March 2026 – Page 5 – Bluejay 96.3FM 730AM

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS DEPLOYED TO CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

March 5, 2026March 5, 2026 Steve DillonWI NATIONAL GUARD IN MIDDLE EAST

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard are involved in the Middle East conflict. The Wisconsin Guard has been in Kuwait and Iraq since May of last year, with troops from units in Oshkosh and Milwaukee currently on deployment. Several US troops were killed in initial reprisal strikes by Iran, but state officials have not been notified that any of those deaths were from Wisconsin. F-35 jets stationed with the Wisconsin Air Guard in Madison have not been activated as of Tuesday.

LWVNOW INVITES NORTHWOODS CANDIDATES TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTER GUIDE

March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 Steve DillonLWVNOW VOTER GUIDE INVITE

The League of Women Voters of the Northwoods invites all county board supervisor candidates in Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas counties, as well as school board candidates in Rhinelander, Minocqua, Eagle River, Merrill and Tomahawk to participate in the League’s nonpartisan online voter guide at VOTE411.org for the upcoming April 7, 2026 Elections.. The voter guide is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and will be live beginning March 15. Candidates who complete the questionnaire ensure voters have the information they need to make informed decisions on Election…

MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT WEEK ENDING MARCH 1

March 4, 2026March 3, 2026 Steve DillonMERRILL POLICE DEPARMENT REPORT

During the week ending March 1st, the Merrill Police Department responded to thirteen incidents. Officers conducted approximately 40 traffic stops and 94 security checks. On Tuesday, a report was received from a local convenience store regarding an elderly woman on site who was visibly shaken and said she was not able to drive. Further investigation revealed she had experienced vehicle issues prior to arriving in Merrill, keeping her from making it home before dark. The woman had a license restriction prohibiting her from driving in the dark and she felt…

MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WEEK ENDING MARCH 1

March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 Steve DillonMerrill Fire Department Report

The Merrill Fire Department responded to 38 calls last week, bringing the total for 2026 to 371. There were 35 EMS calls. There was one instance of a fire alarm being accidentally activated on Saturday on East Main Street in the City of Merrill.

LINCOLN COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAILS TO CLOSE FOR THE SEASON

March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 Steve DillonLINCOLN COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAILS CLOSE

Effective today at 4:00 PM, ALL of Lincoln County’s funded snowmobile trails will be CLOSED for the season. Riders are asked to follow all “TRAILS CLOSED” signs, stay on marked routes, and respect private property. Riders are also advised that even should additional snowfall occur later in March, trails will NOT reopen. Latest trail conditions can always be found on the Lincoln County website, or by calling the Trail Hotline at (715) 539-1033.

RHINELANDER’S JEROW AWARDED WISCONSIN URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AWARD

March 2, 2026March 1, 2026 Steve DillonRHINELANDER MAN RECEIVES URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL AWARD

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council has announced its annual awards recognizing individuals and organizations working to protect and expand tree canopies in communities across the state. The council says the awards are designed to spotlight leaders whose efforts often go unnoticed but play a key role in strengthening and sustaining Wisconsin’s urban forests. Five winners were honored this year in four categories, with recipients announced at the 2026 Wisconsin Arborist Association–DNR Urban Forestry Conference. Among them was Rhinelander’s Tom Jerow receiving the Leadership Award. Jerow, an unpaid volunteer, served for…