WAUPUN (WTAQ-WLUK) - If you live near Waupun, you may have seen flames shooting into the sky Monday night.

No need to worry, it was training done by the Waupun Fire Department.

Seventeen fire departments and about 100 firefighters participated in the live propane fire training.

The training consisted of five propane fire scenarios with a variety of propane tanks.

Instructors say the training is essential to the safety of firefighters and for teaching them how to put out the blaze efficiently.

Waupun fire chief, BJ DeMaa, tells WLUK it's important stuff.

"It's a high risk, low frequency type event so the more training that we can do in this type of an environment, it really prepares fire departments for what they're going to encounter in a real emergency."

The last training of this kind was held in 2015.

Two months after that training, one of the departments that participated used that training in a real propane emergency.

PITTSBURGH, PA (WTAQ) - Brent Suter and four relievers combined to toss a shutout as the Brewers clipped the Pirates 3-0 in Pittsburgh last night.

Suter tossed five innings of scoreless ball to pick up the win. Corey Knebel closed out the ninth to notch his 36th save as Milwaukee moved withing two of the final N.L. wild card spot.

Ryan Braun homered in the winning effort.

Pirates starter Jameson Taillon surrendered two runs over five frames to take the loss. Andrew McCutchen collected three hits as Pittsburgh dropped its sixth straight.

The Brewers are 3 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the Central Division and 2 behind Colorado for the 2nd wildcard spot.

They play the Pirates again tonight...pre game show at 5:30 on WTAQ.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A Northeast Wisconsin lawmaker is expected to be voted in as the next Democratic leader in the state Assembly.

Representative Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh could be selected for the post Tuesday afternoon.

Hintz would replace Representative Peter Barca, who is stepping down as Minority Leader at month's end.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Officers have identified the person killed in a weekend shooting in Grand Chute.

Investigators say 20-year-old Benjamin Graves died of a single gunshot wound on Sunday.

It happened in the 600 block of Olson Avenue.

Two Grand Chute teens, 19-year-old Trevor Teela and 17-year-old Elian Coronado, have been arrested in connection with the shooting.  

Both are expected to appear in an Outagamie County courtroom on Tuesday.

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 24-year-old Waupun man will spend nearly eight years in prison for trying to kidnap a woman last Thanksgiving.

Juan Arriaga admitted he had been drinking and was lonely prior to punching the victim, who was able to get away and run for help.

Arriaga was arrested following a short chase with Waupun officers.

In addition to 7 3/4 years behind bars, Arriaga will also spend 7 1/2 years under extended supervision.

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - People may see an increased presence of Coast Guard and other local responders in the waters off Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday.

"Basically, this is just a test to validate various federal, state, county, and city plans to respond to an oil spill, and use these lessons learned to improve our readiness."

Coast Guard Ensign James Lee says that while this is fairly routine for his agency, it is not for Door County.

"These are normally done at least annually, but we try to do them once every quarter.  We choose places all over the Great Lakes, primarily for us Lake Michigan."

While Lee does not recall a large spill taking place off the waters of Wisconsin, he says it is important to practice their response in case incidents that have happened elsewhere ever do occur in this area.

"On a much larger scale, you've had the Exxon diesel spill.  This will be something similar to how we would respond to something like that."

Lee notes things are scheduled to get underway at 11 am Thursday.

"There will be an increase of responder personnel over the next few days, especially on Thursday. We don't want (people) to be alarmed, it most likely is just in response to this exercise." 

However, Lee says people should not hesitate to report any actual emergencies that may occur during this time.

In addition to the Coast Guard, the City of Sturgeon Bay, Door County, the Green Bay Metropolitan Fire Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Venture Inc. are participating in the exercise.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police has cleared a threat that put multiple schools on temporary lockdown.

Investigators say a written note found at Southwest High School that threatened a school shooting prompted the lockdown.

Lombardi Middle School and MacArthur and King elementary schools were also affected.

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Sunday's Fox Cities Marathon will be a Greenville woman's 100th.  

Kelly Luther first started competing in 1987 and has participated in every Fox Cities Marathon since its 1991 inception.  

Because of that longevity, as well as its proximity to her home, Luther says it is no coincidence that this is the race she selected for the milestone run.   

"I had to check the race calendar schedule and make sure that I had my count in order so that Fox Cities could be the 100th."

Luther, who has been running since her high school track days, credits the sport for an important find.

"I believe that I would currently not be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis if it wasn't for running.  My symptoms first started, and I noticed them, on my long-distance runs."

Luther says MS has likely slowed her down a bit but certainly has not stopped her.

That's not the only challenge Luther has had to face.  There was also last November's unexpected passing of her husband Gordy, whom Luther calls her 'biggest supporter and fan.'

"He would kick me out of bed in the morning to go running, but he would also drop me off if I needed to start in a different location.  He would pick me up.  He would ride his bike along with me and support me when I needed that."

Luther expects mixed emotions on Sunday, since Gordy passed less than two months after the 2016 Fox Cities Marathon.

"It will be bittersweet this year because he won't be there, and that's the last race that we got to share together."

Luther says reaching 100 marathons doesn't mean her career is over.  She plans to compete in marathons both of the following two weekends as well.  

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Red Cross continues to send help to those affected by recent hurricanes.

Volunteer Jane Nesbitt left Green Bay for Houston on Tuesday.

The nurse will be helping at a shelter or outreach facility.

"We ask people if they have any healthcare needs as far as medication, assisted devices, and if we can help them out in any way."

She is the state organization's 216th volunteer to depart for either Harvey or Irma relief.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Emergency "blue light" kiosks, are just some of the safety features set up around the UW-Oshkosh campus.

That's just one of the services sophomore Madison Sehmer says she's taking notice of, "kind of scary, because I park far away from my car, so I do have to walk to move my car."

Sehmer says she was alarmed after hearing about the weekend incidents.

Police say on top of the attempted sexual assault complaint, they also received reports of theft and other disturbances.

But police believe the same 27-year-old man is responsible for all those reports.

"We believe that these instances are in relation to each other," said UW-Oshkosh Police Captain, Chris Tarmann,

Tarmann says the university has taken steps to ensure students are safe.

"We have over 100 blue light emergency phones across the campus."

Tarmann also says the university has an app, which gives students access to other resources, such as the "safe walk" program.

"If you're walking alone, you'd request that safe walk, and two people would meet you, and walk you from point a to point b through campus."

Another student says the resources gives him peace of mind.

"It's kind of concerning, but I'm confident in the UW-Oshkosh Police Department and the Oshkosh Police Department, and they have good programs."

And while the incidents can be frightening, Sehmer says she still feels safe.

"Right now, I don't really feel afraid, but if I did, I'd probably use those apps."

The man who was arrested in those weekend incidents is scheduled to be in court Wednesday, when charges are expected to be filed.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - After heated debate last night, Green Bay's city council decided to take another look at what to do with the city's deteriorating, and factually inaccurate, 9/11 memorial.

The process of taking down the falling apart memorial started last week on the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

However, upon Barb Jack's urging, the council will wait before doing anything else with the memorial.

“I mean you guys have to realize there is a remnant of a victim in there,” said Jack, who helped raise $250,000 to put up the monument in 2005.

Jack says the memorial's base not only includes victim remains, but also artifacts blessed by the Pope, and a piece of Pentagon stone. However, both Jack and the city say there are no documents to back up those claims.

Mayor Jim Schmitt doesn't remember anything that Jack described being part of the memorial.

“Zero recollection. Really, body parts, things from the Pope, I mean that would have caught my attention.”

Jack says she didn't hear about the council's vote to take down the memorial until she saw last week's ceremony.

That is when a steel beam from the World Trade Center was taken off the memorial and transported for temporary display and safe keeping in the police station's lobby.

Jack says the beam was given to the city specifically for the downtown monument.

“It is to be 24/7 that anybody can see it, touch it and look at it. It had to be in a place that is handicap accessible. It had to be like an outside memorial.”

Members of a subcommittee that looked into what to do with the memorial question Jack's claims.

Alderman Randy Scannell....“I think a lot of information that is currently floating around is a lot of misinformation and information that is very old.”

Jack says she reached out to Schmitt several years ago to fix the memorial, but was turned away.

“I did raise the money to give to Mr. Schmitt and it was not accepted, neither was the plans because Mr. Schmitt had said at that time that he didn't want anything to do with the people that originally built it.” “We never received a formal offer or proof of money to repair that memorial in full,” said Schmitt. “That was an inadequate memorial that the city shouldn't have accepted it as is and they should have been responsible for it and they weren't.”

Until the council decides what to do with the memorial, the steel beam will remain on display at the police station and the towers outside the Neville Public Museum will remain standing.

No estimated dollar amount to repair the existing memorial has been released.

PITTSBURGH, PA (WTAQ) - For the second night in a row, the Pittsburgh Pirates were held scoreless by the Milwaukee Brewers, who only needed one run to pick up the win Tuesday.

That run came from a home run in the fourth inning off the bat of Domingo Santana. The Brewers and Pirates matched each other for hits with six.

On the mound, there was no match for Chase Anderson, who strengthened his case as the Brewer's strongest pitcher after striking out eight over six scoreless innings.

Reliever Anthony Swarzak and closer Corey Knebel cleaned up for Knebel's 37th save and Anderson's 11th win.

With the Rockies loss the Brewers are 1 game back in the wildcard chase...still 3-and-a-half back of Chicago in the NL Central.

There's one more in Pittsburgh for the Crew before a crucial four game series with the Chicago Cubs.

Pregame coverage today begins at 5:30 p.m. on WTAQ. 

ALGOMA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Lakeshore community is celebrating a victory in wellness.

Algoma is one of the communities, nationwide, being recognized for having a "Culture of Health."

In front of a packed fieldhouse, Algoma Middle School-High School Principal and Superintendent Nick Cochart told hundreds of students the news Tuesday morning.

Cochart tells Fox 11...

"Just kind of humbled really by it all. 2 1/2 years ago when we started all this, did we ever think we would get here? No." Here, is being chosen as one of eight national "Culture of Health" winners from a field of more than 200 applicants.

"It's awesome, It's very much a dream come true," said Teal VanLanen, Algoma School District Community Activator.

VanLanen says the new Community Wellness Center is one example of the area's commitment to health.

She says the initiative called "Live Algoma" promotes overall well-being, where business leaders, residents, and even young people like student Madison Robertson share ideas, and solutions.

"I guess the biggest thing is to change your mindset, and to be more open to what other people think and to really collaborate with other people."

"Our youth are the driving force of all of our improvements in the community. They really are the motivators, getting together with our adults, and really designing a future that we want to see collectively together," said VanLanen.

Algoma will also get a check for $25,000. VanLanen has ideas for the cash.

"We're going to put that money back into our "Live Algoma" initiative. So that community members young, old, can apply for that money. Perhaps they have an improvement in mind that they see in the community. They're the solution holders, they know what to improve, and we just have to be here to support them through that process."

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the prize. The group, based in New Jersey, works to improve health and healthcare, enabling people to live longer, healthier lives.

CHILTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Calumet County voted Tuesday night to do something most counties in the state have already done.

That's add a half a percent sales tax.

Supporters in Calumet County say it'll help pay for some much-needed work in the county, but others are skeptical of a new tax.In the end, the board voted 11-to-7 to add it.

During Tuesday's Calumet County Board meeting, three people spoke to the board, asking them not to add a half percent sales tax.

"Vote no. Thank you," said Jeff Yelton of Stockbridge.

Board members who support the added tax told us restrictions from the state on property tax rates and a growth spurt in the northwest part of the county have put pressure on funds.

Calumet County Board co-chair Merlin Gentz tells Fox 11....

"That's what has led us to look at that half percent sales tax 65 out of 72 counties have gone that route."

The state already imposes a five percent sales tax across the board and allows individual counties to add a half percent for county projects.

"It's five cents on a ten dollar purchase, it's 50 cents on a 100 dollar purchase and five dollars on a 1,000 dollar purchase," explained Gentz.

Those against the idea, like Yelton, said the tax might sound small, but it's not fair to put on citizens.

"Could this just be another tax to feed an insatiable government appetite? Do you think farmers and other businesses want another tax and bureacracy ?"

Yelton also said the county should have taken its time and done more research before trying to vote on the measure.

"How many of you think it's a good idea to address a temporary issue, like debt level, with a permanent tax that never goes away?"

But Gentz says supporters said the additional two to three million new dollars, each year, would be a big help for capital improvements and would help offset property taxes.

"Buildings, bridges, infrastructure so we can really keep track of where we are spending those dollars."

The new half-percent sales tax would go into effect in April. Brown County just passed a similar sales tax, which goes into effect in January.

Outagamie and Winnebago counties have not yet added one.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - Fond du Lac Police Department responded to a carjacking incident at Wal-Mart located at 377 N. Rolling Meadows Drive early a little after 2 this morning.

The victim stated that her car was stolen from the parking lot by a male who acted like he had a gun and demanded the keys from her.

A description of the stolen vehicle was given out over police radio after it was stolen. The victim was not injured.

While Fond du Lac Police officers were responding to the scene, they observed the stolen vehicle travelling southbound on I-41 near S. Military Road.

At this same time, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department arrived in the area and the three agencies started to pursue the stolen vehicle southbound on I-41.

The 26 mile pursuit ended in Washington County near Hwy 60 with the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department after the vehicle crashed near an off ramp.

The lone suspect took off running and after a short foot pursuit he was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend for medical clearance and later transported to the Fond du Lac Police Department.

The suspect is a 15 year old male from Milwaukee and is facing charges of Robbery and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Consent by the Fond du Lac Police Department, and Felony Eluding and Recklessly Endangering Safety by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the traffic accident.

BLOOMFIELD, WI (WTAQ) - A body has been discovered in the remains of a Waushara County house that burned overnight.

Sheriff's officials say they still need to identify the person, whose body was located Wednesday morning.

Crews found the the Town of Bloomfield home was engulfed in flames when they arrived on Highway A around 9 pm Tuesday.

The fire's cause is still under investigation.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton Police has identified a person of interest in the September 13 armed robbery at Capital Credit Union.  

Investigators would like to speak with 24-year-old Jayvon Fleming of the Appleton area, who currently has an outstanding warrant.  

Officers say Fleming also has ties to the Madison and Chicago areas.  

Appleton Police warns people not to approach Fleming, as he may be armed.

Anyone with information on Fleming's whereabouts is asked to call Sergeant Jackie Gleiss at 920-832-5516.  You can also report anonymously by using the 'report' feature on the Appleton Police Department's app.

Capital Credit Union is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - With Bay Beach Amusement Park's 2017 season coming to an end this weekend, Park Manager Jason Arnoldi reflects on this year's increased attendance.

"There's been about a 10% increase in our ridership.  The Falling Star, the new addition to the park, has been a big hit.  Then a lot of the publicity we've had with being the 125th anniversary of the park. Our ten cent ticket nights have been a pretty big success."

In addition to the increased ridership, Arnoldi notes they got by this summer without any major issues with those rides.

"Typical maintenance issues that you always get with anything mechanical but other than that, no major breakdowns or anything."

Arnoldi notes they plan on making multiple additions to the park this offseason.

"We'll be starting construction on a westbound train.  Hopefully we'll have that open during the season next year.  We're also aiming at a new concession stand here for next season."

Arnoldi provides more infomration about that new train, which was just approved by Green Bay's City Council on Tuesday.

"It will be a cool, new ride.  Whereas the eastbound train gets a lot of time along the water, this westbound train will take you underneath the Zippin Pippin (roller coaster) and back around so you get the water views there as well."

Bay Beach will still be open this coming Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.  

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Cash bond has been set at $500,000 for the 27-year-old man accused of multiple Sunday morning crimes on the UW-Oshkosh campus.  

Joshua Immel faces eight charges, including multiple counts in connection with an alleged sex assault.

The allegations against Immel involve a total of four women at three separate locations.

Immel reportedly entered a woman's room on Amherst Avenue and told her to take her pants off, leaving when she screamed at him.

He then allegedly approached her roommate, pulling at her dress, kissing her neck, and grabbing her before she was able to force him out of the residence.

Prosecutors say Immel then headed to the area of Wright Street and West Irving Avenue, grabbing a woman's shirt and throwing her to the ground so he could get on top of her.

The suspect ran off when another man came to the woman's aid.

A few hours later, a woman told police that Immel pushed her to the ground and removed some of her clothes.  

Again, another man chased the suspect away.

A prelimineary hearing is scheduled for September 28.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay alderman responds to claims from Tuesday's council meeting about the city's 9/11 memorial.

Randy Scannell addresses public comments that stated the memorial contains a piece of Pentagon stone, artifacts blessed by the Pope, and even remnants of one of the attack's victims.

"If there are human remains in there, especially unidentified human remains, I don't think that's appropriate.  I'd like to know how they acquired those remains."

City officials started taking down the memorial last week, citing both wear and inaccurate information being etched into the monument.  The goal was to construct a new memorial in the coming years.

When the memorial was first constructed, Scanell- who was on the city subcommittee for the monument- says there were rumors about the claims that resurfaced Tuesday night.  However, he notes they were never substantiated, leaving him with questions.

"I would like to know exactly what is in that tube, where each item came from, and how that tube was placed without anybody knowing it."

Taking down the old monument is now on hold.

"This is going to go to the Parks Committee.  We can investigate this and do what is appropriate."

Scannell explains the timeline going forward.

"It will have to get through the Parks Committee, one, maybe two meetings, hopefully, at the most. Then it should come to council, and we should be moving forward in some fashion."  

Scannell notes the process of taking down the monument will be at a standstill until at least next month, possibly longer.