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Musky Enthusiasts Ready for 4th Annual Summer Musky Shop Bash Published on 07/19/2024 under News

The muskellunge is Wisconsin's State fish, and there's no better place than Northern Wisconsin to land a trophy fish. Coming up this weekend, a celebration of all thing's musky will take place right here in the Northwoods.

Rollie and Helen's is bring back their annual Musky Shop Bash. This is the fourth year for the free community event in Minocqua and it continues to grow.

As part of the festivities they've brought in some of the best in the business including Hall of Famer Joe Bucher. He'll be joined by other experts including local guides and even some lure designers. They'll be offering up their expertise in an interactive Q and A sessions.

The Musky Shop is known for the huge selection of musky gear throughout the season. Tomorrow they'll have even more in the outdoor setup including some of the newest product lines. Shop manager Jay Esse says they've partnered with more than three dozen vendors. He called this year's Musky Shop Bash "the best yet."

For those interested, the event is free and open to the public. It's Saturday afternoon from noon to 4pm at Rollie and Helen's.

In Other News

Kwahamots Competing at State Show Ski Championships

Published on 07/19/2024 under News Around two dozen of top water ski teams in Wisconsin are competing for state championships this weekend, with several local favorites in the mix. Wisconsin Rapids is once again hosting all three divisions of the Wisconsin State Show Ski Championships on Lake Wazeecha. The competition actually got underway Thursday with individual events like freestyle jumping, swivel ski and doubles. That all leads into the team competition which kicks off bright and early Friday morning. Each team gets an hour to put on a show. Competitors are judged in twelve categories such as showmanship, difficulty, boat driving, announcing, and overall performance. The Northwoods will be well represented in Division 3. Call it bare-footing and breakfast, as the Tomahawk-based Kwahamots were actually the first on the water Friday morning, skiing in the 8am hour. Among the half dozen Division 3 competitors are the Plum Ski-ters of Sayner and the Chain Skimmers from Eagle River. The competition will continue Saturday and Sunday. We'll share results once we receive them. *Due to this weekend's competition, the Kwahamots will not be holding their regular Saturday show. They will be back on their regular schedule on Tuesday

Published on 07/19/2024 under News The curtains are set to rise on Tomahawk's newest group of youth actors. After a two week boot camp, the participants will offer up a public performance this evening. The Tomahawk Community Theater has been hosting a Children's Summer Theater Workshop for a second consecutive year. The goal was to offer an opportunity for local kids to get involved in the fine arts while young, and develop interest and experience. (That conversation is available in the WJJQ Audio Center) Earlier this week, we welcomed to of the participants, fifth grader Noah Bixby and eighth grader Morgan Maule. The pair talked about what inspired them to join and a little about their experience. It all wraps up Friday evening with a performance of 'Internet Disconnect'. Bixby talked a bit about the story about a group of kids are cut off from the internet and need to complete a school project with the vintage items found in their grandparent's attic. To make our listeners feel old, Bixby teased one of the items he was introduced to...a Polaroid camera. Terry Bucaro has been involved with the Theater group since it's founding. And she once again highlighted the community support...everything from sponsors to stage hands. They've also brought in some members of the Tomahawk High School Drama Department to serve as instructors and crew members. Tonight's performance will take place in the Tomahawk School District auditorium giving the kids an impressive venue. 'Internet Disconnect' gets underway at 6pm Friday evening. Admission is free.-Photo from Tomahawk Community Theater: The stage is set for Friday's performance of 'Internet Disconnect.'

Published on 07/19/2024 under News In the dog days of summer, a quick dip in the water is a great way to cool off. Aspirus and the YMCA of the Northwoods are teaming up to make sure people keep swimming safety in mind. Education, awareness, and sensible precautions are all part of that message. Kaylee Dasher is the aquatics director at the Y, where they offer classes such as learn to swim, CPR and life guard instruction. While she encouraged people sign up for a class, she notes there are resources for home instruction. One specific skill she highlighted is to learn how to float, an important skill in a water emergency. While pools are popular, here in the Northwoods many swimmers using natural waterways. Amy Larson with Aspirus MedEvac, noted these waters bring additional challenges for even experienced swimmers to be aware of. This includes uneven lake or river beds, waves and currents, and boat traffic. They offered up a few other quick reminders to stay safe while swimming: Wear a life jacket; swim with a buddy; check for any hazards; and obey safety warnings and lifeguards. For those on shore, it's a important to monitor swimming children by assigning a water watcher. And if a water emergency happens, Larson says, "If you are safely able to get them out of the water, please do so. But the first thing we would like you to do is call 911." This, she says, will allow responders to get to a patient quickly and provide needed care.

Published on 07/19/2024 under News The Antigo Visual Arts organization continues to make the community look a bit better. Their latest project included a help from some student artists. AVA teamed up with the Antigo High School Art Club to paint a mural on an outside wall at Schroeder's Gift Barn. The design features a scenic Northwoods lake setting at sunset. The partners noted the project was a testament to community collaboration and creativity. Olivia Kraucyk is the AHS Art Club adviser while also serving on the AVA board. She says, "I hope anyone passing through Antigo, whether local or visitor, will feel a sense of joy and community when they see the mural. It truly embodies the spirit of our town." The idea came from the business, as they wanted to engage local students in creating and completing the mural. They thanked nine students who worked on the project. Even the cost of materials was covered through a grant from the City of Antigo and their Facade Improvement Program. Erin Schroeder was delighted with the results. She says, "We are so happy with how our mural turned out, it's the perfect addition to our boutique! She added, "We hope it brings as much joy & happiness to those driving past as it has us."

Published on 07/19/2024 under News We frequently talk about the importance of hunter's safety courses. Over the years, more than a million Wisconsites have taken the course. It is credited with a significant decrease in the number of hunting related incidents in the state. To help continue that tradition, the DNR put out a call for new volunteers to become certified instructors. They noted that the strength and success of the program is due to the dedication and commitment of their volunteer instructors. There are two ways to become certified. The first is to serve as an apprentice under an experienced instructor sponsor. The other is to attend a DNR certification training session. Once certified, the DNR provides all the necessary materials and equipment to teach the course. The DNR has additional information on the website.

Published on 07/18/2024 under News A group of kids here in Tomahawk have been using their summer vacation to get a crash course in theater. It's all part of the Tomahawk Community Theater's 2nd annual Children's Summer Workshop. We were recently joined by director Terry Bucaro, along with two of the youth actors Noah Bixby and Morgan Maule. Bucaro has been involved with the Theatre group since it was created right around three years ago. In addition to their community productions, this is the second summer they've offered the youth class. She says one of their goals was to get younger kids involved in theater and create interest and experience as they enter high school and beyond. That immediately paid off, she noted one of last year's participants joined the THS Drama Department. Over the past few weeks, this year's class, made up of around a dozen elementary and middle school students have been learning about theater while also preparing for a public performance, coming up Friday evening. The cast includes both Bixby and Maule. Despite this being his first time in a production, Bixby, entering grade five, already says he has a passion for action and want to pursue it in the future. Maule, a soon-to-be eighth grader, got encouragement from mom and thought it was something fun to do during the summer, though Morgan is already thinking about continuing to participate in high school. Both highlighted the amount of new friends they've made during the workshop, and were excited to share their experiences with friends outside of theater. Participants range in age from 4th through 8th graders, and Bucaro has already seen some of the older kids take the younger ones under their wing and act as mentors. With a full class and a waitlist for a second consecutive summer, Bucaro says they'd eventually like to offer more than one workshop to allow more participation. As for this year's workshop, it all leads up to a Friday evening performance of Internet Disconnect. It's at 6pm in the school auditorium. We'll offer up a preview on the Friday morning Sunrise Show. And if you'd like to support the theater, Noah and friends will actually have a lemonade/snack stand set up Thursday afternoon in front of Tomahawk Pharmacy on Main Street.-Photo from Tomahawk Community Theater-

Published on 07/18/2024 under News The Medford School District is using a grant from Aspirus to help implement a new phone free policy on campus. The goal of a phone-free campus is to maximize educational time and support mental health. The District was recently awarded $40,000 through the Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics Community Health Improvement Grant Program to purchase what are known as Yondr Pouches. According to the announcement, students will be required to place their smart devices into these special protective bags that will be locked as they enter the building and unlocked at the end of the day. Upon implementation, most Yondr partner districts saw improvements in academic performance, student behavior, and student engagement. By limiting distractions during the school day, the district hopes to reduce the minimize effects of social media while reducing instances of vaping, bullying, and fighting. Jill Lybert, Principal, Medford Area Senior High School. "We believe this will have a direct and positive impact on improving our students' academics, behavior, and mental health and create a better learning environment for our students." The Medford phone free policy will go into effect this fall at the middle and high school.

Published on 07/18/2024 under News Lincoln County will be getting a small payment as a participant in a larger class action settlement related to opioids. Lincoln County Corporation Counsel Karry Johnson provided the supervisors with a quick overview at Tuesday's meeting. Over the past several years, the county has been included in a handful of similar settlements. The latest, with Kroger Co. is on the smaller side. While the full settlement is for approximately $1.2 billion, that total is divvied up among the participants and based on populations. Johnson did not have specific numbers on how much Lincoln County would actually receive, but estimated somewhere in the range of $50,000. These settlement payments come with spending restrictions, the funds earmarked for opioid remediation through prevention, awareness, or treatment. The supervisors did have the option to opt out of the settlement and litigate alone, however after some brief discussions approved the resolution to enter into the settlement agreement.

Published on 07/18/2024 under News The Oneida County Health Department has identified a case of whooping cough. According to a news release, there was a positive case of pertussis confirmed Tuesday. They did not provide any additional information on the individual or their location. The Health Department wanted residents and visitors to be aware. Symptoms often begin like a cold, which progresses to more severe coughing and gasping for breath, hence the name whooping cough. The Health Department encourages people to stay home when sick, until symptoms pass. If you've been exposed or display the more severe symptoms, seek medical help. Most people will recover with antibiotics, though whooping cough can be more severe for vulnerable populations.

Published on 07/18/2024 under News Wisconsin has no shortage of public lands and waterways. The DNR is making it easier for recreationists to learn about opportunities and plan their next adventure no matter their favorite activity. Earlier this month, the agency launched an updated Public Access Lands App for computers and smart devices. The goal is to make it easier to locate state parks, county forests, lakes and rivers. The app features up-to-date property information including maps, parking locations, boat access and restricted areas. Users can search for specific interests such as hiking, hunting, or fishing. For locations with specific webpages, those are linked. The app compliments a print version of the Public Access Lands Atlas which features more than 400 detailed maps. Additional information is available on the DNR website.

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