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F-35 Flyover Planned for Tomahawk's Fourth of July Parade

Published on 07/02/2026 under News While the planned military jet flyover at Saturday's Tomahawk Powwow Days parade will be over in the blink of an eye, the spectacle itself took months of effort to secure. The Wisconsin Air National Guard's F-35 Lightning II flyover is the result of tireless work led by Tomahawk Main Street volunteer Mary Smith. She stopped by the WJJQ studios this week to share some of the behind-the-scenes details. It all started when Smith witnessed a flyover at the Rhinelander parade last year and asked herself, "Why can't Tomahawk?" Then she got to work. Her first challenge was finding the right contacts, which involved reaching out to organizers in Rhinelander and navigating several dead ends. Once connected, she faced multiple rounds of rigorous paperwork detailing everything from the exact parade route to Tomahawk's elevation before the military would even consider the request. Smith described, "many, many months of work" and "a lot of hoops to jump through." Her persistence finally paid off when she received a call from Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Griswold of the Wisconsin Air National Guard, confirming that Tomahawk had been approved. Smith even worked closely with military officials to ensure the flight path would directly follow Wisconsin Avenue, Tomahawk's Main Street, where the largest crowds for the parade attend. The flyover will have an even deeper meaning for the Tomahawk community. Smith, a retired teacher herself, shared that the flyover will serve as a tribute to long-time Tomahawk High School guidance counselor and veteran Dan Reiter, who passed away unexpectedly last year. Tomahawk Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz praised Smith for her fierce determination. "Mary goes above and beyond in everything she does," Turkiewicz said. "Her heart is so full for this community." For Smith, seeing the fighter jet soar over downtown Tomahawk will be about much more than just an exciting spectacle. "I just feel so proud that we're getting this," she said. "It's something our community will remember for a long time." The flyover is scheduled toward the start of the Powwow Days parade, which gets underway at 1:00 PM this Saturday. The flight path will take the jet over several other Northwoods community celebrations, including Rhinelander and Minocqua.

Published on 07/02/2026 under News If you have a favorite family recipe that always gets rave reviews at the dinner table, Kinship of Tomahawk wants to feature it in a brand-new project for a great cause. The local youth mentoring organization is collecting submissions for a community cookbook. Once published, the cookbook will be sold as a fundraiser, with all proceeds directly benefiting Kinship of Tomahawk and the area children served by its vital programs. Michelle Arnott, who is helping spearhead the project, and shared some of details. Whether it's a go-to family dinner, a favorite snack, a decadent dessert, or a signature drink, they want to see it. Kinship is inviting local youth, families, mentors, and the broader Northwoods community to share the dishes that bring their own families together. The upcoming cookbook is designed to celebrate local culinary traditions while raising critical funds for Kinship's ongoing mission. For years, the organization has provided a lifeline of support for area youth through one-to-one mentorship, engaging after-school programming, and positive group outings that help local kids thrive. Organizers have set a recipe submission deadline of Wednesday, July 15th. Recipes can be emailed to michelleann.arnott@gmail.com.

Published on 07/02/2026 under News Beyond the Fourth of July festivities, the Town of Boulder Junction and area disc golf enthusiasts have another major reason to celebrate this holiday weekend. While the new Tall Pines Disc Golf Course has been quietly open to the public this spring, the community is hosting an official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony this Sunday morning. The new course was a true community effort—designed by local disc golf players, constructed by dedicated volunteers, and funded entirely through local donations. Among those volunteers is Pete Burditt, who noted that from the very beginning, the project was focused on creating a recreational space that both year-round residents and seasonal visitors could enjoy for years to come. True to its name, Tall Pines beautifully showcases the scenic Northwoods, with fairways carved through mature forested areas. The course layout was designed to be welcoming for players of all ages and skill levels, from first-timers trying the sport to experienced enthusiasts. Like most disc golf courses, Tall Pines is free to play and open to the public daily, outside of occasional leagues and tournament events. The course is part of a much larger, ongoing effort in Boulder Junction to not only enhance quality of life for locals, but also to further establish the community as a premier outdoor recreation destination. Other recent park upgrades have included a new all-inclusive playground, basketball court renovations, and the award-winning "Glide" ice-skating loop during the winter months. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees are encouraged to walk the course, meet the volunteers who helped make the project possible, and enjoy a round of disc golf. If you would like to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting, it is scheduled for this Sunday at 10:30 AM at the course.

Published on 07/02/2026 under News With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, local boat landings are getting busy. To prevent long lines and short tempers, officials are offering a few practical tips to help the launch process go smoothly and quickly for everyone. First and foremost: use the staging area. Before you begin backing your trailer down the ramp, get your boat completely ready to go while parked in the lot. This is the time to remove straps and covers, put the plug in, and load up all your gear, coolers, and life jackets. Preparing in the lot keeps the ramp clear for active launching and loading. It's also a good time to double-check your mirrors. If you have a passenger, having a second person act as a spotter can be a massive help. Spotters should remember to offer instructions calmly and clearly, using distinct hand gestures that the driver can easily see in the mirrors. For the drivers, focus on making small corrections on the steering wheel and take your time. While you might feel the pressure to move quickly, rushing can lead to mistakes that ultimately make the process take longer. Most importantly, remember that everyone's trailer skills and experience levels are different. Whether you are a brand-new boater or a seasoned pro, everyone at the landing has the exact same goal: to get out and enjoy the water. A little patience, kindness, and a few encouraging words can go a long way in putting everyone at ease during a hectic holiday weekend.

Published on 07/02/2026 under News Fireworks and the Fourth go hand and hand, but officials are reminding people of the dangers. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, on average more than 100 fireworks-related injuries result in ER visits each year.A quarter of those visits were children under 18. In a similar message, Aspirus Wausau hospital shared their recent annual average at the emergency department is an average of seven firework injuries per year. And it's not just the fireworks that go boom...some of the most common fireworks injuries treated are burns, particularly sparklers. Not only do they burn at an extremely high temperature; the stick remains a hot and a burn risk even after the sparkler has burned out. Ready Wisconsin teamed with local emergency management to offer up their annual fireworks safety tips. • First and foremost, obey local laws and permitting requirements • Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks • Find a smooth, flat surface; have readily available water; and make sure onlookers are a safe distance • Light fireworks one at a time; don't attempt to reignite a dud; and properly discard cooled fireworks after a soak in some water The safest advice, however, is to simply leave the fireworks to the professionals and attend a community show.

Published on 07/02/2026 under News May was a good month for jobs in the Northwoods and across the state. New preliminary data from the Department of Workforce Development shows unemployment rates dropped in all 72 Wisconsin counties in May. Rates were also down in 67 counties year-over-year. Looking at the Northwoods, counties along the Highway 51 corridor saw major improvements. Here in Lincoln County, unemployment fell from 3.7 percent in April down to 2.9 percent in May. Oneida County's rate dropped a full percentage point, going from 3.8 to 2.8 percent. And Vilas County saw one of the biggest improvements in the entire state. The unemployment rate there plummeted two-and-a-half points—falling from 5.7 percent in April to 3.2 percent in May. All three counties were improved from May of last year as well.

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Sports Headlines

Gibeault Places 3rd in 400 meter dash

Published on 06/06/2026 under Sports In the WIAA Division 2 State Track & Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this weekend. Elise Gibeault and Ellie Micke competed in three separate events. Gibeault's top finish came in the 400 meter dash, placing third with a time of 56.7 seconds. Gibeault would finish 2.26 seconds behind state champion Harper Sheehan of Hayward. In her final event, the Hatchet Junior would set a brand new school record in the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.38 seconds, a full second behind Sheehan. As for Micke, her season would end in the High Jump Preliminaries. Micke would finish tied for 12th with Martin Luther's Dynasty Fancher. This concludes the Tomahawk Track & Field Season.

Published on 06/03/2026 under Sports The Hatchet golfing season would end in the WIAA Division 2 Sectional Meet at Spooner Wednesday, placing ninth at the Spooner Golf Club. Tomahawk would finish with a 345, 13 strokes behind St. Croix Central. The top Hatchet golfer in the Sectional meet was Jake Albert, who placed 28th overall with an 82. Rounding out the top three were Rocco Carew with an 83 and Oliver Childers with an 87. Jaxon Kaiser finish with a 93 and Brayden Lamer finished with 100. This concludes the Tomahawk golfing season.

Published on 05/29/2026 under Sports Junior Athlete Elise Gibeault and Sophomore Athlete Ellie Micke would become the only Hatchets to qualify for the WIAA Division 2 State Track & Field Meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse next weekend. Gibeault would finish second in both the 200 and 400 meter dashes. Gibeault would re-set personal bests and school records in both events. The Junior finished with a run of 25.74 seconds in the 200 meter dash and a run of 56.39 seconds in the 400 meter dash. Gibeault would place behind only Hayward's Harper Sheehan in both events. As for Micke, she was the last qualifier in the field in the High Jump. Micke tied for the 4th spot in the sectional and would advance by way of tiebreaker. Micke's leap in the High Jump was 5'3". Gibeault and Micke will compete in the WIAA Division 2 State Meet in La Crosse Friday. Field Events begin at 3:00 PM. Running events begin at 3:30 PM.

Published on 05/28/2026 under Sports Despite coming back from down four runs in the fifth inning, Tomahawk's baseball squad would fall in extra innings in the WIAA Division 3 Regional Quarterfinal at Tyler Kahle Memorial Field to the Crandon Cardinals, 8-5. The Hatchets trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before tying the game up behind two-run hits from Nick Arndt and Max Larson. After the Hatchets stranded the winning run on third in the seventh, Crandon rolled off three runs off Hatchet pitcher Logan Norman to take the lead. Tomahawk would bring the tying run to the plate, but Arndt flew out to center to end the game and the season. Arndt finished two for five with a triple and two RBIs. Max Larson finished one for five with a double and two RBIs. Despite pitching five scoreless innings and retiring ten straight, Norman absorbed the loss on the mound. The Hatchets finish the 2026 season with a 9-11 record and a 7-7 Great Northern Conference record. Tomahawk graduates Norman, Arndt, Jonah Dickens, Wally Horabik, Colton Seslar, and Brody Hilgendorf.

Published on 05/27/2026 under Sports The Marawood Conference Champion Prentice Golf Team won the WIAA Regional Championship on Tuesday at the Inshalla Country Club. The Bucs set a school scoring record with a 297. Ladysmith finished 30 strokes behind Prentice. Eliah Harding led the way with an even par 70, Matti Heikkinen shot a 74, Hagan Isaacson a 76, Evan Lord a 78 and Jackson Isaacson shot a 79. Prentice will compete in the WIAA Sectional Meet on Tuesday at Big Fish Golf Club in Hayward. The first tee times are at 9:00 am.

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