APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - An investigation is underway in Appleton after an armed robbery.

Police were called to Latinos Express just after 8 p.m. Thursday night for a male with a handgun who was demanding money.

Several people were inside the business at the time.

No one was injured.

Investigators say the suspect was driving a dark, four-door Sedan.

If you have any information, you are asked to contact Appleton Police.

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 64-year-old Kenosha man has been convicted for a 1990 murder.

The Kenosha Trucker suspected of killing 18-year old Berit Beck in Fond Du Lac, has pled to a second degree reckless homicide charge.

Dennis Brantner entered an Alford plea Friday morning. The plea is not an admission of guilt, but it acknowledges if he were tried, he would likely be found guilty.

Brantner emerged as a suspect in 2014, with prosecutors re-filing charges after a 2016 trial ended in a hung jury.

Berit's mother Diane Beck said she had just about given up.

"At 27 1/2 years, it is something that I had actually given up on. I did not think that we would ever see resolve to this case" she said. " We are happy that we had the outcome that we had today, and we are looking forward to sentencing in just a few weeks."

Fond Du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney says it was heart-breaking to hear Diane Beck say she had just about given up on bringing the murderer of her daughter Diane to justice.

"I hope that however someone may view this result, that gives some other families hope and some other law enforcement the inspiritation to open up some of those cases and maybe hold others accountable for some of those unsolved murders that we know are out there."

Sheriff Mick Fink would have liked to see Brantner get a longer sentence on a more severe charge, but he says it is still closure for the Beck family.

"I don't like it, but it is the best thing that we could come to a joint conclusion with."

The 64-year old Brantner will be sentenced on March 1st.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A judge is being asked to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges Brown County's recently-implemented half-percent sales tax.

County officials cite various technical and procedural reasons in wanting the Brown County Taxpayers Association's suit thrown out.

The Association argues the tax disregards state levy laws.

A February 20 hearing is set to take place in a county courtroom.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A woman's donation to Green Bay Metro Fire could be a life-saver.

Ola Adams passed away a few years ago, but not before setting up a fund that has generated $100 thousand to go specifically to public safety.

Green Bay Metro Fire has plans to put the money to good use.

"We'll use the money to purchase ballistic helmets and vests. We'll also to purchase particulate filter hoods."

Green Bay Metro Fire's Lt Cody Johnson says the filter hoods help firefighters withstand toxic fumes when they go into burning buildings.

The vests and helmets offer protection when paramedics respond to active shooter situations.

"And have some level of protection along with the cops."

Johnson says in the old days firefighters and paramedics would wait out active shooter calls until police had the area secure.

Now, they go in right away to care for anyone hurt or wounded.

"We put ourselves in harms way sometimes, not really thinking about ourselves but the people we're trying to help. But this just gives us a little more added protection, a little more security."

The 200 fire filter hoods are already part of each firefighter's equipment. 55 ballistic vests and helmets will arrive soon.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - UPDATE: Green Bay Police has released a surveillance photo of a suspect vehicle in one of the shootings.  The agency is still asking for help in identifying a suspect(s).

***

A string of windows being shot out has been reported in Brown County.

The incidents have occurred on both the east and west sides of Green Bay and in Bellevue.

Both vehicle and houses have been targeted.

More information is expected to be released Friday.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Green Bay Police Department at 920-448-3208 or the Brown County Sheriff's Office at 920-391-7450.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.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ)- Brown County Sheriff's Office says they responded to a call for an active shooter at the Brown County Community Treatment Center, but found out, it was a false alarm.

Sheriff Officials say the active shooter alert button on one of the center's phones was pushed by human error.

Sheriff Officials say the incident proved that the alert button and law enforcement response was working like it was supposed to.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- Two Colorado men arrested in connection to a Shawano Shooting have been charged.

22-year old Alexander Olson and 20-year old Kevon Houston are facing first degree reckless injury and manufacture and delivery of cocaine.

Houston was also charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety as he is suspected of being the gunman that shot into a crowd of people.

The 31-year old woman that was shot, is expected to recover.

Bond for Olson was set at $50,000 and a $100,000 was set for Houston.

The incident was a drug deal gone bad.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- Police say they are releasing surveillance video from an Oshkosh robbery last week, in hopes that someone can help them identify the suspect.

The robbery happened on Friday January 26, at a business on North Main Street, but the exact business was not provided. 

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (920) 236-5733. Anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 231-8477, by text message with the keyword IGOTYA to 274637 

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A dog that was injured in a December car versus train crash is ahead of schedule on her road to recovery.

The Oshkosh Area Humane Society says Elsa suffered multiple pelvic fractures in the Oshkosh accident that killed two people.

Executive Director Joni Geiger says the dog is regaining flexibility and ease of movement through various forms of therapy.

"Elsa has amazed everyone by how well she’s done through this whole process. She came to the shelter to visit shortly after her surgery and it was astounding to see how well she was moving even then.  After all she’s been through she has maintained this calm and gentle energy and I’m just so thankful we were able to help her with the support of so many generous people."

Elsa will be up for adoption once she is medically cleared.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A $2.1-million dollar purchase is making for a significant increase to a Door County conservation area.

Conservation Ecologist Mike Grimm notes his Nature Conservancy has acquired 362 acres, a site located north of Baileys Harbor and east of Highway Q.

"Many of our acquisitions here in Door County are 20 acres, 40 acres, so to get 362 acres in one acquisition is really quite thrilling."

Grimm says they will manage the area as a state natural area, with the land being open to hunting, trapping, cross-country skiing, and hiking. 

"We will probably not be creating new trails, trails in this site. There are trails, old trails, walking trails, and old logging roads and that sort of thing that kind of weave through the property. We will provide people some sense of access into the property."

The land is expected to be open to the public around Memorial Day.  

Grants and donations supported the project.  

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A dog that was injured in a December car versus train crash is ahead of schedule on her road to recovery.

The Oshkosh Area Humane Society says Elsa suffered multiple pelvic fractures in the Oshkosh accident that killed two people.

Executive Director Joni Geiger says the dog is regaining flexibility and ease of movement through various forms of therapy.

"Elsa has amazed everyone by how well she’s done through this whole process. She came to the shelter to visit shortly after her surgery and it was astounding to see how well she was moving even then.  After all she’s been through she has maintained this calm and gentle energy and I’m just so thankful we were able to help her with the support of so many generous people."

Elsa will be up for adoption once she is medically cleared.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A $2.1-million dollar purchase is making for a significant increase to a Door County conservation area.

Conservation Ecologist Mike Grimm notes his Nature Conservancy has acquired 362 acres, a site located north of Baileys Harbor and east of Highway Q.

"Many of our acquisitions here in Door County are 20 acres, 40 acres, so to get 362 acres in one acquisition is really quite thrilling."

Grimm says they will manage the area as a state natural area, with the land being open to hunting, trapping, cross-country skiing, and hiking. 

"We will probably not be creating new trails, trails in this site. There are trails, old trails, walking trails, and old logging roads and that sort of thing that kind of weave through the property. We will provide people some sense of access into the property."

The land is expected to be open to the public around Memorial Day.  

Grants and donations supported the project.  

KAUKAUNA (WTAQ) -Kaukauna Police say a 31-year old woman stabbed her boyfriend Friday night.

The incident occurred around 8:30pm.

A 28-year old Kaukauna man was found stabbed in the stomach.

Police say the woman then feld to a hotel in Grand Chute.

The man's injuries were not life threatening.

The woman was taken into custody for recklessly endangering safety and injury by negligent use of a weapon.

The woman stabbed the 28-year-old Kaukauna man in the stomach and fled to a hotel in Grand Chute.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- Two UW-Oshkosh students have teamed up with historians from the Oshkosh Centennial World War I Committee to provide life-sized cutouts of people who lived during that era.

12 cutouts were created.  Christopher Gauger said he had a goal in mind when he helped come up with the idea.

"This project shows that ordinary people can influence history, its not just the famous names, the ones who gets books written about them or who appear in pop culture."

Gauger said he focused on the military personnel.

"My favorite favorite standee would have to be John Matsche. He was born in Austria, as a very young child, he immigrated to the United States and during the first world war, he served as an amateur photojournalist" 

 Elizabeth Potter turned her focus to civilians that may not be remembered.

"They were so hardy, like Eli Rice behind us, he was doing like 3 to 4 jobs," Potter explained. "That wasn't necessarily just for him and his income, he was doing it for his community."

The cutouts will be on display at the Oshkosh Senior Center, Oshkosh Public Library, City Hall and the Best Western through November.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin's open enrollment period for the 2018-19 school year begins today (MON).

The program allows students to go to school outside of their home district.

Even if a student is already taking part, a new application is sometimes necessary.

"If you have a student who went to elementary school and middle school in one school district and then decided 'I want to go to high school in a different district,' that is a new application."

Though Department of Public Instruction Spokesman Tom McCarthy says students need not re-apply if staying in the same school.

He notes the program's policy for athletics.

"Open enrollment students do have the same rights and responsibilities as resident pupils when it comes to sports, so they are treated the same way as a kid that lives in the district."  

McCarthy says parents should consider how their child will get to school.

"They need to be very cognizant of any transportation support their open enollment district may provide for them.  If there are none for them, they need to make accommodations with their parents."

McCarthy says all applications must be received by April 30, with no reason for making the request necessary.

Click here to learn more about the open enrollment program or to sign up.  

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Mercury Marine announced Saturday that it, along with labor union IAMAW Lodge 1947, have come to a new collective bargaining agreement

The boat-engine maker says a new contract will remain in place through August 26, 2023.

“Mercury Marine is committed to hiring and retaining the best workforce,” said John Pfeifer, Mercury Marine president.

“Both the company and the IAMAW saw an opportunity to strengthen our partnership and worked very closely to put together an agreement that will benefit our employees and the company now and in the future. This new contract will allow us to be the employer of choice in the area and continue our goal of attracting and retaining the best talent.”

Benito Elizondo is IAMAW District 10 business representative

“The new agreement highlights an ongoing and growing partnership between Mercury, its employees and the IAMAW in maintaining world-class manufacturing facilities and products at Mercury Marine while strengthening our commitment to Fond du Lac and the surrounding communities.”

According to Mercury Marine, it employs close to 3,200 people at its global headquarters in Fond du Lac and more than 6,000 worldwide.

The company goes on to say since 2009, Mercury Marine has invested more than $800 million on expansions and new product development, 85 percent of the work was done by Wisconsin based companies.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Packers may not be in the Super Bowl this year but Wisconsin is still represented in the fan experience.

Souvenir cups from professional sports leagues, college teams, the military and much more, all come from Dynamic Drinkware in Oshkosh.

Dynamic Drinkware operations manager Jeff Slusarski proudly tells WLUK..

"We're the leader of the sports concession markets with the stadium capsule."

That includes Super Bowl LII.

"We're very proud of it," Slursarski said. "It's very cool to know that our cups are at stadiums as part of the fan experience."

The team made around 65,000 cups for the big game.

Slursarski says the company designed the labels and eventually manufactured and distributed it from Oshkosh.

"For the Super Bowl, it's a little more unique because we don't have much stylistic freedom on that because the Super Bowl committees involved, our client at the Vikings stadium is involved. So they'll give us a style guide and we have an amazing art team that would obviously format the art to make it lenticular."

Dynamic Drinkware has been making cups for the Super Bowl for nearly a decade. During that time, the business has grown.

"We're doing promotional products; we could get orders from clients we haven't had before and that allows us to bring in more employees and hire more employees because of that," Slursarski said.

Immediately following the game, the company started taking orders of Super Bowl cups that have the winning team's design on it.

"People love our graphics; they love the lenticular 3D like we're doing for the Super Bowl," Slursarski said.

So the next time you're at an event, whether it's small, big or far; this Oshkosh company may have had a hand in a souvenir you can cherish forever.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Green BayPolice say they are investigating two more reports of damage caused by BB guns.

Both reports came in over the weekend, with one report involving damage to car windows and the other was damage to home windows.

Police did relese an image of a suspect vehicle on Friday.

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ) - A Milwaukee-based company with ties to our area has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Bon-Ton Stores cites weak sales and $1-billion dollars in debt in making the move.

Last week, Bon-Ton announced that four Northeast Wisconsin Younkers stores are among 42 total locations that are set to close.

The company operates a total of 260 stores, seeing holiday sales fall 2.9% this year.  

LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ) - Expectations vary ahead of Northeast Wisconsin's 16-day sturgeon spearing season.

DNR Fisheries Biologist Ryan Koenigs predicts folks will notice a difference from last year to this year in the quality of fish in Lake Winnebago.

"With a very small gizzard shad hatch, their abundance has reduced compared to where it was last season as well, so I think we're going to see some leaner fish out there."

Koenigs notes harvest caps are similar to last year.

"430 juvenile females and 950 adult females (are both the exact same as last year).  There's a slight change to the males: this year's system-wide cap is 1,200 males, last year's was 1,175." 

As of Monday morning, Koenigs says they had issued 12,505 licenses for Lake Winnebago and 474 for the upriver waters.  

Koenigs explains how the water clarity is looking.

"Probably average around 8-9 feet right now of visibility.  With that clarity, we're anticipating to have a below-average harvest season, likely will go 16 days."

However, Koenigs says the upriver lakes are closer to the ideal 12 feet.  

He notes there are not many changes from last season, saying the biggest year-to-year difference involves the validation process.

"After harvesting a fish, you need to validate the tag by removing that validation stub.  You keep the top portion of your license with you and if that validation stub is removed, you've validated your tag."

The season starts at 7 am Saturday.

Click here to learn more about the 2018 sturgeon spearing season.