PFAS study gets funding to proceed, Stella board hears at meeting
Nearly a year after hearing her presentation on a PFAS study she hoped to conduct, the Stella town board welcomed doctor Amy Schultz of UW-Madison to its latest monthly meeting Sept. 8. Schultz had received great news last week and was back to share it.
Daniels pleads guilty for part in Hodag Park shots, high-speed chase
A member of the trio of Crandon teens charged with allegedly shooting a firearm in Hodag Park and subsequently leading a chase of up to 100 mph with area law enforcement May 22 has pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
Heritage Quilt home safe on display in Enterprise after 50 years
It’s been a twisty trail downstate and back, but half a century after being awarded as the grand prize in the town of Enterprise’s Bicentennial celebration, the 100-inch-long, 60-inch-wide Heritage Quilt of Enterprise has returned home and been enshrined in a towering full-length display case in the Town of Enterprise Community Building this year.
Million-dollar cash bond halved for Stasik
Defense says Pelican Lake man in alleged meth bust has terminal cancer
The $1 million cash bond for a Pelican Lake man currently in Oneida County Jail has been lowered — but not as much as requested.
Concerns heard by Crescent plan commission on proposed residential subdivision
The Crescent plan commission at its Sept. 2 meeting had just one item to decide on the agenda, but it filled an hour: a return look at a proposed 16-lot residential subdivision off Wausau Road. The 16 lots would be suitable for single-family residential homes, along a private two-lane gravel road that has a single access point onto Wausau Road.
Michalak heads to the lake
Northern Wisconsin broadcasting legend retired Aug. 2
After amassing years on the air for more than half a century, it’s hard for Mike Michalak to not start counting a new kind of week. “It’s been just over two weeks,” he said of his time in retirement, “and I’ve made it so far.”
Rhinelander city council hears of scam
Makes retail theft a municipal ordinance violation
An old scam has gotten a new skin, city clerk Austyn Zarda cautioned at the Rhinelander city council meeting Aug. 24. Fake invoices on fake city letterhead, trying to trick recipients into paying what appears to be from a city department, have been around for a couple of years, he said.
School District of Rhinelander rebounds from July cyber attack
On the cusp of the new school year, it’s hard to help taking a wistful look back at the past summer’s fun. For the School District of Rhinelander, though, one of this summer’s biggest activities was one that few would want to re-live.
Newbold town board hears updates, including effort to protect bank account from fraud
After hearing about fraudulent charges via credit card to the town’s operating account at its previous meeting, the Newbold town board received encouraging news from treasurer Jodie Hess at its meeting last Thursday, Aug. 27.
Rhinelander city council approves waiver of permit fees for BMX event
A request to waive $170 in Rhinelander special event permit fees for an event expected to draw 4,000 visitors to town next month met a less than unanimous response at the Rhinelander Common Council meeting Aug. 23.
Pine Lake learns latest census and equalized value numbers
Board also approves garbage and recycling contract
Ups and downs in some important numbers were revealed by town clerk Cindy Skinner at the Pine Lake town board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19. “We got notification from the Department of Administration that our census estimate for January 2026 was 2,707,” she reported, noting that the number translates to a loss of 17 people in Pine Lake’s population
Construction projects highlight Pelican board meeting
In a brisk session that treasurer Cindy Carroll observed might be a record, the Pelican town board had a three-minute regular meeting Aug. 24. Town supervisor James Cates was absent.
Thom: RHS facility improvements on schedule, ribbon cutting set for Sept. 21
With Sept. 21 set for the gala ribbon-cutting for referendum-funded improvements at Rhinelander High School, Bob Thom’s update on the construction project’s budget status and funding was one of the highlights of the School District of Rhinelander school board’s Aug. 17 meeting.
Help at home for anxious students
Area mental health professional shares advice
With school’s start looming less than two weeks away, the fun of summer is receding, and some students’ anxiety is surging. More than half of Wisconsin students experience anxiety, the Department of Public Instruction has found. In its 2023 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted every other year, 51.6 percent of its scientific sample of 1,882 students at 42 randomly chosen high schools have experienced anxiety.
New assistant fire chief chosen for Rhinelander
Seven months without an assistant fire chief have ended in Rhinelander. At its Aug. 17 meeting, the city’s police and fire commission conducted final interviews for the role and have selected Jonathan Stone.
Crescent board aims to improve Squash Lake boat landing by Labor Day
At the Aug. 13 meeting of the Crescent town board, there was little to report on plans to improve the Squash Lake boat landing, but the time to go forward is coming.
Newbold mulls discretionary merit program
Board hears of flurry of unauthorized credit card charges
Percolating on a possible town employee discretionary merit program filled nearly a quarter of the Aug. 13 Newbold town board meeting, held at the Newbold Community Center. Town supervisor Mike McKenzie, who suggested the program as a way to reward employees for cost-saving ideas or actions, laid out some criteria he has in mind.
Highlights of SDR summer schools shared with school board
‘Locking out of emails and stuff’ said to cause delay in RHS Jumpstart program
Details and successes of this year’s School District of Rhinelander summer school programs were shared in presentations at this month’s school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 17.
City considering proposal making shoplifting an ordinance violation
Shift away from misdemeanors would ease DA’s load
The Aug. 10 regular meeting of the Rhinelander common council saw the introduction of a proposed new approach to the city’s shoplifters. Created by city attorney Steve Sorensen and police chief Josh Chiamulera, proposed Ordinance 2026-9 had its first of two readings on the busy agenda.
Newbold town board hears latest on Northwoods area real estate trends
Town assessor Jef Muelver delivered a concise snapshot of the real estate in the Northwoods area — Oneida County and its neighboring counties — in his monthly town assessor report at the Aug. 13 meeting of the Newbold town board.
Interim city administrator Gitter debuts
Rhinelander city council hears tentative timeline for new administrator
Filling the seat of the departed Patrick Reagan, interim city administrator Adam Gitter experienced his first full Rhinelander Common Council meeting Monday, Aug. 10, at Rhinelander City Hall. Innovative Public Advisors, who provided Gitter as part of their service in helping Rhinelander find a new city administrator, brought to the meeting some details in need of decisions for the search process.
Pelican agrees to start adoption process on Mirror View Lane
Keeping a promise made at their July 27 meeting, town chairman Nick Scholtes and the rest of the Pelican town board delivered a prompt decision to Mirror View Lane residents at their meeting last Monday, Aug. 10.
Two items advanced at Newbold plan commission meeting
Two agenda items got the nod to advance to the full town board at the Newbold plan commission’s Aug. 6 meeting, held at the Newbold Community Center. Rezone Petition #03-2026 by owners and applicants Ryan and Sarah Berghammer, to rezone from District #2 Single Family Residential to District #4 Residential and Farming, was approved to move on to the town board after administrative review fees are paid.
Crescent plan commission gets advanced look at a proposed residential subdivision
At its meeting last Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Crescent plan commission was the pleased recipient of a rare opportunity, getting a preliminary peek at a project that county-level committees had not yet seen.
Town hall rental revolt has Stella board reconsidering how, and whether, to continue offering it for rent
Stella town hall rental policies have been prompting some local complaints, leading to some frustration on the town board’s part at their regular monthly meeting Aug. 4. The meeting was held a week earlier than usual due to the Aug. 11 election.
Convicted sex offender Sann, released from prison in May, is back behind bars
A convicted sex offender released from prison May 19 is back in jail. Skyler H. Sann, 30, has been charged with one count of failure to register with the state Sex Offender Registry, a class H felony, for not reporting internet user names he was using, and one count of possession of child pornography, a class D felony, with a repeater modifier.
Nine-year sentence imposed on Johnson for possession of child pornography
A Rhinelander man originally charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, a class D felony, has been sentenced to nine years of prison. Ezra M. Johnson, 20, was arrested in August 2025 when found to possess 11 sexually explicit video files of children who appeared to be under the age of 18.
Revised Newbold ordinance on boating regulations will head to public hearing
Town board also approves purchase of first responder vehicle
A raft of updates and revisions to Newbold’s boating regulations is one step closer to becoming official after the Newbold town board meeting last Thursday, July 30. The board approved the revisions made over the last few months to “Town Ordinance Chapter 11, Boating Regulations.” It will next be presented at a public hearing Sept. 10 at the Newbold Community Center, just before the town board’s regular meeting.
Cash bond of $100K set for Lake Tomahawk man charged with possession of child pornography
A $100,000 cash bond has been set for a Lake Tomahawk man currently in the Oneida County Jail. Thomas Allen Simonis, 63, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography, a class D felony. If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $100,000 plus $500 for each image or copy of an image associated with the crime, or imprisonment for up to 25 years, or both.
Innovative Public Advisors selected by city council to recruit next city administrator
Proposes Gitter to serve in interim
With scarcely a week left of city administrator Patrick Reagan’s time in the role before he leaves for a similar position in Sault Ste. Marie, the Rhinelander common council held a special meeting last Thursday, July 30, at Rhinelander city hall.
Group from Mirror View Lane asks Pelican town board to take over, maintain their road
A contingent from Mirror View Lane and its vicinity filled an impressive section of the town hall’s floor at the July 27 meeting of the Pelican town board.
Sixth OWI charge for Rhinelander man
A Rhinelander man with five prior OWI convictions will be arraigned this month after having been charged with one count of the Class G felony of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence - 5th or 6th Offense.
Search underway for new city administrator
More parking planned for Hodag Park
Time may be short here for Rhinelander city administrator Patrick Reagan, who has resigned effective Aug. 7 to accept a similar role elsewhere — but his last week promises to be packed full.
Interviews of firefighter/EMT candidates yield hopeful results
The Rhinelander Police and Fire Commission interviewed firefighter/EMT candidates at City Hall last Monday morning, July 27 — and the time spent came up aces.
Convicted sex offender arrested after unreported name change on social media account
An Eagle River man, a convicted sex offender reported to have approximately 50 social media accounts, was arrested July 20 for having changed the name on one of his accounts but not informing the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry of the change.
Driver in Pine Lake rollover charged with 4th OWI
A Rhinelander woman is in custody in the Oneida County Jail after having been charged with a fourth OWI offense, a Class H felony. Joann M. Catalano, 67, was found at about 5:10 p.m. last Saturday, July 25, in a vehicle that had rolled and was smoking near West Birchwood Drive and North Birchwood Drive in the town of Pine Lake.
Habitat for Humanity helps SDR teacher come home
A year of passion and progress reached its joyful finish this month, when the house that gradually came into being on a lot across from Rhinelander High School became a home. Pelican Elementary 4K teacher Jaiden Thiel was the recipient of that home, the latest Rhinelander success by Habitat for Humanity Northwoods Wisconsin.
Stella town board hears of possible right-of-way encroachment, start of ARIP culvert installations
The search is on for the official location of a road in the town of Stella. At the July 14 regular monthly meeting of the Stella town board, resident Kate Easton and Oneida County Planning and Zoning director Karl Jennrich were on hand for an agenda item regarding the alleged encroachment of Easton’s garage on the town’s right-of-way on Cambria Point Road.
Rhinelander man charged with substantial battery felony
A Rhinelander man is currently in custody in the Oneida County Jail with a $3,000 signature bond set. Michael Allen Ruesch, 48, is alleged to have beaten a woman bloody on July 16 in the town of Pine Lake. According to the officer’s supplemental report that accompanied the criminal complaint, he is said to have been dating the woman for two months.
Robinson swinging for the fences with Northwoods Dream Initiative
Tomorrow’s Northwoods Benefit Concert first ticketed event in history of Hodag Park Ampitheater
Like that ol’ song goes, “a dream is a wish your heart makes.” Tomorrow, July 25, a dream that Jesse Robinson’s heart has been wishing for years will become reality when the Northwoods Benefit Concert: An Evening of Dreams opens its gates at 2 p.m. for a day of family fun and top-caliber country music.
$1M cash bond set for Stasik after drug, firearm charges
A cash bond of $1 million has been set for a Pelican Lake man currently in the Oneida County Jail. Frank Joseph Stasik, 59, whose record of felony convictions extends back to 2003, was the driver of a vehicle found to be carrying approximately 249.48 grams of methamphetamine and 33.89 grams of fentanyl in a traffic stop in Antigo June 30.
Bartelme sentenced to 10 years for sexually related crimes
A Rhinelander man has been sentenced after being convicted on charges of sexually related computer crimes involving minors. The case against Thomas Bartelme, 43, goes back to July of 2022 when he was arrested and charged with one count of use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, a Class C felony, and attempting the sexual assault of a child under 16 years old, also a Class C felony.
Frustrations aired over Reagan resignation at city council meeting
Barnett: Lack of communication ‘demonstrated a lack of professionalism’
A pair of passionate complaints in its public comment portion got the July 13 Rhinelander Common Council meeting off to a startling start. On July 7, city administrator Patrick Reagan submitted his letter of resignation to mayor Kris Hanus, city clerk Austyn Zarda, and common council president Carrie Mikalauski. The Northwoods River News broke the story in its July 10 edition, and it was news to Alderperson Tom Barnett.
Baby Boxes proceed, revaluation looms for city
The Rhinelander Common Council unanimously passed Resolution 2036-62 approving, authorizing and directing the mayor to sign a lease and service agreement between the City of Rhinelander and Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc. during its July 13 meeting.
‘Exemplary Citizen’ Lamers goes to Washington
Not long ago, Truman Lamers was a singular scholar-athlete in the Rhinelander High School Class of 2025. As academically nimble as he was physically athletic, he kept up a 4.563 GPA while leading the Hodags’ football, basketball and track teams as captain, earning all-conference honors in each and competing at state in high jump.
Rhinelander PFC makes conditional offer to promising entry-level patrol officer candidate
A hopeful step toward welcoming a new entry-level patrol officer was taken at the Rhinelander Police and Fire Commission meeting Wednesday morning, July 15.
UTVs get OK to use Lincoln St. starting Jan. 1
Speeding pedal to the metal through less than three months of research and debate, Rhinelander’s new ordinance allowing utility terrain vehicles on Lincoln Street found victory lane at Monday’s meeting of the Rhinelander Common Council.
Newbold approves Adopt-A-Road program, will percolate on town employee discretionary merit idea
An Adopt-A-Road program will soon help keep some Newbold road segments tidy. The Two Sisters Lake Property Owners Association (TSLPOA) will provide that program, and a resolution to support them was approved at the Newbold town board’s meeting July 9.
Momentum builds for Legacy Preserve with Crescent town board approval
At its regular monthly meeting July 8, the Crescent town board kept progress rolling for Legacy Preserve, the prospective 37.19-acre subdivision hoped to bring additional housing to Rhinelander. The three-parcel property’s preliminary plat is broken down into 36 lots for commercial and residential uses, 10 outlots, and new streets. Eight of those outlots are along a 10-foot-wide strip of land in the town of Crescent, so are made up of land from both Rhinelander and Crescent. As a result, the preliminary plat has to be approved by both Rhinelander and Crescent.
Town board hears details of Newbold’s pilot role in stewardship program
With their town a pilot community in a stewardship initiative, the Newbold town board heard an encouraging report on the program’s progress during their regular meeting last Thursday, July 9, at the Newbold Community Center.
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