Local Rhinelander Headlines

Rescue crews search Vilas County lake for possible drowned man

BOULDER JUNCTION - A 62-year-old fisherman may have drowned in a Vilas County lake late Tuesday afternoon.

As of early Tuesday evening, sheriff's deputies were searching White Sand Lake for that man. The lake is about a mile southeast of Boulder Junction in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.

The Vilas County Sheriff's Office says the fisherman, who has not yet been publicly named, is from Florida. He was in the Northwoods fishing with his brother.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods public library benefits from secondhand treasure

FLORENCE - The Florence County Library looks much more appealing nowadays. That's thanks to thousands of dollars worth of hand-me-downs from southeastern Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee suburb of Cedarburg wanted brand new furniture and shelves for its new state-of-the-art library. Florence was pleased to take Cedarburg's unwanted shelving - and Florence got it for free.

"They provided basically all of the shelving that you see in our library for anything that's stacks, which is where the books are, on both sides of the library, along with the oak desks that you'll see in the back of the library," said Florence County Library Director Stephanie Weber.

Full story: WJFW

Grocery store breaks up 'food desert' in Florence area

FLORENCE - People in some areas of Wisconsin may take easy access to groceries for granted. People in Florence don't.

Last year, the USDA considered the Florence area a "food desert". There was no grocery store in all of Florence County, and it had been that way for seven years.

That's all changed. Pat's Foods has now been open for a year in town.

Full story: WJFW

Hodag M*A*S*H* Blood Drive returns to help fill local supply

RHINELANDER - Most of the time when you give blood it's in a clinic. But once a year in Rhinelander, organizers bring the process outside.

Tuesday, tents filled up with donors at Pioneer Park for the 6th annual "Hodag MASH Blood Drive."

More than a dozen nurses and workers with the Community Blood Center interviewed, tested and collected blood from donors.

Full story: WJFW

Unarmed combat sports in Wisconsin could face a regulation change

SUGAR CAMP - There could soon be new regulations for unarmed combat sports. The proposed changes would impact the number of competitors here in the Northwoods.

Under current law, amateur and professional mixed martial arts fights require participants to be insured, referees and judges to be licensed, and the presence of a doctor.

But a proposal in the State Assembly would extend these regulations to wrestling, kickboxing, karate, and any other form of unarmed combat.

Full story: WJFW

Water ski team trains with world champion to perfect new, tougher skills

RHINELANDER - The Hodag Water Shows team could add some new tricks to its performances. The team is currently working on its barefoot skills with one of the world's best barefoot skiers.

"It's a little more high pace, a little more intense, but it's a lot of fun," says Ben Groen of the World Barefoot Center.

Barefoot water skiing is essentially the same as regular water skiing without the skis.

Full story: WJFW

The Warehouse Art Center offers new classes for everyone in Eagle River

EAGLE RIVER - If you want a new summer activity, look no further than Eagle River. A new art studio offers many different classes to kids and adults.

"We've been here for a month, but the organization has been together for about three years," said Summer Program Director Erica Bush. "We're very excited to be in our own building finally."

Classes can cost anywhere from $20 to $50. People can sign up for classes ahead of time or just walk into the center. Program directors think it's important for kids to get involved in art early on.

Full story: WJFW

Merrill man charged with armed robbery

LINCOLN COUNTY - A Tomahawk homeowner was able to scare off burglars back in March, even after being hit in the face with the hatchet. Now, a Merrill man will need to find 25 dollars in cash to get out of jail.

28-year-old Chad Staehle was charged with four felonies for breaking into a home in Tomahawk. Police believe he and three other men broke into the home with a hatchet and crowbar.

Full story: WJFW

Walker's office helped draft records rollback

MADISON - Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says Gov. Scott Walker's office had a hand in crafting a budget amendment scaling back the state's open records law.

Fitzgerald told WISC-TV on Tuesday that he and Walker's office as well as Assembly Republicans were involved in drafting the language. He said he had discussions with Walker's staff about the number of record requests the governor's office receives. Walker's spokeswoman didn't immediately return an email message.

The changes generated a stinging backlash from open government advocates. Walker, Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced Saturday that the rollback provisions would come out of the budget.

Full story: WJFW

Senate approves raise for state troopers, changes for state worker compensation

MADISON - The state Senate has approved a raise for state troopers and a new compensation plan for other state workers but has delayed debate on the state budget.

The Senate's Tuesday agenda included the budget, a bill that would give the troopers a six percent raise, and a bill laying out a new two-year compensation plan for 31,000 other state workers that includes no general wage increases.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker pushed through a state law in 2011 that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers over anything beyond wage increases to account for inflation. The troopers were exempted from the law.

Full story: WJFW

Fire at wood manufacturer causes extensive damage

SUPERIOR - Fire officials have revised their damage estimate of a blaze at a wood manufacturing company in the Twin Ports.

The fire broke out early Tuesday at Stella-Jones in Superior. WDIO-TV (http://bit.ly/1fk5YrR ) reports an exterior conveyer belt, used to grind up railroad ties, caught fire around 2 a.m.

Battalion chief Erik Sutton says that after talking with workers, a $1 million damage estimate has been revised to about $50,000.

Full story: WJFW

Senator Johnson: Feds should have deported SFC man before killing

MADISON - Senators are criticizing the release of an immigrant with a criminal record who allegedly went on to murder a woman in San Francisco last week. They said he should have been deported before the crime.

Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who chairs the Senate's homeland security committee, says it makes no sense that the man was released despite having a long criminal record and no legal status.

Philip Miller, an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, blamed San Francisco, saying officials there did not honor a federal request to keep Francisco Sanchez detained. Sanchez, who is from Mexico, allegedly shot and killed the young woman as she was sightseeing with her father.

Full story: WJFW

Merrill's new city biking plan could constrain traffic lanes on busy streets

MERRILL - Merrill will need to decide just how friendly it wants to be to bicyclists and walkers. A new plan could take away lanes of traffic on some main roads to benefit bikers.

The city approved a new bike and pedestrian plan last week that calls for painting bike lanes on roads, marking bike routes around the city, and widening sidewalks.

It also suggests changing the flow of two of its busiest streets. Under the plan, Center Avenue and East Main Street would no longer be four-lane roads. Instead, traffic would flow in just one lane in each direction. The roads would include a center turn lane and bike lanes on each side.

Full story: WJFW

Plan emphasizes biking, walking in Merrill; traffic lanes could be constrained on busy streets

MERRILL - Merrill will need to decide just how friendly it wants to be to bicyclists and walkers. A new planning template could mean taking away lanes of traffic on some main roads to benefit bikers.

The city approved a new bike and pedestrian plan last week. It calls for painting bike lanes on roads, marking bike routes around the city, and wider sidewalks.

It also suggests changing the flow of two of its busiest streets. Under the plan, Center Avenue and East Main Street would no longer be four-lane roads. Instead, traffic would flow in just one lane in each direction. The roads would include a center turn lane and bike lanes on each side.

Full story: WJFW

Conservation group to map old growth trees on private land in Vilas County

EAGLE RIVER - Most of northern Wisconsin's forest didn't survive the cut-over from a century ago. However, some pockets did make it, and experts call those areas old growth. Now, the Northwoods Land Trust in Eagle River wants to figure out how much old growth is on private land in Vilas County.

Northwoods Land Trust will organize and run the project. Its executive director Bryan Pierce says he doesn't know exactly what they'll find.

"We really don't know how much old growth forest might remain on private lands in northern Wisconsin." Pierce said. "The DNR has an estimate of somewhere around one percent, possibly, of old growth forest habitat remaining since the original pines were cut."

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin Senate to take up budget, contracts on Tuesday

MADISON - The Wisconsin Senate will take up the state budget, a six percent raise for state troopers and a new compensation plan for thousands of other state workers that contains no general wage increases on Tuesday.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said last week that his chamber would act first on the state budget. A spokeswoman for Vos didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald's spokeswoman said only that the change was made based on what she called scheduling requirements.

Vos and Fitzgerald have been struggling over whether to add provisions to the budget that would repeal the state's prevailing wage for construction workers. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Republicans who control the state Senate plan to insert a provision into the state budget Tuesday that will repeal the prevailing wage law for local governments.

Full story: WJFW

Merrill Citizens Fire Academy to give inside look at the life of a firefighter

MERRILL - Some people think firefighters only battle flames in heavy gear and drive around bulky trucks.

The Merrill Fire Department wants to show people what else the job is about. Merrill will host its first Citizens Fire Academy this fall.

"Being a firefighter is not about riding on shiny red trucks, and ringing the bells, and hitting the sirens, and stuff of that nature," said Merrill Fire Chief Dave Savone with a laugh. "It's the nuts and bolts behind the fire service and the EMS services in the City of Merrill."

Full story: WJFW

Eagles, other birds hurt over holiday weekend

ANTIGO - Setting off illegal fireworks can put wildlife in the Northwoods at risk. The Raptor Education Group in Antigo took in many animals this past weekend, including a bald eagle hit by a firework.

"The symbol of America shouldn't look [this hurt] the day after the Fourth of July," says Marge Gibson, the executive director of Raptor Education Group.

One of the eagles brought in was somehow poisoned. It now weighs about half of what it should because it can't eat. The staff at REGI is worried the eagle will die because of something a person did.

Full story: WJFW

Emergency rooms fill up during busy July Fourth weekend

WOODRUFF - Northwoods emergency rooms needed extra help over the Fourth of July holiday.

Patient numbers went up about 30 percent over an average summer weekend at area Ministry Medical Group hospitals.

Ministry's four area hospitals all saw more patients than normal. Between Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, St. Mary's in Rhinelander, Eagle River Memorial and Sacred Heart in Tomahawk, doctors treated 623 patients in the ER. Howard Young Medical Center treated 222 patients alone.

Full story: WJFW

Man carrying loaded rifle arrested during Fourth of July fireworks

PARK FALLS - A man carrying a loaded rifle startled people watching during the Park Falls fireworks display Saturday night.

Several people called police around 10 p.m. reporting a man carrying a gun around the baseball field where the show took place. When police arrived the man wasn't there.

Officers found 38-year-old Jason L. Straetz sitting outside a nearby apartment building.

Full story: WJFW

Senior Center holds event to fundraise for programs in Rhinelander

RHINELANDER - After all the Fourth of July events Saturday, hungry people were able to stop at the Oneida County Senior Center's fundraiser for a bite to eat.

The senior center sold walking tacos, drinks, and desserts for people to eat in or take out. It was the second year the center held the event.

"We have an assembly line right on the kitchen counter there with whatever people want on them," said Oneida County Senior Center Activities and Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Schroeder. "I thank everyone for stopping in. We really appreciate it."

Full story: WJFW

Heroin suspected in recent deaths in Milwaukee County

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office says it has investigated 16 probable heroin-related deaths in the past week.

Twelve of the deaths occurred in Milwaukee County, and four happened in neighboring counties. A final cause of death for each case is pending further toxicology results.

The medical examiner's office says through June 6, 44 heroin deaths have been confirmed in Milwaukee County this year. If the additional deaths are also confirmed as heroin-related, it would amount to a one-week jump of 27 percent in this year's tally in the county.

Full story: WJFW

Box cutter under bed sent terror defendant back to custody

MINNEAPOLIS - A federal judge says a Minnesota man will stay in custody pending sentencing on a terror charge after a box cutter was found under his bed.

Abdullahi Yusuf pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

He was allowed to stay at a halfway house before sentencing and participate in a program designed to give him positive direction.

Full story: WJFW

Milwaukee Bucks president urges public dollars for new arena

MADISON - The Milwaukee Bucks' president is trying to persuade Wisconsin lawmakers to devote $250 million in tax dollars to a new arena.

Peter Feigin (FAY'gan) told the Legislature's budget committee Monday that the arena would be an economic boon.

Feigin says the project would create thousands of construction jobs, and that the team, as it improves, would bolster Milwaukee's reputation. He also noted that without a new arena, the NBA may move the team.

Full story: WJFW

Rain causes problems in western Wisconsin, Minnesota

WESTERN WISCONSIN - Heavy rain is causing problems in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The National Weather Service reports the Kinnickinnic River near River Falls, Wisconsin has risen about 5 feet after 5 to 7 inches of rain there early Monday.

KSTP-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1HaNqmO) some crashes were reported in the Twin Cities Monday morning as the wet roads become slick. Some traffic was also slowed.

Full story: WJFW

Fourth of July marks end to successful season for local fireworks stand

RHINELANDER - It's been a while since Independence Day fell on a Saturday, but that coincidence of the calendar made for a busy weekend for local firework stands.

"The last few years, we had the weekends. The Fourth was in the middle of the week so we basically had two weekends for everyone to come in," said Jim Hext, owner of By Request Fireworks. "Where this year it was basically on the weekend. So they all came in at one time on the Fourth, the third and fourth. It was real busy the last couple of days."

This year marked the seventh summer season since Hext started selling fireworks, and it was a very successful one.

Full story: WJFW

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