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Toma-Walk Offers Historical Walking Tour of Main Street District Saturday Published on 07/17/2025 under News

The City of Tomahawk has been around for more than 130 years. Coming up this weekend, a guided walking tour of the downtown district will give people a fun and informational peek into the past.

Tomahawk Main Street and the Tomahawk Historical Society are teaming up to bring back another edition of the Toma-Walk on Saturday morning. Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz is helping organize the event and will also be one of the presenters.

She says that the city has a rich history and this is a way to learn about a few of the many people and events that helped shaped the community. There were a few editions of the tour a decade ago. After fading away for a few years, the Toma-Walk returned last summer with positive reception. To keep things fresh, Turkiewicz noted they'll mix some new stories into this year's tour.

They've planned a half dozen stops along Main Street, each with stories and history such as the Bradley Bank Robbery. The presenters often portray the past figures. And Turkiewicz even teased an introduction in the portrayal of city-founder William Bradley.

The Toma-Walk is free though donations will go to support their efforts for a historical marker on the Main Street Boulevard. They'll begin at the west end of Main Street (outside Auntie Ems). Meet at 10am, the program begins at 10:30am and takes about an hour.

In Other News

Merrill Man Sentenced in October Knife Attack

Published on 07/17/2025 under News A Merrill man charged in a roadside knife attack last fall has been ordered to serve nearly 4 years in prison. Bradley Labarge was back in Lincoln County Court Wednesday for a sentencing hearing. The 32 year old was arrested last October following an altercation along Corning Road in the Town of Corning. Investigators said Labarge was following a vehicle with an ex-girlfriend and another man. The incident escalated outside the vehicle and Labarge cut the other man with a utility knife. Labarge was initially facing a half dozen charges. Last week, he pleaded guilty to two: 1st degree reckless injury with the use of a dangerous weapon and resisting or obstructing an officer. In exchange, 4 other charges were dismissed including attempted homicide. According to court records, at yesterday's hearing, Labarge was sentenced to serve three years and nine months in prison followed by nine years extended supervision. He was credited with 270 days of time served. Labarge was also ordered to pay the victim around $3,000 in restitution and write a letter of apology.

Published on 07/17/2025 under News Last month citizen scientists took part in the first of two statewide bat counts this summer. A follow up is coming this weekend. According to the DNR more than 150 people submitted data after observing bat roosts in the Great Wisconsin Bat Count in June. According to the update, they counted more than 15,000 bats emerging from bat houses, barns and other roosting locations. Roost monitoring helps bat biologists understand the impacts of disease on hibernating bat populations. And there was some positive findings in the June report. More little brown bats were counted than any previous June survey, including before white-nose syndrome arrived in the state. Another species, the tri-colored bat, was observed at two roosts including one where bats hadn't been seen in years. The June survey was conducted during what is known as the pre-volancy period. That's before baby bats, known as pups, can fly. They'll be back out this coming weekend for another survey that will include the newly-flying juveniles. People can get involved in future surveys by visiting their website. You'll also find information on making properties more bat-friendly including bat houses or bat condos.

Published on 07/17/2025 under News The City of Rhinelander has been exploring locations for a new municipal well including a site at the Nicolet campus. They'll have to look elsewhere. Earlier this week, Nicolet College notified the City of Rhinelander that it declined the city's proposal to install a municipal well on Nicolet College's campus. Nicolet College provided some additional details in a news release. In a letter to the City Administrator, Nicolet College noted that the proposal was carefully considered by the Nicolet College Board of Trustees and college leadership. Research included a community listening session, a peer review of the project's environmental impact, and consultation with legal counsel. The board cited concerns about the high degree of uncertainty about the extent of the potential environmental impact on nearby marshland, private wells, and lakes. Additionally, the board encouraged the city to evaluate more long-term, sustainable initiatives, such as water treatment for contaminants and water conservation planning. The college expressed its appreciation for its ongoing partnership with the city on initiatives that support their shared communities.

Published on 07/17/2025 under News While latest Superman blockbuster tops the box office, some lesser known films will be featured in Northern Wisconsin over the next few weekends. North Central Technical College and their partners are kicking off the Film, Farm, & Culture Fest of Wausau. Over the next four weekends, they'll be screening eight films on Fridays and Saturdays at the Woodson History Center. It's described as an annual summer meeting place for audiences and young ﬁlmmakers to celebrate award-winning independent ﬁlms, both ﬁction and documentary ﬁlms exploring the relationships between farming, land and rural life. Jila Nikpay, Videography Faculty at NTC says, "Our goal for the ﬁlm festival is to bring community members together for an engaging conversation and exchange about our primal connection to the land and agriculture." They've got a website with the film line up and short descriptions. In conjunction with the festival NTC has been offering summer labs for aspiring film makers at Studio 7, the state-of-the-art video production facility on NTC's Wausau campus.

Published on 07/17/2025 under News Fire crews were kept busy in Vilas County Tuesday with two unrelated fires during the evening hours. The first fire was reported at around 8:15pm at a property on River Road in Conover. Responders arrived to find a detached garage in flames. The homeowner was asleep in the adjacent residence and was evacuated safely. Crews were able to contain the fire to the garage. While the cause of fire remains undetermined, the news release noted severe weather including lightning and high winds had moved across the area just prior to the fire call. ____ Just a few hours later, around 10:45pm Tuesday, Arbor Vitae Fire and Rescue responded to a fire on Sly Drive in Arbor Vitae. The initial call was for smoke coming from a refrigerator in the home, however crews determined the fire was actually located underneath the home. Crews were able to suppress the fire, and kept it from entering the home. No one was injured, and damage was minimal. According to a news release, the cause of the fire may have been connected to an outlet powering heat tape. The fire department encourages those using heat time to regularly inspect cords.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Update: With the threat of rain in the forecast for Wednesday afternoon, organizers of Music on the River have made the decision to reschedule tonight's performance. The Cougars were set to play the summer concert series Wednesday. Rather than moving to their usual indoor location at SARA Park, The Cougars will instead make a return trip to Tomahawk to play in a few weeks. The concert has been rescheduled for August 6. We'll offer a reminder. Updated Music on the River Schedule:July 23-The Jerry Schmitt BandAugust 6-The Cougars ______ It's hard to believe, but Tomahawk's summer concert series is winding down. But there are still two more weeks this season to enjoy some live music in Memorial Park. Music on the River is entering week six of seven tonight. For the penultimate show, it will be the return of the Cougars. The six piece band has performed in at Music on the River several times. They offer a unique style that features three female lead singers sharing vocals. Their music is described as a blend of rock and pop with a little bit of country. As always, music gets underway at 6pm. The concerts take place at Veteran's Memorial Park in Tomahawk, though with the threat of rain, stay tuned to WJJQ this afternoon for a potential move indoors. We'll share those updates, in needed.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Tuesday was July 15, or 715, and that number has special meaning here in the Northwoods as it's also our area code. Several local groups held special 715 events to mark the day. The Tomahawk Chamber was out and about to show off what they say makes the 715 area the heart of the Northwoods. Throughout the day, chamber director Charis Lau featured 7 'day of' highlights from around the community and kicking off 1 incredible week that concludes with 5 amazing giveaways. The video shorts, posted to their social media, went to popular areas including the downtown district, local trails, lakes, resorts and businesses. The Chamber says the day offers a chance to come together to celebrate the people, places, and pride of the 715, whether a local, a frequent visitor, or just love the Northwoods vibe. You can check out those videos on the Tomahawk Chamber Facebook Page.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News Lincoln County currently has a purchase agreement in place to sell Pine Crest nursing home to a private provider. Should that sale fall through, board supervisors are preparing for alternative options, including potential closure. Earlier this year, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors approved a purchase agreement for the skilled nursing facility in Merrill with Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC. The sale is scheduled to be completed by August 1. A resolution approved at last night's Lincoln County Board meeting directed the County's Administrative and Legislative Committee to 'prepare a plan detailing the actions necessary and associated timelines to affect the closure of Pine Crest.' The resolution directs A&L to present the plan at the August meeting. During discussion, supervisors emphasized that this resolution doesn't mean they would automatically close Pine Crest if there is no sale, but it would be an option to consider. If they were to go down the closure route, they are specific state laws and statutes they would need to follow. Any future decision related to Pine Crest, outside of the current pending sale, would still need to come before the board for approval. This could include: seeking another buyer, referendum, finding alternative revenue sources, or closure. Ahead of the supervisors' discussion was public comment. Four citizens spoke including on those on behalf of People for Pine Crest. The citizen group has pushed for the county to maintain ownership of the facility, and they've been regulars at these meetings. In the end, an amended resolution was approved by a 16-5 vote.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News When it comes to tick-born illness, most are familiar with Lyme disease. Another rare virus that has been showing up in Wisconsin more frequently. While cases of Powassan virus in the state still remain few, they have been trending upwards. Last year Wisconsin had 12 reported cases, this year state health officials confirmed three adults have been hospitalized with Powassan and one person has died. According to Aspirus, Powassan is actually related to a group of viruses that include West Nile, Zika and Dengue. But unlike its mosquito-borne cousins, Powassan is transmitted by the black-legged a.k.a. deer tick. Dr. James Thatcher, at the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center in Woodruff, said the symptoms can be severe. "Fevers and headaches, malaise, not eating, not drinking, not communicating." Dr. Thatcher says, "We can't live our lives in fear." He emphasized that prevention is key for not only ticks, but other bugs that can cause illness as well. We frequently go over those tips such as wearing long sleeves and pants tucked into socks, doing tick checks after outdoor activity, and repellents. This can include both chemical products or natural alternatives that contain scents such as cedarwood, lemongrass, thyme, and clove. The Powassan virus can incubate quickly, and testing is limited. That's why Dr. Thatcher recommends acting quickly after a deer tick bite, to defend against Powassan and all tick-borne disease. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has additional information on Powassan on their website.

Published on 07/16/2025 under News We frequently talk about the importance of hunter's safety. And there is an opportunity for volunteers to teach the next generation. Since the Hunter Safety program was created in 1967, more than one million Wisconsinites have been certified. And that's credited with a significant decrease in the number of hunting related incidents in the state. To help continue that tradition, the DNR put out a call for new volunteers to become certified instructors. They noted that the strength and success of the program is due to the dedication and commitment of their volunteer instructors . Over the years, more than 20,000 individuals have served as volunteer instructors. In addition to the basic hunter safety course, the DNR and partners also offer other classes like: Advanced Hunter Education – Outdoor Skills And Learn to Hunt. The DNR has additional information on the website.

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