Health

Tens of thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts are arriving in the Northwoods for the annual Fall Ride to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The ride and events run through the weekend centered on Sara Park in Tomahawk.

This is the 33rd Fall Ride. Harley-Davidson has been a primary donor to MDA for many years.  Dawn Ver Haagh  is Executive Director at the Green Bay MDA chapter. She says while it's fun for the participants, the ride has a real impact on MDA...

With last week's severe storm fresh in our minds, Tim Morrissey from  Wisconsin News Connection reports officials say you should have a plan in place for when the next problem comes along...

Fish from the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes are now safer to eat than they were a few years ago.  That’s one of the findings of the DNR’s annual review of fish consumption advisories.   

The agency also says Lake Michigan brown trout are now deemed safe to eat once a month.

Meanwhile some other waters now have more stringent fish consumption advisories.  For example Virgin Lake in Oneida County has a new exception…that discourages people from eating walleye over 22 inches. 

Oneida County school districts are hosting a series of flu vaccine clinics open to the community…and free for kids. 

As Oneida County Public Health Nurse Rob Deede explains, flu shots are recommended for adults and kids alike. 

“If anyone wants to reduce the chances of getting the flu, getting vaccinated is the best way to do that.  Especially folks that are at higher risk of getting the flu, such as children six months to 18 years old, pregnant women, those folks 50 years or older, someone with a medical condition, or someone who’s living in a nursing home.”

The Rhinelander Food Pantry has gotten the OK from the state to move ahead with major structural changes to its new building. 

The food pantry will have more space at its new Coon Street location, but first the roof needs replacing.

Director Guy Hansen says now that state approval has come in, building plans are moving ahead. 

A nationwide craze has seen many folks dumping ice water on their heads as a way to raise awareness and money for ALS ,commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Oneida County Veteran's Service Officer Tammy Walters says there's a link involving a higher incidence of ALS and veterans....

Vilas County will not join almost twenty counties holding advisory referendums this fall on whether the state should accept federal Medicaid funds.

Governor Scott Walker rejected federal dollars to expand the number of people eligible for Badgercare, saying the money is unreliable. 

Supporters of taking the federal funds say the dollar impact would be significant, and could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The measure to ask voters’ opinions failed at Tuesday’s Vilas county board meeting…with only three members voting in favor of having a referendum.

The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry is beginning renovations on its new space.  But as WXPR’s Natalie Jablonski reports, it’s still waiting for state approval to move ahead with some structural changes planned for the building.

The Rhinelander food pantry is moving to a larger location on Coon Street, in a building vacated by the natural foods grocery store Golden Harvest. 

Food Pantry Manager Jane Motowski says there’s a lot of work to be done to make the space ready. 

The upcoming football season is often a time when the amount of gambling rises. It also hightlights a time when people who are having trouble controlling their betting call for help.

Rose Gruber is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. She says the small-time office pool betting usually isn't a problem, but it can develop into a problem...

Oneida and Vilas Counties are looking to school gardens to improve community health.

The chronic disease prevention coalition called Northwoods LEAN has a new $400,000 grant from the UW School of Medicine Partnership program.  It supports a variety of community health initiatives including a push to expose kids to eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Oneida County Community Health Specialist Kyla Waksmonski says the coalition plans to have a broad reach.