Local Rhinelander Headlines

WOODRUFF - Firefighters put out fires almost every day. But one fireman in Arbor Vitae had the hard task of fighting a fire at his own family’s home. "It was kind of sad. Now we see it every day. It’s kind of hard to deal with." said Arbor Vitae firefighter, Randy Trapp. Full story: WJFW

WAUSAU - Investigators spent Sunday trying to figure out what caused a fire at a Wausau hotel Saturday night. The Wausau Fire Department got a call about a fire at the Days Inn on 17th Avenue around 8 p.m. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - Most kids think of police officers and firefighters as people they'd only meet in bad situations. But today, they were shopping buddies. It was the fourth annual Shop With a Cop event in Rhinelander. Full story: WJFW

MARATHON CO. - Icy conditions on US 51 in Marathon County caused nearly 20 crashes and slideoffs Saturday morning. The Wisconsin State Patrol and Marathon County Sheriff's Department responded to crashes and roll offs from Brokaw all the way down to the southern part of Marathon County. Full story: WJFW

HURLEY - A business in Hurley is a complete loss after a fire Thursday night, according to the Hurley Fire Department. Police received a call about the fire at 4:21 p.m. Thursday. It took fire crews seven hours to put out Full story: WJFW

STEVENS POINT - Many people think of old, white, men when they think of politicians. But one central Wisconsin elected official is the exact opposite. "You probably noticed that I'm young and somehow got myself into the State Capitol already," Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) starts off by saying to a class at UW-Marathon County. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that requires parents to sign only one concussion information sheet a year for a child who participates in school and club sports. The proposal is a departure from current state law, which required every sport participant under 19 to have an information sheet about concussions signed by their parent or guardian. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - You won't find any students or teachers at Pelican Elementary in Rhinelander today. They're closed to prevent the spread of a flu-like illness. But now the other elementary school in Rhinelander is allowing parents to take their children out of school immediately. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - You’ll jump, twist, twirl, and for an entire hour you won't stop dancing. “Once the music starts we all come alive and we just keep going until it ends again,” says instructor Val Foley. Full story: WJFW

CRANDON - The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced Thursday that it will give the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest a $49,000 grant. It will pay for a consulting firm that will help the Forest Service get harvesting projects underway. Full story: WJFW

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that would restrict public access to a potential iron mine site in northern Wisconsin. Gogebic Taconite is looking to dig a 4{-mile long open-pit mine in the Penokee Hills east of Mellen. About 3,500 acres around the site in the Penokee Hills east of Mellen is open to the public through the state's managed forest program. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - Many veterans are not eligible for full dental coverage. But a new VA healthcare program is changing that. Veterans who don’t have dental insurance can now join a new program that will give them coverage. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - People don't want their pipes to freeze this time of year. That's why the city of Rhinelander will start their water credit program on Monday. The program allows about 400 businesses and homes to run their water 24 hours a day. That prevents pipes and sewers from freezing. The city gives them a credit on their water bill. Full story: WJFW

RHINELANDER - When you’re celebrating the holidays that often means drinking. Because of that, there are more alcohol-related accidents and deaths this time of year. But the Oneida County Sheriff’s office wants to prevent as many as accidents as it can. Full story: WJFW