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Fatal Rollover Crash in Vilas County Friday Published on 08/18/2025 under News

One person is dead following a rollover crash in Vilas County over the weekend.

According to the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, responders were called to a single vehicle crash on County K at River Lane in Boulder Junction. The call came in at shortly before 11pm Friday night. The caller indicated there were three people in the vehicle at the time.

Two people were transported to Howard Young in Woodruff. One of individuals was pronounced dead at the hospital. The names of those involved are being withheld pending notification of family.

No other details were provided on what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway. The crash remains under investigation.

In Other News

Tomahawk Students Benefit from Career/Tech Ed Certification and Dual Credit Offerings

Published on 08/18/2025 under News In recent years, the Tomahawk School District has expanded their offerings of both career & technical education certification and dual credit opportunities. Students continue to take advantage of these classes. Both CTE and dual credit classes prepare students for post graduation opportunities whether entering the workforce or attending college. At their meeting this past week, the Tomahawk School Board received data from the recent school year, which included a state grant based on student success. The Department of Workforce Development offers school districts an incentive grant aimed at offsetting some of the costs of offering CTE courses. The reimbursements are calculated by the number of certifications earned. According to the report, the graduating class in Tomahawk completed 57 qualifying certifications. As a result, the district was awarded an $18,735 reimbursement. As for dual-credit courses, the students receive both college and high school credits by completing the same class. This past year, 157 THS students enrolled in courses offered in collaboration with Nicolet college. Those students earned 485 college credits, which works out to a tuition savings of more than $75,000 in college credits. (The district has additional partnerships with schools including NTC, which were not included in this data)

Published on 08/18/2025 under News One person was injured, another arrested following a stabbing in Oneida County late last week. The initial altercation occurred on Thursday evening at around 11:15pm. Responders were paged to Rudolph Road and Woodridge Lane in the Town of Woodruff for an injured party who had been stabbed. According to the announcement, the victim was airlifted to an area hospital for treatment. No update on their condition was provided. The suspect, identified as 36 year old Scott Moxham, had left the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement. The Woodruff Police Department initially asked the public for help in locating him, before later announcing he had been taken into custody Friday morning without further incident. The incident remains under investigation and no other information was provided.

Published on 08/18/2025 under News Musky hunters converged in Eagle River this past weekend for one of the largest-of-its-kind Musky tournaments. Over the past three days, the Eagle River Chamber along with the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin hosted the 39th annual National Championship Musky Open. The event takes place on seven lake chains in the Eagle River Area. That space was useful with more 1,129 anglers registered, up slightly from last year. They represented not only the Northwoods and the State of Wisconsin, but 14 states overall. Fishing was a bit slower this year, but anglers still managed to catch and release 117 muskies. The largest, a 47 incher, was caught by Darrell Fritz of Rothschild . As the largest fish, he'll receive a replica. The overall winner was Bob Sommers of St. Germain, WI with a catch of 4 muskies totaling of 156 inches. (In photo, provided by Eagle River Chamber) In addition to the fishing, a tournament entry also provides a ticket for a drawing to win a 2025-895 DC Recon tournament boat. Eric Roder of Merrill, WI got the lucky ticket. Organizers called this year's tournament a success and said they're already looking forward to the 2025 event next summer.

Published on 08/18/2025 under News With more than two dozen fatal ATV/UTV crashes around the state, the DNR is warning riders about some of the trends in these often preventable tragedies. While speed and alcohol remain common factors in fatal crashes, the DNR highlighted some other commonalities. Of the 25 fatal crashes, more than half have been rollovers specifically. DNR Lt. Jake Holsclaw notes that UTVs and ATVs are not designed like cars. He says, "When people treat them like they are – speeding on pavement or taking sharp turns – they roll over." That's why he stressed the importance of using seatbelts and/or wearing helmets whenever operating these machines. The DNR also highlighted a lack of training. They note the most ATV/UTV operators involved in fatal crashes had not completed a safety course. The certification is required for any operator born in or after 1988, but are encouraged for riders of all ages. As more communities open roads and establish trails for ATVs and UTVs, the number of fatal crashes has been on the rise. There were 40 fatal crashes investigated by the DNR in 2024.

Published on 08/18/2025 under News A grand jury has indicted a Wausau man facing charges related to defrauding investors of more than $15 million over a six year period. According to the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, 63 year old Stanley Pophal is facing 10 federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering. A grand jury returned an indictment earlier this month. Investigators says that Pophal accepted money from investors and promised to invest their funds into various business ventures. However, the indictment alleges that Pophal failed to invest the money as promised. Instead, he allegedly used most of the money for his own purposes, including the purchase of hundreds of snowmobiles. The charges against Pophal are the result of an investigation conducted by the IRS and FBI.

Published on 08/15/2025 under News A new event is debuting in Tomahawk this weekend featuring good food and supporting a good cause. Steaks for Kids is a two day culinary competition being held at SARA Park today and tomorrow. It's a Steak Cook-Off Association event that's being organized locally by Tomahawk Trailer Sales and proceeds will go towards Kinship of Tomahawk. Kinship is in need of the funds, as they are in the process of renovating the former Bradley Bank building on Main Street to become their future home. Earlier this week, Dave Nelson of Tomahawk Trailer and Patti Hilgendorf of Kinship stopped by the WJJQ studios to preview the event. While steaks is in the name, the competitors will be cooking up more that just cuts of beef. There are other categories including sliders, appetizers, corn-based dishes, and pancakes with thousands of dollars on line. In addition to the competition, there will be plenty of good food for the spectators as well. Friday specifically, they'll food has an interesting background. Eddy Smith loves to smoke meats, but isn't into the competition. He, and wife Wendy, donated and prepared the smoked pork loin sandwich plates, with sausages and cheesy hot dogs also available. Their donation means the entire sale goes to Kinship. It's a cause near-and-dear to the Smith's who are long-time mentors themselves. And while Steaks for Kids is a food-centric event, there will be other activities, entertainment, and raffles throughout the day Friday and Saturday at SARA Park.

Published on 08/15/2025 under News Tomahawk Main Street hosting a special 'thank you' to those who visited the downtown district throughout the summer. The annual Tomahawk Main Street Customer Appreciation Cook Out and Sidewalk Sale returns, now expanded to two days, Friday and Saturday. Ahead of the event, I spoke with Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz. She explained, "This cookout is a small gesture and way to give back to say thank you for supporting local businesses and embracing Shop Small philosophy." Turkiewicz added, "It's really a welcoming community downtown, and we just want folks to spend some time with us and see what we all have to offer." Many businesses will be offering up sales both inside and outside of their shops, and the Main Street team has arranged for family friendly activities and entertainment. On Saturday specifically, they'll be grilling up a picnic lunch with burgers, brats, and hot dogs. They'll accept free-will donations, which Turkiewicz says will go to support their downtown beautification projects such as their benches and flower baskets. Check out the Main Street Facebook page for more information.

Published on 08/15/2025 under News An annual campaign targeting impaired driving gets underway today. Local law enforcement agencies will once again join state partners for 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.' In addition to impaired driving from alcohol, the two and a half week campaign will also highlight and emphasize drug-related impairment as well. According to DoT statistics, there were just over 7,000 alcohol or drug related crashes in Wisconsin last year. That resulted in 218 deaths, approximately half of all traffic fatalities on Wisconsin roadways. The State Patrol notes that there were also more than 18,000 OWI convictions in the state last year. Officials note that impaired driving doesn't just impact the driver who chooses to get behind the wheel, but their passengers and everyone else sharing the roadway. The increased enforcement will coincide with an educational campaign as well using traditional media, social media, and other creative messaging such as their digital road signs. This year's Drive Sober Campaign begins today and will run through the Labor Day holiday.

Published on 08/15/2025 under News From kayaks and sailboats to pontoons and ski boats, Lake Minocqua is buzzing all summer long with boats of all shapes and sizes. Coming up this weekend, competitors will be paddling for a purpose at the 8th annual Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday. For those unfamiliar, a dragon boat is a skinny 45 feet long boat propelled by 20 front-facing, side-by-side paddlers. There's also a spot for a steerer and a drummer who keeps the paddlers in rhythm. In heats of three, the participants row along the 2000 meter course. Along with the racing and festive atmosphere, the Dragon Boat Festival also doubles as a fundraiser raising more than a million dollars for local hospital programs over the years. This year specifically, funds will go towards the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center. They've got more than two dozen teams signed up including healthcare professionals, grocers, bankers, builders and cancer survivors. And the teams aren't just from the Northwoods, will many traveling from other states to compete. They'll be racing out of Torpy Park in Minocqua with opening ceremonies known as the Awakening of the Dragon begins at 8:30am. The event is free for spectators. With the forecast, they encourage people to watch their Facebook page for any updates or changes.

Published on 08/15/2025 under News Officials are planning a walleye rehabilitation project on a small lake near Eagle River, and they'll discuss the plans later this month. The focus is on Franklin Lake, where they are considering a walleye spawning reef project. At the meeting, August 27, DNR staff and partners will discuss a comprehensive study of the lake including fishery data and trends dating back 50 years. The main focus will be on the declining walleye population specifically; once strong, but now considered below fishable over the past two decades. To address the decline, they are also planning a walleye spawning reef that would be constructed along U.S. Forest Service property to help rehabilitate the walleye population. The meeting will be held on Wednesday August 27 at the VFW post in Eagle River. It gets underway at 6pm. The DNR has additional information on their website.

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