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SCHOOLS CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER - All schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed on Monday, March 25 due to snow, winds, and possible freezing rain. We will make a decision on practices and other after-school activities by 11:00 am tomorrow. The Hodag Dome will be closed and Community Education classes are canceled for March 25.
One killed in UTV accident in Newbold
One person is dead following an UTV accident in the Town of Newbold Tuesday afternoon. Acccording to a press release issued by Oneida County sheriff’s captain Tyler Young, a 911 call was received at approximately 1:18 p.m. Tuesday reporting a UTV accident on private property off of Forest Lane in Newbold.
“The caller stated that the operator had stuck a tree and did not have a pulse, and was not breathing,” the release said. “The caller also stated that the operator was blue in color. Upon arrival at the scene of the accident it was determined that the operator was deceased.”
The sheriff’s office did not immediately release any identifying information related to the deceased.
The investigation is ongoing, the release states.
Names of officers involved in Crescent ‘critical incident’ released Deceased identified as investigation continues
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has released the names of the officers involved in a critical incident in the Town of Crescent Jan. 20 that resulted in a fatality.
In an update issued Wednesday evening, DCI reported that the investigation into the incident is ongoing with final reports to be turned over to the Oneida County district attorney when the inquiry is concluded.
According to DCI, the officers involved were Sgt. Thomas Williams and Deputies Michael Bedish and Cole Lehman of the sheriff’s office, Rhinelander police Sgt. Christie Kondzela and Rhinelander police officer Graeme Biskobing. The individual killed in the incident was identified as Steven Kincaid, 33.
According to the DOJ, the Oneida County sheriff’s office received two hang-up 911 calls at approximately 8:39 p.m. Jan. 20 requiring a welfare check at a residence located in the 1600 block of River Street in Crescent.
Three sheriff’s deputies and two police officers responded. According to DCI, Williams has over 9 years law enforcement experience, Bedish has over 3.5 years in law enforcement and Lehman has over one year. Kondzela has over 10 years of law enforcement experience and Biskobing has over one year, according to the release.
“Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement determined there were two subjects inside,” according to DCI. “Law enforcement entered the residence where they were met with gunfire by Steven Kincaid, age 33. One of the deputies returned fire. All law enforcement retreated outside the residence, backed away, and created a perimeter. Kincaid continued to shoot at the officers from the second level of the house and gunfire was exchanged. Tactical team members from the Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Langlade, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the residence. Verbal commands were attempted without response and non-lethal tactics were deployed. Eventually the second subject came out of the residence and was evaluated by emergency medical services on scene. The tactical team entered the house and located Kincaid who was deceased. No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.”
The release notes that the involved officers from the Rhinelander Police Department were wearing body cameras during the incident and both the police department and the sheriff’s office have squad cameras. A full story will be published in an upcoming edition of the River News.
DOJ: One dead following 'officer involved critical incident' near Rhinelander Saturday evening
https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/officer-involved-critical-incident-town-crescent-wis
EARLY RELEASE 1/12/24 - Due to inclement weather, we have made the decision to do an early release one hour early today for all buildings in the School District of Rhinelander. All after school activities are cancelled in the district through noon tomorrow. We will update building closings if needed throughout the weekend.
The Rhinelander Hodag girls’ swim team won the WIAA Division 2 state championship Friday night in Waukesha. The Hodags won 6 events, including all three relays, as they defeated Whitefiish Bay by 87 points for the championship. Read much more about the Hodags’ second state title in four years in Tuesday’s River News.
On Saturday, August 26th, the Hodag Wrestling Club is hosting the 1st ever Alex Dieringer Northwoods Wrestling Clinic in the Hodag Dome!
◾All proceeds go to Alex Dieringer in his quest for Olympic Gold!
◾The Alex Dieringer Clinic is made possible by the Hodag Wrestling Club.
Alex Dieringer completed his second season on staff with the University of Michigan wrestling program. A three-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner, Dieringer serves as the Wolverines' recruiting and video coordinator.
Dieringer captured three NCAA titles during his career at Oklahoma State (2013-16), winning at 157 pounds as a sophomore (2014) before claiming back-to-back 165-pound titles in 2015 and 2016. Following his senior season, he was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. He was a four-time NCAA All-American, taking third place at 157 pounds as a freshman (2013).
He compiled a stellar 133-4 record in college, including a perfect 66-0 mark over his last two seasons, and earned bonus points in more than 70 percent of his wins with 45 career falls. He was a four-time Big 12 champion, becoming just the seventh wrestler in Cowboy program history to win four conference titles, and in 2016 was named Oklahoma State's Male Athlete of the Year.
A five-year member of the U.S. National Freestyle Team since his college graduation, Dieringer has excelled internationally at the senior level, capturing gold medals at the Yasar Dogu, Dan Kolov, and Medved International tournaments, silver at the Matteo Pellicone International and bronze at the Yarygin Grand Prix. He captured the U.S. Open freestyle title at 79kg/174 pounds in 2019 and previously took third at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He is a two-time Junior World Team member (2012, '13), capturing world silver at 74 kg/163 pounds in 2013.
➡Clinic Details:
◾Place: The Hodag Dome in Rhinelander, Wisconsin
◾Time: 9AM-12PM
◾Cost: $20 per wrestler (bring the fee to the clinic and reserve your spot via email)
◾Open to any and all wrestlers
➡Reserve your spot in the clinic by emailing Eric Burke at [email protected]
View this link for information.⤵
https://www.smore.com/fg4zua
River News, Lakeland Times websites temporarily down
Due to a hardware malfunction our websites, RiverNewsOnline.com and LakelandTimes.com experienced interrupted service this week. The outages began Tuesday evening and currently ongoing. We are working with our online partners to restore service as soon as possible.
“The hardware that our websites currently use is failing and we are in the process of migrating both websites over to our updated hardware,” explained Heather Holmes, general manager of the River News and Lakeland Times. “Please be patient with us as we work through this tricky situation.”
Holmes added that the updated software is expected to be live by the end of the week.
During the transition to the new software, both RiverNewsOnline.com and LakelandTimes.com will be temporarily unmetered, meaning that content will be able to be accessed by both online subscribers and non-subscribers until user data and expiration dates are carried over to the new software.
Until that point, new electronic subscribers or current subscribers looking to update their information, should contact Lakeland Times (715-356-5236) or River News (715-365-6397) offices.
The River News and Lakeland Times apologize for any temporary inconvenience to our readers. With the new software, we hope to provide our online subscribers a better overall user experience.
Heightened law enforcement presence at JWMS Tuesday
The School District of Rhinelander sent a robocall to James Williams Middle School parents Tuesday morning advising there would be an increased police presence on school grounds today.
Below is a transcript of the message:
On April 17, 2023, staff from the School District of Rhinelander and Oneida County Sheriff's Office received information that a student had threatened to act out violence at James Williams Middle School. The threat was investigated by Oneida County deputies in partnership with Oneida County Department of Social Services. Law enforcement continues to cooperate with the school district to increase security and awareness in this matter.
The investigation revealed no evidence to suggest this was current information. The student will not be in school on April 18, 2023, and district staff will continue to monitor the situation in concert with law enforcement personnel. At this time, officials involved in this investigation do not believe there is a heightened threat to our schools or staff based on this individual report. However, there remains heightened awareness, and additional security at James Williams Middle School.
5:12 PM 3/31/23: A major winter storm will bring rain, snow and thunderstorms to the area tonight. The rain is expected to change to snow across the north this evening, and then change to snow across east-central Wisconsin overnight. A band of heavy snow with accumulations of 7 to 14 inches is expected across northern Wisconsin. In addition to the snow, wind gusts could reach 35 to 50 mph and allow for blowing and drifting of the snow, making for hazardous travel conditions.
Fire damages Dinky Diner
A well-known Rhinelander eatery located in an historic building was damaged by fire Tuesday evening. At approximately 6 p.m. the Rhinelander Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Dinky Diner (230 Thayer Street.) Dark smoke could be seen billowing from the top of the building, which is more than 100 years old. The Reve, a coffee shop located next to the diner, also appeared to be damaged. Firefighters from Pine Lake and Pelican provided mutual aid as a large crowd of locals gathered in "the Hollow" to offer support to the owners of the diner. A full story on the fire will be published in the Friday edition of the River News.
(Bob Mainhardt photo)
UPDATE: The team bus is due back in town at approximately 2:45 pm. A convoy will convene at the Oneida County Highway Department on Kemp Street and proceed to downtown before heading back to the high school.
If you happen to be downtown this afternoon, come out and welcome your state champion RHS boys’ swim team as it returns to Rhinelander. The team’s tentative ETA back into town is between 2:30 and 3 pm.
Today we will welcome home the WIAA D2 State Champions your Hodag Boys Swim Team between 2:30pm and 3:00pm with a police es**rt downtown. This is history in the making, hope you can stop down and welcome them home!
On Monday at 8am we will have a pep assembly in the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium! Come be apart of the history!
The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team won its first WIAA D2 state championship in school history tonight in Waukesha. The Hodags won the 200-yard freestyle relay and edged runner-up McFarland by 5.5 points for the overall state title. Much more to follow in Tuesday’s River News.
CLOSINGS AND CANCELLATIONS: 1/19/23...
Due to inclement weather, all schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed today, Thursday, January 19.
All after-school activities are are canceled as well. The Aspirus Community Fitness Center in the high school will be closed. The Hodag Dome will also be closed.
Stay safe!
Due to inclement weather, all schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed on Thursday, December 15. We will make a decision about activities by noon tomorrow. Take care and stay safe!
***UPDATE
The suspect is in custody per the Oneida County Sheriff's Department. Further details will be posted when they are available.
MAN ON THE RUN FROM AUTHORITIES
Oneida County authorities are looking for a 32 year-old man who reportedly stole two vehicles.
According to a press release from the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, officers with the Minocqua police department attempted to make contact with Cody Huebner who entered a vehicle and a pursuit began.
The press release states after stealing another vehicle, Huebner took off on foot into the woods with a gun and is on foot in the Cassian area on South Shore Road near Landing Resort.
Capt. Teri Hook with the sheriff's office said in the press release Huebner "is believed to be armed and dangerous."
'Please lock your doors and call 911 if you see anyone suspicious," Hook said. "There is a heavy police presence in this area. Please avoid if possible." - The Lakeland Times
Dear SDR Families,
Our goal is for school to remain open throughout the day today, but we will keep an eye on the weather and will make adjustments as needed. All activities this evening are cancelled and the District buildings will be closed at 3:30 pm today. This includes the Hodag Dome.
Sincerely,
SDR Administration
SCHOOL CLOSED 3/30/22...
Due to ice and sleet on the roads, all schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed on Wednesday, March 30.
A decision about after-school activities will be made later today.
BE SAFE!
RHS GIRLS' SWIM TEAM TAKES 2ND AT STATE
WAUKESHA - Malia Francis is officially the most decorated champion in Rhinelander High School history and the Hodag girls' swim team has once again left the WIAA Division 2 state meet with some hardware.
Francis won the 100-yard backstroke and the 200 individual medley, the Hodags had six top-six finishes overall and the team ended the state runners-up on Friday night.
Madison Edgewood, which opted out due to COVID-19 concerns last fall when the Hodags won the WIAA D2 state title, earned their seventh straight state championship, but Rhinelander was best in class, beating Baraboo by 32 points for the runner-up spot.
Francis secured the D2 state record in the 100 backstroke, with a time of 54.39 seconds, beating Autumn Haebig's 2016 mark by 0.26 seconds. Francis also won the 200 IM at a 2:03.91, the fifth-fastest time in D2 state history.
The Hodags took second in the 200 medley relay, third in the 400 freestyle relay and fourth in the 200 freestyle relay. Abi Winnicki added Rhinelander's sixth podium finish, taking sixth in the 100 freestyle.
A full report will be published in Tuesday River News.
(Photo: Bob Mainhardt)
BREAKING: Crescent Elementary students and staff required to mask up for two weeks
School District of Rhinelander superintendent Eric Burke has announced masks will be mandatory at Crescent Elementary School for a period of two weeks due to rising COVID-19 infections.
In an email to parents sent at 2:41 p.m. Wednesday, Burke announced the following: "This past week we have seen positive COVID cases steadily rise at Crescent Elementary School. In consultation with our SDR nursing team, we have decided to require masking for all students, staff and visitors at Crescent Elementary School for a period of two weeks. We will evaluate the situation at Crescent on October 13th to determine how we proceed moving forward with masking."
The email notes the district remains focused on its goal of continuing in-person learning 5 days a week and "we believe it is important to use the required masking strategy at this time."
Masks will be available for all students and staff, the email states.
BREAKING: Plane reported down in Forest County
A plane reportedly went down in Forest County Tuesday morning after taking off from the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, according to airport director Matt Leitner.
“We got a call from the Minneapolis Center air traffic control facility probably about 9:30 a.m.,” Leitner said. “It (the plane) did depart out of here at about 8:45.”
At this point, Leitner said he doesn't know what type of plane it is or number of people on it. Lifelink dispatched an air ambulance helicopter at about 10:30 a.m., he said.
Attempts to get information from the Forest County Sheriff's Department were unsuccessful.
This is a developing story and will be update as more information becomes available.
BREAKING: Anderson arrested in Illinois
The main suspect in the murder of a Rhinelander woman earlier this summer is in custody.
According to Oneida County sheriff Grady Hartman, Christopher Terrell Anderson was arrested for the murder of Hannah Miller at approximately 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7 in Carol Stream, Ill.
The extradition process will begin and after completion, Anderson will be transferred to Oneida County, Hartman said.
Sheriff Hartman would like to thank the community for the donations to the reward fund and the law enforcement professionals who assisted us in this investigation. Information from a confidential informant led to the arrest, the release states.
Miller, 26, was found dead on a roadside in the Town of Pelican June 30.
UPDATE: Police ID victim in Oneida County homicide; request assistance from the public
The Oneida County sheriff's office has identified the person whose body was found on the side of River Bend Road in the Town of Pelican Wednesday morning as Hannah Miller, 26, of the Rhinelander area. Authorities say she died as a result of a firearm injury and are seeking the public's help in locating a suspect, Christopher Terrell Anderson.
"The suspect in this case is Christopher Terrell Anderson. He is sometimes called “DJ Bravo” or just “Bravo”. Anderson is a black male, 5’10”, 245 pounds."
Photos released yesterday showed Anderson with dreadlocks, but police believe he now has short hair. Anderson and Miller had a domestic relationship that included a common child. The child is safe.
The sheriff's office needs the public’s help with the following:
1) We need to locate both vehicles listed in this press release — a white 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport bearing Wisconsin license plate AJR9672 and a 2005 white Chrysler PT Cruiser with Minnesota license plate 187NXC.
2) We would like anyone who was in the area of State Highway 8 at River Bend Road
between approximately 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on June 30, 2021 to contact the Oneida
County Sheriff’s Office at 715-361-5201. A detective will follow up with you.
3) Anyone who is familiar with Anderson or has any information about Anderson is also asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
4) We would like the public to check their surveillance cameras at their residences (especially in the Town of Pelican area) to see if these vehicles are on them. If you see something of interest, please call us.
232 S Courtney Street
Rhinelander, WI
54501
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| Tuesday | 8am - 3pm |
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In celebration of Arbor Day, city forester Tom Jerow speaks about the importance of planting trees as well as a tree planting project that will take place along Brown Street this May. Stay tuned for a features story to follow in a future edition of the River News.
The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, the Rhinelander Fire Department and the Rhinelander Police Department, along with mutual aid, simulated a response scenario of an aircraft on fire Monday afternoon. The drill tested somewhere from 70 to 80 people overall in the emergency scenario.
Storm clouds rolling in to Rhinelander. Taken at Hwys. K & 47 last evening (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
