RHINELANDER - Approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Rhinelander Athletic Director Charlie LaHam received a phone call from the WIAA. It was a decision on Rhinelander's appeal from a post-season ban. The WIAA granted what is termed "temporary relief" of the ban. It makes Rhinelander eligible to participate in the this season's playoffs.
Rhinelander was in the final year of a four-year suspension for leaving the Wisconsin Valley Conference voluntarily. Last week, Rhinelander earned their third victory in the Great Northern Conference with a win over Merrill. The win guarantees the Hodags a .500 conference record, the first criteria for qualifying in the playoffs.
Messmer-Shorewood, a team in the Milwaukee area, had the same situation last year. They unsuccessfully appealed to the WIAA for playoff entry. After taking the case to court, they were admitted to the playoffs.
Rhinelander closes out the regular season at Medford on Friday night. A Rhinelander victory, would guarantee a spot in the playoffs. Rhinelander has not appeared in the playoffs in 23 years.
BOULDER JUNCTION - The New Auburn woman hospitalized from a crash earlier this week has died from her injuries.
It happened around 1 o'clock Tuesday on Hwy 51 at County Highway H in Manitowish Waters.
Fifty five-year-old Patty Hanson crashed her SUV into a gas tanker. The SUV flipped upside down in a marshy roadside ditch.
The semi truck driver was treated at the hospital and released shortly after. He told sheriff's deputies he was hauling 5-thousand gallons of gasoline. The Vilas County Sheriff's and Coroner's Offices and the State Patrol are still investigating.
WAUSAU - Wisconsin State Patrol Wausau Post arrested a Reedsville man for his fifth OWI.
Fifty five-year-old Gerald J Bellin Jr. was stopped for speeding on Highway T and 22 in Waupaca.
It happened Saturday evening. Bellin Jr. was taken to Riverside Medical in Waupaca for a blood draw. Troopers then took him to the Waupaca county jail.
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.
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.
RHINELANDER - Students around the Northwoods graduated today. One local graduate made history at Nicolet College.
"As a Nicolet Grad, not only will your education enhance you as an individual, but you will enhance the greater good of the Northwoods community as an educated citizen of our democracy," says Nicolet College President Elizabeth Burmaster.
Hundreds of Nicolet College students walked across the stage after accomplishing their goal… earning a college degree. But one student was challenged in a way no other Nicolet graduate has experienced. Jeff Hedberg is legally blind.
"Other people can follow in my foot steps and do exactly what I did. They just need to put one foot in front of the other and believe that there are people out there that will give them a chance and opportunity," says Hedberg.
Jeff's wife Sylvia Hedberg Thomas says it all started a couple of years ago when her husband decided to go back to school. The director of disability service reached out to him to help build a plan that would ensure Jeff reached his goals.
"When Bob told Jeff everything that he would be able to do, Jeff's like 'You really think I can do that?' And I was sitting there going, 'Well yea. Of course you can," says Hedberg Thomas.
Everybody either has or will have a disability to some extent within their lifetime. Technology can and will help most of them get through the challenge of their situation," says Hedberg.
Even though Jeff's tutor Charmaine Jacques helped him out, she says she learned from him as well.
"I learned a little bit of brail from Jeff and I learned a lot about his software that he uses," says Jacques.
This isn't the last stop for Jeff. He plans to get his masters at Stout University.
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