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Hatchet Baseball Team Loses Rhinelander Published on 05/16/2023 under Sports

Tomahawk's baseball squad lost their final Great Northern Conference home game of the season, losing to Rhinelander, 11-3.

The Hatchets jumped out to a 3-2 lead after three, but a seven-run Hodag fourth proved to be the difference in the game. Tyler Jablonski went two for three with a double and two RBIs. Pitchers Brayden Larson and Monty Framke gave up a combined 13 hits and the Hatchets as a team committed five errors.

The loss drops Tomahawk to 0-15 on the season and 0-11 in Great Northern Conference play. The final Great Northern Conference game of the season for Tomahawk will be against these same Hodags Thursday. First pitch from Hodag Park Thursday is at 5:00.

In Other News

Update: Music on the River Rescheduled due to Rain

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Update: With the threat of rain in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon, organizers of Music on the River have made the decision to reschedule tonight's performance. The Cougars were set to play the summer concert series Wednesday. Rather than moving to their usual indoor location at SARA Park, The Cougars will instead make a return trip to Tomahawk to play in a few weeks. The concert has been rescheduled for August 6. We'll offer a reminder. Updated Music on the River Schedule:July 23-The Jerry Schmitt BandAugust 6-The Cougars ______ It's hard to believe, but Tomahawk's summer concert series is winding down. But there are still two more weeks this season to enjoy some live music in Memorial Park. Music on the River is entering week six of seven tonight. For the penultimate show, it will be the return of the Cougars. The six piece band has performed in at Music on the River several times. They offer a unique style that features three female lead singers sharing vocals. Their music is described as a blend of rock and pop with a little bit of country. As always, music gets underway at 6pm. The concerts take place at Veteran's Memorial Park in Tomahawk, though with the threat of rain, stay tuned to WJJQ this afternoon for a potential move indoors. We'll share those updates, in needed.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Tuesday was July 15, or 715, and that number has special meaning here in the Northwoods as it's also our area code. Several local groups held special 715 events to mark the day. The Tomahawk Chamber was out and about to show off what they say makes the 715 area the heart of the Northwoods. Throughout the day, chamber director Charis Lau featured 7 'day of' highlights from around the community and kicking off 1 incredible week that concludes with 5 amazing giveaways. The video shorts, posted to their social media, went to popular areas including the downtown district, local trails, lakes, resorts and businesses. The Chamber says the day offers a chance to come together to celebrate the people, places, and pride of the 715, whether a local, a frequent visitor, or just love the Northwoods vibe. You can check out those videos on the Tomahawk Chamber Facebook Page.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Lincoln County currently has a purchase agreement in place to sell Pine Crest nursing home to a private provider. Should that sale fall through, board supervisors are preparing for alternative options, including potential closure. Earlier this year, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors approved a purchase agreement for the skilled nursing facility in Merrill with Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC. The sale is scheduled to be completed by August 1. A resolution approved at last night's Lincoln County Board meeting directed the County's Administrative and Legislative Committee to 'prepare a plan detailing the actions necessary and associated timelines to affect the closure of Pine Crest.' The resolution directs A&L to present the plan at the August meeting. During discussion, supervisors emphasized that this resolution doesn't mean they would automatically close Pine Crest if there is no sale, but it would be an option to consider. If they were to go down the closure route, they are specific state laws and statutes they would need to follow. Any future decision related to Pine Crest, outside of the current pending sale, would still need to come before the board for approval. This could include: seeking another buyer, referendum, finding alternative revenue sources, or closure. Ahead of the supervisors' discussion was public comment. Four citizens spoke including on those on behalf of People for Pine Crest. The citizen group has pushed for the county to maintain ownership of the facility, and they've been regulars at these meetings. In the end, an amended resolution was approved by a 16-5 vote.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News When it comes to tick-born illness, most are familiar with Lyme disease. Another rare virus that has been showing up in Wisconsin more frequently. While cases of Powassan virus in the state still remain few, they have been trending upwards. Last year Wisconsin had 12 reported cases, this year state health officials confirmed three adults have been hospitalized with Powassan and one person has died. According to Aspirus, Powassan is actually related to a group of viruses that include West Nile, Zika and Dengue. But unlike its mosquito-borne cousins, Powassan is transmitted by the black-legged a.k.a. deer tick. Dr. James Thatcher, at the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center in Woodruff, said the symptoms can be severe. "Fevers and headaches, malaise, not eating, not drinking, not communicating." Dr. Thatcher says, "We can't live our lives in fear." He emphasized that prevention is key for not only ticks, but other bugs that can cause illness as well. We frequently go over those tips such as wearing long sleeves and pants tucked into socks, doing tick checks after outdoor activity, and repellents. This can include both chemical products or natural alternatives that contain scents such as cedarwood, lemongrass, thyme, and clove. The Powassan virus can incubate quickly, and testing is limited. That's why Dr. Thatcher recommends acting quickly after a deer tick bite, to defend against Powassan and all tick-borne disease. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has additional information on Powassan on their website.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News We frequently talk about the importance of hunter's safety. And there is an opportunity for volunteers to teach the next generation. Since the Hunter Safety program was created in 1967, more than one million Wisconsinites have been certified. And that's credited with a significant decrease in the number of hunting related incidents in the state. To help continue that tradition, the DNR put out a call for new volunteers to become certified instructors. They noted that the strength and success of the program is due to the dedication and commitment of their volunteer instructors . Over the years, more than 20,000 individuals have served as volunteer instructors. In addition to the basic hunter safety course, the DNR and partners also offer other classes like: Advanced Hunter Education – Outdoor Skills And Learn to Hunt. The DNR has additional information on the website.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News As they begin their budget work for the upcoming school year, many area districts will have less state funding to work with in one category. Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released an estimate of general school aid each district will receive. These funds help offset local property taxes. Each school district has their own unique revenue sources to balance their budget, so these funding changes impact each district differently. The combined total of state general aid was nearly identical to last school year with some districts up and others down. As we told you earlier this week, Tomahawk's general aid fell approximately $500,000. But some nearby districts saw even larger cuts. Both Merrill and Rhinelander general aid fell by around a million dollars. They are also more reliant on this funding. While Tomahawk receives $1.5 million, Merrill will receive $17.2 million. Not all districts lost money, Prentice increased by $300,000 and Rib Lake around $200,000. The district's property tax base is a component in the general aid formula. Some districts described as 'property tax rich' only receive small payments. This includes Lakeland, Northland Pines, and Three Lakes. District25-26 Aid Estimate24-25 AidDollar ChangePercentage ChangeTomahawk$1,507,047$2,001,350-$494,303-24.70%Merrill$17,168,151$18,260,748-$1,092,597-5.98%Rhinelander$6,178,987$7,159,091-$980,104-13.69%Prentice$2,554,137$2,211,359$342,778+15.50%Rib Lake$4,344,769$4,146,860$197,909+4.77%Lakeland $9,728$11,445-$1,717-15.00%Northland Pines$11,255$13,241-$1,989-15.00%Three Lakes$5,035$5,923-$888-14.99% General Aid Estimates are posted to the DPI website and will be finalized in October. In addition to this general aid, districts also receive other sources of funding from the state including 'per pupil aid', sparsity aid, and transportation aid.

Published on 07/15/2025 under News Fresh off of their annual 4th of July series, the Kwahamots will welcome some special guests for their ski show this evening. It's once again WJJQ night with the Kwahamots. The radio staff won't be taking to the water, but we will be on hand passing out tickets for chances to win a variety of WJJQ prizes. The stars of the show, of course, will be the Kwahamots who'll be skiing, jumping, barefooting, and wakeboarding, all woven into an entertaining show and presentation. The team is actually gearing up for the Wisconsin State Show Ski Championships in Wisconsin Rapids this weekend. But first, the community is invited to stop by Kwahamot Bay this evening to enjoy the show with a chance to win some WJJQ prizes this evening at 7:30pm.

Published on 07/15/2025 under News Tomahawk Middle Schoolers will have some additional options when it comes to sports during the upcoming school year. At their meeting this past week, the Tomahawk School Board approved the creation of a middle school girls swim team and a golf team, which would be a co-ed offering. District administrator Wendell Quesinberry offered the board a brief overview. He explained that the decision was led by interest from both students and the community. That was confirmed by the recent school perceptions survey. They did focus on sports that are already offered at the high school level. The Tomahawk School District regularly emphasizes the important role that extra-curriculars play in the student's overall school experience. Quesinberry noted that the two additional offerings would provide a positive impact at minimal cost. The board also briefly discussed concerns over impacts on other sports, as well as scheduling. In the end, the Board unanimously approved both additions.

Published on 07/15/2025 under News A motorcyclist is facing numerous citations in Lincoln County after being recorded at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, the office was informed by Marathon County deputies about a motorcycle traveling north on Highway 51 at speeds over 100 miles per hour. A Lincoln County deputy spotted the motorcycle passing in between two vehicles. The deputy used radar to record the motorcycle at 121 miles per hour in the 65 mph zone. The deputy performed a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, a 19 year old Mosinee man. According to the report, the operator told the deputy his speedometer was broken and that he thought he was only going 90mph. The driver was cited for speeding, reckless driving, and unauthorized display of registration. A couple of other quick notes from the Sheriff's Report… A 37 year old Beloit man was arrested for battery, disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing following an investigation into a disturbance in the Town of Skanawan.The number of vehicle vs. deer collisions remains elevated with another 13 reported on Lincoln County roadways this past week.

Published on 07/15/2025 under News The Lincoln County Board is set to consider a resolution to potentially close Pine Crest Nursing Home should a pending sale fall through. Earlier this year, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors approved a purchase agreement for the skilled nursing facility in Merrill with Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC. The sale is scheduled to be completed by August 1. A resolution on the agenda for tonight's July Board meeting states, "The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors recognizes the need to have an alternative plan in place and be ready to execute such plan if the sale and transfer of ownership of Pine Crest Nursing Home is not completed by August 1, 2025." The proposal would direct the Lincoln County Administrative and Legislative Committee "to prepare a plan detailing the actions necessary and associated timelines to affect the closure of Pine Crest by the end of the year or the earliest possible date thereafter." That plan would be presented at the Board's August meeting. The resolution cites insufficient tax levy to continue operating and maintaining the facility. North Central Health Care currently operates Pine Crest on behalf of Lincoln County. Last month, the NCHC executive committee voted to end the current agreement at the end of the year. That letter indicates the NCHC board's willingness to re-enter into revised management agreement should the sale not go through. The County Board has been down this path before. Last year, they also approved a purchase agreement with a different private provider. That sale fell apart after a lawsuit was filed challenging the sale.

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