The Star News

11/08/2025

Congratulations Rib Lake Volleyball

🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS 🏆

Rib Lake has claimed the WIAA Division 5 Volleyball State Championship with a 3-1 win over Newman Catholic! This is Rib Lake’s first team state title in any sport since 1999, and it is the first time a girls team has won a state championship in school history!

Congratulations to the team and coaches on such an incredible accomplishment! We know how much hard work has gone into making this possible!

We’re bringing home a gold ball!

10/27/2025

Gilman Area Residents:
TRICK OR TREATING TIME HAS MOVED TO 4-6 PM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 IN THE VILLAGE OF GILMAN!
Due to the Football game at 7 PM and extra traffic beforehand, village leader are thinking of the kids safety walking around the community.

10/25/2025

Spooky Trail is going on. Entrance off of Allman St across from the Pine Line Trail

10/22/2025

The talented folks at Aspirus Medford Hospital have been busy working on their annual pumpkin decorating contest. The competition is between departments at the hospital and this year's theme was "food." The pumpkins are displayed in the lobby of the hospital and hospital visitors have until Friday to visit the hospital and vote for their favorite pumpkin art.

10/21/2025

October 21, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

On Monday, October 20th, 2025, at approximately 2:03 AM, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle rollover accident on County Road C near Wood Lake Avenue in the Township of Rib Lake, Taylor County. It was further reported that there was an injured female passenger still inside the vehicle.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to the scene, along with Taylor County First Responders, and Rib Lake Fire and Ambulance personnel. Upon arrival, a sport utility style vehicle was located rolled onto its side in the ditch with extensive damage. A 49-year-old female passenger, identified as Sharon M. Kaplon of Ogema, WI, was extricated from the vehicle by Fire and EMS personnel. Sharon was transported from the scene by Rib Lake Ambulance to Aspirus Medford Hospital and subsequently transported by helicopter to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Hours later it was determined that Sharon had succumbed to her injuries from the crash. The driver, identified as 49-year-old Stephen Kaplon of Ogema, WI, was provided with medical attention and had no serious injuries reported at the time.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle was southbound on County Road C when it veered off the roadway, entered the west ditch, and struck two trees. The driver, Stephen Kaplon, was arrested for Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle and is in custody at the Taylor County Jail on a $200,000 cash bond.

This incident is still under investigation.

No other information will be released at this time.

Sheriff Corey J. Dassow

10/06/2025

More VFW demolition

10/06/2025

Demolition is underway for the former Medford VFW post. The new building is set to open in November

10/02/2025

Due to press issues, store and office copies of today’s (Thursday, Oct. 2) issue of The Star News will be delayed until early afternoon.

09/30/2025

September 30, 2025


PRESS RELEASE


On September 30, 2025 at approximately 5:41 A.M., Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a two-vehicle accident in the area of State Highway 13 and Alfalfa Avenue in the Township of Chelsea, Taylor County. It was further reported that the accident involved a passenger vehicle and semi-tractor trailer and both vehicles were on fire.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Deputies along with Taylor County First Responders, Medford Fire Department and Taylor County Ambulance personnel were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, a 19-year-old driver, identified as Allen M. Madison of Ashland, Wisconsin, was removed from one of the vehicles involved, a 2010 red Ford Fusion, which had been fully engulfed in flames. Allen Madison was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the other involved vehicle was provided with medical attention and had no serious injuries reported at the time.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Ford Fusion was southbound on State Highway 13 when it crossed the centerline and veered into the northbound lane of traffic causing a head on collision with the semi-tractor trailer unit. The collision then caused both vehicles to catch on fire. There were no other occupants in either vehicle at the time of the crash.

This incident is still under investigation.

No other information will be released at this time.


Sheriff Corey J. Dassow

09/05/2025

Come on down to The Star News today until 3 pm for specials on classifieds, Taylor County Trivia Games and tshirts

09/03/2025

The sirens in the City will be undergoing some maintenance today, they may go off periodically throughout the day due to this.

08/22/2025

Glam Band underway at Park Fest at the Medford City Park