62°F

61°F

63°F

63°F

63°F

62°F

63°F

64°F

63°F
WJFW News

Oneida County Expects Sheriff's Office Changes Submitted: 01/23/2013

RHINELANDER - Deputies think the Oneida County Sheriff's Office is operating smoothly.

But that doesn't mean they'll try to keep everything the same.

The man becoming the county's new sheriff is planning on making some changes to the department.

After more than 30 years on the force, Oneida County Sheriff Jeff Hoffman retired last month.

Within weeks, Lieutenant Jim Wood, who had been around for almost three decades, retired as well.

Chief Deputy John Sweeney worked with them for years.

"Jim had worked in all of the divisions our department has and had a big impact on the training. (There were) a lot of leadership qualities he retired with," says Sweeney. "Much like Jim, Jeff also had an opportunity to serve in a variety of our jobs, in different divisions."

Later this week, Grady Hartman will be sworn in as the new Sheriff.

He was picked by Governor Scott Walker for the job.

A Rhinelander native, Hartman has been with the Oneida County Sheriff's Office since 1999.

"About four or five years ago, I decided that I wanted to eventually become Sheriff of Oneida County, and I set my sights on that," says Hartman.

Veterans like Hartman, Sweeney, Hoffman, and Wood had worked together to lead the office.

That had put Oneida County in a stable place.

But now, two of them are gone and Hartman is running the department.

You can expect some changes with the new lineup.

"We have an organization of very qualified, very quality people. I think we appreciate change as an important part of that. I fully expect that Sheriff Hartman will take some time, review our operations, and I fully expect changes," says Sweeney.

Hartman will be officially sworn in on Friday.

We'll bring you coverage of the ceremony on Newswatch 12.

After that, we should learn even more about just what those changes in Oneida County will look like.

Story By: Ben Meyer

Text Size: + Increase | Decrease -
 Print Story Print Story | Email Story Email Story
Sponsored in part by HodagSports.com
 In Other News:
Father Overseas Turns into Learning Opportunity Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - Rhinelander kindergartener Carlie Jahn watched her dad leave for his third overseas tour of duty last fall.

Usually, she gets to see him for two-weeks during his nine-month tour. But there was no leave for Guardsmen Justin Jahn this year. He will be in Afghanistan until July.

Instead of too much sadness, Carlie's mom is helping her by sharing at school.

"Once that time came through, it was hard for her to understand why he wasn't coming home. I thought this would be a fun way to have her realize that she's not the only one, that there's others out there," says Amanda Jahn.

Jahn talked with grade schoolers at Crescent Elementary today about living with a family member in the military.

Students also recognized veterans and active soldiers related to them.

Memorial Day is Monday.

+ Read More
Minocqua Farmers Market Opens for the Season Submitted: 05/24/2013

MINOCQUA - Many of us have been waiting for home-grown fruits and vegetables.

Now they're here at a Northwoods summer market.

It's opening day for the Minocqua Farmers Market.

15 vendors filled the Minocqua Park Complex on Highway 70.

They have vegetable plants, flowers, baked goods and MORE available for purchase.

+ Read More
Fire Burns Rhinelander Apartment Building Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - People jumped from a second story window to escape an early morning fire in Rhinelander.

Just after two this morning, the Rhinelander fire department rushed to 254 Westhill Road.

Half of a four unit apartment building was already in flames when they got there.

Five people living in the building had already gotten out.

+ Read More
Little Free Libraries Promote Reading Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You don't need to get a library card to check out a book theses days. Boxes that look like bird houses are popping up all over.

They're called Little Free Libraries. Anyone can stop by to take or give a book. It's all based on the honor system. Maureen O'Melia put her's up at home last night across from Pioneer Park.

"I contacted Ed Hughes from the library. He was excited about the idea as well and he, a week later, says I built you one Maureen. But I had to stain it and get it ready for the outdoors," says Maureen O'Melia, who built a Little Free Library.

+ Read More
Possible End to One Walleye Fight Submitted: 05/24/2013

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - The back-and-forth between state lawmakers and the Lac du Flambeau tribe might be over.

Dean Kaufert is a Republican representing Neenah. He wanted to strip a quarter-million dollars of funding from the tribe. That money would have gone to fund a new cultural center.

His original move was a protest against the Chippewa lowering walleye bag limits. That happened on many lakes in the ceded territory this spring.

"I was kind of having some difficulty with some of my colleagues in the Legislature with convincing them that we needed to play hardball by holding this project back," says Rep. Kaufert.

Walleye spearing season by Chippewa fishermen is almost over. They only took about half as many as they expected. So, the DNR raised limits on 423 lakes in the ceded territory.

Kaufert now will not stand in the way of the cultural center money.

"The Governor asked me if I would consider releasing that project due to their ongoing discussions about trying to create a better environment up north for fish stocking and number of walleyes in our lakes," says Rep. Kaufert.

This week, Governor Scott Walker also proposed a state project to put more walleye in Wisconsin's lakes.

+ Read More
Wolf Gets 12 Years for Stabbing Near Hodag Statue Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You might remember the name Shannon Wolf. He chased his wife down, stabbed and choked her by the Hodag statue in Rhinelander last February. He'll now spend the next twelve years in prison.

Today Latoya Wolf testified she was partly to blame for what happened. She told the court Shannon Wolf was trying to cut his own wrists. But she got in the way and was cut in the struggle for the knife.

Prosecutors said the violent encounter and the victim's backtracking was a classic example of the domestic abuse cycle.

"I believe that there are significant pressures on Mrs. Wolf," says Assistant District Attorney Scott Moller.

Moller presented Wolf's extensive criminal history. He said there's also a documented history of domestic abuse.

Moller asked Judge Patrick O'Melia to sentence Wolf to 30 years.

Judge O'Melia said he believes this case is one of classic domestic abuse.

He sentenced Wolf to 24 years. He'll spend 12 in prison and 12 years extended supervision.

Wolf is not allowed to have any contact with his wife. He's also not eligible for early release or boot camp.

+ Read More
Schofield company planning up to 350 new jobs in Central Wisconsin Submitted: 05/24/2013

SCHOFIELD - A Schofield company is planning to expand in central Wisconsin and add several hundred manufacturing jobs over the next few years.

Crystal Finishing Systems has purchased a shuttered manufacturing plant in Mosinee for an undisclosed price. Crystal Finishing President Mark Matthiae says his company will add about 250 to 350 jobs in the next three years. Jobs will range in pay from $10.50 to $25 an hour.

Matthiae says the average annual wage for his employees is $38,700.

The company expects to finalize plans for the Mosinee plant in July. Production should get underway in 2014.

+ Read More
+ More General News
Search: 


Click Here
Home | Program Schedule | News | Weather | Sports | WJFW Deals | General Information | Site Map | Closed Caption Concerns | Contact WJFW | EEO Reports | Quarterly FCC DTV Reports

Copyright© 2013 Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc.
WJFW is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Neither Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc. nor By Request Web Designs shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints.

Site Design By: