Local Rhinelander Headlines

Tribes representative says he won't support Wisconsin mining

A representative of Wisconsin's Native American tribes says the state's tribes will not support iron mining projects.

Chris McGeshick, chairman of the Sokaogon (suh-KAW'-gan) Chippewa Community, addressed state lawmakers Thursday. He said he would not support a Penokee Hills mining project or any frack sand mining initiatives in the state. Tribal representatives and Senate Democrats loudly applauded McGeshick's statement.

He delivered his speech amid an ongoing Assembly debate about a right-to-work bill. Audible from outside the building was an ongoing rally protesting right-to-work legislation as well as a booming band in the Capitol rotunda playing ``The Stars and Stripes Forever.''

Full story: WJFW

Heavy snow strands hundreds of vehicles along interstates

LOUISVILLE - Authorities say heavy snow has left hundreds of vehicles stuck on rural stretches of interstates in Kentucky.

Gov. Steve Beshear says that at one point, more than 400 vehicles were stuck along westbound I-24 in western Kentucky. He says about 200 vehicles are still stuck.

Others are stuck along a stretch of I-65 near Elizabethtown in central Kentucky. State police say some people have been there since last night.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin unemployment rate drops to 5 percent

MADISON - Wisconsin's unemployment rate has dropped to 5 percent, its lowest point since before the recession.

The state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday that the unemployment rate dropped from 5.2 percent in December to 5 percent in January.

Private-sector job creation was basically flat over the period, with just 300 new jobs created.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Are Off To Strong Start In 2015

Wisconsin cheese-makers are off to a strong start in 2015. The U-S-D-A said the state produced just over 250-million pounds of cheese in January. That's three-point-three percent more than the same month a year ago, but it's a half-percent less than the month before. Wisconsin's January production was half-percent more than the national increase of two-point-eight percent. The Badger State produced just over a quarter of the national total of 980-million pounds for January. Wisconsin lengthened its lead as the country's top cheese-maker. Second-place California had a much smaller increase of nine-tenths of one-percent, to almost 207-million pounds.

Full story: WJFW

Right-to-work debate may last into the night

MADISON - Wisconsin Democrats plan to debate a right-to-work bill into the night, and possibly the early morning, with little to no hope of stopping its passage.

Republicans have a 63-36 majority in the Assembly, where debate of the bill was expected to begin early Thursday afternoon.

Speaker Robin Vos says he doesn't expect every Republican to vote for it, but he says there will be far more than 50 votes to pass it.

Full story: WJFW

Rhinelander Nordic Ski adds paintball to new middle school program

RHINELANDER - Some coaches found a unique way to keep kids attention while teaching them to Nordic ski: paintballing.

The Rhinelander Nordic Ski Team is giving middle school students the chance to have fun in the outdoors while learning the sport.

"Really really fun, I was on my toes the whole day waiting for it," said sixth grade student Lily Eternicka.

Full story: WJFW

Funding reduction for community health centers could mean reductions & less care

WAUSAU - Community health centers could soon face a budget problem if funding levels don't stay sustained. The issue revolves around funding from a dedicated five-year "Health Center Fund" through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The funding helped centers like Bridge Community Health Clinic expand its dental unit in Wausau. These kinds of community Health Clinics use public dollars. Bridge Community Health Clinic Executive Director Laura Scudiere says they also serve as a health safety net for insured, uninsured and Medicaid-eligible people.

"We need to be able to have this center here," Scudiere said." Without a safety net provide, people are going to be going to ER's and driving up the health care costs."

Full story: WJFW

Huge easement protects Iron County forestland; similar buys under threat from Walker's budget

IRON COUNTY - A purchase of about $4.5 million helps protect almost 14,000 acres of forestland in Iron County.

But if Gov. Scott Walker has his way, the state won't be able to spend that kind of money on land purchases again until 2028.

The money to buy a conservation easement on the Twin Lakes Legacy Forest came from Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE: Driver in deadly stabbing charged

WAUSAU - A 19-year-old Wausau woman faces charges for driving 13-year-old Isaiah Powell to the place where he was stabbed last Friday. Powell later died.

Nia Phillips made her first appearance in court today. Prosecutors charged her with contributing to the delinquency of a minor resulting in death.

Court documents say Phillips drove Powell to the site of a deadly stabbing on Jefferson Street last Friday. Powell was stabbed twice in the back. Phillips then drove Powell to the hospital where he died. Police say she was driving without a valid license.

Full story: WJFW

Six Merrill service organizations move to new home at Ministry Good Samaritan Campus

MERRILL - Six groups in Merrill that offer services to the community got a new home in February.

They moved to the Ministry Good Samaritan Campus.

Comunidad Hispania, Merrill Community Food Pantry, Merrill Area United Way, North Central Community Action Program, St. Vincent de Paul Outreach and Merrill Salvation Army were the groups that moved.

Full story: WJFW

Donations, guesses for White Lake's "Iron Mike" extended to March 15

WHITE LAKE - You still have time to guess when "Iron Mike," White Lake's winter tradition, will fall through the ice.

Iron Mike is a friendly mannequin that sits on White Lake throughout the winter. He disappeared for a few decades, but he's back in 2015.

With a $5 donation, you can submit your guess down to the day, hour and minute of when Iron Mike will fall through the ice. You can do this at most White Lake businesses. As of today, you can also submit guesses in a few Antigo businesses such as Parson's of Antigo, Neve's Furniture & Flooring and Thrivent Financial-Jean Greening.

Full story: WJFW

Local man sells repair business to Laona Machine Supply

CRANDON - Hayes Metals in Crandon will see big changes over the coming weeks. Laona Machine Supply bought the repair shop on Monday.

People in Crandon have depended on Hayes Metals for power equipment repairs since the '70s. That's why Laona Machine Supply managers were eager to buy the business. Owner Doug Hayes was interested in selling since fall.

"My wife and I talked for the last four years, that I'm 62 and we need to start looking at retirement," said former Hayes Metals owner Doug Hayes.

Full story: WJFW

Justice Department blasts Ferguson and its police for racial bias

A Justice Department report says blacks in Ferguson, Missouri, are disproportionately subjected to excessive police force, baseless traffic stops, and citations for petty infractions -- like walking down the middle of the street.

The department today issued more than two dozen recommendations to improve the city's police department and court system. They include training officers to de-escalate confrontations. And the report also calls for better oversight of Ferguson's recruiting, hiring and promotion procedures.

Federal officials say city leaders in Ferguson are cooperative and open to change, and that there are already signs of improvement.

Full story: WJFW

6 charged in disappearance of 2 Indianapolis teenagers

INDIANAPOLIS - Six people have been charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the disappearance of two Indianapolis teenagers.

Authorities say 16-year-old Aaron Blackwell and his 13-year-old sister, Emma Blackwell, were abducted from their home at gunpoint early Monday and taken to Detroit, where they were separated.

Authorities say the kidnappings were in retaliation for their older sister stealing money and drugs from her former boyfriend in Detroit.

Full story: WJFW

Committee considers amendments to "Right-to-Work" bill

MADISON - The Wisconsin state Assembly's Labor Committee is meeting to consider changes to the "Right-to-Work bill", although it's nearly certain that none will be adopted.

Republicans who control the Assembly agreed to hold the meeting Wednesday in negotiations with Democrats who objected to the original plan that did not include holding an executive session on the measure.

Democrats will be able to offer amendments.

Full story: WJFW

Lake groups get grant money for water quality & management projects

NORTHWOODS - A pair of lake groups in Northern Wisconsin will get grant money from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It's part of a pool of $2.3 million.

The funding is intended to help improve water quality and write management plans.
The Deerskin Lake Association near Eagle River in Vilas County received nearly a $2,800 grant for aquatic plant studies.

Friends of Moose Lake in Langlade County will get nearly $23,000 for a comprehensive management plan.

Full story: WJFW

Group helps students connect what they're learning in the classroom to real life

RHINELANDER - Some students find themselves sitting in a classroom, wondering how they would use what they're learning in real life. A group of community members in Rhinelander hope to make the connection between what students are learning in the classroom and adult life. On Tuesday, they gave students a crash course in being an adult.

Rhinelander High School seniors traded in their books for a game of life on Tuesday.

"Life can give you a lot of stuff very quickly. I managed to hit both a deer, rear-end a car, and hit snow bank in the same two-week period," said Rhinelander High School senior Dustin Simon, discussing a financial simulation in which he participated.

Full story: WJFW

Assembly planning for 24 hours of debate on right-to-work

MADISON - The Wisconsin state Assembly plans to start debate of the right-to-work bill at 9 a.m. Thursday and end no later than 9 a.m. Friday.

Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke said Tuesday that the 24 hours of debate time was negotiated with Democrats. He says Democrats wanted 48 hours of debate.

Republicans also agreed to have the Labor Committee hold an executive session on Wednesday to consider Democratic amendments.

Full story: WJFW

Sauna use may be linked to good heart health, study finds

TOMAHAWK - If you like to sit in the sauna from time to time, you may want to do it more often.

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association reports a link between frequent sauna use and lower risk of cardiac-related death.

Neighbors Billy Heikkinen and Don Wanie, both of Tomahawk, built a sauna about four years ago. They used wood and rocks from their yard to build it.

Full story: WJFW

Driver in deadly stabbing arrested

WAUSAU - A Wausau woman could face charges for allegedly driving 13-year-old Isaiah Powell to the scene of a deadly stabbing last Friday.

Police say 19-year-old Nia Phillips has been arrested. Detectives want her to be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. They have referred that charge to the Marathon County District Attorney's office.

Court documents show Phillips not only drove Powell to the fight on Jefferson Street but also to the hospital after he was stabbed.

Full story: WJFW

Proposed ambulance fee increases

ONEIDA COUNTY - An ambulance trip in Oneida County could soon cost more. Both the county and the city of Rhinelander want to charge more for ambulance services.

Emergency leaders want to raise prices so they can maintain their service quality. The costs of the items first responders need, like medical supplies and gas, keep going up.

Both Oneida County and the city of Rhinelander charge less than the state average for most ambulance services. The emergency management department wants to charge a number closer to that average.

Full story: WJFW

Tomahawk woman enters not guilty plea in connection to alleged 2003 murder

RHINELANDER - A 33-year-old Tomahawk woman entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to a felony charge for being party to a 2003 alleged murder in Rhinelander.

Latoya Wolf learned Tuesday the case against her will move forward. Wolf is the niece of Kenneth Wells. Police found Wells dead in the Wisconsin River in 2003.

His case went cold until 2012, when Wolf told police she knew more about his death. She told investigators her ex-husband, 40-year-old Shannon Wolf, killed Wells.

Full story: WJFW

Study of Minocqua's Winter Park could lead to upgrades

MINOCQUA - Minocqua Winter Park may see some changes. The town of Minocqua will likely order a study of the park that could lead to upgrades and even expansion.

The town is hoping to grow the facility and open it up for more use in the spring, summer, and fall.

The park is currently used for tubing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating.

Full story: WJFW

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