97.5 W F H R and 105.5 W I R I. Your Wisconsin Rapids Home for locally grown radio. Here's
your Daily News Roundup.
From the Wisconsin Rapids local newsroom, I'm Melissa K. For Christmassy, we're going
to rewind to a few weeks ago when they lit the holiday tree at the state capital, Savanna
Tomay Olson reports.
You know it's the holiday season when there's a big tree in the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Every year there's a special ceremony to turn on the lights. The lacrosse central high
school band had the honor of kicking things off.
This year's celebration centered around the governor's proclamation that 2025 is the
year of the kid. The tree's called the learning tree and honors students and educators all
over Wisconsin. The guests of honor included Mr. Pena, its real name Rodney Esser, who's
been the custodian at Park Elementary School and Cross Plains for 61 years.
I just love what I do. Every morning these little people will come into school and it
isn't limited just the little people who throw hugs at me and high fives and fist bumps
staff as well.
Green Bay West High School teacher Ellie Heinz-Ruduit talked about what's kept her going after
more than three decades.
Thirty-six years in the classroom, I think you can trust me when I say it's love.
The 30-foot tall balsam fur came from farmers in Oconto County. It's decorated with hundreds
of ornaments made by students from all over the state. Elmer Moore, Jr., the executive
director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, got to do the countdown.
Three, two, one.
The tree usually stays in the capital rotunda through New Year's Day. Happy holidays from
all of us at Civic Media News.
Hunter Tony Evers has extended the energy emergency in the state of Wisconsin. Because
of persistent challenges caused by a pipeline disruption within the Midwestern Pipeline
Distribution System, as well as high demand for residential heating fuel, this executive
order will support the swift and efficient delivery of heating oil and propane throughout
the state. According to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin's Office of Energy
Innovation, multiple suppliers are still experiencing challenges with having to drive further
distances to collect needed supplies. This emergency declaration extends the waiver of
certain state and federal hours of service and adds a waiver to state weight limit restrictions.
This will allow suppliers to get caught up from the pipeline and weather-related delays.
The waiver remains an effect through January 16th.
Avian Influenza is still active in the nation and in Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
has confirmed highly pathogenic Avian Influenza in 27 states with 70 cases in poultry and
two cases in livestock in two states, including Wisconsin. Officials in the state are testing
milk samples at the farm level for the mandatory USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
National Milk Testing Strategy. While they decrease the frequency of testing by 50% in
October, they'll now resume testing at 100% statewide. This means each farm will be tested
approximately every month. DATCP encourages livestock and poultry farmers to remain vigilant
and utilize enhanced biosecurity measures to protect their herds and flocks. The agency
continues to work with state and federal partners, veterinarians and producers to prevent
the further spread of Avian Influenza to Wisconsin's dairies.
Wisconsin's finances are still in the black. Governor Evers says the state ended its fiscal
year with a nearly $4 billion surplus. The rainy day fund also hit a record $2 billion
dollars, according to the state's annual financial report released in December. The state
is paying down long-term debt and is maintaining its AAA bond rating.
The elk hunting season wrapped up last week in the state and the Wisconsin DNR is celebrating
the state's eighth managed hunt. The season opened on October 18 and concluded on December
19, 13 lucky state hunters participated in this year's hunt randomly selected from
more than 26,000 applicants. Hunters can start applying for next year's hunt in March.
This winter so far has been colder than recent winters, and power companies say that will
translate to higher energy bills for customers. The Wisconsin Public Service published its
winter heating bill outlook last week. It said typical heating bills will be about
$13 higher per month than last winter. In addition to the colder weather, the WPS
cites higher natural gas costs as a cause of the increase.
There's a free fishing opportunity next month. The Wisconsin DNR is encouraging people
to take advantage of the annual winter free fishing weekend in January. It will take
place across the state on January 17 and 18. The goal of the event is to get more families
and newcomers interested in this sport out on the ice. During the free fishing weekend,
you won't need to buy a fishing license or stamps to participate. You can find more information
on the event and winter fishing safety tips on the DNR's website.
Local news at the top and bottom of every hour throughout the day or on demand any time
at WFHR.com and WIRI.FM. From the Wisconsin Rabbits local newsroom, I'm Melissa K.
The box rolled past the Pacers. Hi, I'm I Clemens with sports NBA. Ryan Rollins had 23 points.
Kevin Porter Jr. with 24 as the box beat the Pacers in Indy, 111 to 94. Milwaukee able to snap a
three game losing streak. Head coach Doc Rivers on what made the difference against Indiana.
We just kept playing, you know. We made shots, thought we defended overall. So it's
ended the day. This league. I think if you watch the people come back every night,
three point line and people the way people are scoring, there's no lead that is safe in this league.
It just isn't. And that's a good lesson for us. I thought we stopped playing the right way for
stretches and then no stretches. I thought Indiana made some hay. So the bucks have Christmas
off then had the Memphis to play the Grizzlies Friday night. NFL Packers holding practice to get ready
for the Ravens. Quarterback Jordan Love continues in the concussion protocol. Badgers football,
Dylan Jones opting to leave Wisconsin. The freshman running back and bouncing. He's
entering the transfer portal with sports on my clements. Mostly cloudy with a little patchy
drizzle here today. Our high in the mid to upper 30s this afternoon tonight. Mostly cloudy.
We'll drop to the upper 20s to low 30s for it overnight. Low tomorrow will be mostly cloudy
with a high in the low to mid 30s. I meet a urologist, Sean Cable.
That's your Wisconsin Rapids News Roundup from WRI and WFHR locally grown radio.
Find more news anytime at WFHR.com and WRI.FM.
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