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Bootlegger's Featured at NFL 'Taste of Draft' Event Published on 04/23/2025 under News

While the first pick in the NFL Draft won't come until Thursday, festivities have been taking place all week long. A local restaurant is being featured at a special fine dining event this evening.

Wisconsin is well-known for its supper clubs, which serve as inspiration for tonight's 'Taste of the Draft'. Twenty supper clubs were invited to serve up signature dishes. Ticket holders will get to sample the cuisine while mingling with Packer legends and restaurateurs.

With Green Bay hosting, the Fox Valley is well-represented. Northern Wisconsin will also be showcased with Bootlegger's Lodge, located just north of Tomahawk on the shores of Lake Nokomis. Known for their steak selections, the Bootlegger's entry will be a New York strip with a cherry demi-glace.

In addition to the fine dining, the Taste of the Draft also serves as a fundraiser for GENYOUth. The non-profit is focused on tackling student food insecurity and promtion of physical activity in youth. That includes grants awarded to schools.

Tonight's event will be hosted by celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern with others include LeRoy Butler, Ahman Green, and even Miss America.

In Other News

Work Zone Awareness Week; Ensuring Crews Make it Home Safely

Published on 04/23/2025 under News It won't be long before road construction barrels are out on area roads. Officials are reminding motorists to make it a safe summer for everyone to share the road. It is Work Zone Awareness week, a time to promote cautious driving in work zones and respecting road construction crews. We've heard from both local law enforcement and the Department of Transportation in this messaging. The theme of this year's campaign is 'Respect the Zone, So We All Get Home." DOT Secretary Kristina Boardman, "This year's work zone safety theme should resonate with all of us; we all want to get home to our loved ones after a workday." Boardman also recognized the two construction workers and eight motorists who tragically died in work zone accidents. In 2024, DoT data showed more than 2,100 work zone crashes. Common factors include speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving, with cell phone use in particular. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office offered up a similar warning. It came after a a deputy was approached by a highway worker who reported motorists were not appropriately slowing down in a work zone. They wrote, "Please remember those are real people out there just trying to make our roads safer, and as such they deserve to work in as safe of an environment that they can."

Published on 04/23/2025 under News Summer roadwork will be ramping up in the coming weeks, and Lincoln County Highway Commissioner Jason Lemmer offered a preview of the local construction calendar. According to the announcement, they are planning resurfacing projects on segments of five county highways, 13 miles in all. This work is currently scheduled between April 30 and July 3. •CTH A – Erickson Road to Willow Road (1.54 Miles) •CTH C – CTH JJ to CTH K (1.5 Miles) •CTH CC – STH 8 to Somo Dam Road •CTH E – US 86 South to Spirit River Bridge (1.48 Miles) •CTH U – US 8 to CTH A (2.11 Miles)Around 9 miles of County D will have chip-sealing treatment in early August. And August is also set aside for some culvert replacements including County W. During work, roads will be limited to local traffic and lengthy delays can be expected at times. As these projects get underway, we'll provide details and construction updates as we receive them.

Published on 04/23/2025 under Sports The Hatchet golfers began the 2025 season on a high note with an impressive performance against Three Lakes, winning 118-143. The top three performers were Sawyer Hanna with 37, Jake Albert with 39, and Austin Lamer with 42. All Hatchet golfers opened the season with a score below 50. Scores below 45 were posted by Jordyn Carew, Oliver Childers, and Rocco Carew. The Hatchets have their first invite of the season today in Barron. Tee-off is at 9:00.

Published on 04/23/2025 under Sports The Hatchet softball team notched their second win of the season at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Tuesday night, hanging on to win, 8-6. Tomahawk scored five runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined to put the game away, including a three-run sixth. The Hatchets also got 16 hits from nine different players. Camryn Kraklow pitched a complete game, giving up just four earned runs on eight hits. Averi Petta finished three-for-four with a double, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Sophie Olsen went two for four with a double and two RBIs. The Hatchets also got two hits from Autumn Merrigan, Aubrey Seubert, Lydia Ziert, and Kylie Peissig. The win puts Tomahawk at 2-2 on the season and 0-2 in Great Northern Conference play. The Hatchets are back in action Thursday for a home Great Northern Conference battle against Antigo.

Published on 04/23/2025 under Sports Tomahawk's track and field squads came away with top finishes in the Medford Outdoor Invite Tuesday. The Hatchet girls placed first overall with 114 team points. Tomahawk had four first-place finishes in the meet. Alicia Voermans placed first in the 100 meter dash. Faith Derleth finished first in the 200 meter dash. The other two top finishers were Elise Gibeault in the 400 meter run and Norah Mann in the 3200 meter run. The Hatchet boys placed fifth. Tomahawk had one top finish, who was Sam Zastrow in the 800 meter run. Hudson Seymur placed second in the shot put and Nathan Rosenmeier placed second in the High Jump. Tomahawk's next outdoor invite is Thursday up in Northland Pines.

Published on 04/23/2025 under News After a successful discussion last month, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office is bringing their presentation on online safety to Minocqua. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office announced plans to offer another presentation on Internet Crimes Against Children. This comes after positive feedback to a similar presentation in Rhinelander last month. They plan to cover internet safety, sextortion, the role of law enforcement, and what people can do to help prevent themselves or others from becoming victims. They'll also leave time at the end for a Q and A session. They noted that the presentation will be suitable for all ages. It'll take place next Wednesday at 5pm at Lakeland Union High School.

Published on 04/22/2025 under News Public transportation isn't just for big cities. For more than a century, Merrill has offered various forms of transit including their modern Merrill-Go-Round which celebrated the 50th anniversary on Monday. As part of the festivities, the city provided a little bit of history. City transportation actually dates back to the 1800's, 1890 to be exact. That is when Merrill became the second city in the state to offer a trolley system. That service came to an end in 1925, thanks to a fire in their trolley barn. In the years that followed the city offered a motorized bus and subsidized taxi service. By 1973, advocate Delores Kelly convinced city leaders to bring back bus the bus service for elderly residents and those with special needs. Growing demand led to expanded service for all residents two years later. Initially known as Dial-A-Bus, through a naming contest became Merrill-Go-Round. Yesterday's celebration with Mayor Steve Hass, including two individuals that submitted that name, Michael Ravn and Jeanne Custy, sister of Joanne Andress. Today, the city says Merrill-Go-Round provides point-to-point transportation for around 65,000 riders each year. Thanks to federal subsidization, they have kept the cost affordable, less than $2 per person.

Published on 04/22/2025 under News Today is Earth Day and several groups are teaming up to host an event in Rhinelander this afternoon. The Northwoods Community Garden and Nicolet College are helping organize the 13th annual Earth Day Sustainability Fair. This year's theme is "Go Green, Save Green." In addition to protecting the planet, they'll also be focused on how earth-friendly actions can also protect your wallet. They'll have five different speakers on a rotating schedule. Among the topics: tree planting and landscaping; simplicity gardening; solar conversion; and off-grid living. And noting the importance of the next generation, a series of children's activities including seed bombs, recycled paper mosaics, suncatchers, and Legos. In addition to the speaker series, they've also got exhibitors, art, music, and food trucks. Today's sustainability fair will take place in the Lakeside Center on the Nicolet Campus from 3pm-7pm, and admission is free.

Published on 04/22/2025 under News Earth Day has special meaning here in Wisconsin. Former Governor and Senator Gaylord Nelson was instrumental in creating the worldwide movement. People are encouraged to use the day as inspiration to protect the planet all year long. Simple actions around the home can make a difference. In his official Earth Day declaration, Governor Evers notes "small steps can have a big impact on helping protect and conserve Wisconsin's natural resources, improve local neighborhoods and communities, outdoor spaces, and parks, and help respond to and mitigate climate change." The DNR regularly offers tips for people looking to reduce their footprint by changing their habits. Just a few quick examples include limiting food waste. This can be done by shopping smarter and composting. Check for leaks around the home to reduce water waste. Improve your recycling practices. And focus on native plants and trees in your landscape and consider natural spaces to improve habitat for wildlife including pollinators.

Published on 04/22/2025 under News Wisconsin Drug-Take Back event returns this weekend, an effort to properly dispose of unwanted medications. But it is just as important to properly store medications that are still being used. According to the CDC, approximately 35,000 young children are brought to the ER because they accidentally ingested medicine. A campaign through Aspirus highlights a few simple precautions that can make all the difference in protecting children from accidental poisoning. Stetson Potrykus, is an Aspirus Pharmacy Resident. He notes children's curiosity can put them at risk, as they may mistake medications for something harmless. In addition to prescriptions, this can also include over-the-counter meds, vitamins, and supplements. Just a few simple steps they are encouraging: Keep meds out of sight and out of reach of little ones; and be mindful of medicines you carry in purses, pockets or pill organizers. Use of child-resistant containers, and re-lock safety caps. Teach children about medicine safety. Avoid referring to medicine as "candy," to get children to take their medications. And properly dispose of un-used and unwanted medications through programs such as Wisconsin's Drug Take Back.

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