Local Rhinelander Headlines

Kentucky to transfer 150 elk to Wisconsin to help build herd

FRANKFORT, KY - Kentucky's elk herd began with seven elk from Kansas in 1997. Now the population has boomed to 10,000, and the commonwealth is helping to build a new herd in Wisconsin.

According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the agency will provide Wisconsin with 150 cows, calves and yearling male elk trapped from areas with high complaints about nuisance elk. The transfers will take place over the next 3-5 years and be paid for by Wisconsin.

In return, Wisconsin will help develop forest habitat in eastern Kentucky to benefit wildlife, especially ruffed grouse.

Full story: WJFW

Milwaukee man charged in fatal shooting of 1-year-old boy

MILWAUKEE - A 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old child.

Darmequaye Cohill, of Milwaukee, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, both offenses with a dangerous weapon, in Bill Thao's death.

Investigators believe Cohill and possibly others mistakenly shot into the house where the 13-month-old was visiting relatives Dec. 27. The criminal complaint says they were gunning for a different 19-year-old man in retaliation for a drug-related dispute.

Full story: WJFW

Vilas County deputies investigate snowmobile death

SAYNER - One person died after being hit by a snowmobile in Vilas County Friday.

It happened on Birch Spring Road, Marker 221. That's in the township of Plum Lake near Sayner.

The Vilas County Sheriff's Office says the person fell off the snowmobile while it was traveling on the trail. They were then hit from behind by another snowmobile from their group.

Full story: WJFW

26-year-old dies of flu complications in Kenosha County

KENOSHA COUNTY - A 26-year-old health care worker who had a flu shot has died after complications of the flu.

Katherine McQuestion, of Kenosha, who was a radiology technician at St. Catherine's Medical Center in Pleasant Prairie.

Kenosha County Health Office Cynthia Johnson confirmed on Saturday that McQuestion had sepsis, which led to a heart attack. A funeral home obituary lists McQuestion's death as Jan. 2, with a funeral Tuesday.

Full story: WJFW

Green Bay hospital transfers patients after water main break

GREEN BAY - A Green Bay hospital had to transfer some patients after a water main break.

The break caused flooding in the basement boiler room of St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay on Saturday morning, forcing 50 patients to be transferred to St. Vincent Hospital.

The newspaper reported that patients are being accompanied by caregivers.

Full story: WJFW

Federal agency rejects deal over proposed Kenosha casino

FOREST COUNTY - The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has rejected a deal that calls for the state of Wisconsin to reimburse the Forest County Potawatomi for any losses the tribe suffers if the rival Menominee Nation opens a casino in Kenosha.

Friday's decision is not the final word, however. Gov. Scott Walker has until Feb. 19 to approve or deny the off-reservation casino in Kenosha.

The Potawatomi tribe operates its own lucrative casino in Milwaukee and its gaming compact required the state to reimburse it for losses linked to a Kenosha facility.

Full story: WJFW

Probation for man in Forest County rock throwing incident

CRANDON - A 20-year-old Forest County man won't go to jail for throwing rocks off a bridge into traffic last summer.

Thomas Hines pled no contest to three misdemeanors for disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, and resisting or obstructing an officer.

The criminal complaint shows that Hines and 20-year-old Ryan Kitchmaster threw rocks off a bridge last June. The bridge is northeast of Crandon on Highway 8 just north of County Highway G.

Full story: WJFW

Walker declares energy emergency because of propane problem

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker has declared a precautionary energy emergency because of service interruptions on a key propane pipeline.

Intermittent interruptions are affecting the Mid-America East Blue Pipeline at the Janesville terminal. Walker says in a statement that early indications are the supply problem will be short-lived.

The pipeline serves four states, including terminals and storage facilities in Janesville; Dubuque, Iowa; and Rockford, Illinois. The governor's office says the Janesville and Dubuque terminals are crucial in supplying southern Wisconsin, but they also supply other areas of Wisconsin.

Full story: WJFW

Snowmobile Club Gets Help

ST. GERMAIN - The biggest snowmobile club in the state will get more financial help. The Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club in St. Germain received a donation of $12,000 last month from the St. Germain Chamber of Commerce. The members of the chamber felt that the large donation was worthwhile.

"The chamber strongly believes in what the Bo-Boen does to help bring snowmobilers and all winter enthusiasts to this area," explained St. Germain Chamber of Commerce Director Penny Wiesmann. "Our trails are some of the best not only in the state of Wisconsin, but the entire Midwest, and it's a direct result of the efforts of the Bo-Boen Club."

Full story: WJFW

Jeans for Teens drive supports local homeless shelter

RHINELANDER - The season of giving may be over, but feelings of generosity are still in the air.

Students at Rhinelander High School have been hosting a Jeans for Teens drive the past few weeks.

The Future Business Leaders of America and the Distributive Educational Club of America at Rhinelander High School have come together for the event. Their goal is to gather as many pairs of jeans as possible and donate them to a local temporary housing shelter.

Full story: WJFW

Shelter faces unique problem, wants to find homes for many dogs

RHINELANDER - For the first time in long time, the Oneida County Humane Society will need to find new homes for more dogs than cats. The shelter currently has more dogs than any other animal.

More than 20 dogs are up for adoption.

The shelter's director believes the stray rate is high right now. But she didn't expect to have so many dogs at the shelter at one time. The shelter usually has more cats than dogs.

Full story: WJFW

Treehaven offers a chance for locals to learn to weave snowshoes

TOMAHAWK - Snowshoeing can be one of the more popular winter sports. Snowshoes have been around for more than 60 centuries.

The sport's long history likely started in Asia. Snowshoes helped fur traders travel through the deep snow.

This weekend, a class at Treehaven in Tomahawk will help people learn to weave snowshoes.

Full story: WJFW

French hostage crisis ends

PARIS - Explosions and gunshots were heard as police forces stormed a kosher grocery in Paris where a gunman was holding at least five people hostage.

The assault came moments after a similar raid on the building where two brothers suspected in the Charlie Hebdo newspaper massacre were cornered.

A police official on the scene of the standoff between two armed brothers suspected in the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo newsroom says the suspects are dead, and their hostage has been freed.

Full story: WJFW

Mayors put Texas barbecue, Wisconsin favorites on the line

DALLAS - When the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers face off on Sunday, there will be more on the line than just a playoff game: barbecue will also be at stake.

The two cities' mayors have made a friendly wager on Sunday's game. If the Packers win, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings would provide Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt barbecue from the Pecan Lodge restaurant. If the Cowboys are triumphant, Schmitt agrees to supply Rawlings with a basket of what a statement describes only as ``Wisconsin favorites.''

Full story: WJFW

Senator Ron Johnson chairing homeland security post; weighs in on Paris killings, border security, intelligence and torture

RHINELANDER - Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) will hold more power this year as he chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In an interview Thursday, Johnson said his goal was to improve border security and protect citizens from deadly attacks.

Johnson said he had not yet received a special briefing on the Charlie Hebdo magazine massacre, in which gunman killed 12 people. He said America's security is his number one priority, but Johnson doesn't want to start taking away liberties from Americans.

French police are still looking for the suspects behind the murders. Johnson calls the event a tragedy. However, he says he is hesitant to significantly boost security here in the U.S.

Full story: WJFW

Committee OKs reimbursement increase for Assembly overnight stays in Madison

MADISON - Wisconsin Assembly members will get more money for staying overnight in Madison.

In a unanimous vote Thursday the chamber's organizational committee, led by Republican Speaker Robin Vos, increased the overnight reimbursement rate to $138 per day for food, travel and lodging expenses. That's up from $88 per day. Lawmakers who live at least part-time in Madison but represent out-state districts will get half that.

Representatives taking day trips to the capitol will see a 22 percent drop in reimbursement. Those lawmakers will receive $69 a day, down from $84.

Full story: WJFW

Improper syringe, needle disposal poses health risks to workers

ONEIDA COUNTY - Workers at landfills and recycling centers face a danger many of us would never consider: sometimes they get stuck with used medical needles.

More than half of the workers who separate trash and recycling at the Oneida County Landfill have been stuck with needles at work.

In Wisconsin, it's illegal to throw away syringes and other medical waste in your household garbage and recycling, but it seems many people don't know or don't care that it's against the law.

Full story: WJFW

Northwoods documentary crew seeks funds to tell a story of addiction--and survival

ALVIN - One Northwoods mother hopes her son's story can help others understand the horrors of opiate addiction.

A new documentary, "Written Off: The Short, Sad, Beautiful Life of Matt Edwards," will help tell that story--but only if the film's producers can reach their fundraising goals by this Saturday.

"The journals were the only place where he could be himself and be honest," explained Matt's mom, Jane Funk, who lives in northern Forest County.
For two years Edwards filled notebooks on his best and worst days.

Full story: WJFW

Lincoln County woman follows dispatcher directions, saves home from fire

TOMAHAWK - By following directions from a 911 dispatcher, a Lincoln County woman may have saved her home on Thursday.

A fire started near the fuse box in the basement of her home southeast of Tomahawk this morning.

A dispatcher told her to keep doors and windows closed to shut off the fire's oxygen supply.

Full story: WJFW

Commission looking into a Tri-County transit system in Northwoods

NORTHWOODS - Public transit in the Northwoods could be very different soon. Oneida, Vilas, and Forest counties are working together on a commission to better public transportation between the counties.

County lawyers are currently looking over the commission's charter. Once all three counties sign off on the charter, it'll be sent to each county's board for final approval.

"One of their first duties will be to hire a transit manager--a professional who is experienced in this area who will be able to make better use of the vehicles being operated," says Diane Jacobson of the Oneida County Department on Aging.

Full story: WJFW

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