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Rhinelander FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) Students along with Principal Paul Johnson, participated in delivering candy gram messages to students Friday, December 21st. Over $500.00 will be donated by the student group to local community organizations including: United Way, Kids In Need, and the Animal Shelter. Pictured in front row left to right : Natasha Gleesing, Nevada Zahn, Mr Johnson, Angel O'Brien, Mark Schmidt.

Back row: Brittany Gleesing, Summer Weinke, Amber Toboyek, Jessica Jacobson, Angela Towne, & Elizabeth Rogers. Missing from the photo are Derek Thorn, Tessa Gerdes and Taylor Piasecki.

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Youth from Rhinelander traveled to Madison to talk with lawmakers and others to share personal stories about why tobacco prevention and treatment is important to them. Six students attended the Tobacco Free Teens at the Capitol event in Madison on October 11, 2007.

Cooper Henckel, a Rhinelander High School sophomore said, “This fight is about us.  We see the problem every day at school and in our community.  We’re talking with legislators about how we can be part of what really works.  We don’t want to sit back and be targets for the tobacco industry.”

Teen smoking rates have declined in recent years, but one out of every 5 teens in Wisconsin still uses tobacco.  According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, www.tobaccofreekids.org,  the tobacco industry spends an estimated $300 million per year marketing their products in Wisconsin. 

Pictured left to right are students: Amber Toboyek, Derek Thorn, Tessa Gerdes, Rosalyn Hatlen, Jessica Jacobson, and. Cooper Henckel.

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On Monday, June 11, 2007, Mayor Richard Johns and Police Chief Michael Steffes did their part in protecting Wisconsin youth. Both Mayor Johns and Chief Steffes met with Danielle Larsen, Rhinelander High School FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) Member and signed a Proclamation on Tobacco Free Youth*. Wisconsin WINS, the state-sponsored comprehensive campaign for eliminating underage tobacco use, encourages all members of the Wisconsin community to join in the cause to reduce underage tobacco sales.

The proclamation stated support for the Wisconsin Wins Program and for merchants who refuse to sell tobacco illegally.  The proclamation urges all Wisconsin residents to “take all necessary steps to ensure that our young people cannot obtain or use cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or any other product.”  The proclamation signals a pledge from local officials to support programs that reduce tobacco use among youth. 

*Click here to view Proclamation on Tobacco Free Youth

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Students educate and recruit fellow students at "Even the Blindfolded Can See the Truth Behind Big Tobacco Lies." Rouman Cinema, Rhinelander Dec. 27th, 2006.

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Members of the James William Middle School FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) held a Holiday Candy-Gram sale. Students sent candy canes with messages to their fellow classmates and teachers. Over $300.00 was raised and donations of $100.00 each are being given to local organizations including: Kids In Need, The United Way, and the American Cancer Society.

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Thursday, November 16th, in recognition of Great American Smokeout, students from James William Middle School FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) thanked area businesses for doing the right thing and not selling tobacco to minors. Tobacco sales are at a record low, helping to reduce smoking rates among youth. Pictured in the photo left to right are Tessa Gerdes, 7th grade FACT member, Steve Heise, Trig's Store Director, Tom Tatham, Assistant Store Director and Kelly Mays, 8th grade FACT member.