RHINELANDER - Mountain bikers will get one of their first chances to race in the Northwoods this weekend.
The Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association (RASTA) will host the RASTA Rally this Saturday.
Bikers will travel on the trails at Washburn Lake west of Rhinelander, including challenging single-track trails.
"We're hoping people aren't intimidated. Mountain biking can sound intimidating, but we're hoping folks come out and give it a try. We have something for all levels, and the registration money goes to a really good cause," says RASTA spokesperson Suzanne Flory.
The money helps fund the maintenance work RASTA does on cross country ski, snowshoe, biking, and hiking trails in the area.
This year's RASTA Rally will be at Washburn Lake for the first time.
"It's a little more challenging single-track for folks that are looking for that excitement, but all level riders are going to find something enjoyable out here," Flory says.
Bikers can register at the race on Saturday morning.
MINOCQUA - The Minocqua Town Board approved spending nearly $8,000 on a study for the public fishing pier on Highway 51 in Minocqua.
The findings will help board members decide whether to replace the entire bridge or just repair parts of it.
Public Works Director Mark Pertile says the exact age of the pier is unknown but he guesses it's around 100 years old.
"When you look underneath you'll see some of the problem areas. Some of the things we check are the railings to make sure they are stable. But the wood [is starting to] rot," explained Pertile.
RHINELANDER - With the push of a button and the whining of a winch, John Wendt singlehandedly symbolizes the end of a season.
"You see the changing of the leaves, I just love being out here every day," Wendt said.
Wednt hauls boats for Shoeder's RV & Marine in Rhinelander. Starting in September, he loads up fishing boats, pontoons, and jet skis and puts them away for the season.
"The weather's been nice, everybody doesn't want to put their boats away yet," Wendt said. "But as soon as the weather starts turning, that's when it'll hit the fan."
RHINELANDER - The Oneida-Vilas Transit Commission will get its long-awaited federal funding installment by October 4.
The timing means no Northwoods Transit Connections drivers will have to voluntarily furlough their pay, but the requirement of 24-hour advance notice for rides will stay in place.
Transit Commission Chair Erv Teichmiller learned the news over the weekend.
The commission is waiting on an expected payment of $300,000 from the federal government. In 2016, that money came in early September. As of last Friday, the commission wasn't expecting the payment until as late as November.
HARSHAW - Oneida County sheriff's deputies found three runaway sisters, ages 14, 14, and 12, in the woods in Harshaw just after 1 p.m. on Monday.
The sisters had been reported missing by their parents Monday morning. The parents had gone to wake the girls up for school, but instead found a note saying they had gone on an "adventure."
The missing girls triggered a search from the Oneida County Sheriff's Office Special Response Unit, Newbold Fire Department Search and Rescue, Minocqua Fire Department, Lake Tomahawk Fire Department, and Little Rice Fire Department.
RHINELANDER - A Rhinelander factory that makes smoke flavoring caught fire early Monday morning.
Shortly before 6:00 a.m., Rhinelander, Crescent and Newbold Fire Departments responded to a fire at Red Arrow Products on Rhinelander's west side.
An employee says there were about eight workers inside at the time.
No one was injured.
"Flames were coming out of a conveyor area as high as the roof. We made an interior attack and knocked that flame down. Came in from the other side of the partition wall, then made another interior attack and knocked that down," says Chief Terry Williams.
As of 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, firefighters were still working to make sure the flames were out.
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