Tomahawk Leader

By Heather Schaefer MMC Staff RHINELANDER – Speaking to a room of parents and children at the Oneida County Law Enforcement Center on Tuesday, Aug. 25, Det. Sgt. Chad Wanta held up his cellphone like a weapon. “This is the new Trojan horse,” he told the crowd, “and it holds an unlimited amount of bad people.” Wanta, Det. Sgt.

WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) is warning senior homeowners about a viral online video promoting a nonexistent federal property tax relief program. In a release, DOR said the video claims that Congress passed a law providing significant property tax relief for older homeowners, enabling seniors to freeze or reduce property taxes. “Viewers are directed to contact their county assessor and request a ‘Senior Homeowner Tax Review Request’ or ‘IRS Form 1098-SR,’” DOR said.

Posted Tuesday, September 8, 2026 7:56 am TOMAHAWK – The public is invited to join community leaders, elected officials, business owners and civic-minded neighbors at a Tomahawk event focused on sharing best practices and tackling the opportunities and challenges unique to small-town Wisconsin. Lincoln County has been selected to host one of two Small Community Forum events in Wisconsin this year. An event will also be held in Dunn County.

TOWN OF SPIRIT – A large crowd enjoyed the 84th annual Spirit-Hill-Ogema 4-H Fair, held at the Spirit Town Hall on Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15. More than 30 4-Hers from the Hillbillies, Happy Hoboes, Restless Rascals, Wilson Workers and Hamburg Hawks clubs exhibited more than 300 entries. Fair Secretary Colleen Schult said dozens of volunteers helped as department superintendents, judges, concession stand and kitchen workers and game leaders.

MERRILL – Four people, including a man wanted on a homicide warrant, were arrested after police searched a home in the 800 block of Grand Ave. in Merrill on Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to a media release from the Merrill Police Department. Officers, assisted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, had received information that a man with an active arrest warrant was inside the residence, police said.

Posted Sunday, September 6, 2026 4:00 pm The Packers finished 1944 at 8-2, winning the Western Division, with Ted Fritsch leading the team in rushing (322 yards), tying for second in scoring and topping the club in interceptions and kickoff returns. Fritsch capped the season with both Packers touchdowns in the 14-7 title-game win over the Giants (a 1-yard plunge and a 28-yard TD catch), sealing Green Bay’s 1944 NFL championship.

MERRILL – This week, the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office (LCVSO) announced that its office will be temporarily relocated. Effective Monday, Sept. 14, until further notice, public access for the LCVSO will move to the Lincoln County Human Services Building at 607 N. Sales St. in Merrill. A release from LCVSO said the temporary move will allow for renovations at the LCVSO’s primary office in the Lincoln County Service Center at 801 N. Sales St. in Merrill.

WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched an online survey for anyone interested in submitting ideas for how the state should allocate its share of opioid settlement funds. In a release, DHS said Wisconsin expects to receive more than $874 million in total funding from 2022 through 2038 as a result of litigation against the pharmaceutical industry.

LINCOLN COUNTY – Tuesday, Sept. 1 was National Police K-9 Day, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office took the opportunity to give a shoutout to K-9 Dasty. The Sheriff’s Office noted that in the weeks leading up to National Police K-9 Day, Dasty has been called upon several times to put his training to work. In mid-August, Dasty assisted another area agency during a traffic stop and helped locate suspected drugs.

Phyllis M. Osterbrink, 90, died on Friday, August 28 peacefully in her sleep at the Woodland Court Elder Services in Merrill. The former Phyllis Greil was born Jan 27, 1936 in Tomahawk, WI to the late Philip & Alice (Draeger) Greil. She lived most of her adolescent years in Tomahawk until graduation from Tomahawk High School. She moved to Wausau where she worked as a clerk for the Wausau Chamber of Commerce.