Local Rhinelander Headlines

The Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce held its second annual Minocqua Home, Lifestyle and Recreation Show Saturday

MINOCQUA - The show was at Lakeland Union High School.

More than 60 vendors were at the show. They covered a large range of services.

Organizers say they tried to get a lot of professionals to come the show. That way people in the community could get a lot of their home related questions answered.

Full story: WJFW

The Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation held its 7th annual Community Health and Wellness Fair Saturday

RHINELANDER - The fair had a large variety of health screenings available.

St. Mary's Hospital Foundation Director Jesse Boulder thinks it offers an important service to the community.

"We've got cholesterol screenings, vision screenings, body mass index screenings, a lot of different things, sleep apnea, a lot of different things. If you think of it, we've probably got it here today, and providing it to the community," said Boulder. "Our foundation picks up the tab, so it's free to the community."

Full story: WJFW

Body of 56-year-old woman pulled from Plover lake

PLOVER - Police pulled the body of a 56-year-old Plover woman out of a lake in Plover Friday night, according to the Plover Police Department.

Emergency crews were dispatched to Lake Pacawa at 5:23 p.m. The Plover Police Department says the body of 56-year-old Betty J. Frost appeared to have been in the water for a considerable amount of time.

Family members were contacted and have been notified.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin man sentenced for trafficking pot via 3 McDonald's

MILWAUKEE - A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for running a large-scale marijuana trafficking ring through his three McDonald's restaurants.

Prosecutors say 40-year-old Edward G. Patterson, of Whitefish Bay, recruited his employees into the conspiracy and tried from jail to hire someone to kill informants who helped agents make the case against him.

Authorities busted the ring in 2013. Prosecutors said Patterson and workers he recruited drove marijuana back from California before he switched to having it mailed to various Milwaukee addresses.

Full story: WJFW

Analysts: Wisconsin road fund balance should grow

MADISON - Analysts say Wisconsin's roads fund should end the 2015-2017 budget in better shape than Gov. Scott Walker anticipated.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau said Friday the fund should end the biennium with $84.7 million rather than the $11.2 million Walker estimated.

Higher revenue collections during the last half of 2014 have set a higher starting point than Walker's administration assumed. Gas tax revenue is expected to rise over the next three fiscal years. Vehicle registrations are expected to rise slightly over the next two years and debt service is expected to come in $37 million lower than Walker estimated.

Full story: WJFW

Milwaukee police: Deadly house fire is arson

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee police say someone purposely started a fire where two people were found dead.

In a news release, police Sgt. Mark Stanmeyer said they are investigating the deaths of a 27-year-old man and woman as homicides and the fire as arson. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and State Fire Marshal are also investigating.

Stanmeyer says the pair died on the scene of the fire that was reported early Friday.

Full story: WJFW

Lincoln County seeing where it needs to improve internet speeds

MERRILL - Lincoln County and workers at UW Extension Lincoln County will start researching what areas in the county need and want faster internet speeds.

Small businesses fall behind when they can't get the internet speed and access they need. It's a broadband problem for many parts of the rural Northwoods.

UW Extension Lincoln County's Art Lersch doesn't know how, where, or what improvements would look like for sure. However, he does know some people and businesses in rural areas could use some faster internet speeds.

Full story: WJFW

Marshfield Clinic Minocqua aims to take old, unsafe car seats off the road

MINOCQUA - Parents sometimes look to get a good deal on children's car seats by visiting garage sales or taking hand-me-downs from friends. But health experts say searching for a bargain on a used car seat could pose a danger to the child. They say car seats shouldn't be used for any longer than five years.

"There are always recommendations changing," said Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Operations Assistant Manager Carrie Miller. "As you mentioned, the backward- and the forward-facing, and just common wear and tear on a car seat. Also knowing where the car seat came from."

Although you can find out the date when a seat was manufactured by locating a sticker on the seat, that sticker won't tell you if the car seat has been involved in a crash. Car seats that have been in a crash should not be used again, no matter how new the seat is.

Full story: WJFW

Report shows use of e-cigarettes by high school students tripled since 2014

ANTIGO - More than 13 percent of high school students in the U.S. reported using e-cigarettes in 2014, according to a report by the CDC.

The report indicates e-cigarette use among high school students has tripled since 2013 and that more teens use e-cigarettes than conventional cigarettes.

Wendee Cox works for the Langlade County Action Alliance. She says the increase in e-cigarette use could stem from a belief among teens that the e-cigarettes are safe for their health.

Full story: WJFW

Home show looks to draw people of all ages, interests

MINOCQUA - As it starts to feel more like spring, people may begin to think about doing some home improvement. They can stop by the Minocqua Home, Lifestyle and Recreation Show for some ideas and tips.

More than 50 vendors from all over Wisconsin will be on hand to demonstrate their goods and answer questions.

However, it's not just a home show. Organizers want the event to cater to all members of the community.

Full story: WJFW

Event aims to take old, unsafe car seats off the road

MINOCQUA - People sometimes look to get a good deal on car seats at garage sales or as hand-me-downs from friends. However, health experts say doing that could pose a danger. Car seats shouldn't be used after five years.

"There are always recommendations changing. As you mentioned, the backward and the forward facing, and just common wear and tear on a car seat. Also knowing where the car seat came from," said Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Operations Assistant Manager Carrie Miller.

You can find how old a car seat is by looking at a sticker on it. The sticker has the date it was made printed on it. However, that won't tell you if the car seat has been involved in a crash. Car seats that have been in a crash should not be used again.

Full story: WJFW

Endangered songbird from Wisconsin identified in Bahamas

BAHAMAS - People in Wisconsin rarely hear the call of the Kirtland's Warbler. It's even more rare to confirm a Kirtland's from Wisconsin in the bird's wintering grounds in the Bahamas.

We took you to Adams County last summer while biologists listened for the federally endangered songbird. You can see that story by clicking the link below.

There are just a few dozen Kirtland's Warblers in Wisconsin. The bird migrates to the Bahamas. This week, biologists in the Bahamas found the first-ever banded Kirtland's from Wisconsin. It was one of just six nestlings given identifying bands in Wisconsin last summer. The above is a picture of the bird just after it was banded in Wisconsin.

Full story: WJFW

Hodag wins best high school mascot

RHINELANDER - The Rhinelander Hodag will now be known as the best high school mascot in Wisconsin.

The Hodag beat the Polar Bear from Hortonville in the final round of the 2015 Frontier Communications Mascot Challenge. The Hodag got more than 23,000 votes this week to become the champion.

The challenge started with a bracket made up of 64 Wisconsin high schools. The six rounds brought in more than 500,000 votes for the mascots.

Full story: WJFW

Scientists: Isle Royale gray wolf population drops to 3

HOUGHTON, MI - Scientists say the gray wolf population at Isle Royale National Park has dropped to three and is on the verge of disappearing.

Researchers with Michigan Technological University released their annual report on the park's wolves and moose Friday. They said the wolf count has continued a sharp decline since 2009, when it stood at 24. It was nine last year.

Fewer wolves are on the Lake Superior island chain now than at any time since scientists began studying them in the 1950s.

Full story: WJFW

Two local athletes to fight in "King of the Cage" this weekend

WOODRUFF - The King of The Cage returns to Lake of the Torches Saturday night.

Two mixed martial arts athletes from Lac Du Flambeau will enter the cage.

"During fight season, it's usually wake up, off to work. Work an eight-hour day. Get off work, change; grab my gear bag, here," said professional MMA fighter Frank "Nightmare" Schuman.

Full story: WJFW

Welding competition helps high school students develop skill set, meet industry leaders

RHINELANDER - A competition held today in the Northwoods gave students the opportunity to do more than put their skills to the test. They got to make connections that could lead to jobs in the future.

20 welding finalists from different Northwoods high schools proved they can build a product based on a blueprint.

Nicolet College welding experts judged the work. They also introduced students to potential employers in the Northwoods.

Full story: WJFW

Sturgeon spawning under way in Wisconsin

NEW LONDON - A spring ritual is underway in Wisconsin. And, it's an early start to the sturgeon spawning run on the Wolf River.

Dozens of the large, ancient fish spawn in shallow river water west of New London. State Department of Natural Resources sturgeon biologist Ryan Koenigs says the spawning season has started about nine days earlier than usual. And it could last just a few days.

Biologists say some male sturgeon migration every spring, but the females make the trip every three to five years.

Full story: WJFW

Chicago Cardinal Francis George dies at age 78

CHICAGO - Cardinal Francis George, a vigorous defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy who played a key role in the church's response to the clergy sex abuse scandal, has died. He was 78.

The Chicago archdiocese says George died Friday after a long fight with cancer.

Appointed to lead the archdiocese in 1997, George became a leading figure of his era in the American church.

Full story: WJFW

Farrow says Legislature may take no action on accountability

MADISON - The Senate Education Reform Committee's chairman agrees with his Republican colleague in the state Assembly that the Wisconsin Legislature may do nothing on school accountability this session.

Sen. Paul Farrow's committee was scheduled to vote on a school accountability bill on Thursday but he took the bill off the agenda. The committee ultimately did nothing with it.

Republicans who control both the Senate and Assembly have been unable to reach a deal on an accountability bill. They've been hung up on a number of issues, most prominently whether and how to sanction low-performing schools.

Full story: WJFW

Local school district faces tough choices to make up for a huge deficit

PARK FALLS - One Northwoods school district will need to make tough choices soon.

The Chequamegon School District will face a more than half a million dollar budget deficit next school year after it made staff cuts.

The district will probably use money from its fund balance to make up for the deficit. The district will lose three full time elementary teachers in the fall to make up for some of the deficit.

Full story: WJFW

Teachers and veterans encourage patriotism to younger generation

EAGLE RIVER - The younger generation of Americans will eventually lead our country. It's one reason why educators and veterans in Eagle River want students to understand the meaning of patriotism, freedom and sacrifice.

Voting data shows younger Americans don't turn out like older generations. Some veterans hope more encouragement earlier helps grow their connection with the U.S.

"And what better time to start, you know," says VFW Post 8637 Commander Al Pittelko. "I think some of our older kids, high school kids, and even beyond, have lost a little bit of patriotism then we used to have. Starting this young, we're hoping that it will stick with them."

Full story: WJFW

Passed referendum keeps local school open; School leaders worry school funding formula will hurt its future

WHITE LAKE - Many rural Northwoods schools depend on referendums to stay open. The White Lake School District tried to pass two referendums in 2014. Both failed and the school came very close to closing its doors.

Last week, voters in White Lake agreed to levy $300,000 annually for the next five years.

"It will allow us to facilitate a spending plan over the next five years," says district superintendent Bill Fisher. "We'll still need to be conservative but it will allow us to offer the current programming."

Full story: WJFW

Nicolet to host soup benefit

RHINELANDER - Nicolet College will host the Empty Bowls soup benefit in less than two weeks. The program is designed to raise money to help local food pantries. Empty bowls is an international program designed to raise hunger awareness that has been around for more than 20 years.

"We'll have about 200 bowls made by potters and local wood-workers," said Nicolet Art Gallery Director Katy Ralph. "People come in and they choose a bowl that they like and it costs $15. They get soup and bread, a small serving of soup and bread made by our culinary students."

Guests get to keep the bowl after the soup benefit concludes. Volunteers for the program raise almost $2,500 during the last fundraiser in 2013. They hope to keep up the effort for the benefit this year.

Full story: WJFW

Lackey, Carpenter spark St. Louis' 4-0 win over Milwaukee

ST. LOUIS - John Lackey threw seven scoreless innings and Matt Carpenter doubled twice, helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Lackey (1-0) gave up five hits, struck out eight and walked one.

Lackey, who allowed a pair of two-run homers in six innings in his most recent start, faced the Brewers for just the fourth time in his career.

Full story: WJFW

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