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Hatchet Football Team Wins Non-Conference Game Published on 10/09/2023 under Sports

Tomahawk's football team broke their four-game losing streak and recorded their second shutout of the season, defeating Westfield and spoiling their Homecoming night, 7-0.

The lone touchdown of the game came from fullback Caleb Dickens, who had a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Dickens also led the Hatchets in rushing with 73 yards on 14 carries. Tomahawk gained 174 yards on the ground.

The story of the game, though, was the defensive masterpiece put on by the Hatchets. Tomahawk held Westfield to just 66 yards of total offense and forced six turnovers. Brayden Larson set a school record with five interceptions in the game. The Hatchets also forced a fumble on the final play of the first half to preserve the lead.

With a forfeit win over Menominee Indian, Tomahawk improves their record to 5-5 on the season and 2-4 in Northwoods Football Conference play.

The Hatchets will have a potential win-and-in scenario Friday night to wrap up their season against NFC foe Clintonville. The Fehrman Orthodontics Pregame Show will begin at 6:35 and kickoff is at 7:00 from Hatchet Field. Alex Koch and Matt Turkiewicz will be in the broadcast booth.

In Other News

Orphaned Black Bear Cub near Wausau Being Cared for at Wild Instincts

Published on 05/14/2026 under News An orphaned black bear cub is being cared for thanks to some law enforcement officers and a local animal rehabilitation center. According to the Marathon County Sheriff's office, deputies responded to Highway 29 near Wausau. A bear cub was left alone after the mother was struck by a passing vehicle. With help from Wausau Police, they were able to secure the cub who was turned over to Wild Instincts. The rehabilitators brought the cub back to their Rhinelander facility. In an update, they said the cub is doing well and strong enough to spend time in their outdoor enclosure. Their hope is to eventually return the cub to the wild. And while highlighting this specific situation, the Sheriff's Office also reiterated the Keep Wildlife Wild message. The campaign generally encourages people not to approach young animals in the wild. And if you believe the animal has been abandoned, like this Wausau cub, contact an animal rehabilitation facility for guidance.

Published on 05/14/2026 under News Bird experts are encouraging residents across the Northwoods to turn off unnecessary outdoor lighting during overnight hours this spring to help protect migrating birds as they make their seasonal journey north. Researchers with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Purdue University say Wisconsin sits directly in a major migration corridor, with millions of birds crossing the state on peak migration nights through mid-June. About 80% of migrating birds travel at night, but artificial light can pull them off course into populated areas where they face additional hazards including window collisions. Conservation groups say even small changes such as shutting off porch lights, decorative lighting and unused business signs overnight; can make a significant difference, especially in smaller northern Wisconsin communities surrounded by forests and wetlands that provide critical habitat for migrating birds. The effort is part of the growing Lights Out Wisconsin campaign, which promotes reducing light pollution during peak migration periods to help birds safely navigate the night skies over the Badger State.

Published on 05/14/2026 under News A Northwoods program that encourages young girls to run while building life skills will wrap up their spring session with a special weekend. 'Girls on the Run' is a nationwide program, with a chapter located here in Northern Wisconsin. It's a 10-week, after-school running program for elementary and middle school students. In addition to the physical health benefits, they also help build confidence, social, and emotional skills. The local chapter started in Minocqua around 20 years ago, but they've grown to feature nearly two dozen communities stretching from Manitowish Waters to Mosinee. During that time, the organization says they've had more than 1,500 graduates. Each spring they wrap up the course with a 5k run. The local chapter will hold two this weekend. The first, Saturday, is at Minocqua Winter Park. Then on Sunday, they'll shift south to Wausau and Nine Mile Forest. People can also support these programs by serving as coaches, ambassadors or fundraiser, or even establishing a program in a new community. You can visit their website for more information.

Published on 05/13/2026 under Sports The Hatchet golfers would fall back to the middle of the pack in their Great Northern Conference meet Wednesday at Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander, placing fourth. Tomahawk would finish with a score of 354, five strokes behind Rhinelander and eight strokes ahead of Northland Pines. The finish marks the sixth GNC Meet in which Tomahawk placed fourth or lower. Oliver Childers placed ninth overall with an 84. Rounding out the top three for the Hatchets are Jaxon Kaiser with an 86 and Jake Albert with an 87. Tomahawk is back in action today for their next Great Northern Conference meet at Trout Lake in Minocqua. Tee-off is at 3:00.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News While small in size, a tick can have a big impact on our health. Local healthcare providers are reminding people about the importance of tick checks and prevention. The Lincoln County Health Department is urging people to take precautions against tick bites as warmer weather increases outdoor activity and, in turn, tick exposure. Ticks are typically most active from May through November, and exposure can happen during everyday activities including gardening, hiking, camping and even spending time in the yard. Lincoln County Public Health Educator Lexi Buntrock says emergency department visits for tick bites have been on the rise. She said simple prevention steps and regular tick checks can greatly reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses. That includes dressing the part. Consider long sleeves and pants, even tucking them into socks. And lighter colors make ticks easier to spot. A repellent will help deter ticks. When you get home toss the clothes in a hot dryer cycle to eliminate any hidden ticks. Once home, it's also time for a tick check. The Health Department notes that deer ticks can be extremely small, sometimes no larger than a poppy seed. They especially like to hide warm, moist, and hidden areas behind the knees, under arms, groin, ears and scalp. Don't forget a check for pets, and have a conversation with your veterinarian about tick prevention treatments. If you find a tick, consider submitting it to the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute's Tick Inventory project. The Health Department has a supply of the collection kits at their Merrill office.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News It won't be long before home gardeners are putting those plants in the ground, one local effort is encouraging residents to grow a little extra for those in need. Lakeland Pantry is launching its second annual "Grow A Row" initiative, inviting community members to plant an additional row of vegetables in their gardens and donate the harvest to help families facing food insecurity. Organizers say the program had a strong impact in its first year, with more than 2,300 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables donated by local gardeners and community groups. Those contributions helped provide nutritious, homegrown food to dozens of area families throughout the summer. Participating is simple, gardeners are asked to plant an extra row, then bring surplus produce to Lakeland Pantry during designated hours or to partner drop-off locations. Organizers say the effort is rooted in a "neighbors helping neighbors" philosophy, with every donated item, from tomatoes to herbs, helping expand access to healthy food in the community. If you're not in the Lakeland area, reach out to your local pantry to see if they accept similar produce donations.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News The Tomahawk Police Department now has a new tool to help reunite lost pets with their owners. The department recently received a free pet microchip scanner from Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to reconnecting missing dogs with their families. The organization also helps publicize lost and found pets through its Facebook page, which has more than 115,000 followers statewide. The scanner will be used when stray dogs are brought to the Tomahawk Police Department's temporary 'puppy pound'. Pet microchips are small electronic identification implants. When scanned, the chip displays a unique ID number connected to the owner's contact information, helping shelters, veterinarians and law enforcement quickly identify lost animals and return them home.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News Wisconsin Public Service has announced their news-inspired names for the peregrine falcon chicks being hatched at the Weston Power Plant near Wausau. The four chicks are being raised by peregrine falcons Sheldon and an unbanded female. The eggs were laid in early april and began hatching this week, with three eggs and one to go. A record 22,000 votes helped name this year's brood. WPS even extended the contest due to the high interest. The names under consideration were inspired by news anchors in northern Wisconsin and the Fox Valley. Two of the four winners had a wing up, as their anchors spent time in both markets. That includes Feathersoon Lehmann, in honor of Emerson Lehmann currently at WBAY and Jade Egg-schell inspired by WFRV's Jade Henschel. Kyle Prey-zorksi is the namesake of Kyle Pozorski of WAOW. And lastly Matt Tweet from Matt Z on WTAQ. People can follow along on nesting cams. In addition to these WPS birds, WE Energies has three nest boxes. As of Tuesday there were 9 hatched and 4 eggs remaining.

Published on 05/13/2026 under News The Tomahawk School District will be using some additional dollars to improve reading skills at the elementary level. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk School Board approved a pair of agenda items to utilize the outside funding to invest in two new reading related positions. The first is an AmeriCorps Reading Corps grant to hire an interventionist. This hire would provide direct one on one reading support with students. The second was a two year reimbursement from the Department of Public Instruction or DPI for an early literacy coach. This individual would work with teachers, specifically in K-3. Following the brief presentations, the board approved each unanimously. It was an otherwise routine meeting for the board which included approval of the graduation list and a report from the school resource officer.

Published on 05/12/2026 under Sports At the Hatchet High School Track & Field Meet, it was a great performance from both the Hatchet Boys and Girls Tuesday night. The Girls would finish third overall, their second consecutive top-three finish. Tomahawk would finish behind Stratford and Rhinelander. The highlight of the night was Hatchet Sophomore Elise Gibeault breaking two different school records. Gibeault would break the record for the 200 meter dash for the fourth time this season with a time of 25.76 seconds. Then, she would break the 400 meter school record with a time of 58.63 seconds. In addition, Ellie Micke would place second in the high jump with a leap of 4'10". Lydia Shaney would place second in the 3200 meter run with a time of 13:45. Tomahawk's boys would place eighth overall in the invite, placing 2.5 points behind Lakeland. The winner of the Meet for the Boys was Edgar, edging out Stratford. The top finisher for the boys was Senior Beau Stromberg, placing second in the High Jump with a leap of 5'10". Stromberg also placed fifth overall in the Triple Jump with a leap of 38'8". Senior Michael Samundsen placed fourth in the shot put with a toss of 42'3". The next meet for Tomahawk is Saturday morning up in Minocqua, which is a throwers invite. Events will begin at 10:00.

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