The Century Farm Program began as part of Wisconsin’s Centennial Celebration in 1948. According to Tim McCormick, communications manager at the Wisconsin State Fair, about 100 properties are honored each year. At this year's state fair, 69 properties joined the 10,056 Century Farms already honored in past years. In Price County, two farms were recognized. Jaclyn and Jacob Jirschele of Park Falls and Elaine (Kerner) Doll and Karen Kerner of Phillips were honored.
Kaiser Family Farm. Submitted photo.
Regarding the Kaiser family descendants honored in Phillips, Elaine and Karen's great grandfather, Frank Kaiser, Sr., settled on a farm in the Township of Emery in 1912.
He passed it down to Elaine and Karen's grandparents, Frank, Jr. and Mildred Kaiser, who became the second generation, maintaining a working dairy farm.
On September 14, 1975, Frank, Jr. passed on while chasing his cattle that had gotten out of the pasture.
The land went into the hands of two members of the third generation, Marianne (Kaiser) Kerner and Tom Kaiser.
Marianne and her family continued to farm the land until Mildred passed on. "It was important to my mom to keep this land in the family and in farming, so she passed it on to me and my sister, Elaine Doll." These two ladies became the fourth generation to own the land.
Kaiser Family Farm. Submitted photo.
Karen added, "I farm this land with my husband, Greg Denzine, and our children, Alexis and Wyatt, who are the fifth generation."
Celebrating 100 years of Kaiser family farming, Karen Kerner is seen holding a Deer Creek Angus sign on the float she entered into the Independence Day Parade in Phillips earlier this year. Photo Credit: My Price County
Given this one family has farmed the land for over 100 years, they were recognized as a Century Farm at the Wisconsin State Fair on August 5, 2025. They received a Century Farm plaque to display at the farm.
Karen shared, "I was only three months old when my grandfather passed. I believe the dedication for agriculture lives on in me. What an honor and a privilege to have a heritage!"
In the Township of Flambeau, Greg and Karen have a beef farm called Deer Creek Angus, complete with a farm store where you can purchase meat by appointment. For more information, call 715-550-6156 or view https://www.DeerCreekAngusFarm.com.
My Price County initially reported that Justin from Ayres Associates stated one side of the street's sidewalks would be entirely completed and then the other side of the street would be completed. Last week, the City of Phillips released a more specific schedule, which we reported below. However, it looks like the original schedule is taking place as the west side of the street is getting torn out in all the blocks as of the evening of September 23, 2025, and no concrete has been poured yet.
9-19-2025:
The highway project wrapped up in Phillips as of Friday, September 19, 2025.
On Monday, September 22, 2025, the sidewalks project will begin downtown on Lake Avenue.
According to Jim Heizler of the Department of Public Works, the first day of each phase will involve removing the old concrete, installing new water shut off stops, and setting the elevation. The next two days will be when the new concrete is installed. The sidewalks cannot be walked on for at least 24 hours after installation.
Phase 1 will include the west side of the street from Elm Street to Chestnut Street from September 22 through September 26.
Phase 2 will continue on the west side from Chestnut Street to Maple Street from September 29 to October 3.
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For more details about the job, click this link.
On the east side, Phase 3 will begin on the south end and continue north stopping before the intersection of Cherry Street and is scheduled for October 6 to October 10.
The northern portion of the east side that remains is scheduled for October 13 through October 17.
Fall Harvest Fest is October 4, 2025, and all sidewalks will be open to the public on that day.
According to a building inspector, salt should not be used on new concrete sidewalks during the upcoming winter season. Salt can penetrate the concrete, which is still curing, and cause damage. Instead of salt, alternatives like sand or salt-free grit may be used for traction.
UPDATE: Ruby was found safe, and the suspect was in custody as of September 13, 2025. Since Ruby has been found, we have removed her photo from this article.
September 12, 2025:
Ruby Lehman, who is a six-year-old, white female is missing and was last seen in Almond, Wisconsin, Portage County, on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. A statewide Amber Alert has been issued.
Ruby has brown hair, green eyes, weighs 100 pounds, and is four feet tall. She was last seen wearing a lavender dress with smiley faces and white shoes with Lilo & Stitch on them.
According to authorities, Ruby arrived at her grandmother's house from school. A suspect vehicle, believed to be driven by her uncle, Jordan Coyle, stopped briefly at the residence and then left. Ruby has not been seen since.
Jordan Coyle is a 34-year-old white man with red hair, beard, and mustache. He has blue eyes and is 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 246 pounds. He has tattoos, including a peace symbol on the left side of his chest and a dinosaur, puppy, butterfly, and cat on his arm.
Jordan's vehicle is a 2001 white Ford F250 pickup truck. The Wisconsin plate number is WC2249. There is a toolbox in the bed of the truck. The tailgate has paint peeling off and silver is showing.
If you have any information pertaining to this alert, contact the tip line at 1-888-304-3936 or dial 911 for an emergency.
In June 2025, over two dozen trees were cut along the driveway at the School District of Phillips.
Many residents inquired about why the trees were cut. My Price County asked the school's superintendent, Rachel Hoffman, for the reasoning.
She stated that the trees were cut because they were causing a number of issues with the pollen impacting the surface of the tennis courts, plus limbs were snapping off during windstorms.
In August 2023, the school board began discussions at the committee level given concerns were raised about trees near the tennis courts and also at the track. At that time, the board moved forward with removing trees that were causing concerns. The buildings and grounds supervisor removed the trees by the track and limbed some of the trees by the tennis courts. The trees by the tennis courts were too large to handle without specialized equipment.
In June 2024, during the large windstorm that caused damage across Phillips, a large tree broke off and fell on the fence and a tennis court. At the next school board meeting, the topic was revisited, and the board voted to remove all the trees along the driveway by the tennis courts. Over two dozen trees were cut in June 2025.
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An incorrect lane marking caused traffic confusion in Park Falls on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
At the intersection of Hwy. 13 and County Road E, heading southbound, there at two lanes of traffic. The right lane was marked correctly for a straight or right turn. The left lane was marked incorrectly with an arrow directing traffic to the right rather than to the left. This arrow was painted on the road as the repaving project is nearing completion.
According to the Park Falls Police Department, police were aware of the issue this afternoon and the issue was being addressed.
Later in the day, the arrow was somewhat blacked out so not to cause further confusion for drivers.
Park Village offers affordable, active living in a park-like setting for those 55+ and disabled persons in Park Falls. Rent is based on 30% Adjusted Gross Income. Small pets under 30 pounds are welcome. Contact Park Village at 715-762-4747.
A public hearing was held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in order to revise an ordinance regarding one-way streets. Ordinance No. 25-005, Section 7.06 now states that vehicles may only travel "northerly or northwesterly on the alley running from Walnut Street to Maple Street." This is the alley that runs between the grocery store and the parking lot in Phillips.
Mayor Charles Peterson said, "A lot of people don't realize that the middle of the parking lot, when you are driving by, that alley is still an alley. The parking lot is toward Hwy. 13. There's still an alley that goes through there, so when somebody's in that alleyway, the people in the parking lot got to yield to the people in the alley."
Penalties were also added to the ordinance, stating, "Any person violating any of the provisions of this Section shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty as provided in Section 25.04 of the Municipal Code."
Before penalties were written into the ordinance, Chief Mike Hauschild said his hands were tied. At a previous meeting, he stated that residents would report people traveling the wrong way down the alley. Officers would often see people traveling the wrong way, and sometimes the people would admit to knowing it is a one-way alley and purposefully traveling the wrong way. Now penalties can be given as a result of driving the wrong way in the alley, which includes the part of the alley that many people think is part of the parking lot. It is not part of the parking lot; it is a one-way alley.
The mayor noted that there are signs there, but people aren't following them.
A resident of the alley thanked the council for addressing the issue.
The ordinance also officially removed Turner Street as a one-way street. Turner Street is in front of the former elementary school and was changed back to a two-way street.
There was a unanimous vote to approve the revisions.
Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus burgers, steaks, roasts, and other beef products sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole. Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to a manure spill in Taylor County. The department was notified via its Violation Hotline on Friday, September 5, 2025.
According to the Wisconsin DNR the spill happened earlier this week and "impacted Trappers Creek, a tributary to the Black River, with dead fish observed in the creek."
The extent of the spill’s impact is being determined. Options for cleanup or mitigation are being assessed.
The department is working with the local farmer and Taylor County Land Conservation Department to determine what caused the spill.
The Committee of the Whole, in Phillips, met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. One item on the agenda was the sidewalks project.
During public comment, Davette Hrabak presented a document she found online from Ayres Associates, the engineering firm hired by the City of Phillips, that stated concrete under 12" thick needs to be at 55 degrees for 24 hours a day for six or seven days to cure properly. She said that if the council does not think the temperatures are conducive to pouring concrete, that she feels the project should be delayed until conditions are favorable so that the concrete cures properly and lasts a long time. She said that she has seen some work vehicles drive on the sidewalks in the past, and, if this practice continues, it could cause damage to new sidewalks if they are not cured properly. Ayres Associates' document stated that, if concrete is poured in cold weather, procedures need to be taken such as using protection methods like enclosures, insulated formwork and blankets, hydronic heaters, and combustion heaters. Davette asked if there would be a guarantee that the sidewalks will cure properly. Mayor Charles "Chuck" Peterson and Attorney Bryce Schoenborn said there will be a bond for the work. Davette asked if the bond is short-term or for the expected average life of the concrete, and the answer was that the concrete will get approved by Ayres Associates, and if anything is needed to be corrected immediately after work is done and within a year, the company will have to correct it. The mayor said, "That bond is always part of any of the stuff that we do. I always make sure the contractors sign something like that, and we still would end up having the right to tell them 'No, don't do it, we don't think it's the right time, so we don't think you should.'" The committee thanked Davette for presenting the information.
In related news, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig with PCUL was present, requesting that the DOT TAP Grant be applied for in regard to trails and a switchback which would allow for handicap access by the stairs that lead from Hwy. 13 to Elk Lake Park. The bike trails would be located behind some businesses on Lake Avenue from Bostrom Park and extend all the way out to the fairgrounds.
City Clerk Shelby Kosmer stated the estimated cost is $130,000 for the switchback, but other costs would need to be calculated.
Lyn stated that PCUL will not apply for the DOT TAP Grant unless the city backs them, because a municipality applying for it will score much higher than an organization. PCUL tried to get a grant twice in recent years for the sidewalks, but the city did not back that grant, and Lyn feels the competitive grant could be received if the city is involved.
Encouraging the committee to pursue this idea, Lyn said to an audience member, "Ken, what did your mom say?" He replied, "About what?" She said, "When you walked to the fairgrounds?" Lyn continued stating that Ken had said that when he was eight years old his mom was very scared when he was walking to the fairgrounds, and she felt that was one reason a trail system was needed. Ken stated his mom did not say she was scared when he walked to the fairgrounds, because he did not walk to the fairgrounds, but he walked to the beach. He stated that she was concerned because he was a little kid at the time.
Chuck said the switchback area near the steps would be in the railroad and highway rights-of-way, which would need permits as there is not enough room near the steps without infringing on property that is not owned by the city.
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Lynne Bohn added her thoughts, stating, "This was the grant that Kathy Billek and I had found and researched and talked with the DOT rep, Evan Maves, and he thought we could potentially get this grant for the sidewalks. Couldn't this [trail system] be combined with the sidewalks?" The mayor interjected, "It would be a separate project. The sidewalk would be a separate project. The swayback [switchback] would be a separate project. The walkway going down, them are all separate ones, so we could go back and look at it, but the sidewalks, as of right now, have already been approved to go and do, so the sidewalks are completely out as far as that goes." Lynne explained that when it was brought up at a prior meeting that a bike trail could be added so the city could score higher on the grant, the council did not want to do it because it is a competitive grant and it may not get awarded to the city, so the council didn't want to pay the extra cost of something that might not get awarded, even though that is how grants are structured. She added that the DOT rep, Evan Maves, seemed to say a bike trail and sidewalks could pair together nicely on this grant. The mayor asked Lynne Bohn if the bike trail would go on the main street. Lyn Ludwig responded to the mayor stating there is a lot of strategy that goes into the grant. She said that when PCUL applied in two recent years, the city did not want to submit that grant, and they would have scored high on it if they had. She explained that grant would have covered the sidewalks and the bike trails because the DOT understands that we want to keep the historic quality of our downtown but yet also have a bike path, so the grant could include all projects mentioned, including the sidewalks. Lyn Ludwig stated it might be smart to hold off on the sidewalks until next year so the DOT TAP Grant could potentially cover the costs of the sidewalks, the switchback, and trail system all as one.
Chuck said, "This board has already made the decision to put the sidewalks in already for this year. That decision's already been made." He stated he will only talk about the switchback for the DOT TAP grant, and he concluded the discussion asking Justin, from Ayres Associates, to look into it.
In a follow-up interview, Lynne Bohn shared that over twenty business owners and counting have stated they would gladly wait until next spring, before the busy season, to get the sidewalks completed when the weather is much more favorable and in hopes of getting a grant to cover the full costs. She said, "A number of business owners have directly told me that the city promised the business owners that a grant would be applied for and that they should, therefore, apply for a grant for the sidewalks. Those business owners feel delaying until spring will not only save them money but will also save the city money, at a time where every dollar counts for our city, if the DOT would award the grant, and there seems to be a high likelihood that a combined project of sidewalks and a trail system would be awarded and enhance our community with a cost savings to everyone. Since the mayor told Davette that the project could be postponed if the council felt the weather was not conducive to the project, the project could be postponed for that reason and to try to get a grant. Many business owners are concerned about the sidewalks properly curing during mid-September through October given the temperatures will likely be colder than recommended. My main concern is the sidewalks curing properly and the easements issue, but I have presented the combined thoughts of all the business owners that have talked with me, which also includes those who really want a grant," Lynne Bohn said.
At the meeting, Ayres Associates submitted a corrected contract for the sidewalks showing their cost has increased by $7,450 for "preliminary and final design and DOT coordination" citing "Ayres attended additional meetings with the city and had additional coordination with the DOT beyond what was reasonably expected. The DOT coordination resulted in redesign efforts during final design phase due to the compressed schedule of the project." The cost adjustment was approved.
Three bids came in at $385,391.03, $576,447, and $848,599. The council approved the bid for $385,391.03 with a company from Eau Claire.
Alderman Bill Elliott asked how long the sidewalks will be torn up, and Justin thought the project will take about a month. One side of the street will be torn up and completed and then the other side will be torn up and completed. Justin stated it will take 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before any work would start, so work will not start until mid-September at the earliest and will not finish until mid-October at the earliest. The city is still working to get temporary easements signed by all the business owners that need to sign one.
At the meeting in August, it was revealed that the business owners voted and shadow slate won for the color, and brick won for the pattern of the sloped terrace. The council could select between cobblestone, which is a rounded, irregular stone pattern or ashlar, which is a rectangular stone pattern. The council voted for the ashlar pattern.
The Common Council will meet on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, and information regarding the sidewalks project will likely be on the agenda.
The Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has lots of activities and events planned for this month. Visit the library's website for more information.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Fire Chief David Lontcoski addressed the Committee of the Whole regarding the accident that occurred at the intersection of Hwy. 13 and Little Chicago Road/Hwy. 111. He stated, "We struggled a little bit," because they did not have the stabilization equipment that they needed to secure the 92,000-pound semi as they were trying to get victims out of the pick-up truck and the semi. He asked the committee if they would allow $15,800 to be used from the Equipment Fund to buy the necessary stabilizing equipment so they can handle accidents with commercial vehicles. He added that there are hundreds of heavy, commercial vehicles going through Phillips every day and no emergency services in the county have the proper equipment to secure a heavy vehicle. "We don't always have heavy equipment across the road like we did that day." Even with the heavy equipment they were able to use that day, emergency services workers were afraid the semi could move, causing more injuries or fatalities, as they worked to get to the victims. "In 30 years, I've never ever seen anything like that," David said.
Alderman Richard "Dick" Heitkemper added that he was on call with the ambulance crew that day. "There were three people that were trapped in the pick-up truck under the semi. It took hours to get them out of there. There were two that were deceased, and we could tell right away, but we did rescue a 6-year-old that was stuck under the dash of the truck, and he is alive today. It took a long time to get that little boy out of there. Had these other two been alive on scene, we don't know if they would have lived in the length of time it took us to get those ones out of the truck, but they were deceased upon arrival." He said a huge excavator was used to anchor the truck given they did not have the rescue equipment for which they are now asking.
EMS and fire department members were working from inside the vehicle, reaching inside the vehicle. Dick added, "Everybody was on edge not knowing if that tanker, which weighed 90,000 pounds, was going to continue to roll over down into the hollow, so this is something that we look around and these are not available for any agency in the county at this time." Dick shared, "The response was tremendous" with EMS from the area responding. He said one helicopter landed on scene to take the little boy to the hospital. The other helicopter transported the semi driver from the hospital in Park Falls to Marshfield so the man could have surgery. It took about 3 1/2 hours to get all the people out of the vehicles and about eight hours to clean up the scene.
Dick added the cost of the equipment will be worth it if it even saves one life.
The committee approved the purchase, which will allow 80,000 pounds to be stabilized.
The committee also thanked everyone involved in assisting with the accident.
Naomi (Lukes) Morrison, the K-12 art teacher at the Prentice School District, was waiting at the school for her husband, Bob, and their two sons, James and Luke, to arrive for a meet-and-greet with their new teachers.
James, who would be entering third grade, and Luke, who would be entering first grade, were only about ten miles away from their mom and the school at 9:43 a.m., traveling south on Hwy. 13. In that moment, what should have been a happy day turned into tragedy and Naomi and Luke's worst nightmare.
At the intersection of Little Chicago Road / Hwy. 111 and Hwy. 13, tragedy struck for this family. A farm's semi and the pick-up truck that the Morrison family was in, collided.
Sadly, Bob and James passed on at the scene. Luke was airlifted to the hospital. According to Harmoni Jesunas, a music teacher at the Prentice School District and friend of the family, "Luke is going to be okay. He has no major health concerns or major injuries." He was discharged from the hospital and is home.
Harmoni described Naomi as someone who "puts her whole heart into everything she does. You can see the joy that radiates from her when she talks about the love of her life, her husband, Bob, and their two elementary-aged sons, James and Luke."
Harmoni gave information about the Morrison family, sharing, "Naomi and Bob spent this last summer creating the beginning of a fully sustainable dream garden together, expanding their farm livestock, and spending as much time together as they could before the school year started. Bob’s favorite pastime was fishing, a hobby that he and his wife were both passionate about. They enjoyed competing together in ice fishing tournaments, and Bob could be found fishing year-round any chance he got. Their close-knit bond and love was apparent in every smile and laugh that was almost always on their faces.
Bob and Luke. Submitted photo.
"Bob had just finished his final licensing in HVAC the week before this happened. He and a close friend were excited to get their new business venture off the ground and running.
"Sweet little James spent the first few weeks of his life in the NICU as a baby. He grew into a charming, polite, and kind little boy. He shared in his parents love for the outdoors and spent many days exploring and playing outside alongside his little brother, Luke. He had a smile and personality that resembled his mama’s. Naomi loved getting to see her ray of sunshine boy every chance she could both at home and at school as his art teacher. Not everyone loves having their parent as a teacher, but James loved it."
Harmoni has created a GoFundMe page, to help Naomi and Luke navigate the great financial burden. Anyone wanting to donate directly to a bank, rather than online, can do so at Connexus Credit Union in Phillips by depositing the money into Naomi Morrison's account. Harmoni asks the community to "please consider donating whatever you can to help not only with funeral expenses to honor this father and son but also with basic needs. Financial hardship is something those of us who love Naomi are very concerned about."
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