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Hatchet Sports Weekend Recap Published on 02/24/2020 under Sports

It was a weekend of ends for many Hatchet teams. For some their overall season came to an end, for others high school careers came to a close. And for others, it was the final preparations for the next part of their seasons.

Starting on Friday, the girl's and boy's basketball teams traveled to Rhinelander to face off against the Hodags. The girl's ended their regular season in a 70-15 loss. They now can look forward to their regional on the road against Clintonville Tuesday night. For the boys, they too fell to Rhinelander, going down 84-41. Payton Bunce topped the scoring for Tomahawk with 15 points and 50% shooting. Drew Bolder finished behind him with 13 points, though he got seven of his 13 points from the free throw line. The Hatchets will end their regular season next Thursday against Northland Pines.

Also on Friday, the Hatchet Boy's swim team headed down to the state finals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Natatorium. Seniors Brady Tjugum, Trey Miller, Keaton Jed and Travis Phillips took the pool together and finished 13th in both the 200 and 400 yard Freestyle Relays. Individually, Phillips became a state champion in the 50 yard Freestyle with a time of :21.35. He also finished third in the 100 yard Butterfly with a time of :50.81.

On Saturday, the Hatchet wrestlers headed down to Oconto Falls to compete in the individual sectionals. Tomahawk sent nine wrestlers to the event, but only three moved on to State next week in Madison. Kade Wenninger in the 182 pound weight class, Eric Decker in 195s and Tony Matti in the heavyweight all finished second in their weight classes to advance to state. Decker was the only Hatchet wrestler to win his first two matches and go straight into the championship match. The Hatchets will begin their journey through State on Thursday.

In Other News

Operation Hats Off to Heroes; Lincoln County Initiative Provides Hats to Veterans in November

Published on 11/07/2025 under News The Lincoln County Veterans Service Office is tipping their caps to local vets this month with a small gift and token of appreciation. In the lead up to Veteran's Day, the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office is taking part in 'Operation Hats Off to Our Heroes.' There are approximately 2,000 veterans who call Lincoln County home. The Veteran's service office is inviting these individuals to visit their Merrill office where they can claim a free hat. The Lincoln County Veterans Services Office understands the importance of recognizing the diverse experiences of our veterans. Therefore, an array of hats representing various branches of service will be available, allowing veterans to proudly display their military affiliation (while supplies last). Matthew Pultz, Director of the Lincoln County Veterans Services Office says, "We are incredibly proud to launch 'Operation Hats Off to Our Heroes' as a small, yet meaningful, way to show our immense gratitude and to honor (local veterans) enduring contributions." Operation Hats Off to Our Heroes is actually one of two veteran's initiative ongoing in Lincoln County in November. As we told you earlier this week, Operation Green Light encourages people change out a single light bulb for a green one to spark conversation and raise awareness of veteran resources and issues.

Published on 11/07/2025 under News Wisconsin Public Service is teaming up with law enforcement to warn people about a sharp increase in utility scam attempts in recent days. According to the announcement, the scammers have been aggressively calling WPS customers across northern Wisconsin this week, threatening them with disconnection unless an immediate payment is made. The scammers are also seeking account and banking information. In the warning, WPS noted that scammers will often prey on fear to try and get customers to act quickly due to the time of year. Unfortunately, they said some customers have already fallen victim, losing thousands of dollars. WPS shared some common red flags to watch for. This includes threats to shut off utilities immediately; demanding immediate payment over the phone; and demanding an unusual and specific payment method such as crypto, pre-paid cards, or money transfer apps. They also remind people that scammers can spoof caller ID so it appears like a legitimate number. WPS says if you are suspicious of a call, 'hang up, it's not rude it's safe.' Customers can follow up by calling the number that appears on their bill.

Published on 11/07/2025 under News After a summer of hard work, disc golf players have a new Northwoods course to take on. The Boulder Junction Park Board announced the completion and public opening of the Tall Pines Disc Golf Course. The free, 18-hole course is now open for play public during normal park hours. The course was designed by Mike Kobach, a retired professional disc golfer. His design was describe as 'a beautiful and technically challenging layout nestled among towering red pines, pristine woodlands, and rolling terrain—creating a truly Northwoods disc golf experience.' Park Board Member Dennis Duke served as project leader, "This course represents another spectacular addition to Boulder Junction's outdoor recreation offerings." He also credited the dedication of volunteers, crew members and sponsors who made this vision a reality which came together in less than a year. While the course is now open, they do plan to host a Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting next spring. The course will be free to play outside of some leagues or tournaments. It's part of a large undertaking up in Boulder Junction for not only locals to enjoy, but also to establish the community as an outdoor recreation destination. Other efforts have included an all-inclusive playground; basketball court upgrades; and the Glide ice skating loop which will be back for year number two this winter.

Published on 11/07/2025 under News A number of Tomahawk area businesses and organizations are partnering to bring back a friendly competition to help the Tomahawk Kinship program this holiday season. The Tomahawk Food Fight is back for a fifth year with eight teams participating. These businesses and their employees are collecting non-perishable food items as well as turkey vouchers to be donated to the Tomahawk Kinship Food Pantry. Organizers noted their shelves are running low after their recent relocation. It also comes as Thanksgiving is approaching, a time when families and friends get together over a meal. They noted many local families could use a helping hand this year. Participants include: Hometown Chiropractic; Park City Credit Union; Trig's (Tomahawk); Tomahawk Pharmacy; Redeemer Learning Center; Up North Nutrition; Incredible Bank and the Tomahawk Chamber. The Tomahawk Thanksgiving Food Fight got underway earlier this week and runs through November 20.

Published on 11/07/2025 under News Like clockwork, the Tomahawk High School one act play is state-bound. After advancing out of district last month, the THS cast and crew traveled to Oconto Falls to participate in this year's sectional competition. Based on their performance, the judges advanced Tomahawk on to the state festival for an impressive 10th consecutive year. This fall, THS is performing the character driven comedy, "Epic Adventures in a Rinky-Dink Art Museum" by Ken Preuss. It follows a group of creative writing students on a field trip to a small-town museum where they battle boredom by pursuing mysteries romance and other adventures. The location of the state festival rotates annually, this year UW Stevens Point will host on November 20-22. And there will be one last opportunity for the Tomahawk community to support the production with a public performance planned for November 18. We'll offer a reminder as that date approaches. Photo provided by THS Drama Department: FRONT: Skylar Hernandez, Gabby Ulrich, Molli Feltes, Avi Kromm, Avery Suchomel MIDDLE: Emma Schiltz, Zoey Finn Maddie Long, Alena Cerkas, Greta Kurth, Aubrey Graeber, Exxie Walbeck, Evelyn Brennan, Caroline Klesmith BACK: Cheyenne Sakowicz, Toby Scott, Galen Schmidt, Finn Colburn, Brock Fischer, Sadie Ruder, Tristin Bridges, Phoebe Hrdina, Urijah Malchiodi, Sam Buckwalter, Skye Scheffler, Johnathan Feltes, Mya Loka

Published on 11/06/2025 under News When an emergency strikes in the Northwoods, patients are in good hands. And now one local paramedic was recognized by his peers as one of the best of the best. At the EMS World Expo in Indianapolis, Jason Wyland was named as the 2025 National Paramedic of the Year by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. Wyland currently works as a flight nurse and flight paramedic with the Aspirus MedEvac Air-1 team based at Howard Young in Woodruff. This prestigious honor recognizes Wyland's exceptional clinical skills, leadership, and unwavering commitment to high-quality patient care. Wyland called the recognition incredibly humbling. He said, "I'm proud to serve alongside the Air-1 crew—this isn't just a job, it's a family. Every day we have the opportunity to make someone's very worst moment a little better. That's why we do what we do." Throughout his nearly three decade career, they said Wyland has been described as a humble leader, a mentor to new providers, and a dedicated patient advocate who brings both clinical excellence and compassion to every mission. They note even after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2015, he has continued to expand his knowledge and skills to remain actively involved in patient care. Charlie Kotke, Manager, Aspirus MedEvac. "His expertise, resilience, and compassion have made a profound difference in the lives of countless patients. We are thrilled to see him recognized on a national stage for the excellence we are fortunate to witness every day." He actually began his full-time EMS career with the Merrill Fire Department in 2001 as a Firefighter/EMT-Intermediate. Just a few years later, he helped lead a milestone initiative to raise $110,000 to elevate the department's emergency medical service to the paramedic level—strengthening care for the communities they served.

Published on 11/06/2025 under News A Tomahawk Committee is looking for developers to submit proposals for another property in the community. Last year, the City of Tomahawk Finance Committee took up the task of taking inventory of all parcels owned by the city to determine if they would be better off in the private sector. The goal was to generate revenue, get properties back on the tax role, and spur some growth and development. At their meeting last night, the Committee voted to put out a Request for Proposal or RFP for the remainder of the former Lincoln Industries property on Kaphaem Road. Earlier this year, the city split the parcel. They sold the first parcel, including the building, to the Rock Church this spring. Now, the committee is looking to sell the other 16 acres. The city has utilized the RFP process on several occasions to sell properties while ensuring the purchaser has a plan for use. For this property specifically, the Committee put some parameters including a $75,000 minimum bid. They also set some priorities: first and foremost they are looking for someone interested in developing housing; the second is other types of developments that would generate tax revenue for the city. Speaking of taxes, in order to get the property on next year's tax role, they hope to close the deal prior to December 31. The RFP process was approved unanimously. The city should get the details posted in the coming days.

Published on 11/06/2025 under News Being prepared for an emergency requires proper training. Coming up on Friday morning, Lincoln County is conducting an active threat training exercise at the Court House. As a result, the Court House will be closed and people are encouraged to plan accordingly. The scenarios will be led by Lincoln County Emergency Management and the Lincoln County Sheriff's office. The goal is to equip county staff with the skills and confidence need to respond effectively during a potential threat emergency. According to emergency management director Tyler Verhassalt, the training will feature realistic scenarios and the use of blank ammunition to simulate an active threat. He says people may notice an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel in and around the court house. They want they public to be aware that this is a planned training exercise. This training will also affect services at the courthouse from 8am to noon Friday. Members of the public with business at the courthouse may want to adjust their schedules.

Published on 11/06/2025 under News The Lakeland area is teaming up to fight hunger in the Northwoods this fall. That includes a daylong community food drive this weekend. The four fire departments that serve their region will serve as drop-off locations. Coming up Saturday morning they'll be collecting non-perishable food donations. That includes the Arbor Vitae Fire Department. Chief Mike Van Meter says, "As firefighters, our mission is to serve and protect our neighbors—whether that's during a fire, an accident, or by helping make sure no one goes hungry." He added, "When the community comes together like this, it shows the strength and compassion that make the Northwoods such a special place to live." They've also recruited some help from local high school students. Members of the Wings Program at Lakeland Union High School will be collecting the donations, sorting them, and distributing them to the food pantry. Pamela Carroll, Arbor Vitae Town Board Supervisor says, "Helping feed our neighbors is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back. We encourage everyone to join us and make a difference—every can counts!" For those interested in donating, the Lakeland Area Food Drive is Saturday November 8 from 9am to Noon at the Hazelhurst, Minocqua, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae Fire Departments.

Published on 11/06/2025 under News The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched an official online merchandise store, featuring a variety of items celebrating the state's fish, wildlife, plants, public lands and recreation traditions. DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. "Everyone in the state interacts with the environment in some way, and we're excited to offer this new opportunity for all Wisconsinites to participate in supporting the mission of the DNR." Proceeds from DNR merchandise sales directly support conservation and environmental education and outreach initiatives across Wisconsin. The initial run of items includes t-shirts, mugs, posters and Christmas ornaments featuring state parks, animals, and even Smokey Bear. They launched the store in time for the holiday shopping season and plan to update the store front with new items in the coming weeks and months.

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