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Marathon County Slashes Funding For Six Nonprofits, Revives Funding For Five Others

The Marathon County Board revived funding for five nonprofits at a budget meeting Thursday night. Six others will have their funding cut by a quarter. The board had originally planned to cut 25 percent of the funding to all 11 nonprofits, but held onto full funding for the North Central Action Committee, The Women's Community, United Way's 2-1-1 program, the Educational Bootcamp, and the Marathon County Historical Society. “I don’t like choosing these over the other ones, but as far as the...

Tax Rate In Minocqua Up Slightly

Rhinelander Truck Driver Dies In Minnesota Crash

WXPR News: Friday, November 15, 2019

By Ken Krall • Nov 15, 2019

A Rhinelander man dies in a Minnesota traffic crash,
The Marathon County Board funds some, cuts some, but not all, non-profits from its budget,
A meeting in Minocqua Monday looks at 2019 climate change,
Minocqua's town levy rises slightly.

Rhinelander Truck Driver Dies In Minnesota Crash

By Ken Krall • Nov 15, 2019

The Minnesota State Patrol is reporting a Rhinelander truck driver has died in a crash in western Minnesota.

From the Minnesota State Patrol website it's reported that 62-year-old Samuel M. Hoffhein of Rhinelander died in a crash Thursday while in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

The accident description reads the semi was traveling eastbound on West Lincoln Ave. in Fergus Falls, and went off the road to the right, striking a power pole. Road conditions were said to be dry at the time.

Marathon County Slashes Funding For Six Nonprofits, Revives Funding For Five Others

By Ben Meyer • Nov 15, 2019

The Marathon County Board revived funding for five nonprofits at a budget meeting Thursday night.

Six others will have their funding cut by a quarter.

The board had originally planned to cut 25 percent of the funding to all 11 nonprofits, but held onto full funding for the North Central Action Committee, The Women's Community, United Way's 2-1-1 program, the Educational Bootcamp, and the Marathon County Historical Society.

Tax Rate In Minocqua Up Slightly

By Dean S. Acheson • Nov 15, 2019

MINOCQUA – Minocqua property owners will see a slightly higher tax rate for town operations and debt payments after electors approved a nearly $4 million levy at Thursday’s annual town meeting.

A handful of electors joined town supervisors and other officials in unanimously approving a $3,958,854 levy to support next year’s budget of $5,748,480, up by about a quarter million dollars. Last year’s levy was $3,877,422 to support the 2019 budget of $5,500,452. Minocqua’s tax rate will be $2.62 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Last year’s rate was $2.59.

Climate Change 2019 To Be Reviewed During Minocqua Meeting Monday

By Ken Krall • Nov 15, 2019

A public meeting Monday in Minocqua will highlight the year in climate change and a potential positive development.

David Barnhill is retired Director of Environmental Studies at U.W. Oshkosh and will be hosting the meeting. He says they will be reviewing some of the developments of this year.

Barnhill is chair of Northwoods Climate Action and of Our Wisconsin of the Northwoods. He says they will be taking stock of the changes...

Erpenbach: WI Farmers Struggling Through Political Battles

By Trimmel Gomes Wisconsin News Connection • Nov 15, 2019

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin farmers are struggling to stay afloat as political battles take center stage.

Republican Senate leaders said they were upset with state agriculture secretary-designee Brad Pfaff for criticizing the GOP for not moving fast enough to release money for farmer suicide prevention efforts. So they rejected his confirmation.

Yet Again, Board Rejects Plan From Solberg’s Company To Pump, Transport Water Near Carlin Lake

By Ben Meyer • Nov 14, 2019

Once again on Thursday, a Vilas County committee rejected Trig Solberg’s attempt to collect water from a well in Presque Isle for commercial bottling.

Over a span of nearly five years, Solberg’s group has been blocked time and again by judges, boards, and administrators. It wants to take water from near rural Carlin Lake, bottle it, and sell it in stores. Solberg is the founder of Trig’s supermarkets.

Northwoods Residents Sought For Nationwide Research Program

By Ken Krall • Nov 14, 2019

Marshfield Clinic Health System is enrolling participants in this area in the All of Us research program, a nationwide effort to gather data from one million or more people living in the U.S. The program is of no charge to participants.

Lisa Kunst is a Senior Project Manager for the program in Wisconsin. She says the program is through the National Institutes of Health, a nationwide program. She says the goal is improving health care and the speed of research...

America Recycles Day Friday Highlights Environment, Cost Savings

By Ken Krall • Nov 14, 2019

Friday is America Recycles Day, one day set aside to focus attention on being able to re-use rather than throw away.

In Wisconsin, Jennifer Semrau, of the DNR's Waste Reduction and Diversion Coordinator says the day is observed as a reminder for residents, businesses and institutions the importance of recycling to the environment and the economy.

Semrau says Wisconsinites have been recycling...

Michiganders Turning Up Heat on Drug Manufacturers

By Mary Schuermann Kuhlman & Public News Service - MI • Nov 14, 2019

LANSING, Mich. – People in Michigan troubled by the high cost of prescription medications are encouraged to help turn up the heat on drug manufacturers.

AARP Michigan is hosting a Stop Rx Greed rally on Monday along the Detroit River to spread awareness about the problem and call for solutions.