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Lincoln County Zone 1 Snowmobile Trails Opening Thursday

Published on 12/31/2025 under News It's continued good news for snowmobile riders here in the Northwoods, as trail opening announcements continue. The latest includes northern Lincoln County. Over the past few days, the Northwoods has received upwards of a foot of new snow. Local snowmobile clubs have taken advantage, busy preparing these trails to open. This includes not only panning and grooming, but also removing debris and hazards caused by the heavy, wet snow that fell late Sunday. After initially opening the Hiawatha Trail from Tomahawk north on Monday; they'll now open most of Zone 1 on New Year's Day, at 8am Thursday. *There are a few exceptions including corridors 17 and 19; and most water crossings. Lincoln County trails in Zones 2, 3, and 4 will remain closed at this time. The Trails are in early season condition and could be rough and icy in areas. Elsewhere in the Northwoods: Langlade County's Zone A snowmobile trails, along with the segment between intersections 41A and 42B in Zone B will open New Years Day at 6am. Most trails in Price, Iron, Vilas, and Oneida Counties have already been open. As always, stay tuned to WJJQ throughout the riding season for news, updates, and events; as well as our snowmobile trail condition report.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News During a snowstorm, street crews prioritize clearing routes. Among the challenges in the city is where to put the snow initially, until it can be moved. That topic has come up at several Board of Public Works meetings in Tomahawk recently, including Tuesday. The conversation has largely centered on the side streets off of Wisconsin Avenue, specifically the south block of 2nd Street. Traditionally, the snow is first pushed to the center of the road until it can be transported elsewhere. Unlike many other side streets, that block on 2nd has angled parking on the east side of the street. When the parking spots are occupied with larger vehicles, and the center-aisle snow piles it it leaves little space for traffic. Several business owners attended a previous meeting to request an alternative, and the Board experimented with pushing the snow to the opposite side of the street. But after trying this method during the first few snow events, they learned the change resulted in blocking the handicap accessible parking. While the plowed snow typically only stays for a day or two, this was a concern for the Board and those who use the stall. As a result, the Board at their meeting decided to revert back to the center-lane snow. The hope to invite business-owners and residents in that area to a future meeting to brainstorm alternative options. Tomahawk Reminding Residents of Winter Parking Rules: Speaking of parking and snow during the winter months, the Board of Public Works also wanted to remind residents and visitors about the city's winter parking rules. That means no parking on city streets between 2:30am and 5am. While the goal is to allow room for plows to operate, the rules apply whether there is snow falling or not. A first offense ticket is $25. The rules went into effect December 1 and run through March 15.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Space heaters can provide quick warmth, but they are also among the leading cause of home fires during the winter months. After responding to a pair of recent fires caused by space heaters, the Wausau Fire Department offered up some tip to ensure they are being used safely. Their two fires were actually sparked in different ways. The first happened when a space heater was placed too close to combustible materials that caught fire. The second happened when the resident plugged into a string of power strips which overloaded the outlet. Many of the fires can be avoided by taking some precautions. Start by keeping the space heater at least 3 feet from any flammable materials like furniture, bedding, and curtains.Space heaters should be plugged directly into the wall outlet. Extension cords and power strips can overheat and melt which can spark.Never leave space heaters unattended.And whether using a space heater or not; all rooms where people sleep should have a working smoke alarm.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News A local temporary housing facility received a belated Christmas gift, with a significant contribution from an area business. On Tuesday, representatives from AirPro Fan & Blower in Rhinelander contributed $10,000 to Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing or NATH Frederick Place. NATH executive Director Abbey Dall Lukowski says, "(AirPro's) continuous generosity in monetary support has been consistent, moreover, their commitment to ensuring our community is well cared for on all levels, is ever appreciated." In addition to dropping off the check, Dall-Lukowski says that Rob Randolph and Jason Giese also showed community commitment by taking time to learn about Frederick Place's program for unhoused neighbors. Dall-Lukowski says, "Serving our homeless neighbors is not always easy, but when we have our Northwoods' partners and communities behind us, the path is made clearer and more easily traveled." Photo: Frederick Place House Staff, Ashlynn Klabunde & Abbey Lukowski with AirPro representatives, Rod Randolph & Jason Giese who recently shared a financial gift at Frederick Place.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Bingo at SARA Park in Tomahawk is a summer tradition. But for one night only, they'll be back for a special holiday session. Last year, the volunteers from WaWui decided to ring in the New Year with a special winter bingo game. Based on the success, they decided to bring it back for a second year. While some of their players have fled south for the season, they wanted to provide a fun way for folks that have stuck around to celebrate the new year. The games won't last until the clock strikes midnight. It will actually be their normal summer schedule with doors opening at 5:30, cards on sale at 6pm, and games begin at 7pm. They may also have some feature New Year's-themed surprises. As always proceed from WaWui bingo are used to support the SARA Park facility.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Those looking to ring in the New Year are reminded to do so safely by not driving while impaired. As we've previously covered, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is continuing across Wisconsin through the New Year's holiday. The campaign if focused on sober driving during the holiday season including both Christmas and New Years. DoT statistics show that last holiday season, considered the last two weeks of December, there were nearly 400 crashes around the state involving impaired drivers. Many people will enjoy a drink to celebrate this evening, but law enforcement partners are reminding revelers to have a plan. They note that impairment can cloud judgment. That's why they say it is important to designate a sober driver prior to heading out. Ask establishments about ride share or safe ride programs. And If you're hosting a gathering this evening, plan how your guests will get home safely. The Drive Sober campaign is a combination of increased enforcement along with education.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Update: The Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks Department announced that the Lincoln County Snowmobile trails in Zone 1 will open as of Thursday, January 1. Exceptions include: Corridor 17 south of the Cty S/Hwy 51 Park and Ride at intersection #30 and Corridor 19 from Cty E north to Hwy 86. The Hiawatha Trail is already open. Trails in Zones 2, 3, and 4 will remain closed at this time._____ Winter weather over the weekend was a welcome sight for snowmobilers across the Northwoods. Not only did it refresh the snow conditions on area trails, but also allowed some additional segments to open. The Lincoln County Forestry, Land and Parks Department announced the opening the Hiawatha Trail effective as of Monday afternoon. The Hiawatha allows a corridor for Lincoln County riders to travel north and access the trails in Oneida County, which were previously opened. Local clubs are also continuing their efforts to inspect and prepare the remainder of the trail system. That includes removing debris and hazards from the weekend snow. As of Tuesday morning, all other trails in Lincoln County do remain closed. Riders should stay off of trails until they are officially opened. For trails to our north, Oneida County and Vilas County are reporting much improved trails thanks to the additional snow. Riders are encouraged to use a little extra caution as the heavy snow may leave sagging branches. Stay tuned to WJJQ in the coming days for any additional trail openings. Again, as of Monday afternoon, the Hiawatha Trail in Lincoln County is now open.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Snowmobile clubs in Vilas County are hoping to make it a little safer for riders crossing lakes at night. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance recently announced plans to place flashing beacon lights on the shorelines of some lake access points. The beacons, along with the traditional lake markers, will let riders know where it is safest to cross lakes and where the shorelines and trail exits are. The beacons were purchased with safety funds. The goal is to improve visibility and awareness, particularly when riding at night. The lights will have a two nautical mile visibility range. They will flash in a sequence of red, white, and green. In addition to the new beacon lights, the Alliance also invested in night, speed limit signs, reminding riders of that 55 mile per hour speed limit during darkness. The law was put in place to keep snowmobiles from outrunning their headlights. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance is made up of the eleven member clubs located in Vilas County.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News If you're waking up a little sore this morning after clearing snow, you're not alone. But some simple changes can make snow removal an easier task when the next winter storm arrives. According to the National Institutes of Health, snow shoveling results in about 11,500 injuries per year on average. Aspirus occupational therapist Nathaniel Kropidlowski says improper body mechanics, lack of preparation, and poor equipment are leading causes of these aches, strains, and accidents. Kropidlowski explained the importance of warming up before heading out to shovel with some quick shoulder, hip and back stretches. While shoveling he recommends focusing on using the entire body to lift the snow, rather than bending at the back. He says modern ergonomic shovels can improve form and protect your body from the added strain. It's also a good idea to pace yourself and take some breaks. And if you begin to notice pain or discomfort while shoveling, or if it persists in the days after, talk to you provider.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Winter storms over the weekend left thousands without power...36 hours later restoration work is winding down. Wisconsin Public Service provided an update Monday. The heavy, wet snow Sunday afternoon and evening knocked out power to more than 20,000 customers across northern and northeastern Wisconsin. As of daybreak Tuesday, they were addressing a small number of isolated outages in the Northwoods, fewer than two dozen between Vilas and Oneida Counties. They also have some work to do in the Marinette area with a few hundred outages. Rhinelander had 7 inches, Boulder Junction 14. And over in Iron County, Hurley had 18 inches; Gile 21. We also had some strong winds at times, with a 40 mile per hour gust recorded at the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News A child was located safe early Monday morning following an overnight search in Taylor County. Resonders were initially dispatched to help locate the youth who walked away from a home in the Town of Lublin Sunday at just before midnight. The crews dealt with winter weather conditions during the search, and multiple agencies participated including Wings of Hope which provides thermal imaging drone service. Officials say the child was found at around 2am Monday in a wooded area in the town of Roosevelt. The youth was checked by responders and released to the family without further medical treatment. Officials did not provide any additional information, including the age of the juvenile.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News The DNR is looking to recruit new team members in the new year. The agency announced plans to host six career fairs around the state in January and February, including one here in the Northwoods. They noted in the announcement there are a wide variety of careers beyond the obvious in natural resources and environmental sciences. This includes engineering, law enforcement, business, customer service, information technology and administrative support. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with current DNR staff and ask questions. Among the opportunities will be a Career Fair in Woodruff on Wednesday, Jan. 21. We'll offer up a reminder as that date approaches. The DNR has additional information on their website. Spooner: Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Woodruff: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 3 – 7 p.m. Oshkosh: Friday, Jan. 23, 4 – 7 p.m. Milladore: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 5 – 8 p.m. Milwaukee: Saturday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fitchburg: Sunday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News Our largest winter storm system of the season left thousands without power and led to a difficult Monday morning commute. Many areas of the Northwoods actually experienced some thunderstorms Saturday evening. By Sunday afternoon, that rain had transitioned to snow, which continued throughout the evening and into Monday morning. Here at the WJJQ studios, we recorded 8 inches of a wet, heavy snow with blowing and drifting as well. Elsewhere in Lincoln and Oneida Counties, we received reports of 5 to 10 inches. Up in Vilas and Iron Counties as much as a foot of snow. This led to widespread power outages across the region, with WPS outages peaking with more than 10,000 customers Sunday evening. By day break, there were approximately 6,500 outages. WPS says crew will continue their restoration efforts throughout the day. The snow also led to some difficult travel during the Monday morning commute with snow drifts and some slick roads beneath, and reports of low-hanging or downed branches. People are encouraged to hold off on travel until the plows have a chance to get roads cleared. If you must travel give yourself plenty of time.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News With widespread power outages, many people turn to generators. The Oneida County Health Department passed along a few tips to safely use generators during the winter months. They note that portable generators are a common source of carbon monoxide exposure. Generators should never be run indoors. It is recommended they be kept at least 20 feet from the dwelling when in use. These same rules apply when running a generator at hunting cabins and ice fishing shanties as well. Speaking of carbon monoxide, throughout the winter months, make sure to keep vents free of snow and ice to ensure exhaust doesn't back up. It's also important to have a working carbon monoxide detector. The Health Department also mentioned fire safety when it comes to candles, which many people turn to for lighting when the power is out. It's important to place candles in a safe location and make sure they are properly extinguished when not in use. It's also a good idea to check on friends, neighbors, and family.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News Lincoln County is undertaking an effort to review stream crossings. This spring, the Land Services Department initiated a project to assess all culvert stream crossings on public roadways within the county. The goal is to evaluate all culverts for condition and environmental impact, along with proper sizing and placement to determine whether maintenance or replacement is needed. With nearly 600 crossings in Lincoln County, they divided the project into three phases. They recently wrapped up phase one, more than 200 crossings in the Townships of Birch, Harrison, King, Merrill, Pine River, Russell, Schley, and Skanawan. They found significant stream crossing improvements could be made for a variety of reasons including potential and potential barriers for fish and aquatic organisms; sizing or depth of the culvert; and deterioration of the culvert or erosion of the ground surrounding the culvert. Representatives from local municipalities were invited to participate in a workshop to discuss the results including potential avenues for financial aid. The County actually utilized a DNR Surface Water grant to fund the study. A final report detailing the findings from Phase 1 is now available on the Lincoln County website.

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