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Rhinelander 4th of July Parade Includes ‘Sensory-Friendly’ Segment

Published on 06/29/2026 under News For many people, the sounds of a Fourth of July parade are part of the celebration. But this year in Rhinelander, organizers are also setting aside a quieter stretch of the route so even more people can enjoy the holiday tradition. The Rhinelander Fourth of July Committee has announced it will designate a sensory-friendly area along this year's parade route, extending from City Hall to Rives Street. Parade participants are being asked to avoid using sirens, loud horns and confetti cannons while traveling through that section of the route. Music from parade units and marching bands, however, will still be welcome. The committee says the sensory-friendly area is intended to better accommodate individuals with sensory concerns, helping make the community celebration more accessible and inclusive. Organizers are asking all parade participants to honor and respect the request as the parade makes its way through the designated quiet zone.

Published on 06/29/2026 under News With the Northwoods' first real stretch of summer heat settling in this week, many residents will be looking for ways to stay cool without sending their electric bills soaring. Wisconsin Public Service is offering several simple, low-cost tips to help keep homes comfortable while reducing energy use. One of the easiest ways to beat the heat is to keep the sun out by closing blinds or curtains during the day. WPS also recommends keeping windows closed while outdoor temperatures are highest, then opening them overnight to let cooler air inside. Ceiling and portable fans can helps circulate cool air. WPS reminds homeowners to make sure ceiling fans are set to rotate counterclockwise during the summer, creating a cooling downdraft. Another tip is to avoid creating extra heat indoors during the daytime hours. Instead of using the oven or stove, consider grilling outside, and swap the dryer for a clothes line. For those looking to save money over the long term, WPS recommends choosing energy-efficient appliances when it's time to replace older models and installing a programmable smart thermostat to help manage cooling costs more efficiently.

Published on 06/29/2026 under News A Fourth of July cookout in Wisconsin is expected to cost a little more this summer, according to the annual Wisconsin Farm Bureau Market Basket Survey released this past week. To determine the average cost, the survey tracks the prices of a dozen cookout essentials—including burgers, hot dogs, buns, and sides—at a sample of grocery stores across 20 communities statewide. This year, the survey found that the average cost to host a typical summer cookout for ten people is around $75.50, a 7.5% increase from last year. This total is roughly two dollars higher than the national average and marks the highest cost since the survey was established in 2013. Farm Bureau spokesperson Cassie Sonnentag says, "From availability to inflation, we are seeing increases across many of the food items on the shopping list." This includes supply chain issues and rising fuel costs. The largest jump was in ground beef, up 23% from last year. The spike is driven largely by the cost of ground beef, which is up more than 23% from last year due to supply chain price increases, particularly rising fuel costs. However, there are still ways to save. Sonnentag noted that identifying local brands, taking advantage of sale prices, buying in bulk, and shopping in season can significantly reduce overall spending. Other cookout tips include creating a menu beforehand, sticking to your grocery list, and spreading the cost by inviting guests to bring a dish to pass. In addition to its summer cookout report, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau also conducts an annual Thanksgiving dinner survey.

Published on 06/29/2026 under News Two people were found dead in a Lac du Flambeau home on Saturday evening. Responders were called to the residence at around 9:00 p.m., where they discovered a man lying on the garage floor and a woman inside the home. The male subject, identified as Gilbert "Barney" Chapman, was already deceased. Life-saving efforts were attempted on the woman, identified as Natalie Poupart, but were ultimately unsuccessful. In a statement, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police said, "While the causes of death are unknown at this point, there is no indication that either victim sustained any sort of physical injury, nor is there any indication that there is any threat to the community." Autopsies will be performed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Published on 06/29/2026 under News One person was injured in a motorcycle and truck crash in Oneida County over the weekend. According to the Pine Lake Fire Department, responders were dispatched to that crash on River Road near Forest Point Drive. The call came in early Sunday morning at shortly after midnight. Officials say the operator of the motorcycle was transported by ambulance to Aspirus Hospital for injuries sustained from the accident. The driver of the truck was not injured. No other information was provided, crews were on the scene for around an hour.

Published on 06/29/2026 under News With action picking up on area waterways, a popular awareness campaign returns to remind boaters about simple steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The DNR will team up with local volunteers and lake organizations for the annual Great Lakes Landing Blitz. It's a regional collaboration that includes all Great Lakes states and provinces. Here in Wisconsin, the Clean Boats, Clean Waters teams will be offering tips during boat landing inspections to help keep our waterways clean. Many Northwoods boaters are already familiar with these volunteers at local landings during the boating season. Erin McFarlane is a Clean Boats, Clean Waters coordinator. She says, "With so many people hitting the water over the Fourth of July, we have a major opportunity to practice good stewardship." She added, "The Great Lakes Landing Blitz is a great reminder that small actions – like draining a livewell or removing plants from a boat trailer – add up to a massive positive impact for our shared environment." The two-week Landing Blitz kicks off today and runs through July 12.

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Sports Headlines

Gibeault Places 3rd in 400 meter dash

Published on 06/06/2026 under Sports In the WIAA Division 2 State Track & Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this weekend. Elise Gibeault and Ellie Micke competed in three separate events. Gibeault's top finish came in the 400 meter dash, placing third with a time of 56.7 seconds. Gibeault would finish 2.26 seconds behind state champion Harper Sheehan of Hayward. In her final event, the Hatchet Junior would set a brand new school record in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.38 seconds, a full second behind Sheehan. As for Micke, her season would end in the High Jump Preliminaries. Micke would finish tied for 12th with Martin Luther's Dynasty Fancher. This concludes the Tomahawk Track & Field Season.

Published on 06/03/2026 under Sports The Hatchet golfing season would end in the WIAA Division 2 Sectional Meet at Spooner Wednesday, placing ninth at the Spooner Golf Club. Tomahawk would finish with a 345, 13 strokes behind St. Croix Central. The top Hatchet golfer in the Sectional meet was Jake Albert, who placed 28th overall with an 82. Rounding out the top three were Rocco Carew with an 83 and Oliver Childers with an 87. Jaxon Kaiser finish with a 93 and Brayden Lamer finished with 100. This concludes the Tomahawk golfing season.

Published on 05/29/2026 under Sports Junior Athlete Elise Gibeault and Sophomore Athlete Ellie Micke would become the only Hatchets to qualify for the WIAA Division 2 State Track & Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse next weekend. Gibeault would finish second in both the 200 and 400 meter dashes. Gibeault would re-set personal bests and school records in both events. The Junior finished with a run of 25.74 seconds in the 200 meter dash and a run of 56.39 seconds in the 400 meter dash. Gibeault would place behind only Hayward's Harper Sheehan in both events. As for Micke, she was the last qualifier in the field in the High Jump. Micke tied for the 4th spot in the sectional and would advance by way of tiebreaker. Micke's leap in the High Jump was 5'3". Gibeault and Micke will compete in the WIAA Division 2 State Meet in La Crosse Friday. Field Events begin at 3:00 PM. Running events begin at 3:30 PM.

Published on 05/28/2026 under Sports Despite coming back from down four runs in the fifth inning, Tomahawk's baseball squad would fall in extra innings in the WIAA Division 3 Regional Quarterfinal at Tyler Kahle Memorial Field to the Crandon Cardinals, 8-5. The Hatchets trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before tying the game up behind two-run hits from Nick Arndt and Max Larson. After the Hatchets stranded the winning run on third in the seventh, Crandon rolled off three runs off Hatchet pitcher Logan Norman to take the lead. Tomahawk would bring the tying run to the plate, but Arndt flew out to center to end the game and the season. Arndt finished two for five with a triple and two RBIs. Max Larson finished one for five with a double and two RBIs. Despite pitching five scoreless innings and retiring ten straight, Norman absorbed the loss on the mound. The Hatchets finish the 2026 season with a 9-11 record and a 7-7 Great Northern Conference record. Tomahawk graduates Norman, Arndt, Jonah Dickens, Wally Horabik, Colton Seslar, and Brody Hilgendorf.

Published on 05/27/2026 under Sports The Marawood Conference Champion Prentice Golf Team won the WIAA Regional Championship on Tuesday at the Inshalla Country Club. The Bucs set a school scoring record with a 297. Ladysmith finished 30 strokes behind Prentice. Eliah Harding led the way with an even par 70, Matti Heikkinen shot a 74, Hagan Isaacson a 76, Evan Lord a 78 and Jackson Isaacson shot a 79. Prentice will compete in the WIAA Sectional Meet on Tuesday at Big Fish Golf Club in Hayward. The first tee times are at 9:00 am.

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