Investigative Reporter
Recent Stories
Northwoods River News WNA’s Best in Division for 3rd straight year
Paper earns 25 total awards in statewide competition
The Northwoods River News has won the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s award for Best in Division for 2025, closing out an impressive year with 25 total awards and five first-place finishes in the association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.
Oneida County zoning approves contested Cassian sawmill project
Supervisors add water use, buffer zone conditions during hearing
Following a March 4 public hearing, the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee has approved a conditional use permit for a proposed sawmill operation in the town of Cassian, overriding objections from nearby residents but attaching conditions to address concerns about noise, water use, and closeness to neighboring homes.
Oneida County seeks to limit permits for properties with violations
But officials scale back a bit after advice of corporation counsel
The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee moved closer this week to defining how and whether zoning permits can be issued for properties with existing violations, though some legal realities will prevent the ordinance from going as far as some members had hoped.
Gruich fires attorney in judicial threat case
New counsel retained; trial date to be rescheduled
A Michigan man accused of threatening an Oneida County judge and a local newspaper publisher has dismissed his attorney and retained new legal counsel, prompting the court to postpone his upcoming jury trial and schedule a new trial date.
County challenges state over Stacks Bay shoreland compliance
Jennrich demands erosion controls, permit review; state has not responded
Oneida County is challenging the state’s position that it does not need to comply with local shoreland zoning ordinances or obtain local permits for work underway at the Stacks Bay overflow parking area, with county zoning director Karl Jennrich ordering state agencies to install erosion controls and contact the county within 10 days to discuss permit issues.
DNR, counsel say county cannot ban clearcutting in shoreland corridors
Sparse public hearing yields legal guidance but no decisions
A public hearing Tuesday on proposed amendments to Oneida County’s shoreland zoning ordinance was sparsely attended — no votes were taken, few residents spoke — but county officials received a clear signal from the state and their outside attorney on one issue that has been contentious: Prohibiting clearcutting in viewing and access corridors doesn’t cut it legally.
Hegeman to step down as Oneida County highway commissioner
Resignation follows winter snafus, work schedule debate
Oneida County highway commissioner Alex Hegeman will step down from his position effective March 13. “I have made the decision to resign from my current position as Oneida County Highway Commissioner, effective 3/13/2026,” Hegeman wrote in a Feb. 13 email to members of the county’s public works committee. “This was a very difficult decision and was not made lightly, but after careful thought and discussion with my family, it is time for me to take on new challenges and opportunities.”
County board elects Young as veterans service officer
Close vote follows dispute on election procedure
On a 12-9 vote, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors this week elected Matthew Young as the county’s next county veterans service officer, narrowly ratifying a 3-2 recommendation from the county’s hiring panel for the position. The county’s human services committee had unanimously forwarded that split recommendation to the county board. Young will replace county veterans service officer (CVSO) Tammy Javenkoski, who retires Feb. 27.
Oneida County conservation committee pushes clear-cutting ban
Zoning committee wants status quo; hearing to be held
A consequential policy fight — quiet now but perhaps not for long — is taking shape in Oneida County over what can, and cannot, be cut along the shoreline. The county’s Conservation & UW-Extension Education Committee is urging changes to the county’s shoreland ordinance that would prohibit clearcutting within access and viewing corridors in the shoreland zone and restrict the removal of larger trees.
Despite broad support, housing bill stalls in Legislature
Municipalities express concerns; Oneida County takes a look
A bill that would permit accessory dwelling units in residential or mixed-use neighborhoods enjoys widespread bipartisan support — from Democrats and Republicans, from trade organizations and advocacy groups — but murmurings of concern from local governments have so far stalled its progress through the legislature.