There will be a benefit for Kayla Berg on Sept 20th 2009 at the
Rolling Town Hall from Noon til 7pm. Music by Allen Cash. Stop in
for free beer, refreshments and home cooking. All proceeds will go
towards raising the reward to finding Kayla and also (God willing) to hiring a private investigator.
Donations are still needed.
Please see www.kaylaberg.tumblr.com
donating businesses are as follows:
Shammy Shine
Refuge
Fullers Sales and Service
Pomps
Quinns
Fittante’s
Peaceful Valley General Store
Security Finance
Oil Xpress
The Pool People
Fantastic Sams
Antigo Sportswear
Arlens
Antigo Yamaha
Top Shelf
Deans Auto
Family Lawn and Landscape
I will update as more donations come in.
There will also be many donations from private parties.
Wine baskets, crafters, etc….
.
Tags: antigo teen missing kayla berg, antigo wi wausau wi missing girl, kayla berg benefit
I pray that Kayla’s family has an excellent turn-out at this event to raise reward money for her safe return. God bless them all!
God Bless Kayla and Hope, They will always be family to me!!!
I am shocked by all the crazy rumors flying around. Doesn’t anyone realize that no teenage girl would run away without her purse and some clothes? It’s just not possible. I can hardly sleep at night thinking about this girl and where she could be. Why aren’t her friends talking? It just seems like no one is taking this case seriously. Even the police seem to have their minds made up. By the way … whoever took her is still LOOSE! Please everyone, say your prayers for Kayla and her family and go to this benefit and be generous. She needs our help!
I have been helping with the benefit for Kayla. I’ve found that most businesses I’ve talked to were more than willing to donate. BUT there were more than a few who pretty much said “she ran away, deal with it” or we even said one that said “yeah, we’ve heard about it, we don’t want our name associated with that” What the heck is going on here???? I’ve lived here for more than 20 years and I don’t ever remember a child going missing like this, just because kayla turned 16 absolutely does not mean she is not a child still! Missing is missing in my book. We are over 36 days MISSING! Honestly I hope she did run away because the alternative is truly unthinkable. Please everyone come to the benefit and show this mom that you do care and are taking this seriously.
Thank goodness the majority of people in this town are truly smart enough to realize NOW that Kayla is NOT a runaway! I was ashamed of this community for the first time with the attendance at the candlelight vigil when not one pastor came out to share this family’s grief! Let’s be honest here…if this child’s last name was more prominent, the supporters would be a different group of people involved in solving her disappearance with total commitment from our police and local media. Poor little Kayla deserves as much attention as any other missing child so let’s all UNITE together until she is brought home safe and sound!!!
I went to the benefit for Kayla on Sunday and Let me just say that Kayla’s father’s family should be ashamed of the way they treated the girls who were trying to do the benefit. They were grilled about everything they did, who brought what, what did they have to pay for. I even heard one of Kayla’s Aunts asking a girl for all her receipts!! I was sickened by the way they acted. One of her Aunt’s owns a business here in town and they didn’t donate even one thing!!!! Shame on them!! They had nothing to do with gathering donations or even trying to help at all until the money was coming in. They made me sick. I give everyone who worked to put that benefit together in just over 2 weeks a lot of credit. Good Job you guys!!
I was at the benefit as well and I too am ashamed at the way the aunts on the father’s side acted towards the people who put all the effort into putting this benefit together. Not one of them had any part of the benefit until the day of and then they waltzed into that hall and were playing 20 questions and making the people who were running it feel very uncomfortable. They made everyone feel like a bunch of crooks and acted as though the money was going for something else. All 3 of the aunts took over at the ticket table so they could keep track of the money and of course they had their fingers in it at the end! I hope the money got into the right hands! How selfish! You know who you are and ought to be ashamed of youself for treating people like crap!
Yes there were some people at the benefit who made us feel very uncomfortable. No, the Aunt with the local business did not donate. Yes the family on Kayla’s father’s side did seem to want to take over. The money for this benefit ended up in MY hands. Hope and I counted it and I’m very thankful to say we ended up with a little over $2,000. We decided that $1800 would go to the benefit and the rest would be left in Kayla’s bank account if/when we needed money for fliers. The printing companies have been wonderful but they will not continue to give us free copies for much longer. It has been hard to get more than 50 copies at a time from missing and exploited children so we’ve had to go to outside companies to get our copies made. There is just no way we can hire a private investigator, we looked far and wide but they all seem to cost around $850 a day! Yikes. Unless we can find one who will do this for little or no cost, I’m sad to say we will not be able to hire a private investigator. I will be posting a new Blog on this website acknowledging everyone who did help with the benefit. It was appreciated more than anyone could possible imagine. Thank you to those who came to support Hope and offer encouraging words and hugs. Hope really feels a lot of times she is butting heads here and there. It’s so nice for her to be able to be around people who are not there to put her down but were there to support her.
Correction: I’m sorry that I said $1800 will go for the benefit. What I meant to say is $1800 is going towards the reward. I talked to crime stoppers today and we will be working with them
Good to hear, SpiritedinAntigo…so glad that a generous amount was raised for such a good cause! Remember to take advantage of those who offer you assistance and support at this time and steer clear of the difficult ones who won’t be there for you when this is all over anyway. But people on Antigo Buzz, let’s stop the complaining and bickering over who did what and who didn’t do enough…I doubt Kayla would want any of us to be this petty.
I got a bit of good news this afternoon while checking my emails. A woman wrote me and said she “might” be able to help us with finding a private investigator who would do this for FREE!! Lets all hope and pray this comes true…….. I passed all information onto Kayla’s mom and she left a message for this person. HOPEFULLY I’ll be able to get back on Antigo Buzz with very good news.
This is Kayla’s mom! I really appreciate all that came to the benefit and showed there support to me! Yes I was very disgusted that her dads family was so rude and controlling to all that have helped me so much through this very nightmarish time. To all that think that this is nothing but a big joke and scam! You should be ashamed of yourselves! You people have no clue what I am going through!!!!!!!! There is not one of you that has ever been through this in your lives!!!!! I would like to see anyone remain in their right mind and still try to keep living every day with the disgusting and viscous rumors that continue to fly in this town. I am truly sorry that we do not have the right name or background to be recognized in this town!!!!!!! I am sorry that we do not have money and we are like most people in this day and age that struggle to survive!!!!!!! Yes people have seen me out in the bars having a few drinks!!! But I ask you what would you do? I Have not been belligerently drunk or making a scene!! I Have just been trying to cope and be around friends, cause if I was not I do not know what I would do I have some very bad thoughts go through my head. But yet I still try to remain strong! Kayla is my only inspiration that keeps me going everyday and to even get up in the morning!!!!!! Most of you people forget that I do have a husband that does work full-time and does make decent money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To all of you that think you know it all and enjoy to continue to spread rumors that just totally f*cks up my whole investigation you can all KISS MY *SS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I pray to god that you never have to go through what I am, and if you do you know what i would be there with complete support, just because that is the way that I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To everyone else thank you for your support your concern for my daughter means the world to me and I appreciate it very much. Thank You So Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is Kayla’s mom!! First of all I would personally like to thank all that has shown their support for me and my daughter. I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me and Kayla!!!! It means a lot to know that their are truly concerned people in this community. I can not say enough or thank you enough!!!! It truly means a lot to me, my husband Lee, and Kayla’s brother Jimmy.
This is Kayla’s mom. First of all I would like to thank everyone for their support in finding my daughter!! There are not enough words in the world that can explain my gratitude!! Me, my husband Lee, and Kayla’s brother Jimmy really appreciate those of you who show concern for Kayla. We would like to personally say thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kayla’s mom again!! There is a second thing that I would like to address!!!! This is for all of the people in the area that think they know it all and don’t. There was a lot of speculation as to where the money was going for this benefit!!! You know who you are and you all should be ashamed of yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry that we do not have the right last name to be recognized in this community, I am sorry that we are like most American families that struggle to make ends meet and find it hard to survive in today’s world!!!!!! To all of you that think I am out blowing the money that I have raised for Kayla, you should be totally and completely ashamed of yourselves. Yes, I have been out in the bars having a few drinks, I would like to see anyone else handle this situation better than I have. You have know idea what it is like their is no one in this f*cking community that has ever been in the situation that I am in right know!!! I think you people are forgetting that I am married and my husband works a full-time job, and works hard for his money!!!!! Oh my god!! that is where my money comes from, go figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have not been out belligerently drunk or doing anything wrong, I just need to be with friends while my husband is working so I do not do anything stupid. There are a lot of thoughts that go through a persons mind when this happens, and when you have people in your own community talking smack and spreading disgusting and viscous rumors about the one you love. To all of you people you should be extremely ashamed of yourselves and I truly hope you rot in HELL!!!!! And as far as Kayla’s dad’s family goes, for you people to come to a benefit that you had nothing to do with and take over and accuse me of stealing from my own daughter, you will go to hell!!! I have done all of the interviews, radio, interviews with the news, and what have you all done!! You love Kayla so much that you could not even donate, with the exception of one of you, or talk to any news stations, radio, or newspaper!!!!!! I have done everything. Have you lost 20lbs, been put on meds that you would never take, have nightmares every night, and never get any sleep??????? I am the one that is digging my own grave in the search for my daughter and I will never give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!! And I would like to day to all of you that think you know it all or think that I am this horrible person YOU CAN ALL KISS MY *SS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not at all surprised that Kayla’s dad’s family would act this way, but, it surprised me when I found out that Kayla’s last name is NOT her father’s last name, but her mother’s maiden name!? I overheard Bergs talking badly about Kayla’s mom, etc., and to me this was a shocker, since they would be on Kayla’s mom’s side, right!?
Both of my children have my last name because their dad never wanted to get married, in fact when I found out that I was pregnant with Kayla her dad wanted me to get an abortion and I do not believe in that!!!! As far as Berg’s talking badly of me well let me tell you I am the black sheep of the family I was adopted and never really fit in. But know never mind I love my family, the only one that I have ever known. I have had a hard life and made some bad decisions, just like most people have done. The past is the past it does not mean that I do not LOVE my children, or that I am a bad person. I would bend over backwards for someone and I have. Usually I get sh*t on but at least I know that I have tried to help someone in need of help!
Hope. You keep doing what you are doing and don’t let any of these nasty rumors get you down. The ones’ that care and love you don’t believe any of it. Put those thoughts in the back of your head and think positive thoughts! She is out there and will be back in your arms. POSITIVE THOUGHTS!!!!!!
You know who I am and I hope you know that you have a TON of people on your side who do not think badly of you and how you feel or how you handle your feelings! You want to go have drinks then da*&it you should go do it and don’t feel guilty about it! If that is what comforts you and helps take the pain away temporarily then go for it! Just watch out for the headache in the morning…and by the way….i hope you can find comfort in venting your feelings on this site and not one person better say a negative thing on here about you doing it. Sometimes sitting behind a computer typing your feelings is easier than speaking them. Please keep in touch on here and let everyone know how you’re feeling or anything you are thinking. It helps to vent and get it all out. Peace to you and we are all rooting for a safe and fast return for Kayla!
And by the way…to those of you who are just itching to attack Hope or have your negative thoughts about whatever……FOR GOD SAKE please spare her the heartache and don’t do it on here. Don’t you think she’s going through enough right now?
Hope, you do what you feel you have to do to get through each and every day, it’s true NONE of us know what you are dealing with every second of every day. God bless and we will all continue praying for Kayla’s safe return, she will never be forgotten by your true family and friends…nor the people whose hearts and lives she has touched since her disappearance.
Thank you very much for your support!! I wish that there was enough words that could express just how much it means to me, Jimmy, and Lee that people are out there and share in our concerns. It does make me feel a little better that there actually are some people in this community that do have hearts and do not take this situation lightly at all!!! All I want is to have my baby girl back into my arms where she belongs, she is my complete lifeline and without her I am not whole. I love her and Jimmy with all that my heart can give and then some!! I really dispise the people out there that think this is a joke!!!! I would like to know how they would feel if it was them in my situation. People need to quit talking there sh*t!!!!!! It take a pretty sick person to come up with rumors that she is pregnant with a mexican’s baby when they do not even know my daughter. It take a very sick person to make up rumors that she has been found dead THAT IS MY WORST NIGHTMARE IN THE WORLD!! You people that say such things truly disgust me!!!!! If any of you people have a problem with me than take it up with me, my email is hope_berg@yahoo.com, do not take it out on an innocent child!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She does not deserve what all you people are saying. To whom ever is talking about my daughter account in public, that work at the bank you will be found it is illegal and I am not taking anymore sh*t from you people I am standing on my own groud and I will get lawyers involved!!!!!!!!!!! I have had it and I am not gonna take it anymore.
I think the mother should begin to talk with a bit more class. For someone who wants to be regarded as respectable in the community, she sure isn’t getting any further with the statements being made, those of which would ordinarily come from a 13 year old…i.e. “To all of you that think you know it all and enjoy to continue to spread rumors that just totally f*cks up my whole investigation you can all KISS MY *SS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, “To all of you people you should be extremely ashamed of yourselves and I truly hope you rot in HELL!!!!! “
I sure you aren’t one of our “police” speaking this way on this website, that kind of language isn’t in any way professional and makes me lose eve more respect for local authorities than ever before. Shame on you!
I sure hope that you ARE NOT one of our “police” speaking this way on this website, that kind of language isn’t in any way professional and makes me lose even more respect for local authorities than ever before. Shame on you! Let Kayla’s mother vent, she deserves some peace after being silent for too long.
For those of you who don’t know Kayla’s mom. I want you to know that she is a very tolerant person to a point then, as with anyone I’m sure, freaks out when she’s pushed over the edge. She has been shoved over the edge with the constant rumors insulting her daughter and herself. She has had ENOUGH! So she needs to vent. It’s a lot easier to vent on here than it is in public. So please everyone don’t judge Hope for her actions right now. She is clearly in a state of constant stress and she’s having a very hard time handling it. Imagine one minute with your child missing, now imagine 40 days…..
First off, I want to send my deepest sympothy to Kayla’s family and friends. It is sad to hear that she is still missing. I also want to say that I donated some items for the benefit and for me to read that there is family who wouldn’t help out in a time of need is uncalled for. This is for Kayla. Second, I know her mother is suffering, but you do need to clean up your mouth. This is not a place to be venting with vulger laguage. I have heard rumors, but I won’t believe any of it because we don’t know. That is how this town is. Antigo is filled with gossipers. Everyone has to know everyone else’s business and think they know it all. So if you haven’t gotten over all the cruel rumors, just blow it off. If you want to drink, go ahead, but do it at home where nobody will see you…..you won’t have to worry about people spotting you in the bar and starting more rumors. I pray that she is safe and if she is hiding, please stop punishing your family and come home…….you are deeply missed.
Who are you to judge Kayla’s mom on her responses here???
She is hurt, angry, frustrated and scared. She has every right to vent those emotions towards those who are making this more difficult. For you to comment on how she went about it is ridiculious.
I’m sure if you were in her shoes, you’d be much more articulate, right???
Let’s have a little reality check here people – We live in a PERFECT community where NO children are born out of wedlock, NO good mothers are seen in a bar, the local media covers ALL news without bias, and no children EVER go missing unless they’re a runaway. Does this sound like Antigo to you???
I apologize for the language and for my feelings I gusess I should just shut my mouth and take it as always. I am under more stress than anyone can imagine. But no worries I will not vent any more and I will keep everything bottled up inside like always. I will not make anymore comments on this web site and I am sorry that I ever did. So all of you can continue to make your comments about me and my family wether good or bad cause I just don’t care anymore!! There is only one thing that matters to me and that is my daughter!!! To anyone intrested there is no new news!
To Kayla’s Mom: You have NOTHING to aplogize for honey. None of us has any idea what you have been through and hopefully we never will. Who cares if you have a few drinks at a bar? I have and so have the rest of the people on here. Who cares if you say a few unclassy words? I have and so have the rest of the people on here. Who cares what your family situation is and how much money you have? What the heck does any of this have to do with your beautiful daughter being missing? Your child is the only thing that matters now and the evil people who are are making anything less of her than the magnificant young lady she is are not only ignorant and selfish, but truly the most evil of all. You are handling yourself normally and just fine given the circumstance. I can also say that you are handling everything a lot better than I would be. I was a raving lunatic when my cat was missing. I am actually in awe of your composure. How you are keeping yourself together is not only brave, but admirable. Read the good notes of support for you and Kayla and please ignore the rest. I know that most people in this town are good and caring. Unfortunately, the others just have big mouths. The fact that not one pastor came to the vigil is disturbing. The fact that some local businesses said they wanted no part of it is just insane. I for one, would like to see a post naming the businesses that were rude and said they wanted no part. I can guarantee I will never EVER go into those places again. Hope, my family prays for you and Kayla every night and we have made copies of flyers and posted them each time we travel away from the area. We spend so much time thinking about Kayla and what could have happened. We never go anywhere without looking for her. More than anything we pray that she will come home safely. Please hang in there. You have to ignore the evil ones and stay strong. Your little girl will be home soon. God bless you Hope.
I have to agree with DDDDD there is no rule book or manual on how to behave when something like this happens! Ignore the ignorance of the negatives on this blog!! I too would like to see what businesses didn’t support putting up a flyer cause I would boycott them! God bless your family!
I, for one, am aware of some of these businesses and will no longer patronize them in any way. Some would most definitely surprise all of you so I hope that Kayla’s family decides to post them here someday when this nightmare is over. What beautiful words have been spoken about your courage, Hope…you are to be admired, not shunned. Our prayers continue to be with you and your family every day and especially with your dear one, Kayla.
Someone PLEASE post the names of these places. We need to stick together and stand up for Kayla and ourselves. Any human being who would act in such a manner should not be rewarded with our business. As for Kayla’s own aunt who refused to donate anything … SHAME ON YOU!
I wouldn’t patronize these places either.
Wagner Shell is one of the businesses that refused to have their name associated with this. I will never patronize a Wagner Shell again in my life!! Shame on them!! The name of the Aunt’s business is Keglers. Again, I will go somewhere else for services. I hope all who care about this follow my lead.
I’m happy to report the reward is slowly growing. Private donations from people who do not know Kayla or her family have been donating to CoVantage. Thank you so much!!
I, for one, will not patronize a business without Kayla’s missing poster there. Wagner Shell in Antigo is one of them for the way they’ve treated this family. Shame on them for not donating on the basis that she MAY be a runaway. Although I didn’t buy gas there very often, they have definitely lost my business forever.
Again Hope, I am truly sorry for what is happening and the situation you are in. I too am one who has enough money to get by, but not enough to have whatever I want and bribe whoever I want. My family is know of in this town, but not KNOWN! I wasn’t trying to be hurtful before by what I wrote. I also am upset that everyone speculates about what happened to your daughter. I am shocked that Wagner Shell is one that wouldn’t help you out by hanging posters. SHOCKED! I was in Wausau Friday and the places we went to had Kayla’s picture there! I hope you find her and she is well very soon. I think about your family often. Again I am very sorry about some of the OTHER people that look down on your situation. Best of luck to you and your family.
So glad this was posted. I am shocked too. I always go to Wagner Shell, every single time I need gas. I’m there at least twice a week and sometimes more. Not just for gas, but for coffee, quick snacks, milk, car washes, everything! Never again, they have lost my business and my husband’s too. I have to say this, even if Kayla did run away, WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE IS TRUE, wouldn’t you still want to find her and help bring her home? I mean she is only 16 and what if this were your daughter? This world is not safe for a 16 year old girl to be without her family. Shame on them! Plus, who do they think they are? Why is their opinion more important than Kayla’s family? Didn’t they ever consider that their opinion may be incorrect? What kind of person does this when a child is missing and endangered? It’s just sick! Who else acted this way? Please post! Maybe once and for all “the rest of us” will have some power and use it. After all, without “us” these businesses would not be successful. One person has power, but a tribe is unstoppable!
Again DDDDD you hit the nail right on the head!! I don’t go there now and I never will!
I am not condoning the aunts behavior but perhaps since they are relatives maybe they know something we don’t.
We all know that we have members of our family who are jealous, boastful, or often unwilling to go that extra mile for another. To not take part in doing all you can to help another in this kind of situation is unforgivable, whether they are family or not.
It makes me quite ill that people are really spreading rumors and talking badly of this family. I know Hope personally and her as well as her family are wonderful people and do not deserve what people are saying. People in this town should be ashamed of themselves…they are quite sickening actually. I think these “people” need to take a step back and think “what if this was my child?” really…what would you do?
Today is Kayla’s mom’s birthday….. She was hoping for a good present this year. Of course all she wanted was Kayla. As 9:30 comes and goes I’m still hoping for a miracle. We are now hitting the 60 day missing mark. Please everyone keep this family in your thoughts and prayers
Please go to http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20091011200643 for the news channel 12 update on the Kayla Berg story. Thank you so much to the Antigo Shoppers Guide who has made it a point to put Kayla in their paper. I would thank the Antigo Daily Journal but they have not put anything in the paper that I’ve seen?? Oh, other than the very misleading headline that was put in a while back.
I even heard that the Journal refused the family a free benefit ad, unlike the Shoppers Guide.
[...] A Benefit was held for Kayla, which you can read about here. [...]
For Kayla and her family, please share the website above with all your facebook friends so Kayla’s picture stays at the top of the web pages list. Please keep sharing this until Kayla is home safe and sound. Kayla – we are searching for you – if you read this, please help us find you. Contact someone, get out of where you are and let us help you come home. You have so much to look forward to.
This is the first time that I have been on this site. Due to the fact that Hope/Jimmy and Kayla have been a part of my family for over 20 years. I am flabergasted at some of the comments and remarks that have been made. I have told Hope to not go on this site. People are cruel and people are ALWAYS thinking they are better than the next person.
Couple of points I want to make:
1. Ann, you and your sister-n-law were way out of bounds at the benefit. Had I known that you were trying to get informatin from me to start rumors I would have kicked you out of the benefit as soon as you got there(1/2 hour after everthing was all set-up)
2. To everyone else that has questioned the last name of the kids/Hope out in the bar having a beer(to try to live through another day) or that this is all a hoax. I severly hope that all of you get what is coming. I was taught that “what comes around goes around” and hopefully the price won’t be –your– child missing one day.
Hope, you know who your friends and family are and no one can break that down. WE WILL FIND KAYLA……..Love ya:)
TAMMY- Not all of us are like this! Please read the good comments. Many of us think of Kayla every day and never stop looking for her. Most importantly, we spread her picture and story in the hopes that it will reach someone who has seen her. I feel nothing but sadness for Kayla’s mom. My heart aches for her and I know many others feel the same. Please pass our concern for her along. I want Hope to know about the kindness out there and not just the idiots you mention. Thanks.