Oneida County Deer Advisory Council annual meeting in Woodruff Thursday

Members of the public who care about the county’s deer herd are encouraged to attend

The Oneida County Deer Advisory Council will meet at the Woodruff town hall Thursday for its annual meeting at 6 p.m.

Tease photo

Report shows ATV/UTV industry booming in Wisconsin

WATVA: The economic future for ATVs and UTVs in the state is bright

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use is, for obvious reasons, popular in the Northwoods. Many communities in the Lakeland area dedicate time and resources to accommodate riders and it may be paying dividends.

Tease photo

LUHS board gets update on complex upgrades

Board agrees to pay $35,000 for fieldhouse storage upgrades

Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education received an update at its April 22 meeting on the district’s complex upgrades occurring now on the west-side of campus and includes new bleachers, press box, practice football field and parking lot, among other things.

Tease photo

‘Civil War’ is a cohesive story through war-ridden America­­

“Civil War” is a dystopian thriller that follows a group of reporters and photojournalists looking to get an exclusive scoop by driving through a war zone from New York City to Washington D.C.

LUHS board approves compensation plan with 4.12 percent increase

Board reorganizes, Smudde proposes more productive, less stressful way

The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education approved an employee compensation plan for 2024-25 during its meeting Monday at a difference of about $346,000, which is a 4.12 percent increase to the district’s salaries from last year. New board president Shawn Umland was the dissenting vote and new board members Lisa Schuman and Ed Schaub Jr. abstained.

Presque Isle town chairman suggests preventive measures for squatters

Vilas County supervisor Richard Logan to ‘ask around’

Presque Isle town chairman John MacLean shared an anecdote about squatters in a North Lakeland community and brought the issue of squatting to the town board’s attention at an April 18 meeting.

Manitowish Waters town board looks to upgrade ball field

Spring refill of Rest Lake dam begins

The Manitowish Waters town board will look to upgrade the town’s baseball field.

Fifield town board cautioned for ‘use of position in communications’

Notice of injury and claim filed against town tabled until May

The Fifield town board was cautioned with regard to elected officials’ or town employees’ use of position in communications during its meeting April 16.

Signatures being collected to recall Fifield town supervisor

Fifield resident David Ebert filed a statement of intent to circulate a recall petition in hopes of holding a recall election for town supervisor Ann Sloane.

Presque Isle town board contemplates in-person and Zoom meeting options for committees

Board takes no action, could devise process and approve it at future meeting

A wide-ranging discussion with regard to committee meeting access, treating people attending meetings via Zoom differently than those who attend in-person and if having meetings solely on Zoom and not in-person is OK took place among the Presque Isle town board and members of the audience during an April 18 board meeting.

Lakeland Sanitary District approves sewer rate increase

The Lakeland Sanitary District approved a sewer rate increase during its meeting on April 15.

Tease photo

Walleyes for Tomorrow walleye wagon kicks off for third year on Minocqua Chain

Volunteers seek a better natural reproduction cycle

For the third consecutive year, the Walleyes for Tomorrow Headwaters Basin chapter has undertaken efforts to rebuild a natural reproduction cycle of walleyes in the Minocqua Chain of Lakes.

Tease photo

Minocqua named snowmobile friendly community by AWSC

Minocqua is birthplace of AWSC

On Tuesday, the town of Minocqua was presented with signs declaring it a “Snowmobile Friendly Town” by the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC).

Tease photo

Trig’s bagger named Wisconsin’s best, competed at nationals in March

Powers: ‘I’m gonna try again’

Trig’s is seemingly a Northwoods staple, as it’s maintained a presence since the 1970s and currently operates four grocery stores in Rhinelander, Eagle River, Minocqua and Tomahawk.

Tease photo

Godlewski settles into first year as Wisconsin’s secretary of state

Importance of office, challenges highlighted

Wisconsin secretary of state Sarah Godlewski will admit she wasn’t expecting the appointment from Gov. Tony Evers after longtime secretary of state Doug La Follette resigned around this time last year.

Winchester town board seeks clarification on hazardous wake amendments

Board authorizes Phillips to speak with attorney and DNR warden

The Winchester town board met Tuesday for a regular meeting and decided to seek clarification on procedures with regard to making amendments to a hazardous wake ordinance passed last month.

Hazelhurst town board looking into illegal disposal at town landfill

DOT grants town land by Bearskin Trail

The Hazelhurst town board discussed an ongoing “investigation” into people illegally dumping leaf and brush at the town landfill during its April 9 meeting.

Newbold town chairman prefaces tourist rooming house ordinance

Newbold town chairman Dan Hess gave his plan commission report after the town board approved an administrative review permit at its April 11 meeting.

Tease photo

Construction begins on Minocqua bridge to Manitou Park Drive

A set completion date of July 18

Road construction started last Friday on U.S. Highway 51 from the Minocqua bridge to Manitou Park Drive.

Minocqua housing and labor committee answers questions ahead of annual meeting

Electors will be asked to authorize town to purchase property for seasonal workforce housing

The Minocqua town board’s committee on housing and labor held a meeting on Tuesday, where committee members provided an update related to pursuing seasonal worker housing and fielded questions from members of the public. The committee also took action; recommending the board look into creating tax incremental districts to incentivize developers.

Newbold town board holds public hearing on enhanced wake ordinance

Board expected to consider adopting draft in May

The Newbold town board held a public hearing on April 6 with regard to enacting a draft enhanced wake ordinance for all town lakes under 1,500 acres and lakes “spanning town boundaries but with over 60 (percent) of their shoreline in Newbold.”

Minocqua plan commission OKs BP signage for County Line Station

The Minocqua plan commission on Tuesday approved three sign permits submitted by applicant Virginia McFarland and for the County Line Station off of Highway 70 west.

Vilas forestry gets update on finalization of land purchase in Plum Lake and Conover

County snowmobile alliance not in favor of shared use terms being changed

The Vilas County board’s forestry, recreation and land committee received an update on the closing of a purchase of land in Plum Lake and Conover during its April 2 meeting.

Minocqua town board discusses new zoning districts possibility

Board to review draft shipping container ordinance and Fried to get update from county on camping issues

The Minocqua town board at its April 3 meeting discussed the possibility of the county forming additional zoning districts to address certain things like shipping containers and camping.

Tease photo

Temple Grandin to visit Minocqua in May

Dr. Temple Grandin, a prominent figure with regard to autism and animal behavior, will give a presentation to the medical and educational community and the general public on Friday, May 24, at the Campanile Center for the Arts in Minocqua at 6 p.m. Admission for the general public will be $20 per ticket.

Birchell files lawsuit against town alleging Fifield town supervisor directed targeted assessment

$50,000 in damages sought

Fifield resident Tom Birchell is suing the town of Fifield, alleging town supervisor Ann Sloane “acted arbitrarily, dishonestly and with bias by directing the assessor for the Town of Fifield, Walt Hughes, to target (him) in regard to his property tax roll and assessment” and pursuant to Wis. Stat. §893.80.

Presque Isle town board sends wake ordinance to committee again

Town chairman says he hopes his concerns will be considered

The Presque Isle town board directed its ordinance committee to review a draft ordinance regarding hazardous wakes again during a meeting Monday. The agenda referred to ordinance 507 as the “Wake Boat Ordinance.”

Tease photo

A Rising STAR student forms friendship with local business owner

Kopp: ‘He’s become very special to me’

An unexpected friendship formed between a member of the Rising STAR Transition Center and the owner of a local business in Minocqua.

LUHS, AV town board member on track for full recovery

Pamela Carroll, member of the Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education and Arbor Vitae town board, encountered a cardiac event the night of March 26.

Minocqua plan commission tables ARP to figure out parking plan

Lasier applies for ARP to operate real estate business at historical building downtown

The Minocqua plan commission on March 26 decided to table an administrative review permit (ARP) submitted by Nick Lasier to operate a real estate business and lease other offices momentarily out of a historical building, already housing Harrold, Scrobell & Danner, downtown at 315 Oneida Street.

Boulder Junction town board to bring back establishment ordinance

Reuss: ‘Committees are supposed to report to the town board’

The Boulder Junction town board on March 26 discussed for the first time amending its ordinance with regard to the establishment of boards, committees and offices.

Tease photo

Ms. Lough goes to Washington

St. Germain resident alerts lawmakers to needs of older adults

St. Germain resident Cookie Lough took a trip to Washington D.C. recently to represent the state’s 7th Congressional District for a policy briefing and advocacy training with USAging.

LUHS to go from semester to trimester for next school year

Students will also be required to keep backpacks and phones in lockers all day

Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) principal Levi Massey and other staff members working on a continuous growth plan updated the district’s board of education during a meeting Tuesday.

Sloane submits letter to Price County land use committee in capacity of town supervisor

Fifield town supervisor was never authorized by the town board to do that

A Fifield town supervisor wrote a letter to Price County board chairman Alan Barkstrom and county supervisor Jason Hastings in support of the board’s land use/UW-Extension committee approving a conditional use permit (CUP) submitted by Moose Jaw Resort.

Tease photo

American Legion welcomes you to help make maple syrup

This is the third year Camp American Legion decided to make Maple Syrup with not just campers, but anyone who’s interested in checking it out.

Arbor Vitae town board eliminates load limits on section of Old Hwy. 51

The Arbor Vitae town board at its meeting March 20 agreed to eliminate load limits on Old Highway 51 from U.S. Highway 51 to Highway 70.

$14 million hotel project presented to the Arbor Vitae town board

County zoning variances, easement issue would need to be worked out

Jay Govardhan shared a presentation with the Arbor Vitae town board with regard to plans of building a new hotel next to and south of Era Cafe on U.S. Highway 51 south during a meeting March 20.

Presque Isle town chairman to look into zoning changes for possible housing development

The Presque Isle town board agreed to have town chairman John MacLean look into changing the zoning on land in the area between Oxbow Road and Pomeroy Lake Road for a proposed road going north on Highway B, near the intersection of East Armor Lake Road and Hwy. B during a special meeting on March 21.

Fifield resident cautions town board on holding closed sessions

Fifield town supervisor Ann Sloane suggested the board could contract with a third-party consulting firm to fill the town’s open human resources position instead of finding a person to fill that position locally at the two previous town board meetings.

Tease photo

13 Lakeland youth wrestlers to compete this weekend at the state tournament

Coach thinks future is bright for wrestling program

Thirteen Lakeland youth wrestlers are headed to Madison this weekend and will compete for a chance to win a state championship in each of their respective weight classes.

Arbor Vitae property owners think town chairman is playing favorites

Bauers says load limits have been lifted for any business that’s ever asked, though email shows otherwise

Multiple Arbor Vitae property owners contacted The Lakeland Times last week, voicing their concerns of town chairman Frank Bauers granting special privileges to one business owner and not others.

Tease photo

Movie Review: Western Month

The stakes couldn’t be higher in ‘A Big Hand for the Little Lady’ The 1966 comedy western gets the heart going

Once a year, some men in west Texas drop everything to play a high stakes poker game gamblers could only dream of.

Tease photo

LUHS administrators present board with staff compensation plan

Cuts will need to be made, referendum seems inevitable

Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education contemplated a staff compensation plan presented to them by administrators during a committee of the whole meeting Monday.

Manitowish Waters town board to continue ATV/UTV discussion again

Business owners in favor of it, Hanson reminds everyone of 2020 referendum, survey results

An organized group of Manitowish Waters business owners lobbied for the town board to open up town roads to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) use at a March 12 board meeting.

Zero enforcement on wake boats, enhanced or hazardous wakes in Oneida and Vilas counties

DNR, Oneida and Vilas county sheriff’s offices can’t or won’t enforce local boating ordinances

Oneida County sheriff Grady Hartman, Vilas County sheriff Joe Fath and his chief deputy Pat Schmidt said there would be no enforcement by the sheriff’s offices with regard to enhanced wakes and wake boats.

Camp Jorn employee faces child neglect felony charge

A 27-year-old Mercer woman is being charged for neglecting a child, consequence of bodily harm, in relation to a child being injured under the supervision of staff at Camp Jorn YMCA in Manitowish Waters on Feb. 20.

Tease photo

Public and private permanent docks destroyed by shifting ice

Minocqua director of public works Mark Pertile said this is one of the worst years he can recall when it comes to ice damaging permanent boat docks in town.

Northwoods syrup makers give insight into process

If you have maple trees, you can make maple syrup

Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin ranked as the fourth-largest maple syrup producer in the nation last year, yielding close to 500,000 gallons.

Presque Isle town board struggles with budget issues

Presque Isle town board members during their March 7 meeting indicated worry about the town’s budget.

Fifield town board to meet with human resources consulting firm

The Fifield town board again considered what to do about filling the town’s human resources position during a meeting on March 5.