What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
When most folks are tucking their pride and joy into heated garages for the winter, Harley Hixon and the Merrill Ice Draggers are doing exactly the opposite. They’re bolting spiked tires onto everything from minivans to top-fuel dragsters and launching them across the frozen surface of Lake Alexander at speeds that would make your grandmother clutch her pearls. This past Saturday marked the opening race of the 2026 season, and after a disappointing cancellation in 2025 due to poor ice conditions, the community turned out in force—hundreds of spectators bundled against the cold to witness what organizers call
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Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
NewsMichael Habeck won Tomahawk’s mayoral race with 655 votes, ending a decade without contested leadership. The 40-year resident faces immediate challenges with road repairs and budget deficits.
NewsRhinelander Mayor Kris Hanus secured reelection by just 15 votes in a nail-biter decided at 12:30 a.m. He’s focusing his second term on housing, infrastructure, and rebuilding public safety facilities.
NewsRhinelander Mayor Kris Hanus secured his second term by just 15 votes in a race that wasn’t called until after midnight. His agenda focuses on economic development, west side infrastructure, and a new public safety facility.
NewsMichael Habeck takes office as Tomahawk’s first new mayor in a decade, facing deteriorating roads and a budget deficit after voters rejected a funding referendum.