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Officials Urge Motorcycle Safety with Fall Ride Approaching Published on 09/10/2019 under News

With tens of thousands of motorcycles converging in the greater Tomahawk area this weekend, law enforcement and the Department of Transportation are partnering to ensure that everyone shares the roadway safely.

Ken Wickham, the DoT North Central Region Director says, "With the increase in motorcycles in the area, drivers behind the wheel should take an extra moment to look twice for motorcycles, especially before pulling out from intersections."

As we've previously covered, because of the motorcycles smaller profile it's easy to misjudge the bike's speed and distance as it approaches an intersection. In addition to several minor accidents during last year's Fall Ride event, there were two major accidents in the Tomahawk area involving two vehicles, 5 motorcycles, and 8 riders.

In addition to road safety, the influx of people leads to added challenges for Tomahawk's small police force. Later this week, we'll take a look at how Police Chief Al Elvins leans on neighboring agencies for added manpower.

In Other News

First Hatch: Peregrine Falcon Brood Grows at WPS Nesting Box

Published on 05/12/2026 under News A belated Mother's Day gift for a camera friendly peregrine falcon. According to Wisconsin Public Service, the first falcon chick has emerged at the WPS Weston Power Plant nest box near Wausau. Proud parents Sheldon and an unbanded female welcomed the fluffy new addition Monday afternoon. The new chick will soon have siblings. As of yesterday's update, a second egg was starting to hatch with two more remaining. The birds will share themed names, voted on by fans. This year's selections are inspired by local news personalities. According to the announcement, across the four nesting boxes at WPS and WE Energies facilities, there are seven chicks and six eggs as of Monday afternoon. People can continue to watch the young peregrine falcons hatch and grow via the nest box webcams.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News A weekend crash in Lincoln County involving a deer sent two people to the hospital. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, responders were dispatched to an area along Highway 51 near Tomahawk on Saturday for a reported crash with injuries. Deputies determined the vehicle was traveling north on Highway 51 and struck a deer that entered the roadway. Both the driver and passenger reported minor injuries. The patients were transported to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. This comes at a time when officials have been reminding motorists about increased deer activity which typically occurs in the months of May and June.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News Memorial Day weekend typically means a steady influx of people returning to summer homes or cabins here in the Northwoods. But travel experts are expecting a slight drop in traffic next week. Triple A released their annual Memorial Day travel forecast on Monday. According to their estimates, nearly 835,000 Wisconsinites are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday weekend. That is down slightly from last year and after several consecutive record breaking years. Most of that travel, approximately 750,000 people, will be on the road. Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA says, "Memorial Day travel demand remains strong, but higher fuel prices are slowing the pace of growth in some segments." With an average of $4.40 cents per gallon, gas is up more than a dollar from the same point last year. Jarmusz added, "Some Wisconsinites are taking a more measured approach this year by shortening trips, choosing closer destinations, or making other cost-conscious adjustments." Those looking to avoid traffic next week may want to plan early departures. Northbound traffic is typically heaviest Friday evening, while southbound traffic typically peaks Memorial Day Monday in the afternoon.

Published on 05/12/2026 under News A bipartisan agreement between Governor Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders to address Wisconsin's $2.4 billion budget surplus is drawing praise from local lawmakers, including Calvin Callahan. Callahan said the deal will return money to taxpayers through direct refunds and tax relief measures. The agreement includes $300 income tax refunds for individuals and $600 for married couples filing jointly, along with eliminating state income taxes on tips and overtime pay. Callahan said affordability remains the top concern he hears from residents across the 35th Assembly District and called the agreement a "major win" for families struggling with rising costs. The bipartisan package also directs $300 million toward general school aid, another $300 million for special education, and $50 million in technical college property tax relief. State leaders say the school funding measures are expected to reduce local property tax levies statewide. Callahan says, "A lot of time and effort went into this; I am incredibly pleased that families in the 35th will finally receive much-needed economic relief. This agreement is a sign of hope that both parties can come together to do what's right for the people of Wisconsin." The Legislature is expected to vote on the package Wednesday.

Published on 05/11/2026 under Sports Quiet Bats Haunt Hatchet Baseball in Loss to Medford Tomahawk baseball's struggles would continue Monday at Tyler Kahle Memorial Field, losing to Great Northern Conference foe Medford, 8-2. The Hatchets would allow two runs in four of the seven innings on the mound and three of the runs allowed were unearned. The lone two runs from Tomahawk came in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by Sophomore Cash Olsen, his third of the season and second in as many games. After trimming the lead to four, the sixth inning would end on a double play flyout by catcher Colin Black. The loss puts Tomahawk at 5-9 on the season and 4-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the diamond Thursday night going for the season sweep of the Merrill Blue Jays. First pitch is at 5:00. A Stroke of Luck Gives Tomahawk Golf 2nd in Medford The Hatchet golfers had their highest Great Northern Conference meet finish at Black River Golf Course in Medford Monday, placing second overall. Tomahawk would finish one stroke ahead of third-place Mosinee and 14 strokes behind first-place Lakeland. The top Hatchet Golfer was Jake Albert, who placed fourth overall with a 78. Oliver Childers rounded out the top ten with an 85. The third-lowest golfer was Jaxon Kaiser with an 88. The Hatchets are back on the course Wednesday at the Northwood Golf Club hosted by Rhinelander. Tee-off is at 11:30 AM.

Published on 05/11/2026 under News Students in the Tomahawk High School Building Trades program spent their spring semester turning classroom lessons into a project designed to benefit local families. The students recently completed construction of a custom toddler playhouse for Nokomis Park. Instructor Andy Peissig said the project gave students hands-on experience in carpentry, design and construction, with students handling every stage of the build from reading blueprints and measuring materials to framing and finishing the structure. Peissig said the project helped students strengthen teamwork, problem-solving and project management skills while also giving them a chance to give back to the community. The students learned the importance of community involvement and how their abilities can make a real difference. He said, "Knowing that younger children will be able to enjoy something they built has given students a strong sense of pride and ownership in their work." Peissig added, "We are proud of the dedication and effort these students demonstrated, and we're excited for the community to enjoy the finished playhouse at Nokomis Park."

Published on 05/11/2026 under News For more than a decade now, the Ties That Bind Us has provided a cancer support network here in the Tomahawk Community. Their latest effort is aimed at expanding access to breast cancer screenings. The Ties That Bind Us recently made a $10,000 donation to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital to support mammogram screenings for uninsured or underinsured patients, helping reduce financial barriers to early breast cancer detection. Carla Gerstenberger, president of Ties That Bind Us of Tomahawk, said the organization is proud to partner with Aspirus to help improve access to screenings and support better outcomes for local patients. According to the news release, demand for 3D mammography at the Tomahawk hospital screenings has increased significantly this year following the addition of updated imaging technology, including Genius AI-assisted mammography. Courtney Oberg, RT Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital, said mammograms remain one of the most important tools for detecting breast cancer early, and the donation will help more women access that care.

Published on 05/11/2026 under News Over the past decade, the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation has awarded more than a half million dollars in grants to first responders across their service footprint. They're currently accepting applications for the next round of recipients. Each summer, the WPS Foundation presents Rewarding Responder grants to help agencies purchase lifesaving equipment and fund training for first responders across Northern Wisconsin. Over the years local grants have gone to law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency medical. These agencies have used funding for items such as coldwater rescue gear, thermal imaging, drones, and AED units. In recent years, the Foundation increased the annual funding pool to $75,000. Dating back to 2014, the Foundation has awarded nearly $700,000 to 220 public safety agencies across the Northwoods and the Fox Valley. The application period is currently open, and recipients will be announced this summer.

Published on 05/11/2026 under News While we've had some chilly nights recently, but camping season is upon us. In the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, staff are assisted by a group of dedicated volunteers. They are currently recruiting a new round of campground hosts. It's a barter system, the hosts receive a free campsite in exchange for some campsite work. This can include greeting visitors, providing information about recreation opportunities, monitoring and helping maintain campground conditions. Karen Katz, Recreation Program Manager for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She says, "Campground hosts are often the first point of contact for visitors and play a key role in creating a positive experience. We are grateful for the time and dedication our volunteers bring to these important roles." For those that would like to learn more, you can visit the CNNF website. We'll include a link in the online version of the story.

Published on 05/11/2026 under News Crews responded to a structure fire in Vilas County over the weekend. According to the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, the 911 Center received a call at shortly before 2:30pm Saturday afternoon reporting smoke at a business building located at 6373 Highway 45 in Land O' Lakes. Emergency responders arrived to find a pile of wood burning behind one of the buildings, and the fire had already spread into the structure. Multiple agencies responded. The business was closed at the time, and no employees were on scene. The release did not indicate the amount of fire damage, nor the origin. The Land O' Lakes Fire Department and Vilas County Sheriff's Office are investigating the fire.

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