APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The City of Appleton has learned it has lost a state lawsuit filed by a major cell phone provider.  

Appleton was informed earlier this week of the ruling in the suit filed by Verizon last August.  

Verizon's action came roughly one month after the Appleton Common Council rejected a special use permit that would have allowed the company to construct a cell tower on the 2700 block of Kesting Court, just south of Northland Avenue.

Mayor Tim Hanna says the property fronts Mead Street and also touches Kesting Court.

It is surrounded by residential properties on the east, south, and west.

The tower would have been roughly 30 feet from the nearest house.

Once word got out of Verizon's request, a group of residents voiced opposition to city leaders.

Hanna says the lawsuit's result comes as little suprise.

"We really didn't have a legal leg to stand on.  We can work with them on their screening and landscaping but in terms of siting, if it meets the requirements that are in state statute, we don't have any higher level of review, than what's in state statute."

In recent legislative sessions, Hanna says lawmakers have limited municpalities' ability to restrict cell towers to reasons like safety and public health.

"There were some cities that were holding cell companies hostage, saying 'you have to pay the city,' 'you can only locate on public property.'  If I'm a cell company, that's disconcerting.  But I think it was an overreaction on the part of the legislature, who didn't seek input from local governments, who may have been more reasonable."

If the cell company meets state guidelines, he says the city's opinion is essentially useless.

"I'm proud of the council.  They were told we probably didn't have good reason to deny the permit, but they did anway.  They listened to their constituents."

However, Hanna says they are not opposed to cell towers in Appleton.

"We want to work with the companies.  We know that cell reception is important to our citizens, but not at the expense of safety or aesthetics."

Hanna believes this ordeal has caught the eye of some Madison lawmakers and hopes to see changes to state statute in the near future.

As for what's next, Hanna says it depends on when Verizon wants to obtain the permit from the city and begin construction. 

UNDATED, WI (WTAQ) - A line of thunderstorms that produced heavy winds, rain, and reported tornadoes rolled through Northeast Wisconsin quickly Wednesday afternoon.

It put much of Green Bay and the surrounding areas under a Tornado Warning for at least 45 minutes.

Meteorologist Jeff Last with the National Weather Service says they got reports of 2 tornadoes.

"A reported touchdown near Navarino, near the Outagamie and Shawano County line. There may have been a brief touchdown near Clintonville as well. We're also investigating other areas too," said Last.

Officials say the storms were moving east-northeast at 40-50 miles per hour.

Last says there was even a report of a water spout.

"A water spout is just a tornado on the water on an inland lake or a great lake. It's still a tornado and can certainly do damage if it hits shore," explained Last.

Last recommends having an emergency plan in place in the case of storms like Wednesday's.

"Those storms can do significant damage and people should heed those warnings...have their weather safety plans all set to go before the severe weather hits so that they are safe."

He says storms like this one, sprouting tornados, are a rare event.

Officials will begin surveying the damage starting Thursday.

Quieter weather is moving in over the next few days, before more storms are expected over the weekend.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Following Wednesday afternoon's severe storms, more Northeast Wisconsin residents are without power.

Wisconsin Public Service Spokesman Matt Cullen says more than 20,000 customers were in the dark, as of 7 pm Wednesday.

He says those hit hardest are Green Bay (approximately 5,600 customers) and Waupaca (roughly 5,000 customers).

There are also nearly 2,600 customers in the Stevens Point area that were affected by recent storms.

"The customers that have still been experiencing outages from the storms earlier this week, they're still a priority for us.  Our crews are going to remain there."

However, Cullen says WPS will deploy as many workers as possible in an effort to promptly address all of the outages.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, Cullen says power had been restored to more than 123,000 customers since Sunday.

Cullen notes there have been reports of broken power poles, downed trees, and downed wires throughout their service area.

"(Residents should) stay at least 25 feet away from any downed wires that they may encounter.  If they see any damaged piece of electrical equipment, please report it to WPS and to a local law enforcement agency, as soon as possible."

Click here to track the latest power outage statistics. 

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Greenville Police are looking for the driver of a suspicious gray vehicle that approached multiple children in the past week.  

Investigators say one incident happened June 9 at Greenville Elementary and Middle School.

Police responded at 2:10 pm to reports of the man approaching and talking to three children who were riding bikes. 

On June 12, officers responded to the area of Meadow Park Drive and Hawkfield Court, where a caller said their kids were approached four days earlier.  

The man asked the children how they were and what they were doing.

Anyone with information should contact Sergeant Andrew Raschka at (920) 832-2188 or by email at Andrew.Raschka@outagamie.org. 

ST. LOUIS, MO (WTAQ) - Eric Thames set the tone, and the Milwaukee Brewers trudged through two rain delays and a furious rally to hold on to a 7-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Thames kicked off scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning.

RBIs from Eric Sogard, Thames, and Travis Shaw in the second had the Brewers up 6-0, but the Cardinals would strike back.

Pitcher Matt Garza would let four runs slip by in the bottom of the second.

He took his start five innings and kept the Cardinals quiet for the rest of his time on the mound.

Corey Knebel got his tenth save of the year for the Brewers.

The Brewers will, at worst, split the series with the Cards this time around.

Coverage of game four picks up at 5:40 this evening on WTAQ with the pregame show.

The 1st pitch is set for 6:15.

ERIN, WI (WTAQ) - At least one person has been reported injured after a blimp caught fire and crashed near Erin Hills golf course.  

U.S. Open spectators say they saw someone parachute out of the advertisement blimp.  

That person reportedly suffered burns and was stretchered away from the crash scene. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The damaging storms that have swept through Northeast Wisconsin in recent days left many without power.  

As of Thursday afternoon, Wisconsin Public Service Spokesman Matt Cullen says power had been restored to more than 157,000 customers since Sunday.

"This is the largest storm event that WPS has worked on since 2010, and is one of the most significant storm events in our company's history."

Cullen says crews have been working 16-hour shifts since the storms began.

"There are risks that are involved.  There are hazards that can come with this position.  We want our crews to be well-rested so that when they return to work, they can continue to work as safely as possible and can continue to work as quickly as possible."

Cullen notes WPS has rotated crews in and out over the past several days, with the hundreds of their own employees on location receiving some help.

"We've received assistance from numerous additional outside crews, including neighboring utilities as well as contract crews that we have worked with in the past."

Cullen says the damaging nature of the storms have made restoring power difficult.

"(They're) experiencing electrical wires that are knocked down, or they're having trees that have been knocked onto wires, and those wires are still live in some cases.  They're still energized."

Cullen urges anyone who sees downed poles or wires to stay at least 25 feet away and immediately notify WPS and local law enforcement.

Click here to track the number of current outages.

SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Several counties around Northeast Wisconsin are in the process of accessing and cleaning up damage that occurred after severe storms plowed through the area Wednesday afternoon.

Shawano County Emergency Management Director, Natalie Easterday, says crews have been surveying the destruction all day.

"What we're finding in some damage, roof damage, and shingles impacted. We've also found some out buildings, silos, barns...some damaged and or destroyed throughout the western end of our county."

She says most of the damage is in the eastern part of the county.

"Town of Lessor, Town of Maple Grove, Town of Angelica...you know that's just three. We certainly saw flooded roadways across other portions of the county," explained Easterday.

Damage assessments should be done before the end of the week.

Easterday says as far as she knows, all the sirens in Shawano County went off as planned.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of trying to force his girlfriend's abortion by drugging her drink still does not have an attorney.

Manishkumar Patel made his fourth appearance in an Outagamie County courtroom Thursday on homicide charges tied to the alleged 2007 incident.

Another status conference is scheduled for next week.

No preliminary hearing has been set.

KESHENA, WI (WTAQ) - A tornado has briefly touched down in Menominee County.

The National Weather Service says it happened at 1:50 pm Wednesday, near Highway VV, about five miles west of Keshena.

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD, WI (WTAQ) - The daughter of a missing Town of Pittsfield woman, says she's been living a nightmare since her mom went missing over 4 years ago.

Marsha Loritz, the daughter of Victoria Prokopovitz, desperately wants to know what happened to her mother.

"I just don't think...I don't even know what to say what I think happened because I just think something terrible happened. I don't think she willingly ran away," explained Loritz.

60-year-old Prokopovitz was last seen on April 25, 2013 around 10 p.m. at her home located at 5118 Kunesh Road, which was in the country, a couple of miles from the main road.

She lived there with her husband and son.

"My brother was gone for the evening and my step-dad went to bed and when he went to bed, she was still there. She was having coffee. When he woke up at 3:00 in the morning, she wasn't there," Loritz explained.

Prokopovitz left behind her purse and all its contents including ID, money, her cell phone, and cigarettes, which her daughter says was a red flag since she was an avid smoker.

She has not been seen or heard from since.

"Immediately, my life was shaken up. It was like this bad dream...how can this be happening," said Loritz. "It's such a terrible place to live everyday not knowing where she is, if she's okay...if she's alive or if she's not."

And as the years go on, there seems to be more questions than answers.

"The more you sit and think about it, the more questions you come up with but yet you can't take any off the list," Loritz said.

Loritz believes someone has to know something and she's not giving up. Neither are detectives assigned to the investigation.

"You know, it's an ongoing case. We're looking for any information. We'd love to have some closure in this one way or another for the family, and we're not going to give up until we come up with something," said Brown County Sheriff's Lt. Scott Semb. Prokopovitz's daughter has faith and believes that any answers will come through the investigators who are working tirelessly on the case.

"Someone has to know something...people can't, they don't vanish," said Loritz. "That's our hope, that someone has a little bit of information that could mean something to the right people."

*****

Victoria Prokopovitz: The Person

"My mom was a very happy person, very giving, very loving. She would give someone the shirt off her back," said Loritz.

Loritz was surprised when asked, "What's your mom like?"

So much of her time has been consumed trying to find her and not explaining the type of person she is.

She says growing up, her mom had the biggest heart, being supportive to friends that needed extra help.

"She was such a good role model for us."

Loritz says her mom was creative and loved going to garage sales, turning trash into treasure.

And it's funny what you remember about someone.

She says her mom loved glue and says Victoria could make anything with glue.

"Our friends would come over and they would go and pick something up off an end table and it was glued to the end table," Lortiz remembers with a laugh.

Loritz clearly misses her mom.

But life wasn't always easy for Prokopovitz.

She had struggled with depression and even a suicide attempt but despite rough patches, Loritz says Victoria always reached out in the past.

"I just don't think that's a possibility because we would have found her," explains Loritz. "She lived for us 3 kids, we were her life and she loved her grandkids."

What does Loritz's gut tell her?

"I just think something terrible has happened."

Loritz is frustrated and sometimes doesn't know what to do.

"If I knew what to do, I would do it. We've gone and done our own searches. We've even had to dig for her. We've gone and dug and that's just something I wouldn't wish on anybody...to think that's a possibility."

She says she can't escape the reality that's become a nightmare.

*****

One Day at a Time

Through this experience, Lortiz says she's had to come out of her shell.

She describes herself as a shy child and has had to overcome that obstacle in the process of trying to find her mom.

But she's never lost hope or faith that someone out there knows something.

This week local officials and family members renewed the $17,000 reward for Victoria Prokopovitz.

It will expire in September.

Until then, Sheriff's officials ask the public to come forward if they know any information about the disappearance of Victoria.

Even the smallest piece of information may open new avenues in the case.

Please call the Brown County Sheriff's Investigative Division at 920-448-4230; Text to "GBTIP plus your message" to: 274637 (CRIMES); or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 920-432-STOP (7867).

"I lived so long in desperation. Every single day I would get up and today would be the day that we’d get the answer, and then it would be crushing at the end of the day when it didn't happen," explains Loritz. "I hold on to my faith that the answers are going to come. I cannot give up hope."

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police continue to look for a 55-year-old man who went missing Sunday morning.

Investigators say Doua Lor made comments about nobody seeing him again when he was seen around 9 am Sunday on Clinton Street, near 12th Avenue.

Lor is described as 5'2," 110 pounds with brown eyes and black hair, bald on top.

Officers say Lor does not have access to a car and does not have a wallet or phone.

Lor, who works second shift at American Foods, has no known medical conditions.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Andy Weiss at 920-448-3208 and reference case 17-206636.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - If a suspicious package happens to make its way into Lambeau Field for Saturday's Billy Joel concert, the ability to detect what is inside should be quicker than ever before.

Lt. Chris Knurr of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department tells WLUK this technology can make a huge difference.

“Probably like three, four minutes we can have it X-Rayed and tell us what's inside.”

New mobile, digital X-ray technology is the reason for the increased efficiency.

The Brown-Outagamie County Bomb Squad’s previous technology was stationary, and took a minimum of 15 minutes to produce an X-ray.

“We're going to be able to take this X-ray system with us and put it on our backs, be able to walk through crowds, walk through large events."

SharpLogixx, LLC in downtown Green Bay donated one of its $57,000 SmartRayVision kits to the bomb squad.

“We're doing something that hopefully our product will help save lives, will help the people that are trying to support and save other people,” said Robin Pfaff, the COO of SharpLogixx.

Everything needed to take an X-ray with the system fits into a backpack.

The package or bag in question sits between an X-ray unit and a digital detector panel that converts X-ray energy into a digital picture. The digital picture shows up on a tablet-like device called a controller.

“Obviously we can see on the inside,” said Kevin Scholz, the CEO of SharpLogixx.

“We can look and see if there is anything that is in there that is suspicious.”

Sheriff's officials say they normally only had to use their old technology an average of once or twice per Lambeau event, typically for something left unattended.

Law enforcement departments across the country are using Sharplogixx’s X-ray systems. The Army also recently bought 140 kits.

ST. LOUIS, MO (WTAQ) - Eric Thames hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers clipped the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-4, in St. Louis.

Keon Broxton also homered with a 489-footer as the Brew Crew won their third-straight to close out the four-game set.

Milwaukee starter Zach Davies tossed five frames of four-hit ball with Carlos Torres earning the win in relief.

The Brewers are the only National League Central team with a winning record at 36-32.

They return to Miller Park tonight to host the San Diego Padres with Junior Guerra on the mound.

Coverage on WTAQ begins at 6:35 with the pregame show. 1st pitch at 7:10.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - National Weather Service officials have made a determination on Wednesday's storms in Northeast Wisconsin.

"Preliminary, right now, we're looking at eight tornadoes of EF0 to EF1."

Meteorologist Phil Kurimski says it is the second most outbreaks his office has seen in a 24-hour span, two shy of the record that was set on April 10, 2011.

Kurimski notes there were touchdowns in three local counties.

"We had some in the Appleton area.  We also had some just west of Green Bay, like the Pulaski area.  The Nichols area in Shawno County."

While some barely touched down, Kurimski says the longest trail was 5.9 miles.

"(It was in the) southeast end of Appleton, right near the 441, Highway 10 area, just south of Appleton, toward the Village of Little Chute."

No injuries or deaths were reported.

However, several people lost power, and various levels of damage was caused to buildings and trees.

Click here to see a full list of the tornadoes, along with additional details. 

Kurimski says the process to determine possible tornadic activity began Wednesday night, when NWS officials looked at radar data, tried to locate circulations, and plotted them on a map.

On Thursday, they discussed the damage with locals and assessed it for themselves.

At some of the places he visited, Kurimski says people mistakenly believed a tornado had struck.

In some instances, Kurimski was able to determine that it was instead straight line winds.

"If things are laid out in a straight line or in a divergent pattern, that's straight-line winds.  Then when I got to the tornadic damage, that tends to be more convergent in pattern.  Things are stirred around a little more haphazardly." 

Cleanup efforts got underway Thursday.

MARINETTE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A new district attorney has been appointed in Marinette County.

Governor Walker's office announced Friday that DeShea Morrow will replace Allen Brey, who resigned effective June 4.

Morrow has served as an assistant DA in Marinette County since 2009.

Prior to that, she worked as an assistant state public defender, after getting her law degree from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy in California.

Walker calls Morrow a 'respected community leader,' citing her 'legal experience, professionalism, and respect amongst the community.'

Former DA Allen Brey resigned effective June 4, citing an understaffing issue that has led to a backlog of more than 400 cases.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - If a suspicious package happens to make its way into Lambeau Field for Saturday's Billy Joel concert, the ability to detect what is inside should be quicker than ever before.

Lt. Chris Knurr of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department tells WLUK this technology can make a huge difference.

“Probably like three, four minutes we can have it X-Rayed and tell us what's inside.”

New mobile, digital X-ray technology is the reason for the increased efficiency.

The Brown-Outagamie County Bomb Squad’s previous technology was stationary, and took a minimum of 15 minutes to produce an X-ray.

“We're going to be able to take this X-ray system with us and put it on our backs, be able to walk through crowds, walk through large events."

SharpLogixx, LLC in downtown Green Bay donated one of its $57,000 SmartRayVision kits to the bomb squad.

“We're doing something that hopefully our product will help save lives, will help the people that are trying to support and save other people,” said Robin Pfaff, the COO of SharpLogixx.

Everything needed to take an X-ray with the system fits into a backpack.

The package or bag in question sits between an X-ray unit and a digital detector panel that converts X-ray energy into a digital picture. The digital picture shows up on a tablet-like device called a controller.

“Obviously we can see on the inside,” said Kevin Scholz, the CEO of SharpLogixx.

“We can look and see if there is anything that is in there that is suspicious.”

Sheriff's officials say they normally only had to use their old technology an average of once or twice per Lambeau event, typically for something left unattended.

Law enforcement departments across the country are using Sharplogixx’s X-ray systems. The Army also recently bought 140 kits.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh Police is investigating an incident involving a weapon.

Officers say the it happened in the 2800 block of Commander Court at 11:50 pm Thursday.

Investigators believe three teens were going through vehicles on the city's north side.  

The department received reports that one of the teens had been shot.

Officers say they located the teen at the scene, with the injuries appearing to be self-inflicted.

The teen was taken to the hospital.  No medical update has been given.

Police are looking to speak with anyone that may have had items taken from their vehicle or boat.

Those people are asked to call Lieutenant Detective Brian Schuldes at 920-236-5700.

Oshkosh Police says they are not actively looking for anyone and say there is no immediate danger to the public.

ERIN, WI (WTAQ) - A spectator has died at Hartford's Erin Hills Golf Course.

The U.S. Golf Association says it happened during Friday's second round of the U.S. Open.

The Washington County Medical Examiner's Office was called to the scene at around 2 pm.

No further information has been released.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Plans are in place as nearly 45,000 fans get ready to arrive at Lambeau Field for the long anticipated Billy Joel concert Saturday night.

It's important to keep a few things in mind as you get ready for the show.

WTAQ spoke with Green Bay Packers Game and Fan Development Manager, Kandi Goltz, and got the low down on the event.

Here are the Top 5 Things You Need to Know before the Show:

1.) Security is the same as a Packers game day. There will be metal detectors at all the gates. "We do have a clear bag policy," Goltz said. "Purses have to be small clutch size...there's no umbrellas." Go to www.packers.com for full security measures during the event. 

2.) When it comes to the weather, the show will goes on, rain or shine. There will be ponchos available for purchase. However, Goltz says there is a plan in place if the weather gets severe. "It is the same as we run on game day. We will make announcements. We will tell people where to go," explains Goltz.

3.) Stadium parking lots will open up at 4 p.m. "The Lambeau Field Atrium opens up at 2 p.m. So, if you want to go to 1919 Kitchen and Tap, you want to do the hall of fame, you can come in at 2:00 but then you'll need to find alternative parking," said Goltz.

4.) Gates open at 6:30 p.m. to get into the stadium bowl.

5.) Billy Joel merchandise will be available. "The merchandise is unique. They've worked with Green Bay Packers graphic designers and they've created some merchandise that is just unique to Billy Joel at Lambeau Field," Goltz said.

If you're curious what songs Mr. Joel might be playing for Saturday night's show, you can see set lists from past shows at www.setlist.fm.