Local Rhinelander Headlines

Northwoods Art Tour gives people a look into art studios

NORTHWOODS - Artists in the Northwoods can be easily inspired by the nature around us. More than 30 artists opened the doors to their studios this weekend to show people how they use that inspiration to make art.

The Northwoods Art Tour featured artists from Oneida, Vilas, Iron, Langlade, and Lincoln counties. It's a self guided tour. People could pick and choose which galleries they want to visit.

Some of the artists were excited to show people a different side of art.

Full story: WJFW

Wis. paid $139 million to failed voucher schools

MADISON - Wisconsin taxpayers have paid about $139 million to private schools that ended up being barred from the state's voucher system for failing to meet requirements since 2004.

State Department of Public Instruction data shows more than two-thirds of the 50 schools terminated from the state's voucher system in the last 10 years had stayed open for five years or less.

Full story: WJFW

3 Wisconsin utilities propose electric rate hikes

MADISON - Three Wisconsin utilities want state regulators to let them increase electric rates by several dollars for hundreds of thousands of customers.

Madison Gas & Electric wants to increase its fixed monthly rate from $10.44 to $19; We Energies wants to go from $9.13 to $16; and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation wants to jump from $10.40 to $25.

Full story: WJFW

Chippewa Falls displaced by fire twice in 2 years

CHIPPEWA FALLS - A Chippewa Falls family is looking for a new home after their house caught fire, the second time they've been victimized by fire in two years.

Jeff and Amanda Radle moved into the Chippewa Falls home two years ago after their trailer house in Cadott caught fire. The Chippewa Falls home caught fire at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Jeff Radle says he was at work and his pregnant wife was out with the couple's 14-month-old child to pick up her son from school when a neighbor reported the fire.

Full story: WJFW

DNR says deer hunters using e-registration

MADISON - Wisconsin wildlife officials say hunters have registered nearly 1,000 deer remotely so far this fall.

The Department of Natural Resources' board approved a plan in January to eliminate in-person deer check stations and move completely to online and phone registration by 2015. The plan was part of a package of recommendations Texas researcher James Kroll gave the DNR on how to improve deer management in the state.

Full story: WJFW

Artists use unique utensils to draw animals

WAUSAU - Some artists might think Central Wisconsin birds made a great example so they could perfect their sketching skills.

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum invited people to learn about charcoal drawing. Artists used stuffed birds, such as snowy owls, to draw.

Artist in resident, Karen Bondarchke, says this is a great way for them to tap into their artistic side.

Full story: WJFW

Two of three thrown from car in rollover accident

SHAWANO COUNTY - Three people will rest in the hospital after a rollover accident in Shawano County. Two people were thrown from the car.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Department helped at an accident around 3 Saturday morning on County Highway CC. That's just south of state Highway 22 in Waukechon. That's about 2 miles south of the city of Shawano.

Full story: WJFW

The Wisconsin Traveling Trailer Makes Second Stop in Land O' Lakes

LAND O' LAKES - Some people had their eyes glued to the TV today. The Badgers defeated the Fighting Illini, but another eye attraction that's hit the Northwoods is a nice compact portable Badger trailer.

The traveling Badger trailer made its second stop in Land O' Lakes at the Black Oak Inn.

The trailer will stop in two more Land O' Lakes locations for one hour before a Wisconsin football game.

Full story: WJFW

Man and woman allegedly put cameras in locker rooms, face more than 250 felonies

KENOSHA - A man and woman face more than 250 felonies for allegedly putting cameras in southern Wisconsin locker rooms.

28-year-old Melissa Wenckebach and 36-year-old Karl Landt were charged this spring with 37 counts of conspiring to capture an image of nudity without consent. Another 214 counts were added Thursday.

Full story: WJFW

Candidates debate for the first time on the same stage

EAU CLAIRE - Incumbent Governor Scott Walker and former Trek Bicycle executive Mary Burke both took the stage in Eau Claire. Friday night was the first time to see them talk about issues at the same time, on the same stage.

Panelists touched on topics such as abortion, health insurance, the voter ID law and jobs.

One reporter from a station in Eau Claire wanted to know if a Wisconsin worker could live on the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Full story: WJFW

School district enforces stricter school bus policy, makes safety a top priority

MINOCQUA - The Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk school district will start enforcing a stricter school bus policy. Parents can choose only two possible locations to have their students dropped off after school.

Parents need to pick a primary and secondary pick up and drop off location for their kids.

"Parents can fill out a form and have their alternate route ensured so they have two stops," says MHLT principal Brent Johnson.

Full story: WJFW

Cattlemen's bus tour highlights Central Wisconsin farms

PRENTICE - A scenic tour of Central Wisconsin highlighted one of Wisconsin's biggest commodities today.

"It should be a great day to get out and look at cattle. I mean that's why we're here to look at them and see the different operations and how different breeds of cattle are doing," said Kurt Hallstrand of Hallstrand Angus.
Hallstrand owns 180 Angus beef cattle.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin pit bull recovers after police shooting

MARSHFIELD - A pit bull that was shot by police is recovering from surgery after supporters donated money for her medical bills.

News-Herald Media reports (http://mnhne.ws/1EBYgRJ ) Ashley Seidel of Marshfield says her 6-year-old dog Carley is healing after surgery to remove the bullet from her shoulder. She says people from around the country donated more than $3,500, primarily through an online fund.

Carley was shot in the head in September by a Wood County Sheriff's deputy.

Full story: WJFW

Drop in state wolf population not a concern to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

MADISON - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is not worried by a drop Wisconsin's wolf population.

A group of scientists that included UW-Madison's Adrian Treves sent a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month.

They complained the state Department of Natural Resources' wolf population estimates are flawed and mortality is actually much higher than reported.

Full story: WJFW

Supreme Court blocks Wisconsin voter ID law

MADISON - The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Wisconsin from implementing a law requiring voters to present photo IDs.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday declared the law constitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union followed that up the next day with an emergency request to the Supreme Court asking it to block the ruling ahead of the November election.

Full story: WJFW

Preparing the Plants for Winter

RHINELANDER - You'll need to start preparing your plants now to survive the winter. There are a few tips you can use to keep your plants healthy. Gardeners should start cutting back their shrubs for the winter, but you shouldn't cut them to the ground. This could end up hurting the plant in the spring.

"Some of them already have the buds set for next year like forsythias and if you cut them back now, you'll cut the flowers out," said Forth Floral Greenhouse Manager Henning Hemple. "So you really should find out what is the best time for a certain shrub to be cut back."

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE: City leaders vote to get rid of tornado sirens

ANTIGO - UPDATE 10/9/14 6:10 p.m.

Antigo will get rid of its tornado sirens. Earlier this year, tests showed the siren system wasn't as reliable as it needed to be.

The tornado sirens would need a lot of costly updates to work better. They say they would need to put in at least $35,000 to improve them. City leaders decided it would be better to just stop using them.

Full story: WJFW

Spending on TV nearly equal for Burke, Walker

MADISON - Spending on television ads in the race for Wisconsin governor is nearly equal between Gov. Scott Walker and Democrat Mary Burke.

The latest tallies from the Center for Public Integrity released Thursday show estimated spending on ads that have run through Monday. The group's totals show Walker and his backers have spent about $5.6 million on ads, while Burke and her supporters have spent about $5.4 million.

Full story: WJFW

Pumpkin Fest to raise money for fire department Saturday

THREE LAKES - Volunteer fire departments can use all the help they can get.

One Northwoods community capitalizes on all things pumpkin to raise money for their fire department.

The Three Lakes Fire Department Auxiliary will host Pumpkin Fest on Saturday. The event features 100 crafters, food, and a farmer's market. It raised $15,000 last year.

Full story: WJFW

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