ST. GERMAIN - A judge ruled Vilas County can build a snowmobile trail on the right of way on a St. Germain couple's property.
Tom and Karen Martens filed a lawsuit last fall to stop the trail from crossing their land. The Martens said the statute allowing for trails on right of ways doesn't apply to their land because it was an easement. They also cited safety concerns.
A judge ruled Tuesday the statute does allow for the trail. That means if the Martens don't appeal within 45 days the county can begin construction.
"By the time we go through the permit process again and renewing the contracts, we're probably looking at some time early this spring. We'll hopefully have the trail in place for the 2013-2014 snowmobile year," says Dale Mayo, Vilas County Recreation Administrator.
Tom Martens says they're disappointed in the decision. He and Karen believe if a snowmobile club member lived in their home, the trail would not be considered in that location.
MINOCQUA - These plants may look pretty but they're taking over our rivers and lakes. Michele Sadauskas is Oneida County's Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. She is working to map and control the yellow iris, the plant you see here. She and two other conservation workers spent the day weeding Stacks Bay.
"They invade our wetlands. They're a really robust, aggressive plant. What they do is they crowd out our native species and make actually the wetland a lot less diverse," says Michele Sadauskas, Oneida County AIS Coordinator.
Removing yellow iris is a slow process. It takes three hours of work just to properly map and control 20 feet of shoreline.
MERRILL - Farmers in Lincoln and Langlade Counties may need to make a longer drive or call a different office for USDA services.
The Merrill Service Center will be temporarily split up between Rhinelander, Wausau, and Medford.
The Farm Service Agency will move to the Wausau Service Center and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will be relocated to the Rhinelander and Medford Centers.
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