Wisconsin
Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools announces new principal of Lincoln High School
Rod Watson of Wisconsin Rapids was chosen to take over the role previously held by Ron Rasmussen, who was appointed as the district’s superintendent.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Rod Watson of Wisconsin Rapids will serve as the new principal of Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools announced Tuesday morning.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” Watson said in a message on the district’s Facebook page. “To be able to serve in an excellent high school in the same town in which I live is a dream come true.”
Watson is taking over the position formerly held by Ron Rasmussen. Rasmussen was appointed to the district’s superintendent role in May and took over duties on July 1.
Watson brings 20 years of teaching and administrative experience to the role. Most recently, he served three years as principal of Pittsville High School. He also served seven years as associate principal at Shawano Community Middle School and 10 years as a social studies teacher at an alternative high school in the Chicago suburbs, according to a message from Watson shared on the district’s Facebook page.
“If I could design a school to fit what I believe is ideal for an American teenager, it would look a lot like LHS. We have the facilities, programming, staff, opportunities, and community support to help our students to make the most of their potential,” Watson said. “I am humbled by the opportunity to keep this school in the excellent shape it is in, to build on the steps that have already been taken to help the staff to meet the needs of our diverse learners, and to serve this community the best way I know how.”
Watson holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, a master’s degree in teaching and leadership and national board certification. He also serves in the Wisconsin National Guard as an intelligence officer with the 1-105th Cavalry Regiment in Madison.
The district’s new leaders will be working to prepare for students’ return to school on Sept. 3.
Watson encourages people to reach out to him to discuss “hopes or concerns” regarding the high school. Meetings with Watson can be scheduled by calling the Lincoln High School office at 715-424-6750 or he can be reached via email at rodrick.watson@wrps.net.
More local school news: Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools receive $3.75 million grant for playground equipment
More local news: Here’s a look at what Wisconsin Rapids area voters will see on their fall 2024 ballots
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
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School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
How Aleksas Bieliauskas has grown in first season with Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has high praise for Aleksas Bieliauskas about a month into the Lithuania native’s freshman season.
MADISON – One of Wisconsin men’s basketball’s departing transfers is headed to an SEC program with some connections to the Badgers.
Ex-UW forward Aleksas Bieliauskas has committed to South Carolina, he announced on April 17.
Bieliauskas left the Badgers after appearing in all 35 games as a freshman and making 28 starts. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 points in 20.2 minutes, and highlights of his freshman year included his five 3-pointers in UW’s upset over eventual national champion Michigan.
He’ll join a program with plenty of Wisconsin ties. South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 2010-17 on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s staffs. South Carolina assistant coach Tanner Bronson and director of video services Roman DiPasquale also are UW alumni.
Bieliauskas is the second of UW’s four departing transfers to commit to a new school. Reserve forward Jack Robison committed to North Dakota State on April 15. Starting guard John Blackwell and reserve forward Riccardo Greppi have not announced their next schools yet.
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