Tomahawk Firefighters, along with Nokomis Firefighters, Tomahawk EMS and a deputy all responded to a reported structure fire early Monday morning in the Town of King. A neighbor called the Sheriff’s Office just after 9:30 a.m. and reported smoke coming from the eaves of his neighbor’s home. Tomahawk Fire was sent with immediate assistance due to the extreme temperatures. When Tomahawk EMS and a deputy arrived just before firefighters, they discovered the smoke was from a smoke stack for a pellet stove. Firefighters were on the scene for only a short time, no injuries were reported.
Pine River Firefighters were called out early New Year’s Eve morning after a structure fire was reported on Center Rd. At 12:39 a.m., a 911 call reported a possible chimney fire at a residence in the 800 block of Center Rd. When deputies arrived a few minutes later, they found the fire had spread into the walls of the home. Pine River Firefighters worked for over two hours in below zero temperatures to contain the fire to the walls and attic of the structure. Firefighters cleared the scene just before 4 a.m.
Black ice caused problems on the roadways on New Year’s Eve and deputies were forced to shut down US Hwy. 51 for a short time on Tuesday morning. At 8:30 a.m., a northbound pickup truck being driven by a 48-year-old Nekoosa man lost control on the Wisconsin River bridge north of County Rd Q in the Town of Scott, causing his snowmobile trailer to fishtail and crash into a second northbound passenger car being driven by a 49-year-old Arpin man. When deputies arrived, they found one lane of the highway completely blocked and snowmobiles scattered onto the highway. One lane of the highway was re-opened about half an hour later but it took over an hour to get all of the vehicles removed from the scene. No injuries were reported.
A 44-year-old Rockford, IL man was taken into custody on a traffic charge after a deputy came across a vehicle in the ditch early Saturday morning. A deputy found the vehicle slid off the roadway on County Rd. A just south of US Hwy. 8 at 1:54 a.m. When the deputy was speaking with the driver, he noted signs of impairment and asked the man to perform field sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, the man was taken into custody on a first offense charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Unable to find a responsible party, the driver was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was held until later Saturday morning when he was sober enough to be released.
A 46-year-old Tomahawk man is at the trauma center at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital while a 56-year-old Tomahawk man is in the Lincoln County Jail after deputies and EMS responded to a report of a snowmobile crash Saturday evening north of Tomahawk. At 9:30 p.m., 911 callers reported a man had been run over by a snowmobile on Lake Nokomis and was brought to a tavern on County Rd. Y. Tomahawk EMS transported the 46-year-old man to Ministry Sacred Heart. From there he was flown to St. Joseph’s where as of Sunday he was listed in serious but stable condition. The 56-year-old Tomahawk man told the Rec. Deputy the two were riding on the lake when the 46-year-old fell off his sled and was struck by the second sled. Both riders then rode to the tavern where they summoned help. Both drivers showed signs of impairment but they refused chemical testing. Both were cited for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated and for refusing a chemical test. The 56-year-old was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was booked on a charge of probation violation for violating the terms of his probation by drinking.
A 24-year-old Tomahawk man was taken into custody early Sunday morning on a traffic charge. A deputy was traveling north on US Hwy. 51 when he observed the vehicle in front of him driving from the right shoulder completely over to the left shoulder of the road. When the deputy stopped the vehicle he found signs of impairment and asked the man to perform field sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, the man was taken into custody on a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was later released to a responsible party.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office administrative offices were closed on Monday and Tuesday morning due to the extreme weather conditions. All other functions of the Sheriff’s Office went on as normal and deputies were putting on extra miles checking roadways for stalled motorists, having checked on 30 disabled vehicles this past week.
A 23-year-old Tomahawk man was arrested Sunday afternoon on a warrant charge. A deputy went to a residence on County Rd. CC in the Town of Wilson Sunday afternoon after a tip was received that a wanted person was living there. A check showed the man was wanted by the Waushara County Sheriff for failing to pay child support. The man was taken into custody and brought to the Lincoln County Jail. Four people reported striking deer this past week, the same as last week.