Arbor Vitae rejects insurer’s attempt to play doctor
Board balks at bid to dictate return‑to‑work rules
A proposed “transitional work policy” from an insurance company that submitted a bid to the town of Arbor Vitae for insurance coverage was rejected by the town board at its March 18 meeting. EMC Insurance had provided the town with a two-page document that included possible light-duty tasks such as cleaning trucks, doing a shop inventory, organizing town records and weeding gardens and lawns for employees recovering from something like a serious injury or surgery.
Lac du Flambeau pushes to reopen soaring ambulance contract
Hartman: ‘We’re always willing to talk to them’
The Lac du Flambeau town board and the Oneida County board’s public safety committee may soon meet and discuss the ambulance contract the town has with Oneida County. Lac du Flambeau town supervisor Dennis Pearson asked for that during the March 18 town board meeting.
Lakeland Area General Election Candidate Profiles
There aren’t many contested local races in the April 7 general election for seats on Lakeland area town boards, school boards and county boards The Lakeland Times covers regularly but that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be a few to watch.
Plum Lake electors vote to appoint town clerk and treasurer
Voters in the town of Plum Lake have spoken. The town conducted a special meeting of electors prior to the March 10 meeting of the town board to determine whether the positions of town clerk and town treasurer should be elected or appointed.
Checking for carbon monoxide hazards
Minocqua’s assistant fire chief recommends regular checks of monitors and alarms
Minocqua police and fire department personnel responded late Tuesday morning to a 911 call from a business along U.S. Highway 51 near the Boardwalk shops of a carbon monoxide alarm (CO) going off. Eric Carlson, the assistant chief of the Minocqua fire department, said the initial page was to Stamp, Paper, Scissors and there was an interior CO reading of “approximately 49 percent per million of CO.”
Woodruff town board gives new buoy approval on Mid Lake
Lake district request now goes to the DNR
The Woodruff town board at its March 10 meeting approved a request from the Mid Lake Protection and Management District (MLPMD) for installation of a new buoy. The district’s Joe Pilarski told the town board it had received authorization at its annual meeting to seek approval for installation of a buoy in Mid Lake “if we could and to have it say ‘Shallow lake.’’’
Circle K aims to cash in on former bank site in Woodruff
Town board moves application forward despite lake-setback concerns
If everything goes the way Circle K Stores would like it to, the Canadian-based corporation will have another convenience store along U.S. Highway 51 in Woodruff.
Newbold requests residential parking revision in Oneida County ordinance
The Newbold town board has forwarded its recommendation to the Oneida County planning and zoning department regarding a revision to the county zoning ordinance’s residential parking regulations. During the town board’s March 12 meeting, town chairman Dan Hess said the county wanted input.
Airport owners want more information for possible land purchase
Lakeland Airport commission approached to buy nearly eight acres
The town boards of the four towns that own the Lakeland Airport — Arbor Vitae, Woodruff, Lac du Flambeau and Minocqua — met in special session on March 11 at the Arbor Vitae community center and they will meet again soon to decide on a potential land purchase for the airport.
AV-W superintendent will stay
Dr. Jocelyn Hardy had submitted her resignation but an outpouring of support prompts her to change her mind
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district’s superintendent, Dr. Jocelyn Hardy, has decided to remain with the district. Her resignation was on the agenda of the March 9 school board meeting as a closed session item.
Minocqua fire and rescue conducts training at closed Boat House
The Boat House restaurant and bar, closed for several months as it undergoes a major renovation, was the site Monday evening for a training exercise conducted by the Minocqua fire and rescue department.
Lac du Flambeau and election integrity
Town board discusses questions about the absence of Native pollworkers in the February primary
Concerns regarding the process in how elections in the town of Lac du Flambeau are done was a topic of discussion at the March 4 meeting of the town board. The agenda item was “Election Integrity and Voter Eligibility” and town chairman Matt Gaulke began the discussion by saying there had been “a lot of questions and people questioning here” how the Feb. 17 primary election was handled.
LdF school board approves 2026-27 pay increases or teachers, support staff
The board of education for the Lac du Flambeau school district last week approved teacher and support staff pay increases for the 2026-27 school year. Before the pay approval at the March 4 meeting, district superintendent Josh Ernst, in giving a brief overview of staffing for the 2026-27 school year, said the staffing, especially in “the core classes” for 2026-27, will, for the most part, remain the same.
LdF town board helps Hornshoe Snowmobile Club
Agrees to co-buyer status that gets the club a municipal discount toward new tractor purchase
Lac du Flambeau’s Northern Hornshoe Snowmobile Club will get some assistance from the town of Lac du Flambeau in the process to purchase a new tractor for trail grooming. The assistance, though, won’t be monetary in nature.
Plum Lake electors take to the polls Tuesday
Voters in the town of Plum Lake will have the opportunity this Tuesday, March 10 during a special meeting of the electors to decide whether the positions of town clerk and town treasurer remain elected by the citizenry during normal election cycles or instead are appointed by the town board.
Lake Tomahawk vintage snowmobile show a success
Krueger: ‘It was a good day’
Snowmobile enthusiasts spent a good part of the final day of February, 2026, in Lake Tomahawk for the 16th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Show and Ride in downtown Lake Tomahawk. Officially, there were 135 vintage snowmobiles registered for the event and Sno Fleas president Kevin Krueger said there were probably closer to 180 snowmobiles if the unregistered machines were included in the count.
Lac du Flambeau man charged with child sexual exploitation
A cash bond of $25,000 has been set by Vilas County circuit court judge Daniel Overbey for a 29-year-old Lac du Flambeau man charged with one count of filming sexual exploitation of a child.
Rhinelander man injured in Lake Tomahawk snowmobile crash
A 56 year-old Rhinelander man was injured in a snowmobile crash in Lake Tomahawk on Feb. 25. In a press release from Terri Hook, chief deputy of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, she said the sheriff’s office was notified of a snowmobile accident on a trail off of Lyannas Road and it was reported a snowmobile operated by Kenneth Jolin struck a tree and he “was not breathing.”
Minocqua weighs bike/pedestrian trail plan as motorized clubs pack the room
Expected construction, along with replacement of the Hwy. 70 bridge west of Minocqua, in 2030 or 2031
When the Minocqua town board convenes into regular session today, there may just be a number of people in the audience, many of them members of area snowmobile and all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) clubs.
Lac du Flambeau town board delays new fire station turnover
A couple items still need to be addressed before the town formally takes ownership
The town of Lac du Flambeau has been using its new, multi-million dollar fire station on State Highway 47 for several months but there have been a few nagging items that have prevented town board members from signing off on the project to formally have the town take ownership.
Island City Acoustics is ready to play
‘It just sort of happened’
For 31 years, Frank Coffen was well-known in the Lakeland area for his carpentry work. A couple of years ago, however, Coffen and his wife, Sylvia, made a trip to Sheboygan to get a replacement back door for his van “because I smashed it up.”
Tribe says $600K won’t be returned despite court win
Lac du Flambeau town board presses for repayment while congressional hearing escalates rhetoric
Despite a federal judge’s ruling in the town of Lac du Flambeau’s favor on Aug. 6, 2025 that ended a lawsuit the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed against the town regarding an easement dispute between the town and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, tribal president John Johnson, Sr. said the tribe doesn’t intend to pay back the town of Lac du Flambeau $600,000.
Controversial property in Arbor Vitae sold to the LdF tribe’s BDC
Allen: ‘Right now, we don’t have a plan for the property’
Parcels of land along U.S. Highway 51 near the intersection of Snyder Road in Arbor Vitae that were the center of controversy last year have been sold. The nearly 40 acres, which had been owned by Rick Trapp and his son Nick and under the name R&N Holdings LLC, were sold to the Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corporation (BDC), a subsidiary of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Hazelhurst man dies in Willow Flowage accident
A Hazelhurst man died Tuesday after he was run over by a pickup truck on the Willow Flowage in Little Rice. According to a press release from Tyler Young, patrol captain with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Randall Bernau, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Illinois man charged in death of his father as a result of Iron County snowmobile crash
An Illinois man involved in a Jan. 16 Iron County snowmobile crash will be in Iron County court Monday, charged with one count of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, a Class D felony, that resulted in the death of his father.
Minocqua looking at zoning overlay districts
Town explores new tools to address shipping containers, camping and short‑term rentals
The Minocqua plan commission Tuesday approved a motion that authorizes town chairman Mark Hartzheim, also chairman of the plan commission, to pursue overlay zoning district creation with Oneida County. Hartzheim said his research into the issue would include talking to officials in other towns as well as those from the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA).
Dr. Kozisek dies as a result of injuries sustained in a fall
A Minocqua man died Monday, Feb. 23 of injuries he sustained in what a Minocqua police department incident report said was a fall in his boathouse at his residence on Country Club Road that was reported at 5:21 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Lac du Flambeau ambulance service loses an EMT
EMS member and town board candidate Stephanie Thompson flips off chairman during town meeting
What appeared to be a simple item on the agenda for the Feb. 18 meeting of the Lac du Flambeau town board to ratify the membership of the town’s volunteer fire department ambulance personnel ended up as being something more than the roster’s approval which did ultimately take place.
Minocqua town board OKs conceptual plan for Winter Park snowmaking
Krolczyk: ‘A positive step for the whole place’
The Minocqua Winter Park (MWP) board of directors has received the go-ahead from the Minocqua town board to proceed with a conceptual plan to install a snowmaking system at the park facility on Minocqua’s west side.
Minocqua man struck by vehicle on State Highway 70
A Minocqua man was taken by air ambulance to a hospital after he was hit by a vehicle on Feb. 14 near the intersection of State Highway 70 and Koolish Road on Minocqua’s west side. A press release from Minocqua police chief Glenn Janzer stated officers responded at around 7 p.m. Saturday to the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle and found Stanley Yorks, 65, “with injuries.”
Lac du Flambeau town board, school board primary results
Voter turnout less than 40 percent
Incumbents fared well in the only primary election in the Lakeland area on Feb. 17. There were two primaries in Lac du Flambeau, one for town board and the other for board of education of the Lac du Flambeau school district; the top vote-getters will now face off in the April 7 general election.
Woodruff businesses evacuated because of natural gas leak
Chief Gee: ‘It was a definite explosion hazard’
Firefighters with the Woodruff and Minocqua fire departments were dispatched to downtown Woodruff late in the late afternoon of Feb. 14 for the report of a natural gas leak. For the most part, they assisted police officers with traffic control in the area around the first block of buildings south of the U.S. Highway 51 and State Highway 47 intersection in Woodruff as open businesses in those buildings, including the Hunan Chinese Restaurant and Fritz’s Bar, were evacuated because of the leak.
Minocqua looks to replace aging plow fleet
Pertile: ‘The lead times for new trucks are very substantial’
Facing an aging fleet of patrol trucks used for snowplowing, the Minocqua town board on Feb. 17 took its first step toward updating the equipment over the next few years. The town board authorized public works director Mark Pertile to sell the town’s “Truck 4,” a 2000 International that he said is “inoperable at this time” because both the frame and the box are rusted through.
Woodruff keeps stricter TRH rules as county opens door to one‑night stays
Nelson: ‘We don’t have to do anything’
The town of Woodruff won’t be changing anything with its tourist rooming house (TRH) ordinance. That was the decision the town board reached following a brief discussion during its Feb. 10 meeting.
No injuries in Woodruff Road collision
No one was injured in a two-vehicle collision on Feb. 12 in Woodruff. According to the state accident report filed by the Woodruff police department, Paula Marquardt, 67, Woodruff, was southbound in a 2024 Honda CR-V and swerved to miss a 2014 Dodge Caravan owned by Woodruff Appliance and driven by Rafael Castillo, 45, St. Germain.
Vilas County LWC hosts regional speaking, poster competion
“Essentially, all life depends upon the soil ... there can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.”
Lenny Drewsen, long-time Woodruff police chief remembered for his community presence, dies after fall
A well-known Woodruff community member has died. Wednesday morning, former Woodruff police chief Lenny Drewsen was found dead at his home. Minocqua police lieutenant Ben Burrows said Drewsen’s death was the result of injuries he sustained in a fall.
AV-W school board hears feedback on district administrator
Sheriff’s deputy attends at principal’s request
The small meeting room the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) board of education usually meets in was full as the board met for its meeting on Feb. 9. Among those in attendance was a deputy with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, standing in the back of the room.
Trash talk: LVG membership learns about its landfill
Jennrich: ‘There may be some issues that need to be addressed’
Better communication regarding the County G Landfill in the town of Cloverland was one of the items representatives of the 13 Vilas County towns that make up the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) discussed at a meeting Feb. 7 in the St. Germain community center.
AV-W hires a new principal
MHLT’s dean of students will succeed Fortier
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district has a new principal. The board of education at its Feb. 9 meeting approved a two-year contract for Sid Hunter, currently the dean of students at the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district.
LdF town to LdF tribe: remove the blocks, chains — and return the $600K
With easement issue concluded, a majority vote looks to get related items cleared up with the tribe
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
Fricke: ‘It just seems like another case of Oneida County giving us the finger’
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
Bartelt: ‘Have fun and more importantly, stay safe’
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
To be a topic of discussion at upcoming Wisconsin Towns Association meeting in St. Germain
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.
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