Local Rhinelander Headlines

Deer recommendations approved by Natural Resources Board

MADISON - Local county advisory councils made recommendations on what goals should be for deer populations. Now, the state Natural Resources' board has approved those goals.

A deer expert hired by Gov. Scott Walker's administration recommended the advisory councils as a way of improving deer management in Wisconsin.

The DNR asked the councils to recommend whether to increase, maintain, or decrease their local herds over the next three years.

Full story: WJFW

Drinking more coffee could be beneficial to your health

RHINELANDER - You might want to pour yourself an extra cup of coffee in the morning.

New dietary guidelines suggest you should drink three to five cups of coffee each day.

This is the first time the dietary advisory committee's report looked at caffeine. Drinking three to five cups, or up to 400 milligrams of caffeine, a day can be beneficial to your health.

Full story: WJFW

Senate passes right-to-work bill on partisan 17-15 vote

MADSION - The Wisconsin State Senate passed a right-to-work bill on a partisan 17-15 vote Tuesday after hours of debate.

Only Republicans voted for the legislation that would make it optional for a private sector employee to pay union dues or join a union.

Sen. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marahton, says he is a former union member. He also was the only Republican to vote against the bill.

Full story: WJFW

Gov. Walker's proposed budget cut on recycling could affect Oneida County

ONEIDA COUNTY - You could be paying more tipping fees in Oneida County for recycling in the near future if Scott Walker moves forward with his budget proposal on recycling.

Walker proposed to spend $15 million for recycling programs in his two-year budget, a drop from more than $32 million in 2010 and 2011.

The Oneida County Solid Waste Department averaged about 900 tons of recyclables last year. The department could struggle with cost if the proposal gets passed. They could also see fewer recyclables coming in because tipping fee increases could stop people from recycling.

Full story: WJFW

Unions for professional athletes oppose right-to-work

MADISON - Unions for professional baseball, football and hockey players are all opposing the right-to-work proposal in Wisconsin.

All three unions issued statements this week as the bill moves rapidly through the Wisconsin Legislature. State senators referenced opposition to the proposal from the National Football League Players Association during debate Wednesday.

Full story: WJFW

Packers release veteran LB Hawk

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers released inside linebacker A.J. Hawk, cutting ties with the nine-year veteran and respected locker room presence.

Hawk leaves Green Bay with 1,118 tackles, tops in the franchise since 1975. He appeared in 142 out of a 144 possible regular-season games with 136 starts since being drafted in the first round in 2006.

But Hawk lost playing time in the second half of this past season as Green Bay tried to shore up its run defense.

Full story: WJFW

Local fire department trains with new air packs

MERRILL - New technology at the Merrill Fire Department will help protect the fire fighters in dangerous situations. The department recently bought brand new air packs for their department.

The Merrill Fire Department can now strap on their brand new air packs. A donation from the Bierman Family Foundation allowed Merrill to get the new top-of -the-line equipment.

"We're on the cutting edge. The Merrill Fire Department is the first fire department in Wisconsin to receive the MSA brand G1 air packs," said Chief Dave Savone.

Full story: WJFW

IUD usage on the rise as birth control method for women and teenagers

NATIONWIDE - More women and teenagers are turning to a birth control method with more than a 99% success rate—an intrauterine device, or IUD.

From 2011 to 2013, about 7.2% of women aged 15 to 44 used a long-acting reversible contraceptive, which includes IUD and some types of hormone implants, according to a Centers for Disease Control report released Tuesday, shown in the link below. The report states that percentage is up from 1.5% in 2002.

IUDs virtually disappeared from the market in the 1980s and 1990s due to health workers expressing concerns about the safety of the product.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods school district hopes new techniques will recruit, retain teachers

MINOCQUA - It can be difficult to get new teachers to move to the Northwoods to teach. Some local school districts are having a hard time attracting younger teachers and getting them to stay in the area.

Some district leaders think the problem is that the candidate pool isn't that big anymore. In the past, more teachers were available.

"Eight, nine years ago for a third-grade position, I would get [more than] 100 to 150 applicants," says Dr. Jim Ellis, the district administrator for the Minocqua J1 school district. "This last year, we got less than a dozen."

Full story: WJFW

Researchers study plants under ice

BOULDER JUNCTION - You could see a few holes in the ice on the frozen lakes without any tip-ups. That's because local researchers want to study the plants under the ice. The question at whether they stay green during the winter sparked a few researchers to drill their way to answers.

"Really, it came down to a curiosity. I was curious whether or not any of our plants that look like they're really green first thing in the spring were green all winter long," explained UW Madison Associate Professor Susan Knight. "I couldn't find anything written about it and I asked a friend of mine Paul Skawinski, who works down in Stevens Point and he didn't know either."

Full story: WJFW

Man facing attempted homicide charges faces new drug charges; Another Antigo man faces drug charges

ANTIGO - An Antigo man facing first degree attempted homicide charges now finds himself in even more trouble with the law.

Police say 18-year-old Dylan Madderom sold an undercover police informant marijuana near a school two separate times. He faces four felony counts. Two for making or selling marijuana and two for violating his bond conditions.

At the time of the alleged sales, Madderom was free on a $10,000 cash bond for a different case. He was charged with first degree attempted homicide in August for allegedly beating an Antigo teen with a baseball bat.

Full story: WJFW

Land donation will enhance Prairie Dells Scenic Area in Lincoln County

GLEASON - One part of land along the Prairie River in Lincoln County is not for logging, development, or anything else.

"There are some falls and rapids here. There (are) a lot of good sightseeing opportunities," says Lincoln County Forest Administrator Kevin Kleinschmidt, standing on a high overlook in Prairie Dells Scenic Area. "We manage this for aesthetics and sightseeing."

On this day, the scenic area looks like a winter postcard.

Full story: WJFW

Rhinelander School Board President runs again

RHINELANDER - Ron Counter will finish his third consecutive term as president of the Rhinelander School Board this spring.

Counter is running again, and he says he wants to continue giving back to the community. He first ran for the board in the 1990s. He served many positions on the board, including president a few times.

He says his dedication to the community keeps him coming back.

Full story: WJFW

Fish Hatchery in Woodruff to Upgrade Facility

WOODRUFF - Upgrades mean business for the Art Oehmcke Fish Hatchery in Woodruff.

It got a $4.6 million grant from the State Building Commission to make the changes. The Oehmcke Hatchery is critical in restocking the local walleye population.

"These things are a long time coming," said DNR Northwest Hatchery Group Leader Neal Rosenberg. "The last time this place was renovated was in 1993, right around there, so it will help us raise more fish and healthier fish."

Full story: WJFW

Local fire department trains with new air packs

MERRILL - New technology at the Merrill Fire Department will help protect the fire fighters in dangerous situations. The department recently bought brand new air packs for their department.

The Merrill Fire Department can now strap on their brand new air packs. A donation from the Bierman Family Foundation allowed Merrill to get the new top-of -the-line equipment.

"We're on the cutting edge. The Merrill Fire Department is the first fire department in Wisconsin to receive the MSA brand G1 air packs," said Chief Dave Savone.

Full story: WJFW

Feingold mum on next move following envoy job

MILWAUKEE - Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold is leaving his job as a special envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa without tipping his hand on his next potentially political move.

Feingold didn't talk about a possible rematch with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson during a speech Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Feingold is wrapping up an 18-month diplomatic mission for the State Department next month.

The Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1DRH0b8 ) says the only hint Feingold gave about his future political ambitions came when he thanked his assistant, Mary Irvine, whom he described as his ``once, current and I hope future chief of staff.''

Full story: WJFW

Slender Man stabbing prosecutors: keep case in adult court

WAUKESHA - Prosecutors say the case should move forward in adult court against two Wisconsin girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the horror character Slender Man.

In filings late Tuesday, the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office asked the court to find probable cause that both girls committed attempted first-degree homicide.

Under Wisconsin law, that charge automatically puts the case in adult court. But defense attorneys want the case moved to juvenile court. They say the charge should be attempted second-degree homicide, which normally would be a juvenile charge.

Full story: WJFW

GOP cuts public hearing on right-to-work hearing short

MADISON - Senate Republicans have cut a public hearing on right-to-work legislation short, sending dozens of people who had been waiting hours to speak into a rage.

The Senate labor committee began the hearing at 10 a.m. The committee's chairman, Sen. Stephen Nass, had planned to end testimony at 7 p.m. Nass ended the hearing around 6:20 p.m., saying union members had threatened to disrupt the proceeding at 7 p.m. Union leaders later said they planned only to complain about ending the hearing at 7 p.m.

Full story: WJFW

Incumbent Rhinelander School Board member will run for reelection

RHINELANDER - David Holperin wants to see a plan he helped create carried out in Rhinelander schools.

Holperin is an incumbent candidate for the Rhinelander School Board. He served on the Board for the past three years, the length of a term. During that time, he helped the Board write a long-term strategic plan that the Board began to implement this past December.

"I'd like to now see that implementation through and I'd like to see it become a successful plan," Holperin said.

Full story: WJFW

Dart Tournament Helps Raise Money for Hospice Care

RHINELANDER - A local event hopes to raise funds for hospice care while having a little fun.

Ministry Home Care is hosting its fifth Chicago Style Dart Tournament to benefit hospice care in the Northwoods. Money from the event will help hospice care patients in the local area.

"It helps raise funds for those patients that are underinsured or have no money to pay for their care," said Community Outreach Coordinator for Rhinelander's Ministry Home Care Melissa Houg. "Hospice is really about servicing people that are terminally ill with a six month prognosis or less. So this program really helps people in their time of need at the end of life."

Full story: WJFW

Lac du Flambeau students learn about their heritage through traditional Ojibwe winter games

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - A local teacher handcrafted the games using traditional materials and building techniques. Teaching students about their heritage is a passion for Ojbiwe Language and Culture Teacher Wayne Valliere.

When he isn't teaching, Valliere puts a lot of time into learning and constructing Ojibwe cultural artifacts.

He handcrafted traditional Ojibwe outdoor winter games. Students then get to actively learn about their heritage.

Full story: WJFW

Government program helps eligible homeowners with costly heating bill

NORTHWOODS - Most of us turn up the heat when temperatures drop below zero. A government program could help you pay some of that bill.

The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) helps people who spend more than 25 percent of their income just heating their homes.

"It follows the 60 percent state median income, which roughly correlates to the 200 percent poverty level. So if we look at a household size of one, we actually look at the last three months of income. So the three month income would be $6,288 for a household of one," said Oneida County Support Program Supervisor Amy Mayo.

Full story: WJFW

Behind the scenes look at Mall of America security

BLOOMINGTON, MN - The Mall of America has provided a rare glimpse into security for the nation's busiest shopping center after an online video purportedly produced by a terrorist group urged extremists to attack shopping malls in Western countries.

The Bloomington megamall has some 40 million visitors each year and the behind-the-scenes steps taken to keep visitors safe are generally unknown to shoppers.

Officers patrol the mall with family-friendly dogs trained to sniff out bombs.

Full story: WJFW

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