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Author: Steve Dillon

BLACK BEAR ATTACK IN BARRON COUNTY ENDS WITH SERIOUS INJURIES

Steve Dillon

BARRON COUNTY – The woman injured in a black bear attack over the weekend in Barron County has been identified as 69-year-old Karen Frye. According to the Wisconsin DNR, the attack happened Saturday. Despite her injuries, Frye was able to call 911 and was first taken to a hospital in Cumberland, then transferred to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she remains in serious condition. Efforts to find the bear are still underway. While rare, bear encounters do happen—but Wisconsin has never recorded a fatal attack.

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BLACK SQUIRREL SCURRY RETURNS TO LINCOLN COUNTY JULY 26

Steve Dillon

The 8th annual Black Squirrel Scurry Triathlon returns to Lincoln County on Saturday, July 26. The event includes a 2-mile long paddle down the Prairie River, followed by a 17.5 mi scenic bike ride, and a 5K trail run through the MARC and Council Grounds State Park. Packets for the Triathlon can be picked up on Friday July 25th between 5 and 8 PM, or Saturday July 26th at Prairie Trails Park between 6:30 and 8:30 AM. There are divisions for all skills levels, including tandems, relays, eBikes and youth.…

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LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT WEEK ENDING JULY 13

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 50 traffic stops and 57 security checks. There were 13 calls involving cars hitting deer. On Friday July 11, deputies were dispatched to the town of Skanawan regarding a disturbance in progress. Witnesses reported observing a male subject striking a female and then seeing her flee the scene. Upon searching the area deputies located the 37-yr-old Rhinelander woman a short distance away. Shortly thereafter the suspect a 37-yr-old man from Beloit was located. As a result of statements taken from witnesses he was placed…

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Lincoln County Board To Draft Formal Response Plan In The Event Pine Crest Sale Fails To Close

Steve Dillon

With the sale of Pine Crest Nursing Home on the table, Lincoln County officials are also preparing for what happens if the deal doesn’t go through—including the possibility of closing the facility. The County Board earlier approved a purchase agreement with Merrill Health Holdings LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare LLC to take over the Merrill-based nursing home. That sale is expected to close by August 1. During last night’s board meeting, supervisors voted 16 to 5 in favor of a backup plan. The approved resolution directs the Administrative and Legislative…

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TRAFFIC STOP FOR MOTORCYCLIST EXCEEDING 100 MPH LEADS TO MULTIPLE CITATIONS

Steve Dillon

On Wednesday July 9th the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office regarding a yellow motorcycle traveling N/B on USH 51 in Marathon County at speeds exceeding 100 MPH. A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy was able to get into position to locate the motorcycle and saw the vehicle pass between two vehicles at a very high rate of speed, clocking it on radar at 121 mph in a 65-mph zone. Upon completing a traffic stop of the vehicle, the deputy made contact with the…

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LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD SET TO VOTE TONIGHT ON RESOLUTION TO POTENTIALLY CLOSE PINE CREST

Steve Dillon

The Lincoln County Board will vote this evening on a resolution that could begin the process to close Pine Crest permanently. The resolution, passed on a split voice vote by the Administrative and Legislative Committee earlier this month, would instruct the Committee to create a plan and timeline to close Pine Crest by December 31 or earlier if the proposed sale is not completed by August 1, 2025. Members of the local grassroots organization People for Pinecrest have voiced their opposition to the resolution, stating that the measure lacks creativity…

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MATCHING DONATIONS FROM PARK CITY CARES FOUNDATION HELPS DRIVE TOMAHAWK KINSHIP BUILDING FUNDRAISER

Steve Dillon

TOMAHAWK – Support continues to grow for Tomahawk Kinship’s effort to relocate to a larger home for its youth mentorship programs. A recent matching challenge from Park City Credit Union and the Park City Cares Foundation helped drive donations. The foundation pledged to match up to $10,000, a goal the community quickly met—followed by an additional $20,218 in contributions. The funds are part of Kinship’s two-phase campaign to move into a larger space. With Phase 1 complete, the group is set to purchase the former Bradley Bank building. Phase 2…

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NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS JOIN MERRILL AREA AGENCIES

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – Merrill and Lincoln County recently welcomed two new law enforcement officers. Deputy Austin Wadzinski recently completed the Sheriff’s Office field training after joining the department in April of 2025. Following four years of service with the Marine Corps and some work in overseas contracting, Wadzinski was previously employed by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. On July 2nd, Officer Boe Nienow (pr Bo Nee-no) was sworn in by the Merrill Police Department. Nienow, a resident of the rural Merrill area attended Wausau…

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MERRILL MAN CHARGED IN 2024 ATTACK PLEADS GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES, FOUR DROPPED

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – A plea agreement has been reached for a man charged in a roadside knife attack that took place in the fall of 2024. 32-yr-old Bradley LaBarge of Merrill was back in court last Thursday for the hearing. LaBarge was arrested in October after an altercation that occurred in the Town of Corning. He had been following a vehicle carrying an ex-girlfriend and another man when the situation escalated and LaBarge sliced the other man with a utility knife. Initially, LaBarge faced six charges. Court records from the hearing…

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