Governor Tony Evers today announced $20 million from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will support facility upgrades and modernization at the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls, which is a critical access hospital of Marshfield Clinic Health System, to expand access to quality healthcare for rural communities that have been historically underserved.
“This healthcare facility bridges an important gap in healthcare access in the Park Falls community, and they would not be able to continue to provide care without some critically needed upgrades and modernization,” said Governor Evers. “This investment will allow them to keep providing high-quality care in the community, and I am glad to support this project today and to continue supporting the health and well-being of folks in the Park Falls area.”
The Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls Critical Access Hospital was built in 1966, and this $20 million investment will support substantial and transformational upgrades to modernize the facility and enhance the quality of care for patients. This facility also bridges an important gap in healthcare coverage in rural Wisconsin as the next closest medical facility is more than an hour away, and these funds will allow the facility to stay open to continue to serve the community and bridge this gap, while keeping jobs in the area and helping to attract and retain new medical professionals.
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Part of a more than $285 million investment allocated by the governor for community capital projects statewide, the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program was first announced in August 2021, alongside the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program awarded last week. Park Falls also received more than $5.6 million through the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program for the construction of a new YMCA facility in the community. (The YMCA facility is slated to be built where the tennis courts are now, and the tennis courts will be rebuilt northwest of their current location. The project will begin this summer or fall, and the facility will be completed in 2023 or 2024. All services have not yet been determined, but childcare will be a focus.)
The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with grants ranging in size from $158,000 to a maximum of $20 million. Applications opened on Oct. 26, 2021, and closed on November 30, 2021.
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A sample of police reports for Lincoln County have been summarized for March and April 2022.
A 54 year old Abbotsford man was arrested for 4th offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated Monday afternoon after deputies responded to a driving complaint on USH 51 near Tomahawk. The man was also cited for operating after revocation and possessing open intoxicants as a driver.
A 37 year old Rhinelander man was cited for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated early Wednesday morning after deputies investigated a hit and run in the City of Tomahawk.
A 42 year old Merrill man was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, felony bail jumping, a warrant for failure to appear, and a probation hold Wednesday night after deputies responded to a vehicle in the ditch on USH 51 near County Rd J in the Town of Birch.
A Town of Pine River man was the victim of a scam Thursday morning. He was contacted by a party claiming to be from the IRS and was directed to purchase a pre-paid gift card in the amount of $500. The victim provided the numbers of the card and the money was removed from the card balance.
A Town of Tomahawk woman was the victim of a scam on Wednesday afternoon. The victim’s e-mail was hacked and put on the “dark web.” A short time later she observed an unauthorized transaction of $20 from KOD JO ENGLISH out of Stanford, CT taken from her bank account.
Deputies and the Tomahawk FD responded to a semi-truck that was reported to be on fire on USH 51 south of Tomahawk Friday afternoon. The driver was able to extinguish the flames before any significant damage occurred and no injuries were reported.
A 42 year old Tomahawk man was arrested Friday afternoon on two Lincoln County warrants for failure to appear.
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A 17 year old female was stopped and cited for travelling 82mph on County Rd K near County Rd C in the Town of Merrill Friday evening.
A 24 year old man was stopped and cited for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on County Rd JJ near Lincoln Drive in the Town of Merrill early Saturday morning.
A 30 year old Tomahawk man was arrested on charges of domestic battery and domestic disorderly conduct following an incident in the Town of Bradley Saturday morning.
A 42 year old Tomahawk man was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine as a repeater, 2 counts of felony bail jumping, and possession of drug paraphernalia Saturday evening in the Town of Merrill.
A 30 year old Merrill man was arrested for disorderly conduct and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping early Monday morning.
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An inmate of the Lincoln County Jail is facing charges of battery by prisoner and five counts of felony bail jumping following an altercation Monday evening.
A 23 year old Merrill man was arrested on charges of criminal damage to property, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery, disorderly conduct and misdemeanor bail jumping following a disturbance in the Town of Merrill Monday evening.
An inmate of the Lincoln County Jail is facing charges of prisoner throw/expel bodily substance and two counts of felony bail jumping following an altercation early Tuesday morning.
A 17 year old Marshfield male was stopped and cited for travelling 98mph on USH 51 near County Rd J in the Town of Birch Thursday evening.
A 62 year old Ojibwa, WI man will be referred to the District Attorney on charges of misdemeanor bail jumping and operating after revocation OWI related following a traffic stop on State Rd 64 near Midway Rd in the Town of Corning Saturday afternoon.
A 33 year old Tomahawk man was arrested for a first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated Sunday morning on Squaw Lake Rd near County Rd A in the Town of Harrison.
Deputies and the Town of Crescent Fire Department responded to the area of Old 63 and State Rd 17 in the Town of Harrison for several round hay bales that were on fire Sunday afternoon. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fires is unknown.
Lincoln County deputies were kept busy during Monday’s (3/14) snowstorm and Tuesday’s (3/15) fog and icy road conditions. Deputies responded to 19 vehicles in the ditch and four property damage crashes.
USH 8 was closed down for about six hours Tuesday morning following a fatal motor vehicle crash. A 22 year old Eagle River woman was fatally injured as a result of the crash. The Wisconsin State Patrol handled the crash investigation.
A 43 year old Irma man was arrested Wednesday morning for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and going armed while intoxicated. The man was also cited for speeding in excess of the posted speed limit following a traffic stop on USH 51 south of Tomahawk.
A 27 year old Tripoli man was arrested Wednesday evening on charges of domestic disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping and two counts of felony bail jumping following a disturbance in the Town of Somo.
A 41 year old Merrill woman was stopped and cited for traveling 102mph on USH 51 near County Rd V near Irma Thursday morning.
A 23 year old Merrill woman was arrested for domestic battery in the Town of Pine River following a disturbance at a residence.
A 34 year old Tripoli man was arrested on charges of Resisting/obstructing, second degree reckless driving, and cited for operating a motor vehicle after revocation and speeding following traffic stop Saturday evening.
A 33 year old Merrill woman was arrested for first offense driving while intoxicated Saturday evening on County Rd K north of Merrill.
Wednesday, March 23rd, created a weather event that kept deputies busy. There were 15 vehicles in the ditch and nine property damage crashes reported. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
A 32 year old Tomahawk woman was arrested on a Lincoln County warrant Wednesday afternoon.
A seventeen year old male was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated 1st offense in the Town of Merrill Wednesday evening.
A 31 year old Lac Du Flambeau man was stopped and cited Thursday evening for travelling 88mph on USH 51 north of USH 8 which is a 55 mph speed zone.
A 64 year old Merrill woman was arrested for 3rd offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated after a deputy located a vehicle in the ditch on County Rd K in the Town of Merrill.
A 38 year old Merrill man was arrested on a felony Lincoln County warrant in the Town of Merrill early Friday morning after deputies investigated a suspicious vehicle.
A 20 year old Rhinelander woman was stopped and cited for travelling 93mph on USH 51 near State Rd 64 Friday evening.
A 34 year old Wausau man was arrested on charges of fleeing, resisting/obstructing an officer, 3 counts of felony bail jumping, a probation violation and cited for operating while suspended and not having insurance following a traffic stop Friday evening.
A 42 year old Merrill man was arrested first offense driving while intoxicated and a probation violation following a traffic stop Friday night.
Four people reported striking deer last week.
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An inmate of the Lincoln County Jail is facing charges of battery by prisoner following an altercation in the jail Monday evening.
A 34 year old Jackson, WI man and a 29 year old Tripoli woman were arrested on various charges following a traffic stop early Tuesday morning. The man was arrested for a probation and parole warrant and the woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A 21 year old Merrill man was arrested for first offense driving while intoxicated following a traffic stop on County Road A near County Road U in the Town of Bradley early Tuesday morning.
A 60 year old Tomahawk man was arrested on two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of threats to law enforcement following a disturbance in the Town of King on Wednesday evening.
The Town Chairman of Merrill reported the theft of a road sign indicating a bump in the road from the area of North Star Drive and Swamp Road. The sign is valued at $240. If you have any information regarding this theft, you are asked to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers using their P3 app.
A 60 year old Tomahawk man was arrested on charges of domestic battery, domestic disorderly conduct, 2 counts of felony bail jumping and 2 counts of misdemeanor bail jumping following a disturbance Thursday night.
A 28 year old Milwaukee man was stopped and cited for travelling 89 MPH on USH 51 north of USH 8.
A 47 year old Tomahawk woman was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated first offense on Friday night.
A 30 year old Wausau man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated early Sunday morning.
A 54 year old Wausau man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated early Sunday morning. He was also cited for speeding.
Four people reported striking deer last week.
April 11, 2022 Updates:
A 29 year old Tripoli woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacture/deliver amphetamine, felony bail jumping and misdemeanor bail jumping following a traffic stop on County Rd J near USH 51 Monday evening.
A 41 year old Rhinelander man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle and cited for operating after revocation following a crash Monday evening on County Rd B near Parish Rd in the Town of Harrison.
A contractor reported a theft of lumber, screws and bolts from a construction site on Selmer Rd in the Town of Bradley Tuesday morning. The theft was believed to have occurred sometime between 6:00pm Monday evening and 7:45am Tuesday morning. If you have any information regarding this theft, you are asked to call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office 715-536-6272 or Crime Stoppers using their P3 App. Callers may remain anonymous.
A 19 year old Merrill man was stopped and cited Thursday evening for travelling 84mph on USH 51 near County Rd Q in the construction zone which is posted 55 MPH.
A 40 year old Tripoli woman was cited for travelling 90mph on USH 51 north of Merrill Thursday afternoon.
A 55 year old Merrill man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated following a crash on Swede Rd near State Rd 107 in the Town of Merrill Thursday evening.
A 38 year old Gleason man was arrested early Friday morning for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and cited for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to maintain control following a crash on USH 51 near County Rd Q. A 31 year old Gleason woman was also cited for assisting a person fleeing an accident.
A 19 year old Bryant, WI man was stopped and cited for travelling 80mph on State Rd 17 near Norwegian Rd Saturday afternoon.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Town of Birch Officials are looking for information regarding a large amount of tires being dumped on Horseshoe Lake Dr. A deputy arrived on the scene and locate 23 tires disposed of on county land. If you have any information, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office 715-536-6272 or Crime Stoppers using their P3 App. Callers may remain anonymous.
A 41 year old Merrill woman was arrested Sunday evening on charges of domestic battery and domestic disorderly conduct following a disturbance at a residence.
An 18 year old Antigo woman was stopped and cited for travelling 80mph in a 55mph construction zone Sunday morning.
April 18, 2022 Update:
Lincoln County Deputies and the Merrill Fire Dept. responded to a car fire on USH 51 near Merrill in the Tuesday morning. The vehicle was in the southbound lane of travel and was reported to be fully engulfed. The cause of the fire is unknown and no injuries were reported.
A 32 year old Tomahawk man was cited for passing a stopped school bus with stop arm extended on Tannery Rd Thursday afternoon.
A 67 year old Town of Pine River resident was scammed on Thursday afternoon. The victim was contacted by 2 people purporting to be able to double her money if she sent American Express cards to them.
A 17 year old Merrill youth was stopped and cited for operating his ATV at 63mph on Hillside Dr near Lake Pesabic Road.
A 48 year old Merrill man was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest following a disturbance in the Town of Scott Friday evening.
A 52 year old Merrill man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Hillside Dr. near County Rd JJ Saturday evening.
A 21 year old Berlin, WI man was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, resisting / obstructing, and a probation violation following a traffic stop on County Rd W early Sunday morning. The driver was also cited for operating left of center and inattentive driving.
Six people reported striking deer last week.
April 25, 2022 Update:
A 30 year old Merrill man was injured following a motor vehicle crash Monday morning on USH 51 near Tomahawk in the Town of Bradley.
A 25 year old Merrill man will face charges of theft after using a credit card from the company he is employed by for personal purchases in excess of $2,000.
A 39 year old Eagle River man was arrested for first offense driving while intoxicated on State Rd 86 near Pfeifer Rd in the Town of Bradley Tuesday night.
A 33 year old Merrill woman was arrested on charges of physical abuse of a child and strangulation/suffocation Wednesday evening.
A 60 year old Hillsboro, TN man was stopped and cited for travelling 76 mph in a 55mph construction zone on USH 51 near State Rd 64 Thursday morning.
A 22 year old Wausau man was stopped an cited for failure to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of County Rd H at County Rd J after he was observed by a deputy going through the intersection at a high rate of speed.
A 28 year old Appleton, WI man was arrested Friday evening for criminal operating a motor vehicle after revocation, bail jumping, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a warrant for failure to appear out of Winnebago County. Following a traffic stop on USH 51 near County Rd Q. He was also cited for speed (84/55) and open intoxicant in a motor vehicle.
A Town of Rock Falls resident avoided injury following a tractor fire on his property. The battery of the small tractor caught fire and the owner was unable to extinguish it. No other property or land were damaged. The cause of the fire is unknown.
A 19 year old Schofield man was stopped and cited for travelling 94mph on USH 51 near County Rd V in the Town of Birch Saturday evening.
A 26 year old Merrill man was stopped and cited for travelling 80mph on County Rd W near County Rd P in the Town of Pine River Sunday night.
A 19 year old Merrill man was stopped and cited for travelling 85mph on State Rd 17 near County Rd G in the Town of Merrill Sunday night.
A 16 year old Tomahawk youth was injured following a motor vehicle crash on County Rd Y near Graf Rd in the Town of Bradley. Following an investigation of the crash the youth was cited for first offense driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated and open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.
Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Note: A sample of reports from 2/1 through 2/14 are missing as My Price County did not receive them from the county. If we get those reports, we will add them.
2/14/22 - A man called to report damage to the passenger rear bumper and tail light area of his vehicle. He believed the damaged occurred in Phillips on February 13, 2022.
2/15/22 - A business owner received some concerning text messages from a customer after he did some work for the customer. The man said the messages kept getting stranger and stranger.
2/15/22 - A man requested extra patrol due to a green Jeep Cherokee SUV that was driving recklessly on the road, spinning its tires, and weaving from one side of the road to the other. The man stated he had seen the vehicle in the past, usually between 3:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.
2/16/22 - A man asked to speak to an investigator about threats he received.
2/16/22 - A man was causing a disturbance at a business in Prentice, and he ended up passing out in the corner of the store.
2/17/22 - A woman called to report that her daughter accidentally hit a fast food restaurant in Phillips with her vehicle. There were no injuries.
2/18/22 - A woman called to report a snowmobile accident on Trail 101 in the Township of Eisenstein. The person was semi-conscious, breathing, lying in the snow, and starting to talk. Once the person became fully conscious, he was adamant he wanted to meet emergency services at a nearby resort. Emergency services did respond, a helicopter was requested, but the weather conditions did not permit the helicopter to fly, and the man refused to be transported to a hospital.
2/18/22 - A woman reported that a man had started a fire in her upstairs. She was advised to exit the building. Ogema Fire Department and other emergency services responded. It was determined there was no fire and something was burning on the stove.
2/18/22 - A woman reported that the mother of a child was selling the child's medication instead of giving it to her while she was at her mother's house. The mother lives in another county.
2/19/22 - A welfare check was requested on a woman who did not show up for work. The previous evening, a co-worker's wife had received a message from the woman stating "I need help; it's an emergency," but no one heard anything from her after that. The boyfriend of the woman texted the same co-worker's wife asking if she knew where the woman was.
2/19/22 - A man arrived in the sheriff's office lobby to visit an inmate. The man had an active warrant and was taken into custody.
2/20/22 - A woman called wanting dispatch to contact her case worker to get her more pills as she believed they had been stolen by a man she took in off the street because he was cold who she later said she has actually known for years. Dispatch told her a deputy would need to be contacted, and the woman stated she did not want a deputy contacted. Ten minutes later the woman called back stating she found her pills.
2/20/22 - A man reported a two tone older 1990s pick-up had swerved into his lane, almost hitting him, and then the truck followed him home, and then turned around and headed north on Hwy. 13.
2/20/22 - An anonymous caller reported that underage people were drinking at a bar in Park Falls.
2/21/22 - A man reported a two vehicle accident with injury in the Township of Prentice.
2/22/22 - A woman reported she hit a UPS truck parked on County Road E, and there was more than $1,000 of damage to the vehicle but there were no injuries. County Road E was not plowed and had one open lane down the middle of the road.
2/24/22 - A man reported property damage at a rental he owns in the Town of Fifield. A neighbor stated he had not seen the tenant in a month. A maintenance worker did a welfare check and found the residence to be empty but there were damages stemming from water in the bathroom.
2/24/22 - A woman reported her husband saw a man pick up and take her dog, a 13-year old Golden Retriever with hearing and vision difficulties, which had been walking down the road. Her husband did not know the make, model, or color of the vehicle.
2/25/22 - A woman received a phone scam that stated her grandson had been hurt, was in a lot of pain, and needed money. The woman hung up and reported the scam to police.
2/25/22 - A woman came to the Price County Sheriff's Office to file a report of recent meetings' violations involving the Price County fairgrounds sale. She reported violations by the Price County Board and Price County Administrator.
2/26/22 - A woman reported a suspicious vehicle near her cabin. The white utility van had green writing on the side of it. The woman believed the person in the vehicle was drunk as he was slurring his words.
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PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
1/31/22 - The Phillips Police Department, along with the Price County Sheriff's Department, executed a drug search warrant on Lake Avenue in the City of Phillips. As a result, a 39 year old male was arrested for possession of a schedule II drug, ecstasy, possession of a schedule II narcotic, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, felon in possession of a firearm, and habitual criminality. The adult male was held at the Price County Jail until he can see the judge for the bail/bond hearing.
2/1/22 - Police assisted with a man who was experiencing blood loss and was transported to the hospital.
2/1/22 - Police received a report of a man walking west on Flambeau Avenue carrying a shotgun and an open carry pistol on his side. The man reported he was walking to his friend's residence and they were going to the firearms range. The officer explained to the male what steps he should take when carrying firearms to his friend's residence when he is close to a school.
2/1/22 - Police received a complaint from a woman who reported an unknown male walked into her house and said he needed to hide. The woman screamed several times for the male to get out, and the male ran off. The male offender was stopped by a Price County deputy. The officer interviewed the man and arrested him for criminal trespass to dwelling and felony bail jumping. The male was held at the Price County Jail.
2/7/22 - Police assisted the Central Price County Ambulance Service with a male individual who was involved in a snowmobile accident. The officer on scene observed the male suspect was showing signs of impairment, ran the male individual through Standardized Field Sobriety, and determined the male suspect was under the influence.
2/7/22 - Police went to an apartment complex to conduct follow-up on an investigation. The officer was met at the apartment door by two large dogs and the female owner. One of the dogs was acting aggressive. The officer checked with the Price County Dispatch Center and learned neither dog was registered with the county. The officer warned the adult male owner and issued a five day verbal notice to register the dogs or receive a citation.
2/7/22 - Police assisted the Price County Sheriff's Department with a male individual who was involved in a high-speed pursuit with the Price County Sheriff's Department. An officer stood by while the male was ran through Standardized Field Sobriety. The male was transported to the medical center for OWI blood draw and medical clearance.
2/12/22 - Police responded to a report of an adult male yelling and standing in traffic on North Lake Avenue. An officer attempted to make contact with male who fled onto Elk Lake. Price County Sheriff's deputies responded with a tracked ATV and apprehended the adult male who was arrested for misdemeanor bail jumping and disorderly conduct and was held at the Price County Jail on a probation hold.
2/14/22 - At North Lake Avenue and Trinity Drive, police responded to a two vehicle accident where one vehicle had rolled over. No parties were injured. An officer investigated the accident and will be issuing a citation for inattentive driving.
2/15/22 - A registered sex offender was reportedly staying the City of Phillips. An officer met with the adult male and advised him of the City of Phillips ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from living within certain areas in relation to schools and parks. The officer advised the male that if he did not vacate his accommodations within 24 hours, he would receive a citation.
2/21/22 - A caller stated a person was on the ice on Elk Lake in front of the highway department. The caller was concerned for the individual as they would sit down on the ice and then get up and wave their arms. The caller felt the person may be having a possible medical issue.
2/23/22 - A caller reported a male entering a residence without the consent of the homeowner.
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PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
2/5/22 - A woman contacted police about a letter and bill for $40 that she received from a local car wash stating she was dumping too much trash in their garbage bins, but the woman said she was only dumping her car trash in the garbage cans when she cleaned her car there.
2/7/22 - A man reported his vehicle missing, but the night prior he had informed police he loaned it to a woman. The woman and another man ran some errands and then were returning the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle when police arrived. While there, the vehicle owner threw a bag of clothing outside, told the woman she stole money from him, and told her to leave his property. Some yelling occurred.
2/7/22 - A traffic stop of a vehicle with no license plates led to a driver being cited for operating while revoked, and the driver will also be referred for bail jumping.
2/11/22 - A City of Park Falls snow plow truck struck a light pole at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 5th Street North. There was no injury but the pole was damaged and knocked to the ground.
2/13/22 - Officers responded to a citizen complaint of abuse. The suspect was arrested for domestic violence, battery, and damage to property.
2/16/22 - Members of the Park Falls school board received text messages that pretended to be another member of the school board. The texts stated the man had changed his number, needed them to buy Goggle Play, and he would reimburse them later. Police figure the scammer got the phone numbers from the school's website.
2/17/22 - There was property damage due to a vehicle crash in the alleyway between 2nd Avenue North and the pool.
2/20/22 - UW-Madison police called about a possible homicide that could have occurred on week prior. The UW-Madison police had just arrested a man who appeared to be under the influence of marijuana and other possible substances, and the man said he father killed his mother in Park Falls a week prior. Upon investigation, the arrested man was referring to a homicide that occurred in 1999, and the man who killed the woman is still in prison for the homicide. The arrested man later stated he has been "time-traveling since 1999."
2/22/22 - A two vehicle crash occurred on County Hwy. E west of Park Falls.
2/23/22 - A man kicked in the apartment door at his residence, causing damage. The man was located by Price County deputies and arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and felony and misdemeanor bail jumping.
2/26/22 - A hit and run accident, which caused damages in excess of $1,000, occurred at a local store.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Fred Mueller Ford, Phillips, sells a full line of automobiles and offers quality mechanic services performed by factory-trained technicians. Visit Fred Mueller Ford's website., follow their Facebook page, call 715-339-3045, or view their inventory at 175 North Avenopn Avenue in Phillips.
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In partnership with YMCA of the Northwoods, the City of Park Falls was awarded a $5,675,000 grant to build a YMCA in Park Falls.
According to the City of Park Falls, the grant is "part of a nearly $650 million investment allocated by the governor for community building and recovery efforts statewide, the Neighborhood Investment Fund program, which is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)."
The idea came in the spring of 2021 from Allie Plessner, a local resident, who saw the need for additional day care after seeing the loss of two day cares in Park Falls. Allie's search for needed child services in the area led her to Ryan Zietlow, the CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, located in Rhinelander. Ryan toured the community, met with the local school district, and determined Park Falls would be a good area for their services.
Michael Bablick, the mayor of Park Falls, and Allie also met with Ryan to determine where the facility would reside. According to the city, "The goal was to find a location within our City that would suit the building and office needs of an operating YMCA community building." Finding a location was proving difficult. Significant donor money was offered to the project, but due partly to high construction costs, there were not enough funds to renovate or construct what was necessary for the YMCA.
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As luck would have it, the DOA announced the Neighborhood Investment Fund program. The deadline for application was December 11, 2021, so the Park Falls Common Council acted quickly. After three months, the funding was approved, and YMCA of the Northwoods will be coming to Park Falls. Services are slated to begin no later than Fall 2023.
Ryan Zietlow, CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, stated, “It was evident early on that the City of Park Falls could benefit from the transformative programs and services our YMCA would be able to provide. YMCA’s are only successful with strong community support, which we have seen. We developed an early and strong partnership with the Chequamegon School District, looking at ways to impact our youth and the challenges they face. With additional needs in child care, health, and wellness opportunities, family support, as well as impacting our senior population, there is tremendous opportunity to make a difference on the lives of the Park Falls area. We see good things happening in Park Falls and want to be a part of them. As we develop final concepts of what this YMCA will become, we will look forward to engaging with the community to ensure the facility is one that will serve all for generations to come. We anticipate wellness space and classes, youth activities and enrichment, family programming, child care, after school care, and more. We will look to serve from birth on, in a way that is much needed in our important rural communities. We thank Allie Plessner for being a catalyst for the community and for the mayor, city, and community of being supportive of this endeavor. The YMCA of the Northwoods is thankful for this opportunity to serve the Park Falls community and we look forward to being a part of what the bright future will become.”
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: With many face cords of maple and red oak on hand and ready, there is plenty of firewood for your needs at Daryl's Firewood. Visit Daryl's Firewood's website or call Daryl at 715-339-6885 or 312-968-9261 for pick-up or delivery in Price County. Follow Daryl's Firewood's Facebook page.
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The Town of Worcester held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The meeting, attracting over fifty residents, was so large it was moved from the town hall to the adjacent building.
The focus of the meeting was the possible resignation of the entire town board due to their claims of harassment from certain residents. The board emphasized their possible resignations had nothing to do with the current pending lawsuit.
There has been turmoil for some time. The town has had three different clerks since November 2020. The board stated, "New clerks have been trying to learn the position even amongst constant pressure for open records requests and criticism on how to do their job." One clerk reportedly resigned in tears due to fear of her safety from residents. The current town clerk has tried to learn the position but has not been able to get the training needed from the previous town clerks who don't want to help out due to the current climate of the situation. He also feels it is not worth it to continue in the position.
Many town residents spoke supporting the clerk and town board. Many were not pleased with Anthony Sleck, a resident who has a civil suit against the Town of Worcester. His suit alleges the town is violating the Open Records Law. He states that the board members are civil servants who represent the town and its residents, and he feels they are not doing their jobs appropriately. He feels they are not effectively listening to the residents they represent and are not transparent enough about how they run the township.
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Karen Smart, a resident in the Town of Worcester, was one of many to disagree. She stated it was sad that certain residents feel they have a right to intimidate, threaten, and cause undue stress to the board. She added that she appreciates the job the town board is doing.
Since it was possible the entire board might resign at the meeting, Robert Kopisch, the chair of the Price County Board; Nick Trimner, the county administrator; and Jean Gottwald, the county clerk, also attended the meeting. They were there to determine if the town may need emergency services from the county. However, those services won't be needed just yet. In the end, Jeremy Pesko and Paul Precour said they would stay in their positions until the next election. Scott Revak, the town clerk, chose to resign. Jim Heizler, town board chair, was uncertain of his decision, but two supervisors have stated their intent to resign at the March 15th regular meeting at 7 p.m.
Only three board members are needed to get a vacancy filled. Should too many people resign, the Price County clerk would call a special election for the vacancies.
Paul Precour addressed the people in attendance. “We need someone from the public that would be willing to fill at least the one spot to begin with, so all of you that are here today, we really appreciate your support, this means a lot, but we do need one of you, or possibly two of you, to be willing to step forward.” The board asked residents to spread the word to help fill the positions. Anyone interested can contact the Worcester Town Hall.
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Butternut is located in both Price and Ashland Counties. Just over the Price County border, a family lost their home in Butternut and needs donations. Learn how you can help.
NOTE: If you have a benefit, fund-raiser, or donation need for you or a loved one, please contact us. We will write an article and/or post it on our community calendar to assist with spreading the word in hope of getting the help you or your loved ones need.
Dan and Barb Koch raised their family on Bear Lake Road in Butternut. Dan is a pulp truck driver. Barb works part-time at a gas station and is a full-time student. The couple has six children, including Terri, Danielle, Josh, Kevin, Kimberly, and Tyler. Three of their children reside at home.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, while Terri and a friend were home, a fire broke out. There is not yet a confirmation for the start of the fire at this time, but the home and its contents are a complete loss. The family also lost their two family cats. No person was harmed in the fire.
Donations are appreciated. Clothing sizes needed include boys' large shirts, ladies' size medium shirts, ladies' size 7-8 jeans, ladies' size 8 shoes, men's size large shirts, and men's size 12 shoes. This list will be updated if more sizes get reported by the family.
If you would rather not donate on-line, you can drop off a monetary donation at these local businesses: Village Pitstop, Signature Sign, Schienebeck Shanty, Butternut Feed Store, Jen’s Butternut Cafe, Double D’s, Northern State Bank, and Smart Plumbing & Heating or at the village hall.
Food and clothing donations can be dropped off with Cindy Yeske Pritzl at 301 West Michigan Street in Butternut.
If you are from out of the area, you can private message Cindy Koch on Facebook to make other arrangements. Cindy, the brother of Dan, added, "God bless all your prayers, support, and love!"
A fund-raising event is being planned for Saturday, March 26th. Once it is planned, details will be included in this article and on our community calendar, which you can view by clicking on Events in the navigation bar.
Danny and Barb Koch are pictured with four of their six children. Photos Submitted By: Cindy Koch
NOTE: If you have a benefit, fund-raiser, or donation need for you or a loved one, please contact us. We will write an article and/or post it on our community calendar to assist with spreading the word in hope of getting the help you or your loved ones need.
A crypto mining operation has likely come to the former Park Falls paper mill leaving many residents wondering what exactly a crypto mining operation is and how it will impact the area.
Crypto currency is a digital form of money. There are not any tangible bills or coins. To earn this digital form of currency, also known as mining it, massive, high-performance computers are required. The computers verify crypto currency transactions that occur on the Internet. The first computer to verify the transaction as legitimate, through a series of complex math equations, earns the reward of digital currency. Basically, the company who owns the computers, which do the mathematical equations, earns their money through the resources of computers rather than people. A crypto mining operation in Park Falls will not create a large number of jobs and will quite possibly not create any jobs.
According to their website, BBZ Technology Co., Ltd. is one of these crypto mining companies. The company was founded in October 2012 and is a financial service company committed to diversified investment. In 2017, BBZ started to explore the block chain mining industry, such as block chain games and mobile phone mining. In May 2021, BBZ Technology Co., Ltd. and SOS Limited entered into a strategic partnership to begin construction of a block chain mining site. The Wisconsin mining site, located in Park Falls, Wisconsin, opened in February 2022 and the Texas mining site is expected to open in March 2022. BBZ Technology Co., Ltd. is listed as being based out of China. Actual ownership of the mill is listed as Northwoods Group Realty, LLC as of January 2022.
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The company states that the Park Falls site is a good location because "the mild summer and cold winter season enable Wisconsin [to be] a better crypto mining site for the heat loss of miner machines. The factory in Park Falls crypto mining site can also accommodate about twenty 40-foot crypto mining containers, and each 40-foot container has 336 slots, which perfectly avoids the precipitation and moisture problems that may be encountered when the containers are placed in [an] open area." There is a giant transformer in the paper mill and a new batch of transformers arrived the beginning of February. The company states the total capacity of the site is 20 megawatts (MW).
Some American conservation groups state crypto mining companies are looking for places that have relatively inexpensive power in a rather cool climate. These groups feel the energy used can pollute the area. For example, rivers may increase in temperature, which would promote the growth of algae and possibly kill fish. Carbon dioxide emissions may increase, as well, which has been documented by some conservation groups in other cities in America when a former plant is turned into a crypto mining operation. However, crypto mining companies dispute these viewpoints. Many of them state they are carbon neutral because they buy carbon credits that offset the plant's emissions. Government agencies at other sites have reported there is not a significant change to the environment.
Michael Bablick, the mayor of Park Falls commented, "To my understanding, no more electricity will be used than what the mill used when it was a paper mill, which was about 20-25 MW. I have no evidence that there will be an impact on the river, either. Obviously this is a fluid situation, and I will be monitoring it closely." Mayor Bablick also commented that there are not any specific permits required for crypto mining operations and there do not appear to be any obvious ordinance or zoning violations. He added, "We will be monitoring it closely to ensure all local laws are followed."
Further, the City of Park Falls issued a press release and stated, "The city does not believe this use is the best use of the property in terms of jobs for our area; however, that is a matter solely for the owner of the mill to decide. The mayor has facilitated site visits with local businesses in order to foster expansion of local businesses and hopefully they will prove fruitful. We do know there has been a lot of interest in the property for various expansion plans and will continue to work with those parties to facilitate and encourage reuse which is beneficial to the whole area."
Aside from the crypto mining aspect, but in related news, the current owners of the mill received all necessary permits from the city and DNR to demolish a large boiler on site, known as Number 6 Boiler. The large structure with a smokestack is located south of Hwy. 182. The demolition company plans to have the structure down in the Spring 2022. The owners of the mill will continue to liquidate the rest of the mill, which is still expected to take two to three years.
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On Friday, February 18, 2022, many residents saw a high police presence in the area. Specifically, there were reports of a number of police cars in downtown Park Falls. The Price County Sheriff's Office executed three search warrants that day due to a long-term investigation into the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Those warrants were issued in the Towns of Lake and Fifield and in the City of Park Falls.
Five people have been arrested and booked into the Price County Jail as a result of the investigation. The offenses include conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing material for manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of waste from manufacturing methamphetamine, keeping a drug trafficking house, delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine drug paraphernalia, purchase of more then 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine in 30 days, purchase pseudoephedrine products on behalf of another, possession of THC, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
There are three other people who will have criminal charges referred to the Price County District Attorney's Offices due to this investigation.
Additional arrests and criminal referrals are expected as the investigation is ongoing.
The Price County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Price County K9 Unit, Price County District Attorney's Office, Phillips Police Department, Park Falls Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigators, Wisconsin Department of Justice CLEAR Team, Oneida County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Park Falls Fire and Rescue, Park Falls EMS, and Central Price County Ambulance.
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