An incorrect lane marking caused traffic confusion in Park Falls on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
At the intersection of Hwy. 13 and County Road E, heading southbound, there at two lanes of traffic. The right lane was marked correctly for a straight or right turn. The left lane was marked incorrectly with an arrow directing traffic to the right rather than to the left. This arrow was painted on the road as the repaving project is nearing completion.
According to the Park Falls Police Department, police were aware of the issue this afternoon and the issue was being addressed.
Later in the day, the arrow was somewhat blacked out so not to cause further confusion for drivers.
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A public hearing was held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in order to revise an ordinance regarding one-way streets. Ordinance No. 25-005, Section 7.06 now states that vehicles may only travel "northerly or northwesterly on the alley running from Walnut Street to Maple Street." This is the alley that runs between the grocery store and the parking lot in Phillips.
Mayor Charles Peterson said, "A lot of people don't realize that the middle of the parking lot, when you are driving by, that alley is still an alley. The parking lot is toward Hwy. 13. There's still an alley that goes through there, so when somebody's in that alleyway, the people in the parking lot got to yield to the people in the alley."
Penalties were also added to the ordinance, stating, "Any person violating any of the provisions of this Section shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty as provided in Section 25.04 of the Municipal Code."
Before penalties were written into the ordinance, Chief Mike Hauschild said his hands were tied. At a previous meeting, he stated that residents would report people traveling the wrong way down the alley. Officers would often see people traveling the wrong way, and sometimes the people would admit to knowing it is a one-way alley and purposefully traveling the wrong way. Now penalties can be given as a result of driving the wrong way in the alley, which includes the part of the alley that many people think is part of the parking lot. It is not part of the parking lot; it is a one-way alley.
The mayor noted that there are signs there, but people aren't following them.
A resident of the alley thanked the council for addressing the issue.
The ordinance also officially removed Turner Street as a one-way street. Turner Street is in front of the former elementary school and was changed back to a two-way street.
There was a unanimous vote to approve the revisions.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to a manure spill in Taylor County. The department was notified via its Violation Hotline on Friday, September 5, 2025.
According to the Wisconsin DNR the spill happened earlier this week and "impacted Trappers Creek, a tributary to the Black River, with dead fish observed in the creek."
The extent of the spill’s impact is being determined. Options for cleanup or mitigation are being assessed.
The department is working with the local farmer and Taylor County Land Conservation Department to determine what caused the spill.
The Committee of the Whole, in Phillips, met on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. One item on the agenda was the sidewalks project.
During public comment, Davette Hrabak presented a document she found online from Ayres Associates, the engineering firm hired by the City of Phillips, that stated concrete under 12" thick needs to be at 55 degrees for 24 hours a day for six or seven days to cure properly. She said that if the council does not think the temperatures are conducive to pouring concrete, that she feels the project should be delayed until conditions are favorable so that the concrete cures properly and lasts a long time. She said that she has seen some work vehicles drive on the sidewalks in the past, and, if this practice continues, it could cause damage to new sidewalks if they are not cured properly. Ayres Associates' document stated that, if concrete is poured in cold weather, procedures need to be taken such as using protection methods like enclosures, insulated formwork and blankets, hydronic heaters, and combustion heaters. Davette asked if there would be a guarantee that the sidewalks will cure properly. Mayor Charles "Chuck" Peterson and Attorney Bryce Schoenborn said there will be a bond for the work. Davette asked if the bond is short-term or for the expected average life of the concrete, and the answer was that the concrete will get approved by Ayres Associates, and if anything is needed to be corrected immediately after work is done and within a year, the company will have to correct it. The mayor said, "That bond is always part of any of the stuff that we do. I always make sure the contractors sign something like that, and we still would end up having the right to tell them 'No, don't do it, we don't think it's the right time, so we don't think you should.'" The committee thanked Davette for presenting the information.
In related news, Lynda "Lyn" Ludwig with PCUL was present, requesting that the DOT TAP Grant be applied for in regard to trails and a switchback which would allow for handicap access by the stairs that lead from Hwy. 13 to Elk Lake Park. The bike trails would be located behind some businesses on Lake Avenue from Bostrom Park and extend all the way out to the fairgrounds.
City Clerk Shelby Kosmer stated the estimated cost is $130,000 for the switchback, but other costs would need to be calculated.
Lyn stated that PCUL will not apply for the DOT TAP Grant unless the city backs them, because a municipality applying for it will score much higher than an organization. PCUL tried to get a grant twice in recent years for the sidewalks, but the city did not back that grant, and Lyn feels the competitive grant could be received if the city is involved.
Encouraging the committee to pursue this idea, Lyn said to an audience member, "Ken, what did your mom say?" He replied, "About what?" She said, "When you walked to the fairgrounds?" Lyn continued stating that Ken had said that when he was eight years old his mom was very scared when he was walking to the fairgrounds, and she felt that was one reason a trail system was needed. Ken stated his mom did not say she was scared when he walked to the fairgrounds, because he did not walk to the fairgrounds, but he walked to the beach. He stated that she was concerned because he was a little kid at the time.
Chuck said the switchback area near the steps would be in the railroad and highway rights-of-way, which would need permits as there is not enough room near the steps without infringing on property that is not owned by the city.
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Lynne Bohn added her thoughts, stating, "This was the grant that Kathy Billek and I had found and researched and talked with the DOT rep, Evan Maves, and he thought we could potentially get this grant for the sidewalks. Couldn't this [trail system] be combined with the sidewalks?" The mayor interjected, "It would be a separate project. The sidewalk would be a separate project. The swayback [switchback] would be a separate project. The walkway going down, them are all separate ones, so we could go back and look at it, but the sidewalks, as of right now, have already been approved to go and do, so the sidewalks are completely out as far as that goes." Lynne explained that when it was brought up at a prior meeting that a bike trail could be added so the city could score higher on the grant, the council did not want to do it because it is a competitive grant and it may not get awarded to the city, so the council didn't want to pay the extra cost of something that might not get awarded, even though that is how grants are structured. She added that the DOT rep, Evan Maves, seemed to say a bike trail and sidewalks could pair together nicely on this grant. The mayor asked Lynne Bohn if the bike trail would go on the main street. Lyn Ludwig responded to the mayor stating there is a lot of strategy that goes into the grant. She said that when PCUL applied in two recent years, the city did not want to submit that grant, and they would have scored high on it if they had. She explained that grant would have covered the sidewalks and the bike trails because the DOT understands that we want to keep the historic quality of our downtown but yet also have a bike path, so the grant could include all projects mentioned, including the sidewalks. Lyn Ludwig stated it might be smart to hold off on the sidewalks until next year so the DOT TAP Grant could potentially cover the costs of the sidewalks, the switchback, and trail system all as one.
Chuck said, "This board has already made the decision to put the sidewalks in already for this year. That decision's already been made." He stated he will only talk about the switchback for the DOT TAP grant, and he concluded the discussion asking Justin, from Ayres Associates, to look into it.
In a follow-up interview, Lynne Bohn shared that over twenty business owners and counting have stated they would gladly wait until next spring, before the busy season, to get the sidewalks completed when the weather is much more favorable and in hopes of getting a grant to cover the full costs. She said, "A number of business owners have directly told me that the city promised the business owners that a grant would be applied for and that they should, therefore, apply for a grant for the sidewalks. Those business owners feel delaying until spring will not only save them money but will also save the city money, at a time where every dollar counts for our city, if the DOT would award the grant, and there seems to be a high likelihood that a combined project of sidewalks and a trail system would be awarded and enhance our community with a cost savings to everyone. Since the mayor told Davette that the project could be postponed if the council felt the weather was not conducive to the project, the project could be postponed for that reason and to try to get a grant. Many business owners are concerned about the sidewalks properly curing during mid-September through October given the temperatures will likely be colder than recommended. My main concern is the sidewalks curing properly, but I have presented the combined thoughts of all the business owners that have talked with me, which also includes those who really want a grant," Lynne Bohn said.
At the meeting, Ayres Associates submitted a corrected contract for the sidewalks showing their cost has increased by $7,450 for "preliminary and final design and DOT coordination" citing "Ayres attended additional meetings with the city and had additional coordination with the DOT beyond what was reasonably expected. The DOT coordination resulted in redesign efforts during final design phase due to the compressed schedule of the project." The cost adjustment was approved.
Three bids came in at $385,391.03, $576,447, and $848,599. The council approved the bid for $385,391.03 with a company from Eau Claire.
Alderman Bill Elliott asked how long the sidewalks will be torn up, and Justin thought the project will take about a month. One side of the street will be torn up and completed and then the other side will be torn up and completed. Justin stated it will take 1 1/2 to 2 weeks before any work would start, so work will not start until mid-September at the earliest and will not finish until mid-October at the earliest. The city is still working to get temporary easements signed by all the business owners that need to sign one.
At the meeting in August, it was revealed that the business owners voted and shadow slate won for the color, and brick won for the pattern of the sloped terrace. The council could select between cobblestone, which is a rounded, irregular stone pattern or ashlar, which is a rectangular stone pattern. The council voted for the ashlar pattern.
The Common Council will meet on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, and information regarding the sidewalks project will likely be on the agenda.
The 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.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Fire Chief David Lontcoski addressed the Committee of the Whole regarding the accident that occurred at the intersection of Hwy. 13 and Little Chicago Road/Hwy. 111. He stated, "We struggled a little bit," because they did not have the stabilization equipment that they needed to secure the 92,000-pound semi as they were trying to get victims out of the pick-up truck and the semi. He asked the committee if they would allow $15,800 to be used from the Equipment Fund to buy the necessary stabilizing equipment so they can handle accidents with commercial vehicles. He added that there are hundreds of heavy, commercial vehicles going through Phillips every day and no emergency services in the county have the proper equipment to secure a heavy vehicle. "We don't always have heavy equipment across the road like we did that day." Even with the heavy equipment they were able to use that day, emergency services workers were afraid the semi could move, causing more injuries or fatalities, as they worked to get to the victims. "In 30 years, I've never ever seen anything like that," David said.
Alderman Richard "Dick" Heitkemper added that he was on call with the ambulance crew that day. "There were three people that were trapped in the pick-up truck under the semi. It took hours to get them out of there. There were two that were deceased, and we could tell right away, but we did rescue a 6-year-old that was stuck under the dash of the truck, and he is alive today. It took a long time to get that little boy out of there. Had these other two been alive on scene, we don't know if they would have lived in the length of time it took us to get those ones out of the truck, but they were deceased upon arrival." He said a huge excavator was used to anchor the truck given they did not have the rescue equipment for which they are now asking.
EMS and fire department members were working from inside the vehicle, reaching inside the vehicle. Dick added, "Everybody was on edge not knowing if that tanker, which weighed 90,000 pounds, was going to continue to roll over down into the hollow, so this is something that we look around and these are not available for any agency in the county at this time." Dick shared, "The response was tremendous" with EMS from the area responding. He said one helicopter landed on scene to take the little boy to the hospital. The other helicopter transported the semi driver from the hospital in Park Falls to Marshfield so the man could have surgery. It took about 3 1/2 hours to get all the people out of the vehicles and about eight hours to clean up the scene.
Dick added the cost of the equipment will be worth it if it even saves one life.
The committee approved the purchase, which will allow 80,000 pounds to be stabilized.
The committee also thanked everyone involved in assisting with the accident.
Naomi (Lukes) Morrison, the K-12 art teacher at the Prentice School District, was waiting at the school for her husband, Bob, and their two sons, James and Luke, to arrive for a meet-and-greet with their new teachers.
James, who would be entering third grade, and Luke, who would be entering first grade, were only about ten miles away from their mom and the school at 9:43 a.m., traveling south on Hwy. 13. In that moment, what should have been a happy day turned into tragedy and Naomi and Luke's worst nightmare.
At the intersection of Little Chicago Road / Hwy. 111 and Hwy. 13, tragedy struck for this family. A farm's semi and the pick-up truck that the Morrison family was in, collided.
Sadly, Bob and James passed on at the scene. Luke was airlifted to the hospital. According to Harmoni Jesunas, a music teacher at the Prentice School District and friend of the family, "Luke is going to be okay. He has no major health concerns or major injuries." He was discharged from the hospital and is home.
Harmoni described Naomi as someone who "puts her whole heart into everything she does. You can see the joy that radiates from her when she talks about the love of her life, her husband, Bob, and their two elementary-aged sons, James and Luke."
Harmoni gave information about the Morrison family, sharing, "Naomi and Bob spent this last summer creating the beginning of a fully sustainable dream garden together, expanding their farm livestock, and spending as much time together as they could before the school year started. Bob’s favorite pastime was fishing, a hobby that he and his wife were both passionate about. They enjoyed competing together in ice fishing tournaments, and Bob could be found fishing year-round any chance he got. Their close-knit bond and love was apparent in every smile and laugh that was almost always on their faces.
Bob and Luke. Submitted photo.
"Bob had just finished his final licensing in HVAC the week before this happened. He and a close friend were excited to get their new business venture off the ground and running.
"Sweet little James spent the first few weeks of his life in the NICU as a baby. He grew into a charming, polite, and kind little boy. He shared in his parents love for the outdoors and spent many days exploring and playing outside alongside his little brother, Luke. He had a smile and personality that resembled his mama’s. Naomi loved getting to see her ray of sunshine boy every chance she could both at home and at school as his art teacher. Not everyone loves having their parent as a teacher, but James loved it."
Harmoni has created a GoFundMe page, to help Naomi and Luke navigate the great financial burden. Anyone wanting to donate directly to a bank, rather than online, can do so at Connexus Credit Union in Phillips by depositing the money into Naomi Morrison's account. Harmoni asks the community to "please consider donating whatever you can to help not only with funeral expenses to honor this father and son but also with basic needs. Financial hardship is something those of us who love Naomi are very concerned about."
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On Thursday, August 28, 2025, at approximately 9:43 a.m., several 911 calls were received reporting a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 111 in the Township of Worcester.
There were three occupants in a pickup truck and one occupant in a semi-truck. Two occupants of the pickup truck died as a result of the crash. The names of the deceased are being withheld at this time but will be updated in this article if the information is received from the Price County Sheriff's Office in the near future.
The cause of the crash is being investigated.
Responding agencies included the Price County Sheriff’s Office, Phillips Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Reconstruction Unit, Price County Coroner’s Office, Phillips Fire Department, Prentice Fire Department, Park Falls Ambulance Service, Central Price County Ambulance Service, and Price County Highway Department.
When Kelsey (Revak) Loper was in high school, if someone would have told her she would be in Africa on a reality TV show some day, she would not have believed them. She said she thought, "Those adventures were for famous, rich people. Boy, was I wrong! I don't know if I was outgoing enough in high school yet, either? My friends will probably say I was. I never thought I would be an archer, let alone hunting with a traditional bow in Africa on a show. Always say 'yes' to adventure because one crazy journey leads to many more larger adventures."
For those who have not seen this season of "Alone," (read related story), Kelsey was one of ten contestants trying to survive, by herself, with ten survival items she was allowed to select. One other woman, Katie from Australia, and a man, Nathan from Idaho, were among the final three.
The final episode aired on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and Kelsey, raised in Phillips, Wisconsin and currently residing in Montana, took second place, lasting for 33 days. Nathan was the ultimate winner.
Of her placement, Kelsey said she is "very proud, because my goal was to not be the first one out. I told myself 'just don't be the first one to tap.' Mission accomplished. I was the underdog and chased them to the end."
On the show, while chasing her goal, she said, "I want to show that women are stronger than they think they are....You know, we can keep up in a man's industry. We are strong enough mentally, physically, emotionally. So, if I were to win, I could prove that; I can show that." By getting second place, she did just that.
Kelsey is happy with how she handled her adventure. "I don't think I would have done anything different. It wouldn't have changed the outcome. I had about 14 days left before being pulled for medical weight loss. The rules/laws took me out by not allowing me to shoot anything else. I had a bull sable at twenty yards that I couldn't shoot, I had warthogs just outside my territory, I had wildebeest walking right to me, and the waterbucks never left the hillside, but you can't dwell on the negative; look at it as lessons in hunting."
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She feels the best move she made was walking with a ready bow. She had the arrow knocked, because "you have a split second when big game gets in front of you, and for that I was able to eat for three weeks." Feeling hungry was one of the most difficult things, and when food entered her mind, it was difficult to get it off her mind. She said, "The food fantasies are real, and it's hard to keep your mind from wandering to hungry places."
Wandering with her feet did help her get her mind off whatever was plaguing her at the moment, whether it be missing food or loved ones. During this season, on her walks she found happiness seeing a tortoise, among other animals. "My favorite moment was when I was walking my loop, I was very tired and thirsty, and out of nowhere I saw an ardwolf. It was so cool to see one in the wild," Kelsey shared.
Kelsey took away more from the experience than seeing the animals in their natural habitat. She said the life lesson of the experience is that you don't need much to be happy. "I lived with so little for so long that you realize you don't need a bunch of clutter. There's a quote, 'You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse,' and it's so true. Use what you have; don't save it for a special occasion, because every day is special."
Kelsey said being on "Alone" has inspired her to consider applying for other survival TV shows. Now that she has a full belly, it would be easy for her to do it all over again, she said with laughter in her voice.
To see where future adventures take Kelsey, "follow" her on Facebook.
Written by: Lynne Bohn
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On Thursday, August 14, 2025, at approximately 2:27 p.m., a 911 call was received reporting an accident. The location was on State Highway 182 at the intersection of Cedar Rapids Road in the Township of Eisenstein.
The 29-year-old driver was ejected from the vehicle. When first responders found her, she was deceased. There were not any passengers in the vehicle.
The Price County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Park Falls Police Department, Park Falls Fire & Rescue, Park Falls Ambulance Service, and the Price County Coroner's Office.
The name off the deceased woman has not been released at this time.
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