Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
‘So much learning to be done through theater’
Eleven Lakeland area middle school-age students participated in the 2026 edition of the Summer Youth Theater’s skills camp at the Campanile Center for the Arts the week of June 15. The Campanile theater program’s director, Claire Kafka Duda, is a special education teacher at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) and also directs the fall play and spring musical there.
Milwaukee homicide suspect arrested in Arbor Vitae
Lakeland area law enforcement personnel were engaged in a manhunt on Thursday, June 25, the man they were looking for wanted by authorities alleged to have been involved in a Milwaukee homicide. According to a press release issued by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning, authorities were “asking for public assistance locating a wanted individual who may be in Vilas or Oneida County.”
Minocqua to close a portion of West Park Avenue for the Fourth of July
The location change of the Fourth of July fireworks display to the Aqua Bowl in Minocqua prompted action by the town board during a special meeting on June 23 to close West Park Avenue for a time on July 4.
Vilas County board authorizes tri-plex purchase
After a lengthy discussion during its June 23 meeting, the Vilas County board approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of a tri-plex within walking distance of the Vilas County Courthouse and downtown Eagle River.
Minocqua town board signs off on baseball training facility
The Minocqua town board formally approved during a June 23 special meeting a proposed indoor baseball facility to be built at the Minocqua Park Complex. During the town of Minocqua’s April, 2024, annual meeting, voters approved construction of a 6,400 square foot practice facility on town property, that being the park complex.
Vilas County board approves finance director salary increase again
For the second time in a month, the Vilas County board Tuesday approved a resolution authorizing a salary increase for county finance director Darcy Smith, who’s been with Vilas County since 2021. The county board had approved a resolution to address Smith’s salary during its May 26 meeting following a 30-minute closed session.
Arbor Vitae seat on Vilas County board vacant
Vilas County board supervisor Leah Trojan, one of Arbor Vitae’s representatives on the county board, has submitted her resignation. She was elected in 2022. County clerk Kim Olkowski read Trojan’s brief letter of resignation to the county board at the start of its June 23 meeting.
New corporation counsel appointed in Vilas County
Vilas County has a new corporation counsel. The county board at its June 23 meeting approved a resolution appointing Joshua Crownover to the position, which has been vacant since Chad Lynch, the county’s corporation counsel since November, 2023, left in October of 2025 to be Oneida County’s corporation counsel.
