Owners of Deer Creek Angus, LLC, Karen Kerner and Greg Denzine, have been farming their beef cattle operation in Phillips, Wisconsin since 1994. Like most businesses, it started out smaller and has grown over the years, now featuring 200 cattle.
Both Karen and Greg grew up on family farms, so farming is a family tradition. The interest holds with their children, Alexis and Wyatt, taking a strong interest in farming. "We hope Alexis and Wyatt will someday take over the farm and continue to grow it," Karen shared.
In January 2023, Deer Creek Angus was awarded "Operation of the Month" by Purina Cattle. About receiving the recognition, Karen said, "We were shocked, couldn't believe it, and honored that they picked us!"
According to Purina Cattle, Karen and Greg met with Ray Melander, a now-retired Purina beef specialist, back in 2010. "Ray encouraged them to try finishing out some of their quality feeder calves and invited them to a VIP experience at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center." Karen and Greg implemented new management techniques and began using Purina® wind and rain minerals and lick tubs with their home-grown grain rations. According to Karen, it has paid off. "I stand by the motto, ‘Animals speak for themselves.’ They definitely do here.”
Deer Creek Angus, LLC sells their beef to the School District of Phillips and also sells their beef directly to the consumer via the farmer's market in Minocqua and their website. All their beef is processed at a state-inspected and licensed facility. Customers can purchase Angus beef in individual packages or in quarters, halves, and whole. The farm also offers non-beef food options, as they are now selling a small amount of pork, plus they sell eggs at a farmer's market. As a volunteer activity, Karen helps 4-H members sell meat chickens.
You can meet Karen and Greg at the Minocqua Farmer's Market, which is held every Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the summertime. Deer Creek Angus, LLC's website includes product information, photos of their products, and pricing at https://www.deercreekangusfarm.com/meatpricing.html. To purchase their products at their farm in Phillips, call 715-550-6156.
My Price County featured a Spotlight story on Karen in 2021. If you missed it, you can read it by clicking here.
Photo Submitted by: Oneida County Sheriff's Office
1/4/23 Original Article:
The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is asking for assistance with locating Cody Kamrath.
Kamrath is approximately 150 pounds and 5 feet 7 inches tall. He has shoulder-length, curly, light brown hair that some may describe has a reddish color to it. He has blue eyes. He is 26 years old. According to recent videos posted by Kamrath on his social media page, to further help the public identify him, it appears his front teeth are missing in a jagged fashion.
If you see Kamrath, police ask that you do not approach him or attempt to make contact with him in any way. Instead, call the Oneida County Dispatch Center immediately. Their phone number is 715-361-5201. If you feel you are in danger, immediately dial 911.
The Oneida County Sheriff's Office added, "Please only call if you are witnessing this individual at the present time. We are not looking for additional information on where he has been in the past at this time."
While the Oneida County Sheriff's Office is the office requesting the public to immediately report if Kamrath is seen, he could be anywhere in the northwoods so everyone should be on the lookout. He is listed in the Wisconsin circuit court's database with closed offenses and pending alleged crimes in Lincoln County. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office added, "This individual has been witnessed in multiple locations including Rhinelander and Minocqua." Some people on social media are stating he also frequents the Tomahawk area. His social media videos often show him walking the streets or in the woods.
1/5/23 Update:
UPDATE: According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, "Kamrath was located and taken into custody without incident. Rhinelander Police Department was able to take him into custody when he was reported as being on the library steps. Thank you to the community for information, calls, and support!"
Garbage pick-up has changed in the City of Phillips. Garbage stickers will no longer be used. Instead, residents will use carts to dispose of their garbage and recycling.
The new garbage carts are appearing around the City of Phillips. The carts with the yellow lids are for recycling. According to a representative from Waste Management, all recyclables should be put in that cart. Recyclables should not be put in a bag but set freely in the cart as putting the recyclables in a plastic bag will deem them not able to be recycled. The other cart, the 96-gallon one without the yellow lid, is for bagged garbage. The same pick-up schedule will be in effect.
If a resident has other legal means of disposing their garbage and does not want to pay for a garbage cart, the yellow-lid recycling bin will still be available for recyclables. The city pays for that service and gets reimbursed by a grant, because each city must have a means of recycling for their residents. To opt out of the garbage pick-up portion of the service, call the City of Phillips at 715-339-3125.
Some residents have unused garbage stickers that they used with the old system. To get a full refund for those stickers, the stickers can be taken to the customer service desk at Pick 'n Save in Phillips. Refunds will be given until January 28, 2023. After that time, no further refunds will be given, so now is the time to return any unused garbage stickers.
A Waste Management representative was supposed to attend the January 3, 2023 city meeting; however, that meeting got cancelled due to inclement weather. The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the city hall.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store sells all flooring types (carpet, vinyl, wood, & ceramic), bedding / mattresses, appliances, solar systems, and consignment sales of furniture, automobiles, farming & logging equipment, ATVs, UTVs, trailers, and campers. Call 715-339-4838 for product inquiries, and follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.
The land records office has a simple way for residents to be alerted if their property becomes the victim of property or mortgage fraud. This type of fraud has become the fastest growing while collar crime, according to the FBI as stated on the Property Fraud Alert website.
If someone records a fraudulent document on your property, you can now be alerted if you register for free at Property Fraud Alert.
The sign-up process is simple. Go to https://www.propertyfraudalert.com. Select your county from the drop-down list. On the next page, click continue. On the next page, read the disclaimer. At the bottom, check the box that you agree to the terms. On the final page, select the type of property (personal or business), and then enter your personal or business name along with either your e-mail address or phone number. You will have to type this information twice to confirm you did not make any errors. Click "Save." Your registration is complete.
(Article continues after promotional message) SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: 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.
Current counties in Wisconsin that are participating in the service include: Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Jackson, Jefferson, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rock, Rusk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood.
On December 22, 2022 at about 8:19 a.m., Ashland Police and Ashland Fire Paramedics were called to a body in the roadway on Junction Road between Turner Road and Sanborn Avenue.
A deceased male was located who was identified as 25-year old Bailey Zuniga from Ashland.
A preliminary autopsy report showed no injuries, and it’s believed that the death was due to exposure from the elements and not being properly dressed for the weather. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.
An investigation is still ongoing. No foul play is suspected.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating an armed robbery that occurred at the Cenex gas station in Gilman, Wisconsin.
This is an active, ongoing investigation, and the suspect is still at large. There is no evidence that would indicate the general public is in danger at this time.
Further details will be released as soon as possible.
Update: December 27, 2022:
On December 24, 2022, at 5:47 p.m., the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery at a gas station located at 485 East Main Street in the Village of Gilman, Taylor County.
It was reported that a man entered the gas station in dark clothing wearing gloves and a mask to cover his face. The suspect was armed with a handgun that he pointed at the clerk while demanding money. The clerk indicated that the suspect exited the store with the money and was last seen leaving the scene on foot.
Taylor County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and were unable to locate the suspect. However, they were able to follow the suspects foot tracks in the snow which led to an area where it appeared the suspect entered a parked vehicle and drove away.
Taylor County detectives continued the investigation into the robbery, and a suspect developed. On December 26, 2022, a search warrant was conducted on the suspect's home, which is also located in the village of Gilman. As a result, 36-year-old named Tommy Lee Wilkes was arrested and taken into custody for the robbery.
On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, the Minocqua Police Department was informed there was a suspicious vehicle in the area. When officers went to the scene, the vehicle was gone.
Since a license plate number was reported to the police, they found the vehicle was registered to Cody J. Huebner, 32, of Shawano. He had a Probation Warrant for his arrest.
Minocqua Police Department officers were able to locate the vehicle in a business parking lot. They attempted to make contact with Huebner, who was entering the vehicle. When approached, Huebner, continued to get into the vehicle and led law enforcement on a high speed pursuit southbound on Highway 51. In the Hazelhurst area, Huebner crashed his vehicle. He then ran on foot into the woods. Huebner pointed a handgun toward of one of the pursuing officers, telling the officer that he was not going back to jail.
In the on-foot pursuit, Huebner attempted to enter a home but was unable to gain entry. He then found an unlocked vehicle in a driveway. It had keys inside, and Huebner stole the vehicle.
While driving away, Huebner struck one of the deputies, who received injuries that are not life threatening.
Huebner led law enforcement on an eight mile chase, which reached speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour on ice covered roads. Huebner then exited the car and ran into the woods near Little Bearskin Lake.
After approximately two hours, Huebner and was arrested in the area of South Shore Road and Pollnow Road, which is in the Town of Cassian.
Huebner was taken to the Oneida County Jail where he is at this time. He is being held for a Probation Warrant. Charges related to this incident will be added in the next few days.
Personnel from the Minocqua Police Department, the Woodruff Police Department, the Rhinelander Police Department, the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Oneida County Emergency Services, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the situation that led to Huebner's arrest.
In late September, Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida. Its destruction left one Phillips resident, Sandy Krueger, without her summer home that she purchased in July 2022. It was located in Port Charlotte, northwest of Fort Myers. It was eight miles from the house of her eldest son, DJ, who is a graduate of Prentice High School. DJ's house survived the hurricane.
Sandy was raised in Wisconsin, but moved to Florida as a young woman to work for a cruise line. Thirteen years later, her home at the time, located in Davie, Florida, survived Hurricane Katrina but was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. She moved back to Wisconsin a number of years ago and wanted to stay long enough that her youngest son, Andrew, could complete high school in Phillips. He will graduate in 2025. Upon his graduation, her plan was to make her summer home in Florida her permanent residence. With the loss of her Florida home, however, Sandy was undecided if she would rebuild or not.
Seeing the devastation in Florida when she visited her property, Sandy decided to reach out to the schools to see if they could help collect dry goods and personal hygiene items that she could deliver on her next trip to Florida. Schools in Phillips, Prentice, and Medford, along with a line dancing class in Stetsonville, filled up her truck with donations of all kinds. She delivered the items to Floridians who could not get to food distribution centers due to having their cars underwater with no way to travel.
Two months later, more destruction hit, this time in the form of a fire that destroyed their permanent residence on Raskie Road in Phillips. Fortunately, no one was home the night of the fire. Sandy explained they were not home that night, because "we had a problem with the water heater and I’d been meaning to call the electrician all week for problems with lights in the kitchen." Her son did not want to stay at the home with the lighting and hot water heater issues, so they went to a nearby motel. That night they got a call that their house was on fire.
Sandy added, "My life’s theme song is from a show called 'Hee Haw.' The song goes, 'If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.'"
The luck they did have, though, is that no one was injured in the blaze. However, the home is a total loss. Sandy shared, "The worst part is my husband passed away last year, and all my memories of him were in the house."
Not only did they lose their personal belongings, but Sandy lost the inventory for her Lego business. She has been selling new and used Legos by piece or as whole sets plus selling the empty boxes and instruction manuals since 2018. She said she loves her job but wasn't aware of her insurance needs. "I didn’t know I needed separate insurance for my Legos, so none of that is covered."
When My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin reached out to Sandy, she wasn't sure if she should ask to raise funds. "It’s hard being the one who needs help. I’m always the one who is there to help others," she admitted. However, her son stated it might be nice to get help replacing the Christmas presents they lost. Sandy said monetary donations would also help them with temporary lodging and re-starting her Lego business. To donate, you can contact Sandy at 715-657-0867, send checks to Sandra Krueger, W6908 Raskie Road, Phillips, WI 54555, or donate on GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/63fhv3-house-fire.
According to the Price County Sheriff's Office, the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a multiple vehicle crash on December 10, 2022 at 3:21 p.m. It was reported the crash had injuries. Emergency services, including the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sawyer County Ambulance Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the fire departments of Bass Lake, Stone Lake, Town of Hayward and City of Hayward, responded to State Highway 27 near the Henks Road intersection in the Town of Bass Lake.
According to the Sawyer County Sheriff's Office, "Initial investigation and eye witness statements indicated that a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero operated by Sarah M. Cleeton, 64, of Exeland traveled northbound on State Highway 27. Cleeton lost control of the vehicle, crossed the centerline, and collided head-on with a southbound 2015 Chevrolet Malibu operated by Terrell J. Boettcher, 72, of Hayward. A 2008 Ford F-150 operated by Jared T. Lane, 37, of Hayward, which was also northbound, collided with the rear of the Chevrolet Malibu and entered the ditch of State Highway 27.
"A passenger in the Cleeton vehicle, John E. Peterson, 77, of Ojibwa sustained life threatening injuries and was transported to the Hayward Area Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased."
Sustaining serious injuries, Cleeton and Boettcher were transported to the Hayward Memorial Hospital. They were later transferred to a Duluth area hospital, but the extent of their injuries are unknown to police at this time. The driver of the Ford F-150 did not sustain any injuries in the accident.
The accident remains under investigation but weather conditions appeared to be a factor.
A favorite event from the past is returning to the Price County Fair, which will be held from August 23 to August 27, 2023.
"We've been listening, we've been hard at work over the years, and the wheels behind the scenes have been turning and burning the last few months," board members of the Price County Fair announced.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, fair goers will have a big night of entertainment in the grandstands with the return of the demolition derby known as the Smash 'n Crash Dirt Dash and Demolition Derby.
Along with the demolition derby, where FWD and unibody vehicles will compete, dirt dashes will also take place. There will be five events. Participants can build one car, pay one entry fee, and run one or all five events, as follows:
The demolition derby and dirt dash events are not the only entertainment coming to the fair in August 2023. The fair has also secured The Dweebs, who will be performing on Thursday, August 24, 2023. The band sings hits from the 1960s through the 2020s. Sunday, August 27, 2023 will bring a polka performance by Richie Yurkovich & Polkariety plus Roger Lee will feature 1970s and 1980s country music. The full schedule will not stop there.
The fair board is lining up more exciting events and entertainment, but they can always use some extra assistance to have enough funds to make a great fair. If you'd like to help with their fundraising efforts, you can either donate an item or money to them or purchase one of one hundred squares for $20 per square. The current item to be won is a CenterPoint Amped 425 crossbow, and anyone who purchases a square has a one in 100 chance of winning the crossbow. Contact the Price County Fair on thePrice County Fair's Facebook page. to purchase a square.
