News

No charges are being filed by the Oneida County District Attorney's Office concerning an incident last month at Rhinelander City Hall. February 21, a computer consultant, Peggy Schauer, was approached by Council member Dawn Rog at city hall and a confrontation happened. Rog wanted Schauer to leave the building and Schauer maintained she was instructed to be there by City Administrator Daniel Guild. Schauer told investigators she had been shoved, but in a statement issued through her attorney, Rog maintained her hand brushed Schauer's coat.

Project North Festival has released the initial 10 bands in their music lineup for their inaugural festival.

Attorneys for Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos argue their client is immune from civil legal action. The powerful Republican is refusing to testify in the federal lawsuit over the drawing of state political boundary maps. Democrats asked the federal panel of judges to force Vos to sit for a deposition and turn over documents related to the case. They say the boundaries he helped draw were illegally gerrymandered. That case is likely to be heard in the lower federal court this summer.

The Oneida County Board this week formalized a state-mandated policy about donations to the county, but not before calming concerns to one organization that is deeply dependent on donations: the Oneida County Fair. Fair Board President Fred Andrus had some concerns...

"...We get a lot of donations, do they have to start designating it for the fair? How does that affect our current budget. We have money set aside for long range plans, again, I'm concerned how this is going to affect the fair..."

The snow is finally melting, and the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce is hosting their first major event of the year this Saturday: the Hodag Home Show.

Event and Program Coordinator Evan Verploegh says people hoping to improve their property will have much to see...

Vilas County road projects for this year were identified and explained to the Vilas County highway committee recently including delaying bonding for a large stretch of Highway B between Land O' Lakes and Presque Isle.

Patrol Superintendent Troy Schalinske indicated crack sealing will be done on portions of Highway 17-45 four lane section around Eagle River and on Highway 51 between Highways H and W. Both projects will cost $123,000.

Vilas county authorities report a snowmobile death yesterday.

An emergency call came in shortly before 7 p.m. from the Found Lake Road area near St. Germain. The person who died was a 62 year old man from St. Germain.The name of the person killed will be released later.

Law enforcemnt reports the driver of the sled was operating in the east bound lane while heading west and struck another vehicle. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators report speed appears to have been a factor in the crash..

Oneida county has formed a committee to look at the complex issue of wages paid to county workers.

Oneida County Board Chair David Hintz says a study done last year found that wages trailed comparable governments by 6.4 percent.

The county has set a goal to implement a graduated plan to bring wages to the higher level. The annual increase would amount to $800,000 with the idea of half implemented in July, 2019 and a second increase in January 2020 through the normal budget cycle.

But Hintz says the trick is to do so affordably...

Former Wisconsin Governors Republican Warren Knowles and Democrat Gaylord Nelson have their names on a fund that helps governments afford land purchases.

The legislature created the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in 1989 to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The Oneida County Board passed a resolution Tuesday supporting the state keeping the fund.