Categories
Uncategorized Blog

Racine Case Kicks Off Football Filled Weekend on WRJN

The #3 Seed Racine Case Eagles start the football weekend on WRJN with a WIAA Playoff battle against #2 seed Mukwonago.  We’ll have live coverage starting at 6:30 Friday night, with Dick Graceffa on the call.  Last week, WRJN listeners heard a classic when Case came back to beat Oconomowoc in the first round of the playoffs.  Listen live on the airwaves or find WRJN on the Civic Media app.

Keep the app handy for Saturday night football with the Wisconsin Badgers.  College football can be heard through the Civic Media app, with pre-game on WRJN starting at 4:30pm.  The Badgers look to bounce back with a Big Ten matchup in Iowa.

You can hear the Green Bay Packers only on the airwaves, 1400AM, 99.9FM in Racine, and 98.1FM in Kenosha. Pre-game for the contest with Detroit starts at 1pm, with Wayne, Larry, Kuhn, and the kick-off at 3:25.  After it’s over, stick around for the post-game show, which includes interviews from the podium and the players. Post game runs for roughly two hours after the game ends. 

Categories
Blog

It’s not “divisive” when calling out racism in political campaigns. It’s needed. Especially when it comes to Van Orden.

By Chad Holmes

This past weekend, like many of you, I tried to relax and get away from the work grind by getting in front of a television and watching some football. The Green Bay Packers on Sunday to be specific. However, with less than a month away from the election, it’s impossible to get away completely. Certainly when it comes to Congressman Derrick Van Orden.

Derrick Van Orden is not my congressman. I live in the 7th Congressional District, as does everyone who lives in Marathon County. My congressman (and I use the my very loosely) is Tom Tiffany. Derrick Van Orden represents the 3rd Congressional District. The reason why I have to sit through many Derrick Van Orden political commercials, and his oppenent Rebecca Cooke, is because the 3rd District has Portage and Wood County as part of it. The Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids media markets are served by TV stations out of Wausau. To get to voters in Point and Rapids the campaigns need to buy spots from Channels 7, 9, 12 and the FOX channel….what number that is I have no idea. So those of us in Marathon County and other counties not in the 3rd get to learn a lot about Van Orden and Cooke.

It wasn’t a surprise I saw many, many political spots when sitting down to watch the Packers face the Rams Sunday. It was expected. I have seen Derrick Van Orden’s “racial dog whistle” spots many times. Maybe I just saw it one time too many yesterday. Recently Van Order had a spot titled “One of Them.” It featured pics of the “liberal elite” such as President Biden, former Speaker Pelosi, Senate majority leader Schumer and California Governor Newsom. None mentioned by name. Then the spot claimed Cooke was “handpicked” to win back the House and “trusted to elect liberal heroes like Mandela Barnes.” Large photo Barnes. Looks darkened. Then they add another black face in House Minority leader Jeffries on the other side of Cooke to finish the spot with the words “she’s one of them.” Disgusting.

The latest Van Orden ad drops the white faces and focuses on linking Cooke strictly to Mandela Barnes. That’s the spot I kept seeing yesterday. It’s more “Us vs. Them”. The kind of stuff we saw over and over again in the 2022 Senate race between Barnes and Senator Ron Johnson. The biggest difference is in 2022 Johnson had the “sense” to let his 3rd party allies put out the most racist and disgusting of the ads, including darkening of the then-Lt. Governor’s picture. The Van Orden spots end with the words “I’m Derrick Van Orden and I approve this message.” Standing next to a bunch of old white guys who look like law enforcement. Nice little kicker there Derrick. He is trying to remind everyone he is “us” standing next to the white guys while Cooke is “them” pictured next to Barnes and Jeffries.

Van Orden isn’t the only GOP candidate ramping up the use of racial language. It goes right to the top. It was reported today that Donald Trump told right wing radio host Hugh Hewitt that you can tell whether migrants are predisposed to committing murder by “their genes.” “We got a lot of bad genes in our country right now,” Trump added. This is 2024. That’s the kind of thing said in the years post-Civic War. Pure racism.

We need stop seeing the media using terms like “sharpening attacks” and other passive language to avoid saying the truth: these are racist attacks on millions of our people. This is not a time to “both sides” what we are seeing and hearing everyday. Over and over again. Even when trying to get away from it all with a football game. It’s dangerous. It needs to stop but if it doesn’t stop it needs to be called what it is.

Categories
Blog

Trying to figure out Tommy Thompson

By Chad Holmes

There are many things in politics that make sense and those that don’t. Earlier this week Donald Trump became the first Republican nominee for President to campaign in Dane County since Bob Dole in 1996. Among the state GOP dignitaries who were there to show their support of the former President were former Governor Scott Walker and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Michels. Senator Ron Johnson is one of Trump’s biggest state supporters. None of those names are surprising. The one state GOP leader that still makes me shake my head for his support of Trump is former four-term Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Not only does Thompson support Trump but he was the lead speaker introducing Trump this week in Dane County. Tommy even laughed at the call (and insult) Trump gave when he called to tell Tommy to “get the hell off the stage.”

Why? I keep asking why and finding little in my search for answers. Just a couple of weeks ago Civic Media had plenty of coverage from the Cap Times Idea Fest in Madison. Leading political figures were among the many types of folks who spoke at the event. One of which was Tommy Thompson. After reading what he told the audience at Idea Fest I am more confused on why Thompson, at the age of 82, would make one of his last political battles a fight to get Donald Trump back into the White House. In fact, the reasons he put out at Idea Fest make absolutely no sense.

From a story at civicmedia.us that discussed Thompson’s appearance at Idea Fest: “he noted his support for Trump was in part a push to urge his own party to work across the aisle to tackle the serious problems facing Wisconsin and the United States as a whole.” What? If Thompson wants a leader who will urge the current MAGA Republican Party to work across the aisle that person wouldn’t be Donald Trump in any way, shape or form. It’s crazy to think that Trump will change who he is at this late point in his life.

Thompson also, as Civic Media noted in it’s story of the event appearance, “At various points in the evening, Thompson endorsed a range of ideas that might strike the uninitiated as out of character for a Republican.” Some of the ideas Thompson pushed would be laughed out of a MAGA Republican Party meeting. Thompson proposed converting a state prison into a university to give inmates a path to success after incarceration and hiring retired judges to re-try cases within the correctional system with the hope of reducing sentences and freeing people earlier. The GOP and it’s 3rd party allies are putting out disgusting commercials right here in central Wisconsin against 85th Assembly District Democratic nominee Yee Leng Xiong saying he wants to open up all the jailhouse doors to release dangerous criminals. If Yee Leng Xiong made the same proposal as Thompson (which is very much worth consideration) the Republican Party would be spending many thousands of dollars calling him “soft on crime.”

Thompson also finished with a very reasonable statement that would have no favor in Trump’s Republican Party: “There are good ideas from Democrats and good ideas from Republicans,” he said. “In this state and this country … I want you to work as hard as you possibly can for your candidate, Kamala. I’m going to work for my candidate, Donald Trump. But at the end I want to come together because this country has serious, serious problems and we cannot afford to continue to be so partisan and so political that we don’t talk to each other.”

I am still as confused as ever on why Donald Trump is Tommy Thompson’s candidate. Thompson has to know of Trump’s dictatorial tendencies, his racist history, his felony convictions and more. Is it a desperate attempt at relevance? I don’t know. However, I do know that Tommy Thompson has to be held to account for his work, his hard work, to put a dangerous demagogue back in office. Saying he worked with Democrats in the past doesn’t cut it. Thompson is putting party, and maybe himself, above country and it’s a disgrace that should stick to him now and forever.

Categories
Blog

Too much hubris, not enough humility in Wausau ballot drop box controversy.

By Chad Holmes

Throughout Tuesday, like any storm, the winds started to blow harder and harder. At first the thought was “did Mayor Diny really dress up as a DPW employee to move a ballot drop box on a Sunday?” Yep, it really happened and there were pictures and video to prove it. On the surface it appears the mayor has overstepped his bounds in moving the drop box to his office. There are a lot of upset constituents, city hall workers and public officials. There will be plenty of investigation and decisions to be made on what happened on Sunday and much more to be said. However, at this point, I want to talk about a trend I have seen for a while in candidates and officials: hubris.

Self-confidence can be a good thing. It can also lead to problems. Reading some of the mayor’s comments concerning his decision to unilaterally remove the ballot drop box it comes across as a person who has no doubt he thinks he’s right. The mayor also said the people who he talked to don’t like drop boxes. It reminded me of an interview I had a couple of months ago on my program with a Republican candidate for the state assembly where he said everyone he had talked to agreed with his positions. My first thought was “everyone”? There are more than a few things I believe I am correct about. However, I am not delusional enough to think “everyone” agrees with me. It seems as though, in recent years, many on the right are certain of their beliefs and that “everyone” or at least every “real American” agrees with them. Whether Trump, Cory Tomczyk, and even radio personalities it can lead to some dangerous situations thinking you are right about everything.

According to public reports, Mayor Diny did have conversations with the clerk about the drop boxes. Apparently, in the end, the mayor’s suggestions were not heeded and the drop box was not removed. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some right? Not in this case. The mayor decided not to take no for an answer. He “knows” he is right. Hubris. That’s not the way our government works. One point that council president Lisa Rasmussen made really caught my eye. Rasmussen said to the Wausau Pilot and Review: “One concern I have heard from people so far is worry that there could be no accountability for this action, that if any other citizen had done the same thing, they would have been immediately answering to the police, and or facing some consequences.” There has been many examples in recent years where it appears that the rules are different for different people. Whether because of social status, economic status, race or other factors people aren’t treated equally under the law or under the rules of our society. That is a problem.

We will learn more about what happened and whether or not the mayor broke any rules or laws by his actions on Sunday. However, a little less “hubris” and a little more “humbleness” by everyone might go a long way.

Categories
Blog

Wausau Pilot and Review wins again in court vs. Cory Tomczyk. That is a win for the press and community.

By Chad Holmes

Last week, for the second time, a court dismissed a defamation case filed by State Senator Cory Tomczyk against the Wausau Pilot and Review. Last year a Marathon County Circuit Court judge dismissed Tomczyk’s suit and now it’s an appeals panel that told the Mosinee businessman turned state Senator his claims have no merit. Whether this is the end of this sad tale is to be determined as Tomczyk says he will be determining his options after the latest ruling.

If the goal is justice, then this case should be over. If the goal is to bankrupt one of the few journalistic options the people of central Wisconsin has to get information about their governmental representatives and policies then Tomcyzk may keep tilting at this windmill. In the ruling written by appeals judge Lisa Stark it was stated that Tomczyk failed to provide evidence to buttress his claims of “actual malice” and “reckless disregard” in the Pilot’s reporting of Tomczyk using an anti-gay slur during a 2021 meeting where the “Community for All” issue was being discussed.

After becoming a major voice in the “CFA” debate, Tomczyk ran for the state Senate and won the Republican primary over Mosinee mayor Brent Jacobson by positioning himself as a Donald Trump-like MAGA candidate who truly represents the people of the 29th District and then defeated Democrat Bob Look in the very-GOP leaning district. During a joint appearance at UWSP at Wausau in October of 2022 Tomczyk ran as an election denier, comparing our elections to “Putin’s Russia”. He talked about the lack of integrity of the justice system, wanting 2020 protesters jailed while January 6th defendants were just “supporting their candidates”. Talked about the radical policies of Governor Evers and Mayor Rosenberg and the horrible “Democrat” policies and how “average citizens” and “average Americans” hate those policies. “Average Americans” = conservatives. Then called Democrat policies “treasonous” and that Democrats “don’t want law and order and safety. Democrats want chaos. Democrats want confusion. Democrats want instability. They want this so they can they try to convince the ‘sheeple’ that they have the only solution. They can fix the problem. It’s b—s–t.” Can see why he has been continuing this suit for the last couple of years. Don’t cross him.

So on one side there’s a journalist who has covered the news for years in our area. The other is MAGA state Senator who throws verbal bombs at people who are left of him on the political spectrum. The courts have now, multiple times, said his suit has no merit. One would think that a media source, one that claims they believe in “law and order” would see the merit of standing with the Pilot and the courts. Nope, the operations manager/morning show co-host of the right-wing radio station down the street puts out a commentary titled “A Eulogy for American Journalism.” He stands with Tomczyk and against the Pilot. Wow. The people that want to kill American journalism aren’t the ones who won in the courts last year and last week. The costs of this crusade of Tomczyk’s have nearly bankrupted the Pilot, and would have, except for the support of their readers.

I look forward to discussing this case and whole story with Wausau Pilot and Review editor/founder Shereen Siewert later in the week.

Categories
Those Were The Days

1984 Air Guitars

A recent poll confirmed that parents and grandparents greatly embarrass their children when they play air guitar. There was a time when playing air instruments was cool. Back in 1984 we had contests to see who the best imaginary players were. I remember being the m.c. for a big contest at Reedsburg High School. They also had a competition for the best ‘flying v kick’ like David Lee Roth from Van Halen. This week in ’84 that group’s song Jump was the number one tune on radio. It was an exciting time to grow up. The social network was the family home phone. Sometimes we were still on a party line. Up to eight families would sometimes be on the same circuit. Long distance rates were cheaper after 6:00 pm. If I wanted to call a young woman from Bear Valley, I had to call late. I needed to coil the long phone cord to the other side of the file cabinet so that I could have a little privacy when I was talking to my lady friend. It was the early years for MTV and pop culture was totally influenced by the styles that we saw on video. There were many British artists that became instant stars because of the 24-hour exposure that the network provided. Some of my faves from March of 1984 include Talking in Your Sleep-Romantics, Back Where You Belong-.38 Special, Middle of the Road-Pretenders, Radio Ga Ga-Queen, Nobody Told Me-John Lennon, They Don’t Know-Tracy Ullman, The Language of Love-Dan Fogelberg, New Moon on Monday-Duran Duran, and That’s All-Genesis.

Saturday night during Those Were the Days, I will be spinning the hits from early 1984 and music from all of the eras that we play. Trivia games return and we will be cranking out the hits until the midnight hour. I hope you enjoyed our archived flashbacks last weekend following local sports. It was great to spend some time with my darling granddaughter, Oaklee, as she turned four. She seems to like vinyl records! Perhaps someday she can cohost Those Were the Days on WRCO FM 100.9 and WRCO.com!

Phil

Categories
Obituaries

Susan Kangas

Categories
Obituaries

Romeo Jon “Sonny” Schutze, 85, formerly of Prentice

Romeo John “Sonny” Schutze, age 85, formerly of Prentice and the Milwaukee area, died on Saturday March 7, 2026, at Aspirus Regency House in Phillips WI with his sons by his side.  He was born in Prentice on February 5, 1941 to parents Jack and Elizabeth (Siok) Schutze where he worked on the family farm and later graduated from Prentice High School. He was drafted into the US Army serving in Germany from 1964 to 1965.  He then worked as a Plumber in Milwaukee for many years, and as a member of the Plumbers Union Local 75, then returned to the Northwoods after his retirement.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, driving his tractor, trivia, and most of all spending time with his family and friends. 

He is survived by his three sons: Steve, of Fond du Lac, Brian, of Slinger, and Scott (Giang), of Muskego; his grandchildren Alyssa, Madelyn, Aidan and McKenna, as well as nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Victoria Zernia and Angeline Gepfert.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff and residents at Aspirus Regency House and Saint Croix Hospice for the care and compassion shown our father during his time with them.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Birch Street Funeral Service in Park Falls is assisting the family.

www.birchstreetfuneralservice.com

Categories
Obituaries

Linda May (Setterman) Liebelt, 77, Park Falls

In Loving Memory of Linda May (Setterman) Liebelt

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Linda May (Setterman) Liebelt on February 18, 2026, at the age of 77. She was born in Park Falls, WI, on May 21, 1948, to Joel and Myra Setterman.

Linda was the heart of our family—a devoted wife to late Donald Liebelt Sr., whom she married on December 19, 2003; a loving mother; cherished grandmother and great-grandmother; supportive sister; and dear friend. She was a steady source of warmth, wisdom, and unconditional love. Her life was a testament to quiet strength, resilience, hard work, and grace. Through every season of her life, she carried herself with dignity, compassion, and an unwavering devotion to those she loved.

She had a remarkable gift for making people feel seen and cherished. Her laughter was soft but unforgettable, and her stories, rich with memory and meaning, will echo in our hearts forever. Family was her greatest pride and joy. She poured her love into her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, celebrating each milestone as if it were her own.

Beyond her devotion to family and throughout her years, she found joy in reading, gardening, crosswords, solitaire, bowling, and trips to the casino.

Though our hearts ache in her absence, we find comfort in knowing that her love continues to guide us. The lessons she taught, the traditions she created, and the memories she gave us are treasures that time cannot erase.

She is survived by her children: Denise (Brent) Tabor, Mathew Sprague, and Donald (Brita) Liebelt Jr.; grandchildren: Kaira (Travis) Urlaub, Karlee (Greggory) Matheson, Payton (DJ) Spears, Owen Sprague, Haley and Sadie Liebelt, Patrick and Presten Pedersen; great-grandchild: Arlo Urlaub; and previous husband, Mike Sprague.

She is further survived by her siblings: Myrna Hilgart, Barbara Michalski, Susan (Michael) Schnautz, Vicki (Cliff) Myszka, Michael (Brenda) Setterman, and Deborah (Allen) Thimm; sisters-in-law: Betty Setterman and Gloria Setterman; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Liebelt Sr.; granddaughter, Wren Alexandria Sprague; parents, Joel Setterman, and Myra and Norman Haegerl; siblings, Carol (Don) Murphy, Raymond (Elnora) Setterman, Roger Setterman, and Eugene Setterman; and in-laws, Don Michalski and Robert Hilgart.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00am-2:00pm at the

Barron VFW on 1105 E. Division Avenue, Barron, WI.

Graveside Service will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Forest Home Cemetery in Fifield, WI. Pastor Samual Morsching will officiate.

A Celebration of life will follow at the Lanes the Park Falls from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.

1127 4th Ave S, Park Falls.

We will miss her more than words can express. Yet we are forever grateful for the blessing of having been loved by her. Her legacy lives on in each of us.

Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family.

www.birchstreetfuneralservice.com

Categories
Obituaries

Clarice J. Ambright, 93, Fifield

Clarice J. Ambright, age 93, of Fifield, daughter of Douglas and Wilma (Carroll) Glenn passed away on Friday March
6, 2026. She was born in Holcombe, WI where she spent her early years before moving to Park
Falls. There she met and married her forever love, Fred Ambright. They shared 66 years
together before his passing in 2017. Clarice was a home maker, avid gardener, and loved
writing short stories. She took pride in being a mom and grandmother.
She is survived by her (4)children; Fred Jr. (Marie Miller), Robert (Stephanie), Jackie Severt
(Russell), Nancy Seidl (Randy), (4)grandchildren, (1)step-grandchild, (5)great-grandchildren,
(2)brothers and (2)sisters. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister,
(2)sisters-in-law, (2)brothers-in-law, and one great-grandson.
A private family gathering will be held at a later date.
Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family.
www.birchstreetfuneralservice.com

Categories
Those Were The Days Blog

Motown and More!

Saturday night on WRCOs’ Those Were the Days, I will feature a salute to Motown. This is a subject that was suggested by one of our great listeners. I have always loved the sounds of the ‘motor city’ through the years. There are tunes that can get me on the dance floor to test my titanium hip. Some Phil favorites include I Was Made to Love Her-Stevie Wonder, Nowhere to Run-Martha and the Vandellas, Shotgun-Jr. Walker and the All Stars, I Can’t Help Myself-Four Tops, Aint Too Proud to Beg-Temptations, Dancin Machine-Jackson Five, Stoned Love-Supremes, and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted-Jimmy Ruffin. My love for Motown grew after seeing the movie The Big Chill in 1983 which featured an amazing soundtrack. I was in front of the Sylvania Superset later that year when the Motown 25 special aired on network television. That was the night that Michael Jackson broke out the ‘moonwalk’. It has been a while since we paid tribute to the ‘Sound of Young America’ (the Motown sound). I can’t wait to take those old records off the shelf.

During the first hour of the show, I will turn the airwaves over to a couple of gentlemen who recently won an hour of programming Those Were the Days in a benefit auction. They are calling it Ryan’s Root Radio Rebellion Hour in honor of Ryan Chambers. They have a great playlist picked out! I hope you will join us between six and seven Saturday night. The only problem that I have with them, is that they are going to show me up with a better hour than I normally have!

Feel free to request a song from any of the genres that we play. The talk and text line will be open between 7:00 p and Midnight Saturday night. During Those Were the Days on WRCO FM 100.9, WRCO.com and through the Civic Media app.

Phil

Categories
Blog

Laura McKenna Book Club: The Power Couple

I picked this book off the shelf without knowing anything about it- I just literally judged a book by its cover. I thought this one looked interesting and with only a few chapters left, the cover did not lead me astray. I can’t put it down.

If you’re looking for a good thriller with some family drama, a little espionage, and some plot twists that I didn’t see coming….

The Power Couple by Alex Berenson should go on your list!

Want to see what else Laura McKenna is reading? Click HERE.

Want to recommend a good book to Laura McKenna? Email anytime, she’d love to hear from you: Laura.McKenna@civicmedia.us
And tune in weekdays starting at 10am to St. Croix Country & WCFW!

Categories
Obituaries

Marian L. Pihlaja, 76, Dollar Bay

     Marian L. Pihlaja, 76, a resident of Dollar Bay, passed away
Monday, March 9, 2026, at Intersect Health Care in Hancock, where she
has been a resident patient for the past two years and a half years.

To send condolences to Marian’s family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is
assisting the family with the arrangements.

Categories
Obituaries

Gary Hugo Lukkari, 78

Gary Hugo Lukkari, age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 7, 2026, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital.

Gary was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Carol; his parents, Hugo Lukkari and Elsa (Keranen) Robb; his stepfather, James Robb; and his brother, Bradley.

He is survived by his three children: Mike (Darcy), Eric (Annie), and Kristina (Denny); his sister, Dianne (Don) Bolander, several cousins, and his seven grandchildren: Owen, Samuel, Connor, Lily, Collin, Isaac, and Ella, who will forever remember their Grandpa as musical, and always ready for a little friendly competition.

Gary was born on May 14, 1947, in Ontonagon, Michigan, to Hugo and Elsa (Keranen) Lukkari. He graduated from Aurora High School. His love of sports, especially hockey, and competition stuck with him for life.

Gary served four years in the U.S. Navy as an airplane mechanic. His time in the Navy gave him plenty of stories, and if you were lucky enough to sit with him long enough, you probably heard a few of them. After his service, Gary attended Northern Michigan University, where he earned a degree in Engineering.

In August of 1971, Gary married the love of his life, Carol. Anyone who knew Gary knew how much he adored her. Together they raised three children, mostly in Wadena, Minnesota, where Gary worked at Homecrest Industries. In Wadena, Gary was a proud member of the Elks Lodge and became a legendary youth hockey coach for his sons’ teams. He often said those years-piling the family into the car, traveling to hockey tournaments, and spending weekends at the rink-were some of the best of his life.

Summers were spent camping at Rush Lake Tent and Trailer in Ottertail, where Gary created the kind of childhood memories every kid deserves. Days were filled with fishing, waterskiing, swimming, and general mischief. Nights ended around the campfire with Gary playing guitar and singing loudly and proudly. Favorites included “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea” and his personal showstopper, “The House of the Rising Sun.” Gary had a beautiful voice and wasn’t shy about using it.

Gary loved a good competition and was known to dominate a game of beanbags, darts, or really anything that came with bragging rights. His competitive spirit-and love of golf-has definitely been passed down to his kids.

Of all the roles Gary had in life, being a grandfather may have been his favorite. He loved hosting his seven grandchildren at the family home on Lake Superior, where there were always bonfires, sauna nights, swims in the big lake, and plenty of laughter.

Music remained a big part of Gary’s life. After retiring and moving back home to Ontonagon, he helped start the Eagles Open Mic on Thursday nights. Gary loved performing and encouraging others to take the stage, especially his grandchildren. Few things made him prouder than watching them share their talents.

Gary was also a proud member of the American Legion in White Pine and the Ontonagon Golf Club. He and Carol were members of Siloa Lutheran Church. He loved attending the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, driving through the Porkies, and helping Carol pick thimbleberries for her famous jam.

He enjoyed life’s simple pleasures too: a good Sudoku puzzle, Carol’s hot pickles, tuna salad with extra pickles, and pepperoni pizza with never quite enough onions.

Gary loved deeply. When Carol passed away in November after her battle with breast cancer, a part of Gary went with her. The two shared a love story that lasted 54 years, and their family finds comfort knowing they are together again.

More than anything, Gary loved being a dad. He believed in working hard and playing hard, that music should be loud, and family time should be filled with laughter. He spent his life creating those moments for the people he loved.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Frank Villanueva and his nurse Holly for the exceptional care they provided to Gary over the years. In his final days, the staff at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital treated Gary and his family with compassion and kindness that will never be forgotten.

Gary will be deeply missed, but his stories, songs, laughter, and competitive spirit will live on in the many people who loved him. And if you hear someone singing “House of the Rising Sun” a little too loudly around a campfire, Gary probably had something to do with it.

Cheers, Dad!

A memorial Service will be held for Gary at the Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon on Friday, March 13th at 3 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home 1 hour prior to the start of the services.

Categories
Obituaries

Gary D. Bishop, 78, L’Anse

Gary D. Bishop, age 78 of Tennessee and L’Anse passed away Monday, March 2, 2026 surrounded by his loving wife Colleen and daughter Heather in Tennessee following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

 Funeral services for Gary are planned for May 2026 and will be announced at that time.

Gary’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com

The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Categories
Blog

Movie Monday: Oscar winning actress teams up with James Patterson for a new legal thriller novel

I love a good book. Even better when a great book gets turned into a really good movie. It doesn’t always happen. Usually the book is always so much better than the movie but I can think of a few that really did it well:

Water For Elephants. Gone Girl. The Shawshank Redemption. The Green Mile. Big Little Lies.

Those all started out as novel and along the way someone said- hey, this would make a really good movie/show.

I bet it happens again with Judge Stone.

Even better when you have an Oscar winning actress teaming up with the legend that he is, author James Patterson. Book readers know of him well. He’s one of my favorites- short chapters, great characters, moving plots, suspense around ever turn. In fact, you’ve probably watched a show or a movie based on one of his hundreds of books and didn’t even know it.

Kiss The Girls. Along Came A Spider. The Women’s Murder Club. Alex Cross.

James Patterson just shared his exciting new partnership with actress Viola Davis for his next upcoming collaboration novel. On instagram he wrote: “Not since TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has there been a novel quite like this one.”

In an interview with CBS news, Viola Davis described how easy he was to work with: “Meeting, writing this book, I just liked him. We just connected.”

And it was important for her to find the right writer: “I felt a responsibility to women who have been sexually assaulted and raped, especially children, as I am one of them,” she said. “And what they also deserve is the truth of how it made them feel.”

Judge Stone centers on a respected black female circuit judge in a small Alabama town who finds herself presiding over an explosive case involving a teenage girl who is raped and later undergoes an illegal abortion. Like many of Patterson’s books, the subject matter is explosive and provocative and he says that was exactly the point.

So when will that get turned into a movie? I guess the legal thriller book needs to come out first. It does so today and I’m sure the movie will be soon to follow. I’ll keep you posted!

What’s your favorite book turned into a movie or show? Email anytime: Laura.McKenna@civicmedia.us
And tune in weekdays starting at 10am to St. Croix Country & WCFW!