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WJFW News

Merrill School Board Candidates Want to Move Forward Submitted: 03/07/2013

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MERRILL - Some big changes could be coming to a school near you.

The school district of Merrill will have a new Superintendent next year.
Come April 2nd they'll have a new school board too.
Candidates in the school board race are ready to fight for one of the three open spots.

We spoke with four of the six candidates and the tone was the same.

They want to move the district forward.

"The past is the past, let's move forward and move on," said candidate Norbert Ashbeck.

" I want to make sure that our district, is able to move forward and into the 21st century," said candidate John Schull.

They are two of the six candidates vying for a spot on the Merrill School Board.

Others include former school board president Jeff Verdorn, incumbent Chuck Bolder, current school board president Lin Kautza, and newcomer Linda Yingling.

"I understand that there have been divisions on the school board in the last few years," said Schull.

Merrill's school board has struggled with issues in the past, including political divisions.

"My biggest concern is stability with the board. I think we got to learn to work together and if you don't agree with the majority result, we don't need to be bantering about it in the newspaper," said Bolder.

An open minded board could make tackling issues like a budget crisis easier.

"There's going to be a continual problem over the next years with declining enrollment and we'll be losing thousands of dollars each year," said Schull.

That's something the district can't afford. It had to close a 1 point 5 million shortfall for this school year.

"I would make every effort to try and find monies in the system to keep the system quality and at a high standard without raising taxes," said Ashbeck.

The candidates want to move forward, but they can't do it without the voters.

"I just hope that people in the community vote for a good school board," said Bolder.

Story By: Hayley Tenpas

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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