The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Forest County Clerk of Court Tom Kalkofen retires after 20 years. Potawatomi Tribal Clerk of Court Penny Carter took over for Kalkofen.

The Crandon City Police Department added a third full-time officer to their staff courtesy of a $54,712 check donated to the department from the Forest County Potawatomi.

Sharon Statezny purchased a winning Powerball ticket from Schaefer's Food Mart in Crandon, winning $30,000.

The Potawatomi Business Development Corporation announced the purchase of Advancia Corporation of Oklahoma City, allowing the tribe to participate in the Federal Government contracting arena.

The Butternut-Franklin Lakes Archaeological District in the Town of Hiles was recognized both nationally and by the state as a historical landmark.

February

Insufficient amounts of wet snow early in the winter season caused snowmobile trails in Forest County to remain closed until well after the holiday season, leading local businesses to rely on alternative ways of attracting customers.

A special meeting was held to discuss the future of the Forest County Humane Society and develop ideas for potential changes concerning the need for trained personnel at the shelter, the organization's structure and membership and volunteer recruitment.

The Forest County Potawatomi completed the buyout of One Prospect Technologies, making the tribe sole owners of the business. Chairman of the Potawatomi Development Corporation James A. Crawford attributed the buyout to the tribe's desire to expand beyond gaming.

A smoking ordinance restricting the sale or gifts of tobacco products to minors passed at a Forest County Board meeting making it possible for the Forest County Health Department to make unannounced investigations at retail outlets.

March

A Kaukauna man was killed in a snowmobile accident on Pickerel Lake.

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community distributed more than $95,000 to seven local governments in Forest and Langlade counties, including the Forest County Sheriff's Department, Crandon School District, City of Crandon, Post Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District, Town of Elcho Fire and Rescue Department, Town of Nashville and Town of Ainsworth.

Five Wabeno High School students had the chance to compete for a gig at Summerfest and a professional recording session.

The Forest County Potawatomi presented checks totaling more than $41,000 to the Town of Wabeno Fire Department and United Area Rescue Squad to be used for fire protection, a new ambulance and emergency radios.

April

Incumbent Gary Bradley was re-elected as mayor of the City of Crandon.

Crandon Fire Department battled a fire on Indian Settlement Road after a controlled burn earlier in the week.

Former Laona High School football coach Harlen “Harley” Gruber was initiated into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.

Sites were proposed for a dump site in the City of Crandon. The Common Council voted in a later meeting to keep the waste disposal policy it currently had.

May

Juniors from each Forest County School participated in a Building Brighter Futures Conference at Indian Springs Conference Center in Carter.

Historical Red Bridge was raised as part of the road and stream project south of Armstrong Creek. The bridge, built in 1908, was renovated and made to look good as new.

After 60 years of waiting, W.W.II veteran Chester Gryczkowski received his medals for serving overseas in the 95th Division in Europe.

The Crandon Volunteer Fire Department, after purchasing a new thermal imager, donated their old thermal imager to the Argonne Volunteer Fire Department.

Blackwell Job Corps students, staff and Forest Service personnel gathered to plant approximately 400 trees on the Job Corps campus.

June

A special town board meeting was held in Laona to gather input from taxpayers about road repairs and blacktopping issues. Several road were given a 45 ton weight limit year round in addition to seasonal restrictions.

More than 300 tires were found slashed on Goodman resident's vehicles, ATVs and lawnmowers. In some cases, all four tires were slashed.

The first four units of the Glen Park Condominiums in Crandon were completed.

Carl Renezeder of Lake Forest, Cal. won the Potawatomi Chairman's Cup Challenge.

July

Hundreds gathered at the Forest County Potawatomi Health Fair to receive five minute massages, blood sugar testing and glucose testing among other activities.

The Northwoods Veterans and American Legion dedicated a strip of land to the veterans from every branch in the military.

A fire in the United Area Rescue Squad garage in Wabeno set an ambulance ablaze, coming perilously close to causing an explosion that could have destroyed an entire block. The ambulance was totaled.

Forest County Potawatomi Culture Center, Library and Museum opens, offering a variety of Native American literature and historical items to the public.

August

Mole Lake Casino Lodge and Conference Center opens. Tribal representatives say they hope the opening of the hotel will help to make Forest County a destination point.

Blackwell Job Corps students put the finishing touches on the pavilion being built in Newald.

Darlene Edlebeck of Wabeno received a three star blue star banner from the Forest County Detachment of the Marine Corps League for her three children all serving in the military.

Two adults and two juveniles were arrested for their alleged involvement in the burglary of an Armstrong Creek store.

A nearly blind six-year-old Iraqi girl, Zahraa, and her grandmother arrive in Wisconsin so Zahraa could receive cornea transplants. The Crandon Lions Club, Crandon Elementary students and other local organizations raised the funds to bring her to America for the surgery.

September

A powerful thunderstorm overturns a trailer home in Crandon and leaves 3,000 households without power.

The City of Crandon passes an ordinance requiring sex offenders to reside at least 2,000 feet from any location deemed by the city to be a place where children regularly congregate.

Goodman man was charged with allegedly causing damage to 35 vehicles in June.

Goodman Fire Department and Goodman-Armstrong Rescue Squad took delivery of a new thermal imaging camera.

October

Construction engineers put the finishing touches onto the new wooden bridge that crosses the Armstrong Creek.

Off-duty Crandon Police Officer and Forest County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Peterson shoots and kill six young Crandon residents and critically injures another before taking his own life.

An annual barn dance in Armstrong Creek helps to raise money for local organizations.

Wabeno's Lady Logrollers beat out Florence in volleyball regional semi-finals.

Through the combined efforts of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community and the Metonga Lake Association, 5,000 walleye fingerlings were released into Lake Metonga.

November

Members of the Joint Forestry and Sheriff and Justice Committee voted to proceed with the process of creating a Recreational Officer position in Forest County.

The Forest County Potawatomi Community elect former Tribal Chairman Phil Shopodock as their new Tribal Chairman. He replaces Harold “Gus” Frank.

Military Support Group and the Mole Lake Casino gathered donations and care packages to send to military personnel serving overseas.

The Forest County Chambers of Commerce take steps to implement a county-wide room tax at all lodgings that rent rooms for less than 30 days.

December

The Town of Laona purchases 176 acres of National Forest land to be used as a site for an industrial park.

Families of the victims in the October shooting met with lawmakers in an effort to change the requirements necessary for someone to become a police officer.

NEWCAP office offers food pantry, fuel assistance and other services to Forest County families in need.

The Forest County Solid Waste and Recycling Committee met with the Zoning Committee to discuss changes, such as changing recycling companies to save $40 a ton for Forest County towns.

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.