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Coach Hernandez of Tomahawk Named Packer Coach of the Week Published on 11/06/2020 under Sports

The Packers have announced that Sam Hernandez of Tomahawk High School in Tomahawk, Wis., has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week.

Hernandez, in his second year as head coach of the Hatchets, has his team at 2-4 overall this season and 2-3 in Northwoods Conference play. The Hatchets look to even their conference record Friday, Nov. 6, as they close out their regular season against Coleman High School.

Since taking over the team this past year, Hernandez's impact has been felt not only on the football field, but on the whole community. From helping elderly people move to new homes, assisting community members who need help with their yard work, and volunteering at the local Kinship of Tomahawk, the team continues to pursue a variety of ways to help others in need. Not only has giving back been beneficial to the community, but it has also been uplifting for the players.

"I think for a lot of them, it gives them a sense of pride and a sense of doing something for others," said Hernandez. "And as a football program, we want people to come sit in the stands and watch us play, and we feed off of that. So this is an opportunity for us to provide a platform for these kids to do good things for others without anything in return. If we can send the players out into life after high school with that skillset of doing good things to be good people, then that is a great lesson for them to take."

Hernandez graduated from Marshall High School in Marshall, Wis., in 2004. Throughout high school, he participated in football, basketball and baseball. He played nose tackle, running back and kicker under head coach Mike Zimmerman. Following high school, he went on to graduate from UW-Whitewater in 2009. In addition to coaching other high school sports, Hernandez's football coaching career began as an assistant coach for Lake Mills High School in 2008. He went on to coach at Johnson Creek High School in 2013, before being named the head coach of the Hatchets in 2019.

To Hernandez, the Coach of the Week Award speaks to the work being done by the program on and off the field.

"This award is really an award for the kids, the program and my coaching staff. I'm just one person as part of a bigger group. I'm so honored to have our program and have our kids be recognized for this because they do work hard. We've struggled in terms of wins over the last couple of years, but the kids work hard, the coaching staff works hard every week, and we do work in the community and outside of the football field. To see those kids get recognized with other programs around the state, is a really cool opportunity for this program and highlights the really good things that we are doing."

Hernandez and his staff oversee a program of 43 players with 33 suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Andy Peissig, Jeremy Zimmerman, Aaron Evans, Dave Long, Jon Long, Nick Schertz and Steven Shrigley. In addition to being the head coach, Hernandez is also an English teacher at the high school. Hernandez and his wife, Ashley, have three sons, Derek, Brett and Vaughn.

About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Program:

The Green Bay Packers Coach of the Week program supports football outreach efforts by giving high school coaches the recognition they deserve. Nominations can be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Packers football outreach specialist, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. All nominations should include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award. This year, because some schools have postponed their football seasons to the spring due to COVID-19, the Packers are seeking coaches to be nominated regardless of their teams' on-field performance or whether they are playing in the fall or spring. Rather, the nominee could be honored for how they have turned programs around, how the team has impacted the community, or how the coach impacts the players and their families.

In Other News

Spring Election Determines Local, Non-Partisan Races: Tomahawk Preview

Published on 04/07/2026 under News It's Election Day in the state of Wisconsin, with voters heading to the polls on a variety of races and questions. Atop the ballot is the lone statewide race. Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar are vying to become Supreme Court Justice. But the spring election also includes non-partisan local races like school boards, town boards, city councils and mayoral races. Here in the City of Tomahawk, voters will elect a new mayor for the first time in a decade. Current mayor Steve Taskay isn't seeking re-election, with first-time candidates Jeff Koth and Michael 'Hob' Habeck facing off. For City Council, due to partial term appointments, there are actually five seats, but just three candidates running. The remaining two will be decided by write-in. As we previewed Monday, the City of Tomahawk is also asking to increase the tax levy. The Tomahawk School Board features two candidates for three seats. A write-in will determine the seat representing the city of Tomahawk. The Lincoln County Board uses an alternate year cycle, and all 22 supervisor seats will be up for election today. Tomahawk isn't the only community with a closely watched mayoral race here in the Northwoods. In Merrill, incumbent Steve Hass is facing a challenge from former mayor Derek Woellner. And in Rhinelander, current mayor Kris Hanus is running against city council member Thomas Barnett. Ballots will differ based on where you live. Visit myvote.wi.gov and enter your address to preview your specific ballot.

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Published on 04/07/2026 under News A man injured in a UTV crash last month has died due to his injuries. According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, Paul Vedder of Hazelhurst died. The 58 year old was initially hospitalized after being involved in a UTV accident back on March 23. Responders were notified of a UTV on the edge of Lake Kaubashine in the Town of Hazelhurst. The call indicated the machine was still running, but no signs of the operator. Upon arrival, responders located Vedder trapped underneath the UTV. The 58 year old was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. In an update provided by the Sheriff's Office Monday, Vedder died as a result of his injuries. The DNR continues to investigate. There have been seven other fatal ATV/UTV crashes in Wisconsin this year.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News If you're itching to get outside and start spring yard work in the Northwoods, experts say you might swap the rakes for a little patience. According to the DNR, dozens of beneficial insects are still overwintering right now, tucked away in hollow plant stems, leaf litter, and even underground. Rushing into yard cleanup too early could disrupt their life cycle just as they're getting ready to emerge. Instead, experts recommend leaving some areas of your garden natural through early spring. Holding off on raking leaves and trimming stems, at least until overnight temperatures consistently reach about 50 degrees, can help protect native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. For those who do need to tidy up, the DNR suggests leaving behind a few inches of plant stems. Those "stem stubble" areas can serve as nesting spots for native bees. And when it finally comes time for planting, consider native species. It's these simple steps that can make a big difference, helping support pollinators that play a key role in Northwoods ecosystems.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News The past few weeks have shown a good example of Wisconsin's ever changing weather. The National Weather Service is offering another opportunity to learn more, while also playing a key role in citizen reporting. The National Weather Service Green Bay is offering 2026 Skywarn storm spotter training with five virtual sessions available in April. The free training is open to anyone across northern Wisconsin and will focus on severe weather safety and the basics of storm spotting—teaching participants how to safely identify and report things like large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes. Officials say trained spotters play a critical role, providing real-time ground reports that help meteorologists issue more accurate warnings and keep communities safe. Each class is around an hour and a half, and attendees only need to participate in one. More information and registration details can be found on the National Weather Service Green Bay website.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News An Antigo man is in custody following a vehicle pursuit over the weekend that ended in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's report, deputies were advised by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office of a chase in progress. They said the suspect was traveling north on Highway 51 into Lincoln County. LISO deputies were able to deploy tire deflation devices, disabling the vehicle. A short distance later, the suspect, Patrick Finnegan of Antigo, stopped his vehicle, but allegedly began walking away. A police K9 was deployed to help take Finnegan into custody. According to court records, he is charged with tampering with a GPS tracking device, fleeing and officer, and bail jumping in Marathon County Court.

Published on 04/07/2026 under News Formal charges have been filed against a Lincoln County man arrested following an investigation into possessing child pornography. According to court records, Patrick Gryskiewicz, made an initial appearance in Lincoln County Court Monday. The 58 year old is facing 10 counts of possessing child pornography. Gryskiewicz was arrested last week after deputies investigated a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. They traced CSAM activity to an IP address connected to his home. A search warrant was executed at the home, where deputies reported recovering multiple child sexual abuse materials. At Monday's hearing, bond was set at $100,000. An adjourned initial appearance was scheduled for May 6.

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Published on 04/06/2026 under News The Oneida County Health Department is inviting the community to take action and prioritize their well-being as part of National Public Health Week. This year's theme, "Ready. Set. Action!" highlights the importance of small, everyday steps that can lead to healthier communities. Public health officials say their work goes far beyond clinics and hospitals, focusing on preventing illness, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring safe environments for everyone. From restaurant safety and vaccinations to emergency preparedness and health education, public health efforts play a role in daily life across Oneida County. To mark the week, the Oneida County Health Department is hosting a variety of events and activities highlighted by a pop-up clinic on Wednesday (at the YMCA of the Northwoods) where they will offer services like free blood pressure screenings, mental health assessments, and heart-healthy snacks. They've also partnered with some local coffee shops to offer specialty drinks this week, they'll post online trivia and a virtual scavenger hunt, and some free goodie bags Friday at the Health Department. Officials say the goal is simple: encourage people to take small, meaningful steps to help build a stronger, more connected community.

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