GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay Public Arts Commission subcommittee is recommending taking down the 9/11 memorial near the Neville Public Museum.  

It was donated to the city in 2005 and contains a piece of steel from the Twin Towers.  

However, the monument has been falling apart over the years and some of the airline information etched into it is inaccurate. 

Subcommittee Member Randy Scannell says "the plan is, on 9/11, we haven't worked out all the details yet, but we'll have a ceremony, we'll deaccession the girder, we'll remove it from the monument. and we'll have a procession."

Scannell suggests leaving the piece of steel in the Green Bay Police station "until, probably, a new public safety building is built with the fire and police department and then it'll be stored inside there until the beam is protected and we'll have a monument going on inside."

The subcommittee is expected to share its plan with the city's parks committee during a City Hall meeting at 4 pm Wednesday.

If approved, the plan will go to the city council.

BAILEYS HARBOR, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A unique wetlands area in Door County is celebrating a milestone.

The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor bills itself at the state's oldest land trust.

Even on a damp Friday morning, the trails at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor were full of people on guided hikes.

"This is our first time actually taking a tour at The Ridges. It's gorgeous, just gorgeous. Even on a day like today, cloudy, wet day, it was beautiful," said Mark Sutherland, Highland Park, Illinois.

"I like walking. I like physical activity, especially with my family, and the history was terrific," said Sally Kall, Highland Park, Illinois.

"Our mission is all about education, research, and land preservation," said Steve Leonard, The Ridges Sanctuary Executive Director.

Leonard says The Ridges has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1937.

"Started out with 40 acres, now we're up to 1600 acres," he said.

The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center Building is two years old.

The exhibits inside went on display earlier this year.

But Leonard says a wooden boardwalk that weaves into the sanctuary is what really gives people a chance to explore the site.

"For the first one-third of a mile, it's accessible for everybody. What we're seeing is families with strollers, and that's been really exciting that all generations can enjoy The Ridges," he said.

Five miles of rustic trails give people a chance to experience the 30 ridges and swales left behind by receding Lake Michigan water levels 1200 years ago.

People can see rare plants, insects and more.

"Common species, from deer, porcupines, things like that. But it's a great experience behind every trail," said Leonard.

"As many times I've been out on the trails, and as many times I've been romping through the swales, there's never been a time when something hasn't connected me with the natural world," said Tony Kiszonas, Sturgeon Bay.

The Ridges dedication gets going Saturday morning, featuring guided hikes.  Lunch will be served as well.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - On a typical Friday night, the tasting room at Captain's Walk Winery is full.

"We're a thriving business, wineries are becoming increasingly popular," PJ Koehler of Captain's Walk Winery told FOX 11.

Despite popularity, under current state law, wineries have to close by 9:00 p.m. Under this proposal, they could continue to pour until 2:00 a.m.

"Being open a little later until 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. would be long enough to extend those hours to some of our clients," Koehler said.

For Captain's Walk, the added window of time could allow it to host more special events.

"I would say maybe about three or four dozen weddings approach us annually. We try to squeeze them in when doable, when feasible, but definitely the 9 o'clock time to cease operations gets in the way of hosting them," Koehler said.

The bill also loosens restrictions on breweries and brewpubs.

"Our customers love our beer so we want to be able to more and more beer for them," said Gregg Mattek of Copper State Brewery.

Under current law, brewpubs can only produce 10,000 barrels of beer. Under this bill, they could produce 20,000 barrels.

"We'd be able to do between 7,500 and 15,000 out this location," Mattek said.

Right now Copper State is on track to brew 1,500 barrels of beer this year. This bill would allow them to expand their business in the future.

"Right now we are limited to the number of what they call retail locations, for us that would be another pub somewhere, another taproom, maybe down in Appleton," Mattek said.

Distilleries would also benefit. The Green Bay Distillery says right now people can't sample the spirits, so its spirits are distilled off site.

"This would bring a new level to it, to be able to come in, do a little sampling, try the product out before you would buy it," said Mike McNerney of Green Bay Distillery.

The proposal comes after legislation surfaced in June, which called for stricter guidelines for breweries and wineries, making them sell their products through distributors, although that legislation's hasn't moved forward.

The bill is in the early stages.

It's unclear when or if it would be taken up by the state legislature.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A crash shut down a section of I-41 overnight.

It happened shortly after midnight Saturday on I-41 southbound near Highway 125, in the Grand Chute area.

Outagamie County dispatch says there were multiple injuries.

No further information was available.

The road reopened around 1:30 a.m.

WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - One man was taken to a hospital following a car crash late Saturday night.

Waupaca County Sheriff's office says it happened on Granite Quarry Road at East Ware Road around 10 p.m.

The vehicle was 150 feet off the road with severe damage.

Deputies located a man trapped in his car.

The extent of his injuries are unknown.

The crash is still under investigation.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It wouldn't be an annual Packers Family Night event without a bout of bad weather.

 After an hour long delay, fans were allowed back inside Lambeau Field Saturday night to enjoy the popular practice.

Approximately 78,000 fans were in attendance. 

The Packers weren't the only ones getting the chance to show off their talents. The Racine Youth Sports League got to scrimmage inside the stadium.

The leagues coach, Jared Matkes told FOX 11, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play on, not only just a national football league field, but a lot of these kids are Wisconsin, Green Bay Packers fans, so I mean to play on Lambeau Field's turf is pretty cool for them."

But many fans don't have to be on the field to feel the same excitement.

"It's great to see a Packers game," Cameron Schlesselman said. "This is my first time to watch a practice at Lambeau or even a game, so I'm really excited."

"It's still awesome even if they aren't playing a game against another team," Beau Kuhl said.

Kuhl and Schlesselman made signs for Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, hoping to catch the player's eyes.

For other Packers admirers posters weren't the only thing to do on Family Night.

"We got ice cream, we spun the wheel and got a card," Jalyn Benzow said. "We got little hamburger puppets and we also went to this little cart in the towel cart over there."

Family Night included many activities throughout the afternoon. Fans could get airbrush tattoos and get up close with animals from a wildlife sanctuary.

Features and activities also include on-field football drills, Pick 'N Save Family Night Picnic, Chili's Jerseys-Off-Our-Backs promotion and Fan walkway area.

Tom Hinca's family spent their day trying to dunk men in cow suits in a tank.

He explained the event goes beyond just the players and activities though.

"People would want to come together to really, not watch the game, but to have that aura of the game I guess here," Hinca said. "The Packers are here and it's hard to believe that they're even from this area."

Hinca believes the event is also about sharing the game-day experience for those who never had the chance to go to an actual game.

VINLAND, WI (WTAQ) - Officials responded to a house fire early Sunday morning in the Town of Vinland.

Winnebago County Sheriff's Office say the blaze started at a home on Green Valley Road and County Road GG.

A man was reportedly screaming at drivers passing by trying to get their attention to call for help.

No was injured do to the fire but the man was taken to the hospital with unrelated injuries

The fire remains under investigation. 

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Neenah Police responding to a report of multiple shots fired Sunday night.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. in the Shopko Parking lot at 699 South Green Bay Road.

Shots were exchanged between at least two vehicles that fled the scene.

It's not known if anyone was injured.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident should call the Neenah Police Department at 920-886-6000.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Area Public School District officials get their first look at recent community feedback Monday night.  

School Board Member Ed Dorff explains what has happened with the comments provided at Thursday's session, which sought suggestions to bolster community support for the district.  

"The folks from CESA, Jeff Dickert and his staff, will be transcribing word-for-word what people had written.  He's also going to follow that up with providing us a report that shows the themes he has seen looking at it as a neutral third party."

In addition to Thursday's gathering, the district has also held sessions to gather feedback from parents and staffers, which Dorff believes yielded more than 700 comments.

This all follows former Washington Middle School teacher Kerstin Westcott making allegations of an unsafe environment for students and staff, when she publicly submitted her resignation in June.

While the school board plans to begin reviewing the public input on Monday, Dorff says it will likely take multiple weeks to go through all of the suggestions.

Although he says there is no set timeline to implement any of the community feedback, Dorff says some changes will be in place by the first day of classes, September 5.

"The additional staff that is going into Washington, some of the things that they're looking at with conducting class-level meetings immediately to talk to the students about expectations and reinforcement of expectations."

Dorff says district officials want to take a proactive approach to the upcoming school year.

"The principals, and not just at Washington but principals across the district, are going to be reviewing their behavioral data with their supervisors on a monthly basis."

While he has not yet seen all the feedback, Dorff says he's noted some positive signs in recent weeks.

"This has been a very, very healthy process in terms of asking for people's input and setting up opportunities for people to provide that.  I'm hoping that it will continue in some manner."

Dorff notes no further community-input sessions are on the calendar at this time. 

The school board meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm in the district office, 200 S. Broadway, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Room #331.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Prevea Health encourages the community to get excited about health and wellness through an upcoming special event.

On Friday, August 11, Prevea Get After It LIVE will take place at University of Green Bay Kress Events Center from 2-6 p.m.

The event will feature a variety of activities including basketball, volleyball and soccer as well as appearances by Packers players Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb.

President and CEO of Prevea Health Dr. Ashok Rai everyone is welcome.

"We really hope people come to this event not only to meet two unique assets to our community in both Aaron and Randall, but also to take the opportunity to learn about their own health and fitness and to get after it," said Rai.

Packers players Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb will be speaking at the event with a live Q & A session starting at 5 p.m.

Tickets are required for this part of the event.

"The first 100 attendees 17 and under will get a special lanyard and right before the speaking event, they'll be able to meet Aaron and get an autograph on a special Prevea football," Rai explained.

The UWGB Kress Events Center is located at 2358 Leon Bond Dr. in Green Bay.

Find more information on the event at www.prevea.com.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The musical notes that rolled through the streets of downtown Appleton had its way of touching many hearts.

Mary Kohrell is a music maker, which means she invested money to help the event, making it possible to have extra concerts.

This year there were 900 performances in all.

"There's just so many genres of music and so many different people of different background," Kohrell said. "We'll just all be listening to the same music and appreciating it and it's just a real sense of community."

Kohrell and her husband Mark Kohrell have been investing money for four years.

They say the event has had a huge economic impact for the city.

"The more music that we can have going besides just beyond the mile, during the weekday and during the weekend," Mark Kohrell said. "It does bring people in and it does help businesses."

Wrapping up the final day for Mile of Music coordinators were busy, selling as much merchandise as they could and getting everything cleaned up.

Mile of Music coordinator, Kim Willems said, "but a lot of it too, since we are inside the venues, we're all just going to be recovering."

Willems says the event hosted 225 performers and 70 venues, that's more than they've had before.

Mile of Music also held a concert on Washington Square for the first time this year.

"Having that outdoor stage worked really well and we're hoping to bring that back next year too," Willems said.

But that's not the only thing Willems expects for next year.

"We see the number of attendees grow pretty much every year and I don't think it will change this year. Everywhere I went was really packed."

EAU CLAIRE, WI (WTAQ) - An Eau Claire Democrat has announced he's running for governor.

Representative Dana Wachs says he wants to be a voice for 'regular folks,' claiming government has devolved into a payback mechanism for special interest groups.

The 59-year-old could see an August 2018 primary, with a host of other Democrats expressing interest in challenging Republican Governor Scott Walker.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 22-year-old motorcyclist has been issued multiple citations in connection with an August 2 accident.

Authorities say Shawn Vande Hey fled the scene after crashing his bike in a Ledgeview roundabout.

Vande Hey faces six citations: operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to keep a vehicle under control, operating while suspended, hit and run, unreasonable and imprudent speed, and failure to notify police of an accident.

Court records do not indicate there are any criminal charges.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Cash bond has been set at $20,000 for a 24-year-old Green Bay man arrested on charges of human trafficking.  

Green Bay Police says Devon Alexander was taken into custody August 3 in Green Bay, following an undercover investigation.  

Alexander faces counts of felony Human Trafficking and misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Lieutenant Rick Belanger says investigators believe it was "a guy using a 31-year-old female to solicit sex.  Based on the investigation thus far, we're pretty confident that it was feeding a drug addiction."   

Belanger notes they are not currently looking for any other suspects.

"That's going to continue to be dug into, to find out if there was some other people he was working with and networking with perhaps." 

The lieutenant says he is unsure how many men solicited sex from the woman.

"We're going to wait for some warrants to come back.  We're going to wait for some phone downloads, different search warrant data that comes back, and we'll broaden it from there, see if this is a network thing or if it's an isolated thing."  

No further information has been released.

Alexander is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on August 18.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin residents are asked to donate blood.

American Red Cross Spokeswoman Laura McGuire says her organization is experiencing a chronic blood shortage.

"If you did donate earlier this summer, you are eligible to donate again, every 56 days."

McGuire says "we're asking for all blood types.  Those who come in will receive a five dollar Target e-gift card through August 31."

She explains the reasons for the shortage.

"We've got people moving around a little bit more.  They don't necessarily rank blood donations as being high.  We also have schools that are out for the summer so we see, traditionally, a little decline in blood donations."

McGuire notes where the donations are directed.

"It first goes to the hospital partners that we have contracts with, and then we are able to send blood throughout the country."

Click here to find a list of donation sites. 

MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A November 2 plea hearing has been scheduled for one of the two women charged in the fatal drug overdose death of a 37-year-old Manitowoc man.  

Ashley Chapelski-Garrison faces a count of first degree reckless homicide for reportedly delivering the drugs in the February 25 death on Manitowoc's South 17th Street.  

Her alleged co-conspirator, Mary Beth Rasmussen, is due back in court next week.  

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - UPDATE: Authorities say Werner has been safely located.  Oshkosh Police says he appears to be uninjured but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

*****

Authorities are looking for a 73-year-old Oshkosh man who has wandered away from home.

Police say Thomas Werner has dementia and left home around 12:15 pm.

Werner was last seen walking south on Lake Pointe Drive wearing a lime green shirt, cut-off blue shorts, a Nike cap, and white shoes.

He is white, six feet tall, 199 pounds, with gray hair and hazel eyes.

Police say Werner does not have access to a vehicle, and his destination is unknown.

Anyone who sees Werner should contact the Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Plenty of familiar faces will be at Fox Cities Stadium this Sunday.  

The roster for the Donald Driver Charity Softball Game has been released.  

It includes eight former Packers, other Wisconsin athletes, and entertainers.

Past members of the Green and Gold are: James Jones, Dorsey Levens, Andre Rison, Nick Collins, Aaron Kampman, Robert Ferguson, Craig Nall, and Tony Fisher.

Non-football athletes are: Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette legend Steve Novak, Wisconsin Badgers legend Josh Gasser, former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis, and five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair.

Also expected to participate are: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw, Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szhor, General Hospital actress Emily Wilson, Rules of Engagement actor Adhir Kalyan, Green Bay natives and The Voice contestants Andi and Alex Peot, and NBC’s The Biggest Loser host Jen Widerstrom,

The game starts at 1:05 pm.  Lots open at 9:30 am, with gates opening one hour later.  A sponsor game is scheduled to get underway at 11:30 am.  

Tickets cost $10 each and are available by calling 800-WI-TIMBER or (920) 733-4152, visiting the Fox Cities Stadium box office, or clicking here.

Parking is $10 per car and $20 per RV.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A Neenah native has announced her candidacy for governor.  

Democrat Michele Doolan is a Gulf War veteran and business owner who now lives in Madison.  

Three other democrats, State Representative Dana Wachs, Milwaukee Businessman Andy Gronik, and Politicial Newcomer Bob Harlow, have announced candidacy.  

Five others, State Superintendent Tony Evers, State Senator Kathleen Vinehout, Political Activist Mike McCabe, Former State Representative Brett Hulsey, and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, have stated they are considering runs to challenge Republican Governor Scott Walker.        

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The preliminary report on last month's fatal seaplane crash on Lake Winnebago has been released.  

Rough lake conditions have been deemed partially responsible for the July 27 accident during EAA AirVenture that claimed two lives.  

Authorities initially believed the plane hit a wave upon takeoff.  

The report says one witness described the waves as being up to two feet tall.  

The final report is still being compiled.

Click here to read the preliminary report, courtesy of Fox 11.