ANNOUNCEMENTS NEWS - COUNTYWIDE BANK BRANCH CLOSURES January 26, 2018 COUNTERFEIT $20 BILLS IN THE AREA February 21, 2018 UNOFFICIAL SPRING 2018 ELECTION RESULTS April 4, 2018 U.S. ATTORNEY RECOGNIZES PRICE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT April 13, 2018 SNAPSHOTS FROM THE 2018 PRICE COUNTY FAIR August 25, 2018 506 POUND BEAR ILLEGALLY KILLED October 6, 2018 CHRISTINA'S GIFT November 1, 2018 FALL 2018 ELECTION RESULTS November 7, 2018 NEWS - PHILLIPS, KENNAN, CATAWBA FATAL SNOWMOBILE CRASH January 14, 2018 STUDENTS OF THE 2ND QUARTER ANNOUNCED February 13, 2018 12.6 MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL REFERENDUM QUESTION SET FOR APRIL 3RD BALLOT January 19, 2018 PUBLIC BUS SERVICES EXPAND January 27, 2018 THREE LOGGER POWERLIFTERS HEAD TO NATIONAL COMPETITION March 21, 2018 COUNTY ROAD H PARTIALLY CLOSED FOR BRIDGE REHAB April 13, 2018 PHILLIPS HIGH CLASS OF 1988 REUNION HELD September 6, 2018 BW PAPERSYSTEMS SIGNS FIRST WAGE$ REGISTERED APPRENTICE September 6, 2018 PHILLIPS HIGH CLASS OF 1998 REUNION HELD September 7, 2018 HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES October 12, 2018 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FACILITY PLAN AND REFERENDUM November 27, 2018 HAY, HAY, HAY! December 21, 2018

NEWS - PARK FALLS AND FIFIELD PAPER MACHINE #3 CLOSURE BRINGS LAYOFFS AT FLAMBEAU RIVER PAPERS January 5, 2018 CHEQUAMEGON STUDENT PHYSICALLY REMOVED FROM BUS February 6, 2018 CLAUDIA LASIOWSKI ADVANCES TO STATE SPELLING COMPETITION March 21, 2018 "SLENDERMAN" INVESTIGATION COMPLETE May 31, 2018 FATAL ATV CRASH September 9, 2018 PARENT AND SUPERINTENDENT EXPLAIN "PADDED ROOM" AT CHEQUAMEGON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL September 14, 2018 NEWS - PRENTICE AND OGEMA PRENTICE SCHOOL DISTRICT EVACUATION September 27, 2018 OPINIONS - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PRICE COUNTY CARES - DONATIONS NEEDED SPOTLIGHT - PEOPLE OF PRICE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT ON PHILLIPS RESIDENTS, DAN & KATHI HLASNY, PUTT RUN VOLUNTEERS May 23, 2018 SPOTLIGHT ON CATAWBA RESIDENT, RON BURGER, WILDLIFE ENTHUSIAST May 9, 2018 SPOTLIGHT ON KENNAN RESIDENT, TESSA OTTO, HARLEY-DAVIDSON INTERN June 27, 2018 SPOTLIGHT ON PHILLIPS RESIDENT, THE LATE JAY REINKE July 19, 2018 SPOTLIGHT ON FIFIELD RESIDENT, CHERYL MALLAK August 22, 2018

506 POUND BEAR ILLEGALLY KILLED October 6, 2018 On September 10, 2018, a 506 pound bear was shot about 35 minutes after hunting hours. Given it was dark by the time the hunter shot the bear, the blood trail was difficult to find. Conservation Warden Joe Paul got the aid of a local hound hunter whose dog was able to help find the dead bear. The bear was harvested and will be donated to families in need in Price County. The bear will be mounted and donated to a local youth camp that is dedicated to nature programs. "We wanted to make sure the animal would not go to waste," Conservation Warden Paul said. Paul continued, "Those who choose to shoot after hours may not be able to clearly identify their target or what lies beyond, which is one of the four rules of firearm safety....There are fines and penalties that accompany this. But there is an extremely important safety component that is the foundation of this law, not to mention fair chase." The 24-year old Wisconsin resident who shot the bear is facing action in the Price County court system. The DNR states, "Anyone with information regarding natural resource violations may confidentially report by calling or texting: VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP- WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained staff relay report information to conservation wardens." 10-11-2018 UPDATE Josie M. Schaffer, of Madison, was found guilty of Statute NR10.06(2)(b), Hunt Bear or Deer Before/After Hours on October 9, 2018. A fine of $518.50 was imposed plus revocation of all Chapter 29 privileges for one year. Photo by: Wisconsin DNR CHRISTINA'S GIFT November 1, 2018 Phillips Resident, Christina Writz, Donated Her Kidney To 9 Year Old, Shelbie Beres Photo of Christina and Shelbie by Patricia Schoenborn taken on October 19th, after Christina's post-operative appointment, which was the first time Christina & Shelbie had seen each other in three years. Photo of Shelbie by Angie & Jason Beres Imagine reading the medical updates of the child of your first cousin via social media. Imagine seeing a baby born with multiple heart defects who needed a heart transplant at the age of three. Imagine seeing her soar over that hurdle only to later learn that while her heart was getting sick so were her kidneys. Imagine seeing that nine year old little girl, this past February, needing a kidney transplant because her only good kidney was failing. Imagine watching as your first cousin and her husband frantically search for a donor to save the life of their child while also having to provide care for their two other children, Cheyenne, 12, and Jennessa, 2. That is the situation Christina Writz watched unfold as her first cousin, Angie Beres, and her husband, Jason, searched for a kidney donor for their daughter, Shelbie. In times like these, some people reach out with words of encouragement, prayer, and monetary donations. Far less get tested to see if they could be a donor. Christina made the decision to get tested, learn she was a match, and donate one of her kidneys to Shelbie. Christina shared how she came to her decision to be Shelbie's donor. "We are not as close a family as we could be, but I keep updated on what is going on with their family through Facebook. I saw that Shelbie needed a donor, and I felt a nudge in my heart to check it out. The Bible says, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none," Luke 3:11, so I figured that same sharing mentality applies to kidneys!" Shelbie's mom, Angie, added, "Shelbie waited about seven months for a transplant. Christy took it upon herself to call about being a potential donor. She let us know she was being evaluated to possibly be a donor for Shelbie, and she's the first one who told us they were a match. Christy will forever hold a special place in our hearts. She has given Shelbie the freedom to be a child once again." According to the Beres', Shelbie is recovering well. She still has some pain from her incision but is tolerating it. As for Christina, her recovery is going well, too. She said she has lots of people praying for her, which has helped. "I am almost back to my old self except that I feel a little tired." For those interested in becoming donors, there are a couple ways to do so. Angie mentioned that a person can sign up to be an organ donor at http://www.organdonor.gov. Anyone can also put a donor sticker on their driver's license stating that, should that person pass on, he or she is willing to be an organ and tissue donor. Being that Christina experienced what it is like to be a living donor, she better explained that process, and also said that anyone who is interested in becoming a living donor can contact Tanya Andersen, the living donor coordinator at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, as she will guide the possible donor through the entire process. According to Christina, her process started in June with a phone interview with Froedtert. The staff talked with Christina regarding her health and informed her of the entire process so she could decide if she was still interested in completing the process. Since Christina was still interested, they tested her to make sure she and Shelbie had the same blood type. Once that was confirmed, Christina's medical records were reviewed by Shelbie's medical provider. "I had a 12-hour long doctor appointment at Froedtert where they tested my kidneys to make sure I could survive with only one. They tested everything else you can imagine, as well. If I recall correctly, I think they took about 30 vials of my blood for testing!," Christina remarked. While there is only a 1 in 3 chance that Christina and Shelbie would be a cross match, which would show that Shelbie's body would most likely accept Christina's kidney, it was found they were beating the odds as they were a match. Surgery was then set for a date that worked in the schedules of the booked up hospital, Shelbie, and Christina, who needed to be at her sister's wedding in late September, because she was serving as co-maid of honor. After one pre-operative appointment, and a cancellation occurring at the hospital, surgery day was October 9th. Christina added, "I stayed in the hospital two nights, came home, and now it is supposed to be 4 to 6 weeks recovery. I am in Week 3 and doing pretty great, though." Christina gives credit for her successful recovery to a team of her friends and family. "I could not have done this without the support of those in the community. For instance, my daycare provider, Carrie Shipley, watched my children extra nights when I had to drive to and from Milwaukee for doctor appointments. My church, Victory Christian Center, brought me meals when I was recovering. My co-workers at Slaby, Deda, Marshall, Reinhard & Writz LLP threw me a potluck and sent me get well cards. My in-laws, Paul and Nina Writz, stayed at my house and watched my kids for me when I was having the surgery. My husband, Phil, took four days off work to stay with me during the surgery, drive me home, and care for me. My parents, Tim & Patti Schoenborn, took off work to take me to and from my post-operative appointment. Everyone has been so supportive, and I could not have done this without their help. We are all rallying around Shelbie and her healthy recovery!" FALL 2018 ELECTION RESULTS November 7, 2018 These results are preliminary given the majority of, but not all, precincts were reporting at the time of publication. The current top vote-getters are listed below in the results we have received for races that were on the ballot in Price County. If any changes occur, we will update this list. Price County has 11,479 eligible voters and 8,222 registered voters. 6,742 Price County residents voted in this election. All Republicans in contested races got the most votes among Price County voters. However, statewide, the results favored the Democrats in races that were on the ballot in Price County. Governor / Lieutenant Governor Scott Walker / Rebecca Kleefisch 1,293,261 Statewide; 3,996 Price County *Tony Evers / Mandela Barnes 1,324,322 Statewide; 2,585 Price County Attorney General Brad Schimel 1,287,086 Statewide; 3,847 Price County *Josh Kaul 1,309,986 Statewide; 2,623 Price County Secretary of State Jay Schroeder 1,232,896 Statewide; 3,659 Price County *Doug La Follette 1,379,856 Statewide; 2,917 Price County State Treasurer Travis Hartwig 1,215,046 Statewide; 3,629 Price County *Sarah Godlewski 1,323,250 Statewide; 2,736 Price County United States Senator Leah Vukmir 1,182,578 Statewide; 3,515 Price County *Tammy Baldwin 1,471,517 Statewide; 3,136 Price County Representative in Congress, District 7 *Sean P. Duffy 123,548 District-wide; 4,157 Price County Margaret Engebretson 193,126 District-wide; 2,437 Price County State Senator James Bolen 37,913 District-wide; 3,727 Price County *Janet Bewley 39,607 District-wide; 2,879 Price County Representative to the Assembly, District 74 Jeffrey Fahl 12,275 District-wide; 3,812 Price County *Beth Meyers 15,735 District-wide; 2,752 Price County Sheriff *Brian S. Schmidt 5,612 Price County Coroner *James D. Dalbesio, III 5,176 Price County Clerk of Circuit Court *Penny Huck 5,062 Price County SHERIFF HOPES TO SPREAD EXTRA HOLIDAY CHEER IN PRICE COUNTY November 20, 2018 Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt is asking community members to help spread extra holiday cheer in our communities with a unique type of Giving Tree. Partnered with local businesses and community members, the Giving Tree will allow a few 3rd through 5th graders from the elementary schools in Phillips, Park Falls, and Prentice to "shop" for gifts for their family members at no cost. The student shoppers will be selected by their schools based on need and conduct. Students will then be allowed to "shop" with local law enforcement personnel. The students will experience good shopping, fun, and enjoy some holiday treats. If you are interested in helping, you can provide donations of money, gift cards to local businesses, or unwrapped gifts for people of all ages. If you donate money, department personnel will shop for age- appropriate gifts based on the needs of the families selected and have the gifts under the Giving Tree where students can "shop" to find gifts for their family members. The sheriff's office also welcomes donations of winter gloves and hats so that Price County kids in need have warm clothing for the winter. All donations should be submitted to the Price County Sheriff's Office by the end of the business day on Monday, December 3rd. For more information, contact Lynn Wallace or Lieutenant Gabe Lind at the Price County Sheriff's Office.

NEWS - COUNTYWIDE BANK BRANCH CLOSURES January 26, 2018 While Wells Fargo itself is still in business, the Wells Fargo branches in Phillips and Park Falls will be closing on May 2nd and May 16th, respectively. The area recently lost Nicolet Bank and Northwoods Community Credit Union in Phillips. As a citizen of this county, does this cause you concern? What are things we, as a community, can do to attract more people and businesses to the area? Express your thoughts by clicking "reply" after creating a free, anonymous username COUNTERFEIT $20 BILLS IN THE AREA February 21, 2018 For the last two weeks, the Park Falls Police Department has investigated several cases where a customer has been passing counterfeit $20 bills. The department has a suspect at this time and he has been charged. However, the police department continues to handle complaints from businesses that are still receiving these counterfeit $20 bills. At this time, all of the bills have had the same serial number and all of them failed the test when business personnel used a counterfeit detector pen. Park Falls Police are unsure how many of these bills are still at large, so at this time, it is recommended that all businesses check every twenty dollar bill they receive with a counterfeit detector pen and check the serial number to make sure it doesn't match the serial number on the counterfeit bill, which is MA88198205B (as can be seen in the photo). If you suspect you have received a counterfeit bill, the police ask that you keep the bill separate from other bills and contact your local law enforcement agency. UPDATED ON 2-26-2018 AT 6:15 P.M. On Tuesday, February 13, 2018 around 10:00 a.m., Krist Food Mart contacted the Park Falls Police Department and reported that a male subject had attempted to pass two counterfeit twenty-dollar bills. After reviewing surveillance videos provided from Krist, the Park Falls Police Department was able to identify the male subject as Keith Kerfoot. Kerfoot will be charged with three additional charges of bail jumping as he is currently out on bond from another county. This incident was referred to the Price County District Attorney with the charges of 943.38(2) Uttering (Class H - Felony), and 946.49(1)(b) Bail Jumping - Felony (x3). Source: Park Falls' Police Press Release UNOFFICIAL SPRING 2018 ELECTION RESULTS April 4, 2018 State While Michael Screnock came out the winner in Price County (1988 to 1779), the overall vote for the state of Wisconsin gives the State Supreme Court position to Rebecca Dallet. Voters in Price County and across the state were in favor of keeping the state treasurer position. Price County Price County Circuit Court Judge: Kevin G. Klein (2599), Mark T. Fuhr (1358) Price County Supervisor District 1: Larry Palecek (139) District 2: James Adolph (223) District 3: Sheryl Slaby (221) District 4: Dean Kurth (306) District 5: James Hintz (231) District 6: Ron Heikkinen (351) District 7: Dennis Wartgow (195) District 8: Marguerite Sue Bocock (316) District 9 (write-in): Jordan Spacek (4), Al Haskins (3), Jay Janssen (2) District 10: Bob Kopisch (188) District 11 (write-in): John Vlach (7), Margo Matsick (3), Ken Matsick (3) District 12: Bruce Jilka (312) District 13: Bill Teeters (218), Kay Pluemer (134) Phillips Area Mayor: Charles Peterson (316) Alderman At Large (3): John Klimowski (257), Jerry Clark (165), John Vlach (6), Dorothy Hanish (2), Margo Matsick (2), Ken Matsick (2) Alderman, District 3: George Hendricks (1, won tiebreaker), Dorothy Hanish (1) Village of Catawba Trustee: Gayle Burcaw (32) Village of Kennan Trustee: Linda Mabie (38) Phillips School Referendum: No (962) vs. Yes (668) Park Falls Area Alderperson: District 1: Dennis Wartgow (74) District 2 (write-in): James Corbett (28), Joe Taft (1), Jean Baroka (1), Alan Voss (1), Wayne Mader (1) District 3: Anthony C. Thier (94) District 4: Dina Bukachek (90), Joseph Oskvarek (28) Chequamegon School District Seat 1: Michelle J. Schmidt (640), Edward J. Kane (268) Seat 2: David Schmidt (719) Seat 3: Karen Thorp (648) Seat 4: Gregory E. Wirsing (768) Phillips School District Seat 1: Jon Pesko (1,232) Seat 2: Tracie Burkart (1,202) Seat 3: Hailey Halmstad (1,190) Butternut School District at Large (2): Steve Brown (8), Gwen E. Downing (6), Geroge H. Faltinosky (5) Prentice Area Village of Prentice Trustee (3): Jessica Gillett (132), Brad Swenson (128), Doug Hagen (98), Jim Balczewski (96), Kevin Gullickson (51) Prentice School District Seat 1: Dianne D. Gierman (456), Beth Moore (350) Seat 2: Emily Blomberg (478), Diana M. Nikkila (339) Seat 3: Mary P. Kurth (734) Prentice School Referendum: Yes (495) vs. No (414) U.S. ATTORNEY RECOGNIZES PRICE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT April 13, 2018 Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, recognized Price County Investigator Chris Jarosinski and the Price County Sheriff's Office for their efforts in a successful international cybercrime investigation and prosecution. The ceremony today took place at the Price County Courthouse in Phillips, Wisconsin. In addition to U.S. Attorney Blader, Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt, and Investigator Jarosinski, the ceremony was attended by Phillips Police Chief Mike Hauschild, Park Falls Police Chief Scott Straetz, Price County District Attorney Mark Fuhr, Price County Administrator Nick Trimner, retired Price County Circuit Judge Douglas T. Fox, and Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Nathan Cravatta. U.S. Attorney Blader presented Investigator Jarosinski and the Price County Sheriff's Office with a plaque which acknowledges their outstanding dedication and commitment in the investigation and prosecution of an international romance fraud scheme. Four individuals, including three Nigerian nationals living in the United States and a Florida man, were prosecuted in federal court in Wisconsin. The scheme operated from October 2013 to August 2015 and defrauded victims in the United States and Canada out of more than $12.9 million. Co-schemers targeted victims by creating fake profiles on Internet dating services. Once they gained the victims' trust, co- schemers got victims to pay so-called "inheritance taxes" on non-existent inheritances and to send money in exchange for checks that turned out to be fraudulent. At the time of sentencing, the court found that the intended loss in the romance fraud scheme was $12.9 million but noted that the amount was likely understated given the scope of the scheme and the number of victims. The defendants included Richard Ugbah and Michael Adegoke, Nigeran nationals living in Atlanta and Chicago, respectively, who each were sentenced in November 2017 to 12 years in federal prison. Sally Iriri, a Nigerian national living in Chicago, was sentenced to 10 years in November 2015. The fourth defendant was Jon Whipple, St. Petersburg, Florida, who was sentenced to five years of probation for his role in the scheme, which was limited to uttering counterfeit checks. Whipple was initially a victim of a similar romance fraud scheme but later participated in the scheme by disseminating counterfeit checks in exchange for small amounts of money. Price County Investigator Chris Jarosinski began the investigation after receiving a complaint from a victim who had lost more than $100,000. Through the combined efforts of the Price County Sheriff's and District Attorney's Offices, Investigator Jarosinski identified Sally Iriri as a possible suspect in the investigation. Through further investigation, Jarosinski also determined that the case involved numerous other likely victims throughout the United States and Canada. Jarosinski contacted Special Agent Nathan Cravatta of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in Milwaukee for assistance. Ultimately, the joint investigation resulted in the successful federal prosecutions of the four individuals named above. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Antonio Trill. COSTUME CONTEST, ENTERTAINMENT, & JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT PRICE COUNTY FAIR August 7, 2018 The Price County Fair will be held from Wednesday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 26th. Gate admission will be $5 without rides and $15 with rides. Highlights of the entertainment include a karaoke contest at 5 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, enjoy the large animal show at 8 a.m.; senior meal at 11 a.m.; 4- H show at 1 p.m.; market animal sale at 7 p.m.; and a live band, Sushi Roll, at 7 p.m. Saturday brings the open horse show at 10 a.m.; kiddie tractor pull at 4 p.m.; lawnmower/ATV pulls at 6 p.m.; and live band, Rising Phoenix, at 8 p.m. Capping off the fair on Sunday, the horse pulls are at noon and farm olympics is at 1 p.m. View the complete list of entertainment at http://www.PriceCountyFair.com/entertainment.html An addition to this year's fair is a costume contest, which will be held on Sunday at noon in the cattle barn. According to Michelle Dronik, organizer of the contest, "Contestants will be judged by a group of judges for a trophy prize and bragging rights! You can bring your friends, family, or go solo; the costume possibilities are endless." The entry fee for the contest is $5, payable to the Price County Fair. Any questions can be directed to Michelle at 715-965-2532. Michelle further added that the fair is looking for judges' assistants to help award ribbons on Wednesday, August 22nd and Thursday, August 23rd. If you are interested, you can contact her at 715-965- 2532. Maintenance and janitorial positions are also available, and if you are interested, you can fill out an application at http://www.pricecountyfair.com/pcfa/forms/Fair%20W orker%20Application.pdf and contact Peter Dahlie at 715-339-2759. SNAPSHOTS FROM THE 2018 PRICE COUNTY FAIR August 25, 2018

HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES October 12, 2018 Photos submitted by: School District of Phillips Phillips High School students are hoping for a Logger win to put the "dressing on the bird" of a successful Homecoming week filled with dress-up days; window, hall, and float decorating; a parade at 2:30 p.m.; and the Homecoming game tonight at 7 p.m. at Logger Field, which will be followed by the bonfire. The Homecoming Court consists of Olivia Bushman, Tony Rohaley, Emma Peterson, Lokesh Kumaravel, Gabby Eklund, Josh Lasky, Queen Annikka Johnson, King Dakota Haberman, Olivia Harding, Gage Mudgett, Kate Lochner, Noah Baratka, Nicole Schultz, and Max Vyskocil. If you would like to show your Logger pride, stop in to the Grades 6-12 office and purchase a key chain for $5. Mr. Makovsky's class made them on the new fab lab equipment. The students are selling them as part of a fundraiser. To keep up on the latest information about the School District of Phillips, "like" their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/schooldistrictofphillips/ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FACILITY PLAN AND REFERENDUM November 27, 2018 On Wednesday, November 28th at 5:30 p.m., the Phillips Elementary School will hold an hour-long informational meeting, which will answer questions regarding the district's facility plan and the upcoming referendum. The Phillips community is invited. Child supervision will be available during the meeting. You can find more details at the Facebook event page, http://www.facebook.com/events/1075997442600220/ In April of 2018, there was a 12.6 million dollar referendum to replace a portion of the elementary school. Since that referendum failed, the school district has put together two new plans. The first plan includes rebuilding at the current site for a cost of $9.98 million. The 1958, 1972, and 1987 portions of the school would be demolished while the 1997 portion (which includes the art room, music room, gymnasium, and current 4th and 5th grade classrooms) would remain. The new addition would be two stories, with classrooms on each story, and connected directly next to the 1997 portion of the building. A new parking and drop-off area would be created where the old 1958, 1972, & 1987 building areas once stood once that part of the building is demolished. There would also be a secure main entrance that routes all visitors through the school's office. The second plan includes moving the elementary school over to the middle and high school complex for a cost of $12.49 million. The 1958, 1972, and 1987 portions of the elementary school would be demolished, and the 1997 portion of the building would serve the school district's early learners. At the middle school and high school complex, the existing classroom space would be utilized for 5th grade, as it was for almost a decade starting when the middle school was built in 1988. A single-story building would be added to the facility with a secure main entrance that routes all elementary visitors through the school's office. The current middle and high school music and art classrooms would be updated and utilized by all students. Making this move would allow the elementary students to have access to the technical education labs, swimming pool, and auditorium. Traffic patterns would be re-routed and additional parking would be created. The school district is also asking the community if the school district should provide child care by utilizing the 1997 section of the existing elementary school, which would be a fee-based service. In order to have your voice heard, if you live in the Phillips School District, you should have received a survey in the mail. If you did not receive a survey, you can contact the district office at 715-339-2419, Ext. 2008. The survey must be completed and returned by December 7, 2018. Results of the survey will be reported at a December 17th school board meeting and also available on the district's website at http://www.phillips.k12.wi.us HAY, HAY, HAY! December 21, 2018 Photo by: Mike Onchuck Most trees are made of branches, but one special "tree" in Phillips is made of hay. Mike Onchuck, plus his family and friends, created a "Christmas tree" of hay at the Onchuck farm. To see it lit up at night, travel down Flemings Rapids Road in Phillips. Additionally there is a "Good Will Community Christmas Dinner" sponsored by the Phillips Area Clergy Association.

NEWS - PHILLIPS, KENNAN, CATAWBA FATAL SNOWMOBILE CRASH January 14, 2018 On January 14, 2018 at about 12:25 a.m. the Price County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting two snowmobilers were missing for over two hours. They had left a property in the Township of Elk and had not arrived at their destination in the City of Phillips. Responding to conduct the search and rescue operations were the Price County Sheriff's Office, Phillips Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ashland County Sheriff's Office, Central Price County Ambulance Service, and Phillips Fire Department. At around 1:45 a.m. the bodies of the two snowmobilers and their snowmobile were located near the southern end of Long Lake in the Township of Elk. The initial investigation revealed the snowmobile collided with the shoreline. The 33 year old male driver, Adam F. Wolf of Spencer, Wisconsin, and the 37 year old male passenger, Garrett D. Peterson of Wausau, Wisconsin, were pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Price County Coroner's Office. Source: Price County Sheriff's Office WINTERFEST 2018 January 23, 2018 STUDENTS OF THE 2ND QUARTER ANNOUNCED February 13, 2018 Photos submitted by Phillips High School. Christy Nutt and Joshua Brateng are Phillips High School's current Students of the Quarter for 2nd quarter. Teachers and school staff nominate individuals who they feel consistently show respectful, responsible, and safe behavior. The staff appreciates their positive influence on the school. 12.6 MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL REFERENDUM QUESTION SET FOR APRIL 3RD BALLOT January 19, 2018 The Phillips Elementary School was initially built in 1958, added onto in 1972, and then had two more additions after that. According to Principal Dave Scholz, the heating system is so old they can't get most parts anymore, and many of the floor joists are rotting in the older parts of the building. Some of the plumbing also has issues. On Monday, the school board voted to add a referendum question to the April 3rd ballot requesting $12.6 million to demolish the oldest portions of the elementary school, built in 1958 and 1972, and build a new structure. If the referendum passes, property owners would pay about $180 per $100,000 of property. PUBLIC BUS SERVICES EXPAND January 27, 2018 The Bay Area Rural Transit public bus currently serves, on average, approximately 600 rides per month in the Park Falls area. Riders include all ages; however, the younger demographic is the least represented on the bus at this time. Organizers are hoping to see an increase in the younger crowd. In April 2018, the bus route will expand to include service in Phillips and between Phillips and Park Falls on Saturdays. THREE LOGGER POWERLIFTERS HEAD TO NATIONAL COMPETITION March 21, 2018 Kenzie Svoboda and Brice Mcclay, both seniors, and Virginia McMillan, a junior, are members of the Phillips' Loggers powerlifting team, and they will be competing at the national powerlifting competition in Appleton from March 22nd through the 25th. Kenzie started powerlifting when she was in 7th grade. Her best powerlifting moment was when she earned two best lifter trophies this year with one being at a regional meet and one being at state. While she has earned first place medals at regional meets, her best finish was getting first place at state competition this year. "I have been driven by seeing myself succeed more and more each year, and by others who have lifted more than I do," she said. She plans on keeping powerlifting in her life after high school graduation, but since most of the college meets are in the Eau Claire area and she will be attending college in Wausau, she doesn't have plans to be on a powerlifting team in college. Virginia says she has had a lot of good moments in her powerlifting career. "The most recent one has to be state because it has been my best meet of my career." She stated that seeing herself succeed at meets and throughout the season has been her driving force. She said she gets first place at most regional meets but her best higher-level finishes were eighth place at state competition this year and third at nationals last year. Virginia does not plan to be in competitive powerlifting after high school, but does hope to stay active with it in her life. Brice attends school at Chequamegon High in Park Falls but competes with the Phillips Loggers since Chequamegon does not offer a powerlifting team. He started powerlifting because his girlfriend, Kenzie Svoboda, was involved in it. He attended many of her meets since their freshman year. "Seeing how much fun and progress she was having made me wonder what I could do. I decided to join my senior year because I didn't want to regret not taking the opportunity," Brice said. While he has only had one year of powerlifting under his belt, his best moment came at Elk Mound. He explained, "I pulled a person best deadlift of 440 pounds which was awesome, but seeing how amazed everyone was [made it] even better. I am very competitive in all sports that I play. My drive to make it as far as possible and do my best has driven me to succeed." At three regional meets, he took first place in the 148 pound weight class. Brice said he will continue to lift in college as he feels it will help his track career, but he will no longer be in competitive powerlifting at that time. We wish all three the best at nationals. Check back to this story for updated information after the competition. RESULTS AT NATIONALS - UPDATED 3/27/2018 Kenzie Svoboda received a first place in her weight class and won best raw female lifter out of 105 competitors. Virginia McMillan received 13th out of 28 competitors and had a personal best in squat, deadlift, and total. Brice Mcclay took second place in the varsity raw 66 kg weight class. COUNTY ROAD H PARTIALLY CLOSED FOR BRIDGE REHAB April 13, 2018 Starting Monday, April 16, 2018, County Highway H in the City of Phillips will be closed to all traffic for the Lake Duroy Bridge rehabilitation project. All through traffic should follow the marked detour on South Airport Road to State Highway 13. Construction is estimated to be completed by mid- August. This project is being administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Local Program. Contact the Highway Department if you have any questions or concerns. Source: Price County Highway Department Press Release PHILLIPS HIGH CLASS OF 1988 REUNION HELD September 6, 2018 Submitted photo. On Saturday, August 25, 2018, the Phillips High Class of 1988 held their 30 year high school class reunion at Harbor View, http://www.HarborViewOnline.com, in Phillips, WI. As luck would have it, the rain cleared out the day before and left for a great sunny day on Saturday. The reunion kicked off at 2 p.m. with friends gathering. The classmates enjoyed a three course sit- down meal at 5:30 p.m. with meal choices which included prime rib, shrimp, broasted chicken, and cheeseburgers. After the meal, a few class photos were taken. The party continued on with a DJ and karaoke at 7 p.m. A few rounds of trivia questions were asked and prizes were awarded. Music, beverages, and fun continued through the evening. A class reunion booklet was provided to update the class on those that were there and those that were not able to attend. The reunion was a good mix of classmates, including some who had never attended or had not attended since the five year reunion. A good time was had by all. The class sadly missed two of their departed classmates whom they will always remember, including Thomas Farley who passed away April 3, 2004 and Jayson Reinke who passed away February 20, 2018. The consensus of the class was that it was just not the same without them. Those in attendance at the time of the group photo are pictured. Standing left to right: Sheila (Krueger) Bothe, Lance Heizler, Chuck Vasek, Johnny Hertlein, John Kerner, Dan Slowey, Zack Meskill, Mark Zaves, Frank Vlach, Jerry Upson, Steve Barnet, Denita (Vlach) Carl, Rod Runnheim, Dwayne Parkinson, Karin Peterson, Mark Surprenant, Tammy Wang, and Mary Pat (Prohaska) Kurth. Kneeling left to right: Janelle Larson, Paula (Rehbein) Haberman, Davette Hrabak, and Brenda (Kadlecek) Surprenant. BW PAPERSYSTEMS SIGNS FIRST WAGE$ REGISTERED APPRENTICE September 6, 2018 Submitted photo. Pictured from left to right are Mary Lois Bolka (NWWIB), Korryn Vail (BW Papersystems), Joe Herbst (BW Papersystems' first apprentice), and Ben Stahlecker (Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards). Submitted photo. BW Papersystems, http://www.marquipwardunited.com, in Phillips is the first company in northwestern Wisconsin to sign a registered apprentice in the Maintenance Technician Program through the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Growth and Enhancement Strategies Grant. The new apprentice, Joe Herbst, is partaking in a five-year training program that will include a combination of on the job learning and formal instruction at the local technical college where he will be trained to perform mechanical and electrical duties to repair machines and equipment. The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board (NWWIB) and the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards worked closely with BW Papersystems to implement their first apprenticeship program. This is part of a larger effort by the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board and other statewide partners to expand apprenticeship opportunities in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology through the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Growth and Enhancement Strategies (WAGE$) grant. The WAGE$ grant is a $5 million grant awarded by the US Department of Labor to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as part of the American Apprenticeship Initiative. "We know that the apprenticeship program is a strong investment to our team, our business, and our community," said Korryn Vail, Recruitment Lead at BW Papersystems. "There are many benefits to hiring an apprentice. I think the greatest benefit is retention, which is multi-faceted," said Vail. "....What they are learning in the classroom can be applied during their very next work shift. And what they learn on their work shift can be reflected on during their lectures and labs. Now that we've implemented this program, we are eager to connect with the area schools to spread the word that this opportunity exists to be a part of our team. The manufacturing industry provides an incredibly opportunity for students that have a desire to learn, an interest in tech ed or mechatronics, and that want to stay in this area." "We are extremely excited to bring BW Papersystems on board with their first maintenance technician apprentice," stated Ben Stahlecker, Apprenticeship Training Representative for the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. To learn more about developing an apprenticeship program for your company, contact Mary Lois Bolka, Sector & Strategies Coordinator for the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, at 715-682- 9141, Ext. 118. PHILLIPS HIGH CLASS OF 1998 REUNION HELD September 7, 2018 Submitted photo. The Phillips High Class of 1998 held their twenty year class reunion at Jonesfest in Kennan on Saturday, September 1, 2018. Those in attendance and pictured include James Rabusitz, Mitch Meives, Jesse Kempen, Lindy (Wegerer) Protivinsky, Weston Arndt, Laci (Schuh) Boettcher, Dustin Bushman, Terese (Henderson) Esterholm, Tim Hahn, Angie (Winter) Unbehaun, Ryan Sidenbender, Kelly (Hladish) Haubert, Jesse Yasaitis, Megan (Rafko) Young, Mike Onchuck, Heather (Gago) Prohaska, Ben Morey, and Nikki (Grant) Kalander.

"SLENDERMAN" INVESTIGATION COMPLETE May 31, 2018 On Wednesday, May 30, 2018, the Park Falls Police Department received a complaint wherein it was reported a Chequamegon School District student had received a threatening letter in their backpack at the close of school indicating the following, "I will kill you. I am Slenderman." The matter was investigated on Thursday, May 31, 2018 by the Park Falls Police Department in coordination with the Chequamegon School District. It was determined that the student possessing the letter was, in fact, the author of the letter. The student admitted to writing this letter and drawing images of scenes from "Slenderman" after having watched the movie recently at his home. The Park Falls Police Department has determined that, at no time, was any child in any danger resulting from this threat. The investigation of this matter is complete. FATAL ATV CRASH September 9, 2018 On September 9, 2018 at about 11:46 a.m., the Price County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call transferred from the Vilas County Sheriff's Office of an ATV crash on an ATV trail north of State Highway 70 and east of Smith Rapids Road in the Township of Fifield. Responding to the crash was the Price County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Park Falls Ambulance Service, and Pike Lake Fire Department first responders. The initial investigation revealed the ATV was traveling south on Trail 121 in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest with a group of other ATVs. The ATV struck a tree, and the driver was ejected from the ATV. The driver was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The driver was taken by ambulance to Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls where the driver was later pronounced dead. The name of the victim is not being released pending notification of family members. (Update: Chad P. Dibble, 45, of Milltown, Wisconsin, was the ATV driver who died in the accident.) The crash remains under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Price County Coroner's Office. Source: Price County Sheriff's Office PARENT AND SUPERINTENDENT EXPLAIN "PADDED ROOM" AT CHEQUAMEGON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL September 14, 2018 Many Price County residents saw the news report from a northwoods TV station regarding a “padded room” at the Chequamegon Elementary School, raising some questions. The empty room is about seven feet by seven feet, located in the elementary school, and is padded with red mats with white stripes. The door on the room has a window. According to Debbie Glimm Ensor, a parent of a student at Chequamegon Elementary School, she learned of the room from another parent and then asked her children about it. Her ten year old son stated that he had been in the room for some of his special education classwork, which Debbie said included about 45 minutes every Tuesday and 1 hour every Thursday during the previous school year. Concerned, Debbie went to the school last week and talked with the secretary on Tuesday and the principal the next day, which is when she was allowed to see the room. Ensor spoke with the principal and superintendent, asking why she was not told her son was in the room. According to Ensor, she was told that she did not need to be notified, because her son was not being put in there for any reason other than a portion of his classwork was being held in that room. For him, the room was not being used as a seclusion room. Mark Weddig, Chequamegon's superintendent, said he cannot comment on any specific child's situation, but agreed they were using that room for some students as an extra space for classroom social games. "I can imagine a child coming home and saying to their parents that they were in a padded room, which could sound confusing to the parents, and I apologize for that." Weddig further explained that the room is only used as a "seclusion room" in rare, extreme cases when a child may pose a danger to himself/herself or others. If the room needs to be used for that purpose, a child would be placed in the room and an adult would supervise from the door that has a window. "The adult is part of a trained intervention team, which is a team that can only be used when the students poses a threat to one's self or others. The parents are immediately called, or we may have to use alternate contacts if they cannot be reached, and proper reports are filed." In the past, Weddig said that parents have worked with the staff to find a positive solution. "Sometimes the parent will pick up the student for the day or the parent may talk with the student to calm them down so they can go back to the classroom." Ensor said that she understands some situations may warrant a separate room but would like to see a calming room rather than a seclusion room. "I am not trying to fight against them [the school], but our children deserve better. The room needs to be safe and calming." Weddig said the room is not used as a calming room nor for discipline and that they have other areas of the school and methods for children who simply need to be calmed. He again stated this room, when used as a seclusion room, is for students posing a danger to one's self or others. "We believe that the room is safe. No student has gotten hurt. We cannot put items in the room such as chairs or a bookshelf as it is against the law to do so [when using the room as a seclusion room]." Weddig again apologized for the confusion and stressed that "the room should not have been used as a classroom as it caused confusion." Hoping to discuss the room, Ensor stated she will be at the next school board meeting on the 26th of September at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Forestry Department located at 1170 4th Avenue South in Park Falls. As of Tuesday, September 11th, DPI's contact, Tom McCarthy, stated that a complaint had not yet been filed with the Department of Public Instruction. Weddig stated that DPI has been invited to inspect the room, which they will do in the near future, and the Chequamegon School District will comply with whatever guidelines DPI suggests, if there are any additional guidelines, as Weddig believes they have and want to continue to have a safe, proper school for students to attend. Seclusion rooms are allowed by DPI. For more information, read http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/topics/seclusion-restraint

NEWS - PARK FALLS & FIFIELD PAPER MACHINE #3 CLOSURE BRINGS LAYOFFS AT FLAMBEAU RIVER PAPERS January 5, 2018 The CEO of Flambeau River Papers, William (Butch) Johnson, announced the closure of Paper Machine #3 (#3PM), effective on Friday, January 5th. "While papers like laser bond and offset (run on Paper Machine #3) have been good fill grades for the mill in the past, they are no longer, and jeopardize the mill's ability to continue operations. Therefore, we will exit production of these commodity type papers." As a result, eighty- two people received a lay-off notice, including 67 union employees and 15 salaried jobs. Johnson believes the key to Flambeau River Paper's long-term success is to focus on increasing the plant's paper-making capabilities and, in turn, sales of value- added and specialty papers. Growth was already expanded in this area approximately five years ago, and those sales now represent over 90% of the mill's capacity on Paper Machine #1 & #2. Johnson stated, "As a result of idling #3PM, some of our fellow Flambeau River Papers' employees will lose their jobs and our surrounding community will be impacted. This will be painful for all of us. We are committed to doing what we can to help the affected employees find new jobs. These painful changes at the mill are necessary to help ensure a viable and sustainable pulp and paper operation for Flambeau River Papers, the City of Park Falls, and all the good paying jobs that the mill provides." CHEQUAMEGON STUDENT PHYSICALLY REMOVED FROM BUS February 6, 2018 According to a press release, on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, the Park Falls Police Department received a complaint wherein it was reported a Chequamegon School District student was physically removed from a school bus by a Chequamegon School District staff member. This matter was investigated, and the case was then referred to the Price County district attorney for review. Information reviewed by the district attorney included witness statements, officers' reports, school training records, and two video clips of the incident. One of the video clips only showed the student being removed from the bus. The second video clip showed the entire incident, including activities on the bus prior to the student being removed. Upon review of the case, the Price County district attorney advised that the school staff member did not commit any violation of Wisconsin criminal law. The investigation also revealed this particular school staff member has training specific to the use of physical restraint and seclusion through the Crisis Prevention Institute. This training satisfied the requirements as set forth in Wisconsin Statute 118.305(6). Furthermore, Wisconsin Statute 118.31(3)(e) permits an employee or agent of a school board to use reasonable and necessary force to remove a disruptive pupil from a school premises or motor vehicle, as defined in Statute 125.09(2)(a) 1 & 4, or from school-sponsored activities. CLAUDIA LASIOWSKI ADVANCES TO STATE SPELLING COMPETITION March 21, 2018 Photo Credit: Breanna Hanson Can you spell "eleemosynary" or "apparatchik?" Most adults would have a difficult time defining them let alone spelling them. Yet Claudia Lasiowski, a seventh grader at Chequamegon Middle School and the daughter of Frank and April Lasiowski, can take on words of that size and odd spelling. She admitted those were two of the most difficult words she had to spell while participating in various spelling bees the last three years. Claudia won her school spelling bee in fifth, sixth, and seventh grade and advanced to CESA #12 regional competition each time. As a fifth grader, she won regionals; placed 5th in sixth grade; and won again this year as a seventh grader. She has been to state once as a fifth grader, making it about halfway through the competition, stumbling over the word "maladroit." She will advance again this year, taking on the competition on March 24th at 1 p.m. at the Mitby Theatre at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC). Claudia said that, during her first time at the state spelling bee, she was impressed with how many audience members were in attendance. "There were a lot of people and it is in a big auditorium and it is pretty intimidating." She feels it will be less scary this year given she has that first state spelling bee under her belt from fifth grade. "Spellings bees are very much 'luck of the draw,'" she added. "You may study hundreds and hundreds of words, but in the actual bee you may only spell twenty words. You may happen to get a really easy word or a really hard word. Any word in the dictionary is fair game for the end rounds of a spelling bee so there is no way to know all the words that you might be asked." Claudia mentioned there are a lot of exceptional spellers at the state level. "Some of these spellers have tutors that help them study for the bee and they work on it all year long. Some of these top spellers have been to the state bee for years in hopes of getting to Scripps. They treat spelling like a sport and devote many hours to it." Speaking of sports and other interests, Claudia has a full plate while she studies her words. "During this spelling bee season, I have been very busy. I have been involved in things such as piano, band, forensics, choir, church, volleyball, student council, and running on the side. It has been a lot of work trying to find time for words and studying for the bee, but I think it is a great experience. It has taught me a lot about dedication and hard work." Claudia said that her dad, grandma, and grandpa all support her, but her mom is the one who mainly helps her practice spelling various words. Claudia became inspired to excel in the spelling bee in fifth grade when she heard a former student at Chequamegon had made it to the state bee as a fifth grader, so she set that goal for herself. "My first year, I didn’t even think I was going to get past my school spelling bee, let alone make it to state!" While spelling is clearly of interest to Claudia right now, she's not exactly sure what she wants to be when she gets older as she is interested in many things and has, understandably, not narrowed it down yet. "I am leaning towards something along the lines of art or maybe even biology," Claudia shared. The spelling bee competition will be live-streamed on- line on Saturday, March 24th for those interested in following the rest of Claudia's spelling bee journey. We wish her the best of luck. CLAUDIA FINISHED 16TH AT STATE! - UPDATED 3/24/2018 Claudia made it to Round 11 and received 16th place. Great job, Claudia!

When students and staff returned to the school, all students were accounted for and a small assembly took place so the students could discuss how they were feeling, understand what had went on, and receive reassurance. UPDATED 10/4/2018 The evacuation occurred because a ten-year old student wrote a death threat with a specific time on a boys' bathroom wall.

NEWS - PRENTICE & OGEMA PRENTICE SCHOOL DISTRICT EVACUATION September 27, 2018 The Prentice School District was evacuated on the morning of Thursday, September 27th, shortly after 9 a.m. under the decision of Randy Bergman, school administrator. A threatening note written on the wall inside the school was the reason for the evacuation. Students were taken to a different location for nearly two hours while the Wisconsin State Patrol, DNR, Prentice Fire and Ambulance, and Price County Sheriff's Office responded to the school.

SPOTLIGHT ON PHILLIPS RESIDENT, THE LATE JAY REINKE July 19, 2018 Photo Credit: Lynne Bohn "What a privilege it is to know someone it is so hard to say goodbye to." Jay Reinke would have turned 48 today, July 19, 2018. He was slated to be one of our "Spotlight" stories; however, he unfortunately passed on February 20, 2018. As someone who was quite active in our community, we felt it was fitting to pay tribute to him even though he was unable to complete the "Spotlight" interview himself. Born in Medford, Wisconsin to Walter "Bud" and Marc (Rudolph) Reinke, Jay was raised in Phillips, Wisconsin, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, and making duck calls. He graduated from Phillips High School in 1988 and completed an Associates Degree in sales and marketing with Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. In August of 1991, he married Tammi Honsa, and they had two children, Nichole & Parker. Jay and Tammi later divorced. In September of 2012, he married Amber Vander Ark. His sales and marketing career started with insurance sales and followed up with operating a local auction service; working for Wheel Way; being a personal banker for Wells Fargo Bank, Mid-Wisconsin Bank, & Northwoods Community Credit Union; and serving as the national sales manager for Industrial Air Products (IAP). Outside of his career, Jay served his community. He was an alderman for the City of Phillips, Scout Master of Pack 540 for the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Board of Directors for Flambeau Hospital, and the chairman of the Chequamegon Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Jay volunteered as an auctioneer for many local organizations, and most of the community knew they would see him running the 4th of July auction and the market animal sale at the Price County Fair. After Jay passed on, the condolences poured in on the funeral home's website, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of people with standing room only. My Price County reached out to some of his friends and family asking if they would share memories of Jay. For some, it was too difficult to share. Others wanted to pay tribute in this way. Jay was clearly a loyal father, wanting to be with his children as much as possible. His daughter, Nichole, who had Jay's first grandchild on July 14th, named Clay Jayson McCann, remembers her father while she was growing up at his house. "It would be so hard to pick just one memory, honestly. But I always remember him tucking me in at night when I was a little girl. It was always my dad tucking me in, and he would lay in bed with me until I would fall asleep. We would talk about everything and anything, and he taught me a little saying that we would say every night, too, which was "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Keep me safe all through the night, and wake me with the morning light." Those are the moments I think about most when I think about him." Jay's work "family" spoke out about Jay. Jenny Marshall, an IAP representative from California worked a lot with Jay on her projects and stated, "Jay will be missed by all the people who worked with him. Jay had an easy-going style, good sense of humor and gave you a feeling that everything will be okay. We are all better people for having known Jay." Mick Theis, co-owner of IAP and Jay's childhood friend, shared, "All of us that worked with Jay appreciated his love for family and life. Jay approached life with a positive outlook. He never seemed to have a bad day; he was always cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat. While Jay's five plus years at IAP were far too short, we are thankful for the time and memories we have. Caring, genuine, and thoughtful are just a few words that come to mind in remembering Jay and the wonderful man he was." Another childhood friend, Davette Lynne Hrabak, also mentioned some of Jay's attributes. "The words that come to mind when I think of Jay are personality, dependability, and loyalty. Those of us that had the pleasure of growing up with Jay know that he will be remembered and live on in the hearts and minds of all the people he touched over the years. As the community knows, stories of "Jay" proliferate, whether it be of childhood activities, school time fun, family relationships and outings, work activities, auctioneering, hunting, fishing, or hanging out and relaxing. His impact will, in some ways, live on in the lives of people that he has never met as people who knew and interacted with Jay will further use the teachings, stories, or jokes that they experienced when interacting with him. Jay had a way about him; he got along with most everyone, accepted people for who they were, and took time to let others know they were important. He listened and joked with them, and he did this with people he knew since childhood or people he just met; he did this with everyone. Jay was a chameleon of sorts as he could interact with others in a large group or relax and enjoy himself during times of solitude. Basically what sums my memories up is: "I don't know of anyone that did not have a brighter day after running into Jay somewhere." Lynne Bohn shared her Facebook post that she wrote the day of Jay's funeral. "Jay has been in my life since the day I was born. The youngest son to my Godmother, at my baptism he stood by her side and announced that he was, therefore, my "Godbrother," which became a lifelong "joke" for us. I looked up to him greatly as a child. Being younger, I'd always tag along when he and my big sister, Davette, played together. They both made me feel welcome. Jay always made sure to pay attention to me. Whether we were playing games or hanging out by his "bar" in Marc's basement, shooting some hoops on either ours or their driveway basketball "court," playing in his tiny cabin that felt huge to my little self, or walking down the steep hill (where he made steps and a guide rope and always helped me) into the valley to visit the river, Jay always made me feel included, safe, and loved. He'd play the piano for me at his Mom's house or when we all went out to eat at Kozy Town in Fifield. He loved to talk like Donald or Daffy Duck to make me laugh. As kids, we had fun times around the dinner table having our own conversations while the moms and their friends had theirs, plus I'll never forget those shopping trips the five of us took together and the silly laughter and talks us kids had in the car on the drives there and back with our moms. As an adult, Jay was still there for me. He definitely put in a good word for me on a couple websites. And he always knew how to make me laugh, one time telling me that we were married in about five foreign countries after I signed some documents at the bank, which became another joke of ours. When I sit down and think about it, there are so many good memories. He will always be in the hearts of my mom, sister, and me. He is a forever friend, and he is "family." He was a wonderful man taken too soon. Until we meet again, Jay, I will keep your memory alive in my heart and know I was lucky to have known you and had you in my life. Rest in peace, my 'Godbrother.'" Gregg Griesel, co-owner of Wheel Way, worked with Jay and also became his friend. "I am missing my friend, Jay. The 2018 golf season is well underway. Things are just not the same without Jay Reinke. The season usually began with a phone call that I so looked forward to every year. I would answer with a resounding "Jayson!" and he would reply back with an enthusiastic "Greggor!" Later, we would see each other at the golf course, greet one another with a gorilla handshake, and, on the course we would encourage each other, as well as offer advice and critique each others' golf swings. I keep hearing those memorable words, "Nice and easy now." I would get halfway through my back swing and Jay would yell out, "Kill that son on a .....!" Who can forget about Jay's signature putting style, between the legs backwards. As we would pass each other between Holes 1 and 3, everybody would hear our boisterous exchange of "Jayson!" and "Greggor!" Then, of course, there was the big debate over my magenta colored golf head covers. Jay always insisted they were pink. Of course, I, in turn, argued that they were a manly magenta. Let's face it, the sunlight has caused them to fade over the years, and Jay was right, they are basically pink! In June, Jay and I always looked forward to the Phillips Golf Fun Day. As was a tradition, Jay would want to stop for breakfast on the way. I didn't mind. In fact, sometimes I rather insisted! In loving memory of Jay "Jayson!" Reinke, I just wanted to share a few thoughts. Thank you for allowing me to reminisce about the good times we had together on and off the golf course. From one big voice to another, I will always remember and cherish the times we shared. My love and heartfelt sympathy to the entire Reinke family. All my prayers, and may God bless you and keep you." Rose Brown knew Jay from the community. "I enjoyed knowing Jay, who affectionately called me Rose Green instead of Brown. I will never forget the holiday dinner made at Mid-Wisconsin Bank where he taught me to properly grill potatoes. Marc taught him well. He was a great guy who made sure everything was "fair enough." He will be missed by many!" Finally, Jay's wife, Amber, had these thoughts on this day, "Today would have been Jay's 48th birthday! To say this world lost an amazing person way too soon would be a gross understatement. Jay touched the lives of everyone he met. None of us understand why it was his turn to go! We all miss him and want him here with us. It is so true....We never know how much time we have. Jay never thought any of this would happen. He was so positive throughout his whole illness and he never doubted he wouldn't beat it, which made the rest of believe he would be okay. Tonight we will celebrate Jay's life as a family. We will reminisce, laugh, cry and raise a glass of Seven and Seven with a slice of lime in honor of him! Today will not be easy for any of us, but we will get through by leaning on each other for support. Don't take the time you have for granted with the ones that you love. Hug and kiss them and tell them you love them every chance you get. All we have in this life is this moment in time. We never know what the next moment holds." SPOTLIGHT ON FIFIELD RESIDENT, CHERYL MALLAK August 22, 2018 Photo Credit: Jean Engel If Cheryl Mallak was stranded on a deserted island, she said she'd want to have her sunglasses with her, because she couldn't count how many times she has had to turn the car around to go back for her sunglasses. This seems to be a theme in Cheryl's life, as her outlook is often a sunny one. Cheryl is a resident of Fifield. She has been married to Bill Mallak for 40 years. The marriage has brought them two children and five granddaughters. For 33 years, Cheryl worked at Eyecare and Eyewear Associates as an optician. It was her dream job. "I enjoyed seeing different people every day and getting to hear their stories. I loved hearing about their families, and everybody I worked with was so kind that it was like having a second family," Cheryl said. As for her hobbies, Cheryl enjoys kayaking. "I love kayaking down the Flambeau River. I enjoy soaking up the sun and enjoying the sights." The hobby she enjoys the most, however, revolves around horses. "I love horses. I’ve had them most of my life. I usually ride with my sister, Jean. I love to ride in the woods and look at Mother Nature." She said she also loves to shoot pool and throw horseshoes with her friends. When she is not doing all that, she is with family. "My five granddaughters consume my life, which I love." The motto Cheryl lives by is to be kind to others. "This world needs more love. At a time when hate seems cool, kindness is the answer." On that note, if Cheryl could have one wish to make the world a better place, she would wish for no one to go hungry ever again. "I feel like food is something everybody should have access to." Cheryl has been living a good life, but it has handed her some lemons, one of which includes the growth of tumors that keep coming back, a condition that affects less than 2% of the population. With those lemons, though, she has tried to make lemonade. "I found out about my first tumor because I started losing movement in my left hand. My pinky and ring finger became really hard to type with or do much of anything. I went to see Dr. Tim Wakefield for what I thought was a pinched nerve, but he informed it wasn't and advised me to get an MRI." Unfortunately, the MRI showed that Cheryl had a golf ball sized tumor, a Grade 1 Meningioma, and she had to have brain surgery to remove it. Since she has found that humor has helped her get through this and has always tried to see the positive in the world, she nicknamed the tumor Francis and had Francis removed in November of 2014. A year and a half later, Cheryl learned she had another tumor and hoped radiation would help, so she tried that route in 2016. However, in January of 2018, another tumor the size of an egg, which she named Flo, was found. A second surgery was scheduled, and she had Flo removed. After the surgery, Cheryl had radiation treatments. "I had 30 radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and in two months I will find out the success of my treatment. Fingers crossed." Cheryl says the most special thing that has been done for her has definitely been what she is experiencing now. "The support that I have gotten through all my tumors has been tremendous. I am amazed and so thankful at how willing people are to help." If you would like to help Cheryl, you can attend her benefit on Saturday, August 25th at Movrich Park in Fifield from noon to 10 p.m. The band, Flashback, will start at 6 p.m. Ticket raffle sales are available prior to and during the benefit. There are many large items which will be raffled at the benefit, such as fishing rods, Packers gear, a fire ring, 1/4 beef, a gun, and many gift certificates. There will also be basket raffles. Beer, wine coolers, and food will be available at the event. Cheryl also has a GoFundMe page, which can be accessed at http://www.gofundme.com/cheryl-mallak

SPOTLIGHT - PEOPLE OF PRICE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT ON PHILLIPS RESIDENTS, DAN & KATHI HLASNY, PUTT RUN VOLUNTEERS May 23, 2018 Submitted photo. Dan and Kathi Hlasny have been married for fourteen years. Dan was born and raised in Price County while Kathi is from West Allis, Wisconsin and moved to this area in 1976. Dan is an operations leader, and Kathi is a freelance photographer. They have a total of four children and seven grandchildren. Even though Dan and Kathi did not meet until later in their lives, they had some similar childhood experiences. Each of them were unique in the fact that they grew up with red hair. They also both remember going fishing with their dads, which are special memories for each of them, and they both admitted they miss their late fathers dearly. When asked what they wished they had known at 18, Dan and Kathi said they should have known to listen to their elders more, because the advice they gave would have made their road through life more simple. "We now know they were much smarter han we gave them credit for." If they could give advice to the younger generation now, Dan and Kathi would want them to never give up on themselves. "Times can get tough and look hopeless but that changes down the road, and if you believe in what you are doing, you will succeed!" As adults, Dan and Kathi are both passionate about the Constitution, especially the 2nd Amendment. They are Christians who do their best to follow God's direction for them. Some of their favorite tangible things include Kathi's camera, their fishing boat, their RV for camping, their Bible, and their motorcycle. The thing that brings this couple the most happiness is simply spending time together. "We really enjoy being with each other so anything where we can do it together is what makes us happy," they both agreed. Something Dan & Kathi enjoy doing together every year is attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. As an added vacation, last year they also went tthe Northern California redwoods and stated it was "breathtaking, to say the least." Dan and Kathi both believe in the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" and find it important to "pay it forward." One way they have paid it forward is by volunteering for many things over the years, including teaching snowmobile and ATV safety courses, helping with events at the VFW Post Canteen, and the annual Putt Run, of which Dan is a co-founder and Kathi is a coordinator. The Putt Run, in its 18th year, is a scenic Northwoods motorcycle ride, which is the favorite hobby of the Hlasnys. "We love to ride our motorcycle the most because it is great to get together with friends and offers the freedom to clear our minds of all the complications life throws at us these days," Dan shared. As for some history of the event, Kathi explained, "This annual event started 18 years ago when JP and Dan got together with fellow bikers for a 'just for fun' motorcycle run called 'Off Your Butt and On Your Putt.' The name was naturally shortened to what is now known as the 'Putt Run' by riders as they shared the news of this ride with other bikers. One year later, by adding some prize drawings and a charity cause, it gave an avenue to directly give back to the community as well as giving purpose to this annual ride." Dan and Kathi said they feel bikers are some of the most caring and generous people who are always willing to help. Dan said he waits for the day when people learn the true value of bikers, "most of who have a heart of gold and are willing to help out or carry on traditions that will enrich the future for deserving people in need." As volunteers and bikers themselves, Dan and Kathi said their goal is to "help veterans that have given so much to this country. The very least we can do is help them with their vision to get their veterans' community building updated and in safe working order. The senior aged veterans at this VFW Post need some help to accomplish this task," which is why the VFW Post in Phillips is the chosen charity for this year's event. The Putt Run is Saturday, June 2, 2018, starting at 9:30 a.m. with departure time of 11:30 a.m. from the VFW Hall in Phillips. Whether you have a bike or not, you are welcome to attend this event. SPOTLIGHT ON CATAWBA RESIDENT, RON BURGER, WILDLIFE ENTHUSIAST May 9, 2018 Submitted photo. "I do what I do because I love animals, plants, and nature, and I care about our environment," said Ron Burger, a Catawba resident, who has been providing wildlife a refuge, sanctuary, and a place to grow at his residence, known as High & Tight Acre, a Monarch Wildlife Wayside Refuge. He chose "High & Tight acre" because it reflects his desire to keep things in the Marines' way. Ron was born in Milwaukee in 1958 and spent his childhood in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The thing he most enjoyed was spending time with his good friend, Ron Serbian. They would go fishing, boating, water skiing, and enjoyed going to parties with some of their other friends. His love for the environment likely stemmed from attending Trees for Tomorrow camp, a two to three week fall session, in Eagle River when he was in 10th grade. The following summer he attended Statehouse Lake YCC Camp, which was a forestry camp in Manitowish Waters. He graduated high school in 1977 and moved to Phillips for a few years working for the forestry department, plus working in the woods logging near Winter with the owner of what was then Shane's Harbor but is now Harbor View, where he also worked nights in the kitchen and did some waiting of tables and a little bartending. Ron was put out of work when the owner died about a year later, so about a year after that he moved to Galesburg, Michigan to work on a hunter jumper horse farm for four years. He then moved to Kentucky to further his career in horses working with and breeding thoroughbred race horses. Ron said he has already lived his dream job, which was truck driving, which he started in Kentucky, hauling race horses, mares, foals, million dollar yearlings, and stallions. Later, he went into hauling freight across the 48 states and Canada. His good friend, Bill Crummel, an over-the-road (OTR) truck driver was the person who most influenced his choice of career, even though Ron knew he wanted to be a truck driver since he was about four years old. "That was something I always said I wanted to be, and when I met my friend and his family many moons ago, he was the one that influenced me the most. I said one day I'm going to be like him, and I did. I planned on being in a truck a lot longer than I was for 24 years, but life got in the way and I had to come off the road on September 25, 2015. I was a proud truck driver with a safe driving career and recorded millions of miles." Ron also had his own landscaping business, Jack of all Trades. Once Ron had to retire from driving truck, he moved back to Phillips on May 17, 2009 after living in Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee for over twenty years. He moved in with his brother for a number of months while he looked for a job and a place to rent. He found a job at a corporate farm and the property of his dreams on Hwy. 111. "I had this vision of what I wanted to do here and create, but there was a stipulation that came with the house," Ron said with a heavy heart. "It was for sale, but the moment I walked into it I had this strange feeling like I never had with another home I've lived in." The problem was that, like many, Ron did not have good enough credit at the time to buy the house he loved so much. For eight years he watched, with a lump in his throat, as potential buyers came through the home considering buying it. Meanwhile, he tended to the property as if it was his own. "I started adding plants and doing things here that were beneficial to Monarchs and other wildlife. This site provides milkweeds, nectar sources, and shelter needed to sustain Monarch butterflies as they make their spectacular migration through North America. I have a source of shelter, water, food, and places to raise young." With all the work he was doing, he had a goal to one day buy the property and to make it a protected area for animals. He had a focus on helping to save the Monarch butterfly, which was declining in number. "I started planting and creating certain things to promote the traffic of wildlife knowing that there was a big decline in the Monarch population due to no food for them in this area because of the heavy usage of pesticides that have killed off most of their food supply, mostly being milkweed, but there are also lots of other plants they depend on. I saw it fitting to start planting milkweed and other types of plants here to attract them and to try and bring the Monarch back to Northern Wisconsin and surrounding areas of the Midwest to how it once was when I was growing up. It has taken 8 years to get it to this stage of this project because it takes awhile for the plants to grow and to really start producing and for the many species of birds and butterflies to find them . Every year in the last few years I've been noticing more and more Monarchs coming around, as well as other creatures that I never used to see much of around here, and in my book, that tells me something...that it's working and a success." Ron said he always treated the property like it was his even though he was just renting it, and 24/7 in the back of his mind was that one day he would own it. Luckily for Ron, none of those potential buyers panned out except for one. That one, in Ron's eyes, was a miracle that happened the day before his 60th birthday, causing a huge weight to be lifted off his shoulders. "Someone did buy my house and took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to buy it, and now everything that I have worked so hard on here will not have been in vain because of this one special person that came into my life and gave me a brighter outlook. No one has ever done for me what that person has done and for that I owe that person everything. I don't think that person will ever know how happy they have made me." Ron said that being able to buy his house has brought him the most happiness in life. Along with building his Monarch Wildlife Wayside Refuge, his next goal is to get funded or be able to raise enough money to buy twenty plus acres of land close to where he lives as an extension of his project. He said it would be a much bigger place to be able to better meet the needs of all wildlife and endangered animals. "I am very passionate when it comes to any wildlife but in regard to endangered plants and animals, I am the same if not more so passionate, and I'd like that place to be an educational place for the community and other wildlife lovers and enthusiasts, getting more people involved." Ron supports the Wolves Worldwide and Science of Wolves, along with the Endangered Species Act. He does volenteer work for the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua. "I am a drop-off point and location for injued or orphaned wildlife through Northwoods Wildlife Center and a drop-off point and rescue transport driver for injured and orphaned wildlife. I don't hunt. I shoot them with a camera, not a gun. I am 99% vegetarian. The only meat source I do eat is fish." On March 31, 2017, the High & Tight Acre became certified as an official Monarch habitat through Monarch Watch and Waystation. On April 10, 2017, it became a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. The property is also a pesticide-free zone through Pesticide Free Zone. Ron describes himself as "old school." "One of my favorite and most used mottos is honor, respect, loyalty, and disipline. That's how I roll." He also said that if he could pick a time period to live in, he'd choose the 1800s. "I have always had a thing for the old western days and Native Americans. I love and respect them for what they stood for and their way of life." The Endangered Species Coalition is having an event at High & Tight Acre, A Monarch Wildlife Wayside Refuge on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at N6282 Hwy.111 in Catawba. "I am honored and privledged that they have picked Monarch Wildlife Wayside Refuge to hold this event. Wisconsin's very own field representative for the Endangered Species Coalition, Melissa Smith, will speak on behalf of the coalition and discuss milkweed garden planting and answer any questions anyone may have." You can view the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MonarchWildlifeWaysideRe fuge to find out more details about Ron's goals. To learn more about the ESA Day Event, visit the Facebook Event page at http://www.facebook.com/events/2078591405690405 SPOTLIGHT ON KENNAN RESIDENT, TESSA OTTO, HARLEY-DAVIDSON INTERN June 27, 2018 Photo Credit: Alejandro Garrido Cortes Photo Credit: Caroline Otto Photo Credit: Caroline Otto Photo & Video Link in Article Credit: Ruz Productions Harley-Davidson announced where their eight interns reside with places including South Africa, Florida, California, Mississippi, North Carolina, China, England, and Wisconsin. More specifically, Kennan, Wisconsin. Tessa Otto, who grew up in Kennan and graduated from Phillips High School, http://www.phillips.k12.wi.us, was introduced to Harley-Davidsons because her father, Greg, drove a Harley all of her life. Like any child who has a great relationship with her father, Tessa admitted, "Who doesn't want to be like their dad?!" From that, her love of Harleys grew. Fast forward to Tessa, in her senior year at UW- Oshkosh where she is studying project management in the College of Business, hearing about the Harley- Davidson "Find Your Freedom" internship. She learned of it via an article on Facebook, plus her mother, Caroline, mentioned it to her. Her application video, which can be found at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVjTRpQtyA, was one of over 7,500 submitted. Although in a large pool of hopeful applicants, it caught the eyes of the people at Harley-Davidson who got to make the selection of four young women and four young men who would get the summer intern positions. On the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, which Tessa admits is "kind of last minute for a summer internship," she was notified she had been selected. "I was so excited to tell my dad!....This is probably the coolest thing I'll ever do in my life. I'm peaking now at 20," Tessa decided. Within one week of being notified of her selection, she needed to be at corporate headquarters. "I think they were looking for people who could drop everything and go with it," Tessa suggested. Given the eight interns got to choose the bike they will ride for the internship, Tessa went through the Riding Academy, received the best score in the class, and then started test riding multiple bikes. "I rode tons of different models but selected the Street Glide Special because it would provide long-term touring comfort, as well as look beautiful." Tessa will attend various events across the United States, such as the Born Free Bike Show in California, which Tessa already attended in LA this past weekend, plus Summerfest in Milwaukee, X Games in Minneapolis, Sturgis in South Dakota, and many more. Tessa explained her duties. "I create content, pictures, and videos and recruit people into the sport." As for her future plans, Tessa has her eyes on the prize. "It would be ideal to extend this position long term....If I could be hired on as a Project Manager for Harley that would be great!" In the meantime, Tessa says she would like to organize a Price County Ride this summer if there is interest. To contact Tessa about this possible event, contact her via Instagram at @tessa_otto or this link: http://www.instagram.com/tessa_otto