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WJFW News

Summer Playground Program Restructured Submitted: 07/23/2012

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MERRILL - Parents know it can be challenging to keep kids entertained through the summer.

But in Merrill, the Parks and Recreation department is helping parents out.

The Merrill Summer Playground program split into two age groups this year.

Almost 100 kids are enrolled in their five-to-eight year-old group, and about 57 nine-to-twelve year-olds.

Program director Dawn Smith realized middle schoolers and kindergarteners need different activities, so she worked on a new curriculum.


"We try to offer a little bit of structure during the day," Smith said. "We try and keep the kids active, versus staying at home and doing nothing but playing video games, watching tv."

Keeping kids active is easier to do when they’re split into two groups.

"When they were all together, we just didn't have that option, because the younger kids couldn't do what the older ones did, the older ones didn't want to do what the younger kids did," Smith said.

Summer Playground runs through August 23rd.

Story By: Lex Gray

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White Takes Second Place in TrigStar Exam Submitted: 05/22/2013

RHINELANDER - Taking a math test paid off literally for a Rhinelander high school student.

Shane White placed second in the state in the Trig-Star exam.

The Trig-Star is a 60 minute exam.

It has three, multi stage questions.

Students answer questions as though they're land surveyors.

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National Geography Bee Finalist Submitted: 05/22/2013

WASHINGTON - Local geography whiz Asha Jain made the final round of the National Geography Bee in Washington today. But fell just short of the title.

Jain from Minocqua passed the preliminary round of 54 contestants on Monday. The final round of 10 was this morning.

The contestants are competing for a 25-thousand dollar scholarship and trip to the Galapagos Islands. Jain finished in the top six.

The title clinching question: "Because the earth bulges at the equator, which mountain peak on the earth is farthest from the earth’s center?"

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Tougher Requirements Wanted for Recalls Submitted: 05/22/2013

MADISON - A group of Wisconsin town officials want the state to raise requirements for recalling local officials.

Voters can now launch a recall effort for any reason related to the person's official responsibilities.

A bill has been introduced by Republican Representative Alvin Ott of Forest Junction.

It would require that the official be charged with committing a crime or committing an ethics violation before a recall could happen.

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Plan Looked at Marathon County Jail Troubles Submitted: 05/21/2013

WAUSAU - Plans that could have made Marathon County Jail safer, were never put in place.

Marathon County officials told a citizens committee about the unused plan during their review of an attack on two officers in March.

Marathon County Administrator Brad Karger said they made the plan after 2010 survey showed widespread unease with jail employees.

The plan would have come up with solutions for specific problems shown by the survey.

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Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program Trains Volunteers Submitted: 05/21/2013

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MINOCQUA - Memorial Day weekend will bring lots of boaters to our lakes and rivers.

But hopefully, those boaters won't bring water and plants from other lakes.

Oneida County's UW-Extension held a "Clean Boats, Clean Waters" workshop to help prevent that today.

Volunteers learned to identify aquatic invasive species.

They also learned how to properly clean boats when they come off the water.

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Northwoods Schools Struggle to Fill School Boards Submitted: 05/21/2013

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LAONA, CRANDON - Voters choose from lots of candidates in both presidential primaries and general elections.

Most state offices even have several candidates on the ballot.

But what if nobody wants to do the job?

What if nobody is on the ballot?

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Help Stop Emerald Ash Borer Spread when Camping Submitted: 05/21/2013

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RHINELANDER - The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest's 52 campgrounds will be a big draw this Memorial Day weekend.

But campers bringing in outside firewood hurts efforts to stop Emerald Ash Borer in the Northwoods.

The disease hasn't been found in the forest yet.

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