Local Rhinelander Headlines

ST. GERMAIN - One school in Vilas County created special food donations to help their community. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders from St. Germain Elementary School participated in a program called "Warm the Heart". The children participating measured out and packaged soup portions. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - Heavy keys could cause some GM cars to break down. GM is recalling parts on six car models. The cars break down when the ignition switch in the car gets too loose. Full story: WJFW

EAGLE RIVER - A lot of people dream about owning their own small business in the Northwoods. In Eagle River, coffee seems to be a key ingredient to help make that dream come true. “My husband and I - that was always something that we have dreamed about doing eventually when our kids got a little bit older,” said Blend co-owner Angie Anderson. Full story: WJFW

WOODBORO - People in Oneida County could soon have a new ATV trail to use. The Nokomis ATV club wants to establish an ATV trail across a portion of the Woodboro Lakes State Wildlife Area. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - Cancer patients don't need to travel very far to get advanced cancer treatment. Ministry Saint Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander added a new cutting edge machine to help treat cancer. The true beam accelerator is an advanced radiotherapy cancer treatment option. It relies on noninvasive tumor destroying radiation to kill cancer cells. Full story: WJFW

EAGLE RIVER - A proposed federal bill would make child care providers who get federal dollars complete criminal background checks, as well as first aid and CPR certification. Wisconsin already has similar rules for day cares centers in place. But the new bill could help with unlicensed or unsafe facilities. Sharon Goller is the Little Pine Cones day care director. She believes the proposed bill could help lower the number of illegally run day cares. Full story: WJFW

TOWNSHIP OF PRESQUE ISLE - A house fire happened overnight in Vilas County. The 911 call came in at 11 p.m. Wednesday night for a house completely in flames at 8130 South Bay View Road in the Township of Presque Isle. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - A bill to make cancer drugs more affordable gets blocked in the Senate. Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says there are enough votes to pass the bipartisan bill. Full story: WJFW

CRANDON - A convicted sex offender facing more sexual assault charges made his first court appearance today. Gerald Schleisner is charged with three felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - A warehouse that distributes beer will soon leave Rhinelander. The warehouse move has been in the works for a few years. The center distributes many different types of beer, including Rhinelander Beer. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - A group of northern Wisconsin residents has filed a lawsuit alleging state regulators should have required a mining company to get a permit before it launched exploratory excavations. Gogebic Taconite wants to dig a 4-mile long iron mine near Mellen. The company spent about 10 days on exploratory excavations last month. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - The heart of Rhinelander could be getting a makeover soon. Downtown Rhinelander Inc. wants to invest a quarter of a million dollars into Downtown Rhinelander in the next two years. The money would help business owners fix the exterior of the buildings. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - The failure of a water pump closed down the Rhinelander School District's Pelican school today. When staff arrived at the Pelican school this morning the water supply pump was malfunctioning. Full story:WJFW

HURLEY - Gogebic Taconite will try again to make a case for a huge iron mine near Mellen. The company plans another round of one-on-one meetings. Officials hope to make stops in Butternut, Ashland, Iron Belt, Hurley and Mercer Today. Full story: WJFW