Year: 2024

Longtime Rhinelander resident Paul Haftarski will join an elite group of individual come this weekend. Mr Haftarski starts a new century as he will turn 100 years old on Saturday the 27th. Roughly one-fortieth of a percent of the US population reaches this lofty mark. Haftarski was born in Poland in 1924. While hitting the century mark is a significant accomplishment in itself, he defied the odds in just making it to the age of 21. When he was 17, his father sent him to technical school where he spent…

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Small business owner Andi Rich announced on Monday that she will be challenging current Republican incumbent Mary Felzkowski to represent Northern Wisconsin’s 12th Senate District. Felzkowski announced her bid for re-election in March. Rich holds degrees from Lakeland College in Business Administration and Marketing. She currently works in the insurance adjusting industry, however she is also licensed as a Wisconsin General Contractor. Rich plans to focus on PFAS clean water, rural school funding, infrastructure, and supporting local economies. Boundaries for the 12th Senate district remain mostly the same following the…

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71-year-old Myron F. Brooks of Gilman died on Sunday, after being pinned under a manure spreader that he had been pulling behind a tractor.  Mr. Brooks was on his way to help a neighbor, but when the neighbor noticed Brooks was running late, he went to check on him, finding him trapped under the spreader and unresponsive near State Hwy 73 in Jump River. Mr Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, but it is believed Brooks may have suffered…

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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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