MARION, WI (WTAQ)- Investigators say no threat has resulted from a suspicious package left at the doorstep of a Marion home, but police did respond to the 200 block of Hillcrest Drive Tuesday morning. 

Police were called out around 9:45 a.m. 

The package did have a note that indicated that it was a bomb inside. 

Police have not released any infomation on the where the package came from.

The area was evacuated, and Brown County Bomb Squad was called to investigate.

If anyone has any information regarding the incident, please contact the Marion Police Department at (715) 754-5060.

NORTHEAST WI (WTAQ)- Details on a February plane crash that killed a Kewaunee County dairy farm owner and two others have been released by the National Transportation Safety Board. 

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on a plane crash that killed all three people aboard, including a Kewaunee County dairy farm owner. 

John Pagel, of Pagel's Ponderosa, his son-in-law, Steven Witcpalek, and the pilot, Nathan Saari were all killed in the crash.

According to the report, the plane was traveling to Green Bay from Indianapolis, but crashed 60 miles after it took off.

The report indicates that the pilot deviated from the assigned heading and altitude, and reported that the plane was out of control when asked.

The report goes on to indicate that the pilot attempted to correct the plane, but communication and radar contact was lost.

• Click here to read the report

The plane was found in a farm field in Indiana.

The Pagel family operates Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy with more than 5,300 cows and 100 employees, as well as Cannery Public Market in Green Bay and Ron's Cheese in Luxemburg.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- When the WIAA Girls State Basketball Tournament rolls into Green Bay on Thursday, so will the dollars. 

"That brings about $2.5 million dollars spent."

Brad Toll, President of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau says hotels and dining bring in most of the money.  

"Everyone has to eat, so families will go out for dinner or breakfast in the morning."    

Hotel stay revenue is based largely on the number of teams that qualify for state from out of the area.  

"I believe this year we have 17 of the 20 teams staying in hotels," Toll said. "Families and extended families also come so that leads to more hotel stays."   

Toll added while it is great from a community pride sense if teams from the Green Bay area qualify for State, the economic picture tends to do better when more teams have to travel to Green Bay. He says recent years have shown some trends, and in some cases, area teams do end up staying in hotels just to give the girls the entire State experience.  

Along with the necessities of lodging and dining, Toll said other businesses tend to benefit from having more people in town for the weekend.  

"Gas stations are filling the cars before they head back home. Many buy snacks at grocery stores for their hotel rooms and retail is also big."  

Being that state basketball falls in March, Toll said one shopping trend has increased through the years.  

"Bridal shops are usually very busy during Girls State Basketball as many take time to shop for prom dresses."  

Toll said Girls State Tournament provides enough free time for families to explore and shop in new places.    

The WIAA Girls State Tournament starts Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Resch Center.  

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Weeks after the deadly Parkland high school shooting, plans are in the works for a "walkout" at schools around the country.

Laura Byrom, sophomore at Appleton East High School, tells FOX 11....

"I definitely want to participate in it and I already have friends who are going to do it too."

The walkout is set for March 14th, on what will be the one-month anniversary of the shooting, which claimed 17 lives.

Organizers say it's a way to honor the victims and urge Congress to act.

It's something Byrom says she supports, "17 minutes for the 17 victims."

On Friday, the Appleton Area School District sent an email to parents,which said in part:

"If a walkout does occur, classes will continue according to the regular schedule for the day." The email also suggests parents, "have a conversation with (their) child about this important topic."

"Other school districts, where they're informing students if they're going to participate in a walkout per say, this is what you need to do."

State superintendent of public instruction, Tony Evers, tells FOX 11 it's up to each school district on how to handle the situation.

"It's kind of whether the school wants to use this opportunity to internally have those conversations; some are, some aren't. But yes, leaving it up to the schools."

But Evers says for parents, they should consider writing a note, excusing their student from class, if they choose to participate.

"There's discretion there, but if a parent provides an excuse, that is legitimate to get out of school."

He says it's a decision, that will ultimately be up to the students and their parents.

Along with Appleton, the Green Bay School District is also working on a plan in the event of a walkout.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay City Council was supposed to decide Tuesday night if the city should stick money into a plan that would end the 70-year drought of swimming at Bay Beach.

The estimated cost for adding a swimming beach, boardwalk, bathhouse, and a 450-foot pier is $5 million.

City staff has proposed bonding $3 million for the project and using grants and fundraising for the remaining $2 million.

Last week, the city’s parks committee recommended raising $1 million to put toward the pier before bonding for the rest of the project.

However, some aldermen say new information has changed their minds on that idea.

"What's unique about the beach is that there are federal, state grants that are available if you have your funds."

Alderman Chris Wery spoke to FOX 11.

"That's a unique situation that I don't think we were aware of."

Mayor Jim Schmitt says the council should show commitment to the plan.

"I think we should take this as a whole project. I don't want to go out and raise money and come back to this council and have them not support it."

At the parks meeting, a consultant working with the city on the project said testing shows the water is safe for swimming.

However, there are additional tests being conducted that some say they'd like to see completed before moving ahead with the project.

Staff admits the beach would likely be closed several times per year for E-coli and algae blooms.

However, staff says the closures would be in line with what is experienced at other beaches along Lake Michigan.

City staff has said the DNR has indicated it will issue a permit for the project. A 30-day public input period for the permit process expired last week.

The goal of staff is to start construction on the beach next year.

In July 2017, the Friends of Bay Beach unveiled a plan to donate $2.1 million for a new Ferris Wheel that would be installed near the swimming beach.

The Ferris Wheel is not contingent on the beach project and is expected to be ready when Bay Beach opens for the year in 2019.

The council’s six-year debate of what to do with the deteriorating pool at Colburn Park, on the city’s west side, will last even longer.

No vote was taken on Miron Construction's low bid to redo Colburn Pool, at a base cost of $5.6 million.

City staff estimates the total cost, including previous engineering work, would be about $6.8 million.

In July, the city council unanimously approved replacing the pool as long as the total budget for the project did not exceed $5.5 million.

City staff says that means $2.5 million is needed to bridge the cost between Miron’s bid and what the council agreed to spend.

Under the plan, the pool would include eight 50-meter lap lanes, a deep well, and a zero depth entry with a few play features.

The park’s bathhouse would also be renovated with new enclosed bathrooms and a new centrally located concession stand.

A new 46-stall parking lot and storm water management area would also be installed to the west of the existing pool.

In December 2016, Mayor Jim Schmitt vetoed a $6.8 million plan for a new pool at Colburn Park.

At the time, Schmitt said 20 years of interest payments and operational costs would have upped the price tag to $11.2 million.

Private donors contributed $1 million for that project. Park committee meeting minutes show $825,000 of that money is still available for the current Colburn Pool replacement plan.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- As a way to pay respect for law enforcement and fire rescue, Contract Transport Services wrapped trucks that they send out on the road, with the idea of donating 2 cents for every loaded mile that each departments truck traveled last year.

CTS had a truck wrapped with a police logo and one wrapped with a fire department logo. Whenever the trucks are loaded and in use, CTS tracked the millage that each truck accumilated throughout the year, and gave each department two cents for every loaded mile that the wrapped truck representing their department recorded. 

Green Bay Metro Fire Chief David Litton said the $3,061 dollar donation will go towards paramedic training for EMT's.

"We have folks that are in the department that are basic EMT's and may want to go on be paramedics, so we will use part of the money to help them with their training," Litton said. "Our greatest demand for service is our paramedic service."

Litton says the department has 106 paramedics, but it is important to keep them all trained. 

Green Bay Police received a check for $1,925 dollars.

Chief Andrew Smith said they will put the money back in the community through outreach programs.

"Working with the youth in our community and the different communities throughout Green Bay to help with that partnership that keeps Green Bay safer."

Smith said he has learned that Green Bay is a city with a really big heart, and made a point to thank CTS for helping with hurricane relief efforts in Texas.

"I see that here every single day. Businesses like CTS partnering with us to send trucks for hurricane releif."

CTS has a total of nine wrapped trucks.

MATTOON, WI (WTAQ)- Shawano County Sheriff Department is investigating an armed robbery at a convenience store in Mattoon.

Donna's Village Pump was robbed around 8:30 Tuesday night.

Sheriff Officials say a man wearing camouflage clothes and a ski mask walked in with a gun, and demanded that the clerk give him all the money.

The clerk was working alone at the time.

The robber was described as a white male about 6-feet tall.

Sheriff officials say a brown and tan SUV was seen in the area before the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Shawano County Sheriff's Office at (715) 526-3111.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Two groups that aim to keep the public safe come together.

Green Bay Police holds a 'Coffee with a Cop' event at Vets Manor Wednesday morning.

"Police officers there just have these non-adversarial, non-victim conversations about life, society, and the Green Bay community.  We listen to their stories of the past, listen to where they served.  It's really kind of interesting to hear those perspectives.  You really can't put a value to that."

Captain Kevin Warych explains the goal of these events.   

"Make those connections in the community so people feel comfortable talking to you so if there are any concerns, we can address them and work together to solve them."

Warych says he enjoys hearing the different veterans stories, knowing some were protecting this nation's freedom long before he was born. 

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A Senate committee has signed off on a bill that aims to keep manufacturing jobs in the Fox Valley. 

Kimberly Clark has announced plans to close its facility in Neenah, and possibly do the same in Fox Crossing, affecting up to 600 jobs. 

The tax credit on jobs alone could cost the state north of $100-million dollars over 15 years. 

On a 4-3 vote, the Senate's Economic Development, Commerce, and Local Government Committee passed the bill.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure March 20.  The Assembly has already given approval.        

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- A Shawano woman pleaded guilty to stealing mail from a US Postal truck.

Teresa Konaha could be sentenced up to five years in prison, according to the plea agreement.

The investigation resulted in nearly 40 mail theft victims, with over $6,000 dollars lost.

Police say Kohana was located with two tubs of mail from the mail truck in November. The carriers purse was also stolen and later recovered by police.

According to the police report, Kohana said she entered the mail truck to deposit a letter that she was trying to send to her son. 

She will be sentenced March 23.

BEAVER DAM, WI (WTAQ) - A controlled detonation has taken place at a Beaver Dam apartment complex.

A Monday explosion at the facility killed one man.

Police say there were still 'highly volatile' homemade explosives in the building.

Those explosives were reportedly sensitive enough that they could not be handled or removed from the apartment.

Police Chief John Kreuziger says "the operation was a success in eliminating the threatening explosive material."

The detonation has caused additional damage to the complex, but FBI Special Agent Justin Tolomeo says it could've been worse.

"Insofar as we could protect those surrounding residences, that was a success."

While the body had not been identified at last word, Tolomeo notes it has been removed from the apartment.

"Information and evidence was obtained prior to the detonation, and we're assessing that currently."

Investigators from the local, state, and federal levels continue to look into why the man possessed such a large amount of explosives.  

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Folks get a chance Wednesday to taste the five foods being considered in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' 'Food Fight' contest.

The five were selected out of more than 100 entries.

Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Chris Prentice says this is another way for fans to get involved.

"We want our fans to actually feel like they're you know, part of our concession boards. And we just want to make them feel like they're a part of our stadium."

The finalists are the "Whiffer Waffle," the "Peanut Butter Slugger Hugger," "Rattler Bites," a "Baked Mac n' Cheese Burger," and a "Cheesy Buroagie."

Click here to vote for which one you want to see at the team's concession stands this season.

The person who submitted the winner will receive ticket and food vouchers, as well as the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a game.

VANDENBROEK, WI (WTAQ) - Two people are in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, following a two-vehicle crash in Outagamie County.

It happened around noon Wednesday near the Town of Vandenbroek.

Investigators say a 29-year-old Wrightstown man was heading west on Highway JJ when he blew a stop sign with his car, striking a 30-year-old Schofield man who was heading south on Highway J in his box truck.

The Wrightstown man and his 28-year-old female passenger were both injured.

The Schofield man was not injured.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - An Appleton cyber security company is providing opportunities for people with disabilities. 

'Make I.T. Soar' is part of the non-profit 'Soar Fox Cities,' offering those with high-functioning Autism careers in information technology. 

One of those people is Kaitlyn Zierk of Appleton.  

"Discrimination is something I really hate. I have faced a lot of discrimination in school and work."

Dan Brosman is the program director.  

"We can show the community this stigma doesn't have to exist. We can do the same work that other I.T. companies are doing."

Brosman notes the people they're employing are perfect for the job.

“Individuals with Autism tend to have hyper focused capabilities; they can pay attention to detail and are very meticulous."

Program participants, like Zierk, say their new careers have given them confidence. 

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ)- The WIAA will continue to use the Resch Center for state tournaments for at least seven more years.

With two years still remaining with the original agreement, WIAA Executive Director Dave Anderson says they did not want to wait to lock up haveing State Girls Basketball and Volleyball stay in Green Bay.  

"I asked Ken if we might be able to push our current agreement from 2020 to 2025."  

Anderson said the Resch Center has been a good home for their tournaments, so much that they are adding another State tournament to the Resch Center's schedule when Boys Volleyball plays their state tournament in Green Bay starting in 2019.  

PMI President Ken Wachter says things went smooth for the trial years.  

"I guess we passed the WIAA's test."  

Wachter says that is a test worth passing, because having a state tournament at the Resch Center is great for them, and great for the current and future economy of the Green Bay area.  

"We will not only have 40,000 people this week at the Resch Center, but they will also be spending money in Brown County."  

Even though the contract is signed, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenback says they still need to put their best foot forward for players and fans.  

"We know that we have to continue to up our game because the competition is out there," Streckenback said. "It's an oppertunity to prove that we can make that guest experience, the player experience and the coaches experience, that what makes a true championship venue."  

The WIAA Girls Basketball Tournament gets underway Thursday and concludes with Championship Saturday.    

OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ)- Oconto County Law Enforcement is addressing school safety.

NAVARINO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A large outdoor recreation site is being recognized for providing increased access to the public.

The Navarino State Wildlife Area and Nature Center is breaking down barriers.

From the snow-covered handicap-accessible boardwalk, to the prairie view nearby, Tim Ewing, Navarino Nature Center Naturalist, tells FOX 11 public access to the Navarino Nature Center is a priority.

"One of the things that we've been working on, is to increase activities for handicapped, disabled, and seniors."

Ewing says about 15,000 visitors come to the nature center each year. That includes about 4,000 students, some with special needs.

"Having the trails, the boardwalk, that kind of stuff in place, helps us to be able to do those programs for them without them losing something."

Accessibility stretches beyond the Nature Center.

The non-profit group is separate from the Navarino State Wildlife Area nearby.

Ewing say the 13,000 acres of outdoor recreation includes a viewing deck at Pike's Peak Flowage.

"You basically park your car, in a parking lot, you go not even 300 feet, and you're at the viewing deck."

Various versions of waterfowl hunting blinds have been on the same site at McDonald Flowage for more than 20 years. And on the western edge of the property, a fishing pier was installed just last month.

The Disability Advisory Council gives the award each year to an organization which provides opportunities to disabled citizens.

Keith Pamperin is on the council, and is also a disabled hunter.

"They have all their trails open by permit for people with disabilities, for turkey and deer hunters, so they've really been involved in making the great outdoors accessible."

More improvements are on the horizon. "Senior Safaris" are scheduled this year.

The handicapped-accessible trolley rides will give people a chance to tour the wildlife area, while riding safely on the trails.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay Area Public School District’s boundary task force held its fourth monthly meeting Wednesday night to talk about the district's unbalanced enrollment.

The district formed the task force to look at possibly changing the district’s boundary lines for the first time in 18 years.

The overcrowding at Green Bay Preble High School has been well documented for about the last 15 years.

Meanwhile, students at the city’s west side schools say they’ve had plenty of space.

“Southwest, there is definitely room for more students.

Luke Davis, a senior and co-chair of the boundary task force, spoke to FOX 11.

“I would say we are in a very comfortable learning environment.”

Davis is one of about 20 people who've volunteered for the school district's boundary task force.

It includes students, parents, business people, former educators, but no district employees.

“I believe there is a fair representation throughout our group.”

The group is starting to transition from number crunching to possible solutions for the enrollment issues.

All school levels are being looked at, but the city's high schools are of particular concern.

Preble is 260 students above its target capacity.

However, the other three high schools are below capacity, including room for 362 more students at Southwest, 429 students at West, and 142 students at East.

“Everything reasonable is on the table.”

Dan Kiernan, a parent of two students in the district and co-chair of the task force.

“We're doing the best interests of families. The second and third priorities were that it be data driven and flexible.”

For Wednesday’s meeting, city and county planners came in to show the task force where future growth is predicted, which happens to be primarily on the city’s far east side.

Nearly 1,500 new housing units are expected in Preble's boundary lines in the next few years.

“Anything we do is obviously a guessing game, but we're trying to do the best guessing game that we can with the data that we have,” said Kiernan.

“It's such a hassle to have to start moving things around, and on families, that's what makes this topic so emotional for families and parents especially,” said Davis.

The goal is to make a recommendation to the school board on June 18th.

Before that recommendation, the task force is scheduled to meet on March 28, April 11, and May 16.

The public has been invited to the meetings, with an opportunity to speak at the end of each gathering.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Public safety workers in Oshkosh will do battle this weekend. 

The 11th annual police department versus fire department charity hockey game is set for 3 pm Saturday at the 20th Avenue YMCA. 

Police Officer Kate Mann says all proceeds will benefit Project H.O.M.E. 

"Helping homeowners that are low-income with doing maintenance around their home at a low cost."

Mann says it also helps the public safety workers grow in the professional setting.  

"Really helps build that comradery, getting to know each other outside of work.  That really helps build relationships for when you are in life-threatening situations, so you know who you're working with."

She notes that was on display when the agencies worked together to help a man on an overdose call.

"He snapped out of it and became combative.  Not only were officers wrestling around with him, but the firefighters hopped in to assist us."

Furthermore, Mann says the game feeds into a friendly competition.  

"It's a really fun rivalry.  We try to see who's going to win each year, usually it's the firefighters, but we've gotten them one year.  I think a couple years ago, we won."

Tickets are available at the door for $5 apiece.  There will also be raffle tickets and jerseys from previous years for sale.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A 33-year-old Milwaukee man will spend ten years in federal prison for his role in a meth distribution ring.

Prosecutors say Levester Brown traveled between Milwaukee and Arizona to pick up pounds of the drug.

He would then ship the meth to acquaintances in Milwaukee and Brown Deer, before taking the drugs to his main distributor in Green Bay.

Brown was arrested when he tried to ship roughly 9 pounds of meth in June 2017.