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Lunar Eclipse Crosses Northwoods Early Friday Published on 03/13/2025 under News

Over the past year the Northern Lights have provided some impressive shows in the night skies here in the Northwoods. There's another reason to look up tonight...a full lunar eclipse.

Remembering back to science classes, a lunar eclipse happens when the earth comes directly between the sun and the moon.

The experts at NASA provided a few facts and tips for viewing. While the moon won't disappear entirely, it will appear orange or red, a similar phenomenon to a sunset. NASA says this is because any sunlight that's not blocked by earth is filtered through the atmosphere on its way to the lunar surface. They describe it as if all of the sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon.

They said you won't need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view. Unlike a solar eclipse, there's no need for eclipse glasses, you can look directly at the moon.

A dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions. During the eclipse, they noted that constellations may also be easier to spot with the moon's glow dimmed.

As for the timing here in the Northwoods, the eclipse should begin around midnight, totality around 2am and ending a little before four pm. As we heard from meteorologist Tony Schumacher, we can expect partly cloudy skies for tonight.

In Other News

Nicolet Announces New Broadband Service Technician Apprentice Program to Meet Growing Need

Published on 10/08/2026 under News As high-speed internet expands across the Northwoods, the need for skilled workers to build and keep those networks running is at an all-time high. To help meet that demand, Nicolet College teamed up with the Sokaogon Chippewa Community and state workforce officials for a special signing ceremony in Rhinelander to launch a new Broadband Service Technician Apprenticeship program. The partnership directly supports major regional projects—including the Sokaogon Chippewa Community's historic investment in the largest off-reservation, tribally owned broadband network in state history. College leaders say the program was built from the ground up to solve local staffing shortages as the digital push grows with more people working from home, using telehealth, and cutting the cord and streaming. With the deal officially sealed, Nicolet College is prepping its hands-on curriculum, and the first group of apprentices will start training in Spring 2027.

Published on 10/08/2026 under News A Merrill man accused of killing his father in March of 2025 has been found competent to stand trial. That trial has also been rescheduled for next summer. 27-year-old Austin Stevenson appeared in Lincoln County Court Wednesday for a competency hearing. Court records show both defense attorneys and state prosecutors agreed with a recent medical report, leading the court to officially rule that Stevenson is now competent to proceed. Stevenson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and burglary. Authorities say deputies found his father, 48-year-old John Stevenson, deceased from two gunshot wounds during a welfare check at a Lincoln County home. Austin Stevenson was located at the home. Criminal proceedings had been suspended since last October after Stevenson was initially found unfit to stand trial. With his competency restored, the judge moved the case forward to trial set to begin on June 28th, 2027.

Published on 10/08/2026 under News The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is warning drivers about a resurgence of a common phone scam targeting people across the state. Scammers are sending calls, texts, and voicemails claiming you have an unpaid traffic citation that requires immediate payment, often including a link to pay the fake fine. State officials want to remind everyone that neither the Wisconsin DMV nor the Wisconsin State Patrol will ever text, email, or call you demanding money. If you get one of these messages, do not click any links or share personal details. Delete the message immediately and mark it as spam on your phone.

Published on 10/08/2026 under News For those that missed out this summer, the Northwoods Art Tour is back for a fall opportunity this weekend. We've previously covered the Northwoods Art Tour, a weekend set aside for local artists to interact with visitors in their galleries, storefronts or work spaces. It provides additional perspectives on creating art from painting and sculpture to glass and wood work. Since it's founding in the year 2000, the tour has nearly doubled in size. This year's event features more than 30 stops across Vilas, Oneida, Iron, and Lincoln counties, including four locations at the southern end in the Tomahawk/Irma area. The tour is self-guided, meaning participants can design their own experience based on the art and artists that interest them most. An added bonus this time of year is a great time to take in the Fall Colors between locations. A digital brochure with maps, studio locations, and artist descriptions is available at northwoodsarttour.com. The Fall Tour runs Friday through Sunday.

Published on 10/08/2026 under News The Wisconsin DNR is encouraging fall campers and hunters to leave firewood at home and "buy local, burn local" instead. October is National Firewood Month, part of an effort to stop invasive pests from hitching a ride. Insects and fungi like the spongy moth, the emerald ash borer, and the fungus that causes oak wilt, frequently hide on or inside firewood and spread to new areas when transported. DNR officials urge people to buy firewood within ten miles of where they plan to burn it, or to use treated and certified wood. In many places, it's not just a recommendation, it's the law. Non-certified firewood originating more than ten miles away is banned at state parks, state forests, and other DNR properties. Many county, federal, and private campgrounds enforce similar rules. These "closer is better" guidelines also apply to heating wood-heated cottages or hunting cabins. At the end of your trip, officials advise leaving any unburned firewood behind rather than bringing it home and potentially introducing invasive species to your own property.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News Lincoln County's popularity is growing as an outdoor recreation destination. Local leaders continue to look for ways to enhance and promote these opportunities. The county was recently selected to participate in the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation's Technical Assistance Program, alongside support from UW-Stout's Center for Sustainable Communities. This state pilot initiative brings local, state, and federal partners together to help communities strengthen recreation assets, support area businesses, and maximize the economic benefits of local trails, waterways, and parks. Sara Guild, Executive Director of the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation, joined our Morning Conversation earlier this week to share details on what this selection means for our area. She emphasized that local input is key to finding practical solutions for recreation infrastructure, trail access, and business growth. There are actually a couple of opportunities later this month for the public to get involved. The teams will be holding a pair of community input workshops, one in Tomahawk and one in Merrill, on October 21 and 22. We'll have a bit more coverage as those dates draw near. And you can hear that conversation with Sara in the WJJQ audio center.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News It's Fire Prevention Week, and area firefighters are working overtime to teach local youth essential fire safety lessons. Crews from the Tomahawk, Nokomis, and Little Rice Fire Departments are teaming up to visit classrooms and community stops, including local libraries and childcare centers. Merrill firefighters are leading a similar outreach program in their community. The goal is to reach students at a young age to help them build lifelong safety habits. In addition to core fire safety basics, Fire Prevention Week highlights a distinct focus area each year. This year, departments are emphasizing a modern concern: the safe charging and use of household electronics. Beyond educating kids, local departments are raising awareness about the ongoing need for volunteers, particularly at rural departments across the Northwoods. The Tomahawk Fire Department will wrap up Fire Prevention Week with its annual open house and family day on Saturday. Attendees will have a chance to tour the station and inspect the department's brand-new fire engine, which arrived last month and will be officially put into service later October.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News The City of Tomahawk has taken another step toward revamping how it spends a key category of visitor dollars. The city currently collects a 4% room tax, which is administered through a partnership with the Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce. At its meeting last night, the Common Council introduced a pair of ordinances aimed at establishing a seven-member Tourism Commission to provide added oversight for those funds, while an amendment increased the room tax rate to 5%. State law dictates how room tax revenue can be spent, requiring the vast majority to be earmarked for tourism promotion and development that drives overnight visitors to the area. Both ordinances were recommended by the City's Finance Committee following a special meeting last month and approved by the Council with minimal discussion Tuesday. Implementation of the new Tourism Commission was delayed until January, as several neighboring townships are also exploring room tax proposals.That could ultimately lead to a cooperative committee or commission among participating municipalities.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News Candidates competing for Wisconsin's open 7th Congressional District seat are facing off tonight in their first and only scheduled debate. Republican Michael Alfonso and Democrat Fred Clark will meet tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. to pitch their vision to replace outgoing Congressman Tom Tiffany, and represent the Northwoods in Washington. In an unsual twist, tonight's debate won't actually take place on Wisconsin soil. Broadcast partner WDIO is hosting the event live from its television studios just across the state line in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition to airing on WDIO, the forum will be streamed on their website as well as Wisconsin Eye. The Debate comes as absentee voting is already underway in Wisconsin.

Published on 10/07/2026 under News As Wisconsin prepares for the upcoming election, Northwoods residents are invited to get an inside look at how local elections are run. The League of Women Voters of the Northwoods is hosting a free, nonpartisan community conversation giving voters a chance to hear directly from municipal clerks in Vilas County who oversee their local elections. The panel features clerks from Arbor Vitae, Lac du Flambeau, and Winchester. They will address common voter misconceptions, explain what happens to a ballot after it's cast, and share practical steps residents can take before Election Day to ensure a smooth voting process. Organizers say the goal is to give both first-time and long-time voters factual, reliable information so they can participate with confidence. It'll take place at 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Arbor Vitae Town Hall You can learn more about local civic resources and voter education initiatives by visiting the League of Women Voters of the Northwoods online, or check with your municipal clerk's office for general election guidance.

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