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Update: Victim Id'd in Fatal Oneida County Crash Monday Published on 11/21/2024 under News

Officials have provided an update on a fatal crash in Oneida County Monday afternoon.

That two vehicle collision happened on Highway 17 in the Town of Pine Lake. Based on their initial investigation, they believe a southbound SUV crossed over the center-line and struck an oncoming vehicle.

The driver of the southbound vehicle died from his injuries. He has now been identified as 60 year old Mark Carlson of Woodbury, Minnesota.

The other driver was airlifted to a Wausau hospital for treatment of serious injuries. No update on their condition was provided.

The crash remains under investigation.

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One person is dead, another seriously injured following a crash in Oneida County Monday afternoon.

According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, responders were paged to a two vehicle collision on Highway 17, just south of Mud Lake Road, in the Town of Pine Lake. The call came in at shortly after 1pm.

Upon arrival, deputies found a head-on collision with the driver of the southbound vehicle deceased. Their name wasn't immediately released. The driver of the northbound vehicle was airlifted to Wausau for treatment of serious injuries. No update on their condition was provided. The two drivers were the lone occupants of their vehicles.

Based on their initial investigation, which included a statement from the northbound operator, it appears the southbound vehicle had crossed over the center line.

Highway 17 was closed and detoured for several hours after the crash, which remains under investigation.

In Other News

Tomahawk School District Using Multiple Ways to Inform Public on February Referendum

Published on 01/27/2025 under News In a little more than three weeks, the Tomahawk School District will head to referendum. In the coming weeks, their representatives will be reaching out to the public. Communication is often key when it comes to the success of a referendum. That includes explaining to voters why the district is seeking additional funding. As we previously covered, the district is seeking to extend their expiring referendum, at $3.25 million annually, for another four years. The district has under-levied several times during the current referendum. That means they have not taxed the maximum amount allowed. The district is utilizing their blueprint from their last successful effort with a multi-prong approach to community outreach. That includes three public information meetings, the first coming up this evening. It'll be held in the school auditorium at 6pm. The other two public informational meetings will be Wednesday (January 29) at 6pm and Thursday, February 13 at 5:30pm. District representatives have also been attending town board meetings. And they've created a referendum website to provide additional information and answer frequently asked questions. Ultimately it will come down to the voters on February 18. Tomahawk isn't the only Northwoods school on the ballot next month. Northland Pines is also seeking additional funding. Then come April there are 88 school referendum questions on the ballot around the state, including Wausau, Rhinelander, Crandon, and Three Lakes.

Published on 01/27/2025 under News One person has died following a snowmobile crash in Vilas County over the weekend. According to the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, that fatal snowmobile crash happened Saturday evening in the Town of Plum Lake. At shortly after 7pm, dispatch received call that a snowmobile operator was injured after striking a tree. This happened on the shores of Star Lake near Rearing Pond Road. The victim was brought to a staging location for potential transport by medical helicopter. Life saving efforts were attempted, however the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim is currently being withheld pending notification of their family. No other information on the crash was provided and the DNR is leading the investigation. According to the DNR, this is the second fatal snowmobile crash in Wisconsin this year. Vilas County snowmobile trails have been open for a little more than a week.

Published on 01/27/2025 under News Snowmobile riders in Oneida County will have to wait a bit longer to hit the trails. The Oneida County Snowmobile Council and the Oneida County Forestry Department issued a joint statement ahead of the weekend announcing that the snowmobile trail system in Oneida County will remained closed at this time. While the area has received several minor accumulations of snow in recent weeks, snow cover is below average. They wrote, "The decision to legally open snowmobile trails each year is often a difficult one and not taken lightly. As members of the communities we serve, we are well aware of how critical snowmobile season is to the Northwoods and how trail closures can adversely affect businesses and tourism dollars." But they also noted that they also have to consider rider safety as well as impacts to the lands, both public and private, over which the trails pass. Riding those the trails with current snow conditions could potentially damage the ground. And until the trails are officially open, they're once again asking riders to stay off. They added that a failure to do so could result in citations or penalties from local law enforcement.

Published on 01/27/2025 under News The last week in January means the return of Catholic Schools Week. Here in Tomahawk, St. Marys festivities got underway over the weekend and events and activities will continue throughout this week. Ahead of the celebration, St. Marys principal Juanita Skubal and parent Sara Taves stopped by the WJJQ studios to talk about the school and preview this week's events. Skubal explained the goal of Catholic Schools Week is to celebrate their not only their students, staff, volunteers, but also the community and the Parish. She noted that St. Mary's prides itself on being a family-oriented school and this provides an excellent showcase. She also highlighted the good working relationship with Tomahawk Elementary school, acknowledging in other communities there isn't always cooperation and collaboration between public and private schools. Taves says she attended St. Marys as a child. Now a mother, her two children attend. She highlighted the small class sizes which allow one-on-one connection with teacher and student. This also allows activities which incorporate the entire campus, allowing older students to interact with the younger kids. As for Catholic Schools Week specifically, the festivities actually got underway on Sunday with a mass, brunch and open house. Throughout this week, they've invited a number of community members, many St. Mary's alumni themselves, to teach mini-courses on topics art, baking, poetry and handwriting. For this year's community service project, they'll be creating cards of encouragement for community members undergoing health issues. And to keep it fun, the student's get to skip their uniforms for a series of themed dress-up days. While the first part of the week is focused on campus, the students will be heading to Rhinelander on Thursday for the annual Bishop's mass where they'll be joined by hundreds of students from Catholic schools in the region. Then Friday it's back to Rhinelander where Rouman Cinema is hosting a movie day. You can listen to the entire conversation in the WJJQ Audio Center.

Published on 01/27/2025 under News A number of students from around North Central Wisconsin competed in chess while also supporting a good cause. Edgar hosted eight area schools for a chess tournament dubbed 'Checkmate to Homelessness." In addition to the chess, the students raised awareness and support for homelessness. The competitors even collected items including blankets, winter weather gear and toiletries to be donated to the Wausau Homeless Shelter. Colin Hanson is the chess advisor for Edgar. He says, "This tournament was more than just a chess competition. It was a chance for our community to come together, celebrate the spirit of chess, and support a cause that affects so many families in Central Wisconsin." As for the battles on the board, a pair of Antigo students won the individual competitions, Tate Gabriel topped the Open Division while Sullivan Schwebler of Antigo led the u1000 division. For the team competition, it was host Edgar who won both divisions. The tournament was held in collaboration with the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation and featured not only Edgar and Antigo, but also Mosinee, Phillips, Colby, Marathon, Merrill, and Abbotsford, and some home-schooled players. Danna Gabriel is advisor for the Antigo Chess Club. Gabriel noted, "The tournament generated significant momentum for chess in this region. Advisors from all participating schools engaged in meaningful discussions on how to increase the frequency of chess meetings and host more tournaments at their respective schools." -Photo provided by Antigo Chess Club-

Published on 01/27/2025 under News Northern Wisconsin has a number of winter sports activities. Some of the most popular do come with unique risks when it comes to head injuries. Staff at Aspirus are reminding participants to take concussions seriously. Dr. Joseph Benert is a sports medicine physician at Aspirus. He says, "In sports like hockey, skiing, and snowboarding, you're moving fast, and concussions happen more often than people realize." He notes that a sport-appropriate helmet is a great start, but it's also important to understand risks, recognize symptoms, and knowing what to do when a concussion is suspected. Concussions occur when an impact or jolt causes the brain to move rapidly in the skull. Dr. Benert says, "It may be tempting to brush off a fall or hard hit to keep playing, but that can lead to more severe injury." He added, "Concussion symptoms can be subtle and not immediately obvious to others." During the first 24 to 48 hours after a concussion, rest is critical to allow the brain to recover. Then moderate movement activities can be re-introduced. Benert also touched on moderating screen time when recovering, as eye strain can make symptoms worse. Benert says, "Winter sports can be a fun and active way to enjoy the season, as long as safety is a priority. Taking the right precautions doesn't take away the fun."

Published on 01/27/2025 under Sports In a match-up of two state hockey powers, #1 in Division 2 Tomahawk outlasted #4 in Division 1 St. Mary Springs Saturday at SARA Park in Tomahawk, 6-3. The Hatchets got production from their top four scorers and a great night in goal from Trevor Seliskar. The Senior Goaltender stopped 35 of 38 shots. Tomahawk got goals from Austin Lamer, his 100th of his career, Sawyer Hanna, two from Jonah Dickens, and two from Jett Reilly. The win by Tomahawk gave the Ledgers just their second loss of the season. Tomahawk goes to 14-3 on the season and have their final Great Northern Conference game of the season Tuesday at Northland Pines. Tune in for the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 6:35 and opening faceoff at 7:00. Alex Koch and Zach Garner will be in the broadcast booth.

Published on 01/24/2025 under News The Tomahawk Kinship program has been a staple in Tomahawk for nearly three decades. January, National Mentorship Month, dovetails nicely with the organization and their mission. The seeds for Kinship were planted back in 1997 when a Tomahawk Together community input group identified the need for a mentorship program. By December of that same year, the first match was made. As they kick off their 28th year, Patti Hilgendorf and Brittney Woebbeking stopped by the WJJQ studios to discuss Tomahawk Kinship. Woebbeking serves as the organization's match coordinator, paring the youth with their adult mentor. That involves reviewing interests to try an make a lasting match. Hilgendorf notes that a mentor's qualification is simply "a passion for wanting to make a difference in a child's life." While they currently have 41 active matches, there are still around 24 kinskids awaiting theirs. Hilegendorf was also grateful for the continued community support noting that 90% of their operations are covered by local contributions. Beyond the traditional mentor/mentee matches, Kinship also provides other outreach including an after school tutoring program and KinsClub which offers various after-school activities and outings for youth in a group setting. They're also looking to revitalize their dormant lunch buddy program. This allows the mentor to visit the school and share a meal and short activity with their youth match. Hilgendorf suggested this would be a good opportunity for a local business who wanted to get their staff involved. For those that would like to learn more about Kinship, their website has information, or check out that morning conversation in the WJJQ Audio Center.

Published on 01/24/2025 under News Car racing is typically reserved for the summer months, but folks in Merrill are gearing up for another season racing on the ice. After testing and tune-up last weekend, Saturday marks the return of the Merrill Ice Drags on Lake Alexander. Often called "the fastest 1/8 mile on ice," the Merrill Ice Drags date back to 1965, making this the 60th anniversary season. For those unfamiliar, it can be quite the spectacle of head to head drag racing on the side by side tracks. While some participants have cars that look like street vehicles, others have invested a bit more into paint schemes, spoilers, and special studded tires. The racing family is also community oriented, as the Ice Draggers have given back to a lengthy list of Merrill community groups over the years. The races are always dependent on Mother Nature. That meant last year's racing was canceled. But they've rebounded this year, noting ice conditions are the best they have looked in years. For general spectators, the Ice Drags are free, though donations are always welcome. They've also got raffles, merchandise, and even a food truck on site. The regular season races are each of the next four Saturdays, followed by the championship Super Saturday on February 22. Races begin at 11:30am.

Published on 01/24/2025 under Sports The Hatchet Hockey team's dominant offensive performances continued with an 11-2 win at Antigo Thursday night. Tomahawk got on the Red Robins early and often, notching seven goals in the first period. Jonah Dickens had four goals in the first period alone. The Hatchets also got goals from Jett Reilly, Beau Stromberg, Austin Lamer, Brayden Lamer, and Sawyer Hanna. The win improves Tomahawk's record to 12-3 on the season and 6-0 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Saturday for a showdown with #4 in Division 1 St. Mary Springs. Alex Koch and Zach Garner will be in the broadcast booth with the Fehrman Orthodontics Radio Pregame Show at 1:35 and opening faceoff at 2:00.

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