Brian Jopek

Recent Stories

Arbor Vitae tries for speed reduction at Hwy. 51 and Airport Road

The Arbor Vitae town board is sending a letter of support to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) supporting a lower speed limit on U.S. Highway 51 near its intersection with Airport Road. The decision to ask the DOT to consider lowering the speed limit from 45 to 35 miles per hour followed a discussion at the Arbor Vitae Town Board’s June 18 meeting.

Lac du Flambeau town board to revisit EMS contract with Oneida County

The Lac du Flambeau town board last week voted to make a monthly payment to Oneida County for ambulance service instead of making a quarterly payment of just over $75,000. The motion authorizing the monthly payment also included a provision requiring the town to give 90 days written notice to amend or not renew the agreement.

Turtle trouble: Minocqua’s Camp Nine Road project on hold

In April, the Minocqua town board approved a resolution required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding an infrastructure project on Minocqua’s west side.

Camp American Legion Celebrates 100 years

Approximately 400 people attended the day-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Camp American Legion in Lake Tomahawk on Saturday, June 13.

Crash victim’s medical records reviewed

The 86 year-old Hazelhurst resident involved in a three-vehicle collison on U.S. Highway 51 at the intersection of South Blue Lake Road in Hazelhurst in July of 2024 died on June 10. The crash resulted in the deaths of Greg Bohn, 70, and his wife, Audrey, 70. Jonathon “Jon” Kopchinski was taken by ambulance to a hospital for his injuries.

Vilas County board to consider formation of subcommittee

When the Vilas County board meets Tuesday, one of the items on the agenda will be a resolution from county board member Joe Muelbach to authorize the formation of an ad hoc committee for the county board’s highway committee.

Construction bid for new Plum Lake town hall approved

The Plum Lake town board during a special meeting Monday approved a low bid from Wickman Construction in Woodruff to be the primary contractor for construction of the new town hall. The town board began the process to replace the current town hall last year, applying for and ultimately awarded a $4.2 million Flexible Facilities Program (FFP) grant facilitated by the Wisconsin Department of Administration; the funding comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund (CPF) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March of 2021.

LdF school board hears more public input

The election of Dr. Brian Jackson to the board of education for the Lac du Flambeau school district in April of this year has resulted in recent discussions about the role of a school board and what’s happening with the district during its May 13 and June 11 meetings.

MBC injunction hearing postponed in Oneida County court

An injunction hearing in Oneida County circuit court regarding a conditional use permit (CUP) for Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company (MBC), is scheduled for this Friday, June 20. The hearing in front of judge Mary Sowinski was originally scheduled for June 13 but was, according to Oneida County corporation counsel Mike Fugle, removed from that day’s court docket.

AV-W school board approves early Chromebook order

The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district’s board of education Monday voted for a proposal to update 130 of the district’s Acer Chromebooks used by students. District administrator Dr. Jocelyn Hardy noted the equipment was in the district’s budget but it was a matter of timing with regard to “getting the orders in for them to get here for next school year.”