Green Bay News

NAVARRE, Fla. (AP) — Grieving families and comrades of 11 soldiers and Marines whose Black Hawk helicopter slammed into the water during a training exercise can only wait until the dense fog clears and rough seas calm enough for their bodies to be recovered from the wreckage, which settled in just 25 feet of water.

The Army says it has recovered the bodies of two of the four soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard helicopter. The search continues for the remains of others on the helicopter.

The helicopter went down in thick fog Tuesday night during a routine training mission at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle.

Military officials say they need better weather before they can pull the helicopter from the bottom of Santa Rosa Sound.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. is recalling some Chevrolet Volt gas-electric hybrid cars to fix a problem that can cause carbon monoxide to build up in an enclosed space.

The recall covers just over 64,000 Volts from the 2011 through 2013 model years in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere.

The Detroit company says if a driver exits the car and leaves it on, the battery could eventually drain and the gas generator would start running. If that happens in a garage or other enclosed space, the dangerous gas could build up.

GM said Thursday it’s aware of two unspecified injuries but no deaths from the problem.

Dealers will update software that limits how long a Volt can be left idling.

DETROIT (AP) – Kia is recalling nearly 209,000 Soul small SUVs because the gas pedals can bend or break.

The recall covers certain Soul and Soul electric vehicles from the 2014 and 2015 model years.

If the gas pedal bends or breaks, it can be hard to accelerate the SUVs, increasing the risk of a crash.

Kia Motors America says in documents filed with the government that an unsupported section of the pedal can bend if a driver stomps on it too hard when the vehicle isn’t moving.

The problem was discovered through warranty claims. Kia says no crashes or injuries have been reported.

Dealers will add rubber supports beneath the pedal stopper at no cost to owners.

The recall is expected to start on March 24.

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (AP) – A River Falls man is accused of trying to kill his girlfriend by strangling, punching and biting her.

Twenty-three-year-old Benjamin Force is being held on $100,000 bail in St. Croix County. He’s charged with six felonies, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide and mayhem.

Police responding the Valu Stay Motel in River Falls last week say they found 19-year-old Hannah Dyke bloodied and bruised. A criminal complaint says Force had repeatedly punched her in the face and stomach, bit her and strangled her.

KSTP-TV says a witness at the motel described seeing Force drag Dyke back into the room after she tried to escape. Online court records don’t list a defense attorney.

ASHWAUBENON – The FOX 11 Ice Desk has been with us since early January.

But, the last of the desk came tumbling down Friday morning, thanks to the recent warm weather.

FOX 11 Meteorologists Pete and Petoniak and Doug Higgins finished off the desk during Good Day Wisconsin.

Here’s to the warm weather and Spring!

ASHWAUBENON – It’s known as the world’s largest parade and for the fourth time in 16 years, the Ashwaubenon High School Marching Band will take part in it.

New York will mark its 254th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade this year.

The parade draws roughly 2 million people each year and will be broadcasted to more than 1.5 million households in the New York area.

The Ashwaubenon High School Marching Band will be leaving for the Big Appleton on Friday morning.

FOX 11’s Pauleen Le spent the morning with members of the marching band to learn more about their trip.

We’ve been enjoying some mild March weather the past few days.

But it’s nothing compared to the summer-like heat three years ago.

As Beth Jones showed us in this Flashback Friday segment from March 14, 2012.

It almost seems too early to hear the roar of a boat engine, but the droves of anglers out on the Fox River say there’s no such thing.

“Aw this is the first, greatest day I’ve been out this year. And it’s been wonderful, great,” said Alan Blaine of Fond du Lac.

“This morning it was really pretty nice, as the day went on the wind got a little higher,” said Bill Morgan, Palatine, Illinois.

The horizon was painted with fishing boats from practically dawn to dusk off the boat ramp in De Pere.

And anglers say the fishing was almost as good as the weather.

Just off the river’s shore, the trail was just as packed. Joggers and bikers took advantage of the warm weather.

And for the Foss family of De Pere, it was a great excuse for a family walk.

Melissa Foss/De Pere: “We were up here going to Dairy Queen for a special treat today so we decided to walk down on the trail,” said Mellisa Foss, De Pere.

Lucky for us, this spring-like weather is expected to stick around through the weekend.

Which means plans, for some, are already set.

“We’ll be back this weekend, probably Friday or Saturday,” said Blaine.

GREEN BAY- FOX 11 Meteorologist Doug Higgins is saying goodbye to television.

He’s starting a new career in Green Bay.

Doug’s last day is Saturday, March 14.

We are going to miss Doug.

WAUKESHA, Wis. – A judge in southeastern Wisconsin is expected to rule on whether an attempted homicide case against two girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the fictional character Slender Man should proceed in adult court.

Attorneys for the girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, say the defendants don’t belong in adult court and that charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide should be dismissed.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren is scheduled to issue a ruling Friday.

The girls are accused of stabbing a classmate 19 times in a wooded park in Waukesha last May. She has recovered from the wounds that nearly killed her.

If the girls’ case lands in juvenile court and they are convicted, they could be sent to a secure facility until age 25.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – A Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer has announced 169 workers will be laid off at its plant in Missouri.

Harley-Davidson Inc. says the layoffs are effective May 11 at the Kansas City, Missouri, plant and are expected to continue through September. The company says the layoffs reflect production needs, the outsourcing of work performed at the off-site Materials Velocity Center some related sub-assembly work.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports about 750 people are employed at Harley’s Kansas City plant, where Dyna, Street and V-Rod motorcycles are manufactured.

The company says no layoffs are planned for its Wisconsin plants or its operation in York, Pennsylvania.

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) – The National Institutes of Health says an American healthcare worker who contracted Ebola while volunteering in a Sierra Leone treatment unit has arrived safely at its hospital in Maryland.

The NIH says the patient arrived at the hospital in Bethesda, north of Washington, before 5 a.m. Friday and the patient’s condition is still being evaluated. The patient’s name, age and gender have not been released.

Officials say the patient was transported to the United States in isolation on a chartered plane.

The NIH has one of the few containment facilities nationwide set up to treat Ebola patients. Previously, an American nurse was treated there after she contracted Ebola while caring for a patient in a Dallas hospital. The nurse, Nina Pham, survived and is Ebola-free.

TWO RIVERS – Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve is a place to enjoy mother nature!

FOX 11’s Emily Deem made her way to Two Rivers to explore what the place has to offer.

There is a great look out tower to explore, trails and much more.  Woodland Dunes also has Dash at the Dunes 5k Trail Run coming up in April.

Click here to learn more.

GREEN BAY- Expect a high near 65 Friday which is 27 degrees above normal.

This will be the first 60 degree day since October 27th of 2014 when we hit 68 in Green Bay.

We’ll see mostly to partly sunny skies and southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph.

A cold front pushes through the state Friday night bringing in cooler air for the weekend but still above normal temperatures for this time of year.

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

OSHKOSH – A man who caused the death of his fiancee’s daughter will be sentenced Friday morning in Winnebago County Court.

Ryan Jorgenson was convicted in January after pleading no contest to first-degree reckless homicide, according to online court records.

Police say he admitted to pushing a three-year-old down the stairs in the town of Menasha last year, causing her death. Jorgenson was engaged to the child’s mother.

According to the criminal complaint, Jorgenson was alone with the girl and his own infant child on May 14, 2014. First responders were called to the house that morning for the report of a toddler having a seizure.

The complaint shows the girl suffered brain injuries consistent with being thrown, slammed down or shaken. The document also says the defendant told another jail inmate he “did a very bad thing” and “hurt that little girl.”

FOX 11’s Andrew LaCombe will be in court this morning and will have balanced reaction of the sentencing tonight on FOX 11 News at Five.

TOMAH, Wis. (AP) – From their wheelchairs and church pews, veterans at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Wisconsin on Thursday night defended the embattled facility where they receive their care.

Veterans filled the chapel at the Tomah facility for a town hall meeting. For two hours they rose one by one and defended physicians there, dismissing reports about narcotic overprescribing practices and retaliatory behavior at the hospital.

Ryan Van De Walker spoke about care he received from David Houlihan, the hospital’s chief of staff who’s now on leave. The Tomah facility was dubbed “Candy Land” by some veterans for the reportedly liberal prescribing practices under Houlihan, who was placed on administrative leave pending the completion of investigations at the hospital. The VA, the VA Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have launched separate probes into allegations against the hospital.

Van De Walker said Houlihan helped him deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder and streamlined his care at the facility.

“I spent years getting to know my doctors and now I have to start from scratch,” he said.

Another veteran, Stephon Perryman, told the assembly that he had a close bond with his nurse, Deb Fraser, whom he said helped him wean off of high doses of painkillers.

“Once these things get in your system it’s hard, and I mean hard, to get off of it,” Perryman said, trying to keep himself from crying.

A VA report Tuesday said patients at the hospital have a higher likelihood of receiving high doses of narcotics including opioids than those at other VA hospitals. The report also found a culture of fear among employees that compromised patient care.

Jason Simcakoski, a 35-year-old Marine, died of an overdose in the hospital’s inpatient care unit in August.

Others brought up complaints. They said the hospital should offer more female care physicians and the Tomah VA should open a swimming pool for aquatic therapy. One woman read a letter about her father’s death at the facility and was quickly escorted out by hospital spokeswoman Stephanie McCrobie. McCrobie said she took the woman out of the meeting to follow up about her concern.

Mario DeSanctis, the facility director, led the event, addressing each person who spoke and saying the hospital’s administrators would try to make sure all concerns were addressed.

“We are going through some difficult times, but we are going to get through them because out number one mission is taking care of you,” DeSanctis told the crowd.

The VA on Monday launched an opioid safety tool ahead of the results of its probes at Tomah. DeSanctis said the hospital is looking at alternative therapies including massage and acupuncture to treat chronic pain.

GREEN BAY- Officials tell us 68-year-old Philip Jeanquart has been found, but we don’t know his condition.

A Silver Alert was issued for him Tuesday night. His family last saw him around noon on Tuesday.

The alert was canceled just before 8 p.m. Thursday.

Green Bay Police tell us Jeanquart was found and so was his vehicle. But we don’t know where.

Once we learn more information, we will share it with you.

Thursday’s Scores

Stevens Point 50, Neenah 47

Superior 47, Marshfield 34

Division 1 Sectional 2
Sectionals
Germantown 50, Homestead 42

Kimberly 72, De Pere 52

Division 1 Sectional 3
Sectionals
Kenosha Indian Trail 60, Madison Memorial 57

Madison East 66, Verona Area 36

Division 1 Sectional 4
Sectionals
Marquette University 75, Milwaukee King 63

West Allis Central 62, Racine Case 61

Division 2 Sectional 1
Sectionals
Merrill 43, Shawano Community 41

Rice Lake 62, Onalaska 48

Division 2 Sectional 2
Sectionals
Slinger 61, Beaver Dam 48

West De Pere 59, Seymour 39

Division 2 Sectional 3
Sectionals
Monona Grove 61, Wilmot Union 45

Mount Horeb 44, DeForest 32

Division 2 Sectional 4
Sectionals
Greendale 65, Waukesha North 53

Wauwatosa East 45, Whitefish Bay 43

Division 3 Sectional 1
Sectionals
Prescott 55, Northwestern 38

West Salem 69, Arcadia 51

Division 3 Sectional 2
Sectionals
Valders 52, Roncalli 47

Xavier 61, Peshtigo 39

Division 3 Sectional 3
Sectionals
East Troy 85, Evansville 66

River Valley 57, Adams-Friendship 40

Division 3 Sectional 4
Sectionals
Brown Deer 106, Milwaukee North 75

Poynette 57, Ripon 33

Division 4 Sectional 1
Sectionals
Unity 37, Phillips 24

Division 4 Sectional 2
Sectionals
Auburndale 55, Crivitz 44

Brillion 41, Amherst 35

Division 4 Sectional 3
Sectionals
Melrose-Mindoro 75, Pardeeville 49

Mineral Point 64, Deerfield 48

Division 4 Sectional 4
Sectionals
Dominican 55, Racine St. Catherine’s 51

Division 5 Sectional 1
Sectionals
McDonell Central 60, Rib Lake 56

Washburn 80, Frederic 51

Division 5 Sectional 2
Sectionals
Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran 67, Wausaukee 42

Port Edwards 76, Newman Catholic 73

Division 5 Sectional 3
Sectionals
Hillsboro 61, Gilmanton 47

Shullsburg 48, Fennimore 36

Division 5 Sectional 4
Sectionals
Hustisford 57, Williams Bay 41

Young Coggs Prep 61, Sheboygan Lutheran 57

ASHWAUBENON — Making its second straight trip to the Division 4 state tournament, the St. Mary’s Springs girls basketball team was focused on not losing in a state semifinal again.

Kelli Schrauth was especially focused as the Ledgers senior opened the game determined to lead her team to its first WIAA state championship game ever.

Schrauth scored 17 first-half points as the Ledgers were down three points at halftime to the defending state champs. But the Cubans adjusted to Schrauth and Springs couldn’t keep up, falling, 62-56, as the defending state champs extended their winning streak to 48 games.

“Their 2-3 zone, they switched to that later in the first half and primarily with that in the second half and they did a really good with two or three defenders on her, really taking away any opportunity for us to get her the basketball,” Springs coach Mitch Redig said. “They just did a great job defensively as a team on her.”

Schrauth ended up with 25 points, eight above her average.

“I was really nervous,” Schrauth said. “I knew this was a huge game. My guards got me some good looks.”

While Schrauth was carrying Springs (24-3), Cuba City (27-0) was getting offensive help from multiple sources. The Cubans had three players score at least 11 points, led by Molly Wedige’s 19 points. Furthermore, another player scored nine points.

“We knew coming in they were not a one-man show and we were going to have to do a great job definitely as a team,” Redig said. “They can go inside-outside. They’re really well-rounded.”

Despite Cuba City’s offense and defense on Schrauth, Springs managed to stay in the game into the fourth quarter but the Cubans built a 57-47 lead with 3:02 left in the game.

They were able to make a couple extra plays down the stretch and were able to put their free throws in,” Redig said. “I’m really proud the way our girls represented our school and our program.”

Springs opened the game with a 6-4 lead but that lead was short-lived. Cuba City scored four straight points and never trailed the rest of the game.

Springs managed to tie the game at 34-all. Redig said it would’ve been nice to build a lead on the Cubans, who aren’t accustomed to trailing.

“That would’ve been huge for us to put them behind,” Redig said. “They’re typically not in that situation. It would’ve been interesting to see what they would’ve done. Our girls did a great job fighting.”

Schrauth was emotional afterwards.

“Devastating; I am heartbroken it’s our last time playing,” Schrauth said. “All these eight seniors are really upset. It’s been quite a run.”

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

St. Mary’s Springs played Cuba City in a Division 4 girls basketball state semifinal game Thursday at the Resch Center.

ASHWAUBENON – On high school sports teams, lifelong friendships often take root.

“When you go through something that special, even though you go your separate ways, the bonds and the emotion and the excitement that you went through together carry on for years and years,” said Jodi Wittwer of Fall Creek.

For two mother-daughter pairs from Fall Creek, a small town outside of Eau Claire, that friendship extends into its second generation.

“We’re just really excited for the girls to be able to have that also,” said Wittwer.

Thirty years ago, Suzanne Burghardt and Jodi Wittwer brought home the WIAA Girls State Basketball Title. This year, their daughters, junior Olivia Burghardt and senior Jonalyn Wittwer, took the court in Division 4, representing their hometown Crickets.

Burghardt and Wittwer say they never expected their daughters to have the same experience.

“You can’t even imagine how special today is. I mean, very few people get this chance, this opportunity to celebrate this with their daughters,” said Suzanne Burghardt.

“It’s amazing. We’re just really thankful that our girls will be able to experience what we experienced, because it’s hard to explain until you’ve actually gone through it,” said Jodi Wittwer.

And their daughters say they just want to make their moms proud.

“It’s always been like an ultimate goal like ever since you were little, this is what you dream of doing. And just getting here and being here today just being in this facility it makes it so much more real,” said Jonalyn Wittwer.

“It’s just so fun to be able to share the experience with them, knowing that they went to state and brought home the gold ball. I just hope that we can do that with our team,” said Olivia Burghardt.

No matter the score, these ladies say the memories made here watching their daughters are just as sweet as the ones they made in Madison three decades ago.