North Woods tourism officials and anglers are applauding a proposal by the state to  increase the number of walleyes in Wisconsin waters by expanding production at state, private and tribal fish hatcheries.

The measure, called the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative, will add nearly $13 million to the state budget in an effort to improve walleye fishing in Wisconsin.

“I think it’s about time,” said Conrad Heeg, executive director of the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. “It seems that this governor is a lot more aggressive when it comes to our concerns about  walleye fishing and tourism in northern Wisconsin.”

Some say the tourism industry that is tied to walleye fishing has taken a hit since tribes

One hundred thirty-six seniors at Northland Pines High School will receive their diplomas during a graduation ceremony this Sunday, June 2.

Three Lakes High School held its ceremony for 41 seniors May 24, while Phelps had commencement exercises for 12 seniors May 25.

The Northland Pines graduation ceremony Sunday will start at 1 p.m. in the high school field house.

Class President Samantha Molkentine will offer the welcome

The 20th annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) will be this Friday, May 31,  through Sunday, June 2, on the Eagle River Chain of Lakes, offering a weekend fishing outing for people with disabilities.

The event is expected to bring about 70 participants to Eagle River, with the event headquartered at Wild Eagle Lodge on Duck and Lynx lakes.

“Fishing Has No Boundaries affords a fishing experience for individuals who otherwise may not have such an opportunity,” said event coordinator Wil Campbell, who has been involved with the program since the first event in Eagle River.

More than 100 volunteers will be involved in

The Northland Pines School Board was provided with district and statewide results of the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) last week, test scores that showed both areas of concern and areas of celebration, according to a district official.

Gayle Daniel, St. Germain Elementary School principal and district director of instruction, said students in grades three, five, six and seven completed testing in two content areas of reading and math. Students in grades four, eight and 10 were tested in reading, math, language arts, writing, science and social studies.

Daniel cautioned that student numbers in some class sections

The Three Lakes/Nicolet ATV club in conjunction with the Oneida County Highway Commission as per county policy will hold a public hearing at the Three Lakes Community Center Thursday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m.

The hearing will address potentially using County Highway A in Three Lakes for all-terrain vehicle traffic.

Due to a decline in patient volumes and reimbursement rates, Ministry Health Care — which includes hospitals in Eagle River and Woodruff — announced Wednesday a reduction in workforce of at least 225 full-time equivalent employees.

With 15 hospitals, 47 clinics and more than 12,000 associates across Wisconsin, Howard Young Health Care President Sheila M. Clough said Eagle River Memorial Hospital would experience “a very limited impact.”

Geoffrey Huys, system director of Ministry’s public relations, said the number of affected employees companywide could be as many as 250.

“We don’t have a final number of impacted employees,