As reported by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Monday, Nov. 25.
Two men were arrested last Tuesday morning after a deputy stopped a vehicle on State Rd. 17 near State Rd. 64 at 3:45 a.m. after he observed it fail to stop at a stop sign. The occupants of the vehicle acted suspiciously and the K9 Nina was called to the scene, which led to the K9 indicating to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. A search revealed drug paraphernalia along with a baggie and syringe that tested positive for methamphetamine. The drive of the vehicle, a Rhinelander man, 25, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer, and felony bail jumping, as well as a felony arrest warrant from Forest County relating to other drug charges. A passenger in the vehicle, a Rhinelander man, 29, was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine. The Merrill Police Department assisted with the arrest.
A bank employee and deputies prevented the defrauding of an elderly Tomahawk resident this past week. The man was contacted at his home and told he won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes but had to provide $3,500 in order to process his winnings. When withdrawing the money at the bank the bank employee became suspicious and alerted the man’s family. When a deputy went to the home, the scammer called but hung up when the deputy identified himself. The next day the scammer was reported to be calling again, this time asking the potential victim to secure gift cards.
Two people were transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital after falling into the Wisconsin River Wednesday morning. Reports indicate that a dog fell through the ice and when the dog’s owner tried to rescue it, he fell in as well. The man’s wife also fell in the water as bystanders tried to free the man. When Tomahawk firefighters and paramedics and deputies arrived they found everyone, including the dog, had made it out of the water.
Deputies, wardens and Tomahawk firefighters assisted a lost hunter Thursday evening in the Town of Bradley. The Fond du Lac man, 23, phoned 911 to report he had become lost off of County Rd. A. The 911 center was able to pinpoint the man’s location and kept the man on the phone as they guided rescuers to him. The man was located and removed from the woods about an hour later. He was checked by paramedics but refused transport.
A Tomahawk woman, 34, was arrested Friday after receiving a report of a reckless driver. The vehicle was located and stopped on Duginski Rd. in the Town of Merrill just before 8 p.m. A check showed the driver was wanted by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for violating the terms of her probation.
A Madison man, 32, was arrested early Saturday after a deputy responded to a report of a vehicle that was parked in the middle of State Rd. 86 west of Tomahawk. The caller told the deputy they found the driver sleeping and when he was awakened, he fled at a high rate of speed. A deputy found the suspect’s vehicle and driver was subsequently arrested for OWI -second offense and also cited for having open intoxicants in his vehicle.
Lincoln County Deputies investigated the death of a hunter Saturday afternoon. At about 1:30 p.m., a 911 call reported a hunter was found not breathing by other members of his hunting group on land off of Beaver Trail Rd. in the Town of Russell. Town of Russell first responders and firefighters responded to the scene, along with Merrill Fire Department Ambulance and deputies. According to the report, the hunter passed away from natural causes sometime in the morning while field dressing a deer he had just shot. The hunter was pronounced dead on the scene by Lincoln County Coroner Paul C. Proulx. The victim was identified as Charles H. Augustine, 66, of the Town of Rib Mountain.
An Antigo woman, 40, was arrested Sunday evening after a deputy stopped a vehicle on E. Main St. near Pine Ridge Ave. after he witnessed the vehicle fail to yield to another vehicle, almost causing a crash. The K9 Nina performed a sniff on the vehicle and indicated to the odor of illegal drugs in the vehicle. A passenger admitted she was in possession of a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. The woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony bail jumping.
The number of deer crashes decreased this week, with ten being reported. Only three of those crashes occurred over the weekend. A Merrill woman reported striking a bear Wednesday evening in the Town of Pine River. On Friday evening, a Wausau man reported striking a bear on County Rd. W at Heritage Rd., also in the Town of Pine River.
As reported by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday, Dec. 1:
A Merrill woman, 39, was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant charge for violating the terms of her probation.
A Merrill man, 51, was arrested Wednesday morning on a disorderly conduct charge following an argument regarding a neighbor pushing snow into their yard.
A Merrill woman, 20, was injured after a single-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon in the Town of Pine River. The woman was traveling on County Rd. W near County Rd. P when her vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver received non-life threatening injuries
A Sheboygan Falls man’s snowmobile broke through the ice on Lake Alice Thursday night after leaving a residence on Shorewood Circle Rd. The man was uninjured in the incident and was able to get out of the water on his own. The snowmobile had to be recovered by a local towing company. Ice conditions have been changing rapidly, please use caution when on frozen waterways.
Snow kept deputies and dispatchers busy through the week with two separate snow storms. Deputies investigated a total of 20 vehicles in the ditch, along with six property damage-only crashes. Snow covered tree branches led to a dozen calls. Deputies also checked the welfare of several elderly residents who were stuck in their homes without power.
During the course of the nine-day gun season the Rec. Deputy made contact with dozens of hunters. As in previous years, the most common issue is with hunters violating county ordinances while using county land. He also found several hunters who were transporting loaded firearms on off-road vehicles.
Twelve people reported striking deer last week. A Wausau woman reported hitting a bear on State Rd. 17 at County Rd. J on Wednesday.