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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

First Winter Weather of Season Leads to Snowy Thanksgiving

Published on 11/27/2025 under News Our first winter storm of the season led to travel challenges and power outages across the Northwoods. While the snow system has mostly moved out of the area, it left behind some impressive snow totals in Northern Wisconsin. Here in Tomahawk, we received a manageable 2-4 inches of snowfall. Across northern Vilas and Iron Counties, totals in the teens were common. According to the National Weather Service, Gile in Iron County was at 33 inches and counting this morning. Nearby Hurley was at 30 inches. Before transitioning to snow, we had rain which left slick spots on roads for what is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday. We did receive a few reports of vehicle slide-offs and minor collisions, along with slowed traffic. The snow, coupled with gusty winds, also led to power outages. Wisconsin Public Service crews worked throughout Wednesday and into Thursday morning restoring more than 20,000 customers. As of 9am there were approximately 1,800 outages, primarily in Vilas and Door Counties. According to an update posted Wednesday evening, WPS anticipated all power restored Thursday. This isn't the first time we've dealt with snow and power outages on Thanksgiving in recent years. Looking back in the WJJQ archives, we received a foot of snow in Tomahawk on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2019.

Published on 11/27/2025 under News Volunteers around the Northwoods are spending a portion of their Thanksgiving holiday making sure that others in their community enjoy a holiday meal with some company. Here in Tomahawk, St. Mary's is once again organizing the Community Thanksgiving Luncheon. It's an annual tradition that allows community members to enjoy their meal with family and friends. Volunteers have spent the past few days prepping for the feast which includes turkey and all of the fixings. They are back in the kitchen early this morning for the final touches and getting the meals ready to serve. Organizers note the meal is a way to give back to the community, while also providing an opportunity for those who may otherwise spend Thanksgiving alone. They're hosting the free meal at the Corpus Christi Center from 11am to 1pm. Another crew of volunteers will spend the morning delivering prepared meals for those unable to travel. The sign-up deadline for the delivery has already passed.

Published on 11/27/2025 under News Thanksgiving marks the start of the winter holiday season and family gatherings mean plenty of food will be prepared. Health officials are reminding holiday hosts to remember food safety. No matter your menu, food safety rules remain the same and are focused on four areas of focus: clean, separate, cook, and chill. First keep everything in your kitchen clean. Wash your hands before and after handling food and frequently during preparation. In addition to your hands, keep utensils, cutting boards, knives and counter-tops clean. Separate foods to avoid cross contamination. This is especially true for proteins like eggs, meat, and poultry. A good tip is to keep separate cutting boards for food that will be cooked and food that is served raw. As for Cook, make sure that food reaches the proper internal temperature. For a turkey, the FDA recommends 165 degrees in the innermost portion of the thigh. Speaking of food temperatures, the health department highlighted the 'danger zone.' Always keep hot food hot, above 135 degrees; and keep cold food cold, below 41 degrees. Bacteria grow more easily in the temperatures between. Try to get any leftovers refrigerated within two hours. The USDA says properly-stored Thanksgiving leftovers prepared today should be good through Monday.

Published on 11/27/2025 under News A pair of first responders from the Northwoods were among thousands who recently attended the EMS World Expo. The conference is described as one of the nation's largest gatherings of emergency medical services professionals, offering extensive education, hands-on workshops, and networking focused on pre-hospital care, emergency medicine, and patient transport. Thanks to Aspirus Howard Young and the Walter Olson Medical Staff Education Fund, Brady Geiss and Jackey Postuchow were able to attend the 2025 Expo in Indianapolis. Geiss is a paramedic with the Aspirus MedEvac team based in Woodruff. He said, "I look forward to sharing what I learned at the Expo with other EMS providers throughout our region to help strengthen emergency care in rural communities." Postuchow, an EMT also volunteers with Plum Lake Ambulance Service and St. Germain Fire/Rescue and Boulder Junction Volunteer Fire Department. She says, "Volunteering in rural EMS is both rewarding and challenging." She added, "The EMS World Expo provided valuable knowledge that I can bring back to strengthen training, improve care, and inspire the next generation of EMS providers in northern Wisconsin." Lori Knitt, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Aspirus Health North Division. "We are proud of Brady and Jackey for their dedication to learning and for their commitment to improving emergency medical care for the communities we serve." She says, "The Walter Olson Fund is a wonderful example of how community generosity continues to strengthen health care across the Northwoods."-Photo provided by Aspirus

Published on 11/27/2025 under News Today is traditionally one of the busiest days in the kitchen, unfortunately it's also one of the busiest for firefighters. Before those meals are prepared local fire fighters are encouraging safety so everyone can enjoy their holiday feast. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home fires, three times the daily average. That's followed by Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. The three upcoming holidays have similar traditions with family gatherings around large meals. Lorraine Carli with the NFPA says, "Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday with multiple dishes cooking and baking at the same time, and along with guests, entertaining, and other distractions, it can be easy to lose sight of what's on the stove or in the oven." Carli added, "With all these factors at play, it's no surprise that we consistently see a dramatic spike in home cooking fires on Thanksgiving." They also offered up a few reminders to remember in the kitchen... Unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires, so make sure to keep a close eye on food on the stove, oven, or grill. Take advantage of slow cookers, and smart devices to simplify meal prep.Try to limit the amount of people and pets in the kitchen to those preparing the meal.Keep flammable items like hot pads, wooden or plastic utensils and food packaging away from the burners, and pan handles should be turned towards the middle or the back of the stove.Make sure you have a working smoke detector and keep a kitchen fire extinguisher handy.

Published on 11/26/2025 under News Opening weekend of the hunting season has come and gone, and hunter success was similar to recent years. The DNR released the preliminary figures for the first two days of the nine-day gun deer season. Hunters registered ~91,000 deer, compared to 87,000 registered for the same period in 2024. This is a 3.9% increase from a year ago, but 1.1% below the 5-year average. The Northern Forest Zone, has shifted from county-based management units back to habitat-based units making it difficult to compare with previous years. The DNR also provided some brief analysis. The season fell late on the calendar and breeding activity, which can enhance daytime deer movement, declined noticeably in the days leading up to the weekend. Conditions for the opening weekend were pretty favorable for hunters with cool and quiet mornings, however a lack of snow and mild afternoons were also factors. As for the second half of the season, there is snow in the forecast in Northern Wisconsin and the Thanksgiving holiday, but it's looking to be a cold but quiet second weekend. The gun-deer season continues through Sunday. ___ While the number of deer registered was up slightly, the number of hunters was nearly identical to last year. According to the DNR, the number of tags sold through opening weekend was 778,000, less then a tenth of a percent change from last year. That total includes all deer hunting licenses including archery, crossbow, conservation patron, and sports licenses. For the gun/deer season specifically, there were 538,000 tags sold. Final license sales data will be available in January and the DNR noted that will also include an analysis of the figures. ___ There were two hunting-related investigations, both in southern Wisconsin. A 24 year old died in Fond du Lac County. Based on the initial investigation, the man unintentionally fired his weapon while sitting on a saddle stand and struck himself in the chest. The other incident occurred in Grant County. A 57 year old was walking to a field when he was struck in the buttocks. He was treated at a local hospital.

Published on 11/26/2025 under News A man was arrested in connection with multiple threats made to the Trig's grocery store in Tomahawk. Those threats were made on consecutive days, Sunday and Monday. According to the Tomahawk Police Department, as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation, they identified Nicholas P. Wolf as a suspect. He was taken into custody Tuesday. No other information was provided. According to the announcement, there is no threat or danger to the community. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding the case is asked to contact the Tomahawk Police Department.

Published on 11/26/2025 under News Officials are investigating a death in Price County earlier this week. According to the Park Falls Police Department, officers were called to a property on Saunders Street on Monday evening at shortly before 9pm. An adult was found dead outside of the residence. They said the cause of death is currently undetermined, and no other details have been provided. According to the Police Department, there is no danger to the public. The investigation is ongoing, local investigators are working with state officials including the DoJ Division of Criminal Investigation.

Published on 11/26/2025 under News While the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry typically receives contributions of food or cash, the latest donation has an engine and wheels. The pantry, serving the greater Rhinelander area, announced they received a new refrigerated, transport truck. The truck was purchased through a much larger donation Walmart made to the Feeding America Network to improve food rescue and distribution. It will allow the Rhinelander volunteers to pick up larger food donations safely, thanks to the refrigeration unit. Currently, most pick ups are made with their own personal vehicles and coolers. Large donations may require multiple trips. According to the announcement, RAFP recovered 420,000 pounds of food from local grocery retailers and businesses. In addition to the gift of the transport truck, the pantry also received $10,000 for costs associated with the vehicle. It comes at a time when the amount of food insecurity has been on the rise and more people have turned to their local food pantry.

Published on 11/26/2025 under News As Thanksgiving travel picks up, officials are sharing their recipe for safe holiday season on the roads. According to AAA, more than 1.6 million Wisconsinites will travel at least 50 miles to their destinations this week. As a result, the DoT is encouraging drivers to follow the rules of the road: sober driving, seat belts, patience, and courtesy for fellow drivers. DOT Secretary Kristina Boardman says, "Whether you're traveling across the state or across town, we all play a role in making Wisconsin's roads safe for the holidays." She added, "...plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down, and avoid distractions. Safe driving choices save lives." Boardman also used Thanksgiving to give thanks to those who ensure our roads are safe including emergency responders, highway workers and road crews. As for peak travel times, this afternoon and evening as well as Sunday afternoon are expected to be busiest. Motorists may want to leave early to avoid traffic, as mornings are typically less busy. And pay attention to weather forecasts and keep a winter emergency driving kit in the vehicle.

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