‘Where’s the Beef’: Minocqua town board addresses Beef-A-Rama food shortage
A little more than a month from the 60th anniversary of the Minocqua Beef-A-Rama celebration, the Minocqua town board Tuesday made an effort to help address an agenda item brought forth by the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau (MAVB).
‘Shakedown’ showdown, Tiffany to DOJ: Hold LdF Tribe accountable for road fee ‘extortion’
U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany Tuesday sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reimburses the town of Lac du Flambeau for what is described in a Tiffany press release as an “illegal shakedown.”
The Spirit of ‘45
Brief ceremony at the Northwoods National Cemetery quietly highlights the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two
On Aug. 14, 1945, or “VJ Day” as it came to be known, U.S. President Harry S. Truman made the announcement that Japan had surrendered and World War Two, which had begun nearly six years before, was finally over.
Inaugural Wheels in the Woods revs up despite downpour
Rain fails to stall turnout as gearheads gather in Minocqua
Less than ideal weather conditions weren’t enough to keep the inaugural “Wheels In The Woods Auto Show” from happening on Aug. 16 at the Minocqua Park Complex. Arin Alesauskas, one of the event’s organizers along with his parents Ann and Adam Alesauskas, said there were 141 entrants.
Minocqua police officer resignation halts internal investigation
An investigation into a Minocqua police officer by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office didn’t happen because the officer has submitted his resignation. Alex Schmidt earlier this month submitted his resignation letter to Minocqua police lieutenant Jason Benbenek.
Lac du Flambeau pushes countywide tax for EMS
Gaulke: ‘We cannot charge to cover the cost of running our ambulances’
A meeting of Vilas County town officials, members of the tribal council of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and members of the Vilas County board’s law enforcement and emergency management (LEEM) committee has been scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Vilas County courthouse in Eagle River.
Victim in Boulder Junction rollover crash identified
The driver of a vehicle involved in a rollover crash in Boulder Junction on Friday, Aug. 15, will be charged in connection to the death of one of the vehicle’s passengers. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center after 11 p.m. on Aug. 15 received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle crash on County Highway K at River Lane.
Woodruff man charged in stabbing
A Woodruff man was arrested Friday morning in connection with a stabbing that occurred late on the night of Thursday, Aug. 14 at a residence in Woodruff.
LdF woman drowns in local lake
A 42 year-old Lac du Flambeau woman was the victim of what Lac du Flambeau tribal police chief T.J. Bill said is an accidental drowning. He said in a press release issued late Friday afternoon “a concerned citizen appeared” at the tribal police department reporting a possible drowning on Long Interlaken Lake.
One person dead after rollover crash in Boulder Junction Friday evening
One person is dead as the result of one-vehicle rollover in Boulder Junction late Friday night. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle crash on County Highway K at River Lane.
BicycleGate: Lake Tomahawk back peddles with deadline looming
DOT backs Woodruff’s demand for removal of unauthorized bicycle trail gates by Labor Day
The town of Lake Tomahawk will comply with a Labor Day deadline set by Woodruff town chair Judi Nelson to have three bicycle trail gates installed by a town of Lake Tomahawk road crew in Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) right-of-way along State Highway 47 taken down.
Lac du Flambeau town board continues to deal with EMS issue
Resolution for county EMS tax headed to Vilas County
The Lac du Flambeau town board, continuing its efforts to find ways to get Vilas County to provide county-wide ambulance service, during a special meeting on Aug. 14 passed a resolution that would, if it were to be ultimately approved by the Vilas County board, implement a county tax for emergency medical service (EMS) by towns.
Lac du Flambeau town board sends response to the Ldf tribe
The back and forth relates to three roads the tribe wants the town to vacate
The Lac du Flambeau town board, following an Aug. 13 closed session, voted to send a letter to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to have concrete blocks, gates, signs and cameras removed from the entrances to four town roads.
Arbor Vitae residents get answers
Nick Trapp: ‘I’m going to stump it out’
For a few months now, the Arbor Vitae town board has heard from residents about tree clearing on two lots totalling just over 40 acres along U.S. Highway 51 near the intersection with Snyder Road during the public comment portion of its meetings.
Minocqua plan commission OKs Sapphire Lounge ARP application
The Minocqua plan commission Tuesday approved an administrative review permit (ARP) for a business that is planned for the former location of Ann Marie’s in downtown Minocqua. Ann Marie’s has moved to a location on Minocqua’s south side on U.S. Highway 51 and the new business will be the Sapphire Lounge.
Manawa man dies in gravel pit accident in Michigan’s upper peninsula
Pit owned by local company
A 50-year-old Manawa man died on Thursday, Aug. 7 as the result of injuries sustained in an accident at a gravel pit in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula owned by Woodruff-based Highpoint Sand and Gravel.
Woodruff town board to commemorate Timmons
Community center to be re-named in his honor
In March of this year, Mike Timmons, who had been on the Woodruff town board since 1993 and town chairman since 2007, died suddenly at the age of 66. Tuesday, the Woodruff town board took steps toward establishing memorials for him.
Winchester town board discusses County G Landfill
Recent offer from the Vilas County board chair to sell the property to the LVG mulled over
An idea from Vilas County board chairman Jerry Burkett to have Vilas County sell the nearly 170 acres of land on County Highway G in the town of Cloverland it leases to the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) was a topic of discussion at the Aug. 11 meeting of the Winchester town board.
LdF town board to try for EMS lifeline from Vilas County
The town of Lac du Flambeau will try again to see if there’s a possibility that there could be a county-wide ambulance service in Vilas County. The town has its own volunteer ambulance service and also has a contract with Oneida County to provide ambulance service that serves as a backup when the town’s volunteer crews can’t make a call.
Minocqua town board OKs bid for Squirrel Lake Road maintenance project
The Minocqua town board last week approved a bid from Fahrner Asphalt for crack seal work on just over five miles of Squirrel Lake Road from State Highway 70 to Bo-Di-Lac Road.
Proposed spreadsheet sparks tribal status debate at LdF town board
Hanson: ‘This strikes me as intrusive and possibly illegal’
The Lac du Flambeau town board at its Aug. 6 meeting got a first look at a spread sheet template intended to more accurately track activity of the town’s departments by the department heads.
Federal judge rules against the U.S. DOJ in Lac du Flambeau road issue
Kowalkowski: ‘There are national implications’
William Conley, a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Wednesday made a decision in favor of the town of Lac du Flambeau in a lawsuit brought against it by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Minocqua town board hires new police chief
Hartzheim: ‘A good blend of experience we felt would apply up here’
Even before former Minocqua police chief Dave Jaeger’s retirement took effect on Jan. 1, 2025, the search for his replacement was expected to take some time.
Three people arrested in Minocqua for cocaine, methamphetamine
Three people were arrested in Minocqua last week for possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and for one of the individuals, felony bail jumping. According to the report filed by Minocqua police officer Devon Gaszak, he was dispatched to O’Reilly Automotive Parts on Aug. 1 to do a welfare check “on a male and a female that appeared to be ‘tweaking.’”
Another road issue in Lac du Flambeau
The tribal council rekindles a different road issue
The Lac du Flambeau town board is scheduled to meet for a special meeting in closed session on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. at the Lac du Flambeau town hall.
Contract talks flatline: Oneida County declines Lac du Flambeau’s ambulance renegotiation bid
Lac du Flambeau town chairman Matt Gaulke and fire and EMS chief Mike Zimmerman met with Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman on July 29, to seek changes in the town’s ambulance service contract with the county.
Vilas County authorities investigate Eagle River bomb threat
Vilas County authorities last week dealt with the report of a bomb at an Eagle River business. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the department’s dispatch center received a report that a person had placed a bomb inside Trackside Motorsports just outside Eagle River and went on to state that if law enforcement arrived at the scene, he would detonate the bomb and shoot officers.
Storage units and contents destroyed in fire
Carani: ‘There was all kinds of equipment and fuels and plastics’
Firefighters and equipment from five different counties responded to a storage unit fire in Minocqua on Saturday, July 26. Minocqua fire chief Rich Carani said he and some of his firefighters and trucks were at the Woodruff fire department’s Hog and Hops fundraising event when the call came through.
Vilas County board of adjustment hears Towanda Lake Association appeal
Zoning committee’s May approval of Lakeland Disposal CUP upheld
The five-member Vilas County board of adjustment Tuesday unanimously voted to uphold, or reaffirm, the May 1 decision by the Vilas County board’s zoning committee to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) application submitted by Chad Metzger, owner of Lakeland Disposal in Arbor Vitae.
Fifield fire in late June claims a third victim
Bliefernich: ‘They took a little part of the community with them’
The death toll as the result of an early morning house fire off Shady Knoll Road in the town of Fifield on June 29 is now three. Tom Birchell, 57, died Sunday at the Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center in Minneapolis from burns to nearly 50 percent of his body sustained in the fire.
Concerns raised over County G Landfill liability
With questions about liability, the town of Conover considers an exit from the Landfill Venture Group
Liability concerns regarding the County G Landfill in the town of Cloverland have prompted some questions among members of the Landfill Venture Group (LVG).
Dual-language highway signs unveiled in Lac du Flambeau
Peterson: ‘It’s an amazing feeling to see it come full circle in our community’
The most recent unveiling of dual- language signs in the state of Wisconsin took place during a ceremony in Lac du Flambeau on July 23. The new signs identify Lac du Flambeau’s tribal boundaries and four lakes in both the Ojibwe and English languages.
Bangstad suit against Oneida County P&D committee and BOA dismissed
Sowinski: ‘This court has no choice’
Oneida County circuit court judge Mary Sowinski last week dismissed a lawsuit filed against members of the Oneida County board of adjustment (BOA) and the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee by Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad.
Two truck collision results in a trailer jack knife
There were no injuries in the collision of two pickup trucks on State Highway 70 near the intersection of Hill Lake Road on Minocqua’s west side on Sunday, July 20.
First ‘Saluting Heroes’ balloon rally is this weekend
Event will be at the Hodag Countryfest grounds
This Friday and Saturday, the Hodag Countryfest grounds in Rhinelander will host the first Saluting Heroes Balloon Rally. “It’s the first ever summer balloon rally in the Northwoods,” event co-organizer Steve Woller said. “We do have over 25 balloons coming and we are trying to make enough money in a year or two to replace one of the cabins at Camp American Legion. It’s basically a ‘balloon glow,’ is what we call it.”
Proposed 89-room Woodruff hotel annexed into the Lakeland Sanitary District
Peters: ‘We went back and forth for quite a while on it’
The board of directors for the Lakeland Sanitary District (LSD) Tuesday gave approval to add, or annex, a proposed 89-room hotel in Woodruff to the district’s system.
To offer or not to offer
Proposed land sale to the Landfill Venture Group by Vilas County still being discussed
A proposed sale of land to the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) of the nearly 170 acres it occupies and leases from Vilas County in the town of Cloverland was once again discussed in a closed session of the LVG’s executive committee at its July 16 meeting in Arbor Vitae.
Lakeland Disposal CUP brought up at AV-W school board meeting
Towanda Lake Association president makes one last effort before board of adjustment hearing
A contentious transfer station issue made its way to the July 21 meeting of the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school board. In May, the Vilas County board’s zoning committee approved a conditional use permit (CUP) application submitted by Chad Metzger, owner of Lakeland Disposal.
MHLT to expand 3K program
Smudde: ‘We’re going to try being a good neighbor’
The board of education for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district Monday approved plans to expand the district’s 3K program. District administrator Bob Smudde said there are “more than enough students to warrant two sections.”
Sorting it out: Arbor Vitae tables trash transfer site reconsideration
Lake group challenges board action, calls ordinance neglect ‘blatant misconduct’ ahead of July 29 hearing
The Arbor Vitae town board on July 16 tabled a decision on whether or not to rescind its April decision to recommend for approval the application for a conditional use permit (CUP) submitted to Vilas County by Chad Metzger, owner of Lakeland Disposal.
Minocqua town board moves to amend parking ordinance
Amendment would address vehicle, boat trailer overflow parking on Dam Road and River’s Edge Drive
The Minocqua town board last week voted to amend the town’s parking ordinance to address vehicle and boat trailer overflow parking on Dam Road and River’s Edge Drive. The vote to do so was the result of a discussion lasting more than 30 minutes.
Lac du Flambeau town board authorizes ambulance service payment
Town officials want to reduce the Oneida County ambulance contract
As decision time for the Lac du Flambeau town board regarding a 2026 contract with Oneida County for ambulance service gets closer, the town board at its July 16 meeting authorized a payment to Oneida County for the month of August.
Apartment complex CUP application forwarded to Oneida County
Domaszek: ‘We’re talking about safety and security here’
A big plan for an apartment complex intended to assist with the housing shortage in the Minocqua area moved another step toward reality Tuesday. The Minocqua town board unanimously voted in favor of moving forward to the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee a conditional use permit (CUP) for Aspen Grove Minocqua, a 112 unit apartment complex that will be built on 10 acres on Minocqua’s west side.
A possible fifth gravel pit for Cassian
The decision is left to the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee
During a 15-minute June 23 special meeting of the Cassian town board, all three members — town chairman Ed Phebus and town supervisors Keith Gee and Rod Randolph — voted to recommend to the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee the approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) application for a new gravel pit.
‘BicycleGate’ shut!
Lake Tomahawk ordered to remove bicycle gates installed on its right-of-way
Lake Tomahawk must remove gates installed by its town crew on Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) right-of-way in Woodruff. That’s the determination made by agency staff after its review of the situation; bicycle trail gates that recently showed up on stretches of a snowmobile trail along State Highway 47 in Woodruff were a topic of discussion at a June 24 meeting of the Woodruff town board.
Trash talk heats up in Arbor Vitae
Vilas County zoning committee approved Lakeland Disposal CUP in May; Towanda Lake Association pushes for revocation
The Arbor Vitae town board will have on the agenda for its July 16 meeting the conditional use permit (CUP) for Lakeland Disposal approved by the Vilas County board’s zoning and planning committee on May 1.
Chicago All-Stars too much for Snowhawks
Snowhawks rebound for win over local police/fire department
A bounce-back effort by the Lake Tomahawk snowshoe baseball team helped it to overtake the local police/fire department after a Fourth of July loss to the Chicago All-Stars.
Minocqua’s PRAT gets through state budget process
Hartzheim: ‘When we start is the question’
It’s been a few years since voters in Minocqua authorized the town to enact a premiere area resort tax (PRAT). A half-cent PRAT was first considered during the first part of 2018 by members of the town of Minocqua’s broadband and business development committee, who saw it as a possible revenue source to help address, primarily, repairs on the town’s 160 miles of roads.
Babe Ruth League action: Rhinelander downs Lakeland
It was a high scoring, close Babe Ruth League baseball game at the Minocqua Park Complex on July 2 and when it was over, the Rhinelander Hodags eked out a win, 17-16. “Offensively, I felt our team did very well with the bats,” Lakeland 13U head coach Bob Blohm said. “Guys were getting on base and our at-bats were solid.”
Lac du Flambeau town board moves on treasurer position
During a special meeting of electors in December, 2024, voters in the town of Lac du Flambeau approved changing the status of town treasurer from an elected position to an appointed position. Since that time, the town hasn’t had a treasurer, which is a part-time position.
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