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Tomahawk Fall Ride: No Shortage of Activities in Tomahawk Published on 09/12/2024 under News

Fall Ride, Colorama, Harley Weekend...the ongoing festivities in Tomahawk go by a number names. No matter what you call it, the theme of motorcycles and the Northwoods remains the same.

While a majority of visitors come by bike, others simply come for the entertainment. Along with the motorcycles, a steady stream of campers, food trucks, vendors and musicians have also pulled into town.

Fall Ride is better described as an umbrella title for the many separately-organized weekend events at various locations in Tomahawk and beyond. SARA Park and Tomahawk Main Street serve as major hubs of activity.

While events come and go, the most popular tend to stick around. Everyone has their favorite, but some of the most popular include Friday night Thunder Parade, Harley Davidson Plant Tours, and even a motorcycle raffle. Several prominent motorcycle manufacturers also have their demo fleets. You can check out the WJJQ Community Calendar for a quick rundown of events.

The unofficial start of the Fall Ride Festivities, the Tomahawk Chamber Bon Fire and Brat Fry kicking off at 6pm Thursday.

In Other News

Year 43 of the Tomahawk Fall Ride: From ~25 Bikes to Tens of Thousands

Published on 09/12/2024 under News A familiar rumble is back in the air as tens of thousands of motorcycles descend upon the Tomahawk area this weekend. Now in it's 43rd year, the Tomahawk Fall Ride actually has quite humble beginnings. What we see today is quite different from how it all began. That story starts in the early 1980's when a small group of local motorcycle riders planned an October outing, a chance to view the fall colors followed by a cookout. A few years later it shifted to mid-September due to Wisconsin's unpredictable autumn weather. The familiar community-wide celebration of motorcycles and the Northwoods also began to take shape. The event continued to grow, with participants counted in the hundreds, and eventually the thousands. With events scattered across the Northwoods, it's hard to get an accurate count on just how many people now visit, but estimates have put tens of thousands of bikes in the area. Fastforward to the present, and the Fall Ride plays a crucial role in the local economy, bringing a boost to area businesses and new visitors to the Northwoods. That has recently been amplified by local tourism entities who have used targeted advertising to attract new visitors to the Northwoods, joining those who've been part of the tradition since the very beginning.

Published on 09/12/2024 under News Referendums have become a common part of school funding. In fact, more than 100 school districts send budget requests to voters this fall. The Tomahawk School District is currently in the final year of a three year referendum. While the district won't place a question on the November ballot, February appears likely. The Tomahawk School Board previously established a referendum committee to explore the possibility, and we recently heard an update. Administrator Wendell Quesinberry says, "After all the budget projections, and we looked out four years, we feel comfortable that we can keep the referendum amount the same." That is $3.25 million, though last year the district was able to under-levy. That means they didn't seek the full amount allowable. That's part of the district's effort to be responsible to the tax players. The school board still needs to finalize the language and approve the question that would appear on the ballot. As is the case in most successful referendums, the board expects to provide plenty of public information and outreach during the process.

Published on 09/12/2024 under News Mental health and substance use disorder affect all communities, people, and age groups. A gathering in Rhinelander this evening looks to end stigma and celebrate recovery. Community partners in Oneida County are teaming up to host Light Up the Night for Recovery. It's part of National Recovery Month in September and serves as a reminder that recovery is for everyone. An important of recovery is support. That's where the Light Up the Night event comes in. The family-friendly evening includes a community resource fair, but also games, refreshments, and a chance for story-sharing. People will be able to celebrate recovery, remember those whose lives were lost, and connect with others for recovery support. Jenny Chiamulera is helping organizer the event in her role as the Oneida County Community Health Specialist. She says, "Lived experience is valuable and story telling is a powerful tool used to provide information and help us understand what substance use disorder really is." One person who has seen those ups and downs of substance use is tonight's special guest speaker Tom Farley. His brother, Chris Farley, famously dealt with addiction during rise to comedy fame. For those that would like to attend, Light Up the Night will take place at Hodag Park in Rhinelander from 4:30pm to 8:30pm.

Published on 09/12/2024 under News The 2024 deer season gets underway this weekend with the opening of the archery season. Before heading into the field, the DNR is encouraging hunters to go over safe hunting practices, specifically the use of tree stands. Past surveys have shown a quarter of bow hunters have experienced a fall or near fall from an elevated stand, yet less than half say they use a safety harness when climbing. Officials would like to see that number go up. The DNR offered a few other tips for tree stand safety. First, inspect the tree, your stand, and your harness, especially if you haven't used them since last season. Always maintain 3 points of contact when climbing. That means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. Use a haul line to raise or lower your firearm or bow. Carry a cellphone and let someone know where you're hunting and when you plan to return. Along with tree stand safety, the DNR also continues to emphasize safety on ATVs and UTVs. These machines are often used by hunters to get to and from their stands. The archery season opens Saturday and runs through early January.-Photo provided by Wisconsin DNR

Published on 09/12/2024 under News With a November presidential election, politics have moved to the forefront. Coming this evening, Nicolet College will explore the changing landscape of politics through the eyes of two former Northwoods legislators. The Your Voice, Your Vote will feature Republican Joe Handrick of Minocqua (Wisconsin Assembly from 1995 to 2001) and Democrat Jim Holperin of Eagle River (Wisconsin Assembly from 1983 to 1995 and in the Wisconsin State Senate from 2009 to 2013). The pair are expected to share insights on how politics have evolved over the years, the dynamics of this year's elections, and strategies for engaging in productive dialogue with those who hold opposing viewpoints. Nicolet College President Kate Ferrel says, "The opportunity to host this event reflects Nicolet College's commitment to fostering open dialogue and civic engagement within our community." She added, "We are honored to provide a space where differing perspectives can come together to discuss important issues." Along with Handrick and Holperin, they've recruited Dan Hagen of Newswatch 12 to serve as moderator. Students and community members are invited. The event will take place in the Lakeside Center on the Nicolet Campus. Doors open at 7, with the event beginning at 7:30pm.

Published on 09/11/2024 under News As the local population temporarily surges for Fall Ride weekend, so too, does the Tomahawk Police Force. To help cover the expanded patrol here in the city, the Tomahawk Police Department relies on neighboring agencies to provide additional manpower. Each year, the Tomahawk Police Department requests mutual aid, with neighboring departments assigned officers to work in Tomahawk alongside the local police force. The goal is to increase law enforcement presence and visibility, particularly in the downtown area which hosts a number of Fall Ride events. In recent years, there haven't been any major incidents, a trend they'd like to continue. This year, Police Chief Al Elvins put out a call to fill 30 additional shifts via mutual aid. According to an update this past week, he was able to fill 29 shifts. The Merrill Police Department will fill 8 shifts; the Mountain Bay Police Department (serves Rothschild, Schofield, and Weston) will provide another 21 shifts. To get into the Fall Ride Spirit, the officers typically trade in their traditional police blues for special Harley-Davidson inspired black and orange polo shirts. While there are already some early-bird arrivals and activities taking place, the Fall Ride unofficially kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Published on 09/11/2024 under News A proposal has been approved that will update the districts represented on the Tomahawk School Board. As we previewed Tuesday, the Tomahawk School Board has been considering reapportionment, adjusting the composition of the school board seats to better reflect current populations. The current boundaries were drawn in the 1970s. An ad-hoc committee sought a 3-3-3 model: three districts of similar populations, with three representatives who would serve three year terms. As noted by board member Dave Long, each district would have one seat in each election cycle. They were able to reach that goal with just a few small changes. The City of Tomahawk currently has four seats on the nine member board despite making up a third of the overall district population. That extra seat will become the third in a newly merged grouping comprised of the Towns of Nokomis, King, Harrison, Wilson and Little Rice. The third grouping, the Towns of Bradley, Somo, Tomahawk, Birch and Rock Falls, will remain unchanged. While the ad-hoc committee prepared the proposal and the school board endorsed it, approval was needed by those attending Tuesday night's Tomahawk School District annual meeting. Around two dozen people were in attendance and gave unanimous approval following a few brief remarks from the board. The changes will take place over the next three years as the current board terms expire on their regular three year cycle. And rather than waiting another 50 years, board member Kay Kissenger Wolfe suggested a regular review every 10 years. Adopted New Districts Existing Districts (to be changed) •City of Tomahawk-3 seats •Towns of Nokomis, Harrison, King, Wilson, and Little Rice-3 seats •Towns of Bradley, Birch, Skanawan Rock Falls and Tomahawk-3 seats•City of Tomahawk-4 seats •Towns of Bradley, Birch, Skanawan, Tomahawk, Rock Falls -3 seats •Towns of Nokomis, Wilson and Little Rice-1 seat •Towns of Harrison and King-1 seat

Published on 09/11/2024 under News On this anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Tomahawk Community is once again hosting a special observance. While those tragic events 23 years ago occurred hundreds of miles away, the Tomahawk community has continued to recognize the day, those who lost their lives, and the tremendous bravery of those who responded. Other communities have seen similar programs come and go over the years, the Tomahawk observance has been held on an annual basis. For the organizers, a majority first responders themselves, it's a way to ensure those in the community "never forget." The program also provides an educational opportunity for a younger generation who either weren't born or were too young to remember. Touching on the impacts of that date, the ceremony includes local police, fire and EMS, along with city representatives, military, and community members. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The observance is in Veteran's Memorial Park. A 'Time of Reflection' takes place at 10am, with the official program starting at 10:30am.

Published on 09/11/2024 under News While the fall semester is just getting underway, Nicolet College students can already look for some financial assistance for next year. The Nicolet College Foundation opened their annual scholarship application period for the 2025 spring and summer terms. Foundation director Heather Shallock says, "We know that financial support can be a game-changer for students, helping them stay focused on their education." She added,"Our donors are committed to making education more accessible, and every year we provide hundreds of scholarships to help students reach their academic goals." As in the past, the scholarships are for both new and returning students attending Nicolet either part-time or full time. Those interested can complete the online application available in the scholarship portal on the Nicolet website. The deadline is September 30. The Nicolet College Success team will host a scholarship workshop to offer assistance. That's next Thursday, September 19.

Published on 09/11/2024 under News With archery season kicking off this weekend, the DNR is encouraging hunters to know their target. While white-tailed deer are far more prevalent, Wisconsin is home to a growing elk population as well. The DNR recently brought back a campaign to remind hunters of the differences. Three key indicators are size, color/appearance, and antlers. First, a typical adult elk is 1-2 feet taller than a white-tailed deer. An elk will also be darker brown, with black legs and a mane. Deer on the other hand are lighter tan, their legs match their bodies, and their namesake white tail. As for the antlers, a bull elk's sweep backwards, a white-tailed buck's curve forward. And in Wisconsin, accessories make a difference. Most elk either have an ear tag or GPS collar. Elk taken without a tag may result in a fine and a revocation of hunting privileges. Archery season in Wisconsin begins Saturday and runs through early January.

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