Lottery reminds adults to ‘Gift Responsibly’
The Wisconsin Lottery is reminding gift givers this holiday season that lottery tickets should not be purchased as gifts for children and adolescents. Together with the National Council on Problem Gambling and McGill University’s International Centre for Youth Gambling, the lottery is launching a campaign to increase public awareness about the issue of youth gambling. The “Gift Responsibly” series of advertising is designed to raise awareness of the risks and dangers of buying lottery tickets for those under the legal age of 18. Two to four percent of adolescents have a problem with gambling and 10-14 percent of adolescents are at risk for developing a problem with gambling, according to the groups. The Problem Gambling Helpline is 800-GAMBLE-5, or text 850-888-HOPE.

Rhinelander library holiday hours
The Rhinelander District Library will be closed for Christmas Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25. Curbside pickup service will be provided Dec. 28-30 during posted hours, then will be closed for New Year’s Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1. Wireless internet will be on and available outside the building, but no other services will be provided during the days the library is closed. Call 715-365-1070 to schedule curbside pickup, request materials offline or ask questions.

Be ‘Jeanerous’
Rhinelander High School FBLA/DECA is sponsoring its annual Jeans for Teens drive through January 5. The effort is to help people in the county who may be struggling with poverty. The club accepts jeans of all sizes and in any condition; they can be dropped off at all schools in the district and some businesses, including Bath and Body Creations, Maurices, YMCA, Maurices and A’ la mode. The jeans collected will be donated to Frederick Place.

Free public Wi-Fi in Three Lakes
Free internet access is available in the town of Three Lakes. The Three Lakes chamber partnered with internet provider Astrea to install a free public Wi-Fi hotspot at Cy Williams Park. It will provide a 24/7 internet option for community members who may not have access at their homes.
“Over the summer we noticed a lot of people who wanted to work remotely and could not get broadband access easily,” said Three Lakes Chamber Executive Director Collette Sorgel. “The Chamber has been meeting with Grow North Regional Economic Development Corp. to help identify areas of the most need in the Northwoods. The Town of Three Lakes Town Board has approved a Broadband Support Proclamation. We have been working with Astrea as they work to upgrade the service in our area over the next few months. We are very pleased to offer this free Wi-Fi hotspot service in Three Lakes. We are committed to supporting improvement of Broadband access to Three Lakes and the Northwoods.”
Astrea recently took over high-speed internet from KTVS in Three Lakes.

Bar association seeks scholarship applicants
The Oneida-Vilas-Forest County Bar Association it will award a scholarship to an individual pursuing a law degree.
“We have had outstanding candidates for this scholarship in past years and expect to see a number of highly qualified applicants again this year,” said Tom Lawrence, chairman of the association’s scholarship committee. It gives us great pleasure as an association to help a young person from our area gain entry to our profession.”
The scholarship will be awarded on a combination of past and potential academic performance, financial need, course of study and residence in or significant connections to one of the three counties. To apply, email a letter and resume to [email protected] Call 715-356-9403 for more information. Applications must be received by Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021.