Star Journal

By Heather Schaefer Editor Property owners suing 3M, BASF and the former and current owners of the Rhinelander paper mill over PFAS contamination in the Town of Stella have asked a federal judge to certify their case as a class action lawsuit, a move that could let the property owners in the affected area pursue their claims together rather than filing individual lawsuits. The motion, filed Aug.

The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce (RACC) has announced the launch of the inaugural Empowering Leaders Conference, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at The Pines Event Center. The Empowering Leaders Conference is designed to bring together current and emerging leaders from across the Northwoods for a day of learning, connection,and inspiration, according to a chamber press release.

The Rhinelander District Library has announced it will present the fourth annual Local Author Fair on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rhinelander High School. The event will include an Author Talk with Michael Perry from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Sponsored by the Rhinelander District Library Foundation, this event is free and open to the public. The Local Author Fair will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in the RHS commons.

Posted Sunday, September 6, 2026 4:00 pm The Packers finished 1944 at 8-2, winning the Western Division, with Ted Fritsch leading the team in rushing (322 yards), tying for second in scoring and topping the club in interceptions and kickoff returns. Fritsch capped the season with both Packers touchdowns in the 14-7 title-game win over the Giants (a 1-yard plunge and a 28-yard TD catch), sealing Green Bay’s 1944 NFL championship.

ENT & Allergy Associates, an ear, nose, throat (ENT), allergy, immunology, asthma and hearing services provider with a new office in Rhinelander, has announced Dr. Shane White has joined its team as an ENT specialist at the Rhinelander location. A Rhinelander native with deep family roots in the area, Dr. White is returning home following the completion of his medical residency, bringing advanced ear, nose and throat training back to his hometown, the release states.

The Rhinelander High School girls golf team placed seventh out of seven teams at the second leg of the conference meets, hosted at Northwood Golf Club. Junior Ashlyn Hapka was the lone Hodag to earn points, shooting a 48 to place third overall. Senior Ella Miljevich followed for Rhinelander with a 58, tying for 17th. The Hodags won’t compete again until Tuesday, Sept. 8, when they travel to Wisconsin Rapids.

Visitation for Joan will be held from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Rhinelander, WI.

The Rhinelander High School boys soccer team opened its season with a win Tuesday, Aug. 25 before dropping its home opener to Kingsford on Thursday, Aug. 27, giving the Hodags a 1-1 record through two games. The Hodags matched their win total from a season ago in the opener, holding off Washburn 2-1 inside the Hodag Dome as a thunderstorm rolled through outside. Rhinelander won just one game all of last season.

By Heather Schaefer Editor Gov. Tony Evers toured the Hodag Solar Park in Crescent last week, using the visit to spotlight the state’s 2026 Clean Energy Plan Progress Report and to weigh in on the race to succeed him, including sharp criticism of Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. The Hodag Solar Park, a 7.5-megawatt facility built on 50 acres near Lake Julia, is the Northwoods’ first large-scale solar installation.

The Rhinelander High School girls swim team placed second out of nine teams at the annual swim relays Wednesday, Aug. 28, the Hodags’ first home meet of the season. The Hodags won three events and broke records in two of them. The relay foursome of June Chiamulera, Vivian Lamers, Ella Heck and Kiley Pooch opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard reverse medley relay, setting a new meet record in the process. Heck, Pooch and Lamers teamed up to break the record in the 3x50-yard mixer relay.