Oneida County seeking a new medical examiner
Chief medical examiner and deputy have resigned; interim plans in place
Over the course of the past several weeks, Oneida County has been without a full-time medical examiner. Crystal Schaub, who started as an limited term employee (LTE) deputy medical examiner in June 2016, was promoted to the position of medical examiner in January, 2019.
Seventh Firehouse Chili Feed Challenge raises over $8,000
Carani: ‘We’re very grateful’
Members from five area volunteer fire departments faced off in the 7th Annual Firehouse Chili Feed Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 21. The chili feed is hosted by a different area fire department each year and this year’s event was held at Minocqua’s main fire station on U.S. Highway 51.
Fire and ambulance committee authorized in Lac du Flambeau
The Lac du Flambeau town board voted, after meeting in closed session during its Feb. 19 meeting, to establish a fire and ambulance committee.
BOA upholds CUP revocation
Bangstad escorted from heated meeting
The seven members of the Oneida County Board of Adjustment (BOA) last week voted to uphold the July, 2024, revocation of a conditional use permit (CUP) by the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee.
MHLT school board approves PFAS treatment project
DNR grant funding will pay for most of it
The school board for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district last week approved a bid for a project intended to treat the district’s Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) issue.
MHLT school board OKs Baird budget program
Forecast tool can be used to help plan for possible operational referendum in 2026
To better prepare the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district for what is an anticipated operating referendum at some point in the near future, the school board last week voted to purchase a program titled the “Baird Budget Forecast Model” for $4,000.
Possession of child pornography charges against Arbor Vitae man dismissed
Hayes: ‘Insufficient admissible evidence’
A 47 year-old Arbor Vitae man charged with possession of child pornography had the case against him dismissed in Vilas County court on Feb. 14. At the time of his arrest in early March, 2023, Lucas R. Aschbrenner had been on the teaching staff of the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district for seven years.
Minocqua hits the brakes on QR parking
Confusion puts plan in park
The Minocqua town board has, for now, decided to shelve a plan to implement a plan to use quick-response (QR) code technology for a seasonal paid parking plan. The town board initially intended to use the QR technology for the entire downtown area and the rest of what is known as “the island.”
Vilas County highway committee denies Thompson Excavating permit
The Vilas County board’s highway committee Tuesday denied a driveway permit application from Chris Thompson of Thompson Excavating. Thompson has property on the north side of State Highway 70 and just east of the intersection with County Highway F where he’d like to build a shop facility for his business.
Vilas County highway committee approves Hwy. W construction bid
One bid for a road construction project on County Highway W in Vilas County was approved at Tuesday’s meeting of the Vilas County board’s highway committee. County highway commissioner Troy Schalinske said a base bid of $3,659,810.10 was submitted by Pitlik and Wick.
Lakeland Sanitary’s upgrade project to begin in April
The Lakeland Sanitary District’s multi-million dollar upgrade for its waste water treatment plant on Morgan Road in Minocqua is scheduled for an April start. The primary contractor for the project is Miron Construction, which, with a low bid of nearly $21,550,000, was awarded the project in December.
Woodruff man to be sentenced in April for reckless homicide
A 34-year-old Woodruff man is scheduled to be sentenced in Vilas County court on April 3 for one count of first degree reckless homicide. According to the original complaint filed against Jeremy L. LaPalm, the Vilas County dispatch center received a 911 call at approximately 9:16 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, reporting a person had overdosed at a residence in Eagle River and needed an ambulance.
Minocqua man seriously injured in snowmobile crash
A 22 year-old Minocqua man was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident in Hazelhurst late Monday night. According to a press release from the Oneida County sheriff’s office released Tuesday, the dispatch center received a report just before 9 a.m. of a snowmobile accident on McCormick Lake.
Cassian town board moves draft of enhanced wake ordinance forward
The Cassian town board Monday voted to send a draft hazardous wake ordinance to town attorney Greg Harrold for review before sending it to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a 60-day review there.
OVTC bus involved in Minocqua accident
There were no serious injuries as the result of a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and County Highway J on Friday, Feb. 7. Even so, the driver of a Northwoods Transit Connections bus, owned by the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC), was taken to a hospital for what was termed a “medical incident.”
Driver airlifted after crash involving town loader on Hwy. 51
The driver of a 2016 Subaru Outback was life flighted to a hospital outside the area following a crash involving a Subaru Outback and a Caterpillar front end loader owned by the town of Minocqua on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Winchester plan commission gets ATV/UTV ordinance job
Discianno: ‘I didn’t want to wait on this or delay it’
The Winchester town board last week tasked its planning commission with developing an ordinance for the use of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility task vehicles (UTVs). It shouldn’t be difficult to do as the town had an ATV/UTV ordinance for about a month in 2021; in March of that year, the town board approved an ATV/UTV ordinance.
Vilas County forestry committee ponders separate fund for user fee revenue
Kunde: ‘Economic times change’
The Vilas County board’s Forestry, Recreation and Land committee is looking at increasing the financial cap on the department’s Fund 250. Created in 1982, the fund, with revenue generated predominately from timber sales and park fees, is used by the forestry department for items such as land purchases and maintenance of county parks.
Fire and ambulance committee may be revived in Lac du Flambeau
An ad hoc committee for the fire department and ambulance service in the town of Lac du Flambeau was something pitched to the Lac du Flambeau town board at its Feb. 5 meeting.
Arbor Vitae sends message to Vilas County about county-wide ambulance service
County urged to form a committee to explore possibilities
The Arbor Vitae town board is formally sending a signal to Vilas County that it would like to see the county get more serious about looking into the prospect of county-wide ambulance service similar to that of Oneida County.
Vilas County forestry committee moves forward with possible land sale
Resolution for infrastructure installation at Riverside Park to be drafted for eventual consideration by county board
The possible sale of approximately 900 feet of a county-owned strip of land along Eagle River in the city of Eagle River is moving forward. The Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee Tuesday voted to have a resolution drafted that outlines plans and cost estimates for the county to have infrastructural work done before the property is sold.
That’s what I want to be
Eagle River boy raises money for sheriff’s K-9
An Eagle River boy took it upon himself last summer to raise some money for a cause. The cause was Helo, the nearly nine-year-old Belgian Malinois K-9 with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office and eight-year-old Jackson Favorite’s efforts to raise over $1,000 earned him a Citizen Commendation Award from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office.
Arbor Vitae to allow residents to adopt-a-town-road
Carroll: ‘It’s a great program’
A road cleanup program similar to what the state of Wisconsin has for groups across the state to pick up trash along state highways could become a reality for the town of Arbor Vitae. Town supervisor Pam Carroll introduced the idea to the town board at its Jan. 15 meeting.
Lakeland Airport flies under the radar
Locals rally to increase visibility
The Noble Lee F. Lee Memorial Field in Arbor Vitae, commonly known simply as the Lakeland Airport, isn’t included in any marketing materials for Vilas County. Two of the airport’s four owners are the towns of Lac du Flambeau and Arbor Vitae.
Vilas County board approves year-round ATV/UTV use of county highways
Discianno: ‘A little disappointed’
Three months after the Vilas County board, with a 10 to 9 vote, denied a request from the town of Presque Isle to have stretches of county highway in the neighboring town of Winchester opened to all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) traffic, the county board Tuesday approved a request from the Vilas County ATV/UTV Alliance to open all county roads with the exception of Lac du Flambeau.
Boulder Junction approves enhanced wake ordinance
Following the second reading of a draft for an enhanced wake ordinance, the Boulder Junction town board Tuesday became the most recent area town to approve the ordinance.
One dead in Vilas County snowmobile accident
A McFarland woman died Saturday, Jan. 25, in a snowmobile accident near Rearing Pond Road in the town of Plum Lake. According to a press release from Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a 911 call just after 7 p.m. reporting a snowmobiler had struck a tree along the shoreline of Star Lake.
Lac du Flambeau town board tries to wrap up fire station project
Nasi: ‘You have my guarantee that we’re not walking away from anything’
The Lac du Flambeau town board met in special session on Monday with Wayne Nasi, owner of Nasi Construction in Hurley. The company was the contractor for a recent multi-million dollar renovation project at the Lac du Flambeau school district and is the primary contractor for the construction of the town’s new fire station near the intersection of State Highway 47 and Raven Lake Road.
The first “Festival of Trees” is a success
Kelly Knobeck: ‘There’s so much joy in it’
The holiday season of 2024 was the first for the Bottled Bean’s “Festival of Trees.” The business, owned by Kelly and Tyler Knobeck, opened in early September, 2023, and Kelly Knobeck told The Lakeland Times the “Festival of Trees” will be an annual event with the intent “that focuses on promoting and connecting our local businesses and non-profits through some friendly Christmas competition. The goal was to connect all these and have a really fun, festive season.”
DOT looking at three alternatives for dangerous Hwy. 51/Swamp Lake Road intersection
Luedke: ‘The goal is to save lives’
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking at three options for a safety improvement project at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Swamp Lake Road in Cassian. It’s part of an effort to reduce the number of vehicle crashes and fatalities on the two-lane stretch of Hwy. 51 south of Minocqua known as the “Hwy. 51 corridor” and Bryan Rose, communications manager for the DOT’s North Central Region, told The Lakeland Times the Hwy. 51 and Swamp Lake Road intersection has been “flagged for a safety need.”
Lakeland Airport commission postpones administrator search
Carroll: ‘I think the board has some work to do’
The Lakeland Airport Commission, which earlier this month during a special meeting accepted the resignation of Jon Schmitz as airport administrator, last week at its regular monthly meeting decided to not move too fast to find a permanent replacement.
Minocqua town board to hold public meeting on new paid parking plan
Hartzheim: ‘There’s going to be a learning curve’
The Minocqua town board’s November decision to enact a seasonal paid parking plan using quick-response (QR) code technology in the entire downtown area and the rest of what is known as “the island” hasn’t been the most popular.
Use of ATVs and UTVs on all Vilas County roads heads to the county board
Muelbach: ‘I think that’s where the decision should be made’
The stage is now set for a decision next week from the Vilas County board regarding all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use on all county roads. Tuesday, the county board’s highway committee voted 4 to 1 to send a draft resolution containing a proposed amendment to Chapter 26 of the county’s Motorized Recreational Trails and Routes ordinance to the county board at its Jan. 28 meeting.
Vilas and Iron counties open snowmobile trails for the season
Oneida County trails to remain closed
Heading into the week of Jan. 13, what has been a relatively mild winter from a snowfall perspective in the Lakeland area had kept snowmobile trails in Vilas, Iron and Oneida counties closed. Following snowfall on Tuesday night into Wednesday, that changed things.
Lac du Flambeau tribal police to issue trespassing citations
Tribal council decides not to barricade four roads but non-tribal landowners using those roads to be fined
The tribal council for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Chippewa Indians let a Jan. 16 deadline expire without barricading four roads that have been at the center of a dispute with the town of Lac du Flambeau for nearly two years. However, non-tribal landowners on those roads are to be cited for trespassing.
MHLT’s PFAS filtration project goes out for bids
Project to be funded through grant
In December of 2023, the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district sent a drinking water advisory to parents regarding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances.
MHLT’s PFAS filtration project goes out for bids
District awarded a grant to fund the project
In December of 2023, the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district sent a drinking water advisory to parents of MHLT students in early December regarding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances. District superintendent Dr. Jim Ellis told The Lakeland Times then that starting in the summer of 2023 public entities like MHLT not on a public water system are required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to test their wells for PFAS.
LdF town board files joint injunction with property owners in DOJ lawsuit
Dept. of Justice filed a lawsuit against the town in connection with road dispute with the LdF tribe
The Lac du Flambeau town board on Monday directed the town’s legal counsel to file an injunction jointly with landowners directly involved in a federal case related to a nearly two- year-old road easement dispute with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Lac du Flambeau town board denies access to Patterson Lane for excavating company
The Lac du Flambeau town board during its Jan. 8 meeting took action to make sure Patterson Lane remains designated as a town road not to be used for heavy trucks that haul heavy equipment such as bulldozers and excavators.
Woodruff town board chooses street names for new housing development
The Woodruff town board at its Jan. 14 meeting named three roads that residences for the Woods Hollow Cottages and Town Homes development will be on. Northpointe Development Corporation has town and Oneida County–approved plans for 50 housing units — 29 cottages and 21 houses — and the excavation for the project, according to Northpointe’s Andy Dumke, is to begin later this month.
Lakeland Baseball Association continues fundraising effort
Gee: ‘We need a little push here to get us over the top’
During the town of Minocqua’s April, 2024, annual meeting, voters approved construction of a 6,400 square foot practice facility on town property, that being at the Minocqua Sports Complex.
Minocqua town board approves beer sale permit for pond hockey tournament
The Minocqua town board last week approved a full-service retail sales application from Rocky Reef Brewing Company in Woodruff to sell product during the American Pond Hockey Tournament over two weekends next month.
Lac du Flambeau tribe prepares to barricade roads in easement dispute
The ongoing road easement dispute between the town of Lac du Flambeau and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is about to head into another chapter. That chapter is in the form of another barricading by the tribe of four roads that have had expired easements of tribal property on them for more than a decade.
Minocqua town board pares back QR parking plan for downtown
Fricke: ‘Businesses have a hard enough time making it downtown’
The Minocqua town board, during a nearly two-hour special meeting Tuesday approved a plan, on a 3-1 vote, that would scale back the scope of a plan approved in November for paid parking using quick-response (QR) code technology in the entire downtown area and the rest of what is known as “the island.”
Lakeland Airport Commission accepts administrator’s resignation
Roger Grahl appointed as interim administrator
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Noble F. Lee Memorial Field, otherwise known as the Lakeland Airport in Arbor Vitae, is without a full-time administrator.
Winchester town board to send letter to Vilas County in opposition to ATVs and UTVs
The Winchester town board will send a letter to Vilas County stating its position on the use of all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use on county roads. The decision to do so was made during the Jan. 6 town board meeting and prompted in part by Vilas County supervisor Richard Logan, who represents Winchester as well as the town of Presque Isle.
Boulder Junction’s ‘The Glide’ officially opens for the winter
There was a ribbon-cutting for a nearly one-mile-long “ice skating ribbon” in Boulder Junction’s Winter Park on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The grand opening for what is known as “The Glide” was originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28, but warmer temperatures delayed it.
Vilas County Human Services stands up
Gardener: ‘We beat the end of the year’
With the new year comes a new service for Vilas County communities. Well, not entirely new. On Jan. 1, 2025, Vilas County Human Services officially came into being, a successor to what had been the county’s department of social services.
Arbor Vitae woman charged in connection with Hazelhurst accident
The next court appearance for a 30-year-old Arbor Vitae woman involved in a Dec. 17 accident on U.S. Highway 51 in Hazelhurst is set for Feb. 10. Amanda May Woodard is charged with one count of disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, a B misdemeanor, in connection with the accident.
Lac du Flambeau still waiting on fire station completion
Project approved by electors in 2022, construction began in 2023
The town of Lac du Flambeau will have to wait just a bit longer to fully utilize its new fire station on State Highway 47 near the intersection with Raven Lake Road. The multi-million dollar facility was supposed to have been officially completed and turned over to the town by NASI Construction of Hurley, the primary contractor, by the end of September, 2024.
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