Local Rhinelander Headlines

Students pledge to cut sugar out of their diets

MERRILL - Many elementary school students in Lincoln County will swap their chocolate milk for something healthier next week. It's part of the Sugar-Out-Day pledge students took Thursday.

Many people don't really know exactly how much sugar is in their food. The amount of sugar in drinks and snacks can be surprising.

"I think they do know there is sugar in the food that they eat," says public health nurse Judy Sargent. "That's why it tastes so good. But, seeing is believing."

Full story: WJFW

Antigo woman claims rape, police say she lied

ANTIGO - Police in Antigo think a woman allegedly hit a child and made up a story about being raped.

Court documents show 35-year-old Donna Raunio called 911 on February 12th to report a sexual assault. She allegedly told police a stranger hit her in the face with a bat and sexually assaulted her with it.

Raunio told police the stranger then went into the kitchen and she heard a child crying like the child was being hurt. She said she found the child crying on the floor in a pool of urine. She allegedly said it looked like the child was punched in the face but she didn't know if the child was sexually assaulted.

Full story: WJFW

Potential homeowners can get help through a new program

ANTIGO - People in Northcentral Wisconsin and the U.P. can get help buying a home. CoVantage Credit Union started a down payment assistance program called CoVantage Creates Homes.

The credit union got a two million dollar federal grant to start the program. It also put thirteen million dollars towards the program.

The program helps potential homeowners by making down payments and repairs affordable.

Full story: WJFW

Court affirms part of Walker rules law unconstitutional

MADISON - A state appeals court says a portion of a law that gives the governor the power to block new education rules is unconstitutional.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a law in 2011 that requires state agencies to get gubernatorial approval before drafting new administrative rules that create policy.

Teachers and parents filed a lawsuit in 2011 alleging the law was unconstitutional as applied to the state Department of Public Instruction, arguing it gives other state officers more power than the elected DPI superintendent.

Full story: WJFW

Assembly Republicans taking new approach on school sanctions

MADISON - Assembly Republicans are backing off their original plan to force failing public schools to be converted into independent charter schools.

The idea ran into opposition from Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Republicans, both of whom are advocating for no sanctions.

Assembly Education Committee Chair Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt tells The Associated Press on Thursday that he's re-working his proposal to still include sanctions, but forced closure wouldn't be the sole penalty.

Full story: WJFW

Medford's virtual school sends open enrollment numbers skyrocketing

MEDFORD - Students from outside the area pour into the Medford School District.

Open enrollment in Wisconsin lets parents pick the best public school district for their kids, and 136 more students came into Medford's district than left it last year.

Meanwhile, other districts in northern Wisconsin struggle to attract as many students as they lose through open enrollment.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods invasive species group may add pesticides to management toolkit

THREE LAKES - A group committed to fighting the spread of invasive species will use a new tool this year.

The Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership (WHIP) is an organization working on that challenge in Oneida and Vilas Counties.

This year, the group can start using pesticides as a management tool.

Full story: WJFW

Lobbying reports show who spent most in Legislature

MADISON - Newly released reports show who spent the most money lobbying in the Wisconsin Legislature last session.

The Government Accountability Board reported Wednesday that Wisconsin Taxpayers Inc. spent the most at $1.5 million on lobbying over the two-year session. That is somewhat misleading, however, because most of the membership-based group's spending went to pay for field workers who traveled the state to promote its lower-taxes agenda.

The statewide chamber of commerce, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, spent the second-most at nearly $1.2 million with the Wisconsin Hospital Association not far behind at $1.1 million.

Full story: WJFW

Ex-alderman pleads not guilty to child sex assault charge

SHEBOYGAN - A former Sheboygan alderman has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a teenage boy.

Kevin MatiChek entered his plea at a hearing Wednesday. MatiChek was arrested Feb. 6 after police followed up on an anonymous tip. He allegedly gave gifts to the teen he met last summer.

While the complaint alleges MatiChek engaged in a sexual relationship with the boy from June through September, a detective testified Wednesday that sexual activity continued as recently as the Sunday before the then-alderman's arrest.

Full story: WJFW

Pipe bursts cause thousands of dollars in damage

NORTHWOODS - A seasonal home owner in Eagle River can expect to spend thousands of dollars. Temperatures plunged and that caused a number of pipes to burst.

Frasier's Plumbing, Heating and Cooling works with customers in northern Wisconsin. Workers say they've had a lot of calls since the temperatures dropped.

Heating, ventilation and cooling technician Jeff Anderson says an Eagle River home had about 10 pipes burst. When technicians checked on the home last Friday, they could see their breath walking into the house.

Full story: WJFW

High-poverty Langlade County schools vary in using federal free-lunch program

LANGLADE COUNTY - Some schools in Wisconsin can offer free lunch and breakfast to all students.

The Community Eligibility Provision is part of the Federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

If a school has a certain percentage of students living in poverty, the federal government will pay for students to eat.

Full story: WJFW

Northland Pines students ice fish as part of gym class

EAGLE RIVER - Only in the Northwoods can high school students ice fish as part of a gym class.

"It's fun to be out with my classmates, and the guides give really good tips," said Emily Saltenberger, a Northland Pines student.

Ice fishing is one of many activities Northland Pines High School students get to do in a physical education class. This is the tenth year the Eagle River Guides Association hosted classes for the students and gave them a few tips.

Full story: WJFW

Menominee arrives at Capitol to protest casino decision

MADISON - The Menominee Nation's last-ditch attempt to meet with Gov. Scott Walker to try to convince him to approve their plans for a Kenosha casino have fallen flat.

Several hundred tribal members gathered in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday and cheered as Menominee Chairman Gary Besaw demanded Walker show himself. Besaw then walked to the governor's officer and asked to see Walker but a police officer refused to let him in, telling him no one could meet with him. Besaw thanked the officer and walked away.

Full story: WJFW

Group takes a different approach to addiction prevention

RHINELANDER - One hundred twenty people die each day in the United States from a drug overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A group from the Appleton area wants to make sure students across the state don't become a part of that statistic.

The group Rise Together spoke to middle and high school students on Wednesday in Rhinelander.

Full story: WJFW

Feds: More than 200,000 in Wisconsin enroll in health plans

MADISON - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 200,000 people in Wisconsin selected health plans on the federal marketplace in the second year of open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act.

That is an increase of about 58 percent from the 130,000 Wisconsin residents who enrolled in the first year.

The department reported Wednesday that 205,839 Wisconsinites chose a plan or were automatically re-enrolled for existing plans. The open enrollment period came to a close Sunday.

Full story: WJFW

Smoke detectors likely not working in deadly fire

MOSINEE - Investigators believe smoke detectors were not working when a house fire in Mosinee killed a brother and sister last week.

It's unclear why 68-year-old Neatha Carwile and her 75-year-old brother, Hershel ``Fred'' Bauman, were unable to escape the fire. But Mosinee Fire District Chief Josh Klug says that Bauman had physical limitations that might have made it difficult for him to get out.

Klug says Carwile was at the duplex caring for Bauman when the fire broke out Thursday.

Full story: WJFW

Update:Results as voters turnout for February primary election in Minocqua

MINOCQUA - Voters in Minocqua used Tuesday to decide who makes it on the town's April election ballot. The primary election will narrow down which candidates will run for spots on the school board and the town chairman.

Two candidates for the Minocqua Town Board Chairperson position and four school board candidates will move forward after the primary.

Minocqua Town Clerk Roben Haggart says those positions could have boosted voter turnout and interest.

Full story: WJFW

Local bakery prepares traditional Polish pastry for Fat Tuesday

ST. GERMAIN - "It was a way for people in Poland to use up the lard and eggs and sugar and fruit that may have otherwise spoiled in the 40 days of lent," said David Weber from St. Germain Bake Shoppe.

That's how paczkis got their start. The Polish pastry is a staple on Fat Tuesday.

"It's got a high sugar content, which every pastry should have," said Weber."When it fries, it kind of fluffs up and gets spongy,"

Full story: WJFW

Bill aimed at increasing speed limit gains traction

MADISON - A bill aimed at increasing the speed limit on Wisconsin highways is cruising through the Capitol.

Rep. Paul Tittl, a Manitowoc Republican, says the bill allows the Department of Transportation to increase speed limits to 70 miles per hour in approved areas. The top speed limit in the state is currently 65 miles per hour.

The bill faced little opposition at an Assembly transportation committee hearing Tuesday. DOT representatives say they would likely raise the speed limit on rural freeways and expressways. They would test individual roads to determine which sections could accommodate increased limits.

Full story: WJFW

Hodag Hall of Famer transforming high school swim program while battling stage four cancer

RHINELANDER - The Rhinelander boy's swim team will send four individuals to state for the first time in six years.

That's in large part due to the first year coach and Hodag Hall of Famer Lindsey Byrka.

But there is much more to Byrka's journey back to Rhinelander than you may think.

Full story: WJFW

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