Leader|feb 20|2008

W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A RY 2 0 , 2 0 0 8 • V O L U M E 7 5 • N O . 2 6 • 8 , 0 0 0 C O P I E S • S E C T I O N A

Leader INTER-COUNTY

WEEKEND WATCH: • Winter Carnival @ Voyager Village • Fundraising dinner @ Grantsburg • Ice-fishing contests @ Grantsburg, Siren and Spooner • Kids Pro Ice Racing @ Siren • Talent show @ Amery • Birkebeiner @ Hayward • See Coming events and stories

Serving Northwest Wisconsin

$1

Highway shop referendum defeated Polk voters turn down proposed $10 million plan, 8,072 to 2,016 PAGE 3

Local voters back Clinton

Leather for the weather

Burnett and Polk counties among 7 out of 72 counties in state to back Clinton over Obama in primary vote PAGE 3

Four emerge at Webster

Race for school board set PAGE

3

County board race set

Fred Grimm and Joan Peterson win spots on April ballot for District 2 contest PAGE 2

Municipal judge race narrows to two Osceola contest set

PAGE 2

Boys regional playoffs begin!

The subzero weather didn’t seem to bother this Scottish Highlander, owned by Don Israel of Dewey Township in eastern Burnett County. The highlander is a breed of cattle that is able to withstand the cold, windswept Scottish Highlands. — Photo by Larry Samson

Two homes destroyed by arson

Reward of $2,000 offered for information leading to arrest of those responsible for fires in Taylors Falls BACK PAGE

Charges against one at meth site dismissed Second man bound over for trial in Burnett County PAGE

3

Frandsen donates for new school press box SEE FRONT PAGE SPORTS

Frederic graduate again gives to alma mater

PAGE 13

I N S I D E Secret’s out about Webster industry CURRENTS FEATURE

Grantsburg Family Foods becomes Marketplace Foods PAGE 35

Clam Falls Winter Carnival Ice-fishing Contest CURRENTS

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Leader

Harvieux, Gray survive municipal judge primary

Ranger at Rotary

Serving Northwest Wisconsin

A cooperative-owned newspaper, the Inter-County Leader is published every Wednesday by the Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association, Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837. Second Class postage paid at Frederic, WI 54837.

OSCEOLA/DRESSER John Harvieux, the incumbent, and Brian Gray came in first and second in the primary contest for the Osceola/Dresser Municipal Judge position. Harvieux received 555 votes, 51.4 percent of the total. Gray received 242 votes for the second spot on the April 1 ballot.

Eliminated were Nathan Deprey with 202 votes and Jason Pape with 85 votes.

The municipal court serves the villages of Osceola and Dresser and the town of Osceola. - Gregg Westigard

MANAGER Doug Panek dougpanek@centurytel.net EDITOR Gary B. King, Editor gbking@centurytel.net STAFF Nancy Jappe njappe@centurytel.net Marty Seeger mseeger@centurytel.net Tammi Milberg tammi@centurytel.net Brenda Sommerfeld brendals@centurytel.net Gregg Westigard greggw@lakeland.ws Priscilla Bauer the-leader@centurytel.net Erik Barstow the-leader@centurytel.net Carl Heidel the-leader@centurytel.net Sherill Summer the-leader@centurytel.net EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Raelynn Hunter rael@centurytel.net

HOW TO REACH US Web page: www.the–leader.net E-mail: the-leader@centurytel.net (send all news releases here)

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715-327-4236 Fax - 715-327-4117 (news copy) Fax - 715-327-4870 (ad copy)

Siren

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715-349-2560 Fax - 715-349-7442

St. Croix Falls

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How to subscribe:

The Inter-County Leader [ISS No. 87509091] is published weekly. Subscription prices are $30/yr. in Polk and Burnett counties; $34/yr. in Barron, Chisago, Washburn, St. Croix counties; $37/yr. anywhere in the United States $22/yr. for servicemen or women; $22/yr. for students or schools (9 months). Payment is needed before we can start the subscription. No refunds on subscriptions. Persons may subscribe online at www.the-leader.net, write us at Inter-County Leader, Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837, or stop by one of our three offices.

Board of directors Vivian Byl, chair Charles Johnson Harvey Stower Merlin Johnson Janet Oachs

An award-winning newspaper Member

• National Newspaper Association • Wisconsin Newspaper Association

The Inter-County Leader is a qualified newspaper for the publication of legal notices, meeting the requirements as set forth in Chapter 985.03 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Every government official or board that handles public money should publish at regular intervals an accounting of it, showing where and how each dollar is spent. We hold this to be a fundamental principle of democratic government. Publisher reserves right to reject any advertisement or news release or letter of opinion at any time.

Never Forget Dale Cox (L), National Park Service ranger from St. Croix Falls, spoke with Siren/Webster Rotary Club members Gail Potvin and Sid Sherstad (not shown) following the club’s Feb. 14 meeting at the Pour House, Siren. Cox and Mary Pardee, from UW-Wisconsin Extension were speakers for the meeting, alerting Rotarians to the “Take Me to the River” events that will celebrate 40 years of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that affects the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. – Photo by Nancy Jappe

Peterson, Grimm win county board primary FREDERIC – Joan Peterson and Fred Grimm finished first and second in the Polk County Board District 2 primary Tuesday, and will face each other April 1 in the spring general election.

Peterson, a retired state patrol trooper, came in first with 179 votes. Grimm, a business consultant, took 152 votes. Jody Walter, a Lutheran pastor, received 39 votes and was dropped from the ballot.

Peterson and Grimm will be contesting

for the seat now held by Kay Friberg, who is not seeking re-election. District 2 includes the village of Frederic and the part of West Sweden north and west of Hwy. 35.

Peterson and Grimm tied in Frederic, with each receiving 115 votes. Walter took 32 votes. Peterson received 64 votes in West Sweden, Grimm had 37 votes, and Walter received seven. – Gregg Westigard

With a year to go before it even touches the water, the Navy's amphibious assault ship, USS New York, has already made history. It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, La., to cast the ship's bow section.

It's motto: "Never Forget." - www.snopes.com

Family Care Development Council elects chairs HAYWARD — In the next step to launching what will become an $80 million managed care organization in Northwest Wisconsin, the Family Care Development Council named a chairperson and two vice chairs on Feb. 4.

Elected to the leadership positions were chairman David Willingham, a Rusk County Board supervisor; vice chairman Jay Hands, a Washburn County Board supervisor; and vice chairman Jeff Kieffer, a consumer representative from Price County.

The FCDC is an interim council developing bylaws and policies and preparing to become the board of directors of the Family Care organization in June. It is likely most of the council members will serve on the new board.

Family Care is a new way to care for the frail elderly and physically or developmentally disabled adults in their own communities and homes.

The counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, and Washburn have joined to form the Family Care MCO, replacing the long-term care programs now run by county human services departments. The goal is for waiting lists to be eliminated within the first two years through cost savings from helping people stay in their homes and out of more costly nursing homes.

Expected to begin in early 2009, the organization will serve 3,000 consumers, employ 200 people and contract with hundreds of services and providers throughout the region. It will be built on a business model needing to make enough money to sustain itself, but with profits going back into serving the public.

Newly elected to chair the Family Care Development Council are (L to R): Jay Hands, David Willingham and Jeff Kieffer. — Photo submitted “These board members will be the stewards of an enterprise that has business-like standards, obligations and consequences that differ significantly from those that may apply to their roles as elected county supervisors,” said Don Percy, a consultant with TMG and former Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services, who is assisting the council with board governance, policy making and defining their role as a board.

Council members expressed their enthusiasm for the board training they are receiving. “I’ve been on many boards, but this is the most studied approach I ever participated in,” said Hands. “We are uniquely positioned here to have a positive experience. I’m very excited.”

Willingham, who has chaired the Ladysmith City Planning Commission and Indianhead Residential Care Facility Board, and has been on the boards of the Indianhead Community

Action Agency, and Northwest Wisconsin CEP, agreed with Hands’ assessment. “I came to this endeavor with more than a little skepticism. The task seemed enormous and I was not so sure it would work if accomplished.

My doubts were quickly dispelled by the quality of the council members, the staff and consultants. The philosophy of the board development process has convinced me that it can be done and we can do it in a way that will truly benefit the citizens of Northwest Wisconsin.”

Family Care Development Council meetings are open to the public and held the first Monday of every month from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Hayward. For more information on Family Care or to receive a monthly newsletter by e-mail, go to www.nwltco.org or call 715-635 2049. — from Family Care Development Council

Briefly

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – The word Florida can be heard being mumbled more often these days as we continue to experience the back-end of a proverbial old-fashioned winter. Another cold front moved in this week, with temperatures dipping below zero, to remind us that those periodic 25- and 30-degree days like the ones promised for this weekend - are in our future as we put February behind us. But who knows? March is notorious for being a mixed bag of weather when you live in northern Wisconsin.

••• GRANTSBURG – Gil Hoel’s last day of work for Counseling Associates, St. Croix Falls, New Richmond and Siren, was Friday, Feb. 15. As a result of his work with Project Recovery following the 2001 tornado, Hoel has been working on disaster relief in various parts of the country.

He is currently working on flood recovery in the southern part of Wisconsin, in the area near Cashton, and will work on that plus other unspecified projects in the future. - submitted ••• SIREN – Signs have gone up on the former Good Stuff Catering building on the southwest end of Main Street. Owners Pat and Stacey Taylor aren’t ready to divulge any information, but the signs identify Siren Floral and Gifts as the new business going into that location. - submitted ••• CUMBERLAND - The public is invited to a formal dedication and open house for Marshfield Clinic Cumberland Center, 1200 Hwy. 48, Cumberland. The event will take place inside the center at 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 26. A reception, including a light lunch and door prizes, will follow a short program. Speakers will include Brad Bekkum, M.D., Marshfield Clinic Northwestern Division medical director, Ann Gilbertson, R.N., Marshfield Clinic Cumberland Center manager as well as community leaders. The 5,000-squarefoot facility, staffed with a primary care physician, a nurse practitioner, and five support staff, opened for patient care on Monday, Jan. 28. - submitted

SCF city results ST. CROIX FALLS – New highway building (county referendum) 122 yes, 400 no.

Presidential preference: Democrats: Hillary Clinton 179, Barack Obama 179.

Republicans: John McCain 88, Mike Huckabee 57, Ron Paul 16.

The city half-cent resort tax will be on the April election ballot. –Tammi Milberg

www.the-leader.net

Four emerge from Webster schools primary

by Carl Heidel WEBSTER - Four candidates for the open positions on the Webster Board of Education survived the primary election Tuesday. Terry Larsen tallied 550 votes; Sheldon Olesen had 437; 416 for Brenda Rachner and Wendy Larson had 366.

These four move on to the final election on April 1. .

Eliminated in the primary were Chris Phernetton with 361 votes and Tom Oswald with 178.

Follow the Leader.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3

Highway shop referendum defeated

County to decide next step

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE – The vote was not close.

The Polk County referendum on whether to build a new highway shop and yard was defeated 8,072 to 2,016 Tuesday, an 80-percent negative vote.

The issue was defeated in every one of the 36 voting areas. The county board decided last October to take the building issue to the voters after learning that the present highway complex has a number of problems.

The county has started the process

of deciding what to do next. A study contracted last spring to look at county building needs and options disclosed problems including worker health and safety concerns, access issues and environmental issues.

A working group including senior staff from human resources, highway, buildings and grounds, corporation council and the administrative coordinator are meeting today, Feb. 20, to study immediate issues.

The Public Works Campus Committee, the group that directed the referendum presentation, will meet Friday to plan further steps.

The county will need to decide what must be done (violations, code issues, etc.), how soon the issues must be cor-

rected, and what the projects might cost. A preliminary list of 2008 repairs, prepared by the highway department, has an estimated cost of $402,000. No money has been budgeted in 2008 for repairs.

The county board will have several options on future action. It could make repairs to the present building at an estimated cost of over $3 million over the next five years.

It could try to renovate the present facility at an estimated cost of $6.7 million. Or it could decide to move ahead with a new building and campus, an option it has since the referendum was only binding on the issue presented.

Local voters back Hillary in primary

Unofficial results show Burnett and Polk voters back Clinton

BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES Voters in Burnett and Polk counties bucked the statewide trend and picked Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in Tuesday's open primary vote on the Democratic side.

The two counties were among seven counties of the state's 72 counties to favor Clinton over Obama. The others were Douglas, Forest, Juneau, Oconto and Trempeleau.

And in the Republican race in the 3rd Congressional District - which includes Burnett and Polk voters Mike Huckabee held a slight edge over John McCain with 89 percent of precincts reporting - 19,480 to 18,913 but it was expected McCain would win that race.

Statewide, with 97 percent of precincts reporting, Obama defeated Clinton by a margin of 58 percent to 41 percent, or 636,000 to 445,000 votes.

McCain defeated Huckabee 55 to 37 percent with Ron Paul garnering 5

percent.

In Burnett County, with 100 percent of votes counted, Clinton defeated Obama 52 percent to 45 percent or 1,265 to 1,077.

In Polk County, with 100 percent of votes counted, Clinton won by a margin of 50.8 percent to 46.8 percent or 3,503 to 3,232.

Obama's largest margin victory in Polk County came in the town of St. Croix Falls (106 to 77).

Clinton's largest margins in the county came in the village of Clear Lake (119 to 53) and city of Amery (268 to 194).

The candidates tied in the city of St. Croix Falls (179) and the town of Osceola (176).

On the Republican side in Polk County, McCain won with 1,697 votes to Huckabee's 1,161 with 313 for Ron Paul and 84 for Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the race two weeks ago.

In Burnett County's Democratic race, Clinton won 17 of 24 precincts.

Burnett GOP voters picked McCain 598 to 421.

The large voter turnout on the

Democratic side of the ballot in both counties may indicate that Independents voted in the Clinton/Obama contest.

Results for Polk County can be found at the county's Web site at www.co.polk.wi.us/coclerk/election.

Results for Burnett County can be at found www.burnettconty.com/gov/index.ht ml Gary King/Gregg Westigard/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Burnett and Polk Web sites Vote totals Democratic primary Polk Burnett Clinton 3,503 1,265 1,077 Obama 3,232 Others 159 50 Total 6,893 2,392

Total 4,767 4,309 209 9,285

Republican primary Polk Burnett McCain 1,697 598 Huckabee 1,161 421 Paul 313 88 Others 230 46 Total 3,401 1,153

Total 2,295 1,582 401 276 4,554

Harsdorf: Virtual schools threatened again

MADISON – Nearly a month after a bipartisan compromise was reached that would have preserved innovative virtual education for children, parents, and educators, state Senate Democratic leadership broke the agreement by amending the original bill to limit educational opportunities.

Virtual schools, which operate as public charter schools, offer an online environment for parents to gain additional instruction for their children. state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, supported original legislation to enable virtual schools to continue with certified teachers, but objected to arbitrary caps on enrollment.

Grantsburg School Administrator

Joni Burgin, which hosts a virtual school for students statewide, expressed her disappointment with the amendment to cap enrollment.

“Wisconsin does a fine job of educating most students, but the drop out rate, especially in urban areas is unacceptable. Virtual high schools have been serving these students,” stated Burgin. “All students in this state deserve a chance to learn and our state needs them to be productive citizens.

I am surprised by this legislative action that will limit programs for some of our most struggling students.”

“I heard from families, teachers, and administrators about how this educa-

tional option can be critical for children with different abilities and interests,” stated Harsdorf. “This 11thhour poison pill amendment squashes innovation and educational opportunities.”

Over 3,000 students in Wisconsin use the online environment to further their education. Legislative action is essential given a ruling that prevents virtual schools from operating under current law.

“Providing parental options and utilizing innovation in education is what we should be expanding, not eliminating,” said Harsdorf.

Charges dismissed for man arrested at meth lab

by Sherill Summer SIREN – Within days of appearing before Judge Michael Gableman on Wednesday, Feb. 13, for their initial appearance, Robert A. Edwards, 51, Webster, and Kelly R. Hanson, 39, Danbury, were before Gableman again. This time it was for the preliminary hearing.

The two men were arrested after police followed up on an anonymous tip and found an active methamphetamine lab at the Edwards’ residence in Webster. Each man was charged with manufacturing or delivering amphetamine, Felony F, maintaining a drug trafficking place, Felony I, possess methamphetamine, Felony H, knowingly possess methamphetamine waste, Felony H and possess drug paraphernalia to manufacture, com-

pound, convert, produce or store methamphetamine, Felony H. During the preliminary hearing held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the state had to show there was probable cause for the felonies. Burnett County District Attorney Ken Kutz called two witnesses, Burnett County officer Mikal Anton and Burnett County detective Julie Mead, who described how they found the methamphetamine lab and arrested the two men.

Edwards was in the house when the police officers arrived, but Hanson was in the yard. Although Mead testified that Hanson had a strong chemical smell associated with methamphetamine labs, described as smelling like cat urine, and Hanson allegedly admitted being in the house to Mead, he was not sufficiently linked to the

activity of making methamphetamine to bind him over for trial. Hanson’s defense attorney, Martin Jarvis, successfully argued that being in the presence of an active lab is not enough; the state must prove that Hanson had an active role in the creation of methamphetamine. When Kutz couldn’t do this, the charges against Hanson were dismissed.

However, Gableman did rule that there was probable cause that Edwards was connected to the lab, and he was bound over for trial. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, March 5.

Charges against Hanson may be filed again if future evidence shows he had an active role in the methamphetamine lab.

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

P O L K

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

Career and life skills becomes mandatory course

Special meeting for finances set

by Tammi Milberg ST. CROIX FALLS–Beginning next fall, St. Croix Falls students will have another required class to take before they graduate. After hearing a presentation for the class to be required instead of an elective from teacher Abbie Thill, who teachers career and life skills, the school board passed a motion to make that change.

The class teaches life skills such as

balancing checkbooks, filling out job applications and other real-world career and life experiences. Most students at St. Croix Falls enroll in the course as an elective now, but Thill stressed the importance for all students to have the opportunity to acquire these skills before graduation and the board agreed.

The board passed a motion at the Feb. 7 meeting that beginning in the fall of 2008, students will be required to take career and life skills before graduation.

The board also talked about the music addition and for spring construction to

begin on that. Superintendent Glenn Martin said it KFI is looking at updating the boiler at the middle school and including that update that will help with the addition, since additional boiler(s) are needed for the project. The board set up a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Feb. 20, to vote on how to structure the financing of the music addition.

The board heard some positive news about the Jan. 11 pupil count. From the September count of 1,085, the January count is up at 1,092.

The board also approved hiring Debra Mattson as a bus driver and

accepted the resignation of Dean Jones as bus driver. The board also approved Denise Bosak as a part-time custodian for the elementary. The board accepted the shared contract services with CESA 11 for 2008-2009.

The board also accepted the resignation of longtime elementary guidance counselor Rick Hansen, and approved sending preliminary layoff notices to the most recently hired teachers, two total, as a formality.

The next regular meeting is March 11.

Poor comparison, says supervisor

POLK COUNTY – A county board supervisor said last week’s story in the Inter-County Leader titled Eau Claire County supervisor warns against selling nursing home, represented a poor comparison between Eau Claire county’s experience with selling its nursing home and the recent selling of Polk County’s nursing home.

Robert Blake questioned why the four-page letter, sent to some members of the Polk County Board by Colleen A. Bates, an Eau Claire County supervisor and chair of Eau Claire County’s

Human Services Board, was given special treatment in a story instead of appearing as a letter to the editor.

Blake said the story was unbalanced.

“For one thing we (Polk) never had a floor in our nursing home dedicated for people with mental illness,” Blake said.

“It’s unfair to compare our situation with theirs in regard to that situation.”

Bates said that the selling of their county-owned nursing home 10 years ago has significantly escalated the county’s human services cost and denied the appropriate level of care to individuals

for whom that department is responsible for. She said for-profit nursing homes need to generate a profit and have necessarily developed policies that leave the county’s traditional clients on waiting lists.

Blake said county supervisors met with Polk’s human services department and discussed the possibility of the nursing home being closed or sold.

“The consensus of that meeting, as I understand it, was that there wouldn’t be any noticeable impact on the human services department itself,” Blake said.

“And it’s not of our opinion it’s (nursing home) being closed.”

Blake is one of 12 county supervisors to vote to sell Golden Age Manor, the nursing home that has been owned by the county for many years and which began losing money in recent years, requiring the county to offset losses of the operation. A lawsuit to stop the sale is on hold while the court system attempts to find a judge to handle the case. – Gary King

MAP testing update given at Unity School Board meeting

by Marty Seeger BALSAM LAKE – The Unity School Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, and discussed a number of projects that are ongoing.

Principals shared information regarding the schools incorporation of Measures of Academic Progress testing data into their programming. With MAP testing, they’ve been able to monitor a students academic progress. MAP testing has been used already to determine the effectiveness of a new math curriculum adopted and implemented

this year.

Results have indicated that on average, students have achieved a year or near one year of academic growth in just one semester.

“We are very proud of our students and staff for their efforts [in] increasing student achievement,” said Superintendent Brandon Robinson in a statement at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Also, special education director and chairperson of the review team, Darren Kern of Somerset, shared results of a special education peer review that was

Low-income CenturyTel consumers may qualify for assistance programs FREDERIC - Low-income consumers may qualify for assistance programs that discount initial telephone installation and basic monthly service, according to a recent announcement from CenturyTel. The company is spreading the word about the programs so consumers who potentially qualify for the services may apply for them.

The assistance programs, known as Link-Up and Lifeline, are available to qualifying consumers in every U.S. state (territory and commonwealth). Link-Up helps these consumers pay the initial costs of getting telephone service.

Lifeline provides certain discounts on monthly service for qualified subscribers.

Qualifications for participation vary by state. States with their own programs have their own criteria. In states that rely solely on the federal program, the subscriber must participate in one of the following programs: Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or if the household annual gross income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty level.

The amount of the discounts also

varies by state. This federal Link-Up program offsets one-half of the initial hook-up fee, up to $30, for qualified households.

Residents of American Indian and Alaskan Native tribal lands may qualify for an additional $25 of enhanced Lifeline support monthly and up to $70 of expanded Link-Up support beyond current levels. An individual living on tribal lands may also qualify for Lifeline and Link-Up discounts if he or she participates in one of the above programs or the Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance or Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Simply request a Tribal Lifeline application for these additional discounts.

Individuals living in a CenturyTel service area should call 800-201-4099 or visit www.centurytel.com/lifeline to inquire about eligibility.

CenturyTel (NYSE:CTL) is a leading provider of communications, highspeed Internet and entertainment services in small to midsize cities through their broadband and fiber transport networks. Included in the S&P 500 Index, CenturyTel delivers advanced communications with a personal touch to customers in 25 states. Visit them at www.centurytel.com. – from CenturyTel

conducted in November.

The PowerPoint presentation highlighted areas of strength, areas of opportunity and also improvement. While Kern spoke about each opportunity, middle school principal and curriculum director Elizabeth Jorgenson offered improvement strategies for the opportunities presented by Kern.

“The action plan serves to build upon the strengths in the district and in the program while offering some innovative approaches to dealing with the program areas identified as prime for growth,” stated Robinson. The board approved this report and subsequent action plan.

2008-09 budget planning process begins The Unity district office is working on budget considerations and estimated revenue limit calculation. The information will be presented to the board

budget and finance committee later in February. It is being stated that the Unity School District will need to realize some reductions for the 2008-09 school year. The extent of the budget deficit will be determined more accurately in the coming months.

Teacher Web pages The Unity teachers have been working hard to offer teacher Web pages, which boast parent awareness of their child’s curriculum. Each teacher has designed their own Web site to offer a glimpse of the classroom to the parents, relatives and the community. Each Web site is different and offers photos of students during projects and classroom work, samples of students work curriculum, learning goals and assignment information. Unity School District is the only area school district to offer this type of Internet-based communication initiative.

Order of trustee names announced at Milltown meeting Sewer plant generator discussed

by Marty Seeger MILLTOWN – The Milltown Village Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 11, and the order of six trustee candidate names were drawn, and will be placed in the following order for the April 1 ballot: Lester Sloper, Patrick Hyden, Dawn Ferguson, Robert Jones, Ted Michaelson and Pete Peterson.

Water/sewer committee report Rick Fisher was present at the Milltown meeting to state the need for a different generator for the sewer plant before spring. He mentioned a used one advertised in Rural Water magazine, which is listed at $10,000, a bargain, considering a new generator costs $50,000. The board asked that Fisher pursue the issue further, and the findings will be discussed in the March meeting.

Old business • The approval for the leasing of a new squad car was motioned by Sam Owen and seconded by Ben Wheeler.

The motion was carried, and the board consented to purchase the LED light bar and side graphics prior to the car’s arrival. The stickers and LED light will cost approximately $900.

• Chief Andy Anderson advised the board that a dog kennel for the temporary housing of stray dogs is needed.

He suggested a cement slab, a fence and a doghouse inside the fence to be built somewhere at the dump site. It was discussed that the village crew could build it in the spring, and the board reached a general agreement to go ahead with the project. The charge per day for housing a stray animal will be decided at a later date. If owners do not wish to pick the animal up, or if an owner is not found within seven days, the animal will be taken to Arnell Humane Society in Amery.

B U R N E T T

C O U N T Y

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 5

H E A D L I N E S

Tiger Manufacturing tops Webster board agenda

by Carl Heidel WEBSTER - Roy Ward, Tech Ed teacher at Webster High School, shared a success story with the school board at its meeting Monday night. The school’s student industry, Tiger Manufacturing, has drawn statewide attention.

Ward reported that he had recently attended the Wisconsin State Education Convention, and that delegates to the convention from all over Wisconsin wanted to know about the school program. He said that he will return to the state capital in March to receive an recognizing Tiger award Manufacturing’s success and innovativeness.

According to Ward, the success story would not have been written without the cooperative effort of the board, the community and the school administration. “Take away any one of them,” he said, “and it wouldn’t have happened.”

In another agenda item, school counselor Jill Norman explained a youth risk behavior survey that the schools will be

taking soon. The survey, a federal requirement for funding Title IV programs, will seek to identify health behaviors of seventh- through 12thgrade students which could result in intentional or unintentional health problems and injuries.

Norman emphasized that participation in the survey is voluntary.

Permission forms have been distributed to parents so that they have an opportunity to excuse their children from the survey if they wish.

School Superintendent Jim Erickson reported on progress in setting up student e-mail accounts. He said that response to the proposal is just beginning to come in. The plan is to hold an informational meeting sometime soon to explain the program to parents. “We will not implement the program until parents are comfortable,” he said.

In another item dealing with federal requirements, elementary Principal Jeff Walsh told the board about progress in the Response to Intervention program.

By 2010 the federal government will have a set of requirements outlining the steps to be taken in interventions intended to address the educational needs of special-needs students.

Walsh explained that the Webster schools are “ahead of the game” in preparing for changes in special education. He said that if the schools are proactive in creating an assessment and treatment model, federal mandates will most likely permit established programs to continue under the new regulations.

Roy Ward, Tech Ed teacher at Webster High School, reported to the school board on the success of Tiger Manufacturing. - Photo by Carl Heidel

In other business the board: • approved the senior tax exchange program that permits senior citizens to exchange volunteer services in the schools for a property tax rebate; • and approved a contract for Annie Billings as special education aide in the high school.

Entire PFP charge to remain on water bill

by Sherill Summer WEBSTER – The Webster Village Supervisors took up public fire protection, or PFP, options again during the regular monthly meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the village office.

Last month a special session was held to examine the advantages and disadvantages of charging for PFP on the water bill using the equivalent meter system, something new for the village.

Some residents of the village who own multiple lots will pay substantially more for PFP than they have been when the charge was raised through the levy system. In addition, empty lots generally pay the same rate as lots with structures on them. Different methods of charging for PFP on the water bill were possibly going to be explored as was the possibility of charging only a portion of the PFP on the water bill and the rest

with the levy system.

When the supervisors looked at the options again during the monthly meeting, only the option of charging half of the PFP on the water bill and half on the levy system was discussed. Supervisor Bill Rock called the arrangement a compromise, stating that owners of empty lots would be charged roughly half of the $59 they would pay if all of the PFP was on the water bill and nonprofits would still contribute to the PFP. By raising the PFP through the water bill, the $40,000 in the general fund that was previously used to pay for PFP would now be used on other items in the budget. With Rock’s compromise proposal, about $20,000 would still be in the general fund to use elsewhere in the budget, another $20,000 currently in the general fund would be used to pay PFP charges. The other $20,000 would be

raised in the water bill.

He made a motion and Tim Maloney seconded. A roll call vote was taken with Rock, Maloney and Kelsey Gustafson voting in favor of splitting the PFP between the levy and water bill.

Jeff Roberts, Norm Bickford, Kelly Gunderson and Ruben Ruiz voted against the motion, and the motion was defeated. No other motion was made.

The PFP will be charged through the water bill.

In other action Ten workers were approved to work village elections. Not all workers will be needed to work at the same time, or even for each election. The village always hopes to have extra, approved workers to respond to circumstances.

They were down to five workers before the list was expanded.

Paul Cyms had a water leak and at least 100,000 gallons of water was drawn from the village water supply, but did not enter the sewer system. He was requesting a sewer credit and was granted a credit for 100,000 gallons.

A Plus Sanitation is requesting to dispose of casino waste into the Webster Sewer Sanitation System. The request will be explored.

A library board position is still vacant.

The rental fee for the community center will be waived for a Nick Doriott benefit held on June 21. Fishbowl United Sportmen’s Club is organizing the benefit.

The 1988 one-ton truck needs paint and bodywork. Two estimates will be sought.

Hopkins would like to donate wetland property to the village. The village will research the idea.

State hiring freeze affects Burnett County

by Sherill Summer SIREN – On Thursday, Jan. 24, Gov. Jim Doyle ordered a hiring freeze in all state agencies after a $300 to $400 million deficit was projected in the state budget over the next 18 months. Since then, the shortfall has grown to an estimated $652 million, and, as can be expected, the hiring freeze has not been lifted.

The hiring freeze is affecting the

1896 This photo from 1896 was taken at the Sam Huyck farm in the Polk County town of Lorain, one-half mile north of the Lorain church and one-half mile west of the Owens farmstead. The photo shows a thrashing crew during the late summer. People in the photo included: Brothers Sam and Charlie Huyck, neighbors Sim Johnson and his wife, members of the Ralph and Rob Smith families, Gus Olds and his wife (former owners of the Owens farm), Johnny Weis and Josh Hill. Ox-team driver Sam Larson is the grandfather of Lavonne Smith from Lewis, and great-grandfather of Mike Smith and Starr Warndahl. – Photo courtesy of Harold Owens

DNR’s ability to hire two foresters to fill vacancies in Burnett County. Longtime DNR forester Neil Ambourn retired earlier this year, and another DNR forester position has been vacant since the fall of last year.

The DNR had hoped to hire six foresters to fill vacancies around the state, including the two in Burnett County. Interviews of top candidates had already taken place, and the DNR

was about one week away from making offers when the hiring freeze went into effect, DNR team leader Bob Hartshorn explained to the Burnett County Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, Feb. 14.

“I wish we could have been a little faster.”

The two vacant forester positions are important to Burnett County’s ability to manage its forests, especially setting up

sales for the logging of county forests.

Burnett County has fetched over a million dollars in each of the last three years from such sales.

As of yet, it is unknown if the DNR foresters will be exempt from the hiring freeze since the selection process was almost complete.

Before the hiring freeze, it was expected that the new foresters would be in place towards the end of February.

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

P O L K

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

Obey receives Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award MADISON – The Nature Conservancy’s Wisconsin chapter announced that it will present Congressman Dave Obey with its inaugural Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award, an award that recognizes exemplary conservation leadership in Washington.

“We would like to honor and thank Congressman Obey for his outstanding leadership on conservation issues facing Wisconsin,” said Steve Bablitch, chairman of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin Board of Trustees. “From the land and water conservation fund, to securing forest legacy dollars for north-

ern Wisconsin, his efforts have had a profound impact on conservation in Wisconsin.”

Former Wisconsin Gov. and U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson became an icon of conservation through efforts such as the creation of Earth Day, the Wilderness Act, the National Trails Act and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

The Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award recognizes public servants who have exhibited strong leadership in their commitment to protecting our land and water for future generations.

“It is only fitting that the first recipi-

ent of the Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award represents Clear Lake, Wisconsin, Nelson’s childhood home,” said Bablitch.

“Following in Nelson’s footsteps, Dave Obey has been a cornerstone to conservation efforts across the United States.”

Tia Nelson, daughter of Gaylord Nelson and well-know conservationist in her own right, was pleased that The

Nature Conservancy’s first Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award was given to Obey: “I am delighted that Congressman Obey is the first to receive this award in Papa’s name,” Nelson said. “Dave Obey is a true conservationist and it is welldeserved.” – submitted

Local governments add pharmaceuticals to clean sweep list

MADISON — Since 1990, Wisconsin residents have had a way to dispose of unwanted pesticides, chemicals, and other household hazardous waste though the Wisconsin Clean Sweep program. Unwanted or expired prescription medications will soon join this list thanks to a new pharmaceutical clean sweep program.

“Public interest in safe, environmentally responsible disposal of unwanted drugs has mushroomed in recent years,” explained Roger Springman, Wisconsin Clean Sweep Program manager. “We now recognize that drugs should not be kept on shelves if it they’re not needed, nor flushed down toilets, or tossed in the trash. This new program will give Wisconsin residents a great chance to do the right thing,” Springman said.

Fashioned after the current Clean Sweep program, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will offer grants to local governments to host pharmaSteve Bablitch, chairman of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin Board of ceutical collection events. It is anticipatTrustees, presents the Gaylord Nelson Congressional Leadership Award to ed that 12 to 20 collection projects will be funded for the period from July 1 to Congressman Dave Obey. – Photo submitted

Dec. 31.

“These initial events will help us gauge how much interest is out there and what kind of funding the department may need to reserve for future collections,” Springman said.

Springman points out that the benefits of these pharmaceutical collections are two-fold.

“Not only will these pharmaceutical collections keep potentially dangerous drugs from entering our waters and the environment, but we’ll also keep drugs from being diverted to illegal uses for street sales and protect children from accidental poisoning or abuse of medication,” Springman said.

Grant applications will be available in March with awards being made in late April or early May. For more information on the pharmaceutical clean sweep, contact Roger Springman, 608-224-4545 or roger.springman@wisconsin.gov. Grant application materials will be available on the department’s Web site in March at www.datcp.state.wi.us then search on pharmaceutical. — submitted

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7

Interesting end products What gets recycled into what?

Sometimes it’s exactly what you’d expect. Old corrugated boxes turn into new corrugated boxes. Newspapers?

Same pulp, different news. Glass bottles into glass bottles. But some of the end products may surprise you. Here are just a few examples of the thousands of products that are created using recycled materials that would otherwise wind up in our landfills.

Glass beverage containers can be recycled over and over again. But they can also be used for other things you may not expect, like roads (glass cullet is often used as an aggregate in road base or asphalt), marbles, decorative tiles and surfboards. Glass can also be used as drainage backfill material, in this application glass is used to replace all or portions of washed stone/gravel as fill material around pipes or in utility trenches. Another application is aggregate in concrete; several recycling demonstration projects have replaced a portion of the aggregate in ready mix concrete with glass aggregate.

The office paper collected goes into making different paper products such as face and toilet tissue and paper tow-

els. This is the most versatile of all recycled materials.

Polyethylene terephthalate bottles are turned into everything Jen Barton from rugs to goggles, park benches and fences to fiber for filling ski jackets and fleece shirts.

Carpet companies make Reycling new carpet out of Control plastic bottles.

Commission Steel and aluminum cans are capable of being easily recycled for use in other steel and aluminum products.

This not only conserves mineral resources, but the recycling process also uses about 75-percent less energy than using virgin materials. Recycled steel and aluminum finds its way into new cars, bikes, appliances, cookware and a whole lot more.

Questions about recycling can be answered by e-mailing or calling Jen at 715-635-2197, or jbarton@nwrpc.com.

Our new Web site is up and ready to go! The address is: www.nwrpc.com.

EARTH NOTES

Birkie this weekend

by Leslie Hamp & Cherie Morgan HAYWARD — This weekend will see the 35th American Birkebeiner in Cable and Hayward. Executive director Ned Zuelsdorff said it’s full steam ahead for a full race with a Main Street, Hayward, finish.

“The trail is in excellent condition for both ski-skating and classic skiing,” Zuelsdorff said.

Zuelsdorff said the Birkie and Birkie Classic Trails are covered with a firm and fast 6-inch base. He identified Lake Hayward as an area where some work was needed.

That’s good news to the 9,000 skiers, 2,000 volunteers, 15,000 spectators and organizers of the 35th-anniversary event that begins Thursday, Feb. 21, and culminates with the 51-kilometer Subaru American Birkebeiner, 53-kilometer Birkie Classic and 23-kilometer Kortelopet sponsored by the State Bank of Drummond and Cable Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Feb. 23.

“As of Feb. 14, we have just over 6,100 skiers registered for the 51K Subaru American Birkebeiner, 53K Birkie Classic and 23K Kortelopet sponsored

by State Bank of Drummond and Cable Chamber of Commerce,” Zuelsdorff said. “In addition, we have close to 200 skiers registered for the Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 12K event, and we expect another 1,300 kids, ages 3-13, to participate in the Sons of Norway/Salomon Barnebirkie, nearly

400 teens to race the CenturyTel Junior Birkie, and around 300 for the Cheqtel 5K and 10K events. In all, we are expecting 9,000 participants in our 2008 American Birkebeiner races and events.”

On race day, Zuelsdorff will welcome the diverse gathering of cultures from around the world, count down to the starting gun, and send 6,600 Birkie and Kortelopet skiers on their way.

Skiers from 21 countries and 48 U.S. states participate in the American Birkebeiner. Aside from the United States, the top three countries represented are Canada, Norway and Russia. The top five U.S. states include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and Colorado.

Ed Harjala will be completing his 20th Birkie this year just before celebrating his 86th birthday. Skiers can join Harjala by registering for the American Birkebeiner or Kortelopet in person at Telemark Resort in Cable on Thursday, Feb. 21, from noon to 9 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Skiers are asked to register in person race week at event sites for the Swiss Miss/Salomon Barnebirkie, the American Birkebeiner Elite Sprints, Citizen Sprints sponsored by Northshore Promotional Group, Sun Flour Market and Outdoor Ventures, CenturyTel Junior Birkie, Cheqtel 5K/10K, and Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 12K. - submitted

Cepia Club invites local artists, public

CENTURIA - As part of its community solutions principle, The Cepia Club LLC offers local and regional writers, musicians and all other artists a possible opportunity to consign, exhibit, perform, or to connect with others.

The Cepia Club’s Bizarre Bazaar shop is located on Fourth (Main) Street in downtown Centuria in Polk County. It held its grand opening in January and contains a mix of quality original art, handmade apparel and accessories, and micro-industry books.

Original, copyright-owned arts and literature emphasizing tolerance, respect, acceptance, peace, and positive solutions for problems, conflicts, or negative thinking get first consideration, with final decisions reserved to The Cepia Club LLC. The club welcomes submissions and proposals for any genre or art medium within the club’s Family Standard, everything from selfpublished poetry and novels, to local band CDs and T-shirts, and all across

the other spectrums of creative and fine arts.

“We want to help local artist–painters, poets, singers, actors…all sorts–that best capture and represent the people, places, and things unique to the St. Croix Valley and Wisconsin,” said Tim Krenz, club manager. “Peace and longterm change–and liberty itself–come through personal positive action at the community level. We need, first of all, revolutions in thinking and perceptions.

What better way to promote such awareness for honest activism than the arts. And, artists need an audience and to support themselves; so we might be able to help, which helps us, and more importantly, helps Centuria.”

For more info on The Cepia Club or its community arts program, either visit The Bizarre Bazaar in Centuria, www.cepiaclub.com , or call 715-6469933. – from The Cepia Club

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

L e a d e r We b Po l l

Last week’s poll results 30%

66 votes Obama

24%

54 votes Clinton

24%

54 votes

10% 11%

McCain 22 votes Huckabee 25 votes Paul

Bridges

a reactive nation when it comes to tragedies.

W e are That is, it ususally takes a tragedy to make us correct our deficiencies.

Total votes: 221

Your favorite for president?:

F O R U M

Your favorite for president?: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Obama Clinton McCain Huckabee Paul

To take part in the poll go to www.the-leader.net and scroll to the lower left portion of page.

J o e H e l l e r

So it was with the bridge collapse in Minneapolis last summer. That tragedy prompted every state in the nation to sit up and take notice of bridge inspection schedules.

In fact, new schedules were created. You have to wonder if schedules existed in some instances.

MSNBC’s Web site - msnbc.msn.com - does a nice job in providing the latest safety reports on bridges in all 50 states, along with some in-depth stories on the issue.

Minnesota and Wisconsin now stand in the top 10 states when it comes to up-to-date bridge inspections - and safe bridges. In a comparison of inspection timeliness, Wisconsin ranks eighth and Minnesota 10th.

Contrary to what most of us who rarely cross a bridge in our routine travels believe, Minnesota and Wisconsin have quite a few bridges - more than 13,000 in each state.

Ironically, the states with the worst inspection records are those with a fraction of the number of bridges we have - Hawaii with 1,089 bridges; Rhode Island with 723, Arizona with 6,937 and New Mexico with 3,647.

Check out www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22262284/.

New tools

newspaper - it’s fun to wonder what the paper’s founders W tive-owned would think about today’s technology.

ith our focus on the Leader’s history this year - 75 years as a coopera-

The goal remains the same - providing information. Trees are still cut down, ink is ordered and deadlines loom as life in the production trench heats up each week.

But wouldn’t the paper’s forefathers chuckle to think of somebody paging through the paper on a computer, which wasn’t even a science fiction concept back then.

Very soon, Leader readers a half a world away will be able to see a virtual Leader, if you will, exactly as it appears in print - on their computer screen just a few hours after the last printed copy comes off the press.

Not only does it mean fast delivery, but it also marks the first time we’ve put the entire newspaper online. Every article, photo and ad.

The constant changing technology can almost be a distraction to what we care about the most - getting reliable information out to our readers. But with realization that the romance and practicality of the paper product won’t ever fade away - we just can’t ignore the new tools.

Watch next week’s Leader for more on the E-edition.

All editorials on this page by editor Gary King

J

W h e re t o Wr i t e

President George Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, D.C. 20500 president@whitehouse.gov

Governor Jim Doyle 115 East, State Capitol Bldg.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 wisgov@mail.state.wi.us Congressman David Obey 7th Congressional District 2462 Rayburn Office Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20515 or Wisconsin office: Federal Building Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 842-5606

Views expressed on these pages do not necessarily represent those of the Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association management or board

Rep. Ann Hraychuck 28th Assembly District State Capitol, P.O. Box 8942 Madison, WI 53708 Phone: 608-267-2365 Toll free: 888-529-0028 In-District 715-485-3362 rep.hraychuck@legis.state.wi.us

Rep. Frank Boyle 73rd Assembly District Room 221 North State Capitol P.O. Box 8952 Madison 53708 E-mail: Rep.Boyle@legis.state.wi.us

Senator Sheila Harsdorf 10th Senate District State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-7745 • (715) 232-1390 Toll-free - 1-800-862-1092 sen.harsdorf@legis.state.wi.us

Rep. Mary Hubler 75th Assembly District Room 7 North, State Capitol P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 or 1966 21-7/8 St. (Hawthorne Lane), Rice Lake 54868 (715) 234-7421• (608) 266-2519 rep.hubler@legis.state.wi.us Senator Robert Jauch 25th Senate District Room 19 South State Capitol P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 E-mail: Sen.Jauch@legis.state.wi.us

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold SDB 40, Rm. 1 Washington, D.C. 20510 or 8383 Greenway Blvd.

Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 828-1200 senator@feingold.senate.gov U.S. Senator Herb Kohl 330 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20510 senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov Congressman Ron Kind 3rd Congressional District 1713 Longwirth Office Bdg. Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-5506 888-442-8040 (toll-free) ron.kind@mail.house.gov

In te r! Co u n t y L e a d e r TIMELINE The Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association • 75 years • 1933-2008

B

Part 2 in a series

y the third year of its publication, the Inter-County Leader had outgrown its quarters in the small twostory building on the south side of Centuria’s Main Street, and the start of 1936 saw the cooperative move into the big Sievert auto garage.

Once remodeled, the garage provided plenty of room for a print shop and editorial space to provide a weekly paper for 3,000 subscribers – nearly twice as many as in 1934, the paper’s first full year of production.

A new press – a large Duplex from Scotts Bluff, Neb., arrived at the shop on a cold January day followed closely by a truck with another five tons of equipment being moved across town.

T h e

Centuria, according to the InterCounty Cooperative Publishing Association’s 20-year anniversary chronology, was enjoying the distinction of being a publishing town.

The moving of the print shop went slowly and by mid-February editor Bennie Bye penned: “We know of a lot of things we would rather do than move a print shop. We had hoped to carry on as usual, but have found it impossible, and in the past two weeks have gotten out of touch of things nearly entirely. We don’t even know if the Italo-Ethiopian war is over.”

Before long, the new press was turning out 10,000 Leaders in about three hours time – once a week. After printing 12 pages a week, Editor Bye felt they

The first Leader ‘crew’ at Centuria, 1933, with editor Bennie Bye (second from right).

could accommodate all the news items piling up on his desk, but it didn’t work out that way. Only extra advertising justified increasing the page count to 14.

By the end of October 1936, the Leader was printing 22 pages broadsheet on a regular basis – a “phenomenal growth” for a paper that started

I n t e r ! C o u n t y

from scratch three years earlier, Bye noted.

The Inter-County Leader published was a lot of national, state and most importantly, local news. All for $1.50 a year.

In 1938, The Capital Times newspaper in Madison took note of the young publication, editorializing “When the newspapers of the state and nation are so largely dominated by the big interests, it is refreshing to note that progress is being made in a different, idealistic type of journalism.”

Bye commented in his column a few months later that while most newspapers shape their editorial policy accord-

L e a d e r

See Timeline, next page

i s

a

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9

Ecumen responds Although Ecumen is no longer working with the Golden Age Manor Governing Board on helping shape the future of aging services in Amery, I feel it necessary to respond to inaccuracies in the Jan. 30 story about Golden Age Manor, in which Golden Age Manor Board member Eugene Sollman is quoted as saying “Ecumen made a mess in Osceola and was turned away in New Richmond.”

That isn’t true.

Ecumen currently manages L.O. Simenstad, a nursing home that is part of Osceola Medical Center. In 2005, Ecumen entered into a management contract with Osceola Medical Center in the mutual hope of developing a new senior community with more diverse housing and services adjacent to what will be the new medical center.

However, last fall, amid changing market conditions, we determined that a new senior housing project to be owned by Ecumen in Osceola was not financially feasible. We are extremely disappointed that we could not make the project work, but it was the most prudent decision.

Osceola Medical Center is now exploring other possibilities, and we continue to work closely with them as the management transition is made from Ecumen. Our collective goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible.

In regard to New Richmond, Ecumen chose not to respond to the county’s request for proposals to sell the St. Croix County Nursing Home. Many government-run nursing homes face financial difficulties. This situation will likely continue until these properties develop different ways of delivering services and/or make other substantial changes.

In most cases these changes are not easy ones to make for a variety of reasons. The reality is that aging services in the United States is undergoing radical transformation and is moving away from an institutional model that characterizes most government-run nursing homes. We at Ecumen wish the Golden Age Manor Board well as they work to create the future of aging services in Amery.

Steve Ordahl Senior vice president at Ecumen, business development Shoreview, Minn.

Not a criminal This letter is in response to the letter submitted by Jim Streuber in the Feb. 13, edition of The Leader. I would like to know if Mr. Streuber personally knew John Peach or knows Kyle Huggett.

How does he know of the events leading up to the past restraining order against him? And regardless of his alleged “domestic abuse,” are you saying that he deserved to die? Because that is how your letter sounded, and it

L e a d e r F O R U M Letters t o t h e e d i t o r

brought me to tears to read. You were basically saying that Burnett County is simply rid of another criminal, and why waste the taxpayers money in charging Kyle Huggett.

Well, John Peach may have had brushes with the law in his past, but he was certainly no criminal! He was a loving and devoted father and a great friend to many.

Kyle Huggett most certainly needs to be held responsible for his actions that night. I don’t expect him to spend the rest of his life in prison, but some sort of punishment needs to be handed to him.

While this is yet to be proven, it was stated in the past article in the Leader that during the exchange of messages prior to the shooting Kyle Huggett had mentioned John Peach’s son. I don’t know any parent that wouldn’t break down a door to get their child if they thought they might have been in harm’s way.

Traci Kanke Webster Erica Peach Siren

Listening to Limbaugh?

This letter is in response to the “Throw ‘em out” letter written by Mr. Robert A. Blake recently.

I do not know Mr. Blake, and I’m sure he is a decent person, but my impression is that he is listening to way too much talk radio such as Rush Limbaugh. The reason I say this is that his discourse contains the same kind of attack rhetoric that distorts facts and confuses issues rather then illuminates them. Along with the attack rhetoric is the hypocrisy. Mr. Blake said he belongs to the “old community,” therefore, there is a very strong possibility that he receives Medicare.

There is no mention in his article of how to describe Medicare, although clearly it is a government-run program and probably a Socialist program by his set of criteria. I know a fairly large number of people who receive Medicare and I cannot think of a single one who would “Throw it out,” although I do know those who think Part D could be improved.

Finally, Mr. Blake questions whether health care should be a right granted to all, or a privilege. It’s pretty easy to designate health care a privilege rather than a right when you have it and it’s protected by a government program, or wealth, or a good job. My position is that health care is a community issue in the same way that education is and I would encourage Mr. Blake to re-examine his position on this matter.

Doug Gray St. Croix Falls

Misconception The purpose of this letter is to correct a misconception written in Barb Parsons’ letter on Feb. 13. Ms. Parsons

wrote, “Separation of religion and politics is in our Constitution.” This is a very popular misconception that continues to be propagated by the misinformed. “Separation of Church and State” (or politics), or any concept pertaining to such appears nowhere in any governing document penned by the founding fathers of our country.

The actual origin of this oft-misquoted statement was in a private letter dated Jan. 1, 1802, from Thomas Jefferson to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Conn. The Baptist group was concerned that this new American government might force a “national” religion on all of its peoples. These Christian people fled Europe so they could worship as they pleased. They did not want a national religion.

Jefferson’s letter assured the church leaders that this new U.S. government had no interest in making the Baptist Church conform to a national religion (as was the case in parts of Europe), thus guaranteeing them “separation of church and state.” One can verify the text and history of this subject at www.wallbuilders.com/resources.

Ironically, in 1963 a very liberal Supreme Court, with no legal precedence whatsoever, turned the context of this five-word phrase from a private letter (not a legislative document) completely around, instead using it to keep the church out of anything related to our government. Instead of protecting the church from government, as Jefferson assured, this 1963 Supreme Court was protecting government from the Christian church. This was and is the same government that was established by Christians based on Christian principles.

Prior to 1963, our government and many public facilities ran on Christian principles and ideals. Washington, D.C., still has numerous testaments to this relationship in the Christian design elements, carvings and decorative castings in many federal buildings there.

It’s amazing how far a handful of elected and appointed officials over the past 45 years have gone to drive Christianity from our governing principles and public facilities. I hope everyone will consider this as we approach the forthcoming elections.

Jon Cermin St. Croix Falls

put your sign in the yard for people to see as they are driving by. It’s a wonderful way to recycle.

Watch future issues of the Leader for more information.

Carol Thompson Downtown Frederic

Cliché is relevant here Time for a change!

Although it has become a national cliché, I believe that “time for a change” is now very relevant at our own local political level.

I came away from a recent Burnett County Board Zoning Committee meeting very discouraged at both the attitude of some of the committee members toward township rights, and the complacency of my own supervisor (James Engelhart) who is a member of that committee. As a result, I have decided to run as a write-in candidate for District 8 (Daniels Township and Ward 3 Town of Siren) for the April 1 election.

I believe we need representation on the county board that is active and engaged. Your representative should seek to understand what his constituency wants and either support those positions or educate the community about why an alternative is better. Failing to convince the community to change their view, the representative should then represent the community. After all, ours is a representative form of democracy.

A write-in candidacy is a difficult one to win and is dependent on two things: 1) getting the word out, and 2) voter turnout. This letter is only the first of several actions I have planned for getting the word out. I’m dependent on you to do the second: Please vote. If you are in District 8 (Daniels Township or Ward 3 town of Siren) and want a different county supervisor representing you, vote for me on April 1. I’m sure there will be many jokes about running for a political position where the election is being held on April Fool’s day. Time will tell whether I’m being a fool or not.

Sometimes you just need to step up to the plate. See you at the polls.

Charles (Chuck) Awe Town of Daniels

More letters, next page

Around the corner I know spring is around the corner. I look forward to warmer weather, birds singing, flowers getting ready to bloom and no winter coat being needed when you go outside! Along with spring comes the idea of garage sales – my junk – your treasurers!

Once again, the Frederic Area Chamber of Commerce will be promoting a communitywide garage sale on Saturday, May 17, so mark the date on your calendar and save your treasures until then. You will be able to place an ad at a reasonable rate or you can just

Letters to the editor

The Leader welcomes letters to the editor. Diverse and varied opinions are welcomed. Letters are subject to being edited for length, taste and/or clarity, and we urge writers to be brief and limit their letters to 500 words or less. Writers must provide their name and give their complete address and phone number.

Content that will cause letters to be rejected include: Crude language, poor taste, disrespectful comments regarding a group’s or individual’s ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation or race; other incendiary language, poetry or personal attacks.

Timeline/from facing page ing to advertising patronage, the Leader just couldn’t do that. “The fact that one certain candidate runs a good-sized ad does not guarantee him a good news or editorial write-up in this paper.”

The formation of cooperatives, government legislation affecting farmers – it was all part of the early Leader’s agenda, as promised. What began as literal civil unrest in the streets was mani-

festing in the newspaper.

And readers were eager to participate. At one point the Leader began charging 15 cents for every 100 words over 1,000 words of a letter to the editor.

People had found a forum - and some got a bit carried away.

A woman from Clear Lake wrote to demand Bye investigate nepotism and other wrongdoings in Polk County’s

relief program, writing “why is the committee chairman’s wife permitted to be foreman when she is too dumb to do the clerical work?”

Bye published it. The letter writer, editor and cooperative soon faced a $12,000 libel suit, settled peaceably in October of 1939.

But the spirit of the paper was never broken and another move was being

c o o p e r a t i v e ! o w n e d

made - to Frederic - in a building the west side of Main Street, described by the editor as “a dandy.”

A month later the cooperative held a “housewarming” party, co-sponsored by the Frederic Community Club. The Leader reported the party “came off in grand style with upwards of a thousand people visiting the plant.”

n e w s p a p e r

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Letters t o t h e e d i t o r Unfortunate truth The recent home invasion in Danbury has brought a glowing example of how this state’s government must update or create certain laws of self-defense in order to not only protect victims but to protect our district attorneys.

Self-defense need not be litigated in a court room or district attorney’s office.

If the law were clear, a person who found themselves in need of selfdefense need not endure the added emotional stress, financial loss, and indignity of spending time in a jail when they did only that which was right to protect themselves and their loved ones.

The unfortunate truth is, we must realize we might need to do whatever is necessary to protect ourselves, our families and homes as well. We, as a community, know that there are not enough enforcement officers to protect everyone immediately nor will there ever be.

To find out that there is no selfdefense or home-defense law in Wisconsin should be a terrible shock to anyone who could be put in a position of fighting for their life or someone else’s. Yes, our law officers enjoy what is called privilege, and this allows them to use a measure of force necessary to protect themselves or others from great bodily harm and or death. This privilege apparently will not extend to us, the ordinary citizens who may need to defend ourselves or others in the same manner as officers because officers could not possibly be expected to be omnipresent.

Common sense says we will by nature do what we need to do to protect innocent life regardless of what the law says.

What we need to do now is protect ourselves within the law and change it so as to not leave ourselves in a position of being charged with crime for doing what is natural and just. Our district attorney has also been put in a bad position, because I believe he knows the truths contained herein as well, but is placed in a position of using discretion in order to not charge the victim of the recent invasion.

In closing, call and/or write your state senator and assembly representative and demand a new law be drafted to protect us in self-defense cases both at home and anywhere else in the state we may be. If you are a National Rifle Association member, contact them as well, and let them know of our need for help on this life-changing law. If you’re not a member, perhaps you should con-

sider it. For those of you who do not like firearms or simply don’t own them, remember, you would be in the same predicament if you utilized your hands, a knife, bat, or any other instrument in self-defense and caused great bodily harm or death to another.

George Feliz Danbury

Blame conservatives?

Mr. Eiler Ravnholt, Liberals love taxes, and Liberal Democrats love to tax and spend.

How can you blame a conservative Republican legislator for raising property taxes while in office when he voted to freeze them, and then give a Liberal Democrat a pass when your tax bill goes up? How can you say it is wrong for a conservative Republican legislator for voting for funding alternative schools in Milwaukee and give a Liberal Democrat a pass for voting for spending millions more on the same schools?

The budget bill that was voted on and supported by our Liberal Democrat representative even authorized the state to spend millions on Hmong culture.

As a matter of fact Mr. Ravnholt, the budget that was supported by our Liberal Democrat representative spent hundreds of millions more than the state had. The state now has to either cut spending or raise taxes. I am sure you support the latter.

There were more revenue increases in this past budget supported by our representative than any budget in past history. I was told some time ago that you never confuse someone with the facts once their mind is made up. I believe this to be a true statement in this case.

Mark Pettis Hertel

Our library About a month ago, our granddaughter informed us that she had been invited to conduct a seminar in the mideast country of Qater. Since I had hardly heard of that country, I decided to visit the SCF library for the first time in the 14 years I have lived here.

The people working there were so helpful and courteous that I was able to leave within about 10 minutes with a lot of information! Well, with such good results, I decided the time was right to try my luck at finding an answer to something that has been on my mind for over 65 years!

When I was a sophomore or junior in high school, our English teacher, while studying literature, made a special note of a short 13-word sentence which was, and I quote: “For every stoic was a stoic, but in Christiandom, where is the Christian?”

I don’t know if he or she thought that these words were a very important part of the essay or if they were meant to make us really question the whole of the message. Anyway, it sure did make me remember those words for over 65 years.

But for all of these years, I still did not know the title of the essay or the author.

Well, another trip to the library with not much to go on but with high hopes anyway. To my surprise, after telling a short version of my problem, the lady behind the counter typed in those 13 words on her computer and told me they were from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self Reliance,” and that they could get me a copy from one of their affiliated libraries. Of course I accepted, and was told that I could pick it up the following Thursday.

After picking it up on the next Thursday, I immediately started reading it, searching for those 13 key words. It was a rather deep essay that needed to be read slowly in order to get some understanding of the message intended.

After finding those 13 words hidden in a paragraph with no extra, out of the ordinary emphasis on them, I believe our teacher just wanted our English class to use our heads and think.

About the author: Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was a Bostonian, a Christian minister, a magazine editor, a lecturer, a poet and a philosopher.

In as few words a I can, a stoic was a follower of the philosophic teachings of Epictitus, a Roman slave. A stoic believes that in both success and adversity, you learn how to live without distortion or distraction, and how to rule your actions by obeying reason. In other words, stoicism is a philosophy of life in general.

I’m not sure if Emerson’s purpose, considering his background as both a minister and a philosopher, was to extol the virtues of stoicism, or to chastise all of us would-be Christians for not making ourselves more visible. On this last point, maybe its time that us would-be Christians dust off our Bibles, study the scriptures, pray for guidance and understand and put aside an hour or two on Sunday morning and go to church. Then we can let our light shine, even a candle shows up in this dark

world, and the next time we hear the words, “Where is the Christian” we can with confidence stand up and say, Here I am! Count me.

As for our library, thank you taxpayers for supporting it, and a special thank-you to all you dedicated, helpful people who work there!

See you in church, Don Benson Taylors Falls

Why? I have never written a letter to the editor, however today, I feel compelled to inform the citizens of Frederic about the risks of having car trouble within the Frederic village limits.

I am a second-shift custodian for Luck Schools. Upon completion of my shift I enter the Frederic Village limits at about 10:40 p.m., every weekday evening. I often witness the local night-shift officer parked at the south end of town presumably looking for speeders. He or she occasionally follows me home on Benson Road, again presumable, to assure I make it home safe. Thanks for caring.

On the evening of Valentine’s Day, I lost all power right in front of the golf course. I dutifully pulled completely off the road and was fortunate enough to have a fellow employee right behind me. He confirmed the vehicle was safely off the road, not a hazard, and gave me a ride home. It was later confirmed that my fuel pump went out.

The next morning at 8 a.m., we went to retrieve the vehicle to have it fixed and discovered it missing. The sheriff had no knowledge of the towing, but the Frederic Police Chief confirmed that the night-shift officer had it towed as a possible road hazard.

Although I dispute that it was a road hazard and do not understand why I wasn’t contacted as a friendly community gesture, the real problems started after that.

The towing company, who allegedly claims to do the towing for the village of Frederic, know as Frederic Towing, aka Custom Towing, aka Lake Service Unlimited, aka Jonzy Market, towed my vehicle to CTH I and G. The towing fee was a modest $218.39 with an additional $35 per day if it wasn’t removed the same day. I had to hire another towing company to return it to Frederic where I could have it repaired. Considering all towing fees, the gas spent to pay the

Letters continued next page

Un i te d S t a te s Senator Supporting Wisconsin law enforcement Day in and day out, people in Wisconsin’s communities depend on local law enforcement to keep our streets safe and to respond in an emergency. Wisconsin counts on our outstanding law enforcement officers, and, in turn, those officers should be able to count on the federal government to give them the support they need to do their all-important work.

The federal government has a responsibility to provide the tools, technology and training that our nation’s law enforcement officers need to protect our communities. Yet, year after year, critical law enforcement programs are threatened with deep funding cuts, including the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.

Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, a vital grant program for state and local law enforcement, suffered severe cut-

backs in the president’s budget proposal this year.

Byrne grants have assisted in the creation of drug task forces, drug courts, drug education and prevention programs, and many other efforts to Russ reduce drug abuse Feingold and prosecute drug offenders.

The president’s proposed budget eliminates specific funding for this critical program entirely.

I have fought these cuts, year after year, because when I talk to law enforcement officials in Wisconsin about what the federal government can do to help them better protect Wisconsin communities, supporting Byrne grants is at the top of the list.

Lately, I have been hearing from Wisconsin law enforcement officials about the increase in violent crimes in

their communities. Indeed, according to the 2006 FBI Uniform Crime Report, violent crime in Wisconsin increased by a staggering 18.1 percent and, unfortunately, the recently released preliminary statistics for 2007 indicate that these rates have continued to rise in both Milwaukee and Green Bay. Cuts to the Byrne program would undermine law enforcement’s efforts to fight violent crime. I’m also concerned that proposed cuts to the Community Oriented Policing Services program, a federal program that is instrumental in providing funding to train new officers and purchase crime-fighting technologies, could have the same effect.

Under the president’s new budget proposal, both the Byrne program and the COPS programs are under threat.

Congress has authorized spending for these programs at a combined total of more than $2 billion, but the president proposed that they be replaced with new, untested programs that add up to only $400 million – and under the president’s proposal that money would

also have to fund numerous other initiatives beyond the scope of the current Byrne and COPS programs.

We’ve been down this road with the administration before. This is not the first time the president has proposed a complete elimination of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program, but Congress has rightly rejected these efforts and provided funding to the program – although I was disappointed that more was not appropriated to this critical program for 2008. Last year’s presidential budget also proposed funding the COPS program at only $32 million, but my colleagues and I fought back to secure $587 million for the program.

This year, I’m once again working with my colleagues to keep the Byrne Grant program going and to support the COPS Program. I hope that senators from both parties will come together to ensure we do everything possible to provide the resources law enforcement agencies need to keep our communities safe.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 11

Letters t o t h e e d i t o r from previous page where I could have it repaired.

Considering all towing fees, the gas spent to pay the fees and lost wages, this unfortunate situation cost me about $410.

I visited the Frederic Police Department and asked for a return phone call since no one, was in. As of this publishing, I have heard from no one and I guess I don’t expect to. Is someone accountable? Why would they tow a Frederic citizen’s vehicle that was safely parked off the highway, although they will probably debate that? Why didn’t the night-shift officer contact me if there was an alleged problem? Why would the city use a questionably legitimate towing outfit that charges exhorbitent fees? And, last but not least, why hasn’t the police chief returned my call?

I did nothing wrong.

Chris Mailand Frederic

Virtual schools For Wisconsin students and families who are contemplating a school change, such as attending another school district or a virtual school, the clock is ticking. The deadline for submitting an open enrollment application is 4 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 22 – sharp! Submitting an open enrollment application does not obligate a child to attend another school, but it does preserve the family’s right to choose it for the 2008-2009 academic year. Parents have until June to make a final decision.

Virtual schools have been in the news a lot lately. With so much attention being paid to this public school option, many families are wondering if virtual education is something that would click with their students. There are many rea-

sons students have chosen to enroll in Wisconsin Connections Academy, the virtual school where I have served as both a teacher and administrator since it opened in 2002. Some want a more challenging academic program, others need extra help in certain subjects, and many just want a more flexible learning schedule so that they can pursue sports, theater and other outside activities.

Growing up, I never imagined going to public school from home, because the technology didn’t exist. Now there is a choice, and I encourage families to explore a learning alternative that’s proven successful, accountable and highly effective. If you think virtual school may be right for your children, be sure to submit an open enrollment application by Feb. 22.

Michelle Mueller Appleton Note: Michelle Mueller is administrator for Wisconsin Connections Academy, the state’s original K-8 tuition-free, highly accountable virtual public school that serves nearly 400 students throughout Wisconsin.

Highway facility It's clear improvements to the Polk County highway facility are needed.

Sorry to say, can't afford it.

I may vote in favor of the next referendum to rebuild, if we plan to buy extra land as part of it. Then those of us who have lost our homes due to the high taxes in Polk County can pitch our tents there and still stay in this beautiful place.

Jackie Thorwick Frederic

Area Ne ws at a Glance Two persons wounded in area stabbing

HAYWARD - Two people were reported to have been stabbed in an early-morning incident Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Giiwedin Town Houses near Round Lake School Road, 1-1/2 miles south of CTH B on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation. LCO Tribal Police Chief William Morrow said that at 4:44 a.m. Sunday, the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department received a cell phone call in which the caller said he was transporting a person to the Hayward hospital for a stab wound.

LCO officers were dispatched to the hospital to handle the complaint. Upon arrival, they were informed by hospital staff that two individuals were being treated for stab wounds there. Officers attempted to talk to the victims, but were told by the victims that they would not fill out any statements, would not talk to the officers and did not want to pursue any charges. A witness at the scene provided some information, stating that the incident took place in the Giiwedin Town Houses.

The victims of the stabbing were transferred to a hospital in Duluth for treatment of their injuries, Chief Morrow said. The victims are both males in their late teens to early 20s and are residents of the LCO reservation, he added. The incident is under investigation. The LCO Police Department is awaiting information to see when they can interview the victims to gather more information, Morrow added. – Sawyer County Record

Former pastor seeks dismissal of sex charge

BARRON COUNTY - A former Rice Lake pastor has asked a judge to dismiss a child enticement charge filed against him because the state failed to apply the appropriate statute to the crime. Former First United Methodist Church Pastor Angel R. Toro, 57, now of St. Petersburg, Fla., is charged in Barron County Circuit Court with four counts of felony third-degree sexual assault and one count of felony child enticement-expose sex organ. Alleged victim Douglas Guillen, now 38, of Broward County, Fla., reported to a Rice Lake Police Department investigator in 2005 that when he, Guillen, was 17 years old, he lived in Rice Lake and worked for Toro doing odd jobs at the church.

Guillen reported that Toro forced sexual contact and intercourse on him twice within a one-month period on the church property in 1987. One incident allegedly took place in the bathroom, another in Toro’s office. A preliminary hearing on the charges was held on June 25, 2007. Judge Edward Brunner found sufficient evidence to hold Toro for trial.

A posted $5,000 signature bond was continued. A hearing on the motion to dismiss the enticement charge is scheduled for Monday, March 3, before Judge Eugene Harrington, who was assigned the case after Brunner resigned to take a seat on the 3rd Court of Appeals in Wausau. Toro faces a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for each conviction of third-degree sexual assault. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for a child enticement conviction. – Rice Lake Chronotype

T h e

V i e w f r o m H e r e This old car The most economical, environmentally friendly car you can drive. . . is the one in your garage. Well, at least you can crunch the numbers to make it appear that way. Staying with what you’ve got is often the biggest moneysaver and the most earth-friendly way to go, depending to some extent, of course, on the year and make of your vehicle. And the good news is in the last 25 years, the life expectancy of your average car as measured in miles driven has increased by 50 percent.

Going back to 1977, median longevity for a car was 10-1/2 years and average lifespan was 107,00 miles. That means half of all cars produced lasted more than 10-1/2 years and half lasted less.

By 2001, median longevity had increased to 13 years for passenger cars and the average lifespan had increased to 152,000 miles. For light trucks, average lifespan rose from 128,000 to 180,000 miles during the same period. For many of us, reaching the 100,000 mark on the odometer triggers alarm bells, probably a function of the reality when we first started driving. But statistics tell us we can expect many thousand more miles of relatively trouble-free driving beyond that point with proper attention to maintenance schedules.

And then there are the extremes.

Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver, holds the world record for most miles driven in a diesel-fuel car. His 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D has logged more than 2.8 million miles. The Guiness Book of World Records for 1998 listed a 1966 Volvo P1800 coupe as the recordholder for gasoline powered cars at 1,671,000 miles. Its original owner, retired science teacher Irv Gordon of East Patchogue, N.Y., has added to that total since, and now claims to have driven the car over 2.6 million miles.

Of course, most of us fall prey to the lure of a shiny new cruiser long before we crack the 200,000-mile mark. And that keeps the economy rolling, right?

The auto industry and all its spinoffs provide a lot of good, high-paying jobs.

You can’t watch more than a few minutes of commercial television without seeing a pitch for one new car or another. Our car choices say something about us, or so the car companies would have us believe, and most people like to freshen up that image every few years, if not more often. What’s the harm really?

Or, more to the point, are there good economical and environmental reasons for buying new every so often? Let’s take them one at a time. If you’ve owned your car for more than four years, chances are it’s paid off. That means the $300 dollars or so you shelled out every month for a period of years is no longer coming out of your bank account and can now go for other things, or can be making money for you in an interest or dividend-earning account. Granted, an older car racks up more maintenance costs, but unless you’re blowing an engine or your transmission goes, your vehicle maintenance costs are unlikely to approach your former monthly payment costs.

Then there’s the cost of filling the tank, a painful experience these days.

What kind of savings can you expect with a high mpg vehicle versus what you’re currently driving? Let’s say your current car or truck averages 20 mpg and you’re looking at something that advertises up to 35 mpg combined highway and city driving. (You’d have

to go with a Honda or Toyota hybrid to exceed that, so we’ll leave them out of the equation for now.)

Over the next four years, using 20,000 annual miles driven and Steve gas at $3.25/galPearson lon, your savings would be approximately $5,500.

Those savings increase to almost $7,000 with gas averaging $4/gallon, still nowhere near enough to buy a new car.

And new cars are notoriously bad investments, their value decreasing by up to 25 percent the moment they’re driven off the lot.

How about the relative environmental costs? Cars pollute, and generally speaking, old cars pollute more than new ones. Obviously, the more fuel you burn, the more carbon and other pollutants you contribute to the atmosphere. Older cars have other nasty habits, like burning oil and leaking fluids besides oil including Freon, the refrigerant used in auto air conditioners which is a known before 1994, ozone-depletor.

But new-car production requires energy and releases a myriad of toxins into the environment. A 1998 study done at Mellon University in Carnegie Pittsburgh looked at those factors.

Using a 1990 Ford Taurus as its model, researchers looked at its full life-cycle impact in terms of fuel use and toxics released. Assuming a life expectancy of 14 years (higher than the median of 13 years for 2001 cited earlier) and average fuel efficiency of 21.8 mpg, they calculated various costs.

In terms of energy consumed, the actual manufacture of the car including material extraction, processing and factory assembly made up 10 percent of the car’s total energy consumption with another 85 percent going to fuel consumed during its lifespan and the remaining 5 percent consumed by servicing and insuring the car. By contrast, 59 percent of the toxics released by that car during its lifespan occurred during its manufacture. That means more than half of the environmental pollution caused by that car occurred in its production. Add to that the fact that it takes over 30,000 gallons of fresh water to create your average car and you can make a good argument for staying with what you’ve got to reduce overall environmental impact.

Unfortunately, it seems the male of our species is hard wired to look at cars.

Drive past any car lot on a Sunday, when none of them are even open, and you’ll see men of all ages roaming the rows, kicking the tires and peeking in the windows. In the interest of full disclosure, no Sunday goes by in this household without the resident male checking the car ads in the Sunday paper. It’s a curse, I tell you. But I’m holding firm for now. My 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup just passed 125,000 miles without burning a drop of oil. And we just made the last payment on the Toyota Matrix, so we’re breathing free.

By the way, have you seen that Chevy Volt, guys? What a slick, sleek machine – and you can drive it to the Cities and back on about a gallon of gas.

Subscribe online @www.the-leader.net

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

S T A T E / L O C A L

H E A D L I N E S

National experts on grazing coming to conference RICE LAKE — The Northwest Wisconsin Graziers Network is pleased to announce that two nationally known grazing experts, Todd Churchill, a grass-fed beef marketer, and Dr. Larry Tranel, a proponent of profitable dairy grazing, will be the keynote speakers at this year’s annual conference. Other topics of the conference will include raising grass for beef and dairy without grain and carbon credits.

Churchill, the founder of Thousands Hills Inc. in Minnesota, a value-added marketing company for grass-fed beef, will be discussing Updates on the Grass-Fed Beef Marketplace and Analysis of Marketing Options for High-Quality Grass-Fed Beef Both Direct to The Consumer and Through

Branded Companies. Before starting Thousand Hills, Churchill was an accountant with a farm background, formed a company called CFO Insights that provided startup financial expertise for eight years for over 90 farms and other small businesses.

Dr. Tranel, a dairy field specialist for Iowa State University, is well-known for his promotion of rotational grazing as a very profitable dairy business. He will be discussing Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? a study of dairy grazing operations that proposes a base business model of 80 cows and 80 acres using a low-cost parlor and freestall, modified seasonal calving, crossbred dairy cattle and rotational grazing. He will also add further details and take questions in his afternoon session.

The conference will also feature Doug Gunnink of the Gunnink Forage Institute in Minnesota who will discuss How To Raise Nutrient-Dense Grass That Will Provide Optimal Production of Meat and Milk Without Grain, and Dr. Lynn Johnson, a Polk County grazier and NW Graziers steering committee member, who will discuss The Latest Developments in The World of Carbon Credits. Gunnink was a former farm management instructor and extension agent. He and his wife, Janet, started the Minnesota Grazing Conferences program. Johnson worked with the Holstein Association, DHIA, Vita-Plus, the UW Center for Dairy Profitability and Dairy Strategies before retiring to NW Wisconsin to manage two rotationally grazed beef operations.

The conference will be held at UWBarron, Rice Lake, on Saturday, March 8.

Registration will start at 9 a.m., allowing attendees to visit with vendors and meet with other graziers. Recognition of the 2007 pasture walk hosts and an overview of the year’s accomplishments will begin at 9:30 a.m. The conference will conclude at 3:30 p.m.

Advance registration for the conference, due by Wednesday, March 5, is $25 and includes lunch, snacks and materials. Lunch will feature local grass-fed meats and other locally grown foods.

Late registration is $30. For more information or to register, contact UW ag agents Tim Jergenson at 715-537-6250, Otto Wiegand or Kevin Schoessow at 715-635-3506, or Ryan Sterry at 715-4858600. — from UW-Extension

Continuous CRP – a soil-saving bargain for corn-soybean growers BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES Farmers making their planting plans should not overlook an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, advises the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

High grain prices are encouraging Wisconsin farmers to plant more corn and soybeans. However, the downside is the risk of more soil erosion plus the risk of getting out of compliance for USDA programs. A good solution for these two problems is the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program, according to two USDA agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency.

Continuous CRP is a great option for farmers who may be increasing their cash grain acres, on land coming out of sod, or for any field needing some ero-

sion control.

The Continuous CRP is similar to the general CRP in that it offers annual rental payments and cost sharing, but is designed for the small sensitive areas needing erosion control. Practices like grassed waterways and buffers that have huge erosion control benefits but are small in acreage can be cost-shared through continuous CRP. And, the USDA encourages farmers to enroll now, before March 15, when the current Farm Bill expires.

Continuous CRP was developed to protect areas of fields that are susceptible to soil erosion and to provide a sediment filter around water sources near crop fields. Farmers with eligible land may agree to protect the areas for 10 to 15 years by installing grass waterways,

filter strips, riparian buffers, field windbreaks, contour grass strips and shallow water areas for wildlife.

As an incentive to participate in Continuous CRP, landowners receive annual rental payments for land taken out of production and for maintenance of the conservation practices. With most practices, landowners receive up to 50percent cost share for installation and an additional 40 percent of installation costs as an incentive payment. And with some practices, landowners receive onetime up-front signing incentive payments of $100 per acre.

Stay safe, stay in conservation compliance In order to remain eligible for USDA

programs, farmers still need to use conservation systems on highly erodible fields. Farmers also need to control “ephemeral” or gully erosion in order to maintain program eligibility, including Disaster Assistance and Farm Loans.

Ephemeral erosion refers to the channels and gullies, from a few inches up to several feet wide that form in tilled fields after rains.

All acreage enrolled in CRP requires maintenance, for example mowing weeds, brush control or invasive species management. In addition, some contracts will include required management at the midpoint of the contract, which may involve disking or herbicides and reseeding. - submitted

Senate District Assembly leadership statements on Great Lakes Water Resources Compact are an insult to Wisconsin citizens A statement from Sen. Bob Jauch Recent statements by Speaker Huebsch on the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact are an assault on Wisconsin’s natural resources and amount to an insult to the hundreds of citizens who engaged for 19 months in a thoughtful and deliberative effort to preserve Wisconsin waters.

The Speaker says he wants to improve the compact by working with the state Senate in Ohio when he should be working with the state Senate in Wisconsin. Sadly, instead of working with a Senator from Ashland, Wisconsin, he has chosen to work with one from Ashland, Ohio, who does not have a clue about Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine, nor does he have any understanding of Wisconsin values about our water and our environment.

It is equally unfortunate that Speaker Huebsch not only has his geography mistaken, but he also seems terribly confused about the Public Trust Doctrine and the Wisconsin Constitution that he swore to uphold.

Frankly, I am stunned that Speaker Huebsch thumbed his nose at the Wisconsin Senate and signed a letter to an Ohio State Senator on the same day that the Wisconsin Senate Environmental Resources Committee began public hearings on Water Compact legislation. His rhetoric refers to a strong compact but his actions speak of a swift public execution of our true bipartisan efforts to protect our water.

Many legislators, Republicans and

Democrats alike, have worked hundreds of hours during the past 19 months, and it is apparent that he wishes to scuttle our efforts to build consensus.

The timing of his letter underscores Bob his real agenda, Jauch which is to oppose the compact. The truth is this letter should have been issued two years ago when state governors signed the compact, rather than at the 11th hour when it appears that widespread consensus is building on implementing legislation.

Four of the states have now ratified the compact by an overwhelming majority in the respective Legislative bodies. Legislators in the region who have voted on the legislation have supported it by a 941 to 51 margin. It is regrettable that Speaker Huebsch has chosen to spend more time with an obstructionist senator in Ohio rather than working with those of us in Wisconsin.

I call upon Speaker Huebsch to reevaluate his position, reread the Wisconsin Constitution and listen to objective experts who will tell him that the compact is the only way to allow Wisconsin to best manage our water resources and protect the Great Lakes.

Those of us in the Senate have worked hard to be fair and responsive to legitimate concerns about the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. We remain open to suggestions to improve the draft so we can do our job to protect these waters. We hope Speaker Huebsch will abandon his plans to invite failure and work with us to assure success.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 13

P O L K

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

Frederic gets donation for football press box

Bus discipline discussed

by Gregg Westigard FREDERIC – The present press box (tower) at the football field is in bad shape, according to discussion at Monday night’s school board meeting.

With a tight budget, finding $10,000 or more for a new stand did not seem a possibility. Now a new press box will be built, thanks to a donation from area native Dennis Frandsen.

The Frederic School Board was told of his offer at the meeting.

Frandsen, a 1951 graduate of Frederic High School and successful entrepreneur, will donate the money required for all materials and supplies needed to build a well-designed, quality structure “without taking any

shortcuts.”

The press box will be built with volunteer labor and no school district funds will be involved. An issue of safety and comfort has been solved, and the Frederic football field will be improved by the fall season.

Frandsen is know for his generosity to the school district. In 2001 he made $1,000 available to each graduate who completed a year of college or trade school with a grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

Other business In other business, the board set the 2008-09 school calendar. The school year will start Sept. 2 and end June 5. The winter break will start Dec. 24, with school resuming Jan. 5. There will be Friday/Monday breaks for Presidents Day and Easter. Graduation will be

Sunday, May 24.

School bus policy and discipline issues are being reviewed, elementary Principal Kelly Steen told the board. Discussions are being held with the drivers and parents to make sure that the written policies are being uniformly followed. At present, there are problems of enforcement.

“We are having trouble on the busses,” Steen said.

“Our policy is not being enforced. All drivers must follow the same rules with no variance from bus to bus.

If there is a problem, it is the bus driver’s license that is at risk. We must be stricter.”

Steen added that cameras on the busses would be a great addition. Money for the cameras could come from the sale of an unneeded bus, administrator Jerry Tischer told the board.

Film series examines worsening economy

LUCK - Everyone knows that money is tight, but if you want to know why and what you can do about it, come to the Cafe Wren in Luck for the documentary film series Where has All the Money Gone?

The films will be shown every other week starting on Monday, Feb. 25. The first film is “Maxed Out” which investigates both the personal and the national debt owed by Americans. This thought-provoking documentary explores the staggering financial burden we live with every day and exposes how the contem-

porary financial industry is set up in ways that can harm unwitting customers. The second film which will be shown on Monday, March 10, is “A Crude Awakening” which examines the world’s dependency on oil and the impending chaos that’s sure to follow when supplies are outstripped by demand causing prices to skyrocket.

The final installment will be “Why We Fight” on Monday, March 24.

Filmed during the Iraq War, this documentary seeks to answer the question: Why does America engage in

war? Through personal stories of soldiers, government officials, scholars, journalists and innocent victims, the film examines the political and economic interests and ideological factors, past and present, behind American militarism. It is the winner of the 2005 Sundance Grand Jury Award.

All three films will begin at 6:30 p.m., and admission is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The series is being sponsored by the Anathoth Community Farm. - submitted

Wisconsin win Obama’s ninth in a row

STATEWIDE - Illinois Senator Barack Obama won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary Tuesday night, defeating New York Senator Hillary Clinton by a margin of 58 to 41 percent.

The win made Wisconsin Obama’s ninth victory in a row in the Democratic nominating contest, and it increased his lead over Clinton in the national delegate count. Obama spent more time campaigning in Wisconsin than any of the other candidates this past week, most of it with Governor Jim Doyle.

Doyle says Obama is a candidate “who did not take us for granted.”

Exit polling showed that Obama did well across most demographics. He dominated among young people, but he also ran roughly even with Clinton

among women voters and he out-polled her among most other groups. Doyle said supporters had been part of a movement.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign had downplayed expectations for this primary, although she campaigned here on Monday and ran some of her most aggressive TV ads against Obama in Wisconsin. The fight moves on now to larger states where supporters say she does well. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk says Clinton isn’t worried. Falk says the delegate count is close and there are a lot of big states to go.

Tuesday’s vote also did not decide all Wisconsin’s delegates. Several superdelegates can still support whomever

they choose under Democratic Party rules.

McCain wins easily John McCain has picked up an easy victory in Wisconsin’s Republican presidential primary. The Arizona Senator says he thinks he can win in the state again in this fall’s general election.

McCain said last night in Ohio that the Wisconsin win lets him claim with confidence and humility that he’ll be the Republican Party’s nominee for President. He later picked up more convention delegates from the state of Washington.

While campaigning in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield on Tuesday morning, he said he’d be back for the general

election and predicted he would win then too. He says Wisconsin has always been a swing state, and he says he thinks his message will appeal to the Republican base and independent voters.

New Berlin resident Ron Kainor says he backs McCain because he very much dislikes Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. But Kainor says McCain’s bipartisan deal with Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold on the campaign finance reform bill was a very bad move. He says when one looks at ads today, there’s nothing on the radio from the small conservative or Christian groups; he says “they were cut out of the process.” - Wisconsin Public Radio (Chuck Quirmbach)

Madison newspaper to change method of publishing

MADISON - Madison’s longtime progressive daily newspaper, the Capital Times, is scaling back its print edition while increasing its focus on the Internet.

There are only a handful of afternoon dailies in Wisconsin. Steadily declining readership forced many late-edition papers to fold. University of WisconsinMadison Journalism Chairman Jim Baughman says very few media markets will support more than one daily newspaper, and he says it was more or less inevitable that the Capital Times would have to cease daily publication.

The Capital Times hopes to boost circulation from 17,000 to 80,000. The daily afternoon edition will become a twice-weekly insert in Madison’s larger morning paper, the Wisconsin State Journal.

Baughman says he isn’t sure how effective this will be, but he still likes the idea because there are literally thousands of people in greater Madison who never look at Capital Times, and now, if they’re getting the Wisconsin State Journal will be introduced to it.

The Capital Times also plans to enhance its online presence and make it more interactive. Emeritus editor

Dave Zweifel says this is partly to attract the younger generation. He guesses that young people today feel that newspapers are old-fashioned. He says one of the reasons they feel that way is because they can’t interact in print as they can do on the Web. The 91-year-old Capital Times plans to reduce staff because of the upcoming changes. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Shamane Mills)

Burnett Co. civil court Arrow Financial Services LLC vs. Mary Christner, Webster, $1,552.15.

Arrow Financial Services LLC vs. Donna M. Coen, Grantsburg, $4,087.28.

Badger West vs. Wendy Christianson, Spooner, $2,493.76.

Saratoga Liquor Company Inc. vs. Wendy Christianson,

Spooner, $1,042.82.

Capital One Bank vs. Jason R. Hansen, Webster, $1,869.02.

Palisades Collection LLC vs. Alan C. Kirby, Siren, $1,086.58.

Arrow Financial Services LLC vs. Roberto Pearson, Danbury, $2,254.30.

Burnett Co. deaths Rolf E. Schweissinger, 42, Scott Township, Jan. 21.

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Hraychuck to hold listening sessions

BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES - State Rep. Ann Hraychuck, D-Balsam Lake, will be holding listening sessions on Monday, Feb. 25, and Friday, Feb. 29, in Centuria, Webster, and Siren to speak with local community members of the 28TH Assembly District about their concerns regarding legislative and state issues.

“Staying in touch with my constituents throughout the year is one of my top priorities as a State Representative. The sessions

give me an opportunity to listen to what is on the minds of the people in my district. I value the ideas, questions, and concerns of the people I serve,” said Rep. Hraychuck. k.

Monday, Feb. 25, ?9 to 10 a.m. Centuria Village Hall, 305 Wisconsin Avenue Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 ?10 to 11 a.m., Webster Village Hall, 7505 Main Street West noon to 1 p.m. Siren Village Hall, 24049 1st Avenue North

Rep. Hraychuck will be holding listening sessions throughout the district in the upcoming months. The additional locations and dates will be announced in the local media.

Please feel free to contact Rep. Hraychuck’s office if she can be of further assistance on this or any legislative matter via phone at 1-888-529-0028 or e-mail at rep.hraychuck@legis.wi.gov. – from the office of Rep. Hraychuck

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Lilac Grove progress

Construction progress is on schedule, and the hope is that the Lilac Grove Apartments, Siren’s 14unit senior housing complex, will be ready for occupancy by July 1. Applications for residence will be sent out March 3 by Catholic Charities Bureau, Superior, owner of the complex. The sooner the applications are returned, the better the chance for placement. As each application comes in, it is date and time stamped. Applications, if approved, will be filled in priority order. For more information, contact Donna Strand, occupancy manager, at 888-276-0246 toll free or 715-394-2012. – Photo by Nancy Jappe This diagram shows the layout for some of the 14 apartments in the Lilac Grove Apartments complex on First Avenue in Siren. Patios are not provided for the individual apartments, but a fourseason porch is available for use by all residents.

Catholic Charities Bureau, Superior, is putting up the building with HUD financing. Income eligibility is based on HUD guidelines. – Diagram submitted

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 17

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Eagles erase 18-point deficit

All Luck players that logged time on the court scored points. Carson Giller was the team leader with 16 and Cody Richert had 13. Luck will host the No. 4 seeded Turtle Lake Lakers this Thursday, Feb. 21, starting at 7 p.m.

Webster awaits this Thursday Unity 60, Colfax 49

by Marty Seeger BALSAM LAKE – The Eagles opened up their WIAA Division 3 tournament run on a high note on Tuesday night against Colfax, and erased what might have been a tough loss. The Eagles were down by an 18-point deficit at one point midway through the second quarter.

Colfax held a small lead in the first quarter and led by five heading into the second quarter. That’s when the Vikings began their first big run of the night, getting ahead of Unity quickly by a score of 22-10 just under two minutes in. Colfax nailed two 3-pointers and a slough of easy twos later and suddenly they were on top 30-12. But midway through the second quarter, Unity’s defense stepped up and the offense started to click just in time to bring them within eight at the end of the first half.

“It was huge for us to cut it to eight at halftime,” said coach Shaun Fisher, who nabbed his first career playoff win as the Eagles head coach. “With four min-

Frederic's Ben G. Anderson takes a shot in an earlier game. - File photo

by Marty Seeger Team Weyerhaeuser Luck

1 2 3 4 8 9 6 6 21 25 19 14 Individual Statistics Weyerhaeuser 2s 3s FTM/A Nick Britten 1 0 0/0 Marcus Olesiak 3 0 1/1 Derek Olesiak 1 0 0/0 Bradley House 0 0 0/2 Matt Kastner 0 0 0/0 Jeffrey House 1 0 0/0 Bryan Czekalski 2 0 0/0 Jose Mozena 2 0 0/0 Joseph Wood 1 0 0/0 Justin Hamholm 2 0 2/2 Totals 13 0 3/5 Luck Mitchell Klatt Cody Richert

Harry Severson-Dickinson

Brady Klatt Cole Mortel Nick Morgan Tyler Petersen Brennan Olson Alec Mortel Carson Giller Totals

2s 4 3 2 1 4 3 3 5 1 6 32

F 29 79 F TP 1 2 0 7 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 4 0 4 2 2 2 6 9 29

3s FTM/A F TP 0 0/0 2 8 2 1/1 1 13 1 0/0 1 7 0 0/0 0 2 0 0/0 1 8 0 0/0 1 6 0 0/0 2 6 0 1/2 0 11 0 0/0 0 2 1 1/2 1 16 4 3/5 9 79

Chad Strilzuk drove the lane for two in Tuesday night's game against Colfax. - Photo by Marty Seeger utes in the second quarter and on it was pretty much our game from there on.”

Fisher added that the team was a bit sluggish early on, but the team rallied back, switched to a zone defense and limited their turnovers.

Justin Bader gave the Eagles their first two points of the half and a Ryan Flaherty 3-pointer got the Eagles to within four points. With two minutes off the clock in the third, Unity tied it up for the first time in the game off a Chad Strilzuk free throw. Strilzuk had a nice first half with key buckets by driving the ball through the lane. The Eagles defense forced Colfax to take some quick shots yet they continued to get a few to fall. Eric Goulet and Sam Bengston each hit a pair of 3-pointers to give the team a 36-34 lead, and Strilzuk drove the baseline for two just before the buzzer sounded to give the team a 41-36 lead after three quarters.

“They (Colfax) kept shooting outside, and then they got cold…we got inside, and that’s kind of the story of the game,” Fisher said.

A Strilzuk two points and a big 3pointer from Bengston helped to stretch Unity’s lead to six two minutes into the fourth quarter. Colfax hit one three to

bring the team to within four at one point, but Bengston continued to hit from the perimeter, and it didn’t help the Vikings cause for a comeback.

Colfax started to foul early and Unity maintained the patience in the end to give Fisher his first playoff victory as the Eagles head coach.

The Eagles will travel the No.1 seeded Webster Tigers for the second round of the WIAA Regional Playoffs.

It’ll be a tough challenge for us,” Fisher said. “We’re going to have to play extremely well, but it comes down to one game and you never know.”

Luck 79, Weyerhaeuser 29 LUCK – The Cardinals breezed easily through the first round of the WIAA Division 4 regional on Tuesday night.

The team held Cats to single digits in every quarter, while Luck scored 46 of its 79 points in the first half.

Team Frederic Clayton

1 2 3 4 F 9 12 5 14 40 8 17 14 14 53 Individual Statistics Frederic 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Nolan Neumann 1 0 0/0 3 2 Will Primm 1 1 0/0 2 5 Ben G. Anderson 3 2 0/0 2 12 Zach Anderson 3 0 0/0 1 6 Kyle Swenson 3 2 1/2 1 13 Kanan Hackett 1 0 0/0 0 2 Ben Nelson 0 0 0/0 5 0 Totals 12 5 1/2 14 40 Clayton Brandon Schaffer Tyler Ketz Derek Stesniak Derek Effertz Ryan Zemke C. Anderson Jordan Anderson LaBlanc Totals

2s 1 2 4 1 8 0 4 2 22

3s FTM/A F TP 0 0/0 0 2 0 0/0 0 4 0 0/0 0 8 0 1/2 3 3 0 3/4 0 19 0 2/2 2 2 0 3/3 3 11 0 0/0 0 4 0 9/11 8 53

Cardinal junior Nick Morgan pushes the ball down the court against Weyerhaeuser Tuesday night. Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Clayton 53, Frederic 40 CLAYTON – The Frederic boys played their last game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 19. They fell in their first round of playoffs to the Clayton Bears, 53-40.

The Vikings started with the lead in the first quarter. Ben Anderson knocked in seven of his 12 points, and Nolan Neumann hit a field goal for a total of nine, while on defense they held Clayton to eight.

In the second quarter, the Bears were able to come back scoring 17, while Frederic only put up 12.

The second half is when Clayton started climbing on their lead, scoring 28 while the Vikings only added up 19.

Kyle Swenson scored 13 points for his team, and Zach Anderson sunk three field goals for six. Will Primm put up five points, and Kanan Hackett had one from the field for two. – Brenda Sommerfeld

Extra Points ••• LEADER LAND – The WIAA state wrestling tournament will be broadcast on Feb 21. from 3 to 10 p.m. on WXCE 1260 AM. On Feb. 22 wrestling coverage from the state tournament can be heard on WXCE 1260 AM from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Feb. 23 you can hear more wrestling coverage on 1260 AM froom 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Marty Seeger ••• LEADER LAND – On Thursday, Feb. 21, the Luck Cardinals boys basketball playoff game versus Turtle Lake will be broadcast on WLMX 104.9 FM starting at 7 p.m. If Luck wins their game against Turtle Lake they will be broadcast again on 104.9 FM with the game time set to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. The Feb. 26 WIAA girls basketball playoff game with Turtle Lake at Frederic will be broadcast on WLMX 104.9 FM starting at 7 p.m. On Feb. 26 the WIAA girls basketball playoffs between New Richmond and Amery can be heard on WXCE 1260 AM beginning at 7 p.m. - Marty Seeger ••• LEADER LAND – Local sports tidbits to share? Please contact theLeader by 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to go in Extra Points! – Marty Seeger and Brenda Sommerfeld ••• LEADER LAND – Leader Sports strives to follow the college careers of area athletes. If you know of an athlete who will be playing collegiate sports in 2008 and hasn’t been mentioned, send us an e-mail and we’ll take it from there. – Marty Seeger and Brenda Sommerfeld

SPORTS RESULTS DEADLINES: WEDNESDAY - MONDAY: 1 p.m. the following business day. TUESDAY: 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Missed deadlines mean no coverage that week!

S P O R T S N E W S O R S C O R E S T O R E P O R T ? • P H O N E : 7 1 5 - 3 2 7 - 4 2 3 6 • FA X : 7 1 5 - 3 2 7 - 4 1 1 7 • E - M A I L : m s e e g e r @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t o r b r e n d a l s @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t

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LFG gets Eley through Harr suffers tough defeat in first round

by Marty Seeger SOMERSET – LFG coach Chris Bartlett and Saints coach Dan Clark knew that the winner of the first match between Luck senior Justin Eley (119) and St. Croix Falls wrestler Jake Bruns would have a great chance at state.

“We knew right from the beginning that [Bruns] was the kid we had to beat to make it to state,” Bartlett said. “He has the ability to beat the other two kids, but he would have to be perfect. Clark and I knew it was going to be a good match.”

With a minute to go, Eley was down by two, and with an injury timeout taken by Bruns it made it a 4-4 tie. In the end Eley’s escape was what won it.

According to Bartlett, Eley won his next match in the semifinals pretty easily by a score of 11-4. In the first-place match Eley lost to Kaleb Steven of Barron 7-3.

It was a closer match than an earlier one against Stevens this season according to Bartlett. Although Eley lost his last match to Chace Kinneman of Ellsworth, he’ll be making his first trip to the state tournament after just missing the state

LFG’s Justin Eley wrestled Chace Kinneman of Ellsworth during the wrestle-back round. Kinneman won in a 6-1 decision, yet Eley will be moving on to the state meet with a third-place finish. - Photos courtesy of Lori Nelson tournament by one match last year.

“His style of wrestling makes him a dangerous wrestler,” Bartlett said. “He doesn’t have the typical style. That reason alone gives him as good as chance as anyone to win state.”

Senior Russel Harr ended his section-

al tournament with a quick loss to Jordan Borst of Ellsworth. Bartlet said that Harr made a fatal mistake and the match quickly ended.

“I felt bad for him because he wasn’t able to even get into the match and it was over,” Bartlett said. “The wrestling

LFG’s Russel Harr wrestles his 171-lb. Ellsworth opponent during the opening round of the sectional tournament. room won’t be the same next year without him in there. It feels like he has been in the wrestling room the last 10 years.

His presence will be missed."

Siren scoots into round two SCF falls to St. Croix Central Siren 56, Northwood 45

by Brenda Sommerfeld MINONG – The Siren Dragon boys won their first round of playoffs against Northwood, Tuesday, Feb. 19. It was not the first time they had seen Evergreens this season, but it was the first time they won.

With Northwood seeded second and the Dragons seventh, the game started really close. Siren scored 11 points, while Northwood got 10 in the first quarter. The second quarter was a different story with the Dragons dominating both sides of the ball, scoring 22 points and holding the Evergreens to two from free throws.

Coming back from halftime, Siren was on a 21-point lead and held it through the third. Northwood did rally back in the fourth to score 22, twice as many as Siren’s 11, but Siren still pulled off the win to move onto the next round on Thursday, Feb. 21.

Adam Daniels scored 18 of the Dragon’s points with most in the first half. He had an 83-percent night from Team Siren Northwood

1 2 3 4 F 11 22 12 11 56 10 2 11 22 45 Individual Statistics Siren 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Christian Hall 0 0 0/0 1 0 Brennen Moose 6 0 3/7 3 15 Adam Daniels 4 0 10/12 1 18 Thad Baasch 0 0 0/0 1 0 Jordan Potvin 2 1 0/0 3 7 Travis Freese 1 0 2/4 1 4 Derek Jaskolka 0 0 1/2 3 1 Vince Nasman 3 1 0/0 2 9 Jeffrey Alden 0 0 0/0 2 0 Charlie Brown 0 0 2/4 4 2 Totals 16 2 18/29 21 56 Northwood Jesse Melby Sam Radzak Joe Martin Andrew Walberg Gerrod Richard Zach Haynes Brian Albano Mike Benson Thomas Ross Brad Ross Kevin Pagorek Totals

2s 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 4 2 2 0 12

3s FTM/A F TP 1 0/0 0 3 0 2/3 1 2 0 0/0 3 2 0 1/1 1 1 0 1/2 0 1 0 1/3 4 7 1 4/4 0 7 0 0/0 5 8 0 5/7 3 9 0 0/2 3 4 0 1/2 1 1 2 15/24 21 45

Siren's Travis Freese goes up for a shot in their earlier game with the Saints. On Tuesday night the Dragons moved through to the second round of regional playoffs with a win over Northwood - Photo by Marty Seeger the line making 10 of 12 free ones given to him.

Brennen Moose took Daniels place in the second half scoring most of his 15 points during those two quarters.

Vince Nasman scored nine, and Travis Freese got seven. – Brenda Sommerfeld SCC 59, St. Croix Falls 41 HAMMOND – The Saints fell to St. Croix Central in the first round of the WIAA Regional Tournament Tuesday night. The Saints hung close in the first half and trailed by just seven points, but St. Croix Central opened up a third quarter arsenal of 24 points to pull ahead towards the win.

“SCC was athletic and pretty fast which partially caused us some problems, but mainly couldn’t connect on critical possessions,” said coach Todd Voss. “Being behind only by 7 points at the half, I thought we had a good chance of pulling it out even though we

weren’t playing well.”

Ryan Larson led the Saints with 13 points and Trygve Chinander added eight. Jake Larcom, Dan Roach, Chinander, Matt Schardin, David Lund and Greg Kadrmas will be ending their senior basketball seasons with a 7-5 conference record and 8-12 record overall.

“Overall I thought we had a good respectable season,” Voss said. “We lost some close games, had some critical injuries and sickness at key times. I was very pleased with the kids effort and attitude. It was one of the nicest bunch of student athletes I have worked with over the years. With some fine-tuning by the coaches and off season work by the players, SCF could have some good success in the future.”

Saints forward Ryan Larson leaps for a shot in an earlier game this season.

Team 1 2 3 4 F St. Croix Falls 5 10 15 11 41 St. Croix Central 11 11 24 13 59 Individual Statistics St. Croix Falls 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Jacob Larcom 1 0 1/2 1 3 Dan Roach 0 1 0/0 2 3 Trygve Chinander 1 2 0/0 2 8 Ben Anderson 1 0 0/1 0 2 Josh Larcom 0 0 1/2 0 1 Ryan Larson 6 0 1/1 0 13 David Lund 0 0 1/2 4 1 Greg Kadrmas 4 0 2/3 2 10 Totals 13 3 6/11 11 41 St. Croix Central Luke Brown Jeff Fern Micheal Tilton Jarad Fern Brad Fedie Brady Hartung Tony Wiersgalla David Butler Brian Aldworth Kyla Cross Totals

2s 1 3 1 2 1 1 4 1 2 1 18

3s FTM/A F 0 0/0 0 1 2/2 1 0 1/2 2 0 10/10 2 1 0/0 1 0 0/0 0 1 2/2 2 0 1/1 1 0 0/0 0 0 0/1 1 3 16/18 10

TP 2 11 3 14 5 2 13 3 4 2 59

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 19

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Hendricks, Peper and McKinney are in Unity sends three athletes to the state wrestling tournament

by Marty Seeger EAU CLAIRE – Unity seniors Alex Peper (112) and Ben Hendricks (189) share similar stories from last season in the fact that both sat out for injuries.

Peper wrestled the first tournament of the season last year, and one dual before blowing out his knee.

Hendricks suffered the same fate, but his football injury forced him off the mat for the entire season. Peper’s knee surgery, and Hendricks double shoulder surgery must have been successful – both seniors are headed for the state meet this weekend in Madison for their first time ever.

“I give both of them a huge compliment for coming back after something like that…boy they’ve worked hard to get back to the level they were at before,” said coach Mark Ferguson.

But the day didn’t begin the way

Unity sophomore Dustin McKinney (125) dominated all three of his matches last Saturday in Eau Claire to become the Division 3 sectional champion.

- Photos by Marty Seeger coach Ferguson had hoped it would.

Dylan Koethe (103) drew a tough bracket and was pinned by Spring Valley/Elmwood’s Justin Keenlyne.

Peper lost his match and was pinned for only the second time this season in his

Alex Peper (119) won his second match of the day over Damian Wood of Independence/Gilmanton. He earned his first trip to the state tourney in his next match with a win over Spencer Harshman of Clear Lake.

first match of the tourney, and Luke Nelson (119) lost a very close match to Ladysmith’s Nick Becker in an 8-7 decision.

“We really didn’t get a good start to the day, and I kind of got a little worried at first, but we came through it really well in hindsight,” Ferguson said.

Dustin McKinney (125) was the fourth wrestler of the day for Unity, and pinned opponent Reed Waldera of Blaire-Taylor in just 1:27. Then Hendricks took to the mat and beat A.J. Martini of Phillips 11-2.

Nelson and Koethe were unable to wrestle after their losses, but Peper received the wrestle back and defeated Damian Wood of Independence/Gilmanton 11-2. He won his next match over Spencer Harshman of Clear Lake in an 8-2 decision to earn a guaranteed trip to state. He lost a second-place match to Evan Bohman of Stratford.

Hendricks had a series of exciting matches and earned his way to the finals with an overtime win over Shane Geissler of Cadott 4-2. Hendricks earned an escape with just seven sec-

onds to go, to send it in overtime, and the takedown in overtime won it. He was pinned by Jack Duerst of Boyceville before getting a pin in 3:54 over Rocky McKittrick of Flambeau in the secondplace match.

McKinney had the best day of the Unity wrestlers, and dominated his way toward a sectional championship with ease.

“He’s a very gifted wrestler and he works hard. He’s dominating on his feet, and that where we choose to wrestle,” Ferguson said.

McKinney won in the semifinals over Zach Weisenberger 13-2, and then defeated Joe Garofalo of Arcadia in the finals 17-5. After glancing over the brackets, Ferguson feels that McKinney, Peper and Hendricks have chances to make it to the finals in Madison this weekend.

“There’s a lot of matches between now and then, but I got a really good

Ben Hendricks (189) escaped Cadott's Shane Geissler with just seconds to go to send the match into overtime. A takedown for two points won it for Hendricks to earn a trip to the finals.

St. Croix Falls sends two through just two days before that the secondplace regional finisher was injured.

Amundson only had two days of short practice to prepare, but Clark said he did what he could. Amundson was pinned by Luke Bauer of Bruce in 3:18.

Rikkola, Raygor are sectional champions

by Marty Seeger SOMERSET – The Saints had their share of exciting matches last Saturday at the sectional tournament in Somerset, and in the end they’ll be sending two sectional champions to the state tournament in Madison this weekend. But now that the Saints are back in Division 2, the matches won’t get any easier.

“Especially now in Division 2, you’re not going to get any easy matches,” said coach Dan Clark.

But if you’re sending two top wrestlers to the state tournament, Justin Rikkola (112) and Joe Raygor (152) will be good bets to finish well at the tournament. Rikkola was sectional champion last year and sophomore Raygor, in his first state trip has already been in big matches before. He’s wrestled in national tournaments, and also tournaments at the state level in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.

“It shouldn’t be any shock for him, so that’s kind of nice, both kids have been in big matches that are still going [to state],” Clark said.

Last Saturday, Rikkola won by an 8-7 decision over Sam Arnott of Tomahawk and pinned DJ Yarwood of Ellsworth in 1:49. Rikkola defeated Jordan Riebe of

Justin Rikkola of St. Croix Falls wrestles Jordan Riebe of Barron during his championship match. This is Rikkola's second sectional championship of his career. - Photos courtesy of Lori Nelson Barron in the finals by a 10-5 decision. him wrestle,” said Clark. “I think his Riebe is ranked fourth in the state. goal has to be to make the finals.”

“If he wrestles well, he can win the Senior Dan Larson ended his road at whole thing, but he has to have three the sectional tournament to Derek Riebe really good matches,” Clark said of of Barron. Larson was up 4-0 into the Rikkola. third period, but was thrown for five Raygor defeated Nick Prete of points in the final 20 seconds and lost by Spooner in an 11-4 decision, and then just one point. Clark says Larson was defeated Northern Badger champ Andy the only senior on the team with the Marquardt of Bloomer in a 9-5 decision. Saints all four years, and he ended his In the finals, he beat Jordon Zimmer of career with about 80 wins.

Ellsworth in a 3-1 decision.

Shaw Amundson also wrestled at the “That was as good as I’ve ever seen section tournament after finding out

Saints wrestler Joe Raygor works to gain control over Ellsworth’s Jordon Zimmer during the second round of the sectional wrestling tournament at Somerset.

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New Richmond passes by Blizzard Blizzard outshoots New Richmond 24-23 New Richmond 6, Blizzard 1

by Brenda Sommerfeld NEW RICHMOND – New Richmond will continue on the playoff journey as the Blizzard played their final game this season. The Tigers won the game on Friday, Feb. 15, against the Blizzard, 6-1.

“I thought the boys went out with a little bit of a bang,” coach Greg Sears said. “Anyway, I’m real proud of how my guys played and the season they had. We finish 17-3-1, which is a real good achievement for them and the program.”

The Blizzard got off 24 shots at the

The Blizzard team worked hard against New Richmond and every other team this season, ending the year with a 17-3-1 record.

Senior Ben Anderson looks to shoot one into the net during an earlier game this year.

New Richmond goalie, while they fired back 23 shots at Mike Billings. New Richmond was able to get the puck in while the Blizzard only put up one point.

New Richmond came out skating hard, and was the team to knock in three in the first period to take the lead, 3-0, right off the bat. The first was in the first three minutes into the game.

“We seemed a little shell-shocked the first seven minutes of the game,” Sears commented, “and found ourselves down 3-0. After we realized we

Seniors Travis Close (#11) and Cameron Hughes team up against a couple of New Richmond Tigers during what ended up as their last high school hockey game. – Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld belonged, it was a pretty good hockey The Blizzard will have four seniors game.” that will not return for next season.

Neither team was able to score in the Cameron Hughes, Travis Close, Ben second period.

Anderson and Tony Lamere will graduThen in the third, things turned ate this spring. around from the first period, and Robbie Billings got the puck in the net 1 2 3 F Team Blizzard 0 0 1 1 off an assist by Dave Harlander in the 3 0 3 6 New Richmond first three minutes, but couldn’t get Scoring another in the slot.

First Period – 1 NR Joe Bowar (Jared Ellevold, Jake Bellows) 3:09, 2 NR Jared Singerhouse (Eric Wergin, New Richmond kept things in their Zach Olson) 6:45, 3 NR Calvin Hanson (Dan Shilts, favor and got three more past goalie Aaron Pflueger) 11:05 Mike Billings to secure the win, and Second Period – (no scoring) Third Period – 1 B Robbie Billings (Dave move on to Superior on Tuesday, Feb. Harlander) 3:14, 4 NR Dan Shilts (Aaron Pflueger) 19.

7:08, 5 NR Joe Bowar (Aaron Pflueger, Jared Ellevold) 14:02, 6 NR Jared Singerhouse (Aaron “In the playoffs it take 51 minutes of Pflueger) 16:02 good hockey and we didn’t do that,” Goalies Sears explained.

Saves – B Mike Billings (17)NR Tanner Milliron (23)

Lady Blizzard fall in playoff overtime Blizzard outshoots Rhinelander 31-8 Rhinelander 1, Lady Blizzard 0

by Brenda Sommerfeld SIREN – While the Lady Blizzard got several shot opportunities, the Rhinelander Hodogs were able to win the playoff game on Thursday, Feb. 14.

Rhinelander scored the only goal put in either team’s net in the last 30 seconds of the eight-minute overtime period.

“I’m still stunned by the outcome,” coach Tim Bennett stated. “This game was a disappointment to everyone involved with the girls program.”

The Blizzard had beaten Rhinelander earlier in the season and was again the dominating team, and managed five breakaways from three different girls.

The Hodogs defensive strategy, however, made it hard for the Blizzard to get

Cody Crawford gets right in the middle of the Rhinelander defense.

The Blizzard team gives a final thank-you to its fans as they leave the ice after the game against Rhinelander. – Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld

Senior Sasha Chell has been out these last few games with a knee injury, but hopes to continue her hockey career in college.

Senior Allie Briggs has been a powerhouse on defense all year for the Lady Blizzard.

Team 1 2 3 F Rhinelander 0 0 0 1 Blizzard 0 0 0 0 Scoring First Period – (no scoring) Second Period – (no scoring) Third Period – (no scoring) Over Time – 1 R Jacque Fritz (Ashli Crabb) , 7:31 Goalies Saves –R Johanna Sommers (31), B Tiffany Meyer (8)

Senior Shannon Steiner has been a lead scorer as a forward for the Lady Blizzard throughout this season.

the puck past them and into the net.

“We just couldn’t get to their goalie with all the traffic out front,” Bennett explained.

Rhinelander made it so they had six goalies all night long with all players right in front of the net, and they just waited until the Blizzard made a mistake in the net to nail in the one for the win.

“I’m proud of the girls on the team,” Bennett stated. “I thought we came a long way and made many improvements since the start of the season.”

The Lady Blizzard will say goodbye to the three seniors, Shannon Steiner, Allie Briggs and Sasha Chell, as they go off to college next year. All three proved to be team leaders throughout their last season in high school hockey.

With no freshman looking to join next season, the numbers for the Lady Blizzard will be low.

“We have a group of outstanding athletes coming back and that will be fun, and I’m already looking forward to it,” Bennett explained.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 21

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Luck shares conference title with Webster Tigers sweep Grantsburg, rematch probable in playoffs Luck 79, Unity 27

by Marty Seeger LUCK – It’s official. The Luck Cardinal boys and the Webster Tigers each have a piece of the conference title in one of the toughest conferences in the area.

“Webster’s a good team,” said Luck coach Rick Giller. He added; “Its two years in a row for us, and I’m pretty pleased with that in itself. If we have to share it one year, that’s fine with me.”

After routing the Eagles by a 65-36 score back in early January, the Cardinals continued their dominance with Cody Richert leading the charge with 27 points, with 21 coming in the first half. Richert sank five 3-pointers in the first half.

“We were hitting on all cylinders…defensively the kids are doing a good job and offensively Cody Richert was on fire.”

Luck held Unity to just three points in the first and fourth quarters, and three other Cardinals besides Richert scored in double digits, including Carson Giller with 16, Mitchell Klatt with 14 and Alec Mortel added 10 points to the total. Coach Giller added that this was a good confidence builder heading into Team Unity Luck

1 2 3 4 F 3 8 13 3 27 16 18 19 26 79 Individual Statistics Unity 2s 3s FTM/A F TP 2 2 1/4 3 11 Sam Bengston 1 0 0/0 4 2 Seth McKenzie Chad Strilzuk 3 0 5/7 2 11 1 0 0/0 4 2 Justin Bader Brady Flaherty 0 0 0/0 3 0 0 0 1/2 1 1 Lance Peper Totals 7 2 7/13 17 27 Luck Mitchell Klatt Cody Richert

Harry Severson-Dickinson

Cole Mortel Nick Morgan Tyler Petersen Alec Mortel Carson Giller Totals

2s 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 24

3s FTM/A F 2 0/2 0 5 2/2 2 0 0/0 2 0 0/0 0 0 0/0 0 0 0/0 4 0 2/2 4 1 3/5 1 8 7/11 13

TP 14 27 0 2 4 6 10 16 79

Luck’s Mitchell Klatt goes up for a layup during their win against Unity.

– Photos by Lori Nelson the tournament.

“It’s not going to be easy, and we have a tough regional coming up,” Giller said.

Webster 54, Grantsburg 39 GRANTSBURG – While the Tiger boys lost out on a conference title last season they managed to fight through a tough year all the way to the sectional finals against Eau Claire Regis. At this point of the season, the sectional final game is many games away, but for now the Tigers will be savoring their share of the conference title with Luck after they defeated Grantsburg last Thursday evening at home.

“You know as a coach you’re always going to say we could do better, but it was one of our better games there’s no doubt about that,” said Webster coach Randy Hedrick.

Hedrick says its been eight years since Webster has been able to get at least a share of the conference championship.

Cody Richert takes a cut of the net as the Luck team celebrates being co-conference champs for the 200708 season.

Plus, it was one of the many goals that the players set for themselves at the beginning of the season.

“That was one of their goals that they set out to get, so that’s good for them,” Hedrick said.

Webster’s previous game, which was played at Grantsburg in early January was decided with Webster winning in triple overtime 74-71. In that game, Webster committed 25 turnovers, but on Thursday night the team committed just 10.

“I think it was a good team win, they were focused and I thought it was good all around,” Hedrick said.

Hedrick mentioned that junior Adam Baum had one of his best games this season with 12 points and some key rebounds. Brian Thill led the team with 19 points and Brian Gibbs contributed 13.

For Grantsburg it was Trent Bonneville and Tyler Myers who led with 10 points apiece. Both Webster and Grantsburg have first round byes for the WIAA tournament. If the teams win in their first games of the playoffs, another Pirate/Tiger showdown will occur.

Webster’s Brian Thill gets above the Pirates for a shot during their matchup on Thursday night. – Photo

by Carl Heidel 1 2 3 4 F 14 5 6 14 39 12 13 18 11 54 Individual Statistics Grantsburg 2s 3s FTM/A F TP 0 0 0/0 2 0 Kevin Johnson Ben Larson 1 1 0/0 3 5 Shawn Pavlik 3 0 1/3 2 7 2 2 0/0 4 10 Tyler Myers Jason Jensen 1 0 5/7 2 7 4 0 2/3 2 10 Trent Bonneville Totals 11 3 8/13 15 39

Team Grantsburg Webster

Webster Peter Walsh Brian Gibbs A.J. Holmquist Dylan Geske Brian Thill Nolan Kriegle Adam Baum Totals

2s 0 2 3 1 9 1 5 21

3s FTM/A F 0 0/0 3 3 0/2 0 0 0/0 3 0 0/0 4 0 1/4 1 0 0/0 2 0 2/3 2 3 3/9 15

TP 0 13 6 2 19 2 12 54

Saint boys add up two more wins St. Croix Falls 80, Siren 46

by Marty Seeger SIREN – The Saints boys took complete control from the start against the Dragons last Friday night. Dan Roach led the Saints on the perimeter from the beginning with four 3-pointers that helped reach his total 18 points, while David Lund used his size to pile on 23 points from the inside.

The Saints went on a 13-0 run before Siren scored its first two of the game, and St. Croix Falls took a 25-9 lead at the Team St. Croix Falls Siren

1 2 3 4 F 25 14 18 23 80 9 13 11 13 46 Individual Statistics St. Croix Falls 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Jacob Larcom 1 0 0/0 3 2 Matt Vold 0 1 0/0 0 3 Dan Roach 2 4 2/2 1 18 Trygve Chinander 1 1 0/0 3 5 Sam Schmidt 0 1 0/0 1 3 Gus Koecher 1 0 0/0 0 2 Ryan Larson 4 0 2/2 0 10 David Lund 10 0 3/3 2 23 Austin Whittenberg 4 0 0/0 0 8 Greg Kadrmas 2 0 2/3 0 6 Totals 25 7 9/10 10 80 Siren Jesse Hinze Adam Daniels Jordan Potvin Travis Freese Vince Nasman Charlie Brown Totals

2s 0 6 1 2 3 0 12

3s FTM/A F TP 1 0/0 0 3 2 5/5 0 23 2 0/0 1 8 0 2/2 2 6 0 0/0 3 6 0 0/0 5 0 5 7/7 11 46

end of the first quarter. Siren kept the Saints to just 14 more points before the half and added 13 of their own, but the Saints proved to be too much.

Adam Daniels scored 23 points for Siren as Jordan Potvin added eight and Vince Nasman contributed six.

“I think right now we are playing the best ball of the year,” said Saints coach Todd Voss. “Siren is struggling a bit but at their place they can get hot, especially Daniels, he had 38 points last year up there. We took control with the inside game and they couldn’t match up.

Overall we hit on all cylinders for the first time this year. If we can stay away from injuries and sickness we could make a decent run in tournaments and keep playing with the same intensity of last week.”

St. Croix Falls 62, Turtle Lake 23 TURTLE LAKE – The Saints routed the Lakers in nonconference play last Thursday night. The Lakers opted out of playing much of their starting core in preparation for a game the following night against Clayton.

LEFT: Saints Dan Roach goes in for a shot against the Siren Dragon defense during their game on Friday. – Photo by Marty Seeger

St. Croix Falls took full advantage of the mismatch, outscoring the Lakers by 17 points in the second half, and defensively held Turtle Lake to zero points in the entire fourth quarter. Trygve Chinander led the Saints with 13 points and Dan Roach added 12. David Lund and Greg Kadrmas had seven points apiece on the night.

The Lakers ended up losing to Clayton the following night by a score of 57-36.

Team St. Croix Falls Turtle Lake

1 2 3 4 14 15 16 17 11 9 3 0 Individual Statistics St. Croix Falls 2s 3s FTM/A Jacob Larcom 1 0 2/2 Matt Vold 1 1 0/0 Dan Roach 2 2 2/2 Trygve Chinander 2 3 0/0 Sam Schmidt 0 0 0/0 Gus Koecher 2 0 0/0 Ryan Larson 1 0 2/2 David Lund 3 0 1/2 Kyle Christenson 1 0 0/0 Austin Whittenberg 2 0 0/0 Greg Kadrmas 3 0 1/1 Totals 18 6 8/9 Turtle Lake Kyle Wick Nathan Roemhild Cowwell Tim Flanagan David Sollman Totals

2s 0 0 0 2 1 3

F 62 23 F TP 1 4 0 5 2 12 0 13 1 0 0 4 3 4 1 7 0 2 1 4 0 7 9 62

3s FTM/A F TP 3 0/0 0 9 1 0/0 1 3 1 0/0 0 3 0 2/4 1 6 0 0/0 0 2 5 2/4 2 23

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Siren sets sights on conference title remarkable,” Ruud said.

Ruud mentioned that the Dragons began the season with seven of their eight players lost to graduation, which made this season a new beginning. The team has shown again that they have the capability to make another great run in the playoffs. Siren drew a No. 1 seed in the WIAA playoffs and will play the No. 7 seed South Shore on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

“To do what they’ve done and go 172 is very impressive,” Ruud said.

The Saints drew a No. 5 seed for the tournament and will face the No. 4 seeded Spring Valley team in the first round on Tuesday, Feb 26.

“It should be a good game at Spring Valley for the first round of regionals,” Maternowsky said.

One team to beat Siren 47, St. Croix Falls 37

by Marty Seeger SIREN – The Dragons only conference loss of the season came from the Saints, and last Friday night’s game was similar to the first-only this time, Siren came out on top.

In order to stop the Saints, the Dragons needed to rely heavily on defense. Both Saints players Jenny Benoy and Marissa Campeau combined for nine 3-pointers in the first contest to help the Saints to a 69-62 win, but this time Siren was able to keep both hot hands from gaining any ground-at least for the second half.

“They hit ‘em…they hit ‘em both games,” said Siren coach Jon Ruud on the Saints shooting ability.

Siren held a 9-4 lead after the first quarter and kept it to a four-point lead at the end of the first half, but Benoy’s 12 points in the second quarter alone kept the Saints in close contention “Jenny shot well in the second quarter with all of her 12 points,” said Saints coach Angie Maternowsky.

Benoy hit two threes in the quarter, and hit at least two more from the same spot, yet her foot was just over the line and the shots ended up as 2-pointer rather than threes. But Benoy wouldn’t get on the board again as Siren stepped up considerably on defense. Freshman Carley Emery was at the forefront of many Siren turnovers on the night and had some easy looks under the basket for a total 25 points.

Siren’s Jennifer Mitchell powers around St. Croix Falls Sasha Bryant in Friday night’s game. – Photo by Marty Seeger While Carley Emery had two 3-pointers in the game she had seven two-point buckets, with the majority of them coming off either steals from herself or a pass from a teammate for the wideopen look under the basket.

“I think we’ve had some really strong teams the last four years, and this is a year where we’ve been pretty good, but we really have a pretty good defensive identity,” Ruud said.

The Saints were down by just four points with under five minutes to go in

the fourth quarter, yet the Dragons held the lead and used a lot of patience to slow down any sort of offensive attack by the Saints. In the end, St. Croix Falls was forced to foul and the Dragons 13 of 18 free throws allowed Siren to hold the lead for the remainder of the game.

The Dragons are now on the verge of a possible conference title, pending that they beat the Unity Eagles on Friday, 22.

“For these girls to be 17-2 right now, and have a chance to win the conference outright against Unity Friday is really

1 2 3 4 F 4 20 10 3 37 9 19 13 6 47 Individual Statistics Siren 2s 3s FTM/A F TP 0 0 0/0 4 0 Haily Mulroy Jennifer Mitchell 1 0 0/1 2 2 1 0 1/2 2 3 Courtney Daniels 7 2 5/5 1 25 Carley Emery Janey Emery 1 0 6/6 0 8 4 0 0/2 1 8 Lynette Renberg Ashley Guevara 0 0 1/2 0 1 14 2 13/18 10 47 Totals Team St. Croix Falls Siren

St. Croix Falls Alex Confer Jenny Benoy Annie Confer Marissa Campeau Kelsey Douglass-White Sasha Bryant Amanda Larson Totals

2s 1 2 0 6 2 1 1 13

3s FTM/A F 0 0/1 4 2 2/3 2 0 0/0 2 0 1/1 1 0 0/0 4 0 0/0 3 0 2/2 1 2 5/7 17

TP 2 12 0 13 4 2 4 37

Tiger girls turn in double-overtime win Pirates get into foul trouble Webster 72, Grantsburg 69

by Brenda Sommerfeld WEBSTER – The second doubleheader competition of the Grantsburg and Webster teams was held on Thursday, Feb. 14. This time it was the girls game instead of the boys that went into overtime, and wasn’t finished until the second round, when the Tigers beat the Pirates, 72-69.

“It was a great game on both sides of the ball, no question,” Webster coach Greg Widiker said. “The girls made it exciting.”

“I think both teams performed really well,” Grantsburg coach Lisa McKinley agreed.

“The story came down to fouls,” Widiker explained. “It took until two overtimes to get deep enough into Grantsburg’s bench for us to take advantage of their foul trouble I thought.”

“We had a couple of key players not being able to play last night,” McKinley stated. “Plus then we got into so much foul trouble. I think pretty much the whole last quarter and both overtimes we played five people and didn’t have subs.”

Ingrid Ames and Alison McKinley were both out before the game started due to injuries and illnesses and Abbey Vaksdal played minimallly because of illness also. So being shorthanded to start out with, after Megan Finch, Sarah Wald, Stephanie Jensen and Laura Skifstad fouled out, they were down to five in the last quarter and in the two overtime periods.

“The girls that played the overtimes and last quarter, they played real well,”

Webster’s Beth Baer goes up for one of her many shots against Grantsburg. Pirate Abbey Vaksdal is in the background. – Photo by Carl Heidel McKinley said. “They gave it their all.

We just had a couple turnovers that hurt us toward the end.”

Widiker described the night as every-

thing you want in an exciting game. It has last-second buzzer beaters, 3-point plays, 3-point shots, key players fouling out and key players stepping up big.

“We had plenty of chances to finish it in regulation, but we decided to keep it interesting apparently,” Widiker commented.

Both teams had players that stepped up to put them both in a position to win it a few different times during the night.

Webster’s lead scoring machine for the night was Beth Baer with a career night, scoring 29 points with 11 field goals and seven of nine free-throw attempts.

“She played to her potential and beyond,” Widiker said about Baer. “She scored 12 of our 13 overtime points.

Talk about stepping up big.”

Another lead scorer for the Tigers was Amanda Alberg, shooting from the outside to score 18 points.

“She came out shooting well in the first half, and that really made Grantsburg come out and guard us,” Widiker commented of Alberg.

Leah Janssen started this game as her first this season. She came out to score 12 for the Webster team.

“She played within her abilities and did what she could,” Widiker stated.

“She went six for six from the line, hit some big shots underneath, was on the receiving end of some great passes and she made some strong moves. It was just the best game she’s played so far.”

Sam Hogle put up five points for the team and Kathryn Krause and Michelle Gibbs each scored four.

Grantsburg had Kortney Morrin score 20 points with a variety of different shots. Three were from the field, three 3pointers and five of nine free throws she attempted. Morrin shot 100 percent from behind the arch, making the three she put up.

“Kortney stepped up,” McKinley

said.

Megan Finch scored six field goals, one 3-pointer and two of two free-throw attempts for 17 points in the night. She ended up fouling out in the beginning of the fourth quarter and spent the rest of the game supporting her team from the bench.

Sarah Wald was next in line for most points for the Tigers with her 11. Two shots were from the field, two 3-pointers and one free throw.

“Sarah played hard,” McKinley commented. “She really stepped up last night. She played a good game. She took smart shots.”

Vaksdal, even being sick, scored nine points, Vanessa Kleiss added five to the score, Skifstad got four and Stephanie Jensen made three points.

“When it comes down to double overtime,” McKinley started, “there’s just so much extra effort put into it and to then come up short points. It’s hard.”

These two teams will get one more shot at each other as they face off in the first round of regional play on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in Webster at 7 p.m.

Team Grantsburg Webster

1 2 3 4 OT OT2 F 22 14 5 18 4 6 69 17 17 11 14 4 9 72 Individual Statistics Grantsburg 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Abbey Vaksdal 3 1 0/1 4 9 Sarah Wald 2 2 1/4 5 11 Kortney Morrin 3 3 5/9 2 20 Megan Finch 6 1 2/2 5 17 Stephanie Jensen 1 0 1/2 5 3 Vanessa Kleiss 1 0 3/4 4 5 Gretchen Hedlund 0 0 0/0 1 0 Laura Skifstad 2 0 0/0 5 4 Totals 18 7 12/22 31 69 Webster Samantha Hogle Amanda Alberg Kathryn Krause Chris Stoll Leah Janssen Beth Baer Michelle Gibbs Totals

2s 1 5 0 0 3 11 2 22

3s FTM/A F 0 3/10 5 2 2/8 4 1 1/1 1 0 0/3 2 0 6/6 3 0 7/9 3 0 0/0 1 3 19/37 19

TP 5 18 4 0 12 29 4 72

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Eagle girls outfly Cardinals

Luck and Unity records now tied in conference Unity 44, Luck 32

by Brenda Sommerfeld LUCK – The Unity girls tied up with Luck in the conference at 2-10 on Friday, Feb. 15. The Eagles walked away with a 44-32 win.

“We played well,” Unity coach Chuck Holicky said. “We played with a lot of confidence.”

“We were dominated by Andrea Thompson,” Luck coach Marty Messar stated. “She had 26 points and really controlled the game for the Eagles.”

1 2 3 4 F 10 14 10 10 44 6 8 7 10 32 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Unity 1 0 0/0 1 2 Cailin Turner 1 0 4/6 5 6 Brianna Schmid 1 0 4/6 3 6 Becca Milligan Elizabeth Ebensperger 0 0 0/0 3 0 7 4 0/0 1 26 Andrea Thompson Marisa Hacker 2 0 0/1 3 4 12 4 8/13 16 44 Totals Team Unity Luck

Luck Erica Wilson Briana Stage Melissa Jenssen Megan Hacker Sarah Petersen Krystal Stage Taryn Pilz Totals

2s 1 1 1 2 3 0 3 11

3s FTM/A F TP 1 4/4 3 9 0 0/0 0 2 0 0/0 2 2 0 0/2 2 4 0 2/2 4 8 0 0/2 0 0 0 1/3 1 7 1 6/13 12 32

Luck and Unity girls line up for a free-throw-shot attempt by Erica Wilson during Friday night’s game. – Photo by Lori Nelson Thompson had a good night with seven field goals and four 3-pointers.

She spread them out throughout the game for Unity.

“Andrea really stepped up and took charge,” Holicky commented. “The kids did a nice job getting her the ball.”

The Eagles pulled off a 24-14 lead going into halftime. They continued scoring in the double digits with 10

points in each of the second two quarters, while Luck scored 18.

Other scorers for Unity were Brianna Schmid and Becca Milligan, who each put up a field goal and four of six free throws. Marisa Hacker scored four points and Cailin Turner contributed two to the board.

On the other side, Luck had Erica Wilson score the most points with nine.

Sarah Petersen not only put up eight points, but also got nine rebounds for her team, while Taryn Pilz added up seven points and six rebounds.

Megan Hacker made two field goals for four of the Cardinal points and Briana Stage and Melissa Jenssen each added two.

2007-08 Division 3 Boys Basketball Playoffs

2007-08 Division 4 Boys Basketball Playoffs

S EC TION AL #1 • Game times are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. • Check for updated times.

Regionals Sectionals Tues., Feb. 19 Thurs., Feb. 21 Sat., Feb. 23 Fri., Feb. 29 Sat., Mar. 1

SECTIONAL #1 • Game times are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. • Check for updated times.

Regionals Sectionals Tues., Feb. 19 Thurs., Feb. 21 Sat., Feb. 23 Fri., Feb. 29 Sat., Mar. 1 Solon Springs (#1)

Webster (#1) @Webster

Colfax (#5) @U nity Unity (#4)

Unity (60-49) 7 p.m.

@South Shore Shell Lake (#6)

@Grantsburg

Siren (#7) @Rice Lake 7 p.m.

Hurley (#1) Hurley (68-58)

@Park Falls Park Falls (#4) @Ladysmith Bloomer (#6) Chetek (#7) @Washburn Washburn (#2)

Birchwood (#5)

@Flambeau Rib Lake (#6)

@Washburn

@Mellen Mellen (#2) @Eau Claire North, 7 p.m.

@Regis Prescott (35-32)

St Croix Central (#3) @St. Croix Central St. Croix Falls (#6)

@McDonell Central

Prairie Farm (#7) @C hippewa Falls 7 p.m.

@Fall Creek Fall Creek (#2)

Siren (56-45) @Spooner 6 p.m.

Prentice (67-38) @Prentice Mercer (74-42) @Lakeland 1:30 p.m.

Rib Lake (47-38) @Mellen Mellen (86-31)

@S pooner

Luck (79-29) @Luck Turtle Lake (76-59)

@Clear Lake Clear Lake (#2)

@Cumberland 1:30 p.m.

Clayton (53-40) @C layton Clear Lake (53-33)

@Spooner 8 p.m.

Thorp (#1) Colby (63-41)

@Thorp Gilman (#8)

@Colby

Cornell (#5)

McDonell Central (62-44)

@Altoona 7 p.m.

Stanley-Boyd (#3)

Owen-Withee (#7)

@Luck Weyerhaeuser (#8)

@Clayton Frederic (#6)

@Spring Valley

McDonell Central (#4)

@Stanley-Boyd Osseo-Fairchild (#6)

@South Shore

Clayton (#3)

St. Croix Central (59-41)

Colby (#1)

Mondovi (#5)

1:30 p.m.

Luck (#1)

@Turtle Lake Turtle Lake (#4)

@Ellsworth 7 p.m.

@Webster

South Shore (75-59)

Bruce (#5)

Spring Valley (#2)

@C olby Cadott (#8)

Drummond (44-38)

Winter (#7)

Washburn (40-36)

Prescott (#5)

@Solon Springs

Flambeau (#3)

Ladysmith (43-30)

Regis (#1)

@Elk Mound Elk Mound (#4)

@Mercer Mercer (#4)

@Ashland 7 p.m.

WIAA State Tournament March 7 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 9:05 a.m.

Prentice (#1) Glidden/Butternut (#8)

Park Falls (51-31)

Ladysmith (#3)

@Northwood Northwood (#2) @Prentice

@Hurley

Cameron (#5)

Drummond (#5)

Solon Springs (82-38)

South Shore (#3)

Glenwood City (53-46)

Grantsburg (#2)

@Hurley Phillips (#8)

@Solon Springs Lac Courte (#8) @Bayfi fie eld Bayfield (#4)

@Amery

Glenwood City (#3) @Glenwood City Boyceville (#6)

WIAA State Tournament March 6 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 9:05 a.m.

Stanley-Boyd (68-59) @Fall Creek Fall Creek (47-41)

@Abbotsford Abbotsford (#4)

Thorp (55-38) @Thorp Abbotsford (67-47) @New Auburn

EC Immanuel Luth. (#3)

@EC Immanuel Luth.

New Auburn (#6) Greenwood (#7) @Lake Holcombe Lake Holcombe (#2)

EC Immanuel (45-43) @L ake Holcombe Lake Holcombe (57-51)

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

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Nonconference girl bball action throws, while keeping Cameron to only six. The second quarter was the same story, with the Dragons putting up 11 and Cameron only getting five.

“Everything in the first half was excellent,” Ruud said. “We played great defense and stayed out of foul trouble.”

After halftime, the Comets were able to score more than Siren, 12-7, because of Siren’s foul trouble. The Dragons did, however, turn things around again, 156, in the final period to secure another win for their record.

“Jennifer Mitchell played great team defense as always,” Ruud mentioned.

“Without her in the middle, we would easily have two or three more losses this year. She is easily the best inside defender in the conference.”

Carley Emery was again the top scoring force with 20 points, with her sister, Janey Emery, right behind her with 14.

Lynette Renberg and Haily Mulroy scored six each, and Ashley Guevara hit two free throws for her two points.

Siren 48, Cameron 29

by Brenda Sommerfeld SIREN – The Dragon girls started out strong and finished strong, winning 4829, against the Cameron Comets on Thursday, Feb. 14.

“Two nights before we played Cameron, they played the No. 1 ranked Flambeau Falcons,” coach Jon Ruud explained, “and the halftime score of that game was 19-15 Flambeau.

Cameron came into our gym two nights later felling like they were playing very good basketball.”

Siren started out strong in the first period scoring 15 points, five from free 1 2 3 4 F 6 5 12 6 29 15 11 7 15 48 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Cameron Sally Marske 1 0 1/2 4 3 0 0 2/4 1 2 Kelsey Lych 1 0 0/1 1 2 Kayla Dysen 4 0 2/6 4 10 Anna Walther 0 0 1/2 2 1 Katie Hill Brianne Moon 2 1 1/2 2 8 0 0 1/2 3 1 Liz Jacobs Heidi Crysron 0 0 2/2 4 2 0 0 0/2 0 0 Jessie Kratz 8 1 10/23 21 29 Totals Team Cameron Siren

Siren Haily Mulroy Jennifer Mitchell Courtney Daniels Carley Emery Janey Emery Lynette Renberg Kendra Jones Ashley Guevara Totals

2s 2 0 0 7 0 2 0 0 11

3s FTM/A F 0 2/2 3 0 0/0 5 0 0/0 1 0 6/12 2 4 2/3 0 0 2/2 4 0 0/0 1 0 2/4 0 4 14/23 16

TP 6 0 0 20 14 6 0 2 48

Siren’s Carley Emery goes for another one of her fast-break layups. – Photo by Marty Seeger

Prairie Farm 41, Unity 37 PRAIRIE FARM – Unity girls held onto a close game with Prairie Farm, but ended up losing 41-37 in the last two minutes on Monday, Feb. 18.

The Eagles took the lead in the first half, 21-20, and maintained it in the second until the last two minutes.

“We let this one get away,” coach Chuck Holicky said. “The game got pretty physical and we lost control.

With two minutes left in the game we made too many mental errors that ended up costing us the game.”

Unity held Prairie Farm to three field goals in the entire second half, but gave up 25 free-throw attempts while they only got four.

Prairie Farm took advantage and made 15 of their free ones.

Andrea Thompson was the lead scorer for the Eagles again with 22 points.

Becca Milligan and Elizabeth Ebensperger each added four, Brianna Schmid had three points and Tina Edgell and Stephanie Kothlow scored two.

1 2 3 4 F 4 17 9 7 37 9 11 7 14 41 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A F TP Unity 1 0 0/0 0 2 Tina Edgell Cailin Turner 0 0 0/0 4 0 1 0 1/2 3 3 Brianna Schmid Becca Milligan 1 0 2/2 5 4 1 0 0/0 2 2 Stephanie Kothlow 2 0 0/0 2 4 Elizabeth Ebensperger Andrea Thompson 4 4 2/4 1 22 10 4 5/8 17 37 Totals

Team Unity Prairie Farm

Prairie Farm Bailee George Breanna Anderson Hayley Broten Kelsey Wirth Brittany George Brittany Rassbach Totals

2s 0 1 1 2 3 3 10

3s FTM/A F 1 2/4 2 0 0/0 1 0 0/0 2 0 2/4 2 0 7/13 3 1 4/6 1 2 15/27 11

TP 5 2 2 6 13 13 41

2007-08 Division 3 Girls Basketball Playoffs

2007-08 Division 4 Girls Basketball Playoffs

S EC TION AL #1 • Game times are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. • Check for updated times.

Regionals Sectionals Tues., Feb. 26 Thurs., Feb. 28 Sat., March 1 Thurs., March 6 Sat., March 8

SECTIONAL #1 • Game times are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. • Check for updated times.

Regionals Sectionals Tues., Feb. 26 Thurs., Feb. 28 Sat., March 1 Thurs., March 6 Sat., March 8 Northwood (#1)

WIAA State Tournament March 13 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 approx. 10:30 a.m.

Colfax (#1) @Colfax

Grantsburg (#5) @Webster Webster (#4)

7 p.m.

Glenwood City (#3) @Glenwood City Unity (#6)

@Flambeau Mercer (#8)

@

@Rib Lake Rib Lake (#4)

@Rice Lake

@Hurley Phillips (#6)

@Birchwood

@Lakeland 1:30 p.m.

Butternut/Glidden (#6)

@

@

Winter (#7)

@Park Falls Park Falls (#2)

@Prentice Prentice (#2) @Altoona

Regis (#1) @Regis

St. Croix Falls (#5) @Spring Valley Spring Valley (#4)

Luck (#5)

Clear Lake (#3)

@Elk Mound St. Croix Central (#6)

@Clear Lake Bruce (#6)

@Prescott

Turtle Lake (#7) @C hippewa Falls 7 p.m.

Osseo-Fairchild (#1)

Thorp (#1) @Thorp New Auburn (#8)

@Fall Creek Fall Creek (#4)

Lake Holcombe (#5) @Altoona

@ @Spooner

@

@Gilman Gilman (#4)

Owen-Withee (#3)

Cornell (#3)

@Owen-Withee Colby (#6)

@Cornell EC Immanuel (#6)

@

@Cumberland 1:30 p.m.

@Frederic Frederic (#2)

@Osseo-Fairchild Cadott (#8)

@

@Clayton

@Prairie Farm Prairie Farm (#4)

@Hudson

Prescott (#2)

@Spooner

Clayton (#1)

Elk Mound (#3)

@Mondovi Mondovi (#2)

@

Mellen (#5)

Birchwood (#3)

McDonell Central (#7)

@Spooner

Flambeau (#1)

Hurley (#3)

Stanley-Boyd (#5)

@

@S iren Siren (#2)

@Hayward 7 p.m.

Blommer (#7)

1:30 p.m.

South Shore (#7)

Ladysmith (#1)

@Washburn Washburn (#4)

@Webster

@S olon Springs Shell Lake (#6)

Boyceville (#2)

Cameron (#5)

@

Bayfield (#5)

Solon Springs (#3)

@Boyceville

@Ladysmith Chetek (#8)

Lac Courte Oreilles (#8)

@Drummond Drummond (#4)

@Amery

WIAA State Tournament March 14 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 approx. 10:30 a.m.

@Northwood

Abbotsford (#7) @Mondovi Greenwood (#2)

@Bloomer 1:30 p.m.

@

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 25

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Chisago Lakes-SCF season ends at state Fourth-place finish attained

by Marty Seeger BIWABIK, Minn. – The Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls girls ski team finished their season as the fourth-best team in the state on Valentine’s Day on Giants Ridge.

Minus 11-degree temperatures greeted the team and the races began at 8:30 a.m. Katy Garbe and Amanda Angel ran first for a smooth start, followed by Simone Raedeke, Katy Boyer and St. Croix Falls students Melinda Beyer and Kate Wright.

“One after another, the girls went down the hill skiing well, with no problems navigating the course,” said coach Dan Raedeke.“ “All six of the girls put in solid runs.”

Raedeke said the next run for the girls was done in the same order as before, and he said that each girl raced well.

“I was proud of this group of kids, they helped each other, worked, practiced and raced as a team,” Raedeke said. “They brought out [what] a team is, working and helping each other the

The Wildcats ski team finish fourth at the State meet in Biwabik, Minn. Pictured (L to R): Simone Raedeke, Amanda Angel, Melinda Beyer, Katy Boyer, Katy Garbe, Kate Wright and Jennifer Sandgren. – Photo submitted whole day.”

Boyer and Beyer are the teams only seniors on the Wildcats team.

“This was there last race, [and] the team will miss them,” Raedeke said.

Individuals who qualified for the

state tourney were Garbe, Raedeke and Angel. Garbe placed 21st, Raedeke placed 18th and Angel took 21st.

Chisago Lakes JV ski squads compete at Frostbite

During the Frostbite JV race on Tuesday, Feb. 12, the Chisago Lakes JV girls ski squad took second place and the boys squad took fifth. Eighth-grader Katie Rayer took third, freshman skier Theresa Sandberg got fifth and eighth-graders Araya Gamble was 15th. For the boys, sophomore Anthony Lukas came in fourth, seventh-grader Jake Sandgren was 20th, eighth-grader Brandon Marvin placed 26th and eighth-grader Joey Cartier took 28th. – Photos submitted Youth hockey results Burnett Youth Hockey Mite A

February 9-10

Blizzard 7, Ashland 2

Goals: Andrew Ruiz (3), Jordan Larson (3)

Blizzard 8, Amery 1

Goals: Jordan Larson (3)

Blizzard 11, Grantsburg 1

Goals: Andrew Ruiz (6), Jordan Larson (3) Assists: Sophie Phernetton (3)

*The goals do not add up but this was the only information given.

February 15-17

Bantam

Blizzard 3, Altoona 2

Goals: Cody Benedict, Tyler Richison, Joe Engelhart Assists: Joe Engelhart (2), Damien Rasmussen Saves: Brandon Roufs (15)

Blizzard 7, Eau Claire 1

Goals: Joe Engelhart (3), Anthony Dietmeier (2), Cody Benedict, Jordan Sargent Assists: Bert Luedtke (2), Nick Smith, Brady McWilliam Saves: Brandon Roufs (4)

U-12 Girls

Blizzard 9, St. Francis 4

Goals: Ashley Dietmeier (3), Taylor Heathman (2), Kassie Lien, Johanna Lauer, Tianna Stewart, Sam O’Brien Assists: Ashley Dietmeier, Tianna Stewart, Taylor Heathman, Sam O’Brien Saves: Brittney Luedtke (8)

Squirt

Blizzard 4, Altoona 1

Goals: Aubriannah Larson, Jenna Curtis, Brett Richison, Brady Mangen Assists: Vincent Larson Saves: Bailey Mangen (7)

LEFT: Heading to State Playoffs! The Mite A Burnett Blizzard team had a perfect record in the State Playdowns Feb. 9 and 10, in Spooner. Pictured Front Row (L to R): Heather Struck, Darbi Young and Jenna Ruiz. Second Row: Andrew Ruiz, Tanner Buck and Logan Meagher. Third Row: David Doty, Jordan Larson, Brenton Nelson and Sophie Phernetton. Back Row: Head Coach Dean Phernetton, Assistant Coaches, Ruben Ruiz and Al Pomerleau. – Photo submitted

Frederic held their second-Annual Frederic High School alumni basketball tournament on Saturday, Feb. 2. – Photos submitted

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

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Karsten Petersen Luck – Age 12

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Tristen Brewer Grantsburg – Age 10

The Frederic Council 6370 Knights of Columbus are happy to present the council winners of the annual free throw contest. These students braved cold weather and heavy schedules to participate. They are now eligible to compete in the district contest against Spooner, Webster and Balsam Lake at Siren High School at 8 a.m. on Feb. 26. - Photos submitted

The youth group of Bethany Lutheran Church of Grantsburg bowled a collective 300 last Sunday. The afternoon outing was part of their outreach program, where young people could invite friends to eat pizza, knock down pins and enjoy some Christian fellowship. Anyone interested may join the youth group. For more information call 715-463-5746. – Photo by Wayne M. Anderson

A R E A At Hacker’s Lanes

Sunday Afternoon Mixed Standings: The Hee Haws 39.5, D & B’s 39, Gems 34.5, Spare-Us 34, Sandbaggers 34, Hot Shots 29.

Women’s games: Gail Linke (The Hee Haws) 213, Jen Renfroe (The Hee Haws) 188, Bea Moyer (Sandbaggers) 185.

Women’s series: Gail Linke (The Hee Haws) 575, Bea Moyer (Sandbaggers) 512, Jen Renfroe (The Hee Haws) 469.

Men’s games: Bruce Gravelle (D&B’s) 215, Chuck Moyer (Sandbaggers) 211, Bert Meyer (D&B’s) 202.

Men’s series: Bruce Gravelle (D&B’s) 580, Chuck Moyer (Sandbaggers) 550, Jim Loomis (Spare-Us) 537.

Team games: Sandbaggers 841, D & B’s 838, The Hee Haws 823.

Team series: Sandbaggers 2486, The Hee Haws 2372, Spare-Us 2350.

Games 50 or more above average: Chuck Moyer (+51); Bea Moyer (+53).

Splits converted: 3-6-7-10: Chuck Moyer.

4-9: Scott Morrison. 5-4-7: Barb Morgan. 57: Jim Loomis. 5-10: Jen Renfroe, Erin Otis.

Monday Afternoon Seniors Standings: Swans 18, Nite Hawks 16.5, Bears 12, Eagles 9, Badgers 6.5.

Women’s games: Lila Larson (Badgers) 175, Hilda Trudeau (Sub) 159, Nancy Morten (Bears) 154.

Women’s series: Lila Larson (Badgers) 470, Hilda Trudeau (Sub) 451, Nancy Morten (Bears) 439.

Men’s games: Jim Morten (Bears) 205, Tom Johnson (NH) 203, Chuck Moyer (Eagles) 202.

Men’s series: Jim Morten (Bears) 554, Dick Coen (NH) 539, Tom Johnson (NH) 533.

Team games: Nite Hawks 668, Eagles 635, Swans 634.

Team series: Nite Hawks 1974, Swans 1795, Eagles 1741.

Monday Night Ladies Standings: Hacker’s Lanes 39, Radio Shack 35, Miller Chicks 29, The Bottle Shop 26, House of Wood 25, Mane Attractions 21, Anchor Bank 17, Bye 4.

Individual games: Sandy Hacker (HL) 222, Robin Lindvall (BS) 201, Heidi Skow (MC) 196.

Individual series: Sandy Hacker (HL) 542, Robin Lindvall (BS) 540, Heidi Skow (MC) 517.

Team games: The Bottle Shop 694, Hacker’s Lanes 652, Mane Attractions 632.

Team series: The Bottle Shop 1896, Hacker’s Lanes 1845, Mane Attractions 1822.

Tuesday Youth (2 games) Standings: Pin Heads 10, Double Headers 8, Pin Destroyers 4, Pin Patrol 2.

Girl’s games: None.

Girl’s series: None.

Boy’s games: Jaryd Braden 138, David Lindberg 131, Austin Bruss 127.

Boy’s series: Austin Bruss 243, Charlie Lindberg 232, Ben Kurkowski 221.

Team games: Pin Heads 340, Double Headers 329, Pin Patrol 318.

Team series: Pin Patrol 635, Pin Heads 634, Double Headers 596.

Tuesday Classic Standings: Great Northern Outdoors 59, Bottle Shop 56, Yellow Lake Lodge 51, Hacker’s Lanes 46.5, Hog Wild 29.5, Pioneer Bar 27, St. Croix Valley Hardwoods 24, Reliables 19.

Individual games: Gene Ackland 258, Ken Tonsager 256, Reed Stevens 246.

Individual series: Gene Ackland 728, Ken Tonsager 653, Reed Stevens 630.

Team games: Yellow Lake Lodge 691,

Polk County Special Olympic athletes participated in snowshoe competition at the state Winter Games held in Wausau Feb. 9 and 10. The athletes had an excellent season, with all athletes taking medals in their events.

Pictured back row (L to R): Coach Pat Meier, Jordan Warwas, Heather Erickson, Ben Olson, Tim Eggers and Laura Richter. Front row: Jarvis Warwas, Angie Olson, Erin Anderson, Crystal Fougner, Donnell Anderson and Tim Anderson. – Photo submitted

B O W L I N G Hacker’s Lanes 651, Great Northern Outdoors 622.

Team series: Yellow Lake Lodge 1922, Hacker’s Lanes 1784, Great Northern Outdoors 1763.

Games 50 or more above average: Gene Ackland (+55).

Series 100 or more above average: Gen Ackland (+119).

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies Standings: Eggs 5-34, Pioneer Bar 2-30.5, Frandsen Dairy 5-27, Hacker’s Lanes 220.5.

Individual games: Char Sandberg (PB) 179, Kathy Sandberg (PB) 166 & 163, Ruth Sorenson (FD) 163.

Individual series: Char Sandberg (PB) 494, Kathy Sandberg (PB) 463, JoAnn Tyler (FD) 447.

Team games: Pioneer Bar 601 & 572, Hacker’s Lanes 559.

Team series: Pioneer Bar 1709, Frandsen Dairy 1574, Hacker’s Lanes 1562.

Wednesday Night Early Men’s Standings: Lewis Silo 22, Cummings Lumber 15, Larsen Auto Center 14, Skol Bar 14, Pioneer Bar 14, Parker 12, A-1 Machine 11, Four Seasons Wood Products 10.

Individual games: Gene Ackland (4S) 268, Bruce Gravelle (P) 248, Chuck Kruse (CL) 247.

Individual series: Gene Ackland (4S) 725, Mark Bohn (SB) 687, Buck Hanson (PB) 686.

Team games: Four Seasons Wood Products 1068, Parker 1034, Cummings Lumber 999.

Team series: Four Seasons Wood Products 2996, Cummings Lumber 2916, Parker 2844.

Thursday Early 3-Man Standings: Wikstrom Construction (11) 66, Full Timers (4.5) 49.5, Hell Raisers (8) 49, Fab Four (5) 48, Grindell Law Offices (6) 41, K-Wood (2) 38, Frontier Trails (8.5) 37.5, CenturyTel (7) 35.

Individual games: Ed Bitler (KW) 269 & 257, Mike Sullivan (WC) 246.

Individual series: Ed Bitler (KW) 701, Mike Sullivan (WC) 640, Dave Hall (HR) 620.

Team games: Hell Raisers 615, Wikstrom Construction 601, K-Wood 599.

Team series: Hell Raisers 1712, Wikstrom Construction 1677, K-Wood 1658.

Consecutive strikes (5 or more): Ed Bitler 6x = 269 & 5x = 257; Dave Hall 5x = 224.

Most points: Dave Hall 49.

Splits converted: 4-5: Lydell Larson. 5-7: Marlin Larson, Lydell Larson. 3-10: Dave Hall, Bert Meyer.

Thursday Late Men’s Standings: Hog Wild BBQ & Grill 22-6, Fisk Trucking 16-12, Stotz & Company 12-16, Hansen Farms Inc. 12-16, Johnson Upholstery 11-17.

Individual games: Larry Stotz 235, Dale Peterson 225, Gene Wynn Sr. 216.

Individual series: Daryl Bazey 611, Gene Wynn Sr. 594, Doug Fisk 588.

Team games: Stotz & Company 1036, Fisk Trucking 945, Hansen Farms Inc. 898.

Team series: Stotz & Company 2742, Fisk Trucking 2720, Hansen Farms Inc. 2621.

Friday Night Ladies Standings: Skol Bar 38, Meyer’s Plus 35, The Leader 34.5, Hole in the Wall 21.5, Tin Cup Promotions 21, Junque Art 18.

Individual games: Karen Carlson 228, Mary Young 206, Gail LInke & Linda O’Donnell 193.

Individual series: Karen Carlson 576, Missy Hernandez 539, Mary Young 536.

Team games: Skol Bar 763, Junque Art 678, Meyer’s Plus 633.

Team series: Skol Bar 2101, Junque Art

1936, The Leader 1819.

Games 50 or more above average: Mary Young.

Splits converted: 4-10: Mary Young. 5-10: Lynn Johnson.

McKenzie Lanes

Monday Night Madness Standings: Peper Tire & Align. 35, State Farm Ins. 34, Osceola Plumbing & Heating 34, Pepie’s Gals 33, Scottay’s Trucking 32, McKenzie Lanes 28, Alleycats 28, Frederic Larsen Auto 26.

Individual games: Debbie Swanson 200, Melanie Erickson 187, Julia Delougherty 171.

Individual series: Debbie Swanson 504, Brenda Carlson 484, Cathy Albrecht 451.

Team games: (Handicap scores) Scottay’s Trucking 617, Peper Tire & Align. 581, State Farm Ins. 579.

Team series: (Handicap scores) Peper Tire & Align. 1696, Scottay’s Trucking 1680, Alleycats 1668.

Monday Night Ladies Standings: Metal Products Co. 16, Edina Divas 15, Sam’s Carpentry 13, Milltown Appliance 13, Wolf Creek Log Furniture 7, Bont Chiropractor 7, McKenzie Lanes 5, Frederic Truck & Tractor 4.

Individual games: Dana Amundson 223, Barb Wilson 220, Dawn Blanski 214.

Individual series: Dawn Blanski 552, Dana Amundson 538, Jane Smith 517.

Team games: (Handicap score) Edina Divas 1033.

Team series: (Handicap score) Sam’s Carpentry 2882.

Tuesday Women’s Day Standings: A-1 Machine 77.5, Kassel Tap 74, Custom Outfitter 68.5, Hauge Dental 61, Country Gals 58, B & H Builders 54, Gutter Dusters 51, Bye 32.

Individual games: Denise F. Donaghue 212, Judy Sturgul 201, Audrey Ruck 198.

Individual series: Audrey Ruck 535, Denise F. Donaghue 512, Toni Sloper 505.

Team games: (Handicap scores) Custom Outfitter 813, Gutter Dusters 786, Kassel Tap 776.

Team series: (Handicap scores) Custom Outfitter 2294, Kassel Tap 2270, Hauge Dental 2227.

Tuesday Night Men’s Standings: McKenzie Lanes 74, Dream Lawn 65, Nel-Lo-Hill Farm 63, Greatland Trans. 60, Glass Bar 57.5, The Dugout 57, Hack’s Pub 55, Steve’s Appl. 48.5.

Individual games: Randie Gustafson 280, Darren McKenzie 269, Ole Baillargeon 267.

Individual series: Darren McKenzie 738, Randie Gustafson 696, Rick Fox & Norm Hansen 672.

Team games: (Handicap scores) McKenzie Lanes 1227, Glass Bar 1196, Dream Lawn 1139.

Team series: (Handicap scores) McKenzie Lanes 3505, Glass Bar 3369, Greatland

R E S U L T S Trans. 3308.

Wednesday Early League Standings: Fox Den II 36, Hendrick’s Motor 35, Cutting Edge 28, Holiday StationStores 26, Lite House 26, Fox Den 26, Larsen Auto Frederic 25, Tri-County Implement 20.

Women’s games: Janice Fox 231, Dixie Welling 215, Patty Walker 182.

Women’s series: Janice Fox 546, Dixie Welling 541, Patty Walker 483.

Men’s games: Greg Moore 247, Todd Wagner 237, Merlin Fox 227.

Men’s series: Greg Moore 592, Darrell Hendricks 591, Mike Welling 584.

Team games: (Handicap scores) Lite House 680, Cutting Edge 679, Larsen Auto Frederic 672.

Team series: (Handicap scores) Cutting Edge 1944, Larsen Auto Frederic 1928, Hendrick’s Motor 1895.

Wednesday Night Men’s Standings: McKenzie Lanes 48, Dalles Electric 42, Harvest Moon 40, Davy’s Construction 34, Reed’s Marina 34, Hanjo Farms 24, Edina Realty 20, Tiger Express 14.

Individual games: Brad Hacker 290, Scott A. Anderson 267, Jim McKenzie 252.

Individual series: Jim McKenzie 725, Brad Hacker 670, Darren McKenzie 669.

Team games: (Handicap scores) McKenzie Lanes 1031, Reed’s Marina 1007.

Team series: (Handicap scores) McKenzie Lanes 2948, Reed’s Marina 2896.

Thursday Night Ladies Standings: RiverBank 27, Century 21 25, K.C. Electrical 21, Hack’s Pub 20, Hauge Dental 19.5, Balsam Lake Hardware 18, Deer Lake Block 17, Eagle Valley Bank 12.5.

Individual games: Kathy McKenzie 212, Shannon Cox 201, Kathy Clark 198.

Individual series: Kathy McKenzie 531, Jackie Patterson 525, Michelle Roettger 512.

Team games: (Handicap scores) Hauge Dental 1012, RiverBank 1007, Century 21 980.

Team series: (Handicap scores) RiverBank 2877, Balsam Lake Hardware 2861, K.C. Electrical 2852.

Saturday Night Mixed Standings: Eureka Bombers 32, Truhlsen Chiropractic 31.5, Tiger Express 31, The InLaws 28, Happy Campers 26.5, Ten Pin Titans 20, Roller Coasters 19.5, Fisk Trucking 15.5.

Women’s games: Kathy Braund 192, Dianne Loney 179, Dixie Welling 176.

Women’s series: Dixie Welling 499, Kathy Braund 498, Rachel Carney 468.

Men’s games: Gary Warner 267, Gene Braund 217, Tim Katzmark 212.

Men’s series: Gary Warner 627, Steve Loney 577, Gene Braund 568.

Team games: (Handicap scores) Eureka Bombers 899, Happy Campers 888, The In-Laws 862.

Team series: (Handicap scores) Eureka Bombers 2421, Happy Campers 2414, Tiger Express 2402.

Black and Orange Lanes

Early Birds Standings: Gandy Dancer Saloon 24-12, 10th Hole 19-17, Black & Orange 15-21, Log Cabin Store 14-22.

Individual games: Donna Koon (B&O) 186, Kay Casey (10th) 183, Michelle Lysdahl (10th) 177.

Individual series: Donna Koon (B&O) 480, Donna Crain (B&O) 451, Kay Casey (10th) 449.

Team games: Black & Orange 924, Log

Cabin Store 882, Gandy Dancer Saloon 878.

Team series: Log Cabin Store 2501, Black & Orange 2499, Gandy Dancer Saloon 2426.

Splits converted: 6-7-10: Rosie Pumper.

Monday Night Men’s Standings: Bruce’s Auto 23-5, Larry’s LP 19-9, Glass & Mirror Works 14-14, Pope’s Construction 13-15, Parker 12-16, Vacant 325.

Individual games: Arlan Pope (PC) 213, Mike Zajac (G&M) 209, Dean Eytcheson (BA) 203.

Individual series: Mike Zajac (G&M) 571, Arlan Pope (PC) 563, Larry Johnson (L) 527.

Team games: Glass & Mirror Works 1000.

Parker 966, Pope’s Construction 957.

Team series: Glass & Mirror Works 2824, Pope’s Construction 2762, Parker 2730.

Games 50 or more above average: Arlan Pope 213 (+81); Mike Zajac 209 (+69).

Series 100 or more above average: Arlan Pope 563 (+160); Mike Zajac 571 (+151).

TNT Ladies Standings: Wild Bill’s 18-14, Flower Power 18-14, Larry’s LP 14-18, Cashco 14-18.

Individual games: Jennifer Kern (L) 188, Cheryl Hansen (WB) 183, Jan Carlson (WB) 181.

Individual series: Jennifer Kern (L) 494, Tammy Zelinski (L) 458, Jan Carlson (WB) 448.

Team games: Larry’s LP 894, Flower Power 857, Cashco 847.

Team series: Larry’s LP 2569, Cashco 2497, Wild Bill’s 2426.

Wednesday Night Men’s Standings: Lions 20-8, Northview Drive Inn 17-11, T&P Tree Service 14.5-13.5, Black & Orange 14-14, Cashco 10-18, 10th Hole 8.5-19.5.

Individual games: Myron Mansfield (NDI) 211, Ed Phelps (C) 205, Larry Johnson (L) 200.

Individual series: Monte Rinnman (C) 520, Myron Mansfield (NDI) 514, Kevin Swanson (B&O) 513.

Team games: 10th Hole 949, Northview Drive Inn 943, Lions 920.

Team series: T&P Tree Service 2661, 10th Hole 2631, Lions 2621.

Games 50 or more above average: Myron Mansfield 211 (+77); Ed Phelps 205 (+50).

Splits converted: 7-9: Josh Johnson.

Early Risers Standings: 10th Hole 22-14, A+ Sanitation 18-18, Gandy Dancer 16-20, Hole in the Wall 16-20.

Individual games: Angel Paulzine (HITW) 181, Marion Obszarny (10th) 179, Kay Casey (HITW) 171.

Individual series: Kay Casey (HITW) 489, Lucy Hansen (HITW) 451, Angel Paulzine (HITW) 450.

Team games: 10th Hole 687, Hole in the Wall 678, A+ Sanitation 663.

Team series: Hole in the Wall 1985, A+ Sanitation 1953, 10th Hole 1925.

Thursday Night Ladies Standings: Lipsy’s 18-14, Black & Orange 18-14, Check Services 17.5-14.5, Pour House 16-16, Ben Ott Const. 14-18, Hole in the Wall 12.5-15.5.

Individual games: Jennifer Kern (B&O) 216, Nikki Cadotte (CS) 174, Jackie Churchill (L) 170.

Individual series: Jennifer Kern (B&O) 529, Jackie Churchill (L) 484, Mary Lawson (PH) 437.

Team games: Black & Orange 672, Pour House 663, Lipsy’s 630.

Team series: Pour House 1949, Check Services 1882, Black & Orange 1875.

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More nonconference girl bball action

Clear Lake 39, Luck 27

by Brenda Sommerfeld CLEAR LAKE – The Cardinal girls lost to Clear Lake, 39-27, on Monday, Feb. 18.

The Warriors started the game with a 15-6 lead, in the first quarter and were able to hold the lead throughout the rest of the game.

“Our offensive problems in the first half – when we got great shots…and missed layups reached a crescendo in the third quarter, when we failed to score at all,” coach Marty Messar stated.

Luck’s shooters were Taryn Pilz with 11 points, Erica Wilson and Briana Stage each with five, and Sarah Petersen and Krystal Stage each with three points.

Megan Hacker got six rebounds off the boards and Pilz received five.

St. Croix Falls 43, Shell Lake 15 SHELL LAKE – The St. Croix Falls girls kept Shell Lake under 20 total points during their win on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Team Luck Clear Lake

1 2 3 4 F 6 13 0 8 27 15 8 8 8 39 Individual Statistics Luck 2s 3s FTM/A F TP 2 0 1/4 2 5 Erica Wilson 2 0 1/2 3 5 Briana Stage Melissa Jenssen 0 0 0/0 1 0 1 0 1/2 4 3 Sarah Petersen Krystal Stage 0 1 0/2 3 3 3 0 5/7 2 11 Taryn Pilz Totals 8 1 8/17 15 27 Clear Lake Kelly Sullwold Hailie Steniberger Rachel Nordby Gina Somsen Cassie Reed Tara Peterson Megan Reed Hillary Friendshuh Totals

2s 2 0 1 1 2 1 3 6 16

3s FTM/A F TP 0 0/0 2 4 0 0/0 3 0 0 1/2 5 3 0 0/0 0 2 0 3/3 0 7 0 0/0 2 2 0 0/4 3 6 0 3/5 1 15 0 7/14 16 39

Saints Annie Confer passes the ball to Amanda Larson during the Siren game Friday. – Photo by Marty Seeger Luck’s Megan Hacker is in the defense stance in their prior game against Unity. – Photo by Lori Nelson In the first half of the game, the Saints scored 23 points, while the Lakers had a total of four.

St. Croix Falls kept it up throughout the game, ending it 43-15.

Marissa Campeau made 100-percent of her free throws, putting six of six attempts. She also scored five from the field, to add up 16 for her team, while getting up to the boards for seven offensive rebounds.

Jenny Benoy scored 12 points with three field goals and two 3-pointers,

LEADER S P O R T S S C O R E B O A R D BOYS BASKETBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Webster Luck Grantsburg St. Croix Falls Unity Frederic Siren

Conf.

11-1 11-1 7-5 7-5 3-9 2-10 1-12

Scores

Overall 18-2 19-2 14-6 9-12 7-14 4-17 4-17

Thursday, February 14 Webster 54, Grantsburg 39 St. Croix Falls 62, Turtle Lake 23 Friday, February 15 Luck 79, Unity 27 St. Croix Falls 80, Siren 46 Tuesday, February 19 Unity 60, Colfax 49 St. Croix Central 59, St. Croix Falls 41 Siren 56, Northwood 45 Luck 79, Weyerhaeuser 29 Clayton 53, Frederic 40

Coming up

Thursday, February 21 7 p.m.

Siren at South Shore Turtle Lake at Luck Unity at Webster Glenwood City at Grantsburg

BOYS HOCKEY Blizzard

Standings 17-3-1

Scores

Friday, February 15 New Richmond 6, Blizzard 1

WRESTLING Coming up

Thurs., February 21 - Sat., February 23 Wrestling individual state @ Madison

GIRLS HOCKEY Lady Blizzard

Standings 4-15-2

Scores

Thursday, February 14 Rhinelander 1, Siren 0

GIRLS GYMNASTICS Coming up

Sectionals, Friday, February 22 6 p.m.

Grantsburg at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau SCF at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau

GIRLS BASKETBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Siren Frederic St. Croix Falls Grantsburg Webster Luck Unity

Conf.

10-1 9-2 7-5 5-6 4-7 2-10 2-10

Scores

Overall 17-2 16-3 9-11 6-12 7-12 5-14 2-17

Thursday, February 14 Webster 72, Grantsburg 69 Siren 48, Cameron 29 Friday, February 15 Unity 44, Luck 32 Siren 47, St. Croix Falls 37 Monday, February 18 Prairie Farm 41, Unity 37 Clear Lake 39, Luck 27 Tuesday, February 19 St. Croix Falls 43, Shell Lake 15

Coming up

Friday, February 22 7:30 p.m. Grantsburg at Frederic Luck at Webster Unity at Siren Tuesday, February 26 7 p.m.

South Shore at Siren Luck at Prairie Farm Turtle Lake at Frederic Grantsburg at Webster Unity at Glenwood City St. Croix Falls at Spring Valley

WOMEN’S POOL LEAGUE

Team Greg’s Gals Blacksmith Shop Suzy Q’s JJ’s Wise Guys Glass Bar Hack’s Kassel Tap Crystal Shafer’s Harvest Moon

Score 90 89 88 78 73 70 66 64 54 49 42

1 2 3 4 8 15 9 11 14 14 10 14 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A St. Croix Falls 1 0 0/0 Alex Confer Jenny Benoy 3 2 0/0 3 0 0/0 Annie Confer Marissa Campeau 5 0 6/6 1 0 0/0 Emily Scheuermann Megan Yunker 0 0 1/3 1 0 0/0 Sasha Bryant 1 0 0/0 Amanda Larson Totals 15 2 7/9

Team St. Croix Falls Shell Lake

Shell Lake Ashley Anderson Paula Burton Steph Clark Sam Evans Julie Simpson Sarah Jamme Annie Dunham Totals

2s 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 7

F 43 52 F TP 0 2 1 12 3 6 0 16 0 2 2 1 0 2 0 2 6 43

3s FTM/A F TP 0 0/0 4 6 0 0/0 3 0 0 0/2 0 0 0 0/0 1 0 0 1/4 1 3 0 0/2 3 4 0 0/0 0 2 0 1/8 12 15

PREPS

OF THE

NAME: Justin Rikkola SCHOOL: St. Croix Falls YEAR: Senior COMMENTS: St. Croix Falls wrestler Justin Rikkola has been having a senior season to remember. Not only does he have over 100 career wins, he recently notched his second sectional championship.

Coach Justin Rikkola Dan Clark says that there are only about four or five in Saints wrestling history that have been able to win two sectional championships. Rikkola wrestles this weekend in Madison. – Marty Seeger

A tidy little 12-3 mark brings my season record to 136-29, or 82 percent. And I’ve been doing it all without steroids, human growth hormone or vitamin B-12.

With me it’s all natural, baby.

Bynor predicts

while getting up for five rebounds and stealing the ball from Shell Lake six times. Annie Confer scored six by field goals and got six rebounds.

Alex Confer, Emily Scheuermann, Sasha Bryant and Amanda Larson each made a shot in the field for two points and Megan Yunker threw in one free throw. Bryant was under the ball on both offense and defense for a total of seven rebounds.

Megan Yunker had six steals, four rebounds and one point for the night.

The Amazing Bynor

Boys games (tournaments) THE AMAZING Webster 66, Unity BYNOR 40 – An easy Tiger win.

Grantsburg 52, Glenwood City 46 – A Burnett battle in Amery on Saturday.

Luck 60, Turtle Lake 42 – The stage is set for Saturday in Cumberland.

Webster 58, Grantsburg 48 – Are you nervous, Eau Claire Regis?

PREDICTS

WEEK

NAME: Andrea Thompson SCHOOL: Unity YEAR: Senior COMMENTS: Andrea has led her team with the most points in the last two games that Unity has played. She showed real shooting skills when she scored 26 points in the game the Eagles won against Luck on Friday, Andrea Thompson Feb. 15. She also came out and scored in the 20s in the next game with 22 points in the game on Monday, Feb. 18, against Prairie Farm. – Brenda Sommerfeld

Luck 51, Clear Lake or Clayton 44 – Here we come, Spooner, here we come!

Girls games (final regular season, plus tournament) Siren 46, Unity 27 – Congratulations to Jon Ruud and his staff on winning another title.

Webster 46, Luck 31 – The Tigers grind out another victory.

Frederic 50, Grantsburg 41 – It’s an impressive 17-3 regular-season mark for FHS. Glenwood City 40, Unity 25 – It’ll be hard for the Eagles to win at GC. Webster 44, Grantsburg 39 – It won’t be quite as tough as the recent three OT battle.

Frederic 58, Turtle Lake 38 – The Vikes take step one on the tourney trail.

Luck 34, Prairie Farm 33 – With blind faith, a hunch, and a shot of vitamin B12, I am predicting a Cardinal upset.

Spring Valley 45, St. Croix Falls 40 – The Saints catch the Cards off guard a bit, but can’t quite pull it off.

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

O UTDOORS INTER! COUNTY LEADER

ATVs • BIRDING • BOATING • CAMPING • FISHING • HIKING • HUNTING • RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

The welcomed sights of Winter The peacefulness of a winter world outside the home is certainly something to behold, and it has a certain kind of healing effect for those feeling the Marty entrapments of cabin Seeger fever so commonly felt in late February.

While there are a The handful of mammals and other wildlife to Bottom Line observe this time of year, the bird-watchers world can be somewhat of a vacant place beyond the bird feeder.

“About the only friend you’ve got in the woods right now is the chickadee,” says WDNR wildlife educator and raptor expert Christian Cold.

But there are a few species that you may get a chance to see yet before the winter season carries into spring. Last week, my aunt, Val, was on a drive just a few miles north of Barron when she spotted a large clump of white perched on a fence post just a short distance from the roadside. As she drove closer, it flew into the field where it offered just enough time for a photo op before flying off. It happened late in the afternoon.

Cold says it’s not an uncommon thing to see a snowy owl in Wisconsin

during the winter months, yet this season hasn’t been an invasion year for this particular owl, which might make this sighting a bit more difficult to come by this winter.

After forwarding the photo to Cold, he confirmed that the snowy owl in the photo is, in fact, a female. He said that males are typically immaculate white, and a juvenile generally darker in color. The distinct markings on this particular owl is a dead giveaway in identifying the owl as a female.

Approximately every four years, Wisconsin is invaded by snowy owls due to a cyclical crash in the population of lemmings north of the tree line in the Arctic Circle, where the snowy owl calls home. According to Cold, the hamster-like creature eats up all of its available food source and dies off, making less food for the snowy and causing them to fly south in search of food.

“Snowies who have been feeding their young have no choice but to leave the area,” Cold said.

The snowy owl is a tundra species, and those looking to spot one this time of year need not look to the woods. The snowy spends much of its time on the ground, and in the afternoon, they’ll find a perch on fence posts, silos, hay mounds or open fields. Airports and frozen lakes are good places to spot snowy owls as well. Cold also said that they’re not usually far from where they’re first reported, so seeing the same species near the same area later in the winter is a good possibility.

“They aren’t designed for hunting forest game, so they won’t be in the

This female snowy owl was caught out in the open just a few miles north of Barron recently. – Photo by Valerie Nelson forests,” Cold said.

While they’re living out the Wisconsin winter, Cold said a snowy owl will search out meadow mice, pigeons, prairie chickens, sharptail grouse, pheasants or even certain types of waterfowl. Cold said there hasn’t been a pattern of a lot of birds, especially snowy owls, this winter, but he says that could still change. Screetch owls from the south have been spotted in the northern region lately, and Cold said it could be because of the large amounts of snowfall they’ve received recently, but he’s not exactly sure.

There are certainly other species of birds that visit Wisconsin each winter

before making the long journey back to the tundra in the north for the breeding season. The American rough-legged hawk is one of the species that spends it winters in Wisconsin, and Cold says they shouldn’t be hard to spot. It’s about the size of a red-tailed hawk, and it gets its name from the feathering that extends right down to its talons.

“If you see a large hawk this time of year hovering over an open field like it’s suspended on a string, that’s a rough-legged [hawk] ,” Cold said.

Other species from the tundra include the northern shrike, which Cold said is about the size of a robin, and looks like a mocking bird yet has a hooked bill like a hawk. It’s an opencountry type of bird that prefers a lone bush or tree in the wide-open spaces.

“Any little bird out in the open, sitting on top of a bush,” Cold said is very likely to be a northern shrike. You may also encounter a small flock of snow buntings, which are common this time of year, but species such as the rough-legged hawk and others will make the journey north sometime in April.

But even though we feel as though spring is a long journey away, Cold said the signs of spring should be taking place as soon as this week. For many species, or at least for the larger owls, the nesting season starts in February. This is the time great horned owl will begin laying eggs, regardless of weather.

So even though the woods may be a bit quieter this time of year, it will come alive again with life in the coming weeks.

Deer management unit information meetings set MADISON – Hunters and others and will have a chance to get the most up-todate deer management unit information, preliminary deer population estimates and find out what the 2008 deer hunting season structure may look like in a series of public meetings across the state. Local wildlife biologists will be on hand at each meeting to provide information and answer questions.

“These meetings are intended to inform hunters and the public about Wisconsin deer management, and how it is applied in the local management units where they hunt, live or recreate,” said Keith Warnke, big game ecologist for the Department of Natural

Resources. “Many of these meetings will have formal presentations by local DNR wildlife biologists, followed by a question and answer period. Others will use an open house style format allowing folks to stop in anytime over a two hour period.”

Other topics attendees can expect to learn more about include: CWD; October antlerless-only gun hunting opportunities; local buck and antlerless harvest histories; the Sex- Age- Kill deer population estimation process; and deer population estimates, distribution and abundance.

Additional information about whitetailed deer management in Wisconsin is

Sleepy time

available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

For more information contact Warnke in Madison at 608-264-6023. Area meetings will be held on Tuesday, March 18.

Barron and Polk counties, DMUs 10, 15, 16, 21, 22, 22A, 23 - 7-9 p.m., Turtle Lake High School Library, 205 Oak St.; contact Kevin Morgan: 715-637-6867 or Michelle Carlisle: 715-485-3518

Washburn and Burnett counties, DMUs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 - 7 p.m., St. Croix Tribal Clinic, Hertel, Hwy. 70 west of Little Turtle Express; contact Nancy Christel: 715-635-4091 or Pete Engman: 715-463-2896 - from the DNR

Great Northern Outdoors Archery League Week 4

A League Deadnuts: Dustin G. 289, Ben A. 284, (24 points) Shockers: Jason C. 285, Chad L. 249 (20 points) Full Draw: Tony P. 280, Sheri B. 268 (18 points) Free Flight: Jeff B. 290, Sherri P. 241 (12 points) Spartanz: Brian S. 290 Nick R. 235 (6 points) Stabilizers: Drew B. 251, Mark J. 244 (4 points) The Kaws: Kyle J.. 270, Andy W. 231 (0 points) B League Team MJ: Jeremy J. 259, Cory M. 249 (22

points) GNO: Ross W. 264, Erika W. 227 (20 points) Gameslayers: Bill S. 277, Gino L. 182 (18 points) Redneck Ind: Brent L. 272, Roy Z. 261 (18 points Razors Edge: Brad S. 251, Zach S. 99 (10 points) Anuke: Luke K. 261, Dan G. 105 (6 points) S & T: Tam H. 231, Steve K. 124 (2 points) Animal Lovers: Maddie B. 129, Laurel G. 100 (0 points) Spot Shooters, 300 game Pat J. 2

Butch’s Northwest Archery Bow Hunting League Week 5

A local resident recently stumbled upon a large black bear that was hibernating in the wide open. The person who found the bear did not want to disclose a name or location of it other than it was spotted between Centuria and Balsam Lake. Polk County Wildlife biologist Eric Mark says it’s not uncommon that a bear would find a spot in the wide open during the dead of winter. He says that a bear will occasionally wander from its den during warm spells and will find just about anywhere secluded to lie down. – Photo submitted

Bowhunter’s League Traditional Peterson Construction: 365 Shell Lake Pharmacy: 291 Wishful Thinking: 281 Earth Energy Systems: 263 Butch’s Traditional Archery: 247 Men’s A&H Taxidermy: 549 Knoop Construction: 548 Shell Lake State Bank: 539 White Birch Printing: 534

Northview Drive Inn: 503 Webster Auto Sales: 478 Right in the Middle: 476 Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church: 473 Big Mike’s Sports Shop: 397 Little Lambs Preschool: 361 Men/Women A&H Taxidermy (2): 453 Women's Chicog Pub: 387 Youth Cloverleaf: 288

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 29

Burnett County sheriff’s report Accidents Town of Trade Lake, Feb. 9: Aaron J. Thompson, 18, Frederic, was southbound on 180th when he failed to negotiate a curve on the snow-covered road and entered the ditch.

The driver was cited for failure to maintain control. There were no reported injuries, but the vehicle was severely damaged.

Town of Jackson, Feb. 16: Peter C. Sheid, 29, Hastings, Minn., was driving too fast on snow-packed Thompson Road,

and lost control, crossed the centerline and drove into the path of Douglas L. Kline, 51, Minneapolis, Minn. There were no reported injuries.

Town of Siren, Feb. 14: Richard D. Morse Jr., 48, Siren, was attempting a righthand turn into a driveway from Clemenson Drive when he pulled into the path of John W. Hadlock, 35, Siren. There were no reported injuries.

Town of Wood River, Feb. 14: Deborah A. Route, 53, Frederic

was westbound on Hwy. 70, stopped to turn into the Burnett Dairy Cheese Store. Thomas S. Rentoul, 62, Edina, Minn., was also westbound on Hwy. 70, behind the Route vehicle.

He too was going to turn into the Burnett Dairy Cheese Store.

When the Route vehicle stopped in front of his, he passed on left. Route made left-hand turn into the Rentoul vehicle. Rentoul was cited for improper turn into a driveway.

There were no reported injuries.

Feb. 2: Jack L. Winslow, 52, Webster, was taken to Burnett County Jail after allegedly resisting arrest/obstructing an officer who had been called to a domestic in progress.

According to the report, Winslow had allegedly hit a person twice in the left eye.

Feb. 12: Susan Wells, 47, Danbury, was cited for speeding at 4:56 p.m. on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

Feb. 15: Kellie J. Steinmetz, 39, Osceola, was cited for speeding at 5:38 p.m. on Hwy.

35/70 and Works Progress Street.

Feb. 16: At 1:50 a.m., the Siren officer noted a vehicle with bright headlights along Hwy. 35/70 between Johnson and Main streets.

The vehicle turned onto CTH B, the officer in pursuit. The vehicle continued east on B, allegedly in the wrong lane and swerving. It went next onto Lind Road, then Herman Johnson Road and Lone Star Road, stopping in front of a house on Lone Star Road. The driver ran from the car toward

the residence. Officers from the St. Croix Tribal Police, the state patrol, the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department and the Webster PD arrived to back up the Siren officer. The driver, identified as Shaun Belisle, 21, Webster, was apprehended after running from the back of the residence to another residence. He was taken to Burnett County Jail at 2:51 a.m.

Citations against Belisle include: Operating while intoxicated (third offense), operating after revocation, operating with

Town of Meenon, Feb. 14: Lynn M. Gregorash, 52, Luck, was backing out of a parking space in the Burnett County Government Center into the path of William R. Marazzo, 65, Webster. There were no reported injuries.

Town of Oakland, Feb. 13: Romeo R. Williams, 23, Duluth, Minn., was northbound on Hwy. 35 when he lost control on the snow-covered road. The vehicle left the roadway, went into the ditch, rolled on to its side

and hit a tree. There were minor cuts reported on hands. The driver was cited for operating after suspension.

Town of Grantsburg, Feb. 16: Keryl E. Ashback, 52, Centuria reported hitting a deer while on Hwy. 48. There were no reported injuries.

Arrests Town of Swiss, Feb. 9: David R. Sura, 25, Maple Grove, Minn., was arrested on a warrant from Somerset.

Town of Sand Lake, Feb. 14: Bryan L. Belisle, 22, Webster, was arrested for OAR, and Jonathon C. Oiyotte, 29, Webster, was arrested on a Burnett County warrant.

Other incidents Town of Anderson, Feb. 12: Tammy S. Starck, 42, Siren, reported a van stolen in the last year. The incident is under investigation.

Siren police report a prohibited alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, failure to dim headlights, driving too fast for conditions and fleeing the scene. He also faces a felony charge for fleeing while knowing that an officer was behind his vehicle with emergency lights and siren on.

Feb. 17: Richard Hart, 72, Luck, was cited for nonuse of a child safety restraint for a child under 3. The child was asleep in the back seat. The car seat was in the trunk, and the seat was installed in the back seat

with the child in it when Hart got back onto the roadway.

At 2:07 p.m., William Bruce Parks, 65, Bloomington, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 2:47 p.m., Carly M. Scheer, 22, Hayward, was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 3:14 p.m., Peggy Lynn Skrogstad, 50, Burnsville, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 3:17 p.m., Sharon Joan Pierce, 71, Pine City, Minn.,

was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 8:14 p.m., Mark William Burgoyne, 39, New Brighton, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 35/70 and South Shore Drive.

At 8:37 p.m., Ann E. Cassel, 50, Shell Lake, was cited for speeding on Hwy. 35/70 and South Shore Drive.

PAGE 30 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Polk County sheriff’s report Accidents Jan. 29, 5:45 a.m., Clear Lake Twp., 60th Avenue, .1 mile west of Hwy. 63, ALYSSA M. NONEMACHER, 19, Clayton, was traveling westbound on 60th Avenue from Hwy. 63. As unit 1 was traveling, the road turned to glare ice. After striking the ice, unit 1 began to spin out and entered the ditch to the left.

After entering the ditch, unit 1 struck a culvert at a tree. The driver left the scene and the crash was reported by a passerby.

Feb. 1, 3:07 p.m., Osceola Twp., 240th Street at 90th Avenue, #1— SUZANNE R. ROE, 46, Osceola; #2—LOIS A. GUSTAFSON, 45, Osceola; Unit 1 was southbound on 240th Street, making a left turn onto 90th Avenue, when unit 2 rearended unit 1. Both drivers sustained minor injuries (both wearing seat belts/attended by EMS). Driver of unit 1 received a citation for nonregistration. A passenger in unit 2, VALERIE J. MEDEIROS, 49, Lindstrom, Minn., sustained a minor injury (wearing seat belt/attended by EMS).

Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m., St. Croix Falls Twp., Hwy. 87, 1 mile north of 160th Avenue, MICHAEL A. ALDERMAN, 37, Grantsburg, struck a deer on the roadway.

Feb. 1, 11:20 p.m., Lorain

Twp., CTH E/345th Avenue at CTH E/50th Street, DANA J. STADLER, 55, Webster, was westbound on 345th Avenue and failed to stop at the intersection of 50th Street as he applied brakes at the stop sign.

The vehicle skidded through the intersection and struck a tree.

Driver was wearing a seat belt, received serious injuries and transported by EMS. Driver was cited for OMVWI and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Feb. 2, 10 p.m., Clayton Twp., CTH D/55th Street at CTH D/105th Avenue, WADE M. ENGEBRETSON, 21, Clayton, was southbound on CTH D/55th Street. The driver was going too fast to turn left onto CTH D and went off the road on the east side into a chopped cornfield.

Vehicle rolled and landed on its wheels. It is not known how many times the vehicle rolled.

Driver left the scene with his vehicle and did not report the accident. Safety restraint use is unknown, driver received a minor injury/no EMS. Driver cited for failure to report a traffic accident, driving too fast for conditions and operating without a valid driver’s license.

Feb. 4, 1:12 p.m., Garfield Twp., Hwy. 65, .14 mile north of CTH K, ANTHONY B. DREWS, 23, Roberts, was southbound on Hwy. 65. The vehicle hit a patch

of snow/slush on the road. The rear-end of the vehicle began turning. Driver recorrected the unit before it entered the east ditch. Unit struck a highway sign after entering the ditch. The rear-end of the driver’s side of the vehicle truck a tree, causing damage. The vehicle came to rest in the east ditch.

Feb. 4, 5:06 p.m., Lincoln Twp., Hwy. 46, .1 mile south of 110th Avenue, MANDY M. CHENEY, 30, Amery, was northbound on Hwy. 46. The vehicle struck snow/slush on the road and began entering the southbound lane. The driver turned the wheel to the right. The vehicle then entered the northbound lane before striking the guardrail. The vehicle spun in a clockwise motion before entering the east ditch, rear first.

While entering the ditch, the vehicle ran over the stop sign, which is located at the intersection of Hwy. 46 and 110th Avenue.

Feb. 9, 4:38 a.m., Milltown Twp., Hwy. 35, .2 mile north of 180th Avenue, BAMBI L. MENDENHALL, 27, Milltown, was traveling northbound on Hwy. 35. The vehicle swerved to miss a deer, entered the east ditch and overturned.

Feb. 9, 2:45 p.m., Black Brook Twp., 5th Avenue, .2 mile east of 100th Street, RITA M.

HENKE, 43, Deer Park, was traveling eastbound on 5th Avenue when the driver lost control on snow-covered and slippery road surface. The vehicle entered the ditch and flipped onto its roof. It also struck a mailbox and damaged it (owned

by JAMES D. PICKERD, Deer Park).

Feb. 9, 7:57 p.m., Lincoln Twp., South Shore Drive, .5 mile north of CTH F, SAMUEL D. MOVER, 29, Clear Lake, was traveling eastbound on South Shore Drive, pulling a trailer.

The vehicle attempted to negotiate a curve. The vehicle slid off the road and struck a cable/phone box, resulting in damage to both the vehicle and the utility boxes (owner: Amery Telcom).

Feb. 10, 6:53 p.m., St. Croix Falls Twp., Hwy. 87, 500 feet south of CTH I, DUANE E. ROCKER, 37, Wyoming, Minn., was traveling northbound and negotiating a curve. The passenger side of the car briefly left the paved portion of the roadway by a few inches. It appeared the vehicle was overcorrected as it appeared to lose control and slide across the highway and entered the ditch on the southbound side of the road. The vehicle flipped onto its hood and the driver had to climb out of the passenger side of the

Burnett County criminal court Lynette R. Hundorf, 28, no town given, issue worthless check, $213.00.

Malisa M. Smith, 32, Eau

Claire, issue worthless check, $300.00 – restitution, $213.00.

Randell J. Tcholke, 21, Hinckley, Minn., issue worthless check, $118.67 – restitution, $138.80.

Kirby B. Thalin, 23, St. Croix Falls, operate without a valid license, $186.00.

Michael M. Madsen, 27, Danbury, operate without a valid license, $186.00.

Keith L. Anderson, 50,

Webster, possess drug paraphernalia, one-year probation, license suspended six months, alcohol assessment, $88.00.

Timothy P. Feit, 34, Luck, issue worthless check, $87.81 – restitution, $249.00.

Michael L. Liljenberg, 31, Webster, operate without a valid license, $186.00.

Kenneth A. Lesperance, 26, Eau Claire, parking or standing where prohibited, $198.60.

Paul E. Haasl, 45, Wisconsin Rapids, operating while revoked, $413.00.

Sean T. Reynolds, 20, Webster, operating after revocation, one-year probation, must obtain valid driver’s license, alcohol assessment, $224.00.

Brianna L. Bearheart, 17, Shell Lake, criminal damage to property, two-year probation, restitution to be announced, must attend school and complete HSED or GED during term of probation, alcohol assessment, no alcohol, illegal drugs or

drug paraphernalia, may apply to have record expunged, $88.00; resisting or obstructing an officer, two-year probation, 40 days’ jail sentence, $88.00; battery, two-year probation, $88.00; criminal damage to property, two-year probation, $88.00.

Anthony J. Wilson, 21, Webster, illegal use of radio, $113.00.

Matthew C. Neitge, 21, Chippewa Falls, place, use or hunt wild animals with bait, $329.00.

Robert L. Plummer, 23, Webster, speeding, $280.50; reckless driving or endanger safety, $375.00.

David G. Peterson, 35, Hudson, speeding, $211.20.

Robert E. Anderson, 60, Luck, speeding, $211.20.

Richard A. Wylie, 18, Danbury, operating while suspended, $154.50.

car. The driver said he moved right to avoid an oncoming vehicle, who was crowding the centerline. He then lost control. The driver had been drinking and was arrested for OMVWI. Feb. 12, 5:56 a.m., Garfield Twp., CTH F, .4 mile east of 138th Street, STEVEN W. NICHOLS, 33, Osceola, was eastbound on CTH F. The vehicle entered the south ditch, slid approximately 30 feet and came to rest after striking a tree.

Driver believes he fell asleep prior to entering the ditch. Driver was wearing safety equipment, sustained injuries and was transported by EMS. Driver cited for inattentive driving.

Feb. 13, 8:36 p.m., Farmington Twp., CTH X near Hwy. 35, MARYANN PLOURDE, 21, Somerset, was traveling westbound on CTH X when the vehicle was pulled into the ditch because of the snowcovered road. The vehicle entered the north ditch and overturned.

Feb. 13, 9:37 p.m., Clayton Twp., CTH J, .2 mile west of Hwy. 63, JENNIFER M. BLOUN-POTVIN, 16, Amery, was eastbound on CTH J, went off the road and entered the south ditch. Driver was not wearing a seat belt, received injuries and transported by EMS.

Notices

Other incidents Feb. 1, TODD RTTCHIE and DUSTIN SCHELL, both of Cumberland, reported the theft of a syrup evaporator pan from the rural Cumberland area.

Feb. 2, a burglary occurred at the Lorain Town Hall/Fire Department. Taken were two Mr. Buddy heaters (new, in box) and two Sound Tech brand black speakers.

Feb. 2, MARK HAILSTONE, Prior Lake, Minn., reported the theft of his Polaris snowmobile from the Paradise Landing in Balsam Lake. On Feb. 11, the Polaris snowmobile was recovered from a location on 120th Street, rural Balsam Lake. It did not appear to be damaged, and the key was in the ignition system when located.

Feb. 4, STEVEN WATERMAN, RR Amery, reported his ice-fishing shack, located on the east side of Bear Trap Lake, had been burglarized. Two 10-pound LP tanks and a regulator were stolen. He also reported that several ice-fishing shacks located on Lake Wapogasset had also been burglarized during the same time frame.

Feb. 5, THOMAS LOVICK, Hammond, reported the theft of six tires, an ATV trailer and miscellaneous tools from his property located in rural Star Prairie.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 31

Burnett County warrants Sage L. Aggerholm, 33, Cadott, arrest warrant – complaint, Feb. 14.

Gary R. Albrecht, 49, Webster, commitment, Feb. 11.

Aaron D. Alwine, 27, Webster, commitment, Feb. 11.

Marion M. Baca, 22, Danbury, commitment, Feb. 11.

Jessica L. Benjamin, 27, Hinckley, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

Virgil L. Benjamin, 32, Sandstone, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

William B. Buechner, 28, Minneapolis, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

Mark A. Christensen, Siren, commitment, Feb. 11.

Patrick H. Daniel, 22, Austin, Texas. commitment, Feb. 11.

Richard J. Dodge, 40, Green Bay, commitment, Feb. 11.

Christine C. Gundersen, 55, San Diego, Calif., commitment, Feb. 11.

William L. Jones, 36, Danbury, commitment, Feb. 11.

Bradley J. Kane, 27, Superior, commitment, Feb. 11.

Joseph T. Lambright, 35, Spooner, commitment, Feb. 11.

James E. Lightfeather, 29, Webster, commitment, Feb. 11.

Abel B. Lipoff, 21, Luck, commitment, Feb. 11.

Russell A, Manning, 39, Shell Lake, commitment, Feb. 11.

Steven A. Miller, 59, Marine on St. Croix, Minn., warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 13.

Anthony J. Nelson, 46, Stanley, commitment, Feb. 11.

Colin B. O’Meara, 28, Minong, warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 13.

Richard L. Olson, 47, St. Paul, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

Brenda G. Pierce, 23, Siren, warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 11.

Catherine R. Rosado, 18, Danbury, warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 13.

Steven P. Stauffer, 30, Stillwater, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

Jamie L. Summer, 21, Siren, commitment, Feb. 11.

Elaine B. Vogelpohl, 35, Mora, Minn., commitment, Feb. 11.

Martin N. Williams, 19, Webster, commitment, Feb. 11.

Donnell C. Wilson, 48, Siren, arrest warrant – complaint, Feb. 14.

Burnett Co. marriage licenses Richard A. Haugen, Anderson, and Christine J. Hawkins, Anderson, Feb. 13.

Daniel A. Doskey, Grantsburg, and Lynne M. Harmon, Grantsburg, Feb. 15.

Follow the Leader

Notices/Employment

PAGE 32 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Notices / Employment

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 33

Notices / Employment

PAGE 34 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Notices

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 35

Grantsburg Family Food becomes MarketPlace Foods Current staff will stay the same

by Priscilla Bauer GRANTSBURG – The same friendly faces will be greeting shoppers at Grantsburg’s grocery store. That word came last week from the store’s new owners, the Johanneson Companies from Bemidji, Minn.

Formerly Grantsburg Family Foods, the store will now become Marketplace Foods. And while plans are being discussed for some changes to both the interior and exterior of the store, the new owners plan to make no staffing changes. All current employees of the Grantsburg Family Foods will be getting a new name, Marketplace Foods, with plans also being discussed to put a new face on the store’s exterior. A spring facelift could see the store getting a northwoods look. The grocery store located on Hwy. 70 just west of Grantsburg was purchased last week by the Johanneson Companies of Bemidji, Minn. – Photo by Priscilla Bauer

Assistant manager Matt Fury and store manager Nate Lane were all smiles as they talked about the improvements coming to the Grantsburg grocery store. Formerly Grantsburg Family Foods, the store will now operate under the Marketplace Foods name.

Three generations attend Obama Rally in Eau Claire H e a t h e r Andersen, Bloomer, with daughter Shasta Andersen, and granddaughter Sage Alberts, both of Shell Lake, stood in line for two hours before entering the Zorn Arena in Eau Claire where Barack Obama spoke for nearly an hour on Saturday. “We were fortunate to get in the rally, since Zorn Arena only holds 3,500. I’ve heard that there were 500 people who did not get in, due to fire marshal regulations. My daughter, Sage, has been very interested in the campaign and especially Sen. Obama. She gets her interest in politics from (me) her mother and I get my interest in politics from my parents. It’s a generational thing! We enjoyed seeing and hearing Sen. Obama very much, and felt the trip to Eau Claire and standing in long lines, [was] a true moment in history.” — Photo by Sage Alberts

H e a t h e r A n d e r s e n , Bloomer, shown with granddaughter Sage Alberts, Shell Lake, attended the Obama Rally in Eau Claire on Saturday, Feb. 16. — Photo by Shasta Anderson

Grantsburg store will remain in their positions. “The new owners have treated us all extremely fair,” said store manager Nate Lane, commenting on how much help his dedicated staff has been in the transition process. “Everyone has done a little more,” he added.

In addition to remodeling and updating both the store’s interior and exterior, a new computer system and new registers will be installed within the month.

Lane asked store patrons to be patient as changes are being made. “There are going to be some glitches, but we ask people to bear with us.” Lane says customers will see improved service soon.

Lane also stressed the Grantsburg Marketplace Foods is not associated with the St. Croix Falls MarketPlace Foods store. The store’s new owners are affiliated with the Nash Finch Company in Minneapolis which will mean some product line

changes as the Grantsburg store switches supply warehouses. The Flavorite brand will no longer be seen on the shelves but will be replaced with the Our Home brand products. The store has also switched from Land O’ Lakes to Kemps products.

The Johanneson Companies have been in business since 1943 and operate 23 retail operations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and now Wisconsin. The company now employs approximately 1,400 people and plans to expand their business operations to double its current size in the future. Along with Grantsburg Family Foods, the Johanneson Companies also recently purchased Ogle’s Foods in Grand Rapids, Minn. Keith Johanneson said his company was proud to be part of and serving the Grantsburg and Grand Rapids communities.

PAGE 36 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Two homes destroyed by arson

Reward offered

TAYLORS FALLS, Minn. – Two arson fires at homes in Taylors Falls and attempts to start two other houses on fire are being investigated and a $2,000 reward is being offered.

In all four cases, the houses affected were up for sale and not occupied.

The sheriff’s office says the first fire was reported around 2 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 16. About three hours later, a second fire was reported about six blocks away.

Taylors Falls Mayor Michael Buchite said this has affected the community from the standpoint of concern.

“I haven’t heard anybody panicking,” he said. “People are upset because when somebody sets houses on fire, it’s unaccaeptable.”

The Chisago County Sheriff’s office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating.

Investigators also found two more homes in the area that were also for sale, where someone had tried to set fires, but the fires did not take hold.

One home was on Caneday Court and the other was located in Ekdahl While a fire nearby in the city of Taylors Falls was burning and being fought by firefighting agencies, this house was Meadows. The person or persons kicked called in as a fire. This home on Maple Street was destroyed as well as the other home on Military Road Feb. 16 by in the basement windows in the back of arson. Both homes were vacant and listed for sale. It was reported two additional properties were victims of attemptthe homes and threw in lit paper mate- ed arson, but the fires did not take in those two incidents. – Photos by Tammi Milberg rial to set the fires. The one home had a concrete floor the material landed on, so Buchite said right now everything is that did not burn, and the other home speculation and that the decision by showed signs of a 6-inch diameter hole Chisago County to inform the media is in a carpet that burned itself out. to help with getting the word out there Reports indicate one set of footprints to help solve this issue. in the snow, meaning the arsonist likely “Right now we don’t know anything. was a lone individual.

We don’t know if it was kids, adults, One of the homes destroyed was someone from the area or someone located on Old Military Road, which passing through,” Buchite said. “It borders the historic Angel Hill, a neigh- would be great if whoever did this got a borhood in which many homes are over guilty conscience and turned them100 years old, including the one burned. selves in. I would hope whoever did it This home would have been eligible for would be prosecuted to the full extent of listing in the historic district. The the law, not just a slap on the wrist Taylors Falls Heritage Preservation because this is no small-thing - it’s pretCommittee is halfway through a plan to ty serious.” make Angel Hill an official historic disA $2,000 reward has been offered for trict, but that hasn’t happened yet. information that leads to the conviction The other home was located on Maple of those responsible.

Street and was burning while fire “Our residents have expressed condepartments were fighting the first fire cern because of the unacceptable behavon Military Road. Six fire departments ior, but they are confident in their fire and the state fire marshal were on scene. department and the sheriff’s depart“I am very proud of our Corporal ment. We have a reward out there. I am [Shane] Carroll, who takes pride in our confident our sheriff’s department will city and made the connection with do their job. In the meantime, we are Chisago County deputies about the hoping somebody will have seen somehomes on fire being vacant and decided thing that may help the investigation.” – to check out other homes in the city also Tammi Milberg with information from The vacant and for sale. That is how we Associated Press (Copyright 2008 by The found the other two that thankfully did Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

This house on Old Military Road is over 100 years old and was listed for not burn,” Buchite stated. “I am also sale in the city of Taylors Falls. The home was a victim of arson in the early- proud of our fire department and thankmorning hours on Feb. 16. The home was a total loss. ful for mutual aid.”

Dave Walters leaves for Florida

by Nancy Jappe SIREN – Friday, Feb. 29, will be Dave Walters last day at U.S. Bank-Siren. A goodbye open house will be held for him at the bank that day.

After 25 years in the Burnett County, 11 of them at the Siren bank, Walters is heading for Clearwater/St. Petersburg, Fla. No U.S. Bank location is nearby, but Walters said he has other options open.

Walters is both happy and sad to be leaving Wisconsin. He is looking forward to a new adventure, but is sad to be leaving the community and all the relationships he has made. “That’s the tough part,” he said.

“I’m glad to have been able to contribute to the community,” Walters went on. He spent three years as board president of the Siren Area Chamber of Commerce, with this past year on the board as outgoing president. He also put in a term on the board when he first moved to the Siren bank.

Walters was originally from Duluth, Minn. His first job in Wisconsin was for McNally Industries in Grantsburg.

From there he went to First Wisconsin Bank, working at the Grantsburg branch until the transfer to Siren and, later, name change to U.S. Bank.

During his years in Burnett County, Walters served as president of the Grantsburg Village Improvement Project, as a village trustee, member of Dave Walters, sales and service coordinator at U.S. Bank-Siren, will be leaving Burnett County at the end of February. Walters has been a county resident for the past 25 years, with 11 years spent as part of the Siren bank. His new destination is the Clearwater-St. Petersburg area in Florida. – Photo by Nancy Jappe

the Grantsburg Hockey Association, member of the Grantsburg Area Lions Club (working on their annual Water Cross for 15 to 16 years), Friends of Scouting (and as cub master, Scout master and assistant district commissioner), president of the Grantsburg P.T.A. and member of Central United Methodist Church in Grantsburg.

Walters was a charter member of the Siren/Webster Rotary Club, treasurer of the men’s golf league and on the board of the Friends of the Grantsburg Library.

He is now vice president of the Burnett County Restorative Justice Response board of directors.

“I’m going to miss the area,” Walters commented. “I appreciate everybody in the community for their friendship over the years.”

‘Follow the Leader’

Currents N O R T H E R N

February 20, 2008 2nd Section B Inter-County Leader

News and views from the Northwest Wisconsin community

The secret’s getting out about Webster industry Nestled in “God’s Country”

by Priscilla Bauer WEBSTER - Dan Conroy’s smile broadened as he looked out Nexen’s break room window with a view of neighboring woods.

Conroy, Nexen’s human resources director, makes no secret of the fact he loves where he works.

“How many workplaces are located

Nexen’s manufacturing plant in Webster is nestled on a quiet street adjacent to a wooded area. Nexen employees enjoy being in a work setting where they can observe wildlife looking out the company’s windows. where you can look out and see a deer and other wildlife? We are working in God’s Country,” said Conroy while speaking to the Burnett-Polk UW Extension Leadership Academy group at Nexen’s Webster plant last week. Conroy’s enthusiasm for his workplace was even more evident as he gave the group a history of the industrial products plant before taking them on a tour of the facility.

Conroy told the group he and Nexen’s other 150 employees give Nexen high marks for its great location and work environment. “Employee turnover at Nexen is very low,” said Conroy.

“Out of 64 production employees, 44 have been at Nexen 15-plus years. It’s just a fun place to work,” quipped Conroy, telling the group it was no joke Nexen employees have a hard time using all their vacation time. We just love coming to work here.”

The company’s beautiful setting is a definite draw, but employees also come and stay because of the excellent opportunities in salaries and benefits. “We are a premier employer with a solid reputation, paying top wages and benefits,” said Conroy.

Long history The company, originally named Horton Industrial Products, was founded in 1902. The Schilling family purchased Horton in 1951 and the company developed two distinct product lines: industrial motion control products and diesel

Webster High School student Amanda Taylor interns afternoons at the Nexen plant.

Trevor Swanson, one of Nexen’s newest manufacturing engineers, answered questions from Burnett-Polk Leadership Academy members during a tour of Webster plant. vehicle components. The industrial products line split from Horton in 1999 and was renamed Nexen Group, Inc., a privately held company with headquarters in Vadnais Heights, Minn., and the manufacturing plant in Webster.

Today, Nexen has sales and distribution worldwide. The company currently has sales offices in Belgium, Japan and Australia with 65 direct and independent representatives.

Distribution for Nexen is in 1,500-plus outlets.

Nexen has 80-plus CNC machine tools and currently provides goods in markets which include packaging, material handling, robotics, machine tool, converting, printing, food processing, automotive, wood processing and motion control.

Nexen’s produces over 5,000 different rotary motion control products and over 15,000 different components. These products include brakes, clutches, clutch-brakes and torque limiters. In the tension control product line, Nexen manufactures tension control brakes and clutches, tension control systems and safety chucks. The company has also moved into production of linear motion control products such as rod locks, rail brakes, roller pinion system and servo motor brakes.

Staffing challenges ahead Conroy said Nexen will be facing staffing challenges in the next five years as current employees begin retiring. “It’s the iceberg hitting the titanic,” said Conroy, referring to baby boomers reaching retirement age and a birthrate drop of 18to 25-year-olds happening at same time.

“People will be retiring in droves, and there won’t be enough new entrants into the workforce with the right skills and education,” Conroy explained as he pointed to a graph showing increasing manufacturing job demands and decreasing manufacturing field graduates.

Conroy said the time has come and gone when a high school graduate could walk in and start operating a machine at Nexen. “These machines use sophisticated technology requiring individuals with technical college training to be able

to use them.”

Anticipating future employment needs, Nexen has had a recruiting plan in place for 20 years. Conroy and other staff make presentations to area technical college and high school students to let them in on the great opportunities Nexen has to offer. Nexen also encourages groups such as the Leadership Academy to visit Nexen to learn more about the company’s operation and philosophy.

Volunteer time While Conroy and other Nexen staff are out in the surrounding communities promoting what Nexen has to offer, Nexen employees are out in the community volunteering their time and talents at local town celebrations school activities, local fire departments and church groups. Nexen employees have raised over $400,000 in the past 13 years in their United Way campaign.

The Nexen company itself has a long history of giving, making contributions to many local organizations and groups, including hospitals, technical colleges,and the local hockey arena.

Nexen’s commitment to civic involvement is seen throughout the community with Nexen employees serving on city councils, chamber of commerce boards and the Burnett County Development Association. Employees are also members of Lions Clubs and The Knights of Columbus. Three Nexen employees are former Webster mayors.

Nexen has developed educational partnerships with local school districts giving high school students the opportunity to job shadow and intern at Nexen’s Webster facility. Nexen staff makes classroom presentations and in-services are offered to teachers and guidance counselors. The company also encourages school groups to visit and take a tour of Nexen’s plant.” We give tours to students Pre-K through 16,” said Conroy, who confessed taking kindergarteners on a tour, while lots of fun, can be challenging. Nexen has also helped Webster High School students with their own manufacturing operation, Tiger Manu-

facturing.

The company’s belief that education is key is not only apparent in the scholarships, monetary and equipment donations given each year to schools, but the message can be seen loud and clear on a page from the company’s informational material. Go to School, Go to School, Go to School!

Conroy is hopeful Nexen’s message to students about career potential in manufacturing will pay off for both, creating skilled workers for Nexen and high-tech jobs for students.

“Still,” said Conroy, “a lot of people just drive by and don’t even know we are here.”

This is why Conroy said it is important for groups such as the Leadership Academy to see the company’s operation firsthand. The company’s expectations for itself, educators, and community leaders are to promote manufacturing and prepare workers for today and tomorrow.

And if all goes according to plan, Nexen will no longer be one of Webster’s best-kept secrets for job opportunities, but instead, will be one of the first places skilled job seekers look for employment.

Nexen Human Resources Director Dan Conroy spoke enthusiastically about what Nexen has to offer as an employer to members of the BurnettPolk UW-Extension Leadership Academy. The group toured the Webster manufacturing plant last week as part of their course work on local businesses.

Photos by Priscilla Bauer

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Clam Falls Winter Carnival fishing contest

Keith Nelson won the biggest northern fish at 5 lb., 11 oz.

These children got tired of not catching any big fish, so decided to try and chisel their way to China during the fishing contest held on Clam Falls Lake on Sunday, Feb. 17. – Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld Northern First place: Keith Nelson, 5 lbs., 11 oz.; Second place: Lee Deere, 4 lbs., 14 oz.; Third place: Ricky Pearson, 3 lbs., 10 oz.

Winter Carnival Cash Raffle $1,500 – Kathy Rand $600 – Kenny Hackett $300 – Jay Boisvert $250 – Dave Fish $200 – Clam Falls Bar $200 – Mitch Hopkins $150 – Oliver Baillargeon $150 – Maurice Evenson

This little girl drew names out for the three winners of the raffle held on the lake. $100 – “Hacksaw” $100 – Brian Daeffler $100 – LuAnne Greinke $100 – Brooke Beidinger $100 – Tim Gerber $50 – Scott Olson $50 – Sadie Simonsen $50 – Steve Baillargeon

Bass First place: Brian Mattson, 2 lbs. 9 oz.,; Second place: Lauren Domagala, 1 lb., 15 oz.; Third place: Jay McKnight, 1 lb., 14 oz.

Panfish First place: Casey Wylie, 11 oz.; Second place, tie: Russ Brown, Odie Strenke, 9 oz.

Lake Raffle $350 – Floyd Eichman $250 at Menards – Wayne Foltz Fish House – Tyler Grey Brendan watches his pole closely to find a fish in the hole.

Fishing contestants look for their ticket numbers on the list of door prize winners during the South Fork Sporting Club’s Annual Clam Falls Winter Carnival fishing contest.

Pirates Honor Winter Olympics

by Priscilla Bauer GRANTBURG – Grantsburg Elementary students had some fun during their Pirates Honor Winter Olympics last Thursday afternoon. Firstthrough third-graders raced downed the school’s

Grantsburg Elementary first-graders, Katie Goodman and Susan Roberts, smile Grantsburg Elementary student Jenna McNally seemed to as they wait for their turn as partners in the have mastered her snowshoeing technique as she heads to- three-legged race during the school’s Winwards the finish line during the school’s Pirate Honor Winter ter Olympics last week.

Olympics last week.

sliding hill, had a treasure hunt and competed in three-legged and snowshoe races as part of the winter games.

Photos by Priscilla Bauer

Katelyn Byers is off and running as fellow Grantsburg Elementary School classmate, Rylee Hoffman, hangs during the three-legged race. The race and other winter activities were held on the school’s playground last week for first- through third-graders as a reward for good behavior.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 3

Winter Once Again

by Dorothy Behringer It happened once again. Old cold winter has stepped through the doorway of the seasons and has coated us with long, white frost crystals wherever she touched down with her magic wand.

As I looked out my window I saw a new land. The trees, bushes and everything around was garlanded in white. The fences had loops of frosty strings of sparkling diamonds as the sun reached out her rays in the morning light.

Our country road beckoned me to come. Come out to walk its seldom-driven road into the jungle of hanging white branches, now swaying with its heavy load of crystal snow about to let loose from its hold.

The quietness was all about. The only sounds one could hear came from the birds as they sang their winter songs while flitting to and from branch to branch causing tumbling “snowfalls” as I walked by. Or the noise from little animals who scurried out of my way.

White mounds of frosty snow on the ground look like little huts waiting for its occupants to enter.

PoCo Penners The PoCo Penners meet the second Friday of the month at 2 p.m. at the county boardroom in the government center in Balsam Lake. Contact Gladys Frokjer at 483-3208 or Iris Holm 284-3174 for more information. - submitted

Her eyes once opened, now half closed Her fingers lay on her pinafore, She sits alone, never changes at all On the shelf, of the old country store.

Writer’s Corner

I passed her there on the store shelf A shelf so bare where she sat alone, Sitting so quiet in the dim-lit store Because no one had taken her home.

Bushes and grasses looked like fancy lace as they hung low with pointed frost crystals.

Walking for some time, I saw scenes all painted with white frost and sparkling like millions of diamonds.

As I look back I see the white smoke from my chimney reaching heavenward. No stir of wind disturbed its passage upward as it faded into the morning sun.

At the end of the road I stopped once more to take in the beauty of it all.

I couldn’t help feel as I passed her How I longed for any doll from a shelf, When I was a little girl so long ago.

I never had such a doll for myself.

That shelf is completely empty now No sad feelings I have as before, The doll that sat so alone so long I took home from the old country store.

Northwest Regional Writers

Left On The Shelf

The Northwest Regional Writers meet at 1 p.m. the second Friday of the month either in Frederic or Grantsburg. Each month we have a topic to write about and read to the group. The following writing was read at the last meeting. Call Mary Jacobson at 715-349-2761 for more information about the organization.

by Dorothy Behringer Alone she sits on an empty shelf .

With Christmas all but gone, It’s a wonderful little girl’s doll She’s been there forever so long.

Submissions should be typed, double-spaced on one side only of 8 -1/2 x 11 white paper, leaving a minimum of 1-inch margins all around. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted. Submissions should be no more than 800 words.

Submissions may be delivered to The Leader’s offices in Frederic or Siren, mailed to Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837 or e-mailed to the-leader@centurytel.net. We prefer e-mailed copy.

If hand-delivered or mailed, please write "Writers’ Corner" somewhere on the front of the envelope. If e-mailed, please use "Writers’ Corner" as the subject and include the submission as body text of the e-mail. No attachments, please. Your submission to Writers’ Corner grants The Leader one-time rights to publish the item in the weekly newspaper. The author retains the copyright and all future publication rights. The Leader may edit submissions for grammar and punctuation, clarity and length. If you have any questions about this new feature, please contact us at the-leader@centurytel.net or call 715-327-4236. - Editor

Parents encouraged to vaccinate children against the flu First pediatric influenza-related death reported in Wisconsin STATEWIDE – State health officials and the city of Milwaukee Health Department have confirmed the first pediatric influenza death within Milwaukee County, and the state, for the current influenza season (October through April).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated national surveillance and reporting of pediatric influenza deaths during the 2004-2005 influenza season. So far this season, CDC has confirmed 10 pediatric influenza-related deaths nationwide.

“Even though this year’s flu strain is considered mild to moderate, children are more likely to become infected and

may experience more severe symptoms than adults,” said Dr. Sheri Johnson, state health officer. “Anyone who has not been vaccinated yet should contact their health care provider or local health department to get a flu shot since there’s still time to get protected.”

Wisconsin reported its first influenza case in November 2007. The season is anticipated to run until the end of April, so there is still time for the vaccine to provide protection from influenza. Health care providers throughout the state are indicating they have vaccine available.

“Unfortunately, very young children are at high risk for severe illness as well as complications of influenza infection,” said Paul Biedrzycki, director of Disease Control and Environmental Health with the city of Milwaukee Health Department. “Flu vaccine is still in good supply within the community and it is still not too late to get vaccinated. It is important

Swingle recognized with WSLS Distinguished Service award BURNETT COUNTY – On Feb. 7, Kathleen E. Swingle, native of Burnett County, was awarded the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors Distinguished Service Award at their 59th-Annual Institute in Wisconsin Dells.

The award was in recognition of the strong survey and geographic information system program developed in Burnett County with the assistance of area surveyors during her 18-year tenure as county surveyor for Burnett County.

Mention was made of the changes in survey practices with the advancement of technology during her 34 years in surveying by pointing out her beginning job of drafting survey maps by hand before computers and software were commonly available to surveyors. The award was presented at an awards ceremony before about 600 of her peers.

The WSLS is a professional organization of almost 1,000 land surveyors in Wisconsin and adjoining states. WSLS

Kathleen E. Swingle provides its membership with professional education and other services. – submitted

that parents, siblings and caretakers of young children get vaccinated and to have parents remain vigilant for symptoms and seek medical care early if illness is present.”

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. Flu illness ranges from very mild to severe cases, and in some instances, can cause lifethreatening complications. Influenza symptoms can come on quickly and include: • Fever • Headache • Dry cough • Sore throat • Nasal congestion • Body aches/tiredness Some ways to stay healthy and to protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with your upper sleeve. If you use a tissue, throw it away after one use.

• Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handle, telephone or water faucets.

• Avoid being exposed to people who are sick with flu-like symptoms.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Eat nutritious meals, get plenty of rest and do not smoke.

• Use your own drinking cups and straws.

To learn more about influenza, visit http:dhfs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/influenza/index.htm or www.milwaukee.gov/health. - submitted

Paleface Wayne Anderson’s article PC Attack was thoughtful.

I grew up in the land of the Lakota, and I grimace when I see the destruction of the pride of all Native American Indians, in the name of political correctness. I saw them as fearless warriors and gentle people that revered Mother Earth.

When I was a kid my dad used to take me to Rosebud to visit his old friends. He grew up north of Valentine, Neb., near Rosebud. There was a lot of poverty, but at the time I didn’t realize it. I never liked the idea of reservations; I thought they were entitled to live anywhere they wanted to.

The use of American Indian names in sports used to be darn near as prevalent as president’s names of schools. The high school teams of my hometown (Watertown, S.D.) were called the Arrows. I understand they’re considering a new name, like Foos Balls.

At the battle of the Little Big Horn, White Bull probably killed Custer. I hope they don’t immortalize White Bull by calling him Mr. White.

The Apache Longbow helicopter is one of the most feared battle platforms in the world; I hope they don’t change

Brooke Biedinger

IRREGULAR columnist the name to Evil Thing or whatever.

There are bunches of pinheads like the phony Ward Churchill, that claim to be American Indians.

This paleface prefers redskin warriors and medicine men like Black Hawk, Red Cloud, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. They eventually lost, but they deserve to be remembered.

I hope the Indians don’t let the activists doom them to obscurity.

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

River Road Ramblings

collected by Russ Hanson

Three hundred and fifty years of making maple syrup

by Russ Hanson Winter is old. February and March’s menopausal weather irritates us endlessly. We are out of hibernation a month too early. Our garden is planned; the seed packages have been thumbed through for a month. We wonder what kind of fool great-grandpa was, settling two states too far north, and how the foolishness has been inherited too long!

The fishing shack is off the lake; there is nothing to hunt; snowmobiling is done; reruns dominate TV; the wife is thinking of a DIY bathroom remodel. As we contemplate selling everything and heading south, Brother Everett calls and says “sap’s a runnin.” We know that we have made it through another long winter. Off we go to the woods!

Great Grandpa Charles Hanson came to Wisconsin from Sweden when he was 21 years old in 1871. He wanted to become a prosperous American quickly, and to do that he knew he had to learn English. “No more Swedes for me,” he exclaimed as he met, wooed and in 1873 married a Yankee girl, Anna Beebe, from a New York family come west to homestead free land. His new father-in-law was a farmer whose family had come to Connecticut in 1654 and settled in a maple woods region. The Indians taught the family how to make maple sugar. The tradition has come down through generations as the family moved to New York and then Wisconsin, always living in the maple regions.

Charles and Anna homesteaded land on the edge of the giant white pine forests where maple trees were abundant. Charles worked winters for the lumber company, but each spring as the thaw halted logging, he returned to his homestead in time to tap maple trees with his father-in-law and make syrup before the time came to plant crops. He made it for family use and to trade at the store. The Hanson maple syruping dynasty has continued from the Beebes to the Hansons through Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Dad, my brothers and me, and our children and now our grandchildren.

When we tap the maple trees in early March, we like to think of this as an unbroken chain that has lasted for 350 years, although we only have family stories as evidence. Margo, my wife, who has a little Native American ancestry, kids me about this claim and says her family tradition goes back 10,000 years! Her background includes a Jewish grandmother, Schlitz-loads of Germans, with a touch of Wisconsin Indian.

Her upbringing as a strict Wisconsin Synod Guilt-Ridden Lutheran has made her a perfect wife, much of the time.

Tapping maples means opening up the lake cabin north of Cushing. That one of the eight mousetraps is still empty means we estimated the winter harvest accurately. The No-Pest strip has done its job, so we vacuum up a layer of lady bugs. The metal and plastic pails are brought out and cleaned.

Margo puts out the maple syrup buckets at the Hanson sugar bush continuing a 350-year tradition of the men managing maple syrup production and the women taking care of the work. - Photo by Russ Hanson The '47 Ford 9N is dragged into starting after a cold winter’s rest and taping the squirrel-gnawed wires. The tires on the trailer are pumped up, the old milk cans and spiles are cleaned. The ashes are taken from the fire box and the sap pan cleaned. The bit braces are brought out of their winter quarters in the old barn.

The neighbors who have offered to help tap the trees are notified. A day of vigorous activity and the pails are hung, waiting for the cold nights and warm days that make the sap flow. All of our spare time is in cutting more dead elms into 6-foot firewood for the boiler. Dead elms are God’s gift to those of us who are too improvident to cut our firewood a year in advance to let it dry!

Scores of century-old maples tower in the old cow pasture hills east of the lake.

When we began to tap these maples in the 1960s, they were in the prime; now they are in gentle to ruinous old age; filled with owls, raccoons, squirrels and woodpeckers; shedding large branches with each new windstorm; occasionally fracturing completely where the pileated woodpecker has mined too deeply. Across the lake are the Sterling Sand Barrens stretching 10 miles to the St. Croix, home to oaks and jackpines mixed with soft maples with half the sugar content of the true sugar maple.

Sugar maples thrive in our clay loam hillsides that rise steeply to the east from the sands of old Glacial Lake Lind, the barrens. Our maple hills were too steep to plow so became the lush green pastures for dozens of generations of Guernseys and Holsteins.

Our maple woods has two generations of trees; the grandfathers and grandchildren. When the land was originally logged some 120-150 years

ago, trees too small for the mill were left.

For the next 100 years they grew huge— too large for the cows to bother. All their new seedlings were eaten by the cows, rabbits and deer until 20 years ago when Dad sold the cattle.

The thick deer herds continued to eat the maple seedling trees except where prickly ash took over the sunny, grassy areas. Maples are a special tree that can seed and grow in dense shade. Maple crowns are thick and under the huge, old tree canopy nothing else grows other than the deep-woods ferns and nettles and maple seedlings, slowly sending a narrow stem up through the shade—waiting for the old trees to lose a branch and allow a little sunlight down to them. However, the cows and deer cleaned off all of the thousands of new seedlings each winter.

Wind-blown winged maple seeds twirled their way out from the thick woods to the edges of the large open pasture areas now rapidly filling in with blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries and prickly ash thickets, all too prickly; eschewed by deer. Thriving in the shade, the seedlings quickly grew above the 6- to 10-foot prickle layer and soon shaded it all out, establishing very thick stands of maple seedlings, often more than a tree per square foot.

Where 100 maple saplings grew up in 30x30-foot thicket, I really only wanted one or maybe two trees that would grow to be huge trees with spreading crowns, the ideal sugar tree. So on a warm January day five years ago, I put on my red and black lumberjack mackinaw, sharpened the chain and gassed up my old saw (in January getting it started is like getting a bear out of hibernation) and headed to a maple thicket.

What trees should I keep? Trees that were straight, tall, and larger in diameter than the rest were my first criteria.

Like a diabetic, I broke the skin on each good tree and let a drop ooze onto my tester. Here, high sugar was good! The trees in the grove ranged from 2.8 to 4.2 percent. The sweetest, most vigorous three trees were spared the axe; the rest fell to my ruthless eugenic and ethnic cleansing. That summer, freed from competition, they branched out vigorously adding two feet of new growth all around!

In the fall, a callous young buck out to tag graffiti to attract the girls, scraped his horns on two of my selected trees, ruining them totally. Although eating him gave a little revenge, 15 years of tree growth destroyed is hard for a man of 60 to accept. That was a winter of early and deep snow, sheltering hoards of active and hungry field mice. The spring melt showed the third maple completely girdled by mice—a death sentence. My efforts were for naught.

The best laid plans of men often go astray by mice, the poet might have said.

In other unthinned groves, up to half of the trees would die from girdling that year. However, the other half remained—too deep inside for the deer to bother and missed by the mice this time.

Half of the thinning was done naturally!

In future years, deer and mice would continue to thin the groves, often leaving me with the stand I wanted all along. Both stop bothering trees that are 3 to 4 inches in diameter or larger, enticed only by the flawless skin of youth.

Mice or rabbits rarely get numerous enough to girdle many trees—probably only one year in 10 have I seen them do extensive damage. I can estimate what the winter mouse population is in the woods at the cabin by Margo’s mouse count. Living deep in the woods, the mice want to share our comfortable quarters. Margo valiantly fights them with three kinds of traps, glue boards and encouraging the neighbor’s cat to visit often. A 50-mouse year is peak whereas 10 is the lowest on record.

Luckily, I had thinned only one grove and have dozens left. These I am leaving for natural attrition and will intervene only at 20-25 years, when the survivors are large enough to escape the predators and the thin-ees big enough to feed my sap boiler, sacrificed for the greater good.

••• Do you make maple syrup? Do you want to try it? Join us Saturday afternoon at Steve Anderson Maple Inc., just south of Hwy. 48 between Luck and Cumberland (look for the sign). Steve is our local supplier of maple syrup producing equipment and has a brand-new facility with supplies and housing his maple operation. He will have an open house all day. I will be helping with the session for beginners at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m. we will be talking with commercial producers on pricing syrup, property tax relief for sugar bushes. There will be many experts there to answer your questions! Free, door prizes. Intended for people who make or want to make maple syrup.

County offers native plants, trees and shrubs for sale SIREN – Is there a need for shoreline restoration on your property? Do you want to convert a portion of your lawn to a low-maintenance wildflower meadow or prairie? How about adding native perennials to your woodland areas?

The Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department has native plants, seeds, trees and shrubs for all of

these projects on sale now.

Trees are sold in bundles of 25, and shrubs are sold in bundles of five. In addition, five collections of native perennial plants and three collections of seed mixes for a variety of light and soil conditions are also available.

There is no limit to the number of bundles or collections purchased. However, only a limited number of each variety

and collection are available and most are expected to sell out. It is advised to order as early as possible.

Land does not need to be set aside into any specific program to take advantage of the plant sale, and there are no restrictions on where to plant purchased plants.

Tentative delivery dates are late April for trees and shrubs and early June for

perennials and seed. Orders must be picked up at the Webster Fairgrounds.

All orders not picked up will be disposed of with no refunds given.

Payment must be made in full with order, including sales tax.

For more information, visit the University Extension office on the first floor of the Burnett County Government Center or call 715-349-2186. – Sherill Summer

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 5

The Tailor-Made Suit The wind blew off Chequamegon Bay on a cold winter day, and my husband, Ken, and I walked fast down Main Street in Ashland.

We had just recently moved to this small, northern town when Ken finished his college courses at UWSuperior and graduated mid-term. His teaching career began in Ashland.

As we walked down the street, we noticed a shop window almost frosted over by the icy blast. A little bald-headed man worked under a pool of light cast by a single, bare lightbulb hanging over his shoulder.

We both did a double take and backed up to take a better took.

“It’s a tailor shop,” I said, “Let’s go in.”

The shop was sparsely furnished. It was, in fact, quite bare except for several sewing machines, a presser, shelves of material and several chairs. The man was a stereotype of a tailor as he peered over his glasses at us.

“Yes?” he said with a question in his eyes. “Can I help you?” Ken asked about ordering a tailor-made suit and what it would cost.

He had been a Marine Corps flyer during World War II, attached to a Navy wing. One of the perks of being an officer was wearing tailor-made uniforms.

That was a unique experience for him, as he recalled wearing a $15.95 suit ordered from Sears for his high school graduation.

I used to tease him about looking like a bellhop in his dress blues with the red stripe down the side of each leg. Still, he cut a dashing figure in his Marine greens or suntans or dress blues. I could understand his desire to have a suit that really fit. He wanted to look good in his high school classroom as he faced his students.

The tailor got up from his chair with surprising agility and picked up several bolts of material off the shelves. One was a wool tweed, cinnamon brown with an occasional red fleck. It looked very British, and we both liked it.

Perhaps it was impulse buying, but we decided a $90 suit was well worth it and within our budget, although in the 1940s, $90 was a lot of money. Ken’s salary for teaching one semeter was barely $4,000 when we arrived in mid-January.

I sat in a wobbly chair while the tailor got out his tape measure. He asked Ken several pertinent questions, such as “Where do you like the cuffs to break?” and “What side do you dress on?” I looked at the garment the tailor was stitching. What beautiful work he did!

We put some money on account, left the shop, and went out into the cold streets.

A few days later Ken walked downtown to pick up his new suit and settle the balance owed on it. I could hardly wait for him to get home. When he came in the door I said, “Well? How is it?”

“Fine,” he said but he had a strange look on his face.

‘Try it on,” I told him. When he came out of the bed-

room, I could see something was not right. The jacket was too short with narrow lapels. The trousers were high-waisted with very wide belt loops.

With a grim voice, Ken said, “We didn’t ask to see a pattern.”

Bernice Of course, that’s what was Abrahamzon wrong! All he needed to complete the picture was a derby hat. It was loo late to do anything about it. It wasn’t the first error in judgment we made, nor would it be the last.

Ken tried to make the best of the situation. It was an expensive lesson, but he had to wear it. He hung the jacket on the back of his teacher’s chair and taught in his shirt sleeves. Sometimes he wore the trousers with a casual jacket that didn’t match.

Somehow in the ensuing years, he managed to leave the jacket somewhere and lose it forever. The trousers wore like iron, but eventually they, too, disappeared.

We learn by out mistakes and just hope they won’t prove too costly. From then on Ken always bought his suits “off the rack” and never again mentioned wanting a tailor-made suit.

(Note: The above story is found in my latest book “Home is Where I Lay My Head.” Available at the Frederic Leader office.)

BEHIND THE

SIGNPOST

The Meeting

by S.E. Kiser One day in Paradise Two angels, beaming, strolled Along the amber walk that lies Beside the street of gold.

At last they met and gazed Into each other’s eyes, Then dropped their harps, amazed, And stool in mute surprise.

And other angels came, And, as they lingered near, Heard both at once exclaim “Say, how did you get here?”

Until next week, Bernice

the Cities, but often they take someone to a local hospital or Wyoming, Minn. Your time will save a life.

Want to make a difference? They are looking for caring people, like you, who want to help a neighbor. Volunteer times are flexible to fit busy schedules. Help once a week, once a month or on an as-needed basis.

Snowbirds and lake folks are welcome to help. Get involved, feel good about yourself, learn new skills and develop new friendships. Share your smile, time and heart.

So if you need help, or want to volunteer, contact the Interfaith Caregivers office at 483-9263. Their services are offered at no charge to seniors and adults with disabilities in Polk County. Your financial gifts are appreciated, so they’ll be here to help your grandma, your mom and you. Visit their Web site at www.interfaithpolk.org. - submitted

UWEX offers beef distance education opportunity Spooner, Siren, Hayward and Balsam Lake SPOONER – Mark your calendars. The UW-Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, and area county Extension Agriculture Agents are offering a pilot beef distance education program. Several groups including the Extension Beef Team have initiated educational programming through the Internet as an alternative means to reach clientele. Whether it’s podcasting, Webinars or Webcasts, enhancements in technology are occurring that make it easier for experts to reach larger audiences.

Compiled by Bernice Abrahamzon

50 Years Ago Pea silage was for sale.-Three brothers, Richard Alvin; twins, Robert and Larry, sons of Alvin Hansen enlisted in the Navy, plus two friends, John Utley and Donald Johnson, all of Frederic.-Specials at the Frederic Farmers Co-op Store included sliced bacon at 63¢ lb., pork sausage at 49¢ lb. and canned peas at 10 cans for $1.-Witucki and Babcock Insurance Agency invited customers’ patronage in Frederic.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, included cube steaks at 69¢ lb., Jergen’s soap at three bars for 19¢ and Hills coffee at 93¢ lb.-Phyllis Johnson of Webster High School was elected as Webster’s Good Citizen.-Readers were reminded it was time to order garden seeds.-Free pancakes and coffee were served Monday, Feb. 17, at Jos. B. Janson, Inc., Siren.-A dance was held at the Indian Creek Hall on Feb. 15, with music by the Penberthy Band.-A Jamesway barn cleaner demonstrtion was held Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Roger Sandstrom Farm.-The film “Escape from Red Rock” was playing at the Frederic Theatre.-“Old Yeller” was playing at the Auditorium Theatre, SCF.-Ruth Hjelle headed the Red Cross Drive in Polk County.

40 Years Ago The Production Credit annual meeting was held at the Luck School on Feb. 24.-Polk County children would be immunized at the Unity School.-A pancake and sausage breakfast was served Sunday, Feb. 25 at Wilson’s Resort, Bone Lake, served by members of the Luck Lions Club.-Beth Anderson was named the DAR Good Citizen at the Luck School.-An eight-car pileup was among recent Polk County highway mishaps.-Julie Berg was crowned Luck Winter Carnival Queen at Luck.-The Siren Chamber of Commerce was planning promotional events.-The “Clatter of Clogs,” an Oriental theme, was planned at the Grantsburg and Lewis Methodist churches by Pastor Sanford for Brotherhood Month.-Many responded to a measles clinic in Polk County.-Five men reported for service in Februaey draft including Scott Anderson, Balsam Lake; Lorne Olson, Amery; William Schommer, Frederic; Donald Olson, Cushing; Carl Rasmussen, Clam Falls.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, were ground round at 69¢ lb., ground beef at two lbs. at 89¢ and soda crackers at two boxes at 39¢.-A cherry guessing contest in conjunction with George Washington’s birthday was held at the Leader. The number was 923, and six winners came close, including Gerald Cambronne, Frederic; Mrs. Dwight Taylor, Siren; W.L. Barkalow, Webster; Al Schommer, Frederic; Arnold Hendricks, Luck and Mrs. Harold Baker, Siren. They all won a year’s free subscription to the Leader.

20 Years Ago

Volunteer drivers needed POLK COUNTY – Walter, age 78, needs a ride to the dentist. Erma, age 83, needs a ride to the grocery store every week.

Laura, age 47, needs daily rides for chemo while her husband works. Blanche, age 66, needs rides three days a week to dialysis.

Interfaith Caregivers helps with these requests in Polk County. Volunteers from their program help seniors and adults with disabilities to stay in their homes and communities. They share the gift of independence.

Currently they are looking for drivers for local transportation including trips to the grocery store, food shelf, beauty shop, drug store and doctor. They need drivers for clients going to dialysis, physical therapy, counseling and the Haven Adult Day Care. You must be a responsible driver with a reliable vehicle and insurance.

They also transport cancer patients for radiation and chemotherapy. Sometimes they drive to hospitals in

Do you remember ?

Dates and topics for the beef distance learning are as follows. All are Thursday evenings from 7 - 8 p.m.

Feb. 28 – Basic Nutrition for the Cow-Calf Herd March 27 – Estrus Synchronization Protocols April 17 – Program Requirements for Preconditioned Feeder Cattle Sales Locations in the area that will be offering this program are the Spooner Ag Research Station, the Burnett County Government Center in Siren, the Sawyer Courthouse in Hayward, and the Polk County Government Center in Balsam Lake.

There is no cost or preregistration. For additional information, contact Ag Agents Otto Wiegand or Kevin Schoessow at Spooner 715-635-3506 or 800-528-1914,

Hwy. 48 in Burnett County would be resurfaced.Committees recommended all service in Burnett County.-Bob Becker in his Boot Prints column wrote about Valentine’s Day in a country school, including a poem by Elgie McDonough, Barron.-A Frederic girl, Pamela Sue King, 6, was injuried in a fall from a horse.-A feature article about a Frederic School alumnus labeled Carolyn Wedin as an “Intellectual Earth Mother.”-The drug/alcohol program at SCF received national recognition, and middle school reps would visit the White House.-Fidelity State Bank in Dresser and Luck was among the safest, soundest.-Gwen Christensen was crowned the Luck Winter Carnival Queen.-Obituaries included Rodney Johnson, Jane Plummer, Martin Johnson, Art Skone (Skonewood founder), Vivian Swenson, Helen Sornson and Richard Nordquist.-Webster adopted a new personal property tax policy.-Wisconsin had 90 days to decide if it wanted railroad.-Jim and Marge Olson and Chris Witzany purchased the Wood River Pharmacy, Grantsburg, from former owners Jack and Sharon Samuelson.-A benefit panake supper for Ann Benson was held at Zion Lutheran Church, Trade Lake.-The Boondocks run attracted 90 sled-dog teams held on Birch Island Lake, northweast of A&H.

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Hello, everybody! Blacky here from Humane Society of Burnett County. My goodness! This place has become a zoo, except we don’t have any zebras. (I better not say that too loudly or I’ll come in one day to find one hitched to a post.) No new Blacky puppies this week, but we got a few big dogs in and two new cats. I’ll tell you about the cats first. Wilson was here once before, left, and came YAPpenings back again. Personally, I think they should call him Boomerang instead. It’s a long story, but all you really need to know is that he’s a nice cat. He is grown up and doesn’t run around daft like some of the kittens here. I just can’t figure out why he keeps stuffing his blanket into his litter box. Do you suppose he doesn’t like the color? Or that he prefers wool? Picky, picky. Next there is Mamacita. She is a young girl and is very curious and friendly. They are both white with orange or buff spots, but I’m pretty certain they’re not related. They act like they don’t know each other.

In the new dog department there are four arrivals.

It must be shepherd week, because there are two of that variety that have joined us. There’s Angel, who is about a year old. She is quiet and doesn’t get too terribly excited over all the activity going on around her. She is very sweet. The other shepherd mix is Bubba. He is about 1-1/2 years old and is, well, kind of a crybaby. I think he just wants some attention, though, because he is a very affectionate young man and turns into a goofball when you pet him and scratch his ears. Next there is Ruby. Ruby is a chocolate Lab mix and is also only about a year or so old.

She’s definitely easy on the eyes and well behaved, too. Last but not least, there’s Lucky. Lucky is a big black Lab who’s about 5 years old. Lucky doesn’t look like he’s missed a meal in awhile, which makes it difficult to try and wrangle him in from the play yard sometimes. He just wants to stay outside and play ball. I can’t blame him, really. It’s been nice outside, and it is kind of a noisy place indoors with 20some dogs anxiously waiting for a home.

SHELTER

349-2964

Siren

An interesting episode took place in my bird yard last week. As you all have heard, a rather persistent gray squirrel had decided he would rather eat out of my birdfeeder instead of the squirrel feeder or on the ground like the rest. Anyway, he has been king of the bird yard, so to speak, all winter. That’s until last Wednesday afternoon when a small gray squirrel, not much bigger than a little red squirrel, moved in and took over. He ejected Mr. Big Bully from the squirrel feeder, it took him awhile, but he finally won. Now every time Mr. Big Bully comes into the bird yard and Little Mighty Mouse is there, he promptly runs him out in no time flat. So far he is holding his own with all the other squirrels as well.

Congratulatioins to elementary student Sydney Lamson, middle schooler Amber Hall and high schooler Andrew Erickson for being chosen Siren School’s students of the week.

653-4281

Oh, and you’ll never guess who else showed up to visit. Give up? Reed, my predecessor! He wanted to give me a few pointers on writing the column, but I told him I was managing just fine, thank you very much. He is still spring-loaded and can jump as high as ever. What a nut!

Five of the seven puppies are out front now and ready for a family. There are the three wiry-haired youngsters, plus the two little cinder blocks I told you about last week. They all get along great together, and the two shy pups are really starting to come out of their shell. I had to chuckle the other day as I was watching one of the cleanup crew out doing the coveted task of picking up the play yard. He was in the lead with a shovel and a bucket, and all five pups were trailing behind him in the snow. It made me think of the Pied Piper leading all the children out of Hamelin. I must have been read a lot of fairy tales when I was a pup.

I’m a little slow sometimes, but sometimes I get distracted by bones and toys and don’t always pay attention to important news. During the month of February, the Grantsburg Library has kindly been aiding us by accepting donations of goods for the pets at the shelter. Those nice folks over there have dropped off a lot of supplies already, and we think the generosity shown towards us is really remarkable.

I’d like to shake hands with all of them, but first my nails are due for a trimming - I’ve been putting it off ‘cause I don’t like that.

Well, it’s about time for me to sign off, I think. I have to console my mom for a bit. It’s her birthday. I don’t understand humans all of the time, and especially women humans. You would think that if someone was nice enough to give you some birthday money so you could get something you needed, you would feel happy, not dejected. Can someone please explain to me what “bifocals” are and why getting them makes some folks grumpy and sad? I give up.

Oh well, have a great week, everyone, and thanks for all you do for us!

HSBC is saving lives, one at a time. www.hsburnettcty.org 715-866-4096.

Darren Zuech and his little daughter, Emily Taft of Chetek, came up last Wednesday to visit Darren’s grandparents, Art and Bev Beckmark. They celebrated Emily’s birthday with dinner and an ice-cream cake. She turned 2 on Feb. 9. Emily, her mom, Rachel, and her other greatgrandfather all have the same birthday.

Sympathy to the family of Gerry Ramsdell, who passed away Sunday, Feb. 17.

Sympathy to the family of John Howe, who passed away Feb. 5.

Sympathy to the family of Patricial Chial, who passed away Feb. 6.

The Siren Methodist Church congregation enjoyed a potato bake put on by the UMW after services on Sunday.

Art and Bev Beckmark spent Sunday afternoon visiting with Peggy Strabel out on Waldora Road.

Lewis

Wow! What a weekend! The John Glockzin-Mickey Lenz wedding took place Saturday afternoon and the matron of honor was Debbie Lenz Eaton and the best man was Steve Glockzin. Sylvia Schaetzel sang a beautiful solo. Pastor Tom Cook performed the marriage service, and John Glockzin sang a solo as part of the service. The flowers carried out the theme of yellow roses.

Members of the Lewis UMW served the lunch provided by the wedding party, and many guests came to offer congratulations and best wishes. It was a joyous day with many hugs. The weatherman provided a respite from the cold, too.

Sunday continued the celebration with glorious leftovers plus other goodies provided by Ethel Lane. Another special treat was having Brad Alden sing two numbers with his guitar. Those who assisted Pastor Tom Cook with the service were Sylvia Schaetzel, Kara Alden, LaVonne Boyer plus ushers. It was also Mission Sunday with the collection earmarked for the church’s camp account.

Volunteers were thanked for all the work they contributed over the weekend.

Open house was held for June Moline at the Continuing Care Center, at Grantsburg for her 90th birthday. Hoping she improves in health. Wishing her good days ahead.

The Wilsons sang as part of the celebration.

Last week’s Lenten service was held at our sister church at Siren UM Church.

This week’s Lenten service will be at Lewis with the

Bev Beckmark

Bernice Abrahamzon

supper at 6 p.m., followed by the Lenton message at 7 p.m.

Such a treat to see so many friends at Saturday’s wedding. Good to see Myron Peterson. Lots of three-flavor popcorn came from the Popcorn Factory as an additional treat.

No mail on Monday. Wonder how many went to the mailbox anyway to check?

Sheila Staples and Rick Abrahamzon went to Hutchinson, Minn., on Sunday, where Rick enjoyed the bird swap.

Another 90th birthday will be celebrated Saturday, March 1, at the Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church for the 90th of Vernon Ulick and Margaret’s 87th birthday.

Welcome. Please mark on your calendar.

Engagement

Tarman/Swenson Jerry and Peggy Tarman of Balsam Lake are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kate of Two Harbors, Minn., to Jamie Swenson of Two Harbors, Minn., son of Doug and Diane Swenson of Woodbury, Minn., Kate has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from UW-Superior and is a marketing associate for 5-Star Living, LLC. Jamie has a bachelor’s degree in business management from UMD and is branch manager for Wells Fargo Bank in Silver Bay and Two Harbors, Minn.

A Sept. 13 wedding is planned in Duluth, Minn. – submitted

Birth announcements Caleb Lawrence Johnson was born seven weeks premature at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 6, to Jay Johnson and Heather Wendt Johnson of Balsam Lake.

Caleb was 5 lbs., 1 oz., and 19 inches long. He is currently in neonatal intensive care at Children’s Hospital and doing very well. His family hopes that mom and baby can return home within the next couple of weeks. Proud grandparents are Cindy and Galen (Coot) Skow of Frederic, Steve Johnson of Frederic and Bill and Sally Wendt of Yucaipa, Calif.

•••

Born at St. Croix Regional Medical Center: A boy, Matthew Richard McCurdy, born Feb. 6, 2008, to Laura Nick and Brad McCurdy, Osceola. Matthew weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz.

••• A girl, Lucy Renee Braund, born Feb. 6, 2008, to Michael and Tammi Braund, Cushing. Lucy weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz.

•••

Born at Burnett Medical Center: A girl, Libby Clarice Swanson, born Feb. 15, 2008, to Michelle Cole and Ernie Swanson, Siren. Libby weighed 8 lbs., 13 oz. and was 19-1/4 inches long. Libby’s siblings are Alexus and Sierra Swanson. Grandparents are Willa Cole of Siren and Bonita Swanson of Grantsburg.

Frederic Senior Ardyce Center Knauber Monday spades were played with the following winners: Lillian Murphy in first place, Shirley Sandquist in second place, Betty Liesch in third place and Netha Polson in fourth place.

Wednesday pokeno was played, and refreshments and fellowship time followed.

Tax aid people were at the center on Thursday, Feb. 7.

A large group was served. Remember March 6 from 9 a.m. to noon the tax aides will be preparing 2007 income tax and homestead reporting forms.

Thursday 500 cards were played with the following winners: Arnie Borchert in first place, Willis Williams in second place, Marlyn Borchert in third place and Dave Peterson in fourth place.

Friday the pokeno group played and enjoyed each others company. They always have refreshments to share.

Saturday, food, fellowship and games were enjoyed together. We had a fish buffet and all the dishes to go with it. Gratitude is extented to Mel Cordes for providing the fish. Afternoon coffee refreshments are always a fun time for us to enjoy.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 7

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Engagement

Everson/Walburg Melody Everson and Blake Walburg of Minneapolis, Minn., are pleased to announce their engagement.

The bride is the daughter of Joe and Carol Everson of Frederic, and the parents of the groom are Dave and Elaine Walburg of Osceola.

The bride is a 2006 graduate of Northwestern College in Minnesota, and is currently employed as a internship coordinator for Intercultural Studies at Northwestern College.

The groom attended Dordt College in Iowa, studing mechanical engineering and Biblical studies, and he is employed in construction.

The couple is planning a March 15 wedding at Lakes Free Church in Lindstrom, Minn. – submitted

Engagement

Ramey/Davidsavor Troy Davidsavor and Valeri Ramey announce their engagement. Their parents are Richard and Barbra Davidsavor of St. Croix Falls and Wilbur and Arlita Ramey of Rice Lake.

The future bride, a graduate of Rice Lake High School and UW-Stout, is a manager a Kohl’s in Maplewood, Minn.

The future groom, a graduate of St. Croix Falls High School and Lake Superior College, is employed by J&S General Contracting and also co-owns River Valley Landscaping.

The couple is planning an April 5 wedding in Rice Lake.

Polk County Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting set BALSAM LAKE – The Polk County Alzheimer’s Support Group will be meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Polk County Government Center in Balsam Lake. The documentary. “There is a Bridge,” will be shown which deals with communicating and connecting with individuals in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The meetings are free and open to the public.

For more information, please call Diane at 485-8413. submitted

320-242-3933

Cloverton - Markville

The geographical boundaries often get blurred out here in the little townships of Arna and New Dosey. Friendships and relationships often extend in to the neighboring community of Duxbury and across the state line into Wisconsin.

I have been driving Clara Lilly and Maynard Monson to the senior dining center in Wisconsin and, in doing so, have made several new friends. Joan Anderson, Joanne and Ted Masters, Ed and Donna Micl, Bud and Pat Wold and Mary Picton are becoming regulars in my week. Pat Kinblom always serves a delicious meal and Diana Wolf comes in to help her decorate on special occasions.

The annual Valentine’s Day party hosted by the Hay Creek Outpost proved to be a very memorable event for those who attended. With red tablecloths and candles trimming the tables and three entrees on the menu, all who went had a wonderful time.

Another shrike sighting! Mary Picton, who lives on Hwy. T in Wisconsin heading towards Wascott, was looking out her back window recently when she observed one carrying off a chickadee.

Don and Marlene Mishler on a routine medical and supermarket trip to Sandstone the other day were delightfully surprised when Don’s brother, Wayne, walked in to Jan and Gary’s Cafe while they were having lunch. Wayne had been down from Two Harbors to visit his daughter, Candy, and decided to stop for lunch. The three of them spent most of the afternoon eating and visiting.

Deloris Schirmer met her son Del for lunch at the Banning Cafe one day, then one of her other sons, Don, made a swing through to her home the next day.

After her stop at the bookmobile, Deloris journeyed down to Webster for a medical appointment.

The Weaver’s Group meeting at Spooner was a main event for Patty Koehler last week. Five women met at the

Fran Levings

Northwest Book & Fiber store to work on their weaver’s samplers that each is preparing.

After a week or so of recuperating from a fall in her yard, Evelyn Johnson is now back to work at the Hay Creek Outpost.

Carrying a long list, Mary and Frank headed to Cub Foods in Duluth on Wednesday so they could restock their supplies. They made other stops also, and then enjoyed a good lunch at the Country Buffet.

Since their daughter, Heidi, and her husband Carey have now bought a home in Hastings, the Allen Wolfs have been busy helping them move.

Emma Fornengo joined many family members on Feb. 13 to attend the funeral of Peter’s sister, Maggie Smedegard. Maggie was 80 years old and lived in Superior. The funeral was held at the Downs Funeral Home in Superior.

Another sad time for the Fornengo family and we are thinking of them.

On a happier note, many members of Emma’s family converged on her home on Friday to celebrate the birthdays of grandson Peter III and his daughter, Emma Lynn.

Everyone bought pizza and lots of other food and a good time was had by all.

Jan Streiff is finding the books written by former nun Karen Armstrong very interesting. One is “The History of God” and the other is “The Battle for God.” Patty Koehler and I joined five other wild and crazy women for a Valentine’s party at the home of Cheryl Carlson on Big Island Road in Wisconsin. Hors d’oeuves, a good beverage, and stimulating conversation carried the afternoon.

My husband, Dave Baker, has been hunkering down doing artwork so he will have new pieces to show at the Port Wing Gallery this summer.

Enjoy your neighbors, wherever you are.

Interstate State Park News Nature story time at Interstate Park Join naturalist Julie Fox at 10 a.m. on Thursdays through March at the Ice Age Center at Wisconsin Interstate Park for a story and activity chosen especially for preschoolers and their parents. Please bring clothing for outdoor play (weather permitting).

Interstate Park is located in St. Croix Falls, on Hwy.

35 just one-half mile south of Hwy. 8. Nature story time is free of charge, but a Wisconsin State Park sticker is required to enter the park. Annual passes for 2008 are $25 for Wisconsin residents or $35 for nonresidents. For more information call Julie at 715483-3747. - submitted

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER 866-4334 The Burnett County Aging Nutrition Program Project Council met at the Grantsburg Senior Center on Wednesday morning with Aging Director Lois Taylor, Cora DeJong, Dee Trautman, Helen Johnson, Cora Sandberg, Myrtle Kisselburg and Mary Klar in attendance. Representatives from the four nutrition sites reported that the program is running smoothly. Director Taylor informed the group that any senior needing Medical Alert (I’ve fallen and can’t get up) buttons/pagers can obtain them by contacting Penny Doskey at Burnett Medical Center, Grantsburg. I think I need one for myself! Discussion was held regarding the volunteer recognition dinners to be held this spring. The March menu was reviewed with only a couple of changes. The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on April 9, at the Siren Senior Center. Everyone stayed after the meeting to enjoy the nutrition program meal and good conversation.

Harold Peterson started shoveling the snow off the front walk on Wednesday and was very grateful for the DNR staff person that came by and used a snow blower on the rest. Thanks, guys!

Thirteen ladies played dime bingo at our center on Wednesday afternoon and everyone enjoyed the refreshments furnished by Jane Wardean. The group of “Golden Girls” met for their weekly exercise at 3:30 p.m., and it was noted that the tentative schedule is: Mon. – 1 p.m., Wed. – 3:30 p.m., and Fri. – 1 p.m. I even stayed and did some of the exercise and I sure felt it the next day!

Thirty-four people enjoyed the roast beef dinner Deb served on Thursday, Valen-

Webster Senior Center tine’s Day, in addition to homemade heartshaped frosted sugar cookies and assorted candies. Margel Ruck received heartshaped candleholders for first prize in the hat contest, and George Emerson received a bag of lemons for having the most humorous “So many women, so little time” hat. Sorry, George, for mentioning it!

Twenty-two other seniors received door prizes of plates of Deb’s homemade cookies and cinnamon rolls. After lunch, Webster Elementary School teachers Teri Skifstad, Donna Jones and Jan Olson brought 43 first-grade students, all bundled up and with rosy cheeks from their walk all the way over from the elementary school, to entertain us first with singing “Did You Ever See a Frog,” “Old McDonald’s Farm,” and “B-I-N-G-O,” accompanied by Mrs. Skifstad playing her guitar. The children and adults, me included, then sang and did the “Hokey Pokey.” The children read poems and stories to our seniors to show them their reading skills. Before walking back to school, the children all enjoyed milk and cookies. Thanks, Deb, for baking them this treat! The center also presented heart-shaped boxes of chocolate candy to the three teachers and parent Lynn Stubbe. The plan is to have just one class each month come to the center to visit the seniors. And, oh yes, my body did tell me on Thursday morning that it didn’t appreciate all that Hokey Pokey stuff! But it was a fun day and we thank everyone that participated in it.

Dee Trautman, Roger Panek, Mary Klar and Joe Wacek from DSI attended the Burnett County Aging/Transportation Advisory

Dewey - LaFollette

Beau is a three-month-old, soft, buff tabby. He takes his kitten responsibilities seriously. He can play hide n’ seek, kick the dust bunny and motor boat with gusto. He uses a good game of chase the invisible monster in an excitable manner just for the fun of it to chase away those dreary winter blahs.

Beau is a loving and playful kitten. He and a roomful of wonderful cats are waiting for homes at Arnell Humane Society, 185 Griffin St. E, Amery, 715 268-7387 (PETS) or visit online: www.arnellhumane.org.

Juvenile or parental delinquency We read in the paper, we hear it on the air of killing and stealing and crime everywhere. We sigh and we say, as we notice the trend. This young generation – Where will it all end? But can we be sure its their fault alone; too much money to spend; too much idle time; too many movies of passion and crime; too many books not fit to be read; too much evil in what they hear said; too many kids encouraged to roam

First-graders visit senior citizens

birthday dinner in honor of Katie’s eighth birthday on Sunday. Those helping her celebrate were Garry and Beth Crosby, Jolene Peck, Jim Mortenson, Kylie LaPorte and daughters.

Don Schleiss, Judy Albee, Al and Judi Kempin, Betty Hanson, and Pat, Gerald, Kelsey and Zachary Bahrke enjoyed brunch at Fanny Hill in Eau Claire on Sunday.

HAPPY TAILS

AWAIT Arnell Humane Society

St. Croix Valley Senior Center The Tuesday afternoon domino winners were: Ione Meixner in first place, Janice Mevissen in second place, Don Anderson in third place. 500 card winners were: Laurice Lambert in first place, Walmer Quist in second place, Leone Montgomery in third place, John Brown in fourth place.

at our senior center on Saturday, March 8.

Lunch will be served promptly at noon with bingo and cards to follow immediately after with lots of good prizes.

Gratitude is extended to Gladys Beers for valentine candy for the home delivered and congregate meals; Gene Johnson – Valentine candy; Judy Baker and Theresa Gloege – door prizes.

Our get-well wishes and prayers continue to go out to Fran Arnold, Mary Garbe, Arlene Fink, Albert Doriott, Belva Olliken, Sue Becker, Antone and Jeremy Gronski.

Would you lay down your life for a friend? The Bible says that we should.

God commands us to love one another, but would you be able to give up your life for someone? Jesus died willingly for us and shouldn’t we be willing to die for him and our friends? In God’s eyes, obeying him as a living sacrifice is the way we lay down our life for him. Then also, we may not have to die for our friends, but we can in other ways make sacrifices for them. We can lay aside our own plans and tight schedules to focus on someone in need, or lay down our possessions to make provision for the poor. Small sacrifices can be powerful ways to lay down our lives for our friends, if we sacrifice willingly and do it in the spirit of Christ’s love. “Lord, teach us the lesson of loving, the love you are asking today; Then help us to love one another, for this we most earnestly pray.”-Unknown. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”-John 15:13. See you at the center!

Karen Mangelsen

468-2940 Thursday evening supper guests of Judy Albee were Larry, Vicki and Noah Eberhard of St. Paul, Minn.

Judy Albee and Charlene Strabel enjoyed lunch together on Friday.

Dick and Shirley Quinton were Saturday afternoon visitors of Maynard and Ronda Mangelsen. Later in the day, Ken, Tyanne and Jake Otis visited.

Shorty and Melissa Crosby hosted a

Committee on Thursday afternoon at the BC Government Center with aging director Lois Taylor and benefit specialist Connie Crosby. We were given information that anyone with an older television set that needs a converter box to convert from analog to digital can obtain a $40 coupon from Connie to be submitted by March 31, 2008.

You can also call 1-888-388-2009 or apply online at www.DTV2009.gov. We also learned that you can dial 211 to get general information from United Way First Call for Help, Wisconsin Rapids.

It was nice to have Pat and Nancy O’Brien back from their vacation to play pool and cards with the bunch. Other pool players were Ken Hayes, Dave Wardean and Sam Williamson. Other card players were Jane Wardean, Mert Kisselburg, Margel Ruck and me. Of course, we all enjoyed our munchies and had lots of laughs.

Don’t forget that the next AARP tax assistance dates are Friday, Feb. 22, March 14, March 28, and April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Deb will be serving birthday cake on Friday, Feb. 29, to celebrate February birthdays. She will also be serving baked ham, au gratin potatoes and cole slaw, so call 866-5300 and sign up to eat with the other seniors. The price is only $3.35 and I would say that it is the best deal in town, in addition to our 25-cent cup of coffee.

The next Ravishing Ruby’s Red Hat Society Luncheon will be held at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Yellow River Saloon and Eatery, Hwy. 35 North, Webster.

In addition, mark your calendar for the buffet luncheon and free bingo/card party

Mary Klar

but too many parents who don’t stay at home. Youth don’t make the movies: They don’t write the books that paint the gay pictures of gangsters and crooks. They don’t make the liquor. They don’t run the bars.

They don’t make the laws. They don’t make the cars.

They don’t make the drugs that idle the brain. It’s all done by older folks, greedy for gain. And how many cases, we find that it’s true— The label, “delinquency” fits the older folks, too!

Thursday evening 500 card winners were; Roger Greenly in first place, Bob Norlander in second place, Lloyd Knutson in third place.

Bingo is every first and third Friday of the month.

Have a great day.

First-graders Valerie Kuhn, Julia Gavin and Samantha Nelson enjoyed reading to Olive Gehrke, Balsam Lake, who also came to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Webster Senior Center.

WEBSTER – President Mary Klar and the men and women of the Webster Senior Center warmly welcomed firstgraders of Webster Elementary as they walked over to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The students entertained by singing songs with teacher Teri Skifstad, providing guitar accompaniment. They also read from their reading and poem books as the adults attentively listened.

The children especially enjoyed the col-

orful and festive hats created by the ladies for the valentine hat contest. They also appreciated the valentine cookies and milk served them. Teachers Donna Jones, Jan Olson and Teri Skifstad said it was a good opportunity for their students to share with others, as well as practice their reading skills. The firstgraders hope to visit the senior center again this spring - one class at a time. submitted

Ricky Stahl proudly reads to Grandma Mary Klar, also senior center president, when Webster Elementary first-graders visited the center on Valentine’s Day. – Photos submitted

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 9

Frederic 1915 Your last chance to get a daily paper, a weekly, two magazines and a war album, all for $2.50, or for two years subscription you will get an addition to the above, a handy Almanac Encyclopedia and year book and the Woman’s Magazine for one year. Having a good chance to win an up-to-date 8-cylinder car. Your assistance will be appreciated.

Contest closes May 8. Credit votes to Chas. E. Anderson, Frederic, Wis. A new power press was ordered for the Frederic Star. The Star bought the press in St. Paul, Minn., and the engine in Minneapolis, Minn.

We can all find strength to carry our burden for one day; to be kind and sweet, and true and firm, just until night falls. This is all life ever asks of us. To fight one day’s temptation; do one day’s duties; check angry and fretful humors; hold our tongues in subjection, and, if we can say nothing kind, say nothing at all, for just one day.

In an advertisement for a cook: Wanted – Woman cook, at once. Good wages will be paid and fair treatment accorded to one competent to handle the work – Commercial Hotel, Frederic.

The Frederic Mercantile Company Store advertised: Coffee, bulk, per lb.

12¢, 4 pkgs. Corn Flakes 25¢, 3 cans of 15-cent salmon 35¢, 10-cent peas 8¢ per can, 9 bars Lenox or Rose Queen soap 25¢, Grandma’s Wash Powder 15¢, 10lb. box soda crackers only 69¢ and 10percent discount on the entire line of shoes. This included Oxfords and pumps.

Betty Fenton HISTORICAL VIGNETTES One of the best plays now touring the west Main Street Frederic. – Photo taken from "Frederic - First 100 Years" will be preThe famous Picket King Players of sented at the Frederic Opera House Fri- shirks, You can raise a town from the dead.

Dixie, consisting of six people, will be day evening, May 14, with the famous And if while you make your personal exhibiting here in Frederic, under the play, “Lena Rivers.” This is a charming auspices of our local ball team. The Pickplay of the South, and is careful drama- stake Your neighbors can make one too, ets have enlarged their show this season, tization of Mary J. Holmes’ famous Your town will be what you want to and are playing under large tents, and novel. see. giving one of the cleanest and best It isn’t the town – it’s you. – Author shows of its kind on the road today.

It Isn’t the Town unknown Prof. Labroi, champion wire walker and – It’s You roller skater, is with them, as well as If you want to live in the kind of a The Swedish Lutheran Churches ded- Richard & Henry, the comical coon town icated. Dedication exercises and Luther team. So turn out and root for your ball Like the kind of a town you like, You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip, League Convention held at Trade Lake, team. Tents will be on the ball park. AdJune 25, 26 and 27. mission of 15¢ and 25¢.

And start on a long, long hike.

Dr. Gunderson of Minneapolis was in The Frederic public school, in the matYou’ll only find what you left behind, Frederic again this week and while here ter of transportation, had four school For there’s nothing that’s really new.

It’s a knock at yourself when you informed us that the new bank is a sure busses. This stands at the head of all go and open for business in about six schools in this section of the state. Eleknock your town, weeks. It will be known as The Farmer’s mentary music instruction was begun, It isn’t the town – it’s you.

Real towns are not made by men State Bank and will be located in the followed by an agricultural course that Olson building. was introduced. – from Betty Fenton, diafraid, Watermelons are at the local market, rector of public relations, Frederic area HisLest somebody else gets ahead. torical Society When everyone works and nobody and are selling for 60¢ each.

St. Croix River Stewardship award nominees sought ST. CROIX FALLS – The St. Croix River Association is seeking nominations of individuals, groups or organizations whose volunteer contributions to the well-being of the popular St. Croix River on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border should be publicly recognized. 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the designation of the St. Croix as a National Wild and Scenic River under the National Park System.

The association, made up of over 300

households with an interest in the quality of the nationally designated St. Croix River, makes an annual award named for its highly regarded past president, Robert Burns, who died in 1997.

Past award recipients have been recognized for making impacts of lasting value to the river corridor, its communities and residents, and the public enjoyment of the area. They include Verna Kragness of Osceola; Helen White, formerly of Taylors Falls, Minn.; Jim Shaver

of Marine on St. Croix, Minn.; C. W. “Buck” Malick of Hudson; Bill Neuman of Chisago County, Minn.; the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours Company; the Jacob Wert family of Eden Prairie, Minn.; and the BP Service Station in Osceola.

Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting Jim Harrison, SCRA past president, at 651-224-0549. Deadline for 2008 St. Croix Stewardship Award nominations is March 1.

Membership in the St. Croix River As-

sociation, which is in its 97th year as a public-spirited citizen voice for the river, is open to anyone who subscribes to its historic mission statement: “All united to save for our children the uses and beauties of our river and valley.”

The association’s next public dinner meeting and program will be held at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater on May 7. – submitted

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Amery Public Library “The Rest of Her Life,” by Laura Moriarty Mothers and daughters, that complex, intricate relationship formed in the womb, is probed in this new novel by Laura Moriarty. Leigh, a schoolteacher, is the mother of popular, accomplished Kara. Their relationship tends to be shaky, and when Kara is involved in a car accident, in which a girl is killed, the relationship becomes even more difficult. Leigh’s own mother deserted her when she was a teenager, and Leigh has no model for the loving parent she wants to become. She struggles with how to help Kara and reconnect with her.

Moriarty shines a spotlight on a family in crisis with a tender touch. Her family learns through difficulty that they can depend on each other even in the toughest of times and forgiveness while not easy, makes life bearable.

Library notes Please mark your calendars for the Friends of the Amery Public Library’s first fundraiser Amery’s Got Talent to be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. Beaver Brook Badgers 4-H will be serving pie, desserts and coffee from 12:30 p.m. until the event at the high school auditorium.

The show features, singers, dancers, jugglers, bands, actors and musicians. All freewill offerings will go toward the Amery Public Library Foundation, which will help defray the costs of the upcoming library move to the previous Amery Medical Center clinic location.

There will be a certificate raffle as well, where local purveyors of services will offer gift certificates. Come and help the library and enjoy yourself.

Story time will be held at 10:30 a.m. on

Wednesday morning. Everyone is welcome for songs and stories.

Amery Public Library has tax forms, state, federal and Minnesota. Stop in and pick up your homestead forms and your rent certificates if you haven’t already done so.

Friends of the Library Book Group meets on Monday, March 17, 7 p.m., to discuss “Bet Your Bottom Dollar,” by Karen Gillespie. Stop and pick up a book at the circulation desk if you want to join this group for literary discussion.

The Teens Read Book Group meets on Monday, Feb. 25, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss “Speak,” by Laurie Anderson.

Join us if you are 13 or older for exciting book talk about this thought-provoking book about the pitfalls of high school.

The Otaku Club meets every Tuesday at 5 p.m. for teens who love manga and anime. Stop in and check it out if you are a teen.

Great Stories Club meets on Tuesday, March 10, to discuss “First Part Last,” by Angela Johnson. They meet at 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Amery Public Library Board meets on Monday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Amery Public Library.

The Friends of the Library Board meets on Monday, March 17, at 5:30 p.m.

The nursing home book groups meet on Thursday, Feb. 21, to discuss “Gap Creek,” by Robert Morgan. Willowridge will meet at 10 a.m., and Golden Age Manor will meet at 1:30 p.m.

Library hours Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Osceola Public Library Cold nights, hot reads is in full swing!

Third-annual adult winter reading program began Monday, Jan. 7, and runs through Monday, March 31. Stop in at the Osceola Public Library to register for the program. The 10 steps to winter bliss are as follows: 1. Register 2. Read 3. Report back to the library 4. Receive a gift 5. Read 6. Report back to the library 7. Receive a gift 8. Read 9. Report back to the library 10.Receive a gift Pretty easy! Participants must be 17 years of age or older. Only one entry per person. And audiobooks count.

Ann Hraychuck at the library Ann Hraychuck of the 28th Assembly District will be at the Osceola Public Library on Friday, Feb. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. for an open meeting with her constituents and to see firsthand our need for a new facility. Make your voice heard! Come and voice your concerns or questions to your state representative.

Scholastic Book Fair The book fair runs from Wednesday, Feb. 20, to Saturday, Feb. 23. Come one, come all to another fun Scholastic Book Fair at the library. There will be all kinds of great titles for young reader’s personal library!

Gardening seminar On Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9-11 a.m., the Polk County Master Gardeners will present: The dirt about dirt; How to grow disease-free tomatoes; Seed starting; and Common mistakes gardeners make. There is a $10 fee that will go towards the cost of materials and future master gardener outreach efforts. Refreshments will be served. Call the library at 263-2802 to reserve your spot.

Hours The Centuria Public Library is open Monday from noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., closed Friday, and open 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

February is Food for Fines Month For every nonperishable item you bring in to the library, we’ll take $1 off of your library fines. The items will be given to the Lifeline Food Pantry located in the Clear Lake Area Community Center. The pantry needs flour, sugar,

peanut butter, jelly, coffee, tea and white rice. If you would like to donate something to the food pantry, but don’t have library fines, you may bring your donation in to the library during the month of February.

Knitting and crocheting classes Knitting and crocheting classes will be held Feb. 27, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Regular library hours Monday: Noon - 7 p.m.; Tuesday noon - 6 p.m.; Wednesday 3 - 9 p.m.; Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Friday: noon - 5 p.m.; and Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

We can be reached by phone at 715-2632802 or by e-mail at clearlakepl@ifls.lib.wi.us.

Clear Lake Public Library

Preschool story time Preschoolers and an accompanying adult are invited to join in a half hour of stories, songs, and fun every Thursday morning at 10:30 am.

Hours, contact Our hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our phone number is 715-294-2310, and our Web address is www.osceolapubliclibrary.org.

Luck Public Library Director Jill Glover and Clear Lake Public Library Director Cricket LaFond collaborate on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Public Library Annual report. This year the report was presented online by Al Zimmerman from DPI. Zimmerman walked through the process using the new technology saving library directors travel time of attending the meeting at the Indianhead Federated Library System Eau Claire office.

read. Come into the library and browse at all the children’s books available for reading aloud to your children. The library staff will be most happy to assist any parent in helping to find fun and exciting reading material.

Clear Lake Public Library

Book discussion The library will be holding a book discussion Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. on “The Absolutely True Diary of a PartTime Indian,” by Sherman Alexie. Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farmtown school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Join in the discussion. New participants are always welcome. You can pick up a copy of the novel at the circulation desk.

Polk County Library Federation

Centuria Public Library Reading to your children An often-quoted report, Becoming a Nation of Readers: Report of the Commission on Reading, stresses the importance of parents in developing the foundations for children learning to read. The report says, “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” The Centuria Public Library is a wonderful resource for parents to get reading materials that can assist them in developing the skills for learning how to

Family story time Meow and Squeak is the theme for Saturday, Feb. 23. Children, preschool through the second grade, and an accompanying adult are encouraged to come out or a themed half hour for stories, songs and fun every Saturday at 11 a.m.

Look forward to new happenings in both communities; Luck’s new library and “Between Fences” the traveling Smithsonian Exhibit featured at the Clear Lake Community center beginning April 11- May 23.

Upcoming Brown Bag Library Lecture. Susi McCune, professional organizer is back by request. S.O.S. for Office Distress on March 4, from noon to 2 p.m.

Fee: $10 participant.

Trying to dig out from a landslide of mail, catalogs, client information and email messages? Wouldn’t it be great to find the items you need when you need them? Susi McCune, an 18-year-veteran professional organizer, author and speaker, will share ideas on how to use proven clutter-clearing techniques to manage the mess and ease the stress in

Dresser Public Library

your office (home or business). Learn the foolproof filing system that simplifies document storage and can be used to organize and coordinate both paper and computer files. You’ll get practical tips, product information, and a resource guide that can make your life easier today.

Reserve your space now by phoning 485-8680 or e-mailing at gifford@ifls.lib.wi.us.

For further information contact the library at 485-8680. The director is Colleen Gifford, assistant director/youth services is Molly Kessler, and the library clerk is Stephanie Fansler.

The Polk County Library Federation is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 11

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Balsam Lake Public Library Book review “Circle of Quilters,” by Jennifer Cheravini. “Circle of Quilters” takes us to state of Pennsylvania and a very exclusive quilt camp. The camp is in need of three new teachers and thus takes us through the lives of those who apply.

They are a want-to-be chef, a man whose wife was a quilter but who died of cancer, a busy mom with two little ones, a woman who has to support herself and her semi-invalid husband. It is a book that you, as a reader, can easily solve the problems of the characters and at times wonder why the author does not.

Story time Story time is at 11 a.m. every Wednesday here at the library. All ages are welcome to join us for stories, crafts, music and snacks.

New books for February “Stranger in Paradise” by Robert Parker, “Irish Country Village” by Patrick Taylor, “Strangers in Death” by JD Robb, “Killing Ground” by Jack Higgins, “7th Heaven” by James Patterson and “Honor Thyself” by Danielle Steel.

Book club The book club meets Feb. 20, 3 p.m. and all ages are welcome. In “Wish You Well,” David Baldacci has written a tale laced with touching passages of rural Virginia, imbued with graceful humor, and laden with unforgettable characters.

The novel is a heart-wrenching yet triumphant story about family and adversity from times past that resounds forcefully today. “Wish You Well” is a breathtakingly beautiful achievement from an author who has the power to make us feel, to make us care, and to make us believe in the great and little miracles that can change lives - or save them.

Love to read and hang out Join a teen book club for sixth grade and up. Meet at the Balsam Lake Library (under the water tower) on Monday, March 3, 6 p.m. Ride the activity bus right to our door. For more information call the library.

Hobby and craft group Join us Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m., here at the library. Bring a hobby or craft of your choice. Share ideas, learn new hobbies, hone skills and enjoy camaraderie. All ages welcome. We have rug hookers, knitters, artists and more. We meet every other Saturday morning.

Balsam Lake Public Library, (under the water tower) at 404 Main St., Balsam Lake. Hours are Monday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. E-mail: balWeb site samlakepl@ifls.lib.wi.us www.balsamlakepubliclibrary.org.

Balsam LiLake brary held their second-annual I Love Used Books Sale S a t u r d a y, Feb. 16. – Photo submitted

St. Croix Falls Public Library Ongoing fundraising events Announcing the Friends of the Library/St. Croix Falls 20-Month Giving Campaign! Now through 2009, the Friends of the St. Croix Falls Library invite everyone to make a 20-month pledge to help build the new library!

Each person decides how much that he/she can give each month for 20 months and completes the pledge form.

Then, once a month, the person gives the amount. Any monthly amount is welcome! No amount is too small nor too big. Just imagine the new library! In 2007, the library averaged 3,500 patrons/month. If 2,000 patrons give $10/month for 20 months, we would raise $400,000 by September 2009! Let’s do it! How to participate?

1. Stop in the St. Croix Falls Library 2. Fill out a pledge form 3. Take home and use the 20-month giving campaign monthly coupons. This is a giving opportunity for everyone!

Friends of the Library Next meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 27, at noon. New members are always welcome.

Story hour Listen to stories, create great art and have fun with other kids and parents every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

Hours, contact The library is open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day except Saturday 10 a.m.

– 1 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

Dresser Public Library Dresser Public Library is located at 117 S. Central Ave., Dresser, WI 54009.

a.m. Join us then for winter stories, songs, fingerplays, crafts and more.

Library hours Monday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday noon5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–noon and 1–7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Contact the library at 715-755-2944 which is our telephone and FAX number or e-mail us at www.dresserpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Our Web site, www.dresserpubliclibrary.org has information about story times, days closed, reference links, library policy and community information.

Coming up Lapsitter and preschool story times meet each Thursday from 10:30 – 11:30

Milltown Public Library Wii tourney Thanks to a grant from Polk-Burnett Operation Round-Up, the library will host its first video game tournament for all teenagers on March 7. The only requirements to participate are that you are 13-18 years old and like to have fun.

The competition begins at 6 p.m., and winners will receive free books and more! We’ll have free pizza and soda for dinner. Please sign up in advance so that we can have enough food for everyone.

Bring your friends and challenge them at all the coolest Nintendo Wii games.

Play your favorite games on our big screen. Test your skills against the librarian or a village cop! Also, we’ll announce how teens can have more access to the library’s Wii. If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for one at the Wii Tourney. If you do have a library card, and it has fines, you will still be able to participate.

We are wireless Bring your laptops to the Milltown Public Library and enjoy our free, fast, wireless Internet access. No more waiting for an open computer. Surf the Net from a comfortable chair. No time limits.

Story hour Milltown Public Library offers story time every Tuesday at 10 a.m. yearround. Story times are free and are designed for children under 6 and their caregivers. Each story time lasts 30 to 45 minutes and includes time to browse and check out books.

Hours Library hours are Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Frederic Public Library What are the book groups reading?

The Thursday morning reading group meets Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. to discuss “Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival,” by Velma Wallis, a tale of two old Native American women abandoned by their tribe to perish in the Yukon during a brutal winter famine. The evening book group also meets Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. to talk about “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” by Gregory Maguire, “a fantastical tale of good and evil, of choice and responsibility,” according to Publishers Weekly. Copies of both books are available at the library, and new members are always welcome.

What a great way to spend a winter morning or evening!

The library is a drop-off site for the community food shelf Please bring an item or two for the local food shelf when you visit the library – your donations will make you feel good and will help those in need.

Free wireless access available The library offers free wireless Internet access for patrons who bring in their laptops installed with wireless cards - no more waiting to use the public access computers.

Hours and information Frederic Public Library, 127 Oak Street West.

715-327-4979, e-mail fredericpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Regular open hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Luck Public Library Computers for Seniors is held Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon.

Preschool story hour is held Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. We focus on developing emergent reading skills and language.

Tax forms are in. Come and get them while they last.

DVD donations are needed. If you have a new or slightly used DVD that you are willing to donate to the library, it would be much appreciated. DVDs are getting to be a greater and greater

part of our circulation, and most library’s budgets are not increasing. This would be a wonderful thank-you gift to your library.

Bricks are still available to purchase for our new library. Contact the village or the library for a copy of the Buy a Brick form. The building is really taking shape.

Hours: Monday 1 – 5 p.m., Tuesday 1 – 8 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 1 – 8 p.m., Friday 1 – 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon.

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

BURNETT COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Local students win PBEC’s youth art contest

CENTURIA – Eleven local students are winners of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s 2007-08 Art is Powerful Coloring Contest. teer readers who share their love of The grand-prize winner is Emma books with the children.

Drury, grade 3, Osceola Intermediate School. She is the daughter of Kris and Book requests Mike Drury of Dresser, and her teacher Book deliveries are on Monday and is Mrs. Schmidt.

Wednesday afternoon each week. BeGrade-level winners are: Grade 1, Ancause of the high volume of books, we tonia Danielson, Valley Christian School, will no longer call you when your books and Samantha Bostrom, Webster Elecome in but you can check the status of mentary; Grade 2, Sawyer Brice, St. your requested books by going online at Croix Falls Elementary, and Eliska www.nwls.wislib.org.

Branch, Somerset Elementary; Grade 3, Renee Reckner, Somerset Elementary, Library hours and Jenna Curtis, Webster Elementary; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday noon Grade 4, Nicole Moretter, Webster Ele- 6 p.m., Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., mentary, and Stacy Lynn Hubbell, Shell Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - Lake Elementary; Grade 5, Megan Johnnoon. son, Valley Christian School, and Viktoria Ronning, New Richmond East Elementary.

All winners received certificates and cash prizes in recognition of their creativity in showing how electricity imon Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the proves life at home and school. In addition, Emma’s grand-prize artwork Luck Village Hall. - submitted will be printed on Polk-Burnett’s official mug for electric cooperative’s 2008 an-

Grantsburg Public Library Benefit dinner The men of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church are holding a benefit chili dinner for the Grantsburg Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Grantsburg High School. Come and enjoy a dinner of chili, salad, French bread, brownies and a beverage being offered from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The boys basketball game will follow at 7 p.m.

Preschool story time Every Wednesday morning at 10:30 preschoolers listen to stories, do fun activities and leave with a favorite sticker.

We invite your preschoolers to join the fun. Gratitude is extended to the volun-

Luck library/museum meeting set LUCK – There will be a meeting of the Luck Library and Museum Committee

Emma Drury, grade 3, Osceola Intermediate School, is the grand-prize winner of Polk-Burnett’s youth art contest. – Photo submitted nual meeting June 5. Polk-Burnett’s youth art contest is funded by Touchstone Energy Cooperative. - from PolkBurnett

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 13

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity Valentine Dance

Under the direction of the fundraising committee, (L to R): Evelyn Weber, Nancy Bergman, Annie Slater (chair), Julie Hoel and Brenda Christianson, Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity held a Valentine Dinner/Dance at the Lakeview Event Center, Siren, Thursday, Feb. 14. Adventures Restaurant catered 175 meals for the event. “People look forward to it because it is a dance in February,” Slater commented. “People are ready to get out of the house because of cabin fever. It’s a perfect time to have a dinner dance. Everybody is ready for fun.”

Photos by Nancy Jappe

This photo shows some of the artwork put out for silent auction during the Habitat for Humanity Valentine’s Day dinner/dance at the Lakeview Event Center, Siren. According to Habitat treasurer Evelyn Weber $8,233.50 was the total raised during this event. Of that, $2,000 was donated by U.S. Bank in addition to donations from Century 21 Sand County Services, Bremer Bank and individuals.

Music for the Habitat for Humanity Fourth-Annual Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance was provided by Debbie Bigelow and Dean Kleven. Dean Roland served as master of ceremonies, singing a wedding song for anyone married on Valentine’s Day and a love song to his wife, Shelly. Leona Cummings presented a humorous skit using items from the past as her props. This was the first time the dinner/dance included entertainment in addition to music for dancing.

ATV donated to fundraiser X

Wild River Sport Cycle in Grantsburg, owned by Carol and Dick Queener, has donated a 2007 Ozark 250 Quad Runner ATV to Regional Hospice for their fundraising raffle. The raffle drawing will take place on April 26, at the Regional Hospice Spring Fling. Winners need not be present at the drawing. Second prize is a $500 shopping spree at the Syren General Store, donated by the store. Third prize is a quarter Angus beef donated by Perlick Construction. Fourth prize is a gas grill donated by Taylor Funeral Homes, and fifth prize is fishing guide service from Get Bit Fishing Guide Service. For information about raffle ticket purchase call Regional Hospice at 715-635-9077. – Photo submitted

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Rendezvous sponsors first-annual ice-fishing contest

People looking out across Memory Lake Saturday afternoon did not see the usual quiet winter scene, but instead saw a strange sight, people ice fishing.

The lake, which hasn’t seen anyone ice fishing on it in years, was bustling as over 70 entrants took to the ice in the Rendezvous’ First-Annual Ice-Fishing contest.

Jake Chell, who collected $50 for being first on the ice, got some help with his line from contest volunteers Bill Tietz and Bill Erickson.

Photos by Priscilla Bauer

Entrants got creative in their attempt to qualify “catches” at the Rendezvous Ice-Fishing Contest at Memory Lake in Grantsburg Saturday afternoon. Contest participants had some fun tossing fish filets back and forth on the ice. Some of these technically caught fish even made it onto the official board, winning lots of laughs but no prizes.

Racing down the Main Street of Grantsburg in a shot gunstart, fishing enthusiasts headed for Memory Lake Saturday afternoon for the first-annual Rendezvous Ice-Fishing Contest.

Rendezvous owner Mike Janke congratulated contest winner Chuck Becvar. Becvar held the distinction of being first to catch a fish and also ended up being the only entrant to catch a fish during the three-hour event. Becvar’s northern weighed 3-1/2 lbs. and was 24-1/4 inches long.

Valentine's Day celebrated at the Frederic Nursing & Rehab

Orpha Hansen got a special serenade by a quartet from the Indianhead Chorus and received a rose as a Valentine gift for the special day. Gratitude is extended to all the friends and families that furnished treats for the residents celebration. – Photos submitted

Valentine’s Day was celebrated at Frederic Nursing and Rehabilitation. This included the crowning of a new princess, Genevieve Morrison, and prince, Ray Haremza. Elna Wambolt was crowned queen and LeRoy Peak was crowned king.

Music was provided by Bob Rutherford and Friends.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 15

Ice Castle Deer Lake Classic

State Rep. Ann Hraychuck interviews Austin Andersen of Osceola at the Deer Lake Classic this past weekend. – Photo submitted

Justin Mork of Dresser is shown with the first fish caught during the Deer Lake Classic ice-fishing tournament and his prize pole. – Photo submitted

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A successful Red Night to remember BALSAM LAKE - On Feb. 7, the Polk County Branch of the American Red Cross hosted their Third-Annual Red Night To Remember at Paradise Landing in Balsam Lake.

It proved to be an exciting and successful evening. The event raised a total of $10,300 for the Polk County Red Cross programs and services provided to our friends and neighbors in need. One hundred-plus people were in attendance as they braved the inclement weather to mingle, and enjoy the appetizers, bid on silent auction items and of course, purchase that glass of champagne and wonder if they would win the diamonds. The committee members and attendees were in awe of the silent auction items that were generously donated from the Polk County area businesses.

The winners of raffle drawings are as follows: Casino Junket: Nancy Rydberg; Two Hot Air Balloon Rides: Kathy Poirier; Hoyt V-Tec Bow: Chris Rydberg.

The winners of the champagne raffle prizes were: Karen Pennings, white gold bracelet adorned with three rubies, and Philip Minervino, journey diamond necklace.

The committee members would like to recognize all the sponsors and silent auction donators and the attendees who supported this benefit. – from American Red Cross

Prize winners were recognized at the Third-Annual Red Night To Remember at Paradise in Balsam Lake, Feb. 7. - Photos submitted

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

SCF students present check St. Croix Falls students raised money for the new St. Croix Falls Public Library project. The top fundraising classrooms presented a check to librarian Sarah Adams on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Pictured are front row (L to R): Denise Sinclear Todd, Mitchel Berg, Mitchell Gjovig, Jeremy Cermin, Alyson Frey, Casey Mikl and Wyatt Bergmann. Middle row: Sarah Adams, St. Croix Falls City Library Director Laurie Sabel, Cherie Ollman, Jesse Loen, Rebecca Thayer, Cara Erickson, Angus Koschmeder and Scott Schaber. Back Row: Kyle Christensen, Cory Gebhard, Ryan Larson, Joe Raygor, Dillon Berg and Mike Mysicka.

The check presented was for $3,124.48. – Photo by Tammi Milberg

Knitting class offered in Frederic FREDERIC – Hats off to you! Join an enthusiastic group of knitters and learn to knit hats. Classes will be held Mondays, March 3, 10, 17 and 31, from 6-8 p.m., at Frederic High School. No class March 24.

Knit a rolled brim, mock cable, simple Fair Isle, cable band, earflap or cable and bobbles hat.

This class is for all skill levels. Begin-

ners are welcome! Knitters may bring their own project to work on.

To register for class, call Ann Fawver at Frederic Community Education, 715-327-4868. Questions may be directed to Konnie Didlo, class instructor, at 715-653-2619. Watch the InterCounty Leader for future classes. – submitted

Top seller two years in a row Jaylyn Lammert, St. Croix Falls, was the top Girl Scout cookie seller of her troop for two years in a row. Girl Scouts in St. Croix Falls were selling cookies in hopes to raise enough money for the whole troop to go to Como Park for an overnight campout.

Jaylyn sold 450 boxes last year, making her the troop’s top seller. Not shabby for a fourth-grader, but she set a goal this year to sell 455 boxes.

To her surprise, when the total number of boxes Jaylyn sold came in at 574, she knew the troop had earned their overnight trip to Como Park and she was the top seller for the second year in a row. Jaylyn started as a Brownie in second grade and has been active in Girl Scouting since.

Jaylyn and her troop appreciate the support of people who bought cookies from them this year. – Photo by Tammi Milberg

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 17

Local Democrats to hold meeting POLK COUNTY - The Polk County Democratic Party will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Dresser Village Pizzeria. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will include guest speaker Alison Page.

A social hour and dinner will also be at the Village Pizzeria in Dresser starting at

Knights of Columbus present checks

5:30 p.m. During dinner, Jamie Gutkowski from State DPW will provide training on becoming a Delegate to the National Convention.

For more information, please call Jan Kelton-Wolden at 715-327-5637. - submitted

TF blood drive exceeds goal TAYLORS FALLS – The recent Bloodmobile stop at Taylors Falls exceeded its goal of 50 pints by five pints, due to all donors who braved the snowy and slippery conditions.

Six donors gave double red cells that benefit recipients needing more than one unit of blood product.

Coordinating the event was Jeanette Sonnentag, with help from Donna Hacken, Jeannette Dahlquist, Deb Casterton, Becky Canday, Deb Jorgenson, Jamie

Johnson, Jerry Rhoads, Jackie Burket, J.R. Welden, Wade Luger, Jenna Welden, Matt Sonnentag and many others.

Sonnentag said the financial support for the raffle prizes and menu items came from The Bitworks, Inc. computer service of Taylors Falls. Businesses wishing to sponsor the Bloodmobile next February should contact her.

The use of the community center was approved by the city of Taylors Falls. – with submitted information

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Dave Rudolph, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 6370, representing Frederic, Grantsburg, Luck and Siren, presents two checks totaling $500 to the Patrick Whited family who lost their home to fire. The K of C is a Catholic Fraternal Organization dedicated to aiding all the members of the local community regardless of religious preference. Funding for checks to fire victims comes primarily from contributions collected during the state K of C Charity Raffle (currently being held). The public’s contribution during K of C fundraising events is greatly appreciated. – Photo submitted

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Polk-Burnett County Bee Club meetings resume POLK-BURNETT COUNTIES – The Polk-Burnett County Bee Club will resume meeting this month on Thursday.

All who are interested in getting the buzz on beekeeping are invited to join other local beekeepers at the government center in Balsam Lake at 8 p.m. The club

meets downstairs for an information lecture, show and tell, discussion and question and answers. All are invited.

Refreshments are served at the end of the meeting. For more information on this fascinating hobby and business call 715327-5525. – Wayne M. Anderson

This cluster of bees died during the last cold snap. A colony of healthy bees can survive the coldest winter if there are enough bees in the hive to keep it warm, and if they stored enough food to eat. It is unknown why this colony died. Photo by Wayne Anderson

Kinship of Polk County holds annual meeting New board of directors announced BALSAM LAKE – On Feb. 4, Kinship of Polk County held its annual meeting to elect members for the board of directors and to review the 2007 year of service to the youth and families of Polk County.

Kinship board member re-elected was Melanie Hogan. She will continue to serve on the Kinship board along with Bryan Beseler, Libby Collins, Robert Kazmierski, Greg Marsten and Joyce Turnquist.

New members elected to the Kinship board of directors included Cheryl Beseler - Dresser, Linda Liedle - Osceola, Pete Raye – Luck and Brandon Robinson – Osceola.

Josh Robinson of Osceola has, since this meeting, been appointed to fill a one-year board vacancy.

Kinship director Nancy Hoppe noted highlights from 2007: • The school mentoring program is active in six of the eight school districts in Polk County with more than 150 high school students participating as mentors to younger elementary school students in 2007.

• Traditional community-based mentoring is strong and effective. Adult men-

tors involved are very committed to their young mentees. The average duration of a community-based relationship in Polk County is six years.

• Fundraising efforts were very successful with community contributions increasing 81 percent over 2006.

• Received foundation grant awards of $51,300.

• Accepted into the Partners for the Future Endowment Challenge with the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation, a three-year, matching-gift, fundraising initiative to establish a permanent endowment fund for Kinship of Polk County.

• Implemented the third-annual Blue Ribbon Walk to Stop Child Abuse Held in April, this event raised $6,667 to support efforts to prevent child abuse in Polk County. Proceeds were given to Community Referral Agency and Kinship of Polk County.

Hoppe concluded by reading excerpts from letters written by mentees, and thanked the board and all of the volunteers for their hard work to provide the stability, support, friendship and community so needed by our young people.

For more information about Kinship mentoring programs, please contact the Kinship office, 715-268-7980 or check out their Web site, www.polkkinship.org. submitted

Frederic Diabetes Night Out: A free program FREDERIC – In the U.S., 18.2 million people have diabetes, a disease that also increases the risk of other health problems such as vision loss, kidney and nerve damage, stroke and heart disease.

As part of its Living and Learning Diabetes program, St. Croix Regional Medical Center is sponsoring a Diabetes Night Out at Frederic Clinic in Frederic on Thursday, March 6.

This program will be for those with diabetes and their family members/caregivers from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Frederic Clinic’s main lobby. Jonn Dinnies, PA, will talk about diabetic care from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and be available along with the diabetic educators, Robin Herr, Deb Voss, and Kathy Johnson to answer questions.

The free event will include: • Blood pressure checks • Glucose meter trade-in • Oral hygiene station –Harlander and Tesch, DDS • Pharmacist station – The Medicine Shoppe • Special giveaway items Refreshments will be available to all attendees.

Once again, this program is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Robin Herr, dietitian/program coordinator at 800-828-3627 or 715-483-0248. – from St. Croix Regional Medical Center

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 19

Grantsburg Honor Roll A Honor Roll Grade 9 Emily Cole, Lauren Finch, Anna Horky, Haley Johnson, Rosalie LaMere, Alyssa Landsberger, Gavin Meyer, Tiffany Meyer, Brent Myers, Cory Niles, Dianna Olson, Christine Peterson, Lydia Pfluger, Mckenzie Ryan, Carissa Skifstad, Erin Stavne, Emily Swenson and Cherissa Vollendorf.

Grade 10 Carinna Coy, Cody Crawford, Jessika Ilgen, Christopher Olson, Ethan Prazak, John Schneider, Kallie Thoreson, Aimee VanTatenhove, Sarah Wald, Emma Walker and Larissa Wilhelm.

Grade 11 Lydia Benge Briggs, Misty Bruzek, Nicole Davis, Justine Diffee, Mitchell

Evenson, Conner Goetz, David Larsen, Jennifer Lisiecki, Nathan McConnell, Jessica Moyer, Tyler Myers, Darryl Richter, Abbey Vaksdal and Tina Zimmermann.

Grade 12 Jennifer Anderson, Maarja Anderson, Ausha Arnold, Megan Branstad, Melissa Burton, Kevin Johnson, Vanessa Kleiss, Chandra Krout, Ashley Larson, Dominic Leibel, Khrystyne Lindgren, Cody Marek, Alison McKinley, Alex Nelson, Lukas Olson, Emily Prazak, Rebecca Radtke, Alyssa Ryan, Zebedee Shadis, Laura Skifstad, Donald Syring and Kristi Weaver.

B Honor Roll Grade 9 Rachel Anderson, Derek Bertelsen, Andrew Falk, Angela Gaffney, Lisa Gaffney,

Follow the Leader

Grade 10 Jessica Banks, Casey Crawford, Heather Davison, Lindsey Fallstrom, Mitchell Frommader, Andrew Koch, Steven Labatt, Jennifer Langevin, Kelsey Lien, Cerenity Louis, Michelle Lund, Anne Palmquist, Joshua Phillipps, Michael Roper, Dustin Ryan, Leah Ticknor, Cody Tromberg and Matthew Wood.

Grade 11 Bradley Berner, Kevin Berry, Trent Bonneville, Benjamin Cole, Jonathan DeRocker, Bobbie Durand, Taylor Finch, Tessa Hane, Gretchen Hedlund, Brittany Hollan, Kayla Johnson, Kristen Kaiser, Sarah Kline, Benjamin Larson, Keegan Marek, Lauren Stavne, Derek Stevens and Erika Syverson.

Grade 12 Allison Briggs, Dana Burnham, Sasha Chell, Zachary Corbin, Adam Dahl, Nathan Dahlberg, Michelle Davidsavor, Amanda Durand, Alysia Fehrman, Hannah Finch, Madison Graves, Carson Holmquist, Kirsten Ilgen, Nicholas Larsen, Melissa Luedtke, Brandon Mogel, LaShawn Nohrenberg, Katty Peterson and Simone Workman.

Siren Honor Roll

Academic news GREEN BAY – UW-Green Bay has made public the names of students receiving academic honors for the fall semester.

Students who maintain a 4.0 gradepoint average, which represents all A grades, receive highest honors. High honors go to those earning 3.99 to 3.75 grade-point averages. Honors are given to students with 3.74 to 3.50 grade-point averages.

Highest honors: Andrea Didlo, Frederic; high honors: Derek Bergman and Crystal Osman of Luck and Chase Hedrick, St. Croix Falls; honors: Anthony McCoy, Milltown.

Noah Gausman, Marika Grundtner, Krista Hillman, Lauren Jewell, Kyle Johnson, Christina Larson, William Lauer, Steven McKinley, Laissa Miller, Kortney Morrin, James Nelson, Seth Odegard, Jonathan Radtke, Dylan Roberts, Tyler Sanvig, Russell Thoreon and Andrew Widell.

A Honor Roll Grade 7 Elizabeth Brown, Brittany Coulter, Raven Emery, Matthew Larson, Joshua Lemieux, Cassandra Mercer, Jacob Swenson and Hunter Wikstrom.

Grade 8 Taylor Ader, Heather Bearheart, Luke Bollant, Andrew Brown, Rachel Gloodt, Ian Martin, Evan Oachs, Leanne Pigman, Tyler Richison and Isaac Wegner.

Grade 9 Nathaniel Larson, Tadd Oachs, Elizabeth Otto, Jacob Stiemann, Stephanie Taylor and Michael Wampfler.

Grade 10 Sarah Howe and Mackenzie Swenson.

Grade 11 Allison Didier and Emily Muus.

Grade 12 Amanda Coen, Courtney Daniels, Jennifer Mitchell and Britteny Muus.

B Honor Roll Grade 7 William Barr III, Sean Coy, Joy Dunlap, Mackenzie Erickson, Shay Johnson, James Keller, Kyaisha Kettula, Lisa Moylan, Shelbi Spafford, Samuel Vasatka and Matthew Wampfler.

Grade 8 Amber Hall, William Haines, Elijah Hinze, Kaylene Johnson, Tricia Kopecky, Qi Xin Li, Christina Luna, Jessica Lysdahl, Abigail Mitchell, Adam Neurer, Jocelyn Rudd, Jacob Stener, Alan Strabel and Katie Kelly Schaefer.

Grade 9 Michael Bearheart, Ashley Bjornstad, Carley Emery, Brittani Hopkins, Catrina Luna, Dillon Lysdahl, Jessica Morris,

Coty Reh, Cody Spafford, Seth Stoner and Jeremy Wikstrom.

Grade 10 Meghan Baasch, Breanna Barr, Jenna Jarrell, Derek Jaskolka, Kendra Jones and Joseph Pigman.

Grade 11 Amanda Bachman, Charles Brown IV, Christina Conrow, Janey Emery, Aaron Engstrand, Jesse Hinze, Kevin Niedenfuer, Collin Tewalt and Jenna Wambolt.

Grade 12 Cory Abbott, Thaddeus Baasch, Sydney Berreth-Doran, Ryan Bl, Adam Daniels, Elizabeth Daniels, Grant Downard, Travis Freese, Jessie Fung, Melissa Horwath, Kyle Malm, Marcus Morris, Charisse Phernetton, Lynette Renberg, Jessica Sanders, William Scanlon and Amanda Shipley.

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Frederic Community Education Auditions for Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre original musical production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, at the Frederic Elementary school.

Thread Painting A Still Life. Thursdays, March 6-13, 6-9 p.m. Instructor: Julie Crabtree. Fee: $17.81/$4 Sr. 62+.

Knitting. Beginners are welcome. Mondays, March 3 – 31, 6 – 8 p.m. Instructor: Konnie Didlo. Fee $22.41/$4 Sr. 62+.

SICKO – open forum. View Michael Moore’s documentary comparing the highly profitable American health care industry to other nations. Tuesday, March 18, 7 p.m. Free.

Computers: Beginner II. Mondays, March 3-17, 5-7 p.m.

Instructor: Melinda Sorensen. Fee: $17.81/$4 Sr. 62+.

Quilting: Crazy Quilted Victorian Heart Purse. Tuesdays, March 11-18, 6-8:30 p.m. Instructor: Lorraine Lunzer.

Fee: $17.81/$4 Sr. 62+.

Hot Shots Gymnastics – Introduction to tumbling. Elementary grades 1+, Thursdays, March 13 - April 3, 4-5 p.m.

Preschool age 4-K, Tuesdays, March 13 - April 3, 5-6 p.m. at Frederic Elementary. Instructor: Teri Wilkie. Fee: $13.21.

Woodworking – Make a picture frame. Tuesdays, April 15 and 22, 6 – 8 p.m. Instructor: Darrel Mathieu. Fee: $13.21.

Dog Obedience for beginners. Thursdays, April 3 – May 22, 6 – 7 p.m. at Frederic Elementary. Instructor: Ed Bechtel.

Fee: $25.61/$4 Sr. 62+.

Computer Upgrades for the Average Person. Thursday, April 3 – 17, 5 – 7 p.m. Instructor: Brent Hinck. Fee: $17.81/$4 Sr. 62+.

Advanced Thread Painting – A garden in stitches.

Tuesdays, April 8 – 29, 6 – 9 p.m. Instructor: Julie Crabtree.

Fee: $31.62/$4 Sr. Sew A Quilt: patch posey kaleidoscope. Creating different, four-patch squares from one fabric. Thursdays, April 3 – 24, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Instructor: Lorraine Lunzer. Fee: $27.01/$4 Sr. 62+.

Responsible Beverage Service. WITC #47-311-400, #25362. Monday, April 14, 6 – 10 p.m. Instructor: Dave Miller, former Minn. police officer. Fee: $20.

Mosaic Stained Glass Garden Gazing Ball. Thursdays, April 17 – 24, 6 – 9 p.m. Instructor: Peggy Ingles. Fee: $17.81/$4 Sr. 62+. ($20 material fee).

HSED/GED Learning Services at Frederic High School, Room 127, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4-7:30 p.m.

Instructor: Kessea Karl. No fee.

Open Ice Skating for Families. At Frederic’s Skating Rink, located east of the elementary school. Rink and warming house open daily from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Rules are posted at the rink.

Weight room: Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 7-8 a.m. and 3:30-4:45 p.m. No fee.

Walking at the Birch Street Elementary. Monday-Friday, 78 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. No fee.

Creative Memories Workshop. Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m. – noon and Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Please RSVP with Mimi and for more information, 715-327-8122.

Men’s Basketball League at the Frederic High School, Sunday 7 p.m. $1 fee per time.

For more information on any class or to register for Frederic Community Education Classes call Ann Fawver 715-3274868 or e-mail fawvera@frederic.k12.wi.us.

St. Croix Falls Community Education Shaken Baby Syndrome, Two special sessions, Monday, March 17 at the CESA #11 Conference Center in Turtle Lake.

Morning session, 8:30 a.m. and afternoon session, 12:30 p.m.

Presenters: Nancy Graese, Diane Ryberg and Susan Abbey.

There is no cost for this training.

Rug braiding with Terri, two day class, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23 and 24, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Port Washington at Country Inn and Suites. Cost: $50. Call 715-483-1433 to register.

Paper Clutter Solutions, Thursday, March 6, 6:30 – 9 p.m., St. Croix Falls High School. Fee: $25. Instructor: Susi McCune.

St. Croix Falls Kids Wrestling Program, beginning Feb. 19 through March 28. Mondays, grades 2 and 3, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Tuesdays, grades 4 and 5, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Wednesdays, grades preK and 1, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Thursdays, grades 2 – 5, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Practices are held in the wrestling room. Fee: $15 ($30 max per family).

Open gym, Pick up games of basketball for those 8th grade and above, every Wednesday night, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the St. Croix Falls High School gym. Cost $1.50 per evening.

Weight Room is open, 6:45 – 7:45 a.m. Monday – Friday, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday on student school days.

Please check our Web site at http://scfschools.com/webfoldce/WebpageCE.asp or give our office a call at 715-4839823 ext. 224 for more information.

Luck Community Education Winter Thaw at Snap Fitness in Milltown. Jan. 21 – March 15, Community Ed is teaming up with Snap Fitness to offer special winter savings.

Quilting: Bird in a Cage Wall Hanging. Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fee: $17.81/$4 seniors 62+ (pattern is $3).

Instructor: Bev Getchell.

Mike Lynch Wisconsin Starwatch Class. Tuesday, Feb.

26, 7 – 9 p.m. Fee: $12. Class size is limited to 75.

Long-Term Care – What is it? Tuesday, March 25, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $5. Instructor: Matt Garot.

Coming up Driver’s Ed, April 21 – May 14 Responsible Beverage Service, May 12 Reader’s group. Mondays, Feb. 11, “The Thirteenth Tale”

by Setterfeld and March 17, “Cannery Row”. Discussion starts at 7:30 p.m. Readers meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Luck Elementary Classroom 215 during the school year and at the Luck Library during the summer. For other dates and book titles, email Sue Mattson at smattson@lakeland.ws.

Unity Community Education Scuba Diving Instruction. Northland Equipment and Diving provides instruction and certification for Scuba diving through Unity Community Education. Call for details.

Hotshots Gymnastics. Monday or Thursday night, fourweek sessions. Intermediate $30, beginner/advanced beginner $20. You must preregister by calling instructor Teri Wilkie 715-825-2263.

Organic Gardening: Starting Plants from Seeds. Tuesday, Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m. Cost: $15. Instructor: Ken Keppers.

Identity Theft – How to Protect Yourself. WITC #42-504416, class 27984. Thursday, Feb. 28, 6 – 9 p.m. Cost: $13.21 to WITC ($4 for seniors 62+). Instructor: Kristen Strohbusch.

Organic Gardening: Rotational Planting. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7-9 p.m. Cost: $15. Instructor: Ken Keppers.

Open Computer Lab. WITC #47-1-3-410, class 24247 Wednesdays, March 5-19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $17.81. $4 seniors, 62+. Instructor: Jeanne Reinhardt.

Writing from Within: Nonfiction and the Personal Voice.

Wednesdays, March 5 – 26, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $50. Instructor: Kathleen Melin.

Rhythm of the Womyn. Saturdays, March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14, noon to 1 p.m. $25 for all four sessions. $8 per session – drop-in fee. Instructors: Barbie Luepke and Tanna Worrell.

Personal Safety – Self-Defense. WITC Cat. #42-504-416.

Thursday, March 27, 6 – 9 p.m. Cost: $13.21 ($4 for seniors 62+). Instructor: Kristen Strohbusch.

Palmistry for Health Care. Thursday, April 17, 6:30-9 p.m.

Cost: $60. Instructor: Linda Stroshane.

Responsible Beverage Service. WITC #47-311-400, class #24751. Monday, April 28, 6 – 10 p.m. Cost: $20 ($10.79 for students ages 62+).

To register and for more information for any Unity Community Education class, contact 715-825-2101, ext. 3510 or email tworrell@unity.k12.wi.us.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21

OBITUARIES Alice May Costerisan

Thomas Edward Amundson

Helen Elizabeth Thies

Alice May Costerisan, age 85, of Luck, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at the United Pioneer Home.

She was born on March 20, 1922, in Janesville, the daughter of John and Grace (Churchill) Hessian. She graduated from Janesville High School in 1940, was a member of the National Honor Society and was valedictorian. Alice had been a Janesville resident most of her life. She was the beloved wife of Raymond Lee Costerisan for 57 years. They were married on June 15, 1940, in Dubuque, Iowa, and he preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 1997.

She had been employed by Rock River Woolen Mills and retired from Panoramic Corp. in 1987. During her working career, she served as confidant and advocate for friends, neighbors and fellow workers. For a number of years she was shop chairperson for the Machinists Union members at Panoramic. After retiring, Alice spent several years teaching Cambodian women immigrants to read and write English for the Literacy Counsel. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader for a number of years. She was an avid bowler and a member of a championship team during her working career.

She enjoyed traveling with her daughters and visiting with family and friends. One of her great passions that she shared with her husband was their flower garden.

She enjoyed canning, sewing, and had a passion for reading, eating chocolates and shopping. Alice loved music and would spend hours listening and singing along to the Hit Parade. She often attended musicals around the country with her daughters and friends.

She is survived by her four children: Karen Fey of Siren, Richard (Audrey) Costerisan of Siren, Michael (Karen) Costerisan of West Stockbridge, Mass., and Kristine Costerisan of, Langhorne, Pa.; four grandchildren: Jenifer (Jamie) Keach, Jill (Eric) Birkholz both of Janesville, Dawn (Timothy) Allen of Westfield, Mass., and Phoebe (Hannah Betsh) Costerisan-Weiss of Berkley, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Tristan Berliew and Sierra Allen; and brother: Jack (Jackie) Hessian of Loves Park, Ill. She was preceded in death by her mother, Grace Breese; and her husband.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Milton Lawns Memorial Park Chapel. Interment will be in Milton Lawns Memorial Park.

The Schneider Apfel Schneider and Schneider Funeral Home, Janesville, was entrusted with arrangements.

Thomas Edward Amundson, Clinton, 52, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, after six months of enduring brain cancer.

Tom was born in Rice Lake, on Dec. 9, 1955, the son of Vern and Evelyn Meyer Amundson.

He graduated from Prairie Farm High School in 1974 and from UW-River Falls in 1979 with a degree in Ag Education. Tom married Sally DeLong on July 10, 1982, at the home on Green Meadow Farm in Clinton. He was a dairy and livestock agent for Polk County, an inseminator for Tri-State Breeders, a dairy farmer, and most recently, a teacher and FFA advisor for the Clinton School District. Tom was making a transition to full-time ministry when he learned of his brain tumor in July 2007. Tom grew up locally, and his wife taught agriculture at Clayton High School for several years.

Tom was passionate about serving the Lord by sharing the gospel and encouraging others to grow in their faith. He used his gift of singing as a means of worshipping the Lord and provided meaningful and uplifting messages at numerous church events, weddings, funerals and on mission trips. He was an avid sports fan (Packers, Badgers and Brewers) and loved raising and training standard-bred horses. Tom has been actively involved as an Elder of the Grace Bible Church, a member of the United States Trotting Association, the National Holstein Association, the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators and the National FFA Alumni.

Tom is survived by his wife, Sally; his mother, Evelyn Meyer; three brothers, Gary (Heddy), Jeff (Patty), and Roger (Jeanette); two sisters, Linda (Gary) Moen and Margie (Marty) Bergmark; seven brothers-in-law, William (Vicki), Charles (Stephanie), Jesse (MaryPat), Dave (Kelley), Ray (Mia), Bruce (Jeanne), and Brad (Theresa); two sisters-in-law, Mary (Jack) Speerstra and Peggy (Tom) Peissig; his stepmother-in-law, Karin; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and a multitude of brothers and sisters in Christ.

He is preceded in death by his father, Vern; and his grandparents, Otto and Anna Amundson and Edward and Lila Meyer.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at Grace Bible Church with Pastor Matt Ritchey officiating. Memorials may be given to Grace Bible Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.daleymurphywisch.com.

Daley Murphy Wisch and Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, Beloit, was entrusted with arrangements.

Helen Elizabeth Thies, 89, from the Eureka area, died Feb. 15, 2008.

Helen was born July 12, 1918, to Peter N. and Cecelia M. Petersen. She graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in 1937, and married Markus Thies on Sept. 1, 1938. They spent their entire married life in the Eureka area, where they enjoyed the natural beauty of the farmland, woods and river valley area. She especially appreciated events with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members and friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Markus W. Thies; parents; two sisters and six brothers.

She is survived by her daughter, Jean (Vernon) Tilton; son, Scott (Patricia) Thies; grandchildren, Tara (Steven) Kline, Tracy (David) Wess, Jason (Dana) Tilton and Kelley Eeg; great-grandchildren, Ashley and MaKayla Tilton, Michael and Kelsey Kline and Matthew and Elizabeth (Toby) Wess; sister, Esther Howard and other relatives and friends.

Services were held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Croix Falls. Pallbearers were her grandchildren and their spouses. Honorary pallbearers were her great-grandchildren. Burial was at St. John Cemetery in Centuria.

The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.

Mildred Lorraine Hermansen Mildred Lorraine Hermansen of Milltown, 87, died unexpectedly on Feb. 11, 2008, at Willow Ridge Healthcare in Amery.

Mildred was born on Dec. 1, 1920, in Kenmare, N.D., to Erick and Ida Erickson. She came to Wisconsin at age 4, attended Lanesdale Grade School and graduated from Milltown High School in 1938. Mildred was a member of Milltown Lutheran Church. She married Edward Hermansen in June 1940. They had four children, Claretta Hansen of Amery, Chet Hermansen of Madison, Rita Christensen of Amery and Connie Zager of Amery.

Mildred was employed for many years with the Milltown and Unity School District as an office secretary until retiring in 1980. She often said they were the best years of her life. She dearly loved all the kids. After retiring, she and Ed went to Harlingen, Texas, for 15 winters.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four sisters, Alice Jensen, Agnes Larson, Lillian Peterson and Gladys Johnson; and two brothers, Lawrence and Earl Erickson.

She is survived by her four children; 12 grandchildren, Tami Dorsey, Shelby Glunz, Barb Morgan, Diane Dyson, Jessica Sine, Eric, Kristen and Thomas Hermansen, Kari Christensen, Anna Kirsling, Ashley and Andy Zager; 19 great-grandchildren; and brother, Leonard Erickson.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 16, at Milltown Lutheran Church with Pastor Danny Wheeler officiating. Interment was at Milltown Cemetery.

The Rowe Funeral Home of Luck was entrusted with arrangements.

Esther H. Stephansen Esther Hilda Stephansen, Luck, died Feb. 11, 2008.

She was 95 years old.

She was born Feb. 20, 1912, to Herman and Martha Pautsch at the Deer Park farm. She was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Deer Park. She then moved with her parents to Wanderoos, and then later to Frederic – all on farms. Esther was confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Frederic. She was united in marriage to Emil Erickson, and to this union one son, Kenneth, was born.

In 1936, Esther graduated from DeGuilles Beauty Culture School of Minneapolis. She then went to work at beauty shops in both Frederic and Chicago, Ill. Later she had her own shop in Siren.

On Oct. 3, 1941, Esther was united in marriage to Carl Stephansen. Two children, David and Dianne, were born to this union. She gave up her beauty shop to be with her family and resided on two farms in the Luck area. Those being in North Luck and then West Denmark.

In later years, Esther did part-time work in Karen’s beauty shops in Luck, and the United Pioneer Nursing Home. She taught Sunday school several years to her Tiny Tots at St. Peters Lutheran Church. This she enjoyed very much. Esther has been a member of this church since the mid-1940s.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold (infant), Martin and Loren; sisters, (infant twins) Ardyce and Arlene, Viona Berg, Evelyn Petersen, Verna Norling, Nora Bishop; husband, Carl; son, Kenneth Erickson and daughter-in-law, Marilyn; and daughter, Dianne.

She leaves behind her sister, Lillian Berry of Fair Oaks, Calif.; brother, Wilmer (Doris) Pautsch of Luck; son, David (Kathy) of Dresser; grandsons, Steve (Sue) Erickson, Scott Erickson, Brian Erickson, Chad Stephansen and Ryan Stephansen; granddaughter, Lisa (Steve) Schiebel; four great-granddaughters; four greatgrandsons; and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 15, at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Luck, with the Rev. Mark Hall officiating. Soloist Earl Wilson, was accompanied by Sandy Lundquist. Organist was Carol Winchell. Pallbearers were Chad Stephansen, Ryan Stephansen, Steve Erickson, Scott Erickson, Brian Erickson and Gary Schauls. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Olson and Russell Sweezo.

The Rowe Funeral Home of Luck, was entrusted with arrangements.

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

OBITUARIES Geraldine M. Ramsdell Geraldine M. Ramsdell, 80, a resident of Siren died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at her home.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at SwedbergTaylor Funeral Home, Siren Chapel.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren. Interment will follow at Lewis Cemetery.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Siren, was entrusted with arrangements.

Sidney D. Carlson Sidney D. Carlson, age 87, of Rice Lake, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008.

He was born Dec. 5, 1920, in Lorain Township of Cumberland. His parents were Carl and Mary Carlson, Carl of Blooming Prairie, Minn., and Mary from Clairmont, Minn. Carl passed away in 1951 and Mary in 1978.

Sidney farmed with his father, and after his father’s death he continued to farm with his mother until they sold the farm in 1974 and moved to Rice Lake. Sidney started work for Jerome Foods in Barron in 1974 where he met his wife, Helen Marlett, and they were married in 1979. Sidney retired from Jerome Foods in 1982 due to a disability. His wife, Helen, retired from Jerome Foods in 1992. Together they started Carlson Crafts making all sorts of outdoor and indoor figurines, which were sold near and far. Helen died on May 9, 1992, and the business was discontinued.

Sidney Carlson is survived by a stepdaughter, Velma Crosby of Glenwood City; four stepgrandchildren, 12 step-great-grandchildren and three step-great-greatgrandchildren; two nieces, Eleanor Wycoff of Silver Bay, Minn., and Audrey Asper of Kirkland, Wash.; a nephew, Merle Williamson of Waseca, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Mildred Carlson of Austin, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Carlson; his parents, Carl and Mary Carlson; a brother, Kenneth in 1974 and a sister, Maxine Williamson in 2001.

Memorial Services were held Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake with the Rev. Jeff Elmquist officiating.

George T. Green George T. Green, 69, of Crystal, Minn., died Feb. 7, 2008.

He was born July 18, 1938, in Chippewa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; foster parents; three brothers and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lorraine; children, James Green and Cynthia Miller; grandchildren, Gordon III and Nicholas Miller; sisters, Barbara (Ervin) Moser, Evelyn Rufsholm, Freida (Dever) Green, Arlene Hanson, Marie (Don) Pestka and Ruth (Don) Johnson; foster brothers, Marshall and David; also many nieces and nephews.

George worked in tool and die at Honeywell for 39 years. He loved fishing, hunting and other sports.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Crystal.

Interment was at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

The Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home in Crystal was entrusted with arrangements.

Cordelia E. Holst Cordelia E. Holst, 86, Woodbury, Minn., formerly of Frederic, died Feb. 17, 2008.

Cordelia was preceded in death by husband, Arnold; parents, Fred and Emma Oberhelman; and seven siblings.

She is survived by sons, Gilbert (Kathleen), Gary (Judy) and Randall (Penny); grandchildren, Tim, Jeff, Tami, Kevin and Jeremy; step-grandchildren, Matt (Nicole) Stiles, Jodi (Tom) Larson, Rob (Julie) Hoysgaard and Jill Farnsworth; great-grandchildren, Jessica, Amanda and Blake; step-great-grandchildren, Travis, Anthony, Nicole, Eli, Will, George, Janie and Teddy.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at First United Methodist Church, 813 Myrtle Street W. in Stillwater. Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery. Memorials preferred.

The Simonet Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.

Marjorie R. Pearson

Duane Dean Sandberg

Marjorie R. Pearson, (nee Lawien), 87, a resident of Spooner, died Feb. 15, 2008, at Spooner Health System Nursing Home.

Marjorie was born Jan. 1, 1921, in Milwaukee, to William J. and Lydia M. Lawien. She moved to Webster in 1933 with her family. They lived at Twin Pines Resort of Viola Lake. She attended and graduated from Webster High School in 1938. In 1946, she was united in marriage to Olaf Pearson. Marge and Ole operated the Trading Post on Big Sand Lake for 40 years. They retired and made their home on Big Sand Lake.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Olaf, on June 5, 1995.

She is survived by one sister, Marion G. Nelson of Eugene, Ore.; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren with Pastor John Clasen officiating. Music was provided by Pat Taylor and Fran McBroom. Interment will follow at Viola Lake Cemetery.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

Duane Dean Sandberg, 84, of Grantsburg, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, surrounded by his family, at the Burnett Medical Center, after a struggle with limited mobility.

He was born on Sept. 18, 1923, in Wood River Township to Albert and Edith (Erickson) Sandberg. He attended school in the Freya and Falun communities.

In 1940 and ‘41, he spent some time as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He also served as a Sergeant in the United States Army, spending time in Europe and was honorably discharged on Feb. 4, 1947.

On Jan. 31, 1948, he was united in marriage to Delores Jotblad at the Mission Covenant Church in Freya, and four children were born to this union.

For a brief period, Duane farmed and later became an employee of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In 1983, after over 30 years of DNR service, he retired due to health issues and on May 16, 1985, he became the recipient of a donor kidney. This allowed him to enjoy much-improved health for the remainder of his life.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping until his disability prevented him from doing so. It was then he purchased a Kawasaki Mule. It became his legs when traveling the many trails and fields which had always been such an important part of his life.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Ronald; his parents, Albert and Edith (Erickson) Sandberg; one brother, Dale; son-in-law, Joseph Zimmermann; and brother-in-law, Eugene Bue. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, along with their three children; daughters, Cynthia Zimmermann and Janice Sandberg; son, Dean (Jane) Sandberg; grandchildren, Jessica Zimmermann, Michael (Sarah) Zimmermann, Krista and Ron Sandberg; one greatgrandson, Joseph Zimmermann; sister-in-law, Cora Sandberg and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held Friday evening, Feb. 15, at the Edling Funeral Home in Grantsburg. Funeral services were held Feb. 16, at Calvary Covenant Church in Alpha with Pastor Scott Sagle officiating. Vocalist was Gene Gronlund with Cheryl Johnson as organist. Burial was at Riverside Cemetery in the village of Grantsburg.

The Edling-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

Esther A. (Gustafson) Carlson Esther A. (Gustafson) Carlson, 88, died on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at United Hospital.

Esther was born May 29, 1919, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Gust and Hannah Larson.

Esther was a homemaker and a meat wrapper for over 25 years, she belonged to the Minneapolis Retail Meat Cutters and Food Handlers Union.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; son-in-law, William Miasel; and stepson, Thomas Carlson.

Esther is survived by her husband, Donald; daughters, Donna (Carl) Brent and Arlene Miasel; son, James (Judy) Gustafson; five grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; stepdaughters, Janet (Don) Login and Cynthia (Ray) Jones; stepson, Donald (Mary) Carlson; step-daughter-in-law, Linda Carlson; several stepgrandchildren; special friend of 50 years, Virginia (Ginny) Laasko; and her special pal, Buddy, her dog whom she cherished.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Opportunity Partners-Gunderson, 9739 Utica Road, Bloomington, MN 55437 or American Cancer Society.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

Gayle “Abbie” McQuay Gayle Lorin McQuay, 56, Vancouver, Wash., died suddenly in a car accident on Jan. 24, 2008, in Portland, Ore. She was born in Grantsburg on Oct. 13, 1951, to Kenneth Joel McQuay and Eleanor Johnson McQuay. She graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in 1969. In 1970, she was united in marriage to Eugene Olson. To this union two children were born, Nikole and Matthew. Gene died in a car accident in 1977. In 1978, Gayle and her children moved to Vancouver, Wash.

Gayle married Larry Rainey in Vancouver in 1980. To this union two children were born, Joshua and Jessica.

Gayle worked in many occupations. For many of these years she worked at the racetracks of the region: Portland Meadows, Longacres and Emerald Downs.

Most recently, she ran a successful cleaning company.

Gayle loved working outside, giving parties and cooking for others. She will be greatly missed by her children; Nikole (Michael) Hall of Washougal, Wash., Matthew (Ella Wilson) Olson of Vancouver, Wash., Joshua (Jaime) Rainey of Vancouver, Wash. and Jessica (Kevin Palmer) Rainey of St. Paul, Minn.; and her grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Brennan Hall, Charles, Josh and Alex Wilson, Julia and Jaden Rainey and Kaleb Palmer; sisters, Karen (Gary) Johnson of Cushing, Cheryl (Scott) Olson of Cushing, Lori (Randy Harrison) McQuay of Woodland, Wash., and Beth (Nick Corniel) McQuay of Cushing; and brothers, Calvin McQuay of Grantsburg and Kevin McQuay of St. Croix Falls, as well as special nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, other relatives and many friends.

There was a Celebration of Gayle’s life on Saturday, Feb. 2, in Portland, Ore., and a memorial service on Feb. 16, at the First Lutheran Church in Cushing.

Vernon Lundequam Vernon Lundequam, 79, of Grantsburg, died Jan. 31, 2008, at the Burnett Medical Center Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen Lundequam; daughter, Susan Lundequam; brothers, Dale Lundequam and Gary Lundequam; sisters, Jean Rogers, Joan Brinkley, Joyce Boettcher and Karen Visovatti; brotherin-law, Connie Martinson.

Funeral services were held Feb. 4, 2008, at Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg with Pastor Michael Soppeland officiating. Special music was provided by Linda Dahl and Erin Spohn. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg.

The Edling Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

Edna Marion Robinson Edna M. Robinson, 83, a resident of Webb Lake, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at her residence.

Edna was born March 9, 1924, in Tinley Park, Ill., to Charles and Lillie Niemann.

Edna married Norman Robinson on Dec. 2, 1944, in Amarillo, Texas. She and Norm purchased Big Bear Resort in 1960. They operated Norm and Edna’s Restaurant (known at Northwoods Inn now). Edna was also a secretary. She cooked until the age of 75 at various restaurants. She enjoyed her knitting and enjoyed life.

She is survived by her children, Barney (Mary) Robinson of Webb Lake, Nancy Zaverius of Webb Lake, Linda (Dale) Hultsch of Auburndale, Fla., and James (Marie) Robinson of Webb Lake; siblings, Kenneth (Faye) Niemann of Hurst, Texas, and LaVerne Kahnt of Tucson, Ariz.; 14 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Norman, on Feb. 15, 1989.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 14, at Lakeside Community Lutheran Church at A & H with Pastor Roger Pittman officiating. Music was provided

by Christine Osterby and Sue Olson. Interment followed at Webb Lake Cemetery in Webb Lake. Casket bearers were Rich Fickett, Roger Fontaine, Dave Burke, Pete Osterby and Mel Elliott.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 23

CHURCH NEWS Bodies that praise

While on the treadmill this morning, I got to studying my feet.

They moved in perfect rhythm, in perfect line, in perfect harmony.

Lord, grant that my feet will move in the perfect rhythm of your word, in the perfect line of your Sally Bair will, in perfect harmony with your spirit. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who PERSPECTIVES brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation…“ (Isaiah 52:7) My hands gripped the side rails of the treadmill to keep me from stumbling. From daily use, my hands are strong and useful.

Lord, grant that my hands will grip yours so I will not stumble as I face the temptations of this world.

Grant my hands the strength to perform useful tasks that will express your great love toward others. “…Let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28) As I tread on the mill, I held my head high, contemplating God’s great love. I filled my mind with thoughts of his goodness and mercies and his life-giving word. I did not allow my mind to waver into thoughts of the day’s to-do list or my aches and pains.

Lord, grant that these moments spent with you will carry me through the whole day, as I contend with necessary tasks and as I serve you by helping others.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) While walking the treadmill, I studied a large maple outside my window. Its trunk bent and bowed by the strong wind. I considered my own trunk, which houses the core of my body, the heart. My heart is what keeps me alive and strong and healthy.

It controls my body, mind, and soul.

Lord, grant that my heart will beat for you alone.

Let no other things disrupt the beating, so that I may draw others to the heart of God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) I closed my eyes so I could concentrate more fully on God’s love and mercies. When I keep them open, I am too tempted to gaze at the beautiful nature that surrounds my home.

Lord, help me to remember that your beauty surpasses even the most beautiful scene in the great wilderness you have created. Grant that I will not be distracted by even the best things in my world.

“When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” (Matthew 17:8) (Mrs. Bair may be reached at sallybair@gmail.com)

ETERNAL

hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

(Romans 10:17) GOD SAYS: BELIEVE – “He that believeth and It is easy to get discouraged when things is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not are going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart, shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) because God is at work in our lives, even in GOD SAYS: REPENT - “Repent ye therefore, the midst of pain and suffering. For all the and be converted, that your sins may be blotted negative things we have to say to ourselves, out, when the times of refreshing shall come from God has a positive answer for it. the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19) “Repent, You say: “It’s Impossible.” and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus God says: “…The things that are impossible Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will Garret receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) with people are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) You say: “I’m too tired.”

GOD SAYS: CONFESS - “…if you confess Derouin God says: “…I will give you rest.” (Matthew with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your 11:28-30) heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will You say: “I can’t go on.”

THE be saved;” (Romans 10:9) God says: “…My grace is sufficient for you, GOD SAYS: BE BAPTIZED - “Repent, and be for power is perfected in weakness.” (II PREACHER’S baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Corinthians 12:9) Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive You say: “I can’t figure things out.” the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) “He that God says: “Trust in the LORD with all your believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark heart…And He will make your paths straight.”

16:16) ( Proverbs 3:5-6) But, you say: “I love God and Jesus, isn’t that You say: “I have all sorts of problems and nobody enough?” cares.”

GOD SAYS: “He who has My commandments and God says: cast “...all your anxiety on Him, because He keeps them is the one who loves Me…”, “…If anyone loves cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:21, 23) You say: “Nobody really loves me.”

If readers have questions or simply wish to know God says: I LOVE YOU. “For God so loved the world, more about the Church of Christ, we would like to inthat He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes vite them to call 715-866-7157 or stop by the church in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) building at 7425 W. Birch St. in Webster. Sunday Bible If we will listen to God’s words not only will have class begins at 9:30 a.m. and worship begins at 10:30 peace in this life, but more importantly, we will have a.m. We also meet Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Ofa place in eternity. fice hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. YOU SAY: “How do I know what to do?” noon.

GOD SAYS: HAVE FAITH - “…faith comes from

You say, God says!

PEN

News from the Pews at Pilgrim Lutheran

FREDERIC – This past Sunday the congregation celebrated the second Sunday in Lent with services at 9 a.m.

During worship, new members were welcomed into Pilgrim’s church family. Pictured (L to R): Beverly and Ray Engenand and Alice Velander. They were presented with a church directory and a copy of the church’s famous cookbook “Taste of Heaven.”

For more information about Pilgrim, go to their Web site www.pilgrimlutheran.org or call the church office at 327-8012. - submitted

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

CHURCH NEWS Quiet, considerate boy is fine just as he is Q: We have a 9-year-old boy who is quiet, careful, thoughtful and very, very shy. Does that mean he is no “all boy?” Should we be trying to change him, to make him more assertive and aggressive?

DR. DOBSON: The wonderful thing about the way human beings are designed is their marvelous variability and complexity. We are all different and unique.

My previous discussions of aggressive, risk-taking boys represent an effort to characterize young males, showing what is typical and how they are different from their sisters. However, they also differ from one another on a thousand traits.

I remember taking my 10-year-old son and his friend on a skiing trip one day. As we rode the gondola to the top of the mountain, I prepared to take a picture of the two boys with the beautiful landscape visible behind them. Ryan, my son, was smiling and clowning for the camera, while Ricky was just sitting quietly. Ryan then asked Ricky to wave and goof off like he was doing.

Ricky replied solemnly, “I’m not that kind of person.”

It was true. The two boys were at opposite ends of the continuum in their personalities. I still have that picture of the two kids – one going crazy and the other appearing bored half to death. Each of them was “all boy.”

Your son is certainly not alone in his characteristic shyness. According to the New York Longitudinal Study, approximately 15 percent of babies are somewhat quiet and passive in the nursery. That feature of their temperaments tends to be persistent throughout childhood and beyond. They may be very sponta-

neous or funny when they are comfortable at home. When they are with strangers, however, their tongues are thrust into their cheeks and they don’t know what to say. Some kids are like this because they have been hurt or rejected in the past. The more likely explanation is that they were born that way. Some parents are em- Dr. James barrassed by the introversion of Dobson their children and try to change them. It is a fool’s errand. No amount of goading or pushing by their parents will make them outgoing, flamboyant and confident.

My advice to you is to go with the flow. Accept your child just the way he is made. Then look for those special qualities that give your boy individuality and potential. Nurture him. Cultivate him. And then give him time to develop into his own unique personality like no other human being on earth.

••• Q: My wife and I have a strong-willed child who is incredibly difficult to handle. I honestly believe we are doing our job about as well as any parents would do under the circumstances, yet she still breaks the rules and challenges our authority. I guess I need some encouragement. First, tell me if an especially strongwilled kid can be made to smile and give and work and cooperate. If so, how is that accomplished? And second, what is my daughter’s future? I see trouble ahead, but don’t know if that gloomy forecast is justified.

FOCUS ON THE

FAMILY

DR. DOBSON: There is no question about it; an especially willful child such as yours can be difficult to manage, even when her parents handle her with great skill and dedication. It may take several years to bring her to a point of relative obedience and cooperation within the family unit, but it will happen. While this training program is in progress, it is important not to panic. Don’t try to complete the transformation overnight. Treat your child with sincere love and dignity, but require her to follow your leadership. Choose carefully the matters which are worthy of confrontation; then accept her challenge on those issues and win decisively. Reward every positive, cooperative gesture she makes by offering your attention, affection and verbal praise. Then take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

••• Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995 (www.family.org). Questions and answers are excerpted from “Solid Answers” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. Copyright 2007 James Dobson Inc., Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; 816932-6600.

Brought to you by:

Frederic Evangelical Free Church Frederic

Quakers to meet regularly BURNETT COUNTY – A Quaker group is planning regular meetings for worship every other Saturday at Webster.

The meeting will be held at the Northern Pines Friends Worship Group at 11 a.m. at 6020 Peterson Road. Persons may call 866-8802 or 866-7798 for fur-

ther information.

This listing will be included in the church listings in the future. – submitted

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 25

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

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The Leader is a cooperative owned newspaper

FEBRUARY 20, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 27

Students of the Week GRANTSBURG

FREDERIC

Seth Haaf has been chosen Frederic Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in Ms. Erin’s preschool program and the son of Patricia Haaf. Seth is very active, outgoing and eager to try new things. He is cooperative and kind to his teachers and peers.

Seth is also very bright as he finds success in all areas of academics.

Christine Kuettel has been chosen Frederic Middle School’s student of the week. She is in eighth grade and the daughter of Ron and Donna Hoff and Chris Kuettel. Christine has a positive attitude and always has a smile. She likes horses and KDWB. Her future plans include college.

Alexandria Delosier has been chosen Frederic High School’s student of the week. She is a senior and the daughter of Andrew Delosier. Alexandria is a hard worker and participates in class discussions. She works as an associate manager at St. Croix Falls McDonalds and is involved in Kinship, yearbook and teaches kindergarten church school at St. Luke’s UMC. She plans to attend UW-Stout.

Olivia Oachs has been chosen Grantsburg Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in second grade and the daughter of Chad and Kerri Oachs. Olivia is a great student who is always willing to help other students.

She is very kind and caring toward others. Olivia likes to play with her friends and enjoys reading. She likes to go to her grandma and grandpa’s, play with her dog and play games.

ST. CROIX FALLS

LUCK

Katelyn Dinnies has been chosen Luck Middle School’s student of the week. She is in seventh grade and the daughter of Jonn and Barb Dinnies. Katelyn works hard on her assignments and helps classmates whenever possible. She is involved in Girl Scouts, piano, solo/ensemble, basketball, volleyball and softball.

Katelyn enjoys art, music, playing with her dog, playing on the computer, reading, swimming and helping in the kitchen.

Krystal Stage has been chosen Luck High School’s student of the week. She is a junior and the daughter of Jeff and Joni Stage.

Krystal is part of the CIA program and on the honor roll. She displays a positive attitude and gets along with her peers. She is respectful to faculty and staff and displays a sense of humor. Krystal is involved in band, was 2007 Miss Luck, works at Oakwood Inn and plays slowpitch softball, basketball and volleyball. She enjoys scrapbooking.

Bailey Tran has been chosen St. Croix Falls Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in fourth grade and the son of Larry Tran and Sandy Dolphin. Bailey enjoys math and phy. ed. He has a ski pass and enjoys downhill skiing with his dad. Bailey has a large collection of different pencils that he started collecting in second grade, as well as erasers, and a collection of marbles. He likes to visit his aunt in California.

Alan Strabel has been chosen Siren Middle School’s student of the week. He is in eighth grade and the son of Dan and Becky Strabel. Alan works hard to do the best he possibly can. He asks questions, participates in class and tries to make others feel good about themselves. Alan definitely improves school climate and morale. He enjoys farming, 4-H and youth-group activities.

Mitch Meyer has been chosen St. Croix Falls Middle School’s student of the week. He is in eighth grade and the son of Tim and Darcia Meyer. Mitch is involved in football and track. His favorite subject is phy. ed. because you exercise and play fun games.

Mitch is dependable and does the right thing. He has two sisters, two dogs, eight puppies and 14 fish.

WEBSTER

SIREN

Brady Mangen has been chosen Siren Elementary School’s student of the week. He is kind to everyone in class and is always willing to help anyone who needs it. Brady is respectful to his teachers and follows the rules in school. He gets right down to work and uses his time wisely.

Brady is a friend to everyone. He enjoys hockey outside of school.

Jason Jenson has been chosen Grantsburg High School’s student of the week. He is a junior and the son of Jason and Wanda Jensen.

Jason is focused, hardworking and an on-task student. He is kind, generous and is willing to help out whenever it is needed. Jason has very good character and is a pleasure to have in class. He is involved in track, basketball and cross county. Jason enjoys reading, basketball and playing with RubixCube.

Kendra Jones has been chosen Siren High School’s student of the week. She is a sophomore and the daughter of Clinton Jones and Christine Hagert.

Kendra has a positive attitude and a great sense of what it takes to make a small school work together as a team. She participates in basketball and is a true team player.

Tailor Larson has been chosen Webster Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in third grade and the daughter of John and Wendy Larson. Tailor strives to do her best on every assignment and always completes her work on time. She has a very enthusiastic attitude toward school.

Tailor is considerate of others and always willing to lend a hand without being asked. She enjoys reading and writing in her jorunal.

Charles Mahlen has been chosen Webster Middle School’s student of the week. He is in seventh grade and the son of Tom and Cathy Mahlen. Charles has earned straight A’s this year and has very good attendance. He works part time with his dad in the automotive store and towing.

Charles plays trumpet in junior high band. He enjoys woodworking, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and 4-wheeling.

Allison Leef has been chosen Webster High School’s student of the week. She is a sophomore and the daughter of Roger and Mary Leef. Allison is an excellent student and wonderful young lady. She works very hard in her classes and activities.

She is always willing to give a helpful hand. Allison is involved in AODA, band, choir, cheerleading and she runs the sound for the school play.

She enjoys swimming, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting and reading.

UNITY

Congratulations students on a job well done!

Danielle Ahlm has been chosen Unity Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in fourth grade and the daughter of Jeff Ahlm and Debra Woitas. Danielle is responsible and always willing to do what is asked of her. She is very conscientious about doing her best and is well organized. In school Danielle enjoys reading and doing math. Outside of school she enjoys hunting and fishing with her family.

Carly Holin has been chosen Unity Middle School’s student of the week. She is in sixth grade and the daughter of Dale and Barbara Holin. Carly was chosen because she is a great student and has a positive attitude. She works very hard and cares about her work. Carly is a pleasure to have in class and her smile is contagious.

Justin Bader has been chosen Unity High School’s student of the week. He is the son of Jeff and Melissa Bader of Milltown. Justin has demonstrated excellence in his course work as well as athletics. He is courteous and leads by example. Justin was recently elected Snowball King by his peers. He enjoys school sports, dirt bikes and his friends. He plans to attend college for business management.

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 20, 2008

FEBRUARY

THURS.-SAT./21-23 Hayward

• 35th-anniversasry of the American Birkebeiner, www.birkie.com for more info.

THURS.-SUN./21-24 Rice Lake

Coming events

St. Croix Falls

• Camping show at Cedar Mall, Thurs. & Fri., 10 a.m.-9p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.5 p.m.

• Exercise by YMCA, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo, 11 a.m.-noon; 500 cards and dominos, 12:30-4 p.m., at the senior center.

Voyager Village

Webster

• 5th-annual Winter Carnival including medallion hunt, ski, volleyball and golf events, plus poker run.

• Food & Friends Community Dinner at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 5-6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY/27

THURSDAY/21

Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake

• American Red Cross CPR Infant/child class, 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Polk County Red Cross office. Preregistration is requested, call Terry Anderson at 715-485-3025.

• Job seekers workshop at the Polk County Job Center, 9-11 a.m., 715-485-3115.

Dresser • Polk County Democratic Party meets at Village Pizzeria, 715-327-5637.

Frederic • Pokeno cards, 1 p.m., at the senior center.

Frederic

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the senior center.

• Lioness Club meeting at Sunrise Apartments Community Room, 7 p.m.

Grantsburg • Ramblin’ Red Hat Ladies meet at the Woodland Grill, 11:30 a.m. Call Myrna at 715-6892283 or Annette at 715-689-2776 by 2/24.

Grantsburg • Library fundraising dinner at the high school, 4:30-7 p.m.

Luck • Lent services at Bone Lake Lutheran Church, soup supper at 6 p.m., service at 6:45 p.m.

Luck • American Legion & Auxiliary meeting at the village hall, 7 p.m.

St. Croix Falls • Exercise by YMCA, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo, 11 a.m.-noon; blood pressure check 11:30 a.m.; potluck lunch 12:30 p.m.; general meeting, 1 p.m.; 500 cards, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the senior center.

• Soccer registration held at the high school library, 4-7 p.m.

Siren • American Legion Post #132 meets in the village offices, 7 p.m.

FRI. - SUN./22-24 Barron

• Gun Show at the community center. Fri. 5-9 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 608-752-6677.

FRIDAY/22 Amery

• Wii member game night, 6:30 p.m., at the senior center.

SAT. & SUN./23 & 24 Pine City, Minn.

• 25th-annual Gun Show at Pine Technical College, Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 320-629-4572.

SATURDAY/23 Amery

• Hymn Sing - Her Sing, 7:30 p.m., at The Northern Lakes Center for the Arts.

Cumberland

• Maple Syrup Producers meeting at Anderson’s Maple Syrup, Inc., 2391 40th Street, 2 p.m., Syrup Making for Beginners and 3 p.m., Commercial Syrup Producers. For more info call 715-822-8512 or 715-488-2776.

Frederic • Food & fellowship, bingo, card games, at noon at the senior center.

Balsam Lake • Polk County Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at the government center, 1-3 p.m., 715485-8413 for more info.

• American Red Cross CPR adult class, 5:309:30 p.m., at the Polk County Red Cross office.

Preregistration is requested, call Terry Anderson at 715-485-3025.

Menomonie • Grain marketing workshop at the judicial center, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 715-232-1636.

This yearling doe, partially hidden by a stand of sumac, nosed her way on a recent Sunday afternoon. – Photo by Marty Seeger • Family-friendly, old-fashioned squaredancing fun at the elementary school, 6:308:30 p.m.

Grantsburg • Pancake breakfast fundraiser at the high school, 7-10 a.m. Sponsored by the Parent Music Association.

• Ice-fishing contest fundraiser at Big Trade Lake, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sponsored by the Parent Music Association.

St. Croix Falls • Soccer registration held at the high school in the library, 9 a.m.-noon.

Siren • 10th-annual Lions Club Whopper Ice-fishing Contest at Clam Lake narrows, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 715-349-2400.

• WSA Kids Pro Ice Racing at Jed’s Laker Lounge, 10 a.m., 715-349-5120.

• Amery’s Got Talent show at the high school, 2 p.m.

MONDAY/25 Amery

• Pilates, 8 a.m., at the senior center.

Balsam Lake • Athletic Booster Club meeting in the elementary conference room, 6:30 p.m.

Centuria • Rep. Hraychuck’s listening session at the village hall, 9-10 a.m.

Frederic • Spade cards played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center.

Luck

• Open Art Studio at the village hall, 9 a.m.noon. Contact Vivian, 715-472-8439 or Ann, 715-472-8319 for more info.

Spooner

Osceola

• Annual fishing contest at West Point Lodge Bar & Grill, 715-635-7622.

• Turkey hunter education clinic at the high school, 6:30 p.m., 715-268-4374.

• Polk County Genealogy Society meets at the library, 7 p.m., 715-294-3447.

Trade Lake • First of four sessions in Wine Basic Series at Trade River Winery, 2 p.m., 715-327-4193, www.traderiverwinery.com.

Webster

• Winter National N.A.M.A. Lawn Mower Races at Devils Lake Park Resort, noon, 651343-9241.

SUNDAY/24 Amery

• Benefit for Donald Darnell at the Tac, 10 a.m.-?

St. Croix Falls • Art Group, 9:30 a.m.-noon, at the senior center.

• Grief and loss support group meeting at SCRMC, 2-3:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m., 715-4830272 for more info.

TUESDAY/26 Amery

• Women’s pool, 1 p.m., at the senior center.

St. Croix Falls • Friends of the Library meet, noon, at the library.

Webster

• Prayer vigil for peace at the Methodist Church, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY/28 Balsam Lake

• American Red Cross CPR First Aid class, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Polk County Red Cross office. Preregistration is requested, call Terry Anderson at 715-485-3025.

• UWEX beef distance-education program: Program Basic Nutrition for the cow-calf herd at the government center, 715-485-8600, 800-528-1914.

Dresser/St. Croix Falls • All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner benefiting the St. Croix Valley area Veterans Memorial fund drive, 4:30-7:30 p.m., at the VFW & ladies auxiliary, North Hwy. 35, Dresser.

Frederic • 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the senior center.

Luck • Library and Museum Committee meeting at the village hall, 6:30 p.m.

St. Croix Falls • Exercise by YMCA, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo, 11 a.m.-noon; crafts, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 500 cards, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the senior center.

Siren

• UWEX beef distance-education program: Program Basic Nutrition for the cow-calf herd at the government center, 715-485-8600, 800-528-1914.

• Equine seminar at the Lodge at Crooked Lake, 6 p.m. light supper, 7 p.m. seminar, RSVP

by Feb. 22, 715-866-4333.

Legendary folk musician Bill Staines to perform at Festival ST. CROIX FALLS – Some people just like a road trip, and that must be the case with musician Bill Staines who will perform at Festival Theatre on Sunday afternoon, March 2.

The communities of the St. Croix River Valley just happen to be on the route of one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in America, who continues to drive over 65,000 miles a year, doing what he loves, bringing music to people.

“We called Bill almost a year ago and discovered that he could squeeze in a concert if we could do so on a Sunday,” says Danette Olsen, executive director.

“In fact, we thought it a great fit with our Family Concert Series and are relishing the opportunity to hear an all-ages audience sing-along with “All God’s Creatures Got a Place in the Choir,” among dozens of Staines’ other much-loved songs.”

For over 35 years, Staines has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audi-

Bill Staines ences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs and coffeehouses.

A New England native, Staines became involved with the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960s and, for a time, emceed the Sunday hootenanny at the renowned Club 47 in Cambridge. Staines quickly became a popular performer in the Boston area. In 1971, after one of his performances, a reviewer for The Phoenix stated that Staines was “simply Boston’s best performer.” A decade later, both in 1980 and 1981, the annual Reader’s Poll of The Boston Globe selected him as a favorite performer. In 2001, Staines entered his fifth decade as a folk performer with an international reputation as an artist.

Singing mostly his own songs, he has become one of the most popular singers on the folk music circuit today, averaging around 200 concert dates a year.

Staines weaves a magical blend of wit and gentle humor into his performances, and as one reviewer wrote, “he has a sense of timing to match the best standup comic.” His music is a slice of Amer-

icana, reflecting with the same ease, his feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon.

Interspersed between original songs, Staines also includes songs ranging from traditional folk tunes to more contemporary country ballads and delights in having the audience participate in many of the numbers. He may even do a yodeling tune or two - having won the National Yodeling Championship in 1975 at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas.

Tickets for the 2 p.m. Bill Staines concert are $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for youth. They can be purchased on the Web at www.festivaltheatre.org, by phone at 715-483-3387 or 888-887-6002, or in person during box office hours.

Festival Theatre is located in downtown St. Croix Falls at 210 North Washington.

– submitted