Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
Tribe says $600K won’t be returned despite court win
Despite a federal judge’s ruling in the town of Lac du Flambeau’s favor on Aug. 6, 2025 that ended a lawsuit the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed against the town regarding an easement dispute between the town and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, tribal president John Johnson, Sr. said the tribe doesn’t intend to pay back the town of Lac du Flambeau $600,000.
Island City Acoustics is ready to play
For 31 years, Frank Coffen was well-known in the Lakeland area for his carpentry work. A couple of years ago, however, Coffen and his wife, Sylvia, made a trip to Sheboygan to get a replacement back door for his van “because I smashed it up.”
Controversial property in Arbor Vitae sold to the LdF tribe’s BDC
Parcels of land along U.S. Highway 51 near the intersection of Snyder Road in Arbor Vitae that were the center of controversy last year have been sold. The nearly 40 acres, which had been owned by Rick Trapp and his son Nick and under the name R&N Holdings LLC, were sold to the Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corporation (BDC), a subsidiary of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Hazelhurst man dies in Willow Flowage accident
A Hazelhurst man died Tuesday after he was run over by a pickup truck on the Willow Flowage in Little Rice. According to a press release from Tyler Young, patrol captain with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Randall Bernau, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Illinois man charged in death of his father as a result of Iron County snowmobile crash
An Illinois man involved in a Jan. 16 Iron County snowmobile crash will be in Iron County court Monday, charged with one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, a Class D felony, that resulted in the death of his father.
Minocqua looking at zoning overlay districts
The Minocqua plan commission Tuesday approved a motion that authorizes town chairman Mark Hartzheim, also chairman of the plan commission, to pursue overlay zoning district creation with Oneida County. Hartzheim said his research into the issue would include talking to officials in other towns as well as those from the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA).
