Local Rhinelander Headlines

Senate majority leader to meet with leaders to discuss state budget

MADISON - Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald plans to meet with other legislative leaders on Monday as an agreement on several key issues in the state budget remains elusive.

Fitzgerald spokeswoman Myranda Tanck says he is meeting with other legislative leaders on Monday night. She declined to say who was going to be at the meeting.

The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has not meet since May 29. It was expected to come back for perhaps its final meeting on Wednesday, but that had not been formally announced.

Full story: WJFW

Native insect threatens fir, spruce in northern forests

NORTHERN FORESTS - Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan will likely see plenty of brown needles and death among some species over the next few years. In Wisconsin, this summer appears to be the worst year yet.

"This is actually a natural cycle, and (people) are going to see, if this thing continues like we expect it might, for the next decade or so, we are going to see dead balsam fir on the landscape," said Michigan DNR Forest Health Specialist Bob Heyd.

The spruce budworm is a native insect which targets balsam fir and white spruce. It has been active in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

Full story: WJFW

UW Extension wants to make sure people preserve food safely

RHINELANDER - Summer time means a lot of people will plant their own gardens. Sometimes, home gardens can produce more than a family can eat before the food goes bad. So what is the best way to store an overstock of food?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 5,000 people in the U.S. die each year due to foodborne diseases. Many of those deaths can be linked to improper food storage.

There are three ways to make sure your garden-grown goods stay fresh. Those are canning, freezing, and dehydrating. Since we are now in the heart of gardening season, UW Extension wants to make sure people are playing it safe when it comes to food storage.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods Blackhawks fans hope for Stanley Cup win

MINOCQUA - The Chicago Blackhawks will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night. However, unlike Bears fans, Blackhawks fans in Wisconsin don't get much flack for supporting their team.

"I was maybe going to buy a shirt. I already bought this hat here," said Blackhawks fan Mac Walker.

Walker's been a loyal Chicago Blackhawks fan since he was ten years old. He played hockey growing up.

Full story: WJFW

Chequamegon Screaming Eagles baseball team heads to state

PARK FALLS - State tournaments for baseball begin this week, and the Chequamegon Screaming Eagles will take their shot at a championship.

"For me, I'm just happy to see the work that the kids put in," says Head Coach Tom Armstrong. "I bug them to play extra games in the summer and things like that. All that work has finally paid off for them."

The trip to state couldn't have come soon enough for these players.

Full story: WJFW

Ex-Packer Sharper pleads guilty to rape in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS - Former New Orleans Saints (and Green Bay Packer) player Darren Sharper has pleaded guilty to rape in a Louisiana drug-and-sexual-assault case, completing a series of pleas in four states that will see him serve at least nine years in prison.

Sharper entered his plea Monday in a Louisiana state court in New Orleans.

He had already pleaded guilty in the federal courthouse in that city late last month. And he's pleaded guilty or no-contest to charges in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Full story: WJFW

Former teacher sentenced to prison for child pornography

WAUSAU - A former Newman Catholic High School teacher and soccer coach will go to prison for having child pornography.

On Monday, in Marathon County court, a judge sentenced Michael Switalski, 51, to three years in prison. He'll also have five years of extended supervison after prison.

In March, Switalski pled guilty to ten counts of having child pornography.

Full story: WJFW

Callie Rohr Memorial Race helps fund research for pediatric brain tumor research

EAGLE RIVER - Canoe and kayak enthusiasts took to the water this weekend to paddle for a cure.

Marcia and Jeff Rohr lost their daughter, Callie, to pediatric brain cancer sixteen years ago.

For the past 11 years, they've held a canoe and kayak race in her honor. The money raised goes to pediatric brain cancer research.

"Her wish before she died was to find a cure. It took us five years to really be able to talk about it, and then the idea sparked. She loved to canoe. She would have just reveled in this race. It was a perfect way to honor her memory," explained Callie's father and event organizer Jeff Rohr.

Full story: WJFW

Feingold, Johnson spar over spending by PAC

MADISON - Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson are sparring over how a political action committee created by Feingold has spent its money.

Campaign finance records show the Progressives United PAC founded by Feingold spent only 5 percent of its income on federal candidates and political parties. About half the money went toward overhead.

Feingold's campaign manager Tom Russell argues the PAC was a new model that didn't operate like most other similar groups formed "before the advent of email."

Full story: WJFW

US archbishop resigns after archdiocese charged with coverup

VATICAN CITY - The archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, and a deputy bishop have resigned after prosecutors there charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect children from unspeakable harm from a pedophile priest.

The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche.

They resigned under the code of canon law that allows bishops to resign before they retire because of illness or some other "grave" reason that makes them unfit for office.

Full story: WJFW

70 mph speed limit signs going up in Wisconsin

MADISON - New 70 mph speed limit signs are being posted this week on interstates and highways in Wisconsin this week.

The state Department of Transportation said Monday that crews will start installing about 470 updated speed limit signs on Tuesday.

About 810 miles of Wisconsin interstates and highways will have speed limits increased to 70 mph from the current 65 mph. The DOT says drivers can start accelerating on designated roads once the signs are posted. All signs are expected to be in place Wednesday.

Full story: WJFW

Man linked to break-ins sentenced to prison

ANTIGO - Police in Antigo think they've finally found the person responsible for many car and garage break-ins over the last few months.

Police believe Jeffrey Jeter, 21, stole many different items from unlocked cars and garages during a crime spree.

While police were investigating the break-ins, they surrounded Jeter's home. An officer overheard a man calling in fake tips to 911 about the robberies. Court documents show the officer believed the phone calls were meant to throw police off Jeter's case.

Full story: WJFW

Newswatch 12 sweeps Callie Rohr Memorial Race that helps fund pediatric brain research

EAGLE RIVER - Newswatch 12 fielded four canoes in today's Callie Rohr Memorial Media Race.

The group had fun on the water while raising money for pediatric brain tumor research.

Ben Meyer and Katie Thoresen passed Matt Benz and Melissa Constanzer two-thirds of the way through the race. They held on to win. Newswatch 12 swept the first four spots. Newswatch 12 also won for the fourth year in a row.

Full story: WJFW

Members of the Civilian Conservation Corps honored with a statue

EAGLE RIVER - The Civilian Conservation Corps helped to build parts of the Northwoods we know. However, not many people know what members of the group did.

"The history of CCC has been lost over the years, and we want to bring that back," said Libby Dorn, Trees for Tomorrow Executive Director.

The Civilian Conservation Corps was started during the Great Depression to give young men jobs, help families survive, and create a lasting legacy in forests, parks, and other sites throughout the U.S. On Sunday in Eagle River, those hard working men were honored at Trees for Tomorrow.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods Heritage Fest sees most successful year after moving to new location

THREE LAKES - Northwoods Heritage Fest organizers think the cloudy weather kept people off the lake, and drew them to the festival, making it the most successful year yet.

A couple thousand people came out to the festival's new location at Cy Williams Park in downtown Three Lakes on Sunday to celebrate their heritage.

"It's more of a picturesque setting. We've got the lake in the background. Of course we have several tents here. But it's a park atmosphere. Everybody goes to the park. What do they do? Picnic and have fun, and they're doing that now," said Three Lakes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Skip Brunswick.

Full story: WJFW

Former Northcentral Wisconsin teacher to be sentenced for having child pornography

MARATHON COUNTY - A former Newman Catholic High School teacher and soccer coach will face sentencing Monday morning.

In March, Michael Switalski, 51, pled guilty to ten counts of having child pornography.

Police found dvds and nearly 100 pictures of naked boys younger than 18 at Switalski's home in March 2014.

Full story: WJFW

Bicyclist dies after crash with car in Madison

MADISON - The Dane County medical examiner's office says a Madison woman has died after her bicycle collided with a car last week.

According to the medical examiner's office, 23-year-old Emilly Zhu died Saturday at a hospital from injuries she suffered in the crash Wednesday morning+.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports police say she was riding on a bike trail and was crossing Raymond Road when she collided with the vehicle on Madison's Far West Side.

Full story: WJFW

DOJ records show lab manager fired, agents suspended

MADISON - Wisconsin Department of Justice records show the agency last year terminated an employee for giving a grant applicant an unfair advantage and suspended investigators for losing evidence, talking to a suspect's family and trying to reopen a closed case.

The Associated Press reviewed DOJ discipline documents for 2014 and found 15 employees were formally reprimanded, suspended or terminated.

Full story: WJFW

Audit: 1 in 11 Wisconsin doctors not up on continuing ed

MADISON - A recent audit finds nearly one in 11 licensed Wisconsin physicians was not in compliance with continuing education requirements.

State regulators found 8 percent of doctors selected in the random audit failed to meet the requirements. While an overwhelming majority of doctors completed their continuing education, a former Medical Examining Board chairman says the requirements are not that strict.

Sheldon Wasserman tells the Wisconsin State Journal (http://bit.ly/1cUFqLK ) Wisconsin's requirements are the lowest in the nation. Physicians in Wisconsin must log 30 hours of continuing medical education every two years.

Full story: WJFW

Golf Outing Raises Awareness About Alzheimer's

HARSHAW - More than five million Americans across the country suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

But local community members gathered Saturday morning to help raise awareness for Alzheimer's, and they had a little fun while they did it.

A Round to Remember is a golf outing that supports the Alzheimer's Association. More than 30 people came out to the event.

Full story: WJFW

Minnesota regulators OK Wisconsin Energy acquisition

State regulators in Minnesota have approved a $9 billion transaction that combines Wisconsin Energy Corp. and Integrys Energy Group.

That leaves Illinois as the last state needed to approve the deal.

The Milwaukee utility holding company has now received approval from utility commissions in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota as well as several federal agencies.

Full story: WJFW

Public weighs in at bag limit rule change meeting in Minocqua

MINOCQUA - The Natural Resources Board will decide what to do with a new walleye bag rule in August. Their possible decision was the focus of a public meeting in Minocqua Friday.

The new rules would mean a three fish bag limit on most lakes and rivers in the ceded territory. Right now, bag limits range from one to five per day. Those are adjusted every year after the tribal harvest. The DNR has been holding public meetings around the state this week. Treaty Fisheries Coordinator Jon Hennessy says almost all of the feedback has been positive.

"We get a little bit of feedback and requests for minor changes on particular water bodies, but that has been the extent of the comments so far," Hennessy said.

Full story: WJFW

Walker to meet with prime minister while in Canada

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker plans to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper while in the country for a trade mission.

Walker left for Canada on Friday and was scheduled to return on Wednesday. It is his fourth international trip in five months. Walker's office says the focus of the trip is increasing foreign investment in Wisconsin.

Walker is scheduled to speak Saturday at a leadership summit in Quebec City hosted by the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

Full story: WJFW

Sheldon man gets 16 years in drunken driving death of hunter

MEDFORD - A Sheldon man who was convicted in a drunken driving crash that killed an Illinois deer hunter has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

43-year-old James Winchel also will spend 18 years on extended supervision.

Winchel was convicted of six felonies in February, including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Three counts against him were dismissed Friday.

Full story: WJFW

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