WJJQ Radio

Recent News

Northwoods Six-County Lakes Meeting Focuses on All Things Water

Published on 07/10/2025 under News From small, quiet fishing holes to large lakes buzzing with activity, Northwoods waterways remain popular for residents and visitors alike. That's why it's important to protect the resources. Coming up on Friday, local lake groups will team up with experts to discuss all things water here in the Northwoods. It's all part of the annual Northwoods Six-County Lakes meeting, those six counties in the partnership are Oneida, Vilas, Iron, Forest, Langlade and Lincoln Counties. Organizers anticipate more than 200 people will attend. This year's theme is "Quakes to our Lakes: What's Shakin'?" They'll focusing on areas of concern in and on local waterways, as well as potential solutions. Specific segments include: wake boats, algae blooms, and of course aquatic invasive species, even a segment on grants to address these issues. They'll also have exhibits and county breakout sessions. The seminar is free and gets underway at 8:30am at the Nicolet Lakeside Center in Rhinelander. Registration is available on-site or pre-register online.

Published on 07/10/2025 under News The Rhinelander community is going a little bit country this weekend for one of the largest music festivals in the region. Now entering year 47, the Hodag Country Music Festival in Rhinelander continues to draw top country artists to the Northwoods. This year's lineup includes: Jordan Davis, LoCash, Carly Pierce, and Gretchen Wilson, even Three Dog Night. Tonight's headliner is Mitchell Tenpenny. With big names comes big crowds, as people travel from across the Midwest, many camping right on site for the four day party. More than 30,000 people attend the festival each year. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism estimates the event has more than a $10 million economic impact on the Rhinelander area. In addition to the business benefit, many local groups and organizations take advantage with fundraising opportunities from the visitors. Many of those concertgoers were on hand last night for the modified 'chair line.' The Wednesday night tradition has evolved over the years, and allows people to set up their chairs in their favorite location based on a random drawing. Though many would argue there are no bad seats on the festival grounds. Music gets underway Thursday afternoon and will continue through Sunday evening.

Published on 07/10/2025 under News A pair of major drug busts were announced in Northern Wisconsin yesterday. Between the two investigations, sixteen people have been arrested. Seven Arrested in Oneida County InvestigationIn Oneida County, according to the Sheriff's Office, seven individuals were arrested and charged with conspiracy to manufacture or deliver fentanyl. The five men and two women range in age from 22 to 41 years old. The Sheriff's Office says the individuals were involved in an effort to transport the opioid to the area for local distribution. They noted recent trends have shown that fentanyl is being mixed with other illicit drugs to increase the potency, resulting in fatal and non-fatal overdosing. The individuals have been making initial appearances in Oneida County Court this week. Nine Arrested in Price County InvestigationMeanwhile, in an unrelated case, the Price County Sheriff's Office and the Phillips Police Department jointly announced the arrest of 9 people who will face drug-related charges related to the sale of marijuana and methamphetamine. The investigation began earlier this year and included the execution of search warrants at several homes. The suspects ranged in age from 34 to 57 years old.

Published on 07/10/2025 under News A program aimed at addressing youth food insecurity is returning to the Rhinelander community today. Now in its 5th year, the Hodag Food Wagon provides nutritional support when children are on summer break and food insecurity can rise. The Rhinelander Food Pantry coordinates with UW-Extension Food Wise, and this year they'll receive funding through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Summer Food Service Program. The goal is to give families with kids a little boost during the summer by providing kid-friendly food as well as nutritional education and recipes. Each bag features five breakfast meals and five lunch meals. With 150 bags available each week, they'll prepare around 1,200 bags during the eight-week period, around 12,000 meals in all. During some of the pick-up events, they'll also have other activities, tonight it's a pizza party. They'll be set up at the Food Pantry from 4pm to 6pm on Thursdays through the end of August.

Published on 07/10/2025 under News The Hodag Country Music Festival in Rhinelander isn't the only Northwoods concert series kicking off today. The Merrill community bringing back Gazebo Nights for a 14th year. The Thursday night concerts fill up Normal Park in Merrill. Earlier this year, organizers unveiled the line-up which will once again feature a variety of styles and plenty of talent. It all begins this evening with Hip Pocket. Then weekly, six more concerts will follow with a one-week pause for the Lincoln County Fair in August. While the focus is on the music and the concerts are free, local non-profits also benefit through food, concessions and weekly 50/50 raffles. Last year, sixteen Merrill-area groups and organizations raised more than $16,000. The full line up is available on the Gazebo Nights Facebook and the WJJQ Community Calendar.

+ Read More

Sports Headlines

Voermans Competes in WIAA State Track & Field Meet

Published on 06/09/2025 under Sports Hatchet Junior Track and Field Athlete Alicia Voermans finished 13th in the Pole Vault at the WIAA Division 2 State Track and Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Friday. Voermans equaled the school record with a leap of ten feet even. Voermans finished ahead of Angelina Appelbaum of New Berlin Eisenhower, Calee Klein of Clinton, and Amelia Sikri of New Berlin West. Voermans' GNC opponent, Rhinelander's Macy Myers placed eighth with a leap of 11 feet. This concludes the Tomahawk Track and Field Season.

Published on 06/05/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's Sawyer Hanna's Season ended in the WIAA Division 2 Sectional Golf Meet at Hayward Golf Course Wednesday in a playoff. Hanna finished with a score of 74 and headed into a three-way playoff with Medford's Zach Hintz and St. Croix Central's Braiden Rasmussen. In the playoff, Hanna and Hintz both pared on the playoff hole. However, Rasmussen chipped in a birdie from 40 feet to be the final individual state qualifier from the Sectional Meet.

Published on 06/03/2025 under Sports The Hatchet baseball team gave #1 seed and #5 in Division 3 Elk Mound their whole effort, but came up just short at Village Park Monday, losing in the WIAA Regional Semifinal in walk-off fashion, 4-3. Tomahawk scored the first two runs of the game and held a 2-1 lead until the fourth inning. After Elk Mound took the lead on an RBI groundout in the fifth, the Hatchets responded with a triple from Cash Olsen and an RBI single from Brody Rigney to tie the game at 3-3. Regardless, the Mounders would get the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to score on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Kaden Moyer, scoring centerfielder Kamron Diermeier. Rigney pitched 5.1 innings of work, giving up just three runs on six hits while striking out six. Rigney also went three for four at the plate with three singles. Olsen finished two for three with a triple. Drew Tollefson went two for four with an RBI as well. Tomahawk finises the 2025 season with a 10-13 record and a 5-7 Great Northern Conference record. The Hatchets graduate four seniors, who are Rigney, Tollefson, Brayden Larson, and Cooper Hetzel.

Published on 05/30/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's Baseball Squad walked off #9 seed Chetek-Weyerhauser in a wild WIAA Division 3 Regional Quarterfinal Game at Tyler Kahle Memorial Field Thursday, winning, 11-10. The Hatchets jumped out to a 7-2 lead after two innings, but the Bulldogs jumped ahead. Chetek-Weyerhauser scored eight of the next nine runs, including a five-run sixth inning. The Hatchets trailed, 10-8 in the bottom of the sixth before tying the game with two more runs. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Junior Second Baseman Nick Arndt walked off the game with a fielder's choice, scoring Wally Horabik. Drew Tollefson went three for four with a double and an RBI. The Hatchets came away with 13 hits and took advantage of six Chetek-Weyerhauser errors. The win puts Tomahawk at 10-12 on the season. The Hatchets will play in the WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinal at #1 Seed and #4 ranked in Division 3 Elk Mound Tuesday. The Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show is at 4:35 and First pitch is at 5:00 from Elk Mound Village Park on Sports Talk 810 AM and 97.7 FM WJJQ. If Tomahawk wins, they will play at either #4 seed Fall Creek of #5 seed Boyceville Wednesday.

+ Read More

Current Weather

Quick Links

WJJQ Daily Features

5:00 until 10:00AM
Jeff in the Morning
Zach with the News

9:35AM
Monday - Friday
Morning Conversation

8:30am - 9:00am
Monday – Saturday
Trig’s Trading Mart
Call (715) 453-4481 to buy, sell, wanted, trade or help your neighbor.

Listen Live While On The Go!
Stream 92.5FM Live To Your Mobile Device.