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Three Merrill Residents Arrested on Multi-State Meth Ring Published on 06/08/2021 under News Three Merrill residents are among six arrested following a federal investigation into methamphetamine being transported from Arizona to Wisconsin for distribution.

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Matthew White,36; TJ Myers, 32; and Amy Pehlke, 33, all of Merrill are among six arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

AG Kaul says the operation was ongoing between June of 2019 and May of this year. Federal investigators found that two individuals from Arizona were mailing methamphetamine to Oshkosh for further distribution. Law enforcement made multiple seizures over the past year including approximately 20 pounds of meth and 14 guns, along with nearly $40,000 in cash.

Levi Bagne, 30, of Buckeye, Arizona, Corey Freyermuth, 38, of Oshkosh, and Krista Sparks, 26, of Phoenix, Arizona are also facing charges as part of this investigation.

In Other News

Officials Warn Brewer Fans to be Mindful of Playoff Ticket Scammers

Published on 10/13/2026 under News As the Milwaukee Brewers push toward the postseason, state consumer protection officials are reminding baseball fans to stay vigilant against ticket scams. High demand for playoff games and sold-out events routinely creates prime opportunities for fraudsters peddling fake or counterfeit tickets. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski says, "When there is demand for playoff tickets, scammers come out of the woodwork to rip off excited sports fans." To protect buyers, state officials recommend sticking to reputable ticket sources, starting directly with the team or trusted vendors like SeatGeek, which serves as the official MLB fan resale marketplace. When purchasing, fans should always use a credit card for maximum fraud protection while avoiding wire transfers, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Cash App. Buyers should also insist on official in-app ticket transfers, as static PDFs, screenshots, and paper printouts are primary tools used by scammers. Finally, officials advise fans to watch for common scam red flags, including unrealistically low prices, high-pressure sales tactics, and social media offers from unverified accounts.

Published on 10/13/2026 under News A major federal grant is aimed at helping address growing mental health needs across northern and central Wisconsin. Marshfield Clinic was awarded the three-year, $580,000 grant by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The funds will support mental health training, outreach, and early intervention programs across the region, with additional focus on several local counties including Vilas, Oneida, and Price. Many communities in the region face significant shortages of behavioral health professionals, creating steep hurdles for residents seeking care. Over the next three years, Marshfield Clinic will use the funding to train staff and community members to recognize mental health red flags and respond to crises, particularly among youth and young adults. The funding will also support a dedicated behavioral health navigator and build clearer pathways to connect local residents with local crisis and recovery services. Marshfield Clinic leaders say the grant will expand critical support services in rural areas hit hardest by provider shortages, transportation barriers, and rising mental health challenges.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News Wisconsin's wild turkey population has made a tremendous recovery, and the public now has an opportunity to help shape its future management. The Department of Natural Resources updates its turkey management plan every decade; and they are currently working on the latest edition. The draft plan focuses on a variety topics including species populations, habitat protection, program funding and hunter satisfaction. Throughout the process, the public has a number of opportunities to get involved. Coming up this week, the DNR is hosting a series of open houses, including one in the Northwoods. An in-person session will take place Tuesday at the Lincoln County Service Center in Merrill from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m. For those that can't attend, a virtual open house will also take place this Thursday, October 15th. The full draft plan is available on the DNR website, and public comments are open through November 20th.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News Halloween is just around the corner, and the Oneida County Health Department is reminding residents that respiratory illness season can turn a trick into a treat. To protect the community before fall illness activity spikes, health officials are launching a festive campaign titled "Say Boo to the Flu." They're encouraging people to get a flu and covid-19 shot before Halloween. Because it takes about two weeks for the body to build full protection, officials emphasize that now is the time to get vaccinated, especially for high-risk individuals, such as seniors and those with chronic medical conditions. In addition to weekday walk-in availability at its Rhinelander office, the department is hosting mobile vaccine clinics in communities across Oneida County. This includes a clinic Monday, October 12 at the Nokomis Town Hall from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Beyond vaccination, health officials encourage simple preventive habits—such as frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes—to keep the Northwoods healthy this season.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News Rooks and pawns, knights and kings were on display in Antigo over the weekend. The Antigo Community Chess Club partnered with the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation to offer an all-day tournament featuring players from ten area schools. The event was held at the NTC-Antigo campus. While the competitors faced-off on the chess board, they also teamed up for a good cause. The theme of this year's tournament was "Checkmate to End Homelessness." Players, families, and spectators were all encouraged to bring donations for William House of Hope, Antigo's local homeless shelter. Shelter board member Nicole Barron says, "Seeing our youth demonstrate such incredible focus, strategic thinking, and genuine sportsmanship was a powerful reminder of what our community can achieve together. We are deeply grateful to everyone who played, supported, and donated to help further our mission at William's House of Hope." There was also some chess to be played on the afternoon. In the end Edgar swept both the open and K-7 team competitions; while Paxton Mueller and Mackenzie Rettinger won their respective individual competitions.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News Some additional funding is being made available to non-profits in Vilas County following summer storm damage. While most of the headlines following the severe weather outbreak on July 27 focused on tornado damage in the Fox Valley, the Northwoods was also in the path of the storm. In addition to Winnebago County, the U.S. Small Business Administration has officially designated Vilas County as eligible for low-interest federal disaster assistance. According to the Friday news release, the funding is available to eligible private nonprofits and faith-based organizations impacted by the July 27 storms. Organizations can apply for physical disaster loans to repair or replace damaged property and equipment, or economic injury loans to help cover ongoing operational expenses. The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is December 7th, while economic injury applications are open through July 7th, 2027.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News A plea agreement has been readched for a Lincoln County woman charged in the death of her 5 year-old daughter. At a hearing Friday in Lincoln County Court, 27 year old Katelyn Nardi pleaded guilty to a felony charge of child neglect resulting in death. In exchange, a charge of reckless homicide was dismissed, but will be considered during sentencing. Nardi was arrested following an investigation into the death of her 5 year old daughter last October. Investigators say the child was left unattended in a bathtub as Nardi was preparing the child for bed. The case had been scheduled to go to trial next June. Following the plea agreement, a sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 25.

Published on 10/12/2026 under News A Minnesota man was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after traveling to Rhinelander to meet a minor for illicit sexual conduct. Creighton Mithaugen, 38, of Faribault, Minnesota, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 97 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Mithaugen had previously pleaded guilty to the charge on July 13, 2026. According to court records, Mithaugen engaged in online chats from April 2024 through February 2026 with someone he believed to be a 14- or 15-year-old girl. In reality, he was communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. Mithaugen was arrested in February, after traveling to Rhinelander to meet with the minor. During sentencing, Judge Conley cited Mithaugen's past criminal history including past similar charges.

Published on 10/11/2026 under Sports At the Great Northern Conference Volleyball Tournament, Tomahawk went 1-2 in their matches Saturday. The Hatchets were swept by Mosinee and Medford in their first two matches. However, Tomahawk would steal a match against Rhinelander, winning in four sets. The Hatchets will finish the 2026 regular season with a 6-28 record and a 1-9 overall Great Northern Conference record. Seeding meetings across the state of Wisconsin will take place Monday. Stay tuned to find out who Tomahawk will play in the first round of the WIAA Division 3 Volleyball Postseason on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ.

Published on 10/10/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's cross country squads finished in the top ten once again, this time at the 50th Annual Hatchet Invitational Saturday. Tomahawk's girls placed fourth overall, behind Prentice/Rib Lake, Rhinelander, and Meet Champion Lakeland. Senior Elise Gibeault would finish fifth with a time of 20:14. Placing second on the Hatchets and 20th overall was Abbie Rosenmeier with a time of 22:46. Tomahawk's boys would place eighth overall in the invite, ahead of Crandon and Antigo. The top finisher was Jordyn Carew, placing 24th with a time of 18:33. Dawson Jones placed 35th with a time of 19:25. The next meet for Tomahawk is the Great Northern Conference Meet, which the Hatchets will host next Saturday. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Premeet Show at 10:40 and opening events at 11:00. Alex Koch will have live updates on the WJJQ App, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ. Girls Team Results: Lakeland - 1st Rhinelander - 2nd Prentice/Rib Lake - 3rd Tomahawk - 4th Chequamegon - 5th Northland Pines - 6th Merrill - 7th Mosinee - 8th Medford - 9th Antigo - 10th Boys Team Results: Lakeland - 1st Rhinelander - 2nd Prentice/Rib Lake - 3rd Mosinee - 4th Medford - 5th Chequamegon - 6th Northland Pines - 7th Tomahawk - 8th Crandon - 9th Antigo - 10th

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