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WEDC Grant Being Used to Renovate Eagle River Restaurant for Brew Pub Published on 09/06/2023 under News

The City of Eagle River is receiving a $250,000 state grant to support the transformation of an underdeveloped restaurant into a new state-of-the-art brewpub.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation awarded a Community Development Investment Grant to help convert the former Riverstone Restaurant and Tavern into a locally-owned brewpub, Riverstone Brewing Company.

WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes recently toured the building during a stop in Eagle River. She said via news release, "Local brewpubs become key community gathering spaces and Riverstone Brewing Co. will help lure visitors to downtown Eagle River to enjoy the many amenities the city has to offer."

The building, which is one of Eagle River's 41 designated historic sites, was built in 1937 as a meeting space for the local American Legion. Upgrades to the historic building include a 1,400 square foot expansion, updated flooring and decoration, and of course, state-of-the-art brewing equipment.

Robin Ginner, Eagle River City Administrator says they are always excited to support the development of new and unique businesses in our downtown area and appreciate WEDC for their financial programs that help make these developments possible."

Hughes added, "Thriving downtowns with spaces for people to live, work, shop, eat and gather are important for creating vibrant communities."

In Other News

Hatchet Volleyball Team Loses at Merrill

Published on 09/10/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad was swept in their road Great Northern Conference battle at Merrill Tuesday night, losing 23-25, 15-25, 11-25. The Hatchets led 23-19 in Game one, but surrendered six straight points to end the game and never regained momentum. Siennah Calkins had nine kills and Shelby Borowski had 11 assists. Tomahawk was unable to contain the passing of Merrill's Kaela Clerveaux as she notched 25 assists on the night. The Hatchets now stand at 8-9 on the season and 1-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Thursday for a non-conference match in Ashland. First serve is at 7:00.

Published on 09/10/2025 under News While motorcycles are starting to arrive in the Tomahawk area for Fall Ride, another local community will be welcoming a group of bikers using pedal power. It's part of Team ONE MILE's 'Operation Healing Hearts' Bicycle Tour. Rhinelander is one of five cities on the five day, 700 mile tour as the group crosses the state from Baraboo to LaCrosse to Iron Mountain and down to Green Bay. Today's segment is from Wausau to Rhinelander. They're passing through Merrill this morning and Tomahawk along Highway 107 around mid-day. The ride is focused on generating support, growing awareness, and inspiring action to the challenges faced by veterans, first responders, and families, such as coping with PTSD, grief, abuse, or suicide. Organizers said, "This event is about more than just cycling—it's about building community, honoring sacrifice, and offering hope and resources to those who need it most." Proceeds and donations from the tour benefit two charitable partners: Camp Hometown Heroes and Operation Guardian Angel. They won't just be passing through Rhinelander, community partners are planning a celebration at Hodag Park from 5pm to 8pm, with live music and entertainment and even veterans resources. The public is invited to stop by, you can also follow along on their website tracker or their Facebook page for some on the road videos and photos.

Published on 09/10/2025 under News As the local population temporarily surges for Fall Ride weekend, so too, does the Tomahawk Police Force. To help cover the expanded patrol here in the city, the Tomahawk Police Department relies on neighboring agencies to provide additional manpower. Each year, the Tomahawk Police Department requests mutual aid, with neighboring departments providing officers to work in tandem with the Tomahawk officers during Fall Ride weekend. The goal is to increase law enforcement presence and visibility, particularly in the downtown area which hosts a number of Fall Ride events. In recent years, there haven't been any major incidents, a trend they'd like to continue. Police Chief Al Elvins put out a call to fill 30 additional shifts via mutual aid this year. According to an update provided at the last Health and Safety meeting, he was able to fill 29 shifts. Officers from Merrill Police Department will fill 6 shifts; the Mountain Bay Police Department (serves Rothschild, Schofield, and Weston) will provide another 23 shifts. To get into the Fall Ride Spirit, the officers typically trade in their traditional police blues for special Harley-Davidson inspired black and orange. While there are already some early-bird arrivals and activities taking place, the Fall Ride unofficially kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Published on 09/10/2025 under News The deer season gets underway this weekend with the opening of the archery hunt. Before heading into the field, the DNR is encouraging hunters to go over safe hunting practices, specifically the use of tree stands. According to DNR surveys, a quarter of bow hunters have experienced a fall or near fall from an elevated stand, yet less than half say they use a safety harness when climbing. DNR officials would like to see that number go up. They also offered a few other tips for tree stand safety. First, inspect the tree, your stand, and your harness, especially if you haven't used them since last season. Always maintain 3 points of contact when climbing. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. Use a haul line to raise or lower your firearm or bow. The Treestand Manufacturers Association offers a free safety course that takes about 15 minutes to complete and is a good refresher. Along with tree stand safety, the DNR also continues to emphasize safety on ATVs and UTVs, often used by hunters to get to and from their stands. And it's always a good idea to carry a cell phone and let some one know where you're going. The archery season opens Saturday and runs through early January. -Photo provided by DNR

Published on 09/10/2025 under News The odds of winning the Wisconsin Lottery 'All or Nothing' grand prize is 1 in 353,000. Yet two winning tickets were sold at the same Northwoods location earlier this week. While much of the country was swept up in Powerball fever, the two $100,000 All or Nothing tickets were purchased at Krist Food Mart in St. Germain for their midday drawing on Monday, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Unlike most lotto games where you have to match each number to claim the prize, All or Nothing, as the name implies, also cashes out when no numbers are matched. That's how both of the St. Germain Tickets were won. According to Wisconsin Lottery, there have been just 13 grand prize winners this year; seven matched all, six matched nothing. All or Nothing is a Wisconsin-only lottery game, with twice daily drawings.

Published on 09/10/2025 under News The Tomahawk School District presented their preliminary budget at the district's annual meeting Tuesday. Administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided a brief overview of the preliminary spending plan, which he noted was unchanged from the August meeting. As we covered last month, the Tomahawk School District saw their general aid from the state cut by an estimated $500,000, shifting the burden onto the local tax roll. The proposed district tax levy is $14.8 million, an approximate $800,000 increase. The district actually cut expenditures by 5.3% this past year. Quesinberry says the mil rate across the district averages $5.73; though the figure will vary, based on the municipality. Despite the increase, the levy is below the state average, and still among the lowest over the past thirty years. As he does each year, Quesinberry cautioned the budget presented Tuesday still has some estimates as they await some finalized state figures. The annual meeting allows the public to approve the necessary tax levy which they did. The final budget is typically approved by the board in late October once all numbers are confirmed. _____ With the school year just getting underway, the Tomahawk School Board meeting was business as usual. The Board approved the annual middle school trip to Washington DC, early graduation list, and substitute teacher pay. They also approved non-enrolled student to participate in co-curricular activities. This is to accommodate home school, virtual school, and St. Mary's students.

Published on 09/10/2025 under News A multi-phase hospital and renovation project in Park Falls is wrapping up and officials celebrated Tuesday. Healthcare providers were joined by local and state leaders including Governor Evers for a ribbon cutting at the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls facility. Ty Erickson, president of Marshfield Medical Center hospitals in Park Falls and Minocqua. "This project will significantly enhance our ability to serve the community with modern, state-of-the-art facilities." The project includes an 11-bed med-surg hospital unit; additional space for physical and occupational therapy and rehab; food & nutrition services; and a new cafe. The $35 million project was supported by a $20 million grant through the state's Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Grant Program. Gov. Evers. "By investing in projects like this, we're not only creating systems to set this region up for the next century of patient care, but we're also creating a hub for community jobs, we're creating a focal point to bring new residents and businesses to the area, and we're giving those who have called this community home for years another reason to be proud of this great city. As part of the ribbon cutting festivities, they also buried a time capsule.

Published on 09/09/2025 under News With an influx of visitors in the Northwoods for the Fall Ride, officials are asking everyone to safely share the road whether traveling on two wheels or four. While a festive atmosphere, the Fall Ride typically sees a handful of accidents involving motorcycles each year. Local law enforcement are hoping all motorists play their part to help reduce the number of these incidents. When it comes to motorcycles, remember they have a smaller profile. This makes it easier to misjudge the speed and distance of an approaching bike. They encourage drivers to look twice at intersections, and when changing lanes be aware of blind spots. With gatherings and events, it's also important to pay attention for pedestrians. And some roads may have reduced speed limits, additional stop signs, or road closures to accommodate. Lastly, as always, slow down, reduce distractions, and always drive sober.

Published on 09/09/2025 under News September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and local health partners are looking to connect people with life-saving resources while reducing the stigma in using them. One of those important tools is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Shelly Missall, Outreach Coordinator with the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline, says the resource is designed to be accessible, confidential, and judgment-free. She explained, "When someone dials 988, they'll speak with a trained counselor who listens, provides support, and connects them to resources." The theme of this year's campaign is "Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere." Heidi Pritzl, LCSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Aspirus Health, says awareness starts with recognizing the warning signs. She says an important step is to check in; ask if they're okay and show you care." She notes these conversations can be overwhelming, but compassion and observation can open the door to help." The Lincoln County Health Department has 988 materials available, including wallet cards and magnets. They also have both a Lincoln County Mental Health & Substance Use Resource Guide and Lincoln County Grief & Recovery Support Guide.

Published on 09/09/2025 under News Prime rib at a Wisconsin supper club is a beloved tradition. A new guide highlights some of the best, and several local restaurants made the list. The Wisconsin Beef Council, in partnership with Gather Wisconsin, has introduced the Prime Rib Trail—a statewide guide to restaurants serving up perfectly prepared prime rib. They began with call for recommendations on social media and then narrowed down the nominees. The inaugural map features 16 restaurants from all corners of the state that includes three here in the Northwoods. The locals who made the cut are: Pub 'N Prime (Saint Germain); Somo Lake Resort (Tomahawk); and Loading Zone Eatery (Wausau). The full map is available on the Wisconsin Beef Council website. Wisconsin Beef Council Director of Communications and Outreach Kaitlyn Kesler said, "Prime Rib is a dish that brings people together. This trail not only celebrates Wisconsin's supper club culture, but also connects consumers with the beef that's raised with care by farm families." The full map is available on the Wisconsin Beef Council Website. 1. Donny's Glidden Lodge Restaurant (Sturgeon Bay) 2. Bob and Geri's Black Otter Supper Club (Hortonville) 3. Schwarz Supper Club (New Holstein) 4. The Packing House Restaurant (Milwaukee) 5. Fredrick's Supper Club (Milton) 6. Village Bar Supper Club (Kieler) 7. Del-Bar (Wisconsin Dells) 8. Rockton Bar (La Farge) 9. Re-Pete's Saloon & Grill (Black River Falls) 10. Chicken Chaser's Bar & Grill, LLC (Fall Creek) 11. Jake's Supper Club (Menomonie) 12. Lehman's Supper Club and Lounge (Rice Lake) 13. Pine Creek Pit Stop (Ashland) 14. Pub 'N Prime (Saint Germain) 15. Somo Lake Resort (Tomahawk) 16. Loading Zone Eatery (Wausau)

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