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Hatchet Cross Country Teams Compete in Shawano Invite Published on 09/16/2019 under Sports

After unsafe course conditions canceled their meet at Fall Creek, a quick revision enabled the Hatchet Cross-Country team to travel to Shawano on Saturday for a 27-team invitational against several StateRanked teams. The girls and boys varsity both placed in the runner-up spot in D2, while the JV squads both placed 3rd overall out of all D1-2-3 teams. Overall the varsity girls placed 3rd of 26 teams, while the boys placed 4th of 27 teams.

Drew Bolder was the top Hatchet as he placed 4th in D2 (15th overall in the 177 runner field) with his 17:27 5K effort. He was the lone D2 medalist for the Hatchet boys. Teammate Noah Buckwalter (D214th-17:55), Garron Albrent (D2-18th-18:18), Keaton Jed (D2-22nd-18:31), Trey Baalke (D2-25th-18:39), Arden Ziert (D2-28th-18:45), and Jack Lacina (D2-43rd-19:37) completed the varsity scoring for the runner-up D2 finishers.

Seniors Haley-Voermans-Dean and Meagan Berg led the lady Hatchets with their 4th and 9th place D2 medalists efforts. Haley covered the 5K course in 20:01 and Meagan went 20:56. They were followed closely by sophomores Emily Lacina (D2-12th-21:05), Macey Mann (D2-18th-21:47), Kate Reilly (D2-19th21:51), and Geena Wanta (D2-33rd-23:24). Also, contributing on the varsity level was freshman Neenah Fuste as she placed 43rd in 24:12.

The girls JV squad started the invitational off in the first race of the day by placing 3rd overall out of 18 teams. They were led by freshman Greta Tjugum's personal best 5K effort of 23:19. Greta finished as a 6th place medalist. She also shared space on the medalist podium with teammates Serena Reinke (10th23:28 PR) and Gillian Buckwalter (15th-23:49 SB). Other JV finishers included: Autumn Peissig (25th24:30), Leslie Vance (38th-25:16 PR) and Ava Dragosh (68th-26:30).

The boys JV squad was led by Alex Norman's 9th place medalist PR effort of 18:48. Hunter Borchardt (17th-19:22 SB), Hunter VanRyen (30th-19:58 SB), Reed Zedler (43rd-20:19 PR), Brady Tjugum (53rd-20:42 SB), Jacob Towle (81st-21:14 PR), Taje Casey (119th-22:23 PR), John Mark Hawley (154th -23:39 PR), Trey Miller (193rd) and Henry Calhoun (194th) were the final Hatchet JV finishers.

Boys Varsity (D2) Team Scores: New London (31), Tomahawk (79), Winneconne (97), Shawano (131), Peshtigo (131), Seymour (133), Xavier (137), Oconto Falls (181), Marinette (Inc) and Sturgeon Bay (Inc).

Girls Varsity (D2) Team Scores: Winneconne (43), Tomahawk (59), Xavier (89), Shawano (90), New London (130), Oconto Falls (172), Marinette (173), Peshtigo (197), Sturgeon Bay (209) and Seymour (Inc.)

Next week Saturday the Hatchets make their annual visit to the Tribute Golf Course on the north side of Wausau for the prestigious Smiley Invitational, one of the largest Cross-Country invitationals in the Midwest. The meet gets started with the boys JV race at 8:30 am.

In Other News

No Eagle River Ice Castle in 2026 due to Ice Conditions

Published on 01/06/2026 under News Poor conditions mean the Eagle River Ice Castle will have to wait another year. Each year, the Eagle River Fire Department and their team of volunteers build the giant ice structure out of ice blocks taken from Silver Lake. They typically need 14 inches of ice for the build, however they only 10.5-11 inches. This led to their decision Monday to cancel the Ice Castle for 2026. They noted, that rain and snow last weekend was a set back. While they were eventually able to clear off the ice, able, it left behind a rough, uneven and brittle layer on top. Coupled with a warm-up in the forecast this week, they don't anticipate ice conditions will improve enough to produce the approximately 2,500 ice blocks to build. The Eagle River Ice Castle is a tradition that dates back to the 1930's, and has received widespread interest in the age of social media selfies and pictures. The build, however, has been sporadic recently. Last winter was just the second time in the past eight years that they've been able to build.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News A home in the town of Pine River was destroyed in a fire Monday morning. According to the Pine River Fire Department, responders were initially called to the home on Oak Ridge Avenue in the 5am hour. The homeowner reported smoke in the kitchen. Upon arrival, a deputy and firefighters weren't able to find smoke or flames. They cleared the scene after searching the home and a scan with their thermal imaging camera. A few hours later, at around 9:15am, the homeowner called 911 again after observing flames. Crews returned, and a mutual aid call was made for neighboring agencies. They worked to contain the fire, but it spread quickly through the attic. In addition to neighboring fire departments, the Lincoln County Highway Department brought in their clam truck in order to expose hidden fire pockets in the roof. Chief Lofink offered thanks to their partners during the response. Despite their efforts, the home was declared a total loss. All occupants and pets were able to evacuate. The Salvation Army is assisting the family. The report did not immediately identify a cause of fire. -Photo provided by Pine River Fire Department

Published on 01/06/2026 under News A Mosinee man was arrested following an investigation into a vehicle crash and burglary in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, deputies were called to County T in the Town of Somo for a vehicle in the ditch. The reporting party also indicated the occupant of the vehicle had broken into a building on his property. Deputies made contact with the 60 year old suspect, who initially denied the break-in. Deputies, however, located fresh foot prints in the snow which led the building where they found signs of forced entry. The deputy also located items allegedly taken from the building laying around the suspect's vehicle. As a result the man was taken into custody for burglary, criminal damage to property, bail jumping, and resisting/obstructing and officer.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News While incidents of blastomycosis are typically in the warmer months, the illness will be a topic of conversation this evening. Blastomycosis or 'blasto' is caused by a fungus that naturally occurs in areas with moist soil and decaying wood and leaves. Past data has shown Lincoln County has a higher than average rate of infection. Coming up this evening in Merrill, Emma Jaeger and John Snyder from the Medical College of Wisconsin, will host a presentation on Blastomycosis. It's part of the "Physician in the Community" project to educate health care providers and the community on Blasto specific to the region. According to the announcement, they plan to discuss key signs and symptoms, local data, geographical impact, and ways to improve outcomes in the community. They'll also have an opportunity for questions and people to share personal experiences following the presentation. The TB Scott Free Library in Merrill will be hosting the conversation at 6pm this evening.

Published on 01/06/2026 under News Most snowmobile trails in Lincoln County are now open. On Monday, the Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks Department announced trails in Zone 4 are now open, joining zones 1,2,and 3 which had previously opened. In the announcement, the department also highlighted the work of local snowmobile clubs, noting they have dedicated significant time and effort to brushing, signing, and grooming the trails. They added, "We encourage riders to thank these volunteers, consider joining a club, and support these organizations through active participation. Without the ongoing work of these clubs, our trail network would not be possible."

Published on 01/06/2026 under News The Lincoln County Humane Society has received an influx of cats and kittens over the weekend. According to their latest update, they had taken in 34 new cats and kittens from a household over the weekend, and they anticipate several more over the next few days. Fortunately they noted, the new felines are healthy and adjusting well. In anticipation, they put out a call over the weekend for help from the community with donations of cat litter and kitten chow and were grateful to everyone who contributed. Every challenge we face at LCHS is easier because of the incredible people that care so much about the animals. To help alleviate the crowding, they will be having some adoption specials for cats that had already been at the Humane Society and also encouraged those considering fostering to reach out. Their final request is to remind everyone, if you see something that doesn't seem "quite right," always report it.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News A quick dip in the icy waters of Lake Mohawksin Saturday was well worth it for dozens of people who raised tens of thousands of dollars to support local organizations. This weekend marked the return of the annual Tomahawk STAR Foundation STAR Splash. On Saturday afternoon, organizers cut a hole into the ice on Lake Mohawksin outside of Castaways hosting the event. Local individuals and groups collected pledges in exchange for a jumping into those icy waters. Half of the pledges are committed to a local non-profit of the jumper's choosing, while the other half goes to the STAR Foundation, which eventually returns it back into the community as well, through grants. Continuing a good week for snowmobilers after local trails opening, it was Nancy Swan, on behalf of the Knight Owls snowmobile club who was the top fundraiser to claim the bonus. Her solo leap raised more than $7,000. The Tomahawk High School Hockey team was among the other groups taking a dip. Prior to this year, they had been the top fundraiser for three consecutive years, raising more than $30,000 over the past four years. And after dealing with temperatures in the single digits last year, it was a bit warmer Saturday, relatively speaking. And while the Splashers were only in the water for less than a minute, their moment of bravery will have a lasting impact on their respective organizations. We'll share additional results as numbers are finalized.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News The Tomahawk Community has many great, locally-owned businesses. And the Tomahawk Chamber is looking to identify the best of the best. This past week, the Tomahawk Chamber put out a call for nominations for the 'Small Business of the Year' Award. According to the announcement, their goal is to celebrate locally-owned businesses that demonstrate excellence, growth, and a commitment to our community. They said, "Whether it's your favorite shop, restaurant, service provider, or a business that quietly makes a big impact—let's shine a spotlight on the businesses that make our community thrive." They'll accept nominations through the end of the week. The winner will be recognized at the annual Chamber Appreciation dinner coming up at the end of January. More information is available on the Chamber Facebook page including a link to the nomination form.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News It won't be long before peregrine falcons return to their nests around the state for breeding season. That includes the Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies Power Plants, which have played a key role in the bird's recovery over the years. Before the new arrivals, the utilities took a look back, publishing their 2025 nesting report prepared by peregrine falcon manager Greg Septon. Since the program began in 1992, there have been 443 peregrine falcon chicks hatched at the WPS and We Energy facilities in Wisconsin. This past year there were four active nesting sites which hatched a dozen new chicks. Their names were all inspired by past peregrine falcons. The northern-most, the Weston Power Plant near Wausau produced three chicks, along with an unhatched egg. This nest has been active since 2006 with 48 young birds, a little more than two per year. The chicks are banded before leaving the nest, though sightings in the wild are rare. Septon wrote that most peregrines end up nesting within 200 miles of where they were hatched. But the power plant peregrines have spread their wings, with band birds identified nesting in Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. Among the challenges Septon highlighted was the highly pathogenic avian influenza which is the likely cause of death for both of the nesting pair in Port Washington. For those eager to watch the falcons on the nesting webcams, the eggs are typically laid in mid-March. That entire report is available on the WPS and WE Energies Websites.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News Food insecurity has been on the rise. In Rhinelander, two high school student organizations teamed up to give back to their local food pantry. On Friday afternoon, members of the Rhinelander High School Key Club and National Honor Society paid a visit to the Rhineland Food Pantry where they were able to present a check for $3,000, along with more than 600 pounds of non-perishable food donations. This continues an effort last month where the students generated enough food donations to support 29 families over the Holiday break. Lexi Radtke, RHS Key Club Advisor, added, "I am incredibly proud of our students for their initiative and follow-through. They identified a need in our community and took meaningful action to make a real difference for families. Their compassion, leadership, and commitment to service are truly inspiring." While the two clubs led the way by organizing various fundraisers and collection efforts, it was a district-wide effort. The contributions from RHS students will directly support Food Pantry's Hodag Monster Meals Program which helps ensure families have access to nutritious food.

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