Let it burn!
Area fire departments participate in structure fire training Carani: ‘Overall, the exercise went very well’
If you were near Baker Lake Road on Saturday morning, it’s likely you saw puffs of white, gray and black smoke fill the air.
Issues in Arbor Vitae mobile home park left unresolved
Vilas County health and zoning to schedule joint inspection at some point in the future
For nearly two years, residents of the Hiawatha Mobile Home Estates neighborhood have voiced their frustrations with certain neighbors’ properties.
LUHS board approves $500,000 bid for tennis court improvements
Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education approved a bid in order to replace the surface of the school’s tennis courts at approximately $500,000 during a meeting Nov. 27.
Electors give Presque Isle town board permission to exceed tax levy limit
MacLean says ‘a lot of work’ needs to be done before town commits to shared EMS
Presque Isle electors authorized the Presque Isle town board to exceed the town’s allowable property tax levy increase by 10.49 percent during a special town meeting Nov. 28.
Woodruff town board adopts 2024 budget
Also adopts ordinance concerning mobile homes and mobile home parks
The Woodruff town board adopted the town’s 2024 budget during a meeting Nov. 28.
LUHS lowest ranked district in state by DPI
Smudde confident district is better than score, says district’s committed to improving for ‘all students’
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) administrator Bob Smudde shared his thoughts on the district’s annual report card it received earlier this month from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) during a board of education meeting Monday.
Minocqua man from 2020 hit-and-run causing injury sentenced
A Vilas County court case which was opened against a Minocqua man following an alleged hit-and-run involving injury in March of 2020 closed last Wednesday, Nov. 22, after judge Daniel Overbey imposed a sentence on Ronald Schisel, 54.
Lac du Flambeau woman from 2022 hit-and-run involving death sentenced
Wildcat to serve four years initial confinement
A 25-year-old Lac du Flambeau woman who was charged with four felony counts in Vilas County court was sentenced Nov. 20.
Movie Review: ‘Napoleon’ misses the mark
Great acting, but poorly told story
Ridley Scott’s newest film, “Napoleon,” serializes the famous French emperor’s rise and fall by juxtaposing it with his relationship with Joséphine de Beauharnais.
Presque Isle town board hires help for budget
MacLean: ‘I think it’s not responsible to try and just wing-it’
The Presque Isle town board, meeting for the first time as a three-person board since the Nov. 14 special election, agreed to hire accountant/attorney Fritz Schellgell “to support” its budget process during a special meeting Monday.
Two rescued after canoe tips on Turtle Flambeau Flowage
Two people fishing in a canoe on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage tipped over after encountering high wind gusts Nov. 12.
MHLT board receives report on DPI report card
Gruszynski: ‘Math for a majority of our students is the one and only area we didn’t see growth in’
The Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk School’s (MHLT) principal Betsy Gruszynski reported the school’s report card from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to the school board Monday during its meeting.
Local organization provides support to community, asks for volunteers and donations
Caritas: ‘Christen love of humankind; charity’
In 2022, the Minocqua town board took action to help identify potential solutions concerning area housing and workforce issues by forming an ad hoc committee that’s now turned into a standing committee.
Aspirus Health hoping to negotiate new contract with UnitedHealthcare before January
Aspirus patients with UnitedHealthcare could be affected
Aspirus Health, a primary healthcare provider in the Northwoods, has called on UnitedHealthcare Group when it announced its been “negotiating for a more fair and equitable agreement” recently.
Arbor Vitae town board decides to ‘move forward’ with opening roads to year-round ATV/UTV use
The Arbor Vitae town board agreed to move forward with amending its current ordinance to allow all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility-task vehicle (UTV) usage on town roads year-round.
Presque Isle continues to wait for three-person board to make shared EMS decision
MacLean will take his seat as town chairman again at board’s next meeting
The Presque Isle town board will continue to wait until it fully considers a resolution to move ahead with forming the four-town emergency medical service (EMS) district which has been called the Northwoods Medical Services District.
Manitowish Waters town clerk resigns
Knipp: ‘I feel that this position is not the best fit for me’
Manitowish Waters town clerk Jessie Knipp submitted her letter of resignation, dated Nov. 14, to the town board.
Hazelhurst to wait before making decisions regarding town cemetery
Hazelhurst town chairman Ted Cushing said during a Nov. 14 town board meeting the town has been getting many calls related to the Whispering Pines Cemetery on Fuhrman Drive lately.
Manitowish Waters electors authorize board to exceed levy limit
Town board approves 2024 budget
Following a Nov. 14 budget hearing, Manitowish Waters electors agreed by way of resolution to authorize the town board to exceed the town’s property tax levy, which is 5.8 percent, or $78,267, over the allowable tax levy increase.
MacLean retains seat as Presque Isle town chairman
Special election results differ from April 4 election, 76 more people vote this time around
John MacLean will remain Presque Isle town chairman, as he received 294 votes over his challenger Lorine Walters’s 265 votes in a special election held Tuesday.
LUHS board considers its size
Administrators present ideas for staff compensation
The Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) board of education met for a committee of the whole meeting Monday. Committee of the whole meetings don’t happen every month and are typically scheduled when board members or administration want to discuss certain items at length with no expectation of needing to take board action.
Presque Isle town board to ask electors for authorization to exceed levy limit
Last week, on Nov. 9, Presque Isle’s two-person town board agreed to adopt a resolution in order to ask the town’s electors to authorize a tax levy increase for 2023, to be collected in 2024.
Winchester town board will ask electors to exceed tax levy increase
Special town meeting scheduled Nov. 27
The Winchester town board, at its Nov. 6 meeting, adopted a resolution in order to ask electors to authorize a property tax levy increase exceeding limits imposed by state law.
Carani will serve as Minocqua’s next fire chief
Sworn-in at Nov. 7 town board meeting
Richard Carani was sworn-in as new fire chief for the town of Minocqua at the start of the Nov. 7 town board meeting.
LUHS cancels school Monday after roofing failure
20-plus year roof caused water leak
After needing to cancel school last Thursday, Nov. 2, because of a gun threat posted to social media, Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) had to cancel school again on Monday.
Fiber Friends to provide MPL with Giving Tree this winter season
The Giving Tree will offer winter clothing items to help community keep warm
The Fiber Friends is a group which meets in the community room of the Minocqua Public Library every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. Members of the group describe it as laidback and informal.
Winchester town board to send draft wake boat ordinance to attorney
Will go to DNR next, another public hearing likely
The Winchester town board agreed to send a draft wake boat ordinance to its town attorney for review during a Nov. 6 meeting.
Presque Isle town board authorizes loan, signs MOU and contribution agreement for broadband
The Presque Isle town board, during a Nov. 2 meeting, adopted a resolution in order to borrow $328,000 from the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to finance the installation of broadband.
Presque Isle town supervisor to hand over town computers to county, state investigators
Residents voice concerns and suggestions
While the campaigns for incumbent town chairman John MacLean and his challenger former town clerk Lorine Walters heat up for a Nov. 14 special election, a contentious laptop issue playing out among the two-person town board continues.
Lac du Flambeau school caps off an anti-bullying week with three guest speakers
Packers legend Dorsey Levens gives students advice
October is bully prevention month, and Lac du Flambeau Public School celebrated with a series of activities last week, Oct. 23-27, capped off on Friday with three guest speakers, one of which was Packers hall-of-fame running back and Super Bowl XXXI champion Dorsey Levens.
Gun on social media prompts Nov. 2 shutdown at LUHS
Woodruff Police forward felony charge of ‘terrorist threats’ for review
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) administrators called off school Nov. 2 due to an image of a gun posted to social media the night before.
Minocqua plan commission approves two certified survey maps near Squirrel Lake
Last week, on Oct. 31, the Minocqua plan commission recommended approval for two certified survey maps for parcel divisions near Squirrel Lake. Both were submitted by Maines & Associates on behalf of the clients.
Manitowish Waters town board authorizes $300,000 short-term borrowing
A town-owned multi-unit hangar planned for next year
The Manitowish Waters town board, during a special meeting Monday, agreed to borrow $300,000 for the design and engineering of a town-owned multi-unit hangar at its airport.
Lake Tomahawk Bible Church opens its doors in new home this weekend
For more than three years, the church and community built it debt free
Members of the Lake Tomahawk Bible Church will be able to attend service in their own new building this weekend, 6706 State Highway 47.
Parent of LUHS student attacked in May frustrated by continued harassment
District advises parent to forward matter to law enforcement
On May 17, a video of a Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) student being thrown to the ground and repeatedly punched in the head in the entrance of one of the school’s bathrooms was posted publicly on social media.
Lac du Flambeau school board adopts 2023-24 budget
Taxpayer questions student performance
The Lac du Flambeau school board approved the school’s 2023-24 budget during a special meeting immediately following a public hearing and its annual meeting.
Newbold: ‘Where nature and tranquility meet’
Town board chooses new slogan, continues work on new logo
With a new community center being nearly finished, the Newbold town board has decided to create a new slogan and logo as well.
LUHS board accepts bid for new bleachers and press box
Bids for storage building, restrooms, concession stand and tennis courts forthcoming
On a 4-3 vote, Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education accepted a bid for new bleachers and press box at a total of $925,000 from Florida-based GT Grandstands during its meeting Monday.
2023-24 budget passed for LUHS
District: ‘We are taking steps to make LUHS better’
Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) budget was passed Monday for the 2023-24 fiscal year (FY). It includes a total tax levy of $12,258,490, which includes $11,261,192 to the district’s general fund and $997,298 to debt service.
Wolter opposes shared ambulance resolution in Presque Isle
Town supervisor indicates uneasiness with proposal
Presque Isle town supervisor Carl Wolter said he didn’t want to adopt a resolution indicating the town’s support for the formation of a four-town emergency medical service (EMS) district during a board meeting Oct. 19.
Weber and Peck condemn candidate sign obstructors
Town will use voter machine and hand count for Nov. 14 special election
Presque Isle’s special election for town chairperson is Nov. 14 between incumbent town chairman John MacLean and former long-time town clerk Lorine Walters.
Arbor Vitae town board contemplates roads to improve
State funding would be used for either Snyder Road or Big Arbor Vitae Drive
The Arbor Vitae town board at its Oct. 18 meeting decided to table a decision concerning which road should be selected for state funding distributed by the county for improvements. The two roads being considered are portions of Snyder Road and Big Arbor Vitae Drive.
Vilas County highway committee approves ATV/UTV request by St. Germain
County board to consider amendment to chapter 26 to open up year-round use on Hwy. C
The Vilas County board’s highway committee approved Oct. 17 a request submitted by the town of St. Germain to amend chapter 26 of the county’s ordinances to open County Highway C up to year-round all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility-task vehicle (UTV) use.
Plum Lake town board looks to increase tax levy
Additional revenue would be used for roads, public bathroom and paying employees ‘appropriately’
The Plum Lake town board adopted a resolution at its Oct. 17 meeting to increase the town’s property tax levy for 2023, which would be collected in 2024, by 15 percent or $107,181.
Judge denies Bangstad’s motion to dismiss defamation lawsuit
Court throws out counterclaims
Lakeland Times and River News publisher Gregg Walker’s defamation lawsuit against Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad is headed to trial next week after a judge in September denied Bangstad’s motion for summary judgment dismissal and also rejected Bangstad’s counterclaims that he too had been defamed.
Boulder Junction town board sets shared EMS public hearing date
Reuss: ‘I’m looking forward to it’
The Boulder Junction town board met Monday and set a public hearing date of Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. for the shared ambulance service with three other northwest Vilas County towns — Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester.
The Bottled Bean plants its roots in Minocqua
New hybrid cafe opened its doors for business this summer
Minocqua got a new hangout spot when the Bottled Bean opened this last summer on the corner of Chippewa and Menominee streets.
Fifield first responder to serve six-month suspension, six-month probation for June 26 incident
Details were released to The Lakeland Times on Oct. 11 with regard to the agreement reached by the Fifield town board and Pike Lake Fire Department first responder Mike Sloane.
North Lakeland school board approves SRO position, AV-W board tables it
AV-W to possibly approve position in November, would split half the cost with North Lakeland
The North Lakeland school board approved at their Oct. 9 meeting, moving forward with the addition of a school resource officer (SRO) via an agreement with the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office.
3rd Annual Seeing for Lelyn Pie Auction Oct. 24 in Manitowish Waters
On Oct. 24, the Manitowish Waters Lions Club will host the 3rd Annual Seeing for Lelyn Pie Auction Fundraiser.