Local Rhinelander Headlines

A local author launches first novel of a new series

MINOCQUA - A new novel may catch your eye this weekend at a local bookstore. On the cover is a picture of girl by a Northwoods Lake. The book is titled "Exit Point" and is written by new author Alicia Sanftleben. Sanftleben grew up and lives in the Minocqua area. Her novel focuses on a young girl who, after a near death experience, is forced to rethink her life's path. The novel is the first part of a series of books. It follows the young girl's journey on her new life and efforts to save the world from destruction.

Full story: WJFW

Vilas Food Pantry needs help

EAGLE RIVER - A Northwoods food pantry could struggle to put food on their shelves this fall. Vilas Food Pantry volunteers need more donations and money to feed people in need, this includes more than 250 local families. This is the first time they've needed to ask the public for help in more than ten years.

"People get laid-off and they have needs," said Vilas Food Pantry Director Richard Short. "That's what we're here for, we want to make sure everyone knows that if they have a need, you're welcome to come."

Full story: WJFW

Hulsey launches write-in candidacy for governor

MADISON - Just 12 days before the election, state Representative Brett Hulsey says he is running for governor as an independent write-in candidate.

Hulsey lost the Democratic primary to Mary Burke, earning 16 percent of the vote.

Hulsey announced Thursday that he was mounting a last-minute write-in campaign, but if it appears the effort is helping Republican Governor Scott Walker, he will stop.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin court won't reconsider voter ID case

MADISON - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has refused to reconsider whether the state's voter photo identification law is unconstitutional.

Republicans passed the law in 2011. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the immigrant group Voces de la Frontera as well as the League of Women Voters challenged the mandate in separate lawsuits. The state Supreme Court concluded in July that the law is constitutional in both cases.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin Rapids shooting death trial continues

WISCONSIN RAPIDS - The daughter of a Wisconsin Rapids man accused of killing her ex-boyfriend has testified that she doesn't remember having a key to the 35-year-old shooting victim's home.

Daily Tribune Media (http://wrtnews.co/1FMb20L ) reports several witnesses have testified that Jolynn Reinwand had a key to the home of Dale Meister. Police say he was shot and killed by Joseph Reinwand in Meister's mobile home in March 2008.

Full story: WJFW

Sex offender allegedly makes booklet filled with photos of young girls

ONEIDA COUNTY - Albert Chagnon was released into Oneida County on October 7th. But now, he's back in jail because someone found a booklet he allegedly made. The booklet is filled with photos of young Northwoods girls.

Lieutenant Terry Hook from the Oneida County Sheriff's Office says the booklet has photos of more than 250 girls. He allegedly cut those photos out of The Lakeland Times newspaper. Lt. Hook says the girls pictured were infants to 12 years old. There are allegedly 190 photos in the booklet.

Full story: WJFW

New York leaders: Doctor has Ebola, 1st in city

NEW YORK - A law enforcement official and a New York City official say a doctor who recently returned to the city after treating Ebola patients in West Africa has tested positive for the virus.

It's the first confirmed case in the city.

The officials received notification of preliminary test results and told The Associated Press but weren't authorized to discuss the case publicly before a Thursday night news conference.

Full story: WJFW

State Representative will plead no contest, could face jail time

WISCONSIN - Wisconsin state representative Bill Kramer could spend nine months in jail.

Kramer faced trial next week for two felonies of second-degree sexual assault. The case won't go to trial, though. Kramer has agreed to a plea deal.

He'll plead no contest to two misdemeanors. Those were for fourth-degree sexual assault.

Full story: WJFW

International group considers Wisconsin one of four most improved states in energy efficiency

WISCONSIN - An international energy efficiency group ranked Wisconsin in the top four most improved states in the U.S. when it comes to energy efficiency.

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is an international non-profit. The group pushes for better energy efficiency around the world.

Full story: WJFW

Partial solar eclipse

NORTHWOODS - Most of Northern Wisconsin was too cloudy to make out the partial solar eclipse Thursday evening. A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth. The last partial solar eclipse that could be seen in Northern Wisconsin was more than 10 years ago. Calculations for when and where solar eclipses occur are quite precise, according to local astronomer and planetarium owner Frank Kovac.

Full story: WJFW

Social media app causes problems for Medford High School, app banned from school grounds

MEDFORD - A Northwoods high school evacuated earlier this month because of an anonymous message on the social media app called Yik Yak. Someone posted a bomb threat on the app for Medford High School.

That hasn't been the only issue with the app. Some students used the app to anonymously bully their peers.

"People, especially students but even adults too, are much, much braver behind a computer screen," says Medford High School Dean of Students Justin Hraby.

Full story: WJFW

Federal grant will help NTC open mobile lab, expand educational opportunities

WAUSAU - Northcentral Technical College will get a huge boost to one of its healthcare programs.

The geriatric healthcare program will get $668,328 from the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant will help create new advanced technical certificates. It will also go towards expanding educational programs.

Full story: WJFW

Appeals court rejects John Doe rehearing request

MADISON - A federal appeals court has unanimously rejected a conservative group's request to reconsider a ruling last month tossing a lawsuit challenging an investigation into possible illegal campaign coordination.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the request from Wisconsin Club for Growth to rehear the case after a three-judge panel last month sided with investigators.

Full story: WJFW

Trial continues in 2008 Wisconsin Rapids killing

WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Jurors have watched a 7-year-old police interview with a 55-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man accused in a shooting death.

Joseph Reinwand is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Dale Meister. The 35-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man was found dead in his home on March 4, 2008.

Court documents show Meister had previously told several people that he was afraid Reinwand would try to kill him.

Full story: WJFW

Volunteers needed for new community warming center

MERRILL - The first community warming center in Merrill is set to open in less than two weeks. However, Merrill Area United Way organizers still need volunteers to help manage the center.

The group recently re-fit the former Lincoln Community Bank Drive-Thru on W. Main Street in Merrill to serve as the center. It will help homeless people stay warm from November to April at night. The Lincoln County Homelessness Task Force reported more than 20 homeless living in the area as recently as July.

Full story: WJFW

Many Northwoods voters will consider whether to accept federal BadgerCare money

RHINELANDER - Voters in Oneida, Lincoln, Florence, and Iron Counties will tell the state whether it should accept federal money to expand BadgerCare.

That's Wisconsin's health insurance program for low-income people.

Gov. Scott Walker rejected federal money offered by the Affordable Care Act.

Full story: WJFW

President Obama scheduled to campaign for Burke on Tuesday

MADISON - A date has been set for President Barack Obama's campaign stop in Milwaukee next week with Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke.

Burke's campaign spokesman Joe Zepecki says that Obama will be with Burke on Tuesday. The president's stop comes as Burke is locked in a tight race against Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

First lady Michelle Obama campaigned twice for Burke in recent weeks.

Full story: WJFW

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