Last Monday afternoon, Jessica Abbott was working at her children's clothing store in downtown Eau Claire.. it's called Whippersnappers.. when she noticed a woman acting a little suspicous.. Sure enough.. the evidence was on her surveillance video. She posted video on Facebook, showing the woman stealing jackets. Wednesday, about nine days after, a curious package arrived in the mail with only a return address from Eau Claire. Inside were some of the stolen items, payment for others, a letter of apology, and a note asking that the video be removed from Facebook. Abbott has obliged and thanks the woman for being honest. Abbott says Eau Claire police have been involved and say she's done a good job of resolving her own crimes.

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Thousands of dollars are raised for a good cause, and hundreds of people jumped into an icy lake to support it.

The event took place at Half Moon Beach in Eau Claire on Sunday, February 27.

Organizers say 1,018 plungers took part this year. They raised more than $135,000.

All proceeds will go towards Special Olympics Wisconsin.

 

An Eau Claire woman is lucky her car didn't end up in the water.

The woman almost drove all the way into the Tamarack Lane pool in Eau Claire Sunday morning.   When officer caught up with the driver, she told them she had left a bar on Bellinger Street the night before, but had no idea how her car ended up where it did.

A tow truck was called in to remove the car.  No charges have yet been filed.

An Eau Claire man who damaged city property has a couple options for making amends.

Eau Claire County Judge Paul Lenz says Shane McQuillan can spend 20 days in jail, or he can wear a sign for a day that reads "I was stupid."

The 22-year-old McQuillan pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property after driving into the front gate of the Eau Claire waste water treatment plant last March after he had been drinking.

Judge Paul Lenz says McQuillan would be required to stand in front of the plant wearing the sign for an entire day, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A baby born Friday evening has some special circumstances surrounding her.

Julianne Volovsek was born around 6 p.m. Friday night at Sacred Heart Hospital to parents Kyle and Kyle Volovsek.

Plus, their pediatrician helping out with the delivery was Dr. Julia Kyle.

While the tangle of names was interesting, the baby’s parents say the really exciting part was that Julianne's father was home from Iraq on leave from his duties in the army.

Rod Schrader was in driving by with his family when a fire caught their attention

“I noticed a bright ball of light,” he says. “I just ran up to the bay window then and looked inside to see if anybody was in there."

95- year old Francis Introwitz was inside his Park Avenue home in Chippewa Falls last night, watching TV with his caretaker Shannon Doe. She says they didn't even know the garage was on fire.

“I heard the banging on the front door and I heard there's a fire in the garage, and I was like ‘Oh my God!’” she says.

Schrader says he went inside to help Introwitz, which Doe says she might not have been able to do herself.

"The guy actually lifted Frenchie up and put him in his wheelchair for me," says Doe.

Schrader says the front door had been blocked, but he cleared the way. Another man was waiting to help lower Introwitz down the steps.

"He came to help me out the door because there was no ramp there," says Introwitz.

Introwitz and Doe both made it out safe. Schrader says he doesn't think his actions were in any way heroic.

"I think of myself as a good Samaritan and I did what anyone else would do," says Schrader.

Francis Introwitz's son says he's very grateful for everyone who helped his father to safety.

The Chippewa Falls Fire Chief says Good Samaritans rarely are seen on fire scenes: Most people call, but don’t stop.

The Chippewa Falls Fire Department says a cigarette likely started the fire. The caretaker says she's sorry, because she was smoking behind the garage before the fire started.