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Two More Candidates Enter 7th District Congressional Race Published on 10/30/2025 under News

While the primary is still ten months away, the field for the 7th congressional seat continues to grow.

Two more candidates have entered the race this week. With current US Rep. Tom Tiffany's decision to run for Governor next year, it'll be an open race to represent Northern Wisconsin in Washington.

The two newest candidates are seeking the Republican nomination. They include Paul Wassgren, a conservative businessman and attorney from Ashland. Meanwhile Michael Alfonso has some family ties to this seat. He is the son-in-law of former congressman and current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Both candidates describe themselves as pro-Trump Republicans.

There are now three Republicans joining Jessi Ebbens who previously announced. Two others considered potential candidates from the Northwoods are sitting out this race. State Senator Mary Felzkowski and Wisconsin Assemblyman Calvin Callahan both announced they wouldn't seek higher office.

On the Democratic side, Chris Armstrong and Fred Clark, have declared.

The primary will be held next August.

In Other News

DoT Brings Back Buckle Up, Phone Down Campaign

Published on 10/30/2025 under News The Wisconsin Department of Transportation brought back a campaign encouraging seat belt use and an end to distracted driving. That campaign is known as "Buckle Up, Phone Down." According to DoT data, distracted driving factored into more than 9,000 crashes around the state. One of the leading causes of distracted driving is cell phone use. DoT Secretary Kristina Boardman says, We know folks are busy and technology touches many aspects of our lives but behind the wheel is not the place to reply to a text or read an email." Boardman added,"The number of distracted driving crashes and crashes with unbelted drivers in our state is unacceptable. The DoT compares texting for five seconds at 55 miles per hour to driving the length of a football field blindfolded. Cell phone use behind the wheel actually involves three types of distracted driving: -Taking eyes off the road -Taking your hands off the wheel -Taking your mind off driving. The Buckle Up, Phones Down initiative is borrowed from a number of other states, the campaign first launched in Missouri in 2017.

Published on 10/30/2025 under News The Tomahawk School District will be hosting a seasonal and educational event this evening. The Community Education Program is hosting the second annual Halloween Luminary Trail in the school forest. They're teaming up with UW-Stevens Point's Treehaven. Families are encouraged to stop down and walk through a portion of the school forest trails, which will be lighted. To get into the spirit they said costumes are encouraged, but it isn't a haunted trail. They'll feature environmental education stations with kids activities like a nature touch table and hands-on spooky specimen identification. A non-perishable food item will serve as admission, the food donations will go to stock the Kinship pantry. Otherwise it's $2 per person or $5 for a family. There was a date change from the original announcement. To accommodate the Hatchet football game playoffs, the Luminary Trail was moved to Thursday evening. It's from 5-9pm, participants can park in the High School Parking Lot.

Published on 10/30/2025 under News Wednesday was World Stroke Day, and Aspirus encourages people to learn the symptoms. That's where the BE FAST checklist comes in. The letters stand for Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm Speech and Time. Symptoms will vary, but common signs include sudden changes in balance and movement; impaired vision; numbness or weakness in the face and other extremities like arms; and difficulty in communication. If someone is experiencing these symptoms it's Time to call 911. Fast treatment is essential, as the amount of time the brain is deprived of oxygen determines the extent of the damage. Aspirus says, "Stroke care begins the moment a patient arrives at the Emergency Department. Our teams are trained to act fast, perform imaging, and start treatment immediately." High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking are the four major risk factors for stroke, though a stroke can impact anyone. According to the CDC, someone experiences a stroke in the United States every 40 seconds.

Published on 10/30/2025 under News It was an average bear harvest in 2025, with particularly strong numbers here in the Northwoods. The DNR announced the preliminary results of the season which ended earlier month. Hunters harvested just over of 3,700 bear this year, down from last year's highly productive season. This year's total was on par with the 5-year average, but slightly below what the agency anticipated. Natural food sources and weather may have played a role in season success. DNR large carnivore specialist Randy Johnson says an abundant acorn crop might have reduced the effectiveness of baiting. There were also stretches of both above and below average temperatures which can impact bear activity. There were approximately 13,000 tags issued for the season, and statewide, hunters saw a 28% success rate. Here in the Northwoods, much better numbers were reported. Highways 51 and 64 serve as boundary lines creating zones A and B, which had 69% and 52% success rate respectively. In the announcement, the DNR also reminds hunters of the Dec. 10 application deadline for next season. ZoneHarvest TargetPreliminary HarvestLicenses Issued Hunter SuccessA1,0751,1611,68069%B9008411,61052%C7506613,75018%D1,1009063,75025%E2001282,0006%F50275005%Statewide4,0753,72413,11028%

Published on 10/30/2025 under News A cult classic movie filmed here in the Northwoods is returning to a local theater this evening for a special screening. Rouman Cinema in Rhinelander will be hosting an evening centered around the 50th Anniversary of the Giant Spider Invasion by Bill Rebane. The 50th anniversary version has been digitally enhanced to 4K through the use of CGI. That will be followed by a showing of "The Wisconsin Movie Scrapbook", reflecting on the history of Rebane and his Shooting Ranch Film Studio. Back in the 1970's and 80's Rebane filmed dozens of movies in and around the Irma studio including Merrill, Tomahawk and Rhinelander. Also coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Giant Spider Invasion, Rebane announced earlier this year that he would be filming some additional scenes for the film.

Published on 10/29/2025 under News The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office continues to search for a missing Fox Valley man whose vehicle was found in the area earlier this year. They're encouraging those participating in any fall recreation to report any clues that may help locate Mitchell Reif. Back in June, deputies investigated an abandoned vehicle in the Town of Somo belonging to Reif. He had been listed as missing in Winnebago County several days prior. During the initial investigation, a property owner near the abandoned car found a trail camera image of a man matching the Reif's description. In an update provided Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office said they have been actively continuing their search, including the use of trained and experienced K9 teams over the last several weeks. During these efforts, they said they were not able to uncover any new or relevant information. They also asked that anyone out hiking, hunting or riding off-road recreational vehicles this fall be on the lookout for and report any information that may lead to the whereabouts of Reif.

Published on 10/29/2025 under News Some property owners in Lincoln County found an unexpected and potentially dangerous item while cleaning a home. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a property in the Town of Pine River Saturday for an emergency situation. The reporting party said they were getting ready for an estate sale when they came across what they believed to be a WWII Japanese hand grenade. The responding deputy shared those concerns and requested the Marathon County bomb squad. The experts determined it was a grenade with a live fuse, but without the powder. They safely removed and disposed of the object. The Sheriff's Office said the property owners did the right thing in this scenario. They said in the event you find suspected explosive items on your property, you should not handle the items. Instead call law enforcement as soon as possible."_____ A couple other quick notes highlighted in this week's Lincoln County Sheriff Report:Three people were arrested for 1st offense OWI arrests including: 54 year old Merrill woman, a 65 year old Merrill woman and a 45 year old Irma man.The number of vehicle vs. deer collisions remains elevated with another 14 being reported this past week on Lincoln County roadways.

Published on 10/29/2025 under News Communities continue to address the man-made forever chemicals known as PFAS, including Tomahawk which has seen elevated levels. Back in 2023, routine testing of the city water in Tomahawk came back just over the PFAS threshold which required advisories be sent to residents. City officials have been researching mitigation steps, and earlier this year hired engineering firm MSA to conduct a feasibility study. Last month, the Board of Public Works received a summary of the report. It included a half dozen options which could be grouped into two categories, building new wells or building a treatment facility. At their meeting last night, the board began to focus on potentially constructing a treatment plant. This was determined to be the most cost efficient option that would meet the city's typical water demands. Specifically it would be a 1,000 gallon per minute Granular Activated Carbon, or GAC facility. The project carries a hefty price tag, more than $6.2 million. There are funding sources available that could cover up to half the construction costs through the state's Safe Drinking Water Loan program. With more stringent testing and PFAs standards likely on the way, the Board members did note that pursuing the funding early would likely increase the odds of receiving the most dollars. To apply by next June's deadline, there is some design work and pilot testing required. The Board recommended beginning that process. Looking further down the timeline, the grants recipients would be announced next fall, at which point the city could put out bids for the project by 2027. Other Notes from MeetingSafety concerns led to minor changes for a planned winter decoration in Tomahawk. In September, organizers of Hometown Christmas proposed placing a ten foot tall artificial snowman in a boulevard along South Tomahawk Avenue. That segment is also part of State Highway 86 which requires notification to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. While the decision was ultimately up to the city, the DoT did share some concerns with the placement and size of the snowman as originally proposed. This included sight obstruction, distance to the curb, and impacts of snow plowing. Before discussion, the request was amended to feature several smaller snowmen rather than the 10 foot display. The Board approved the amended request on a one year trial basis. The Board agreed to an updated agreement with Verizon which leases space on the city water tower for some of their antennas and equipment. The provider is changing out some of the equipment which requires notification.The Board rejected a request from residents on Kings Road to contract the city to clear the sidewalks of snow during the winter.The Board approved a contract with Cedar Corporation to offer operational assistance at the Waste Water plant while also preparing a Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance or CMOM program.The Finance Committee renewed the property assessment contract for another two years. The firm has worked with the city for more than a decade.

Published on 10/29/2025 under News The Wisconsin State Building Commission released $15 million in funding to begin work on large scale changes to Wisconsin's correctional system including the state's lone youth facility located here in Lincoln County. The comprehensive plan includes what has been described as a domino series of changes. It would close the aging Green Bay Correctional Institution, re-purpose the Waupun Correctional Institution into a state-of-the-art "vocational village." Lincoln Hills would be converted into a 500-bed, medium-security adult prison, by relocating youth offenders to new, smaller regional facilities. While Republicans on the Commission disagreed with some of the process, they ultimately voted in favor of releasing these funds. It includes State Senator Mary Felzkowski. She released a statement saying, "I am cautiously optimistic following today's meeting. Reform at the Department of Corrections must come from bipartisan, ongoing conversations. Governor Evers publicly agreeing to that is a step in the right direction. I hope the Governor keeps his word and I look forward to having productive conversations to move Wisconsin's corrections system in the right direction."

Published on 10/29/2025 under News The Rhinelander Food Pantry is better stocked thanks to a group of students, and the generosity of the community. Earlier this month, the student members of the Rhinelander High School FBLA/DECA brought back their annual Trick-or-Can food drive. Rather that the traditional Food Drive where students wait for the community to bring in food, Trick or Can brings the food drive to the people. It also helps raise awareness for food insecurity in the community. Earlier this month the students distributed collections bags to select neighborhoods, and returned this weekend. They weren't after candy, but non-perishable food items. In the end the students were able to deliver around 750 items to the Rhinelander Food Pantry. That's about 200 more than last year. Trick-or-Can is actually a statewide campaign, and the Rhinelander students are typically among the upper half of collection each year. While planning for next year won't begin until next school year, they do hope to include more people and neighborhoods involved next October.

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