diaper Bank, which helps local families in need.
Forbes' initial appearance is Thursday while Havel has an April 6 preliminary hearing.
On the previous charges, Forbes is scheduled to enter a plea May 15 while Havel has a court trial May 23.
