A rate increase of 50% for Eagle River water users was approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and will provide an additional $163,907 in revenue to the city light and water department beginning with the June billing, bringing yearly earnings to $601,145.

In its ruling the PSC stated “this will provide the municipality with sufficient earnings on its investment . . . and maintain confidence in the utilities financial integrity without resulting in rates to customers that are excessive.”

A request by Headwaters Trails to erect a bench on the Conover-Phelps bike trail and memorialize an individual prompted a long discussion. It ended with the Vilas County forestry committee voting 4-1 to not allow any memorials on county lands. Existing memorials can remain, but county corporation counsel was directed to draft a formal resolution for the June committee meeting.

Minocqua should join surrounding cities in enacting a new sales tax known as PRAT, or premier resort area tax, according to supporters who say the tax would reduce the local real estate tax burden or slow its growth.

The PRAT proposal calls for a half cent on the dollar (0.05%) tax on items that tourists or visitors typically purchase, lease or rent when coming to a resort area. The state Department of Revenue estimates Minocqua could collect over $640,000 annually from the PRAT.

An additional five students will be allowed to enroll in the Lakeland Star Academy, a charter school for high school-age autism students, which opens this fall on the Lakeland Union High School campus in Minocqua.

A member of the body that oversees the charter schools said his group is fundraising and will help shoulder any extra cost associated with those five other students.

One person was killed and another seriously injured late Saturday afternoon following a high-speed chase that resulted in a crash.

The Wisconsin State Patrol reports the Shawano County Sheriff's Department was pursuing a vehicle traveling more than 90 miles per hour along U.S. 45 near Old 26 road south of Antigo.

The vehicle rolled over about one mile into Langlade county before Shawano ended the pursuit.

The driver, 35 year old Stacey King of Green Bay was killed and a passenger of Antigo was taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital with life-threatening injuries.