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Hatchet Baseball Team Ends Regular Season with Loss Published on 05/28/2025 under Sports

Tomahawk's baseball squad wrapped up the season on a sour note, getting shut out in Auburndale Tuesday, 10-0.

The Hatchets wrap up the baseball season with a 9-12 overall record and a 5-7 record in Great Northern Conference play.

Tomahawk begins postseason play Thursday with the WIAA Divsion 3 Regional Quarterfinal. The 8th-seeded Hatchets will play #9 seed Chetek-Weyerhauser at Tyler Kahle Memorial Field at Pride Park. If Tomahawk wins, they will play at #1 Seed and #4 in Division 3 Elk Mound Tuesday.

Alex Koch and Keith Hanse will be in the broadcast booth Thursday with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 4:35 and first pitch at 5:00. The game will be broadcast on Sports Talk 810 AM and 97.7 FM WJJQ.

In Other News

Tomahawk Community Continues to Step Up for Powwow Days Support

Published on 05/29/2025 under News Tomahawk's Fourth of July celebrations are just over a month away, but planning for the annual Powwow Days is already in full swing. While the Lions Club is at the forefront, pulling off this successful event year after year takes an entire community, and as always Tomahawk steps up. We were recently joined by Lion Kevin Wickstrom. He says the Powwow Days price tag is around $25,000 from parade to fireworks and everything in between. Some of the costs are picked up by various Lions fundraisers, but businesses and individual donors also play a key role. That's where Wickstrom, in charge of fundraising, steps up. Starting this week, he began his annual, month-long tour of the Tomahawk area to visit potential donors. He estimates he puts on around 800 miles, while making more than 220 stops. Involved with the Lions for 17 years, Wickstrom says the community support is tremendous, joking that many of the donors have already got the checks written out before he arrives. He surmises its the result of 'the pride in our city, our community, our Northwoods area.' And Wickstrom says he won't be slowed by a recent curveball, as he was selected for jury duty next month. For those who aren't on Wickstrom's list, but would like to donate, we'll include some contact information. Phone: 715-437-0548email: kd_wickstrom @ frontier.commail to: Tomahawk Lions Club PO Box 754, Tomahawk , WI, 54487

Published on 05/29/2025 under News From a century-old Model T to a brand new Corvette, cars of all makes and models lined downtown Tomahawk for a Memorial Day Weekend tradition. Another Main Street Memories Car Show is in the books, and the event continues to be a great success. We caught up with Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz following the annual festivities. She says year 31 was actually record-setting. Mother Nature typically plays a big role in turnout each year, and the weather cooperated Sunday. In fact, they had an all-time high of 316 vehicle registered. There were a handful of other owners who showed off their vehicles without registering, and an area for those with vehicles that didn't fall into a contest category. That pushed the overall number of vehicles on display past 350. Highlighting just a few of the special award winners: Sir Blue's 1974 Dodge Bluesmobile was the Mayor's Choice; People's Choice went to Bill and Karen Pfaff with a 1957 Chevrolet BelAir, and the Best in Show was awarded to Mike Draxler with the 1957 Cadillac Hearse. The Summer Knights won the Club Participation Trophy. (A full list of winners is available on the Main Street Memories Facebook page.) In addition to the car owners, Turkiewicz says they had a great crowd. She noted, "Yes, they came for the car show, but it was really cool that many spent the weekend in the community spending time with us in the Northwoods." They also had entertainment, vendors, food stands, and children's activities. And planning for year 32 starts quickly. That will begin with their recap meeting, where they'll go over feedback to what works, what doesn't, and where they can continue to improve the event.

Published on 05/29/2025 under News Somo Avenue/Highway 86 in Tomahawk gets plenty of traffic; it's the main route from the city out to the school as well as to Highway 51. Those who've driven that stretch in recent years know it can be a rough ride. There's help on the horizon, but there will be a few more years to wait. Because the segment is part of the state highway system, construction and improvement projects are the responsibility of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. At their meeting Tuesday, the Tomahawk Board of Public Works briefly discussed some recent updates they've received. The latest timeline places work in the year 2030. While it's still five year out, planning is getting underway. Some preliminary surveying is expected this summer. The planning will also include input from the city and the public. This could influence plans such as bike paths, sidewalk, parking, and other features. At the meeting, the Board also discussed the infrastructure below the street surface. The city would responsible for any improvements or repairs for sewer and water lines within the work-zone. That work, if necessary and approved, would actually take place the year prior to the roadwork. The city will get the lines televised to gauge the current shape of the pipes.

Published on 05/29/2025 under News Folks will be going a bit batty in Rhinelander Friday morning. Yesterday, we talked about protecting turtles during nesting season. Tomorrow, the Oneida County land and water conservation team will be hosting a program on bat monitoring. This training is taught by Certified Wisconsin Bat Ambassador, Marcia Obukowicz. Bat monitoring uses acoustic sensors to record bat echolocation calls. The audio can be used to identify species and understand their activity patterns, aiding in conservation efforts. It's seen as a non-invasive way to study bat populations and their habitats. This information is crucial for understanding and addressing threats to bat populations, such as habitat loss and white-nose syndrome. The program is also a good way to learn more about the important role that bats play such as insect control and even pollination. That Bat Monitoring Training is scheduled Friday morning from 10am to noon at the Oneida County Courthouse, committee room 2.

Published on 05/29/2025 under News Wisconsin is celebrating the 125 years of the Wisconsin State Park System. People can represent the anniversary with some special swag. The DNR recently announced the launch of a merchandise commemorating the celebration. In addition to T-shirts and sweatshirts, the line also includes bags, bandanas, magnets, mugs, coasters, and specially designed posters. Some of the designs are inspired by this year's state park sticker design, a minimalist, line design that incorporates a campfire, tent, and pine tree. Others are based on retro-style art that specifically highlights four of the first parks. The items will be available at various state properties through the year. The DNR is also planning some additional pop-up shops at special events throughout the state. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the state is also holding a number of special events including one here in the Northwoods on June 7. The American Legion-Northern Highland State Forest is actually celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year. We'll have a preview of that event next week.

Published on 05/28/2025 under News Wisconsin is home to eleven species of turtles...Biologists and conservationists are asking people to help protect them at an important time of year. Each spring, the DNR works with partners such as the Turtle Conservation Program to raise awareness of Wisconsin's turtles. They typically lay their eggs in late May and early June. DNR Conservation Biologist Andrew Badje says, "Nesting season is an important but risky time for turtles." To reach ideal nesting locations, turtles often attempt to cross roads where they are at risk of being hit by vehicles. Motorists are encouraged to be on the look out for turtles in roadways. The Turtle Conservation Program tracks sighting. When 'hot spots' are identified they'll sign the location or even explore additional protections such as culverts. People can offer a hand, by helping the turtle out of the road. First and foremost, be mindful of any approaching traffic. They recommend bringing the turtle to the shoulder of the road in the direction it was heading. Never grab a turtle's tail. For snappers, a safe option is to ferry the turtle by pulling it on a shovel, a sheet, or even your car's floor mat. Beyond vehicles, turtle nests are also at risk of predators such as raccoons, coyotes, and skunks. The Turtle Conservation Program has additional information on nesting cages and other resources. Badje, "Protecting adult females and turtle nests in the wild is essential for conserving Wisconsin's turtles for future generations."

Published on 05/28/2025 under News School referendums are now relatively common in Wisconsin, but more municipalities are turning to the additional financial support to help balance budgets. Tomahawk could be the next. At the City of Tomahawk Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, the members discussed a variety of ways to address the expected and continued budget concerns ahead of the fall process. Among those topics, a hiring freeze and/or a levy referendum. They were preliminary discussions with specifics offered. At their next meeting, the committee expects to review the levy referendum process including timelines, dollar amount, length and public information/outreach. As for the when... committee members indicated the sooner the better. There aren't any elections scheduled this fall, but the committee members inquired about holding a special election. Budget challenges have been nothing new for many municipalities, counties, and schools constrained by state levy limits that haven't grown as quickly as costs. In Tomahawk specifically, they've used a combination of cuts, covid funds, and property sales to help balance their budget in recent years. These were seen as one time solutions to an ongoing issue. The city typically tackles the following year's budget in October and November. As for the levy referendum, no action was taken Tuesday. The topic will likely appear on the agenda at future meetings.

Published on 05/28/2025 under News People in the Tomahawk area can once again enjoy some burgers this summer while supporting a good cause. Cards have been on sale for a few weeks, but Tuesday marked the official start of the Tomahawk STAR Foundation, 'Best Burger in Paradise' competition. We had a chance to speak with STAR Foundation board members Kathy Rankin and Jackie Leonard. This summer, seven restaurants have entered the culinary challenge. The field includes last year's champion B's Landing and a former two time winner in Jeb's. The tour also includes stops at The Grill, Billy Bob's, Outboards, Nacho's and Nutzees. Rankin noted that the cards, at $40 for seven burgers, is a great deal. Throughout the summer, cardholders are asked to visit each participating restaurant, purchase a meal and claim their burger. Leonard says some restaurants have created or designated a specific burger for the competition, while others allow the diner to chose from the menu. Once all restaurants have been visited and burgers sampled, the card holder can cast a vote for their favorite. While bragging rights are on the line, the Best Burger in Paradise also serves as a major fundraiser for the Tomahawk STAR Foundation, along with the January STAR Splash. Leonard noted they approved $13,000 in grants at their latest meeting for groups such as Music on the River, the Back Pack Program, and the Kinship Relocation. Rankin says this is a great opportunity to contribute to a good cause while explore and support local restaurants. Cards are currently available for purchase at each of the participating restaurants along with Trig's, Tomahawk Chamber, and here at WJJQ. The contest runs through August 29.

Published on 05/28/2025 under News In recent weeks, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office has led several community conversations on online safety. Tonight they're bringing the program to Tomahawk. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is teaming up with the Tomahawk School District to offer another presentation on Internet Crimes Against Children. This comes after positive feedback to a similar presentations in Rhinelander and Minocqua this spring. This afternoon, they plan age-specific presentations for students in middle and high schools. Then this evening, they'll have a public presentation for families. They plan to cover topics such as internet safety, sextortion, the role of law enforcement, and what people can do to help prevent themselves or others from becoming victims. They'll also leave time at the end for a Q and A session. That gets underway at 5pm in the Tomahawk School District auditorium.

Published on 05/28/2025 under News A Merrill woman has been formally charged this past weekend's fatal crash in Lincoln County. Court records show Jurnee Robertson made her initial appearance in court Tuesday via video. The 22 year old is facing three charges including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, possession of cocaine, and possession of THC. Seven traffic citations are also listed. That crash happened early Sunday morning on Highway 107. Investigators says Robertson was driving when her vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and struck a tree. A passenger, 26 year old Allison Jones of Merrill, died as a result of the crash. According to court records, at Wednesday's hearing, Judge Robert Russell set bond at $100,000. Time limits for a preliminary hearing were waived and will be scheduled at a later date.

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