GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A nationwide search is underway to find a new principal for a troubled Green Bay school.

Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld says while safety conditions at Washington Middle School have improved, there's more work to be done.

Last June, a former teacher raised safety and security concerns at the school.

Langenfeld says the ideal candidate would have experience with turnaround schools.

"Hiring a turnaround principal, very different than your typical traditional principal, who has urban experience, who has already taken a school and accelerated the academic achievement of that school and changed the culture and climate through a shared vision."

Langenfeld says they'll also work with organizations with significant experience with turnaround schools; seeking analysis, coaching, and support.

She notes current principal Dennis Christensen will transition into an administrative position once the new hire is made.  Christensen has served in his current role for 1 1/2 years.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It's not just the City of Green Bay that could feel the effects of losing the Bullfrogs.

Green Bay's school district is also hurt by the baseball team pulling out of the Shipyard project in favor of a move to Ashwaubenon.

Co-Curricular Programing Administrator Tim Flood says West High School's football and soccer teams were going to utilize the planned field.

Now, the district needs to get back to fundraising for turf fields at both West and Preble.

"Not where we want to be with Preble. Right now, we have a little over $50,000 raised."

Flood says the Preble project's cost is around $900,000, with West's price tag also in the hundreds of thousands.

"Raising that amount of money is a tremendous challenge."

He explains the current difficulties with West's soccer program.

"It's a grass field. We can still play there, but you can't host soccer in the fall, because it's not a soccer only facility or does not have turf."

Click here to read about the Village of Ashwaubenon's reaction to the Bullfrogs' announcement or here to learn more about how it affects the City of Green Bay.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Over the last few years, Lawrence University students have brought concerns forward about equity and inclusivity on campus.

University leaders told FOX 11 they've been trying to correct those issues by taking steps like hiring more diverse staff and providing more support to minority groups.

"Including more diversity in the curriculum, even diversifying the very traditional canon of the conservatory." added Kimberly Barrett, the vice president of diversity and inclusion for the university.

Thursday the university put diversity and equity on display with its annual report to the community.

"Which is really a celebration about partnerships, partnerships between Lawrence and the Fox Cities," said Mark Burstein, the president of the university.

Barrett says there are two main areas of focus among the partnerships on and off campus.

"Attract and retain diverse talent to the area. Second, make sure that we create a welcoming community for residents that are already here."

The college honored area programs working to do that Thursday.

One of the honorees was ThedaCare's Community Health Action Team. Paula Morgen is ThedaCare's director of community health.

"A big focus of our work in the last couple of years has been on diversity and inclusion."

For example, Morgen says the group studies disparities in healthcare across social groups.

"People of color don't end up with the same health outcomes as, as many other people and so there's a lot of opportunity to explore why that happens, a lot of opportunity to address some of those concerns...It takes healthcare, it takes education like Lawrence University, it takes business, government, non-profits, faith communities, all coming together to work on this to really change the culture that creates health."

Burstein says making these partnerships will only benefit students, the community's future leaders.

"We're about trying to create an environment in which all of us can contribute."

"So they can be, not only, critical thinkers, but compassionate thinkers who, not only know how to make a difference, but why they should make a difference," explained Barrett.

The Fox Cities Diversity Officers Collaborative and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center were also honored.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Lake Winnebago could see a third sturgeon spearing season in a row where the season goes the full 16 days.

DNR Sturgeon Biologist Ryan Koenigs says they were out checking sites on the lake this week.

"The water clarity is very poor. On average you're probably only looking at 6-to-7 feet of visibility right now."

That's not good when you're trying to spear a fish.

"Well below the threshold that we normally need to see around 12 feet that have a high harvest on Lake Winnebago and likely a shortened season because they've reached the caps."

Koenigs thinks there's a good chance that won't happen this year either.

"The last two seasons on Lake Winnebago have both gone the full 16 days. And we've had 9 and 9 and a half feet of visibility."

But, water clarity is better on the upriver lakes, which are shallower than Lake Winnebago.

"Reports I'm hearing from people out scouting is they can see bottom in most areas on the upriver lakes. But those lakes in general are a lot shallower, so you can get by and have a successful season with dirtier water."

Sturgeon Spearing season starts Saturday.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ)- Ashwaubenon Public Safety is investigating an act of vandalism that occurred outside of the Fox 11 WLUK studios. 

Police say a man struck a digital sign multiple times with a pipe. 

Multiple Fox 11 employees noticed the incident take place Friday morning.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety said they are investigating to see if the vandalism is linked to a cross that was stolen from a nearby church.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A new offering has been approved for the UW System's Green Bay campus. 

The Board of Regents has signed off on the creation of a new engineering school.

"Long term, it's about research and innovation and the next generation of businesses.  Short term, it's about providing the workforce pipeline that's critical.  This puts a flag into the ground that says 'instead of our engineering students going to other states, that we're able to actually change the flow of people and move them to this area.'"

Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach says the university will now be able to offer a full four-year degree in mechanical engineering.

"The university has a strong partnership with NWTC.  They were able to provide certain engineering curriculum, but not the full program."

Streckenbach explains how the effort will be funded.

"Part of the approval from the Board of Regents was that the university could demonstrate that they could raise the funds privately to run the program for five years, and they were able to accomplish that." 

Streckenbach says the goal is to launch the program this fall, with it moving to the planned STEM innovation center the following September.  

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - An Appleton paper mill says it has agreed to sell to a group of lenders.

Appvion says the deal is worth $325-million dollars.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, announcing the following month that it would cut around 200 jobs.

That as part of its production moved to Pennsylvania. A judge will consider the agreement March 1.

Appvion has requested permission to hold an auction April 23.

LAKE WINNEBAGO (WTAQ) - One man has been rescued after his truck fell through the ice on Lake Winnebago.

Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue says crews were called around 8:20 am Friday to a spot about 3/4 mile off Menasha's Brighton Drive.  

Emergency responders say two vehicles were traveling on the ice, when one fell through.  It reportedly got stuck on a reef, with the top of the truck staying above water.

They say it happened when the shanty the truck was pulling got hung up on the ice.  

One of the man's friends threw him a rope and pulled him out of the water.  

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ)- A Thursday night disabled vehicle call led to a crazy night of Appleton officers.

At 11:33 PM, an Appleton Police Officers was called to E. Marquette Street and North Union Street to find two men standing outside of a vehicle.

"Those two individuals quickly entered the vehicle after seeing the officer, sped away from that intersection" said Sergeant Dave Lund.

After a short pursuit, the driver of the vehicle, identified as 26-year old Kyle Davis of Appleton, got out and hopped on a roof of  garage to elude officers.

"An officer was able to locate the suspect who was laying on the roof of the garage"

Lund said what happened next was unexpected.

"He took off for a higher point of the roof, and fell from the roof, ending up in the backyard of the residence."

Lund said Davis failed a field sobriety test was cited for his 3rd OWI.

Officers also found a bag of marijuana on both Davis and his passenger, a 30-year old from Menasha. 

The passenger was issued a city summons for the marijuana, and was released after speaking to officers. 

Davis was taken into custody with reccommended charges of Eluding Officers, Resisting Arrest, 3rd Offense OWI and Possession of Marijuana.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Charges and juvenile referrals are expected against four people who have admitted to a Kewaunee County vandalism spree.

Dozens of mailboxes and a truck windshield were damaged Wednesday night in the townships of Franklin, Montpelier, and West Kewaunee.

A firearm was also used to damage road signs.

Authorities say those responsible range in age from 15 to 18.

LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Exciting times for many outdoor enthusiasts, as the 2018 sturgeon spearing season gets underway Saturday in the Lake Winnebago System. 

Spearers, like Mark Rymer of Van Dyne, have spent the past couple days preparing for the season. 

"We like to spend some time, getting the ice shanties ready, and making sure the heaters all work before we get out on the ice, and stuff like that."

Kory Roloff of Oakfield is also among the roughly 13,000 license holders.

"This year, the ice is pretty decent. There's a few cracks and shoves to be aware of, but fishing clubs are doing a great job setting up bridges, making maps."

But the poor water clarity has spearers like Bob Leichtfuss of Van Dyne concerned.

"Northwest of the island, and he could see down six feet. But you go a little bit further and then you can't see at all.  I don't think they're going to get their quota this year."

However, some folks welcome the poor clarity...like Wendt's on the Lake Manager Ann Wendt-Cross.

"Everything I've heard, is just how dirty the water is, and I go 'yeah!'  We normally would maybe have during the weekday, one bartender. Now we're having two or three."

Despite the water clarity being better in the upriver lakes, experts predict the season will go the full 16 days. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The City of Green Bay still hopes to make the Shipyard District a reality.

Economic Development Director Kevin Vonck says they want to open a facility at the city-owned riverfront property, next to the Mason Street Bridge, by 2019.

The Redevelopment Authority is expected to discuss their options at a Tuesday meeting.

This all comes after the Green Bay Bullfrogs announced plans this week to pull out of Shipyard talks, instead moving to Ashwaubenon.  

FOX CITIES (WTAQ-WLUK) - An organization that promotes healthy lifestyles says 3 out of 4 adults in the Fox Cities are overweight or obese.

That finding from 'The Weight of the Fox Valley,' which collected body mass index data from nearly 92,000 unidentified adults who visited the doctor in 2016.

"Weight bubbles up to the top, because it tied in so closely with other chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, other things."

Program Manager Sarah Wright says they're using BMI to gauge the community as a whole.

"We will use that to monitor our progress along the way and to help draw attention to this cause so that we can attract funders, attract people that want to work together, and we're looking at evidence based solutions."

Wright says her group also offers wellness programs for businesses and schools, as well as information on their website about local parks and trails.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ)- Downtown Neenah is hosting the 4th annual Warm Your Heart event on Saturday.

Downtown businesses are offering participants a sample taste of what their business has to offer.

Amy Barker of Future Neenah says the event comes at the perfect time.

"Some people use this as their Valentine's Day outing with their sweetheart. 

Barker says it is also a great oppertunity to step inside downtown businessses and check out sales and what they have to offer.

Barker says participants should not be leaving the event hungry. 

"Those who participate fell like they get more than their money worth as they go store to store and fill their cup.

Registered participants will get the chance to business hop, receiving a sample in their mug after each stop.

Future Neenah will also be accepting socks, hand warmers and underware donations.

The items collected will be donated to Warming Shelter.

Participants will get to keep the mug that they used.

Free parking is available.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- More than two dozen skiplanes are scheduled to be in Oshkosh Saturday. The annual EAA skiplane Fly-In brings in a large crowd each year, as onlookers are treated to a different way of flying.

"There are people flying throughout the morning and the planes are arriving from multiple states."

Dick Knapinski says the event keeps growing.

"If everything is good, we could have anywhere from 15 to 40 skiplanes here, depending on weather conditions in the upper midwest."

One lucky child will be drawn to take a flight in a skiplane Saturday.

"One kid between the age of 8 and 17 is going to have their name drawn, and he or she will be up in an airplane enjoying the sights of Oshkosh and Fox River Valley."

The event is free to the public. 

In past years, more than 25 skiplanes have landed each year.

The event is known for being a very colorful event.

For those looking to attend, signs will direct visitors to the skiplane area upon arrival to the museum. Shuttle services will be available.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Friday night, in a darkened room, with candles lit, a few dozen people silently remembered Sara Schmidt, a life cut short.

"Sara was an incredibly strong woman, I think, She endured a lot," said Katie Huskey, the founder of a group called 'Justice for Sara.'

On January 9th Schmidt was shot and killed by her husband who then turned the gun on himself.

Police called it a domestic homicide, murder-suicide.

"This has been devastating for the whole community," Beth Schnorr, executive director of Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs, tells FOX 11.

A month after her death, community members, friends and family gathered in Appleton to pay tribute Schmidt and other victims of domestic violence.

"We wanna make sure that we give voice to survivors and make sure that we honor those whose lives have been lost and remember the survivors who are still suffering in silence," explained Schnorr.

Huskey also started a petition to change Wisconsin's laws to better protect victims of domestic violence.

"The petition is to change the way that our laws are written around bond and domestic violence cases. Ultimately we wanna keep perpetrators behind bars to protect victims."

According to court records Schmidt had left her husband only days before her death after he attacked and assaulted her. He was out on bail when he killed her.

"If the legislation had stronger language around focusing on victim safety, I think that her husband would have stayed in jail, which would have kept her alive," Huskey explained.

The petition has more than 20,000 signatures and support from domestic abuse advocates.

"Absolutely we will support whatever we can do to keep survivors safe and hold perpetrators accountable, it's absolutely what we need to look into and do," Schnorr told us.

Schmidt left behind three children and an entire community in mourning.

Now, Huskey said, she hopes something good can come out of this tragedy.

"The community that she worked in loved her. Her family, her friends loved her. Her neighbors loved her and that's what I want her to be remembered as. I don't want her to be remembered about how she was taken from us."

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, you can find more information about Harbor House's services at its website here.

BROWN CO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Two alarming church incidents in one week, it was a wake-up call to tighten security.

Capt. Jody Crocker with the Ashwaubenon Public Safety tells FOX 11....

"Any business, especially places where people tend to feel safe in, should have some type of plan or some type of action going on within themselves to know what to do if something bad happens."

One week ago, Life Church in De Pere changed its security after the bomb squad responded to a suspicious package in the church's lobby.

Life Church executive pastor, Sonny Hennyson told FOX 11....

"The incident happened on Friday, and so on Sunday, we had security there earlier, we had, rather than just a rotation of security, we had all of them be there and on duty basically and then the De Pere Police Department did give extra patrol Sunday morning."

But now, police are looking for the man, who they say stole a crucifix at Nativity Parish and banged up the FOX 11 digital sign.

Members of law enforcement are encouraging church goers to be good witnesses. They say don't be afraid to report anything that looks out of the ordinary.

"With a church, utilizing your greeters and utilizing those ushers, and have them look for people who may be out of the ordinary. People who are acting a little bit strange," NWTC public safety coordinator, Jason Weber said.

Officials say it's important to be aware of your surroundings and to form a security team. They say having safety plan in place will benefit everyone - not only churches.

Jedd Bradley with De Pere Police....

"We're not good if someone comes to our house or school and wants to cause threat or damage or hurt us in a way, we're not good at preparing for that. We need to have a plan."

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College will be having a public safety training for church leaders at the Tundra Lodge Resort on Feb. 20 and 21.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh Police and the UW-Oshkosh PD says Six to 15 men were involved in a battery early Saturday morning.

Police say they received a call on a man being beat up by several others.

UW-Oshkosh sent a Titan alert around 2:00 a.m. Saturday.

The mugging happened just off of the university campus.

The investigation is still going on. If you have any information contact the Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700.

LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Opening weekend of the 2018 sturgeon spearing season is in the books and by many accounts, it was off to a slow start.

Inside the more than 4,400 shacks on Lake Winnebago, Only 83 spear fishermen were successful Saturday.

Experts say it all comes down to water clarity.

A short drive on the Lake Winnebago ice early Saturday morning takes Adam Broehm to his favorite fishing spot.

He and his family have speared the same area off the Stockbridge shoreline for decades.

Broehm tells FOX 11 some seasons are better than others.

"It's not looking very good right now, It's very cloudy. Last year, we were very lucky that we were able to see bottom. And this year, wasn't looking good when we came into the shack."

Not far away, Adam's sister Ashley Broehm can't see much either.

"Man, my hole is maybe four or five feet. I tried dropping the basketball, another level, and I couldn't see it at all. So, we brought it up a notch, and this is about as good as it gets right now."

Cloudy conditions translated into a slow harvest around much of Lake Winnebago.

"I don't know, it's not looking good," said Terrie Hastie, Sherwood.

At the Stockbridge sturgeon registration station, Hastie wanted to show her granddaughter the prehistoric fish.

"She never seen one before. I wanted her to see it get measured, and weighed in. They're dinosaurs. It's cool to see.".

But by 11:30 in the morning on day one, there were no fish to register.

"Well, it's been awful slow. I don't know, with the water quality that we've got on the lake right now, I expected it to be slow," said Kendall Kamke, DNR Natural Resources Supervisor.

On Saturday, eight fish were registered at Stockbridge, compared to 59, a year ago.

But fish were being taken.

DNR biologists say water was clearer on the shallower Upriver Lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne, and Poygan.

Gabrielle Jacobs speared her first fish, a 50-pounder just before noon.

"It was amazing. I was shaking. It was very chaotic, but we made it through, and pulled it out, and it was very exciting."

Jacobs registered her fish at Critters in Winneconne.

Dakota Ross speared his first fish with a little help from his father.

"My dad asked me if I was going to spear that sturgeon that was coming through the hole. And sure enough, it was at the edge of the hole, and threw the spear, and pulled him up through the hole."

Back on Lake Winnebago, murky conditions are expected to continue.

"We checked water clarity on more than 20 sites on Lake Winnebago on Monday. And on average, we had about six and a half feet of visibility. That's the poorest water clarity coming into opening weekend, we've had since the 2006 season. With what we're seeing so far this morning, and what we expected coming into the season, we are anticipating a full 16-day season on Lake Winnebago."

And while that may not be encouraging news, Adam Broehm says when it comes to spearing sturgeon, some years are better than others.

"Here we are opening day, cloudy. We're going to give it a shot. Whether we can see two feet, or we can see 10-18 feet, we're going to be out here."

Saurday's harvest on Lake Winnebago was less than half of last year's opener.

Experts say they won't be surprised if anglers move their shacks in the coming days, looking for any possibility of clearer water.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- A Shawano Deputy is helping mak sure your kids are safe in their seats.

o help community members, Deputy Finger is taking time to check seats upon request. She is also giving some tips to parents and guardians. Finger says she sees too many child car seats installed improperly. 

"They put them in as best as they can, or how they think is best."

Having the car seat installed properly is only half of the battle. Finger says it is eye opening to see how many children are not secured the correct way.

"The straps need to fit a certain way, and it varies based on the age of the child, and if the seat is front facing or rear facing."

She says a big question people ask is how to safely put a car seat in the middle of the backseat.

"There are latch hooks for the outside seats, but those need to be used for the outside seats. They are not designed to have the seat in the middle to use them."

Finger says studies show properly buckled kids inside properly installed seats has and will continue to save lives.

"If people are in an accident, the likelyhood that the child is safe is a lot higher."

Finger also said many people don't realize that a car seat that has been in an accident, should be replaced.

Anyone wanting to learn more, or have their seats checked, can contact Deputy Finger at the Shawano County Sheriff's Office.

If you are not sure that your car seat is properly installed, you are encouraged to call the Shawano County Shierff's Office and speak to Deputy Sandra Otto Finger.

You can set up an appointment for inspection. 715.526.7905