GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay school that nearly canceled its football season has started practicing.

The seventh and eighth graders from Lombardi Middle School took the field for the first time on Tuesday.

A lack of coaching applicants was cited for nearly scrapping the season.

Athletic director Amy Hogan credits media attention for helping them find their four coaches.

"It changed in that the overwhelming response from the community and the reports from the nation got us a lot of applications.  Actually, the guys that we hired are actually from our community, our southwest community, so it's a nice thing."

The school received a total of 20 applicants.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One local police department took to the streets Tuesday to put a smile on kids' faces.

Green Bay officers handed out ice cream at three city parks.

Officer Andrew Lentz says it's part of their efforts to engage with the community.

"Kids are our future.  That's what we want, to be a part of this community.  I don't think you get a better job than to hand out free ice cream to kids.  It's a ton of fun.  I absolutely love every minute of it."

The treats were paid for through the same donation that allowed officers to hand out backpacks to children earlier this summer.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - Luke Weaver pitched two-run ball into the sixth inning and the Cardinals cruised to a 10-2 win over the Brewers at Miller Park.

Weaver struck out 10 while scattering eight hits and a walk to move to 3-and-1.

Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer, his first since pledging 10-grand to hurricane relief for each one he hits the rest of the way. Luke Voit drove in four runs for St. Louis, which had lost six of its previous eight games.

Matt Garza took the loss for Milwaukee. Eric Thames hit his 28th home run of the season for the Brewers in defeat.

Last night's loss, coupled with a Cubs victory, drops Milwaukee 3-and-a-half games behind Chicago in the NL Central race

The Brewers short, two game series with the Cardinals, wraps up with an afternoon game at Miller Park.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - More than 60 Wisconsinites, including 16 from Northeast Wisconsin, are already on the ground in Texas, and dozens more Badger State volunteers are expected to join them in the coming weeks.

Due to the magnitude of Hurricane Harvey, Northeast Wisconsin Red Cross Chapter Executive Steve Hansen says they're considering sending volunteers who have only gone through an abbreviated crash course.

"(They will still get) a four hour training program.  They will be provided information regarding living conditions and what it's like to work a 12-14 hour day as a volunteer."

Hansen says the last time the Red Cross sent non-certified volunteers to a disaster was during Hurricane Katrina.

He notes the volunteers do not live in luxury during their two-week deployments.

"They'll likely be in what we refer to as a 'staff shelter,' probably sleeping on a cot, in the same type of situation as those that we're helping."

Hansen explains what volunteers are currently doing in the flood-ravaged areas.

"We've got shelters set up all over the impacted area.  They're also working on actually doing damage assessment."

He expects those assignments will change in the coming weeks.

"We'll have individual volunteer case workers meeting face-to-face with impacted families, looking to provide financial assistance."

Hansen notes volunteers will also work with emergency response feeding crews and mental health specialists.  

Anyone interested in volunteering can learn more by clicking here. 

As for donation totals thus far, Hansen would not provide a dollar amount but notes that phones have been 'ringing off the hook.'

Donations can be made here.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A local tourism official discusses the effect Hurricane Harvey is having on the economies of impacted communities.  

Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitor's Bureau President Brad Toll notes lost conventions, sporting events, and concerts will take a toll on places like Houston.   

"The community is depending on the tax revenue that's generated from having those visitors come in."

Toll notes tourism officials will need to work to inform people that some parts of their cities may still be accessible. 

"Literally, we can operate from just about anywhere. The Houston bureau, if they're not able to get into their offices, will find an off-site location and communicate with their staff and get people in."

He says bureau officals typically start planning as soon as possible when a disaster is on the way.

"They were likely working with the conventions that were planning on coming in, either to reschedule or delay." 

Toll expects many people planning to go to areas like Houston will cancel their trips after seeing images of the flooding, even though their event might still go on as planned.

He notes Wisconsin tourism officials had their own crisis back in 2008, after national media reports on flooding in Wisconsin Dells encouraged people to stay away for the summer.

"The bureau had to very quickly work to try to overcome that perception.  These communities need that influx of visitor dollars now more than ever."

Toll expects his organization, as well as others throughout the country, will have an opportunity to help their affected counterparts through efforts organized by the U.S. Travel Association and Destination International.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A country music star is coming to Green Bay next spring.  

Justin Moore is bringing his 'Hell on a Highway Tour' to the Resch Center on April 21, 2018.

Moore, who will be on his fourth headlining tour, is best known for songs like "Somebody Else Will," "You Look Like I Need a Drink," "Lettin' the Night Roll," "Til My Last Day," and "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away." 

Dylan Scott, who is known for "My Girl," will open for Moore. 

Tickets go on sale October 27 at 11 am.

They can be purchased at the Resch Center's Ticket Star Box Office, by phone at 800-895-0071, and online at ReschCenter.com.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The Kewaunee County Sheriff's deputy on paid administrative leave for reportedly firing a fatal shot previously resigned from the department after a pair of misdemeanor convictions.

State investigators say Deputy Jamie Tlachac shot and killed Tyler Whitmire last week after he refused commands to drop a knife.

A criminal complaint from 2008 claims Tlachac fired shots at several windows after returning home from a night of drinking.

He reported the incident to the sheriff's office the next day.  

At noon the day of the report was made, the complaint says Tlachac had a blood-alcohol content that was twice the legal limit.  

He was given two years probation for the two misdemeanors, while a felony count was dropped.

Tlachac resigned from his job as a jailer/dispatcher but was rehired four years later, being promoted to department's Patrol Division in 2015.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - Hurricane Harvey has brought the Salvation Army bell ringers out months earlier than usual this year.

Raising money for flood victims is the current objective for area chapters.

Marinette-Menominee volunteers, like Francine Kitkowski, were outside the Marinette Walmart Wednesday.

"People are very generous.  People are very willing to donate and give to these victims.  Their hearts go out to them." 

Ringers will also be outside places like the Kmart in Menominee and Lee's in Peshtigo through Saturday.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A local church that helped relocate a Mississippi family during Hurricane Katrina is looking to do the same for one of the families impacted by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Pastor Matt Sauer of Manitowoc's First Presbyterian Church feels the community is ready to band together again.

"Just pulling the community together to furnish the house, that house was an older home, there wasn't necessarily separate bedrooms, so there was some construction."

Sauer says helping resettle that family involved a realator donating a house rent-free for six months.

"It was a whole community effort.  This church had the blessing to kind of be the gathering point for that."

Churchgoer Kimberly Lees says they've also been working with local businesses to raise money to assist flood victims.

"Smiling Moose, they're also trying to get donations.  They've already sent a boat down, and they're trying to get another boat sent down there."  

Sauer notes the last family they helped is no longer in the same house but remains in the area.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Brewers earned a split of their brief two game series with the St. Louis Cardinals with a 6-5 victory Wednesday afternoon.

The teams combined for five home runs in the game. Both Domingo Santana and Jonathon Villar homered for the Crew in the sixth inning. Santana with a solo shot and Villar with a two-run bomb.

Keon Broxton would save the game for Milwaukee in the ninth inning.

St. Louis outfielder Randal Grichuk thought he had hit his second home run of the game and won the game for the Cardinals.

That was before Broxton timed a jump perfectly and brought the ball back into the park.

Starter Chase Anderson turned in a quality start in his third start back from the disabled list.

He went six innings, allowed three Cardinal runs, and struck out six. Relievers Josh Hader and Anthony Swarzak each allowed a run out of the bullpen. Closer Corey Knebel finished things off, picking up save number 30.

Brewers begin a big weekend series with that Washington Nationals tonight.

Zach Davies will take the mound in game one of four and pregame coverage will begin at 6:35 on WTAQ.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Teachers at a Green Bay elementary school are receiving a helping hand as they head back to work.

The Meemic Foundation, the non-profit arm of Meemic Insurance Company, surprised Howe Elementary School staff Wednesday afternoon with $5,000 worth of school supplies.

The Meemic Foundation is celebrating 25 years of giving back to education.

Jim Mayefske, an insurance agent out of Green Bay for Meemic, spoke to WLUK.

“I said let’s help the school in my backyard, they're only a block away, and I know that they could use it.”

Teachers were brought to the school’s gym, told there was a reward for a scavenger hunt they did. Howe's principal revealed the real prize.

“I was shocked,” said Katie Wavrunek, a kindergarten teacher at Howe. “What an honor.”

Howe is classified as high poverty, meaning teachers like Wavrunek often can't count on families to fill their child's backpack with necessary supplies.

Wavrunek says Meemic's donation will be put to use quickly in her kindergarten classroom.

“We want them to be fed, clothed, happy kids. Those happy kids are happy learners and if we can help supply some of those other pieces to fill their needs, we're willing to do that.”

A recent national study shows $945 is the average amount a teacher spends out-of-pocket each year for classroom materials.

Wavrunek says she typically spends $1,500, and is very appreciative of Meemic's donation.

“Our back to school is definitely a time where kids show their needs and its one of those times where we want to be able to help them, so having them come in to support us, to support the community, we are blessed.”

The Meemic Foundation is presenting similar surprise donations at eight other schools across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

By Ben Gruber

CROSBY, Texas (Reuters) - Chemical maker Arkema SA said it expected more fires after two explosions hit its flooded plant 25 miles (40 km)northeast of Houston on Thursday, sickening more than a dozen law enforcement personnel and prompting an evacuation of the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board said on Thursday afternoon it had launched an investigation into the explosions and fires at the 49-year-old chemical plant in Crosby, Texas.

In a press call with reporters and a statement on Facebook, board Chairwoman Vanessa Allen Sutherland said the independent federal agency would begin its probe with requests for documents from the chemical maker and would not deploy to the site of the explosions until emergency response activities were completed and the facility was deemed safe.

Arkema, a French company, said all four of its systems to cool the organic peroxides produced at its Crosby, Texas, plant and stored onsite in refrigerated containers were expected to fail, triggering their degradation and eventually more fires.

Arkema and local officials said they believed the smoke from the blaze was non-toxic, but they urged people to stay away as the fire burns itself out,

"Any smoke is going to be an irritant," Richard Rennard, the head of one of Arkema's business units, told reporters near the scene. "Certainly, these things burn when they degrade, and there is the possibility that an explosion could happen."

Shares of Arkema fell 1.9 percent in Paris trading.

Before Sutherland announced the investigation, two Democratic U.S. senators, Tom Carper of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey, sent a letter to her seeking such a probe.

Rennard and Crosby Assistant Fire Chief Bob Rayall both said pops heard at the scene were the sounds of container pressure valves failing as force from the warming chemical built up.

One of nine containers with the organic peroxides had caught fire, and Rennard said Arkema expected the remaining eight to burn eventually. Company officials do not expect to have access to the site for up to five more days because of high water levels.

A joint statement from the federal Environmental Protection Agency as well as local and state officials issued Thursday afternoon said, “At this time, we are responding to a fire, not a chemical release.

"We continue to monitor smoke and air quality. ... As with all smoke, people can limit the potential for adverse health effects by limiting their exposure."

The peroxides, which are used to make plastic resins, polystyrene, paints and other products, are extremely flammable if they are not kept at low temperatures.

The EPA said it had emergency personnel on the scene, and initial indications are "no concentrations of concern for toxic materials." The EPA is sending air-monitoring personnel to the site.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it had temporarily barred flights from the area because of the risk of fire or explosion.

Arkema said on Wednesday it had no way to prevent fires because the plant has about 6 feet (1.83 meters) of water due to flooding from Harvey. The hurricane came ashore in Texas last week, knocking out power to the plant's cooling system.

The company said the Harris County Emergency Operations Center notified it at about 2 a.m. (0700 GMT) of two explosions and black smoke coming from the plant.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters 15 deputies were taken to a hospital after concerns some may have inhaled fumes. All have since been released, his office said later on Twitter.

The plant had been closed since Friday, and the company evacuated remaining workers on Tuesday. Harris County ordered the evacuation of several hundred residents within a 1.5-mile (2.4 km-) radius on Tuesday.

"We want local residents to be aware that product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains," Arkema said. "Please do not return to the area within the evacuation zone."

In a risk management plan filed with the EPA in 2014, Arkema said a worse-case scenario at the plant could threaten people as far as 23 miles away, affecting a population of more than 1 million. The next such report is not due until 2019 for the plant.

Such a scenario would entail the complete rupture of its isobutylene or sulfur dioxide feedstock tanks and the failure of all backup safety systems. On Thursday, Arkema said it did not expect the fire to extend beyond the organic peroxide tanks.

An Arkema official did not immediately respond to a question about whether the current evacuation area could be expanded.

Harris County Emergency Management referred questions on the Arkema risk management plan to local and county fire officials, who did not immediately respond to phone calls.

One resident pleaded with police to check on an elderly couple, Leo and LeJane Opelia, who she said live two streets from the plant and returned home on Wednesday night to look in on their cats and belongings after leaving earlier.

“I heard from them last night, and now I keep trying to call them, and I can’t reach them,” said a tearful Frances Breaux. “I just want to make sure that they are OK.”

She said police told her the area was too dangerous to enter.

(Reporting by Ben Gruber in Crosby, Texas; Additional reporting by David Shepardson, Susan Heavey, Tim Ahmann and David Alexander in Washington; Jon Herskovitz in Austin; and Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jonathan Oatis)

HOLLAND, WI (WTAQ) - A 24-year-old man has been taken to the hospital with severe injuries after his car collided with a train late Wednesday night.

Authorities received a call from Union Pacific Railroad, saying one of their trains was struck by a car on Hoftiezer Road in the Town of Holland.

Investigators believe the car's speed and failure to yield were factors in the crash.

They say the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.  His name has not been released.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A local company is doing its part to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac is sending some of its products down to the Longhorn State.

"We've deployed ten inflatable boats and over 30 now (outboard) engines down to Texas.  There's a command center being set up right at the Texas A&M University by the governor's office."

Director of Global Public Relations and Communications Lee Gordon notes they're also continuing to take requests from those helping the flood victims.

"From not-for-profit organizations.  One we just had called 'Boots on the Ground,' which is a veterans' group out of Oklahoma.  They were looking for an outboard engine."

Gordon explains how they were able to ship that engine overnight so the group could immediately start its work in Texas.

"We have different warehouses around the United States.  We pinpointed a warehouse that was close enough that a truck could get the engine to Texas either same day or the very next day."

He notes Mercury is also working to help some of its own.

"We do have some employees from a distribution company we own in the Houston area so we've sent down waters and pallets of cleaning supplies to help them as well."

Gordon notes they did the same following both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The scene has been cleared after the Brown County Bomb Squad was called to Green Bay for reports of a suspicious package.

Crews responded to the 200 block of South Baird Street at 12:40 pm Thursday.

Area businesses were evacuated as a safety precaution.

A resident noticed the heavy police presence and told officers the suitcase was hers.

She was leaving it on the curb in case anyone wanted it for free.

WAUSAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - Another search for a missing Wausaukee woman has come up empty.  

Jeanette Fullerton was last seen in her N10096 Four Lakes Road home in the evening of August 8.  A Silver Alert was issued the following day.  

Authorities say they searched the area around the 83-year-old's house on Saturday.  

Fullerton is described as 4'10", 160 pounds with gray, medium-length hair and blue eyes.  Officials say she has dementia. 

She was last seen wearing a pink and white shirt with pink pants.  

Anyone with information on Fullerton's whereabouts is asked to call the Marinette County Sheriff's Office at 715-732-7607.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It was a busy Thursday on the UW-Green Bay campus.

School officials say roughly 800 freshmen moved onto campus ahead of the new school year.

But it wasn't just first year students hard at work.

Nathaniel Disher of Almond will be spending his sophomore year in the dorms.

"(It's a) lot of running up and down the stairs.  I'm excited to take a nap, for sure."

The school's fall semester starts Wednesday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Starting your first year of college can be a challenge.  

But that task has nothing on what UW-Green Bay Freshman James Finley just encountered.  

Finley's family lives in one of the Texas neighborhoods that was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey last weekend.  

Despite having to deal with flooding in their own house, the Finleys took to the streets to help their neighbors get to higher ground.

His mother Helena says "my husband went knocking on neighbors' doors.  We have quite a few elderly people in our neighborhoods so we were able to get them in canoes and kayaks and get them to higher ground.  James' strength really helped because there was some people that needed to be physically carried and placed in boats."

James notes "we ended up being able to save about 61 or 62 people in our neighborhood and about 30 dogs."

While James moves into his Small Hall dorm room, his parents are heading back to their flood-damaged Texas home.

Helena says "we're living upstairs, so it's okay.  We have no drywall downstairs but we have power and we have water."

James notes his family's situation is better than many others in the area.

"If anything, it my have destroyed our homes but it brought all of us closer together."

Finley is looking forward to meeting his new roommate and swimming and diving teammates.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - In their final preseason game of 2017, the Green Bay Packers handily defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-10, with plenty of young talent looking to earn a roster spot.

Three of those talents are the QBs on the roster not named Aaron Rodgers.

Brett Hundley started the game through the first half and while he only completed 11 of 21 passes for 99 yards, he scored one TD on his feet and another through the air to RB Aaron Jones.

Rookie QB Taysom Hill continued to impress in the third quarter, completing all four of his passes and wrapping up his last drive with a TD.

QB Joe Callahan couldn't get the Packers a first down in his two drives near the end of the game.

The Green Bay defense managed to hold the Rams' veteran backup QB Dan Orlovsky to a 53% completion percentage and intercept him twice.

The only Rams TD was scored with less than six minutes to go in the game.

The roster cut to 53 must take place by Saturday.

After that, the Packers will continue to prepare for their season opener hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 10th.

Kickoff is set for 3:25 Central time on WTAQ.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Milwaukee Brewers ended August with a 6-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

The win keeps Milwaukee 3-and-a-half games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central race.

Starting pitcher Zach Davies was sharp through seven innings with two earned runs and four strikeouts.

The Brewers' offense backed him up throughout, including a home run from Jonathan Villar in the fifth off of Nats starter Gio Gonzalez.

Davies 16th win ties him for the most of anyone in the majors with former Brewer Zach Greinke, who's now pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

All-Star Brewers closer Corey Knebel earned his 31st save.

Jimmy Nelson takes the mound for the Crew tonight. Coverage begins at 6:35 pm on WTAQ.