BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Cash bond has been set at $50,000 for the 37-year-old Arkansas man suspected of sexually assaulting an infant.
Investigators believe Derek Gates, who was on business in Wisconsin, is responsible for violating an 11-month-old that was brought to St. Vincent Hospital on Friday.
No formal charges have been filed, but Gates is due back in court August 8.
SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A dead crow in Shawano County has tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
Health officials say the bird was found July 26.
They note this is the first bird to test positive since surveillance began May 1.
Cases have already been confirmed this summer in Appleton, Milwaukee, and Janesville.
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - The Fond du Lac community is invited to spend some time with their local law enforcement.
Fond du Lac Police is holding its annual National Night Out event Tuesday from 4-7 pm.
It will take place at the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds Park, 439 Martin Avenue.
Officer Erik Foster says "it's a time for kids and adults in the community to see that we're more than just arresting people and making traffic stops, we're people. They can really get to know us and talk about issues they have going on in their different districts."
Foster notes a variety of activities for all ages will be offered.
"The fire department will be there doing some tours of fire trucks. We'll have our armored vehicle out there. Flight for Life comes at 5:50 pm. We have Drunk Busters. They do the drunk goggles so you can really see what impairment is like. We run people through a driving course with pedal carts."
The officer comments on how the event has been received in recent years, with increasing tensions between civilians and police in communities throughout the United States.
"In Fond du Lac, for the most part, we're very supported by our community. (National Night Out) has changed a little bit as far as people are there and letting us know 'hey, we support you and got your back.'"
Foster feels fortunate to be where he is.
"It is nice knowing that we're backed by our community. During these last couple years, with that stigma kind of going around, our community has really backed us."
Thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the country take part in National Night Out.
Find out more at https://natw.org/.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - One of the two missing suspects in Brown County's largest meth bust has been taken into custody.
Sheriff's officials say Umero Saldana was apprehended at his Green Bay home on Monday.
Authorities say they are still looking for 34-year-old Joshua Sepulveda of Denmark.
Seven people face federal charges after officers say they seized more than ten pounds of meth.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 28-year-old Oshkosh woman is heading to trial on allegations that she hid a gun the night of a May officer-involved shooting in Appleton.
Dree Sullivan reportedly put Henry Nellum's gun under her car outside Jack's Apple Pub.
Appleton Police Lieutenant Jay Steinke tried shooting Nellum but accidentally shot and killed bystander Jimmie Sanders.
Steinke has been cleared.
Nellum faces a felony murder charge for Sanders' death.
Sullivan is scheduled to be arraigned August 18.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 19-year-old Green Bay man will spend six years in prison for his role in a series of convenience store robberies.
Hunter Haupt was part of a group that committed six armed robberies in a three-week span last December.
Haupt's two co-conspirators, Effraim Bowers Junior and Dujuan Vales, will be sentenced in the coming months.
Once released from prison, Haupt will also spend four years under extended supervision.
FRIENDSHIP, WI (WTAQ) - A family member of one of the two men found dead in an Oostburg home Sunday morning says he knows what happened.
Jose Garcia says his brother Luis and his brother's best friend were both shot by Luis's cousin.
"One of my cousins came over. He was drinking with them. They got into a little argument. He just came back with a gun and shot him (Luis) and his best friend."
Shebogyan County Sheriff's officials say a person of interest is in custody, but no charges had been filed at last word.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Crews have pulled the seaplane that crashed during EAA AirVenture last week from Lake Winnebago.
National Transportation Safety Board Investigator Dan Baker says they had to overcome some obstacles Monday to make the recovery a quick, two-hour process.
"It made it a little trickier in how they handled the aircraft because of the extra weight that the water and mud seeped into the aircraft."
Baker notes what helped ease the crew's work.
"This was very efficient equipment to do the job so it didn't take very long at all."
Baker says investigators will look at the plane, considering factors like mechanics, environmental conditions, and pilot experience.
"We take all that and put it together. After we've gathered all that information, that will give us a pretty clear picture of what happened."
The crash claimed the life of 71-year-old Diane Linker of Minnesota and injured two others.
Preliminary reports indicated the plane hit a wave and crashed after taking off from the EAA's base.
Baker says the NTSB will provide an update later this week but notes the full report could take up to a year.
BONDUEL, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - After a failed referendum in April, the Bonduel School District is once again asking voters for help.
An election is set for today. The district is asking for $900,000 a year, for three years.
Signs encouraging people to vote "yes" on Aug. 1 can been seen in neighborhoods throughout Bonduel.
But WLUK found one sign asking people to vote "no" near Cecil, which is part of the Bonduel School District.
"I'm not a happy camper with them," said Dave Reinheimer.
Reinheimer does not have kids in the district, but says he is voting no because of an increase in property taxes if the referendum were to pass.
"I think it's ridiculous that you have to pay the kind of money I'm going to have to pay when they refuse to cut back."
On a $100,000 home, property taxes would increase by $160.
The district held a similar referendum in April, but that failed by more than 100 votes. This time the district reduced the amount of money it is asking for from $1 million to $900,000 over three years.
"It's a referendum up to $900, 000," explained superintend Patrick Rau.
Rau said the district's enrollment is declining, meaning it has been receiving less state aid.
"We are a low revenue district, we generate about $9,000 per-student."
Rau explained since the state budget hasn't passed yet, the school could receive more money and wouldn't use the full $900,000.
"More support there and then that will lessen the tax burden on our local property taxpayers."
Rau said if the referendum passes, some of the money would be used to hire four new teachers, but if it fails, the district would need to make cuts.
"We would have to go to the high school where we offer a lot of programming especially in the vocational areas. We'll have to reduce in those areas, less classes for the kids to take."
The final say will be left up to voters.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary's "Natural Expansion" project is getting a six figure boost.
The Byron L. Walter Family Trust has donated $300,000 to the project.
The 12,800 foot addition on the existing Nature Education Center at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is expected to cost $3 million.
The addition will provide added space for public programming as well as the four-year-old nature-based kindergarten class.
Richard Blahnik is a spokesperson for the Byron L. Walter Family Trust, and tells WLUK..
“We see the Wildlife Sanctuary as an incredibly worthwhile community asset. We are pleased to be a part of this campaign; helping to make it possible for the Sanctuary to continue its mission and outreach."
According to the project's website, the goal is to begin construction when $2.5 million has been raised.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay middle school named for the most famous Green Bay Packers coach won't offer football this season.
“I was really looking forward to playing for them this season,” said Alex Coniff, an 8th grade student at Lombardi. “It makes me mad that they don't have them, but I can still play football, so that’s good.”
Coniff spoke to WLUK while picking up St. Joseph's Wildcats equipment after learning Lombardi canceled its 7th and 8th grade football teams because it doesn’t have any coaches.
“We had like four coaches last year and we all thought they were going to come back, but I guess not.”
Coniff estimates Lombardi had about 55 students on its two football teams last season.
In a letter to parents, Lombardi principal Jim Van Abel writes the school had been advertising coaching vacancies since last April and have not had anyone apply to the positions.
He also writes with the time it takes to hire quality people, interviews, reference, and background checks, the school has simply run out of time.
“Green Bay is a football city and for Lombardi to close, I think it’s a great loss for the kids.”
Morris Strain is president of St. Joseph’s football program.
“Green Bay likes to hire within, so they like to keep their staff in their school,” said Strain. “I don't know if it’s to write one check.”
According to the school district's website, a middle school football coaching job pays $2,149 a season. By comparison, club teams, like St. Joe's, don’t pay their coaches.
St. Joe's reports its participation is down this year and would accept any Lombardi students wanting to play.
Middle school football season lasts about three months.
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A state appeals court denied Brian Cooper’s appeal Tuesday – upholding his conviction for the 2012 murder of Alisha Bromfield and her unborn child in Door County.
He is serving two consecutive life sentences.
The appeal focused on three issues: his request to change lawyers was improperly denied, the judge erred by barring certain testimony from his expert witness, and, that exclusion violated his rights to present a defense.
The court denied all three arguments in its 20-page decision.
HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - A former Packers running back is planning a moving sale.
James Starks will reportedly sell all household contents, electronics, and some signed merchandise at his Howard home on August 25, from 10am to 6 pm, and 26, 9am to 3 pm.
The exact address will be revealed later this month once Starks and his family move out. Starks will not be present at the sale.
A detailed list of items for sale is expected to be released later this week at http://bumblepuppysales.com/, the website of the Grand Chute-based company handling the sale.
Starks was released in February after seven seasons in Green Bay.
Another former Packer running back, Eddie Lacy, held a similar sale in May. What was originally planned to be a two-day event ended after all items sold out within four hours.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Two new Tax Incremental Financing Districts could soon be coming to Appleton.
The common council is expected to vote on the project plans for TIF #11 and TIF #12 Wednesday night.
Communications Coordinator Chad Doran explains the purpose of TIF #11, which includes roughly 60 acres in the bluff site area.
"Some redevelopment opportunities for some of the buildings on the east side of downtown, the Zuelke building and some others, to preserve the historic nature of these buildings that have become Appleton landmarks and kind of downtown icons."
Doran says TIF #12 covers 23 acres in the city's central business district.
"It provides incentives for revitalizing some of those historic buildings kind of on the west end of downtown."
According to Doran, there is a difference between the land that would be incorporated in these TIFs.
"TIF #11 includes a little bit more open space, some more redevelopable land than TIF #12 has, so there's a little bit of a difference in the way they're structured."
Doran explains the reason for considering the TIFs.
"It will be a big benefit to the downtown, kind of revitalizing some of the more historic, older buildings in downtown, and provide some incentives for developers to come in and kind of bring new life to downtown as well."
Doran notes TIF #11 spans from Drew Street on the east to a bit past Superior Street on the west, bordering Washington Street to the north and Water Street to the south.
He says TIF #12's boundaries are Franklin Street on the north, Walnut Street on the east, Lawrence Street on the south, and Story Street on the west.
Doran notes nothing is set in stone as city officials are still looking into specific project ideas.
If the council approves the project plans, Doran says it will still require a green light from the Joint Review Board, which is scheduled to vote on the matter August 9.
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc Police is looking for two masked suspects who stole items from an apartment complex that had recently been damaged by fire.
Residents of the Parkview Haven apartments were still displaced by the May fire when the thefts occurred in early June.
Multiple units were affected.
Anyone with information on the supsects should call Manitowoc Police at (920) 686-6500.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's hard to believe the summer in Northeast Wisconsin is winding down as we enter the first week of August.
Meteorologist Jeff Last with the National Weather Service says it was a wet month but not a hot one.
"We hit 87 degrees on several days including the last day of the month. We also had 87 on the 20th and on the 11th and 6th," said Last.
The last summer Green Bay didn't reach 90 degrees was in 2004.
The city also received a total of 4.56 inches of rain last month, about an inch above normal.
"Some nearby locations had a couple of inches more than that and those thunderstorms seem to affect us every week throughout the month."
Brown County received its share of severe weather warnings this summer too.
There were a total of 12 severe thunderstorm warnings and 1 tornado warning from March through July of 2017.
Five thunderstorm warnings occurred in July, which is slightly above normal.
Looking ahead, Last says August temperatures will be in the upper 70's with scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the month.
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A two-vehicle crash has been cleared, after slowing traffic this afternoon on Interstate 41 in Fond du Lac.
The accident happened near the Highway 151 interchange.
All three people affected by the semi versus SUV crash refused medical attention.
The DNR helped clean up a diesel fuel leak in the median.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A trial date has been set for the 63-year-old Green Bay man who is accused of inappropriately touching two of his piano students.
Former Howard Trustee James Widiger is accused of grabbing 13 and 14-year-old girls in a sexual manner.
The three-day trial is scheduled to begin September 19.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Fire has caused an unknown amount of damage at an Oshkosh business.
Investigators say the blaze at Bedding Specialists was caused by a torch that an asphalt company was using to clear weeds in the parking lot.
The fire started at 12:23 pm Tuesday and was under control within ten minutes.
Upon arrival, firefighters reported heavy smoke coming from the building's south side.
No one was in the building at the time, and no injuries have been reported.
BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - It's been almost a year since a Bellevue woman was found dead outside her home along Manitowoc Road.
52-year-old Suzette Langlois was found shot to death in the early morning hours of August 29, 2016.
Brown County Sheriff's Captain Dave Poteat says detectives have been diligently working the case and have their eyes set on some individuals.
"I think we do have some key targets in mind at this point. It's just a matter of gathering enough information to demonstrate that or until you have enough (information) that says, no that's not the correct, you know, that's not how it happened," explained Poteat.
Investigators have secured all the physical evidence in the case with some of it still being processed.
Poteat says they've talked the people who were close to Langlois but it's hard to know who's being truthful.
"We have been able to look at a lot of the information, certain stories that have been repeated and circulated that we know are not true."
Detectives continue to wait patiently.
Poteat says at some point someone surrounding the homicide will divulge information that will get back to the authorities.
"Eventually someone who knows something is going to say something to somebody else that's going to be repeated to us 3rd or 4th hand and we'll track it back...someone who maybe knows but isn't telling."
One thing they do know...
"I think that she or the residence was targeted for a particular reason. We are working to figure out what that was and who did it," Poteat said.
