What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
MINOCQUA, Wis. — A judge has declined a request for an arrest warrant against Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company, related to a 2021 defamation lawsuit.
According to WSAU Radio, Bangstad was held in contempt after missing a scheduled court appearance in Rhinelander on Wednesday. The hearing was tied to a defamation case in which Bangstad was found liable for making false statements about the family of Lakeland Times Publisher Gregg Walker.
As part of the ruling, Bangstad was ordered to pay nearly $760,000 in damages to Walker, with Minocqua Brewing Company also facing a $329,000 penalty.
Court records from Friday confirmed that the request for an arrest warrant was denied. Motion hearings in the case are set for May 22 and 23.
This update clarifies that while an arrest warrant was proposed earlier in the week, it was not approved. A previous report mistakenly stated that the warrant had been issued. 27 News regrets the error.
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Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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