Brian Jopek

Recent Stories

One person seriously injured in Hwy. 51 collision

One person was flown to Aspirus Wausau Hospital following a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 51 south of the intersection of County Highway K and Swamp Lake Road on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Eagle River man pleads not guilty to sex crimes

The attorney for a 38 year-old Eagle River man on Dec. 29 entered a plea of not guilty “due to mental disease/defect” in Oneida County court for one count of attempted second degree sexual assault and one count of use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

Four lanes, zero excuses: Drivers must stop for school buses

As people transit roads in the Lakeland area during the school year, a question has surfaced regarding Wisconsin state law as it relates to stopping for school buses on four lane highways. More specifically, the concern centers on U.S. Highway 51 from south of Minocqua through Arbor Vitae, and on State Highway 70 on Minocqua’s west side, extending to just west of its intersection with Morgan Road.

No injuries in Hwy. 47 accident involving Oneida County plow truck

A slippery road surface was determined to be the cause of a three-vehicle, non-injury accident on State Highway 47 near at the intersection of Bay View Road in Woodruff just before 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 26.

Generations joins YMCA effort in Woodruff

In October, community leaders announced an effort to establish a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) facility in the Lakeland area, based at Lakeland Fitness and Golf in Woodruff. Mike Heppe, president of the Lakeland Retirement Foundation (LRF) and Generations, told The Lakeland Times the foundation has now joined that YMCA initiative.

Birchwood man dies in Iron County snowmobile crash

A Birchwood man is dead as the result of injuries sustained in an Iron County snowmobile crash on Monday, Dec. 22. Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich said in a press release the dispatch center received a 911 call at 8:15 p.m. reporting a single snowmobile crash on trail 17 in Oma near Finn Point Road, the reporting party relaying to dispatch the man, later identified as David Engel, 58, “crashed his snowmobile and was unconscious and breathing.”

Lac du Flambeau man charged with attempted homicide

A 42 year-old Lac du Flambeau man has been formally charged in Vilas County court with attempted first degree homicide as the result of an incident that occurred at a residence on Arnold Stock Lane in Lac du Flambeau on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Phelps, Conover out of the Landfill Venture Group

The membership of the Landfill Venture Group (LVG), which since its formation in 1988 has been comprised of 13 Vilas County towns and the city of Eagle River, will be, by mid-2026, down to 11 towns and Eagle River.

Winchester’s draft ATV/UTV ordinance heads back to the town board

When the Winchester town board meets in regular session in 2026, town chairman Joe Discianno expects to have the draft ordinance for use of all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) on town roads on the meeting agenda.

NEMSD board meltdown

The four member board of directors for the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) met for two hours on Dec. 17. While there is agreement among them the ambulance service in Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Winchester, which began operations on Jan. 16, as the result of a few years of planning, is operating very well, the fact there is discord among board members was very apparent at the meeting, particularly during a discussion about an article published on the front page of the Dec. 12 edition of The Lakeland Times about the Manitowish Waters town board’s Dec. 9 meeting.