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WAUSAU - People filled the gym at Wausau East High School to see the University of Wisconsin varsity band Sunday.
The school hosted the concert to raise money for UW-Marathon County's scholarship fund and Wausau East's Band Booster Club.
The Wausau chapter of the UW-Madison Alumni Association helped organize the event.
WAUSAU - Some kids learn how to play the guitar, but not a lot of students get the chance to learn about how a guitar is built.
Local guitar player and luthier John Currier demonstrated the art of guitar making for students at the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau on Sunday.
"I hope they get some enthusiasm about the instrument," said Currier. "I hope they get a sense of wonder about how intricate the guitar is, because it's a much bigger, involved instrument than a lot of people imagine."
MARSHFIELD - A two day aquaculture conference in Marshfield gave Wisconsin fish farmers the chance to plan for 2015, while also reflecting on last year's success. The success was largely because of Governor Scott Walker's Walleye Initiative Grant Program.
The program focusses on stocking walleye in lakes for environmental and recreational purposes. It also works to help fish farms grow walleye for food.
Experts say the future of aquaculture in Wisconsin looks promising. They think that Governor Walker's Walleye Initiative Grant program is a huge step forward for small fish farmers.
MARSHFIELD - You could see championship gymnastics in Wisconsin Rapids Saturday.
It's where high schoolers from all over can show off their talents.
But for Marshfield gymnast Olivia Tierney, it's nothing new.
RHINELANDER - The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide.
17-year-old Ashlee Anne Rose Martinson is a suspect.
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
EAGLE RIVER - A beloved Northwoods tradition comes to an end Saturday. It was the 25th year that Klondike Days was held in Eagle River. It was also the last year for the event. Organizers didn't give details on why the event wouldn't move on to next year.
You could find a lot of smiling faces at this year's Klondike Days, but many of those smiles were bittersweet.
The event was created to bring tourists to the area at a quieter time of year. Organizers say there was something for everyone at Klondike Days.
MARSHFIELD - That involves fish farming for both food and stocking lakes.
Aquaculture in Wisconsin hopes to keep up the pace in the next year.
The 2015 Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference was held in Marshfield Friday and Saturday.
RHINELANDER - A Northwoods food pantry hopes to get thousands of cans of food from its fundraiser that kicked off Saturday.
The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry held its building day for its CANtastic event.
Nine groups spent the morning building structures out of cans and boxes of food.
LINCOLN COUNTY - One horse died after being hit by a car early this morning in Lincoln County.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office got a call about five horses walking into traffic on Highway 51, near County Road A.
Four full-sized horses and one miniature horse were walking on the southbound lanes of 51.
MADISON - The Dane County NAACP is calling for calm in the aftermath of that fatal shooting of a 19-year-old black man in Madison by a police officer.
Police say 19-year-old Tony Robinson was shot in an altercation with Officer Matt Kenny Friday night at an apartment. Robinson was pronounced dead at a hospital.
MINOCQUA - Leaders at Minocqua Winter Park often hear from locals that they don't get the chance to visit the park. Staff members want to change that, so the park will host Lakeland Community Appreciation Day this Sunday.
"We get people popping in to the chalet daily that say they've lived in the area for many, many years but haven't had a chance to come explore," said Minocqua Winter Park Executive Director Tim Collins. "We want to get rid of any excuse they have to come and explore Minocqua Winter Park."
"We have 90 kilometers of cross-country ski trails that will be open for free," Collins said. "We have almost 16 kilometers of snowshoe trails open for free.
WABENO - You may know Wabeno for its 35-foot snowman that appeared this past few winters. But this year it's not called Wabeno's snowman. It's Logan's snowman.
Nine-year-old Logan Wamego died of osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, on Dec. 8, 2014. His family and his hometown of Wabeno still mourn his death.
MERRILL - The success of the Merrill football team hasn't gone unnoticed in recent years--but neither has the bad state of the Bluejays' stadium.
"About two years ago, we had football officials tell us we [need to] do something about our field," says Merrill Area Public School Superintendent Wally Leipart. "It's now getting to the point where it's unplayable."
Jay Stadium was built in 1970. The field needed to be replaced in 1995, but that never happened, and now the field is suffering.
MERRILL - Some people might only think about apples when visiting their favorite orchard. For apple grower Dave Pegoria, maintaining an apple orchard is a part of everyday life.
"Helene and I have been developing it over the last 32 years," said the Helene's Hilltop Orchard co-owner. "It's been truly a full-life endeavor."
That's why he wants to make sure he prunes trees at the right time this year.
PHELPS - Small communities pride themselves in knowing their neighbors and being close with their family.
For one community a family can be seen on the basketball court.
"We're one big happy family, at times," said Senior Nathan Cirese
MERRILL - Merrill also hosting a playoff contest Friday night.
Wausau East made the short trip up to contend for a spot in the regional final.
We'll join in the third quarter.
RHINELANDER - Prosecutors think 40-year-old Shannon Wolf played a role in the 2003 death of Kenneth Wells. Police found Wells' body in the Wisconsin River near Rhinelander 12 years ago, but no one was ever charged with a crime in connection to his' death.
Now the case against Shannon Wolf will move forward after prosecutors showed a DVD reenactment to the court on Friday and successfully established that there is probable cause for the case to go to trial.
Shannon Wolf is charged with a felony for taking part in Wells' death. His ex-wife Latoya Wolf is also being charged.
RHINELANDER - There could be a new trail running along Pelican River. The plan is to have the river trail run from the Chamber of Commerce out to the new boat landing. It'll travel up the Pelican River and connect the hotels along Kemp Street.
"Historically, the city has kind of viewed this river as an industrial river," said Rhinelander City Council Member Alex Young. "In the last few years, there's been a push to take advantage of the more recreational and aesthetic aspects of the river rather than the industrial aspects."
The proposed trail will run about a mile. The city council will pay about $130,000 for the project. The rest will be funded by grants.
MERRILL - A Merrill man will spend less than a month in jail for disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon.
Daniel Osness was originally charged with a felony for endangering safety and four other misdemeanors. He took a plea deal Friday.
Police say Osness went to a home in Merril in September 2013 with a group of people looking for someone.
BARABOO - Circus World, with its roots in the Ringling Bros., says it's committed to keeping elephants in its shows in Baraboo.
The parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus plans to eliminate elephants from its circus performances by 2018. Feld Entertainment says some cities and counties have passed "anti-circus" and "anti-elephant" ordinances, making touring difficult with changing regulations.
Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers when they began their first tour as a circus in 1884. Today, Circus World continues big top shows with performers from all over the world.
GALENA, IL - The latest derailment of a train carrying oil brought another failure of a safer model of tank car.
Railroad officials say two cars that split open and burst into flames yesterday in western Illinois had been retrofitted with protective shields to meet a higher safety standard than federal law requires. The fires raise more concerns that even tougher requirements are needed.
No injuries are reported from the derailment.
MADISON - Update: The Wisconsin state Assembly has passed a right-to-work bill on a straight party line vote.
The bill passed Friday on a 62-35 vote, with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against. The Senate passed it last week.
It now heads to Gov. Scott Walker, who plans to sign it Monday.
MADISON - A representative of Wisconsin's Native American tribes told state lawmakers about the challenges facing tribal communities.
Chris McGeshick, chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community delivered the annual State of the Tribes address Thursday.
He said state leadership needs to be aware of the difficulties tribal members endure.
WAUSAU - When you hear the word "gang," you may think of big cities like Chicago or Milwaukee. But you may be surprised to learn that gangs exist in your own backyard.
Some gangs in Wausau have been around for the past 15 years. Last week, a middle school boy died when a 15 year old stabbed him twice in the back. Police think the stabbing was gang related.
"The prominent one, the OTB, that this male juvenile claimed to be, that one was a known gang group here in the Wausau area," said Wausau Police Officer Houa Lee. "This other gang involving white, Hispanic, or black males, that was probably a hybrid gang that just formed."
EAGLE RIVER - The former Lac du Flambeau man who owned and ran an ATM business that appeared in some U.S. and Canadian casinos will serve three years in prison.
Kevin Maulson was sentenced Thursday in Vilas County Court for three felony counts of making false statements on a securities sale and theft in a business setting. Prosecutors said Maulson mislead investors about his personal finances in the early 2000s and failed to pay them back.
For each felony Maulson was sentenced to one year in prison and five years of extended supervision. He could spend up to 15 years on extended supervision, but the court ruled he could serve two if he paid restitution.
MERRILL - More private schools in Northcentral Wisconsin could take part in the statewide voucher program.
Three schools in Lincoln and Marathon counties that aren't already a part of the program are applying this year.
Trinity Lutheran School in Merrill is one of those schools.
NORTHWOODS - Some people will need to get their ice fishing shanties off the lakes this weekend. DNR wardens say the ice conditions are much better than last year, which will make it easier to get the shanties off the ice. Wardens say they'll be strict about the deadline this year.
"We've had these cold temperatures, extremely cold temperatures at night, and that's helped to freeze up some of the slush that was on top of the ice," says Conservation Warden Supervisor David Walz. "We saw some extreme conditions last year where people were struggling to get their shacks off even come April."
People who fish on inland waters south of Highway 64 need to have their shelters off by this Sunday. People north of Highway 64 need to move their shacks off the ice by March 15.
ANTIGO - The Antigo Gymnastics program made an impressive turnaround during the past two decades.
The team will continue its impressive streak this weekend in Wisconsin Rapids.
Julie Langseth took over the team 23 years ago. The Red Robins didn't win a conference meet until three years later. Langseth says the program was lacking something important.
"Coming into the program we didn't have much of a feeder program," said Langseth.
MINOCQUA - Leaders at Minocqua Winter Park often hear from locals that they don't get the chance to visit the park. Staff members want to change that.
"We get people popping in to the chalet daily that say they've lived in the area for many, many years but haven't had a chance to come explore. We want to get rid of any excuse they have to come and explore Minocqua Winter Park," said Minocqua Winter Park Executive Director Tim Collins.
They'll host Lakeland Community Appreciation Day this Sunday.
VILAS COUNTY - Visitors to one Northwoods courthouse may notice some changes in security.
The Vilas County Courthouse will put in place new security measures starting March 16th.
The biggest change the public will notice is only one entrance will be open to the public.
