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Officials Anticipate Busy Thanksgiving Travel Weekend Published on 11/24/2021 under News

Officials are encouraging safe travel ahead of what is expected to be a busy Thanksgiving holiday whether through the air or on the ground.

Nationwide, AAA is projecting a 13% increase in travel this year compared to last. That would bring the number of travelers to near pre-pandemic levels.

For automobile traffic specifically, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are the two busiest days on the road.

Here in the Northwoods, motorists should have some easy traveling. Most of the road construction has paused for the winter, and forecasters are calling for mild weather. With more cars on the road, officials are still encouraging motorists to slow down, buckle up, and put down your phone.

Motorists traveling in the Northwoods should also be alert for deer, as the number of vehicle/deer crashes has been on the rise in the month of November.

In Other News

Staying Safe During Holiday Decorations

Published on 12/04/2025 under News While many elves already have a jump start on their Christmas decorations, others may use this first weekend in December to hang lights. Officials are encouraging people take safety seriously for a happy holiday season. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average there are about 160 holiday decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with nearly half of the injuries involving falls. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says, "Holiday decorations should bring joy and not danger into people's homes. By taking a few extra moments to prevent hazards in your homes, you can create a joyful and safe environment." Ready Wisconsin offered a few quick tips:Choose a sturdy ladder that is the correct height and weight limit, and make sure it is placed on level grounds. Wear shoes that allow for good traction. Avoid standing on things likes chairs, counters or tables.Clear pathways including outdoor sidewalks of trip hazards, such as clutter, power cords and extra furniture.As for the lights, inspect both the bulbs and the cords for damage. Avoid overloading the circuits and outlets.Be mindful of fire dangers, keep trees watered and turn off the lights when you go to bed.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News An Athens man accused of cutting the brake lines of another man's vehicles on multiple occasions has reached a plea agreement. David Genrich pleaded no-contest to one count of attempted first-degree recklessly endangering safety and three counts of criminal damage to property. In exchange 5 other charges were dismissed, but will be considered during sentencing. The 24 year old was arrested in April of 2023 after an investigation into multiple instances of vehicle brake lines being cut. Following the second incident, the victim set up a surveillance camera capturing an individual, that matched the description Genrich. The plea agreement before a jury trial scheduled for later this month. According to the court calendar, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 2.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News A chilly week has ice forming on area waterways, but officials are reminding folks to stay off until more ice forms. It's important to note that no ice is completely safe and many factors affect ice strength. This includes fluctuating temperatures, water levels, snow cover and currents. With that in mind, a general rule of thumb is 2 inches or less, stay off entirely. When ice reaches 2-4 inches it may support some activities by foot. Any equipment such as ice shanties, ATVs, and snowmobiles should wait for at least a half foot of ice. When in doubt, it's best to wait. Whenever you venture onto the ice, let someone known where you'll be and when you plan to return. They also recommend some emergency tools including a segment of rope, a life preserver and a cellphone in a waterproof case.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News Fire stations around the Northwoods have become a bit more festive in recent days, but there's a reason behind the decoration. It's all part of the annual 'Keep the Wreath Green' campaign. During the holiday season, participating fire departments hang wreaths on their stations outfitted with green bulbs. When the agency responds to a fire, they change one of the green bulbs to a red one. The wreath serves as a visual reminder of the fire risks over the holiday season, one of the busiest stretches for fire departments nationwide. We saw that here in the Northwoods over the most recent Thanksgiving holiday. In just a few years, crews responded to life-changing fires in Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties. Here in Lincoln County, both the Tomahawk and Merrill Fire Departments participate in 'Keep the Wreath Green'. A few fire safety tips for the holidays...keep your Christmas tree watered and be careful not to overload electrical outlets. Keep an eye on food cooking, and avoid open flames and candles near flammable materials. These wreaths will remain up through the New Year's holiday, hopefully remaining green during that time.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News The 2025 Wisconsin gun-deer season has come to a close, and the harvest was just shy of last year's totals. The DNR provided a recap of the nine-day gun deer season Tuesday. According to the data, hunters registered 182,000 deer. That's down less than a percentage point when compared to last year's total, and 1.5% below the five year average. But hunters have seen a bit more success when factoring in the archery/crossbow seasons. As of Tuesday, the overall deer harvest including the bow hunts came in at approximately 295,000. That's up 1.1% from last year. Among factors that may have impacted the season was the relatively late start on the calendar, which traditionally has led to a slight drop. Weatherwise, after a quiet opening weekend, hunters across the state had to contend with major winter storms that crossed the northern portions of the state mid-week and central and southern Wisconsin during the second weekend of the season. The purchase of hunting licenses also saw a decline of less than a percentage point. Across all seasons, 790,000 hunters purchasing a tag. And it was a relatively safe 9-day gun/deer season. After two opening weekend firearm incidents, the DNR says there were no additional incidents reported for the remainder of the season.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News The Rhinelander Community will be celebrating a special birthday during an annual community event this evening. The Rhinelander School District and their partners will be hosting their 4th annual Hodag Day at the Dome celebration. Each December, they inviting the community to come enjoy the Dome with games, activities and entertainment. This year's theme is the 132nd Birthday Bash for the Hodag, the iconic, mythical beast that has become a symbol of the community. Organizers invite community members young and old to stop by and enjoy some of the activities they have planned. As part of the celebration, the district will host a Youth Entrepreneur Market. They explained this as an opportunity for students from the Rhinelander schools to sell some the products they produce. Doors open at 3:30pm and the Hodag Day at the Dome runs through 6pm.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News It's looking a little more winter-like outside. It serves as a good reminder that winter parking rules are now in place across many Northwoods communities. Here in the City of Tomahawk, winter parking rules went into effect as of December 1. That means no parking on city streets between 2:30am and 5am. While the goal is to allow room for plows to operate, the rules apply whether there is snow or not. A first offense ticket is $25. The winter parking rules here in Tomahawk run through March 15. Most other Northwoods communities have their own overnight winter parking rules in effect. These rules may vary, and drivers are encouraged to check local rules before parking.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News A Northwoods deer has a second lease on life following a water rescue. According to the St. Germain Fire Department, resident on Lost Lake reported that a deer had ventured out onto the newly formed ice and broke through. Responders arrived on the scene and assessed the situation, which they noted is a key step in any ice/water response. After determining it would be safe to proceed, a pair of responders suited up with their ice rescue gear. They broke up the ice to reach the struggling deer and created a path back to shore. In addition to rescuing the deer, they noted it provided a good training opportunity ahead of the ice rescue season. And the department noted the incident also serves as a good reminder to exercise good judgment and decision making when traveling on the ice throughout the winter season.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News Governor Evers made a visit to the Northwoods on Tuesday to get in a little holiday shopping and promote a shop local campaign. For the fifth consecutive year, Gov. Evers proclaimed the weeks between Small Business Saturday through the end of the year as "Shop Small Wisconsin Season." As part of the campaign, Governor Evers stopped in Merrill at several locally owned businesses including Kindhearted Floral and Custom Creations, Polka Dotted Pie, and Johnson's Gifts and Home Decor. Gov. Evers says, "I'm very supportive of small businesses and especially in smaller towns in the state. He added, "When you spend a dollar in a small business in a small town 60% of that ends up local." Throughout the Shop Small Wisconsin Season, the governor is encouraging all Wisconsinites to celebrate small businesses and the many contributions they make to communities across the state, to explore new small businesses and champion their success, and to show support for their neighbors and communities.

Published on 12/03/2025 under Sports On Tuesday night the Hatchet Hockey Team traveled to Lakeland Ice Arena to play the T-Birds in the Great Northern Conference opener. Tomahawk would jump out to an early lead and never look back, skating to an 8-1 win. Jett Reilly scored three minutes into the game and Tomahawk led 1-0. Tomahawk would add another goal three minutes later, when Landyn Seymour scored with assists to Jonah Dickens and Jake Albert. Dickens would score :35 seconds later, assisted by Jett Reilly and Tomahawk led 3-0. Lakeland scored their lone goal of the night with under six minutes left in the first from Lawson Bain. Tomahawk closed the first period out with a shorthanded goal from Dickens on an assist from Jett Reilly. Dickens would add another tally with :18 seconds remaining, assisted by Jett Reilly and Rex Reilly. Tomahawk led 5-0. Tomahawk scored three goals in the second period, Beau Stromberg assisted by Albert and Rex Reilly. Tomahawk closed out the scoring with two power plays goals, Jett Reilly scored his second goal of the night on an assist from Albert with six minutes left in second. Albert would close out the scoring on a goal assisted by Jett Reilly and Jonah Dickens. Tomahawk led 8-1 after two periods and neither team lit the lamp in the third. Tomahawk's Hudson Seymour 23 saves in the net. Tomahawk is now 3-0 and 1-0 in the GNC and will host Rhinelander for the home opener at SARA Park Arena at 7:00 pm on Thursday.

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