by Tony Langfellow Suamico residents can expect to see their water rates increase in the next couple years The increase is a result of a new water well SUAMICO (WLUK) — Suamico residents can expect to see their water rates increase in the next few years treatment facility and tower being installed The village board approved a bid April 7 for construction of the project The well water treatment project is expected to cost about $9.5 million but the village said it’s well worth it for the residents Money for the project will be put towards building a new water well The new facility will be built where a house owned by the village currently sits at 2185 Northwood Road and will pull 700 gallons per minute It's a project that's been discussed for years I started here in June of 2019 and we were talking about it back then but it looks like we're finally moving forward and we'll have some shovels going in the ground here shortly," Suamico Village Administrator Alex Kaker said The project will come at a cost to residents While the village doesn't have a concrete number water rates are expected to increase nearly 70% going from $4.18 per thousand gallons to around $7 per thousand gallons Several residents FOX 11 talked with who chose not to go on camera said they're in favor of the project and said it will improve water pressure inside their homes Kaker said rate adjustments are expected to go into effect by the end of 2026 "It's one of those things that you don't really realize whether you need it or not until you run out of it and the village has started issuing water boil advisories so this is something that most people don't really recognize that there is a need for a new well," Kaker said the village took one of their three wells offline because of high radium levels That's when the village realized digging a new well is a must Kaker said the village discussed connecting to the Central Brown County Water Authority but determined there wouldn't be any cost savings for residents and prefer control of the water rates the village doesn’t have an exact timeline for when it will be complete but believe it should be in operation by 2027 Construction for the new well is expected to begin later this year SUAMICO (NBC 26) — The NEW Zoo offers visitors a chance to see animals they won't find anywhere else in the region but the care these creatures receive happens largely behind the scenes through the dedicated work of zookeepers Brent Koerner is one of those zookeepers whose daily routine includes delivering meals and cleaning up after the animals — work that might appear mundane but serves a much deeper purpose 'What's your favorite part of the job?' It's forming these relationships and being able to see and know when the animal is going to trust me or I know when they're acting weird or when something is off," Koerner said Understanding animal behavior provides essential context for zookeepers as they manage interactions between animals "They can't tell us what's wrong or tell us what's going on and guests need to also understand that we can't make them do something Animal behavior around humans is just one of many data points carefully studied by the zoo's staff explains that the zoo relies on tracking animal observations to make informed decisions about diets and habitats "If you ask any keeper why they made a decision there's going to be so many reasons that the public might not even think about," Bendickson said The zoo's staff is particularly attentive during breeding season monitoring for signs of potential offspring "We're right now looking for breeding behavior since it is breeding season So if I were to notice any breeding behavior I would make sure to note that so that we have an idea in the logs of when we might expect babies," Bendickson said The time spent with these animals naturally creates bonds that leave lasting impressions on the zookeepers "These animals become an everyday interaction for us and when they're gone it's very hard Sometimes we can't be at every holiday with our family but also I enjoy these guys While visitors come to see the animals rather than the zookeepers the largely unseen work improves the experience for both animals and guests We put a lot of thought and dedication into enrichment sweat and tears into our jobs and I just that hope everyone appreciates it," Koerner said This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy We cover stories making an impact in Suamico. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Suamico 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 SUAMICO — Suamico, you’re getting another Kwik Trip La Crosse-based Kwik Trip confirmed it purchased 1535 Sunset Beach Road — home to Suamico Citgo and Burger King for nearly 30 years The location will be Kwik Trip's second location in the village; the other is at 2498 Lineville Road The Sunset Beach Road Citgo will close in mid-February while the attached Burger King is already closed The convenience store and fast food restaurant occupy part of a 26-acre parcel the bulk of which a local farm has used in recent years as a strawberry patch and sunflower maze A manager at the Citgo confirmed the convenience store will close on Feb 31 and the fast food chain's identifying signage was removed A sign taped to the front door reads: "Thank you for your years of dedication to Burger King It has been our pleasure to have served you all these years Please visit one of our other locations." The restaurant was listed as "temporarily closed" online and phone calls to the restaurant get disconnected after a short apology Citgo and Burger King opened on Brown County B in the second half of 1996 according to classified ads in the Press-Gazette archives Brown County's 23rd (and 24th) Kwik Trips are in developmentA Kwik Trip spokesperson confirmed the company expects the purchase to be completed by the end of February the company will remodel the existing building and re-open it this summer as a Kwik Trip The second Suamico location will be Kwik Trip's 23rd store in Brown County. The popular convenience store chain also plans to construct a 24th location Contact business reporter Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier SUAMICO - The village plans to add a third well to match growing water supply which will increase residents' water rates the Village Board will vote on the contract for construction of the water well said the new well has been in the works since 2005 to meet growing demand in the sewer service area The entire project — including the new well and water tower — is expected to cost $9.5 million The new water tower will hold 300,000 gallons The drilling of the well will cost $572,000. It’s too early in the construction process to tell what the increase in water rates is going to be but Smits expects it to increase between 64% to 77%. The average resident uses about 14,000 gallons of water per quarter The application for the project is awaiting approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin The village estimates to complete installation by the end of 2027 Suamico used to have three wells until 2017, when one of them was found to have high radium levels and was taken down. Radium is a naturally occurring element in rocks and soils. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates levels in drinking water because high levels of radium is a known carcinogen Suamico’s population has continued to grow there are about 500 gallons per minute of water supply between the two wells right now the average daily output was 392,000 gallons a day “We’re at a point in time where our max day demand now exceeds our maximum pumping capacity,” Smits said The village says building a new well is cheaper for residents in the long term than connecting to Central Brown County Water Authority because of maintenance costs for the current well system and wholesale rate increases in the future The Central Brown County utility buys water wholesale from Manitowoc Public Utilities and supplies drinking water for Allouez More: Ledgeview increases quarterly water bill 8%. Here's what to know Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@gannett.com I'm your neighborhood reporter for Howard SUAMICO (NBC 26) — A man is dead getting pulled out of icy waters on Monday evening in the village of Suamico An 87-year-old De Pere man was ice fishing on a friend's private property off of Bayside road in Suamico Monday when the ice broke and he fell in."The neighbor just to the south of us He heard the cries for help," neighbor Tom Drzewiecki said "All my instincts kicked in to get this guy back to shore." Drzewiecki has run a business where he salvages things like boats and cars from under the ice for more than three decades He said he and two other neighbors arrived just minutes before the firefighters "We shined their flashlight over there to see him in the water right next to his sled in about three feet of water," Drzewiecki said When firefighters arrived just before 5 o'clock Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler said the most difficult part was locating the man in the water in the dark with so much vegetation started lifesaving measures on him and unfortunately he was unable to survive," Bertler said He now urges the community to be careful when going out on a frozen-over body of water Ice should be at least four inches thick to be safe for ice fishing and it should be about a foot thick for cars and small trucks to drive on it "No snow on the bay or any lake to make that nice Bertler said to always try to ice fish with another person and let someone know where you are going and when you should be back having an ice pick and cell phone with you are also important "[The late ice fisherman] probably went out there numerous times in years past," Bertler said "When you've been doing something for so long you don't think of those things that potentially could happen." "Just because we have one or two cold nights doesn't mean that this ice is ready," Drzewiecki said SUAMICO (WLUK) -- It's being called by many a conservation comeback A new bald eagle nest has been found at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico "We're really excited to have a brand new bald eagle nest here at Barkhausen. We've had plenty of eagle nests in the area, but it's been a while since we found one on the property," said Logan Lasee, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve assistant naturalist Lasee says they found signs of nest construction during a wintertime trip around the thousand-acre park "We're seeing everything we need to see to say that they're incubating you can see just the top of one head of an eagle they're hunkered in there pretty tight which means that they're laying on some eggs in there," Lasee said So it's about two or three feet deep and about four to five feet wide And that's just a brand new constructed nest." Lasee also coordinates the Eagle Nest Watch Program for Brown He says there are many other nests in the area "We have three nests pretty close to the nature center here that are part of the program we have about 20 nests between the three counties we oversee and we hope that they can just keep on being successful," he said Lasee says the eggs are expected to hatch in about a month and it could be June or July before the eaglets are ready to fly Brown County voters are less than a month away from selecting the school board members who will represent them for the coming three years Five candidates are competing for three seats on the Howard-Suamico School Board this election cycle The vote comes after the district recently selected a new superintendent and as the district prepares to set goals for the years to come through a new strategic plan Allen McGuire and Amy Rubright face challengers Pooja Bambha-Arora and Kim Moran Responses have been lightly edited for style Age: 45Campaign website: www.facebook.com/DrPooja.forSchoolBoardCurrent occupation: Part-time corporate trainer at NWTC  Education: Doctorate in education from State University of New York  Relevant experience or community involvement: I taught courses in teacher education and have been involved with various nonprofits Working on it.Do you have any political affiliations It’s the responsibility of a board member to serve every family in the district regardless of political affiliation Scott JandrinAge: 41 Campaign website: N/A Current occupation: Business banking Education: Bachelor of science in business administration for marketing Marian College   Relevant experience or community involvement: Current Howard-Suamico School Board member (vice president) Howard-Suamico Business Professional Association Board member former Howard-Suamico Education Board member Do you have children in the district Two daughters Have you received any endorsements N/A Do you have any political affiliations Age: 53 Campaign website: www.facebook.com/mcguire4hssd Current occupation: Senior database administrator Education: Master's in computer information systems bachelor's in mathematics with minors in computer science and business finance Relevant experience or community involvement: Current HSSD Board member (treasurer) volunteer wrestling coach for Bay Port High SchoolDo you have children in the district My daughter graduated from Bay Port last spring; my son has two years remaining in the district and is attending Syble Hopp School.Have you received any endorsements Age: 44 Campaign website: kimforhssd.com Current occupation: Substitute teacher at Suamico Elementary  Education: Master of arts in elementary education bachelor of arts in elementary education Relevant experience or community involvement:  Elementary education teacher (one year as a Grade 4 teacher at Lannoye Elementary four years as a Grade 1 teacher at Sunnyside Elementary one year as a Grade 2 teacher at Sunnyside Elementary) learning support teacher (one year in kindergarten and Grade 3 at Fairview Elementary) substitute teacher (two years at Suamico Elementary three years in the Pulaski Community School District) PTO president/vice president/volunteer (five years at Suamico Elementary) Girl Scout leader (three years)  Do you have children in the district Age: 50 Campaign website: www.facebook.com/amymrubright Current occupation: A stay-at-home mom who is actively engaged in serving our community Education: Associate's in office administration Relevant experience or community involvement: As a dedicated parent my commitment to our local community is paramount It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Howard-Suamico Board of Education the Suamico Public Health and Safety Committee and the CESA 7 Board of Control My active involvement with the Howard-Suamico Optimist Club further exemplifies my dedication to community service I contribute to our democratic process by serving as a poll worker during elections which I believe is vital for promoting civic engagement My husband and I have two children in the district Our board is strongly committed to nonpartisanship placing our shared goals of student success above any political affiliations I firmly believe that effective collaboration is essential for our students' success I am steadfast in my core principles of protecting personal choice and making strategic investments for a thriving future  Bambha-Arora: I am running for Howard-Suamico School board of education because I want to contribute to the decision-making process for our district and put my background in education to work for local students I have been very invested in education for the last 20 years being an adjunct professor in teacher education Teaching future teachers gives me a unique experience to contribute to HSSD and I want every kid to have a learning experience which shapes their life in a meaningful way  Jandrin: Howard-Suamico School District has a history of high-level education in the area The school district has a strong vision and mission I have the ability to be an influencer with the school district and protect the core values that allows me to feel pride in our growing community    McGuire: I’m running again to continue serving our community and to provide continuity to our board of education Our board members bring a broad set of skills together that allow us to effectively bridge the gap between community input and the school district (and vice versa) which is integral in achieving collective goals and protecting the core values of our community and district  Moran: I’m running for the school board because I believe we can do more to ensure every child’s success With my past and current experiences in the classroom I bring a unique perspective to the school board I’m dedicated to being an advocate for our families and making sure our district continues to provide an excellent educational opportunity for every child   Rubright: My dedication to representing our community is steadfast Every community member must elect a representative who genuinely mirrors their values and a profound respect for parental choice and involvement  With the Howard-Suamico School District having welcomed a new Superintendent this year I firmly believe that a cohesive and stable board will be instrumental in effectively supporting our new leadership Our board is committed to prioritizing Core Academics and developing the skills highlighted in our Graduate Profile What are the top two issues that need to be addressed in the district How would you address them?Bambha-Arora: Staff retention and mental health The district conducted a town hall to gather input from the community which showed that 64% of respondents agree the district is meeting the social and emotional needs of students This highlights a need to provide comprehensive support for our students We can address these concerns by working more closely with families to help them understand practices that help students I would prioritize hiring additional social workers and mental health professionals to fully implement the framework I also support structured wellness programs and more positive  Jandrin: Advocacy at the state level for funding in public education With a growing number of operational referendums statewide it is becoming clear that we have some gaps to cover as the cost of education is not keeping up with inflation Our advocacy efforts with legislative officials have been ongoing and we saw increases in the last biennium budget We need to stay focused with budget advocacy this year   Our focus on career technical readiness within our district We have partnered with many business leaders along with our local postsecondary education community We continue to grow in this area and find more resources our school board puts a lot of emphasis on advocacy whether advocating for our community or at the state level as it relates to staff compensation and keeping pace with economic conditions I’m closely involved in calculating the property tax levy rate so we offset the ever-increasing rise in property as a district we continue to broaden our focus and offerings to include alternative post-secondary options culinary and other trades that will provide our graduates with a broader range of career options I’d prioritize student and teacher support I've noticed that students are coming to school with more challenges and learning gaps Teachers do not have enough time to provide the additional support The district can help by further investing in additional resources I’d prioritize 4- year-old kindergarten consistency We need to make sure that our 4K students are entering kindergarten having received a consistent education that is developmentally appropriate we need to start compensating 4K teachers competitively to reduce turnover  Rubright: School funding is always important Our district has worked to become a destination for families seeking high-quality educational opportunities we have made significant efforts to advocate for funding that benefits our district Addressing funding issues is crucial for staff retention and attracting outstanding educators The primary purpose of schools is to educate our children and maintaining strong academic standards remains a top priority This includes teaching phonics to our youngest students and assisting older students to prepare for life after graduation effectively communicate with the community and build strong community partnerships the board will start work on a new strategic plan Bambha-Arora: Career readiness is a high priority Students need to be equipped with technical skills if they want to start their careers after high school and I support collaborating with community technical colleges I support integrating 4K programs to enable a smooth transition to kindergarten  Staff retention is an issue and pay parity is close to my heart only 53% of staff said they are satisfied with their pay I support recruiting high-quality professionals by offering good compensation and professional growth We must accommodate the community’s growing needs and expand school facilities to have modern learning spaces and reduced class sizes  Jandrin: The strategic plan is currently in process with our new superintendent and the community with over 100 members participating in the Stronger Together event We are currently evaluating the feedback to finalize a strategic plan for the school with our new superintendent I plan on working closely with the superintendent and leadership team since the community listening sessions last month as we shape the vision of the district based on the community feedback and priorities established McGuire: Our new superintendent recently held an event that was open to the public called Stronger Together and that three-day event yielded great feedback from the Howard-Suamico community The compiled feedback will be reviewed and evaluated by the superintendent and a strategic plan will be put together to reflect the hard work put forth by the community participants to include staff students and folks of all ages and backgrounds student and teacher support and 4K consistency should be a priority for the strategic plan along with early family engagement and expanding career pathways for all students Too many students enter school at a level that is below expectations we need to expand the opportunities we provide to students teachers and community stakeholders to develop a plan that gives all learners the best opportunities for success the school board and district administrators can plan a budget that meets these needs our board and new superintendent have connected with various stakeholder groups through listening sessions The district is proud to have initiated the first-ever Stronger Together event to gather community input we have conducted surveys to ensure we capture a wide range of perspectives The board has tasked the superintendent and his leadership team with developing a comprehensive framework based on the feedback received which will be presented to the board of education It’s crucial to remember that the education of our students must always remain our top focus and priority Contact Green Bay education reporter Nadia Scharf at nscharf@gannett.com or on X at @nadiaascharf SUAMICO (NBC 26) — An estimated $9.5 million project will bring a new well and water tower to Suamico water rates are projected to rise from just over $4 per 1,000 gallons to about $7 per 1,000 gallons (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story with additional details for the web.) This place might not look like much now, but soon enough it will be the site of a new well and water tower here in Suamico. I'm your Suamico neighborhood reporter Pari Apostolakos learning more about the details of the projected $9.5 million project which has been in the works for decades. Watch Pari Apostolakos' full broadcast story below: the village of Suamico has decided to drill a third well They hope to finish it by the end of this year and the well house and water tower by 2027 The new 300,000 gallon water tower will be used in addition to the existing 500,000 gallon tower "[We] realized pretty quickly that our growth was exceeding the ability that we had to pull water out of the ground and service everybody that needed it," Suamico Village Administrator Alex Kaker said Kaker said the village chose a third well over building a pipeline to pump water to residents from Lake Michigan in order to maintain control of water rates He said they're seeking grant money for the project water rates will go up to help cover the costs "Are you concerned at all about the affordability of the water rates going forward?" I asked him "Well we're always concerned about the rates and we're trying to keep those rates as low as possible," Kaker said managing the water utility isn't cheap or free and so we're trying to figure out how we can do that as cost effective as possible." the rate for 1,000 gallons of water is just over four dollars If the project ends up costing a projected $9.5 million that rate will jump to seven dollars Public works director Andy Smits told me the village once had three wells they stopped using one in 2017 after radium levels exceeded Department of Natural Resources standards Smits said one of the two current wells has never tested above state limits while the other has treatments in place for radium The village board votes on the $500,000 thousand bid to drill the well at their meeting next month Village officials said they invite anyone with questions about the project to attend SUAMICO (WLUK) -- Two adults and three children are displaced after a fire caused about $1.3 million worth of damage at a Suamico home crews were called to a fully engulfed attached garage fire in the 3900 block of Sunset Beach Lane The fire had quickly spread to the rest of the home All occupants were able to safety evacuate The cause of the fire is still under investigation The Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force is currently determining the origin of the blaze “We’re thankful everyone made it out safely and we appreciate the efforts of all responding agencies who acted quickly to prevent further damage to nearby structures,” said Joe Bertler “We encourage everyone to stay vigilant by ensuring they have working smoke detectors and a fire escape plan in place.” SUAMICO - Crews continue renovations to convert the former Sunset Beach Road Citgo and Burger King into a new Kwik Trip convenience store La Crosse-based Kwik Trip in January purchased the property at 1535 Sunset Beach Road that was home to the Suamico Citgo and Burger King for nearly 30 years The new Kwik Trip store is scheduled to open in mid-summer 2025 19 to make way for crews to convert the existing building into the new store The Burger King closed in late January and the fast food chain's identifying signage was removed More: Suamico plans to drill new well. What does that mean for village residents? A Kwik Trip spokesperson confirmed the company expected the purchase to be completed by the end of February The company will next remodel the existing building and reopen it this summer as a Kwik Trip The second Suamico location will be Kwik Trip's 23rd store in Brown County The popular convenience store chain plans to start construction on its 24th location at 1009 W The Kwik Trip spokesperson said work should start in May and be completed by October 2025 SUAMICO (WLUK) -- A springtime tradition is in its early stages in parts of Northeast Wisconsin Northern pike are starting to make their way up roadside ditches and into wetlands to spawn On a regular patrol of marshes at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico Brown County Program and Natural Resource Manager Jason Petrella spotted a couple pike Tuesday morning they're traveling up from the bay of Green Bay Petrella says when water temperature reaches around 40 degrees, the fish will typically lay their eggs. He says recent wet weather puts the season on schedule, but Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve contains several compounds designed to help pike to spawn in many different conditions "We also have control structures set up on it so we can flood it so if you want to keep this wet so the adults leave we could put boards in some of those marshes so the fry can grow large enough and then eventually we'll drain them out Petrella says the wetlands are more than just grounds for pike to spawn We'll see perch and other fish come up as well So it benefits a wide variety of animals and plants as well We have some unique plants that grow in some of these wetlands We've been doing wild rice in one of our spawning marshes," he said Experts say the pike spawning run at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve should wrap up in a couple weeks SUAMICO (NBC 26) — Judge Brad Schimel's campaign rally in Suamico sparked a protest Saturday Schimel's opponent in the race for the state Supreme Court (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.) The Save Wisconsin rally in Suamico Saturday was a campaign stop for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel NBC 26 Suamico neighborhood reporter Pari Apostolakos spoke with Doug Reich the Republican Party of Brown County Chariman and an organizer for the event and asked him what the rally hopes to save Wisconsin from "What could happen on April 1 if Susan Crawford wins is we'd have a majority of radical democrats on the Wisconsin supreme court and they've promised to really legislate from the bench rather than be fair impartial jurists," Reich said as people were waiting for Schimel to arrive for the rally at Townline Pub and Grill who was scheduled to be at the Save Wisconsin rally He voted for tax cuts for the wealthy," Indivisible Brown County Founder Kevin Welch said he's not doing what we want him to do and he won't face us for us to ask him questions about it." has drawn criticism for not hosting a town hall like many of his fellow Republican representatives Wied announced he'll be hosting a tele-town hall Monday "This event is a rally for our members and supporters," Reich said said they came out due to concern over reproductive rights "This is one of the most important things that we can do in our lifetime to protect our children protest organizers spoke against President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's recent cuts to federal agencies "Right now what's going on in our country is wrong," Door County Indivisible Co-Founder Judy Brodd said They're killing programs that help people that we care about." People on both sides of the aisle today seemed to agree on one thing: folks need to get out and vote in April "But these spring elections are every bit as important." The spring election is scheduled for April 1 The race for Wisconsin Supreme Court between Schimel and Crawford is considered one of the most crucial races on the ballot SUAMICO (NBC 26) — A home in Suamico was destroyed after a garage fire caused $1.3 million in damages to its structure on Sunday evening Firefighters say they responded to the 3900 block of Sunset Beach Lane just before 6 p.m Crews found the attached garage engulfed in flames and said they quickly contained the blaze — which had already spread to the main portion of the home All occupants of the home evacuated safely and no injuries were reported Suamico Fire says the cause of the fire is still under investigation Suamico Fire says the house was deemed a total loss Two adults and three children were displaced SUMAICO - A man who fell through the ice of the bay on Monday afternoon has died The fire department was called at 4:45 p.m Monday to the bay near Bayside Road after receiving a report that a man had gone through ice first responders tried to revive him on the ice and on shore before he was taken to a hospital which confirmed the man's death on Tuesday No foul play appears to be involved in this incident said the man was ice fishing when the incident occurred Earlier Monday, the body of a 65-year-old fisherman was found in the Kewaunee River in Kewaunee County The Suamico Fire Department is investigating with the Brown County Sheriff's Office The fire department encourages residents to avoid going onto ice-covered lakes and bays unless conditions are thoroughly assessed as fluctuating temperatures can impact the stabilization of the ice Rashad Alexander can be contacted at ralexander@gannett.com and 920-431-8214 SUAMICO (WLUK) -- A large-scale brush fire Tuesday burned approximately a dozen acres of land in Suamico The fire broke out in the 3100 block of Anston Road the blaze was "quickly contained thanks to the efforts of local fire crews." Unusually dry conditions and our lack of snow continues to contribute to Northeast Wisconsin's heightened risk of wildfires Officials say residents must remain cautious "We want to remind everyone that even though we’re in the winter season the lack of snow has caused the ground and vegetation to become much drier than usual which can spread quickly if not controlled,” said Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler in a news release The Suamico Fire Department says it is "actively monitoring the situation and working to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future." The cause of Tuesday's brush fire is still under investigation SUAMICO (WLUK) -- Firefighters are warning the public about unpredictable ice conditions after a vehicle and the driver fell through the ice near the mouth of the Suamico River Officials were called to the Suamico River just before 1:30 p.m Thursday when the driver of a vehicle drove onto the frozen river from the Suamico Boat Launch The driver was able to get out of the vehicle and make his way to shore with the assistance of nearby neighbors "We urge everyone to use extreme caution when venturing onto frozen bodies of water," said Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler "Due to the recent warm weather ice conditions can change rapidly and can be unpredictable the driver was able to get to safety with help from the community." The Suamico Fire Department reminds all residents to avoid driving or walking on ice unless it has been verified as safe by proper authorities The National Weather Service reports Green Bay reached a record-high of 54 degrees Thursday, breaking the previous record of 42 degrees GREEN BAY (WLUK) – Charges were filed Friday against a man who admitted to peering into windows at two Suamico homes – saying the voyeuristic activity was sexual in nature - and that he has been recording video at multiple homes for several months Additional victims have yet to be identified by police including three of stalking and five of invading privacy Hirt made an initial court appearance Friday afternoon so a status conference was scheduled for April 11 police were called to a Suamico home Monday after a woman noticed someone outside on their phone recording her a search warrant allowed an examination of his phone showing images from inside another Suamico home Hirt told police he did not know the people he was recording “Hirt admitted that he has a pornography addiction He stated that he watches porn where people video tape other people without their knowledge through their windows He admitted that he got sexual gratification from watching that kind of pornography Hirt stated that he started looking into windows and videotaping people because he wanted to see if he could get the same sexual gratification from doing that as he did when he watched the pornographic videos,” the complaint states “Hirt admitted to videotaping several people without their knowledge but could not tell me how many people he videotaped He stated that he started videotaping people in early November 2024 He stated that he stopped for about one month but then started up again,” the complaint states “In Hirt's phone there are several videos where he is looking through someone's window I have not identified the locations and the people in the videos yet.” SUAMICO (NBC 26) — The NEW Zoo announced Tuesday that its lioness was helped to peacefully pass away Monday from age-related health issues and the zoo says she far exceeded the average life expectancy for wild lions “Ajia received excellent care throughout her life from people who have adored her,” Carmen Murach “Her long lifespan is a testament to our team’s dedication to her wellbeing Ajia will be deeply missed by staff and volunteers and by the many zoo guests who have gotten to know her over the 18-plus years that she’s been with us.” The NEW Zoo says Ajia arrived in Northeast Wisconsin in May 2006 and became a mother to three cubs in 2008 All of Ajia's cubs eventually moved to other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos to start their own families Aija also developed a close friendship with the NEW Zoo's male lion The NEW Zoo is asking people to stop by the lion habitat to accompany Loid through his grief during this time “We expect Loid may show some signs of loneliness while we work with the AZA’s African Lion Species Survival Plan to identify a potential new mate for him,” Murach said Every zoo guest these days will make a difference for him.” SUAMICO - The two river otters that escaped from the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park are believed to be nearby On Thursday, the otters Louie and Ophelia escaped their habitat through a small breach during the winter storm Camera footage released by the zoo shows one of the escaped otters sliding in the snow while another video shows an otter near the Reforestation Camp asked the public to report any sightings of the otters to the zoo as well as the time and place of the sightings "There are several other species of native mammals that can easily be confused for an otter Some of the reports we have received are of these animals which is why the photos/videos are so helpful," Kawski said in an email to the Press-Gazette The zoo hopes one or both of the otters will be spotted in the same location repeatedly indicating an area to retrieve Louie and Ophelia Rashad Alexander can be reached at ralexander@gannett.com and 920-431-8214 Zoo's director and received footage of the otters' escape Watch Karl Winter's report with those new details here: Otters Louie and Ophelia escaped their habitat at the NEW Zoo in Suamico Thursday morning during the spring/winter storm according to the Zoo in a social media post North American river otters Louie and Ophelia escaped through a small breach in buried fencing that they managed to enlarge just enough to get away The zoo says their absence was instantly noticed by the zookeepers doing the morning rounds and standard operating procedures for animal escapes were activated The zoo also notes that neither Louie nor Ophelia presents any danger to the public as it is highly unlikely they would approach people "The Zoo is utilizing a series of motion-activated cameras and other devices to monitor the area for signs of their activity and will continue to work with professional trackers to do everything possible to locate and bring them home" The zoo also says it is likely the otters will remain nearby SUAMICO - Two North American river otters from the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park are on the loose According to the zoo the otters Louie and Ophelia escaped their habitat in the early Thursday The two escaped through a small breach in buried fencing where they were able to make the breach big enough to get out Zookeepers were notified immediately about their absence and procedures for escaped animals were activated The zoo used overnight camera footage and the tracks the otters made in the snow to search for them Camera footage shows the duo enjoying the snow The prints show they traveled through the Reforestation Camp property before circling back to the zoo perimeter fence repeatedly NEW Zoo believes the two have remained close by as otters are territorial and like to stay close to what they're familiar with "It is likely that Louie and Ophelia will remain close by possibly even returning to their habitat on their own," NEW Zoo said in a statement "Neither Louie nor Ophelia presents a danger to the public and it is highly unlikely that they would approach people." SUAMICO, Wis. — Two river otters, Louie and Ophelia, weaseled their way out of their Suamico, Wis. zoo enclosure last week during a winter storm appearing on security camera footage cavorting across the snow Related content: Otters from the NEW Zoo in Suamico escape their habitat The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park said the two North American river otters escaped through a small hole that they enlarged in a buried fence and their flight was quickly noticed by zookeepers on their morning rounds But Louie and Ophelia don't appear to have gone far their tracks showed them exploring nearby bodies of water and returning to the zoo's perimeter now and again Footage released by the zoo shows an otter leaving the stoop of a building and launching itself into a belly slide on the snow nose leading the way and back legs thrusting for an extra boost It's the undeniable “bounce, bounce, sliiiiide” of the otter, the zoo said in a Facebook post and creates one of the more recognizable mammal tracks Louie and Ophelia are expected to stay close because otters are territorial creatures adding their species are native to the area and capable of surviving with the local ponds and streams offering food and shelter motion-activated cameras and public calls to send in photos and video of sightings of the critters which appears to be security camera footage shows an otter gliding over the snow in a wooded area its tail following the rut its body made in the snow Searchers are hoping Louie and Ophelia are seen in the same location at least twice The zoo said the otters are not a danger to the public Watch: Escaped otters cavort in the snow as the Suamico zoo's search continues Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error Report a typo Oconto County voters have local candidates on the spring ballot seeking to represent them in their respective jurisdictions Six of the races in the April 1 election will be for the chairperson position in the towns of Lakewood Ballangee will square off to succeed Scott Van Laanen Thomas Portier will seek a second two-year term in his contest against Randy Hahn chairperson Dale Mohr will be challenged by Frank Nowak to lead the town board incumbent Lindor Maletzke faces Brenda Carey-Mielke Dave Alsteen will vie for his eighth two-year term while Robert Wolf seeks to end his run incumbent Peter Vorpahl faces a challenge from Mark Winkler to win another term More: Oconto Common Council candidates talk reasons for running, top issues before election The Oconto County Reporter asked the candidates to fill out a questionnaire and explain why they're running for office what makes them the better candidate and how they would address the most important issues facing the town some of which have been lightly edited for clarity For information about registering to vote and what else is on your ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov/en-us Highest level of education: 4-year apprenticeship Relevant experience: Multiple years managing people and large jobs Highest level of education: High school graduate and graduate of the U.S Relevant experience: Professional military leader for 25 years state facility manager for multiple years and senior enlisted advisor on multiple projects and budgets Senior enlisted advisor for base defense and operations of a small “base/city” for one-year in Afghanistan I was also an Asplundh Tree Service foreman conducting power line tree maintenance Ballangee: I am running for office because I want to see the town of Lakewood prosper I want transparency for the people with better services that are aimed at helping the residents Musil: Hoping to improve the lives of Lakewood residents and visitors by improving safety town appearance and appeal without additional burden to its citizens Ballangee: I think I am the better candidate because I am from a small town I know most of the residents and have spent years helping people I am transparent and will take what the residents' needs are into consideration before voting yes or no on any subject Musil: During my almost 33 years in the Army and Army National Guard I believe that I am a highly adaptable leader driven to make decisions in the best interests of everyone while using logic and common sense but I do not stop improving myself and coworkers until we are the best we can be Ballangee: Most residents' main concern are taxes being raised and them being taxed off of their family's property They want services and full-time employees at our town maintenance shop They don’t want to pay ridiculous fees at our city recycling center to get rid of something They are tired of watching decisions being made at the Town Hall without taking what they want into consideration Musil: Speaking with some of the long-standing and hard-working residents and business owners lake and forest preservation and emergency response are the most important issues Also having four seasons of outdoor recreation that appeal to residents and tourists alike that in turn supports local businesses Also having town leaders that everyone can trust to be working ethically and hard for their community with my last title being a night warehouse manager Highest level of education: I graduated from James Madison High School in 1971 Relevant experience: I have 34 years of experience in management I am a very dedicated and hardworking person I have worked for big companies and small companies in my career I served 15 years in the United States Air Force Reserves where I was an Air Freight Specialists Supervisor with the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6) Related experience: Before serving chairman for this past two-year term I was a supervisor for 14 years Why are you running for office?Hahn: It all started when I complained about a culvert pipe on the road that I live on that was sinking into the ground All my emails were passed on to the Town Chairperson who never once responded to me they came out and put a little bit of asphalt in the hole I felt that he was sending me a message that he was the boss and will do what he wants That’s when I started going to the town meetings every month and I realized that it isn't just the roads that need repair I love the work of taking care of the town The tax levy hasn't been raised for 16 years and it won't be raised Accomplishments in the past two years include applying for and acquiring an Agricultural Roads Improvement Program grant of $1.3 million which will be used to reconstruct Woodview Road beginning this year We are just one of 55 in the state to receive funds We also equipped the fire department with a newer pumper tanker truck to support public safety and purchased a backup generator (with an anonymous donation and matching funds) to operate the entire Town Hall We are now able to serve as an emergency warming shelter for residents Hahn: What makes me a better candidate is that I care about the town I will donate my full salary of $6,600 to the St The total salary for the town board for 2024 is not online yet but for 2023 the town chairman made $13,691 he probably made more than the $13,691 in 2024 He has turned his position into a very nice part-time job at the town’s expense Portier: I have been doing it for 16 years We need leaders who understand and are willing to reach and form partnerships with residents and businesses My experience has given me exceptional leadership skills to ensure open and respectful communication so that everyone impacted by important decisions can have a place at the table I offer the people of Little River my efforts and time into keeping this town and our residents first What do residents say the district's most important issues are and how would you address them?Hahn: My top priority is to be more transparent and keep the people of Little River more informed I think 90% of the town doesn’t know what is going on in their town What I want to do is send out a letter to all of the residents of Little River and ask them to submit an email address so each month we can send them the agenda of our monthly meeting and after the meeting we can let them know what happened at that meeting Hopefully some residents will respond and be more involved There are a lot of good ideas out there and I would like to hear them which I will go into more detail on my Facebook group The town board was given a 10% raise in November They just voted to purchase a used fire truck for $92,500 They voted to approve a $20,000 contract to update the town's Comprehensive Report and only took one bid I would think 90% or more of the residents do not know anything about this and there is more Portier: The issues I plan to focus on are replacing/repairing aging culverts documented in poor or severe condition from a 2024 inventory/study (funding availability toward this effort will be dedicated by the governor); phase three in our emergency plan which is updating the Town Hall bathroom to include a shower to be used for warming shelter needs during power outages; make improvements to the town cemeteries (Garden of Hope/Swedish Baptist) of physical gating and records updates; continue with comprehensive plan which is a two-year project; finalize project of Woodview Road reconstruction; focus on a 2-mile stretch of repairs to North Park Avenue (Muck Road); plan a town ice cream social for residents to meet the town board and ask questions in an informal environment; and create a quarterly newsletter to keep the residents informed on events issues and information going on in our community Army; and retired former associate professor with tenure Highest level of education: Master's degree Relevant experience: Has served as the town chair for the past two years Highest level of education: Three months of college as an “A” student in accounting Relevant experience: I am a resident of Little Suamico for over 65 years and rarely missed a Town Board meeting in the last five to 10 years Mohr: I’ve had the pleasure of serving my neighbors That includes being legally and ultimately responsible for maintaining our street signs and fielding people’s questions - their comments and of course their complaints – 24 hours a day Nowak: We currently have two supervisors and one chairperson None of the three know all the parliamentary procedure rules Mohr: It was a bit of a juggling activity at first with both being a town chair and having a full-time job but many other towns have the same situation The support and teamwork from those working within our town is amazing I feel there is no problem we can’t resolve I have recently retired and won’t have to rearrange my schedules anymore This allows me to meet with more people and work on their concerns and complaints Nowak: If I see a problem I just fix it at no cost I have more life experiences than there is room for in this paper and this is not a joke Mohr: Our town still is grappling with replacing poor roads just like every other community in Wisconsin But we have made strong progress toward achieving the result of rebuilding our worst roads In just the last two years we replaced over 10 poor roads all without having to rely on any loans or getting any financial debt My guidance with the town is that we stay within our budget I do not believe in this "I’ll get back to you" stuff so get lost and I don’t expect to ever call you." When elected If someone purchases a chunk of property in this township they do not know what it should be zoned as They just accept what the current taxpayer pays Did you know there are several 40 acre parcels that are only charged $70 a year or less – even with the school referendums added This is all public knowledge in which I can show you how to access In Little Suamico a person's taxes went from $6,700 to $15,000 with no improvements They were told by the big wheels there was nothing they could do In downtown Sobieski a person’s taxes went from $2,800 to $6,500 Another business in downtown Sobieski went from $2,100 to $2,340 with the school referendum Try to get a straight answer from our accessor I am running for supervisor and chairperson Highest level of education: Graduate of Carthage College; bachelor’s degree in psychology minors in criminal justice and political science UW-Green Bay with a certificate in Gerontology End of Life Care and in Teaching Adult Learners Relevant experience: 12 years’ previous experience in county government; six years serving as Parks and Recreation Inland Lakes and Community Center Supervisor I am a Wisconsin Towns Advocacy Council Ambassador representing the town of Mountain and Oconto County Advocating the needs of our community and working to receive greater shared revenue from the state ensuring public safety needs for Fire and EMS Occupation: Chair Town of Mountain; PikSkip Systems; Consulting Occupational Health & Medicine - Safety Relevant experience: 13-plus years on the Town of Mountain Board 15 months as fill-in for a supervisor who left the area Training through Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) at various Quarterly and Annual District and statewide meeting Roads Management and Maintenance Training by WI Asphalt Association Carey-Mielke: Current and past town employees asked me to run for chairperson The town continues to operate with outdated employee handbooks The town has missed opportunities for a trailhead in Mountain and the sheriff’s substation when they were offered to Mountain and not pursued The culvert that was approved in May of 2024 for ATV crossing on 32/64 was sadly submitted to the DOT late I created a brochure for our town to promote our community and the chair still has not printed it for use Maletzke: I believe in giving back to our town We have lived and have worked here 25-plus years well-run town that for our residents in our tourism-based economy My scope of the town’s physical and financial state assists in meeting needs and maintaining lower taxes with the understanding that many of our taxpayers are older fixed-income individuals I welcome residents and electors to meetings maintain an open transparent approach and return phone calls and emails I welcome any conversation regarding issues in our town I do not believe in supporting special interests When the citizens of Mountain wanted to have Green Lake Park reopened Forest Services for four years in negotiations Forest Services that allowed the Mountain Historical Society to reopen My education and life experiences provide me with the skill set the citizens of Mountain not only need but deserve to get the job done I will stand up and fight for all of Mountains citizens I believe in and support fiscal transparency Maletzke: I have a very broad knowledge base My experiences providing consulting in Occupational Health and Safety over 52 years allows me to visualize and plan a path and see the goal to completion Positions on the Governor’s State Trail Council Oconto County Economic Development Corp Board as well as members of Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association and Wisconsin Campground Owners Association have broadened my experiences Carey-Mielke: 1) Our population is declining Marketing Mountain with an brochure to support our community and economy for young families to visit and settle would help 2) Updating and maintaining an engaging website for Mountain 3) The downtown area in Mountain has been left to decay Grant writing to build a trail head in Mountain off W and 32 by the old railroad grade would help support and bolster the economy to the businesses in the area Create an historic district to preserve our history and create an opportunity for visitors to learn about the fierce history of Mountain's cultural routes through available grant writing 4) Restoration of all our parks in Mountain I have been working on the Fireman’s Park area providing a nature area for youth and families to enjoy through fiscal management and grant writing more access points across 32 for ATV use to access local businesses Provide open records on all financial matters Maletzke: The most common issue I hear about is the market reassessment and how it affects property taxes and valuation changed equalized values and forced the reassessment Educating our property owners is/was the first step to assure compliance with state statutes Planning for a full reassessment will be the next step for Mountain and all the surrounding towns Applying for grant funding for equipment and projects is ongoing with current applications of $1,100,000 are active Working to move our fire department as an active segment of the Nicolet Fire District and receiving a $200,000 grant for SCUBA protective systems for our firefighters is expected soon open conversation with my electors in the town of Mountain Highest level of education: High school graduate who attended NWTI Related experience: I am a certified fire department officer I been on the town board for 16 years and town chairman for 14 years Highest level of education: High school graduate Relevant experience: A farm owner for 25 years; a small-business owner for 40 years and three years on the County Highway Committee Alsteen: I am running for office because I am the current town chairman Wolf: To move the town of Oconto Falls forward What makes you the better candidate?Alsteen: My experience of being the town chairman and the rapport I have with the town's people new ideas for solutions by gathering information from other town officials from other townships Alsteen: Keeping the town roads up with plowing and repairs I already got numerous grants and will keeping up on getting grants for the town Wolf: Snowplow trucks - invest in late model well-cared-for used units; Town hall - new vs remodel to bring our facility up to ADA standards offices for clerk and treasurer; negotiate better deals with the city of Oconto Falls for recycling and fire protection TOWN OF UNDERHILL CHAIRPERSONPeter VorpahlAge: 53 Highest level of education: I am a graduate of UW-Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in forest management Relevant experience: I have been the Town Chairman for over 10 years I was also previously Chief on the Underhill Fire Department and have held several supervisory positions at various jobs that I have had Occupation: Government and TEM sales consultant 37 years' experience with Packer City International Trucks Highest level of education: Oconto Falls High school 1987; 1989 graduate of NWTC – Diesel Part Technologies and Business Management Relevant experience: Served 12 years on Gillett School Board of Education Assisted administration in development of annual budgets conduct regular meetings and annual meetings Purchasing and contracting for various areas including building maintenance Gillett Area Ambulance Service - licensed EMR served as president for the squad for two terms board of director five terms (2 years each) Current fire chief for the town of Underhill Manage and maintain staffing to respond to emergencies within and outside the township Adhere to policies and procedures according to SPS 330 Fire reporting and record keeping as required by NFPA and feel that people should do what they can for their community and therefore I would like to continue serving the residents of the town of Underhill Winkler: I have chosen to run because residents have expressed the need for a change; a proactive government instead of a reactive government I am a servant leader ready to place others' needs first Vorpahl: I believe in providing town residents with the necessary services in the most cost-effective manner possible I feel we have been succeeding at this during my time in office by utilizing resources within our community whenever possible as well as applying for and receiving a number of grants to help fund projects Winkler: I believe that we can do a better job meeting the needs of the people We have become accustom to going with the flow all too often and taking the path of least resistance We need to do a better job with development of multi-year plans for roads facilities and equipment and tie that to the budget Look into grants to help with lake district needs working hard to better the way of life in Underhill have proven to be able to get things done as requested Conduct myself professionally at all times in public I can be a creative problem solver with an open mind I have taken on extra tasks within the town to help clean up areas of the town Work well with others in various situations I am always available to respond to questions and concerns We need to invest in relationships that influence the future of our town I can operate strategically with limited resources I have demonstrated integrity amongst my peers effectively following through with what is said and done I have a vision for Underhill that allows us to meet the needs of all the town’s people one of the most important issues is road maintenance and work to efficiently keep them in good repair in as timely a manner as possible Ever increasing property taxes and the need for services will force the town to become creative and frugal Agricultural equipment continues to grow in size and roads were not designed for that type of weight nor continued burden We will need to look into ways to fund projects through federal and state sources and grants SUAMICO - One of the escaped river otters from the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Suamico has been recovered According to the zoo, Ophelia was secured Friday evening thanks to help from Suamico Trap LLC. She's already gone through a veterinary exam and is in "perfect health "She's been returned to the regular otter habitat this morning but may not always be visible to guests: Ophelia has always been a bit shy and enjoys tucking into things to take naps throughout the day," the zoo said in a statement Tuesday The zoo is continuing its search for Louie, the second otter that went missing on March 20 during a winter storm It is believed that Louie has traveled further from the zoo than Ophelia NEW Zoo asks the public to continue sending in reports of otter sightings to the zoo as well as time and place of the sightings which is why the photos/videos are so helpful," Angela Kawski a representative for NEW Zoo previously said in an email to the Press-Gazette SUAMICO (NBC 26) — No one was injured after a vehicle broke through the ice on the Suamico River Thursday afternoon according to the Suamico Fire Department in a media release Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler says that just after 1:30 p.m first responders were called to the Suamico River on the Bay of Green Bay for a possible ice-water rescue a person drove their vehicle onto the frozen river from the Suamico Boat Launch The driver managed to navigate to the mouth of the river Suamico Fire says the driver exited the vehicle and made his way to shore safely with the help of neighbors "We urge everyone to use extreme caution when venturing onto frozen bodies of water," said Fire Chief Joe Bertler in the media release "Due to the recent warm weather ice conditions can change rapidly and can be unpredictable the driver was able to get to safety with help from the community." Suamico Fire reminds neighbors to avoid driving or walking on ice unless it has been verified as safe by proper authorities SUAMICO (NBC 26) — The more than $9.5 million project to expand Lineville Road resumed Monday The project manager says they are on budget and on-schedule to wrap up by late November Construction on Lineville Road has resumed after pausing for the winter I'm your Suamico neighborhood reporter Pari Apostolakos at the Velp Avenue roundabout Drivers can expect more closures before construction is done Lineville Road construction Project Manager Eric Adamski said they are on schedule and on budget "Just make sure to follow the road closure signs," Adamski said "Don't try and move any of the signs or get around anything to impede our work zone Obviously that's going to affect our safety." This year's phase of the project will continue to make Lineville Road four lanes instead of two while expanding the roundabouts at Velp Avenue and the entrance to Festival Foods A new roundabout will be built at the intersection of Lineville Road and Cornell Road "Just asking for patience with people trying to navigate around the work zone or getting to the businesses," Adamski said there will be access to all the businesses at all times We checked in with business owner Katherine Forrest before the first phase of construction wrapped up last fall. She's still planning on offering refreshments to anyone who stops by her kitchen supply store "Whatever we have to do to entice people to make their way down here 'cause I know it can be a little tricky," Forrest said Monday afternoon She said she feels the construction has been worth it so far The more than $9.5 million project is one of the major undertakings for Brown County's Highway Department this year and it's not just drivers who might benefit Adamski said construction of a multi-use trail for walking running or biking began during last year's phase of the project "That's going to continue on this year as well so we'll pick up where we left off and bring that trail all the way to [Interstate] 41," Adamski said Crews say they hope to have the project finished by late November of this year SUAMICO (WLUK) -- The sixth Greater Green Bay YMCA location is officially open. The new facility offers a wide range of amenities designed to promote health You must be at least eight years old to enjoy the fully staffed HYPE room All of the amenities are free to members The new location creates numerous employment opportunities across various departments - the biggest being group fitness instructors The facility is in the Urban Edge Towne Center off of Lineville Road in Suamico The full group classes schedule will be released on their social media SUAMICO (NBC 26) — Anga the African lioness arrived at the N.E.W Zoo in Suamico from Zoo Knoxville on Friday The three-year-old has been recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to breed with Loid the lion (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story with additional details for the web) a way for the zoo to help save an endangered species arrived in Suamico I'm your Suamico neighborhood reporter Pari Apostolakos and I learned all about Anga the African lioness on the day she moved in Watch Pari Apostolakos' full broadcast story here: After the death of his 20-year-old mate in February Loid the lion at the Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo now has someone to keep him company "Anga the African lion arrived just this morning," zoo director Carmen Murach said Arriving in a van from Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee Anga comes with a recommendation to breed with Loid from the species survival program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums we don't end up with the lions across the country all being related to one another," Murach said Raised by humans after her mother went through a traumatic birth I tried calling her out of her enclosure Friday afternoon "We're excited to come back and see her," Zoo visitor Ben Carlson said after realizing Anga was settling in to the N.E.W staff are keeping a little distance between Anga and Loid until she's adjusted to her new home "They're not at the stage yet where they're nose to nose with just one thing of fencing between the two of them," Murach said Anga had a birth control implant placed while living with her brother at her Zoo Knoxville and Murach says zoo staff plan to let the implant expire rather than remove it with an invasive surgery In the event Anga does eventually have cubs Murach says lion pregnancies last just three months "Being able to just come on a Tuesday and see lions in almost your backyard is a pretty rare thing," Carlson said while visiting the zoo with his daughter Zoo staff say a portion of admission fees goes to the SAFE African Lion program a conservation effort to protect lions and their habitats SUAMICO (NBC 26) — A snowmobile with two riders fell through the ice on the bay of Green Bay on Christmas morning the snowmobile is submerged in about 12 feet of water Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler said the snowmobile was about 200 yards off the shoreline when it went through the ice A resident on Cottage Row called 911 to report the incident Bertler strongly encouraged residents to notify authorities if they rescue themselves and leave the scene He said multiple rescue teams were deployed in this case because it wasn’t clear if the riders were still in the water SUAMICO - The NEW ZOO & Adventure Park was very close to capturing one of the missing river otters but another mammal in the wild didn't get the message the zoo posted camera footage of one of the otters finding a trap placed by zoo officials one otter was seen repeatedly in the same area One of the traps was already set off before the otter arrived you can see the otter standing on top of a trap that was already sprung On March 20, the otters Louie and Ophelia escaped their habitat through a small breach during the storm The NEW Zoo said "raccoon proof" traps have been added to increase chances of capturing the otters The zoo asks the public to report any sightings of the otters to the zoo SUAMICO (WLUK) -- The Suamico Fire Department is seeing an uptick in false emergency calls from iPhones and officials say it comes from the "crash detection" feature on newer devices along with 8th generation and newer Apple Watches automatically call emergency services when it detects what it believes to be a crash Suamico Fire told FOX 11 the feature is the cause of a recent increase in false calls in the last two weeks," said Fire Chief Joe Bertler we have gone on crashes that actually are legit," explained Bertler "We had one a month ago that was an iPhone crash notification that someone was way off in the woods and we happened to find them we are going on calls that are from the phones that are just phone drops." He explained to us that phones falling on the ground or sliding off of cars are activating the alert system We end up going to the call and a lot of times find just a phone on the ground.” Suamico is not the only station dealing with the influx in calls The Grand Chute Fire Department also uploaded a post on Facebook detailing the feature and how best to avoid accidentally setting it off director of Brown County Public Safety Communications the recording does say a serious crash has been detected so we still need to dispatch out and check and see if there’s any injuries or if anybody needs assistance.” While the false calls waste valuable time and resources She said the feature is still a valuable tool in an emergency “If somebody was to have an accident and was unable to call and unable to speak it’s going to give us an area where we can dispatch responders to.” Bertler said the service has helped the department “What we want to stress is we’re not telling you to turn off the notifications," he said "I think it’s a good thing to have of your phone Just be mindful of where you’re setting your phone Dispatch says if your phone does accidentally call emergency services Suamico fire and rescue crews are dealing with an unusual amount of ice rescues A snowmobile incident on the Bay of Green Bay on Christmas morning is raising concerns about dangerous ice conditions in the area.  Two riders on the snowmobile fell through the ice but safely self-rescued their vehicle remains submerged in approximately 12 feet of water “Fortunately we were approached by people on the snowmobile who were coming out there to retrieve it. We advised them that from drone footage we could tell that the area was all broken up,” Fire Chief Joe Bertler told WFRV. emphasized how unpredictable early ice can be.  “They fell through extremely thin ice They were coming from the south two days before it was open water so basically they were on an inch to an inch and a half of ice,” he explained Drzewiecki also warned against relying on social media for ice condition updates “You can’t rely on social media You might say ‘How’s the ice on this lake or body of water?’ They could say ‘A foot anyone can say a foot.’ 20 feet away from a foot of ice could be open water.” It’s not the first ice-related incident in the area this month either an 87-year-old man from De Pere tragically passed away after falling through the ice while fishing alone on the Bay of Green Bay Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post SUAMICO (NBC 26) — The NEW Zoo in Suamico welcomes their newest resident: Anga a 3-year-old African lioness that just arrived on Friday from Knoxville but are currently separated so they can get to know each other safely through a fence She has access to the lion building and the outdoor yard so visitors might be able to see her this weekend — if she chooses to be outside The zoo says they will follow Anga's lead to know when it's time for the "formal" introduction between her and Loid SUAMICO (WLUK) -- A sixth Greater Green Bay YMCA location will be opening this fall The new YMCA facility in Suamico will open in September located in the Urban Edge Towne Centre off of Lineville Road will offer a wide range of amenities designed to promote health It features a wellness center equipped with the latest fitness equipment a variety of classes to suit all fitness levels and interests dedicated spaces and resources for post-exercise recovery and relaxation and a tween center offering engaging and safe activities and programs for youth aged 8 and up The new location will be open to current Greater Green Bay YMCA members and will also welcome new members to join Naming opportunities of the new facility are available. If interested, contact Scott Johnson, Executive Director of Community Relations at the Greater Green Bay YMCA, at scott.johnson@greenbayymca.org There are also job opportunities available. More details will be shared in the coming weeks, and will be available to apply for online. Further updates on the opening will be posted to social media sites in the coming weeks SUAMICO (NBC 26) — A local activist group says it plans to protest outside a rally held by Republicans in support of state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel on Saturday A release from Indivisible Brown County invited people to protest on a sidewalk outside the restaurant hosting the event Indivisible is a nationwide progressive political action committee state superintendent candidate Brittany Kinser and Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain are scheduled to join Schimel at the event hosted by the Republican Party of Brown County (RPBC) which is calling it the "Save Wisconsin" rally The rally is scheduled for noon Saturday at Suamico's Townline Pub & Grill The protesting group says it is calling to attention to what it perceives as Rep. Wied's lack of transparency “We need to know why Tony Wied won’t have a town hall after voting to cut Medicaid," Indivisible Door County spokesperson Mike Brodd wrote in the release "He will only show up to private events that exclude the public at large." The group is also voicing concerns about the other speakers, fearing Kinser will "waste our tax dollars on voucher programs" and Schimel will "lose the fair maps we fought so hard to get." The Republican Party of Brown County's website reads: "This is a private event You must RSVP and be either a member or a supporter of the RPBC to attend." We spoke with RPBC president Doug Reich earlier this week about the rally Reich said he listed the event as private to prioritize members and supporters who wanted to get in "We've never had an issue where we've had a Democrat actually try and crash an event like this," he said I guess we have to declare that this is private so that we can control who gets into the event and make sure that our members and supporters get in first.'" Reich clarified that people do not have to donate money to attend the rally saying registered members and supporters would be given first priority and then they come with an ID and they're willing to sign in and check in then basically anyone can come at that point," he said NBC 26 reached out to Reich again on Thursday but did not hear back as of the time of publishing SUAMICO (NBC 26) — The NEW Zoo in Suamico says that while they're still trying to locate Louie they might take steps to find another male otter soon if Louie chooses to remain in the wild Zoo staff tells NBC 26 they still have cameras set up to try to pick up a pattern of Louie's whereabouts Otter breeding season ends at the end of this month so the zoo hopes Louie might come back by then If Louie doesn't come back and chooses to remain in the wild the zoo says they might take steps to find another male otter from another zoo so he has the necessary skills to survive out there Otters Louie and Ophelia escaped their habitat at the NEW Zoo in March through a fence which was weakened by a storm Ophelia returned about a week later SUAMICO - A house damaged in a fire Sunday night in 3900 block of Sunset Beach Lane in Suamico is being considered a total loss, resulting in $1.3 million in damages, according to the Suamico Fire Department. The fire department said it was dispatched just before 6 p.m The fire started in the garage of the home and quickly spreading to the rest of the home the fire had already spread to the main part of the home All occupants of the home were able to escape with no injuries Two adults and three children were displaced by the blaze The cause of the fire remains under investigation Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSUAMICO (WBAY) - The NEW Zoo and Adventure Park has two North American river otters at-large The zoo has released new video of the otters on the night they escaped They say they will post more information as they continue to track and try to catch the otters enlarged a small breach in the buried fencing around their habitat and escaped Zookeepers discovered the escape Thursday morning during their rounds who found the otters seem to be enjoying themselves “Tracks and overnight camera footage showed that both otters appeared to have enjoyed the snowfall frequently sliding on their bellies and exploring nearby water bodies,” the zoo reported The prints showed the otters going through the Reforestation Camp and circling back to the zoo repeatedly and it’s possible they’ll return to their habitat on their own the zoo thinks Louie and Ophelia will find plenty of food and safe places for sleeping around the ponds and waterways that surround the zoo “North American river otters are native to our area and are very comfortable and capable of surviving in Wisconsin’s climate.” motion-activated cameras and other devices will continue the search for the escapees The zoo doesn’t think Louie or Ophelia would approach people Officials were called to the Suamico River shortly before 1:30 p.m Thursday after receiving reports of a car that had broken through the ice and fallen into the river below The driver of the vehicle safely made way to land with the assistance from nearby neighbors and community members Firefighters successfully removed the vehicle from Suamico River SUAMICO (NBC 26) — Ottergate continues in Suamico shows possible sightings of the two otters on the loose The river otters escaped the Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo six days ago and the zoo says it appears the furry fugitives have nearly been trapped but raccoons are causing some problems with the traps so then the otters would like to go in the trap but it's not open," zoo director Carmen Murach said the otters have still not been willing to go all the way into the trap." Murach says the otters are likely still in the Brown County Reforestation Camp — not far from the zoo — but reminds people not to go looking for them "[Louie and Ophelia] are not having that crazy party that they started out with They're sticking a little closer to particular areas It does look like they're finding plenty of food but starting to think about the food they're used to." The Zoo is working with a professional trapping company in its attempts to recapture the otters Murach remains confident the otters will either be trapped or return home voluntarily We cover stories making an impact in Suamico. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Suamico 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.