9/05/2025

N. WISCONSIN - A St. Germain man faces a charge of homicide by negligent operation after a head-on motorcycle crash on Oct. 18, 2024, in Lac du Flambeau. Which killed Peter Postema, 20, of Manitowish Waters, and injured Brody Vizanko, also 20. Chandler Savel turned himself in on Aug. 14 after an arrest warrant was issued. A $2,000 cash bond was set by Judge Daniel Overbey on August 15. An adjourned initial court appearance is scheduled for the 29th. If convicted of that Class G felony, Savel faces 10 years in prison and/or up to $25,000 in fines.

9/05/2025

ASHLAND - The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) office in Ashland, Wisconsin, will remain open, reversing a U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) closure plan. The decision came after opposition from the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC) and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Employing 40 staff, the Ashland office is vital for six Lake Superior Chippewa bands, providing land trust, real estate, and law enforcement support. The GLITC cited harm to tribal sovereignty and service delays. Baldwin confirmed the overturned lease termination, calling the office a “vital point of access.” The Ashland office was among some 20 slated for closure, a move that would have saved DOGE $1.5 million. The BIA is now securing continued service space.

9/05/2025

RHINELANDER - The Wisconsin DNR has issued its first ever Do Not Eat advisory for fish because of PFAS contamination for several lakes east of Rhinelander due to the highest ever recorded measurements of PFAS contamination in the environment. The advisory includes Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Lake as well as Moen, Sunset, Snowden, and Starks Lakes.  Also, the advisory includes all waterways within a 5-mile radius of the Stella Town Hall the DNR says people should not eat harvested deer livers and limit venison to one meal a month in that area. PFAS is a group of manmade chemicals linked to health problems, and they don’t break down in the environment.