Outdoorsman left tavern, likely hit a deer in Bayfield County

I am Birch's sister and I must say how terribly upsetting it is to read this. FIRST of all, our family was told that the deer actually ran into Birch's car. The cause of death was not from "drunk driving", but from being ejected from the vehicle. The way it was described to us was that there would be no difference in the outcome if a person was driving who had not had a drink at all. SECOND of all, Birch was NOT last seen at a bar. He was last seen at my brother's house. I am getting pretty sick of reading that he was last seen at a bar and hearing it on the news. If anyone had bothered to check their facts they would have figured that out. THIRD, how the hell do you think it makes the family feel to have someone say "the body was cold...lay dead for hours...crushed by the car?" Do you people think before you write this stuff? I think we all know what happened, you don't need to say it the way you do. Maybe think about who will be reading this and what you are doing to them. FOURTH, I would love to know where you found out about the two beers in the car, and if there was actually beer in them. I have a pretty good idea who those cans belonged to and I can tell you right now, it wasn't him. LAST, my brother was a beautiful person. He had been treated so bad throughout his life by people who didn't know him. The LAST thing in the world I want him to be remembered as is a "drunk driver." This accident wasn't caused by him drinking that night. Birch had drank from an early age. I can tell you that a BAL of .10 would not have altered him at all. Too bad no one takes anything else into consideration besides what the government decides is "drunk." I love my brother so much. The weekend marks a year of his passing. I cannot tell you how hard it has been, and how upset I get everytime I google his name and find something new like this. My mother may have given you a quote, but I feel like she was totally taken advantage of. She is alone, and is torn up about this all the time. She told me she thought this was going to be a nice article about Birch's life. Instead he is just another statistic for you to use to scare people. I find it unfortunate that you chose him. I will defend my brother until my last day because he does not need to be remembered like this.

great story, truth hurts.... this area is full of careless drunks.....it's what bayfield, douglas and ashland county live for.....sadly, kids are the victims.....taverns need to be held accountable as well, especially on Port Wing, Herbster area....too many people are served well beyond there means....but all in all, the alcohol abuse must stop..it's no way of life...I am puzzled when people with alcohol and drug problems are honored or talked of so greatly after they pass...

blah blah blah.......

your an idiot,,hope the truth dont hurt dumb#@#$

sick of drunks wrote:

great story, truth hurts.... this area is full of careless drunks.....it's what bayfield, douglas and ashland county live for.....sadly, kids are the victims.....taverns need to be held accountable as well, especially on Port Wing, Herbster area....too many people are served well beyond there means....but all in all, the alcohol abuse must stop..it's no way of life...I am puzzled when people with alcohol and drug problems are honored or talked of so greatly after they pass...

i just cant agree with a person who proclaims to hate drunks,yet has no facts,,so typical,,probally a democrat,,arent you?

I used to be a bartender at Windsor Willies Solon in Iron River. I knew Birch ONLY from Monday night horse shoe tourneys and HE WAS NEVER DRUNK!! I quote "NEVER DRUNK". He was a Very well mannered and considerate person. I serverd Birch AT THE MOST 2 cans of beer throughout a 2-3 hour period. If the quy was a drunk, he would HAVE DRANK more than those two cans of beer! I came on here to look something up for my son and here I saw for the first time this article. IT IS SICK WHEN YOU PEOPLE DON"T KNOW WHO HE IS AND JUDGES HIM FOR THAT CRAP!! I don't even know who his sister is but my god she is right. How the hell do you think the family feels??? Now I have seen in the Iron River and Port Wing area, my share of drunks, believe me. Birch was not that. I normally don't respond to this crap on here because it's a typical say what you want with out knowing the person. It must be yourself trying to make your life look or seem better when you have to cut on something like this.... To Birch's family, I'm so sorry for your loss. Christine Teppo

Thank you so much for writing that, Christine. It really means a lot.

Your most sincerly welcome!