SUPERIOR
Douglas County
Gotta Be Superior website misleads visitors with stock images
With reporting by Amorin Mello
Since 2022, Swim Creative, a Duluth marketing firm, has been contracted to promote tourism in the City of Superior. From...
Douglas County
Manion Truss president says he did not deceive workers about plant closure
On Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, Rob Manion, president of Manion Truss & Components in Superior, called all employees to a special meeting. He informed...
Douglas County
Manion Truss to close Dec. 19, eliminating 43 jobs
Manion’s Truss & Components is a building products manufacturer located in Superior, at 1300 Garfield Avenue. Manion’s employs 43 at their Superior location. Manion’s...
Douglas County
Mayor Paine halted zoning application and subsequent land sale, lawsuit alleges
A lawsuit filed in federal court on Oct. 9, 2025 alleges that Superior Mayor Jim Paine and Planning Director Jason Serck improperly used their...
Douglas County
Mayor of Superior proactively bans NDAs minutes after fulfilling Monitor’s data request for NDAs
On Oct. 27, 2025, the Monitor continued its investigation into our local governments’ use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by filing a public records request...
Douglas County
Superior Police Investigator Lerette resigns, as federal lawsuit against City of Superior proceeds
At the regular meeting of the Superior Police and Fire Commission on Oct. 8, 2025, Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt notified commissioners that Officer Mikayla...
Douglas County
Wisconsin Public Defenders Office releases thousands of Social Security numbers to Superior resident in data breach
A Superior resident who requested information from Wisconsin’s Office of the Public Defender (OPD) was recently provided with thousands of OPD clients’ Social Security...
Douglas County
City of Superior receives $250,000 Bunge Dock grant
On Sept. 2, 2025, the Superior Common Council accepted a $250,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The federal funds are intended to...
Douglas County
City of Superior shares no information about internal investigation with Police & Fire Commission
The Aug. 13, 2025, meeting of the City of Superior Police & Fire Commission was the first meeting held in the past three months....
Douglas County
Two Superior police officers under internal investigation; file to be reviewed by “special acting chief”
On July 31, 2025, the Monitor received a tip that two Superior police officers were under investigation, for unknown reasons. We immediately emailed Superior...
Douglas County
City of Superior releases Princess Theater feasibility study
In 2022, the City of Superior purchased two vacant buildings on Tower Avenue, both of which were in disrepair—one that formerly housed Frankie’s Tavern...
Douglas County
As Swim Creative fails to meet social media management goals, City of Superior considers doubling their compensation
On June 25, 2024, the City of Superior’s Tourism Development Commission approved a six-month marketing contract with Swim Creative. For $1,750 per month, Swim...
Douglas County
City of Superior ignored complaints about houses cracking on Ohio Avenue, neighbors say
In February 2024, construction of three new Superior homes began on the 1500 block of Ohio Avenue. After the foundation holes were dug and...
Douglas County
Superior Public Safety Committee recommends spending 50K to resolve “urgent” police department issues
Superior Mayor Jim Paine and City Attorney Frog Prell were in attendance at the Superior Public Safety Committee meeting on April 17, 2025, to...
Douglas County
Former Superior Teachers Union president charged with drunk driving, resisting arrest
At 11 p.m. on March 22, 2025, the Superior Police Department received a report of a red Jeep Cherokee driving erratically and striking curbs...
Douglas County
Superior public defender offers baffling interpretation of statute
When Wisconsin courts issue a summons to someone to appear for a criminal matter, the summons is supposed to be served on the intended...
Douglas County
National Bank of Commerce account holder loses $4,000 to text scam
On Nov. 15, 2024, a Superior resident (who wishes to remain anonymous) visited the website of the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), his financial...
Douglas County
After six crashes in 2024, Superior Public Safety Committee recommends four-way stop at 18th Street and Cumming
On Dec. 19, 2024, at the regular monthly meeting Superior’s Public Safety Committee, City Councilor Ruth Ludwig introduced a resolution which would establish a...
Douglas County
As public records requests proliferate, Superior invests in data compliance software
On Nov. 19, 2024, the Superior Common Council approved an $11,591 annual contract with JustFOIA, a Florida company whose software will help the city...
Douglas County
Construction phase of Allouez Bay marsh restoration nears completion
A marsh restoration project is currently underway at the southern end of Allouez Bay. The purpose of the project is twofold: (1) to remove...
Douglas County
Superior acquires Princess Theatre artifacts at auction
On Oct. 23, 2024, at the regular monthly meeting of Superior’s Historic Preservation Committee, Housing Planner Jeff Skrenes informed committee members that he had...
Douglas County
Lindsay Izzard flipped car at Family Fun Days
On Aug. 17, 2024, Officer Zachary Lind with the Wisconsin State Patrol and City of Superior Police Officer Aaron Lofgren responded to the scene...
Douglas County
Spouse of Douglas County sheriff pleads no contest to OWI
On Aug. 17, 2024, Wisconsin State Trooper Zachary Lind issued 45-year-old Lindsay Izzard a ticket for Operating While Under the Influence in the vicinity...
Douglas County
Tyler Edwards sentenced to 60 days jail time in Superior
On Sept. 1, 2024, after arresting Tyler Edwards for his alleged involvement in the suspicious death of Maxton Gudowski, Duluth police issued a press...
Douglas County
Mayor Paine ties Superior Municipal Forest preservation to family land deal
On July 18, 2024, at the regular quarterly meeting of the City of Superior’s Urban Forestry Tree Board, Mayor Jim Paine reported that he...
Douglas County
Nemadji golf simulators lost 20-50K per month last winter
At the Superior Golf Course Committee meeting on Aug. 22, 2024, Nemadji Golf Course Manager Dan Walker reported that golf course revenue for 2024...
Douglas County
Bong Center seeks to acquire pieces of Marge
Housing a robust collection of artifacts from all branches of the US military, the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, in Superior, is named...
Douglas County
Superior’s “third largest” municipal forest actually nation’s 13th largest
The City of Superior is understandably proud of its municipal forest, an expansive acreage along the St. Louis River Estuary which features the St....
Douglas County
City of Superior has no idea if they approved $1.3 million Swim Creative contract
At their regular meeting on June 25, 2024, the City of Superior’s Tourism Development Commission considered an agenda item which read “Discussion & Approval...
SUPERIOR
Superior officials refuse to discuss cancelled Charlie Berens contract
On March 6, 2024, the City of Superior’s Tourism Development Commission (TDC) voted to recommend approval of a contract with Charlie Berens, a well-known...
SUPERIOR
Superior to pay $1,750 per month for “organic social media management”
“Organic social media” generally refers to the online marketing strategy businesses use to maximize their social media exposure and/or sales without having to pay...
SUPERIOR
Butler Avenue residents frustrated by Superior agenda blunders
On June 20, 2024, at the regular monthly meeting of Superior’s Public Safety Committee, several Butler Avenue residents were present. The committee planned to...
Douglas County
Douglas County Historical Society, Superior Public Museums discuss merger
The City of Superior owns three museum properties—Fairlawn Mansion, the SS Meteor Museum, and the Old Firehouse & Police Museum. Since 1999, the facilities...
Douglas County
Duluth vs. Superior: Who is more transparent?
The Duluth Monitor began reporting on Superior, Wisconsin, in June of 2023, which has given us nearly a year to observe them to date....
Douglas County
Superior City Council considers spending $757,000 more for electric fire truck versus diesel
On March 14, 2024, at the regular meeting of Superior’s Finance Committee, Superior Fire Chief Camron Vollbrecht presented committee members with a proposal for...
Douglas County
Superior stocks up on UV light bulbs for wastewater treatment plant
On Feb. 1, 2024, at the regular meeting of Superior’s Public Works Committee, Public Works Director Todd Janigo explained why the city’s wastewater treatment...
Douglas County
Duluth YMCA takes over management of Superior YMCA, declines to say why
Before Carl Klubertanz was hired as the executive director of the Superior Douglas County Family YMCA, in March of 2022, he spent 7 years...
Douglas County
City of Superior purchases Bunge Dock
On Oct. 5, 2023, the Superior City Council authorized the $200,000 purchase of the Bunge Dock, the easternmost docking facility in Allouez Bay. The...
Douglas County
Superior PD license-plate scanners gather “a lot of intelligence”
On Nov. 16, 2023, at the regular meeting of the City of Superior’s Public Safety Committee, Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander told committee members...
Douglas County
California company to power data processors with Superior landfill gas
On Nov. 2, 2023, the City of Superior Public Works Committee approved a 10-year contract with Vespene Energy, a California company which powers data...
SUPERIOR
City of Superior uses arbitrary rules to censor critics
I began reporting on Superior, Wisconsin on June 14, 2023, when I attended a meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee. Entering the room, I...
Douglas County
Superior IT Committee recommends creating municipal broadband utility
On Oct. 11, 2023, the Superior Communications and Information Technology Committee unanimously recommended the creation of a city-owned broadband utility.
The Committee also recommended approval...
Douglas County
Superior police seize “over $100,000 worth” of fireworks in latest raid on business
On July 20, 2023, the regular meeting of Superior’s Public Safety Committee was enlivened when Superior Police Chief Nick Alexander mentioned that the police...
Douglas County
Nemadji hopes to dredge ponds to boost water storage capacity
As the City of Duluth proceeds with a $5.5 million refurbishment of the irrigation system at Enger Golf Course, the City of Superior is...
Douglas County
As Duluth golf struggles, Nemadji booms
At the regular meeting of the City of Superior Finance Committee, on Aug. 10, 2023, Nemadji Golf Course Manager Tom Beaudry presented the committee...
Douglas County
Superior Public Works Committee lowers speed limit at Stinson and Hammond to address recurring crashes
At the regular meeting of the City of Superior Public Works Committee, held on Aug. 3, 2023, Assistant Public Works Director Chris Carlson informed...
Douglas County
Dam neighbors causing problems in Twin Ports
This past March, users of the Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific (DWP) trail in West Duluth noticed a beaver dam being built in the drainage...
Douglas County
A hundred walks
On Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, my boys and I completed our 100th walk in the Try To Walk Every Day Except Sunday (TTWEDES, or...
