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Hatchet Volleyball Team Loses at Antigo Published on 09/25/2020 under Sports

The Tomahawk Hatchet Varsity Volleyball Team was at Antigo on Thursday night and lost to Antigo three games to one.

Game scores were: 19-25, 26-24, 19-25, 16-25

Katie pierce led the team in aces with 2, Meghan scholz led the team in blocks with 6. Alyssa Zehner led the team with 6 kills. Alyssa Zehner, Katie pierce and Mackenzie scholz all had 3 digs. Mackenzie scholz finished the game with 24 assists.

The Tomahawk JV2 volleyball team lost 2 sets to 1 with scores of 24-26, 17-25, and 25-21.

Sadie Liebelt had 5 aces and 3 kills. Mallory Watland-Copiskey had 4 blocks, 2 aces and 2 kills. And Emerson Lange had 3 kills.

JV1 also lost 2 sets to one with scores of 26-24, 18-25, and 22-25.

The offense was lead by Cayley Scholz with 7 kills, and Ashley Beck had 9 assists. Sammy Gebauer lead serving with three aces, and Bella Weber lead the defense with 18 digs.

Tomahawk will travel to Medford on Tuesday night, with the JV and JV2 matches at 5:30 pm and the Varsity match at 7:00 pm.

In Other News

Tomahawk City Leaders Hosting Final Informational Session on Upcoming Levy Referendum

Published on 03/19/2026 under News The spring elections are are a little more that two weeks away. In addition to local races, voters in the city of Tomahawk will decide on a levy referendum. Ahead of the vote, city leaders have been hosting a series of informational sessions to explain why they are seeking the additional funding. The final session is scheduled to take place this evening. As we've previously covered, the state largely restricts the ability of municipalities to increase their tax levy without voter approval. The Tomahawk City Council is looking for a 20% increase to the base levy going forward, approximately $276,000. If approved, it would result in an increase of around $75 for a $100,000 property. The first two sessions, held earlier this month, included city council members as well as department heads who discussed cuts they've made in recent years to balance the budget, as well as services that could be impacted in the future. This evening's session is scheduled for 6pm at SARA Park. The election will take place April 7.

Published on 03/19/2026 under News Lincoln County is tipping its hat to a classic piece of American television. At their meeting Tuesday, The Lincoln County Board approved a resolution recognizing the 70th anniversary of The Lawrence Welk Show, which ran from 1955-1982. The resolution honors the long-running, family-friendly program for its impact on American culture, highlighting its mix of musical styles and its role in bringing audiences together across generations. The resolution was provided after a request during public comment at the February meeting. Scott Wheeler, of Tallahassee, Florida is the man behind the effort. He made the pitch to Lincoln County Board during public comment at the February meeting. It's part of a larger effort by Wheeler to recognize the show nationally and preserve the show's legacy. During the brief discussion, several supervisors acknowledged it was a nice gesture, but questioned the relevance to Lincoln County. Ultimately, the resolution was approved.

Published on 03/19/2026 under News The American Red Cross is urging Wisconsin residents to consider donating blood following recent winter storms that disrupted collections across the state. Officials say more than 30 blood drives were canceled due to severe weather, resulting in over 1,000 missed blood and platelet donations. The storms also created challenges in transporting blood supplies. Officials say a single donation can help save lives and is especially critical following weather-related disruptions. As an added incentive, those who donate during the month of March will receive a 15-dollar Amazon gift card. The Red Cross says donors of all blood types are needed and encourages people to schedule an appointment.

Published on 03/19/2026 under News Winter weather played a role in a structure fire response in Oneida County Monday. According to the Pine Lake Fire Department, responders were paged to a reported chimney fire on Spafford Road in the Town of Stella. While en route, crews were forced to reroute after part of Spring Road was found to be impassable due to drifting snow. Upon arrival, smoke was seen coming from the chimney and roof, as the fire extended beyond the chimney origin. Despite delays caused by road conditions, firefighter were able to contain the fire to the chimney and surrounding attic area. Crews remained on scene for about two hours. Additional assistance came from multiple agencies, including Pelican Lake firefighters, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, ambulance crews, and Wisconsin Public Service. No injuries were reported. As we previously covered, Merrill Firefighters also dealt with winter challenges during a structure fire over the weekend.

Published on 03/18/2026 under News There are plenty of great burgers in the Tomahawk area. Now, a friendly competition is back to determine the best of the best. The Tomahawk STAR Foundation has announced the return of its popular "Best Burger in Paradise." Board members Kathy Rankin and Jackie Leonard stopped by the WJJQ studios this past week to talk about this year's culinary competition. While bragging rights are on the line, Best Burger in Paradise also serves as one of two major fundraisers for the foundation, along with the STAR Splash. Over the years, the organization has raised and redistributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits and community groups. They say it's a win-win-win, offering a chance to support a good cause, explore local restaurants, and enjoy a great meal. There will be a new champion this year, as back-to-back winner B's Landing is taking the year off. The six competitors include Billy Bob's, Nachos, Stars and Stripes, Winding Trail, 10 Point Bar and Grill, and Castaways. Organizers say the smaller field should make it easier for participants to visit every location. The card costs 25 dollars. In past years, it featured a buy-one-get-one deal. This year, it's a "spend ten" promotion for the burger, which they said can be covered by a drink and appetizer. The contest is also starting earlier this year to beat the summer tourism rush. Burgers will be served from April 1st through June 30th. Cards are available now at participating restaurants, as well as Trig's, the Tomahawk Chamber, and here at WJJQ. The STAR Foundation has additional information on their website.

Published on 03/18/2026 under News Northern Wisconsin could see a major economic boost following Tuesday's action in the State Senate. In what was the final scheduled floor session of the year, lawmakers approved more than 90 bills, including several priorities from Senate President Mary Felzkowski. The local legislator released a statement following the session. She specifically highlighted the Forestry Revitalization Act, which would create tax incentives for a proposed new Northwoods facility producing sustainable aviation fuel using woody biomass. Supporters say the project could bring billions in economic impact while also improving forest health at a time when traditional wood markets have been declining. While the proposed facility would be built in Hayward, Felzkowski said, "The entire Northwoods will benefit from this investment: truckers, restaurants, loggers, trades workers, direct plant employees, and everyone in between. Northern Wisconsin needs this, and I'm glad my colleagues agreed." The Senate also approved a measure to release $132 million to help communities dealing with PFAS contamination—an issue affecting several Northwoods communities, including the City of Tomahawk, which is exploring building a PFAS treatment facility and applying for state assistance. Other bills passed include protections for hospital price transparency, a proposal to restrict certain purchases under FoodShare, and a plan to exempt overtime wages from state income tax. In her statement, Felzkowski called it a "great day for Wisconsinites," saying lawmakers took "action on issues that impact our constituents every day." The bills previously approved by the Assembly will next head to Governor Evers for consideration.

Published on 03/18/2026 under News Spring Break season is right around the corner. Those heading out of town are reminded to take a few simple steps to avoid scams and ensure you're able to spend your trip focused on fun, family and relaxation. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection offered up a few tips to avoid a vacation headache: • Before you leave, clean out your wallet or purse, removing unnecessary cards and documents with your personal information. • Document all trip details such as confirmation numbers, booking times, addresses, costs, and cancellation and refund policies. • Consider paying by credit card rather than debit cards which allows disputes. • Check bills and receipts for added fees. • Be cautious of public wi-fi networks which may not be secure and leave your devices vulnerable. • After returning home, travelers should review receipts and monitor credit card and bank statements for any suspicious charges If you're staying home while your family travels, be aware of 'grandparent scams' which are common at this time of year. Scammers will call, claiming a family member was either involved in an arrest or accident. They'll use a made-up emergency to pressure family members into providing money or personal information.

Published on 03/18/2026 under News The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office has announced the rollout of a new inmate communications system at the county detention center, aimed at improving accessibility and affordability for inmates and their families. The system, provided by NCIC Inmate Communications, a company based in Longview, Texas, became operational this past week. The Sheriff's Office says the change is part of an ongoing effort to improve services and maintain connections between inmates and their support networks. Officials say one of the key benefits of the new system is reduced call rates compared to the previous provider, making communication more affordable for families. The Sheriff's Office also emphasized that the new system comes at no cost to taxpayers. With the transition now complete, friends and family members who wish to receive calls from individuals in custody must set up an account with NCIC website or calling 1-800-943-2189.

Published on 03/18/2026 under News The Lincoln County Board has approved an update to its ordinance extending hours of operation for county facilities. Under the change, most county offices will once again be open to the public Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county had experimented with limiting public availability on Friday afternoons. During last night's discussion, several supervisors relayed concern from constituents about the reduced hours, noting it could be a hurdle for those looking to conduct county business. An example was provided of those with a secondary residence in Lincoln County like a cabin or hunting shack. These property owners often come north to Lincoln County on Friday afternoons for a weekend visit. The ordinance allows flexibility to temporarily adjust hours for things like training, construction, or special events. Some departments, like Highway and Solid Waste, have differing schedules. Following a lengthy discussion, the ordinance amendment was approved effective immediately._____ A couple of other quick notes from last night's Lincoln County Board meeting. The Board recognized Lincoln County Health Director Shelley Cohrs for 25 years with the County. The board approved a resolution requesting state legislators establish sustainable funding for roads; set parameters for funding requests to the Bierman Family Foundation; accepted a donation from the Tomahawk Community Thrift Shop, a resolution celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Lawrence Welk Show, and discussed numerous rules changes from the board's Ad-Hoc rules committee. The Board also ratified the emergency declaration from the winter storm this past weekend. While the snow is no longer falling, approval could help the county moving forward. Director of Emergency Management Tyler Verhasselt noted this action could also open up opportunities for the county to receive some emergency assistance and funding opportunities. The state of emergency will remain in effect through 'recovery' efforts.

Published on 03/17/2026 under News A group of Tomahawk High School students recently took part in a statewide effort to advocate for mental health resources. Members of the district's Raise Your Voice Club leadership group traveled to the state capitol for Youth Advocacy Day, joining nearly 200 students from across Wisconsin. Among the goals of Raise Your Voice Club is to eliminate the stigma around mental health while breaking down barriers and building community. While in Madison, students from Tomahawk High School met with staff for Northwoods legislators including State Senator Mary Felzkowski and Representative Calvin Callahan. The group discussed the importance of funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, as well as expanding mental health services in public schools. The district said they're proud of the students for engaging in the civic process and using their voices to support the well-being of others. The event was organized with help from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which also helped prepare students to speak with lawmakers and advocate for mental health awareness._____ Speaking of the Tomahawk Raise Your Voice Club, the students are organizing their 2nd annual Mental Health Awareness Color Run. That will take place on May 2nd. Registration is currently available. We'll provide a link in the online version of the story.

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