My Northern Wisconsin

Covering Ashland, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Vilas Counties


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POLICE REPORTS: JUNE 2023


News: Countywide    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-14-2023, 03:33 PM

   

Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.

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PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

6-1-23:  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted an investigator regarding a cyber tip.  Further investigation will follow.

6-1-23:  A Catawba woman said she is in a property dispute with her neighbor and he tried running her over with his side by side.

6-4-23:  A Park Falls man reported an elderly female was riding a mobility scooter headed eastbound in a westbound lane of traffic.

6-5-23:  A Fifield woman requested to speak with a deputy regarding her neighbor talking too loud on his phone.

6-6-23:  A Fifield man reported his neighbor was harassing him by repeatedly asking him to turn down the volume of his television.

6-8-23:  A Prentice man reported his ex-wife assaulted him when he told her to leave after he discovered she was cheating on him.  The woman allegedly screamed, ripped her shirt off, and hit the man as she left.  The man said if she came back the police wouldn't have time to get there.

6-8-23:  A Park Falls man reported his significant other choked him and punched him in the throat.  Dispatch advised both men needed to separate until law enforcement arrived.  One man was taken to jail.

6-8-23:  A Catawba woman called to report a white Dodge Ram was following them around Kennan trying to hit them and run them off the road.  Another woman called and reported observing a white truck trying to hit a gray flat bed truck.  She heard a loud boom but did not know if there was a collision.

6-8-23:  A Park Falls man reported his brother, who he had not seen for 15 years, was asking him for $1,500 and said the money better be there by Thursday.

6-9-23:  A Phillips woman called reporting a heavily intoxicated man was lying on the ground in the City of Phillips, and he was making groaning noises.  The man then vomited all over the concrete and went to his apartment.

6-12-23:  A Park Falls resident reported a car rollover west of Tower Road on County Road E.  There were no injuries.

6-13-23:  An Ogema man called to report two calves were in the roadway.  Dispatch called the owner of the calves who stated her kids were leading their show calves, and she did not see any other calves out.  She said this occurred last year, and she believed she was being harassed.

6-14-23:  Property damage was reported in the women's bathroom at the Tuscobia Trailhead.  Light fixtures were damaged and mirrors were smashed.

6-14-23:  Multiple 911 calls reported a single vehicle rollover north of the City of Phillips.  The man was out of the truck, which had rolled several times.  He had minor injuries to his hands, face, back, and arms, but he was conscious and alert.

6-15-23:  An Ogema woman called stating her neighbor's cows were loose and it is a regular occurrence.  The cows were on the roadway and on the caller's and another neighbor's properties.  She said she walked the cows home, and when she did so, the owner of the cows drove his ATV into some of the cows' legs to get them to move, which made her concerned for the cows' welfare.

6-16-23:  An Ogema man reported cattle belonging to his neighbor were all across other neighbors' properties, and he had photo evidence.

6-16-23:  A Prentice man reported hitting a deer with his motorcycle and stated he was not injured.

6-17-23:  The Sawyer County Sheriff's Office called to report a two vehicle accident on State Highway 13.  No injuries were reported.  The reporting party said he was headed south on State Highway 13 when a vehicle traveling north tried passing another vehicle and came into his lane.  He had to swerve to avoid getting hit head on, and the mirror
exploded off of his vehicle from the contact with the northbound vehicle.  He stated there was no other damage.

6-17-23:  A man reported a motorcycle accident with two passengers, and one of them had a broken leg.

6-19-23:  A Phillips man reported his eighty-year old neighbor attempted to run over his dog in his driveway, and he recorded the incident.

6-20-23:  Rusk County reported a two-vehicle accident in Kennan.  All occupants were out of the vehicles and no injuries were reported but one vehicle was on fire.

6-20-23:  A Phillips man called regarding finding an arrow in his hay field.  He believed the arrow was shot by his neighbor, as they do not get along.

6-22-23:  A Phillips woman reported a male with red shorts, work boots, and a black bag walking down the middle of County Road D talking and yelling to himself loud enough that she could hear him down the road.

6-24-23:  A Phillips man reported his neighbor was placing boulders, which were blocking the man's driveway, as they were having a property dispute.

6-25-23:  A woman called dispatch while her husband was being transported to the Price County Jail due to an arrest by the Park Falls Police Department.  She kept screaming at dispatch, and she was told four times she needed to stop or the call would be disconnected; she did not stop and the call was disconnected.  The woman called back, screaming, and stated she needed to talk to the "highest-up" person.  Demanding to talk with a Park Falls supervisor, she said, "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you!  I don't care who you get me to, just get me someone, I cannot live without this man!  I have health problems!  You guys are going to  f-ing kill me!"  The woman began coughing and yelled, "I cannot breathe!" due to her screaming.  She continued to yell at dispatch regarding the arrest and dispatch ended the call.  She called 25 more times in under an hour.

6-27-23:  A man was concerned about comments made by a first responder about not responding to emergency calls.  The comments were made at a meeting the night prior.

6-27-23:  An Ogema woman reported a man watching her daughter from the woods, though he did not say anything to the girl.

6-28-23:  A Phillips man reported an old friend from high school contacted him on Facebook about a $45,000 grant he could get if he filled out some information and purchased a $500 Apple gift card.  The man realized it was a scam when they asked for an additional $3,500 for insurance fees.

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PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT

6-2-23:  Received a report of a two-vehicle accident at a local business.

6-2-23:  Responded to a reported hit-and-run that had occurred in the City of Phillips.

6-3-23:  Responded to a two-vehicle collision that occurred in the City of Phillips.  Officers arrived, secured the scene and assisted the Central Price County Ambulance with loading a patient.

6-6-23:  Received a complaint from a Phillips School bus driver of a bear and four cubs that were hanging around the elementary school when children were present.  An officer responded to the area and was able to get the bear and her cubs across County Road W and into the woods.

6-7-23:  Received a report of a dog that attempted to get into a resident's apartment in the City of Phillips.  The owner of the apartment wanted a report for record of the incident.

6-11-23:  Responded to a report of a large black bear in the City of Phillips.  The bear was able to be ushered back into the woods and out of the City of Phillips.

6-12-23:  Received a complaint of two children that threw a rock and broke a window on two separate buildings.  An officer arrived and met with the complainants, obtained statements, took photographs and interviewed the children involved.  As a result of the investigation, two male juveniles will be referred to Price County Human Services for damage to property along with restitution.

6-14-23:  Requested to do a welfare check on a female adult who had left a nursing home with her family the night prior.  An officer checked on the adult female who was in good spirits and told the officer that she wanted to live at home as her family was taking care of her.  The officer cleared and relayed the information to the administrator of the nursing home.

6-14-23:  Requested by the Price County Sheriff's Office to deliver a death notification to an individual that lived at a city residence.  An officer arrived at the residence to discover the individual had moved out several years ago.

6-15-23:  Responded to a report of a vehicle crash that happened in the City of Phillips.  No injuries were reported.  Both vehicles were towed by a local towing company.

6-16-23:  Received a report of a sow black bear with two cubs in the area of Hwy 100.  Officer notified several residents in the area of the bear.  Officer did not locate the bear.

6-19-23:  Responded to a page for the Central Price County Ambulance Service for a juvenile experiencing extreme facial swelling.  The officer assisted in keeping the juvenile calm.  One juvenile was transported to the hospital.

6-19-23:  Received a report of a hit and run in the City of Phillips.  The vehicle was stopped.  The individual was injured and stated he was assaulted.  Drug paraphernalia was located in the vehicle.  The male was transported to the hospital due to his injuries.  Officers documented the scenes.  The officer spoke with the suspect involved in the battery.  An adult male was arrested for substantial battery, criminal damage to property,  and obstructing an officer.  An adult male was held on a felony hold.

6-22-23:  Received a complaint of a bear that was near a campground that would not leave.  An officer arrived and tried to get the bear to leave without success.  An officer contacted the Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services out of Rhinelander who advised they would trap the bear.

6-22-23:  Received a complaint where a male was in a business making the other customers feel uneasy as he was telling the customers to look into his eyes as he got close to them.  An officer made contact with the male who was walking down a county road.  The officer spoke to the male and advised the male he was no longer welcome in the business.

6-22-23:  Advised of a male individual who was yelling and screaming by Elk Lake.  An officer responded and spoke with the male individual who stated he was upset because his father hurt his feelings and did not have anywhere to go.  An officer made contact with another male individual who came and picked him up.

6-24-23:  Responded to a report of a vehicle parked awkwardly in the grocery store parking lot.  The caller was concerned about the driver's well-being along with the vehicle creating a significant traffic hazard.  The officer made contact with the owner of the vehicle and checked her welfare.  The owner of the vehicle apologized for how she positioned her vehicle and moved it.

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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT

6-1-23:  A man reported his neighbor was cutting part of his lawn.

6-2-23:  Investigated credit card fraud that occurred at multiple establishments in Price County.

6-2-23:  Investigated a burglary complaint.

6-2-23:  Received a complaint of a dog being in a vehicle for approximately 2 1/2 hours.  The owner was located and warned of city ordinance prohibiting animals being left in a hot vehicle.

6-4-23:  Officers responded to a residence for the report of numerous suspects involved in a physical altercation.  One male suspect and one female suspect were transported to the Price County Jail.  One other female suspect will have charges referred to the district attorney.

6-15-23:  A retail theft was reported.  A trespass warning and retail theft citation was issued.

6-17-23:  A male subject that was found lying on the ground and was possibly intoxicated. Officers located the person who was staggering alongside the road.  Officers talked him into letting them take him home so we was dropped off at his residence and his soon to be ex-wife was notified.  She had his mother respond to the address to check on him.

6-17-23: An officer was flagged down by a motorist who reported a man entered the back door of a realty office.  The reporting party stated the lights had remained off in the building but the person was still in the building.  One male and one female were located in the building.

6-20-23:  There is an ongoing issue of waste items in a yard.  Fourteen days were given to clean up the property.  Officers will follow-up on 7/4.

6-21-23:  While on an unrelated matter, officers were approached by an Anonymous Individual (AI) reporting noxious odor coming from a location.  AI stated that while working in his garden, the stench from the neighbors’ house is enough to make him vomit.  AI said he had to go back into his home because the smell was so strong.

6-21-23:  Officers were dispatched to a disturbance at a motel.  Dispatch informed officers that a man was being very loud and disruptive in his room.  The owner wanted him checked on and later decided he wanted him removed.  An officer had to force entry into the room as the man wasn't willing to open the door.  Once inside the room, officers attempted to get the man calmed down from his manic state.  Officers weren't very successful in their attempts.  Officers arranged for a friend to pick up the man from the motel.  The man didn't commit any new crimes and he didn't show other signs of being under the influence of drugs, besides his high strung attitude.  A friend picked him up and took responsibility for him for the night.

6-22-23:  A man called regarding a harassment and suspicious activity complaint.  The man showed the officer a small rubber duck that had the words, "F*** your lawn" written on the bottom of it.  The man found it wedged in his door handle of his vehicle while it was parked at a bar.  The man has front and rear cameras on his vehicle and he caught the person on video placing the duck there.  The man told the officer that there is a person who drives over the sidewalk and into his yard multiple times a year, which he reports to the police.  The man believes that the person who placed the duck is the same person that drives over his lawn.

6-23-23:  There was a two-vehicle accident at a gas station.

6-24-23:  Received a report from a homeowner of a subject trespassing in their backyard.  The homeowners chased the unknown person.  A second intoxicated person was found sleeping in the homeowner's backyard on a trampoline.  An officer woke the person up, and it was clear he was heavily intoxicated.  The officer explained he was sleeping on someone's trampoline in their backyard.  The person replied, "Really?"  The man confirmed his current address was in Phillips, and he stated he was currently in Park Falls.  When the officer asked him where he had been drinking, he replied, "All over the place" and stated that it had been a long day.  There was also a bicycle in the backyard that did not belong to the homeowners.

6-25-23: Received a report of an individual who broke into a storage shed and removed property.

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BEN VIRNIG BREAKS SCHOOL POLE VAULTING RECORD AT SECTIONALS


News: Phillips, Kennan, and Catawba    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-11-2023, 02:52 PM

   
Ben Virnig breaks the school record at sectionals in Marathon.

Ben Virnig, the son of Dan and Holly Virnig and brother to Lindsay, has been in track and field since 7th grade.  In 8th grade, he broke the school record at Phillips Middle School, along with the middle school state meet record, and middle school state record.  "I like track because if you work hard enough and have a good mindset, you can really excel at your event or events," Ben shared.

During the regular season in 2023, while he was a freshman, he tied the school's pole vaulting record, and he did so again at the regional track and field competition on Monday, May 22, 2023.  The 12' 6" record was set by Sawyer Desotelle and had not been touched by anyone else since 2005.

Ben said tying the record felt very good.  "I tied the school record at a home meet, so that was the best part of it.  It was a really good experience to tie the record around people I knew."

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Ben was not going to settle for tying the record, however.  He stated, "I believed that I could break it freshman year so that was my goal."  Advancing to sectionals on Thursday, May 25th, he broke the school's record by pole vaulting 12' 9".  This earned him 5th place at sectionals, one place short of a state qualification.

While going to state as a freshman would have been a great experience, Ben said that beating the school's record felt amazing.  "It was very exciting breaking our high school record at sectionals.  I worked for it all year, and that was my biggest goal for freshman year.  I missed state by 3 inches and by one place in our very tough sectional, but setting the school record and accomplishing the goal I've worked so hard for felt really good."

His mother, Holly, added, "We are super happy for him to overcome a variety of challenges this track season and still accomplish his goal of breaking the school record as a freshman.  Mission accomplished! 
Every day is a gift, and this experience already has him working hard to do better next track season."

Sawyer Desotelle also had something to say about Ben breaking his record.  "I had heard that Ben was a very talented vaulter - clearing 11 feet as an 8th grader.  I knew Ben was going to break my record and secretly hoped he would break it his freshman year - setting up a chance to challenge and surpass himself all four years.  Ben is a great athlete and a great kid.  I have a feeling this milestone is the beginning of many - the sky’s the limit.  Congratulations, Ben!"

Ben gives credit to his parents and some other individuals for his success.  "I never would've tried pole vaulting if my mom and friend, Gavin Esterholm, wouldn't have made me try the event one day at 7th grade track practice because my dad vaulted in high school.  All of my success in the sport is owed to John Zastrow, Noah Zastrow at WVC (Wisconsin Vault Club), and my dad from breaking the middle school state record of 10' 6" and the middle school state meet record of 9' 6", both with a jump of 11’, all the way to breaking our high school record of 12' 6" with a jump of 12' 9" my freshman year of high school."

Ben stated his goal for sophomore year is 14 feet, and by his senior year he wants to jump 16 feet or higher.

You can share this article on Facebook at this link.

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AMBER ALERT CANCELLED AS MISSING CHILD IS FOUND (Updated 7-8-2023)


News: Vilas County    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-07-2023, 09:33 PM

   

Update:  7-8-23 at 4:24 a.m.

The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Tribal Police Department (LDFPD) has cancelled the Amber Alert for the seven-year old child issued last night as she has been found and is safe.

The department stated, "In a miraculous turn of events, a child believed to have been abducted from the Lac du Flambeau Reservation has been found safe.  The seven-year old girl is with her family, and foul play is no longer suspected.

"At approximately 4:30 p.m.. on July 7th, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department received a report indicating that the child had been the subject of a stranger abduction.  LDFPD officers immediately requested that an Amber Alert be issued and commenced a search for the missing child.  They were aided in their efforts by agents and law enforcement officers from the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  More than 50 law enforcement officers and agents of the Tribal Surveillance Department and Lake of the Torches Surveillance Department worked tirelessly to find the little girl, until she was located shortly after midnight on July 8th.  Community members also helped by providing critical information and security camera footage."

Note:  The child's photo has been removed from this article now that she has been found.

---

7-7-2023 Original Article:

According to the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department, there is an Amber Alert for a seven-year old female named Brylee, who is American Indian or Alaskan Native.

She was last seen being helped into a white vehicle, possibly with tinted windows, by a female with dark hair and a tanned complexion, who was wearing a pink dress.  There was possibly a male driver.  They were headed north on Wazhashk Trail in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

Brylee is 4 feet 4 inches tall, 78 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.  She has an overbite and a gap in her top front teeth.  She was last seen wearing a pink shirt with "Pink" written on the front and fringed blue jeans shorts.  She was not wearing shoes.  She recently cut her own bangs, so they are uneven.

The Vilas County Sheriff's Office added additional details stating Brylee was playing outside in a residential area when a white vehicle stopped near her.  "According to the witness, an individual, believed to be a woman, exited the vehicle and summoned Brylee to her.  The individual then placed the child in the vehicle and drove away with her."  This is a suspected child abduction.

If you have any information pertaining to this alert, contact the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department at 715-588-7717 or the Amber Alert Tip Line at 844-267-6648.  For emergencies, call 911.


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PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1996 REUNION HELD


News: Phillips, Kennan, and Catawba    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-04-2023, 04:15 PM

PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1996 REUNION HELD

   
Classmates pictured include:  Dan Kleinhans, Jeff Sidenbender, Jessica (Cochran) Manda, Wes Van De Voort, Liz (Podhora) Gabrielsen, Kent Gabrielsen, Hollie Lackershire, Rob Manning, Tasha (Werner) Staples, Kim (Morey) Vincent, Jason Fisher, Erika Willett, and Lynne Bohn.

The Phillips High School Class of 1996 held their 25-year reunion two years after it was originally scheduled due to a cancellation on account of COVID-19.  The event was held at The Badger's Den Bar and Grill on Saturday, June 10, 2023.  Starting at 3:45 p.m., the group socialized, had refreshments/dinner, and danced to music by DJ-EJ.  The class song, "Letting Go," was also played and was the answer for one of the many trivia questions asked during the event.

Classmates received a class reunion booklet with classmates' stats, paragraphs about what they have accomplished over the years, memories from school, photos from previous class reunions, and a section in memory of deceased classmates, principals, and educators.

The classmates who traveled the farthest were Wes Van De Voort from Washington, Jessica (Cochran) Manda from Iowa, and Jason Fisher who is relocating out west.

The class reunion was organized by Lynne Bohn.

If you have a current class reunion photo you would like published, send it to contact@mypricecounty.com.

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PHILLIPS INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE HELD


News: Phillips, Kennan, and Catawba    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-04-2023, 04:00 PM

The Phillips Independence Day parade was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.  At the early portion of the parade, the northward sky turned ominous but became a gray sky with light rain holding off until the end of the parade.

   
The four Phillips Loggers, champions at the state track meet, were at the start of the parade.

   

   

   

   

   
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This article can be shared on Facebook at this link.


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VILAS COUNTY: VEHICLE CRASHING INTO TREES TAKES LIFE OF DRIVER


News: Vilas County    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 07-03-2023, 03:01 PM

On Sunday, July 2, 2023, at approximately 12:50 a.m., the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a vehicle that had crashed into trees on STH 155 near South Lost Lake Drive. 

Officers determined that the vehicle left the roadway, missing the corner, and struck trees.  It was determined by first responders that the 33 year old female, Brittany Johnston, from Sayner, was deceased.  There was no one else in the vehicle at that time.

The crash is still under investigation.

Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Germain Rescue and Fire Department, Plum Lake Fire Department, Oneida County Ambulance MED5, Arbor Vitae Fire Department, and the Oneida County Medical Examiners Office all responded to the accident.


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PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1988 REUNION HELD


News: Phillips, Kennan, and Catawba    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 06-27-2023, 12:27 PM

   
Back Row:  Mark Zaves, Colleen (Stadter) Geurts, Mat Lesneski, Rod Runnheim, Lance Heizler, Jerry Upson, Johnny Hertlein, Chuck Vasek, and Janelle Larson
Front Row:  Dan Slowey, Davette Hrabak, Joe Meronk, Mary (Prohaska) Kurth, Jeff Schneider, Sara Mabie, and Mick Theis

The Phillips High School Class of 1988 held their 35-year class reunion on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at The Badger's Den Bar and Grill.  The event started at 4 p.m. and continued until 1:30 a.m. and included socializing, trivia, prizes, dinner, DJ music by DJ-EJ, and a class reunion booklet.

The 56-page class reunion booklet, printed in color, consisted of photos and updates from classmates, memories from school, photos from previous class reunions, and obituaries of classmates, teachers, and principals.

Davette Hrabak organized the class reunion.

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Back Row:  Jerry Upson, Mark Zaves, Johnny Hertlein, Davette Hrabak, and Rod Runnheim
Middle Row:  Chuck Vasek, Dan Slowey, Mick Theis, Mat Lesneski, and Joe Meronk
Front Row:  Janelle Larson, Colleen (Stadter) Geurts, Lance Heizler, Mary (Prohaska) Kurth, Jeff Schneider, and Sara Mabie

This article can be shared on Facebook at this link.


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THE JOURNEY INTERRUPTED


Off the Road Again    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 06-27-2023, 01:49 AM

   
Written by:  Sandy Onchuck

This is a continuation of the story, The Journey Begins.

   

It was late morning on April 29, 1973.  The weather was perfect.  As Dennis was driving along enjoying the scenery and mulling over in his mind the adventure awaiting him, his world came to a crashing change.  He was just a few miles east of Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada when suddenly he thought his vehicle was exploding.  Initially, he had no clue what had happened.  Even after he managed to kick the passenger door open and walk around the car he had no clue.

   

Then suddenly, within a few seconds after exiting his vehicle, a car speeded up behind him, and the people excitedly jumped out yelling, "Are you okay?  Are you okay?”  They pointed back down the road.

   

About half a mile away was a blue smashed-up vehicle they said had rear-ended him.  They had witnessed the whole crash.  They told Dennis the driver of the other car had passed them at an extremely high rate of speed before slamming into Dennis.  It had happened so fast that Dennis never saw the guy coming up behind him.  The above-left picture was taken from where Dennis’ Pontiac finally stopped.

Within a short time, ambulances came screaming to the scene to haul all the victims to the ER in Grand Prairie.  Dennis only had minor injuries, but the other fellows were not so lucky.  Dennis never did learn the extent of their injuries, only that they were critical.

   

From the hospital ER in Grand Prairie, Dennis wrote these words in his journal, "It is 1:15 PM, April 29, 1973, and my trip and 1937 Pontiac has come to an end.  I was hit from behind so hard I thought my time had come."  He would later be told by RCMP that the guy was VERY drunk and driving around 100 MPH.

Most of us would have abandoned the dream right there and caught a bus for home.  NOT Dennis.  Some would say "coincidently," but I say "providentially," a former flight instructor, knowing Dennis would be traveling through Canada, had given him the name, address, and phone number of his relatives that lived in Beaver Lodge, Alberta.  HOW AMAZING is that?  A 3,200-mile journey and Dennis' accident was within 40 miles of Beaver Lodge.  He called these precious people, Jeannie and Dewey Reuckert, and they came and got him from the hospital.

They pulled his wrecked Pontiac back to their farm and graciously housed and took care of Dennis for a couple of weeks.  Dennis was never one to take advantage of anyone's hospitality, and having been raised on a farm was a big help to Dewey during this time.  Despite his bruises and neck brace, he picked rocks off the field, hauled grain to the elevator, and fixed fences.  The Reuckerts became lifelong friends with several visits back and forth through the years.

   

This story can be shared on Facebook at this link.

Stay tuned for the next story, "Dennis’ Pig Lot Purchase," coming soon to Off the Road Again on My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin.


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LINCOLN COUNTY: MISSING PERSON FOUND DECEASED ON ICE AGE TRAIL


News: Lincoln County    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 06-20-2023, 05:07 PM

   

Jason P. Meyer, 49, of Irma, Wisconsin, was reported missing, and he was found deceased on June 18, 2023 at approximately 9:45 a.m.

The search was conducted on Burma Road at the trailhead for the Ice Age Trail in the Township of Harding.

The man was found and appears to have passed on from self-inficted injuries.

The investigation surrounding his disappearance and death remain under investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Coroner's Office.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's office thanked the many agencies and volunteers that assisted in search efforts over several days.


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NO PAYMENTS RECEIVED YET FOR PRICE COUNTY CARBON CREDITS


News: Countywide    No Replies

My Northern Wisconsin, 06-20-2023, 03:51 PM

   

In December 2021, Price County entered a contract with Bluesource, now known as Anew, and this was covered by My Price County, which can be read at this link.  The agreement, shown below along with its terms of use, was entered into so that Price County would receive carbon credits.  Carbon credits are a way for companies to offset their carbon footprint.  Areas like Price County, with a  large amount of trees, are ideal locations for such programs, because companies can get credit for trees that are not cut down, and the area is expected to receive a payment.

Certain things cannot be done with the trees in the program, such as excess cutting.  However, according to County Administrator Nick Trimner, this stipulation has not affected Price County.  "County forest management has been in conformance with our forest management goals, balancing both timber revenue and carbon sequestration," he said.

As for the payment portion, Nick stated payments will start coming in during the fourth quarter of this year, at the earliest.  He continued, "There was no expectation that the county would have received any carbon payments at this point.  The project is currently in the verification stage of development and credits cannot be issued and sold until the verification is complete and the carbon registry approves the release of the credits."  He added, "Funds will be delivered within 30 days of credit issuance and sale.  If credits are sold after Month 24, payments will simply come within 30 days of the sale."

Some supervisors were concerned about moving the first payment from 18 to 24 months but Nick advised, "Eighteen months was always projected as an optimally efficient credit issuance timeline, but it was not unexpected that issuance might require more time.  Project development timelines are dependent upon a variety of factors, including the availability of third party verifiers and registry staff for review and approval of the project.  Due to a dearth of accredited third party verifiers in the marketplace, many projects are seeing longer timelines between project commencement and credits being issued simply because the projects are waiting in the queue of the verification body to review and approve them."  When asked if this delay would affect any current or future programs where the county was going to use carbon credit funding, he replied, "There currently is no disconnect between expected payment timing and the anticipated application of carbon funding."

Bayfield County, the Michigan DNR, and the counties of Oneida, Sawyer, Douglass, Burnett, and about eleven other counties were mentioned as being in the program in December 2021.  Some residents told My Price County that Bayfield County has not received any funding and their program was not going as expected.  We asked Nick if that information was true.  He said, "I am not certain about the state of development progress for other counties."

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My Price County then reached out to Jason Bodine, Forestry and Parks Administrator for Bayfield County, and he responded that "Developing a carbon project was always presented as a lengthy process, taking anywhere from 18 to 24 months to complete.  In our experience, this process has taken a little longer than expected, primarily due to very high demand for the development of carbon projects but limited capacities/resources by carbon contractors to meet that demand.  It is my understanding that Bayfield County was the first public agency to commence with a forest carbon project in Wisconsin.  As such, it is not a surprise to hear that other county agencies, who enrolled much later than us, have yet to receive payment, as many are still in the early to middle stages of project development.  Our project is now in the final review phase by ACR.  Our experience with ANEW, (previously called Bluesource), has been very positive.  I don’t have any concerns to date, and I’m not anticipating any issues with regard to future payments.  I anticipate those first payments to arrive later this year."

My Price County further heard that a county in Michigan has not received funding, though we could not find reference to this on the Internet and, therefore, did not know which county to contact to see if it was true.  Nick stated, "I am not aware of any such project in Michigan.  I contacted our carbon developer, Anew, about this point, and they also had no knowledge of such a project, though they are engaged in a carbon project with the Michigan DNR that has run smoothly and has generated substantial carbon revenue."

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Henry Schieneback of The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) responded that "GLTPA is not against carbon credits per say, but we are opposed to the misconception that a carbon credit makes the environment cleaner....Many times, GLTPA has asked carbon credit advocates what is the formula for how many parts per million the air became cleaner or how many tons of greenhouse gas emissions were removed from the air because of the sale of a carbon credit?  The answer is always the same; there is no formula because the sale of a carbon credit does nothing to clean the air.  That stated, GLTPA has nothing against the sale of a carbon credit as a forest product if the sale does not impede future forest management.  Basically, a carbon credit is nothing more than a scheme manufacturers buy into to be able to say their manufacturing process is carbon neutral whereby purchasers of their product feel good about helping the environment become cleaner.  To simplify,  companies buy carbon credits, consumers pay for them, and the environment does not get any cleaner.  Carbon credits are merely an exchange of wealth.  Nothing more, nothing less."

In the December 2021 informational meeting, Nick recommended setting aside $1 million in case Price County wanted to pull out of the program and buy back the credits.  However, he stated, "The county has no interest in pulling out of the carbon program and such an action is not under consideration."  He further stated, "The county managers remain enthusiastic about the carbon project."


.pdf   Carbon Development and Marketing Agreement, Redacted Version, Re-submitted 11-15-2023, 388.pdf (Size: 2.3 MB / Downloads: 533)


.pdf   Carbon Credits Terms of Use.pdf (Size: 1.01 MB / Downloads: 814)

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