GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Jacob Cayer was ordered Wednesday to stand trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her mother last year.

26-year-old Cayer is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Sabrina Teague, and her mother, Heesun "Sunny" Teague, and injuring another man at a Hobart home last June.

Cayer was bound over for trial after police testimony at a preliminary hearing in Brown County court. His arraignment is scheduled for May 22.

He was originally deemed not competent to stand trial, but was found mentally fit for trial at a hearing last month.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The Appleton Area School District has completed its search for a new superintendent.

In an announcement Wednesday, Judy Baseman has been named the next superintendent of schools.

The search team didn't have far to go.

Baseman is currently Appleton's assistant superintendent for school and student services.

Other finalists were Ben Vogel, an assistant superintendent in the Appleton district, and Van Truong, executive director of teaching and learning for the Portland, Oregon, school district.

Baseman succeeds Lee Allinger, who is retiring at the end of June.

The school board will take the next formal step on Monday. The board is scheduled to consider Baseman's contract for approval.

She will officially begin her duties as superintendent on July 1st.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay summertime favorite is preparing to open for another year.

Bay Beach Amusement Park begins its 2017 season on May 6.

Since the park closed last fall, Manager Jason Arnoldi says crews have worked to refurbish a new ride that debuts this summer.

According to Arnoldi, the Falling Star "is a flat ride that takes you up about 60-65 feet in the air, takes you in a circle, and gives you that weightlessness feeling."

Arnoldi says the Falling Star took roughly two years to prepare and brings the park's ride total to 22.

With this newest debut, Arnoldi notes five rides will have been added to Bay Beach in a five-year span.

Mechanics have also spent recent weeks checking all of the existing rides to ensure they are all in working condition and make any necessary repairs.

Arnoldi is also excited that 2017 is the park's 125th year in operation.

Commemorative events will run throughout the summer and include a birthday party on June 10 and throwback pricing on various Tuesday nights.

While the park's oldest rides, the train and ferris wheel, are from the 1950's, Arnoldi notes one of the pavilions was built just 17 years after the park's 1892 opening.

Arnoldi hopes to build on Bay Beach's recent success.

For a second straight year, he notes the park provided more than 3,000,000 rides.

Once again, Arnoldi says the Zippin Pippin roller coaster, slide, and train were the most popular rides last summer.

Despite recent additions, Bay Beach's manager says they're far from finished.

Arnoldi hopes construction on a westbound train that runs under the Zippin Pippin will begin this fall.

If all goes to plan, it could open in 2018.

According to Arnoldi "we also want to add a larger ferris wheel.  It would be less of a thrill ride and more of a sightseeing ride.  Maybe a 100-foot ferris wheel, so about double the size of the one we have now."

Arnoldi notes tickets are $0.25 each, plus tax.  Each ride requires 1-4 tickets per person.  

Parking and admission are both free.

He says the park's goal is to provide entertainment for all people in the Green Bay area, no matter their income level.

The park's 2017 schedule is:

May 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21: 10 am to 6 pm

May 23, 24, and 25: 10 am to 3 pm (for school groups)

May 26-29: 10 am to 9 pm

May 30-June 2: 10 am to 6 pm

June 3-4: 10 am to 9 pm

June 5-8: 10 am to 6 pm

June 9-August 20: 10 am to 9 pm

August 21-September 4: 10 am to 6 pm

Spetember 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24: 10 am to 6 pm

The park closes for the year on September 25. 

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - St. Norbert College's business school has a new temporary leader.

David Wegge has been named Schneider School of Business and Economics' interim dean.

Wegge currently serves as St. Norbert College Strategic Research Institute's executive director emeritus, which he founded in 1984 as the St. Norbert College Survey Center.

He replaces Kevin Quinn, who has been named president of Michigan's Aquinas College.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The largest employer in Northeast Wisconsin has a new president and CEO.

ThedaCare announced Wednesday that Dr. Imran Andrabi will replace the retiring Dr. Dean Gruner as of June 19, 2017.

Board of Trustees Chairman, John Davis, says out of a wide range of candidates, Dr. Andrabi was their first pick.

"He's just a very genuine and likable guy and he'll be a great leader for ThedaCare," said Davis. "We needed someone to help us with our strategy to improve access and convenience for care and he's done a lot of work in that area."

49-year-old Andrabi comes from Ohio where he worked for Mercy health, a non-profit Catholic healthcare ministry serving Ohio and Kentucky.

He began with Mercy Health as an intern and medical resident 25 years ago and steadily advanced to become regional president and chief executive officer of the Toledo region in 2015.

Andrabi received his medical degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

Davis says Andrabi will help the organization move into the future.

"As healthcare continues to change, as the way that patients access care and the locations where care is delivered changes...Dr. Andrabi will have the vision and the strategy on how to adapt to that changing."

Dr. Andrabi and his wife, Reema, have two adult sons and a daughter in high school, and are in the process of planning visits to look at homes in the area.

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) --

UPDATE: District officials send letter to parents stating that "assertive measures have been taken to ensure the continued safety of our student body and staff."

Superintendent Damian LaCroix says the Howard-Suamico School District has worked closely with the Brown County Sheriff's Office and is not at liberty to share disciplinary specifics.  

*****

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

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday by The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, asking a judge to block Ho-Chunk Nation from expanding their casino.

They say the project goes against the two tribes' gambling compacts with the state.

Ho-Chunk Nation would like to add slot machines, a restaurant, hotel and much more to their casino in Wittenberg.

The other tribe thinks the development would take away gamblers from their North Star casino-resort, costing the tribe tens of millions of dollars a year.

HOBART, WI (WTAQ) - New charges have been filed against the 43-year-old Hobart man accused of downloading and viewing child pornography at work.

Christopher Anderson is now charged with videotaping himself sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her 11-year-old daughter in two separate 2014 incidents.

Prosecutors say the women were sound asleep in both videos, possibly after being drugged.

The certified nursing assistant was arrested in March after investigators say they traced downloads of child porn to his employer's, Allouez Parkside Village, IP address.

The seven new charges have brought Anderson's bond to $75,000.  

It was at $25,000 for the ten child porn charges.

Anderson is due back in court April 27.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials have released the name of the man who was killed in a fatal crash Sunday.

26-year-old Shyan L. Wheelock of Green Bay was pronounced dead at the scene after his vehicle crashed into a tree in the 1100 block of 9th Street.

Officers was initially called to 9th and S. Ashland for a report of a drunk man trying to get into vehicles and banging on windows.

Police later tried to stop a vehicle driving erratically.

That's when a pursuit started.

Blood alcohol and toxicology tests are pending.

Appleton Police Department are handling the investigation because it's considered an officer involved death.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A 25-year-old Fond du Lac woman will spend five years in prison for her role in the July 2015 death of her 14-month-old son.

Airrealle Smart will also spend ten years under extended supervision after pleading guilty to one felony count of Child Neglect.

Daniel Griffin was previously sentenced to 65 years in prison for causing the child's death.  

Smart told officers that Griffin stepped on the toddler.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Nearly $260 million dollars in orders from the U-S Army has just been secured with Oshkosh Corporation.

Oshkosh will rebuild 670 vehicles and 356 trailers.

Vice President and General Manager with of Army and Marine Corp. programs for Oshkosh Defense, Pat Williams, says these recent orders are part of a larger five year contract they were awarded in 2015.

"The contract is really to bring the Army's heavy tactical vehicles up to a zero mile-zero hour condition as if they were leaving our production plant as new."

Williams says rebuilding vehicles saves the government money.

"They are also issued with a full warranty and all of this is done at a fraction of the cost of new vehicles."

This order will likely be completed within a 12 month period.

Oshkosh Corp. has completed over 14,000 vehicles over the last 20 years.

The company employs 3,224 people domestically.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - One Northeast Wisconsin community will play host to the sixth and final stop on this spring's tour of the proposed two-year state budget.

The Joint Finance Committee is looking to get public feedback on the document Governor Scott Walker proposed earlier this year.

Representative John Nygren is on the committee and says citizen input is important, as it has led to alterations in previous years.

The Marinette Republican cites a large number of concerns raised in 2013 over proposed changes to the prescription drug program that makes medication affordable for seniors.

"It helped us make decisions that maintained the integrity of the program, for not only that cycle but now this cycle, we're not even seeing any proposed changes by the governor."

Through the first five hearings, Nygren says a reoccuring concern is one that he shares: transportation funding.

Governor Walker's proposal allocates $6,100,000,000 for transportation, which includes $500,000,000 in borrowing.

Walker is opposed to raising the gas tax to pay for road projects.

Critics say the governor's proposal does not address a projected $1,000,000,000 shortfall within the Department of Transporation.

Nygren concedes "yes, we might see some revenue increase for transportation, but we're going to offset that with other cuts so that the net to the taxpayer is flat."

He says the state needs to deal with the level revenues that have come along with increasing costs.

Despite concerns with transportation funding, Nygren calls the overall reaction to the proposed budget 'positive.'

Nygren notes rave reviews for the governor's proposed increase in K-12 education funding.

Friday's hearing runs from 10 am to 5 pm in the Marinette High School auditorium.

Wisconsin's budget tours started back in 1985.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - People driving along Main Street and Deckner Ave. in Green Bay Wednesday might have noticed a strange site outside of a local establishment.

Nic's Bar at 1657 Main St. has a display on its front lawn that's hard to miss.

It shows a fake police officer and another figure sitting on a wooden deck watching another dummy hanging from a noose.

The words, "Drain the Swamp" is written on the front and sides of the deck.

Attached to the display is a letter explaining why the spectacle is there.

The e-mail, from a David Nichols, states unfair treatment in the past by city police officers which in turn caused him to close a former business.

Here's a portion of the letter:

"I hang this effigy of Joe Citizen to symbolize the fact that CURRENTLY in Green Bay, Wisconsin JUSTICE and EQUAL TREATMENT under the law is dead."

You can read the full e-mail in the photos above.

Green Bay police are aware of the display. Chief Andrew Smith says it's not a police matter.

"It appears to be a piece of art work and it's certainly covered under free speech. I believe it's his property so, we're really not concerned about it."

Smith says Nic's Bar has been the subject of multiple complaints and the bar's license is in the middle of a 30 day suspension by the city's protection and welfare committee.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It was a busy Wednesday on parts of the Wolf River. The sturgeon run has gone 125 miles from Lake Winnebago to the Shawano Dam in the City of Shawano.

Dozens and dozens of tail fins signaled the run, as the prehistoric fish are in the shallows, to spawn.

Three days into the sturgeon spawning run, and giant fish are active below the Shawano Dam.

"The warm water over Easter weekend really pushed the fish. We had the river temperature go from 48 to about 57 in two days," said Ryan Koenigs, DNR Sturgeon Biologist.

Crews from the Department of Natural Resources, and UW-Stevens Point, netted fish Wednesday morning.

"We hope to handle anywhere between 500-600 fish today," said Koenigs.

The fish are measured and tagged. Select sturgeon eggs and milt are collected and combined on site. For the past 17 seasons, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service crew has driven 22 hours from the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery in Georgia.

"Our population was almost extinct," said Carlos Echevarria, Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery Manager.

175,000 eggs are expected to help the Lake Sturgeon population in the Tennessee River watershed and other places in the region. 17 years later, biologists are telling stories of success.

"It's going very well. We're starting to see a good number of fish in the river. and every year, the fish are growing. We already have some fish over 50-60 inches in length," said Echevarria.

In addition to the science, sturgeon watching is quite the spectator sport. Dozens of people come from near and far, to take it all in.

"About an hour and forty minutes," said Gerry Hall, Wallace, Michigan.

Gerry and his wife Cindy Wall, drove from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

"I've seen sturgeon, but not like this, It's pretty cool," he said.

"I think it's amazing. It's just something that you don't see everyday," said Cindy Wall.

The sights and sounds won't last long. The DNR says the spawning run on the Wolf River could wrap up by week's end.

The fish eggs typically take about a week to hatch.

The tiny sturgeon larvae drift downstream to the Lake Winnebago System.

After a month and a half, the sturgeon will already be about three and a half inches long.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Now that Hinterland has moved into Ashwaubenon's Titletown District, a new brewery is heading into its old downtown Green Bay location.

Renovation work is underway inside the future Copper State Brewing Co. as crews work to transform the old Hinterland into a brand new brewery.

"This entire wall will be opened up, it's a 26 foot long bar and the idea is to make this feel more like a brewpub than a restaurant, which is why we opened this up, we want to do a lot of bar seating," explained owner Gregg Mattek.

Mattek took FOX 11 on a tour inside the building while explaining his vision.

The owner says they'll offer a small lunch menu at first before expanding the selections.

"We'll be adding burgers and pizzas at lunch to go with beer," he said.

Copper State is already brewing six beers and is looking to have 16 taps at both its downstairs and upstairs bars.

Where Hinterland's old bar sat, that will become the Copper Rock Coffee shop that opens at 6 a.m.

"The coffee shop will obviously be in the building all day long, but we won't staff it as heavily during the evening hours when the bar is open, but you'll always be able to do either one," explained Mattek.

Copper State also has plans to build a beer garden in its front parking lot.

"We're still working with the city on final permits just to make sure everything is in place, but the idea is big steal beams with a wood trellis across the top, and then we actually want to do a perimeter of hot plants around the outside," he said.

Copper State is expected to open to the public in June,

OSHKOSH,WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Department of Corrections says it's especially important to give imprisoned veterans the tools they need to succeed once they're released.

Jeremy Forseth, an inmate at Oshkosh correctional institution, tells WLUK that's message that hits home..

"I deserve a chance just like anybody does, despite the fact that I've made some really bad decisions, it doesn't make me lesser of a person."

Forseth served in the US Marine Corps in Africa, but then struggled with PTSD and substance abuse when he got back.

He says being successful in the workforce has been hard.

"I'm very familiar with the stigma that gets placed on somebody, because this is not my first incarceration, this is my sixth incarceration"

Issues like this are something the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Department of Veterans Affairs are looking to help with.

To do that, a resource expo for incarcerated veterans was hosted at Oshkosh Correctional Institution Wednesday.

Dan Zimmerman, the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, is keeping a close watch on the program.

"If you've got individuals that have served their time, and they're ready to come back in, reenter into society, and do good things, why not give them the opportunity."

Jon Litscher, the Department of Corrections Secretary, is optimistic as well.

"If we can assist them in finding respectable housing, employment, benefits, and medical care, then we have done part of our service in reentry."

They say that service is especially valuable for these men who have served our nation.

About 150 incarcerated vets attended the expo at Oshkosh Correctional, and got the chance to discuss their options with various organizations.

This is the first time that the DOC has hosted an expo like this at its prisons, Oshkosh Correctional is one of three locations hosting the event.

The other locations for the expos are at Stanley Correctional Institution in western Wisconsin, and Racine Correctional Institution in the southern part of the state.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A group of Appleton and Outagamie County employees trained with their new tech toys Wednesday.

Drone flying might look like a fun day on the job, but these future pilots say it's much more.

Seven Appleton City employees and four Outagamie County employees are training with drones this week. They will get drone licenses from the FAA to make their jobs easier.

The county's sheriff's department is particularly interested.

"It's gonna be a great tool for us," said Staff Sergeant Ryan Carpenter who explained the department recently had to search the woods for a missing person.

He tells WLUK a drone would have helped immensely.

"With this tool we'd be able to put it up in the air, use infrared and locate this person within a matter of minutes,"

Carpenter said a drone will keep officers safer too. Instead of sending them in to a building to search for a suspect, they can send the drone.

"We can, you know, hover over a building and watch all the exits"

Appleton city hall spokesman Chad Doran says Appleton's drone will help keep city employees across many departments safe as well.

"Street construction projects, inspections, our fire department and police department certainly can use it in emergency situations"

Doran says the city also plans to use its drone for fun things like when the Christmas Parade comes down College Avenue in November, employees will be able to get video of it.

"Just beauty shots of the city for our website, social media, parades, things like that"

Doran says by doing this training together, the city and county have saved on the cost. He also said the drones themselves will help save on equipment and manpower costs down the road.

"We see, in the long run, this is really going to be a big savings for us and it's really gonna be a useful tool"

The city budgeted for its drone at a cost of about $4,000 dollars. That includes all the necessary equipment.

The county still needs to buy its drone equipment.

TOWN of ELLINGTON, WI (WLUK-WTAQ) - No one was injured after an overnight house fire in Outagamie County.

It broke out around 1:30 this morning (THUR) at a home on Valley View Drive in the Town of Ellington.

Ellington Fire Chief Jim Bentle tells WLUK lightning hit a gas meter, and the blaze took off from there.

"When we got on scene, we found a one story single family home with fire coming out of the roof already"

Two people were inside the home. They're being helped by the Red Cross.

The house is considered a total loss.

SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay woman has been charged in a crash that killed a woman and injured another Wednesday night in Brown County.

Savannah Dumas is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury while operating under the influence.

Officials say the 20-year-old was driving southbound on County Highway J in the Village of Suamico when the vehicle missed a curve and entered the ditch striking an embankment. The vehicle then overturned.

21-year-old Megan Frehse of Green Bay was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another 23-year-old female passenger was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Dumas refused to go to the hospital.

Officials say alcohol was a factor in the accident.

CRANDON, WI (WTAQ) - A Crandon woman is charged with leaving animals on her property in deplorable conditions.

Patricia Kirker faces six felony counts of Mistreatment of Animals/Causing Death, 46 misdemeanor counts of Intentionally Mistreating Animals, and 104 misdemeanor counts of Intentionally Failing to Provide Food for Animals.

A woman who visited the 52-year-old's property took a video of the animals' living conditions and shared it with police.

The guest noted at least three puppies that were killed by other dogs, including one that was being eaten.

A March 17 search warrant execution reportedly turned up both animal corpses and malnourished animals.  

Court officials say Kirker refused to sign her $10,000 bond Wednesday.

Her preliminary hearing is set for May 3.