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Marshfield Clinic Research Institute Continuing Tick Study, Still Seeking Submissions Published on 09/29/2025 under News

A statewide tick study continues, and researchers are encouraging those enjoying the fall activities to be mindful of ticks and submit them for identification.

The Marshfield Clinic Research Institute's Tick Inventory via Citizen Science study is now in its second year. Their goal is to study tick distribution and improve detection and disease prevention efforts.

Ticks are still active and with people out in the woods at this time of year, people may be find more ticks. Associate research scientist Alexandra Linz says they saw a surge of submissions last October. She notes,"These were often deer ticks, which are the ones that primarily carry disease in Wisconsin."

Linz says, "The deer tick's small size and greater likelihood of carrying illnesses like Lyme disease is what makes it critical to perform tick checks after spending time in wooded or brushy areas."

Through a year and a half, researchers have received identified nearly 12,000 ticks, including 5,400 this year. They said approximately two thirds of the submissions have been the larger and common wood tick. A majority of the rest... the deer tick. But they've also identified some species typically rare in Wisconsin including 21 lone star ticks.

People should continue to check for ticks, and submit them if they choose. Kits are available at many Marshfield Clinic locations, at Rib Mountain State Park, and can be requested.

For more information, or to request a pre-paid collection kit be sent to you, contact tics@marshfieldclinic.org or 1-715-389-7796 (extension 16462). Parks and nature centers interested in having kits available for their visitors also are encouraged to contact Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.

Once the tick, dead or alive, has been placed in the collection kit, just drop it in the mail to submit. Any tick found on people or pets is appreciated. Each kit will come with a unique identification number that people can use to look up, via an online dashboard, the species of ticks they submitted.

In Other News

USW Local 248 Donates $10,000 to Support Student Mental Health Initiatives

Published on 09/29/2025 under News A local worker's union recently made a significant donation to the Tomahawk School District aimed at strengthening student mental health resources and support services. The School District of Tomahawk announced a generous $10,000 donation from the United Steelworkers Local 248. The funds will be used to expand access to crisis intervention counselors and tele-health mental health providers. The district says these services are designed to bridge the critical gap students often face while waiting for appointments with their regular counselors, a period that can stretch up to six months or more. District administrator Wendell Quesinberry says, "We are deeply grateful to the United Steelworkers Local 248 for their commitment to our students." He says, "This donation ensures that our young people have timely access to essential mental health care when they need it most, providing stability and support during critical moments." The district says, by addressing urgent mental health needs, this initiative aims to improve student well-being, strengthen resilience, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive both in and out of the classroom. According to the announcement, United Steelworkers Local 248's support highlights the power of community partnerships in building a stronger future for students. Photograph from L-R: Curt Cordova Local 248 Vice President, Wendell Quesinberry School District of Tomahawk Superintendent, Bob Garrou Local 248 President, Joe Skuball Local 248 Treasurer, Adam Spiegel School District of Tomahawk Special Education/Pupil Services Director

Published on 09/29/2025 under News As the month winds down, officials are reminding residents its not too late to plan for an emergency. Each September, local and state emergency management teams discuss the need for individuals, families, and communities to prepare for disasters and emergencies. It's part of September Preparedness Month. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says, "Wisconsinites can help themselves by taking a few simple preparedness steps, starting right in their own homes." Preparedness begins with creating a home safety plan and going over it with your family. It's also a good time to create an emergency kit for your home and your vehicle. If you already have a kit, check to ensure items haven't expired or been borrowed. Fall is also a good time for some home maintenance such as trimming branches around the house, clearing gutters, and inspecting roofs and downspouts. Engle says, "Planning for the unexpected may seem overwhelming initially, but the peace of mind from knowing you're ready can help you weather the storm." Wisconsin Emergency Management has additional information on their website, and locally Lincoln County Emergency Management has been posting tips and advice on their Facebook page throughout the month.

Published on 09/29/2025 under News A quick update on some ongoing road construction, just to the north of Tomahawk. Crews continue to work on Oneida County Road L in Nokomis. They have completed most of the milling and paving of the main roadway, and are currently working on intersections, entrances, and driveways. Motorists may still encounter some delays. Culvert work continues on Highway 8 between County L and McCord Road. This will require some single lane closures with temporary signals. This summer-long project is scheduled to run into October. The Town of Nokomis announced some upcoming work on a half mile segment of Lake Nokomis Road between Rocky Road and the former Johnson Level site. That work will begin October 6.

Published on 09/29/2025 under News The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be conducting prescribed burns this fall to help restore and improve habitat while reducing wildfire risks in northern Wisconsin. Certified fire specialists will be working around several locations within National Forest lands in the coming months. According to the announcement, prescribed fires help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. And by simulating historic naturally occurring wildfires, they can also provide benefits to native plants and animals. Experts monitor weather and forest conditions to determine when the burns will be conducted, so they don't have a specific schedule. They typically notify neighboring residents and local officials in the lead up to a planned burn, while also posting updates via their social media for recreationists to be aware. Prescribed fires planned for the area include: Illuminati Wildlife Opening (Ashland County, off Forest Road 335) Ax Head Red (Bayfield County, adjacent to Forest Road 236 near the intersection with Forest Road 262) Northwest Sands Block A (Bayfield County, adjacent to Forest Road 241 and Bailey Lake Road) Oconto River Savannahs 1 (Oconto County, north and west of Riverside Road, southeast of Waubee Lake) Twin Pine 4, 6, 8, 11, and 12 (Oconto County, Oconto County, near the intersection of Forest Roads 2307 and 2301 north of State Highway 64) Drake Creek Openings (Sawyer County, County Road S near forest boundary) Little Cranberry (Sawyer County, near the intersection of County Road B and Forest Road 177W) Mondeaux Dam (Taylor County, adjacent to Mondeaux Lodge) Moose River Pines (Sawyer County, on Forest Road 164 and between Forest Road 174 and Forest Road 173)

Published on 09/29/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's football squad would suffer their first loss of the 2025 season on Homecoming Night at Hatchet Field, dropping to Mosinee, 21-14. The Hatchets struggled offensively after starting QB Cash Olsen went down with a lower leg injury late in the second quarter. Jett Reilly filled in and led Tomahawk on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, but it was too little too late. The Hatchet defense let up two big touchdown passes from Indian quarterback Treve Stoffel, including a 65-yarder to Brayden Reinke with eight minutes left. Tomahawk ran for 207 yards on 44 carries, led by a 78-yard night from Rex Reilly. Max Larson rushed for a score, and Jonah Dickens threw a touchdown pass to Jett Reilly in the first quarter. The loss drops Tomahawk to 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets will look to bounce back next week as they head on the road to Medford. Tune in for the broadcast on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ with the Fehrman Orthodontics Kickoff Cabin at 6:10 and opening kick at 7:00 from Raider Field. Alex Koch and Jon Long will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 09/29/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's Cross Country Squads each came away with top three team finishes in their invite at Merrill Saturday. The Hatchets girls placed second overall, finishing behind just Medford. Three girls finished in the top ten for Tomahawk. Lydia Shaney, Abbie Rosenmeier, and Faith Derleth finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, individually. As for the boys, they finished third in the invite, placing behind just Mosinee and Lakeland. The Hatchets had one top ten finisher in the invite. Joe Zastrow placed tenth with a time of 19:04. Tomahawk's next invite will be Thursday in Athens.

Published on 09/26/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's girls' swim squad defeated Antigo in their Great Northern Conference Dual Thursday night at the Hatchet Pool, 81-33. The Hatchets finished first in eight of the 11 events. Tomahawk placed first in all three relay events and five of the eight individual events. The Hatchets also had all three swimmers that were in the 50 yard freestyle finish in the top three. The win puts Tomahawks' dual record at 2-3 on the season. The Hatchets will go on the road for their next GNC Meet Thursday at Medford.

Published on 09/26/2025 under News The Tomahawk Community Thrift Shop has been successful thanks to their team of volunteers, and they're hoping to get more people involved. The Board recently put out a call for volunteers, and we spoke with Board Member Sherry Hulett about the many opportunities available whether in store or on their board. Hulett credited the founding members for their vision, and noted that many are still volunteering. But there is occasional turnover. And Hulett also noted the need grows at this time of year. That's because a handful of their regular volunteers are snowbirds who will be heading south for the winter. When it comes to time commitment, Hulett says they are very flexible, adding it's excellent opportunity for retirees or parents with kids in school. There are a variety of positions including sorters, stockers, displays, and cashiers along with leadership opportunities on the Board. The mission of the Thrift Store is to return 75% of their proceeds back to community groups and organizations, and in six short years have already contributed $188,000 in grants. As for how to get involved, Hulett says they are 'old-school.' They have paper applications at the store during regular hours. You can hear that conversation in the WJJQ audio center.

Published on 09/26/2025 under News Beef is on the menu in Minocqua this weekend, as the community will be hosting Beef-A-Rama. This is the milestone 60th year for Beef-A-Rama, and they're hoping to 'let the good times grill' with a Mardi Gras theme. Thousands of hungry visitors are expected to visit downtown Minocqua to enjoy plenty of bovine themed activities and entertainment. Kicking off the day is the rump roast run and a calf mile race. They've also got a Prime Choice craft fair. Dozens of teams will compete for bragging rights by testing their roasting skills in a cooking competition. And Mad Dog and Merrill will even be on-hand filming an episode of their popular grilling TV show on site. And there will be plenty of beef served up to attendees. Most of the events will be centered in Downtown Minocqua area. To accommodate the thousands of attendees, they've arranged to have free shuttles running several parking areas around the community. For more information including a full schedule, you can visit the Minocqua Visitor's Bureau Facebook or website, or simply download their Beef-A-Rama app on your smart phone.

Published on 09/26/2025 under News September is AFib Awareness Month, a time to focus on atrial fibrillation, the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. According to the American Heart Association, a third of people with Afib have no symptoms. And recent research has show Afib on the rise among those under the age of 65. Dr. John Johnkoski, is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Aspirus. He says, "The earlier we detect AFib, the better we can protect patients from stroke and heart damage." One important tool might be sitting on your wrist. Smart watches and other personal devices can give people new ways to notice something is wrong. While the wearable tech can't diagnose AFib, they can provide a helpful nudge to get checked by a doctor when an irregular rhythm shows up. Johnkoski says, "Technology can support awareness, but it is not a replacement for medical evaluation." That evaluation can lead to life-saving treatment whether medication or lifestyle changes. Johnkoski says, "If you feel something unusual or if your watch flags an irregular rhythm, reach out to your care team. That simple step could prevent a stroke or even save a life."

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