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Check Docks, Rafts, Boat Lifts for AIS during Fall Removal Published on 10/16/2025 under News

As waterfront property owners are removing their docks, lifts, and boats for the season; they are encouraged to check for aquatic invasive species.

Fall removal of this equipment provides an opportunity for inspection and cleaning. That can help keep waterways free from invaders like the zebra and quagga mussels by identifying, reporting, and removing them. These invasive mussels can attach themselves to solid structures like docks, rafts, and boat lifts that have spent the summer underwater.

People are encouraged to be aware of any new discoveries of AIS on waterways. They recommending snapping a photo, collecting a sample, and sharing that information with the DNR or your local aquatic invasive species coordinator.

It's also a good opportunity to wipe down and drain boats and trailers before putting them into storage to prevent AIS from hibernating over the winter.

In Other News

Local Snowmobile Clubs Hosting Trail Clean-Up Saturday; Seeking Volunteers

Published on 10/16/2025 under News There's no snow in the forecast, but area snowmobile clubs are already preparing for the upcoming season. The Northwoods is home to some of the best trails in the state, but maintaining them is year-round work. Coming up this weekend, the Northwoods Riders and Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Clubs will be holding their annual trail brushing and maintenance day. With hundreds of miles of trails north of Tomahawk, they're looking for a few volunteers to lend a helping hand. On Saturday, they'll be heading out onto the trails to clear away brush growth and remove any downed trees, branches, or other obstructions that have popped up since the trails closed last winter. And the clean-up is not just for club members... organizers note it's a good way for any riders to learn more about the local clubs do and all of the work that goes into maintaining the trail system. Once the work is completed, they'll return to the garage for a small 'thank you' gathering with food refreshments and music. They'll be meeting at the Northwoods Riders Garage on County L in Nokomis at 9am Saturday morning to hand out assignments. They encourage volunteers to bring along any tools that may be handy including saws, loppers, gloves, safety glasses, and even an ATV/UTV.

Published on 10/16/2025 under News An Antigo Police Officer was recognized at the state capital for her service to the community. Earlier this week, the state Assembly presented First Responder of the Year awards to firefighters, law enforcement, and EMS who best exemplifies community service, selflessness, and dedication. State Representative Calvin Callahan presented the 35th district honor to Antigo Police Officer Julie Powell. Callahan said, "Officer Powell's dedication and commitment to keeping the people of the City of Antigo safe can't be overstated. It's easy to see the positive impact she has on others, her department, and her community." They also highlighted one particular response last June when Powell helped negotiate the safe release of two children and surrender of a suspect in a hostage situation. Powell has more than a decade of experience in Langalde County, beginning her career with the Sheriff's Department before moving to the Antigo Police Department. As we shared yesterday, Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath was selected as the First Responder of the Year in the 34th Assembly District. In addition to to recognizing individuals, both houses of the state legislature passed a resolution declaring October 14 as First Responders Appreciation Day in Wisconsin. Photo: Rep. Calvin Callahan and Senate President Mary Felzkowski pictured with Officer Julie Powell

Published on 10/16/2025 under News Some lucky people across the Northwoods were greeted with 'the power of flower.' Trig's staffers spent Wednesday making it a bit brighter with by offering free flowers to random people. The Northwoods grocer, through their Floral Department, brought back their annual "Petal It Forward". Throughout the day, their associates hit the streets handing out bouquets of fall flowers to unsuspecting strangers. Not only did the recipients get some flowers to keep for themselves, they received a second bouquet to "Petal It Forward" and give to another person. The Tomahawk team made a number of stops in the business districts and around the community including a visit here to WJJQ. The same was taking place throughout other Northwoods communities that Trig's serves. This local effort is part of a larger nationwide movement started by the Society of American Florists to reduce stress and make people happy through the power of flowers. This is the ninth year Trig's participated.

Published on 10/16/2025 under News School districts around the state can begin finalizing their budgets after the state confirmed general aid funding for the school year. Each September, when the Tomahawk School District preliminary budget is approved, it is with the caveat that they used a few estimates and placeholders for figures like state general aid and enrollment. Each July, the Department of Public Instruction releases estimates of general aid, then certify the figures in mid-October. Those certified numbers were released Wednesday, without any major changes locally. Like the preliminary estimate, the Tomahawk School District will see general aid from the state drop by about 24%, a $490,000 cut. With that decrease in mind, the district was able to under-levy, or spend below that maximum amount allowed. By doing so they were able to offset most of the general aid cut by the state. The district also confirmed the district enrollment via the count on the third Friday of the school year. Those numbers are incorporated into a three year average. The district is down about 30 students when compared to last school year. With the final numbers in line with the estimates, the District will easily plug them into their spending plan. The School Board will likely schedule a special meeting in the coming days to formally approve the budget.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News A retiring Northwoods Sheriff was among first responders recognized by state lawmakers on Tuesday. The State Assembly announced the recipients of their First Responder of the Year Awards which including Vilas County Sheriff Joseph Fath. Representative Rob Swearingen and State Senator Mary Felzkowski present Sheriff Fath with the honor for the 34th district during a ceremony at the state capital in Madison. Earlier this year, Fath announced his plans to retire in December after 44 years with the Vilas County Sheriff's Office. He began as a patrol deputy in 1981, working his way through the ranks to Sheriff, a position he's held since 2013. Rep. Swearingen said, "For more than four decades, (Sheriff Fath) has been a steady hand and a respected leader in our community. His commitment to the safety and well-being of Vilas County residents has set the standard for law enforcement across the Northwoods." The "First Responder of the Year" award was established in 2019 to recognize Wisconsin's firefighters, law enforcement, and EMS who demonstrate exceptional service and selflessness. Each state representative selects one honoree from their district based on community nominations, highlighting those who go above and beyond in their duties.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News The Tomahawk School District is moving closer to a finalized budget for the current school year. Each fall, the Tomahawk School District presents and approves a preliminary spending plan. That initial budget uses some estimates for figures like state aid and school enrollment which aren't finalized until after the school year begins. Those numbers are starting to come in and Administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided the board with an update last night. The enrollment is calculated on the 3rd Friday of the school year using a formula that also incorporates factors such as open enrollment and pre-k. Tomahawk's enrollment this year is approximately 1,070; down about 30 students from last year. Those numbers are factored into a three year rolling average. Quesinberry noted this isn't a trend specific to Tomahawk, but around the state. As for the general state aid, those numbers are expected to be released Wednesday. DPI estimates released in July indicated an approximately $500,000 loss for Tomahawk. With these numbers being finalized, Quesinberry says they'll be able to plug them into the budget in short order. The School Board will likely reconvene later this month to approve the final budget. A few other quick notes from last night's meeting… • Quesinberry highlighted several generous donations towards the district's lunch fund and the Elementary Families in Need Program. • The district continues to discuss an updated agreement with WaWui for the hockey team's use of the SARA Park Ice arena and details such as ice rental, event workers, and admission. • The board heard another update on the Community Education program in its second full year.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News Local officials are hoping to use a wastewater leak in Tomahawk this summer as a learning experience to improve inter-agency communications. The Lincoln County Emergency Planning Committee met Wednesday, among the agenda items, a wastewater leak in Tomahawk earlier this year. Back on August 7, the crews identified a force main break near the plant which leaked approximately 6 million gallons of waste water. While the leak was isolated almost immediately and repaired the following day, it had likely been occurring for sometime in the more-than-80 year old pipe. The topic was discussed at the August City of Tomahawk Public Works meeting and September City Council meeting. Lincoln County Emergency Planning Committee invited officials from the state, county, and city to attend their meeting yesterday afternoon to further discuss the situation. Attendees included Tomahawk Mayor Steve Taskay, alderman Will Garske, and waterwater lead Rich Theimer. After walking through the timeline of the leak and response, the city officials also discussed steps to improve monitoring, safeguards, and response protocols. The conversation among stakeholders also took a broader approach on improving communication in the future between appropriate agencies to establish a whole-community approach to emergency response. _____The Lincoln County Emergency Planning Committee will be discussing a waste water leak in Tomahawk over the summer. As we covered back in August, the City of Tomahawk Board of Public Works discussed a force main break which leaked approximately 6 million gallons of waste water near County Road S and Military Road. The leak was identified on August 7, though had likely been occurring for some time prior. Crews were able to isolate the leak in the more-than-80 year old pipe within a few hours and repaired it the following day. The department worked with the DNR on testing in the area and in notifying nearby property owners who may have been impacted. The Lincoln County Emergency Planning Committee first discussed the incident and response at their September meeting where they expressed concern over communications between the various entities involved, as well as the public. According to the minutes of that meeting, the Committee intended to invite the city, county, and state officials to their next meeting. Among groups they identified: City of Tomahawk, Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin DHS, Lincoln County Health Department, Lincoln County Land Services, and Lincoln County Corporation Council. That meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:30pm at the Lincoln County Service Center.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News A local bird rescue facility is well-stocked with food for the winter after a generous donation, but rather than money, it was fish. In what has now become an annual tradition they affectionately refer to as Salmon Day, the Raptor Education Group in Antigo shared via social media that they were the recipient of several tons of salmon. The fish came from the DNR Strawberry Creek Chinook fishery in Sturgeon Bay. The facility, established back in 1969, is the primary source of Chinook salmon eggs stocked in Lake Michigan. Salmon naturally die after spawning. Rather than allowing those fish to go to waste, the fishery donates them. While smaller fish are suitable for food pantries, larger fish are used for other purposes such as donations to animal rescues like REGI. And the local volunteers got the call this week to travel over to Door County to load up a trailer filled with salmon, which were then put out away for storage for use in the coming months. REGI says they will utilize the fish to help keep the birds fed through the winter.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News Langlade County is seeking resident input on how to address opioids including spending settlement funding. The Langlade County Opioid Task Force announced a community survey aimed at identifying local needs, uncovering service gaps and prioritizing solutions In recent years, counties and municipalities have been awarded opioid settlement dollars through group lawsuits. The Force said in announcing the survey, "These funds present a critical opportunity to invest in prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction strategies that reflect the needs of Langlade County." In order to include different perspectives, the survey is designed to gather input from community members, service providers, individuals with lived experience, and anyone impacted by substance use. The Langlade County survey is available on the Health Department website through November 3. Lincoln County went through a similar process earlier this year.

Published on 10/15/2025 under News Over the years, dozens of Northwoods schools have improved their tech ed programs through Fab Lab Grants. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is offering another cycle for applications. Fab Labs or Fabrication Laboratories, are high-tech workshops that provide students with modern manufacturing skills on equipment like 3-D printers, laser engravers, and computer controlled routers. Of course, many of these pieces carry a hefty price tag, but there are a number of programs that offer financial support. That includes the WEDC which is offering up to $25,000 in 50% match grants. There is also an option for districts to form a consortium. Deputy Secretary Sam Rikkers says, "Fab labs provide students a powerful opportunity not just to build in-demand skills, but also to explore innovation, creativity and hands-on problem-solving." Rikkers added, "These labs serve as a launchpad for the talent that will drive Wisconsin's economy forward." Since the program's inception, WEDC has awarded over $5 million in grants to 133 districts including several right here in Northern Wisconsin. The application period is now open, and the grants will be announced in the spring. They expect to selected 10 recipients that will share in $250,000.

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