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Lincoln County Supervisors Approve New AED Lease Contract Published on 06/19/2025 under News

In a heart-related emergency every second counts. That's why having defibrillators available in public locations is important.

Lincoln County approved an investment to place new or upgraded AED units in county facilities and locations. At their meeting Tuesday, the supervisors approved a lease contract for 14 AEDs.

Ahead of the vote, Emergency Management Director Tyler Verhasselt discussed the need. He said the county's current inventory, eight units, were all expired by more than 5 years. He added that the manufacturer no longer exists and the model discontinued making service and maintenance a challenge.

In addition to replacing the eight current AED units, Verhasselt recommended increasing to 14 units to provide better coverage.

The recommendation was to lease the AEDs rather than purchasing them, as the contract includes a number of benefits including regular maintenance. The agreement was with Cintas, which the county already has contracts including for first aid cabinets.

With tight budgets, the supervisors did discuss cost. Each unit is $125 a month, which works out to $21,000 annually. The supervisors acknowledged the investment and importance of having these life-saving tools available.

Ultimately, the supervisors approved the lease contract as presented.

In Other News

Beat the Heat: Summer Returns to the Northwoods

Published on 06/20/2025 under News Just in time for the first day of summer, a heat wave is expected to hit the Northwoods. Forecasters are calling for temperatures to surge into the 90's over the weekend and the National Weather Service has issued warning for elevated heat risk. Local officials are reminding people to take simple steps to stay safe as the temperatures climb. We went over a number of tips to beat the heat earlier this month. That all starts with staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. If you'll be outside, avoid strenuous activities during the hottest portions of the day, and try to wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Watch for symptoms of heat-related illness, and check on vulnerable populations like small children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions. It's also a good idea to keep an eye on our four-legged friends as well. And finally, never leave little ones or pets in an unattended vehicle. With outside temperatures in the 90's, the interior of a vehicle in the sun can jump to more than 120 degrees in just 15 minutes.

Published on 06/20/2025 under News Pollinator week is wrapping up, but officials hope efforts continue and people are inspired to act throughout the year. All week long, we've been highlighting the important roll that pollinators play in our everyday lives. Property owners can do their part as well, and it may be easier than it seems. The DNR notes that property owners can attract pollinators and provide habitat with very little effort by simply leaving a portion of the yard natural. Uncut grass, brush, and woody debris serve as homes to various pollinators. A welcome host may also provide a small area of water. For those with a green thumb, a diverse selection of plants that bloom throughout the summer can be beneficial. When choosing those plants, try to focus on native species. Many butterflies depend on specific plants for their lifecycles, like milkweeds (monarchs), violets (meadow fritillary) or dill, fennel and parsley (black swallowtails). Even if you don't have a lot of space, officials note a few potted plants can still make a difference. The DNR has guides on pollinator habitats and other resources on their website.

Published on 06/20/2025 under News A motorist sustained serious injuries in a crash in Oneida County this week. According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, the call came in at shortly before 9pm Wednesday evening. Responders were paged to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of County Highway K and Mitchell Lane. According to the preliminary investigation, they found a 1986 Chevy Corvette, operated by a 20 year old Rhinelander man, was traveling west on Highway K. Other motorists stated they were passed by the Corvette at a high rate of speed. According to the release, investigators determined the driver lost control of the vehicle which entered the northern ditch, went airborne, and rolled several times. The driver was thrown from the vehicle. He was brought to Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital and later airlifted to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. No update on his condition was provided. The investigation is ongoing with the Wisconsin State Patrol and Oneida County Sheriff's Office.

Published on 06/20/2025 under News While their budget isn't typically approved until fall, the Lincoln County Board-Finance Committee has been busy working next year's spending plan. At their meeting Tuesday, the full Lincoln County Board got their first look at the preliminary budget with Finance Director Heather Marhine and Finance Committee Chair Julie DePasse offering a quick overview. The first draft typically comes in well over the levy limits, and will serve as a starting point for the work to come. The 2026 operating levy presented at Tuesday's meeting was $14.2 million, approximately $1.2 million above the $13 million levy limit imposed by the state. The preliminary budget does include costs associated with Pine Crest. Later in Tuesday's meeting, the Board approved a sale agreement on the skilled nursing facility that would tentatively close in August. Other variables include equalized value and net new construction. As these numbers increase, so does the levy. Those figures are typically released in late July. Based on the timeline in recent years, the board typically has a balanced budget presented in September. They consider any changes and amendments in October, before formally approving the budget in November.

Published on 06/20/2025 under News Northwoods shoppers got to enjoy some tasty treats while supporting a good cause. Over Memorial Day weekend, Trig's stores across the Northwoods brought back their Cupcakes for Veterans fundraiser. They contributed proceeds from the six pack cupcake sales to veteran's organizations in their local communities. Here in Tomahawk, they were able to raise $1,200. Earlier this week, they shared the check presentations with the American Legion and VFW Posts here in Tomahawk splitting the donation, receiving $600 checks. In sharing the announcement on social media, Trig's wrote, "We appreciate our Vets and the service they gave to keep our country safe; supporting them is an honor. We thank you, our guests, for helping us support them too."

Published on 06/20/2025 under News Temperatures could flirt with 90 degrees this weekend, and that could lead to pavement buckling on roadways. According to the Department of Transportation, when temperatures go from cool to hot conditions in a short time, pavement slabs expand and press against adjacent sections. When the pressure builds high enough, it can cause the pavement to buckle resulting in unexpected bumps or dips. The DoT says it is difficult to predict if or where buckling may occur. They're asking motorists to slow down, wear a seat belt, and focus on the roadway ahead. Watch for any roadside workers including highway crews repairing damaged pavement. Report buckled pavement by contacting your local law enforcement agency.

Published on 06/20/2025 under News The DNR is hosting their second annual Invasive Species Awareness weekend with events at a number of state properties. The goal is to raise awareness on the impact of invasive species while also taking actions to prevent the spread. There are more than 30 events in all, and they vary at the participating parks, forests and trails. They include guided hikes, educational programs, fieldwork, invasive species removal and even a 5k. Depending on the type of activities, officials encourage people to dress appropriately for the activity and also the weather. That includes sunscreen and water. A list of events and locations is available on the DNR website.

Published on 06/19/2025 under News Property owners can play a role in protecting the world's declining pollinator population. This week is National and State Pollinator Week and a number of local agencies are educating the public on the importance that pollinators play, while also encouraging people to create their own pollinator habitats. All week long groups will be hosting pollinator events, seminars and workshops. While much of the focus is on bees and butterflies, other pollinators include moths, native fly species, beetles, hummingbirds and even bats. These pollinators are crucial to not only our food chain, but to our overall ecosystem. Pollinated plants also help feed wildlife, clean the air, and stabilize soil. Over the years, we've seen a concerted effort to expand pollinator gardens and habitats in the Northwoods. These are natural spaces, filled with native plants that attract pollinators by providing both food and protection. These are simple projects that can also be created in backyards and gardens by leaving small natural areas. We'll have a bit more on creating a pollinator space during the Friday Sunrise Show.

Published on 06/19/2025 under News Aspirus Hospitals in both Tomahawk and Rhinelander were recognized for their commitment to tissue donation. The two Northwoods hospitals were recently honored with Tear Drop Award from the American Tissue Services Foundation. The award is presented to facilities that exceeded their tissue donation goals and demonstrating the impact of a hospital-wide culture focused on generosity, education, and healing. Tissue donations can include bone, skin, heart valves, connective tissue, and veins, and just one tissue donor can help up to 75 people. The award comes in the shape of a tear drop. Joyce Kratz of the American Tissue Services Foundation explained, "Every time you think about a tear drop hitting water, it causes ripples — and they really don't know how many people they're impacting with those ripples." In all four Aspirus Hospitals received the recognition. In addition to Tomahawk and Rhinelander, their facilties in Medford and Portage were also honored.

Published on 06/19/2025 under News Just a heads up for those who need to conduct business at the Lincoln County Service Center early next week. The County will be taking part in an active threat training exercise throughout the day Monday. This may impact some county services. The training will be conducted in two sessions. During the morning, the second floor of the building will be closed. This includes the County Treasurer, EMS, County Clerk, Information Technology, Administration, Corporation Counsel, and Emergency Management offices. And in the the afternoon, the ground floor will be closed affecting UW-Extension, Register of Deeds, Forestry, Land Services, Veteran Service Office, Maintenance and Economic Development Corporation. Members of the public who have business with any of these departments on Monday are encouraged to plan accordingly and may want to adjust their schedules.

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