Oneida County board makes good on passing tax-increase budget
Holewinski issues warning on skyrocketing wage increases
Without an amendment, at least not a successful one, and without a discouraging word, at least not many of them, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Tuesday a 2024 budget that will raise taxes by 5 percent.
Hartman asserts authority to enforce county code
Sheriff won’t issue citation for parliamentary violation
Pushing back against some county officials, Oneida County sheriff Grady Hartman says he has full authority to enforce the county code — authority in fact given to him by the county code — but has decided against issuing a citation to zoning committee and county board chairman Scott Holewinski, who has acknowledged violating the code by breaking parliamentary procedure.
GOP bill would prohibit race-based UW grants and loans
Republicans shift admissions from race to need, protect free speech
On votes taken largely along party lines, the state Assembly last week passed several measures related to the UW System, including a bill to prohibit race-based higher education grants and loans, redirecting such programs as the minority teacher loan program and Lawton grants to favor disadvantaged students rather than minority students.
Proposed budget would boost OC property taxes by 5 percent
Inflation has ripped through the economy, wreaking havoc on residents’ pocketbooks, and the ripple is causing consumers to pay more not only for private sector goods but for public sector services, through higher property taxes to pay for those services’ ever rising costs.
Group wants to end tax on overtime pay
IRG: Tax reform needed as residents flee to lower tax states
Sometimes, when you’re unable to make off with the whole enchilada, you do the best you can and take half the enchilada — or whatever portion you can get.
DNR secretary Payne’s resignation signals turbulent times at agency
New NRB fights loom as Evers appoints Todd Ambs
The abrupt resignation of Department of Natural Resources secretary Adam Payne after less than a year on the job is emblematic of larger issues inside the vast agency, and a hint that ongoing fissures inside the agency have been settled in favor a more partisan and bureaucratic agenda.
Walker wins massive defamation award in lawsuit against Bangstad
Bangstad’s conduct was on trial… in and out of court
As stunning in scope as the verdict last week was against Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad — a jury unanimously awarded Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker $750,000, more than his attorney had asked for in defamation claims against Bangstad — it did not exceed other courtroom surprises, specifically the behavior of Bangstad himself.
Jury unanimously finds Bangstad defamed Walker
Awards $750,000 to Times publisher for multiple defamation counts
After a week-long trial, an Oneida County jury has found Kirk Bangstad and his Minocqua Brewing Company committed multiple counts of defamation against Lakeland Times and Northwoods River News publisher Gregg Walker, awarding Walker one of the largest defamation awards in state history —$750,000, including $430,000 in punitive damages.
County passes 180-day campground moratorium
Two towns say large campgrounds pose safety threat
There will be no large-scale campground development in Oneida County for at least six months — no small-scale campgrounds, either, for that matter — now that the Oneida County Board of Supervisors has enacted a 180-day campground moratorium.
New lawsuit challenges constitutionality of state’s school choice programs
Conservatives assail Bangstad’s ‘vanity project’
A group of Wisconsin citizens, backed financially by the liberal Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC, filed a lawsuit earlier this month challenging the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s school choice programs, asking the state Supreme Court to take original jurisdiction.
Walters solicited Wisconsin voter registration from permanent Illinois residents
But candidate says she never suggested temporary voter registration
A retired Illinois police officer who is only a part-time resident of Presque Isle has signed a notarized affidavit saying Lorine Walters, a candidate for Presque Isle town chairperson in a November 14 special election, solicited his and his wife’s votes in late September, telling them they could give up their Illinois registration, live in Presque Isle for 28 days, register and vote in the upcoming town election, and then re-establish their Illinois registration at a later time.
Tiffany introduces bill to prohibit U.S. entry of Palestinian refugees
Following the attack on Israel by Hamas and with Israel declaring war on the terrorist group, Northwoods U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin-7) has introduced legislation to ban the Biden administration from allowing refugees fleeing the Gaza Strip into the country.
County board to take up campground, RV park moratorium
After a September 20 public hearing held by the county’s zoning committee, the Oneida County board of supervisors is set to take up today a proposed moratorium on conditional use permits for campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
State Supreme Court will hear redistricting challenge
Protasiewicz refuses to recuse herself from case
On a 4-3 vote along ideological lines, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the state’s legislative district maps, scheduling an oral hearing for later this month.
Tourist rooming house gets its license back
Can TRHs be regulated at all?
A Crescent Lake tourist rooming house that had its license suspended August 2 for multiple and ongoing violations has its license back now that the 60-day suspension has run its course and the Oneida County zoning committee declined to extend the suspension or pursue revocation.
Trump leads Biden in new Marquette poll
Politico: Kennedy poised to be strongest independent since Perot
Recent polls show that nonvoters overwhelmingly support Donald Trump over Joe Biden for president — with potentially strong backing for an independent candidate — and a new Marquette Law School Poll national survey buttresses parts of those findings, showing Trump with a massive lead among those less than certain to vote, while Biden leads slightly among those certain to vote.
Oneida zoning approves Bangstad permit
All conditions must be met before serving outside
The second — or maybe the third or fourth or fifth, depending on how you look at it — time around was the charm for Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad last week, as the Oneida County zoning committee approved a conditional use permit for an outdoor beer garden at his Front Street retail location.
Zoning panel ships shipping container issue back to towns
Oneida County towns will once again be asked to weigh in on the years-long debate about the use of shipping containers for such things as storage sheds, boathouses, and residential homes, after county supervisor Billy Fried asked the Oneida County zoning committee if it would consider resurrecting the issue.
Evers’s NRB appointees face rough road
Senate committee votes against confirming four provisional members
Last week the state Senate’s Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage Committee voted against confirming four of Gov. Tony Evers’s appointees to the state Natural Resources Board, setting up possible dismissal by the full Senate and underscoring ongoing conflicts between Democrats and conservatives over such issues as wolf management and PFAS regulation.
Oneida supervisors vote to withdraw from Human Services board
Deficient services, lack of cooperation cited
By a 19-2 vote, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution last week to give notice to withdraw from the current Tri-County Human Services Board effective December 31, 2024.
Bangstad fan cited for phone harassment of newspaper
Caller calls white deputy a ‘black Nazi’
An Arena, Wisconsin, man has been cited for telephone harassment of The Lakeland Times after making an early morning call to the newspaper and leaving a message loaded with obscenities.
Oneida County board votes to withdraw from Human Services Board
Rideout: All services will continue
On a 19-2 vote, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Tuesday to give notice to withdraw from the current Tri-County Human Services Board effective as of December 31, 2024.
House panel considers constitutional amendments for term limits, fiscal restraint
Common Cause warns against constitutional convention
A U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on proposed constitutional amendments heard a loud call for term limits and fiscal restraint this past month, as well as a warning against holding a constitutional convention to achieve those objectives.
Jennrich drops ball on TRH suspension
It’s been seven weeks since the Oneida County zoning committee suspended a Crescent Lake tourist rooming house permit for multiple and ongoing violations and directed zoning staff to come up with a list of proposed house rules to address the concerns of upset neighbors, but, with the 60-day suspension fast approaching an end, no such list exists.
Felzkowski, Swearingen raise concerns about proposed wolf plan
Two Northwoods lawmakers, state Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), are expressing concerns about the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) revised wolf management plan, especially the addition of circular buffer zones around tribal lands that call for reduced wolf harvests within them.
Oneida County closed 2022 in strong financial position
For every $1 in revenue, the county spent 91 cents
Oneida County had a very good 2022 fiscally, hauling in $4.9 million in net revenue, according to the county’s annual financial report for the year ending last December 31.
2022 Nobel winner: Climate change orthodoxy is dangerous corruption of science
Despite media claims that climate change is settled science and represents scientific consensus, the number of prominent scientists breaking from the consensus continues to grow, with the 2022 winner of the Nobel Prize for physics signing onto a World Climate Declaration decrying the existence of any climate emergency.
Talk of impeaching Protasiewicz grows
Judicial commission throws out ethics complaints; Dems go on the offensive
The state’s polarized politics has been put on dramatic display over newly seated justice Janet Protasiewicz, both inside and outside the state Supreme Court, as impeachment talk grows at the capitol and liberal and conservative justices duke it out internally for control.
Oneida County zoning hammers Minocqua businesses
Even as the Oneida County zoning committee has given downtown Minocqua business owner Kirk Bangstad more time to fashion an acceptable conditional use permit application for an outdoor beer garden despite more than a year of infractions of his now-revoked permit, the county zoning department has lowered the boom on 12 other downtown businesses for alleged noncompliant outdoor activities, ordering immediate compliance and/or the payment of large after-the-fact permit fees.
At public hearing, DNR management of deer herd is criticized
Walker says setting population goals is essential; DNR numbers questioned
At a joint public hearing last week, state lawmakers heard again that the state Department of Natural Resources is not managing the state’s deer herd as it needs to be, and that the situation represents a looming crisis.
Oneida County adopts resolution allowing prayers at board meetings
County board chair has discretion to allow prayer or not
After a debate that revived old and lingering questions about prayer at government meetings, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors at its most recent meeting took what might or might not be called decisive action.
Sheriff’s department, DA find Oneida zoning violated procedure
DA says no open meetings violation
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Oneida County district attorney both say the Oneida County zoning committee violated the county’s mandated parliamentary procedures when it adjourned a public hearing in the middle of the vote, but neither entity has taken any action against the officials after the findings.
Bangstad sues town of Minocqua
Federal lawsuit claims First, Fourteenth Amendment violations
Kirk Bangstad and the Minocqua Brewing Company have filed a federal civil rights complaint against the town of Minocqua, alleging violation of Bangstad’s free speech, due process, and equal protection rights, and also alleging municipal liability for unconstitutional customs and policies.
Oneida County will hire outside counsel on DNR challenge
On a 16-2 vote at its most recent meeting, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors has approved spending up to $10,000 for the county’s zoning committee to hire outside counsel for advice on the DNR’s challenge to its proposed shoreland ordinance changes.
Bradley blasts Protasiewicz for not recusing in redistricting case
The state’s Supreme Court has ordered the Wisconsin Elections Commission to respond to a petition for the court to take original action on a case challenging the state’s redistricting maps, as conservative justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley denounced liberal justice Janet Protasiewicz for not recusing herself from the case.
Times challenges legality of Bangstad CUP hearings
Walker: Committee actions should be declared null and void
The Lakeland Times has filed a complaint against members of the Oneida County Planning & Development Committee and corporation counsel Mike Fugle, alleging in a letter to the county’s district attorney and sheriff that the officials violated both state statutes and the county’s general code in conducting recent hearings for a conditional use permit for Kirk Bangstad’s Minocqua Brewing Company.
Oneida County Tourism Council seeks budget boost for mapping project
Budget request scissored into two for consistency
The Oneida County administration committee has kicked off its 2024 budget process by entertaining departmental budget proposals, and this past week the county’s tourism council came by with a 2024 request for $135,758.
Zoning committee pulls motion to deny Bangstad CUP permit
ARP revocation appealed to BOA
After seemingly poised a week earlier to deny the conditional use permit application for the Minocqua Brewing Company to have an outdoor beer garden with insufficient parking, the Oneida County zoning committee last week withdrew the motion to deny and granted owner Kirk Bangstad more time.
Oneida zoning suspends TRH permit
Committee gives owners 60 days to right the ship
After numerous complaints and warnings, the Oneida County zoning committee earlier this month suspended the permit for a Minocqua tourist rooming house and set a time frame of 60 days for the owner to work with zoning staff to create a reasonable business plan that resolves the problems neighbors have complained about.
Chief justice Ziegler calls liberal justices ‘rogue’ as new majority takes over high court
So far it’s a bit of verbal back-and-forth and name-calling, with no allegations of one Supreme Court justice trying to choke another, as was the case in 2011, but it’s getting pretty fiery nonetheless around the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Oneida County zoning revokes Bangstad permit
Attorney abruptly shuts down vote on separate conditional use application
The Oneida County planning and development committee voted 3-0 to revoke the administrative review permit (ARP) for the Minocqua Brewing Company last Wednesday and appeared poised to deny his bid for a separate conditional use permit when the county’s corporation counsel abruptly advised the committee to adjourn the meeting.
Progressive academics urge Biden to ignore Supreme Court
Two prominent professors have written an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging him and his administration to ignore recent Supreme Court decisions and instead opt to carry out their own constitutional interpretations.
USA heat wave! But is it really hot?
The media is abuzz this summer about the scorching heat, and in most parts of the country all it takes is one step outside to feel what all the fuss is about: It’s really hot out there. But just how hot is it, really?
Tiffany won’t run for U.S. Senate in 2024
Congressman says he will stand for re-election
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany of Minocqua (R-Wisconsin-7) has announced that he will forego a challenge to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin next year and run for re-election instead.
Zoning investigation details scores of potential Bangstad violations
Revocation hearing resumes Wednesday; CUP hearing follows
Round 2 of Oneida County’s hearing to yank the zoning permit for Kirk Bangstad’s Minocqua Brewing Company will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, August 2, at the Woodruff town hall, with the county’s zoning committee set to render judgment on a massive investigation that stretched on for a year and logged 80 separate items and scores of potential and alleged permit violations by Bangstad and his company.
Marshfield Clinic, Essentia Health agree to merge
Combination will create a regional health system operating in four states
Marshfield Clinic Health System and Essentia Health of Minnesota are merging. The official announcement came late last week, as the two health care systems announced the signing of an agreement to form a new integrated regional health system serving rural and mid-urban communities across four states.
Groups file lawsuit aimed at legalizing ballot drop boxes
Witness requirements and election-day cure deadlines also targeted
Just as a new state Supreme Court justice is set to ascend to the bench, giving progressives a 4-3 majority, two groups have filed a lawsuit in Dane County challenging absentee ballot restrictions in the state.
As hearing looms, Bangstad mobilizes out-of-town support
After Facebook appeals, emails pour in for Minocqua Brewing Company
As the hearing day approaches for the Oneida County zoning committee to consider suspending, amending, or revoking the administrative review permit for Kirk Bangstad’s Minocqua Brewing Company — revocation would shut his business down — Bangstad has mobilized scores of people to send emails and letters supporting his business.
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