Jump-start career opportunity
WAUSAU - Some kids made sparks fly at Northcentral Technical College Saturday.
75 Kids participated in the Get S.M.A.R.T program.
Full story: WJFW
Local Rhinelander Headlines
Rural schools ask Wis. lawmakers for more cash
CUBA CITY - Wisconsin's rural schools are asking a state committee to change the way the state gives aid so they can avoid budget cuts and closing schools.
The Rural Schools Task Force is drafting its recommendations after spending six months touring school districts in all corners of the state.
Full story: WJFW
Indoor soccer tournament raises money for high school soccer teams
EAGLE RIVER - Soccer players may need to wait for the snow on their fields to melt. But they know cabin fever is starting to set in, and it's the perfect time to capitalize on it.
The 7th annual Cabin Fever Indoor Soccer Tournament kicked off today at Northland Pines High School.
Full story: WJFW
Artists needed for Hodags on Parade
RHINELANDER - Local businesses need the community's support to stay open.
But if people don't know about them, they won't shop there.
Members of Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. hope to draw more people to the downtown area by showcasing Hodags.
Full story: WJFW
Different fundraising strategy
RHINELANDER - Raffles, bake sales, and athletic competitions can be popular ways to raise money for various causes.
But one group uses a different strategy to raise money for three area food pantries.
Full story: WJFW
Dogs lost in house fire
LINCOLN CO. - Two dogs died in a house fire in Lincoln County.
Lincoln County Dispatch received a call just before 3 a.m. Saturday.
The owner came home and saw smoke coming out of the roof.
Full story: WJFW
Students safe after fire at St. Lawrence Seminary
MOUNT CALVARY - The nearly 200 students at St. Lawrence Seminary are safe after a five-alarm fire at the boarding school.
School spokesman Philip Van Ermen says all students have been allowed to return to their dorms, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Full story: WJFW
$75,000 of meth found in Northwoods home
IRONWOOD, MI - Police believe they found $75,000 worth of meth inside of an Ironwood home.
Richard Hill and Rebecca Suzik, both 37, were arrested after the investigation concluded Wednesday.
Full story: WJFW
Attorney general candidates differ on enforcing and defending Wisc. laws
RHINELANDER - Wisconsin’s attorney general enforces and defends laws made by the state, but one of Wisconsin’s candidates for the position believes his opponents will only pick and choose.
Right now Republican Candidate Brad Schimel, Waukesha County district attorney, faces three Democrats, Rep. Jon Richards, Susan Happ and Ismael Ozanne. Richards represents a portion of Milwaukee in the State Assymbly. Happ is the Jefferson County District Attorney. Ozanne is the Dane County District Attorney.
Full story: WJFW
Attorney general candidates believe heroin high priority, growing problem
RHINELANDER - Wisconsin will get a new state attorney general this election year.That could mean new changes for the department.
But many of the candidates agree that more needs to be done to deal with heroin in Wisconsin.
Full story: WJFW
Man gets 7 years in prison in teen's heroin death
PORTAGE - A Fitchburg man accused of supplying the heroin that killed a teenager in 2012 has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Twenty-three-year-old Milton Moore pleaded no contest Thursday to first-degree reckless homicide by delivery of drugs.
Full story: WJFW
Cities still want people to run their water
TOMAHAWK - A few days of warm temperatures can make winter feel like it was long ago.
The warm break isn't long enough to stop pipes from freezing.
That's why many Northwoods cities want people to continue running their water.
Full story: WJFW
Lead tackles soon banned
VILAS COUNTY - The DNR will ban fishing tackle containing lead from Escanaba, Pallette, and Nebish lakes in Vilas County.
It's part of a research project that analyzes the impact of lead on water birds like loons as well as raising public awareness.
Full story: WJFW
Vilas County map maker wins award
VILAS COUNTY - More people today use maps on their phones when traveling, but some people still like those paper maps.
The Vilas County GIS just made 15 maps of the area. They give people the option to download and print them at home. A map of Boulder Junction even won an award at the 27th annual Wisconsin land Information Association conference in Middleton.
Full story: WJFW
Students celebrate International Day in the Northwoods
WOODRUFF - The Olympics might be over, but the Paralympics are underway in Sochi. Teachers at one local school are using the Olympic spirit to teach students about other countries.
Students at North Country Montessori celebrated International Day Friday morning. The students learn about different countries throughout the school year.
Full story: WJFW
Grant will help fire department keep community and firefighters safe
TOMAHAWK - A grant will allow a volunteer fire department make some big upgrades.
The Tomahawk Fire Department found out Thursday that it will get $250,000.
The grant will come from the Bierman Family Foundation.
Full story: WJFW
Lt. Gov. hears regionally-based tax idea at Rhinelander roundtable
RHINELANDER - Wisconsin's Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Revenue heard a new idea about taxes from people in the Northwoods today.
Rebecca Kleefisch and Rick Chandler hosted their 13th statewide Tax Reform Roundtable at Nicolet College in Rhinelander.
Full story: WJFW
Diehard Bears fan trades in his orange and blue for green and gold
ST. GERMAIN - We all love our favorite sports teams. But what would happen if you had to dress up in your rival's gear? That's exactly what happened to Bears fan, Jerry Healy.
He's the janitor at St. Germain Elementary School. Healy challenged the students to raise over $700 for charity. If they did he'd wear the green and gold.
Full story: WJFW
Changes may be coming for online court records
MADISON - People found innocent of a crime can still be hurt by the accusation.
That's because the charge remains in online court records in Wisconsin.
A bill approved by a state Senate committee would change that.
Full story: WJFW
Panel formed to provide advice on fishing
MADISON - A new group will provide advice on fishing in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Congress have formed the Wisconsin Fisheries Advisory Council.
Full story: WJFW
Walker new chair of Midwestern Governor's Association
MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will be the new chair of the Midwestern Governor's Association.
For now, he plans to focus on propane issues.
The Washington-based group brings governors and staff together to solve significant problems in the region.
Full story: WJFW
Rising water utility bill
RHINELANDER - Your water and sewer bill could soon be on the rise if you live in Rhinelander.
Unlike other Northern Wisconsin cities, the water utility rates haven't changed since 2008.
Full story: WJFW
Wisconsin Rapids woman gets probation for judge threat
MADISON - A Wisconsin Rapids woman will spend three years on probation for threatening to kill a federal administrative law judge.
51-year-old Norma Prince was sentenced Thursday. Prince pleaded guilty in December.
Full story: WJFW
Wisc. Sen. Baldwin believes wildfire disaster bill could lead to more timber harvesting
ACROSS THE NORTHWOODS - Senate and House Representatives hope a wildfire disaster bill will help the U.S. Forest Service battle forest fires and still have funding to do its job.
The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2013, SB 1875, would treat extreme forest fires like a natural disaster. That would trigger access to separate pool of funding that would help some lawmakers believe would substantially help the Forest Service.
Full story: WJFW
Celebrating 101 years of life
LAONA - Birthdays help us remember our age.
For some that can be either good or bad.
But that doesn’t matter to a man celebrating his 101st birthday.
Full story: WJFW
Remembering Monica Bartishofski
RHINELANDER - If you never met Monica Bartishofski, you would have loved her smile.
“Oh it was contagious, you couldn’t not smile when Monica greeted you into the store,” says Patti Pazera, Rhinelander Trigs Employee.
These are the aisles Monica used to walk during her days bagging groceries for the people of Rhinelander.
Full story: WJFW
Apprentice program brings a new generation of farmers
ROTHSCHILD - Wisconsin farms play a key role in our economy, but today's farm owners aren't getting any younger.
One apprentice program hopes to change that.
Full story: WJFW
Crandon students pledge to show respect to people with disabilities
CRANDON - Crandon students and teachers want to push inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities.
On Thursday, they wore bright t-shirts and signed banners to spread that message.
“We’re trying to get people to stop saying ‘retard’ is our thing. And replace it with ‘respect’," said sixth-graders Jamie Sears and Luke Bukovic.
Full story: WJFW
Assisted living center eyes old Sacred Heart Hospital property
TOMAHAWK - A new senior living facility could soon come to Tomahawk.
Milestone Senior Living wants to demolish the old Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk.
It would build a 40-unit campus on the site.
Full story: WJFW
Academic standards bill short on votes
MADISON - A bill that would give the Legislature power to write and approve Wisconsin's academic standards appears to be dead in the state Senate.
Education Committee Chairman Senator Luther Olsen says at least five Republican senators oppose the bill.
Full story: WJFW
