GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay artist has been chosen to create a public piece of art that is inspired by Wisconsin Public Service.

Kent Hutchinson's 'Embark' design will be installed at the intersection of Washington Street and Northland Avenue.

The 23-foot aluminum sculpture will be illuminated by projection and recessed lighting.

"I'm both humbled and thrilled to have been chosen as the sculptor for the WPS Foundation project.  I'm going to put everything I have into creating this new icon for Green Bay. Prepare to embark on new horizons!"

The sculpture, which received $100,000 in funding from the WPS Foundation, will be unveiled this fall.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - An April 18 trial date has been set for the child abuse charges against a former Green Bay Packers running back.

Ahman Green is accused of striking his 15-year-old daughter in the head during a June dispute over household chores.

Green reportedly said that he may have thrown the girl to the floor.

The trial is scheduled to last two days.  

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- Charges have been field against the accused gunman of a shooting, early Saturday morning in Shawano, that injured a woman.

According, to the criminal complaint, the shooting stemmed from a "drug deal gone wrong" at a party at a residence on the 1000 block of East 5th Street. 

20-year old Kevon Houston of Denver Colorado, has been charged with First Degree Reckless Injury, First Degree Reckless Endangering Safety and Manufacture and Delivery of Cocaine.

Shawano Police arrested Houston and 22-year-old Alexander Olson of Denver Colorado in Middle Village on the Menominee Indian Reservation, early Saturday afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, the suspect vehicle arrived at a party with the intent to sell drugs. After a $20.00 purchase was made, it was determined that the drugs tasted like soap, and were believed to be fake. 

A refund request was made, and a  confrontation took place outside of the residence, according to the criminal complaint.

Houston allegedly sat up on the rolled down back driver's seat window and aimed a gun towards a group of people. Two shots were reported to be fired, and one shot hit a woman in the chest area, resulting in injury.

"It happened among a group of people that knew eachother" Shawano Police Chief Dan Mauel said. "It wasn't a random act."

Police say their investigation led them to te residence in Middle Village, where Houston and Olson were taken into custody. Police say the men were both already wanted on felony warrants in Colorado. Chief Mauel said they had to act quickly.

"Our concern was that they were going to leave the state, and it would have made it more difficult and time consuming to find them."

Mauel said many were cooperative in the early stages of the investigation.

"We had a lot of leads, and the Menominee County Sheriff's Department helped us locate the vehicle that was described to us."

A firearm, that police say was involved in the shooting incident was also recovered.

The victim was transported to ThedaCare Medical Center with life threatening injuries, and is still hospitalized, but is expected to recover.

"It was a significant injury that could have taken his person's life" Mauel said. "It is believed that she is going to recover."

Police say they are still checking to see if it is necessary to file charges against others who may have been a party to the crime.

The criminal complaint lists an 18-year old woman and a juvenile as in the vehicle.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay School District is in a "secure the building" status.

Green Bay Police a search for a suspect prompted the action at West High and Fort Howard and Lincoln Elementary schools.

According to the School District, Fort Howard and West, whose daily schedules end at 3 p.m., will hold students and buses until police confirm the situation in the neighborhood is over.

Police are expected to release more information

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The 40-year-old Green Bay man accused of causing last month's disturbance at Lambeau Field has pleaded not guilty at arraignment.

Former contracted food service worker Chay Vang reportedly rammed his vehicle into that of a former co-worker.

When the man fled on foot, Vang allegedly tried to mow him down with his vehicle.

Prosecutors say Vang was fired earlier that month, following a dispute with the co-worker.

Vang is scheduled to have a status conference on March 13.  No trial date has been set.  

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The flu has taken a toll on most of the country in recent weeks, including Northeast Wisconsin.

Outagamie County Public Health Officer Mary Dorn says the number of reported flu-cases in the area is approaching a five-year high.

"Last year at this time in January, we had about 4 hospitalizations related to influenza. This year, so far in January, our numbers aren't all reported, we're already at 36 hospitalizations in the county."

Statewide, the flu has led to 3,200 hospitalizations.

"So what we're seeing here in Outagamie County and Northeast Wisconsin is really no different to the rest of the country right now."

Appleton Schools' Polly Vanden Boogaard says some of their schools have seen days this month where 17% of their students were absent.

"I would say coming off of winter break, it certainly has spiked more so than I have been familiar with, and we did notice that and felt that in the district and certainly used the facility's department to get out to the buildings to do some cleaning."

Randy Graham is the pastor at Appleton's Grace Baptist Church.

He says their attendance hasn't wavered during the flu season, partially crediting their proactive educational steps.

"In all the children ministries, they teach cleanliness as a habit you know."

Health officials encourage everyone to get a flu shot, if they haven't already. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Monday hearing for a Green Bay Police officer who is fighting to keep his job.

Chief Andrew Smith is looking to remove Officer Paul Spoerl, following an internal harassment investigation that stemmed from July 2017 charges.

The three-year veteran was placed on a short leave last year.

Spoerl's attorney Jonathan Cermele addresses the city's Police and Fire Commission, saying the hearing was wrongly shoved down the road.

"Set a hearing between 10-30 days after the chief files and serves charges against an officer."

Smith's attorney Kyle Gulya counters those claims.

"There was some sort of discussions that occurred.  Whether it was 'there's no need to conduct a hearing' or some other form of discussion that generated the delay."

Specifics of the allegations have not been revealed.

The PFC could make a decision at its Thursday meeting.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Truckloads of salt used to treat highways during our winters may be taking a toll on the environment.

A recent study suggests more than 40 percent of lakes surveyed in the Midwest and Northeast have more salt than before.

When wintry weather hits Northeast Wisconsin, cities like Green Bay typically hit back with salt.

"It's definitely one of the more prominent tools in the tool box, that we utilize."

Steve Grenier, Green Bay Public Works Director, tells FOX 11 in a typical winter season, the City Public Works Department goes through about 7,000 tons of salt.

"As it melts the snow or ice, that turns into salt water. The salt water gets into the storm sewer."

Salt in the water is raising environmental concerns. Studies suggest long term use may put aquatic life such as microplankton, and fish at risk

Kevin Fermanich, UW-Green Bay Environmental Sciences Profesor, says they measure salt content in streams running into the Fox River and eventually the waters of Green Bay.

"We are able to see in the winter time, that during high salt usage times, that the level of salt, or conductivity, in the water does increase particularly after snow melt, or rainfall events."

City officials say trucks spray a salt-brine mixture on roads ahead of a storm, reducing salt use by about 25 percent.

At the state level Chris Blazek, DOT Maintenance Supervisor, says they're experimenting with liquid-only routes in five counties around Wisconsin.

"By using brine, we can use a lot less salt on our roadways, and still maintain safe roadways during the winter times.".

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department says as winter continues, it will try to plow more, and use fewer chemicals.

But Grenier says the salt and brine aren't going away.

"Is it a concern? Yes. Is it something we need to be aware of? Yes. Do people need to take steps to minimize, avoid, try to find better things? Yes. Are we all going to die tomorrow? No."

There are other ways municipalities are exploring to treat the roads. Those include, beet juice, molasses, and even waste products from beer and cheese.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Trying to reverse a four-year trend, UW-Oshkosh is planning to make budget cuts to have its expenses more in line with its revenue.

In a self-imposed move, Chancellor Andrew Leavitt wants to cut spending by $9.5 million over the next two years.

Leavitt wants $2.5 million to $5.4 million of that to take effect this July.

Leavitt outlined the steps he plans to take in a letter to campus, as well as in a blog post on Monday.

“What we really believe is that we have a revenue issue,” said Leavitt. “With declining enrollments due to the state's changing demographics, it's more difficult to raise the kind of revenue we need to cover our current expenditures.”

No decisions have been made on what could be part of the budget cuts. However, layoffs are an option.

The school has already reduced its staff by about 100 positions in the last few years, mostly through resignations and retirements.

“Layoffs are tough and this is something we want to try to avoid, but at the end we need to make sure our expenditures are meeting our revenue,” said Leavitt.

For the 2017 fiscal year, UW-Oshkosh’s total operating expenses were $149.4 million. The school’s total operating revenue was $135.9 million.

Leavitt says it doesn't help that UWO hasn't been able to raise tuition in five years.

“I don't really want to pay more student loans than I have to, but also if it would give more supplies to other departments, then it's good.”

Seneca Freckmann, a UW-Oshkosh freshman, tells FOX 11 money already seems tight on campus.

Talk of budget cuts isn't what they'd like to hear.

“I think that's kind of scary because in a lot of departments, especially the science department, we're already experiencing low budgets for a lot of our supplies that we have.”

Leavitt says he plans to continue to provide updates on the school's finances.

He hopes giving warning now will encourage others to help him through the process.

FOX 11 reached out to UW-Green Bay to see if it’s dealing with similar financial issues as Oshkosh.

Sue Bodily, Director of Content and Media Relations for UWGB, pointed out that unlike UWO, UWGB has experienced increased enrollment the last few years.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Oshkosh Corporation gave VIPs the very first glimpse of plans for its new headquarters Monday night.

The 180,000 square-foot facility will be on what's now the Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course.

Corporation president and CEO Wilson Jones tells FOX 11 the plans include employees' opinions.

"Our focus in on engaging, developing and connecting. That's what our engagement survey came back that our team wanted."

The 180,000 square-foot headquarters is by the water, on about 30 acres of what is currently the city-owned Lakeshore Golf Course.

Jones say the architecture will feature stone, glass and open concept plans to drive collaboration.

"We want people to center in the heart of the building, the first floor, the atrium and then into our collaborative dining area."

"This is what you see in major metropolitan areas as corporate headquarters. We're gonna have to have everyone set the bar higher now in Oshkosh when they design something, build something." added Oshkosh Mayor Steve Cummings.

Jones acknowledged some citizens did not want Oshkosh Corporation taking away the golf course. However, he said it was the only option the city presented.

"We hate that there was some controversy, again, that was really out of our hands."

As a gesture of goodwill Oshkosh Corporation donated $600,000 to the city.

That will pay to complete a six mile trail connecting the new headquarters and the remaining 70 acres of the current golf course to another city park.

"We know some people in the community are upset and we wanna do everything we can to show them that we wanna be a good community partner," Jones explained.

At this point the budget for the facility is not set in stone.

"There was a discussion of a $15 to 20 million building. This will be 180,000 square feet. It's gonna be significantly more than that." said Jones.

Jones says the headquarters will bring more than 400 employees that are currently spread out at 40 different facilities together.

"We wouldn't build a building for 650 if we weren't planning to use that capacity."

The plan is to break ground in May and complete construction by fall 2019.

Oshkosh Corporation created a smartphone app called "Oshkosh HQ."

You can download it to learn more about the project, and keep track of the development.

There are still no solid plans for the remaining 70 acres of the golf course.

The city plans to turn it into a park, but the amenities within are still undecided.

CALUMET COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters battled the flames in the Forest Junction area of Calumet County.

The fire broke out early today (TUESDAY) right off Highway 10, in the area of Highway 32/57.

The fire is located at Legacy Automotive.

No injuries reported....no word on how the fire started.

Roads were closed for time while crews got the fire under control. The highway has since been reopened.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - UPDATE: The 17-year-old Green Bay man wanted in connection with a Monday armed robbery that prompted the lockdown of three west side schools has been taken into custody.

Officers say Dylan Wilber was apprehended without incident from a home in the 1200 block of Ninth Street.

Two other Green Bay schools in that area were put on temporary lockdown as that happened.

Monday's burglary happened in the 800 block of Dousman Street.

***

The Green Bay Police Department say they are still looking for a suspect whose actions prompted a Monday afternoon lockdown at Fort Howard Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and Green Bay West High School.

This morning, Green Bay P-D released this following advisory listing the circumstances that led to the lockdown and the name/photo of the suspect they're looking for.

On 01-29-18 at approximately 2:30 PM, Officers of the Green Bay Police Department investigated what was a later determined to be an armed burglary in the 800 BLK of Dousman St. In the investigation, a female victim left her residence with the suspect and later located an officer on W. Walnut St. The victim stopped her car in the roadway to get the officer’s attention as the suspect exited the car and fled the area. The officer observed the male suspect flee the area with a weapon in his hand.Officers set up a perimeter in the neighborhood to locate the suspect. Officers from the Brown County Sheriffs Office and Ashwaubenon Public Safety responded to assist with the perimeter as the geographical area was so large. As this was occurring, officers requested schools to be put on lockdown to ensure no students and or busses would be going into the neighborhood where officers were searching for the suspect. Officers used K9’s to locate the susp ect but had negative results. Once the K9 track concluded, the perimeter was released, and officers were dispatched to the schools to be a visual deterrent and to assist with staff with dismissal.Investigators worked into the night to substantiate the leads and vet the information they got from witnesses and victim. After a thorough investigation, investigators have identified the suspect as Dylan L Wilber, 17 year old Green Bay resident.Investigators are asking for Wilber to turn himself in. As he is considered armed and dangerous and if anyone sees him, they should not approach him and call your local law enforcement jurisdiction. Wilber’s exact charges are still be determined as the investigation is continuing. However, he is wanted for armed burglary, armed robbery, and possibly more charges. Those with information relating to the location of Wilber are urged to contact Green Bay Police 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) - A new local initiative aims to combat the growing opioid problem.

Bellin Health is teaming up with DarJune Recovery Community to offer peer recovery coaches for emergency room patients dealing with drug addiction.

"They are on-call, and they will respond and meet with that individual and kind of help them talk about what would be the next steps to move toward recovery."

Bellin Assistant Vice-President Sharla Baenen says the coaches can offer a unique perspective, being recovered addicts themselves.

"They have the lived experience of knowing what it's like, and they're really able to engage with individuals from the standpoint of where they are at, at that moment in time."

Baenen says the coaches, who must complete 30 hours of training ahead of time, serve as a bridge between the patient's time in emergency care and "helping that individual engage with an actual treatment plan, so getting them connected to an addiction provider or therapist."

She explains the reason for this initiative.

"We're losing people.  We have to get creative, and we really have to start at a ground level and a grassroots level to engage with individuals and help move them in the right direction towards treatment."

Baenen notes drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50.

She says this effort, and a handful of similar ones across the state, are being covered by grant funding.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A truck has gone through the ice on Lake Winnebago.

Oshkosh Fire officials say they rescued the truck's driver Tuesday morning near the Fox River's mouth, which they say is one of the lake's most dangerous areas.

The driver was able to climb out the back window and make it onto the ice before his vehicle went completely under water.

Officials remind folks that no ice is ever 100% safe.  

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - The ribbon will be cut Wednesday on a facility that aims to grow the local maritime program.

Half of the Wisconsin Maritime Center for Excellence will house personnel working on Marinette Marine's LCS program.

"Build their supply chain with new businesses starting up.  Maybe spinning off processes in the yard that they're doing that aren't necessarily stuff that needs to be done on the yard, that a contractor could do."

The center's Ann Hartnell says the other half is a business incubator.

"We can help them as they start up, as they get going.  We can help them expand and grow.  Over the approximately three years, they'll grow enough to attrition out of here." 

Hartnell notes they already have their first tenant.

"It is an expansion of a business from out of the area that works with Marinette Marine right now.  They want to work with other businesses in the area too."

Hartnell says grants covered the full $5.5-million dollar cost.

They are partnering with NWTC to put on programs for the tenants and for a part-time worker to run the incubator.  

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 3:30 pm Wednesday.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A De Pere school gets a surprise visit from a Packers star.

Kicker Mason Crosby visited students at Helmlock Creek Elementary Tuesday, as a reward for their involvement in the NFL's 'Fuel Up to Play 60' program.

Crosby discussed health and fitness, also participating in a workout with the kids.

"Just to encourage kids to continue to interact with each other play and be active for 60 minutes a day is an amazing thing."

'Fuel Up to Play 60' encourages students to eat healthy and be active for at least an hour each day.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - To talk about eyesore properties, Green Bay city leaders welcomed the public into a building that used to be one.

The city held a public meeting on brownfield redevelopment Tuesday night at Titletown Brewing Company’s Tap Room.

“It's a shining example of brownfield redevelopment,” said Matt Buchanan, a development specialist for the city.

A brownfield site is defined as a property that might be complicated for redevelopment because of potential pollutants.

The transformed canning warehouse that now is home to Titletown’s Tap Room used to be identified as a brownfield site.

The city wants residents to know it can help jumpstart similar turnarounds with a grant it recently received from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Buchanan tells FOX 11 there's financial help available.

“With our EPA grants, we could pay for the environmental site assessments, which can be a little bit of an expense, especially early on in the redevelopment process.”

City leaders say they're already focused on redeveloping brownfield properties in the University Avenue and Velp Avenue corridors.

Projects are also proposed for sites in the Rail Yard District, which Titletown Brewing Company anchors, and the Shipyard District.

Before starting construction on the Shipyard's proposed outdoor events center, the city is still waiting to hear whether Festival Foods President and CEO Mark Skogen and Anduzzi's Sports Club will build their concert venue and restaurant.

Mayor Jim Schmitt says the city is ready to go.

“We're where we can be and we're just going to see what they all need and they need to make a business decision. We hope they make it at the Shipyard and if they do that's great. If not, we'll have to look at Plan B.”

Either way, the goal is to eliminate another eyesore.

EPA grants have helped a number of recent projects in Green Bay's downtown.

They include the Schreiber Foods headquarters, the Children's Museum, and Hagemeister Park restaurant.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - There is a new effort to spruce up some downtown Appleton businesses.

The city has more than $40,000 to pay for small improvement projects.

As co-owner of Crazy Sweet in downtown Appleton, Mary Kelley tell FOX 11 she knows the importance of an attractive store front.

"Livens everything up, everything looks neat and clean, very appealing for a lot of people."

To help liven up downtown in general, the city is offering grants to businesses in these two tax increment finance districts. $21,000 for each district.

"For a total of six business enhancement grants up to $7,000, matching 50%," explained Karen Harkness, the city's director of Community and Economic Development.

The business owner would have to match 50% of the project cost.

Harkness says the goal is to support those little projects that have a big impact on small businesses.

"Roof replacement, tuck pointing, painting a building, improving your parking lot, replacing windows, replacing doors."

Kelley's landlord, for example, is considering applying for a grant for something artistic.

"She has thoughts of, maybe, some type of mural."

And Jennifer Stephany, the executive director of Appleton Downtown Incorporated, says they offer facade improvement grants for businesses. So those businesses can use that grant to count as 25% of that 50% match.

"A lot of the same factors that are included in the business enhancement grant from the city are also part of our program as well. They really do marry each other and partner with each other quite well."

She says the idea is that several small improvements here and there will add up to a more vibrant, inviting downtown.

"We're really excited about what it's going to bring to downtown in terms of new, small-scale redevelopment and, hopefully, some bigger projects too."

"It's all geared toward that goal," said Harkness.

"If we all look good then we're all helping each other," added Kelley.

The city is taking applications right now. Applicants will need to describe their project, how it will be paid for and when it would be done.

For more information about the grants from the city, you can visit the website here.

For more information about Appleton Downtown Incorporated you can visit that website here.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ)-  Tuesday was a first look at an expansion that will provide some much needed space at CP in Allouez.

The 2100 square foot expansion will include everything needed to expand programs and increase the number of clients that CP can serve.  

The project for the South Webster Avenue facility is in its final stages, and Director off Development Jon Syndergaard says with that, comes the next stages of making a difference.  

"This really represents the next stage in our progression and growth, and really the reason why we built the building was because our current plan simply could not keep pace with the demand on the part of the community to provide service."  

The CP expansion is months away from completion, but they are planning what the next step will be.   "Then we are going to move on to the existing building and renovate the other 48,000 square feet and really, no square foot is going to be left untouched in our effort to improve the space here."  

While expansion is the hope for CP, Syndergaard says when they do max out the new space, they will be out of room  

"It is likely that once we open this site, we are going to have to start talk about opening additional sites."  

Syndergaard said it is exciting to see the change, but the current clients are the most excited.  

"I have clients on a daily basis that want to come in here and see the progress, so it has been very rewarding and is an exciting time."

 Ground for the expansion broke in May.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An Appleton East High School teacher has been placed on leave after allegedly pushing a student during an argument.

Appleton police say the incident happened in the weight room of the school January 23rd.

After interviewing student witnesses and reviewing the school's surveillance video of the incident, police say their investigation shows the 48-year-old teacher had physically grabbed and pushed a student during a verbal argument.

The incident was reported by faculty shortly after it happened.

The student was not injured.

The school district released the following statement Tuesday:

The Appleton Area School District has concluded a separate, parallel investigation to the Appleton Police Department’s investigation of the January 23rd incident that occurred at Appleton East High School involving a teacher.The District is proceeding appropriately based on the facts of the situation. The staff member is currently on leave.An additional statement will be released at the conclusion of the matter.

Police say they are recommending a disorderly conduct charge against the teacher.