(Aug. 31, 2010 Bridge Replacement News Update) Crews are expected to begin blasting bedrock on the bottom of the Wisconsin River this week as part of the dredging project now underway in Tomahawk. Drilling is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Wednesday) in two different areas where bedrock has been discovered. Detonation will take place once the drilling is complete, and could reach completion in as few as three days, or Saturday, it was noted at a weekly meeting held this morning between contractors and the city. Initial detonations will be set off to frighten fish and other wildlife out of the area. Additional, stronger detonations will take place until the bedrock is removed. The blasting will make way for completion of a utility trench that is being dredged to relocate utilities just upriver from the Wisconsin River Bridge. The utilities need to be removed from the bridge before the Oct. 1 deadline, when the bridge will be closed to through traffic and demolition begins Oct. 4. Expect boat access to be closed off during blasting, which will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The portion of river will also likely be closed to boat traffic Sept. 15-16, as crews work to install submerged piping across the river. The exact dates when the river will be closed to boat traffic are subject to change, as either of the projects could be moved back depending on unforeseen changes. Watch for updates in the Tomahawk Leader and here as they become available.

The 2010 Tomahawk Fall Ride for MDA has gone to the printers and should be back in our hand by late August or early September for final distribution before and at the Sept. 16-19 Fall Ride. You can get a sneak look here in the pdf below. We'll be posting more about this year's big event in the days to come, so be sure to check back. The countdown has begun ... set your sights on Tomahawk and come enjoy good times, good friends and a beautiful area, all for a good cause- the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

**The Hatchet volleyball team took third and Merrill took second in a college road trip to UW-Whitewater. The locals finished 8-3 on the three days, with 27 teams in attendance. **Boys' varsity cross country brought home the top hardware in the challenging Timm's Hill course. The girls' faced tough competition at the Hodag Invitational, with Rachel Sudbury claiming the runner-up spot. **Jack's Effertz aerial show fizzled the Hatchet football opener. **A small swim squad could not keep up with their challengers at the Hatchet Relays, but did record 12 personals bests. Read more in sports stories in this week's Leader.

The Go Hatchets sports team photos and fall schedules are included in this week's newspaper. Great keepsake and Hatchet fan reference.

(**Hatchet sports information is on the Leader's online School Calendar. Also watch for pictures in the Photo Album.)

A North-South Labor Day Pig Roast in anticipation of the removal of the North Fourth Street bridge; how you could be the last person to cross the bridge; Go Hatchet sports team photos; a Tripoli High School reunion; the Merrill Labor Day parade; deadly oak wilt in Oneida County; Nicolet College's Learning in Retirement offerings; Grill Chicken with Watermelon Salsa recipe and so much are in this week's Tomahawk Leader. Get your copy now on newsstands, order a mail subscription or check out the Online Edition option. For event listings, look for our online Community Calendar. Also check out the listings on places to dine, shop and stay in our Town Square business directory at www.traveltomahawk.com. And, we'd love to hear from you via our Message Board.

Looking for things to do? Check our Community Calendar for an in-depth listing of area events. And, do some extra site-seeing with our online Town Square business directory to find places to stay, dine and shop. We also feature a 15-day forecast on our Weather link; front page Map; snowmobile Trail Report; and online Fishing Report, plus our School Calendars include student activities, sporting events and information about ACT testing and college visitation dates.

Gov. Jim Doyle, who was in Merrill Thursday said no decision has yet been made about which of two state juvenile detention facilities will be closed. Staff at nearby Lincoln Hills School in Irma and Ethan Allen in Wales are awaiting that decision. Doyle, who is not seeking re-election in November, added if he were unable to address the consolidation, the decision would be left to the next governor.

Our Internet Edition is just a summary of a few of the stories you'll find in our newspaper. We'd love to have you as a regular subscriber. For rates and other information, please see the related Subscription Information.

The Wisconsin Roads Report is accessible via a link elsewhere on this page. **For a 15-day forecast, see our Weather at the top of the page.

Typo the Tomahawk Leader Office Cat is a regular columnist in the newspaper and a celebrity on Facebook. Become a friend today!

Obituaries in the Aug. 31, 2010, Tomahawk Leader include:

**Kathleen Louise Johnson (Elliott), 70, born in Frederic, valedictorian at Washburn High School, married Dennis Lee Johnson, recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, live in Minneapolis before moving to Tomahawk, owned Denny's and the Uptown restaurant (1970-79), The Old Towne Mall (1986-2000) and Old Towne Pub (198801999), moved to New Richmond in 2000 (8-25-10; celebration of life Friday, Sept. 3, 3-6 p.m., Spirit Methodist Church, in lieu of flowers, donations to New Richmond Heritage Center/Preservation Society or United Methodist Church of Spirit; O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson and Baldwin assisting.)

**Joan Kallerud Kloss (Drefahl), 78, Tomahawk, born in Greenfield, married Harold Kloss, employed as deli manager for National Food for 23 years, worked for Milwaukee Electric Tool, moved to Harshaw in 1978, owned Oneida Lake Resort for 15 years until retirement in 1993, treasurer for Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Club 23 years, Harshaw Wanders 12 years (8-27-10; funeral 7 p.m. 8-31-10 Krueger Family Funeral Home.)

**William Elmer "Bill" Swenson, 79, town of Knox, Brantwood, born in town of Knox, married to Patricia Ethel Marheine for 56 years, U.S. Army veteran (stood guard at Tomb of Unknown Soldier), served in Korean War achieving rank of corporal, logged and worked on farm in St. Croix Falls, moved back to area in 1963, employed by Harley-Davidson, Tomahawk, retiring in 1993 (8-23-10).

**Arriving after publication:

**Word arrived today (Sept. 1, 2010) of the death of Lincoln County Clerk Bob Kunkel. He had suffered a heart attack at work in August and underwent triple bypass surgery, but was recovering at home. The Kunkels live in Merrill but have a cabin in Tomahawk that they frequented often. Funeral plans are uncertain and will be posted when known. The Leader will be working on a story for the Sept. 7 publication.)

**Ruth M Koth (McKinney), 73, Tomahawk, born in Deerbrook, married John Koth, was a realtor in Tomahawk for many years (8-31-10; Mass of Christian Burial 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, visitation begins at 4 p.m.; Krueger Family Funeral Home assisting).

**Marie Welnak (Nelson), 80, Minocqua, formerly of West Allis and Tomahawk, born in Tomahawk, moved to Milwaukee after high school, worked at Wisconsin Gas Co, married Wayne, homemaker (8-27-10; funeral 9-1-10 at 4 p.m. at Wisconsin Memorial Park Chapel, Broofield, with visitation beginning at 3 p.m., Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral and Cremation Services, Wauwatosa, assisting).

(Complete obituaries are published in the Tomahawk Leader and are posted in the Online Edition available by subscription. Our sponsored Church Directory has been provided here as a pdf for informational and reference purposes.)

School starts tomorrow (Sept. 1) in Tomahawk and Shad Harper, manager at Tomahawk Bus Service, says the school buses are ready and will be altering routes immediately in anticipation of the removal of the North Fourth Street bridge. "We are more prepared than we ever have been," Harper comments in a story in the Aug. 31 Tomahawk Leader. He notes he has been a part of negotiations and planning with city officials and school superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo over the last two years, making the planning of school transportation once the bridge is taken out this autumn "pretty smooth." Starting the altered school bus routes immediately (not waiting until actual bridge construction starts this October), Shad says drivers and families will have a chance to get used to any changes and there will be no time readjustments a month into school. Routes will most likely remain the same for the entire 2010-2011 school year.

You can get the complete Tomahawk Leader with an online subscription; no need to wait for mail delivery, it's there each Tuesday morning and available 24-7 at your convenience. (Click on this direct Online Edition link for information.) Online readers have access to complete news, sports and feature stories; popular columns such as those by publishers Larry and Kathy Tobin, Mark Gaedtke and Allan Bell; the Savvy Senior article; delicious recipes; full obituaries and vital statistics including births, along with engagements and weddings; health items and tips; business announcements and legal notices; Lincoln County Sheriff's Department and Tomahawk Police Department reports; court news; Nature Notes; opinion pieces; school news; and advertising that has not been available to those who simply view this condensed Internet Edition. Plus you have access to all our special sections: NorthCountry Style, Wedding Guide, Senior Living, Graduation, Spring Into Summer, Forestry and Wood Products, and many more. The Online Edition is being made available through a special service purchased by the Leader. The annual subscription rate is similar to local rates, which means a substantial savings to out-of-area and out-of-state residents. That results in the convenience of immediate access for distant subscribers who will no longer have to rely on mail delivery. The searchable service also includes access to archived editions and direct links to web sites and email references.

***Please continue to visit this web page for its condensed news summaries, active Message Board, extensive Photo Album with many unpublished pictures and Community Calendar and School Calendar, Fishing Report and Snowmobile Report, and other offerings. We have new features planned here, too, so check back often.

Pick up the handy 2010 WOW section at business locations around the area. It's filled with "great things" to do, see and people to meet. Among the stories is a feature on Tomahawk Girl Scout Valerie Thomzik, who recently oversaw the building of a $150,000 bridge at Camp Birch Trails in Irma. There also information on Movies in the Park and Music on the River, the Kwahamots; Harley-Davidson factory tours, the full-motion simulator at Tomahawk Regional Airport, historical museums, the Tomahawk Fall Ride for MDA, the Antique Outboard Motor Show in August, Special Olympics, the Tomahawk School District, water recreational opportunities, the Brantwood Heritage Center, musky legends, Thrilla on the Grilla, Calendar of Events and much more. **Note: The Tomahawk Leader has an incorrect phone number in the Calendar of Events in the 2010 WOW section. The Antique Outboard Boat and Motor Show will be held Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 4-7, headquartered out of SARA Park. The annual event draws national and international participants and vendors. For information, call this number: 715-356-5649 (not the number listed). The Leader apologizes for the error!

(Photo Story) Open lines of communication will be key in his interaction with the County Board, says Randy Scholz, Lincoln County's new administrative coordinator. Scholz, Tomahawk, has served as county highway commissioner since 2004. He will replace interim administrative coordinator, Tim Meehean. Scholz says he is passionate about Lincoln County, feels he's qualified and is ready to meet the challenges before him. He is proud of his accomplishments in recent years overseeing one of the county's largest departments. Scholz got the nod on a 15-6 vote. His will be $71,552. Also at last week's County Board meeting, Supervisor Bill Zeitz was reappointed to a vacancy on the Health Board on a 12-9 vote, with Bob Weaver the other choice. The board was updated on County Clerk Bob Kunkel, who suffered an apparent heart attack at work that led to triple bypass heart surgery.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. and the unions representing its Wisconsin production employees began negotiations last week on new labor agreements that would take effect upon the expiration of the current contracts in April 2012. The company has announced it is seeking to close large cost gaps in its Milwaukee-area and Tomahawk production operations and improve flexibility to meet seasonal and other customer-driven production needs. If Harley-Davidson is unable to achieve those objectives through agreement with the unions by mid-September 2010, the company has said it will move Wisconsin production operations to another United States location. There are two Harley-Davidson plants located in Tomahawk. Watch for future updates.

**The Tomahawk Hunters Safety Education Group and Somo Fish and Game Club will hold an NRA Sports Shooting Camp Sept. 11, starting at noon at the clubhouse on County Road CC. All ages, including women and children, are invited. Cost is $5, with an intro to trap shooting. Call 715-453-2739, 453-5819.

**Look for the Fishing Report link at left for fishing tips and be sure to visit the Fishing With Jed blog on our Message Board.

The Tomahawk Leader is pleased to announce a new online feature: Money-saving, national grocery coupons powered by RedPlum. The Leader Coupons (CLICK HERE) are accessible here and continually via a link under our Paper Clips in the left column. Check back often for updates, clip and save! If you have any problems printing the coupons, check the pdf below.

The Town Square is a great place to check for places to stay, shop and dine while in the Tomahawk area. For information on adding your business link with web site, call 715-453-2151 or email sales@tomahawkleader.com.

Click here for direct links to web sites related to stories in this week's Leader:

In This Together-road construction campaign

Larry M. Tobin Novel, Pressing Matters

Lincoln County Building Project

Lincoln County Humane Society

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin

Newspaper Public Notices Online

Oneida County Mining Exploration

Tomahawk Fire and Rescue School

Wisconsin Road Reports

Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry Information