GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Afternoon rain is expected on Memorial Day.
While the day starts out with sun, increasing clouds are expected to bring scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Predictions do not include any severe weather.
Winds are expected to be brisk out of the west, between 10-30 miles per hour.
Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 60's.
FISH CREEK, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Memorial Day weekend kicked off another busy tourism season in Door County, bringing thousands of people from out-of-state.
The state's Department of Tourism reports last year about a quarter of a million people visited Door County.
Shopping, restaurants, and the views, are all reasons why people from Illinois, like Marianne Gapen, tell WLUK they love visiting Door County.
"We both grew up in the Chicago area and really didn't know anything about Door County, but other parts of Wisconsin, and we just fell in love with it immediately" Marianne and her husband have been visiting Door County for 35 years.
"I've been coming up to Door County since I was born for vacation" said Becky Brantman, from Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Brantman spent Memorial Day weekend in Door County for a bachelorette party.
"About 10 of us girls staying in a cottage, we went boating, went to the restaurants, right now we're going to breakfast, and then we've just been hanging around exploring" Brantman added, the relaxing atmosphere is one reason the group chose to celebrate in Door County.
"Door County has a really low key vibe, but it also has a lot of different options for things to do"
"Tourism is our life blood, and people and families depend on tourism. And frankly I think we as a destination offer a lot to people" says Jon Jarosh, with the Door County Visitor Bureau.
Jarosh said tourism brought in nearly $348 million last year. A large chunk of that number comes from out-of-state visitors.
"We're happy to roll out our welcome mat to our visitors" "You just feel so welcomed by everybody"
The friendliness is what keeps Monika Allen coming back from the west suburbs of Chicago year after year.
"The nicest people, the nicest scenery, the nicest beaches, the calmest bay, the great food, the great shopping, it's a great getaway" And because Door County isn't a long drive from Illinois, Brantman says it's a vacation without having to go far.
"It's so different from home, so it makes it feel like you went really far away, but you can just come up here for a short weekend"
Short weekends, neighbors from Illinois will keep enjoying all summer.
NEW YORK, NY (WTAQ) - The Milwaukee Brewers have lost their first game to the New York Mets this season 4-2 on Memorial Day.
Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman only entered the starting rotation because of injuries to other pitchers, but he delivered for New York, holding the Brewers to one earned run and three hits through seven innings.
Domingo Santana hit a Brewers home run, but it was too little. too late. Brewers starter Matt Garza was responsible for all four Mets runs.
The Brewers had swept the Mets in a series earlier this season.
WTAQ's coverage of Game 2 from New York begins at 5:35 this afternoon with the pregame. 1st pitch is set for 6:10.
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ- WLUK) - Menasha Police investigating an overnight shooting.
Police getting the call around 2 this morning (TUE) for shots fired in the 900 block of Lincoln Street.
A 30-year-old man suffered non-life threatening injuries, but it's not clear whether he was shot.
Police spokesman Matt Lenss tells WLUK at least seven shots were fired and believe this is an isolated incident.
"Currently right now we have investigators inside. Our officers are assisting them with locating bullets inside the home. Also we have located some evidence outside. We've gathered some witness statements and currently we're just following up on some of these, trying to find suspects"
They believe it stemmed from an argument earlier in the day.
Police believe the suspect used a semi-automatic handgun.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Tonight (TUE) kicks off another season for the Green Bay Bullfrogs at Joannes Stadium.
And while the players dream of a career in major league baseball, the people who sing the national anthem before the games have varied reasons to put themselves in the limelight.
People like Sereena Grayway, a high school student from Marinette, have their own inspiration.
"I think of our country and all the soldiers who died for our freedom. I think about them when I sing"
Algoma's Alita Tobey got to sing before a couple of games last year....and is hoping to be chosen to sing again.
"The first time was a lot scarier than the 2nd time. It's just hearing the echos....it throws you off a little bit"
But like everything else....you get better with practice.
"I practice in my living room at home. So I just close my eyes and pretend I'm there"
Alita also has a military mindset. Many family members are veterans. She thinks of them to help deal with any nerves.
"Definitely because the song is for them. Signing it, like your singing it to a crowd of veterans, is the best way to do it"
Sereena and Alita are waiting for their call backs.
The Bullfrogs hold open auditions to fill the national anthem slots for the 35 game schedule.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Fire officials say an overheated bathroom ceiling fan is responsible for a Tuesday morning apartment fire.
Crews were called to 1525 Capitol Drive at 8:32 am for reports of smoke on the second floor of an unoccupied apartment building.
The blaze was quickly extinguished after the bathroom ceiling was pulled down to access all hotspots.
No other units were affected, and all tenants returned to their apartments.
Damage is estimated at $10,000.
Nobody has been displaced or injured.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The attorney for a 48-year-old Oneida woman facing murder and arson charges is withdrawing from the case.
Jeff Jazgar will no longer represent Roni Anderson, who allegedly started a June 2015 blaze at a Hobart home.
Anderson faces two felony counts of Arson of a Building Without the Owner's Consent and one Felony Murder charge.
She also reportedly set fire to an office building.
A June 26 trial has been taken off the calendar.
Anderson is due back in court June 20.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - If you're looking for something fun to do in Green Bay this summer, don't look any further than the 20 page Summer in the City guide books.
The booklets were officially released Tuesday morning with a kick-off event in Whitney Park.
Executive Director of Downtown Green Bay, Inc., Jeff Mirkes, says there are over 100 events to enjoy throughout the summer and fall months.
"We are marketing to a quarter of a million people who live in Brown County. This is their downtown and we want them to have fun experiences. Our guide book has about 150 reasons to come downtown this summer."
Many popular events will return this year like Friday's on the Fox, Taste on Broadway, and Artstreet but there is plenty of new activities to check out as well.
"In the Main Street District we have comedy in the park, located right here at Whitney Park. That will be this Friday at 6:30 p.m. and then in August we'll have a movie in the park," Mirkes said.
New this year is a traveling night market series called igNight Market.
It will feature vendors highlighting local artisans and makers which will take place in the Broadway District.
"We're going to do 4 of them throughout the summer," explains Brian Johnson, Executive Director of On Broadway Inc. "Whether it's blacksmiths or glass blowers or performing arts that we'll bring in. It could be a muralist doing a mural at the event." The first igNight Market will happen Saturday, June 10, 6-9 p.m.
There will be 60,000 Summer in the City booklets distributed a local businesses.
"All of the branches of the Brown County Library. If people are in the downtown area, all the favorite coffee shops and restaurants, Titletown, Hagemeister. Another place is to pick them up at Bosses News Depot," said Mirkes.
Read more www.downtowngreenbay.com.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Recent problems with Bay Beach Amusement Park's most popular ride have been resolved.
That's according to Park Manager Jason Arnoldi who notes the Zippin Pippin was temporarily shut down Friday morning following an incident that occurred while patrons were reportedly on the roller coaster.
"There was a sensor issue where it stopped the ride temporarily on the lift, which just causes a fault that has to be reset by a mechanic. When that was reset, they were underway. If it was the case of that, (the riders) were struck for maybe a minute on the lift, but it wasn't a case where anybody had to be evacuated or anything of that nature. No one was stranded and no one got hurt."
Arnoldi says park officials immediately got on fixing the problem.
"We just needed to replace it, and we didn't have one right on site since it's a part that typically lasts a lot longer so we had to go out of town to get it."
Arnoldi notes this is a problem the park has never seen before.
"It was a new one so it took a little bit longer time to diagnose exactly what was going on with it. With it being a part we haven't had to replace, it just took a little bit longer. Once we got it into the park, we were up within an hour."
The roller coaster was back in operation by Friday night.
Fixing the problem that evening meant crisis was averted for what Arnoldi calls a busy Memorial Day weekend.
"Very similar numbers (in terms of money brought in), just slightly over last year."
Arnoldi did not have exact figures to release.
Bay Beach's hours will soon expand for the summer: http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2017/apr/19/bay-beach-prepares-for-2017-opening/.
This past weekend was not the first time in recent history that concerns have surfaced over the Zippin Pippin.
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - One of two men convicted of beating another man to death has learned his sentence.
25-year-old Adam Ozuna, will spend 30 years in prison and another 10 years on extended supervision for the 2016 death of Matthew Pagel.
Ozuna pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of first-degree reckless homicide earlier this year.
A count of robbery was dismissed, but the judge was able to consider it when sentencing Ozuna.
According to prosecutors, last April, Ozuna and Zachary Hohn allegedly picked Pagel up from a motel in Clintonville where Pagel was living.
Pagel was looking to buy the drug Adderall and had been exchanging text messages with Ozuna and Hohn, prosecutors say.
Ozuna and Hohn offered to drive Pagel to get some Adderall, but instead beat him to death in the car and robbed him.
They ended up with $200 and Pagel's jacket.
17-year-old Hohn, also reached a plea deal last week.
He is due to be sentenced in August.
MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Local representatives from both parties plan to introduce legislation later this session to address human trafficking.
Both De Pere Republican Andre Jacque and Appleton Democrat Amanda Stuck have drafted bills with bi-partisan support that strengthen penalities against those caught soliciting prostitution.
Jacque's legislation would create a $5,000 surcharge for anyone convicted of soliciting, or keeping a place of, prostitution.
The funds would be split between services for sex trafficking victims and police departments for investigative operations costs.
"This higher surcharge is not only going to serve as a deterrent, but it's going to send those resources to where we need it most."
Stuck's bill would bump a third soliciting offense from a misdemeanor to a felony, with a maximum sentence of 3 1/2 years in prison.
"It would give more teeth to the law right now, have more consequences for the people engaging in this activity, and hopefully reduce seeing those same people over and over again."
Appleton Police Sergeant Dave Lund says sex trafficking is a growing problem locally.
"It's really prevalent. It doesn't take us very long if we're setting up a sting operation to have people soliciting."
Lund says roughly half of the cases involving soliciting prostitution involve repeat offenders.
BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Fire has caused $20,000 in damage at a Bellevue assisted living facility.
Crews were called to Bufflehead 1, 2084 Bufflehead Lane, at 4:06 pm Tuesday for a report of a structure fire.
Upon arrival, crews found a working fire on the exterior of the garage.
Due to winds around 25 miles per hour, it was spreading into the garage.
Firefighters controlled the blaze in roughly 15 minutes, extinguishing it before it could spread into the living quarters.
Ten handicapped people were evacuated from the living facility.
There were no injuries, and residents were able to re-occupy the building.
Investigators determined the fire was caused by carless use of smoking materials.
FLUSHING, NY (WTAQ) - Jay Bruce's RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning gave the New York Mets a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in New York.
Milwaukee tied the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk followed by a misplayed pop-up by Asdrubal Cabrera that allowed two runs to score, but couldn't muster any other offense in their seventh loss of their last nine games.
Brewers reliever Wily Peralta was responsible for the walk-off.
This was his second poor performance since being moved out of the starting rotation only two weeks ago.
Starter Zach Davies had an average day through five innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
Junior Guerra makes his second pitching start for the Brewers since coming off the Disabled List tonight.
Pregame coverage on WTAQ starts at 5:35. 1st pitch is set for 6:10.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A woman accused of hiding a gun the night of a fatal officer-involved shooting at a downtown Appleton bar, is now charged.
28 year old Dree Sullivan was charged Tuesday with harboring or aiding a felon.
According to court documents, Sullivan went to Jack's Apple Pub with Henry Nellum, who is also charged in the case.
Prosecutors allege Nellum pulled out a gun during a fight with another man, which drew officers to the bar.
The documents say Sullivan eventually took the gun from Nellum, brought it outside, and put it under her car.
Sullivan is scheduled to be back in court Thursday.
The document does not shed any light on how the man shot by police, 33-year-old Jimmie Sanders, ended up with a gun.
Green Bay Police continues to handle the investigation because it was an officer-involved shooting.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A 28-year-old Oshkosh man was arrested overnight on a weapons complaint.
Police got a call around 11 p.m. Tuesday about a man that had just left a tavern on North Main Street after showing a gun.
After a search in the area, police say the man was found inside another tavern on West Irving Avenue, showing the gun.
The man was then found in the 500 block on Central Street.
A perimeter was set up and the man came out and was taken into custody.
He faces several charges including intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, felon in possession of a firearm, going armed while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and a couple counts of threatening a police officer.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - An 18-year-old Seymour man has been ordered to stand trial on charges that he caused a fatal traffic crash.
Blake Doxtator has waived his preliminary hearing on one felony count of Homicide by Negligent Use of a Vehicle.
Doxtator is accused of driving at speeds near 100 miles per hour in Oneida last October when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle, striking and killing a 13-year-old boy.
An arraignment hearing is scheduled for July 5.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 27-year-old Shawano woman will spend two years behind bars for causing the death of her three-month-old child.
Keshia Waupoose will also spend 14 years under extended supervision after she pleaded no contest in March to felony counts of Second Degree Reckless Homicide and Child Abuse.
Police say Waupoose fell asleep on her child when she joined the infant in a makeshift bed after a night drinking in August 2015.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A 19-year-old Appleton man will spend ten months in jail for stalking and kidnapping a girl.
Toua Chang physically forced the 17-year-old into his van as she left work one night last November.
Chang's family helped free the girl once he brought her back to their home.
The 19-year-old will also spend five years on probation and must perform 100 hours of community service.
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Charges of First Degree Reckless Homicide have been referred against two Manitowoc woman who investigators believe are responsible for a February overdose death.
Manitowoc Police say they recommended charges to the District Attorney's Office against 27-year-old Ashley Chapleski-Garrison and 25-year-old Mary Rasmussen.
Officers found a 37-year-old Manitowoc man deceased when they responded to an apartment on the 1300 block of South 17th Street on February 25.
Drugs and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found at the scene.
An autopsy confirmed his cause of death as a drug overdose.
Investigators believe Chapleski-Garrison and Rasmussen delivered heroin to the 37-year-old.
Both women are currently incarcerated for violating rules of probation/parole.
At last word, formal homicide charges had not been filed.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - You may have noticed a different name on many of the Kwik Trip Expresses as you travel around Wisconsin.
Kwik Trip Public Relations Specialist, Dave Niemi says that's because they're in the process of re-branding the express convenience stores to Tobacco Outlet Plus Groceries.
"We're still going to add all the commodities; the milk, the bread, the eggs, the butter, the dairy products that we're known for but still trying to be clear up front with families to say hey, this is a tobacco shop," said Niemi.
He says the name change will eliminate any confusion on what products are available for purchase inside the store.
"That concept kind of confused many of our faithful guests saying, oh, I know Kwik Trip and they walk into those stores and they're tobacco shops. So, we've decided let's be right up front for transparent purposes."
Several of the Kwik Trip Expresses in the Green Bay area have already gone through the name transformation.
Niemi says the re-branding process is half way done, with 45 stores total in Wisconsin and Iowa undergoing the name change.
Learn more about the Kwik Trip brand at www.kwiktrip.com.
