Taking advantage of the Snow Day
RHINELANDER - Many schools in the Northwoods decided to keep students at home Tuesday.
That meant a snow day for kids in Rhinelander.
"I jumped right out of bed and got dressed really fast," said Jerome Daniels.
Local Rhinelander Headlines
Snow Plower Ride Along
ONEIDA COUNTY - You could've easily spotted a snow plow if you were on the roads Tuesday.
They play a key role in making our roads safe to travel. But it's not an easy task.
Lance Johns, who has worked for the Oneida County Highway Department for 38 years, got the call at 2:30 Tuesday morning to hit the roads.
Northwoods communities dig out from winter blast
CRANDON - People in northern Wisconsin remember winters like this, if they've lived here a while. They got used to shoveling in the month of November. But snow this heavy, this early, hasn't been around for a long time.
More than a foot of snow hit northern Wisconsin on Monday and Tuesday. The big snow left Crandon digging out of the drifts.
Car backs into snow plow
ONEIDA COUNTY - Officers believe a driver backed his car into a snow plow Tuesday afternoon. The photo shows what happened to the car
The crash happened around 3:45 on North Rifle Road. That's just west of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport.
An officer at the crash said the car had been trying to back out of a driveway and didn't see the plow coming.
Firefighters to add mustaches to their uniforms this month
RHINELANDER - Helmets, boots, masks, and bulky outerwear are what firefighters typically wear.
But this month, firefighters in one Northwoods community will add something else to their uniform: a mustache.
Rhinelander firefighters are growing mustaches as part of the Movember campaign.
Program to help people better understand Oneida Co. government
ONEIDA COUNTY - Only 12% of registered voters in Oneida County actually voted in local elections last spring.
County board leaders and local educators want to change that.
On Wednesday night, UW-Extension agents will host a seminar called County Government and You.
Assembly Democrats stay with leader
MADISON - Wisconsin Democrats have decided to stick with Peter Barca as Assembly minority leader despite a lackluster showing in last week's elections.
Republicans expanded their majority from 60 members last session to 62 this session with one race still too close to call on Tuesday. That's the GOP's biggest majority since 1957.
Authorities: Man dies in off-road vehicle crash
DUNCAN TOWNSHIP, MI - Authorities say a 74-year-old man has died in an off-road vehicle crash in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The Houghton County sheriff's department says Henry Cooley of Mackinaw City was out in the woods preparing for deer hunting season when he lost control of the vehicle on a snow-covered trail in Duncan Township around 9:30 a.m. Monday and it rolled onto him.
The sheriff's department says Cooley was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mandy Wright concedes close race in 85th assembly district
WAUSAU - State Representative Mandy Wright conceded a close race against her Republican challenger Dave Heaton on Tuesday.
Wright waited to see final canvass results released Tuesday to decide whether to ask for a recount.
"After reviewing the final canvass results today, and speaking with both my family and my campaign team, I have decided that I will not seek a recount.
School bus overturned due to icy roads
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI - A school bus in east-central Wisconsin overturned Monday, after sliding off the road.
None of the five students on board were hurt, but the driver and an aide had to be evaluated.
At least 2 accidents on hwy. 29 due to icy and slippery roads
WISCONSIN - We woke up Tuesday morning to plenty of snow on the ground and difficult travel conditions.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is reporting that icy and slippery road conditions led to at least 2 accidents along Highway 29. One accident was blocking lanes heading eastbound toward Grand Avenue near Rothschild. The other accident was westbound on Chestnut Road near Abbotsford.
Marine Corps celebrates 239th anniversary
WABENO - People will honor and remember America's veterans Tuesday. However, a small number of veterans started a celebration Monday night.
Monday marked 239 years of the United States Marine Corps. The weather might have impacted the number of people that could come out, but the host of the celebration was glad to see the people that did come out.
The owner of Backhaus Sportsman Retreat in Wabeno has been putting on this celebration for 9 years. He served in the Marines for seven years as an Ammo Technician and Pistol Instructor.
Unique tailgating raises money for Green Bay charities
GREEN BAY - You could find Packers and Bears fans tailgating at Lambeau Field specifically for the game, but there was a house right across the street gearing towards something different.
"We still have food and drinks and stuff like that," said Dr. Fun House Party Planner Cheryl Boeder.
Sounds like a normal tailgating party right?
Northwoods Works: E-Z Eat restores independence to disabled
EAGLE RIVER - Think of all the things you eat without a fork or spoon. Imagine not being able to pick up a sandwich with your hands. A new Northwoods business, just two weeks old, has created a device that allows disabled people to do something many of us take for granted.
"It's as easy as this. You just take the paper. You take two lengths. You slip it in. Just tap this down a little bit," explained Diana Chopin as she set up the E-Z Eat.
DNR hopes new Healthy Lakes program means more innovation & simple lakeshore projects
RHINELANDER - The new DNR Healthy Lakes program could mean better lakeshore habitats on Northwoods lakes. The Healthy Lakes effort awards grants for simple lakeshore projects.
The program isn't for large runoff projects, but DNR Lakes and Rivers Section Chief Carroll Schaal hopes the program boosts private sector innovation.
"We know the two big threats to lakes are water quality and habitat loss," Schaal said.
Vilas County Commission on Aging affected by snowfall
VILAS COUNTY - Drivers had to take their time on the roads Monday with all the snow.
The tough travel conditions kept some off the streets.
VCCA delivers meals to 73 seniors.
How city crews are working to clear up roadways
Highway and road workers couldn't waste much time with snow Monday.
The Rhinelander Public Works department has crews out clearing roads on 9 different routes.
They were out scraping snow and sanding roads.
Walker tells Assembly Republicans they can lead
MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker tells Assembly Republicans that they have an ``incredible opportunity to lead'' as they increase their majority heading into his second term.
Walker spoke with Republicans on Monday as they met publicly to elect their leaders for the coming legislative session. Republicans grew their majorities in both the Senate and Assembly following last week's election.
Storm brings lots of snow; Snowmobile trails not open yet
RHINELANDER - You might be tempted to haul out your snowmobile because of all this snow.
But don't try and ride on the trails, because they're not open yet.
Even with all the snow, they won't be open until at least the end of muzzleloader hunting season.
Snowfall will help hunters, trappers track game animals
MERRILL - Monday's snowfall will give hunters and trappers an even better chance to be successful this fall.
Tracking game animals becomes much easier with clear trails in the snow.
It was easy to spot plenty of rabbit trails during our quick walk through the woods in the afternoon.
Man faces up to decade in prison in violin theft
MILWAUKEE - A Wisconsin man accused of masterminding the theft of a $5 million Stradivarius violin faces up to a decade in prison when he is sentenced Monday.
Forty-two-year-old Salah Salahadyn pleaded guilty to robbery in October, nearly eight months after the 300-year-old instrument was snatched from a musician who was attacked with a stun gun after a performance in Milwaukee.
Winter storm reaches Wisconsin
WISCONSIN - The first major winter storm of the season has reached the Northwoods. The National Weather Service says 10 to 18 inches of snow could fall from Monday morning through Tuesday evening, with the highest accumulations in Polk, Barron and Rusk Counties of Northwestern Wisconsin. They says 8 to 16 inches are likely across North and Central Wisconsin, with the highest amounts closer to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Gas station robbed at gunpoint
An armed robber held up a gas station in Woodruff last night.
Police have a suspect in custody.
Woodruff Police tell us the robbery happened around 8:15 last night at the Krist Gas Station on Elm street.
Northwoods veteran's services office gets new van to take veterans to VA hospital in Iron Mountain
NORTHWOODS - Volunteers in the Northwoods work hard to make sure veterans can get the health care they need.
People drive veterans in the area to the VA hospital in Iron Mountain, Michigan four times a week.
The Oneida County Veteran's Services office coordinates the drivers and the veterans that need rides.
But they needed a new van to get to the hospital.
Winter storm on its way to Wisconsin
WISCONSIN - The first major winter storm of the season is on its way to western and north-central Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service says 10 to 18 inches of snow could fall from Monday morning through Tuesday evening, with the highest accumulations in Polk, Barron and Rusk counties of northwestern Wisconsin. It says 8 to 16 inches are likely across north-central Wisconsin, with the highest amounts closer to upper Michigan.
New Habitat for Humanity home dedication in Antigo
ANTIGO - A local family will be able to spend the holidays a little less worried about their safety this year.
The Moore Family will be moving into their new home built by Habitat for Humanity in the coming weeks. The home was dedicated on Sunday in Antigo.
"We were ecstatic. All of us were jumping up and down for joy. We're ready to more in," said said Jason Moore.
People in the Northwoods prepare for November snowstorm
RHINELANDER - Monday and Tuesday's storm could make Wisconsin history.
The National Weather Service says it could be in the top ten for November.
Many people across the Northwoods are busy preparing for the storm.
Salvation Army kettle bell ringing kicks off
RHINELANDER - You can expect to hear bells ringing outside of retail stores like Walmart, Walgreens, Shopko and Trig's. The Salvation Army in Rhinelander just started ringing bells Saturday.
The Rhinelander Salvation Army Kettle Coordinator says the big kick off is November 21st, but they wanted to get an early start because of the weather.
They raised close to $30,000 last year. This year they're hoping to reach $35,000.
Kids and parents celebrated Neighborhood Toy Store Day
MINOCQUA - People across the United States showed their support to thousands of locally owned toy stores. In the Northwoods, you could find people doing the same in Minocqua Saturday.
Parents and kids at Imaginuity in Minocqua had the chance to test out games and toys. The American Specialty Toy and Retailing Association started Neighborhood Toy Store Day.
Imaginuity manager Jessica Hatch says they normally see a boost in sales on this day.
Fire burns down house in Land O' Lakes
LAND O' LAKES - Firefighters in Land O' Lakes believe a family should start over after their house caught on fire Saturday afternoon.
Neighbors called about a house fire on Evergreen Drive around 1 p.m. Crews were on scene until 3 p.m. Land O' Lakes Fire chief, Samuel Otterpohl, says the fire started in the bedroom by a wood stove.
No one was inside when the fire started. Otterpohl says the husband and wife were standing outside in the front yard.
