GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A former Packer was in Green Bay sent a Powerful message to students Wednesday

It may not seem like it, but the founder of the Lambeau Leap, Leroy Butler had to hurdle quite a bit of adversity to get to his dreams.

The message of not letting bullies and dream crushers stand in your way was given to students Wednesday at Tank Elementary School in Green Bay.

Butler explained his roots and gave credit to the teachers that helped him achieve his goals.

"My story is the African American in the projects with braces on my legs, in a wheelchair with a single parent."

Butler said he grew up in the heart of the inner city where crime was out of control.

He told students that he was a victim of bullying.

"I was picked on everyday, but I ingorned it."

Butler admitted for him, it came easy, but that might not be the case for everyone.

"I know not everyone can do that, but have you tried it, that's what I want kids to do."

Butler  also praised teachers for helping kids believe in themselves.

He told students his story of the Projects to the Leap is a story he uses to encourage kids to believe in themselves and to follow their dreams. 

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - A Menasha man has a remodeled bathroom thanks to a nationwide effort that aims to improve veterans' lives.

The 'Baths for the Brave' program stopped at Bronze Star recipient Norman Bodway's house Wednesday.

The renovations include a new shower that is meant to improve accessibility.

"This is going to be a lot easier to get in and out.  I think it's going to be great."

Bodway saved at least five lives in the Korean War.

'Baths for the Brave' also did the same Wednesday for nine other veterans across the country.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Seven Lawrence University students performed a Wednesday concert for local inmates.

The music students were at Oshkosh Correctional Institute for a second straight year.

Ben Portzen was among those playing.

"The cool thing about a school like Lawrence is that any student who goes there would be super into performing here, super into doing any kind of community outreach because if you're studying music at Lawrence, you're studying music just to brighten people's days."

It's part of the Department of Corrections' effort to provide positive opportunities for inmates.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A $5,000 Triple-A grant aims to help the Green Bay Area Public School District improve one aspect of student safety.

District Safety and Security Coordinator Chris Collar says the grant allows them the purchase LED stop paddles, safety vests, whistles, and crosswalk signs.

"When we we're approved for this program, we knew we needed to upgrade not only our stop signs, but we needed to upgrade our vests for our employees to make sure that they can be as safe as possible, as it's super congested around our schools before and after school."

Funding will be split between eight schools: Eisenhower, Lincoln, and Leonardo da Vinci elementary schools, Washington, Franklin, and Lombardi middle schools, as well as Preble and East high schools.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Residents of one Oshkosh neighborhood are uniting to promote safety.

Shirley Brabender-Mattox is among the Jackson Street homeowners between Church and West Murdock avenues who have put up yellow signs to remind drivers to slow down.

It's in response to the increasing number of vehicle crashes at the street's intersections.

"We're concerned about the pedestrians.  We've got kids that go to school right over there, about people that are walking their dogs, people on bicycles."

Police Officer Kate Mann says they've heard the citizens' concerns.

"We have officers go and sit in the area and run radar or laser."

The Neighborhood Association says it's pushing to lower the street's 30 mile per hour speed limit and have speed bumps added. 

In 2014, there was only one crash at the intersections of Jackson and Irving, Scott, and Lincoln.  Two years later, those figures rose to 7,5, and 4, respectively.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Around 50 people gathered at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for a suicide awareness and prevention walk.

It was in honor of the 20 veterans that commit suicide each day.

Organizer Kayley French tells FOX 11 the walk is to remind veterans that they have support.

"The big thing is comradery and it brings all these people together and they realize they're not alone."

Wednesday's walk and vigil are part of the campus' week-long celebration of veterans, past and present.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Oshkosh Common Council voted to sell part of the Lakeshore Golf Course to Oshkosh Corporation to build its new headquarters.

The council voted 6-0 Wednesday night.

Earlier in the meeting the council discussed selling 35 acres of the golf course to the company for $3.5 million, also giving the company $6 million in tax breaks.

Those who oppose the deal say there are plenty of other locations the corporation could move to in Oshkosh. They also cite concerns about what will happen to the other 70 acres of the course.

Dave Schuhart spoke to FOX 11. He grew up at Lakeshore Golf Course.

"My grandfather and my father were superintendents out there for 60 years."

He was there when the city council voted to sell part of the course to Oshkosh Corporation.

Schuhart and others who oppose the sale told us it's a mistake that will take away one of the city's gems.

"I have nothing against Oshkosh Corp. I just wish it would've been a different location."

Council members like Tom Pech Junior, who voted for the sale, said it wasn't easy for them either.

"I first started playing golf at Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course. I played golf there with my dad who passed away in 1976. I still have the putter out of his golf bag. So there was definitely some emotion there. You think with your heart, but you make the decision with your head."

For Pech, it came down to the economic impact. This move is expected to create at least 200 jobs and save even more.

"Engineers, accountant, marketing people. These are the high-paying jobs that people all talk about and to lose 450 of them would just be devastating."

17 people spoke at Wednesday's council meeting, all in favor of the deal.

"Our community tonight is taking an important step forward, economic growth and prosperity, recreational opportunities and enhanced quality of life for all Oshkosh citizens," said Jason White with the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation.

But the deal is not done yet.

Oshkosh Corporation's board still has to sign on. The company is considering other offers.

The company is supposed to make its decision by next month.

If the sale goes through there will be abot 70 acres left of the golf course.

The city says there is the potential to turn that into a park with recreation fields and maybe even a nine-hole golf course.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Mayor Jim Schmitt says he and his staff have done everything in their power to bring a new ballpark and entertainment district called The Shipyard to downtown Green Bay.

“While the outdoor event center is something that is critical to rejuvenating that neighborhood, we need a private sector investment.”

The private investment proposed is an Anduzzi's restaurant and a 2,000-person capacity concert hall from Festival Foods President and CEO Mark Skogen. Both would be attached to the $11 million outdoor events center.

Schmitt tells FOX 11 he believes the way some city council members treat developers is a reason Skogen is now considering taking his concert hall to Ashwaubenon.

“I think there is some frustration with the way the city council is dragging their feet in this, the lack of participation that the city is doing. They amended an agreement that we thought was solid.”

The agreement Schmitt is alluding to is for the stadium portion of the Shipyard proposal.

One key change the council made to the deal is requiring development agreements with both Anduzzi's and Skogen before the end of the year.

Aldermen Guy Zima and Chris Wery believe the council proved their support through a 9 to 3 vote for the amended development agreement.

“We've already shown that we're interested,” said Wery. “I don't know why it's off the rails now.”

The aldermen point to the fact that Skogen's concert hall hasn't been brought to the council yet for a vote.

Zima says Schmitt is partly to blame because they say his office controls all development proposals.

“The mayor has brought nothing to us. We've passed two concessions to make a lot available if somebody makes a proposal, but it has not happened yet.”

Schmitt says he hopes the council will hold final votes for all three components of the Shipyard next month.

That's the same time frame Skogen says he'd like to make an official announcement for where his concert hall will be built.

The stadium would be programmed 180 days a year, including Bullfrogs baseball, high school athletics, and minor league soccer.

The development agreement calls for the Bullfrogs' owners to put in $1 million, with the Stadium District Board pitching in $500,000. The remaining $9.5 million would come from the city.

The money would eventually be paid back through a 20-year lease agreement with the Bullfrogs’ owners and tax revenue created from any new development in the area.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ)- The Fond Du Lac Police Department is investigating the death of an infant.

Police were called Wednesday afternoon to a residence on the 100 block of East 2nd Street, for a baby that was not breathing, and did not have a pulse.

Fire Department paramedics arrived on the scene, and started life saving measures. Te baby was flown to St. Agnes Hospital, and was later prounounced deceased.

Police say the baby was a three month old girl.

PLYMOUTH, WI (WTAQ) - The body of a 46-year-old woman has been located inside the Plymouth apartment complex that caught fire early Thursday morning. 

Fire officials have not confirmed that it is that of Tammy Aschenbach, who was previously reported missing. 

The fire broke out around 1 am at a three-story apartment building near Division and Mill streets. 

Buildings on both sides were evacuated.

Crews from all Sheboygan County fire departments responded, as well as some from outside county lines.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY (WTAQ) -A 19-year old Fond Du Lac man has been arrested in relation to a fire on Jackson Street in Oshkosh earlier this week.

After the investigation, the man was taken into custody, and are recommending charges which include Arson, Recklessly Endangering Safety, Neglient Handling of Burning Materials and other Domestic related charges.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

BERLIN (WTAQ) -An Appleton man has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and delivering drugs in the overdose death of a woman in July of last year.

A $50,000 cash bond was set for 33-year-old Samuel Moreno-Baza.

Police say Moreno-Baza allegedly supplied the woman heroin.

Last July, police were called to for a woman that was found dead.

The woman was later identifed as 31-year-old Lacey Chier.

According to the reports, Chier was found with a syringe in her hand, and other drug paraphernalia in the home.

The reports also show Chier died of a heroin overdose.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A local county is addressing manure irrigation in its fields.

Kewaunee County Conservationist Davina Bonness says a recently-passed ordinance allows farmers to apply nutrients during the entire growing season (summer was previously excluded) through low pressure-drip irrigation at heights up to 18 inches.

"We're hoping to alleviate some of that liquid in the recharge events, which happen in spring and in fall, and hopefully that will decrease the amount of runoff and contamination that get into our waterways and wells."

This spring, 55 of the county's 82 wells tested positive for contamination. 

In addition to environmental benefits, Bonness believes the measure will also help farmers and the community.

"Less trucks on the road, because you're not hauling it.  Less storage, because you don't need to be storing it throughout the entire winter months."

While the county board unanimously passed the ordinance, Bonness notes some community members did share concerns, specifically centered on the height requirements and possible odor concerns that could result.

"With 18 inches off the ground, it will be close to the ground, the odors should be contained within the crop canopies."

Kewaunee County is the first in Wisconsin to pass this sort of measure.  

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A Fox Valley paper manufacturer says it's cutting 200 jobs. 

Appvion plans to shut down its carbonless paper production in Appleton and will consolidate production at a Pennsylvania mill. 

It also plans to move sheeting operations from the Appleton plant to a company-owned facility near the mill.

The changes are expected to begin in January and wrap up later in the year, with both hourly and salaried workers being affected.    

Roughly 300 employees will be left at the Appleton plant.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay alderman has filed an open records request for the names and dates that go along with a list of complaints alleged against him.

Guy Zima reportedly yelled at and used disparaging language toward city employees.

He says the special rules created for his future meetings with city workers are meant to silence him.

"They're harassing me from being able to have my free speech and to deal with the people of city hall as I have dealt with them for over 40 years."

The rules require Zima to meet with city workers in an office, with at least two employees present. 

The employee can end the meeting at any time, if feeling disrespected, threatened, or harassed. 

City Attorney Vanessa Chavez says the rules are meant to protect their employees.  

"As an employer, we have an obligation to investigate and see what we can do to ensure that those employees do feel safe."

Chavez says the rules will not affect Zima's ability to serve his constituents, which Zima says he plans on doing.  

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Fox Valley Technical College's Public Safety Training Center can now bring real life situations into the classroom. 

Criminal Justice Instructor Cory McKone says a new simulator tests students' decision-making skills.  

"Based on the decisons they make, anything from how they approach the scene, to the professional communications skills they use, will dictate whether or not they have to use force."

The system has more than 800 different scenarios and allows students to create their own.

"Perhaps, there is something happening in the community, where there was an incident that occurred, we can learn from, we have the ability to create those specifics scenarios."

Bryce LaLuzeren is one of the first students to use the program. 

"Very real. You have something in front of you, on all three screens, you have to look around, just as you would when you're in an unfamiliar situation."

McKone says each session ends with an explanation on whether use of force was justified. 

"If they make a mistake, this is the place they should make it."

McKone says it will be fully integrated into the police science program this spring. 

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A paper manufacturer in Appleton is cutting around 200 jobs.

Appvion, formerly known as Appleton Papers, says it is shutting down its carbonless paper production in the Fox Valley and consolidating production at a mill in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania.

The move affects both hourly and salaried employees.

“Our consolidation plan is an important operational improvement initiative designed to enhance Appvion’s competitive position in the carbonless paper market,” Kevin Gilligan, Appvion’s CEO, said in a news release.

“This move will allow Appvion to most effectively serve current and future demand for carbonless products and maintain our commitment to a market that we have been proud to serve since our company helped introduce this product 63 years ago.”

Appvion is also planning to move the sheeting operations at the Appleton Plant to a company-owned facility near the mill.

The loss of 200 more jobs is a blow to the Fox Valley, at a time when Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson tells FOX 11 the area has already taken too many hits.

"Since August the entire state has lost about 3,000 jobs. 1,000 are right here in the Fox Valley and most of them are paper jobs. These are good-paying, manufacturing jobs and it's estimated that each of these jobs supports about five additional jobs in the community."

Jeff Landin, the President of the Wisconsin Paper Council, says Appvion works in a difficult market, coated paper.

He said , however, Wisconsin continues to be the number one state for paper manufacturing with 30,000 people employed in the industry.

"There's a lot of brown boxes that are showing up at peoples door steps and we make a lot of those boxes in Wisconsin. So 90% of our production is in markets that are, for the most part, growing." Landin telling Fox 11 those growing markets include brown paper, packaging and tissue. He said some coated paper manufacturers are trying to diversify into other markets.

"It's not easy. It's expensive and it takes a lot of technology changes, but we have seen some of that and we'll continue to see that in Wisconsin in the future." Nelson says laid off workers will be able to find help locally, through possible job fairs and training.

"I stand ready to do whatever I can as county executive to help them" he said.

The moves are expected to begin in January and be finished by the second half of 2018.

About 300 employees will remain at the Appleton Plant when the production moves are finished.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Four people are displaced after a fire was found in the walls of a Green Bay apartment building.

Firefighters were called to 1211 Brosig St. Thursday night for the smell of smoke in the building.

Crews used a thermal imaging camera to find the fire in the walls.

Drywall was pulled from the walls and ceilings to get to the fire.

The fire was contained to one apartment with minimal damage to another apartment.

Four people were helped by the Red Cross. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - One person has died in a Winnebago County crash.

It happened this morning on Highway 44 and County FF, southwest of Oshkosh.

Officials say a southbound pickup truck crossed the center line and crashed into a northbound semi truck.

The crash has closed both the north and southbound lanes of Highway 44 at County FF.

This is southwest of Oshkosh.

A detour has been set up....: NB traffic will exit at Elo Rd and head north to WIS 91. East on WIS 91 to County FF. South on County FF back to WIS 44. SB traffic will reverse these directions.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A local organization plans to hand out winter jackets to roughly 3,000 children this weekend. 

Brown County's Salvation Army is in its 30th year of the Coats for Kids program. 

Dozens of volunteers were busy Friday sorting the coats at Green Bay's Kroc Community Center.  

"Infant size zero to three months, all the way to adult extra large.  Our high school kids, especially our high school boys who maybe play football or wrestle, they are quite large and need those adult-sized coats."

Social Services Director Nan Pahl says the new and gently worn items will be distributed to kids from low-income families on Saturday.  

"It'll be about 1,300 families coming through."

While Saturday is the only distribution day, Pahl says there is a way for them to help those who didn't register in time.

"We can do a thrift store voucher appointment with you, because some of the coats that are remaining after Coats for Kids, we will take to our thrift store."

Click here to learn more. 

Pahl explains why the organization offers the program.

"We know that there are families in our community that are struggling, and these aren't just families that are just waiting at home for somebody to give them something." 

She says they started collecting coats in September, with the gently used ones being dry cleaned at no cost to the Salvation Army.

The coats arrived at the Kroc Center on Thursday.

In addition to being low-income, Pahl notes applicants must be Brown County residents who can provide proof of address and household. 

Similar programs are held in many other cold-weather communities that the Salvation Army serves.