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Rhinelander Man Formally Charged with Child Trafficking Published on 09/23/2020 under News

A Rhinelander man charged with child trafficking made his initial appearance in court yesterday.

Thirty four year old Paul Osterman was arrested Monday following a two year investigation. Law enforcement launched an investigation after receiving tips about an individual offering money to meet young girls.

Investigators spent more than a year trying to identify where the messages were coming from as the individual used multiple internet connections around the Rhinelander area. Osterman owns an internet service provider. As investigators narrowed their search, they received a warrant to use GPS tracking on Osterman's car.

The investigation also stretched to Tomahawk and Marathon County, where the charges have been filed.

At yesterday's court appearance, bond was set at $50,000. He is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18 and cant' use internet devices. He'll be back in court on September 30.

In Other News

Lincoln County Board Accepts, Expresses Gratitude for Live Well Lincoln Grant from Aspirus

Published on 04/23/2024 under News Lincoln County will receive a grant from Aspirus Health to help implement, expand, and raise awareness of programs through the Live Well Lincoln group. Live Well Lincoln is spearheaded by Lincoln County Health Department with leadership from the ADRC of Central Wisconsin, Aspirus Health, and Lincoln County Social Services. At their meeting this past week, the Lincoln County Board accepted $11,000 across two focus areas. According to the resolution, $10,000 will go towards mental health and well-being programming. Funds will be spent on a number of categories within that umbrella including developing a resource guide, family-based education programs, medication safety, gun locks, and recovery support groups. Another $1,000 fell into the 'healthy lifestyles' category. Examples in the resolution include healthy, affordable foods, focus groups centered on community needs, and improving the navigation of resources. After a brief overview from Lincoln County Health Directory Shelley Hersil, the supervisors approved the acceptance of the grant unanimously.

Published on 04/23/2024 under News The summer road construction and maintenance calendar continues to fill up. The Lincoln County Highway Department announced some future work to keep in mind. Interim Highway Commission Jason Lemmer says they'll be working on chip sealing segments of several County Highways in early July. This includes portions of County A, B, H, Q, and Z. We've previously covered the chip-sealing process. It's a way to extend the life of pavement at a fraction of the time and cost of a major resurfacing project. It involves placing a thin layer of liquid asphalt, topped with tiny stone chips which are compacted as the surface hardens. It's typically completed over the course of a day. This work is currently scheduled for July 1, 2, and 3. We'll, of course, offer up a reminder as that date approaches, or pass along any schedule changes. Chip Sealing Work Zones:•CTH B – STH 17 to CTH D •CTH H - CTH D to CTH A •CTH A - USH 51 to WI River •CTH A - Mail Route Road to the Lincoln County Line •CTH Q - CTH K to Joe Snow Road •CTH Z - CTH Q to Fairview Road

Published on 04/23/2024 under News A challenger has entered her name into the race for a state senate seat in Northern Wisconsin. On Monday, small business owner Andi Rich launched her candidacy to represent the 12th Senate District. The seat is currently held by Republican Mary Felzkowski. She announced a re-election bid last month. According to her announcement, the Marinette native earned degrees from Lakeland College in Business Administration and Marketing. She obtained a Wisconsin General Contractor's License so she could open her own construction company, and has since shifted to insurance adjusting. She highlighted several campaign topics including: PFAS and clean water, rural school funding, infrastructure, supporting local economies. She says, "If we cannot rely on our state government to provide something as basic as clean water, what can we expect them to do? I'm running because these issues aren't Democratic or Republican. The Northwoods deserve more and better representation than what we're getting." Most of the boundaries for the 12th Senate district remain the same following the redistricting. It includes all of Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest, Florence and Marinette Counties, along with portions of Marathon, Shawano and Oconto Counties. Any potential primary for the race will be in August, the general election in November.

Published on 04/23/2024 under Sports Tomahawk's softball squad suffered a tough loss at the hands of Lincoln County foe Merrill Monday afternoon, 6-5. The Hatchets' offense stepped up, but four unearned runs by the Bluejays proved to be the difference in the game. The loss drops Tomahawk to 6-6 on the season and 1-3 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk will be back in action for a Great Northern Conference showdown against Rhinelander. Tune in for the broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM and 100.7 FM WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Pregame Show at 4:05 and first pitch at 4:30. Matt Theiler and Alex Koch will be in the broadcast booth from Hatchet Field in Tomahawk.

Published on 04/23/2024 under Sports Over the weekend, the Tomahawk Claybusters took 17 athletes to the 2024 Northwoods Shoot Out in Wabeno. The Intermediate teams placed fourth overall, including Lillian Taves placing first on the team with a 42. That score was good for 11th overall. The JV/Varsity teams finished in the top spot. On the JV side, Tyler Strassman placed third overall with a score of 45. For the varsity team, Hayden Greil was the meet medalist with a score of 47. Ashton Greil placed ninth on the team and 20th overall with a score of 42.

Published on 04/23/2024 under News A Taylor County man died in a farming accident over the weekend. According to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office, crews were dispatched at shortly before 2pm Sunday to a property in the Town of Jump River. The initial call reported a man was trapped underneath a manure spreader. Upon arrival responders extracted the man from beneath the equipment. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has been identified as 71 year old Myron Brooks of Gilman. According to the preliminary investigation, a neighbor discovered Brooks after he failed to arrive at a previously arranged meet up. Officials believe Brooks may have suffered a medical emergency while operating the tractor. This likely caused him to strike a power pole, fall from the tractor and get pinned under the manure spreader attachment.

Published on 04/23/2024 under News A Nicolet adviser was recently recognized for her efforts in making college education more affordable. At the Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators conference held in the Fox Valley earlier this month, Casey Lehmann was presented with a New Professional Award. Selected by her peers, the award acknowledges an individual who made an outstanding contribution to the financial aid profession. This award recognizes Lehmann's professional achievements in her first year as financial aid manager. The announcement highlighted her participation with the WASFAA Advocacy and Legislative Committee which played a role in the Financial Aid Modernization Act which is aimed at making Wisconsin Grant programs to be more student-focused and friendly. That group was also recognized as the 2024 Committee of the Year. Lehmann says she was deeply honored to receive the award. She says, "I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of student financial aid services and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the years ahead." She also credited the collaborative efforts of the Nicolet team. Patrick Burns, Nicolet College director of strategic enrollment says, "Casey demonstrates her passion for helping students navigate the complexities of financial aid in her work every day."

Published on 04/23/2024 under News Monday was Earth Day, and the Rhinelander Chamber got into the spirit. The Chamber is part of Travel Green, an eco-focused program run by Travel Wisconsin. By signing an annual pledge, the Chamber commits to sustainability practices to ensure that both residents and visitors can enjoy the region's natural beauty for generations to come. The pledge features six areas of focus on sustainability...Education, Community, Energy efficiency, Transportation, Waste reduction, and Water conservation. It's available to businesses, nonprofit organizations, visitor centers, and more. As part of that mission, the Rhinelander Chamber staff spent some time Monday picking up litter that accumulated around their building and the nearby river-walk. In just a short amount of time, they were able to collect quite a bit of debris. They encourage others to spare an hour and make a difference by doing the same.

Published on 04/22/2024 under News Monday is Earth Day and it has a special meaning here in Wisconsin. Former Governor and Senator Gaylord Nelson was instrumental in creating the national, and worldwide movement. There are a number of Northwoods groups holding events including Nicolet College and their partners bringing back their 12th annual Earth Day Fair. The theme this year is "Our Plastic Planet," focuses on alternatives to plastic, the importance of recycling, and ideas for reusing plastic. Organizer and Northwoods Community Garden Manager Mike Haasl says, "The Fair is a wonderful chance to learn about ways we can all make a positive difference in the world." It will feature a little something for everyone including exhibits, activities, and speakers on all things earth, environment, and sustainability. Just a few examples include fiber art, historical horse logging operations and a gardening Q&A with a seed swap. -Schedule of Events-Admission is free, it'll take place 3-7 p.m. at the Lakeside Center Commons on the Nicolet College campus.

Published on 04/22/2024 under News Hundreds of Nicolet College students became Nicolet graduates during their Spring Commencement held over the weekend. In all, more than 200 students were invited to participate in Saturday's ceremony. Nicolet College President Kate Ferrel says, "Earning a college credential is a valuable accomplishment and one that each graduate will proudly carry with them for the rest of their lives." She noted, "We are not only celebrating the academic accomplishments of our graduates but also their resilience, determination, and commitment to excellence." The resilience no more apparent than Kayla Fraley, who was the student speaker. Fraley initially enrolled at Nicolet more than a decade ago, following her high school graduation. Shortly, thereafter she was diagnosed with Leukemia put those plans on hold. Fraley says she was determined to put 'one foot in front of the other' which drove her to return to school. She said, "I knew that Nicolet College was the perfect place to start again, but this time as a non-traditional student." After re-enrolling last year, she is now a graduate. Fraley is currently enrolled as a transfer student at UW-Platville where she is pursuing a degree in engineering. -Photo provided by Nicolet College: Kayla Fraley, student speaker at the 2024 Nicolet College Commencement Ceremony, delivered an inspiring address to her fellow graduates, reflecting on the significance of this milestone.

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