Wolves kill two hunting dogs in Minocqua

MINOCQUA— Federal wildlife officials have verified that a pack of wolves killed two hunting dogs in Oneida County on Sept. 18, prompting warnings for hunters operating in wolf-occupied territory. …

Local teams open week strong as end of regular season nears

With about two weeks left in the regular season for local fall sports teams, wins highlighted the early-week schedule for many as teams continue to strengthen their resumes ahead of the seeding …

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Three Lakes senior Keira Bollmann is a two-sport athlete for the Bluejays. When she ends volleyball in the fall, she also plays soccer in the spring and uses it as something to keep in shape …

Plenty of food, fun and shopping on tap this weekend in Eagle River

Nights are crisp and cool, the fall foliage is starting to change, and organizers are busy getting ready for Eagle River’s famous Cranberry Fest which arrives this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4. …

Suicide Prevention Month reminds those struggling that help exists

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, but suicide prevention is a year-round commitment. This can be especially true for people who live in the Northwoods and other rural areas where the …

Northland Pines freshman Ryleigh Thompson runs to a third-place finish in the varsity girls' race at Big Stone Golf Course in Three Lakes.

Six Pines runners podium in Merrill

The Northland Pines varsity cross country teams have formed into a strong pack as the season heads into the final stretch of the regular season. That bond helped the Eagles during two meets last …

Three Lakes angler wins PMTT championship, $58k grand prize

Pete Blicharz (right) and Jared Donar took top honors and $58,000 in prizes for their first-place win.

The Northwoods had an excellent showing during the Professional Musky Tournament Trail (PMTT) 2026 Recon Boats World Championship held at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota earlier this month. Peter …

$3.2 million price tag on proposed forestry building raises eyebrows

After volleys of discussion by supervisors of the Vilas County board, they gave approval for a new forestry department building not to exceed $3.2 million during its Sept. 22 meeting. Directly …

Hydrant flushing begins next Wednesday morning

Eagle River Light and Water Utility will perform an aggressive flushing of the water system beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30. Hydrants on the south side of the bridge will be flushed Wednesday …

Registration open now for snomo safety course

Wisconsin DNR-certified snowmobile safety instructors will lead a snowmobile safety education class, sponsored by the Sno-Eagles Snowmobile Club, in Eagle River next month in preparation for the …

Vitality Physical Therapy center opens in Eagle River to offer personalized care

Chamber officials and the owners of Vitality Physical Therapy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month. Taking part in the ceremony are, from left, Joyce Hauser, chamber member and visitor coordinator; Samantha and Dylan Weber and their two kids; and Abbey Gatlin, chamber executive director.

The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest member, Vitality Physical Therapy, with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month at the clinic’s location, 425 W Mill …

Marien earns Angler of the Year title in Northern Division series

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.

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 …

Meat raffle at Sweetwaters Sept. 27 to support WWIA

Wounded Warriors in Action (WWIA), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will hold its annual meat raffle Sunday, Sept. 27, at Sweetwater Spirits and Resort. The even runs from noon to 4 p.m. and …

Zoning committee approves 12-month data center moratorium

The Vilas County Zoning and Planning Committee voted unanimously to support an ordinance that would install a temporary, 12-month moratorium on permitting and development of data centers, battery …

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The Three Lakes Fire Department Auxiliary’s popular bakery table featured an assortment of homemade pies and other baked goods at last year’s Pumpkin Fest. —Staff Photo By MICHELLE DREW

Pumpkin Fest returns Oct. 10

A fiber artist demonstrates spinning yarn during last year’s Cranberry Fest in Eagle River. The Lake Country Weavers and Fiber Artists Guild will return with its annual exhibit and sale Saturday, Oct. 3, at First Congregational Church of Christ. —Staff Photo By CHRISTINA BRANDMEIER

Fiber art exhibit, book sale planned during Cranberry Fest

Fresh produce and flowers from vendors the Khang family created a colorful display at the Eagle River Farmers Market last Wednesday as the market nears the end of its 2026 season. —Staff Photos By CHRISTINA BRANDMEIER

Farmers market closes out colorful season

Events Calendar

PILES OF PUMPKINS — St. Germain hosted its 68th annual Colorama event Saturday. Nonprofit organizations, craft and food vendors, and car enthusiasts all gathered at the community park for the event. Gourds of all shapes, sizes and colors were on sale, as were fall foods like fresh apples, and the Mums the Word flower sale. —Staff Photos By MICHELLE DREW

Photos: St. Germain Colorama

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Offense can’t keep up with Crivitz in 35-14 road defeat

The Northland Pines varsity football team struggled to keep up with the Crivitz offense’s scoring in a 35-14 road defeat last Friday after entering the game off a victory over Manawa. …

Owen Liebscher makes a backfield tackle of Rib Lake quarterback during the fourth-quarter action last week at Three Lakes High School.

Late rally denies Bluejays senior night victory

The Three Lakes-Phelps varsity football team took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter last Friday before falling 28-20 to the Redmen of Rib Lake High School. The Bluejays were looking to string …

Junior Rylee Glembin paces by herself as she runs between the first and second mile during the races.

Waltz pulls away to claim Three Lakes Invite title

Nolan Waltz had home-field advantage last week at the Three Lakes cross-country invite, as he took home first place overall in the varsity boys’ division. He battled with Lakeland’s Charlie Ernst …

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

This week’s senior spotlight returns to the gridiron, where Three Lakes-Phelps football senior Garrett Mandli opened his three-sport year. When he’s not on the football field in the fall, …

Three Bluejay runners medal in Wausau

The Three Lakes-Phelps cross country team had another strong showing at the large Smiley Invite in Wausau this past weekend, with three athletes medaling. Senior Nolan Waltz finished runner-up …

Thompson, Miller lead Pines at Smiley Invite

A week after a massive night race in Neenah on Sept. 11, the Northland Pines cross country teams were led by freshman and senior runners Ryleigh Thompson and Ethan Miller at the always-large, …

Lucas Riker of Bluejays works his way past Saints defenders on his way to scoring the first goal of the game during the 7-0 victory over Faith Christian Academy last week.

Bluejays soccer team sits on three-game win streak

The Three Lakes-Phelps boys varsity soccer team had another period of scoring success as they took three of four games last week by earning 21 total goals. After losing a close 3-2 road match against …

Bluejays receiver Owen Liebscher makes an acrobatic one-handed touchdown catch late in the first half of the game last week at Wausaukee High School.

Liebscher builds new highlight reel as Jays trounce Wausaukee

The Three Lakes-Phelps varsity football team defeated the Rangers of Wausaukee High School 44-0 on the road last Friday night. This was the second shutout victory for the Bluejays in the last three …

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senior spotlight

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Xavier Gaffny is one of the returning starters for the Northland Pines varsity football team this season. As he enters his senior season in both football and track and field, Gaffny hopes to finish …

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Tucker Brock is one of many senior leaders on an upperclassmen-led Northland Pines varsity football team this season. Brock can be seen this upcoming season carrying the rock out of the backfield and …

Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

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 …

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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 …

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Ted Fritsch with Packers Head Coach Curly Lambeau

Fritsch: A three-way deal

“Individual accountability” needed for Packers to bounce back

Fritsch: Walking off the roost

Struggling through pain, Fritsch still landed first in rushing, second in scoring and first in kickoff returns for the 1945 Packers team.

Fritsch: An asset to the team

The Oshkosh All-Stars were an American professional basketball team based in Oshkosh, that played from 1929 to 1949. Fritsch is pictured in the front row, second from left in 1946-47.

Fritsch: Good clean play

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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. …

Public invited to take part in free bog investigation Sugar Camp

Registration is open now for Northwoods Land Trust's free bog hike and exploration event at Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area in Sugar Camp.

Northwoods Land Trust will host a bog investigation at Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area in Sugar Camp Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The event will start at the access point near the …

Northwoods Alliance, Ottawa forest to host land conservation meeting

With the approaching completion of the 1,300-acre Border Lakes Forest Legacy project in the town of Land O’ Lakes, Northwoods Alliance invites the public to an informative program citing project …

Free fishing seminars offered for area youth

Free fishing seminars for children ages 5 to 13 will be held Saturday, July 25, and Saturday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Vilas County Fairgrounds. Members of Headwaters Chapter 12 of …

Invasives partnership to hold workshop, annual meeting

Invasives partnership to hold workshop, annual meeting The Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership (WHIP) will host its summer workshop and annual meeting Friday, July 24, from 8:30 a.m. …

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In the Outdoors

You only get one season

You only get one season The creek came nearly to her knees as she worked her way upstream through a tunnel of tag alders. Her middle brother led the way, ducking beneath branches as if he’d …