News

The public will soon have a chance to see the Olson Library Expansion project in Eagle River. 

Trustee Phil Jensen says they've known for a longtime that that they've outgrown the facility. Six years ago they had plans for an upgrade, but the recession halted those plans. Now they've hired Northwoods designer and builder Jeff Visner and they have new plans:

A public hearing has been called for Thursday night by the Vilas county town of Cloverland to talk about a proposed sex offender placement ordinance.

Last year a convicted sex offender was placed on Chickaree Lake Road. Local residents were upset with the placement. Cloverland town chair Scott Maciosek says the town wants to spell out what they want...

"....we're trying to protect the kids in our town plus be able to stop them from just being able to drop somebody in here without saying anything to anybody...."

Many outdoor activities in Wisconsin this weekend are 'free,' as the state is hosting a weekend where charges don't apply in many places and no fishing license is needed.

Wisconsin residents and visitors can fish,  hike, bike state trails for free, and ride public ATV trails at no charge. On Sunday, June 2 only, they can enjoy free admission to state parks and forests.

Department of Natural Resources aquatic education coordinator Theresa Stabo says this is the weekend to get outdoors...

Rhinelander school district officials have developed a web page so residents concerned about school funding can keep up to date.  Rural school districts are feeling a financial squeeze as many districts have fewer students and are getting less financial aid, but still required to follow mandates.

The legislature's budget-writing group, the Joint Finance Committee, is looking at school funding at this time.

The next group of leaders is being recruited in Vilas County.

Vilas Vision was born in 2003 to find and train new leaders. More than 100 people have gone through the program.The program is in cooperation with the Lac du Flambeau tribe.

UW-Extension Community Resource Development agent Chris Stark says the program is an investment in people to improve their leadership skills. He says business people and volunteers are two key groups who could be involved.

Another deadline is Friday for the state’s no-call list.  Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection officials maintain a list of phone numbers that they distribute quarterly to registered telemarketing firms, so that marketers do not call you.

Jerad Albrecht is with DATCP.  He says you need to re-register your phone number if you haven’t done so in a while.

"Numbers fall off the list every two years, so if it has been more than two years since you registered your number you're going to want to get it refreshed."

A recently-formed group has set up an educational forum next week on how county forest land will be involved in a proposed mine project.

Iron County has a portion of the proposed Penokee Hills mine.

Terry Daulton of Mercer is part of the Iron County Citizen's Forum which is sponsoring the event next Wednesday. Daulton says these forums are aimed at educating the public on issues...

The Vilas County board of supervisors has turned back another attempt to establish an ATV route on a county highway.

Earlier this year, supervisors rejected a proposal for an ATV route in the town of Phelps.

Tuesday night, supervisors said no to an All-Terrain Vehicle ordinance that would have permitted an ATV route, on county highway D in Lac du Flambeau.