Local Rhinelander Headlines

No bombs found on planes in Atlanta after threat

ATLANTA - Police who searched two airplanes in Atlanta found no bombs following online threats made against the aircraft.

FBI spokesman Stephen Emmett said law enforcement officials finished their search Saturday night at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The threats targeted Southwest Airlines Flight 2492, which arrived from Milwaukee, and Delta Air Lines Flight 1156, which arrived from Portland, Oregon.

Full story: WJFW

Local libraries won't offer all free tax forms this year

THREE LAKES - Many people get their tax forms at Northwoods libraries. But they might not get everything they need to file their taxes at the library this year.

The IRS won't be able to send local libraries every free tax form and instruction booklets because of budget cuts.

At the Demmer Memorial Library in Three Lakes, the free tax forms are usually a popular service. The library's director think many people will be let down. But the library will still offer some of the tax forms people will need.

Full story: WJFW

Curling club celebrates 100 year anniversary

MEDFORD - Members of the Medford Curling Club celebrated their 100 year anniversary this weekend. The club began its first curling season in July of 1914 and has steadily built a following during the past century. Club members believe media exposure has brought more attention to curling locally and across the country.

"I think the Olympics have done a great boost for curling, clubs are popping up all over the United States now," said Centennial Committee Chairman Jeff Mueller. "You can meet people all over the country, you mention curling, they say they saw it on the Olympics. Unlike years ago when they thought it was just some boring shuffleboard on ice type of thing, people really get into it."

Full story: WJFW

Police search for person involved in Rothschild shooting

ROTHSCHILD - A 22-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound early Saturday morning.

Rothschild Police Department don't know how the incident happened, but they do want to find the person who shot him.

Rothschild Police Department, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and the Marathon County Sheriff's Department were called to PJ's Log Jam around 1:30 a.m.

Full story: WJFW

Crews work to restore power close to 3,000 customers in Gogebic County

WAKEFIELD - Close to 3,000 people in Gogebic County experienced a widespread power outage Friday.

The Gogebic County Sheriff's Office aren't sure how it happened, but power is being restored.

They say the outage affected much of the county, but it was narrowed down to the city of Wakefield. About 50% of the city were without power.

Full story: WJFW

Kenosha mayor says he's disappointed with casino denial

KENOSHA - The Kenosha mayor says he's very disappointed Gov. Scott Walker decided against a request to build a casino there.

Gov. Scott Walker on Friday denied the Menominee Nation's request for permission to build an off-reservation casino in Kenosha, saying it could leave the state owing a rival tribe millions of dollars.

Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman says he's frustrated with Walker's denial of the tribal casino at the former Dairyland Greyhound Park.

Full story: WJFW

Wrong-way crash on Interstate 94 kills 1, injures 5

MILWAUKEE - A driver who entered Interstate 94 the wrong way is dead and five others are injured after a six-vehicle crash in Milwaukee County.

According to the county sheriff's department, 32-year-old Marcos Cortez, of Wauwatosa, entered the freeway at about 8 p.m. Friday travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes without headlights on when he crashed into another car.

Cortez died on the scene. The three people in the car he struck were not seriously injured.

Full story: WJFW

Pond hockey championship moved

EAGLE RIVER - The Labatt Blue/USA Pond Hockey National Championship draws thousands of hockey players to Eagle River each February. But this year, the more than 300 registered teams won't be playing on a lake. Instead, they'll be playing on the Amsoil World Championship Derby Track.

"It's just the thrill of being outside with their hockey friends. It's a great time," said Chanticleer Inn owner Jake Alward.

He looks forward to hosting the championship each year.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods health workers push to increase teen HPV vaccination rates

NORTHWOODS - The Northwood Immunization Coalition joined a national effort to get more kids and young adults vaccinated for HPV, the human papillomavirus. The coalition received a grant from the Wisconsin Immunization Program and the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.

Oneida, Vilas and Forest counties make up the coalition, which will talk to health care providers, parents and schools about the vaccine. The group also plans to advertise with billboards, posters and video PSA announcements.

"Our marketing plan goes along the lines of 'closing the door on cancer,'" said Charlotte Ahrens, a public health nurse at The Oneida County Department of Public Health. "We're trying to get rid of this situation, this danger, for this generation of kids."

Full story: WJFW

Radar device helping police "look inside" homes and buildings

PHILLIPS - A new report from USA Today shows some police agencies use a certain radar device to see into buildings and homes. They have also used it without getting a warrant.

Range-R uses radar to track movement and can even track breathing through walls. The USA Today report says that at least 50 police agencies around the U.S. have used the device since 2012.

None of the sheriffs we spoke with in the Northwoods had heard of the tool, but they did believe it could be useful.

Full story: WJFW

Police in Wausau want to find a driver who fired a shot into the air: Updated

Police in Wausau accuse a 26-year-old man of firing a rifle in the air after a driving dispute. He now could face four charges.

It happened last night around 11:15 near the South 17th avenue bridge.

The driver said he passed a weaving Ford Taurus that was changing speeds. Then the Taurus started tailgating him. They eventually pulled over.

Full story: WJFW

Record year for timber harvest sales in Oneida County

ONEIDA COUNTY - Oneida County will work with nearly $1 million of timber revenue after finishing sales and harvests in 2014.

Oneida County Forest Director John Bilogan says the money should mean good things for taxpayers. He credits the high price of timber for the gross sales record.

The county took in roughly $1.7 million in gross sales in 2014. It's approximately $350,000 more than the county's previous record.

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin set to finish fiscal year in $283 million hole

MADISON - New nonpartisan projections show Wisconsin is on track to finish the current fiscal year with a larger shortfall than Gov. Scott Walker's administration anticipated.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a report Friday that shows the state is expected to finish the year that ends June 30 with a $283.4 million shortfall. Walker's administration had projected in November the state would finish the year $132.1 million in the red.

Walker's administration will have to plug the hole before the end of the year. The governor's spokeswoman didn't immediately return an email message seeking comment.

Full story: WJFW

Opioid prescriptions down in the Northwoods

MINOCQUA - Research shows that commonly prescribed painkillers, called opioids, might not be safe or effective for long-term use.

As recently as ten years ago, doctors thought that the dose prescribed didn't matter. A patient's dose would be increased until they didn't report as much pain.

"So opioids have a long history with pain management," said Dr. Michael Larson, a Pain Management Psychologist at Marshfield Clinic in Minocqua. "In the past they were prescribed very heavily, and pain was seen as the fifth vital sign. And we had to address that, and people would really prescribe heavy doses. And that was actually the recommendation many years ago."

Full story: WJFW

Wisconsin Assembly passes Supreme Court amendment

MADISON - The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a constitutional amendment that would rework how state Supreme Court justices pick their leader.

The Wisconsin Constitution states that the justice with the most seniority is the chief justice. But the court's conservative majority has been chafing under the leadership of liberal-leaning Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. Under the Republican-authored amendment, the justices would vote on a chief. That would allow the majority to oust Abrahamson.

Republicans say they want a more democratic process. Democrats counter the GOP wants to punish Abrahamson.

Full story: WJFW

Minocqua dog catcher believes someone is dumping puppies

MINOCQUA - A dog catcher in Minocqua worries someone in the area may be dumping puppies. People have found several throughout the area recently.

"One of the dispatchers at the Minocqua Police Department gave me a call and said that someone was posting about a little stray puppy on one of the Minocqua Facebook pages," said Minocqua's Dog Catcher Sue Ackland. "And they were just concerned that this puppy gets the proper care and the proper legal treatment if there is an owner looking for it."

She began wondering if there was more to the situation shortly after the first Facebook post. She then found out about more puppies being found in four other parts of the area.

Full story: WJFW

Elementary students take advantage of winter learning at Trees For Tomorrow

EAGLE RIVER - Fourth and fifth graders from St. Mary's School in Tomahawk spent time outdoors learning about nature. The experience was part of a two-day program held at Trees For Tomorrow in Eagle River. The students learned about identifying trees, cross-country skiing, and logging history in northern Wisconsin.

"We actually stay really busy in the wintertime," said Trees For Tomorrow Lead Educator Laura Lorenz. "Winter is one of our busier times of the year, with school groups coming up for opportunities to snowshoe and ski and just to get the overall winter experience. We have schools that even come from as far as Chicago and Minnesota as well as Michigan and Wisconsin."

The learning center can house up to 100 students at any given time. The educators offer programs as long as three days year-round for a variety of ages. The education center leaders plan to change they way the educate students in the coming months.

Full story: WJFW

Eagle River Fire Department, kindergarteners build milk jug ice castle

EAGLE RIVER - Eagle River's ice castle usually draws many visitors every year. Due to weather, it wasn't built this year. But weather didn't stop the kindergarten ice castle from being built.

For months, kindergarteners at Eagle River Elementary School have been collecting milk jugs for their fifth annual ice castle build. The Eagle River Fire Department was back to help them.

"Firemans help you get their hot glue guns out," said kindergarten student Griffin Beyer.

Full story: WJFW

Convicted sex offender accused of threatening to blow up Lincoln County courthouse

LINCOLN COUNTY - A convicted sex offender from Lincoln County wrote that "days are numbered" for at least two judges and the county's district attorney, according to letters held in evidence.

Jack Martinsen was released into community supervision in December.

But Sheriff's reports say he created a hit list of public officials and threatened to blow up the Lincoln County Courthouse in 2011 and 2012 while he was at a secure facility in Mauston.

Full story: WJFW

Winter sweepstakes showcases some of the many ways to experience the Northwoods

ONEIDA COUNTY - Many winter sports lovers come to the Northwoods in the winter. But one local tourism group wants to draw even more of them. That's why it's holding a contest to win a free trip to Hodag Country.

The Oneida County Tourism Council kicked off the sweepstakes this week. Dana DeMet, the council's president, said organizers hope the sweepstakes will encourage people to vacation in Oneida County.

"It's really nice because it's a great way to expose people to Oneida County who may be slightly familiar with it or are newly familiar with it," said DeMet. "If nothing else we get impressions from people who would at least consider traveling here in the future."

Full story: WJFW

Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. could lose about half of its funding

RHINELANDER - A group that promotes downtown Rhinelander could lose about half of its funding if enough downtown Rhinelander business owners stop giving money to the group.

Businesses in downtown Rhinelander give money to the Business Improvement District, also called the B.I.D.

The B.I.D. then gives money to Downtown Rhinelander, Inc.

Full story: WJFW

Livestock rescue group needs help feeding, taking care of animals

IRMA - One Northwoods man will do almost anything to rescue larger animals like horses and cows.

Bill Blemke started the first non-profit livestock rescue group in the state in 2012. Since then, he's rescued hundreds of beaten and mistreated animals.

"We've had calves where the farmer grabbed the navel and pulled it out, stretched it out so the intestines fell. [Ones with] busted knees, dislocated knees," says Blemke. "We had one with a dislocated back."

Full story: WJFW

Mine protester to serve nine months in jail after physical dispute with G-TAC biologist

HURLEY - A Weston woman will go to jail after getting into a physical dispute with a Gogebic Taconite biologist.

The dispute revolved around a proposed mine site in northern Wisconsin. Katie Kloth will serve nine months in jail. She was one of several masked protesters at the mine site

Last fall, Kloth pled no contest to damage and robbery charges.

Full story: WJFW

Walker announces drug testing plan for aid recipients

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker is following through on his campaign promise to require drug testing for public aid recipients in Wisconsin and limiting how long they can receive benefits.

The potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate on Thursday announced more details about those plans that he first proposed during last year's campaign. The drug-testing requirements and benefits restrictions will be included in his two-year budget proposal being released on Feb. 3.

Walker is proposing that drug testing be required for those applying for or receiving benefits from a variety of state aid, including unemployment insurance and FoodShare, which is Wisconsin's food stamp program.

Full story: WJFW

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