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Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center Offers Tips for Ticks Published on 05/25/2023 under News

Spending time outdoors in the Northwoods means you're likely to encounter ticks. Unfortunately, these parasitic bugs can carry a number of diseases including Lyme disease.

Up in Woodruff, Aspirus offers a Tick-Borne Illness Center which focuses on ticks, their diseases, and even educating the public. We were joined on our Wednesday morning conversation by nurse practitioner Ashley Johnson. She says their Tick-Borne Illness Center was established in 2019 thanks to the Howard Young Hospital Foundation.

Wisconsin has three tick species, the wood tick, the deer tick, and the less-common lone star tick. Johnson says that recent mild winters have likely resulted in an increase in the local tick populations. When the snow melts, the ticks become active, and they've treated tick bites from March all the way to November.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness. It's carried by the smaller, brown and burnt orange-colored, deer tick. Johnson notes that Northern Wisconsin is considered a Lyme endemic region, an area where the disease is most prevalent.

Johnson explained that Lyme can be difficult disease to diagnose. The symptoms vary and can show up anywhere from a few days to a month or more after a bite. A bullseye rash is a common sign, but Johnson says it doesn't appear every time. She says prompt and thorough treatment can help avoid chronic Lyme disease.

Tick Prevention

Prevention is the best, and Johnson says people should take some simple steps to enjoy the Northwoods while avoiding ticks. They often attach to people from the ground, so tall boots and tucking your pant legs into your socks can help. So too does using a bug spray with Deet. Once home, change out of your clothes and toss them in a hot dryer.

Perhaps the most important tip to remember is a full-body check when you get home. A through check is important as Johnson notes ticks are adept at finding hiding spots like behind knees, arm pits, and other hard to reach locations.

Tick Removal

Removing a tick can be challenging and there are several options to extract them. Tweezers are effective and it's important that you don't squeeze the body of the tick. Place the tweezers at the head of the tick perpendicular to its body and pull straight up until it releases from the skin.

You can hear that entire conversation in the WJJQ audio center. May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month

In Other News

Governor Evers Signs Bradyn's Law

Published on 12/09/2025 under News On Monday in Weston, Gov. Tony Evers signed "Bradyn's Law", creating a new crime of sexual extortion in Wisconsin. The new law, Assembly Bill 201, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 48: • Creates a new crime of sexual extortion; • Includes graduated penalties on offenses depending on the actor, the act, the victim's actions, or the victim's age; and • Modifies and expands the crime victim compensation program, including by adding a victim's suicide or attempted suicide to the list of acts that may be compensated by DOJ. "Bradyn's Law" was introduced in response to the tragic passing of Bradyn Bohn, a 15-year-old student from the Wausau Area who took his own life earlier this year as a result of a sexual extortion, or "sextortion," scheme. The FBI defines sextortion as a crime where offenders coerce minors to send explicit images, using them for extortion. The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force noted a rise in sextortion-related tips, with 237 cybertips received in 2024, up from 176 in 2023. They also have resources for online safety on their website.

Published on 12/09/2025 under News While we're still in the fall hunting season, hunters need to begin planning for next year. The DNR is reminding hunters of a pair of deadlines for tag applications is quickly approaching. Both black bear permits and spring turkey authorization applications must be submitted by the end of the day Wednesday. The spring turkey season begins in mid-April, the fall in September. The bear season also opens in September. Both are divided into zones across the state, and applicants are encouraged to review them before submitting an application. Due to the high interest, bear hunters may need to apply for several years before receiving a permit through the drawing. Turkey hunters can typically apply for multiple zones and weeks, in order of preference. The DNR says the drawings for turkey permits will be held in January, bear in February.

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Published on 12/09/2025 under News 'Tis the season to be generous. The holiday season is fast approaching and sadly this year there are still many families left struggling to just get by. About 17 percent of children in the Northwoods live below the poverty level. These children may go through their day to day life without the necessities needed to live a healthy life such as food, shelter, and clothes. Rhinelander High School FBLA/DECA would love to help these children out in its latest service activity; Jeans for Teens. From December 17th - January 6th, the group will be collecting gently used jeans and giving them to teens and others in the community who need them. Please help out FBLA/DECA by donating some of your old jeans. The collection sites to drop off your jeans donations are: Rhinelander High School, James Williams Middle School, Crescent Elementary School, Pelican Elementary School, Central Elementary School, Maurices, Rhinelander District Library, Campfire Coffee & Creamery (A'La Mode), Bath and Body Creations, and the YMCA. Look for the big box wrapped in colorful Christmas paper. Jeans of all conditions and colors will gladly be accepted. Donated jeans will go to the local Frederick Place so children and families in our area can feel the love and warmth.

Published on 12/08/2025 under News Tomahawk middle schoolers have been getting into the holiday giving spirit. The students are planning to make Christmas cards for the elderly population in our community including the senior living and nursing homes. The school-wide community service project is being led by the middle school PBIS committee. They're currently asking the community to contribute art materials that could be used in making the cards. This includes any old holiday cards, and other Christmas or winter-themed scrap-booking materials, stickers, ribbons, and markers. The collection got underway last month and continues through December 15. That will allow students time to get those cards made and delivered in time for the holidays. Any donated materials can be dropped off at the middle school office.

Published on 12/08/2025 under News A Medford man has died after falling through the ice in the Washington Flowage in the Township of Hammel Friday afternoon. According to a release from the Taylor County Sheriff's Office, on Friday at approximately 4:17 pm the Taylor County dispatch received a 911 call from a woman reporting that her husband was out ice fishing on the flowage earlier in the afternoon and had not yet returned. Upon arrival, authorities saw a sled trail leading out to the open water. A sled was also located floating in the water. The release further states that Wings of Hope and Bruce's Legacy were contacted for their specialized equipment and expertise in open water searches, along with the Marathon County Sheriff's Office Dive Team. The deceased man, identified as 69-year-old Randall K. Runge, was located and carefully recovered. Authorities say there is no indication of foul play. Taylor County Deputies, along with Medford Fire personnel, Taylor County Emergency Management, and Taylor County EMS personnel were also dispatched to the scene and the investigation remains ongoing.

Published on 12/08/2025 under News In a special check presentation on Saturday our Tomahawk VFW Post 2687 presented a check to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight for $30,000.00. In attendance was State Commander Ty Letto as well as veterans who participated in past Never Forgotten Honor Flights. Post 2687 has now funded 291 veterans for their Trip of a Lifetime to Washington. A big thank you to all the people who participated and volunteer workers in the Veterans Pool Tournament last month as nearly $19,000.00 was raised in that event and other donations to the VFW made up the donation.

Published on 12/07/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's boys basketball squad suffered their first loss of the season in their home and Great Northern Conference opener Friday, losing to Antigo, 61-23. The Hatchets struggled with foul trouble in the first half of the game and mustered just nine points in the second half. Ryan Montag led the way in scoring with nine points for the Hatchets. Tomahawk's record drops to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in Great Northern Conference play.

Published on 12/07/2025 under Sports The Hatchet girls' wrestling squad finished in the top ten out of 30 teams at their invite in Antigo Friday night, placing seventh. Two wrestlers finished in the top three at the invite. The highest finisher came from Riley Wilmot at 185, placing second. Kylie Peissig placed third at 114 pounds. Abigail Schertz and Abbie Rosenmeier each finished fourth at 120 and 107 pounds, respectively. Tomahawk's next time hitting the mats will be Tuesday at St. Croix Falls.

Published on 12/05/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's hockey squad flexed their will, dominating Rhinelander in their home opener Saturday night at SARA Park, 13-1. The Hatchets scored eight goals in the first period and five in the second period, winning their seventh straight over their Great Northern Conference rivals. Tomahawk got hat tricks from Jett Reilly and Jonah Dickens. Breck Stromberg found the back of the net twice. The Hatchets improve their record to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk is back in action Tuesday for another Great Northern Conference game at SARA Park against Northland Pines. The game will be broadcast on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ with Alex Koch and Keith Hanse in the broadcast booth. The Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show will get underway at 6:35 with opening faceoff at 7:00.

Published on 12/05/2025 under Sports The Hatchet girls' basketball squad got back in the win column Thursday night, using a strong second half to defeat the Red Robins at Antigo, 50-36. After getting off to a slow start and leading by just two at halftime, Tomahawk put 34 points up in the second half and never looked back. Freya Alberg led the way with 19 points for the Hatchets. Anita Ziert finished with 13 points to help Tomahawk improve to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action next Thursday for the first half of a non-conference basketball doubleheader with Three Lakes.

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