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Merrill Announces Plans for Ott Park Pickleball Courts Published on 09/21/2022 under News
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Thanks to a generous donation, a new set of courts will be coming to Merrill.

For those unfamiliar, pickleball is net sport. A hybrid similar to tennis, but played on a smaller-sized court with solid paddles and a plastic wiffle ball. While the game has been around for decades, it's popularity has exploded in recent years.

The City of Merrill recently announced plans to install six lighted pickleball courts in Ott's Park next year. The funding from the project will come from the Bierman Family Foundation.

City Administrator David Johnson says, "Merrill presently has no dedicated venue for pickleball. These courts will provide a new recreation amenity for the City of Merrill."

Once completed, the new pickleball courts will give residents an opportunity to compete in leagues and tournaments, and play in singles or doubles just for fun.

Johnson is retiring next month. He said knowing that the courts were on the Parks and Recreation wishlist, he wanted to make this his last project ahead of retirement.

The city plans to gather proposals over the winter and break ground next spring.

In Other News

Venison Feed Returns to Tomahawk, Kicking Off Deer Season

Published on 11/22/2024 under News Here in Tomahawk, you don't have to bag a buck to get a taste of venison. That's because the Tomahawk Chamber offers up free burgers to kick off the gun-deer season each year. Hunting, in general, is full of tradition. No better example is the Tomahawk Chamber Venison Feed, which has been around for more than half century. Each year, on the Friday before the opener of the gun deer season, locals gather with out-of-towners at the end of Main Street to share stories and camaraderie, all while enjoying a free venison burger courtesy of the Chamber. Many are hunters, but some just stop down for the food and the spectacle. If there is a dress code, it's orange-heavy. Others sport animal pelts and deer antler hats. While the Chamber takes the lead, other community groups have allowed the event to grow. The Tomahawk High School FBLA sells special edition Venison Feed T-shirts. The venison is donated to the Chamber, and volunteers grill up the burgers. Many add their own twist with burger seasonings, toppings, and condiments. Our WJJQ staff regularly work a grill. It's while supplies last and the burgers go quickly. For those that'd like to stop by, they'll be set up in front of the Post Office on Main Street starting at 11:30am.

Published on 11/22/2024 under News In less than 24 hours, hundreds of thousands hunters will head to their deer stands in hopes of bagging a buck. The year-long wait is finally over...the Wisconsin gun deer season opens on Saturday morning. And hunters are hoping for better luck after a disappointing season last year. While approximately 174,000 deer were registered, that's 11% below the five year average. Northwoods hunters found even less success than the state average. As for what to expect this year, DNR biologist Derek Johnson provided the Northwoods season forecast. He anticipates hunters may see a younger herd this year. A mild winter should have a positive impact on the deer population around, but that may be more beneficial in future seasons. While there isn't any tracking snow on the ground, there may be more hunters staying in their stands for longer periods of time with relatively mild temperatures in the forecast for opening weekend. The timing of the season may have a negative impact. This is the latest window on the calendar for the season to occur, moving it furthest from the rut. Another factor in the deer harvest is the number of hunters in the fields. Recent DNR data shows that has been on a slow, but steady decline. Last year's tag sales were down around 1%. The 9-day gun deer season opens Saturday morning and will run through the following Sunday.

Published on 11/22/2024 under News The Tomahawk School District's success on their recent report card was thanks to high marks across all three schools within the district. Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction handed out report cards for schools and districts around the state. The Tomahawk School District earned four stars and a grade of 'exceeds expectations.' Since the current report card format was established in 2013, the Tomahawk School District has consistently achieved marks in that category. In addition to the district-wide marks, each of the schools within the district also receives scores. In Tomahawk, the elementary, middle, and high schools all scored within a few points of each other, each received that same grade of 'exceeds expectations.' I spoke with District administrator Wendell Quesinberry about the scores. He said, "We are always happy to see the hard work of our staff and students reflected in the high marks earned on our state report card." He added, "It's important to remember that the state report card is only a snapshot of one comprehensive test that takes place each spring, but over the years we have earned consistently high scores which we feel is a testament to the dedication and commitment our staff, students, and families share for education."

Published on 11/22/2024 under News As we close out Winter Weather Awareness Week, officials are reminding motorists to take it easy on the roads once the snow arrives. We saw our first flurries of the season earlier this week, but no travel issues just yet. Based on past Department of Transportation data, there will be around 18,000 crashes caused by poor winter driving conditions. Most of those can be attributed to driving too fast for conditions. Following a snow event, one of the first steps to ensure you reach destination safely is to give yourself plenty of time, while leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front. A few other quick tips...Be gentle on the accelerator and the brake, and don't be overconfident with your 4-wheel drive, it won't help you stop any faster. Use your headlights, but skip the cruise control. Before leaving home on a snowy day, check road conditions, make sure your cell phone is charged and keep at least a half tank of gas. It's also a good time put your winter emergency kit in the car. Of course stay tuned to WJJQ for local updates and cancellations during the winter months.

Published on 11/22/2024 under News Holiday travelers flying out of Rhinelander will be able to check out some local photography. The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport has an ongoing partnership with ArtStart. They regularly showcase different art exhibits at the airport, typically from local artists. The latest comes from the Lakeland Area Photographic Club. Established in 2017, the group of approximately 30 members, meet on a monthly basis along with outings, presentations, and exhibits. Some are just starting out, while others have plenty of experience. And they also have diverse interest when it comes to their subjects, with specialization in wildlife and nature; landscapes, night sky photography, and portraits. According to ArtStart, the Photography exhibit will be on display at the Rhinelander Airport through January 11.

Published on 11/22/2024 under News Elementary students in Rhinelander had some special visitors from Africa who share a unique connection. Each spring, as part of a curriculum on water resources around the world, Rhinelander elementary students host a school-wide penny fundraiser. The money raised each year is contributed to well-building projects in Africa. And they've been fairly successful, as over the past few years, wells have been built in villages in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Togo. Another will be built in a Ugandan village with funds collected this spring. On Thursday afternoon, the students had the unique opportunity to meet with some of those who've benefited. The district welcomed individuals from Zambia and Togo. They met with young hodags to offer their gratitude, while also allowing the students to learn first-hand how they've been making a difference on the other side of the world.

Published on 11/22/2024 under Sports The Hatchet Girls' Basketball Squad opened the 2024-25 season with a strong second-half performance to defeat Butternut Thursday, 42-35. After struggling with taking care of the ball in the first half, Tomahawk bounced back using great defense and timely shooting. Senior Claire Albert led the way for the Hatchets with 17 points, including 11 in the second half Albert also added eight steals and 6 assists. In her first game, Freshman Anita Ziert came in off the bench to finish with 11 points and nine rebounds. Tomahawk begins their season 1-0 and begin Great Northern Conference play December 3rd against Antigo. Join Alex Koch and Matt Theiler for the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at approximately 6:50 and tip at 7:15 from the Hatchet House in Tomahawk.

Published on 11/21/2024 under News It's report card time in the state of Wisconsin...not for students, but for the schools and school districts. The Department of Public Instruction released the annual report cards on Tuesday. A number of districts in the Northwoods earned high marks for their performance and improvements last school year with Tomahawk among the high achievers. The scores, based on spring testing, are handed out to both the districts and the schools within each. They are based on four categories: student achievement, closing gaps, district growth, and post secondary readiness. The numerical scores then translate into 5 grades ranging from failure to meet expectations to significantly exceeds expectations. Starting right here in Tomahawk, the district, as a whole, earned four stars, a mark of 'exceeds expectations.' That's a score the district has maintained for the past decade. Few other area districts achieved that mark, DC Everest and Prentice. The middle category, meets expectations is the most common. Local schools in that category include: Antigo, Rhinelander, Northland Pines, Prentice, Rib Lake, and Wausau. We'll continue to explore the report cards in the coming days, including a deeper look into Tomahawk specifically with scores in the elementary, middle, and high schools and the thoughts of district administrator Wendell Quesinberry.

Published on 11/21/2024 under News Thanksgiving is one week away, and a new survey shows prices in Wisconsin are down slightly from last year and and lower than the national average. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau released their annual Marketbasket survey Wednesday. Each year, they take an informal look at the prices of 15 popular food items commonly used to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. This includes everything from turkey and cranberries to butter and rolls. A sampling of stores around the state are used to get an average. This year's average for a ten person meal in Wisconsin came in at $57.61. That's about a dollar or 2.1% less than last year. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Spokesperson Cassie Sonnentag highlighted the abundance and diversity of agriculture in state as one of the factors allowing prices to remain below the national average, which this year is just over $58. For those looking to save a few dollars, experts recommend shopping around for deals, reassessing your menu and skip some of the less popular items, and take up guest offers to bring a dish to pass or their own beverages.

Published on 11/21/2024 under News According to an AP report, three Michigan hunters have died from heart attacks during their ongoing deer season which opened last week. With Wisconsin's opener in less than 48 hours, officials from Aspirus are encouraging hunters to monitor their symptoms. Dr. Marcus Sublette is an interventional cardiologist at Aspirus. He advises hunters to be realistic about their physical abilities. He says, "Listen to your body, rest when needed, and avoid unnecessary risks." Adding, "Overexertion can lead to exhaustion and serious heart health concerns." Many hunters will go from a sedentary lifestyle to a week of increased physical activity which can impact heart rates and blood pressure. This includes hauling gear to the stand, excited of bagging a deer, and removing your harvest from the field. Sublette recommends maintaining good heart health during the off-season such as regular exercise. It's also good to get sleep, eat a balanced diet and moderate alcohol intake. If any signs of a heart attack are experienced, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

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