Catkins Update – Reality Radio

Solving the problems of the world on reality radio, Tanya and I discussing things off air that range far beyond the pets of the area, but that's the topic of today.

Tanya from Catkins Animal Rescue.

Tanya, I love saying that because now when I say Catkins Animal Rescue, I'm talking about more than ever before.

That Facebook post you put up the other day, walls!

We have balls.

Some really cool things happening with the new construction.

Welcome to Reality Radio.

Thanks for being here this morning.

Good morning.

Great.

Thanks for having

me.

A lot of words to say.

Good morning.

Thank you for being here.

I'll put things in a better order as we go along.

But Tony, tell us what's been going on over over east or west of town.

I get a little turned around here in Park Falls.

So basically you can see now that our build is.

is going and it's going fast.

So everything prior to last week that was being done was in the ground four feet down four foot frost wall.

And so people driving by weren't able to see the progress, but now the walls are going up and this morning the roof trusses are going up and it's happening quickly.

We can walk through right now and imagine being in there.

So it's very exciting.

And Toby, the station dog is excited too.

I've got

him up on my lap actually.

time to mention that our office manager out front, Rachel out behind the desk, is not there for about another hour today.

So if you've got plans for 98Q, probably best to stop in after 10 o'clock today when we're all here and accounted for and we can help you with all of your radio station needs.

But you guys are helping out with the needs of the animals of the community.

What is

What what kind of timeline are we on right now?

Are you guys gonna be in that facility within it feels like you can't be more than weeks or even maybe months away But that's that's that almost feels like a stretch at this point.

How did we get here?

Well, I think you know the outside is one thing but filling the

rescue is another thing and putting up the 16 dog kennels and the flooring and everything that goes into the interior.

We'll take some time.

So our goal and what we were told is likely mid to late fall.

We'll probably start moving in and we're hoping to have a big celebration open house in the spring then.

It'll probably be too late in the year to do it but

We certainly anticipate being in there before the winter.

That's absolutely excellent.

And of course, that means that you'll be the one thing that really stands out to me is honestly, if you if you pull it off before next spring and it looks like we're well on track to do that, kitten season comes back around and you have all of a sudden a couple extra square feet.

Well, they'll vanish pretty quickly.

The the animals are going to are going to latch on to this room that you've brought them.

And that's really the whole point is to be able to better provide for the needs of the animals in the community.

Every community needs somebody.

We're just blessed to be the ones that actually have you here.

So is there anything coming in the near future that people can attend or contribute to to help with your efforts as they go on?

Yes, actually we have on August 15th we have our fourth annual button for pause golf scramble at the Park Falls Country Club and you can sign up now you can call 715-762-4396 that's Park Falls Country Club and sign yourself up or a four man team or four woman team and it's $50 per registrant and it's a nine hole scramble and we have a really delicious

homemade grilled lunch with cookies and bars that will be served part of your registration fee.

We have some really great raffles, bucket raffles, 50-50 raffles, but the best thing about that day is it is full of really good people.

You do not have to be a good golfer to attend this.

You don't have to even know how to golf.

You can still join us.

We are also going to have a drink cart going out on the course and every year this is so

much fun.

I'm not a golfer, Gray.

So I just enjoy the festivities behind the scenes, but I'll tell you the people that attend this are so much fun and everybody says the same thing every year that it's just a super fun event and all for a wonderful cause.

And that's the animals at Catkins.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

And just like Tony said, bad golfers.

Absolutely.

Grab your good golfing buddy and make a team of four with him on it.

And sure, he won't have as much fun as the three of you will, but a good golfer can carry you in a scramble.

That's that.

That's the basic idea there.

Yes, and I have to say every year...

We have repeat return patrons who come and join us and they tell us they can't wait for next year.

And this is our fourth year in a row.

And we hope to make this bigger and better than ever.

But we also have so mark your calendars on October 18th at the Phillips Municipal Building.

We have our I believe it might be like our seventh or eighth annual have to look now.

But it is our pause for a cause walk.

And this year it's going to be bigger and better than ever.

We have some amazing raffles that we're going to be doing for that.

And every year we add fun events for the animals.

So keep your eye on our page because we'll be announcing that soon as well.

And this couldn't come at better timing as we're still fundraising for our new build.

And we're very excited about the future of Catkins.

Absolutely.

I mean, it's I can't believe that it was what two years ago now that, you know, we were sitting here and I've got the hair that I once shaved off in a fun

raising effort for Kackins, it's grown back finally.

I was just noticing that when I walked in today, I was thinking, my goodness, your hair really grew back in well, didn't it?

Well, it did.

And actually, it was funny because I cut it in between.

So this is actually just a year of growth.

But if I wonder where it would be, and I don't

I don't mind not knowing one bit because I would I would trade it I'd trade every single follicle for a couple more bucks for it for the animals in need because Well, if you just give yourself 30 seconds to think about what might happen to animals that cackens takes cares up takes care of if if you guys aren't around and yeah That's that's not a great list of things.

So yeah, I'll shave my head 18 times

for one

cat if that's what it takes man I

love them.

Well, they they deserve it, right?

There's there's a no child and no animal deserves discomfort or harm and so that's a

It's awesome to have an organization like you guys in such a relatively small community too It's it's so hard for some places to even support that kind of organization But you get the right people in charge you get the right people in that community and here we are blessed to have you so Catkins has things going on always.

It's just a matter of whether people want to wait in and contribute to the effort What what goes the farthest if a person was going to donate one thing?

What goes the farthest and I don't want you to put cat food over dog food.

Maybe just food in general

or is it funding the best way?

What's the best way for somebody to lend a hand?

You know, honestly, supply donations, one thing that we go through the most that is not inexpensive is cat litter, cat clay cat litter.

We will never, ever turn away a bag of clay cat litter.

We have...

Approximately 80 cats right now by the end of the week.

We're anticipating having around 90 cats Wow, and that's a lot of litter every day that we go through and so that and it's it's one of those things that When you run out you run out so to have too much is not possible

And why clay

if I may?

Well, we actually use wood pellets and we get them from the five field seed and feed store.

They're actually like a horse bedding and we use half and half.

So half is clay pellets and half is clay litter and half is wood pellets.

And we do that to keep the dust levels down because clay litter is so dusty.

But we use the non clumping clay so our little kitties don't get clumped up when they're using the litter box.

But we like to use both materials so our adopters can choose which one they want to use.

after they adopt the cat.

Excellent.

Make it as easy as possible both on the animal and on their future homes.

And that's really what brings it back around are the people who are adopting.

You know, when I need, when I'm having a bad day, there used to be a couple, you know, it was like clips from Jim Carrey movies was always what it was.

But honestly, I've started to default to your guys' Facebook stream because I get to see, hey, that might be somebody I know adopting a cat or a dog.

And I saw Maple found a home last week and I thought,

Yay, the dog that looks like Dobby and Yoda at the same

time

has absolutely landed.

What kind of satisfaction does that bring?

Sending an animal home with somebody you know is going to love

them.

It is what keeps all of us here.

I mean, we have volunteers who have been with Catkins since the doors opened.

I believe the building went up in 2013, but Laura, who's founded Catkins, started in 2008.

We have volunteers that still work with us because I'll tell you it's addicting to help these animals and then have these amazing people come and adopt them.

It's so satisfying.

And there are a lot of sad moments and a lot of things that are discouraging and burn you out.

But at the end of the day, because you're coming in and adopting the animal, it keeps us going.

Absolutely.

Well, I mean, and every life involves highs and lows.

But when you involve yourself in something as important as animal welfare, you end up just turning up the dial on how extreme they are.

I imagine your roller coaster travels a little bit higher and a little bit lower than everybody else's.

But it's easy to forget people.

say it during the bad times, this too shall pass is the saying designed for everything.

It's a reminder that the good times won't last forever, and a reminder that the bad times will end too.

So the same logic applies, but you get to see the absolute highs, and you get to see the absolute lows, and I'm sure there are people who would ask those questions, but I tend to focus on those silver linings, those positives, because you get what you look at.

And so I choose to look at the benefits, and that's honestly, that is

Perhaps my favorite part of having you here is it just it's an excuse for me to think about the better things in life Like a cat finding a good home and station dog Toby here.

You should have seen listeners You should have seen how excited he was when Tanya gets

here because

boy don't don't these guys just know good people when they see him

Yeah, I think he knows that I'm a and well he probably smells that I'm a dog person But he does seem really excited to see me and I'm equally as excited to see him.

He's a special little guy

Well, respectfully, I don't think we can stop at calling you a dog person.

People know you for dogs and cats, but people might spot you.

I just recently discovered that you've got a whole other world on Facebook.

You might be fairly called a goat person.

Would you mind just giving people a little info on the farm?

Yeah, actually, we own a 10 acre farm just west of Park Falls.

And we have sheep and goats and chickens and ducks.

And really, it's kind of a sanctuary.

It's kind of an extension of my rescue heart.

a lot of animals that were sent to slaughter and we saved them and so I guess my rescue heart has just

then extended to my farm and that keeps life exciting as well.

I come in to work often smelling like sheep and the dogs love it.

Well see that's the thing though is people talk about work-life balance and keeping things separate and leaving it at the door when you get there and then you've got people like Tanya from Catkins who leaves the rescues at the rescue and goes home to the other rescues.

What's the maximum distance you might be from an animal at any given time?

It can't

be measured in yards.

It must be feet.

We have a lot of pets too, so my entire life is fur and cleaning up.

you know, BC's and everything else.

And that is my my entire life.

And I love every minute of it.

You know, actually, we're going to have to talk about that off air.

We're going to have to compare our experience with different brands of lint rollers because it's a challenge even with one dog and one cat.

So hey, if you're looking to adopt a new a new friend for the family, a furry one of that, go to catkinsanimalrescue.org and see all of the adorable, adoptable animals.

Do we have a pet of the week this

week?

You know what?

I did not send you a pet of the week this week.

but I will be sending you one soon.

But I do want to quick talk about instead of a pet of the week, we have a two for one cat adoption special.

So you can adopt two kittens, two adult cats, because we all know that for a feline to have a friend to play with is so much better than, you know, leaving.

your house and the cat is by themselves, especially a kitty.

And so we have a two for one adoption fee, which is an awesome deal because these animals are completely vetted, microchipped, ready to go and they two for one adoption fee, you can't beat it.

So we do actually have a lot of people taking advantage of that.

So if you're looking to adopt, fall is a wonderful time to adopt a cat.

I mean, you're winding down on vacations, you're probably going to stay home and start school shopping.

And so it's a great time to bring a new cat or dog and

your home.

Do we have a time limit on that, or is that just for the moment that's happening and may come or go as you see fit kind of thing?

What's the time frame on

that?

The time line right now is until the end of August, so the entire month we're going to have that special going.

We are getting more and more animals in, so we may extend that.

Absolutely.

That makes a lot of sense.

Well, Tanya, we'll check in with you again, likely within the next month or so.

It's no secret that a lot of my reality radio guests are busy as they get, and you and I have had to shuffle and reschedule.

Just like I love to tell people when that happens, it's a good sign.

It means we're talking to the people involved in the community, involved in your community.

Listeners of 98Q will archive this conversation and the rest of them that we'll have after the nine o'clock top of the hour break here on 98Q Country WCQM 98.3 FM on the Civic Media Network.

Tanya, thank you so much for some time today.

Thank you so

much.

We'll be back to 98Q, to country music, to more reality radio guests after this.

you

Helping us make a Wednesday of it here on 98Q, Reality Radio, starting a little bit early this hour because it's always the better way to do it when you can, starting with Lena from Lena's Northern Pines, Lena's Barn Grill, and more and more and more to come.

How's it going today, Lena?

I'm still sleeping.

It's too

early.

I don't think people believe that you do that by this point, especially with how much I hype you up.

But it's for good reason, Lena, because you keep a pace going that few can match, let alone

let alone believe.

So that's how I hold you.

But really, we know you're a real human being.

You're a normal person, as normal as anybody in the Northwoods.

What's been going on lately with Linus?

Well, we just got done this last weekend.

We had two class reunions at the same time out at the Northern Pines.

A

63-year reunion and a 50-year reunion.

A lot of fun, a lot of memories, people talking about not only the property, but just the history here.

Park Falls and go into school and the silly stories that were told about so-and-so and so-and-so.

So that would have been classes of 76 and 63 if I've got the math correct.

That's awesome.

I was pretty young back then.

Let's put it that way.

So a

class reunion number I can't quite match but next year is going to be my 15-year reunion and wow.

So I can't even imagine what kind of cool things you got to hear and see and I'm a sucker for the yearbook.

If you have

your yearbook from 1960, 70, 80, whatever.

We're cracking that baby open.

I'm laughing at what you wore in your picture.

I'm going to look at the fact that Mr. Kadlecek was still there teaching civics just like he did for me.

There's nothing like that kind of thing.

So how cool is it that you got to be part of that?

Yeah, really cool.

Just again, to hear the memories, the history, just the antics from the older people that you think they don't longer have, you're so wrong.

Everybody's still that kid inside.

When you decided that you were

going to open restaurants or a restaurant in the Northwoods.

However, you might have began that process.

Is this the kind of moment that you pictured or is this one of those things that's become a pleasant surprise for you is hosting things like this that really are

are part of the lifeblood and heart of the Northwoods.

You know, the people here are what makes it, and you make the people comfortable.

That's how you become a part of the community, I gotta say.

Absolutely, and my whole lifespan in the working world has been to actually serve people, whether it's through food or retail, and then when your fruits of your hard work come around when people are laughing, and I'm getting comments now, oh, we're so glad this place is finally being fixed up.

Oh, thank goodness.

concern, you know, just stuff like that in the daily grind of things.

You forget.

I forget because I'm so focused on making it better to finally hear some of those positive things coming out.

It's, it's wonderful to hear.

You get to have those.

Oh, yeah.

Moments that I mean and we each lose sight of our goals and our tasks and maybe the reasons we do things I think that's just human nature But good on you to put yourself in a position where every once in a while those reminders sneak up You've basically set alarm clocks for gratitude if you will that oh, yeah, I get to do this I don't have to do this.

Yep.

I get to do this

and that's a great way Philosophically on anything you approach in life.

I believe

I

get to do this You know, there's a lot of people in wheelchairs or in hospital

beds or in other states that they just can't do it.

And I'm blessed to be able to do it.

And again, the laughter of the children with the new swing set out there.

Oh my goodness.

Tell us about that.

Oh, a new addition to the pines, a swing set for the kids.

I dumped a big load of sand.

Oh my God, they were in high heaven.

It was unbelievable.

Just to hear the laughter on the property as I'm walking and doing and checking on things is very heartwarming.

That's absolutely excellent.

And what better way to make a community feel at home than to make the kids comfortable, to accommodate those needs.

You guys are all

all about accommodation when it comes to any one of your given locations, whether that literally means having people in your cabins or maybe renting a boat or maybe neither of those things, just stopping by for a drink or a bite to eat here.

Of course, the locals not often staying in the cabin so much, but I know they're suggesting that their families and friends do when they stop by because you guys have had a pretty busy summer so far, I take it, is that

correct?

Yes, it's our best summer ever, we're excited.

Next summer is already filling in.

Eli is almost completely booked out next year, so I'm recommending people as they're staying with us or calling and inquiring.

Pay attention to next year because I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

And to that point, back in May, we discussed, I remember we made a very specific point of, hey, you don't have to stay at Lina's to rent a pontoon at Lina's, but you warn people at that time that you do still want to call as far ahead as you can.

Something tells me there's fewer gaps on that boat rental schedule these days.

I'm

glad you brought that up.

We got about five to six weeks left before, believe it or not, they start pulling the piers out of the water.

We do have wiggle room yet.

Take a day.

Come on out.

You don't have to lodge with us to take a pontoon out on the water and enjoy yourself out there.

And every sunset, even if it's overcast, is beautiful every day out there.

Well, and you really made what I'd like to call a Northwood statement, a common sense old school way of going about things.

You shared with us last time we spoke with you that, hey, if you look us up and you see that we're closed on a given day, call me.

talk

to me and we just had uh... park manner two weeks ago they brought in about twenty five seniors for lunch i'm happy to open up and you know god forbid that you're facing a celebration of life situation because those things can come up at the last minute give me a call i'll be happy to open up and accommodate and by the way we gotta start thinking big g christmas is coming the holidays are coming and uh... those parties we need if you need the space you know whether it's lodging or you

want your holiday party, start thinking on that.

Tap

the brakes.

Of course, you know, around the corner, of course, is the is the deer season and the grouse season.

And man, you get those beautiful cabins out there and what a great place for people to come up here and stay.

And I just had a

gentleman yesterday bear hunter call for lodging.

So yeah, if you're out in the grouse or the turkey or the bear and you want a couple days, come on out.

When you better watch out too, you tell a bear hunter you've got room and all of a sudden you've got about eight phone calls.

I know how those guys work.

They gossip like people getting their haircuts done.

I think you could picture the Steel Magnolia's

kind of

situation.

You give a bear hunter a piece of news and it's like they all hear it at the same time.

Big G, have you found much occasion to get up to Lina's

this summer?

You know, I've been there several times.

We've actually had the car club up there.

The orthostasis car club just came off a big car show.

All right.

Fight for Lions, loved to meet all of them.

It's a great place to meet.

The food is excellent.

Talk about a salad bar out there.

How about that soup out

there, G?

Oh, yeah.

The soup, the salad, the fish, the pizzas, I can go right down the list.

I mean, we'll be disappointed.

And man, that lake side, that lake, in this lake side pub, beautiful place for us to have our meeting.

And a couple of our Lions guys, we can get a little bit loud once in a while, but you know, we have that whole area pretty much to ourselves.

You had a hostess there for us, so it was wonderful.

And I see you got a couple pool tables back there and

everything.

Oh, speaking

of

pool tables, gentlemen, I have a women's, a men's and a couples team.

I'm looking to double that up this year.

So if you're out there and are thinking about putting your foot back into the shooting pool, give me a call.

I'd like to have another ladies or a men's team and a couples league on Thursdays.

You know, have you are you very much?

I know it's it's not for everybody.

But have you delved much into the world of Harry Potter at all?

Movies, books doesn't really matter which

I started reading those books to my children when they were four years old.

Oh,

and they learned how to read out of the Harry Potter books.

I read

a page and I'd say you read the next page.

Harry Potter is deeply ingrained in within my family unit of my children.

So you'll know what I mean when I say that Lena's reminds me of the room of

requirement.

Does that stand out to you?

That's

for those who don't know Harry Potter and the lore behind it.

And again, Harry Potter is more complicated than it ever used to be.

We won't get into that.

But one of the things that I always thought was a really cool idea was a room built in the castle of Hogwarts that would only be visible to students who needed something.

And it would become what those students needed.

If you were walking past and of course, Ron Weasley pipes up.

So if I'm walking past and I really need a toilet poof, the room of requirement become

a toilet.

The more I talk to you, Lena, the more I think about it because that's you've got that chameleon thing going on.

But at the same time, you're not rearranging furniture and knocking down floor plans.

You're not adding hammocks for the kids to sleep in the corner.

But the idea is the same.

Become the space that people need and you don't necessarily have to burn 10,000 calories a day doing that.

I know you've got a heck of a pace and I'll always talk about that.

But really, you get the right things in place and it becomes this kind of self sustaining thing.

Hey, people

enjoy themselves here.

They'll recommend that other people do the same.

And I'm sure you've probably seen that as, you know, you get return customers or, hey, so and so told me, I'm betting you're hearing more often.

So and so told me to come here.

Is that, is that a common

refrain?

The recommendations on the food and even the recommendations on the lodging.

And I'm glad you made those comments because now the goal is shifting forward.

Now that we've got her rolling in a good direction is to become the best resort.

family experience in the area for Park Falls and Butternut.

And hopefully that will continue to build itself here in the next several years going forward.

Where

everybody's welcome and everybody thinks, hey, let's go to Lena's for the day.

Let's go on a pontoon or let's just, hey, she's got the swing set.

Let's sit on the back deck, enjoy the sunset, have a meal, let the kids run free out there and just enjoy ourselves.

And that's the goal here now, going forward with the resort.

Yeah.

And it's no secret Park Falls.

is built on a river and it's built on a river because of logging industry and there was a, you know, there was the paper mill that was in place for how long.

I'm a pike lake guy though.

That means I grew up in an area shaped by resorts and there are nowhere near the number that were there.

Once upon a time there were six or more continuously operating permanent resort establishments that many of them had a year round operation to at least some degree.

That said, that's part of why I just, I'm so

there for it lead I know you know that I'm a big fan and it may even cross into the inappropriate when I'm supposed to be neutral as a radio host but just no no no no no the resort thing there's nothing like it camping is not the same staying at a hotel doesn't even compare the resort experience is unique one and it's clearly one you believe in did you have a resort experience as as a kid or how did you end up wanting to do this

actually my grandfather had a trailer in Woodruff when I was a little kid

okay

and we would travel up

there and if anybody out there knows the name of Hanks Lake boy did we catch some northern in there you threw a little pork rind frog in there every time you would catch a northern you know 24 36 inches

and

I was little and

my dad would

put a little silver spoon spinner

on it

pork rind frog and bam bam bam but I've been coming up to the north woods ever since I was a little girl it started with my grandfather and then with my husband's family in peaksville they settled there in the 1940s as our kids

were growing.

We were vacationing up here every year for about 30 years and people didn't even know I knew so much about the area when we bought the bar in Glidden and it's just you asked my husband for 20 years before we bought that bar I wanted to move up here but it was always no no no we had other things going on down in Illinois and uh oh am I so glad I'm out of

Illinois.

Go Packers!

Go Brewers!

Go Badgers!

Well I'll tell you what Lita I

I heard the definition of luck that I prefer is luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

And I am so glad that somebody with your preparation, your past, your background ran into the opportunity and you were able to win over the other half and convince them that, yes, I can really do this because you very clearly can, you are doing it.

Is there anything coming in the near future that you want to share with the people of 98Q?

Well, I'd like to just keep encouraging everybody.

I'm praying for a lot of snow this winter.

I'm sure a

lot of the business owners are that anybody listening to the program that's outside of our community here.

If you're within a UTV, ATV group or a snowmobile club, check us out in Glidden.

Check us out in at the Northern Pines.

My mantra is all trails.

Lead Delinas that trail systems come through both my properties.

Give us a give us a shot.

Check us out.

The food is great.

The surf.

service is awesome and we provide a nice family setting in both establishments.

To say the least, Big G, what have you got for us?

I know you've got, you've been busy with your pen, you're

taking notes.

I'm just taking some notes.

I know we've got a couple of events coming up in October, the Lena Palooza, and then you've got some artistic tree.

I've got

a new chainsaw.

Oh,

yes.

Big G,

in a couple weeks there's a gentleman coming out to the pines and I'll let you know what that date is because we're finalizing that.

Okay.

We took down several trees on the property at the pines two years ago.

Well, we left six or seven of them standing eight to nine feet tall.

Well, I found a great chainsaw carver and he's coming and wait till you see the new additions.

What he's gonna do chainsaw carving on those trees the different animals and that and it's all like appropriate hint hint hint And we'll get it out there because I'd like to really make it a fun day for the kids to come out and watch

sure

and it'll be a nice legacy on that resort the different Animals that are carved into the trees and then also last Saturday of September I have a musky tournament run out of the bar and growing Glidden the first Saturday of October

is Lena Palooza, Binky is kindly running that one for me.

And we always raise money for catkins.

So again, those are some neat things coming up at the pines.

All right.

And that's the theme of the pines.

If you ask me, neat things coming in the near future.

And when you get there and those are over, watch out.

There's more.

And we'll chat with Lena again sometime soon on Reality Radio.

Lena, thank you so much.

My pleasure.

Everybody have a great week.

You too.

We've got more to come on Reality Radio with Jonathan MacArthur up next of the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce and Big G will circle back around.

We've got Phillips on tap, but first we've got a couple messages to share and a fresh update on what's going on outside.

You're listening.

to 98Q country.

90 aq continues reality radio and remember that we archive these conversations So go to 90 aq country calm and at the top of the page.

There's a I believe it's a podcast button We did just refresh things though So if you see it labeled podcasts or interviews either way you're in the right spot and it continues next With Phillips on tap that means Jonathan MacArthur.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

How's it going?

Doing well doing well the day speeds by on reality radio Wednesday, and that's that's how it should be because

because I'm talking to busy people about things coming much quicker than people might expect.

We've been talking to people about fall and leaves changing and things I frankly don't want to expect.

So let's slow down, let's enjoy the moment.

Phillips on Tap's the perfect place to do that.

Before we dive in too deep, what is Phillips on Tap?

Yeah, I think a lot of people look at it as like a beer festival.

but I think I look at it a little bit more like it's a Northwood celebration.

Okay.

It's back again for its fifth year.

Saturday, August 15th, it's down at Elk Lake Park.

And I'm sure a lot of our listeners probably know where Elk Lake Park is, what it is, but there's definitely something to be said about being nestled in right up there against the water on the Channel Lakes.

Fresh air, beautiful day.

Yeah, well, but it's there's going to be a lot of beer there.

There's going to be a lot of food vendors there.

There's going to be a lot of music there.

So when you combine those elements with the backdrop of the Northwest on the water, you really can't go wrong.

I'll admit, I don't think I've seen one event garner three flyers before.

But here we are.

We've got the general info, some music info.

We've also got the beers in question and the food truck lineup, too.

It'd be really easy to believe, yeah, got a good selection of breweries and maybe a food truck or two.

Uh-uh, you guys didn't do that.

You did the same thing you did with the fireworks show.

Let's turn this up past 11 and see how far the dial can go.

Why don't you give us a sneak peek at some of what we're going to see at Phillips Untap?

Yeah, it's, I would say our best year yet.

Obviously, whenever you do something you want it to grow, you want it to improve.

And I think we've done a really good job this year.

That being said, I do want to take a second.

to thank all the volunteers, all the people that go behind this because honestly, we can't do it without the help.

We are running chickens with our head cut off around at the chamber office and all the phones getting in touch with people.

And we can't do it without our sponsor.

We have 24 premier sponsors this year.

All of them are honestly just shelling out money to make these events happen.

So I'm not gonna list them all right now, but they're available on our website.

If you guys see any of those companies, thank them because we can't do these events without them.

But this year,

looking at eight, nine different unique breweries.

Some of them are pretty big names that you guys might recognize.

We've got Heart of the North.

We've got Moonridge Brewery, Round Man Brewery.

I mean, these are the normal ones that are typically coming.

We've got Stevens Point Brewery this year.

That's going to be a really nice one.

They've got a few pretty cool options for beer.

I'm excited for people to try out.

We're also going for NA options this year as well.

We had quite a demand for that last year.

So we'll have, you know, your Bush NA.

We're going to have free water for the whole event.

So if anybody's thirsty, wants to come and like manage

drinking event.

There's free water, the entire event.

We also have Steven's Point Ripper on tap for those that just want to come and try soda out.

It's going to be right off the tap.

It's going to be fantastic.

I've got several food trucks.

I'm in a list of them here.

You're going to see, I think it's like seven or eight different, nine different food trucks, all serving unique food options.

So definitely come thirsty, definitely come, definitely come hungry.

The event goes from four until 10 PM starting at four right away.

We've got a local favorite firsthand highs.

gonna be our band they're gonna be performing from four to six and then six thirty to ten is gonna be the main act that's boogie in the yo-yos they're coming back again this year they're a local crowd favorite as well so it's definitely I mean it's it's a pack schedule a lot going on in a condensed six-hour window so you're definitely not gonna want to miss it

That six hour window

is four to ten p.m.

Elk Lake Park Saturday August 16th or 15th excuse me and it might you know I hear I hear dates in August and there's a part of my brain which automatically feels like yeah that's a way that's that's a week from Saturday yeah Toby

we

got a visitor here and Toby's getting pretty excited about the weekend as well Toby is a fan Toby is a fan of quality social events like like Phillips on tap let me tell you but

You guys aren't kidding though.

I mean hard of the north we had one of the best pizzas I've ever had there just a couple months ago at the beginning of the summer I grew up on point root beer probably contributes to the fact that I'm shorter than I might otherwise

be I'll

admit I don't worry though.

It's completely safe to drink I just I just enjoyed far too much of it and for those of you who are into a Carmelie root beer more than minty You won't be disappointed though.

I'd call it a minty or one.

Yeah, it's pretty good.

So we're excited about adding that's the lineup.

I mean that's eight nine breweries three wine

So it's going to be a huge selection.

I think what I looked at last year, how much beer was sold and what beer was sold.

I mean, unsurprisingly, bushlight was the most popular.

We're going to have plenty of that, but I'm definitely going to encourage you guys to try some of these craft beers, get out there and try something a little different this year.

It's, it's, it won't regret

it.

As people of a relatively similar age to me, would you guys call me crazy or back me up here?

We've kind of converted from Miller light to bushlight in the area.

I don't know what the

changes.

But I'm not planning on looking back.

Well, very fair very fair I think I think that speaks to an answer just as much as everything does but as anything might have that that kind of confirms in a different way my suspicions But I feel like you know a lot of MGD a lot of a lot of Miller light in general There's still plenty of people who support that But yeah, though the bush latte has become a local phenomenon as it has all over the place Well these options but a lot more in-depth ones too if you like your craft beers if you if you're that person who doesn't turn your nose up in an IP and

Maybe if you know what IPA stands for got the kind of event that you'd like with Phillips on tap next week Saturday I'm still grappling with that fact guys.

Where's the summer gone?

Yeah, I don't know it's coming up quick though And you're not wrong before we know we're gonna see snow one of the snowmobiles going out and stuff It's gonna be great But yeah, I'm trying to try to take a second to breathe it in and enjoy the summer before it's too gone Falls gonna be here before we know it

what's been on your plate lately because I know with this next week You've been dealing with it for months.

Let's let's I don't want to detract from the attention here, but what?

What else is coming because it's always

something.

Yeah, so we've got our golf outing coming up.

That's the first Wednesday, second Wednesday of September.

That's coming up pretty quick.

That's going to be at the golf course out in Prentice.

We're pretty excited for that.

And then obviously our Fall Harvest Festival, October 3rd.

That one's going to be a big one.

Last year we had like 70 craft vendors for that, so that's...

I always kind of, so last year was my first time seeing it here.

You know, I moved here from Florida, but it reminded me of something out of a Hallmark movie.

Honestly, a lot of these events do that, where I'm like, wow, this is, when you see it come to fruition, it's...

Awesome.

It's definitely it's definitely an eye-opening experience being able to kind of put it together versus just being a regular attendee because don't get me wrong I like go to festivals and I like to go and check those things out But now I've developed a much larger appreciation for the events seeing how much work goes behind it How many people have to come together to make these things happen and so that way we can all enjoy them

Well, I mean, it's I think it's a human thing to believe that the world works the way you grew up.

You know, if you if you if you stay in Florida, for example, or if someone from up here, you know, you might look at other places and think, man, how can they do that with with so many people or with so few people?

You know, but as I'm sure you've learned, the common ingredient doesn't matter where you're from.

Hard work.

a willingness to do it and the decision to step in and be involved because nobody's gonna force you.

Nobody pushes you from behind.

You might have a friend or two pulling you into it like, hey, Jonathan, come on, try this thing.

But unless you feel like you can do it and decide to and you do it one day, it doesn't just happen.

These things don't do themselves.

It might feel that way before you're involved, but you now know that there is an unavoidable amount of effort required and a lot of it comes from you, but also a lot comes from all the volunteers and all the people who

Largely go unthanked.

It's just kind of a it has to be that way or it wouldn't work.

Am I

crazy?

Yeah, no, you're definitely right Yeah, it's it's a it's a group effort and it takes a bill it takes a village honestly to make some of these things happen and We don't take that for granted.

That's for sure.

It takes a village to raise a

festival The Phillips area Chamber of Commerce while we're here sitting down here on reality radio to talk about Phillips on tap This is the fifth annual already.

I was just about to ask but I see it here on the flyer and this flyer

is going to be on our website, 98QCountry.com.

It's also on your website.

Where can people find you online?

Yeah, check

it out at PhilipsOnTap.com.

OK.

We developed a website just for this event as it grows.

It's a great way to check analytics.

It's a really good way to check my reporting on it and see how well it's growing.

And I mean, a couple of weeks ahead, I'm very happy with the traction that that website's getting.

But it's got all the information.

It's got all the food trucks, what they're bringing.

It's got all the breweries, what they're bringing.

It's got all the bands, the times, everything, parking, how everything works.

phillipsontap.com go ahead and check that one out

and challenge the beer snob in your life they won't have my yes they will

It's going to be there or something that's from local breweries that competes with it.

Open your eyes, widen your horizons, expand the ability of your taste buds.

Seriously, though, have you just as a as a particular aside, have you been to heart of the north, their

physical location?

Yeah, so I've been going to actually a lot of these breweries and doing some like videography and just meeting the owners and the whole process has been awesome.

But yeah, that heart of the north is definitely one of the nicer ones.

Moonridge is great.

I was just down at Stevens Point this last weekend.

They gave me a tour of the.

brewery, that was awesome.

They had like an award-winning pumpkin beer.

I'm really hoping they bring that.

It's made out of a pumpkin puree.

So there's, I mean, yeah, when you look at this many different breweries and you know that they're all bringing different options, there's no shortage of uniqueness when you come to craft beer.

Wisconsin made beer, it's gonna be great.

And another human quality, the tendency to compete a little bit.

I look forward to seeing what extra and half experimental and just like, hey, they gather together.

In any community, if there's a hobby or a craft, there might be a sense of one-upsmanship without, without, like, actually being animus at all.

You know, it's not like a fighting type of thing, but it's like, hey, these guys know what I do.

I better show them my best.

You

end up, you end up seeing some things, and that's, that might be what I'm most excited for.

Like, hey, what are the wineries gonna bring that's gonna, that's gonna steal the show a little bit?

People hear taps and think beer, but they're not gonna be alone out there, those beer

brewers.

Oh yeah, I know.

There's some good flavors of wine, too.

I think we got a nice

cranberry wine that's coming up.

All of this stuff is going to be hand brewed.

So the wine included as well.

It's all going to be craft.

Somebody's made it at their own winery.

I think one of the wineries that we have, I'm excited for is O'Neill Creek winery.

They always come with a good selection.

We've got some ciders too.

You know, I go hit or miss on that one.

I'm not a big cider person myself.

Don't judge me.

But we have a couple of cider-y.

Cider boys being one of them.

String theory cider as well.

With it coming into fall, I'm sure those will do pretty well this year

too.

You are officially the first person to bring up pumpkin as a flavoring to me in 2026.

So my personal pumpkin spice season has basically unofficially begun.

Oh, sure.

You've brought it to

me.

Not that I

necessarily want it.

I don't have a choice.

I've entered pumpkin season, but Joel and I were talking, you know, it's going to be just a week or two at most before that one tree on your way to work has that splasher red on the branch.

What are you doing here?

Well, it's August.

We're almost done with the first week of August.

You guys are planning for October.

I'm sure you're already looking ahead to next year and everything if you don't mind Let's uh, let's briefly.

How did everything go?

We've got a it's a ways to circle back But how has everything gone so far this summer?

How have the events panned out fourth of

July and everything awesome?

Awesome.

I mean, you know, you get what you put in right so and I absolutely love my role I love the the chamber and I love the community.

So I'm finding that you're just getting back what you put into it our fourth of July was spectacular A lot of the events down in the park have gone really well.

We just got done celebrating that fire fast for the fire

department down there that went really well.

I mean, I feel like you can't ask for a better location in Elk Lake Park.

I mean, I can't say that you're nestled into the chain of lakes.

You're basically on a peninsula when you look at that when you look at that park and it's spread out just perfectly.

We've got beautiful clamshell area there.

That's a little band stage splash pad for the kids.

Every weekend Saturday, there's a farmers market down there so you can get fresh produce.

I mean, it's awesome.

It's things have been going spectacular and

And like I said, as you keep putting more time into it, it's just gonna keep growing.

Things are just gonna get better as we keep going.

And maybe you could speak to this even more than I can, having grown up in Florida, which I mean, Florida is a vast and varied landscape.

There's towns in park, like Park Falls in Florida, they do exist.

But I know that's not what a lot of people around here think when they think of Florida.

And you know what stands out to me is even just as close as Eau Claire, the things that you can label a park.

it's kind of interesting it's like this is that's a couple acres of grass and a tree or two and I get it hey if you need a community park if you need a public space you you do it what you can

But man, we are spoiled to have Elk Lake Park sitting there that much land.

Those features that people have built onto it, we're really standing on the on the hard work of people who came before to enjoy something like that.

It's it's incredible to have.

It is.

And I think one of the testaments to how great our community is, is you go down to that park and there's basketballs there.

You know, you go out into the winter and they've got that ice skating rink and they have a warming shelter.

They just have ice skates there for you to use.

You don't find that elsewhere down in Florida.

That stuff would be pops that it'd be.

and even taking UBC and the guy, trying to take a nap on the bench out there.

You don't have these things up here.

And I think that we work really hard to protect each other, to take care of each other, to make sure that everybody's copacetic.

And I think that you don't want to take those things for granted, you

know?

No, absolutely not.

I found myself in the middle of an online conversation once, and it was what internet conversations inevitably become.

But I zoomed out when the person said, I can't believe

people leave their cars unlocked in small towns, how arrogant of them.

And I

thought, whoa, what a short sentence to tell me that you just don't.

get it.

And

that's okay.

That's okay.

It just maybe don't share that opinion before you visited these places and seen that.

Yeah.

I mean, if somebody is going to steal my bike, I'm going to see it going down the road next week.

It's going to be under somebody I've had a beer with who was having a bad day

and might not even

realize they got mine instead of theirs.

You know,

like

it's not about arrogance.

It's about taking advantage of the opportunities that we only have in places like this.

And Jonathan, if I may say so, you are really maximizing those opportunities.

It's very clear that you want the area to

offer these things to be a place to create memories so that people will return to do the same thing when they have kids one day.

Just like Lena, we were talking to Lena a moment ago.

She's invested in a playground and she's talking about things for the kids.

And I thought, well, yeah, you make the kids happy and they'll drag mom and dad back and then they'll bring their own kids one

day.

And that's how you keep a small town going.

Would you say that's your goal?

Keep a small town going?

I think so.

Yeah.

You definitely want to carry the torch.

That's for sure.

You know, I carry it as far as you can and you want to carry it as fast as you can.

else can pick it up after you're done with it.

Well it's good the torch

is in capable hands and being used to light and bring warmth to events like that's pretty cheesy isn't

it?

No that's

spot-on that's on theme though.

I think I might have extended the

metaphor too

far but I'm glad you're still on board but no seriously you're carrying that torch to bring light and warmth to events like this to Phillips on tap that's next week Saturday August 15th 4 to 10 p.m.

and if you like some others are thinking what if I don't drink what will I do they've got more NA options than ever before

and if you want to know whether it's possible for a sober person to enjoy this, yes, I can personally confirm that I enjoyed this.

Last time I was there

and I will again.

Absolutely, yeah, it's a free event.

I mean, come on down, bring a lawn chair, grab some free water, sit there, and we're not gonna, you know, it is a fundraising event.

I'm gonna encourage you to try Point Roopier for while you're out there.

I might encourage you to try Snack, but if that's not for you, just come out and say hi, come find me.

Say you heard me on the radio, I'd love to hear that feedback.

We'd love to have you there.

And that's

next week Saturday.

You can find the flyer on our website.

You can find it on the Phillips Chamber website or on the new Fancy Schmancy.

Individual website phillipsontap.com

phillipsontap.com.

That's right.

Isn't that right Wyatt?

That's right.

The intern has confirmed why this island partner here in the in the 98Q country, Aspirus Health Studio.

Well guys, thank you so much because as I like to tell people on any given Wednesday, you know, a lot of times people aren't able to make their scheduled visits because if you're here on reality radio, you're probably one of the busiest people in the community.

Something tells me that you've got an appointment later today.

Yeah, I've got up north at four.

I got to go on the TV.

Honestly, this stuff's pretty cool, though.

All of you guys do a great job, and it's always fun doing these type of things.

Well, we can say exactly the same, and we'll spread the word.

You guys lay the foundations, and everybody else, they can come and have the fun.

That's next week, Saturday.

Phillips on tap, the fifth annual, all by the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce, and with the help of many volunteers and sponsors you can find on those flyers.

We've been talking with Jonathan MacArthur, and if you want to listen back, you'll be able to do that only on 98Qcountry.com.

on our website, open another tab to phillipsontap.com so you can see this ridiculous list of vendors, wineries, cideries, breweries that'll all be there next weekend.

We've got one more guest, it's our very own Big G coming up on Reality Radio.

That'll be coming after a word from sponsors and that means you're listening to 98Q Country.

Cody Johnson, 98Q, coming up on the 10 o'clock mark, but we've got the ability to push further than ever before here on 98Q, so we've got time to chat with Big G. Hello again, welcome back.

Hey,

Gray.

Big G, you had a busy, busy weekend and I explained it to you when you got here as Big G. I could see your sunglasses even though you're not wearing them anymore.

You got a lot

of tan going on.

You got the look of the summer about you and kind of the theme of the day is that fall is coming a little quicker than we think, but we've got to look back before we look ahead because you had a fantastic and busy weekend.

All thanks to the people of the community and some businesses that made it possible with your Northwoods Classics Car Club Flamborama Car Show.

Yeah, beautiful.

flamborama weekend and the weather was beautiful and hats off to the chamber board.

Special recognition for Courtney Weitinggrubber, our director, her husband Kyle Darla.

Uh, Luann, the whole board down there that puts this big event together every year and they're down there pretty much from sun up to sundown.

You know, somebody has to close the park and, uh, take care of things down there.

And, uh, and, uh, yeah, a big thanks and a big hats off to the chamber board.

And of course the three people Courtney Luann Darla, her husband Kyle and everybody that helped out down there behind the scenes to make this a fantastic event.

That's Courtney's husband.

Kyle and Darla's husband Gary just did the things got wires got a little bit crossed there.

What did I say?

You said you said Luann and Darla and her husband or you said Courtney and Darla and her husband Kyle so

we don't want to go down that we don't want to go down that track.

We shall start

no rumors

today.

Courtney and Kyle Darla was down there in Luann.

Yep but

how many steps those two put on even though

I was

I was gone on on Saturday and Sunday but even just on Friday man the effort people put in the set

up in the takedown.

Huge shout out, by the way, to the people who clean up.

The garbage on the ground,

the tent

disassembly.

Boy.

You deserve more shout outs than you'll ever get.

So I've got one here for you this morning.

Big G, you've got some shout outs to share too because I do.

Busy means support.

You had a lot of support this weekend.

Yep, you betcha.

Thank you to our major flamborama sponsors here.

Forward Bank, North Community Credit Union, Monaco, Chevrolet, they were our lane line band sponsor, the 90s band, Fira Wealth Advisors, Dave's Us Trucking, Kissinger, Wolski,

down a group, Schwab and home furnishings, bought relative paradox to you on Saturday night, Bob and Patty Hilgart with Robbie V, Price Electro Cooperative, Lake of the Torches Resort and Casino, over in Lactoflamble, Lena's Northern Pines, of course, and Lena's Bar and Grill in Glidden, Ken and Anna, Birch Street Funeral Services, they provide the Children's Museum, and then, of course, Nine Day Queue Country and Civic Media.

All right, also a special.

Thank you to Richter law office and Northwood's reality for sponsoring the safe ride program free rides and free rides in the family worship center, so

All right.

Well, and I hope people took advantage of that too, because it's one of those things that it's easy to take for granted or to undervalue.

But getting home safe is something that we all take for granted.

And so don't play with it.

Take advantage of those safe rides when they come up at Flamborama.

I was glad we could help spread the word about that on the radio a little bit.

But man, did we have a time on Friday.

How'd it go on Saturday though?

Tell me about the car show.

Saturday car show was a big success again.

We had 85 cars.

registered we had about 89 that came in and parked in the up to the high school there and of course the club cars and everything we had around a hundred cars up there so a great show fantastic experience lots of lots of neat classic vehicles up there the best of show was a 35 Chevy customized pickup

and this thing you had to see it.

Words don't describe it.

It was the best to show and the guy tailored it up here.

But lots of neat vehicles in the park and we had a spectator's choice dash plaques for the first 75 entries and classes all the way from 1900 original to tuners to motorcycles and special interest to convertibles.

You name it, we had it.

Thanks to Art Burkhard, you did a wonderful job on our music this year.

And we had our National Anthem and Engine Revving salute there at noon.

And thanks to everybody who came out.

And thanks to all my classic car club members who are volunteers and help park cars, help registration, and also help with judging.

And thank you to my wife and my son.

They came up and helped out as well.

Big thanks to everybody that helped out and that was class' car show.

And of course, all of our trophy sponsorships.

I'd like to mention them one more time.

Please do.

Because without them, this show wouldn't be possible.

We've got a nine day queue country and silver media group.

We've got AC Carpet Plus and Firefield, Anderson's Body Shop and Phillips.

Burst Street Funeral Service, Schwabian Home Furnishings, Ashton and Park Falls, the Schwabian High School, big, big thanks to Kevin Shulke.

He is my right-hand man, I should say, out there.

He allows me to use the school if we got to refrigerate anything.

I have a key to the shed there so I can take stuff up there ahead of time.

I'm going to store the trophies in the school.

So thank you, big thanks to Kevin there and John Oswald for the nice use of the venue there every year.

CNR Power Sports, Carl.

as famous brisket out there, D&D Tire and Auto Center, Riverside Garage in Park Falls, Fifefield Grocery and Smokehouse, Fifefield Lions Club with their food booth out there, Forward Bank, Hastings Concrete in Park Falls, Jay's Automotive in Park Falls, J&A Services Marine and Power Sports, Barnet Cafe, Joe's Auto Glass, Jack's Corner Bar,

Country Cafe in Fifefield, E&W, Rittbier & Phillips, Moose Jaw Resort, Bark Falls, Matheson Oswald, Accounting, The Big Dipper Bar.

These are, if you're listening just tuning in, these are the sponsors that help.

Support our car show every year with trophy spot trophy donations will often print and copy Down there in the park mall.

He does all our printing and everything down there for us every year the north Wisconsin car club members north of community credit union Northwood's realty and property management Northwood's supper club five field John's auto works in five field

CarQuest Auto Parts, a longtime supporter of our car, Pete, and party over there on CarQuest Auto Parts.

Park Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Park Falls Family Restaurant, Park Falls Plumbing and Heating, Chief Naviller, the Park Falls Police Department.

He always comes up and presents our best to show every year.

Phillips Lumber and Hardware, Phillips Service Center, of course, Lena's Northern Pines Resort.

Restore You in Park Falls.

Rotter and slumber and five field signature sign and graphics.

They all they all sponsor our best to show us where we get all our trophies from right there in butternut.

They do an excellent job state farm insurance War God on truck center Bart bus services.

We all know discusses car club also provides a shuttle bus for folks to go downtown to the arts and crafts for back with the festival grounds and back to the car show and Jeff Hickening roofing so quite a list

Big thanks to all those sponsors that support.

The North West Classes car show every year.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

And from that, we look ahead, Big G. There will be another North West Classes car show next year and there will be cruises and people can join the club.

All they got to do is talk to you if they're interested in doing so.

What's the best way to do something like that?

Probably the best way is to contact me at 715-492-2654.

Visit our Facebook page, North West Classes car club.

And you can message us from there also.

If somebody made you pick between, and this is kind of apropos of nothing here, but I see what you're holding in your hand.

If somebody made you decide, are you a Fifield guy or a Phillips guy?

I'm not gonna ask you what you'd say,

but could you even pick one?

No, I mean, I'm a Northern Wisconsin guy.

I like helping out all these communities up here.

And as part of the fight field community in my business, of course, over four decades, still the fight field Lions member.

Yep.