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Rondele Ranch Breaks Ground on New Building and Event Space Published on 01/24/2025 under News

From summer celebrations to their impressive Christmas lights display, Rondele Ranch in Harshaw is a popular attraction and destination in the Northwoods.

Thursday marked the start of a brand new expansion project to accommodate their growing needs. They held a groundbreaking ceremony that will mark the start of construction on a new event and entertainment space on the property.

Owner Robert Chadwell said, "Once completed, the new event center will be able to accommodate large private events (weddings,dinners, dances, etc.), as well as host various public events for the enjoyment of residents and visitors of all ages." He added, "The new space will be better suited for large year-round gatherings and performances over our smaller venues."

The new building will be nearly 15,000 square feet, with additional canopied space, an outdoor lounge, covered drive-through entrance and other amenities. They'll utilize what was described as "Modern Northwoods" design elements.

They anticipate the construction process will continue through the summer.

In Other News

Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Vilas County

Published on 09/01/2025 under News One person is dead following a motorcycle crash in Vilas County. According to the Sheriff's Office, that call came in early Sunday morning, just a few minutes after midnight. Responders were paged to Gross Road and Milton Lane in the Town of Arbor Vitae. The reporting party came across the motorcycle, but didn't immediately locate the operator. Indicating the crash was relatively recent, they described the bike as still warm to the touch. The deputy quickly arrived on the scene, finding the unresponsive victim who was pronounced dead. The Sheriff's Office did say it was a 33 year old Arbor Vitae man. His name has not been released pending notification of family. The crash remains under investigation.

Published on 09/01/2025 under News Sunday was Opioid Awareness Day, and Aspirus took the opportunity to educate people on an important life-saving tool. Narcan, or naloxone, is becoming more readily available here in the Northwoods. According to Aspirus pharmacy resident Natalie Wilkin, naloxone reverses the effects of an overdose by neutralizing the opioid. It does so by binding to the same receptors in the body. An advantage of naloxone is that it doesn't impact a person that hasn't been using an opioid. Wilkin says it's important to know the warning signs of an opioid overdose which includes respiratory depression, or slowed breathing. Naloxone is considered safe, widely available, and easy to use. There are nasal spray or an injectable. Most first responders now carry doses of naloxone on calls. It's also available, over-the-counter in most pharmacies, and has even been introduced in other public spaces such as health vending machines. It is still advised to contact 911 after administering Narcan during an overdose.

Published on 09/01/2025 under News It's the first Monday in September, and that means Labor Day. Many workers have the day off and a long weekend. Labor Day became a federal holiday in the US in 1894 as a way to honor and recognize the American labor movement and celebrate the contributions of workers. While some celebrate with cookouts and cabins here in the Northwoods, Merrill recognizes Labor Day with a couple of annual community events. The festivities get underway this morning with the annual Labor Day Parade set to begin at 10am. After wrapping up near the courthouse, activities shift to the Merrill Festival Grounds for the rest of the day. That's where the Lions Club will host their 45th annual Labor Day Car Show. Organizers says the show typically draws between 200 and 250 entries. While vehicles from the 60's and 70's are most prevalent, they expect cars from the 1920's to modern classics.

Published on 09/01/2025 under News With the calendar flipped to September, the fall hunting season is officially underway. That includes the early goose season which opens today. According to the DNR, this two week-long season has an increased daily bag limit of five Canada geese. It targets Wisconsin's resident goose population before the fall migration crosses the state. The current population estimate for Wisconsin-breeding Canada geese is 131,567 birds. That is slightly lower than last year, but still 20% higher than the long-term average. Following the two-week, early goose season is the regular goose season, opening September 16. In addition to the early goose season, early teal and mourning dove seasons also open today. And officials encourage safe hunting practices whenever heading out this fall.

Published on 09/01/2025 under News Officials are warning parents about sharing too much back-to-school information on social media. Over the next week or so, social media feeds will be filled with kids holding 'first day of school' signs or chalkboards. The photos provide a memorable look at a child throughout their school years. While it can be a fun way to celebrate and share these milestones with friends and families online, it can also provide private information to scammers and other unsavory characters. Officials say you should limit the amount of personal information shared on social media, especially when it comes to kids. That means leaving off information about their school, teacher, and address. That information can be used to gain a child's trust. It is also frequently used for security questions on banking and credit card accounts. Another tip they offered if you do want to share with friends and family...turn on the privacy settings to limit who can see posts.

Published on 09/01/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's volleyball squad went 4-3 in the Wisconsin Dells Invite over the weekend. The Hatchets started the day off with a loss to Royall. However, the Hatchets would respond with wins over Cambridge and the Milwaukee School of Languages. The 2-2 Day One Record would put Tomahawk in the silver bracket of the invite. The Hatchets would defeat Clintonville and Fall River on Day Two before losing in the bracket title match to Cambridge. After two invites, the Hatchets stand with a 6-5 record. Tomahawk begins Great Northern Conference play Thursday night against Rhinelander. First set is at 7:00.

Published on 09/01/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's football squad came away with one of the most impressive wins in school history Friday night, upsetting #7 in Division 5 Wittenberg-Birnamwood in overtime, 28-22. After trailing 13-0 heading into the second quarter, the Hatchets rolled off three straight touchdown drives to take the lead. After Witt-Birn tied the game in the fourth, Michael Samundsen blocked the go-ahead extra point to keep the game tied. In overtime, the Hatchets forced a turnover on downs, got the ball back, and won the game with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Cash Olsen. Olsen finished with 57 total yards and two scores. Max Larson led the way on the ground with 90 yards and two touchdowns. The Hatchet defense held Wittenber-Birnamwood to 73 rushing yards after the Chargers gained 350 on the ground against Bonduel last week. Michael Samundsen also blocked two extra points to keep the game tied heading into overtime. The Hatchets get off to their first 2-0 start since 2022 with the victory. The Hatchets begin Great Northern Conference play next week against Wausau East at Hatchet Field. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Kickoff Cabin at 6:10 and opening kick at 7:00 Alex Koch and Jon Long will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 08/29/2025 under News The summer is quickly winding down, and in the coming weeks folks will be closing up cabins, camps, and resorts for the winter. An area food pantry is encouraging people to check for any food can be donated rather than discarded. We recently heard from the folks up at the Lakeland Pantry. They note that food insecurity is an ongoing problem in the Northwoods and any help the local food pantries and other food distribution programs receive is greatly appreciated. Whether closing up over the Labor Day holiday or a bit later this fall, they're asking seasonal property owners to review food and consider donating to an outreach organization to help restock their shelves heading to the fall and winter. Non-perishables are always needed, but pantries may have different policies for refrigerated and frozen foods, along with fresh produce. It's best to reach out to your local pantry to see if they accept these items.

Published on 08/29/2025 under News In just a few days, students will be heading back-to-class. Parents are reminded that choosing the right backpack and using it properly can help keep kids happy and healthy during the school year. We recently caught up with Nate Maday an Aspirus physical therapist here in Tomahawk. He says, "Choose a good backpack, make sure it fits well, and remind kids to keep the load light and snug. Those small steps can make a big difference over time." He also shared a few simple tips. The traditional two strap backpack is much better than the single strap varieties for weight distribution. Look for wider shoulder straps and ones that include padding and keep the straps snug. Once a backpack is picked out, make sure not to overload it. General guidance suggests around 15 percent of a child's body weight. To lighten the load, occasionally check for unnecessary items that are being toted back and forth. Maday says it's a good idea to make sure the backpack doesn't impact the way the child walks. And if the child complains of neck or back pain, their backpack could be the culprit.

Published on 08/29/2025 under News Two people died in crash in Price County Thursday morning. According to the Sheriff's Office, responders were called to a crash involving a semi and a pick-up truck at the intersection of Highways 13 and 111 in the Town of Worcester, just south of Phillips. The call came in at around 9:45am Thursday morning. Officials said there were three occupants in the pick-up. Two died in the crash. Their names are being withheld pending notification of family. No other information was provided and the crash remains under investigation. Traffic was detoured for much of the afternoon as crews cleared the scene.

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