Vilas forestry seeks to hire admin assistant
County’s forestry department ‘super busy right now’
The Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee was updated during its meeting Oct. 3 of the forestry, recreation and land department’s administrative assistant vacancy.
Another year well done!
Beef-A-Rama 2023 likely breaks records for most sandwiches sold
Beef-A-Rama 2023 shut the Island City down on Saturday, with live music, plenty of activities, drinks and lots of beef.
Three Lakeland schools placed on lockdown Friday
Threats were found to be ‘unsubstantiated’
Three Lakeland area schools — Lakeland Union High School (LUHS), Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk (MHLT) school district and Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school district — were placed on lockdown for a period of time Friday morning after potential threats surfaced from students’ social media accounts the night before.
Boulder Junction town board waits to set shared EMS public hearing date
Board members want more information before answering public’s questions
The Boulder Junction town board decided not to set a public hearing date at its Sept. 26 meeting for a shared ambulance service and the creation of an emergency medical service (EMS) district among four towns — Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester.
Minocqua plan commission approves two ARPs
Pertile raises some concern regarding drain in commercial building
The Minocqua plan commission approved two administrative review permits (ARP) during its Sept. 26 meeting.
Poupart sentenced in child neglect with consequence of death case
George Poupart, 29, of Lac du Flambeau was sentenced to serve 12 years in the Wisconsin prison system on Sept. 25 in Vilas County circuit court for child neglect with the consequence of death. Poupart’s prison term is split between six years of initial confinement and six years extended supervision.
Lakeland Area Scholarship Fund awards LUHS seniors and graduates
A total of $72,000 will be distributed this year
The Lakeland Area Scholarship Fund (LASF) sent letters in the mail this week to notify Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) seniors and graduates who are now in college that they will receive money to help with their post-secondary education.
LUHS gets hacked, board directs administration on budget
A deficit budget will be crafted, but over $3 million has been put into fund balance last three years
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) district administrator Bob Smudde informed the district’s board of education during its regular meeting Monday the district’s computer system has been hacked.
Vilas law enforcement committee to hold special meeting on county-wide ambulance service
The Vilas County board’s law enforcement and emergency management committee, during its meeting Monday, scheduled a special meeting for Oct. 16 with regard to a county-wide ambulance service.
Fifield town board and Sloane reach agreement
Town clerk resigns
The Fifield town board convened into closed session near the end of its regular board meeting on Sept. 19. Town chairman Bill Felch announced the town and Pike Lake Fire Department first responder Mike Sloane reached an agreement when it reconvened into open session about 10 minutes later.
Arbor Vitae town board settles on Oneida County ambulance contract
Board indicates hope; Vilas County forms its own ambulance service
The Arbor Vitae town board formally agreed to sign a contract with Oneida County during a meeting on Sept. 20 for a total of $227,303 in order to provide its residents ambulance service in 2024.
Plea deal reached in June, 2022 hit-and-run involving death case
Sentencing hearing for Wildcat scheduled for Nov. 20
A 25-year-old Lac du Flambeau woman who was charged with four felony counts and the state reached a plea deal in Vilas County Court on Monday.
Construction begins to replace Camp Agawak’s new main lodge
The 102-year-old lodge collapsed in April as the result of a rough winter
Camp Agawak owner and director Mary Stichert-Fried welcomed members of the media and community to a groundbreaking event signaling the start of a new chapter for the 102-year-old camp.
Farrell appointed as new supervisor by Manitowish Waters town board
Joan Farrell was appointed by the Manitowish Waters town board recently to replace former town supervisor Bob Becker, who was re-elected in April but stepped down from the board because of an unexpected move to the Milwaukee area with his wife.
Minocqua Country Club gets picked to host 2024 Wisconsin State Open
O’Reilly: ‘It’s an amazing golf course in an amazing part of the state’
Minocqua Country Club (MCC) has been scheduled by the Professional Golfers Association’s (PGA) Wisconsin Section to host the 104th Wisconsin State Open Championship in August of 2024.
Manitowish Waters town board holds public hearing for shared EMS
The Manitowish Waters town board held a public hearing Sept. 12 with regard to forming a four-town emergency medical service (EMS) district. Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Winchester are the four towns involved.
Newbold town board supports OCBWTC’s effort for Rookery Run national designation
Hess: ‘It’s busy out there all the time’
The Newbold town board on Sept. 14 formally agreed to support the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trail Council (OCBWTC) in pursuing National Recreation Trail (NRT) recognition for the trails at Rookery Run.
LUHS class of 1963 set to hold its 60 year class reunion tomorrow in Minocqua
Pavek: ‘But ... we’re T-Birds ... we know how to fly!’
If you think your high school class is good with keeping in touch, you may want to think again. That’s because it’s evident that Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) graduating class of 1963 has mastered the art of high school reunions (that is, if you want to consider class reunions an art).
LUHS board sets its goals for 2023-24 school year
Goals expected to be approved at next regular board meeting
Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education informally agreed on its goals for the 2023-24 school year during a committee of the whole meeting on Monday.
Presque Isle town board sets special election date
Wolter: ‘One of my thoughts was that our elections were always honest’
During a Sept. 7 meeting, the two-person Presque Isle town board scheduled the court ordered special election for town chairman on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Fifield town board meets illegally behind closed doors over disciplined first responder
Board never voted to convene in closed session; faces possible legal challenges
During a Sept. 5 special meeting, the Fifield town board went behind closed doors and convened into “executive session” for about 20 minutes regarding the discipline of Pike Lake Fire Department first responder Mike Sloane.
NUUF presents Amour with second annual award honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Aug. 27, the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (NUUF) held a commemoration event at Minocqua’s 70 West Park Complex celebrating the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Vilas forestry, recreation and land forwards resolution to create snowmobile safety sub-committee
First meeting tentatively scheduled for Oct. 11
The Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee Tuesday agreed to forward a resolution to the full board in order to create a snowmobile trail safety sub-committee.
Vilas County judge rules election re-do for Presque Isle town chair
How the special election will be administered leaves questions yet to be answered
Vilas County circuit court judge Martha Milanowski ordered a special election be held between incumbent town chairman John MacLean and former town clerk Lorine Walters during an oral ruling lasting about an hour on Aug. 31 in Eagle River.
Newbold town chairman shares community center project update
Newbold town chairman Dan Hess gave board members an update Aug. 31 on the town’s new community center and said it should be completed in about two months.
Veteran who lost both legs in Iraq to speak in Minocqua Sept. 19
Kriesel shares his story and how he now helps others overcome adversity
John Kriesel served in the Minnesota Army National Guard, and during his 2006 deployment to Iraq, his unit encountered a roadside bomb that exploded the vehicle he was in. It killed two of his close friends and left him without his legs.
Local medical professionals notice uptick in bee-related injuries
Rohaley and Goff offer advice on treating bee stings
Local medical professionals of Howard Young Medical Center, emergency department supervisor Jodi Rohaley and emergency department nurse Lori Goff, said they’ve definitely noticed an uptick in patients coming in with bee-related injuries this summer.
Vilas County court thanks jurors and highlights their importance
Since 2013, September has officially been deemed Juror Appreciation Month
Usually, it’s not the most exciting occasion when a person is notified they need to serve jury duty, but it is an important role citizens are called on to fill, as Vilas County circuit court’s clerk of courts Beth Soltow pointed out in a recent press release.
Complaint filed in Lac du Flambeau stabbing case
Allen due back in court tomorrow
A criminal complaint recounting the investigation by law enforcement regarding a fatal stabbing that occurred in Lac du Flambeau in the early morning hours of Aug. 19 was filed in Vilas County circuit court on Aug. 23.
Oneida County committees agree to withdraw from tri-county human services agreement
Resolution to be considered by full county board in September
The Oneida County board’s social services and public safety committees, meeting jointly on Aug. 24, agreed to forward a resolution to the full county in order to withdraw from a current tri-county human services agreement.
MHLT school board hopes to attract substitute custodian
Board agreed to raise hourly pay rate from $17 to $20
The Minocqua Hazelhurst Lake Tomahawk J1 School (MHLT) district’s school board agreed to raise the pay for one of it’s substitute custodian positions at a meeting Aug. 23.
Vilas County highway committee requests $300,000 to reconstruct salt/sand shed
The Vilas County board’s highway committee agreed to forward a request to the finance committee during an Aug. 15 meeting asking for Covid relief funding to replace the highway department’s salt and sand shed on State Highway 70 in Arbor Vitae.
Thompson sentenced in child neglect and death of 6-year-old case
Poupart sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 25
Sheila Thompson, 33, of Lac du Flambeau was sentenced to serve 14 years in the Wisconsin prison system on Aug. 18 in Vilas County circuit court for child neglect with the consequence of death.
Lake Tomahawk’s new little free library offers Northwoods reading retreat
‘Take a Book. Share a Book.’
As winter waned and spring came, a new Little Free Library was created in Lake Tomahawk.
Two women on motorcycles and the road
Lakeland locals take a ride to North America’s easternmost point
Earlier this month, a Lac du Flambeau woman and her friend from St. Germain traveled to the easternmost point of North America on motorcycles; Newfoundland (NL), Canada.
LUHS football injury provokes ambulance protocol changes
An injury sustained by Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) football player sophomore Luke Zagorski has prompted the district to change its ambulance protocol when responding to athletes injured on IncredibleBank Field.
Presque Isle chips in $2,500 for four-town EMS consolidation and sets public hearing
Presque Isle town supervisor and interim town chairperson Cathy Logan Weber gave an update of where everything stands right now for the four-town emergency medical service (EMS) department consolidation at an Aug. 17 Presque Isle town board meeting.
Vilas County law enforcement gets new underwater drone
Vilas County’s recreational deputy Jason Molle showcased the sheriff office’s newest piece of equipment, a underwater drone, on Monday during the county board’s law enforcement and emergency management committee meeting.
Fifield town board ‘oversteps’ chief’s decision in disciplining first-responder
Sloane suspended from Pike Lake Fire Department for one year
Fifield town chairman Bill Felch and town supervisor John Smith agreed at an Aug. 15 town board meeting to suspend Pike Lake Fire Department emergency medical responder (EMR) Mike Sloane for one year.
Presque Isle town supervisors disagree over computer investigation
Presque Isle town supervisor Carl Wolter asked town supervisor and interim town chairperson Cathy Logan Weber to re-open or continue a third-party investigation with regard to town computers during an Aug. 17 town board meeting.
Plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for Minocqua man from 2020 hit-and-run causing injury
A plea and sentencing hearing was scheduled Nov. 22 for a Minocqua man who damaged another vehicle and injured the driver when he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and T-boned the other vehicle near State Highway 47 and South Farming Road on March 13, 2020, in Arbor Vitae.
Manitowish Waters town supervisor resigns
Appointment expected at September board meeting
Manitowish Waters town chairman John Hanson said during an Aug. 8 town board meeting he was sad to announce town supervisor Bob Becker’s resignation, effective Aug. 31.
Iconic Northwoods getaway holds special celebration
The Red Crown Lodge turns 100 years old
In 1922, the company Standard Oil created a Northwoods retreat exclusive to its executives and a place Colonel Stewart, the CEO of Standard Oil at the time, said was a place for his team to “play” in order to build better relationships.
Manitowish Waters town board talks buoys and wake boats
Town to take steps in adding two buoys to bays on town lakes
The Manitowish Waters town board at its Aug. 8 meeting talked about two subjects with regard to adding buoys to two of its lakes and wake boat guidelines recommended by the town’s lakes association.
Fifield first responder gets six-month probation
Residents called for Sloane’s dismissal at July 11 town board meeting
The Fifield first-responder who told two residents he disagreed with, that he could respond to their emergency calls as fast or as slow as he wanted to, was placed on a six-month probationary period as a result of the comments he made following a June 26 lakes association hearing and meeting.
Lake Tomahawk town board gives lake district ability to adopt, enforce ordinances
Wake boat discussion suggested for future meeting
By way of resolution, the Lake Tomahawk town board authorized the Horsehead Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District to enact and enforce its own ordinances during an Aug. 9 meeting.
Minocqua committee on housing and labor to identify property suitable for workforce housing
Town board and committee express urgency after two recent business closures due to worker shortages
The Minocqua town board and its ad hoc committee on housing and labor held a joint meeting on Tuesday to get more information with regard to seasonal workforce housing development and tax incremental financing (TIF).
Presque Isle town board OKs resolution for EMS consolidation
The Presque Isle town board, at its Aug. 3 meeting, approved a resolution to continue “exploring the possibility of creating an EMS district.”
Boulder Junction Chamber welcomes new staff
Boulder Junction’s Chamber of Commerce welcomed its new executive director, Mary Jones, recently. The town’s primary marketing entity also brought on Amanda Chartrand as its new executive director assistant. Jones’s first day was July 27 and Chartrand’s first day was a little earlier on May 15.
Presque Isle computer audit report gets released
Some residents wonder if investigation will continue
A computers audit report done by a third-party company the town of Presque Isle contracted with was provided to town board members on July 3, just in time for a town board meeting that night.