Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
4-1-2023: Advised a large tree was across both lanes of State Highway 70 and vehicles would not be able to get through.
4-1-2023: A woman stated she and her father had an argument over which plow service was going to clear the driveway. The woman stated her father physically attacked her but she was not hurt, and she forced him into a chair, causing him to threaten he would "end this bullshit," and he looked for a gun. The gun was usually kept at his bedside, but the woman's mother had hidden the gun, but the man told them there was more than one gun in the house.
4-2-2023: A woman called to request a barricade be placed near a large pothole, because she hit the pothole, which caused her vehicle to get a flat tire and the emergency brake cable would not engage.
4-3-2023: The Town of Flambeau called to report a well drilling company had taken a large truck down a road, without permission, while roads were posted. A deputy was asked to talk with the well drilling company. The deputy advised that, due to the temperatures, the vehicle would have to remain at its current location until proper permits were acquired from the Town of Flambeau or until the weight limit restriction was removed.
4-3-2023: The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office requested a welfare check on a man, who has dementia and previous brain injuries, who was reported as a missing person. Waukesha County said the man's cell phone pinged at the motel in Prentice.
4-5-2023: A Park Falls man called to report there was a deer caught in a fence on County Road S by the big culvert. He said a man was currently attempting to assist the deer without any success. Police responded and were able to assist with the release of the deer.
4-6-2023: An anonymous person reported an animal welfare concern stating that a man had an intact male dog with a tumor larger than his testicles, and the dog had been constantly itching for the past three or four years. The person stated that the itching was causing sores and this person had told the owner several times that the dog needed to be seen by a veterinarian.
4-8-2023: A woman reported her nephew was missing. She stated he was kayaking off of Little Rapids Road into Jump River and did not come out when expected. While on the phone, her nephew came out of the water stating his paddle had broken. He did not need an ambulance.
4-9-2023: A man reported a possible burglary going on at the Mexican restaurant in Park Falls. He reported he door was open, windows were broken, and lights were on. Police responded and a suspect came forward. Read related story.
4-10-2023: A woman called 911 to report she almost ran over a man lying in the middle of the roadway in the Town of Flambeau. She reported that the male stood up and started walking north, but he was acting weird and had a small cut over one eye. When police responded, the man hit his head on the squad car and stated he wanted to die. Later, Human Services called requesting an officer respond to a residence due to the man being uncooperative.
4-10-2023: A woman called requesting a deputy check on her cabin in Phillips. She stated her cabin's electric bill was normally $40 to $50 in the winter months when no one was there, but her February bill was $92, and her March bill was $125. She believed someone may have been staying in her cabin due to the rise in the electricity price.
4-10-2023: A man called to report an incident at the Town of Flambeau Town Hall.
4-10-2023: A man called to report he was being scammed. He posted a table online for $250 and received a message from an unknown person asking to hold the table for an extra $150. The man gave his name and address so the person could send a cashier's check. The buyer said he would also send a truck to get the table. The seller received a $6,000 cashier's check from Texas, and the man was going to his bank to verify if it was real. The caller didn't lose any money.
4-11-2023: A woman called to speak to a deputy regarding property damage to her house from an incident that occurred that morning in the Township of Worcester.
4-11-2023: A Park Falls man called 911 to report that his wife had a knife and used it to damage his vehicle in their driveway. He stated his wife was inside the house and he was down the street.
4-12-2023: A man reported his dog went into the lake at Elk Lake Park. The lake had a mix of water and ice and the dog was far from he shore, going in and out of sight but periodically appearing on the ice. The dog was able to get off the ice and headed toward County Road H. The dog was captured and reunited with its owner.
4-12-2023: A Kennan man reported he was in an accident in the Township of Kennan and the other driver left the scene after stating she had an appointment and she would call him later.
4-12-2023: A woman with Human Services at a Phillips company reported an employee had been terminated and had thrown things at employees and threatened them. She was concerned the man may return and wanted some guidance regarding workplace safety.
4-12-2023: A Phillips woman reported a possible burglary occurring at her residence in the City of Phillips. She stated she was not at home but received a notification on her security camera, and she could hear male voices coming from her garage.
4-12-2023: An anonymous person reported a woman keeps her large dog in a crate all day and only lets it outside for five minutes each day. The woman stated the dog owner's apartment is filthy with animal feces. The woman stated concern for the cat living at the apartment, as well.
4-12-2023: An officer advised that, while attempting to conduct a traffic stop, the male driver would not pull over. The man proceeded to his residence at 55 MPH. The officer asked dispatch to request assistance from the Marathon County Bomb Squad, which did arrive on the scene.
4-14-2023: A two-vehicle accident occurred with airbag deployment and was reported by a caller who also stated there were some lacerations.
4-15-2023: A 911 call was received and a man stated that he found the ice baby, he found the ice baby. He then stated the egg in the house next to him was stolen from the president. He stated it was in a purple striped bag, in a red bag, and in a lock box, and Katie stole the key. A woman was in the background and requested an officer to respond. One male was detained.
4-15-2023: A man called to report he and his family were out for a walk, and he located five packages of Suboxone. The Suboxone was found by the railroad tracks in Prentice. Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction.
4-15-2023: The Vilas County Sheriff's Office advised of a 911 call that was pinging near the Price County, Vilas County, and Oneida County lines. Vilas County advised they had a highly agitated and possibly manic male on the phone stating he had been lost in the woods for 16 hours, he was unsure of where he was, and he was without food. Vilas County advised that the male sounded under the influence of drugs and advised to proceed with caution. Vilas County was given permission to have a deputy enter Price County, and they made contact with the male who was in dark clothing with a cap on and holding a guitar. The male was not cooperating and was being disorderly. Deputy Garrett, Lt. Lillie, Deputy Johnson, Vilas County Sheriff's Office, Minocqua Police Department, LDF Tribal Police, Park Falls Ambulance Service, and Pike Lake and Fifield First Responders responded to the scene.
4-16-2023: A restaurant in Prentice asked to speak to a deputy regarding a customer that had been there several times in the last couple of weeks and always yelled at staff to the point that one waitress was crying. The harassing customer was advised he was not permitted in the business until further notice.
4-17-2023: A Prentice woman advised that she was cleaning out some of her deceased husband's belongings and believed she located dynamite.
4-18-2023: A Phillips man called wishing to speak with a deputy because he believed the Town of Flambeau intentionally damaged his mailbox. The man stated there was an incident a few weeks prior where a Town of Flambeau supervisor blocked a driveway, preventing him from leaving.
4-20-2023: An inmate caused damage to property owned by the Price County Jail.
4-20-2023: Deputies were sent to an area to notify property owners of high dam flow operation and to prepare for evacuation if necessary.
4-23-2023: A man reported he rolled his car. There were no injuries reported.
4-24-2023: An anonymous person reported animal abuse near Prentice, alleging that bulls were chained to a tree and there was no water for the bulls. They were concerned that if lighting were to strike the tree, the bulls would be killed. The residence was reported to have a lot of junk in the yard, as well.
4-26-2023: A woman reported a vehicle hit a tree. She stated the driver was out of the vehicle and walking around. The woman did not see any obvious injuries; however, the driver appeared to be very disorientated and she could see that he was bleeding.
4-26-2023: A woman reported her mother provided information for a possible scam. The woman was on the computer when it began beeping and a number popped up on the screen. She called the number and gave them access to her computer and sent them a picture of her driver's license. When she realized it may be a scam, she unplugged the computer, called her bank, and advised them of what occurred.
4-26-2023: A man called 911 to report a man between 25 and 30 years old appeared to be on drugs and in the man's yard, drinking a bottle of cough syrup, and he attempted to enter the residence.
4-26-2023: A woman called 911 because her husband pushed her and she was sick of it, though he did not threaten her or have access to weapons.
4-26-2023: A woman called to report an incident from 10 to 15 minutes prior. She stated a male in his late teens or early twenties was being overly friendly with a little girl at a store in Prentice. She stated the male left the store, came back in, and gave the little girl $15. The male then left with a female in a white SUV with black accents.
4-28-2023: A woman called to report her vehicle had been stolen from a business on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at approximately 11:30 a.m. The woman's vehicle had broken down on an off-ramp on the evening of April 23, 2023. She was able to get the vehicle moved to a parking lot that night. She returned to have it towed for repair but it was no longer in the parking lot. Staff at the business were reviewing video footage.
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PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
4-1-2023: Received a report of a hit and run that occurred the night before at a local establishment.
4-1-2023: Responded to a private residence in the City of Phillips for a patient who had collapsed while snow blowing a driveway. CPR was attempted, but the patient was pronounced deceased after the ambulance arrived. The incident is under investigation; however, nothing other than a natural death is suspected.
4-2-2023: Received a report of a minor two-vehicle accident in the City of Phillips.
4-3-2023: Received a complaint from a man who wanted an officer to speak to a woman and her husband about calling the complainant and harassing him. An officer spoke to the husband and wife and warned them to refrain from contacting the complainant. The officer advised that if they continued calling to harass the complainant, a citation would be issued.
4-3-2023: Received a report of possible harassing behavior occurring in the City of Phillips. Further investigation is pending.
4-5-2023: At approximately 7:00 a.m. the Phillips Police Department was notified that the roof on the north side of Phillips Lionite had collapsed. An officer contacted the Department of Public Works to place barricades around the collapsed portion of the building. Read related story.
4-5-2023: Assisted the Central Price County Ambulance Service with a medical call at the Phillips High School for a student who was vomiting blood. One person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
4-7-2023: Assisted the Price County Sheriff's Department and the Central Price County Ambulance Service with a report of a male who was exhibiting strange behavior and was sweating profusely. The officer had also received a call regarding strange behavior of two people at a business across the road.
4-7-2023: Met with a woman who stated that she had a charge on her bank statement for $24.25 at a local establishment. The woman stated that she had not frequented the establishment and the day of the charge on her account she was in Minocqua. Further investigation is required.
4-12-2023: Received a call of a dog that was on Elk Lake and fell through the ice and was trying to get out. An officer met with the owner of the dog at Elk Lake Park. The dog was able to get out of the water on its own. An officer and two Price County deputies were able to catch the dog and return the dog to its owner.
4-12-2023: Received information from a local school district about an e-mail the school had received. The information had been sent anonymously. The school official wanted the information to be documented.
4-12-2023: Received information of an employee who was terminated at a Phillips business and was disorderly while leaving the business. Extra patrol was requested around the business.
4-12-2023: Responded to a local business who reported a man was requesting medical attention. Officers responded and met with the male who indicated that he had ingested illicit drugs and believed he needed medical attention. Central Price County Ambulance Service responded and transported the man to the hospital in Park Falls. An officer arrived at the hospital and interviewed the man.
4-12-2023: Responded to a report of a citizen reporting that, from video surveillance, she heard multiple subjects in her garage. Price County deputies also responded. Officers arrived and did not locate anyone inside the garage. An officer met with the property owner who advised they would be providing the video footage and also checking to see if anything was missing.
4-12-2023: Police overheard radio traffic of a Price County Deputy attempting to stop a motor vehicle on CTH W. The suspect vehicle did not stop and continued to a private residence. An officer responded to assist. The man was arrested and held on felony charges at the Price County Sheriff's Department.
4-13-2023: At approximately 7 a.m., police were advised of a roof on a garage that had collapsed and was leaning just off the alley way. An officer made contact with the owner.
4-13-2023: Received a complaint from a Phillips Department of Public Works worker of a tent that was set up off the campground in the woods. The person camping did not pay as there was no slip or money in the drop box. An officer and the DPW worker gathered the tent and placed it at the Department of Public Works building until the owner could be contacted to get their belongings.
4-13-2023: Contacted by a man who reported that his vehicle had been struck outside his residence. The officer responded to take statements and photographs and interviewed neighbors.
4-13-2023: Received a complaint from a city resident referencing his neighbor placing a drain hose on his property which was backing the water up in his basement. An officer responded and met with the neighbor. The neighbor moved the hose to the other side of the residence away from any residences.
4-14-2023: Received a report from a local school district of a student who had written a racially offensive word on school property. The school indicated they would be handling disciplinary measures within the school but requested an officer speak with the student.
4-14-2023: Responded to a report of a female being disorderly at a local convenience store. Officers arrived on scene and diffused the situation. The individual will be cited for disorderly conduct.
4-17-2023: Assisted the Price County Sheriff's Department with a two-vehicle accident just outside the City of Phillips. An officer conducted traffic control until Phillips Fire arrived on scene.
4-18-2023: Received a report of a male individual taking used syringes from a sharps container inside the restroom of a local business. An officer was unable to make contact with the individual. Information was forwarded to the suspect's probation officer.
4-19-2023: Received information from a local school about an individual making harassing phone calls to a staff member. A juvenile male was identified as the perpetrator and given a warning for his conduct.
4-22-2023: Observed a vehicle traveling on Lake Avenue with a window decal covering the rear window of their vehicle. An officer stopped the vehicle, and the Price County Sheriff's Department K9 alerted on the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and arrested the male driver for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Felony Bail Jumping, plus arrested the male passenger for Resisting/ Obstructing an Officer. Both males were brought to the Price County Jail for booking.
4-23-2023: Received a report of juveniles sitting on the basketball hoops at Elk Lake Park. An officer responded and didn't observe the described behavior. The officer spoke to adults and juveniles in the area, and no one confirmed seeing juveniles sitting on the basketball hoops.
4-25-2023: Received a report of construction material debris being dumped on private property of a business without the consent of the owner. The incident is under investigation.
4-27-2023: Received a complaint from a local college about a suspicious man hanging around outside on campus property. An officer located the man deep in the woods behind the college. He was intoxicated and stated he was just enjoying nature. The officer observed numerous empty beer cans lying on the ground and informed the man he would have to pick up all his trash or receive a citation for littering. The man advised he did have a job in Phillips and would be staying at a local motel. The officer ran the man's information through Price County Dispatch and the information came back okay.
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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
4-4-2023: An officer conducted a bar check after running a vehicle's registration, which showed a registered owner was not of age to be on the premises. An officer spoke with a female who was in the bar who stated she was picking up a co-worker from work.
4-6-2023: Dispatch informed police of a power line that was down at the intersection of Cedar Street and Atwood Avenue. Department of Public Works was contacted and were able to clear the roadway.
4-7-2023: A gas station had a customer being disrespectful and asking, numerous times, for money to pay for his alcohol.
4-7-2023: A power outage that occurred throughout the City of Park Falls affected the stop lights.
4-7-2023: An anonymous complainant reported an after hours party at a bar that allegedly involved the use of cocaine. An officer made contact with patrons and the bar owner, and they strongly denied the allegations.
4-9-2023: Criminal damage to property at the Mexican restaurant was reported. Read related story.
4-9-2023: Criminal damage to property was reported at American Legion Post 182.
4-9-2023: An officer responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Hwy. 182 and Hwy. 13. One driver was arrested for OWI (1st).
4-10-2023: An officer responded to a complaint of vandalism that occurred at North Lake Community Clinic over the weekend.
4-10-2023: Officers responded to a report of several gunshots being fired but were unable to determine the source and if the noises had been gunshots or fireworks.
4-11-2023: Dispatch advised of a woman, armed with a knife, causing damage to a vehicle. Officers responded, and the woman was arrested for domestic abuse. Charges were referred to the district attorney.
4-12-2023: A caller stated that the people in the apartment above him were screaming and moaning many times a week for the past few weeks. The residents were warned of an ordinance violation by the officer.
4-12-2023: An employee of a gift shop believed someone had attempted to get into the west entrance but no damage was located.
4-15-2023: A mental health incident occurred with a male exhibiting multiple personalities. The person was non-compliant and aggressive towards the officer. The crisis line was contacted and an emergency detention was approved.
4-16-2023: An individual requested a welfare check on a male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and staying at a laundromat. The man was granted permission by the owner to stay the night at the laundromat.
4-16-2023: A person entered a retail store and confronted two employees about a personal issue. The person was disorderly.
4-17-2023: During an investigation into a disturbance at a residence, a woman became irrational, disorderly, and resisted officers attempting to get her to stop hitting herself. The woman had to be physically restrained, directed to the floor, and handcuffed. This required three officers. The woman was transported to the hospital for medical clearance and then transported to the Price County Jail.
4-18-2023: Responded to a hardware store for the report of a patron attempting to pass a fake $100 bill. The officer seized the counterfeit currency and spoke with the male who stated he did not know the currency was fake.
4-19-2023: A family arrived at the police station to report three males were asking juveniles, who were in a pool, for phone numbers, social media contacts, and dates, along with asking the juveniles if they wanted to get into their van.
4-20-2023: A person reported being scammed in the amount of $500. The transaction began on Facebook Marketplace for the purchase of a refrigerator, and PayPal was utilized.
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An 11-year old girl was missing since approximately 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023. She was last seen near her residence on US Hwy. 8 in Catawba, Wisconsin.
On the morning of Sunday, May 14, 2023, she was found. She was looked after by Prentice Ambulance Service and returned to her family.
On May 11, 2023, Attorney Stephen Weld, representing the School District of Phillips, replied to our final five questions regarding the band teacher, Mr. Lindgren, who received a letter from the superintendent suggesting he leave his job due to a comment he made. Two days after receipt of that letter, Mr. Lindgren signed the school's resignation documents, though he later asked the school board to rescind his resignation if they would also renew his contract for 2023-2024. (All parts of the story can be read at the links at the top of this article.)
Mr. Weld stated, "Justin Lindgren's March 24, 2023 resignation was unanimously accepted by the Phillips Board of Education at its April 17, 2023 meeting in open session" after coming out of closed session to discuss the matter. (My Price County feels Mr. Weld meant to say the April 24, 2023 meeting as the April 17, 2023 board meeting was rescheduled due to inclement weather. We further believe Mr. Weld meant to say March 22, 2023 instead of March 24,2023, as the resignation document obtained by My Northern Wisconsin was dated March 22, 2023.)
According to the attorney, Mr. Lindgren's vacant band position was posted on the Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN) upon receipt of the resignation. Mr. Weld said, "Candidates were vetted. The vacancy was filled after the resignation was accepted by the board." Therefore, in the last 2 1/2 weeks since that school board meeting, a new band teacher has been selected for the 2023-2024 school year. According to the Personnel Report, Jayden Gustafson will be the new band teacher once she is approved. She is on the agenda to be approved as a new hire at the Monday, May 15, 2023 school board meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
Source: School District of Phillips
Mr. Weld further commented that "Wisconsin Statute 118.22 sets out the procedure school districts must follow when processing full-time teacher employment contracts for the following school year. All employees in Wisconsin, including teachers, are 'at will' unless another substantive standard is set out in their individual or collective employment contract or the Employer's Employee Handbook/Personnel Policies. In the case of teachers, District/Board policies and rules and/or Wisconsin Statutes 118.21 and 118.22 also may establish a different substantive standard, such as whether the decision was arbitrary or capricious; constituted substantial fault, just cause, or misconduct; or violated public policy."
The School District of Phillips has not answered one of our first questions regarding the reason why students reportedly were not allowed to put up signs at school in support of Mr. Lindgren. However, they did answer our final five questions in full (seen above) and did not provide any further comment.
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A crash with two fatalities occurred on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 on STH 17 near CTH CCC in the Town of Russell. The accident occurred on the bridge over Prairie River.
An investigation revealed Alice Peterson, 59, of Gleason, Wisconsin was traveling southbound on STH 17 when she crossed the center line and entered into the northbound lane of traffic just north of CTH CCC. Her vehicle then struck a northbound vehicle, causing a head-on collision. The northbound vehicle was driven by Alissa Sosnovske, 22, of Gleason, Wisconsin. There were no additional passengers in the vehicles.
The reason for the crash, such as why Alice Peterson crossed the center line, remains under investigation according to Lt. Grant Peterson of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
My Northern Wisconsin made an Open Records Request with the School District of Phillips to receive Justin Lindgren's personnel file on Thursday, April 20, 2023. We asked for a status update on Thursday, April 27. On Tuesday, May 2, we stated we would need to take further action if we did not get a reply by Thursday, May 4, 2023. On May 4, 2023, Superintendent Rick Morgan replied that he contacted Justin Lindgren that day and Mr. Lindgren responded, in writing, that he would allow his records to be released. We received Mr. Lindgren's personnel file on Friday, May 5, 2023.
Of the contents we received in the personnel file, we found Justin Lindgren's cover letter and resume when he applied for the band teacher position in 2011, along with numerous letters of recommendation from the previous school district he worked at in Ely, Minnesota. There were reviews of Mr. Lindgren, as a teacher, all of which appeared good or excellent, from former Principal Colin Hoogland, who also provided some suggestions in his notes. Acceptance of Mr. Lindgren's request for a sabbatical while he furthered his education at UW-Madison was also in his file. There were contracts and contract renewals from 2011 to 2022 for positions such as the middle school and high school band teacher, middle school and high school band director, track co-head coach, and National Honor Society advisor. There was documentation of certificates Mr. Lindgren received and commendations written to the school complimenting Mr. Lindgren as a band teacher when he traveled with the band outside of the school district. We could not find any negative information or disciplinary action in his entire personnel file that we received.
The only document that cited Mr. Lindgren did anything that was not above board was a document provided to My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin by Mr. Lindgren that was not in his personnel file.
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The document was a letter written by Superintendent Morgan to Mr. Lindgren regarding "Nonrenewal of Teacher Contract" on March 20, 2023.
The letter asked him to take two unpaid days to consider resigning. He would be allowed to finish out the 2022-2023 school year and receive some benefits, plus a letter of reference. If Mr. Lindgren chose not to resign, the School District of Phillips planned to seek his immediate termination.
The full letter is as follows:
The letter was dated March 20, 2023, and there was a school board meeting that evening. A group of community members came to that meeting wanting to show support for Mr. Lindgren, but the superintendent stated if the group was under the impression that the situation that was discussed on social media would be talked about that evening, they were misinformed. He stated that the dismissal of a teacher would likely require a special meeting.
One parent expressed to us that a special meeting never occurred. From the information we have received, we believe a special meeting did not need to occur because ultimately Mr. Lindgren was not terminated by the school board. Instead, the school board accepted his resignation at the April 24, 2023 school board meeting even though Mr. Lindgren asked to rescind his resignation if the school board would renew his contract for 2023-2024.
In Mr. Lindgren's personnel file is the school-provided resignation paperwork, which he signed on March 22, 2023. Mr. Lindgren stated he was under duress when he signed the resignation letter for a number of reasons. One big reason was he knew there were important performances on the calendar, and he couldn't let his students down. "Solo and ensemble, which we were hosting, was Friday, [March 24], and our Festival concert was the following Thursday, [March 30]." Mr. Lindgren said he wanted to be there for his students.
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Concerned parents and other community members have told us information about Mr. Lindgren's band teacher position, including when it was posted in relation to when Mr. Lindgren resigned and if candidates have been interviewed, but we wanted to confirm that information with the school board. We asked Jon Pesko, current president of the school board, if he could answer some questions, which are as follows:
Can you let us know any information about the resignation of Justin Lindgren? What was the vote count to accept his resignation?
How does the school board determine that a teacher's contract will be renewed for the next school year? Is it basically a given unless there is some pending disciplinary action? What are the criteria for a renewal or non-renewal?
On what date was the band teacher job, that Justin now holds, posted?
Has anyone applied for the band teacher position yet?
Have candidates been interviewed for the position? If so, when were they interviewed?
Mr. Pesko replied, "Questions on this matter will be reviewed by the superintendent and legal counsel." We then sent the questions to the superintendent and Attorney Weld, but we have yet to receive a response. UPDATE: On May 11, 2023, Attorney Weld replied to the questions. Click here to read the response.
Other school board members said they wanted to give us information but did not know what they could legally say regarding the topic and chose not to comment. To help answer one of our questions, one person involved with the school explained that "if action isn't brought up by the administration, teachers are sent an intent to renew document every year."
We have given both Mr. Lindgren and his supporters and the School District of Phillips, including the Board of Education, equal opportunities to comment on this situation. While the school district and school board do have certain legal obligations they must abide by, we feel there are questions they could have answered to help us better understand this situation but they chose not to give further comments or answer any additional questions at the time of this publication. We will update the article if we get answers. UPDATE (5/11/23): Click here to read Attorney Weld's response.
Two women who are speaking up, looking for answers, and actively supporting Mr. Lindgren are Donna Calhoun and Michelle Sokolowski. "I don’t normally stick my neck out like this," Michelle said, "but I'm aware of how much he means to his students. Many parents have spoken about how their child opens up to him about difficult situations and he is really supportive, giving good advice, and helps them through it. He takes the time to get to know them....This is going to cause depression and mistrust of school administrators among the students."
At the April 24, 2023 school board meeting, as we reported, community members spoke in support of Mr. Lindgren. Shelly Kaster-Anday, the world languages teacher, was one person who spoke, sharing that on Thursday, April 13, 2023, the Phillips High School Band competed at the Wisconsin School Music Association Large Group Festival in Park Falls. The band received some of the highest ratings it has received in the last twenty years. A man who taught music for 40 years and was a judge at the event, Jeffrey Wenz, remarked to Mr. Lindgren's students, "You are under a director that knows what's happening. Continue to closely follow his instruction."
At the same school board meeting, a community member stated that if Mr. Lindgren lost his job, people would protest on the school grounds. The man was told the people would be asked to leave and arrested if they did not leave. However, according to Chief Mike Hauschild, peaceful protests are allowed on public property. All laws must be followed during the protest. For example, entrances and exits cannot blocked, students must be allowed to move freely about the property, driveways cannot be blocked, etc.. If all laws are followed, peaceful protests are a protected right of American citizens.
Some community members have asked how they can show support of Mr. Lindgren, and one small way is a petition that Michelle started, which asks for Mr. Lindgren's reinstatement as a teacher, which can be signed at this link.
Beyond that, middle school students have started their own petition to keep Mr. Lindgren as their teacher. There are over ten pages of signatures and comments, such as "Mr. Lindgren is the most helpful and hardworking teacher. Everyone loves him," "Mr. Lindgren has always been a good teacher and we want him to stay," "He is so kind and respectful," "I won't do band without him," and "He is so nice and he would never be threating [sic, threatening]."
A high school student was also recommending his classmates e-mail the members of the school board, stating that if the school won't listen to the parents that they want to keep Mr. Lindgren as their teacher, maybe they will listen to the kids.
Currently, Mr. Lindgren will finish out his 11-year career at Phillips with the close of this school year.
You can share this article on Facebook at this link.
MY PRICE COUNTY / MY NORTHERN WISCONSIN REACHES ALMOST 12,000 HOUSEHOLDS; GET FREE NEWS IN YOUR INBOX
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SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Bohn Web Design creates custom websites, plus provides SEO marketing, graphic design, website hosting, and more for anyone, anywhere! Contact Bohn Web Design at 715-339-6677 for a free quote or visit Bohn Web Design's website for more information.
On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the Price County Sheriff's Office received three burglary complaints, all based in the Township of Worcester.
It was believed the three burglaries were conducted by the same individual(s), because of the evidence at the scenes and the proximity to each other.
Items stolen were ATVs, chainsaws, gas cans, and water heaters, among other items.
On May 5, 2023, while serving a drug warrant at a residence in the Township of Worcester, officers located several items matching the descriptions of the stolen property. One man was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant.
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Sheriff Brian Schmidt believes that the "cooperative efforts of proactive traffic enforcement from the patrol staff, the unique and effective skillset possessed by the Price County K9 Unit, the dedication of the investigative staff, and the hard work from the Price County Special Response Team," all played a factor in this individual being caught. The investigation is ongoing.
Current charges that will be referred to the Price County District Attorney's Office include 21 counts of Felony Bail Jumping - Repeater, 3 counts of Theft - Repeater, 3 counts of Misdemeanor Bail Jumping - Repeater, 2 counts of Burglary - Repeater, 2 counts of Criminal Trespass to Property - Repeater, Forgery - Repeater, Burglary - Arming Self with Dangerous Weapon - Repeater, Possession of Burglarious Tools - Repeater, Receiving Stolen Property - Repeater, Criminal Trespass to Dwelling - Repeater, Operate Vehicle without Owner's Consent - Repeater, Felon in Possession of Firearm - Repeater, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
GET FREE NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Want to see more free news stories, events, help wanted ads, and more? "Like" the My Price County Facebook page and the My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page. You can also register to see free news in Price County and beyond. To sign up to receive our FREE "News Highlights" e-mail, send your e-mail address with "Subscribe" in the subject line to contact@mypricecounty.com Your privacy is important to us. We never give away or sell your e-mail address.
City of Park Falls' residents are being urged by the city to clean up their properties at this time.
Leaves, along with yard and garden waste, left at the curb line or alley in bags will be collected by city trucks from May 15th through May 26th, 2023.
Rocks, concrete, dirt, animal waste, or any material from remodeling or construction will not be picked up, so residents will need to find another means for disposal of those items.
The city will also complete chipping of yard brush at no charge for any quantity under five cubic yards. Chips will be removed unless otherwise requested by the property owner. Brush needs to be placed on the boulevard or alley with the butt ends facing the street or alley.
If you prefer to haul your own brush and yard waste, there is a dump site available behind the city garage.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Forward Bankis a depositor-owned organization driven to move our communities forward. By offering free checking, great rates on loans & deposits, business services, leading edge digital services, and a Charitable Money Market Account, Forward Bank keeps our communities strong. For more information, visit Forward Bank's website.
MY PRICE COUNTY / MY NORTHERN WISCONSIN REACHES ALMOST 12,000 HOUSEHOLDS; GET FREE NEWS IN YOUR INBOX
Want to see more free news stories, events, help wanted ads, and more? "Like" the My Price County Facebook page and the My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page. You can also register to see free news in Price County and beyond. To sign up to receive our FREE "News Highlights" e-mail, send your e-mail address with "Subscribe" in the subject line to contact@mypricecounty.com Your privacy is important to us. We never give away or sell your e-mail address.
The Water Action Volunteers Program (WAV) is a statewide network of citizen scientist volunteers committed to monitoring as much of Wisconsin's 86,000+ miles of streams and rivers as possible. WAV’s goal is to preserve, protect and restore the State's streams and rivers by collecting high-quality stream data that's useful for decision-making and natural resource management.
Every year, volunteers monitor more than 600 stream locations throughout Wisconsin. This effort wouldn't be possible without the ongoing partnership between University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and, of course, our dedicated volunteers. But who are WAV volunteers? In short, they're your neighbors. They are students, teachers, retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, families, and farmers. WAV volunteers enjoy science and spending time outdoors, and they value the waters and natural resources of Wisconsin.
To help grow the WAV program, Lincoln County’s Land Services Department is hosting an upcoming WAV training. The training will be held on Saturday, May 20th at the Prairie Trails Park in Merrill. This training course will provide an overview of the WAV program and the science behind the baseline parameters that are collected in the field. Being familiar with WAV and the monitoring science and methods prior to the in-person field training is highly encouraged. An online introductory monitoring course can be found at this link.
If you are interested in attending this training, please register online using this link. If you would prefer to register over the phone, you may by calling the Lincoln County Land Services Department at 715-539-1054.
Shortly after midnight on January 11, 2023, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a structure fire with injures on Clark Drive in the Town of Maplehurst.
Taylor County deputies, along with fire and ambulance services, were dispatched to the scene. Upon the arrival of the deputies, they discovered that a home-made structure, built from an old camper frame, was on fire.
The owner of the structure, Matthew J. Zarins, was injured while escaping the structure and suffered from burns and other injuries. Jennifer K. Johnson, from Stanley, Wisconsin, also escaped the structure but was severely burned. Both parties were transported by ambulance for medical treatment. Jennifer K. Johnson succumbed to her injuries and passed on. Matthew J. Zarins recovered from his injuries.
On May 3, 2023, after a three-month long investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Matthew J Zarins was arrested in Loyal, Wisconsin for the death of Jennifer K. Johnson.
Taylor County detectives, with the assistance of the Loyal Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, entered the residence and located Zarins. He was hiding in the attic to avoid being found. Zarins was taken into custody without incident.
Zarins faces the following charges in Taylor County: Homicide by Negligent Handling of a Dangerous Weapon, Class G Felony; Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Class F Felony; Possession of Materials for Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Class H Felony; Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place, Class I Felony; and Possession of Waste from Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Class H Felony.
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(Article continues after promotional message.) Rent tables and chairs for your next event. Call 715-339-3418 to reserve your event date.
By: Steve Teeters
Tuesday, May 23, 2023:
Kendall Weik and the Phillips Loggers softball team are advancing to Regional Finals after an exciting 11-4 victory over Ladysmith on Tuesday night.
Weik put together a phenomenal performance as the senior ace allowed just two hits while striking out 13 batters. Weik's dominance was truly on full display when she launched not one, but two home runs. The first dinger came in the first inning on a solo shot to put the Loggers on top 1-0. Weik's bat has been on fire over the second half of the season. The senior has hit five homers in as many games.
The Loggers lead would be short-lived, however. Shelby Rozak had a leadoff grounder past Weik and would later score on a stolen base with two out.
Ladysmith then added another run in the third to grab a 2-1 lead. The Lumberjills turned a leadoff hit by pitch into a run but Weik worked out of a bases loaded jam to escape further damage to close the inning.
The Loggers responded quickly in the top of the fourth inning to regain the lead. Freshman Ali Kalander punched a 2-out single into right field to score Halle Lehman and Raelee Williams to put Phillips up 3-2.
The Loggers would get some breathing room in the fifth inning after a sac fly from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert. Izzy Teeters followed that at-bat with a 2-run single to shallow center field to score Paula Pomeroy and Lehman. The Loggers took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Ladysmith answered with one run in the fifth but the Loggers were helped in the field when Teeters made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch near the center field wall to take extra bases away from Ladysmith in a rally attempt. If not for the Willie Mays style catch, Ladysmith would have scored on the play and had another runner in scoring position. As it was, Ladysmith trailed 6-3 after five innings.
A leadoff double from Alie Williams and a walk by Lily Miller set the stage for Weik in the top of the sixth, and she came through in a major way with an absolute no doubter over the center field wall to put Phillips in control 9-3. An RBI-single from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert to expand the lead to 10-3.
Ladysmith scored another run in the bottom of the sixth to trail 10-4. But, again, Teeters made another fantastic play in the outfield to thwart a Lumberjills rally. This time, the junior center fielder threw out the speedy Heather Nelson at third base when she pushed her luck for extra bases on an error made in left field.
The Loggers tallied their final run in the seventh and would cruise to the 11-4 win. Phillips had 16 hits with Alie Williams, Weik, Eckert, and Teeters each collecting 3 hits on the night. Seven different players also scored a run in a complete team effort.
The win improves the Loggers record to 5-5, and they will now advance to regional finals to face Grantsburg (23-3) this Thursday. Game time is 5:00 p.m. in Grantsburg.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023:
Kendall Weik was simply brilliant on Tuesday night with a no-hitter to lead the Phillips Loggers softball team past the Prentice Buccaneers, 16-0.
The only blemish on the night for Weik was a leadoff walk to Emily Jordan to start the game. Weik struck out the next 11 batters and finished the night with 15 punch-outs in an overpowering performance.
Similar to last Friday's game against Prentice, the Loggers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Phillips used four walks, a hit by pitch, and a double by Lily Miller to give Weik all the support she would need.
Walks by Prentice pitching would be a major storyline on the night. Phillips collected 14 walks to go with 5 hit by pitch and 8 hits.
The biggest hit of the night also belonged to Weik when she launched an absolute no-doubt homer to deep left field to lead off the fourth inning. The solo home run put Phillips up 8-0 as they cruised to the easy win.
Brooke Eckert went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a pair of walks to lead Logger hitters.
Phillips (4-3) will travel to Rib Lake on Thursday to face the Lady Redmen (10-3) for a doubleheader. The teams squared off against each other in Phillips on Monday but play was suspended after 2 1/2 innings due to rain and poor field conditions. The teams will resume play in game one with the Redmen leading 2-0 through 2 1/2 innings.
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Friday, May 5, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team got early offense and a dominant outing from Kendall Weik on Friday as they defeated the Prentice Buccaneers 11-0 in Phillips.
Weik struck out the side in the first and helped the Loggers offense with her explosive bat in the bottom half of the frame. The senior standout crushed a 2-run homer over the left center field wall to score Lily Miller to go up 3-0 in the early going. The home run followed a lead off double, stolen base and run by Alie Williams, and it gave the team some much needed energy and confidence.
The Loggers batted around in the first and took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.
Alie Williams led off the second with another lead off double and later scored on a bunt single by Brooke Eckert to extend the Loggers lead to 5-0 after two innings.
Heading to the third inning, the Loggers delivered a knockout blow when they tacked on four more runs to lead 9-0.
Paula Pomeroy drew a leadoff walk in the inning and scored all the way from first base on a Raelee Williams double to left field. Williams later scored on an RBI single to left field by Izzy Teeters. Teeters and Lily Miller would score moments later for the commanding 9-0 lead.
Phillips would get two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Loggers collected 9 hits and 4 walks on the evening. The team was led by Alie Williams who went 3 for 4 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and a stolen base. Kendall Weik went 1 for 2 with the 2-run home run, a walk, and some sensational pitching. Buccaneers hitters had no answer for Weik as 13 of their 15 outs came via strikeout.
Phillips (3-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play) will play in Rib Lake (9-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play) on Monday at 4:45 p.m.
Edit: Monday's game against Rib Lake will be played in Phillips. This game was supposed to be played in Rib Lake originally but has moved to Phillips. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team lost to the Athens Bluejays 4-0 at home Thursday night.
A win by Phillips would have earned the Loggers a season split with Athens at one game a piece, and it would have given them a legitimate chance to share a conference title with Athens.
Now Phillips will have to win its remaining Marawood North games while Athens will have to lose two games to Chequamegon for the two teams to be co-champions.
Phillips had a promising start to the game when Kendall Weik worked a quick 1-2-3 first inning and the Loggers offense got going early with a leadoff single by Alie Williams.
But similar to Tuesday's loss in Athens, the Loggers struggled to string hits together and to take advantage of good scoring opportunities against Athens pitcher Danica Diethelm.
After a fly out to center field by Weik, and a stolen base by Williams, Lily Miller punched a 1-out single just over second base to advance Williams to third for a strong scoring chance.
Brooke Eckert then came to bat with Williams at third base, and Miller at second after a stolen base. Unfortunately, Williams and Miller would be left stranded as both Eckert and Halle Lehman each lost in a 7-pitch battle to Diethelm with strikeouts to end the scoring threat.
Heading to the second inning, Athens used a Loggers fielding error, a base hit and sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead on a run by Sophia Coker.
In the Loggers half of the second, Raelee Williams ripped a 1-out single to left field. Unfortunately, a sharply hit grounder to shortstop by Izzy Teeters resulted in a 6-4-3 double play to close the inning.
Athens tallied two more runs in the fourth inning. Sophia Coker led off the inning with a single to left field, and she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Celina Ellenbecker. Coker later advanced to third base on a throwing error by Weik in a pick off attempt.
The next at-bat resulted in a ground ball towards third base by Sydney Coker that scored Sophia Coker when Phillips decided to go for the out at first base instead of a play at home plate. But a throwing error allowed the run to score and extra bases for Athens. The Bluejays got another run on a wild pitch in the very next at-bat to go up 3-0.
Weik would get a fly out and a strikeout to end the fourth inning. But the Bluejays had momentum and a strong 3-0 lead.
Needing to rally, Phillips was not able to string together hits or a scoring threat the rest of the way. The Loggers would only manage to collect one hit and a walk over the final four innings.
On the evening, Phillips had 4 hits and one walk. The Loggers had 6 left on base with 5 stranded in scoring position.
Kendall Weik allowed 5 hits, one walk, and just two earned runs to go with 7 strikeouts.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Loggers will host Prentice on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team traveled to Athens Tuesday night and lost 6-1 to their chief rival in Marawood North conference play.
Coming off of back-to-back wins against Chequamegon last week, the young Loggers team looked to continue their improved play and to extend their win streak to three games in a pivotal conference matchup. But a big sixth inning for the Bluejays was too much to overcome.
Phillips had a golden scoring opportunity to start the game when Alie Williams, Lily Miller, and Brooke Eckert all reached safely with no outs in the first, but the team was unable to take advantage of the bases loaded situation, leaving all three runners stranded to end the top half of the first.
Kendall Weik was back on the mound for the Loggers and had a shutout going until the fifth inning when Athens was able to manufacture a run.
A leadoff walk to Abby Diethelm got things started for Athens in the fifth. Paige Westaby followed the lead off walk with a groundout to Weik to advance Diethelm into scoring position. A wild pitch by Weik allowed Diethelm to advance to third, before she scored on an Addison Lavicka sacrifice fly to center field. Two batters later, Weik induced a groundout to end the fifth.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, the Loggers still found themselves in good position to rally. Unfortunately, the team went quietly in the frame.
Armed with a 1-0 lead, the experienced Bluejays team would bat around in the sixth inning, resulting in five insurance runs. A one-out error at home plate aided the big inning for Athens and the home team never looked back.
Phillips did manage to tally one run in the top of the seventh on the strength of four walks. But similar to the first inning, the team left the bases loaded in the deciding frame.
The Loggers had 7 walks on the night but were held to just 2 hits.
On the other side of the ledger, Athens had 7 hits and 2 walks on the evening.
Kendall Weik recorded 8 strikeouts in the tough luck loss. The Phillips ace has been as advertised since her recent return and keeps getting better with each outing.
Situational softball was clearly the difference in this game, and the game was much closer than the score would seem to indicate. The young Phillips squad left ten runners on base, six of which were in scoring position.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. They will host Athens on Thursday in a rematch of conference rivals. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
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Thursday, April 27, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers defeated the Chequamegon Screaming Eagles 5-1 on Thursday night in Park Falls.
The Loggers took advantage of a first inning error that allowed Lily Miller to reach base with one out. Two batters later, Kendall Weik delivered a two-out RBI double to the right center field gap to score Miller from first base.
Chequamegon would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first. Anya Brenholt drew a one-out walk and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Kelly Dunlavy then delivered with an RBI single to left field to score Brenholt to tie the game 1-1.
Weik struck out the side in the first to avoid further damage.
Moving to the third inning, Alie Williams had a lead off single before scoring on an RBI double by Miller to go up 2-1 after three.
Heading to the fifth, Phillips clung to the 2-1 lead before a momentum changing play by their freshman catcher, Raelee Williams.
Two Chequamegon errors and a single by Halle Lehman loaded the bases for Williams, who delivered with a two-out bases clearing double to the left center field gap to put the Loggers up 5-1.
That was all Kendall Weik would need to close out the game for Phillips. The senior ace recorded 13 strikeouts on the night while allowing just five hits.
The Loggers collected eight hits on the night. Sisters Alie and Raelee Williams proved to be the catalyst for the Loggers offense tonight. Alie went 3 for 4 with one run and a stolen base. And Raelee put the game out of reach with her clutch at-bat in the fifth.
The Loggers improve to 2-1 on the season while the Screaming Eagles fall to 1-6. Phillips travels to Athens next Tuesday and Chequamegon faces Newman Catholic in Wausau on Friday.
The Phillips Loggers softball team got a much needed shot in the arm when Kendall Weik and Brooke Eckert catapulted the Loggers to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the rival Chequamegon Screaming Eagles.
Weik, the reigning Marawood North Conference Player of the Year, made her season debut 11 days after the Loggers lost to the Mellen Granite Diggers in lopsided fashion to start their season. Weik missed the opener as she has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained during the recent basketball season.
The senior ace allowed 10 singles and 4 walks but worked masterfully to hold a feisty Screaming Eagles team to just three runs.
The Chequamegon scoring would start in the fourth inning when their first six batters would reach safely; five hits and an error. But Weik and the Loggers managed to hold the visitors to just two runs in the frame. The first out came on an interference ruling at third base. The second out came a few batters later when the Loggers got a bases loaded force out at home plate. And Weik would come up with a huge strikeout to end the Chequamegon fourth.
Phillips responded quickly in their half of the fourth with a run by Brooke Eckert. The junior first baseman got things going with a leadoff single that proved costly for Chequamegon. All it took to push Eckert across for the lone run was a single by Halle Lehman and two fielders choice plays from underclassmen Raelee Williams and Paula Pomeroy. But credit goes to the Loggers for putting the ball in play. Logger hitters had just one strikeout on the night.
Moving to the fifth inning, Eckert came up with another big play with an RBI double down the left field line to score sophomore Lily Miller. Miller reached on an error in front of Eckert.
Two batters later, Lehman reached safely on another Chequamegon error. The error also allowed Eckert to score on the play, and Phillips took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Chequamegon would not go away quietly, though. A fielding error to lead off the sixth inning cost the Loggers their lead. The Screaming Eagles would go back and forth with Weik through the inning.
Chequamegon tallied two singles and a walk during the inning to tie things up 3-3. Despite traffic on the base paths, Weik came up huge with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in the inning.
The teams went to the seventh tied 3-3. But Weik had two come-backers and a strikeout to stop Chequamegon in what turned out to be their final chance. Weik recorded 8 strikeouts on the night and allowed just two earned runs.
Heading to the bottom of the seventh, Phillips had the top of its lineup coming to the plate. Alie Williams reached on a shallow fly ball to right center field. Lily Miller followed with a single past the second baseman and Brooke Eckert once again came through huge, this time with the game winning RBI to score Williams.
The Loggers had 8 hits on the night. Eckert led the way, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
With just three returning starters now on the team (Weik, Eckert, and Williams), the Loggers lineup looks much different than the one that won another conference championship last season. Several newcomers are getting their first taste of varsity playing experience. But tonight was completely different than their disappointing opener just 11 days ago. The team is growing and this game will only serve as a building block for the rest of the season.
The Loggers (1-1) play Chequamegon (1-4) again on Thursday in Park Falls. Come on out and cheer them to victory!
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