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Eagle River Celebrating All-Things Cranberry this Weekend Published on 10/04/2024 under News

Wisconsin can be called the cranberry capital of the US, producing twice as much as the next state. This weekend, the tiny, tart fruit will be showcased in the Northwoods.

Cranberry Fest is returning to Eagle River for its 44th edition, and Chamber director Kim Emerson notes that around 45,000 people attend the the two day event each year.

Not only is the cranberry Wisconsin's top fruit export, according to the USDA, the state is expected to produce half of all cranberries around the globe. While central Wisconsin grows the most, Northern Wisconsin is also a major producer.

Just a few highlights for the weekend include area marsh tours, wine tasting, a farmer's market and more than 250 booths for their craft fair. There will be plenty of cran-foods and beverages with past treats including meatballs, fritters, cheesecakes, soda, and beer. Of course, you can purchase your own cranberries as well. Some 10,000 pounds of fresh cranberries are also sold at Cranfest.

The festival is centered at the Vilas County fairgrounds, with additional events at satellite locations including marshes, wineries, and downtown Eagle River.

In Other News

Tomahawk Fall Ride Preparation Underway at Area Businesses

Published on 09/08/2025 under News It's Fall Ride week in the Tomahawk area, and preparations are well underway. This marks the 44th year of the Tomahawk Fall Ride. Before the bikes roll into town, local businesses are getting ready for what is typically one of their busiest and most important weeks of the year. A quick drive through the area will find tents popping up outside numerous businesses to accommodate beer gardens, outdoor entertainment, and traveling vendors. That same transition is underway in the Nokomis area where fields are also being converted into temporary, large-scale campgrounds with early-bird campers already moving in. Fall Ride week typically begins slowly and builds towards the weekend as tens of thousands of motorcycles descend upon the Northwoods. Some of the highlights include the Chamber Brat Fry and Bon Fire at SARA Park on Thursday; Tomahawk Main Street will play host to the Friday Thunder Parade and Street Dance; and a weekend's worth of entertainment at SARA Park. As always stay tuned to WJJQ throughout the week for all of your Fall Ride news, updates, and reports.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News A counselor in the Rhinelander school district was recently recognized for her efforts. The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance has selected Lexi Allen to receive their 2025 Advocacy Award. Allen works as a college and career counselor in the Rhinelander School District. They said, in just her second year with the district, Allen has become a driving force in rural education, creating innovative systems that connect students, educators, and community partners in meaningful ways. The WiRSA said, "Lexi embodies everything this award stands for: advocacy, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to students. She is ensuring that rural youth are not only seen and supported, but also empowered to discover their passions and pursue their dreams." They highlighted a few of her many accomplishments, starting with the transformation of the district's academic and career program, where they meet with and develop a personalized road-map for each individual student. Allen has built partnerships with local employers for job shadowing and apprenticeship programs, while also connecting with local colleges for dual credit opportunities. She also introduced Senior Signing Day, a district-wide celebration that honors every graduate's next step whether they are pursing college, technical training, the military, or entering the workforce. Superintendent Eric Burke says, "Lexi's leadership in Academic and Career Planning has had a transformative impact on our students, our community, our employers, and our two- and four-year college partners." He added, "This award is a reflection of her dedication and also the commitment of all staff in the School District of Rhinelander—not only through the courses you teach, but in the guidance and experiences you provide that help students shape their futures."

Published on 09/08/2025 under News Officials are monitoring a manure spill in Taylor County resulting in a fish kill. According to the DNR, the spill has impacted Trappers Creek, a tributary to the Black River, with dead fish observed in the creek. The spill happened early last week, and was reported to the DNR violation hotline on Friday. The department is working with the Taylor County Land Conservation Department and a local farmer to determine what caused the spill. The extent of the spill's impact is still being evaluated. Opportunities for cleanup or mitigation are being assessed. No other information was available.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News A couple of road construction updates in the area… For the Bearskin Creek Bridge replacement project on County L in Nokomis, the end is near, but the bridge remains closed at this time. Crews will be working on placing guardrails and paving the bridge approaches in the first half of the week. They are still on track to open ahead of Fall Ride weekend, tentatively mid-day Thursday. At some point following Fall Ride weekend, they'll begin working on phase two of this project, a resurfacing of the Oneida County portion of County L. Meanwhile, the DoT said, in their weekly construction update, that they will have Highway 8 open during Fall Ride weekend as well. They are working on Highway 8 between County L and McCord Road. This week, they are scheduled to work on some culvert replacements.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News ArtStart moved a bit closer to their fundraising goal for a new boiler thanks to the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. Over the weekend, ArtStart announced a $2,500 grant from the WPS Foundation. The non-profit has been raising money to replace a century-old boiler that is used to heat their historic Rhinelander building. ArtStart Board President, Sue Besert says, "We deeply appreciate this generous contribution from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. Maintaining our historic home is essential for us to continue offering meaningful arts and cultural programming to the Northwoods region and beyond." Last month, the organization said they were close enough to their fundraising goal to begin the project in September.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News While it wasn't the big Power Ball winner, the Tomahawk Lions Club awarded $22,000 over the weekend. The local Lions hosted their annual cash raffle, one of the organization's largest fundraisers. At their Saturday celebration and open house, twelve winning tickets were drawn. The Grand Prize, $10,000 went to Brent Ven Rooy. The $5,000 ticket was Paul Werner; $1,500 to Terry Van Ryan. Connie Norgren was selected for $1,000. There were two $750 winning tickets: Joanne Johnson and Jill Holmes/Kim Fassben. And there were also a half dozen $500 tickets: Amy Maki/Trish Beatty, Bob Thorpe, Kaya/Caleb Fedrowitz, Doreen Anderson, Woody Davis, and Kurt/Nancy Bernarde. The Lions wanted to thank everyone who purchased a ticket and those who support the organization throughout the year.

Published on 09/08/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad struggled mightily at the DC Everest Tournament in Wausau Saturday, going 1-3 in their four matches. The Hatchets' lone win came on the final match of the day against Wausau East. Tomahawk would lose to Edgar, Newman Catholic, and Eau Claire Memorial. The Hatchets now stand with an 8-8 record. Tomahawk continues Great Northern Conference play Tuesday against Merrill. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Prematch Show at 6:35 and opening serve at 7:00 from Merrill on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ. Alex Koch and Matt Theiler will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 09/08/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's girls' swim squad struggled at the Wisconsin Rapids Invite, finishing seventh out of seven teams. The Hatchets competed in the meet down three swimmers due to injury and finished with 45 team points. Tomahawk's top team finish came in the 200 medley relay. The team of Emma Hoff, Aubrey Tollefson, Kaylee Roberts, and Kylie Peissig finished with a time of 2:20:23. Roberts also finished eighth in the 200 yard freestyle. Tomahawk's next meet is a double dual at home with Colby and Rhinelander. Events begin at 5:00.

Published on 09/08/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's football squad opened Great Northern Conference play with a grinding win over Wausau East Friday night, winning 11-10. The Hatchets would win when Tiegan Sarazin blocked a potential Gio Gomez 40-yard field goal as the game ended, solidifying the Hatchets' third straight win to begin the season. Cash Olsen would score the only Hatchet touchdown of the night, a 13-yard run in the first quarter. The Tomahawk defense would sack Wausau East quarterback Xander Klein four times, including notching two safeties. The Hatchets would get their safeties from Ethan Gibeault and Michael Samundsen. Max Larson would rush for 138 yards on the game. The Hatchets would improve to 3-0, the first time they won three straight since 2022. Tomahawk will head out on the road for the first time this season at Antigo next week. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Kickoff Cabin at 6:10 and opening kick is at 7:00. Alex Koch and Jon Long will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 09/05/2025 under News It's been a year since the Tomahawk Dream Park became a reality, and the play area remains a popular destination. This weekend marks the one year anniversary of the ribbon cutting at the Tomahawk Dream Park. For those involved, the results have exceeded expectations. Whether enjoying the park with their kids and grandkids, or simply driving past to see the park full of smiling faces, it was well-worth the effort. We were able to follow the progress since the very beginning. The seeds were planted back in 2021 when Tomahawk Together pitched the idea of an all-inclusive playground. Separately, the City had been exploring a splash pad. The two entities decided to roll both ideas into a single project in the heart of the city in Washington Square. An impressive fundraising effort followed, then the ground breaking in the fall of 2023. A summer of construction, and the park was officially open for use in September of last year. And use it has seen... the playground was designed for kids of all ages and abilities, and during daylight, the equipment rarely sits still. And while the Splash Pad is now closed for the season, it pumped plenty of water to keep kids both cool and entertained throughout the summer months.

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