Motorcyclist Dead After Crash in Wisconsin Rapids
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) - The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department is investigating a deadly crash that occurred around 7:00 P.M, Friday evening. According to a press release, the accident happened on State Highway 54 at the intersection of Washington Street, as a vehicle turned west towards Bakers Drive. The car...
May 19, 2024
Dale's Weston Lanes Named Host Venue for 2025 USBC Junior Gold Championships
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau-area bowling alley will be one of eight venues that will host the 2025 US Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships. The Visit Wausau Convention and Visitor's Bureau made the announcement on Friday, two days after the USBC formally awarded the tournament to the Green Bay area. The Ashwaub...
May 18, 2024
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Commencement Weekend at UWSP
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) -- More than one thousand students will join the rank of alumni this weekend at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. According to the University 1,200 students will earn their associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees in two separate ceremonies. One begins at 9:30 AM, the othe...
May 17, 2024
Stevens Point Area School District looks for donations to pay off lunch debt
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - $25,000 dollars is a lot of money, and that's the amount of lunch debt students in Stevens Point are facing. The school district has been running a program called Money for Meals for the last two years to try to bring that number down. An area business called Express Employment Professi...
May 16, 2024
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Bowen Released on Bond Following Court Hearing
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) -- Riverside Fire Department Chief Robert Bowen has posted a $15,000 cash bond and is now free while he awaits formal charges for child enticement. WAOW TV reports that Bowen appeared in front of Judge Rick Cveykus on Thursday for a probable cause hearing. Details of the criminal complaint have a...
May 16, 2024
Northwoods Man Accused of Stealing Public Funds Will go to Trial
ANTIGO, WI (WSAU) -- A Langlade County man accused of stealing more than $300,000 from a township and rural fire department will go to trial after the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Thursday. Gary Kieper of Antigo is accused of taking the funds and depositing them in his personal bank accounts over sever...
May 16, 2024
State of Affairs Ep. 16 Waukesha County Republican Party Chair Terry Dittrich Talks State RNC Campaign
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) - State of Affairs episode sixteen is now available, featuring Waukesha County Republican County Chair Terry Dittrich joining the program to discuss his campaign to be the next National Committeeman for Wisconsin and what he thinks needs to change for the party to end their string of close defeats. Wh...
May 16, 2024
Riverside Fire Chief Placed on Paid Administrative Leave Amid Child Enticement Investigation
ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) -- Rothschild Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle has confirmed that Riverside Fire District Chief Robert Bowen has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest this week. VanDeWalle says the decision came after an emergency closed-session meeting Wednesday morning, adding that there is...
May 15, 2024
"Monk" Returns- Garden Board Announces Return to Monk Botanical Gardens Brand
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Leaders of Monk Botanical Gardens have apologized after their brief name change caused significant public backlash the last few weeks. In yet another carefully worded press release, leaders said they are dropping their now-former branding to ensure that Robert W. Monk's legacy remains front and cen...
May 15, 2024
Village Of Kronenwetter Set To Hire Peter Kampfer As Next Village Administrator
KRONENWETTER, WI (WSAU) - The village of Kronenwetter will soon have a new village administrator. According to village president Chris Voll, Peter Kampfer has accepted the position and will start in early June, with a specific date to be announced later. While speaking about the need to plan for the future of the villa...
May 15, 2024
Riverside fire chief arrested for child enticement
ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) - Riverside Fire District Chief Robert Bowen was arrested this week, according to multiple reports. The 52-year-old is facing a felony child enticement/sexual contact charge and is currently listed on the Marathon County Jail roster. He's scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. ...
May 15, 2024
Wausau to Send Police Officers to Milwaukee for This Summer's RNC, Council Calls for Meeting on Homelessness
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau's finest will be heading to Milwaukee to help secure the 2024 Republican National Convention. Both the Finance Committee and City Council approved an intergovernmental services agreement with the City of Milwaukee for the event. Chief Matt Barnes says eight to ten members of his force will p...
May 15, 2024
Lincoln County Man Accused of Abuse for Biting His Child
MERRILL, WI (WSAU) -- A Lincoln County man is accused of child abuse for biting his child as a form of punishment, according to a police report. Officers arrested Jared Ollhoff at his place of employment last week for one felony count of child abuse causing great bodily harm after a report from a Milwaukee-area hospita...
May 14, 2024
Department of Labor Files Complaint Against NCHC Regarding Denied Overtime Pay
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau-based North Central Health Care has been accused of denying overtime pay for managers in the North Central Community Services Program and Affiliates community treatment program. According to a news release from the US Department of Labor current and former case managers reported off-the-cloc...
May 14, 2024
Senate Minority Leader McConnell Calls For Extra Security Measures For Milwaukee's RNC Convention
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has requested that the U.S. Secret Service add more security measures to their Milwaukee RNC Convention plan. Republican leaders expect intense protests and demonstrations to occur during the convention. According to the New York Post, McConnell expressed hi...
May 14, 2024
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Wausau Police Data Shows Drop In Crime Rate Since 2023
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - A new report shows traffic citations and warnings have continued to drop significantly since 2019. According to Wausau Police Chief Matt Barnes, while the numbers are important, he believes this is more for holding the department accountable to the community, saying, "Every police departme...
May 14, 2024
State Senators to Override Governor Evers' Vetoes of Four Bills
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate will vote to override four recent vetoes by Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Senator Mary Felzkowski of Tomahawk and Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee made the announcement at Wausau City Hall on Monday as part of a series of statewide press conferences. Felzkowski says the...
May 13, 2024
Buffalo on the loose
OGDENSBURG, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - A buffalo is on the loose in Waupaca County north of Ogdensburg, according to the Waupaca County Sheriff's Office. In a Facebook post the sheriff's office said: The buffalo has been spotted on County Highway E North of Ogdensburg. Use caution when driving on the roadway in the area. If you ...
May 13, 2024
Wausau Man Found Guilty of His 7th OWI
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau man will serve prison time after he was found guilty of his 7th OWI earlier this month. Dennis Campbell was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and another 5.5 years on extended supervision for the August 2022 incident, which started when Campbell crashed his vehicle near the intersection of ...
May 13, 2024
Wausau River District Names New Executive Director
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- The Wausau River District has named a Wausau native as its next Executive Director. Callie Wulk will take over the position after it was vacated by Blake Opal-Wahoske earlier this spring. Wulk previously served as Director of Outreach for the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation, a posit...
May 13, 2024
Wisconsin Rapids VFW Looking For Volunteers To Help Place Flags At Cemeteries
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) - Volunteers are needed by the Wisconsin Rapids VFW to place flags at over 3,300 cemeteries before Memorial Day. On Saturday, May 18, at 9:45 a.m., volunteers are asked to gather at Forest Hill Mausoleum to place American flags on veterans' headstones in three of the bigger Wisconsin Rapids ...
May 13, 2024
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Mayors Monday: Stevens Point's Mike Wiza
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) -- Count Mayor Mike Wiza among the fans of the new Stevens Point Brewery taproom and gift shop. The $1.1 million remodel of the historic building opened earlier this month. Wiza says he's impressed with the attention to detail the design received, especially considering the age and historic nat...
May 13, 2024
Stevens Point Works to Gather Procceeds to Open First-Ever Cat Cafe
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) -- In the year 1998, Taipei Tawain opened the first ever cat cafe to the world. It became popular among tourists causing Japan to open one in Osaka in 2004. The trend began to spread worldwide to countries like Korea, Austria, Spain, Hungary, Germany France, and the United Kingdom. The US tho...
May 12, 2024
Boating Season Safety Reminders
LAKE DUBAY, Wis. (WAOW-WSAU) -- The weather is getting warmer, which means it's time to get the boat ready and hit the open water. Before venturing the waters though, take pause and remember to practice safe boating protocols. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that in 2023, Wisconsin had the highes...
May 12, 2024
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Internal conflicts among Kronenwetter village leaders
KRONENWETTER, WI (WSAU-WAOW) - There has been a lot of conflict in the Kronenwetter Village Hall over the past several years including lawsuits, complaints, resignations, and more. Administrator Leonard Ludi put in his resignation last week and opened one of the highest chairs in Village Hall, which has been open sever...
May 12, 2024