According to the Price County Highway Department, areas of Hwy. 13 will be patched in a portion of the City of Phillips.
Starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, August 7, 2023, Hwy. 13 will be closed from County Hwy. F to County Hwy. H.
All traffic will be detoured. The detour will be on Airport Road.
Roadwork is expected to be done, and the detour lifted, on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at noon.
This roadwork is not the repair and repaving that residents have been anticipating getting done by the state for many years. That roadwork has been delayed a number of times and is slated to happen in an upcoming year.
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WIS 122, between West Mill Street and the Michigan State line, will have road work occurring from July 31, 2023 through October 2023.
According to WISDOT, "Crews will replace culverts, pulverize the old roadway, and overlay with new asphalt. Crews will set up traffic control, silt fence installation, and culvert replacements."
Traffic impacted will include the southern limits in the Town of Saxon to the northern intersection with County B. WIS 122 will be closed to traffic utilizing detours.
From July 31, 2023 through November 2023, various culverts and bridges from Merrill to Tomahawk, on WIS 107, will be repaired or replaced.
According to the WISDOT, "WIS 107 will be closed and detoured until September 7th. The detour route will follow WIS 64, County J, US 51, and County S."
After multiple investigations into a person operating as an unlicensed salvage dealer, a search warrant was executed in the Township of Merrill on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
The expansive property held an immense quantity of vehicles, vehicle parts, and other equipment.
A stolen vehicle and stolen vehicle parts were recovered during the search. Indications of tampering with, and removing, VIN tags was discovered with multiple vehicles on the property. It was obvious that the salvage yard was being operated for many years and much evidence was collected to support that fact.
During the search, illegal drugs were also found, including over 140 grams of marijuana, over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and approximately 8 grams of cocaine.
The property owner, Anthony G. Ellenbecker, was arrested for the drug charges, operating as an unlicensed salvage dealer, and a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Merrill Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Taskforce all took part in the search warrant.
At the May 25, 2023 library board meeting, Janene Ravet presented a donation of ten Brave Books for children. According to Janene, the Brave Books' website states that the books they publish show "God-loving, patriotic Americans." When the books were not being bought by the Phillips Public Library, community members put their funds together and purchased ten books for just under $200 that were donated to the Phillips Public Library.
The donation was not immediately put into the library collection, which made some community members question that decision. Upon further investigation, My Price County could not find any Brave Books in the MORE system for the area. Some residents thought the IFLS library director was against adding these books.
When asked if he did or did not recommend Brave Books be purchased by individual library directors, John Thompson, the IFLS library director, replied, "In my position as a library system director, I don’t provide book recommendations to our public libraries. The public libraries within our system are governed by their individual municipally appointed library boards. Those boards develop policies including a collection development policy to govern the administration of the library. The collection development policy provides criteria for library staff to select, purchase, evaluate donations, and maintain the library’s collection."
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At the June 29, 2023 meeting, some community members spoke about the donation, both for and against it. However, most of the board members found common ground stating that the ten Brave Books should be allowed into the Phillips Public Library so that people can select the different subject matter they would like their children to read. Some stated that the books that were challenged in the recent past may have been shelved in a certain section or a sticker may have been placed in it to advise of certain content, but the books were allowed to be in the library. The general consensus of the library board showed acknowledgment that the library director can decide whether to accept or deny the donation, but both liberal and conservative views should be represented.
Library Director Becky Puhl presented her thoughts that the Brave Books did not meet the requirements set forth in the Collection Development Policy. She felt that the authority, skill, and reputation of the author and reputation and standards of the publisher were not in line with the policy. She questioned if the Donations Policy needed to be revised given she felt it conflicted with the Collection Development Policy. She appreciated everyone sharing their views in a positive manner, and she stated she needed time to think about accepting the collection to make sure she was not in violation of a policy.
About a week later, My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin asked Becky if the donation would be accepted in whole or in part. She stated that she chose to accept all ten of the donated books, and they are now in the library and available to be read there or checked out. Browsing the MORE System, it appears all copies are currently in use, but you can place a hold on any of the books at this link.
The next library board meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the Phillips Public Library.
When out-of-town family members could not get in touch with LeRoy Rupnow, resident of the Township of Bradley, they notified the Lincoln County Sheriff's office at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023. Officers performed a welfare check at the residence but could not locate the man who the family was unable to get in touch with for over 24 hours.
According to police, "The residence and surrounding wooded area, along with the shoreline of Lake Nokomis, were searched by deputies as well as a K9 unit. A K9 track indicated that Mr. Rupnow may potentially have walked up to, and perhaps even into, the lake, though Mr. Rupnow was unable to be located."
After enough information developed to warrant an activation, the Lincoln County 911 Center requested a "Silver Alert" be sent out asking for the public's assistance in locating Leroy or providing information as to his whereabouts.
A short time later, with the added benefit of the morning sunrise to help light the area, deputies spotted something of concern approximately 30 yards off the shore from Mr. Rupnow's residence.
Upon further observation, which included the assistance of the Oneida County Sheriff's Office's drone team, it was discovered that Leroy Rupnow was deceased in the water.
The Tomahawk Fire Department assisted in removing Mr. Rupnow's body, and he was pronounced deceased by the Lincoln County Coroner.
No foul play is suspected, though the incident remains under joint-investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Lincoln County Coroner's Office.
Unfortunately, the fellow that totaled out Dennis' car had no insurance, so he had no choice but to use some of the cash he had planned to homestead on to purchase another vehicle. He could not afford the new or used car lot prices, so he went shopping in a “Pig Lot” (no autocorrect mistake here) - Yes, a pig lot! (The pictures below show the old 1957 Chevy in the back of the lot before Dennis removed it).
Some would say luckily, but I say providentially, Dewey and Jeannie remembered they had a neighbor, Tom Hatton, that had an old 1957 pickup he might be willing to sell to Dennis. The problem, however, was that it had been abandoned in their old hog pen. Yes, the rig was sitting in a foot of hog manure, and anyone familiar with hog manure knows the smell is quite the “SMELL.”
Tom was asking 200 American dollars for the truck, which fit Dennis' meager budget. Most men would have walked away with a "no thanks." They would have been either blinded by pride or defeated by fear. Again - not Dennis. Instead of focusing on the dirt and hard work, he saw the possibilities. He envisioned turning the ole girl into a camper – perfect for batching it in Alaska. The old ’57 had seen better days and required a lot of cleaning and some repairs, but Dennis, the ever-resourceful fellow that he was, got it cleaned up and roadworthy in record time.
With Dewey and Jeannie Reuckert's help, he managed to jump through all the Wisconsin and Canadian hoops and get it legally licensed in the U.S. So with his neck and bruises healed, he got back “On the Road Again” and headed for the land of the midnight sun.
The following year Dennis built a camper for the truck bed. At that time, most of the Alcan was graveled, so to prevent dust from being sucked into the camper, he devised a way to pressurize it with filtered fresh air. (See the below pictures) He installed an engine air cleaner assembly on its right outside wall with a 12 volt, two-speed heater blower motor on the inside of the wall. He had a two-speed switch mounted on the steering column, which he could control at will depending on the road conditions. It was so effective that when he would hold a lighted match on the outside at any crack, it would be blown out.
Years later I teasingly jested to him that it looked more like a doghouse than a camper, but, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and after all, it was the age of the hippies and the quest for all things simple. While the ole girl may not have been a showroom beauty, she still served Dennis well for many years.
In 1983 when our children were still small, we became involved in the Christian Radio Ministry of VFCM headquartered in Nenana, Alaska. We traveled up the Alcan in the ole girl pulling a travel trailer that we lived in for a month while Dennis helped with the construction of the studio building. It was a great time, but we did experience one of those Dennis Onchuck "Off the Road" events.
As we were rolling into Ross, N.D. we smelled the odor of a hot lubricant. We managed to coast down the hill right into the yard of an abandoned schoolhouse. Unfazed by the seeming disaster, Dennis went to work jacking up the back end of the truck and replacing the pinion bearings and seals. I gotta say, he may often end up off the road, but the good Lord has blessed him with a mechanical brain, so he manages to always get back on life's highway fairly quickly. We were stranded in Ross for several days because the parts had to be ordered from a nearby town, but the breakdown turned out to be a wonderful time for the kids since the swings and playground equipment were still there in the schoolyard.
The 1983 trip was just the beginning. Dennis made numerous trips up the Alcan to Nenana with equipment and supplies for the radio station. We still own the pickup, and I am confident some collector would gladly give us more than the original cost, but he isn’t ready to part with her yet, and I don’t think I am either.
Over the years I have crossed paths with several people that I thought were a lost cause just like the 1957 Chevy. They were trapped in a pigpen of unwise choices, moral corruption, or substance abuse without worth or purpose. But, just as Dennis rescued the old ’57, I was amazed when God delivered them from their hopeless existence as they turned to Him in faith…teaching me that no one is beyond the arm of the Lord. It’s called Amazing Grace.
The next story will highlight Dennis meeting the matchmaker on the Alcan who will then introduce him to Sandy.
On July 24, 2023 at 3:08 p.m., deputies pursued a vehicle on Dama Road in the Township of Worcester.
According to the Price County Sheriff's Office, "The female driver has been identified as April Hudak. Hudak fled from deputies on foot going north toward the City of Phillips. There is no information to believe Hudak is dangerous or armed. Hudak is attempting to elude officers. Hudak was last seen wearing khaki pants and has long blonde hair. She is 36 years old, 5’8”, and approximately 130 pounds."
At 4:10 p.m., Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt announced that April Hudak has been located.
On July 16, 2023 at 1:53 p.m., the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, which was assisted by Sawyer County EMS and Exeland Fire Department, responded to a report of a motorcycle crash in the Town of Weirgor.
The crash scene was approximately one mile west of the Village of Exeland near the intersection of Canaday Road and State Hwy. 48.
The operator of a 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle, David L. Hamilton II, 53, of Ladysmith, died as a result of the crash.
According to Sawyer County Sheriff Doug Mrotek, "It appeared Hamilton was traveling eastbound on STH 48 when he lost control of the motorcyle he was operating and entered the ditch coming to rest in a tall grassy area. Further details of the crash have yet to be determined as it is unknown as to the actual date or time of the crash."
The crash remains under investigation by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office and the Sawyer County Medical Examiner’s Office.
At approximately 6:48 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office responded to County Road A and Villa Road in the Township of King due to a reported single vehicle rollover.
At the scene, a 39-year old male driver, Randall Beyer, from Lac du Flambeau was found deceased due to injuries from the crash.
While the crash remains under investigation, but speed is believed to be a factor.
Tomahawk EMS, Tomahawk Fire, and the Lincoln County coroner assisted the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
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