Green Bay News

FOND DU LAC – There are some new developments in a nearly 25-year-old murder case.

FOX 11 has learned that the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office plans to call a Monday morning news conference to discuss the 1990 death of Berit Beck. Sheriff’s officials would not give further details.

The 18-year-old’s van was found in a Fond du Lac parking lot in July of 1990. Her body was found in a ditch in rural Fond du Lac County about six weeks later.

Beck was on her way to Appleton from her home in Sturtevant, near Racine, when she disappeared.

Last April, the Fond du Lac County sheriff asked the public for help. During that time, authorities also said they had evidence placing a 61-year-old Kenosha man inside the van Beck was driving when she disappeared.

Last October, a search warrant detailing interviews and evidence, linking the Kenosha suspect to the case, was made available to the public. The document says the man’s fingerprints were on a number of items officials found in Beck’s van. Those items include a Burger King cup and a bleach kit. Officials say Beck bought the kit at Walgreens the day she disappeared.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Is it American to require someone to buy American?

That was in essence the debate that consumed the Florida House for a few moments Friday when it considered a bill named the “All American Flag Act.”

The measure ultimately passed by a wide margin and is likely to go to Gov. Rick Scott, a Navy veteran. The bill would require that whenever cities, counties and state government buy state and American flags, those flags must be made in the United States.

Some legislators said that forcing local and state government to buy flags made in the United States was anti-capitalist and a restraint of trade.

But other lawmakers said that taxpayer money should not be spent on flags made in other countries like China.

BARABOO (AP) – Final inspections are taking place this weekend at an old munitions complex in Sauk County that’s the site of a new state recreation area.

The Capital Times reports the Saturday inspection is being done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and about 200 soldiers from a Madison-based regiment of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

The Sauk Prairie Recreation Area takes up nearly half of the 7,350-acre site of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, which was decommissioned years ago. The Ho-Chunk Nation and the Dairy Forage Research Center also own parts of the former munitions site.

The recreation area is set to open to public later this year.

Mark Aquino of the Department of Natural Resources says the inspection will “provide an extra level of assurance” nothing was missed in 10 years of cleanup and demolition work.

“This is above and beyond our normal and routine cleanup practices,” Aquino said.

Soldiers will check out the recreation area’s grounds, roads and fencing. They’ll be training in two of their primary tasks: reconnaissance and route clearance.

“It’s a great opportunity for our soldiers to test the military skills on which we train all year, and to conduct training that will serve the public and ultimately benefit the people of Wisconsin,” regiment commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Alston said.

FOND DU LAC (AP) – A man suspected of killing a Wisconsin state trooper in a shootout had been wanted on a Michigan warrant for domestic assault.

Steven Timothy Snyder, 38, was sought for an incident that involved his wife on Christmas Day. Michigan State Patrol Sgt. Mark Tamlyn said the charge was a misdemeanor.

Tamlyn said he could not provide details of the alleged assault.

Snyder is suspected of a crime spree Tuesday that included robbing at least one bank in Wausaukee, stealing a car and killing a motorist before his confrontation in Fond du Lac with Trooper Trevor Casper.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the warrant on Friday.

MADISON (AP) – A former Dane County sheriff’s deputy has changed his plea to guilty in the killings of his wife and sister-in-law.

Andrew Steele of Fitchburg last month had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his wife, 39-year-old Ashlee Steele, and her 38-year-old sister, Kacee Tollefsbol of Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

The women were killed last August at the Steeles’ home.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports the change of plea means the focus of Steele’s trial starting April 13 will be whether he is legally responsible in the deaths. Steele has claimed that the terminal ALS he was diagnosed with last June affected his brain and ability to obey the law.

WAUKESHA (AP) – A Brookfield couple is accused of locking their 13-year-old daughter in the basement and forcing her to wear a diaper.

The mother and stepfather have been charged with child neglect in Waukesha County. Court records say the girl would continually show up at her middle school with dried feces on her. A criminal complaint says the stepfather called the girl “Stink” and refused to let her use the family bathroom or sit on the furniture.

WITI-TV reports prosecutors say the child has low-level autism and some cognitive disabilities and was forced to go to the basement every day after school.

When police removed the girl from the home earlier this month, they noted the temperature in her basement bedroom was around 50 degrees. An anonymous caller tipped Brookfield police and told them the girl was being treated like an animal.

REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Detroit-area Catholic church is offering a drive-thru option for its fish fry on Fridays during Lent.

Evelyn Martin takes orders with a handheld radio, Friday March 13, 2015, during the St. Roberts Bellarmine Men’s Club fish fry at Saint Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Redford Twp, Mich. (AP Photo/Detroit News, Steve Perez)

The Detroit News reports St. Robert Bellarmine in Wayne County’s Redford Township is attracting more people with the approach.

St. Robert Bellarmine has sponsored Friday fish fries for several years, but Jim Vote, organizer and member of the church’s men’s club, said this year’s high demand led to the curbside service. They also offer seating for 400 and a to-go line for people who want to carryout.

Fish fries are popular because of the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent.

Marland Gibson, a drive-thru customer at St. Robert Bellarmine on a recent Friday evening, says the fish fry “is better than stopping at a fast-food place.”

TOWN OF MUKWA – Waupaca County sheriff’s officials say the man involved in a Tuesday morning crash with a school bus has died.

A New London School District bus is towed away from the scene after a crash March 24, 2015, on Hwy. 54 in the town of Mukwa. (WLUK/Tim Flanigan)

Investigators say Edgar Soriano, 19, of Manawa, was driving a car east on Hwy. 54 near New London when he ran into the back of a school bus that was stopped to pick up a student. Crews had to cut Soriano out of the vehicle and he was flown to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah; officials on Friday said Soriano had died.

School district leaders said eight students and a driver were on the bus, which is owned by the New London School District. None of them were hurt. Another bus picked them up and finished the route.

Elementary, middle and high school students were all on the bus.

• Click here to see photos of the crash submitted to ReportIt

MADISON (AP) – A new state audit shows Wisconsin state agencies administered $12.1 billion in federal dollars during fiscal year 2013-14.

The report released Friday found the Department of Health Services disbursed $4.6 billion in federal Medicaid dollars. Auditors questioned a handful of cases where it appeared participant eligibility wasn’t properly documented.

The University of Wisconsin System administered $1.1 billion in federal student aid. Auditors said UW-Madison needs to do a better job ensuring students who receive aid but withdraw from school get exit counseling.

The Department of Workforce Development administered $1 billion in federal unemployment benefits, although auditors noted subgrants to local workforce development boards weren’t properly documented.

Transportation officials administered $662 million in federal dollars for road planning and construction. The audit didn’t list any issues with those disbursements.

• Click here to read the full audit

SHEBOYGAN (AP) – A Sheboygan man has been sentenced to four years in prison for selling heroin that resulted in an overdose death.

Twenty-three-year-old Taylor Shannon will also spend six years on supervision for first-degree reckless homicide.

Thirty-year-old Kael Klassen died of an overdose last April in Sheboygan. Detectives say they found numerous texts on Klassen’s phone from a phone number belonging to Shannon.

Sheboygan Press Media says Klassen had just returned days before from a rehab facility where he was being treated for opiate addiction.

WISCONSIN DELLS (AP) – A Wisconsin Dells resort is being sued by a Michigan family that claims a teenage boy was injured on a ride that the business knew was unsafe.

The lawsuit seeking damages was filed Wednesday in Sauk County Circuit Court on the teen’s behalf. The Wisconsin State Journal reports the lawsuit claims the boy was injured at the Kalahari resort in June 2012 on an indoor water slide that drops riders from a trap-door chamber into one of two looping slides.

The family’s attorney says the ride, known as the Sahara Sidewinders, imposed an unreasonable risk of injury to Kalahari’s guests. He adds the resort knew about the risk but took no safety precautions.

The lawsuit claims the teen suffered personal injury, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

MADISON (AP) – Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Ann Walsh Bradley and James Daley are facing off for a live, televised debate just over a week before the April 7 election.

The debate Friday marks the third time in a week that Bradley and Daley are appearing together.

Bradley is seeking a third 10-year term on the state’s highest court against Daley, a Rock County circuit judge.

Bradley and Daley have clashed over the role of partisanship in the officially nonpartisan race. Daley has actively courted Republicans, saying he is reaching out to conservatives who share his philosophy.

Bradley has said party politics shouldn’t play a role in the race, even though she is backed by labor unions and others with ties to the Democratic Party.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Milwaukee police have identified two teenage boys killed when the driver of the stolen vehicle they were riding in ran a stop sign and collided with another car.

Police say 17-year-old Jamar Canday and 16-year-old Marquise Tate died in the crash that occurred about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on Milwaukee’s west side.

Two other people in the stolen vehicle suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening. A 47-year-old man driving the other car was treated at a hospital and released.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was an 18-year-old Milwaukee man and the third passenger was a 17-year-old Milwaukee boy. Both of them were arrested after receiving treatment of their injuries.

Police Chief Ed Flynn says the stolen car was a 2013 Toyota taken with the keys from Milwaukee’s south side on Monday.

UTAH- A Bountiful man is recovering after he was stung by hundreds of bees.

The 89-year-old man was watching a high school baseball game last week when he was attacked.

D-J Bolerjack has the story.

Click on the video for the full story.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is announcing he will not seek re-election to another term.

The 75-year-old Reid says in a statement issued by his office Friday that he wants to make sure Democrats regain control of the Senate next year and that it would be “inappropriate” for him to soak up campaign resources when he could be focusing on putting the Democrats back in power.

Reid also mentioned the Jan. 1 exercising accident that left him badly bruised and struggling to regain sight in his right eye.

He said the accident had given him time to think, and that his first concern should be the country, the Senate and the state of Nevada.

Reid was first elected to the Senate in 1986.

12:45 p.m. (1145 GMT, 7:45 a.m. EDT)

German prosecutors say they have found evidence that the co-pilot of the Germanwings plan which crashed in the French Alps appears to have hidden evidence of an illness from his employers.

Prosecutors in the western city of Duesseldorf say they seized medical documents from the home of Andreas Lubitz that indicate “an existing illness and appropriate medical treatment.”

Prosecutor Ralf Herrenbrueck said in a statement Friday that torn-up sick notes for the day of the crash “support the current preliminary assessment that the deceased hid his illness from his employer and colleagues.”

He said the search of Lubitz’s home revealed no suicide note or evidence of any political or religious motivation for his actions.

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12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT, 7:30 a.m. EDT)

Three Kazakhs who perished in the Germanwings flight were on a European vacation when they made a spur-of-the-moment decision to go to Spain to watch one of soccer’s most popular matches.

The vacation to Europe was precious time together for Kazakh couple Erbol Imankulov and his wife Aizhan Isengaliyeva, after he recently moved 700 kilometers (400 miles) from his home city of Ust-Kamenogorsk to take up a job in the coal city of Karaganda.

The diversion to go watch “El Clasico” on Sunday between Barcelona and Real Madrid was a special treat for their 26-year old son, Adil, who was travelling with them.

All three Kazakhs perished in the Germanwings crash from Barcelona to Duesseldorf that killed 150 people on Tuesday.

Adil’s sister, 14-year-old Diana, missed out on the trip. She was unable to get a visa.

The co-pilot is suspected of intentionally crashing the plane into a mountain in the French Alps during the Barcelona to Duesseldorf flight.

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11:50 a.m. (1050 GMT, 6:50 a.m. EDT)

France’s leading pilots union is filing a lawsuit over leaks about the investigation into the Germanwings crash.

Guillaume Schmid, a representative of the SNPL union, said Friday that pilots are angry that information about the dramatic final moments of the flight were reported in the media before prosecutors and others were informed.

After the media reports, a prosecutor announced that cockpit recordings indicate the co-pilot of the Germanwings A320 jet intentionally flew the plane into a mountain on Tuesday. All 150 aboard were killed.

The lawsuit is over violating a French law on keeping information about investigations secret while they are ongoing. The lawsuit doesn’t name an alleged perpetrator, a common method in French law that leaves it to investigators to determine who is at fault.

Schmid said that pilots are saddened by the accident and understand the public’s wish for immediate information, but decried pressure on investigators and said that can lead to misleading the public instead.

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11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT, 6:30 a.m. EDT)

Germany’s president has attended a memorial service in the western town of Haltern for 16 students and two teachers from the local high school who were killed in the Germanwings plane crash.

President Joachim Gauck and North Rhine-Westphalia’s state governor, Hannelore Kraft, attended the service along with students at the town’s St. Sixtus church.

Investigators believe Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked himself alone in the cockpit during Tuesday’s flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf, and then intentionally crashed the plane into a mountainside in the southern French Alps. All 150 people aboard the plane were killed.

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10:25 a.m. (0925 GMT, 5:25 a.m. EDT)

Germanwings says it is setting up a family assistance center in Marseille for relatives of the 150 people killed when one of its planes crashed in the French Alps.

Investigators believe Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the plane into a mountainside during Tuesday’s flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf.

Germanwings chief executive Thomas Winkelmann said in a statement that “in these dark hours our full attention belongs to the emotional support of the relatives and friends of the victims of Flight 9525.”

The airline, a subsidiary of German carrier Lufthansa, says some grieving relatives took part in a religious service Thursday afternoon near the crash site.

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9:50 a.m. (0850 GMT, 4:50 a.m. EDT)

France’s prime minister has called on German airline Lufthansa to provide all information about Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who investigators believe intentionally slammed a plane into a French mountainside, killing all 150 people aboard.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Lufthansa to give the maximum of information “so that we can understand why this pilot got to the point of this horrific” action.

In an interview with French network iTele, Valls said Friday that nothing would be ruled out until the end of a full investigation.

The Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf crashed Tuesday in the southern French Alps. Germanwings is a division of Lufthansa.

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9:15 a.m. (0815 GMT, 4:15 a.m. EDT)

German police have searched the home of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz in Duesseldorf and seized material that will now be examined as part of the investigation into the crash that killed 150 people in the French Alps.

French investigators believe Lubitz locked himself inside the cockpit and then intentionally smashed the Germanwings plane into a mountainside.

A spokeswoman for Duesseldorf police denied reports Friday that the officers had made any significant discovery yet.

“No crucial piece of evidence has been found yet,” Susanna Heusgen told The Associated Press.

Duesseldorf prosecutors say they plan to release an update on their investigation around noon (1100 GMT, 7 a.m. EDT).

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7 a.m. (0600 GMT, 2 a.m. EDT)

The co-pilot who authorities believe intentionally crashed an airplane into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board, likely first honed his flying skills for months in Arizona.

Lufthansa Group, which owns Germanwings airline, said Thursday that 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz trained in Bremen, Germany, and Phoenix starting in 2008.

A Facebook page bearing his name lists Phoenix Goodyear Airport among his interests. The airport houses Airline Training Center Arizona, a Lufthansa-owned training facility.

Aviation experts say students there log flight hours and attend classes on navigation in an 18-month period. On Thursday, German and Lufthansa flags outside the facility were flying at half-staff.

Sunshine and vast air space have historically made Arizona a popular location for pilot training.

French prosecutors say Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit of Germanwings Flight 9525 on Tuesday before the jet slammed into the mountainside.

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) – A U.S. Marine killed when a military helicopter crashed during a Florida training mission will eulogized in Port Washington.

A visitation and funeral service for Staff Sgt. Kerry Kemp will be held Friday at Port Washington High School where Kemp graduated in 2005.

Kemp was among seven elite Marines and four experienced soldiers killed when their chopper went down in dense fog along the Florida Panhandle March 10.

Kemp was 27 years old and met his wife, Jenna, in high school. Kemp also leaves behind a 1-year-old daughter, Makenzie.

Visitation at the high school is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. with the funeral service at 7. Kemp will be laid to rest with full military honors at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Port Washington.

10:25 a.m. (0925 GMT, 5:25 a.m.)

Germanwings says it is setting up a family assistance center in Marseille for relatives of the 150 people killed when one of its planes crashed in the French Alps.

Investigators believe Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the plane into a mountainside during Tuesday’s flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf.

Germanwings spokesman Thomas Winkelmann said in a statement that “in these dark hours our full attention belongs to the emotional support of the relatives and friends of the victims of Flight 9525.”

The airline, a subsidiary of German carrier Lufthansa, says some grieving relatives took part in a religious service Thursday afternoon near the crash site.

___

9:50 a.m. (0850 GMT, 4:50 a.m.)

France’s prime minister has called on German airline Lufthansa to provide all information about Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who investigators believe intentionally slammed a plane into a French mountainside, killing all 150 people aboard.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Lufthansa to give the maximum of information “so that we can understand why this pilot got to the point of this horrific” action.

In an interview with French network iTele, Valls said Friday that nothing would be ruled out until the end of a full investigation.

The Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Duesseldorf crashed Tuesday in the southern French Alps. Germanwings is a division of Lufthansa.

___

9:15 a.m. (0815 GMT, 4:15 a.m.)

German police have searched the home of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz in Duesseldorf and seized material that will now be examined as part of the investigation into the crash that killed 150 people in the French Alps.

French investigators believe Lubitz locked himself inside the cockpit and then intentionally smashed the Germanwings plane into a mountainside.

A spokeswoman for Duesseldorf police denied reports Friday that the officers had made any significant discovery yet.

“No crucial piece of evidence has been found yet,” Susanna Heusgen told The Associated Press.

Duesseldorf prosecutors say they plan to release an update on their investigation around noon (1100 GMT, 7 a.m. EDT).

___

7 a.m. (0600 GMT, 2 a.m. EDT)

The co-pilot who authorities believe intentionally crashed an airplane into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board, likely first honed his flying skills for months in Arizona.

Lufthansa Group, which owns Germanwings airline, said Thursday that 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz trained in Bremen, Germany, and Phoenix starting in 2008.

A Facebook page bearing his name lists Phoenix Goodyear Airport among his interests. The airport houses Airline Training Center Arizona, a Lufthansa-owned training facility.

Aviation experts say students there log flight hours and attend classes on navigation in an 18-month period. On Thursday, German and Lufthansa flags outside the facility were flying at half-staff.

Sunshine and vast air space have historically made Arizona a popular location for pilot training.

French prosecutors say Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit of Germanwings Flight 9525 on Tuesday before the jet slammed into the mountainside.

GREEN BAY – This week’s Cooking With You guest is “The Traveling Baker” — Jamie Matczak!

Jamie joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem in the kitchen to create some dishes perfect for Lent.

Click here to learn more about “The Traveling Baker”.

‘Plokkfiskur,’ which means ‘mashed fish,’ is one of Iceland’s signature dishes.  It’s boiled cod or haddock mashed with potatoes, onion, butter, garlic and milk. In the olden days it was a common way for Icelandic families to preserve leftover fish, which is prevalent in Iceland. Likewise with Wisconsin fish fries, it’s often served with rye bread and butter. Also typical is a side of greens, and a lemon or tartar sauce. It’s also a great option during Lenten season.

1-1.5 lbs of cod or haddock (flaked and deboned)

5-6 small potatoes

3 tsp butter

2 cloves diced garlic (optional)

3/4 onion (diced)

3 tbsp flour

1 cup milk (warm)

pinch of salt and pepper

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

chives (optional)

Place the thawed fish in a medium pot with water and bring to a boil for 10-12 minutes.

At the same time and in another pot, boil your potatoes until tender.

Drain both the cod and potaotes when they are finished.

In the medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the onions and garlic, salt and pepper. Stir for a minute or two until they are slightly browned. Add the flour and stir until it forms a paste-like texture. Slowly add the warmed milk and keep stirring. Turn the heat to low. Add the fish and potatoes and mash together to a consistency that is chunky. If it seems too thick, you can add a little more milk. You can eat the dish like this, or you can place in an 8 x 8 pan and sprinkle cheese and chives over the top. Broil in the overn until the cheese melts. Serve with buttered rye bread.

Hálfmánar:

(From “A Cookie from Every Country.” Note: I did not use hartshorn powder or cardamom in my on-air recipe)
It takes special people to not just endure but embrace the dark winters, spewing volcanoes, and the isolation that are facts of life in Iceland. Indeed, resilient Icelanders have an utterly sunny outlook, with one of the longest life expectancies and highest standards of living in the world. Ever since the Vikings, Iceland’s first inhabitants, set foot on this enchanting island in the 9th century, the people of Iceland have been hard at work successfully making this rugged country a hospitable and overwhelmingly desirable place to live.

Food plays a large part in Icelandic Christmas festivities and there are several local culinary traditions to be honoured over the holidays. The fun starts in early December, when families congregate to bake several types of Christmas-cookies to be eaten over the course of the coming month. An average household will usually produce around three to ten different sorts of cookies, although later years have seen an increase in the circulation of store-bought ones. One of the favored traditional cookies is Hálfmánar, or Half Moon Cookies, so-called because of their shape.

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter

½ tsp hartshorn powder (available online at King Arthur’s Flour)

1 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

Cardamom essence to taste

Rhubarb or other jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together sugar, baking powder, hartshorn powder and flour. Add soft butter and mix until crumbly. Add egg, milk and cardamom essesnce and knead until smooth. Store in a refrigerator until cold through (overnight is usual).

Flatten with a rolling pin and cut out cookies with a glass or circular cookie cutter. Put about a teaspoonful of jam in the center of each cookie, fold cookies in half and press edges together with a fork. Arrange on a lightly floured baking sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden.

Recipe site: http://globalcookies.blogspot.com/search/label/Iceland

GREEN BAY – It’s a busy year at the Children’s Museum of Green Bay!

Heather Heil joined FOX 11’s Emily Deem and Pete Petoniak on Good Day Wisconsin to talk about some upcoming events.

“Mystery at the Museum” A Great Gatsby Speakeasy themed fundraiser will take place in May.  This event at the Children’s Museum of Green Bay is an Adult Fundraiser.

Heather also talk about “Makers Month” that will take place in April at the museum.

Click here to learn more about the Children’s Museum of Green Bay.