Incoming GOP Majority leader Rep. Steinke does not support limiting gun access

December 25, 2012, 5:26 am

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - A Republican state legislative leader says he will not support bills which limit access to guns. Kaukauna Representative Jim Steineke, the incoming assistant majority leader, says any legislation should focus on the people who commit crimes – and not just the guns themselves.

Gun control has been a hot topic for the new session, in the wake of the Connecticut school massacre and a pair of killing sprees in the Milwaukee area.

Steineke tells Gannett Wisconsin Media that Connecticut has some of the nation’s strictest gun laws and quote, “I don’t know what law we could have put in place that would have averted that tragedy.”

In the last session, two Democratic gun control measures never got to the public hearing stage.

One would have required criminal background checks for those who buy guns at shows or from other owners.

The other would have required semi-automatic handguns to produce micro-stamps on all the cartridges they fire.

Critics blame the National Rifle Association’s intense lobbying for striking down any gun limitations.

Gannett said the NRA spent $108,000 and 676 hours lobbying Wisconsin lawmakers in 2011 and the first half of this year.

Senate Democrat Fred Risser of Madison has been trying for years to pass gun control bills – and he says he’ll try again in the new session. He says he understands the formidable odds – but after what happened in Connecticut, Risser believes gun control has a better chance of passing now.

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Oshkosh man arrested following Christmas Eve standoff

December 26, 2012, 5:33 am

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say a 28-year-old man was arrested after an incident which forced the closure of streets around the 700 block of Oak Street on Christmas Eve.

Police were called around 3 a.m. when a female told them the man attacked her inside a home. She got out and told authorities the man had a gun and shot into the ceiling several times.

Just after 6 a.m., police barricaded streets around the scene. The police department’s crisis response and crisis negotiators teams were called. They tried to get in touch with the man, but could not.

Around 8 a.m., officers reached the man. He came out on his own and was arrested. No one was hurt.

Streets re-opened around 8:30. Police continue to investigate.

Brown Co. Sheriff's Deputy cleared of wrongdoing in high-speed chase crash

December 26, 2012, 5:33 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brown County prosecutors said a sheriff’s deputy did nothing wrong when he chased down a stolen car at 90 miles an hour, and struck another vehicle in which a woman was critically injured.

District Attorney David Lasee said deputy Rueben Meisner did not commit recklessness or criminal negligence in the July 7th incident on the Highway 41 expressway near Green Bay.

Authorities said the stolen car got into a hit-and-run crash in Oconto County – and officers had chased the vehicle south into Brown County before Meisner’s squad car swerved to avoid spike-sticks that another deputy laid on the road to try and stop the offending driver.

The squad car slammed into a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Michelle Lecker of Milwaukee. Her fiancé had minor injuries.

Meisner, who’s 54, returned to duty after being injured.

Reports said Lecker went through several months of rehab and treatments – and she has filed papers indicating that she may seek her medical payments in a civil lawsuit. 

Neenah officials vote to turn former shooting range into public park

December 27, 2012, 5:35 am

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Kids in Neenah will eventually play in a spot where police officers once practiced their shooting skills.

The city recently voted to spend $75,000 to remove contaminated soil on 12 acres where Neenah Police had a shooting range for about 50 years.

Once the land is cleaned up, it will be given to the town of Clayton, which will turn it into a public park. That’s not expected to happen for a while.

Neenah officials have until May of 2014 to remove lead contaminants from the police bullets.

Police lieutenant Jeff Malcore said it’s a small price to pay, considering all the years that his department was able to use the site for free.

The land was recently owned by the late John and Inez Noffke. Their estate donated the site to the town of Clayton. 

Local GOP lawmaker's plan aims to reduce "double dipping" of public workers

December 27, 2012, 5:35 am

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ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - Public employees who retire would have to wait longer to return to their old jobs, under a proposal from a Republican state lawmaker.

Allouez Senator Rob Cowles wants to reduce the practice of “double dipping” – in which retirees return to their jobs later, and then draw both a pension and a paycheck.

Right now, employees must be retired for at least 30 days before they can come back. Cowles wants to extend the waiting period to between 90 and 120 days.

Officials say retirees often come back because it takes longer than expected to hire their replacements. Cowles says his measure would give agencies more incentives to step up their hiring processes, and bring in replacements quicker.

A state audit recently showed that 2,800 state and local public workers retired, came back, and then got pensions and paychecks at the same time.

Cowles also says the state needs to have clear policies in place for investigating cases in which employees retired with a promise to be rehired later.

Those arrangements are illegal. But media reports said former UW-Green Bay vice chancellor Tom Maki was able to pre-arrange a return, after retiring in 2011 in protest of Governor Scott Walker’s actions to public workers. 

15 years later, sex offender notification process has improved

December 27, 2012, 5:35 am

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - It’s been 15 years since Wisconsin legally recognized that the public has a right to know where convicted sex offenders are living.

And a process that was once marked by tense public meetings has evolved into a much calmer process in which the public can use the Internet to keep closer tabs on sex offenders in their neighborhoods.

Officials say there’s been a grudging acceptance by people to the idea that sex offenders have a right to live someplace after they’ve done their prison time.

When the notification law was first passed, residents who were about to become neighbors with sex offenders got into shouting matches with officials at meetings about the offenders’ placements.

But now, Appleton Police Sergeant Polly Olson tells the Post-Crescent that very few people attend such meetings – those attending have gotten a lot quieter – and the meetings are not even held in many cases.

Schools and neighborhoods get more targeted notifications nowadays, while residents use several state Web sites to stay informed. Also, Olson says law enforcement has adopted more effective strategies to keep an eye on sex offenders – and prevent them from offending again. 

Menasha police arrest three juveniles for Christmas burglary

December 27, 2012, 5:35 am

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MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Three juvenile boys were arrested and could face burglary charges after a break-in on Christmas Day in Menasha.

Police in Menasha say they got a burglary alarm call around 10 p.m. at Mondi Akrosil, a paper converting company on Garfield Avenue.

Officials say they found two 12-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy, who were trying to run away.

Police say the boys had property that was stolen from inside the business.

The boys have been released to their parents.

Charges still pending against two men in Green Bay khat bust

December 27, 2012, 5:35 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Two men are still facing charges, after three men were accused of selling the illegal foreign drug khat in the Green Bay area.

30-year-old Abdignani Raage of Green Bay was recently put on two years’ probation for possessing a controlled substance, and possessing a non-narcotic with the intent to deliver.

37-year-old Abdimajid Said of Minneapolis is scheduled to have a two-day trial starting January 16th in Brown County. 31-year-old Hussein Salad of Howard is due back in court January 28th for a pre-trial hearing.

Police said all three defendants are believed to be immigrants from Somalia. Khat is illegal there – but authorities say it’s still very popular in that country.

It’s been illegal in the U.S. for almost 20 years – and federal officials say the high is similar to that of meth-amphetamines or cocaine.

Authorities said they intercepted two boxes of khat about 14 months ago, sent from the Netherlands to a location in Green Bay. Police said they arrested the three men when they picked up the package.

It’s the first khat-related case in the Green Bay area – but as the region’s Somali population grows, the drug is expected to become more common.

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Time For Wisconsin agriculture to stand up and be counted

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ)-It’s time for Wisconsin agriculture to stand up and be counted. The U-S-D-A’s five-year Census of Agriculture is getting underway – and those involved in the industry are getting Census forms in the mail.  The Census provides a detailed view of U-S farms and ranches, and the people who run them – and it’s the only comprehensive source of agricultural data for every state and county.

Extension set for senior drug program

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s Senior-Care prescription drug program will stay in business for at least three more years.

The federal government has renewed a waiver which allows the state to offer Senior-Care as an alternative to the Medicare Part-“D” drug benefit.

Governor Scott Walker’s office announced the extension today. Senior-Care has been operating since 2002.

Xcel Energy looks to hire Kewaunee nuclear power station workers

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

≫ Next: Jobless rate increases in Green Bay area, private sector jobs lost in November

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It would require a move to Minnesota. 

A utility company that operates two nuclear power plants in the land of 10,000 Lakes is looking to hire some of the 650 workers who will be out of a job when the Kewaunee Nuclear power station shuts down in 2013. 

Xcel Energy is hosting a job fair for workers next week in Green Bay. 

The job fair is scheduled for January 3^rd and 4^th from noon to 8 p.m. at Country Inn & Suites Green Bay on the city's eastside.

Jobless rate increases in Green Bay area, private sector jobs lost in November

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - New preliminary local unemployment figures are out for November and the jobless rate went up half a percent. 

According to the Department of Workforce Development, the Green Bay Metropolitan area’s unemployment rate moved from 5.3% in October to 5.8% in November. 

That data comes from a household survey.   

According to a very small business survey, there was a net loss of 300 private sector jobs.  However, the public sector added roughly 900 jobs.

The figures are subject to revision and are based on data that is not seasonally adjusted. 

The Green Bay metropolitan area includes Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto Counties.

Appleton message therapist arrested for sexual assault

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton Police have arrested a massage therapist for alleged sexually assault. 

WFRV-TV reports four counts of 4^th degree sexual assault were referred to Outagamie County District Attorney’s office against 41-year-old James Storm, who also goes by the name Stiebs.

The incidents of sexual assault happen over the past year at Storm’s place of business Body, Mind, and Spirit on South Lawe Street in Appleton. 

Outagamie Co. man, 89, dies after falling through ice on ATV

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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TOWNSHIP OF CENTER, WI (WTAQ) - The body of an 89-year-old Outagamie County man was found in a pond on his property Thursday afternoon. 

OUtagamie County Sheriff's say the Township of Center man fell through the ice while traveling on his ATV. 

The man was apparently clearing snow off the ice.

Authorities are not sure when exactly the accident happened. Fox 11 reports a family member says the last the time the victim was seen was Wednesday morning. 

No foul play is suspected and an investigation is underway. 

 

Sheboygan Co. home consumed by fire, after garage blaze spreads

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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TOWN OF RHINE, WI (WTAQ) - An attached garage fire in Sheboygan County quickly spread to the home which is being considered a total loss. 

The Sheriff’s Department says the fire call came in around 1:40 p.m. to a home at N8558 Ridge Creek Road in the Town of Rhine. 

Several fire departments were dispatched, but the fire spread and completely consumed the home. 

The fire intially started in the garage, but the blaze is being investigated by the Sheboygan Co. Fire Investigation Team.

There were no reported injuries. 

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family. 

 

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Salvation Army of Brown Co. comes up short in Christmas campaign goal

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Bells have stopped ringing for the Salvation Army of Brown County and the Christmas campaign fundraising efforts are coming up short again this year.  Capt. Ken Shiels says they are short nearly 30% of their $1.2 million fundraising goal, with around $840,000 raised. 

Shiels says there is never disappointment because the blessings they receive far outweigh any disappointment.  But now fundraising continues, as the organization looks to bring in donations through the mail and for people looking to write it off for tax purposes. 

Shiels says if they don’t reach their goal, they will have to start looking at cuts in programs for those in need.  

Shiels says they never expect to reach their goal through only the bell ringing red kettle campaign.  They are just over 3% off the mark from last year. 

At this point, the Salvation Army of Brown County has no plans to extend bell ringing or to bring out the red kettles again like they did last year when they were short.

Fire damages Omro restaurant

December 28, 2012, 7:35 am

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OMRO, WI (WTAQ) - A fire caused damage to a restaurant in Omro.

It broke out around 11 p.m. Thursday at Las Brasas Mexican Restaurant on West Main Street.

Authorities say an officer driving by spotted smoke coming out of the building. A great deal of smoke damage to the building, but no injuries. 

No word on the cause.

Retirees accounts could go down in 2013

December 29, 2012, 8:06 am

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ)-Retired public employees in Wisconsin could see their monthly payments decrease as much as 13% next year. The Department of Employee Trust Funds says in preliminary estimates that monthly payments to investors in the Wisconsin Retirement System's Core Fund are projected to either remain the same or drop up to 13%. The exact amount that annuities will be adjusted will be released in March.

St. John's Evangelist homeless shelter cited for violating 64-bed permit

December 29, 2012, 8:06 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay has cited a downtown homeless shelter for allegedly violating occupancy limits.

The target is St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter, operated by the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay at 411 St. John St.

The citation alleges the shelter violated local zoning codes on December 21st and “continuously thereafter.”

Mayor Jim Schmitt has taken issue with the shelter is run, as the homeless are kicked out during the day. Before that, Schmitt called about a drunken homeless man urinating outside his home window in a nearby park. 

The two sides met last Friday about capacity issues, the Green Bay Catholic Diocese has maintained is it has an overflow plan that was part of the approved permit. 

The city isn’t commenting further but the Diocese released a short statement saying the shelter is working with the city in a good faith effort to address the issue of homelessness and would not comment further.

Green Bay east side water main break leads to flooding, boil water advisory

December 30, 2012, 9:09 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Major flooding and water quality damage are some of the issues following a water main break Saturday on Green Bay's east side.

Officials say it happened on Mason Street, just east of Bader and Main around 6:30 a.m.

A small area of the eastbound lanes of Mason Street remain closed and it could take 48 hours to re-open completely.

“We probably lost a million gallons, at least,” Green Bay Water Utilities General Manager Bill Nabak told FOX 11.

After one of the two major, 3 foot-wide water mains that carry water from Lake Michigan to the city broke.

“I'm assuming we're going to have to replace that whole piece of pipe,” said Nabak.

The general manager of the city's water utility says the 55-year-old pipe shot water nearly 20 to 30 feet in the air, taking neighbors and utility crews by surprise.

"You hope to get around 100 years out of it,” said Nabak. “We just tested them two years ago and we didn't see any bad spots.”

Crews tried to clear sewer drains clogged by snow and ice.

The water utility manager says proper water pressure was restored to the area. His crews are tracking down a replacement pipe as quickly as they can. But, a boil water advisory remains in effect until Tuesday.

The Wisconsin DNR says it wants people living near the water main break to boil their water or used bottled water. This includes anyone living east of Bader and Danz streets.

No word on what caused the break to happen, or how much repairs will cost.

The Village of Bellevue says this warning does not apply to Bellevue residents. Bellevue, Allouez, De Pere, Ledgeview, Howard and Lawrence residents receive water from the city of Manitowoc and are not connected to the Green Bay water utility system.

Meantime, as the water flooded nearby intersections, Green Bay Police had the difficult task of keeping drivers out of harm's way.

"The undermining to the concrete is pretty major, so it's going to be shut down for quite a long time,” said Captain Paul Abel with the Green Bay Police.

Police say many drivers weren't heeding the "road closed" signs, and found themselves with flooded engines. But, others planned ahead and took alternate routes.