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Cancellations & Closings Due to Covid-19 Published on 04/05/2020 under News

Covid-19 has caused cancellations in the Northwoods area. Stay up-to-date with our listings:

Tomahawk Schools and St. Mary's School are now closed until further notice.

The Tomahawk Public Library will be suspending all operations and cancelling all programs and events.

T.B. SCOTT Free Library in Merrill is closed until further notice.

The Rhinelander District Library will be closed until further notice.

The Demmer Library in Three Lakes will closed until further notice.

The WIAA announces all school spring sports activities are postponed until further notice.

Tomahawk City Hall will be closed to the public until further notice.

Merrill City Hall will be closed to public walk-ins.

Tomahawk Senior Center will be closed to non-essential public gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus among our most vulnerable population. This closure is until further notice.

The YMCA of the Northwoods will temporarily suspend all operations outside of licensed child care.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office lobby will not be open to the public and there will no longer be video visitation in the front lobby vestibule.

The Tomahawk Police Department is closing their lobby to walk-ins until further notice. They are also temporarily discontinuing drug take backs and syringe disposal.

The Merrill / Tomahawk Municipal Court Clerk's Office is closed to walk-in business until further notice.

The Town of Bradley town hall is closed to the public until further notice.

The Town of King Recycling Site is closed until further notice.

The Kinship House in Tomahawk is closed until further notice.

The Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce will closed until further notice. They will be checking email and voicemail.

All public Masses are cancelled at St. Mary - Tomahawk, St. Augustine - Harrison and St. Francis - Pier Willow. Please refer to St. Mary's website to read the most recent letter from the Bishop.

Grace Lutheran Church has cancelled all services, soup meals and events until further notice. Their worship services can be streamed on Sunday at 9:00 am. The link is at www.gracelutherantomahawk.org

The Tomahawk and Spirit United Methodist Churches are cancelling services until further notice.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Tomahawk is cancelling all regular scheduled services, activities and events until further notice.

Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church has cancelled all services until further notice.

Northland Bible Church has cancelled all worship services until further notice. Visit the church's website for further information.

Northwoods Vineyard Church has cancelled all worship services until further notices. Services are available on their website.

All masses at Holy Family Catholic Church in Woodruff are cancelled until further notice.

Eagle Summit Healing Rooms are temporarily closed and the Thursday evening prayer sessions will continue as soon as possible.

The Wednesday Night Cribbage at VFW Post is Tomahawk is cancelled until Fall.

St. Mary's Thrift Cellar of Tomahawk is now closed until further notice. No donations will be accepted.

The Tomahawk Community Thrift Shop will not be accepting donations and will be closed until further notice.

The Merrill-Go-Round has suspended transit services until further notice.

All dance classes at the Terry Bucaro Dance Studio are cancelled until further notice.

All StrongBodies Classes in Tomahawk and Merrill are cancelled until further notice.

The Monday evening Yoga Class held at the Corpus Christi Center in Tomahawk are cancelled until further notice.

The Open Arms Community Soup Kitchen at the Corpus Christi Center on Tuesdays is cancelled until further notice.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Service Suspended Until Further Notice in Marathon, Lincoln, Portage, Wood, Taylor and Langlade counties.

Effective immediately, the Oneida County Veterans Service Office is suspending service on the Oneida County DAV van that takes veterans to medical appointments at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI until further notice.

All events that were scheduled in April at the Rock Garden Tavern and FoFS Studio at the Wisconsin Concrete Park have been cancelled.

The City of Merrill Park and Recreation Department has cancelled their Easter Egg Hunt that was scheduled for April 11.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Nokomis Fire Department has been cancelled.

St. Paul Lutheran Church has cancelled the free Community Easter Dinner that was scheduled for Sunday, April 12 at Rodeway Inn & Suites in Tomahawk.

The Tomahawk Cornhole League Meeting that was scheduled for April 16 at Lisa's Pub & Grub has been postponed.

The Tomahawk Area Interfaith Volunteers Spring Event, "Magical Night of Comedy for a Cause" that was scheduled for April 18 has been cancelled.

The Tomahawk Food Pantry Meeting scheduled for April 27 has been cancelled.

The Knight Owls snowmobile club fundraiser originally scheduled for May 2 at Inshalla Country Club has been rescheduled to November 7.

The Journeys Half Marathon in Eagle River on May 9 has been cancelled.

The Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce has postponed the Taste of Tomahawk to Saturday, May 16.

The Red, White and Blue Day program that was scheduled for May 21 at the Tomahawk School District Fieldhouse has been cancelled.

In Other News

Snow Plow Driver Appreciation Day

Published on 12/02/2025 under News Perfect timing after a pair of winter storms the past week dumped snow across most of the state. Monday was dedicated to those who keep our roads snow-free throughout the winter. It was Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day in Wisconsin on Monday. DoT secretary Kristina Boardman called snowplow drivers and their support staff the unsung heroes of winter. For more than 100 years, Wisconsin has maintained a unique partnership with the state's 72 county highway departments. During the winter, county highway workers keep interstate, U.S. and state highways safe by snow plowing as well as treatments such as salting and liquid brine. On a day dedicated to appreciation, officials also encourage motorists to use caution and courtesy when driving near a working snow plow. Motorists should maintain at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow. A good rule of thumb, make sure you can see the plow's mirrors to ensure the driver can see you. Use caution if passing a snowplow and remember the road conditions will likely be worse in front. The state is making it easier to spot road maintenance vehicles which utilize flashing green warning lights meant to increase safety, enhance driver awareness and improve visibility. Following a snow event monitor road conditions. If your trip isn't urgent consider delaying your travel until plows have been out.

Published on 12/02/2025 under News A Thanksgiving Day crash in Lincoln County left a vehicle partially submerged in an area river. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, that crash happened on Thursday along Prairie Forks Dr in the Town of Russell. The driver, a 51 year old Gleason man, told deputies he was traveling south when he lost control of the vehicle on a slippery stretch of road. It appears the vehicle struck a bridge embankment, rolled, and came to rest in the Prairie River. The driver was able to exit the vehicle through a back door prior to the cab filling with water. The man reported minor injuries but declined medical transport. The vehicle was removed from the river by Rod's wrecker.

Published on 12/02/2025 under News A Tomahawk man arrested in connection with a series of threats made to a local grocer has been formally charged. According to court records, Nicholas Wolf made his initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday. The 26 year old is facing 4 felony charges, two counts each of bomb scares and making terrorist threats. Wolf was arrested early last week after Tomahawk Police investigated multiple threats called in to the Trig's grocery store in Tomahawk. At the time, they said it was part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation and that there was no threat to the community. According to court records, at Monday's initial appearance, Judge Galen Bayne-Allison set bond at $10,000. As a condition of the bond, Wolf is not allowed contact with any Trig's location and he may not have access to any electronic device with the exception of a phone for emergencies only. Wolf is due back in court again for an adjourned initial appearance on December 22.

Published on 12/02/2025 under News Lincoln County has trails of all types, no matter your interest, and that's the focus of another new video short. Over the past two years, Lincoln County has had an ongoing partnership with Discover MediaWorks and their various programming. This past week, they released another video segment focused on Lincoln County, and specifically the trail networks. It's titled 'Off the Beaten Path' and in three short minutes focuses on some of the different recreation opportunities available. This includes the Harrison Hills for their ATV/UTV trails, the Ice Age Trail for hiking, and the Underdown Trails for mountain biking and cross country skiing. And perhaps the most natural of all trails on the water with the Wisconsin River. The narrator notes the area is perfect for a quick day trip or a weekend escape. The video segment is available on Discover Wisconsin's Youtube channel and cross-promoted on their various social media accounts. This is part of a growing catalog of segments and features on Lincoln County. As we reported earlier this month, a Uniquely Wisconsin segment focused on a sled dogs in Gleason won a Regional Emmy Award. There have actually been a number of Northwoods-themed episodes in recent weeks including Vilas County snowmobiling, a Northwoods UTV loop through St. Germain, Arbor Vitae, and Woodruff, and a Rhinelander-themed episode of their podcast The Cabin.

Published on 12/02/2025 under News After a weekend of holiday shopping; today is set aside for giving back. Giving Tuesday has become a national movement encouraging people to donate to non profits. Those looking to donate are encouraged to a do a little research, and not to forget local organizations. Groups including the Better Business Bureau and State Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection offered warnings about scammers taking advantage. As usual, they recommend avoid pressure tactics, ask questions, and skip any unusual payment requests. When in doubt, think local, as there are a number of familiar groups and organizations in every community that are able to fulfill their missions thanks to community generosity. That includes: food pantries, animal rescues, youth programs, and temporary shelters. And if money is tight at this time of year, get creative. Consider donating food, blood, winter clothing items, toys, or even your own time by volunteering at an organization that interests you.

Published on 12/01/2025 under News With the calendar turned to December, the holiday season is in full swing. That includes an impressive light display in Rhinelander that switches on this evening. Now entering year number nine, Lights of the Northwoods continues to grow each year. It now features more than a million lights and festive displays along a path through Hodag Park. Over the past few weeks, organizers have been putting the final touches on the festive Christmas light tour which begins Monday evening. Attendees have two options, a slow drive through the park, or if the weather allows, a walking tour. While entrance is free, organizers invite revelers to give back to the community and help area non-profits. Last year they collected thousands of dollars for local community organizations, and thousands of pounds of food were distributed to area food pantries. When Lights of the Northwoods began, nearly a decade ago, it was centered in and around the week of Christmas. Due to popularity, they now welcome visitors throughout the month of December. While the lights are nightly, organizers have special activities on weekends including bonfires, visits from Santa, and snacks and cold weather refreshments. Like year's past, they'll also wrap up Lights of the Northwoods with a January 1 fireworks display. The full calendar is available on the Lights of the Northwoods website.

Published on 12/01/2025 under News A storage building was destroyed in a fire in Lincoln County over the weekend. According to the Pine River Fire Department, crews were called to a structure fire on County G in the Town of Pine River on Saturday afternoon. The initial call reported a steel-framed outbuilding on fire. The report indicated there was an automobile in the building along with other fuel sources including diesel, oil, tires, and landscaping materials. Outside the building was a large propane tank. Mother Nature may have helped the firefighters...they indicated the strong winds pushed the fire away from the propane tank and a nearby home. In the end, the building was considered a total loss. No injuries were reported to humans or animals. Several neighboring agencies provided mutual aid and crew were on the scene for several hours. The fire is believed to have been caused by an improperly installed wood furnace.

Published on 12/01/2025 under News After Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday, today marks the third in a holiday shopping trio...Cyber Monday. Officials are reminding online consumers to shop safe and shop smart. Over the years, more and more consumers have shifted to online shopping for at least a portion of their holiday purchases. The experts says a little bit of extra research can held avoid these Grinches and their holiday scams. First make sure your browser and anti-virus software is up-to-date.Watch for misleading advertisements, lookalike websites, and untrustworthy sellers.Be wary of unsolicited offers and those that appear 'too good to be true.'Before clicking 'buy' double check shipping and return policies and read all fine print.Finally, keep a paper trail and monitor your bank and credit card statements throughout the holiday season.

Published on 12/01/2025 under News Across their 1.5 million acres, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has no shortage of trees including some that would be perfect for Christmas. For those looking for their holiday centerpiece, forest officials have once again made their annual Christmas tree permits available for the public. It may be a little extra work, it can be a fun and festive family activity. While the trees in the forest are not professionally trimmed or groomed, many enjoy them for their natural appearance. Officials note that cutting a Christmas tree also improves forest health by helping thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees. Removing these trees in designated areas helps other trees grow larger and can open areas that provide forage for wildlife. Some trees are off-limits such as those adjacent to campgrounds and trails. The permits are just $5, available on both the forest website. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest also participates in the Every Kid Outdoors initiative which allows fourth grade students a free Christmas tree permit.-Photo provided by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

Published on 12/01/2025 under News Patrons typically take items from their local library. But here in Tomahawk, they're asking people to leave something behind...a non perishable food item. The Tomahawk Public Library kicked off a food drive to help support local food pantries serving the Tomahawk community. Throughout the month of December, people can drop off non-perishable food items when they visit the library. The goal is to offer a helping hand to those in need. It comes at a time when more people are facing food insecurity, especially ahead of the holiday season. The Tomahawk Public Library food drive is currently scheduled to run through December 20.

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