Quantcast
Channel: Local news from wixx.com
Viewing all 18355 articles
Browse latest View live

NE WI Enjoying Unseasonably Warm Weather

0
0

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Folks throughout Northeast Wisconsin get outside for the warmest temperatures the area has seen in 2018. 

With a Tuesday high in the 50's, it's a busy day at the Fox Point Boat Launch in De Pere.  

"We're out here fishing on the Fox River, fishing walleye in a boat.  So far, so good.  We've gotten a big one and a bunch of little ones," says Tony of Shawano.

"Taking my kids and my dog for a walk today.  I think the dog (is most excited to be out) because with it being winter, he didn't really go on too many walks," says Alisha of De Pere.

"I'm out for my first outdoor (bike) ride of the year.  It'll probably be 20 degrees again next week, but I'll take it for now," says Nathan of De Pere.

Folks say they're seeing plenty of signs that spring is coming.

"The sparrows are trying to get into my wren house, and my tree has buds on it," says Kay of De Pere.

"We actually helped them get the (boat) launch open yesterday," says Kyle of Bonduel.

"When it's bright (outside) like this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  You can see for miles," says Milt of Green Bay.

High temperatures are expected to drop down to the 30's and 40's for the rest of the week, with snow possible on Thursday.


Report: Nine Police Officers Punished

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A newly-released report says an internal investigation led to nine of Green Bay's night shift police officers being disciplined for harassment and bullying.

The 249-page document says the bullying, which often involved the mobile data terminals in squad cars, included content that was either sexual or racial in nature.  Another officer was reportedly targeted for their medical condition.

Two officers (Officer Casey Masiak and Lieutenant Rob Korth) resigned as a result of the investigation, with another (Officer Mike Rahn) resigning due to a separate incident.

Six others were suspended up to one month without pay: Officer Kevin Bahl (1 day), Officer Kurt Brester (15 days), Officer Tim Eickholt (7 days), Officer Matt Knutson (30 days), Officer Scott Salzman (1 day), and Officer Paul Spoerl (2 days).

The investigation began in December 2016, having started into a separate investigation of an officer who was allegedly abusing the department's sick time policy.  

Response to Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Lawsuit

0
0

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - The De Pere alderman who proposed an anti-discrimination ordinance that is set to take effect Thursday reacts to a lawsuit filed against the measure.

The group of five churches and a radio station that filed suit say they want an exemption included for religious organizations. 

"State statute that defines public accommodation.  If they're a non-profit religious organization, they're not considered a place of public accommodation."

Alderman Casey Nelson says churches have that state protection, in addition to language written in the city's measure.

"There's a specific stipulation in our ordinance that says places of faith can select employees who share the same faith or same denomination." 

The plaintiffs say this is an example of the state interfering with the church. 

Meanwhile, a UW-Green Bay professor gives an informational presentation at De Pere City Hall, in connection with the anti-discrimination ordinance. 

Stacie Christian is asked if there should be an exemption.

"It's very hard to tell churches who they can marry or not marry.  I don't know of too many places that would do that in the United States."

Christian is the director of UW-GB's Inclusive Excellence and Pride Center.

State's Final Witnesses Discus Fitbit and Cell Phone Data

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Fitbits and cell phones were the focus of Tuesday morning in the George Burch murder trial. 

Day seven was also the day that the state called their final witness, resting their case, allowing the defense to call witnesses.

Before the state rested, they looked closer into the Fitbit that Nicole VanderHeyden's boyfriend Doug Detrie was wearing the night of the murder, as well as cell phone activity of George Burch.  

Sergeant Richard Loppnow of the Brown County Sheriff's office was called back to testify. Loppnow said he viewed videos of Detrie, and counted the steps that he took in those videos. He testified he then had data sent from Fitbit that confirmed the number of steps recorded at those points in the video.  

"That was time stamped in our records management system, and I took that data, and the data that was given to us by Fitbit, and compared the two," Loppnow testified.    

Loppnow told the court that he found the Fitbit data to be very accurate, with just a few times when the numbers did not match.  

"I believe there were about three times when I observed that, but in those situations, Mr. Detrie was moving his hands, not actually taking steps, and it was counting."  

Loppnow testified that he was working with over 500 minutes worth of data. 

The fitbit evidence is expected to be key in proving or disproving the defense's claim that Doug Detrie, not George Burch, murdered VanderHeyden.  

In cross examination, Attorney Lee Schuchart asked Loppnow what happens if someone takes their Fitbit off their wrist?  

"I would conclude that if it is not being worn, it is not recording any of that information."  

Behling was also asked to testify on the cell phone data that he obtained from George Burch's cell phone, and spoke on Burch's whereabouts the night of the murder, based on where his cell phone was located.  

"I observed Mr. Burch's phone traveling to the VanderHeyden/Detrie residence, traveling to the site where the body was found, and ending up at his residence."  

Along with Burch's phone, Behling testified that he was also asked to examine Nicole VanderHeyden's phone activity. He testified that he did not observe that VanderHeyden's phone was shut off, but could not determine if the phone shutdown due to a dead battery.

He also confirmed Doug Detrie's testimony, that his last phone activity the night of the murder was at 3:07 a.m. when he sent a facebook message to Nicole VanderHeyden's friend Dallas Kennedy, who was also babysitting his child at the time.

Behling also confirmed Detrie's testimony that the next time he used his cell phone was at 2:42 p.m. the next day. Last week, Detrie testified that he went to sleep and could not find his phone until the afternoon, and that he used other devices to try to contact people about VanderHeyden missing.

Behling was also asked to show the jury a chart of Detrie's steps before, during and after the time that police say VanderHeyden was murdered. 

The graph showed that Detrie recorded very few steps between 3:08 a.m and 6:09 a.m. Behling testified that Detrie took 12 steps at 4:18 a.m. 

It was also testified by Behling that George Burch used his phone to look up news stories on the VanderHeyden murder 64 times between May 22 and June 6th, but did not look up much other news information with his phone.

Behling showed the jury the list of locations that George Burch's cell phone was determined to be the night of the murder.

2:45 a.m- When Burch's cell phone was shown leaving Richard Crainum's Bar. 

3:01 a.m- Burch's phone was shown being within 350 feet of the Detrie/VanderHeyden residence until 3:52 a.m.

3:58 a.m- Burch's phone was shown at the Bellevue Field (Location where VanderHeyden's body was found)

4:02 a.m- Burch's phone was shown leaving the Bellevue Field and ended up at his residence.

The state rested their case early Tuesday afternoon.

The defense called four witnesses on Tuesday.

Jason Lemons, a friend of VanderHeyden testified that he ran into Nicole at the Sardine Can on the night of the murder.

Lemons also testified that he attended the Steel Panther concert, but told the court that he did not see VanderHeyden there. Doug Detrie testified last week that he attended that concert with VanderHeyden.

Lemons said VanderHeyden did not seem overly drunk at the Sardine Can and told the court that he remembered that VanderHeyden told him that she would get in trouble for talking to him.

Detective Roman Aronstein of the Brown County Sheriff's Department testified about a box of wires that he found in Doug Detrie and Nicole VanderHeyden's garage.

It was confirmed earlier in the week that a bloody wire or cord was found in the neighbors yard after the murder.

The defense is contending that Doug Detrie, not George Burch killed VanderHeyden. The defense is expected to have Burch testify to that soon.

 

Day 1: Opening Statements and Body Discovery  

Day 2: Emotions get High  

Day 3: Detrie Takes The Stand  

Day 4: Focus Turns To Evidence  

Day 5: Burch Is Brought Up In Testimony

Day 6: Close Friends of Burch Testify

 

 

Assembly Proposes Bill For School Safety

0
0

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ)- Law makers and law enforcement are working together to find ways to keep kids safe in school.  

Just days after a school shooting at a high school in Florida, members of the State Assembly started working on three bills, one of which would provide funding for schools to have an armed guard present.  

Republican Representative John Macco said the idea had bipartisan support.  

"We were outraged when this happened, we were literally outraged, drafted the legislation immediately and put it on the floor."  

If the bill passes the Senate, schools would be able to apply for a grant to have an armed School Safety Officer.     Macco says it does come with a high price tag of about $25 million dollars, but he and many others see it as worth the cost.  

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith said in Green Bay, this position would be different from their existing School Resource Officer that they have at schools. He says a School Safety Officer's only job would be to protect the students and staff in the school.  

"They will not be dealing with truancy, or chasing kids who are smoking," Smith said. "They will only have one job the way see it, and that is to protect the people in school from someone coming in and causing harm. They will be responsible for checking the perimeter, checking that the doors are locked, and if someone gets in and something happens, they will be the one who is responsible."  

Smith says he feels Green Bay has many candidates who he feels fits the mold that he sees needed to get the job done.  

"An officer who is recently retired, and has proven through decades of police work that they know how to handle themselves, and how to handle a firearm."  

Representative Macco said ultimately, each school district would decide what it best for their situation.  

Macco says if passed, the money would be available for schools with students 5th grade through High School. He says the initial package would cover 75 percent of the cost the first year, 50 percent of the cost the second year, and 25 percent of the cost in the third year. He adds that the big takeaway is that the structure can evolve through time, but it will now be a focus for years to come.  

"It is a new normal, and this is how we need to function."  

Chief Smith says the idea of finding ways to make schools more safe in Green Bay has already been a topic of discussion.  

Green Bay School District will have two public roundtables to discuss school safety. The first is March 10 at 10:30 am at Green Bay Preble High School. The second is April 16 at 6:30 pm at Green Bay West High School.A    

Warm Temps Has Lake Users Scrambling

0
0

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Sturgeon spearing just came to an end a few days ago.

And now, another sign that winter's grip may be loosening ever so slightly-- many ice bridges on Lake Winnebago are coming out.

It should have been a pretty straightforward day for members of the Otter Street Fishing Club and Sunk! Dive and Ice Service.

But early Tuesday afternoon, an extraction job off Oshkosh had them scrambling to save their own equipment.

Don Herman, who runs Sunk! Ice and Diving and is a member of the Otter Street Fishing Club, tells FOX 11 the ice was deteriorating so quickly it caught even seasoned veterans off guard.

"The lake really is turning bad with the sun... it's just going bad. We pulled a truck out of the river today. We just got it out, we're coming in, and we dropped our truck in, just the back tires."

He and other volunteers with the Fishing Club were planning on removing the ice bridges this morning.

As it became clear how fast the ice was changing on Tuesday, Herman says their plans had to change as well.

"We're probably going to do an emergency deal and probably pull the bridges here shortly... I drove out to just about everybody an told them, I said get your vehicles off. It's fine for four-wheelers yet, but I think most fishing clubs are pulling their bridges today."

Over the southern half of the lake, the bridges were already off by Tuesday.

Steve Klein with the West Shore Fishing Club in Van Dyne says the ice there is even worse.

"When we were coming in, we could actually feel the ice moving up and down, almost like a wave action. You could see in front of you where the vehicles in front of you were actually going down. Not a good feeling."

He says he pulls six to ten trucks out of the lake per winter-- but he's had seven go through in the last week alone.

Back at the Merritt Street launch in Oshkosh, fishing guides like Lance Sweeting had also pulled the plug on their trucks and shanties on the lake.

"I'm done. Snowmobile from here on out.. Safety first, that's what we go by. We feel it's unsafe now, and we'll go out and pleasure fish on snowmobile all by ourselves."

And with milder than normal weather forecast to stick around, the ice likely won't be getting any better.

Ballpark Plans Moving Forward

0
0

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - The plans for a new baseball stadium in Ashwaubenon taking some very positive steps Tuesday night.

The village board approved a 20-year lease with the Bullfrogs' owner, Big Top Baseball.

The stadium will be built on Holmgren Way, next to the Village Hall, just blocks away from Bay Park Square Mall.

The village is purchasing the six-acre property.

The lease will help pay for the $10 million facility.

The stadium will seat 2,500 people, but have room for 4,000.

Along with baseball games, the stadium will also host concerts and other community events.

The plan is to have the stadium ready for the Bullfrogs' 2019 season.

HSHS Hospitals Lift Visitor Restrictions

0
0

NORTHEAST, WI (WTAQ)- After nearly four weeks, a decrease in flu activity has allowed HSHS-Hospitals in Northeast Wisconsin to lift visitor restrictions that they put in place due to a high number of influenza cases. 

Restrictions were put in place at St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, as well as St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, and St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls.

Hospital administration restricted children under the age of 12 from being in inpatient areas. Patients were also only able to have one or two healthy visitors.

Administration says influenza cases are going down, but people should still consider a flu shot and should wash their hands frequently.


Combating Hunger in Green Bay

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An effort to combat hunger in Green Bay and communities throughout Wisconsin.

Hunger Task Force, Cousins Subs, and the Milwaukee Bucks are launching the third annual 'Block Out Hunger' campaign.

Cousins PR Manager Chelsea Schwabe says it's a two-part effort.

 

"Cousins Subs will be donating $50 to Hunger Task Force for every blocked shot the Bucks have throughout their regular season."

In addition, people can donate healthy, non-perishable food items at any Wisconsin Cousins Subs location throughout the month of March.

Anyone who donates three qualifying items will receive a buy one, get one free voucher for a 7 1/2 inch sub.

All donations in Green Bay benefit Paul's Pantry, where Craig Robbins is the executive director.

"We have over 4,000 households registered.  In those households, there's over 13,000 people."

Schwabe puts the problem their addressing into context.

"More than 200,000 people in Wisconsin are food insecure, meaning they do not know where they're going to find their next meal."

Jonathan Hansen is the director of development for Hunger Task Force.

"Across Wisconsin, one in five kids live in poverty and don't have enough to eat.  Poverty and hunger are tough in our communities."

Trial Ordered for Alleged Crucifix Thief

0
0

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County trial has been ordered for the 29-year-old Chicago man accused of stealing a crucifix from an Ashwaubenon church and using it to damage an electronic sign outside the Fox 11 studio.

Brendan McSweeney also faces charges in Marathon County for a separate February 9 incident.

After leaving Green Bay, McSweeney reportedly caused a disturbance at a Wausau pizza parlor.

Funeral Set for Kewaunee Dairyman

0
0

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Arrangements have been made for a Kewaunee County dairyman and his son-in-law, who died in a plane crash last week. 

Visitation for Pagel Ponderosa Diary's John Pagel (58) and Steve Witcpalek (39) will be held Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday morning at Kewaunee High School. 

The funeral is set for 1 pm Saturday at Kewaunee's Holy Rosary Catholic Church. 

The plane was heading to Green Bay when it crashed 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. 

Land Swap Approved for Golf Course

0
0

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Approval from the Natural Resources Board for Kohler Company to receive a parcel of state park land for its effort to build a new golf course. 

The company is looking to construct a 247-acre golf course adjacent to Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan County. 

The company offered 9.5 acres adjacent to the park and promised to upgrade the park entrance, in exchange for 6.5 acres within the park that will be the site of a maintenance facility.

The NRB's unanimous approval came in spite of many park users urging the deal be rejected.

Those opposed to the deal cited the facility potentially ruining the park's ambiance and a possibly dangerous precedent being set of state park land to a private company.

Official: Flu Danger Lessening but Still Present

0
0

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - While the worst of the flu season is behind us, a health expert says we're not out of the woods yet.

Winnebago County Health Director Doug Gieren says this year has been worse than past years since the main strain has been the H3N2, which is more potent than the typical H1N1.

"80% of the viruses have been what we call Influenza A, instead of Influenza B.  The strain is a little bit more severe, so the illnesses have been more severe.  That's resulted in more illnesses and more hospitalizations."

Gieren explains how things looked through the third week of February.

"We've had 97 pediatric deaths reported nationwide.  There have been none in Wisconsin.  It's significantly more than in the past couple years."

He notes this year has been even worse than the last notably fatal season of 2014-15, where there were 80 deaths through the same amount of time.

"We appear to be past peak.  However, the season has many weeks yet to go.  Typically as the season moves on, we start to see more Influenza B."

Despite that being a less severe illness, Gieren says it's still important for folks to get vaccinated.

He notes the season could last until May.   

On Wednesday, HSHS lifted a set of restrictions that were in place for nearly a month at its Northeast Wisconsin hospitals.  The restrictions were meant to limit the spread of the flu.

Big Dollars Raised for Charities

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - More than $800,000 has been raised for 31 area non-profits.

In just 24 hours, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Green Bay Packers Foundation collected the funds.

Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity received the most donations, with $39,000.

St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter received the most single donations, with 244.

"We were really just trying to create awareness for the nonprofits in their community, see what kind of support we could gain. To see $800,000 be raised in 24 hours for these nonprofits is really impressive."

Greater Green Bay Community Foundation President Dennis Buehler says $250,000 in matching funds from the Packers Foundation will be distributed to the organizations based on the percent of money they raised.

Burch Takes The Stand In His Own Murder Trial

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- The defense called George Burch to testify in his own murder trial Wednesday.

Burch is accused of killing Nicole VanderHeyden in 2016, but the jury was informed during opening arguments that they would hear that Burch's testimony that claims it was VanderHeyden's boyfriend Doug Detrie that committed the murder.

Burch testified that he met VanderHeyden for the first time at Richard Craniums Bar the night of the murder.

Burch said he noticed an attractive blonde woman next to him at the bar, and said she appeared to be alone. 

Burch testified that he started flirting with her.

At bar close, Burch said they decided that he would drive her to his place, which happened to a house that he was renting from Edward and Lynda Jackson. The Jackson's testified earlier in the week that they helped Burch move to Wisconsin after he had a falling out with his wife.

Burch told the court that Edward's father was in the living room when they got there, so they decided to get back in the vehicle and go to VanderHeyden's place. Burch said she gave him directions as they were driving. 

According to Burch, VanderHyden asked him to pull over near her house, because she noticed that the lights were on.

Burch said they starting fooling around in the front seat, and eventually moved to the backseat. 

Burch said they eventually moved to the backseat of his vehicle, where they started to have sex. He testified that he was standing up with VanderHeyden in the backseat and the back passenger door open.

Burch said that was the last thing he remembered, because the next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground next to his vehicle. He said he noticed his pants were around his ankles, and he said he heard a man's voice from behind him. 

"We were having sex and next thing I know, I am on the ground and she is lying there dead."

Burch testified that he was told to move to the back of the vehicle, where he saw VanderHeyden lying on the ground not moving. 

"I was unsure if she was alive or dead," Burch said. 

Next, Burch said he noticed the man had a gun pointed at him and was told to pick the body up and put in the backseat of the vehicle. 

Attorney Scott Stebbins asked if he was able to see the man's face, but Burch said not until the man got into the backseat, and the interior lights made it possible to see him through the mirror. 

"Do you know now who that was," Stebbins asked? 

"I do, it was Doug Detrie."

Burch said that Detrie directed him where to go and led him to a quiet field or wooded area. He said he had no idea where he was. 

Burch testified that Detrie told him to take VanderHeyden out of the backseat and carry her. He said once he had VanderHeyden out of the car, he carried her to an area, but put her down to make a lunge towards Detrie, pushing him back.

Burch said he ran out of the area towards his vehicle, got in, and drove off. He said he needed to ask Google how to get home since he did not know where he was.

While driving home, Burch testified that he noticed VanderHeyden's clothes and items in the backseat, and did not know what he should do with them.

"I threw them out the window," Burch said. 

Last week, investigators said they found VanderHeyden's clothes near the on ramp of GV near Highway 172. 

Stebbins asked Burch why he just threw the clothes out.

"I did not know what to do," he said. 

Attorney Stebbins asked Burch why he did not report the events of the night to police. 

"Where I come from, you don't tell on people," Burch said. "People who tell on people end up dead."

He said the other reason was because he was on probation in Virginia for Grand Larceny, and did not want to end up in prison for leaving and moving to Wisconsin.

Stebbins closed his line of questioning by asking a key question point blank.

"George, did you murder Nicole VanderHeyden," Stebbins asked?

"No, sir," Burch answered. 

Stebbins asked him who did.

"Doug Detrie did," Burch replied.

In cross examination, District Attorney David Lasee started by asking Burch about his cell phone activity in searching for news stories on the VanderHeyden murder. He asked Burch about the investigators testimony that his cell phone searched news stories on the murder 64 times. Lasee asked Burch when he first found out that Doug Detrie was released as a suspect in the murder. Burch said he did not know that until he was arrested for the murder.

Lasee asked about the area that Burch traveled that night, stating that investigators testimony claims his cell phone was in four key areas having to do with the murder. Burch said he was, and still is unfamilier with the area.

"I would not be able to return to the crime scenes even if you said you would free me from these charges if I could find it."

Lasee started questioning Burch's story of being attacked and forced to help Detrie dispose of the body. He also questioned how he knew Detrie committed the murder if he was out cold at the time. He questioned why Burch did not have any injuries after he was knocked out, and questioned why it would make sense for Detrie to ask someone he did not know to help dispose of the body.

Burch started to get a little heated with his responses to Lasee, especially when Lasee laid out what he thought really happened that night.

"The truth is that Nicole just wanted a ride home, but you wanted more. The truth is she tried to leave and you would not let her. The truth is that you strangled her with the cord, and got really physical."

Lasee also questioned how VanderHeyden can look like she was sexually assaulted, if the two of them were having consensual sex.

The entire time, Burch denied any allegations made.

Lasee asked Burch why he did not report the murder and attack to the Brown County Sheriff's Office when their building was so close to where Burch was. He questioned why Burch did not say anything to Edward Jackson or anyone else before or during a fishing trip in Racine the next morning.

Burch said he did not trust anyone.

Before Burch testified on the night of the murder, Attorney Scott Stebbins had Burch go through his childhood and employment history.

Burch was adopted at a young age, and said his adopted father, George Burch Sr. was his best friend. Burch testified that he remained close with his father until he passed away in 2014.

Burch and his wife moved from Virginia to New York, but moved back to Virginia so he could help his father out. 

When asked about his employment history, Burch said he worked a chef in multiple restaurants, worked construction and also worked in a window business. 

Burch testified that he and his wife divorced in 2015 and he was given an opportunity for a fresh start in Wisconsin, living with his friend Edward Jackson, who testified Tuesday.

Defense attorney Scott Stebbins asked Burch about his criminal history. Burch said he was convicted of five crimes, many of which were when drugs and crime took over in his hometown.

The defense could rest its case on Thursday and closing arguments could take place in the afternoon.

 

Day 1: Opening Statements and Body Discovery  

Day 2: Emotions get High  

Day 3: Detrie Takes The Stand  

Day 4: Focus Turns To Evidence  

Day 5: Burch Is Brought Up In Testimony

Day 6: Close Friends of Burch Testify

 Day 7: State's Final Witnesses Discuss Fitbit and Cell Phone Data


Student Arrested For Selfie Threat

0
0

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- Oshkosh police have arrested a 17-year-old for posting a selfie that showed him pointing a gun at the camera with a profane caption below the photo.

The report of the post was made to the School Resource Officer.

On Monday February 26, a search warrant for the students residence resulted in the confiscation of a firearm.

Police say no weapons were recovered at the school. 

According to officials, the incident had potential to disrupt school.

The teen was charged in Winnebago County with Computer Message Threatening Harm, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting an Officer and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon.

Police say anyone with information about this situation or similar concerns should contact law enforcement at 920-236-5700.

Alderman's Ethics Hearing Postponed

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An ethics hearing looking into a Green Bay alderman's behavior has been postponed for the second time in a week.

Alderman Guy Zima says he needs more time to prepare a defense.

That after a hearing was postponed when two Ethics Board members recused themselves.

The complaint alleging that Zima violated the city's code of conduct was filed by Alderwoman Barbara Dorff.

"I simply spent many hours looking at meetings and taking clips of those meetings and tying those clips to exact parts of the code of conduct that he is violating. This is coming from Alderman Zima's inappropriate behavior, pure and simple. I will not stand for it anymore."

The hearing has been rescheduled for April 30.

Look Into Bay Beach Renderings

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The first renderings into restoring a beach at Green Bay's Bay Beach have been unveiled. 

The plans call for a beach, boardwalk, bathhouse, and 450-foot pier. 

Dan Ditscheit is the city's interim parks director.   

"There's no swimming beaches anywhere near Green Bay.  The public has been very vocal that this is something they want in our community."

At Wednesday's parks committee meeting, some residents raised concerns about water quality in portions of the bay.

"I love the fact that we're revitalizing Bay Beach, but I’m not sure. You should ask yourself do you want your child or grandchild swimming when the water is pea green soup."

However, the city's project consultant says testing has shown water quality should not be an issue.

"We had tested the area where were proposing the beach, and the beach has proven to be clean of contamination."

The committee has decided to take more time to study the matter.

The final decision will by made by the city's common council.

Today Marks Historical Green Bay Snowfall

0
0

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Today marks a 130th anniversary in Green Bay.

A two day snowfall started on this day in 1888, and by the end, Green Bay had 24 inches of snow on the ground.

Jeff Last of the National Weather Service in Green Bay said it goes without saying that it must of caused a few problems.

"In the 1800's it would take much longer to move that snow off of roads."

Last said records show a big low pressure system moved up the Midwest, putting northeast Wisconsin right at the bulls eye for heavy snow. Last  says records show, Green Bay was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It was your typical big low pressure system that moved up the Midwest," Last said.

He added that it would have put Northeast Wisconsin right in the center of the storm.

While 24 inches would cause tons of delays and transportation problems, it was even worse back then because they did not have the technology to prepare for the worst.

"Back in the late 1800's, that was not possible. That storm was probably a surprise."

Warning systems have been proven to help limit the frustrations that heavy snowfall can cause, and a lack of technology back then would have made things really difficult.

"Even though we have more equipment, it would still create quite a bit of problems because we depend so much on commerce."

Last said it is not uncommon for large snowfall to occur in March, so we are not out of the clear just yet.

Store Looking to Refurbish Trademark

0
0

TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Two Rivers business that has been around for 127 years is looking to spruce up its trademark symbol.

The sign and clock outside Schroeder's Department Store are old and beyond repair, with gusty winds having taken a toll.

"We've had issues with the interior for awhile, and we've just been trying to push it off (by) finding some like old parts that we just, kind of, randomly find that may work with it."

Co-Owner Theresa Kronforst says the letters have become too hard to replicate, the sign doesn't light up anymore, and the clock doesn't always show the right time.

She hopes the repair work will make it look like the original.

"With LED lights and pieces that won't fly off in strong winds... hopefully."

The store estimates the new sign will cost $25,000.

So far, Kronforst says they've collected $9,000.  A $15,000 fundraising goal has been set on youcaring.com.

The store is also selling t-shirts for $19.95, with $10 from each purchase going toward the new sign.

Kronforst hopes to replace the sign by the summer.

Viewing all 18355 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images