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Several Local Nominees in “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” Competition Published on 09/19/2023 under News

From mahogany boats to robotic lawn mowers there are a lot of interesting things made in the state. The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is again trying to identify the coolest and there are a few local products in the running.

Over the past few weeks, the WMC has taken nominations for the appropriately-named 'Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin' contest. After unveiling the competitors, they've turned the contest over to public vote.

Right here in Tomahawk, Samuel Pressure Group is among the nominees for their large custom-built pressure tanks.

Elsewhere in the Northwoods, there are more than a half dozen other products in the running, some are quite familiar, others less so. St. Croix fishing rods are some of the best in the business and are made in Park Falls. Minocqua Popcorn and Puffs makes tasty snacks here in the Northwoods and 7Fifteen Motorworks in Three Lakes makes custom and vintage race cars.

Rhinelander's got a pair of nominees, with Air Pro Fans and Kapp Structures' rigid mountain bikes. Merrill's got a pair of nominees as well, Thorogood's work boots as well as Merrill Tool and Water Jet's power rake.

The local nominees will face off against some well-known Wisconsin brands including 3m, Generac, Ariens, John Deere, and Carmex.

Last year more than 200,000 people voted, and in the end it was the electric fire trucks from Pierce Manufacturing that came out on top.

The 2023 voting begins this week. You can visit madeinwis.com to view the nominees and cast a ballot.

In Other News

Taste of Tomahawk Returns Saturday

Published on 03/14/2025 under News Like other communities here in the Northwoods, the Tomahawk area has plenty of good food and drinks. Coming up this weekend, the Chamber will highlight the local offerings with the return of the Taste of Tomahawk. As the name implies, Taste of Tomahawk offers participants a chance to sample foods and drinks with a focus on local. Over the past few weeks, the Chamber has been using their Facebook page to highlight the nearly two dozen participants. Chamber Director Charis Lau says, "Taste celebrates local cuisine from desserts and entrees to Wisconsin based breweries and wineries." She described it as "a great event to sip, snack, and socialize." It's also a good way for people to get out after being cooped up during the winter months, or as Lau called it, 'a cabin fever reliever.' Those who've attended in the past know that there is typically a theme, and this year is no different. They're actually celebrating the 20th year of Taste by traveling back to the 1920's. When we spoke with the Chamber a bit earlier this week, they had a few tickets remaining, which can be purchased Friday morning at Trig's or the Chamber. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Published on 03/14/2025 under News As we transition from winter to spring, the risk of wildfires in Wisconsin will likely be on the rise. The DNR is urging residents to use caution and monitor fire danger before conducting any burning activities. Their teams have already investigated more than 170 wildfires this year. They said that is about four times more than they typically see. Areas are especially vulnerable after the snow cover melts, but before vegetation greens up. According to the latest report from the US Drought Monitor, most of the Northwoods is either classified as abnormally dry or moderate drought. Officials anticipate the fire danger will be on an upward swing over the coming weeks, and as a result they've begun staging fire response equipment at strategic locations around the state. The leading cause of wildfires throughout the year is debris burning. Those looking to do spring yard clean-up are encouraged to hold off on burning or find alternatives for disposal. Other common causes include sparks from recreational equipment, campfires, and hot ashes from fireplaces or grills. Burn restrictions can be found on the DNR website.

Published on 03/14/2025 under News With St. Patrick's Day falling on Monday, many will be celebrating over the weekend. Law enforcement agencies are reminding those celebrating to do so safely. A holiday known for green beer and other libations, officials anticipate additional revelers, with the potential for an increase in impaired driving. Officials note, these types of celebrations can be a dangerous time on the road when people aren't making smart decisions. For those heading out, they're asking people to plan ahead, be responsible and never get behind the wheel impaired. That includes designating a sober driver, make sure everyone is wearing a safety belt and watch your speed. Check with the establishment about safe ride programs. Even sober drivers should use a little extra caution and keep an eye out for any pedestrians who may have had too much to drink.

Published on 03/14/2025 under News For better or for worse, we are spending more time connected and online. While the internet can be a useful tool, it can also be a dangerous place to navigate. One local low enforcement agency will be discussing some steps to stay protected. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office announced plans to offer a presentation on internet crimes against children. According to the news release, they plan to cover internet safety, the role of law enforcement and what people can do to help prevent themselves or others from becoming victims. They estimate the initial presentation will be a about an hour, and will be followed by a question and answer session. The event will take place on Wednesday March 26 at Rhinelander High School starting at 5pm. We'll offer a reminder as that date approaches.

Published on 03/14/2025 under News While there isn't much ice cover left on area lakes, just a quick reminder that this weekend is the official deadline for anglers to remove ice shelters from waterways in the Northern Zone. These are lakes and rivers north of Highway 64 in our area. The southern zone deadline came and went earlier this month. Portable ice shanties can still be used after removal dates, as long as the shelters are removed from the ice when they are not actively in use. With deteriorating conditions, people are advised to used extra caution when it comes to the ice.

Published on 03/14/2025 under News While many people will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day this weekend, one Northwoods group is embracing their ties to Finland. Preparation is underway in Brantwood for their annual Saint Urho Day celebration. The tongue-in-cheek holiday isn't part of traditional Finnish lore. It was actually created in the 1950's, and tells of the legend of Saint Urho. He is said to have freed Finland's grape crops from invading grasshoppers on March 16. The Knox Creek Heritage Center is one of the groups that participates each year. Their organization is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Scandanavian pioneers that settled the Northwoods. Coming up on Saturday they'll be serving a soup buffet with traditional Finnish foods. The event will double as the group's annual meeting. The Knox Creek St. Urho Day celebration will take place Saturday at the Brantwood Community Center starting at noon.

Published on 03/13/2025 under News While the American Pond Hockey Invitational on Lake Minocqua is just a few years old, one of the founders was recently recognized for his efforts. Earlier this week, six individuals and organizations were recognized for outstanding contributions to the travel hospitality industry at the Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Tourism. Among the recipients, Will Jeffrey, who received the Service Excellence award. According to the summary, Jeffrey launched the American Pond Hockey Invitational in 2023 to boost winter tourism in Minocqua and continues to expand. And outside of the tournament weekends, they also noted that the organization fosters community camaraderie through public skating opportunities and rec league hockey. They said, "Jeffrey's work with American Pond Hockey is"the best of Wisconsin hospitality and serves as a model for tourism leadership." Jeffrey wasn't the only local nominee from the area. The new Glide Ice Skating Ribbon in Boulder Junction fell just short in the 'Innovation' category, while the Land O'Lakes Zombie Crawl was a runner up in the 'Bright Idea' category. Other winners include, and you can learn more on their website: Legacy Award — Thomas M. DiehlArts, Culture and Heritage Award — Milwaukee Art MuseumBright IDEA Award — Access for All Initiative, Friends of the Apostle Islands National LakeshoreInnovation Award — Skelly's Farm MarketRising Star Award — Cory Bennett, Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

Published on 03/13/2025 under News Over the past year the Northern Lights have provided some impressive shows in the night skies here in the Northwoods. There's another reason to look up tonight...a full lunar eclipse. Remembering back to science classes, a lunar eclipse happens when the earth comes directly between the sun and the moon. The experts at NASA provided a few facts and tips for viewing. While the moon won't disappear entirely, it will appear orange or red, a similar phenomenon to a sunset. NASA says this is because any sunlight that's not blocked by earth is filtered through the atmosphere on its way to the lunar surface. They describe it as if all of the sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon. They said you won't need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view. Unlike a solar eclipse, there's no need for eclipse glasses, you can look directly at the moon. A dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions. During the eclipse, they noted that constellations may also be easier to spot with the moon's glow dimmed. As for the timing here in the Northwoods, the eclipse should begin around midnight, totality around 2am and ending a little before four pm. As we heard from meteorologist Tony Schumacher, we can expect partly cloudy skies for tonight.

Published on 03/13/2025 under News The City of Rhinelander and ArtStart have been collaborating with various stakeholders to build a new skate park for the community. As that project progresses, they've put out a call for artists or teams of artists to lend some creativity to the aesthetic of the park through murals that will be showcased throughout the completed park. It will be a three phase competitive process, from the first pool of applicants they'll select six semifinalists to create a rough sketch. From there, three finalists will be selected to finalize the murals in digital format. While not all artists are experienced in digital art, graphic design support will be provided to help artists They're hoping to keep it Northwoods local, prioritizing artists from Rhinelander and other neighboring counties in the Northwoods. Semifinalists and finalists will receive a stipend for their work. Additional information To kick off the process, they'll be hosting a mural information meeting on March 20 at 5pm.

Published on 03/13/2025 under News While water plays a key role in business and recreation in Wisconsin, high quality H20 is crucial to our drinking water supply. All week long interested partners including health departments and environmental agencies are celebrating National Groundwater Awareness Week. Statistics show more than 70% of Wisconsinites utilize ground water for drinking, with one in three utilizing a private well. We heard from both the Lincoln and Oneida County Health Departments who have been encouraging property owners make a plan to test their private wells. This is typically recommended on an annual basis, though also if residents notice an changes to the water. Both Health Departments do offer water lab testing for various contaminants including bacteria and nitrates. You can contact the Health Department to learn more. There is a small fee to cover testing costs through there are also assistance programs available for some parties.

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