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Spooner Advocate
Candidate forum in Hayward
OJIBWA — On Saturday, Aug. 3, Democratic candidates for the 2024 Primary and General Election will speak to voters at a free brat barbecue and potluck in Ojibwa Park southeast of Hayward (W7911 Hwy. 70, Ojibwa). Invited candidate speakers include Tony Evers, Tammy Baldwin, Ben Wikler, Sarah Rodriguiz, U.S. Seventh Congressional District candidate Kyle Kilbourn, Wisconsin 74th Assembly candidate Jeanne Bruce, Judge Monica Isham, Judge candidate Susan Crawford, Seventh Congressional candidates, District 12 Senate candidate Andi Rich and 35th Assembly candidate Elizabeth McCrank. According to...
Musky addicts unite
SPOONER — When longtime Spooner Muskie Club members Larry Damman and Joe Weiss were asked how many casts they’ve made in their lives for the legendary Fish Of 10,000 Casts, there was a moment of silence. Then Damman quietly said, “I don’t think that number’s been discovered yet.” The message was clear. Both the musky addicts have spent a lot of time on the water, some might say too much when you see how the results from the Spooner Muskie Club’s monthly fishing trips have...
Hunting dogs depredated in Sawyer County
WINTER - On Sunday, July 21, USDA-Wildlife Services verified that wolves killed one Walker trailing hound dog and injured one Walker trailing hound dog in the Town of Winter, Sawyer County. Dog owners are reminded to exercise caution in wolf-occupied areas. Conflicts between hunting dogs and wolves are most common during the bear training and hunting season. Dogs have also been depredated pursuing other wildlife, including fox, coyotes, bobcat, rabbit, snowshoe hare and upland birds. More information is available on the DNR's website. ...
Shell Lake to have operating referendum for school
SHELL LAKE — Shell Lake voters will see an operating referendum on the November election ballot for the Shell Lake School District. At the Monday, July 15 board meeting, while reviewing the 2024-25 and future budgets, Supt. Todd Felhofer said there is a deficit of $805,195 projected for the next academic year, and higher deficits in the following years. This is due to revenue issues, rising operating costs, less reimbursement for special education from the government, declining enrollment and the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School...
Court report
ATV violations Travis J. Barker, 38, Clearwater, Minn., operating ATV/UTV without muffler on May 25, $232. Donald R. Bass, 37, Rice Lake, operating ATV/UTV without required head gear and illegally operating ATV/UTV on/in vicinity of highway on June 7, $394.70. Michael G. Buck, 44, Elko New Market, Minn., illegally operating ATV/UTV on/in vicinity of highway...
Shell Lake Lions Triathlon/Duathlon Saturday, July 27
SHELL LAKE — The Shell Lake Lions Club will host two events, a triathlon and a duathlon, at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the Shell Lake beach. Timing services will be provided by Duluth Timing and Events. The triathlon is a traditional swim/bike/run. Participants may also choose the duathlon, a run/bike/run event. Both events will run concurrently. Individuals or teams may enter either event. Again this year, there...
Rendezvous! Forts Folle Avoine revisits fur trade era
DANBURY — Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park exists on the exact site where two winter fur trading posts, North West Co. and XY Co., operated on the banks of the Yellow River from 1802-05. It was the time of the historic fur trade. The trading posts had been undisturbed for nearly two centuries when they were rediscovered. It is the only site in America where two competing fur trading posts were built side by side, just 95 feet apart. The trappers would load their furs...
Beading night at the library
SHELL LAKE — Monday, July 29 from 3 to 5 p.m., will be a beading night at Shell Lake Public Library. Bring a friend or make a new one! We will provide string, beads — both solid colors and lettered — and rings for keychains. Participants are welcome to bring any beads or charms with them. We will provide light snacks for beaders. The suggested age for this event is teens. Participants who are signed up for our summer reading program will earn an extra entry into our grand prize drawing for attending.
County Board amends policy on public comment at meetings
SHELL LAKE — The Washburn County Board amended its new policy on public decorum and comments at open meetings on Tuesday, July 16. At their June meeting, the board approved a new policy on public comment that included a chair statement to be read before meetings, a signup sheet persons would have to sign beforehand to be able to speak, stating their full name and place of residence, a time limit of three minutes to talk unless sponsored by a board supervisor and that everyone...
Spooner Ladies League golf results
July 16 Game: Solheim 18-hole Ladies League First place — Jean Rollingson/Julie Kittleson, 62 Second place — Kate Hintze/Pam Peterson, 67 Third place (tie) — Carol Heim/Sarah Carr, 68, Betty Brost/Pam Lundell, 68 Nine-hole Ladies League First place — Nancy Erickson/Lee Weiss, 28 Second place — Penny Cuskey/Myra Traubenik, 30 Chip-in — Lee Weiss, No. 9
Activities at Hunt Hill
SARONA — Activities are abound at the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary in Sarona this month. Hunt Hill will be hosting a Little Explorers program on Saturday, July 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Each program consists of a morning of stories, crafts and nature activities geared toward 3- to 6-year-olds (but all ages are welcome). This month’s Little Explorers theme is Let’s Pretend: Camping! What better way to celebrate summer...
Washburn County Fair: Can it get more all-American than a small-town county fair?
SPOONER — For many folks who may have grown up here and then followed their dreams to other locations, July and the Washburn County Fair is often a time to come home. Many take the time to journey back to the area around this time of the year, rediscovering their roots, reliving old memories and making a stop at the Fair. Going to the Fair really is a little like going home. The coming of the Washburn County Fair each summer ignites memories of childhood...
Cardinals improve playoff odds, host Hayward Friday
SPOONER — The Spooner Cardinals got a split over the weekend. They will welcome Hayward to Merchant Park this coming Friday, July 26. Twin Ports 5, Spooner 2The Cardinals lost a non-league game against the Twin Ports Timbers on Friday night by the score of 5-2. Dawson Jorczak pitched a very solid seven innings, giving up five runs (only two earned). The Cardinals committed two uncharacteristic errors with two outs...
Support given for inpatient behavioral health facility in northern Wisconsin
SHELL LAKE — The Washburn County Board is supporting Polk County in an initiative to address concerns for lack of access to facilities in the region for inpatient acute behavioral health beds. According to the letter of support drafted by Board Chair Tim Kessler, the lack of facilities for behavioral health in the region has caused pressure on other local entities such as law enforcement, related to transportation and personnel costs, bed location and access. Much of this stemmed from the closure of the facilities...
Down on the Farm: Nature fairies
Hummingbirds flit and buzz about the four feeders in our pollinator garden at Farmstead Creamery. They duck under the canopied entrance, sometimes sitting on the strings that hold the top snugly. They chatter at each other, swooping and diving in and out of the hydrangeas and bee balms. The aerobatics of these tiny birds are stunning, their iridescent feathers glinting in the summer sunlight. Sometimes as I step out to help clients with scoops of our sheep milk gelato, they will buzz past right in...
Mountain Men to host 'Breakfast of Champions'
RICE LAKE — The Mountain Men of Northwestern Wisconsin, a non-denominational group of Christian men, cordially invite men and boys of all ages to “Breakfast of Champions,” a morning of breakfast, biblical teaching, worship and fellowship on Saturday, July 20, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. This event is being offered free. The speaker is Frank Cirone, a teacher and field representative for Torchbearers International and care pastor at Foundations Church. Cirone is passionate about sharing Christ in any setting and loves connecting with people over...
Author Mike Elliott coming to Spooner museum July 25
SPOONER — Mike Elliott, author of “This Fancy Old Canoe: A Comprehensive Guide To Restoring Antique Canoes,” is coming to the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum (WCHM) in Spooner for a presentation and book signing on Thursday, July 25, beginning at 7:30 p.m. In his presentation, Elliott, who has restored over 240 canoes since 2003, will let us in on the trade secrets of how to successfully return a canoe to its former glory. He’ll be talking about treasured antique canoes and their connections to individuals, families and communities. ...
Come on home to the Fair
SPOONER — “Come on home” to the 112th-annual Washburn County Junior & Open Fair Thursday through Sunday, July 25-28, at the Washburn County Fairgrounds in Spooner. The fair is a competitive platform for open and youth exhibitors, along with safe and fun entertainment for all ages. The carnival opens on Thursday evening, with the gymkhana horse show at 6 p.m. The Shell Lake Arts Center will have a performance at...
2024 chip sealing
WASHBURN COUNTY - The Washburn County Highway Department plans to chip seal and fog seal roads throughout the county during the weeks of July 22 and 29. Hot oil and rock will be placed. The recommended speed limit will be 35 mph. Watch for flaggers. Roads to be worked on: County Highway I (Highway 77...
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The Spooner Advocate, founded in 1901, is Washburn County's leading source of advertising, news, and other information. Located at 251 E. Maple Street, the Spooner Advocate and its companion Total Market Coverage (TMC) product, The Weekender, serve all of Washburn County and parts of Burnett County, with a combined circulation of nearly 20,000 and a penetration rate of 99 percent of households in the area (Pulse Research Survey). Published each week on Thursday, the Spooner Advocate has consistently earned awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association for editorial, news, and advertising excellence. The Advocate also publishes several special-interest magazines and products throughout the year, including The Source of Washburn County, Burnett County Almanac, Barron County Today, the Summer Fun Guide, and the Real Estate Buyer's Guide, to name a few.
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