GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay Police Department is looking at taking steps towards the future of the School Resource Officer program, with a possible expansion.

Following the tragedy at Parkland High School in early February, Capt. Kevin Warych tells Fox 11 that the department started collecting data from the program.

"What we're doing is we are looking at the SRO program," said Warych. "And we're trying to determine, what's working, what's good and what needs improvement."

Warych says the SRO program currently has 11 officers, which rotate around the district's 42 schools.

One of the possibilities, he says the study is looking at is putting school resources officers in elementary schools.

"If they have that rapport and if we can build that rapport early on in elementary school, it's going to go well in middle and high school."

In June, the Green Bay School Board decided not to move forward with Chief Smith's proposal to have armed guard at its' schools.

"The armed guard proposal, the school board voted that's not the direction they want to go in," Warych continued. "This is not an alternative."

The department is working in partnership with the Green Bay School District.

As for exactly what changes will be proposed, Warych says the study results are near completion.

"At this point, we don't exactly know what we're are going to change. It's important that we just get the data."

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - A longtime Village President will be remembered through a special dedication Friday.

This afternoon, a private roadway between Ridge Road and True Lane will be named Mike Aubinger Way.

The three-term Ashwaubenon Village President passed away on March 30, 2017.

He was a lifelong community advocate that also was instrumental in bringing the Titletown development from concept to reality.

The dedication takes place at Noon today.

Packer CEO and President Mark Murphy will be in attendance.

The public is invited. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - As the building continues to go up in the Titletown District, the internal framework of TitletownTech is now starting to take shape.

UW-Green Bay and the UW System will now be among the partners in the business and technology incubator.

Last October, the Packers, and Microsoft unveiled their partnership to create TitletownTech.

“Who knows, maybe the next Epic or Google may be started right here in Green Bay,” said Mark Murphy, the Packers President, and CEO.

UW-Green Bay and the UW System have made a four-year commitment to fund an Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

UW-Green Bay’s chancellor Gary Miller tells FOX 11 he or she will be a seasoned entrepreneur, who will be an employee of UW-Green Bay, but will work at TitletownTech.

“Part of their job will be to bring students here and find ways for students to intersect, but another important role is we know students are great entrepreneurs and so we want this person to develop programs for them to get their ideas out there, to get them in front of business people.”

Mike Egan, the director of Microsoft TechSpark, tells FOX 11 it's an exciting partnership.

“Then when you bring in the business school at UWGB, then this particular expert that will help drive that kind of entrepreneurial spirit within the building, I think that is going to provide great mentorship, great faculty, just great counsel all the way around this effort.”

Throughout the creation of the Titletown District, the Packers have said they want to put things in the district that will attract college graduates to the area.

Murphy says it’s possible the new university partnership might be the most direct way of accomplishing that.

“That is where we're really proud with the partnership with UW Green Bay. If they can take on a more prominent role in this community, that will make a huge difference.”

While there still isn't information for how people can utilize and access what TitletownTech will offer, the goal is for construction to be complete in December.

The Packers and Microsoft have each pledged $5 million to TitletownTech over the next five years.

The tech center will include a business accelerator, labs, and host a venture capital fund.

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Kaukauna could see a major development on the former dog track site. The site is called Commerce Crossing.

Most of the land has been vacant for more than two decades. It's located along I-41 and Highway 55.

With nearly 50,000 vehicles passing the site every day, Kelli Clussman, executive director of the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, tells FOX it has good potential.

"It is obviously a very visible site. There’s some great land out there. It'll be great for all businesses that are interested in some future development in Kaukauna."

Although there's already some activity on the 65-acre lot, city officials said, there could be a major development.

"We do have an offer on the table for a large section of Commerce Crossing," said the city's principal planner, Allyson Watson.

"It would be of medical use, but unfortunately, this time, we cannot speak to who that party is until we have a more firm offer on the table."

The medical group would be purchasing multiple parcels on the site, up to 15 acres.

"I think you're really going to see a mixed-use out there with a lot of business, people looking to connect with businesses that are traveling that 41 corridor," said Clussman.

"It'll be great for our community," mayor Tony Penterman told FOX 11.

"It'll be great for our TIF district; we need a large parcel of land to be purchased out there to help our TIF district."

Penterman said the name of the medical group is likely to be announced at the time of the real estate closing in October.

He told FOX 11, other businesses have shown interest in the past, but canceled.

"Years ago we had the Oneida tribe, I believe, was looking at a casino there, and then there was a water park," Penterman explained.

He said Walmart also scrapped plans with the city a year ago. But despite that loss, the city is staying optimistic in its future developments.

The city says there's still 30 acres of land at Commerce Crossing available.

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A heating fuel tank up to 100-years old was recently found under the city of Kaukauna's former municipal complex building, and it still contained thousands of gallons of fuel.

The city had been renovating the building when the tank was found.

Out of mere curiosity, workers removed the lid, and deep down, there sat the thousands of gallons of untouched fuel.

“We weren't prepared for that at all,” said Kaukauna mayor Tony Penterman.

“It's going to cost the city about $20,000 to $30,000; that was unexpected and not in our budget."

Clean-up crews took a trip back in time when they went inside the tank to inspect it.

“Based on my, kind of, detective work and some old sanborn maps, it was installed between 1925 and 1945, and I believe it was a fuel oil tank for a dairy operation that was here on this property."

Environmental Services Plus environmental contractor Jesse Rose tells FOX 11...

“I think just over the years it kind of got forgotten."

What was initially estimated to be 3,000 gallons of fuel turned out to be double that.

And Rose says it all had to be extracted safely.

"It's a confined space, you know, fuel oil and gasoline do explode, so we have to be very, very safe about it."

The city purchased the building from Badger Northland back in 1973. At the time, officials say a contractor was hired to take care of the tank. But that never happened.

The building then became the city's old fire department, and the sleeping corridor was right next door to where the tank is.

"I had some history as a fireman myself down here but, ironically, nobody ever knew the tank was here," Rose said.

Along with the fuel, about 15 tons of stones and sand were removed.

It took three full days to drain the tank.

Crews just finished-up Thursday morning.

Soil extracted from the tank was more of a light sand color, so contamination is not expected, but the samples have been rushed to the lab, just in case.

Next week, Rose says the tank will be filled with cement.

"It'll be sealed off and, like I said, the rest is going to be history!”

Soil and water-sample results are expected to be in on Monday. Once clear, workers will start filling up the tank with the cement.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A 31-year-old Gillett man is dead after a two-vehicle crash late last night.

It happened just before midnight on Highway B near Brookside Dr. in the Town of Pittsfield.

Brown County Sheriff's Office says a 31-year-old Gillett man lost control and slid into a vehicle driven by a Sobieski teen and her teenage brother.

The man died at the scene. The teens have non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators say alcohol does appear to be a factor.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - A former state lawmaker from the Fox Valley has died. 

State Senator Mike Ellis of Neenah passed away Friday morning at the age of 77.

Ellis began his career on the Neenah City Council in the 1960s and served as council president

He was a member of the State Assembly from 1971-1983. He served in the State Senate from 1983-2015, and was elected Senate President in 2011. 

In his time he served as both a majority and minority leader.

State Senator Roger Roth, R-Appleton currently holds the seat the Ellis had. He said he learned a lot from the man who had the seat before him.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Michael G. Ellis. Mike was a dedicated public servant, a highly-respected colleague, and a good friend. He was a tremendous mentor to me and I knew I could look to him for guidance on any issue. His breadth of knowledge and experience always kept him two steps ahead of everyone."

Governor Scott Walker also released a statement.

"Tonette and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Senator Mike Ellis. He was a giant in the Legislature and a bigger-than-life personality in Wisconsin politics. I enjoyed serving with him as a lawmaker and as governor. We were just on the radio together recently and I love his wit and passion. He will be missed by so many of us. Tonette and I send our prayers to his entire family."

The cause of Ellis' death was not immediately available.

SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI (WTAQ) - A pilot has died after a small plane crash in Sheboygan Falls. 

Two others were injured as the plane crashed into a farm Friday evening. 

Authorities say the plane crash after taking off from Sheboygan County Memorial Airport. 

A pilot is dead and two people are injured after a small plane crashed into a farm near Sheboygan Falls.

Two farm employees were injured.

The crash is being investigated.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Roadways in the Valley are about to get busy as EAA is set to get underway.

The Wisconsin DOT's Mark Kantola says those traveling in and around Oshkosh need to be patient and focused next week.  

"EAA is probably the biggest traffic generator in the Valley out of any of the events."  

Kantola says paying attention to signs and what is going on around you will help keep the cars moving along I-41 and nearby highways.  

"Rear-end crashes are the most common type of crashes in heavy traffic, so please just keep your eyes on the road and be prepared for backed up or stopped traffic."   Construction is always a concern for those traveling in.   

"The good thing is that there are not going to be any significant closures that are going to effect EAA."  

Construction projects are still going on outside of Oshkosh and in Omro, Winneconne and Fond Du Lac County, but none of the projects should really impact traffic around the airport.  

Paying attention to signs and what is going on around you will help keep the cars moving along I-41 and nearby highways.    

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Air Meets Land next week in Oshkosh, as work is being done to prepare for EAA.

The 66th annual EAA grounds are getting ready for a nationwide crowd.

Dick Knapinksi of EAA says more work is being done over the weekend.

"There are a million little tasks being done right now to get the grounds ready for when we open up Monday morning."  

Planes make up a big part of the week-long event. Knapinski says this year, the planes arrived a little early.  

"We had a very big influx of planes coming in on Thursday because of the weather coming in. A lot of pilots decided to come in to beat the storm."  

They are anticipating around 10,000 airplanes to land in the region throughout the week.  

Almost 6,000 people, most volunteers, make up the group of staff hard at work to make for another successful week.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Ashwaubenon Public Safety is investigating an armed robbery that happened Saturday morning at the Cash Store in Ashwaubenon.

Just before noon, a man entered the store wearing a bandana over his face, armed with a handgun.

He demanded money from the clerk, and ran out the door with an unknown amount of cash.

The suspect is described as being approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and between 180 to 200 pounds.

The man got away in a black vehicle with dark windows.

At 2:42 a.m., the Marinette County Sheriff's Office was called to County Hwy. P just west of US 141, where a deputy found a man ejected from the SUV he was driving.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene, having suffered massive head and internal injuries. He was believed to be in his early 30's.

The investigation showed that the SUV was going west on County Hwy. P, veered off-road to the left east of the intersection of US 141 and County Hwy. P, and then veered off-road to the right on County Hwy. P, west of the intersection of US 141 and County Hwy. P, before hitting the tree.

VILLAGE OF DENMARK, WI (WTAQ0 - Brown County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Semi Tractor vs 4 yr old boy in the Village of Denmark, Brown County. 

The boy, along with other children, were retrieving candy from the annual Lion’s Parade on CTH KB near McDonald's. 

At  1156am, a boy had his leg partially run over by a Semi-Tractor w/a full-size milk tanker trailer owned by R.Schlies Transfer, Inc. who was representing themselves in the parade. 

The boy got too close to the rear dual tires of the trailer getting candy and his leg was caught and pinned briefly under the tire. 

The boy suffered a significant leg injury, but not life-threatening. 

The boy was transported to a local hospital by County Rescue who was also in the parade. 

No alcohol or drugs are suspected…the crash remains under investigation.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - 

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The 66th EAA Airventure kicks off today.

Eyes will be in the sky as thousands travel to Oshkosh for the week-long event.  

Dick Knapinski of EAA says EAA is unlike any other event, and it keeps getting better.  

"It is a gathering of people and airplanes that you will find no place else on the planet."  

Those who are attending need to be prepared for the different weather and need to take the proper safety precautions.  

"First of all bring your sunscreen and bring your walking shoes. Make sure you stay hydrated because an airport does not have much shade."   

Knapinski says about 40,000 people will make it a week-long event by camping.  

"In fact, we create the second largest city in Winnebago County, and put it right next to the largest city in Winnebago County.

Planes started to arrive on the grounds as of Thursday.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A special field trip is making a difference for some special needs students.

The children got the chance to pick some cherries at Meleddy Cherry Farm near Maplewood in Door County.

13 students with disabilities took to the orchard for a mid-morning adventure.

April Rogalski, Ashwaubenon Special Children's Program, tells FOX 11....

"We are the Ashwaubenon Special Children's Program. Our summer school program operates out of Parkview Middle School. Today we have students, age five, all the way to age seventeen. We work with down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, a large spectrum of autism, verbal and non-verbal. And also visually impaired students as well."

The trip began with a shaky demonstration from a mechanical cherry harvester.

"Our whole focus and mission is to provide student opportunities in the community," said Rogalski.

For about 45 minutes, the students and their aides combed the trees. They picked tart cherries and put them in the bucket.

"Our students today, they are ecstatic. They're excited. If you couldn't hear their voices, just their energy, being outside."

Rogalski says the field trip is good therapy for the students, and that's not all.

"In another sense too, we're providing education to the community about disabilities. People with disabilities, and how to communicate with them, how to approach them. It's a win-win. It's learning both ways."

Sue Selvick, Meleddy Cherry Farm, hosted the field trip.

"I feel really good. I'm a former teacher, and I love kids. It's what I went into, and so I'm happy to see them here, and having a really good time, makes me feel good."

And even though the tart cherries may have been a little sour, many students didn't seem to mind.

"Not at all. Not at all. Everyone, if you watch, they're all putting in their mouths and they're enjoying it. And they just keep eating and eating. And that's what we want them to do."

Leaders of the Ashwaubenon Special Children's Program say field trips are planned throughout the summer. Those outings include swimming, bowling, and a visit to the zoo.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Green Bay community welcomed Packers newcomer Jimmy Graham to the area Sunday.

In the most Midwest way, it knows how, with a charity cornhole tournament.

It was put on by the American Cornhole League at Badger State Brewing.

Graham tells FOX 11 he's looking forward to the special experiences that come with being a Packers player.

"People keep telling me about these little bikes I'm going to have to ride pretty soon so and I've experienced kind of this crowd you know and how much this community, and how much packer nation kind of loves and it's much deeper than that it's almost a part of who they are here."

One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Angel Flights charities.

Packers training camp begins Thursday.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - EAA Airventure in Oshkosh officially kicks off today.

One of the unique aircraft's visitors will see is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Hunter.

The G-4 jet, nicknamed 'Gonzo' touched down Sunday.

"This is a very unique aircraft," said N.O.A.A. Pilot, Cmdr. Douglas MacIntyre.

"It's designed for a very special mission to go out and around the wind field around hurricane storms."

MacIntyre tells FOX 11 the modified aircraft can fly up to 45,000 feet, the altitude needed to track and monitor the eye of a hurricane.

"Almost like a flying weather center with computers, sensors. We're able to capture that much more of the air environment and air mass."

From the cock-pit to the crew of meteorologists tracking storm data.

"You really have to have one person concentrating on the safety of the airplane," said N.O.A.A. Flight Director, Jack Parrish.

"And the navigation of it, and the other one worrying about the data going out of the airplane."

Parrish tells FOX 11 during each 8-hour mission weather sensors are dropped into the atmosphere.

The sensors, he says track weather patterns allowing them to gauge where the storm is going.

"They're in the air for about 15-mins. They're transmitting back temperatures, pressure, and uses GPS to navigate it."

'Gonzo' has flown through some of the most recent hurricanes in the U.S. including Hurricane Irma and Harvey.

"The storms kept us quite busy last season, flying nearly every single one of them many times on 24-hour operations," explained MacIntyre.

While from the outside it may look like any other jet, MacIntyre says it's built to take on some of the most dangerous storm conditions.

"An emergency over a storm, you can't just decide to descend and go back."

The aircraft will be on display at EAA through Tuesday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Two months after they were unveiled to the public, five new townhomes near downtown Green Bay have been sold.

NeighborWorks Green Bay says the Navarino Townhomes are located at 222 S. Jackson St.

The organization said its goal was to make sure the homes were safe and what it considers affordable.

“We are amazed at the success of this project,” Scott Schoeneman, NeighborWorks COO, and developer of the project said in a news release.

“The buyers of this project come from a large cross-section of the community and will add to the character of the immediate neighborhood.”

At the grand opening in May, NeighborWorks Green Bay said the townhomes ranged in price from about $155,000 to $157,000.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Police are investigating the origin of a piece of metal that went through the windshield of a vehicle and struck a woman in the head.

Appleton police say it happened just before the vehicle approached the intersection of E. Calumet Street and S. Schaefer Street Saturday afternoon around 4:30.

Police say it appears the piece of metal is part of a vehicle and unintentionally fell off.

Police also say the 32-year-old woman's injury is life-threatening.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Sgt. Chad Probst with the Appleton Police Department at (920) 832-5500.