Fred Williston

Recent Stories

A clearer picture of Jerry Burkett

When The Lakeland Times assigned its Sunshine Week grades to public officeholders in March, the reporter covering the Vilas County Board of Supervisors awarded the chairman of that body, Jerry Burkett, an A grade for his performance in matters pertaining to open government, transparency, and cooperation with the free press.

St. Germain town board sets public hearing dates for boating, zoning changes

The St. Germain town board will conduct a public hearing regarding proposed changes to the town’s boating and zoning ordinances. That was discussed and decided during the town board’s May 12 meeting. That was discussed and decided during the town board’s May 12 meeting.

Request from protest organizers meets resistance from Eagle River city council

A contentious discussion involving the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was a highlight of the May13 meeting of the Eagle River common council. The discussion was between the council and the organizers for a “No Kings” rally and protest on June 14, a discussion that ended in what alderman Jerry Burkett described as a “Mexican standoff.”

Federal regulations skirted in establishing Eagle River snowmobile trail

Jerry Burkett, a member of the Eagle River common council, made a surprising admission during the council’s May 13 meeting: that he and others knowingly flouted federal regulations to re-route a snowmobile trail through Eagle River Union Airport property.

Restored Chief St. Germain statue ready for unveiling

A time and date has been set for the unveiling of a refurbished local landmark, the statue of Chief St. Germain. The St. Germain town board received that news at its May 12 meeting.

St. Germain board charts course for disc golf

The new-look St. Germain town board reached a consensus during its first meeting on Thursday, April 24 to proceed with planning the layout of a proposed municipally-owned disc-golf course.

Eagle River city council bids farewell to mayor Jeffery Hyslop

The city of Eagle River’s common council bid farewell to Jeffrey Hyslop during its organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 15. The emotional sendoff was highlighted with the presentation of a plaque and an official resolution.

St. Germain receives long-awaited federal funds

St. Germain town officials and residents of received good news during a town board meeting on Monday, April 14, pertaining to long-awaited grant money from the federal government. The town’s high-capacity fire department well failed and was deactivated in the summer of 2022.

Enhanced wake ordinance fails in St. Germain

With several area towns either adopting or in the process of consideration of some type of enhanced wake ordinance in recent years, the St. Germain town board last week voted during its April 14 meeting by a narrow margin to reject an ordinance which would regulate the use of enhanced-wake boats on lakes within the municipality.

St. Germain enhanced wake ordinance adrift

The future of an enhanced wake ordinance for the town of St. Germain remains uncertain. For the last several months, the St. Germain lakes committee and its ad-hoc subcommittee worked to prepare a draft ordinance to regulate the use of boats which create enhanced wakes on waterways within the town.

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