Wisconsin
Wisconsin sawmill agrees to pay $191K to federal regulators after 16-year-old boy killed on the job
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A northern Wisconsin sawmill has agreed to pay nearly $191,000 and stop hiring children under 16 to settle a federal lawsuit labor regulators filed after a teenager was killed on the job this summer and other child employees were hurt in a string of accidents.
Michael Schuls died in July after he became pinned in a wood-stacking machine at Florence Hardwoods. He was trying to clear a jam in the machine in the facility’s planing mill when the conveyor belt he was standing on moved and left him pinned, according to Florence County Sheriff’s Office reports obtained by The Associated Press through open records requests.
An ensuing U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that three children ages 15 to 16 were hurt at the sawmill between November 2021 and March 2023.
The sawmill also employed nine children between the ages of 14 and 17 to illegally run machines such as saws, the investigation found. Most work in sawmills and logging is prohibited for minors. But children 16 and older can work in Wisconsin planing mills like the Florence Hardwoods facility where Shuls was pinned. Planing mills are the final processing sites for lumber.
The investigation also determined that seven child employees between 14 and 17 worked outside legally permitted hours.
The labor department filed a civil lawsuit against Florence Hardwoods on Tuesday, but the agency and the sawmill’s attorneys had already reached a consent decree to settle the action in late August. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach approved the deal Wednesday.
According to the agreement, the sawmill will pay the labor department about $191,000. In exchange, the department will lift its so-called hot goods restrictions on the facility, which prohibit the sawmill from selling anything produced using illegal child labor.
The agreement bars Florence Hardwoods from hiring anyone under 16 and requires it to notify the labor department if it hires anyone between the ages of 16 and 18. Employees between those ages must be treated as apprentices or student learners. Federal law severely limits those employees’ exposure to dangerous tasks and requires that such work be conducted under the supervision of an experienced worker.
Florence Hardwoods also will be required to place warning stickers on all dangerous equipment and post signs visible from 10 feet away warning people that anyone under 18 isn’t allowed in the facility’s sawmill and planer mill. The facility also will have to submit to unannounced inspections.
Florence Hardwoods officials released a statement Friday through their attorney, Jodi Arndt Labs, insisting they didn’t knowingly or intentionally violate labor laws but saying they will accept the penalties.
“As a small company, employees are like family, and the death of Michael Schuls was devastating,” the statement said. “We are only able to move forward thanks to the love and support of our workforce and the community. Michael will forever be in our hearts and his family in our prayers.”
Schuls’ family has in the past declined to comment on allegations of negligence by Florence Hardwoods. A message to a person managing the family’s GoFundMe page was not immediately returned Friday, and attempts to reach family members by phone and email weren’t successful.
State regulators also launched an investigation into Schuls’ death. Messages left Friday with the state Department of Workforce Development inquiring about the status of the probe weren’t immediately returned.
Schuls’ death comes as lawmakers in several states, including Wisconsin, are embracing legislation to loosen child labor laws. States have passed measures to let children work in more hazardous occupations, for more hours on school nights and in expanded roles. Wisconsin Republicans back a proposal to allow children as young as 14 to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The 25th Cellcom Green Bay Marathon was the last, but went out with a Northeast Wisconsin native claiming victory in the final women’s race.
Kathy VanDehy of Menasha originally planned to run the full marathon in 2019 before it was cancelled due to weather. Five years later she ran the full 26.2 mile race for the first time on Sunday.
“Really cool, really cool. I came into the race just trying to have fun and enjoy the distance and being here on the last one and just being able to do what I love. Being out there with the community support and just hearing all along the course like I don’t even know you and you’re cheering for me, that’s really fricken cool,” said VanDehy.
NIicholas Chelimo of Grand Prairie, Texas won the men’s race with a time of 2:24.32.
Copyright 2024 WBAY. All rights reserved.
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An increasing number of people are taking to Wisconsin state parks during the summer for an outdoor favorite, camping.
Suzanna Topel has camped at Devil’s Lake State Park for over 50 years.
“Well, we love state parks,” she said. “We’ve been coming here since I was little… probably… I remember age two, three with my folks and then we took over, we began family camping with my children.”
Her family books their campsite 11 months to the day, the earliest you can secure a spot at a Wisconsin state park.
“Well, they’re kind of tricky. I have to say,” she said about the reservations. “You have to look far ahead, you can’t wait. You immediately either call the 800 number, because I’m old-schooled, that’s what I do. Or you book online if you’re computer savvy.”
Business operations sections chief for the Wisconsin DNR Chris Pedretti says while campers can book 11 months in advance, not many do.
“There is a perception out there that you have to do everything 11 months in advance because demand is so high. That’s not really the case,” he said. “In actuality, about 10% of our reservations are done at the 11-month window. So, there’s a big percentage of reservations that are done in between then.”
Pedretti adds that certain campsites book up faster than others.
“If you want to go to on Memorial Day weekend to Door County, there’s going to be a lot of competition for those sites.” But there’s a lot of other state parks and forests around the state that have sites available as well and they all offer great things to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”
With over 6,000 sites spread out across the state, there are plenty of options this summer. Even if you have your site set on one spot in particular.
“Sometimes you’re lucky, people will get cancel and you can get it. But if you want electricity, you’ve gotta grab ‘em while they’re hot,” Topel said.
Pedretti says people looking to book a particular campsite should keep checking their website as cancelations are made on a regular basis. He adds there is a notification feature that can alert your phone if a property becomes available.
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Copyright 2024 WMTV. All rights reserved.
The crash happened about 7:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of State 54 and Washington Street.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – One person is dead following a motorcycle versus vehicle crash Friday evening in Wisconsin Rapids.
The crash happened about 7:10 p.m. Friday at the intersection of State 54 and Washington Street. According to the initial investigation, a vehicle was traveling north on State 54 at Washington Street and was attempting to turn left onto Baker Drive, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department. The motorcycle was traveling south on State 54 and hit the passenger side of the vehicle, which turned in front of the motorcycle, the release said.
The driver of the motorcycle suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Marshfield Medical Center where he later died from his injuries, the release said.
The occupants of the vehicle were treated by Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department EMS and released at the scene.
The police department said it is not releasing the names of those involved at this time.
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Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.
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