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Northwoods business works together as a team, thanks to University of Wisconsin programSubmitted: 08/23/2017
HAZELHURST - A local Northwoods business works together to make better products than it did when it first began in 1925. 

Tomahawk Live Trap has grown and even relocated to Hazelhurst since then.

Greg Smith and his wife Jenny bought Tomahawk Live Trap about seven years ago.

And the company has been growing ever since.

Sales have more than doubled since Greg and Jenny took over.  But it's not just the sales that have grown.

"When we first came in here, the culture, I'm going to say was toxic," said Greg Smith.

But it's not toxic anymore. Tomahawk Live Trap has worked with UW-Stout and its Manufacturing Outreach Center to form a better team.

"You treat people like people, you empower people so they can do their jobs and you listen to them," said Smith.

Operations Coordinator, Chris Powers was there when the Smith's took over and has noticed the big improvement with the environment.

"We work together as a team to put out the best product we can, as fast as we can," said Powers.

The program uses a "lean" philosophy which helps trim unnecessary portions of a work area.

"Only using and having what you need in an area versus a bunch of clutter and stuff in an area," said Powers.

The biggest customers for Tomahawk Live Trap are mainly animal control companies. They sell to not only American companies, but also around the world.




Story By: Katie Leszcynski

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 LOCAL NEWS
Eagle River couple teaches local history with boat house toursSubmitted: 08/23/2017

EAGLE RIVER - Most of us go out on the boat for a day of fun and relaxation. But to Gary and Shele Fawcett, a trip out on the water means a chance to teach history.

"The Eagle River Chain of Lakes alone is about 350-400 miles of water," said Shele.

"We talk about Eagle River and the things that used to happen up here, but nobody knows the stuff that's going on on the lakes," said Gary.

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'We need this': Local group to reopen Phillips wood products plant, hire back dozens of employeesSubmitted: 08/23/2017

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PHILLIPS - Two years ago, the closure of the Georgia-Pacific plant in Phillips left many in the community devastated.

"From a community cultural point of view, it was a disaster," said Stephen Willett, who has lived in Phillips for 41 years.

Georgia-Pacific laid off about 60 workers and shut down a facility which helped give Phillips its identity. The machines which churned out hardboard products like dry-erase boards fell silent.

Willett, a longtime lawyer and school board member, was unwilling to see the community lose so many family-supporting jobs. He got a group together and bought the facility, renaming it Phillips Lionite Wood Products.

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Merrill-area orchard looking to add 40 seasonal employees for busy fall seasonSubmitted: 08/23/2017

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MERRILL - It might look like Olivia Telschow works alone these days.  That impression isn't far from the truth.

"It definitely isn't a job for a slacker," Telschow said of her work.

Telschow is in her second year of running Helene's Hilltop Orchard south of Merrill. She's been busy pruning 14 acres of apple trees, mowing the grass, and cutting the corn maze four times in the last month alone.

"We kind of go through this mad panic about six weeks before we open and all of the sudden it's no longer counting down the weeks, it's counting down the days," Telschow said.

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The Northwoods Land Trust hosts a Paddle Day Submitted: 08/23/2017

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EAGLE RIVER - Wednesday's weather made it the perfect day for a group of people to grab their paddles and explore some Northwoods waters.

The Northwoods Land Trust invited the community on a tour of private and protected waters.

People met up to paddle down Deerskin River in Eagle River.

Executive Director of the Northwoods Land Trust Bryan Pierce said Deerskin River is special because it's a trout stream and known for its resources.

"Our intent is to try and keep it that high quality keep the water quality protected and also provide for both fish and wildlife habitat," said Pierce. 

Wednesday was also a celebration.

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 REGIONAL NEWS
Green Bay Police Captain, secretary back at on the jobSubmitted: 08/23/2017

GREEN BAY - A Green Bay Police captain and a secretary sickened after opening a suspicious envelope have returned to work.

The Police Department headquarters was evacuated Monday afternoon when the workers became ill.

The workers were released from a hospital Monday night and returned to work Tuesday.

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Tony Evers formally announces plans to run for GovernorSubmitted: 08/23/2017

MADISON - Wisconsin state Superintendent Tony Evers says his years of experience leading schools in the state makes him the best Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Governror Scott Walker for re-election next year.

Evers officially launched his candidacy on Wednesday.

He says in an interview that his three statewide victories as state superintendent show he can gather the support needed to defeat Walker.

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Budget agreement could be close in WisconsinSubmitted: 08/22/2017

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker says he and Republicans who control the Legislature have reached a deal "in principle" over transportation funding and other issues to end an impasse that's held up passage of the state budget.

Walker said Tuesday that the deal does not include any gas tax or vehicle registration fee increases.

He also says there will be a reduction in the personal property tax favored by the state's business community, but not a full repeal.

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Police captain, secretary, ill after opening envelope at Green Bay Police Departemnt Submitted: 08/22/2017

GREEN BAY - A Green Bay police captain and a secretary needed to be checked at a hospital when they got sick after after opening an envelope.

Police Chief Andrew Smith says the police station was evacuated Monday afternoon.

The heating and air conditioning system was shut down while the fire department investigated.

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