Iron threat suspect advised to seek public defender help

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Hurley — An 81-year-old Kimball, Wis., man appeared in court Monday morning on two threat counts and an additional count of making a terroristic threat.

Robert “Barrel Bob” Gollubske is charged with threatening to blow up both the Iron County Courthouse in Hurley in 2013 and the Northwoods Paving (Mathy Construction) asphalt plant in Kimball in 2016.

Iron County Judge Patrick Madden advised Gollubske to seek representation through the public defender’s office. Gollubske said he had sought to contact his private attorney in another matter, but received no response to two phone calls.

Gollubske said Monday he wanted a new judge. “You called me a terrorist,” he said to Madden, who denied that allegation.

Madden said when Gollubske obtains an attorney, he’ll be able to receive a new judge.

The courthouse threat count has been refiled after having been previously dismissed.

Gollubske faces a charge of making a terroristic threat in Kimball on June 26, 2016, relating to the blacktop plant. He’s alleged to have told an individual to stay away from the Mathy Construction pit in Kimball on July Fourth in 2016 because there was going to be an explosion there.

An improvised explosive device was detonated at the same location on July Fourth in 2015, creating a large crater just off U.S. 2.

Gollubske also faces separate charges of making a threat at the medical clinic in Mercer.

He is being held on bond in the Iron County Jail.