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Recent Stories
Former school janitor wants sexual assault conviction vacated
Alleges state failed to preserve key video evidence
A former elementary school custodian convicted of pulling a fifth-grade student into a closet and touching her inappropriately has asked an appeals court to vacate his conviction,
SDR educators offer feedback on target-based grading
One semester in, School District of Rhinelander educators recently told the board of education they believe the district is “on the right path” as students, staff and parents adjust to target-based grading. The board’s Feb. 17 meeting featured an update on district’s move from traditional grading to the new assessment method which involves evaluating student performance based on specific learning targets.

District officials explain funding issues, decision to go to referendum
School District of Rhinelander officials have answers for local voters who have questions about the upcoming operational referendum vote on April 1. During an informational meeting at the Hodag Dome Wednesday morning, district superintendent Eric Burke and finance director Bob Thom explained that Rhinelander, like a number of other northern Wisconsin school districts, is headed to referendum due to rising costs, an “outdated and inequitable” funding formula and a lack of state aid to public schools.
Plaintiffs in PFAS lawsuit call defense motion an ‘overreach’
Attorneys for the town of Stella property owners who allege the current and former owners of the Rhinelander paper mill are responsible for PFAS contamination detected in their drinking wells have responded to a recent defense motion to compel discovery.
City council to participate in ethics training
The Rhinelander Common Council will participate in an ethics training session at the recommendation of the city’s independent ethics committee. Ethics committee chairman Dr. Michael Miller explained the concept during the council’s Feb. 10 meeting.

Rhinelander High School senior to play Eponine in ‘Les Mis’
Rhinelander High School senior Elena Larson is set to take the stage this evening as Eponine Thenardier in a Central Wisconsin Children’s Theater production of “Les Miserable: School Edition” at the James Veninga Theatre on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Wausau campus.
Defendants in Stella PFAS lawsuit file motion to compel
The companies defending themselves against a drinking water contamination lawsuit filed by a group of Town of Stella property owners have asked a federal judge to compel all named plaintiffs to respond to requests for production of documents.

A Trip Back in Time
Time capsule provides glimpse of community’s health care history
No matter its size, the role of a hospital in any community cannot be overstated. It’s where the vast majority of townspeople will take their first breath and where many will draw their last. From panicked visits to the emergency room to routine checkups and screenings, visits to the hospital are part of every person’s life.

Bond reduced for Michigan man accused of threatening judge, newspaper publisher
A Michigan man accused of making threats against an Oneida County judge and a newspaper publisher is free after posting $2,000 in cash. Court records show Peter Thomas Gruich was released from custody on Tuesday after Judge Leon Stenz of Forest County agreed to reduce his bond from $40,000 to $2,000 cash.
DOJ identifies sheriff’s deputy, driver involved in fatal Newbold incident
The Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has identified the Oneida County sheriff’s deputy and driver involved in a traffic incident in Newbold earlier this month that resulted in the driver’s death.