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Winter Weather Awareness Week: Winter Driving Published on 11/08/2019 under News

With conveniently frigid temperatures, Winter Weather Awareness Week continues across the state of Wisconsin.

One of the biggest challenges is winter driving. According to the Department of Transportation, over the past five years, an average of 46 people are killed and 4,200 injured in crashes on icy or snow-covered roads. On average, there are about 18,000 vehicle crashes in the state each year caused by poor winter driving conditions.

If severe weather is in the forecast, consider postponing your trip. 511 Wisconsin will provides road conditions updates on major state roadways. Of course stay tuned to WJJQ for local updates and cancellations during the winter months.

If you are driving in winter conditions, officials recommend planning ahead and give yourself extra time. When snowing, make sure your headlights are on. Make sure your cell phone is charged before leaving and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to arrive.

Yesterday we mentioned carrying an emergency kit in your vehicle. Officials also recommend carrying extra warm weather gear, a small shovel, and either sand or kitty litter which can be used to provide traction if you become stuck.

In Other News

Rhinelander, Merrill Among ‘Carnegie Libraries’ to Receive Foundation Grants

Published on 12/04/2025 under News More than a century ago, Andrew Carnegie helped fund the construction of more than 1,600 public libraries around the country. Now those libraries are set to receive a substantial gift from his Foundation including some Northwoods locations. Between the 1880's and 1910's, there were 65 Carnegie-funded libraries built in Wisconsin. Currently 47 buildings remain, but just 22 still operate as libraries. As part of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Carnegie Foundation pledged $10,000 gifts to the approximately 1,280 Carnegie libraries. Among the recipients is the Rhinelander District Library, built back in 1903. Library Director Virginia Roberts says, "This gift honors the history of Carnegie Libraries and the role they have played in communities nationwide for more than a century." Roberts called the grant a 'timely gift' as the library is in the midst of a fundraising campaign. They are currently planning a multi-phase renovation and restoration project including the original Carnegie entrance. They aren't the only Northwoods library set to receive funding. The TB Scott Free Library in Merrill is another Carnegie library that announced they will be receiving a grant. The funds will be awarded to the libraries in January.Photo provided by the Rhinelander District Library-A composite photo of the current library (left) and the original library (right)

Published on 12/04/2025 under News With winter weather now upon us, there are plenty of adventures awaiting in Lincoln County. The ongoing partnership between Lincoln County and Discover Wisconsin continues. They have now released another video focused on Winter in Lincoln County. The narrator describes the area as a 'playground of snow and ice,' while exploring some of the many recreational opportunities available once the weather turns cold. The segment highlights two popular events specifically. The first half of the video is dedicated to the family-friendly Alice in Winterland ice fishing tournament which is held each February on Lake Alice. For the second half, they head south to Lake Alexander for the Ice Drags racing weekends. Both segments provide interviews with organizers and participants along with some scenic shots including drone footage. The video went live on the Discover Wisconsin YouTube Channel Wednesday evening. We'll include a link in the online version of the story.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News While many elves already have a jump start on their Christmas decorations, others may use this first weekend in December to hang lights. Officials are encouraging people take safety seriously for a happy holiday season. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average there are about 160 holiday decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with nearly half of the injuries involving falls. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says, "Holiday decorations should bring joy and not danger into people's homes. By taking a few extra moments to prevent hazards in your homes, you can create a joyful and safe environment." Ready Wisconsin offered a few quick tips:Choose a sturdy ladder that is the correct height and weight limit, and make sure it is placed on level grounds. Wear shoes that allow for good traction. Avoid standing on things likes chairs, counters or tables.Clear pathways including outdoor sidewalks of trip hazards, such as clutter, power cords and extra furniture.As for the lights, inspect both the bulbs and the cords for damage. Avoid overloading the circuits and outlets.Be mindful of fire dangers, keep trees watered and turn off the lights when you go to bed.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News An Athens man accused of cutting the brake lines of another man's vehicles on multiple occasions has reached a plea agreement. David Genrich pleaded no-contest to one count of attempted first-degree recklessly endangering safety and three counts of criminal damage to property. In exchange 5 other charges were dismissed, but will be considered during sentencing. The 24 year old was arrested in April of 2023 after an investigation into multiple instances of vehicle brake lines being cut. Following the second incident, the victim set up a surveillance camera capturing an individual, that matched the description Genrich. The plea agreement before a jury trial scheduled for later this month. According to the court calendar, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 2.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News A chilly week has ice forming on area waterways, but officials are reminding folks to stay off until more ice forms. It's important to note that no ice is completely safe and many factors affect ice strength. This includes fluctuating temperatures, water levels, snow cover and currents. With that in mind, a general rule of thumb is 2 inches or less, stay off entirely. When ice reaches 2-4 inches it may support some activities by foot. Any equipment such as ice shanties, ATVs, and snowmobiles should wait for at least a half foot of ice. When in doubt, it's best to wait. Whenever you venture onto the ice, let someone known where you'll be and when you plan to return. They also recommend some emergency tools including a segment of rope, a life preserver and a cellphone in a waterproof case.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News Fire stations around the Northwoods have become a bit more festive in recent days, but there's a reason behind the decoration. It's all part of the annual 'Keep the Wreath Green' campaign. During the holiday season, participating fire departments hang wreaths on their stations outfitted with green bulbs. When the agency responds to a fire, they change one of the green bulbs to a red one. The wreath serves as a visual reminder of the fire risks over the holiday season, one of the busiest stretches for fire departments nationwide. We saw that here in the Northwoods over the most recent Thanksgiving holiday. In just a few years, crews responded to life-changing fires in Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties. Here in Lincoln County, both the Tomahawk and Merrill Fire Departments participate in 'Keep the Wreath Green'. A few fire safety tips for the holidays...keep your Christmas tree watered and be careful not to overload electrical outlets. Keep an eye on food cooking, and avoid open flames and candles near flammable materials. These wreaths will remain up through the New Year's holiday, hopefully remaining green during that time.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News The 2025 Wisconsin gun-deer season has come to a close, and the harvest was just shy of last year's totals. The DNR provided a recap of the nine-day gun deer season Tuesday. According to the data, hunters registered 182,000 deer. That's down less than a percentage point when compared to last year's total, and 1.5% below the five year average. But hunters have seen a bit more success when factoring in the archery/crossbow seasons. As of Tuesday, the overall deer harvest including the bow hunts came in at approximately 295,000. That's up 1.1% from last year. Among factors that may have impacted the season was the relatively late start on the calendar, which traditionally has led to a slight drop. Weatherwise, after a quiet opening weekend, hunters across the state had to contend with major winter storms that crossed the northern portions of the state mid-week and central and southern Wisconsin during the second weekend of the season. The purchase of hunting licenses also saw a decline of less than a percentage point. Across all seasons, 790,000 hunters purchasing a tag. And it was a relatively safe 9-day gun/deer season. After two opening weekend firearm incidents, the DNR says there were no additional incidents reported for the remainder of the season.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News The Rhinelander Community will be celebrating a special birthday during an annual community event this evening. The Rhinelander School District and their partners will be hosting their 4th annual Hodag Day at the Dome celebration. Each December, they inviting the community to come enjoy the Dome with games, activities and entertainment. This year's theme is the 132nd Birthday Bash for the Hodag, the iconic, mythical beast that has become a symbol of the community. Organizers invite community members young and old to stop by and enjoy some of the activities they have planned. As part of the celebration, the district will host a Youth Entrepreneur Market. They explained this as an opportunity for students from the Rhinelander schools to sell some the products they produce. Doors open at 3:30pm and the Hodag Day at the Dome runs through 6pm.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News It's looking a little more winter-like outside. It serves as a good reminder that winter parking rules are now in place across many Northwoods communities. Here in the City of Tomahawk, winter parking rules went into effect as of December 1. That means no parking on city streets between 2:30am and 5am. While the goal is to allow room for plows to operate, the rules apply whether there is snow or not. A first offense ticket is $25. The winter parking rules here in Tomahawk run through March 15. Most other Northwoods communities have their own overnight winter parking rules in effect. These rules may vary, and drivers are encouraged to check local rules before parking.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News A Northwoods deer has a second lease on life following a water rescue. According to the St. Germain Fire Department, resident on Lost Lake reported that a deer had ventured out onto the newly formed ice and broke through. Responders arrived on the scene and assessed the situation, which they noted is a key step in any ice/water response. After determining it would be safe to proceed, a pair of responders suited up with their ice rescue gear. They broke up the ice to reach the struggling deer and created a path back to shore. In addition to rescuing the deer, they noted it provided a good training opportunity ahead of the ice rescue season. And the department noted the incident also serves as a good reminder to exercise good judgment and decision making when traveling on the ice throughout the winter season.

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