Brian Jopek

Recent Stories

Minocqua Fourth of July fireworks location change draws mixed reviews

By many accounts, the change back to the Aqua Bowl for the July 4 fireworks display was a booming success. For years, the fireworks had been fired from a clearing northeast of the town’s water tower and southeast of the mill pond near Save More that town chairman Mark Hartzheim said was privately owned but the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau had been able to use.

Attorney’s fees questions linger in Manitowish Waters

A question about attorney’s fees was a topic of discussion during the July 7 meeting of the Manitowish Waters town board. The question was brought up by town board member Doug Zeise, who asked the item be on the agenda; it was a continuation of his inquiry he made at the town board’s June 13 meeting in which Zeise said he wanted to specifically mention for the record he didn’t agree with the attorney’s fees of roughly $2,000 the town had to pay.

Lynne town board approves conflict of interest resolution

The Lynne town board, by a vote of 2 to 1, on July 8 approved a resolution establishing standards for conduct of town officials intended to “prevent conflicts of interest and maintain public confidence in town government.”

Phone survey underway for MHLT referendum

With the board of education for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district in June deciding to go to an operational referendum in November of this year, the next step is gathering input from the public regarding the issue.

New information presented to Oneida County in Willow Road issue

The town of Lynne, currently with a request submitted to the Oneida County Highway Department to take over Willow Road, has presented information to the county believed to show that at one time, Willow Road had been a county road. Its designation, according to a map discovered by a seasonal resident of Lynne, shows that as of 1939, it was County Highway T.

Manitowish Waters town board questioned about bass tournament

The position of the town board of Manitowish Waters regarding the use of wake boats was questioned during the public comment portion of the town board’s July 7 meeting. The towns of Manitowish Waters and Boulder Junction had a lawsuit filed against them on June 8 seeking to block enforcement of parallel ordinances the towns have adopted essentially banning wake surfing on the Manitowish chain of lakes.

Names of Oneida County deputies released in June 17 Lake Tomahawk shooting

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of two deputies involved in a shooting at a residence on Lumen Lake Drive in Lake Tomahawk on June 17. Terri Hook, chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, confirmed for The Lakeland Times on June 25 the identity of the person who was shot by law enforcement personnel as John Krga, 76.

‘Together for Tomorrow’

An effort to look into the possibility for a Lakeland area YMCA got a boost on June 13 from a fundraising event at Firemen’s Park in Arbor Vitae. John Weiss, who with his wife Shelly owns Lakeland Fitness and Golf in Woodruff, said what was done in the time leading up to the June 13 fundraiser was their business was brought together with Generations Senior Center and the YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander.

Minocqua plan commission, town board forward grooming business CUP application

The Minocqua town board, in a very brief special meeting on June 30, forwarded a conditional use permit (CUP) application for a dog grooming business to the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee.

Lac du Flambeau eyes EMS breakaway

When the Lac du Flambeau Town Board met in regular session on June 17, members agreed to approach the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) about the possibility of joining the consortium, which currently includes the towns of Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Winchester.