Green Bay News

WINNEBAGO SYSTEM – Wisconsin DNR officials say the  sturgeon spawning migration continues to progress on the Winnebago System and there are currently fish spawning at multiple sites throughout the watershed.

Senior Fisheries Biologist Ryan Koenigs says a DNR crew tagged fish at multiple sites Saturday including the Sturgeon Trail in New London, Bamboo Bend in Shiocton, the Shawano Dam and then two separate sites on private property.

Koenigs says, in total, crews handled around 450 fish, including multiple fish larger than 70” in length.

The DNR calls it a very productive day, but all signs are that the spawning run is progressing very fast. This was anticipated given the above average temperatures and, at this point, Koenigs thinks there may only be spawning taking place for another 2-3 days.

If you want to see fish spawning Sunday, Koenigs recommends coming to the Shawano Dam. He said there may still be some fish spawning at other sites further downstream on the Wolf River at Bamboo Bend and the Sturgeon Trail, but based on Saturday’s catch he thinks these sites have already reached peak spawning activity.

GREEN BAY – Some might call them old and scratchy, while others might call them a treasure.

It’s Record Store Day.

At Rock n’ Roll Land, buyers could check out vinyl from all genres including classic rock, blues and jazz.

The store even featured live music.

Record Store Day celebrates the culture independently owned record stores worldwide.

People at Rock n’ Roll Land say records are not just for the older generation.

“They do limited number collectibles, so if you are a collector or if you play your music and listen to your music,  it’s really for everybody young and old,” said Rock n’ Roll Land co-owner Todd Magnuson.

The first celebration of Record Store Day was held back in 2007.

ONEIDA — A women’s college basketball player rarely finds fame 500 miles from where she plays, but that’s not the case for Jude Schimmel. She made a weekend appearance at several Oneida Nation events over the weekend, drawing an impressed crowd where ever she went.

“My little cousins, they’re like 6th grade and 3rd grade, they’re like, ‘Jude’s playing tonight, we’ve got to go watch TV, we can’t be outside!'” said Oneida Nation High School grad and current St. Norbert College basketball player Jessica House. “It’s a big inspiration to everybody.”

Schimmel inspires many because she is a Native American playing college basketball at the highest level. Her sister Shoni Schimmel currently plays in the WNBA; Jude was not drafted after finishing her Louisville career but hopes to get a chance in a WNBA camp or play overseas.

Schimmel was part of the 2nd annual Spirit of Hoops Basketball Camp Saturday afternoon and was also signing copies of the book she wrote called Dreamcatcher, about her life from growing up on a reservation in Mission, Oregon to excelling at Louisville. She ranks top-10 in Cardinals history in career assists and helped the team, as a 5-seed, make a run to the NCAA Championship game in 2013.

“Everybody asks if it’s hard to be in the limelight, I’m like, no it’s not hard to be a good person, do the right thing,” said Schimmel. “I have no problem being a role model for my people. I’m kind of happy I’m in this position.”

About 80 participants took part in Saturday’s basketball camp at Oneida Nation Turtle School. One participant, 13-year-old Leida Rodriguez, said she traveled to see Schimmel play live in Louisville last year when their team hosted “Native American Heritage Night.”

“Everybody [here] wants to play basketball,” said Rodriguez. “Nobody ever believed they could make it that far. Having Jude be able to, that gave a lot of people a lot of hope.”

SPARTA, Wis. (AP) – Bond has been set for two Idaho men accused in the killing of a 43-year-old man in western Wisconsin.

The La Crosse Tribune reports Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler set cash bail at $1 million for 26-year-old Zachary Nathan Davis and $750,000 for 20-year-old Sebastian Martinez on Friday.

Davis is accused of stabbing Derek Magnuson multiple times as Martinez looked on in a Tomah motel room in March. They are also accused of taking Magnuson’s wallet, and using his cash and debit cards.

Davis and Martinez were arrested 17 days later in Tennessee and were extradited to Wisconsin on Thursday. Tennessee authorities dropped theft charges against the pair, which hastened the extradition process.

District Attorney Kevin Chroninger described both defendants as flight risks. The judge agreed.

SUAMICO — A world class cross country skier put her new proteges through the paces — but they were making her work as well.

“I was really impressed, they had some really well-thought out questions,” said skier Jessie Diggins. “A lot of them, you could tell, it was, ‘what do I do to take the next step? Tell me the secrets!’ I’m like, ‘this is awesome!” because that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Diggins is one of the best known cross country skiers in the country right now. She was a 2014 Olympian and 2013 team world champion. She’s originally from Afton, Minnesota and was in Suamico at an event hosted by Bay Nordic. The community ski program was hoping to raise money to put lights on the trails at the Brown County Reforestation Camp.

“I mean it’s kind of hard for me to fathom someone who’s world class and she’s here in Green Bay,” said Samuel Moss, a 17-year-old skier with Bay Nordic who lives in De Pere. “It’s really cool because she knows exactly what she’s doing and I’m just learning little things from her.”

Diggins went on a run through the trails with some of the skiers and put on a clinic with a variety of activities. She also signed posters for the participants. Diggins, who is 23 years old, says she always wants to raise the profile of cross country skiing in the USA and is happy to see it growing, especially in the Midwest.

“You come to an event, kids know who you are and want to ask questions about World Cup racing,” said Diggins. “I see that, I’m like, ‘alright! That’s really cool.'”

OSHKOSH – A Fox Valley group called American Associate of University Women wants to see more girls interested in careers involving science and technology.

Today’s Tech Savvy event, at UW-Oshkosh, gave girls the opportunity to learn from more than a dozen women currently working in STEM careers. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and math.

Around 125 girls had the opportunity learn about urban farming, computer coding and other careers.

The U.S. Department of Labor found in 2013 women make up 47 percent of the work force but once you break down the numbers, women are underrepresented in STEM fields. For example, if you look at computer information technology jobs, 39.5 percent of web developers are women compared to 60.5 percent of men working in the same field.

“Girls tend to go in other fields because they’re encouraged. I think it’s a matter of making them believe that they can [work in the STEM fields]. Even though the courses seem hard they can do it,” said Stephanie Malaney, a member of American Associate of University Women.

FOX 11’s Gabrielle Mays will have the full story tonight on FOX 11 News at nine.

RACINE, Wis. (AP) – The name of a Racine County sheriff’s deputy is being added to the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. – 95 years after his death.

According to the Racine County sheriff’s department, 34-year-old Deputy Arthur Herman was struck by a street car while on a motorcycle attempting to apprehend an escaped prisoner on May 15, 1920.

He was unmarried and left behind no children. He had only been with the department for a few months.

The Journal Times reports Racine County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy John Hanrahan came upon Herman’s name in January 2014 on a website of officers killed in the line of duty. Sgt. Cary Madrigal and another deputy did further research and verified the story. Racine County added him to the County Memorial last year during our annual ceremony.

Now, he’s one of three Wisconsin officers whose names will be added to the national memorial next month.

Two of Herman’s great nephews are considering going to the ceremony, after being tracked down by the department and told the news.

“To have a relative noted there, honored there, is something we can tell our kids about,” said Herman’s great nephew Mark Shekore, 73, of Aberdeen, South Dakota. “I think just hearing the brief stories I did about Arthur left this lasting impression with me.”

Madrigal, who is in charge of the sheriff’s office’s honor guard, said National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund officials have also invited their honor guard to attend the ceremonies next month. So now they are trying to raise the money to send possibly four or six members of the honor guard.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – State officials say there is an extremely good chance of wildfires in central Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service and the Department of Natural Resources has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday for Wood, Adams, Juneau, Monroe and Jackson counties through 7 p.m.

Officials say warm temperatures, low humidity and high winds are anticipated and can cause fires.

The DNR is prohibiting all burning and is asking the public to be especially careful with activities that could lead to a fire.

The DNR says similar conditions are throughout much the state and many areas have a very high threat of wildfires.

The weather forecast has some precipitation expected Saturday night and officials hopes it improves the fire threat.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A prosecution expert in the trial of a former Wisconsin sheriff’s deputy with Lou Gehrig’s disease who killed two people testified he has never seen a patient with the disease act violently.

Andrew Steele has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease in the August shooting deaths of his wife Ashlee Steele, and her sister, Kacee Tollefsbol, of Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports Dr. Paul Barkhaus, an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis expert at the Medical College of Wisconsin, testified Friday. He also said he saw nothing in Steele’s medical records that would have warranted a referral to a neuropsychologist.

Defense expert Dr. Doug Tucker testified Wednesday that Steele has a major neurocognitive disorder due to ALS, which has affected his ability to regulate his behavior.

ISHPEMING, Mich. (AP) – State police still are searching for two sisters from Nebraska and Oklahoma who have been missing for a week during a trip in Michigan.

Det. Sgt. Jeff Marker said Saturday there have been many tips but still no sign of 52-year-old Leslie Roy and 56-year-old Lee Marie Wright. He says they checked out of a motel, ate breakfast and got gas in Ishpeming in the Upper Peninsula on April 11.

But they didn’t appear as planned that night in Mackinaw City, three hours away. Marker says Roy and Wright had visited relatives in Ishpeming.

Marker says Roy is from Valley, Nebraska, and Wright lives in Depew, Oklahoma.

They’re traveling in a white Ford Explorer with a Nebraska license plate. Anyone with information can call police at (906) 475-9922.

PLOVER, Wis. (AP) – A 56-year-old woman was found dead in Lake Pacawa in central Wisconsin.

Village of Plover police say emergency crews were called at about 5:20 p.m. Friday for a report of a possible body in the water.

Police say she appeared to have been in the water for an extended amount of time. They later identified the woman as Betty Frost, of Plover.

Police Chief Dan Ault tells Stevens Point Journal Media that Frost’s car was towed from the scene.

Police do not believe foul play is involved. The Portage County Coroner is investigating Frost’s cause of death.

GREEN BAY – It’s time to do some grilling!

The folks from Tucson’s Southwest Bar & Grill joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem on Good Day Wisconsin to share some recipes.

Click here to learn more about Tucson’s Southwest Bar & Grill.

Fire Grilled Steak and Shrimp Fajitas
The recipe for this item consists of :
1/2 green pepper
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 red pepper
1/3 white onion
5-6 large shrimp
7 oz steak
6 corn tortillas
Pico de Gallo
Guacamole
Fresh Lime
Water/tequila mixture
Cajun seasoning
Melted butter
Served on a sizzling fajita set.  We will have a cold set as a visual as that is offered
with each fajita and includes shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese and diced tomatoes.

The drink we will pair with this item is an amazingly refreshing Coronarita!!
This consist of the following:
18oz Margarita glass with a salted rim
2 shots of tequila
1/2 shot of triple sec
Our all natural margarita mix
Ice cubes
Topped off with a 4oz Coronita
Sided with a slice of lime

Blackened Tuna Wrap
The ingredients for this wrap include:
Chipotle Tortilla
5-7oz Tuna Steak (preferably sushi grade)
Fresh spring greens
Diced Tomatoes
Chopped Onions
Cotija Cheese
Chipotle Mayo
Cajun or Blackened seasoning

This wrap will be paired with our signature Prickly Pear Margarita
The ingredients for this include:

Served in an 18oz Margarita glass with a sugared rim
3 shots of Tequila
1 shot of Triple Sec
Prickly Pear Nectar
Our all natural margarita mix
Shake and serve over ice

APPLETON – There will be a special run/walk taking place on Monday in Appleton.

Jeremy Schapiro Owner of Fleet Feet Sports Fox Valley joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem on Good Day Wisconsin to talk about the event.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RUN/WALK:

On Monday, April 20th, 2015 at 6:00pm, the date of the 119th running of The Boston Marathon, Fleet Feet Sports is hosting a third annual gathering for all greater Fox Valley runners/walkers to once again show their continued support for Boston.

People are encouraged to wear blue or yellow, past Boston gear, or your Runners for Boston t-shirt to show your support.

Organizers say all levels and paces are welcome.

TIME: Monday, April 20 at 6:00 p.m.

LOCATION: 10th Frame, 618 West Wisconsin Avenue Appleton, Wisconsin 54911

COURSE: There will be 1.5 miles, 3 miles or 5 mile run/walk distances to choose from through the surrounding neighborhood, completing our first half-mile in silence to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing tragedy.

Another nice day is expected today, but it won’t be as warm with the high reaching 60 degrees. It will still be a very dry day.

The fire danger is very high throughout the state and will likely stay in dangerous territory for this afternoon; please use extreme caution with any possible source of ignition.

Much-needed rain moves in on Sunday and Sunday Night.

A slow-moving storm system will impact us on during that time frame with periods of rain moving in by late Sunday. Some scattered showers and cooler weather will hang around early next week. Sunday’s high will be near 60, but only 53 Monday and 50 on Tuesday.

Monday and Tuesday there will be a chance of afternoon showers each day. While we should dry out a bit after that, the cool weather will last all next week.

GREEN BAY – A 32-year-old man was arrested for what police say would be his second OWI offense after an overnight crash in Green Bay.

Police say the man’s car crashed into a Georgia-Pacific building on Lombardi Avenue, just east of Ashland Avenue, and rolled over.

When officers arrived just after 1:30 Saturday morning, the driver was trapped and unconscious.

Authorities say there were two other people in the car. All three were taken to the hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.

Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.

OSHKOSH – There are just two weeks left to check out the Oshkosh Indoor Farmers Market.

Nearly 40 vendors set up shop just about each Saturday from November to April at Merrill Middle School.

The market is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Oshkosh Summer Farmers Market begins in June and will take place on the 400 and 500 blocks of N Main St. as well as the 100 block of Church Ave.

New this year, Oshkosh will hold a Market in the Park every Wednesday night from July 15 to Sept. 30 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

FOX 11’s Pauleen spent the morning checking out what people won’t want to miss in the last couple of weeks of the indoor market.

For more information on all of the Oshkosh Farmers Markets, click here.

PITTSBURGH — Vance Worley worked six effective innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped out of a lengthy slump to top the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Friday night.

Worley (1-1) struck out six while allowing two runs on six hits. Gregory Polanco went 3 for 4 for Pittsburgh. Starling Marte had two hits, including a long two-run homer off Jonathan Broxton in the eighth that broke open a close game. Mark Melancon got the final out for his first save.

The Pirates came in hitting just .207 through their first nine games but collected 11 hits against Jimmy Nelson (1-1) and three Milwaukee relievers.

Khris Davis had his sixth career three-hit game for the Brewers, who have lost three in a row. Nelson (1-1) couldn’t duplicate his first start of the year, when he dominated the Pirates in an easy win. He gave up three runs in five innings. Pittsburgh added three runs in the eighth off Broxton.

SHERWOOD – Dry conditions continue, unchanged the DNR says from Thursday, but fire crews are preparing for a weekend of wildfires.

Several counties now have burn bans or advisories in place in the hopes of preventing that. The wildfire risk is very high in all of the counties in our viewing area, according to the DNR. Brown and Outagamie Counties are among those issuing burn bans.

And while Brown County’s ban extends to campfires, that isn’t the case everywhere.

Campers are taking advantage of the nice weekend at High Cliff State Park.

“Just relaxing and enjoying the lovely weather this weekend!” exclaimed camper Paul Plagemann.

Campfires are still allowed here, despite the wildfire danger.

Plagemann told us he’s on high alert though.

“Can spread very easily with all the dry leaves and stuff lying around this time of the year, very, very easy. I’m on the fire department and I’ll tell yah, there’s a lot of stuff going on with people being careless,” he explained.

Wildfire prevention specialist Catherine Koele told FOX 11 even though campfires might not be specifically banned, that doesn’t mean they’re a good idea.

“I just don’t recommend conducting those burns until the danger subsides,” she said.

Brown County is the only county in our area that we know of with a specific campfire ban.

Koele told us if you’re camping elsewhere and you must have a fire for warmth or cooking, NEVER take your eyes off it.

“It’s definitely risky business, it can get out of control quickly, especially with wind, it’s possibly the biggest thing that drives our fires,” she explained.

If you are going to build a campfire you need to make sure it’s in a fire pit and clear any vegetation away from the pit and make sure you put the fire out properly.

Start by dousing it with water, then stir in some dirt, check for smoke and embers…and repeat.

“Douse, stir, douse again and then check to make sure that those coals are indeed cold,” advised Koele.

Plagemann told us it’s advice he’ll follow. He said he hopes others do the same.

“If you’re gonna camp remember not to leave you campfire unattended, put it out before you go to bed nights. It’s a shame to see nature destroyed by fire,” said Plagemann.

Before you burn, check with your municipality or local fire department to see if there are any restrictions in place.

GREEN BAY –  From a rough, old, shuttered vegetable processing factory in March of last year, to Titletown Brewing Company’s tap room opening in October, it’s been quite a transformation in a short period of time.

Titletown Chief Operating Officer, Jim Kratowicz, says, “Our conservative plan was to fill the building in three years, and without even hiring a broker – just by word of mouth and excitement that’s come down here, we were able to fill this, in less than a year.”

Finishing off the third floor banquet room and 2nd & 3rd floor office spaces, Kratowicz says the building is 100 percent leased.

Concrete floors for the Cannery Public Market were poured this week.

The market is expected to open in late June, featuring a wine bar, cheese maker and fresh prepared food.

Upstairs, construction on the rooftop beer garden hasn’t started yet, but should be finished by August.

“We took this building that was abandoned for 10 years and I think we surprised a lot of folks with the new brewery, and the tap room, what’s coming in the next three to four months, with the marketplace, the rooftop beer garden, having the entire building full – they’re going to be pleasantly surprised what they see down here,” said Kratowicz.

It’s been no secret that Titletown and DDL Holdings – which actually owns the buildings – have expressed interest in the 16 acres to the north of the property, which is where Wal-Mart previously wanted to build a store.

Details about possible plans for the property aren’t public.

The Broadway District business development organization, On Broadway, currently owns the property.

The city guaranteed the purchase years ago. However, talks are ongoing with the bank to decide possible future ownership plans.

Kratowicz says the talks are going well and hope to announce something in the near future.

Plans to turn the brewery’s adjacent buildings into “Titletown Lofts” is on hold. The developer’s purchase agreement expired.

When he got his cheek swabbed for the “Be the Match Bone Marrow Drive” last spring, UW-Oshkosh quarterback Brett Kasper never thought he’d get the call.

But a year later, the phone rang in the library of all places.

“I just wanted to sign up to be there for someone in case they needed my help,” Kasper said.

In his freshman year, Kasper proved he could be a difference maker. On the field, his arm and feet carrying the team to a 6-1 record in relief down the stretch.

“He has a cannon of a an arm for a freshman,” Oshkosh senior wide receiver Zach Kasuboski said.

But it was his heart off the field, that earned the admiration of his teammates and the entire Titans community.

“You couldn’t have picked a better story and a better person for it,” Oshkosh head coach Patrick Cerroni said. “We’re so proud of him.”

A moment that would impact his life forever. As part of the “Be The Match” program, Kasper was selected in February as a bone marrow donor for a little girl with lymphoma.

“It’s the last resort, you might as well go through with it,” Kasper said. “The little bit of pain that I went through is worth it. It’s about the bigger picture.”

Flanked by his two biggest fans, the former Two Rivers standout jumped at the opportunity. Handling the two-month testing, surgery and then recovery process like an all-conference standout

“They [his parents] came dressed up in Oshkosh Titans gear and were treating it as a game day,” Kasper said.

“It’s the best high anyone can have,” Brett’s mother Linda Kasper said. “Watching your kid go through the process, the ultimate would be meeting the little girl.”

His courage has rallied others to the cause. The organization received at $1,000 donation from the UWO Titans Touchdown Club.

At the school’s last bone marrow drive, nearly 300 new potential donors came out to add their names to the registry.

“He’s inspired,” “Be The Match” community representative Kelli Vander Wielen said. “He’s inspired so many people to be a part. It’s especially great at the drives to see a leader on the field and off of it.”

Kasper will receive an initial update on his recipient soon and says he dreams of a moment they can share together here at Titan Stadium.

“That would be a dream,” Kasper said. “The team was talking about it. Maybe have her come to a game and take part in the coin toss. It would be pretty great.”

A special talent on and off the field, giving the greatest gift one person can give to another. The gift of life. In Oshkosh, Dylan Scott Fox 11 Sports.