Month: April 2024

Wildfire Crews responded to a fire in Vilas County Sunday Afternoon, as a part of what had already been a very active week. The fire burned around 40 acres, according to officials from the Plum Lake Fire Department. The persistent windy conditions, along with hilly terrain and previous tornado damage in the area made fighting the fire difficult.  There were no injuries reported, although two individuals were examined by EMS. The Department of Natural Resources responded to more than 120 wildfires last week, becoming one of the busiest wildfire weeks…

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The Tomahawk Fire Department was recently presented with a $1,000 donation from Mutual of Wausau Insurance Corporation’s Grant Program, via the CIS Insurance Group. The grant was received by Fire Chief Paul Winter, who was also recognized by the department for his efforts in completing the grant. 

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The Tomahawk High School Forensics Team competed at this past weekend’s 129th annual Wisconsin Speech and Dramatic Arts state festival in DeForest. The team scored well with three students earning perfect scores resulting in gold medals, twelve students securing silver medal honors and eight students also receiving the bronze. While judging at the state festival is typically tougher, many of the students had their best scores of the season. The team has been hard at work with their coaches since early January.

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RHINELANDER – The Rhinelander Police Department will be receiving a $23,000 state opioid grant from the Department of Health Services. The State of Wisconsin expects to receive more than $750 million as a result of the settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers. A portion of that payout will go to the Department of Health Services. The DHS then set aside $3 million for law enforcement programs such as community drug disposal options, staff training and education, and treatment for jail residents with an opioid addiction. Twelve agencies in total will…

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Merrill – Families and friends gathered at Merrill’s skatepark on Wednesday April 17 to honor the memories of Aiden Grefe, 17 and Dakota Brown, 16. Aiden Grefe loved to spend his free time at the skatepark. The date marked 1 year since Aiden and Dakota were found dead after getting lost in the Enterprise Forest. The two teens from Merrill had been at a party in a remote location near the edge of Lincoln, Oneida and Langlade Counties. A candle-lighting that had been scheduled for the event was canceled due…

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MERRILL – Merrill Area Public Schools board member Linda Yingling has announced that she will step down from her role effective immediately. Yingling shared in a letter to the School District that her decision is based on some personal and medical issues. Linda served on the Board for more than ten years. Board President Kevin Blake thanked Linda for her years of service on the Board. During the Boards next Special Organizational meeting on April 22, 2024 they will strategize on how best to fill Yingling’s vacancy.

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TOMAHAWK – The Great Wisconsin Birdathon kicked off this week, and the Tomahawk Public Library is shifting it’s focus from just books to also assure that they’re working “for the birds”. Those participating statewide include not just libraries, but schools, bird organizations, schools and any interested individuals. Seventy-two teams took part in the event last year, registering 274 species of birds. The Birdathon includes two parts. From April 15 through June 15, birdwatchers dust off the binoculars to spot and record as many species of birds as they can during…

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RHINELANDER – The Rhinelander Chamber has officially announced the return of the Hodag Heritage Festival. The week-long celebration, now just under a month away, began back in 2021. The Hodag has been a part of the fabric of Rhinelander for more than a century. The Chamber says the festival will have more Hodag and cryptid vendors, food trucks and activities than ever before, promising something for everyone. A schedule of events for the festival can be found on the Rhinelander Chamber website.

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