Green Bay News

SHAWANO – The driver of the car involved in a crash that killed three high school students last October has been arrested.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Gamm tells FOX 11 that Ryan Swadner, 18, was arrested Saturday on criminal charges relating to the two vehicle crash that killed Paige Brunette, 15, of Bonduel; Cody Borsche, 17, and Tyler Welch, 18, of Shawano on October 21, 2014 in the town of Belle Plaine. All four teens were traveling in the same car.

Clockwise from upper left: Cody Borsche, Paige Brunette, Ryan Swadner and Tyler Welch. (Photos courtesy Shawano, Bonduel schools)

Two teens were pronounced dead at the scene; two others were taken to the hospital, where one later died.

At the time of the crash, Shawano County sheriff’s officials said the driver of a Ford Mustang, Swadner, lost control and crossed the center line of Hwy 22, where the car hit an oncoming SUV.

Sheriff’s officials say a crash witness was trying to turn left into a driveway off of Northbound Highway 22 when the Mustang came from behind at a high rate of speed. Police believe Swadner drove the Mustang onto the right shoulder to get around the witness’s vehicle, over-corrected and hit the southbound SUV.

Teens place flowers at the site of a crash along Hwy. 22 in the town of Belle Plaine, Oct. 22, 2014. Three teens were killed and a fourth hospitalized in the crash the previous night. (WLUK/Kelly Schlicht)

The driver of the SUV, a Bear Creek man, had non-life-threatening injuries. The then 17-year-old Swadner of Clintonville was air lifted to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.

Swadner has not been formally charged, but is currently in custody in the Shawano County jail on referred charges of homicide by vehicle-use of controlled substance and second degree reckless homicide.

Swadner’s bond is set at $15,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Police in Milwaukee say a 72-year-old motorcyclist was killed after a driver who is suspected of being high on marijuana turned into his path.

The crash happened at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the city’s northwest side.

Milwaukee police say the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other driver is a 24-year-old man. Police say he failed sobriety tests and was arrested. Police also say he was driving without a valid license.

Police plan to refer the driver to prosecutors for charges.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Andrew McCutchen homered in his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup, Neil Walker also hit a three-run homer and the Pirates routed the Milwaukee Brewers 10-2 Sunday.

McCutchen took himself out of Friday night’s game because of soreness in his left knee and didn’t play Saturday.

McCutchen’s three-run shot helped the Pirates take two of three from Milwaukee after they were swept in their season-opening series against Cincinnati.

Casey Sadler (1-0) earned his first major league win, going five innings in his first career start. He pitched in place of ace Francisco Liriano, who is on the paternity leave list.

Sadler gave up two runs and four hits, striking out five.

Kyle Lohse (0-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang got his first big league hit, a single in the seventh. He is the first player to go directly from the South Korea pro league to the majors.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and the Milwaukee Bucks clinched a playoff spot with a 96-73 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Milwaukee also secured the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, a year after a franchise-worst 67-loss season.

O.J. Mayo added 17 points for the Bucks.

Brook Lopez had his 17th double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets. They are eighth in the East, a game behind Boston after the Celtics’ victory Sunday over Cleveland. That race will be sorted out over the final few days of the season, with Indiana also bearing down on the Nets and Celtics.

No need to fret any more for the Bucks, who will likely face either Toronto or Chicago in the first round.

Few – if any – NBA observers expected the Bucks to make the playoffs, let alone be competitive enough to finish with a .500 record. Not with a first-year coach in Jason Kidd and a young roster.

Jabari Parker, the second overall pick in the NBA draft last June, was lost for the season in December with a left knee injury. The Bucks went on a tailspin after the All Star break and trade deadline as they adjusted to the departure of leading scorer Brandon Knight and the arrival of new point guard Michael Carter-Williams.

But they’ve settled down to go 6-4 over their last 10 games, clinching a postseason berth against the team coached by Kidd last season.

According to STATS, Kidd is the first coach in NBA history to lead two franchises to the playoffs in his first two years as a head coach.

On Sunday, Milwaukee relied on defense – a staple under Kidd – to hold off the Nets.

Brooklyn shot 32 percent, but stayed within 43-41 at halftime with the Bucks shooting 41 percent in the first half.

Milwaukee inched away with an 18-6 run over the first six-plus minutes of the third quarter to take a 61-47 lead. Ilyasova – one of the veteran holdovers from last season – had 11 points during the stretch.

Ilyasova drew a charge during the middle of the spurt, sandwiching that defensive play with a layup and 18-foot jumper. The Bucks kept the Nets on their heels by attacking the basket, hitting 13 of 18 from the field in the third.

TIP INS

Nets: Backup shooting guard Alan Anderson did not make the trip because of a sprained left ankle. He has missed five straight games. … Jarrett Jack added 11 points.

Bucks: Milwaukee has 40 victories, its most record since winning 46 in 2009-10. … Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

UP NEXT

Nets: Hosts Chicago on Monday night.

Bucks: At Philadelphia on Monday night.

ASHWAUBENON – As easy – and preferred – as it might seem to reach for your pair of sunglasses and an ice cold beverage while basking in the favorable springtime sun, there’s plenty of work that needs to be done.

The dreaded ‘y-word’ (yardwork); including the ‘r-word’ (raking) and ‘m-word’ (mulching). Some tasks Rachel Selner is re-familiarizing herself with.

“I just started so, I haven’t broken a sweat yet,” said Selner, as her husband Casey worked in the backyard to free fence posts from the ground.

The couple – Casey is a certified arborist and Rachel works as a special education teacher – finally have some free time to spend with each other.

“Finally he’s free and I’m free and the weather’s nice so we’re taking advantage of it,” she said. “Just being shut in all winter, it’s great to have fresh air, and me personally, I really appreciate these warm weather days and I get out and enjoy it, I don’t like being cooped up inside after so long.”

“With the warm weather now the last couple days, people are out of the woodwork like you wouldn’t believe,” said Jeff Baranczyk, manager of the Kimps Ace Hardware store in Howard. “They want to do anything and everything that has to do with being outside.”

Baranczyk says while you will have to wait for Mother Nature to green up your grass and get it growing before you can give it a trim – clearing your yard of debris, spreading certain kinds of fertilizer and weed preventers can give you plenty of tasks to scratch the springtime itch.

“Get it cleaned up, get it prepped because as soon as that soil temp warms up that stuff’s going to germinate, so it’s perfect time,” said Baranczyk. “You don’t want to be putting down the right product but at the wrong time. If you’re putting it down too early or too late, well, you’re not going to get the results that you want.”

FOX 11’s Bill Miston is working on this story and will have more on FOX 11 News at Nine.

GREEN BAY – Green Bay fire crews are battling a large grass fire near Ken Euers Nature Area on the north end of Military Ave., north of Interstate 43 toward the bay.

Green Bay police say the area is mostly a park/wildlife sanctuary with some industrial businesses, so no homes are affected at this time and affected traffic in the area is limited.

Currently, I-43 is open, but officials warn travel may be hampered by smoke or people slowing to stare at the fire. We have had reports of vehicles stopping on the interstate to watch/videotape the fire.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is in the area. Police say anybody stopping on the interstate to photograph or watch the fire may be cited.

NEW LONDON – New London Police arrested a Marinette man Sunday after he attempted to rob the Bree’s Inn in Waupaca County.

Officers responded to a call at 323 S. Pearl Street in New London around noon Sunday for a report of an armed robbery.

Police arrived on scene to find several patrons holding the 35-year-old suspect down.

The Marinette man was arrested and booked in on several charges including robbery.

No weapon was involved in the robbery.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suffered a broken jaw and lost several teeth after he was attacked in the campus area.

Police say the incident happened shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday. The Wisconsin State Journal reports the 22-year-old student told police he was walking alone on University Avenue when he started to talk to one male and then was hit by another male for no apparent reason.

The student was taken to a local hospital.

Police were still searching for suspects on Sunday.

DE PERE – Hillary Clinton is expected to announce her 2016 run for president today.

That announcement is expected to come as a video message on social media.

Within the last decade, the Internet and many of those popular sites like Facebook and Twitter have changed the way politicians campaign.

“I think [social media] is really powerful because you get to connect more directly with voters rather than have things filtered through the media”, said Mark Glantz, assistant professor of communication and media studies at St. Norbert College.

Glantz says candidates who have a direct connection to voters can give people the impression that they’re seeing a more realistic or authentic version of a candidate.

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

 

WASHINGTON (AP) – Hillary Rodham Clinton was hours away from announcing her much-anticipated second presidential campaign on Sunday, preparing to debut a message that will focus on strengthening economic security for the middle class and expanding opportunities for working families.

The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state planned to enter the 2016 Democratic race with an online video posted on social media, to be followed in the days ahead with small events with voters in early-voting states.

Campaign officials said she would seek the White House as a results-oriented “tenacious fighter.”

The opening strategy was described ahead of the announcement by two senior advisers who requested anonymity to discuss her plans.

Clinton’s strategy has parallels to the approach President Barack Obama took in 2012. He framed his re-election as a choice between Democrats focused on the middle class and Republicans who sought to protect the wealthy and return to policies that led the country into recession.

Republicans pounced even before Clinton’s announcement.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has outlined plans for a broad effort to try to undermine Clinton’s record as secretary of state while tying her to Obama’s most unpopular policies.

Early Sunday, potential GOP rivals Jeb Bush and Rand Paul previewed their case against Clinton.

“We must do better than the Obama-Clinton foreign policy that has damaged relationships with our allies and emboldened our enemies,” Bush, a former Florida governor, said in a video.

Paul, a Kentucky senator who launched his presidential campaign last week, pointed to the Clinton family’s foundation, saying it was hypocritical for the Clintons to accept money from Saudi Arabia, which places public restrictions on female movement and activity.

“I would expect Hillary Clinton if she believes in women’s rights, she should be calling for a boycott of Saudi Arabia,” Paul said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” ”Instead, she’s accepting tens of millions of dollars.”

Clinton intends to sell herself as being able to work with Congress, businesses and world leaders, the advisers said Saturday. That approach could be perceived as a critique of Obama, who has largely been unable to fulfill his pledge to end Washington’s intense partisanship and found much of his presidency stymied by gridlock with Congress.

Clinton was not expected to roll out detailed policy positions in the first weeks of her campaign. Advisers said she planned to talk about ways families can increase take-home pay, the importance of expanding early childhood education and making higher education more affordable.

It’s not clear whether that would include a noticeable break with Obama on economic policy. The GOP has hammered Obama’s approach as anti-business and insufficient in the wake of the recession. The White House says the economy has improved significantly in recent years.

The unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in March, but manufacturing and new home construction slowed, cheaper gas has yet to ignite consumer spending and participation in the labor force remains sluggish.

Clinton is seen as the overwhelming favorite for her party’s nomination. Still, her team has said her early strategy is designed to avoid appearing to take that nomination for granted.

The early events were expected to include discussions at colleges, day care centers and private homes, and stops at coffee shops and diners. After about a month of such events, Clinton planned to give more specifics about her rationale for running.

Clinton’s husband, Bill, and daughter, Chelsea, are unlikely to appear at her early events.

Bill Clinton, the former two-term president, said recently that he wanted to play a role as a “backstage adviser” in his wife’s campaign. Advisers said Bill Clinton has been engaged with his wife in some of the policy discussions leading up to this weekend’s rollout.

To prepare for the campaign, Clinton has spent months meeting with economic policy experts. Clinton’s growing team of staffers began working Friday out of a new campaign headquarters in Brooklyn. They gathered Saturday to hear from campaign manager-in-waiting Robby Mook, who told them the campaign would value teamwork, respect, diversity, discipline and humility.

A Democratic official in attendance described the meeting on condition of anonymity because it was a private strategy session.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources disciplined several employees last year for alleged infractions including sexual harassment, running a sex toy business on state time and posting insulting remarks about the public online, agency records show.

The records also indicate a ranger was fired for trying to use his badge to avoid a traffic citation. Another was suspended for involving a ride-along observer in a high-speed chase.

The agency sent 20 letters reprimanding, suspending or firing workers in 2014. The DNR, which employs about 2,300 workers, released 19 of the letters to The Associated Press as part of an open records request. It withheld the 20th letter because it said that worker is challenging its release in court.

The disciplined employees amount to less than 1 percent of the agency’s roughly 2,300 workers.

A February letter accuses Teague Prichard, a state lands specialist, of sexually harassing three female co-workers in a hotel bar in Appleton following a forestry meeting in January. The letter alleges he rubbed one of the women’s thighs and called her beautiful and sexy. He then began rubbing another co-worker’s back while simultaneously rubbing the third woman’s thigh. When the third woman commented on his conduct, Prichard allegedly suggested she was dressed inappropriately. The letter counts as an unpaid three-day suspension.

Prichard didn’t respond to email and voicemail messages seeking comment.

Arahseris Cerna, an employee at the DNR’s Sturtevant Service Center, was reprimanded in April for allegedly conducting personal business on the job. According to her letter, she worked on the side for a company that sells sex products during in-home gatherings and she passed out brochures and delivered items to DNR colleagues at the service center.

Another letter indicates Caitlin Carmody, an employee who answered the phone at the Wausau Service Center, was suspended for one day in August. According to the letter, Carmody posted comments on Facebook using her work computer on state time in June. One comment stated she hated her job and another series of posts made fun of calls she had received.

No listing for Cerna or Carmody could be found on the DNR’s website or in the state employee directory and no residential listings could be found for them. Neither call center had contact information for them.

Ranger Eric Wachdorf was fired in September for improperly using his DNR-issued badge to avoid a citation for a traffic violation, another letter shows. The letter doesn’t offer any additional details but online court records don’t list any traffic citations against Wachdorf. He didn’t respond to a voicemail left at what may be his home number.

Ranger Matthew Wilhelm was suspended for a day in December for improperly engaging in a high-speed pursuit of a vehicle in Palmyra in June with a ride-along observer in his vehicle, another letter said. The chase reached speeds of about 85 mph in foggy conditions with limited visibility, greatly increasing the risk of injury or death, the letter said. Wilhelm didn’t respond to an email or a voicemail left at his office.

Another letter shows that Robert Lauer, a fisheries worker who was suspended for five days in 2013 for punching a co-worker, was fired in July for failing to notify a supervisor he intended to take vacation time, arriving for work late and leaving early, sleeping overnight in the Asylum Bay Fish Station and using the station’s stove to cook his dinner. No residential listing for Lauer could be found.

Ingredients:

1 large angel food cake, cut in 1 to 2 inch cubes
3 cups cold milk
2 boxes (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding
1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 to 4 cups fresh blueberries (save a few to decorate the top)
Lemon slices
Fresh mint sprig

Directions:

Beat together milk and pudding until it starts to thicken. Fold all but about a third of the whipped topping into the pudding. Place a layer of angel food cake into the bottom of a trifle dish or large pretty glass bowl. Next, sprinkle a third of the blueberries on top of the cake. Then spoon one-third of the pudding mixture on top.
Repeat layers twice, leaving out a few berries for garnish and ending with the pudding mixture on top. Cover and refrigerate for at least a few hours before serving. Right before serving, uncover and put a “cloud” of the remaining whipped topping on top. Decorate the top with a few blueberries, lemon slices and fresh mint.

JACKSON COUNTY – A plan to introduce a new herd of elk is underway in the western part of the state.

The Department of Natural Resources recently transferred 26 of the large animals to Wisconsin after trapping them in Kentucky.

It is happening in Jackson County, just east of Black River Falls. In all, 150 elk are expected to be released over the next three years.

It’s a plan that has local officials excited about the new neighbors, but there are concerns.

The stretch of Highway 54 east of Black River Falls borders on the new home for dozens of elk.

The Department of Natural Resources says the elk arrived last month.

“Our first priority is to bring healthy elk to the state of Wisconsin,” said Tom Hauge, D.N.R. Wildlife Management Program Director.

The 26 elk are quarantined in a holding pen for 75 days.

“The animals have undergone rigorous testing in Kentucky, and will continue to have some testing before they will be released in early June,” said Hauge.

The D.N.R. wouldn’t reveal the exact location of the pen, saying the elk need to adjust to the new surroundings.

Allen Jacobson lives in nearby Hixton. He has been involved with the effort to bring back the elk for 17 years.

“Not only is everybody excited around to see the elk, we expect a financial gain from tourism dollars, and things of that nature,” said Allen Jacobson, Jackson County Wildlife Fund.

But there are some concerns about the elk. Those include competition of food sources from other deer, some diseases, and predators.

“It does have a healthy bear population. It has coyotes. It does have a wolf population,” said Hauge.

“We expect some elk to be killed, but we expect also to be able to grow faster that predation will be. So it’s just going to be a natural thing,” said Jacobson.

“So they’re just going to all get along? I don’t know about that,” said Nancy Stauner, Pittsview Farm Elk.

Stauner and her husband raise 19 elk at a farm near Pittsville. They say bringing animals across state lines, could cause health issues.

“We’re not opposed to it. We think it could have been done in a better way,” said Stauner.

“The last thing we want to do is bring a disease into our state that would harm either our wild population, or the domestic livestock industry,” said Hauge.

Meanwhile, people near this forest say the elk were here historically, and bringing back the herd will enhance the area.

“We got sandhills, and whooping cranes. Pine martens, fishers, wild turkeys, wolves. And one of the most majestic animals deserves to be back here as well,” said Jacobson.

The D.N.R. hopes to introduce a total of 150 elk to the area over the next three years, and eventually grow the herd to 390.

The cost of the translocation is around $600,000, with local governments, and wildlife organizations paying for the project.

There are more elk in northern Wisconsin. The Clam Lake herd was established twenty years ago with 25 elk. The herd today has about 160 animals.

GREEN BAY – Time to fire up the grill!

Jay Edwards with Kingz of Smoke BBQ Co joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem on Good Day Wisconsin to share some great grilling recipes!

Click here for more information about Kingz of Smoke BBQ Co.

Grilled Watermelon Salad

1 Watermelon
1 Bag of Baby Spinach
1 cup of Feta Cheese
1 Cup of shaved walnuts
1 Cup of Chili Lime Tortilla Strips
1 Cup of Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette dressing
1 Lemon
1 Lime

Makes 3/4 Salads

Slice watermelon into a square. Slice 1/2 inch stakes out of the square and then remove the Rhine carefully with a sharp knife. Grill steaks on high heat until grill marks are prominent. You just need the watermelon to warm up not cook.

Plate a generous bed of baby spinach and tortilla strips. Top with sliced grilled watermelon or whole as a steak. Squeeze lemon and lime onto the steak and top with Walnut dressing and shaved walnuts. Finish with feta cheese and serve!

Beer Can Bacon Burgers

3lbs of Ground Chuck
1pk of Bacon
1 Green Pepper
1 Red Pepper
1 Yellow Pepper
1 Yellow Onion
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
Your personal spice blend
1 cold can of beer/soda
1 cup of roast beef
1 block of pepper jack cheese

Makes 3/4 Burgers

Roll ground chuck into 1/2 pound or 1/3 pound meatballs. Press cold beer/soda can into meatball and form around the base of the beer/soda can. Wrap 2 to 3 strips of bacon around the burgers and remove beer/soda can with dry hand towel. Be sure to reinforce the walls of your newly made bowl. This may fall apart, remove bacon and start with a fresh meatball.

Make sure you dice and slice all your veggies to your liking. Grill or Sauté your veggies 2/3 of the way done. Once the veggies are done add your choice of veggies/lunch meat/anything really to your bowl. Top the bowl off with chunks of pepper jack cheese and grill indirect for about 45min to an hour based on how you like your burgers. You can serve as is or on a bun!!!!

GREEN BAY – PAWS Parade of HOPE will take place next Sunday in Green Bay.

The event is an annual fundraiser presented by Cancer Fighters of Green Bay.

FOX 11’s Emily Deem was joined by some organizers of the event on Good Day Wisconsin.

Organizers say over the years, “Paws Parade of Hope” has helped to raise over $85,000 to help those in need.

All proceeds from the event go directly to Beacon House and Community Benefit Tree.

The event is on Sunday, April 19 at Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay.

It will be held from noon until 4:00 p.m.  The event includes: Chicken Brunch Plate, Pet Fashion Show, Silent/Live auctions, raffles, door prizes and more.

Click here for more information.

APPLETON – It will be a time for culture, dance and music in Appleton!

About 100 Lawrence University students representing more than 20 countries will perform today at the 39th annual Lawrence International Cabaret!

This year’s theme is “All the World’s a Stage”.

Some students and performers joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem on Good Day Wisconsin to talk about the event and to perform.

EVENT INFORMATION:

39th Annual Lawrence International Cabaret
Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m.
Stansbury Theatre, Lawrence Music-Drama Center
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students/children
The Box Office (located next to the theatre) will be open one hour prior to the show.
A free reception in the Warch Campus Center will follow the performance.

Click here for more information.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Spring training gave Milwaukee’s Jimmy Nelson time to test his offspeed pitches, even though his 6.23 exhibition ERA indicated he was struggling.

A masterful performance Saturday against Pittsburgh gave the Brewers’ young starter a huge boost of confidence.

Nelson struck out a career-high nine in seven innings, Jean Segura hit a two-run homer and Milwaukee became the last team in the majors to win this season by beating the Pirates 6-0 on Saturday.

“I didn’t question anything at all, I just stuck to the process,” Nelson said about his spring struggles. “I was pretty happy with the work I’ve put in. Hopefully it’ll stay right there. I’m just happy we got this one for the team, really.”

At 0-4, the Brewers had been off to their worst start since 2011. Both Milwaukee and the Chicago White Sox won Saturday, leaving every team in the majors with a win.

Music blared through the Brewers clubhouse. There was a sense that the club could collectively exhale.

“I hope so. They feed on me too. The guys wanted to see me smile today,” manager Ron Roenicke said. “I had a lot to smile about in that ballgame.”

Especially with Nelson, the Brewers’ top young pitcher. He landed the fifth starter’s job following the vacancy in the rotation left by the offseason trade of veteran Yovani Gallardo to Texas.

On Saturday, Nelson turned into a stopper.

“I think he’s started throwing his curveball, which, I don’t think he threw that in the past,” said Pirates outfielder Corey Hart, who went 0 for 3.

Nelson did indeed work on a curve in spring training, as well as his slider. He was already known for a sinking fastball.

But the curve, if Nelson continues throwing it the way he did on Saturday, could be the third pitch that he needs to win consistently.

“He has so much movement on his fastball that you have to be ready for it … He dropped a lot of first pitch curveballs in there,” Roenicke said. “If he can continue to do that, he’s going to have a fun year.”

Nelson (1-0) allowed two hits and benefited from two double plays.

BATS ALIVE

Hector Gomez added a two-run single for Milwaukee, which stopped a four-game losing streak by tagging Vance Worley (0-1) for six runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Offseason acquisition Adam Lind had his ninth hit in his fifth game with his new team, tying a club record. Khris Davis led off the fourth with a double that set up Segura’s deep homer to left-center for a 5-0 lead.

Segura is hitting .400 on the young season and driving the ball. He’s off to a good start after struggling in 2014.

“As soon as you get that feeling, you’re going to be comfortable no matter what,” Segura said. “You don’t care who’s on the mound, who’s pitching.”

FIRST AT SHORT

Jung Ho Kang started at short for Pittsburgh, becoming the first position player to jump from the Korea Baseball Organization to the majors. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.

Kang said through an interpreter that he “wasn’t really anxious.”

“I feel good about it. There (is) a lot more to work on and show Korea and Major League Baseball.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out as a precaution for left knee soreness. Manager Clint Hurdle described McCutchen’s status to return to the starting lineup as considered day-to-day, though the 2013 NL MVP said he planned to return to center on Sunday.

Brewers: Outfielder Ryan Braun went 0 for 3 with a walk in starting back-to-back games for the first time since leaving the season opener. Braun had what was termed as “lower right side soreness” after tracking down a fly ball to the wall.

UP NEXT

Pirates: Right-hander Casey Sadler has been called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his first big league start on Sunday. He’s taking Francisco Liriano’s turn with the left-hander on paternity leave after his wife gave birth to the couple’s fourth child, a daughter, on Friday.

Brewers: Starter Kyle Lohse will try to rebound after a miserable opening day outing during which he gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings.

GRAND CHUTE – The effects of severe weather are felt every year around Northeast Wisconsin. So who better to help the National Weather Service get the word out about approaching storms than those who experience it firsthand?

NWS officials hosted a Severe Weather Spotters Training Class at the Grand Chute Town Hall on Saturday. It was just the latest in a series of classes being held around the area.

For a look at upcoming weather spotter classes click here.

NWS officials say storm spotters helps to confirm what officials are seeing on the radar, adding they help to identify and describe local storms.

Officials say with proper training, storm spotters can help them give an effective and accurate warning.

“It’s really important that we get ground proof, that we get an idea of what is happening in the communities across northeast Wisconsin and our storm spotters help us with that,” said Jeff Last, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon.

There is no registration required for the free classes.

KAUKAUNA – Kaukauna fire officials say a driver crashed a 1 ton pickup truck into a church just after 1 p.m. Saturday.

Crews were sent out for a traffic accident that involved a building and possible injuries.

Officials say the truck impacted the vestibule on the school side of St. Aloysius Church located at 2401 Main Avenue.

Fire crews say the driver went off the road, hit a utility pole support wire, and then crashed into the educational area of the church.

The driver was able to get out of the truck. Officials report the driver was injured. The driver’s dog died in the incident.

First responders were able to stop fluid leaking away from the accident scene.

An evaluation of the building found the structural integrity had been compromised.

The interior of the school wall was evaluated and found to be intact.

Officials moved the vehicle, cleaned up the fluid, and taped off the area.

Kaukauna Utilities repaired the wiring to the pole and removed power to the pole so that it can be repaired Monday.

Fire officials estimate the loss at $5 thousand.

Kaukauna Police are investigating the incident. The driver’s name has not been released.

EAGLE POINT, Wis. (AP) – Chippewa County authorities say a man has died in the crash of a single-engine ultralight plane in the town of Eagle Point.

Chief Deputy Chad Holum tells the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram the pilot was a man in his 70s.

The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. Saturday near a local airstrip. Holum says the pilot took off, made a turn, and the nose went down. He says the plane wasn’t more than 1,000 feet from the runway. The plane burst into flames at impact.

The pilot died at the scene. His name hasn’t been released pending notification of relatives.

Holum says the cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known, but it was windy at the scene. He says the Federal Aviation Administration will take over the investigation.