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Hatchet Cross Country Teams Finish Their Seasons at State Meet Published on 11/02/2020 under Sports

On a windy Saturday the Hatchet Cross-Country team finished their season at the State Division 2 Championships at Colby High School in the second session of the day on their school grounds. The girls won their grouping of four teams and improved upon last year's finish as they placed 8th of 12 teams while senior Noah Buckwalter, an individual qualifier for the Hatchet boys also improved (some 20 places) with his 45

th place in the 114-runner D2 state field.

In the first race of session two, Tomahawk freshman Rachael Reilly put herself in a nice position early and worked her way into a top ten finish (9th) in her session and placed 27th overall (13th in the team scoring) in a time of 20:30 over the 5000 meter course. Sophomore Greta Tjugum ran strong through her entire race placing 13th in session two 43rd overall (24th in the team scoring) in 21:08. Junior Kate Reilly was the next Hatchet to the finish tape with her 19th place effort in session two, (62nd overall/36th in the team scoring) in a time of 21:40. Sophomore Morgan Hansmann and junior Emily Lacina were the final scoring Hatchets placing 22nd and 23rd in session two (73rd and 75th overall & 45th and 47th in the team scoring) in times of 22:08 and 22:10 respectively. Junior Macey Mann became an important displacer as

she finished 25th in session 2 (85th overall and 56th in the team scoring) in a time of 22:25. Also, getting great state-level experience in her first state championship race was junior Ava Dragosh (110th overall, 80th team)-23:47.

This was the lady Hatchets second consecutive trip to State and 17th team appearance since 1993.

The Tomahawk boys were represented at State by senior Noah Buckwalter. In his final Cross-Country race as a Hatchet, Noah was in the top ten in session two early on and sat 14th after two miles. His 17:45 clocking was good for a 15th place finish in session two
and 45th place overall in the 114-runner field.

In Other News

Community Groups Raise Funds in STAR Splash

Published on 01/05/2026 under News A quick dip in the icy waters of Lake Mohawksin Saturday was well worth it for dozens of people who raised tens of thousands of dollars to support local organizations. This weekend marked the return of the annual Tomahawk STAR Foundation STAR Splash. On Saturday afternoon, organizers cut a hole into the ice on Lake Mohawksin outside of Castaways hosting the event. Local individuals and groups collected pledges in exchange for a jumping into those icy waters. Half of the pledges are committed to a local non-profit of the jumper's choosing, while the other half goes to the STAR Foundation, which eventually returns it back into the community as well, through grants. Continuing a good week for snowmobilers after local trails opening, it was Nancy Swan, on behalf of the Knight Owls snowmobile club who was the top fundraiser to claim the bonus. Her solo leap raised more than $7,000. The Tomahawk High School Hockey team was among the other groups taking a dip. Prior to this year, they had been the top fundraiser for three consecutive years, raising more than $30,000 over the past four years. And after dealing with temperatures in the single digits last year, it was a bit warmer Saturday, relatively speaking. And while the Splashers were only in the water for less than a minute, their moment of bravery will have a lasting impact on their respective organizations. We'll share additional results as numbers are finalized.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News The Tomahawk Community has many great, locally-owned businesses. And the Tomahawk Chamber is looking to identify the best of the best. This past week, the Tomahawk Chamber put out a call for nominations for the 'Small Business of the Year' Award. According to the announcement, their goal is to celebrate locally-owned businesses that demonstrate excellence, growth, and a commitment to our community. They said, "Whether it's your favorite shop, restaurant, service provider, or a business that quietly makes a big impact—let's shine a spotlight on the businesses that make our community thrive." They'll accept nominations through the end of the week. The winner will be recognized at the annual Chamber Appreciation dinner coming up at the end of January. More information is available on the Chamber Facebook page including a link to the nomination form.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News It won't be long before peregrine falcons return to their nests around the state for breeding season. That includes the Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies Power Plants, which have played a key role in the bird's recovery over the years. Before the new arrivals, the utilities took a look back, publishing their 2025 nesting report prepared by peregrine falcon manager Greg Septon. Since the program began in 1992, there have been 443 peregrine falcon chicks hatched at the WPS and We Energy facilities in Wisconsin. This past year there were four active nesting sites which hatched a dozen new chicks. Their names were all inspired by past peregrine falcons. The northern-most, the Weston Power Plant near Wausau produced three chicks, along with an unhatched egg. This nest has been active since 2006 with 48 young birds, a little more than two per year. The chicks are banded before leaving the nest, though sightings in the wild are rare. Septon wrote that most peregrines end up nesting within 200 miles of where they were hatched. But the power plant peregrines have spread their wings, with band birds identified nesting in Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. Among the challenges Septon highlighted was the highly pathogenic avian influenza which is the likely cause of death for both of the nesting pair in Port Washington. For those eager to watch the falcons on the nesting webcams, the eggs are typically laid in mid-March. That entire report is available on the WPS and WE Energies Websites.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News Food insecurity has been on the rise. In Rhinelander, two high school student organizations teamed up to give back to their local food pantry. On Friday afternoon, members of the Rhinelander High School Key Club and National Honor Society paid a visit to the Rhineland Food Pantry where they were able to present a check for $3,000, along with more than 600 pounds of non-perishable food donations. This continues an effort last month where the students generated enough food donations to support 29 families over the Holiday break. Lexi Radtke, RHS Key Club Advisor, added, "I am incredibly proud of our students for their initiative and follow-through. They identified a need in our community and took meaningful action to make a real difference for families. Their compassion, leadership, and commitment to service are truly inspiring." While the two clubs led the way by organizing various fundraisers and collection efforts, it was a district-wide effort. The contributions from RHS students will directly support Food Pantry's Hodag Monster Meals Program which helps ensure families have access to nutritious food.

Published on 01/05/2026 under News As holiday decorations come down for the season, officials are encouraging proper disposal to prevent the spread of invasive species. According to the DNR, holiday wreaths, boughs and other arrangements may be home to invasive insects and even plants awaiting an opportunity to find a new home in your yard or neighborhood. They said, "Invasive plants and insects don't mind playing the long game. After all, they're just trying to survive and thrive, like the rest of us." As for how to get rid of these arrangements safely, they recommend bagging them up and putting them in the trash. If regulations and conditions allow, an alternative is to safely burn them. They said, "In this way, a little extra effort can prevent the spread of invasive insects, seeds and spores that can harm your trees and plants and potentially spread to cause problems elsewhere."

Published on 01/05/2026 under News A former Merrill School employee charged with using school funds for personal use reached a plea agreement. According to court records, Dale Bergman was back in Lincoln County Court on Friday for that hearing. Initially facing a single count of misconduct in office, he pleaded no contest to an amended charge of disorderly conduct. Bergman is the former director of buildings and grounds for the Merrill School District. Investigators say he used school funds to purchase an air conditioner for his home. The approximately $1,500 purchase was made in June of 2022. It is also alleged that Bergman occasionally utilized other district-owned equipment such as the plow truck for personal use. Bergman resigned on Feb. 5, 2024. Following the plea agreement, the case moved directly into sentencing. Records show Bergman has already paid restitution. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine, as well as court costs.

Published on 01/02/2026 under News In a little more than 24 hours, some brave individuals here in Tomahawk will be taking a quick dip into the icy waters of Lake Mohawskin, and it's all for a good cause. The countdown is on for the 2025 edition of the Tomahawk STAR Splash. The STAR Splash supports the Tomahawk STAR Foundation, and Jackie Leonard stopped by the WJJQ studios early this week to talk about the organization and tomorrow's event. The STAR Foundation is a locally-run non-profit that supports Tomahawk area programs, projects and organizations. Leonard offered a few examples of the many major projects they've supported including the Dream Park, the Hatchet football field, the River Walk Trail, and the Kinship House. But they also help with smaller donations for non-profits and their operational needs. The STAR Splash is one of their two major fundraisers, along with Best Burger in Paradise. Participants have been busy collecting pledges to jump. The funds collected tomorrow will be split between the STAR Foundation and the non-profit of the jumper's choosing. Over they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the Tomahawk hockey team the top fundraiser for several consecutive years. Leonard says they've got some returning participants along with some new teams. Conditions have varied over the years from sub-zero temps to mild days with no ice on the lake. It is, of course, winter, but Leonard, a cold water plunge regular, notes that sun shine always makes a big difference. Participants will get a blanket to warm up and they've got bonfires and host Castaways nearby. For those that would like to support the cause but prefer to stay dry, they'll have other entertainment and activities on land including raffles and drawings. Castaways, formerly Happy Snapper, has been hosting the event for nearly two decades and will do so once again. Activities get underway at noon; the jumping at 2pm.

Published on 01/02/2026 under News While snow earlier this week was a welcome sight for snowmobilers eager to start the riding season, it's added plenty of extra work for the snowmobile clubs. The winter storm Sunday and Monday blanketed more than a half foot of wet, heavy snow across the Northwoods. That left plenty of hazards and debris on the snowmobile trail system including some downed trees as well as low hanging branches. The Northwoods Passage club put out a call for volunteers to help clear trails Friday and Saturday. The said, "The sooner we get the trails cleaned up the quicker we can get the groomers on them and bring them up to great condition." With approximately 275 miles of trails to get through, they added, "Many hands make light work." It also serves as an important reminder of the work that goes into the club-maintained trail system that Wisconsin uses, and for riders to get involved in their local snowmobile club. For those looking to help with the Northwoods Passage, they've got information on their Facebook Page.

Published on 01/02/2026 under News Yesterday we talked about setting New Year's resolutions and sticking to them. And experts say it can be a good idea to get kids get involved in New Year's resolutions as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that these goals can build healthy habits, confidence, and resilience for children. Dr Heather Winesett, a pediatrician at Aspirus echoed those thoughts adding, "It's a great time to reflect on where they've been and where they'd like to go." Winesett recommends setting one or two small, realistic goals with youth. A few suggestions she offered include reading goals, keeping up on chores, limiting screen time or weekly family time. Winesett noted it should be light and fun because it's all about progress, not perfection. She says by keeping goals small, realistic, and fun, families can turn the New Year into a chance to grow together.

Published on 01/02/2026 under News With plenty of snow across Wisconsin, the state's tourism department has launched their snow report for the season. The snow report offers updated snow conditions and other relevant information for winter sports of all types including snowmobiling. To gather the information, they use an impressive roster of more than 100 local snow reporters across all 72 counties. This includes Chambers and Visitor's Bureaus, snowmobile clubs, and state and county park staffers. In addition to trail conditions and snow cover, the report also provides ideas and resources for winter activities and nearby accommodations. As the report grows in popularity the Travel Wisconsin also continues to expand the information available. They now include sorting filters for silent sports activities like snowshoeing, fat-tire bikes, and cross country and downhill skiing. You can find the snow report on the Travel Wisconsin website, we'll include a link.

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