Christmas Spirit Lincoln County Launches Gift Request/Donation for Holiday Season Published on 10/22/2021 under News
We're still two months away from Christmas, but a Lincoln County group is already planning for a local gift distribution program.

Earlier this week, we were joined on the morning conversation, by two of the organizers of the Christmas Spirit Lincoln County United Giving Tree program, Chris Copiskey and Kris Reichelt. They partner with volunteers, businesses and fire departments to make sure it's a Merry Christmas for kids in Tomahawk, Merrill and surrounding areas.

They do so by filling gift requests for parents or guardians who are struggling financially and may not be able to provide presents for their children. Reichelt noted that the last two years with Covid have been especially tough on some parents to provide around the holidays. Last year, their organization was able to fill requests for 450 children in Lincoln County.

The first step in the process is finding out the wishlists. Applications are available at a number of locations including here at the WJJQ studios, Merrill Fire Department, and Merrill Chamber. Those will be due back November 15.

As those applications come in, generous people who'd like to provide for the program will be able to pick up tags and purchase the gifts. In mid-December the volunteers will organize and distribute those gifts, which they said was one of the most rewarding parts of the program for them.

The Group has a Facebook page with more information. You can hear that entire conversation in the WJJQ audio center.

In Other News

Drought Conditions Improve After Early Week Snow, Rain
Published on 03/29/2024 under News What a difference a week makes... The Northwoods saw improvements in the ongoing drought. That was, of course, buoyed by more than a half foot of snow Monday, followed by a day-long rain that brought another ½ inch of precipitation. The US Drought Monitor released the latest data Thursday. Looking back at last week's report, 72% of the state was listed in drought, nearly 20% in 'severe' drought. The new report showed that tumbled down to 32% drought and just 6% 'severe.' Some of the most elevated conditions were right here in the Northwoods. While improved, that remains the case. Last week most of the area was 'severe' the second of four drought categories. Now just a sliver of Vilas County remains in that classification. The rest of the area is either moderate drought or abnormally dry. The conditions have been an issue dating back to last summer and impacted lake levels, wildfire risks, farmers, and even home gardens and lawns. Reservoirs: And taking a quick look at the area reservoir levels, they've been on the rise this week. The Eau Pleine up nearly 2 feet and now at 4.8 feet below full. Not as much movement on the others, just a few inches, the Rainbow now at 6 feet; Willow 5.7 feet; the Spirit 4.6 feet Nokomis 4.3 feet
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Local Students, Educators Receive Herb Kohl Excellence Awards
Published on 03/29/2024 under News Several local students and teachers are the recipients of one of the state's most prestigious education awards. This past week, the Herb Kohl Foundation recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Excellence Scholarship, Initiative Scholarship, and Leadership awards. According to the news release, ~190 graduating high school students will receive the $10,000 scholarships through the 'Excellence' or 'Initiative' programs. The $6,000 Leadership Awards are presented to 100 educators, staff or administrators. Here in the Northwoods, there were two students earning 'excellence scholarships in Rhinelander's Leah Jamison and Rib Lake's Josie Scheithauer. Initiative scholarships were awarded to Tomahawk's Caleb Dickens and Julia Shore, who attends Merrill's Bridges Virtual Academy. As we previously shared, Allison Ewart a teacher from Tomahawk received the educator awards. She was joined by fellow teachers, Trina Burr at Northland Pines Elementary and Emily Bonack at Merrill High School. In addition to the scholarships and grants, the winners will be recognized at regional banquets hosted across the state later this spring. The Kohl Foundation was established in 1990.
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Crandon School District on Track to Re-Open Next Week
Published on 03/29/2024 under News The Crandon School District is on track to re-open its doors to students next week following an extended closure due to a health scare. On Thursday interim administrator Kirby Schultz provided another update. It's been two weeks since the school was evacuated after multiple students and staff member became sick. In all, more than three dozen were treated. First and foremost, Schultz noted that everyone is recovering well. During the extended closure which overlapped with their spring break, the district has worked with experts to provide in-depth testing. That included for carbon monoxide, water contamination, hazardous metals and chemicals. Schultz says they have installed carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building and tasked staff with daily detector monitoring. The testing was coupled with a comprehensive cleaning of the facility and Schultz says, "We also will continue to perform regular maintenance of all HVAC components in the building." Schultz closed by saying, "We are excited and confident in resuming classes on Tuesday, April 2, as previously planned."
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Aspirus Announces Renovation/Expansion to Merrill Hospital
Published on 03/28/2024 under News Aspirus Merrill Hospital will undergo a major makeover this summer. On Wednesday, the provider announced plans for a $40 million renovation and expansion project at the facility. The project is scheduled to start this summer and officials say it will greatly improve efficiency, access and the patient experience. One key feature is the doubling of inpatient beds, going from 10 to 20. All inpatient rooms will be completely reconstructed. Additional improvements include enhancements to the imaging, rehab, lab, and pharmacy spaces and updates to the main floor, stairwells and offices. Jeff Wicklander, Aspirus SVP & Central Region President says, "This investment is a clear indication of our commitment to leveraging resources for the greatest possible impact." He added, "We are excited to improve and expand care locally while providing a boost to the local economy." A specific timeline for the project wasn't immediately provided.
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Oneida County Groups Distributing Hi-Vis Vests for Outdoor Recreation
Published on 03/28/2024 under News The Oneida County Traffic Safety Commission is looking to make outdoor recreationists a bit safer by making them more visible. With spring upon us, and summer right around the corner, more people will enjoy the outdoors whether on trails, walkways or roadways. Visibility, particularly for motorists, can make these outdoor activities much safer. The Commission is inviting area walkers, bikers, and hikers to stop by and pick up free reflective safety vests. They are free to Oneida County residents.  The vests can be picked up at the Oneida County Highway Shop in Rhinelander Monday through Thursday 6:00 am. to 4:00 pm.
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DNR/Conservation Congress Fish and Wildlife Hearings and Surveys Return in April
Published on 03/28/2024 under News Each spring Wisconsin Conservation Congress and the DNR offer an opportunity for interested parties to weigh in all things outdoors. The annual Fish and Wildlife Spring Hearings are right around the corner, and the partners recently shared some of the details. A familiar format will return with hearings held simultaneously across all 72 counties. DNR staff and WCC delegates will be on hand at these spring hearings to discuss local issues, answer questions and open dialogue. Later that week, April 10-13, an online public input survey will go live. It's currently available for review on the DNR website. There are nearly 50 questions, covering a wide variety of topics. Just a few examples include: season structures, statewide or lake-specific fishing proposals, wake boats, lead ammunition, and fall deer shining. We'll include the times and locations for the Northwoods hearing locations in the online version of the story. We'll also offer a reminder as that date approaches. April 8 Hearing Locations (all begin at 6pm):•Lincoln County - Lincoln County Service Center in the County Board Meeting Room•Langlade County - Antigo High School in Volm Theater•Oneida County - James Williams Middle School in the auditorium•Price County - Price County Court House in the County Board Meeting Room•Taylor County - Medford High School in the library •Vilas County - Boulder Jct. Community Center
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New Mountain Bay Metro PD Announces First Police Chief
Published on 03/28/2024 under News A newly formed police department in Marathon County wasted little time in finding its first leader. The Mountain Bay Metropolitan Police Department was formed through the merger of the Everest Metro and Rothschild Police Department. The final municipal approval came on Monday. The transition will be overseen by the Mountain Bay Metro Police Commission. On Wednesday, they announced that current Rothschild Police Chief Jeremy Hunt will become the new department's first chief, officially on May 1. The Commission also continued to discuss other details of the transition process including the re-branding as well as new police contracts. The combined department will include around 40 officers.
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Lincoln County Rescue Dog Heads to Foster Home for Continued Recovery
Published on 03/28/2024 under News A stray dog found in Lincoln County is on his way to recovery, thanks in part to an outpouring of support from the community. Gunther's story quickly spread across the Northwoods after he was brought to the Lincoln County Humane Society last week severely underweight and in poor health. After a few days under the care of a vet, he'll be heading to a foster home for the next stage of recovery. When he was brought to the Humane Society last week, staff said Gunther, believed to be an adult chocolate lab mix, weighed just 15 pounds, along with a number of other health concerns requiring veterinary care. Just a few days later, he's heading to a temporary home for recovery. After posting Gunther's story online the Humane Society says they received donations from as far away as Hawaii and Alaska to help with the costs. On Wednesday, Gunther made a quick stop back at the Humane Society for a staff visit. He'll spend the next month or so with a foster family as he continues to regain weight and additional care. The Humane Society says they will continue to provide updates via their Facebook page, including once they begin the process of finding Gunther a permanent home.
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Northwoods Raise Your Voice Club Students Talk Mental Health with State Elected Officials
Published on 03/27/2024 under News Northwoods students continue to prioritize mental health. A local contingent recently traveling to Madison to meet with state lawmakers. Across the Northwoods, students have been establishing Raise Your Voice clubs at their respective schools. Among the goals of these student-organizations is to end the stigma around mental health, while advocating for change, sharing resources and support. Both Lakeland Union High School and Rhinelander High School have chapters. They were recently invited to the capital by the Wisconsin chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) to discuss concerns related to youth mental health. That included a visit with State Senator Mary Felzkowski and Representative Rob Swearingen. Sharon Krause, with the Oneida County UW-Extension, works with the students as an adviser. She says the students used the opportunity to press the lawmakers for increased funding for mental health representatives on campus. This, they noted, would help make mental health more accessible for students while cutting down on delays in care. Krause echoed those thoughts comparing mental health to a physical injury. She says, "If someone breaks a bone, it's best to set it right away. Otherwise, it will heal in the wrong position and fixing it will be much more difficult." The students also shared results of a recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey which showed the prevalence of mental health affecting Oneida County students. They're hoping this recent visit helps raise awareness among elected officials to help address youth mental health. -Submitted photo: Raise Your Voice club participants from Rhinelander and Lakeland traveled to Madison to discuss youth mental health with elected officials-
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World Diabetes Day; Knowing Risk Factors
Published on 03/27/2024 under News Tuesday was World Diabetes Day, and local health officials used the opportunity to encourage people to learn potential risk factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 133 million people in the U.S. have diabetes or prediabetes. Of those adults, one in five did not even know they had the condition. Dr. Johnathon Justice, an Aspirus family medicine physician says, "If we don't catch prediabetes early or manage it properly, it can progress into Type 2 diabetes." He added, "I would encourage people to understand the risks of and be screened for prediabetes and diabetes." Some of those risk factors including being overweight or a lack of physical activity, but also ethnicity and hereditary. Justice did note some good news in that Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even prevented by modest lifestyle changes such as diet or increased physical activity. Those interested in making a life style change can discuss with their health care provider.
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