Elderon, WI

Homicide charges have been filed in connection with the February overdose death of a 38-year-old Wausau man whose body was discovered by his mother in their shared apartment. Leanna M. Wells, 41, faces a single charge of first-degree reckless homicide filed June 17 in Marathon County Circuit Court. Wells is accusing of delivering fentanyl and heroin to the man, who was also taking prescribed oxycodone, court documents show.

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - No one was injured after a fiery car crash in Wausau on Monday morning. The Wausau Fire Department responded to a crash on N 6th Street between Horseshoe Spring Road and Golf Club Road after a car crashed and rolled into the creek along N. 6th Street. It happened around 10:30 a.m. The location is south of bb Jacks.

A man and child escaped unharmed from a vehicle that veered off a Wausau road and into a creek before starting on fire, officials said. Police and rescue crews were called at about 10:30 a.m. Monday to the 900 block of Golf Club Road, just off Sixth Street and north of Horseshoe Spring Road for a report of a crash. Witnesses reported hearing a child screaming before the fire erupted, according to emergency scanner traffic.

Patsy “Pat” L. McCarthy, age 92 of Clintonville, died on Friday, June 24 surrounded by her family. She was telling stories up until she breathed her last breath. Pat was born on July 24, 1929 in Clintonville, WI to Charles and Dola Plopper. On May 16, 1953 she married Daniel McCarthy at the First United Methodist Church in Marion. The couple lived in Beaver Dam for 1 year and then moved to Clintonville. Pat served her beloved city of Clintonville in so many ways. She humbly served on the Clintonville School Board for nearly 30 years, the last several years as president. One of her greatest loves was serving as a Sunday School Teacher at Clintonville United Methodist Church for 40 years. Over the years she volunteered on many church committees, blood drives, meals on wheels, and her children’s scout troops when they were young. She just loved children of all shapes, sizes, “ages” and colors. She continued to send cheerful notes and cards adorned with stickers throughout her life to anyone who might need a smile. Her grandchildren were her greatest love. She sent out monthly care packages to each grandchild while in college including homemade cookies, carrot cake, baked beans and mashed potatoes. Their collegiate roommates were as excited for the care packages to arrive as they were. She had a bottomless “Bingo Bag” which was filled with treats for the winner of each round. As they got older, playing Bingo was no longer required to get a prize! Pat was always up for attending whatever music, sport, scout, church or school activity she was able to get to. She even traveled 7.5 hours to attend a 1 hour kindergarten presentation! Later in life she enjoyed traveling wherever her children wanted to take her. There are many stories of various (mis)adventures that happened on vacations to Israel, Finland, Russia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hawaii and various national parks around the US. Whenever her grandchildren moved, she wanted to see the “new spot.” Pat’s friends were so important to her and she loved the laughs they had together and the many lunch outings to the area restaurants for which she was often the driver.

A Wausau man who spent three years in prison for his most recent prior drunken driving conviction is behind bars Monday after a crash led to his arrest, court records show. Marathon County Jail intake records show Gregg B. Kandutsch, 62, is being held on a preliminary charge of seventh-offense operating while intoxicated after an arrest by the Wausau Police Department.

TOWN OF PINE RIVER - A police pursuit on Sunday ended with a Merrill man in custody. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the incident began with a traffic stop for a registration violation initiated by Merrill Police. The driver fled out of the city on Highway 64 into the Town of Pine River.

STEVENS POINT – A Portage County judge found enough evidence Monday to continue a criminal case against a man charged with selling methamphetamine that killed another man. Mathew B. Leffel, 41, of Plover, faces charges of first-degree reckless homicide by the delivery of methamphetamine and methamphetamine delivery. Leffel's next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 19. Leffel had a preliminary hearing Monday in front of Portage County Circuit Judge Patricia Baker. ...

Wausau School Board member Ka Lo on Monday resigned her position, effective immediately, citing the “toxicity, disrespect and indifference” she says she endured by some of her colleagues and their friends. In a statement shared with Wausau Pilot & Review and other media outlets, Lo said she contemplated...

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed another tornado touchdown from the June 15 storms across Wisconsin. The NWS says an EF-1 tornado touched down in Manawa just before 6 p.m. that evening, with peak winds of 90 mph. The tornado was on the ground for 3.1 miles with a maximum width of 120 yards.

WAUSAU – A 39-year-old Weston woman pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that she gave heroin to a Kronenwetter man who overdosed and died last July. Lyndy R. Lucas faces charges of first-degree reckless homicide by the delivery of drugs, narcotic drugs possession and drug paraphernalia possession. She waived her right to a preliminary hearing, which would have forced prosecutors to prove they have enough evidence to show a crime probably happened and Lucas probably did it.   ...

Wausau Finance Director MaryAnne Groat is suggesting a referendum to determine the best use of contaminated property eyed as a potential site for a new facility maintenance shop despite the majority of the council already removing it from consideration. The suggestion came on the heels of a statement by Dist....

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Most of the time, the news of a pregnancy is planned, exciting and something to look forward to. Other times it’s unexpected and can be devasting. A Wausau organization wants women to know, no matter their initial feelings, that there is support. Hope Life Center...

ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) — The Village of Rothschild is looking for a new Administrator. WSAU News has learned Gary Olsen resigned his position for a new career opportunity. His last day with the Village was May 30th. Village Clerk Elizabeth Felkner says the Village has contracted with Public Administration...

Wausau School Board member Ka Lo resigned from her elected position Monday, effective immediately. Lo said she is stepping down to pursue "an opportunity" outside the Wausau area.  She wrote in...

Three Wausau Police officers were honored Monday with Life Saving Awards for preventing attempted suicides in the city. Officers Aaron Karlen, Claire Aschenbrenner, and Josiah Kaetterhenry were given the awards by Chief Benjamin Bliven at a regular meeting of the Wausau Police and Fire Commission on Monday. Bliven shared details...

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The Wausau Woodchucks (14-15) took on the Lakeshore Chinooks (14-15) on a beautiful Monday night at Athletic Park. The Woodchucks’ bats got off to a slow start, only having three hits during the first five innings. Chucks pitcher Ben Abernathy (WVU) held down the fort, powering through a fast five innings with four strikeouts and only giving up two runs during the bottom of the 2nd to the Chinooks.

A pair of public safety issues in Portage and Marathon Counties will be discussed on Tuesday. First, the Stevens Point City Council and Police and Fire Commission will both consider an agreement to provide fire protection services for the Village of Park Ridge beginning later this week. The Village board...

Last year, Beloit director of food and nutrition Dawn Smith got a call from one of the high schools telling her that the chicken nuggets they'd prepared that day were the worst they'd ever tasted. "I thought, it's got to be a preparation issue, and I went out and said...

The Riverfront Arts Center has opened its 23rd annual “Visions” fine art exhibit. “Visions XXIII” is an open theme juried exhibit with $600 in cash prizes. This year the show was juried by Diane Bywaters, professor emeritus of art, and former department chair at the UW-Stevens Point where she taught drawing and painting for 30 years. Her selections are currently displayed throughout the gallery.