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Hatchet Golf Team Finishes Season at WIAA Regionals Published on 05/25/2022 under Sports

On Tuesday, the Tomahawk Hatchet Golf Team hosted the WIAA Regional Meet at the Inshalla Country Club, and Tomahawk had their best round of the season in their ninth place finish. Medford won the meet with a 321, Hayward was second with a 333 and Antigo and Northwestern tied for third with a 337.

Tomahawk was led by Sawyer Hanna's 85. Austin Lamer shot a 95, Owen Dickrell shot a 97, Gavyn Palmer shot a 105 and Drew Albert shot a 106.

In Other News

Tomahawk, Merrill Schools Make Friday Cancellation Decisions Early

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Schools in Lincoln County will closed on Friday, and the extreme cold is to blame. With dangerously cold temperatures in the forecast overnight Thursday and throughout the day Friday, both the Tomahawk and Merrill School Districts made an early decision to close their campuses for Friday. By making the call early, it allows parents or caretakers to make alternative arrangements ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of school. When it comes to cold, school officials have to consider a number of factors including the transportation of students, both waiting for buses and time spent on the bus. Most Northwoods districts build a few extra days into the school calendar in anticipation of some weather-related cancellations during the school year. We expect the cancellations list to grow as Friday approaches. It's also a good idea to check ahead for any activities, events, and appointments on Friday for potential closures and cancellations. Stay tuned to WJJQ for updates.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News People across the region will be spending the day Thursday preparing for the impending stretch of dangerous cold in the forecast. A local bird rescue is reminding people to fill up their feeders. The folks over at the Raptor Education Group offered a few tips to help our feathered friends find some food over the next few days. They note that it is important to feed birds easily digestible food, typically found in a good wild bird seed mixture. REGI specifically highlighted black sunflower seeds and safflower seeds which are a good source of nutrients and fat, essential in below-zero weather. And for birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches suet is an excellent option. They added that you may want to consider bringing suet inside overnight to keep it softer and readily available to the birds. As for foods to avoid, while common, they advise against corn. Low in nutrients, they note that corn is nearly impossible for birds to digest in cold temperatures. And keep an eye out for birds that appear injured. If you one, they recommend using a towel to place it in a cardboard box and bringing it inside. Then contact REGI or a nearby animal rescue for further steps.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Lawmakers in Madison are working to find common ground on PFAS investments which could be good news for communities around the state including here in the Northwoods. On Wednesday, Governor Evers expressed optimism on a deal to release $125 million in PFAS funding that was actually approved in the previous 2023-25 budget. In laying out his 2026 legislative agenda, Gov. Evers cited PFAS legislation as an opportunity for bipartisan work and compromise. Approximately $80 million would allocated to a Community grant program to assist local governments in combating and remediating PFAS contamination. Here in Tomahawk, the city has been taking steps to build a PFAs treatment plant, but that facility carries a price tag of approximately $6.2 million. City leaders have been reviewing options to help pay for the project in what is expected to be an increasingly competitive process to secure funding in the coming years through grants or low-interest loans.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Coming off of the DNR's free weekend, Lincoln County will be offering a similar opportunity to enjoy a hidden gem at no cost in early February. Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks announced that they will be bringing back their Free Trail Pass Weekend for the Underdown Recreation Area. It is currently scheduled for the weekend of February 7 and 8. This will include opportunities to check out the park's cross-country ski, fat-tire bike, and snowshoe trails without the typically required pass, saving users $25. (Winter passes are $25; year-long passes are $35) After a couple of mild winters, the silent sports have been enjoying a snow-filled start to winter. Underdown features more than 20 miles of groomed ski trails, along with cleared snowshoe and bike paths. We'll offer up a reminder as that date draws closer.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Northcentral Technical College (NTC) has been named as one of the top training colleges in North America. NTC is one of only 11 colleges to receive this recognition from the Learning Resources Network. According to the announcement, the award honors the work of NTC's Workforce Training + Professional Development team including their collaboration with local employers. NTC's Workforce Training and Professional Development team designs and delivers customized training for businesses across the region. Programs are offered onsite at employer locations or at NTC campuses in Wausau, Antigo, Wittenberg, Phillips, Medford and Spencer. Dr. Brad Gast, Dean of Workforce Training and Professional Development at NTC called it an honor to be recognized. He says, "Each year, we have the privilege to serve more than 900 businesses and over 10,000 professionals. We are committed to delivering high quality, responsive solutions that help organizations strengthen performance, adapt to change, and remain competitive in a global economy." This marks the third time in six years that NTC has received this honor.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Business leaders and other stakeholders from the Tomahawk area recently got together for a wide-ranging discussion this past week. The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable conversation covering pressing economic and workforce issues impacting local businesses and the broader community. In addition to locals, the discussions were moderated by Kurt Bauer, president of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Tomahawk Chamber Director Charis Lau said, "This roundtable created an important space for employers to openly share challenges and solutions." Among the topics they covered are business costs and tariffs; workforce demographics, attraction and retention; and even housing and childcare. Lau said, "This groups' discussion brought a lot of insight to better understand what is impacting our businesses today. From here we can work collectively to strengthen our workforce and community for the future." They plan to use insights from these discussions to help inform future planning efforts, advocacy priorities, and initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth, workforce development, and community sustainability in the Tomahawk area. They also hope to have continued conversations to ensure local voices are heard and to help position the region for long-term success.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Over the past several years, Lincoln County has invested into protecting it's water resources. Some of these projects are being funded through grants and contributions from local stakeholders. At their meeting Tuesday, the Lincoln County Board accepted another donation to continue an ongoing stream crossing assessment. To fund this work, the county has been utilizing DNR Surface Water Planning Grants which do require a 33% match. As outlined in a resolution approved by the board Tuesday, Wisconsin Valley Improvement pledged $1,500. Coupled with a previous donation from Trouts Unlimited and in house work, the match of this grant is being filled with no additional tax levy. We told you about this stream crossing project last month. Lincoln County Land Services initiated a multi-phase project assessing the more than 600 culvert stream crossings at public roadways within the county. The goal is to evaluate the condition, sizing, and placement of the culverts to determine whether maintenance or replacement is needed. Phase 1 completed this spring and summer covered approximately a third of the culverts.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News A man involved in a snowmobile crash in Oneida County earlier this month has now died. The crash happened back on January 3 in Minocqua. According to the DNR, the operator was attempting to cross a state highway when he was struck by a vehicle. The 76 year old was brought to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. According to an update, the man died from his injuries over the weekend weekend. The man's name was not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation. This is the sixth fatal snowmobile crash in Wisconsin this riding season; the fourth this month.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Community Blood Center is encouraging donors to tell their story. Earlier this month, the CBC introduced their "I donate because…" initiative, celebrating community members giving blood and platelets. The campaign is simple...cards can be picked up at donation sites or printed off at home. The cards have printed: "I donate because..." with space where individuals can write what motivates them. Completed cards will be displayed by the CBC and selfies of the donor holding the card can be shared on social media. They note that every donor has a unique reason for giving, so they encourage donors to share their stories to help inspire the next generation of lifesavers and remind others why blood donation is so meaningful.

Published on 01/21/2026 under News Local snowmobile clubs regularly urge the importance for riders to stay on the marked trails. The DNR is joining in on that messaging. This past week, the DNR put out a reminder for snowmobile riders to operate only on marked trails, routes or other areas with permission and to stay off closed trails. They note that Wisconsin snowmobile clubs work hard all year to secure one of the best riding experiences in this country, and that is thanks to the large network of snowmobile trails. In fact, Wisconsin has more than 25,000 miles of groomed trails to ride. The DNR shared a number of concerns when straying off trails including rider safety, damage to private lands, and the operation on closed trails is illegal. Lt. Jake Holsclaw, DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, "Wisconsin has thousands of miles of well-maintained trails that are managed by dedicated club members. Please respect their lands, and ride safe and sober."

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