PULASKI (WTAQ) -- Police are on the lookout for suspicious activity in Pulaski.
Police officials say Christmas lights and decorations are being vandalized.
Reports of lights being cut and decoration damage are coming in during the overnight hours.
Police say to be on the lookout and contact Crime Stoppers at 920-432-STOP or contact the Pulaski Police Department.
KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) --
Kewaunee County is taking time to welcome residents opinions.
An newly launched online public survey is available for residents to participate in. Kewaunee County Administrator Scott Feldt hopes it is a way that county residents will use to speak directly to county government.
"When we hear residents opinions and get feedback, that helps us do our jobs better.
Feldt said they want to know exactly how the residents feel, and with the help of a web-based polling firm POLCO, they have developed four questions for residents to weigh in on.
- How satisfied are you with Kewaunee County Government?
-What places or activities do you enjoy most in Kewaunee County?
-Do you believe te Kewaunee County economy is geting better, staying the same, or getting worse?
-What is the most important issue facing Kewaunee County.
about county government, good things in Kewaunee County and the economy.
Feldt said with a couple of open questions, it opens the door for negetive feedback, but if that is how people feel, that is what they want to hear.
"We value all input. Of course we want to hear about what we are doing right, but we also want to hear about those areas that we can do better."
Feldt said an online survey gives people a chance to open up without having to speak to someone face to face.
A link to the survey can be found on the Kewaunee County website home page.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A charitable cause is bringing nine Fox Valley law enforcement agencies together.
Oshkosh Police Officer Kate Mann says they're helping the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign through the 'Badges and Bells' initiative.
"We're going to be in several different locations in the month of December ringing the bells for this 'Badges and Bells' campaign."
Mann says they've also joined forces to help other groups in the past.
"The St. Joseph Food Pantry, the Fox Valley NAMI, and the Wisconsin Special Olympics campaign."
She says efforts like the 'Badges and Bells campaign' bring benefits when it comes to crime-related matters.
"This is a way for us to get to know each other so when we do have a serious incident that we know each other and we have a point of contact, we can reach out to them."
Mann hopes the campaign, which will also include lighthearted videos on the agencies' social media accounts, also bolsters relationships with the public.
"I hope that (the residents) see that we're just like them: members of the communities in which we serve. We really wanted to humanize the badge and show the fun, lighter side of being in law enforcement."
Participating agencies are the Appleton, Fox Crossing, Fox Valley Metro, Grand Chute, Menasha, Neenah, and Oshkosh police departments and the Outagamie and Winnebago county sheriff's offices.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An autopsy is scheduled to be done today (Monday) after a three-month-old boy was found dead in Green Bay.
Police received a report of a child unconscious and not breathing a little after 3 P.M. Sunday afternoon.
The boy was dead when police arrived at the residence on the 1300 block of East Walnut Street.
At this point police say they're not calling it a suspicious death... but they are investigating.
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Ice skates might not be for everyone, but the Packers are hoping two wheels will allow more people out on the rink.
Lisa Florczak, owner of Ice Bikes of Buffalo, was in Titletown for the rink’s grand opening to introduce and demonstrate her 2014 creation: the ice bike.
“Well one day out of the blue, I received an email from the Green Bay Packers saying hey we saw these ice bikes on the internet, give us some information about them.
Florczak tells FOX 11 she came up with the idea of the self-balancing ice bike while running her water bike rental business on the Buffalo River.
“It’s been a perennial hit ever since. The ice bikes are great for people who don’t know how to ice skate, maybe people who don’t want to fall anymore.”
If you’re thinking an ice bike is the only way for you to get on the ice Jackie Krutz, Titletown’s Programs and Events Manager, says you will have to be a little patient.
“So the ice bikes are not available right now to rent, but they will in the near future. One thing you should know is if you want to ride the ice bikes, you need to bring your own helmet.”
Krutz says you also bring ice skaters with you if you want.
“They can coexist, but safety is our utmost concern for everyone, so we just want to make sure that we do it little at a time until everyone gets used to it."
“They were designed to not go fast,” said Florczak. “They were designed specifically and intentionally to be slow, so they could coexist with the skaters.”
Titletown will eventually have six ice bikes available.
You can only find ice bikes in Titletown, Buffalo and Rochester New York, Michigan and Vancouver, Canada.
The cost to rent them in Buffalo is $12 dollars per half hour. If you wanted to buy your own, the cost is $1,800.
However, you’d likely need to travel to Buffalo to pick it up.
MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) -
Madison Police say a car crashed into the State Capitol building Saturday night.
A spokesperson says they believe the driver had a medical emergency just prior to the crash.
The driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle and no word on the drivers condition has been released.
The building was not reported to have suffered any damage.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - We're less than one month away from a half-percent sales tax taking effect in Brown County.
It's scheduled to start January 1 and be in place for 72 months.
Deputy Executive Jeff Flynt notes the money will help fund nine major county infrastructure projects, including building a new expo hall to replace the aging Brown County Arena.
"Similar to when the Lambeau tax sunset in 2015, it will be used in exactly the same ways."
Flynt explains how things will likely progress with the expo hall in the coming year.
"You're not going to see much in the way of work at the expo hall. What you are going to possibly notice is that there's going to be a lot of behind the scenes work."
He notes what work will likely dominate the coming year.
"Roads and infrastructure. You're going to see a lot of the projected money collected going toward the highway projects."
In addition, progress is expected on a STEM innovation center on the UW-Green Bay campus and a new exhibit at the museum.
Flynt explains what sort of items will be subject to the tax.
"Clothing, computers, electricity, gas, water, admission or access privileges to entertainment or athletic events."
The tax is expected to generate roughly $147-million dollars.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ)- A Green Bay man accused of improper actions with horses in two counties will have both cases remain separate, according to court records.
Discussions on merging the two cases were held.
Sterling Rachwal will have a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled on January 12 in Brown County.
Rachwal has a trial scheduled in Mainitowoc County on December 14.
In court Monday, the defense withdrew a Not Guilty by Mental Disease or Defect plea.
Rachwal's jury trial in Brown County was canceled.
A judge ruled that bond will remain in place.
Rachwal faces charges for allegedly having inappropriate contact with a horse on Feb. 17 on a town of Eaton farm.
In Manitowoc County, he faces two misdemeanor counts, including intentionally mistreating an animal.
Recently, state Rep. Andre Jacque started circulating a bill to make sexual assault of an animal a felony.
HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Officers are looking for two people who they say attached a skimming device on a credit card reader at a Howard grocery store.
Investigators say it happened at Woodman's Food Market on the night of November 19, after 9 pm.
They believe the two went to a self-checkout with a few items, claiming the male suspect removed the credit card reader cover, placed it in his pocket, and replaced the cover with the skimming device.
All this while the female suspect attempted to block surveillance cameras with a package of toilet paper.
An employee found the skimmer and turned it over to authorities.
No word on if they got anyone's personal information.
Anyone with info is asked to call the Brown County Sheriff's Office at (920) 448-4230.
To remain anonymous and to be eligible for a reward, you can call Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text 'GBTIP' and your tip to 274637 (crimes).
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - The tree that will stand outside Lambeau Field this holiday season has been delivered.
On Monday, the spruce was cut down at Stephanie Wendt of Green Bay's house and transported.
Jill Brink is Wendt's relative.
"To have our tree there for Christmas, for the Packers, is great."
The tree will be decorated with more than 10,000 lights and lit up for Saturday's Festival of Lights event.
The free event starts at 5 pm in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Various organizations are taking notice of the current wind advisory in place for Northeast Wisconsin.
Wisconsin D.O.T. Traffic Safety Engineer Scott Nelson notes the strong winds can cause problems on the roads.
"Just making sure that you secure your load. If you're traveling in a larger vehicle and again, these high-profile vehicles are going to be much more prone. If there's been a gust reported over 45 miles an hour, we'll turn on our message boards."
Nelson says they keep an especially close eye on Green Bay's Leo Frigo Bridge.
"If we get to a warning, where we get the extremely high gust of winds, where it goes to a warning, at that time we would actually close the bridge."
WPS Spokesman Matt Cullen says they've "taken inventory of our equipment and our materials to make sure that if we do need to respond, that we can do so and we can make repairs safely and quickly. We do have crews that can respond directly from home to address situations, should they start to happen."
The advisory was set to expire at 6 pm Tuesday, at last word.
A recent fire scare at the Brown County Recycling Transfer Station is serving as a reminder of the proper disposal of batteries for your electronics. "Don't throw them in the trash" Mark Walter of the Brown County Recycling Transfer Station says it was a quick find by a loader operator that prevented disaster. "He noticed something smoking and quickly found it. That situation could have been much worse." The Brown County Recycling Transfer Station they have had two similar occurrences in the recent years. "In both of those cases it was an e-cigerate that caused the problem." Walter added if you have to plug it in to charge it, don't throw it in the trash or recycling. Isolate and take it to a place that can dispose of it.
BROWN COUNTY, (WTAQ-WLUK) - Brown is close to becoming the latest Wisconsin county to join a lawsuit targeting drug makers.
The counties believe the companies' marketing campaigns led to the opioid epidemic. But the companies targeted say that isn't the case.
Brown County’s executive committee unanimously approved a resolution to join the lawsuit, making it the second committee to do that in the past week. The full county board still needs to approve the move.
With no out of pocket costs, Brown County Corporation Counsel David Hemery sees little downside to joining the other counties in the lawsuit.
“The cost I see into joining this is more in time and resources.”
Online records show 48 of Wisconsin's 72 counties are part of the federal lawsuit targeting a handful of large drug makers.
A majority of the counties in NE Wisconsin are already part of the suit, which accuses the companies of making false claims about the dangers of opioids in order to make a profit.
“There is really not any area that you can think of that this opioid crisis does not effect,” said Hemery.
According to Hemery, among the areas impacted in Brown County include increased crime, jail overcrowding, more need for human services, and foster care for children of drug abusers.
The companies named in the lawsuit have said they are not to blame.
“We vigorously deny these allegations and look forward to the opportunity to present our defense,” read a statement from Purdue Pharma, one of the companies named in the suit.
Endo Health Solutions issued a statement saying its “top priorities include patient safety and ensuring that patients with chronic pain have access to safe and effective therapeutic options.”
Patrick Buckley, a Brown County supervisor, spoke to FOX 11.
“If we are able to succeed in a lawsuit and if we are able to bring anything back to the county, hopefully it can be put into other treatment or prevention programs for this.”
Hemery estimates a resolution to the suit could take two or three years.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police are investigating reports of shots fired.
It happened early this morning (TUE) in the area of Packerland Drive and Trojan Drive.
Police releasing the following statement:
On Tuesday, December 05, 2017 at approximately 1:51 A.M. GBPD officers were sent to 2665 Trojan Dr. (Birchwood Apartments) for possible shots fired.
Original information provided said there could be a person that was shot.
Upon arrival officers determined that there was no one shot and that there was no one injured. Officers believe one shot was fired and the suspects left on foot. The exact number of suspects is unknown at this time, but it is believed to be more than one.
Oneida PD and Brown County Sheriff Department assisted with setting up a perimeter and K9 track. The suspects were not located. GBPD Forensic unit was called in to process the scene.
This appears to be an isolated incident and the public is not considered to be in danger. GBPD will be continuing the investigation. No further information is available at this time.
If anyone has information concerning this case, please call the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3208. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward by contacting Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers by phone at #920-432-7867, through their website at 432stop.com, or by downloading the P3 tip app through Google Play or the App Store.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Strong winds have left many folks in Northeast Wisconsin without power.
As of 3:30 pm Tuesday, WPS Spokesman Matt Cullen says roughly 60 customers were still in the dark, with power having been restored to approximately 19,000 people.
"Some of the areas that have been impacted the most by these strong winds are Wabeno, Rhinelander, Minocqua, Marinette, and Menominee, Michigan."
Cullen notes the problems haven't been limited to just power outages.
"Downed trees, downed limbs, broken utility poles, the winds have caused all of that sort of damage."
In addition to the communities listed above, Cullen says they've also seen some problems in their largest service area, Green Bay.
"There were two sites in which we had to replace utility poles that had been broken because of those strong winds that had set in."
Cullen reminds people what to do when encountering storm damage.
"Stay at least 25 feet away from any downed power line and immediately report that downed wire to us or a local law enforcement agency."
He says crews will continue to work throughout the day to restore power and clean up damage, expecting all customers to have power by the end of Tuesday.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A special prosecutor is being asked to look into two separate complaints involving elected officials in Green Bay.
Brown County District Attorney David Lasee cites a conflict of interest in looking into five aldermens' allegations that Mayor Jim Schmitt mishandled funds in connection with the Hotel Northland project.
Alderwoman Barbara Dorff then filed a complaint against those aldermen, claiming a violation of the state's open meetings law when they introduced the allegations at an October press conference.
Both Schmitt and the aldermen have refuted the claims against them.
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - More information has been released on a November incident at a Fond du Lac restaurant that led to three St. Mary's Springs football players being held out of their state championship game win.
Police reports say the Pizza Ranch manager told them the players took pizza from the buffet without paying on November 15, finally paying when confronted.
The manager claims there were other incidents with team members throughout the year, such as pizza being stuffed behind pictures, ketchup being squirted on walls, and foul language being used.
Midway through the football season, the manager reportedly contacted the school to report the behavior but got no response.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A local food pantry has received a donation from the Packers.
The Green and Gold has teamed with Sargento Foods to provide $16,000 to Paul's Pantry in Green Bay.
The donation reflects $500 for each touchdown they've scored so far this season.
Wide Receiver Davante Adams leads the team with seven touchdown's this year.
"Obviously we're trying to win games and get into the end zone for ourselves and for the team, but when it can benefit another person, it drives us more to get in there."
Craig Robbins is with Paul's Pantry.
"This is awesome. This is going to help us through the holidays and we're going be able to provide a lot of food for a lot of families."
'Touchdowns for Charity' has collected more than $1-million dollars in its 15-plus years.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A $5,000 grant is meant to help a local animal shelter care for its current animals and start looking into opening a new building.
Safe Haven Humane Society in Green Bay received the money from Petco.
It was chosen based on an essay written by a 12-year-old girl Ellen Tellstrom, talking about how a pair of adopted guinea pigs have become her support animals for her health condition.
Kathy is Ellen's mother.
"What we were talking about on the way down here is how exciting it is that she's able to provide this cash, so someday the next children looking for their forever pets for their forever homes, she will be able to say she had a part in that."
The grant is part of Petco Foundation's 'Holiday Wishes Campaign.'
