What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
The lights are back on at Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault in Rhinelander. After a temporary closure last summer, the organization has reopened with new staff and renewed focus on serving survivors across Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties.
For nearly five decades, Tri-County has been a lifeline for people facing their darkest moments. Now, under new leadership, the agency is rebuilding with an eye toward reaching more neighbors who need help.
Executive Director Casey Wagner knows the work firsthand. She started as an advocate before stepping into leadership, and her vision is clear: make 2025 a year of growth.
Last summer, Tri-County and its emergency shelter, Lily’s House, shut down temporarily. The reason? A staff shortage that made it impossible to safely serve clients.
“We were still answering phone calls,” Wagner explained. “We were just doing a lot of referrals or we would refer them to the national domestic violence crisis hotline.”
During the closure, the organization didn’t sit idle. Leadership restructured operations from the ground up, hiring and training an entirely new team to provide better support when doors reopened.
Wagner emphasized the importance of preparation. Training covered everything from continuing education on trauma-informed care to emotional wellness for staff who carry heavy stories.
“Helping clients can be super difficult,” she said. “There’s a lot of emotional health training and wellness too that we want all the staff to take before taking on clients.”
Tri-County Council operates out of 3716 Country Drive in Rhinelander, but its reach extends across three counties. The agency has been part of the Northwoods since 1979, long before many of today’s resorts and trails existed.
Services include emergency shelter with 16 beds available for up to 120 days, crisis intervention, safety planning, legal advocacy, and court accompaniment. The 24/7 crisis hotline—1-800-236-1222—never stops ringing.
Here’s what survivors can access:
The facility is wheelchair accessible, ensuring everyone can find safety regardless of mobility challenges.
Tri-County’s history runs deep in Rhinelander. In 1980, the organization rented its first shelter home. Five years later, an anonymous donor purchased a permanent shelter house, giving survivors a stable refuge.
Over the decades, the shelter expanded to meet growing needs. A 2003 renovation funded by state housing authorities added accommodations for people with disabilities and seniors over 60—recognition that abuse doesn’t discriminate by age or ability.
“There is help out there. There are people willing to help. There are resources out there and there is always a solution.” —Casey Wagner, Executive Director
The agency’s ties to community run even deeper. Since 2012, Tri-County has partnered with Downtown Rhinelander Inc. on the annual Potato Fest every Labor Day weekend, raising funds and awareness. The event honors Lily Kongslein, a volunteer who gave 24 years of service before retiring in 2011.
Wagner’s focus on growth isn’t just talk. After months of rebuilding, she’s ready to expand outreach across the tri-county area.
Historically, Tri-County maintained offices in Crandon and Eagle River to serve Forest and Vilas counties. Those outreach locations remain temporarily closed, but mobile advocacy brings services directly to survivors in remote corners of the Northwoods.
In a region where neighbors might live miles apart and winter isolation can trap people in dangerous situations, mobile outreach matters. Wagner understands that reaching someone on a back road near Eagle River or in a cabin outside Crandon could mean the difference between escape and tragedy.
The organization’s commitment extends beyond immediate crisis response. Education programs aim to break cycles of violence before they start, teaching communities to recognize warning signs and support survivors.
If there’s one message Wagner wants Northwoods residents to hear, it’s simple: you’re not alone.
Too many people suffer in silence because they don’t know where to turn. Maybe it’s a friend dealing with an abusive partner, a family member trapped in a dangerous home, or someone you pass at the grocery store who’s hiding bruises under long sleeves in July.
Tri-County Council’s crisis line—1-800-236-1222—connects callers with trained advocates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Calls are confidential, and help is available whether someone needs immediate shelter or just wants to talk through options.
The Northwoods is a place where people look out for each other. Knowing this resource exists in Rhinelander means we can all be better neighbors to those facing violence at home. As the leaves turn and another Northwoods winter approaches, Tri-County Council stands ready to offer warmth and safety when it matters most.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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