Joel & Kendra Goll tell their story one year after Joel’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Kendra Williams, raised in Phillips, and Joel Goll, raised in Arbor Vitae, were destined to meet one night at The Little Brown Jug in Minocqua. Having seen her once before, Joel already knew he was interested, and so their romance began.
Fast forward through all the fun times of dating and getting to know one another, and Joel & Kendra became united in marriage and then welcomed two children into their family, first Brielle and then Colton. Joel was working as a welder, Kendra was in the medical field, and they made their family home in Park Falls, Wisconsin. Their daily lives were as good and ordinary as everyone else’s, and their love was near perfection to them. Nothing could have prepared them for the fated turn their lives were about to take.
Saturday, July 18, 2015 was the beautiful summer day that would take that fateful turn. The sun glistened on the water as family members assembled at the lakeside home of Joel Goll’s parents for a reunion. The couple was undecided if they should stay longer, but Joel made the decision to kick back with his family. Having grown up with water sports, Joel was eager to teach his young cousin how to water ski. With most of the family members gathered on the long pier, their approving audience cheered them on. Although it was nearing time to eat, with his cousin safely on the dock, Joel wanted to show the crowd some of his water tricks. Obliging, his dad circled the boat around the bay, and as Joel came close to the pier, he attempted his water trick with all eyes on him.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck, and life would be forever changed in mere seconds’ time. Joel didn’t realize how close he was to the pier, and while attempting his trick, it is believed he struck the pier and his head struck the motor of a new boat that was docked, his head shattering the motor, and Joel lying face down in the wake.
In a clouded moment, some family members panicked; some acted with clarity of thought in the face of adversity. Kendra remembers holding Colton, who had been crying and fussing, and then things became a bit blurry as someone took Colton from her arms and she began to realize the nightmare before her. She remembers Joel’s sister jumping in the water, trying to flip him over, and when she could not do so on her own, Joel’s mother immediately jumped in to assist, discovering Joel had shallow breathing and was badly injured.
“I thought he was dead,” Kendra admits. “I was freaking out. When I ran up to him, he didn’t look like he had a face. There were blood clots coming from everywhere. I was screaming. Finally, someone grabbed me and told me he was not dead.”
Kendra immediately jumped in her car and waited for the police and ambulance at the end of the driveway, which was a wise decision given they were about to drive by had she not flagged them down. Not remembering her thoughts or feelings while she waited, Kendra does remember getting in the ambulance and feeling irritated. There was a new person on the ambulance call learning the ropes, but when the more experienced EMTs realized how bad Joel was, the new person had to take on more than he normally would have at that time. He had to do the driving as the fully-trained EMTs needed to give all their attention to Joel. The inexperienced ambulance driver hit a tree while Joel was in the ambulance and also was traveling at such a high rate of speed that the EMTs in the back were instructing him to slow down.
They worked on Joel for 45 minutes on the side of the road, and the police wanted to separate Kendra from the situation. Begging with a police officer to let her see her husband, she pleaded, “If you didn’t know if you were ever going to see your wife again, you’d want to say ‘good-bye.’” When the helicopter pilot overheard this, he told her to scream to Joel that she was there and she loved him. As Kendra waited for a family member to pick her up, she began throwing up and walking past parked cars, holding onto them for support as passengers, unaware of her situation, looked on with wonder.
Arriving at the hospital in the early evening, still in her swimsuit from her day at the lake, Kendra checked herself in at the front desk. Realizing who was her husband, the receptionist at the hospital in Wausau said, “Let me call the chaplain.” Not yet aware of the hospital’s policy to have a chaplain take the loved ones to the proper waiting area, Kendra thought “they were going to tell me he was gone.”
After an excruciatingly long wait for Kendra and the fifty plus family members and friends that filled the waiting room, in the darkest moment of Kendra’s life, there was a glimmer of light and hope. With his surgery complete, Kendra was able to see Joel around 1:30 in the morning. He had survived surgery and was still alive.
But that was just Day 1.
The next 365 days would force Joel and Kendra to face many challenges, more than enough negativity, and nearly succumb to utter despair, but they were each still able to find the strength to keep moving forward each day, knowing that setbacks were not necessarily permanent, and hoping for the best possible outcome.
The surgeon, Dr. Waller, who had come from a Tier 1 hospital where he did many successful surgeries for children, was straight forward with Kendra and with Joel’s mom, Mary. He told them he was never 100% certain that the surgery would be a success, but he was 100% certain that if he did not do the emergency surgery, Joel would have died.
“Dr. Waller is the most amazing man. He saved my husband and has helped me through some crazy emotions. Even up to this day, we keep in contact. That man was brought into my life for a reason, because he picked me up on my worst days,” Kendra shared. “He is the doctor who saved my life, basically,” Joel admitted, thankfully. “He has been there every step of the way. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d be here. He did my initial surgery that saved my life.”
Aside from Dr. Waller, Kendra stated “I have a ton” of people who helped through the last year. Being asked to select a few, she spoke of her friend, Sarah Pisca, who was instrumental in organizing Joel’s benefit last September in Phillips, plus she is always there for Kendra when she needs a friend. “She’s my angel,” Kendra said. Pam Manning, who is a caregiver for someone with TBI, provided Kendra with a lot of information and support. “She’s awesome,” Kendra said. Dr. Davis, Joel’s rehab doctor in Milwaukee, really pushed Joel to reach his therapy goals, and they give her a lot of credit for Joel’s recovery. Realizing that so many people helped them in so many ways, both Kendra and Joel added that they wanted to thank all of their friends and their families plus their communities. “Even if they did not know Joel or know me, they helped out in every possible way,” Kendra said. “Without our families taking and caring for our kids and our communities’ support, I could not have been with him every day.”
Joel added, “Stasi and Craig Precour kept the kids for about two months in Milwaukee” while Joel was undergoing physical therapy and an intensive coma recovery program. Kendra remarked that it was helpful to have a safe place to turn to in an otherwise foreign to her large city. Their help and support made a very confusing time more comfortable.
Comfort for their children was of high importance to Kendra through the entire process. While she did bring Colton to see Joel very early on in his hospitalization, given Colton was just a baby and would not remember what he saw, plus she hoped hearing Colton might help Joel wake up, she was cautious with Brielle. “Joel went through an angry stage, thrashing around, and it was like wrestling an alligator [to calm him down].” She did not want Brielle to see that nor did she want her to see all the machines connected to Joel. However, by the end of August, Kendra felt it was time. Brielle questioned, ‘Does Daddy still have blood on his face?’ as she remembered the accident. Trying to shield their daughter from as much of reality as possible, Kendra asked the nurses to cover Joel’s body so that Brielle could just see his face, and it looked like he was sleeping. Even with those precautions, “Brielle was terrified,” Kendra admitted. Soon, though, she adapted to life at the hospital, and Brielle now thinks she is her daddy’s nurse.
Aside from worrying about their kids’ abilities to adapt, Kendra’s lowest moment was not knowing if Joel was going to wake up and remember her and the kids. However, a highlight came the first time Joel saw Colton after he woke up. “I could not get Colton out of that car seat fast enough for Joel.” Joel was happily exclaiming, ‘Here, bring him here!’ repeatedly. While Joel does not remember that moment, he does remember his children visiting him at the hospital. He also remembers that Brielle kept calling the “elevator” the “alligator,” which he thought was very cute.
Transferring between hospitals (in Wausau, Milwaukee, and Marshfield) having multiple surgeries and other procedures made it difficult for Joel to remember much of the experience, especially early on. Around September 7th he had an eye fistula surgery, which greatly helped his brain to heal, and he began remembering and talking much more from that point on.
“I was determined,” Joel shared. “Determined to do whatever it took to get back to where I was.” He also said he was stubborn. “When people expect you to give up, that makes me want to fight harder. You weren’t ready to go,” Kendra told him. “He has pushed and fought so hard for me and our kids, and he has come so far. I don't know how he's done it. He's the strongest person I have ever met.”
Along with those small family moments and his determination propelling him to get better, Joel credits his family as his driving force to recover. “My wife and kids were a lot to fight for. If Kendra would not have been there with the kids every day, I probably would not have fought this hard.”
Joel now realizes it is that family that is so important to him that has to drive his future choices. While Joel feels he will one day be ready to get back on the proverbial horse again and take to the water, he knows he needs to be more cautious and think of his family’s needs, too. “Since before I could walk, I could water ski,” Joel shared the reason for his desire. “I want to, but I don’t want to risk getting hurt again, so if I ever do it again it would probably be out in middle of lake and not close to a pier or anything, but it is important to teach my kids.” Looking at Kendra he added, “Though I’m not sure that will happen.” Kendra felt it would not be happening.
“I’m more aware, more cautious,” she admitted. “My anxiety level is higher even with letting my kids ride in a car with someone else.”
“Things can happen so quick,” Joel stated, “and I know I need to think more before just doing [something spur of the moment]. “Everything that was so easy doing before is hard now. I have learned to take nothing for granted.”
Kendra agreed with that outlook. “You just never think it’s going to happen to you.” On a positive note she said she does now believe in miracles and that has brought her through these tough times. There have been some bright moments.
Some of Joel and Kendra’s brightest moments have come from the people they have met along the way. “The TBI people are now like family,” Kendra said, sharing that if she would tell a friend of hers ‘I hate my life,’ they may think she was depressed and needed immediate help, but a TBI patient or caregiver understands the true meaning of the statement and the emotions they are all going through. She mentioned that living in a community of only TBI people could be a blessing in that regard, though they would not change the communities they are from and live in for anything, as they know the help and compassion of their communities has helped in Joel’s miraculous recovery.
While it may be difficult for Kendra and Joel to see the incredible progress they have made as much as an outsider looking in, Joel is a true miracle. Not only did he need multiple blood transfusions in the first few days, but he was in a Level 3 coma, which is the worst case scenario. Kendra and Joel were told that only 5% of people survive at that coma level. Though all his facial bones were crushed, only one small spot of his brain was bruised, which was a positive that Kendra quickly clung to until one nurse told her that she has seen people with many small bruised spots that have lived, but she has also seen people with one little spot who have died. She told Kendra not to get too carried away with hope.
But sometimes all a person has is hope, and it was likely Kendra’s self-proclaimed strong-willed personality that allowed her to use that spot of hope so she could continue on, fighting for herself, for Joel, and for their family.
“I had to be there every day,” Kendra stated. “I’m his advocate. TBI people cannot tell [the doctors and nurses] what they want. You need to be their voice.” Kendra had a strong voice given her training in the medical field, which she credits for getting her through and being able to demand things that needed to be done. Being both loving and strong-willed, Kendra was able to fight for Joel and his needs. There were quite a few times she had to stand firm in her beliefs with the medical staff. One of those times occurred when the hospital had just taken Joel off his blood pressure medication, and a nurse decided to take his blood pressure right after he walked back from physical therapy, which produced a high reading. The nurse thought he needed to go back on his blood pressure medication, but Kendra insisted they take his blood pressure in the morning or when he was at rest. Luckily Kendra was there to intervene in that moment, because, as it turns out, Joel’s at rest blood pressure was in the normal range, and he did not need those drugs, which could have caused him more problems had they been administered.
“I feel like sometimes Kendra feels like she is just my caregiver and not my wife,” Joel admitted given everything Kendra has done for him. “It shows me how much I really mean to her.” With those two things being said, Joel can see where the accident has pushed them apart a bit but also greatly brought them together.
“I definitely think it brought us closer,” Kendra added, looking lovingly at Joel. “Young couples often get divorced or leave [in the face of tragedy]. “What we had before is what I feel a lot of people don’t have and that is what is keeping me here. The love we have pulled me through; our love brought me to push through and make it through. I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. This man is my soulmate.” With that being said, Kendra does have concerns. “I do wonder, ‘Will I ever get my old Joel back?’ I’m lucky to have him but our life is not the same; it is completely different.”
Joel continued, “My wife stuck by my side through this whole thing and helped me make some of the decisions.” He also admitted that the silver lining in this might be that there were “things I would do in the past, but it’s smart I don’t do it because I could hurt myself.” He also said he never liked going to doctors but will now go in for regular exams, because he realizes his health is important. And while he misses his welding job at OEM, a company they acknowledge has been so good to them, Joel tried to find the positive that his lungs will be cleaner if he no longer welds and has to take a different type of job long-term. “I’m out of the welding field,” Joel stated, but Kendra, showing pride in her husband’s abilities, quickly interjected, “He has welded, though, and he is just as good as he was.”
Currently Joel is working with the City of Phillips, and he gave credit to his father-in-law, Jeff Williams, for helping him get the type of work that his body can currently handle as he cannot stand on a concrete floor for eight to ten hours per day anymore. “Right now I work with the City and we do little bits, doing a job and then getting in the truck to go to the next job. Sitting down in-between helps. I’m thankful for Jeff taking the time to work with me.”
Making great strides in his recovery, Joel has been triumphing since February. “A year is nothing when it comes to brain injuries,” Kendra noted. “Seven years out TBI patients can still be improving.”
Joel stated that his balance is not that great yet. “Not being able to do what I want to do; not being able to drive” are his current low points. “I don’t like to be a burden on anyone so not being able to do anything I want [is difficult]. I have to ask for a ride.” Due to some facial paralysis, it is more difficult for Joel to talk, though his speech was well understood during his interview with My Price County. “It is difficult with my social life so I tend to use my phone a lot more, because I feel people cannot hear me.”
Joel also stated feeling somewhat self-conscious about the scars on his neck, stomach, and head, though he can cover them mostly with a hat and shirt.
Kendra admitted to being more paranoid for Joel. “People staring at him or saying things under their breath” rightfully bothers her. “I have anxiety and depression. I am taking on both roles and am physically drained.”
Joel does have outpatient therapy three days per week, and they are considering starting yoga, which is supposed to be good for brain injuries and stress relief. Kendra, who started selling Nerium before Joel’s accident, wanted him to try a brain supplement offered by the company known as EHT, which seems to be helping Joel better remember and not repeat things. Trying to rehabilitate their bodies, minds, and spirits, they will soon visit an Indian healer, as well.
Knowing that one’s spirit is essential to healing, Joel credits his sense of humor for helping him get through this experience, though he says his partial facial paralysis does not make it easy for people to always know when he is joking. One day the doctors were calling Colton the spitting image of Joel, so Joel joked, “He’s not mine!” It took a moment for the hospital staff to realize he was joking since his facial expression didn’t quite match the joke. Such jokes, though, were a welcome relief to his family and the hospital. “Joel’s back!” they cheered, appreciating his progress in getting his life back.
Although life may be different right now, the Golls know things will slowly get back to normal. Kendra said, “I think eventually I will have to get back into [full-time] work, but right now it is not an option, because I would be going to work to hire someone to take him places and watch our kids.” They are hopeful that Joel can once again have a career. “I’d love to get back to OEM,” Joe remarked, “but I’m not sure what the future holds.” They are also interested in perhaps having Joel speak at functions with other TBI patients and caregivers to give them hope and strength to fight on. Right now their focus is on getting Joel better and getting their life back. “We’ll keep trucking,” Kendra said with her best advice to others overcoming a traumatic event to “take one day at a time.” “Don’t give up,” Joel added.
“We definitely have amazing days and then we have awful, awful days. Life is crazy. It’s crazy how in the blink of an eye your world is turned upside down.” Kendra reminded, “Hold your loved ones and let them know you love them. Don't take your spouse for granted. Relationships are hard work, but if you truly love someone, make time for them and love often!”
To learn more about Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), review information at the Brain Injury Association of America at http://www.biausa.org. You may also be interested in following a couple that is tracking their journey with TBI at “16 Petals of Blue Light” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/16-Petals-of-Blu...0919635872
Photo Credits: Family photo by Lynn Seidl; recovery photos by Kendra Goll
"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/MonarchWildlifeWaysideRefuge 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
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 Surgis motorcycle rally. As an added vacation, last year they also went tot he 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 pay 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 out 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 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."
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.
Jean Klimowski, fondly known by her nickname of Jeannie, grew up in Colby, Wisconsin where her favorite memory was all the neighborhood kids getting together after chores to play baseball. “I miss the way things were when I was growing up,” she said. Her “guiding light” then and now is God, but if she had to choose someone else, she would choose her parents, brothers, and sisters.
After graduating from Colby High School, Jeannie went to Milwaukee Metropolitan Business College. She worked as a keypuncher and then moved on to working secretarial jobs and doing computer work. Her first job was working for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Milwaukee.
During her first marriage, she moved to Norfolk, Virginia. She had two children. Lara currently lives in Florida with her husband, Dave. Dana currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, Kelly, and their three children, Cole, a member of the Army, and Caitlyn and Caleb, who are in grade school.
After a short time in Virginia, Jeannie and her family moved to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she worked for a year. Jeannie feels the most interesting thing about herself is that she once lived in Cuba. “My sister also lived there at the same time. I was called to go to work keypunching the second day I was down there. The supervisor went back through the grapevine to find me, because they were short-handed and heard that I could keypunch,” Jeannie explained. She said she has learned many things through life experiences.
Next, Jeannie moved to California, working for Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. She moved back to Colby and worked at Voelker Brothers in Marshfield. She then met and married Tom Klimowski, which accounted for her final move to Phillips. For 26 years, she worked in various departments for Price County, including Human Services, the County Clerk's Office, Forestry, and Veterans' Services as a benefit technician, plus she worked for an additional two years with the county as a contracted employee through NTC. The Klimowskis, now married for 34 years, also operated a dairy farm and have one son, John.
Jeannie’s favorite vacation memory is one she shares with her son when they were in Italy. She especially enjoyed visiting the Vatican and watching John learn so much. “We went for a walk in Venice crossing little bridges and suddenly found ourselves lost,” Jeannie reminisced. “We spotted some signs that we recognized from earlier in the day and followed them and ended up in a square where we took a boat back to our hotel. That is a fun memory,” Jeannie shared, stating that she looks forward to vacation time with her children and grandchildren. “I feel proud of my kids,” she added.
Jeannie’s religious and moral convictions are not only evident in that favorite vacation memory but in many of her interview answers. When asked what superpower she’d most like to have, she replied, “I would not choose any of them. It would be a great responsibility to use them wisely and fairly and I would worry about doing the right thing. Besides, I like the way God made me.”
Due to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, Christmas is Jeannie’s favorite holiday. She also likes the beautiful decorations and the fact that everyone is usually in a happy mood. “I love celebrating Christmas with family and friends, one of the major days that we get together during the year,” remarked Jeannie. Her immediate family and friends have brought her the most happiness in life.
Also finding happiness in helping others, Jeannie’s favorite quote is, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country,” said by President Kennedy. Her fondness of this quote is exemplified in the organizations she has worked with in our area. For the last 27 years, Jeannie has been the chairman of the Price County Salvation Army (SA). Plus, she is an associate member of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP). While she said it was a difficult question to answer, Jeannie feels her greatest contribution to the community was working with people in need through SA and SVDP. “I also love working with Veterans,” Jeannie added.
In that arena, Jeannie was the president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Phillips but currently holds the position of vice president. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. Being on the board of directors for Friends of Fred Smith, she helps oversee the restoration of the Wisconsin Concrete Park. She was a religious education teacher for several years. Rounding out her activities, Jeannie belongs to St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church where she participated as a reader and server of Communion until her diagnosis of breast cancer in January of 2016, which is when she also retired from her career with the county.
Jeannie feels that younger people should want to live in Price County because, “Phillips is a smaller community with friendly people and a great place to work with great recreational activities available such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, ATVs, a movie theater, community plays, swimming, camping, hiking, golf, etc. It is a great place to raise a family.”
Unable to pick the most special thing someone has done for her, Jeannie remarked, “Since my illness, so many people have been so kind to me that it would be impossible to pick one thing....I know I am loved.”
Jeannie admitted, “I need all of my family and friends’ support during trying times like during cancer....I hope for a cure for cancer.”
If you would like to offer Jeannie some support during her cancer treatments, you can attend her benefit on Saturday, August 5th starting at 1 p.m. at Club 13 in Phillips. There will be a pie auction at 2 p.m. Pies include blueberry, cherry, chocolate peanut butter, coconut, Dutch apple, French silk, grasshopper, peach, pecan, pumpkin, raspberry, and strawberry rhubarb. There will also be two cheesecakes and an almost five pound pina colada cake. Aside from food, several larger items and raffle baskets will be available. If you wish to make a donation before the event, or need further details, you can contact two of the event organizers, Toni Bauer Singsime or Sylvia Kerner. The event’s Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/events/552182228503831/
Daniel Leitl was born to Donald & Margret Leitl. He graduated from Park Falls High School in 1987 and later earned an AA in Liberal Arts from West Hills Community College in Lemoore, California. The first thing Dan did after high school graduation, though, was join the Navy in August of 1987. His next 20 years were spent working on F/A-18 aircraft that deployed in 1989, 1990-91, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2004, and 2005 on several different aircraft carriers. “I deployed in support of combat operations for Desert Storm in 1991 and for operations in Bosnia in 1992 and again for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005,” Dan added. It was in the service where Dan feels his greatest work contributions have been made. “The things we did affected things on a global scale; we shaped history. It may not have seemed like it at the time and things had to fall into place further on down the line from what we on the decks did, but we were a cog on the wheel, and had things broken there, that would have had consequences down the line.”
Retiring from his military career in 2007, Dan reflected on some of the most interesting things he has done thanks to the Navy. “For someone that grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, to have circumnavigated the world is interesting. I have been as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as southwestern Australia. I have been through the Suez Canal more than a dozen times and set foot on four different continents,” Dan reminisced.
During his military career, in 1995, he married Melissa Burl from Saranac Lake, New York. They had two children, Douglas and Kaitlyn. After living in Florida from 2007 to 2009, Dan moved his family back to Park Falls. His children graduated from Park Falls High School. Douglas currently works at Park Falls Hardwoods, and Kaitlyn is attending college at UW-Parkside in Kenosha. She is pursuing a career in law enforcement. Unfortunately, Dan’s wife, Melissa, passed on last year, so he currently lives alone with his two dogs, Jake and Elwood, and his daughter’s two cats.
Acting as both a cook and waiter, Dan has found himself busy at the Pal Café for the last few years. He continues to work there on the weekends while serving as the newest mayor of the City of Park Falls, being elected to the office this April.
Dan was motivated to run for the position of mayor for a couple of reasons. “One of the main reasons is I thought the city needed a change in leadership,” he said. Dan feels that when someone is in office for many years, the person may not look for new solutions to old problems, be too set in ways of doing things, and the thought of change could make the person so nervous that complacency sets in. “I care deeply about Park Falls, and thought I could bring a new perspective to the city government, and I want to push Park Falls to what I remember best about it when I was younger. I also have the advantage of being semi-retired and have the time to devote to the position of mayor,” Dan explained.
Even though he knows he may be looking at things with rose-colored glasses, Mayor Leitl has many high hopes and goals for the City of Park Falls. Remembering the many businesses that used to be in place downtown, the large Fourth of July celebrations, Flambeau Rama celebrations, and a very active community, he is hopeful that atmosphere can be created once again. He hopes that good manufacturing businesses, which could provide jobs for growing families, will want to come to Park Falls to help the city grow. “I would like to see the community take pride in Park Falls and show that pride by taking an active part in putting Park Falls back on the map as a great place to live or visit. City Hall can take the lead in that by working with the community groups we have and supporting them and actively promoting the groups and events.”
An aging infrastructure and aging population are the greatest challenges of the area as seen by the new mayor. While part of the infrastructure is currently being fixed, there is more to address. As for the aging population, he realizes that causes a lot more people to be on fixed incomes, which can prevent people from maintaining their houses. “There is no quick fix for any of these things. We will continue to work on our infrastructure shortcomings, but, of course, that is expensive, so we will seek out low interest loans and grants to help with that. We are seeking out new businesses to bring to town that hopefully will help both with bringing in new people and helping with our tax base. We are also looking to work with our residents and regional organizations to get no interest deferred loans for home improvement as we have many homes in the area that are in various states of disrepair.”
One thing that Dan would like to see is a sense of civic pride in more of the residents. “We need to work to clean our streets and yards, support our local businesses, and support various events in the community.” He stated that everyone needs to take ownership of the city so it can be cared for and improved. ”That is not going to be something that city hall can dictate,” he reminded. “It is going to have to come from the citizens. And for that to happen, we are going to need to work together. We can’t have room for egos and playing the blame game. We will need to listen to the ideas of everyone and sort out what will work and what won’t. If something starts slow, we need to stick with it and see it through to success, but at the same time, we need to know when to cut our losses on those things that don’t work.”
Dan wants to engage all ages to invigorate Park Falls. “I think our greatest strength is both our potential and our history. For those of us that have lived through what could be considered the heyday of Park Falls, we know how great our little city can be. If we talk with some of the older residents and listen to what used to be,….we have the potential to bring some of that back. We have fantastic natural resources all around us. We have experienced people who we can tap for the knowledge we have. We need to get our young people to want to be involved and help with outreach to other youth.” Dan added that the area needs to engage the youth, finding jobs and activities for them, thus giving them reasons to stay in Park Falls and invest in its future.
Dan’s best advice for young people who are looking to pursue their goals would be not to doubt themselves. “You may not be able to accomplish everything that you want to do but you still need to fight to do what you can. Take the victories where you can and learn from your defeats. Always remain true to yourself. Don’t let others change your convictions. You know what you believe, what you know is right, and that is no less valid than what others think.”
Aside from his mayoral duties, Dan is currently commander of the VFW Post 6903. That group has tried to be more involved in the community in recent years, having a Fourth of July breakfast every year. They also installed six new flagpoles in Nola Cemetery for the Wisconsin, POW/MIA, and service flags.
On a more personal level, in the next ten years, Dan sees himself as mostly retired. “I will be just shy of 60, and I want to travel more on my terms and not the military’s. I have never been to Africa and would love to go on safari there.”
Jody DeLasky grew up in the Twin Cities area and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in economics. Moving to Price County in 1997, she worked for a local real estate office. In 2005, she and her husband, Wes, purchased a building on the south end of Phillips next to the Super 8 Motel and opened a RE/MAX franchise, http://www.NewHorizonsRealtyWI.com. Their business currently has four agents and serves all of Price County and beyond. She explained, “Wes and I chose to become part of the most widely recognized, number one real estate franchise worldwide in order to give our small community great exposure and a great experience.”
Jody loves what she is doing and would choose real estate as her dream job. “I love my job because it gives me a rare opportunity to see into the lives of others and to be a part of one of the greatest things they will ever do, which is buy or sell a house or vacation property. It is a true blessing.”
Ten years from now, Jody hopes to continue to grow her real estate career and assist in further developing the agents that work at RE/MAX. On a personal level, she wants to take time to explore life and enjoy time with her family.
Jody and Wes raised their family of five children in Price County. “Three of our five children live and work in the area, and the other two live and work in Wisconsin and are located within five hours, which we are grateful for,” Jody expressed. “We have one grandson and spend as much time with him as we are able. He is 17 months old and is growing fast.” Speaking of her grandchild, Brooks, Jody said the most special thing someone has done for her was when her daughter and son-in-law let her be part of the experience of the birth of her grandson. “This was truly magical, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it.”
Clearly, Jody cherishes all of her friends and family. While Jody wishes she lived closer to her parents, she said they have always been her voice of reason whenever she has needed to be redirected on her path. Her “guiding light” is God. Overall, she enjoys having diverse people in her life that will help her learn and grow. She appreciates listening to people when they talk. “I know that I have a lot more to learn and experience in this life,” she shared.
Jody feels we are blessed to live in America and enjoys traveling. If she could time travel, she’d like to visit the 1950s. Since she loves warmth and sunshine, a Florida coast is what best suits her, and she has been to many wonderful stopping points in her travels. She said she loves the water so anything that happens on or near a beach is interesting to her.
One of the most fun and difficult things Jody has done is train for and complete a mini-triathlon in Minnesota, which involved swimming, biking, and running. Placing fourth in her bracket, she described it as “an absolute blast and test of strength,” and she hopes to compete again and make a better placement.
Keeping in the fitness frame of mind, Jody said she would like to see bicycle trails added to Price County to bring more tourism and another fun and safe thing to do in our area. She also said she would love to see more of our main street shops successfully open for business.
Jody hopes that young people would consider living in Price County. “Having lived in the Twin Cities, in a suburb, and in a couple of small towns over the years, I feel that our area offers a little bit of everything.” She said she loves that people here are genuine and kind and that her kids had a solid education and were raised with hometown values. The fact that we can shop locally and have a relationship with business owners and those we see at the local café or pub is another bonus. Spending time fishing, swimming, kayaking, hiking, biking, and enjoying our trails and nature in a quiet, quaint and peaceful community also make her feel a sense of community and pride that she can call Price County “home.”
If you would like to nominate someone for a “Spotlight” interview, including yourself, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person’s name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number.
Davette Lynne Hrabak was born at the Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls and raised in Phillips. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a comprehensive major in accounting and business administration. After graduation, she worked for an accounting firm in Park Falls for a number of years. Once the owner retired, she opened her CPA office at 164 South Lake Avenue in Phillips on October 6, 1997, providing various accounting services to individuals and businesses, such as (but not limited to) tax return preparation, business start-up services, bookkeeping, payroll, and consulting.
Davette said she moved back to the area after completing college because much of her family lives in Phillips, plus it is a friendly, beautiful place to live. There is a spirit of pride in our community that also drew her back. Plus, the pace of life is more comfortable. "In our area, rush hour traffic is waiting a couple minutes to pull out onto the highway," she said, noting that Phillips is a less stressful place to live than large cities and the commutes are shorter while filled with beautiful scenery.
She said she appreciated growing up here where classmates got to know one another and teachers could take time with each student. "You did not get lost in a crowd of huge classes," Davette added.
Her wish for young people growing up in this area would be that they realized the value of an adult life in Price County. "The cost of living is more economical, and the area is ripe for growth," Davette stated. "There are many opportunities for people to start a small business and grow it. I would like to see more people that have grown up in Price County stay in Price County." When she was in grade school, she said she would hear people discuss how a person cannot make a living here, and she wishes that idea would get turned around to a more positive one. "To me, that is one of the saddest things to hear. Our area has so much to offer, and for us to stay in existence here, we need to grow. I hear people say there are no good jobs here, but I look at it differently; I see a need for a lot of jobs and occupations. I see many opportunities. If people are taught to look outside the box, if they are taught to brainstorm what our area may be lacking in services and retail, that information provides great insights into what our area needs." She feels that 95 percent or more of occupations can be held in our area, but we need to have people arrive and stay to accomplish such growth. "I think most of the problem is fear," she remarked. "Most of us have heard the quote, 'All we have to fear is fear itself.' Fear is exactly what parents feel for their kids worried about them finding a job, and what all individuals feel when they are going to launch a business, but we all need to remember that fear in this way stops us from meeting our fullest potentials. We cannot let fear drive us; we need to nurture and grow our area."
Luckily for Davette, she knew what drove her since she was a little girl. "I always enjoyed math and wanted to stay in the area. When I was about 12 or 13, I learned about accounting and decided that an accountant was what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I did just that."
Davette said the two most common questions she gets asked during tax season are about her lion statues and the professional letters behind her name.
As for the lion statues, she added those over five years ago when she decided she wanted something decorative outside of her office that would also go with her marketing slogan, 'When it comes to taxes, save the lion's share; enter between the lions to get this special care.' "I feel the lions represent pride, strength, courage, and endurance, all traits that are evident in accounting and in our community, as well," Davette stated. Once she located the lions she wanted, all she needed were pedestals for them to stand on, and those were made with the extra bricks left over from when the front of her office was bricked. Once the lions were in place, her dental hygienist asked her if she had named them, and on the spur of the moment Davette decided they were named Debit and Credit, named after t-accounts, the basic building block of double entry accounting. "Kids and adults love the statues," Davette shared. "They walk by with a smile and some adults and children alike will pat their heads as they pass by." On one 4th of July, she noticed that some parade watchers had put hats on them during the parade, and one day her sister, Lynne, noticed someone had placed a stick in Debit's mouth for him to "chew" on. Davette often notices little kids all about them, getting a picture taken by their parents. She encourages anyone who would like to share their photo to post it on her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/davettelynnehrabak
As for the professional "alphabet soup" behind her name, CPA, CFE, CBM, ATA, ATP, ABA, ECS, CGMA stand for Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Business Manager, Accredited Tax Adviser, Accredited Tax Preparer, Accredited Business Accountant, Elder Care Specialist, and Chartered Global Managerial Accountant.
Davette said that one of her most notable hobbies is genealogy. She enjoys tracing her family lines, because "there are so many stories and so many eras that people lived in, which makes it all the more interesting." She said it would be difficult to choose which ancestor she would like to meet but decided that since she loves tracing a mystery and discovering more generations, she would have to choose someone from one of the lines where she is at a roadblock so that person could provide more information and she could solve yet another family mystery.
If you would like to nominate someone for a "Spotlight" interview, including yourself, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person's name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number.
A recent graduate from the College of St. Scholastica with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and a minor in Marketing, Travis Nez previously attended the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College where he received an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. Travis will be attending the Mitchell Hamline School of Law during the fall term. His career goal is to practice Native American Law as he is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes from southwest Arizona.
Excluding parents, we asked Travis who has influenced him the most, and Travis chose his sister, Maureen. “She has influenced me to succeed at all levels, whether its educational or in the work place.”
Apparently Maureen’s influence has been strong with her younger brother, because, while only in his early 20s, Travis has already achieved a lot. Along with his success at college and his upcoming studies in law, he holds a Wisconsin Real Estate Salesperson license. He is also active in the community, serving on the Price County Board of Supervisors. Travis said that these two positions have provided him with optimum opportunities to push our local amenities, all of which he feels are some of his greatest contributions to Price County.
Another membership that Travis is proud of his association with the Republican Party, which is of great interest to him. “While I have a lot [of favorite politicians], at the moment Donald J. Trump is my favorite, because I truly believe he is going to ‘Make America Great Again.’ Donald Trump is doing something that most people never expected could be done by a businessman. In addition, he is the only one running for president that has the experience to negotiate our country’s position. We have elected well-seasoned politicians every year. Now we finally have a candidate that can bring our country back.”
Embracing his conservative side, Travis said that if he only had two minutes to take his most prized, non-living possessions from his house, he would save some of his guns. Travis is a firm believer in American’s Constitutional right to bear arms.
Along with hunting with those guns and fishing, Travis enjoys biking, golfing, and spending time on the water. Every year, Travis takes a trip to Europe to explore historical sites and local attractions. “Quality of life is very important, because we only live once,” Travis remarked. “I truly believe we only have one shot at finding our inner passions.
With that said, Travis believes we have rich opportunities in Price County. “Nothing can match our quality of life let alone the low cost of living. We have some of the most affordable housing in the country. If a person ever dreamed about owning a farm, land, or even a lake home, Price County is full of opportunities to help anyone fulfill that goal.”
While Travis is busy achieving his life’s goals, he is already thinking about his future. “If I could go back to when I was eighteen, I should have purchased large amounts of LinkedIn, Insulet, and Diana Shipping stocks, along with various other well performing stocks that would have allowed me to retire.” We mentioned to Travis that for him eighteen was only three short years ago, and we are certain he will have plenty more opportunities where he can capitalize.
If you would like to nominate someone for a “Spotlight” interview, including yourself, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person’s name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number.
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We are offering 12 hour day and night shifts and Part-time. Must be able to read and comprehend operator instructions. Good communication skills. Basic math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Must be team-oriented and self-directing. Must have a strong commitment to quality and safety.
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-Background Check
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Once the application is complete, you can schedule an interview time. For assistance, or to schedule an alternative interview time, please call 715-339-5886.
Phillips-Medisize/Phillips-7059
1156 Airport Road
Phillips, WI 54555
(715) 339-5886
Interviews are held and can be scheduled each Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Skyler Dural grew up in northern Price County, just south of the county line, in Butternut, Wisconsin, where she currently resides. During her school years, she was very active with the Corner Rock Youth Center during its tenure in Park Falls. Graduating from Butternut High School in 2009, she attended college at Northland College and was a 2013 graduate. Currently, she is taking on-line courses to pursue her Master’s degree in psychology with a focus on industrial and organizational psychology.
Employed by the non-profit workforce development organization, Northwest Wisconsin CEP, she is an employer resource consultant where her job is to talk with employers about their workforce needs, help match job seekers to jobs, and work with people of any age to get training or education. Her home office is in Park Falls, but she serves five counties.
Skyler’s fiancé is Joel Eder who recently graduated from the police academy in Eau Claire. Joel serves with the Wisconsin National Guard and has been deployed twice to Afghanistan and Iraq. Hoping he will be home for good, Skyler said they enjoy doing many outdoor activities, especially kayaking the Flambeau River. “Nothing beats being out on the water with Joel or a couple other friends. There’s something so awe-inspiring, especially when I’m paddling down the Flambeau, looking around at all the beauty – the trees, the water, the rocks, the wildlife – makes me realize how small we are as humans in the grand scheme of life. Plus, there is no cell phone reception so that is liberating, as well!”
As a soon-to-be-bride, it’s expected that Skyler is excited about her wedding day. “We’re planning to get married this fall, which is very exciting!” Skyler shared, mentioning that she cannot wait for all the planning to come to life on their special day. “We are really looking forward to establishing our life in Price County -- working here, living here, and hopefully, God willing, raising kids here. There is nowhere else where we could possibly see ourselves living than the Northwoods. We’re both close to our families which is another reason we want to stay close by.” Joel’s family is “close by” in Clam Lake, and Skyler’s parents, Bob and Ronda, live in Butternut. Spanning the generations, Skyler added that her maternal grandparents, Jack and Carol Koch, are from Butternut, and her late paternal grandparents, Bob and Sandy Dural, were proud residents of Park Falls. “I also never really dreamed of living anywhere other than Northern Wisconsin,” Skyler noted about herself. “I’ve never wanted the city life.”
Skyler expressed that her parents and grandparents have supported everything that she has done and they have been her biggest fans and cheerleaders. From watching her play Little Red Riding Hood in a play in first grade to watching her graduate high school and helping her through college, they have always been there for her, which she very obviously and openly appreciates. “I will never be able to pay them back for the love and support that they’ve given me over the years. I’m so lucky to have been able to grow up next door to my maternal grandparents and have my paternal grandparents nearby.”
Jokingly stating that the most interesting thing about her is that she has never eaten a hamburger or a steak, because she does not like red meat, when we delved a little farther, we found quite a few unique hobbies and passions unique to this 24 year old. “I love history, reading memoirs and autobiographies, and watching documentaries. I don’t think that’s very common for a 24 year old psychology grad student,” Skyler added, with a smile. She also travels a lot for work, so she has some free time to fill during non-work times, and is hooked on the “How Stuff Works” family of podcasts.
Learning more about what makes Skyler unique, painting is a special hobby that she shares with her mom and grandma. She especially enjoys using natural stone but sometimes does canvas paintings, as well. “I’m certainly not the most talented,” she says modestly, “but it’s fun and relaxing!”
Speaking of relaxing, we asked Skyler what item she’d want to have with her on a deserted island. Since a boat was not an option, Skyler said she would bring a cell phone and a reception booster so that someone could rescue her. “Is that cheating?” she quipped.
Or maybe Skyler could teleport. She said that choosing one super power was tricky given there are a lot of positives and negatives to many of them. “Reading minds would be great, but I’m not sure if I’d want to always know what people were thinking. That could be scary,” she laughed. “I think I would choose to be able to teleport or snap my fingers to be from where I am to someplace different! How neat would that be!?” she wondered, and then gleefully added, “I’d never be late!”
On a more serious note, Skyler shows a deep passion for women’s rights. “I would have loved to be alive during the early 1910s into the 1920s because then I could have been a part of the Women’s Rights Movements. Those women paved the way for young women like me, and I am forever grateful for their perseverance and bravery. This is why I vote in every election and am thankful that I can go to work in a business setting! Plus, 1920s fashion was great!” She said that if she could have dinner with three famous people, dead or alive, she would choose Susan B. Anthony, Malala Yousafzai, and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. “They were all amazing women who fought for women’s rights throughout time starting with Sor Juana in the 1600s and Malala in the 2000s. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to be part of a conversation with those women.”
Skyler would like the people of Price County to not get stuck in a mindset of “this is the way it has always been so we have to keep doing the same thing.” “You don’t move forward without new ideas and innovation. I think there is potential for business ventures here connected to technology. The world is getting smaller and we have to see what business can develop from that.” Skyler also mentioned that she wants young people to realize there are so many good things in Price County, including nature, jobs, and a sense of safety. She wants young people to understand that they can live here and find ways for the area to grow into something even better, because positive changes can be made when we all work toward a common goal.
Skyler would direct young people to go for their goals and not to panic if they think things aren’t going exactly as planned, because as long as a person has direction, things tend to work out well. As long as it is not dangerous, she said, “I’d rather look back and say, ‘Wow, that was a mistake’ than say, ‘I wish I could have taken that chance.’” Her thoughts for how she lives her life come from her favorite quote by Harvey MacKay, which is, “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it....if it changes your life, let it."
To conclude our interview, we gave Skyler the word shown in uppercase and asked her to fill in the blanks afterward, leaving us with these answers:
I LOVE: sunshine, laughter, and life.
I HOPE: to make a positive impact in our communities.
I FEEL: optimistic for the future!
I MISS: being a little kid sometimes. Naps, Play-doh, no bills – Ahh, it sounds amazing!
I LEARNED: that you can’t please everyone, but try your best!
I KNOW: that my life will be lived well if I pursue my passions and spend it with those I love.
I NEED: to unplug from technology more than I do. It’s very rare I don’t have my cell phone near me in case something with work, school, or life happens. I need to learn to make time every day to completely put it away and focus on what is in front of me. (Then again, My Price County reminded Skyler that she did want that cell phone and booster if stranded on a deserted island, so there are pros and cons!)
If you would like to nominate someone for a “Spotlight” interview, including yourself, please e-mail us at Contact@MyPriceCounty.com with the person’s name and his or her e-mail address, Facebook page, and/or phone number.
