Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
Nokomis looks at options to keep Oneida County’s Med 4
In October, 2025, Wendy Smith, the clerk for the town of Nokomis, sent an email to Oneida County sheriff Grady Hartman, town officials for the western portion of Oneida County including Minocqua, Little Rice, Cassian, Hazelhurst and Woodruff as well as Aspirus Health representatives and state legislators.
Rhinelander roundabout work to be complete this month
Construction crews continue work toward completion of single lane roundabouts in Rhinelander, one at the intersection of State Highway 17 and Boyce Drive and the other at the intersection of County Highway G with U.S. Highway 8.
Lac du Flambeau man charged for fentanyl, methamphetamine possession
A 42 year-old Lac du Flambeau man charged for alleged offenses such as driving or operating a vehicle (Polaris all terrain vehicle) without the owner’s consent, battery to a law enforcement officer, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possesion of narcotics (fentanyl) and felony and misdemeanor bail jumping is being held on $10,000 bond in the Vilas County jail.
Funding OK’d for Hwy. 70 maintenance on Minocqua’s west side
With the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) planning a major 2030 paving project for State Highway 70 on Minocqua’s west side from Morgan Road to the Vilas County line, questions have arisen about what’s going to be done to address deteriorating conditions of the heavily traveled road between now and then.
Woodruff town board continues to look for public parking spaces
Woodruff town supervisors heard another update on the town’s search for more public parking space during the town board’s Aug. 25 meeting. Unlike the July 28 town board meeting, there were no fireworks.
Vilas County sets public hearing for data center moratorium ordinance
A draft ordinance for a moratorium on data centers, a major national news item recently, has become something that may soon reach the Vilas County board for its consideration.
Boathouse reconstruction on schedule
An April, 2027, grand opening of the new Boathouse is still something the restaurant’s owner, Gage Marine, is planning. For nearly a year following its late October, 2025 closing for a major reconstruction, work has taken place to meticulously dismantle the structure that for decades housed the legendary Bosacki’s Boathouse and prepare it for demolition.
Fire destroys iconic Minocqua location
Two separate Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) activations were used as firefighters and equipment from the Lakeland area and beyond responded to two structure fires early Wednesday morning, Aug. 26.
Minocqua Fire and Rescue receives WPS grant
The Minocqua fire department, during a brief, low-key presentation Monday at the fire department’s station on U.S. Highway 51, received from the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation medical supplies for mass incident emergency response kits.
