Vilas County, WI

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently awarded $125 million in grants for broadband expansion projects. That includes $5.4 million spread across three projects in Vilas County. A $2.6 million grant will bring broadband to nearly 1,000 homes and businesses across Arbor Vitae, Cloverland, Conover and Lincoln. Another, for $1.9 million,...

The Vilas County highway committee approved six areas along Hwy H in the town of Boulder Junction for development of proposed bike trail. It will be an eight-foot wide, paved 3.5 mile bike trail from Hwy K to North Creek road. Non-motorized vehicles, including skateboards and electric wheelchairs, will be...

A lawyer hired by Vilas County found “no actionable causes to pursue a discrimination complaint” in regard to misogynistic allegations made last fall by seven female department heads. But the investigation found those women to be credible in their complaints. As WXPR reported last October, the seven female...

A fire destroyed a home in Lac du Flambeau. A Langlade County man is dead after a car hit him while riding a moped. Vilas County investigation finds problems in the workplace, offers improvements. Life Link III holds open house to celebrate one year of being based in Rhinelander.

Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath is used to seeing heavy traffic in the Northwoods around this time of year. “This will be our busiest week, probably of the whole summer, in the next week or two," said Sheriff Fath. “Obviously there’s a lot of people in the county. A lot of tourists are here. A lot of people that have homes are staying here either longer or more frequently.”

EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (WSAW) - A 24-year-old Lac du Flambeau woman charged with hit and run involving death after she struck a man with her SUV and killed him has pleaded not guilty. Laurie Wildcat remains in the Vilas County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. She appeared in court...

VILAS COUNTY, Wis. (WJFW)- On Sunday, a golf event was held at Trout Lake Golf Club. For most, it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. But for one family, it was a way to prove that something positive can still prevail from a tragedy. Golf, a fun sport...

VILAS COUNTY - Vilas County is bringing in almost $5 and half million for high speed broadband. The money was made available from three grants that the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation applied for. About $2 million will go to Presque Isle; about $2 and half million will go to...

EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (WSAW) - A 24-year-old Lac du Flambeau woman is charged with hit and run involving death after she struck a man with her SUV and killed him. Laurie Wildcat remains in the Vilas County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. She was formally charged Monday. Investigators said Wildcat was impaired at the time of the crash. A 31-year-old man died at the scene.

Thank you for entering the Heart of Vilas County Bike Boulder Junction Sweepstakes! We’ll be selecting a winner later this summer, so keep an eye on your email to see if you’ve won.

Arbor Vitae, Wis. (WSAW) - The Vilas County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a crash that fatally injured a pedestrian. It happened around 1 a.m. Thursday on Highway 51 near State Highway 70 East. That location is near Little Muskie Lake. Investigators said the driver of the vehicle was impaired...

Update: Police have released the names of those involved. A pedestrian died in Arbor Vitae after being hit early this morning. The driver has been arrested. The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office says they got a 9-1-1 call at 12:46 a.m. Thursday, reporting a vehicle had hit a pedestrian on Highway 51, north of Highway 70.

MINOCQUA, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – Northwoods counties saw visitor spending increase by millions of dollars in 2021 from 2020. Several even beat 2019 which was a record setting year. Oneida and Vilas counties both fall into that category. In 2019, visitors spent more than $241 million in Oneida County. In...

NORTHWOODS - Most of the Newswatch 12 viewing area can expect severe weather Wednesday afternoon, and a tornado watch is in effect for Vilas County and all counties south and west of Vilas County until 10:00 Wednesday night. 70MPH winds are expected as well as golf ball sized hail. Torrential rainfall and localized flash flooding will also be possible according to the National Weather Service. Tune in to Newswatch 12 for the latest storm information from our Weather Watch 12 team.