On hold: Verizon still awaiting FCC approval to continue plans to cut Frontier landlines
Company says it will not disconnect a customer’s copper lines unless there is an approved replacement service available
Frontier Communications customers will not have their copper lines disconnected unless there is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-approved voice service replacement available, according to a letter from Verizon senior vice president Robert Fisher on Oct. 28.
Swearingen elected to 8th term in State Assembly
Republican Rep. Rob Swearingen will serve an eighth two-year term in the Wisconsin State Assembly for District 34 after defeating Democratic challenger Merlin Van Buren by nearly 6,000 votes on Election Day on Nov. 3.
Arbitration to continue over library budget
RDL, towns agree to reengage in discussion on Nov. 10
The Rhinelander District Library (RDL) Board of Trustees, at a Nov. 3 special meeting, agreed to continue its arbitration meeting over next year’s library budget with the five municipalities which help fund it.
Rhinelander man arrested for using computer to facilitate child sex crime, attempted 2nd degree sexual assault
Rhinelander resident Trevor Prott, 31, was arrested by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 21 on charges of the use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and attempted second degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age.
Pelican town board approves snowmobile trail reroutes
The Pelican town board, at its Nov. 2 meeting, approved a request from the Hodag Sno-Trails to allow the snowmobile club to utilize Rivers End Road and Berquist Road instead of Hay Meadow Road.
Newbold accepts ARIP grant for reconstruction of Gypsy Lake Road
The Newbold town board accepted an Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) grant for the reconstruction of Gypsy Lake Road at its Oct. 29 meeting. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the total estimated cost of the project is $3,472,582. Through the grant, the state will contribute $3,090,597.98, and the town will contribute $381,984.02 to the project by 2030.
Arbitration between Rhinelander District Library, municipalities ignites confusion
Town representatives approve motion to keep library’s budget shares at 2026 levels
Representatives from the five municipalities which contribute to the Rhinelander District Library’s (RDL) budget voted to keep the 2027 budget shares at the 2026 levels during arbitration on Oct. 27. The decision rejected the RDL’s proposed 2027 budget of $1,072,590, a 2.02% increase from last year.
Cassian man charged with possession of meth, disorderly conduct, bail jumping
Town of Cassian resident Luke Stankey, 44, was arrested by Oneida County Sheriff’s Office deputies Oct. 21 on charges of possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor bail jumping and disorderly conduct.
Pine Lake gears up for library arbitration
Meeting between Rhinelander District Library, five municipalities scheduled for Oct. 27 at 5:15 p.m.
The Pine Lake town board prepared for arbitration between the Rhinelander District Library (RDL) and the five municipalities that fund it during its Oct. 21 meeting. Pine Lake library representative Pam Winchell said she thinks the other representatives share some of the same sentiments that she does about the library’s proposed budget increase.
SDR approves 3 facility projects
District will use up to $1.15M from contingency funds, interest earned on capital project referendum
The School District of Rhinelander (SDR) school board approved the use of up to $1,150,000 from unused contingency funds and interest earned on the capital project referendum to renovate the Pelican Elementary School playground, construct a district maintenance and storage building and to remodel the Rhinelander High School (RHS) Fitness Center.
Van Buren runs for Assembly for the first time in 12 years
Democratic nominee says school funding is ‘still a mess’
After a 12-year hiatus in seeking election to represent Wisconsin State Assembly District 34, Democratic nominee Merlin Van Buren is focusing his campaign on school funding in an attempt to overtake Republican incumbent Rob Swearingen on Election Day on Nov. 3.
Swearingen seeks 8th term representing District 34
Lifelong Rhinelander resident wants to solve housing crisis
Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) said there’s still work to be done on health care, housing and school funding in his quest to defeat Democrat Merlin Van Buren on Election Day on Nov. 3. and serve an eighth two-year term in the Wisconsin State Assembly for District 34.
Pelican approves purchase of new truck for $136,030
The Pelican town board approved the purchase of a 2017 Freightliner, as a replacement plow truck at its Oct. 19 meeting. The cost of the truck is $136,030. The board also plans to send a letter to Ascendance Truck in Wausau with its intent to purchase the truck, which is currently being used by the Town of Grand Rapids.
Housing crisis takes center stage at OCEDC summit
Business leaders call for relaxed regulations to help developers
Business leaders from across the Northwoods discussed the future of northern Wisconsin’s economy at the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation’s (OCEDC) Annual Fall Summit on Oct. 14 at The Pines Event Center in Rhinelander.
Former Rhinelander mayor passes away at 93
Dick Johns served in city politics for over 50 years, including as mayor from 2005-18
Former Rhinelander Mayor Dick Johns, who served in city politics for over 50 years, passed away Monday, Oct. 12 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, a brief obituary by the Carlson Funeral Home stated. Johns was 93.
Nicolet College unveils broadband service technician apprenticeship program
Nicollet College announced the creation of a broadband service technician apprenticeship program on Oct. 1, in partnership with the Sokaogon Chippewa Community (SCC) and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.
Woodruff police respond to car burglary connected to multi-county pursuit
Antigo man arrested in Lincoln County after stealing multiple vehicles
The Woodruff Police Department investigated a car burglary on Oct. 8, which was connected to a multi-county pursuit of Antigo resident Joshua Micke, who was later arrested on a slew of charges including stealing multiple vehicles.
Pelican town board sends CUP to Oneida County
The Pelican town board, during its Oct. 5 meeting, agreed to send a conditional use permit (CUP) from T.A. Solberg Co., Inc. and Bob Rynders to the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee for approval.
Hazelhurst man arrested for allegedly burglarizing 4 residences
Lawnicki faces 2 counts of burglary, 2 counts of attempted burglary and 4 counts of criminal damage to property
Hazelhurst-resident Anthony Lawnicki was arrested by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 17 on eight separate charges after an investigation determined he allegedly burglarized four residences.
Rhinelander District Library, five municipalities head to arbitration
Debate ensues on increases to library’s budget
The Rhinelander District Library (RDL) and the five towns which comprise the district are heading to arbitration after disagreements with next year’s proposed budget. Library director Virginia Roberts said the two groups have gone to arbitration nine of the last 12 years.
Stella to host PFAS meeting Oct. 20
An update will be provided on National Institutes of Health’s study
The town of Stella is hosting a PFAS informational meeting on Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m., which will provide updates from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Minocqua man arrested on domestic abuse charges
Minocqua resident Isaiah Phillips was arrested by the Minocqua Police Department on Sept. 21 after allegedly strangling his father and faces four separate charges, all relating to domestic abuse.
Rhinelander community celebrates those in recovery
In support of those with mental health and substance use challenges, community members gathered at Hodag Park on Sept. 23 for the eighth annual Light Up the Night for Recovery, hosted by the Oneida County Substance Use Coalition.
Newbold town board questions library budget
Town chairman says Rhinelander District Library’s budget is ‘out of control’
The Newbold town board, at its Sept. 24 meeting, questioned the Rhinelander District Library’s proposed budget for next year that would see the town contribute more money than in previous years.
ARIP projects nearing completion in Stella
MSA Professional Services engineer Jeffrey Seamandel reported that road projects around the town of Stella are nearing completion at a special Agriculture Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) town board meeting on Sept. 23.
Dornfeld: Renovations continue to give students ‘a world-class education’
Rhinelander High School (RHS) officially unveiled its new technical education facilities, part of the School District of Rhinelander’s $26 million capital improvement projects, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 21 at the John and Dori Brown Performing Arts Center.
Capital improvements finished on time, under budget
School board celebrates completed tech ed projects
The School District of Rhinelander, at its Sept. 21 school board meeting, celebrated the completion of new technical education facilities at Rhinelander High School (RHS).
Lake Tomahawk town board asked to take stance on proposed lake district
The Friends of Tomahawk Lake asked the Lake Tomahawk town board to take a stance on the Tomahawk Lake Association’s (TLA) proposed lake district at its Sept. 9 meeting.
50-year grocery career ends on a high note
Robert Jaskolski, CEO of Trig’s, to retire Sept. 14
Robert Jaskolski has worked for over 50 years in the grocery industry across the Midwest, but his time working in the Northwoods as CEO of T.A. Solberg Co., Inc. holds a special place in his heart.
Property owners divided on Tomahawk Lake Association’s proposed lake district
Governing body, if formed, would seek taxes for lake cleanup projects and more
The Tomahawk Lake Association (TLA) is moving forward with plans to create a lake district in order to help fund rehabilitation projects and has submitted a proposed boundary to Oneida County for approval.
State ban on phone usage in schools takes effect
Districts say their phone policies remain mostly unchanged for new school year
For most schools in the Northwoods, the new state law that took effect July 1 banning cell phones during instructional time is nothing new. Principals and administrators at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS), Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk school district (MHLT) and the school district of Rhinelander have already had “no phone” policies in place over the past few years.
Parts of Oneida, Vilas counties see severe drought conditions
Meteorologist says there could be cause for concern if drought continues
Drought conditions across the Northwoods have intensified over the course of August, forcing the National Weather Service to classify drought conditions as severe in northern Oneida County and southern Vilas County.
Lake Tomahawk board approves Two Lakes Road upgrades
DeMet: ‘So, we’ve got a clear winner’
The Lake Tomahawk town board agreed at its Aug. 12 regular board meeting to approve a bid from Musson Brothers Inc. of Rhinelander to renovate 3,895 feet of Two Lakes Road for $164,054.30.
Lake Tomahawk officer-involved shooting determined by District attorney to be justified
Oneida County district attorney Jillian Pfeifer determined that a sheriff’s deputy was justified to use lethal force in a June 17 officer-involved shooting in the town of Lake Tomahawk. Pfeifer said in a press release on Saturday that the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) should be commended for its work investigating the shooting.
Northern Wisconsin sees resilient economy
Federal Reserve District nine, which covers northern Wisconsin and five other states, is seeing a generally resilient economy, according to a mid-year update by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on July 17.