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WPS Works With Law Enforcement, Social Media To Educate on Scams Published on 10/22/2021 under News

Wisconsin Public Service partnered with law enforcement groups Thursday to educate customers on scammers.

Over the years, WPS customers have lost thousands of dollars in utility scams. This campaign comes at a time of year when these scams tend to pick up, coinciding with the state's energy disconnection moratorium in November.

On Thursday, WPS worked with police and sheriff departments in their Northwoods service area to share warning signs on social media.

Spokesman Matt Cullen says the goal was to flood newsfeeds with this important safety information.

We've frequently reported on the red flags included in the campaign.

A few examples include:

•Remember that scammers have equipment that changes the name and number appearing on caller ID.

•Scammers will use urgency, threatening to shut off power immediately unless a payment is made.

•They'll also demand that payment from non-traditional sources like prepaid debit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency and third-party apps.

If you are suspicious of a call hang-up. You can call the hotline listed on your bill to verify any outstanding payments.

In Other News

Lincoln County Offering Free Well Testing Kits for Low-Income or Immunocompromised Households

Published on 05/15/2025 under News People who utilize wells for their drinking water are encouraged to test their water annually for contaminates. A program in Lincoln County aimed at increasing access to testing has been extended. Last summer, the Lincoln County Health Department launched a new program offering low-income families a chance to get a free well testing kit. The program was then expanded to include households that may have a resident with a weakened immune system. The Health Department shared that a limited number of the free testing kits are still available. The Health Department has an eligibility survey on their website. Residents on well water who don't qualify for the free kit are still encouraged to test water on an annual basis for contaminants including nitrates and bacteria. You can contact their office or visit their website for additional information.

Published on 05/15/2025 under News A iconic independent filmmaker will return to the Northwoods this weekend to discuss one of his lesser known films. During the 70's and 80's Bill Rebane set up a filming studio known as the Shooting Ranch in the Irma where he made more than a dozen films. While the most famous is The Giant Spider Invasion, another is Attack of the Hodag. As part of the Hodag Heritage Festival in Rhinelander this weekend, organizers have invited Rebane to take part in a special Friday night screening of the film. Rebane, will give a brief history and introduction, then following the screening, he'll stick around for a Q&A with the audience. The event will be held at the Hilgermann Center for Community in downtown Rhinelander tomorrow evening. As of Thursday morning, a limited number of tickets were available. We'll include the link for online reservations. As for the rest of the Hodag Heritage Festival activities, most will be taking place on Saturday. The Rhinelander Chamber has a full schedule on their website and social media. We'll have a preview on Friday as well.

Published on 05/15/2025 under News Milkweed play a critical role in the lifecycle of monarch butterflies, and a new campaign highlights it's importance. The DNR announced milkweed as the Rare Plant Monitoring Program's 2025 Plant of the Year and encourages planting milkweed to help monarchs. Of the 13 native milkweed in Wisconsin, five are listed as endangered, threatened or special concern. DNR Insect ecologist Jay Watson says, "Monarch butterflies face several major threats, including habitat loss, pesticides and climate change." He added, "Planting milkweed can help create habitat for monarchs, other butterflies and bumble bees." Monarchs breed in Wisconsin throughout the spring and summer, and they need milkweed to survive. It's the only plant that monarch caterpillars eat. Once a monarch reaches adulthood, they may still use milkweed for nectar, but a variety of native plants that bloom from spring to fall are also important. In late fall, monarchs migrate south to Mexico, where they overwinter in tight clusters. The Rare Plant Monitoring Program is a group of trained volunteers who work with the DNR to locate, record and update the presence of rare plants throughout the state. The plant of the year becomes a focus for volunteers who can request rare milkweed surveys and contribute to a statewide status update on these species.

Published on 05/15/2025 under News A Minocqua man is facing facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges from an investment scheme. According to the US Attorney's Office from the Western District of Wisconsin, a jury returned an indictment against Cory Kromray. The 39 year old is facing 10 charges in all, including eight counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. The indictment alleges that, during a seven year period ending last month, Kromray accepted money from investors for trading stocks, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, and foreign currency exchange market. However, the indictment alleges that Kromray failed to invest the money as promised and he used the majority of the money for his own purposes. The charges against him are the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If convicted, Kromray faces up to 30 years in prison.

Published on 05/15/2025 under News A state agency will once again be trapping for spongy moths this summer in the western half of the state. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced they will be setting more than 8,000 spongy moth traps across 36 counties including Lincoln, Vilas, Oneida, Price and Taylor Counties. Program coordinator Amanda Miller says they use the traps to monitor both existing populations and identify previously unknown populations in new areas. She says the data will also help them safely and efficiently limit the spread before infestations become large enough to cause damage to trees. The traps are small green boxes tied to tree branches. The traps contain the scent of a female spongy moth. They are undetectable to other insects, but highly attractive to the male spongy moth. The agency will monitor the traps through August, that's when the male moths typically stop flying for the season. At this point the traps are removed. Those monitoring the traps will wear fluorescent vests and carry identification cards. Each trap is labeled with a phone number and a QR code that property owners can call if they have questions.

Published on 05/15/2025 under News The first peregrine falcon chick has hatched at the WPS Weston Power Plant. Wisconsin Public Service shared that egg-citing news while also announcing the finalists in their naming contest. This year's theme was the 'Founding Feathers.' Each of the selections were made in honor of past peregrine falcons who have nested in the boxes at WPS and We Energies power plants around the state. They include: Flaps, Scout, Eclipse, Leopold and Breezer. As for the status of this year's brood, there are four nesting boxes, Six chicks have already hatched, with seven eggs incubating. As of Thursday, there was one chick and three eggs remaining in Weston. People can watch the young chicks hatch and grow via the nest box webcams. They'll eventually receive their names and be banded before leaving the nest. Since this program was established in the early 1990s, 459 peregrine falcons have hatched at WPS and We Energies facilities — that's 20% of all peregrine falcons born in Wisconsin.

Published on 05/14/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's golf squad bounced back with a third-place finish at their Great Northern Conference Meet at Minocqua Country Club Tuesday. The Hatchets finished with a team score of 330, seven strokes behind Mosinee and Lakeland. The Hatchets' top finisher was Jake Albert, placing second overall with a 76. Sawyer Hanna finished third overall with a 77. Oliver Childers finished third on the team and tied for eighth overall with an 82. Tomahawk's next Great Northern Conference meet is at Eagle River Country Club, hosted by Northland Pines. Tee-off is at 3:00 Friday afternoon.

Published on 05/14/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's track and field squads had a successful night at the Tomahawk Home Invite Tuesday. The Hatchet girls squeaked out a first-place team finish, their first of the season. The Lady Hatchets had four first-place finishes. The Hatchets' individual top finishes were from Elise Gibeault in the 300 meter hurdles, Sienna Caulkins in the triple jump, and Lydia Shaney in the 3200 meter run. Tomahawk's first-place relay finish came from the 4x800 meter relay team of Alli Palmer, Abbie Rosenmeier, Norah Mann, and Lydia Shaney. The Hatchet boys finished fifth with a team score of 79, placing ahead of Hurley and Spencer. Tomahawk had two first-place finishes in the meet. Beau Stromberg finished first in the high jump and Hudson Seymour set a personal best with a 123'5" throw in the discus. The Hatchets' next track meet is Thursday in Rhinelander.

Published on 05/14/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's softball squad suffered another double-digit Great Northern Conference loss, this time at the hands of Medford Tuesday, 12-1. The Hatchets were blitzed for eight runs in the first inning. The biggest bright spot was the first home run in the career of Ella Peissig. The Hatchets also got two hits from Anita Ziert and one from Aubrey Seubert. The loss drops Tomahawk to 7-12 on the season and 3-8 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will have Senior Day Thursday against Wausau East. Alex Koch and Matt Theiler will be in the broadcast booth with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 4:05 and first pitch at 4:30 on Sports Talk 810 AM / 97.7 FM WJJQ.

Published on 05/14/2025 under Sports The Hatchet baseball squad lost their third straight game, this time at home to Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6-2. The loss drops Tomahawk to 5-10 on the season and 4-6 in Great Northern Conference play. The next games for the Hatchets are Friday when they take on Ironwood (MI) in a doubleheader. The games will be broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM / 97.7 FM WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 3:35 and first pitch at 4:00. Alex Koch will be in the broadcast booth.

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