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Music on the River: Newcomer Kylar Kuzio Making Debut Published on 06/18/2025 under News

Wednesday in Tomahawk means another night of Music on the River.

After an exciting kick-off last week, the summer concert series returns for week number two. And it's a newcomer to Music on the River with the Kylar Kuzio and her band. Kylar has been gaining accolades around the state. Last year, they were in the top three during the Hodag Country Music Festival pick-off competition.

According to the band bio, Kylar incorporates original material along with popular songs from a wide variety of genres including country, rock, pop and even hip hop.

As always, Music on the River concerts are free. The show begins at 6pm at Veteran's Memorial Park.

In Other News

Lincoln County Board Debates, Approves Pine Crest Sales Agreement

Published on 06/18/2025 under News The Lincoln County Board approved a purchase agreement with a private provider that would lead to the sale of Pine Crest nursing home by the end of the summer. The vote last night came at the end of a nearly three hour meeting. Earlier this month, the County announced a tentative purchase agreement for the skilled nursing facility in Merrill had been reached with Ensign Group and subsidiaries Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC. The purchase price is listed at $9.5 million. The resolution projects the county will save approximately $1million annually, and the property will also return to the tax roll. As far as related costs, the County will need to lease space from Ensign or find an alternative location for Health and Human Service. That was a point raised by several supervisors. Before the supervisors began discussion, citizens had a chance to weigh in during public comment. It was an unusually crowded board room, and additional chairs were set up to accommodate. Many in attendance held signs and work yellow People for Pine Crest t-shirts. Around a dozen people who spoke were in opposition. Two citizens did utilize their allotted time to support the sale. Pine Crest was the last item on the agenda, and the supervisors took a short recess before introducing the resolution. They spent approximately 45 minutes during the discussion raising a number of concerns, and even some new developments. Many of the negotiations have been conducted at the Administrative and Legislative Committee and in closed session. Supervisor Greg Hartwig noted that they actually received multiple offers for Pine Crest, and Ensign was not the highest. However, he noted that the A&L Committee felt they would be in the best interest to serve Lincoln County going forward. The impetus to sell Pine Crest originated with concerns over operational and maintenance costs of the facility going forward. Earlier in the meeting, the 2026 preliminary budget was presented, with a projected $1.5 million shortfall needing to be balanced. Gary Olson of North Central Health Care was asked to address the board. NCHC has been operating Pine Crest on behalf of the county dating back to 2020. He noted that the ownership uncertainty over the last several years has been difficult. He added that their executive committee would be reconsidering that contract at the end of the year. While supervisors opposed to the sale attempted several maneuvers to delay, that vote ultimately came and the sale approved 14-8. They anticipate a closing date of August 1. This is actually the second attempt at a Pine Crest sale. A sale had been agreed to last summer as well, however the deal fell apart.

Published on 06/18/2025 under News From biking and hiking to snowmobiles and ATVs, Wisconsin has trails of all types. An aquatic trail in the Northwoods has been making waves, and recently received a national designation. The 108 mile Great Pinery Heritage Waterway follows the Wisconsin River. It originates at the Hat Rapids Dam in Oneida County, carves through Lincoln and Marathon Counties, and ends at the Lake DuBay Dam in Portage County. In celebration of Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day, the US Department of the Interior designated five new National Recreation Trails around the country. That includes the Great Pinery Heritage Water Way. Secretary Doug Burgum said, "National Recreation Trails create opportunities for locally managed tourism to boost economies and benefit hikers, bikers, paddlers and other recreationists alike." Each recipient will receive a certificate of designation, letter of recognition, as well as special trail markers highlighting the trail. The designation is the latest in an effort to develop the trail in recent years. Volunteers and trail supports have been completing landing improvements, installing signage, and even developing an online presence catering to kayakers and canoes. For more information on the trail.

Published on 06/18/2025 under News A Wausau man is accused of defrauding investors of more than $15 million. According to the US Attorney's Office, Stanley Pophal is facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The 63 year old was arrested over the weekend and made an initial appearance in federal court. According to the criminal complaint, beginning in 2019, Pophal solicited investors to purchase promissory notes from him with supposedly guaranteed rates of return. Over the next six years, he received more than $15,000,000 from at least 120 investors. The complaint alleges that Pophal did not actually invest the money, instead using it to live an extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of over 300 snowmobiles. To keep the fraud scheme going, Pophal is accused of using newer investments to pay previous investors. The charges are a result of an investigation conducted by IRS and FBI.

Published on 06/18/2025 under News Over the past few years, Lincoln County has received several hundred thousand dollars as part of nationwide opioid lawsuit settlements. The funds are earmarked for opioid treatment and prevention. At their meeting Tuesday, the Lincoln County Board unanimously approved a recommendation from the opioid settlement task force that would utilize $50,000 for four projects over the next calendar year. Task force grant coordinator Erin Ray offered a brief overview. This includes increasing access to naloxone; community forums and public education campaigns; introducing peer support services through North Central Health Care; and establishing a plan aimed at reducing child removals related to caregiver substance use. According to the resolution, the county is eligible for a matching grant provided by Vital Strategies. The essentially doubles the investment, and expand the reach of these programs.

Published on 06/18/2025 under News Scammers are once again targeting Wisconsin Public Service customers, and the utility offered up a warning. According to WPS, they're using familiar tactics. The scammers claim to be from the company and threaten the customers with disconnection if an immediate payment isn't made. They highlighted one recent victim who lost more than $1,000. The announcement also included a few common reminders. First, they recommend people follow their instincts of a call, text, or email seems suspicious. Contact WPS with account questions, but make sure it's the correct number, found on your bill, the WPS app or their official website. And 'know the way to pay.' WPS accepts may payment options, but they won't require a customer use a specific type. And while these tips were offered by WPS, they are useful in any situation with unsolicited requests from money or personal information.

Published on 06/17/2025 under News The Lincoln County Board is set to consider the sale of Pine Crest nursing home to a private provider. Earlier this month, the county announced a purchase agreement had been reached with Ensign Group, Inc pending approval by the full county board at their meeting this evening. According to the resolution, the purchase agreement is for $9.5 million. They also project the county will save $1 million each year in operational costs. The County would need to lease back space for Health and Human Services. The resolution indicates the buyer is willing to work with the county on that agreement. Last week, Jack Pines LLC, a subsidiary that would operate the local facility held a pair of open house meetings to share their vision with public. The fate of Pine Crest in Merrill has been in question for several years now. This is actually the second attempt to sell the facility. Last February, the Board approved a purchase agreement with a different company. That deal fell apart last summer. If this resolution is approved by the supervisors at tonight's meeting; they hope to have the sale finalized by August 1.

Published on 06/17/2025 under News Bats play a crucial role in our ecosystem including pollination and insect control. But bats can also spread rabies and local health officials are reminding people about that risk. According to the Oneida County Health Department, bats are actually the leading cause of infecting humans with rabies. While most bats don't carry rabies, they said it's important to treat interactions seriously. That's because small bites and scratches may go unnoticed. These abrasions should be washed with soap and water, then seek medical help. If you find a bat in your home, especially in bedrooms or other areas of the home that people sleep in, call animal control and inform your local health department. The bat may need to be tested for rabies so it shouldn't be released until clearance. And make sure pets are up to date on rabies shots as well. If you want to avoid these encounters, the Health Department offered some tips to bat-proof your home. You're going to need to seal any openings bigger than a dime. That means looking for small holes, cracks, and gaps around pipes. Consider screens, chimney caps, and attic door covers. Wisconsin is home to eight bat species.

Published on 06/17/2025 under News Northcentral Technical College continues to invest in their wood and forestry programs in Antigo. This past week NTC announced plans for Timberwolf Cabins which they hope will provide students with a unique space to live and learn while attending classes at NTC's Wood Technology Center of Excellence and Sawmill. Once complete, the cabins will be available for professionals attending continuing education classes, as well as traditional students enrolled in the one and two year programs. Dr. Jeannie Worden, President of NTC says, "Students travel from across the nation for hands-on training in the forestry industry at NTC's Antigo campus. We recognized the need for additional housing options for our students and are grateful that the City of Antigo supports our plan for Timberwolf Cabins." Six cabins are planned. The Elwyn Remington Foundation has pledged funding for the first cabin. The NTC Property Foundation's has launched a campaign to fund for another five cabins. In addition to the living quarters, the students will also have access to an outdoor social area, laundry facilities, business equipment and recreational equipment during their stay.

Published on 06/17/2025 under News A Merrill woman was injured following a single vehicle crash, and she was subsequently taken into custody for operating while intoxicated. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, that incident happened Thursday. Responders were paged to a single vehicle crash at Highway 64 and Monteray Drive. When the deputies arrived on scene, they found the vehicle had rolled, and the driver, a 48 year old Merrill woman, had been thrown from the vehicle and was in the ditch. The woman was transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Based on the investigation, the deputy determined the woman was intoxicated and placed the woman under arrest for first offense OWI. A few other quick notes from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report...There were two other first offense OWI arrests involving a 49 year old Gleason man and a 44 year old Merrill man.The number of vehicle versus deer collisions is down slightly, but seven were still reported on Lincoln County roadways.

Published on 06/17/2025 under News From short hikes to weeks-long treks, the Ice Age Trail is busy throughout the year. The Ice Age Trail Alliance recently recognized a dedicated group who reached an impressive milestone this past year. At their annual awards ceremony, the Alliance highlighted the latest Thousand-Milers. As the name implies, these are the hikers who surpassed 1,000 miles on the Ice Age Trail. They offered up some details on those individuals. Overall, they said 87 hikers reached four figures, including sixteen who thru-hiked the length of the trail. The quickest to do so...41 days. The hikers represented 48 Wisconsin communities, as well as 14 out-of-staters. Those looking for a little inspiration, the oldest thousand-miler completed the challenge at 83 years old. On the other end of the spectrum, the youngest person to conquer all the miles was 18 years old. The Ice Age Trail spans more than 1,200 miles stretching from Door County peninsula to the Minnesota border, and from the Madison area to the Northwoods. That includes Taylor, Lincoln, Langlade, and Marathon Counties.

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