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National Forest Offering Balsam Bough Harvest Permits Published on 09/13/2021 under News

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is again opening the land to bough harvesting.

As we transition from summer to fall, people will begin harvesting balsam boughs which are traditionally utilized in holiday decorations such as wreaths. As of Monday, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will begin issuing seasonal harvest permits.

The district offers personal use permits for free, while commercial bough permits are sold for $80 per two tons of material.

Those seeking boughs are encouraged to protect trees by removing only from branches on the lower half of trees, and taking no more than 1/3 of greens on any given branch.

Individuals interested in obtaining a bough harvesting permit should call the district office nearest their harvesting activities to confirm hours and availability before seeking a permit.

Additional information is available on the CNNF website.

In Other News

City of Tomahawk Places Referendum to Increase City Levy on April Ballot

Published on 01/15/2026 under News In addition to the mayoral and city council races, City of Tomahawk voters will also decide on a levy referendum this spring. At a special meeting Wednesday, the Tomahawk City Council voted unanimously to place a levy referendum on the April ballot. The City is seeking a 20% increase to the base levy, which amounts to approximately $276,000. It would result in an increase of $75 for a $100,000 property. The state restricts the ability of municipalities to increase their tax levy without voter approval. The decision in Tomahawk comes after several consecutive years of difficult budget decisions. During last week's Finance meeting, committee members highlighted how costs have outpaced the levy growth. With much of the discussion taking place at previous meetings, the resolution was approved with minimal discussion. Instead, last night's conversation focused on outreach ahead of the vote to explain why the city is seeking additional levy. They have already prepared a fact sheet that will sent out with utility bills and will be posted online. They also are planning to host public informational meetings, however they didn't not set those dates.

Published on 01/15/2026 under News The Heart of Vilas Bike Trail System has been travel destination for decades, and now they have statistics to show it's impact on the region. The Heart of Vilas was one of five participants in the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation; Do-It-Yourself Economic Impact Program. The summer study used surveys, infrared trail counters, and manual trail counts to gather data, while also working with local stakeholders. Based on the data collected, they estimate the Heart of Vilas Bike Trail System generated approximately $25.7 million for the area's economy last year. That's thanks to the more than 160,000 cyclists who rode the trail between May and September. Rider feedback showed nearly 60% came to the area specifically for the trail. On average, day visitors spent approximately $50; overnight trail users $287. Mary Jones, Executive Director of the Boulder Junction Chamber says "We know that tourism is the backbone of our economy here in the Northwoods, and outdoor recreation is the largest tourism driver. Participating in this economic impact study ... has allowed us to not only put a number on the economic impact of this multi-community asset, but also provided the opportunity to discover insightful information about the current trends..." The Heart of Vilas Bike Trail System is made up of over 52 miles of paved, off-road bike trails connecting the communities of St. Germain, Sayner, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, and Mercer. Other participants in this year's study included Peninsula State Park, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the Three Eagle Bike Trail, and Oconto County.

Published on 01/15/2026 under News It's Derby Weekend up in Eagle River. Before a champion is crowned, the trophy will be toured through the Northwoods. Thursday marks the return of the 'Ride with the Cup', a spin off from the former Torch Ride. Now, rather than a flame, the participants take the Champion's Cup on the 200-plus mile, two-day tour through the Northwoods. While Eagle River hosts the oval racing, this cup tour is an opportunity to get other Northwoods communities involved in and excited for Derby weekend. Organizers have established a mission of promoting safe snowmobiling in Northern Wisconsin, while showcasing the area as a snowmobile tourism destination across the supporting communities. The event features special guests both in the travel party as well as at the various stops. This includes local snowmobile club representatives, state officials, and AWSC Miss Snowflake – Jena Lenz and Miss Sno Eagle – Brianna Sullivan. The tour begins Thursday morning in Wausau, stops in Merrill mid-morning and arrives in here in Tomahawk around mid-day for three stops at the Knight Owls Snowmobile Club garage, Tomahawk Sports Center, and the Northwoods Passage Shed up in Nokomis. In they afternoon, they'll continue up the Highway 51 corridor to Lakeland area. After pausing for the evening, they'll continue on sleds Friday with the route traveling through St. Germain, Sayner, Rhinelander and Three Lakes. They'll eventually make their way to Eagle River and the Derby Track just in time for the Opening Ceremony tomorrow evening.

Published on 01/15/2026 under News The Tomahawk Public Library has a wide-selection of love stories, but they're currently inviting the public to share their passion about the library itself. During the month of January, the Tomahawk Public Library is collecting stories about how the library has made a difference in their patron's lives big or small. They've dubbed it the Library Love Stories. They invite patrons to share a few sentences or a whole novella about how the library makes their hearts happy. This can be the books, programming, the staff, the location or something else entirely.The campaign offers several benefits to the library by providing valuable feedback on what's successful, but can also be used to promote the library and pursue grants with the comments. People can drop them off their Tomahawk Public Library Love Stories at the front desk or submit them via email.

Published on 01/15/2026 under News Ice fishing season is in full swing, but frozen lakes don't mean that invasive species are hibernating. Officials are reminding ice anglers to take steps to avoid transporting these aquatic invaders. Just like the summer months, there are several ways invasive species jump from lake to lake. Plants, seeds, mud, and debris can attach to equipment. For ice fishing in particular, that includes augers, sleds and lures and even boots and gloves. They recommend wiping down equipment after each use to ensure there aren't any hidden hitchhikers. Another risk comes from the transport of live bait. Anglers should follow Wisconsin's live bait laws and dispose of unused minnows, worms and other live bait properly. As long as no lake or river water has been added to the container, the DNR says minnows may be used on a different waterbody. If lake or river water was added, the minnows cannot be used at other fishing locations and should be disposed of before going to a new site. And a quick reminder it's the DNR's Winter Free Fishing weekend on Saturday and Sunday. We'll have a preview coming up on our Friday show.

Published on 01/14/2026 under News Local snowmobile clubs are encouraging riders 'know before they go' and check routes before heading out. It's International Snowmobile Safety Week, and local stakeholders are sharing messages to ensure a safe ride for everyone on the trails this riding season. A sport like snowmobiling is heavily reliant on conditions and occasionally this requires temporary trail closures or re-routes to accommodate changing conditions. For example, this past weekend, the Northwoods Passage snowmobile club, which maintains trails near Tomahawk, had to move a trail on Lake Nokomis after an area of the channel opened up. Other clubs have had to make similar changes due to factors such as slush and ice heaves. One of the best ways to stay up to date on these types of trail changes is from the local clubs who maintain them. Updates are typically posted to social media accounts, and some clubs also maintain websites or blogs. Whether you're riding your local trails, or visiting a new area to explore, it's a good idea to check-in with the clubs. It's important to stick on the marked trails for not only safety reasons, but to also respect the landowners who allow trails to cross their properties. Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Club Facebook PageKnight Owls Snowmobile Club Facebook Page

Published on 01/14/2026 under News Respiratory illness has been on the rise in Northern Wisconsin, and the Langlade County Health Department is the latest agency to join in the call for people to protect not only themselves but vulnerable populations. The Wisconsin DHS respiratory illness tracker is reporting the Northern Region has 'very high' activity for influenza and 'high' activity for COVID-19. While RSV remains 'low' activity, the numbers have been trending upwards. Karen Marten, Langlade County Health Department Public Health Nurse says, "As we continue to see respiratory illness in our communities, we encourage everyone to take steps that protect not only themselves but also their friends, family and community." This includes getting a flu shot, but also regularly washing hands, covering coughs and staying home when ill. While many people experience mild to moderate symptoms, older adults, young children, and those with underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness.

Published on 01/14/2026 under News Some of the top vocalists in the Midwest, including some students from Tomahawk, wrapped up a two-day, crash-course in choir. Six THS students were invited to participate in this year's Dorian Vocal Festival held this past weekend. Each January, student vocalists from around 300 schools converge on the campus of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. This year more than 900 students took part. The Tomahawk School District highlighted the six THS students selected: Greta Kurth, Jayden Dellinger, Ayla Lewison, Sadie Ruder, Galen Schmidt, and Dorian Stefan. The festival got underway Sunday. Participants took part in break-out sessions and small group instruction. Then Monday evening, all students came together for a full group performance, more than 900 voices strong. The Grand Concert is available to stream on the Luther College Music Department's YouTube Channel.

Published on 01/14/2026 under News The Tomahawk School District is looking to upgrade the scoreboard at their field house and will explore business partnerships to fund the project. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk School Board approved a recommendation the district to pursue and secure advertising sponsorships to fund the purchase and installation of a video scoreboard in the Field House. This came after a brief presentation from District Administrator Wendell Quesinberry. The district has been working with scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics to provide the upgraded tech. Quesinberry anticipated the scoreboard could be funded through five years of ad revenue at various sponsorship levels based on prominence. Board member Dave Long, who served on the committee pursuing the project, noted that in addition to enhancing field house events, it could also be an opportunity 'to get more kids involved' referring to some of the video production opportunities. And working with a company like Daktronics, whose equipment is widely used could even provide training opportunities for students beyond campus. The Board briefly suggested similar advertising funded opportunities for improvements in the pool area. After some additional conversation, the Board approved the pursuit of sponsorship and to continue exploring this project.

Published on 01/14/2026 under News Wisconsin is well known for its fishing, whether casting a line in the summer, or setting a tip-up during the winter. It takes work and investment to maintain a strong fishery and the DNR will be highlighting some of those efforts. Over the next two months, staffers will be ten conversations on various fishing topics, specifically focusing on northern waters. For example, a Rhinelander session on February 12 will focus on 35 Years Of Fisheries Management In Wisconsin's Ceded Territory. Another session January 27 will highlight trout management in Forest and Florence Counties. In addition to the in-person component, all of the conversations will be coupled with virtual opportunities allowing online attendance. The first of the ten discussions actually begins this evening with a conversation on walleye and sturgeon in the Fox River Valley. A full list of these fishery sessions is available on the DNR website.

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