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News: Park Falls and Fifield    No Replies

   

On the evening of January 26, 2025, a snowmobile accident was reported in northern Price County.

A husband and wife heard loud noises outside their home.  The woman said she saw a piece of wood from their deck fly up, and her husband ran outside to see what had happened.  The female caller reported that a man, driving a snowmobile, had crashed into their house.  She said they did not believe the driver was going to survive.

A member of Park Falls EMS arrived at the accident site, and radioed out to the responding Park Falls EMS stating that the man was showing aspirations and was breathing but had severe trauma to his head.  Officer Fohr arrived on scene at the same time as a man with EMS.

The officer went to the location.  He observed that on the south side of the residence, there was a deck raised by support beams so the deck could be walked under.  A support beam was broken on the deck, and some siding was broken on the house.  The basement wall was visible underneath the deck, and the snowmobile was partially underneath the deck, approximately four to five feet from the south basement wall.  According to Officer Fohr, "The snowmobile was mangled from front end damage."

The snowmobile driver, named Joseph, was lying on his stomach over the seat.  The male owner of the home was holding Joseph's head, which he had wrapped in a towel to help stop the bleeding.  Since the homeowner was holding the man's head properly and said he was okay with doing so, he continued to assist.  Joseph was struggling to breathe and was slightly groaning.  Blood was observed in the entire bottom of the engine block and in the snow.  There was also vomit and saliva present.

EMS members and the officer put Joseph on a gurney, and he left in the ambulance at 7:28 p.m.  He was then taken from Park Falls Airport, via helicopter, to a hospital.

The officer surveyed the scene and discovered that before hitting the support beam of the deck on the house, the tracks showed the snowmobile initially had been driving north/northeast on Wintergreen Lake.  The snowmobile then drove through a wooden swing set before hitting the residence.  There were no marks on the lake to indicate the snowmobile tried to slow down.

The investigation discovered the man was staying at an area resort for a bachelor party.  Deputy Lex and Officer Fohr found six members of the bachelor party outside of a cabin at the resort.  One of the men was the owner of the snowmobile that was involved in the crash.  The men stated they did not know that Joseph had left the bar and taken the snowmobile.  They stated they were unsure where he was for about fifteen minutes.  They thought the snowmobile had been stolen.  They advised the man had been drinking alcohol all day.

No further information was given on the man's condition.  However, he is not listed as a crash fatality on the Wisconsin DNR's 2025 Snowmobile Fatal Crash Summary as of February 3, 2025.

News: Phillips, Kennan, and Catawba    No Replies

   

Five people have served as the clerk/treasurer for the Town of Worcester since 2020.  In five years' time, all five have resigned.  In their resignation letters, four of them, Scott Revak, Roberta Reese, Marcie Bogdanovic, and Alli Mathys, mentioned "harassment" or "stress," from an individual and his group, as one of their reasons for resignation.

The letters of resignation can be viewed on the Town of Worcester website at this link and this link.

In her resignation letter, Alli, the most recent clerk/treasurer, alleged she was subjected to threatening behavior from a few individuals and felt the behavior was driven by Facebook posts made by one individual.

There is a private Facebook group that was recently created that focuses on government in the Town of Worcester.  A post in that group states that a new public Facebook group has now been created.  One of the groups' administrators is Anthony Sleck, who was involved in a lawsuit with the Town of Worcester in years past, alleging that some of his open records requests were not being fulfilled.  According to Anthony, there were originally eleven charges filed against the Town of Worcester.  One charge was dropped after agreement by Anthony and the attorneys.  Seven other charges were dropped by Anthony and his attorney before the judge could rule on them, because the Town of Worcester fulfilled the open records requests that pertained to those charges.  Anthony won his lawsuit on the other three charges as The Town of Worcester was found guilty.  (See related story at this link.)  In regard to that lawsuit, Anthony asked and explained, "Why did the Town of Worcester get sued?  Because they were denying Open Public Records, delaying the fulfillment of the requests, and charging ridiculous fees to deter citizens from getting information that is supposed to be given to anyone upon request.  All this was proven in court, and after this was over, the town board members still are doing the same things they were taken to court for the first time.  It's obvious that they didn't learn from their past mistakes....I am well within my rights as a concerned citizen to ask for this information."

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Regarding the Facebook group, Anthony told My Price County, "We do not make any accusations about anyone that can't be substantiated with documents received from the Worcester town clerks or from video recordings of the town meetings."

Chairman Jim Michler, however, feels the Facebook group, which he admits he has not seen because he is not on Facebook, has "negative allegations about the Town of Worcester."  He continued, "Two people told me that they posted rebuttals to negative posts, that those rebuttals were immediately removed, and they were blocked."  The Town of Worcester then started a blog on their website to "attempt to counteract the negativity of that Facebook page," according to Jim.

In regard to the resignation letters of the clerks, Anthony shared, "They all claim harassment.  Doing your job or having to be reminded of what your job responsibilities are, isn't harassment.  The town board members spent thousands of dollars on security cameras inside and outside the town hall and recycling center.  Ask to view the recordings of the incidents they claim have happened to make the town clerks fear for their lives.  I have video recordings of the town meetings to back up my side of the story.  All they have is hearsay.  If they feel threatened or harassed, why haven't there been any charges brought to anyone?  The answer is simple.  I'm well within my rights as a citizen to make these requests with expectations of them being fulfilled in a timely manner."

My Price County asked the town chairman, "Besides receiving a large number of open records requests, what 'harassment' have the town clerks experienced?"  He said, "The volume of open records requests is not, and has not been, the primary problem.  The primary problem is the verbal abuse and threats of lawsuits.  Any one incident by itself is not a huge problem, but he never lets up.  The continuous pressure is more than the last five town clerk/treasurers have been able to tolerate.  His legal actions will be the subject of future blog posts."

My Price County mentioned to Anthony that some residents have expressed that they do not know why he needs all these records and wonder if he has found anything materially significant that the Town of Worcester is doing wrong.  Anthony asserts, "Some things that I have found while searching through the documents that I have been allowed to receive range from time card fraud, lack of leadership by the town chairman, lack of knowledge by the town board members, and lack of work experience by the employees of the township (not being capable of performing the job duties correctly the first time).  We can blame that on poor training, but what has the town board done to resolve that issue, besides constantly increasing their pay?"

The Town of Worcester provided a list of requests they have received from April 5, 2022 (when they started keeping a record of the requests) and January 27, 2025.  This record includes all the requests they have received and not just Anthony's requests, as noted on the document.  Click here to view the list.

As for his reasoning for requesting records, Anthony stated, "According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), every citizen has the right to make an Open Public Records (OPR) Request.  They should be allowed to do so without interference from the town board members.  It is the records' custodian's (town clerk's) job duty and responsibility to fulfill these requests as soon as practicable without delay.  The DOJ also puts OPR's as a priority.  These requests are supposed to be fulfilled without question."

The Town of Worcester agrees that any person can view or get a copy of a public record in the township.  According to Chairman Jim Michler, "The requester does not need to provide a reason for requesting the record.  The power to get records is not unlimited.  The regular business of the town must continue."  He added that some requests are quick and easy to fulfill, such as a current list of registered voters, but some requests take more time, such as road crew workers' time cards for a six-year period of time as the time cards are only on paper and not easily accessible on a computer.

Jim stated, "The situation is more difficult when a particular requester has a history of abusing and threatening the town clerk.  Because of that abuse, the town worked with the town attorney to protect the town clerk.  The town clerk now has the option of requiring that two town board members be present during requests to view or deliver records in person.  Since the Town of Worcester has a three-member board, two members is a quorum.  A board quorum requires a public meeting with at least 24 hours' advance public notice."

However, Anthony feels the town board members have "created obstacles and barriers to deter anyone from making such requests.  They have created policies trying to limit when and how a citizen can have their requests fulfilled."  He believes that all or most of the documents reside on computers given he says a former town chairman had the town's documents scanned into the computer system.

Chairman Michler said, "Before early 2022, he [Anthony] regularly disrupted town meetings.  After a talk with Sheriff Schmidt, and actions from the meeting chair, those disruptions decreased."  He added, "He is very good at verbally backing people into a corner, misquoting laws, quoting people out of context, then verbally hammering them.  This is the root of the harassment mentioned in the letters of resignation.  Because of that behavior, the Town worked with Attorney Bryce Schoenborn to develop a procedure for filling his Open Records requests.  We require that two town board members be present whenever he is meeting with the town clerk.  He has strongly objected to that requirement and has repeatedly stated that he should be allowed to talk to the town clerk one-on-one."

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The Town of Worcester mentioned a thread of e-mails between Anthony and Alli to determine a date they could meet to fulfill some of Anthony's requests.  In the e-mails, Alli asked Anthony if he could meet on September 12, 2024.  Anthony had a medical appointment that day and could not meet.  Alli then suggested September 17, 2024.  Jim stated that day would work for him unless a loan signing was going to get scheduled as that would take precedence.  Anthony stated he could not meet on that day.  Alli suggested October 2, 2024.  Anthony replied that he did not like her suggesting a day for "all" to meet.  He expressed that he and the clerk/treasurer should work out a day and time and the new procedure was a deterrent.  If they could not work out a time, then Anthony requested that all his requests be fulfilled and he could stop by to pick up the information.  Alli then asked if he could meet on October 14, 2024.  Anthony replied that date did not work for him.  Alli suggested November 19, 2024.  Anthony replied that date and time did not work with his schedule.  He stated the new policy was created on misinformation about him, and he would like the former policy to be used where he could schedule a date and time with the clerk and then if the board members wanted to come at that time, they could.  He stated that the documents he wanted were sitting on the counter at the October monthly board meeting.  Alli then asked if December 9, 2024 would work for Anthony or if he could suggest a date that would work for him.  He replied that date did not work for him, and he wanted the original process to be in place.  Alli asked him if December 17, 2024 would work.  Anthony stated that date did not work for him, again expressing that he wanted the original policy to be used, because he stated the town clerk is the records' custodian, not the board members.  Alli asked if January 6, 2025 would work for them to meet or if Anthony could suggest a date.  Anthony stated that date and time would not work for him.  He wanted to use the procedure where the clerk sends him three dates and times, and if one worked for him, he would select it, but if none worked for him, then he would send her back three dates and times until they found a meeting time that worked for both of them.  He said the board could then be notified.  Alli replied, asking if January 14, 2025 would work for Anthony.  Anthony asked what records he would receive at that time if he rearranged his schedule, and Alli replied they would work on the 1-22 open records requests and get through as many as possible in the allotted hour.  Anthony confirmed he could meet at 1 p.m. on January 14, 2025 and stated he appreciated the opportunity to address the matter and looked forward to a productive discussion on ensuring compliance and transparency fulfilling the town's obligations.  However, Alli told the chairman that she was concerned about the meeting, not wanting her name drug through the mud on social media or having videos of herself at the meeting on Anthony's group page.  She felt that, in the past, Anthony posted videos after the meeting was adjourned where she was talking to others about her personal life and engagement.  Alli stated to Jim that she would have all the documents ready, but she did not want to be part of the meeting so she could avoid having her name and a video of herself on the Internet.  Almost twenty-four hours before the meeting, Alli sent Anthony an e-mail stating that since she was resigning and felt there was ongoing harassment, she did not want to meet with Anthony.  She stated the town board felt it was best to wait for a meeting until there was a new town clerk.  She stated the town would reach out to Anthony once the clerk/treasurer position was filled to set up a new meeting date and time.

Anthony said the town board calls this situation "chaos," but he feels the chaos began after May of 2020.  "It is true that I have made a number of requests over the past years.  The Town of Worcester Board appointed a new member to the town board in May of 2020.  This individual has done nothing but waste everyone's time and money by creating obstacles (policies) to slow down an already outlined procedure by the DOJ.  This same individual is responsible for the spread of misinformation about my requests to try and destroy my reputation."

Anthony states he has video from a town meeting from the Summer of 2023.  He said that two board members alleged "someone came into the Worcester Town Hall and started throwing things around the office, yelling at the town clerk, and plain harassing the town clerk.  The town board members were discussing building a new office for the town clerk.  This office would be made from bulletproof glass.  I made a records request to view that video from all the town hall security cameras.  Also, if something like this ever happened to anyone, don't you think there would have been a report filed with the sheriff's department and the district attorney?  It's amazing how no such reports exist or were even reported to any authorities.  Why do you think something like this was brought up in a town meeting?  To try and damage my reputation even more with misinformation," Anthony said.

"Having individuals on the board who have no experience with road maintenance or operating this type of work, period, shouldn't be permitted.  They are only legal liabilities to the township with inexperience and no people skills.  They will say or do something that could be very costly to the residents and taxpayers of Worcester.  Friends or not, they don't need to be running this township.  It will only end up in bankruptcy with their frivolous spending habits and poor decision making."

He continued, "I can put all of this into perspective pretty easily.  I am a concerned resident in Worcester.  As a concerned resident, I attend as many town meetings as possible.  I've asked the town chairman questions about accountability and how our tax money was being used.  I video and audio record every meeting that I attend.  This is my proof of what transpires at these town meetings.  After that, I wasn't allowed to speak anymore.  The only other avenue for getting this information is to submit Open Public Records Requests.  The records' custodian (town clerk) is the only person accountable for fulfilling these requests.  This is outlined by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, under job duties and responsibilities of the town clerk."

Anthony summarized what he expects from the town board.  "I expect truth and transparency from the town board members, 100%, always."  He added, "My reputation has been destroyed by the town board members of Worcester all because I'm a concerned resident and ask questions.  Aren't they being paid to represent every person in the township equally?  Ask yourself why Worcester Town Board is going out of their way by wasting time, money, and energy to prevent me from getting Open Public Records?  What is the town board trying to hide from the public?"

Some residents have asked why Anthony has not applied for the town clerk/treasurer position.  However, he has applied.  According to the Town of Worcester, he has submitted various applications for different jobs from 2021 through 2023.  He submitted an application for the town clerk/treasurer job in April of 2023, but he was not hired, and Alli Mathys started in the position in December of 2023.  Chairman Michler stated that Anthony "contested the town's decision to not interview him" at one time.  Anthony was interviewed for a recycling center position.

Jim added that Anthony's threats of lawsuits are not empty.  The last time he sued the Town of Worcester, the chairman said it "cost the insurance company almost $100,000 in attorney fees."

As of our interview with Anthony, he is still waiting for his open records requests to be fulfilled.


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News: Countywide    No Replies

   

Price County Clerk Meredith Hueckman announced there will be a public hearing before the Price County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 9:05 a.m., though it is noted the time is approximate.  The meeting will be held in Room 101 of the courthouse on Cherry Street in Phillips.

The hearing is regarding amending Chapter 473, entitled "Vehicles and Traffic," Article IV, All-Terrain Vehicles Routes, to include Section 473.15, Authorize the Operation of a State Highway Bridge.

Questions and comments are welcome at the hearing.  According to Meredith, if you are unable to attend in person, "All persons interested in presenting evidence are welcome to participate via conference call.  Written comments sent to the county clerk and comments from the public in attendance via conference call will be heard."

News: Countywide    No Replies

   

Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.

PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Reports were not received for January 1 - 12, 2025 as of the time of publication.

1-13-25:  An Ogema woman reported license plates that she previously owned, but left on a car she traded in at a Wausau dealership in 2023, were being used, and she was receiving toll violation citations from Illinois.

1-14-25:  A customer reportedly was physically fighting outside the grocery store in Park Falls with a loss prevention officer over a stolen item.  No injuries were reported, the fighting stopped, and both people moved back into the store.

1-15-25:  A Prentice woman reported a dispute with her neighbor.  The caller said she was walking her dog and taking out laundry when her neighbor started screaming at her and using threatening behavior.  The caller could not understand the woman given she was mumbling.

1-16-25:  A Park Falls woman was supposed to meet her boyfriend and friends for dinner, but when he did not respond to her texts or phone calls, she checked on him, and she found him deceased.  He was lying face down with a gun next to him.  She did not believe he had a history of depression or suicide attempts, but he did have a history of heart problems.  The police report does not mention how the man ultimately died.

1-18-25:  A Prentice man reported an explosion sound near enough to his residence that it shook the windows.

1-19-25:  A Phillips man reported an abandoned Jeep Cherokee was at the East Solberg Lake boat landing.  Given the amount of snow on the vehicle and no snow under the vehicle, he felt it had been there for at least a week.

1-22-25:  A Phillips man reported that his ex-girlfriend tried to shoot herself.  The man got the firearm away from the woman but not before it discharged into the wall.

1-22-25:  An out-of-town woman stated she crashed her vehicle in the Township of Flambeau and, though not injured, was trapped inside the vehicle.

1-22-25:  The Price County Highway Department reported one of their plow trucks was hit near an intersection in Fifield.  There were no injuries.

1-23-25:  A Prentice woman reported having approximately $1,400 stolen from three of her financial accounts during the past week.  She thought her phone must have gotten hacked.  She stated her bank told her someone tried to write a check to a man, but the check did not have the woman's signature, and the woman was unsure if the man was involved in the loss of money.

1-25-25:  A man reported people and dogs trespassing on his 40 acres of property, according to the camera footage that he viewed.

1-25-25:  A semi driver reported a vehicle on the side of the road with flashers on and a woman walking down the highway.

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PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT

1-6-25  On Avon Avenue, police received a complaint from an adult male regarding numerous piles of junk that were sitting in the back yard of a residence next to his.  An officer responded and took photographs of the items, which were old play vehicles, garbage bags, a mattress, wood, tires, and other scrap. An officer delivered an "Order of Compliance" to the owner and gave the owner 30 days for the property to be put into compliance.

1-6-25: Advised of a disorderly incident that occurred at the Phillips Middle School.  The victim and suspect were spoken to.  An officer is investigating the incident.

1-7-25:  Received information from a local school that an adult, who was prohibited from being inside the school building, had been inside the school building the previous evening.  The school requested the adult be cited.  An officer issued a citation to the adult for trespassing.

1-7-25:  Notified by the school that two students were suspected of consuming a controlled substance at school.  An officer and school officials investigated the incident.  As a result of the investigation, the two students were suspended from school; one of the students received a citation for possession of a controlled substance and the other student was referred to the Price County Human Services Department for possession of a controlled substance.

1-7-25: Responded to two dogs that were fighting on a city street. The owner of one of the dogs told the officer that his dog ran out of the vehicle when he opened the door and attacked another dog who was being walked by his owner.  Both dogs appeared to be fine.  The owner of the dog that was attacked did not wish anything to be done and thanked the officers.  The officer spoke to the owners of the dogs to make sure they were both current on vaccinations and that they were registered through Price County.

1-9-25:  Received a report of a vehicle striking a private fence along South Lake Avenue.  An officer arrived and documented the scene.  The caller reported they had noticed the damage to the fence a day ago and believed it may have been struck two days ago.  Investigation pending.

1-14-25:  Spoke to a citizen at the front door of the Phillips Police Department.  The citizen was irate and began swearing at the officer.  The officer called for another officer to help remove the citizen as the citizen would not leave and was blocking the door.  The citizen was later arrested by the Price County Sheriff's Department for disorderly conduct.

1-16-25:  Assisted the Central Price County Ambulance Service with an adult male who had a cart of steel fall onto him trapping him on the ground.  Coworkers were able to remove the steel. An officer arrived and assisted with loading the patient into the ambulance.  The ambulance met the Medivac helicopter at the Price County Airport for transport.

1-17-25:  Made contact with a City of Phillips resident at their home regarding baiting of
deer in the city limits.  An officer advised the resident that they cannot bait deer in the city limits. The resident apologized and said they would stop.

1-19-25:  Advised by Price County Dispatch that a residential structure fire had occurred.  An officer responded and spoke with Price County Emergency Management and the owner of the residence.

1-26-25:  Assisted Price County Sheriff's Department with an intoxicated male who went to the Sheriff's Office to report that he had went in the ditch with his vehicle.  One adult male was arrested for operating while intoxicated.

1-28-25:  Received a complaint from a resident on Flambeau Avenue who advised her neighbor had a company cut part of a tree that was on the property line and now the company wants her to pay for the removal of her half of the tree.  The woman wanted it on record in case they damaged any of her property.

1-30-25:  Observed a camper motor home parked at a residence on Argyle Avenue with no license plates attached to it.  The motor home has been sitting in the driveway for over five months and is in violation of the city’s Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance.  The owner was given 7 days to register, remove, or place into an enclosed garage or be issued an ordinance citation.

1-31-25:  Police were called to a local establishment for an adult male who was intoxicated and talking strangely.  An officer arrived and identified the man who was on probation and on a no drink order.  The officer contacted probation and parole, who wanted the subject taken into custody and held at the Price County Jail, which is what occurred.

1-31-25:  Provided an escort through the city for the Phillips High School dance team who made it to state.

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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT

1-1-25:  An officer responded to assist a Price County deputy on a traffic stop where the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the suspect vehicle.  One male suspect fled the location of the traffic stop on foot.  One female and one male juvenile were detained.  Ultimately, after a subsequent search for the male who fled the stop, the male was taken into custody.

1-2-25:  An officer assisted a deputy with taking one male into custody.  He had a warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without issue.

1-6-25:  Officers responded for the report of a male seeing subjects in his apartment.  Officers found the male was detoxing from the consumption of alcohol and was hallucinating.  A safety plan was set up with Price County Human Services.

1-9-25:  A vehicle struck a door opening at the car wash due to the amount of ice outside the door.  A report was made for record as the matter was deemed civil.

1-10-25:  A person reported a parent suspected of giving tattoos to her children and other juveniles.

1-13-25:  The Chequamegon High School principal requested an officer come to the school to watch video of an altercation between two students.  The parent did not wish to pursue charges.

1-14-25:  There was a report of a property damage crash in the high school parking lot.

1-14-25:  A loss prevention officer attempted to stop a male adult who was shoplifting.  The suspect became resistive, and a physical altercation occurred. There were no injuries.

1-16-25: Report of a vehicle in the ditch near the intersection of Highway 13 and 9th Street North.  The vehicle was not damaged.

1-18-25:  Report of a disturbance where the suspect committed battery to the victim.  The victim did not want to press charges.  Parties were separated for the night.

1-19-25:  Assisted the sheriff’s office with a domestic abuse incident on Willow Street.  The suspect was located in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.

1-21-25:  An officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle with expired registration. The officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle.  Officers located marijuana products and drug paraphernalia on suspects and inside suspect vehicle.  One male was arrested for OWI - drug-impaired driving.  Passenger cited.

1-22-25:  Report of a missing vehicle.

1-22-25:  Requested by the sheriff’s office to respond to a one-vehicle rollover crash.  No other deputies were available due to a shooting incident in the City of Phillips.  (See Price County Sheriff’s Office report on 1-22-25 for more details.)

1-23-25:  Report of dogs defecating on another's property.

1-24-25:  Responded to a residence with a man stating he heard someone crawling in his ceiling. One male was placed in protective custody per a Chapter 51 process.  The male was transported to a facility without issue.

1-25-25:  A concerned citizen stopped at the police department to inform officers of a vehicle in the ditch that struck a tree on Tower Road north of Division Street.

1-25-25:  An officer was dispatched out of the city for an active domestic situation.  The officer was the first to arrive on the scene and separated the parties involved while waiting for deputies to arrive.  The female subject was taken into custody for domestic-related charges.  The male subject was taken into custody for an active warrant he had.

1-25-25:  An officer responded to a residence in Price County for the report of a snowmobile which struck a residence.  The officer arrived on scene and assisted EMS.  The operator of the snowmobile was ultimately life-flighted from the Park Falls Airport.  An officer further assisted a Price County sheriff's deputy with his investigation.

1-29-25:  Officers responded a residence where a male suspect had been peering into the residence's windows the night prior.


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State, National, & World News    No Replies

By:  Davette Lynne Hrabak, CPA, CFE, CBM, ATA, ATP, ABA, ECS, CGMA, https://www.DavetteLynneHrabak.com
“When it comes to taxes, save the lion’s share; enter between the lions to get this special care.”

There are a number of credits and deductions available to taxpayers.  The following four sections, (with each heading in bold for ease of reference), focus on tax credits, including the information you should bring to your tax preparer, the Earned Income Credit (sometimes available even if there are no qualifying children), the Homestead Credit, and a summary of many of the credits that are available.

(Article continues after promotional message)
   
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WHEN IN DOUBT, BRING IT IN AND BRING IT UP

There are so many credits and deductions available to taxpayers; many which individual or business taxpayers may not be aware of.  Each person’s individual tax situation is unique.  An individual that is lower income, someone who has kids, a person who owns and runs a business or a rental, or someone who has a combination of factors on their returns each have unique needs and unique deductions and credits.

It is virtually impossible for an individual to know what all is deductible and what is not on their own.  Therefore, when you bring your items in to be prepared, do not hesitate to talk to your CPA.  Mention any questions that you have and discuss what all has gone on in your year financially.  Many times these conversations open a person up to finding out that they have more deductions and credits available to them than they thought.  Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Sometimes these helpful conversations can even lead to planning for the future.  For example, maybe you have an item that would have been deductible had you taken certain steps in documenting it.  The discussion would lead to letting you know what you can do for the following year to make next year’s taxes more bearable.

If you think you have an item that could be deductible, bring it up and ask about it. The worst thing that could happen in bringing it up is that you find out it is not deductible.  The best thing is that you find out it is deductible or it sparks additional questions that could lead to something else that may help you in your own individual tax situation.

Bring your prior year return in with you so it can be looked over.  Having a thought-provoking discussion and the prior year return available can go far in making sure things have been done the way that they should have been, and, if an issue is found, the best possible course of action can be discussed.

In my practice, I have found new clients coming in that did not realize the deductions and credits that they have missed in prior years’ returns.  Many were surprised that some of them can still be claimed without amending a return, (for example, a missed Homestead Credit in a prior year), or via amending a return if needed for some items that can only be corrected in that manner.

Remember, if you have already filed but realize that you could have had a credit or deduction that you missed, it is not too late; you can always amend your return.  If you need more information or believe you could qualify for them, I would be happy to give you a free quote on the preparation of your return.

When the right tax and financial advice is essential, talk to someone with an unmatched level of knowledge, experience, and education.  A CPA understands the business of taxes and finance and can provide trusted advice and services during the tax season and throughout the calendar year.

For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638.  Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.

THE 2024 TAX YEAR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT:  IN SOME CASES, EVEN IF THERE ARE NO QUALIFYING CHILDREN INCREASED CREDIT AMOUNTS FOR 2024

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a credit that is available to many taxpayers.  It is based on a person’s income and the number of qualifying children that they have.  However, many people do not realize that if a taxpayer’s income level falls within certain parameters, then a person whom does not have any qualifying children can qualify for the credit if all criteria are met.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a complicated credit that has many rules and adjustments to a taxpayer’s income but it is an often used credit and provides a refund to many people, even in cases where the taxpayer has not had any federal or state withholding taken out of their pay.  It is part of a group of credits which are called refundable credits, which basically means that a taxpayer can get back more than what they had withheld from their paychecks.

The maximum Earned Income Credit amounts available to taxpayers are dependent on whether or not the taxpayer has children, and, if they have children, the number of children they have.

If a taxpayer has no children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $632.
If a taxpayer has one child, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $4,213.
If a taxpayer has two children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $6,960.
If a taxpayer has more than two children, the maximum credit that they could qualify for is $7,830.

Wisconsin has a Wisconsin Earned Income Credit which provides additional amounts based on individual taxpayer’s facts and circumstances.

For a free, no obligation quote, call Davette at 715-339-6638.  Her office is located between the lion statues at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.

COULD YOU BE OVER-LOOKING THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT?

Wisconsin has a credit that is known as the Homestead Credit.  If you own a home or rent you may be eligible to obtain a refund even if you are not otherwise required to file a tax return.

Below is a basic summary of the qualifications for a taxpayer to be eligible for the Wisconsin Homestead Credit.  If you fall into the basic summary, then it would be in your best interest to look further into the credit to ensure you qualify for it, as, if you do, it is a very rewarding credit.

The Wisconsin Homestead Credit basic qualifications are as follows:

• The property that you occupied and owned or rented, meaning your home, apartment, or other dwelling, must be subject to Wisconsin property taxes in 2024.  However, there is an exception to this if the property is owned by a municipal housing authority. If the property is owned by a municipal housing authority, it would not be considered tax-exempt for the Homestead Credit if the authority makes payments to a town or city in which it is located.  If you are considering the Homestead Credit, and if you live in a place that would be considered public housing, you should check with the management of the facility to see if the property would qualify for the Homestead Credit.
  
• You must be a legal resident of Wisconsin for the entire 2024 year.
  
• By December 31, 2024 you must be 18 years of age or older.
  
• Your household income, based on a formula used for the credit, must be less than $24,680 for 2024.
  
• You must meet one of the following conditions:  A. During 2024, you or your spouse, if you were married, and live in the same household, must have positive earned income during the year. B. You or your spouse, if you are married, and live in the same household are disabled.  C.  You or your spouse, if you are married, are at least 62 years of age or older by the end of 2024.
  
• You cannot be claimed as a dependent for the year on someone else’s federal tax return.  However, there is an exception to this if you were 62 years of age or more on December 31, 2024.
  
• You and your spouse, if married, will not claim the Farmland Preservation Credit for 2024 or the Veterans and Surviving Spouse’s Property Tax Credit based on your 2024 property taxes.
  
• At the time of filing, you cannot live in a nursing home and receive Title XIX medical assistance.
  
• You cannot file a claim on behalf of a person after his or her death.
  
• You need to fully understand the definition of household for the Homestead Credit, as only one claim can be filed per their definition of household.
  
• If you received Wisconsin Works (W2) payments of any amount or county relief payments, you will need to do a special calculation.
  
• The Homestead Credit is a very complicated credit which has a lot of modifications to the taxpayer’s income; however, it is also a credit that is very helpful to Wisconsin residents and one that is overlooked by many taxpayers who mistakenly think that just because they are not required to file a return, that they then should not file one.  The above listed qualifications are not all inclusive; please consult with a tax adviser for other qualifications required.
  

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Job Description:

Have you ever thought about an apprenticeship?

Earn certification, along with firsthand work experience, all while getting paid!

As an apprentice with us, you'll have the opportunity to develop valuable skills, gain hands -on experience in the manufacturing environment, and kickstart your career in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Position Description:

Perform a variety of electrical design, application and checking duties pertaining to schematics modifications or adaptation of previous designs to meet specific customer requirements or modernize designs.

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Job Description:

At BW Papersystems the People Team (HR) team is focused on what people need and how to provide it. We’re searching for a qualified and resourceful Human Resource Administrative Assistant to support our department in ensuring smooth and efficient business operations. In this role, you will have both administrative and strategic responsibilities, and will help with important functions such as staffing, training and development, and benefits.

Job Functions:

Be the point of contact to answer employee questions about human resources programs, policies, procedures, and any other HR related function.

Process and maintain confidential employment documents.

Provide support to recruitment function with activities such as posting job requisitions, sourcing resumes, scheduling interviews, coordinating drug screens, and career fair support.

Support Generalists in conducting exit interviews.

Assemble new hire and benefit materials.

Prepare and generate reports.

Coordination of meetings/events, including setup/cleanup, ordering refreshments, securing location, etc.

Implements human resources programs by providing human resources services, which may include recruiting and staffing, administration of training and development.

Completes personnel transactions and maintains associated records.

Collects and analyzes internal and external information in order to compare the organization’s HR practices to those prevailing in the market.

Ensures compliance with applicable labor laws or regulations.

Communicates effectively both verbally and in the written word and works towards an all-hands on-deck approach.

Oversee specific processes in a “process owner” capacity.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications and Requirements:

High School Diploma or GED Equivalent

2+ years of experience working in a manufacturing, production, industrial, military or related environment

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Job Description:

Picks parts, packages parts, and ships parts to our end users. Receiving, crate building, and inventory management are also a part of this role.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Picking and pack parts/Shipping those parts for Outbound freight that includes crate building as needed

Maintain records of all items received and those being shipped out

External/Internal Warehouse Transfers

Work the On-Call/Support After hours for emergency services

Support other areas of business as needed

Unload incoming trucks as directed; inspect for damages; compare items and quantities received against freight bills

Operate materials handling equipment such as forklift, pallet jacks, hand trucks or dollies to move stock or organize storage

Actively participate in team meetings to communicate and help resolve any cost, quality, or production issues

Regularly and effectively communicate and interact with other team members

Regular and predictable attendance at the worksite and on any assigned shift or work schedule is required for this position, as is the ability to work frequent overtime; this is not a job that can be performed remotely        
Maintain equipment and work area in a clean and orderly fashion

Perform all work in accordance with established safety procedures

Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications:

Be available for the on-call rotation for the after-hours schedule

Ability to perform basic arithmetic

Communicate effectively and work within a team environment

Understand and follow directions, and have the ability to multi-task

Ability to work proficiently on computers and accurately enter data

Required Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent

Typically has 2+ years of experience in material handling, inventory control, warehouse operations

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Job Description:

BW Papersystems is seeking an experienced Category Manager with a strong background in electrical and electronic components. In this role, this role is critical to developing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and implementing supply chain improvements. Being the ideal candidate, you will have a proactive approach to problem-solving and thrive in a dynamic environment, driving results and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

*This role can sit in: Phillips, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, or at our Hunt Valley, MD location*

Job Responsibilities:

Develop and implement sourcing strategies for electrical components, including drives, motors, switches, sensors, power supplies, and breakers.

Apply expertise in electrical and electronic components to develop sourcing strategies and optimize supply chain processes.

Manage supplier relationships, focusing on technology alignment, cost management, quality assurance, and timely delivery.

Lead cross-functional teams throughout the supplier selection process for new platforms.

Conduct high-level negotiations to secure comprehensive agreements with supplier executives.

Maintain up-to-date industry knowledge, providing insights to stakeholders regarding supplier and market conditions.

Proficient in problem-solving skills, such as cost modeling, quotation analysis, roadmap development, supplier selection, performance management, and planning processes.

Operate effectively in a fluid and fast-paced environment.

Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to lead and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Basic Qualifications and Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Economics, or equivalent practical experience.

3+ years of experience in commodity management or supply chain management.

5+ years of experience in commodity management, specifically in the electrical/ electronic field.

News: Park Falls and Fifield    No Replies

   

The City of Park Falls recently renewed their garbage and refuse collection contract.

The company has increased the amount they charge the city for this service and that increase will be reflected on upcoming water utility bills, which was effective on January 1, 2025.  The quarterly rate was $45 and is now $54.96.