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Hatchet Hub Provides Students with Essential Resources Like Hygiene Products, Clothing, and Food

Published on 10/16/2026 under News A new initiative at the Tomahawk School District is breaking down barriers for local students and helping them stay focused on learning. With the start of the new school year, the district launched the Hatchet Hub, an essential resource pantry located across all three campus school buildings. The program was introduced by district social worker Mickala Ferge, whose position was brought back to the district through funding shared with a grant from the Lincoln County Opioid Task Force. Ferge joined WJJQ's Thursday Conversation to discuss the project, explaining that the Hub provides crucial support for students in need. It is stocked with basic essentials, including food, hygiene products, clothing, and occasionally gift certificates for services like haircuts. To eliminate any potential stigma, items are distributed confidentially through school staff or directly out of Ferge's office. With winter fast approaching, the Hub is currently seeking community donations of winter gear alongside regularly needed items like non-perishable snacks and hygiene basics. That conversation is available in the WJJQ Audio Center. To learn more or support Tomahawk students through the Hatchet Hub, contact the Tomahawk School District.

Published on 10/16/2026 under News There's no major snow in the forecast yet, but local snowmobile clubs are already gearing up for the upcoming season. The Northwoods is home to some of the best trails in the state, but keeping them in top shape requires year-round effort. This Saturday, October 17th, the Northwoods Riders and Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Clubs will host their annual trail brushing and maintenance day. Volunteers will head out to clear brush, downed trees, and other debris that accumulated since the trails closed last winter. With hundreds of miles of trails north of Tomahawk to maintain, organizers are calling on community members for a helping hand. The event is open to everyone—not just club members. Organizers highlight it as a great opportunity for riders to get involved, meet local club members, and see firsthand the dedication required to maintain the trail network. Volunteers will gather at the Northwoods Riders Garage on County Highway L in Nokomis at 9:00 AM on Saturday to receive trail assignments. Participants are encouraged to bring helpful tools such as saws, loppers, work gloves, safety glasses, and an ATV or UTV if available. After the trail work is finished, volunteers will head back to the garage for a "thank you" gathering featuring food, refreshments, and music.

Published on 10/16/2026 under News In coordination with National Move Over Day on Saturday, law enforcement officers across Wisconsin are sharing an important safety reminder to leave a lane of space when passing roadside workers and stopped vehicles. Throughout the week, Wisconsin State Patrol troopers are stepping up enforcement of the state's Move Over Law while handing out educational flyers to motorists stopped for violations. State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan emphasized the danger of roadside stops, saying, "Stopping alongside the road can be very dangerous... Our officers will be working to educate motorists about the law and remind them that moving over or slowing down can protect lives." Over the past five years, roadside incidents in Wisconsin have injured 128 people and claimed six lives. The original Move Over Law focused on emergency, utility, and maintenance vehicles with active warning lights, but it was later expanded to protect any disabled vehicle using hazard lights or flares, or with visible occupants nearby. Drivers on multi-lane roads are required to shift out of the lane closest to stopped vehicles—or slow down if changing lanes isn't safely possible. Violators face fines of up to $300, with far steeper penalties if a crash or injury occurs.

Published on 10/16/2026 under News Aspirus Health has announced it will sunset hospice care at the eight-bed Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, transitioning services directly into homes and assisted living facilities across the Northwoods. According to the announcement, the decision follows an evaluation of patient needs, staffing requirements, and long-term sustainability. Seasons of Life currently averages four patients daily while requiring round-the-clock staffing. Sustained low demand, high staffing needs, and rising costs made the dedicated facility model difficult to maintain, reflecting a national trend where hospice care overwhelmingly occurs in home or residential settings. Tom Kaster, VP of Home Health, Hospice and Home Medical Equipment for Aspirus Health, says, "Hospice care is not ending in the Northwoods. We are directing our resources toward a model that can reach more patients across a wider area while preserving compassionate support." Aspirus at Home–Home Care & Hospice expanded its Northwoods capabilities in July, including an improved on-call process and a broader service area. The team now supports patients in communities including Arbor Vitae, Eagle River, Three Lakes, Mercer, Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction and Crandon. The Aspirus at Home Hospice team will create personalized transition plans for current patients at Seasons of Life. A final service date will depend on the patient census, and Aspirus is supporting the 11 affected team members with role options across the health system.

Published on 10/16/2026 under News Student actors from across the Northwoods will take the stage in Tomahawk this weekend. Tomahawk High School is hosting the District Fall One-Act Play Competition on Saturday. The host Hatchets will kick off the performances at 9:00 AM with their production of "Lost in the Woods" by Stephen Murray. The play follows a group of tech-free wilderness campers who get lost and encounter mysterious forest creatures and an eccentric counselor before help arrives. Tomahawk is aiming to secure its 11th consecutive trip to the state festival next month. Following Tomahawk's opening act, productions from Crandon, Northland Pines, and Oconto Falls will take the stage at the top of each hour. All performances are free and open to the public.

Published on 10/16/2026 under News Excitement is building across the state as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources prepares to launch its ninth official elk hunting season this Saturday, October 17. The reintroduction of elk to Wisconsin began in 1995 and has been a tremendous success. The Northern Elk Herd—roaming across Price, Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer, and Rusk counties—has grown to an estimated 383 animals as of this summer. Meanwhile, the Central Herd in Jackson and Monroe counties stands at an estimated 225 elk. New this year, tags are unit-specific, allowing wildlife managers to focus harvest pressure in areas with higher human-elk conflicts while helping the rest of the herd continue to grow. Even before the challenge of the hunt itself, winning a license is a rare feat. Out of more than 34,000 applicants statewide, just 16 state licenses were drawn. In the Northern Zone, an eight-bull quota is split evenly between four state hunters and four tribal members. In the Central Zone, 12 state licenses were awarded, split between six bulls and six antlerless elk. The season runs through December 13. Hunters are reminded to always positively identify their target and know the distinct differences between deer and elk before taking a shot.-Photo provide by Wisconsin DNR

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Sports Headlines

Hatchet Volleyball Wraps Up Regular Season at GNC Tournament in Mosinee

Published on 10/11/2026 under Sports At the Great Northern Conference Volleyball Tournament, Tomahawk went 1-2 in their matches Saturday. The Hatchets were swept by Mosinee and Medford in their first two matches. However, Tomahawk would steal a match against Rhinelander, winning in four sets. The Hatchets will finish the 2026 regular season with a 6-28 record and a 1-9 overall Great Northern Conference record. Seeding meetings across the state of Wisconsin will take place Monday. Stay tuned to find out who Tomahawk will play in the first round of the WIAA Division 3 Volleyball Postseason on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ.

Published on 10/10/2026 under Sports Tomahawk's cross country squads finished in the top ten once again, this time at the 50th Annual Hatchet Invitational Saturday. Tomahawk's girls placed fourth overall, behind Prentice/Rib Lake, Rhinelander, and Meet Champion Lakeland. Senior Elise Gibeault would finish fifth with a time of 20:14. Placing second on the Hatchets and 20th overall was Abbie Rosenmeier with a time of 22:46. Tomahawk's boys would place eighth overall in the invite, ahead of Crandon and Antigo. The top finisher was Jordyn Carew, placing 24th with a time of 18:33. Dawson Jones placed 35th with a time of 19:25. The next meet for Tomahawk is the Great Northern Conference Meet, which the Hatchets will host next Saturday. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Premeet Show at 10:40 and opening events at 11:00. Alex Koch will have live updates on the WJJQ App, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ. Girls Team Results: Lakeland - 1st Rhinelander - 2nd Prentice/Rib Lake - 3rd Tomahawk - 4th Chequamegon - 5th Northland Pines - 6th Merrill - 7th Mosinee - 8th Medford - 9th Antigo - 10th Boys Team Results: Lakeland - 1st Rhinelander - 2nd Prentice/Rib Lake - 3rd Mosinee - 4th Medford - 5th Chequamegon - 6th Northland Pines - 7th Tomahawk - 8th Crandon - 9th Antigo - 10th

Published on 10/09/2026 under Sports On Senior Night, the Hatchet football squad fought valiantly but was edged out in the battle for Lincoln County Friday, losing to Merrill, 21-20. Tomahawk scored all of their points in the first half in three different ways. The scoring started with a fake field goal touchdown pass from Aidan Sigl to Hudson Evans. Evans would then run it in from five yards out to put the Hatchets up, 14-0. Tomahawk's final score would come on a fourth-down three-yard touchdown pass from Colin Black to Braxton Stromberg. However, the Hatchets would fail to find the end zone on three drives and allowed Merrill to score the only second-half touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter. Colin Black went seven-for-13 throwing for 129 yards and a score. The Hatchets were held to just 76 yards on the ground and drop to 3-5 on the season and 3-3 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk will wrap up their regular season at Mosinee next Friday. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Kickoff Cabin at 6:15 and kickoff at 7:00 on the WJJQ app, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ.11-Player Football: 11-Player Football: Lakeland 27, Antigo 6 Medford 35, Mosinee 0 Wausau East 25, Rhinelander 21 Northland Pines 17, Crandon 0 Abbotsford 26, Pittsville 6 8-Player Football: Wausaukee 32, Goodman-Pembine 27 Green Bay New Lutheran/Providence Academy 58, Chequamegon 12 Rib Lake 40, Phillips 34 Owen-Withee 36, Athens 6 Hurley 26, Three Lakes/Phelps 22

Published on 10/09/2026 under Sports Tomahawk Girls Swimmers Finish Regular Season Winless The Hatchet Girls Swimmers wrapped up the 2026 Regular season winless in GNC Duals after losing to Merrill at the Blue Jay Pool, 80-44. In the final GNC Dual, the Hatchets finished with one first-place finish. That top finish was in the 400 yard freestyle Relay to wrap up the night. The team of Kami Gabrich, Kortney Busterud, Aubrey Tollefson, and Kaylee Roberts finished with a time of 4:40.76. Tomahawk wraps up the season with a 0-11 Dual record. The Great Northern Conference Meet will be held in Lakeland October 23rd. Hatchet Volleyball Swept by Wittenberg-Birnamwood The Hatchet Volleyball squad's struggles transferred over to non-conference action as they would get swept by Wittenberg-Birnamwood on Senior Night at the Hatchet House, 25-20, 25-19, 25-10. The Hatchets dropped to 5-25 on the season and 0-7 in Great Northern Conference play. Tomahawk will compete in the Great Northern Conference Volleyball Tournament in Mosinee Saturday morning.

Published on 10/06/2026 under Sports Tomahawk Volleyball Ends Regular Season GNC Play Winless In the final Great Northern Conference match of the season, Tomahawk's volleyball squad came up short, getting swept by Northland Pines at the Hatchet House Tuesday, 25-19, 26-24, 25-13. The loss by Tomahawk has them finish winless in Great Northern Conference regular season play. Lexi Palmer would finish with 22 assists. Lauren Reibe tied a career-high with 16 kills. The loss drops Tomahawk to 5-25 on the season and 0-7 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back on the court for their final regular-season match of the season Thursday against Wittenberg-Birnamwood. First serve is at 7:00. Gibeault Places in Top 5, Hatchet Girls and Boys XC Place in Top 8 The Hatchet cross country squads would each finish in the top eight of the Northland Pines Invitational in Eagle River Tuesday afternoon. The Hatchet girls placed third overall in the meet, placing behind only Three Lakes/Phelps and Rhinelander. Three Hatchet girls placed in the top ten, led by a fourth-place finish from Elise Gibeault. Ellie Micke placed 13th and Abbie Rosenmeier would finish 19th. As for the Hatchet boys, they would place eighth overall. Three Hatchets placed in the top 40. The highest finisher was Dawson Jones, placing 28th. Luke Morrison and Ryan Montag would place 32nd and 33rd respectively. The final meet of the regular season for Tomahawk is their home meet, which will be at the old Hatchet Baseball Field Saturday. Live updates from the meet will be provided on the WJJQ app, online at wjjq.com, and on Northwoods 92.5 WJJQ. The Fehrman Orthodontics Premeet Show will begin at 9:40 and opening events begin at 10:00 with Alex Koch in the broadcast booth. Girls Team Results: Rhinelander - 1st Three Lakes/Phelps - 2nd Tomahawk - 3rd Merrill - 4th Northland Pines - 5th Antigo - 6th Medford - 7th Boys: Rhinelander - 1st Laona-Wabeno - 2nd Florence/Niagara - 3rd Medford - 4th Northland Pines - 5th Crandon - 6th Tomahawk - 8th Antigo - 9th Merrill - 10th

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