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Expert Discusses Sturgeon Spearing Ice Conditions

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LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ) - A local expert says ice conditions on Lake Winnebago are looking good as the start of the 16-day sturgeon spearing season nears. 

Sunk? Dive and Ice Service's Don Herman says there's "a lot of good ice out there.  There's about 22-23 inches on most of Lake Winnebago."

And he doesn't expect that to change during the two-plus week stretch.

"Unless we got some drastic weather, up in the 50's and sun and rain, I think we're going to have some pretty good ice for all of the season."

Herman advises spearers to check his company's Facebook page, if they want to stay current on everything happening on the lake.

"We put a map out Saturday marking the cracks, the thin ice, and where most fishing clubs have their bridges.  It's not 100% accurate, but it's pretty close, because the cracks do move around a little bit."

Herman reminds that no ice is ever 100% safe, noting it's been a busy winter for them, citing a lack of snow.

"We plow roads.  We can put the roads in where they want them to be.  We didn't have any snow so people could drive everywhere.  They were driving, they would see a crack, and you'd try to stop on ice.  You can't stop, so you'd drive right into it." 

The season kicks off at 7 am Saturday.


Nygren Enters Not Guilty Plea

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- A Green Bay woman has pleaded not guilty to delivering drugs that killed a pregnant woman last year.

Cassie Nygren, daughter of State Representative John Nygren, is facing 10 counts for the overdose death of Jennifer Skeen.

Police say Skeen overdosed on fentanyl.

Among the counts that Nygren is facing is first-degree reckless homicide.

Nygren’s attorney also filed a motion seeking a change of venue from Brown County, and she is scheduled to be back in court in April. No trial date has been set.

Her boyfriend, Shawn Gray, is also charged in the case. He returns to court Thursday for a status hearing.

 

Omro Man Has Reason To Smile On World Cancer Day

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OMRO, WI (WTAQ)- It was a World Cancer Day that Tom Kopacz will remember.

Since 2003, Tom Kopacz has been battling prostate cancer and Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but experimental medications and a good attitude has led to a checkup that should show a clean bill of health this week.

"That will further corroborate the last scan which says we can't see anything in Tom anymore" Kopacz said.

In 2003, Tom, a senior research scientist at Kimberly Clark, starting receiving pain.

"It felt like I was sitting on a walnut."

Tom vistied multiple doctors, and eventually found out he had prostate cancer.

Tom thought is troubles were over, but in 2007 he started receiving pain in his chest, and after multiple doctor visits and tests, it was later discovered he had a baseball sized tumor underneeth his sternum.

Tom found out he had Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

"I asked the doctor if there was a stage 5, and he said no ."

Tom visited multiple doctors and was willing to try anything to control the cancer. He refused to believe that he was going to lose the battle, and said having a positive attitude was just as important as the medical treatment he received.

"Having a good support team and making sure that your glass is always partly full and the skies are always partly sunny.

That was not always easy for Tom, especially after multiple failed attempts to control the cancer. 

The pain eventually led to the inability for Tom to use his right arm, and was eventually told he had cancer in his sholder and it was the same one that was in his neck.

Tom was asked if wanted to try a expermential medication that would get rid of the tumor, but was told it would not give him use of his right arm back.

The medicine that Tom agreed to was not approved at the time, but has since been approved for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

In the Fall of 2012, Tom's test results showed that the cancer spread.

Doctor Timothy Goggins of Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology put Tom on another expermental mediciation that was not approved for Hodgkins Lymphoma, but was on the market for other forms of cancer.

Tom said eventually, the medication and radiation combination showed postive results.

"There is no detectable Hodgkins Lymphoma in my body" Tom said.

Doctor Goggins says many cancer patients are finding ways to prolong, or even beat cancer.

"There has been a huge change in how we approach cancer. Many patients that reach Stage 4 or still living for years."

Dr. Goggins says the treatments have become advanced, and quality of life has approved. He says a huge factor is the patients outlook and attitude.

He says if you think you won't beat it, there is no way you will.

Retailer Hiring in Fox Valley

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GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A Michigan-based retailer is looking for 300 employees to work at its new Northeast Wisconsin location.

Meijer plans to open its Grand Chute location in either late spring or early summer.

Available positions include: cashiers, clerks, customer service, receivng, cake decorators, and meat cutters.

Management plans to screen applications over the next few weeks before setting up individual interviews.

Click here to apply.

Meijer opened its first Wisconsin store in Howard last year.  

Raising Awareness for Avoiding Burns

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An effort to raise awareness for burn and fire safety.

During a Monday ceremony, leaders of five Fox Valley municipalities signed proclamations to support the 'Burn Awareness Campaign' during this week's 'National Burn Awareness Week.'

Those communities are Appleton, Fox Crossing, Grand Chute, Menasha, and Neenah.

Appleton Fire Chief Len Vanderwyst says many of their calls involve burns, urging residents to educate themselves on potential dangers.

"We see accidents and injuries to kids too frequently, so to get this message out, working with (Beja) Shriners to get this message out to the public is really important."

The theme of this year's campaign is 'Be Burn Aware.'

Body Found on Train Tracks

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MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Investigators are trying to determine a cause of death for a woman whose body was found on a set of Menasha train tracks.

Authorities located her body Sunday morning, near the intersection of Water and Lush streets.

Police say the woman's body was covered in snow, apparently having been there for a few hours.

They note no trains or railroad equipment came through at that time, with no foul play suspected.

All footprints have either been determined to be the womans or are accounted for.  

An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.

Woman Charged with Stabbing Boyfriend

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OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 32-year-old Kaukauna woman has been charged with stabbing her boyfriend in the abdomen.

Danyel Jaskolski faces one felony count of First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety.

Prosecutors say Jaskolski and her boyfriend separated after a Friday fight that prompted a police response.

When she returned to their 100-block of West Sixth Street home later that night to get some of her possessions, the two continued to argue, leading to Jaskolski reportedly stabbing the man on the right side of the stomach with a 12-inch knife

Authorities returned to the home to find the man bleeding from a six-inch long stab wound.  

The man was rushed to the hospital, receiving 22 stitches.

Jaskolski allegedly admitted to stabbing the man and to throwing the knife out of the car window as she fled.  The knife was later located near a guardrail on Buchanan Road.

WPS and We Energies Deployment Extended

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Crews from We Energies and WPS will be in Puerto Rico longer than originally expected.  

It's a big job, but someone has to see it through. For workers like WPS Field Manager Craig Kahoun, it's been worth every minute.   

"The experience so far has just been unbelievable" he said.  

It is cheaper to keep the current group in Puerto Rico so rather than deploying a new group, there is more days of work ahead of the team on site.  

The start of the trip posed many questions for the workers.  

"We did not know if we were going to be staying in tents. We did not know what the conditions were going to be like, and we did not know if the Puerto Ricans would be edgy for not having power" Kahoun said. "People here are just unbelievably strong. They are just wonderful people with very little. Their homes have been wrecked, and they feed us and bring us water."  

Power in Puerto Rico is about 71 percent restored.    

 


Another Blow to Manitowoc Retail Area

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A once-bustling retail area in Manitowc suffers another blow. 

Younkers will be the latest Lakeshore Edgewater Plaza tenant to shut its doors, with the mall across the street having been torn down in 2015.

"There is growth happening. There's demand and significant growth in rental housing apartments. So, there are needs there, that could be used on the site."

That's Community Development Director Nick Sparacio. 

Progress Lakeshore Executive Director Peter Willis says not all hope is lost. 

"It's property right across from the lake, it’s in a residential area, and I think there's a great opportunity."

Younkers announced last week that it would close 42 of its locations across the country. 

Police Investigating Phony Money

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SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- Counterfeit $20 dollar bills are circulating around Shawano.    Police say business owners need to be watchful for the fake money, and that can be done by just examining the bills coming in.   

"Anybody that spends money should be able to tell the difference by holding it and touching it" Chief Dan Mauel said. "It does not feel how money feels."  

Chief Mauel says one concern that has been reported is that the counterfeit markers that businesses use to test if bills are fake, are showing that these bills are indeed authentic.  

"The pens themselves appear to be working as they are supposed to work."  

Mauel said that employees and business owners need to trust their own judgement.   "You have to use your common sense too. Just because the marker shows does not mean it is going to be a real bill.  

The bills were also reported to have been cut uneven.  

"It is cut bad and cut crooked. People should be able to tell just by looking at it, that it is a counterfeit bill."  

Chief Mauel says they have spoken with one person of interest about the situation.

The bills have a certain serial number on them.  

MB72023601C  

 

Boy Reunites With Deployed Mom In Special Way

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ)- It was a lunch to remember for one Appleton Elementary student.  

McKinley Elementary School Principal Andrea Vinge found a fun way for Jene Sabrowski to see her son for the first time since being deployed in April.   

Sabrowski dressed up as the school mascot Jaguar, and sat down with her son Jake at the lunch table.   

"I showed up when he was at recess and then put on the outfit" she said. "I let him start eating while the principal scoped out where he was sitting."  

Vinge said when the school mascot Jaguar sat down at a lunch table, Jake was not sure what to think.  

"He looked like he grabbed a friends snack and was going to give it to the Jaguar, and then all the sudden she took the head off, and it was just priceless."  

As emotional as it was for Jake, it was hard for Jene to keep her composure.  

"It was so overwhelming to not know how it was going to be and then having him right in front of me."  

Vinge said she was happy to see all the support from other students and staff once they realized what was going on.    

"His face really says it all and it could not be more priceless because he was really clueless" Vinge said. "They don't know when they are coming home or even if they are coming home."  

Vinge says the plans were in place for quite a while.  

Sabrowski said she was taken back by how much her son has grown since April.   

The plan was for her to surprise both Jake and her stepson, who is also a student at the school. Sabrowski said her stepson was home sick that day. The family arranged a special greeting for him too.

School Chief Gets Extension

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay Area School Board voted to extend its superintendent's contract through the 2020 school year.

Monday's vote was 6-1.

Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld's contract was set to expire at the close of the 2018-2019 school year.

New Way of Crossing the Road

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ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - A new way of crossing the street has come to one spot in the Village of Allouez. 

The state Department of Transportation has installed a pedestrian hybrid beacon on Highway 57, south of Sunset Circle.

"Push the button.  There's a voice that tells people that they're going to cross Riverside Drive and to wait.  As soon as you push the button, the motorist will see a flashing yellow ball."

DOT Traffic Engineer Randy Asman explains what the drivers must do before the pedestrians can cross.

"The yellow will turn to solid yellow, your clue that you now need to stop.  It will then go to solid red, and the walk signal will come on for the pedestrians who are crossing."

Asman says drivers can proceed once the light changes to flashing red.

David Slattevo is a 16-year resident of the neighborhood, saying the change is much needed for pedestrians.

"I've seen lines of kids, bikes crossing over here at the corner, and it's just difficult.  I saw a gentleman down the street wait five minutes on a Sunday."

Ten-year neighborhood resident Carl Archambeault says when it comes to safety, pedestrians aren't the only ones who will see safer conditions.

"I think it's safer for the drivers.  If someone's crossing, they have to slam their brakes on and get rear-ended, versus having a timed crossing."

DOT officials say it cost upwards of $75,000 to install. 

They note this is the first one installed on a state highway in the Green Bay area, with no current plans to install any others in the county.  

Plea in Window Peeping Case

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OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 42-year-old Kimberly man has pleaded not guilty at arraignment to peeping into a bathroom window.

Joseph Williams faces one felony count of Invading Privacy, after an underage girl's father allegedly caught Williams watching his daughter shower on January 7.

Williams also had his cash bond reduced from $10,000 to $2,000, but he will have to wear a GPS tracking device if he posts bail.

Court records indicate Williams is due back April 3, but no trial date has been set.

 

Reaction to Walker's Kimberly Clark Proposal

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Praise for Governor Scott Walker's efforts to keep Kimberly Clark from possibly axing 600 jobs in the Fox Valley.

Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert supports Walker's plan to offer state incentives to the manufacturer, as the company looks to close its facility in Neenah and possibly do the same in Fox Crossing.

"It's a good signal that the state is interested and wants to keep Kimberly Clark in the Fox Valley, help the paper industry."

Kaufert notes times like these put things into perspective.

"It's a lot sexier press release to say 'we brought in 110 or 150 jobs from Illinois.'  It's not as sexy to say 'we retained those jobs' but you know what, it's equally important."

Kaufert is not as enthused by Democratic lawmakers' proposed 'Papermaker Fund,' which would require $30-million dollars in state funding. 

"From what I've seen, it's a little bit pricey and it's not tied to jobs."

While he says Kimberly Clark needs to be the current focus, Kaufert hopes additional efforts will be made down the road.

"Hoping that legislators will look at something that would shore up the papermaking industry, because Kimberly Clark is not the only mill in the area that's experiencing problems."

Kaufert is optimistic state legislators will support Walker's proposal, which is being worked on by State Representative Jim Steineke and State Senator Roger Roth.


Nygren's Attorney Wants Trial Moved

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BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - The lawyer for the daughter of a state representative charged in the drug overdose death of a pregnant woman has asked to have the trial moved.

Cassie Nygren's attorney claims pre-trial publicity will prevent an impartial trial.

However, she did not cite any support documentation or arguments.

Representative John Nygren has regularly discussed his daughter's struggle with drugs, which has prompted his sponsoring of numerous laws aimed at combating the opioid epidemic.

Nygren, and her boyfriend Shawn Gray, face multiple charges in connection with the June 2017 death of Jennifer Skeen.

On Monday, Nygren pleaded not guilty at arraignment.  No trial date has been set.

Gray has a status hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Electronic Doctor Visits Increase With Influenza

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ)- ThedaCare says more patients are being seen electronically.

  The recent influenza outbreak has also led to record number of patients being seen by a doctor through eVisits.  

Dr. Nathan Grunwald said the online questionnaire gives doctors all the information they need to consult with a patient, without having to be in the same room.  

"They go through a list of questions pertinent positive and pertinent negatives about the symptoms they are having."  

Doctor Grunwald said for many, the eVisit option the same cost, or even cheaper then many copays.  

"The cost of the electronic visit is $35 dollars."  

Since last year, there has been close to a 20 percent increase in the utilization of eVisits.

  "We treat about 24 conditions electronically, but the main driver of volume is sinus infections, upper respitory infections, influenza and pink eye."  

More than 330 people opted to stay home and be seen by a doctor electronically. Dr. Grunwald says its a win-win for patients and medical staff.  

"It is a convienant option. When they are feeling ill, they don't have to get in a car and come out to a clinic, and they don't have to expose other people to their illness or get something else while they are in the clinic."   

To schedule eVisits, patients need to have a MyThedaCare online account. Patients will answer questions about their symptoms, similar to the questions that would be asked during a doctor visit. Patients will receive a response from their physician and if needed, a prescription.   

For those that do not have a MyThedaCare account, they go to mythedacare.org and sign up. ​

Bay Beach Party Progress

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The effort to bring a beach back to Bay Beach Amusement Park has taken a step forward.

The city reports the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has tentatively determined to issue permits for the beach and a wildlife viewing platform.

But first, a public input period must take place.

So far, the city has received $250,000 in grants to bring the beach back.

The beach would extend along the park's east end, with a boardwalk going out approximately 400 to 500 feet into the bay.

Mayor Jim Schmitt has said the approximate construction cost for the project is between $1 million and $3 million.

He believes that money will mostly be privately raised, with some coming from people who remember the days of swimming at Bay Beach, more than 70 years ago.

In a press release, the city writes, “We await the conclusion of the comment period, and look forward to the next steps from the DNR.”

Pool Plans Move Ahead

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DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - At its meeting Tuesday night, De Pere's common council decided to move forward with its current pools plan.

The plan calls for the city's two pools to close and for a new aquatic center to be built.

In an effort to please all of De Pere's residents, Alderperson Jonathon Hansen asked his common council peers to reconsider the plan, which was passed a year and a half ago.

“I'm skeptical that a plan that could potentially alienate half the city could be successful raising funds.”.

In November 2016, the council voted to close the pools at VFW and Legion Parks and build one new aquatic center.

In March, the council decided that the aquatic center should be built at VFW. Nine months after that decision, in December, Legion Pool supporters started to voice their concerns with that plan.

“Quite honestly, none of us knew about it,” said Dan Van Straten, a member of De Pere’s school board.

“It was not given out. It was not portrayed in such a way that we knew something was out there to get involved with and take a look at.”

Despite the desire to try to save Legion Pool, the council voted 6 to 2 to keep moving forward with the one aquatic center.

James Boyd, a De Pere alderman, calls it a tough vote.

“Will I lose friends because of it? Very well could be, but I literally have to look at what's best for the city.”.

The common council, however, did ask the city's parks staff to keep listening to Legion Pool's supporters.

It also voted to have the pool's supporters come back in a few months with a presentation on how to possibly replace the aging pool.

Van Straten tells FOX 11 you can't give up on it.

“One thing with De Pere, the residents are very close knit, it's a fantastic community, so when there are challenges like this, people are going to rise up and get involved.”

So far, there is no plan for how a new aquatic center will be paid for. The city is also still coming up with how many bells and whistles it wants.

Early price projections range between $4 million and $9.5 million.

Frigid Forecast Keeps Kids Captive

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - For Stephen Foster Elementary School, the outdoor playground remained quiet Tuesday afternoon.

Instead of playing outside, students were kept indoors for recess. But students didn't seem to mind, as they played their favorite games.

Second grader, Xiqing Thao, telling FOX 11 his favorite indoor activity is Twister.

"Because it's really fun and you get to twist your body."

Somayia Duffey, also in 2nd grade, said, "I bring my baby lives or I would write on the whiteboards."

Foster Elementary School Principal, Matt Zimmerman tells FOX 11 the Appleton Area School District has guidelines when it comes to what temperatures are considered safe.

"I think on that chart it can go all the way to 16 below zero with the wind chill and we can still technically send them outside according to our policy but virtually nobody does that right?"

Zimmerman said a school's decision on having indoor recess depends on a variety of factors.

"It depends on how your building's set up like and how cold it gets and what the wind exposure is for the kids, how long the kids are going to be outside, how well prepared the kids have come to school with the appropriate clothing."

If temperatures are negative five degrees and colder, students at Foster Elementary may be kept indoors for lunch and afternoon recess.

With the cold air, Zimmerman says teachers do their best to keep students active while indoors.

"Part of the purpose of recess is not just structured activities for kids to have but also the movement that kids can have throughout the day, and so you don't get quite that same level of movement you get for indoor recess."

For students who are anxious to get back out on this playground, they'll have to wait until the deep freeze is over.

For the the Green Bay Area School District, students will have indoor recess if temperatures are below zero.

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