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Lincoln County Sheriff Report Published on 09/09/2025 under News

It was a relatively light Lincoln County Sheriff's Report this past week. Among the interactions…

A 32 year old Green Bay man was arrested for a first offense OWI following a traffic stop for speeding on Highway 64 in the Town of Pine River.

A 22 year old Irma Woman was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct following a disturbance at a home in the Town of Bradley.

The number of vehicle vs deer collisions remains steady with another seven reported this past week on Lincoln County Roadways. There was another bear crash in the report as well.

In Other News

Motorcycle Safety Urged for Fall Ride Weekend

Published on 09/09/2025 under News With an influx of visitors in the Northwoods for the Fall Ride, officials are asking everyone to safely share the road whether traveling on two wheels or four. While a festive atmosphere, the Fall Ride typically sees a handful of accidents involving motorcycles each year. Local law enforcement are hoping all motorists play their part to help reduce the number of these incidents. When it comes to motorcycles, remember they have a smaller profile. This makes it easier to misjudge the speed and distance of an approaching bike. They encourage drivers to look twice at intersections, and when changing lanes be aware of blind spots. With gatherings and events, it's also important to pay attention for pedestrians. And some roads may have reduced speed limits, additional stop signs, or road closures to accommodate. Lastly, as always, slow down, reduce distractions, and always drive sober.

Published on 09/09/2025 under News September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and local health partners are looking to connect people with life-saving resources while reducing the stigma in using them. One of those important tools is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Shelly Missall, Outreach Coordinator with the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline, says the resource is designed to be accessible, confidential, and judgment-free. She explained, "When someone dials 988, they'll speak with a trained counselor who listens, provides support, and connects them to resources." The theme of this year's campaign is "Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere." Heidi Pritzl, LCSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Aspirus Health, says awareness starts with recognizing the warning signs. She says an important step is to check in; ask if they're okay and show you care." She notes these conversations can be overwhelming, but compassion and observation can open the door to help." The Lincoln County Health Department has 988 materials available, including wallet cards and magnets. They also have both a Lincoln County Mental Health & Substance Use Resource Guide and Lincoln County Grief & Recovery Support Guide.

Published on 09/09/2025 under News Prime rib at a Wisconsin supper club is a beloved tradition. A new guide highlights some of the best, and several local restaurants made the list. The Wisconsin Beef Council, in partnership with Gather Wisconsin, has introduced the Prime Rib Trail—a statewide guide to restaurants serving up perfectly prepared prime rib. They began with call for recommendations on social media and then narrowed down the nominees. The inaugural map features 16 restaurants from all corners of the state that includes three here in the Northwoods. The locals who made the cut are: Pub 'N Prime (Saint Germain); Somo Lake Resort (Tomahawk); and Loading Zone Eatery (Wausau). The full map is available on the Wisconsin Beef Council website. Wisconsin Beef Council Director of Communications and Outreach Kaitlyn Kesler said, "Prime Rib is a dish that brings people together. This trail not only celebrates Wisconsin's supper club culture, but also connects consumers with the beef that's raised with care by farm families." The full map is available on the Wisconsin Beef Council Website. 1. Donny's Glidden Lodge Restaurant (Sturgeon Bay) 2. Bob and Geri's Black Otter Supper Club (Hortonville) 3. Schwarz Supper Club (New Holstein) 4. The Packing House Restaurant (Milwaukee) 5. Fredrick's Supper Club (Milton) 6. Village Bar Supper Club (Kieler) 7. Del-Bar (Wisconsin Dells) 8. Rockton Bar (La Farge) 9. Re-Pete's Saloon & Grill (Black River Falls) 10. Chicken Chaser's Bar & Grill, LLC (Fall Creek) 11. Jake's Supper Club (Menomonie) 12. Lehman's Supper Club and Lounge (Rice Lake) 13. Pine Creek Pit Stop (Ashland) 14. Pub 'N Prime (Saint Germain) 15. Somo Lake Resort (Tomahawk) 16. Loading Zone Eatery (Wausau)

Published on 09/09/2025 under News With the fall hunting season picking up, the DNR is reminding organizations about the upcoming application deadline for their Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation Grant program. The goal of the R3 grants is to supports projects that promote awareness, understanding and participation in safe, ethical hunting and hunting-related outdoor skills for anyone who wants to learn. In this cycle, $75,000 is being made available. Past grant recipient projects included archery range upgrades for after-school clubs, start-up costs for scholastic clay target teams and 4-H shooting sports programs, support for hunting-related expos focusing on recruiting new or under-served audiences, Learn to Hunt programs and the purchase of outdoor wheelchairs and other equipment for public use. These funds can be awarded to individuals or community-based organizations, Wisconsin tribes, universities and schools. The application deadline is coming up on September 15.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News It's Fall Ride week in the Tomahawk area, and preparations are well underway. This marks the 44th year of the Tomahawk Fall Ride. Before the bikes roll into town, local businesses are getting ready for what is typically one of their busiest and most important weeks of the year. A quick drive through the area will find tents popping up outside numerous businesses to accommodate beer gardens, outdoor entertainment, and traveling vendors. That same transition is underway in the Nokomis area where fields are also being converted into temporary, large-scale campgrounds with early-bird campers already moving in. Fall Ride week typically begins slowly and builds towards the weekend as tens of thousands of motorcycles descend upon the Northwoods. Some of the highlights include the Chamber Brat Fry and Bon Fire at SARA Park on Thursday; Tomahawk Main Street will play host to the Friday Thunder Parade and Street Dance; and a weekend's worth of entertainment at SARA Park. As always stay tuned to WJJQ throughout the week for all of your Fall Ride news, updates, and reports.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News A counselor in the Rhinelander school district was recently recognized for her efforts. The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance has selected Lexi Allen to receive their 2025 Advocacy Award. Allen works as a college and career counselor in the Rhinelander School District. They said, in just her second year with the district, Allen has become a driving force in rural education, creating innovative systems that connect students, educators, and community partners in meaningful ways. The WiRSA said, "Lexi embodies everything this award stands for: advocacy, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to students. She is ensuring that rural youth are not only seen and supported, but also empowered to discover their passions and pursue their dreams." They highlighted a few of her many accomplishments, starting with the transformation of the district's academic and career program, where they meet with and develop a personalized road-map for each individual student. Allen has built partnerships with local employers for job shadowing and apprenticeship programs, while also connecting with local colleges for dual credit opportunities. She also introduced Senior Signing Day, a district-wide celebration that honors every graduate's next step whether they are pursing college, technical training, the military, or entering the workforce. Superintendent Eric Burke says, "Lexi's leadership in Academic and Career Planning has had a transformative impact on our students, our community, our employers, and our two- and four-year college partners." He added, "This award is a reflection of her dedication and also the commitment of all staff in the School District of Rhinelander—not only through the courses you teach, but in the guidance and experiences you provide that help students shape their futures."

Published on 09/08/2025 under News Officials are monitoring a manure spill in Taylor County resulting in a fish kill. According to the DNR, the spill has impacted Trappers Creek, a tributary to the Black River, with dead fish observed in the creek. The spill happened early last week, and was reported to the DNR violation hotline on Friday. The department is working with the Taylor County Land Conservation Department and a local farmer to determine what caused the spill. The extent of the spill's impact is still being evaluated. Opportunities for cleanup or mitigation are being assessed. No other information was available.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News A couple of road construction updates in the area… For the Bearskin Creek Bridge replacement project on County L in Nokomis, the end is near, but the bridge remains closed at this time. Crews will be working on placing guardrails and paving the bridge approaches in the first half of the week. They are still on track to open ahead of Fall Ride weekend, tentatively mid-day Thursday. At some point following Fall Ride weekend, they'll begin working on phase two of this project, a resurfacing of the Oneida County portion of County L. Meanwhile, the DoT said, in their weekly construction update, that they will have Highway 8 open during Fall Ride weekend as well. They are working on Highway 8 between County L and McCord Road. This week, they are scheduled to work on some culvert replacements.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News ArtStart moved a bit closer to their fundraising goal for a new boiler thanks to the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. Over the weekend, ArtStart announced a $2,500 grant from the WPS Foundation. The non-profit has been raising money to replace a century-old boiler that is used to heat their historic Rhinelander building. ArtStart Board President, Sue Besert says, "We deeply appreciate this generous contribution from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. Maintaining our historic home is essential for us to continue offering meaningful arts and cultural programming to the Northwoods region and beyond." Last month, the organization said they were close enough to their fundraising goal to begin the project in September.

Published on 09/08/2025 under News While it wasn't the big Power Ball winner, the Tomahawk Lions Club awarded $22,000 over the weekend. The local Lions hosted their annual cash raffle, one of the organization's largest fundraisers. At their Saturday celebration and open house, twelve winning tickets were drawn. The Grand Prize, $10,000 went to Brent Ven Rooy. The $5,000 ticket was Paul Werner; $1,500 to Terry Van Ryan. Connie Norgren was selected for $1,000. There were two $750 winning tickets: Joanne Johnson and Jill Holmes/Kim Fassben. And there were also a half dozen $500 tickets: Amy Maki/Trish Beatty, Bob Thorpe, Kaya/Caleb Fedrowitz, Doreen Anderson, Woody Davis, and Kurt/Nancy Bernarde. The Lions wanted to thank everyone who purchased a ticket and those who support the organization throughout the year.

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