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WJFW News

Teaching Students About Alternative Forms of Energy Submitted: 10/05/2012
MINOCQUA - U.S. students lag behind other countries when it comes to science and math, but one Northwoods School is reaching out with a hands on approach to learning.

Back in August, Lakeland Union High School became one of 48 schools statewide to install solar paneling on the roof.

The panels absorb enough energy to power 5 classrooms and saves the school $400 a year in electric bills, but most importantly it inspires students to think about alternative forms of energy.

"Students can see something, hear something, do something with their hands and participate they’re going to retain that information a lot better," said Michael Moore, the manager of Solarized for School Program.

As part of the Solarized for School Program, the Wisconsin Public Service Community Foundation hosted an energy fair Friday.

There were 10 booths tota--all demonstrating various ways to retain energy.

“Eventually we’re going to run out of all the fossil fuels we have right now and we’re not going to know what to do. Once we have the solar energy down it’s going to help us out in the future," said Lakeland High School senior Bryon Andrews.

“At the energy fair they get to do things hands on. They have a quiz they have to learn about some things. They go station to station," said Moore.

This hands on approach to learning is making a difference in the classroom.

Science teacher Ryan Bock said, “One of our motto’s here especially in the Science Department is hands on is minds on. We structure our classrooms around that and you can see that here."

Some of the highlights of Friday's fair--a solar paneled oven and a solar paneled car.

“Our students are the key to our future and the better educated they are the more informed they’ll be to make better decisions," said Bock.

Story By: Jenn Sullivan

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WI Not Likely to Go the Way of Other States on Gay Marriage Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - Wisconsin's neighbor Minnesota may have become the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex unions on Tuesday.

But gay marriage is not on the legislative agenda in Wisconsin, and that's not expected to change in the near future.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim tells Post-Crescent Media national public opinion seems to lean toward gay marriage but he doesn't see Wisconsin joining that group soon.

Wisconsin's constitution, unlike Minnesota's, bans same-sex marriage.

In November 2006, nearly 60 percent of Wisconsin voters supported an amendment banning gay marriage.

Before Wisconsin lawmakers could consider a bill to allow gay marriage, voters would have to pass an amendment undoing the 2006 amendment language. But before that the Legislature would have to pass the amendment in two consecutive sessions.

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Community Celebrates Longtime Business By Planting Liberty Elm Trees Submitted: 05/18/2013

RHINELANDER - Trees can be found just about everywhere in the northwoods.

But there's one tree that hasn't been in Rhinelander for a while.

Carlson Funeral Service celebrated its 100 year anniversary as part of the Rhinelander community.

Today more than 100 people joined them in planting 100 young Liberty Elm Trees.

After planting the tree, they put a white wrap around them to prevent animals from getting to them.

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Twelve County Burglary Bust Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - Burglars accused of hitting 12 Wisconsin counties will answer for their crimes. Two men are charged after an investigation that took years to complete.

Twenty eight-year-old Robert Miles and 37-year-old Daniel Frausto are formally charged in three of those counties, including Oconto and Outagamie.

Frausto also faces burglary, robbery and false imprisonment charges in Waupaca County.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said some of the other counties the ring operated in are Shawano, Portage, and Oneida counties.

Charges are expected to be filed in some of those other counties as well.

Van Hollen says they'll also charge other suspects.

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Boy Killed in Skid Loader Accident Submitted: 05/18/2013

BLANCHARDVILLE - The Lafayette County sheriff's office has identified the 8-year-old boy run over by a skid steer loader.

The sheriff's department says Melvin Jarrett, Jr., was killed when he was accidentally struck by a skid loader being operated by Melvin Jarrett Sr.

Authorities say Jarrett Sr. was backing up when the boy was struck at about 4:40 p.m. Friday. Sheriff's officials say the machine was being used to help develop a small campground.

The boy is from Blanchardville and the man is from Mineral Point.

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Deadline for No-Call List Nears Again Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - The quarterly deadline to place a telephone number on Wisconsin's no-call list is approaching.

The deadline to be added to the list is May 31. Any number put on the list then will be protected from unwanted phone solicitations and text messages starting July 1.

Registrations are good for two years, and people can re-register their numbers at any time.

The list is updated four times a year.

Anyone who misses the May 31 deadline won't be able to get their number added to the list until Oct. 1.

Numbers can be added to the list at http://nocall.wisconsin.gov or by calling 1-866-966-2255.

Political calls, calls from nonprofit organizations and calls made in response to a written or verbal request or permission are not covered.

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Filling Prescriptions Gets Easier Submitted: 05/17/2013

MERRILL - You won't find candy bars or chips in the new vending machine at Ministry Good Samaritan in Merrill. This machine dispenses prescription medication.

It won't replace the regular pharmacist. But it will help patients who visit the hospital late at night.

"It allows patients to receive full prescriptions after hours for the local pharmacies. So if you have babe in arms that's sick that needs a prescription, we can fill that full prescription and get you on your way within less than five minutes," says Pharmacy Manager Jim Mason.

The machine has anything you would need for infections or pain; the kind of things a person goes to the ER for.

It's the fifth machine in Ministry facilities. Pharmacy Manager Jim Mason says they have a track record of safety. Each prescription is triple checked before it's dispensed.

"There has never been an error from dispensing the InstyMeds. So it's extremely safe, and it's well over a million prescriptions through InstyMeds," says Mason.

So far the Good Samaritan machine has filled around a hundred prescriptions. Doctors and patients say it's worked out well.

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Weather Conditions Create High Fire Risk Across Northern Wisconsin Submitted: 05/17/2013

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ACROSS THE NORTHWOODS - A week with little to no rain pushed fire risks dangerously high across northern Wisconsin. A fire in Bayfield spanning 9-thousand acres destroyed 17 homes. Fire crews want everyone to be smart about burning this time of year.

A small burn got out of control on Loop Heights Road in Pine Lake today. Fire Chief, Brian Gehrig, says the weather conditions make it easy for fires to get out of control.

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