GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- The first winter snowfall of the year means it is go time for local law enforcement and Public Works departments. 

In Green Bay, road clean up efforts began this morning and will continue into the late evening. 

Public Works Director Steve Grenier had his crews start with reducing snow on main roads. 

"During the course of the day, we will be concentrating on the major streets and we want to get most of that stuff down before we get on top of it."

Grenier says the real "snowfighting" will be done in the mid to late afternoon.

"We will initiate what we call a full plow event. That is when we take all the trucks we have and we start going through the city top to bottom."

Grenier said that will start between 3pm and 4pm, and will allow for safer travel during rush hour. 

"We are hoping to have our primary roads clean and open for the heavy traffic."

He added that much of the schedule was dictated by how long snow was falling today, which equals a late night.

"During the early evening hours, we will move into the residential areas and start plowing the residentials out. We hope that my 10:00pm or 11:00pm  we should be done."

Grenier said the one positive about the snow today was that it was an Alberta Clipper, so it was not as wet or as heavy as other snowfalls tend to be.

Brown County Sheriff's Department has responded to multiple accidents on the Highways. 

Sergeant Derrick Brown of the Patrol Division said even though the snow is ending, drivers still need to drive with caution.

"We have had quite a bit of snow on the roadways, but the roads are still slippery. Even areas like Highway 29 or I-41 look clear, but they are slippery."

Brown said the first major snowfall of the year usually results in multiple accidents, and today was not any different.

"We have had a number of cars that have just run into the ditch, a number of cars that have run into barriers or other object. We have also had several multi-car crashes as well."

He added that taking it easy will be especially important for the commute home tonight.

"Speed seems to be the biggest factor, so slowing down and keeping an adequate distance is important."

Forecasters are calling for blowing or drifting snow for this evening. Brown said that will add another element to the already slippery roads. 

"It is going to be very difficult for crews to keep the roadways clear, even if they are putting salt down."

The Winter Weather Warning is in effect for much of the area until 6:00pm.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Newly released city documents have some light on incidents that prompted a special set of rules that City Alderman Guy Zima was recently ordered to follow when he meets with city employees.

According to the documents sometime in 2017, Zima asked a city employee if she made a sex tape on her wedding night, and according to City Attorney Vanessa Chavez, three witnesses confirmed the allegations.

The documents did not say exactly when the event took place.

According to the documents, and employee said Zima made a reference to Kim Kardashian, and when the employee tried to change the subject, Zima to discuss the sex tape, and even said he's seen it a couple of times.

Zima responded to the allegations in a letter.

“I jokingly and perhaps insensitively made some remarks regarding wedding photos shared with me in the vestibule of the mayor’s office. I met with Human Resources Director Lynn Boland regarding the unintended incident. I offered a formal and/or personal apology but was told by Director Boland that it was unnecessary.”

Zima also stated in his letter that the allegations are “being promoted, pushed and insisted on by Mayor Jim Schmitt.”

The documents also include emails from Mayor Schmitt to city staff requesting an investigation on Zima.

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ) - The first notable snowfall of the season has contributed to several Wednesday accidents throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

• MANITOWOC - A vehicle has gone into Lake Michigan. Investigators say a 50-year-old Manitowoc man suffered minor injuries when he lost control of his vehicle in the 800 block of Manitowoc's Maritime Drive.  It happened around 10:30 am. Conditions have kept the vehicle from being removed.
• KAUKAUNA - A truck has tipped over on Interstate 41. Investigators say the crash happened on the on-ramp of Highway 55 to I-41 southbound in Kaukauna.  Those involved are reportedly doing alright. 
• DENMARK - For the second time Wednesday, a bus for the Denmark School District has gone into a ditch.  School officials describe the afternoon incident at the intersection of Highway T and Aspen Court in Denmark as 'minor.'  No word on if any students were on board.  This morning, eight students were on a bus that slid off the road on Town Line Road in the Town of Humboldt.  No injuries were reported.  A second bus came to pick up those students and bring them to school.  
• BLACK CREEK - A semi-trailer overturned on Highway 47 near Black Creek around 3 am. Investigators say the driver lost control and ended up with his arm pinned under the cab. He was taken to the hospital but is reportedly in good condition.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Police are looking into allegations that bullying landed an Appleton fifth grader in the hospital. 

Appleton Police, having been made aware of the matter on Tuesday, is investigating a case where a  Horizons Elementary student reportedly suffered a concussion and brain bleeding after being forcefully thrown to the ground. 

A Facebook post detailing the alleged situation has gone viral.

The school reportedly waited hours to contact the student's mother, ignoring the student's pleas. 

District officials, in a Wednesday statement, say there is "considerable misinformation" being spread on social media, adding that the school and its staffers acted appropriately. 

The school resource officer assigned to Horizons is investigating the matter.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A $5.5-million dollar donation will be spread amongst 160 local organizations that fight poverty in their communities.

The Partnership of the Community Foundations, which is based in Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh, works with the U.S. Venture Golf Open to raise the money.

Bay Area Workforce Program Operations Manager Matt Valquette says this is the first time the grant dollars exceed the golf outing's proceeds.

"Some grants come and go and when the grant funds end, so too do those services.  It's going to have a long-lasting permanent effect in our community."

Officials say the grants are necessary for the non-profits to fund all necessary resources.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A piece of land meant to play home to a new indoor sports facility has been donated to the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Grand Chute officials are giving away 20 acres of land at the Northeast corner of the intersection of McCarthy Road and Highway GV.

The land is valued at one-million dollars.

The facility will be funded with hotel room tax dollars within the Fox Cities.

Director of Sports Marketing Matt Tenhaken says they're focusing on tourism.

"Our goal is to bring athletes and teams from across the Midwest to the Fox Cities to experience all we have to offer here and create greater economic impact of the entire Fox Cities."

The final design is expected to be prepared for Spring 2018, with the facility opening set for fall 2019.

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ-WLUK) - The snow caused plenty of issues on roads throughout Northeast Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Yuri Bezerra recently moved here from Brazil. He veered into a ditch and took out an exit sign on I-41 southbound.

"If it wasn't for (the sign), there would be no way I would have stopped.  This is what stopped my car.  I've never driven in the snow before.  It's my first time driving in the snow."

While motorists like Bezerra drove through the heart of the storm, with mixed results, others like truck driver David Blenton decided to go a different direction.

"So far, with it being like this, the blowing only going to get worse.  If I see multiple accidents, I find a safe place to park, and I park.  I wait until it gets better."

A handful of notable accidents were reported throughout the area.  

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton police arrested a man on at least his 12th drunk driving offense overnight.

53 year old Patrick Schober was booked into the Outagamie County Jail Thursday morning, jail records show, for a count of “Operating While under Influence 10th Offense or more.”

Appleton police are expected to release more information this morning, and Schober could appear in court this afternoon.

According to online court records, Schober pleaded no contest to his 11th OWI for an incident in 2012.

He was sentenced to four years, six months in prison. His driver’s license was also revoked for three years, and an ignition interlock was ordered for three years.

It was not immediately known if he had a driver’s license or the interlock device at the time of this arrest.

He was released from prison on extended supervision on March 7, 2016, according to Dept. of Corrections records.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Three men have been arrested on prostitution charges.

Oshkosh Police says its Vice and Narcotics Unit and Criminal Investigation Division conducted a prostitution detail Thursday, focusing on people who are willing to pay for sexual contact. 

Officer Kate Mann says the men range in age from 30-37 years old, coming from Appleton, Kaukauna, and Winneconne.  

In addition to the prostitution charges against all three men, counts of Delivery of a Schedule II Narcotic Drug, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Narcotic Drug, and Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Non-Narcotic Drug have been referred against the Winneconne man.

A charge of Possession of a Schedule II Non-Narcotic Drug has also been recommended against the 30-year-old Kaukauna man.

Anyone with information on similar crimes is asked to call Oshkosh Police at 920-236-5700 or the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at 920-231-8477.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - With just a couple weeks left in 2017, Green Bay Police is touting a drop off in crime from last year.  

"It looks like we're going to end the year with about an 8% decrease in total crime.  At the end of October, we showed a 9.64% decrease."

Chief Andrew Smith says it's been an especially good calendar for the most serious crime. 

"We had no reportable homicides throghout the entire year up until today.  That would be the first year where Green Bay has experienced zero homicides since 1981." 

Smith notes burglaries are down 24% from last year, with reported rapes falling 21%.

Arson is the one crime category where there has been a notable increase, jumping 100% from 9 instances to 18.

Officer Mike Knetzger says the city's roads have also been safer in one notable regard this year compared to the recent past, with only one OWI fatality.

He notes that number has been as high as six in previous years.

It's an important issue for Knetzger, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver back in 2008.

He shares the department's statistics since that tragedy occurred.

"Over 6,000 OWI arrests.  The average BAC (blood alcohol content) of the drunk driver we arrest is .18 (when the legal limit is .08)."

The agency has only had the one incident since cracking down on drunk driving in February 2016.

For the positive crime reports, Smith credits both the officers working under him and the community partnerships that have led a large number of tips being offered.   

Despite the projected crime drop from last year, Smith says they're still looking to make improvements.

One possibility is officer body cameras, which could come in handy during events like one officer encountered in November.

Smith says a highly-intoxicated woman claimed the officer used excessive force, despite being three times the legal limit and having no recollection of the incident.

"We have a sworn affidavit from a witness who said this women reached out to him on social media and said 'I don't remember what happened, but can you lie about the incident, because I'm planning on suing the police department.'"

Prior to the incident, Smith says the woman was falling down drunk, refused to exit a stranger's vehicle that she had entered, aggressively approached the officer, and was belligerent to jail staff.

He believes the woman's injuries were the result of her intoxicated state.

Smith says the officer acted appropriately, but notes the case has prompted death threats to the department, reading 'all pigs should die,' in reference to law enforcement.

The chief says they'll work with the city attorney's office to look into possible charges against the woman.

He also notes the department has quite a bit of turnover on the horizon, with 13 retirements by year's end.

That total is projected to jump to 50-60 of their current 187 person staff within the next five years.

"We're going to be light-handed for probably the first three months of the year, maybe even four.  The good news is that crime really dips in Green Bay in January, February, and March."

As he has stated in the past, Smith says there is no shortage of applicants, noting he could 'hire 40 people today,' if he wanted.

However, Smith notes the desire to bring in 'the best of the best,' putting an emphasis on the applicants' character, in addition to any testing and past record.  

He also thanks the Green Bay Police Foundation for donating $67,000 to purchase the helmets and vests that are now in every squad car, as well as a $26,000 contribution that is used for department initiatives such as the Explorers program, implicit bias training, and 'Bring Your Own Five' basketball tournaments.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - City officials are reacting to the release of details into the misconduct accusations against a Green Bay alderman.

Court documents allege that Guy Zima asked a city employee if she made a sex tape on her wedding night, among other transgressions.

That prompted a special set of city hall rules being created for Zima.

Alderwoman Barbara Dorff was shocked by the allegations, saying further action needs to be taken.

"If I can file an ethics complaint without causing more harm to the person that has already been harmed, I am going to go ahead and do that."

While she would be fine with Zima resigning, Dorff does not expect that will happen. 

WTAQ asked Dorff if she's had any interactions with Zima in the past that were similar to those the court documents allege. 

She recalls a Protection and Welfare Committee meeting where the sale of the Oval Office Gentlemen's Club was discussed.

"I believe that he got way too detailed in his description of the conduct of women and what they do to men at the Oval Office.  He seemed to have some experience with that."

On Broadway Inc. Executive Director Brian Johnson plans to run against Zima next spring, saying the Ninth District alderman should resign, citing detrimental behavior.

"This is something that is directly impacting the city's ability to attract quality talent, to keep them.  It affects the residents of the district when he doesn't have the ability to interact with the individuals that he needs to interact with."

"He's asserted himself as the moral authority when it comes to the conduct of others.  To not resign, is almost to suggest that he operates on a different set of moral and ethical standards, and I just don't think that's acceptable."

Zima says his comments were taken out of context, claiming he offered to apologize when city staff confronted him about the conversation about the employee's wedding.  

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ) - Four Wisconsin faith-based organizations are teaming up to combat childhood poverty.

The Wisconsin Council of Churches, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Kids Forward, and ESTHER-Fox Valley have launched the 'End Child Poverty' campaign.

It aims to half the child poverty numbers within the next ten years.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig says they've researched the issue for the past three years, with the campaign being fueled by word of mouth.

"We want people to come together and inspire the legislators and governors to help lead this effort.  If we pull together as a state, we could dramatically reduce and ultimately eliminate child poverty."

Organizers say employment, education, and ensuring strong families are all ways to cut down on childhood poverty.

BAILEYS HARBOR (WTAQ-WLUK) - Four Door County sites are among the 110 throughout Wisconsin that will take part in an outdoor weekend event. 

The 118th annual Christmas Bird Count is a citizen survey designed to give a one-day snapshot of the birds wintering in the area. 

Volunteer George Cobb notes "they're trying to determine the health of the birds, generally, across the world.  The other thing is to try and figure out migration habits."

The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor is among those participating on Saturday. 

Cobb explains why he's taking part.

"I just find it fascinating and relaxing at the same time to be involved with nature."

Land Manager Matt Peter notes there are roughly 400 documented bird species in Wisconsin.

"It's the trends over time that really matter.  You may start seeing different birds that haven't shown up before, that you'll start seeing more and more frequently.  Or on the other side, maybe ones that you'll start seeing in lesser numbers."

Peter says that includes some birds that you won't see at a feeder.

"Canada geese is the biggest one.  There's a variety of different ducks that you may see."

Resulting data will be sent to the National Audubon Society. 

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ)- After seven years, Ashwaubenon School Superintendent Dr. Brian Hanes will be calling it a career.

Hanes announced his retirement date for next June.

"It's an emotional decision, After 36 years this has been such a big part of my life."

The school board accepted his retirement this week, which may be early to some, but Hanes said he did it for purposes of the job market and the future of the district.

"Out of respect to the district, this is the best time for them to go out on the job market."

The board stated that they will start the replacement search on Friday.

Hanes said he will stay on board through the replacement process.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Thursday was opening night for the newest Star Wars movie.

From Ashwaubenon to Appleton, movie-goers of all ages were dressed to impress in their best costumes in honor of the night.

In Appleton, R2-D2 actuallygreeted visitors and posed for photos.

Fan, and Brown County Supervisor Richard Sehadwald, tells FOX 11 he has attended every Star Wars movie opening ever.

"It's a family tradition. This is my daughter but even out in New Jersey my other daughter is going tonight, my son's and their family, they're all going, so it's a family tradition to all go to Star Wars movies."

This is the eighth movie in the Star Wars franchise.

The ninth is in the works and set to be released in winter of 2019.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A fire on Appleton's north side forced two people from their house Thursday night.

Firefighters say they were called to the 600 block of W. Parkway Boulevard just after 6:30.

When they arrived, crews could see smoke in the house. Firefighters quickly put out a fire on a living room chair.

Other areas of the home were damaged by smoke and heat, and the house cannot be lived in.

According to the fire department, two people were home when the fire started.

One tried to put out the fire with a pan of water, but that didn't work.

The two people got out of the house and called 911. They were not injured.

While the house had a working carbon monoxide detector, firefighters say it did not have any working smoke alarms.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The fire represents the second red bulb in the department's Keep the Wreath Green campaign.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A fundraising effort is getting underway to raise the $100,000 needed to repair Green Bay's decommissioned 9/11 memorial.

After initially deciding to construct a new monument, the city council reversed course in October, voting to save the current structure.

The memorial has cracks and contains inaccurate information.

Minutes from this week's parks committee meeting, the two repair estimates are $70,000 and $100,000.

The goal is to wrap up fundraising by July 1 and complete the repairs by September 11.

On Tuesday, the full city council will consider the matter.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A $500 cash reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information on a stolen kitten.

Oshkosh Area Humane Society Admissions Manager Cari Tetzlaff expects the small animal, named Spanky, was taken from one of the facility's cat rooms.

"Sometime between 5-6 pm, we believe he was stolen.  We had a rush of visitors come in at the end of the business day.  It was discovered the following morning that he was missing."  

While only staffers can let guests into the locked rooms, it's believed someone may have gotten into the room while another person was being let out.

The person responsible may have snuck the cat out of the building inside a jacket or bag.

"He's a little, brown tiger kitten.  He's about 3 1/2 months old, so he's quite small still."

She notes Spanky had an approved adoption application, having been scheduled to be taken home Wednesday.

Tetzlaff says they're going to look into bolstering security measures as a result of this incident.

"Ask visitors to our kitten room to leave purses and coats up at our front desk."

She notes that's in addition to their previous policies of keeping the cat rooms and lobby cages locked.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Cash bond has been set at $200,000 for a 39-year-old man Green Bay accused in an early Friday morning shooting.

Police Lieutenant Jeff Brester says Indalesio Flores-Hernandez, who faces one count of Attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide, was arrested for a parking lot shooting in the 1100 block of Packerland Drive.

He notes the 27-year-old male victim pulled his car over on Mason Street and called police.

"Officers responded to the scene.  They started giving the male first aid until rescue arrived."

Just a few minutes later, Brester says a nearby resident called in a shots fired complaint for the same incident.

"Once officers arrived on that scene, they put two and two together that our victim had actually been shot in the parking lot of 1141 Packerland Drive and had fled the scene in his own vehicle.

Court records indicate that Flores-Hernandez called his ex-girlfriend, claiming he needed help after his vehicle broken down.

When she and her current boyfriend went to where Flores-Hernandez told them he was, the 39-year-old reportedly opened fire on the boyfriend, claiming he was still with the woman.  

The victim believes he was shot three times: once in the left shoulder, once in the right arm, and claiming that something, likely a bullet, grazed his neck.

The lieutenant says "we haven't recovered the firearm yet.  Right now, we know we're looking for a semi-automatic pistol. We assume the suspect ditched it somewhere in that area."  

Brester notes the victim is expected to survive, after having surgery Friday morning.

Flores-Hernandez has a status conference set for December 27.