Fred Williston

Recent Stories

Eagle River deals with farmer’s market ‘growing pains’

The city of Eagle River has become a victim of its own success due to its farmers’ market causing congestion on nearby streets. Brad Adamovich, the foreman for the city’s department of public works (DPW), told the city council during its April 14 meeting in 2025, “there were a lot of growing pains going on there with the farmers’ market getting as large as it is, and with all of the traffic.”

Eagle River fire department ‘running ragged,’ well over budget

The Eagle River fire department is in rough shape. That was the message for chief Jim Randall to the city council at its April 14 meeting.

Open records request source of contention for Eagle River city council

A month after the Eagle River city council adopted a fee schedule for open-records requests, the new policy was the center of contention at the council’s April 14 meeting. Eagle River resident Kathryn Craffey stressed at one point in the meeting the importance of transparency in city government to the council which prompted alderman Jerry Burkett to respond by characterizing her comments as “defamation of character.”

Eagle River council approves fees for open records requests

The city of Eagle River, as a result of action during the city council’s March 10 meeting, will implement a fee schedule for open records requests. The move follows a raft of requests for documents dating back several years, initiated by Eagle River resident Kathryn Craffey.

Eagle River city council approves stop sign addition

The third discussion in six months at the city council level about a problematic three-way intersection in Eagle River resulted in a resolution during the council’s March 10 meeting. That resolution was to move forward with installation of a stop sign to the intersection at Sheridan Street and Silver Lake Road.

St. Germain sets dates for public hearings

When the St. Germain town board next meets in regular session on April 13 among items on the meeting agenda will be two public hearings regarding possible changes in the town’s ordinances. The town board made the decision to conduct the public hearings during a discussion at its March 9 meeting.

Eagle River axes public access to ‘stump dump’

The city of Eagle River will re-vamp the city’s yard-waste program and shutter its facility on Elm Drive for use by the public. The decisions to do so were made after discussion during the city council’s March 10 meeting which in turn followed months of debate over the facility’s future.

Eagle River council approves trap/neuter/return program for feral cats

The common council of the city of Eagle River, during its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, approved a trap/neuter/return program for the city’s burgeoning cat population. The program was the brain-child of city clerk Becky Bolte, who took the initiative in organizing it and presenting it to the council for consideration.

Bike/pedestrian trail generates millions for Eagle River, Three Lakes

Those who have spent time traveling on the Three Eagle Trail already know it is a valuable asset for the people and communities of the Northwoods. Due to recent efforts by the Three Eagle Trail Foundation, the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation (GHT), the Three Lakes Visitors Bureau, and the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR), its worth can now be quantified in terms of dollars and cents for the first time.

Stop sign debate starts up again in Eagle River

The Eagle River city administrator thinks the city council should have another look at a stop sign issue. During the city council’s Feb. 10 meeting, Robin Ginner urged the council to reconsider the matter which pertains to an unregulated three-way intersection at Sheridan Street and Silver Lake Road.

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