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Hatchets Sports Recap - Weekend Published on 10/25/2021 under Sports

FOOTBALL

The Tomahawk Hatchets Football season came to an end on Friday night with a 54-12 loss to Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the first round of the WIAA Tournament.

The Chargers used more than 580 yards of offense to propel themselves to the blowout win.

The Tomahawk Hatchets finish the season with a 4-7 record. They made their first postseason appearance since 2015.

STATS:

RB Logan Bishop - 7 Carries, 42 Yards

WR Jake Kaminski - 3 Catches, 42 Yards, 1 TD

DB Addison Peissig - 1 INT

CROSS COUNTRY

On Saturday, Tomahawk traveled to Colby High School, the site of WIAA Division 2 Sectional Cross- Country Meet. Ideal conditions greeted the 16 teams as they competed to earn the right to advance to Wisconsin Rapids next weekend for the State Championships.

In the opening event of the day, the Tomahawk boys had one of their best scoring split efforts of the year as they placed 5th overall with 156 points. For the Hatchets, they were led by sophomore Owen Dickrell with his 23rd place finish in a time of 18:17. Sophomore Presley Gutbrod, freshman Sam Zastrow and senior Arden Ziert all crossed together in 18:30 (placing 32,33, and 34 respectively), with a PR for Zastrow.

In the final event of the sectional, sophomore Rachael Reilly led her team and punched her individual ticket to the State Meet in Rapids next weekend with her 7th place overall finish in a seasonal best time of 20:21 for the 5K distance.

Her teammates put together a valiant effort, but couldn't overcome state-ranked teams from Medford and West Salem. Placing for the Hatchets was senior Macey Mann (15th-20:28 SB), freshman Alli Palmer (18th-21:12 PR), seniors Kate Reilly (35th-21:56), Ava Dragosh (40th-22:19 PR) and Emily Lacina (44th-22:22). Junior Serena Reinke had her 2nd fastest time of the year as she placed 46th in 22:35. There were 86 finishers in the girl's race.

With Rachael Reilly's individual Tomahawk continued their rich tradition in being represented at the state meet for the 27th time in the last 30 years (28 qualifying teams and 16 individual qualifiers).

The boys finished their season with a W-94 L-25 (Pct. 790) record and the girls concluded with a W-107 L-8 (Pct. 930).

In Other News

Lincoln County Board Approves 2027 Budget; Levy Up, Mill Rate Down

Published on 11/11/2026 under News As expected, the Lincoln County Board unanimously approved its 2027 budget during Tuesday's monthly meeting. Supervisors received the balanced proposal last month, giving them several weeks to review the spending plan prior to the final vote. The approved property tax levy comes in at 13.6 million dollars, up approximately 300,000 dollars from last year. However, driven by a nearly seven-percent increase in equalized property values and a 1.3-percent boost in net new construction, the average mill rate is projected to drop by 2.6 percent for townships and just over two percent for cities. Notable spending updates include increased funding for emergency medical services following a new joint E-M-S agreement with the City of Merrill. Overall budget numbers were bolstered by steady growth in county sales tax revenue, continuing a multi-year upward trend attributed in part to local investments in recreation and tourism promotion. Board Chair Don Friske praised the Finance Committee for the time and effort spent crafting this year's budget, noting the process was completed during a leadership transition as Korey Bloch stepped into the Finance Director role. With the final spending plan largely unchanged from the October draft, supervisors passed the budget with minimal discussion.

Published on 11/11/2026 under News Following strong local reviews at its September premiere, area residents will have another chance to see Tomahawk: City in the Pines on the big screen. A second free screening of the 90-minute historical documentary is scheduled for this coming Monday, November 16th. Co-created by Tomahawk native Clay Schmit and Oscar-winning director John Newcombe, the film captures over 140 years of local history—from early Indigenous lands and the timber era to present day. The two friends spent nearly two years on the project connecting with community members, local organizations, and historians. Schmit says they will be partnering with the Northwoods Vineyard Church to air a second screening coming up on Monday at 7pm.For those unable to attend in person, the documentary is also available to stream online through Kinema for four dollars and ninety-nine cents.

Published on 11/11/2026 under News A popular outdoor recreation destination in the Northwoods is getting a major financial boost for facility upgrades. The Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau has announced a 33,000-dollar Community Investment Fund grant to Minocqua Winter Park to support improvements at its chalet. The project focuses on five key areas: upgrading the kitchen, modernizing restrooms and changing areas, adding electrical outlets, installing a facility-wide sound system, and expanding Wi-Fi coverage across the grounds. The award is part of the Bureau's 50,000-dollar program designed to strengthen local tourism infrastructure. Bureau President and CEO Krystal Westfahl highlighted that reinvesting room tax dollars into local facilities helps keep the region competitive while enhancing amenities for both visitors and residents. Westfahl noted, "Minocqua Winter Park is an incredible asset to our destination, and these improvements will help ensure that it continues to meet the expectations of today's travelers." In addition to the financial grant, the Bureau will provide ongoing promotional support for the park.

Published on 11/11/2026 under News Health officials are urging local residents to stay alert after the Taylor County Health Department confirmed the county's first case of mumps this season. Department staff are working directly with the patient and medical providers to ensure proper treatment and isolation. Mumps is a contagious viral infection spread through direct contact or airborne droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, sneezes, or shares cups and utensils. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite, followed by painful swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw and ears. Officials note that infected individuals can spread the virus up to five days after symptoms begin, and some people may spread it without showing symptoms at all. This case comes as state health officials report a sharp rise in measles cases across Wisconsin. Health officials emphasize that while both viral infections are highly contagious, the MMR vaccine offers strong protection against both mumps and measles. However, the vaccine cannot be used as a post-exposure treatment.

Published on 11/11/2026 under News As hunters gear up for the start of the gun deer season next week, the Wisconsin D-N-R is looking for community members to help shape future deer management decisions. Applications are now open for all Citizen Deer Advisory Council seats across the state. These local councils meet annually to review harvest data, gather community feedback, and recommend management strategies for their specific deer management units. D-N-R Deer and Elk Specialist Steve Burns calls public involvement through these councils the "backbone" of managing local deer populations, noting that the councils bring forward a variety of community perspectives on how white-tailed deer should be managed. Selected members will serve a three-year term representing one of seven stakeholder categories, including hunting, agriculture, forestry, tourism, and local government. The application deadline is November 30th. To apply or learn more, search "C-D-A-C" on the Wisconsin D-N-R website.

Published on 11/10/2026 under News It's been one week since voters headed to the polls, and looking back at local numbers, participation in Lincoln County was steady with turnout down slightly compared to recent years. Based on preliminary results from Tuesday, there were 13,154 votes cast in Lincoln County, down about 500 votes from each of the last two comparable elections in 2018 and 2022. These are non-presidential years, which typically drive voter turnout. Local voter participation is typically higher than both state and national averages. Despite the slight drop, voter turnout remained approximately 74% of eligible voters. Even the partisan breakdown was similar as Lincoln County has turned reliably red in recent years. Despite his home territory, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany didn't receive much of a bump. He received approximately 60% of the voter share, nearly identical to 2022 GOP candidate Tim Michels. Meanwhile looking at the 2024 presidential election, more than 17,300 ballots were cast which is around 31%.

Published on 11/10/2026 under News One person is dead following a single vehicle crash in Oneida County Monday evening. According to the Sheriff's Office, that crash happened at shortly before 10pm on South River Road in the Town of Crescent. Based on the preliminary investigation, a northbound truck lost control while navigating a sharp corner, left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, an 18 year old male was ejected from the vehicle. Life saving efforts were unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator was the lone occupant of the vehicle. Their name was not immediately released. According to the Sheriff's Report, speed is believed to be a factor. The crash remains under investigation.

Published on 11/10/2026 under News A man charged in connection with a fatal rollover crash last fall has been sentenced following a plea agreement in Taylor County court. During a hearing this past week, 50-year-old Stephen Kaplon pleaded guilty to a felony count of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. A second felony charge, homicide by vehicle through the use of a controlled substance, was dismissed. The court ordered a withheld sentence, placing Kaplon on five years of probation with nine months in county jail. In addition, Kaplon's driver's license was revoked for one year, and he is required to maintain absolute sobriety as a condition of his probation. The charges stemmed from a single-vehicle crash in October of last year. According to investigators, Kaplon was traveling on County C in the Town of Rib Lake at a high rate of speed when he left the roadway and struck several trees. His passenger, 49-year-old Sharon Kaplon of Ogema, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Published on 11/10/2026 under News Fall and winter mark respiratory illness season across the Northwoods, but the Oneida County Health Department is hoping to make it easier to identify common bugs with a quick symptom guide. As cold weather drives more people indoors and holiday gatherings bring people closer together, exposure to viruses like the common cold, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 naturally increases. While many of these illnesses share overlapping symptoms, others are more distinct. For example, a cold typically brings a runny nose and sore throat, while body aches, fatigue, and fever point more toward the flu. Wheezing, meanwhile, is most commonly associated with RSV. Health officials note that while individual symptoms can vary, the department's visual checklist can help residents determine if a doctor's visit is needed. Officials also emphasize preventive steps like staying up to date on immunizations, washing hands frequently, covering coughs, and staying home when feeling sick to prevent spreading bugs to others.

Published on 11/10/2026 under News Local public lands are getting a boost thanks to sports enthusiasts across the state, as the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund awards more than $129,000 to five conservation projects. That includes a nearly $20,000 grant focused directly on a multi-county effort here in Northwoods. In Oneida and Vilas counties, the funds will create vital open wildlife habitat within our heavily forested region. Work teams will remove woody vegetation to build wildlife openings and plant them with diverse pollinator seed mixes. The restoration efforts are slated for the Woodboro Lakes Wildlife Area, Stag and Roe State Wildlife Habitat Area, and the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area in Oneida County... along with the Northern Highlands-Legion State Forest in Vilas County. Other grant dollars will fund prairie, stream, and oak savanna work across Southern and Eastern Wisconsin. The public-private partnership between the DNR and the Natural Resources Foundation relies on voluntary contributions made when outdoorsmen buy licenses through the state's "Go Wild" system. The Cherish Fund is a partnership between the DNR and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, built largely through voluntary donations added when outdoorsmen purchase hunting and fishing licenses on the state's "Go Wild" portal.

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