WJJQ Radio

Story Details

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

Deer Activity on the Rise; Motorists Reminded to be on the Lookout

Published on 11/02/2026 under News It's that time of year when deer become more active, and safety officials are reminding motorists to use extra caution on the road. While hunters love seeing a big buck cross their path in the field, hitting one behind the wheel is a different story. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, deer-vehicle crashes spike sharply during the fall as days shorten and bucks pursue potential mates. WisDOT statistics show there were more than 17,000 deer-vehicle crashes in the state last year, with about a third occurring in October and November. Locally, deer collisions are also climbing. Over the past four weeks alone, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office reported more than 60 deer-related crashes on county roadways. Safety officials remind drivers to buckle up, slow down, and scan the road ahead—particularly at dawn and dusk when deer are most active. Because deer often travel in groups, seeing one cross the road usually means others are close behind. If a collision is unavoidable, experts recommend braking firmly while remaining in your lane. Swerving should be avoided, as it can cause you to lose control, leave the roadway, or collide with oncoming traffic, leading to a far more severe crash. If you do strike a deer, safely pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights, and remain in your vehicle while waiting for assistance to arrive.

Published on 11/02/2026 under News Multiple people were injured Thursday evening after a fleeing driver struck a deputy squad and a civilian car in Lincoln County. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, dispatch received multiple calls shortly after 7:00 p.m. regarding a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lane of Highway 51, heading from Oneida County into Lincoln County. A deputy located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to pull over despite the patrol car's emergency lights and siren being activated. Rather than conducting a PIT maneuver, out of concern for safety, a patrol lieutenant maneuvered his squad into the path of the oncoming vehicle. The suspect's vehicle struck the occupied patrol car as well as a civilian vehicle. Both the driver of the civilian car and the patrol lieutenant sustained suspected injuries in the crash. The suspect, identified as 80-year-old Rory Hofmann of Grafton, Wisconsin, was taken into custody on numerous charges including second-offense OWI causing injury, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and fleeing or failing to stop. He's scheduled for an initial appearance in court today. The Wisconsin State Patrol is handling the investigation.

Published on 11/02/2026 under News A teenager charged in connection with an altercation at Lincoln Hills that led to the death of a staff member was sentenced to three years in prison. Javarius Hurd returned to Lincoln County Circuit Court on Friday for his sentencing hearing. Earlier in the week, a jury returned a split verdict following a six-day trial into the 2024 death of Corey Proulx at the juvenile correctional facility. While Hurd was acquitted of the most serious charge—reckless homicide—he was convicted of one count of battery by a prisoner. At Friday's hearing, the judge sentenced Hurd to three years in prison, followed by three years of extended supervision. He was also ordered to have no contact with Lincoln Hills or the other counselor involved in the incident. Hurd was granted 858 days of credit for time already served.

Published on 11/02/2026 under News If you grew up in the Northwoods, chances are you've taken a field trip to Trees for Tomorrow. To make sure future students get that same opportunity, the Eagle River center is launching a new fundraising drive." Trees For Tomorrow announced its year-end initiative, titled TFT4All: Fueling Our Growth. The nonprofit is seeking to raise 250 thousand dollars to fund student scholarships and offset rising operational costs for visiting K-12 school districts. To help reach that goal, a group of donors has established an 85 thousand dollar matching challenge, doubling all contributions dollar-for-dollar through the end of the year. For more than 80 years, the Eagle River campus has hosted field-based science programs, serving roughly 14 thousand youth and adults annually. Center leadership notes that tight school budgets and increasing expenses have made financial support critical for families relying on scholarship assistance for field trips. Organizers say funds raised will directly cover student program fees, maintain campus infrastructure, and upgrade gear used for outdoor conservation science.

Published on 11/02/2026 under News Wisconsin Public Service employees continue to give back to community organizations thanks to their on-the-job safety. The latest contribution goes to a well-known organization that helps fufill dreams for sick children...Wisconsin Make-A-Wish. The $5,000 donation is part of the WPS Safety Charity Challenge. It's a company-wide initiative to encourage employees to live and work safely while positively impacting their local communities. Each quarter, employees who meet safety goals are able to select an organization or program to receive a contribution from the WPS Foundation. Last year alone, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin granted wishes for more than 400 children across the state, and over the years more than 9,000 wishes.

Published on 11/02/2026 under News Severe weather in Wisconsin changes with the seasons, and the National Weather Service is offering an opportunity to learn more about winter storms before the snow begins to fall. The NWS office in Green Bay is rolling out specialized winter sessions of their SKYWARN Storm Spotter classes in the coming weeks. These upcoming classes will focus on winter-specific hazards, including severe snow events, subzero cold weather warnings, and other winter conditions that directly impact Northwoods residents. Storm spotters provide a critical link to NWS meteorologists by serving as an extra set of eyes on the ground during severe weather events. The agency also provides courses in the spring. There are four class opportunities in November and one in December, with the first session scheduled for tomorrow evening. Because each session covers roughly the same material, participants only need to attend one. The online classes are free and open to the public. Registration links are available on our website.

Published on 11/02/2026 under Sports At the WIAA Division 2 State Cross Country Meet in Wisconsin Rapids, The two Tomahawk female qualifiers placed in the top 100. Senior Elise Gibeault ended her high school cross country career placing 40th. Gibeault finished with a time of 20:12. As for Sophomore Charlee Lund, she placed 95th in her second straight state appearance. Lund clocked in with a time of 21:14. This concludes the Tomahawk Cross Country Season.

Published on 10/30/2026 under News Fall Fest is returning to downtown Tomahawk this Saturday, and organizers are preparing for a major Halloween weekend turnout. In addition to offering family fun, the event provides a welcome boost to local business owners. While Fall Fest is free for attendees, local shop owners invest significant off-hours time and purchase their own candy and decorations. Tomahawk Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz highlights that this investment pays off by introducing new customers to local storefronts. "The exposure for our businesses and giving them that opportunity to shine really is why we keep doing these events," Turkiewicz said. It is not just out-of-town visitors discovering these downtown shops; Turkiewicz notes it is common for local residents to discover stores they do not normally visit. Because Fall Fest falls directly on Halloween this year, Turkiewicz expects an extra surge in foot traffic as families incorporate downtown festivities into citywide trick-or-treating. The event typically draws between 600 and 1,000 people. Turkiewicz encourages everyone to come down and enjoy the fun, festive atmosphere, noting that family-themed costumes are one of her favorite parts of the day. Full schedules and details on participating businesses can be found on the Tomahawk Main Street Facebook page.

Published on 10/30/2026 under News Students at Tomahawk High School are getting a real-world look at the skilled trades, swapping traditional classroom time for heavy machinery and hands-on concrete work. Members of the school's Technology Education program recently visited the CASE Construction Equipment Proving Grounds right here in Tomahawk. Students got behind the controls of bulldozers, tractor loaders, and excavators, gaining a firsthand look at the equipment, technology, and career pathways available in the construction industry. Back on campus, students applied their skills to pour a brand-new sidewalk in front of the high school, gaining practical experience in concrete preparation, placement, and finishing. It's a project they will be reminded of every time they enter the building. School district officials say these hands-on experiences highlight the immense value of technical education and the importance of connecting students with local industry partners. By completing real-world projects alongside local businesses, students leave with practical skills and a clearer path toward careers in the skilled trades.

Published on 10/30/2026 under News Downtown Rhinelander has a brand-new, colorful backdrop celebrating local pride, and leaders say it's only the first step in a broader push to revamp the area's visual landscape. The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce officially unveiled the completed "Greetings from Rhinelander" mural at 2 North Brown Street earlier this week. Commissioned by the Chamber and painted by artist Alixandra Jade, the project aims to build community identity, drive foot traffic downtown, and create a signature photo spot for residents and visitors alike. Beyond painting the wall, Jade also spent time working with local high school art students. Chamber officials view the new artwork as a catalyst for economic vitality and local connection, and they're already looking to keep the momentum going with plans for additional public art installations across Rhinelander in 2027.

+ Read More