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$50,000 Cash Bond Ordered for Sawyer County Man Accused of Violent Assault

SAWYER COUNTY — The Court has ordered a $50,000 cash bail bond for a Sawyer County man who was convicted of felony strangulation and substantial battery in July 2026 and is facing a new round of serious felony charges following allegations of another violent assault. In addition to the...

Sawyer County, WI · 8h
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Minnesota Now

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Parts Of Northern Wisconsin Could See 3 Inches Of Snow This Week

Northern Wisconsin could see its first accumulating snowfall of the season, with up to 3 inches possible in parts of Iron and Ashland counties.

Wisconsin · 2d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Police Logs: Hostage situation on TV, man armed with umbrella

The police dispatch center receives several hundred calls weekly. The small sampling below shows their diversity. Sunday, Nov. 1 3:58 p.m. Received a 911 call from subject advising of a two-vehicle accident. Subject advised everyone appeared to be OK and she was no longer on scene. 4:11 p.m. Officer advised he drove through the area and did not locate anything. Unfounded. Sawyer St. & Main St., Rice Lake. Monday, Nov. 2 2:03 p.m. Caller says he thinks he is listening to a hostage situation. 2:04 p.m. Caller was hearing something about money and guns on people. 2:06 p.m. Caller could hear two subjects and two strange male voices. Does not think it is the TV. 2:07 p.m. Says there is a wheelchair bound person that he could hear grunting. 2:07 p.m. Caller thinks it is at a home on the resort property but he is not for sure. 2:08 p.m. Caller can no longer hear any sound on the phone. 2:09 p.m. There is a dog that subject let out while the caller was listening in. 2:12 p.m. Caller only hearing silence on the phone now, not hearing a dial tone or anything else. 2:18 p.m. Could hear subject now

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Man sentenced to prison on OWI-7, OWI-8 convictions

A Rice Lake man has received consecutive prison sentences after being convicted on two drunken driving charges. Brian S. Menter, 54, was charged on both Oct. 27, 2025, and March 30, 2026, in Barron County Circuit Court with felony operating while under the influence (seventh, eighth or ninth offense) from separate incidents. The defendant pleaded guilty to an OWI-7 and an OWI-8 charge on Aug. 31. Counts of operating with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration (BAC) filed in both cases, and charges of bail jumping filed on March 30, were dismissed but read into the record. Menter was recorded as having a 0.235 BAC, which is nearly three times the legal limit, in the 2025 OWI-7 case. Judge Maureen Boyle sentenced him to serve six years in the prison system, with three years of initial confinement followed by three years of extended supervision. Menter’s BAC was recorded at 0.182, which is more than double the legal limit, in the 2026 OWI-8 case. Boyle sentenced him to seven years, with four years of confinement and three years of extended supervision. He is to maintain absolute sobriety and his driver’s license was revoked for 36 months. The sentences are to be served

Rice Lake, WI · 11h

Sawyer County Record

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Winter school referendum approved, Town of Hayward proposal rejected

Winter School District voters on Tuesday Nov. 3 passed an operational funding referendum by a vote of 1,174 ‘Yes’ to 546 ‘No.’ The school, with a current enrollment of approximately 220 students, is facing an $890,000 deficit to balance the budget, driven by declining enrollment and flat state funding. The school district has taken from their fund balance, but that will be depleted by next year. The Nov. 3 referendum asked voters to approve an additional $1.5 million for each of the next four years beginning in 2026-27. Funds would be used for costs associated with school safety, sustaining or updating curriculum and programs, deferred facility maintenance and staffing. According to an information booklet published by the school, “We cannot continue to provide essential programs and curriculum, continue with deferred maintenance projects, hire, develop, and retain quality staff members within the District’s allowable revenue limit.” Town of Hayward Town of Hayward voters rejected a facilities referendum proposal asking if the town should borrow up to $9 million to renovate the existing town hall and build a new fire station and highway department facility, with a vote of 1,067 ‘No’ to 657 ‘Yes.’ Sawyer County Other Sawyer County vote totals from

Hayward, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Property Committee dims on campus solar array proposal

The Barron County Property Committee, at its Monday, Nov. 9, meeting, indefinitely tabled pursuing a solar array project at UW-Eau Claire — Barron County, opting to keep the green space as is rather than filling it with solar panels to potentially raise funds for the university and county. The committee members had a copy of a Solar Feasibility Study that was prepared by Upper 90, a Centrix Company. According to the study’s executive summary, the county and campus engaged in the firm to evaluate the feasibility of a ground-mounted solar array on undeveloped county-owned land at the campus at 1800 College Drive, Rice Lake. The study was funded by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. It presented two options, both of which would generate more electricity than the entire campus currently uses in a year. The second option would generate roughly three times campus usage. The study said the array site — east of the main campus — appears workable as it sits away from the Red Cedar River mitigating DNR shoreline/floodplain concerns. It stated that the main obstacles would include relocating a portion of the adjacent disc golf course and installing a security fencing

Barron County, WI · 1d

Sawyer County Record

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Hayward Chamber presents annual business, service awards

The Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce held their 26th annual membership awards banquet Thursday Nov. 5 at The Steakhouse & Lodge. The Chamber recognized the outstanding businesses, individuals, and organizations whose dedication, leadership and contributions help make the Hayward area a special place to live, work and play. In a speech titled “Keep the Standard High, Hayward,” Chamber Executive Director Chris Ruckdaschel said that “What makes a community special isn’t simply what it has. It’s what its people choose to do with what they have.” Ruckdaschel said that prior to moving here from Indianapolis 11 years ago, “Like so many others, we already loved this area as a vacation destination. We knew about the lakes, the forests, the trails, and the natural beauty. “But what we didn’t fully appreciate at the time was something that I would argue is even more special,” he said: —“The people who make this community what it is. —“The business owners who take risks to pursue their dreams. —“The employees who take pride in their work. —“The volunteers who show up, year after year, without expecting recognition. —“And the organizations and individuals who quietly make a difference in the lives of others. “Sometimes we’re so

Hayward, WI · 1d

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Voters give some Wisconsin school districts a financial lifeline, others face dire cuts

Voters in Sawyer County kept the small, rural school district of Winter alive by passing an operational referendum in the November midterm election. District leaders were preparing to dissolve the district if voters had rejected the tax levy increase. Other districts that failed referendums are facing the same threat, as...

Wisconsin · 4h

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Peterson, Hightower win first place in Patriot’s Pen essay contest

The Rice Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post has announced the top three winners from each of two schools in its annual Patriot’s Pen essay contest. The theme of the contest was “What a veteran taught me about America.” The winners were awarded plaques and monetary prizes at the Veterans Day program at Rice Lake Middle School. Winners from Rice Lake Middle School, are Tanzania Hightower, first; Ana Luz Jevne, second; and Aadisyn Grove, third. Placing in the top three from St. Joseph School in Rice Lake are Michael Peterson, first; Mary Smith, second; and Elise Williams, third. The first-place winners received $150; second-place winners were awarded $100; and third-place winners were given $75. Peterson will advance to District 9 competition in December.

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Rice Lake’s Schmidt signs commitment to UW-Green Bay

For Rice Lake High School senior Addison Schmidt, she’s always dreamed of playing a sport in college. She’s not only going to get to do that, but she’ll be playing two. At a ceremony at Ole Olsen Gym on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Schmidt signed her letter of intent to join both the basketball and volleyball programs at UW-Green Bay. “I’m definitely really excited about it,” Schmidt said. “It’s definitely been one of my goals to play one or even two sports at the next level, so finding the right place for me that just so happened to be DI at two levels is super exciting and fun.” The three-sport standout for the Warriors has competed at the state level and earned all-conference honors in three sports — basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Schmidt wrapped up her high school volleyball career last month as the program’s leader in both kills (1,271) and blocks (396). She has twice earned second team all-conference honors, and this season was named to the first team. Schmidt was a Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association All-State honorable mention as a sophomore and junior and this year was an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region selection. As of her

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

Sawyer County Record

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Hayward Veteran of Year event honors veterans, supporters

American Legion Post 218 held their annual Veterans Day dinner and recognition program Saturday Nov. 7 at the Hayward Veterans Community Center. They honored Jamie Principe as Veteran of the Year, Theresa Moore as Veterans Auxiliary Member of the Year and Tim Conner for his work with the Sons of the American Legion. Hayward High School graduate and Wisconsin Army National Guard Sgt. Cody Jensen spoke about his service during the current war in the Middle East, as his unit came under fire earlier this year from bomb-carrying Iranian drones while stationed in Bahrain. Jensen enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard combat engineers in January 2009 and served for nine years. He re-enlisted twice starting in 2021. In December 2025, he deployed to Kuwait with Bravo Battery of the 121st Field Artillery in support of Operation Epic Fury. While stationed in Bahrain—a “beautiful country”—in February this year, his unit “took incoming” fire from the enemy, from 200 tactical ballistic missiles and 350 Shahed drones, which are like “flying lawn mowers with 150 pounds of explosives,” Jensen said. “After 230 bunker calls, we stopped counting.” “Thankfully, none of the U.S. service members were killed in action,” Jensen said. “Unfortunately, our

Hayward, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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‘Reflection, appreciation, learning’ all part of Veterans Day program

Rice Lake Middle School once again hosted a Veterans Day program on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the school gym. It included remarks from the principal, music by the band and choir, words of thanks and refreshments by the student council, presentation of Honor Banners to veterans and their families, Patriot’s Pen essays, a rifle salute and a surprise $1,000 donation from the Golden K Club to the Rice Lake Honor Guard. Middle School Principal Josh Tomesh gave a welcome address in which he, in part, said, “Veteran’s Day is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s a time of reflection, appreciation, and learning. For our students, it’s an opportunity to understand that the liberty and peace we experience were secured through the selfless acts of countless individuals who put others before themselves. It’s also a chance for us to instill in our young people a deep sense of patriotism, gratitude, and respect for those who have served and continue to serve.” Tomesh said, “May we remember that honoring our veterans isn’t just something we do once a year — it’s something we carry with us every day, in the way we treat one another,

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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School Board hears that Booster Club could use a ‘boost’ in members

The Rice Lake Board of Education heard an update on the All Sports Booster Club at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, including its need for a boost in membership. School Board Member Nellie Scheurer, said she is among just a few — two of them whose kids have already graduated — who make up the Booster Club, which meets on the first Wednesday of every month during the school year at 5 p.m. in the south lobby of the high school. It sometimes meets during the summer. She said there has been some confusion on what the Booster Club does and does not fund, so she wanted to clear that up and hope an update inspires more parents of athletes to join the club. Most recently the Booster Club funded a Salute to Service and flyover before a home football game at the beginning of October. “Why?” she asked. “Because it is the right thing to do to recognize those who have dedicated their lives to the service of others. No, it is not necessarily an athletics-related event, but it is a community-centered one and giving back to the community is an important message to teach kids.” Scheurer said

Rice Lake, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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High school commends top students in first term

Rice Lake High School has announced the names of students who received Outstanding Student Achievement Awards for the first term. Student are chosen by faculty based on cooperation, effort, attitude and dedication to discipline. The students include Ella Kodesh in art, Matthew Albakal in health, Kailyn Durand in business education, Trinity Ekblad and Trevor Beffa in family/consumer education, Delaina Bowen in language arts, Hunter Boehme and Hugo Acevedo-Sanchez in mathematics, Trevor Beffa in music, Madaline Handorf and Vincent Bertrand in physical education, Ella Smith in science, Isaiah Lancaster in social studies, Eva Schradle and Autumn Wilcox in world languages, James Ellis in agriculture, Lexi Quinn in technology education and Ivy Leach in Warriors On Wisconsin.

Rice Lake, WI · 11h

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Rusk County Man Facing OWI 5th Offense Charge After Report of Suspected Drunk Driver

RUSK COUNTY — A reported sighting of a possibly intoxicated driver at a Ladysmith, WI, Kwik Trip led to an August 2026 traffic stop that resulted in another OWI charge for a 62-year-old Ladysmith man with four prior drunk-driving convictions. According to court records, Officers located Terry Sorensen (62),...

Rusk County, WI · 1d

Rice Lake Chronotype

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Voter turnout drops in Barron County compared with 2024

Voter turnout was down compared with 2024, when President Donald Trump was on the ballot for the third time and won his second four-year term as president. In 2024, 73% of eligible voters and 94% of registered voters cast ballots in Barron County. This year was different. Barron County’s voter turnout was 57% of registered voters and 35% of eligible voters voting either in person or absentee at this midterm election, said County Clerk Jessica Hodek. All of the county’s unofficial results were posted by 10 p.m. on Nov. 3, Hodek said, and the county vote was to be certified at a Board of Canvas meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The city of Rice Lake, the town of Maple Grove, and the town of Sumner will be participating in voting equipment audits for this election cycle, said the county clerk. They are to be completed by the municipal clerk and poll workers before Nov. 25. “These audits comply with state and federal guidelines by comparing hand count results of selected races to the machine counts,” Hodek said. Rice Lake voters numbered 3,363. The city started out the day with 4,886 registered voters, and 228 registered on election day, Clerk-Treasurer Julie

Barron County, WI · 1d