RHINELANDER - When non-profits host special events in Rhinelander, they fill out an application, and pay $10 to get a temporary liquor license.
But if a bar or restaurant wants to do the same, there's no formal application and no fee for expanding an existing liquor license.
Rhinelander city council member Alex Young wants to change that. Right now, the council reviews special events on a case-by-case basis.
That uses up committee and city staff time. Young wants to charge a fee because of the cost of that time to the city. He also believes a formal application would simplify the process.
"We never really had a consistent set of guidelines or consistent set of requirements for people to seek that," Young said. "So that's hopefully something we can address through the permitting process."
The city council is trying to make it easier for both non-profits and businesses to host special events.
It is working on a special events packet to guide people through the complicated permitting process. Young hopes that will benefit the entire city.
"Holding events like that is a draw to the area and brings people in, then hopefully they'll move on and patronize some of the businesses in the area and so forth," he said. "And it's just good for the community, to provide events and things for people to do."
The Protection of Persons and Property Committee will vote on the liquor license fee Monday night.
If it passes, it moves forward to the full council for a vote.
EAGLE RIVER - Soccer players may need to wait for the snow on their fields to melt. But they know cabin fever is starting to set in, and it's the perfect time to capitalize on it.
The 7th annual Cabin Fever Indoor Soccer Tournament kicked off today at Northland Pines High School. The event raises money for the school’s boy's and girl's soccer teams.
"This was an opportunity to have an indoor soccer program so the kids can do something in the winter," says tournament director Steve Gilbert. "There was a need for a fundraiser so we thought why not have a tournament. There are other tournaments in the region, why not have one here with this tremendous facility that we have here at Pines."
Nearly 100 5th through 8th graders played in the co-ed soccer matches. Their participation makes it possible for the team to buy new equipment.
"It allows us to buy things that maybe the school can't afford to buy for them, so different types of warm-ups, equipment out on the field," says Gilbert. "One time we bought a camera for them so we could film their games. So it's going to good causes."
RHINELANDER - Wisconsin will get a new state attorney general this election year.That could mean new changes for the department.
But many of the candidates agree that more needs to be done to deal with heroin in Wisconsin.
Police and prosecutors say the drug continues to spread throughout the state. Republican candidate Brad Schimel, Waukesha County district attorney, believes heroin and opiates are one of the state’s biggest challenge.
"We're seeing more people die from accidental drug overdoses than we're seeing in car crashes," Schimel said. "That is a dangerous statistic for us to be looking at."
According to a Gannet Wisconsin Investigative study, at least 199 people died in 2012 in Wisconsin from drug overdoses.
The legislature has passed several bills this session to fight heroin and help people who are addicted to the drug.
State Rep. Jon Richards-(D) Milwaukee, is one of three Democratic candidates running for attorney general. He believes the state needs to keep going after drug traffickers.
"Local prosecutors and law enforcement are already stretched to the max in terms of their man power," Richards said. "We have to be addressing these new problems of public safety in creative ways and effective ways."
Democratic candidates Susan Happ and Ismael Ozanne were not available before running this story.
Richards was touring the Northwoods Friday talking to media and district attorneys in the area.
The Democratic primary is set for August 12th. Election day is Nov. 4, 2014.
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