Local Rhinelander Headlines

Man accused of beating two police officers in Merrill Sunday

MERRILL - Prosecutors accuse a Merrill man of attacking two police officers early Sunday morning. Those officers were hurt badly enough to go to the hospital.

27-year-old Kristopher Wilmot made his initial appearance in court Monday. He faces several charges including battery of a police officer, resisting an officer, and bail jumping.

According to the criminal complaint, a Merrill Police officer responded to a call of a possible domestic violence on Pine Street. The officer forced himself into the apartment when he thought a person inside was in danger.

Full story: WJFW

Conference aims to continue to improve tourism to Native American reservations

MOLE LAKE - The state's eleven tribes each run major gaming and hotel operations. A conference held in Mole Lake this week allows tribes to come together to share their experiences and plan for the future.

Native American Tourism of Wisconsin (NATOW) has been in existence for 21 years.

This year's conference focuses on "The Evolving Role of Hospitality." The group's executive director says there are many reasons in addition to gaming, that people should visit the eleven sovereign nations.

Full story: WJFW

Group aims to improve literacy in Northwoods, offers class for instructors

NORTHWOODS - One in five people in our area struggle with basic reading skills. That's a major stress in their lives.

A decade-old group called the Literacy Task Force of Northern Wisconsin wants to help more people read comfortably and confidently. Reading challenges for people in the Northwoods go beyond just children. Many adults struggle with the same issues, too.

"They say how stressful and how exhausting it is to have to constantly fake that you know what you're reading when you don't," said Peggy Steber, the President of the Literacy Task Force of Northern Wisconsin.

Full story: WJFW

Skateboarding boy fights off abductor in Menasha

MENASHA - Police say a 12-year-old boy fought off a man who tried to abduct him while he was skateboarding in northeastern Wisconsin.

According to police, the boy fell from his skateboard around 2 p.m. Sunday in Menasha and was grabbed by the man. He tried to drag the boy into an SUV, but the boy bit, kicked and clawed at the man before he was released and got away.

Post-Crescent Media and WITI-TV report police are looking for the suspect.

Full story: WJFW

Dozens gather for vigil for abused toddler who died

MILWAUKEE - Dozens of people gathered on Milwaukee's south side to remember a little boy who police say died of abuse.

Three-year-old Aiden Archer died last Wednesday at the hospital where he had been on life support since Monday when police were called to his home.

About 100 people turned out for a vigil Sunday night. The gathering was organized by the group Guardians of Children, which hoped to raise child abuse awareness.

Full story: WJFW

Woman injured after crashing into Kwik Trip sign in Wausau Sunday

WAUSAU - A crash left a 41-year-old woman injured after her car hit a Kwik Trip sign in Wausau early Sunday morning.

The Wausau Police Department says the woman was heading west on Campus Drive when she lost control of her car. The accident happened at about 2:30 in the morning.

Police say her car jumped the curb and hit a utility pole. Her car then rolled before crashing into a Kwik Trip sign. The woman was taken to Aspirus Hospital.

Full story: WJFW

Hundreds enjoyed 8th annual Walk in the Woods Art Fair Saturday

ST. GERMAIN - People went out to St. Germain Saturday to take part in the 8th annual Walk in the Woods Art Fair. They could enjoy anything from live music to antique pieces by local vendors.

The event happened in the park behind the St. Germain Chamber Office. Pottery, paintings, pictures, and even furniture were all sold.

The weather was perfect for people and vendors. Some vendors made long trips to be a part of the fair.

Full story: WJFW

Rhinelander Hodags win third regional in a row

RHINELANDER - The Hodags won their third regional championship in a row on Saturday.

But they're focused on making it to state for the second time with a team mentality.

"Everybody has an impact and that's a big thing that is different about our team, like as the Hodags, we want it to be about all of us and about the community and about what we represent, not just about one person sticking out and taking all of the glory because that's not what we're here for," said Senior Gabbe Millot.

Full story: WJFW

Suicidal man arrested after threatening police while with 3-year-old son

GOGEBIC COUNTY - Police arrested a Wakefield man after threatening to shoot at police while with his son Saturday night.

The Gogebic County Sheriff's Office got a call around 8:00pm Saturday of a man who was suicidal. The 30-year-old man was at home with his 3-year-old son.

He refused to leave his house and said he'd shoot at police. Nearby businesses were evacuated. Later, the man did let the child go, and went back into his home while continuing to threaten police.

Full story: WJFW

New chair promises to unite Wisconsin Democratic Party

MILWAUKEE - The newly elected chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is promising to pull the party together after big defeats in the governor's race and both chambers of the Legislature.

Sheboygan businesswoman and community activist Martha Laning was easily elected as chair of the state's Democratic Party on Saturday, despite intense competition for the job.

Laning won 53 percent of the vote from the more than 1,300 delegates who cast ballots during the state convention in Milwaukee. Current chairman Mike Tate wasn't seeking another term.

Full story: WJFW

Rollover crash left six injured in Shawano County

SHAWANO COUNTY - A crash in Shawano County left six people injured when a truck rolled over Saturday evening.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Office got a call around 8pm about a crash on Highway 156 west of Highway 47 in the town of Lessor.

A pickup truck had three people in the cab of the truck and three in the bed area. Police think the truck had been heading eastbound on Highway 156 when it lost control and rolled over.

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for 1-year-old boy from Eau Claire

EAU CLAIRE - The amber alert for the 1-year-old boy in Eau Claire has been canceled
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On the Amber Alert Wisconsin website, it says Devin Moggo has blue eyes and brown hair. He went missing on Saturday around noon in Eau Claire.

The website says he may be with his 24-year-old non-custodial biological father, Joshua Moggo, possibly heading to Grayling, Michigan.

Full story: WJFW

Art show displays local artists' work that will go to state competition

EAGLE RIVER - An art show in Eagle River will send six local artists' work to a state art competition in Madison. The Wisconsin Regional Artists Program was sponsored by Headwaters Art League.

The work was displayed at Olsen Memorial Library in Eagle River. Six state awards were given out, as well as honorable mentions.

Art League members encouraged local artists to participate so they can compete in art competitions across the state.

Full story: WJFW

Bird Enthusiasts Gather for 29th Annual Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey

FOREST COUNTY - Bird enthusiasts gathered in Forest County this weekend. Experts and amateurs teamed up to survey almost one hundred sites throughout the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. About 50 bird watchers volunteered for the Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey this year.

"This northern part of Wisconsin is extremely important to birds. It's basically a nursery for over a hundred species of birds," said volunteer Tom Prestby.

This is Prestby's third year doing the survey. Volunteers met Friday night. They were split up into group and assigned sites. Each group was assigned five sites to visit on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Full story: WJFW

Illinois man drowns after boat capsized in Vilas County Friday

ARBOR VITAE - One man drowned after his boat capsized on Arrowhead Lake in Arbor Vitae Friday night.

The Vilas County Sheriff's Office got a call about the accident around 10:45pm. Someone from the lake had been yelling to call 911.

Two men from Illinois were in the boat on Arrowhead Lake when the boat capsized, causing them to go in the water.

Full story: WJFW

Regents add tenure protect to system policy

MILWAUKEE - University of Wisconsin System regents have voted to add faculty tenure protections to its policies as state legislators consider dropping those assurances from Wisconsin statutes.

The Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1Qx6ZrE ) reports Regent Mark Bradley says the board is doing what it is able to do to protect tenure.

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee recently voted to remove tenure from state law as it debated a two-year budget. The committee also added language that gives the UW System and the regents more room to lay off or dismiss tenured faculty. The tenure provides protection for faculty members to express ideas without fear of retaliation.

Full story: WJFW

Delta Air Lines flight makes emergency landing in Green Bay

GREEN BAY - A Delta Air Lines flight from Green Bay to Minneapolis had to make an emergency landing after an engine was damaged by an apparent bird strike shortly after takeoff.

Airport director Tom Miller says the Airbus A319 with 78 people on board safely returned to Green Bay just before 8 a.m. Friday.

Miller says recent rains have birds flocking to the airport despite efforts to scare them off. He expects less of a problem when dry conditions return.

Full story: WJFW

Police find crack cocaine inside man's rectum in Oneida County Jail

RHINELANDER - The case against two Milwaukee brothers for possession and sale of crack cocaine will play out in Oneida County Court later this month. The tale of Desmond and Tommy Love could point out just how far suspects will go to hide illegal drugs from police.

Police say Tommy Love, 26, and Desmond Love, 19, drove up from Milwaukee to sell drugs in Oneida and Vilas counties. They were arrested after more than a month long investigation.

An informant tipped police off about the brothers, according to court documents.

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE:$1 million cash bond set for standoff & shooting suspect

BANCROFT - A 55-year-old man expecting homicide charges after a standoff this week will likely stay in jail for a while. He'll need to pay one million dollars in cash to get out of jail, after a judge set his bond in Portage County court Friday.

Larry Sanchez is expected to face homicide charges in Portage County court.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office believes Sanchez killed his estrange wife, 44-year-old Lisa Sanchez, before barricading himself in a Bancroft home on Wednesday.

Full story: WJFW

Nativity Catholic School south building renovations

RHINELANDER - The Nativity Catholic School South building in Rhinelander won't sit empty this summer. Instead, it will be filled with construction crews working on much needed renovations.

The school, which elementary and middle school students, use was built back in the 1950's. Administrators at Nativity say that past renovation projects were needed.

However, none of those were as big as the current project.

Full story: WJFW

Walker would sign budget with no borrowing for roads

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker's spokeswoman says the governor would sign a state budget that includes no borrowing to pay for highways and other transportation projects in Wisconsin, a move that would delay work all across the state.

Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said Friday that is not his preferred option, but if the Legislature decides to do it, he would sign it.

Walker has steadfastly opposed raising gas taxes or other fees to pay for roads.

Full story: WJFW

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