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Rhinelander Chamber Director Receives 'Rising Star' Tourism Award Published on 03/21/2022 under News

A Northwoods chamber director has been dubbed a 'Rising Star' by the state's tourism department.

At the Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Tourism, eight individuals and organizations were presented with Tourism Awards. Among them was Lauren Sackett from the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce. Sackett received one of two 'Rising Star' awards.

In the announcement panel said of Sackett, "Her leadership played a crucial role in helping many local tourism businesses survive through the pandemic. Described as the perfect blend of local pride, fearless advocate and compassionate peer, Sackett works tirelessly to bring tourism in the Northwoods to the next level."

In addition to her position with the Rhinelander Chamber, Sackett also contributes to the Northwoods Tourism Council.

Tourism secretary-designee, Anne Sayers. "As tourism continues to rebound, it's the inspired work and brilliant execution from these individuals and organizations that keep Wisconsin on the right path toward recovery. Congratulations to our award winners and all of this year's nominees."

2022 Governor's Tourism Awards winners:

Arts, Culture and Heritage Award - Create Waunakee Committee, Village of Waunakee 

The Village of Waunakee and its "Create Waunakee" Committee celebrate its innovators, creators and artists that make Waunakee a vibrant place to live and explore. Since February 2020, this committee of nine dedicated community volunteers and four village staff members has gone above and beyond to bring amazing programs, ideas and opportunities to Waunakee. Examples include, "Waunakee is Home", a series of monthly interviews with local community members, and the Waunakee Artisan Market, which emphasizes the talents of local artists.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Award - Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, Door County Maritime Museum and Lighthouse Preservation Society 

As a recent expansion of the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, the landmark Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower offers ten floors of interactive educational exhibits highlighting maritime history, people and industries. The space is designed to provide accessibility to a lighthouse experience that can accommodate everyone regardless of physical abilities and provides a must-see maritime experience that will draw visitors and create a significant economic boost to the region.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Award - Unique Unites, VISIT Milwaukee 

Unique Unites is an ongoing campaign designed to highlight Milwaukee's eclectic and diverse community with a focus on inclusivity and representation for all who live, work and visit the city. The campaign encourages visitors and locals alike to branch out, explore the city, learn about its diverse community and find their Milwaukee. With this initiative, visitors from all walks of life can feel like they belong in a city where they are represented and included. 

Innovation Award - Wisconsin River Trail Organization 

The Wisconsin River Trail Organization (WRTO) Board formed in 2014 to create a 20-mile hiking and biking trail in the Boscobel/Woodman/Wauzeka area. In addition to the trail creation, there are plans to continue to reinvent the community by converting old feed buildings into a hostel, brew pub, theater, indoor farmers market and much more. The WRTO is made up of community members including nurses, insurance representatives, teachers and secretaries who together serve as mentors in the community and will leave a legacy that will be built upon for years to come.  

Rising Star Award - Amy Albright, Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau 

Amy Albright continuously displays her passion for Oshkosh while leading the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau to ensure economic development through tourism. She has elevated the marketing strategy for the Oshkosh area by jumpstarting its presence on social media, radio and other media outlets. Her unwavering commitment to establish partnerships and foster relationships have longstanding impacts throughout the community.

Rising Star Award - Lauren Sackett, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce 

Since becoming Executive Director of the Rhinelander Area Chamber in June 2018, Lauren Sackett has served as the Treasurer of the Oneida County Tourism Commission and has worked to uplift the entire area by advocating for increased commitment in tourism investment. Her leadership played a crucial role in helping many local tourism businesses survive through the pandemic. Described as the perfect blend of local pride, fearless advocate and compassionate peer, Sackett works tirelessly to bring tourism in the Northwoods to the next level. 

Service Excellence Award - The Racine Zoo 

The Racine Zoo is a 28-acre, accredited zoo along the shores of Lake Michigan that works to create a safe, fun, enriching and educational place for all ages. The Zoo incorporates animals and wildlife conservation education into every part of their work. From guided scout hikes and preschool classes to summer camps and special events, they strive to connect the community with nature. As a result of its ongoing efforts to remove barriers to access, the Racine Zoo recently became the first certified sensory inclusive zoo in Wisconsin.

Legacy Award - Sherry Quamme, Mississippi River Parkway Commission/WI Great River Road 

Sherry Quamme has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to serving and uplifting numerous municipalities, including her own community of Ferryville. She has been a driving force for tourism and economic development in southwest Wisconsin and has collaborated with more than eight destination marketing organizations to promote the region. She has served on the Mississippi River Parkway Commission/Wisconsin Great River Road, including as Chair, since 2008. Quamme led the efforts to author Wisconsin's first successful All American Road application to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, with the designation being awarded in 2021. No matter the project, Quamme is a forward-thinking leader, and her efforts go above and beyond.

In Other News

Tomahawk XC Places in Top Ten at Neenah Nightfall

Published on 09/11/2026 under Sports The Hatchet Cross Country squads would finish in the top ten in the Nightfall Cross Country Classic in Neenah Friday night. Tomahawk's girls would place ninth overall, sandwiched in between Sheboygan Falls and Freedom. Charlee Lund would finish in the top ten overall, placing ninth with a time of 20:04. Elise Gibeault would finish second on the team with a time of 21:06. The Hatchet boys placed tenth overall, between Freedom and Edgerton. Jordyn Carew placed 50th overall with a time of 18:46. Connor Zorn was 52nd with a time of 18:48. The Hatchets' next Cross Country invite is the 9-Mile Invite, hosted by Wausau East next Saturday at 9:00 AM. Girls Results: Tomahawk - 9th Merrill - 17th Northland Pines - 20th Antigo - 22nd Boys: Tomahawk - 10th Northland Pines - 15th Antigo - 17th Merrill - 21st

Published on 09/11/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's football squad came out on the right side of the scoreboard for the first time in 2026 as they would come from behind to defeat Antigo at Hatchet Field Friday night, 26-14. After trailing 14-7 at halftime, Tomahawk's second half got kick-started by a 56-yard kickoff return from Zander Zehner and was capped off with a six-yard touchdown run from Max Larson. The Hatchet back rushed for a career-high 161 yards in the victory. Lucas Haring would rush for 83 yards and two scores in the victory. Jack Reilly also threw his second touchdown pass of the season, a ten-yard strike to Braxton Stromberg. The Hatchets improve to 1-3 on the season and 1-1 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk will have their first road GNC game next Friday as they head to Incredible Bank Field in Minocqua for a battle with the Lakeland Thunderbirds. Tune in for the broadcast on the WJJQ app, online at wjjq.com and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Kickoff Cabin at 6:15 and kickoff at 7:00. Alex Koch and Jon Long will have the broadcast. 11-Player Football: Wausau East 27, Lakeland 22 Medford 36, Merrill 0 Rhinelander 28, Mosinee 22 Shiocton 8, Northland Pines 0 Coleman 36, Crandon 0 Loyal-Greenwood 14, Abbotsford 12 8-Player Football: Thorp 66, Rib Lake 26 Laona-Wabeno 53, Three Lakes/Phelps 6 Phillips 46, Chequamegon 20 Assumption 54, Athens 20

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Two years in the making, a story covering more than 140 years of local history is finally ready for the big screen. Saturday night marks the official premiere of Tomahawk: City in the Pines. The 90-minute documentary was co-created by Tomahawk native Clay Schmit and Oscar-winning director John Newcombe. First announced in the summer of 2024, the two friends spent over a year connecting with community members, local organizations, and historians. Together, they gathered photographs, stories, and archival records to bring the town's history to life through narration, colorization, and video. The feature spans over a century of local history from early Indigenous lands and the city's founding in 1886; through the high-stakes river-logging era; and all the way to the present day. The film also highlights iconic local landmarks lost to history, like the grand Mitchell Hotel and the original Tomahawk Boat Company. Community members who received an early screening have given the film rave reviews. Now, it is ready for the public.The special premiere takes place Saturday night at the Tomahawk High School Auditorium. Showtime is at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Schmit and Newcombe will also follow up with an audience Q & A. The film is officially dedicated to those who lost their lives working in the local timber industry, and organizers encourage attendees to wear their favorite flannel to honor the town's logging roots.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News As the nation marks 25 years since September 11th, folks right here in Tomahawk are coming together once again to keep a deeply meaningful local tradition alive. Even though that tragedy took place hundreds of miles away, the Tomahawk community has never stopped honoring the lives lost and the incredible courage of our first responders. While a lot of towns have let their annual ceremonies fade over the years, Tomahawk's commitment has continued strong thanks to the passion of its organizers. Ahead of today's gathering, we caught up with firefighter Kevin Krueger and VFW Commander Bob Soward. Krueger put it best; he says as long as he's breathing, Tomahawk will mark this day on the actual date, every single year. For Soward, it's all about honoring the fallen and making sure the next generation never forgets what happened. The ceremony will bring together local first responders, veterans, town leaders, and neighbors. They'll be back at their usual location in Veterans Memorial Park in Tomahawk. The morning starts with a quiet "Time of Reflection" at 10:00 a.m., followed by the official ceremony getting underway at 10:30 a.m.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Opportunities to bag a buck kick off this weekend with the opening of the fall archery and crossbow season. The Wisconsin DNR provided its annual overview earlier this week. Last season, bowhunters registered nearly 42,000 deer, up slightly from 2024. Meanwhile, the number of deer harvested by crossbow increased from 63,000 to 70,000. According to the DNR's Fall Hunting Forecast, DNR biologist Derek Johnson says the northern herd looks strong and healthy heading into the season, as deer should benefit from a third consecutive mild winter. He also reminds hunters to brush up on the Deer Management Units, introduced in the Northern Zone last year to replace the previous county boundaries. The DNR also reminds everyone heading out this weekend and throughout the season to practice safe hunting habits, including tree stand and firearm safety. Those sharing public lands with hunters should also keep in mind that the fall hunting seasons are now underway. The archery and crossbow season opens Saturday and runs through early January. The fall turkey season also kicks off this weekend, alongside ruffed grouse hunting in Zone A, and some small game.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News Travelers passing through the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport can enjoy some new wildlife paintings from a local artist. Through a partnership with ArtStart, the airport features a rotating gallery, with the latest exhibit showcasing work from renowned Northern Wisconsin wildlife artist Caleb Metrich of Lake Tomahawk. If the name sounds familiar, Metrich has had tremendous success in annual state bird stamp design contests. Over the years, his artwork has been selected for feature on turkey, pheasant, and waterfowl stamps on ten separate occasions—primarily right here in Wisconsin. Metrich's paintings are on display now in the airport terminal. The gallery is free to view for passengers and the general public, even without a boarding pass, and visitors can take advantage of free parking for up to four hours.

Published on 09/11/2026 under News A trial date has been officially set for a woman accused of trying to hire someone to kill her child's father in Lincoln County. At a scheduling hearing, a jury trial for Angela Volm was scheduled to begin early next year on February 17. The 45 year old faces a felony charge of solicitation to commit first-degree intentional homicide. She has entered a plea of not guilty. According to the criminal complaint, the victim alerted the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office after receiving threatening text messages from Volm. Investigators subsequently uncovered communications where Volm allegedly inquired about hiring an individual to murder the man.

Published on 09/10/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's girls swimmers would continue to struggle in Great Northern Conference dual meets Thursday night as they would lose to Rhinelander and Colby. The Hatchets' top finish in the double dual came in the 100 and 200 yard freestyles. Kami Gabrich placed third in the 100 with a time of 1:07.67, tied with Colby's Myra Hopperdietzel. Aubrey Tollefson placed third with a time of 2:26.67 in the 200 freestyle. Finishing right behind her was Kortney Busterud at 2:28.39. The Hatchets are back in the pool next Thursday for another GNC Dual against Ladysmith. Events begin at 5:30.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News It's time once again for Tomahawk residents to do a little fall cleaning with the return of Dumpster Days, an annual event offering household item disposal and electronics recycling on Saturday morning. Tomahawk Dumpster Days was originally established by a group of community minded volunteers known as the Make-A-Difference organization. After twenty years, the initial goal remains the same: to make the community a cleaner, more inviting place to live, work, and play by giving residents a convenient way to discard hard-to-dispose-of items. The City of Tomahawk has now taken over the organization of Dumpster Days working with community partners. Tomahawk Iron and Metal will host a small electronics recycling on-site, though select items may carry a small fee. Larger items can be brought to their business. And while document shredding has been offered in previous years, it is not part of this year's event. Beyond cleaning up the city, Dumpster Days serves as a fundraiser and hands-on learning experience for the local Boy Scout troop, whose members assist on-site and help with curbside pickups. The pickup service costs $25 and must be arranged through City Hall by Friday afternoon. Two decades later, Dumpster Days remains as popular as ever. A queue of vehicles typically lines up at the entrance well before the site opens on Saturday morning. Collection runs from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the city garage. Organizers remind community members that household item drop-off is strictly for city residents; while the electronics recycling is open to all

Published on 09/10/2026 under News With bow deer season just a few days away, Tomahawk will once again hold a nuisance deer hunt within city limits. The Common Council formally approved the resolution during a special meeting Wednesday. This does not mean hunters will be walking down Main Street this fall. The city designates specific zones where the nuisance hunt is and isn't permitted, with most allowed areas located along rural stretches of land within city boundaries. While participation and harvest numbers vary each year, a typical season yields fewer than ten registered deer. Following the season's conclusion, the Nuisance Animal Committee plans to reconvene to review the data. Twenty-five tags are available, and participants must register with the Tomahawk Police Department while following standard Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations. The nuisance hunt runs concurrently with the statewide archery season, which opens Saturday and extends into early January.

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