MONDAY
– The Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has announced their support of PetSkull Brewing’s expansion. The WEDC is awarding Manitowoc $250,000 to help turn a century-old historic building at 1015 Buffalo Street into a 10-barrel brewhouse and taproom.
– A Racine woman’s home caught fire over the weekend after she attempted to heat up rubbing alcohol on her stove. Fire crews were dispatched to the home at around 6:30 AM on Sunday (February 14th) after the alcohol caught fire. The woman said she was heating it up to help melt ice on her car, and when it caught fire she tripped while taking it outside, and spilled the flaming liquid on a rug.
– It may be bitterly cold outside, but that hasn’t swayed spearfishers who want to bag a prized sturgeon on the Lake Winnebago system. Thousands of anglers took to the ice on Saturday morning to help kick off the 2021 sturgeon spearing season on the system of lakes. 437 sturgeon were caught on the first day alone.
– Three local youth hockey teams have thrived this year and look to cap off their seasons with a State Championship. We sat down with the coach and some players from all three teams and will have reports with all of them this week. Click here to see what Squirt C Coach Ryan O’Rourke and players Aislyn O’Rourke and Braxton Hicks had to say about their season.
TUESDAY
– The City of Manitowoc Room Tax Commission met on Monday night in a regular monthly meeting. During a review of the 2020 room tax revenues and expenses, commission members learned the 2020 Room tax revenues came in it at around $400,000. this unaudited number fell short of the $625,000 projected revenue.
– Despite many citizens objecting to a mask mandate due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Manitowoc Common Council voted to extend the wearing of masks in all City buildings through April 30 of this year. The measure passed on an 8 to 1 vote, with only Alderperson Steve Czekla voting no. Before extending the mask requirement, the Common Council approved several gatherings and special events in the City that attract large groups of people.
– The Manitowoc common Council approved the land sale and site plan for Dramm Corporation expansion and the land sale to AMMO Incorporated, but locations will be in the I-43 Industrial Park. The 15.62 acres for the Dramm Corporation will include a new building and be built in phases. The AMMO Incorporated parcel will border South 63rd and Custer Street just behind the Red Line Products site.
– A Kewaunee County woman is facing charges after a 7-month-old child died earlier this month. The Algoma Police Department dispatched officers to a home in the 400 block of Fourth Street last Tuesday (February 9th) on a report of a child who drowned. After an investigation, officials arrested Cheyanne Wierichs on charges of Neglecting a Child resulting in death, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine.
WEDNESDAY
– There will be new representation for District Seven in Manitowoc. Unofficial results pending the canvass of votes later this week show Incumbent Aaron Bailey finished third in a three-way primary against challengers Tim Boldt and Scott Pelot. Click here for the full Primary Election results.
– The 17-year-old male accused of killing one man and injuring another at the Fox River Mall has been bound over for trial. Dezman Ellis was in the Outagamie County Courtroom yesterday (February 16th), where the order was issued. Ellis is facing a charge of First Degree Intentional Homicide after he allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Jovanni Froutso over a dispute about a girlfriend.
– There was an accident on I-43 Monday morning (February 15th) in Sheboygan County. According to reports, the incident occurred at around 5:00 AM near mile marker 119, which is in the Town of Wilson. The driver then lost control and slid into the eastern ditch. No major injuries were reported from the accident, but the driver was cited for an Unsafe Lane Deviation.
– The Two Rivers City Council is continuing to make progress on the Tax Incremental District 12 project. Click here to learn more about the project, and what changes were made.
THURSDAY
– A Manitowoc man accused of threatening to kill his former co-workers has pleaded not guilty. 33-year-old Nathanial Smith reportedly shared multiple videos and written posts on social media threatening workers at Manitowoc Grey Iron Foundry, from which he had been recently fired, in October of last year.
– Vaccination efforts in Manitowoc County continue to improve. We spoke with Health Officer Stephanie Lambert, who said, “The Health Department has administered 3,200 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine so far. The County in general is making good progress, with 13,559 doses of vaccines given. This means that more than 10,000 people in the County have gotten at least of a dose of the vaccine.”
– Multiple Republican Legislative leaders have responded to Governor Tony Evers’ Budget, and call it unrealistic. Among those responding was Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg, who said in a news release, “We’ll set Evers’ bad budget aside and continue to build on our strong foundation that put our state on strong fiscal footing over the decade.” We have reached out to several local leaders in the Democrat party, who have not responded as of yet.
– Investors Community Bank recently announced the debut of a new video series, “In Their Shoes,” featuring CEO Tim Schneider. To view “In Their Shoes” and for updates on upcoming episodes, visit InvestorsCommunityBank.com/in-theirshoes.html or visit the “In Their Shoes” Facebook page at Facebook.com/ICBInTheirShoes.
FRIDAY
– A Chicago man is facing charges in Green Bay after he allegedly sexually assaulted his girlfriend’s daughter over the past two years. Reports indicate that the assaults started in 2019, as 37-year-old Jeremy Berry would kiss her goodnight, then began involving sexual contact. The girl, who was 10-years-old what it all started, told police she had lost count of how many times Berry had assaulted her.
– A local leader in the Democratic Party has responded to Governor Ever’s budget announced earlier this week. Click here to reach what Manitowoc County Party Chair Sherrie Francar had to say.
– A Manitowoc County farm is being ordered to pay the state $85,000 for water pollution and wastewater violations. Maple Leaf Dairy in Cleveland is reportedly suspected to have discharged runoff into Fisher Creek on multiple occasions through an unnamed tributary. They are also accused of constructing three new facilities without the DNR’s approval and failed to submit engineering evaluations of existing facilities to the DNR.
-This week we spoke with coaches and players on three Manitowoc youth hockey teams that have advanced to state. Click the links below to see what the Squirt B, Squirt C, and Bantam teams had to say about their season.
