RHINELANDER - In a turn of events, Minocqua's Jonathan Thormann reached a plea agreement today in Oneida County Court.
He is accused of hurting a woman, smashing cars with a hammer, and setting a house on fire in Minocqua. You may remember him from his outbursts several months ago.
"Would you mind sharing your address?"(Judge Bloom) "Nope."(Thormann) "If you don't mind, would you tell us your address?"(Judge Bloom) "Figure it out. You're the judge and you're the cops. I-r-o-n-w-o-o-d, M-I" (Thormann)
Thormann was scheduled for a motion hearing to change venue after a request last month was denied.
But instead a plea agreement was reached dismissing three of the five felonies. Most noticeably the charge of substantial battery. He still had four more charges which he respectfully answered to.
"Ms. Hogan, at this time, how does your client plead to counts three and six as alledged in the information and then counts four and five as ammended?" (Judge Bloom) "No contest your honor."(Hogan) "Is that correct Mr. Thormann?"(Judge Bloom) "Yes sir."(Thormann)
He pleads no contest to two felonies, "strangulation and suffocation", as well as, "unsafe burning of own building". Judge Michael Bloom found him guilty.
His sentencing is scheduled for August 28th. He could do six years in jail along with five more years of extended supervision.
Northwoods filmmaker makes movies for the big screen
Submitted: 04/18/2014
MERRILL - When you think of movies you probably think of Hollywood, but one man from Northcentral Wisconsin is bringing his feature film to the local screen.
Wausau’s Jarrod Crooks not only makes movies, but he also stars in them.
His latest film, "Dispatched" is based off the Elvis Presley movie, “Girl Happy,” says filmmaker Jarrod Crooks. “My character Jake is sent to go watch my bosses daughter while she’s on vacation with a friend. Then an old enemy is kind of after him while he’s on vacation, so some things happen.”
Crooks made, "Dispatched" on a $5,000 budget and it’s full of romance, action, and comedy.
“My buddy would joke with me, ‘why don’t you just pick one genre man and then just go with it'," says Crooks. "I’m like because I want to make this movie how I want to make It'." "I actually like romantic comedies, I think they’re kind of fun, and I think they’re cute. I like action films because I’m a guy, and I like comedy because Jim Carey is great.”
Crooks is only 28 and has already made 4 feature films. His passion started when he was 12 years old.
“I went over to my friend’s house and he had a video camera. I was like oh we should make a movie, and at that time I was really into, “Wishbone,” says Crooks.
“We’d always remake our own literature pieces. Then I saw my first Jackie Chan movie and I’m like, alright it’s settled we’re doing action films from now on," says Crooks. “From then on it was just a love affair with the filmmaking.”
His latest film will be shown at the Cosmo Theatre in Merrill on Saturday at 5pm.
“The fact that I’m bringing it to central Wisconsin is great because this is where I grew up," says Crooks. "All my family and friends get to see it, so I’m very excited about that and you get to see yourself on the big screen what’s better than that.”
RHS Mock Trial team recognized for accomplishments
Submitted: 04/18/2014
RHINELANDER - A Northwoods team broke their own state record last month by winning a 17th state title.
A pair of state legislators honored them Friday.
Republican State Representative Rob Swearingen and Republican State Senator Tom Tiffany honored the Rhinelander Mock Trial Team at the Oneida County courthouse today.
"It's on behalf of myself and Senator Tom Tiffany from the 12th senate district," said Republican State Representative, Rob Swearingen.
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