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Aspirus Scholars Program Awards $300,000 in Scholarships Published on 02/08/2024 under News

The Aspirus Scholars Program is a collaboration aimed at addressing the national physician shortage, particularly rural areas like north central Wisconsin and Michigan's UP.

Yesterday, the Aspirus Health Foundation awarded two medical students a combined $300,000 in scholarships as part of the program. As part of the arrangement, the students commit to employment at Aspirus upon graduation.

The latest recipients were 1st year medical student Payton Jorgenson and 2nd year medical student Dylan Pierce. Both attend the Medical College of Wisconsin at the Central Wisconsin campus.

Lanna Scannell, Aspirus Vice President, System Philanthropy says, "Our Aspirus Scholars award recipients already have strong ties to our area and are passionate about medicine and caring for patients." She called them a tremendous addition to the Aspirus family.

The selection committee included both Aspirus physicians and community members. This is the eighth class of Aspirus Scholars.

-Photo provided by Aspirus: Medical Students Payton Jorgenson and Dylan Pierce (center) were selected to receive Aspirus Foundation Scholarships-

In Other News

Tomahawk Youth Take the Stage Tonight After Two-Week Acting Bootcamp

Published on 07/17/2026 under News A group of local kids in Tomahawk have spent their summer vacation getting a crash course in theater, and tonight, they are ready to take the stage. After spending the last two weeks memorizing lines, hitting their marks, and building confidence, the participants of the Tomahawk Community Theater Youth Summer Workshop are bringing a cast of colorful characters to life in their performance of "Knock Knock." The comedy follows two delivery drivers who never know what they'll find behind the next door as they encounter a series of quirky characters along the way. Now in its fourth year, the youth workshop features a cast and crew made up entirely of upper-elementary and middle school students. However, those involved say the production is about much more than just putting on a show. Eleven-year-old Stephanie Van Asten says theater has helped her build confidence and see the world through the eyes of different characters. Fellow actor Elton Hau, now in his fourth year, said he has learned valuable stage skills like stage positioning, voice projection, and how to stay in character when the unexpected happens. Terry Bucaro, one of the adults overseeing the workshop, noted that the entire production, from auditions to opening night, comes together in just two weeks. It is a fast-paced experience that gives young performers a unique chance to develop acting skills, teamwork, and lasting friendships. It will be a limited run, just one performance Friday night, 6pm at the Tomahawk School Auditorium. It's free, and the show is about an hour.

Published on 07/17/2026 under News The best water skiers in the state are taking over Lake Wazeecha this weekend, and several Northwoods favorites are hunting for a championship. Wisconsin Rapids is once again hosting all three divisions of the Wisconsin State Show Ski Championships. It's the milestone sixtieth anniversary. The action got underway on Thursday with individual events, including freestyle jumping, swivel skiing, and doubles. That all builds up to the highly anticipated team competition, which kicks off bright and early Friday morning. Each team has exactly one hour to put on their best performance. Competitors are judged across twelve distinct categories, including showmanship, difficulty, boat driving, announcing, and overall performance. While they are typically used to performing in the evenings, the Tomahawk-based Kwahamots were fourth on the dock this morning. And the Northwoods will be well-represented throughout the weekend, with the Plum Ski-ters of Sayner and the Chain Skimmers of Conover also competing for the crown. The routines will continue through Sunday with the Division 1 competition. We will share the official results as soon as they are announced. For those who can't make to Rapids, USA Waterski offers a live stream on their website.

Published on 07/17/2026 under News A stretch of hot summer weather has pushed water temperatures across Northern Wisconsin into the high 70s. While that might sound perfect for a swim, local fishing experts say it is dangerous territory for the state's most prized sport fish. All three experts in our stable for the WJJQ Fishing Minute updates discussed the risks to musky survival rates when practicing catch-and-release in the 75- to 80-degree range. Even when muskies appear healthy when let back into the water, the stress and exhaustion from the catch can have a lasting, often fatal impact. Guides Steve Heiting and Tim Buffington both shared that they are temporarily holding off on targeting muskies, choosing instead to pivot to other game fish. While the muskies rest in the cooler, deeper pockets of the lake, Northwoods guides recommend taking advantage of other active summer bites, including bass and panfish. To learn more, stay tuned to the WJJQ fishing reports as our experts go more in-depth on the topic. In the meantime, if the water is pushing 75°F or warmer, give our local muskies a breather so they can fight another day.

Published on 07/17/2026 under News A fire at a Tomahawk funeral home was quickly contained, thanks to a rapid response from local emergency crews. Firefighters were called to Generations Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon. In a social media post, owner Kevin Krueger said the fire occurred in the back of the building, and primarily resulted in smoke damage. He says the Generations building remains intact and fully operational, and the funeral home will continue providing all of its services without interruption. Krueger, himself a longtime firefighter, thanked the Tomahawk Fire Department for its quick response. No injuries or a cause of the fire have been reported.

Published on 07/17/2026 under News Drivers in the area should be on their best behavior today. A week-long enforcement effort wraps up here in the Northern Wisconsin. As we previewed earlier this week, the State Patrol has been participating in their annual Trooper in a Truck campaign. Each summer, the state patrol partners with the Wisconsin Motor Carrier Association to allow troopers to sit in the passenger seat of semis and other transport vehicles. This offers a better vantage point to watch for distracted driving dangers, seatbelts, and safety violations. If a violation is spotted, the trooper will radio another unit in a squad to conduct a traffic stop. After working out of their other posts around the state throughout the week, their final stop is here in Northern Wisconsin, working out of the Wausau post. This is the sixth summer the Wisconsin State Patrol conducted 'Trooper in a Truck.' A half dozen other states utilize similar campaigns.

Published on 07/17/2026 under News The Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends on Wisconsin's waterways, and it kept conservation wardens busy across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provided a summary of their annual Operation Dry Water campaign. The effort focuses on preventing impaired boating through education and enforcement. During the effort, wardens contacted more than 1,700 boats during the over the three-day holiday weekend. Wardens arrested 25 impaired boat operators, issued nearly 900 warnings, and wrote more than 200 citations for boating safety violations. The campaign also included a rescue in the Northwoods. DNR Warden Tim Price was patrolling the Eagle River Chain on the night of July 4 when he spotted a woman who had fallen from a pontoon and was sinking without a life jacket. Price pulled her from the water. The agency noted the woman was intoxicated. The DNR reminds boaters that operating a boat while impaired is illegal and encourages everyone to wear a life jacket whenever they're on the water.

Published on 07/16/2026 under News Stepping outside may feel more like walking into a campfire this week as thick wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota continues to blanket the Northwoods. The smoky conditions are expected to linger through at least today, bringing periods of unhealthy air quality across the region. Aspirus Health is urging residents to limit their time outdoors when air quality drops. Dr. Tony Malik says wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat; worsen asthma and other lung diseases; and even increase the risk of heart-related problems. Air quality conditions can change quickly, so residents are encouraged to monitor local forecasts until the smoke clears. It's a good idea to keep windows and doors closed, use HEPA air filters when possible, and consider a properly fitted N95 respirator if extended time outdoors is unavoidable. Dr. Malik says, "Summer is a time when people naturally want to be outdoors... When air quality is poor, it's best to postpone those activities if possible or reduce the amount of time you spend outside." People with asthma or other chronic health conditions should keep their medications close at hand and contact their healthcare provider if symptoms worsen. Anyone experiencing persistent coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest pain should seek medical attention promptly.

Published on 07/16/2026 under News While school may be out for the summer, class is in session for water conservation. Each summer, stakeholders from across the region gather for the Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting. The annual conference brings together environmental experts and community members to discuss local water resources and how to protect them. The six participating counties include Oneida, Vilas, Iron, Forest, Langlade, and Lincoln. Under this year's theme, "What's Your Lake's Report Card?", presenters will focus on the key indicators of lake health. Topics will include water quality, fisheries, aquatic habitat, shoreline stewardship, nighttime light pollution, and wild rice as an ecological health indicator. Organizers emphasize that healthy lakes require ongoing, active stewardship. They hope the meeting will provide practical, actionable information for anyone who lives on, plays on, or simply cares about Northwoods waters. It'll take place tomorrow morning at James Williams Middle School from 8am to 12:30pm. While registration is appreciated, walk-ins are welcome.

Published on 07/16/2026 under News A late-night house fire was narrowly averted in Vilas County thanks to a quick-thinking bystander, and it prompted a timely warning from local firefighters about the proper disposal of smoking materials. According to Arbor Vitae Fire and Rescue, a passerby spotted flames on a cedar porch at a home off Highway 51 in Arbor Vitae overnight Tuesday. The alert citizen immediately called 911 and managed to knock down the flames before emergency crews arrived. Firefighters quickly extinguished the remaining hot spots, limiting the damage to the porch structure. The fire department said in a statement, "Although the outcome was positive in terms of an early notification, it could have been much worse, potentially catastrophic given the time of night." Investigators determined the fire was caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials. Officials warn that porches and balconies are among the most common areas for these types of fires, emphasizing that they are completely preventable. First responders are urging everyone to exercise an extra degree of care when disposing of smoking materials to help keep the community safe.

Published on 07/16/2026 under News It's not the kind of topic that grabs headlines every day, but it's one that touches every Wisconsin community. State Representative Calvin Callahan of Tomahawk announced this week that he has been appointed to chair the Legislature's Study Committee on Cemeteries. The committee will review and update Wisconsin's cemetery laws, including policies covering abandoned cemeteries and burials on non-cemetery property. Callahan says cemeteries and burial sites are sacred places that deserve dignity and respect. He says discussions with constituents, stakeholders and legislative attorneys have shown broad agreement that the state's cemetery laws need updating. The study committee will include citizen experts who will help lawmakers develop recommendations for possible changes to state law.

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