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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

Boulder Junction Excited for Return, Improvements at Glide Ice Skating Trail

Published on 11/20/2025 under News Last winter, Boulder Junction Winter Park introduced the award-winning ice skating trail known as The Glide. The town not only plans to bring back the skating ribbon, but they also have been working on some improvements. Laura Bertch is Chair of the Boulder Junction Park Board. She says, "We're thrilled with the progress made this summer. Winter Park has quickly become a signature destination for residents and visitors alike, and these upgrades will make the experience even more enjoyable for everyone." The Glide was an approximately one mile ice skating trail that looped through a scenic wooded area. It was converted from a under-utilized cross-country ski trail and formerly a railroad. Over the summer the project won a Wisconsin Governor's Outdoor Industry – First Ascent Award for Innovation. For year number two, they are hoping to highlight the charm and hospitality of the Boulder Junction community with new gates and a welcoming entry. The team also worked on smoothing and leveling the skating areas to produce smoother and more consistent ice conditions, while expanding and improving the parking areas. A new woodshed will keep wood dry for the fire pit area. And they are planning to have more community gatherings and events at the park. The Park Board led the effort, but they were quick to pass along praise to the community volunteers and local businesses for their support. And while it's ultimately up to Mother Nature, they hope to open for the season December 20.

Published on 11/20/2025 under News With Thanksgiving a week away, experts anticipate record holiday travel numbers once again. Triple A recently released their annual Thanksgiving travel forecast which overlaps with Wisconsin's deer hunting season. They expect more than 1.7 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more next week. That would be the highest on record. Most will be by road, as auto travel in Wisconsin is expected to approach 1.5 million over the Thanksgiving holiday. Some good news for those travelers, as gas prices are down slightly from last year with the state average just under $2.85. The Thanksgiving travel window runs from Tuesday through the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend to better reflect recent holiday travel trends. As for those planning their travel to avoid traffic, the busiest times are expected next Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, as well as the Sunday afternoon following Thanksgiving. Often times, the best day for less crowded roads may actually be on Thanksgiving Day.

Published on 11/20/2025 under News When it comes to winter safety, it's important to stay informed. That also means understanding watches, warnings and other weather terminology. As part of Winter Awareness Week, the National Weather Service provided a few words to know. They offered a reminder of a change in weather terminology last year that eliminated the use of windchill watches and warnings. While the dangers of windchill still exist, the classifications are now part of extreme cold watches and warnings instead. Speaking of watches, warnings and advisories, they said generally a watch means to prepare, which may be followed by a warning or advisory which means take action. Another weather term we frequently here in the Northwoods is lake effect snow. According to the NWS, Lake effect snow is created when cold air is moved across a relatively warm, large body of water. Those airs mix creating clouds which result in a narrow band of heavy snow downwind from the lake. In our case, the Canadian air travels across Lake Superior charging the conditions for heavy snows across Northern Wisconsin and the UP. This also occurs along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. And while we may use a blizzard for any event with a lot of snow, the NWS defines a blizzard as a large amounts of snow (either from the sky or blown from the ground) coupled with winds of at least 35mph and visibility of less than a quarter mile for at least three hours.

Published on 11/20/2025 under News A Wisconsin Rapids man facing numerous charges in Lincoln County including 5th offense OWI has reached a plea agreement. Brandon Banuelos was back in Lincoln County Court for a plea hearing on Tuesday. The 32 year old was facing six charges as a result of an August traffic stop. Deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint after a driver reported Banuelos had been following her vehicle, even after she attempted to let him pass. Banuelos failed to stop until the woman pulled into a private property. According to court records, at yesterday's hearing, he pleaded 'no contest' to 3 charges: 5th offense OWI, failure to stop, and disorderly conduct. In exchange, four other charges were dismissed but considered during sentencing. And the case moved directly into sentencing where Banuelos was ordered to serve 2 years in prison followed by 3 years extended supervision. He'll have three years with a suspended driver's license, an ignition interlock device; and no contact with the victim outside of an apology letter. The plea agreement comes just a few weeks before a trial was set to begin on December 2.

Published on 11/20/2025 under News While hunters will fill the fields and forests over the next week, public lands including county state and national, remain open for other fall recreation, as well. Officials put out a reminder for all outdoor enthusiasts to share those spaces. First, for hunters, always make sure to check the rules and regulations for when and where hunting is allowed. For non-hunters, the most important thing is visibility. They recommend brightly colored clothing, blaze orange or fluorescent pink is preferred. The same goes for dogs, and keep them on a leash. While hunter interference is prohibited by Wisconsin law; officials say it is a good idea to make your presence known when passing through a potential hunting location. One of the most important tips is to simply be kind and courteous to each other.

Published on 11/20/2025 under News A Northwoods Healthcare provider and a major insurance carrier have reached a new multi-year agreement. Aspirus Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin (Anthem) announced the new contract on Wednesday. With the new contract, they said Anthem members covered by employer-based, individual, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid health plans in Wisconsin will have uninterrupted in-network access to Aspirus Health doctors and care sites, including Aspirus-affiliated partner providers in the Aspirus Network Inc. Matt Heywood, Aspirus president and CEO said, "Reaching an agreement for the benefit of the patients who count on us for high-quality health care close to home was of the utmost importance to everyone at Aspirus ..." Paul Nobile, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "Continuing our long-standing relationship with Aspirus Health helps us deliver on our promise to improve lives and strengthen the health of our central Wisconsin community."

Published on 11/19/2025 under News From a vehicle slide-off to a dead battery, most Wisconsin motorists will become stranded at some point. That's why it's important to carry a winter emergency kit in your vehicle. It's Winter Weather Awareness Week in the state of Wisconsin and today we're looking about some useful items you should keep in your vehicle during the winter months to remain safe and comfortable until you're back on the road. The cold can put a strain on your battery, so it's a good idea to keep a set of jumper cables in the car. Portable jumping units are also handy. If you have one, make sure it is fully charged and check regularly during the winter months. Ready Wisconsin also recommends a tow rope, a small shovel, and either sand or kitty litter to provide traction if you become stuck. Sometimes you'll simply have to wait for help, that's when items like an extra set of winter clothing, blankets, snacks, a cell charger, flashlights, and a battery operated radio are useful. Ready Wisconsin and Lincoln County Emergency Management have a full list of items to consider on their website.

Published on 11/19/2025 under News The state has awarded funding to help communities improve their drinking water quality. That includes several recipients here in the Northwoods. Governor Evers and the DNR jointly announced the latest funding from the Safe Drinking Water Loan program. The program provides a combination of low-interest loans and principal forgiveness for drinking water infrastructure projects. Yesterday's announcement allocated more than $282 million shared by 74 Wisconsin municipalities. Locally, the City of Rhinelander received funding for a new well construction; the Village of Weston for their PFAS treatment. Both Prentice and Phillips received funds for water main projects. The City of Tomahawk has been exploring an application for this program in 2026 to help fund a planned PFAS treatment facility. In Tuesday's announcement, Governor Evers said, "While there is still more work to do, I am incredibly proud of our work to fight PFAS, help private well owners replace their contaminated wells, and replace lead service lines statewide, and these funds bring us one step closer to meeting our goal of ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to clean, safe water." Since the project was introduced in 1998, around $1.5 billion in assistance has been provided to Wisconsin municipalities.

Published on 11/19/2025 under News With the gun deer hunt just a few days away, the DNR is reminding hunters to dress for safety by wearing the appropriate gear for visibility. A state law requiring blaze orange in the field is among factors attributed to a drop in hunting related accidents. In addition to the more traditional blaze orange, a 2016 Wisconsin law allows the use of fluorescent pink, as well. According to the DNR, state law requires at least 50% coverage of orange or pink from the waist up. They note that includes any hats or hoods. Even if you're not hunting, the DNR still encourages other outdoor recreationists to sport blaze orange or pink to ensure safety for everyone enjoying Wisconsin's natural resources. And it's also a good idea for any pets to have a high visibility vest as well to avoid any accidents.

Published on 11/19/2025 under News Tomahawk Middle School has a new way for students to get books outside of school hours to read. The goal of a Little Free Library is to remove barriers to reading by providing access to books 24/7. The take-a-book, leave-a-book libraries have been popping up in neighborhoods, parks, businesses and other locations. Now Tomahawk Middle School unveiled the district's first Little Free Library on campus. The project was actually the work of last year's TMS Student Council. The district says at the beginning of last year, the student council began brainstorming ways to fund a Little Free Library which they hope will benefit students on nights and weekends when the school doors aren't open for book checkout at the traditional library. The students used fundraisers including penny wars to help purchase the library unit, while a grant covered the cost of new books to stock the mini-library. It's now available for use near the Middle School.

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