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Both Tomahawk CC Squads Place Second in Medford Meet Published on 09/29/2023 under Sports

The Hatchet cross country squads came away with top two finishes in their meet at Medford Thursday afternoon.

Both squads placed second out of five teams in the meet. Tomahawk's boys' top finisher was Presley Gutbrod, who placed fifth overall with a time of 18:14. Sam Zastrow and Domonic Boos placed ninth and tenth, respectively, with times of 18:47 and 18:56.

The girls also had three runners finish in the top ten. Elise Gibeault placed fifth with a time of 21:10. Placing sixth overall was Alli Palmer with a time of 21:15 and placing ninth was Rachael Reilly with a time of 22:05.

Tomahawk's next meet will be their final regular season meet at Inshalla Country Club next Saturday. We will provide live updates on the meet from Inshalla on WJJQ.

In Other News

Tomahawk St. Mary's Choir Prepares for Annual Concert

Published on 12/05/2025 under News Holiday music certainly makes the season, and it's even better live. Here in Tomahawk the St. Mary's Choir packs the house for a Christmas concert each year, and it's just a few days away. Ahead of Sunday's performance we were joined by long-time director Jan Huseby, along with Sandy Bishop and Lynn Grube. While many folks are just transitioning into the Christmas holiday, the performers been busy with rehearsals for several months now. The choir is comprised of 70 voices, along with some instrumentalists. Grube says that includes seven or eight newcomers. While most of the choir is comprised of locals, they do get a handful of singers who travel to Tomahawk weekly for rehearsals from neighboring communities. This year's show is titled 'Glory to the Newborn King. 'They keep the concert fresh by changing out the music each year, and Huseby says she is continually keeping a list of songs. It will feature a mix of styles and songs focused on peace, joy and hope. with some familiar tunes and some lesser-known pieces. A special highlight this year, they're incorporating a dedication to military families. The St. Mary's Christmas concert is free, but they will accept donations to help cover some of the music costs. It's coming up Sunday afternoon starting at 4pm. They'll begin seating at 3pm and note that they typically fill quickly. We'll once again be recording the concert to bring back to our listeners on Christmas Eve.

Published on 12/05/2025 under News A man facing charges related to threats made to a Tomahawk grocery store, is now charged for making threats in Washington County as well. According to court records, Nicholas Wolf is facing a single count of making a terrorist threat in Washington County Court. The 23 year old was arrested November 25 as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation related to threats of violence made to multiple locations across multiple counties. In Washington County, the alleged threats were made about the Kewauskum School District which led to a closure and early dismissal on November 24. Wolf is also facing charges in Lincoln County related to threats made to Trig's grocery store. At a court hearing early this week, bond was set at $10,000. He's scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on December 22.

Published on 12/05/2025 under News A home was destroyed following a fire in Vilas County early Thursday morning. Crews were initially called to a home on Towering Oaks Lane in the Town of Cloverland near Eagle River Thursday morning. At around 4:30am, the homeowner reported waking up to find the attached garage on fire. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the fire had spread to the home which was fully engulfed. All occupants of the home were able to evacuate safely, however the home is considered a total loss. It wasn't immediately known what caused the fire. The fire remains under investigation.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News More than a century ago, Andrew Carnegie helped fund the construction of more than 1,600 public libraries around the country. Now those libraries are set to receive a substantial gift from his Foundation including some Northwoods locations. Between the 1880's and 1910's, there were 65 Carnegie-funded libraries built in Wisconsin. Currently 47 buildings remain, but just 22 still operate as libraries. As part of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Carnegie Foundation pledged $10,000 gifts to the approximately 1,280 Carnegie libraries. Among the recipients is the Rhinelander District Library, built back in 1903. Library Director Virginia Roberts says, "This gift honors the history of Carnegie Libraries and the role they have played in communities nationwide for more than a century." Roberts called the grant a 'timely gift' as the library is in the midst of a fundraising campaign. They are currently planning a multi-phase renovation and restoration project including the original Carnegie entrance. They aren't the only Northwoods library set to receive funding. The TB Scott Free Library in Merrill is another Carnegie library that announced they will be receiving a grant. The funds will be awarded to the libraries in January.Photo provided by the Rhinelander District Library-A composite photo of the current library (left) and the original library (right)

Published on 12/04/2025 under News With winter weather now upon us, there are plenty of adventures awaiting in Lincoln County. The ongoing partnership between Lincoln County and Discover Wisconsin continues. They have now released another video focused on Winter in Lincoln County. The narrator describes the area as a 'playground of snow and ice,' while exploring some of the many recreational opportunities available once the weather turns cold. The segment highlights two popular events specifically. The first half of the video is dedicated to the family-friendly Alice in Winterland ice fishing tournament which is held each February on Lake Alice. For the second half, they head south to Lake Alexander for the Ice Drags racing weekends. Both segments provide interviews with organizers and participants along with some scenic shots including drone footage. The video went live on the Discover Wisconsin YouTube Channel Wednesday evening. We'll include a link in the online version of the story.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News While many elves already have a jump start on their Christmas decorations, others may use this first weekend in December to hang lights. Officials are encouraging people take safety seriously for a happy holiday season. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average there are about 160 holiday decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with nearly half of the injuries involving falls. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says, "Holiday decorations should bring joy and not danger into people's homes. By taking a few extra moments to prevent hazards in your homes, you can create a joyful and safe environment." Ready Wisconsin offered a few quick tips:Choose a sturdy ladder that is the correct height and weight limit, and make sure it is placed on level grounds. Wear shoes that allow for good traction. Avoid standing on things likes chairs, counters or tables.Clear pathways including outdoor sidewalks of trip hazards, such as clutter, power cords and extra furniture.As for the lights, inspect both the bulbs and the cords for damage. Avoid overloading the circuits and outlets.Be mindful of fire dangers, keep trees watered and turn off the lights when you go to bed.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News An Athens man accused of cutting the brake lines of another man's vehicles on multiple occasions has reached a plea agreement. David Genrich pleaded no-contest to one count of attempted first-degree recklessly endangering safety and three counts of criminal damage to property. In exchange 5 other charges were dismissed, but will be considered during sentencing. The 24 year old was arrested in April of 2023 after an investigation into multiple instances of vehicle brake lines being cut. Following the second incident, the victim set up a surveillance camera capturing an individual, that matched the description Genrich. The plea agreement before a jury trial scheduled for later this month. According to the court calendar, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 2.

Published on 12/04/2025 under News A chilly week has ice forming on area waterways, but officials are reminding folks to stay off until more ice forms. It's important to note that no ice is completely safe and many factors affect ice strength. This includes fluctuating temperatures, water levels, snow cover and currents. With that in mind, a general rule of thumb is 2 inches or less, stay off entirely. When ice reaches 2-4 inches it may support some activities by foot. Any equipment such as ice shanties, ATVs, and snowmobiles should wait for at least a half foot of ice. When in doubt, it's best to wait. Whenever you venture onto the ice, let someone known where you'll be and when you plan to return. They also recommend some emergency tools including a segment of rope, a life preserver and a cellphone in a waterproof case.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News Fire stations around the Northwoods have become a bit more festive in recent days, but there's a reason behind the decoration. It's all part of the annual 'Keep the Wreath Green' campaign. During the holiday season, participating fire departments hang wreaths on their stations outfitted with green bulbs. When the agency responds to a fire, they change one of the green bulbs to a red one. The wreath serves as a visual reminder of the fire risks over the holiday season, one of the busiest stretches for fire departments nationwide. We saw that here in the Northwoods over the most recent Thanksgiving holiday. In just a few years, crews responded to life-changing fires in Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties. Here in Lincoln County, both the Tomahawk and Merrill Fire Departments participate in 'Keep the Wreath Green'. A few fire safety tips for the holidays...keep your Christmas tree watered and be careful not to overload electrical outlets. Keep an eye on food cooking, and avoid open flames and candles near flammable materials. These wreaths will remain up through the New Year's holiday, hopefully remaining green during that time.

Published on 12/03/2025 under News The 2025 Wisconsin gun-deer season has come to a close, and the harvest was just shy of last year's totals. The DNR provided a recap of the nine-day gun deer season Tuesday. According to the data, hunters registered 182,000 deer. That's down less than a percentage point when compared to last year's total, and 1.5% below the five year average. But hunters have seen a bit more success when factoring in the archery/crossbow seasons. As of Tuesday, the overall deer harvest including the bow hunts came in at approximately 295,000. That's up 1.1% from last year. Among factors that may have impacted the season was the relatively late start on the calendar, which traditionally has led to a slight drop. Weatherwise, after a quiet opening weekend, hunters across the state had to contend with major winter storms that crossed the northern portions of the state mid-week and central and southern Wisconsin during the second weekend of the season. The purchase of hunting licenses also saw a decline of less than a percentage point. Across all seasons, 790,000 hunters purchasing a tag. And it was a relatively safe 9-day gun/deer season. After two opening weekend firearm incidents, the DNR says there were no additional incidents reported for the remainder of the season.

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