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THS Forensics Earns 11 Golds at State Festival Published on 04/15/2019 under News

The Tomahawk Forensics team traveled to Madison for the state festival over the weekend. They returned home to the Northwoods with an impressive 21 medals.

That haul included 11 gold, reserved for those earning a perfect score; 4 silver, and six bronze.

Gold medal winners include: Matthew Johnson and Natalie Reiter-Demonstration; Allison Schimdt-Farrago; Abigail Norman, Libby Peplinski & Kiana Callahan and Semra Marquardt, Jack McGovern, Martin Schimidt & Grace Kummerfelt-Group Interpretive Reading teams. Riley Clements also earned a gold in Poetry. It was her second gold at state.

Silver medalists included: Garret Hurst, Mary Voelker, Maura Koth, and Olivia Kiser.

Bronze medalists include: Brandon Hammon, Evan Ploeckelman, Annie Begotka, Emily Fondie, Emma Kane and Sydney Michalski.

(Photo: Gold medal winners: Front Row- Natalie Reiter, Semra Marquardt, Libby Peplinski, Kiana Callahan, Abby Norman, Riley Clements, Allison Schmidt; Back Row-Grace Kummerfeldt, Martin Schmidt, Jack McGovern, Matt Johnson)

In Other News

Hodag Music Festival Draws Big Names, Big Crowds to Rhinelander

Published on 07/09/2026 under News A sea of lawn chairs, campers, and cowboy boots has once again taken over the Northwoods. The legendary Hodag Country Music Festival is celebrating its 48th year this weekend, drawing more than 30,000 music lovers to Rhinelander for one of the region's largest summer events. The four-day festival officially kicks off its musical lineup today, Russell Dickerson is the headliners. Over the rest of the weekend, country stars like LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Brothers Osborne, and Old Dominion will take the stage. For the most dedicated Hodag attendees, the fun starts early. Fans gather Wednesday for the traditional "chair line" lottery where concert-goers secure their prime viewing real estate for the weekend. Beyond the music, the festival is a massive boon for the community. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism estimates Hodag injects more than $10 million into the local economy, while giving area non-profits and civic groups a prime opportunity to raise funds. The Hodag runs through Sunday.

Published on 07/09/2026 under News A month-long effort to get Lincoln County residents off their screens and connected with others appears to have made a real difference. The Lincoln County Health Department has released the results of its second annual Social Connection Challenge, held during Mental Health Month in May. They had 173 participants, tasked with a selection activities designed to strengthen relationships and reduce social isolation. The most popular challenges included calling a friend or family member, meeting someone for coffee or dinner, spending time with children or grandparents, and performing random acts of kindness. The results were overwhelmingly positive. Nearly all participants said the challenge helped improve their mental health; three quarters said it strengthened their connections with others; and 86 percent said they plan to continue making social connection a priority. The Social Connection Challenge was organized by the Lincoln County Health Department in partnership with Aspirus Health and the Healthy Minds for Lincoln County Coalition to raise awareness of the importance of social connection and its role in supporting mental well-being.

Published on 07/09/2026 under News Fresh off a huge Fourth of July weekend, the Kwahamots Water Ski Show Team is back on the water tonight, and they're welcoming some special guests Tonight is WJJQ Night at ski show. While the radio staff are staying on dry land, we will be handing out tickets for a chance to win a variety of WJJQ prizes including t-shirts, water bottles, and campfire coffee mugs. On the water, the Kwahamots are stars of skiing, jumping, barefooting, and wakeboarding. This is also a tune-up for the team as they prepare to compete in the Wisconsin State Show Ski Championships next weekend. So come out, support the squad before they head to State, and walk away with some swag from the WJJQ crew. The show begins at 7:30pm.

Published on 07/09/2026 under News A vital summer lifeline for Northwoods families is returning this week with a massive expansion plan to tackle childhood hunger. Now in its fifth year, the Hodag Food Wagon provides nutritional support during the summer months when some in-school programs addressing food insecurity pause. After distributing more than 12,000 meals last year, the program is aiming to nearly triple its impact this summer as it rolls into new communities. Coordinated by the Rhinelander Food Pantry alongside UW-Extension FoodWIse, and additional funding through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Summer Food Service Program. The goal is to give families a boost by pairing kid-friendly food with nutritional education, recipes, and hands-on activities through the "Healthy Hodag" adventure series. While the "Hodag" name is synonymous with Rhinelander, the program's expanded footprint means it will look a little different depending on where you live: In Elcho: The service will operate under the Hornet Food Truck name to match local school pride.In Tomahawk: Organizers have partnered with Kinship of Tomahawk to directly serve local "Kinskids."By tailoring the program to individual towns, organizers hope to ensure no Northwoods child goes hungry this summer.

Published on 07/09/2026 under News After a successful statewide bat count last month, Wisconsin residents will once again have the chance to help researchers this weekend. More than 150 volunteer community scientists participated in June's Great Wisconsin Bat Count, documenting more than 15,000 bats emerging from bat houses, barns and other roosts at more than 60 locations across the state. The survey counted more than 12,500 little brown bats, over 2,500 big brown bats, and even four rare tricolored bats. The DNR says the June survey produced encouraging results, including record numbers of little brown bats while continuing to find tri-colored bats, the states smallest species. The next count takes place July 10 through 12. Unlike the June survey, which occurred before baby bats, known as pups, could fly. This weekend's count will include newly flying juvenile bats. The information helps biologists track how bat populations are recovering from white-nose syndrome and other threats. Healthy bat populations are important natural form of pest control, eating thousands of insects each night including mosquitoes and crop pests. Anyone interested in participating in the surveys or learning how to make their property more bat-friendly can find more information on the Wisconsin Bat Program website.

Published on 07/09/2026 under News The Minocqua J1 School District (MHLT and Lakeland STAR) is taking the next step toward a possible referendum this fall by asking residents for their input. The district has hired Morris Leatherman Company to conduct a random telephone survey of community members between July 6 and July 17. District officials say the survey will help gauge public opinion on potential referendum plans and what level of financial impact taxpayers would support. District leaders say the survey is an important part of ensuring the referendum reflects the priorities of the community while addressing the needs of students and the school district. Results of the survey will be presented to the school board at their meeting this month, they plan to finalize the referendum resolution at their August meeting. The Board is looking to place the referendum on the fall general election ballot in November.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News A summer Wednesday in Tomahawk means another week of Music on the River, and tonight, the series is going a little bit country. Making its Tomahawk debut this evening is the southern Wisconsin group, The Ramble. The band has steadily built a regional following with its energetic mix of classic and modern country hits, covering everything from Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson to Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. Among the group's growing list of accolades, The Ramble took home the top prize at the 2024 Hodag Country Festival Country Band Championship—perfect timing, considering the 2026 Hodag festival officially kicks off tomorrow in Rhinelander. Tonight marks the third of seven planned concerts for the Music on the River season. Unfortunately, Wednesdays have been exceptionally rainy this summer. With scattered showers once again in the forecast for this evening, concertgoers are encouraged to stay tuned to WJJQ for any weather-related venue or schedule changes.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News Before an ambulance arrives in an emergency, there's a lot happening behind the scenes—and the Merrill Fire Department wants the public to better understand it. The Merrill Fire Department is inviting residents to a series of public meetings this month focused on ambulance service, EMS challenges, and the future of emergency medical care in Lincoln County. Fire Chief Josh Klug says the department hopes the meetings will give residents a better understanding of how ambulance service operates and encourage community involvement. The meetings come as the City of Merrill and Lincoln County continue negotiating a new ambulance service contract. The two have partnered to provide service in the southern two-thirds of the county since 1970. The first meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Merrill Fire Station. Fire department command staff will discuss the history of ambulance service in the county, current operational challenges, and possible funding options. Each meeting will also feature a guest EMS expert. The first session includes James Small with the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, who will discuss statewide EMS trends and strategies for meeting growing demand with limited resources. For those that can't attend, the presentations will also be livestreamed on the Merrill Fire Department's Facebook page. Additional meetings are scheduled for July 14, 15, 27, and 28.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News The Tomahawk City Council took a small but meaningful step toward a major new housing development last night. At its meeting Tuesday, the Council approved a resolution authorizing the Community Development Authority (CDA) to sell a parcel of land located off Comfort Drive to developer S.C. Swiderski. City Clerk Amanda Bartz noted the official sales paperwork is expected to be signed later this week. The City and the CDA have been working closely with the Mosinee-based developer to construct a new 72-unit apartment complex on Tomahawk's east side near U.S. Highway 51. The developer's agreement, which was initially approved by the Council last month, includes financial incentives funded through tax revenue generated directly by the project. Once complete, the multi-family residential complex is expected to bring a minimum assessed property value of $9.5 million to the city's tax rolls. Based on the project timeline discussed last month, construction is slated to begin this fall and will take approximately 18 months to complete. The development will add 72 much-needed rental units to Tomahawk's tight housing inventory. S.C. Swiderski is a major property management and real estate development firm with residential holdings in more than 30 communities across the state, including Athens, Eagle River, Merrill, Medford, and Wausau.

Published on 07/08/2026 under News Traffic was briefly backed up in northern Lincoln County following a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency responders were dispatched shortly after 4:00 p.m. to Highway 8 near County Highway L, just north of Tomahawk. Witnesses reported a vehicle went off the roadway while navigating the curve located just west of the intersection. No further information was provided regarding the cause of the crash. The incident initially forced a closure of the eastbound lane of Highway 8. Emergency crews eventually reopened the roadway with traffic control to allow the removal of the vehicle. Crews remained on the scene for more than two hours to clear the crash.

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