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Ascension Discontinuing Woodruff Based Spirit 2 Helicopter, Spirit 3 Plane Published on 07/09/2020 under News

Ascension announced changes to its air medical transport operations in northern Wisconsin which will include the discontinuation of their Spirit 2 helicopter based at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff.

The decision comes after a review of the current landscape of medical transportation services available, realignment of facilities in the region and patient volumes.

Stewart Watson, the Vice President-Clinical with Ascension Wisconsin North Region says, "There are many changing dynamics in the delivery of healthcare services in the region that created the need for these difficult decisions."

He says, "Our review concluded that our air medical transport needs would be best met with a single helicopter strategically placed at the Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) at Mosinee."

Spirit will still maintain a critical care ground base and resources for transport out of Woodruff from Howard Young Medical Center. Additional Spirit ground bases are located in Rhinelander,Weston and Stevens Point.

The changes are expected to be implemented by the end of the year.

In the same release, they also announced the end of their Spirit 3 fixed-wing aircraft based at the Lakeland Airport in Arbor Vitae.

In Other News

Hatchet Track & Field Teams Compete in Marathon Invite

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's track and field squads would each finish in the top four of their first outdoor invite of the season in Marathon Thursday. The Hatchet girls would finish second with 114.5 points only to Great Northern Conference foe Rhinelander. Elise Gibeault dominated, placing first in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and High Jump. Gibeault was also the third leg of the Tomahawk 4x200 Relay Team, joining Ellie Micke, Alicia Voermans, and Siennah Caulkins. The 4x400 Relay Team of Voermans, Faith Derleth, Lydia Shaney, and Abbie Rosenmeier also placed first. For the Boys, they placed fourth as a team, placing behind Rhinelander, Marathon, and Edgar. The Hatchets' lone first place finish came in the 400 meter dash from Beau Stromberg. The Hatchets' next outdoor invite is next Thursday in Medford. Events begin at 4:30.

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's golf squad came in second in their first triangular of the season at Inshalla Country Club Thursday. The Hatchets finished with a score of 211, six strokes behind Three Lakes and 53 ahead of Mellen. Junior Oliver Childers won the triangular individually with a score of 35. Jaxon Kaiser placed second on the Hatchets and fourth overall with a 42. Tomahawk heads on the road for the first time today when they travel down to Reedsburg for an invite. Tee-off is at 9:00 AM.

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's baseball squad would suffer their second straight loss, losing at Medford Thursday night, 5-3. Cash Olsen took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs in five innings of work. Olsen also went two for three with two RBI. Colin Black, Wally Horabik, and Jonah Dickens each came away with a hit. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-3 on the season and 2-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back at TK Field for another GNC Showdown, this time with Rhinelander. Tune in for the broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM/97.7 FM WJJQ. The Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show will begin at 4:35 and first pitch is at 5:00. Alex Koch will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 04/17/2026 under Sports The Hatchet softball squad would suffer their second Great Northern Conference defeat of the season Thursday at Hatchet Field, losing to the Medford Raiders, 6-0. Tomahawk would muster just two hits against Medford pitcher Rylee Hraby, while striking out ten times. Camryn Kraklow would take the loss, allowing six runs on ten hits. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-2 on the season and in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets have their first non-conference game of the season today against Wittenberg-Birnamwood. First pitch is at 5:00.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News It's Severe Weather Awareness Week, which typically culminates with mock tornado drills on Thursday afternoon and evening. However with the recent severe weather in Wisconsin this week, the drills have been canceled. We, at WJJQ, typically take part in the yearly drill which includes watches and warnings. According to Ready Wisconsin, the decision to cancel this year's drill comes as emergency management, local agencies, and people are actively responding and recovering from the impacts of these recent storms. They said proceeding with the scheduled drills would place additional strain on already stretched resources as many communities continue to deal with storm impacts. Families are still encouraged to go over tornado safety including locations and plans.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News While tornado safety is the main focus of Severe Weather Awareness Week, Wisconsinites will likely encounter other weather-related occurrences like flooding. Many areas of the state are dealing with flooding this week after several rounds of storms. Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in Wisconsin, causing millions of dollars in property damage each year. Beyond the expense, flood waters can be more dangerous than they seem. Officials note that you should never attempt to walk or drive through a flooded roadway using the phrase "Turn around, Don't Drown!" Just six inches of flowing water can knock over an adult, and a small vehicle can be swept away by 12 inches of moving water. Floodwaters can also damage or wash away the road, often hidden below the surface. The waters may also contain contaminants and hazards. At home, store important records and other water prone items in a waterproof container in upper levels rather than the basement. If your home experiences flooding, your local health department can provide proper cleaning and disinfection guidelines and other resources. While you can't stop rising waters, Ready Wisconsin shared some home tips that can help. That includes cleaning your gutters regularly, direct downspouts away from your home, and improve the grading and landscaping to keep water from flowing away from your home.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News A Rhinelander educator is being honored for helping students branch out beyond the classroom. School Forest Manager Mike Cheslock has received a Wisconsin School Forest Award from the LEAF Program for his work at the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom, the district's primary school forest. Cheslock was recognized for his leadership and vision in expanding the program across grade levels and subject areas, giving students hands-on learning experiences in forestry, conservation, and ecology. Under his direction, the outdoor classroom has become a key part of the district's curriculum, supporting science education while promoting environmental stewardship and real-world skills. Rhinelander Superintendent Eric Burke says, "Mike's leadership of our school forest and the CAVOC learning center is truly exceptional. He has created opportunities for authentic, hands-on learning that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom, and our entire district is better because of his vision and dedication." He was recognized at a statewide environmental education conference earlier this month. The district also plans to have a local award presentation at CAVOC later this month.-Photo provided by the Rhinelander School District

Published on 04/16/2026 under News Giving back in Rhinelander just got a little easier and a lot more convenient. The Personal Essentials Pantry at First United Methodist Church is teaming up with Trig's Rhinelander store to launch a new "grab-and-go" donation program. The effort is part of a Leadership Oneida County project. They held a kick-off event this week. Shoppers can now purchase prepackaged donation bags filled with items like hygiene items, cleaners, and other household products, set aside for the pantry. Organizers say the effort helps provide essentials that aren't typically covered by assistance programs, while making it simple for the community to support families in need. The volunteer-run pantry relies entirely on donations and says initiatives like this help ensure neighbors have access to everyday necessities for health and dignity. The Personal Essentials Pantry has two distribution days each month.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News A couple of Northwoods students showed off their professional skills in a statewide competition, and were recognized for their efforts. Earlier this month, more than 1,700 students were in Madison for the 53rd edition of Skills USA. This included middle school, high school, and technical college students. The participants qualified through regional competitions for one of 65 events based on career-ready skills. They were judged by experts and professionals in the respective fields. Among the local medalists were the Tomahawk High School Commercial sUAS Drones (Team) of Brock Fischer and Bodie Olsen who were runners-up. And Rhinelander's Brookelynn Martin also earned a silver medal in the high school cosmetology competition. And there was one gold medal returning to the Northwoods: Lola Beach of Rhinelander High School topped the Baking & Pastry Arts competition. Gold winners are eligible to compete in the National SkillsUSA Championships which will be held in Atlanta the first week of June.

Published on 04/16/2026 under News Whether you're a regular Johnny Appleseed, or you're struggling with your red delicious; there's an opportunity to learn more about home apple trees in the Northwoods this weekend. Just one week after hosting a maple syrup demonstration, the Kemp Natural Resources Station is inviting the public to its "Apple School" this Saturday. The free workshop runs from 9 to 2 and will cover everything from choosing the right apple varieties for the region to pruning, pest control, and long-term tree care. It's led by horticulture experts from University of Wisconsin–Madison and its agricultural research programs. Organizers say the event is perfect for anyone thinking about starting an orchard, or figuring out why their apple trees aren't producing. While the workshop is free, they do ask that people register online.

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