Brian Jopek

Recent Stories

Winchester’s draft ATV/UTV ordinance heads back to the town board

When the Winchester town board meets in regular session in 2026, town chairman Joe Discianno expects to have the draft ordinance for use of all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) on town roads on the meeting agenda.

NEMSD board meltdown

The four member board of directors for the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) met for two hours on Dec. 17. While there is agreement among them the ambulance service in Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Winchester, which began operations on Jan. 16, as the result of a few years of planning, is operating very well, the fact there is discord among board members was very apparent at the meeting, particularly during a discussion about an article published on the front page of the Dec. 12 edition of The Lakeland Times about the Manitowish Waters town board’s Dec. 9 meeting.

Vilas County highway committee awards design contracts

The Vilas County board’s highway committee on Dec. 16 approved two design contracts for upcoming work on stretches of County Highway N and County Highway C.

Fire/EMS director in Lac du Flambeau claims he didn’t resign

On Dec. 12, the Lac du Flambeau town board, after a closed session regarding the status of fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) director Mike Zimmerman, accepted Zimmerman’s resignation after the town board reconvened in open session.

Antigo man arrested on charges related to 2016 case against him

A 34-year-old Antigo man charged with first degree child sexual assault (sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 13), a Class B felony, and causing a child under the age of 13 to view or listen to a sex act, a Class F felony, pled not guilty to both charges in Oneida County court on Dec. 17.

Lac du Flambeau man charged in assault

A Lac du Flambeau man has been charged with first degree attempted intentional homicide in connection with an attack of a woman in Lac du Flambeau on Saturday, Dec. 13. According to a press release from the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department, tribal police officers and deputies with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department responded to the report of a possible homicide in Lac du Flambeau.

Lac du Flambeau town board appoints interim fire, ambulance directors

Meeting in a Dec. 16 special session at the new fire station, the Lac du Flambeau town board on Dec. 16 appointed an interim fire chief and an interim emergency medical services (EMS) director for the town’s volunteer fire and EMS department.

MHLT school board says no to charter school proposal

The Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school board has turned down a proposal for the district to be an authorizer for the Elemental Roots charter school, based out of Terri’s Treehouse in Arbor Vitae during its Dec. 15 meeting.

3-K program report provided to MHLT school board

The Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) board of education heard a progress report for the district’s three-year old preschool, or 3-K, program for the 2025-26 school year at its Dec. 15 meeting.

Winchester town board mulls law enforcement needs

The four Vilas County towns that worked to get the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) formed and operational – Winchester, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters and Presque Isle – are looking at possibilities regarding sharing other services.