RHINELANDER - The holidays offer a lot to be thankful for, especially those who are working.
We caught up with the Rhinelander Fire Department and asked what keeps them busy during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Aaron Swaney is a Lieutenant with the Rhinelander Fire Department, "Actually we have a lot more fires on Thanksgiving. People are deep frying their turkeys and walking away from them and next thing you know there's a fire. A lot of people cook in their garages and when it's cold that becomes a problem as well."
The Friendship House Restaurant in Rhinelander is also open for the holiday and this afternoon they offered a free meal for customers.
Louise Unruh is the Assistant Manager, "It's a lot of fun. All the customers are very happy that there's a place to with a hot meal. Some restaurants are closed so they like to be able to come somewhere that they come all year."
Of course many other occupations were busy working the holiday also.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - We got to see and hear Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin give her first speech on the floor Wednesday morning.
The first-term Senator focused mainly on optimism and bipartisanship during her 11-minute speech.
She spoke on a day when the Senate took up debate on the so-called 2013 Farm Bill.
The bi-partisan effort would help limit the risks many farmers take while saving taxpayers billions. It's the kind of work Baldwin would like to see the Senate do more of.
MILWAUKEE - Ministry Health Care plans to lay off several hundred employees, citing a drop in the number of patients and cuts in federal reimbursement levels.
Ministry operates 15 hospitals and 47 clinics across Wisconsin.
The facilities include Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield and Saint Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point.
Ministry spokesman Geoffrey Huys says about 225 to 250 employees will be cut, mainly through attrition and job eliminations.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU - In Vilas County the courts have a new option for treating drug and alcohol offenders, instead of putting them behind bars.
Today the new Wellness Court was named in Lac du Flambeau. Circuit court judge Neal Neilsen and Tribal Court Judge Gary Smith will work together to help those involved with drugs and alcohol get the treatment they need.
"A traditional court would, more than likely sentence the person to jail or prison, and we've seen studies where that just doesn't work anymore. We need to get creative," said Lac du Flambeau Tribal Chief Judge, Gary Smith.
WAUSAU - If you drink and drive, don't expect to get away with it. Especially when you've already been caught seven other times. A Weston man is facing his eighth drunken driving charge.
Twenty-nine year-old Cole Knapp appeared in Marathon County Court today. Prosecutors say an officer tried to pull Knapp over for a traffic violation May 11 when Knapp took off.
Knapp eventually stopped and got out of his vehicle with his hands in the air.
During a background check, Knapp fled on foot and was arrested a short time. He has seven previous OWI convictions dating back to 2002 in Bayfield, Ashland, Lincoln and Marathon counties.
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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