Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
New sheriff in town: Gerard Ritter to be next sheriff of Vilas County
More than three years after running against Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath for the top law enforcement position in Vilas County, Capt. Gerard Ritter will be the next sheriff.
One dead in Vilas County semi-truck tractor crash
A 49 year-old Florida man died in a late-night crash on Nov. 22 involving a semi-truck tractor. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a call just before 11 p.m. reporting a one-vehicle crash in the area near the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and Abalan Lane in Conover, the caller reporting a semi-truck tractor was on its roof. The driver of the truck-tractor, Jansan Murray, Leesburg, Fla., was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arbor Vitae town board supports sports complex/convention center study
The Arbor Vitae town board has given its blessing for the Minocqua Visitors Bureau (MVB) to proceed with a feasibility study for a convention center in the Lakeland area.
LUHS Drama Club performs ‘Trap’
Stephen Gregg’s “Trap” was the latest production by the Lakeland Union High School Drama Club. The show opened the evening of Friday, Nov. 7 and closed with a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Lac du Flambeau town board, tribe reach agreement for building lease
The Lac du Flambeau town board has approved a lease proposal from the tribal council for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for the tribe’s use of the town’s former fire station downtown on Wild Rice Avenue known as the “Wild Rice station.”
Arbor Vitae’s 2026 budget approved
The town of Arbor Vitae’s 2026 property tax levy and budget were approved on Nov. 19 prior to the regular monthly meeting of the town board in a process that took about five minutes.
Landfill Venture Group purchase of Vilas County property not happening – for now
A proposal for the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) to buy from Vilas County the land it leases from the county for the County G Landfill in the town of Cloverland is apparently going to remain that — a proposal.
Lac du Flambeau town board OKs 2026 budget
Electors in the town of Lac du Flambeau and the town board formally approved the town’s 2026 property tax levy and budget on Nov. 18. The public hearing, special town meeting of the electors and special town board meeting all took around 20 minutes, the property tax budget for 2026 is $1,997,271 compared to the 2025 budget of $1,862,061.
MHLT school board mulls charter school outside the district
The board of education for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district will make a decision one way or the other at its Dec. 15 meeting regarding a partnership to establish an outdoor charter school known as Elemental Roots based at Terri’s Treehouse in Arbor Vitae.
