Oneida County dispatcher arrested for alleged intoxication at work
An Oneida County dispatcher was arrested by the Rhinelander Police Department on Jan. 8 after driving to work under the influence. Nicole Lea, 53, of Eagle River, is also the wife of Three Lakes police chief Scott Lea. According to a written statement by Oneida County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Terri Hook, captain Jake Simkins contacted her that day with the concern of Lea being intoxicated at work.
Sugar Camp man alleged to possess child pornography
A Sugar Camp man was arrested on Jan. 21 for allegedly possessing child pornography. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Christian Bishop, 27, after receiving a tipline report by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on May 22, 2025.
Inflation rates are trending downward
Fed economist breaks down affordability over 7-year period
Inflation is trending down, almost reaching levels seen prior to 2021 and the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a chart produced by J.P.Morgan, inflation for things such as energy, food at home, shelter, core goods, dining recreation and other services, as well as auto insurance started to increase dramatically in early 2021.
Minocqua Gun Club’s annual banquet set for Feb. 28 in St. Germain
Funds raised at event help club pay for operating costs and support youth shooting
The Minocqua Gun Club’s annual fundraising banquet is set for Saturday, Feb. 28. This year marks 29 years of the annual event. Because the Minocqua Gun Club is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the club’s annual banquet plays a significant role in its livelihood.
LUHS board steps back from curriculum review, cedes authority to administration
Board also approves boiler repairs and school calendar
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education approved word changes in district policy during a meeting on Jan. 19. Board member Heidi Fink, during her report of the board’s policy committee, said the most notable changes for policies 2240, 2510 and 2522, were with replacing the word board with district administrator or administrator.
Carlton begins new chapter at the River News and Times
New reporter will be based out of Rhinelander
If you see a new byline in today’s paper, that’s because a new reporter has joined the team of The Northwoods River News and The Lakeland Times. Ardith Carlton will be based out of the River News office, 236 South Courtney Street, but her writing will appear in the Times as well.
Cross Country Cruisers SnoFest sees success
Wesner: One of the best turnouts in years
The Cross Country Cruisers Snowmobile Club of Arbor Vitae, Woodruff and parts of Minocqua wrapped up its third annual Cruisers SnoFest over the weekend. The event consisted of a lasagna and fish fry dinner on Jan. 16 and a day full of vintage snowmobiles, rides, raffles and more on Jan. 17.
Presque Isle hires ‘records responder,’ will go back to DA if Times doesn’t agree to pay up to $1,000
It’s been almost a year since records request was made with the town
The Presque Isle town board, during a special meeting on Jan. 15, agreed to hire resident Dave Bogen to gather any and all records between the town and a third party forensic investigations firm it hired in 2023 to review town computers that were a matter of contention during an election for town chairman in April 2023 in order to satisfy an open records request by The Lakeland Times.
MHLT board agrees to expand 3K program
Board feels its an innovative investment to boost enrollment for the future
The Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) School board agreed to expand the district’s new 3K program for next year at its Jan. 16 meeting. District administrator and principal Bob Smudde said the 3K program “is a nice program” and those who participated in it liked it. He added it’s a cost-saving option for families.
Cross Country Cruisers SnoFest starts today
Fundraising events ‘critical’ for snowmobile clubs
The Cross Country Cruisers, a snowmobile club with trails in Arbor Vitae, Woodruff and parts of Minocqua, is holding its annual SnoFest event this evening and all day tomorrow. A fish fry or lasagna dinner is tonight at the club’s groomer barn, 1503 Helminski Road in Arbor Vitae. Serving starts at 4 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. Carry-outs are available.
Johnson awaits next court hearing in St. Germain homicide case
Defense requests plea changed to not guilty by mental disease or defect
A 56-year-old man accused of killing his sister at their St. Germain home on March 21, 2025 is awaiting his next court appearance in the case, which is scheduled for April 7 at the Vilas County Courthouse in Eagle River.
DNR’s Free Fishing Weekend an option to spend some time outside
There are two times a year where people in Wisconsin can get out and fish without having to buy fishing licenses. One of those opportunities is this weekend. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Free Fishing Weekend is also a time different fishing organizations host clinics around the state.
Presque Isle chair sheds light on NEMSD budget rift
Presque Isle town chairman Al Eschenbauch provided the town board with a report of his thoughts on what he called a “conflict” among the Northwoods Emergency Management Services District (NEMSD) board of directors during a meeting on Jan. 8.
Manitowish Waters town board closes brush site for winter, raises cemetery plot fees
The Manitowish Waters town board agreed at its Jan. 14 meeting to close its brush site for the rest of the winter due to snow. Town chairman John Hanson said the brush site remained open the last two winters because there wasn’t much snow.
You got the ice fishing bug, now what?
You ice fished once or twice growing up or you were dragged out onto the ice with a buddy recently and you got the bug … the ice fishing bug. You want to get into it, but you have no idea where to start. While it can be a very expensive endeavor, there are still ways to catch fish while not spending a bunch of cash.
Northwoods Youth Deer Hunt Challenge has 22nd annual banquet
181 youth hunters with over 425 in attendance
The Northwoods Youth Deer Hunt Challenge (NYDHC) logged another year in its books, capping off its 22nd year of existence at the annual banquet on Jan. 1 at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) in Minocqua.
Eagle River Ice Castle canceled this year
Enough ice, but in poor condition
After an optimistic start to the ice making season, the construction of the Eagle River Ice Castle was ultimately canceled. There were special plans for the Ice Castle this year too. Eagle River fire chief Michael Anderson told the city council at a Dec. 10 meeting the plans to build the Ice Castle would include a representation of the Twin Towers because 2026 is the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Hazelhurst veterans memorial being looked into
A public hearing for ‘wake boat ordinance’ to be scheduled
Hazelhurst town chairman Ted Cushing asked town supervisor Jeff Verdoorn at a Jan. 6 meeting to look into getting some type of veterans memorial for the town. He asked town supervisor Paul Fuhrman to think of places where a veterans memorial site could be.
After loads of snow, there’s high expectations for this year’s snowmobile season
Snow’s a sigh of relief for local businesses
After the first major snowfall of the season, the Northwoods was left with piles of wet and heavy snow, making trail conditions prime for snowmobiling and providing local businesses with optimism for a strong winter tourism season.
First ever Birchell Family Memorial Ice Fishing Contest Jan. 10 on Pike Lake Chain
Gunderson: ‘It’s one of the better winter raffles you’re going to find in the Northwoods’
A new ice fishing tournament on Saturday, Jan. 10, will honor the Birchell family, Tom, his wife Carol and their daughter Stephanie. All three tragically died as the result of a fire on June 29, 2025, at their home in the Pike Lake area west of Minocqua.
The snow everyone wanted, but storm causes outages and hazardous conditions
A winter snow storm affecting much of Wisconsin swept through the Northwoods the evening of Dec. 28 and lasted through the afternoon of Dec. 29. According to the National Weather Service in Green Bay, there was over a foot of snow reported in many parts of north central Wisconsin.
Gas prices hit lowest price on average in US since 2020
Pump prices, on average, were at their lowest since 2020 in the United States last month. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline fell below $3 on Dec. 1 for the first time since February of 2021.
Minocqua plan commission approves two single-family short-term rentals
The Minocqua plan commission approved two administrative review permits (ARPs) for short-term rentals that fall within single-family zoning during a meeting on Dec. 30. The first ARP approved was for a property at 8297 West Amber Lake Road, applied for by Maggie Siclovan and owned by Timber Ridge Builders LLC.
Dr. Kate Museum nominated for Governor’s Tourism Award
The Dr. Kate Museum has been nominated for a 2026 Governor’s Tourism Award in the category of Arts, Culture & Heritage. According to Travel Wisconsin, the Arts, Culture & Heritage category celebrates organizations or destinations showcasing “arts, culture or heritage to enhance the tourism experience and economic well-being of a community.” Last year’s winner of the award was the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Ice is firming up, caution still advised
Fishing should be good if pressure is low this weekend
While ice is still in its early stages of forming on area lakes, it’s getting to the point where people, in general, can ride snowmobiles and fish with less stress of falling through. However, anytime a person ventures onto hardwater, caution should be taken.
Price County snowmobile trails open
Delayed open due to brush cleanup and lack of snow
The Price County snowmobile trail system opened Dec. 24 at 8 a.m. Iron County trails were the first to be open on Dec. 9, followed by Oneida and Vilas county trails 10 days later.
Snowmy is back with a new hat and a different spot
Westfahl: ‘... he’s a winter spectacle that needs to be seen every year and when he’s not here, we’re a little bit sadder for it’
The once viral sensation and winter icon in Minocqua, Snowmy Kromer, a giant 35-foot snowman that dons his own custom Stormy Kromer hat (hence the name) is back for the first time in two years. Last week, Dec. 16-18, Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau president and CEO Krystal Westfahl and volunteers constructed the corn cob pipe smoking snowman at a new location, too — Torpy Park.
Oneida chair ‘totally against’ four-day highway department work week in winter
Cushing: Hwy. 70 issues kick-started ‘good movement’
Oneida County board chairman Scott Holewinski, for the second time in two weeks, attended the county board’s public works and solid waste committee meeting Dec. 18. He told The Lakeland Times on Dec. 19 one of the main reasons he went to the meeting was because of a significant work schedule change for highway department employees made four years ago that he doesn’t believe was made properly or in accordance with county code.
Boulder Junction town board to stick with Wahlgren as EMS district rep
The Boulder Junction town board at a Dec. 16 meeting agreed to reappoint Dan Wahlgren to the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD), a new ambulance service created between four northwest Vilas County towns and besides Boulder Junction, includes Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester.
GLITC class teaches everyone how to butcher and can venison
Poupart: ‘Food sovereignty of not just growing food, but the harvesting of different things and preserving them’
A free class was held in Lac du Flambeau the weekend of Dec. 6-7, teaching people how to butcher a deer, properly prepare and can the meat and how to safely store it. The two-day class, at the Old Bingo Hall on Little Pines Road, was put on by the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s (GLITC) food sovereignty program via Waabigwanii Gitigaanin Garden & Greenhouse.
Oneida County snowmobile trails open today
Vilas County parks and recreation supervisor would like to see more snow
The Oneida County snowmobile trail system opens today at noon. On Dec. 16, the county’s forestry, land and recreation department issued a public service announcement (PSA), after the snowmobile council voted that afternoon, warning that while the trails are set to open, all lake and river trails in the county are considered unsafe and dangerous until clearly marked by the snowmobile clubs.
LUHS looking to form new 5-year strategic plan
District seeking between 30 to 40 community members for task force
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) is asking the community for help with creating its new strategic plan for the district. On Dec. 15, it was posted on the LUHS Facebook page that the district was looking to select between 30 to 40 people to serve on a strategic planning task force.
Minocqua town board hires designer for Hwy. 51 off-road path south to Leary Road
Project isn’t final, town seeking TAP funding
The Minocqua town board at a Dec. 16 special meeting agreed to go with engineering firm Strand Associates to design a multi-use path to be constructed alongside U.S. Highway 51 from Manitou Park Drive to Leary Road. The project would use grant funding through the state Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
Lake Tomahawk town board formally adopts 2026 budget
$75K set aside for community center upgrade
The Lake Tomahawk town board formally adopted its budget for the upcoming year. Town chairman George DeMet said there wasn’t much change to the budget, which has a property tax levy of $811,914 included, a 1.73 percent increase from the 2025 budget.
Newbold town board reviews enhanced wake ordinance
The Newbold town board at its Dec. 11 meeting reviewed an enhanced wake ordinance it enacted two years ago, which at the time, received overwhelming support from the public.
ATV/UTV survey on the horizon in Manitowish Waters
Town board agrees to help publicize informational meetings
The Manitowish Waters town board, during a Dec. 9 meeting, decided to table any decisions with regard to opening up Tower Road to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility-task vehicle (UTV) use until the Northwoods UTV/ATV Club has had a chance to hold public informational meetings.
Manitowish Waters town chairman reappointed to EMS district board
Hanson says NEMSD is operating better than expected, but voices concerns with board members
Manitowish Waters town chairman John Hanson at a Dec. 9 town board meeting sought his reappointment to the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District (NEMSD) board of directors, but before he was reappointed, he indicated his reason for wanting to continue his work on that board was to straighten some things out.
North Lakeland School improvements project nears end
Final costs came in about $500,000 under budget, board approves ‘medium priority’ improvements
The North Lakeland School district spent significantly less than it expected to on a recent capital improvements project — which ranged from parking lot repairs and a full HVAC replacement to an electrical system upgrade — and additional funding will be used for even more improvements.
Hazelhurst town board adopts road for Bearskin access
Land gifted to town by DOT is part of larger land state is trying to auction off
The Hazelhurst town board at its Dec. 9 meeting adopted a road that will be off of U.S. Highway 51 north and titled Bearskin Trail Access Road. Town chairman Ted Cushing said three-plus years ago the town was approached by the state Department of Transportation (DOT) asking if the town would like roughly five acres south of Raven Lane to create an access road for the Bearskin Trail.
Eagle River man charged with 1st degree sexual assault of a child
An Eagle River man made an initial appearance in Vilas County court on Dec. 2 for being charged with first degree child sexual assault of a child under 16. Shawn M. Briscoe, 37, Eagle River, was alleged to have sexually assaulted a child on various occasions with the use of threat or force and violence over the course of multiple years, according to the criminal complaint.
Presque Isle town chairman: town is eligible for disaster funding
Board members also looking into cyber security grant funding and generator for community center
Presque Isle town chairman Al Eschenbauch informed the town board at its Dec. 4 meeting of the town’s disaster plan and possible funding it could be eligible for following the snow storm the week before.
The penny may be going away, but the World’s Largest Penny is here to stay
Shelter to be constructed, Dr. Kate Museum looking to renovate a piece of Lakeland history
The World’s Largest Penny in Woodruff, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Hemlock Street, is iconic to the town of Woodruff and its history with Dr. Kate Newcomb, the “Angel on Snowshoes.”
Former Camp Jorn employee pleads guilty to neglecting child felony
A 29-year-old Mercer woman pleaded guilty to a class H felony of neglecting a child with the consequence of bodily harm during a court hearing on Dec. 1 in Vilas County court. According to court records, Alexis Engler, who was a preschool teacher at Camp Jorn in Manitowish Waters, knowingly and voluntarily waived her rights to a jury trial and entered the guilty plea.
Minocqua man pleads guilty in federal court to wire fraud and money laundering charges
Kromray’s conduct resulted in investors losing more than $800,000
A Minocqua man pled guilty on Nov. 7 in federal court to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Chadwick M. Elgersma, attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Wisconsin, announced on Nov. 24 that Corey Kromray, 40, of Minocqua, entered the guilty pleas in court in Madison.
Park Falls death being investigated as homicide
More details coming ‘in the near future’
The Park Falls Police Department is leading an investigation after officers responded to the 1200 block of Saunders Avenue just before 9 p.m. and “found a deceased adult outside of the residence” on Nov. 24. The state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Price County Sheriff's Office are assisting with the investigation as well.
Deer rescued from Lost Lake in St. Germain
While most of the time saving wild animals, especially in winter conditions, is difficult and unlikely, it worked out this time for St. Germain first responders and the deer they were able to save after it fell through thin ice on Dec. 2.
Three LUHS musicians hit high notes at state honors
Three Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) students were invited to participate in the Wisconsin School Music Association’s state honors band and choir performances in Madison last month. There were two freshmen, Haily Massignan on trombone and Claire Elbe on clarinet, who made the middle level state honors band. Junior Miranda Schneider made the high school honors choir.
Boulder Junction electors approve tax levy
Town’s total budget decreased by 8%, levy increased by less than 1%
Boulder Junction electors, during an annual town meeting of electors and following a budget hearing on Nov. 20, authorized the town board to adopt the town’s 2026 budget when they voted to approve this year’s levy increase.
Thoughts from deer camp on opening weekend
While my hunting adventures carry on without a buck in hand, I had a little time here at deer camp to provide a quick update. The day before gun season opened last Saturday, Nov. 22, I decided to go sit in the woods and see if I could still fill my bow tag. As luck would have it, an opportunity presented itself to me when the feet of a spike buck appeared 20 yards to my left at around 8 a.m.
Presque Isle electors authorize over $500,000 levy increase
Initial ask of $1 million-plus scrapped last minute
Nearly 100 Presque Isle electors authorized the town board to exceed the state’s allowable tax levy increase by more than $500,000 following a budget hearing and during a special town meeting of electors on Nov. 20.
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