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2021 Pond Hockey Championships in Eagle River Cancelled Published on 01/06/2021 under News

Unfortunately due to the ongoing pandemic, the US Pond Hockey National Championships in Eagle River have been canceled this year.

Tournament organizer USA Hockey made that announcement Monday, after consulting with partners including Vilas County Health Department, the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, and tournament sponsor Labatt Blue.

Ashley Bevan, USA Hockey's senior director of adult hockey says, "The health and safety of the players, volunteers and the Eagle River community is of utmost importance during these unprecedented times. Reaching this decision with our partners was extremely difficult, but we jointly believe it's the right thing to do and we look forward to the 2022 USA Hockey/Labatt Blue Pond Hockey National Championships."

The annual tournament hearkens back to the days of young hockey players spending hours skating on a rink cleared out on a pond or lake. With a few exceptions, such as when the games were moved to the snowmobile derby track, Dollar Lake has been the home to the tournament with dozens of rinks cleared off each year. The tournament continues to grow, featuring thousands of skaters annually from not only Wisconsin, but across the country and the globe.

This year's tournament was scheduled for February 4-7. In the announcement, USA Hockey said registered teams will have their entry fee refunded and will have the opportunity to secure a spot next year.

In Other News

St. Mary's Summer Festival Offers Food, Family, and Fun

Published on 07/25/2025 under News The last weekend in July means the return of the St. Mary's Summer Festival, a family-friendly celebration dating back 30 years now. Gary Luedtke and Lynn Grube made their annual stop at the WJJQ studios to offer a preview. They are two of the many volunteers that pitch for the event year after year. A full year of planning leads up to the weekend festivities and if there is a theme, it's food, family, and fun. As always, folks will be well-fed including the infamous pie garden. With dozens of mouthwatering options, it's not for the indecisive. A few other menu highlights include a classic Friday fish fry cooked on site by Outboards this evening and Saturday steak sandwiches. As many food choices as they have, they may have even more raffle options, no matter your age or your hobbies. And there will be plenty of family friendly activities and entertainment to keep everyone busy. Grube says the Festival is one of their largest fundraisers of the year. Luedtke says proceeds go to a number of St. Mary's programs and outreach such as the Soup Kitchen and Our Sisters House. And while the event supports St. Marys you don't have to attend the church to attend the festival. They note it's a community celebration and all are welcome. The event takes place on the St. Mary's grounds starting today at 4pm. They'll pick back up at 3 on Saturday.

Published on 07/25/2025 under News Swimming in a backyard pool, a local beach or a Northwoods lake can be a refreshing way to spend a hot summer day. But it's also important to keep an eye on kids near the water, and paying close attention to any swimmers for signs of struggle. Today is World Drowning Prevention Day. Aspirus Health and the Oneida County Public Safety Dive Team partnered to share some information on drowning and a few rescue tips as well. Michael Fraley is a Trauma Registrar at Aspirus Health and also a team leader of the Oneida County Dive Team. He says that a real life drowning looks quite different from the frantic manner often depicted on TV or in movies. He says the victim will often be struggling to stay afloat, so they won't be waving their arms or shouting for help. According to Fraley, you won't have too much time to react to a struggling swimmer, typically less than a minute. When offering assistance, it's important to not become a victim yourself. Use a rescue aid like a life jacket, a swim buoy, or even a pool noodle to help with flotation. It's also important to quickly call responders who can arrive on the scene for any life-saving measures. Communities play an important role. Local leaders, schools, and organizations are encouraged to organize events and activities that promote water safety awareness and education.

Published on 07/25/2025 under News Seatbelts save lives, not just in automobiles, but in off-road vehicles as well. The DNR is reminding UTV operators and passengers to buckle up whenever you ride. Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, Wisconsin DNR off-highway vehicle administrator says, "UTVs are designed with key safety features, like roll cages and seatbelts, that are there to protect riders in the event of a crash or rollover. But those features can only help if they're used." Holsclaw says, "Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe while riding." Of the 23 fatal ATV/UTV crashes this year, 20 have occurred in UTVs. Three quarters of the victims were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Holsclaw says, "While these numbers are concerning, they also highlight a clear opportunity for prevention." While safety should be enough of an incentive to wear a seatbelt in a UTV, the DNR notes it's also the law in Wisconsin.

Published on 07/25/2025 under News Healthy Minds Lincoln County is looking to make it easier to navigate mental health and substance use resources available in the county. The overall mission of the coalition is to empower people through outreach, education, and support. That includes a guide that makes it easier to find help when help is needed. It includes information on treatment, counseling, recovery support, and helplines in not only Lincoln, but Marathon, Langlade, and Oneida Counties. Lincoln County Public Health Educator Kristin Bath says, "We know that substance use and mental health services are limited in our area and it can be a difficult system to navigate." She says, "We hope that by having local services and resources listed in one place, it will prevent people from becoming discouraged and make it a bit easier to access services so people can get the support they need." The guide was first developed in 2019, but their team recently published/posted an updated version with current information. While there are paper copies, an online version of the guide is available the Lincoln County Health website. The Health Department also offers resource guides on food, dental care, family care, and grief and recovery.

Published on 07/25/2025 under News Wisconsin continues to be a top fishing destination, and the DNR continues to support fish populations through their stocking efforts, several million in all. The DNR provided a brief summary of their latest fish stocking efforts. They not only help maintain or restore existing fisheries and support recreational fishing opportunities, while also being used for evaluation of management actions and propagation techniques. In all, more than 5 million small fry and fingerlings were released into state waterways last year. Wisconsin is, of course, known for its walleye, and Walleye were stocked in the greatest numbers, nearly 1.2 million in all. Other stocked fish include more than 800,000 trout; 60,000 musky; and smaller numbers of other species. (Lake specific stocking data is available on the DNR website) In addition to inland waters, the DNR also works with their partners to stock Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

Published on 07/24/2025 under News Motorists passing through the Lac du Flambeau Reservation will notice some special new road signs. State officials, including Governor Evers, were in the Northwoods Wednesday, joining tribal leaders to unveil the latest dual-language highway signs. It's part of a larger state-wide program launched in 2021 with a goal of celebrating and preserving Native heritage, and language, in particular. The new Tribal boundary signs feature the Lac du Flambeau Tribal seal and the traditional Reservation name, "Waaswaaganing." Beneath the indigenous language is the English translation. Similar signs are being planned for four area lakes as well. Tribal President John Johnson Sr. called it a good day for their people. He says, "Any chance we get to incorporate Ojibwe Language to our daily lives, and something we see each day, helps our people relearn the language and adds to our sovereignty," He added, "I wish some of our elders who walked on, were here to see this effort. They would be proud of this day." The Lac du Flambeau Band are the seventh Tribe in Wisconsin to install dual-language signs. -Photo from Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Published on 07/24/2025 under News The Hodag Dome is regularly filled for sports. Today, they're hoping for plenty of people looking to save lives. The Community Blood Center will be in the Northwoods for an annual blood drive that's undergone a bit of a makeover. For years, the CBC hosted MASH-themed blood drives during the summer months. This year they changed up the name and look, but note the collection still has the same life saving goal. The blood drive is now known as the Summer Tour of All Types or STAT, highlighting the need for donations, no matter the blood type. There are eight stops on this year's STAT tour, and they are currently on the northern leg. After today's visit to the Hodag Dome, they'll make their way to Merrill and Wausau in the coming weeks. And it comes at a critical time according to John Hagins, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center. That's because busy schedules and summer vacation typically leads to fewer donations, while the demand doesn't slow down. As usual, they'll have some donor incentives including an exclusive STAT t-shirt and a meal. First time donors will also receive a gift card. They'll be set up at the Hodag Dome Thursday until 2pm.

Published on 07/24/2025 under News The Northwoods is home to plenty of talented artists, and coming up this weekend some of them are opening up their studios and workshops to the public. The Northwoods Art Tour is returning for a 25th year. The weekend event allows guests to experience participating artists in their work space and connect with the creators. Whether painting, pottery, woodwork and sculpture, the artists represent many different mediums. This year they have more than 30 stops across Vilas, Oneida, Iron, and Lincoln Counties. That includes four in the Tomahawk/Irma area at the southern end. Organizers note the tour is self-guided, so participants are able to design their own experience, selecting locations and artists of most interest. The Northwoods Art Tour begins Friday and runs through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. A digital brochure is available at northwoodsarttour.com with maps, locations, and artist descriptions.

Published on 07/24/2025 under News The scheduled sale of Pine Crest nursing home is quickly approaching, and the Lincoln County Board continues to work towards that agreement. The supervisors held a special meeting Wednesday evening. All three resolutions on the agenda were aimed at facilitating the sale. Each was eventually approved after discussion. The goal of one resolution was to 'bridge any potential gap' between when the sale would take place and the purchaser, Merrill Health Holdings and Jack Pines Healthcare, are granted a state license to operate the facility. The resolution states that application is pending and DHS has indicated preliminary approval. The action would establish an interim management agreement between the two parties to ensure continued care. The other two resolutions addressed a sewer easement on the property and allowing change of ownership documents to be filed with Medicare and Medicaid Services. Back in June, the Lincoln County Board approved a purchase agreement for the skilled nursing facility in Merrill. The $9.5 million sale is scheduled to be completed by August 1.

Published on 07/24/2025 under News It was another successful spring turkey season with a top five harvest all-time. The DNR released harvest data from the recently completed spring seasons. During the six, week-long periods, hunters registered just over 50,000 turkeys. That similar to last year's total, and approximately 14 percent above the five year average. The DNR also highlighted participation in the two-day youth hunt for those 16 and under. The youth hunters registered just shy of 4,000 turkeys, up a few birds from last year. As for participation, tags sales have been trending up based on past DNR data. This spring, just over 228,000 tags were issued, for an approximately 22% success rate for tag holders. Those are also near last year's numbers. The DNR says in their announcement, "The robust participation and harvest numbers demonstrate ample opportunities across the state." In addition to the spring season, Wisconsin also offers a fall season, though typically fewer hunters participate.

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