Rising Costs Prompt Meeting of EMS Leadership

Arbor Vitae ambulance service managers met Monday to address rising EMS costs, following an August 28 meeting where Vilas County board members discussed aid for towns like Eagle River. Triggered by increased costs in Lac du Flambeau and Arbor Vitae which are served by Oneida County, both meetings included James Small of the UW School … Read more

Investors, Local Leaders and Highland Copper Still Optimistic About Mine Project

Despite losing $50 million in state funding for infrastructure, InvestUP and Western U.P. leaders remain committed to the Copperwood Mine project. Senator Ed McBroom noted growing support due to environmental safeguards and economic benefits. Local officials, including Wakefield Township supervisor Mandy Lake and Rep. Prestin, expressed disappointment but affirmed the project’s long-term benefits and the … Read more

A Correction…

Yesterday WUPM posted a story about a crash in Taylor County in which a young man from Ashland died, with the date of the accident as Monday, when it fact the crash happened on Tuesday morning, the 30th.

GCC Approves Budget for 25-26 School Year

During its most recent meeting, the Gogebic Community College Board approved the schools 2025-26 budget – just over $12,700,000 in revenue, with just under $12,900,000 in expenses. Fall enrollment increased 4.8% to 927 students, exceeding 900 for the first time since 2020, with credit hours up 7.5% to 9,249. Online students constituted 44.6%, and the … Read more

Beloved Ashland School Employee Retires

Ashland High School custodian Nick Bailen was celebrated mid September, as he is retiring after 31 years. Principal Brian Trettin praised Bailen as a “beloved and hardworking custodian,” a “kind presence,” and a “true role model” whose commitment, reliability, and positive spirit left a lasting mark. Trettin noted Bailen’s humble nature when he declined media … Read more

One of Wisconsin’s Best Events Is This Weekend

The Bayfield Apple Festival, a highlight for both residents and visitors, has grown into one of the largest events in the Lake Superior area, beginning in 1962 when local orchard owner Jimmy Erickson’s truck broke down en route to Duluth, prompting him to return to Bayfield and sell his apples locally, and that led to … Read more

Crash In Taylor County Claims Life of Local Man

A nineteen-year-old Ashland resident died in a fiery head-on collision with a semi-tractor trailer early Monday morning. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash occurred around 5:41 a.m. on State Highway 13 and Alfalfa Avenue in Chelsea. Allen M. Madison, driving a 2010 Ford Fusion, crossed the centerline into the northbound lane, colliding with … Read more

Wild Rice Harvest in Northern Wisconsin Suffers This Year

Northern Wisconsin’s 2025 wild rice crop is low again this year, due to climate events, including June storms and heavy rains. Satellite data shows an 18% reduction in surface area compared to last year. While regional insights exist, local production varies; some Vilas County lakes are closed due to poor surveys, while others opened in … Read more

Annual Veterans Benefit Will Have New Organizers

The annual Run for the Vets marathon, a cherished community tradition, will see a change in leadership after the 2026 event. This marks the 20th year of the marathon, which benefits military veterans. A new group of volunteers is prepared to take over, ensuring the event’s mission of supporting veterans continues. In a special initiative … Read more

Annual Migration Makes Its Way South, Travelers Seen in Wisconsin

Monarch butterflies have begun their two-and-a-half-month migration from northern breeding grounds to Central Mexico, with recent citings in Wisconsin… a journey timed with Dia de Los Muertos. Karen Oberhauser, a professor emerita, notes the celebration’s timing, though likely coincidental, creates a meaningful connection, symbolizing rebirth. Only “super generation” monarchs, 2% to 5% of eggs and … Read more