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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Parents urge AV-W school board to rehire teacher after teaching license issue resolves
Hinterleitner: ‘I think she deserves to be a musky again.’
A group of about 10 parents attended the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff (AV-W) school board meeting Monday and urged the district to hire back teacher Susan Jurries after she was terminated because her teaching license had been revoked.
Newbold board sets public hearing on enhanced wake ordinance
The Newbold town board will hold a public hearing on its proposed enhanced wake ordinance at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6.
Movie Review: Western Month
‘Rio Bravo’ has everything you need in a western
Quentin Tarantino, director of films like “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Inglourious Basterds” (2009) and “Django Unchained” (2012), said at one point in his life the movie “Rio Bravo” was “100 percent, hands down, my favorite movie.”
Newbold town board sets enhanced wake public hearing date
The Newbold town board, at its Feb. 29 meeting, decided to have a public hearing for its proposed enhanced wake ordinance on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
DPI visit at LUHS goes well
LUHS principal: feedback was ‘extremely positive’
Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) principal Levi Massey told the board of education at its Feb. 26 meeting about a recent visit from the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Woodruff town board considers employee PTO situation
The Woodruff town board decided not to do anything with regard to its policy as it relates to town employees’ time off.
Rural hospitals in crisis: A nationwide struggle hits Wisconsin
Healthcare services dwindle as financial challenges mount, prompting state intervention
Across the country rural hospitals are struggling. In an analysis published Feb. 13 by Chartis, a Chicago-based healthcare advisory firm, key findings show the number of the country’s rural hospitals operating in the red jumped from 43 to 50 percent in the last 12 months.
Oneida County gets new chief deputy
Hook takes over for Hess as number two in the sheriff’s office
On Feb. 17, nine years after being promoted to captain, Terri Hook of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was promoted to chief deputy.
LUHS board approves $3.79 million bid for community complex upgrades
The $3.79 million includes the $925,000 bleacher and press box bid approved last year
Demolition can begin now that Lakeland Union High School’s (LUHS) board of education approved, on a 5-2 vote, a base bid option of $3.79 million at its meeting Monday with regard to the district’s community complex upgrades project — which entails the addition of new bleachers and press box, replacing the concrete and landscaping around the bleachers and practice football field and adding a storage building with bathrooms.
Presque Isle, Winchester approve proposed EMS district bylaws
The Presque Isle and Winchester town boards, at separate special meetings on Feb. 21, approved bylaws crafted and proposed by the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District earlier this month. The two boards also agreed to make a first payment of $25,000 each to fund the district.
One dead in head-on collision Feb. 22 in Hazelhurst
One person died as the result of a two-vehicle head-on collision the morning of Feb. 22 in Hazelhurst.
Fifield town board makes no decision on situation involving Price County dispatch
During a meeting on Feb. 20, the Fifield town board didn’t make any decisions with regard to a proposed letter to Price County sheriff Brian Schmidt about a request on how the town’s two fire departments will be dispatched.
LUHS Drama Club presents the ‘Addams Family Musical’ all this weekend
Fleming: it’s ‘bittersweet’
Starting yesterday and going until Sunday, the Lakeland Union High School (LUHS) Drama Club is presenting the “Addams Family Musical.”
No quorum notice issued for Lake Tomahawk town board at impromptu presentation on enhanced wake
Lake Tomahawk town chairman George DeMet confirmed Monday two town board members attended an impromptu presentation dealing with enhanced wake a few months ago without properly posting a quorum notice.
14 state lawmakers ask Evers to work with federal government to help small businesses
Northwoods businesses can apply for SBA disaster loans by May 29
Fourteen Republican state lawmakers, including Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), crafted a letter Monday urging Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to work with the federal government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) in order to assist local economies affected by the lack of snow this winter.
Lake Tomahawk town board awaits attorney input on draft enhanced wake ordinance
DeMet provides road projects update
The Lake Tomahawk town board is waiting to hear back on a draft enhanced wake ordinance from town attorney Greg Harrold.
Four-town EMS district a committee until town boards approve bylaws and agreement
Hanson hopes district commission will be official by the end of the month
Manitowish Waters town chairman John Hanson said at a Feb. 13 meeting the four-town emergency medical services (EMS) district, officially referred to as the Northwoods Emergency Medical Services District, isn’t actually a legal district until the four town boards involved approve the proposed district’s bylaws and a cooperation agreement.
Manitowish Waters town board considers survey, workshop for wake boats
Board also talks ATV/UTV use on county, town roads
The Manitowish Waters town board discussed possibly conducting a survey in order to gain a better understanding on where the community stands on wake boats and wake surfing during a Feb. 13 meeting.