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WJFW News

Tribes, DNR Clash Over Night Hunt. Submitted: 11/29/2012

WISCONSIN - The DNR and Wisconsin tribes have clashed plenty of times in the last several years.

The dispute over a night deer hunt is just the latest in the story.

Last week, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission said Chippewa tribes could deer hunt at night across the ceded territory.

That includes roughly the northern third of the state.

GLIFWC says the time was right because the DNR let people hunt at night in this year's WOLF hunt.

"The state felt like this was safe for the public. So why would not that be safe for the tribes, to go out, night hunt at the point of kill?" asks GLIFWC's Sue Erickson.

The DNR disagrees.

They successfully persuaded a judge to stop the hunt until the next court date.

DNR leaders say a night deer hunt would be unique.

"First of all, it's a different animal. Second of all, the numbers of how many people would go out there and hunt at night are different, and the rules that are being used for those hunts are different," says DNR Attorney Quinn Williams.

Safety is a concern for the DNR.

But they also say the tribes went too far, too fast in approving the night hunt.

"The unilateral issuance of a night hunt order is something that certainly caught us by surprise, and we had very little time to respond," says Williams.

"It's important to know that the tribes have been consulting with the DNR regularly since May on this issue, so it's not a big surprise," disagrees Erickson.

Both sides are back before a judge December 12th.

Until then, the hunt is on hold.


Story By: Ben Meyer

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Deadline for No-Call List Nears Again Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - The quarterly deadline to place a telephone number on Wisconsin's no-call list is approaching.

The deadline to be added to the list is May 31. Any number put on the list then will be protected from unwanted phone solicitations and text messages starting July 1.

Registrations are good for two years, and people can re-register their numbers at any time.

The list is updated four times a year.

Anyone who misses the May 31 deadline won't be able to get their number added to the list until Oct. 1.

Numbers can be added to the list at http://nocall.wisconsin.gov or by calling 1-866-966-2255.

Political calls, calls from nonprofit organizations and calls made in response to a written or verbal request or permission are not covered.

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Community Celebrates Longtime Business By Planting Liberty Elm Trees Submitted: 05/18/2013

RHINELANDER - Trees can be found just about everywhere in the northwoods.

But there's one tree that hasn't been in Rhinelander for a while.

Carlson Funeral Service celebrated its 100 year anniversary as part of the Rhinelander community.

Today more than 100 people joined them in planting 100 young Liberty Elm Trees.

After planting the tree, they put a white wrap around them to prevent animals from getting to them.

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Twelve County Burglary Bust Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - Burglars accused of hitting 12 Wisconsin counties will answer for their crimes. Two men are charged after an investigation that took years to complete.

Twenty eight-year-old Robert Miles and 37-year-old Daniel Frausto are formally charged in three of those counties, including Oconto and Outagamie.

Frausto also faces burglary, robbery and false imprisonment charges in Waupaca County.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said some of the other counties the ring operated in are Shawano, Portage, and Oneida counties.

Charges are expected to be filed in some of those other counties as well.

Van Hollen says they'll also charge other suspects.

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Boy Killed in Skid Loader Accident Submitted: 05/18/2013

BLANCHARDVILLE - The Lafayette County sheriff's office has identified the 8-year-old boy run over by a skid steer loader.

The sheriff's department says Melvin Jarrett, Jr., was killed when he was accidentally struck by a skid loader being operated by Melvin Jarrett Sr.

Authorities say Jarrett Sr. was backing up when the boy was struck at about 4:40 p.m. Friday. Sheriff's officials say the machine was being used to help develop a small campground.

The boy is from Blanchardville and the man is from Mineral Point.

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WI Not Likely to Go the Way of Other States on Gay Marriage Submitted: 05/18/2013

MADISON - Wisconsin's neighbor Minnesota may have become the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex unions on Tuesday.

But gay marriage is not on the legislative agenda in Wisconsin, and that's not expected to change in the near future.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim tells Post-Crescent Media national public opinion seems to lean toward gay marriage but he doesn't see Wisconsin joining that group soon.

Wisconsin's constitution, unlike Minnesota's, bans same-sex marriage.

In November 2006, nearly 60 percent of Wisconsin voters supported an amendment banning gay marriage.

Before Wisconsin lawmakers could consider a bill to allow gay marriage, voters would have to pass an amendment undoing the 2006 amendment language. But before that the Legislature would have to pass the amendment in two consecutive sessions.

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CSA Helps Connect Farms and Families Submitted: 05/17/2013

RHINELANDER - You might support a local grocery store by shopping right in your town.

But look at a few labels and you realize, that the oranges come from Mexico, the bananas come from Chile, and the fish from as far away as China.

But it is possible to support local farmers.

A farm in the Northwoods provides fresh and local food for hundreds of families.

EverGood Farm is nestled on 10 acres of land in Rhinelander.

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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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