WJJQ Radio

Story Details

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

Nicolet Trustee Named Wisconsin Trustee of the Year

Published on 11/11/2025 under News A Tomahawk woman is being recognized for her outstanding service to technical college education. The Wisconsin Technical College District Board Association recently named Dianne Lazear as Wisconsin Technical College-Trustee of the Year. Nominees are selected based on their engagement in local, state, and national advocacy and other collaborative work for the benefit of students and technical education. A former Nicolet College faculty member and administrator, Lazear has served on the Nicolet Board of Trustees since 2019. She is one of 144 trustees across Wisconsin's 16 technical colleges. When asked why she serves, Lazear says, "For me, it's the same answer that I gave when I was hired by Nicolet College, almost 30 years ago...Think global, act local." In the announcement Lazear was highlighted for her work in developing a trustee handbook and orientation program for new trustees. Those local efforts have been referenced both in Wisconsin and around the country. Lazear says, "This work transforms individual lives, and as a result, transforms families, communities, and the state, as all ripples matter, transforms the world around us." Abbey Dall Lukowski, chair of the Nicolet College Board called Lazear a true role model for fellow trustees, adding, "Her tireless efforts, passionate engagement, and selfless service to the college and our students are an inspiration to us." Photo: From left to right: Wisconsin Technical College System President, Layla Merrifield; Dianne Lazear, Nicolet College Board of Trustees Member; Kate Ferrel, Nicolet College President; Abbey Dall Lukowski, Nicolet College Board of Trustees Chair.

Published on 11/11/2025 under News People will have a look of Tomahawk's history available at their finger tips, thanks to a project at the Tomahawk Public Library. The Tomahawk Public Library is working on an effort to digitize all of their microfilm local newspaper archives. Library director Heidi O'Hare discussed the project with the Tomahawk City Council at their meeting this past week. O'Hare says that digitizing their newspaper archive had been something they had explored over the past five years. It had generally been cost prohibitive ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000. She began seeking alternatives and found a partnership with newspapers.com, a subsidiary of ancestry.com to complete the work for around $600. Those archives date back to the 1890's offering a snapshot of the community over the years through a local perspective. While a subscription to the newspapers.com is necessary for home use, library patrons will be able access the newspaper files on the library computers for free. And by digitizing the records, O'Hare notes there will be advanced features not available on microfilm such as searchability. It also provides a digital backup of the newspapers. O'Hare says that staff will have some additional training on using the digital newspaper archives.

Published on 11/11/2025 under News Winter weather and animal collisions are just two of the many challenges drivers deal with at this time of year. Both kept Lincoln County deputies busy this past week. With our first taste of winter weather over the weekend, deputies responded to a pair of crashes Sunday attributed to road conditions. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, deputies initially responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 51. They discovered there had been two separate crashes in that area. In one of those crashes, both the driver and a passenger were brought to an area hospital for undisclosed injuries. Drivers are encouraged to use a little extra caution and slow down when roads become snow covered and slippery. It's also a good idea to get your winter weather emergency kit in your vehicle. Meanwhile, the number of vehicle versus deer collisions remains elevated. Lincoln County deputies responded to another 21 crashes involving deer this past week. That continues a month-long trend.

Published on 11/11/2025 under News With the hunting opener just a few weeks away, Aspirus offered up a reminder about heart health. Many hunters will go from a sedentary lifestyle to a week of increased physical activity which can impact heart rates and blood pressure. This includes hauling gear to the stand, the excitement of bagging a deer, and removing your harvest from the field. Aspirus Cardiology nurse practitioner Megan Johnson says, "Dragging a deer through the woods or walking long distances in the cold may seem manageable, but for someone with high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, it can trigger serious symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or even heart attacks." She encourages patients to start preparing for hunting season by building cardiovascular endurance, managing blood pressure, and prioritizing overall wellness throughout the year. She also says stress can play a bigger role than most people realize, adding "Your body reacts to excitement and adrenaline. Taking a few deep breaths before dragging a deer or climbing through terrain could make a real difference." It's also good to get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and moderate alcohol intake throughout the season. Johnson notes that women, in particular, often experience heart attack symptoms differently, reporting jaw or back pain, nausea, or extreme fatigue instead of the classic chest pain. These atypical symptoms can lead to delayed care and increased complications. If any signs of a heart attack are experienced, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

Published on 11/11/2025 under News While most food pantries focus on non-perishable food items, a new program in the Minocqua area allowed their food pantry to distribute more fresh produce. The Lakeland Pantry launched their Grow-A-Row initiative this summer. They encouraged local gardeners to donate some of their homegrown vegetables. And with the growing season now over, they were able to reflect and celebrate as the community donated more than a ton of produce. In fact, the during the inaugural Grow-A-Row season, they received 2,350 pounds of donated produce. This was thanks to home gardeners as well as a number of community garden partners. Pantry director Lorna Springate says they are deeply grateful. She says, "Your generosity helps strengthen our community and ensures that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. She added, "It's all about 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors.'" The Pantry extends heartfelt thanks to every individual and group who gave fresh produce. These contributions do more than fill shelves—they deliver hope and healthy meals to neighbors confronting food insecurity. Each donation is a testament to the power of collective goodwill.

Published on 11/10/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's football squad's dream season would end in the WIAA Division 5 Sectional Championship against three-time defending state champion Stratford at Hatchet Field Friday night, 29-0. The Hatchet defense stepped up in the first half and forced three turnovers, including intercepting Tiger quarterback Brady Berg twice. However, Tomahawk would fail to score off of those three turnovers and mustered just over 100 yards of offense. Jett Reilly would lead the Hatchets in rushing, running for 31 yards on eight carries. Tomahawk was also held under 100 yards for the first time this season. The Hatchets finish the 2025 season with a 10-2 record, the most wins in school history. Tomahawk also graduates 11 seniors. They are Wally Horabik, Jason Watkins, Rex Reilly, Jonah Dickens, Nathan Reimer, Logan Norman, Kenny Turner, Ethan Gibeault, Kaiden Kapellusch, Nathan Norman, and Michael Samundsen. The Hatchets also finished with their first playoff win since 2015 and their first trip to the Sectional Championship since 2007.

Published on 11/10/2025 under News It's that time of year when deer become more active, and safety officials remind motorists to be on the lookout. While hunters would love to see a big buck cross their path in the field, it's not something we want when driving. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation deer/vehicle crashes typically during the fall as days shorten and bucks pursue potential mates. According to the DoT statistics, there were more than 17,000 vehicle-deer crashes last year, about a third of those occur in the months of October and November. Locally, we've seen an increase in the number of deer-collisions as well. Over the past three weeks, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report has listed more than 50 such crashes on Lincoln County roadways alone. Motorists are reminded to buckle up, slow down, and scan the road ahead, particularly at dawn and dusk when deer are most active. If you see one deer cross the road, anticipate more may follow. If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, they recommend braking firmly and staying in your lane. They said you should avoid swerving which can lead to leaving the roadway and a more serious crash. If you strike a deer, pull off to the side and remain in your vehicle until help arrives.

Published on 11/10/2025 under News Students from several Northwoods schools came together this past week for a unique career exploration experience. Rhinelander hosted high school students from Lakeland, Three Lakes, and Tomahawk for 'Building Bridges'. Unlike a traditional career fair, Building Bridges gave students the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with local employers to learn about real-world career paths; covering topics like training, education requirements, wages, and future opportunities. Those employers represented careers in a number of industries including healthcare, law enforcement, banking, and education. It was an event organized by Lexi Radtke, the College and Career Counselor with the School District of Rhinelander. The district said, "We're so proud of our students for their curiosity and engagement, and we are incredibly grateful to all of our Rhinelander Partners in Education and participating school districts and employers for making this event possible." They added, "This investment of time and collaboration helps our students build bridges to brighter futures — and that's something worth celebrating!"

Published on 11/10/2025 under News Plates have been cleaned, votes cast, and Tomahawk has chosen its next 'Best Burger in Paradise'...and it's back-to-back winner. Each summer, the Tomahawk STAR Foundation invites area restaurants to grill up their best burgers as part of a friendly fundraising competition. This year, seven restaurants stepped up to the challenge. Over the summer, hundreds of burgers were served up. In the end, cardholders selected B's Landing in the top spot for a second consecutive year. Their entry, the B's Benedict Burger, featured a 1/3 lb. burger on top of a crispy hash brown patty, topped with American cheese, pickled jalapeños, bacon, an over easy egg & smothered in their homemade hollandaise sauce all on a toasted onion bun. While B's claimed bragging rights, the real winner is the STAR Foundation. Proceeds from the contest support their ongoing mission to provide funding to local non-profits and community organizations. They'll be celebrating next weekend, as the STAR Foundation will host their Burger Bash Wrap Up at B's Landing on November 22 from 5-9.

Published on 11/10/2025 under News Those flying out of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport this holiday season will be able to check out artwork created right here in the Northwoods by local artists. The airport partners with ArtStart to host rotating art displays throughout the year, highlighting local artists and entertaining weary travelers. The latest airport exhibit features the work of the Lakeland Art League, an organization hosts regional workshops, educational programs, and group exhibitions to support artists and engage their community. The newest airport exhibition features thirty original works they said captures the beauty and character of the Northwoods from serene winter scenes and vibrant fall landscapes to striking wildlife and floral pieces. It was unveiled this past week, and it will remain on display through January 12.

+ Read More