GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Fire has damaged a Grand Chute home and garage.
Crews were called to 4037 Cattail Court around 6:45 pm Tuesday.
Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and flames on the outside of the garage, extending into the attic.
Fire damaged the garage's exterior, the eaves, and the attic.
There was also smoke and water damage inside the house.
Nobody was injured.
The cause is under investigation. No word on a damage estimate.
Crews were on scene for nearly three hours.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A $500 signature bond was set for a Green Bay police officer accused of forging his ex-wife's signature.
Michael C. Jeanquart appeared in court Wednesday.
According to prosecutors, Jeanquart forged his ex-wife's signature on the title of their vehicle after she told him not to.
The ex-wife explained that she would have signed the title when she got back from an out of state trip but didn't want him to sign her name.
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Menasha's Fourth of July celebration came to an abrupt end this year.
A barge fire stopped the city's planned 35-minute fireworks show eight minutes early, wiping out the entire grand finale.
Fire officials say the blaze was caused by sparks that fell onto hot debris on the barge, located in the waters off Jefferson Park.
The fire spread, shorting the wiring that controlled the fireworks show and shutting down the entire system.
No serious injuries were reported.
UNDATED, (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The American Red Cross is issuing an emergency call for blood and platelet donations due to a critical blood shortage.
Laura McGuire with the Red Cross says it’s a seasonal shortage because people are on vacation, and colleges and high schools — a significant source of donations — is not in session.
“We do have a critical need for emergency donations. We are asking donors, especially first-time donors, to come in and donate blood,” McGuire said.
Some 61,000 fewer donations were given during the last two months, causing a significant decrease of the Red Cross blood supply nationally.
There remains a lot of “untapped” potential.
“There are some national statistics out there, saying that 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate, only 10 percent do,” said McGuire.
To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Metro Fire officials warning people of the hazards of not disposing of used fireworks properly.
Captain Steve Sellin says even though the Independence Day holiday is over, there's always the potential for blazes related to fireworks.
"Obviously the 4th of July is the biggest one but any celebrations they're having... a family reunion, stuff like that, they may light off fireworks. Most weekends during the summertime you'll hear fireworks," said Sellin.
The captain explains the correct way to extinguish and dispose of used fireworks.
"What they should do is have a bucket of water and let those things soak. Even once those things are fired off, there still remnants of things burning inside the tubes," said Sellin.
He says firefighters were called to four blazes in Green Bay contributed to fireworks over the 4th of July holiday including one Wednesday morning that lead to a garage fire in the 11-hundred block of North Webster Ave.
No one was hurt but the blaze caused around $10,000 in damage.
ONEIDA, WI (WTAQ) - The first round of the LPGA Classic at Thornberry Creek at Oneida gets underway Thursday.
Tournament Manager Kelly McAnally has some advice for people who plan on making their way to the course.
"You certainly want to bring comfortable walking shoes, bring your sunscreen, bring a hat, sunglasses, the things you are going to need to walk a golf course. You can certainly bring chairs."
While small purses and drawstring bags are also allowed, McAnally notes backpacks, coolers, cameras, video cameras, and weapons of any sort are prohibited.
McAnally encourages people to park at NWTC and take a shuttle, which will be running in a loop, to the course.
Festivites, which began Monday, continued Wednesday.
Fans took to Thornberry Creek for a variety of reasons on the eve of the first round.
Brandon Stevens of Oneida is one of the 140 fans who had the opportunity to play alongside the world's top female golfers in a pro-am event.
"I just hope to keep (my shots) straight and not look too much like an amateur."
Alyssa Zirpoli, 12, of Ohio made the trip with her family so she could watch, and meet, some of her role models.
"It's exciting learning what they did when they were younger. They could teach us what to do when we get older."
The tournament is the first tour event to be held in the area and features 144 golfers competing for a $2,000,000 purse.
Click here for a full list of this week's festivities.
MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Milwaukee Brewers have made an impact in July so far, winning five of their last six and completing a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-0 win on Wednesday.
Keon Broxton belted a two-run homer for the Brewers in the fourth inning. The Orioles had their chances but left ten men on base through the game.
Brewers starter Matt Garza improved his record to 4-4 this year. His 6 1/3 inning performance was his first scoreless game of the season.
The Brew Crew are running into a key game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley this afternoon, a make-up date from a rain-out back on May 20th.
OSHKOSH (WLUK) -- There are more than 140 public parks in Winnebago County.
The health department's Emily Dieringer tells WLUK that is a good step toward a healthy local lifestyle.
"People living within a ten minute walk of a park actually get more physical activity, almost 50% more physical activity than someone who doesn't live in ten minutes' walking distance of a park."
ReThink, an arm of the health department, is asking county residents to take a survey about park accessibility.
"Where do you go to the park? How do you get there? What are some good things and bad things about the experience?"
The goal is for, when the weather is nicer and people want to go to the parks, that everyone can get there in a safe way.
Individual communities within the county are involved in the survey.
Ray Maurer, Oshkosh's Parks director, tells WLUK it's important to work across those boundaries.
"Make sure we have regional connection on our trails and bike paths."
Maurer says Oshkosh already works with neighborhood groups to ensure safe access to parks.
"They've been instrumental in helping us to say there's some ways to improve access, whether that's through the parks department or through our bike and pedestrian committee we have in the city."
But with more than 44 parks in the city, Maurer says there is always room for improvement.
"I still think that a number of our neighborhood parks, there's some areas in the city that don't have sidewalks."
Dieringer said once the survey answers are, there will be a clearer focus.
"What are the priority parks that people go to most often? Or maybe where are the most challenging to get to?"
She says improvements like new trails, sidewalks, or bus routes will come from there.
The survey will be available until the end of the month.
Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher says the days of negotiation with North Korea over their missile program is over.
The 8th District Republican, a guest today (THUR) on WTAQ's Jerry Bader Show, says Tuesday's launch from Pyongyang was the last straw.
For more than 2 decades the efforts of Presidents from both parties to engage in dialogue alone just hasn't worked.
"Pyongyang will continue advancing its nuclear capabilities and missile programs until it's capable of developing weapons that can hit the continental U-S."
Gallagher says the next step is to bring in China and Japan....to exert strong economic pressure on Kim Jong Un.
"Really that tri-lateral relationship is going to be key to tackling the threat in concert with our allies."
China in particular has to take a more aggressive role since they're North Korea's primary trading partner.
"The first thing we need to do is tighten the sanctions against Kim Jong Un, against the regime in Pyongyang, and hold Chinese businesses accountable....be willing to do secondary sanctions."
He also says the U-S must be willing to fire its own missiles to intercept and destroy North Korea's weapons when they threaten the U-S or our allies.
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Bond has been set at $50,000 for the 59-year-old registered sex offender accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Manitowoc on the Fourth of July.
Jeffrey Gove allegedly walked up behind the woman while she was walking in the 1100 block of South 9th Street around 9:30 pm Tuesday and put a knife against her stomach.
Gove reportedly directed the woman to a different location, assaulting her behind a business on South 10th Street.
Police say the incident was reported around 12:30 am Wednesday.
The victim was able to lead officers to the scene of the alleged crime.
While processing the scene, investigators say they were approached by a man, who was positively identified as Gove.
Officers say Gove provided a voluntary DNA sample and denied guilt during questioning, saying the woman forced herself on him.
According to police, Gove did not know the woman.
He was arrested on charges of First Degree Sexual Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. At last word, formal charges had not been filed.
Gove was convicted of Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in 1994 and was sentenced to four years in prison.
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Residents of Manitowoc's Parkview Haven Apartment complex have started to return home.
Northeast Wisconsin Red Cross Chapter Executive Steve Hansen says life is getting back to normal for some of the 88 tenants displaced in the May 10 blaze.
"Some of the residents have started to be able to get back in to those apartments that are located furthest from where that actual fire took place.
Hansen says others are likely to follow.
"As the restoration company continues to work on that building and the other apartments are made available, residents who decide to go back into that building will be provided access and will be able to do so. It certainly could be a month or two before they get back in. These things tend not to happen overnight."
The Red Cross executive was unable to provide the number of residents who have returned home, and WTAQ has not heard back from the management company that owns the apartment.
Hansen notes his organization worked with those displaced for the first month after the fire, facilitating emergency shelter, food, clothing, and supplies.
"We've transitioned those residents through that phase. They are now working with our partners in the Manitowoc community to help them establish some longer-term housing."
WTAQ has reached out to Manitowoc Fire Chief Todd Blaser, who says he has not yet received the remaining paperwork from the investigation and cannot provide the cause of the blaze.
The fire claimed the life of one resident, 57-year-old Dana Bushman.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Police Department has launched an online survey wanting to know what people think about crime in the community.
Captain Kevin Warych says the questionnaire gives the public a chance to voice their concerns and lets the department know what they can do better.
"Whether crime is increasing or decreasing, we have to be able to gauge people's perceptions and people's fears," said Warych. "This community survey was developed to provide people an opportunity to tell us our strengths and weaknesses, and what we need to improve on."
Results of the survey will be based on the geographic areas of the city which is divided into four districts.
Warych explains how they will use the acquired information.
"Once all the results are compiled, we as a command staff will sit down and talk with our crime analysts staff to really distribute that information to the department and develop our strategy."
The survey is posted on the Police Department's website and social media accounts.
The last day for the survey is July 14th.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County trial date still has not been set for the man accused of sexually assaulting horses in multiple Northeast Wisconsin counties.
Sterling Rachwal's court appearance Thursday was scheduled to be a final pre-trial conference, where the case is typically resolved or a trial date is set.
Another final conference has been set for September 12.
Rachwal is due back in a Manitowoc County courtroom July 19.
BERLIN, WI (WTAQ) - Four people are in custody following a Berlin meth bust.
Officers say the June 9 arrests stemmed from a traffic stop.
Investigators note interviews led them to a home in the 100 block of Swetting Street, where drugs and paraphernalia, including a meth cooking pot, was reportedly found.
Children were allegedly exposed to high levels of meth.
Those arrested were the two homeowners, a 43-year-old man and 30-year-old woman, as well as a 32-year-old Fond du Lac man and a 32-year-old Ripon woman.
Officers say the Berlin couple is being held on a November 2014 probation hold, where they were found to be producing meth.
Charges have been referred to the district attorney's office.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay woman wasn't "lovin' it," after trying to get some fast-food Wednesday afternoon.
Green Bay Police responded to a verbal disturbance in the drive thru at the McDonald's on Shawano Ave. just before 5pm.
Captain Kevin Warych explains what happened next...
"One of the involved employees and the suspect were located or met at Superior Liquor, which is a short distance from McDonalds, in which the disturbance escalated," said Warych.
The suspect then pulled a gun on the McDonald's employee, who happened to be there.
"A 57-year-old Green Bay resident was arrested for second degree reckless endangering safety, disorderly conduct, and false imprisonment," Warych said.
Investigators say the woman wasn't satisfied with the service she received at the fast food joint.
She's now being held in the Brown County Jail.
KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - As the hay harvest gets underway, farmers throughout Northeast Wisconsin are dealing with the effects of a relatively mild winter.
Kewaunee County Ag Agent Aerica Bjurstrom notes her county was affected.
"It's kind of hit and miss. It depends on what kind of soil they're on. I would probably guess somewhere around 50% of the county had some kind of winter kill in their alfalfa."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared ten Wisconsin counties 'primary natural disaster areas' because of this year's winter kill on alfalfa crops.
"The farmers who are affected, the Farm Service Agency does encourage them, if they want to get ahold of them and get the low-interest loan, to get some kind of assistance for that."
Farmers interested in applying should contact their local UW-Extension office.
One of the farms affected is El-Na Farms in Kewaunee.
Lonnie Fenendael is part-owner of the 1,500 cow, 4,500 acre operation.
He says roughly 62% of his crop fell victim to winter kill.
"We replanted it this spring, probably in May, we direct planted it all."
Fenendael says he will try to stretch his crop as far as he can.
"I don't think it's going to test nearly as well just because of the lack of sunshine, and we had a lot of rain."
CHICAGO, IL (WTAQ) - Coming off of their sweep of the Orioles, the Brewers continued their winning ways beating the Cubs 11-2.
Ryan Braun was the only Brewer to homer in the blowout win. Domingo Santana went four-for-five, with two doubles, and drove home two of the Milwaukee runs.
Zach Davies pitched six innings, allowing the two Cub runs, and struck out three to earn win number ten on the season.
The Crew is now off to New York for a three game series over the weekend. This is their last series before the all-star break.
Junior Guerra will get the ball in the series opener tonight.
Pregame coverage on WTAQ will begin at 5:30. 1st pitch is set for 6:05.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Law enforcement on the lookout for the suspects they say have scammed local retailers.
Investigators say the women pulled a 'quick change' scam at multiple registers at the Bellevue Walmart on June 16th.
The two reportedly pulled off the same crime at the Green Bay Walmart on Mason Street.
Brown County Sheriff's Department says on June 16th two females traveling with a male party entered Wal Mart at 2292 Main Street in the Village of Bellevue.
Both females completed a "Quick Change" scam at multiple registers/check outs in the store.
At this time the Brown County Sheriff's Office is attempting identify the suspects.
Green Bay Police are also attempting to identify the suspects for the same "Quick Change" scam at the Wal Mart on West Mason Street in Green Bay.
If you have any information in this case you can contact the Brown County Sheriff's Department at 920-448-6188.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a veteran businessman and a former spy, shook hands on Friday ahead of the most highly anticipated face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
Trump has said he wants to find ways to work with Putin, a goal made more difficult by sharp differences over Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine, and allegations Moscow meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The two men met during an informal gathering of G20 leaders at the start of the summit, with the U.S. president reinforcing their handshake by patting the Russian leader on the arm.
In a video of the encounter, Trump was later shown patting Putin on the back. Both men smiled. They are to hold a formal meeting later in the day at 3:45 p.m. local time, when every facial expression and physical gesture is likely to be analyzed.
"I look forward to all meetings today with world leaders, including my meeting with Vladimir Putin. Much to discuss," Trump wrote in a tweet on Friday. "I will represent our country well and fight for its interests!"
The meeting is slated to begin shortly after a G20 working session on climate and energy starts. Trump, who has angered world leaders with his decision to pull the United States out of the Paris accord on climate change, will likely have to leave that session early to make the Russia meeting.
Some fear the Republican president, a political novice whose team is still developing its Russia policy, will be less prepared for their sit-down than Putin, who has dealt with the last two U.S. presidents and scores of other world leaders.
"There's nothing ... the Kremlin would like to see more than a (U.S.) president who will settle for a grip and a grin and walk away saying that he had this fabulous meeting with the Kremlin autocrat," Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee, said in an interview on MSNBC.
As investigations at home continue into whether there was any collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia, the U.S. president has come under pressure to take a hard line against the Kremlin.
Moscow has denied any interference and Trump says his campaign did not collude with Russia.
"DESTABILIZING BEHAVIOR"
On Thursday, Trump won praise from at least one Republican hawk in the U.S. Congress after a speech in Warsaw in which he urged Russia to stop its "destabilizing activities" and end its support for Syria and Iran. The remarks were among Trump's sharpest about Moscow since becoming president, though they stopped short of any personal criticism of Putin.
"This is a great start to an important week of American foreign policy," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has often been critical of Trump on security issues.
Putin had been fully briefed about Trump's description of Moscow's behavior as destabilizing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding he would take that and other remarks by U.S. officials into account.
Still, Trump declined on Thursday to say definitively whether he believed U.S. intelligence officials' assertion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.
"I think it was Russia but I think it was probably other people and/or countries, and I see nothing wrong with that statement. Nobody really knows. Nobody really knows for sure,” Trump told a Warsaw news conference.
Ahead of Trump’s meeting with Putin, three U.S. senators wrote to Trump to express “deep concern” about reports that his administration planned to discuss the return to Russia of diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York that were seized by the Obama administration last year in response to alleged Russian election meddling.
Republican Senators Johnny Isakson and Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said returning the facilities would "embolden" Putin and encourage further efforts by Russia to interfere in Western elections. All three are on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The White House declined to offer details on what Trump would request of Putin and what he might offer in exchange for cooperation.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump wanted to talk about how the two countries can work together to stabilize war-ravaged Syria.
"The United States is prepared to explore the possibility of establishing with Russia joint mechanisms for ensuring stability, including no-fly zones, on-the-ground ceasefire observers, and coordinated delivery of humanitarian assistance," Tillerson said before leaving the United States to join Trump in Germany.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Denis Pinchuk in Moscow and Denis Dyomkin in Hamburg; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ) - Two men have been taken to the hospital after the vintage vehicle they were driving to the Iola Old Car Show and Swap Meet was involved in a two-vehicle crash.
Police say the accident happened around 8 am Friday on Highway 54 in New London.
The 1930 Chevrolet made a right turn from Highway S to Highway 54 westbound when it was struck from behind by a 2002 Dodge Stratus.
The classic car went into a ditch and rolled, ejecting the two men inside.
Officers say the 66-year-old Hortonville man driving and his 68-year-old male passenger from Appleton went to the hospital with unknown injuries.
The 38-year-old Green Bay man driving the Dodge was uninjured.
Investigators are still looking into the crash.
