OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh Police say a former employee of the Winnebago Mental Health Institution was arrested for making terrorist threats.

The 44-year-old Oshkosh man was taken into custody Monday.

Police say the threats were directed toward the health institution and its current employees.

Authorities say if anyone has any information regarding this incident, to call the Oshkosh Police Department at (920) 236-5700.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477 or enter your tip online at WinnebagoCrimeStoppers.org or use the free P3 app.

If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- Neenah will remove polling places from the schools in its district, starting next year.

“We value our partnership with our local governments and enjoy having our community members visit our schools, but voting has become a student safety issue in this current climate,” said superintendent Dr. Mary Pfeiffer. “We have no way of screening every individual in our building on election day and the sheer numbers become a significant disruption to our regular school day.”

The school sites will still be used for this year's upcoming elections: Aug. 14 and Nov. 6.

The school board says it will make Nov. 6 a non-instructional day for students.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Brown County Sheriff Deputies are looking for a woman that they say stole a debit card and made several purchases.

Officials say the woman used the debit card on March 3, 2018, at two Green Bay area pharmacy ATM machines to withdraw money.

The victim says he was intoxicated when he met two women just before the fraudulent activity.

The total amount of transactions were close to $3,000. 

If anyone has information on the woman's identity or if you've experienced a similar situation, please call Sgt. Jody Breider with the Brown County Sheriff's Office at (920) 448-4227.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- The first man charged based on evidence obtained from sexual assault kits entered a not guilty plea in Winnebago County Court Wednesday.

29-year-old Aaron Heiden is accused of sexually assaulting a female victim that he met in at a Fox Crossing bar back in 2008. 

The DNA profile of the suspect was entered into the FBI's database and matched Heiden.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Green Bay Police are asking drivers to keep an eye out for two vehicles that were reported stolen.

One vehicle is a 2001 Dodge Intrepid with Wisconsin license plate number 73517D.

The other is a 2017 Toyota Corolla with Michigan license plate number DNV9139.

Police say if you see the vehicle, you should contact them right away.

BELLEVUE (WTAQ-WLUK)- From employees that have been working at KI for two years like Betsy Bianchi.

"Now, that it's 100 percent it brings that to the next level," she explained.

"I've been going around shaking people's hands saying this is really a big deal," he told FOX 11.

KI's more than 1,500 U.S. employees' can now call themselves owners.

CEO Dick Resch made the announcement earlier this week, "It's about time for me to step down. I've had a good run; it's been a very successful company."

Resch says making the business employee-owned was a way to ensure it remains in the area,“That provides stability for the company, the fact that KI will remain a Green Bay company which is important to me."

He says the plan to transition into an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, has been in the works since August.

Resch says the deal, which was paid for with the help of five separate banks, was finalized Friday, “It was also a big effort to get it done, we've been working on it about seven to eight months."

When asked if he'll be giving up the corner office, Resch explained, "When's the last day in the office? I don't know 4 to 5 years out. But I'll still keep a pulse of the company."

And the new owners say they're excited for what the future holds.

"KI isn't going anywhere, that's a comfort to know," said Bianchi.

"I'm an owner, I'm an owner, you know kind of like the Packers," said Hogan.

Most of KI's employees are based in the U.S., with 700 employed in the Green Bay area.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Red Bean Massage in Neenah remains closed following three arrests that led to prostitution charges.

"It was relatively a new business; it had started up just in the last year," said Neenah Police chief Kevin Wilkinson.

Last month, two owners were charged with keeping a place of prostitution and one person was arrested for committing the illegal act.

"This is the first we had that was a true massage parlor, a legitimate brick and motor business that has been open and advertisement with the sign-up front. We've dealt with more out of the home, single person type of business."

Mayor Dean Kaufert tells FOX 11 those arrested at Red Bean Massage did not have therapy licenses and the city of Neenah didn't require one.

But he said that could change.

"When we pass this ordinance, everyone who performs massage therapy, they will either have to be licensed by the state of Wisconsin or through the city of Neenah."

In part, Kaufert says the proposed ordinance would allow law enforcement and health officials to inspect the premise of hygiene, cleanliness and illegal activity.

"We don't want to interfere with the legitimate businesses that are being run by in someone's home, but I think it's helpful to know where they are, so if problems arise, we know how to address them."

Wilkinson says sometimes those working in those types of businesses are actually victims of human trafficking.

"I think a lot of people look at these things and say ‘What’s the harm? There are no victims’, but there really is a victim. If you study these cases, almost universally, the people who are employed in these jobs, who are actually performing the illegal acts are victims of human trafficking, and they are treated really really poor and they are paid very very poorly. Typically they only make the money they get off of the tips from the illegal acts.”

Wilkinson and Kaufert agreed it's important to take measures especially if it means preventing human trafficking.

The proposed ordinance is expected to go before the Neenah City Council next month.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Filling up at the pump is getting more expensive for drivers across the country, including here in Northeast Wisconsin.

Trent Belter of Luxemburg tells FOX 11 there's a little sticker shock.

"If I'm working from home and probably filling up once a week, I'm probably paying about $25, but if I'm coming to and from Green Bay all the time, I'm paying about $60 in gas."

Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy.com says the price of gas is about 27 cents more per gallon this year than this time last year.

"The average price in the Green Bay area is about $2.61, they're up about 2 cents in the last week and 11 cents in the last month."

DeHaan says prices are the highest they've been since November of 2014....and the prices are not done climbing.

"The reason that oil prices are so much higher than last year over the last 16 months is OPEC has reduced the amount of crude oil it supplies to the market. As a result, the US oil inventory is down 15 percent.

The increase comes as many people are preparing to hit the roads for Memorial Day weekend.

"Bunch of my friends are coming home from college Memorial Day weekend and we are going up to Sturgeon Bay to Harper Village," said Belter.

Josh Jarosh, director of communications for Door County's Visitors Bureau, is keeping a close watch..

"Yeah Memorial Day is a busy weekend for us here in Door County. Early May, in general, is just an exciting time of the year and our businesses are getting ready to open for the season."

Jarosh says he expects people will still travel, even with higher prices at the pump.

"I don't think the increasing gas prices will have an impact, people are still going to come to Door County."

"I've been used to all the gas prices and everything like that so I'm willing to pay the extra amount of money to go up there," Belter said.

Gas Buddy says it is not expecting prices to climb above $3 per gallon for regular unleaded.

It expects it to peak at about $2.80 per gallon.

FOREST COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Opening Day for the inland sports fishing season is this weekend, and many are getting ready to head out onto the water.

But on many of the bigger lakes in the Northwoods, that water is still frozen, leaving plans up in the air and forcing some business owners to wait.

On a wet Wednesday off the shoreline of Lake Metonga, clouds seemed to hover just above the surface.

"This morning I woke up, and it was fog all the way across the lake, just like you see it now. And I thought what am I seeing?" asked Gary Mueller, Town of Lincoln.

Mueller tells FOX 11 he was seeing almost six months of ice finally fading away.

"Very popular place. Up until about a week and a half ago, we were still ice fishing. But now, we are waiting for things to melt, so that we can proceed with our summer activities. It's spring."

Mueller says at 2100 acres, Lake Metonga is one of the last lakes to open up, typically around the last week in April, first part of May.

"I always have a bet when the ice is going on and off. And I always lose. I thought it would be out by tomorrow. But I'm going to be about three or four days off of my guess."

And the sluggish start to spring has an effect on some area businesses as well, like Smith Sport and Hobby in Crandon, where the sports fishing opener typically is one of the busiest times of the year.

Lynn Smith is the co-owner.

"We were debating how we could set everything up because we obviously don't have enough room to keep everything out. So we've still got some ice fishing stuff out, and we still got all of our spring stuff out now. There are guys doing both honestly right now."

Back on the lake, The Veteran's Memorial Park boat landing was still iced in, but open water was common along the southern shoreline.

"But this now, it will deteriorate fast. With 70 degree weather, and this rain is really going to help. But you have to be patient," said Mueller.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Friday is sentencing day in Brown County Court for a convicted murderer.

While George Burch is facing a life in prison term for the 2016 death of 31-year-old Nicole Vanderheyden, there's the chance he might be eligible for parole one day.

Among the family and friends expected in the courtroom is Rachel Hillery.

The foreman of the jury that convicted 40-year-old George Burch.

"If he'll finally, after his sentencing finally speak and tell everyone what happened."

But she's not optimistic that's how it will play out.

And while the trial ended months ago, Hillery thinks about it all the time and the violent end of Nicole Vanderheyden's life.

"I drive past where Nicole's body was found every day, so you're always going to think of her and the family."

And, speaking of Nicole's family, Hillery has a wish for them.

"With everything that is going on with the family, I feel that a sentence of life without parole would be an amazing result for them."

The case has drawn media attention from NE Wisconsin, Milwaukee and even nationally.

Hillery has been interviewed by network shows like CBS's '48 Hours' and NBC's 'Dateline'. And she understands the appeal.

"The thing that intrigued them was that this man from Virginia is here, visiting in Green Bay, and does this."

Vanderheyden left 3 children and a strong network of family and friends.

19 letters have been sent to Judge John Zakowski asking that he sentence George Burch to life in prison, with no possibility for parole.

GREEN BAY (WTAQ) - Police seized more than $70,000 dollars worth of marijuana at home on Green Bay's west side Thursday.

Officers obtained a warrant for 411 South Maple Street, and located the large supply, along with $7,400 dollars in cash, and two firearms.

Police Chief Andrew Smith said they have been working on this case for a long time.

"This investigation started over a year ago with a tip that our officers received."

Officers ended up arresting four people.

42-year-old Adolfo Castellano, 42-year-old Erika Castellano, 20-year-old Crystal Gutierrez and 18-year-old Ryan Rathbun are all awaiting charges. 

Police also located two children in the home. A 13-year-old and a one-year-old living in the home were handed over to Brown County Child Protective Services.

Smith says based on the amount of marijuana and cash in the residence, he has reason to believe that they put a halt to a major drug operation.

"Each one of these one pound bags of marijuana would be given to a lower level dealer, who would split it up into smaller quantities and then sell it on the street," he said. "Taking this amount of drugs off the street, with an estimated value of $70,000 dollars, is going to put a dent in the marijuana distribution at least for a little while."

He said so far this year alone, they seized about $33,000 worth of narcotics. That exceeds the amount seized all of last year.

Smith said he can't recall seeing that amount of marijuana seized at one time, but they will continue to work to get drugs and drug dealers off the street because marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin.

"Many of the homicides that we had were as a result of low-level disputes among narcotics dealers and narcotics users over marijuana."

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- DNR officials say a fish die-off last month in Lake Winnebago was likely caused by a virus.

Hundreds of dead fish were found in the Fond Du Lac area in April.

The dead fish included mostly freshwater drum or sheepshead. The DNR said they also found some bluegill, perch, carp, crappie and largemouth bass. 

Dead fish were collected from areas near Oshkosh, and sent to La Crosse for testing.

Samples from Fond du Lac tested positive for a virus called viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). 

DNR officials say the late winter created favorable conditions for viruses.

“This outbreak on Winnebago serves as a stark reminder to all anglers about the critical importance of disinfecting boats and gear when moving between bodies of water,” Kendall Kamke, fisheries team supervisor for the DNR at Oshkosh, said in a news release.

The virus is not known to be harmful to humans.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ)- A 4-year-old girl has died after being struck by a vehicle while riding her bike in Oshkosh.

Police are investigating the crash which occurred this afternoon just after 2:00pm on the 1300 block of West South Park Avenue.

Officers say the girl died in the hospital. West South Park Avenue was closed between West 18t Avenue and Knapp Street.

The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with police.

ALLOUEZ (WTAQ-WLUK) - Area fourth graders got a chance to learn about different writing styles.

The boys and girls were chosen by their instructors to take part.

They come from several area school districts, including Plymouth, De Pere, and Green Bay.

"I love writing because I can always express my imagination and make stories by myself," said Sidney Schaub of De Pere.

Donell Bonetti of the elementary writing conference, said, "The students are fired up when they hear about how to do different types of writing from people who are actually working on it and using it in the field."

The kids attended four sessions, led by local writers.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - It's been almost two weeks since snow damaged and left a hole in the Brown County Arena's lobby and conference room.

Crews started cleaning it up Thursday.

"The debris has been removed thoroughly and they're putting in temporary barriers from the inside and the outside," said Terry Charles, PMI Entertainment Group public relations director.

As FOX 11 previously reported, the hole was approximately 50-by-20 feet left from snow falling through the roof of the inner lobby.

Charles says the damage is estimated to cost between $150,000 to $200,000.

Most of the cost will be covered by insurance, according to Charles.

The damage pushed a few upcoming events to the Resch Center or ShopKo Hall.

"The weekend after this happened, we did have a spa sale scheduled at the Brown County Arena. We lost that. That moved elsewhere. It went to Appleton. This coming weekend is the cornhole tournament," Charles said.

The event had to be moved to ShopKo Hall.

"We have over 200 people who have already registered for our top division. We also have competitive and social players," said Stacey Moore.

The location change was no big deal for Moore who's the American Cornhole League commissioner.

"That's the great thing about our sport, our boards are portable. All we need is a flat open area and we can set up a tournament," he said.

A dart tournament is scheduled May 16 through the 20.

That was supposed to share event space with the arena.

"The Resch Center will be the secondary venue for that," Charles said.

The damaged also pushed the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau out of its office.

Charles says a meeting with PMI, Brown County officials and architects is scheduled Friday, May 4.

"The hope is, at some point next week, the repairs would begin to replace the roof over the area of the inner lobby which connects the main lobby and the actual bowl of the Brown County Arena," Charles said.

He went on to say he's hoping repairs will be completed by June 1.

A replacement plan, for a new $93 million expo center, is in place.

"If all things go as planned and hoped, the demolition of the entire arena would start at some point in 2019. Perhaps, late spring/early summer," Charles said.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- The Green Bay Police Department says, don't run from the cops, run with them.

Every Thursday, police officers and city officials run for a half-hour during their lunch break and they encourage people to join them.

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith says he will be out there every week.

"It's a beautiful day here in Green Bay and it's a beautiful place to run. Plus employees that are in good shape and are physically fit are healthier, they use less sick time, they're happier at work, it improves employee morale, so I think there are a lot of reasons why we do it."

Thursday was the official kickoff on the city deck near Cherry Street.

Smith says he hopes the crowd keeps growing.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network)- A Sheboygan father is facing charges after two young children tumbled out of a van he was driving.

Robert Horsch was charged Thursday in Sheboygan County Court with two felony counts of neglecting a child causing bodily harm, and a count of operating a vehicle while revoked.  He was also charged with his fifth offense of drunk driving.

The criminal complaint says Police were called to the roundabout after learning two children had fallen out of the back of a van, while the van continued to drive.  When officers got there, they found a1-year-old and 3-year-old who were injured, and taken to the hospital to be treated. 

Alexis Heckert was driving behind the van, and she and a friend helped pull the children, ages one and three, out of harm’s way.

“The back opened up, and two little babies fell out, Heckert said. “I picked one of the babies up, he was completely naked.”

One child was treated and released to relatives, but the other suffered a skull fracture and was taken to a Milwaukee hospital. 

Police were able to locate Horsch at his home, where he told officers he couldn't find two of his children. 

Sheboygan County Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Smathers says he was oblivious to the fact that he only had one child with him.

"When he got home he actually removed her from the vehicle and brought her inside and took care of her, still without realizing that the other two children were not there."

Officers told him what had happened at the roundabout, and he said he wasn't sure how that might have happened, but said it was his fault.

He was taken into custody, and told investigators that he did see the two children out of their car seats, playing, but did not stop to buckle them in. 

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ)- Shawano may be changing their dog rules.

City Administrator Brian Knapp says the Park and Recreation Committee is considering a rule change to where people can take their dogs.

"There have been requests to allow dogs in parks for many years. No dogs are allowed in any city parks at this time."

Knapp says it is something that the Park and Recreation Committee can change on their own.

The Committee is considering letting dogs be on leash in Kuckuk Park, Smalley Park and Huckleberry Harbor.

The idea was prompted by the city trying to find a way to harass Canada Geese that are leaving behind messes at the parks.

Knapp says the dogs were an option, but that means they will need to look at the leash rule.

"They have considered allowing dogs off leash in the parks during certain hours to use the dogs in hazing the geese."

Knapp says he feels the discussion became more serious due to the problem that the city is having with geese.

The Commission will take up the issue next month.

OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - A bridge that spans the Oconto River has been dedicated to a local fallen soldier.

The Highway 41 bridge will bear Pfc. Valentine Warrichaiet's name.

Warrichaiet was the only Oconto citizen to be killed in action during the Korean War.

Governor Scott Walker signed the bill into law Thursday with Warrichaiet's brothers, classmate, and friend in attendance.

The bill was authored by Rep. John Nygren.

Warrichaiet served in the United States Army and arrived in Korea in April 1953.

He was acting as a squad leader on "Pork Chop Hill" when he lost his life.

For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity kicked off their Rock the Block project in Little Chute Thursday, which works to beautify and rebuild vulnerable neighborhoods in the area.

A total of 26 homes and eight businesses will receive some much-needed improvements with the help of volunteers from the community.

Ryan Roth is head of Community Development for the organization and tells FOX 11 the project is a great opportunity to bring the community together.

"We are bringing out Hundreds of volunteers to make those exterior improvements of replacing windows, roofs, siding and removing vegetation impact important repairs. We all want to be loved and I think Rock the Block at its core shows people the community cares about them and that they are willing to come out and make that difference with the homeowner in the neighborhood."

Longtime volunteer Chuck Gafford showed up Thursday to help with the project and said he looks forward to seeing the smiles on residents faces after seeing the repairs to their home.

"The real joy I have is working with the families and watching them help us help them. This is where we live, we aren't going anywhere and we will be here for the long haul".

Volunteers will be in Little Chute until Sunday and in Kimberly May 10-12.