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Hatchet Cross Country Team Sending One to State Published on 10/24/2022 under Sports

On Saturday, Tomahawk made the trek to Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls, WI, to compete at the site of WIAA Division 2 Sectional Cross-Country Meet. The weather was absolutely perfect with an unnoticeable breeze with temperatures around 60 degrees at the hilly Skyline Golf Course. A total of 17 teams faced the Hatchets for the right to advance to Wisconsin Rapids next weekend for the WIAA State

Championships.

Kicking off the day's races were the girls, who ran the challenging course taking 3rd place. Missing out on going to state by one team. All was not bleak however as Rachael Reilly again earned her spot to compete individually at the WIAA State Meet as she led the team placing 4th overall in a time of 20:58. Continuing Tomahawk's legacy of being represented at the state meet making it the 28th time in a row (28 qualifying teams and 17 individual qualifiers). Rachael began the race in 6th place and made decisive moves to pace one runner each mile putting her amongst the elite girls of the sectional meet. The Hatchet ladies valiant effort was rounded out by teammates: sophomore Alli Palmer (16th-21:54), junior

Halle Derleth (21st-22:19), senior Morgan Hansmann (24th-22:41), junior Kambyl Mattke (30th-23:03), junior Robin Schmidt (34th-23:18), and senior Serena Reinke (57th-26:19). There were 89 finishers in the girls race.

Once again Medford won the meet with a score of 31 points followed by West Salem with 55 points and Tomahawk with 91 points. This completes the 2022 girls team season with a record of 90 teams beaten and 12 teams defeated by.

The Noon boys race would find the Hatchets squaring off against some of the finest Division 2 teams in the state. The tight race was won by Mauston with 72 points, followed by the other state qualifying team, West Salem with 78 points. The Hatchet boys would finish in 9th place with 208 points out of the 17 teams competing. The Hatchet boys were led by junior Presley Gutbrod who began the race in 34th place and managed to finish in 21st with a time of 18:33. The squad was completed with: junior Owen Dickrell (38th-19:14), Sam Zastrow (41st-19:20), senior Ty Anthes (48th-19:29), junior Brett Borchardt (60th-20:06), sophomore Jacob Riemer (84th-21:37), and senior Taje Casey (90th-22:14). A total of 111

athletes finished the boys sectional race. This wraps up the 2022 boys team season with a record of 74 teams beaten and 27 teams defeated by.

The Great Northern Conference will be well represented in Wisconsin Rapids next weekend. Along with the girls from Medford the boys from Lakeland also qualified (out of the Oconto Falls Sectional). Individual boys state qualifiers from Rhinelander, Antigo, Medford and girl's athletes from Mosinee, Tomahawk, and Northland Pines will be competing.

Next Saturday Rachael Reilly will represent Tomahawk at the WIAA State Cross-Country Championships at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The Division II girls race begins at 12:40 pm.

In Other News

Hatchet Senior Day Ends With Bittersweet Loss

Published on 05/07/2026 under Sports It was a bittersweet final Great Northern Conference home game for the Hatchet Seniors at Hatchet Field Thursday afternoon as they would fall to the Lakeland T-Birds, 3-2. Tomahawk jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Aubrey Seubert in the first inning. The Hatchets held the lead until the top of the fourth inning when Lakeland's Addison Trapp hit a single, then had two runners score on an error by Averi Petta. The Hatchets would tie it in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring base hit from Autumn Merrigan. However, Tomahawk would surrender the lead in the top of the sixth when Britta Kemnitz singled in the go-ahead run. Lakeland pitchers would retire the final 11 batters of the game to seal the win. The Hatchets would muster just two runs on three hits, while committing four errors. Tomahawk drops to 8-9 on the season and 5-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the diamond Saturday when they travel to Gilman for an invite. Tomahawk's first game will be against Marathon at 10:00 AM. Game Two will be against Mondovi at 2:00 PM.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News With new fawns and extended daylight, deer activity is picking up. That means drivers need to be on the lookout. While vehicle/deer crashes are typically highest in fall, those numbers also spike in the months of May and June. According to the Department of Transportation, drivers reported nearly 18,000 collisions with deer last year. That resulted in more than 700 injuries and 6 deaths. Recent averages in both Lincoln and Oneida County show more than 200 vehicle/deer collisions annually. Numbers are even higher in Southern Wisconsin; Waukesha County topped the state with more than 1,000 vehicle/deer collisions. Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says, "Motorists should be alert and prepared to respond at all times." He notes, "Deer are unpredictable, often changing directions and freezing as they cross the road." The DoT provided a few additional reminders. • Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. • If you see one crossing, anticipate more may follow. • If the collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Avoid swerving, which can lead to a more serious crash. • If you strike a deer, pull over to the side of the road and call law enforcement. • And as always, slowdown, eliminate distractions and wear your seatbelt.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News As Northwoods residents head outside for spring cleanup and garden preparations, health experts are reminding people to take steps to avoid common neck and back injuries. According to Aspirus Health, tasks like lifting branches, digging, and repetitive bending can put extra strain on the spine, especially after a less active winter season. Preparation and proper technique can help avoid a trip to the hospital. Dr. Sean MacKenzie says light stretching and simple posture adjustments can make a big difference. Keeping the spine aligned, lifting with the legs, and working from a seated or kneeling position when tasks require bending forward all help. It's also a good idea to listen to your body. MacKenzie notes that many injuries occur when people push through discomfort or rush through tasks. He emphasizes that pain during activity is a signal to pause, rest, or adjust technique. And long-term, Mackenzie says building core strength through simple exercises like planks and leg lifts can help reduce the risk of injury.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News While it was a bit chilly, it was at least sunny, allowing area students to show off their renewable energy skills. Wisconsin Public Service held their 30th annual Solar Olympics on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Nearly 150 students participated from thirteen high schools within the WPS footprint. Northern Wisconsin was represented by Three Lakes, Elcho, Marathon, and Wausau West High Schools. WPS created the Solar Olympics in 1997 for districts participating in the Solarwise for Schools program, which provides renewable energy lesson plans, projects, and teacher training. The friendly competition, hosted each spring, allows these students to showcase their knowledge of solar energy through team and individual competitions. This year's Solar Olympics had 13 events like solar water heater; solar art; and solar jeopardy. According to WPS, Valders High School won this year's competition, claiming gold for a second consecutive year.-Photos provided by Wisconsin Public Service

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Warmer weather will soon draw more people to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, visitors may notice survey crews stationed throughout the forest this spring and summer. The U.S. Forest Service says public surveys are now underway as part of the National Visitor Use Monitoring program. The surveys, conducted every five years, are designed to measure how many people use national forests, what activities they take part in, and how satisfied they are with their visits. Some visitors may also be asked questions about travel spending to help measure the economic impact forest recreation has on local communities. Surveyors, from the University of New Hampshire, will be wearing bright orange vests near signs reading "Traffic Survey Ahead." They'll be stationed at recreation sites and Forest Service roads. Officials say the surveys are voluntary, confidential, and typically take about 10 minutes to complete. They will continue through Sept. 30.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News Today is the National Day of Prayer and several Northwoods groups are among those hosting events today. The formal observance of a National Day of Prayer came from President Harry Truman in 1952. It's now held annually on the first Thursday in May. The goal is to allow participants, regardless of faith or denomination to bring unity to their community and share a common focus while praying for all. National organizers estimate some 30,000 observances around the country will be held. That includes right here in Tomahawk, where the Associated Clergy of Tomahawk will once again team up to hold a ceremony in Veteran's Memorial Park. It's scheduled to begin at 10:30am; attendees are encouraged to bring along a chair. Rhinelander is holding a similar event outside the Oneida County Courthouse getting underway at noon.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News WaWui Bingo in Tomahawk kicked off their summer session by giving away more than $4,000 in prizes. Wednesday was opening night for WaWui Summer Bingo, marking a 38th season. Players filled SARA Park with their eyes on the progressive prize. And two lucky women shared an impressive payout. The final game of the evening features a jackpot that builds each week it's not claimed. Without a winner over the last two months of last season, the prize grew to $3,962 by blacking out the card in the set number. And the odds were in the favor of Phyllis Levake and Janis Beyer. Both players filled their card on the same number. And while they'll have to share the prize, the two still went home with $1,981 each. Proceeds from WaWui Bingo help fund operations and improvements at SARA Park in Tomahawk. They'll be back again next Wednesday. The progressive prize will reset.

Published on 05/07/2026 under News The Wisconsin DNR is monitoring a manure spill near Athens earlier this week. The DNR says it was notified on Tuesday that manure from a waste storage structure at Deercreek Holsteins had discharged into a tributary of Black Creek. Officials say the spill was caused by a failed valve on a waste transfer system. As of yesterday's update, they were working to determine the amount of manure released. DNR staff are working with Marathon County. According to the agency, containment measures have been put in place and the farm is actively working to clean up the discharge. The DNR says more information on prevention and response is available on the agency's manure spills webpage.

Published on 05/06/2026 under News A traditional youth fishing event in Tomahawk is set to return next month after a several year absence, and organizers have now received approval from the city. Tomahawk VFW Post 2687 is working to revive the Kids Fishing Contest. The event was previously organized by Tomahawk Fishing Unlimited, but went away as the group disbanded. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk City Council approved the special event application to host the event at their old location in Memorial Park. It will take place on June 6, coinciding with the DNR's Free Fishing Weekend. This was by design to allow adults helping the youth anglers to do so without purchasing a license. Earlier this year, the VFW put out a call for fishing equipment donations to help support the return. The Kid's Fishing Contest was one of four special event applications approved by the Council. The others are annual events with minimal changes: the Rodd Timm Memorial Softball Tournament, the Lion's Club Thrilla on the Grilla, and Tomahawk Hometown Christmas. Each was approved unanimously and with minimal discussion. Council Recap: It was an other routine Council meeting, coming just two weeks after a delayed April meeting to account for the election. Relatedly, they approved two resolutions recognizing outgoing Mayor Steve Taskay and Alderman Dale Ernst. Neither sought re-election. The Council approved an ordinance increase court costs for the Municipal Court by $10. This was in accordance with a change to state statute. The Council approved a state/municipal financial agreement for design work on South Tomahawk Avenue from Somo Avenue to the Wisconsin River Bridge. It's on the state docket for 2032. They also approved a professional service agreement with MSA for the wastewater facilities plan.

Published on 05/06/2026 under News It's National Travel and Tourism Week, and Governor Evers was on the move in Northern Wisconsin Tuesday. The Governor was joined by Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers during yesterday's visits to Athens and Cable. He was there to highlight three consecutive years of both record breaking tourism and outdoor recreation. The visit to Athens included gravel-biking, a hybrid sport that takes from both road and mountain bikes. The Governor, Sayers and some guides from Ride Wisconsin Gravel took to the Athens Graventure Trail. Ongoing efforts of the Wisconsin Gravel Roads Project aims to establish North Central Wisconsin as a premier destination for gravel bike riding utilizing existing granite- gravel dairy roads. The stop in Cable was set to include a visit to the Cable Natural History Museum and a visit to Wayside Wanderings Natural Play Area. Evers said, "Every year during Travel and Tourism Week, I'm jazzed to be able to travel across the state, showcasing all we have to offer, the success of Wisconsin's tourism industry, and all the hardworking folks who keep it humming. I encourage all Wisconsinites to join us in celebrating the amazing industry that bolsters our economies, creates jobs, and helps make our state the great place it is to live, work, and, of course, visit." The 2025 economic impact report for Wisconsin's tourism industry will be released in June.

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