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Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Announces 2025 'Free Days' Published on 01/09/2025 under News

While their offices are closed Thursday, officials at the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest announced the five fee free days in 2025.

Throughout the year, National Forests offer various days when standard amenity fees and admission are waived. The first opportunity this year is later this month, January 20th in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

There will be two opportunities in June, National Get Outdoors Day on June 14 and Juneteenth on June 19th. September 27th is National Public Lands Day and another free day. The final one planned for the year is on Veterans Day November 11.

As for today's office closure, that is for the remembrance of President Jimmy Carter's death. There is also no mail delivery.

In Other News

Tomahawk Dumpster Days Allows City Residents to Discard Hard-to-Dispose Items

Published on 09/10/2026 under News It's time once again for Tomahawk residents to do a little fall cleaning with the return of Dumpster Days, an annual event offering household item disposal and electronics recycling on Saturday morning. Tomahawk Dumpster Days was originally established by a group of community minded volunteers known as the Make-A-Difference organization. After twenty years, the initial goal remains the same: to make the community a cleaner, more inviting place to live, work, and play by giving residents a convenient way to discard hard-to-dispose-of items. The City of Tomahawk has now taken over the organization of Dumpster Days working with community partners. Tomahawk Iron and Metal will host a small electronics recycling on-site, though select items may carry a small fee. Larger items can be brought to their business. And while document shredding has been offered in previous years, it is not part of this year's event. Beyond cleaning up the city, Dumpster Days serves as a fundraiser and hands-on learning experience for the local Boy Scout troop, whose members assist on-site and help with curbside pickups. The pickup service costs $25 and must be arranged through City Hall by Friday afternoon. Two decades later, Dumpster Days remains as popular as ever. A queue of vehicles typically lines up at the entrance well before the site opens on Saturday morning. Collection runs from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the city garage. Organizers remind community members that household item drop-off is strictly for city residents; while the electronics recycling is open to all

Published on 09/10/2026 under News With bow deer season just a few days away, Tomahawk will once again hold a nuisance deer hunt within city limits. The Common Council formally approved the resolution during a special meeting Wednesday. This does not mean hunters will be walking down Main Street this fall. The city designates specific zones where the nuisance hunt is and isn't permitted, with most allowed areas located along rural stretches of land within city boundaries. While participation and harvest numbers vary each year, a typical season yields fewer than ten registered deer. Following the season's conclusion, the Nuisance Animal Committee plans to reconvene to review the data. Twenty-five tags are available, and participants must register with the Tomahawk Police Department while following standard Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations. The nuisance hunt runs concurrently with the statewide archery season, which opens Saturday and extends into early January.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News Civil War buffs will test their marksmanship in the Rhinelander area this weekend during a unique regional shooting event. The American Civil War Shooting Association (ACWSA) is hosting the Rhinelander Memorial Skirmish on Saturday and Sunday in Pelican Lake. The ACWSA brings historical reenactors together to compete in timed team events and individual marksmanship matches. Participants, many dressed in period-appropriate uniforms, will use Civil War–era firearms including revolvers and muskets to shoot at breakable targets and paper bullseyes, competing for top honors. Beyond the friendly competition, the association aims to preserve Civil War history and educate the public on the era's weaponry and tactics. Several local shooters are slated to participate in this weekend's skirmish, one of the final matches of the season. The public is invited to attend, admission is free. Organizers advise spectators to bring ear and eye protection. A schedule and additional details can be found on their website.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News A Wausau man who pleaded guilty to defrauding nearly 190 investors out of more than $14 million has been ordered to serve eight years in federal prison and repay his victims. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, 64-year-old Stanley Pophal was sentenced last week for running a years-long investment fraud scheme through his company, Bright with Silver, Inc. Prosecutors say that between 2019 and 2025, Pophal promised investors returns of at least 20 percent through ventures involving cryptocurrency, real estate, artificial intelligence, precious metals, and gemstones. Instead, authorities say Pophal used the majority of the funds to support his personal lifestyle and maintain a Ponzi-style scheme. Investigators seized more than 600 items purchased with investor funds including hundreds of snowmobiles stored in a rented warehouse. These are being auctioned off to help satisfy the roughly $14 million in court-ordered restitution.

Published on 09/10/2026 under News A planned live debate between candidates for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District will not take place. WJFW Newswatch 12 announced the cancellation of its September 29 forum featuring Democratic nominee Fred Clark and Republican nominee Michael Alfonso. According to the station, Clark agreed to participate, but Alfonso declined. Because the event was designed as a head-to-head forum, station management decided not to move forward. "We believe voters deserve the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates seeking to represent them in Congress," said WJFW News Director Geoff Weller. "We appreciate Fred Clark's willingness to participate and regret that we will not be able to provide viewers with the debate we had planned."

Published on 09/9/2026 under News A potentially dangerous situation was averted following a propane tanker crash in Marathon County late Wednesday morning. According to the Marathon County Sheriff's Office, emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection of Chokecherry Road and Hazelnut Road in the Town of Frankfort. Initial reports indicated the tanker was leaking propane, prompting officials to ask the public to avoid the area. After several hours, crews successfully transferred the remaining propane into a second tanker and cleared the scene. No injuries were reported, and no further details have been released. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Published on 09/09/2026 under News The Town of Nokomis is considering expanding its fire station to provide living quarters for the 24/7 ambulance crew housed at the facility. Coming up on Thursday, they'll be hosting another public information meeting. Earlier this week, we had Firefighter Russ Berg and Town Supervisor Bette Stillman on the Morning Conversation to provide some background and status. Built in 2002, the Nokomis Fire Station expanded to include EMS services in 2009. In recent years, paramedic shift rotations shifted from 12-hour to 24-hour schedules. Currently, the Medic 4 crew relies on cots or air mattresses in a non-code-compliant area. Due to safety regulations, at least one crew member must remain awake at all times under the current setup. To provide suitable accommodations, a town committee recommended building a station addition that would feature dedicated bedrooms, office space, and a shared living area. While the 24/7 staffing model has successfully reduced local ambulance response times, some residents have voiced concerns regarding the project's overall cost. If approved, the town plans to offset expenses by pursuing USDA Rural Development loans, grants, and community fundraising. Thursday's session marks the town's second public information meeting following an initial gathering last month. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Nokomis Fire Station and will feature a formal presentation followed by a Q&A segment for residents. No official decisions or votes will take place during the meeting. And we've got that conversation with Russ and Bette posted in the WJJQ Audio Center.

Published on 09/09/2026 under News Science education is getting a competitive boost in Tomahawk. On Tuesday, the Tomahawk School Board voted unanimously to approve a new high school Science Olympiad Club, opening up fresh hands-on opportunities for local STEM students. The initiative was introduced by Heather Goldberg, an Alternative Education teacher new to the district who previously built a successful Science Olympiad program at Lakeland Union High School. Goldberg pitched the program as a "track meet for academics," where students compete across 23 distinct events. Competitions fall into three main categories: written academic tests, hands-on lab experiments, and engineering design challenges. Past building events have tasked students with constructing efficient balsa wood towers engineered for load-bearing tests or crafting rubber-band-powered flight devices. Students will prepare using weekly resource periods, independent study groups, and after-school practice sessions. Beyond the academic challenge, Goldberg emphasized that the club gives non-traditional student-athletes a place to belong, build teamwork skills, and explore potential career paths. Startup costs for the district are minimal, with additional expenses to be covered through local grants and student fundraisers. Following Goldberg's presentation, the board gave the official green light for team formation and recruitment to begin.

Published on 09/09/2026 under News September marks National Suicide Prevention Month; a dedicated effort to raise awareness, end stigmas, and connect individuals with life-saving resources if needed. On September 8, local mental health organizations joined national voices to highlight the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free, confidential support 24/7 by calling or texting 988. This year's national campaign theme, "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough," delivers a powerful message: you do not need to reach a breaking point to ask for help. Whether navigating severe emotional distress, substance use challenges, grief, anxiety, or general life stressors, compassionate support is readily available. Since transitioning from its original ten-digit hotline to the streamlined, three-digit 988 code, the lifeline has expanded rapidly, successfully answering millions of calls, texts, and online chats nationwide. Throughout the remainder of September, local advocacy groups will continue sharing educational resources and hosting events to promote these critical services. Together, these efforts ensure that everyone in the community knows help is always just three digits away.

Published on 09/09/2026 under News As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow, so does the demand for a reliable charging network. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recently announced a new round of grant funding to construct fast-charging stations across the state, including several key locations in the Northwoods. The funding is provided through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. According to WisDOT, the new fast-charging stations will help ensure residents and tourists alike have dependable infrastructure to travel seamlessly throughout Wisconsin. In total, 42 locations will share $25 million in funding. Northwoods additions include new stations in Eagle River and Wausau, which will be housed at Days Inn locations off Highway 45 and Highway 51/I-39, respectively. These build upon grants awarded last year for charging infrastructure in Arbor Vitae, Prentice, and Merrill. The stations are positioned along Wisconsin's designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, typically partnering with gas stations, restaurants, or lodging to support more than 43,000 registered Wisconsin EVs alongside out-of-state travelers. A complete map of all existing and planned charging locations is available on WisDOT's interactive EV dashboard online.

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