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National Championship Musky Open Returns to Eagle River Published on 08/15/2024 under News

Musky anglers will once again be descending into Eagle River this weekend for one of the most popular musky tournaments in the country.

It's time once again for the National Championship Musky Open, hosted each summer by the Eagle River Chamber and the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin. Proceeds from the event go towards the Alliance and their efforts throughout the year.

Ahead of the event, organizers provided a preview. Based on the numbers, the catch-and-release tournament is one of the largest in the country. Last year, they said there were more than 1,200 anglers representing 11 states. As for the fishing, more than 150 muskies were boated in last year's tournament.

While some of the most experienced anglers have been busy scouting for weeks or months, others simply go for the experience, as well as an entry into a drawing for a pretty impressive prize. Each registrant is entered into a drawing for a brand new, fully-outfitted fishing boat which will be selected on Sunday.

WJJQ listeners in attendance will hear a familiar voice. One of our fishing guides, and Hall of Famer Steve Heiting will serve as MC. He'll also be talking about the tournament and sharing a few tips during his weekend report on WJJQ.

Tournament headquarters will be based out of the Vilas County Fairgrounds on Highway 70 West. Registration gets underway Thursday evening.

In Other News

Lake 2 Lake 500: Man Walking from Superior to Cudahy for Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Published on 08/19/2024 under News A Cudahy man will be walking through the Northwoods this weekend as part of a cross-state trek with a larger message. Earlier this week, Greg Studzinski left from Superior on foot. He's en route to the Milwaukee area as part of what he's calling the Lake 2 Lake 500. He's hoping to raise money and awareness for mental health and substance abuse issues by walking from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan.. It's an important cause for Studzinski. According to event information, he's been free from addiction for nearly a year. He's now looking to give back to those who've helped him along the way, and those who'll need assistance in the future. Coming up the next few days, the plan is to make it from Mercer to Minocqua to Tomahawk and eventually Merrill. It's just a small segment of the approximately 489 miles he plans to cover over the next 20 days. In addition to raising awareness and serving as inspiration, Studzinski is also raising money for United Community Center. He set a goal of $10,000 and is well on his way, with more than $6,200 in pledges on GoFundMe. You can also follow Greg's journey via the Lake 2 Lake 500 Facebook page.

Published on 08/17/2024 under News From kayaks and sailboats to pontoons and ski boats, Lake Minocqua is buzzing all summer long with boats of all shapes and sizes. Coming up this weekend, it's all about Dragon Boats, where the paddlers push for a good cause. The community is hosting the 8th annual Dragon Boat Festival. For those unfamiliar, The dragon boat racing is quite the spectacle. The boats themselves are 45 feet long. They hold 20 front-facing, side-by-side paddlers, a steer person, and a drummer to help the paddlers keep rhythm. In heats of three, the participants row along the 300 meter course. Along with the racing and festive atmosphere, the Dragon Boat Festival also doubles as a fundraiser. Over the years, more than 100 teams have competed, raising more than a million dollars to benefit to benefit Howard Young Medical Center and Aspirus Eagle River Hospital . As for this year, around two dozen teams have signed up representing various groups, organizations, and businesses around the Northwoods, the state of Wisconsin, and beyond the state's borders. They'll be racing out of Torpy Park in Minocqua with opening ceremonies at 8:30am and races starting at 9am. The event is free to attend.

Published on 08/17/2024 under News As we enter the dog days of summer, we've been getting some reports of some area lakes showing signs of blue-green algae blooms. Health officials are reminding the public to avoid affected waters. Officially known as cyanobacteria and colloquially known as pond scum, blue-green algae is naturally occurring in Wisconsin waterways. Problems may arise when the algae goes into bloom. Factors leading to a bloom include stagnant waters, fertilizer run-off, warm temperatures, and sunlight. Despite the name, blue-green algae can appear in a variety of colors including reds, browns and whites. Its appearance is often described as looking like pea soup or spilled paint on the water surface. There are a variety of symptoms from exposure or ingestion including skin irritation, nausea and illness. In addition to humans, pets can also be affected. The Health Department recommends showering or rinsing off if you have been in affected waters. Eating fish caught in areas where a bloom is present should also be avoided. While some popular swimming areas like beaches may be monitored, it is typically up to swimmers to be on the lookout for algae. Officials often say, "When in doubt, stay out!"

Published on 08/16/2024 under News A new display recognizing former Tomahawk students who served the country is nearing completion. Over the past 8 months, there's been plenty of behind-the-scenes work on what is known as the Wall of Honor. It's been described as simple gesture to recognize and honor active duty military or veterans who attended Tomahawk schools. It'll be located in the main foyer near the auditorium and gym, notable as a high-traffic area for both students and the public. Each military branch will have a hand-crafted emblem displayed atop name plates listing the former students who served. During Tuesday's School Board meeting, district administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided an update. He says they've been working with Tech Ed instructor Jerrett Flynn to engrave the name plates using the equipment in the Hatchet Innovation Lab. And thanks to some generous donations, they were able to collect enough funds to cover all of the costs. School Board President Ron Zimmerman added that from what he's seen so far it looks really good. He said he was excited to see the finished project. It shouldn't be long, as Quesinberry says they expect to get everything installed in the coming weeks, and they'll have an unveiling.

Published on 08/16/2024 under News Tomahawk Main Street hosting a special 'thank you' to those who visited the downtown district throughout the summer. The annual Tomahawk Main Street Customer Appreciation Cook Out and Sidewalk Sale returns on Saturday. Ahead of the event, I spoke with Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz. She explained, "This cookout is a small gesture and way to give back to say thank you for shopping local, supporting local, and embracing Shop Small." Turkiewicz says, "We are excited to spend a beautiful day in downtown Tomahawk, with music, food, deals, and, of course, lots of smiles." Many businesses will be offering up sales both inside and outside of their shops, and they'll also volunteer their time for a grill out and activities. Some of the activities get underway at 10am, they'll begin grilling at 11.

Published on 08/15/2024 under News It won't be long before the halls on the Tomahawk School District are buzzing with students again. And while school's been out for summer, staffers have been using the downtime to complete a lengthy list of maintenance projects. It's all part of routine work to keep the campus in good shape. At Tuesday's Tomahawk School Board meeting, administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided a quick summary of that list, while praising Building and Grounds leader Arlen Wingate and his team. That included multiple flooring projects, both in the classroom and the high school and field house gym floors. They wrapped a two year window replacement project, essentially every window on campus. The new windows are expected to be much more efficient than the 40 year old units. And speaking of efficiency, the pool pumps and filters have also been upgraded. Not all of the projects were planned, they had to replace the fire alarm system circuit board, as the existing units were no longer serviceable. And there's a little bit more to go. They've recently begun to replace some of the playground equipment which has been deteriorating over the years and no longer safe. He anticipated that project would be wrapped up by the start of the school year, or shortly thereafter.

Published on 08/14/2024 under News The November ballot is likely set, and the preliminary results didn't offer many surprises here in the the Northwoods. Tuesday was the fall primary in the state of Wisconsin. There were a handful of competitive races here in the Northwoods. Congressman Tom Tiffany knows his opponent for the 7th district House race this fall. Kyle Kilbourn defeated Elsa Duranceau in the Democratic primary. He received 58% of the 56,000 votes cast. 35th Assemblyman Calvin Callahan easily defeated his Republican primary challenger Todd Mayer with 85% of the vote. That sets up a race with Democrat Elizabeth McCrank who ran unopposed. Coincidentally, McCrank and Callahan served along side each other on the Lincoln County Board until Callahan's resignation last year. The match-up for District 12 State Senate was already set, Republican incumbent Mary Felzkowski and Democratic challenger Andi Rich were both unopposed. And finally there was a county-level race here in Lincoln County. Clerk Christ Marlowe faced a primary challenge from Steve Osness. It looks like the incumbent will remain in office. He received 58% of the approximately 3,900 votes in the race. He'll be the lone Clerk candidate on the ballot.

Published on 08/14/2024 under News An ongoing expansion/renovation project at the Marshfield Medical Center Park Falls Hospital wrapped up phase one, and leaders were on hand to celebrate Tuesday. Phase One included adding new spaces for physical & occupational therapy, inpatient pharmacy and the 11-bed Med-Surg hospital unit. Ty Erickson, president of the Marshfield Clinic Health System north market says,"We're at the halfway mark of an exciting venture that ensures state-of-the-art medical technology and an innovative healing environment remain available for the Park Falls region for years to come." Among the attendees at yesterday's ceremony was Governor Evers. The project was selected to receive a Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program from the state which provided $20 million. During his visit, Governor Evers says "Every Wisconsinite should have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare in our state, but we know that rural communities often face their own unique challenges that can stand in the way of folks getting the care they need." As for what's next, Phase 2 will include a retail pharmacy, a relocated urgent care and new spaces for several rehab services. They'll also replace flooring, furniture and lighting in existing space to match the new campus. They hope to wrap up this next phase by next summer.-Photo provided by Marshfield Clinic-

Published on 08/14/2024 under News Leaders in Minocqua will have some additional money to work with in future budget planning. On Tuesday, voters in the Northwoods town approved a referendum to increase the tax levy by $750,000. In promoting the ballot item, the Town said they planned to use the funds in order to retain levels of service for police, fire, public works and library, while maintaining public infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. They anticipate an approximate increase of $39 per $100,000 in assessed value. The referendum was narrowly passed, 804 votes in favor 758 votes opposed. This is actually the third recent attempt at a referendum in Minocqua. In April, a $950,000 request was defeated by just 12 votes.

Published on 08/14/2024 under News As schools prepare their campuses for the return of students in the coming weeks, their administrative teams and school boards have been busy preparing budgets for the upcoming year. The preliminary spending plan for the Tomahawk School District was on the Board's agenda Tuesday. District Administrator Wendell Quesinberry provided a brief overview of the spending plan last night. In general, he noted that the district is in good financial shape. That's in part due to the most recent referendum that expires after this school year. The district is also expected to receive another increase in general aid from the state, along with a boost in per pupil funding. On campus, Quesinberry highlighted fiscal responsibility in the decisions they've made. As was the case last year, he anticipated the district will under levy. That means they'll ask tax payers to contribute less than the maximum amount allowable under current limits. Quesinberry cautioned that last night's budget is preliminary as they work with placeholders for variables such as enrollment. The budget will be back on the agenda for the annual meeting in September. A couple of other quick notes from last night's school board meeting... The Board used a vacant high school guidance counselor position to review their duties. The two positions have traditionally served in multiple capacities including student's personal needs as well as planning for the future. At last night's meeting, and after some discussion, the board approved a proposal to modify the vacant counselor position to an Academic and Career planning coordinator to focus specially on those duties. Board members did offer concern in leaving just one traditional guidance counselor on staff. As a result, the motion was amended to include a review and consideration to bring back the second counselor position at a later date._____ And some good news for Tomahawk Middle School Eighth Graders who will once again have an opportunity to travel to the nation's capital. The week long, summer field trip to the East Coast was approved under a new partnership with an agency that takes care of trip planning and coordination. This will once again allow qualifying students this enjoyable and educational trip to Washington.

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