Tradition continues for one Northwoods fire department
THREE LAKES - Volunteer firefighters sacrifice their time and lives to keep us safe.
They also need the right equipment to keep them safe.
Full Story: WJFW
Local Rhinelander Headlines
Partial shutdown slows sporting goods store's opening
HAWKINS - The partial government shutdown means more than just arguing between political parties.
The National parks have closed, federal workers have been furloughed and death benefits to soldiers killed in action have been delayed.
Full Story: WJFW
City prepares to tear down Lindey's Cleaners
RHINELANDER - Old abandoned store fronts can be eyesores But one store in Rhinelander might be hurting more than just the eyes. That's why the City plans to tear it down.
The City of Rhinelander needs grants to remove Lindey's Cleaners. The grants would mostly come from the state.
Full Story: WJFW
Water rates may increase
MERRILL - Merrill residents wanted cleaner city water and they got it. But it will come at a price.
The city's water was full of manganese. A mineral naturally found in well water.
Full Story: WJFW
Man killed by train in Portage County
PORTAGE COUNTY - A train kills a man lying on the tracks in Portage County.
52 year old Richard Gathercoal from Milladore was killed.
Full Story: WJFW
Could Oneida County cut health coverage for employees?
RHINELANDER - Many businesses will rethink employee health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act.
That seems to be true for other organizations, too.
Full Story: WJFW
High school students stand up to bullying
RHINELANDER - Rhinelander High School students and staff want people to know that bullying is never acceptable.
The Diversity Club at the high school hosted Unity Day Wednesday.
Full Story: WJFW
Women connected to heroin overdose appears in court
MERRILL - Police found the woman they were looking for earlier this week in connection to a heroin overdose. Today, Kristine Woellner made a memorable appearance in court.
Full Story: WJFW
Old elementary school gearing up for small businesses
HAWKINS - A Northwoods man wants to turn an old elementary school into a hub for small businesses.
Michael Schuetz bought Hawkins Elementary School in January.
Full Story: WJFW
Sen. Bob Jauch decides against another term
POPLAR - Bob Jauch will not run for reelection to the state Senate in 2014.
The Democrat has served his huge northern Wisconsin district since 1987.
Full Story: WJFW
Ashland Democrat may challenge Duffy for congressional seat
ASHLAND - Republican Congressman Sean Duffy might soon have a challenger for his seat.
Ashland Alderperson Kelly Westlund is thinking about running against him as a Democrat.
Full Story: WJFW
Nicolet College helps middle school students prepare for the future
RHINELANDER - Manufacturing helps support the Northwoods economy.
That's why Nicolet College hopes to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.
More than 600 students visited Nicolet College on the "Heavy Metal Tour" Wednesday.
Full Story: WJFW
Merrill teen sentenced in garage burglaries
MERRILL - You might remember one of the people who broke into garages in Merrill and stole laptops. However, inside of those laptop bags, the criminals did not find laptops. Instead, the bags were full of Bibles and religious pamphlets.
Full Story: WJFW
Rhinelander man claims insanity in shooting of uncle
RHINELANDER - A Rhinelander man accused of shooting his uncle uses the insanity defense.
23-year-old Marcus Alsteens entered the plea at his arraignment yesterday in Oneida County Circuit Court.
Full Story: WJFW
School bus, SUV crash near Eagle River
EAGLE RIVER - A school bus and a SUV crashed near Eagle River Wednesday morning.
The bus was carrying eight kids.
Full Story: WJFW
People talk and share stories about Alzheimer's at forum
MINOCQUA - Taking care of aging loved ones can be difficult. It's especially difficult if they have diseases like Alzheimer's, but there is help.
Care givers came together today to talk about strategies and resources for helping mentally ill patients. It was part of a monthly lunch segment, Chew on This, at Campanile Center for the Arts in Minocqua.
Full Story: WJFW
Wis. Assembly committee to vote on mascots bill
MADISON - A legislative committee is set to vote on a Republican bill that would make stripping public schools of race-based nicknames and mascots more difficult.
The proposal would require anyone who wants to change a nickname or mascot to get enough petition signatures from school district residents equal to at least a tenth of the number of students.
Full Story: WJFW
Deal reached over protests at Capitol
MADISON - A deal will allow people to gather for events like protests at the state Capitol without getting permits.
Wisconsin officials and the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin reached the agreement.
Full Story: WJFW
Wis. DNR sets listening session for wildlife area
MANITOWISH WATERS - The state Department of Natural Resources is looking for public input on the future of a northern Wisconsin wildlife area.
The DNR began working on revisions to the Powell Marsh Wildlife Area's master plan in August.
Full Story: WJFW
Cardboard Boat Races teaches students about science, engineering
THREE LAKES - Teachers always look for new ways to get their students thinking creatively.
A science and engineering program at Three Lakes High School found a way to do it well. Students raced cardboard boats Tuesday, that they built in the class.
Full story: WJFW
Elderly man missing in Adams County
FRIENDSHIP - The Adams County Sheriff's Department needs your help finding a missing Friendship man.
Baleriano Medina was last seen near his home in Friendship on Sunday around 6 pm.
Full Story: WJFW
Rhinelander Fire Department adds new truck
RHINELANDER - Can you guess how much a fire truck costs? The Rhinelander Fire Department just bought a new truck.
Even though it's used, it still cost $655,000. The new-to-Rhinelander truck will replace the 28-year-old ladder truck the firefighters are using right now.
Full Story: WJFW
About 100 police handlers and dogs trained in Wabeno
WABENO - Police Officers use dogs to keep their communities safe.
Today, about 100 handlers and their canine friends came to Wabeno for training.
Full Story: WJFW
Watch a Tomahawk man and his daughters go to Lambeau as first-time season ticket holders
GREEN BAY - Twenty four teams in the NFL have season ticket waiting lists. Those lists are anywhere from 1,000 to 150,000 names long.
But no season ticket waiting list is a storied as the one in Green Bay. More than 100,000 people are on that list, and only about 90 tickets turn over each year.
Full Story: WJFW
Merrill women brings joy to troops overseas
MERRILL - Our kids believe Santa makes his way around the world in one night, bringing happiness to every country. One woman in Merrill is a Santa of sorts to our troops overseas.
“I’m on a mission,” says Nancy Wilde, “loving our troops one card at a time.”
Full Story: WJFW
900 civilians returning to work at Fort McCoy
TOMAH - About 900 civilian employees are returning to work at Fort McCoy even though the federal government shutdown continues.
The U.S. Department of Defense is ending furloughs for all civilian employees who contribute to the readiness of service members.
Full Story: WJFW
Shawano Co. looking for suspect after attempted bank robbery
GRESHAM - Stockbridge-Munsee Police and the Shawano County Sheriff's Department hope you can help them find a suspect in an attempted bank robbery.
They responded to a robbery call at the Gresham State Bank around 2 p.m. Monday.
Full Story: WJFW
Family who lost son sees military benefits delayed
MILWAUKEE - The family of a Wisconsin Marine killed in Afghanistan suffers another blow.
The body of Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Collins Jr. of Milwaukee arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Monday.
Full Story: WJFW
Police found woman involved in possible heroin overdose
MERRILL - Merrill police found a Merrill woman they wanted for questioning.
You may remember her.
Kristine Woellner was sentenced for blowing pot smoke into her baby's face this spring.
Full Story: WJFW
Senior citizens tour high school and see what they're paying for
RHINELANDER - Senior citizens help pay for public schools.
But they don't often get to see what they're paying for.
Today, members of Rhinelander High School's Key Club invited retirees and senior citizens to tour the school.
Full Story: WJFW
