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Hatchet Hockey Team Advances to GNC Championship Game Published on 02/07/2024 under Sports

The Hatchet Hockey team will be playing for their first Great Northern Conference Tournament Championship in School History Saturday night after defeating Mosinee Tuesday, 5-2.

Tomahawk was locked in a defensive slugfest through two periods before pulling away with three third-period goals.

Austin Lamer had a goal and two assists on the night. Jonah Dickens put two in the back of the net and Sawyer Hanna notched two assists. Trevor Seliskar also had an impressive night in goal, saving 24 out of 26 shots.

The win improves Tomahawk's record to 15-7 on the season and 9-0 in Great Northern Conference play.

The Hatchets will play for the GNC Tournament Title Saturday night against Lakeland in Mosinee. The puck will drop at 7:00 Saturday night.

In Other News

Friends of Council Grounds Unveils New Park Pass Sales Kiosk

Published on 02/18/2026 under News Council Grounds is a hidden gem here in the Northwoods. And now park-goers have a more convenient option to purchase their park passes. Friends of Council Grounds, a volunteer group who support, assist, and promote the state park property here in Lincoln County, recently unveiled a brand-new, electronic park pass sales kiosk. The kiosk offers both daily passes and the year-long passes for residents, seniors, and non-residents. The convenience allows purchase outside of park office hours, or having to deal with mailing or online purchases. The funding to purchase the kiosk came from two sources. The Friends group was awarded a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant. The Friends matched with money raised through merchandise sales, watercraft rental fees, and sales of firewood harvested and processed by their Wood Team volunteers. Council Grounds near Merrill is approximately 500 acres, located right along the Wisconsin River.

Published on 02/18/2026 under News At their meeting Tuesday, the Lincoln County Board approved future compensation packages for three elected offices. The positions impacted by the resolution include the Clerk of Courts, the Coroner, and the Sheriff. The compensation is for the years 2027-2030 and features a 3% annual increase. Ahead of the vote, Board Chair Jesse Boyd noted that, based on preliminary numbers from other counties, the Lincoln County Sheriff position would be below the state average. It ranges from $98,000 next year to $107,000 in 2030. Ultimately, no changes were made to the initial resolution, which was approved unanimously. This process to set compensation must be completed prior to the earliest time nomination papers can be filed. These positions will all appear on the November ballot. Elected Office2027202820292030Clerk of Courts $75,7777.66$78,050.99$80,392.52$82,804.29Sheriff$98,424.89$101,377.64$104,418.97$107,551.54Coroner (1,040 Hours)$33,143.90$34,138.21$35,162.36$36,217.23

Published on 02/18/2026 under News When it comes to an emergency, every second counts...and that includes the time before professionals arrive on the scene. As part of February being National Heart month, the American Red Cross is encouraging people participate in lifesaving skills courses such as First Aid, CPR and AED use. The training equips participants with the knowledge and skills to better identify and respond to heart-related emergencies. Statistics show more than 300,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year, yet only about one-third of adults say they feel confident and ready to act. Kathryn Halvorsen, executive director of the North Central Wisconsin chapter of the American Red Cross says, "Learning first aid and CPR skills may make a lifesaving difference for your child, family member, or even a stranger." Across the Wisconsin Region, nearly 19,000 people were trained in lifesaving skills last year through the Red Cross last year.The Red Cross has options for both in-person and online classes across more than a dozen categories. You can visit their website for more information.

Published on 02/18/2026 under News Family and patients who are receiving care for trauma injuries at Marshfield Medical Center have a new place to call their temporary home. Cattails Cottage opened this past week. It is an 11‑room lodging facility that provides safe, temporary housing for families of trauma patients and seriously injured patients receiving acute care at Marshfield Clinic. Rooms are offered at no cost on a first‑come, first‑served basis for eligible patients and families who live more than 40 miles from Marshfield. Staffed hours are 8am to 5pm Monday-Friday with 24/7 key‑card access for guests. Linens, kitchen supplies and laundry facilities are provided. Marshfield Medical Center President Bob Chaloner said, "Cattails Cottage is an invaluable support for patients and their families as they receive care in Marshfield. Having easy access to treatment with a no-cost lodging option removes one burden during this challenging time." It was converted from housing for oncology patients. Back in 2024, that service was relocated to Cattails Place across the street. Marshfield Clinic Foundation used donor funds and community support to renovate and make necessary facility improvements.

Published on 02/18/2026 under News Northcentral Technical College has received federal funding to expand a program aimed at recruiting new first responders. NTC announced the school has been awarded $3.2 million through the 'Consolidated Appropriations Act' at the request of Senator Tammy Baldwin. The funding will support the North Central Wisconsin Firefighter/Paramedic Apprenticeship Program. NTC President Jeannie Worden said, "This investment builds on years of collaborative work to create meaningful, career-ready pathways in public safety." The 18-month program will immerse apprentices in the full scope of firefighter/paramedic work through a structured combination of classroom instruction and supervised, real-world experience, while allowing them to earn a wage and complete their education. Each cohort will include nine apprentices. Wausau Fire Chief Jeremy Kopp called the federal investment is a major step forward for public safety in our region…" He added, "Programs like this help ensure we are building a strong, well-trained pipeline of firefighter/paramedics who are prepared to serve our community from day one."

Published on 02/18/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's Hockey squad would dominate in the WIAA Division 1 Regional Semifinal Tuesday night at Hobbs Municipal Ice Center in Eau Claire Tuesday night, defeating Eau Claire North, 7-1. The Hatchets won by peppering Husky Goalie Carson Ivey, notching 48 total shots. Five different Hatchets would put goals on the board. Brayden Lamer and Landyn Seymour would each notch two goals on the night. Jett Reilly would finish with one goal and five assists. Jonah Dickens would have a goal and two assists on the night. The win improves Tomahawk's record to 22-3 on the season. The Hatchets will head back out on the road Thursday night for the WIAA Division 1 Regional Final at #1 Hudson. Tune in for the broadcast on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 6:35 and opening faceoff at 7:00 from the Hudson Civic Sports Center.

Published on 02/18/2026 under Sports The Hatchet boys' basketball squad would suffer their 14th straight defeat Tuesday night, as well as their 12th straight Great Northern Conference defeat to Antigo, 82-61. The loss drops Tomahawk to 2-20 on the season and 0-12 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will go back on the road Friday night for another GNC showdown at Mosinee. Tip is at 7:15.

Published on 02/17/2026 under News It won't be long before road construction season returns to the Northwoods. A Highway 51 project near Tomahawk this spring will require a temporary detour. The WisDoT announced that US 51 between US Highway 8 and Oneida County L will be closed and detoured this spring. The official detour route will use US 8 and WIS 47. Construction is scheduled to begin in April, and they plan to re-open this segment prior to Memorial Day weekend. The work will continue after that date, but Highway 51 will be open with some lane closures. All lanes will be open for weekend traffic during this second phase. This project involves repairing concrete pavement, resurfacing the asphalt and bridge repairs. More information will be available closer to the start of construction in April. Project information website. They note this project is not associated with the proposed roundabout at US 51 and County K/Swamp Lake Road in Oneida County planned in 2027.

Published on 02/17/2026 under News Those heading out onto the ice at this time of year should use caution. A rescue was performed in Lincoln County. According to the Merrill Fire Department, responders were paged to Council Grounds on the Wisconsin River just below the Alexander Hydro Dam. The call came in at shortly before 11am Monday morning. The caller indicated a man had fallen through the ice, he was able to get out but was stranded on a nearby island. Firefighters used a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) to reach the man and bring him back to shore safely. His sled & ice shanty were also recovered. Members of the Merrill PD & Lincoln County Sheriff also assisted on scene. With above average temperatures over the past week, ice conditions on many Northwoods waterways have been changing. Caution is advised, and remember that no ice is 100% safe.

Published on 02/17/2026 under News With a stretch of mild weather, snowmobile trail closures are expanding. Here in Lincoln County, the Forestry, Land and Parks Department announced that trails in zones 2, 3, and 4 are closed as of yesterday. At this time, the trails in zone 1 and the Hiawatha will remain open. For those trails, they warned that riders can expect rough segments, icy stretches, and potential bare spots due to the warm weather and sun. In the announcement, Recreation Forester Nick Behrens says, "We kindly ask riders to follow all "TRAIL CLOSED" signs, stay on marked routes, and respect private property. He added, "Our trail system exists thanks to the generosity of local landowners, and your cooperation helps keep these trails open for everyone to enjoy."

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