WJJQ Radio

Story Details

Hatchet Girls Cross Country Team Advances to State Published on 10/28/2024 under Sports

On Friday, Tomahawk headed west to Colby High School to compete at the WIAA Division II Sectional Cross Country Meet. It was a chilly, but sunny, fall evening that saw a total of 15 teams face the Hatchets for the right to advance to Wisconsin Rapids next weekend for the WIAA State Championships.

The first division II race of the day were the girls at 4:15 PM. Coming off of the heart crushing finish of last year the girls were determined to advance. Despite never once appearing in the state rankings of the top Division II teams in Wisconsin the Hatchets proceeded to climb their way to the top throughout the race. The end result was a Sectional Championship by one point defeating last year's winning team, Shawano.

The lady Hatchets scored 67 points and were led by senior Alli Palmer who finished the race taking 3rd place with a new career best of 20:03. Junior Lydia Shaney followed, nearly cracking the top ten with an 11th place finish in 21:06. The ever improving sophomore Abbie Rosenmeier finished next in 15th place with, yet again, a new personal record of 21:22. Directly behind her was the impressive freshman Ellie Micke taking 16th with a new personal record of 21:23. Rounding out the scoring five was sophomore Elise Gibeault, continuing her return after her six month long injury, with a 22nd place finish in a season best time of 21:54. Rounding out the girls impressive race was sophomore Norah Mann and junior Faith Derleth. Norah finished the race in 35th place in a time of 22:34 with Faith finishing in 43rd in 23:26.

There were 79 runners in the girls race with finishing team results as follows: Tomahawk-67, Shawano-68, Oconto Falls-104, Medford-116, Lakeland-141, Rhinelander-143, Clintonville-160, New London-183, Antigo-253, Seymour-256, Northland Pines-267, Mosinee-293, Merrill-DNS, and Menominee Nation-DNS.

The boys Division II race began at 5:00 PM. The boys continue to make progress, despite finishing in a lower place than last year they were much closer to the other top teams points wise. New London claimed the Championship title with Rhinelander stunning Lakeland to advance. The Hatchets scored 136 points to tie Seymour and were led by senior Dominic Boos taking 9th place in a new personal record of 17:47. Closely finishing behind him was the dependable senior Sam Zastrow taking 13th in a time of 17:53. Though neither boy advanced individually to the state meet, they were both close and finished their cross country careers in the upper echelon of the boys Sectional. Eclipsing yet another personal record taking 21st with a time of 18:18 was freshman Joe Zastrow. Having a repeat time from the Great Northern Conference Meet was junior Jeremiah Johnson with a 43rd place finish in 18:59. The determined junior Beau Stromberg rounded out the scoring five with a 50th place finish in 19:06. Tomahawk's 6 and 7 runners, sophomore Drew Voermans and freshman Jordyn Carew, took 56th in 19:20 and 71st in 19:52.

There were 95 runners in the boys race with finishing team results as follows: New London-76, Rhinelander-86, Lakeland-101, Menominee Nation-129, Seymour-132, Oconto Falls-136, Tomahawk-136, Shawano-150, Northland Pines-247, Medford-249, Colby/Abbotsford-275, Merrill-316, Mosinee-344, Clintonville-DNS, and Antigo-DNS.

In Other News

Lincoln County Fair Kicks Off Wednesday

Published on 08/05/2026 under News A staple of the Northwoods for nearly a century and a half, the Lincoln County Fair gets underway in Merrill today. Following its 140th-anniversary milestone last year, "Kickin' It Up" is the theme and they'll be celebrating America's 250th birthday alongside traditional fairground fun. Organizers say longtime favorites will return alongside several new additions, headlined by a fresh carnival setup from Mr. Ed's Magical Midway. The upgraded midway brings a lineup of new rides, including a towering Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the fairgrounds. Of course, classic fair staples remain front and center. Visitors can explore livestock and exhibit barns, play carnival games, indulge in iconic fair food, and support local organizations hosting their biggest fundraisers of the year. Live entertainment will fill the grounds throughout the week, highlighted by The Glam Band performing on the Crossbridge Community Bank Stage on Saturday. While the grounds are already open, The Lincoln County Fair officially kicks of at 5pm Wednesday and then runs daily through Sunday at the Merrill Fairgrounds. Admission is free, with on-site parking available for $5.

Published on 08/05/2026 under News Antique boat and motor enthusiasts are making their way to Tomahawk this week with the 46th Annual Antique Outboard Show. The event draws collectors and hobbyists from across the Midwest and beyond to showcase vintage and classic outboard motors and boats. Visitors can browse displays, a swap meet, watch competitions, and hear stories from enthusiasts who share a passion for preserving boating history. The Tomahawk show has long promoted itself with the slogan, "If you can't find it at Tomahawk, they probably never made it." Competitors will take part in various judging divisions, along with on-water events throughout the week. Beyond the boating, new this year, outdoor cooking personalities Mad Dog & Merrill of Midwest Grill'n will make a special appearance for a filmed cooking demonstration. That's coming up at 11:00 Wednesday morning. After collectors spent the first part of the week setting up and settling in, organizers say Wednesday and Thursday are the best days for spectators to stop by SARA Park, float through the displays, and take a trip down memory lane. Admission is free.

Published on 08/05/2026 under News One person is dead following a crash between a bicycle and a semi-truck in Langlade County on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Antigo Police Department, officers were dispatched shortly before 2:00 p.m. to the intersection of Superior Street and 10th Avenue for a reported collision. Bystanders rendered aid until first responders arrived. Unfortunately, the bicyclist—a 45-year-old Antigo man—was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending family notification. No other injuries were reported. The crash remains under investigation, with the Wisconsin State Patrol assisting in crash reconstruction.

Published on 08/05/2026 under News Smokey Bear is celebrating another birthday, and the Tomahawk Public Library helped mark the occasion with one of its annual summer traditions. As part of the library's weekly Stories by the River program, Smokey Bear made a special appearance Tuesday to meet with children, share wildfire prevention tips and celebrate his 82nd birthday month. While rain forced the event indoors, families still gathered to hear stories and learn about fire safety alongside Smokey and local firefighting partners. Smokey Bear first appeared on August 9, 1944, and has spent more than eight decades reminding Americans about the importance of preventing wildfires. His famous message has evolved from "Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires" to "Only YOU can prevent Wildfires." The Tomahawk Public Library is continuing the celebration throughout August with a Smokey and Friends-themed Bingo Reading and Activity Challenge, giving young readers another chance to learn about conservation and fire safety while enjoying books and activities.

Published on 08/05/2026 under News A planned road construction project in Lincoln County has been moved up on the calendar and will begin later this month. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced upcoming work on Highway 17 between WIS 64 and Big Hay Meadow Creek in the Town of Merrill. Crews will remove and replace the existing pavement while also modifying the geometry of the County G and County C intersections. According to the announcement, the project was originally scheduled for next year but was bumped up due to deteriorating road conditions. During construction, WIS 17 will be closed to traffic, with a detour posted. An updated project timeline was not immediately available.

Published on 08/05/2026 under News Travelers in North Central Wisconsin will have to wait a little longer for a new flight option out of Mosinee. United Airlines has delayed the launch of its planned service between Central Wisconsin Airport and Chicago O'Hare. The airline originally planned to start flights this year. Airport officials say the decision is due to Federal Aviation Administration capacity limits at O'Hare, which have now been extended through October 2027. Those restrictions are capping new flights across United's network, affecting several regional airports throughout the Midwest. Officials said the delay is strictly an operational issue in Chicago, and not a lack of demand here at home. United says it remains committed to the Mosinee market and plans to launch the nonstop Chicago route as soon as those limits lift, tentatively set for November 2027. When United does take off at CWA, it will restore a route that ended in early 2022. It will also bring the airport back to offering all three major legacy carriers—United, American, and Delta—giving local travelers far more connection options worldwide.

Published on 08/04/2026 under News Tomahawk residents will once again have the chance to meet local first responders and enjoy a family-friendly evening as National Night Out returns to Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday. National Night Out is part of a nationwide campaign spanning more than four decades aimed at strengthening relationships between community members and public safety agencies. Two years ago, the Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce led the effort to bring the campaign to the area. Now in its third year, the local event continues to grow, featuring more than 20 interactive booths with obstacle courses, bounce houses, coloring stations, games, and activities for all ages. Attendees can also meet members of local law enforcement, fire crews, and EMS. Tomahawk Chamber Director Charis Lau says the event's success is made possible by strong support from local businesses, organizations, volunteers, and community members. Proceeds from the first two years have been donated to Tomahawk's volunteer fire departments to support their work in the area. Beyond public safety agencies, several other community groups and organizations will be present, including the WJJQ booth, along with a variety of local food vendors. National Night Out is free to attend and runs from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park.

Published on 08/04/2026 under News One person is dead and another is in custody following a single-vehicle rollover early Saturday morning in Taylor County. According to the Taylor County Sheriff's Office, first responders were dispatched shortly after 1:00 a.m. to Highway 73 in the Town of Aurora. Investigators say the vehicle left the roadway and entered the ditch before re-entering the highway, rolling over, and coming to rest in the middle of the road. Authorities identified the victim as 36-year-old Nathan Burke of Black River Falls, who was ejected from the vehicle and later succumbed to his injuries. The second occupant, 45-year-old Bradley Olson, also of Black River Falls, was treated for injuries before being taken into custody on drug-related charges. Investigators noted that neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. The crash remains under investigation and was the first of two fatal crashes in Taylor County within a few hours of each other early Saturday morning.

Published on 08/04/2026 under News One person is dead following a multi-vehicle crash involving a house being transported along a Taylor County road early Saturday morning. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office reported that the crash occurred just after 3:00 a.m. on County Highway O near Oak Drive in the Town of Holway. According to investigators, a tractor pulling a house westbound was struck on the corner by an oncoming eastbound car. The car traveled beneath the house structure and collided with a pickup truck following behind the load. The driver of the car, 19-year-old Dylan Mickelson of Abbotsford, died at the scene. His passenger was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Authorities stated that the tractor operator and the pickup driver, both men from Thorp, were uninjured. The Wisconsin State Patrol is assisting with the ongoing investigation. This was the second of two fatal crashes in Taylor County occurring within a few hours of each other early Saturday.

Published on 08/04/2026 under News Members of the Merrill Fire Department recently traveled south to Wisconsin Rapids for a special assignment. Year-round, firefighters from across Wisconsin donate their time to keep the Wisconsin Fire and EMS Memorial pristine. Volunteers assist with mowing, landscaping, and maintenance around the park grounds and museum. This past week was Merrill's turn to step up. A team of current firefighters, department retirees, and family members made the trip to lend a hand. In a message thanking the crew, memorial organizers noted that their hard work ensures the grounds remain a dignified, beautiful place to honor Wisconsin's fallen heroes. The project hits close to home for Merrill firefighters. Former Chief Adlord Talbot, who led the department in the 1930s and '40s, is among those honored at the memorial.

+ Read More