Letters to the Editor

We welcome letters to the Editor, a chance for members of the community to comment on issues of concern to them. All letters must be original, not duplications of letters addressed to public officials or written by others. The views and opinions expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication, its publishers, Editor, or staff. Please see our complete Letter to the Editor Policy at:

To the Editor:
Thank you to the County and Foto News for publishing a correction to the Ad Hoc Report Chart. Please note another error has been found. The County was informed of this on February 24, 2025. As of March 2, 2025, it has not been acknowledged or corrected.
For the year 2023, the revenue was understated by $1,597,382, and the expenses were understated by $39,135. The effect of these errors changes the “income/deficit column” from a negative ($1,108,704) to a positive $449,543; a difference of $1,558,247. In my mind significant. (See chart.)
Once again, it is unfortunate that another published financial statement by the County is incorrect. It makes me wonder what information can we trust?

This stands out even more, as the information from the People For Pine Crest has been categorically dismissed time and time again, when it is, in fact, more accurate. Audited accurate - no. I will leave that to the experts.
Instead of spending time double and triple checking who is right, let’s use our efforts to find solutions based on accurate information and get to work on keeping the Pine Crest Nursing Home county owned. Thank you.

- Eileen Guthrie
Merrill, Wis.

Editor’s Note: “As previously stated, the document provided did not originate by an employee currently at Lincoln County,” said Renee Krueger, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator in response to our request for more information. “‘We’” attempted to continue the document for consistency in reporting,” she said. That has met with challenges.

To the Editor:
In regard to your February 20, 2025, article, “Pine Crest Nursing Home: Looking back at 11 years of financials,” I would like to clarify the debt service issue. Lincoln County will have to pay that debt whether Pine Crest is sold or NOT SOLD. It is a Lincoln County debt.
Will the $268,434 for salary and fringe benefits for Lincoln County employees responsible for Pine Crest Nursing Home be eliminated if Pine Crest is sold? How many Lincoln County employees will become unemployed? If these employees are not discharged, is there a savings?
I am also a Lincoln County resident concerned about the residents of Pine Crest who receive their care through the Medicaid program. These individuals need this 5-star skilled nursing facility that does not discriminate based on ability to pay. It represents a fundamental message, that we are our brother’s keeper.
As a community, we are committed to the welfare of all citizens. Thank you for your attention to our seniors.

- Victoria Bender
Tomahawk, Wis.