The Northwoods River News

04/27/2025

04/09/2025

📣 Hodag Dome Repair Update!
We’re excited to share some good news regarding the Hodag Dome!

Today, Tom Soehngen, VP of Arizon (the company that built the Dome), visited Rhinelander to inspect the structure. After his review, he shared that the damage is less than expected!

✅ Arizon will have a crew on site starting Thursday, April 17 to reconnect the Dome's fabric.
🎈 The goal is to have the Dome re-inflated by early May.
🏅 Once inflated, spring sports teams can access equipment, and the interior repairs (including lights and any minor damage) will begin.
💡 We'll also be adding lighting to the tennis/pickleball court area during this time!

If all goes as planned, the Hodag Dome will be ready for use by the end of May!

Superintendent Eric Burke shared:
"We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience and continued support as we work through this challenge. In just a few short years, the Hodag Dome has become an incredibly valuable resource for our students, our community, and the entire region. We’re excited to see it return to full operation soon."

View the story here: https://www.wjfw.com/news/local/hodag-dome-expected-to-be-fully-operational-by-end-of-may/article_7a340192-e1a4-48db-91ac-3c10928db9a3.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJjj51leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrxHqahgAxDsKCsTLZxfk9ogDO6fJWBYn6jE4YYaA_1XiBfZq03Bvb9gKKIJ_aem_siEeri5hAkw2MRmeC2mCgQ

Stay tuned for more updates here and on our website!

04/03/2025

HODAG DOME UPDATE:
The School District of Rhinelander (SDR) is actively working to assess and repair the Hodag Dome to restore it to full operation. As part of this process, Aegis Insurance representatives will be on-site at the Dome at 9:00 AM tomorrow to conduct a thorough review. Their visit will include an inspection of the entire facility and a detailed evaluation of the generator specifications.

The District plans to have Arizon, the Dome's manufacturer, on-site as soon as weather conditions permit. Once enough snow has melted, Arizon will assess the damage and determine the necessary repairs. SDR will then collaborate with Aegis Insurance to facilitate and schedule the repair work needed to reinflate and restore the Dome.

After the Dome is successfully reinflated, further assessments will be conducted on the interior to identify and address any additional repairs required. Once all necessary repairs are completed, the Hodag Dome will resume normal operations. While a definitive timeline is not yet available, SDR anticipates having a clearer understanding of the repair schedule once the process is underway. Events scheduled over the next few weeks will be cancelled or rescheduled if possible.

Additionally, SDR is committed to understanding the cause of the generator failure. The District will implement protocols and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring the continued reliability of the facility.

The School District of Rhinelander appreciates the patience and support of the community as we work diligently to restore this vital resource. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

For questions, please e-mail Superintendent Eric Burke at [email protected].

03/31/2025

CITY OF RHINELANDER APRIL 1st SPRING ELECTION VOTING DETAILS

As a reminder, the City of Rhinelander City Clerk, with approval of the City Council, has moved the polling location for voters in the City of Rhinelander from the Hodag Dome to the gymnasium of James Williams Middle School, which is located at 915 Acacia Ln, Rhinelander WI 54501. The reason for the change of location was due to the temporary closure of the Hodag Dome. After working closely with the School District of Rhinelander, this location was approved by the Rhinelander Common Council on 3/30/25.

Voters are asked to park behind James Williams Middle School, in either the Hodag Dome parking lot, or the Mike Webster Stadium parking lot. Handicap parking is available near the rear entrance of the gymnasium. This location is fully ADA compliant and will offer curbside voting for those who are unable to enter the gymnasium. Voters will enter door 13, which will be clearly marked by signage, and proceed directly into the gymnasium to cast their ballots, as normal.
Voting hours have not changed. Polls open at 7:00am and close at 8:00pm.

Working with both the School District of Rhinelander, as well as the Oneida County Sheriffs Department, extra precautions have been put in place to ensure the safety of the students at James Williams Middle School. The election will not interfere with the students or their studies. Please do not enter through the front doors of JWMS, as you will be redirected to the rear entrance of the building. This is to ensure the safety and security of our students

We want to thank all our community partners, the Wisconsin Election Commission, the School District of Rhinelander, the Oneida County Sheriffs Department, our poll workers, and local/state officials for their outpouring of support during this transition.
We hope to see everyone on Tuesday, April 1st, to cast their ballot.

For further information contact: City Clerk’s office at 715-365-8600

03/31/2025

Hodag Dome Update:

Early Sunday morning, the Hodag Dome experienced a power outage due to extreme weather conditions. Unfortunately, the Dome’s generator failed to provide backup power, leading to a partial deflation and structural tears. To prevent further damage, the Dome has been completely deflated for now.

The Dome manufacturer, Arizon, will be onsite as soon as possible to assess the situation and develop a timeline for repairs. The School District will provide updates as more information becomes available. Additionally, the District is actively investigating the generator’s failure despite regular maintenance and is working closely with its insurance provider regarding the incident.

Due to the Dome's temporary closure, the City Election site has been relocated to the Middle School gym for Tuesday, April 1st.

Student/Student Athlete Impact:
▪️Students use the Dome daily for physical education classes, learning enrichment activities, and field trips.
▪️Student athletes benefit from year-round training without weather disruptions, hosting clinics, tournaments, fundraisers, and games within the Dome.

Community Impact:
▪️Nearly 250 community members rely on the Dome daily during winter months for activities such as walking, pickleball, tennis, and turf play with their families. With a membership fee of only $15 per year, the Dome offers an inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities.
▪️The Dome provides social connections for many residents, fostering friendships and a sense of belonging.
▪️The facility serves as a hub for key community events, including elections, graduations, family nights, expos, and local celebrations. The dedication of Janet Jamison, Janice Halverson, and the Hodag Dome staff has made the Dome a truly special resource.
▪️Hosting over 18 large weekend tournaments annually, the Dome attracts thousands of visitors to Rhinelander. These events generate millions of dollars for the local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, and businesses, especially in years where other tourism revenue sources, such as winter recreation, may be impacted.

The Hodag Dome has exceeded its original vision set forth by the Hodag Schools Foundation, Lee Swank, and the School District, becoming an invaluable resource for both students and the broader community.

Superintendent Eric Burke emphasized the importance of the Dome to Rhinelander, stating, “The vision for the Dome has been fully realized and beyond, as it has become such an important resource for our school and community. Together, we will get answers to our questions, have the Dome repaired, and get it up and running better than ever. The District is very thankful for the tremendous support as we work through this challenge.”

The District remains fully committed to assessing and repairing the damages as quickly as possible to restore this essential facility. We appreciate the patience and support of the community as we work to get the Hodag Dome operational again.

03/30/2025

SCHOOLS CLOSED ON MONDAY, MARCH 31...

Due to bad weather and icy road conditions, all schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed on Monday, March 31. We will monitor the weather tomorrow regarding evening activities.

Stay safe!

03/30/2025

Hodag Dome Temporarily Closed Due to Power Outage and Damage, Repairs and Updates to Follow...

The School District of Rhinelander announces that the Hodag Dome is temporarily closed following a power outage caused by severe weather last night. Unfortunately, the backup generator failed to operate, which resulted in the deflation of the Dome. As the Dome deflated, several tears occurred in the Dome material, causing additional damage. The Dome will be completely deflated today to make the necessary repairs.

The Arizon Company, the manufacturer of the Dome, has been contacted and is scheduled to be on-site tomorrow, March 31, to assess the damage and develop a repair plan. Their goal is to restore the Dome and resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

As a result of the closure, some events scheduled to take place in the Dome this week will be either relocated to other facilities or cancelled. Event organizers will be contacted directly with updates, and the public is encouraged to stay tuned for further information from the School District of Rhinelander.

Additionally, the Hodag Dome served as an election site for the local elections on Tuesday, April 1. The School District is working closely with the City of Rhinelander to identify and secure an alternative location for voting.

The School District of Rhinelander will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available and will notify the community as soon as the Dome is back in operation.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the community's understanding and patience during this time.

03/04/2025

Due to the impending rain, snow, and high winds forecasted for our area, we have made the decision to close all school buildings Wednesday, March 5th. This closure includes all after-school activities and events. All Community Ed classes are canceled too.

Stay safe!

01/19/2025

Due to the extremely cold temperatures and wind chill in the forecast, Rhinelander schools will be closed through Tuesday, January 21. This includes school itself, along with all activities. The Hodag Dome and the Aspirus Community Fitness Center will also be closed through Tuesday. Community Education classes are also canceled through Tuesday.

Stay warm and stay safe!

03/25/2024

SCHOOLS CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER - All schools in the School District of Rhinelander will be closed on Monday, March 25 due to snow, winds, and possible freezing rain. We will make a decision on practices and other after-school activities by 11:00 am tomorrow. The Hodag Dome will be closed and Community Education classes are canceled for March 25.

02/13/2024

One killed in UTV accident in Newbold

One person is dead following an UTV accident in the Town of Newbold Tuesday afternoon. Acccording to a press release issued by Oneida County sheriff’s captain Tyler Young, a 911 call was received at approximately 1:18 p.m. Tuesday reporting a UTV accident on private property off of Forest Lane in Newbold.
“The caller stated that the operator had stuck a tree and did not have a pulse, and was not breathing,” the release said. “The caller also stated that the operator was blue in color. Upon arrival at the scene of the accident it was determined that the operator was deceased.”
The sheriff’s office did not immediately release any identifying information related to the deceased.
The investigation is ongoing, the release states.

02/08/2024

Names of officers involved in Crescent ‘critical incident’ released Deceased identified as investigation continues

The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has released the names of the officers involved in a critical incident in the Town of Crescent Jan. 20 that resulted in a fatality.
In an update issued Wednesday evening, DCI reported that the investigation into the incident is ongoing with final reports to be turned over to the Oneida County district attorney when the inquiry is concluded.
According to DCI, the officers involved were Sgt. Thomas Williams and Deputies Michael Bedish and Cole Lehman of the sheriff’s office, Rhinelander police Sgt. Christie Kondzela and Rhinelander police officer Graeme Biskobing. The individual killed in the incident was identified as Steven Kincaid, 33.
According to the DOJ, the Oneida County sheriff’s office received two hang-up 911 calls at approximately 8:39 p.m. Jan. 20 requiring a welfare check at a residence located in the 1600 block of River Street in Crescent.
Three sheriff’s deputies and two police officers responded. According to DCI, Williams has over 9 years law enforcement experience, Bedish has over 3.5 years in law enforcement and Lehman has over one year. Kondzela has over 10 years of law enforcement experience and Biskobing has over one year, according to the release.
“Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement determined there were two subjects inside,” according to DCI. “Law enforcement entered the residence where they were met with gunfire by Steven Kincaid, age 33. One of the deputies returned fire. All law enforcement retreated outside the residence, backed away, and created a perimeter. Kincaid continued to shoot at the officers from the second level of the house and gunfire was exchanged. Tactical team members from the Vilas, Oneida, Marathon, Langlade, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices responded to the residence. Verbal commands were attempted without response and non-lethal tactics were deployed. Eventually the second subject came out of the residence and was evaluated by emergency medical services on scene. The tactical team entered the house and located Kincaid who was deceased. No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.”
The release notes that the involved officers from the Rhinelander Police Department were wearing body cameras during the incident and both the police department and the sheriff’s office have squad cameras. A full story will be published in an upcoming edition of the River News.