Land O’ Lakes correspondent Bob Hughes marks 80th birthday

On a Friday morning three days before his 80th birthday, the News-Review’s longtime Land O’ Lakes correspondent, Bob Hughes, answers the phone at the Bel-Air Motel with a chipper “Good morning” in his signature English accent.

Even after a jam-packed week running the motel he owns and covering Halloween events — including the Witch’s Ball, where he stayed past midnight — Hughes is happy to pause before his milestone birthday to reflect on his many years covering the people and happenings of his corner of the North Woods.

From Birmingham to Bel-Air

Hughes’ path to Land O’ Lakes was anything but ordinary. Born in Birmingham, England, in 1945 at the end of World War II, he served in the military for 15 years and later lived in Portugal for two decades.

After his first wife passed away, he met his current wife, Cheri, online, and together they dreamed of a simpler life in the United States.

“We had an easy drive to work in the morning, but it took over an hour to get home because everyone in Portugal finishes work at seven,” Hughes recalled. “And I said to Cheri, ‘If we’re going to move to America, we’ll find a business where we don’t drive to work.’”

After doing some research, he realized they could afford to buy a motel. The couple set out on a 10,200-mile journey across America, visiting 24 properties before deciding on the White House in Mohawk, Mich. However, the U.P.’s heavy-snow winters had them soon planning a return to England.

Then came the Brexit vote, and new visa complications. So instead of going back, they started searching again for another motel in the States. “And lo and behold, we found the Bel-Air was for sale in Land O’ Lakes.”

Nearly a decade later, Hughes has fallen in love with the town and become one of its most dedicated advocates.

Covering Lando

When he first arrived, he recalled opening up the newspaper and being “appalled” by the lack of news coverage for Land O’ Lakes.

“I always read news,” said Hughes. “I used to work for an English-language newspaper in Portugal, so I’ve always bought local papers. And when we came here, there was nothing at all about Land O’ Lakes in the Vilas County News-Review.”

When he saw the paper was advertising for a correspondent, he applied — and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Gary [Ridderbusch, the editor at the time] said, ‘Welcome aboard,’ and I’ve been on board ever since,” Hughes said. “I love keeping people informed about Land O’ Lakes. It’s where we live, and people respect the fact that I go out of my way to help them.”

For Hughes, “satisfying the people of the town” is the best part of the job — a passion that shows in his coverage and work ethic. He attends nearly every event, large or small, often emailing photos and stories between checking in guests or cleaning rooms at the motel.

“Bob has always been a joy to work with,” said Michelle Drew, the News-Review’s editor. “He does an excellent job keeping on top of community happenings and cataloging them for others. His enthusiasm for his community is admirable, and we at the News-Review, as well as the townspeople of Land O’ Lakes, are blessed to have him.”

Community connections

In addition to running the Bel-Air and contributing to the newspaper, Hughes serves as president of the Land O’ Lakes Public Library Board of Trustees, president of Events 4 Kids — a group that plans activities for area children — and runs the Facebook group Land O’ Lakes Connections.

“My work week is full,” he said with a laugh.

Though busy, Hughes makes time to return to England every year. Still, the slower pace and small-town charm of northern Wisconsin always draw him back — especially, he joked, because of the lack of traffic.

“When we go back to England, we stay with my sister. My daughter lives seven miles away, and it takes over an hour to drive there. And when we fly back here and we’re driving home from the airport, I think, ‘God, we’re in a traffic jam! Look, there are two cars in front of us,’” he said, laughing.

“What we really love here is the quality of the people and the peace and tranquility,” he said.

By the time this story goes to print, Hughes will be 80, having celebrated — where else? — in Land O’ Lakes, at a party at the VFW surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, before diving back into another week of living and reporting in the community he calls home.