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Hatchet Volleyball Team's Win Streak at 14 Straight Published on 10/07/2022 under Sports

On Thursday night, the Tomahawk Hatchet Volleyball Team won their 14th straight match, with a three games to one victory over the Wittenberg-Birnamwood Chargers.

Tomahawk won game one, 25-13 and game two 31-29. The Chargers won game three 25-20, with Tomahawk winning game four 25-20.

The Hatchets will compete in the second Great Northern Conference Meet on Saturday at Rhinelander High School. Tomahawk plays Antigo at 10:00 am, and then will play Mosinee and Lakeland. The Hatchets are currently 9-0 in the GNC.

In Other News

Thanksgiving Prices up in Wisconsin; Above National Average

Published on 11/19/2025 under News Thanksgiving is one week away, and a new survey shows prices in Wisconsin are up from last year and also above the national average. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau released their annual Marketbasket survey. Each year, they take an informal look at the prices of 15 popular food items commonly used to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. This includes everything from turkey and cranberries to butter and rolls. A sampling of stores around the state, without sales or promotions, are used to get an average. This year's average for a ten person meal in Wisconsin came in at $61.84, an increase of $3.88 or 2.1%. Among the biggest jumps was in the cost of a turkey. They noted that the highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to have an impact on turkey prices. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Spokesperson Cassie Sonnentag notes the costs of farming have also been on the rise in areas including labor, fertilizer and transport. She says, "When grocery prices rise, it's easy to assume farmers benefit, but that's not the reality." Sonnentag added, "Choosing Wisconsin-grown products is one way to keep your dollars working locally while supporting the farmers growing your food." For those looking to save a few dollars, experts recommend shopping around for deals, consider store brands or cooking from scratch. You can also reassess your menu and skip some of the less popular items, and take up guest offers to bring a dish to pass or their own beverages.

Published on 11/19/2025 under News A popular southern-fried chicken chain has opened its doors in the Northwoods. On Tuesday the Lac du Flambeau Business Development Corporation hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration for a new Popeye's location in Minocqua. It comes after a summer of renovations to the former Burger King Restaurant. CEO, Larry Turner called it more than a restaurant opening, noting it is their first off-reservation venture. He says, "It represents growth, opportunity, and another step forward in strengthening the Tribe's economic future." The opening ceremony included a Tribal prayer, remarks from Tribal leaders and songs from Tomahawk Circle drum group. Previously, the closest Popeye's restaurants to the Northwoods were located in the Fox Valley.

Published on 11/18/2025 under News While homelessness is often seen as a big city problem, shelters here in the Northwoods see steady use throughout the year. This week and the month are dedicated to Homelessness Awareness. The Tomahawk Community is served by Our Sister's House, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary after opening in October 2015. For those unfamiliar, Our Sister's House is a 10 bed temporary housing shelter. They often describe their mission as 'help up rather than a hand out.' In addition to providing a place to stay for up to 90 days, they also provide a number of other resources to get people back on their feet. This can include assistance in a job search, locating permanent housing, counseling, insurance, or even securing a cell phone which is often necessary for job seekers. The shelter is operated primarily through grants, fundraising, and the generosity of community donations whether supplies or monetary contributions. As part of awareness month, the local shelter will host a special screening of Americans with No Address. Premiering earlier this year, the documentary that takes a deep look into the topic of homelessness in the United States from a number of angles. The screening will be held at the Corpus Christi Center starting at 5:45. People can come down early to enjoy supper at the Open Arms Community Meal at 5pm.

Published on 11/18/2025 under News A roadside worker was struck by a vehicle in Lincoln County this past week. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, that incident happened last Monday in the Town of Somo. Deputies were initially paged to Highway 8 at Meyer Road for a car versus pedestrian crash with injuries. Based on their preliminary investigation, a utility crew was parked on the shoulder of the road while working on fiber-optic cable. The driver, a 27 year old Ladysmith man, told the deputy he slowed down, but was unable to move over due to oncoming traffic. As the vehicle passed through the work zone, it struck a worker. The worker initially turned down an ambulance, but was later transported to an area hospital by private vehicle for an ankle injury. The report did not indicate if they driver was cited._____ *One other note from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, the number of vehicle versus deer collisions remains elevated with another 26 reported on Lincoln County roadways.

Published on 11/18/2025 under News Cold temperatures can be uncomfortable and snow events inconvenient; but winter weather can also be dangerous. Local and state officials are teaming up to share information as part of Wisconsin Winter Awareness Week. Ready Wisconsin shared some data on the dangers of extreme cold. Around the state last winter, there were nearly 1,400 emergency calls and about the same number of ER visits related to the cold. Among the most common dangers are hypothermia and frost bite. But these conditions can often be avoided or greatly reduced by paying attention to weather forecasts and staying prepared. A few other tips they offered when the temperatures drop: Try to limit time outside. Dress for the weather by layering and making sure to cover exposed skin. It's also a good idea to check on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors. Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Tyler Verhasselt says, "Lincoln County has always been at its best when we look out for one another." He says, "When temperatures drop, we see just how quickly cold weather can escalate into a real emergency for our residents. Preparation is one of the most effective tools we have."

Published on 11/18/2025 under News The Tomahawk High School One Act Play is state-bound at the end of the week. In the lead up to their final competition, the students will be offering performances during the school day for their fellow classmates, along with a community performance this evening. This fall, THS is performing the character driven comedy, "Epic Adventures in a Rinky-Dink Art Museum" by Ken Preuss. It follows a group of creative writing students on a field trip to a small-town museum where they battle boredom by pursuing mysteries romance and other adventures. At the end of the week, the cast and crew will head to UW-Stevens Point for the state festival. This is the tenth consecutive year Tomahawk has sent the One-Act Play to the competition. For those who'd like a sneak peak, the community performance will be at 7pm in the auditorium. Admission is a free will donation to support the drama department.

Published on 11/18/2025 under News The countdown is on for the 2025 gun-deer season. Before heading into the field, the officials are encouraging hunters to go over safe hunting practices, including the use of tree stands. Dr Michael Clark with Aspirus MedEvac notes, "You're much more likely to get injured from a fall than a gunshot wound." He says, "It's a concern that we should definitely take precautions to avoid." The DNR offered some tips and reminders for tree stand use. First, inspect the tree, your stand, and your harness, especially if you haven't used them since last season. Some trees, like ash, may be weakened and vulnerable due to invasive species. Always maintain 3 points of contact when climbing. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. Use a haul line to raise or lower your firearm or bow. Carry a cellphone and let someone know where you're hunting and when you plan to return. Along with tree stand safety, the DNR also continues to emphasize safety on ATVs and UTVs. These machines are frequently used by hunters traveling to and from their stands. -Photo provided by Wisconsin DNR

Published on 11/18/2025 under News A local fire department is reminding property owners to be mindful of burning activities due to current wildfire conditions. The Little Rice Fire Department provided that message after responding to a fire Sunday afternoon in the Town of Lynne. Upon arrival, firefighters found tall grasses burning with difficult access. Multiple agencies responded, and they were on the scene for approximately 3 hours. This was one of four listed on the DNR wildfire tracker in our listening area this week. As we've previously reported, much of Northern Wisconsin is classified as abnormally dry or moderate drought. Coupled with the dry and breezy conditions we've seen in recent days, it can lead to elevated wildfire risk.

Published on 11/17/2025 under News As the seasons shift, the familiar sound of the Salvation Army Bell Ringers will soon fill the Northwoods. Here in Tomahawk, the local Salvation Army chapter is kicking off their holiday bell ringing efforts a bit later this week. Ahead of the launch we spoke with organizers Terry Derleth and Win Semmler. The bell ringing effort is their main source of funding, and 86 cents for every dollar donated stays in the community it's collected. Last year, the Tomahawk Chapter raised just shy of $35,000. Derleth says they are hoping to match that total. She noted those funds are utilized their temporary emergency voucher program and the Happy Kids Backpack program. With the Bell Ringing set to begin Friday and running through Christmas, there are 28 days to fill. Semmler says they've been fortunate to have a groups and businesses volunteer to ring as a team, filling 23 of the 28 days. That includes local banks, churches, realty offices, school staff and local non-profits. Derleth added that ringing can be a rewarding way to spend a few hours ahead of the holidays. She added that it is one of the highlights of her entire year. They'll be back at their two traditional locations, Trigs and in front of the post office downtown. People can call or text Semmler at 630-667-3250 or email win.semmler@gmail.com

Published on 11/17/2025 under News It was America Recycles Day on Saturday, and the DNR announced latest winners of the Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards including a Northwoods winner. This year, a record 22 recipients received awards across four categories: Projects and Initiatives, Overall Program, Special Events and Innovation. Among the Special Event winners was the 3rd Annual Recycling Extravaganza held in Eagle River over the summer. The effort, organized by Robert Blaus, served as a one-stop shop for a number of items and materials including: electronics and metal; a prescription drug take-back; American flag retirement; and eyewear and hearing aids collection for redistribution. And for a small town, the numbers were impressive…When the collection, there said there were already more than 500 vehicles waiting in line. They collected 25 tons of electronics and 26,000 pounds of metal and appliances along with 49 pounds of pharmaceuticals. The effort also supported the Vilas County Food Pantry. Recyclers contributed nearly 900 pounds of non-perishable food items and more than $1,200 in monetary donations. Organizers said they are already looking forward to the 4th Annual Recycling Extravaganza next summer. For the last 13 years, the DNR has celebrated outstanding recycling and waste minimization efforts through its annual awards recognizing high-performers and highlighting proven ideas and strategies that other organizations may use to improve their recycling efforts.

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