WJJQ Radio

Story Details

Hatchet Boys Swimming Team Defeats Medford Published on 01/13/2021 under Sports

On Tuesday night the Hatchet Boys Swim Team competed at home against the Medford Raider team. After a loss to the Raiders at their pool back in December, when they were not at full strength as a team, the tables were turned when Medford could only swim 5 out of 8 of their swimmers.

With that, the Hatchets were able to take top honors in all but one of the events we swam in, with the exception of the 200 yard Medley Relay.

Overall the Hatchet times were a bit flat tonight with the exception of a few events:

Senior Noah Buckwalter continues to improve each meet, again dropping a cumulative 2.23 additional seconds from his 50 and 100 yard freestyle events, for a pair of 4th place finishes.

Senior Cullen Flynn was able to drop 1.86 seconds from his 100 yard Backstroke, setting a career best time of 1:15.98 and claiming 2nd place for the effort. His old time of 1:17.84 was set at the very end of last season at the WIAA Sectional meet.

Sophomore Zach Hanse swam the pair of distance freestyle events and showed marked improvement in both. In the 200 yard Freestyle he took 1st place with a 2:00.63, a time 10.71 seconds faster than when he swam the event last. In the 500 yard Freestyle he also took a first, and swam 4.31 seconds faster than his time from last season with a 5:37.94.

Senior Ethan Liebnitz broke the 25 mark for the first time in the 50 yard Freestyle event and took 1st place in the event with a :24.56, a .85 second personal record.

And finally, Senior Alex Norman swam his heart out in the 100 yard Breaststroke event, finishing just .85 seconds behind Medford's Nathan Sislo in a close finish. Alex's time of 1:22.58 was 2.36 seconds faster than his last time out in the event.

The Hatchet Boys Swimmers will be back in the water at Shawano, on Thursday, January 14 with the opening event at 5:30 pm.

In Other News

Drought Conditions Expand in Northwoods; Improve in Southern Wisconsin

Published on 09/18/2026 under News Despite slight improvements statewide, the Northwoods drought is expanding. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, released on Thursdays, shows persistent dryness across Wisconsin, with more than 86% of the state experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions. That marks a slight improvement from 92% last week, driven primarily by rainfall in southern counties. It's the opposite in the Northwoods as drought conditions have expanded. A growing pocket of extreme drought now covers most of Price, Iron, Oneida, and Vilas Counties, while the remainder of northern Wisconsin is classified as experiencing moderate to severe drought. The prolonged dry spell has impacted local farms and gardens, lowered water levels on area lakes and rivers, and elevated the risk of wildfires. Forecasters expect dry conditions to linger as fall approaches.

Published on 09/17/2026 under Sports The Hatchet girls' swimmers had their closest Conference dual meet of the season, losing at home to Ladysmith Thursday, 66-56. Tomahawk as a team had three first-place finishes in the dual meet. Kami Gabrich had two of them, coming in the 50 and 200 yard freestyles. Aubrey Tollefson placed first in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:27.09. The loss drops Tomahawk to 0-6 in Dual meets this season. The Hatchets are back in the pool next Thursday for another GNC Dual meet against Antigo. Events begin at 5:30.

Published on 09/17/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad's struggles would continue at the Hatchet House Thursday night as they would lose to non-conference perennial powerhouse Stratford, 25-22, 25-14, 25-16. Despite the strong start, the Hatchets were unable to overcome the consistent power and strength of the Tigers. The loss drops Tomahawk to 4-14 on the season and 0-3 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the court for a Great Northern Conference match in Antigo Tuesday. The match will be broadcast on the WJJQ app, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Prematch Show at 6:35 and First serve at 7:00. Alex Koch and Matt Theiler will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 09/17/2026 under News With nearly a half-century of tradition, the Tomahawk Fall Ride will welcome tens of thousands of motorcyclists to the Northwoods this weekend. This year's 45th anniversary edition of the Fall Ride looks remarkably different from its humble origins in the early 1980s. The event began when a few dozen local riders gathered for an October cruise and a cookout to enjoy the changing leaves. Before long, organizers shifted the gathering to mid-September to avoid Wisconsin's unpredictable autumn weather. The event quickly gained momentum, transforming that small local gathering into a community-wide celebration that now draws an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 visitors to the Tomahawk area each September. Tomahawk's connection to motorcycles dates back even further than the Fall Ride itself, as the city is home to two Harley-Davidson production facilities. The first dates back early 1960's. To celebrate this legacy, the Tomahawk Historical Society is opening a special exhibit tracing the intersection of Harley-Davidson, the Fall Ride, and the community's history. Featuring vintage photographs, embroidered event patches, memorabilia, classic signage, and decades of archived press clippings, the display offers a nostalgic look back at how a small group outing became a Northwoods institution. The exhibit will be open during special hours this Friday and Saturday from 11am to 3pm. They've also been posting historical photos throughout the week on their Facebook Page. As for the Fall Ride itself, a key highlight takes place Thursday evening with the Tomahawk Chamber's Bonfire and Bratfry at SARA Park, which serves as the unofficial kickoff to the weekend.

Published on 09/17/2026 under News With fall sports in full swing, fans heading to the Tomahawk High School Field House are in for a big upgrade. The district just debuted its brand-new Daktronics video scoreboard at the first Hatchet home volleyball match. Beyond improving the game-day experience, the new setup opens up new revenue streams and gives students real, hands-on media production experience. District Administrator Wendell Quesinberry admitted they've been on a bit of a crash course learning the ins and outs of the new system, but he sees huge potential for an improved atmosphere during home games. Best of all, the state-of-the-art board should pay for itself through local ad partnerships, with any extra money going right back into student programs. Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) and Tomahawk Local 240 have already signed on as the first major sponsors, and the district is looking for other local businesses to jump on board. The perks go beyond sports, and into the classroom. Since Daktronics is the same equipment featured in college and pro venues like Lambeau Field, the district plans to incorporate it into future classes. Quesinberry notes they offer curriculum for the graphic design side, as well as running the board live. A student would be able to receive a certification that could open doors down the road for future opportunities in college and beyond.

Published on 09/17/2026 under News As Wisconsin's temperatures begin to cool; snakes, turtles and frogs are making their risky annual migration across local roads, and the DNR is calling on drivers to report them. The Wisconsin DNR is reliant upon citizen scientists to help monitor populations of animals of all sizes by reporting their observations. Their latest effort is for herptiles which includes reptiles and amphibians including frogs and toads; salamanders and lizards; snakes and turtles. With summer winding down and temperatures starting to drop, they are beginning their annual fall migration from summer breeding spots and feeding locations to their winter hibernation homes. That journey often means risky trips across roads and trails. Others might simply crawl onto the pavement to soak up the sun. By logging sightings of these reptiles and amphibians on or near Wisconsin roads, you can help researchers pinpoint where they live, and ultimately save more of them down the line. DNR Conservation Zoologist Rich Staffen says, "By identifying high-mortality areas on our roads, we know exactly where to step in with safety measures to protect crossing animals." Whether you spot a live turtle making a slow dash across the asphalt or run across animals that didn't make it, the DNR wants to know. You can quickly submit your observations using the reporting form (reptiles and amphibians) or (turtles) .

Published on 09/17/2026 under News September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and two local health organizations are teaming up to give Lincoln County residents the tools to save lives. Aspirus Health and the Lincoln County Health Department are hosting a free community workshop called "CALM Conversations." The event takes place next Thursday evening at 5pm at the Lincoln County Sports Club in Merrill. No prior mental health experience is needed. The introductory session teaches adults how to have supportive, non-judgmental conversations with friends or family members who may be struggling. It also focuses on how temporarily putting time and distance between an at-risk person and lethal means can prevent suicide. The workshop is free, but they ask that participants register due to limited space. That deadline is Monday. Contact Kristin at 715-539-1373 or kristin.bath@co.lincoln.wi.us.

Published on 09/17/2026 under News Earlier this month, we reported on major trail funding heading to the Northwoods, but that wasn't the only local effort receiving a boost. The Transportation Alternatives Program helps communities invest in bike paths, sidewalks, and pedestrian safety initiatives. In the latest round of state grants, officials announced more than $32 million for projects across Wisconsin. The rural allotment accounts for more than $11 million, divided among 11 small-community projects—including several right here in our area. The largest local grant, nearly $1.3 million, went to the Town of Cloverland to help connect Eagle River and St. Germain via a new trail. Vilas County also received over $53,000 to partner with the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on a comprehensive, countywide bicycle and pedestrian plan. Further south, the City of Medford was awarded over $447,000 for a neighborhood sidewalk project aimed at improving safety for students and pedestrians near Northcentral Technical College and the local youth center. State officials say these federal grants cover up to 80% of total project costs, with local sponsors providing the remaining match.

Published on 09/17/2026 under News A Shell Lake man is behind bars following an alleged burglary attempt in the Town of Merrill on Labor Day. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to a home on Oak Ridge Avenue on Sept. 7, 2026, after receiving a report of a burglary in progress. Before law enforcement arrived, the reporting party informed dispatchers that the intruder had fled the building on foot and was actively being pursued. Upon arrival, deputies met with the witness, who pointed out the suspect's last known location. Officers searched the area and apprehended 38-year-old Jason Duellman without incident. When questioned by authorities, Duellman allegedly claimed he had only entered the property "to just look around." Duellman was arrested and transported to the Lincoln County Jail. He faces charges of burglary, entering a building/construction site, and a probation violation. Following his initial appearance in Lincoln County Court, a judge set Duellman's bond at $5,000 cash. He remains in custody.

Published on 09/16/2026 under News As thousands of motorcyclists roll into town for Fall Ride weekend, the Tomahawk Police Department is bringing in backup. To cover expanded patrols throughout the city during Fall Ride, the department relies on neighboring agencies to provide extra manpower. Each year, Tomahawk requests mutual aid, bringing in outside officers to work alongside local police throughout the event. The goal is to increase law enforcement presence and visibility, particularly in the downtown area, which hosts many of the weekend's festivities. In recent years, the event has seen no major incidents—a trend officials hope to maintain. The department puts out a call each year to fill roughly 30 additional shifts through mutual aid. During a recent Health and Safety Committee meeting, Sgt. Matt Gorell noted that a majority of this year's shifts will be filled by the Mountain Bay Metro Police Department, which serves Rothschild, Schofield, and Weston. To get into the Fall Ride spirit, visiting and local officers typically trade their traditional police blues for special Harley-Davidson-inspired black-and-orange uniforms. Because event activities spill outside city limits, other agencies like the Lincoln and Oneida County Sheriff's Offices and the Wisconsin State Patrol, also typically increase their presence in the area. While early arrivals and preliminary activities are already underway, the Fall Ride unofficially kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday.

+ Read More