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?
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.
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.
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.
Saluting Heroes Balloon Rally soars past expectations, raises nearly $40,000 for area non-profits
Camp American Legion receives $30,000 toward cabin replacement
To say the organizers of the first Saluting Heroes Balloon Rally at Rhinelander’s Hodag Country Music Festival grounds at the beginning of August was a success is an understatement. Lake Tomahawk residents Nancy and Steve Woller spent part of their morning at Camp American Legion (CAL) on Aug. 25 making check presentations, the largest of which was $30,000 to CAL director Jim Klement that will be used toward the replacement of one of the camp’s cabins.
Vilas County EMS meeting draws a crowd in Eagle River
Gaulke: ‘I achieved what I wanted to and that was bring it to everyone’s attention’
Vilas County government will, at least for the forseeable future and at committee level, work to see if there’s anything the county can do to assist its towns and the city of Eagle River with challenges associated with the rising cost of each municipality dealing with emergency medical service (EMS).
St. Germain man charged in 2024 motorcyle crash
A St. Germain man has been charged in Vilas County court with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in connection with a head-on motorcycle crash on County Highway H near Sundance Trail in Lac du Flambeau the night of Oct. 18, 2024.
Slow and steady: Camp 9 Road bridge nears completion after turtle timeout
Threatened wood turtle eggs relocated to clear way for $846K infrastructure project
The nearly $900,000 project to reconstruct a 400-foot section of Camp 9 Road on Minocqua’s west side including construction of a bridge is almost complete. The section of the road the bridge is on is from Manhardt Road to Cedar Falls Road, the bridge replacing two 11-foot long corrugated metal culverts that were installed in 1980 and were failing.
GLITC holds emergency management summit
Bainbridge: ‘It gave real-life, real-time scenarios’
The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) conducted an emergency management summit at the Lake of The Torches Casino in Lac du Flambeau on Aug. 14. The purpose of the summit, according to a press release issued prior to the event, was to bring together tribal leaders, members of GLITC staff and local, state and “national experts” to help guide GLITC’s new strategic plan intended to support member tribes with emergency management planning.
Joe Fath to retire as Vilas County sheriff
After 44 years in law enforcement, all of it with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office and nearly 12 years as county sheriff, Joe Fath is retiring effective Dec. 1 of this year. On Aug. 14, he sent a letter to his staff with the announcement.
Woodruff begins effort to gain more state revenue
Sheppard: ‘Get it going’
It’s no secret the majority of land within the boundaries of the town of Woodruff is state-owned and it’s also no real secret it’s been a thorn in the side of town government for years as the potential for tax revenue for the town when it comes to that land is non-existent.
No serious injuries in Lac du Flambeau fire
Firefighters from Lac du Flambeau and Woodruff responded Monday to the report of a structure fire on Peace Pipe Road in Lac du Flambeau. A press release from T.J. Bill, chief of the Lac du Flambeau tribal police department, said the dispatch center of the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Mary Schuman, 69, at around 6:45 p.m. stating she was “the only one inside the residence and had fallen in the kitchen.”
Arbor Vitae town board solidifies support for Lakeland Disposal in CUP dispute
The Arbor Vitae town board last week issued a formal statement regarding its position in the conditional use permit (CUP) approval for Lakeland Disposal’s proposed transfer station facility on Justin Street by the Vilas County board’s zoning and planning committee in May.
Lac du Flambeau town board weighs bid to reclaim $600K in permit fees
Questions arise after federal judge rules against DOJ in tribal-land road dispute
On Aug. 6, William Conley, United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, ruled in favor of the town of Lac du Flambeau in a lawsuit brought against it by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Minocqua sets 4 a.m. curb on July 4 parade chair squatters
A small town tradition is scaled back to the same day
Minocqua area residents and visitors who place chairs early in the downtown area to see Minocqua’s Fourth of July parade will have to make sure they place their chairs sometime after 4 a.m. on July 4. That was the decision reached by the town board at its Aug. 19 meeting, town chairman Mark Hartzheim telling the rest of the town board he had the matter on the meeting’s agenda because he’d received a call from a downtown business regarding early placement of chairs in the downtown area for the Fourth of July parade.
Arbor Vitae town board OKs move toward new fire truck purchase
If ultimately approved, the new engine will replace a 30-year-old rig
The Arbor Vitae town board has given the town’s fire chief, Mike Van Meter, and the committee he’s been working with since January with the go-ahead to get a proposal put together for a new fire engine that will cost no more than $600,000.
‘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).
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.
‘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.”
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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