RHINELANDER - A Three Lakes senior put his thumbs on the line today. Austin Wierschke was defending the texting title he first won last year. He's now a 2-time champion.
The photos in the video are from the competition in Times Square this afternoon. Austin competed with other teens from across the country. Back-to-back wins now have Austin $100,000 richer.
"For me, I'm going to have the boring answer, I'm putting that in my bank for college," said Wierschke.
He told us before he left for New York he hadn't spend a dime of his winnings from last year. He's saving it all to study architecture at UW Milwaukee.
One thing Austin and his parents stress to other teens who love texting: don't text and drive. Austin does all of his practice at home and not behind the wheel.
EAGLE RIVER - The initiative will help to rebound what's thought of as a suffering walleye population by adding hundreds of thousands of the fish to Wisconsin lakes.
The project could improve fishing for the state's most popular game fish and tourism in the state. George Langely, a local fishing guide at Eagle Sports bait shop in Eagle River, says walleye fishing isn't what it used to be.
"The walleye population has pretty much suffered in the last twenty years and it's really nice to see Madison recognizing that and taking some steps to do something about it. It will take a while but it's a great start."
MADISON - Governor Walker hopes greater walleye numbers can help boost state tourism.
Walker announced a nearly 13-million dollar effort to boost walleye production.
The plan would allow the state to borrow millions to expand hatcheries.
It would also give several million in grants for private walleye production plants.
The plan also includes money for aquaculture work, buying fingerlings from private vendors, and expanding a program that gives tribal youth jobs on natural resources-related projects.
RHINELANDER - Rhinelander needs new businesses to fill empty stores downtown.
This past weekend 26 properties had an open house. It was organized by Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. (DRI) and Flanders Reality Group. Finding the right home for a business can be hard. But the event tried to help those on the hunt.
"This way, you know, your here, you look, your able to talk to someone who knows the property. And you can really make a really good decision right now today," said Maggie Steffen, DRI Executive Director.
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