School District Addressing Safety

March 8, 2018, 1:23 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Last month's deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida continues to resonate in Northeast Wisconsin.

Green Bay Schools is holding a school safety meeting at Preble High School, starting at 10:30 am Saturday.

"What concerns do individuals have regarding student and staff safety? What kinds of suggestions might they have for ways to improve safety? How can they play a more active role in school safety?"

Since the Florida shooting, Communications Director Lori Blakeslee says they've heard from concerned parents and other folks.

"We're seeing that people felt the need to talk to one another and take a more active role in school safety. There was a lot of heightened concerns around school safety. We wanted to assure parents of the measures the district takes around school safety."

Blakeslee notes childcare and translation services will be available.

She asks those interested in the childcare offering to call the district ahead of time at (920) 448-2025.

Another meeting is scheduled for April 16 at West High School.

Following that meeting, the organization facilitating the gatherings will collect the community responses and provide the district with feedback.

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Indoor Farm Opens at High School

March 8, 2018, 1:32 pm

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DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An urban farming project has built its second indoor farm.

The Farmory constructed a soil-based aquaponics system in West De Pere High School's greenhouse.

Program Director Alex Smith speaks at Thursday's ribbon cutting.

"Students are actually going to be able to learn to grow food. They're going to learn about a sustainable farming methods, aquaponics, and then they're going to be introduced to this as a career opportunity, which is something that's really different and creative for agriculture."

The Farmory will work with school staff to train students on operating and caring for fish and plants.

The campaign aims to bring local and sustainable indoor agriculture to Northeast Wisconsin.

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Two Arrested for Overdose Death

March 8, 2018, 2:07 pm

≫ Next: Apartment to be Demolished

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SHEBOYGAN, WI (WTAQ) - Two arrests have been made in connection with a Sunday overdose death in Sheboygan.

Police say they responded to the 2400 block of Park Place, finding a 28-year-old Green Bay man, who died at the hospital two days later.

The 26-year-old woman and 32-year-old man who lived in the house where the man was found are in custody.

Investigators believe the woman purchased heroin from a 38-year-old Franklin woman. A search of the Franklin woman's house reportedly yielded meth, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

Officers say heroin, prescription medication, and drug paraphernalia were found inside the suspects' home.

The suspects' two children, ages 12 and 14, are in the care of other family members.

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Apartment to be Demolished

March 8, 2018, 3:35 pm

≫ Next: College Trying to Be Healthier

≪ Previous: Two Arrested for Overdose Death

BEAVER DAM, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Approximately 30 Beaver Dam residents need to find a new place to live.

The apartment that was the site of a Monday explosion and Wednesday detonation of chemicals is set to be demolished.

One man died in Monday's blast.

Wednesday's detonation further damaged the facility.

Resident Kathy Hagen is grateful that things weren't any worse.

"I guess I'm just thankful that my daughter and I walked away. My dog, the cats, everybody in the building was saved; it was only his apartment and him. All of us are OK. You know, everybody from a newborn baby to an elderly woman (live) in there, and all of us walked away OK.

Residents who will have to move have been told they can start getting their belongings from the building Friday.

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College Trying to Be Healthier

March 8, 2018, 3:48 pm

≫ Next: Humor Used To Stop Speeding

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An effort to eat healthier at UW-Green Bay.

The university is promoting healthy eating options this month, in conjunction with National Nutrition Month.

Meals that are free of gluten and the eight most common food allergens are being offered.

Chef Corey Arndt believes many college students are taking this matter seriously.

"They're very connected. They want an experience. They want to know where the foods from. They want to know how it's prepared."

The cafe in the school's union also offers meals that can be purchased by the general public.

National Nutrition Month is an education and information campaign by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Humor Used To Stop Speeding

March 8, 2018, 4:18 pm

≫ Next: Hospital Dealing with Opioid Crisis

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NEENAH, WI (WTAQ)- An interesting way to crack down on Speeding.

Neenah Police officers are using a major scare tactic to tell speeders to slow down.

"Look up, have a laugh, watch your speed, or we are calling your mom."

That is exactly what signs in the area of Castle Oak Drive and Marathon Avenue say.

"Slow down, or we'll call your mother. Sincerely, Neenah Police."

Community Liaison Officer Stuart Zuehls says the effort is a humorous way to get driver's attention.

He says the hopes are that drivers see the sign, get a laugh, and then heed the warning.

"This is something that we decided to do in a fun way, and hopefully it attracts attention."

Within hours, the department's social media post was shared over 200 times. Zuehls says the area is not a safe one to speed through.

"We have had so many different complaints becuase this goes through Highway A and goes through the industrial park."

Zuehls says so far it has been more effective than patrolling and electronic radar signs.

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Hospital Dealing with Opioid Crisis

March 8, 2018, 4:25 pm

≫ Next: Schimel Announces Re-Election and Goals

≪ Previous: Humor Used To Stop Speeding

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay hospital continues to feel the effects of opioid addiction.

Bellin Health Emergency Medicine Dr. Paul Casey says they see at least one person with an opioid-related issue each day.

"A patient dropped off at the main entrance to the ED, basically clinically dead, not breathing, no pulse and blue but still warm. So we immediately had to rush out and bring the patient immediately back to the ED, and there was a high suspicion that it was a heroin overdose."

From July 2016 to September 2017, the Centers for Disease Control says Wisconsin has seen a 109% increase in the number of emergency room visits for opioid overdoses.

"That's alarming because if you look at a graph over the past 20 years, the rise in opioid has risen markedly. It's become the top cause of death in terms of overdoses."

In January, Bellin Health Emergency Medicine started offering recovery coaches for patients who experienced an opioid overdose.

Mandy Suthers is one of those coaches.

"Our main goal when we get in there is to find out how the person is feeling on what their thoughts are if they even want to get sober or not or if they want to start that pathway. If they do, our main objective is to try to get them into treatment if we can."

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Schimel Announces Re-Election and Goals

March 8, 2018, 4:28 pm

≫ Next: Digging That Packers History

≪ Previous: Hospital Dealing with Opioid Crisis

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin's Attorney General has announced that he is seeking re-election.

In his announcement on the WTAQ Morning Show, Attorney General Brad Schimel says there is more work to do in Wisconsin, pointing to opioid abuse as work in progress.

"That is hitting many in the Northwoods very hard and we have held several summits already."

He said that the area has some serious drug challenges, and said because law enforcement and area DA offices need assistance, they have put special prosecutors in place in some areas, and plan to placing special prosecutors in places of need.

Schimel says Wisconsin still is one of the Nation's leaders when it comes to turning in unused drugs.

"Every time now, we have been in the top three in the nation with the number of drugs that we have taken in."

In the last three years, Schimel says they have collected over 330,000 pounds of unused medication.

Schimel says Human Trafficking is also a project in the works.

"So I am excited to keep on making Wisconsin stronger and healthier and safer by leading the great team that I have at the DOJ.

The Attorney General will be seeking a second term in 2018.

Democrat Josh Kaul has announced that he intends to run against Schimel.

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Digging That Packers History

March 9, 2018, 1:48 am

≫ Next: Police: No Threat After Suicide Response

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It's at Bayshore County Park, where 'Rockwood Lodge' once stood.

It was the Packers training facility, before burning down in 1950.

What lies beneath the surface, may shed light on pieces of the team's history.

"It was all in the newspapers, that this was kind of a mysterious fire that happened."

Kevin Cullen, Deputy Director at the Neville Public Museum, tells FOX 11 last September they held an event called, 'Parkelogy'.

It gave the public a chance to dig for pieces of the building.

"Those tiny bits of artifacts we found brick, stone and metal nails. So, we know we had a structure."

The findings are now being preserved in the Neville's collection room.

Cullen says their findings each hold a story captured at Rockwood Lodge decades ago.

"This is a plate serving, and here is this piece of ceramic that is the same pattern of the plate, that some of the famous Packers ate from. Hackers brick company, which is a local brick company; literally we're holding a fragment of the building."

Using a blueprint, he says they were able to pin-point where some of the artifacts were in the building.

"This is also probably the bowl of a toilet, which is interesting, with that we know we were probably in the women's locker room area."

That even includes clues to what may have ignited that 'mysterious' fire.

"So, it could have been something like this that sparked a fire, it was known that the electrical system wasn't great."

In what Cullen says, has become scared pieces of the Packer's long-standing history.

"I think the best part was that the public was there to find these artifacts."

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Police: No Threat After Suicide Response

March 9, 2018, 7:41 am

≫ Next: Company Adding 75 jobs

≪ Previous: Digging That Packers History

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ)- Neenah Police say there is no threat to students and staff at Neenah High School, after being called out Friday for a possible suicidal subject.

Police determined that the person was never at Neenah High School or in the area.

The High School never went on lock-down, and police determined that the possible suicidal subject does not reside in the Neenah area.

No threats were ever made.

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Company Adding 75 jobs

March 9, 2018, 11:47 am

≫ Next: Ice Breaking to Begin

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RIPON, WI (WTAQ) - A job fair has been scheduled to fill 75 new positions at a Ripon commercial laundry equipment company.

Alliance Laundry Systems is looking to add to its manufacturing team, with open positions in assembly, press operating, and welding.

Starting wage is $15 per hour, including benefits.

The hiring event runs from 8 am to 4 pm on March 22 at the facilities global headquarters in Ripon, on the corner of Shephard and East Jackson streets.

This after the company added 100 jobs in Ripon last month.

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Ice Breaking to Begin

March 9, 2018, 11:52 am

≫ Next: Crews Return Home from Puerto Rico

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Ice breaking is set to begin in the bay of Green Bay.

The Coast Guard says operations will begin Tuesday in recreational areas, such as the Fox River Entrance Channel, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, and Menominee River Entrance.

As ice continues to melt and waterways are used to travel, the Coast Guard says it will break ice more often.

Coast Guard officials remind folks the ice is not stable for winter activities.

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Crews Return Home from Puerto Rico

March 9, 2018, 2:58 pm

≫ Next: Fifth Grader Helping Her Community

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Nearly 50 WPS and We Energies employees return to Wisconsin on Friday, after spending eight weeks restoring power in Puerto Rico.

The crews left in mid-January, a few months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island territory.

"The devistation was probably a little worse than we thought. When we were down in Florida (previously), we thought it was bad. But here, everything was gone."

WPS Operations Supervisor Steve Van Campenhout says the locals expressed plenty of gratitude for their work.

"As soon as we put the power on in their places, the cheering and the clapping and the notes that they would bring out, it was phenomenal. The people were awesome."

WPS Lead Lineman Kurt Felber says "day-by-day as you came in at night, by the amount of lights that were on, you could see that it was not just our effort but for all the linemen that were out there, the effort was showing."

The crew members worked 16-hour days.

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Fifth Grader Helping Her Community

March 9, 2018, 3:39 pm

≫ Next: Donation to Help Fox Valley Veterans

≪ Previous: Crews Return Home from Puerto Rico

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Kaukauna fifth grader is working to help members of her community who are dealing with difficulties.

For a sixth straight year, Katelyn Hoelzel is collecting boxes of girl scout cookies to donate to patients at Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology.

"I'm always happy to see people smiling. If they don't know anybody or they're having hard times by missing people or not feeling (well), they can have some cookies and feel better."

Hoelzel has collected 72 boxes.

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Donation to Help Fox Valley Veterans

March 9, 2018, 3:50 pm

≫ Next: Flatoff Found Guilty On All Charges

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A nearly $40,000 check has been presented to the Fox Valley Veterans Council.

The Appleton West Rotary Club donated the proceeds of their recent 'Tasting for the Troops' fundraiser.

Wisconsin Veterans Village President Jim Lincoln says the funds will go toward creating a Veterans Village Project in Appleton, which helps low-income veterans in need of housing.

"Every funding mechanism that we can find to help meet the goal is very, very important. And for the rotary club to step up and sponsor this event, it was well attended, it was just remarkable. We're very happy."

The village plans to provide housing for both single veterans and veterans with families.

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Flatoff Found Guilty On All Charges

March 9, 2018, 4:22 pm

≫ Next: Returning to Apartment Explosion Site

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- Brian Flatoff was found guilty of all 16 counts stemming from a fatal shooting in 2015 Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah.

The jury deliberated for close to two hours on Friday.

Flatoff is accused of starting a standoff that resulted in police shooting hostage Michael Funk, mistaking him for the suspect.

The trial will begin its second phase on Monday as the jury will now decide if Flatoff is mentally responsible for the crimes.

Flatoff entered a not guilty by mental disease or defect plea.

The maximum prison sentence on all the charges totals nearly 300 years.

When the trial began, Flatoff told the court that he would be defending himself, but on Thursday, he asked to have an attorney appointed to him for the rest of the trial.

The jury trial was scheduled for three weeks, but completed in a week.

Also Friday, the City of Neenah says a lower court was correct in dismissing a lawsuit that was filed by the wife of Michael Funk, after he was killed by police officers in the 2015 standoff.

The state ruled that the actions of the officers were justified.

Teresa Mason-Funk sued the city of Neenah and the officers involved, but the case stating that her husband's rights were violated, was dismissed.

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Returning to Apartment Explosion Site

March 9, 2018, 4:30 pm

≫ Next: Recognition for Saving Woman's Life

≪ Previous: Flatoff Found Guilty On All Charges

BEAVER DAM, WI (WTAQ) - Residents of the Beaver Dam apartment facility where Monday's explosion and Wednesday's detonation of chemicals took place have the chance to start retrieving their belongings Friday.

That building will soon be demolished.

As for neighboring buildings in the complex, those residents are being allowed to return home.

Investigators say Monday's explosion killed the man whose unit contained the chemicals.

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Recognition for Saving Woman's Life

March 9, 2018, 8:08 pm

≫ Next: Crews Return Home from Puerto Rico

≪ Previous: Returning to Apartment Explosion Site

SHERWOOD, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Calumet County Sheriff's deputy is honored with a plaque for saving a woman's life.

On the afternoon of November 29, Deputy William Pearson was able to save Linda Kieso, who just got off work at Dick's Family Foods in Sherwood.

"I parked next to a curb and put something in the backseat of the car, shut the door, turned around, tripped over the curb, and down I went. I dislocated my elbow. I didn't really realize that it was bleeding at the time, but I could feel something warm coming from my arm."

Pearson was there and reacted.

"I noticed a significant amount of blood loss and started thinking, 'you know, okay what's the cause of the blood loss what's all going on here?'"

Thedacare's Dr. Raymond Georgen says the tourniquet Pearson applied saved Kieso's life.

"In Linda's case she had a devastating fracture with a dislocation of the bone right above the elbow and that bone actually projected and tore the biggest artery going the arm in half."

Doctors were able to save Kieso's arm.

She hopes to return to work soon, adding that her and Pearson have become good friends.

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