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Tomahawk School Board Recap: New Hires, End of Year Items Published on 05/15/2024 under News

New Staff Hires

May is a time of transition for schools, not only for the students, but staff as well.

Long-time school staff are working their final days ahead of retirement, while new educators are getting ready to join the ranks. Tomahawk is no different, and this year they have around a dozen people set to retire.

At their meeting Tuesday, the school board voted to fill five positions including an administrative hire in the high school. Justin Lauber was approved as the new associate principal in the high school. That vacancy was created when Sherri Woodall moved to the elementary, taking over for Guy Steckbauer who is retiring.

The board also approved four new teachers: in the elementary, Hannah Fisher and Emily Bublitz; High School Science teacher Cayla Kirchbaum, and THS alum Jarret Flynn in Tech Ed.
Post-Election Meeting

Following April elections, the May meeting of the Tomahawk School Board began a new term.

It marked the first meeting for new board member Lonny Calhoun. He won as a write-in for a vacant city seat. There were some shifts among other board members, and Calhoun essential succeeds long-time board member Cherie Hafeman who did not seek re-election.

The board elected officer, with Ron Zimmerman re-elected board president and Kay Kissenger Wolfe as VP.

Annual Spring Action Items

In some routine spring items, the board unanimously approved the graduation lists, the food service contract, the tentative 2025-26 calendar, and officially updated the end-of-year calendar for the current year.

Raise Your Voice Coming to Tomahawk

The Board also heard a presentation and subsequently approved a new Raise Your Voice Club. We'll have a bit more on that topic in the coming days.

Downtime for Reapportionment Committee

And members of the reapportionment committee provided a brief update. They continue gathering the necessary petition signatures and anticipate some downtime over the summer. That's because the official action takes place at the district's annual meeting in September.

In Other News

WPS: Think Safety and Efficiency in Home Heating When Temperatures Drop

Published on 01/23/2026 under News When temperatures drop, people may seek ways to save a few degrees and a few dollars in their home. With our coldest stretch in a few years, Wisconsin Public Service put out a reminder on home heating safety and efficiency. The two main concerns of home heating, outside of a higher bill, are carbon monoxide and fire. WPS is reminding residents to ensure their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in working order. Along those same lines, make sure your meters and vents are cleared. If you decide to warm up your car, make sure the garage door is open, or better yet pull it out into the driveway. A space heater may provide a little extra warmth for a specific room. Try to upgrade to newer models with safety features. WPS says that space heaters should always be plugged directly into the wall. Extension cords and power strips can overload which creates a fire risk. If you're looking to keep your home cozy, WPS also offered a few tips for home heating efficiency as well. Close off rooms that aren't in use. Sunshine and south facing windows are your friend. Open curtains and blinds during the day to provide some added warmth, while closing them at night will help retain heat and cut down on drafts. And if you have ceiling fans, make sure sure they're turning clockwise to push the warm air back down towards the floor. And for future cold, consider a check to seal gaps around windows and doors and keep your furnace regularly serviced. You can visit the WPS website for more tips as well as resources for customers on heating assistance.

Published on 01/23/2026 under News Earlier this week, we talked about the dangers of frostbite. The other major concern in extreme cold is hypothermia. We heard from Aspirus Emergency Physician, Dr. Amery Robinson about hypothermia. Robinson notes, "(Hypothermia) often happens when people aren't expecting it. Even if you know how to handle winter conditions, dangers can sneak up on you." And a victim doesn't need to spend significant time outdoors or a fall into an icy water to experience symptoms. In fact, Robinson said some of the most severe cases he's treated have happened indoors. He provided an example of a fall, leading to extended time with body contact with a cold floor in the basement or garage. That's why it's important to check-in on vulnerable populations, making sure there is a way to call for help in an emergency. As for what to look for, Robinson described early symptoms of hypothermia as the 'umbles.' This includes mumbling, stumbling, fumbling or bumbling. Early symptoms can be treated by providing warmth and even a sweet treat. Robinson explained body heat is generated through metabolism. Sugar and simple carbs are broken down quickly, so they can be especially useful in this case.

Published on 01/23/2026 under News If you spent time the last few days on social media, you may have seen viral posts about exploding trees in this extreme cold. The DNR has dispelled those posts, and explained what is really happening. Officials note the more appropriate headline would be 'cracking trees.' They explained, When it gets cold enough, the liquid sap inside trees can freeze and expand. This puts intense pressure on the inside of the tree which can lead to it physically cracking. It's this force that causes the popping or cracking noise that led to the exploding tree misnomer. As for what happens to the tree moving forward. While the DNR notes this will seldom kill the tree, it can be an entry point for insects, bacteria, and fungi that can negatively impact the tree. Property owners may want to monitor impacted trees in their yards and consult an arborist if concerned.

Published on 01/23/2026 under News Whether you're a snowbird heading south for a few months or planning a quick winter getaway, officials are reminding travelers to be aware of tollway scams. The Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection said they've recently seen an uptick in complaints about these scams. While Wisconsin doesn't have toll roads, many popular travel destinations and neighboring states do. The modern toll system allows motorists to pay online using your license plate for your contact information. Scammers have been posing as these services by sending unsolicited text or email messages claiming the recipient has an outstanding toll and a quickly approaching late fee. In addition to seeking payment, they may also provide a link where you'll be prompted to provide personal information. The DATCP says the first step to avoid these scams is awareness. If you are unsure if you received a possible toll, verify with the toll service's actual website. Don't utilize the links or contact information included in the suspicious message.

Published on 01/23/2026 under News A Northwoods food pantry will benefit from youth at a local church. Early this week, a group of children from Trinity Lutheran Church presented the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry with a contribution for their Hodag Monster Meals program. The funds came from a program at the church known as The Children's Offering. In an effort to teach children about giving back, during the service, the kids are invited to make a donation to a cause impacting children. For December, they selected the Hodag Monster Meals program. As the kids make their way up to the donation jug with their own contribution, they explained that the parishioners add to the cause. In then end, they had nearly $1,800 for the Food Pantry donation. RAFP Director Courtney Smith said she was thankful, offering gratitude for empowering Trinity's young people to help fight hunger and for supporting their mission. She added, "We appreciate Trinity's long-standing commitment to building food security in our community and supporting RAFP."

Published on 01/22/2026 under News With frigid temperatures in the forecast, officials are reminding residents to be prepared and knowledgeable to stay warm. Winter extremes the next few days are something to take seriously including risks of hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition that develops when the core body temperature drops below 95 ̊F. Frostbite is cold damage to body tissue. When windchills drop to a range of 20 and 30 below zero, frostbite can occur in as quickly as a half an hour. As the windchills approach 50 below, as is forecast overnight, it can set in as quickly as 5 minutes. Last winter, relatively mild, saw 96 cold-related deaths in Wisconsin according to the Department of Health Services. There were nearly 1,400 emergency calls and about the same number of ER visits, and approximately 400 hospitalizations related to the cold. If you must head out, dress warm and limit your time outdoors. When traveling keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. Try to keep you gas tank at least half full, and a fully charged cell phone. The Lincoln County Health Department is also reminding people to keep in mind where warming centers are. These facilities are designated to provide a place for residents to warm up, and most open during their regular business hours. Here in the Tomahawk area warming centers include: the library, city hall, the senior center, Our Sisters' House and Strikers Tomahawk Bowl. In Merrill: TB Scott Library; the MARC; the Merrill Enrichment Center; Lincoln County Service Center; Les & Jim's Lincoln Lanes; Riverside Athletic Club; and Walmart. The Gleason Bowling Center is designated warming area. We also heard from the Little Rice Fire Department, which will have the station open from 6am to 6pm on Friday.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Schools in Lincoln County will closed on Friday, and the extreme cold is to blame. With dangerously cold temperatures in the forecast overnight Thursday and throughout the day Friday, both the Tomahawk and Merrill School Districts made an early decision to close their campuses for Friday. By making the call early, it allows parents or caretakers to make alternative arrangements ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of school. When it comes to cold, school officials have to consider a number of factors including the transportation of students, both waiting for buses and time spent on the bus. Most Northwoods districts build a few extra days into the school calendar in anticipation of some weather-related cancellations during the school year. We expect the cancellations list to grow as Friday approaches. It's also a good idea to check ahead for any activities, events, and appointments on Friday for potential closures and cancellations. Stay tuned to WJJQ for updates.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News People across the region will be spending the day Thursday preparing for the impending stretch of dangerous cold in the forecast. A local bird rescue is reminding people to fill up their feeders. The folks over at the Raptor Education Group offered a few tips to help our feathered friends find some food over the next few days. They note that it is important to feed birds easily digestible food, typically found in a good wild bird seed mixture. REGI specifically highlighted black sunflower seeds and safflower seeds which are a good source of nutrients and fat, essential in below-zero weather. And for birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches suet is an excellent option. They added that you may want to consider bringing suet inside overnight to keep it softer and readily available to the birds. As for foods to avoid, while common, they advise against corn. Low in nutrients, they note that corn is nearly impossible for birds to digest in cold temperatures. And keep an eye out for birds that appear injured. If you one, they recommend using a towel to place it in a cardboard box and bringing it inside. Then contact REGI or a nearby animal rescue for further steps.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Lawmakers in Madison are working to find common ground on PFAS investments which could be good news for communities around the state including here in the Northwoods. On Wednesday, Governor Evers expressed optimism on a deal to release $125 million in PFAS funding that was actually approved in the previous 2023-25 budget. In laying out his 2026 legislative agenda, Gov. Evers cited PFAS legislation as an opportunity for bipartisan work and compromise. Approximately $80 million would allocated to a Community grant program to assist local governments in combating and remediating PFAS contamination. Here in Tomahawk, the city has been taking steps to build a PFAs treatment plant, but that facility carries a price tag of approximately $6.2 million. City leaders have been reviewing options to help pay for the project in what is expected to be an increasingly competitive process to secure funding in the coming years through grants or low-interest loans.

Published on 01/22/2026 under News Coming off of the DNR's free weekend, Lincoln County will be offering a similar opportunity to enjoy a hidden gem at no cost in early February. Lincoln County Forestry, Land, and Parks announced that they will be bringing back their Free Trail Pass Weekend for the Underdown Recreation Area. It is currently scheduled for the weekend of February 7 and 8. This will include opportunities to check out the park's cross-country ski, fat-tire bike, and snowshoe trails without the typically required pass, saving users $25. (Winter passes are $25; year-long passes are $35) After a couple of mild winters, the silent sports have been enjoying a snow-filled start to winter. Underdown features more than 20 miles of groomed ski trails, along with cleared snowshoe and bike paths. We'll offer up a reminder as that date draws closer.

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