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Newly Appointed Oneida County Judge Announces Election Campaign Published on 11/15/2022 under News

A recently appointed Northwoods judge plans to seek a full term.

With last week's election now behind us, the next slate of candidates are preparing for the spring elections. That will include current Oneida County Circuit Court Judge Mary Burns.

Back in August, Governor Evers appointed Burns to the bench to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Patrick O'Melia. That term runs through July of 2023.

In her announcement, Burns says, "I am excited to announce my campaign for a full term on the Court. I look forward to running a positive race focused on my record as a tough and fair Judge and on my qualifications for this very important job."

The spring election is non-partisan. Any potential primary would take place in February, with the general election in April.

In Other News

Japanese Beetles Impacting Local Plants

Published on 08/13/2025 under News While many bugs are beneficial by pollinating our plants; one invasive beetle is causing headaches for many home gardeners. Japanese beetles have been busy, and hungry, here in Northern Wisconsin in recent weeks. The beetles have been common in Southern portions of the state for a number of years, but have been expanding north in recent years. According to the UW-Extension, the metallic green and copper beetles feed on the leaves of more than 350 plant species. When feeding, they leave a distinct lace-like pattern on the leaves. This can stress plants and leave them vulnerable to other issues such as disease. The Japanese beetle has a year long life-cycle; producing one generation each year. They lay eggs in ground in the fall. The beetles emerge from their pupal state during the following summer, typically July and August. There are several options to combat the invader and protect plants including commercial treatments. Some insecticides may impact beneficial insects, as well. Pheromone traps are also available, but you may actually attract more beetles to your property, drawn in by the scent. For a smaller area, like a garden, the best option may be to cover your produce with an insect screen. Another option is to roll up your sleeves and pick the beetles off your plant by hand, placing them in a mixture of soap and water. The UW-Extension has additional information on their website.

Published on 08/13/2025 under News More than a dozen art teachers from the Northwoods will be showing off their skills in a new art exhibit debuting Thursday. The Nicolet College Art Gallery will host the 'Artful Educators' series. The exhibit will feature artwork from 15 teachers representing a number of Northwoods school districts including Lakeland, Northland Pines, Rhinelander and Three Lakes. By day, these teachers guide elementary, middle and high school students; but typically they are also highly skilled artists themselves. And now they have a chance to show off their work to the greater public. The gallery features many different themes and techniques including painting, sculpture, ceramics, and photography. The gallery opening will take place on Thursday evening from 4pm to 7pm. Those attending will be able to vote for the Audience Choice Award. The winning teacher will receive an art supply basket for their school. Then, the exhibit will be available for viewing during regular hours at the Nicolet Art Gallery through September 27.Photo: "Aunt Doris," by Candace Strand from Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary.

Published on 08/13/2025 under News While school staffers have been busy preparing campuses for the return of students, administrators and school boards have been working on budgets. The preliminary spending plan for the Tomahawk School District was on the Board's agenda Tuesday and District Administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided a brief overview. As we covered last month, the Tomahawk School District saw their general aid from the state cut by an estimated $500,000 for the upcoming school year. That would typically shift the burden onto the local tax roll. But, like they've done in recent years, Quesinberry said they were once again able to under-levy, or spend below the maximum amount allowed. This essentially offset much of the general aid cut by the state. The preliminary budget approved by the board each August is subject to change. Districts utilize estimates and placeholders to calculate the budget. The numbers aren't finalized until after the school year begins. The Tomahawk budget will be presented at the district's annual meeting next month. The final budget is typically approved by the Board in late September or early October.

Published on 08/13/2025 under News Food trucks have exploded in popularity, and now they've become a target of scammers. State officials are warning food truck operators about recent type of scam that have been on the rise. According to an announcement from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the scammers have been contacting food truck operators and inviting them to sell at events. Some of the events they promote are made up entirely; while others may be legitimate, but the scammer has no ties to the event. They'll request a vendor fee to be able to sell at the location, but are really pocketing the money. They'll demand a very specific payment method such as prepaid cards, crypto, or digital transfer apps like Zelle, Venmo or Paypal. The DATCP offers up some tips which are applicable for most scams regardless of the type. If you're suspicious; pause, investigate, and verify. Question unsolicited messages that involve money or personal information. Be wary of pressure tactics such as a quickly approaching deadline and those requesting unusual payment.

Published on 08/13/2025 under News A two-part road construction project in the Minocqua area will pick back up this fall, and officials will be holding an informational meeting on the schedule. Earlier this year, the DoT began work on Highway 51 between Front Street and 3rd Avenue. In June, they paused work to accommodate the busy, summer traffic. But as the tourism season winds down, they will be restarting that project in September. The DoT announced another informational meeting, later this month, to provide some updates on construction status as well as information on traffic impacts and timelines when work resumes. That meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 26 at the Minocqua Public Library. We'll offer up a reminder as that date draws closer.

Published on 08/12/2025 under News The next star of the Wisconsin Public Service safe digging campaign has been selected, and she's a pup from the Wausau area. As part of their promotion of Digger's Hotline, WPS put out call for people to submit photos of their dog digging in the dirt. The winning dog will be featured on social media and billboards across their service area over the next year. The utility received a number of adorable photos, and let the public choose from a top 10. More than 12,000 votes were cast, and in the end it was Pearl, a 7 year old labradoodle from Schofield who came out on top. She actually received an impressive 60% of the overall vote. Pearl's pet parents said her favorite activity is digging, and they even created a designating digging area in their back yard. WPS says Pearl will spend the next year starring in campaigns reminding people to call Digger's Hotline at least three days before any home project. She takes over for Arlo, a dog from Tomahawk, who just completed his one year reign. The announcement coincided with National Safe Digging Day, on Monday, August 11. That's because the date is, eight-eleven, also the phone number to schedule an appointment.

Published on 08/12/2025 under News A regional guide continues to make it easier to connect Northwoods consumers with locally sourced foods. Over the past few years, there has been a growing emphasis on 'farm to table.' One of the challenges here in the Northwoods can be connecting producers with consumers. That planted the seeds for the first Farm Fresh Atlas. Over the past few years, there has been a growing emphasis on 'farm to table.' One of the challenges here in the Northwoods can be connecting producers with consumers. That planted the seeds for the first Farm Fresh Atlas. In previous years, the state was divided into six regions, each featuring a separate atlas. But in recent years, the publishers combined each region into a single edition covering all of Wisconsin. Readers can find information about local farms, businesses and farmer's markets that offer foods raised or grown in the area. In addition to these locations, the Atlas also contains guides on in-season produce, and other ways to support locally grown food. This 2025 edition includes a feature on Tranquil Acres located here in Tomahawk. The Atlas is put together by the non-profit REAP Food Group, whose mission is to transform communities, economies, and lives through the power of good food. Print copies are available in information kiosks in stores, visitor's bureaus, and other locations. A digital version is also available for a free download.

Published on 08/12/2025 under News The Oneida County Traffic Safety Commission is looking to make outdoor recreationists a bit safer. One of those efforts is to distribute reflective safety vests, a program they've offered for a number of years now. The second half of summer and the upcoming fall season offer additional risks for walkers, hikers, and bikers. The sun is getting lower in the sky, days are getting shorter, and whether we like it or not, it won't be long before the leaves begin to change. This all makes it harder to see people who may be off enjoying their favorite outdoor recreational activities. In order to improve visibility and therefore safety, the Oneida County Traffic Safety Commission continues to partner with the Highway Department to distribute the free high visibility vests to Oneida County residents. They can be picked up at the Highway Office during regular hours. (Monday-Thursday: 6am-4pm)

Published on 08/12/2025 under News It will be a celebratory day in Antigo this afternoon. The Unified School District of Antigo is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for their brand new elementary school. The new school will be located at 315 Western Avenue near the High School. Once complete it will consolidate all of the district's elementary age students into a single building. It will be known as John H. Bradley Elementary, named for an Antigo man who served during World War II including the Battle of Iwo Jima. The project is thanks to a successful referendum approved by voters last November. District Administrator Glenda Oginski says, "This exciting moment for our district is possible thanks to the strong support of our community." In addition to the new elementary, the district will use additional referendum dollars to modernize the middle and high school buildings, which Duginski says 'will provide generations of students with upgraded schools and state-of-the-art facilities.' As for the elementary groundbreaking, the ceremony is scheduled for 5:30pm this evening and the public is invited to attend.

Published on 08/12/2025 under News Two men were arrested for drunken driving during the same response in Lincoln County over the weekend. According to this week's Lincoln County Sheriffs Report, deputies were paged to Joe Snow Road in the Town of Scott on Sunday for a vehicle in the ditch. Upon arrival, the deputy found two men on the scene attempting to pull a truck out of the ditch with an ATV. The deputy noted both drivers, Merrill men, ages 20 and 21, showed signs of impairment. Both drivers were asked to complete field sobriety tests. As a result of those tests both drivers were taken in for a first offense of OWI. They were released to responsible parties. In other news from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report... A motorcycle operator was injured in a crash east of Tomahawk. Responders were paged to County B near Seven Island Lake Road in Harrison. The caller indicated a motorcycle crash with injuries. Deputies made contact with the operator, an 18 year old Weston man. He explained he was traveling westbound when he drifted off the roadway and struck a rock causing him to lose control. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. The number of vehicle versus deer crashes is down slightly, there were five reported this past week on Lincoln County roadways. There was another vehicle vs bear crash as well.

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