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Oneida County Announces Snowmobile Trails Opening Friday

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Northwoods snowmobile riders are getting an early Christmas present with Oneida County opening their trails ahead of the weekend. The Oneida County Forestry Land and Recreation Department announced that a majority of their trail system will open at noon on Friday. There are a few exceptions including the Northwoods Passage 51B trail. In the announcement, they note that all lake or river trails in Oneida County remain closed at this time, and they are considered unsafe until they have been clearly marked. While the local clubs have been busy preparing the trails, they do anticipate early season riding conditions. In recent years, local snowmobilers have had to wait until January on a number of occasions. Last year, Oneida County trails didn't open until February 7 for an abbreviated riding season. We await word on neighboring counties, and will pass along any additional openers as we receive them. As always stay tuned to WJJQ throughout the season for updates and reports on the local trail system.

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Volunteers in Lincoln County were once again able to make this Christmas season merry with a little help from the community. Over the past few months organizers of Christmas Spirit-Lincoln County have been busy preparing their annual gift distribution. Working with community partners, they fill gift requests for families struggling financially to provide presents during the holiday season. With both the need and generosity remaining high, they recently announced they were able to distribute gifts to 150 families this year, which will allow 390 kids to have a brighter Christmas next week. Those gifts were distributed to families earlier this month. As their giving season wraps up, organizers wanted to thank everyone who lent a helping hand this year. This includes the Tomahawk and Merrill Fire Departments, area businesses, shoppers, gift wrappers, who continue to coming together to make this program possible each holiday season.

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Earlier this year, YMCA of the Northwoods announced they were exploring a new location in the Lakeland area. Now they're seeking some community input. Back in October, the Y share they were considering a partnership with Lakeland Fitness and Golf Center in Woodruff. They created a Lakeland Area Y Steering Committee is exploring the feasibility. That committee has launched a Community Needs Assessment survey to help determine what gaps in facilities, programs, and services there are in the area. Linda May, CEO of the YMCA of the Northwoods says, "A YMCA is built by listening to the community it hopes to serve. Your voice will help us understand what matters most and how we can work within the Lakeland area. Together, we can strengthen connections, support wellness, and create a vision for a place where everyone belongs." The YMCA of the Northwoods is based in Rhinelander. They also have the Flambeau River Y in Park Falls which opened earlier this year.

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Local responders recently took part in some winter rescue training, while also reminding the public to use caution whenever heading out onto the ice. Throughout the season, rescue crews regularly brush up on their skills to ensure they are well-prepared when they get the call for an ice-water rescue. Crews from the Nokomis Fire Department were able to conduct a training session on Monday evening. They took advantage of some open water near the County L bridge. They said were able to cover a variety of useful skills including rope handling, radio use, verbal and non-verbal communication, rescues, and self-rescues. And because not all emergencies come during the daytime hours, they brushed up on lighting the scene. In addition to the rescue training, the group also said they were able to test out their new electric ice auger. This can be a useful tool during a fire response in getting fast access to water under the ice.

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Around a quarter of Wisconsinites receive their drinking water from private wells. It is recommended that well-owners have their wells regularly tested for contaminates. The DNR is hoping to make it easier for property owners to interpret those results. The agency, and their partners have launched the 'Be Well Informed' website, an online tool and resource guide. After receiving well testing results from a certified laboratory, the property owner can enter the data into the website. The tool then generates a report that explains the results and provides educational resources for any recommended next steps. Marty Nessman, DNR Private Water Supply section manager says, "I'm pleased that Wisconsin is able to provide this valuable tool to help private well owners make sense of their drinking water test results." The tool is tailored to Wisconsin's drinking water environment and includes current water guidelines and standards. The agency partnered with UW-Madison Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and UW- Extension to design the website.

Published on 12/17/2025 under News Two Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps programs will receive another round of funding to continue their mission. Overall, Serve Wisconsin announced the distribution of $9.3 million in grant funding from the AmeriCorps to support 20 programs around the state. Through these programs, the AmeriCorps members will help support a range of outreach from conservation projects to after school youth programs. Executive Director of Serve Wisconsin Kyle Clower says, "This federal funding will put nearly 700 AmeriCorps members on the ground at roughly 200 service sites throughout the state to help make a difference and improve the lives of people across Wisconsin." According to the announcement, Marshfield Clinic has two programs selected to receive funding. The first is for their 'Community Corps' program. They funds will help place 40 members in non-profits and public health organizations around the region to increase their capacity to address local health needs. The second, Recovery Corps, will train 15 members as recovery coaches to address opioid and other substance addiction while also providing community education on the topic. This funding was initially cut by the Trump administration, but later restored through court order.

Published on 12/16/2025 under News An iconic snowman is set to return to the Northwoods this week, and he'll be built in a new location. The Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau announced construction of Snowmy Kromer is set to begin today. For those unfamiliar, Snowmy is an approximately 30 foot tall snowman, built in three tiers like a wedding cake. Once formed, Snowmy comes to life with his traffic cone nose, a four foot long pipe, and of course, namesake, Stormy Kromer cap, which is custom-made to accommodate his size 96 head. The tradition dates back to the 1960's, but was revitalized in 2015. Since then Stormy has shown up when the weather allows. Krystal Westfahl, President of the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau says, "Snowmy Kromer is more than just a snowman — he represents the spirit, creativity, and sense of fun that define winter in Minocqua." Westfahl also noted that the snow statue is on the move. Rather than his traditional location outside the Chamber, this year Stormy will be built in Torpy Park. Construction typically takes around three days, so Snowmy could be ready by weekend. Westfahl says that people can watch the build via their water tower webcam. The giant snowman has become a tourism destination and photo hot spot, they're encouraging people use the hashtag #snowmykromer on socials. Snowmy Kromer's return continues the seasonal optimism here in the Northwoods after two consecutive mild winters. In the past week alone, we've also heard from plans for the Eagle River Ice Castle and the Boulder Junction 'Glide' ice skating loop.

Published on 12/16/2025 under News Two people are in custody in connection with a child abuse and neglect investigation in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, deputies were called to a Town of Bradley location on Friday where they learned a family of two adults and eight children were living in an RV with no heat at the time. The reporting party said the children had been left alone, and one child went to a neighbor's house seeking food. That individual purchased food for the children and contacted authorities. The sheriff's office along with child protective services responded and confirmed the eight children had been left alone. According to the report, the children said they did not feel safe at home. They told investigators their parents would discipline them by various means including punching or kicking them, or leaving them outside while not properly dressed. Officials removed the children prior to the return of the parents. They also transporting five dogs to the Humane Society. When the parents returned they were taken into custody and are being held in the Lincoln County Jail on charges including physical abuse of a child, child neglect, and possession of marijuana. Their names are being withheld to protect the identity of the children.

Published on 12/16/2025 under News The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in their investigation into a break-in at an area establishment last week. That incident happened during the early morning hours of Monday December 8. The Sheriff's Office responded to a burglary at Nutzees Bar and Grill on County B in the Town of Harrison. According to investigators, an unknown suspect (or suspects) forced entry into the bar. Once inside, they stole an undisclosed amount of money. The case remains under investigation, and detectives are asking anyone with information on this case to contact the Sheriff's Office.

Published on 12/16/2025 under News Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital completed another step in their multi-phase renovation and expansion project. The latest work focused on the Inpatient Behavioral Health unit. This includes adding two additional patient rooms, modernizing office space and introduced a newly built activity room designed to support therapeutic programming such as group education and coping skills workshops. Teri Theiler, Aspirus North Division president says, "Expanding and enhancing our behavioral health services is a critical investment in the well-being of our community," Theiler added, "These improvements allow us to provide compassionate, high-quality care in an environment that supports healing and recovery — and ensures people receive the care they need, when they need it." Earlier this year, the facility also re-located their cardiology center to a new on-campus space.

Published on 12/16/2025 under News Over the holiday season, bird lovers here in the Northwoods are participating in a national bird spotting event. The 126th Audubon Christmas Bird County kicked off over the weekend. One of the largest and longest-running citizen science projects in the world, the Christmas Bird Count provides a snapshot of North America's early winter bird populations and serves as a broad-scale assessment of their trends over time. To ensure coverage, the counts will take place in 15 mile circles; each assigned a single date. Wisconsin has more than 100 locations. In Wisconsin, a bird count at this time of year may even turn up some non-native species seeking food or migrating through. The Audubon Society have additional information on their website.

Published on 12/15/2025 under News Northwoods snowmobilers are eager to get their sleds out, but local clubs are encouraging riders to keep them in park until the trails are officially open. With some early snow cover this season, the trails may look inviting, but do remain closed at this time across most of our region. While the previous two years were extremely challenging due to mild temperatures and minimal snow, it's still early for a typical season. Over the previous decade, the average opening date for Northwoods snowmobile trails is around December 23. Whether we hit that target remains to be seen. This past week, we heard from some of the volunteers with the Northwoods Passage Club, responsible for maintaining trails north of the Tomahawk area. They noted that while people may see their groomers and other equipment out on their trail system, it doesn't mean they are open to the public. They are working to pack, prep, and clear the trails. Similar to their ongoing 'Respect the Landowners' campaign which encourages riders stay on the trails; rules need to be followed when it comes to the opening and closing of trail systems as well. It's important to note that most club members and decision-makers ride themselves and are just as eager to get trails open as soon as possible. For those who don't want to wait for Mother Nature, the best bet is to actually head south. As several counties in southern Wisconsin have opened. Closer to home, there are some segments open in Iron and Marathon Counties as of Sunday, December 14.

Published on 12/15/2025 under News Local law enforcement agencies will be working to reduce the number of impaired drivers on roadways over the holiday season. As they do each December, the Department of Transportation, and their partners have launched their annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday campaign. The effort, which runs through January 1, includes increased patrols for impaired driving coupled with public education and outreach. During the last holiday season, a two week period, the DoT reports there were more than 400 crashes involving impaired drivers around the state. Those incidents killed nine people and injured 169 others. State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says,"Every crash caused by impaired driving is preventable. We are increasing efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road, but we need drivers to make responsible choices and consider others before getting behind the wheel." In addition to maintaining sobriety behind the wheel, the DoT is also encouraging drivers to slow down, eliminate distractions, and buckle up during holiday travel. The Drive Sober Campaign kicked off over the weekend and runs through New Year's Day.

Published on 12/15/2025 under News Officials have identified the previously unidentified remains of a World War II airman as a Rhinelander man. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that US Army Air Forces Corporal John Ginzl was accounted for earlier this year. After fully briefing family, they provided additional details. In 1942, Ginzl was stationed the Philippines. He was among those captured and held as a prisoner of war. In late 1944, Ginzl was being transported by his captors, when the ship he was on sunk by a US bomber, unaware of the allied POWs aboard. At the time, the unidentified remains of more than 300 individuals were recovered and buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Modern analysis was recently used to identify Ginzl. According to the release, a rosette will be placed next to Ginzl's name at the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines to indicate he has been accounted for. He is expected to be buried here in the Northwoods this spring.

Published on 12/15/2025 under News Another sure sign of winter's arrival... Wisconsin's frozen road laws are beginning to take effect. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that as of Sunday morning, the declaration will be in place for zones 1 and 2, which comprise roughly the northern half of the state. By comparison, the declaration for zones 1 and 2 went into place December 21 last year. The frozen road law allows heavier loads for trucks carrying certain cross-cut forest products, along with salt and sand for winter maintenance. The declaration is issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to adequate levels underneath. The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local authority. According to the DoT, the frozen road determination for the remaining portions of the state will be made once conditions warrant.

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