
July 12, 2025
By Lane Kimble
CRANDON, Wis. — Towering maples, oaks, and pines cover steep hills running down to deep blue lakes.
There’s a reason they call this God’s Country. And Becky Woller absolutely loves it.
“Beautiful,” Woller summarized her surroundings. “It’s already beautiful up here. But when this project is done, it’s going to look amazing.”
Woller and her Integrity Grading & Excavating crew are in the middle of making this slice of heaven even better. They’re reconstructing miles of US 8 between Crandon and Laona in Forest County.
“Right here is where the action is. We’re doing some pretty big slope cuts. The roads were steep, the slopes were steep, visibility was terrible,” Woller said.
The work involves moving a massive amount of dirt (about 300,000 cubic yards), widening shoulders, installing water and sewer lines, box culverts, pedestrian and ATV trails with safety being the driving force.
It’s the kind of improvements members of the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe have dreamt about for more than a decade. The 12-mile project stretches through the heart of Potawatomi land.
“It’s just amazing to see this come to fruition because it’s just been years and so many people working on it,” Potawatomi Capital Projects Planner Michelle Berdan said.
The Tribe worked with WisDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct studies, analyze data and apply for grant funding.
Berdan says Integrity, subcontractors like Sheet Piling Services, and engineering firm EMCS have been the perfect combination to bring all those efforts to the finish line.
“Oh, they’ve been amazing. They are so conscientious of the community, their communication is exceptional,” Berdan said.
Work is scheduled to be done in early November, which means Woller’s time in God’s Country is limited. So, for now, she’ll take in the majestic views while she can, thanking a higher power for the chance to be here.
“It makes me really proud to be a part of it, changing the landscape for the better in such a short amount of time,” Woller said. “It’s just… it’s awesome.”
(Note: Because of the close coordination with the Potawatomi Community, Woller says she’s learned a great deal about their culture and the importance of its preservation. Make sure to check out our highlight video coming soon to find out how that’s shaped her view of this job.)