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Lyme Disease Awareness Month: Tick Checks, Prevention Key Published on 05/19/2025 under News

While small in size, a tick can have a big impact on our health. Local healthcare providers are reminding people about the importance of tick checks and prevention.

The Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center in Woodruff opened in 2019 to provide advanced care to diagnose, control and treat tick-borne illnesses. We were joined by Dr. James Thatcher who specializes in ticks and disease. He noted that the recent stretch of mild winters has been good for tick reproduction and extend the tick season. They saw their first tick bites of the season in early March, and have been busy through the first half of spring.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The pathogen that causes Lyme disease is carried by the deer tick, one of the two most common species in the state. Thatcher noted that some new ticks have been moving into the area as well. Beyond Lyme, ticks carry a number of other disease that can be treated at the Center.

When it comes to ticks, prevention is key. Thatcher encourages wearing long sleeves and long pants. Try pulling your socks up over the pants legs, and consider light colors which make the tiny ticks easier to spot. In addition to the common chemical sprays that contain Deet, Thatcher also explores more natural tinctures and barriers.

After spending time outdoors, tick checks are important. Ticks often move to warmer areas of the body which may be harder to spot. And ticks also have some natural tricks to avoid detection. Thatcher noted a tick's bite will numb the area, contains an anti-coagulate to prevent bleeding, and an antihistamine to avoid itching.

While the red, bullseye rash is a tell-tale indicator of an Lyme infection it doesn't always appear, and tick borne illness can be slow to develop. They can be treated at the Tick Borne Illness Center. Thatcher says they have been quite busy, but always try to keep walk-in space as well. They do have a website with additional information.

You can hear that entire conversation in the WJJQ audio center.

In Other News

'Click It or Ticket' Seat Belt Campaign Returns Ahead of Summer Travel Season

Published on 05/19/2025 under News Northwoods law enforcement agencies are joining partners around the state in encouraging motorists to buckle up when hitting the road. This week marks the return of the annual Click-It or Ticket campaign an effort to increase the use of seatbelts. Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan says, "Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce injuries and save lives during a crash." According to the DoT, a survey showed the number of motorists who buckled up actually dropped slightly last year. This led to Carnahan to add, "Let's work together to make buckling up a habit—every trip, every time." Violators may be cited, but the goal of the campaign is to encourage a long-term change in driver and passenger behavior. In addition to increased enforcement during Click It or Ticket, the DoT will also increase public messaging including through traditional and social media as well as electronic road signs. The annual campaign coincides with Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally kicks off the summer travel season. As more vehicles are out on the roads during this holiday and throughout the summer, law enforcement officials are asking all drivers to buckle up, slow down, and remove any distractions behind the wheel.

Published on 05/19/2025 under News Another group of Northwoods veterans are heading to Washington DC today to visit the monuments built in their honor. And with today's mission, the local chapter has reached an impressive milestone, surpassing 5,000 participants. This is the second spring mission for the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, with another two planned for the fall. Today's flight features 109 veterans: 108 Vietnam Era vets, and one from Korea. It's the 52nd mission overall for the Northwoods chapter of the Honor Flight. With today's travelers included, they will have reached 5,025 veterans over the past decade. They encourage any area vet who served prior to May 7, 1975 and hasn't participated in the Honor Flight to get on their waiting list. The public, as usual, is invited to welcome the veterans home this evening. Officials recommend arriving at Central Wisconsin Airport no later than 8:30pm.

Published on 05/19/2025 under News An Alzheimer's diagnosis can bring changes and challenges for families, but there is also progress in diagnosis and treatments. A free workshop in the Northwoods, Tuesday will provide updates on these new developments in care. The Alzheimer's Association of Wisconsin will be teaming up with the ADRC of Oneida County to offering a short course. Julie St. Pierre with Alzheimer's Association says tremendous gains have been made in the understanding of the science and basic biology underlying Alzheimer's and other dementias. As for tomorrow's workshop, they'll cover: risk factors for Alzheimer's and all other dementia; highlights in early detection and diagnosis, and the latest advancements in clinical trials, treatments and lifestyle interventions The program is scheduled from 1-2:30 on Tuesday at the ADRC Rhinelander Office. This program is free and open to all, they do appreciate registration. Contact Julie St. Pierre at (715) 352-4091 or jstpierre@alz.org. Individuals can also register by reaching out to the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 1.800.272.3900 or by visiting: https://bit.ly/AdvancingScienceRHI.

Published on 05/19/2025 under News Over the weekend we told you about a campaign encouraging all ATV/UTV operators, regardless of age, to participate in a safety class. The DNR is also making funding available to local clubs and organizations to recruit safety instructors, volunteer trail ambassadors and related programs. The application deadline is quickly approaching, May 31. Eligible organizations are asked to provide a plan in their application. Examples of outreach include: Assisting the DNR in recruiting and providing support to volunteer safety instructors and promoting the safety education program.Assisting the DNR and the Department of Tourism in creating an outreach program to inform local communities about appropriate ATV/UTV use and the potential economic benefits of promoting tourism to attract riders.Recruiting, training and managing volunteer trail patrol ambassadors to monitor the recreational operation of ATVs/UTVs on public trails.Maintaining and improving a relationship with the DNR, Department of Tourism, ATV/UTV dealers, manufacturers, recreation partners and off-highway motorcycle clubs. According to the DNR, this is a two year program with up to $300,000 available each year. The DNR has information on their website.

Published on 05/19/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's shot put throwers competed in the first Thunder in the Woods Event at Lakeland Saturday. The top two shot put throwers in the meet were Freshman Hudson Seymour and Junior Michael Samundsen. Seymour set a personal-best with a throw of 43'6". The Hatchet freshman also finished first and set a personal record in the discus with a throw of 125'10". On the girls' side, it was Sophomore Shelby Borowski who finished highest for Tomahawk. Borowski had a discus throw of 87'1", good for fourth overall. Borowski also finished seventh in the shot put with a throw of 27'7". The next meet for the Hatchets is Tuesday, which is the Great Northern Conference Meet in Mosinee. Field Events begin at 4:30.

Published on 05/16/2025 under News Severe weather Thursday didn't last long, but it packed a punch. A strong line of storms crossed almost the entire state of Wisconsin Thursday night. Here in the Northwoods, the system brought significant rainfall-an inch an hour in some locations; along with hail-reports of up to golf ball sized in Marathon County; wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour; and unconfirmed reports of tornadoes to our south. Teams from the National Weather Service will be out surveying storm damage and analyzing reports to verify those touchdowns. Around the state, several tornadoes have already been confirmed near New Richmond, Juneau, and Mayville. Locally we received reports of downed trees and some property damage. The Merrill Fire Department highlighted the metal roof was torn off the old Semco building along the River Bend trail. There were scattered power outages across the WPS network, but just 300 remained as of Friday morning, mostly in Vilas and Oneida Counties. We'll continue to pass along information as it is confirmed.

Published on 05/16/2025 under News The popularity of food trucks has exploded in recent years with these mobile restaurants now present in most Northwoods communities. Many are heading to Merrill this weekend for the the second annual 'Food Truck-a-Palooza.' Last year the city put out a call for food trucks to park at the Merrill Festival Grounds for a day-long smorgasbord of selections. This year they've doubled in size with 25 food trucks set to serve tomorrow. Many of the Lincoln County-based trucks will be in attendance, while other chefs will be putting on the miles, coming from Rhinelander, Wausau, Marshfield and Winneconne. They'll have truck serving up Mexican, Asian, Italian Cuisine along with BBQ, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches. Others focus on drinks, sweets, and desserts. Between bites, attendees can burn off a few calories by walking through the Merrill Festival Grounds for a craft and vendor show, live entertainment, a carnival, and other fun activities. The 2nd Annual Food Truck-a-Palooza runs from 11am to 7pm.

Published on 05/16/2025 under News With the summer ATV/UTV season upon us, the DNR is encouraging operators to take a safety course. They note that simple steps can prevent tragedies. Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, Wisconsin DNR off-highway vehicle administrator says, "The primary focus of our safety education course is preventing crashes that lead to injuries and fatalities." The course is required for any operator born in or after 1988, but the DNR encourages all operators of all ages to brush up on their skills and knowledge. In fact, there have been twelve fatal ATV crashes in Wisconsin this year, and the average age of the victim is 69 years old. The DNR also encourage those who ride a few times a year on a friend or family members machine to take the course. They note that inexperience is a top contributing factor in many serious crashes. Holscaw says, "We want folks to create positive memories and have a great experience on our trails, and that only happens if everyone returns home safely at the end of the trip." As part of this effort, the DNR will also be making grants available to organizations that recruit and train all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility terrain vehicle (UTV) safety instructors and volunteer trail ambassadors.

Published on 05/16/2025 under News Rhinelander and the Hodag are synonymous. This week has been set aside to celebrate the mythical beast. The Rhinelander Chamber and their many community partners have been busy preparing for the 5th annual Hodag Heritage Festival. The event continues to grow, Rachel Boehlen, Chamber Director of Events and Strategic Initiatives says, "We've doubled our number of exhibitors since last year and added a new and exciting Hodag Quest, among other things," She added, "There's something for everyone, and we invite the entire community to come celebrate our Hodag!" They've actually had some week-long activities such as community-wide scavenger hunt, and this evening they'll welcome director Bill Rebane for a screening of the film Attack of the Hodag. It all leads into Saturday's celebration that will feature the music, entertiainment, Hodag Historical City Bus Tours and even a hodag calling contest. In the past, Governor Evers has declared the third Saturday in May as Hodag Day. A full schedule of Saturday's events is available on the Chamber website, and they've also created a Hodag Heritage Festival Facebook page.

Published on 05/16/2025 under News The Rhinelander School District has been making it easier for students to become teachers including their Educators Rising Club. With their graduation just a few weeks away, nearly a dozen Rhinelander students announced next step in that journey. The district hosted their first-ever Senior Signing Day for Future Educators, a ceremony where eleven graduating seniors announced their college plans in the field of education. Superintendent Eric Burke shared,"Education is the foundation of a strong and thriving society. Our future depends on the individuals who step up to teach, guide, and shape the next generation—and today, we celebrate 11 students who are answering that call." As part of the Signing Day ceremony, the participants selected an impactful educator who has inspired their journey. The educators, in turn, shared information about each students. Michele Cornelius, Director of Human Resources, encouraged these students to consider coming home to Rhinelander to make an impact upon college graduation. As part of this Rhinelander School District program, the district guarantees a job interview once they complete their degrees and earn teaching certifications.

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