Kids learn about safety at day camp in Merrill
MERRILL - Kids can take care of themselves, but only if they know how.
They got the chance to learn how at Lincoln County's Safety Day Camp for Kids.
The camp was held on Tuesday.
Local Rhinelander Headlines
UPDATE: Suitcase death suspect says rough sex caused a student to die
RACINE - Update: 8-5-14 4:15pm CDT
A former Wisconsin police officer says he killed a 19-year-old college student accidentally during rough sex by playing a choking game that went too far.
A criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County on Wednesday provides new details in the death of Jenny Gamez, a student from Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Getting To Know First Responders
MERRILL - Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs work hard to protect people in the Northwoods. But they often need our help and cooperation to keep communities safe. That's why officers and firefighters in Merrill are hosting a community night out tonight.
People can meet the city's first responders. That's important because it builds trust between the public and officers.
Dunkin' Donuts opens its doors
RHINELANDER - Many of us start our mornings with coffee and donuts... and now, there's a new place in Rhinelander where you can get plenty of both.
Dunkin' Donuts opened for business Tuesday morning. They are known for their donuts and coffee, but also serve lunch items.
Tuesday was a soft opening to give the employees a chance to learn without busy crowds.
Northwoods men sentenced for animal poisonings
MADISON - We now know the punishment for a Northwoods father and son who illegal killed dozens of animals including eagles on their property.
Paul and Alvin Sowinski were using a pesticide to kill animals on their property in Sugar Camp.
Alvin Sowinski will pay a 30 thousand dollar fine and 100 thousand dollars in restitution.
Civil rights group files brief in gay marriage case
MADISON - Civil rights advocates tell a federal appeals court that Wisconsin's gay marriage ban denies same-sex couples legal protections.
The American Civil Liberties union also argued the ban serves no rational government purpose.
The group filed a brief with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.
One hurt after ATV crash in Oneida County
TOMAHAWK - Family members don't know how a woman crashed her ATV Monday afternoon near Tomahawk.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. on Lake Nokomis Road north of Tomahawk.
More charges expected in suitcase deaths case
MILWAUKEE - More charges are coming in the case of a former police officer accused of hiding two bodies in suitcases left along a rural Wisconsin highway.
The attorney for Steven Zelich says he is due in court Tuesday afternoon in Kenosha County.
UPDATE:Man will recover from gunshot wound in bar parking lot
ROTHSCHILD - Police say a 25-year-old man should recover non-life threatening injures after getting shot near a bar early Sunday morning in Rothschild.
The 25-year-old man was shot in the thigh outside of PJs Log Jam in Rothschild.
Kids give back to community, honor Ojibwe culture by painting murals
LAC DU FLAMBEAU - Leaders of the Youth Center in Lac du Flambeau and Ojibwe Language program use mural painting to teach kids about Ojibwe culture.
About 25 kids have spent this summer painting four murals. They spend about two to three hours a day, five days per week on the murals.
Teachers head back to school for Hodag Tech Fest
RHINELANDER - Students may get to spend a few more weeks enjoying summer break, but teachers in Rhinelander are heading back to the classroom this week as students.
The School District of Rhinelander is hosting its first Hodag Tech Fest this week.
School district reviews safety plans
TOMAHAWK - Teachers across the Northwoods will start heading back to the classroom to get ready for the school year. Faculty will start work on the school's policies.
Leaders at the Tomahawk School District prepare for the school year going over safety policies.
Preparing for winter, locking in propane prices
RHINELANDER - In just a few months, people will need to start heating their homes again.
Last winter's propane shortage has a lot of people worried about not having enough affordable gas. Prices reached record numbers and there wasn't enough propane coming into the Midwest.
Some propane dealers think this year might not be any better.
Exploring other heating options for winter
RHINELANDER - You could turn to other heating sources to beat propane costs. More people are looking into pellet stoves as a cheaper heating option.
Pellet stoves burn wood pellets to heat homes. They're a renewable resource so heating suppliers think there will never be a shortage of them. And they're less expensive.
UPDATE: Favre number retired & inducted into HOF in 2015
GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers announced on Monday that Brett Favre will rejoin the franchise's family. The 16-year Packer quarterback will get his number retired and get inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 2015. Team leaders believe this is the right time to honor Favre.
"We are just so fortunate to have a player of his caliber," said Mark Murphy the CEO and General Manager of the Packers.
Meat prices increase across the nation and in the Northwoods
LAKE TOMAHAWK - You might start paying more for meat at the grocery store. Meat prices are on the rise across the United States.
The U.S. Department of Labor's consumer statistics show that prices for meats, poultry, fish and eggs increased 7.5 % in June.
Northwoods fans show mixed reactions to Brett Favre Hall of Fame announcement
MINOCQUA - The reaction to Brett Favre's induction into the Packers Hall of Fame can already be felt here in the Northwoods.
"He had 16 great years, and he got the packers to where we're today," said Brian Mrotek, owner of Packerland Plus in Minocqua, "I think that everybody should stand up and embrace him."
Traffic fatalities in Wisconsin down last month
MADISON - Transportation officials say 39 people were killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes last month, the second-lowest figure for a month of July since 1937.
The state Department of Transportation says last month's figure represents 18 fewer deaths than in July of last year, and 19 fewer than the five-year average for the month of July.
Court schedules night deer hunting arguments
MADISON - Wisconsin's Chippewa tribes will get a chance next month to tell a federal appeals court why members should be allowed to hunt deer at night.
State officials have long banned night hunts out of safety concerns. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in the early 1990s that the ban applies to Chippewa hunters.
More than just art: community development in Wabeno
WABENO - People in Wabeno see art as a way to enrich communities like theirs - especially ones with economic challenges.
Artists there believe getting young people painting, drawing, singing, and making music starts that process early.
Motorcyclist dies after hitting a bear
LANGLADE COUNTY - A collision with a bear cost a motorcyclist his life in Langlade County.
The sheriff's department got several calls around 12:40 Sunday afternoon reporting the crash around seven miles east of Antigo.
Semi backs into squad car during pursuit
SHAWANO COUNTY - Shawano County deputies want to find a man suspected of stealing a semi and hitting a squad car during a pursuit.
Deputies, who believed the semi was stolen, tried to pull it over early Sunday evening.
The driver fled and twice backed the semi into one of the pursuing squads.
Merill company gives away free roof, local school wins
MERRILL - It could cost up to $10,000 to get a new roof, but a lucky winner in Merrill won't have to worry about paying the large amount of money.
Ryan Ott Construction is giving away a free roof to one lucky person or charity in the Merrill area.
Scholarship raffle encourages alumni involvement
EAGLE RIVER - Trees For Tomorrow in Eagle River wants to get its past students involved with the school again.
School leaders wanted to give back to both its alumni and students at Forest Fest on Saturday. They held a raffle where alumni could win a one thousand dollar scholarship. The winning alum gets to choose a program of their choosing to donate the money to. The money helps the school teach kids about the forest with hands on experiences.
County fairs across the Northwoods end with a bang
ACROSS THE NORTHWOODS - A lot of people came out to enjoy the last of the county fairs Sunday. The fairs in Oneida, Lincoln and Marathon all started earlier last week. They all ended with different activities.
How many times do you get to see a tiger walk a rope midair in Merrill? Probably not too often, but that's why leaders at the Lincoln County Fair brought this special attraction in town.
Dunkin' Donuts prepares to serve customers
RHINELANDER - Dunkin' Donuts in Rhinelander will be opening soon. Sunday employees got the chance to practice serving customers.
They invited friends and family to come and try out some of their delicious items on their menu.
Dunkin' Donuts is located on Lincoln Street, right across the street from Home Depot.
Beloit park shooting leaves 1 dead, 3 injured
BELOIT - Beloit police say gunshots were fired in a park over the weekend, leaving one person dead and three people injured.
Police responded to Summit Park on Saturday about 8:40 p.m. They found two males who'd been shot and a third person who had other injuries.
Antique resale business takes time but profits can be high
EAGLE RIVER - People can make a good profit from selling antiques. But finding the right things to buy, repair, and re-sell isn't easy.
The vendors at the Eagle River Antique Show on Saturday have the right eye for antiques. Many of them have been around antiques their entire lives. So they know what's a good buy and what's not.
Man shot in bar fight
ROTHSCHILD - Police Officers want to know what caused a 25-year-old man to get shot outside of a bar in Rothschild.
The Rothschild Police Department was dispatched to P.J.'s Log Jam for a fight involving several people around 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Rhinelander man hurt in rollover crash
TOWN OF BRADLEY - Deputies don't know what caused a Rhinelander man to lose control of his truck and crash into a ditch. Lincoln County deputies say the crash happened at about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday on northbound U.S. Highway 51 just north of Crass Road in the Town of Bradley.
Witnesses told deputies the truck, which was towing a pop-up style camper, drifted across the northbound lanes into the median.
