Tia Nelson

Several area school districts are getting money from a state trust fund dating back to Wisconsin's statehood.

The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands has announced that Common School Fund earnings of more than $30 million were distributed to state K-12 public schools to support libraries. The fund was established from state sales and management and doesn't involve tax money.

Executive Secretary Tia Nelson says the interest money earned from the trust fund goes to schools like Rhinelander's...

The Eagle River Police Department is getting a loan to pay for renovations. Police chief Mark Vander Bloomen says the department wants to create more space for evidence storage.  Right now there’s just one small room.

“We identified that we’ve basically used up our evidence storage area.  We’re running out of room.  A lot of that has to do with DNA evidence – we’re having to keep certain kinds of evidence for longer periods of time.”

Vander Bloomen says the building also needs some security upgrades. 

Plum Creek timber company is selling a thousand acres in Forest County to a state agency. BCPL – or Board of Commissioners for Public Lands - is buying the land for one and a quarter million dollars.  

The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands has approved more than $2 million in state trust fund loans for 7 city projects.

Three of the news loans refinance existing debt, while four involve tax incremental districts, including the downtown upgrade project.

Board Executive Director Tia Nelson says this array of loans help fund local economic development...