APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Forecasts for unseasonably warm temperatures are affecting preparations for Sunday's Fox Cities Marathon.

Race official Amanda Secor explains how they are preparing for Sunday's anticipated high of 87 degrees.

"We're adding additional water.  We're putting additional ice on the course.  We're going to be staging some cooling buses along the course and at the finish line."

Secor notes they are also prepared if things turn more serious.

"There are lots of medical patrols out on the course, medical tents.  Any course marshal at an intersection or anybody at our water stations can get them the medical attention that they need." 

During the race, Secor says a color-coated set of flags will be used.  Those flags will be displayed at each water station so participants know the current status of the marathon.

She notes things will start under a yellow flag.

"It's less than ideal conditions for people.  What we're going to ask them to do is to slow down their pace, take in more water."

Secor expects things will move to a red flag alert as temperatures warm.

"If anyone feels that they are at risk for heat-related illnesses, they should just stop the race."

Secor says those people can ask for either help to continue down the course or a ride to the finish line.

If a black flag comes out Sunday, that will indicate that the course needs to be shut down.

Secor notes race officials have started contacting marathon participants, offering them to go from the full-marathon to the half-marathon, if they feel that is more suited to their skill set and training regiment.

That switch can be made at no extra cost, with a discount being offered for next year's full-marathon entry rate.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The future is uncertain for more than 600 Appleton Coated employees.

"There is a pending sale right now," said Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.

"There were either one or two bidders, but there have been a number entities that have been interested in Appleton Coated," explained Nelson.

According to court documents, the sale could be finalized at a court hearing Friday in Outagamie County Court.

"I will be filing an objection to the proposed sale. Because we want to make sure that all the bidders out there will have enough time to do their due diligence, to put forth proposals, and hopefully someone will come forward that will commit to continue running at its current scale," said Nelson. 

Last month, the company filed for receivership, which allows the company to operate while looking for a new buyer.

Appleton Coated makes products used in high-end commercial printing, textbook publishing, and a variety of specialty packaging.

A decrease in demand for paper during a digital age has been cited for the company's struggles.

The company has been a major employer for the area for decades.

"Companies are hiring all over the place, and there will be a lot of places looking for them," said Jim Golembeski, with Bay Area Work Force Development.

Golembeski says his organization is working with the company, should a new owner choose to lay off workers.

"When the time comes, we know what we're doing. We're going to go in and provide those workers with everything they need to move one."

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Workers at some hotels in Brown County are adding a new skill.

"It stands out quite a bit once you've had the training, so our staff knows what to look for, our managers know what to look for."

Ron Zellers, General Manager at the Hampton Inn in Ashwaubenon, tells Fox 11 his staff, as well as other area hotel workers, are training to be able to spot and report signs of human trafficking.

Zellers also is the President of the Green Bay Lodging Association.

"The problem for both, on our end as operator of a hotel, and the other side of it, where someone basically is being a modern-day slave."

Lt. James Valley says the sheriff's department just started training staff at area hotels, but he says the program has been in the works for more than a year.

"Kind of work together in partnership where they can help us, and we can help them combat the problem."

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center says human trafficking is when someone is forced to engage in sex acts against their will.

Valley says hotel employees are being trained to catch the tell-tale signs, like a don't not disturb sign on a door for more than couple days.

"A lot of the individuals that come in, that are individuals of sex trafficking, they pay cash or they put the do not disturb sign for five days."

He says the program has already led to arrests, "We responded, knocked on the door, and found there was human trafficking going on in the room."

Hotel managers, like Zellers, say it's a collaborative effort working to end sex trafficking in the area.

MILWAUKEE, WI (METRO) - A De Pere businessman is accused of defrauding Wisconsin taxpayers out of over one-million-dollars.

Ronald Van Den Heuvel was indicted this week by a grand jury in Milwaukee on 14-counts.

Court documents show the 62-year-old received more than nine-million-dollars in loans and investments for his "Green Box" business plan. Around 1.2-million-dollars came from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Van Den Heuvel then spent the money on himself by buying a new Cadillac Escalade, Green Bay Packers tickets and other items.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is making a difference for local charities.

The organization donated $133,000 to ASPIRO, Green Bay YMCA and Special Olympics program Wednesday.

All charities send volunteers to work the marathon.

Over the last 18 years, the event has donated more than $1.3 million to 18 charities that provide volunteers for the event.

Green Bay marathon board president, Brighid Riordan tells Fox 11 the race is more than just a race.

"We have never been just a foot race, we were born to be much, much more from our very first days and we started this race with the intention of always being bigger than a foot race."

Next year's marathon is scheduled for next May.

PITTSBURGH, PA (WTAQ) - Adam Frazier clubbed a walk-off home run in the ninth inning as the Pirates topped the Brewers, 6-4, in Pittsburgh.

Frazier also laced a two-run triple and scored twice as Pittsburgh ended a seven-game slide and prevented a three-game sweep at home.

Felipe Rivero earned the win.

Jesus Aguilar and Domingo Santana left the yard for Milwaukee. Corey Knebel was charged with the loss after giving up the walk-off homer.

The Brewers are one game behind Colorado for the NL's final Wild Card spot. The Rockies Dropped their matchup in San Francisco.

They remain three-and-a-half game behind the Cubs in the race for NL Central lead as Chicago lost as well.

Milwaukee will host the Cubs in a four game series beginning tonight at Miller Park. Pre game show at 6:35 on WTAQ.

NICHOLS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A 22-year-old Nichols man is in jail after being stabbed Wednesday night.

The Outagamie County Sheriff's Department says a 20-year-old Green Bay woman stabbed the man with a kitchen knife.

This happened in an apartment on Krull Road.

Deputies say the man suffered a non-life threatening shoulder injury.

After being released from the hospital, he was taken to the Outagamie County jail on a non-related manner.

APPLETON, WI (WLUK-WTAQ) - Appleton Police say a woman was shot several times at a home in the 3300 block of E. Canary Street, on the city's southeast side.

Police say the 48 year old woman was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.

A 58 year old man has been taken into custody.  Police say he told them about the victim inside.

The call came in around 2 this morning.

Police say this was a domestic, isolated incident... and there is no threat to the public.

More information is expected to be released sometime today.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Some of the 600 employees at Appleton Coated have been temporarily laid off.

Letters were sent out to an undisclosed amount of workers Thursday, saying the layoffs will last until at least month's end.  However, no end date was given.  

Ron Kohl of Harrison is among those affected.

"We didn't realize that it was going to happen this fast.  We thought we might have a little time to get some of our odors out and supply our customers, but that was kind of out of our control, and basically, out of our management's control."  

As is Jim Weyenberg of Little Chute.

"Everything is shut down.  All of the employees that are currently working did a great job, shut down, cleaned everything up nice, so when we get called back into work, all we have to do is fire up the machines and get them running." 

The maker of high-end commercial printing products was auctioned off earlier this week, but there is no word of who was the winning bidder.

Court documents indicate a sale could be finalized on Friday.  

Employment levels going forward will be left up to the new owner.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A new UW-Oshkosh study sheds light on the economic impact of a popular summer event.  

It claims EAA AirVenture has an annual impact of $170,000,000.  

Direct spending in a five-county region - Winnebago, Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, and Outagamie- totaled $121,000,000, with another $50,000,000 spent at area businesses.  

The UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center surveyed hundreds of visitors and exhibitors on their spending patterns during the week-long, late July event.

In 2017, 590,000 people from a total of 80 countries attended AirVenture.

Next year's EAA AirVenture is scheduled for July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay Police K-9 has called it a career after seven years on the force.

A Thursday ceremony marked K-9 Vilac's retirement.

The 11-year-old German Shepherd, who is trained in both patrol work and drug detection, recently started suffering from medical issues.

Vilac will live with his handler, Officer Rodney Reetz.

"We just bonded right off.  Him and I were a great fit right from the day we met.  We just clicked."

Vilac's final shift was last week.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - Kris Bryant belted a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning as the Cubs rallied for a 5-3 win over the Brewers to open a four-game series at Miller Park.

Javier Baez tied the game at three for Chicago with a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the ninth.

Kyle Schwarber also homered for the Cubs, who stretched their NL Central lead over the Brewers to four-and-a-half games.

Wade Davis got the win.

Jeremy Jeffress blew the save in the ninth and Oliver Drake took the loss in the 10th for Milwaukee.

Domingo Santana homered for the Brew.

The two teams square off again tonight. You can hear the game on WTAQ. The pregame begins at 6p.m.

MADISON, WI (WRN) - Wisconsin schools face challenges, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers on Thursday laid out what he believes the state should be doing to address them.

Delivering his annual “State of Education” address at the Capitol, Evers drew heavily on the words of former President Teddy Roosevelt several times by calling on people to demonstrate leadership and confront problems by seeking solutions, instead of offering criticism.

“The challenges we face in our schools, our state, and our nation have demanded that kind of grassroots, on-the-ground leadership from all of us,” Evers argued.

Evers focused in on school funding, student health, and transportation as key issues that need to be dealt with.

He criticized lawmakers for reducing tax dollars sent to schools and for rejecting federal dollars to help expand Medicaid programs, and also argued the state should be able to find a way to fund road construction in the state while supporting schools.

Many of themes are those Evers is expected to campaign on as he seeks the Democratic nomination in the 2018 race for governor.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County jury has found a 64-year-old Green Bay man guilty on two felony counts of Repeated Sexual Assault of the Same Child.  

James Widiger inappropriately touched a then 14-year-old girl numerous times over the course of several years.

The criminal complaint broke the assaults up into two time periods, with at least three assaults being reported during both.

Widiger was acquitted on two other counts, in connection with allegations that he was inappropriate with a 13-year-old girl.  

Sentencing is scheduled for November 21.  

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The more than 600 employees of Appleton Coated will have to wait at least a few more days to learn the future of the company.

An Outagamie County judge has pushed a court hearing on Appleton Coated's sale off until 2:30 pm Monday, citing the need to review the purchase agreement.

The maker of high-end commerical printing products filed for receivership last month, citing a lessening demand for its products in a digital age.

Appleton Coated was auctioned off earlier this week, with Industrial Assets Corp. of California having been identified as the winning bidder.

While an agreement to buy is in place, it needs the judge's approval.

Industrial Assets representatives say they are willing to wait until Monday but will drop their bid if no decision is made at that time.

On Thursday, an undisclosed number of employees received letters that they were being temporarily laid off.

While no end date was given, the letters stated the layoffs would last until at least month's end.

FOX CITIES, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with Sunday's Fox Cities Marathon are urging drivers to steer clear of the course.

Amanda Secor notes what will be the biggest problem areas for motorists.

"Highway 47 in Appleton between 7-8:30 am.  After that, we really kind of get off the main roads until we're in Neenah.  Wisconsin Avenue toward the end of the day, anywhere between 8:30 am-2 pm, will be closed between Elm Street and Riverside Park."

Secor notes all intersections along the course will be slow-moving at times.

"We'll have course marshals at every intersection.  Their first priority is to make sure our participants get through the intersection safely.  We'll allow cars to pass as we can but if you can avoid the course, it's really your best bet." 

She hopes that more than just runners turn out on Sunday.

"The journey can get kind of long if you end up on stretches where there is not someone there to cheer you on.  We encourage people to go out on the course, cheer, make some signs, take some noisemakers."

Secor also has a request for folks who live along the course.

"We are asking them to put out a sprinkler so the participants can run through that.  It's going to cool down the air around the sprinkler for awhile.  By them running through, they are going to be able to cool down on their skin as well."

Between all weekend events- which include a full-marathon, half-marathon, 5K, and kids run- Secor expects roughly 5,000 participants.  

She notes sign-ups for the full and half-marathons are down slightly.

You can also read more about how race officials are preparing for unseasonably warm temperatures, which are expected to be in the mid-to-upper 80's at race time, as well as the story of one participant who is running her 100th marathon.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Area Public School District is looking to fill a seat on its school board.  

Julie Jansch has notified the district she is resigning, effective October 17, citing a move to De Pere.

Anyone interested in the seat is asked to visit the district's website or call 920-448-2101 for more information.  

An appointment is expected in November, with the seat up for reelection in April.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Cash bond has been set at $750,000 for a 58-year-old Appleton man accused of killing a woman who lived with him.  

Johnny Scott is charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide and Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety for allegedly shooting Annie Ford multiple times early Thursday.  

Officers responded to the house three times that night, reportedly due to an ongoing argument over money.  Scott allegedly claimed Ford stole $800 from him.

Ford's 15-year-old son was home at the time and reportedly heard the gunshots, seconds later finding his mother on the floor.  

Scott allegedly also threatened Ford's son with the weapon. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 28.  

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - An Allouez restaurant is celebrating Oktoberfest.

For an eleventh year, Lorelei Inn is asking for five dollar donations to get into the beer, brat, and music filled event.

Owner David Hack says the money is given to a variety of local charities, with north of $30,000 having been dished out the past three years alone.

The Webster Avenue party runs both Friday and Saturday from Noon to 10 pm.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Ground has been broken on a home that honors a local volunteer.

The Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity's first 'Legacy Build" pays tribute to late Re-Store volunteer Patrick Costello, who died last year.

The house will be located in the 600 block of Locust Street, which is the same street Costello grew up on.

Costello's architect son approached Habitat officials about designing and building the home.

Executive Director Cora Haltaufderheid says "by that time, the stars aligned and we knew, we knew that was the decision. I let Sue, the family pick where they wanted this home to be, and her words exactly were, 'Patrick will be able to watch over it because he rests down at the cemetery at the end of the road,

A family of six will purchase the house.

This will be the 107th Habitat for Humanity home in Brown County.