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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

Langlade County Highlighting Mental Health Resources in May

Published on 05/18/2026 under News As Mental Health Month continues in May, the Langlade County Health Department is working to raise awareness about mental health resources and encourage residents to reach out for support when needed. The department has launched a county-wide awareness campaign featuring informational displays, posters and social media outreach throughout Langlade County including the Health Department, Senior Center, the library, and local business partners. Officials are highlighting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free and confidential service available 24 hours a day. They are also promoting CredibleMind, a free online mental health platform which offers articles, videos and tools on topics like stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and building healthy habits. Karen Marten, a public health nurse with Langlade County, said mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. She added, "It is okay to ask for help, and no one should feel alone. Small steps, like talking to someone or using helpful tools, can make a big difference." The Langlade County Health Department encourages residents to check in with loved ones, learn more about available services, and make use of local mental health resources.

Published on 05/18/2026 under News With summer riding season getting underway, the DNR is reminding ATV and UTV operators to make safety a priority before heading out on the trails. That includes taking a safety course and going over new riding rules. The ATV/UTV safety courses are required for operators born in or after 1988, but encouraged about all operators. DNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator Lt. Jacob Holsclaw said Wisconsin continues to see a high number of ATV and UTV crashes involving riders who have never taken a safety course. The classes focus on crash prevention and provide practical skills designed to help riders operate safely. Holsclaw compared the safety certification to getting a driver's license. In addition to the safety class, the DNR also highlighted some new regulations related to ATV and UTV operation. That includes a seatbelt requirement for all operators and passengers in a UTV. Operators and passengers are all required to wear a seatbelt in a UTV. Intentionally causing damage with an ATV or UTV can cost you more than a fine – up to three times the cost to repair the damage.ATV or UTV operators may not tow objects bearing any person on a trail or route. Towing persons on ice is limited to 10 mph.UTVs now have window tint restrictions.The DNR will soon release a new regulations pamphlet detailing these updates and more.

Published on 05/18/2026 under News Heading into the weekend, the DNR issued a warning about elevated fire risk. Those conditions kept fire firefighters busy. According to the DNR wildfire tracker, crews responded to 40 wildfires around the state this weekend which burned approximately 51 acres of land. Here in the Northwoods there were four wildfires listed in Vilas County, two in Oneida, and one each in Price, Iron, Forest, and Langlade Counties. Debris burning remains the leading cause of wildfires, accounting for around half Overnight rains in the Northwoods should help improve conditions. The DNR reminds people to check burn restrictions, updated daily at 9am.

Published on 05/18/2026 under News Back in 2024, the Tomahawk School District unveiled the Wall of Honor to recognize students who went on to serve in the military. Now they're inspiring other districts to do the same. The Medford School District recently announced plans to create their own Wall of Honor, citing the Tomahawk School District in the announcement. The concept includes emblems of each service branch, above the names of each student who served. Local veterans including Bill Vach, are working with the district's social studies department to bring the concept to life. That includes securing donations to help fund the project as well as identifying the names of Medford graduates who served. Their goal is to dedicate the Honor Wall during the school's Veterans Day ceremony in November.

Published on 05/18/2026 under News While bicycling is typically a solo sport, Wausau hosted a rally this weekend for those who ride bicycles built for two. And an even larger event is on the schedule for next year. This past weekend, the Couples on Wheels-Wisconsin Tandem Bicycle Club hosted its annual Spring Rally in the Wausau area. Nearly 90 tandem riders were able explore routes around Rib Mountain, downtown Wausau, Lake DuBay and the Big Eau Pleine River area. Next Fall, over Labor Day weekend, Wausau has been selected as the location for the 2027 Midwest Tandem Rally. The four-day event is the largest of it's kind in North America; and is expected to bring more than 400 tandem bicyclists to Northern Wisconsin. Visit Wausau was recently awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to support the event. Visit Wausau Executive Director Tim White said the event will help showcase the region as a growing outdoor recreation destination, while also generating overnight stays and tourism spending. Activities will include daily rides, educational sessions, vendor exhibits and social events.

Published on 05/18/2026 under News A quick update on some local road construction here in the Tomahawk area. Starting with the newest project to the list, work on a bridge replacement on Highway 17 in the Town of Merrill. Crews will remove and replace the existing Barnes Creek bridge with a new concrete girder bridge. Highway 17 will be closed at the bridge with traffic detoured onto County G. Work is scheduled through July 24. A bit further north, work continues on Highway 51 between US Highway 8 and the north end of Oneida County L. That segment remains closed and detoured through noon on Thursday. After the Memorial Day holiday, they will resume work, but Highway 51 will be open to traffic. This project is scheduled to run into mid-June. The Lincoln County Highway Department also has a project on County YY. Crews are working on culverts on the north side of Squaw Creek Avenue this week. This requires a closure at the construction site and no through traffic. Following Memorial Day, they'll be pulverizing and paving, this portion of the project will be local traffic only. Elsewhere in the Northwoods... Up in Minocqua, crews are working on Highway 51 between the Minocqua Bridge and Front Street. They will maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction throughout the work. They'll continue to work through June 18; then resume Sept. 8. And a project in Rhinelander, they are working Highway 8 between Highway 47 and 17 North. During construction, traffic will be detoured through Rhinelander. Work is schedule to run into September.

Published on 05/16/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's field throwers competed at the Thunder Throw in the Woods Invite in Minocqua Saturday morning. For the Hatchet boys, two athletes finished in the top ten in shot put. Michael Samundsen finished with a 42'7.5" throw. Ethan Gibeault had a 38'10" toss. The two seniors joined Elliot O'Connor in the top ten in discus. Samundsen was the top Hatchet with a throw of 114'4". In the female shot put, it was two freshmen that placed in the top ten. Abbigail Doleshal had a throw of 26'8". Lillian Rigby had a throw of 21'4". In the discus, both Doleshal and Rigby placed in the top five. Doleshal had a throw of 94'1". The Great Northern Conference Track & Field Meet is Tuesday at Mike Webster Stadium in Rhinelander.

Published on 05/15/2026 under Sports Hatchet Baseball Comes Alive, Holds Off Crandon The Hatchet baseball squad notched their second consecutive win in as many days, outlasting the Crandon Cardinals, 6-3. Tomahawk scored in every inning but the first, going ahead for good in the third. The Hatchets were able to withstand a Cardinal rally in the fifth to seal the victory. Jonah Dickens picked up the win on the mound, allowing just three runs on four hits while striking out six. Wally Horabik, Colin Black, and Brody Hilgendorf each had an extra-base hit. Dickens went two for four with an RBI while Max Larson went two for three. The win puts Tomahawk at 7-9 on the season and 5-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will take the weekend off and get set for their final road game of the season in Antigo Monday. First pitch is at 5:00. Childers Propels Tomahawk Golf to 2nd in St. Germain The Hatchet golfers bounced back and finished second in their invite at St. Germain Golf Club, hosted by Northland Pined Friday afternoon. Tomahawk finished with a team score of 352, 17 strokes behind first-place Rhinelander. Two Hatchets placed in the top ten overall. Oliver Childers placed fifth with an 82. Jaxon Kaiser placed ninth overall with an 89. The final Great Northern Conference meet of the season will be Monday at Indianhead Golf Course in Mosinee. Tee-off is at 1:00.

Published on 05/15/2026 under News The popularity of food trucks has exploded in recent years with these mobile restaurants now present in most Northwoods communities. Many are heading to Merrill this weekend for the third annual 'Food Truck-a-Palooza.' Organizers said, "The event continues to grow each year and provides a fun opportunity for residents and visitors to experience everything Merrill has to offer." Back in 2024 the city put out a call for food trucks to park at the Merrill Festival Grounds for a day-long smorgasbord. They had around a dozen participants in that first year, doubled in size last year. Now, the third edition, 35 food trucks signed up. Many of the Lincoln County-based trucks will be in attendance, while other chefs will be putting on the miles, coming from the Northwoods, central Wisconsin and even the Fox Valley. Whether you like Mexican, Asian or American classics like burgers and BBQ they'll have something for everyone including drinks and desserts focused-trucks. Between bites, attendees can burn off a few calories by walking through the Merrill Festival Grounds for a craft and vendor show, live entertainment, and other fun activities. The third Annual Food Truck-a-Palooza runs from 11am to 6pm.

Published on 05/15/2026 under News The Tomahawk School Board received an update this week on the district's School Resource Officer (SRO) program, which was first approved in 2018. Now eight years into the initiative, the board heard a presentation from Officer Brett Susa, who served as the district's first SRO and remains the only officer in the role. Susa explained that his mission is to foster a safe learning environment through a three-pronged approach: law enforcement, mentoring, and teaching. In his capacity as an on-campus officer, Susa handles student violations such as truancy and substance use. He shared the positive news that the number of referrals and citations has decreased this year compared to last. Beyond enforcement, Susa's report emphasized the importance of "positive interactions" to build trust with the student body, which he noted is essential for preventing issues before they arise. He highlighted several examples of these efforts, including providing classroom education and participating in a "lunch buddy" program at the elementary school. In addition to his work with students, Susa collaborates with the buildings and grounds crew to assess and address safety concerns across the campus. When school is not in session, he continues his service by working directly with the Tomahawk Police Department.

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