WJJQ Radio

Story Details

Hatchet Baseball Team's Season Comes to an End Published on 06/03/2025 under Sports

The Hatchet baseball team gave #1 seed and #5 in Division 3 Elk Mound their whole effort, but came up just short at Village Park Monday, losing in the WIAA Regional Semifinal in walk-off fashion, 4-3.

Tomahawk scored the first two runs of the game and held a 2-1 lead until the fourth inning. After Elk Mound took the lead on an RBI groundout in the fifth, the Hatchets responded with a triple from Cash Olsen and an RBI single from Brody Rigney to tie the game at 3-3. Regardless, the Mounders would get the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to score on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Kaden Moyer, scoring centerfielder Kamron Diermeier.

Rigney pitched 5.1 innings of work, giving up just three runs on six hits while striking out six. Rigney also went three for four at the plate with three singles. Olsen finished two for three with a triple. Drew Tollefson went two for four with an RBI as well.

Tomahawk finises the 2025 season with a 10-13 record and a 5-7 Great Northern Conference record. The Hatchets graduate four seniors, who are Rigney, Tollefson, Brayden Larson, and Cooper Hetzel.

In Other News

Tomahawk American Legion Auxiliary Raising Funds for Kerrville Texas Flood Victims

Published on 07/29/2025 under News Tragedy struck Kerville, Texas earlier this month. Now a Northwoods veterans group is hoping to help the flood ravaged community. American Legion Auxiliary Post 93 in Tomahawk recently launched a campaign to raise money for the small Texas community. Three members of Legion Auxiliary, Roseann Baldosky, Janet Ericksen and Carol Mueller stopped by the WJJQ studios, while George McHorse Jr, from American Legion Post 208 in Texas, joined by phone. McHorse explained that the aftermath of the flooding is still present in the community with search and recovery teams and clean-up efforts still present. With a population of around 25,000, almost every resident was affected or knows someone who was. Their goal is to get back to as close to normal as possible and begin the healing process. McHorse says that the outpouring of support from around the country has been amazing. And they're getting some help from the Northwoods of Wisconsin as well, thanks to the local Legion Auxiliary. Erickson credited Baldosky for planting the seeds for this fundraiser. They reached out to Crossbridge Community Bank in Tomahawk, where they've now set up an account for donations. They'll have a small photo display at the bank in August as well. The funds they collect will be sent to the Legion Post down in Texas, where McHorse and his brethren will be able to assess and invest where most needed.

Published on 07/29/2025 under News Nokomis is serving up a new sport opportunity, with some brand new pickleball courts now ready for play. The township recently installed two new courts at Nokomis Park. Parks staff and a small group of volunteers worked together to convert an underutilized basketball court into a pair of pickleball offerings. In just a few short weeks they were able to reseal the surface, put down lines and install nets, and now the courts are now open. The new courts in Nokomis will be a drop-in style, that friends and family can utilize when they have free time. The project was part of an effort to increase use of Nokomis Park which features a number of amenities and activities including baseball/softball fields, an 18 hole disc golf course, a volleyball court, walking path, and playground. Pickleball Continues to Grow in Tomahawk As for Pickleball, the sport has surged in popularity. The racquet sport with the funny name first took hold in the Tomahawk Community less than ten years ago. Now the Tomahawk Area Pickleball club has more than one hundred members. They have sessions nearly everyday of the week at SARA Park. And like Nokomis, the Town of Bradley has outdoor courts at Kahle Park.

Published on 07/29/2025 under News An Illinois teen attending church camp in Langlade County drowned over the weekend. According to the Langlade County Sheriff's Office, the incident happened at around 1:30 Friday afternoon. Responders were called to a possible drowning at Sawyer Lake in the Town of Wolf River. A 14 year old boy from the greater Chicago area had reportedly been swimming in a designated swimming area on the lake. He went under and failed to resurface. The boy was brought to shore, but life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the boy was pronounced dead. The Christian camp where the incident took place, Silver Birch Ranch, did release a statement via their Facebook Page. They said, "Our entire camp community is grieving this loss, and we are committed to supporting all those affected through counseling, prayer, and ongoing care." This was one of two youth drowning tragedies in the Northwoods over the weekend. An 11 year old girl died on Lake Alexander in Merrill on Sunday.

Published on 07/29/2025 under News Fair season is in full swing, and one of the largest in the area kicks off today. The Wisconsin Valley Fair in Wausau got underway a bit earlier this morning. Over the past few weeks, organizers have been preparing Marathon Park for the tens of thousands of fair-goers expected over the next six days. Many pick their date to attend the fair based on the grandstand performance, which is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. Opening night, tonight, will be a classic country band Sawyer Brown. They'll be followed by a bit of modern country on July 30 with Parmalee. And night three, July 31, it's classic rockers Night Ranger. The weekend features both rodeo and demo derby. Beyond the grandstand, all the classic fair elements are also back from fried food and carnival games to rides and 4-H exhibits. The Wisconsin Valley Fair runs through Sunday.

Published on 07/29/2025 under News There were a pair of repeat OWI offenders arrested in Lincoln County over the weekend... That included a 53 year old Tomahawk man taken into custody for a 6th offense OWI. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, while traveling behind the vehicle on Highway 51, the deputy observed the vehicle crossing over the center-line leading to a traffic stop, investigation, and subsequent arrest. Meanwhile, a Gleason man was arrested for 3rd offense OWI following a single vehicle rollover on Tesch Road in the Town of Harding. Based on the preliminary investigation the driver lost control, left the road, struck a utility pole and came to rest on the passenger side of the vehicle. One person was injured following an ATV crash in Lincoln County over the weekend. Responders were paged to an area of Pikes Peak Road in the Town of Pine River on Friday. According to the Sheriff's Report, a 21 year old operator from Merrill had been traveling south when he failed to negotiate a curve. This caused the ATV to leave the roadway and strike a small tree. The man was thrown from the ATV and sustained injuries. The driver was transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital by ambulance. The number of vehicle vs. deer collisions remains elevated, with another nine reported on Lincoln County Roadways. There was also a report of a bear strike.

Published on 07/28/2025 under News It was a tragic end to a search of a Lincoln County lake, as the body of a young girl was recovered from the water. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, responders were initially called to Lake Alexander in Merrill. The call came in around 3:30pm Sunday afternoon. The caller reported an 11 year old girl had fallen off the back of a boat and failed to resurface. Crews from multiple agencies assisted in the search efforts including dive teams from Lincoln, Oneida, and Marathon Counties. According to the news release, using sonar, they were able to locate the girl's body at around 7pm last evening. Dive teams recovered the body, the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Names are currently being withheld. No other information has been released.

Published on 07/28/2025 under News Another member of the Merrill community is being honored for contributions to the city during his lifetime. Charles 'Loafer' Graap Jr. is the latest to receive an honorary street sign as part of an ongoing effort of the Merrill Historic Preservation Committee. The program, now in its third year, recognizes those who left an indelible mark on the City of Merrill through their lifetime or actions. According to the committee selection, Graap was a Boy Scout leader, a firefighter, and a historian of the city. But he was also a veteran, injured during the Battle of Pork Chop Hill while a squad leader during the Korean War. He was the only solider from Merrill that was injured during the battle, and the scars of his military service remained with him for the rest of his life, according to the release. Following Saturday's ceremony, the segment at West Main Street and North Foster Street in Merrill will carry Graap's name going forward. Graap is the second of three planned dedications this year.

Published on 07/28/2025 under News One person is dead in a fire in Vilas County over the weekend. According to the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, crews were called to a structure fire in the Town of Washington at around 5am Friday morning. The home, at the intersection of Wild Eagle Lane and Chain O Lakes Road, was in flames upon arrival of fire crews. During the response, firefighters located a victim, deceased in the home. He has been identified as 36 year old Thomas Neddo Jr. The Sheriff's Office said he was a resident of the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No other information was provided.

Published on 07/28/2025 under News Firefighters from more than two dozen agencies battled a blaze at a large storage unit in Minocqua over the weekend. According to the Minocqua Fire Department, crews responded to the structure fire on Highway 47. The call came in at around 1:30 Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival arrival, they found a storage unit, approximately 60 x 200, on fire with heavy smoke coming from the roof. Mutual aid was requested and more than 30 agencies assisted during the response. Due to the high temperatures, they said they rotated crews in and out every 15 to 20 minutes. Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, with one being transported to a local hospital. The building and most contents are believed to be a loss. The Department says, " Although the result of the fire today is not what we wanted to see, today was an example of how First Responder resources from 5 Counties (Volunteers and Career) can come together and work under the same system towards the same goal." The cause of fire wasn't immediately determined.

Published on 07/28/2025 under News Two local communities will share in nearly $100,000 to address tree loss during some winter-like weather this spring. The DNR awarded the Cities of Antigo and Rhinelander with Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants. In this case, the affecting weather occurred March 29 through April 1 and included snow, ice and high winds. The storms caused significant damage to trees across the region. Because an emergency declaration was made, it opened up the grant funding, with municipalities, counties, tribal governments and non-profits eligible. These grants are earmarked for tree repair, removal or replacement within urban areas. According to the announcement, the City of Antigo was awarded $50,000, while the City of Rhinelander received $44,000. One other community, Oconto Falls received a smaller around of $14,000.

+ Read More