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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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Price County Among 405 Agencies to Focus on Seatbelt Safety Submitted: 05/17/2013

PHILLIPS - More police and sheriff's departments than ever before will make sure your seatbelt is buckled on the roads.

Next week kicks of Wisconsin's Click It or Ticket enforcement push.

More than four hundred agencies will participate across the state.

That includes two police departments and the Sheriff in Price County.

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Meet with Your Local Representative Monday Submitted: 05/17/2013

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WOODRUFF - The capitol may be far away but one of our local legislators wants to bring it closer. Assemblyman Rob Swearingen is meeting with constituents around the 34th district.

He visited Woodruff and Eagle River today.

Swearingen is five months into his freshman term. He wants to make sure people can put a face to his name.

He also wants reach those who might be skeptical of him because of his political party.

"You get that, just because I have the "R" in the back of my name that you're automatically not going to be friendly to those issues. And we encourage you to reach out. I may respond and it may not be the response you want to hear, but if you're going to ask me an honest question I'm going to give you an honest answer," says Rep. Swearingen.

Swearingen says everyone's working hard on the budget in Madison. He's hearing a lot of concerns about school funding locally.

"I just really feel that people should be engaged with their own local legislators so the legislator knows them, and knows how they feel. And I showed him my tax bill and he got a real perspective for someone who's on a fixed income and how all the costs for education impact one of his constituents," says Shirley Kufeldt, from Conover.

"We're looking for more funding for the K-12 funding program. I think there's been a lot of heightened awareness in the capital on both sides of the isle and in the Governor's office. So I'm looking for hopefully some good results to help rural schools as the budget moves forward before the Governor signs it in the first part of July," says Rep. Swearingen.

Swearingen's first budget motion was to allow Nicolet College to be eligible for state aid based on enrollment. That motion passed unanimously.

He says his weekly drive to his office in Madison is a reality check.

"There's the state capitol and you realize that your office is inside that building. It's a really surreal feeling to walk into that building each morning. Every time I press that button, whether it's green or red, I am voting on behalf of over 50,000 people in the 34th Assembly District. And that is something you don't take lightly," says Rep. Swearingen.

Swearingen will continue district dialogues on Monday. He'll be in Florence, Rhinelander and Crandon.

Florence, May 20th 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Maxsells Restaurant Inn & Pub, 209 Central Ave, (US Highway 2)

Crandon, May 20th 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Forest County Courthouse, Board Room

Rhinelander, May20th 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Oneida County Courthouse, Committee Room 1

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Logging Work Started Massive Wildfire Submitted: 05/17/2013

MADISON - A logging operation triggered what became Wisconsin's biggest wildfire in 33 years.

Investigators say negligence was not involved in the blaze in Douglas and Bayfield counties.

A logger noticed smoke coming from equipment while harvesting timber Tuesday afternoon.

Efforts were made to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, while another member of the logging crew called 911.

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Wisconsin History on Display at Heritage Days Submitted: 05/17/2013

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PHILLIPS - Fourth graders read about Native American wigwams, pioneer blacksmiths, and ethnic folk music.

All those things form Wisconsin history.

On Friday, every fourth grader in Price County experienced them at Heritage Days.

They traded their textbooks for the chance to see, hear, and feel Wisconsin history.

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Michigan Company Wins Walmart Bid Submitted: 05/17/2013

MERRILL - Micco Construction out of Pontiac, Michigan won the bid to build a new Super Walmart in Merrill.

Workers have surveyed and staked out the site to start working on the store.

Construction should start sometime after June 1.

The Highway 64-Pine Ridge Avenue intersection also has to be rebuilt.

That will start sometime after July 4th and finish up in the fall. Work on the store will go through winter.

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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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