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Phillips 4-H Group Ice Cream Flavor Creation Entry Runner-Up Published on 02/13/2020 under News

A local 4-H group fell just short in their bid to create a new ice cream flavor.

Cedar Crest Ice Cream in Cedarburg once again partnered with the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation to come up with a new flavor. The Big Elk Badger 4-H Club in Phillips was named as one of five finalists in the competition.

Their creation utilized the area's timber industry for it's name... Logger Loot. It's also a nod to their school mascot. As for the flavor combination, it featured a vanilla ice cream base with a caramel swirl and bits of heath bar.

Unfortunately, the Phillips entry fell just short. An entry from the Holmen 4-H program, Road Trip Wisconsin was named the winner. It featured the symbolism of a chocolate base for Wisconsin's fertile farm lands, walnuts representing the forest land, caramel ribbons representing Wisconsin rivers and cheesecake chunks representing the dairy industry.

That winning flavor will be available in stores starting in July, joining past 4-H creations including: Wisconsin Campfire S'more, Deep Woods, and Deep Space.

Brenda Schneider, Executive Director of the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, the contest is a great opportunity for 4-H youth to work together to develop and name their flavor.

For being named a finalist, the Phillips 4-H club will receive a sponsored ice cream party.

In Other News

Spring Election Determines Local, Non-Partisan Races: Tomahawk Preview

Published on 04/07/2026 under News It's Election Day in the state of Wisconsin, with voters heading to the polls on a variety of races and questions. Atop the ballot is the lone statewide race. Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar are vying to become Supreme Court Justice. But the spring election also includes non-partisan local races like school boards, town boards, city councils and mayoral races. Here in the City of Tomahawk, voters will elect a new mayor for the first time in a decade. Current mayor Steve Taskay isn't seeking re-election, with first-time candidates Jeff Koth and Michael 'Hob' Habeck facing off. For City Council, due to partial term appointments, there are actually five seats, but just three candidates running. The remaining two will be decided by write-in. As we previewed Monday, the City of Tomahawk is also asking to increase the tax levy. The Tomahawk School Board features two candidates for three seats. A write-in will determine the seat representing the city of Tomahawk. The Lincoln County Board uses an alternate year cycle, and all 22 supervisor seats will be up for election today. Tomahawk isn't the only community with a closely watched mayoral race here in the Northwoods. In Merrill, incumbent Steve Hass is facing a challenge from former mayor Derek Woellner. And in Rhinelander, current mayor Kris Hanus is running against city council member Thomas Barnett. Ballots will differ based on where you live. Visit myvote.wi.gov and enter your address to preview your specific ballot.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News Several Northwoods students will be in Madison, competing in a two-day professional skills competition. The Alliant Energy Center and Madison Area Technical College are co-hosting the 53rd edition of the Skills USA, Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills Conference. The participants qualified through regional competitions earlier this year. In all, more than 1,700 Wisconsin students were invited to participate representing middle school, high school, and technical colleges. This includes students from Tomahawk, Rhinelander, Merrill and NTC. The students will compete in one of more than 75 events based on career-ready fields ranging from aviation maintenance and culinary arts to masonry and video news production. All contests are judged by experts and professionals in each field. The state winners will qualify for the National competition which will be held in Atlanta in June. Wisconsin SkillsUSA was founded in 1973 and continues to grow, with 166 chapters around the state.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News A man injured in a UTV crash last month has died due to his injuries. According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, Paul Vedder of Hazelhurst died. The 58 year old was initially hospitalized after being involved in a UTV accident back on March 23. Responders were notified of a UTV on the edge of Lake Kaubashine in the Town of Hazelhurst. The call indicated the machine was still running, but no signs of the operator. Upon arrival, responders located Vedder trapped underneath the UTV. The 58 year old was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. In an update provided by the Sheriff's Office Monday, Vedder died as a result of his injuries. The DNR continues to investigate. There have been seven other fatal ATV/UTV crashes in Wisconsin this year.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News If you're itching to get outside and start spring yard work in the Northwoods, experts say you might swap the rakes for a little patience. According to the DNR, dozens of beneficial insects are still overwintering right now, tucked away in hollow plant stems, leaf litter, and even underground. Rushing into yard cleanup too early could disrupt their life cycle just as they're getting ready to emerge. Instead, experts recommend leaving some areas of your garden natural through early spring. Holding off on raking leaves and trimming stems, at least until overnight temperatures consistently reach about 50 degrees, can help protect native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. For those who do need to tidy up, the DNR suggests leaving behind a few inches of plant stems. Those "stem stubble" areas can serve as nesting spots for native bees. And when it finally comes time for planting, consider native species. It's these simple steps that can make a big difference, helping support pollinators that play a key role in Northwoods ecosystems.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News The past few weeks have shown a good example of Wisconsin's ever changing weather. The National Weather Service is offering another opportunity to learn more, while also playing a key role in citizen reporting. The National Weather Service Green Bay is offering 2026 Skywarn storm spotter training with five virtual sessions available in April. The free training is open to anyone across northern Wisconsin and will focus on severe weather safety and the basics of storm spotting—teaching participants how to safely identify and report things like large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes. Officials say trained spotters play a critical role, providing real-time ground reports that help meteorologists issue more accurate warnings and keep communities safe. Each class is around an hour and a half, and attendees only need to participate in one. More information and registration details can be found on the National Weather Service Green Bay website.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News An Antigo man is in custody following a vehicle pursuit over the weekend that ended in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's report, deputies were advised by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office of a chase in progress. They said the suspect was traveling north on Highway 51 into Lincoln County. LISO deputies were able to deploy tire deflation devices, disabling the vehicle. A short distance later, the suspect, Patrick Finnegan of Antigo, stopped his vehicle, but allegedly began walking away. A police K9 was deployed to help take Finnegan into custody. According to court records, he is charged with tampering with a GPS tracking device, fleeing and officer, and bail jumping in Marathon County Court.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News Formal charges have been filed against a Lincoln County man arrested following an investigation into possessing child pornography. According to court records, Patrick Gryskiewicz, made an initial appearance in Lincoln County Court Monday. The 58 year old is facing 10 counts of possessing child pornography. Gryskiewicz was arrested last week after deputies investigated a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. They traced CSAM activity to an IP address connected to his home. A search warrant was executed at the home, where deputies reported recovering multiple child sexual abuse materials. At Monday's hearing, bond was set at $100,000. An adjourned initial appearance was scheduled for May 6.

Published on 04/06/2026 under News The spring elections are coming up Tuesday. In addition to local races, voters in the city of Tomahawk will decide on a levy referendum. After several consecutive years of difficult decisions to balance their budget, the Tomahawk City Council placed the spending request on the spring ballot. The City is seeking a 20% increase to the base levy, which amounts to approximately $276,000. If approved, it would result in an increase of $75 for a $100,000 property. The state largely restricts the ability of municipalities to increase their tax levy without voter approval. Ahead of the vote, city leaders hosted three public informational sessions in an effort to educate voters on why they are seeking the additional fund. They noted that costs have outpaced levy growth, while also discussing potential cuts if the referendum is not approved. While referendum questions have been common for school districts around the state, more municipalities are turning to them in recent years. Voters in the Town of Minocqua approved a referendum in 2024. As for Tomahawk, voters will ultimately decide on a ballot that will also feature a mayor, city council, school board and county board races. We'll have a ballot preview on election day.

Published on 04/06/2026 under News The Oneida County Health Department is inviting the community to take action and prioritize their well-being as part of National Public Health Week. This year's theme, "Ready. Set. Action!" highlights the importance of small, everyday steps that can lead to healthier communities. Public health officials say their work goes far beyond clinics and hospitals, focusing on preventing illness, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring safe environments for everyone. From restaurant safety and vaccinations to emergency preparedness and health education, public health efforts play a role in daily life across Oneida County. To mark the week, the Oneida County Health Department is hosting a variety of events and activities highlighted by a pop-up clinic on Wednesday (at the YMCA of the Northwoods) where they will offer services like free blood pressure screenings, mental health assessments, and heart-healthy snacks. They've also partnered with some local coffee shops to offer specialty drinks this week, they'll post online trivia and a virtual scavenger hunt, and some free goodie bags Friday at the Health Department. Officials say the goal is simple: encourage people to take small, meaningful steps to help build a stronger, more connected community.

Published on 04/06/2026 under News Hunters and landowners across northern Wisconsin have a couple of opportunities to weigh in on how the state manages its deer herd. The DNR is teaming up with local Citizen Deer Advisory Councils to gather public feedback ahead of the 2026 deer season. Input will help shape decisions on harvest quotas, season structure and other key management tools. State wildlife officials say this process allows for more localized decision-making. Each deer management unit has its own advisory council, which meets annually to review herd data, including harvest numbers and winter conditions. The Northern Forest Zone will be working with the updated, habitat-based management units, which replaced the county-based system. The first opportunity for public input opened over the weekend via the online feedback. That period runs through Sunday April 12. Then, the last two weeks of April, each CDAC will hold a local meeting where attendees can review data, discuss herd health and share concerns. Final recommendations will be presented to the Natural Resources Board in June for approval ahead of the fall hunting season.

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