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Mile of Music Returning to Appleton

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A popular downtown Appleton music festival is back for its fifth year.

Mile of Music runs from Thursday through Sunday, with roughly 70 venues hosting a total of 900+ live music sets.

Event Spokesman Cameron Wengrzyn says the shows will be in a variety of settings.

"Everything from the bars and coffee shops on College Avenue to some of the parks that are either on College Avenue or right off of College Avenue, and then we even stretch down to the riverfront."

Wengrzyn explains how the 230 artists, who come from 28 states and three countries, are selected.

"Basically, we do a lot of reach-outs through recommendations from our past artists.  Then throughout the year, we get suggestions from a lot of people that are right in the thick of things with the original music scene in Appleton." 

Wengrzyn says 130 of this year's artists have played at least one of the four previous Mile of Music events.

He explains the multiple goals organizers had in mind when the festival was created.

"As a way of driving traffic to downtown Appleton, specifically to inside the venues.  The second goal was to bring original music to the Fox Cities."

Wengrzyn says the economic impact for a Mile of Music weekend is $2,500,000-$3,000,000, which he says includes both business for the downtown venues and money that is donated to the Mile of Music Education Fund, which provides musical opportunities within Appleton's public schools.

City Communications Coordinator Chad Doran believes Mile of Music has brought the city plenty of benefits since its 2013 inception.

"This event has really put Appleton on the map in terms of being a great place for local music. Thousands of people come here to visit.  They come here to stay and they shop and they visit kind of throughout the community." 

Wengrzyn expects 65,000-70,000 attendees this year, after recording roughly 50,000 in 2016.

Click here to learn more about the festival and about volunteer opportunities.


Synthetic Turf Installation at City Stadium

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Work has begun to upgrade a local high school's football field.  

Synthetic turf is being installed at Green Bay East's City Stadium.  

Senior Wide Receiver Michael Lampshire says "West De Pere was the first place I played on turf, and it was amazing.  I felt faster.  It was extremely exciting.  It's a great feeling finally that East is getting it at the historic City Stadium."  

Director of Co-Curricular Programs Tim Flood says the new surface will bring a huge benefit.

"There are some years where the grass is in terrible shape, the field is in bad shape because of the amount of overuse we have on it.  This will help eradicate any of that."

City Stadium played home to the Green Bay Packers from 1925 to 1956, before they moved to Lambeau Field.

"We have more tradition here than any other school has in the entire state."

East Head Coach Brian Nast explains what they're doing in the center of the field to commemorate that history.

"It's got the helmet from back in the olden Packer days.  That's what we want to keep it like.  We want to keep it old school, but we want to bring the new tradition of Green Bay East with it."

The goal is to have the project finished by East's August 18 opener against Seymour.

The $900,000 cost is being covered by a fundraising campaign and two $200,000 grants, one of which came from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. 

Double Murder Suspect Requests New Counsel

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BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 27-year-old Green Bay man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and her mother has requested a new counsel.  

A competency evaluation has also been ordered for Jacob Cayer, who pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental defect in June.  

Cayer allegedly stabbed Sabrina Teague and her mother Heesun Teague to death in a Hobart home in June 2016.  

He is due back in court September 12.   

Brewers Hold Off Cardinals

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MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Milwaukee Brewers scored three times in the first inning last night and made it stand up in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals at Miller Park.

Jimmy Nelson struck out seven over six innings of six-hit, two-run ball to improve to 9-and-5.

Four relievers followed, with Corey Knebel recording his 19th save.

Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana and Manny Pina drove in runs for Milwaukee, which had lost four of its previous five games.

The Brewers remains two and a half games out of the NL Central lead as the Cubs pounded the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-4.

The two teams play again tonight...pre game 6:35 on WTAQ. First pitch at 7:10.

Expo Center Deal Back On

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - After months of back and forth, Green Bay and Brown County leaders have agreed on a funding plan to build a new expo hall.

Approval from Green Bay's Redevelopment Authority, believed to be one of the biggest hurdles in moving forward the county's sales and room tax plans, was reached Tuesday afternoon.

Standing side by side, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach proclaimed to the RDA that their differences in funding the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena’s replacement have been resolved.

“The opportunity that we have right now is to work together versus pulling ourselves apart,” said Streckenbach.

Schmitt had been against Streckenbach's plan to use excess room tax revenue to pay for the new expo hall.

Schmitt spent the last few weeks trying to get a better deal for the city, in particular, money to maintain the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay.

In a prepared statement, Streckenbach told the RDA that the KI and downtown has his support.

“I look forward to working with the mayor in his future efforts to keep the KI Convention Center and downtown Green Bay up to date and successful in attracting events to our downtown area,” said Streckenbach.

Schmitt tells WLUK....

“We needed to hear that because it wasn't spelled out in the agreement at all. While it is in the spirit of the agreement, we really are going to trust that the county is going to look out for the KI Convention Center and the downtown.”

The mayor and county executive's renewed cooperation was enough for the RDA to unanimously sign off on the exact plan that it denied a month earlier on a 2 to 4 vote.

“We knew that we were in support of it, just how were we going to get there?” said Harry Maier, chairman of the RDA.

Under the plan, $78 million in room tax revenue would help pay for the $93 million expo hall. $15 million would also come from the county’s half percent sales tax plan.

The county's six-year half-percent sales tax increase will pay for a variety of infrastructure projects, including road repairs, an addition the jail, and library upgrades.

County leaders have said the sales tax plan is contingent on the room tax plan.

“Right now I think everything is in place for us to see this plan through,” said Streckenbach.

All municipalities in the county that collect room tax must sign off on the room tax agreement. Five of seven have already approved it.

The room tax plan still needs final approvals from Green Bay's City Council and the Brown County Board.

Both are expected to pass the agreement within the next two weeks.

Lets Do Lunch At Fond du Lac Salvation Army

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FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Fond du Lac Salvation Army is busier than ever this year. The organization served a record of 800 free lunch bags in one day.

Heather Bunker takes her family to the building almost every week, and tells WLUK....

"When I was younger, me my brother and my dad were struggling pretty bad. So we use to come and get the lunches because, well my dad was in a wheelchair for a while, so me and my brother would come here and get lunches."

When the program started, volunteers handed out 200 bags.

Now, program coordinator, Barbara Thill, says that number is closer to 800 bags every Tuesday and Thursday.

Thill also suspects students being out of school is another reason for the increase in demand.

Fond du Lac Salvation Army director of social services, Ron Jacobson, says the organization is seeing a significant increase of families coming to the food pantry also.

"During a typical month, we usually have 900-950 families, but over the past few weeks, we'll see a push to maybe 1,100 or 1,150 families this month."

Jacobson said to help spread the resources further, families can only use the pantry once a month.

Fond du Lac Foundation director of development, Joe Braun, says.... "I think there's a growing trend everywhere, there are people in need and some of the economics that's going on."

Although the non-profit doesn't know what's causing the longer lines, they don't expect it to reverse.

Voters Say 'no' To School Referendum

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BONDUEL, WI (WTAQ) - Voters in the Bonduel School District have shot down a referendum, that would have given the district more money.

A special election was held Tuesday.

The district was asking voters for $900,000 , each year, for three years. A "yes" vote would have generated $2.7 million.

The district superintendent says a final tally shows 851 voters said yes, while 1,004 voted no.

The district also had a referendum in April for $1 million. That failed as well.

The money would have gone toward operating costs, and hiring more teachers.

Person Found Dead in Oshkosh

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh Police says officers found a deceased person when responding to a call in the 2300 block of Wisconsin Street.  

A second person appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital.  

Police say they are not currently looking for any suspects in the case and believe it was an isolated incident.  

An investigation is ongoing.   

No further details have been released.


Operations Restart After Deadly Explosion

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CAMBRIA, WI (WTAQ) - Ethanol plant operations have restarted at Didion Milling in Cambria.  

Company officials say its Didion Ethanol LLC subsidiary has begun accepting corn from farmers, just over two months after a deadly explosion damaged part of their corn milling facilities, claiming five lives.

Didion says nearly all employees are back to work, with some working for other employers through the company's External Projects Team.  

Planning for a new milling plant has begun.    

Homicide Charges Recommended in Oostburg Shootings

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OOSTBURG, WI (WTAQ) - Charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide have been referred against the 41-year-old Oostburg man suspected of fatally shooting two people in an Oostburg home Sunday.

Sheboygan County Sheriff's officials believe Sergio Ochoa shot and killed 42-year-old Luis Garcia and 43-year-old Fernando Lopez.  

Ochoa and Garcia are believed to be relatives.

Investigators say the motive is unknown.  However, Garcia's brother has offered an explanation of what happened. 

The two were found dead in the 400 block of North Tenth Street early Sunday morning.   

An investigation is ongoing.

Two Arrested for Attempted Burglary

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PLYMOUTH, WI (WTAQ) - Two suspects are in custody for an attempted burglary in Plymouth.

Sheboygan County Sheriff's officials responded late Tuesday to reports of a burglary in progress at Mueller and Boeldt Implement.  

Officers say two Milwaukee men, ages 67 and 46, fled but were eventually apprehended.  

Charges have been recommended to the District Attorney's Office.    

Authorities: Man Connected to Crashed Motorcycle Located

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LEDGEVIEW, WI (WTAQ) -  Brown County Sheriff's officials say they have located the 22-year-old man who is believed to be the primary driver of a motorcycle that crashed Wednesday morning.

Deputies were dispatched to County GV and Ledgeview Road around 3 am.  

Investigators believe the Orange 2004 Kawasaki Ninja failed to negoitate the roundabout, took out a sign, and went over the top, leaving significant blood at the scene and totaling the bike.

Sheriff's officials identify the motorcycle's primary driver as Shawn R. Vandehey.  They believed he and any possible passenger have suffered serious, and possible life-threatening, injuries.

The area surrounding the scene was searched by a K9 unit and Ledgeview Fire infrared lenses.  No victims were located.

GBAPSD Seeks Support Ideas for Allegedly Unsafe School

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Area Public School District officials plan to hold talks to discuss safety concerns at one of its schools.

Communications Director Lori Blakeslee says the Thursday night meeting at East High, 1415 East Walnut Street, will be with community members who have expressed interest in bolstering community supports for the schools, particularly Washington Middle School.

"Some were individuals who actually are part of a community organization.  Some were just individuals who perhaps were retired teachers who wanted to come in and share their ideas." 

She notes some of the topics that will be covered.

"How to make sure that people feel welcome and invited into our schools.  What are some assets and programs in the community that could be provided to help our schools across the district."

The discussion comes less than two months after former Washington Middle School sixth grade teacher Kirsten Westcott described unsafe conditions for students and staff when publicly submitting her resignation at June's school board meeting.

Blakeslee adds "what are the community supports that would be available that would really have an impact within the Washington community?  And district wide, we're really kind of opening it up to 'how do we as a community support our students?'"  

Citing the need to have sufficient space and a proper number of facilitators for the meeting, Blakeslee asks anyone interested in attending to contact the district office ahead of time.

Depending on how Thursday's meeting goes, Blakeslee says additional gatherings could be scheduled down the road.

The discussion is part of what the district is calling a 'community outreach event,' where Blakeslee says people can also learn about volunteer opportunities, particularly at Washington and its feeder schools.

"There are opportunities to work with Big Brothers, Big Sisters in being a mentor.  They have a program where people can come in over the lunch hour and work with students.  We have opportunities for people to read with students."

Blakeslee says there will be a table for people to begin the process of undergoing a background check, which is required for all volunteers who spend time in the school.

The outreach event runs from 6-8 pm, with the community support discussion scheduled from 6:30-7:30 pm.   

 

Person Killed in I-41 Crash Identified

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FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - UPDATE: Investigators have identified the 80-year-old Antigo man as Jerry Demlow.  

The two men injured are 35-year-old Oleg Dikhtyar and 60-year-old Joseph Moureau, both of Green Bay. 

*****

An 80-year-old Antigo man has died following a two-vehicle accident in Fond du Lac.  

The crash happened at 2:07 pm Tuesday on I-41, north of Highway B.  

Investigators say the Antigo man rear-ended a semi that was slowing as it encountered traffic that was backed up due to an earlier crash.  

Two of the four people in the truck, a 35-year-old Green Bay man and a 60-year-old Green Bay man, suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment.  The two other men were uninjured.

Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash.    

Ashwaubenon One Step Closer to a New Expo Center

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Tuesday's vote from Green Bay's Redevelopment Authority to approve the county's multi-million dollar proposal to fund a new expo hall was a major step in the right direction according to Brown County Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt.

The vote was unanimous, 5-0, to approve the plan.

Flynt says Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt have agreed to support each other in an effort to better the community.

"It's an understanding the county will support the city of Green Bay and their efforts to keep downtown a premiere destination and the city in turn, will continue to support the entire county as a regional destination for tourism," said Flynt.

One of the concerns was that the KI Convention Center and new expo center would be in competition with each other but Flynt says that's just not the case.

"You can simultaneously have events at the KI Convention Center that caters to one set of conventions and events and attractions and you can also have an expo hall for those larger events."

The plan allows $78 million in room tax money to help pay for the $93 million expo center.

$15 million would also come from the county’s half percent sales tax plan.

"It seems that this time to be pretty clear sailing through," Flynt said.

The Green Bay city council votes on the amended agreement on August 15 and the Brown County board on August 16.

If all is approved, the State Department of Revenue will to be notified that the half percent sales tax would go into effect January 1, 2018.

Flynt says construction on the new expo hall might not happen until 2020 or 2021 because the Brown County Arena books 3 years in advance, 


Not Guilty Plea in Domestic Incident Involving Deceased Ex's Sister

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BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 35-year-old Ledgeview man has pleaded not guilty at arraignment to charges he would not let his deceased ex-girlfriend's sister out of a car after he touched her in a sexual manner.  

Douglass Detrie allegedly sped down the road for several miles before finally letting the woman out during the February incident in Allouez.

George Burch is charged in Detrie's ex-girlfriend's murder but is asking the judge to present arguments that Detrie is the 'real' killer.    

Detrie is due back in court September 5. 

Football is Back at Lombardi Middle School

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Just a few days after Lombardi Middle School announced they would not have a football team this year because they couldn't find a coach, the principal is now saying the team is back in action.

Principal Jim Van Abel told students' families in an email.

While details have not been announced, Van Abel's email says families will receive more information from the school's athletic director.

It was reported on Monday, the school canceled the football season because it could not find coaches.

Van Abel's email credits "the abundant media coverage and the incredible support of our community" with helping revive the football program.

"I am excited for our students to be able to put the pads on this season and become engaged with the sport that made our Green Bay community famous," the principal wrote.

Lombardi Middle School is named for Vince Lombardi, the coach who won five NFL championships in seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Brewers Lose Game, But Not Any Ground

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MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Cardinals built a 5-1 lead and held on for a 5-4 win over the Brewers at Miller Park last night.

Yadier Molina homered twice for the Redbirds.

Eric Thames hit a solo homer in the first and Jesus Aguilar added a pinch-hit two-run shot in the eighth for Milwaukee.

Brent Suter allowed all five runs in five-and-a-third innings to fall to 2-and-2 on the season.

The good news is the Brewers didn't lose any ground on NL Central Division leading Chicago as the Cubs lost to Arizona 3-0.

The Brewers trails the Cubs by 2-and-a-half games.

The Brewers and Cardinals wrap up their three-game series today at Miller Park.

Brandon Woodruff will make his Major League debut for the Crew. The Cards will counter with right-hander Michael Wacha.

'State Of Downtown' Meeting Draws Leaders

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Appleton city leaders gather Wednesday for the first ‘State of the Downtown’ meeting.

Appleton Downtown, Inc. invited business owners, potential developers, and residents into the Paper Valley Hotel to share its vision for the area.

A variety of city staff members took turns talking about recent studies on downtown development, mobility, parking, and parks.

Kathy Meyer of Appleton tells WLUK the concept is a good one.

“It's nice that they stressed the implementation. It's not just do a study to do a study.”

“What the plan did was let people like me that might invest to envision what can happen, what the future might look like and to get excited about that,” said Will Weider, a private developer living on College Avenue.

One reason for highlighting the downtown is, through their studies, city leaders have found out a lot of people want to be downtown.

In particular, Mayor Tim Hanna says some of those people say they want to live downtown.

“The plan says we could easily absorb about 400 units downtown. Right now the housing saturation is at 98 percent, which means its virtually full. If one comes open, it's filled almost right away.”

The city hopes to influence investors through two new tax incremental financing districts.

The taxpayer-funded tactic is commonly used in communities to provide financial incentives for development.

“I hear about projects, I see projects started," said Weider.

“There is a great arts community here downtown and there is just with the university, a tremendous number of cultural opportunities.”

The city plans to keep highlighting those opportunities by making the state of the downtown a once a year event.

"Enjoy the Ride"...Mural Addition To Main Street

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A new mural, painted by Beau Thomas, is on the side of Macco Financial Group on Main Street on Green Bay's eastside.

The mural is part of Art on Main's "Murals on Main."

According to the group Art on Main, it's a public art program "striving to ignite passion and conversation by bringing art out of the galleries and onto the street as a community revitalization enhancement, economic development driver and quality of life improvement."

Mural creator Beau Thomas tells WLUK...

"We're right on Main Street here, a pretty big traffic corridor so, it's got that, kind of, obvious message of enjoying your commute to work or to school. And, it's also, kind of, a positive attitude for life to enjoy every moment, enjoy the journey, and just be grateful."

The mural is expected to be finished by the weekend.

And this isn't Thomas' first venture.

He painted "The Green Bay Mural" last summer. The picture spans just under 110 feet and it features vibrant colors and iconic locations from around the community.

Downtown Green Bay has also announced on Facebook a coloring contest where kids can submit their own interpretations of the mural.

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