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Lincoln County Board Allocates Funds to Continue Planning for Highway Building Replacements

Published on 08/19/2026 under News The Lincoln County Board took another step towards potentially replace the county's aging highway facilities in Tomahawk and Merrill. At their meeting Tuesday, the board approved a twice-amended resolution supporting the development of plans for new Highway Department buildings at the existing Tomahawk and Merrill sites. This was based on recommendations by the County's Highway Committee as well as an Ad Hoc Facility Committee. Other options included identifying new sites or consolidating operations into a single central location. They concluded that rebuilding on current sites was the most cost-effective approach: saving on land purchases, preserving existing infrastructure like fueling and salt storage, and service in both the northern and southern halves of the county. The original resolution was amended to allocate up to $175,000 from the Highway Department budget to cover site surveys, architectural plans, and initial cost estimates. A second amendment removed language referencing a potential move of the Forestry Department. Responsibility for oversight now shifts to the Public Property Committee. The full County Board will review all completed site plans and financial estimates before any construction receives final approval. If the project progresses to the building stage, construction on the Tomahawk and Merrill facilities will likely be scheduled sequentially for logistical purposes.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News It's back-to-school season...not just for students, but for educators as well. On Monday, the School District of Rhinelander held a special orientation day for about two dozen new staff members, which included a guided introduction to the local community. The event was co-organized by the school district, Rhinelander Partners in Education, and the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce. Following morning sessions on campus, the group boarded a bus for a "Welcome to Rhinelander Tour" to explore notable spots around town. The itinerary featured a stop at the Chamber of Commerce, where new staff received welcome bags and gathered for a group photo in front of the iconic Hodag statue. The day concluded at CAVOC, the district's outdoor classroom, for a final session where local leaders shared information about area businesses, organizations, and potential partnerships designed to connect community and classroom. -Photo provided by School District of Rhinelander

Published on 08/19/2026 under News Statistics show that volunteers make up approximately 65% of all firefighters in the United States, with 82% of fire departments utilizing volunteers in some capacity. In rural regions like Northern Wisconsin, that ratio is even higher, making Tuesday a fitting time to honor these dedicated individuals. August 18 marks Volunteer Firefighter Recognition Day. Volunteer departments face unique challenges, particularly when it comes to recruitment and securing limited budgets for essential equipment. To support these first responders, the National Volunteer Fire Council offers several assistance programs. Its "Make Me A Firefighter" campaign actively helps volunteer and combination fire and EMS departments recruit new members, recently launching a dedicated portal to streamline the recruitment process. The organization also facilitates grants to help local departments purchase vital equipment, including protective safety gear, rescue tools, and communication devices.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News From a foggy dock to vibrant wild fungi, the Friends of Council Grounds State Park received a wide array of stunning submissions for their annual photo contest. Now, the public has the chance to help select the winners. Hosted every summer by the park's Friends Group, this year's contest invited parkgoers to submit photos taken at Council Grounds over the past two years. Entrants submitted a creative mix of images featuring outdoor recreation, scenic landscapes, local wildlife, and native plants. Organizers have narrowed down the entries to three top finalists in each category, and community members can now vote for their favorites.To cast your vote, visit the official Friends of Council Grounds Facebook page before the end of the month. Each category has its own separate post. Simply "like" your favorite photo to submit a vote, keeping in mind that only one vote per category is allowed.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News Bird migration is already underway for several species, including the chimney swift. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group are asking volunteers across the state to count these unique birds as they pass through Wisconsin on their journey to South America. According to the DNR, chimney swifts become highly communal during migration, gathering by the hundreds or even thousands in the evening to roost inside old brick chimneys. These massive flocks are typically seen in northern Wisconsin by mid-August. Chimney swifts have teardrop-shaped bodies and boomerang-shaped wings While chimney swift populations have unfortunately been declining, monitoring numbers and mapping roosting locations play a vital role in protecting the species. To support these efforts, the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group launched a mapping and tracking tool for volunteers interested in monitoring active roosts and nest sites. "Anyone out birding or counting swifts at a roost site can use the tool," said Rich Staffen, a DNR conservation biologist and co-chair of the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group. "It also allows folks to add information on summer chimney swift nesting sites." Tips for Volunteer Counters: Locate Potential Sites: Look for tall, uncapped brick chimneys. Watch for swifts swooping and circling overhead in the evening to determine if they are using the chimney to roost.Time the Survey: Begin counting approximately 20 minutes before sunset and continue until 10 minutes after the final swift enters the chimney.Record the Count: Count or estimate the birds as they swoop inside to enter your findings into the tracking tool.

Published on 08/19/2026 under News A tragic incident in western Taylor County Monday afternoon, when a young child died after being struck by a vehicle while checking the mail. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 3:05 p.m. near County Highway H and Polley Lane in the Town of Aurora. According to the preliminary investigation, the 8 year old crossed the Highway to check the mailbox. In attempting to cross back, they stepped into the path of a northbound vehicle. The child was struck by the vehicle, and later died from injuries sustained in the crash. The crash remains under investigation with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol.

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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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