Luke Elkin is still pinching himself after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Chicago Bears following the NFL draft Elkin, a 2021 Neenah High School graduate, finished his collegiate career last season as the long snapper for the Iowa Hawkeyes. That included being named an American Football Coaches Association All-American last fall as well as an all-Big Ten second-team selection "I definitely feel like it hasn’t really set in yet," Elkin said of signing with the Bears "It’s still something that you wake up every morning and you're like 228-pound Elkin signed a three-year deal with the Bears worth a reported $2.98 million The deal included a $15,000 signing bonus and $40,000 guaranteed He reports to the team's rookie minicamp May 9 in Lake Forest Elkin goes from quarterback to long snapperElkin was a second-team all-Fox Valley Association-North selection at safety as a junior and first-team all-Fox Valley Classic Conference Division A quarterback during the 2021 spring COVID-19 season leading the Rockets in rushing and passing His career as a long snapper goes back even further "I kind of picked it up in the eighth grade," Elkin said So I threw it between my legs and it kind of worked Elkin said he got more serious about long snapping in high school and it paid off with increased interest from colleges "It was roughly around my junior year that schools started to reach out," he said you could have an opportunity to go out and play for a bigger name team as a long snapper vs going to a D-II or D-III school and playing other positions." Elkin eventually decided to walk on at Iowa and his career began quickly as a true freshman He took over for veteran Austin Spiewak early in the Hawkeyes' rivalry game victory against Iowa State in the second week of the season Vote for team of the month: Which team was the best in April? Vote for the Piggly Wiggly Post-Crescent high school team of the month Elkin would never relinquish that starting role and had the distinction of never having an errant snap in his four-year career said he began hearing from folks at the Iowa practices that his son might have what it takes to get to the NFL He still wasn't sure if that was all talk or if it had some validity "You can watch a wide receiver and see that the kid's special," Mike Elkin said "But how can you watch a long snapper to see if they're special But he played four years and did a good job and got the All-American honor this year." Luke Elkin was considered a possible late-round draft pick but when his name wasn't called that opened more opportunities via the free agent route and he had a list of preferred teams Chicago drafted Luke's former teammate at Iowa in the fourth round of the 2024 draft and Taylor had a solid rookie season with the Bears The Bears also have had some upheaval at long snapper recently who had been with the team for eight seasons missed the entire 2024 campaign following back surgery who was the long snapper all last season following Scales' injury and Daly re-signed with the Bears in March Daly had some injury issues a year ago as well with Bears tight end Cole Kmet having to step in and be an emergency long snapper in the Bears' win over Jacksonville last October after an in-game injury for Daly Elkin was Taylor's long snapper for three seasons at Iowa and the two have a history of operating at a high and efficient level as a duo Taylor was the 2023 Ray Guy Award winner for top collegiate punter and an Associated Press All-American Taylor and a group of Iowa teammates were golfing together before Elkin signed with Chicago "It was good to see him for the first time in awhile," Elkin said "And when I signed I gave him a call and talked to him and said 'I guess we're teammates again.' And he was super excited and happy about it it's going to be something you always dream about being able to go out and play with a former teammate that's just not another position but someone in a position that you work with every day So that's something I'm going to take advantage of as well because he's been there a full year as well "It was definitely something where this is a too good to be true feeling where it's this just makes perfect sense where it won't work out.' But it did though I think it's a great opportunity to be able to play with him again." Pitz signs with Ravens: Appleton West graduate Sam Pitz 'super grateful' after getting NFL chance with Baltimore Ravens Mike Elkin said looking at the NFL jersey of former Neenah standout and Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Peter Konz helped Luke realize the opportunity at hand I used to walk by Peter Konz's jersey and I never thought I'd have the opportunity,'" Mike Elkin said I could put on an NFL jersey.' Peter left a legacy here and Luke still has to make the team "But going from the University of Iowa and now to be a long snapper in the NFL .. a ton of people (in the community) learned about the long snapping position because of him and hopefully there's another kid in the community or from the Fox Valley that says that's going to be my thing,' and they get an opportunity down the road too." I'm your neighborhood reporter in Appleton NEENAH (NBC 26) — A Neenah retiree says he was shocked to receive a deportation notice from the Department of Homeland Security—despite being a lifelong U.S (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story “Do not attempt to remain in the United States That’s part of the message Tom Frantz received by email from the Department of Homeland Security That's when he realized the message was serious The Neenah retiree says the email stated he would be deported after DHS had “exercised its discretion to terminate [Frantz’s] parole.” But Frantz isn’t in the country on parole and hasn't committed any crime Frantz was born in Pennsylvania and has been a U.S you hear about people being deported routinely on the news now,” Frantz said that email prompted me into that mode right away Frantz says he’s now spent the past seven days working with Senator Tammy Baldwin and the Department of Homeland Security to make sure they both know he’s here legally and there were people knocking at the door saying You were supposed to leave the country at least seven days ago,’” he said the situation could’ve been very different Frantz says after spekaing with Senator Baldwin and the Department of Homeland Security But still keeping an eye out for any more messages accidentally sent to him by DHS “They indicated to me that they knew not everybody who was an intended recipient had email,” Frantz said I needed to get back in touch with Senator Baldwin's office immediately." Frantz also says DHS has apologized “profusely” for the error but he’s still frustrated that it happened in the first place He also says if you or anyone you know received a deportation letter by mistake We cover stories making an impact in Neenah. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Neenah and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood NEENAH – The city is moving toward enacting a $30 annual wheel tax to help pay for street improvements and sidewalk infill projects The Finance Committee voted 4-0 Monday to recommend a wheel tax over other revenue-generating alternatives such as special assessments on abutting properties or borrowing that would be repaid through property taxes Special assessments could saddle a typical homeowner with an $8,000 to $9,000 bill Borrowing would exclude tax-exempt properties such as churches and schools from paying their share and could limit the city's capacity to fund other capital projects is to go with the wheel tax," committee member Mark Ellis said The Common Council will vote on the wheel tax at its May 7 meeting A wheel tax is an annual vehicle registration fee enacted by a municipality or county to raise money to help pay for road improvements The revenue can be used to offset property taxes or street assessments or a combination of the two Oshkosh and Sheboygan all have wheel taxes They range from $10 to $35 and apply to vehicles that weigh 8,000 pounds or less The Wisconsin Department of Transportation collects the wheel tax for the municipality or county retains an administrative fee and sends the rest to the municipality or county How did Neenah pay for street improvements previously?Between 2019 and 2024 Neenah had an annual transportation assessment replacement fee It replaced unpopular and burdensome special assessments The TARF was based on a property's impervious surface It was favored as an equitable option because all property owners The unit fee for a typical homeowner was $40 The charge for large businesses could consist of multiple unit fees but was capped at $3,600 Finance Director Vicky Rasmussen and City Attorney David Rashid said in a joint memorandum Neenah increased its debt service tax levy by $825,000 which is the amount the TARF would have generated in 2025 as a short-term solution while it examined alternatives Neenah Mayor Jane Lang said she has been working with state Rep Dean Kaufert to introduce legislation that would make the TARF legal Kaufert was the mayor of Neenah when the city enacted the TARF A wheel tax applies to vehicles 8,000 pounds or less that are registered to properties within the municipality enacting the tax Neenah had 27,075 vehicles that satisfy the criteria so a $30 wheel tax would generate $812,250 If a typical single-family household has three vehicles Neenah resident Scott Becher brought the inequity of a wheel tax to the attention of the Finance Committee "I've heard from a lot of people in the community that they're concerned that 18-wheelers are not going to be part of that," Becher said Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DukeBehnke SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting The 50-metre Westport motor yacht Neenah listed for sale with Andy Miles of Miles Yacht Group Accommodation is provided across six cabins with easy access between all decks thanks to a lift The proven cabin layout includes a main-deck master suite forward as well as a generously proportioned bathroom which boasts both a freestanding bathtub and a DuoJet side jet shower On the lower deck are four guest cabins comprising two twins and two doubles with king-sized beds while the VIP double is positioned on the bridge deck Formal dining is enjoyed at a 12-seater table in the forward part of the saloon with light-coloured fabrics and carpets complementing the glass-varnish woodwork The aft deck benefits from both a large oval dining table with teak chairs plus a pair of oval coffee tables with lounge seating flanking them Up on the sundeck is a sit-up bar and a Jacuzzi while low freestanding seating below the hard top invites guests to relax with cocktails The 496GT, ABS-classed yacht for sale is powered by twin 3,860hp MTU diesel engines, giving her a top speed of 23 knots and cruising speed of 20 knots. Currently lying in Fort Lauderdale, US, Neenah is now asking $34,900,000. Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content NEENAH (NBC 26) — Kimberly-Clark announces a major investment The Neenah-born company behind major brands such as Kleenex and Scott products announced a $2 billion plan to expand U.S including a brand-new manufacturing plant in Warren The facility is expected to bring over 900 high-tech jobs to the region and serve as a key hub for the Northeast and Midwest A second project will add an automated distribution center to Kimberly-Clark's Beech Island facility in South Carolina In a press release North American President Russ Torres called the move "a strategic bet on the American consumer and our ability to drive innovation-led sustainable growth." where Kimberly-Clark was founded in Neenah more than 150 years ago the announcement is triggering alarm and raising a question: Is the company distancing itself from its roots "I was disappointed to hear that because it originated here "I feel like that business should stay within the state of Wisconsin and Wisconsin needs them Kimberly-Clark's footprint in Wisconsin has steadily shrunk over the past two decades: state lawmakers approved a $28 million incentive package to keep the Cold Spring plant open but this latest announcement of billions of dollars being invested outside of Wisconsin is once again shaking confidence in KC's long-term commitment to the Badger State.We spoke with one local woman who thinks the investment is a wise move this is a step in the right direction," says Mel McCarthy of Appleton "Keeping it in the country and keeping it accessible for us Kimberly-Clark still employs more than 2,500 people in our state NBC 26 contacted the company to comment on the expansion Construction on the Ohio and South Carolina projects is expected to begin this month and be completed within three years NEENAH – City officials have assembled a five-year implementation plan to start the development of Carpenter Preserve as a greenway corridor between Breezewood Lane and Winnebago County G "The great vision is to ultimately connect (Winnebago County) G all the way up to JJ and then over to the CB Trail that is currently in place," Neenah Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kading told the Common Council Neenah will hold an informational meeting about Carpenter Preserve at 6 p.m The grazing will take place between May and September on a 6-acre prairie located east of Kingswood Drive "It's going to be a learning process," Kading said Carpenter Preserve is a 102-acre park that stretches between Breezewood and County G on Neenah's southwest side The city acquired the land in the late 1990s for passive recreation and educational uses It is named in honor of former Neenah Mayor Marigen Carpenter Neenah developed a master plan for the preserve in 2002 but didn't implement the plan because other park projects took priority. The city revised the master plan in 2023 to account for neighborhood development "I don't want to give you the illusion that we didn't do anything between those 21 years volunteers were spreading woodchips on the trails buckthorn and invasive species were being removed." A wetland delineation report was completed in 2024 clearing the way to start the implementation of the master plan cut down the dead ash and reestablish nature," community project leader Gerry Andrews said grants and volunteer forceThe 2023 master plan estimated the full development of Carpenter Preserve will cost more than $3 million Neenah budgeted $100,000 in 2025 to start the development Kading said the implementation plan has been staged so work can continue seamlessly "Everything that we do this year flows into the next year and the next year," he said matching grants will be sought from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a volunteer force will be assembled to partner with the city on the development The master plan identifies the potential to acquire land north of the Pendleton playground from the Neenah Joint School District but the acquisition isn't part of the implementation plan then we will take a look at it," Kading said This story was updated to add new information A Neenah man was told by the Department of Homeland Security he had to leave the United States Even though he was later confirmed to be an unintended recipient Tom Frantz, whose story first broke on WPR received an email April 11 that told him to "depart the United States immediately" because his humanitarian parole was being terminated he double-checked online and found an immigration attorney in Massachusetts had also received a similar email Baldwin's office confirmed Frantz is a natural-born U.S citizen who has never been on humanitarian parole "they can compound." He was also concerned about the consequences the email threatened He reached out to Baldwin's office and within an hour a staffer was on the phone with him "Their concern and work to assist me is exactly what I hope the government would be," he said the email was sent to addresses linked in an app used by Customs and Border Patrol The email could have been sent to the person applying for parole or asylum an NGO or a financial supporter of the applicant Frantz said he confirmed to them he did not fit any of those categories or use the app at all The DHS official said the notice may have been sent to "unintended recipients," including American citizens if their email addresses were provided by someone who interacted with CBP The official also said they would review issues on a case-by-case basis being in the United States is a privilege — not a right," the official's statement said "We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly." Frantz said DHS "apologized profusely." Meanwhile his issue was elevated to CBP and has now been resolved Baldwin said in a statement the notice was "completely illegal." "President Trump is trying to deport an American-born law-abiding citizen and has provided absolutely no justification," the statement continued "The President cannot kick Americans out of the country just because he wants — no one is above the law Frantz said he's keeping an eye on his email and mailbox and said he wants others to be aware and take action "My story is really a story I never imagined would happen to me," he said "It's a story I wish I did not have to tell." The government said the emails to U4U migrants were unintentional and has appealed the decision More: ‘We’ve got their backs’: New London neighbors stand with Tyson Foods workers facing deportation Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com The seven-month project will maintain northbound traffic and access to businesses but southbound traffic will be detoured onto Winneconne Avenue Neenah Public Works Director Gerry Kaiser said South Commercial handles about 11,000 vehicles a day Electronic message boards announcing the project and the detour will be put in place early next week The reconstruction will cost $10.14 million and will: "The layout of the road itself is generally the same as what we have there," Kaiser told The Post-Crescent "The roadway will be narrowed by about 3 feet and most of that is in the center turn lane." Federal funds administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will pay $7.49 million of the project cost Neenah budgeted $2.4 million for construction Kaiser said the bids were higher than anticipated and will require the use of reserves from the city's public infrastructure fund The construction cost is in addition to the $795,000 that Neenah spent on design engineering and property acquisitions for the project city-only project concerning southbound traffic at the intersection of South Commercial and Winneconne will coincide with the larger reconstruction project It will cost $148,000 and will create a left-turn lane onto East Winneconne and a right-turn-only lane onto Winneconne The current configuration has two southbound through lanes that soon merge into one "That has been a complaint over the years," Kaiser said Vinton Construction Co. of Manitowoc is the contractor for both projects Kaiser said construction updates will be posted on the city's website under the Resident Project Page Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke The Neenah Joint School District has removed the diversity equity and inclusion page from its website and retitled staff members according to a review by The Post-Crescent the website included the district's statement on diversity along with contact information for its DEI staff members It also included a link to an equity audit report from the 2022-23 school year Further review revealed that two of the positions in the department have changed language in their titles from "equity and inclusion" to "educational access." According to a statement provided by district superintendent Steve Harrison "educational access" means examining and addressing disparities between students that affect their outcomes; he gave disability and socioeconomic status as examples Superintendent: Name change reflects 'responsibility to support student success'In a statement Harrison also said the changes in the job titles is meant to "more clearly describe the work we do every day to support students." It also "removes the variety of perspectives of the term 'DEI' and more accurately reflects our emphasis on educational access for all students," he said "Our focus has always been — and continues to be — to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality education," Harrison's statement said "This commitment has never been defined by DEI but rather by our responsibility to support student success equity and inclusion" language from job descriptions On Feb. 28, however, the Trump administration issued new guidance in a frequently asked questions document the terms "diversity," "equity" and "inclusion" don't violate the law in and of themselves Neither does observing events like Black History Month or International Holocaust Remembrance Day In response to the Feb. 14 mandate, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction sent a memo to administrators that encouraged "a measured and thoughtful approach rather than immediate or reactionary responses to the federal government’s concerns." "We are confident that Wisconsin schools and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are spending federal dollars in compliance with the law," the memo added What is diversity, equity and inclusion?Diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI or EDI, "promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially populations that have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination," according to the American Psychological Association The archived Neenah Joint School District DEI website defined "equity" as "ensuring students access to opportunity and participation by actively identifying and eliminating barriers so that our students can be successful." equity and inclusion has sparked controversy as it deals with race it also is meant to include other federally protected characteristics such as disability Green Bay Press-Gazette; Zachary Schermele Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin With one board member not seeking reelection the race for three open seats on the Neenah Joint School District Board of Education is on Two incumbents and three challengers will compete for those three open seats on April 1 Board vice president Sarah Moore-Nokes will not return to the board are running for reelection alongside challengers Eric Fredrickson We asked the candidates to tell us why voters should choose them for the school board. Their responses were lightly edited for clarity. Candidates are shown in alphabetical order, not necessarily the order shown on the ballot. To learn more about voting and how to register, visit myvote.wi.gov Why are you running for office?Asbury: Serving on the school board is an honor I’m running to provide continuity and experience to be a champion for excellence in public education for all students and to continue the great work we have started with our community I will increase literacy with Act 20' improve communication; transparency and engagement with the community; support our educators with adequate resources; and advocate at the local county and state levels; with strong fiscal management and highest academic standards Brzezinski: As a candidate for Neenah School Board my top priority is ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed and that our community has a voice in shaping the future of education Fredrickson: I am running for office to protect our schools My education and experience as a quality engineer provide me the opportunity to gather and interpret data to focus on all that is going well and evaluate opportunities for improvement School board is a nonpartisan elected position for a reason; the only focus should be continuously improving our schools and ensuring our district meets the needs of our community McNeil: I am running for a position on the school board because I know I can make a difference and help drive further improvements in the Neenah JSD I would like to help enhance communication with the community and parents provide greater visibility into curriculum decisions improve school choice and strengthen programs for special education along with workforce and college preparedness I'd also work to address the growing pains and student safety concerns from the recent facility changes What makes you the better candidate?Asbury: Experience character and passion make me a strong candidate for reelection to the Neenah Board of Education I’m a lifelong learner and value serving my community I understand the value of excellent public education and opportunity I strive to be engaged and educated about the issues rely on multiple sources for information and act independently within the collective structure of the board Brzezinski: I will be an advocate for special education I sit on the board of People with Developmental Disabilities I have advocated at state level for special education funding as I have a background in business management and risk management Fredrickson: I am comfortable with responsibility I’m prepared to do the work to benefit our schools our children and be accountable to the community My background as a quality engineer has given me experience looking at complex and detailed processes and given me perspective on optimizing those processes and finding solutions to difficult problems in our schools for the benefit of our students and educators McNeil: We have some great candidates this cycle but what sets me apart is my background in technology I know how to address problems strategically and how to build consensus for results I strive for excellence and am passionate about improving our district contract management and leadership can all be used to benefit our kids What do residents say the district's most important issues are and how would you address them?Asbury: Communication and transparency inclusion in the decision-making process and increasing literacy with Act 20 are top issues including equalization aid and special education reimbursement Brzezinski: Transparency: I will ensure transparent communication between the School Board and parents by making sure all areas of communication are accounted for and also that parents and community members have a voice Bullying and concerns at the middle school: ensuring our bullying policy is updated and sufficient Ensuring our middle school is supported and appropriately staffed to handle issues that arise Special education: ensuring all IEPs are followed accurately and staff are supported fully Fredrickson: Teacher retention is a big issue and it’s increasingly difficult to attract new talent There are policies that could help improve conditions for educators with minimal impact to the budget 41% of students read below their grade level I struggled with this as I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was in school I support more evidence-based practice in the reading curriculum McNeil: I would focus on enhancing communication between the board and the community so that we can have a more robust dialogue before decisions are made We also need to improve staffing levels for special education and drive academic improvements across all student population groups I think there is a great opportunity for our district to enhance partnerships within the community for workforce and college preparedness We also need to improve student safety so that learning is the priority again NEENAH — The city of Neenah has released its report from an internal investigation into City Attorney David Rashid Rashid, 62, of Neenah, is charged in Winnebago County Circuit Court with two counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault, all with domestic abuse modifiers The Post-Crescent is not stating the alleged victim's relationship to Rashid to avoid identifying them It is the Post-Crescent's policy to not identify victims of sexual assault without their consent According to a statement released by the city at that time "an extensive internal personnel investigation found no violations pertaining to matters in the workplace." The Post-Crescent requested records from the investigation in January citing an "open and ongoing personnel investigation." the city reversed its decision on releasing records and shared a redacted investigation report The investigation was conducted by Neenah Police Investigator Craig Hoffer at the request of Neenah's human resources department The 40-page report provides additional details beyond what has been discussed in criminal proceedings so far ranging from child pornography to bestiality said he was informed of the accusation by the person accusing Rashid while Boudreau groomed the person's dogs In the conclusion of the Rashid investigation report Hoffer wrote that he finds it "extremely unlikely" that Rashid would be convicted of the criminal charges against him or even circumstantial evidence to support or disprove the allegations." He has a status hearing scheduled for 11:30 a.m What are the details in the investigation report?The following is from the investigation report: Hoffer offered his own opinion about the outcome of Rashid's case: "I find it extremely unlikely that David Rashid would be convicted of the charges that have been filed against him," the report reads "The only way I can see him being convicted would be if there is some very significant supporting evidence that I am not aware of that David Rashid's attorneys did not make me aware of and that District Attorney Cass Cousins is hanging onto until trial which he did not present at the preliminary hearing When the city of Neenah denied the Post-Crescent's record request in January Neenah Human Resources Director Amy Fairchild said in an email that the investigation was held open despite Rashid's return to work "to avoid any double jeopardy issues if through the current open criminal proceeding additional discovery finds or results in any workplace violations." Fairchild said the city's investigation cannot be concluded until Rashid's criminal proceedings are concluded in Tuesday's email releasing the internal investigation report Neenah City Clerk Char Nagel described the change "We had been operating under the advisement of our outside counsel at von Briesen & Roper that we did not need to comply to the open records requests from the media relative to the internal personnel investigation but only to the court ordered release to the District Attorney prosecuting the case," Nagel's email reads "Our outside counsel has now reversed its opinion on this matter and we are releasing the internal personnel investigation to anyone who has previously submitted a request under the open records law." Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli pleaded no contest to a felony count of maintaining a drug trafficking place as party to a crime The probation sentence was a joint recommendation of both the prosecution and defense attorneys is accused of shooting and injuring a man and Hendricks' 11-year-old brother — Johnson's younger son — at the family's apartment on the evening of Nov they found nearly 130 grams of suspected marijuana and around 920 grams of THC oil in vape cartridges as well as more than 3,200 grams of THC edibles in sealed packages according to criminal complaints for both Johnson and Hendricks The large amount of drugs and the way they were packaged led investigators to believe they were intended for distribution Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Nash said Hendricks was "primarily running the drug operation," but that Johnson was aware young people were using drugs in her apartment Nash noted among the people in and out of the apartment the night of the shooting were Johnson's 11-year-old son and two of his friends and accidentally also shot the 11-year-old boy Both victims were treated for injuries at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah An investigator who testified at Hendricks' preliminary hearing said the 11-year-old boy spent several days at the hospital in critical condition Johnson's 11-year-old son's "significant injuries" were likely "a wake up call" for Johnson said the man who was shot came to the apartment shared by Johnson Hendricks and Johnson's 11-year-old son that evening looking for a fight and "does not have clean hands at all in this situation." Ceman also pointed out Johnson had no prior criminal record "Obviously it's to your credit that you have no prior criminal convictions it's outrageous," Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge John Jorgensen told Johnson the judge sentenced Johnson to 120 days of stayed jail time — meaning she will have to serve that time if she violates any conditions of her probation which include maintaining absolute sobriety and following any recommended counseling Johnson has 65 days of jail credit from the time she has already spent in Winnebago County Jail Johnson is scheduled to return to court for a restitution hearing at 9 a.m two other felony charges — neglecting a child where the consequence is great bodily harm and possession with intent to manufacture distribute or deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 grams of THC as party to a crime — were dismissed in a plea deal A misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer was dismissed at earlier court proceedings RELATED: Mother and son face charges in connection with Nov. 29 shooting at Neenah apartment RELATED: 17-year-old accused of injuring 2 in Neenah apartment shooting bound over for trial Hendricks has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m He is charged with first-degree reckless injury distribute or deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 grams of THC as party to a crime aggravated battery and maintaining a drug trafficking place as party to a crime He is also charged with a misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing an officer is charged with harboring or aiding a felon in connection with the shooting Matthews has an arraignment scheduled for 8:30 a.m NEENAH — Candidate Jeffrey Linski will make his second run at the Neenah Common Council in the April 1 election, where he will face candidate Frank Cuthbert in District 3 which encompasses the west side of the city Cuthbert is making his first run at elected office The winner of the nonpartisan election will earn a three-year term on the council Incumbent Lee Hillstrom didn't seek reelection As part of The Post-Crescent's election coverage Cuthbert and Linski were asked to complete a questionnaire to explain why they're running for office what makes them the better candidate and how they would address the most important issues facing the city The League of Women Voters of Winnebago County and the city will sponsor a forum featuring Cuthbert and Linski starting at 6:15 p.m That will be followed by a forum for Neenah school board candidates at 7 p.m For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us Neenah voters can cast an absentee ballot in person on weekdays from March 18 to March 28 at City Hall Jeffrey LinskiAddress: 1563 Kingswood DriveAge: 58Occupation: Line aircraft maintenance manager at AllegiantHighest education: Associate degrees in aviation maintenance technology and in instructor of technology and military science from the Community College of the Air Force    Relevant experience: I have more than 24 years of experience serving in the U.S Air Force and 12 years of experience as an aircraft maintenance manager I managed multimillion-dollar budgets and worked with people from diverse backgrounds  Campaign website: NoneWhy are you running for office?Cuthbert: I am a candidate for alderman because I really enjoy living in Neenah and want to have the city maintain its community values as we continue to grow and develop I have seen how policies and decisions have a direct impact on our city and residents Linski: My wife and I have been homeowners in District 3 for the past 10 years I am running for city council because I feel passionately that no other elected position can build and improve community respect taxpayer interests and protect property values more than an active What makes you the better candidate in this race?Cuthbert: I am very active with the city working at the Neenah library and volunteering for city events I already have a good working relationship with the city's leadership I will be an effective representative for our community's citizens from day one Linski: I'll always conduct myself in a professional manner attend and participate in council meetings serve on city committees as appointed and be an active and equal participant I want to continue to make our city a great place to live and raise a family most of them are satisfied with the city's policies Crime is mentioned in some of the discussions The Police Department is actively engaged in replacing retiring officers The Public Works Department has a multiyear plan for street repair and a modernization plan I will support these efforts and look for ways to continue funding them we need to keep growing our tax base through economic development and new housing starts Growth in this area will help improve tax revenue without having to raise taxes on current residents our budgets are under attack because of inflation and labor shortages We must find creative ways to stretch the dollars the city receives to continue to provide a high level of services Economic growth will increase our tax base to help with budget shortfalls we must work with the police and fire departments to make sure Neenah is a safe place to work and live is charged in Outagamie County Circuit Court with two felony counts of possession of child pornography Records indicate Halls was booked into Outagamie County Jail around 12:15 p.m He made his initial court appearance Thursday jail records do not list Halls as in custody at the Outagamie County Jail The jail was not immediately available to confirm if he posted bond Halls is scheduled to appear in court next at 9 a.m Neenah Police Chief Aaron Olson announced Halls' firing Wednesday I understand this will and should cause concern nothing has disappointed me more than the reported actions of this former officer," Olson's statement reads I along with all our Neenah Police Department staff will work extremely hard to rebuild your trust." What does the criminal complaint say?The following information is from a criminal complaint: each possession of child pornography count carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison The maximum term of imprisonment for each count is 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision RELATED: Neenah police officer fired for alleged child pornography possession More: Freedom man charged with 10 counts of child pornography possession and had been employed with the Neenah Police Department for almost exactly a year Olson said Halls' new-officer probationary period would have continued until November by David Go NEENAH (WLUK) -- Waves of thunderstorms made their way across Northeast Wisconsin throughout the day Monday Pea-to-marble-sized hail dropped on the Fox Valley Monday morning Chime In with your storm photos and videos: It melted by afternoon due to the mid-70s temperatures FOX 11 is not aware of any property damage from the hail storm A radar-indicated tornado was also identified in the northwest part of our area UPDATE #2: A former Neenah police officer faces a $20,000 cash bail bond and could face up to 50 years in prison after he was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography 22-year-old Owen Halls appeared in Outagamie County Court Thursday afternoon a day after the Neenah Police Department announced his firing Halls has been ordered to avoid contact with anyone under 18 and cannot use any internet devices His next court appearance is scheduled for May 5 at 9:00 a.m UPDATE: A former Neenah police officer is currently being held in the Outagamie County Jail after he was taken into custody for possession of child porn According to the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office is set to appear before the court commissioner this afternoon That's when the complaint will likely be filed in court and we'll have a better idea of when Halls will be going before a judge again and whether the judge will accept bond in this case Please stay with NBC 26 on air and online as this story develops ORIGINAL REPORTING: A Neenah police officer has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and Neenah Chief of Police Aaron Olson said in a news release Wednesday that on Monday Kaukauna's chief of police advised Olson that Kaukauna Police received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip Olson said a plan was made to have Halls — who was hired with Neenah PD on March 25 Kaukauna Police executed multiple search warrants Wednesday Police say Halls has been charged with two counts of possessing of child pornography and added they will not be releasing further information at this time Here's what you can expect from two new businesses and when they're expected to open Ollie's Bargain Outlet is moving into the former Big Lots at 699 S A banner was hung on the building in November announcing the future business the exact opening is not confirmed but four other Ollie's in the state are slated to open in February In proximity to Oshkosh, the Fond du Lac Ollie's store is slated to open Feb. 12. Locations in Sheboygan, West Bend and Mt. Pleasant are also expected to open the same day The retail store carries brands at bargain prices for a wide range of departments labeling itself as "America's largest retailer of closeout merchandise" on its website It'll be the first of its kind in the Fox Cities other stores in Wisconsin are located in Kenosha and Rothschild 7 Brew Coffee is currently under construction in the Kohl's outlot between Panda Express and Starbucks Coffee While the construction began in early November there is currently no set date for when the construction will be completed or when the location will be open for business This location will be the first of its kind in the Fox Cities, other Wisconsin locations include Eau Claire, Brookfield, Pleasant, and Kenosha, with a sixth location currently under construction in Bellevue Faith Huey is a business reporter for The Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at fhuey@gannett.com or view her Instagram profile at @Faith.Huey NEENAH (WLUK) -- “Last Light: Neenah” is the newest attraction in downtown Neenah, featuring seasonal video projections on the Future Neenah building Michelle Dunning of Future Neenah heads the project It’s been a lot of work just getting to this place," she told FOX 11 The projections, funded by a Tourism Development Grant from the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau is set to bring some seasonal flair to Neenah’s Downtown art is just going to be filling in on the blank walls," Dunning said." It’s going to bring lots of people and hopefully lots of visitors to downtown Neenah.” Future Neenah enlisted the help of students at Neenah High School to create large flower sculptures which line the alleyway beside the building and help bring an extra pop to the projections at night and they just took it and ran with it," said Dunning "They turned out absolutely beautiful It is like an art exhibit just walking down the alleyway." Cathy Trebatoski from The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau said they’ve received great feedback on the projections “It’s something fun to do for families to get out and do together it’s not anything we’ve really seen here before," Trebatoski explained Dunning said they have a beautiful downtown The projections run Thursday through Sunday they also plan to show larger projections on the side of Greene’s Pour House across the street Future Neenah will also be featuring a larger football-themed projection for the 2025 NFL Draft beginning in late April A 45-year-old man from the town of Neenah was sentenced April 14 to five years in prison for distributing child pornography Roberto De La Rosa pleaded guilty in January to one count of possessing and distributing child pornography A second charge was dismissed in a plea deal De La Rosa will spend seven years on supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender According to a criminal complaint, an analyst with the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force contacted the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Oct. 1, 2024, about a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children generated by online messaging application Kik The CyberTip indicated uploading of 32 files of suspected child sexual abuse material including a video depicting child sexual abuse that had been uploaded by an individual and sent to another account on June 10 a second CyberTip related to the same IP address was forwarded to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office It found multiple videos of child sexual abuse material had been uploaded and sent to other accounts 20 at a home on the 500 block of County Road G in the town of Neenah they made contact with De La Rosa's girlfriend who they determined was not sharing child sexual abuse material at which time he provided the passcode to his phone and said "There is stuff on there you are going to find which is what you are looking for," the complaint says An analysis of De La Rosa's device revealed 44 videos depicting child pornography The investigation found he repeatedly viewed collected and distributed child sexual abuse material on multiple occasions Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin De La Rosa's five years in prison is the mandatory minimum prison sentence for a federal child pornography conviction The case was brought forward as part of the U.S. Department of Justice's initiative Project Safe Childhood This story was updated to to correct a misspelling NEENAH — The removal of Neenah's transportation assessment replacement fee, or TARF, from the 2025 city budget will result in a sizable tax increase for homeowners Neenah enacted the TARF in 2019 to help pay for street reconstruction and sidewalk infill projects It replaced unpopular special assessments that periodically hit property owners with bills totaling thousands of dollars The Common Council on Tuesday removed the TARF from the budget to avoid a lawsuit by WMC it increased the debt service tax levy by $825,000 the council unanimously passed the 2025 budget The tax bill for the owner of a $275,000 home will rise $124 next year: $44 for budgetary increases $40 to replace the residential TARF and $40 to shoulder a share of the TARF heretofore paid by businesses and tax-exempt organizations such as churches "This isn't a wash," Finance Director Vicky Rasmussen told The Post-Crescent "The residents are definitely being hit more Tax-exempt people don't pay anything on it even though they're using the roads as well." Appleton, Chilton, Green Bay, Kaukauna, New London and Oshkosh have opted for a wheel tax to replace or partially offset special assessments Neenah's TARF is based on a property's impervious surface It was favored as a more equitable option because all property owners The unit fee for a typical homeowner is $40 The annual charge for large businesses can consist of multiple unit fees but is capped at $3,600 and the $1,600 gap will shift to other property taxpayers The budget provides a 4.5% pay increase (1.5% in January and 3% in July) for nonunion city employees and accounts for a 28.5% jump in health insurance costs due to high use and inflation Neenah will transition back to a self-funded health insurance plan in attempt to minimize costs Department directors requested sixnew full-time positions — four for Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue one for the Public Works Department and one for the Neenah Public Library — but Mayor Jane Lang and the council didn't fund any of them A proposal by council member William Pollnow Jr to increase the salary for newly elected council members by 5% "The 5% is more than what we're giving anybody else here at City Hall," council member Lee Hillstrom said The tax levy necessary to support the budget is $21.5 million The assessed tax rate will increase 6.8% to $7.02 per $1,000 of valuation The owner of a $275,000 home will pay $1,931 in property taxes for city services next year The total will be offset somewhat by the removal of the $40 TARF Neenah's annual stormwater fee will rise from $84 to $90 per equivalent runoff unit and the city's annual recycling fee will rise from $42 to $47 Rasmussen said property tax bills will be mailed in the first half of December The budget includes $21.5 million for capital projects $18.1 million of which will be funded by borrowing That's well above the 10-year average of $11.2 million in annual borrowing The council cut several projects from the budget including $1.4 million to reconstruct Bergstrom Road between Breezewood Lane and Winnebago County G The council also cut $65,000 to install sidewalks on Alexander Drive after residents argued the sidewalks weren't needed or wanted NEENAH — The family-owned Galloway Co. produces dairy ingredients for some of the biggest brands in the U.S as it doesn't want to create unnecessary competition among its customers "Our ingredients are used in products that put smiles on people's faces and not just because of the cream liqueur," third-generation owner Tim Galloway said 1 supplier of cream liqueur bases and sweetened condensed milk in the U.S The company recently completed a $70 million expansion that includes a four-story custom-built evaporator that nearly doubles the nation's capacity for industrial sweetened condensed milk Company employees and community leaders gathered Tuesday to celebrate not only the grand opening of the expansion but also Galloway's role in the Neenah business sector and beyond "This expansion is a commitment to our industry company and community that will be here for a long time," Tim Galloway said adding that the company expects to invest another $100 million in its campus in the next few years Galloway once provided door-to-door dairy goods for families but today specializes in producing condensed dairy blends and beverage bases is the largest manufacturer of frozen dairy dessert mixes in Wisconsin and supplies customers across the country The company employs more than 150 people and expects to add another 20 in the next year Galloway welcomes new customers for the first time in four yearsGalloway said the expansion was needed to relieve the tight market for premium concentrated dairy ingredients It will allow the company to take on new customers for the first time in four years we've seen growing constraints from the bakery and confectionery markets with extended lead times and maxed-out production capacities," said Mike Hasler "This expansion ensures we can not only meet the demand of our existing customers Galloway has built redundancy into its production process minimizing the risk of service interruptions for clients The new system also will enable greater customization of products allowing the company to fulfill orders from full tanker trucks to smaller batches packaged in totes or 5-gallon pails Galloway offered a tour of its new facility Tuesday No photography was allowed inside due to the proprietary engineering and machinery What was Neenah's role in the expansion?Neenah didn't provide a financial incentive to support the $70 million expansion but it partnered with Galloway to construct two nearby stormwater ponds The city's Harrison Street stormwater pond accepts clean processing water from Galloway cooling it to meet regulatory requirements before it is discharged to Neenah Creek Galloway contributed $147,000 for the pond's construction Galloway also contributed $200,000 toward the land acquisition, design and construction of a city stormwater pond at Douglas Park Galloway represents about 10% of the pond's total drainage area "It minimizes the need for them to do on-site retention on their property so they can maximize and have a more efficient use of the real estate that they have," Haese said 'Galloway has been a fantastic corporate citizen'Galloway's presence in Neenah dates to 1932 The business later become Neenah Milk Products Co the Galloway family fully acquired Neenah Milk Products The company has reached four generations of family ownership "Galloway has been a fantastic corporate citizen to the city of Neenah," Haese said "In addition to being an economic engine in the form of their facility they have supported numerous city projects throughout the community They are a family-owned business with roots that run deep here in the city." after nearby residents complained that noise from Galloway's sugar shaker — a mechanical device that vibrates railcars to unload granulated sugar — disturbed the neighborhood Galloway enclosed the operation in an insulated building to mitigate the noise Galloway has purchased nearby homes as they became available to accommodate its expansion plans Its property now totals nearly 15 acres and is bound by Henry Street on the west South Commercial on the east and Douglas Park on the south OSHKOSH — A mother and son are facing charges in connection with a Nov are each charged with multiple felonies after police say Hendricks shot and wounded two people: a man he had a disagreement with and his 11-year-old brother In Wisconsin, 17-year-olds charged with crimes are tried as adults numerous other guests were present in the apartment before and at the time of the shooting Among them were a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old What do the criminal complaints say?The following information is from criminal complaints for both Hendricks and Johnson: NEENAH — The hum of machinery still fills the air at 1111 Henry St in a building once home to Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s Neenah nonwovens facility the machines now churn out about 3,500 miles of fiber per second which That’s where the company 5K Fibres got its name 5K Fibres is using the space to manufacture nonwoven materials from filters that capture the tiniest particles of indoor air to disinfectant wipes for everyday use I started basically repurposing the whole facility for what I wanted to do.” He characterized the purchase of the former Kimberly-Clark facility as a joking coincidence Brown originally came to bid on a few pieces of equipment in late 2019 but turned it into a much bigger opportunity He also ran a facility in Greenville and saw the potential in the Neenah facility’s building: power access and infrastructure available to scale up production It all fit into his plans to expand nonwoven fabric manufacturing in the Fox Valley Brown ramped up fabric production in the newly purchased Neenah facility in June 2020 to meet the soaring demand for N95 masks made material to support a combined 1.5 million masks per day The two facilities hired nearly 70 workers Brown switched back to his original goal: high-end filtration materials we basically went back to what my original intent was.” the facility sat idle after Kimberly-Clark closed the plant in March 2019 as part of a global restructuring effort The Neenah facility had been instrumental in producing nonwoven fabrics for Kimberly-Clark’s baby and child care products Its closure resulted in 65 layoffs, according to a WARN notice filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development In 2018, Kimberly-Clark planned to eliminate up to 5,500 jobs and close or sell 10 plants worldwide, according to The Post-Crescent archives the Neenah facility has received a steady stream of new production inquiries He said the facility is doing trials for new customers every week and Brown said he is looking to add roughly 15 more by the end of the year 5K Fibres is a subsidiary of Biax-Fiberfilm Corporation, which owns a machining and fabrication facility at 1219 N. Badger Ave. in Appleton, according to its website Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her with story tips and feedback at zwang@gannett.com or 920-993-7117 NEENAH — The proposed 2025 Neenah budget includes $2.4 million to reconstruct South Commercial Street $3 million to remodel Fire Station 31 and $3.1 million to improve the shoreline at Doty Park What the budget doesn't include is $18 million to construct a second downtown parking ramp The budget recommended by Mayor Jane Lang would provide a 4.5% pay increase (1.5% in January and 3% in July) for nonunion city employees "The ability of the city to retain our excellent workforce depends on our ability to provide our employees with appropriate compensation and benefits," Lang said in her letter to the community The budget accounts for a 28.5% jump in health insurance costs due to high use and inflation Department directors requested six new full-time positions: four for Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue one for the Public Works Department and one for the Neenah Public Library The fire department also requested an additional part-time position Lang didn't include any of the positions in the budget "Our commitment must be to our existing employees at this time," Lang said the pressure of increased health insurance costs for the city is what is largely driving this decision." investment income is projected to increase by $317,000 (33%) and transportation aids are anticipated to increase by $200,000 (15%) the city would use $300,000 from general fund reserves The tax levy necessary to support the budget is $20.6 million More than $400,000 in personal property taxes was removed from the levy and replaced with state aid The assessed tax rate would increase 2.4% to $6.73 per $1,000 of valuation The owner of a $275,000 home would pay $1,851 in property taxes for city services next year The city's annual stormwater fee would rise from $84 to $90 per equivalent runoff unit to cover expenses and debt payments Neenah's recycling fee would rise from $42 to $47 annually The budget includes $23 million for capital projects $19.6 million of which would be funded by borrowing Where can I find a copy of the budget?The 393-page budget is posted on the city's website under the Finance Department's tab for financial reports The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m The Common Council is scheduled to vote on the budget after the hearing A Neenah man saves a couple from fiery car crash.(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story) WI — A Neenah tow truck driver is being celebrated as a hero after rescuing two people from a fiery car crash on Monday night Tanner Ater was preparing to leave his apartment for work when he heard a loud crash outside “I happened to see a car laid out on its side and a lady screaming for help,” Ater said and drove his tow truck to the crash site on Gillingham Road near Breezewood Lane he found the overturned car with a woman sitting on top She said that her husband was trapped inside the vehicle The lady was sitting on top of the vehicle holding the door open using the fire extinguisher to put out the flames before helping the woman off the car and saw her husband lying at the bottom of the vehicle,” Ater said they extinguished another fire in the engine bay and pulled the man from the wreckage I don’t think the husband would have made it Neenah Police say the woman Ater helped was treated and released from the hospital They added that the husband remains hospitalized Ater hopes his actions inspire others to help in moments of need “What if you drove by and didn’t recognize it was your mom and he is now being recognized as a local hero NEENAH — The city of Neenah looks far different today than it did in 1991 when Chris Haese entered City Hall as a principal planner Neenah's industrial park is home to Plexus' $50 million which is the largest single-built structure in the city a contract manufacturer of complex electronic products employs more than 1,000 people at the plant Haese has had a hand in all those developments particularly since he was named director of community development and assessment in 2009 after the retirement of Bob Buckingham "Nothing here has happened because of me," Haese told The Post-Crescent "It's been because there's been a team behind all of these things," mentioning elected officials completing 34 years of service with Neenah as a part-time planning adviser for the city Haese's consulting role 'vitally important' to ongoing projectsWhen Haese announced his retirement in a Jan he made no mention of staying on as an adviser "I will miss working with you all," he said "but I look forward to watching Neenah continue to grow as I embark on this next chapter." Four days later Mayor Jane Lang and Director of Human Resources and Safety Amy Fairchild asked the Finance and Personnel Committee to retain Haese to ensure the success of current projects "His professional knowledge and experience as well as the relationships he has developed with current projects make it vitally important for Director Haese to remain involved and active until said projects have been completed or the incoming director is able to transition into leadership and establish the necessary knowledge for continued success of these on-going projects," Lang and Fairchild said in a memorandum The committee and Common Council agreed that Haese's expertise is needed for the development of Arrowhead Park the negotiation of a boundary agreement with the town of Clayton and an assessment of downtown parking needs starting on March 10 and continuing through Aug Haese's career has spanned five Neenah mayors: Marigen Carpenter He praised their progressive attitudes toward community development "We've had very good leadership in this community," Haese said "They've been willing to take calculated risks on things One of the biggest calculated risks was the redevelopment of the Glatfelter paper mill after it closed in 2006 cleaned up the environmental contamination and attracted new development to the site The effort transformed the west end of downtown Neenah "There's always momentum in the downtown" Haese said and Neenah has had that for as long as I've been here but one misstep and it could be going the opposite way Glatfelter would have been a big misstep to let that take care of itself because I don't think that would have happened." Haese played a role in several Neenah park acquisitions including the 102-acre Carpenter Preserve on the city's southwest side He also has worked to expand Neenah's housing options nearly 100 single-family lots were created and 81 single-family homes were constructed "It's not that the land is not out there," Haese said "we just don't have landowners that are interested in selling their property." "I wish we would have been involved a little bit more." Land in or near the city could have been found for the new high school even if it required the use of eminent domain the power of a government to take private property for public use "I think there was property within proximity that could have worked," Haese said Upon retirement, Haese plans to become more active in the American Kennel Club Retriever Field Trials "There have been plenty of days where I've driven past the boat landing and wished I had the opportunity to go out fishing that day," he said intend to make more frequent visits to Texas is pursuing a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering (WLUK) -- A Neenah police officer accused of child pornography possession was arrested and terminated from the department The investigation into probationary police officer Owen Halls began on Monday after the Kaukauna Police Department received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip The tip was linked to an address in Kaukauna and was determined Halls was the suspect in the case evidence was presented to Neenah Police Chief Aaron Olson and a plan was made to have Halls arrested multiple search warrants were executed by Kaukauna police Olson says the department is recommending two counts of possession of child pornography Halls was employed by the department since March 25 (WLUK) -- Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue was busy Tuesday morning responding to two fires almost simultaneously -- including one that displaced residents Crews were dispatched to the 700 block of Harding Street in Menasha for a fire on the outside of a home Firefighters contained the blaze and prevented further extension into the residence The home suffered minor interior smoke damage with moderate external damage to the front of the structure Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue responded to another fire -- this time at an apartment building in the 1000 block of W Crews arrived on scene to find a stove fire with moderate black smoke coming from the entry door The fire was contained to the apartment unit's kitchen and did not spread to the rest of the building This fire is also believed to be accidental The apartment suffered extensive smoke and fire damage NEENAH — Motorists in the city soon might be able to park overnight on residential streets year-round Under current regulations Neenah allows overnight parking on the even-numbered side of a street on even-numbered days determined by the calendar date before midnight it allows overnight parking on the odd-numbered side of a street on odd-numbered days The winter restriction was implemented to provide a window of time for city crews to clear snow and ice from the streets "Considering that snowfall events don't occur frequently and that with larger snow events a snow emergency proclamation is made anyway the utilization of this specific restriction is limited," Neenah traffic engineer James Merten told the Public Services and Safety Committee The restriction has created hardships for some motorists particularly those who live in multifamily housing units with limited on-site parking They receive a majority of the overnight parking tickets "While it can be said property owners should be providing adequate on-premises parking tenants are the ones subject to the fines," he said which was supported unanimously by the Public Services and Safety Committee It will be considered Wednesday by the Common Council "I'm fully in support of these changes," committee member William Pollnow Jr "I think they're very common sense and more accommodating." Neenah police would be charged with publicizing the changes (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story) A long-anticipated reconstruction project on South Commercial Street is set to begin next month bringing significant changes to one of the city’s main thoroughfares which has been in the planning stages for a decade will overhaul the stretch from Stanley Street to Tyler Street “We’re reconstructing South Commercial Street this year from Stanley Street on the south end to Tyler Street on the north end,” said Gerry Kaiser the reconstruction will include storm sewer replacements “We are replacing all of the storm sewer that’s in the road right now and we are removing and replacing all of the pavement and sidewalk in that area too,” Kaiser said While the street layout will see some adjustments Kaiser assured that traffic flow would remain largely unaffected the construction presents potential challenges expressed concerns about reduced visibility and traffic disruptions your first three to five years are when you’re starting and getting your clientele,” Kornowske said “And if they start to divert traffic away from this intersection because of the construction and they bring it down onto Henry Street the city plans to stage construction in a way that allows northbound traffic to continue flowing it’s being staged to allow northbound traffic throughout construction which aids in helping the businesses have access during the time of construction,” Kaiser said Covering a mile and a half through a mixed commercial and residential area “That’s a pretty substantial length through a mixed commercial and residential area and we’ve gotten to a point where we’re ready to start building,” Kaiser said The construction is expected to continue through late October At a preliminary hearing Thursday for Anthony Hendricks two investigators testified about the events of Nov Two people were transported to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah with gunshot wounds: a man who an investigator testified is around 18 years old Hendricks faces six charges: one felony count of first-degree reckless injury; one felony count of second-degree reckless injury; one felony count of possession with intent to manufacture distribute or deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 grams of THC as party to a crime; one felony count of aggravated battery; one felony count of maintaining a drug trafficking place as party to a crime; and one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer distribute or deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 grams of THC as party to a crime; and maintaining a drug trafficking place as party to a crime She is also charged with a misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing an officer Johnson has a plea hearing scheduled for 1:45 p.m is charged with harboring or aiding a felon in connection to the case He has further proceedings scheduled for 9:45 a.m What did investigators testify about Thursday?The two investigators who testified Thursday discussed some of what was in the criminal complaint Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Nash first called Neenah Police Investigator Craig Hoffer to the witness stand During questioning by Nash and cross-examination by Hendricks' defense attorney an investigator with the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group answering questions from both the prosecution and defense Hogan objected to Hendricks being bound over for trial "without argument." Winnebago County Circuit Court Commissioner Eric Heywood said he agreed the state established probable cause for the charges against Hendricks Hendricks has an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m V1 joined the preliminary hearing by video call Reader question: I heard that Neenah is buying goats to eat grass and weeds at Carpenter Preserve Answer: The animals involved are sheep, not goats, and the city isn't buying the sheep. Rather, the Parks and Recreation Department is hiring Wooly Green Grazers of Center to provide and manage the flock as a pilot project Wooly Green Grazers will bring in 50 sheep to munch invasive plants as an environmentally friendly alternative to herbicides The grazing will take place between May 1 and Sept 30 on a 6-acre prairie located east of Kingswood Drive and south of Neenah Creek "They're basically chomping and chewing and pooping on one acre at a time," Neenah Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kading said "They move down those six acres and then come back and start all over again The sheep will be corralled by portable electric fencing said the fencing is less about keeping the sheep in place and more about protecting the sheep from predators such as coyotes or dogs Neenah will pay Wooly Green Grazers $7,092 for the service "Because this proposal is for a pilot program some costs have been either deferred or reduced to assist the city of Neenah to evaluate the potential value in utilizing grazing animals for this project and possible others like it," the contract says Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions Carpenter Preserve is a 102-acre park that stretches between Breezewood Lane and Winnebago County G on Neenah's south side Neenah has a new master plan for the development of the park Kading said Carpenter Preserve contains invasive plants such as buckthorn Sheep were chosen for the task because they graze ground cover which will stand on their hind legs to reach bushes Emunson said studies have shown that after sheep chew less than 10% of the consumed seeds remain viable so the fight to control them will continue beyond the pilot project "Even if you get rid of the seed bank this year and it doesn't drop seeds there's still seven years worth of cycle in the ground," Kading said Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176 NEENAH — Within the next decade, Neenah will need an additional 960 housing units to meet the forecasted demand, according to a housing report completed by the consulting firm Stantec The priorities include affordable rental units and middle-density housing such as cottage homes said Neenah's demand is driven by an undersupply of ownership housing on the market Neenah's economy is attracting younger families The number of people ages 10 and younger is 20% higher than the Wisconsin average and the number of people ages 10 to 19 is 10% higher there's been such strong demand in particular for single-family homes and so little inventory that the consequence has been a really rapid growth in those home prices," Cox said The median home price in Neenah has increased 125% since 2014 Neenah also has experienced growth in the number of empty nesters who are looking for alternatives to single-family homes The 139-page housing report outlines financial and regulatory strategies to help Neenah attract more housing development The $40,000 study was funded by federal community development block grants The 960 housing units needed in the next decade consist of 545 rental units and 415 ownership units "Limited supply of rental housing — in particular high-quality affordable rentals — pushes out those on the lower rungs of the housing market increasing rates of homelessness and demand for supportive housing/shelter," the report says "We don't need just one type of housing," Interim Community Development Director Brad Schmidt told The Post-Crescent "Both renter and owner-occupied housing options are clearly in demand." What can Neenah do to increase the supply of housing?The report recommends using low-income housing tax credits to create affordable multifamily rental housing "This is a tool that absolutely should be pursued," Cox said The report also proposes turning city-owned land into housing developments and establishing local housing trust funds to help pay for housing projects The money could come from tax incremental financing districts but they can and should play a role in facilitating the construction of new housing to meet specific demand," Schmidt said The report says zoning changes to reduce setbacks or lower parking requirements would encourage middle-density housing such as accessory dwelling units These types of housing were common before the 1950s Lisa Strandberg, executive director of Pillars which provides housing and homeless services in the Fox Cities commended Neenah for undertaking the housing study She said Neenah has partners in the community who will help implement the recommendations in the report Deb Langacker, treasurer of the Fox Cities Housing Coalition said the report was an honest and thorough assessment of the needs for all income levels "I'm hoping that many of the strategies outlined here will be implemented," Langacker said Neenah resident Scott Becher encouraged the city to build more single-family homes noting there is a correlation between home ownership and the level of poverty in a community OSHKOSH — A 17-year-old Neenah boy accused of injuring two people in a shooting at a Neenah apartment building pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday in Winnebago County Circuit Court Investigators say Anthony Hendricks shot at an 18-year-old man during an altercation at Hendricks' family's apartment at 130 W striking both the man and Hendricks' 11-year-old brother Hendricks is charged with one count of first-degree reckless injury one count of second-degree reckless injury one count of possession with intent to manufacture one count of aggravated battery and one count of maintaining a drug trafficking place as party to a crime His next court appearance is a possible plea and sentencing hearing at 8:30 a.m Who else faces criminal charges in the case?Hendricks' mother is charged with three felonies: neglecting a child where the consequence is great bodily harm; possession with intent to manufacture is charged with harboring or aiding a felon He has further proceedings scheduled for 8:30 a.m The following information is from a criminal complaint and testimony of investigators at Hendrick's preliminary hearing in January: by Savannah Wood NEENAH (WLUK) -- Students at Neenah High School recently left their mark on downtown Neenah Neenah High School students came to the rescue to create "Flower Alley" which consists of large flower sculptures that line the alleyway beside the building Good Day Wisconsin spent the morning with Neenah High School's technical education class led by Dean Olkowski The projections run Thursday through Sunday "Flower Alley" is located on the side of Future Neenah's building at 135 E Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Neenah (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story) a specialty store located at the corner of Commercial and Winneconne offering not just quality sauces and goods but also a sense of community pride says choosing Neenah for their new business was an easy decision the store is more than just a physical space "It's full of love and compassion and community so it was a very different experience," he said "We have a lot of sauces and things that we cook with here but it also represents a little sass and pizzazz—that's kinda what we're all about," Jennifer said One standout item at Saucy Kitchen is its olive oil "That one in 2022 won gold in Dubai and New York International Olive Oil Competition and that was against 50,000 worldwide olive oils," he said Locally sourced products and art from Northeast Wisconsin vendors fill the shop Jennifer also plans to host painting events in the future further integrating Saucy Kitchen into the community the Kornowskes are grateful for the warm welcome and excited about what’s ahead Saucy Kitchen hopes to expand to more locations across Northeast Wisconsin NEENAH — Alliance Church's request to hold worship services inside Neenah's Horace Mann Elementary School on Sunday mornings won the blessing of elected officials Wednesday The Common Council voted 8-0 to approve a special-use permit to allow a religious institution to operate in a neighborhood zoned for single-family residences The vote came after homeowners Jennifer and Mike Breining raised concerns that church traffic and on-street parking will disrupt the neighborhood particularly during the transition between worship services Alliance will rent Horace Mann from the Neenah Joint School District from 6 a.m "Potentially there could be 200 to 225 cars in the neighborhood between services," Jennifer Breining said Mike Breining said the neighborhood already copes with school traffic on weekdays during the school year He questioned whether the school district has fully evaluated the impact of the rental on school safety an issue that generated significant debate on social media Council member Mark Ellis said the city has a limited role in the approval process "A lot of the points that you good folks brought up are great questions for the school district but not ones that we can tackle," Ellis said Alliance has been looking for a Neenah site for five yearsAlliance Church is based in Grand Chute and has a satellite church in Hortonville The Rev. Brian Episcopo, senior pastor at Alliance, said the church has been trying to establish a satellite church in Neenah for five years. It explored the former Neenah Shopko store and the former Shattuck Middle School before choosing Horace Mann Alliance will rent the Horace Mann gymnasium two classrooms and common areas from the school district said Alliance will pay $1,050 in rent and $160 in cleaning fees each Sunday the revenue totals $62,920 ($54,600 in rent and $8,320 in cleaning fees) said the church considers Horace Mann to be a temporary solution and that it will continue to search for a larger Neenah's zoning code will limit seating to 272 peopleAdult worship will be held in the gymnasium Neenah's zoning code requires one off-street parking space for every for four seats and Horace Mann has 68 off-street parking spaces so the special-use permit will limit the seating to 272 people per service Neenah Deputy Director of Community Development Brad Schmidt said any increase in seating or any use beyond Sunday mornings and Christmas Eve The permit will require Alliance to prioritize the off-street parking and when on-street parking is needed One of the classrooms will be used for a nursery and another classroom and the school cafeteria will be used for Sunday school Episcopo said Alliance plans to start services at Horace Mann in the spring It will be in the school earlier to work on setup and takedown UPDATE — The Kaukauna Ghosts boys’ basketball team’s march through the playoffs continued Saturday with a 63-54 win over Neenah. READ MORE KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna Ghosts boys’ basketball team hosts Neenah Saturday at 7 p.m. in a WIAA Regional final. The game will stream live on ZaleskiSports.com and in their player (below) Or tune in to the radio broadcast on The Score. The Ghosts are coming off a 94-58 win Friday over Appleton West in their post-season opener BRACKETS top-seeded Kaukauna sprinted out to a 53-22 halftime lead over #17 West behind the three-point shooting of senior Keegan VanKauwenberg who will attend UW-Green Bay in the fall and play for the Phoenix had 8 3 pointers in the first half and 30 points total triggering a running clock with 9 minutes left in the game while going deep into the bench Caden Graff had 16 and Andrew Jensen finished with 13 Corrections and updates: news@kaukaunacommunitynews.com NEENAH — Wilmar Chocolates is planning to expand with a second location bringing quality chocolate and ice cream to the Neenah area The future chocolate shop will be located at 220 W said the new location will be nearly identical to the original shop "It'll be very similar to the Appleton location and within our brand," John O Houilihan said in an interview with The Post-Crescent "We're just really excited to be apart of the community and we just thought it would be great to have a chocolate shop downtown." was opened in 1956 by Wilbur and Mary Jane Srnka said keeping true to the original store was important for them and that they're doing their best to honor the oldest chocolate shop in the Fox Valley Sew Biz the business currently occupying the space will be relocating at the end of May after owner Lori Burr finalized the sale of the building to the Houlihans in January Houilihan said he's looking forward to opening a second shop downtown Neenah after several years of searching for the perfect location "We kept our eye on Neenah because we thought it would be a great place to open a new store since it's just such a wonderful community and shopping area," John O "We always knew that was somewhere we wanted to be but wasn't certain as to what the timing of it would look like so we're glad the space became available and it worked out." Minor rennovations to the space and preparations for the business to open will take place over the summer Houilihan said they're looking forward to being open by fall for apple season so they can kick off the new location with their famous caramel apple For more information and updates on Wilmar Chocolates, visit its website at wilmarchocolates.com or its Facebook page Faith Huey is a business reporter for The Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at fhuey@gannett.com or view her Instagram profile at @Faith.Huey NEENAH (WLUK) -- A Neenah resident and Winnebago County deputy rescued two people from fiery crash in subzero temperatures officers received a report of a single vehicle crash with likely injuries in the 1300 block of Gillingham Road Police say a vehicle going south when the driver left the roadway struck a fire hydrant and turned down an embankment and struck a tree before spinning and landing on the passenger side of the vehicle A nearby resident heard the crash and went outside to see a car on its side smoking and heard a passenger scream for help The resident rushed to the scene with a fire extinguisher and used it on the engine compartment The passenger was able to climb out of the vehicle and the resident helped her down A Winnebago County Sheriff's deputy was close to the scene and was the first law enforcement officer to arrive The resident climbed on top of the vehicle helped the deputy up and together helped the driver out as the car's engine compartment reignited and became engulfed in flames That's when Neenah Menasha Fire Rescue arrived on scene and extinguished the fire The driver and passenger were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment NEENAH — A Neenah police officer has been fired in connection with a child pornography investigation the Neenah Police Department announced Wednesday who had been employed by the police department since March 25 was under the probationary period that continues until one year after field training is completed According to a news release, Kaukauna Police Chief Jamie Graff informed Olson on Monday that Halls was a suspect in an Internet Crimes Against Children tip received by the Kaukauna Police Department Charges have not yet been officially filed against Halls and Kaukauna police executed multiple search warrants Wednesday Halls’ alleged conduct has disgraced our department and law enforcement as a whole," Olson said in a statement In addition to firing Halls, Olson said the department is following processes to have Halls decertified as a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officer by the Law Enforcement Standards Board his new-officer probationary period would have extended until November NEENAH (NBC 26) — The Rockets baseball team is chasing history—aiming for their first conference title in nearly 50 years who brings his leadership and championship mindset from the football field to the diamond excited for opportunity to be the guy,” Carlson said I'm excited to build off of a really good junior year.” Head coach Aaron Nelson said the Rockets are leaning on veterans like Carlson As Neenah’s only four-year varsity baseball player But it’s not just his talent—Carlson stands out as a leader I've kind of picked up those leadership abilities from a young age,” Carlson said “I think I've always been more of an outspoken The confidence of myself has really developed over the past couple years.” That growth hasn’t gone unnoticed—Coach Nelson said Carlson has become exactly the kind of leader the team looks up to he's become more and more of vocal leader as he's So from where I had him as a sophomore my first year to where he is now is just fantastic.” Carlson doesn’t just bring leadership—he brings a football mindset to the diamond he learned to move with precision and aggression and he now applies those skills at third base “Football you get—you move in different patterns you kind of learn aggression that you don't really get in baseball,” Carlson said those same angles where I was practicing in football I use all the time and at third base.” And there’s one more thing he hopes to bring from football: winning After helping Neenah win a share of the FVA football title Carlson hopes that same success carries into spring NEENAH — Customers soon will be able to purchase a six-pack of beer at convenience stores in the city The Common Council voted 7-2 Wednesday to adopt a new ordinance that repeals Neenah's long-standing ban on sales of alcoholic beverages by businesses that also dispense gasoline It means Neenah convenience stores that obtain a license and meet certain requirements can sell fermented malt beverages such as beer The sale of wine and liquor will continue to be prohibited Proponents of the new ordinance argued that the long-standing ban unnecessarily restricted business and created an uneven playing field for Neenah convenience stores in comparison to other city businesses and to convenience stores in neighboring communities Council member Mark Ellis said alcohol issues in Neenah are no longer as dramatic as they might have been decades ago He noted alcoholic beverages are sold at grocery stores and pharmacies "Convenience stores today are kind of like the replacements of the old neighborhood grocery stores," Ellis told The Post-Crescent With other communities near and around us having that opportunity to serve their residents we would be negligent in not being able to offer that same convenience to our residents." Kwik Trip was among the businesses in favor of the new ordinance Council members Lee Hillstrom and Cari Lendrum voted against the new ordinance Hillstrom said Neenah has ample locations — 52 currently — where customers can buy alcohol without adding the city's 11 convenience stores "We need to be cutting back on how much alcohol there is "Three councils before this that I have been a part of voted it down I guess you could say they were more for safety and health Our new council is more about development and fairness to large convenience stores that they want to move in "Most of this is all behind trying to get a Kwik Trip on Doty Island." Winnebago County Public Health had lobbied to uphold the ban It provided the council with information that said increasing the number of alcohol outlets in a community will increase alcohol-related harms and crime convenience stores will have to meet the following conditions to sell alcoholic beverages