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Cancellations & Closings Due to Covid-19 Published on 05/03/2020 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 for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

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 cancelled for the 2020 season.

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.

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.

Lincoln County's Summer ATV trails will remain closed until further notice and will not open on May 1.

Lincoln County's Underdown Horseback riding and biking trails will be closed until further notice and will not open May 1.

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

The Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce has cancelled the Taste of Tomahawk that was scheduled for Saturday, May 16.

The Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo has been cancelled for June 12 through June 14, 2020.

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

The Pow Wow Days Fourth of July Festivities in Tomahawk have been cancelled.

In Other News

Hatchet Hockey Team Defeats Middleton at Neenah Tourney

Published on 12/31/2025 under Sports On Tuesday, the Hatchet Hockey Team played their final game of the Neenah Holiday Tournament and defeated Middleton 9-2. The Cardinals scored the first goal of the game, with Tomahawk responding and scoring three goals to end the period and lead 3-1. Brayden Lamer had two of the goals in the first and Jonah Dickens added the other. Assisting on the Lamer goals was Caiden Reichelt, Cold Peterson and Beau Stromberg. The Hatchets would open the second period scoring with two quick power play goals from Jake Albert. The first came 00:52 seconds into the period and was assisted by Lamer and Jett Reilly. Albert's second came 00:46 second later, assisted by Jett Reilly and Tomahawk led 5-1. Jett Reilly would add the third goal of the second, assisted by Lamer and Dickens and Tomahawk led 6-1 after two. Middleton would cut the lead to 6-2, before Tomahawk responded with three goals to close the scoring. Lamer scored his third of the night, assisted by Dickens and Rex Reilly. Jett Reilly got his second of the game 00:22 seconds later on an assist from Dickens and Dickens scored in the closing minutes of the period on a short handed goal. Hudson Seymour had 16 saves for Tomahawk. The Hatchets are now 8-2 overall and will host Antigo on Tuesday night at SARA Park Arena.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News It's continued good news for snowmobile riders here in the Northwoods, as trail opening announcements continue. The latest includes northern Lincoln County. Over the past few days, the Northwoods has received upwards of a foot of new snow. Local snowmobile clubs have taken advantage, busy preparing these trails to open. This includes not only panning and grooming, but also removing debris and hazards caused by the heavy, wet snow that fell late Sunday. After initially opening the Hiawatha Trail from Tomahawk north on Monday; they'll now open most of Zone 1 on New Year's Day, at 8am Thursday. *There are a few exceptions including corridors 17 and 19; and most water crossings. Lincoln County trails in Zones 2, 3, and 4 will remain closed at this time. The Trails are in early season condition and could be rough and icy in areas. Elsewhere in the Northwoods: Langlade County's Zone A snowmobile trails, along with the segment between intersections 41A and 42B in Zone B will open New Years Day at 6am. Most trails in Price, Iron, Vilas, and Oneida Counties have already been open. As always, stay tuned to WJJQ throughout the riding season for news, updates, and events; as well as our snowmobile trail condition report.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News During a snowstorm, street crews prioritize clearing routes. Among the challenges in the city is where to put the snow initially, until it can be moved. That topic has come up at several Board of Public Works meetings in Tomahawk recently, including Tuesday. The conversation has largely centered on the side streets off of Wisconsin Avenue, specifically the south block of 2nd Street. Traditionally, the snow is first pushed to the center of the road until it can be transported elsewhere. Unlike many other side streets, that block on 2nd has angled parking on the east side of the street. When the parking spots are occupied with larger vehicles, and the center-aisle snow piles it it leaves little space for traffic. Several business owners attended a previous meeting to request an alternative, and the Board experimented with pushing the snow to the opposite side of the street. But after trying this method during the first few snow events, they learned the change resulted in blocking the handicap accessible parking. While the plowed snow typically only stays for a day or two, this was a concern for the Board and those who use the stall. As a result, the Board at their meeting decided to revert back to the center-lane snow. The hope to invite business-owners and residents in that area to a future meeting to brainstorm alternative options. Tomahawk Reminding Residents of Winter Parking Rules: Speaking of parking and snow during the winter months, the Board of Public Works also wanted to remind residents and visitors about the city's winter parking rules. 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 falling or not. A first offense ticket is $25. The rules went into effect December 1 and run through March 15.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Space heaters can provide quick warmth, but they are also among the leading cause of home fires during the winter months. After responding to a pair of recent fires caused by space heaters, the Wausau Fire Department offered up some tip to ensure they are being used safely. Their two fires were actually sparked in different ways. The first happened when a space heater was placed too close to combustible materials that caught fire. The second happened when the resident plugged into a string of power strips which overloaded the outlet. Many of the fires can be avoided by taking some precautions. Start by keeping the space heater at least 3 feet from any flammable materials like furniture, bedding, and curtains.Space heaters should be plugged directly into the wall outlet. Extension cords and power strips can overheat and melt which can spark.Never leave space heaters unattended.And whether using a space heater or not; all rooms where people sleep should have a working smoke alarm.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News A local temporary housing facility received a belated Christmas gift, with a significant contribution from an area business. On Tuesday, representatives from AirPro Fan & Blower in Rhinelander contributed $10,000 to Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing or NATH Frederick Place. NATH executive Director Abbey Dall Lukowski says, "(AirPro's) continuous generosity in monetary support has been consistent, moreover, their commitment to ensuring our community is well cared for on all levels, is ever appreciated." In addition to dropping off the check, Dall-Lukowski says that Rob Randolph and Jason Giese also showed community commitment by taking time to learn about Frederick Place's program for unhoused neighbors. Dall-Lukowski says, "Serving our homeless neighbors is not always easy, but when we have our Northwoods' partners and communities behind us, the path is made clearer and more easily traveled." Photo: Frederick Place House Staff, Ashlynn Klabunde & Abbey Lukowski with AirPro representatives, Rod Randolph & Jason Giese who recently shared a financial gift at Frederick Place.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Bingo at SARA Park in Tomahawk is a summer tradition. But for one night only, they'll be back for a special holiday session. Last year, the volunteers from WaWui decided to ring in the New Year with a special winter bingo game. Based on the success, they decided to bring it back for a second year. While some of their players have fled south for the season, they wanted to provide a fun way for folks that have stuck around to celebrate the new year. The games won't last until the clock strikes midnight. It will actually be their normal summer schedule with doors opening at 5:30, cards on sale at 6pm, and games begin at 7pm. They may also have some feature New Year's-themed surprises. As always proceed from WaWui bingo are used to support the SARA Park facility.

Published on 12/31/2025 under News Those looking to ring in the New Year are reminded to do so safely by not driving while impaired. As we've previously covered, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is continuing across Wisconsin through the New Year's holiday. The campaign if focused on sober driving during the holiday season including both Christmas and New Years. DoT statistics show that last holiday season, considered the last two weeks of December, there were nearly 400 crashes around the state involving impaired drivers. Many people will enjoy a drink to celebrate this evening, but law enforcement partners are reminding revelers to have a plan. They note that impairment can cloud judgment. That's why they say it is important to designate a sober driver prior to heading out. Ask establishments about ride share or safe ride programs. And If you're hosting a gathering this evening, plan how your guests will get home safely. The Drive Sober campaign is a combination of increased enforcement along with education.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Update: The Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks Department announced that the Lincoln County Snowmobile trails in Zone 1 will open as of Thursday, January 1. Exceptions include: Corridor 17 south of the Cty S/Hwy 51 Park and Ride at intersection #30 and Corridor 19 from Cty E north to Hwy 86. The Hiawatha Trail is already open. Trails in Zones 2, 3, and 4 will remain closed at this time._____ Winter weather over the weekend was a welcome sight for snowmobilers across the Northwoods. Not only did it refresh the snow conditions on area trails, but also allowed some additional segments to open. The Lincoln County Forestry, Land and Parks Department announced the opening the Hiawatha Trail effective as of Monday afternoon. The Hiawatha allows a corridor for Lincoln County riders to travel north and access the trails in Oneida County, which were previously opened. Local clubs are also continuing their efforts to inspect and prepare the remainder of the trail system. That includes removing debris and hazards from the weekend snow. As of Tuesday morning, all other trails in Lincoln County do remain closed. Riders should stay off of trails until they are officially opened. For trails to our north, Oneida County and Vilas County are reporting much improved trails thanks to the additional snow. Riders are encouraged to use a little extra caution as the heavy snow may leave sagging branches. Stay tuned to WJJQ in the coming days for any additional trail openings. Again, as of Monday afternoon, the Hiawatha Trail in Lincoln County is now open.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Snowmobile clubs in Vilas County are hoping to make it a little safer for riders crossing lakes at night. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance recently announced plans to place flashing beacon lights on the shorelines of some lake access points. The beacons, along with the traditional lake markers, will let riders know where it is safest to cross lakes and where the shorelines and trail exits are. The beacons were purchased with safety funds. The goal is to improve visibility and awareness, particularly when riding at night. The lights will have a two nautical mile visibility range. They will flash in a sequence of red, white, and green. In addition to the new beacon lights, the Alliance also invested in night, speed limit signs, reminding riders of that 55 mile per hour speed limit during darkness. The law was put in place to keep snowmobiles from outrunning their headlights. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance is made up of the eleven member clubs located in Vilas County.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News If you're waking up a little sore this morning after clearing snow, you're not alone. But some simple changes can make snow removal an easier task when the next winter storm arrives. According to the National Institutes of Health, snow shoveling results in about 11,500 injuries per year on average. Aspirus occupational therapist Nathaniel Kropidlowski says improper body mechanics, lack of preparation, and poor equipment are leading causes of these aches, strains, and accidents. Kropidlowski explained the importance of warming up before heading out to shovel with some quick shoulder, hip and back stretches. While shoveling he recommends focusing on using the entire body to lift the snow, rather than bending at the back. He says modern ergonomic shovels can improve form and protect your body from the added strain. It's also a good idea to pace yourself and take some breaks. And if you begin to notice pain or discomfort while shoveling, or if it persists in the days after, talk to you provider.

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