Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
JANUARY 2025, ADDITIONAL REPORTS RECEIVED:
1-28-25: A Phillips man stated he arrived home and found his wife deceased with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
1-30-25: A Phillips man reported being scammed out of $600 through a fraudulent bank account. He stated he had been in contact with a female who told the man she worked on a cruise ship. The female had the man open a checking account, and make her a trustee on said account, so she could withdraw money from wherever she was. He had since discovered one of the accounts the female was using did not have correct account numbers, and the account did not exist.
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JUSTIN LINDGREN, PHILLIPS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: Justin Lindgren feels he is qualified to be a school board member because he has been a teacher and has completed coursework in school administration. He feels he has the insight on both sides to see what needs to be fixed. He is calling for change, transparency, and communication on the school board. "I have spent 12 years serving both the community and the school district, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue this." Learn more about Justin at Vote Lindgren.
FEBRUARY 2025
2-2-25: A Phillips man called to report that a deer was hit just east of Catawba, and there were pieces of it all over the road on US Hwy. 8. Dispatch made contact with the Price County Highway Department for removal.
2-3-25: A Prentice woman called reporting fraud. She advised her bank contacted her stating there was a $1,000 charge for Discover Card from that day. When dispatch asked who she believed may have had access to her information, she stated the whole United States had access to the information.
2-4-25: Investigated a possible sex offense.
2-4-25: A Catawba woman called to report she had contacted Amazon for a return but was advised she had reached her return limit, and they were not able to refund her card. She said the individual told her she needed to use Venmo or CashApp. She used CashApp. The woman stated she was now at a loss of about $1,900 and stated the person could see all of her bank accounts and told her to withdraw $11,000 as hackers were in her account. She said the person told her to not tell her bank as they would tell her to close the account, but the hackers would just follow any new accounts she opened as they had her personal information. She had closed her accounts but was unsure what to do from there.
2-5-25: A Prentice woman contacted dispatch to speak to either Deputy Sean Peterson or Sheriff Brian Schmidt in reference to an incident that occurred on January 15, 2025, in the Village of Prentice. She stated her neighbor had called 911 on her in that incident and had been harassing her since. That made the caller feel unsafe, and she stated the woman had chased her up the stairs, which caused her to have to retreat back into her apartment, and she said the woman had ways of listening to her phone calls. The woman called back, wondering where deputies were, as dispatch had told her it would take approximately fifteen minutes for deputies to get to her, and it had been eighteen minutes. She stated the woman was in the laundry room, and said, "This is how she does it," and she had been doing "it" for two solid years, and believed the woman was a danger to herself, as well as everyone in the apartment building. Deputies Jacob Lex and Dakota Haberman responded.
2-5-25: A Tomahawk man called to report his mother-in-law was a victim of a scam in which she lost $14,000. He stated she received a text the day prior that there was an issue with her Apple Pay account and was then instructed to purchase Bitcoin in Park Falls. The machine was not working. She then went to Wausau, purchased Bitcoin, and stopped at her son-in-law's home on her way back from Wausau.
2-5-25: An investigator was provided information regarding a possible sex offense.
2-5-25: A search warrant was executed in Park Falls.
2-6-25: A Catawba man reported an erratic driver in a gray Jeep. He passed the female driver and pulled into a driveway, but she blocked the driveway, shouted at him, and then drove off. The man then left shortly thereafter, and he said the woman was following him to Hawkins. A woman then called to report she was being harassed by people unknown to her while she was driving, but she was extremely difficult to understand. She advised there was harassment of elderly people, as well.
2-9-25: A Colby man reported he was on a snowmobile trail, and he believed he was having a heart attack. The man was confused and did not know where he was. Emergency services responded.
2-9-25: A deputy investigated a sex offense.
2-11-25: A Phillips woman called to report she received a call at her work stating she missed jury duty. She stated it was a male who called and stated if she hung up that she would be cited. She stated the male wanted her date of birth and that was when she hung up.
2-11-25: A Park Falls woman reported a deer was lying in the middle of the road. She was unsure if the deer was injured or dead, but it was a traffic hazard.
2-12-25: A man called to report a vehicle was in the ditch at the intersection of State Highway 70 and Hemlock Road. No one was injured. The vehicle, a silver Traverse, appeared to be hung up on the culvert. The driver was attempting to make contact with someone with a truck to come pull him out. The caller was a law enforcement officer and thought the vehicle was in a precarious position. He didn't know what the driver was doing. He did not see the driver, but there were two other male subjects with the vehicle. An officer patrolled the county line but did not locate the vehicle in the ditch.
2-12-25: A Catawba man called to report there was a vehicle driving on State Highway 8 and Woodlawn Road that swerved into oncoming traffic and almost hit another vehicle head-on. He stated the vehicle was then driving at an accelerated rate of speed. He stated he would continue to follow the vehicle. He stated the vehicle was a silver Chevrolet Cruz and gave the license plate number.
2-13-25: An Ogema man called to report there was a vehicle in the ditch between Hultman Lake Road and County Road C. He said he saw fresh footprints in the snow, and it appeared the driver walked away from the vehicle, a black SUV.
2-13-25: A Phillips man called to report the mother of his child was at his home trying to pick up the child, but she was intoxicated, and he did not believe she would use the breathalyzer he had.
2-13-25: A Prentice man called to report a woman was staying at his residence when she was not allowed there. He stated another woman, who was supposed to move out before Christmas, invited her to move into his residence. He stated there was a 9 mm and ammunition missing, and the woman possibly had access to other firearms in the residence. He said he walked next door.
2-15-25: A caller reported snowmobiles driving in the middle of the roadway near a residence in the Town of Flambeau. The caller did not see the number of snowmobiles or if they were coming or going from the residence.
2-15-25: A Schaumburg, IL man called 911 for a woman who crashed a snowmobile into a tree. She was alert and conscious but had wrist and chest pain. There were no other signs of obvious injuries.
2-15-25: A Phillips man called 911 to report a large lab was chasing his vehicle. He stated the dog was biting at his tires and had jumped on his vehicle. He said the dog stopped and remained in the center of the road. Police did not observe a dog chasing vehicles upon responding to the area.
2-15-25: A Minocqua woman reported a dark-colored Jeep Wrangler traveling west on State Highway 70. She said the vehicle was driving in the opposite lane, and she was unsure if it was due to the weather or the driver being impaired.
2-16-25: A Park Falls man called 911 from a bar to report someone in a blue Ford truck was threatening him. He said the individual was going to put a laser
on his head and shoot him. He said he went to look outside for the truck, and it turned out the individual was making threats from Wisconsin Rapids.
2-16-25: A Kennan man reported two men, who he has not talked to in years, were stealing his firewood.
2-16-25: A Phillips man reported a chimney fire at his residence. Fifield Fire Department was requested for manpower with air packs and a tanker. Pike Lake Fire Department was requested due to Fifield not having enough manpower.
2-18-25: An Ashland man called 911 to advise he was rear-ended. He stated the vehicle that rear-ended him rolled over, but that he and the other driver were out of their vehicles and able to walk around. Dispatch asked if the man could have the driver of the roll-over sit down. He stated the driver was sitting in his truck. While dispatch was on the phone with him, he stated another vehicle hit the vehicle that was rolled over.
2-18-25: A Park Falls man reported his house was on fire, and he believed it was in the attic. He and his wife left the house. Power companies were contacted, and Park Falls Fire Department requested Fifield Fire Department for manpower and Butternut Fire Department for manpower and air packs.
2-18-25: The Park Falls Fire Department reported that when one of the fire trucks left the fire they were fighting, the driver backed into a red truck that was parked behind them. It was not reported immediately, because they were cold and wanted to get back to the hall.
2-19-25: A deputy spoke with a subject regarding a sex offense that occurred in the Town of Worcester.
2-22-25: A Park Falls man called to report he received a phone call stating there was a water main leak on County Road B and County Road E. He stated he went out to the area to investigate and confirmed it was a septic leak. He was concerned, because he had water basins out in the area and didn't want that running into his water basins.
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ANTHONY SLECK, TOWN OF WORCESTER CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: If elected chairman, Anthony said, "I pledge to uphold the will of the residents, ensuring their tax dollars are managed wisely and their concerns are addressed with integrity. My leadership style is grounded in common sense, accountability, and a long-term vision for Worcester's success, and I am ready to serve the residents." Learn more about Anthony at Voice of Worcester 2.0.
PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
JANUARY 2025, ADDITIONAL REPORTS RECEIVED:
1-28-25: Received a complaint from a Flambeau Avenue resident 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 removal of her half of the tree. The woman wanted it on record in case they damaged any of her property. Later that day, police responded to the same residence, and the female individual indicated her male neighbor had violated the stalking/harassment warning letter that was issued to him in May of 2024. An officer interviewed the female victim and arrested the male for violating the stalking/harassment letter. The male individual was brought to the Price County Jail and was booked and released.
1-30-25: Asked for assistance with checking several residences for a truant student. An officer and the school principal checked on two residences with negative results. Additional follow up will be done.
1-31-25: Escorted the Phillips dance team, who had made it to state competition.
FEBRUARY 2025
2-2-25: Received a report from a citizen who advised they had allowed a person to use their vehicle, and the vehicle had not yet been returned. The caller asked if an officer could make contact with the other party to return the vehicle. An officer attempted contact via phone and received no response. An officer requested Park Falls Police Department to attempt contact. The vehicle was located.
2-4-25: Received a complaint from an adult female on Victoria Street who advised her neighbor, who had been harassing her, moved her recycle bins to her house and was shoveling her stoop by her driveway. The woman wanted the male warned to stay off her property.
2-7-25: Responded to a three-vehicle accident on Shaw Street at Woodfield Boulevard. The vehicles included a Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, and Dodge Dakota. There were no injuries and no road blockage. An officer collected statements and took photographs. A state accident report was to be completed.
2-9-25: Learned of a local establishment on North Lake Avenue serving underage personnel alcohol. This matter is being investigated further.
2-10-25: Received a report of a driver's license found in a person's vehicle that did not belong to the vehicle's owner. An officer spoke with the adult female who advised they did not know the person on the driver's license. The officer will attempt to locate the owner of the driver's license.
2-13-25: Asked to conduct a welfare check on an elderly male who was not heard from since the day prior. An officer made contact with the male and was advised he was fine and out to a dinner party.
2-13-25: Asked to conduct a welfare check at a residence on Forest Avenue as the caller stated there was an argument at the residence and the living conditions at the residence were not good. An officer arrived at the residence and spoke with the mother who stated she had an argument over the phone with her daughter who resides in Medford now, and her boyfriend was playing games. The officer observed the residence was neat and orderly and cleared from the residence.
2-14-25: Advised of a female individual who was looking to get her child back from the child's father. An officer was advised there was no child custody agreement in place and the father was awaiting a DNA test. The officer advised the father that he needed to return the child to the mother as he is not on the birth certificate and did not have rights to the child. The father agreed and stated he would meet the mother the following day.
2-15-25: Received a fraud complaint from a man who advised someone in Madison tried to buy a phone with his account information through Verizon. The store clerk caught the fraudulent purchase and notified the local authorities.
2-18-25: Observed a large fire in a resident's backyard on South Avon Avenue. The officer made contact with the property owner who stated that they had been burning a large tree limb that had fallen and had put a piece of paneling on the fire. The officer warned the resident about the city's burning ordinance, and the resident stated that they would not add to the fire and keep it contained.
2-20-25: Performed a welfare check on an adult male who had been moving pictures upside down, moving furniture around, and talking to himself at an apartment building. An officer met with the adult male tenant and spoke with him at length. The officer did not determine the male was a danger to himself or others.
2-26-25: Assisted the Price County Sheriff's Office with arresting an adult female on Eyder Avenue for delivery of illicit drugs.
2-26-25: Received a phone call regarding an adult female coming to her residence and opening the mailbox and walking across the street and opening neighbors' mailboxes.
2-27-25: Asked to assist the Price County Sheriff's Department with a male individual who had possibly broken into the trucker's lounge at a truck stop outside the City of Phillips. Officers cleared the building and located the male individual and detained him. The male was questioned and released.
2-28-25: Received a report of a fire that had re-ignited at an address in the City of Phillips where there had been a controlled burn. The officer had the Price County Dispatch Center page the Phillips Fire Department, and the fire was put out.
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The Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has a new tiered library card system. View the library's website for more information.
PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
2-4-25: An officer was given information by Price County Dispatch that a person was picked up from the Ashland County Sheriff's Department by an individual that he isn't supposed to have contact with per his felony bond conditions. It was believed that these people were coming back to Park Falls. Officers and deputies waited for their arrival back to the city, but no sign of them or their vehicle was located.
2-5-25: Officers assisted the Price County Sheriff's Office and SRT Team with the execution of a search warrant on a residence in Park Falls. One female suspect was taken into custody upon drug charges, who attempted to flee the residence on foot. One male suspect was taken into custody upon drug charges at a different location.
2-7-25: An officer responded to a vehicle which struck a parked vehicle in a parking lot.
2-8-25: An officer checked a vehicle parked in the middle of the road near STH 13 on Wells Street. The officer discovered that the vehicle had been involved in a crash with a light pole, and the operator did not report the accident.
2-8-25: Officers responded to the report of a snowmobile roll-over. Officers arrived on scene and observed the location of the roll-over. Officers found the snowmobile and operator were not in the area and departed the scene of the crash.
2-19-25: A loitering warning was issued to a male using the vestibule of the library to sleep.
2-20-25: A person reported flashlights being seen where a structure fire occurred some time ago. Upon arrival, no one was in the area. No other suspicious activity was identified.
2-22-25: Received a report of damage being done to mailboxes in the Tuscobia Trailer Park. The park manager was notified, and the case was to be left open.
2-23-25: Price County Dispatch informed an officer of a two-vehicle accident. A crash report was created.
2-25-25: A male called to inform the police department that he had been threatened with a gun by another male. The caller did not wish to disclose any further details and did not want an investigation completed; he only wanted to notify the police.
2-27-25: Officers were dispatched to the attached area for a physical altercation between two males in the street. The witness explained that two younger males were physically fighting in the roadway and then they both got back into the same vehicle and left northbound. Officers responded and couldn't locate the suspect vehicle or any evidence that the altercation had taken place besides the witness's statement. At no time did any victim report any altercation to the police department. Officers returned to service without locating the parties involved.
Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus burgers, steaks, roasts, and other beef products sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole. Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.
At the Tuesday, March 11, 2025, meeting of the Common Council, discussion and action on the approximately 8/10 of an acre portion of the Elk Lake Park parking lot was on the agenda.
This portion of the parking lot is owned by Price County United Limited (PCUL), and the city expressed an interest in purchasing it last spring, shortly after PCUL purchased the property (on 4-1-2024). The city has maintained the property and used it for decades.
PCUL board members were in attendance at the city meeting. PCUL board members include Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig, Blake Pluemer, and Cheryl Moore. There were also about 30 community members present. Lyn and Blake spoke to the council and Mayor Charles "Chuck" Peterson, stressing that the city should work with PCUL's vision.
Council members then voted unanimously, 5 to 0, to pursue eminent domain on the portion of the parking lot that is owned by PCUL.
PCUL was made aware that the City of Phillips would still honor the three options the city had made to PCUL, which was to buy it for a fair price, trade it for another piece of land, or lease it for 99 years at no charge to the city.
My Price County will continue to follow this developing story.
Regarding other larger news at the city meeting, the Common Council has set the Chicken Ordinance 25-002, regarding allowing chickens within the city limits, to a public hearing.
Articles related to the parking lot, in reverse chronological order:
ANTHONY SLECK, TOWN OF WORCESTER CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: If elected chairman, Anthony said, "I pledge to uphold the will of the residents, ensuring their tax dollars are managed wisely and their concerns are addressed with integrity. My leadership style is grounded in common sense, accountability, and a long-term vision for Worcester's success, and I am ready to serve the residents." Learn more about Anthony at Voice of Worcester 2.0.
Price County United Limited (PCUL) held a meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the BW University Learning Center in Phillips. At least five City of Phillips officials were in attendance, along with at least one county board member. About 30-some people attended in person, and another two dozen or so joined via video, though some people left during the meeting, so the number fluctuated.
Lyn Ludwig led the meeting. Blake Pluemer joined into the discussion to answer some questions. Both are PCUL board members. David Holmes, an environmental consultant, added some insight at the early part of the meeting via video.
About the project and grants, Lyn stated, "I think timing is everything. We created the non-profit. In the last five years, there was significant money. Now, with Trump on board, we don't know if there's going to be funding or not, but at least we got the first grant. That is extremely important, because once you get the first grant, the EPA, they want to see you succeed." Lyn thanked David Holmes for playing an integral role in getting the $1.6 million EPA Cleanup Grant. Click here to view PCUL's grant application.
She also shared that she and Mark Brzeskiewicz have been working with the EPA Sustainable Communities Accelerator Network (SCAN) Program Network. Seventeen communities are learning how to implement plans to prioritize sustainability actions.
"Lionite" property at 115 Depot Street in Phillips; image provided by PCUL in Teams meeting
Lyn gave an overview of the EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant, stating, "We got 1.6 million awarded last May, and that was for the 'Lionite' site and that was for the 9.2 acres of the 26-acre parcel. We did that on purpose to potentially sector off some more later. So, we applied for one grant in that sector, so it's a little bit of a strategy." Lyn stated, "It was not possible to get two EPA Cleanup Grants for the same site, but then we created one small site, so after we potentially clean up that 9.2 acres, we can get another cleanup grant for the rest of the property." She stated the 9.2 acres in the EPA Cleanup Grant covers the land where the buildings are located. That would mean the Elk Lake Park parking lot is not included in the EPA Cleanup Grant.
She added, "We also have been working with the EPA Water Technical Assistance. This is with the City of Phillips. We got the thumbs up to say hey, you can work with them, so they are putting forth about 20 to 25,000 dollars' worth of work to figure out the stormwater run-off and things like that in the City of Phillips. And why we want that so much is because if we are going to spend millions of dollars building out buildings, we want to make sure we have a very sound infrastructure, so EPA Water Technical Assistance is there." (After the meeting, My Price County asked Alderman Bill Elliott for clarification, and Bill explained, "It is the EPA Water Technical Assistance that we partner with through Ayers and Associates, and the grant she got from the EPA. We did not spend that money....We work with Ayers, as our city engineers, and they have that water assistance.")
At the meeting, Lyn stated that the EPA Community Change Grant, which was supposed to be awarded in 2024, now will be awarded by May 2025. That grant would give $20 million, if awarded. PCUL also applied for the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grant, which could bring in $600,000, if awarded.
(Article continues after promotional message.) JUSTIN LINDGREN, PHILLIPS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: Justin Lindgren feels he is qualified to be a school board member because he has been a teacher and has completed coursework in school administration. He feels he has the insight on both sides to see what needs to be fixed. He is calling for change, transparency, and communication on the school board. "I have spent 12 years serving both the community and the school district, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue this." Learn more about Justin at Vote Lindgren.
Lyn stated PCUL was not selected for the Department of Transportation Alternative Programs (complete street model), which would have granted $1.5 million and potentially helped with the cost of new sidewalks. She stated, "If the city put their name on that line, they would score higher."
She stated a $500,000 WEMA Flood Resilience Grant was not awarded, because Phillips did not have any recent floods, and the funding went for larger communities.
She shared that, while some grants were not awarded, it has led PCUL to other grant opportunities for which they can apply.
During and at the end of the meeting, attendees asked questions. While some of the names are known, My Price County did not know the names of all participants, so, to be fair, meeting attendees from the audience will not be identified by name in this article.
One question and answer exchange was about when the equipment will be out of the building. A man in attendance said, "At the last meeting, you said you couldn't do anything with demolition until the former owners got their equipment out of the building." Lyn replied, "Yeah, well, things changed," so the man asked, "What's the timeline on that?" Lyn said, "We should have the buildings down by the end of, in the fall, so that's the timeline." The man asked, "Is that still the situation where the former owners have to get all the equipment out of there?" She replied, "They will need to, yes." The man said, "So, have they given you some kind of guarantee of when they're gonna have that done?" Lyn replied, "Yeah, we have contracts and all kinds of, um...." The man said, "So is there a date on that that they have to have that out of there by? Can you give us that?" Lyn said, "Yeah, there's dates. We are working together, because it's, um, we have a timeframe for the brownfield, so we are going to help that guy out as much as possible, so that when we need to move things around, there are dates that we have that we need to stage their stuff over here, that's okay...." The man said, "But I'm just wondering if you have some kind of dates you can relay to us?" Lyn said, "I think, at this time, I'm just, it's going to...." He said, "I mean, you talk about transparency. I'm just trying to see what that is here." Lyn said, "Well, of course; we want to start our cleanup early in spring, so that is when we want his stuff to be out. Early spring." Lyn did not share how PCUL will accomplish getting the equipment out in time for cleanup but did express PCUL's motivation for doing so.
David Holmes, the environmental specialist who Lyn gave credit for getting the EPA Cleanup Grant, appeared via video and asked if he could add to the discussion. He said, "So, we're trying to figure out all the details of staging it, if there are buildings that make sense to keep for a while for staging stuff or maybe later for redevelopment. And there is this complication; the EPA grant won't pay for demolition unless it is integral with removing the asbestos or it's necessary to assess or clean up the underlying soil. So that is where there are 40 different structures, and we need to make the case for each structure in order for the grant demolition to be eligible under that grant, so that is sort of a challenge because Price County United is a non-profit and this is not a for-profit project, so we are trying to figure out how we can get the grant to pay for everything." He added there is no lead-based paint so all the concrete can be managed on site and crushed and be useful for future development.
A meeting attendee stated that the former owner told him, when he was giving a bid to demolish the old buildings that had fallen before PCUL's ownership, that it had been tested and there was no asbestos in the buildings. David said he did not know why that was said, because there is asbestos in every building to some degree, and they are working on an abatement demolition workplan.
David added that there were some drums that leaked, so some soil may be contaminated. There were six different areas of contamination with previous owners that were closed out with the DNR so there is not any known problematic contamination at the surface that they are aware of. An old burn layer, about two feet down, does show contamination in one area from previous fires during previous mill operations over the last 100-plus years, according to David.
He said it's fortunate that 90 to 95% of the buildings are metal structures, and with scrap metal pricing being so good, they are hopeful the demolition part will be done by contractors that want the scrap.
A meeting attendee said that investors will need to know the ground is safe or else they will not want to invest. David said, "There was a certain amount of leaking underground storage tanks, there was a groundwater remediation system that ran for a while under Georgia Pacific, and then when the last group came and bought it, they did do some level of testing throughout the property, and there really wasn't much found in groundwater, so for me as an environmental consultant, I get concerned if we find any solvents, because those can make a lot of problems and be very expensive to remediate, but there was really no evidence of any significant groundwater problem." He said there is some metals contamination, but not too high, and it's not the type of concern to worry about because it can be capped, or the soil can be managed. He was not worried about the level of contamination at the site as he said there are just common contaminants of any old, urban area that can be assessed and handled. He did not anticipate any contamination would limit developer interest.
(Article continues after promotional message.) ANTHONY SLECK, TOWN OF WORCESTER CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: If elected chairman, Anthony said, "I pledge to uphold the will of the residents, ensuring their tax dollars are managed wisely and their concerns are addressed with integrity. My leadership style is grounded in common sense, accountability, and a long-term vision for Worcester's success, and I am ready to serve the residents." Learn more about Anthony at Voice of Worcester 2.0.
A meeting attendee said that they, (meaning PCUL and those affiliated with PCUL's efforts), just talked for ten minutes and did not answer his question, which was why an informational slide said the ground testing wasn't covered in the grant but everyone in attendance was just told it was covered. The man said, "There is a lot of misinformation, which is why a lot of people online and a lot of people here have a lot of questions." Blake Pluemer asked what else was misinformation that needed to be clarified, and the meeting attendee said the meeting should just keep going and hopefully questions would get answered. Lyn called David on the phone, since he was no longer in the Teams meeting online, to give more information, which was mostly inaudible.
The meeting went on with a lot of the same information that was given and slides that were presented at the September 2024 meeting.
Lyn mentioned that the people in this county do not live as long as they should. She said, "We're dying earlier, and we're trying to fix that with the Community Change Grant," (which PCUL has not received yet). No specifics were given on how the grant being awarded would increase residents' longevity.
A meeting attendee said, "I've got another question. You are putting apartments there, that's what you want to do, right?" Lyn said, "I think we are off that subject." He said, "Well, I am a concerned citizen, so we are on the same subject; this is why we're here. You want to put apartments there, correct?" Lyn said, "Are you talking about the 'Lionite' site?" He agreed and said, "You want to put low-income apartments on that property?" Lyn said, "I don't know what kind of apartments. We are going to place housing units." He added he has a problem because we have such a drug problem in this county, and he doesn't have a problem with low-income, but if you put low-income housing there, it could attract more drug problems. Lyn said, "I think we got the message on our surveys that they [residents] don't want to have drugs."
(Article continues after promotional message.) Click here to send a message to My Price County to subscribe to free news in your inbox once or twice per month. Get free local content created by a mostly volunteer effort; we never sell or give away your e-mail address.
She stated that if the area gets more housing, there will be more of a tax base. She said that if we bring in more students, its $10,500 per student that the school will receive. Lyn said she feels that the school, county, city, and townships should want to contribute. She asked what it is worth to the citizens, and she said she feels the area should want to invest in PCUL's vision. The audience explained that the area needs to have jobs, better medical, and things to do to attract people first.
As Lyn was closing the meeting, she stated community engagement is important to getting these grants. Lyn encouraged people to sign the meeting's check-in sheet, if they had not already, as PCUL uses images of attendees from the meetings and the check-in sheets to show the groups/agencies that are giving grants that there is community interest in the projects. For example, there is a "public involvement requirement" for the EPA Cleanup Grant that these meetings help satisfy. The more attendees and the more website visitors, the more interest, and the higher likelihood of getting grants.
The meeting was set to end, but a meeting attendee continued the meeting by stating, "On Facebook they had that the City of Phillips wanted to buy the parking lot. I think that is why a lot of the people are here, because it said you guys wanted $180,000 per year for it. If you are partnering with the city, how are you going and saying we want $15,000 per month for this little parking lot that the park needs?" Lyn responded, "What is it worth for all these other communities? We want an intentional and accelerated development. And you can see how much funding it takes to bridge the gap and get to the other side, so when we have five townships or six townships, I'm not asking the city to pay $180,000, I'm asking the city to partner with us and partner with the rest of our communities to put this in a public funding source." She added, "We can accelerate this land project very quickly and get it developed." She explained that with federal funding, sometimes it is delayed, and she called the proposition "local wealth building." (See the related article, Additional $180,000 Per Year Lease Payment Proposal Suggested by PCUL, explaining the shared cost proposal.)
Lyn would like to see the government, schools, businesses, and people work together on the funding of the projects. She said, "If the school put in $30,000 per year, they would get $210,000 in students. If the city puts in $60,000, what is that worth to the city in return?"
An attendee said that when Lyn talks about asking the school, city, or county to put in money, that is taxpayer money.
Lyn shared her frustration with the City of Phillips' officials. "When we went to the city, we haven't gotten 40 minutes of their time all together until I put that lease agreement [for the parking lot] in front of them, and then we had a meeting." It should be noted that the City of Phillips puts PCUL on their agendas, talks with them at meetings, and has added PCUL's plans to the city's comprehensive plan. (View the plan on the city's website.) Also, earlier in the meeting, Lyn commended the city clerk, Shelby Kosmer, for all she has done assisting PCUL.
Since the topic of the parking lot was still at the forefront of discussion, Blake said, "I don't think we are here to negotiate a lease." "Well, that is taxpayer money," a meeting attendee said. Blake said, "I'm a taxpayer, too." The attendee said, "The city has been the caretaker of the property, so why does the city have to pay that money? Why do our tax dollars have to go to you for us to park in that parking lot and use it for all these events that we have here in the city. Why can't the city take that $180,000 and go on the other side of that sewer treatment plant, and build a road down that side and create our own parking lot?"
Blake said, "The point that Lyn was trying to make is all they [the city] have done is ignore requests, give two minutes at a city council...." An attendee said, "She said she wants to give back to the community, but then she's trying to take our tax dollars." Blake said Lyn has put a lot of time and effort into it and there are a lot of sequential challenges. He added that "there needs to be a shift in their communication and their partnerships and working together, and this nuclear option maybe wasn't the best way to do it...But we're going to work through it, but we're not going to work through it here tonight. But just know everyone has the best intentions for the city."
Lyn said she is looking for people to give assistance. A meeting attendee said, "To me, if you want to show good faith to the taxpayers and the city, donate that parcel to the city." Lyn said, "Absolutely not; we are not going to do it. That's our property." An attendee said, "You said you want to help the people of the city; that would be good faith to it." Lyn said, "That's not on the table." The man said, "Well, we'll see what the community thinks about that." A county board member asked if the man would donate some of his land to his neighbor, but the man said that is a different situation. The board member said, "No, it's not." The other man said, "Alright, then pay a reasonable amount of money for it, what it's worth." Lyn said, "A million dollars." The attendee continued talking with the county board member, asking, "$15,000 a month, is that what it's worth?" The county board member replied, "I'm not saying it is reasonable. I'm simply saying it is Price County United Limited's property, and if that is what they feel is their number, it's their number." Lyn said, "I live in this community, too; if people want to have that, so what is it worth to the community to redevelop? They think, 'Oh, it's so expensive,' but what is it worth to accelerate that property?" Lyn then said she thought it was a good time to pack up, but another meeting attendee spoke up, asking about the vision for getting the community to a thriving place. She asked Lyn what it would look like and asked for a comparable city of Lyn's vision. She wanted to know if a thriving community would look like Minocqua or Tomahawk or what is the end goal, and the meeting attendee figured people are having a hard time visualizing what is planned and who will benefit. No response was given by PCUL as to a comparable community or who will benefit.
Another meeting attendee said people want to know who is going to own this and what the end goal is. She added that people have been pitching ideas but wanted to know when everyone can start looking at the ideas that have been pitched so the community knows what is going to be there. She asked when more information would be given at these meetings instead of the same information being given. Lyn said it can happen soon and again stated that it's all very complex.
The approximately 20-minute more intense discussion of questions and answers was brought to a close by Lyn. The meeting had gone about 20 minutes longer than expected.
The parking lot is on the agenda, for discussion and action, at the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Room at the municipal hall at 174 South Eyder Avenue in Phillips. Those who have an opinion on the topic should consider attending as city meetings are the meetings where decisions are made.
This article can be shared on Facebook from this link.
Alderman Bill Elliott and Attorney Bryce Schoenborn spoke with My Price County about another proposal suggested by Lyn Ludwig of PCUL at the recent city meeting.
Lyn Ludwig suggested that if the city did not want to pay $180,000 per year for the .8-acre section of the Elk Lake Park parking lot, perhaps that cost could be divided in three ways. She suggested that the city pay $60,000 per year, the county pay $60,000 per year, and five major businesses from the area, which were not identified, could pay the remaining $60,000 per year. PCUL suggested drafting a letter to assist in fundraising, and the city agreed to review that letter, but the city attorney has yet to receive such a draft.
Attorney Schoenborn said, "I think that the general response from the city was that it is unlikely that local businesses, the county, or the city could/would come up with $60,000 per year for this parking lot."
He added that right now the city is trying to work cooperatively with PCUL to find a solution that will make everyone happy. However, other options can be on the table, at the decision of the Common Council, if a solution cannot be reached. "Time will tell," he added.
Community members have voiced their concerns, mostly on social media, but some have also contacted city aldermen. Some residents are concerned how a $180,000 lease will affect their taxes, why the City of Phillips included PCUL's ideas in their Comprehensive Plan and is assisting PCUL in their projects if PCUL is not wanting to sell at a reasonable cost or donate the parking lot to the city, what will happen if PCUL increases the rate at each lease renewal, where are these "non-profit" funds going, why are all the buildings being bought by PCUL and Lyn Ludwig and then left vacant curtailing business and growth, among other questions and concerns.
To voice some of their concerns, community members showed up at PCUL's meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2025. About 30-some people were in attendance at the meeting (and some others joined via video). Those in attendance were encouraged to sign the check-in sheet, which is used for the grants to show there is community interest, regardless of the interest being positive or negative. Some grants require "community involvement." A recap of the meeting will soon be published by My Price County. (Please watch our website, Facebook page, and sign up to our free News Highlights e-mail by sending "Subscribe" on the subject line to contact@mypricecounty.com to get free news in your inbox once or twice per month.) Update on 3-10-2025: An article has been published, PCUL MEETING RECAP: 1 MILLION SUGGESTED AS PARKING LOT VALUE; RESIDENTS ASK QUESTIONS.
(Article continues after promotional message. Keep reading, please.) JUSTIN LINDGREN, PHILLIPS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: Justin Lindgren feels he is qualified to be a school board member because he has been a teacher and has completed coursework in school administration. He feels he has the insight on both sides to see what needs to be fixed. He is calling for change, transparency, and communication on the school board. "I have spent 12 years serving both the community and the school district, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue this." "Like" Justin's campaign page on Facebook to learn more about Justin.
Whether you have positive or negative views on the parking lot situation, let your voice be heard. This topic will likely be talked about at the next city meeting on Tuesday, according to Attorney Bryce Schoenborn. You can also contact city aldermen, county board members, and PCUL to express your thoughts.
PCUL members include Lynda "Lyn" (Marschke) Ludwig, veterinarian; Blake Pluemer, vice president of operations at BW Papersystems; and Cheryl Moore, Village of Catawba president. The job titles listed came from PCUL's website.
The Phillips Public Library has implemented a new system for parents to have better control over the materials their children check out of the library.
There are three options. The first option is Full Access, which gives children the right to check out anything at the library. Another option is Young Adult Access, which allows a child to check out most things from the library with certain exceptions such as R-rated movies, MA-rated video games, YA graphic novels, and adult graphic novels, plus parents can choose other entire selections that their children are also not allowed to check out. The third option is Child Access, which gives children the right to check out materials only from the children's side of the library.
Children will not be prohibited from looking at materials while at the library or gaining access to materials in the MORE Libraries system. The new tiered library card system is only for materials being check out of the library. The librarians will do their best to fulfill the check-out requests of parents.
Further details about the system can be found at this link. Questions can be answered by calling the library at 715-339-2868.
There's a lot happening at the library each month. View the current calendar of events, shown below, to find an event or activity for you or your child to enjoy.
On March 5, 2025, at 6:50 p.m., a 42-year-old Stanley, Wisconsin man was pulled over by the Wisconsin State Patrol Wausau Post.
The man, driving a 2008 Hyundai Elantra, was located and stopped on State Highway 13 near Aspen Road. He was a suspect in a possible domestic-related incident.
According to Wisconsin State Patrol, "As officers interacted with the driver of the vehicle, they detected the odor of intoxicants and observed other indicators of impairment. A subsequent investigation, including standardized field sobriety tasks, indicated the 42-year-old male driver was impaired, and he was subsequently arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, fifth offense, with a passenger under 16 years of age. The driver is also being held on an order to detain issued by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections."
The 10-month-old child was released to a responsible adult.
Davette Lynne Hrabak, CPA, located at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips, specializes in tax return preparation, business start-up services, consulting, bookkeeping, payroll, and all your accounting needs. Call 715-339-6638 or visit Davette's website. Follow her Facebook page.
An approximately .8-acre parcel, about 175 feet x 200 feet, remains at the center of discussion for Price County United Limited (PCUL) and the City of Phillips.
Image provided by PCUL in lease agreement document
After PCUL took ownership on the "Lionite" property on April 1, 2024, the City of Phillips contacted PCUL about doing a land swap or purchasing the .8-acre portion of the Elk Lake Park parking lot that is owned by PCUL. (See related article.) PCUL refused these offers and presented the city with a lease agreement.
The agreement, presented on January 24, 2025, would allow public access and parking for the municipal park and the boat landing with the following terms. The City of Phillips would enter into a two-year lease with biannual renewals. The base rent would be $15,000 per month, which would equate to $180,000 per year. The City of Phillips would be responsible for all permits and permissions required for operations and would need to maintain the area, including putting up any signage, grading, snow removal, and general maintenance. The City of Phillips would need to include the parcel under its umbrella liability policy with indemnification to PCUL. The city would also need to indemnify PCUL for costs and expenses resulting from "defending against eminent domain, condemnation, takings, or adverse possession claims initiated by Tenant (City of Phillips) for any portion of the Premises." All subleasing would need to be approved by PCUL.
The lease states the $180,000 per year rental money would be "used for advancement of Phillips including promotion of community redevelopment and revitalization."
Council members of the City of Phillips, not interested in the lease that was presented, stated it was a non-starter, and if they spent $180,000 to lease .8 acres, the taxpayers would not be happy, they would not get re-elected, and it felt like the lease was using the property as a revenue stream for a non-profit.
The City of Phillips responded with three options for PCUL to consider: buy it, trade it for another piece of land, or lease it for 99 years at no charge to the city. The options would also eliminate the liability issue that PCUL stated they were addressing by offering a lease.
However, PCUL President Lynda Ludwig stated those options were not suitable.
My Price County asked the officers of PCUL the following questions:
Why are you not interested in any of those three options?
How are you helping the city if you are asking for $15,000 per month ($180,000 per year) to lease a .8-acre parcel?
How did you determine the rental amount of $15,000 per month?
If My Price County receives a reply from PCUL, the responses will be published on this article.
PCUL will have a meeting on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the BW University Learning Center located at 165 County Road F. The public is invited to attend.
This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it is received.
To see the lease proposed by PCUL, click the link:
PCUL Lease Proposal.pdf (Size: 480.64 KB / Downloads: 235)
JUSTIN LINDGREN, PHILLIPS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: Justin Lindgren feels he is qualified to be a school board member because he has been a teacher and has completed coursework in school administration. He feels he has the insight on both sides to see what needs to be fixed. He is calling for change, transparency, and communication on the school board. "I have spent 12 years serving both the community and the school district, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue this."
There were 4,382 winners in Wisconsin Lottery's SuperCash! drawing on Monday, March 3, 2025.
4,052 people won a dollar matching three numbers; 324 people won $30 matching four numbers; 5 people won $500 when they matched five numbers; and all six numbers were matched by one person for a total of a $350,000 win, which is the top prize! That ticket was purchased in Catawba, Wisconsin.
The winning numbers were 5, 7, 15, 22, 27, 33.
UPDATE - 3-12-2025:
The Wisconsin Lottery has announced that "Wayne R." purchased the $350,000 winning Supercash! ticket at ASD 2STORE LLC in Catawba.
Odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 1,631,312, according to the Wisconsin Lottery.
JUSTIN LINDGREN, PHILLIPS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: Justin Lindgren feels he is qualified to be a school board member because he has been a teacher and has completed coursework in school administration. He feels he has the insight on both sides to see what needs to be fixed. He is calling for change, transparency, and communication on the school board. "I have spent 12 years serving both the community and the school district, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue this."
About a year ago, Charlie was a very lucky boy, and he got adopted from Catkins Animal Rescue. He was adopted into a loving home. Unfortunately, Charlie's owner recently passed on, and now Charlie is back at Catkins looking for a new home.
He is a 2.5-year old beautiful mixed breed weighing 69 pounds. Catkins believes he is part black mouth cur.
He is housebroken, and he knows basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. He loves to hang out and lay on the couch with his head in your lap. He is a cuddler at night and really enjoys attention from his humans.
He has not been with small children or cats. He does well in playgroups with other dogs but would do best as an only dog in the home.
He is fully vetted and ready for a new home.
To view Charlie's profile and apply to adopt him, click this link.
To thank Robin for sponsoring this pet ad, stop by her shop and see what she has for sale. She offers hand-crafted floral arrangements for special events or just because. If you need flowers for an event, such as a wedding, funeral, prom, or a party, or if you need flowers delivered to a nursing home, hospital, business, home, or some other location, call 715-820-1421 for all your floral needs. Also, follow Robin's Custom Arrangements, LLC's Facebook page.
TOWN OF WORCESTER NOTICE OF ARIP GRANT FUNDING AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
The Town of Worcester has been approved for an Agricultural Road Improvement Project (ARIP) Grant in the amount of $1.8 million. This funding is intended for the reconstruction of Little Chicago Road. However, the reimbursement from the grant will cover only 87.7% of the total project cost, up to $1.8 million, and will only be issued upon the completion, submission, and approval of all necessary documentation. Any costs exceeding the grant funding will be the responsibility of the taxpayers.
Project Funding and Financial Implications:
The total estimated cost of the project exceeds $2 million. The Town of Worcester is required to fully fund the project up-front before being considered for reimbursement. This includes an initial expense of $100,000 to hire an Engineering Firm to survey the sub-structure beneath Little Chicago Road. At the Tax Levy Meeting in November 2024, it was stated that there are no funds in the town's budget allocated for road reconstruction. Despite this, the town board intends to proceed with the project as soon as possible.
Purpose and Justification of the Project:
The ARIP Grant aims to improve roads affected by Spring Thaw Postings, allowing them to remain accessible without seasonal weight restrictions. However, according to public statements, there have been NO instances requiring Over Weight Permits for Little Chicago Road. It has also been asserted that, absent the grant, Little Chicago Road would not require reconstruction. The justification for prioritizing the project over other township roads in greater need of repair remains a matter of public concern.
Impact on the Community and Township Prioritization:
The completion deadline for the project is set for 2028 (at latest). Until then, taxpayer funds will be committed to the project, delaying potential repairs to other roads within the township. Given the significant financial implications, concerns have been raised regarding the prioritization of this project over other roads in need of repair.
Over the past decade, Little Chicago Road has undergone numerous repairs, raising questions about the necessity of the reconstruction. Accordingly, concerns have been expressed regarding conflicts of interest among the past and present town board members with connections to the road.
Public Awareness and Transparency:
Transparency issues have been noted concerning the town board's handling of this project. At the February monthly town meeting, it was stated that the board was NOT supposed to inform the public about this project. Given the substantial financial commitment required from taxpayers, the lack of public consultation is a significant concern. The town board is urgent to provide full disclosure of this project, allowing for community input before further action is taken.
Conclusion and Call for Public Engagement:
The Town of Worcester residents are encouraged to seek further clarification regarding the financial strategy for this project. It is imperative that the town board addresses public concerns and provides detailed information on the fund, necessity, and long-term impact of the reconstruction of Little Chicago Road. The community has a right to full transparency and involvement in decisions of this magnitude.
For further inquiries or to express concerns, residents are encouraged to attend town board meetings and request official documentation regarding the projects planning and financial arrangements.
The Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has lots of activities and events planned for this month. Visit the library's website for more information.
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