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Hatchets Sports Recap - Thursday Published on 09/03/2021 under Sports

VOLLEYBALL

On Thursday night, the Tomahawk Hatchet Volleyball Teams opened their GNC season with matches against Antigo. The Varsity Hatchets swept the Red Robins, winning 25-14, 27-25, and 25-13. Leading the Hatchets was Meghan Scholz who had 11 kills and 3 blocks. Alyssa Zehner had 6 kills for Tomahawk and Samantha Gebauer had 10 digs. Mackenzie Scholz also added 4 aces and 23 assists. The Varsity Hatchets will play next on Tuesday in Lakeland against the T-Birds.

The JV Volleyball Team also swept Antigo. They won 25-21, 25-18, and 25-23.

The JV2 Volleyball Team was swept by Antigo.

CROSS COUNTRY

On Thursday afternoon, the Tomahawk Hatchets Cross Country Teams traveled to Nine-Mile Recreation Area in Rib Mountain for the 12th Annual

Marathon Invitational. For the second straight week, the Lady Hatchets sat atop the 13-team field as they took home the championship; while the boys had their best finish of the season as they placed 3rd.

The lady Hatchets were led by the Reilly sisters Rachael and Kate) as they both earned medalists honors, placing in the top ten. Rachael finished 4th (21:10) and Kate placed 7th (21:27).

Final Top 8 Girls Team Rankings: Tomahawk (39), Assumption (59), Colby (72), Marathon (73), Merrill (136), Rib Lake (179), Wittenberg (210), Pittsville (211)

The lone medalist for the 3rd place boys team was senior Arden Ziert as he placed 10th in a time of 18:47.

Final Top 8 Boys Standings: Marathon (84), Auburndale (89), Tomahawk (94), Merrill (110), Athens (127), Pittsville (149), Rib Lake (171), Colby/Abby (172),

The Hatchets Cross Country Teams next travel to Fall Creek next Saturday for the annual Cricket Invite. Meet gets started at 10:00 a.m. on the high school grounds.

GIRLS SWIMMING

The Tomahawk Hatchets Girls Swimming team lost their first GNC Dual of the season, 128-35, to Rhinelander on Thursday. However, the Hatchets enjoyed some great performances.

Paige Dekeip set a new school record in the 100 fly with a time of 1:01.07.
Joanna Phillips beat her best time by about 2 seconds and finished in 1st place in the 100 freestyle.

Also, Abi Roberts (Hatchet Freshman) took 4th in the 100 breaststroke.
Aj Schertz dropped a whopping 10 seconds off of her 100 breaststroke time and finished 5th.

Next up for the Lady Hatchets will be a home dual against Mosinee on Thursday.

In Other News

Vehicle/Deer Collisions Typically Rise in Late Spring

Published on 05/07/2026 under News With new fawns and extended daylight, deer activity is picking up. That means drivers need to be on the lookout. While vehicle/deer crashes are typically highest in fall, those numbers also spike in the months of May and June. According to the Department of Transportation, drivers reported nearly 18,000 collisions with deer last year. That resulted in more than 700 injuries and 6 deaths. Recent averages in both Lincoln and Oneida County show more than 200 vehicle/deer collisions annually. Numbers are even higher in Southern Wisconsin; Waukesha County topped the state with more than 1,000 vehicle/deer collisions. Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says, "Motorists should be alert and prepared to respond at all times." He notes, "Deer are unpredictable, often changing directions and freezing as they cross the road." The DoT provided a few additional reminders. • Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. • If you see one crossing, anticipate more may follow. • If the collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Avoid swerving, which can lead to a more serious crash. • If you strike a deer, pull over to the side of the road and call law enforcement. • And as always, slowdown, eliminate distractions and wear your seatbelt.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News As Northwoods residents head outside for spring cleanup and garden preparations, health experts are reminding people to take steps to avoid common neck and back injuries. According to Aspirus Health, tasks like lifting branches, digging, and repetitive bending can put extra strain on the spine, especially after a less active winter season. Preparation and proper technique can help avoid a trip to the hospital. Dr. Sean MacKenzie says light stretching and simple posture adjustments can make a big difference. Keeping the spine aligned, lifting with the legs, and working from a seated or kneeling position when tasks require bending forward all help. It's also a good idea to listen to your body. MacKenzie notes that many injuries occur when people push through discomfort or rush through tasks. He emphasizes that pain during activity is a signal to pause, rest, or adjust technique. And long-term, Mackenzie says building core strength through simple exercises like planks and leg lifts can help reduce the risk of injury.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News While it was a bit chilly, it was at least sunny, allowing area students to show off their renewable energy skills. Wisconsin Public Service held their 30th annual Solar Olympics on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Nearly 150 students participated from thirteen high schools within the WPS footprint. Northern Wisconsin was represented by Three Lakes, Elcho, Marathon, and Wausau West High Schools. WPS created the Solar Olympics in 1997 for districts participating in the Solarwise for Schools program, which provides renewable energy lesson plans, projects, and teacher training. The friendly competition, hosted each spring, allows these students to showcase their knowledge of solar energy through team and individual competitions. This year's Solar Olympics had 13 events like solar water heater; solar art; and solar jeopardy. According to WPS, Valders High School won this year's competition, claiming gold for a second consecutive year.-Photos provided by Wisconsin Public Service

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Warmer weather will soon draw more people to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, visitors may notice survey crews stationed throughout the forest this spring and summer. The U.S. Forest Service says public surveys are now underway as part of the National Visitor Use Monitoring program. The surveys, conducted every five years, are designed to measure how many people use national forests, what activities they take part in, and how satisfied they are with their visits. Some visitors may also be asked questions about travel spending to help measure the economic impact forest recreation has on local communities. Surveyors, from the University of New Hampshire, will be wearing bright orange vests near signs reading "Traffic Survey Ahead." They'll be stationed at recreation sites and Forest Service roads. Officials say the surveys are voluntary, confidential, and typically take about 10 minutes to complete. They will continue through Sept. 30.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Today is the National Day of Prayer and several Northwoods groups are among those hosting events today. The formal observance of a National Day of Prayer came from President Harry Truman in 1952. It's now held annually on the first Thursday in May. The goal is to allow participants, regardless of faith or denomination to bring unity to their community and share a common focus while praying for all. National organizers estimate some 30,000 observances around the country will be held. That includes right here in Tomahawk, where the Associated Clergy of Tomahawk will once again team up to hold a ceremony in Veteran's Memorial Park. It's scheduled to begin at 10:30am; attendees are encouraged to bring along a chair. Rhinelander is holding a similar event outside the Oneida County Courthouse getting underway at noon.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News WaWui Bingo in Tomahawk kicked off their summer session by giving away more than $4,000 in prizes. Wednesday was opening night for WaWui Summer Bingo, marking a 38th season. Players filled SARA Park with their eyes on the progressive prize. And two lucky women shared an impressive payout. The final game of the evening features a jackpot that builds each week it's not claimed. Without a winner over the last two months of last season, the prize grew to $3,962 by blacking out the card in the set number. And the odds were in the favor of Phyllis Levake and Janis Beyer. Both players filled their card on the same number. And while they'll have to share the prize, the two still went home with $1,981 each. Proceeds from WaWui Bingo help fund operations and improvements at SARA Park in Tomahawk. They'll be back again next Wednesday. The progressive prize will reset.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News The Wisconsin DNR is monitoring a manure spill near Athens earlier this week. The DNR says it was notified on Tuesday that manure from a waste storage structure at Deercreek Holsteins had discharged into a tributary of Black Creek. Officials say the spill was caused by a failed valve on a waste transfer system. As of yesterday's update, they were working to determine the amount of manure released. DNR staff are working with Marathon County. According to the agency, containment measures have been put in place and the farm is actively working to clean up the discharge. The DNR says more information on prevention and response is available on the agency's manure spills webpage.

Published on 05/06/2026 under News A traditional youth fishing event in Tomahawk is set to return next month after a several year absence, and organizers have now received approval from the city. Tomahawk VFW Post 2687 is working to revive the Kids Fishing Contest. The event was previously organized by Tomahawk Fishing Unlimited, but went away as the group disbanded. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk City Council approved the special event application to host the event at their old location in Memorial Park. It will take place on June 6, coinciding with the DNR's Free Fishing Weekend. This was by design to allow adults helping the youth anglers to do so without purchasing a license. Earlier this year, the VFW put out a call for fishing equipment donations to help support the return. The Kid's Fishing Contest was one of four special event applications approved by the Council. The others are annual events with minimal changes: the Rodd Timm Memorial Softball Tournament, the Lion's Club Thrilla on the Grilla, and Tomahawk Hometown Christmas. Each was approved unanimously and with minimal discussion. Council Recap: It was an other routine Council meeting, coming just two weeks after a delayed April meeting to account for the election. Relatedly, they approved two resolutions recognizing outgoing Mayor Steve Taskay and Alderman Dale Ernst. Neither sought re-election. The Council approved an ordinance increase court costs for the Municipal Court by $10. This was in accordance with a change to state statute. The Council approved a state/municipal financial agreement for design work on South Tomahawk Avenue from Somo Avenue to the Wisconsin River Bridge. It's on the state docket for 2032. They also approved a professional service agreement with MSA for the wastewater facilities plan.

Published on 05/06/2026 under News It's National Travel and Tourism Week, and Governor Evers was on the move in Northern Wisconsin Tuesday. The Governor was joined by Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers during yesterday's visits to Athens and Cable. He was there to highlight three consecutive years of both record breaking tourism and outdoor recreation. The visit to Athens included gravel-biking, a hybrid sport that takes from both road and mountain bikes. The Governor, Sayers and some guides from Ride Wisconsin Gravel took to the Athens Graventure Trail. Ongoing efforts of the Wisconsin Gravel Roads Project aims to establish North Central Wisconsin as a premier destination for gravel bike riding utilizing existing granite- gravel dairy roads. The stop in Cable was set to include a visit to the Cable Natural History Museum and a visit to Wayside Wanderings Natural Play Area. Evers said, "Every year during Travel and Tourism Week, I'm jazzed to be able to travel across the state, showcasing all we have to offer, the success of Wisconsin's tourism industry, and all the hardworking folks who keep it humming. I encourage all Wisconsinites to join us in celebrating the amazing industry that bolsters our economies, creates jobs, and helps make our state the great place it is to live, work, and, of course, visit." The 2025 economic impact report for Wisconsin's tourism industry will be released in June.

Published on 05/06/2026 under News Due to popular demand, Wisconsin Public Service is extending the voting in a naming contest for the peregrine falcon chicks set to hatch at its Weston Power Plant. Thousands of voters have already cast their selections to name this year's chicks after news anchors from the area. According to the update, this contest has officially broken the record for total votes cast in any naming contest since the first one in 2019. People can now vote through Sunday. WPS also provided an update on the area peregrine nesting pair. Sheldon and an unbanded female falcon are caring for four eggs at the Weston Power Plant nest box. The eggs arrived in early April, so they should begin hatching at any time. Those interested can follow along on the WPS live nest box webcams to watch for emerging chicks.

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