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Lincoln County Sheriff's Report: Thursday Snow Causes Slide-Offs Published on 01/24/2023 under News

It was a relatively quiet week for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report...

With a snow/ice mix covering the roads on Thursday and Friday, deputies responded to four separate crashes during a four hour window. Three occurred on Highway 51, a fourth on Highway 8. According to the summary, each of the four crashes involved a single vehicle; three were roll-overs. Fortunately no injuries were reported. One driver was temporarily trapped in his vehicle and had to be freed.

A 26 year old Wausau man is facing numerous charges following a traffic stop in the Town of Scott on Saturday. A patrol deputy initially stopped the vehicle after a complaint about the man's driving behavior. During the stop, the deputy observed signs of drug impairment. The man was eventually arrested for 3rd offense OWI, possession of a controlled substance, and operating after revocation. The man also had outstanding warrants for arrest from Marathon and Waupaca Counties.

A traffic stop for speeding resulted in a 1st offense OWI for a 26 year old Tomahawk man. That stop happened on Highway 51 in the Town of Pine River on Sunday.

Speaking of Lincoln County Roadways, the number of reported deer strikes was down slightly with just five being reported this past week.

In Other News

Hatchet Softball Team Finishes 1-2 at Monroe Tourney

Published on 04/27/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's softball squad would go 1-2 in their invite at Twining Park in Monroe Saturday afternoon. The Hatchets started off the day with a 12-9 victory over Beloit Memorial. In that game, the Hatchets got home runs from Autumn Merrigan, Averi Petta, and Siennah Caulkins. Camryn Kraklow picked up the win, allowing seven runs in three innings. Game Two saw Tomahawk lose to Orangeville, Illinois, 14-13. Petta had another monster game, knocking two out of the park and batting in six. Ellie Micke would have two hits and three RBIs. The Hatchets' final game was a defeat to the host Monroe, 9-1. Tomahawk's lone run came on a sacrifice fly by Sophie Olsen in the first inning. The Hatchets had three hits and four errors in the loss. Tomahawk now sits at 4-7 on the season and 3-5 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will travel up to Eagle River Tuesday for a Great Northern Conference Showdown with Northland Pines. First pitch is at 5:00.

Published on 04/27/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's golf squad would place fifth in their first Great Northern Conference meet of the season in Merrill Friday afternoon. The shorthanded Hatchets finished with a team score of 347, seven strokes behind Merrill. Oliver Childers finished as the low golfer, placing seventh with a 78. Jordyn Carew and Jaxon Kaiser placed second on the team with an 84. Tomahawk's next GNC Meet is at Inshalla Country Club Tuesday. Tee-off is at 3:00.

Published on 04/27/2026 under Sports The Hatchet Track & Field Squads competed at the Northland Pines Eagle Outdoor Relays Friday evening. Tomahawk came away with seven total second place finishes in the meet. Beau Stromberg placed second in the triple jump while Luke Morrison placed second in the long jump. Placing second in the High Jump and Pole Vault, respectively were Reagan Gorrell and Alicia Voermans. Voermans was also a part of the 4x200 Relay and the SMR 800 runs that placed second. The Hatchets' next meet is in Wautoma next Friday.

Published on 04/24/2026 under News After nearly a decade on the job, one of Lincoln County's most recognizable deputies is trading in her badge for belly rubs and boat rides. K-9 Nina, a longtime member of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, is retiring after nine years of service, wrapping up her final shift Thursday. Nina was trained as a dual-purpose tracking and narcotics detection dog, and paired with Deputy Sam Steckbauer. They worked their first shift on June 19, 2017. Over the course of her career, Nina was deployed hundreds of times, assisting in both civil and criminal cases. She helped track lost individuals and played a role in numerous drug-related arrests, becoming a valuable asset to the department. Beyond her work in the field, Nina was also a familiar face at community events, where she quickly became a favorite among residents. In retirement, they said Nina will remain with Detective Steckbauer and his family. They said her retirement will also include plenty of well-earned rest, pontoon rides, barking at the mail carrier, and the occasional treat including a little extra pumpkin mixed in with her kibble.

Published on 04/24/2026 under News While their next production isn't coming until fall, the Tomahawk Community Theater is staying busy. The community theater group was established five years ago as a way for those interested in the fine arts to connect and create. Since that time, they've put on four productions, two children's workshops, and even a talent show, but they're not slowing down. Board Members Jen Turkiewicz and Sherry Hulett have been involved in theater since the first production. Earlier this week, they stopped by the WJJQ studios to talk about an upcoming open house on Sunday that will serve as both a preview of their upcoming calendar as well as an opportunity for more people to get involved. At Sunday's event, they plan to roll out a full year of events and productions including the return of the annual children's theater workshop held each July. Attendees can also meet cast and board members, explore ways to get involved, and learn about opportunities both on stage and behind the scenes from acting and set design to lighting, makeup. They said the open house is designed to be casual and welcoming, whether you're a longtime supporter or just curious about community theater. Those interested in the theater can stop by Sideways in Downtown Tomahawk Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.

Published on 04/24/2026 under News One person is dead, another injured in a two vehicle accident in Langlade County earlier this week. According to the Langlade County Sheriff's office, that crash happened Wednesday night at shortly before 10:30pm. Responders were called to Highway 45 near County X in the Town of Antigo for what appeared to be a head-on collision with serious injuries. The drivers were the lone occupants of their vehicles. One driver, identified as 45 year old Gina Marie Brunner of Wittenberg, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, a 25 year old Antigo man, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. His name was not immediately released. According to the release, alcohol is suspected was a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

+ Read More Garage Fire in Arbor Vitae

Published on 04/24/2026 under News A garage was destroyed, a nearby home damaged following a fire in Vilas County earlier this week. According to Arbor Vitae Fire/Rescue, crews were dispatched to a property on Coons Lane Tuesday morning. They arrived to find a two-car garage that was completely destroyed with debris still smoldering. A home around 40 feet from the garage sustained heat damage. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish any remaining hotspots. No one was home and no injuries were reported. In the news release, the fire department noted the fire spread closer to the home through a layer of leaves on the ground, serving as a reminder to clear yard debris from the areas surrounding structures. Damage is estimated at approximately $50,000 to the garage, contents, and nearby home. It is believed the fire started in the garage sometime during the night, an exact cause wasn't immediately determined.

Published on 04/24/2026 under News After starting off the week with Earth Day activities and education, today is focused on the trees. The last Friday of April is Arbor Day. The observance was started in Nebraska more than 100 years ago and continues to this date. The DNR continues to take part in their annual mission of providing tree education to young learners. Along with classroom lessons, many students can get their hands dirty by planting a tree themselves. This gives kids a chance to follow the growth of the tree through their schooling. The DNR has once again donated tree seedlings to fourth-grade classrooms around the state for students to plant, more than 50,000 trees in all. Wisconsin is home to around 17 million acres of forest lands that offer numerous benefits through the forest industry, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, and protecting the environment. DNR Applied Forestry bureau director Carmen Hardin says Arbor Day is a good time to reflect the importance of both urban and rural forests. She added, "Everyone has a role in ensuring that both continue to serve a vital role in the ecological, cultural and economic health of our state, our local communities and our individual lives."

Published on 04/24/2026 under News When taking care of spring cleaning, people are encouraged to check their medicine cabinets as well. The first of two scheduled drug-take back events takes place on Saturday across the state of Wisconsin. Ridding your home of unused and unwanted prescriptions not only clears clutter, but also eliminates the chance of misuse while also offering an environmentally safe way to dispose of medications. More and more communities are featuring permanent drop-off locations available year-round, and the semi-annual Drug Take Back day serves as a good reminder to utilize the service. Residents here in Lincoln County have 4 permanent drop-off locations including the Marshfield Clinic-Merrill, Tomahawk Pharmacy, and the Merrill and Tomahawk Police Departments. The Tomahawk Police Department, alone, collected more than 21,000 pills, along with liquid, cream and gel medications, and over 6000 syringes last year. The Wisconsin Department of Health website features an interactive map listing drop-off locations. Wisconsin is annually a nationwide leader in these efforts.

Published on 04/24/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's baseball squad put up double-digit runs for the third time this year, dominating the Antigo Red Robins at TK Field Thursday night, 16-8. The Hatchets scored at least two runs in every inning, including ten in the final three. Cash Olsen finished three for five with a double, a triple, and a home run, along with six RBIs. Olsen also picked up the win on the mound, giving up just one run and striking out eight. Max Larson finished with three RBIs, improving the Hatchet record to 4-3 on the season, and 4-1 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk is back in action Tuesday for another home GNC Battle against Northland Pines. Alex Koch and Keith Hanse will be in the broadcast booth with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 4:35 and first pitch at 5:00 on Sports Talk 810 AM/97.7 FM WJJQ.

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