LUHS teacher reprimanded after students clean his pontoon
District staff has ‘oral conference’ with Bachinski, who apologized
A Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) teacher asked his students “to clean and set up his personal watercraft” on May 6. Career and technical education teacher Jeff Bachinski, according to a summary of a subsequent “oral conference” the teacher had with interim district administrator Steve Kolden and assistant principal David Wineburner, said his second hour students “agreed to help.”
Sentencing hearing for Collins scheduled for Sept. 5
A sentencing hearing for Jacob Collins, 22 of Minocqua, was scheduled for Sept. 5 in Oneida County court at 1 p.m.
LUHS board approves summer school program
Thunderbird Fitness only course, trimester schedule helped with credit recovery during school year
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education approved on Monday the district’s summer school program. Interim district administrator Steve Kolden told board members the program would consist of only using the weight room.
Minocqua plan commission approves permits for new home decor business downtown
The Minocqua plan commission on Tuesday approved an administrative review permit (ARP) application and two sign permit applications for a new downtown business, Wild Embers Home Decor. As noted during the plan commission’s meeting, the location of the new business, 507 Oneida Street, was previously home to A Step Up, a different home decor business which moved to a new building.
Food truck debate heats up in Hazelhurst
Listening session draws crowd, board to consider proposal at June 10 meeting
Food trucks were a hot button topic in Hazelhurst last week. About 25 members of the public attended the town board’s May 7 meeting. Roughly half of those people provided the board with input — some were against letting food trucks operate in town, some were for.
Newbold town board declines to change speeds, post signs on Black Lake Road and others
Hess to contact sheriff’s office as first step instead
The Newbold town board had no opposition to town chairman Dan Hess saying he can contact the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for additional presence on Black Lake Road and surrounding roads, as well as request a radar speed sign on that road.
Plastered with problems: Oneida County facilities committee tours courthouse
Chairman: Overheated judge’s chambers ‘unacceptable’
The Oneida County board’s county facilities committee met on Monday to tour the courthouse. Committee chairman Russ Fisher said the tour spanned nearly 40 minutes.
New librarian starting in Winchester soon
Celebration of life for Forster at library on June 7
Winchester town chairman Joe Discianno at the town’s annual meeting on Monday announced the town hired a new librarian, Winchester-native Adeline Huybrecht, who will start upon graduating college later this month.
Vilas forestry committee going to bid spring timber sale
Sale consists of just over 1,000 acres with minimum value of $466,000
The Vilas County forestry, recreation and land committee approved at its May 6 meeting a 2025 spring timber sale prospectus. Forest administrator Chad Keranen said bids for the timber sale will be opened sometime early next month.
Discianno and Logan provide Hwy. W road project update at Winchester annual meeting
Winchester town chairman Joe Discianno said at the town’s annual meeting on May 5 the road project on Highway W may be an “inconvenience” for everyone this summer, but indicated it will be worth it in the end.
Fifield town board will wait before ordering box bed
Board also shares update on land agreement and approves crack seal bid
The Fifield town board will need to wait for a budget report from its town crew to see if it can purchase a box bed for nearly $30,000 for one of its town trucks.
Winchester town board presents new town logo
The town of Winchester, after roughly two years, has decided on a new town logo. Town chairman Joe Discianno prefaced the situation at the town’s annual meeting on Monday.
Times alleges LUHS board violated state’s open meetings law
Board worked off different agenda than publicly posted one, item moved to closed session without notice
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education agreed after a closed session discussion on April 28 to accept the resignation of district business manager Eddie Then Jr., who was recently hired to be the business manager of the Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk school district next school year.
Presque Isle town board shares tax refund update
Peck, board members concerned over ‘rogue’ EMS expansion effort
The Presque Isle town board provided an update on the tax levy situation and its decision to refund taxpayers the $377,191 it planned to use to pay for the town’s participation in the four-town emergency medical services (EMS) district during a meeting on May 1.
Net Gains: Walleyes for Tomorrow efforts showing promise for natural reproduction on Minocqua chain
Male population appears to be up, however, overall totals seem to be down
Walleyes for Tomorrow, a non-profit organization with different chapters around the state, began its stocking efforts for the fourth straight year on the Minocqua chain.
Minocqua greenlights two tourist rentals, highlighting impotent local control in zoning debate
The Minocqua plan commission on Tuesday approved two administrative review permits (ARPs) for two dwellings to be rented as tourist rooming houses.
LUHS board talks facilities committee and need for better strategic plan
Gabert: It’s important to make a plan sustainable
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education discussed on Monday the facilities task team it created in November of 2024 to consider the district’s facilities and create a plan for the future in order to address any needed upgrades.
Johnson pleads not guilty in St. Germain homicide case
Judicial pretrial scheduled for July 15
The 56-year-old man who’s accused of killing his sister at their St. Germain home on March 21 appeared in Vilas County court for an arraignment on Monday and pleaded not guilty. James Johnson was suspected of killing his 61-year-old sister Kelly Johnson after Johnson’s other sister, who lived with them, came home to the victim wrapped in a blanket, legs tied with a yellow extension cord and covered in blood laying near the front porch of the 7100 State Highway 70 residence.
Boh pleads not guilty in fatal U.S. Hwy. 51 crash
A 23-year-old Arbor Vitae man charged with two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in connection with a three-vehicle fatal accident on U.S. Highway 51 last July pleaded not guilty during an April 14 arraignment in Oneida County court.
Business ticketed for bolting ads to Newbold stop signs
Board agrees to help spread the word of Wreaths Across America
Newbold town chairman Dan Hess told the rest of the town board during a meeting on April 24 a business has been contacted for affixing advertisements on town signs and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of what was happening.
‘Where’s my newspaper?’
Frustrated subscribers prompted the Times to GPS-track some editions
Some readers of The Lakeland Times have been contacting the newspaper office for more than two years now to explain they sometimes have to wait a month, or more, to get certain editions of their paid print subscription. Sometimes they never receive them at all.
Thorofare Bridge recast as the Manny Stein Memorial Bridge
Pike Lake Chain Lakes Association suggests change, commits to pay for signage
The Fifield town board at an April 15 meeting agreed to rename the Thorofare Bridge the Manny Stein Memorial Bridge. Pike Lake resident Leonard “Manny” Stein passed away at the age of 89 this year on March 24.
Fifield firefighters face dirty dilemma
Ebert: ‘I’m concerned about the acrimony that’s going on in that department’
The Fifield town board at its April 15 meeting decided to let the Fifield fire department agendize and vote on whether or not it will pay for the fire house to be cleaned or have firefighters clean it.
Johnson pleads not guilty in St. Germain homicide case
Judicial pretrial scheduled for July 15
The 56-year-old man who’s accused of killing his sister at their St. Germain home on March 21 appeared in Vilas County court for an arraignment on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
Presque Isle will refund taxpayer dollars planned to pay for EMS district
By doing so, reauthorization to exceed levy will be needed
The Presque Isle town board, with town chairman Al Eschenbauch presiding over his first meeting after the April 1 election, decided to refund taxpayers the $377,191 voters authorized the board to exceed the tax levy by in November of 2024 during a meeting on April 17.
Fifield town board addresses 27% tax increase at annual meeting
Increase in taxes due to borrowed money
Some Fifield residents were looking for an explanation as to why their tax bill increased during the town’s annual meeting on April 15. Discussion ranged widely, but ultimately, the board said the reason why was because of borrowed money.
Manitowish Waters town board accepts bid for airport hangar project
Construction to start this summer
The Manitowish Waters town board on April 15, during a regular meeting immediately following the town’s annual meeting, agreed to move forward with the town’s airport hangar project.
Lake Tomahawk electors give OK to sell American Legion building
DeMet says sale will take a ‘few months’ to complete
Lake Tomahawk electors, during the town’s annual meeting on April 15, gave the town board authorization to negotiate and sell the building that’s home to the Colin F. Schultz American Legion Post 318, 7986 Choate Boulevard.
Evidence re-submitted cause for optimism
Susan Poupart went missing in 1990, remains found months after in national forest
The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office has continued to work on a homicide investigation that’s been cold now for 35 years. Most recently, evidence has been resubmitted for DNA testing with a private firm with the hope that a different way of it being tested could finally bring justice for Susan “Suzy” Poupart, the Lac du Flambeau woman whose remains were found in the woods all those years ago, and her family.
North Lakeland School building project on track for June start
Manners Cafe will be moved to Manitowish Waters Fire Company in summer
North Lakeland School district administrator Brent Jelinski provided an update on the district’s building project at a board of education meeting on Monday. The project, which includes a full replacement of the school's HVAC system, electrical system and fixing issues with the school’s parking lot, is slated to start in June.
Henry firearms expanding 100 percent of its operations to Wisconsin
Company will expand Rice Lake headquarters, build two new facilities in Ladysmith and acquire a third
A certain amount of nostalgia comes with a Henry firearm, most notably their tried and true lever-action .22. But it’s not just nostalgia, because if you’re from Wisconsin, a certain amount of pride comes with a Henry too.
St. Germain murder suspect waives preliminary hearing
Arraignment scheduled for Johnson April 21 in Vilas County
James Johnson, a 56-year-old St. Germain man being accused of 1st degree murder, decided to waive his preliminary hearing when he appeared in custody in Vilas County court on April 9, according to court records.
Lakeland area school districts awarded grant to continue student mental health services
$55,000 from WEA Member Benefits Foundation is unrestricted funding that can be used as districts see fit
Representatives of the Lakeland area consortium attended an April 10 meeting at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) where a $55,000 check was presented to Adam Nowak, Project AWARE mental health coordinator for the consortium, to assist student mental health services within the five Lakeland area school districts.
LUHS board approves 5-year bus contract with LABS
Kolden: Soliciting bids this year is ‘good practice’ and ‘keeps Lakeland Bus on their toes a little bit’
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education approved a five-year bus contract with Lakeland Area Bus Service (LABS) during a meeting on April 7. The contract’s term is for July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.
LUHS accepts HYF donation for four speech therapists
Additional therapists to work at grade schools; LUHS ‘fiscal agent,’ board agrees with ‘no loss’ to district
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education agreed to accept a donation of nearly $350,000 on Monday from the Howard Young Foundation (HYF) in order to hire four speech and language pathologists at the four feeder districts, which include Lac du Flambeau Public School, Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk School (MHLT), Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary and North Lakeland School.
Reeling in an ice-fishing season like no other
The year of the ‘Golden Horseshoe’
My dad would take me ice fishing as a kid every so often growing up. One of my first memories was accidently dropping the scoop down the hole on a very cold, windy day when it was just the two of us on the ice.
Peck recognized by LUHS board for her many years of service
LUHS board has one vacant seat following April 1 election
At the outset of the Lakeland Union High School board of education meeting on Monday, board president Shawn Umland said the board wanted to recognize board vice-president Barb Peck, who didn’t seek re-election on April 1.
Minocqua plan commission approves permits for new downtown retail shop
The Minocqua plan commission agreed on Tuesday to approve an administrative review permit (ARP) and sign permit for a new downtown retail shop in Minocqua, next to and just south of the Clock Tower Centre.
Hazelhurst town hall paid off
Town chairman cautions everyone not to get too excited
Hazelhurst town chairman Ted Cushing announced at a Tuesday town board meeting the town hall property is officially paid off. Town clerk Christy Myshchyshyn said she didn’t have much to say, but added “it’s nice … to have one thing less to pay.”
LUHS hires new district administrator
Koepp comes from Watertown ‘With over 20 years of educational experience’
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) announced the hiring of its new district administrator on April 3. Between Northland Pines principal Dan Marien and Watertown assistant principal, athletic director and summer school coordinator James “Jamie” Koepp, the LUHS board of education decided on Koepp.
Presque Isle town board tasks finance committee with levy limit issue
The Presque Isle town board on April 3 agreed to direct its finance committee to look into two options the Department of Revenue (DOR) has presented to it after an audit by the state showed the town didn’t take proper procedure in exceeding its tax levy limit during a town meeting in November of last year.
Timeline to be determined for Hodag Dome repairs
Absence of community gathering space already felt
The Hodag Dome in Rhinelander sustained damage and was manually deflated Sunday, March 30, as the result of a power outage caused by a winter storm the area encountered.
Vilas forestry agrees on increasing land account cap by $200,000
County board will consider resolution next; account funds used to buy land and recreation opportunities
The Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee on April 1 adopted a resolution to increase a cap on the county’s segregated land account from $300,000 to $500,000. Forest administrator Chad Keranen said the account’s funds can only be used for land acquisitions and development of recreational facilities in the county forest.
LUHS expels 28 students in four years: Drugs and weapons most common reasons
Principal calls for more community collaboration, making sure kids are educated
A total of 28 students have been expelled from Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) in the last four school years. Only a total of two students were expelled during the 2021-22 school year, the highest total of students, 11, were expelled during the 2022-23 school year, six students were expelled during the 2023-24 school year and nine students have been expelled so far during the current school year, 2024-25.
Preliminary hearing scheduled for Johnson
Bond continues after adjourned initial appearance
An adjourned initial appearance was held Monday for 56-year-old James Johnson in Vilas County court. Johnson is being accused of first-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon after he was suspected of killing his sister, Kelly Johnson, at their St. Germain residence on March 21.
Newbold adopts tourist rooming house ordinance
Ordinance similar to what county, other towns already have adopted
The Newbold town board adopted a tourist rooming house ordinance following a public hearing it held during a meeting on March 27. Roughly 12 people attended the hearing and meeting and a few asked town board members questions about the ordinance, which aims to regulate properties used for short-term rentals and are most commonly advertised on websites such as VRBO or AirBnb.
Woodruff Ace Hardware owner Lowell Bostrom passes away at 71
Christenson: ‘He treated us like family’
Lowell R. Bostrom of Minocqua passed away on March 26 at his residence in Minocqua. He was the owner and operator of two Ace Hardware stores, one in Woodruff and another in Weston.
Boulder Junction wake ordinance for border lakes going to attorney next
First reading likely to be first meeting in April
The Boulder Junction town board provided an update of a draft ordinance regarding the regulation of enhanced wakes on lakes the town shares boundaries with during a March 25 meeting.
Wild cougar cubs spotted in the UP
Natural reproduction could mean rebound for species, human interference not ruled out
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on March 13 that for the first time in 100 years, cougar cubs were spotted living in the wild. State biologists, the Michigan DNR said, confirmed the felines caught on camera were indeed cougar cubs. The infant animals were seen on private land in Ontonagon County, which is on the Upper Peninsula’s northwest side.
Johnson charged with 1st degree murder
Bond set at $1 million
A St. Germain man accused of first-degree intentional homicide made his initial court appearance Monday.
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