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Court-Appointed Monitor Releases New Quarterly Lincoln Hills Report Published on 11/27/2024 under News

The latest quarterly report at the state's juvenile correctional facility in Lincoln County showed improvement.

Court-appointed monitor Teresa Abreu submitted her report on Lincoln Hills/ Copper Lake, the 21th overall. It was based on an October site visit featuring interviews with staff and youth, along with reviews of campus videos and data. The reporting period covered July through September.

The previous report came as the facility dealt with the death of a staff member, Corey Proulx. Abreu wrote, "Youth and staff seemed calmer and more relaxed compared to the last site visit." She continued, "Youth were more talkative to the monitoring team. The facility atmosphere was improved compared to the last visit."

The monitor found substantial compliance with 42 (or 84%) of the 50 provisions two provisions were reduced from "substantial compliance" to "partial compliance" DoC secretary Jared Hoy noted, "Due to the temporary changes following the death of Youth Counselor Proulx, the DOC had to temporarily adjust staffing and programming to ensure the safety and security of both the staff and youth in the facility."

Staffing levels have improved Abreu noted, during the site visit and video reviews the youth were engaged in the classroom and in recreation availability.

In Other News

Fatal UTV Crash in Price County Rollover

Published on 09/04/2026 under News One person is dead following a UTV crash in Price County earlier this week. According to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) incident report, the crash occurred Wednesday in the Town of Emery, east of Phillips. A 72-year-old man was driving along an established road route when he veered off the roadway, causing the machine to roll over. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released his name. This marks Wisconsin's 33rd fatal ATV/UTV crash this year. As we covered earlier this week, the DNR and local recreation deputies are conducting their "Think Smart Before You Start" ATV/UTV safety and enforcement campaign through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Published on 09/04/2026 under News The summer is quickly winding down, and in the coming weeks folks will be closing up cabins, camps, and resorts for the winter. Local food pantries are encouraging people to check for any food can be donated rather than discarded. Food insecurity is an ongoing problem in the Northwoods and any help the local food pantries and other food distribution programs receive is greatly appreciated. Whether closing up over the Labor Day holiday or a bit later this fall, they're asking seasonal property owners to review food and consider donating to an outreach organization to help restock their shelves heading to the fall and winter. Non-perishables are always needed, but make sure they are unopened and in-date. Food pantries may have different policies for refrigerated and frozen foods, along with fresh produce. It's best to reach out to your local pantry to see if they accept these items.

Published on 09/04/2026 under News State officials are urging caution on Wisconsin's lakes and rivers this Labor Day weekend. With the holiday marking the summer's final major boating weekend, the Department of Natural Resources expects high traffic on area waterways. DNR Boating Law Administrator Lieutenant John Sinclair reminds boaters that operating a boat requires a different skill set than driving a car, emphasizing the need to know your equipment, abilities, and state laws. Warden patrols have already investigated 21 fatal boating incidents in Wisconsin this year, with most victims not wearing life jackets. Officials remind boaters to wear life jackets, stay sober, and obey speed limits. Boaters are also reminded to drain all water and remove aquatic plants or mud from boats and trailers before leaving launches to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Published on 09/04/2026 under News We've been talking about back to school all week, but sometimes students need to stay home when feeling ill—and health experts at Aspirus are sharing key guidelines for parents as young learners return to class. Being in close proximity with other students in the classroom encountering germs is inevitable. Studies show children average two to three colds each year, However, knowing when to keep a child home is vital to stopping the spread of illness. According to Ashley Schuelke, a nurse practitioner with Aspirus, students should stay home if they have a fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or are simply too sick to participate in learning. Mild cold symptoms alone don't require staying home, provided the child feels well enough for class activities. Schuelke says that parents should "trust their instincts," but added, "It is important to keep a sick child home from school to prevent the spread to other classmates and staff." Children can return to school once they feel well and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Parents should contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen, breathing becomes difficult, or dehydration is a concern.

Published on 09/03/2026 under Sports The Hatchet female swimmers went 0-2 in their home double dual with Mosinee and Lakeland Thursday night. Tomahawk would fall to Lakeland, 134-27 and to Mosinee, 80-57. The top finish for Tomahawk came in the 400 yard freestyle as the team of Kaylee Roberts, Kurtney Busterud, Kami Gabrich, and Aubrey Tollefson placed second with a time of 4:42. Kaylee Roberts placed third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:17.14. Tollefson placed third in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:25.63. The Hatchets will have their next double dual next Thursday in Colby with the host and Rhinelander. Events begin at 5:30.

Published on 09/03/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad would fight tooth and nail, but come up short at Raider Hall in Medford Thursday night, losing, 25-16, 25-23, 26-24. The Hatchets would build leads in Games Two and Three, but Medford relied on the heavy hitters of Taylor Klingbeil and Kayla Baumgartner to come back and get the victory. Lauren Reibe finished with six kills and six aces in the victory. Lexi Palmer and Shelby Borowski combined for 19 of Tomahawk's 21 assists. The loss drops Tomahawk to 1-6 on the season and 0-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the court Saturday for the next invite at DC Everest. Their first match will be at 9:00 against Edgar.

Published on 09/03/2026 under News Tomahawk city leaders are retooling their strategy for a possible spring levy referendum. Members of the Tomahawk Finance Committee held a special meeting Wednesday night to brainstorm strategies for winning over voters if they make another funding request. In April 2026, the City Council asked residents to increase the base levy by 20%—a boost of up to $276,000. Voters rejected the proposal, with 56% opposing the increase. Because the deadline to place a measure on the upcoming November ballot has passed, the committee is targeting the April spring election instead. They have not yet finalized the referendum question or dollar amount. Much of the session Wednesday centered on outreach, education, and messaging. Acknowledging that number-heavy spreadsheets can overwhelm voters, the committee plans to highlight tangible impacts. Moving forward, they will detail the exact municipal services at risk after years of cumulative budget cuts. This could be snow plow policies, reduced times for the splash pad, the yard waste site, and Fall Ride expenditures. Finance Chair Mickey Loka emphasized that city leaders must do a better job of making their case, stating that they need to "sell our need" and take the facts directly to the public. To ensure the message lands, the city is preparing a multi-pronged outreach strategy combining public informational sessions, online updates, traditional media coverage, and even door-to-door visits by local alders. A successful vote next spring would not affect the city's bottom line until the 2028 fiscal year. In the meantime, committee members will ramp up work on the 2027 budget over the coming weeks.

Published on 09/03/2026 under News Vilas County's trail network continues to expand, thanks to new grant funding for a major local project. The Town of Cloverland, west of Eagle River, secured nearly $1.3 million through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to launch the River Trail project. (additional information on the trail project) Phase 1 will construct a 1.9-mile multi-use, off-road paved trail stretching from Old Highway 70 Road to Wilderness Trail, complete with wayfinding and bike route signage. This segment will connect to the St. Germain Trail and the popular 55-mile Heart of Vilas Bike Trail System. The effort is a partnership between the City of Eagle River, the Towns of Cloverland and St. Germain, and the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation, which committed nearly $500,000 to cover required local matching funds, engineering design work, and project administration. With funding secured, local leaders are ready to advance Phase 1, though a project timeline was not immediately available. When fully complete across future phases, the proposed 10-mile River Trail will connect Eagle River to St. Germain and link up with the Three Eagle Trail. The River Trail segment is one of 49 bicycle and pedestrian projects receiving funding through this TAP grant cycle.

Published on 09/03/2026 under News Riders heading out on ATVs or UTVs this holiday weekend should be on their best behavior. As part of the state's "Think Smart Before You Start" safety campaign, Department of Natural Resources wardens are joining forces with county recreation deputies to increase patrols along local trails and routes. Their goal is to crack down on risky driving while providing operators with safety tips. The effort comes during a dangerous year on Wisconsin trails, with 31 fatal ATV/UTV crashes reported statewide. DNR Lt. Jake Holsclaw noted that crash numbers have been trending in the wrong direction. "A large percentage of injury and fatal crashes involve riders not wearing helmets or seatbelts, operating without completing a safety course, or driving with some level of impairment." During the weekend patrol, wardens and deputies will be actively looking for operating while intoxicated (OWI), speeding, careless operation, and violations of helmet and seatbelt laws. While the extra enforcement is focused on the holiday weekend, officials hope the message inspires safe driving habits year-round.

Published on 09/03/2026 under News Officials expect heavy holiday travel this weekend and are encouraging motorists to follow the rules of the road. Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the final travel weekend of the summer. Traffic is expected to be heavy at times as drivers head north to enjoy the long weekend or close up their cabins for the season. Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Krstina Boardman says, "Labor Day weekend is a time to make memories and enjoy one last summer adventure." That means making safety part of the plan, whether you are traveling near or far. Officials remind drivers to stay safe by giving emergency responders plenty of room, eliminating distractions behind the wheel, driving sober, and allowing extra travel time when passing through construction zones. To keep traffic moving, the DOT plans to pause most road construction projects over the holiday weekend. However, motorists should still expect occasional lane closures or reduced speed limits in work zones. Drivers hoping to avoid peak traffic should plan around typical holiday weekend flow: northbound traffic is expected to be heaviest late Friday afternoon into the evening, while southbound traffic will remain steady throughout the day on Monday. At a state average of $3.81 per gallon, travelers will pay nearly a dollar more per gallon than last year, when prices hovered around $2.99. Additionally, law enforcement agencies will continue their annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign through the end of the holiday weekend.

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