News

MINOCQUA – The Minocqua Town Board is eying reconstruction of 3.6 miles of Bo-Di-Lac Drive next summer.

The project will cost about $800,000 and includes the portion lying between the Bo-di-Lac Fire Station and Squirrel Lake Road. “It’s a big project for the town,” said public works director Mark Pertile, who requested, and got board permission Tuesday to complete engineering work before letting the project out for bids.

Oak wilt is a deadly disease and is being found in more and more areas with the most recent in the Vilas County town of Conover according to letters reviewed by the county Forestry, Land & Recreation Committee last week.

Two long-time Rhinelander incumbents are not running again for seats on the common council as the deadline has passed for candidates to file papers to serve in government offices.

Alderpersons George Kirby and Dawn Rog did not file to run again. Because neither candidate filed needed papers, City Clerk Val Foley says other candidates in those districts have until 5:00 p.m. Friday to get papers returned to city hall.

A federal court indictment charges a Northwoods man with possessing child pornography.

A grand jury in Madison Wednesday returned an indictment against 50-year-old Matthew Kummer of Minocqua. The indictment alleges that last October he possessed a USB storage device containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The indictment further alleges that at least one of the depictions involved a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

A listening session was held on Tuesday for parents and concerned residents to ask questions about the future of Maple Grove Charter School in the Merrill Area Public School District.

The school has been in Hamburg for 115 years and started as a single room school house. Now, it could be forced to close.

PLOVER, WI (WSAU) -- A prominent survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor from central Wisconsin has died.

Will Lehner of Plover passed away on Sunday at the age of 98, just weeks after releasing the book “Legacy of a Pearl Harbor Survivor.”

A military couple became the proud parents of the first baby of the year delivered at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander. 

An Ascension press release says Dieter Ryan Fischer was born on Saturday, January 4 at 5:28 a.m. 

He is the son of Ashley and Brandon Fischer of Pelican Lake.  Baby Dieter checked in at 7 lbs 3.8 ounces and 19 inches.

He is the 2nd boy for the family.

Brandon Fischer is serving in Afghanistan, and connected with his new son and wife via Skype.