On Monday, November 24, 2025, Vicki Hirtreiter, a 61-year-old woman, was found deceased and partially burned in her front yard of the 1200 block of Saunders Avenue.
According to Park Falls Police Chief Marvin Nevelier, "Based on circumstances observed at the scene, the Park Falls Police Department requested assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to assist with the investigation. A search warrant was later obtained for the residence as part of the investigation. The investigation continued for several weeks as items of evidence were examined and potential witnesses were interviewed. An autopsy was later conducted on the victim at the Marathon County Medical Examiner's Office in Wausau.
"At the conclusion of a thorough investigation, the cause of death was due to severe burn injuries that were determined to be accidental.
"The Park Falls Police Department would like to thank the DCI, the Marathon County Medical Examiner's Office, and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory for their assistance."
My Price County has asked the police chief for additional information, and if we receive the answers to those questions, they will be added to this article, and the article will be marked as "updated."
Charges were filed on January 16, 2026, against the man who drove the semi-truck in the accident that resulted in the death of Robert Morrison and his eight-year-old son, James, on August 28, 2025. Robert and Naomi's other young son was also in the accident and survived. The accident occurred at the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 111/Little Chicago Road. (See related article.)
The charges filed against the semi driver, Lance Walcisak, include two counts of Second Degree Reckless Homicide (Felony D), Second Degree Reckless Injury (Felony F), and Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety (Felony G).
The initial appearance will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the Price County Courthouse with Judge Mark Fuhr presiding, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access record.
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Reports received by the police departments in Price County for the month have been condensed and summarized.
PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Reports have not yet been received for December 2025.
PHILLIPS POLICE DEPARTMENT
12-1-25: Responded to a report of a vehicle in the ditch along CTH W, and the male driver was unresponsive. Officer assisted EMT with equipment while CPR was being performed. Officer assisted with loading of the patient. Patient was transported via ambulance to medical center in Park Falls.
12-1-25: Received a report that items from a storage unit had been taken. Officer located the items at the previous renter’s residence. Officer spoke with the reporting party who indicated they did not wish to pursue criminal charges.
12-2-25: Responded to assist the Central Price County Ambulance Service with an adult female who had been throwing up and felt faint. Officer responded. Patient was transported via ambulance to medical center in Park Falls.
12-2-25: Issued an Order of Abatement to a resident in the City of Phillips on behalf of the Price County Humane Officer.
12-3-25: Assisted the Central Price County Ambulance Service with an elderly female who had fallen. The elderly female was transported to the medical center for medical evaluation.
12-4-25: Advised a male individual had a question regarding a female individual that was at the Phillips School District that he had a temporary restraining order against.
12-5-25: Observed that the sidewalk at the listed residence was in violation of the snow removal ordinance. A courtesy violation notice was left for the owner to clear the sidewalks within 24 hours after the last snowfall. Over a dozen notices were issued.
12-6-25: While conducting traffic detail on a parade route, Phillips Police Department observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Sout Lake Avenue had hit a police barricade causing damage to the barricade and the vehicle. An officer made contact with the operator, identified them by driver’s license, collected photographs of the damage, provided the operator transportation home, and advised the operator they would receive multiple citations via mail. A motor vehicle crash report will be completed based on property damage involved.
12-8-25: Received an animal complaint regarding a dog on Flambeau Avenue. The complainant reported that their neighbor’s dog was within its owner’s property and leashed but was displaying aggression towards the complainant. The complainant did not wish for law enforcement to make contact with the dog’s owner; only to have the information on file.
12-9-25: Received a complaint from a citizen reporting an upside down Christmas tree in the downtown area. Officer advised the adult female that there was no law violation.
12-9-25: Responded to an uncontrollable child at the Phillips Municipal Center. Eventually, the child calmed down and was picked up by their parent. Officer will be referring the male juvenile to Price County Human Services for disorderly conduct.
12-9-25: Received a call from the Phillips School District saying that a student had information about the sharing of inappropriate images in a group chat. Phillips officers responded the following day and determined that the main suspect resided in Price County outside of the Phillips city limits. The case was referred to the Price County Sheriff's Office.
12-10-25: Received a report from Elk Avenue of unlawful use of computerized communication. Officer documented the messages. Investigation pending.
12-11-25: received a complaint of a vehicle that appeared to be stuck in the complainant's driveway on Pine Crest Avenue with the passenger side window down. An officer ran the license plate on the vehicle and made contact with the owner who advised he missed his driveway last night and got stuck attempting to turn around. An officer responded to help with getting the vehicle out of the snow bank.
12-11-25: Received a report of a two-vehicle accident that occurred on North Lake Avenue south of Beebe Street. There were no reported injuries or road blockage. Officers responded, collected statements, took photographs, and issued a citation to a female driver for traveling too fast for conditions. A state accident report was completed.
12-11-25: Observed a motor vehicle come to an intersection and do donuts in the intersection of Turner Street and Center Avenue. An officer stopped the vehicle and identified the driver. The driver was issued a citation for Disorderly Conduct with a Motor Vehicle.
12-12-25: Over a dozen courtesy sidewalk snow removal notices were issued.
12-13-25: Received a complaint that while at a local business a subject observed an unknown individual appear to be making lewd hand gestures while making contact with their genitals and looking at the reporting party. Officer responded to the business, was unable to locate the suspect vehicle, notified the local business of the complaint, and will follow up during daytime hours to review surveillance video.
12-14-25: Received a complaint from an adult female who wanted to report that her neighbor's dog had just jumped her neighbor's fence on Flambeau Avenue and entered into her yard. The adult female stated that she attempted to reach out to the neighbor but did not receive a response back. The adult female stated that she was concerned what would happened if her dog was outside. The officer attempted contact with the neighbor and called and left a voice mail.
12-15-25: Phillips Police stood by as there was an uncontrollable child at an off-site learning facility. More faculty responded and the child was able to calm down and resume classes.
12-16-25: Responded to a Level III for the off-site school instruction room at Phillips City Hall. An officer arrived and was told the student hit two teachers and was being disruptive. The teachers were preventing the student from getting out on the drill floor as there were elderly people walking. An officer walked in the room and the student began yelling to get away and began striking the officer with his fists. The student then tried to grab a plastic cart to throw at the officer. The officer put the student in a restraint hold until the student calmed down and was not violent. The student was referred to Price County Human Services for three counts of battery and one count of disorderly conduct.
12-19-25: Received a report of a suspicious male at a local gas station. An officer spoke with the caller and documented the incident.
12-21-25: Responded to the area of North Lake Avenue in the City of Phillips for the report of a subject who appeared homeless and was possibly digging in trash cans. An officer arrived on scene, made contact with the subject who resides in the area, did not observe any suspicious activity, and the subject advised they did not need assistance.
12-29-25: Received a phone call from an adult male who was upset that there had been snow pushed onto the sidewalk he had already cleared. The adult male requested the officer to get a hold of the grounds keeper and inform them not to push snow onto the sidewalk he was responsible for
12-30-25: Received a report that a citizen received a scam phone call where the caller claimed to be with the Price County Sheriff's Office and that the citizen owed money. The citizen wanted it documented that he had received the call.
Park Village offers affordable, active living in a park-like setting for those 55+ and disabled persons in Park Falls. Rent is based on 30% Adjusted Gross Income. Small pets under 30 pounds are welcome. Contact Park Village at 715-762-4747.
PARK FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT
12-1-25: There was a complaint of a cat getting into an apartment through a hole in the wall. The caller was instructed to place a live trap and to contact building maintenance. Officers will collect the cat to bring to Catkins if it is captured.
12-2-25: A vehicle slid off a roadway while trying to back into a driveway.
12-2-25: A vehicle straddled the median and became stuck after shearing off a road sign. Crash report generated.
12-3-25: A suspect stole two 15-ounce cans of ox and palm corn beef ($9.34 each) from a store. Subject was identified and merchandise was returned.
12-4-25: Report of two suspicious male individuals standing in reporting party's yard. Upon checking the area, one set of footprints was in the snow on the street. Only deer tracks were observed on the sidewalk and in the front of the reporting party's address.
12-4-25: A man reported six office chairs being dumped in the driveway of his rental property.
12-8-25: A report of a possible sexual assault that occurred years prior was received. Further follow-up is needed.
12-9-25: Report of an attempted firearm purchase by a prohibited possessor.
12-11-25: Dispatch advised there was a male who had passed out due to (redacted) issues. Dispatch further advised that the male also had two active warrants through Price County.
12-11-25: Potential deer hunting violations within the city limits.
12-23-25: $10,000 cash was reported stolen out of a vehicle.
12-28-25: There was a two-vehicle accident in the parking lot of a gas station.
Roxanne Anderson and Scott Nightingale, Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields (KSU TAB) regional directors, were guest speakers at the Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Price County United Limited (PCUL) meeting held at BW University. In the online chat, My Price County asked if PCUL is paying KSU for assistance, and Scott Nightingale said that "KSU TAB does not get paid by the local governments or non-profits we assist. Our funding is from EPA to help communities going through the brownfields redevelopment process."
During the evening, about four to seven people joined the virtual meeting, including My Price County. Not including the PCUL board members; KSU presenters; David Holmes, who is a geologist who works with PCUL; or the TV station, there were about 15 people physically in attendance, according to an attendee. The intent of the meeting was to "update the community on the status of the Lionite Cleanup Grant and to provide clarification needed regarding the process."
A brownfield was presented as a property that is difficult to develop because it is contaminated or believed to be contaminated with things like hazardous substances, petroleum, asbestos, lead paint, mold, meth-lab contaminants, and mine-scarred lands. For the "Lionite" property, there is asbestos and possibly some lead paint or other hazardous substances, according to PCUL.
An almost 1.7-million-dollar US EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant was awarded to PCUL almost in May 2024. Those funds can be used for cleanup only (such as removing or treating contaminated soil, addressing petroleum or hazardous substances, asbestos or lead cleanup, or environmental monitoring and reporting) and not for redevelopment, buildings, or new construction.
PCUL gave a presentation in 2025 on the Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) and will likely have two more presentations, one for the soil removal and one for further hazardous material abatement in buildings that will either remain or be demolished.
Roxanne Anderson points to the 9.2-acre area covered by the current EPA grant. Image from PCUL's online meeting. Credit: Price County United Limited (PCUL), KSU TAB
Much more land than the 9.2 acres that the grant covers will need to be cleaned up as the property is 26.2 acres. Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig, PCUL's president, said the cleanup grant application was strategic; PCUL asked for funds to cover a small portion of the property as they cannot ask for funds again on the same area, so by not putting the entire area in the grant application, PCUL hopes to apply for more cleanup funds.
An audience member asked if these types of grants are still being awarded under the new administration in Washington, D.C., and Roxanne stated the last five years had a larger amount of grant money, and the future of additional grants is unknown.
PCUL is in the preparation stage of the cleanup. Asbestos inspections, sampling, and abatement have occurred. PCUL is evaluating which buildings will remain and which will be demolished. According to Roxanne, an architectural assessment needs to be done prior to demolishing any buildings, and PCUL must be in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. PCUL must submit a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to the state. The Remedial Design Sampling has not started.
After cleanup, Roxanne said that site is then ready for reuse planning, which may include needing additional funding, community visioning, and public or private investment. She said the EPA does not give brownfield grant money after a site is cleaned up, because it is no longer a brownfield, so funds would need to be sought through something like the Federal Economic Development Department or for infrastructure or something wastewater specific.
Roxanne stated a common question people ask is, "Why does it feel like nothing is happening?" She said a lot of behind the scenes work needs to happen, stating that a project of this size could take "two to ten to fifteen years....It is a long haul." When asked by an audience member what would be needed to get it done in two years, she said a lot of money was the answer. She stated the timeline changes because adjustments need to be made.
If costs become greater than expected for cleanup, adjustments can be made, but the grant will not give any more funding for that acreage. When asked if $1.7 million was enough to clean up the area, Roxanne stated PCUL got what they could get and will probably need more money. The cleanup will remove environmental and legal barriers for the future investment of the property.
Ann Patros, an audience member, stated she is part of the Friends of PCUL, along with others. (The article continues after the following promotional message. Keep reading.)
Looking for a job in Price County? Assembly electrician, production painter, supply chain buyer, electrical designer, and more jobs are listed. Visit the Help Wanted Section at this link.
A meeting attendee asked if the type of soil contamination was known yet, and Roxanne said "yes and no." There are still a lot of steps in the process.
When asked if other grants have been awarded, Lyn stated no others have been awarded, but PCUL is applying for another grant at the end of this month.
An audience member asked if the city was involved as it didn't seem like the council members were "too into it." Roxanne said, "Ask them," but she added that it depends on the capacity and ownership, so the city can only do so much, plus staffing is limited without a full-time city planner. She called it an "evolving relationship." County Administrator Nick Trimner and City Aldermen Mark Brzeskiewicz were in attendance, and one county board member, Jordan Spacek, was in attendance online for a short time at the start of the two-hour long meeting. An in-person meeting attendee reported that Alderman Richard "Dick" Heitkemper was also there, but we were unable to confirm that information at the time of publication. Roxanne and Scott did speak to the council regarding PCUL at the city meeting the night prior.
Lyn said that PCUL had to pay $375,000 in back taxes, and she would like that money to be used as matching funds for future grants for which PCUL applies. Lyn shared, "It's very hard, because never has this happened in Price County. There's never been this massive redevelopment, and that's one of the reasons why we hired KSU to help get that message to them to help them show other examples of smaller communities and what happens with that back tax, what happens with that grant that needs to be matched, what happens when I ask for $180,000 to help partner different community members. It's not about, you know, it gets confusing, and it gets offensive, and it's misunderstood, you know, all this communication, so when the community gets really up in arms so then I need assistance, and so helping get that information of this complexity of a development like this when you have equipment and 41 buildings, and you have to get them to the ground level in a certain amount of time with cleanup, inspections, and it's very complex, so KSU can collaborate, so we are looking for a lot of collaboration, and don't worry, there's missteps, forgive and forget, and keep moving on. Okay, we are all in a community, and we love each other, but you have to love each other in a certain way to keep moving this project forward."
Since Roxanne had asked both the people in attendance and online to write down questions at the start of the meeting and submit them so they could be answered in the meeting, and some audience members were getting their questions answered, My Price County stated on chat that the chat members questions were not being answered, so Scott (of KSU) took the lead on asking some of those questions to Roxanne. My Price County submitted, in chat, seven of the questions that were most related to brownfields; (all the questions, including those seven, can be read in this article). Scott asked Lyn one of the questions, which was, "Once the 'community involvement' requirement is met for the brownfield grant, will PCUL still be giving updates and asking for public input on the revitalization aspect or will that end when the grant requirement ends?" Lyn said it was an excellent question and that PCUL would continue to keep the public informed on the website, blog, through Friends of PCUL, and walk and talk tours, and added that they need community input.
On chat, Jake B. asked "What are the materials that need to be removed? How were they identified?" He also asked, "How could the city benefit from light manufacturing in one of the buildings, as an example, if its on private property (i.e. owned by PCUL)? His question was not answered.
Tracy S. asked "What are the contaminants present and how is the remainder of cleanup being paid for once grant funds are used up?" Tracy later stated and asked, "I have not seen any information how the full project will get paid for. Also, what studies have been done and where is data to support that the Phillips and surrounding areas can support such a project and additional residency? Where will all the intended residents be employed to make enough income to purchase or rent or afford what the project is proposing and planning? Yes, growth can be good, but I have never seen how all this will be paid for or long-term financially sustained." Tracy's questions were not answered, either.
Scott was typing, possibly a response, when the online session ended for a second time. My Price County tried to enter the meeting again, which was wrapping up, but no one started the online portion again. Therefore, the remainder of the chat questions did not get answered. We reached out to Scott to see if he was typing a reply and what it was, and he replied that Roxanne will provide answers in the coming days. We also asked who determined there is contamination given former employees have stated they do not feel there is contamination at the site. My Price County will update this article when a response is received.
The former "Lionite" mill property cleanup application timeline was discussed at the meeting. Image from PCUL's online meeting.
Credit: Price County United Limited (PCUL), KSU TAB
A question that My Price County asked twice in chat is one we often get from community members, which is asking when PCUL purchased the Lionite property. The tax records show the transfer took place on April 1, 2024. However, at an April 1, 2024 city meeting, Lyn Ludwig asked the planning commission to correct the date of ownership of Lionite from November 11, 2023 to November 10, 2023, according to the meeting minutes. At the January 14, 2026 meeting, it was stated, and the timeline presented showed, that it was purchased on November 13, 2023. Numerous media sources have published an April 1, 2024 purchase date, which is also shown in the tax record for Price County. Community members feel this purchase date is important, because anyone receiving a brownfield grant is required to own the property when they apply for the grant. If PCUL applied in November of 2023 but did not own the property until April 1, 2024, grant funds could be revoked. If grant funds get revoked, community members are concerned what would happen to the property and project.
PCUL's proposed usage for the "Lionite" property. Image from PCUL's online meeting.
Credit: Price County United Limited (PCUL), KSU TAB
Another important question that community members want to know, though My Price County did not ask it at the meeting given it wasn't really a brownfields question, which was the topic of the meeting, is how tall the proposed residential buildings will be, because PCUL stated they wanted to demolish "Lionite" so community members could have a clear view of the lake, but if residences are then built there, the clear view of the lake will be gone once again. Also, as was asked but not answered at this meeting, where are all the people coming from that will live in the residential area and where will they work if there are already limited jobs in the area?
Finally, since "Lionite" is in a flood plain, a meeting attendee asked how that would be handled. It was stated that more soil could be brought in. The meeting attendee added that a lot of soil would be needed as the entire area was under water in the early 1990s and many people know the area to be wet, which is why it is a floodplain.
In the chat, My Price County asked PCUL to answer the questions we submitted on behalf of the community. If PCUL replies, we will publish those responses. My Price County wants good things to happen in Phillips, just like most residents also want, and we were hopeful about this project when it first came about in 2024. However, when PCUL does not answer community questions, it does not make the community feel comfortable with the project, which is what we continue to hear from people asking questions. We invite Lyn, Blake, and Cheryl, the three PCUL board members, to answer our questions, and we will write an article, publishing it to the 15,000 households that read our publication. Transparent, up-front answers will likely "clear the air" with many residents, which is what PCUL board members state they would like to happen.
Phillips Public Library, located at 286 Cherry Street in Phillips, has lots of activities and events planned for this month. Visit the library's website for more information.
My Price County's November 2025 article about PCUL, which was answering a question that many residents were asking regarding if the grant funding was being used and what it was being used for, generated a lot of interest. (See related article.) On the My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page, people mentioned that PCUL doesn't answer My Price County's questions and some felt they did not get answers when they had directly asked PCUL questions. This discussion likely prompted Cheryl Moore, PCUL board member, to contact My Price County as she seemed to be aware of the Facebook comments and the article on our website. Cheryl gave My Price County the contact email addresses for Lynda Ludwig and Blake Pluemer, which were some of the contact email addresses we had written to now and in the past, and she stated that is how we could get our questions answered. We submitted more community questions to all three board members in late December 2025, but we have not received answers to any of the questions, which are found below the following article. We will report those answers if we get them. Cheryl also stated she did not have a way to share the October 2025 video recorded meeting with My Price County given the file was so large, but she provided a transcript of the meeting. There were obvious errors in the transcript, as it was likely generated by AI, but we were able to get a lot of the 35-minute October 8, 2025 PCUL meeting captured in the following article. We tried to clean up repeated "um" noises, grammar, and repeated words that AI likely got wrong but otherwise left the quoted text as shown in the transcript.
October 2025 Meeting
At the October 2025 meeting, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig began the meeting stating the agenda was "project updates and then we're going over the Community Involvement Plan, which is required by the EPA Community Grant. And also the ABCA, which is Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives for the initial cleanup activities."
Lyn stated she is the project director and PCUL works with Melanie Sorman, EPA Regional 5, and Sarah Gruza, an EPA Project Officer and the Brownfields Project Officer.
Lyn stated the cleanup grant will be used for "engineer analysis to determine which buildings are collapsed or have some structural integrity issues. The other thing that it funds is the demolition of buildings for safe removal of asbestos or other hazardous material." She stated it also pays for the safe removal of universal wastes, such as paint or hydraulic fluid that is in storage tanks and equipment. Petroleum and chemical storage tanks will also be remediated and removed. Floor slabs will be removed if hot spots exist. Contaminated areas will be backfilled and graded. Plus, the grant will be used for topsoil in needed areas.
Regarding contamination, Lyn said, "When we look back at the recent soil and groundwater sample results, none of the concentration detected in the groundwater exceeded a Wisconsin chapter NR 140 enforcement standard, and none of the concentrations detected in soil samples exceeded the NR 720 WAC direct contact residue, contamination levels for industrial land use. However, only limited testing was performed in the 9.2 acre project area where the facility buildings are located and where access of the sampling is limited because on this building that's pretty much concrete or asphalt all throughout that 9.2 acres. So it's been covering up areas since the 1880s. So remember there's 14 different mills and this is probably the 16th rendition of different mill sites."
She added, "There's asbestos located in the pipes in different areas. So we've identified in a 2023 survey that the boiler, there's this massive boiler that heated everything for the mill; it's part of the hardware, hardboard process. So there's a big building that has multiple boilers and that has asbestos. You know, it was built prior to 1950s. And then there's many pipes and duct insulation. There's roofing paint, building base sediment and there's penetration tar. And caulk like on the seams of the some of these buildings. So, we've also assumed that some of these asbestos containing materials that are identified include boiler components and electronic panel components."
David Holmes, an environmental consultant, said, "So, there has been quite a few testings done. You know, a lot of it was done by Georgia Pacific when they removed tanks or they spilled something. And it was cleaned up. Then there was testing done when the previous owner brought the property. So, that's where they went and they collected soil and groundwater samples from eight or ten locations around the site, and that's where there was some low level contaminants found, I think, yes, there's some metals and some poly nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, which are just sort of like heavier. And less volatile petroleum components and then also some volatile organic compounds, but they didn't do, you know, really extensive testing, so. But what was found was, you know, again this is, this is a plant that you know mostly dealt with, you know, wood products and then the hazardous materials were paint. So it wasn't like a lot of factories where you necessarily are expecting to find a lot of contamination. Probably the biggest contamination is from the fires that were here. So, there was, there is, some contamination. So, you know, but so it hasn't been regarding like pesticides or herbicides. I don't believe there's been any testing for that. But there really hasn't been a reason to based on what we're doing so far. Again, we're sort of taking this from first we got to deal with getting the equipment in the buildings. Tanks and chemicals and then what the grant does then have the ability to start looking under the buildings and then doing actual soil or groundwater clean up if needed. But yeah, again, you know, there was testing before and there really wasn't anything there in the soil and groundwater that would appear to be a threat to public health or the environment."
David added, "We can't really do anything with the rest of the grant funds until the equipment was removed. And then that was further complicated by just realizing that there were 20 or 30 pieces of equipment where they had incorporated asbestos into it. Sometimes it was, you know, ovens for heating or the boiler or other times it's just in the old days they use to put a little bit of asbestos in everything."
There are required filings and required acknowledgement to the public which PCUL must do throughout the process. One example Lyn mentioned is that an assessment must be posted for 30 days so that citizens can view and understand the risks that will happen during the removal of contaminated items from the buildings. That 30-day time frame has now passed, and they have been allowed to remove equipment.
There are 41 buildings on the property with about 38 having equipment inside them. All the equipment was auctioned except for the 18,000 square foot building's equipment. The large smokestack that says "Lionite" on it will be coming down. Community members had previously asked if that could be saved for historical purposes. Lyn's comments from the meeting were that the people taking it down are from out of the area and don't realize the significance to residents, but residents would need to tell PCUL if they want it, or other elements, preserved.
As for what the future looks like, Lyn said that "August 1, 2024 is when our initial grant started ticking. So we have four years after that to complete our project....There's one large one like a football field building that potentially could be an event center or a YMCA with a track on the upper level, there's other buildings that could be like manufacturing possibly, you know, but we're really looking at the structural components to see if we can build out something and reuse parts of the property so that it's a dynamic process. Initially, we looked at the property; we want to flatten everything, you know, get everything off and take everything off. But with the EPA Cleanup Grant, you know, it's only, you know, 1.6 million. This is a huge property to clean up, so the amount of money we want to preserve and have some cash flow for the build out, so we do this very consciously of how we step forward so we're not destroying things that could be preserved and generating income or some historic value, but we did a historic preservation study prior to this, as well. There's lots of things we had to do as we step through the cleanup grant." Lyn said PCUL wants to address the need for housing, recreational opportunities, and reconnecting the community to Duroy Lake.
David Holmes suggested time-lapse photography as the project continues on and stated it is probably a "grant eligible expense." This would preserve the history of the mill through photos.
At the meeting, Lyn said the active involvement of local residents and institutions are required for the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) portion of the grant.
Questions for PCUL
We sent the following message and questions to all three board members, including the email address Cheryl told us to send the questions to, in late December 2025. My Price County has not received any responses. If PCUL responds to the questions the community has sent to us, we will share those answers on My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin.
"Community members have asked the following questions; the newer questions are at the top and the older questions, from our previous emails to you, are at the bottom. Cheryl Moore told us to send the questions again so they can be answered. Providing answers will help the community feel more informed and comfortable with that is going on. We still get those same older questions from community members, so please provide answers. Since the EPA grant wants you to answer community questions, that is why we are asking all these questions. Please respond:
Who is CAP Minnesota LLC (with attorneys Stephen D. Willett and Jon Neve)? Why are they suing PCUL, Lynda Ludwig, and Associated Auction & Liquidation Co as of 12-8-2025?
Why is Associated Auction & Liquidation Co and WSC, Inc. DBA Wausau Auctioneers suing PCUL and CAP Minnesota, LLC as of 12-10-2025?
Why hasn't PCUL paid the $205.50 that was due on 11-7-2024 to the City of Phillips for grass length exceeding 6 inches?
Who are the admins of the Facebook group, "Friends of Price County United Limited?" Are you associated with that group?
Where did the funds go from the October 2025 auction? Who profited?
Which grants have you been awarded and for how much and which properties?
We know some grants are no longer being honored. Have any grants been revoked?
Rather than tearing them down, are there uses for the structures on the property if they are left in place, such as business start-up locations?
Since "Lionite" is on a floodplain, how is that going to be addressed and handled if PCUL wants to build new buildings?
Since the EPA does not pay for demolition and revitalization with the brownfield grant, what are the 1.6 million dollars going toward? And where will the money come from to demolish and revitalize?
Once the "community involvement" requirement is met for the brownfield grant, will PCUL still be giving updates and asking for public input on the revitalization aspect or will that end when the grant requirement ends?
What is happening with the former Fred Mueller Ford, Express Mart, and Belan Realties properties. We were told a few people wanted to rent the Fred Mueller Ford building but were told they could only do so for a month or must share the space with another business. What are the plans for these vacant commercial properties?
Now that the Express Mart building has been demolished, what are the plans for that property?
What is the update on the Elk Lake Park parking lot lease with the City of Phillips?
You stated that PCUL is paying back taxes on the former Lionite property. However, what amount of taxes will PCUL pay in the future once the back taxes are paid? Does a non-profit get a tax break? If so, how much?
Many people have expressed that if the former Lionite building is torn down, people will be able to see much more of the lake, and many people hope that the area will be used as an additional park or recreation area. Some would like to see retail or service businesses there which would bring value to the community. Will people be able to see the lake if housing is built there? How tall will the housing be? Will there still be room for something else other than housing? Your EPA application states, "The residential developments envisioned for the Property will consist of (4) 16-unit apartments aligned around a public park; (14) 4-unit village homes along a lakefront trail, and (12) small homes adjacent to public small craft docks along the Lake." Is PCUL planning to put 132 residential units on the former Lionite site?
So much housing seems excessive when we need jobs here; without jobs, shopping, things to do, and better medical care, as expressed by community members at PCUL meetings, people will not come here, so why does Phillips need so many housing units right now?
Are any of the properties going to be used for migrant housing?
Lyn stated, in the meeting, that many people think you are in this for the money, and you would like that corrected in the community. To correct the rumors, please tell us why you want to make these changes in Phillips. Also, are any of the board members receiving any money from PCUL at this time? If so, how much and for what reasons? If and when these projects take place, especially if all the housing gets built, where will the income go? What is the projected amount of money the board members will make at that time? Please let us know anything you can about the money that may be generated now and in the future with these projects, using the My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin platform as an opportunity to get accurate information to a large amount of the community and beyond, as our news platform reaches over 15,000 households, and we realize your grant involves community input and questions being answered by PCUL so the community can be informed.
Where is the money coming from to buy the individual properties that PCUL and the other LLCs are buying? One community member asked if those purchases are being made from the cleanup grant.
When was the Lionite property purchased by PCUL? The tax records show the transfer took place on April 1, 2024. However, at the April 1, 2024 meeting, Lyn Ludwig asked the planning commission to correct the date of ownership of Lionite from November 11, 2023 to November 10, 2023. Why did you want the planning commission to show it was purchased on November 10, 2023 if the tax record shows it was purchased on April 1, 2024? When was this property purchased?
What is the timeline for accomplishing all that PCUL wants to accomplish?"
In late December, My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin contacted all three PCUL board members with a list of community questions, which we will publish in full in an upcoming article. Our publication hoped we would get responses to these questions, because, in November 2025, one of the board members, Cheryl Moore, saw our article and reached out, telling My Price County the email address to send the questions so they could be answered. It was one of the email addresses where questions have been sent since 2024. As of the publication of this article, we have not received responses to the questions. Three of the questions included:
Who is CAP Minnesota LLC (with attorneys Stephen D. Willett and Jon Neve)? Why are they suing PCUL, Lynda Ludwig, and Associated Auction & Liquidation Co as of 12-8-2025?
Why is Associated Auction & Liquidation Co and WSC, Inc. DBA Wausau Auctioneers suing PCUL and CAP Minnesota, LLC as of 12-10-2025?
Why hasn't PCUL paid the $205.50 that was due on 11-7-2024 to the City of Phillips for grass length exceeding 6 inches?
If PCUL provides answers to any or all of our questions, we will publish the responses.
According to the court record, Sanjay Patel of Fargo, North Dakota, the former owner of the "Lionite" property, filed a lawsuit as CAP Minnesota LLC. The lawsuit alleges that PCUL failed to meet the obligations of its loan and security agreement and did not properly distribute the auction proceeds from the October 2025 auction. In past meetings, PCUL President Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig stated that the former owner, Sanjay Patel, was storing equipment in the buildings and was renting space for it. Lyn stated there was an agreement for when the equipment would be removed but did not definitively state, when asked by community members at the meeting, when the equipment removal deadline was or the terms of the contract. In 2025, it was announced by PCUL that an equipment auction would be held in October.
The suit also claims that PCUL has not properly addressed the obligations of environmental and hazardous materials and that auction documents were withheld.
The auction company filed on December 10, 2025 in an attempt to prevent CAP Minnesota LLC and PCUL from holding the auction company responsible.
PCUL's attorney is Shawn Govern.
Motion defenses, an answer, and affirmative defenses were filed on December 30, 2025 for the December 8, 2025 lawsuit.
An answer and affirmative defense was filed on January 2, 2026 for the December 10, 2025 court case.
The grass length violation that PCUL faced with the city has been concluded in court with a "guilty due to no contest plea," but the payment of $205.50, which was due November 7, 2024, has not yet been paid, according to court records.
A basset hound named Violet had been lost in the woods of Oneida County for three days.
A professional dog rescuer was unable to locate the dog and determined that, given an ice and snowstorm was looming, a method that is not generally preferred be used to find the dog. The method was to form a search party.
About 70 people gathered on Sunday, December 28, 2025 to find Violet. Searchers said the dog ran fast, but she was quickly captured.
The reason a search party is not usually utilized is because large groups can sometimes scare lost dogs further into the woods or into unsafe areas.
A day in the life of a police officer can vary, especially in a small town. Some days are easier, and some days involve more difficult arrests. That "more difficult" day happened for officers in Price County on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
According to a bystander, who was visiting the area and captured video of the arrest, a man was in his truck in Park Falls for an extended period of time. He exited with a heavy police presence giving him commands. He was shouting that he did not know what he did wrong or why he was being arrested. At some point, it appears he was either wearing shorts or took his pants off. The video was intentionally blurred in one spot at the beginning, and the end of the video is "censored" in spots to avoid showing personal areas of the man being arrested. You can view the video on our Facebook page.
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According to Park Falls Police Chief Marvin Nevelier, police arrived at 7th Avenue South in the early morning hours on Sunday. He said, "The Price County Dispatch Center advised that a female subject was reporting that she had been held against her will a short distance from her current location. Officers responded and began to investigate the incident and obtained the following information: that she had been riding in a vehicle with Michael Stevens since approximately 12 a.m. on January 4, 2026; that Michael drove her back to her residence but then drove away before she could exit the vehicle; that Michael drove to a vacant lot near 8th Street South and 2nd Street South and parked his vehicle; that Michael turned off his vehicle and became enraged and began destroying the interior of the vehicle; that Michael was causing wires to spark and commented about setting the vehicle on fire; that Michael had mentioned being in possession of a firearm, but no firearm was observed; that at approximately 5:32 a.m., the victim was able to flee from the vehicle and ran to a nearby residence for help."
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Looking for employment in Price County? Visit the Help Wanted Section to find the right job for you!
With that information, additional officers were summoned to the scene. The Price County Sheriff's Office and Price County SRT responded in case the man might have a firearm. After Michael was located, he stayed in his truck for approximately two hours. He then exited his vehicle, and officers began giving Michael verbal commands. Michael was taken into custody. He was taken to the hospital for treatment as he had been exposed to the outdoor elements; he did not have heat in his vehicle for hours.
After release from the hospital, Michael was transported to the Price County Jail. He is a 35-year-old man being held for violating his probation. According to Chief Nevelier, the Park Falls Police Department is referring misdemeanor and felony criminal charges against Michael for his actions. His listed charges are DC Domestic, False Imprisonment, Resist/Obstruct Officer, Terrorist Threats, and HAB Criminal. He has a probation hold and a felony hold.
UPDATED 1/6/2026:
My Price County asked Sheriff Nevelier how the female got in the man's truck and if she did so willingly. We asked if she knew him, if he harmed her in any way, and if she is an adult. He responded, "As this is still a pending investigation, I am unable to release this information at this time."
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As a Production Painter at BW Papersystems you would perform a normal range of metal preparation and painting operations on a wide variety of parts, weldments, subassemblies and assembled company products. You would be working from process sheets, repair orders, specifications and instructions to operate various types of grinders (sanders) and determine colors and areas to paint on machine surfaces.
Key Responsibilities:
Interpret drawings, route sheets, specifications, and instructions to perform work.
Washing parts with pressure washers and applying conversion coating/sealers
Use surface filler materials to build up part surfaces, sandpaper to smooth.
Operate various types of hand grinders (sanders); use wire brush, files, and sandpaper to remove scale and burrs. Clean, grind, and prepare metal or painting operations; tape and mask unit to protect areas not to be painted.
Set up and operate spray painting equipment to apply standard undercoat sealer and finishing coats of paint. Add thinners as necessary to obtain proper paint viscosity.
General knowledge of mixing paints
Make necessary adjustments and manipulate gun to control and obtain proper finish; exercise care to prevent sags, dry spray and dirt.
Use sand blaster to remove existing rust and slag; must have some knowledge of materials to eliminate distortion that may result from these processes.
Operate portable and stand abrasive belt grinders, portable disc grinders and buffing wheels to snag, grind and polish parts.
Identify and report defective materials or operational issues to supervisors with detailed descriptions, operate materials handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, hand trucks) to move and organize inventory, and handle proper disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste per regulatory requirements
Maintain equipment and work areas in clean, orderly, and safe condition while performing all tasks in accordance with established safety procedures
Other duties as assigned
Required Experience and Education
High School Diploma or equivalent
2+ years of applicable experience
At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work—therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.
Barry-Wehmiller is an equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V This organization uses E-Verify.
Applicants may be subject to pre-employment screening which may include drug screening, reference checks, employment verifications, background screening and/or skills assessments.
Responsible for creating and implementing purchasing strategies to support productivity and working capital objectives for assigned product category.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):
Analyze specifications, quality, quantity and delivery requirements for assigned less complex product category and/or specific project; determine best supply source; survey markets for new supply sources
Establish strong, collaborative relationships with selected suppliers
May negotiate and create smaller, less complex supplier contracts based on competence, competitive standing, and alignment with company vision; maintain cost control and drive cost reduction
Prepare, analyze, evaluate and issue quotations ensuring all purchasing policy and objectives are met; complete purchase transactions ensuring that all deliverables are met
Responsible for site inventory levels, product rejects and chargebacks
Attend daily cross-functional team meetings and support parts flow to operations; responsible for resolution of escalated supplier issues
May evaluate suppliers against quarterly supplier scorecard; perform site visits, collect and analyze internal metric data; require compliance to all performance parameters for which supplier is accountable
May assist with or participate in key projects such as e-commerce, product development, spend/cost reduction analysis, etc.
Other duties as assigned
Job Specifications:
Strategic thinking
Problem-solving
Negotiation
Project management
Prioritization; deadline management
Customer Service
Collaboration
Team-oriented
Analytical thinking
Verbal and written communication
Relationship management
Cross-functional team
Creativity
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Business or related field preferred CSCP, CLTD, CPIM or equivalent certification preferred Typically requires 0-2 years of experience in purchasing or supply management Typically has 0-2 years of experience in sourcing packaging components or manufacturing services Knowledge of ERP systems preferred
Supervisory/Responsibility:
Reports to Supply Chain Manager; does not directly supervise other employees
Work Environment:
Work is in an office environment located in a manufacturing facility. While most essential functions will be performed in the office portion of the facility, other essential functions will require the employee to be in manufacturing portion of the facility for extended periods of time. Employee must be able to correctly wear and use and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required at the location.
Physical Demands:
This position requires the frequent use of standard office equipment for long periods of time in addition to physically demanding periods of time that include lifting, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, climbing, and dexterity.
Position Type:
This is a regular full-time position with the understanding that a regular work week will require extended days and hours as needed to meet business needs.
Travel:
Regular domestic and/or international travel is expected for this position; anticipated travel is a minimum of 25%
Disclaimer:
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It’s not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job. This job description is subject to change at any time.
At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work—therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.
Barry-Wehmiller is an equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V This organization uses E-Verify.
Applicants may be subject to pre-employment screening which may include drug screening, reference checks, employment verifications, background screening and/or skills assessments.
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