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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

715 Day Celebrates the Best of the Northwoods

Published on 07/15/2026 under News Today is July 15, or 7/15, a date that doubles as a celebration of Wisconsin's scenic Northwoods and the vibrant communities that call the 715 area code home. The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce is marking 715 Day by highlighting everything that makes the region so special, from its scenic landscapes and rich community traditions to its local businesses and residents. Chamber Director Charis Lau says, "715 Day is about celebrating the pride we have in our community and sharing that pride with others." How to ParticipateThe Chamber offers several easy ways for the community to get involved today: Support Local: Shop, dine, and explore the independent businesses that keep Tomahawk thriving.Show Your Pride: Represent the area by sporting custom 715 Tomahawk merchandise.Share the Love: Highlight your favorite local spots and scenic views on social media.Join the Chamber's 715 Photo Contest by submitting pictures that capture the true spirit of the Tomahawk area.Lau added, "Whether you've called Tomahawk home for decades or you're discovering the Northwoods for the first time, we hope you'll join us in celebrating what makes our corner of the 715 so unforgettable." The Chamber encourages everyone to follow along on social media throughout July as they continue to showcase featured attractions, hidden gems, local stories, and photo contest submissions all month long.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News The Tomahawk community is rallying behind one of their own. David Bethel Jr. was diagnosed with glioblastoma last month. As he undergoes treatment, neighbors and local business owners are stepping up to support his family. To mark Glioblastoma Awareness Day, The Rock Church organized a gray ribbon campaign. The color is traditionally used for brain cancers to represent the brain's "gray matter." Meanwhile, community members are sporting T-shirts that read, "Moving Heaven and Earth to Support Dave"—a nod to his local excavation business. Local businesses, including Boomba Bar and Simply Stitched, are also donating a portion of their sales to the family. As Bethel fights his diagnosis, Tomahawk is making sure he and his family don't have to do the heavy lifting alone. Community members are encouraged to purchase campaign T-shirts, patronize participating shops, or display a gray ribbon to show their solidarity.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News As the hot and humid stretch continues, another weather concern is moving into the Northwoods. Residents looking toward the sky today may notice a familiar summer haze. Smoke from wildfires burning in northern Minnesota and Ontario is expected to drift into Wisconsin, creating hazy skies and, at times, a noticeable smoky smell. In recent years, wildfire smoke has become an increasingly common and unwelcome summertime visitor across the state. An Air Quality Advisory remains in effect until noon Thursday. The greatest concern is for sensitive groups, including young children, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. These individuals are encouraged to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. For everyone else, the main impacts will likely be hazy conditions and a smokey smell. The Wisconsin DNR offers an air quality map on its website for those who want to track conditions.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News After some country last week, Tomahawk's Music on the River is tuning its dial to the blues. This evening, the community will welcome back Johnny and the MoTones. The Central Wisconsin-based band has been delivering their signature mix of blues, R&B, and soul for more than two decades. No stranger to the local stage, the band has been a regular performer at Music on the River over the years. They have released a number of albums, including one with a title that will sound very familiar to the Northwoods: Highway 51. Tonight's performance marks the midway point of the nineteenth season's seven-concert run. The weather forecast is looking promising, after several straight rainy Wednesdays have impacted the Music on the River schedule. Johnny and the MoTones will take the stage at 6:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park pavilion.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News Authorities in Eagle River are investigating a suspected drug overdose death after an early morning call Tuesday. Police were dispatched to a city residence just after 2:15 a.m. for an unresponsive person. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim's identity is being withheld pending notification of family, and the official cause of death will be determined after an autopsy and toxicology testing. Police say there is no threat to the public as investigators work to determine the source of the suspected drugs involved. They also remind residents that naloxone, or Narcan, is available at the Eagle River Police Department and can save lives in an overdose emergency.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News While summer road construction season is in full swing, planning for future projects is ongoing. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is hosting a public involvement meeting this evening (July 15) to gather community feedback on a proposed upgrade to a stretch of WIS 70 in Oneida County. The proposed project spans WIS 70 from County F to Morgan Road, just outside of Minocqua. According to WisDOT, the primary goals of the project are to mill and pave the existing asphalt roadway and to replace the aging box culvert at the Tomahawk River, located just east of Kenwood Terrace, with a brand-new bridge structure. Local residents, business owners, and commuters are encouraged to attend the meeting to review preliminary plans, ask questions, and share their input. The meeting will be held at Minocqua Center Board Room. They are planning a brief presentation at 5pm followed by an open house.

Published on 07/15/2026 under News A Price County man charged in a fatal rollover crash that killed his passenger last fall may be nearing a plea deal. During a status hearing in Taylor County court on Monday, prosecutors and the defense announced they have reached a potential agreement in the case against 49-year-old Stephen Kaplon, scheduling a plea and sentencing hearing later this year. The charges stem from a single-vehicle crash on October 20, 2025, along County Road C in the Town of Rib Lake. According to investigators, Kaplon's SUV left the roadway at a high speed, struck several trees, and rolled onto its side. His passenger, 49-year-old Sharon Kaplon of Ogema, died from her injuries. Kaplon faces felony charges of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and homicide by vehicle through the use of a controlled substance. A plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for November 5.

Published on 07/14/2026 under News With sky-high temps settled across the Northwoods, Wisconsin Public Service says it's ready to handle increased electricity needs as air conditioners and fans work overtime. WPS says all available power plants are prepared to meet peak demand, and crews are standing by in case storms or extreme weather cause power outages. The utility is also reminding customers that a few simple steps can help keep homes cooler and energy bills lower, including closing blinds and windows during the hottest part of the day, raising the thermostat a few degrees when you're away from home, and delaying off heat-producing chores like cooking or laundry until the evening. For more energy-saving tips to beat the heat, we recently offered a story on simple solutions around the home. Seal air leaks. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and siding. This keeps cool air in and hot air out.Use fans, even if you have air conditioning. Distributing air makes rooms feel cooler. Remember to turn off the fans when you leave the room.Install a programmable or smart thermostat. They can automatically adjust your cooling settings when you are home or away. Our partners at Focus on Energy have great product options and rebates.Clean air filters help HVAC systems and air conditioners run efficiently and can lower energy use up to 15%. Check your filter every 30 days and especially when the system is heavily used, such as during hot summer and cold winter months. If the filter is dirty, replace it if disposable, or clean it if permanent.

Published on 07/14/2026 under News Cleaning out closets paid off in a big way for the Tomahawk community during spring cleaning. During last month's Community-Wide Garage Sale, residents could also drop off clothing and household items at the Goodwill North Central Wisconsin donation semi which was stationed at SARA Park. The final numbers are in, and the community donated more than 10,000 pounds of items. According to Goodwill Donation Acquisition Manager Aaron Clark, those donations will provide the equivalent of 733 hours of job training for people across north central Wisconsin. Clark thanked WJJQ, the community and everyone who contributed, saying the support helps Goodwill continue its mission of eliminating barriers to employment. Goodwill says, on average, 90 cents of every dollar spent in its stores is reinvested into local employment programs and services. The donation drive was held in conjunction with WJJQ's annual community-wide garage sale promotion.

Published on 07/14/2026 under News The public has a rare, hands-on opportunity to help construct an authentic Ojibwe summer wigwam at the North Lakeland Discovery Center this week. Under the direction of master builder and Ojibwe tribal member Wayne Valliere, volunteers will assemble a 15-foot diameter structure using traditional components harvested entirely from local Northwoods forests. Organizers say the experience will allow participants to connect directly with regional history and traditional Indigenous building techniques. Once completed, the wigwam will become a permanent outdoor centerpiece for the center's newly opened Northwoods Forest History Experience. Those interested can stop by to observe or lend a hand. The build runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. through Friday.

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