WJJQ Radio

Local & Area News

Hiawatha Trail Opens for Snowmobiles; Remainder of Lincoln County Remains Closed

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Winter weather over the weekend was a welcome sight for snowmobilers across the Northwoods. Not only did it refresh the snow conditions on area trails, but also allowed some additional segments to open. The Lincoln County Forestry, Land and Parks Department announced the opening the Hiawatha Trail effective as of Monday afternoon. The Hiawatha allows a corridor for Lincoln County riders to travel north and access the trails in Oneida County, which were previously opened. Local clubs are also continuing their efforts to inspect and prepare the remainder of the trail system. That includes removing debris and hazards from the weekend snow. As of Tuesday morning, all other trails in Lincoln County do remain closed. Riders should stay off of trails until they are officially opened. For trails to our north, Oneida County and Vilas County are reporting much improved trails thanks to the additional snow. Riders are encouraged to use a little extra caution as the heavy snow may leave sagging branches. Stay tuned to WJJQ in the coming days for any additional trail openings. Again, as of Monday afternoon, the Hiawatha Trail in Lincoln County is now open.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Snowmobile clubs in Vilas County are hoping to make it a little safer for riders crossing lakes at night. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance recently announced plans to place flashing beacon lights on the shorelines of some lake access points. The beacons, along with the traditional lake markers, will let riders know where it is safest to cross lakes and where the shorelines and trail exits are. The beacons were purchased with safety funds. The goal is to improve visibility and awareness, particularly when riding at night. The lights will have a two nautical mile visibility range. They will flash in a sequence of red, white, and green. In addition to the new beacon lights, the Alliance also invested in night, speed limit signs, reminding riders of that 55 mile per hour speed limit during darkness. The law was put in place to keep snowmobiles from outrunning their headlights. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance is made up of the eleven member clubs located in Vilas County.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News If you're waking up a little sore this morning after clearing snow, you're not alone. But some simple changes can make snow removal an easier task when the next winter storm arrives. According to the National Institutes of Health, snow shoveling results in about 11,500 injuries per year on average. Aspirus occupational therapist Nathaniel Kropidlowski says improper body mechanics, lack of preparation, and poor equipment are leading causes of these aches, strains, and accidents. Kropidlowski explained the importance of warming up before heading out to shovel with some quick shoulder, hip and back stretches. While shoveling he recommends focusing on using the entire body to lift the snow, rather than bending at the back. He says modern ergonomic shovels can improve form and protect your body from the added strain. It's also a good idea to pace yourself and take some breaks. And if you begin to notice pain or discomfort while shoveling, or if it persists in the days after, talk to you provider.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News Winter storms over the weekend left thousands without power...36 hours later restoration work is winding down. Wisconsin Public Service provided an update Monday. The heavy, wet snow Sunday afternoon and evening knocked out power to more than 20,000 customers across northern and northeastern Wisconsin. As of daybreak Tuesday, they were addressing a small number of isolated outages in the Northwoods, fewer than two dozen between Vilas and Oneida Counties. They also have some work to do in the Marinette area with a few hundred outages. Rhinelander had 7 inches, Boulder Junction 14. And over in Iron County, Hurley had 18 inches; Gile 21. We also had some strong winds at times, with a 40 mile per hour gust recorded at the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News A child was located safe early Monday morning following an overnight search in Taylor County. Resonders were initially dispatched to help locate the youth who walked away from a home in the Town of Lublin Sunday at just before midnight. The crews dealt with winter weather conditions during the search, and multiple agencies participated including Wings of Hope which provides thermal imaging drone service. Officials say the child was found at around 2am Monday in a wooded area in the town of Roosevelt. The youth was checked by responders and released to the family without further medical treatment. Officials did not provide any additional information, including the age of the juvenile.

Published on 12/30/2025 under News The DNR is looking to recruit new team members in the new year. The agency announced plans to host six career fairs around the state in January and February, including one here in the Northwoods. They noted in the announcement there are a wide variety of careers beyond the obvious in natural resources and environmental sciences. This includes engineering, law enforcement, business, customer service, information technology and administrative support. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with current DNR staff and ask questions. Among the opportunities will be a Career Fair in Woodruff on Wednesday, Jan. 21. We'll offer up a reminder as that date approaches. The DNR has additional information on their website. Spooner: Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Woodruff: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 3 – 7 p.m. Oshkosh: Friday, Jan. 23, 4 – 7 p.m. Milladore: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 5 – 8 p.m. Milwaukee: Saturday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fitchburg: Sunday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News Our largest winter storm system of the season left thousands without power and led to a difficult Monday morning commute. Many areas of the Northwoods actually experienced some thunderstorms Saturday evening. By Sunday afternoon, that rain had transitioned to snow, which continued throughout the evening and into Monday morning. Here at the WJJQ studios, we recorded 8 inches of a wet, heavy snow with blowing and drifting as well. Elsewhere in Lincoln and Oneida Counties, we received reports of 5 to 10 inches. Up in Vilas and Iron Counties as much as a foot of snow. This led to widespread power outages across the region, with WPS outages peaking with more than 10,000 customers Sunday evening. By day break, there were approximately 6,500 outages. WPS says crew will continue their restoration efforts throughout the day. The snow also led to some difficult travel during the Monday morning commute with snow drifts and some slick roads beneath, and reports of low-hanging or downed branches. People are encouraged to hold off on travel until the plows have a chance to get roads cleared. If you must travel give yourself plenty of time.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News With widespread power outages, many people turn to generators. The Oneida County Health Department passed along a few tips to safely use generators during the winter months. They note that portable generators are a common source of carbon monoxide exposure. Generators should never be run indoors. It is recommended they be kept at least 20 feet from the dwelling when in use. These same rules apply when running a generator at hunting cabins and ice fishing shanties as well. Speaking of carbon monoxide, throughout the winter months, make sure to keep vents free of snow and ice to ensure exhaust doesn't back up. It's also important to have a working carbon monoxide detector. The Health Department also mentioned fire safety when it comes to candles, which many people turn to for lighting when the power is out. It's important to place candles in a safe location and make sure they are properly extinguished when not in use. It's also a good idea to check on friends, neighbors, and family.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News Lincoln County is undertaking an effort to review stream crossings. This spring, the Land Services Department initiated a project to assess all culvert stream crossings on public roadways within the county. The goal is to evaluate all culverts for condition and environmental impact, along with proper sizing and placement to determine whether maintenance or replacement is needed. With nearly 600 crossings in Lincoln County, they divided the project into three phases. They recently wrapped up phase one, more than 200 crossings in the Townships of Birch, Harrison, King, Merrill, Pine River, Russell, Schley, and Skanawan. They found significant stream crossing improvements could be made for a variety of reasons including potential and potential barriers for fish and aquatic organisms; sizing or depth of the culvert; and deterioration of the culvert or erosion of the ground surrounding the culvert. Representatives from local municipalities were invited to participate in a workshop to discuss the results including potential avenues for financial aid. The County actually utilized a DNR Surface Water grant to fund the study. A final report detailing the findings from Phase 1 is now available on the Lincoln County website.

Published on 12/29/2025 under News A project aimed at creating additional housing in the Northwoods will receive state funding. This past week, Governor Evers announced five new housing developments would share in $6.3 million in funding through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority or WHEDA. The funding is provided by the Vacancy-to-Vitality, Infrastructure Access, and Restore Main Street loan programs. Among the recipients, in Oneida County, Hampton Workforce Housing IAL was awarded $822,683 to create eight rural workforce housing units in Woodruff. WHEDA Executive Director and CEO Elmer Moore Jr. said, "We know that affordable housing is challenging to fund and build. These loans matter and get much-needed projects to the finish line to become homes for our teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and more." Oneida County Economic Development Corporation shared the announcement, adding, "We are so excited for this development group, and for being a part of this project."

Published on 12/29/2025 under News A quick update for listeners of our sports talk radio channel on our sister stations. As of Monday, Infinity Sports Network has re-branded to Westwood One Sports Network. The change also comes with an updated line-up with some returning shows, along with some new voices. We will continue to carry Westwood One Sports Network; along with Bill Michaels for Wisconsin-focused discussions; and occasionally some local sports, as well. Westwood One Sports Network continues to be found on our sister stations 97.7FM and 810AM.

Published on 12/26/2025 under News People have been getting into the spirit with a holiday light display in Rhinelander while also giving back to a number of community organizations. The Lights of the Northwoods has been illuminating Hodag Park throughout the month of December, and there's still one more week to check it out. Now in it's ninth year, the event continues to grow featuring hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights within the displays. In addition to the festive lights, organizers have continued to give back to a variety of community organizations through donations of money, supplies, and non-perishable food items. Last December they collected more than 4,500 pounds of food, and $11,000 in monetary donations. The group says, "This impact goes far beyond the lights themselves. It reflects the heart of our community and the difference we make when we come together." And for our Tomahawk listeners considering a trip over, the next week will benefit the Tomahawk Food Pantry. They'll even have some pantry volunteers on-site to help with the collection, and they encourage people to come out, say hello, and show some support. Lights of the Northwoods runs through the end of the year with both drive through and walking options. It culminates with a New Year's Day fireworks celebration that will be held on the evening of January 1.

Published on 12/26/2025 under News A local multi-county health organization was recently recognized for their exceptional work in improving the lives of youth and their families. North Central Health Care was recently selected as the 2025 Children's System of Care Champion by the DHS Children Come First Advisory Committee. North Central Health Care is a tri-county partnership of Marathon, Lincoln, and Langlade Counties. At their December meeting, the Lincoln County Board recognized NCHC for this achievement following a brief presentation. North Central was selected from 19 nominees around the state. The honor was for their comprehensive continuum of care, a system that spans crisis services, community treatment, outpatient programs, and youth behavioral health care. Jason Hake, Acting Executive Director of North Central Health Care said, "This recognition reflects the tremendous impact our organization has made in supporting the health and well-being of children, young adults, and families across our communities." He also credited the staff, as well as partners including the social services departments in each of the participating counties, Adding "Every employee and partner plays a role in this success."

Published on 12/26/2025 under News The Packers have another Saturday game on the schedule. And this game will be broadcast exclusively on the streaming platform Peacock. In recent years, the NFL has been expanding their broadcast partners. That's made it a little more difficult to follow the Green and Gold. In fact this season, Packer games have already aired on five different channels. Saturday's game marks number six. While affiliates in the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets will get the broadcast on traditional TV, other viewers around the state will require that streaming subscription. For those who don't have Peacock, we will be airing the radio broadcast of the game here on WJJQ. You'll have to break out a traditional radio and tune in to 92.5FM. Due to broadcasting restrictions, the game will be blacked out on radio streaming options including our app on smart devices and the WJJQ website.

Published on 12/26/2025 under News Now that the holiday is behind, it's time to beginning planning to dispose of Christmas trees. For those who chose a natural tree for their holiday centerpiece, each additional day brings additional risk of fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are an average of 150 fires involving Christmas trees each year. Once decorations have been removed the tree, the tree should be removed from the home. But officials advise against simply moving it to the garage or leaning up against the outside of the home where it remains a home fire risk. Some communities do offer Christmas tree collection and disposal, whether a pick-up or drop off. Others may choose to re-purpose their discarded Christmas tree. The DNR's Forestry blog offered a few alternatives including creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard, using the tree as compost or mulch, and breaking it down for firewood. Cross cut sections of the trunk can even turn into craft projects such as ornaments or coasters.

+ Read More