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Hatchets Sports Recap - Thursday Published on 09/24/2021 under Sports

VOLLEYBALL

The Tomahawk Varsity Volleyball team hosted a quad on Thursday night and the Hatchets played really well all night long.

The Hatchets first swept Newman 25-11 and 25-16. Mackenzie Scholz, Emerson Lange, Claire Albert and Alyssa Zehner each contributed an ace to the match. Meghan Scholz led the team with 6 blocks and 8 kills, followed by Alyssa Zehner and Claire Albert each with 6. Claire Albert led the team with 8 digs. Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 18 assists.

Next they swept Prentice 25-23 and 25-14. Claire Albert and Alyssa Zehner each led the team with 2 aces. Alyssa Zehner led the team with 10 kills and 12 digs. Meghan Scholz led the team with 2 blocks. Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 20 assists.

In the final match, they swept GNC rival Lakeland 25-20 and 25-17. Emerson Lange, Samantha Gebauer and Alyssa Zehner each contributed an ace to the match. Meghan Scholz led the team in blocks with 2 and led in kills with 12, followed by Alyssa Zehner with 7. Samantha Gebauer led the team with 10 digs and Mackenzie Scholz finished the match with 23 assists.

The Hatchets finished the night 3-0 in matches and 6-0 in games.

CROSS COUNTRY

Tomahawk traveled to Big Stone Golf Course on Thursday for the annual Three Lakes Blue Jay Invitational. With solid "pack-style" running the Hatchets were dominant bringing home two team trophies in the ten team event. In the first high school race of the day, a group consisting of Arden Ziert, Owen Dickrell, Brett Borchardt, Presley Gutbrod, and Sam Zastrow worked as a "pack" coming thru both the first and second mile, separated by no more than two seconds. They gave Rhinelander a solid run for the title, placing all five scorers in front of the Hodags #4

runner, however it was not enough to offset the Hodags low total of 35 pts. Owen (7th-18:53), Brett Borchardt (8th-19:00), Arden (9th-19:01), and Presley (10th-19:02) were all medalists and freshman Sam Zastrow placed 13th in 19:10. That scoring split of 17 seconds was their best effort to date.

Top 3 Boys team scores - Rhinelander 35, Tomahawk 47, Marathon 56

The varsity girls followed and gave the Hatchets their first outright championship of the day with a season low 23 pts in route to the title. Like their counterparts, the girls placed four in the top ten earning medalist honors, led by sophomore Rachael Reilly's first individual 5K championship of 2021 as she covered the course in a seasonal best time of 20:59, surging past a Three Lakes runner in the last 1000 meters to claim the crown. The other Hatchet medalists were seniors: Macey Mann (4th-21:35), Emily Lacina (5th-21:36) and Geena Wanta (9th-22:16 PR).

Top 3 Girls team scores - Tomahawk 23, Marathon 53, Rhinelander 66

MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

On Thursday afternoon, the MS Cross Country team traveled to Three Lakes for the Three Lakes Invitational. Overall the boys finished 5th and the girls finished 2nd.

Individually, Jeremiah Johnson led the boys with a 6th place finish, followed by Masen Towle in 21st, Ryan Montag 25th, Joe Zastrow 27th, Dane DeKiep 29th, Teddy Frederickson 30th, Gerard Gorell 35th, and Eli Albrent in 37th.

The girls were led by Elise Gibeault in 5th place, Joa Reilly in 9th, Anita Ziert in 13th, Faith Derleth in 14th, Elli Micke in 18th, Abi Micke in 19th, Lydia Shaney in 20th, Norah Mann in 30th, Summer Gaedtke in 34th, Kinsley Lange 37th, Sophia Lacina 39th, Freya Alberg 43rd, Jennie Frederickson 53rd.

In Other News

Nokomis Considering Paramedic Living Area at Fire Station; Public Info Meeting Thursday

Published on 09/09/2026 under News The Town of Nokomis is considering expanding its fire station to provide living quarters for the 24/7 ambulance crew housed at the facility. Coming up on Thursday, they'll be hosting another public information meeting. Earlier this week, we had Firefighter Russ Berg and Town Supervisor Bette Stillman on the Morning Conversation to provide some background and status. Built in 2002, the Nokomis Fire Station expanded to include EMS services in 2009. In recent years, paramedic shift rotations shifted from 12-hour to 24-hour schedules. Currently, the Medic 4 crew relies on cots or air mattresses in a non-code-compliant area. Due to safety regulations, at least one crew member must remain awake at all times under the current setup. To provide suitable accommodations, a town committee recommended building a station addition that would feature dedicated bedrooms, office space, and a shared living area. While the 24/7 staffing model has successfully reduced local ambulance response times, some residents have voiced concerns regarding the project's overall cost. If approved, the town plans to offset expenses by pursuing USDA Rural Development loans, grants, and community fundraising. Thursday's session marks the town's second public information meeting following an initial gathering last month. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Nokomis Fire Station and will feature a formal presentation followed by a Q&A segment for residents. No official decisions or votes will take place during the meeting. And we've got that conversation with Russ and Bette posted in the WJJQ Audio Center.

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Published on 09/09/2026 under News September marks National Suicide Prevention Month; a dedicated effort to raise awareness, end stigmas, and connect individuals with life-saving resources if needed. On September 8, local mental health organizations joined national voices to highlight the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free, confidential support 24/7 by calling or texting 988. This year's national campaign theme, "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough," delivers a powerful message: you do not need to reach a breaking point to ask for help. Whether navigating severe emotional distress, substance use challenges, grief, anxiety, or general life stressors, compassionate support is readily available. Since transitioning from its original ten-digit hotline to the streamlined, three-digit 988 code, the lifeline has expanded rapidly, successfully answering millions of calls, texts, and online chats nationwide. Throughout the remainder of September, local advocacy groups will continue sharing educational resources and hosting events to promote these critical services. Together, these efforts ensure that everyone in the community knows help is always just three digits away.

Published on 09/09/2026 under News As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow, so does the demand for a reliable charging network. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recently announced a new round of grant funding to construct fast-charging stations across the state, including several key locations in the Northwoods. The funding is provided through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. According to WisDOT, the new fast-charging stations will help ensure residents and tourists alike have dependable infrastructure to travel seamlessly throughout Wisconsin. In total, 42 locations will share $25 million in funding. Northwoods additions include new stations in Eagle River and Wausau, which will be housed at Days Inn locations off Highway 45 and Highway 51/I-39, respectively. These build upon grants awarded last year for charging infrastructure in Arbor Vitae, Prentice, and Merrill. The stations are positioned along Wisconsin's designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, typically partnering with gas stations, restaurants, or lodging to support more than 43,000 registered Wisconsin EVs alongside out-of-state travelers. A complete map of all existing and planned charging locations is available on WisDOT's interactive EV dashboard online.

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Published on 09/09/2026 under News Tiny mushrooms, a patient angler, a dock extending into the morning fog, and a deer appearing to walk on water were among the top winning subjects in a local photography competition. Each summer, the Friends of Council Grounds State Park hosts its annual amateur photo contest, inviting submissions from park visitors near and far. After drawing more than 30 initial entries, organizers narrowed down the field, and community members cast nearly 1,300 ballots in the final round of public voting. Lydia Lehnertz of Eau Claire won the plants category with a detailed shot of green elf cup fungi growing on a log, while Allison Heckendorf of Merrill took top honors in the "People Using the Park" category with a portrait of a angler at work. Melissa Tremaine won the landscape division with her scenic submission titled "Foggy Morn," and Daniel Hinz claimed first in wildlife with a photo capturing a deer wading through a shallow section of the river. The Friends group expressed its appreciation to everyone who entered and supported this year's contest. Organizers encourage future park visitors to keep their cameras ready during upcoming trips to capture moments for next year's competition. The finalist photos are available for viewing on the official Friends of Council Grounds Facebook page.

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