Green Bay School District considers spring referendum

November 26, 2013, 6:59 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - President of the Green Bay School Board says the district is considering a referendum that could seek up to $30 million.

Brenda Warren says the referendum, to be on the ballot April 1, would be used to install new air conditioning and heating systems at Franklin and Washington Middle Schools. Currently, neither school has air conditioning.

The entrance and office at Washington Middle School would also undergo a security upgrade.

Warren says nothing has been approved yet and the school board is expected to talk about the proposal at its meeting next Monday.

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UPDATE: 11 residents displaced in Darboy apartment fire

November 26, 2013, 9:32 am

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TOWN OF BUCHANAN, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to a fire at an apartment building in the Town of Buchanan that forced the evacuation of dozens of residents and sent smoke billowing across nearby County Road KK. 

Firefighters got the call around 10 a.m. 

The building is one of several in the complex at the intersection of Gentry Drive and State Park Road. There are 16 units in the building. 

Eleven people have been displaced, but no one was hurt. The cause remains under investigation.

FDIC: Wisconsin's homegrown banks see profits rise

November 26, 2013, 5:50 pm

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MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - More of Wisconsin's homegrown banks are making money, even though they have not loaned as much to home and business owners during the past year. 

The FDIC reported Tuesday that banks with Wisconsin headquarters made $743 million from January through September. That's 16 percent more than the same period last year. 

Less than five percent of banks lost money in the first three quarters of 2013, down from around 9 percent last year. 

Lending activity was down slightly, to $67.5 billion from January through September. However, banks have fewer bad loans. Non-current loans and leases total 2.01 percent of combined lending, down from 2.71 percent during the same period of 2012. 

Associated Bank, Wisconsin's largest homegrown bank based in Green Bay, had $50.5 million of net income from July through September. That's the highest in the state. 

Guaranty Bank of Brown Deer had the biggest loss, at $2.3 million.

Report: Criminal investigation underway into LeRoy Butler Foundation

November 26, 2013, 5:54 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A criminal investigation is reportedly taking place involving the foundation run by former Green Bay Packers' star LeRoy Butler. 

Gannett Wisconsin Media reports that a federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents connected with the LeRoy Butler Foundation. Gannett, which owns 10 daily newspapers in northeast and central Wisconsin, first reported this month that the IRS has been investigating the 45-year-old Butler. 

At some point, the inquiry reportedly expanded to include federal prosecutors.

Gannett said earlier that Butler's foundation had held charity events throughout Wisconsin over the past decade, but it only filed one required annual return -- that being in 2002. Gannett said K-Tech Kleening Systems of the Wausau area was subpoenaed in September to provide documents related to its charity work with Butler. 

The newspapers said K-Tech ran a number of charity events with Butler for several years -- but the firm cut ties with the ex-Packers' star in 2009 after learning he had not been filing reports with the IRS. 

The U.S. Attorney's office refuses to confirm or deny that an investigation is taking place. 

Butler's foundation was planning to shut down after a final fundraising trip in February -- but a travel agent told Gannett that Butler pulled out of the deal over a week ago.

Appleton principal pleads not guilty; asks for charges to be dismissed

November 26, 2013, 5:58 pm

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CHILTON, WI (WTAQ) - The principal at Appleton's Janet Berry Elementary school has pled not guilty and asked that charges against him be dismissed.

On Tuesday, Richard Waters' attorney entered that plea on his behalf because he was not required to appear at the court hearing.

Waters is charged with misdemeanor counts of failure to report child abuse and obstruction.

The charges come after a teacher at the school, Mary Berglund, was convicted of battery of a special education student. She was placed on probation.

In the motion to dismiss the charges, Waters' attorney argues that once Waters was informed of the allegations, he reported them to his supervisor, and that he did not destroy any documents.

"For the second time (and with no substantial additional information) the State has slandered the name of a school administrator who followed the AASD procedures that existed in January 2011 for investigating and referring complaints of child abuse," wrote attorney Len Kachinsky.

A signature bond was set. The defense also asked for a new judge in the case, so no hearing dates were set.

Oshkosh police investigate overnight burglaries

November 26, 2013, 6:03 pm

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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A series of overnight burglaries on Oshkosh's west side are under investigation by police.

Cops say in the past two weeks, businesses on-or-near Koeller Street and Washburn Street between Highway 21 and W. 20th Avenue have been burglarized six times. The suspects are targeting cash and electronics, and police believe several of the crimes may be connected.

Oshkosh police is asking businesses to keep their doors and windows locked after hours and to activate alarm and camera systems. The department is also asking the public to report any suspicious vehicles, people or activities occurring around businesses that are closed.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call police at (920) 236-5700. Anonymous tips can also be left with Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 231-8477, by text message at 274637 and starting with the keyword IGOTA, or online.

Despite Rodgers practicing, Flynn appears ready to start at Detroit

November 26, 2013, 6:12 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers practiced Tuesday for the first time since he broke his left collarbone on November 4th.  

However, coach Mike McCarthy says the odds remain, “closer to none than slim” that Rodgers will play in the Packers’ Thanksgiving game at Detroit.  

McCarthy said Rodgers looked good on the field, and his workouts were designed to get him back in a game at some point.  

After Thursday, the next chance would be the December 8^th contest at home against Atlanta. That would come about five weeks after his injury.  

Meanwhile, McCarthy said Matt Flynn practiced with the first team offense – but he stressed that he wants both Flynn and Scott Tolzien ready to play the Lions. 

Authorities investigate suspicious death in Ledgeview

November 27, 2013, 9:33 am

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LEDGEVIEW, WI (WTAQ) - The death of a Ledgeview woman is being called suspicious by the Brown County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were called to the home around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a suicide. Upon arrival, authorities found a 23-year-old woman had died of a gunshot wound.

Investigators say circumstances of the death are unclear, so they're treating the area as a crime scene until they could learn more. The state crime lab was called in to assist.

An autopsy has been planned

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Lake Michigan whitefish being found in Wisconsin's inland rivers

November 27, 2013, 9:38 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Lake Michigan whitefish are being found in Wisconsin's inland rivers for the first time in a century. 

The whitefish population rebounded in the 1980's in Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay -- but they had not been seen inland until just recently. It's not known why. 

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said improved water quality might be a factor, or the population in Green Bay may have grown to the point in which young whitefish are being pushed out of normal spawning areas. 

Scientists say the inland migration appears to be coming solely from the Bay of Green Bay -- and it does not appear that whitefish are leaving Lake Michigan at the moment.  

2-year-old girl dies in Amberg house fire

November 27, 2013, 2:25 pm

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AMBERG, WI (WTAQ) - Marinette County Sheriff's officials confirm that a two-year-old girl died in a house fire Tuesday afternoon.

Fire crews were called to a home on U.S. Highway 141 in Amberg just after noon.

Officials identified the victim as Lee-Ann R. Arendt. The girl's mother and two sisters escaped the blaze unharmed.

Sheriff's and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation are investigating. No cause has been released. 

Meanwhile, a fund has been set up for the victims. Mark and Amy Shaffer own Shaffer Park Resort Motels and Supper Club in Crivitz. They say the house belonged to their head cook, Martha Russell, who is Lee-Ann’s mother.

The Shaffers have organized the fund at Bank North. Donations can be made to the Benefit Account for Martha Russell at Bank North offices in Crivitz, Amberg, Pembine and Wausaukee or by mail to:

Bank North CrivitzP.O. Box 160Crivitz, WI 54114

Judge rules Jared Carlson not competent to stand trial

November 27, 2013, 2:28 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of tampering with school district computers in De Pere has been ruled not competent to stand trial.

21-year-old Jared Carlson is a former employee with the Unified School District of De Pere. 

Police say Carlson broke into the district's computer to access his own file twice in April. Officials say he was disgruntled, and wanted to delete the system.

Authorities indicate Carlson was able to destroy information, including term papers, athletic records and teachers' lesson plans. He's facing five felony charges and one misdemeanor.

According to online court records, Brown County Judge Kendall Kelly signed an order of commitment for treatment after a hearing Monday. No further court dates have been scheduled.

SIST attorney suspended in Minnesota for making slurs against judge

November 27, 2013, 2:33 pm

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MINNEAPOLIS (WTAQ) - An attorney has been suspended for at least nine months, after she filed legal documents containing anti-Catholic slurs in a case involving a group from Wisconsin. 

The Minnesota Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended Rebekah Nett, and allowed her to file for reinstatement after nine months. That's longer than the six-month suspension recommended by a special referee back in January. 

The referee, retired Judge Charles Flinn, said all allegations against Nett involved just one client -- the Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology in Shawano. 

In 2011, Nett filed bankruptcy documents in which she called Judge Nancy Dreher a "black-robed bigot" and a "Catholic Knight witch hunter." Nett said it was all part of a conspiracy to deny justice to the CEO of the Shawano group. 

Nett also accused the judge and other court officials of conspiring with the Vatican to destroy the Samanta Roy group, which some call a cult. Nett grew up in the organization.

Green Bay Packers roasted by Lions 40-10 in Thanksgiving game

November 28, 2013, 1:41 pm

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DETROIT (WTAQ) - Despite creating four turnovers, the Green Bay Packers allow 561 total yards in a 40-10 loss to the Lions in Detroit.

Up 10-3 in the first quarter after a Morgan Burnett fumble return for a touchdown, the Lions (7-5) score 37 unanswered points in a romp on Thanksgiving Day.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford finished the day 22-of-35 for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns with two interceptions. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught six passes for 101 yards and a TD.

Running back Reggie Bush had 117 yards on the ground, to go with 65 yards receiving and a score.

Packers quarterback Matt Flynn struggled, finishing 10-of-20 for 139 yards and one interception. He was also sacked in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter.

The Lions win Thursday was the largest ever over the Packers (5-6-1) on Thanksgiving. Get a full recap of this game with Mark Daniels and Matt Z on the 5th Quarter, Monday at 5 p.m. exclusively on 1360/97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.

 

More details released in arrest of catalytic converter theft suspects

November 29, 2013, 6:41 am

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APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Two Chicago men are due back in court next week, for allegedly stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in Grand Chute. 

Converter thefts were recently said to be on the rise in the Fox Valley, as thieves sell them to scrap dealers for the precious metals they contained. 

29-year-old Quintohn Holmes and 25-year-old Reese Bell were charged in Outagamie County this week with 8 felony counts of property damage, and seven charges of misdemeanor theft. Bell was also charged with obstructing police for giving them a fake name. 

Authorities said the case was cracked last week. A witness told police he saw a man trying to steal his catalytic converter -- and he left in a white van that a detective tracked down with a GPS monitor. 

Officers then received reports of other catalytic converter thefts, and the van was later found in Fond du Lac with 8 stolen converters inside. 

Both defendants were in jail at last word, under $10,000 bonds. Bell is due back in court next Wednesday. Holmes has a preliminary hearing set for next Thursday.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy believes team must win out to make playoffs

November 29, 2013, 1:46 pm

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that the Packers will most likely have to win their four remaining regular season games to have a shot at the playoffs. 

The Packers trail first-place Detroit by a game-and-a-half in the NFC North Division. Their next game is on December 8^th at home against Atlanta – and the Pack will close out against Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.  

Green Bay is 5-6-1 after Thursday’s crushing 40-10 loss to the Lions.  

The Packers have never made the playoffs when they’re below .500 after 12 games, since the NFL schedule expanded to 16 games in 1978.   

McCarthy could not say whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers would start against the Falcons in nine days. He’s still getting over a broken collarbone suffered November 4th, but he was cleared to practice on a limited basis this week.  

The Packers have made the postseason every year since 2008, Rodgers’ first year at quarterback after Brett Favre left.

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Shoppers out in force from Gray Thursday into Black Friday

November 29, 2013, 2:06 pm

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MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Black Friday shoppers were out in full force throughout Wisconsin today, even after the early store openings on Thanksgiving. 

The Outlet Shoppes in Oshkosh report more shoppers than normal for the day after Turkey Day.

Manager Keith Holschbach said some of the 43 stores in the outlet mall were open since 8 p.m. Thursday -- and while traffic counts were much higher than in previous years, they continued to be strong Friday morning. 

At Mayfair Mall in suburban Milwaukee, shoppers said there was a more subdued atmosphere than in the past. 

Linda Fadden of Milwaukee said the early Thanksgiving Night openings, "deflates the hustle and bustle of Black Friday morning."  

Meanwhile, folks in western Wisconsin were close to enough to be among the crowds at the Mall of America just south of Minnesota's Twin Cities. 

Mall spokeswoman Sarah Schmidt said around 50,000 people walked through the doors by 10 p.m. Thursday. She said there was a lull between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday -- but another busy round came after that. 

Schmidt said clothing appeared to be the most popular things for shoppers. 

Smaller retailers say expect a lot of business during Small Business Saturday -- and Web retailers look forward to Cyber Monday.

Oconto apartment evacuated due to garbage can fire

November 30, 2013, 8:52 am

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OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - An Oconto apartment had to be evacuated due to a garbage can fire Friday.

Fire crews were called to the apartment in the 200 block of Farnsworth Avenue around 4 p.m. No one was hurt

Firefighters found a full plastic garbage can sitting on a lit burner of an electric stove. Crews took the can outside where it was extinguished.

Authorities indicate the damage was contained to the stove top and is estimated at less than $500.

The apartment was ventilated before residents were allowed back in.

Green Bay police cite teen for crashing truck into apartment building

November 30, 2013, 10:58 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a 17-year-old boy was given a citation after he crashed his pickup truck into an apartment building.

Authorities say it happened around 1 a.m. Saturday in the 2100 block of Basten Street.

Officers say the passenger in the truck suffered minor injuries. No one else was injured.

Police say alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

House fire in Green Bay puts family out of a home, kills 2 dogs

December 2, 2013, 9:24 am

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GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A house fire in Green Bay Sunday has displaced a family.

Fire crews get the call to a home at 2462 Oakwood Drive at 4:48 p.m. 

The blaze started as a kitchen fire, which the family discovered when they came home.

Minor injuries and smoke inhalation were suffered by the homeowner, who was treated at the scene. Two dogs died in the fire.

Investigators are trying to figure out how it started. The home has extensive fire and heat damage, estimated to be about $140,000.

The family is staying with relatives.

Sentencing day for Black Creek man convicted of role in hacking of Koch website

December 2, 2013, 10:47 am

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BLACK CREEK, WI (WTAQ) - A northeast Wisconsin man who helped a group hack into Koch Industries' Web site will be sentenced Monday in federal court in Kansas. 

Eric Rosol of Black Creek struck a plea deal in September, in which prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison term at the lower end of federal sentencing guidelines. Rosol could get up to a year behind bars. 

He admitted helping the group Anonymous break into Koch Industries' Web site in February of 2011. It forced the site to go offline for about 15 minutes.

Koch only lost about $5,000 from the actual attack, but the firm spent $183,000 on a consulting group when Koch learned in advance about the planned attack. 

Rosol was convicted in his plea deal on a misdemeanor count of accessing a protected computer.

The judge in the case is also expected to decide Monday how much Rosol should repay in restitution.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)