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NORTHWOODS - Home sales fell in the state of Wisconsin, but they're on the rise in the Northwoods.
Real Estate experts say home sales are up 5% in Oneida County. Home sales for the Northwoods are up 4%. Experts say right now it's a buyers market.
“If you're a seller right now you are probably going to be seeing some low ball offers,” says Ashlei Highfill, Century 21 Sales Associate. “We just encourage people to respond to any offer that they get not to just reject it or be offended but these days we are seeing a lot of buyers coming in and offering a lot less than what sellers are asking for.”
Experts say fewer homes are being foreclosed. This allows more families to make first time home purchases.
“It’s great to see that people are obviously getting back to work so they can afford to take that opportunity to put their family in their first home it's exciting for all of us,” says Highfill. “We're always happy to see somebody get that first house for their kids we're seeing some people that are making more money now so they're buying a move up house.”
Overall home sales in Wisconsin fell 11% compared to this time last year.
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MARSHFIELD - Police believe a Marshfield man stole three cars in Illinois and brought them to Wisconsin.
He now faces four charges of stealing cars and taking them across state borders.
Police say Bradley Greene, 28, stole three cars in December 2013.
They also accuse him of stealing $5,000 worth of other items.
Those included a car hauler trailer, a flatbed trailer and trailer accessories.
Greene faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count.
The charges against him are from an investigation by the Marshfield Police Department and Northern Illinois Auto Theft Task Force, according to a Department of Justice press release.
The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
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MERRILL - Hospitals can sometimes scare kids and even many adults.
That's why one Northwoods hospital wants those kids to be comfortable with doctors if they ever need their help.
Merrill kindergarteners visited Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center on Wednesday.
The kids got to see an ambulance, physical therapy and x rays.
"We try to show them that you know what, the hospital isn't so scary. And we bring them through different areas that they may experience when they come in or they have a family member here. And a lot of times children, if they don't know, they're very afraid. A hospital can be very intimidating, says Jane Bentz, Director of Foundation and Community Outreach.
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ANTIGO - Some farmers get ready to plant new crops around this time of year.
But the planting season could be pushed back this spring.
That could hurt potato farmers in Langlade County.
Some seed distributors expect a late start for crops because of the long, cold winter.
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MERRILL - A Lincoln County man convicted of killing his wife and hiding her body will get his sentence this summer.
50-year-old Mark Bucki was convicted earlier this month in connection to the death and disappearance of his wife Anita.
He was convicted on three charges including first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a body and strangling a person.
The first-degree intentional homicide charge carries a mandatory life in prison sentence, according to Lincoln County Judge Jay Tlusty on the day of the April verdict.
Prosecutors want to add more years on top of the mandatory sentence with additional years from the other two charges.
Bucki will be back in court for his sentencing July 3rd.
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MADISON - It will soon be three times more costly for drivers to park illegally in a disability parking spot in Wisconsin.
Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill Wednesday increasing those fines starting Friday.
The new law will increase minimum fines from $50 to $150. The current maximum penalty of $300 won't change.
The law also creates a fine for building owners to not provide enough disability parking spaces on site. Building owners or occupants with at least 26 parking spaces must reserve disabled parking spaces or pay between $150 and $300.
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MOLE LAKE - You can drive along plenty of scenic stretches of roads across Northern Wisconsin.
However, the state of Wisconsin only considers one stretch of highway in the Northwoods as an official scenic byway.
Leaders in a handful of counties want to change that by earning a distinction from Wisconsin's Scenic Byways program. They held a public planning meeting in Mole Lake Wednesday.
The proposed scenic highway, The Wolf River Nicolet Scenic Byway, is a more than 100 mile stretch of Highway 55. It stretches from Langlade, in Langlade County, north to the Michigan boarder.
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