Fritsch: Finding his calling

“I tend to tell people when they ask, ‘Hey, did your dad ever hold any records?’ Well, yeah, he kicked the 52-yard field goal in New York… and it was just like a snap, a hold, and he was a …

With TFT’s $85,000 Match Challenge, donations made begfore the end of the year go twice as far to cover program fees, field gear, and meals for visiting K-12 students. Here, Environmental Educator Todd Starling helps young curious minds discover forest ecology firsthand.

Trees For Tomorrow launches TFT4All year-end campaign

Trees For Tomorrow (TFT), the accredited environmental education center headquartered in Eagle River, has announced the launch of its TFT4All: Fueling Our Growth year-end fundraising initiative. …

Taking part in the check presentation are, from left, Neal Adams, Cheryl Adams and Gary Meister, GHTF directors at large; Steve Doyen, Phelps town chairman; Chris Stark, GHTF secretary; Laura Van Valkenberg, GHTF president; Karl Jennrich, Conover town chairman; and Steve Waier, Maureen Robinson, Jeremy Ryan and Mary Ann Holcomb, Phelps town supervisors.

Conover, Phelps receive funding for hosting GHTF’s Ride With Leinie

Town officials gathered with representatives of the Great Headwaters Trails Foundation (GHTF) earlier this month to take part in a presentation of $5,000 to the towns of Phelps and Conover. Each …

On Gravity

Dear Reader, There’s a peculiar comfort in floating—in those moments when ideas soar, ambitions lift us skyward, and possibilities seem limitless. We drift among clouds of our own making, …

Mike Maierle, GHTF volunteer and River Trail Project team lead, presents an update on the River Trail project to a packed room at Cloverland Town Hall during the Oct. 22 grant celebration.

GHTF welcomes ‘packed room’ to celebrate $1.3 mil TAP grant

CLOVERLAND — A packed room gathered in the Town of Cloverland on Oct. 22 to celebrate a major milestone for Northwoods trail enthusiasts: a nearly $1.3 million state grant to construct the first …

News

Three amendment questions to appear on Nov. 3 ballot

In addition to candidate races, all Wisconsin voters will decide three proposed statewide constitutional amendments appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot. • Question 1 (Partial Veto Limit): Proposed …

Rep. Swearingen, Van Buren face off for Assembly seat

Voters in Vilas and Oneida counties will decide representation for Wisconsin’s 34th Assembly District …
Michael Alfonso, Fred Clark on ballot for 7th District Congressional race

Voters across northern Wisconsin will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to choose a new representative …
Utility disconnection moratorium starts Nov. 1

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is encouraging electric and natural gas utility …
Eagle River voters to see term limit question on ballot

City of Eagle River voters will consider a local ordinance referendum establishing term limits for the …

Voters to decide open governor’s seat, statewide offices on Nov. 3

With two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers declining to seek re-election, the battle for …
Eagle River airport gets entry refresh

All three primary entrances to the Eagle River Union Airport will soon get a facelift with new lift …
Water conservation meeting set Friday in Boulder Junction

The 2026 Vilas County Lakes Conservation Partners will hold an informational meeting this Friday, …

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Events Calendar

Three Lakes High School senior Garrett Mandli, left, stands with volunteers Jackson Bender, also a senior, and freshman Trygg Alsager at Don Burnside Park on Oct. 11, where eight Autumn Blaze maple trees were planted as part of Mandli’s Eagle Scout project. The project replaced ash trees lost to emerald ash borer. —Staff Photos By CHRISTINA BRANDMEIER

Eagle Scout project brings new trees to Three Lakes park

Participants take part in the annual Pedal in the Pines bike ride in July, one of the fundraising events benefiting St. Germain Silent Trails. The nonprofit organization, which supports local nonmotorized trails, is seeking new members and volunteers to help with trail maintenance, events and fundraising efforts. —Contributed Photos

St. Germain Silent Trails seeks members to support trail maintenance, recreation

A camera inside the crate allowed the audience to watch as Houdini escaped his straitjacket and captured Hera, the inland taipan snake. —Photos By Bob Hughes

Aron Houdini performs daring escape

A festive group poses at last year’s haunted house. Sprecksel Slaughterhouse returns to Rhinelander Oct. 30–31 for its 13th season, offering Halloween scares while raising funds for local veterans through VFW Post 3143. —Photo By Cloe Rae Photography

Sprecksel Slaughterhouse returns for 13th season, supports veterans

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Thompson runs her way to Wisconsin Rapids

Northland Pines freshman Ryleigh Thompson continued her strong freshman cross-country season by qualifying for the 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Meet after placing in the D2 sectional race at …

Lucas Riker, playing in his final game as a member of the Bluejays, battles for a loose ball and completes a pass before being knocked down by a Warrior defender in the regional playoff game last week at Amery High School.

Bluejays exit soccer playoffs with heads high

The Three Lakes-Phelps boys varsity soccer team was eliminated from the WIAA D4 regional playoffs last week following a 6-0 loss to the Warriors of Amery High School. Hopes were high coming into the …

Bluejays advance two to state cross country meet

The Three Lakes-Phelps cross country team celebrated last Saturday at the WIAA D3 sectional race at Rosholt High School, as senior Nolan Waltz and sophomore Bekah Koch qualified as individuals for …

Eagles nearly upset top-seeded Marathon in regional final

The No.4-seeded Northland Pines varsity volleyball team ended its season in heartbreak after pushing top-seeded Marathon to the absolute limit last Saturday on the road in a thrilling five-set …

Senior Jackson Olejniczak chases a ball down as two Washburn defenders close in out of frame.

Eagles continue their push for state tournament

With a big target on its back heading into the playoffs, the Northland Pines varsity boys’ soccer team worked through the regional round last week, which ended with a regional championship plaque …

Bluejays football team racks up 13 all-conference honors

Officials in the Northwoods-East Conference released their annual all-conference selections for the 2026 season last week, and six members of the Three Lakes-Phelps varsity football team walked away …

Bluejays cruise to regional championship on volleyball court

The Three Lakes varsity volleyball team had the pleasure of playing in front of a home crowd during the regional rounds of the WIAA playoffs as a No. 2 seed in D4 play. The Bluejays beat Spencer in …

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Northland Pines senior Dylan Kleffman was one of 18 seniors on the Northland Pines football team who just celebrated a 17-0 win over Crandon on senior night a few weeks ago. Kleffman stepped …

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Packerland

Fritsch: Tuffy arrives, Fritsch departs

“They called him ‘Tuffy’ in his playing days — this Mr. Gene Ronzani, who today became the second head coach in the 31-year history of the Green Bay Packers,” Green Bay Sportswriter Art …

Fritsch: The end of the Lambeau era

Throughout the 1948 and 1949 seasons, Fritsch continued to steadily perform for the Packers under head coach, Curly Lambeau, as the team first slipped to fourth in the Western Division and then …

Fritsch: Tackled by fate

In 1945, Dad had an injury to his knee, and of course you go to the hospital, and you get it taken care of. He had an X-ray done,” explained Ted Fritsch’s son, Tom. “In 1946, he had that …

Fritsch: The Packers’ expensive experiment

In 1946, the Packers purchased a picturesque 53-acre compound built in 1937 for the Green Bay-area Norbertine order. The $32,000 purchase was approved by the board of directors in May as a …

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Sideline Scoop

Twelve former Packers nominated for 2026 Pro Football HOF

The 128 nominations for the 2026 Pro Hall of Fame were announced last week, which included 12 former Green Bay Packer players. Nominees include receivers Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson, …

Staying in touch with the Windigo

It’s that time of the year again when hockey teams in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) hit the ice for a regular season that will run into April. Normally, I’d be all set with …

Packers completely dismantle the Lions

The Green Bay Packers opened the new NFL season with a dominant 27-13 win over the visiting Detroit Lions last Sunday. It really wasn’t a question of whether Green Bay was going to win, as they …

More Sideline Scoop

Eibner and Busha pose partway through the hunt with Labrador retrievers Ellie and Daisy. .—Photo By the Retired Scribbler

A fine day to hunt pheasants at Laona’s Heritage Hunt Club

A fine day to hunt pheasants at Laona’s Heritage Hunt Club It turns out that getting friends together who share a passion for shotguns, dogs and birds takes nothing more than a phone call, and …

Tournament winner Bill White of Ringle hoists his 48.75-inch muskie caught on Lac Vieux Desert. —Contributed Photos

Phelps muskie tourney draws record number of anglers

Phelps muskie tourney draws record number of anglers Four biggest fish pulled from Lac Vieux Desert The Phelps Chamber of Commerce has announced that Bill White of Ringle is the …

Harmon Marien, a graduate of Northland Pines High School, has secured the title of Angler of the Year in the Northern Division. Here, Marien is shown celebrating his first-ever top-three finish on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.

Marien earns Angler of the Year title in Northern Division series

Eagle River’s Harmon Marien has won Angler of the Year in the Northern Division of the Major League Fishing Toyota Series. This award is based on regular-season points standings across the …

Youth anglers encouraged to participate in Sugar Camp Muskie Classic Sept. 12

Anglers are invited to sign up for the upcoming Sugar Camp Muskie Classic, a one-day catch and release fishing tournament that aims to promote youth participation in the sport of muskie fishing. …

Bonus antlerless tags on sale now

Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations for the 2026 gun deer season are available for purchase online through the Wisconsin DNR’s Go Wild license portal and at license sales locations. …