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Hatchet Boys Swimming Team Finishes Fifth at Sectionals Published on 02/01/2021 under Sports

The Tomahawk Hatchet boys Swimming Team competed in the WIAA Sectional Meet on Saturday at Rhinelander High School. Tomahawk finished in fifth place. Rhinelander won the meet and Menomonie was second.

Of the 13 individual event swims that the Hatchets competed in, 11 of them were either personal best or at the very least season best swim times, 1 was a re-broken school record, and 2 were overall 2nd place finishes with times solid enough to qualify for the WIAA State Swim Meet, next Friday Feb. 5, 2021 to be held at the Waukesha South High School Natatorium.

Of the 3 relays that the Hatchets competed in, all three registered considerable season time drops with a 3rd place finish for the Medley Relay and a pair of 5th's for the Freestyle Relay teams.

And as was said above most excitingly we aren't done yet! Next Friday, February 5th, (6:30 pm meet start) we'll have our individual State Meet Qualifier, Sophomore Zach Hanse to represent the Tomahawk Hatchets in both the 200 yard Individual Medley with a qualifying time of 2:09.46 as well as in the 100 yard Breaststroke, in which Zach broke his own school record of 1:03.21, down to a 1:02.66.

Scoring Points today for the Hatchets:
200 Medley Relay – Caleb Kretzschmar, Zach Hanse, Ethan Liebnitz and Adam Hall in 3rd for 32 points at 1:52.55

200 Freestyle – Caleb Kretzschmar in 9th place for 9 points at 2:05.74, Alex Norman in 10th place for 7 points at 2:13.26 and Cullen Flynn in 11th for 6 points at 2:17.78

200 Individual Medley – Zach Hanse in 2nd for 17 points and claiming a State Meet berth at 2:09.46, currently seeded 15th in the event

50 Freestyle – Adam Hall in 7th place for 12 points at :24.08

100 Freestyle – Ethan Liebnitz in 6th place for 13 points at :54.66, Alex Norman in 9th place for 9 points at :57.92

500 Freestyle – Caleb Kretzschmar in 6th for 13 points at 5:58.03, Taje Casey in 10th place for 7 points at 6:52.88

200 Freestyle Relay – Cullen Flynn, Taje Casey, Alex Norman and Ethan Liebnitz in 5th place for 28 points at 1:45.89

100 Backstroke – Cullen Flynn in 6th place for 13 points at 1:12.18

100 Breaststroke – Zach Hanse in 2nd for 17 points at 1:02.66 and also claiming his 2nd State Meet berth, currently seeded 9th in the event
Adam Hall in 4th for 15 points at 1:11.79

400 Freestyle Relay – Ethan Liebnitz, Caleb Kretzschmar, Adam Hall and Zach Hanse in 5th for 28 points at 3:45.97

The WIAA State Meet gets underway on Friday at 6:30 pm.

In Other News

Tomahawk: City in the Pines; Documentary Film to Premiere Saturday

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Two years in the making, a story covering more than 140 years of local history is finally ready for the big screen. Saturday night marks the official premiere of Tomahawk: City in the Pines. The 90-minute documentary was co-created by Tomahawk native Clay Schmit and Oscar-winning director John Newcombe. First announced in the summer of 2024, the two friends spent over a year connecting with community members, local organizations, and historians. Together, they gathered photographs, stories, and archival records to bring the town's history to life through narration, colorization, and video. The feature spans over a century of local history from early Indigenous lands and the city's founding in 1886; through the high-stakes river-logging era; and all the way to the present day. The film also highlights iconic local landmarks lost to history, like the grand Mitchell Hotel and the original Tomahawk Boat Company. Community members who received an early screening have given the film rave reviews. Now, it is ready for the public.The special premiere takes place Saturday night at the Tomahawk High School Auditorium. Showtime is at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Schmit and Newcombe will also follow up with an audience Q & A. The film is officially dedicated to those who lost their lives working in the local timber industry, and organizers encourage attendees to wear their favorite flannel to honor the town's logging roots.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News As the nation marks 25 years since September 11th, folks right here in Tomahawk are coming together once again to keep a deeply meaningful local tradition alive. Even though that tragedy took place hundreds of miles away, the Tomahawk community has never stopped honoring the lives lost and the incredible courage of our first responders. While a lot of towns have let their annual ceremonies fade over the years, Tomahawk's commitment has continued strong thanks to the passion of its organizers. Ahead of today's gathering, we caught up with firefighter Kevin Krueger and VFW Commander Bob Soward. Krueger put it best; he says as long as he's breathing, Tomahawk will mark this day on the actual date, every single year. For Soward, it's all about honoring the fallen and making sure the next generation never forgets what happened. The ceremony will bring together local first responders, veterans, town leaders, and neighbors. They'll be back at their usual location in Veterans Memorial Park in Tomahawk. The morning starts with a quiet "Time of Reflection" at 10:00 a.m., followed by the official ceremony getting underway at 10:30 a.m.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Opportunities to bag a buck kick off this weekend with the opening of the fall archery and crossbow season. The Wisconsin DNR provided its annual overview earlier this week. Last season, bowhunters registered nearly 42,000 deer, up slightly from 2024. Meanwhile, the number of deer harvested by crossbow increased from 63,000 to 70,000. According to the DNR's Fall Hunting Forecast, DNR biologist Derek Johnson says the northern herd looks strong and healthy heading into the season, as deer should benefit from a third consecutive mild winter. He also reminds hunters to brush up on the Deer Management Units, introduced in the Northern Zone last year to replace the previous county boundaries. The DNR also reminds everyone heading out this weekend and throughout the season to practice safe hunting habits, including tree stand and firearm safety. Those sharing public lands with hunters should also keep in mind that the fall hunting seasons are now underway. The archery and crossbow season opens Saturday and runs through early January. The fall turkey season also kicks off this weekend, alongside ruffed grouse hunting in Zone A, and some small game.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Travelers passing through the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport can enjoy some new wildlife paintings from a local artist. Through a partnership with ArtStart, the airport features a rotating gallery, with the latest exhibit showcasing work from renowned Northern Wisconsin wildlife artist Caleb Metrich of Lake Tomahawk. If the name sounds familiar, Metrich has had tremendous success in annual state bird stamp design contests. Over the years, his artwork has been selected for feature on turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl stamps on ten separate occasions—primarily right here in Wisconsin. Metrich's paintings are on display now in the airport terminal. The gallery is free to view for passengers and the general public, even without a boarding pass, and visitors can take advantage of free parking for up to four hours.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News A trial date has been officially set for a woman accused of trying to hire someone to kill her child's father in Lincoln County. At a scheduling hearing, a jury trial for Angela Volm was scheduled to begin early next year on February 17. The 45 year old faces a felony charge of solicitation to commit first-degree intentional homicide. She has entered a plea of not guilty. According to the criminal complaint, the victim alerted the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office after receiving threatening text messages from Volm. Investigators subsequently uncovered communications where Volm allegedly inquired about hiring an individual to murder the man.

Published on 09/10/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's girls swimmers would continue to struggle in Great Northern Conference dual meets Thursday night as they would lose to Rhinelander and Colby. The Hatchets' top finish in the double dual came in the 100 and 200 yard freestyles. Kami Gabrich placed third in the 100 with a time of 1:07.67, tied with Colby's Myra Hopperdietzel. Aubrey Tollefson placed third with a time of 2:26.67 in the 200 freestyle. Finishing right behind her was Kortney Busterud at 2:28.39. The Hatchets are back in the pool next Thursday for another GNC Dual against Ladysmith. Events begin at 5:30.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News It's time once again for Tomahawk residents to do a little fall cleaning with the return of Dumpster Days, an annual event offering household item disposal and electronics recycling on Saturday morning. Tomahawk Dumpster Days was originally established by a group of community minded volunteers known as the Make-A-Difference organization. After twenty years, the initial goal remains the same: to make the community a cleaner, more inviting place to live, work, and play by giving residents a convenient way to discard hard-to-dispose-of items. The City of Tomahawk has now taken over the organization of Dumpster Days working with community partners. Tomahawk Iron and Metal will host a small electronics recycling on-site, though select items may carry a small fee. Larger items can be brought to their business. And while document shredding has been offered in previous years, it is not part of this year's event. Beyond cleaning up the city, Dumpster Days serves as a fundraiser and hands-on learning experience for the local Boy Scout troop, whose members assist on-site and help with curbside pickups. The pickup service costs $25 and must be arranged through City Hall by Friday afternoon. Two decades later, Dumpster Days remains as popular as ever. A queue of vehicles typically lines up at the entrance well before the site opens on Saturday morning. Collection runs from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the city garage. Organizers remind community members that household item drop-off is strictly for city residents; while the electronics recycling is open to all

Published on 09/10/2026 under News With bow deer season just a few days away, Tomahawk will once again hold a nuisance deer hunt within city limits. The Common Council formally approved the resolution during a special meeting Wednesday. This does not mean hunters will be walking down Main Street this fall. The city designates specific zones where the nuisance hunt is and isn't permitted, with most allowed areas located along rural stretches of land within city boundaries. While participation and harvest numbers vary each year, a typical season yields fewer than ten registered deer. Following the season's conclusion, the Nuisance Animal Committee plans to reconvene to review the data. Twenty-five tags are available, and participants must register with the Tomahawk Police Department while following standard Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations. The nuisance hunt runs concurrently with the statewide archery season, which opens Saturday and extends into early January.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News Civil War buffs will test their marksmanship in the Rhinelander area this weekend during a unique regional shooting event. The American Civil War Shooting Association (ACWSA) is hosting the Rhinelander Memorial Skirmish on Saturday and Sunday in Pelican Lake. The ACWSA brings historical reenactors together to compete in timed team events and individual marksmanship matches. Participants, many dressed in period-appropriate uniforms, will use Civil War–era firearms including revolvers and muskets to shoot at breakable targets and paper bullseyes, competing for top honors. Beyond the friendly competition, the association aims to preserve Civil War history and educate the public on the era's weaponry and tactics. Several local shooters are slated to participate in this weekend's skirmish, one of the final matches of the season. The public is invited to attend, admission is free. Organizers advise spectators to bring ear and eye protection. A schedule and additional details can be found on their website.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News A Wausau man who pleaded guilty to defrauding nearly 190 investors out of more than $14 million has been ordered to serve eight years in federal prison and repay his victims. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, 64-year-old Stanley Pophal was sentenced last week for running a years-long investment fraud scheme through his company, Bright with Silver, Inc. Prosecutors say that between 2019 and 2025, Pophal promised investors returns of at least 20 percent through ventures involving cryptocurrency, real estate, artificial intelligence, precious metals, and gemstones. Instead, authorities say Pophal used the majority of the funds to support his personal lifestyle and maintain a Ponzi-style scheme. Investigators seized more than 600 items purchased with investor funds including hundreds of snowmobiles stored in a rented warehouse. These are being auctioned off to help satisfy the roughly $14 million in court-ordered restitution.

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