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Music on the River: The Cougars Return for Season Finale

Published on 08/12/2026 under News As quickly as it began, Tomahawk's summer concert series comes to a close this evening, and organizers are bringing back a local favorite to wrap up the season. The Cougars will perform tonight at the seventh and final week of Music on the River at Memorial Park. The six-piece band, a series regular, features a unique lineup with three female lead singers and lively blend of rock, pop, and a touch of country. The Cougars were originally scheduled to kick off this year's concert series, but their performance in June was postponed due to rain. Now, they get to close out the summer instead. Throughout the summer, fans packed the waterfront, whether in lawn chairs in the park or pontoons on the shoreline. Tonight offers one last chance to catch the music on the water. The free concert begins at 6:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Tomahawk.

Published on 08/12/2026 under News Voters across the Northwoods turned out in steady numbers on Tuesday to choose their candidates for the fall election. The most closely watched contest was at the top of the ticket. With Governor Tony Evers not seeking re-election, the open seat drew heavy statewide attention. A local candidate will anchor the Republican ticket, as current 7th District Congressman Tom Tiffany cruised to the GOP nomination as expected. On the Democratic side, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley mounted a dramatic comeback after re-entering the race last month. It appears Crowley after he narrowly defeated state Representative Francesca Hong, who led polling through much of the campaign. Tiffany's run for governor also left an open seat in Northern Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District. On the Republican side, Michael Alfonso emerged victorious from a field of five candidates. For the Democrats, former state Representative Fred Clark won a tight three-way race in which every candidate captured at least 30 percent of the vote. The primary winners now advance to the November 3 general election.

Published on 08/12/2026 under News In just a few short weeks, Northwoods students will head back to the classroom, meaning back-to-school shopping is in full swing. With rising costs, a little extra planning can go a long way in preventing sticker shock. According to the National Retail Federation, parents of K-12 students anticipate spending a little over $400 on basic supplies and clothing alone. That figure climbs even higher when factoring in electronics or college-bound students. However, consumer experts say smart habits can lead to significant savings:Stick to the List: Start with your district's official classroom supply list—and stick to it. Keeping purchases focused on essential items prevents costly impulse buys.Shop at Home First: Before heading to the store, check closets and desks. Supplies left over from previous school years can often be reused.Buy in Bulk: Team up with neighbors, relatives, or classmates to purchase items in bulk, then divide the supplies and split the savings.Shop Sales and Closeouts: Keep an eye out for weekly back-to-school sales. While driving to multiple stores requires extra effort, those small discounts add up quickly.Finally, take advantage of local community organizations that host school supply drives and distribution events. On Wednesday afternoon and early evening, Tomahawk Kinship is teaming up with several area churches to host a free backpack and school supply giveaway at the Kinship House on Main Street.

Published on 08/12/2026 under News While school staffers have been busy preparing campuses for the return of students, administrators and school board members have been hard at work on district budgets. The preliminary spending plan for the Tomahawk School District was on the board's agenda Tuesday, with District Administrator Wendell Quesinberry providing a brief overview. As previously reported, rising local property values and declining enrollment mean Tomahawk no longer qualifies for state general aid. That funding is expected to decrease annually, shifting more of the tax burden locally. Quesinberry noted that unreimbursed special education costs also remain a major financial hurdle. On the local tax front, a significant jump in overall property values could potentially lower the district's mill rate by 35 to 40 cents, even with a slight increase in the tax levy. As he does each August, Quesinberry cautioned that the preliminary budget is subject to change. School districts rely on placeholders for categories like student enrollment and state aid until official figures are finalized after the school year begins. Quesinberry reassured the board that the district remains in a strong financial position, describing the proposal as a "good, strong budget." The plan will be formally presented to the public at the district's annual meeting next month, with final board approval expected in late September or early October.

Published on 08/12/2026 under News Firefighters from across the Lakeland region teamed up to contain a house fire in Minocqua that threatened neighboring homes and woods. According to Minocqua Fire & Rescue, crews responded to a reported home fire on Spies Court off Kobart Road on Monday afternoon at shortly before 5pm. Seeing a thick column of smoke before even arriving, they immediately called in mutual aid. The first firefighters on the scene encountered heavy flames and worked to quickly knock down the main fire. The blaze had spread to a nearby garage and into the surrounding wooded area. This triggered a wildland fire response as well. In the end, more than a dozen area fire departments and emergency crews joined the effort, deploying multiple hose lines to bring the flames under control and protect nearby homes from damage. No injuries were reported, and Minocqua Fire leaders expressed deep gratitude to all the neighboring departments whose mutual aid kept the fire from spreading further.

Published on 08/12/2026 under News Nicolet College is looking to make it easier for busy community members to learn about education opportunities through special evening outreach events in the lead up to the fall semester. In August, the college brought back its popular "Nicolet @ Night" program, designed specifically for prospective students who cannot visit campus during regular business hours. Katie Ourada is an admissions manager at Nicolet. She says, "Many of our future and continuing students are full-time workers, parents, and busy people, who need support when it's convenient for them. She says they've designed the evening to give students the flexibility to take the next step. Admissions representatives will be on hand to discuss academic pathways, class schedules, financial aid, and campus support services. As an added bonus, Nicolet is waiving its application fee for attendees, who can also enter a drawing for a $250 scholarship from the Nicolet College Foundation. Tonight marks the second of three consecutive Wednesday events. Representatives will be available on the second floor of the Red Oak Center on the Rhinelander campus from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight and again next Wednesday. The fall semester begins August 31.

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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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