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Concerns over Performance Evaluations

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One Green Bay Area Public School (GBAPS) District board member is not staying quiet about what she believes is a lack of direction in performance evaluations.

Superintendent of Green Bay Area Public Schools Michelle Langenfeld announced she's retiring in June of 2020 and January 14 was her final performance evaluation with the Board of Education.

Board member Rhonda Sitnikau was willingly not in attendance.

"I wasn't just a protest board member, I did share my concerns and I have made suggestions," says Sitnikau.

The reason she declined to participate stemmed from her claims that the current evaluation process lacks accountability, objectivity, and transparency.

For Sitnikau, an accurate assessment can not take place without those various attributes.

"Right now when I look at it, there really is no rhyme or reason for what's going on," she says. "We can't even have accountability in the process."

In her mind, board members can't fulfill their duties without a legitimate process in place.

"This is really the most important job that an elected school board member has, is to evaluate the Superintendent," she says. "So, we have to get this right."

And for Sitnikau, the power that GBAPS Superintendent has isn't something to take lightly.

"The Superintendent has oversight of a school district with 40-plus schools, more than 20,000 students, and a budget twice the size of the City of Green Bay," she explains. "I believe the Superintendent's performance evaluation needs to reflect the gravity of the responsibilities involved."

Sitnikau says she can only speak for herself presently, but does believe that other board members are less-than-satisfied with the current evaluation process.

"First and foremost, we have to come to an agreement, all of us, on the board that it does matter that we're transparent," explains Sitnikau.

She's of the mindset that community input should be encouraged in the evaluation process.

"It feels to me like it's an insult to the district and the community that that's not what's happening," she says.

Her ideas of how to better evaluate a future Superintendent would include a series of changes.

"Any new process for evaluating future Superintendents should identify opportunities for improvement and growth, outline measurable goals, increase transparency, and encourage community input," she explains.


Robot Gives Paralyzed Veterans New Hope

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An Air Force veteran that has spent nearly 30-years as a paraplegic is getting a second chance to walk with the help of some new technology.

Dean Juntunen has lived an active life since a near death experience.

"I was an ICBM missile launch officer in the Air Force and that's when I had my accident," he says. "I was removing a rope swing from a tree and the branch broke off, I dropped about 30 feet and broke five vertebrae and crushed my spine in two spots."

That has forced him into a wheelchair, but hasn't kept him from doing what he loves.

"91 marathons, paddling all the Lake Superior Coastline in my kayak," he says. "I'm also involved in the community a lot."

But, he's hoping the wearable exoskeleton robot will allow him to do even more.

"I decided to give it a try, the VA was doing a research project and asked if I wanted to be a guinea pig, its been fun," says Juntunen. "I like it more than I thought I would."

Zach Hodgson, a Trainer for the Milwaukee Veteran Affairs Center, was inside Lambeau Field with Juntunen on Tuesday helping him try out the robot.

He says the national study originally began with ten sites, but was quickly expanded to fifteen locations.

"The idea behind the study is that they go through a screening phase where they go through a lot of testing and measures, " he explains. "Then the participant takes this home for four months and the idea is to see how much people are using these at home."

Juntunen says he's excited to use the robot for exercise purposes and thinks he'll incorporate it into his daily routine.

If you know a veteran that could benefit from the study click here.

More Debate For Keys In The Car Ordinance

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A proposed city ordinance to prohibit drivers from leaving their keys inside an unattended vehicle will get a second look at the committee level.

Green Bay's City Council decided not to adopt the ordinance during Tuesday night's meeting.

The ordinance would have required drivers to take the keys out of any car left on city streets, alleys, or other public places.

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith said, "We've seen of the 108 vehicles that were stolen in Green Bay last year, 50 of them had vehicle keys inside the car. It made them very easy to steal."

Chief Smith has been pushing for the ordinance to be passed.

"It's a pretty big tax consequence for our officers because it takes hours for us to go out there, take a report, canvass the neighborhood, finally find the car, get it in the system, tow it. All these are taxpayers expenses."

"I liken it someone leaving their wallet out on their front porch, or maybe a loaded firearm in their driveway," Chief Smith said, "It's a preventable crime. It's something that kind of defies common sense."

The ordinance proposed Tuesday night would have fined drivers found to be in violation. It did not target vehicles on private property.

Green Bay's City Council decided to send the measure back to committee due to a high level of public input on the subject.

Family Mourns For Domestic Violence Victim

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DENMARK, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Marinette County authorities have identified the woman fatally shot by her husband.

63-year-old Shelley Erickson-Rogge was found dead inside her Pembine home Sunday night after deputies say her husband, 55-year-old Gary Rogge, shot her.

Rogge was arrested and remains in custody.

Two of Erickson-Rogge's children spoke to FOX 11.

Daughter Marcy Rentmeester says Erickson-Rogge came from a large family with twelve siblings, three children, and five grandchildren.

"She lived up in Pembine, but she always made it a point to make it to their birthday parties, or school functions or anything like that, or just lunch. There was a lot of occasions that we just went to lunch because she just wanted to see the kids."

She says Rogge and Erickson-Rogge dated for the last 10 years, but only recently got married.

"We’re so in shock it hasn’t completely hit us yet I don’t think."

"Yeah, when you get that phone call and you hear that your mother’s unexpectedly passed you can to a point except maybe within reasonable... natural causes...it’s like taking a knife to the soul,"

Her son Matthew Erickson says he's still in shock.

"Why? Why? I want the truth. I think we deserve the truth. From what we’ve been told by the Marinette County Sheriff’s department things aren’t adding up. My mom didn’t have a chance.".

They said, based on information they've received from the Marinette County sheriff's department, their mother was at a restaurant with Gary Rogge that night, but the two left separately.

She made a phone call to a friend around 10:30 p.m.

The 911 call came in around 11 p.m.

Gary Rogge isn't charged with any crimes but remains in custody. Erickson-Rogge's children said they are meeting with the lead investigators on Wednesday to get more information.

The family of Erickson-Rogge has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her memorial.

UPDATED: Shopko Files For Bankruptcy, Announces Store Closings

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ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Shopko announced on Wednesday that it has filed for bankruptcy and will close 38 stores as part of its restructuring efforts.

The Ashwaubenon-based retailer announced that it has obtained $480 million in financing from lenders, led by Wells Fargo, in order to fund and protect its operations during the bankruptcy process.

The federal bankruptcy court in Nebraska has been asked by Shopko to allow it to continue to pay wages, salaries, and benefits, and pay vendors and suppliers during the bankruptcy process.

“This decision is difficult, but a necessary one,” CEO Russ Steinhorst said in a news release. “In a challenging retail environment, we have had to make some very tough choices, but we are confident that by operating a smaller and more focused store footprint, we will be able to build a stronger Shopko that will better serve our customers, vendors, employees and other stakeholders through this process.”

The company's assets are listed by court documents at between $500 million and $1 billion, with liabilities estimated between $1 billion and $10 billion.

A list of the 38 closing stores, plus previously announced closures are posted on a separate website dedicated to the bankruptcy.

Included in the list are seven stores from Northeast Wisconsin, and over a dozen stores statewide, which all are set to shut their doors in April.

  • 216 S. Military Ave., Green Bay
  • 3415 Calumet Ave., Manitowoc
  • 1578 Appleton Rd., Menasha
  • 699 S. Green Bay Rd., Neenah
  • Shopko Express – W3208 Van Roy Rd., Buchanan
  • Shopko Express – 2101 E. Evergreen Dr., Appleton
  • Shopko Hometown – 1010 S. Mainline Dr., Seymour
  • 1200 Main Street, Stevens Point
  • 1800 Plover Road, Plover

Additional stores in Madison, West Bend, and La Crosse will also be closed. 

Shopko also plans to move more than 20 optical centers to freestanding locations.

Four freestanding optical centers it opened last year have encouraged the company and they will look to grow their optical business. According to the company, all optical centers will remain open through the transition.

The companies remaining pharmacy business will be auctioned, according to Shopko.

The bankruptcy announcement on Wednesday is just the latest in a string of announcements from Shopko.

Last month, it announced plans to close 39 stores, mostly Shopko Hometown stores, and sell the pharmacy business at more than 40 locations.

Last week, the company confirmed plans to close the Shopko Hometown in Seymour and the full-size department store in Menasha.

Jim Loebl, the Chair of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, offered his thoughts on the impact of Wednesday's announcement.

First of all, he noted that filing for bankruptcy isn't necessarily the "kiss of death" for a company.

"We tend to look at bankruptcy and think, 'Oh, they're dead on arrival and that'll be it,'" explains Loebl. 'But, a lot of companies have reemerged from bankruptcy."

He brought up a series of industry titans in the automotive industry that have previously filed for bankruptcy and emerged as a healthy business entity.

"GM [General Motors] and Chrysler went bankrupt and they reemerged and are thriving companies today," he says.

He also noted that bankruptcy doesn't mean that all stores are immediately boarded up and swept away.

"That does not mean that it necessarily will have a fire sale, sell all the merchandise, and close all its doors altogether, the way that Bonton did, the parent of Younkers," explains Loebl.

One possibility in the companies restructuring plan is that they strategically downsize to continue operations in certain locations.

"I would think that what they are going to try to do is bear down and stay in locations where they kind of are the primary player, in smaller towns," he says.

Numbers regarding the amount of job loss have not yet surfaced, but with 37 stores closing the writing is somewhat on the wall.

"I don't think there's much question there will be some people losing their jobs," says Loebl.

While the number of jobs impacted locally will depend on a question regarding how drastically they restructure the company.

"Will they have to, in cost-cutting, eliminate positions at their corporate headquarters and so on," asks Loebl.

Arrest Made In Attempted Homicide

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FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - Fond du Lac Police were called to the Evergreen Village Apartments Tuesday afternoon for a report of a possible assault and stolen vehicle.

Upon Officers arrival, they found a 73-year-old Fond du Lac man with severe injuries to his head and hand as a result of blunt force trauma.

The victim was transported by Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue ambulance to the Flight for Life Hangar at the Fond du Lac County Airport where the victim was transported by helicopter to Theda Care Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, a 19-year-old Fond du Lac man who was known to the victim was located a few hours later in the stolen vehicle and taken into custody by the Sun Prairie Police Department without incident.

The suspect was transported back to the City of Fond du Lac and is currently being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on preliminary charges of Attempted Homicide and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without the Owner’s Consent.

Give BIG Green Bay Back Again

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - At Lambeau Field on Wednesday, the list of non-profits set to benefit from the second annual Give BIG Green Bay community giving day were announced.

The event, which allows residents to donate to Brown County charities online, was launched last year by the Green Bay Packers Foundation and the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation.

The crowdfunding event begins at noon on February 20 and runs until noon on February 21.

Local residents are encouraged to contribute towards Brown County charities during that time and donations received, along with a proportionate share of the matching funds, go directly to the various nonprofit organizations.

During the initial event last year, $805,610 was raised through 1,718 donors, which went to support 31 nonprofits.

On Wednesday, representatives from this years expanded field of 40 nonprofits were assembled at the Lambeau Field Atrium.

"We're fortunate to live in a community with impactful nonprofit agencies and leaders who are dedicated to serving the residents of Brown County," says Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "We are also proud to work with the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation to encourage everyone to learn more about the important work of local nonprofits and to donate, at any level."

The Packers Foundation announced a $250,000 impact grant for this years campaign in order to create a matching pool of funds.

Additional matching funds and incentives are being provided by Bellin Health, Janet and Charlie Lieb, and the J.J. Keller Foundation.

The total number of matching funds and incentives tallies $312,500, which is $97,500 more than last years amount.

After seeing the initial success of the event in 2018, Mark Murphy knew it was a no-brainer to bring the campaign back this year.

"I mean the Packers are a community-owned team, and so for us giving back to the community is at the core of our organization," he says.

The organizations set to benefit from the event represent a diverse cross-section of Brown County, including animal welfare, arts and culture, community involvement, education, and other various types of partners.

"It represents such a wide variety of different community organizations and non-profits," says Murphy.

One of the organizations added to this year's event that wasn't a participant last year is Paul's Pantry.

Executive Director Craig Robbins saw all the success the campaign generated last year and knew he wanted to be apart of it this go-around.

"I think we can show the rest of the country that Give BIG Green Bay really means something," he explains.

For him, the hundreds of thousands of dollars generated in last year's initial effort didn't come as a surprise.

"Being the smallest NFL city certainly means something and this is certainly the people with the biggest hearts and greatest generosity," says Robbins.

Above all, event organizers believe the campaign creates an environment in which residents feel vested in the various community organizations represented.

"Give BIG Green Bay is a shining example of how we are rethinking ways to create a stronger community and connect people directly with the organizations who are on the front lines addressing some of our most pressing needs," says Dennis Buehler, President and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation.

More information can be found here.

Monitoring Lake Water Levels

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - In an effort to improve water quality, Lake Winnebago’s water level could be lowered 1.2 inches this summer.

A proposal is under consideration that focuses on two goals: reducing agriculture and urban nutrient runoff, and restoring aquatic plants.

The information was posted on the alliance's website.

“Over the past several decades, the lakes have seen a major loss of aquatic plants because of high water levels and erosion. Aquatic plants take-up phosphorus and anchor the sediment. A water level strategy that will allow aquatic plants to grow would help reduce the amount of phosphorus available to algae. This strategy implemented consistently over multiple years along with a reduction of nutrient runoff from the landscape would reduce the frequency and severity of algae blooms,”

 

There is no set timeline for a decision to be made on the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance's proposal.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a meeting Thursday night to discuss the plan.


An Official Point of View

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - After the WIAA released a notice to parents telling them to avoid criticizing officials, one area official says that is just one piece to the puzzle. 

Steve Matuszewski, Area Coordinator of Basketball Officials, and a basketball referee says it is important that fans remember that referees have a knowledge of the game, but they are only human.

"They work and 8-hour or 10-hour job during the day and they go out at night to try to do something to help the school or help the kids, and then they get yelled at or screamed at and it is not really that much fun anymore."  

He says when that happens, the number of interested officials start to drop.  

"We even hear of more and more referees that don't want to even give it a try because they say that they don't want to put up with fans to ref a basketball game."  

A shortage of officials in the WIAA system has been a concern for many years in all sports. While the WIAA made a correlation between unruly fans and the low number of certified officials, Matuszewski says that is just one piece to solving the problem.  

"I think it starts with the head coach and how they respond and how they react."  

He says that tends to feed into the crowd.  

Another issue is that officials themselves are not supposed to interact with the crowd unless they have to.  

"We would like more Athletic Directors to be more proactive in dealing with unruly fans."   Having the experience of scheduling officials, Matuszewski says the WIAA can also help the cause by not scheduling so many games on the same night.  

Officials are trained to ask the game manager to talk to or eject an unruly fan. In basketball, it is possible for an official to issue a technical foul to the home team or the team that fan is clearly rooting for. Matuszewski says head coaches are also responsible for controlling their fans.

"Look at the basketball schedule throughout the state. Most games are played on a Tuesday or Friday and not as many on Monday and Thursday."  

He says by moving some games around it would free up more officials because it is hard to schedule a three-person team for that many games at the same time, and you have to take injuries and schedule conflicts into consideration.  

"I have had nine officials who have been injured while officiating and are out for the entire season."   Matuszewski from his view on the court, the WIAA is right on in pinpointing parents conduct as a big factor.  

"Certainly though fans are crazy and they have to relax."        

WIAA Op-ED 

If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Wisconsin, this message is primarily for you.  

When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, cool it.   Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control. Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason Wisconsin has an alarming shortage of high school officials.   

It’s true. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 75 percent of all high school officials say “adult behavior” is the primary reason they quit. And 80 percent of all young officials hang up their stripes after just two years of whistle blowing. Why? They don’t need your abuse. 

 Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There are more officials over 60 than under 30 in many areas. And as older, experienced officials retire, there aren’t enough younger ones to replace them. If there are no officials, there are no games. The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or canceled—especially at the freshman and junior varsity levels.   

Research confirms that participation in high school sports and activities instills a sense of pride in school and community, teaches lifelong lessons like the value of teamwork and self-discipline and facilitates the physical and emotional development of those who participate. So, if the games go away because there aren’t enough men and women to officiate them, the loss will be infinitely greater than just an “L” on the scoreboard. It will be putting a dent in your community’s future. 

If you would like to be a part of the solution to the shortage of high school officials, you can sign up to become a licensed official at HighSchoolOfficials.com. Otherwise, adult role models at high school athletic events here in Wisconsin are always welcome.  

 

Man Ordered to Stand Trial for Fatal Crash

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man charged in a fatal Brown County crash has been ordered to stand trial.

51-year-old Terence Cisler is being charged with homicide by a vehicle for the May 15 crash, which killed Rodney Bosdeck.

Court records show Cisler is scheduled to enter a plea February 18.

Cisler is also facing a citation of failing to yield while making a left turn.

The crash happened in the town of Eaton when 57-year-old Rodney Bosdeck was heading west on Highway 29 riding his motorcycle when Cisler allegedly made a left turn in front of him.

The two crashed, which caused Bosdeck to hit the passenger side of the vehicle. Bosdeck was not wearing a helmet, according to officials.

Cisler told an officer he was on medication for his thyroid “and he was concerned because he had smoked marijuana” about eight hours before the crash, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint says, “Terence did not appear to be impaired at this time, answering questions quickly and recalling the events prior to, during and after the crash.”

When describing the crash, Cisler said the motorcycle "came out of nowhere."

A blood test later determined Cisler had marijuana in his system.

The allegation is that Cisler caused Bosdeck’s death “by the operation of a vehicle while having a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his blood," according to the charge.

No particular threshold or amount of drug is needed, as any presence of the drug can result in the charge, unlike in alcohol-related charges.

Cisler faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Record Year for Food and Toy Drive

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Record breaking numbers are being reported by the Oshkosh Fire Department for its annual food and toy drive.

They say in the 2018 holiday season they collected, 590 toys, $3,518.80, and 3,589 pounds of food for the Salvation Army, which is the most ever collected in one year.

Both the food and toy donations will go toward helping local families.

The money collected will go to the Gary Kassube Scholarship Fund, which provides two $500 scholarships to Oshkosh students who are pursuing a degree in fire or police science.

The remainder of the money will go to the Oshkosh Firefighter's Charitable Trust Fund, which provides financial aid to local families after fires.

The department has collected over 36,000 pounds of food, more than 20,000 toys and thousands of dollars, since 2010.

Major School District Improvements Up For Vote

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KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - This spring, voters in Kaukauna will see a school referendum question on their ballot.

The Kaukauna Area School District Board of Education approved a $32.9 million facilities referendum question to appear on the April 2, 2019 election ballot.

The proposed referendum will focus on three areas: safety and security, elementary grade-level reconfiguration and instructional space improvements.

Safety and security upgrades at schools across the district will include renovating entrances, upgrading security technology and improving exterior traffic flow and parking at River View Middle School. These improvements will cost about $7.2 million.

At the elementary level, the district wants to realign all elementary schools to 4K-fourth grade to ease capacity concerns and balance student enrollment. This will cost about $7.3 million.

This will also lead to upgrades in space at the nearly century-old River View Middle School.

The proposed $18.4 million will create adequately-sized. accessible spaces and upgrade large-group classrooms such as physical education, music, multi-purpose areas, cafeteria, and the library media center.

If approved, taxes on a $100,000 home or property can expect to pay an extra $67 annually, or $5.58 monthly, for 15 years.

On Facebook, a community member wrote, "One of the nicest schools in the state with some of the best athletic fields. What else do they need?"

Another asks, "The 48 million they snuck through without referendum 2 years ago wasn't enough?"

Kaukauna superintendent Mark Duerwaechter told FOX 11, that $48 million was part of Act 32, for energy efficiency improvements.

He said the legislation allowed school districts to borrow money without a referendum specifically on energy exemption.

"Had the district not utilized Act 32, this referendum would not be about academic needs, this referendum would be about boilers, and would be about roofs and windows and lights."

If all projects are approved, the upgrades will be completed for the 2020-2021 school year.

Superintendent Search Timeline

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - June 2020, that's when the current Green Bay Area Public School District superintendent's contract ends.

Eventually, the school board will have to find Michelle Langenfeld's replacement.

"We're probably looking at something, I would guess, early fall we'd start working on this," said Brenda Warren, Green Bay Area Public School District board president.

Warren tells FOX 11 there's plenty of time to fill the position.

"We have not had a conversation as a board about any details."

She says the school board will likely hire a firm to help find the next superintendent.

"And then you go through a very extensive process, the search firm does, of determining what does the community, the staff, the school board... what are they all looking for in the next superintendent."

School board member Rhonda Sitnikau talked to FOX 11 over the phone. She'd like to see more input from the public

"For the public to weigh in and tell us what they believe the community needs."

Sitnikau also shared what she's looking for in a candidate.

"A fresh set of eyes to give us their perspective, their real perspective and they're able to be objective and clear about expectations. You know, there are no relationships that are already there to muddy the waters."

As for Warren, she says she'd like to have a replacement to start the day after Langenfeld leaves.

"This person has to be interfaced with the community and be out in the community and get to know people."

Hope For Out Of Work Shopko Employees

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ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A long-standing Ashwaubenon-based retailer added 38 stores to its list of closures.

Shopko is filing for bankruptcy, and the announcement is a pretty big deal of both employees and customers in the area.

Especially for the thousands of people who will be left with no job.

The company is even deciding to close its original location on Military Avenue.

For more than 50 years Shopko has been a staple in the Green Bay area.

"The original location opened in 62 and it's our hometown and starts here in our area and exploded to other areas," explains Lisa Kaine.

Kaine is a curator at the Neville Museum and tells FOX the retailer has impacted plenty of small towns within the state.

But with the company announcing the closures around Northeast Wisconsin, there's a lot of uncertainty about its future.

"Obviously it will affect our economy, workforce. That happens when any major retailer closes down and the community has to adapt."

Jim Golembeski, an executive director for the Green Bay Area Workforce Development Board, tells FOX 11 the rising popularity of online shopping is part of the cause.

"Some of this is how business evolves and changes. Some of this is that the retail sector there's a real earthquake happening with Amazon and Google and people being able to shop online."

Golembeski says closing these stores will leave many people without out jobs, but luckily there are more than 500 open positions at other area retailers.

"I never want to disregard the fact that it's traumatic to lose a job at a place where you have familiarity, and you have friends and know your customers."

All of the Shopko stores closing in Northeast Wisconsin will close for good in April.

New Ballpark Taking Shape

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ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The future home of the Green Bay Booyah is starting to take shape.

Ashwaubenon's newest stadium, Capital Credit Union Park on Holmgren Way, is on track to open this summer.

Construction on the $10 million project began in September of 2018 and should be complete sometime in May.

On Wednesday, corporate advertising manager, Brian Kuklinski, tells FOX 11 crews have started to frame in the main building and build the club and suite area. Concrete is scheduled to be poured next week.

Crews are also working on constructing a 22-foot high wall for right field. Kuklinski says because the right field corner is a little short for baseball, they will be double stacking shipping containers to create a unique wall.

"What’s really exciting about it is the multi-purpose use of the facility. We’ve already announced soccer’s coming, baseball is going to be here, so that’s going to take 46 dates in the summer time," Kuklinski said.

"We’re looking to push that to 80 to 100 dates that we will be able to program the facility. We can do high school sports here, concerts, the premium level on the second deck, we can do year-round events that can hold up to 200 people."

The Green Bay Booyah's first home game will be June 1st.


WATCH: Abuse Allegations Addressed In Green Bay Diocese

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay has revealed the results of an investigation into its files of incidents of sexual abuse against minors by priests and deacons.

The review found that 47 priests had substantiated allegations of abuse since the first one was ordained in 1906.

No current priests serving in the diocese had known substantiated allegations against them.

The complete list can be found here.

Based upon the recommendation of the Independent Review Board and following an extensive review of priest and deacon files by Defenbaugh & Associates, Inc., Bishop David L. Ricken today released the list of diocesan clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.

A total of 630 ordained priests have served within the Diocese of Green Bay.  Of that number, 47 priests have had a substantiated allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor made against them. 

Additionally, there are 16 priests and 2 deacons accused of the sexual abuse of a minor who, after investigation, were either exonerated or the allegation against them deemed unsubstantiated and as a result are not included in the list. 

“My top priorities, as outlined in of my Seven Action Steps to Accountability remain,” said Bishop Ricken. “To improve our pastoral care, concern and efforts to accompany victims of abuse in their journey of healing; and, to provide as many ways as possible for those who have been victimized to come forward without fear and to share their story of sexual abuse. We need to know as fully as possible the harm that was done, so we can offer care to victims and ensure no perpetrators remain in ministry.”

"The Diocese remains committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Its policies include permanently removing from ministry any clergy who have a substantiated allegation of abuse of a minor against them. In addition, the Diocese requires all clergy, employees, and volunteers in all parishes, schools and diocesan offices to complete mandatory background checks and training on keeping children safe," says the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay in a release.

At a news conference on Thursday, Bishop Ricken spoke towards the fact that words and sympathies aren't enough moving forward.

"I can apologize, but more importantly, I need to show them [the victims] through action that we are being open and addressing this issue head-on," he says.

For him, an implementation of seven Action Steps to Accountability will helpfully usher in positive changes to the diocese.

"With the disclosure of this list of clergy a new chapter begins," he explains. "A chapter that is about openness and a chapter that can set a course toward healing for all those who have been hurt by the church."

Father John Girotti echoed the gravity of the situation.

"Children were harmed," he says. "And this must never happen again."

Oconto County Murder Case Goes To Higher Court

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear arguments about the evidence used in an Oconto County murder case.

Peter Hanson is serving a life prison term without the chance of parole for the 1998 murder of Chad McLean.

McLean disappeared on Feb. 22, 1998. His body was found a month later in the Pensaukee River. The case went cold until 2009, when Hanson’s estranged wife, Kathy Hanson, told investigators that Hanson had killed McLean, the decision recounts. After trial, Hanson was convicted in 2013.

Hanson challenged his conviction, but the appeals court rejected all of the arguments last year. Hanson now appeals that ruling.

According to summary provided by the court, the justices will review two issues:

  • Whether the admission of hearsay statements of a defendant’s deceased wife inculpating the defendant in murder violates a defendant’s right to confrontation.
  • Whether trial counsel is ineffective in failing to move to suppress inculpatory statements made by a defendant at a John Doe hearing where the defendant was in custody and not properly Mirandized.

No date has been set for the oral arguments.

Shutdown Could Delay Anticipated Sailing Season

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MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The partial government shutdown could affect when the S.S Badger starts sailing.

Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels says the city has put a halt on work being done to its dock because federal grant funding for the project is not being processed during the shutdown.

Manitowoc and the City of Ludington received a $5 million dollar grant last year for the project.

The city of Manitowoc's portion was $1.3 million with a local match of $279,000. The city also received $2.9 million grant from the state of Wisconsin through the Harbor Assistance Program.

 

The city of Manitowoc plans to fund the costs so work can be completed in time, hoping the federeal government will reimburse the city when it opens again. The city of Ludington cannot afford to carry the costs of the project during the shutdown.

The S.S. Badger travels across Lake Michigan between Manitowoc and Ludington. The carferry has a major economic impact to the city of Manitowoc.

A New Light To Lead The Way

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ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Titletown skyline has a new look.

A 13,000 pound sign that says "Titletown" was installed on top of Titletown Tech's building Thursday.

The sign is green and gold and is more than 13 feet tall and 96 feet long.

It is expected to be lit on Friday.

The sign should be visible from Lombardi Avenue or Ridge Road. Titletown Tech is scheduled to be open in the coming months.

Tribe Appealing Lawsuit Dismissal

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) -  The Menominee Indian Tribe is appealing the dismissal of their lawsuit against the federal government for the handling of permits for a proposed mine.

The lawsuit against the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, U.S Army Corps of Engineers and Aquila Resources was dismissed in December.

Menominee Tribal Chairman Douglas Cox says they are working to ensure that the federal and state governments do not continue to ignore the Menominee Tribe's concerns.

“The Menominee Tribe is prepared to see this through to ensure the full federal protections of the Clean Water Act and the National Historic Preservation Act and to ensure that the federal and state governments do not continue to ignore the Menominee Tribe’s concerns. This large mine-development will affect other tribes, multiple states, fishing and recreation industries in two states, downstream communities and wildlife, and ultimately the health of our Great Lakes, the most precious bodies of freshwater in the world. The risks to our cultural heritage and to the environment from this large source of pollutants, which includes risks to regulated wetlands, is simply too great for the Menominee Tribe to turn away from,” Menominee tribal chairman Douglas Cox said in a news release.

Aquila Resources wants to operate a gold, zinc, and copper mine in Menominee County.

The federal government has not yet responded to the filing with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

 

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