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Good morning, Oneida County! In today’s edition: Early snow boosts shops, Snowmy Kromer returns, an online gaming bill advances, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Rebound after slow winters: Early winter snow is boosting Northwoods shops, with Minocqua and Rhinelander seeing increased visitors and holiday sales. Outdoor stores say good skiing and lake ice are driving traffic this season — learn how weather boosted sales.
Constitutional amendment also at stake: Robin Vos says an online gaming bill is likely to pass this spring, using tribal land servers, and he plans to finish Assembly action soon amid rising concerns over prop bets — get all the details.
Town’s towering tradition: Snowmy Kromer is back in Minocqua this winter with a new hat and location, a beloved draw for visitors after recent low snowfall hurt winter fun and local businesses — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A quiet community lifeline: The Nokomis Food Pantry in Oneida County has spent decades supporting neighbors. Started 23 years ago and operating continuously for 21, coordinator Beta Stillman now helps about 50 families. The pantry remains open for donations and is located at N1858 County Rd. Read the full story.
Get your nature fix: Whether you’ve got curious kids or a soft spot for hawks and turtles, Northwoods Wildlife Center offers hands-on programs and behind-the-scenes peeks at real rehabilitation. Learn something new close to home… and leave feeling good about helping local wildlife.
When burrito cravings hit: Because some nights demand melty, saucy goodness wrapped in a tortilla, Casa Mexicana delivers classic smothered combos and solid veggie options. Bring the crew or go solo. It’s comforting, consistent, and exactly what a midweek brain needs.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
💉 Community Blood Drive @ IncredibleBank | Friday (1/9) at 10:00 AM – Rolling up your sleeve at IncredibleBank is paying off with a $25 eGift card, sent by email, and a little hometown hero status. Versiti keeps Marshfield Clinic and Children’s Hospital stocked, so your pint stays local. Walk in, or book ahead if you like appointments.
🍲 Chili and Soup Cook Off @ Rocky’s Roadhouse | Saturday (1/10) at 12:00 PM – Chili and Soup Cook Off is bubbling over with a heated debate, five bucks to enter, and a $5 refillable bowl for guilt-free seconds. Bring your best pot or just an appetite. First place walks with cash and bragging rights, sign up at the bar.
🎶 Music in the Greenhouse (Santy and Son with friends) @ Forth Floral | Saturday (1/10) at 12:00 PM – Ditch your parka and slip into the greenhouse at Forth Floral for a free set from Santy and Son with friends. Among the ferns, Eileen melts hearts while the band slides from funk to pop to rock, tight, and frost-free. Full lineup at forthfloral.com.
🎨 Where Art and Science Meet @ Kemp Natural Resources Station | Saturday (1/10) at 1:00 PM – Whether you prefer your Northwoods with data or doodles, head to Kemp Station for MIAD students sharing week-long ecology research and their art brains at work. Expect biodiversity talk, forest management takes, and fewer buzzwords than your last board meeting, no registration required.
🎶 Bomber & Red @ Town Pump | Saturday (1/10) at 7:00 PM – Skip the endless to-do list and slide into Town Pump for Bomber & Red, a Northwoods folk-soul outfit with goosebump harmonies, warm fiddle, and a clever stand-up bass. It’s real instruments, real voices, real good, and yes, there’s no cover.
👤 Derek Jones @ Shotskis | Saturday (1/10) at 7:00 PM – Grab your boots for Derek Jones, a veteran country rocker with outlaw grit, principled lyrics, and zero fluff. Expect big drums, bigger heart, and songs that raise a toast to the flag and the folks beside you. Real country, real loud, real good.
🎧 Open Deck Night @ Big Daddy’s | Saturday (1/10) at 8:00 PM – Open Deck Night turns Big Daddy’s into a rotating lineup of local DJs, fresh tracks, and neighborly bass, no velvet rope required. Grab the Saturday specials, collect tickets with every round for a shot at $100. Real community, real music, and no algorithm in sight.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Oneida County locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Oneida County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 38°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 29%
Widespread freezing fog before 8am, then patchy fog between 8am and noon, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy. High near 38, with temperatures falling to around 36 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain before 8pm, then rain and snow. Cloudy. Low around 28, with temperatures rising to around 30 overnight. North northeast wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 34°F – Low: 18°F – Precip: 15%
A slight chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. East northeast wind around 3 mph.
This house is wild
Timber frame new construction with lodge-like warmth, set on 108 feet of frontage on 58-acre Marion Lake. A great room anchors the open kitchen and dining area, with a wood fireplace and massive windows framing the water. There are three main floor bedrooms and three baths. The primary suite offers main floor living and a balcony. Quiet paddles and casts for bass or panfish start steps from the glass.
The basement adds a roomy hangout or game zone, two non-conforming guest rooms, and an infrared sauna. A two-car garage and a wooded lot complete the setting, minutes to Minocqua on a private dead-end road. Completion targeted for January 2026.
Take a peek inside →
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