Local Rhinelander Headlines

Local growers promote wisconsin potato nutrition

EAGLE RIVER - A Wisconsin potato could help you eat healthier for the new year. If you're looking for something gluten-free and low in calories, a Wisconsin potato just might be your answer. Experts at the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) say that it's a great companion for any meal.

"Potatoes are America's favorite vegetable and the fact that they are naturally fat-free, gluten-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free I think makes them an excellent choice for a meal; breakfast, lunch, or dinner," explained WPVGA Promotions Director Dana Rady. "Potatoes are such an important staple to Wisconsin agriculture; Wisconsin is actually the third largest potato producing state across the nation and a lot of people don't realize that."

Nearly 63,000 acres of potatoes were harvested this past season in Wisconsin alone.

Full story: WJFW

Alaska State Troopers say Eagle River man missing since August

ANCHORAGE - Alaska State Troopers are seeking the public's help in a search for a 72-year-old Eagle River man who disappeared in August.

Troopers say Roger Yaeger traveled to Alaska over the summer to view wildlife. Family members last heard from Yaeger Aug. 8 when he visited a relative in Wasilla.

Troopers traced Yaeger's subsequent travel to Fairbanks, where he turned in his rental car a day or two after his Wasilla visit.

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE: Lac du Flambeau death a heart attack, not from carbon monoxide

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - Lac du Flambeau Police Chief Bob Brandenburg tells us a man's death over the weekend was due to a heart attack, not carbon monoxide.

The 57-year-old man died on Bobidosh Point Lane on Saturday.

Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath told us on Monday that it was possible carbon monoxide contributed to the death.

Full story: WJFW

A statewide endowment fund looks to help state-owned lands.

In the first year after its creation, donors from all 50 states gave to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund. It is a statewide endowment fund that was started by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. The fund will provide money to help support management projects for state-owned lands.

"Back in February, 2012, the state legislature voted to create this new statewide endowment fund to benefit habitat work on state-owned lands," said Ruth Oppedahl, executive director of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. "This piece of legislation was unanimously approved and signed by the governor and went into effect last September."

In its first year, the fund raised roughly $91,000.

Full story: WJFW

Focusing on a safe New Year's Eve, driving options after drinking

RHINELANDER - The New Year will bring a fun time for some people in the Northwoods, especially late at night.

Police around the area hope everyone enters 2015 safely. Rhinelander Police Officer Jim Robbins says the department has one goal for the evening.

"We don't want anyone drinking and driving, if they can get a ride into town," Robbins said.

Full story: WJFW

Running water notices will soon be taking effect in the Northwoods.

RHINELANDER - Plunging temperatures mean running water notices will soon take effect in many northern Wisconsin areas. Cities give those notices to people to prevent pipe freezing. This year hasn't been as cold as last year just yet.

"We just came off of one of our abnormal years," said Tim Kingman, Public Works Director for the city of Rhinelander. "Last year we had everybody running water. This year we're trying to start with a list of about 250 people that normally run their water to protect the mains in the area."

Rhinelander's running water notice will begin on January first for some residents. Other cities across the Northwoods have a certain number of people each year that get a notice. These notices are typically given out around early to mid-January. Residents that get only water from the city may be covered to run more water than those who receive water and sewer.

Full story: WJFW

Town board delays occupancy conversation; Owner: 'It just feels like a slap in the face'

TOWN OF EASTON - An eastern Marathon County town board delayed its discussion of possible litigation against a concert hall Monday night. The Town of Easton Town Board had scheduled a special meeting for Monday night to discuss possible occupancy requirements for the Q&Z Expo Center while the center gets its building up to state code.

The board delayed its conversation because a representative to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services could not attend the meeting.

Peggy Olson believes her concert hall gives bands and music lovers a unique experience. She's turned the former Eaton Elementary School into a rock haven, but the expo center faces some code and town issues.

Full story: WJFW

Walker eyeing state government reorganization

MAPLE BLUFF, WIS. - Gov. Scott Walker says he doesn't expect many front-line state employees will be affected by his plans to reorganize duties at several state agencies.

Walker told The Associated Press on Monday that he expects most of the consolidation to come in top-level positions like secretaries and their deputies.

Walker says he is looking at shuffling duties at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Department of Financial Institutions.
Full story: WJFW

Walker focusing on property tax cuts, not income

MAPLE BLUFF, WIS. - (AP) _ Gov. Scott Walker says property taxes can still be cut next year, even though the state faces a $2.2 billion budget shortfall.

Walker told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he's focused on cutting property taxes, not income taxes, in the budget he will present to the Legislature likely in early February.

But Walker is vague when explaining how he plans to balance the budget and cut taxes at the same time.

Full story: WJFW

After a busy weekend, tips for newer snowmobilers

EAGLE RIVER - Deputies in Lincoln and Oneida counties say they responded to a lot of snowmobile accidents this weekend.

Snowmobile clubs in the Northwoods also noticed a lot of snowmobilers stuck on the trails.

Sno-Eagles Snowmobile Club Board Member Holly Tomlanovich helped some snowmobilers who weren't familiar with the trails Monday. She says they've seen thousands of new snowmobilers during the holiday.

Full story: WJFW

Tribes not interested in growing marijuana on reservations

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - Tribes in the Northwoods don't want to grow pot on their reservations.

A recent U.S. Department of Justice memo said that U.S. Attorneys won't prosecute marijuana laws on Native American land if a tribe wants to grow and sell it.

Lac du Flambeau spokesman Brandon Thoms says they are not talking about growing marijuana anytime soon.

Full story: WJFW

Eagle River Ice Castle may not get built this year.

EAGLE RIVER - A winter tradition in the Northwoods may not take shape this year. The Eagle River Ice Castle might not get built on schedule, or even at all. One reason is the recent snowfall. Another is the higher than normal temperatures. The wet heavy snow we received last week is keeping the ice on Dollar Lake from thickening.

"Out on the lake where we normally cut the ice, we've got about seven inches of solid ice," said Eagle River Fire Chief Patrick Weber. "We need twelve inches. We've got three inches of water trapped under the snow right now, and the snow depths vary out there anywhere from maybe two or three inches up to four or five inches."

The ice castle is traditionally built between Christmas and New Year's.

Full story: WJFW

Group prepares to carol together for first the time

RHINELANDER - Most people might be done with Christmas activities, but a group in Rhinelander wants to bring an old Christmas tradition to the city.

You can expect to hear Christmas sounds Tuesday evening.

The Rhinelander Christmas Ambassadors and Revelers will sing carols around the Rhinelander area Tuesday, but they needed to prepare Sunday night.

Full story: WJFW

Food pantry delays move to new location, sets new hours of operation

ANTIGO - The Antigo Area Community Food Pantry won't be moving to its new location as quickly as volunteers had hoped.

Pantry organizers initially expected to start using the new location at the start of 2015. But now, the volunteers hope to get settled into the new building in a few months.

Volunteers say there are a lot of different agencies involved in the move and there's a lot of paperwork involved. Langlade Hospital donated the new space to the pantry.

Full story: WJFW

UPDATE: Police identify woman who died in snowmobile accident

TOMAHAWK - We now know the name of the woman who died in a snowmobile crash on Lake Mohawksin in Tomahawk on Saturday.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says 41-year-old Jennifer Ambrose was lying on the ice when they got to the scene. She was not breathing. Emergency crews did CPR and took Ambrose to the hospital but doctors were not able to save her.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office thinks the woman was riding on the back of the first of three snowmobiles. Deputies say the snowmobile hit a bump and Ambrose was thrown off.

Full story: WJFW

Woman dies in snowmobile accident

TOMAHAWK - The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office will investigate a snowmobile accident that killed a woman in Tomahawk on Saturday.

The Sheriff's office got a call around 12:26 a.m. about a snowmobile crash off Collins Street on Lake Mohawksin. When emergency crews got to the scene, the 41-year-old woman was lying on the ice, not breathing.

Emergency crews began CPR on the woman and took her to Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, doctors couldn't save the woman. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Full story: WJFW

Police have lead in killing of 13-month-old boy

MILWAUKEE - Investigators say they have a promising lead in the shooting death of a 13-month-old Milwaukee boy.

At a news conference Sunday, police said there's evidence pointing to more than one person being responsible. And they say more than one gun fired the shots that struck the home on Milwaukee's northwest side Saturday evening, fatally wounding Bill Thao.

Police say the child and his mother were visiting the home at the time of the shooting. Capt. Aaron Rapp says dozens of shots rang out, and multiple bullets entered the house, but there were plenty that missed.

Full story: WJFW

Pages