Tribal road department building lost in blaze
MABAS activated amid flammable fears
Fire destroyed a large garage at the road department for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians the morning of Oct. 15. No one was hurt in the blaze, which required activation by Lac du Flambeau fire chief Mike Zimmerman activation of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Opposition yields no U-turn on Hwy. 51/County Hwy. K roundabout Plan
DOT moves forward with safety redesign, construction slated for 2027
Staff with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) have made the determination to move forward with construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Swamp Lake Road and County Highway K in Harshaw.
Ambulance costs leave Lac du Flambeau budget on life support
Board taps reserves to make October payment, braces for painful fiscal triage, may explore referendum to revive funding
Facing mounting financial pressures, the Lac du Flambeau town board has begun taking aggressive steps to rein in spending ahead of its 2026 budget cycle. Among the items under scrutiny are the operating costs of the town’s transfer station and a sharply rising ambulance contract with Oneida County — an agreement that jumped from roughly $60,000 annually to more than $300,000 in just two years.
Begrudgingly, an aye: Arbor Vitae OKs attorney’s disputed bill
The Arbor Vitae town board at its Oct. 15 meeting settled up with town attorney Steve Garbowicz regarding a $570 invoice he’d sent the town regarding the recent Lakeland Disposal/Towanda Lake Association conditional use permit (CUP) issue.
AV-W school board to continue principal search
Superintendent’s recommendation of an internal candidate shot down
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school board and administration will continue the search for principal Rich Fortier’s replacement. Fortier, a 15 year-veteran of service as principal at AV-W, had his letter of retirement, effective June 30, 2026, accepted by the school board at its September meeting.
Driver cited in Arbor Vitae rollover crash
An 18-year old Lac du Flambeau man was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license as the result of an Oct. 6 rollover crash on Lemma Creek Road.
OVTC moves closer to possible land acquisition for new headquarters
The effort by the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC), which oversees Northwoods Transit Connections (NTC) to procure land for a new administration, shop and bus storage facility for the NTC got another boost Tuesday from the Oneida County board’s land records committee.
Winchester officially endorses NEMSD 2026 budget
The Winchester town board Monday officially gave its stamp of approval to the 2026 budget for the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD). The budget approved by the NEMSD board is $2,106,522 which Winchester town chairman Joe Discianno said is the “Steve and Phil number,” a reference to NEMSD board members Phil Harris and Steve Herzberg.
Meyer pleads guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography
Also pleads guilty to one count of incest with a child; sentencing scheduled for January
A 31 year-old Gleason man will be sentenced in January in Oneida County court after pleading guilty on Oct. 10 to two counts of possession of child pornography, class D felonies, and one count of incest with a child, a class C felony.
Heavy equipment stirs up more than topsoil in Arbor Vitae as zoning officials dig in
Vilas County sends cease and desist letter to Trapps over unpermitted activity
The Vilas County zoning and planning department has sent a cease and desist letter to Nick Trapp and his father, Richard Trapp, owners of property along U.S. Highway 51 near the Snyder Road intersection in Arbor Vitae.
Lakeland Airport budget approved unanimously amidst heated snow debate
Birginal: ‘I want to build on what’s there’
The representatives of the four towns that own the Noble F. Lee Memorial Field — better known as Lakeland Airport — in Arbor Vitae unanimously approved the airport commission’s 2026 budget proposal during an annual meeting in Minocqua on Oct. 8.
Minocqua PD reels in new patrol boat, DNR on the hook for half the bill
When Minocqua police officers patrol town lakes next year, they’ll have a new boat to ply the waters in. The Minocqua town board at its Oct. 7 meeting approved the purchase of a Princecraft Hudson 190 WS 19 foot boat with a four stroke, 150 horsepower Mercury 150XL Pro engine from Ryden Marine for $41,420.
Lac du Flambeau tribal council general election results
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians conducted its general election for members of the tribal council on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Nadine Poupart defeated Duane Chapman for tribal council treasurer 288 votes to 255 and Jaime-Ann Allen remains as tribal secretary with a 290 to 246 vote win over Daniel R. Chapman.
Minocqua town board approves fire truck purchase
The Minocqua town board approved the purchase of a new Pierce pumper-tanker for $600,676 during its Oct. 7 meeting. Fire chief Rich Carani said prior to the vote that during the town board’s recent work sessions for the 2026 budget there had been discussion regarding replacement of two vehicles at the fire department’s Bo Di Lac station.
Minocqua bets big on growth: OKs TIF deal for 112-Unit housing development
Hartzheim: ‘This is a first for us’
The Minocqua town board Tuesday approved the town’s first ever tax incremental finance (TIF) developer’s agreement with Aspen Grove Minocqua LLC, co-owned by Matt Ritchie. The company is in the process of developing a 112-unit apartment complex consisting of seven two-story buildings with 16 apartments in each on Minocqua’s west side in an area that has been designated a tax incremental district (TID).
Felzkowski’s ATV bill rolls into controversy: Increasing ATV/UTV weight not favored in Vilas County
Proposed state legislation by Wisconsin Sen. Mary Felzkowski that includes an increase in the maximum weight for all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs) was discussed briefly during Tuesday’s meeting of the Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee.
LdF town board looking to wrap up fire station project
In April of 2023, voters in the town of Lac du Flambeau authorized construction of a new fire station and ambulance garage on State Highway 47 near the intersection with Raven Lake Road. The project, capped at $5.5 million, was scheduled for completion by September 2024. Although some fire department equipment was moved into the new building by spring, issues later prompted NASI Construction of Hurley, the primary contractor, to dismiss one of its subcontractors that year.
Woodruff property revaluation shows a dramatic increase
Huotari: ‘On the whole, people’s taxes won’t be going up’
Woodruff property taxpayers earlier this year received a letter from Bowmar Appraisal, the town’s property assessor. The purpose of the letter was to “provide you with information to help better understand the Revaluation and upcoming review period.”
Two people seriously injured in Hwy. 47 crash near Dolhun Road
A Presque Isle couple was seriously injured Monday in a three-vehicle crash on State Highway 47 near Dolhun Road in Woodruff. According to the accident report filed by the Woodruff police department, a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu sedan driven by Madeline Dodge, 18, Minocqua, and a 2022 Peterbilt truck-tractor driven by Jimmy Gosa, 61, South Bend, Ind., were northbound on Hwy. 47 just after noon.
Three men charged in Oneida County with sexually-related crimes
Three men accused of sexually-related computer crimes involving minors were recently arrested and taken to the Oneida County Jail. The case against Thomas Bartelme, 42, Rhinelander, goes back to July of 2022 when he was arrested and charged with one count of use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, a Class C felony, and attempting the sexual assault of a child under 16-years old, also a Class C felony.
Lac du Flambeau school board OKs $17.7M preliminary budget
The board of education for the Lac du Flambeau school district last week approved a preliminary budget for the 2025-26 of $17,723,205 for presentation at the district’s annual meeting and budget hearing later this month.
Oneida County public works committee moves to help the OVTC
Transit commission, looking for a site for a new home, may have found one in Pelican
The Oneida County board’s public works committee at its Oct. 2 meeting forwarded to the county’s land information department a request from the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC) regarding the use of four acres of county-owned property in the town of Pelican.
Vilas County EMS leaders launch working group to tackle rising ambulance costs
Several managers of ambulance services in Arbor Vitae that comprise a working group met Monday at the Arbor Vitae fire department’s station two near the intersection of County Highway N and U.S. Highway 51.
A Monday morning disruption
Minocqua Kwik Trip closes briefly as report of burning smell inside is checked out
It was the Monday morning following Beef-A-Rama weekend in Minocqua and things were getting back to normal for people headed to work or taking the kids to school. One of the stops for many during that Monday morning drivetime is a stop at the Kwik Trip near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and State Highway 70 in Minocqua but in the middle of it all, the store was temporarily shut down.
Hazelhurst man cited for OWI
A Hazelhurst man was charged with a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) as the result of a one-vehicle accident on Sylvan Shores Drive in Hazelhurst on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Plum Lake’s intention to demolish its town hall draws opposition
Thomas: ‘I would just like to look at it closer’
With construction of a new Plum Lake town hall in Sayner underway, an effort has sprung up to save the current town hall. The months of planning for the new town hall included the formation of a building committee and the hiring by the town board of architect Steve Jamroz with Hortonville-based Blue Design Group.
Vilas County board approves board member monthly salaries
New policy to take effect following the April 2026, election
The Vilas County board Tuesday passed a resolution authorizing the establishment of a monthly salary for 20 of its 21 members and a salary increase for the chairman. Under provisions of the resolution, which won’t go into effect until April 21, 2026 — following the general election for county board — 18 supervisors will begin receiving $1,000 per month and the two vice-chairs of the county board will receive $2,500 per month.
Woodruff stops any remaining private road plowing
From this point forward, Woodruff’s road crew will no longer do snowplowing of private roads within the township. That was the decision reached at Tuesday’s meeting of the town board after town chair Judi Nelson brought up the matter. For the most part, the town’s road crew, as is the case in other towns, hasn’t been plowing private roads.
District 18’s vanishing act ends: Houdini sworn in as Vilas County supervisor
It’s been just under a year since the district 18 seat on the Vilas County board wasn’t vacant. The district covers wards 4 and 5 in the city of Eagle River, the fifth ward in nearby Lincoln and the last person who was in that seat on the county board was Joe Laux, who was elected in April of 2024.
Vilas County highway shop in Eagle River shelved again
Schalinske: ‘Roads are something everybody uses’
An effort by the Vilas County highway department to get construction of new Eagle River facility approved has been shelved again. It began in 2022 with a needs study and analysis that had been completed but ultimately, anything further was postponed because of the 2023 budget preparations.
Arbor Vitae town board approached about a wake boat ordinance
Schieble: ‘The future’s here’
Discussion regarding a possible wake boat ordinance in the town of Arbor Vitae was a highlight of the town board’s Sept. 17 meeting. A presentation from the Big Arbor Vitae Lake Association (BAVLA) about a wake boat ordinance was on the meeting agenda but whatever presentations concerning an ordinance took place during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Lynch succeeds Fugle as corporation counsel in Oneida County
One of the resolutions the Oneida County board passed at its Sept. 16 meeting was to hire Chad Lynch as the county’s next corporation counsel. Lynch previously was Oneida County’s assistant corporation counsel before he replaced John Albert as Vilas County’s corporation counsel in November, 2023.
Trapp re-zone request in Arbor Vitae withdrawn
A controversial re-zone issue in Arbor Vitae has ended. A re-zone request submitted to the Vilas County zoning and planning department by High Point Sand & Gravel owner Nick Trapp for property near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Snyder Road has been pulled by Trapp.
Evers seeks applications for Joe Fath’s successor
Deadline is Oct. 6
With the upcoming retirement of Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath on Dec. 1, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced on Sept. 18 applicants to be considered for appointment as Fath’s successor are being sought. The announcement by Evers was made by way of a press release issued on Sept. 19.
Arbor Vitae town board OKs fire truck purchase
The Arbor Vitae town board last week approved the purchase of a new fire engine. Fire chief Mike Van Meter, who has been working with a committee that has been working on a truck purchase proposal since January, in August received authorization from the town board to return with a proposal costing no more than $600,000.
Young Eagles take off at Lakeland Airport
Good weather, great flights
Beautiful weather provided a nice backdrop for the latest, local edition of Young Eagles Day at the Lakeland Airport in Arbor Vitae on Sunday, Sept. 14. The Young Eagles program was created in 1992 by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), its purpose “to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation” according to the EAA website.
Wisconsin American Legion Riders donate to Camp American Legion
Klement: ‘The camp couldn’t operate if it wasn’t for the Legion Riders’
Members of the 12 American Legion Riders districts in the state of Wisconsin descended on Camp American Legion in Lake Tomahawk during the week of Sept.8.
Minocqua town board OKs parking signage
Public access issue on Sunday Lake Road could lead to an ordinance amendment
The Minocqua town board Tuesday approved placement of signage at the entrance to Sunday Lake Road letting people know there will be no boat trailer parking allowed. The town board also authorized town attorney Greg Harrold to investigate alleged “encroachments” by individuals on the public boat landing on Spies Court and report his findings at a later date.
No plans, no show, no go: Arbor Vitae plan commission rejects Trapp re-zone request
Nerdahl: ‘There’s not transparency here’
A re-zone request submitted to the Vilas County zoning department Nick Trapp failed to get a positive recommendation of approval from the Arbor Vitae plan commission at its Sept. 11 meeting. The request is to re-zone property Trapp owns near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Snyder Road which in recent months, he’s had cleared of trees.
Lac du Flambeau town board hires a town treasurer
Former manager of Rhinelander’s human resources department gets the job
A former human resources manager for the city of Rhinelander starts in the treasurer position for the town of Lac du Flambeau today. Rachel Pearson was chosen by the town board following a closed session on Sept. 10.
Lightning strikes twice — and so do mutual aid alarms
Two major fire calls stretch area crews during volatile storm
A storm system with plenty of air to ground lightning rolled through the Lakeland area Tuesday and the result was a large number of Oneida and Vilas county fire departments called to reports of structure fires in Sugar Camp and St. Germain.
ATV ordinance hits road block in Winchester
Planning commission to refine draft after public concerns
The Winchester town board Monday sent a draft of the town’s ordinance for all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use on town roads back to the town board’s planning commission. The motion to send the draft back came at the end of a nearly hour-long, wide-ranging discussion regarding ATVs and UTVs in Winchester, an issue that has been a contentious one for years.
Majority of Boulder Junction voters again say no to ATVs on town roads
Reuss: ‘We’ll see where it goes’
For the second time in six years, voters in Boulder Junction have given a “thumbs down” to all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use on town roads. The town conducted a day long poll at the Boulder Junction community center on Sept. 9, the single question having to do with the longstanding, contentious ATV/UTV issue in the town: Are you in favor of ATV/UTV use on Boulder Junction town roads?
AV-W principal Rich Fortier leaving at the end of the school year
Quade: ‘Thanks for all you’ve given to this school’
The board of education for the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district Monday accepted the retirement notification from principal Rich Fortier. He gave his notice to district administrator Dr. Jocelyn Hardy in an email earlier Monday.
LdF tribe’s BDC purchases Marywood in Arbor Vitae
The Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corporation (BDC) has finalized its purchase of the Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae. Araia Breedlove, spokesperson for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, confirmed Wednesday the BDC bought Marywood on behalf of the tribe.
Parent/grandparent committee sought for Ldf school district
Zimmerman: ‘It’s up to the parents to do it’
Parental involvement in the Lac du Flambeau public school district, or what some see to be a lack of it, came up again at the Sept. 3 school board meeting.
Lac du Flambeau town board to interview treasurer applicants
Town electors chose to switch the position from elected to appointed last year
Members of the Lac du Flambeau town board, as well as town clerk Susan Schoonover, are hoping the search for a new town treasurer is nearing an end. The town board is set to meet in a closed session on Sept. 10 to interview candidates for the position which, in a vote of town electors late last year, went from elected status to that of appointed.
Lac du Flambeau town board hears county EMS meeting report
Gaulke: ‘I tried to make our point as clear as possible’
The Lac du Flambeau town board at its Sept. 3 meeting conducted a brief “after action” summary of an Aug. 28 meeting at the Vilas County courthouse in Eagle River regarding possible future assistance of its 14 towns and the city of Eagle River with challenges associated with the rising cost of each municipality dealing with emergency medical service (EMS).
One dead in Vilas County motorcycle crash
A 33-year-old Arbor Vitae man died of injuries sustained in an early Sunday morning motorcycle crash in Arbor Vitae. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, the dispatch center received a 911 call just after midnight reporting a motorcycle crash in the area of Gross Road and Milton Lane.
Arbor Vitae residents hold community meeting on re-zone request
Sadenwasser: ‘It may gain you traction’
Approximately 50 people – several of them property and homeowners on or near Snyder Road in Arbor Vitae – attended a meeting Tuesday evening at the Arbor Vitae town hall.
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