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Update: Victim Identified in Fatal Weekend Snowmobile Accident near Tomahawk Published on 03/01/2023 under News
Officials have released the name of the victim in a fatal weekend snowmobile crash near Tomahawk.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 71 year old Kevin Peterson of Tripoli. As we previously reported, Peterson was last seen on Friday evening, when he was riding his snowmobile in the area. Search teams were led to Somo Lake in the Town of Wilson where they found snowmobile tracks leading to a section of open water. Responders were able to locate and recover Peterson's body Monday afternoon.

This was the third snowmobile-related death in the Northwoods this weekend. While it was the first fatal snowmobile crash in Lincoln County this riding season, it was the 14th in the state of Wisconsin.

In Other News

Railroad Safety Week: See Tracks, Think Train

Published on 09/26/2024 under News It's railroad safety week, local railroads, law enforcement, and partners are working together to share the message. According to the Department of Transportation, Wisconsin has more than 3,300 miles of active train tracks and more than 4,000 public railroad crossings. Last year, there were 4 people killed and nine injured in railroad crossing incidents around the state. Among the partners in this campaign is Operation Lifesaver, a national organization dedicated to rail safety. They're using the phrase 'See Tracks, Think Train,' It's a simple, but important message to remember when it comes to rail crossings. The State Patrol shared that it can take a train around a mile to come to complete stop. Officials note that modern trains are much quieter, so you may not hear them approaching from as far away as the past. That's why it's important to be mindful when approaching a railroad crossing whether by vehicle or as a pedestrian. A few other quick reminders:•Always utilize designated railway crossings and observe all warnings, lights, and signals; remaining at least 15 feet back when activated •Assume all rails are active •Never stop a vehicle on the tracks •If crossing tracks on a bicycle, keep the tires perpendicular to the rails

Published on 09/26/2024 under News The City of Tomahawk continues to address an invasive insect that's impacting local ash trees. That of course, is the emerald ash borer. The bug has quickly spread across the state of Wisconsin. It is now found in all 72 counties. EAB targets ash trees, compromising the structure and eventually killing it. The bug was confirmed in Tomahawk last spring, and has put the city's ash tree population at risk, prompting the removal and replacement project. At Tuesday's Board of Public Works meeting, street lead Nick Rosenmeier provided a quick update. While city crews were able to remove some of the impacted trees, larger trees needed a professional hand. The city is working with Foley's, and Rosenmeier anticipated the removal of these marked trees to get underway this week. The other half of the project is replacement. Rosenmeier says they have around 60 sites picked out where the new legacy trees will go. He says they hope to have the planting wrapped up by the end of October. Last fall the city was awarded a $25,000 DNR Urban Forestry Grant to help offset some of the costs. It is a match grant with the city, which was already planning to allocate those funds so they were essentially able to double their investment.

Published on 09/26/2024 under News SARA Park in Tomahawk will be filled with heavy equipment this weekend. It's not a construction project, but a fundraiser for a young boy with an upcoming surgery. Earlier this week we spoke with Charis Lau, a member of the WaWui board, the non-profit that runs SARA Park. Coming up this weekend, Lau says they're hosting a Touch-a-Truck event to raise money for AJ, a four-year old with the congenital heart defect. Musson Brothers and Bethel Excavating have generously donated their time, and more importantly their trucks and other machinery for the afternoon. A few local emergency responders may also make an appearance. Lau says kids will have a chance to get a close-up look at the equipment and even take a seat in the cab. While the trucks are the attraction, the fundraiser will be inside the front of SARA Park. Lau says a number of businesses have contributed raffle prizes, and they'll also hold a bake/dessert sale. For those that would like to support the cause and 'Fight like AJ', the Tomahawk Touch-a-Truck is at SARA Park on Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Published on 09/26/2024 under News A pair of Northwoods products made the cut for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin 2024. The preliminary round of the annual contest put on by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce wrapped up earlier this week. The field was cut from 130 nominees down to 16. Those finalists will be placed into a bracket for the public to decide the winner over four rounds of voting. From six local nominees in the initial field, just two remain. Both have been in the running before including a finalist last year. That's the American Heritage Safety Toe Work Boot produced by Thorogood in Merrill. It'll be a favorite in the first few rounds, placed as a 4th seed. The first round is a match up with Jolly Good soda. The other Northwoods product is an underdog, #14 seed Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs. They'll face Carbliss, a canned cocktail produced in Plymouth. First round voting got underway a bit earlier this morning and will run through Tuesday. You can visit madeinwis.com to see the products and cast a ballot.

Published on 09/26/2024 under News The local jobs rate showed big improvements last month. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development released the August unemployment estimates. It was a good report around the entire state with all 72 counties down from the month of July. Some of the biggest gains were made in the Northwoods. Here in Lincoln County, the unemployment rate fell from 3.5% in July to 2.6% in August. Oneida County fell from 3% in July to 2.4% in August; Vilas County from 3.3% to 2.5%. Throughout the spring and summer the monthly jobs figures had shown minor fluctuations. All three counties were improved from August of last year as well. According to the DWD three counties set record lows.

Published on 09/25/2024 under News Living in the Northwoods, we deal with ticks. Fortunately, there's a special medical facility right in our back yard that is focused on the many diseases that ticks can spread. It's been five years since the opening of the Tick Borne Illness Center on the Aspirus Howard Young campus in Woodruff. Coming up this evening they're hosting an open house to celebrate the anniversary, showcase the facility, and raise awareness. Ahead of the event we were joined by Dr. James Thatcher. He's been at the Tick Center, and here in the Northwoods, for just under a year. He came via New York, another tick hot-spot. Perhaps the most well-known tick-borne disease, Lyme, was first diagnosed in nearby Connecticut. A common symptom of Lyme is the distinct rash. Thatcher says, "I've never seen as many bullseye as I've seen this summer." With limited testing options, often delayed onset and a wide range of symptoms, Thatcher noted that tick-borne disease can be difficult to diagnose. Yet early anti-biotic treatments can be highly effective. As a facility dedicated to tick-borne Illness, they may be better suited for diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Thatcher also gave a quick reminder for those enjoying the outdoors this fall. He encouraged post-activity tick checks, appropriate clothing, and a repellent. While many may reach for products with DEET, others may be hesitant with the chemicals. Thatcher acknowledged that concern and added that natural products featuring ingredients like lavender, rosemary and lemon grass may offer some protection. As for this evening, Thatcher and his colleagues will be talking about the history of the Tick Center and what they've seen over the past five years, while also sharing their vision for the future. It gets underway at 5pm.

Published on 09/25/2024 under News The City of Tomahawk began the process of ending fluoride treatment from the city's water service. The decision came out of Tuesday's Board of Public Works meeting. The Board was notified of corrosion in the room used to store chemicals including the fluoride concentrate. Water lead Glenn Hanna noted that ideally the fluoride barrels would be kept in a separate location from the other chemicals. The Board had several options including continuing with the status quo or building a separate storage location. A third option was to do away with the fluoride treatment all together, and therefore eliminate the need for storage. Fluoridation of municipal water is a common practice as part of oral health, and cavity prevention in particular. During the discussion, the Board confirmed that this treatment is not mandated. Expecting some push-back from the public, Mayor Steve Taskay, who serves as chair of the Board, said, "I'll be the person who takes the blow here." He made the initial motion to abandon the fluoride treatment moving forward. A few brief discussions followed. Board member Steve 'Ding' Bartz said he didn't have enough information on the topic to make a decision. The remaining members approved the motion by voice vote. The Board of Public Works had eight items on the crowded agenda. Quickly recapping... •The board approved a request from Tomahawk Main Street to utilize stakes in the street to secure the tent used for the upcoming Oktoberfest event with the understanding that the pavement would be patched by the event organizers. •Street lead Nick Rosenmeier provided a brief review of a routine inspection of the North 4th Street Bridge. The city is not notified prior to the inspection, and he was still processing the data and results. •The Board discussed concern about an uncontrolled intersection located where South 6th Street, Spirit Avenue and an alleyway meet. Acknowledging the concern the decided to keep the issue under advisement and no changes were made at this time. •Speaking of street signs, the board also reviewed school zone signs around the community. That included placement guidelines and recommendations, as well as the current locations of these signs. Ultimately, no changes were made, though crews will replace some of the weathered signs while checking for any obstructions that may obscure visibility of the signs. •And revisiting previous discussions for the city to sell some of the crushed gravel ..after consideration, the board at the recommendations of Rosenmeier decided that it would be better for the city to hold onto those stockpiles at this time and potentially revisit at another time. •And lastly, the board heard an update on the infrastructure work at the south end of South Tomahawk Avenue. The project began early last week, with traffic restricted to a single lane controlled with temporary traffic signals. Fortunately, according to the update, they hope to wrap up that project by early next week.

Published on 09/25/2024 under News Robert 'Bob' Gruling dedicated his life to education in the Merrill community. Now the street outside one of the schools will honorarily carry his name. Last year, the Merrill Historical Preservation Committee began a project to recognize those who left an indelible mark on the community. This is done through honorary street sign dedications. Today, they'll gather in front of Washington School for the newest unveiling. Ahead of the ceremony, the city provided a bit of history. Gruling was born back in 1931, one of 20 children. After earning his teaching degree, he returned to Merrill. He began at the former Franklin School, and over the decades at Pine River, Lincoln and eventually Washington School. He worked as both a teacher and administrator during his career, retiring in 1990. They also acknowledged his work with a number of community groups and organizations. Back to today, it's actually a two part ceremony. First, at 11am, a playground near Agra Pavilion and the River Bend Trail will be dedicated in honor of Bob, and his wife of 63 years, Eppie. Then at noon they'll head over to 6th St. and Hope St. for the honorary street sign dedication.

Published on 09/25/2024 under News September is National Preparedness Month, and we've been going over tips and activities people can take ahead of an emergency. The Tomahawk School District is focused on preparedness today in the event of an intruder. In a note to parents, the district announced plans to conduct an intruder lock-down drill. They will include all three schools on the campus; securing the buildings and sheltering in place all students, staff, and visitors. The district wrote, in order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by conducting drills designed to walk through our procedures. The drill will affect some operations, as all perimeter doors will be locked with no one allowed to enter or leave. Any students with off-campus appointments should contact the district ahead of time. During the drill, staff may not be able to answer phones. This will be a drill, and no cause of community alarm.

Published on 09/25/2024 under News The floor at the Merrill Fire Department is spotless thanks to a little help from the Antigo Fire Department. It wasn't a mutual aid call, but pay off of a friendly wager on a high school football game. The Merrill Blue Jays and the Antigo Red Robins faced off in a GNC football match up. The game is dubbed 'The War on 64', referencing the highway that connects the two communities. The past two years the Fire Chiefs in the two neighboring communities have made a bet on the game, this year, the loser had to clean the station of the winning side. It was Merrill who came out on top this year. On Tuesday, Antigo Fire Chief Corey Smith made the trip over to Merrill, where he spent the morning cleaning the station. He even brought some lunch, tailgating with some brats from Peroutka's Meat Processing in Antigo. Antigo won last year's game, and Merrill Fire Chief Josh Klug had to wash an Antigo Fire Engine. And it doesn't appear the annual bet will end at two. The Merrill Fire Department posted on their Facebook page, "We'd love to have Chief Smith back next year. He did a great job on the floors."

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