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Mailing address change

We're still at our location; we've just changed our mailing techniques. Anyone mailing anything to us through the post office: if you're using any of our pre-addressed envelopes, please change it to our office address, 425 W MILL ST, EAGLE RIVER, WI 54521-8002 Anything that goes to the old address, PO BOX 1929, may take days to get to us. We'd like everything to get in when you request it, such as subscriptions, classifieds, advertisements, and articles.…

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Pines school board seeks consultant support in hiring new district administrator

The Northland Pines board of education last week voted to seek assistance from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) in finding a replacement for the position of district administrator. …

Photos: Eagle River's Fourth of July parade

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Bourbon & Beer fundraiser to fund Dome ice plant repair

On Thursday, July 10, the Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) is hosting its annual Bourbon & Beer fundraiser at Eagle Waters Resort. This year’s event carries a level of urgency …

County Highway A construction now underway

The Vilas County Highway Department, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), started a 2.1-mile road construction project on County Highway A from State Highway 17 to …

Praise in the Pines music fest to feature Newsboys in Eagle River

The Praise in the Pines music festival is set to return to the Northland Pines High School Fieldhouse on Saturday, July 19, where it will feature headliner band Newsboys and speaker Pastor Brad …

Health advisory issued for Big Arbor Vitae Lake Beach

Due to the presence of blue-green algae blooms, the Vilas County Health Department is issuing a health advisory effective immediately for Big Arbor Vitae Lake Beach, located on the northeast …

VCEDC launches Broadband Destination campaign

The Vilas County Economic Development Corporation (VCEDC) has launched its Broadband Destination Campaign, an initiative to promote Vilas County as an “ideal location” for remote workers, …

County board approves fund reallocation for Riverside Park development project

The Vilas County Board of Supervisors, in a 14 to 4 vote, approved the transference of $90,500 from the Unassigned General Fund for phase one of a development project at Riverside Park in Eagle …

Town of Washington calls for support for Eagle River Chain buoy program

The Town of Washington is calling for financial support for the Eagle River Chain buoy program, which consists of 102 buoys deployed on the Chain from Cranberry Lake to the Hwy 70 bridge on …

Northwoods Clean Water Initiative raises public health concerns on well water

Michelle Favorite, former paramedic and founder of Northwoods Clean Water Initiative Inc., addressed what is worried to be a “silent rising public health crisis” in the form of …

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E-editions

Three Lakes News 07.09.2025

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Vilas County News Review 07.09.2025

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North Woods Trader 07.09.25

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Lifestyle
Conover and Land O' Lakes
Harold and Judy Johnson have been named the 2025 Grand Marshals of Conover’s Fourth of July Parade.
The Conover Chamber of Commerce will kick off its Fourth of July celebration with a parade on Friday, July 4, at 1 p.m. Area organizations, businesses, and residents are invited to participate using …
Henry Pilch and his brother Finley, both from South Carolina, pose with event organizer Gary Tallacksen of the Conover Lions Club and “Marvin,” the grand prize fish. Lax Reproductions will mount the catch.
The Conover Lions Club and Headwaters Chapter Muskie Inc. held their annual Take A Kid Fishing event on Sunday, June 22, at Conover Town Park. Open to children 12 and under, the event centered around …

More Conover and Land O' Lakes news

Phelps
Pauleyn Nystrom of the Phelps Fire Department Auxiliary is collecting community donations to enhance this year’s Fourth of July fireworks show.
Every year, Pauleyn Nystrom of the Phelps Fire Department Auxiliary collects donations for the Phelps Fourth of July fireworks display, above and beyond what is included in the town …
Phelps will celebrate the Fourth of July with many festivities, including a Grand Parade, live music, games, food vendors, raffles, a boat parade, and fireworks at dusk.
The annual Phelps Fourth of July celebration will take place on Friday, July 4, with festivities kicking off at 3 p.m. with the Grand Parade. Parade participants — including floats, vintage …

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Sayner and St Germain
The Pedal in the Pines bike ride will take place Saturday, July 12, starting at the St. Germain Community Park. Participants can choose from a 9- or 18-mile trail ride or a 35-mile road ride through …
WALK IN THE WOODS — Despite dreary, chilly conditions, vendors, artisans and crafters were able to display their unique goodies at the 18th annual Walk in the Woods Art Fair in St. Germain last weekend.
Despite dreary, chilly conditions, vendors, artisans and crafters were able to display their unique goodies at the 18th annual Walk in the Woods Art Fair in St. Germain last weekend.

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Three Lakes
Last year’s raffle was a big success, awarding nearly $3,000 to the winner.
The Three Lakes Historical Society is excited to announce that the Lions Club has graciously invited them back for a third year to host a 50/50 raffle during the Fourth of July parade on Friday, July …
The Three Lakes Historical Society will bring back a crowd favorite this summer, with its popular Fish Boil set to return Saturday, July 5, on the grounds of the Three Lakes Historical Museum. The …

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Not that you asked, but...
News-Review columnist Eric Johnson was among the 11 million daily viewers who watched the classic Gene Rayburn iteration of the game show Match Game, which made its debut 52 years ago on July 2, 1973. Once the highest-rated daytime TV show, with ratings that even surpassed some prime-time shows, Johnson's unused ticket for a 1977 Match Game taping still rekindles memories of his fondness for the Rayburn-hosted 1973-1982 iteration, which, for better or worse, shaped his childhood years as an after-school latch-key kid.
“If you were happy every day of your life, you wouldn’t be a human being, you’d be a game show host. — American journalist Gabriel Heatter (1890-1972) If you answered …
“Breaker One, Breaker One, I might be crazy, but I ain’t dumb! Craaazy Cooter comin’ at ya! Ya’ll home on the Hazzard net? Come on.” — American actor, politician, …

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Step back in time at Three Lakes Pioneer Days

Residents and visitors alike are invited to step into the shoes of Wisconsin’s early settlers during Three Lakes Pioneer Days, a hands-on, family-friendly event set for Tuesday, July 22, from …

Phelps High School student Alivia Jones stands with her team’s award-winning Chapter Display project.

Phelps students win gold at SkillsUSA nationals

Students from Phelps High School recently earned gold in the Chapter Display contest at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held June 23–27 in Atlanta, Ga. Alivia …

Photos: Fun at the circus

The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus brought thrills to Eagle River on July 4 with two high-energy shows at the Vilas County Fairgrounds, packed with trapeze artists, clowns, tightwire stunts, …

Roots and Shoots to host annual Garden Tour

The Roots and Shoots Northwoods Garden Club (formerly the Vilas County Master Gardeners) will host its seventh annual Garden Tour on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Eagle River area, …

Great Headwaters Trails Foundation to host fundraisers ahead of Ride with Leinie event

The Great Headwaters Trails Foundation (GHTF) will host two special fundraising events leading up to its annual Ride with Leinie bicycle ride set for Saturday, July 26, in Conover. The pre-ride …

Photos: Chain Skimmers benefit

The Chain SkimmersWater Ski Team performed on the waters of Lake Pleasant north of Conover last Saturday evening. With a show theme inspired by the television show "Game of Thrones" and other …

Eagle River Twisted History Tour opens for 11th summer season

While vacationers like visiting the Eagle River Area for some fun on the lake, there is some eerie history lurking beneath Main Street, and all of it is brought to life by a single woman who has made …

Play-It-Forward fundraiser raises $18K for Northwoods Children’s Museum

The Northwoods Children’s Museum (NCM) held its first in-person fundraiser in five years on June 9 at Riverstone Brewing Company in Eagle River. The Play-It-Forward Fundraiser welcomed 65 …

C&M Circus stops by Eagle River next week

The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus will travel to Wisconsin next week and will perform two shows at the Vilas County Fairgrounds on Friday, July 4, at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Showtimes will be in the …

Photos: Three Lakes Shootout

An excited crowd and high-powered boats gathered on Big Stone Lake last Saturday for the annual Three Lakes Shootout. Some competing craft were capable of reaching nearly 130 MPH, with some of the …

Taste of Conover set this Sunday

The 18th annual Taste of Conover will take place this Sunday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Conover Town Park. Restaurants, taverns, and local businesses will serve up fan favorites and …

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Sports

Three Lakes pickleball tournament set this weekend

The Three Lakes Pickleball Tournament is set for this weekend at Don Burnside Park. Action on the pickleball courts will start Saturday morning.
Pickleball enthusiasts of all ages will head to Three Lakes this Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, for the 11th annual Three Lakes pickleball tournament, scheduled at Don Burnside Park.  …

Babe Ruth Prep goes 3-0 for the week

The Eagle River Babe Ruth Baseball Prep League team (13u) went perfect in a trio of home games last week, winning all three contests.    They started the week with a doubleheader …

Snellenberger grabs big IMCA stock car payday

It ended up being a big payday for former track champion Rod Snellenberger, of Pulaski, who won the IMCA stock car feature last Tuesday at Eagle River Speedway and went home with an extra $1,000. He …

7v7 summer football

WIAA advisory council votes down shot clock, tournament expansion

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) advisory council shot down multiple new basketball recommendations early this week, which were made by the WIAA Basketball Coaches …

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senior spotlight
Mia Tulowitzky
The Senior Spotlight series will highlight the senior athletes in the area around the communities of Eagle River, Three Lakes, and Phelps. This week, Mia Tulowitzky of the Northland Pines girls …
Jonathan Miller
The Senior Spotlight series will highlight the senior athletes in the area around the communities of Eagle River, Three Lakes, and Phelps. This week, Jonathan Miller, a three-sport athlete with …
Hayden Demerath
The Senior Spotlight series will highlight the senior athletes in the area around the communities of Eagle River, Three Lakes, and Phelps. This week, Three Lakes-Laona Wabeno senior wrestler Hayden …

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Sideline Scoop
The NBA free agency period started June 30, and the Milwaukee Bucks were in the headlines early and often last week after making plenty of moves in the opening few days.  While the team …
The question of whether the WIAA should implement a shot clock into high school basketball has been a debate for years, and has been shot down in numerous votes over years as well. Most recently, the …
With the high school sports season officially in the rearview until August, there were a few cool golfing events I attended last week that I got to reflect on.  Ladies golf in the North …

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outdoors

State’s spring drumming survey shows grouse numbers still high

Spring survey results for pheasant and ruffed grouse show promise for fall hunting opportunities.
Statewide ruffed grouse drumming activity this spring decreased 6.6% from 2024 levels based on roadside surveys done by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a decline so slight that biologists …

Smallmouth bass harvest opens in Northern Zone

The 2025-2026 smallmouth bass fishing season for the Northern Bass Management Zone opened Saturday, June 21, and will run through March 1, 2026. While anglers in the southern zone have been able to …

Deer habitat grants issued for western Upper Peninsula

Six grants have been awarded to western Upper Peninsula organizations to improve hundreds of acres of land to support the deer population through a matching grant program partially funded by Michigan …

DNR urges drivers to slow down for nesting turtles

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages the public to slow down on roadways for turtles that are emerging from waterways to nest. According to the DNR, Wisconsin’s 11 …
While many geese have been raising goslings for weeks inland, this Lake Michigan area Canada goose was still on the nest last Sunday.

Solid season expected on Lake Michigan

More salmon stocked by the states, better natural recruitment of wild-born fish and favorable weather — including milder winters allowing better baitfish survival — all likely played a …

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In the Outdoors
Wisconsin's state fish is the muskellunge, but the most-caught is the ready, willing and tasty bluegill. .—Photo by Kevin Naze
If there’s one fish that takes me back to my fishing roots more than a half-century ago, it’s the bluegill. So it was a flashback treat when my oldest daughter joined me on a short outing …
Whitetail fawns are growing fast. This one was photographed last week.
You don’t have to hunt ducks to purchase a Federal Waterfowl Stamp. That was one of the messages Friday to bird watchers, stamp collectors and others after the 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird …
Wisconsin ranks in the top 5 states for non-resident fishing license sales, trailing only Florida, Montana, Colorado and Alaska most years. Boaters need to be aware of best practices to prevent moving aquatic invasive species from one waterbody to another.
Are you ready, Steve? (Uh-huh). Andy? (Yeah). Mick? (Okay). Alright, fellas, let’s go! OK. I’m dating myself. But it got your attention, right? “Ballroom Blitz” by The Sweet …

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FISHING WITH THE GUIDES
We’re now in the heart of summer up here, with vacation crowds, heavy boat traffic, and classic North Woods weather — warm days and cooler nights. The Fourth of July always brings a lot …
As we roll into the holiday week, summer is in full swing in the North Woods. It’s been a classic mix of sun, storms, humidity, and a few refreshing cool nights — just enough variation to keep …
After a stretch of hot, stormy weather, we’re settling into a true North Woods summer — warm days and cooler nights, scattered rain, and a level of humidity that makes the fish (or the …

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Police, Court and Real Estate Reports
Police Reports
Vilas County Sheriff The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office reported a total of 357 incidents last week, which included 82 911 hangups, one abandoned vehicle report, seven car versus deer accidets, …
Vilas County Sheriff The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office reported a total of 259 incidents last week, which included 38 911 hang ups, 12 car versus deer accidents, one personal injury accident, …
Vilas County Sheriff The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office failed to submit an incident report before the press deadline for this week’s publication. Eagle River Police The Eagle River Police …

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Court Reports
Clanci St Germaine, 30, of Lac du Flambeau, was given two years of probation with conditions on one felony charge of maintaining a drug trafficking place and one misdemeanor bail jumping charge. …
Maribeth Whitewing, 41, of Wittenberg, was sentenced to three years of probation with conditions at a sentencing hearing on one felony charge of issuing worthless checks (>$2,500). Judge Daniel …
Lawrence Thompson, 39, of Lac du Flambeau, pleaded guilty to three drug-related felony charges and one felony bail-jumping charge at a plea/sentencing hearing last week. Thompson was sentenced to 12 …

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Real Estate Report
June 26, 2025 Arthur L. Horton and Yvonne L. Horton to Deborah J. Arpke, unit 2 of plat 782 in Eagle Estates IX Condominium, $907.50. Daniel M. Hillmann and Toni L. Hillmann to Joseph E. Kelly and …
June 20, 2025 Timothy T. Tomasovich to Anchor LLC, gov lot 4 in 26-40-8, $1,410. Alexander Akkurt to Brooke A. Sorensen, SE NE in 33-40-8, $97.50. John E. Trudell to Chad Trudell, Keith Trudell, Luke …
June 12, 2025 William H. and Harriet Hirschauer/Walker Revocable Trust, Harriet and William H. Walker/Hirschauer Revocable Trust, Trustee William H. Hirschauer and Trustee Harriet Walker to LNK North …

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obituaries
Bruce Skofronick
On October 29, 2024, Bruce Skofronick passed away at his home in Eagle River, WI, at the age of 87.    Bruce was born February 16, 1937, in Merrill, WI, the son of Gust and Esther. …
Dorothy Wenzel
Dorothy Wenzel Dorothy F. Wenzel, of St. Germain, died on June 27, 2025. She was 99. Born November 1, 1925.  …
Barbara Grzywacz
Barbara Grzywacz Barbara A. (Ann) Grzywacz of Huxley, IA, passed June 25, 2025, at Israel Family Hospice House (Ames, IA). Age 83.   Barbara was born May 2, 1942, in Custer, WI. …
Billie Aline Harvey Wiggenhauser  
SAYNER-   Billie Aline Harvey Wiggenhauser, beloved mother, stepmother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend, passed away on June 24, 2025. …
Mary Raker
Mary Raker Mary Lou Raker, 82, of Iron River, MI, passed away on April 28, 2025, at her daughter’s home following illness. …

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