First snowstorm of the season
Bierman: ‘The snow we have right now is a good thing and bad thing’
The first storm of the winter season arrived in the Lakeland area and points north overnight on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Through Sunday, snowfall totals, according to Gus Kaiser, a forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Green Bay, ranged anywhere from a foot in the Minocqua area to nearly two feet in Manitowish Waters, two and half feet in Land O’ Lakes to nearly three and half feet or more of snow in the Hurley area.
One man dead in Presque Isle fire
A structure fire in the early morning hours of Nov. 28 destroyed a home in Presque Isle. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a 911 call at 6:25 a.m. reporting a structure fire on Crab Lake Road.
Ready to roll year-round
Minocqua town board reaches consensus on major changes to its food truck policy
The Minocqua town board spent well over half an hour at its Dec. 1 meeting reviewing the town’s policy for food trucks. The policy was approved in the spring of 2024 with the understanding the policy would be reviewed and revised if it was deemed necessary.
On thin ice
Minocqua fire department personnel train for tricky conditions
Minocqua firefighters took some time on Dec. 1 to conduct training for ice rescue. Fire chief Rich Carani said in 2024, the department purchased with financial contributions to the department new ice rescue equipment “so we have some different capabilities.”
Burkett: ‘I don’t want to own that dump’
Vilas County may approach the LVG regarding the County G Landfill
As 2026 approaches, there are some challenges for the Landfill Venture Goup (LVG), the group of 13 Vilas County towns and the city of Eagle River that owns the County G Landfill in the town of Conover. The facility is on land the LVG leases from Vilas County and work has begun on a new cell as well as an area for construction and demolition waste.
Boulder Junction’s room tax lag no cause for alarm
Driscoll: ‘We will definitely go over what we did last year’
Room tax revenue in Boulder Junction is less than this time last year but town clerk Dan Driscoll isn’t too concerned. He gave a third quarter room tax update to the town board at its Nov. 25 meeting, a report that showed room tax revenue at $140,028.06, which he said is an increase of four percent.
New sheriff in town: Gerard Ritter to be next sheriff of Vilas County
24-year veteran of service with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office appointed by Gov. Tony Evers
More than three years after running against Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath for the top law enforcement position in Vilas County, Capt. Gerard Ritter will be the next sheriff.
One dead in Vilas County semi-truck tractor crash
A 49 year-old Florida man died in a late-night crash on Nov. 22 involving a semi-truck tractor. According to a press release from the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the dispatch center received a call just before 11 p.m. reporting a one-vehicle crash in the area near the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and Abalan Lane in Conover, the caller reporting a semi-truck tractor was on its roof. The driver of the truck-tractor, Jansan Murray, Leesburg, Fla., was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arbor Vitae town board supports sports complex/convention center study
The Arbor Vitae town board has given its blessing for the Minocqua Visitors Bureau (MVB) to proceed with a feasibility study for a convention center in the Lakeland area.
LUHS Drama Club performs ‘Trap’
Stephen Gregg’s “Trap” was the latest production by the Lakeland Union High School Drama Club. The show opened the evening of Friday, Nov. 7 and closed with a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Lac du Flambeau town board, tribe reach agreement for building lease
With winter approaching, tribe forced into an emergency situation for its transit buses after garage loss
The Lac du Flambeau town board has approved a lease proposal from the tribal council for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for the tribe’s use of the town’s former fire station downtown on Wild Rice Avenue known as the “Wild Rice station.”
Arbor Vitae’s 2026 budget approved
The town of Arbor Vitae’s 2026 property tax levy and budget were approved on Nov. 19 prior to the regular monthly meeting of the town board in a process that took about five minutes.
Landfill Venture Group purchase of Vilas County property not happening – for now
Consortium had been approached about buying County G Landfill
A proposal for the Landfill Venture Group (LVG) to buy from Vilas County the land it leases from the county for the County G Landfill in the town of Cloverland is apparently going to remain that — a proposal.
Lac du Flambeau town board OKs 2026 budget
Gaulke: ‘Costs have skyrocketed’
Electors in the town of Lac du Flambeau and the town board formally approved the town’s 2026 property tax levy and budget on Nov. 18. The public hearing, special town meeting of the electors and special town board meeting all took around 20 minutes, the property tax budget for 2026 is $1,997,271 compared to the 2025 budget of $1,862,061.
MHLT school board mulls charter school outside the district
A lot to consider with a short timeline; decision expected in December
The board of education for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district will make a decision one way or the other at its Dec. 15 meeting regarding a partnership to establish an outdoor charter school known as Elemental Roots based at Terri’s Treehouse in Arbor Vitae.
Two people taken to hospitals following Woodruff chain reaction collision
Two people were taken to area hospitals as the result of a chain reaction collision involving four sport utility vehicles at the intersection of State Highway 47 and U.S. Highway 51 in Woodruff on Nov. 12.
DOJ files notice of appeal in LdF road issue
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit related to an Aug. 6 ruling by U.S. district judge William Conley with the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Longtime Vilas County employees receive honors as they retire
County board formally says farewell to Joe Fath and Helga Low
The Vilas County board took some time during its Nov. 12 meeting to recognize two people who have served the county for a combined 76 years.
AV-W committee to interview three candidates for the next school principal
With long-time Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) principal Rich Fortier retiring from the district and the Wisconsin public education system at the end of the 2025-26 school year, the search has begun in earnest for a replacement.
Woodruff town board approves 2026 budget
The Woodruff town board, during the course of a 15-minute session attended by no one from the general public on Nov. 11, approved the 2026 property tax levy and town budget. Included were the budget hearing, a meeting of electors and a regular town board meeting where the actual 2026 town budget was approved.
Oneida County BOA overturns planning and development decision on Bangstad CUP
Five-member board weighs information, sides with Bangstad
Nine months after the Oneida County board of adjustment (BOA) upheld a decision by the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee to revoke the first conditional use permit (CUP) issued to Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad, the BOA overruled the committee and approved a second CUP application from Bangstad.
‘Just a common Northwoods guy’
Manitowish Waters native and Vietnam veteran Jerry Rayala talks about some of his experiences and his new book
In 1992, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Hal Moore had his book, “We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young” published. It was about Moore’s experiences while commanding the U.S. Seventh Cavalry in Vietnam’s Ia Drang Valley during November, 1965.
Lac du Flambeau town board to meet with the DOJ and tribe over ‘road easement issue’
After a federal judge’s ruling in favor of the town in a DOJ lawsuit against it, monetary questions remain
The Lac du Flambeau town board has agreed to meet with representatives of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding next steps in the issue involving four town roads that began on Jan. 31, 2023.
Honoring Our Veterans
Veterans Day
When I think of Veterans Day, I quite often tend to overlook my own almost 22 years in the Army National Guard with one combat deployment to northern Iraq in 2004 and another deployment to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2008.
Minocqua town board reviewing food truck policy after favorable feedback
Hartzheim: ‘It sounds like we’ve got a general idea where we might want to go’
Members of the Minocqua town board, at the end of an hour-long discussion and receiving feedback regarding the town’s food truck policy at its Nov. 4 meeting, decided to revisit the policy at a future town board meeting and possibly incorporate some changes.
‘I’ve seen all that, done all that’
Lake Tomahawk’s Jim Sprague: Vietnam and after
Jim Sprague of Lake Tomahawk, director of the American Legion Riders District 11, was drafted into the United States Army not long after his graduation from Wilmot High School in Kenosha County. Before he was drafted, he worked briefly at American Brass in Kenosha.
More details regarding LdF fire and EMS service director suspension
On Oct. 29, the Lac du Flambeau town board suspended the town’s fire and emergency medical services (EMS) director Mike Zimmerman for 30 days.
Lac du Flambeau school board sets 2025-26 budget
The Lac du Flambeau public school district’s board of education approved the district’s 2025-26 budget following its annual meeting and budget hearing on Oct. 28.
Minocqua town board approves town’s 2026 budget
The 2026 town of Minocqua budget hearing – attended by two town electors, according to town clerk Roben Haggart – and subsequent town board meeting took about 15 minutes but when it was over, the budget was approved. The overall 2026 budget is $10,056,095 with a tax levy of $5,132,107.
Lac du Flambeau fire and EMS director suspended
Town board approves 30-day suspension for Mike Zimmerman
Lac du Flambeau fire and emergency medical service (EMS) director Mike Zimmerman was suspended by the town board at its Oct. 29 meeting. The motion for the 30-day suspension was made by town supervisor Dennis Pearson following a closed session.
MHLT school board approves 2026 district budget
The 2026 budget for the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district was approved during the school board’s Oct. 29 meeting. The school board during its annual budget hearing heard a nearly 40-minute presentation of the proposed 2025-26 budget from Ed Then, the district’s new finance director with a new title of “business official.”
Former Lac du Flambeau fire station could be a bus barn
LDF Transit needs a home for its buses after Oct. 15 fire
One of the items on the agenda for the Nov. 5 meeting of the Lac du Flambeau town board is a proposed lease agreement with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians for temporary use of the town’s former fire station on Wild Rice Avenue in downtown Lac du Flambeau.
Possible change in meeting time for Vilas County board discussed
The Vilas County board during its Oct. 28 meeting spent roughly an hour discussing something that had been brought forward by a group of citizens from different towns in the county who would like to see things switched up when it comes to when the county board meets.
Vilas County board approves 2026 budget
Burkett: ‘Health insurance is getting to be a more trying situation’
The increase in property valuations helped with a reduced mill rate incorporated into the 2026 budget approved by the Vilas County board Oct. 27. The overall county budget is $50,480,939; the mill rate is 1.38 per $1,000 of equalized property value which translates to $138 for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Remembering Mike: Woodruff community center renamed for Timmons
Kyle Timmons: ‘It’s a special day to remember him’
The Woodruff town board on Oct. 28 conducted a public hearing for the town’s most recent comprehensive plan and once that was complete, town chair Judi Nelson adjourned the public hearing and convened a regular meeting of the town board. The first item of business was formal approval of the comprehensive plan.
AV-W school board OKs 2025-26 budget
Slight reduction in mill rate
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district’s board of education approved the district’s 2025-26 budget following its budget hearing on Oct. 27.
Lac du Flambeau town board has $2M budget ready for electors
Funding the town’s EMS a big topic of final budget workshop
The Lac du Flambeau town board used its Oct. 22 meeting to finalize a proposed 2026 town budget of nearly $2 million for presentation to electors at the town’s budget hearing on Nov. 18. Going into the 2026 budget preparation process, town board members were well aware of the town’s budgetary limitations; in August, the town board adopted a policy to not spend any extra money aside from items related to public safety.
Minocqua town board opposes Hwy. 51/Hwy. K roundabout
Hartzheim: ‘If you took Fridays and Sundays away, this would be a non-issue’
The Minocqua town board is on the record as being opposed to plans by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to have a roundabout constructed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51, County Highway K and Swamp Lake Road.
A miracle in Minocqua
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Minocqua police department’s dispatch center received a 911 call. Former Minocqua resident Rick Derrick of Decatur, Ala., and his sister, Celjie Maata of Neenah, had come to the family home just south of the U.S. Highway 51 bridge in Minocqua.
Minocqua town board rejects Bangstad ARP
Permit application submitted for an ‘art garden’
The Minocqua town board at its Oct. 21 meeting voted to reject an administrative review permit (ARP) application submitted by Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad. Town supervisor Brian Fricke’s motion also included the provision that the ARP “should be submitted as a CUP (conditional use permit) based on the outdoor seating that he’s called for in his own writing in the permit (application) and that no outdoor seating is allowed under ... no outdoor services, displays or storage allowed.”
One person arrested, two injured in two-vehicle collision in Arbor Vitae
A Lac du Flambeau woman was charged with causing injury while operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (OWI), a Class F misdemeanor, as the result of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of State Highway 47 and Arnett and Mattke roads in Arbor Vitae on Oct. 15.
One man injured in one-vehicle accident
A 57-year-old Lac du Flambeau man was injured Oct. 10 in a one-vehicle accident on State Highway 47 near the intersection with Country Lane in Arbor Vitae. According to the accident report filed by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses told authorities the pickup truck Michael Allen was driving, a 2006 GMC Sierra, was seen “swerving prior to the crash.”
Tribal road department building lost in blaze
MABAS activated amid flammable fears
Fire destroyed a large garage at the road department for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians the morning of Oct. 15. No one was hurt in the blaze, which required activation by Lac du Flambeau fire chief Mike Zimmerman activation of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Opposition yields no U-turn on Hwy. 51/County Hwy. K roundabout Plan
DOT moves forward with safety redesign, construction slated for 2027
Staff with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) have made the determination to move forward with construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Swamp Lake Road and County Highway K in Harshaw.
Ambulance costs leave Lac du Flambeau budget on life support
Board taps reserves to make October payment, braces for painful fiscal triage, may explore referendum to revive funding
Facing mounting financial pressures, the Lac du Flambeau town board has begun taking aggressive steps to rein in spending ahead of its 2026 budget cycle. Among the items under scrutiny are the operating costs of the town’s transfer station and a sharply rising ambulance contract with Oneida County — an agreement that jumped from roughly $60,000 annually to more than $300,000 in just two years.
Begrudgingly, an aye: Arbor Vitae OKs attorney’s disputed bill
The Arbor Vitae town board at its Oct. 15 meeting settled up with town attorney Steve Garbowicz regarding a $570 invoice he’d sent the town regarding the recent Lakeland Disposal/Towanda Lake Association conditional use permit (CUP) issue.
AV-W school board to continue principal search
Superintendent’s recommendation of an internal candidate shot down
The Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school board and administration will continue the search for principal Rich Fortier’s replacement. Fortier, a 15 year-veteran of service as principal at AV-W, had his letter of retirement, effective June 30, 2026, accepted by the school board at its September meeting.
Driver cited in Arbor Vitae rollover crash
An 18-year old Lac du Flambeau man was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license as the result of an Oct. 6 rollover crash on Lemma Creek Road.
OVTC moves closer to possible land acquisition for new headquarters
The effort by the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC), which oversees Northwoods Transit Connections (NTC) to procure land for a new administration, shop and bus storage facility for the NTC got another boost Tuesday from the Oneida County board’s land records committee.
Winchester officially endorses NEMSD 2026 budget
The Winchester town board Monday officially gave its stamp of approval to the 2026 budget for the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD). The budget approved by the NEMSD board is $2,106,522 which Winchester town chairman Joe Discianno said is the “Steve and Phil number,” a reference to NEMSD board members Phil Harris and Steve Herzberg.
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