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Tomahawk, Merrill Schools Make Friday Cancellation Decisions Early

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Schools in Lincoln County will closed on Friday, and the extreme cold is to blame. With dangerously cold temperatures in the forecast overnight Thursday and throughout the day Friday, both the Tomahawk and Merrill School Districts made an early decision to close their campuses for Friday. By making the call early, it allows parents or caretakers to make alternative arrangements ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of school. When it comes to cold, school officials have to consider a number of factors including the transportation of students, both waiting for buses and time spent on the bus. Most Northwoods districts build a few extra days into the school calendar in anticipation of some weather-related cancellations during the school year. We expect the cancellations list to grow as Friday approaches. It's also a good idea to check ahead for any activities, events, and appointments on Friday for potential closures and cancellations. Stay tuned to WJJQ for updates.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News People across the region will be spending the day Thursday preparing for the impending stretch of dangerous cold in the forecast. A local bird rescue is reminding people to fill up their feeders. The folks over at the Raptor Education Group offered a few tips to help our feathered friends find some food over the next few days. They note that it is important to feed birds easily digestible food, typically found in a good wild bird seed mixture. REGI specifically highlighted black sunflower seeds and safflower seeds which are a good source of nutrients and fat, essential in below-zero weather. And for birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches suet is an excellent option. They added that you may want to consider bringing suet inside overnight to keep it softer and readily available to the birds. As for foods to avoid, while common, they advise against corn. Low in nutrients, they note that corn is nearly impossible for birds to digest in cold temperatures. And keep an eye out for birds that appear injured. If you one, they recommend using a towel to place it in a cardboard box and bringing it inside. Then contact REGI or a nearby animal rescue for further steps.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Lawmakers in Madison are working to find common ground on PFAS investments which could be good news for communities around the state including here in the Northwoods. On Wednesday, Governor Evers expressed optimism on a deal to release $125 million in PFAS funding that was actually approved in the previous 2023-25 budget. In laying out his 2026 legislative agenda, Gov. Evers cited PFAS legislation as an opportunity for bipartisan work and compromise. Approximately $80 million would allocated to a Community grant program to assist local governments in combating and remediating PFAS contamination. Here in Tomahawk, the city has been taking steps to build a PFAs treatment plant, but that facility carries a price tag of approximately $6.2 million. City leaders have been reviewing options to help pay for the project in what is expected to be an increasingly competitive process to secure funding in the coming years through grants or low-interest loans.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Coming off of the DNR's free weekend, Lincoln County will be offering a similar opportunity to enjoy a hidden gem at no cost in early February. Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks announced that they will be bringing back their Free Trail Pass Weekend for the Underdown Recreation Area. It is currently scheduled for the weekend of February 7 and 8. This will include opportunities to check out the park's cross-country ski, fat-tire bike, and snowshoe trails without the typically required pass, saving users $25. (Winter passes are $25; year-long passes are $35) After a couple of mild winters, the silent sports have been enjoying a snow-filled start to winter. Underdown features more than 20 miles of groomed ski trails, along with cleared snowshoe and bike paths. We'll offer up a reminder as that date draws closer.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Northcentral Technical College (NTC) has been named as one of the top training colleges in North America. NTC is one of only 11 colleges to receive this recognition from the Learning Resources Network. According to the announcement, the award honors the work of NTC's Workforce Training + Professional Development team including their collaboration with local employers. NTC's Workforce Training and Professional Development team designs and delivers customized training for businesses across the region. Programs are offered onsite at employer locations or at NTC campuses in Wausau, Antigo, Wittenberg, Phillips, Medford and Spencer. Dr. Brad Gast, Dean of Workforce Training and Professional Development at NTC called it an honor to be recognized. He says, "Each year, we have the privilege to serve more than 900 businesses and over 10,000 professionals. We are committed to delivering high quality, responsive solutions that help organizations strengthen performance, adapt to change, and remain competitive in a global economy." This marks the third time in six years that NTC has received this honor.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Business leaders and other stakeholders from the Tomahawk area recently got together for a wide-ranging discussion this past week. The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable conversation covering pressing economic and workforce issues impacting local businesses and the broader community. In addition to locals, the discussions were moderated by Kurt Bauer, president of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Tomahawk Chamber Director Charis Lau said, "This roundtable created an important space for employers to openly share challenges and solutions." Among the topics they covered are business costs and tariffs; workforce demographics, attraction and retention; and even housing and childcare. Lau said, "This groups' discussion brought a lot of insight to better understand what is impacting our businesses today. From here we can work collectively to strengthen our workforce and community for the future." They plan to use insights from these discussions to help inform future planning efforts, advocacy priorities, and initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth, workforce development, and community sustainability in the Tomahawk area. They also hope to have continued conversations to ensure local voices are heard and to help position the region for long-term success.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Over the past several years, Lincoln County has invested into protecting it's water resources. Some of these projects are being funded through grants and contributions from local stakeholders. At their meeting Tuesday, the Lincoln County Board accepted another donation to continue an ongoing stream crossing assessment. To fund this work, the county has been utilizing DNR Surface Water Planning Grants which do require a 33% match. As outlined in a resolution approved by the board Tuesday, Wisconsin Valley Improvement pledged $1,500. Coupled with a previous donation from Trouts Unlimited and in house work, the match of this grant is being filled with no additional tax levy. We told you about this stream crossing project last month. Lincoln County Land Services initiated a multi-phase project assessing the more than 600 culvert stream crossings at public roadways within the county. The goal is to evaluate the condition, sizing, and placement of the culverts to determine whether maintenance or replacement is needed. Phase 1 completed this spring and summer covered approximately a third of the culverts.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News A man involved in a snowmobile crash in Oneida County earlier this month has now died. The crash happened back on January 3 in Minocqua. According to the DNR, the operator was attempting to cross a state highway when he was struck by a vehicle. The 76 year old was brought to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. According to an update, the man died from his injuries over the weekend weekend. The man's name was not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation. This is the sixth fatal snowmobile crash in Wisconsin this riding season; the fourth this month.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Community Blood Center is encouraging donors to tell their story. Earlier this month, the CBC introduced their "I donate because…" initiative, celebrating community members giving blood and platelets. The campaign is simple...cards can be picked up at donation sites or printed off at home. The cards have printed: "I donate because..." with space where individuals can write what motivates them. Completed cards will be displayed by the CBC and selfies of the donor holding the card can be shared on social media. They note that every donor has a unique reason for giving, so they encourage donors to share their stories to help inspire the next generation of lifesavers and remind others why blood donation is so meaningful.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Local snowmobile clubs regularly urge the importance for riders to stay on the marked trails. The DNR is joining in on that messaging. This past week, the DNR put out a reminder for snowmobile riders to operate only on marked trails, routes or other areas with permission and to stay off closed trails. They note that Wisconsin snowmobile clubs work hard all year to secure one of the best riding experiences in this country, and that is thanks to the large network of snowmobile trails. In fact, Wisconsin has more than 25,000 miles of groomed trails to ride. The DNR shared a number of concerns when straying off trails including rider safety, damage to private lands, and the operation on closed trails is illegal. Lt. Jake Holsclaw, DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, "Wisconsin has thousands of miles of well-maintained trails that are managed by dedicated club members. Please respect their lands, and ride safe and sober."

Published on 01/21/2026 under News The DNR is looking to recruit new team members in the new year. The agency previously announced six career fairs around the state in January and February, including one here in the Northwoods this afternoon. In addition to careers in natural resources and environmental sciences, they also have opportunities in engineering, law enforcement, business, and information technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with current DNR staff and ask questions. Their tour will be making a stop in Woodruff this afternoon, where they'll be set up at the Town Hall from 3pm to 7pm for those interested to drop in.

Published on 01/20/2026 under News A local 4-H club knows a thing or two about ice cream, once again winning a contest that will see their flavor being produced and sold this summer. While it isn't necessarily ice cream weather outside, Cedar Crest Ice Cream announced the finalists for their annual 4-H flavor creation contest. And for the second time in three years, the winning flavor was submitted by the Pesobic Pathfinders 4-H down in Merrill. For years, Cedarberg-based Cedar Crest has partnered with the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation for this contest. They challenge the youth to come up with a name, theme, and even flavors and add-ins for a new ice cream. This year's winning flavor is called Hold Your Horses. It is inspired by starting each day with a fresh cup of coffee, featuring an espresso flavored ice cream with chocolate covered toffee pieces & caramel ribbon. If that sounds enticing, the winning flavor will be available at ice cream shops around the state this summer, including the Windmill up in Nokomis. You'll have to wait a few month to sample Hold Your Horses, the winning flavor typically arrives in July. Two years ago, the Pathfinders also won the contest with their Paul Bunyan flavor, which has also become a regular flavor in the Cedar Crest line.

Published on 01/20/2026 under News It's awards season, and the Lincoln County Sheirff's Office recently recognized four staff members for their actions or their ongoing efforts and service. Lt. Tom Tollefson was presented with the 'Life Saving Award' thanks to his efforts in December. While responding to a welfare check, they said Tollefson found an individual not breathing and with no pulse. He began CPR, and those actions contributed to saving the patient. This isn't the first life-saving award Tollefson has won during his law enforcement career. Ten years ago, while a member of the Tomahawk Police Department, he was presented with a Life Saving Medal for a water rescue. Back to the Lincoln County Awards, Jail Administrator Nicholas Hoeft was presented with the Sheriff's Recognition Award for what was described as selflessness and dedication during a critical incident involving the Dive Team in July 2025. Two others were recognized for ongoing work. Corrections Officer Julie Remington was presented with the Distinguished Service Award while working diligently in the implementation and refinement of the Lincoln County Jail's Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program. Deputy Mariah Wegmueller was recognized as Deputy Of The Year for her exceptional service and consistently demonstrating the agency's core values (service to the community, integrity, and professionalism). The Sheriff's Office said of the recipients, "Your actions and dedication reflect great credit upon yourselves, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, and the law enforcement community."

Published on 01/20/2026 under News With this frigid forecast, officials are reminding pet owners to make sure four-legged friends are staying warm. Despite their fur, dogs and cats can get frost bite just like humans. They are especially susceptible on exposed areas such as their ears, nose, and paws. While officials say the easiest solution is to keep your pet indoors when temperatures drop, the Lincoln County Humane Society shared some other cold weather tips to keep pets safe. Try to provide a high quality diet which can help maintain a healthy coat and weight. Outdoor water dishes should be heated, and avoid metal bowls during winter months. For animals spending time outdoors, even for a short time, make sure they have an area to avoid the wind. It's best to have an insulated shelter with a door covering and a bedding area is better when elevated. One final caution goes towards chemicals used to melt snow and ice. Anti-freeze and road salts can irritate pet paws. Those items should also be stored out of reach, the compounds can be poisonous if ingested by a curious pet.

Published on 01/20/2026 under News One year after reaching a partnership between Marshfield Clinic and Sanford Health, the combined health system has unveiled a new look and branding. Marshfield Clinic joined Sanford Health in January 2025 in a new partnership bringing together nearly 55,000 employees and 58 medical centers. To support the new brand, the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health has launched a campaign entitled "Here for All. Here for Good," which they said celebrates a commitment to employees, communities, patients, and members. Brian Hoerneman, M.D., president and CEO of the Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health says, "The Marshfield Clinic legacy that patients know and trust remains strong, and we're building on it." He added, "The new brand campaign allows us to reintroduce ourselves to our patients and communities, sharing the progress we've made and amplifying the great care that happens in our region every day." The campaign is expected to feature a combination of digital and traditional media.

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