ROCK COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The 32-year-old Janesville man accused of robbing a gun shop and stealing dozens of weapons has been charged in Rock County court.

Joseph Jakubowski wrote a manifesto to President Donald Trump, railing on the government and religious institutions and calling for the oppressed to 'rise up.'

Jakubowski was apprehended Friday following a ten-day manhunt that involved local, state, and federal authorities.

At his initial appearance Monday, cash bond was set at $30,000 on felony charges of Burglary with a Dangerous Weapon, Theft, and Possession of Burglary Tools.

During the proceedings, Jakubowski asked a question about one of the charges.

Court Commissioner Larry Barton warned Jakubowski not to make any statements, to which he responded "you can't tell me what to do as a free individual."

Jakubowski's preliminary hearing is set for April 25.

He also faces federal charges.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Bond was set at $50,000 Monday for the Appleton man accused of committing multiple Fox Valley crimes.

Gary Perry faces felony charges of Burglary, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Battery in Outagamie County.

The 55-year-old reportedly destroyed several gaming machines after breaking into the Wishing Well bar in Appleton March 5. 

On April 9, Perry allegedly robbed a BP station in Kimberly, injuring a worker when he struck him with a hammer.

Perry was arrested Thursday following a review of video surveillance from both incidents and tips from the public that tied him to both crimes.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Bond was set Monday for two of the three people tied to a Thursday incident where guns were reportedly brought onto the grounds of Appleton East High School.

Cash bond was set at $20,000 for 21-year-old Blong Vang and $15,000 for 17-year-old Tou Thao.

The third suspect is a 16-year-old and faces charges in juvenile court.  The minor was not in court Monday.

At the end of the school day, a school officer noticed two people in the building who did appear to be students.

Upon determining Thao and the 16-year-old did not belong in the building, the officer went to the parking lot where he found a vehicle that was not registered with the school.

Inside the vehicle was Vang and reportedly two handguns, one of which was loaded.

According to the criminal complaint, the three were at the school to seek retaliation against a student who had been bullying Vang's girlfirend, who does go to Appleton East.

She reportedly asked Vang and his friends to do something about the matter.

No weapons were brought into the school building.

The suspects told officers they had no intentions on hurting anyone.

Officers believe the three people have gang ties due to red bandanas Vang and Thao were wearing at the time of the incident.

Vang and Thao are both charged with conspiring to commit child abuse while Vang also faces felony charges of Possession of a Firearm on School Grounds and Bail Jumping.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A highly-anticipated spring event has begun in Wisconsin.

Sturgeon spawning got underway Sunday night at both the Sturgeon Trail on New London's County Road X and Shiocton's Bamboo Bend, according to DNR Fisheries Biologist Ryan Koenigs.

He says the sturgeon at those locations started demonstrating pre-spawning behaviors Sunday morning.  

Koenigs noted late Monday morning that spawning had not yet begun below the Shawano Dam or at a few sites further upriver but expects that will happen by week's end.

For people who want to view the spawning in either New London or Shiocton, Koenigs encourages them to make the trip Tuesday, or early Wednesday at the latest.

He notes sturgeon typically spawn for 2-3 days at a given site.

While citizens take in the spectacle of sturgeon spawning, Koenigs says DNR staff is busy at work.

During spawning, Koenigs notes that crews estimate the length of each fish and determine whether they are male or female.  

If the sturgeon have not been tagged with an internal chip during a previous year, that is done as well.

Koenigs says "we look for those tagged fish during the harvest in February and that allows us to estimate how many adult male and female fish are within the population.  That's how we set the harvest cap for the spear fisheries."

The biologist notes residents can also play an important role in the spawning period by standing guard at one of the locations.

DNR officials look for volunteers to keep watch at sturgeon camps in 12-hour shifts.

Koenigs calls it "a good opportunity for people to see fish spawn and protect these fish during the critical time period when they're spawning."

He notes volunteers receive a free, hot meal during each shift.

People can sign up at http://dnr.wi.gov/SGsignUp/.

Koenigs says sturgeon spawning typically brings out large crowds, estimating roughly 5,000 came out each day during last spring's peak spawning times.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - State Representative David Steffen unveiled details of a proposal Monday that would close the Green Bay Correctional Institution and construct a new maximum security prison in Brown or neighboring counties.

Steffen, along with other area leaders, spoke at a news conference at the Allouez Village Hall regarding the plans.

Steffen says the problems at the prison are not going away.

"Right now at the facility there's about 1,096 inmates that are there...that is 143% over operating capacity," said Steffen. "If we ignore this problem, it will become more expensive and more difficult the longer we wait." He says over the next 10 years it will cost the county $428.2 million dollars in operational expenses to keep the facility open, compared to $386 million in operational costs for a debt free facility.

"This savings over a 10 year period presents over $150 million dollars of savings to the state of Wisconsin," Steffen said.

The lawmaker's plan calls for a private company to build the new facility, with the state leasing and operating it.

According to Steffen, leasing the prison would cost around $15 million annually, compared to $19 million a year to maintain the current facility.

Village of Allouez President, Jim Rafter, says he's on board with the proposal.

"By building on 60 of what some would call the prime acreage in the area, we could bring businesses and residents in a community that the community of Allouez has been asking for, for a long time."

The bill asks that the prison closes November 1, 2018 and the new facility open no later than November 1, 2022.

So what would happen to the inmates in the meantime?

"There will not be a U-Haul moving up to that facility...there will be no buses until the new facility is completely constructed and they will go directly from there to the new facilities. So, generally there's an overlap of a period of time that occurs for the transition of course just like when you're moving from one rental to the next."

The legislation will be introduced to the joint finance committee this week for consideration.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Governor Walker stopped in De Pere Monday for a bill signing.

Outside the Amerilux International facility, the governor put pen to paper on Senate Bill 3, which prohibits local governments from requiring contractors working on public projects to use collective bargaining agreements.

Supporters say the bill gives non-union firms more chances to win public work while opponents call it another attempt to limit union influence in Wisconsin.

Walker says "this is really a taxpayers' protection act when it comes to local and statewide projects. We want to make sure the taxpayers get the best value possible, and that's what this new law does." 

Similar laws are already in place in more than 20 states.

The governor also discussed Senate Bill 10, which he would sign into law in Burlington later that day.

It legalizes using the marijuana extra Cannabidiol, or CBD oil, to treat seizures.

CBD oil does not produce a high, and a doctor would need to authorize a patient's usage.

While the measure passed through the legislature this spring, a similar version stalled last session.

Lawmakers were afraid it would lead to the complete legalization of marijuana.

Walker shares the stance and says the bill was carefully crafted to prevent that from happening.

"They repeatedly in law enforcment have told me that they're concerned about legalizing marijuana outright, because that's a gateway drug.  It would open a door in an area we've already got big problems."

For years, the governor says parents of children suffering from seizures have pushed for access to CBD oil.  

In addition, Walker commented on President Trump's planned Tuesday visit to Kenosha's Snap-On headquarters.

Governor Walker hopes the commander-in-chief will focus on a topic important to many Wisconsin communities: "manufacturing jobs and highlighting skilled trades."

Walker, who will be in attendance, also plans to speak privately with Trump "regarding Canada and the dairy industry and the areas we think are in violation of trade agreements, both now and in the past."

Wisconsin dairy farmers have noted difficulties selling their milk due to Canadian duties placed on imports classified as 'ultra-filtered milk.'

Roughly 75% of Wisconsin dairy farmers are reportedly left with no market as a result.

Tuesday's stop would be President Trump's first in the Badger State since his January inauguration.

A planned February trip to Menomonee Falls' Harley Davidson location was called off amid concerns over planned protests.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - As students in Appleton returned to class Monday, safety was top of mind.

It comes just days after three people were arrested for allegedly having guns and ammunition on Appleton East High School property.

In Monday morning's video announcements to Appleton East High School, principal Matthew Mineau had some safety reminders.

"We urge you students and staff to continue to recognize, and be mindful of things that might just be out of place once in a while here"

Because of the long Easter weekend, Monday was the first school day after Thursday's incident.

A school resource officer was suspicious of two suspects who didn't look familiar.

The officer then found a third suspect and two hand guns in an unregistered car outside.

Police say they believe the suspects came from the Wausau area to Appleton East to seek retaliation against a student.

Nan Bunnow, an assistant superintendent with the Appleton Area School District, tells WLUK....

"It worked out just as planned, with the (school resource officer) seeing something that looked suspicious, and following up immediately."

Since the suspects came to Appleton East after school hours on Thursday, Bunnow says it may have been easier for them to get in with so many people coming and going.

"They're coming in for practices, their coaches are coming in, kids are leaving, so the doors are open and closed. So that's where the visibility, and looking out for those things that don't seem right is very important."

In his video announcement Minneau added a few more safety and security tips..

"In the building, to not prop the doors, to keep the doors locked shut, do not open the doors for other individuals. This is a very important thing you can do, in addition to reporting things that are out of the ordinary."

The district says it tries to be proactive when it comes to avoiding incidents like this.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Packers' all-time leading tackler is calling it a career.

Linebacker A.J. Hawk has announced he is retiring from the NFL as a member of the Green and Gold.

Hawk spent nine seasons in Green Bay after he was the fifth overall selection in the 2006 NFL Draft.

The Ohio State product recorded 1,118 tackles as a Packer and was part of the 2010 team that went on to win Super Bowl 45.

Following his time in Green Bay, Hawk went on the play 15 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015 and one contest for the Atlanta Faclons last season.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - An Ashwaubenon eye care clinic temporarily closed Tuesday morning after a car slammed through its front window.

Vision Mart Optical, located at 2476 Oneida Street, employees say the incident occurred shortly after they opened for the day at 10 am.

While glass from the bay window reportedly went flying in all directions, no employees were injured.

The elderly woman driving the car is not a patient of the clinic.  Her condition has not been made available. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Before hitting the waters, people are urged to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions.

Despite air temperatures that have recently neared 80 degrees in some parts of the Midwest, Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Christopher Yaw says water conditions are nowhere near as nice.

Yaw notes there is typically a discrepancy of 25-40 degrees between the air and water temperatures.

"The lakes take a long time to warm up, and they cool down very quickly." 

He says hypothermia can happen at any temperature, with varying onsets.

According to Yaw, there is no set time for when the local waters will be safe for people to enter.

"It will really just depend on how many warm days we have.  It could be mid-June.  It could be late July."

Before getting out on the water, Yaw encourages people to dress according to the water conditions, not the air temperatures.

The Coast Guard encourages multiple procautions to guard against hypothermia, including: wearing a life jacket, notfiying family and friends of where you are going and when you plan to return, and sporting reflective clothing that makes you easy to spot.

Yaw also urges folks to carry and register a personal locator beacon that "when activated will bounce a signal to a satellite, and it will bascially tell us that someone is in distress.  We can then hone into that beacon within a couple of feet and be able to come right to where you're at."  

Last weekend, the Coast Guard says it rescued a total of 12 people from Lake Michigan in five separate incidents.

Two of the incidents occurred in Wisconsin.  

A man whose kayak overturned was rescued Saturday, roughly two miles south of the Kenosha Harbor.  He was wearing a life jacket but suffered mild hypothermia and muscle fatigue.

Three people were assisted by a Milwaukee Coast Guard crew and a good Samartian after their 17-foot boat started taking on water Saturday.  They were taken to a nearby marina.

In the Chicago area, three adults and three children were brought to a nearby marina after their 25-foot pontoon boat became disabled on Lake Calumet.

A man was rescued after he was spotted yelling for hlep in the water near Burnham Harbor in downtown Chicago.

The operator of a 76-foot pleasure craft was saved after his vehicle started taking on water off of Ludington, Michigan.

While these were not the first incidents in Lake Michigan this year, Yaw says it is the largest number of problems reported in a two-day span.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Six people have been displaced by an Appleton duplex fire.

One of the residents reported the blaze just before 6 am.  

While awake in her bedroom, she smelled smoke.  Upon leaving the room, she saw the residence was filling with smoke and alerted the other occupants.  

Everyone made it out safely.

Crews responded to the 2400 block of North Locust Street and quickly extinguished the blaze.

Investigators say there were no working smoke detectors in the home.

One side of the duplex was unoccupied.

There has been no word of a cause or estimated damage.

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Bay Port High School officials say there is no credibility to a threat of a shooting at the school.

According to a letter sent to families from Principal Mike Frieder, the rumors of a threat started in student conversations and spread through student social media accounts. Another student created a fake webpage entitled, "Bay Port High School Massacre."

Frieder says the school administration and the Brown County Sheriff's Office are investigating. Disciplinary measures, which could include expulsion, are being considered.

A police presence is being maintained within the school as a precaution.

Full letter:

Dear HSSD Families,

I am writing to share an update on rumored threats of a Bay Port student planning a school shooting; the rumors originated in student conversations and proliferated through student social media accounts. Another student was involved in creating a fake website entitled, “Bay Port High School Massacre.”

I want to let you know that Bay Port High School Administration, Police School Liaison Officer Hackett, and the Brown County Sheriff’s Department are aware of, and are actively addressing the situation.

Through investigation, we believe there is no credibility to the threat, and there is no imminent harm to students. In accordance with Howard-Suamico School District student handbook guidelines, we are considering all disciplinary options, including and up to expulsion.

Please feel confident in knowing we, along with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, are aware of the rumors and have the situation under control. As a precautionary measure, we continue to maintain a police presence within the high school.

If you have questions, I can be reached at 920-662-7024.

Sincerely,

Mike Frieder

Bay Port High School Principal

SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ) - Thousands of sturgeon are currently wriggling and pushing their way up the Wolf River as spawning season is in full swing in Northeast Wisconsin.

Along Bamboo Bend in Shiocton, hundreds of spectators lined the shoreline Tuesday trying to get a good look at the pre-historic fish.

Sheila Erck from Greenville was there with her husband and says this is her first time witnessing the event.

"Just came out to see the sturgeon. I've always worked so we didn't have a chance to come out here, you know, its limited days you can see this...it's pretty amazing."

Rick Erck says he loves watching the all the action.

"They rub on each other and then they thrash around and then they stick their fins out of the water. It's really neat to see them in their natural environment like that."

It's likely the warm temperatures brought on the annual tradition.

John Lago of Waupaca brought his great granddaughter to see the event and she was impressed.

"It was awesome."

The spawning run is expected to continue at Bamboo Bend for another day or two. Experts say the run could move to the Shawano Dam by Thursday or Friday.

SEYMOUR, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A 25-year-old Seymour man will spend five years in prison for exchanging inappropriate messages with various underage girls from throughout the country.

Travis Kamps also has to register as a sex offender and will spend five years under extended supervision, upon his release.

The 25-year-old pled guilty to requesting and receiving five sexually explicit videos from a 16-year-old Illinois girl.

WAUTOMA, WI (WTAQ) - A Wautoma man is charged with committing tax fraud.

Ronald Vallery Jr. faces three felony counts of Fraud/Rendering Income Tax Return or Obtain Refund with Fraudulent Intent and two misdemeanor counts of Knowingly Submitting False Tax Documents.

Officers were reportedly tipped to the 30-year-old by a man they arrested on drug charges, who stated the illegal substances were purchased from Vallery.

A search of the man's phone allegedly provided evidence of the drug deals.

Investigators later searched Vallery's home, which turned up proof of marijuana sales and unreported cash income.

Prosecutors say Vallery failed to report $177,856 in drug money from 2013 to 2015.

An intial appearance is set for April 25.

If convicted, Vallery faces up to 19 years in prison.

TOWN OF TRENTON, WI (WTAQ) - Fire has destroyed a shed in Dodge County.

Officials say the blaze happened around 9:30 am Tuesday at N9334 County Road A in the Town of Trenton.

Nobody was injured, but the fire caused north of $80,000 in damage.

The 50' by 200' shed held various farm equipment and lawn tractors.

Officials say the fire's cause has not been determined. 

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A recent day of student drinking kept Oshkosh Police on their toes.

Patrol Captain Kelly Kent says a total of 89 citations were issued April 8, six during a nighttime pub crawl in the city's bar district along Main Street and a whopping 83 at student parties that ran throughout the day at various UW-Oshkosh off-campus housing sites.

Of the 83 issued at parties: 49 were for open intoxicants, 31 for underage alcohol consumption, two stemming from urinating in public, and one for a crosswalk violation.  

The number of citations was slightly higher than on previous pub crawl days.

Kent notes there were also three arrests - two for probation holds and one for disorderly conduct.

The captain says the crawls are advertised on social media and typically take place each April and October. 

According to Kent, "no special event application was sought through the City of Oshkosh, but it's one that we have to police because it does raise public safety concerns."

Kent says a new element this year was a rooftop party at one apartment complex.

He calls it "a huge public safety risk.  Intoxicated students on top of a roof, it's a miracle nobody fell off."

Kent notes the fire department also expressed concerns about the load rating for the rooftop, saying all safety officials were "thankful we didn't have a building collapse."

While he ideally hopes there will be no more pub crawls, Kent is aware that is likely not the case.

Going forward, he urges students to use "common sense in terms of safety and what could go wrong.  We would encourage students to be more thoughtful in deciding where they want to take their parties."

Kent also asks students to observe drinking laws and avoid behaviors that could be a nuisance to neighbors.

Despite the arrests and citations, Kent notes there were no injuries, scuffles, or pursuits.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It wasn't a football game or parade that brought out the Manitowoc Lincolon High School band.

There was something more important going on at Washington Park.

Chalice Rosinsky is in the advanced stages of Huntington's Disease. It's a fatal disorder that attacks both the physical and mental state.

But for her birthday wish, she was hoping to hear the same band she once played in as a student herself at Lincoln High in Manitowoc.

When the school heard that, Band Director Micah Hoffman tells WLUK students and staff didn't hesitate.

"They were right on board real fast. It's a great group of students. We got great students at Lincoln High School. We got great students in the band program, and they instantly said 'I'm in.' Hands shot up and said 'I want to do it,'"

Chalice and her friends were blown away with the turnout. And even though the disease may have taken her speech, it hasn't taken her spirit.

"It was a great day, a great day," said Chalice's friend, Katie Bieberitz.

"It's just great to see her out and get to enjoy life a little bit."

Chalice turned 38 years old on Easter Sunday.

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Residents in Greenville are unhappy and worried that they might have to foot the bill for what county and state officials are calling unauthorized dredging.

Residents filled the town's annual meeting Tuesday, putting the blame Greenville Town Supervisor Mike Woods.

“You are not to be trusted,” said Jean Goffard of Greenville.

“You're not to be believed. You're not worthy of being on Greenville's town board.”

The land Woods farms is just west of Highway 76, north of Lions Park.

Environmental experts say the land includes a karst, which impacts well water for nearby residents.

A karst is a geological feature that forms through the dissolving of soluble rocks like limestone.

In a report on WLUK, Richard Carlson, the attorney for Greenville, tried to define a karst.

“It could be like an underground cave of some sort or underground pocket”.

Carlson says town officials were made aware of work Woods was going to do to try to resolve sedimentation problems caused by a contractor.

“The town believed Mr. Woods had all the necessary permits.  It had nothing to do with the karst. It had nothing to do with contamination.”

According to the county and DNR, Woods didn't have the permits and dredged the karst, possibly beyond repair.

Carlson says the DNR is now threatening heavy fines if corrective action isn't taken.

“We were taken to the woodshed, maybe rightfully so in some aspects for not being more diligent in terms of what we were getting into”.

A temporary stabilization mat has been put in place while the town comes up with a permanent remediation plan.

But it's unclear how much that plan might cost and who will pay for how much.

Residents, like Dennis Luebke, made it clear they don't want to foot the bill, and some say they'd like someone independent from the town board making decisions on the issue.

“I suspect and you probably do as well from what you've heard that they're going to think you're protecting your own”

“As mad and upset as you people are, I'm feeling the same emotions,” said Andy Peters, a town supervisor.

As for Woods, he declined to talk about his involvement.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The Oshkosh Police Department is asking for information as to the whereabouts of Eric W. Tesch, who has four warrants out for his arrest.

The 38 year old Tesch has warrants for his arrest from probation/parole; two warrants for failure to report to jail; and a warrant for child support.

Tesch is 6’, 200lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be in the Oshkosh area.

If you know the whereabouts of Tesch, you are asked to contact the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700 and give information to Detective Paul Frey.

If you have information, but wish to remain anonymous, please contact the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477; Text IGOTYA and your tip to 274637; or go to their website, www.winnebagocrimestoppers.org and submit a tip.

If an arrest is made, you may be eligible for a cash reward.