Motorists are once again reminded to slow down and move over for workers on the highway after a Lincoln County Highway Department worker had a close call last Monday on US Hwy 51. The county worker was mowing on the side of the highway near the County Rd K town of Merrill exit when a tanker truck came close enough to the tractor to take off an outside mirror. A deputy met with the driver of the semi and is still investigating; no injuries were reported but the tractor driver was shaken up in the incident.
A 46 year old Tomahawk woman was injured after a motorcycle crash on Tuesday afternoon in the Town of King. Tomahawk EMS and Fire Department along with deputies and a trooper responded to County Rd H near Eagle Point Rd after a cell 911 call reported the crash at 1:09 p.m. According to the report, the woman lost control on a curve and crashed. The driver was transported to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital where she was treated and released. The Wisconsin State Patrol handled the investigation.
A 20 year old Waunakee man was injured Saturday afternoon after an ATV crash in the Town of Harrison. Just after 3 p.m., the victim was brought to a home on County Rd B after losing control of his machine and rolling it over on a trail west of Overlook Drive. The driver was transported by Tomahawk EMS to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The Rec. Deputy investigated the crash and noted alcohol was not a factor.
A 41 year old Wausau man was taken into custody early Sunday morning after a traffic stop. A deputy stopped a vehicle being drive by the man on US Hwy 51 south of County Rd S in the Town of Bradley after 3 a.m. The vehicle was stopped after the deputy observed it crossing the centerline multiple times and driving down the rumble strip of the highway. After detecting the odor of an intoxicant, the driver was placed through field sobriety tests and as a result the man was taken into custody for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was also cited for operating after suspension as a repeat offender before being released to a responsible party.
A 56 year old Illinois man was taken into custody Sunday afternoon after numerous cell 911 calls reported a reckless driver on US Hwy 8. Initial reports of the reckless driving started coming into the 911 center at 1:40 p.m. when the suspect vehicle was still in Price County. A deputy from Lincoln County set up to watch for the vehicle and spotted it as it traveled east near County Rd L. When the deputy activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle, the driver pulled into a gas station on County Rd L. The deputy noted the odor of intoxicants and asked the driver from Spring Grove, IL to perform field sobriety tests. As a result of those tests, he was taken into custody on a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an enhancer for having a passenger under the age of 16. The child in the vehicle was reunited with a relative while the suspect spent several hours in the Lincoln County Jail awaiting a responsible party.
Firefighters from three departments responded to a structure fire Sunday afternoon in the Town of Schley. At 3:11 p.m., a passerby reported a grass fire at a residence on Heineman Rd that was spreading to an outbuilding. When a deputy arrived on the scene minutes after the alarm, he found flames coming from the shed. Firefighters from the Town of Russell Fire Department responded to the fire and requested assistance from the Town of Pine River Fire Department who supplied a water tender and the Merrill DNR Ranger. Russell Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before they caused extensive damage to the out building. According to the deputy, the property owner does not live there but reported he had been burning the night before. He came back and checked the fire this morning and thought it to be out. The DNR is handling the investigation.
Nine people reported striking deer this past week, up from previous weeks. Some other animals struck this week included an eagle and a turkey. On Saturday just after 2 p.m., a Stevens Point man struck an eagle as he drove north on US Hwy 51 near County Rd S south of Tomahawk. The bird flew up from the ditch line as the man passed and it smashed into his windshield. The Rec. Deputy responded to the crash and found the eagle injured with possibly a broken wing. He was able to capture the eagle and held it until a volunteer from the Raptor Group arrived to take it to the shelter at Antigo. On Sunday, a Tomahawk man struck a turkey as he traveled on State Rd 86 near Sanctuary Rd at 9:20 a.m. His windshield was also smashed, but he was able to continue to his destination.