Brian Jopek
Recent Stories
Faulty concrete found in DOT’s downtown Minocqua road project
On Sept. 1, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation issued a press release stating work on the north and southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 51 in Minocqua, on hold since June, was to resume on Sept. 8.
Three AEDs donated for use in the Manitowish Waters area
Three publicly available automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have recently been deployed in the Manitowish Waters area. Their locations are the Manitowish Waters Youth Center/pickleball courts, Koller Park and the WinMan Trails Base Camp.
Bond set at $50,000 for Illinois man arrested for fentanyl possession in Lac du Flambeau
An Illinois man charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl had his cash bond set at $50,000 by Vilas County judge Daniel Overbey on Sept. 4. According to the complaint against Donald Ladon Emery, 44, Macomb, Ill., the charge stems from a Sept. 2 traffic stop of Emery in Lac du Flambeau by a trooper with Wisconsin State Patrol for “an observed equipment violation.”
Manitowish Waters town supervisor Lynn Schroeder resigns
The Manitowish Waters town board will be seeking a successor for town supervisor Lynn Schroeder, who has submitted his resignation which was accepted during the town board’s Sept. 8 meeting.
Lac du Flambeau town board approached about ATV/UTV use on paved town roads
The Lac du Flambeau town board was approached during its Sept. 2 meeting about the possibility of opening paved town roads to all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) traffic. The request came from Rick LaRock, who said he’d been talking to people “for quite some time about this.”
The next phase of Boathouse reconstruction begins
Nearly a year after the Boathouse’s closure for a major reconstruction, the next phase of the project – the current building’s demolition to make way for a new structure – is proceeding. For the first time since a 1972 fire destroyed what had been the original Bosacki’s Boathouse, the business, purchased by Gage Marine from Minocqua businessman Bill Fricke in 2024, has been closed as the building was prepared for the project.
Lac du Flambeau man sentenced for sixth OWI offense
A Lac du Flambeau man charged for his sixth offense of operating while intoxicated (OWI) was sentenced last week in Vilas County court to a year and a half in prison. Scott A. Smith, Sr., 60, will also be under extended supervision for three and a half years following his release from prison.
Lakeland Airport commission takes step toward a new administrator
The Lakeland Airport commission during a special meeting on Sept. 1, last week and following a nearly 45-minute closed session with Lac du Flambeau town clerk Susan Schoonover, voted to pay Schoonover for work she’s done since May after airport administrator Jesse Birginal suddenly resigned.
