WJJQ Radio

Story Details

Tomahawk Public Library Offers Online Unemployment Application Assistance Published on 07/02/2020 under News

Thousands of jobs are being affected either directly or indirectly by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Tomahawk Public Library is reaching out to assist those who have been affected locally.

The area was already experiencing recent highs in unemployment. Last week reports indicated plans for Harley Davidson to lay-off 50 employees in Tomahawk.

We heard from Melissa Nieman with Tomahawk Public Library Outreach Services. She says, "Anyone who needs to file an unemployment application, but lack a computer or internet service, may visit the Tomahawk Public Library during our open hours."

Nieman says residents who have been laid off due to the Coronavirus or recent lay-offs at Harley Davidson will have priority for the use of our computers. She says that staff will also be available to assist community members, if needed.

The Tomahawk Public Library re-opened with limited hours last week.

Current library hours (subject to change)

•Monday and Tuesday 10am-12 pm and 3-6 pm
•Wednesday- 10 am- 12 pm
•Thursday- 3-6PM

In Other News

Northwoods Art Tour Returns for Fall Event

Published on 10/08/2026 under News For those that missed out this summer, the Northwoods Art Tour is back for a fall opportunity this weekend. We've previously covered the Northwoods Art Tour, a weekend set aside for local artists to interact with visitors in their galleries, storefronts or work spaces. It provides additional perspectives on creating art from painting and sculpture to glass and wood work. Since it's founding in the year 2000, the tour has nearly doubled in size. This year's event features more than 30 stops across Vilas, Oneida, Iron, and Lincoln counties, including four locations at the southern end in the Tomahawk/Irma area. The tour is self-guided, meaning participants can design their own experience based on the art and artists that interest them most. An added bonus this time of year is a great time to take in the Fall Colors between locations. A digital brochure with maps, studio locations, and artist descriptions is available at northwoodsarttour.com. The Fall Tour runs Friday through Sunday.

Published on 10/08/2026 under News The Wisconsin DNR is encouraging fall campers and hunters to leave firewood at home and "buy local, burn local" instead. October is National Firewood Month, part of an effort to stop invasive pests from hitching a ride. Insects and fungi like the spongy moth, the emerald ash borer, and the fungus that causes oak wilt, frequently hide on or inside firewood and spread to new areas when transported. DNR officials urge people to buy firewood within ten miles of where they plan to burn it, or to use treated and certified wood. In many places, it's not just a recommendation, it's the law. Non-certified firewood originating more than ten miles away is banned at state parks, state forests, and other DNR properties. Many county, federal, and private campgrounds enforce similar rules. These "closer is better" guidelines also apply to heating wood-heated cottages or hunting cabins. At the end of your trip, officials advise leaving any unburned firewood behind rather than bringing it home and potentially introducing invasive species to your own property.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News Lincoln County's popularity is growing as an outdoor recreation destination. Local leaders continue to look for ways to enhance and promote these opportunities. The county was recently selected to participate in the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation's Technical Assistance Program, alongside support from UW-Stout's Center for Sustainable Communities. This state pilot initiative brings local, state, and federal partners together to help communities strengthen recreation assets, support area businesses, and maximize the economic benefits of local trails, waterways, and parks. Sara Guild, Executive Director of the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation, joined our Morning Conversation earlier this week to share details on what this selection means for our area. She emphasized that local input is key to finding practical solutions for recreation infrastructure, trail access, and business growth. There are actually a couple of opportunities later this month for the public to get involved. The teams will be holding a pair of community input workshops, one in Tomahawk and one in Merrill, on October 21 and 22. We'll have a bit more coverage as those dates draw near. And you can hear that conversation with Sara in the WJJQ audio center.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News It's Fire Prevention Week, and area firefighters are working overtime to teach local youth essential fire safety lessons. Crews from the Tomahawk, Nokomis, and Little Rice Fire Departments are teaming up to visit classrooms and community stops, including local libraries and childcare centers. Merrill firefighters are leading a similar outreach program in their community. The goal is to reach students at a young age to help them build lifelong safety habits. In addition to core fire safety basics, Fire Prevention Week highlights a distinct focus area each year. This year, departments are emphasizing a modern concern: the safe charging and use of household electronics. Beyond educating kids, local departments are raising awareness about the ongoing need for volunteers, particularly at rural departments across the Northwoods. The Tomahawk Fire Department will wrap up Fire Prevention Week with its annual open house and family day on Saturday. Attendees will have a chance to tour the station and inspect the department's brand-new fire engine, which arrived last month and will be officially put into service later October.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News The City of Tomahawk has taken another step toward revamping how it spends a key category of visitor dollars. The city currently collects a 4% room tax, which is administered through a partnership with the Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce. At its meeting last night, the Common Council introduced a pair of ordinances aimed at establishing a seven-member Tourism Commission to provide added oversight for those funds, while an amendment increased the room tax rate to 5%. State law dictates how room tax revenue can be spent, requiring the vast majority to be earmarked for tourism promotion and development that drives overnight visitors to the area. Both ordinances were recommended by the City's Finance Committee following a special meeting last month and approved by the Council with minimal discussion Tuesday. Implementation of the new Tourism Commission was delayed until January, as several neighboring townships are also exploring room tax proposals.That could ultimately lead to a cooperative committee or commission among participating municipalities.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News Candidates competing for Wisconsin's open 7th Congressional District seat are facing off tonight in their first and only scheduled debate. Republican Michael Alfonso and Democrat Fred Clark will meet tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. to pitch their vision to replace outgoing Congressman Tom Tiffany, and represent the Northwoods in Washington. In an unsual twist, tonight's debate won't actually take place on Wisconsin soil. Broadcast partner WDIO is hosting the event live from its television studios just across the state line in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition to airing on WDIO, the forum will be streamed on their website as well as Wisconsin Eye. The Debate comes as absentee voting is already underway in Wisconsin.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News As Wisconsin prepares for the upcoming election, Northwoods residents are invited to get an inside look at how local elections are run. The League of Women Voters of the Northwoods is hosting a free, nonpartisan community conversation giving voters a chance to hear directly from municipal clerks in Vilas County who oversee their local elections. The panel features clerks from Arbor Vitae, Lac du Flambeau, and Winchester. They will address common voter misconceptions, explain what happens to a ballot after it's cast, and share practical steps residents can take before Election Day to ensure a smooth voting process. Organizers say the goal is to give both first-time and long-time voters factual, reliable information so they can participate with confidence. It'll take place at 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Arbor Vitae Town Hall You can learn more about local civic resources and voter education initiatives by visiting the League of Women Voters of the Northwoods online, or check with your municipal clerk's office for general election guidance.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News Aspirus Wausau Hospital has reached a major milestone in heart care. The hospital's cardiovascular team recently completed its 1,000th WATCHMAN procedure. The minimally invasive treatment helps reduce stroke risk for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or afib, a common heart rhythm disorder, offering a safe alternative to long-term blood thinners. Interventional cardiologist Dr. Colleen Lane praised the dedicated team of physicians, nurses, and support staff, noting that the milestone reflects years of growth and the trust placed in Aspirus by patients across central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

Published on 10/06/2026 under Sports Tomahawk Volleyball Ends Regular Season GNC Play Winless In the final Great Northern Conference match of the season, Tomahawk's volleyball squad came up short, getting swept by Northland Pines at the Hatchet House Tuesday, 25-19, 26-24, 25-13. The loss by Tomahawk has them finish winless in Great Northern Conference regular season play. Lexi Palmer would finish with 22 assists. Lauren Reibe tied a career-high with 16 kills. The loss drops Tomahawk to 5-25 on the season and 0-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the court for their final regular-season match of the season Thursday against Wittenberg-Birnamwood. First serve is at 7:00. Gibeault Places in Top 5, Hatchet Girls and Boys XC Place in Top 8 The Hatchet cross country squads would each finish in the top eight of the Northland Pines Invitational in Eagle River Tuesday afternoon. The Hatchet girls placed third overall in the meet, placing behind only Three Lakes/Phelps and Rhinelander. Three Hatchet girls placed in the top ten, led by a fourth-place finish from Elise Gibeault. Ellie Micke placed 13th and Abbie Rosenmeier would finish 19th. As for the Hatchet boys, they would place eighth overall. Three Hatchets placed in the top 40. The highest finisher was Dawson Jones, placing 28th. Luke Morrison and Ryan Montag would place 32nd and 33rd respectively. The final meet of the regular season for Tomahawk is their home meet, which will be at the old Hatchet Baseball Field Saturday. Live updates from the meet will be provided on the WJJQ app, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ. The Fehrman Orthodontics Premeet Show will begin at 9:40 and opening events begin at 10:00 with Alex Koch in the broadcast booth. Girls Team Results: Rhinelander - 1st Three Lakes/Phelps - 2nd Tomahawk - 3rd Merrill - 4th Northland Pines - 5th Antigo - 6th Medford - 7th Boys: Rhinelander - 1st Laona-Wabeno - 2nd Florence/Niagara - 3rd Medford - 4th Northland Pines - 5th Crandon - 6th Tomahawk - 8th Antigo - 9th Merrill - 10th

Published on 10/06/2026 under News A bicyclist is crisscrossing Wisconsin this month to raise awareness for a popular conservation program whose funding ended this year, while highlighting the state's growing trail network. Sarah Widder is currently making her way through the Northwoods as part of her "Great State Trails Adventure." Her ambitious goal over the next three weeks is to pedal approximately 2,500 miles across 44 state bike trails, 6 non-state trails, and their connecting corridors. Widder is drawing attention to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which lapsed this past June after funding local parks and trails for nearly four decades. Widder notes, "Land stewardship is such an important part of what makes Wisconsin such a great place to live, work, and play, creating outdoor opportunities whether for biking, off-road trail riding, fishing, hunting or conservation. Widder is blogging daily during her ride, discussing the importance of the program while showcasing the trails and communities along her route. Yesterday's 128-mile ride passed through Park Falls and Minocqua. This morning, she is heading south on the Bearskin and Hiawatha Trails through Tomahawk to Prentice and then Medford. Widder's ride concludes October 22 with a public celebration at Lucette Brewing Company in Menomonie. Those interested can follow along online at knowlesnelson.org

+ Read More