Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
Minocqua town board approves town’s 2026 budget
The 2026 town of Minocqua budget hearing – attended by two town electors, according to town clerk Roben Haggart – and subsequent town board meeting took about 15 minutes but when it was over, the budget was approved. The overall 2026 budget is $10,056,095 with a tax levy of $5,132,107.
Lac du Flambeau fire and EMS director suspended
Lac du Flambeau fire and emergency medical service (EMS) director Mike Zimmerman was suspended by the town board at its Oct. 29 meeting. The motion for the 30-day suspension was made by town supervisor Dennis Pearson following a closed session.
MHLT school board approves 2026 district budget
The 2026 budget for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district was approved during the school board’s Oct. 29 meeting. The school board during its annual budget hearing heard a nearly 40-minute presentation of the proposed 2025-26 budget from Ed Then, the district’s new finance director with a new title of “business official.”
Former Lac du Flambeau fire station could be a bus barn
One of the items on the agenda for the Nov. 5 meeting of the Lac du Flambeau town board is a proposed lease agreement with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for temporary use of the town’s former fire station on Wild Rice Avenue in downtown Lac du Flambeau.
Possible change in meeting time for Vilas County board discussed
The Vilas County board during its Oct. 28 meeting spent roughly an hour discussing something that had been brought forward by a group of citizens from different towns in the county who would like to see things switched up when it comes to when the county board meets.
Vilas County board approves 2026 budget
The increase in property valuations helped with a reduced mill rate incorporated into the 2026 budget approved by the Vilas County board Oct. 27. The overall county budget is $50,480,939; the mill rate is 1.38 per $1,000 of equalized property value which translates to $138 for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Remembering Mike: Woodruff community center renamed for Timmons
The Woodruff town board on Oct. 28 conducted a public hearing for the town’s most recent comprehensive plan and once that was complete, town chair Judi Nelson adjourned the public hearing and convened a regular meeting of the town board. The first item of business was formal approval of the comprehensive plan.
AV-W school board OKs 2025-26 budget
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district’s board of education approved the district’s 2025-26 budget following its budget hearing on Oct. 27.
