Aqua Bowl historical marker unveiled at 75th anniversary show
Boyer: ‘The Aqua Bowl will always be the Aqua Bowl’
Downtown Minocqua’s Aqua Bowl — the home of the Min-Aqua Bats and the longest running amateur ski show in the world — was recently recognized by the Wisconsin Historical Society with historic marker status.
The sky’s the limit
Nicolet College’s new flight simulator breaks barriers to aviation careers
One of the newest additions to Nicolet College’s White Pine building is a mock airplane cockpit, complete with accurate controls and instrument panels. While its flights may not be real, the lessons learned abord this simulator are.
Living a dream
Local actor performs Shakespeare in France
All actors have their dream role — but few get the opportunity to perform them by age 21, in the picturesque countryside of southern France.
A pest with a purpose
Even mosquitos are important
Just about any fun summer activity — a lazy afternoon on the water, an adventurous hike, a satisfying day fishing, brews and bites outdoors with friends — are an open invitation for nature’s party crasher: the mosquito.
Garden Fest continues to grow
Annual hospice fundraiser is July 19
Few things in the Lakeland area bring more joy to those who need it most than the Seasons of Life Hospice Garden in Woodruff. “They have eight rooms there and they’re all filled right now. The rooms that face the garden are always taken first, they’re never vacant because people like to look out at the flowers,” said Kathy Kavemeier, president of the Lakeland Gardeners.
Almost 200 sex offenders reside in Oneida, Vilas counties
Wisconsin sex offender rate ranks fifth in nation
Wisconsin has the fifth highest rate of sexual offenders per capita in the nation, according to data compiled by SafeHome.org. While Oneida and Vilas counties fall below the state average of 459 per 100,000, they remain above the national average of 241 per 100,000.
Research suggests heart-related deaths have risen 17 percent since Covid
Heart-related deaths at home grow more common
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death globally — and that rate appears to continue growing in the United States. Research emerging from Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham hospital shows heart-related deaths have risen 17 percent in the years following the covid pandemic.
You’ve heard of Lyme disease, but ... What is Powassan virus?
Tick-borne illness sees record number of WI cases in 2024
Wisconsin residents are familiar with Lyme disease, but many are hearing about Powassan virus for the first time following reports that a Bayfield County man died after contracting the virus last month.
Snowhawks, Pukall Lumber Studs entertain a packed crowd with a fun game
The Lake Tomahawk Snowhawks defeated the Pukall Lumber Studs in a 21-1 contest Monday night at Snowshoe park. Despite the runaway score, the game was filled with big hits and exciting moments.
Hazelhurst exhausts annual state funding to repair only 800-feet of road
State funding remains stagnant as construction costs skyrocket
The town of Hazelhurst can only afford to repair an 800-foot stretch of road this summer as road construction costs continue to skyrocket and state funding for road projects remain stagnant. On June 19, the town board voted to request bids for the mill and paving of approximately 800 feet of Wildwood Drive from West Kaubashine Road. The pavement will be milled with an additional 2 inches of gravel.
‘This is My Life’
Local artist Art Long celebrates 50 years at Arbor Vitae studio — and home
For Arbor Vitae artist Art Long, art isn’t just an occupation, a hobby or his first name — it’s his life. “I always wanted to be an artist and I’m not sure where that came from,” Art said. “I had no idea you have to make a living as an artist, when you’re 12-years-old you don’t understand you have to pay the bills.”
A Compassionate Vision
After 45 years in the Northwoods, Dr. Kirby Redman retires from eye care practice
In the 45 years Dr. Kirby Redman has served the Northwoods as an optometrist, he’s garnered a reputation as a compassionate, responsive care provider with an endless list of loyal patients, plenty of whom have been seeing Dr. Redman for decades.
Saving Sayner history: Congregation works to restore 109-year old church
Rummage sale fundraiser is Saturday
On Sunday mornings in the quiet community of Sayner, church bells can now be heard ringing out from a building that was silent for years. The bells are rung by two third-graders every week at Sayner Community Church — a place of worship that faded into obscurity for years despite its rich 109-year history.
Klinke brings a lifetime of golf experience to Timber Ridge
New golf director is thrust into busy season
Jeff Klinke has been in the golf business all his life — from playing with his dad and grandpa as a kid, to working at courses in his hometown Fond du Lac, St. Germain and Arizona. Now, Klinke brings his decades of knowledge and expertise back up to the Northwoods as he started work as the director of golf operations at Timber Ridge Golf Club this spring.
Hazelhurst approves town’s first food truck
Decision to be re-evaluated after one year
A new dining option will occasionally be coming to Hazelhurst after the town board voted June 9 to allow a locally-owned food truck to operate in town over the next year. The decision, which was passed unanimously by the three-member board, marks the first time a food truck has been approved for use in Hazelhurst under the town’s existing transient merchant ordinance.
Two-day Minocqua Antique Boat Show starts today
One of Wisconsin’s top boat shows is in Torpy Park this weekend
The Minocqua Antique and Classic Boat Show has become a Father’s Day weekend tradition in the area — but it’s not only a great event for dads, there’s also great fun for the whole family. The 34th annual Minocqua Antique and Classic Boat Show returns to Torpy Park in downtown Minocqua on June 13 and 14.
Spelling error postpones Hazelhurst wake boat discussion
Cushing: ‘I’m not going to violate the open meetings law’
Nearly 40 people were in attendance at the June 10 Hazelhurst town board meeting, but about half of them left at the start of the meeting when town chairman Ted Cushing announced there would be no discussion or action on the “wake board” agenda item.
Hwy. 51 road work, lane closures to halt starting Friday
Work to resume after Labor Day
The sea of orange cones that covered U.S. Highway 51 this spring between Minocqua and Woodruff will wash away Friday as the high tide of summer tourism crashes upon the shores of the Northwoods.
An Ever-Growing Impact
Jim Ellis wraps up 24 years at MHLT this summer
Thursday marked the final day of school for Minocqua Lake Tomahawk Hazelhurst (MHLT) Elementary School. It was also the last day MHLT superintendent Dr. Jim Ellis could be found greeting kids outside as they arrived for school — a little extra thing he’s done every morning for the better part of a decade.
Lowering Hwy. W speed limit: Vilas County seeks Winchester input
County needs recommendation from Winchester, Manitowish Waters
Vilas County is seeking input from the Winchester town board after a resident wrote a letter requesting the county reduce the speed limit on portions of County Highway W in Winchester from 55 mph to 45 mph.
Air quality plummets as Canadian wildfires blaze
Wildfire forecast shows no signs of slowing this summer
Northern Wisconsin was placed under an air quality alert Friday, as the Northwoods experienced elevated levels of particle pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke.
Norma Duerst publishes first book at age 90
Lifelong poet is always finding new ways to savor life
Norma Duerst, a long-time Minocqua resident, turned 90 this past year, yet her ambition and curiosity are greater than many who are seven decades younger than her.
MHLT Cultural Fair gathers 56 countries in one room
Sixth-graders research, cook and talk about foreign nations
Sixth-graders at Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk School (MHLT) have been traveling the world over the past month — not physically, but through reading, internet research, art, cooking and writing.
Woodruff to hold electors meeting for cemetery acquisition
Forest Garden Cemetery owner wants town to take over
The Woodruff Town Board will need to seek the approval of the town electors before taking over Forest Garden Memorial Cemetery, located between North Townline Road and the end of French Lane in Woodruff.
Road construction: Hwy. 51 lanes will be open for Memorial Day weekend
WisDOT: Current work phase is ‘very tedious’
U.S. Highway 51 traffic between Minocqua and Woodruff has been limited to one lane each direction for nearly a month, and to a layman’s eye, it may not look like much work has been completed. However, road crews from American Asphalt of Wisconsin have been working since April 30 to prepare the highway corridor for repaving in September.
Save More Marketplace named IGA USA Retailer of the Year
Owners honored with ‘Quality Without Compromise’ award
Save More Marketplace owners Brian and Julie Krueger were named USA Retailers of the Year by the Independent Grocers Alliance at the IGA Awards of Excellence Ceremony on Feb. 24 in Las Vegas.
Emergency services participate in mock aircraft disaster exercise at Rhinelander Airport
Local fire, police, EMS personnel respond to aircraft fire simulation
It was an action-packed, but entirely controlled, morning at the Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport on May 14 as airport staff and local emergency services participated in a full-scale mock aircraft disaster exercise.
Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center launches pilot program with hopes to expand cost-free coverage
Ongoing summer raffle to benefit ‘Compassionate Care’ program
Five years after establishing the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center (TBIC) in Woodruff, the Howard Young Foundation (HYF) is piloting a program that, if fully adopted in the future, would extend tick-borne disease coverage to individuals who are not able to meet the costs of coverage.
Beyond Lyme: Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center treats variety of tick diseases
Care, education and research remain at the forefront for the center
Anyone who’s spent time in the Northwoods during the summer is well aware of just how common ticks (and the diseases they carry) can be.
Emergency services participate in mock aircraft disaster exercise at Rhinelander Airport
Local fire, police, EMS personnel respond to aircraft fire simulation
It was an action-packed, but entirely controlled, morning at the Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport on May 14 as airport staff and local emergency services participated in a full-scale mock aircraft disaster exercise.
Woodruff town board considers taking ownership of Forest Garden Cemetery
The Woodruff town board is considering acquiring ownership of Forest Hills Cemetery, located between North Townline Road and the end of French Lane in Woodruff.
Trout Lake Golf Course to open May 23 with ‘dramatic’ improvements
At 101 years old, Trout Lake Golf Course in Arbor Vitae is the oldest 18-hole golf facility in the Northwoods. As the club’s centennial was dawning last year, staff and owners asked: what’s to stop one from having age and beauty?
50-unit Woods Hollow development in Woodruff on track to be completed in December
Developer: We’re on schedule and everything looks good
The Woods Hollow Cottages and Town Homes development is starting to take shape in Woodruff as construction ramps up this summer. Located off Veterans Parkway between Highway 47 and North Townline Road, the development will bring 50 units, 18 townhomes and 32 cottages, to a Northwoods that desperately needs housing.
Community awards shine a light on local stars
Outstanding businesses, individuals recognized by Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau
All the stars were out Wednesday evening — speaking both universally and locally. And as the Van Morison song goes, it was a marvelous night for a moon dance at the 2025 Community Recognition Awards and Dinner banquet, presented by the Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau on May 7 at the Arbor Vitae Town Hall.
St. Anthony’s Women’s Club 63rd annual Spring Luncheon is May 15
All proceeds to fund two LUHS scholarships
The Women’s Club at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Lac du Flambeau welcomes the spring season and area community to their 63rd annual spring luncheon on May 15.
Dianna Lang: One of Minocqua’s valuable resources
Lang remembers old Minocqua, serves the community for decades
If you’ve dialed 356-5266 in the last three decades, there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to Dianna Lang. That’s the number for the Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau, where lang has worked for 27 years, answering calls and helping the community and visitors with whatever they need.
Gifts from home
Locally-owned online shop ships ‘worry-free’ gifts to overseas service members
Last year, Hazelhurst resident Cindy Dunbar found herself searching for a creative outlet and new business venture. Before long, she crossed that idea with her strong sense of patriotism and past retail experience to develop Sincerely for Heroes, an online store that ships items directly to service members deployed overseas.
Beware of fly-by-night roofing crews, local builders warn
Transient crews may present themselves as local, offer shoddy work and not follow up
In the wake of recent thunderstorms and the onset of spring home improvement season, Northwoods contractors are warning homeowners to do their research when hiring construction crews, as many transient crews infiltrate the area every year, often offering quick, sub-par work with no means of following up after the job is done.
ArtStart charts path to stay at current building
City helps secure boiler loan, may renegotiate lease agreement
ArtStart’s future at 68 South Stevens Street has been in question for several weeks, after the Rhinelander city council tabled the non-profit’s request for assistance in paying for a new boiler at an April 14 council meeting.
Rural health systems pull out all the stops to draw physicians amid shortage
The U.S. is expected to face a massive shortage of physicians in the coming decade
Last year, the Association of American Medical Colleges released a report projecting the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.
Minocqua to purchase three squad cars under lease agreement
2025 Dodge Durango purchase moved up to avoid ‘significant’ tariff cost increase
In a departure from their standard squad car replacement schedule, the Minocqua Police Department requested approval from the Minocqua town board for the purchase of three squad cars this year, paid out on a 5-year lease.
Rural health systems pull out all the stops to draw doctors amid shortage
The U.S. is expected to face a massive physician shortage in the coming decade
Last year, the Association of American Medical Colleges released a report projecting the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.
Hwy. 51 construction project begins in Minocqua-Woodruff
Lane closures set to start next week
Drivers and pedestrians moving through the U.S. Highway 51 corridor between downtown Minocqua and Woodruff may have noticed road construction workers staking the ground and beginning traffic control late this week — that’s just the beginning.
Ice Golf tournament raises 15K for local causes
The final count is in: the Thirsty Whale’s 22nd annual Lake Minocqua Ice Golf Tournament raised $15,025, which was donated to local causes. Local beneficiaries this year included: the Tom Handrick Wrestling Scholarship, Jake Kozey Family Foundation, Woodruff VFW Post 7898 and Lakeland Food Pantry.
Hazelhurst town board to pursue tax levy increase
Levy increase would replace expiring loan payments, keeping taxes the same
The biggest news coming out of the Hazelhurst town board annual meeting was that the town board signaled their intent to pursue a tax levy increase later this year.
Autism Acceptance Fundraiser hauls in $33k for Lakeland STAR Academy
The 3rd Annual Autism Acceptance Fundraiser for Lakeland STAR Academy was a massive success, with donations surpassing the organizers’ goal by 65 percent.
Lakeland Sanitary District to be unaffected by any potential ban on water flouridation
Fluoride in local water is naturally occurring
Since his appointment as Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined a number of public health initiatives he’d like the department to pursue.
Red truck blues
Hazelhurst Fire Department searching for solution to update main fire engine
Sooner rather than later, the Hazelhurst Fire Department will have to do something about its fire engine. The truck, manufactured in 1999, is aging out of state-mandated standards, but a replacement isn’t necessarily the only solution. In fact, considering the cost, a new replacement isn’t a viable solution at all.
Invaluable Training
Firefighters learn to identify, survive deadly flashover fires
Flashover fires — it’s not common for the general population to know about them, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a good firefighter who doesn’t have some understanding of the phenomenon; probably because it’s one of the leading causes of firefighter deaths in the United States.
Breaking barriers: Across the Northwoods, responders train to navigate autism spectrum emergencies
Scholl Community Impact Group hosts nationally-recognized training to improve safety and communication
Dozens of local law enforcement officers and first responders from around the Northwoods came out this week to attend a series of free trainings about how to interact with individuals on the autism spectrum in emergency situations.
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