Spooner Advocate
Washburn County Sheriff's Office log
April 28 0:47 — Welfare check, Burnett County. 2:41 — Car vs. tree, Spooner. 2:43, people left scene and came back. 2:47, alcohol bottles seen. 3:31, vehicle towed. 3:41 — Attempt to locate for vehicle takeoff, Stone Lake. 4:01, negative contact. 4:42, suspect identified. ...
Intermezzo students win awards
TREGO — The 2024 Intermezzo Music Club student auditions were held on Sunday, April 21, at Trego Community Church. Each student performed their vocal or instrumental selection for a panel of three extremely qualified judges. Here are the results based on the judge’s decisions. In the Junior Division (grades seven and eight), the recipients are Brooke Percy (flute), full scholarship to Shell Lake Arts Center Band Camp, Channing Linton(vocal), $100 cash, Berkley Klein (oboe), $100, Addison Smith (clarinet), $100. ...
Local State Patrol officers recognized
WISCONSIN DELLS — Seven local officers were recognized at the annual Wisconsin State Patrol awards ceremony Friday, May 3, for outstanding public service for exceeding expectations of their daily duties. Inspectors Thomas Fleming and Todd Monson of Spooner were given the Lifesaving Service award for saving lives or putting themselves in physical danger to keep someone else safe. Sgt. Sean Berkowitch, Trooper Mitchell Kraetke, Inspector Martin Messa and Trooper Anthony...
Washburn, Sawyer counties hold CDAC meetings
SPOONER — In a move similar to surrounding counties, the Washburn and Sawyer County Deer Advisory Councils (CDAC) recommended a reduction in the number of antlerless deer authorizations for the 2024 hunt. Last year’s Washburn County’s antlerless deer authorizations were 3,100 for public land and 6,000 for hunters on private property. This year, the recommendation is for 1,000 authorizations on public land and 5,000 for private land, which reflects what the CDAC heard from the public. According to the meeting’s notes, a common refrain was...
Hunt Hill events
SARONA — Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary in Sarona has a number of events coming up this month. The pine barrens is a unique ecosystem that once covered a large part of Wisconsin. Now, only 1-2% of the original ecosystem remains. Join Hunt Hill on an Adult Field Trip Tuesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn about the history of the Namekagon Barrens and what makes this globally rare habitat so special. ...
Student art reception in Spooner
SPOONER — Every year, the Wisconsin Northwest Heritage Passage (WNHP) hosts student art exhibitions and public receptions at the Arts In Hand Gallery in Spooner. This program aims to provide young artists with the opportunity to showcase their work in a gallery setting. Not only does it align with WNHP’s mission, but it also introduces visitors to the gallery who may not have been aware of its presence. The inaugural student exhibit will feature three talented seniors from Spooner High School. Their reception is scheduled...
Down on the Farm: Waking up the garden
The rain falls gently outside, soaking into the soil. It’s a soothing rain, with only an occasional rumble of thunder as evening blankets the farm in darkness. These are spring rains as I remember them as a child, rains we never had last spring as we jumped from deep winter to the storms of summertime. The rains are welcome, not only because our springtime fire dangers have been frightfully high but because the parched soil seems to sigh in the soothing soaker. It’s perfect timing...
Earth Day combines school, Lions Club efforts
SHELL LAKE — The Shell Lake school staff and students, combined with the Shell Lake Lions Club and other community organizations, celebrated Earth Day by joining forces to do some needed volunteer work around the city. Lions Club member Deb Nebel, who’s also a member of the Shell Lake City Council, organized the effort after Shell Lake Community Education Director Keri Jensen reached out to her asking if she knew of any needs in the city. ...
What to do if you find a fawn
SPOONER — Spring is baby animal season in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public to leave fawns alone while they’re out exploring the state during the warm weather months. If you encounter a fawn while outdoors, the DNR urges you not to touch it or intervene in any way — there’s a good chance it’s right where it’s supposed to be and its mother isn’t far away. In the first few weeks of life, fawns are left alone most...
Finishing work on US 53 project in Washburn County set to start
SARONA — Finishing work on a multi-year, $17.59 million pavement replacement project on Highway 53 from Pine Grove Road in the Town of Sarona to Wildcat Road in the Town of Beaver Brook in Washburn County is set to resume Monday, May 6. Hoffman Construction Co. of Black River Falls is the prime contractor for the project, which began in 2022. Originally placed in the mid-1980s, this 6.5-mile segment of...
CDACs hold annual spring meetings
Three of the DNR’s northernmost counties in the 19-county Northern Forest Zone recently held their annual spring County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) meetings. The CDACs for Douglas, Bayfield and Ashland counties made their recommendations on how many — if any — antlerless permits should be offered for the 2024 deer hunting season before being moved on for final approval. The County Deer Advisory Councils are made up of members of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and up to eight citizen stakeholders representing Tribal, Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism,...
Court report
SpeedingBrent R. Beck, 44, Elgin, Minn., speeding on expressway on March 14, $200.50. Nathaniel X. Blake, 20, Virginia, Minn., speeding on expressway on March 11, $276.10. Sean M. Cockroft, 35, Spooner, speeding on expressway on March 6, $200.50. James D. Croft, 58, Shell Lake, speeding in 55 mph zone on March 13, $175.30. ...
Staff of local engineering firm recognized for Excellence in Construction
HAYWARD — Northern Wisconsin Based Engineers, Inc. (NWBE) of Hayward would like to recognize and congratulate several of its employees who were award recipients for managing the construction of two area Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) construction projects. Every year, the ACPA (American Concrete Pavers Association) awards a concrete paving project with the “National Award for Excellence in Concrete Pavement.” The Wisconsin Concrete Pavers Association (WCPA) nominated the Highway 63, Greenwood Avenue to Poplar Street project in downtown Spooner, in the category of Municipal Streets...
Shell Lake Arts Center welcomes new Executive Director Travis Christopherson
SHELL LAKE — The Shell Lake Arts Center is thrilled to announce Travis Christopherson as their new executive director. Bringing with him a wealth of experience and a deep passion for music education, Christopherson is poised to steer the Arts Center into a bright future. For the better part of 25 years, Christopherson was a prominent figure at Schmitt Music, where he engaged closely with school music programs across the Midwest. His role involved not only providing top-notch service but also implementing innovative ideas to...
Spooner boys top Grantsburg
SPOONER — The Spooner baseball team is picking up steam, winning four out of their last five ball games, including defeating Grantsburg 12-4 on Monday, April 29. Coach Josh Villella and the Rails are now 8-6 following their most recent win over the Pirates. Since April 22, the Rails have been hot and playing well. In that game, they topped Ladysmith 11-5 in Heart O’ North Conference action. ...
Laker girls defeat Mellen
SHELL LAKE — In Lakeland West Conference softball, the Shell Lake Lakers took a pair from Mellen on Thursday, April 25. Shell Lake 11, Mellen 6 In game one, Maddie Melton pitched a complete game win, striking out 14 Mellen batters. Melton had control of her fastball and change up all game. “Maddie pitched an...
Northwood/Solon Springs throttles Bruce Red Raiders
MINONG — The Northwood/Solon Springs baseball team hosted Bruce on Thursday, April 25, ripping the Red Raiders 11-1. The win kept Northwood/Solon Springs unbeaten at 5-0 atop the Lakeland East Conference. Currently, they are 7-0 overall. Abraham Ahlberg blasted a long home run early in the game to set the pace for the Evergreens. Getting doubles in the game were Ahlberg and Jared Schultz. Evergreens with stolen bases included Ahlberg,...
Spooner soccer girls show grit as they pick up first win
SPOONER — On a cold and rainy Thursday, April 25, the young Spooner Rails girls soccer team hosted Phillips. At 0-5 in the Heart O’ North Conference and 0-8 overall, the Spooner girls had been playing hard but were still searching for their first win of the season. They got it! “We won 4-1,” said a happy coach Nick Merkt. ...
Rails girls double up for sweep of Beavers
SPOONER — In Heart O’ North Conference doubleheader action on a wet and cold Thursday, April 25, the Spooner Rails softball team came up big, putting it all together for a sweep and double shutout of the visiting Cumberland Beavers. In the first game, Spooner topped Cumberland 9-0. The second game saw the Rails continue to dominate as they again held the Beavers scoreless in a 13-0 win. Spooner 9,...
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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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