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Tomahawk ‘Youth Fishing Classic’ Returns with Support of Local Veterans Groups

Published on 06/05/2026 under News A long-standing youth fishing event is set to return to Tomahawk this weekend with a meaningful new twist. For decades, the Kids Fishing Contest was a summer staple at Veterans Memorial Park, giving local youngsters the chance to cast a line into Lake Mohawksin for some friendly competition. The event came to an end a few years ago when the Tomahawk Fishing Unlimited group disbanded. Now, as part of their growing community outreach, local veterans' groups, including the VFW, American Legion, and Auxiliary have decided to dust off the fishing rods and bring the tradition back. Organizers hope the return of the Youth Fishing Classic will spark an interest in outdoor recreation like fishing, while also building strong relationships between local youth and veterans. Moving forward, the event also plans to honor a local veteran each year. The inaugural honoree perfectly embodies both fishing and service to the country: this weekend's contest will be held in memory of Chuck Grigg, a veteran and the long-time owner of Chuck's Sport Shop, who passed away earlier this year. The Youth Fishing event takes place this Saturday and will feature multiple age groups and fish categories. Free registration begins at 9:00 AM, and fishing kicks off at 10:00 AM near the fishing pier at Veterans Memorial Park. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles; organizers will supply the worms, as well as some goodie bags for the first 100 kids to register.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News People will be able to fish, hike, and explore Wisconsin this weekend without pulling out their wallets. The DNR is officially kicking off the unofficial start of summer by bringing back its popular "Free Fun Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday. The annual event waives most state park fees, trail passes, and fishing licenses encouraging residents and visitors alike to check out the state's natural, outdoor playground. Steve Schmelzer, DNR Bureau Director of Parks and Recreation says, "If you've never checked out a Wisconsin state park before, Free Fun Weekend is the perfect opportunity to come visit for the first time." Finding a spot to explore won't be difficult. Wisconsin boasts 50 state parks, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, thousands of miles of rushing rivers, and roughly 15,000 lakes. For those looking to cast a line, fishing licenses are completely waived for the weekend. However, the DNR reminds anglers that all other traditional regulations apply. This includes bag limits, species seasons, and size restrictions. To help newcomers get started, several state properties will host hands-on fishing clinics throughout the weekend. No matter how you choose to spend the weekend, officials urge everyone to prioritize safety, respect fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and help keep the state's public lands clean.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News Governor Evers has never been shy about his love for ice cream, and on Thursday afternoon, he enjoyed a sweet treat at an iconic local spot. As part of his tour celebrating June Dairy Month, Governor Evers visited the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Nokomis. This was his second stop of the day, following an earlier visit to a dairy farm in Osseo. During the visit, the Governor touted the strong partnerships between the state and local dairy producers. The Berg family, who owns the shop, also shared on social media that their matriarch, Pat Berg, shared connected with the Governor over their shared past careers as educators. According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin is home to approximately 1.3 million dairy cows and more than 5,000 dairy farms. Beyond milk, Wisconsin is a national leader in dairy products like cheese, butter, yogurt, and, of course, ice cream, including the many selections featured at the Windmill. As for his flavor pick, the Governor opted for a double scoop of New York Cherry and Sea Salt Caramel Nut, which he enjoyed on the Bearskin State Trail trestle overlooking Lake Nokomis.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News May went down as one of the driest months on record, and the impact is starkly visible in the latest weekly report from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The latest data, published Thursday, shows that the area classified as "abnormally dry" jumped from roughly 13% of the state all the way to 77% this week. That massive increase encompasses nearly the entire Northwoods, with the lone exception of a small pocket in Marathon County. Additionally, about 13% of the state, specifically across southeastern and west-central Wisconsin, has officially entered "D-1," which marks the first formal stage of drought. While Thursday's rainfall won't make a major dent in the new data, it was a welcome sight for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners battling browning lawns. The prolonged dry spell has also extended the wildfire season. Officials reported 54 wildfires across the state this past week, with more than a dozen right here in our local listening area, primarily sparked by debris burning.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News Nicolet College is welcoming two new academic leaders to help guide workforce training programs. The college has named Bojan Ljubenko as Dean of Applied Technology and Trades and Amber Laffin as Dean of Public Safety and Transportation. The appointments follow a recent retirement and an internal promotion. Ljubenko joins Nicolet from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he served as director of institutional strategy and effectiveness. In his new role, he will oversee programs including welding, metal fabrication, electromechanical technology, field service technician and information technology. Laffin comes to Nicolet from Bemidji State University, where she coordinated the Criminal Justice program. She also brings experience as a probation and parole officer in Minnesota and Wyoming. Her new responsibilities include leadership of criminal justice, law enforcement training, emergency medical services, firefighting, traffic safety and automotive technician programs. Vice President of Academic Affairs Bobbi Fields says both leaders bring strong experience in higher education and workforce-focused training that will help strengthen opportunities for students while supporting regional employers. Both got a few weeks under their belts before the end of the semester, with Ljubenko beginning in late April, Laffin in early May.

Published on 06/05/2026 under News Wisconsin is known for it's many lakes, rivers, and streams. There are a number of efforts throughout the year aimed at protecting these valuable resources. Starting today and through the weekend, the DNR and their partners will be conducting their annual 'Drain Campaign.' It's focus is on encouraging boaters and anglers to always drain live wells, ballasts, and fish buckets before leaving boat landings. Officials note that draining is key in preventing the spread of AIS and disease. In addition to draining obvious water sources, officials recommend, boaters pull the drain plugs on their boat and tip their motor straight up to drain any water before securing it for the drive ahead. Throughout the weekend, Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteers will be out at select boat launches around the state. In addition to sharing these tips, they'll be handing out reminders of this important message.

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Sports Headlines

Hatchet Golf Season Ends in Spooner

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.

Published on 05/27/2026 under Sports At the WIAA Division 2 Regional Track & Field Meet in Medford Tuesday, the Hatchets withstood a two-hour, 45-minute weather delay to have ten total events make the sectional meet. On the girls' side, Tomahawk will have six athletes compete. Taking the regional title in the 200 and 400 meter runs was Elise Gibeault with times of 26.19 and 57.28 seconds, respectively. For the second straight year, Alicia Voermans would advance to the sectional round in the Pole Vault. Voermans also qualified for sectionals in the 100 meter dash. Faith Derleth would advance in the 400 meter dash, placing third. Ellie Micke took home the regional title in the high jump with a leap of five feet even. Siennah Calkins was regional runner-up in the triple jump with a leap of 33'10". Lauren Riebe would finish as the regional runner-up in the 300 meter hurdles. Two Hatchet male athletes will compete in the sectional meet. Freshman Connor Zorn would take third in the Long Jump and the 100 meter dash. Beau Stromberg is moving on to the sectional meet in the 400 meter run, placing third with a run of 54.14 seconds. The WIAA Division 2 Track & Field Sectional Meet is Friday at Rice Lake. Opening Events begin at 4:00.

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