Brian Jopek

Recent Stories

LdF town to LdF tribe: remove the blocks, chains — and return the $600K

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will receive letters from the Lac du Flambeau town board regarding matters related to the recently concluded road easement issue between the town and the tribe.

Minocqua holds the line on short‑term rentals

The town of Minocqua will not, for now, make changes to its tourist rooming house (TRH) ordinance that would reflect recent Oneida County board action on the issue. That was the result of a nearly 15 minute-long discussion at the town board’s Feb. 3 meeting regarding a 12-5 vote by the Oneida County board at its Jan. 20 meeting to amend the county’s TRH ordinance that will allow shorter rentals than a week — such as weekend rentals — in residential zones.

No injuries from Hwy. 47 rollover in Lake Tomahawk

A Rhinelander man escaped serious injury on Feb. 3 in rollover of the pickup truck he was driving at the intersection of Fawn Lake Road and State Highway 47 in Lake Tomahawk, near the unincorporated town of McNaughton.

Infrastructure needs a focus at Lac du Flambeau school board meeting

The school board for the Lac du Flambeau school district approved bids for blacktopping, concrete work and two new water heaters during its Feb. 4 meeting.

Mid-season snowmobile safety reminder

Snowmobile accidents and crashes over the weekend in the Lakeland area are prompting law enforcement and officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to remind snowmobilers about safety while riding the trails. While none of the incidents resulted in fatalities there were injuries.

Minocqua board moves to codify new protest restrictions

In light of recent protests held in Minocqua over the course of the past several months, the town board on Tuesday, Feb. 3, advanced to a second reading an amendment to its “Disorderly conduct prohibited” ordinance.

Vilas County forestry discusses next steps for Riverside Park

The Vilas County board at its Jan. 27 meeting voted down a resolution to fund infrastructure for and then sell nearly 1,000 feet of county-owned riverfront property in Eagle River known as Riverside Park.

Federal appeals court grants DOJ motion to dismiss appeal in LdF road issue

A federal appeals court has granted a motion by the United States Department of Justice to dismiss its own appeal in a long-running Lac du Flambeau dispute about access to roads crossing tribal lands. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed the appeal in November, challenging an August 2025 ruling by U.S. district judge William Conley that favored the town of Lac du Flambeau. In that ruling, Conley said homeowners had an “implied easement” to use and access four roads previously barricaded by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

The future for the LVG and its County G Landfill

On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Vilas County unit of the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) is scheduled to meet at the St. Germain community center. In addition to the usual “housekeeping” type items, a primary topic of discussion will be the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) and the County G Landfill in the town of Cloverland owned by the consortium of 13 towns and the city of Eagle River.

OVTC to advertise for surveyor quotes again

Oneida County and the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC) are seeking a survey of a 4‑acre parcel in the town of Pelican as part of efforts to establish a new home for Northwoods Transit Connections. The parcel is part of 37.5 acres of land the county has and has offered to the OVTC for a new administration, shop and bus storage facility.