NEWS BRIEFS

Aspirus Merrill Hospital earns national stroke care recognition

Aspirus Merrill Hospital recently received a national award from the American Heart Association for its stroke treatment protocols.
The hospital earned the Get With The Guidelines - Rural Stroke Bronze award for 2025, recognizing its adherence to evidence-based treatment standards for stroke patients.
“Receiving these awards demonstrates our unwavering commitment to patient care,” said Lisa Ebert, Aspirus System Stroke Network Coordinator. “Our teams work tirelessly to ensure stroke patients receive the highest standard of care, which can mean faster recoveries and healthier outcomes.”
Thirteen other Aspirus facilities across Wisconsin and Michigan also received recognition in the program, which evaluates how consistently hospitals follow clinical guidelines proven to improve patient outcomes. Other area hospitals recognized include Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Aspirus Medford Hospital, Aspirus Langlade Hospital, Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital, Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital, and Howard Young Medical Center.

NTC opens Community Safety Simulation Center in Merrill

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) recently opened its new Community Safety Simulation Center (CSSC) at the Public Safety Center of Excellence in Merrill, 1603 Champagne St. The 3,500-square-foot facility features a fully adaptable, multi-room layout with 360-degree smart screens that immerse participants in customized safety and threat-response scenarios. The Public Safety Center of Excellence is a 36-acre property with facilities and wilderness areas for law enforcement and tactical training, fire and rescue training, transportation and emergency driving, and community response sites.
Designed to train individuals and teams to handle emerging security challenges, the CSSC focuses on schools, places of worship, and healthcare environments. The center’s advanced audio-visual technology allows users to review their actions, evaluate alternative approaches, and strengthen critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills under pressure.
“This work is more important than ever as schools, places of worship, healthcare providers, and community organizations strive to prepare for challenges and protect the people they serve,” said Dr. Jeannie Worden, President of NTC.
NTC developed the center in partnership with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute, with key support from the Bierman Family Foundation and Church Mutual CM Cares.

Local schools receive agriculture literacy grants

Two area schools are among 19 Wisconsin programs awarded a total of $10,000 in agriculture literacy grants from Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program.
Merrill High School and Maple Grove Charter School in the Athens School District will receive funding to support agricultural education initiatives that incorporate core curriculum standards.
The grants, up to $500 per recipient, support projects that integrate agriculture concepts across multiple subjects while developing student career readiness skills.
“Agricultural literacy allows educators to embed cross-curricular connections that incorporate social studies, science, health and nutrition, math, art, and more while helping students to build awareness and understanding of the many ways their lives are impacted by agriculture every single day,” said Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator Beth Schaefer.

The program is made possible through partnerships with Compeer Financial, the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, and AgCountry Farm Credit Services. The next grant application period opens in fall 2026.
More information is available at wisagclassroom.org.

Governor signs “Bradyn’s Law” creating sexual extortion crime

On Dec. 8, 2025, during a ceremony in Weston, Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation creating a new crime of sexual extortion in Wisconsin.
The bill, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 48, is named “Bradyn’s Law” in honor of Bradyn Bohn, a 15-year-old D.C. Everest Junior High School student who died by suicide earlier this year after falling victim to a sextortion scheme.

“As a parent and grandparent, I cannot imagine what Bradyn’s parents, family, and friends have gone through in the wake of his death. No one should ever have to go through this kind of heartbreak,” Evers said. “Today is an important day to remember Bradyn as we honor him and his memory, because now, moving forward, we will be able to hold bad actors responsible for reprehensible behavior, especially when they prey on our kids, and that is so important.”
The law establishes graduated penalties based on the perpetrator, the act, and the victim’s age. It also expands the state’s crime victim compensation program to include death by suicide or attempted suicide.
“Bradyn’s Law ensures harsh penalties for those who exploit Wisconsin children online. We thank Gov. Evers, legislators, and their staff for their transparency and support in passing this critical legislation,” said Brittney and Luke Bird, Bradyn’s parents. “We are deeply grateful to our friends, family, community, and the D.C. Everest School District for standing by us as we fight for change while grieving. Our mission continues: to educate families and protect children from online predators.”
According to the FBI, sextortion crimes involve offenders coercing minors to create sexually explicit images, then using that material as blackmail. From Oct. 2021 to Mar. 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received more than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, leading to at least 20 suicides.
Wisconsin’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 237 cybertips related to sextortion in 2024, up from 176 in 2023.
Reports of potential child exploitation can be made through Speak Up, Speak Out at 1.800.MY.SUSO.1, by texting “SUSO” to 738477, or at speakup.widoj.gov. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.

Frozen road law begins Sunday for northern half of Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s frozen road law took effect last Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. for the northern half of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) designates the region as Zones 1 and 2, which includes US 10 near Stevens Point along with numbered state and federal highways north of US 10. The frozen road determination for other areas of the state will be made when conditions warrant.
The frozen road law allows vehicles hauling abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance and certain forest products to carry more weight. The seasonal weight restriction program is one way to protect Wisconsin’s investments in roads.
The department maintains an interactive map for seasonal weight restrictions, which shows the frozen road boundaries, Class II roads, and posted roads.

WisDOT and county highway personnel monitor temperature forecasts, along with frost tubes — liquid-filled devices under the pavement — to help determine when roads are adequately frozen to accommodate heavier loads.
The declaration is issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to a depth of at least 18 inches, allowing the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds on vehicles with a minimum of five axles (from the normal 80,000 pounds). Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required in Zones 1 and 2; however, vehicles must be legally licensed at 80,000 pounds to handle the increased weights. The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority. Also, higher weights may not be transported on any highways or bridges specifically posted for lower weight limits.
More information on overweight permits can be found on the WisDOT website by searching for oversize/overweight permits. Haulers with specific questions can call 608.266.7320. General information on road restrictions is recorded at 608.266.8417.