HARRISON, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Calumet County are investigating several mailboxes that were damaged, possibly by explosives.

It happened between Friday and Saturday in the village of Harrison when at least 7 mailboxes were damaged.

The Calumet County Sheriff's Department says some of the mailboxes were damaged with a bat, while others were destroyed using a homemade explosive device or set on fire.

Damage is estimated to be around $1,000.

Calumet County Crimestoppers is offering a $300 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the damage. Callers can remain anonymous by calling Crimestoppers at (877) 765-8327 or by texting a tip using the keyword “calumet.”

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - A 20-year-old Manitowoc man is free on a signature bond on charges that he struck a bicyclist, lodged him through his broken windshield, and hit another vehicle.

Jamie Hang made his initial court appearance Monday on felony charges of reckless endangerment and hit-and-run while causing injury -- plus misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving while intoxicated.

As part of the bond, Circuit Judge Gary Bendix ordered Hang to maintain absolute sobriety, not drive without a valid license, and stay away from the man he allegedly struck.

56-year-old Steven Gove had just finished delivering newspapers in Manitowoc the night of January 18th. Authorities said his three-wheeled delivery bike was hit, and Gove was thrown through the car's windshield -- where he stayed until Hang got home.

The victim said he had glass removed from his eyes, and suffered head and leg cuts.

A judge is scheduled to decide a week from Wednesday whether there's enough evidence to put Hang on trial.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The propane fuel shortage has customers seeing blue -- the color of a natural gas flame.

The Wisconsin Public Service utility has received calls from rural propane customers, asking how much it would cost to hook up to the utility's natural gas lines.

Meanwhile, We Energies said it got requests from nine communities to install gas service between Eau Claire and Tomah. The utility had already asked the state to expand its gas laterals in that area, in part to serve dozens of new frac-sand mines in west central Wisconsin.

The utility has been considering an 85 mile project at a cost of up to $170 million -- and it's been looking for new customers along that line, long before the propane shortage hit.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service) 

TOWN OF MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Over 74,000 Wisconsinites were caught driving while their licenses were suspended last year.

That's according to the Appleton Post-Crescent, which also found that 14,000 motorists were caught driving with revoked licenses.

Jason Weber of the Menasha town police department says it's not much of a deterrent to drive with a suspended license.

In general, he says offenders only get caught if they're stopped for a violation -- or they get in an accident. Weber calls it a "slap in the face" to those who follow the rules -- and many people believe it's their right to drive while in reality, it's a privilege.

Licenses can be suspended and revoked for a number of reasons -- like driving drunk, committing too many violations within a year, or driving with canceled auto insurance.

Menasha town Judge Len Kachinsky says a suspension can last as little as 30 days by staying off the road and paying a license reinstatement fee. He says the typical fines are $124 for driving with a suspended license. and up to $2,500 and possible jail time for driving under revocation.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OCONTO FALLS, WI (WTAQ) - Residents in Oconto Falls are some of the latest to be asked to run water in a slow stream or trickle just a little less than the size of a pencil.

That's in order to prevent frozen pipes. Utility officials are asking people there to keep the water running until notified by them. Bills will be adjusted accordingly, and any questions should be directed to the Utility Billing Office in Oconto Falls.

Village leaders in Nichols and Mishicot are also asking residents to do the same.

Officials in Ripon are getting calls from people who've had frozen water services. Residents there are being asked to run that slow trickle until further notice. Anyone who disregards the notice will be charged for thawing the service line. Questions can be directed to Utility Manager Chris Liveris at (920) 748-4912 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Water customers in Omro are being asked to run water for 5 minutes from one faucet at least three times a day, and leave a pencil-sized stream of water running overnight. Customers who do not use much water and those on dead-end streets should keep an especially watchful eye on the situation. An estimate of extra water usage will be deducted from the next quarterly bill for each customer, city officials say. Questions can be directed to Omro Water Utility at (920) 685-7025 or City Hall at (920) 685-7000.

FOX 11 reports Berlin officials are also asking people to run a stream of water the size of a pencil non-stop. The water should be run in an area of the home where it will not be shut off, the city says. Anyone who shuts off water early will be responsible for thawing water service. Customers will be issued an average bill for this quarter and may be for the next quarter as well.

New London has not issued a citywide notice, but is asking people in certain areas to run a pencil-sized stream of water. Click here to see if your property is affected.

Other communities that have issued similar orders:

• City of Algoma
• Black Creek
• Clintonville
• Fond du Lac
• Gillett
• Hortonville
• Kewaunee
• Lena
• Menominee, Mich.
• Neenah (some addresses only; click here for the full list)
• Oakfield
• Princeton
• Town of Scott
• Shiocton
• Wausaukee
• Weyauwega

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The man charged in a deadly Appleton nightclub shooting last year will stand trial.

In Outagamie County Court Wednesday, Chong Lee will face charges in the shooting death of Joshua Richards at the Luna Lounge on December 8.

Lee was among a group of men involved in a verbal and physical altercation with Richards at the club, according to Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider.

Prosecutors say Lee pulled out a gun and shot Richards in the side of the head at close range.

Lee is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He was on probation from a 2003 burglary conviction.

The family of Joshua Richards has created a memorial fund in his honor through the United Way. It will assist children with expenses related to participating in sports. 

You can donate to the fund by clicking here.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Some residents in Green Bay are being asked to leave water running to prevent pipes from freezing.

About 600 of the Green Bay Water Utility's 36,000 customers are told to keep a steady stream, about the size of a pencil lead, running from one faucet in their home.

"Basically all over the city, but mainly in older areas of the city," says Green Bay Water Utility General Manager Nancy Quirk. "If the frost is getting down in a certain area, or the pipes are a little bit shallower in others, they could potentially freeze with this cold mass on top of them."

Almost three weeks ago, Quirk says they first alerted 188 customers about the need to run the water. Now they're upping that number just in case, notifying customers either by phone or going door-to-door.

"Normal winters we're getting about three feet of frost at the heart of the winter," says Quirk. "We are now almost at six-feet from this cold, cold weather."

The Green Bay Water Utility understands that keeping the water running isn't cheap. So they will adjust the affected customers' bills accordingly.

"They (utility worker) will put a sign on the faucet they want to let run. At that time they will get a meter reading," says Quirk. "When we tell them to take it off, we will get a meter reading at that time, and then compare that to what they used over the last couple of years during the same periods."

More customers may be asked to do the same in the coming days. Quirk says the running water may continue into April.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - A Michigan-based big box store is apparently interested in possibly building in Howard.

An internal report from the village was accidentally emailed to the media last week saying that Meijer stores are looking at property across from on Shawano Avenue near Highway 41. 

“With the 41/29 interchange, that has some significant possibilities with it,” Village President Burt McIntyre told FOX 11.

The report, from village administrator Paul Evert, explains the company is drawing up plans for the property across from Mill’s Fleet Farm.

“We’re hoping that gets going but there’s nothing concrete at this point,” said McIntyre. “It hadn’t even come to the point of even looking at plats or anything else like that.”

Meijer does not have any stores in Wisconsin, but is expanding in the Milwaukee area.

Brown County property records show the parcels of land are owned by several different people. A situation McIntyre says has been a hurdle in the past.

“The lesson we’ve learned, over the years – especially with that property across from Flee Farm – is if it isn’t under single ownership, it’s very hard to get developers interested in it.”

Meijer would not comment on the report.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Improvements to Bay Beach Amusement Park is in the works, according to Green Bay park officials.

A new concession stand is planned, as is new lighting, a 400 stall parking lot and cosmetic upgrades to the Zippin Pippin roller coaster and the Sea Dragon. The price tag for all of that is expected to be north of $800,000. Park revenue is expected to cover those costs, and the city is also near a $500,000 grant.

 With the arrival of the Zippin Pippin three years ago, and the Sea Dragon late last summer, the west end of Bay Beach has been a popular place to be. That area remains the focus of city parks officials.

Should things go according to plan this summer, officials say more fun projects will begin. That entails moving the route of the train to include a track heading west and a path underneath the Zippin Pippin.

“I think people are really going to love it. It gives you a better view of the Bay, it gives you the excitement of going under the Zippin Pippin when it’s moving, so it’ll add a new dimension to that ride,”  Dawne Cramer, the director of Green Bay’s parks department, told FOX 11.

The city of Green Bay is also looking for the amusement park's 20th ride.

“We haven’t zeroed in on a specific ride yet and when we do that then we’ll kind of look around to the various areas a lot more and be able to kind of focus our attention on one ride,” Jason Arnold, assistant facilities manager for the city, told FOX 11.

Adding a ride fits the park’s master plan, which was updated last year. It calls for at least one ride to be added every two years for the next seven years.

The opening of Bay Beach won't happen this year for almost three months.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) - A drug trafficking bust in Kewaunee County has led to charges against almost two dozen people.

On Monday, the Door-Kewaunee County Drug Task Force says it found 269 pills, a digital scale, plastic bags and drug paraphernalia during the bust. The next day, state and local officials arrested 18 people in Kewaunee and Door counties.

Investigators says this probe has been going on for six months.

Those arrested and charged in the case are:  Aubrey J. Deeter, 21, of Algoma; Travis E. Loucks, 21, of Two Rivers; Paul J. Bright, 36, of Sturgeon Bay; Kari A. Carmody, 34, of Sturgeon Bay; Andrew B. Thornton, 28, of Algoma; Jason D. Umberham, 27, of Algoma; Christopher A. Shaw, 21, of Algoma; Michelle M. Jeanquart, 23, of Algoma; Maria J. Brunette, 69, of Algoma; Donald R. Polk Jr., 33, of Algoma; Alan K. Shaw, 43, of Algoma; Jessica Krueger, 26, of Milwaukee; Wesley S. Seekins, 29, of Algoma; and Lorie L. Deremo, 34, of Algoma.

Nine other people were arrested and have yet to be charged in the case.

Authorities are still looking for Alan Shaw, Krueger, Seekins, Deremo and Steven G. Whitaker, a 25-year-old Sturgeon Bay man. Formal charges have been filed against all but Whitaker.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Four dairy farm employees in Brown County are due in court March 4th, after they were allegedly caught mistreating cows in a secretly recorded video.

The four were charged with numerous counts of mistreating animals at the Wiese Brothers farm near Greenleaf.

The animal rights group Mercy for Animals posted video in December of employees who were beating, kicking, whipping, and stabbing cows that were sick and injured. One animal was seen suspended in the air. You can watch that video above.

The farm said at the time that it fired two employees and reassigned a third to a job that did not involve handling animals.

Also, the owner of DiGiorno's frozen pizza said it stopped using milk from the farm for some of the cheese in its product.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - The head of the Menominee Indian tribe has blasted the state's new law on public school Indian mascots.

Laurie Boivin -- a former tribal chairwoman who regained the post last weekend -- represented all 11 Wisconsin tribes in an annual speech to the state Legislature Thursday afternoon.

The new Republican law virtually gutted a complaint process established by Democrats in 2009. Those offended by Indian team names and logos can still complain to the state -- but they need to submit petitions instead of being a single complainant.

The administration is now handling the cases instead of the Department of Public Instruction. And it's up to the complainants to prove they were victimized, instead of school boards having to prove they didn't discriminate.

Boivin told lawmakers that other victims of discrimination don't need to submit petitions. She also said Native American youngsters should not be subjected to inaccurate representations of their cultures.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities responded to a plane crash at the Oconto airport Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the twin-engine plane was heading to Menominee, Michigan from Rochester, Minnesota, and had to land in Oconto. 

The plane overshot the runway around 3:50 p.m.

Sheriff's officials say six people were on board, and there were minor injuries.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Area School District confirms Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld is one of three finalists for the superintendent spot in the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota. No comment yet from Langenfeld. Langenfeld previously worked there as an assistant superintendent prior to her hiring as the superintendent in Green Bay a little more than two years ago.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Changes is coming to the former Daily Planet building next door to Green Bay’s Meyer Theatre.  Meyer Theatre leaders say the $3 million renovation project will include banquet and office space.  The first level of the facility will be named “Backstage at the Meyer.” It will feature 6,000 square feet for pre-show events. The second level will offer 6,000 square feet of space for a long-term tenant.  Construction is scheduled to begin this spring.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Oshkosh are warning people to be careful and not go out on the icy Fox River.

The Oshkosh Police and Fire Departments, along with UW-Oshkosh Police, have noticed snowmobile tracks on part of the river. Officials say vehicle tracks are not an indication of the ice being safe to walk on.

Water in the Fox River continues to flow, despite the cold temperatures. That flowing water erodes ice from underneath and can cause some areas to be thin and unstable.

Authorities are asking people to use bridges to get to the other side of the river, rather than use the river itself as a crossing point.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An officer with the Green Bay Police Department is okay after being bitten by a pit bull early Friday.

Authorities say it happened during an OWI stop near Main and N. Washington streets around 3 a.m.

The officer was conducting the stop when the dog got out of the suspect vehicle and bit the cop in the leg.

The officer suffered minor injuries, while the driver was arrested for OWI.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A new smartphone app will help residents connect with the Appleton Police Department.

The app, which is available at both iTunes and Google Play app stores, will allow users to do a number of things: Sign up for volunteer opportunities, get facts on local ordinances and policies in the city, read news releases, connect directly to the department’s social media feeds, get information on unsolved cases, look at people who are wanted by the department, look up contact information for officers and send in commendations for department members.

Officers say, while users can submit reports through the app, the reports are not monitored 24 hours a day. Emergency situations and situations requiring immediate responses should be reported by calling 911.

• Click here to download the app for iPhone and iPad
• Click here to download the app for Android devices

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Charges of intimidating witnesses have been filed against the brother of an Appleton nightclub shooting suspect.

27-year-old Hu Lee is charged with two felonies after investigators say he told witnesses not to testify and to not talk about what they saw the night of the shooting at Luna Lounge on December 11.

Lee's brother Chong Lee is charged with murdering Joshua Richards.

According to court documents, Chong made calls from jail to Hu about witnesses. Some involved Hu allegedly setting up three-way calls so Chong could talk to certain witnesses himself to keep them from testifying.

Hu is being held in the Outagamie County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond and is due back in court February 20.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

RIPON, WI (WTAQ) - More than two months since a fire destroyed two buildings and damaged a third in downtown Ripon, Watson Street has finally reopened to the public.

Fire destroyed the buildings at 310 and 312 Watson Street on December 11.

But Friday, work on bracing the two buildings headed for demolishing was finished. That meant the heart of downtown Ripon reopened early Friday afternoon. 

Businesses having to deal with the issues surrounding the closure love their Valentine's Day gift.

“We have seen a decline in business and it has been a couple of months now since the fire was and we are looking forward to getting the street open again,” Ripon Drug co-owner David Gitzel told FOX 11 last week.

Ripon City Administrator Lori Rich says the delays were caused by a much-longer fire investigation by the insurance company for the two buildings. Rich said the owners, Boca Grande Capital, backed out of a deal last week to brace the buildings to get the street reopened. She said the city then decided to do the work and bill Boca Grande for the expenses. The cost for the bracing was estimated at $8,300.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)