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WJFW News

Baking from the Heart Submitted: 11/20/2012
RHINELANDER - Rosettes, Sandbakkels, and KrumKake may not sound like typical cookies you reach for, but for Chris Garness these treats bring back decades of memories.

The recipes for these traditional Scandinavian cookies originate from Chris' parents, who had a long history in the bakery business.

Chris Garness says, "My mother made sure that I could produce these cookies from her death bed in the hospital."

Now, Chris is recreating the flavors for the Northwoods by building his own business. But, the process hasn't been quite as sweet.

Throughout his life Chris has dealt with addiction struggles, jail time, and homelessness. Earlier this year he was living at Frederick Place in Rhinelander and found a recipe for success, "We made about 80 8-packs of cookies, 640 cookies, and brought them to the farmers' market, and they were well received."

Since then, Chris has made thousands of cookies, donating more than half.

Each cookie has a special meaning, "I've named each cookie after each of my three daughters."

There are handfuls of people he's thankful for - one is Mike Edlund. Mike owns the Dinky Diner in Rhinelander-and lends his kitchen to Chris' project.

Mike Edlund, owner of the Dinky Diner says, "He's dedicated to what he's doing and loves what he's doing and it's a perfect environment for him. It's done after we close so he has from 2 o'clock until 4:30 in the morning."

Chris literally burns the midnight oil, but it's not without a few helpers.

Kathy Alsteen helps make cookies, "It's always something fun to do during the season."

Chad Peek also helps, "It's an easy job, my days go by quick. Sometimes I'm working 12 hours and it feels likes four."

Chris' dream is about more than a business - it's about a tradition. Today's youth may not be as familiar with these types of cookies, but he gets a lot of reaction from the older generation, "They go gaga over them, so it's a lot of fun to see their response. When they see them they're like 'oh my Rosettes, Krumkake, my grandma used to make them' and that's the thing with them, everyone's grandma made them but they're not being made today."

And while Chris hopes to introduce some new faces to these old favorites, he's also discovering a few new tricks, "I ended up with some perfect Rosettes last night and the thought crossed my mind that my mother Lillian was smiling down from Heaven at me now saying Chris you finally got it, you figured it out."

A memory that keeps Chris in the kitchen, working toward his goal.

You can purchase his cookies at:

Betty Junes
421 main st.
stillwater mn. 55082
(651)-351-3194

a' la Mode
Ice Cream & Coffee Shop
2100 Lincoln St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-362-3994

Northern Coffee Haus
34 S. Brown St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-369-9390

Debby's North Country Farm Market
727 Hwy.51 North
Woodruff Wi. 54568
(715)-356-4264

Hodag Mobil
2219 N. Stevens St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-369-5038

West Side Shell
1999 River St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-369-3132

Hodag BP
2141 Lincoln St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-362-3363


Coffee beans etc...
1022 Lincoln St.
Rhinelander Wi. 54501
(715)-365-7440

Gateway 76
4103 Hwy. 45
Land-O-Lakes Wi.
(715)-547-3683

Summit Lake BP
Hwy. 45&47
Summit Lake Wi.
(715)-275-3830

The Country Store & Candy
116 E. Wall St.
Eagle River Wi. 54521
(715)-479-9226

Story By: Kira Lynne

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 In Other News:
Fire Burns Rhinelander Apartment Building Submitted: 05/24/2013

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RHINELANDER - People jumped from a second story window to escape an early morning fire in Rhinelander.

Just after two this morning, the Rhinelander fire department rushed to 254 Westhill Road.

Half of a four unit apartment building was already in flames when they got there.

Five people living in the building had already gotten out.

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Minocqua Farmers Market Opens for the Season Submitted: 05/24/2013

MINOCQUA - Many of us have been waiting for home-grown fruits and vegetables.

Now they're here at a Northwoods summer market.

It's opening day for the Minocqua Farmers Market.

15 vendors filled the Minocqua Park Complex on Highway 70.

They have vegetable plants, flowers, baked goods and MORE available for purchase.

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Father Overseas Turns into Learning Opportunity Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - Rhinelander kindergartener Carlie Jahn watched her dad leave for his third overseas tour of duty last fall.

Usually, she gets to see him for two-weeks during his nine-month tour. But there was no leave for Guardsmen Justin Jahn this year. He will be in Afghanistan until July.

Instead of too much sadness, Carlie's mom is helping her by sharing at school.

"Once that time came through, it was hard for her to understand why he wasn't coming home. I thought this would be a fun way to have her realize that she's not the only one, that there's others out there," says Amanda Jahn.

Jahn talked with grade schoolers at Crescent Elementary today about living with a family member in the military.

Students also recognized veterans and active soldiers related to them.

Memorial Day is Monday.

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Eight Years Prison Time for Sexually Assaulting a Child Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - A man from Rhinelander will spend the next eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a very young child.

The details of the case are so graphic and so disturbing, we can't put them on television.

What we can show you is edited to protect the victim's identity.

Forty five-year-old Jack Kaufman faced up to 40 years in prison. He insisted to the very end, that what he did was an accident, not sexual assault.

Prosecutors said today Kaufman gave so many versions of the story, they couldn't keep track of them all. One version was that the child walked in on him while masturbating. Then he said he accidentally ejaculated on the child. Although in some interviews, he said it was on purpose.

But the child described a full sexual assault to police, and said it happened, "lots of times".

"Mr. Kaufman provided many versions of his assault of (the victim). When confronted with the overwhelming discrepancies he said (the victim) was telling the truth. But at no time did he say he was sorry. He did say he wished his family wouldn't have reported," says Scott Moller, Oneida County Assistant District Attorney.

Kaufman told investigators he had no interest in sexual activity with anyone, child or adult. Judge Michael Bloom didn't accept that.

"That did not stop him from taking advantage of the presence of a warm, living, breathing person who happened to be nearby when he was engaged in this activity," says Judge Bloom.

Judge Bloom sentenced Kaufman to 14 years prison. He'll spend the first eight behind bars, and the remaining six on extended supervision.

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Little Free Libraries Promote Reading Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You don't need to get a library card to check out a book theses days. Boxes that look like bird houses are popping up all over.

They're called Little Free Libraries. Anyone can stop by to take or give a book. It's all based on the honor system. Maureen O'Melia put her's up at home last night across from Pioneer Park.

"I contacted Ed Hughes from the library. He was excited about the idea as well and he, a week later, says I built you one Maureen. But I had to stain it and get it ready for the outdoors," says Maureen O'Melia, who built a Little Free Library.

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Wolf Gets 12 Years for Stabbing Near Hodag Statue Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You might remember the name Shannon Wolf. He chased his wife down, stabbed and choked her by the Hodag statue in Rhinelander last February. He'll now spend the next twelve years in prison.

Today Latoya Wolf testified she was partly to blame for what happened. She told the court Shannon Wolf was trying to cut his own wrists. But she got in the way and was cut in the struggle for the knife.

Prosecutors said the violent encounter and the victim's backtracking was a classic example of the domestic abuse cycle.

"I believe that there are significant pressures on Mrs. Wolf," says Assistant District Attorney Scott Moller.

Moller presented Wolf's extensive criminal history. He said there's also a documented history of domestic abuse.

Moller asked Judge Patrick O'Melia to sentence Wolf to 30 years.

Judge O'Melia said he believes this case is one of classic domestic abuse.

He sentenced Wolf to 24 years. He'll spend 12 in prison and 12 years extended supervision.

Wolf is not allowed to have any contact with his wife. He's also not eligible for early release or boot camp.

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Help a Northwoods Girl Beat Juvenile Diabetes Submitted: 05/24/2013

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ANTIGO - Despite having to poke her fingers, and inject insulin throughout the day, 7 year old Meredith smiles all the time. Now YOU can make her smile even brighter.

This is the race car Meredith Meidl designed for Ford's "Real Heroes Contest" benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Meredith knows a lot about diabetes. She's had the disease since she was 2.

"I just (clicks) and then I push it on my finger and I squeeze my finger and then I put my blood into the strip and it reads my blood," said Meredith demonstrating how she tests her blood sugar.

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