North Lakeland school board approves 2025-26 teacher salary increase
Jelinski: ‘We’re slowly trying to bring that up’
The North Lakeland school district’s board of education Monday approved teacher contract renewals that include a 4.9 percent base salary increase for the 2025-26 school year.
New Cassian town board sends draft wake boat ordinance to the DNR
It took the new Cassian town board not even two minutes at Monday’s meeting to approve sending a draft of an enhanced wake ordinance to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for review.
Minocqua Winter Park hosts Spring Fling flex disc golf tournament
Event draws 40 disc golfers
2025 marks the second year for the disc golf course at Minocqua Winter Park and on May 10, the facility and its staff hosted a Spring Fling flex disc golf tournament. Minocqua Winter Park trails manager Barb Blow and her husband, Dennis, designed the course.
Lac du Flambeau town board takes no action on election complaint
Gaulke: ‘The matter is over’
The Lac du Flambeau town board last week voted to take no action related to a complaint against town clerk Susan Schoonover by Stephanie Minisinookwe Thompson. Thompson, who lost by seven votes to Matt Gaulke in the April 1 election for town chair, filed the complaint on April 24 via email.
Minocqua town board OKs dispatcher pay increase
Benbenek: ‘It’s just like any other business having difficulty filling those spots’
The Minocqua police department has been without a chief of police since the retirement of Dave Jaeger in early January. It also had, going into the May 6 meeting of the town board, a vacant police dispatcher position since February.
Minocqua town board denies new Minocqua Brewing Company CUP application
Town board has several questions regarding the county’s process
The Minocqua town board Tuesday, following nearly 45 minutes of discussion and deliberation, denied an application for a conditional use permit (CUP) from Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company.
Vilas County zoning committee OKs Lakeland Disposal CUP
Arbor Vitae’s Towanda Lake Association may appeal decision
The Vilas County board’s zoning and planning committee last week approved a conditional use permit (CUP) application from Chad Metzger, owner of Lakeland Disposal, to construct a solid waste transfer station on just over five acres off of Justin Street in Arbor Vitae.
Oneida County highway dept. to remain at Kemp Street, eyes $10M in improvements
With the determination made the Oneida County highway department is to remain headquartered at its main facility on Kemp Street, the Oneida County board’s public works committee is tentatively planning to meet jointly with the executive committee later this month to go over plans for facility improvement that cover the next few years.
Winchester planning commission spins wheels on ATV ordinance
Discianno: ‘How much more time do we need?’
The Winchester town board’s planning commission, tasked with developing an all terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) ordinance, worked on a draft of the ordinance for a little more than a half-hour during its April 28 meeting. By the end of the discussion, it was tabled to the commission’s May meeting.
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force presents sextortion awareness program at LUHS
Program sheds light on the dangers of online activity and urges vigilance in the digital age
Approximately 75 people were in the Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) auditorium the evening of Wednesday, April 23, to listen to a presentation from Chad Wanta, a 25-year law enforcement veteran and currently a detective sergeant with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
High-speed chase ends in rollover
Pursuit began in Vilas County, ended in Oneida County
Multiple area law enforcement agencies were involved in a high-speed pursuit on April 24. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff’s deputies responded to a request for a welfare check in the town of Lincoln and upon arrival, “they encountered an armed male sitting in a vehicle.”
Suspect in 2024 Woodruff armed robbery in custody
Resendiz also accused of taking part in beating of robbery victim
A 33 year-old Chicago man is in the Oneida County jail in connection to his role in an armed robbery in the area of Thies Road and Lorann Drive in Woodruff in mid-January, 2024.
From turbulence to takeoff: Lakeland Airport runway project out for bid — again
Nearly a year after an extensive rehabilitation project for the two runways at Lakeland Airport in Arbor Vitae was pushed back because of what the Lakeland Airport commission was informed were environmental issues, the project is once again out for bid.
A well-placed concern?
Rhinelander’s water plans stir Pelican feathers
The very early stages of what might result in a water well for the city of Rhinelander on the grounds of Nicolet College was a major topic of discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Pelican town board. In fact, it was major enough that once the town board moved on to other agenda items, all but one of the 15 or 20 town residents who attended the meeting left.
OVTC schedules required public hearing for late May
Two possible sites considered for new Northwoods Transit Connections facility
A public hearing has been scheduled by the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC) regarding two possible locations for a new home for Northwoods Transit Connections (NTC), which the OVTC oversees.
More seasonal road weight limits to be lifted
As spring progresses, Lakeland area counties and towns are making plans to lift road weight limit restrictions. Oneida County highway commissioner Alex Hegeman removed weight limits on county roads on April 23 and Vilas County will, according to highway commissioner Troy Schalinske, lift limits on county roads Monday, April 28 at 6 a.m.
Lakeland Sanitary District board OKs annexations
Two upcoming housing construction projects were annexed into the Lakeland Sanitary District (LSD) by its three-member board of directors during the board’s most recent meeting Tuesday. Two upcoming housing construction projects were annexed into the Lakeland Sanitary District (LSD) by its three-member board of directors during the board’s most recent meeting Tuesday.
Arbor Vitae home sustains heavy damage in fire
A two-story house on Grouse Covey Lane in Arbor Vitae sustained heavy damage as the result of a fire Friday afternoon. No one was injured in the fire.
Lac du Flambeau town board adopts policy to lock town hall during business hours
Action taken as a result of the April 1 election outcome
The close outcome of the April 1 election for the office of Lac du Flambeau town chair resulted last week in action to keep the town office locked during the business day when only one person is there.
Minocqua rolls out food truck season
The Minocqua town board approved during its April 15 meeting the first applications of the season from food truck vendors. 2025 is the second season for the town’s food truck ordinance which was formally adopted by the town board in early June of 2024 after much discussion during previous meetings.
Minocqua town board gets Camp Nine Road project update
Work to install a bridge expected to begin in mid-June
The Minocqua town board last week received an update on a project for installation of a bridge on Camp Nine Road over the Tomahawk River.
Vilas County recognized as ‘snowmobile friendly’
In early April, the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) issued a press release announcing Vilas County has been recognized as a “snowmobile friendly county.”
Where the rubber meets the road
Vilas County Sheriff’s Office conducts vehicle training at Lakeland Airport
Last week, 26 members of the Vilas County law enforcement community went through required training in Arbor Vitae. Jeff Schaub, a lieutenant with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, is one of three trainers for the department’s emergency vehicle course (EVOC).
MHLT school board hires LUHS’s business manager
Eddie Then to start July 1
The Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district’s board of education Monday formally approved the hiring of Eddie Then to be the district’s business manager. The board took the action following a closed session.
Losing weight creatively
TOPS is there to help
“It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle,” the website for the non-profit Taking Pounds Off Sensibly reads. “For a lifetime. With TOPS Club, you’re throwing yourself a lifeline. Join us for the support, accountability and connections that you need on your journey to better health.”
AV-W school board approves 2025-26 salary increase for its staff
Hardy: ‘We’re going to have to talk about going back to referendum’
The school board for the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district Monday approved a 2.95 percent salary increase for all of the district’s teaching, administrative and support staff for the 2025-26 school year.
Vilas County board approves forestry fund cap at $400,000
The Vilas County board Tuesday approved a resolution to increase the cap on the forestry, recreation and land department’s committee segregated land account, known as Fund 250, from $300,000 to $400,000. A nearly 45-minute discussion before the decision consumed about half of an otherwise brief meeting agenda.
Search for missing Lac du Flambeau woman continues
Melissa Beson last seen on March 17
Authorities continue the search for a 37 year-old Lac du Flambeau woman who’s been missing since mid-March. Melissa Beson was last seen March 17 and T.J. Bill, the chief of the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department, told The Lakeland Times last week searches for Beson are still being conducted.
Final meeting for 29 year member of the Lac du Flambeau school board
Smith: ‘It’s been an honor’
The April 9 meeting of the board of education of the Lac du Flambeau school district was the final meeting as a member of the school board for Gary Smith, who’s been a member for 29 years and its president since 2020.
No ordinary whiskey
Camp American Legion and Northern Waters Distillery team up for the camp’s 100th birthday
A special whiskey went on sale at Minocqua’s Northern Waters Distillery on April 9. “Camp American Legion Centennial Whiskey” is its name said Sarah Johnson, a co-owner of Northern Waters Distillery, the business had been contacted “by the folks at Camp American Legion.”
Lakeland Sanitary District tables annexation requests
The board of directors for the Lakeland Sanitary District (LSD) Tuesday tabled two annexation requests for service, one of them from Matt Ritchie, owner of Aspen Grove Minocqua. His company is planning on the construction of a 112 unit apartment complex on Minocqua’s west side near the LSD facility.
Lac du Flambeau school board increases staff salaries for 2025-26
Adopts stipend proposal for retirement notifications
The Lac du Flambeau school board approved raises for district personnel during its April 9 meeting. During the nearly 10-minute open session portion of the meeting, district administrator Josh Ernst recommended a three percent increase in compensation for support staff based on the latest consumer price index (CPI) of 2.95 percent.
Lac du Flambeau set to request speed limit reduction for Hwy. 47
The town of Lac du Flambeau will have to submit a request to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) for a speed limit reduction on a section of State Highway 47. The town of Lac du Flambeau will have to submit a request to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) for a speed limit reduction on a section of State Highway 47.
Woodruff’s first female town chair sworn in
Judi Nelson steps up after the sudden passing of Mike Timmons
As preparations are made for Woodruff’s annual meeting, one of those items was the swearing in of the successor to town chairman Mike Timmons, who died suddenly on March 22. On the town board since 1993 and town chairman since 2007, Timmons was unopposed for another term going into the April 1 election.
Downtown Minocqua’s $1.7 M street light installation slated for 2026
The update for a downtown lighting project was a topic of brief discussion during the Minocqua town board’s April 2 meeting. Director of public works Mark Pertile provided an overlay of the downtown area showing the current planned configuration of 52 street lights, 24 for the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 51, or Chippewa Street, with the remainder for both sides of southbound Hwy. 51, or Oneida Street, from the intersection of Oneida and Front streets south to the Hwy. 51 bridge.
April 3 RV fire in Pine Lake was admittedly intentional
DNR investigating to determine what, if any, penalty there might be
A fire destroyed that destroyed a recreational vehicle (RV) in the town of Pine Lake on County Highway C the night of April 3 is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Summer release of Oneida County housing study results
Pharo: ‘I’m pushing to get this done’
A housing study conducted by the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) in conjunction with the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) wraps up today. The two entities began gathering input on March 14 and OCEDC executive director Tony Pharo told The Lakeland Times his goal is to have the results ready for release to the public in the June or July time frame.
Four-town EMS update
Saving lives, shaving seconds — rapid response stats satisfy Winchester board
The Winchester town board Monday received an activity update for the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) from the district’s chief, Jason Joling. The district, comprising the towns of Winchester, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Manitowish Waters, began operations with full-time ambulance crews earlier this year.
Another chief deputy medical examiner resigns in Oneida County
Roach: ‘I was betrayed and lied to’
The Oneida County board’s public safety committee continues to deal with personnel matters in the county’s medical examiner’s office. The committee met last week and following a closed session, voted to stay with its previous decision not to pay former chief deputy medical examiner Luke Johnson for paid time off (PTO) he’d accrued.
Lac du Flambeau town chair’s race contested
The April 1 election for the Lac du Flambeau town board brought three notable developments. First, it marked the inaugural election for the expanded town board, which grew from three to five members — one chairperson and four town supervisors — following approval by town electors during a special meeting last year.
Woodruff election questions answered by the WEC
Nelson to be sworn in as town chair by April 15
In the aftermath of the April 1 election, there were some questions regarding the direction to be taken. The questions revolved the outcome of the town chair’s election results; incumbent Mike Timmons, who died suddenly on March 22, was on the ballot and unopposed.
Oneida County waiting on nine new plow trucks
Some truck orders go back to 2022; labor, material shortages cited as primary reasons
One of the items on the agenda for the April 3 meeting of the Oneida County board’s public works and solid waste committee was an equipment update. Part of the update county highway commissioner Alex Hegeman provided included the news the highway department, as of April 3, has nine patrol trucks, or plow trucks, on order; four equipped with tri-axles, four with tandem axles and one single-axle truck.
American Pond Hockey seeks rental agreement for the Aqua Bowl
Hartzheim: ‘I think we want to do what we can’
The town of Minocqua will work with Will Jefferey to see if the two sides can work out what amounts to a lease agreement for the Aqua Bowl. Jefferey, with American Pond Hockey (APH), was on the agenda for the April 2 meeting of the town board, beginning with a brief presentation regarding the benefits for the town the event provides.
Lakeland area town, school board election results
While the major statewide, as well as national, news coming out of the April 1 election was the coverage of the Wisconsin state supreme court race, there was plenty of news at the local level in relation to town board and school board election results in The Lakeland Times coverage area.
Frozen fury: Ice storms ravage Northwoods
WPS deploys hundreds of line workers in one of its largest-ever restoration efforts
The Northwoods was hit last weekend with a combination of freezing rain and snow.
Lake Tomahawk garage destroyed in Sunday fire
A garage on property owned by Lake Tomahawk resident Ronald Nietzel on Big Doe Road in Lake Tomahawk was destroyed in a fire on Sunday.
Mercer man dies in rollover crash
A 29-year-old Mercer man died Sunday from injuries he sustained in the rollover of the vehicle he was driving on U.S. Highway 51 in Iron County.
Vilas County board OKs general fund transfer for tower gear removal, upgrade and reinstall
Plan backs Eagle River water tower repaint with modern comms equipment and fiber loop
The approval by the Vilas County board at its March 25 meeting of a resolution to transfer nearly $425,400 from the county’s general fund to the communications portion of the county budget will pay to remove county communications equipment from the water tower in Eagle River.
County courts push the state legislature for more funding
Overbey: ‘We have to keep putting off these cases’
The Vilas County board last week unanimously approved a resolution urging Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers as well as the legislature to support county courts. Vilas County’s clerk of the circuit court, Beth Soltow, was unable to attend the March 25 meeting of the Vilas County board but a letter she wrote was read to the county board by county supervisor Holly Tomlanovich, Soltow advocating in the letter county board support of the resolution.
Making people aware of internet crimes against children in Oneida County
Wanta: ‘People aren’t aware of what’s going on’
Social media and the internet in general can be beneficial. However, there’s a darker side that many people aren’t aware of and that was a large part of the message that Chad Wanta, a detective sergeant with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, intended to convey during a presentation for Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) at the Rhinelander High School auditorium on March 26.
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