Local Rhinelander Headlines

Northeastern Wisconsin Residents Strongly Back Mining, Act 10

CRIVITZ - People in rural northeastern Wisconsin overwhelmingly support causes Republicans pushed in the last state legislative session. Crivitz Republican Assemblyman Jeff Mursau shared the results of his annual constituent survey. Mursau's 36th district includes all of Forest and Florence Counties, as well as parts of Langlade and Marathon Counties. Full Story: WJFW

Rhinelander City Council to Discuss Beer Sales

Tonight, Rhinelander city council will decide whether beer can be sold at gas stations within city limits. Kwik-Trip wants to build two or three stores here. But the company won't do that if it can't sell beer. The Oneida County Tavern League President is opposed to the new ordinance. President Russ Fisher says more competition is bad news for bars and liquor stores. Full Story: WJFW

Northwoods Resort Uses Obstacle Course to Fight Snow Drought

EAGLE RIVER - The Northwood's hasn't been the winter wonderland we all know and love. While it's no fun for winter sportsmen, tourism-focused businesses might have the most to complain about. It's not easy to fill hotel rooms in winter when the snow isn't falling. Eagle Waters Resort in Eagle River is finding innovative ways to bring people its way. Full Story: WJFW

Investigators Say YouTube Video of School Shooting is No Threat

CRANDON - A disturbing YouTube video upset people throughout the Northwoods so much it launched an investigation of Crandon High School students. Today investigators told us there is no threat. "It was allegedly filmed at Crandon High School and portrayed the shooting of a student, or multiple students. It was immediately forwarded to me for my review. We executed a search warrant based on that video of one of the individuals homes," says Forest County District Attorney Chuck Simono. Full Story: WJFW

Another Mole Lake Stabber Pleads Guilty

CRANDON - He thought he would stay out on bail, but now a Mole Lake stabbing suspect will have to wait for sentencing in jail. Twenty-year-old Jesse Daniels pleaded guilty in court today, days before he was scheduled to go to trial for the stabbing. Three other people are already serving four to seven years in prison for their roles. Daniels agreed to plead guilty to two of the six felonies he was charged with: second degree attempted homicide and false imprisonment. Full Story: WJFW

Propane Tanker Crashes into a Car

RHINELANDER - A propane tanker crashed into a car at 9:30 this morning in Rhinelander. A woman and a child were taken to the hospital. The crash slowed traffic for about 30 minutes around the intersection of 17 and County Road P in Rhinelander. The propane tanker was headed north on 17 when it hit the car. The passenger side of the car and the cab of the tanker suffered the most damage. Full Story: WJFW

Cases Against Men Accused of Selling Heroin Will Move Forward

Police used informants to bust heroin dealers in Woodruff. Twenty five-year-old Joseph Potvine and 26-year-old Joseph Lynch heard some of the state's evidence against them in Oneida County court Thursday. Investigators used an informant to catch Potvine selling heroin. "The informant turned over two foil containers, which the informant told me contained heroin. The informant was searched for any other money or contraband," says an investigator with the N.O.R.D.A.G. Drug Task Force. Full Story: WJFW

Registration Open for Northwoods Business Expo

In a tough economic climate local communities continue to do all they can to support local shops. The Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Northwoods Entrepreneurial Club and Northwoods Women in Business to put on the sixth annual Northwoods Business Expo next month. The event has grown so much every year they'll have to move from the Northwoods Banquet Center to James Williams Middle School. Full Story: WJFW

School District of Rhinelander to Begin New Superintendent Hiring Process

The School District of Rhinelander will have new leadership next year. Tuesday night, the school board is meeting to begin the hiring process for a new superintendent. Current superintendent Roger Erdahl will retire June 30th. He's been with the district for 11 years. Board president Ron Counter said before Erdahl came in, the district had a history of unsuccessful leadership. Full Story: WJFW

Northwood's Library Catalog's Get Upgrade

Starting tomorrow, libraries across the Northwood's will take a giant technological leap forward. Sahara, the new search engine will go in library's card catalogs north of Wausau. Ed Hughes, Rhinelander District Library Director, is thrilled for the change. "We're moving to a new online catalog and it's a lot of work behind the scenes and my staff, but the public won't see that big of a change in fact the changes that they will see will mostly be for the better... Full Story: WJFW

Minocqua Broadband Committee Plans to Send Town Board SonicNet Lease

MINOCQUA - People who need wireless internet service around Minocqua should have a definite provider in place for some time starting next week. The town board's Broadband and Business Development Committee agreed to send a lease proposal to the town board for SonicNet last night. SonicNet has unofficially provided wifi to people on the outskirts of town for about three years now. That's when the town built three wireless towers at a cost of $15,000 each. Full Story: WJFW

Forest Co. Sheriff's Office Arrests Crandon Student After Discovering YouTube Video

CRANDON - Imagine finding a YouTube video of someone pretending to shoot up your school. Given the backdrop of the Sandy Hook shootings, an already troubling video becomes downright haunting. But that's what police in Forest County are dealing with this week. Forest County Sheriff John Dennee says someone alerted his office to a disturbing YouTube video. It shows students being shot at Crandon School. Full Story: WJFW

Grant to Fund New Transportation Service in Lac du Flambeau

A new way to get around will be coming to the Lac du Flambeau reservation this spring. A 165-thousand dollar grant will help to start up a transit service for the community. The project will allow people to get back and forth between the reservation and the communities of Minocqua and Woodruff. The service should get started in April. Full Story: WJFW

Taking the Plunge for Angel On My Shoulder

ST. GERMAIN - Today many of us at Newswatch 12 joined the ranks of brave and chilly souls jumping into Big St. Germain Lake... It was definitely cold, but the cause for the jump, warmed our hearts. This year was the 6th Annual Northwoods Original Polar Bear Plunge benefitting Angel On My Shoulder- a group started in St. Germain that helps kids affected by cancer. "It's hard to put into words until you see the kid’s faces that wouldn't have an opportunity to get away from their problems, get away from the things that are affecting them, forget about life in general for a while, and just have fun being a kid. Until you see that expression on their face, it's almost impossible to put into words," said Matt Reuss, a popular returning plunger, dressed this year as a shark. Full Story: WJFW

Sky West-Delta Begins Flights out of Rhinelander

The Rhinelander Oneida County Airport seemed to have a revolving door of providers. But after more than a year, the staff hopes to have finally found one to stay. Today, Northwoods travelers took to the skies with Sky West-Delta today. In 2011 Frontier Airlines announced it wanted to end service here. But the Department of Transportation wouldn't let them leave the airport without a replacement. Full Story: WJFW

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