Tim and Marina Randrup, like all grandparents, were anticipating the birth of their twin granddaughters in 2021. What they did not expect was that Oaklyn and Jacklyn would be born too soon at 27 weeks' gestation on May 24, 2021.
Both girls weighed in at two pounds each. They spent two months in the NICU at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield fighting for their lives.
While in the NICU, Oaklyn experienced a small brain bleed. The doctors monitored it carefully, and it did not get any bigger. Oaklyn also has a hemangioma in front and behind her left eye. A hemangioma is a bright red birthmark that is usually a benign vascular tumor derived from blood vessel cell types. If left untreated, it can cause serious neurological effects, so the doctors have been monitoring it and giving her necessary medication. Oaklyn was the first twin to be able to go home from the hospital.
Jacklyn had to stay in the NICU two weeks longer. She was not able to breathe on her own. Luckily, the breathing issue has since resolved, and she was able to go home, as well.
However, going home has not come without difficulties. "Being new parents at 21 years to a full-term baby is not easy so now do this with preemie twins," Marina remarked. Add to that their ongoing medical needs. Oaklyn recently had seizures so she had to stay at St. Joseph's Hospital and also take some trips to Madison to see a specialist. Jacklyn recently was in the hospital for five days due to RSV. Both girls, who turned six months old on November 24th, are back home again and being closely monitored. They are doing well, all things considered.
While the twins do live with their parents, Jared and Graci, in Wisconsin Rapids, Tim and Marina have called Phillips "home" for the last four years. Of course, once their health is stable enough to do so, Oaklyn and Jacklyn will visit the northwoods often with their parents.
Helping with fund-raising to get them as healthy as possible, Trailside Bar and Grill will host a benefit for the twins on Saturday, December 11, 2021 starting at 1 p.m. There will be a silent auction from 1 to 3 p.m. and a 50/50 raffle. The funds from the benefit will go directly to the twins' medical expenses and future medical care. Marina said she is grateful the benefit is being held in Phillips because she appreciates "how caring everyone is in our community."
To help, you can either attend the benefit or donate to the Oaklyn & Jacklyn Benefit at Community Financial Bank in Prentice.
Michael Bablick, mayor of Park Falls, has announced that the auction of the paper mill's equipment has been substantially completed. People from all around the country and world have purchased the equipment, and the removal of the equipment is projected to take two years to complete.
The owner of the mill will occupy the Old Mill office building for the next two years while the removal of equipment is taking place to ensure the historic building is protected. Mayor Bablick stated he is personally working with the owner to secure all historical items and records from the paper mill site. The items and documents paint a story of the industrial development in northern Wisconsin, the Flambeau River, and the City of Park Falls, so they are of great historical significance to the area.
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There are dozens of individual buildings across the mill property. Likely some of these buildings will be reused. According to Mayor Bablick, "This will be a fluid process, and the city has been working cooperatively with the owner to ensure blight prevention, reuse, economic recovery, and protection of the environment."
Mayor Bablick continued, "The liquidation of the mill represents the end of an era and the beginning of a new one." He stated there will be several issues that will arise for the city with the water utility being the immediate issue. Since the city was preparing for this possibility last year, a consultant, Baker Tilly, was hired to analyze the financial condition of the water utility. The report is nearly complete. A special meeting will be called to present information to the public once there is a clear picture of the adjustments in the water utility. This meeting is expected to occur in late winter or early spring.
Mayor Bablick advised that all mill properties will be strictly surveilled and trespassers will be cited. The owners will be in cooperation with the police department in order to keep the property secure.
Note: Find an UPDATE from 12/15/2021 at end of this article.
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Date Published: December 3, 2021
According to the informational meeting at the courthouse on the early evening of Thursday, December 2, 2021, it was suggested that the board is divided on whether the forest carbon offset project is too good to be true or a great deal for the county. Based on the questions and comments at the meeting, the public is likely divided, as well.
According to information presented at the meeting, Bluesource is a marketing broker company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. They have been in business for 20 years and are the oldest carbon offset company in North America and have offices in the United States and Canada. They currently have over 70 forest carbon projects that they are managing. This company is one of the few that take on large projects. Price County, having 92,000 acres of forests, is considered a large project.
As a carbon offset broker, Bluesource locates properties that are attractive to their end goal of selling carbon credits. Each carbon credit receives a unique serial number, which is tracked by another agency, American Carbon Registry (ACR). To help explain how each party works, Nick Trimner, Price County administrator, stated Blue Source will "do all the work for us." They work with large companies that voluntarily want to offset their carbon use. Some companies they work with include Microsoft and Chevy. Nick added that those large companies are where the county could find "prime dollars for credits." He further explained ACR's role, stating they are like the DMV in terms of tracking the carbon credits. The contract with Bluesource would be for ten years and then could be renewed with Bluesource or the county could find another broker to work with for the remaining time. The carbon offset project would be in place for 40 years regardless of which company is selected as the broker.
Bluesource first contacted Price County about the carbon offset project at a meeting in Bayfield on February 25, 2021. On April 2, 2021, Joe Grapa, the county forest administrator and Nick Trimner received and reviewed a summary project proposal. The first open meeting regarding this topic was on April 6, 2021 and has been discussed at nine additional committee, executive, and board meetings since then, including a presentation by Bluesource on June 11, 2021 which was the first county board meeting where this project was discussed.
At Thursday night's informational meeting, Nick shared that the county has consulted with Michael Best, a law firm in Madison, and the county has received consultation from their associate, Taylor. He also stated the use of county forest land will remain the same. Hunting, hiking, powersports, public access, harvesting, and all current use will not change. The contract would not stop Price County from continuing its current harvesting practices. The same amount of cuttable acres will continue to be marketed as in the past. However, the landowner obligations given by Bluesource and ACR are that harvesting cannot exceed growth, which is the current situation. Also, certifications must be maintained, and there are monitoring obligations. The monitoring obligations include every five years there needs to be a verification that there hasn't been an overcut, every ten years an inventory needs to be taken, annually there are reporting requirements, and the monitoring period is 40 years. Surveys would be taken by a local company instead of someone from far away. Of course, the requirements do impose expenses.
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Along with those expenses, Nick explained the buffer pool, which is an insurance policy. Four percent of the carbon credits go into this insurance policy so if the forest would be ruined by fire, tornado, or some other act, the county would be protected. Every time a credit is bought, 4% of that credit is taken as an insurance premium. To be able to get this percentage insurance rather than an insurance cost of $40,000 or $50,000 as a lump sum each year, Bluesource says the county must sign up by January 1, 2022.
Tammy Hastings, in attendance at the meeting, said a lot of this information is confusing and was concerned the project decision was getting rushed. She asked if this could be a referendum that the citizens vote on. County Board Chair Bob Kopisch replied, "I don't think we need to do a referendum, and part of the reason is just what you are talking about here, is getting people to understand what it is we're talking about. That is the difficulty with it." When asked if the board had difficulty understanding it, Bob replied, "I guess you'd have to ask the board members. I believe we had quite a bit of discussion on it. I know we have differences of opinion, but as far as whether it has been difficult to understand, I think at this point I would expect everybody pretty much understands what we are talking about."
After looking over information for weeks, Tammy said she can see some benefits to the project. "Those benefits seem to be all financial for the county. It doesn't really seem to take into consideration the forests." She reiterated she'd love to see it go to a referendum so the people could have a say.
Dale Houdek, also in attendance, agreed with Tammy's point about rushing. He mentioned the infrastructure bill that was recently passed has a lot of money set aside for environmental initiatives and he felt one of those initiatives could cover something like what this type of project is covering. "There is going to be a lot of federal dollars potentially coming out for these areas. I believe that down the line these companies are going to be paying a whole lot more than what they are offering now. In my personal opinion, the reason they are trying to rush this right now is they know this." "I think your question is 'Why don't we wait?'" Bob Kopisch added in reply to Dale. Later, Tammy said she feels that, "Any decision made in haste is usually not a wise decision."
"If it goes up, we get more. We're not locked in," Nick explained, stating Bluesource's goal is also to get as much as they can for each carbon credit because they get a 25% commission on the net price they sell it for. Nick said he is also suggesting the county set aside one million dollars in case the county wants to buy back the carbon credits and get out of the project.
According to Nick, the Michigan DNR is in this program, and they told him it is going well. In our more immediate area, the counties of Oneida, Sawyer, Douglas, Burnett, plus about eleven other counties are entertaining the idea of entering this type of carbon offset project. Since June 2021, Washburn, Rusk, and Iron Counties have entered the project. Nick said companies like Bluesource are interested in places like Price County because we are a "low hanging fruit." He explained, "We were already doing what this program will pay us to do," because we manage our forest rather than clear cut or develop them. "We want to maintain a healthy forest," Nick added.
A woman who called in to listen to the meeting via phone stated, "The definition of a carbon credit, which people don't really understand, is a certificate or permit that grants owners the legal right to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide. So this seems a little bit like doing a dance with the devil. If we are very environmentally sound and concerned, why would be enter or even consider something like this?" Nick explained the certificate she was referring to is the serial number of the carbon credit.
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A man on another line agreed with the woman caller but also saw another side, stating, "There's millions of dollars out there that's going to other places.....What do you do? Let the money pass? Because somebody else is going to grab it. So, I think it's an opportunity....It's managed well from the sound of it."
Another man on the phone, who stated he is a CPA, fears it is a sham and that the county does not understand the details of the contract, though the contract has not been seen by the county board yet.
Bob stated that the county is not broke. "This is a revenue source." Nick explained that Bluesource would need to do an inventory once contracted to make sure Price County is a feasible location. From the time of signing the contract to seeing revenue from the project would take about 18 months.
The board has not seen the contract yet but will review it at the executive committee meeting on December 9, 2021. There is also a board meeting on December 14, 2021.
UPDATE: 12-14-21 - CARBON OFFSET PROJECT MEETING AND CONTRACT INQUIRY
A number of residents have asked us about the contract the county is looking at with Bluesource regarding the possible carbon offset project in Price County. When asked if the public can view the document, County Administrator Nick Trimner stated, "The contract is still being negotiated and is not considered a public document. Once the executive committee and board review and finish negotiating, then it will become a public document." He said he is unsure at this time when the contract will be brought into an open meeting for discussion. Nick continued, "If the county board votes to proceed, that doesn't mean we will just sign the contract and be done. If there is anything in the contract that we don't agree with, we will not sign."
There is a county board meeting today, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 9 a.m. at the courthouse. The board is set to go into closed session to negotiate a potential contract with Bluesource for the carbon offset project.
Another big topic in the county, the possible purchase of the fairgrounds, may also be discussed at the meeting.
Members of the public may access all public meetings via appointment or conference call. The conference call number is 1-408-418-9388. The conference code is 2480 856 7420.
UPDATE: 12/15/2021
On December 14, 2021, the county board held a meeting. Supervisor Strobl presented a letter from the Town of Kennan in opposition of the Forest Carbon Offset. Supervisor Houdek received communications from the Town of Hackett, Town of Emery, and Town of Spirit, and Supervisor Barkstrom received communication from the Town of Hackett, all in opposition to the carbon offset credit project. Ultimately, the board voted to adopt the resolution to move forward with a possible contract with BlueSource. The vote was seven "yes" votes by Barkstrom, Erickson, Hallstrand, Kopisch, Kyle, Palecek, Wartgow and five "no" votes by Ernst, Houdek, Madsen, Spacek, and Strobl.
Karen Kerner grew up on a farm in Price County. The third from the youngest sibling out of nine children, she learned a number of lessons growing up in a big farm family. One of those lessons, which would be her words of wisdom to younger generations, is to take care of what you have. She also learned the importance of family at a young age, which is why she is passionate about family getting along. Family trips at Sailor Lake are some of her most treasured memories from childhood.
Not long after Karen graduated from Phillips High School, she and her high school sweetheart, Greg Denzine, established Deer Creek Angus as a small livestock operation in Phillips. Greg, also coming from a farming family, was a great match for Karen as she said she always knew she wanted to be a farmer. Together, their passion for farming has grown.
The couple married and have two children, Alexis and Wyatt. They also have a Great Pyrenees farm dog named Bandit. Surrounded by beautiful woods and rolling pastures, they live on a picturesque farm. All their animals are raised on the farm in a stress-free environment fed with grass, hay, and grain grown on their farm and harvested by them. "All our calves are pasture-raised by 'Mother Cow.' Management traits of calving ease low birth weights and promote fast growth, marbling qualities, and high survivability, all of which mean a greater product. Our Angus cattle are docile, easy to handle, and have great longevity," Karen explained of their farming operation.
She also explained what happens beyond their farm. "Our animals are processed at Whiskey Ridge in Radisson, Wisconsin, a state-inspected and licensed facility. Whiskey Ridge is owned by Mark and Linda Heath, life-long residents of Radisson, who have been in business for 24 years."
Much of Karen's life has centered around farming and learning all that she can to be well-rounded in that line of work. If she could meet one of her ancestors, she said she would want to meet her grandfather who passed on when she was three months old. "I have tons of farming questions for him," she said. Luckily, she was able to meet a man named Franklin Loula, who was a farmer and close family friend. "I farm today by some of the things he taught me," she shared. If she could have one power, she would like x-ray vision. "Some days, in this line of work, it would really come in handy," she noted.
Karen lives by the motto that working hard pays off. She admitted she is a small woman but is ballsier than most men. The fact that she has ridden a bull can attest to that statement. To be able to ride bulls and wrangle cattle out west in the 1850s to 1900 is the time period she would be most interested in visiting if she could.
One of Karen's greatest accomplishments is the dairy breakfast she helped organize across Price County for two decades. "Many people think a dairy breakfast is for the farmers, but I also wanted it for the community so it would promote the dairy industry and for people to realize what goes on at a farm. That aspect was really important to me," she said.
Karen would like to see Price County grow. In ten years, she sees herself where she is right now, because she feels it is a great place to live. She said, "I will be here doing what I do best!"
Some of what she does best, besides farming, is staying connected to family. She stated her mother and sisters are her "guiding lights." Her children have brought her the most happiness, and she hopes the best for them. Along with family, Karen also has a soft spot for her friends. If she was stuck in an elevator with anyone, she'd like it to be her best friend. "We love to talk!" she explained. If she could go back and change one thing, though, she knows exactly what it would be. "I wish I could spend more time with my dear friend, Jacki (Kinnear) Kempf, before she passed away."
As for her hobbies, Karen likes making things with her hands. She enjoys sewing. One of her favorite projects was to make logging style quilts. "Mrs. Janetski got me hooked on that in high school," she shared. Karen said that, for a time, she was making so many that she sold some of her work.
If she could wish for one selfless thing, she would wish for food. "I would want to give it to the people who need it," she shared.
Karen and Greg definitely know a lot about feeding families as they have recently expanded into direct to customer sales from burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloin and everything in-between. Customers can purchase Angus beef in individual packages or in quarters, halves, and whole. If you would like to purchase their wide array of products, visit Karen and Greg at the Minocqua Farmers' Market, by the information booth at 8216 Hwy. 51 S, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday. For more information on their products that you can also purchase at their farm in Phillips, view their website at https://www.DeerCreekAngusFarm.com and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/deercreekangusfarm
As soon as Brittany (Hernandez) Weisrock could string sentences together, she knew she had a love for writing. When she started writing little stories as a child, little did she know that one day she would be a published author. Fast forward to 2021, and that is Brittany’s reality, as she awaits the publication of her first novel, Triad, a new adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy work designed for adult readers who enjoy vampires, shifters, fae (fairies), and magic.
To rewind and start at the beginning, Brittany started her life in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Phillips native, Brian Skomaroske. Just before she entered kindergarten, she and her family moved to Phillips, where she spent all her adolescent years. Choosing to keep Phillips as her home after high school graduation, Brittany married Bryan Weisrock, and the couple has a daughter named Peyton, whom Brittany hopes to raise to speak her mind and understand her value. “She’s such a pleasure to watch grow and learn. Raising her is such an amazing thing. She’s this gift I never knew I always wanted,” Brittany said of her pride and joy. Regarding herself, “I’m that mom-type - messy bun, leggings, and a love for tacos I can’t contain! As a self-proclaimed OG bookworm, Netflix junkie, and wine enthusiast, I love losing myself in a great fictional world with a glass of good wine in my hand.”
Some of the books that Brittany has gotten lost in include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Knowing she could list more books, she had to stop herself aside from also mentioning the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. “You should know I watched New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn 1 & 2 at midnight along with buying the books at the stores,” Brittany said of her enthusiasm for the series. She stated she is constantly finding new books to love as they offer limitless adventures. “I truly feel you can live more lives than imaginable by simply reading,” a thought encapsulated in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes by V.E. Schwab, “Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives – or to find strength in a very long one.”
Transcending from the written word to on-screen, Brittany confessed she is a huge move nerd and enjoys a number of them, as well. However, her go-to movie and all-time favorite is one she discovered in her younger years, Jurassic Park. “That movie changed my life as a kid! I am a Jeff Goldblum fan!”
It’s no doubt that Brittany enjoys action when the Weisrock family’s favorite sport is hockey. “We love going to Wisconsin Badgers hockey games. It’s just such a fast-paced sport to watch as they fly up and down the ice. Not to mention that where the Badgers play just has this vibe we love from the music playing, the players, and the alumni chants. It’s just awesome to be in the arena and watch the play,” Brittany shared.
While Brittany enjoys watching high energy sports like hockey, she also brings the high energy. “Obviously, I can’t speak for those who meet me, but I generally feel you won’t walk away from me wondering what I was thinking, because odds are, I’m going to tell ya!” She admits she can have a bit of a potty mouth but has zero shame at that. “I’m happy to speak my mind and started blogging, just to get my ideas out there. Authenticity is key for me. I think that’s why blogging was such a fun creative outlet for me.”
While blogging likely helped tune her writing skills, she credits some high school teachers for fostering her interest in the craft. “I knew in middle school I possessed a passion for writing but never knew exactly what to do with it. In high school, I took creative writing classes and advanced composition. Sue Weddle, Staci Mollman, and Eva Reilly really helped me understand just how much I loved writing with some projects we did in class. I even took senior assistantships with Mrs. Reilly and Mrs. Mollman.”
While those women helped guide Brittany in her journey with the written word, she has had other guiding lights throughout her life. “My entire family and the friends I’ve made family are my greatest source of strength, and I love them.” They are the people she knows have served her journey well. “My husband, Bryan Weisrock, and my daughter, Peyton, made me want to be someone they could be proud of. My entire family really is my backbone and foundation, along with these lasting friendships I’ve cultivated with people I believe are extraordinary - they know who they are. I’ve learned so much from them, individually, that it feels like a slight to pick just one. If I had to give a shout out, I’d have to say my dad, Brian Skomaroske, and my gram, Linda Patrick, are such consistent people, and Keri Krupp, who really pushed me to pursue this endeavor [of publishing a book]. But truly, my ENTIRE family has my back - I am the LUCKIEST person to have them. I definitely took traits from some family and friends and incorporated them into Triad.”
Taking note of different personality traits has been a life-long observation, but the actual writing of her book started in January of 2020. Dedicated to her project, her second draft was completed by June. She learned of a writing event where she could connect with agents and publishers if they had interest in the pitch for the work. “I got crazy lucky, and a smaller press liked my pitch. They ended up asking for a full manuscript and we decided, my book, Triad, and I were the right fit for them. After that, I spent six months heavily revising and going through the editorial process with them. It’s crazy how much a book changes from those beginning drafts to publishing. So, in all honesty, it took a full year and a couple months to have Triad where we all wanted it to be story-wise. I’m a better writer for it, and I appreciated the opportunity to work with these professionals.”
Brittany stated that the publishing process is intense. “I didn’t consider self-publishing, though I highly respect those who do. It’s crazy hard. The number of roles you have to take on to succeed is massive and rather impressive. I went the traditional publishing direction, with the query, synopsis aspects….Once you’re contracted, your writing life becomes deadlines, revisions, more edits, and all kinds of fun stuff like cover proposals, blurbs, bios, and brief interviews….I’m aware how lucky I am to have gotten such an early break. Many authors have to query for years.”
For Brittany, there have been many great moments in this rather short amount of time, including reading her book after it was formatted, seeing the cover design, and hearing from the ARC readers, who are the Advanced Review Copy readers who critique the pre-published book. Brittany said of the ARC readers, “That has to be my favorite. When a reader gets in touch with me and gushes about how much they connected with or loved a character, it tells me I did my job right as an author. It’s all I want as an author - to put out a book readers in my genre will love and give them characters they can’t forget!”
As Brittany’s book publication journey unfolds, she wants to tell young people who are pursuing writing not to give up. “There’s going to be a lot of ‘no’s’ in writing and a lot of feeling like you might not be good enough, but keep writing, keep learning, keep honing your skills, and expanding your depth as a writer. If you can learn from your constructive critiques and take those negatives to grow yourself, that’s really the best thing you can do.”
Growing and capturing your life’s purpose as quickly as you can is summed up in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes from V.E. Schwab, “Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.” The seasons of life do pass quickly for us all, and we must remember to embrace them all. At present, Brittany can delight in the season of her first book, another leaf on her tree of life.
Saturday, April 11, 2020 should have been race day for Emily Nerison. However, COVID-19 had other plans, canceling many events across the world, including the Milwaukee Half Marathon.
Since Emily is a Master Sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, WIARNG, she is a runner with Team Red, White, and Blue, also known as Team RWB, which is a team comprised of America's veterans.
Proving her shoes weren't made for just walking, Emily laced up on Saturday to compete in a virtual race, which was a change decided upon by the Milwaukee Half Marathon. Emily shared, "I chose to still run my race on the day it was to be run; it was just a different course. Doing a race with others is a different mindset than doing it by yourself. To help motivate me, I decided to run a good portion of this run in the Team RWB way by carrying the American flag. A part of me was also hoping it would bring some motivation and hope to others. While I was running, I received a lot of waves and honks. It was very inspiring."
In one hour, fifty-four minutes, and fifty-six seconds, 1:54:56, Emily completed her 13.10 miles. "I have a passion for running. I try to do a few races or events per year. It is also my goal every year to run at least 1,000 miles," Emily said.
Not only does she have a passion for running, but she also enjoys reading. When asked about her favorite book, Emily picked the Harry Potter series. "Those books are what really got me into reading. I love the world J.K. created. When reading them, you can feel like you are a part of that world."
Along with those hobbies, she has a full schedule. Emily is married to Kevin, and they have two children that she describes as "wonderful." She enjoys spending time with her family, making lasting memories with them. She said that her favorite memory as a child was camping on Madeline Island. "We used to go as a whole family and got to bring my cousins. We would spend all day on the beach and the nights by the campfire," Emily reminisced happily.
Emily is currently creating memories and raising her family in Phillips. As a Phillips High School graduate and RN at Flambeau Hospital, she has established a good life in Price County. "Price County is a beautiful place. It's a great place to move to because you can enjoy its beauty every day. There is also a lot to do for those who look for it. The school district in Phillips is really good, too. We have some amazing teachers," Emily stated, addressing her reasons why she thinks Price County is a great place to live.
She would, however, like to see some changes in the county. "I would like to see some growth and new life breathed into the county. It would be nice to see some updates to it."
As for Emily's future, in ten years she sees herself as the mother of two very active teenagers, working as an RN, and retired from the WIARNG. Most likely, she will still be running, as well.
Melissa Bellovary graduated from Phillips High School, http://www.phillips.k12.wi.us, in 1986. She raised three sons with her husband, Wayne DeLeasky. Melissa went to nursing school and became an LPN, working in that field for the last eighteen years. She spent part of her time as a private duty vent nurse and also worked at a state prison for over eight years. Melissa and Wayne remained in Phillips until 2001 and then moved to Elk Mound, Wisconsin.
In 2019, Melissa decided to make a career shift after discovering a line of products that target people and pets with anxiety, pain, and inflammation. Those products are CBD, short for cannabidiol, which are derived from an industrial hemp plant. They are offered in a variety of forms, including topical creams, oils, water solubles, ingestible gummies, and beverages.
Melissa started using this line of products for her knee and foot pain and had awesome results in a short time. "Then I found I was sleeping so much better, also, and I wanted to share with others."
Encouraged by her experience, Melissa opened her first store in Eau Claire in March of this year and had a great response. Seeing her customers pleased with this line of products, Melissa was encouraged to open two more stores, one in Menomonie in September and one in Phillips on October 31st. This new businesswoman hopes to open two more stores in other locations in the state within the next twelve months.
Enjoying interacting with new customers and forming friendships with repeat customers, Melissa strives to answer any questions and has a good number of resources that can be browsed in her relaxing store setting, complete with a sofa and armchairs.
Melissa stated that some people are skeptical to try the products because they incorrectly worry it will result in a high. "That's the first thing they say: 'It's not going to make me goofy, is it?'" According to Melissa, there is no chance of getting a high with CBD products, which is why they are legal to sell in Wisconsin.
Pleased with the open mind and great welcome she has received from small town Phillips, Melissa is happy she made the choice to open a store in Price County where she has fond memories of growing up and raising her children.
Adding to her family, Melissa now has three grandsons, ages five and three years and nine months. She also has two dogs, four cats, and an African Grey parrot that she describes as "sassy."
Perhaps her parrot has become "sassy" given Melissa's favorite TV show is "The Office." "I love the sarcastic humor, and I have lived through working with each one of those characters [in my previous career]!"
Melissa enjoys travel, and in ten years she would like to travel all over the United States, seeing the unique qualities of each area first-hand. She would also like to travel to Ireland to see the castles, hillsides, and sheep. Her favorite vacation spot so far has been Arizona. "I really like Flagstaff. The state was beautiful, and I liked the mountains, longer growing seasons, and the dry heat."
Melissa said that if she could go back and tell something to her eighteen year old self it would be that, "Time is so precious and to cherish what you have since it can be gone before you expect."
An issue that Melissa is passionate about that she feels is at the forefront of our time is bullying children both in school and out. "We need to make it cool to be kind and treat others decent," Melissa shared. "We need to follow through with consequences for treating kids poorly."
Her advice for students in high school includes, "Go to college, if you are able, and/or work hard to do the best you can at whatever you do. Pick something you enjoy and you look forward to." She added, "Surround yourself with positive people that support and want the best for you, not people than keep you from reaching your career or personal goals."
Surrounding herself with positive people is exactly what Melissa feels she has done. "None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my husband. He has been behind me 110%, which makes all of this worth it."
To welcome Melissa to Phillips, stop by Your CBD Store Phillips at 126 North Lake Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There will be a grand opening event on Friday and Saturday with snacks and drawings (to win bath bombs, gummies, and more!) throughout those days.
“You can truly achieve anything you want in this life if you are willing to work for it,” was the advice given to Justin Drljaca, a 1996 Phillips High graduate, by his grandfather. He feels that was the best piece of advice he has received, which has followed him throughout his life.
Justin moved to Phillips from Houston, Texas just prior to his freshman year of high school. “Attending PHS was a major change from what I was used to. The smaller class sizes and personal attention that was available helped me grow as a student. The teachers showed a genuine interest in our growth. I don't know if I would be where I am at today if it weren't for my mother’s decision to move to Phillips. It is truly a special place,” Justin shared.
While in high school, Justin was involved in football, basketball, golf, soccer, and track. After graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, graduating with a degree in biology. For the next ten plus years, he had a career in the finance field. “I got into this career for the money and was good at it, but it also was a roller coaster financially. During the recession, I ended up losing everything, including my business. In 2013 I made the decision to pursue a new career path. I spent the next nine months living off of savings while looking for the right opportunity. In 2014, I landed a career in manufacturing automation. I am a sales engineer for Barry Wehmiller Integrated Systems, and I absolutely love my career. It is very mentally stimulating and allows me to see how everything we consume is made. I travel the country working with engineers (from food, beverage, and household personal care manufacturers) on automating their production lines. My company actually has ties to Phillips as they own Marquip (BW Papersystems, http://www.bwpapersystems.com).”
As for Justin’s personal life, he married Brook in January 2018 in Key West, Florida. “My beautiful wife is my biggest supporter and fan. I do not know where I would be without her.” He said they are in the process of purchasing a home on the gulf in Florida and becoming snowbirds like his grandparents. “Growing up on Soo Lake instilled a passion for fishing in me that still exists today. Although my career has reduced the time I am able to spend on it, I still fish bass tournaments from time to time throughout the country. Last summer I took 9th place out of 180 competitors in the FLW Tour on Lake St. Clair in Michigan.” Justin also enjoys classic cars. He said, “My father-in-law is an avid collector of classic cars and that bug has now bitten me, as well. I am the proud owner of two numbers matching Pontiac GTOs, a 1965 and a 1969 convertible. I spend my free time either fishing, going to car shows, or traveling with my wife.”
To obtain personal and professional success, Justin would advise young people to find a career they like that is also financially fulfilling. He advised, “Find a career that interests you, but don't be afraid to think ahead and find something that will allow you to reach your financial goals. There are careers out there that provide both. As soon as you join the workforce, speak with a financial planner and start saving for your future. If you start early, you can be retired at a very young age.”
In order to give back to the community that gave him his footing, and to help young people in the Phillips area meet their full potential, Justin has started an annual $2,500 scholarship. A qualifying member of each graduating class, who is pursing a post high school degree in either automation or a trade, such as lineman, electrician, HVAC, plumbing, etc., will receive this scholarship.
Justin feels strongly about the success a person can have in automation or a trade, and he will also mentor the scholarship recipient. According to him, “Automation is a fantastic career path for those that choose to pursue it. It has been a blessing for me and my family. I am still close with many friends from PHS, of which numerous went into the trades. Automation, as well as the trades, are continuously seeking talent and provide a great opportunity for growth and income stability. My goal with this scholarship is to not only help someone pursue their dreams but to help guide them in a career choice that will lead to prosperity. I will personally make myself available to each recipient for advice and mentoring.”
Interested students will need to fill out the application, submit a 750 word or less essay regarding the chose career path and life goals, plus provide academic information such as ACT results and transcripts. However, GPA will not discredit someone from receiving this scholarship. For more details, the application can be obtained in the guidance office at the Phillips High School or you can click on the link, Drljaca Scholarship.pdf, provided to the left of this article.
If anyone is interested in donating to the scholarship fund, checks or money orders can be made payable to Phillips High School c/o The Justin Drljaca Automation and Trade Scholarship. Money can be sent to 990 Flambeau Avenue, Phillips, WI 54555. The school will mail any donor a receipt for tax purposes.
Josh Englund grew up in Prentice. If there were two things he wished he knew at age 18, it would be to have patience and work hard. "We live in a world where expectations are for things to happen fast. We have fast-food, same-day delivery, and instant everything. There has always been the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." This is true, but the other part of that is you need to work hard for the good things. This is where the saying, "Too good to be true" comes in. If it came easy, quickly, or without effort, it is probably not going to last or it is too good to be true. Work hard, earn it, and appreciate it because at any time it can be gone."
Josh started on his path to working hard by moving to Milwaukee upon graduating from high school. He attended college, receiving an associate's degree in criminal justice, and he feels he gained a wealth of life experience which helped pave the path for his future. In 2014, he decided to move back to Price County to pursue a career in law enforcement working with both the Phillips and Park Falls Police Departments. He eventually decided to make his home in Park Falls with his fiance, Rachel, and their two rescue dogs. He is a few months away from receiving his bachelor's degree in health care administration.
"Through my part-time work with the Park Falls Police Department and working in a security role at Flambeau Hospital, I was exposed to the health care field. It was at this time I applied for my current job and started a new career at Flambeau Hospital in January of 2017," Josh explained.
Along with growing professionally during that time frame, Josh was also growing in personal experiences. He recalls two of his favorite vacations. The first special vacation memory occurred in 2016 when his niece completed her K9 handler training with the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas. "I was able to fly down and attend her graduation. After her graduation, she had to drive back to her base in California. We spent the next couple of days driving across the southern part of the country visiting friends and family. Having that one-on-one time with my niece was something special," Josh shared.
His second favorite vacation happened when he took his fiance on her first surprise airplane ride! For Rachel's birthday, Josh took her and her best friend to visit California and Nevada. "I did not tell her where we were going until we arrived at the airport. She thought we were just going to Madison to visit her best friend. It wasn't until her friend grabbed her luggage and we started driving towards Minneapolis that my fiance realized there was more to the vacation," Josh shared, also stating that the fun moments they experienced and giving Rachel a surprise are the things that made it most special.
Josh seems to enjoy giving to others. "I have always had the need to want to help people. I think that is what steered me towards law enforcement. Being able to help others in their time of need has given me a sense of purpose in life. I have also worked with the Prentice Ambulance Service as an ambulance driver, worked with Catkins Animal Rescue organizing fundraisers and helping out around the shelter when needed, and volunteered my time coaching hockey with Price Ice Hockey. I enjoy helping others and seeing how happy people are when they receive the help they need. We live in an area with a high elderly population, many of who do not have the help they need. I have always been proud to help where I can."
Those facts are likely why Josh says that if he could have any super power, he would choose the power to heal. "We live in a world where there are many people who become sick, have a disease, or become injured. I would love to have the ability to change those people's lives by giving them the gift of health. Each and every one of us should not have to deal with the struggles that an illness or injury can bring along with it."
Josh knows, first hand, about dealing with injuries. In November of 2017, Josh's life took an unexpected turn when he and Rachel were involved in a terrible, head-on car accident. The accident was presumably caused by a drunk driver, though that person's court case is still pending.
Rachel sustained minor injuries. Josh is thankful she was not injured worse. As for Josh, he admits he is lucky to be alive, but he is not so lucky in that he has to deal with the physical, emotional, and financial pains and stresses, even two years later.
"To date, I have had eight surgeries and expect to have at least four more over the next two years. My injuries included a compound fracture of my left femur, a complete dislocation of my left ankle that resulted in a broken tibia and talus bone in my foot, my pelvis had hairline fractures in the front and a large fracture in the back that required surgery to repair, my ribs separated from my sternum, a torn bicep tendon in my left arm, and countless other cuts and bruises. To top things off, as a result of the ankle injury, I had skin that was damaged and turned necrotic. The necrotic tissue then got infected; the infection got into the tibia and talus bone. Since beating off the infection, I have had to have the talus bone removed and part of my tibia cut off because the infection had gotten into the bone. I then required an ankle fusion surgery, and, for the past year, I have had an external fixator device on my leg. My left leg is now two and a half inches shorter than my right. I am estimating that I will have another two years of healing and rehab before I can even walk again."
Josh is not physically able to work as a police officer at this time. He has been able to return to his job at the hospital on a 66% part-time basis. However, work is often difficult because Josh cannot walk on his own. At this time, he has to use crutches or a knee scooter to be ambulatory. He also has to rely on others to do tasks around his home that he would have been able to complete himself in the past. Facing these realities has been a challenge.
Josh spoke candidly about that challenge. "I have always tried to have a positive attitude throughout all of this, because I am just so lucky to be alive. Unfortunately, dealing with injuries, physical limitations, and finances can take its toll on a person. I have always thought to myself that I didn't need any help and I could do it on my own, which is probably why I never wanted or let anyone fundraise for me before this, or that there were others that needed the help more than me. I admit, I was wrong. I have really taken a financial hit as a result of this accident."
Infusing a bit of humor into the heaviness of his ordeal, Josh shared a line he once heard, which is a police joke. "I live with fear and danger every day, but occasionally I leave her to go and catch the bad guy," Josh joked. Fortunately for Rachel, that is just a joke, because he feels Rachel is his guiding light. "Relationships can be tough after a traumatic event such as the car crash we were involved in, but she has been there for me through all the bad days, surgeries, and emotional ups and downs. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done and for being such an amazing human being who helps me during my long recovery. I couldn't do this without her," Josh shared with heartfelt gratitude.
He has also taken away much life insight from the accident, which he feels is the event that made the biggest impression on his life. "There was a lot of bad that came from it," Josh said, "but there was some good, too. I now have a new appreciation for the lives we are given. At any point, our life can be taken away. We are fragile creatures and sometimes we forget how precious life is. We think to ourselves that nothing bad will happen to us or our family and in a blink of an eye, everything changes. We should always remember to be grateful, live life to the fullest, and make a positive impression on those around you and in your community. We get one chance at this thing called life. You may not be remembered forever, but you will be remembered by those that you interact with for the rest of their lives." To sum up his feelings, Josh said he does live his life by The Golden Rule. "Treat people the way you would like to be treated."
"I look forward to finally recovering from my accident, returning to my jobs, and being a positive role model in my community," Josh expressed. "This accident has completely changed my life, but I won't let it define me. I will have more medical issues as I get older, but I will come back better and stronger than before to help limit those long-term issues. Thank you, and God bless!"
"Great Grandpa and Grandma Edinger came from Iowa in a covered wagon and were the first white people to live in this immediate area," Gary Edinger shared of his family's settlement in Price County. Born in 1951 to Jess and Albina (nee France), he was number six of eight children. "I went to a one room school, Meadow Creek, through the first four years, then Kennan Elementary, and graduated from Phillips High School in 1969." For the last 42 years he has been married to Leanne (nee Hill). They currently live on the North Fork of the Jump River on land that has been in the family since 1903. They raised their two children, Garrett and Aubrey, on the homestead. They now have one grandson, James.
As a child, Gary thought he would be a professional baseball player, but he says the fact he could not hit a curve ball halted that dream. Instead, Gary became a logger and has been self-employed since 1986. He made his logging career known to most of the community when he got in a terrible logging accident in 2007, which cost him part of his leg. "My leg was sheared off in a bad logging accident and I somehow managed to survive." The overwhelming kindness of everyone after he lost his leg is what stands out to Gary. "That includes family, friends, community and complete strangers. If I tried to list them all I would certainly leave someone out and that wouldn't be right. It's one of the finest things about living here. When a neighbor is in a bind, people will help you."
However, if you thought that was the most interesting thing about Gary Edinger's life, you would be mistaken. He has led a full one and has done, as he puts it, "all sorts of interesting things." "I raced sled dogs for 19 years, and after Leanne joined me, rose to the professional level and won a Worlds Championship in 1987. I was a commercial salmon fisherman with a fishwheel on the Yukon River in Alaska for 3 summers. I've been a log cabin builder, an elk hunting guide, and a mule packer out in the mountains of Montana and Idaho."
Using the logging accident as the "hook," Gary wrote a book about his life, which was published in 2010. There is a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79sVMMesYxk&t=3s which explores Gary's life a bit more. "Despite my fake leg, I'm still logging, hunting, and packing mules out west." Nothing slows Gary down, and he feels the younger generations should heed his advice on that. "Live life, don't just breath air and take up space. Like John Steinbeck said, don't trade quality of life for quantity of years."
In ten years, Gary wants to find himself "Still above ground and not in a nursing home!" However, if he had the chance to live in another time, he knows exactly when it would have been. "I would have liked to live in early 1700's in upper New York and Pennsylvania, in the period James Fennimore Cooper wrote about in his book The Deerslayer & Last of the Mohicans."
Given this was the time period Gary was destined to live in, though, he has made his mark and contributed to the community in many ways. "I coached Little League and Girls Softball, served on the Price County Fair Board, served on the County's Smart Growth Committee, was president of Price County Waterways Association, co-founder of Friends of the Jump River, served on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the DNR for Water Quality for Logging, worked hard to save the Kennan School (but lost that one), took fifth graders to the stream every spring to teach them about stream health for 21 years, talked to the Phillips Outdoor Education classes every spring for 15 years, and taught and called square dancing, although that last one can hardly be called a contribution because it is so much fun!" Gary remarked.
The one contribution Gary would love to make, if he could choose a super power, would be the power to heal, especially the diseases he called "wicked," like cancer and Alzheimer's. "Those diseases are so unfair."
With fairness and goodness being important to Gary, his favorite holiday is Christmas. The "favorite" things he might like to find around his Christmas tree are rifles, traps, canoes, horses and mules."
Just like a true outdoorsman, he made up his own favorite quote while pulling his pack string in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho as he started wondering how many people were doing what he was doing and what they were thinking. His thoughts at that time were, "When you are in the back country by yourself, you are not alone, I am there with you. I know why you are there, what you are thinking, what you are feeling. When you wake in the morning, I too hear the stream just outside the tent. Just before you fall asleep at night, I too hear the last feeble pop of the fire, before it lays down. The only thing I do not know is what you dream. I hope you go to the wild places every chance you get, so I can be there too!"
