LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ) - Another 21 sturgeon have been speared on Lake Winnebago.
Monday's haul brings the total to 495. DNR officials say the heaviest sturgeon speared Monday weighs in at 124.2 pounds. Lucas Wagner of St. Cloud's fish is 71.5 inches.
The season can still run through Sunday.
Another 297 sturgeon were speared on the upriver lakes, but that season ended last week.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A mix of wintry weather makes for difficult Monday travel in Northeast Wisconsin.
Even without the sleet and freezing rain, State Trooper Mark Haessly says they respond to at least one call every day on a stretch of I-41 from De Pere to the Brown-Outagamie County line.
"If there's a transportation event like a traffic crash or disabled vehicle, traffic does have the tendency to back up. And people need to realize, they need to pay attention, every second that they're out here on the interstate."
The state Department of Transportation estimates nearly 51,000 vehicles travel on that stretch of I-41 daily.
Brown County Public Works Director Paul Fontecchio say 45 trucks treated the roads through Monday's evening rush hour, with additional attention having been paid to the interstate.
"We specifically added an extra truck (Monday) for this ice storm to run between County Highway U and County Highway S."
Those hitting the roads in Northeast Wisconsin are also taking notice of the wintry weather.
Barb Seiltz of Sobieski advises people to "hang on tight and slow. I usually go pretty slow if I know the roads are bad."
Officials urge people to keep their gas tank as close to full as possible and phone fully charged when driving in wintry conditions.
NORTHEAST WI (Wisconsin Radio Network)- Despite some bad weather, voting in today's Supreme Court primary is expected to go on as planned.
Outside of the governor postponing the election, Reid Magney with the Wisconsin Elections Commission says polling locations around the state should open as planned at 7 a-m.
"Your polling place should be open. That said, this is a low turnout election. There is no need to be there early, and no need to beat the line. If the weather looks bad in the morning, try to wait a little while."
Magney said it may also be a good idea to go after work since the polls are open until 8:00pm.
Voter turnout for the last five Supreme Court primaries has averaged just a little over seven-percent.
The only statewide race on the ballot is a three-way primary for the state Supreme Court between Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet, Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock, and Madison attorney Tim Burns. The top two will go on to face each other in the April election.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Green Bay Public Works spent Monday morning taking steps to get ahead of the storm.
Crews were out in the morning hours salting the main roads in preparation for what was coming in the evening. Chris Pirlot says they decided to get ahead of the weather, and that helped when the roads started freezing.
"We also used a salt and sand mix to cover some areas of the residental roads for traction."
Pirlot said that is something that is not always done.
The plan throughout the rest of the ice storm is to react to the conditons. Pirlot said by salting in the morning, it really gave them a better chance of maintaining the roads better.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An Appleton man was formally charged with making a terrorist threat after investigators say he sent an electronic message to the FBI saying he would "shoot up the school."
A $10,000 cash bond was set Monday for 23 year old David Etheridge.
Appleton police say Etheridge admitted sending the tip through the FBI's website. No specific school was mentioned.
According to the criminal complaint, when questioned by investigators, Etheridge promised he would not shoot at any school.
Police searched Etheridge's house after the arrest.
They say they found four rifles and ammunition, which officers described as "typical of the hunting rifles and amount of ammunition found in many residences in our state."
Sgt. David Lund with the Appleton Police Department....
"The best I can do to explain to people about those rifles and ammunition is that our investigators weren't startled surprised to find four rifles and the amount of ammunition that they did, it would be very common in the state of Wisconsin, being a culture that hunts."
Officers also took several electronic devices from the home.
According to the criminal complaint, Etheridge sent nearly 650 online messages to the FBI over the past two months. The messages were described as mostly explicit language and religious talk.
"Only one of those statements appeared to be related to any direct violence or to committing an act of violence at a school and that was the one reported to us Saturday morning," said Lund.
According to prosecutors, Etheridge told police he believes he has been receiving subliminal messages through his television.
He also told police he has isolated himself because he feels he is the target of a conspiracy.
When taken to jail, he began to shout about the government "selling his information to 'the masses'" and claim to be a victim of cyberbullying.
No comment from the Appleton School District.
On Saturday, the district posted on Facebook that it will continue to work closely with the Appleton Police Department to keep all students and staff safe.
Lund said, " It didn't appear to our investigator that anyone else was involved or that he had taken any action to any specific school."
Etheridge is due back in court February 28th.
If convicted, Etheridge could be sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
NEENAH, WI (WRN) - A Kimberly-Clark official says the company will take the state’s offer of larger incentives into consideration.
Governor Scott Walker and several Republican legislators from the Fox Cities area proposed a bill that would increase tax credits for jobs.
Kimberly-Clark plans to close the Cold Spring plant in Fox Crossing, and the Neenah Nonwovens facility. About 600 workers would lose their jobs.
Rep. Mike Rohrkaste of Neenah says the company’s response is positive, because leaders are acknowledging the offer, and they’ll at least consider it.
The company says it’s in the course of a collective bargaining process. An official says any final decisions will be announced after negotiations with the union.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The first few days of the week have been busy for Green Bay Public Works.
Operations Director Chris Pirlot says crews were out for much of both Monday and Tuesday morning.
Because of the forecasted ice, Pirlot says they did more than the standard anti-icing of the city's main roads.
"So we went into residential (streets), and we spread sand. Our sand has a minimal amount of salt in it. So what that salt does is then is it helps melt the surface a little bit."
Pirlot notes what things were looking like late Tuesday morning, after the sleet and freezing rain had come to a stop.
"Residential streets were slippery, not purely dry but there was some traction, not great but passable. Arterial streets were already starting to melt."
The operations director says it was an 'all hands on deck' effort.
"We have 16 main units and then we have another unit that we'll send out to take care of bridges and unique spots."
Due to Tuesday's above-freezing temperatures, Pirlot expects the roads will be fully back to normal sooner rather than later.
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County supervisor is introducing a proposal to help at-risk students.
Mark Becker is spearheading an effort that would make it easier for already troubled kids, or those showing early signs of getting to that level, to get "access to our mental health programs, services, and counselors through any school district in Brown County that could use a little bit of help."
Becker notes it's not just for students who are believed to be a risk to others.
"This could be a student at risk for suicide. This could be friends of someone that has completed suicide."
He says the program could allow for either school officials or parents to raise concern about a child.
While Becker says bringing forth this proposal wasn't spurred by last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school that claimed 17 lives, he notes it was the 'straw that broke the camel's back.'
"In every one of these (school shootings) that we have seen over the past many years, a big thing that has been a constant was mental health."
Becker says he feels compelled to do something, noting there is support from local school officials and at least one fellow supervisor representing each of the county's school districts.
"Communities are crying out for leadership. Communities are crying out for something to be done. If something's not going to be done at the top, well then what we'll do is we'll act locally."
Becker says there's no word on a potential cost.
He plans on formally introducing it to his fellow board members Wednesday night.
It would go the board's Human Services Committee for review and recommendation before returning to the full board.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ)- Three people have been arrested in relation to a series of disturbances in Appleton over the weekend.
Police were called out in the early morning hours of February 18.
24-year-old Tyrone Anderson Junior of Appleton, 49-year-old Demetrus Pickens of Appleton and 26-year-old Kareem Wallace of Menasha were taken into custody, but have not been formaly charged yet.
Anderson Jr was arrested for 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety. Charges for Anderson Jr. are directly related to activity outside of Jack's Apple Pub in Appleton.
Pickens was jailed on two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Intentional Homicide and one count of 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety. Charges are related to incidents inside and outside of Grumpy's Pub.
Wallace was jailed on Attempted 1st Degree Intenional Homicide, 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. His arrest is related to incidents outside of Grumpy's Pub.
Police say the events that evening began inside Jack's Apple Pub, as an argument started over a game of pool. Police say one person slapped another individual and that led to an escalation that resulted in several failed attempts to fire weapons, and an evential shooting outside of Grumpy's Pub.
After search warrants were executed on Monday, police were able to locate several people involved. The information led to the three arrestes, but the investigation continues and other arrests are expected.
Police say on handgun was recovered, and they are still looking for a second handgun.
SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - In addition to the usual winter travel challenges we all face, a major D-O-T highway project will cause some headaches from now through November.
A long-term lane closure is underway in the southbound lanes of Highway 41 in the Suamico area, from County B to Norfield Road.
"What we're doing is resurfacing the entire length of 41 in those limits. And we're also doing a lot of bridge-deck rehabilitation."
Wisconsin D-O-T spokesman Mark Kantola says it's going to mean backups during peak drive times for the thousands of vehicles that pass through each day.
"So we're really encouraging people, if they cn, to seeks alternate routes."
Work on this level hasn't been done on the highway for years.
"Really the last time we did any significant pavement repair in the project limits like this was back in 2000."
Kantola says patchwork repairs just aren't cost effective.
"Pavement gets that far along the maintenance costs really don't justify themselves anymore."
Both lanes of northbound 41 will be maintained during peak-travel times. But northbound lane closures will be allowed at night and during non-peak travel.
Price-tag is expected to top out around $13 million.
A detailed project website is available here.
LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ) - Another 20 sturgeon have been harvested from Lake Winnebago.
The haul from Day 11 of the 16-day season brings the total to 515.
Tuesday's largest fish, 69.7 inches in length and 119.1 pounds, was claimed by John Epprecht of Oshkosh.
An additional 297 sturgeon were speared on the upriver lakes, but that season ended last week.
FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ) - A 29-year-old Eau Claire man has been charged in the 2008 sexual assault of a Fox Crossing woman.
The state Department of Justice says this is the first time criminal charges have been filed in connection with the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, an effort to address decades-old sex assault kits.
The victim says she met Aaron Heiden at a Darboy bar in August 2008, inviting him back to her home for sex.
She claims Heiden became 'rough,' ignoring pleas for him to stop.
The victim says she was in a lot of pain, with a sexual assault nurse documenting bruises and tears.
In February 2009, no matches were found in the database after a DNA profile was found from the kit.
Eight years later, a DNA profile was found and entered into the FBI's national DNA database, following further testing of the kit by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab.
A couple months later, prosecutors say Heiden came back as a match, with investigators going to Eau Claire to interview him and obtain a DNA sample.
Officials say Heiden's DNA matched that found in the kit.
Heiden faces charges of Second Degree Sexual Assault/Sex Organ Injury and Third Degree Sexual Assault.
NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Customers at the New London McDonald's got a surprise Tuesday afternoon.
Governor Scott Walker was behind the counter, as part of the 'Take Your Legislator to Work Initiative.'
The annual event is put on by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Walker says hiring people with a disability creates a more inclusive and accepting community, noting it gives the workers independence and a means of utilizing their talents.
"What we have found in folks we've talked to and employees across the state is that when people make a point to hire people with disabilities, they're some of the most loyal, dependable workers, and that makes for a strong organization, and it's good not just for the people working there, it's good for all the other folks that are part of their team."
Walker notes Wisconsin is one of the top states in the country for hiring people with disabilities.
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ-WLUK) - Excitement throughout Northeast Wisconsin as many school districts called off class Tuesday.
Bennett Hron of Appleton leaves no doubt where he stands on the issue.
"I was glad because if we would have had school, we would have had to do math, and we would have had math homework."
Ben Isom of Appleton explains how he spent his day.
"I was really excited, because I really like to go to the YMCA. It's generally open and has nice floors."
But not everybody got the day off, YMCA of the Fox Cities President Bill Breider among them.
"Even though the schools are closed, parents still have to get to work. We open our buildings at 5 am. We open our childcare centers at 6:30 am."
The school closures mean big business for kid-centered destinations. One of those being Megan Van Handel's Monkey Joe's location in Appleton.
"There's been quite a few families. It's definitely been busier than a normal Tuesday morning, so that's kind of nice."
The cancellations were due to icy road conditions in the morning.
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ) - Here is a list of area races for the February 20 primary (updated as final tallies are reported):
Wisconsin Supreme Court:
Kaukauna Mayor:
Kewaunee Mayor:
Shawano Mayor:
Green Bay City Council:
District 2
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 12
Kaukauna City Council:
District 3
Sturgeon Bay City Council:
District 2
District 6
Brown County Supervisor District 20:
Door County Supervisor District 19:
Kewaunee County Supervisor:
District 2
District 10
Oconto County Supervisor District 27:
Outagamie County Supervisor District 6:
Waupaca County Supervisor District 21:
Waushara County Supervisor District 3:
Manitowoc County Circuit Court:
Kaukauna Clerk/Treasurer
North Fond du Lac Village President:
Howard Village Trustee
Referendums:
Shiocton Schools:
Question 1: $3.1-million dollars for operational costs
Question 2: $2-million dollars for high school addition
Sister Bay Half-Percent sales tax on tourist-related items
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WTAQ) - Here is a list of area races for the February 20 primary (updated as final tallies are reported), (winner(s) in italics).
Wisconsin Supreme Court:
(With 99% reporting, Screnock (246,357 votes or 46%) and Dallet (190,347 votes or 36%) have been declared victorious over Burns (94,714 or 18%)
Kaukauna Mayor:
(With 100% reporting, Penterman received 644 votes or 25% and DeCoster received 496 votes or 19%)
Kewaunee Mayor:
(With 100% reporting, Christman received 204 votes or 50% and Kleiman II received 143 votes or 35%)
Shawano Mayor:
(With 100% reporting, Cronce received 443 votes or 39% and Whealon received 379 votes or 34%)
Green Bay City Council:
District 2
(Corpus-Dax received 477 votes or 54% and De Wane received 355 votes or 40%)
District 6
(With 100% reporting, Lefebvre received 169 votes or 46% and Koepke received 136 votes or 37%)
District 7
(With 100% reporting, Scannell received 206 votes or 52% and Spoehr received 148 votes or 37%)
District 8
(WIth 100% reporting, Wery received 426 votes or 58% and Jacques received 216 votes or 29%)
District 9
(With 100% reporting, Johnson received 301 votes or 44% and Zima received 259 votes or 38%)
District 12
(WIth 100% reporting, Hinkfuss received 383 votes or 41% and Brunette received 304 votes or 32%)
Kaukauna City Council:
District 3
(With 100% reporting Duda received 355 votes or 52% and Meyerhofer received 223 votes or 33%)
Sturgeon Bay City Council:
District 2
(With 100% reporting, Hayes received 158 votes or 49% and Starr 118 votes or 37%)
District 6
(With 100% reporting, Fett received 69 votes or 42% and Wiederanders received 52 votes or 32%)
Brown County Supervisor District 20:
(With 100% reporting, Crawford received 196,236 votes or 100% and Deslauriers received 295 votes or 0%)
Door County Supervisor District 19:
(With 100% reporring, Bultman received 104 votes or 39% and Mulliken received 82 votes or 31%)
Kewaunee County Supervisor:
District 2
(With 100% reporting, Cochart received 116 votes or 57% and Kusniesz received 71 votes or 35%)
District 10
(With 100% reporting, Cretney received 60 votes or 44% and Mochos received 44 votes or 32%)
Oconto County Supervisor District 27:
(With 100% reporting, Parmentier received 90 votes or 49% and Brezeau 59 votes or 32%)
Outagamie County Supervisor District 6:
(With 100% reporting, Konetzke received 185 votes or 52% and Firkus received 118 votes or 33%)
Waupaca County Supervisor District 21:
(With 100% reporting, Knuth received 99 votes or 46% and Bosquez received 73 votes or 34%)
Waushara County Supervisor District 3:
(With 100% reporting, VanAmerongen received 109 votes or 53% and Larry Timm received 57 votes or 28%)
Manitowoc County Circuit Court:
(With 100% reporting, Dietz received 2,356 votes or 33% and Sczygelski received 1,922 votes or 27%)
Kaukauna Clerk/Treasurer
(With 100% reporting, Kenney received 1,091 votes or 44% and Duda received 859 votes or 35%)
North Fond du Lac Village President:
(With 100% reporting, Streetar received 188 votes or 54% and King received 101 votes or 29%)
Howard Village Trustee
(With 100% reporting, Lemorande received 86 votes or 36% and Meves received 84 votes or 36%)
Referendums:
Shiocton Schools:
Question 1: $3.1-million dollars for operational costs
(With 100% reporting, Yes received 578 votes or 72%)
Question 2: $2-million dollars for high school addition
(With 100% reporting, Yes received 532 votes or 67%)
Sister Bay Half-Percent sales tax on tourist-related items
(With 100% reporting, Yes received 168 votes or 84%)
HOBART, WI (WTAQ)- Hobart-Lawrence is the safest city in Wisconsin, according to a study by National Council for Home Safety and Security.
The study looks at crime rate and population data.
Hobart-Lawrence Police Chief Randy Bani says he is honored, but not surprised based on the efforts the department has taken to protect his citizens.
"We have a special program for those who are going to be away from their home for an extended period of time. We have them let us know, and we take steps to check their property for them."
Bani said he is happy to see neighbors looking out for eachother.
"We have the neighborhood watch program and they do watch and do call us. One of my big things is if you see something, say something."
Bani says they have a great working relationship with the community, and that, along with being visible is big for crime prevention.
"We try to keep two cars on the road at all times if we can, and if they are not on the road, they know that they are expected to be near homes and businesses. Just being present and being seen is huge in trying to deter crime."
Bani said the Hobart-Lawrence area is also growing well.
The same study also ranked Kaukauna at number 7 and Fox Valley Metro at number 8.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An incident which involved a man stealing a crucifix from an area church, before damaging the sign in front of the FOX 11 studios, is fresh in the minds of many.
The incident startled the people who were in the church at the time.
A conference in Green Bay Tuesday offers guidelines to church leaders, faced with providing a safe place to pray.
10 swings from a five foot long crucifix damaged the sign outside the FOX 11 building.
Police say the 29-year-old Brendan McSweeney stole the crucifix from Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church in Ashwaubenon.
Inside the church, police say McSweeney acted strangely, shouting at parishioners before leaving the church with the crucifix.
Church leaders tell FOX 11 it's the worst episode in 30 years.
"In today's world, you know, nothing's off the board and you know that something's going to come up and happen," said Wayne Efferson, Nativity Parish Worship Servant Leader.
About 150 religious leaders from around Northeast Wisconsin attended the very first house of worship safety awareness conference.
"Conflict is going to happen in a church setting. As much as we don't like it to happen, as much as we don't expect it to happen, it may happen."
Green Bay Police Officer Mike Knetzger says communication is key.
"Whether it's just verbal conflict, it's verbal conflict that's emotionally driven. How can we de-escalate individuals to ultimately prevent violence."
From forming security teams in church, to responding to a possible active shooter, religious leaders say the sessions are necessary.
"So far, I have to say that I'm quite shocked that churches are dealing with these kinds of situations that we have to deal with," said Dan Van Straten, Faith Chapel.
"We want to figure out the best practices for keeping an eye on things in our church community. And being safe," said Marian Boyle Rohloff, West Side Moravian Church Pastor.
And that includes Nativity Parish, where the doors to the church are now locked.
"So we have like maybe a one-point source, one entry point, so we can monitor that a little bit more efficiently," said Efferson.
This is the first year of the conference. In the future, leaders hope to expand the focus to include businesses, as well.
As far as the crucifix-wielding suspect Brendan McSweeney, he remains in custody in the Brown County Jail.
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Schools in Ashwaubenon are on lockdown.
District leaders say the lockdown is a precautionary reaction to "a nonspecific threat made on social media towards schools in the Green Bay area."
Police have been called in to investigate but are not commenting on the matter.
The district says it will notify families as more information becomes available.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Area Public School District says its schools are not being locked down.
The Green Bay Police Department has issued the following statement:
A short time ago, our agency became aware of possible threats reference a school shooting in the Green Bay Area. According to the young people who reported this, the threats were not specific in nature. We have notified our neighboring law enforcement agencies of those threats and are continuing to investigate the source of those threats.We do not have any specific or credible confirmation of any actual threat or plan, but as a precaution we will have extra police presence in and around our area schools. We are in close contact with the school district and our neighboring school districts and police agencies and will continue to work closely with all of them to make sure our schools are safe.
Anyone with specific information on these or other school related threats is highly encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The president of Green Bay's school board discuss the superintendent's recent performance review.
Brenda Warren says Dr. Michelle Langenfeld's performance this past year was similar to previous years, saying the board is not throwing the blame at Langenfeld for recent concerns at Washington Middle School.
"This was a pathway we took together, in terms of what was going on at Washington, both before and after the allegations actually, over the past number of years. Ultimately, she is the leader of the district but as a board, we work very closely with her. It's a joint effort on our parts to ensure that we've got what we need in our schools."
A former teacher at Washington painted a picture last spring of a school environment that was abusive to both students and staff.
In the following months, district officials held events to address the matter and work on creating a gameplan for moving forward.
Warren says the groundwork for that improvement has been laid.
WTAQ asked her if that means Langenfeld will be held to a higher standard in future performance reviews, with Warren saying there are no set target dates.
"This is an ongoing process. Now that the behaviors are more managed at that school, we can focus more on the student achievement."
When asked about how Langenfeld's overall performance this past year compares to her previous five years, Warren says "I think she's stayed the course. She's been a very steady, strong leader."
Warren praises Langenfeld's efforts in creating partnerships with community businesses and higher-education institutions, in an effort to provide more opportunities for students.
As for areas of improvement for Langenfeld in 2018-19: the performance review cites student achievement, student growth, closing the achievement gap, and improving students' on track/readiness.
