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WJFW News

World Championship Snowmobile Derby Finale Submitted: 01/20/2013

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EAGLE RIVER - A lot has changed since the first World Championship Snowmobile Derby kicked off in 1964. One thing that's always been constant is plenty of fan support.

To say this race is important to the Northwoods...could be the understatement of the century or half century, as it's celebrating its 50th anniversary. And another understatement--it was cold. But that didn't stop fans from bringing the energy.

"It's just adrenaline rushing, it's just exciting to see them go around that track at over 90-miles an hour. See them go over that table top." Proclaimed derby enthusiast, Nicole Musial.


“My favorite part is the snow cross but I love the ice oval too." Said Rhinelander’s Max Beck.

This race is action-packed. That's a reason it's been around for half a century. So in all that time, there's got to be plenty of memories to go around.

"Probably my first in 1978. I wanted to come a few years before that. But once I turned eighteen-- that's when I started coming." Said Bill Dickmann--who made Sunday his 26th straight derby.

Jeff Fechter and Anita Nygren story is unique. Their love for the derby brought them together.

“(Anita) Yep, we met here. “(Jeff) We just met at a bar. (Anita) I didn't even know his name for a few years. He got ahold of me, found out I was single and we've been going ever since.”

Jennifer Kennedy isn’t just a fan—-her favorite memory was a royal honor.

“I was derby queen in 2009. That was a pretty neat experience.”

Nicole Musial was mentioned before. It’s obvious that she digs derby tradition.

“I love the sound and the smell of the snowmobiles. That's my all-time favorite sound and smell. Snowmobile exhaust. Best moment ever!"

With all the derby pride here in Eagle River, most had no problem explaining why it'll be around for years to come.

“In any kind of racing sport that sticks around for that many years, there's a lot of tradition behind it. You look at businesses--how many (businesses) stick around for 50-years?” Said Vintage Snowmobile racer ,Chris Krzewnia.



Story By: Ryan Abney

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Gogebic Taconite submits sampling plans Submitted: 06/19/2013

MADISON - Gogebic Taconite wants to move quickly to dig an iron mine in Ashland and Iron Counties.

This week, they submitted plans for the next step in the state's process.

The company is asking the DNR for permission to sample hundreds of thousands of tons of earth, part of a bulk sampling plan.

Gogebic Taconite also officially told the DNR it will seek a mining permit.

The DNR will tell Gogebic within two weeks whether it can go forward with the sampling.

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Kids make sculptures from soil Submitted: 06/19/2013

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THREE LAKES - When you were a child, you probably liked to play in the dirt.

Wednesday, some kids did just that.

Only this time, it was for educational purposes.

Jessica Hepker works at Trees for Tomorrow.

Wednesday at the Three Lakes Library, she taught kids about different types of soil.

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Mapping and controlling Yellow Iris in wetlands Submitted: 06/19/2013

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MINOCQUA - These plants may look pretty but they're taking over our rivers and lakes. Michele Sadauskas is Oneida County's Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. She is working to map and control the yellow iris, the plant you see here. She and two other conservation workers spent the day weeding Stacks Bay.

"They invade our wetlands. They're a really robust, aggressive plant. What they do is they crowd out our native species and make actually the wetland a lot less diverse," says Michele Sadauskas, Oneida County AIS Coordinator.

Removing yellow iris is a slow process. It takes three hours of work just to properly map and control 20 feet of shoreline.

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Daigle Brothers Inc, expands business through new inventions Submitted: 06/19/2013

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TOMAHAWK - Workers at Daigle Brothers in Tomahawk can build almost anything out of steel. Most of their business is creating custom parts and putting up buildings, but more recently, they've been building a new invention.

Daigle Brothers began in 1987. Back then they did a lot of construction related jobs like painting. Later they focused on steel construction.

"In the 90's we did a lot of school buildings, there was a lot of schools being built, so we supplied structural steel for these building projects... Currently our biggest markets are universities, hospitals, office buildings... we do a lot of fire stations," said Steve Daigle President of Daigle Brothers Inc.

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Woman with Alzheimer's found safe Submitted: 06/19/2013

WOOD COUNTY - A barking dog led searchers to a Wood County woman with Alzheimer's disease.

Just before five last night, a call came in saying the woman was missing from the 46-hundred block of Lynn Hill Road in Port Edwards township.

The woman was enrolled in the "Project Lifesaver" program, and was wearing a transmitter.

However, the battery had apparently gone dead, so searchers could not find her that way.

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Budget likely just days away from passge Submitted: 06/19/2013

MADISON - Wisconsin Republicans want to expand private school vouchers, put forth a huge income tax cut, and reject a federal Medicaid expansion.

Those ideas could be just days away from becoming law in Wisconsin.

The state Assembly passed the biennial state budget on a 55-42 vote Wednesday.

Those proposals are just some of hundreds in the $70 billion budget.

Democrats decided not to offer any of the 211 amendments they had ready.

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Merrill City Council plans to at Tomahawk to Municipal Court cases Submitted: 06/19/2013

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MERRILL - We want our city officials to save money and resources where they can.

In Merrill, the city council is trying to do that with their municipal court.

The new plan means if you get a speeding ticket or citation for disorderly conduct in tomahawk, you'd have to go to court in Merrill.

The timetable is quicker for getting in and out of the municipal court than getting through Lincoln County Circuit Court.

The discussion came up when Merrill's city staff members decided they need to make a decision whether to continue funding the court.

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