Local Rhinelander Headlines

An affordable Northwoods ski clinic taught people of all ages how to cross country ski Saturday

RHINELANDER - The ski clinic was held this morning. It only cost $10.

The class was sponsored by Mel's Trading Post and the School District of Rhinelander Community Education Program

This is the second year they've held the class. More than 20 went this year.

Full story: WJFW

13-year-old boy died after Wausau stabbing

WAUSAU - A 13-year-old boy has died after he was stabbed during a fight in Wausau that may have been prompted by a dispute on social media.

Wausau police say the stabbing happened Friday after several Wausau high school and middle school students who claim to be gang members had been arguing on Facebook during the day. The Facebook messages indicated that several of the students planned on fighting.

At about 5:30 p.m., six or seven juveniles drove to a house on the 900 block of Jefferson Street. One person fired a BB gun at juveniles who were on the porch.

Full story: WJFW

Wausau man gets 25 years in fatal baseball-bat beating

WAUSAU - A Marathon County judge has sentenced Warren Krohn to 25 years in prison in the 2012 beating death of popular Wausau bowler Kerby Kniess.

A Marathon County judge has sentenced Warren Krohn to 25 years in prison in the 2012 beating death of popular Wausau bowler Kerby Kniess.

Circuit Judge Gregory Grau handed down the sentence Friday after hearing more than two hours of testimony.

Full story: WJFW

Gogebic Taconite closes Hurley office

HURLEY - The company looking to open an iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin says it is closing its office in Hurley effective on Sunday.

The move casts doubt on the future of the project that sparked fierce debate and opposition from environmentalists and tribal members near the site.

Bill Williams, president of mining company Gogebic Taconite, released a statement Friday announcing the sudden move.

Full story: WJFW

USA Ice Team holds open trials in Rhinelander

RHINELANDER - Anglers from across the country came to Rhinelander Friday to compete at the USA Ice Team open trials. Yes, ice fishing has a national team.

"This entire weekend is our US trials," said USA Ice Team Coach Brian Gaber. "So just like gymnastics or hockey or any other US national team, they've got a finals weekend. We've got twenty anglers from four or five different states--Nebraska, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin--trying out for our team."

The world championships will be held in Latvia next year. About two dozen people are fishing to get about six spots on the US team.

Full story: WJFW

Wausau School District virtual school program to start next school year

WAUSAU - Students in Wausau will be able to go to school online next school year.

The Wausau School District is working on a virtual school program. The program, named Wausau Area Virtual Education, is for sixth through 12th graders.

The district hopes the new program will help attract some of the students who left in recent years through the open enrollment system. The district loses funding for every student who uses ope enrolls to enroll in school outside the district.

Full story: WJFW

Rhinelander man sentenced to prison for multiple burglaries

RHINELANDER - A 35-year-old Rhinelander man will spend four years in prison for burglarizing a number of businesses in Rhinelander in March 2014.

Benjamin Marquardt faced 18 charges four breaking into and stealing from restaurants in Rhinelander last March.

He pled guilty to eight charges, including for felonies for Burglary-Building or Dwelling , as part of a plea agreement. This wasn't the first time he's been convicted for burglary. Marquardt went to prison for crimes in 2010.

Full story: WJFW

Fun day for Kettlebowl

BRYANT - The Langlade County Ski Club will host a day of fun for young skiers Saturday. Group volunteers will hold their annual Fun Day at the Kettlebowl about 15 miles northeast of Antigo. It's a day set aside for kids to enjoy skiing, plus they have the chance to win prizes.

"We've got many raffles, we've got prize drawings for all the skiiers that are high schoolers or younger," said Kettlebowl Ski Hill Volunteer Judy Peterson. "This hill is all run by volunteers, our goal is to keep the prices low for kids so they can learn how to ski."

Children 6 to 12 can get tickets for $2, kids five and under ski for free.

Full story: WJFW

Michigan, US appealing judge's ruling on Great Lakes wolves

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Michigan is joining the federal government in appealing a decision that restores legal protections for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region.

Federal Judge Beryl Howell ruled in December that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service erred by dropping the region's wolf population from the list of endangered and threatened species in 2012.

Howell said Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin didn't provide adequate protection and the wolves haven't repopulated their historic range.

Full story: WJFW

7 people charged in drug operation out of Milwaukee home

MILWAUKEE - Seven people have been charged with running a large drug distribution operation out of a house on the south side of Milwaukee.

Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern announced Thursday that investigators have seized sizable amounts of cocaine and heroin, weapons and more than $100,000 during searches in Milwaukee and Green Bay in relation to the case.

Thirty-five-year-old Francisco Chavez-Reynoso of Green Bay is accused of leading the operation. He's charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.

Full story: WJFW

Walker: Protesters prepared him to confront global terrorism

OXON HILL, MD. - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says his experience taking on protesters in his state helped prepare him to take on terrorists across the world.

The likely Republican presidential contender on Thursday appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference — known as CPAC — in suburban Washington.

Asked how he would handle the Islamic State group, Walker said he's been concerned about the terrorist group for years — at home and abroad. He told the conservative audience that if he can take on 100,000 protesters, he can do the same across the world.

Full story: WJFW

Local food pantry needs donations

RHINELANDER - Electricity costs a lot of money, especially when you're not used to paying for it.

The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry moved into a new location in October. In the old building, the pantry didn't have to pay for utilities. Now they do.

Plus, the bigger building uses a lot more electricity for the larger freezers. That means the pantry needs more money to pay the electricity bills.

Full story: WJFW

Regulators approve 'open internet' & tougher rules for Internet providers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has agreed to impose strict new regulations on Internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T.

The regulatory agency voted 3-2 Thursday in favor of rules aimed at enforcing what's called "net neutrality." That's the idea that service providers shouldn't intentionally block or slow web traffic, creating paid fast lanes on the Internet.

Put simply, internet providers won't get to play favorites when it comes to broadband service.

View court record.

Assembly leaders had promised no right-to-work debate

MADISON - Republican leaders of the Wisconsin state Assembly promised last year that a right-to-work bill would not come up this session.

Both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Majority Leader Jim Steineke said the bill that is now on a fast-track for passage would not be debated.

Steineke, who was assistant majority leader last year, said at a September candidate forum in Green Bay that ``right to work is off the table, I believe, for the next session.''

Full story: WJFW

Tomahawk woman loses home, turns experience around

TOMAHAWK - Sometimes it feels like you've had a rough day. But as the old saying goes, "someone out there is having a tougher day than you." We caught up with a Tomahawk woman who lost her house in a fire and is battling cancer. Some Tomahawk kids told us how she's able to keep a smile on her face and bring cheer to others.

"She's a very strong woman. She's very cheerful. Despite all of her hardships she still can smile. She still has a loving heart," said 18-year-old Umran Abdul Majeed.

Full story: WJFW

New school exchange program in the works for Wausau School District

WAUSAU - Students from China could come to Wausau to go to school next year. The Wausau School District is working with the UW system to start a new exchange program.

Under this program, exchange students will enroll at Wausau high schools next school year.

The program can help the students learn English, prepare for American universities, and experience an American curriculum.

Full story: WJFW

Natural Resources Board Accepts Deer Population Plans

NORTHERN WISCONSIN - Deer councils in Northern Wisconsin want to see more deer. Harsh winters have decreased local deer population and harvest levels. Leaders in the Northwoods hope local changes with deer population management goals will help.

A 2012 state deer report set up local deer advisory councils. They now recommend whether to increase, maintain, or decrease deer population.

The Natural Resources Board voted and approved council plans for deer populations throughout the entire state. For northern Wisconsin counties, that means plans to increase the population.

Full story: WJFW

Changes for Phelps museum

PHELPS - The Phelps Historical Museum will look different when it opens this Spring. That's because museum members moved it to a new spot. It now sits in the former First National Bank Building.Nearly 30 volunteers helped with the move.

"We had inspectors in the building that we were in and they determined that it wasn't safe for us to be in it anymore," explained Museum President Pauleyn Nystrom. "So we had to find a new location. It turned out that it is quite a bit bigger actually."

Full story: WJFW

Gov. Walker announces April trade mission to Europe

MADISON - Likely 2016 presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker is planning a trade mission to Europe in April.

Walker announced during a speech Thursday to manufacturers in Milwaukee that he plans to travel to Germany, France and Spain. The trip comes on the heels of Walker's trade mission to London earlier this month. He has also said he plans to travel to Israel sometime this year.

Walker has been increasing his foreign travel as he takes steps toward running for president.

Full story: WJFW

Summer Camp introduces the community to 4-H activities

LANGLADE COUNTY - With these frigid temperatures, it seems like summer is far away. But one local group is already planning for the summer months.

Leaders of Langlade County 4-H try to find unique ways to introduce the public to the various activities it offers. This summer, community members will get to participate in a day of 4-H camp.

"We go swimming. We go boating. Play sports, arts and crafts. Lunch is provided for the kids," says 4-H Youth Development Educator Krista Otto. "And so it's just a really great opportunity to get outdoors and do some activities."

Full story: WJFW

Walker says timing was right for right-to-work

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker says the ``timing was just right'' for the Legislature to take up a right-to-work bill, which could be sent to Walker as soon as next week.

Walker on Thursday also defended the rapid movement of the bill through the process. It passed the Senate on Wednesday, five days after it was introduced, and is slated to be passed by the Assembly next week.

Full story: WJFW

Walker strikes aggressive tone in talking about terrorists in advance of CPAC speech

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker continues to strike an aggressive tone when talking about his position on how the United States should deal with terrorists abroad, saying "we need to take the fight to them."

Walker commented Thursday when asked by reporters in Milwaukee about what he plans to talk about in a speech at a conservative summit in Washington. The likely presidential candidate says his speech is going to touch on American's concerns about safety.

He says, "Increasingly Americans are worried and want to make sure that we take the fight to them before they take it to us when it comes to radical Islamic terrorists in and around the world."

Full story: WJFW

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