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New Disc Golf Course Coming to Boulder Junction Published on 03/12/2025 under News

Disc golf is growing in popularity, and Northwoods players will soon have a new course to try out.

Boulder Junction Parks and Recreation recently shared their plans for the new Tall Pines Disc Golf Course. The 18-hole course is planned for some town-owned land directly east of the Boulder Junction Community Building.

Laura Bertch, Park Board Chair said in the announcement, "This new facility will enhance Boulder Junction's outdoor offerings, attract tourists, and provide a year-round, accessible activity for both residents and visitors." They hope the new course will be a natural draw for players seeking an excellent experience in Wisconsin's beautiful Northwoods.

Like a majority of disc golf courses, Tall Pines will be free to play outside of occasional tournaments and special events. An advantage of disc golf is it's affordability. Newcomers can typically purchase a starter set for around $25.

They've already designed the course, working with retired professional player Mike Kobach. The early arrival of spring should help, they hope to break ground next month. According to the announcement they're tentatively eyeing Memorial Day Weekend for their grand opening.

This is the latest in a series of recreation improvements undertaken up in Boulder Junction including an all-abilities playground, a new basketball court, and recently the Ribbon, an ice skating trail looping through the woods.

You can visit their website, BoulderatPlay.com to learn more about these project and receive updates.

Proposed layout of Tall Pines Disc Golf Course in Boulder Junction on boulderatplay.com

In Other News

More than Meets the Eye; New Tomahawk Main Street Logo Features Meaningful Color Selections

Published on 03/12/2025 under News When it comes to art, there's often more than meets the eye. That's the case with the new Tomahawk Main Street logo. Tomahawk Main Street recently unveiled the new branding. On the surface, the logo is a simple stylized streetlight and workmark utilizing a colorful palette. But the design also has plenty of symbolism. Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz shared some of the behind-the-scenes work on the design, which took nearly a year to complete. They teamed up with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation which provided a marketing and design specialist. Locally they worked with focus groups and business owners. The final logo was actually an entirely different concept from the first pitch. While Turkiewicz said they first idea wasn't bad, it also wasn't exactly what they were looking for. As for the components of the logo, it's noticeably missing trees, a common element in many logos here in the Northwoods. Turkiewicz said that was intentional, instead they utilized two different shades of green in the design which represents the trees and the Northwoods. In fact, all of the colors in the logo were done intentionally. The three separate shades of blue represent the convergence of the Somo, Tomahawk, and Wisconsin Rivers in the city. And the yellow is meant to evoke warmth and light. The branding was unveiled at the annual State of the Street annual meeting last month. They've already begun to roll out the new logo with their online presence, and will continue to integrate the new branding through the spring and summer. Tomahawk Main Street provided the symbolism behind the colors in their new logo.

Published on 03/12/2025 under News The spring election is just a few weeks away, and the Rhinelander School District continues their community outreach with a pending referendum question on the ballot. As we've seen time after time, communication is key, often through public information sessions and community presentations. The Rhinelander School District will be hosting a public info meeting, scheduled for 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the Rhinelander High School Commons. The district is seeking to increase their existing referendum ,while extending it. In the end, it would allow the district to exceed revenue limits by $7 million starting next school year and through the 28-29 school year. The district has created a website to provide further information. Rhinelander voters won't be the only ones considering school funding. There are more than 80 school referendum questions on the ballot. Locally, that includes Elcho, Prentice, Three Lakes, and Wausau. And last month, voters in Tomahawk and Northland Pines approved referendum requests.

Published on 03/12/2025 under News A Forest County woman is accused of stealing nearly $100,000 from her elderly father. According to a DoJ announcement, Heather Robinson of Laona is facing a single count of theft in a business setting, crime against an elder. According to the criminal complaint, Robinson was appointed guardian for her father, who lives in a private, long-term care nursing facility in Forest County including making payments from his bank accounts. An investigation uncovered Ms. Robinson stole more than $95,000 from her father's bank account between September 2023 and October 2024. The complaint further alleges that around two thirds of the funds taken were used for online gambling purposes. The Vilas County District Attorney has been assigned to prosecute the case. Robinson is scheduled to maker her initial appearance in court on April 15.

Published on 03/12/2025 under News Wildlife artists have another opportunity to have their artwork featured on the state's series of bird stamps available with the hunting tags. The DNR recently launched their annual art competition. Winning entries will appear on next year's wild turkey, pheasant or waterfowl stamps. The DNR says the contest offers a unique opportunity for Wisconsin artists to showcase their artwork statewide while also promoting wildlife management. Funds from those stamp sales support species management including habitat restoration, education and research projects. Over the years, Northwoods artists have fared quite well in the competition, winning on numerous occasions. Rules for this year's contest are available on the DNR website. This year's judging will take place later this summer.

Published on 03/11/2025 under News Spring is often seen as a time of change and rebirth, and the Tomahawk Main Street organization recently unveiled a new look. At their annual meeting, Tomahawk Main Street officially unveiled their updated branding, highlighted by a new logo. For those that haven't seen it, the focal point is streetlight and wordmark that utilizes a blue, yellow, and green palette. We talked with Main Street Director Jennifer Turkiewicz about the reasons for the change, along with the process, and what comes next. She noted that while Tomahawk Main Street was founded in 2008, the inspiration for the original logo was even older; it was based off the former Tomahawk Business Council design. Turkiewicz added that they wanted to keep up with times and establish a new and refreshing look for the organization and the district. They were able to receive assistance from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to work with a marketing and design specialist. Over the past year, they were able to identify key traits and design elements, collaborating with focus groups, business owners, and community members to finalize they design. While the logo is the most visual element, the re-branding also included new vision, mission and belief statements. Turkiewicz also teased the work of their new streetscape committee as well. They're beginning to implement the new design elements as the busy spring and summer seasons approach. That includes their online presence and promotional materials and eventually coming to their windows, banners and Main Street Office. Later this week, we'll have a bit more on the meaning behind the logo specifically including the meaning behind some of the design elements in in the artwork.

Published on 03/11/2025 under News A former staffer at the Lincoln County Jail has now been charged after allegedly injuring an inmate. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation announced Jason Meister of Pearson is facing charges of abuse of a resident of a penal facility and substantial battery. Court records show the 44 year old made an initial appearance in court Monday. Future court dates weren't scheduled. The charges were the result of an incident on February 28 at the Lincoln County Jail where Meister worked as a correctional sergeant. According to the criminal complaint, Meister physically assaulted the inmate in their cell. The inmate sustained two broken ribs and a laceration above their eye that required stitches. The incident was captured by surveillance video. As a result of an internal investigation, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office fired Meister. The DoJ is leading the investigation and said that the Sheriff's Office is cooperating fully.

Published on 03/11/2025 under News After a brief reprieve, it appears the Northwoods snowmobile season is once again concluding with Iron and Vilas Counties announcing the closure of their trail system Tuesday morning. This comes after Oneida County closed their trails on Monday. Snowmobilers got an extra weekend of riding after last week's winter snow event. But a warm-up followed, leaving many trail segments deteriorating. This abbreviated season got a late start, and follows last winter when the trails never opened due to a lack of snow.

+ Read More Fire at Vilas County Home

Published on 03/11/2025 under News No injuries were reported following a fire early this morning in Vilas County. According to the Vilas County Sheriff's Office, dispatch received a call from the home owner at around 4am Tuesday morning. They indicated the roof of their home was on fire, and began to spread into the lower level of the home.. Responders were paged to Witches Lake Road in Arbor Vitae. Upon arrival, they found heavy smoke coming from the residence with the fire appearing to come from the attic. All of the occupants were able to evacuate the home safely; one firefighter was treated on the scene after sustaining a leg injury. The Arbor Vitae Fire Department was able to contain and quickly extinguish the fire. According to an update provided by the Fire Department, they believe the fire originated in an electrical box. They did have smoke alarms, and the release highlighted the importance.

Published on 03/11/2025 under News Each March, when we set our clocks forward, it brings conversations about sleep. In fact, the week after daylight savings is Sleep Awareness Week, and we heard from Asprius about the importance of healthy sleep habits. They noted that consistent, high-quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health. Rebecca Wagner works as a Polysomnographic Technologist in the Aspirus Sleep Lab. She says, "Sleep is foundational to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being." She added, "Insufficient sleep can lead to memory problems, increased anxiety, depression, and additional strain on bodily functions." For those who struggle with persistent sleep difficulties, a professional sleep study might provide answers. There, they monitor vital signs, oxygen levels, and sleep patterns to diagnose conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, REM sleep behavior disorders, insomnia, and narcolepsy. But Wagner notes that people can practice good sleep hygiene on their own. She says you shouldn't use naps as a way to make up for sleep loss. She also recommends steps to wind down before heading to bed including avoiding rigorous activities and limiting screen time.

Published on 03/11/2025 under News A Merrill man is facing multiple charges including OWI as a repeat offender following a crash last week. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report, a deputy responded to Highway 64 in the Town of Pine River for a single vehicle crash. The deputy located an unoccupied vehicle in the ditch, and attempted to locate the vehicle owner at his last known address. While the deputy was searching away from the scene, the man allegedly returned a tractor and pulled the vehicle out of the ditch. A short time later the deputy observed the vehicle traveling on Poplar Road. During the traffic stop, the deputy says the man pulled into a driveway and attempted to flee on foot before eventually complying. According to the Sheriff's Report, the 53 year old was brought to the jail for 4th offense OWI, resisting or obstructing, and fleeing an officer. Other notes from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Report: It was a relatively short sheriff's report which including another repeat OWI offense. The deputy responded to a complaint of a reckless driver on southbound Highway 51 on Saturday. The vehicle was located, with deputies observing similar erratic driving. The driver, a 55 year old Hatley man, was asked to perform a field sobriety test. As a result he was book in the jail for second offense OWI and resisting. The number of vehicle deer crashes was back up slightly with 5 reported on Lincoln County roadways. Drivers also reported a collision with a bird and an unknown animal, in accidents that caused reportable damage.

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