Green Bay News

Photos submitted to ReportIt, March 15-21, 2015.

MENASHA – Areas near SCA Tissue in Menasha are being evacuated after a chemical leak at the plant.

Neenah-Menasha Fire/Rescue Chief Al Auxier says a bleach-like chemical was being unloaded at the plant around 8:15 a.m. when it reacted with a different chemical. Those in homes to the north and south of the plant were evacuated. Auxier says the chemical can cause irritation and an odor in the air. He says those who are not being evacuated should stay in their homes.

Employees were evacuated from the immediate area. The incident happened in a room specifically designed to contain leaks, Auxier says. Hazardous-materials crews have been called in.

North-south streets in the neighborhood west of Tayco St. are closed, according to authorities. Westbound First St. is closed at Tayco St., but Tayco itself is open to traffic.

FOX 11’s Bill Miston is headed to the scene and will have more information as it becomes available.

FOND DU LAC – A man robbed a bank inside a grocery store Sunday morning, police say.

Fond du Lac police say they were called to Guaranty Bank inside Pick ‘n Save, 760 W. Johnson St., just after 11:20 a.m. A man had gone into the bank, gave the teller a note saying the bank was being robbed and to hand over money. He implied he had a weapon, officers say. He left through the store’s east entrance after receiving some cash; police aren’t saying how much money he took.

No one was hurt.

Investigators described the man as black, in his late 30s or early 40s, around 5-foot-10 with a muscular build. He had shoulder-length dreadlocks which were pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing a dark-colored cap, a light-colored sweatshirt with a darker vest over it and sunglasses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Fond du Lac police at (920) 906-5555 or the Crime Alert number, (920) 322-2740.

NEW YORK (AP) — Blackstone is buying Chicago’s Willis Tower, once called the Sears Tower, from 233 South Wacker LLC for an undisclosed amount.

The Willis Tower is 110-stories and the second-tallest office building in the U.S. It is the fifth-tallest office building in the world.

The Willis Tower’s Skydeck, located on the 103rd floor, is a popular tourist attraction. It provides 1.6 million visitors a year with views of Chicago and the surrounding area including from the “Ledge,” glass cubes which extend from the building.

Jacob Werner, a managing director in Blackstone’s real estate group, said in a statement on Monday that Blackstone sees “great potential in further improving both the building’s retail operations and the tourist experience for one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Chicago.”

Construction efforts for the tower started in 1970 and it was completed in 1973, according to the tower’s website. The Skydeck officially opened to the public in 1974 and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2000. The tower was officially renamed the Willis Tower in 2009.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Thick black smoke is billowing over Milwaukee’s south side where a series of explosions has rocked a neighborhood and ignited a large fire.

Milwaukee Fire Department spokeswoman Cassie Taylor says propane tanks have apparently exploded at the scene, but she didn’t know what was on fire. She says the department’s hazardous materials crew has been called to the scene.

The smoke can be seen from downtown Milwaukee and other locations which are miles away.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Authorities say a 27-year-old man was injured in an altercation involving a gun outside of a Madison restaurant.

Police say two men were involved in an altercation early Sunday morning at J.D.’s Soul Food when one of them displayed a handgun. They say the fight moved outside of the restaurant and a gun was fired.

An officer who heard the shot arrived at the scene and found the 27-year-old man suffering from minor injuries. He was taken to a hospital, where his condition wasn’t immediately known.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports police believe the men know each other.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputies say a man driving the wrong way on a major highway was too drunk to take an alcohol breath test.

Authorities say the driver swerved around one squad car Sunday and then pulled over after a police officer positioned his squad to stop him. Authorities say the 33-year-old Milwaukee man was too intoxicated to “maintain consciousness” for the breath test. He was arrested on possible charges of recklessly endangering safety and other counts.

GREEN BAY – If you’re looking for something other than corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day, you might want to try these recipes.  Chef Ryan Nolan of Mahoney’s Restaurant and Bar in Oshkosh, showed us how he prepares two dishes using Irish Whiskey. Irish Whiskey Candied Apple Pork Tenderloin For the apples: 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 cup Irish whiskey 1/4 tsp cinnamon 2 each apples Method: 1. In a small sauce pot whisk the brown sugar and whiskey together, bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer. Whisk in the cinnamon. Allow to simmer for 3 minutes. 2. Remove the whiskey/sugar syrup from the heat and set aide. 3.Small dice the apples and set aside in a mixing bowl 4. Pour the whiskey syrup over the apples and set aside. Stir from time to time. For the Pork: 1. Season a pork tenderloin with slightly more salt than normal. 2. Sear the pork in a hot pan or in a grill pan. 3. Transfer to a 375F oven and roast until the pork reaches an internal temp of 155F 4. When the pork has cook to the desired temp remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes 5. After the pork has rested slice into thin medallions. 6. Top the pork with the candied apples 7. If desired top the candies apples with crumbled blue cheese and toast with a creme brulee torch. 8. Enjoy Apple and Barley Pudding with Caramel Sour Cream and Sea Salt Ingredients 2 oz whole butter 4 apples peeled and chopped 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup Irish whiskey 1 cup pearl barley 8 cups apple juice or cider 1 cup cream whipped to stiff peaks 1 cup sour cream 1/3 cup caramel sauce sea salt as needed Method: 1. In a large sauce pot heat the butter and add in the apples. 2. When the apples start to soften add the sugar and whiskey 3. Add in the barley and apple juice and bring to a boil 4. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook until the barley is very very over cooked. This may take up to an hour. If the liquid starts to reduce too much, add another splash of apple juice. 5. Once the barley is well over cooked remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool slightly. 6. After the mixture has cooled slightly begin to puree the mixture in a blender. Do this in 3 to 4 phases so you don’t cause the blender to burn out. If the puree becomes too thick add in a bit of apple juice to to thin it out. 7. Once the puree is done place in the fridge to set, takes about an hour or so. 8. To make the topping, whip the cup of heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold in the sour cream 9. Fold the caramel sauce into the whipped sour cream. 10. Scoop some of the apple pudding into a serving dish and top with the caramel sour cream. 11. Garnish with a pinch of sea salt, a strawberry, and a cookie.

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) – Wausau police tracked down two of three people they believe were in an empty car pulled from the water in a downtown park.

Authorities were called to Oak Island Park shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday where they found a black sedan partially submerged in the Wisconsin River with its lights still on.

Investigators found three sets of footprints leading from the scene. Two people were found at a McDonald’s restaurant. Police are still looking for the driver.

OSHKOSH – Drivers are being reminded to be extra cautious while driving through work zones as construction projects will be ramping up soon.

Gov. Scott Walker declared March 23-27 Work Zone Awareness Week.

This year’s them is “Expect the Unexpected.”

Officials urge people to keep some tips in mind including: keep a safe distance, stay alert of construction workers and reduced speeds, merge as soon as possible and don’t tailgate.

FOX 11’s Pauleen Le spent the morning learning more about Work Zone Awareness Week.

For more information on Work Zone Awareness Week, click here.

 

GREEN BAY- Mild weather continues Monday with highs nears 60.

A cold front pushes in later Monday. We’ll have scattered showers this afternoon.

Even though Tuesday through Friday will be cooler than last week, it will be slightly above average.

Click here for Director of Meteorology Pete Petoniak’s full forecast.

CLEVELAND, Wis. (AP) – It’s appropriate that country singer Jerry Schmitt’s song “I Don’t Hurt As Much As I Used To” became a No. 1 hit on the Country Roots Chart.

Not only does Schmitt not hurt, the future ahead looks downright rosy for the town of Cleveland musician. But that doesn’t make for country hits, especially the kind of country that Schmitt sings. His brand of country is built on heartbreak, drinking, pickup trucks and honky tonks.

The No. 1 hit on the Country Roots Chart in February is a direct result of the song, from his “100 Miles” album recorded in 2008, being played by independent radio stations across the world. And that, in turn, has been the direct result of his signing last fall a contract with Colt Records of Nashville.

“I know it seems like a long time (since the song was recorded),” Schmitt told Daily Herald Media. “But to get a song played on the radio as an unsigned artist is almost impossible. Having the record contract opened those doors.”

Altogether, those pieces of good news have given a turbo boost to Schmitt’s long and steady career. “This is the turning point where we take it to the next level,” he said. “We’re really making a push to take it to a larger audience, and we’re hoping to be an opening act with an established national act.”

Schmitt, 35, a 1998 graduate of Stratford High School, uses a balance of solid business sense and an artistic vision to propel his career forward. He loves traditional country like the music of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, and he wants to build and preserve that sound. He started on the performance road at age 14, when he and some friends performed at Stratford Heritage Days.

Since then he’s been a favorite performer in venues across the state and beyond. In 2007 he and his band were State Country Band Champions at the Hodag music festival in Rhinelander.

Recently, he’s been performing every other month in Nashville, at a honky tonk called Swinging Doors. Those performances helped him gain the attention of the independent Colt Records.

His day job is as a senior legal services analyst at UMR in Wausau, a company that administers health care plans. He’s worked there for years. “They’ve been great, they’ve been very flexible,” Schmitt said.

And his sense of business has helped him find the market for his brand of country.

It’s been a long road, and there have been times when Schmitt has thought about giving up. Not the music, but the drive toward a larger career. But then, he said, something happens that gives him a boost. And he takes the next step.

Ultimately, he said, it’s not about the money or fame, although he seems willing to take on both. But it’s about the feeling he gets when he’s on stage, and people are dancing or singing along to the songs he wrote and performs.

“When I was in high school, I was in sports, and you’d get the adrenaline going,” Schmitt said. “That’s what happens when I’m on stage. I get that adrenaline rush. To me, that is priceless.”

WATERTOWN, Wis. (AP) – Authorities say a 56-year-old man and his dog were rescued from an icy pond in his backyard near Watertown.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department received a report Sunday evening that a man had fallen through the ice trying to save his black Lab from the pond. A deputy arrived on the scene and was able to use an ice water rescue bag to bring both of them to shore.

The man was taken to a local hospital, where his condition wasn’t immediately known. The dog is expected to be OK.

The sheriff’s department says the man was in the water for about 17 minutes.

GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Phoenix men will be participating in the NIT Tournament for a second consecutive year after just missing out on a NCAA berth by losing to Valparaiso this past week.

Green Bay received a five seed , and will travel to four-seeded Illinois State to play on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Last Season Green Bay hosted Belmont in the NIT, but where without Keifer Sykes due to a injury and lost to the Bruins.

The winner would face No. 1 Old Dominion or No. 8 Charleston Southern in a second-round game.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Sheboygan County sheriff’s officials say several emergency calls came in Sunday around 4:30 noting that a Village of Oostburg home was on fire.

A deputy was the first to arrive at the home in the 11-hundred block of Center Avenue. The deputy helped the residents get out of the house.

Officials say it is not believed that there was any injury sustained as a result of this incident.

The Oostburg Fire Department responded to the scene. Five other agencies provided additional assistance.

No additional information is being released at this time.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Tesha Buck scored 24 points as Green Bay beat Wright State 86-77 in overtime in the Horizon League women’s championship game Sunday.

Green Bay, which has made five straight appearances in the title game, is now 13-4 all-time in Horizon League championship games.

Wright State beat host Green Bay 88-69 last season in the title game to earn its first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Tay’ler Mingo had five early points to give Wright State a 5-3 advantage. Green Bay (28-4) answered with an 8-2 on a pair of baskets by Sam Terry, and it was 11-7 Phoenix. Abby Jump fueled a 20-4 Raiders run with back-to-back 3-pointers and it was quickly 27-15.

Green Bay responded with a run of its own as Buck scored nine straight points during a 15-0 spurt with 4:24 remaining in the first half.

Wright State (25-8) missed seven shots in a row and didn’t score for a span of 6 minutes, 20 seconds. Wright State finally got its offense clicking ago, outscoring Green Bay 8-4 down the stretch to take a 35-34 lead into halftime.

With the game tied 38-38 early in the second half, Buck hit a pair of shots in the lane and Kaili Lukan drained a short jumper to give the Phoenix its biggest lead, 49-41. Wright State wasn’t going to go away easily.

A 3-pointer by Courtney Boyd knotted the score at 51 with 9:26 remaining. With game tied again, Allie LeClaire hit a 3 to make it 68-65 Green Bay with 3:14 left in regulation.

Wright State came back to tie the game at 63, LeClaire scored back-to-back baskets to make it 68-65. Mingo, who finished with 27 points, tied the game with 27.4 seconds remaining in regulation. Buck threw up a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that was off, sending it to overtime.

Sam Terry and Buck hit back-to-back shots to put Green Bay up 81-76 with 1:05 left. Down the stretch, Green Bay was 5-for-7 at the free throw line.

Green Bay got 42 points from its bench players.

The Wisconsin Badgers found out their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday, earning a number one seed in the Big Dance. Wisconsin is the top seed in the tournament’s West Region and will face #16 Coastal Carolina in the opening round on Friday in Omaha, Nebraska. If UW wins, they’ll face either #8 Oregon or #9 Oklahoma State in the Round of 32.

Wisconsin won the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday over Michigan State in overtime. They also won the Big Ten regular season title.

Coastal Carolina earned an automatic bid to the tournament by winning the Big South tournament.

GREEN BAY – The clippers are out and bald heads are in at an annual head shaving event in Green Bay.

Sunday more than 100 people headed to Saint Brendan’s Inn to raise money for childhood cancer research.

“I’m hoping about $500 is where we want to be,” said Don Van De Ven.

“I was up to $4,500 the last time I looked,” said Nancy Crabb.

“We’re a little over $6,000,” said Chris Heil.

Now in its 11th year, the Green Bay event has raised over $500,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“Last year, in November, they let us know that the money that we’ve raised in the last few years has helped fund a grant at St. Vincent Hospital for a doctor that is working on children’s cancer research,” said event organizer Ashley Oates.

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

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The death of an unarmed 19-year-old man who was shot by a Madison police officer has strained relations between police and the community, the city’s police chief acknowledged in an interview broadcast Sunday.

But Police Chief Mike Koval said he doesn’t see the death of Tony Robinson as a defining moment for his department.

In an interview broadcast on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” a statewide television news magazine, Koval said Madison is “exhausted on many levels” after Officer Matt Kenny, who is white, fatally shot Robinson, who was biracial, on March 6.

Police say Robinson, also known as Terrell, was shot after a confrontation in which he assaulted Kenny. A preliminary autopsy showed Robinson was shot in his head, torso and right arm. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating.

In the interview, Koval said he knows police have “a long way to go” in rebuilding trust with the community after the shooting, The Capital Times reported. He also expressed concern about the relationship between Madison police and the community.

“I think that the relationships that we have are obviously very strained relative to what’s happened a week ago,” Koval said. “But I also think that those who have been in Madison, those who know the Madison Police Department, will not allow the tragic death of Tony Robinson to define the legacy of many, many, many good works that we do daily with selfless service, or at least that’s my hope.”

Koval said he was grateful to Robinson’s family for urging those who have participated in protests after the shooting to exercise responsibility and restraint. He said that allowed Madison to “move forward in a way that is far different than what we’ve seen in a lot of markets.”

Robinson’s death was the latest in a string of shootings by police nationwide that heightened racial tensions. Protests in Ferguson, Missouri, turned violent after an unarmed black 18-year-old was fatally shot there last August.

Madison police tried initially to strike a more conciliatory tone than their counterparts in Ferguson had done. Koval rushed to the home of Robinson’s family on the night of the killing and prayed with his grandmother in the driveway. In a blog post Monday, Koval apologized and wrote that he hoped Robinson’s family and friends could find forgiveness.

At least 1,000 people turned out Saturday for Robinson’s funeral at a Wisconsin high school field house.

TOWN OF LAWRENCE – Fire officials say a home was just minutes away from being completely engulfed by flames Sunday morning, after a brush fire set by one of the homeowners quickly spread.

Fire crews were called to a home in the 3500-block of French Road, just east of US 41 in the Town of Lawrence, at about 11:00 a.m. Sunday.

What initially came in as a brush fire call changed, once crews arrived, noticing the fire had spread to the small house.

It took crews about 15 minutes to knock down both fires.

No one was injured, but the home suffered extensive smoke damage. The Lawrence Fire Chief says the family who lives in the home is staying with relatives.

The fire comes at a time where areas of the state are under burning restrictions, because of the ripe fire conditions due to dry ground cover, little moisture and moderate to high winds.

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