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Tomahawk Squirts Finish Third at State Published on 03/06/2017 under Sports

The Tomahawk Squirt Youth Hockey Team finished third at the WAHA Squirt 4A State Championships held in Shawano on Saturday, March 4 and Sunday March 5.

Tomahawk won their first game on Saturday, 4-2 over Burnett Youth Hockey. Tomahawk then lost to Milwaukee Area Youth Hockey 8-0.

On Sunday, Tomahawk defeated the Ice Wolves 7-1 to finish in third.

The Squirt 4A championship went to Milwaukee Area Youth Hockey, they defeated Viroqua 8-0 in the championships game.

WAHA Squirt 4A Championships

In Other News

Music on the River Week #3; The Ramble Makes Series Debut

Published on 07/08/2026 under News A summer Wednesday in Tomahawk means another week of Music on the River, and tonight, the series is going a little bit country. Making its Tomahawk debut this evening is the southern Wisconsin group, The Ramble. The band has steadily built a regional following with its energetic mix of classic and modern country hits, covering everything from Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson to Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. Among the group's growing list of accolades, The Ramble took home the top prize at the 2024 Hodag Country Festival Country Band Championship—perfect timing, considering the 2026 Hodag festival officially kicks off tomorrow in Rhinelander. Tonight marks the third of seven planned concerts for the Music on the River season. Unfortunately, Wednesdays have been exceptionally rainy this summer. With scattered showers once again in the forecast for this evening, concertgoers are encouraged to stay tuned to WJJQ for any weather-related venue or schedule changes.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News Before an ambulance arrives in an emergency, there's a lot happening behind the scenes—and the Merrill Fire Department wants the public to better understand it. The Merrill Fire Department is inviting residents to a series of public meetings this month focused on ambulance service, EMS challenges, and the future of emergency medical care in Lincoln County. Fire Chief Josh Klug says the department hopes the meetings will give residents a better understanding of how ambulance service operates and encourage community involvement. The meetings come as the City of Merrill and Lincoln County continue negotiating a new ambulance service contract. The two have partnered to provide service in the southern two-thirds of the county since 1970. The first meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Merrill Fire Station. Fire department command staff will discuss the history of ambulance service in the county, current operational challenges, and possible funding options. Each meeting will also feature a guest EMS expert. The first session includes James Small with the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, who will discuss statewide EMS trends and strategies for meeting growing demand with limited resources. For those that can't attend, the presentations will also be livestreamed on the Merrill Fire Department's Facebook page. Additional meetings are scheduled for July 14, 15, 27, and 28.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News The Tomahawk City Council took a small but meaningful step toward a major new housing development last night. At its meeting Tuesday, the Council approved a resolution authorizing the Community Development Authority (CDA) to sell a parcel of land located off Comfort Drive to developer S.C. Swiderski. City Clerk Amanda Bartz noted the official sales paperwork is expected to be signed later this week. The City and the CDA have been working closely with the Mosinee-based developer to construct a new 72-unit apartment complex on Tomahawk's east side near U.S. Highway 51. The developer's agreement, which was initially approved by the Council last month, includes financial incentives funded through tax revenue generated directly by the project. Once complete, the multi-family residential complex is expected to bring a minimum assessed property value of $9.5 million to the city's tax rolls. Based on the project timeline discussed last month, construction is slated to begin this fall and will take approximately 18 months to complete. The development will add 72 much-needed rental units to Tomahawk's tight housing inventory. S.C. Swiderski is a major property management and real estate development firm with residential holdings in more than 30 communities across the state, including Athens, Eagle River, Merrill, Medford, and Wausau.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News Traffic was briefly backed up in northern Lincoln County following a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency responders were dispatched shortly after 4:00 p.m. to Highway 8 near County Highway L, just north of Tomahawk. Witnesses reported a vehicle went off the roadway while navigating the curve located just west of the intersection. No further information was provided regarding the cause of the crash. The incident initially forced a closure of the eastbound lane of Highway 8. Emergency crews eventually reopened the roadway with traffic control to allow the removal of the vehicle. Crews remained on the scene for more than two hours to clear the crash.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News As electric bicycles continue to grow in popularity, local hospitals are seeing a corresponding rise in serious injuries related to e-bike crashes. Aspirus Trauma Coordinator Jamie Armbruster says that because e-bikes are heavier and faster than traditional bicycles, they require much longer stopping distances. This combination often leads to more severe trauma when a crash occurs. Common injuries treated at Aspirus emergency facilities include fractures, facial trauma, internal organ damage, and brain injuries. Many of these cases involve riders who were either skipping helmets entirely or using standard bicycle helmets not safety-certified for higher e-bike speeds. Armbruster emphasizes that wearing a properly fitted helmet remains the single best defense against head injuries, with national statistics showing a proper helmet cuts the risk of severe head injury by 85 percent. According to Armbruster, demographic data highlights two groups facing the highest risk: children and teens, particularly boys under 16, and adults between the ages of 45 and 64. E-bikes can also pose a hazard to pedestrians sharing multi-use recreational trails, parks, and sidewalks. To prevent collisions, riders are encouraged to slow down and use verbal cues or a bike bell when passing others. Finally, local law enforcement agencies encourage all riders to familiarize themselves with the specific rules of the road and local ordinances governing motorized bikes before hitting the pavement.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News A few packs of diapers can go a long way toward helping local families. The Oneida County Health Department is asking the community to donate diapers, baby wipes, and new infant clothing as part of a diaper drive running through July 15. The donations will help stock the department's upcoming Community Baby Shower and Family Day, providing essential supplies to expecting and new parents. The Health Department says, "This drive is a simple way for our community to come together and support families during one of the most exciting — and challenging — times in life." Donations can be dropped off at ten locations throughout Rhinelander, Minocqua, and Three Lakes, including all three public librariesand the Oneida County Health Department. Monetary donations are also being accepted to purchase additional baby supplies. The Community Baby Shower and Family Day will be held July 18 at the YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander. We'll have more on that event next week. Donation drop-off Locations include: Minocqua Public Library - MinocquaCulver's - RhinelanderOneida County Health Department - RhinelanderPeoples State Bank - MinocquaTrigs - RhinelanderTrinity Lutheran Church - RhinelanderFaith Lutheran Church - Three LakesDemmer Memorial Library - Three LakesNicolet National Bank – RhinelanderRhinelander Public Library - Rhinelander

Published on 07/08/2026 under News The DNR has officially opened its annual summer Game Bird Survey, calling on hikers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts to report sightings of wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, and pheasants. The data collected is designed to measure the nesting and reproductive success of the state's game birds for the current breeding year. Specifically, biologists are looking to establish the ratio of adults to juveniles spotted in the wild. When paired with fall harvest data, these summer reproductive numbers give state scientists the exact information they need to make critical wildlife management decisions. Paul Frater, DNR surveys coordinator says, "Every submission increases our dataset and helps build a more complete picture of how game birds are doing throughout the state." Participation is simple...whenever you spot a game bird or a brood during daylight hours, you can log the date, location, and species directly into the DNR's "Survey123" smartphone app. To learn more or to download the tracking app, visit the DNR's official Game Bird Survey webpage. The survey runs through August 31.

Published on 07/07/2026 under News School may be out for summer, but budget season is picking up for local school boards. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has released its first look at next year's general school aid estimates. While total funding is relatively flat statewide, some individual districts are seeing significant shifts. That includes the Tomahawk School District, which is projected to receive fewer general aid dollars from the state. The DPI estimates Tomahawk will receive just under $1.3 million ($1,280,990) for the 2026–2027 school year. This marks a decrease of more than $226,000 ($226,057), a roughly 15% drop from last year. However, this drop is neither unusual nor unexpected for local school officials. General state aid for Tomahawk has been trending downward for more than a decade; just two years ago, the district received over $2 million in general aid. While state general aid is designed to help offset local property taxes, several districts in the Northwoods are often categorized as "property-tax rich". Under Wisconsin's current equalization aid formula, these districts receive fewer state aid dollars. These summer numbers are only preliminary estimates to help districts build their initial budgets. The state will certify the final, official funding numbers in mid-October. General aid does not include other critical state funding streams, such as per-pupil, sparsity, and transportation aid.

Published on 07/07/2026 under News A Merrill man faces multiple charges after allegedly firing a nail gun at bystanders and vehicles at a Lincoln County resort last week. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance at the Rock Island Resort in the Town of Merrill on Tuesday, June 30. Witnesses told deputies the subject, Daniel Zulliger, had become disorderly while out on a boat with a group and pushed someone overboard. After being brought back to the resort dock, Zulliger allegedly escalated the disruption by firing nails at nearby people and cars. Upon arrival, deputies located Zulliger sitting inside his truck. Authorities say he refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle and actively resisted arrest before being taken into custody. Zulliger was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on tentative charges including: endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, battery, resisting or obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct

Published on 07/07/2026 under News From curious critters and scenic landscapes to family fun and outdoor recreation, Council Grounds State Park is the perfect place to snap a memorable photo. Now, the Friends of Council Grounds is asking parkgoers to share their best shots. The volunteer group has launched its annual summer photo contest, a beloved local tradition that has run for over a decade. The rules remain the same as in previous years, with amateur photographers encouraged to submit entries across four distinct categories: plants, wildlife, landscapes, and people enjoying the park. To keep the submissions relatively fresh, organizers are accepting photos taken during both this year and last year. The Friends group will narrow each category down to three finalists, and the public will get to vote online to select the ultimate winners later this summer. The entry window opened on July 1 and runs through July 31. Organizers note they have already received some fantastic early submissions. Complete contest rules, entry forms, and a few helpful photography tips are available on the Friends of Council Grounds Facebook page.

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