4/4/2025

MERCER - The names of the two people involved in a single-vehicle crash just south of Mercer have been released. According to a press release, 29-year -old Walker Alan Kempen of Mercer was killed with his vehicle traveling southbound on U.S. 51 left the road and rolled several times at Tower Ridge Road early evening on March 30th. Kempen was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Cole Alan Heniff, 23, of Darien, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff. Law enforcement suspects that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, which is still under investigation.

4/4/2025

LAC DU FLAMBEAU — The Lac Du Flambeau Police Department continues to search for a missing 37-year-old woman last seen on March 17.   Melissa Beson was last seen wearing red sweatpants, a black sleeveless shirt and a gray sweatshirt. Her family reported her missing on March 23 and since finding Beson has been the LDF Police Department's number one priority, according to a Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Tribal Police Department news release.  So far police have conducted numerous ground searches on foot, Newbold Search and Rescue has helped providing trained K-9s and the dogs appeared to pick up her scent near Beson's last known sighting - near Indian Village Road and Chequamegon Forest Trail.   Extensive searches have also been done with drones and an underwater drone has also been used.

4/4/2025

ASHLAND — When Northland College in Ashland closes at the end of May, 112 people will be losing their jobs.  Northland College sent a letter to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) saying that the college will close May 31 and over 100 people will be out of work. The closure is expected to be permanent, the letter said. Northland College announced the abrupt decision to close in February.  Northland College is an environmental liberal arts college open for over 130 years.