For the first time in over a century, cougar reproduction was confirmed east of the Mississippi River in Michigan’s U.P. A December 6 trail camera photo from Ontonagon County, confirmed by DNR’s Brian Roell, showed an adult cougar with two approximately year-old juveniles. The kittens are expected to survive the winter with their mother. Native … Read more
An Odanah woman was given a 10-30 year prison sentence for conspiracy with intent to deliver methamphetamine, enhanced by her habitual offender status. Dalani Cain Leyva, 56, a major meth trafficker between Duluth and Ontonagon County, was arrested on July 24 in Wakefield during a GIANT task force traffic stop. The driver, Erick Schutte, possessed … Read more
Minocqua’s beloved 30-foot-tall winter resident, Snowmy Kromer, is returning for the winter season at its new home, Torpy Park. A Northwoods symbol since the 1960s, the snowman is famous for his custom, oversized size 96 Stormy Kromer® cap, a nod to local heritage. Typically, he stands about 30 feet tall with a healthy sixteen foot … Read more
The Wisconsin DNR has announced preliminary results for the 2025 nine-day gun deer hunt. License sales totaled 790,044 as of November 30, a slight decrease from 2024. 550,611 of licenses sold were for gun privileges. Final sales figures will be available in January. Hunters registered 182,084 deer during the gun season – 86,068 antlered, 96,016 … Read more
Country music fans…the “Concert In The Corn” festival is set to be held in Mason, in Bayfield County in August 2026. The lineup has been announced, featuring headliners Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, and Scotty McCreery. The festival will also host an impressive list of supporting artists, including Ashley McBride, Collin Raye, Craig Morgan, and Hailey … Read more
The Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board at its meeting last week approved proposed 2026 flight changes, shifting the Minneapolis departure to noon, arriving in Ironwood at 1 p.m., instead of 10 a.m. TheDailyGlobe reports airline representative gave a pre-recorded presentaton regarding the changes, which would mean flights would arrive later in the day, something that airport … Read more
Ironwood’s second annual “Shop with a Cop” event, a partnership between Gogebic-Ontonagon Communities That Care and Michigan State Police, had 25 officers help 53 children shop recently , each receiving $75 to spend. Sixth-grader Vincent Trussell called it “probably the best shopping he’s ever done.” CTC Coordinator Carly Hesterberg said the goal is to build … Read more
Ashland school officials are demanding transparency regarding property tax funding for private school vouchers, arguing those public funds are benefiting private institutions. Superintendent Rob Prater stated that approximately $870,000 (11% of Ashland’s $7.8 million levy) funds vouchers for about 7% of its students. Leaders want the public to understand the program’s impact, especially after a … Read more
On Nov. 26, the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa hosted members of the University of Hawai’i Maui College to share knowledge on proper deer harvesting, tanning, and cultural practices. This exchange, led by Tribal Elder Wayne Valliere, repaid a favor to Ikaika Nakahashi, an ethnobotany lecturer, for annually hosting University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point students. The … Read more
An Eagle River man has been charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 and made an initial appearance in Vilas County court on Dec. 2. The criminal complaint alleges Shawn M. Briscoe, 37, sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions over several years, using threat or force. Investigators were also told Briscoe … Read more