Leader|feb 21|2007

INTER-COUNTY

‘Follow the Leader’

February 21, 2007 2 sections • Vol. 71 • No. 26 8,000 copies

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Tragedies shake community A murder-suicide followed by a homicide, all in one week, stuns the Luck and surrounding community as answers are sought Stories on page 2, 3, 4

by Gary King LUCK - Senseless.

The deaths of 7-year-old Zachary Wolfe and 33-year-old Jason Madsen this past week has members of the Luck and surrounding community angry and puzzled as to why two lives had to end - in separate incidents that had violence in common.

A second-grader at Luck, Wolfe lost his life at the hands of his father in a murder-suicide in a Minnesota hotel room.

The deaths occurred sometime after his father snatched him while he waited to board the bus to school last Monday morning and Wednesday when their bodies were discovered.

No one knows what triggered the father’s actions.

“He never threatened to hurt him (Zachary), but he hated me so much that I was afraid that he was going to do anything he could do to hurt me…through Zachary,” Melissa Horky, Zachary’s

See Tragedies, page 3

A warmer greeting

Zachary Wolfe

Jason Madsen

Why no Amber Alert?

Criteria not met, says sheriff

Sheriff Tim Moore responds to questions from local and Twin Cities media, Thursday. - Photo by Gregg Westigard

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE - The question has been asked, during the reporting on the disappearance and death of 7-yearold Zachary Wolfe, why an Amber Alert was not issued.

Amber Alert is a system of notifying the public, in certain situations, that a child is missing.

Polk County Sheriff Tim Moore responded to the question asked during a press conference last Thursday, while in a meeting with reporters Monday, and in reply to a question from the editor of the Leader.

Moore said that Amber Alerts must meet very strict criteria in Wisconsin.

They are not issued by local law enforcement, such as the Polk County Sheriff's Department, but by a state agency that makes the decision to issue an alert based on information

See Amber Alert, page 3

Monday’s sunrise looked warm and at the very least, ushered in warmer temperatures as the deep freeze the area has experienced the past two weeks gave way to temperatures in the mid- to upper-30s. - Photo by Gary King

Sex offender notification meeting set March 1 at Siren High School auditorium Page 5

Donations pour in for store owners Community responds after devastating fire that destroyed Bone Lake Store

by Julie Holmquist RURAL LUCK - Donations have poured in to help the owners of the Bone Lake Store following last week's devastating fire.

See Donations, page 5

All that remains of the Bone Lake Store following a fire last week. - Photo by Gary King

SPORTS

C U R R E N T S F E AT U R E

Tournament time!

A review of “many lifetimes” S E R V I N G

Danny and Ernestine Hoffman and their son, Tobias Otto, lost not only their home and all their belongings in the fire, but more than half of the family's income that came from the store.

They also lost three beloved pets. Their home was attached to the store, famous for being at the site for almost 100 years.

“Our whole intention was to own it for 40

B U R N E T T

Page .

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P O L K

C O U N T I E S

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Wood pieces lead authorities to body

Losing money to friend may have been motive in Luck homicide

by Gary King LUCK - A trail of blood-stained wood pieces led authorities to the body of a 33-year-old Luck man following his apparent murder sometime Friday evening or early Saturday morning.

Timothy Lehman, 33, is accused of the “blunt force trauma” death of Jason Madsen, 33. The men knew each other described as friends - and had been out at a Cushing bar together Friday evening until 7 p.m., according to authorities.

A criminal complaint states that people who saw the two men at Suzy Q's bar in Cushing heard Madsen boasting loudly about having won a large sum of money from Lehman in a dice game.

Sometime in the next 12 hours, police believe, Lehman killed Madsen and placed his body into the back of his pickup and began a five-mile drive east on Hwy. 48 - then south on CTH GG and then onto 243rd Avenue.

About 150 feet from GG, Lehman allegedly went north about 50 yards and unloaded Madsen’s body.

It was discovered around 8:15 a.m.

Saturday morning. Authorities believe the killing took place at Madsen's home at 307 Fourth Street in the village of Luck.

Fortunately for police, scrap lumber in the back of Lehman's truck had apparently fallen out of his pickup as he transported the body. The tongue-andgroove boards - known as car siding had blood on them. Deputies tracked the boards from Luck along Hwy. 48, to CTH GG and then east on 243rd. On 243rd a large amount of the boards were found with blood on them. In addition they found what appeared to be blood drag marks in the snow which led to the frozen body of Madsen.

Notified Authorities were notified at 5:17 a.m.

Saturday morning of the disappearance of Madsen. A woman called to say her boyfriend, Madsen, was missing from the apartment they shared in the village of Luck at 520 4th Street. She had come home from her job in the Twin Cities and noticed the dog was out, and no note telling where Madsen was.

The girlfriend met a Polk County Sheriff's Deputy at Madsen's place at 307th 4th Street where they located a bloody hat, blood in the snow and possible drag marks with blood. Because it was still dark, not all the evidence was visible.

Following a search, the deputy went INTER-COUNTY

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Suspect Timothy Lehman (L), 33, and murder victim Jason Madsen, 33, (R with dog). An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday of this week, which authorities hope will reveal the murder weapon. - Special photos

Authorities are looking for anyone who may have seen this 1999 Chevy S10 pickup truck on Friday evening between 7 p.m. and Saturday morning up to 8 a.m. The driver's side headlamp is nonfunctioning. The truck was most likely operating in the Luck or surrounding areas. Authorities are also interested in anyone who may come across discarded scraps of tongue-andgroove siding, commonly referred to as "car siding,” or a pile of discarded clothes in the the ditch etc. They can call the Polk County Sheriff's Department at 485-8326, Sgt. Ray Joy. - Photo from Polk County Sheriff’s Department to the home Madsen shared with his girlfriend to see if Madsen had returned home yet or if there were any messages.

There was a message from his girlfriend when she was at work calling home at 5:30 p.m. and one from the neighbor Tim Lehman, who lives at 604 4th Street.

The deputy then went to Lehman's home and woke him up at approximately 6:30 a.m. and asked if he had seen or heard from Madsen. Lehman reportedly said “No” he had not seen him since the previous day at about 3 p.m. According to the police report, Lehman said he did not talk to Madsen but did leave a message for him asking him to come over for a few beers.

Returning to Madsen's home near Lehman's, now in better light, the deputy found “significant amounts” of blood by Madsen's vehicle and some tongue-and-groove boards that appear to be scrap.

The boards have blood on them. Some Manager Doug Panek dougpanek@centurytel.net Editor Gary B. King, Editor gbking@centurytel.net Staff writers/contributors Matt Blumkin mblumkin@centurytel.net Marty Seeger mseeger@centurytel.net Tammi Milberg tammi@centurytel.net Nancy Jappe njappe@centurytel.net Sherill Summer the-leader@centurytel.net Mary Stirrat mstirrat@centurytel.net Gregg Westigard greggw@lakeland.ws Julie Holmquist the-leader@centurytel.net Editorial assistant Raelynn Hunter rael@centurytel.net Composition Raelynn Hunter Jackie Thorwick

of the boards are found on 4th Street which led to discovery of similar boards along Hwy. 48, GG and 243rd Avenue.

Authorities soon learn that Lehman has been seen burning those types of boards and that people at Suzy Q's Bar in Cushing had seen Lehman and Madsen together on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Questioned again Lehman was questioned again by authorities from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Saturday about the last time he saw Madsen. His stories are conflicting, according to the criminal complaint. He admits being at the bar in Cushing but says he dropped Madsen off at his residence. He denies having wood in the back of his 1999 Chevy S10 pickup. But his father, a building contractor whom Lehman works for, told authorities he had driven the truck the past week and the bed was full of tongue-and-groove type

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wood.

Deputies also observed blood inside Lehman's truck.

Also at the scene are cement blocks in back of the pickup which appear to have hair on them along with a red substance consistent with blood. Madsen apparently died from injuries to his head.

On the tailgate there were fingerprints that, according to a police report “could be in a blood-like substance.”

Lehman told authorities he had stopped to wash his truck at a local car wash Saturday morning because the weather had warmed up.

Lehman made his initial appearance in Polk County Circuit Court on Monday morning but the hearing was postponed to Tuesday morning at 9:30 when district attorney Dan Steffen informed the court he had conferred with former district attorney Mark Biller about the case on Saturday.

Shortly after that conversation Biller was hired to represent Lehman.

On Tuesday, it was decided the potential conflict would not interfere with the case and a date of Feb. 28 at 8:30 a.m. was set for Lehman’s preliminary hearing.

Judge Molly Galewyrick set a bond at $100,000 (see story below).

Past criminal history Charges were dismissed against Lehman in a 1996 Polk County criminal offense. He received a deferred prosecution agreement in 1996 for a charge of battery. Lehman was found guilty in Polk County Circuit Court that same year of a misdemeanor charge of unlawful phone use and threatening with obscenity and was fined. Those charges are Lehman's only criminal record.

Additionally, Lehman was fined in Polk County in 2005 for drinking open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, fined in 2002 for failing to wear a seatbelt, and was found guilty in 1995 of disorderly conduct. - Julie Holmquist contributed to this story

Bond set at $100,000

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE - The preliminary hearing for Luck resident Timothy Lehman, 33, on the charge of first degree intentional homicide is set for Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Molly GaleWyrick.

Lehman has been charged with murdering his neighbor Jason Madsen,33.

The preliminary hearing date was set at the initial hearing on the case which started Monday, Feb. 19 and concluded Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Bond was also set at the Monday hearing. District Attorney Daniel

See Bond, page 4

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Lehman at his initial court appearance at Balsam Lake on Tuesday. Photo by Gregg Westigard

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3

Luck child victim of murder-suicide

Missing boy and father at motel from date of disappearance; time and cause of death not yet released

by Gregg Westigard LUCK - While authorities were conducting a multistate search for a father and son last week, new information suggests that the pair were at a Minnesota motel from the date the father took his son from the boy's home until the day the two died in an apparent murder-suicide.

The time and cause of the deaths have not been announced, pending autopsy results which may take two weeks.

Seven-year-old Zachary Wolfe, Luck, was picked up by his father, Jeffrey Wagner, as he waited, at the end of his driveway, for his school bus Monday morning, Feb. 12.

Wagner left a voice message for his former wife, Melissa Horky, stating that he was exercising his parental rights to see his son.

The message went as follows: “This is Jeff, Zach's dad. Zach is with me. I'll take him back to school in the morning. You don't need to get mad at him for nothing. He hasn't done nothing wrong...Anyway he's with me I'm not going to keep dragging this out in

Jeffrey Wagner between seeing him. He'll be in school in the morning. Bye.” While Wagner had rights to spend time with his son, this visit was not an authorized time and was without the mother's knowledge or consent. Horky notified the Polk County Sheriff's Department of the message and disappearance at 8:21 a.m. Monday.

Wagner's message said that he would return Zachary to his school in Luck on Tuesday morning, Feb. 13. Horky and a Deputy waited at the school Tuesday.

When the child did not arrive, court action was started to issue a warrant for Wagner's arrest for “Interference with custody by parent.” A search for Wagner started that involved, among other things, entry of the warrant with

Amber Alert/

the National Crime Information Center and contact with the police in Beloit, Wagner's home area, and authorities in western states where Wagner had relatives A review of subpoenaed cellular telephone records on Wednesday located a call on Wagner's phone from the AmericInn in Richfield, Minn. A call to the business resulted in a possible location of Wagner. The Richfield Police Department was notified and respond-

ed to the motel forcing entry into the room. Wagner and his son were found dead, an apparent murder-suicide.

According to the Richfield Police Department, Wagner had registered at the motel on Monday, Feb. 12, the day he picked up Zachary. Details on the activity of the two from that date until the time of the discovery on Wednesday have not been released and the dates of the cell phone calls was not available.

Not first disappearance

from page 1 supplied to it. The issuance of Amber Alerts is very restrictive in Wisconsin.

The disappearance of Zachary Wolfe did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, according to Moore. Jeffrey Wagner was a custodial parent who had visitation rights with his son.

Wagner had taken Zachary at a nonauthorized time and without the knowledge and consent of the mother but he was not, to his knowledge, prohibited from seeing his son. Restrictions had been placed on Wagner's contacts in a restraining order issued the previous Thursday but that restraining order had not been served because officials could not locate Wagner.

In addition, Zachary was not considered in physical harm, another criteria for an Amber Alert. During testimony in the court Feb. 8, Melissa Horky asked that Wagner be denied any type of physical placement with Zachary “because he had made threats of taking Zachary out of the state and country”.

Moore said that after Wagner picked up Zachary, Horky reported the issue as a “restraining order violation”, not a 911 emergency with a child abduction.

Moore said that there are possibly six child custody disputes each week in Polk County alone.

Amber Alerts are for stranger abductions or where known sexual predators are involved. They are not to be used for parent custody issues.

Moore noted that Wagner had one prior case of taking Zachary without authorization (see separate story). In that incident, Zachary was returned.

“We don’t issue an Amber Alert, we request it,” Moore noted, adding that the system is controlled by the state attorney general’s office. “My officers contacted the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children on Wednesday (14th),” noted Moore.

“And based upon the information that we had, they concurred that this did not appear to meet the criteria.”

Zachary with his two younger siblings. - Special photo

Court records show similar incident in 2005, long history of disagreements

Melissa Horky

Mother: “Change the system” LUCK - Zachary Wolfe’s mother, Missy Horky, told a television audience Tuesday that she wants to see the system that restricts instances in which Amber Alerts can be issued changed.

She said she wanted an Amber Alert issued in light of recent developments concerning her ex-husband, notably e-mails that she claimed became more disconcerting.

In her handwritten statement seeking a restraining order against Zachary’s father, she said she feared for Zachary’s safety.

Criteria for issuing an Amber Alert wasn’t met in this case, according to Polk County Sheriff Tim Moore. (See “Why no Amber Alert,” page 1).

“Things need to be changed so this doesn’t happen to somebody else,” Horky told WCCO-TV in an interview that aired Tuesday evening. Gary King with information from WCCO

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE - The disappearance of Zachary Wolfe last week, that ended in his death, was not the first time that the boy had been taken for an unauthorized visit by his father, Jeffrey Wagner.

A review of the family court file shows a very similar situation happened in 2005. On May 6 of that year, the records state that Wagner picked up Zachary at his school. While he had some joint custody rights at the time, this was also a visit at an unauthorized time and without the mother's consent.

That time, also, he left a message saying he would return Zachary to school the next day. In that case, Wagner kept his son for three days, returning him on

May 9.

This is one incident in a long record of disagreements about visitation rights, financial support, communications, and accusations of harassment that go back to 2000. The last entry in the file is dated Feb. 12, the day Zachary disappeared.

At no time during the period from March 2002 until his death did Wagner lose his visitation rights.

The records start in October 2000, just over a year after Zachary's birth in August 1999. Melissa Wolfe asked for child support at that time. The following spring, in May 2001, Wolfe and Wagner were married and the initial child support file was closed.

The next round of court appearances started in March 2002 with reports that the couple had separated the previous December. The court file, which records the granting of a divorce in February 2003, has 159 notations of court record events. The file, which includes transcripts and packets of evidence, is over

See Disappearance, page 4

Tragedies/from page 1 reporter from WCCO TV. Horky expressed her frustration in the lack of an Amber Alert in the hours following her reporting her son missing (see separate story) - a system that potentially saved a child from harm in Minnesota the same week.

“Ultimately one person is to blame here and that is Jeffrey Wagner,” Sheriff Tim Moore noted. “We are trying to figure out what the ‘trigger’ was that set hi m off, as all indications are he never set out to do this. Something set him off once he had the child. The question is what.”

More clues for a motive may exist in the apparent murder of a 33-year-old Luck man.

“Boasting loudly” about winning

money from his friend in front of a bar crowd Friday evening may have been a factor in a fight that led to Jason Madsen’s death later that evening allegedly at the hands of his friend, Timothy Lehman.

Authorities have no witnesses at this time and are seeking help from the public - anyone who may have seen a 1999 Chevy S10 pickup truck (see photo page 2) sometime Friday evening as it allegedly was being driven from the crime scene five miles east to 243rd Avenue near Bone Lake.

Two senseless tragedies are being pondered this week as a community unaccustomed to violence, looks for answers.

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Bond/from page 2 Steffen asked for a cash bond of $500,000 “to assure that Lehman will appear for his trial and because of the need to protect the community and witnesses.” Attorney Mark Biller, who is representing Lehman, objected to the amount asked.

“I am a veteran of many homicides,” Biller told the court. “This is the highest bond I have ever seen requested in this county. It is even higher than the Brenizer case. The requested $500,000 is actually a denial of bail. No citizen of Polk County could post $500,000. If you want no bail, just deny it.”

“This young man meets 13 of the 16 criteria for granting bail,” Biller continued. “He is a property owner, a lifelong resident of the community, has no prior criminal record. He has always been a hardworking person. His good record is proof of his good citizenship.”

Biller suggested that a bond of $20,000 would assure that Lehman would be available for trial and allow him money to mount a defense.

Judge GaleWyrick said that due to the serious nature of the crime and the threat of flight, $20,000 is not within reason. She called for a cash bond of $100,000. Both sides agreed to that amount.

Bond conditions also include a stipulation that Lehman not have any contact with Bridget Cleary, identified in the complaint as the girlfriend of Madsen, and with Madsen's parents.

Since Lehman's home is next door to Cleary's home and a block from the home of Madsen's parents in the village of Luck, an additional stipulation was added stating that Lehman can not enter the village limits of Luck. It was suggested that Lehman could live with his parents in rural Luck.

The house on 4th Street belonging to Jason Madsen where authorities believe Madsen was killed sometime Friday evening or early Saturday morning by blunt force trauma. - Photos by Gary King

Disappearance/from page 3 5 inches thick.

The court record has some reoccurring themes. Wagner often asks for more time with his son, including request for additional and extended visits. Wolfe claims that she is receiving “abusive, degrading, and threatening” e-mails. She said on one day in 2005 she received the same e-mail 19 times.

Wagner said he was not provided full information on Zachary and his progress. Each makes personal accusations about the character of the other person.

The last round of court activity started last November. Wagner petitioned the court for a hearing. He stated that while both parents were given an equal

say in decisions relating to Zachary, his former wife, now Melissa Horky, was interfering with his access to Zachary's records and had “repeatedly failed to support my relationship with Zachary” within the requirements of the court order.

The Nov. 28, 2006, petition led to a court hearing scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007. On Feb. 6, Wagner sent an e-mail to Circuit Court Judge Molly GaleWyrick, who had heard the case since its start in 2002, asking that the hearing be cancelled.

“I do not feel a hearing is needed at this time for the issues listed in my affidavit,” Wagner wrote.

While that hearing was not held,

Luck school responds to tragedy

by Gregg Westigard LUCK - The Luck School responded immediately last week to news of the death of Zachary Wolfe, a Luck second-grader.

District administrator Rick Palmer has shared information on how the school informed parents and students about the death.

Palmer said that the sheriff's department informed the school of Zachary's death about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after the bodies of Zachary and his father were found at a motel in Minnesota. A portion of the crisis team was convened. All staff were called together immediately after school and informed of the news. That afternoon and evening, the parents of all secondgraders were called and told that a classmate of their child had died. No other information was shared at that time.

On Thursday, John Nichols, the elementary principal, went to each elementary class room and told the students of Zach's death. Counselors, the school psychologist, and others were

available for support. Special attention was given to the second-graders. A message was read to all 7-12 students at the start of the day. The school was closed to outsiders, and a statement was handed out at the school entry.

“Our students and staff are our primary concern,” Palmer said in a prepared statement. “We ask the community's cooperation in allowing us the opportunity to work through this tragedy in our school family.”

Remembering Zach The Luck staff shared these thoughts about Zach.

“Zach was a child that brought to us daily, the gift of humor. This little daybrightener had a charming presence.

He was a student who embraced learning and was a genuine friend.

Zach treated life as a celebration. This is what makes it so difficult for us to say goodbye to this little boy who sparkled and truly lit up our lives.

Zachary is going to be missed tremendously by all of us at Luck Schools.”

another hearing was held Feb. 8.

Melissa Horky asked for and was granted a harassment restraining order against Wagner. Horky stated that the emails she was receiving from Wagner were becoming more abusive and threatening. The restraining order was granted but was not served on Wagner at his home or place of work in the Beloit area.

The last entry in the family case file is a memorandum dated Feb. 12, from judicial assistant Bonnie Jerrick to Judge GaleWyrick. It reads: “Melissa Horky called here today. She wanted the Judge to know that Jeff had 'taken' Zach this morning as he was about to get on the bus for school. He

then called the Horky residence and talked to Melissa's husband, telling him he has Zach, and he will have Zach in school tomorrow morning.

“She also stated that she discovered Jeff has not been served yet on the restraining order, so he knows nothing about it.”

When Wagner did not deliver Zachary to school on Tuesday, Feb. 13, as promised, a warrant was issued for his arrest for “interfering with custody beyond visitation rights”. The warrant was entered nationwide.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the bodies of Wagner and Zachary were found in a motel room in Minnesota.

WIAA snaps over sports photos MADISON - March Madness is on the horizon for high school winter sports, but local newspapers are being called on a little known rule by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. It restricts the resale of photographs newspapers don't print.

The WIAA's Todd Clark says the rule addresses an explosion in digital photography, and the Internet's role as an alternative revenue source.

Clark says it also covers an agreement the WIAA has with a Milwaukee company which has exclusive rights to take pictures at all high school state tournaments. He says the WIAA feels that it is the WIAA's rights and their property, and, they say, they need to protect that.

The state's newspapers learned of the rule at a December meeting with WIAA officials.

Wisconsin

Newspaper Association Executive Director Peter Fox says newspapers will make their own decisions about the rule. He says for example, the Monroe Times in Monroe is offering to give away photos to its readers for free for just a short period of time.

Fox says other newspapers are saying they're going to continue doing business as they always have and, in essence, challenge the WIAA rule.

Fox says family members turn to newspapers for coverage of high school tournaments.

Clark says the WIAA and the private company will monitor the resale of photographs during the winter season and in the future, media credentials for tournaments could be withheld. The Wisconsin Associated Press is working with the WIAA to resolve differences on the matter. Wisconsin Public Radio (John Davis)

The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 5

The office area of T & J Farm and Feed building in downtown Frederic was gutted by fire early Monday morning. Frederic firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 4:30 a.m. after someone on their way to work at Four Seasons Wood Products reported smoke drifting across Main Street. Frederic Fire Chief Brian Daeffler said the cause of the fire is unknown, but that the fire appeared to have started around the stovepipe coming out of the south end of the building. Machinery was used to clear away burning debris to avoid a rekindle. Terry Taylor operated the business, and Kay Friberg owns the building, which had been remodeled this past year. T & J Farm and Feed moved into the building last June. Taylor said he lost all inventory in the fire but that he'd be able to start mixing feed again by the end of this week - at that location. He said there are plans to modify the building and keep the business at the same location. Taylor credited firefighters for doing a “terrific job” in containing the fire. Firefighters were at the scene for more than four hours. Photos by Gary King

Revote on watercross is 5 to 1 in favor FREDERIC - Village trustees met in special session Friday to take another vote on the watercross issue after learning the “secret ballot” vote taken at its regular monthly meeting last Monday, Feb. 12, was illegal, according to open meeting regulations.

The vote on whether to allow the local SNOWS snowmobile group to organize and hold the sixth-annual watercross at Coon Lake Park in the village passed by

a vote of 5 to 1 with trustees Arlen Peterson, John Boyer, Kay Friberg, Brad Harlander and village president Phil Knuf voting yes and trustee Jamie Worthington voting no.

The vote was taken by a show of hands.

Previously the motion failed when the motion ended in a 3-3 tie. Last Monday's secret ballot vote was 4 to 2.

The issue involved concerns over noise

Sex offender notification meeting set SIREN - A community meeting to inform the public of the relocation of a sex offender to the area will be held March 1 at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium.

Convicted sex offender Anthony A. Atkins is planning to live in Siren.

Siren Police Chief Chris Sybers says more information and a photo will be released for publication next week.

Information on Atkins may be found on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry at the department’s web site at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/ - Gary King

within the village, closing the park for two days to the public for the event and possible harm to the park.

Village President Knuf explained prior to Friday's vote that because a trustee serves on the park board it doesn't mean that trustee must vote the same way he/she votes on the park board as they vote as a village trustee.

He also said he was unaware the secret ballot vote was illegal.

Prisoners paid for unemployment MADISON - Two Wisconsin inmates will have to start paying back the state after auditors found out they were receiving unemployment benefits while in prison.

The Legislative Audit Bureau found in a two-year random check of unemployment benefits that two Wisconsin inmates fell through the cracks. They received almost $2,700 last year.

Rose Lynch, spokeswoman for the Department of Workforce Development, says they have never seen this before. Lynch says the department is setting up a system with the Department of Corrections which will look for any overlap between people fil-

ing for unemployment and people behind bars. They pride themselves on being accurate, she says, so they're happy to join the Department of Corrections in the process. She says they don't feel this is a widespread phenomenon and notes that the agency pays out $819 million annually. Lynch says some inmates can receive unemployment benefits if they qualify and are in the work-release program. The two inmates who fraudulently claimed unemployment will be denied benefits for six years and must pay back the funds they've already received. Wisconsin Public Radio (Katie Fischer)

“I just couldn't believe it. I'm always the one giving, not the one receiving.”

Fire department officials told the Hoffmans that they were 99 percent sure that the cause of the fire was electrical.

Ernestine and her son were asleep around 4:37 p.m. Feb. 14 when she was awoken by a large crash. Her husband was at his job in the Twin Cities at the time.

When Ernestine went downstairs from their home quarters to investigate, she saw smoke coming out from the door to the store. She returned upstairs to get her son and her pets out of the building, but the pets wouldn't move.

Apparently she heard the liquor bottles in the store crashing. She said she stayed in the building “too long,” maybe four to six minutes, trying to rescue their two dogs and one cat, and she

suffered smoke inhalation. She was treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, and is now trying to recover from bronchitis. Tobias didn't need to be sent to Regions and is doing well.

The site was still burning yesterday, but Ernestine said it appears that there won't be much to salvage. A great grandmother's buffet, antique guns and personal videotapes of family events were all destroyed.

The couple is awaiting word from their insurance about the possibility of rebuilding on the site. Ernestine said their plan is to rebuild there with insurance money if they are allowed to do that. The insurance adjuster called the Environmental Protection Agency because of the oil tank that blew in the fire, as well as the chemicals in the store and propane cylinders on site.

Ernestine said she doesn't want to

This is the second year in a row the village board has rejected a recommendation by the park board to not allow the event to be held. Knuf said the board would review the event again should there be any complaints. "We'd like to do that right after this year's event instead of waiting," he said. Gary King

Army Corps on thin ice MADISON - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is sampling ice thickness on the Mississippi River to let barge companies know when they can start heading north to St. Paul. Ice will be sampled weekly at Lake Pepin between Wabasha and Red Wing, Minn., which is usually the last part of the river where ice breaks up.

The ice measured 16 inches to 2 feet earlier this week. The Corps' Mark Davidson says towboat operators use the readings to determine when they can navigate Lake Pepin. He says the Corps will post the ice thickness on its Web site.

The ten-year average for the start of the commercial navigation season on the Mississippi River is March 20. Wisconsin Public Radio (John Davis)

Donations/from page 1 years and have it continue in the family,” said a tearful Ernestine Tuesday night. “It's got history and that's why we bought it.”

The Hoffmans married in 2005 and purchased the store that year, moving to the area from Minnesota. Ernestine said she had a photo of the original store, and noted that it apparently burned down between 1924 and 1926.

The family is now living in a fully furnished house in Siren, thanks to the Luck librarian whose relative owns the home. Their insurance covers rent, Ernestine said, but they must pay utilities.

“It is a Godsend,” she said of the furnished home and the donations that poured in within 48 hours.

“We're more than set on clothes, and have enough toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand soap and coats,” she said.

build anywhere else.

“This is home,” she said. “This is the right place to be.”

“I wanted to live in a small town all my life, where everybody knows me.”

The couple is trying to figure out how to get their son to school in Luck. They want to keep him living with them in their temporary Siren home, but that would mean buying gas for regular trips to school.

Donations for the family can be made at the Sterling Bank in the name of Danny and Ernestine Hoffman or the Bone Lake Store Family.

w w w. t h e - l e a d e r. n e t

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Burn now with snow SPOONER — Northwest Wisconsin is suffering the effects of an extreme drought with a precipitation deficit of nearly 10 inches in 2006. The dry weather trend continues with very little snowfall as we start 2007. The DNR is asking

landowners to help mitigate the hazards of what could be the worst spring fire season in 20 years by tending to your brush piles now instead of waiting until the snow is gone.

This year, try leaving leaf and brush

Lake 26 Road accident

piles intact, they make great habitat for small mammals and other critters, or consider chipping or composting. But if you must dispose of a pile by burning, then do it now while there will likely be some snow on the ground for awhile.

Remember that burning of any household garbage, plastics, tires, treated or painted lumber, etc. is illegal. These

materials must be disposed of properly in an approved landfill.

Burning permits are not required, and there are no time restrictions on burning when the ground is snow covered. But please remember to check these burn piles as the weather warms and the snow melts to ensure they are out cold. — from DNR

Recycling site to close SHELL LAKE — The Shell Lake Recycling Site will be closed after Saturday, Feb. 24, due to siting problems.

In the meantime, the Spooner and Sarona locations are available for residential use. The Spooner Recycling Site is located at 1400 South River Street, at

the NW Regional Planning Commission. The Sarona Recycling Site is located at the Lake Area Landfill on CTH D. Look for further information as soon as this siting situation is rectified. If you have any questions please call Jen at the recycling office at 635-2197. — from NWRPC

Primary elections

Trent J. Mulroy, 21, Webster, was westbound on 26 Lake Road on Feb. 17 at 11 p.m. in the town of Swiss when he lost control on a corner and slid into some trees. There were no injuries reported, but the driver was issued a citation for failure to notify police because he waited 10 hours before reporting the accident. – Special photo

Lynda Weber, Gary Schock and Julie Bushey were the election officials for the town of Oakland primary elections last Tuesday. With only one race to cast votes for, the voting was light at midday, leaving plenty of time for this photo op. – Photo by Sherill Summer

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7

Global puddles

A sure sign of spring is the appearance of melted snow and water, creating roadside puddles. Temperatures reached into the 30s this week. Photo by Sherill Summer

Heated artists to portray future of Wisconsin forests RHINELANDER - Activist-artists are putting on a traveling exhibit with what they say is based on scientific findings on what the north woods of Wisconsin would look like if global warming occurred.

Terry Daulton is not only an artist coordinating the display, but she’s a biologist with the University of Wisconsin. She says there are paintings, sculptures, weavings and even music from 20 artists. One that particularly struck her is a giant wooden puzzle. She says it shows Wisconsin being pulled south. She says it’s like a big jigsaw puzzle being pulled south by toy SUVs with a guy on the top. She says Jamie Young created it and was inspired by some publications from the Union of

Concerned Scientists that show that Wisconsin’s climate in the summer may end up more like that in Arkansas.

She says the exhibit also shows animals at risk from global warming. She says an artist in the Upper Peninsula named Joyce Koskenmaki was inspired about the plight of the moose in Minnesota where they’re having concerns about the decline in population.

So she painted the moose with its skeleton showing through.

The exhibit is on display in Rhinelander at Nicollet Community College and will be there for six weeks before moving to Ironwood, Ashland and Madison. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Mike Simonson)

Follow the Leader.

Cookie Brigade continues FREDERIC – Cookie Brigade is now sending cookies to convalescing soldiers in addition to the combat troops and military canine teams. Due to the large number of convalescing troops, Cookie Brigade is in need of additional homemade cookies. A baking schedule has been established to ensure a steady amount of cookies each month. If you are interested, and would like to sign up for a month in which you can bake cookies, please call Susan at 715-3274532.

Arrangements will be made to drop off or pick up the cookies.

Cookie Brigade’s mission is to get America baking for our deployed military personnel, military working dogs and convalescing military personnel. Do you know someone in the military you want to acknowledge? Please send their APO# (Army and Air Force), FPO# (Marine and Navy), hospital or other convalescing address to Cookie Brigade.

They will receive freshly baked cookies on behalf of Americans who want to let them know that we care and appreciate the hardships and risks they endure daily for our country. cookiebrigade@CenturyTel.net or 715327-4532. – submitted

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

L e a d e r

We b Po l l

Last week’s question: Would you be willing to pay a monthly fee, not to exceed $5, to be able to access the entire contents of the Leader online each week?

Yes 25 votes (20 percent) No 99 votes (80 percent) Total votes: 124 This week’s question: Do you believe the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert: 1. Should remain the same - issued only in stranger abduction or where known sexual predators are involved - not used for parent custody issues 2. Should be left solely at the discretion of the head of the local law enforcement agency, with the power to override restrictions

J o e H e l l e r

F O R U M

Editor’s NOTEBOOK

D

Stewardship program challenges our priorities

NR Secretary Scott Hassett was in our neck of the woods recently (see story “ ) to explain the need to approve more money for the state's stewardship fund, notably the Gaylord Nelson-Warren Knowles Stewardship Fund.

Christened a “hallmark of Wisconsin conservation” the fund has helped preserve nearly a half million acres of land for public use, nearly all of it now permanently open for hunting and fishing.

Local residents may recall that it was the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund that made the creation of the Straight Lake Wildlife Area near Luck a possibility, combined with the willingness of the landowners - Brunkow Hardwoods Corp., to drop the asking price on the 2,780 acres.

Wildlife areas in Burnett County and the Ice Age Trail have been expanded through the program and property on the Chippewa Flowage, for example, was purchased using the funds. The list goes on with similar purchases across the state.

Up for renewal every 10 years, the program still has three years on its current authorization but Gov. Doyle is calling for an increase of the yearly allotment for the fund - from $60 million a year to $105 million, beginning in 2011.

Money is raised through the sale of bonds which are paid back over 20-year periods.

DNR Secretary Hassett is justifying the increase saying the cost of real estate with recreational value is increasing, and that timber companies that have traditionally held large tracts of land and kept them open to the public are beginning to sell off that land.

Critics claim it's a poor time to sell bonds and funnel more money into the program in light of the budget constraints and economy.

Tommy Thompson launched the fund in 1988, created on a program established in the early 1960s by then-Gov. Gaylord Nelson (Outdoor Recreation Acquisition Program). The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program revived that program and its efforts - and it's interesting to note that Knowles, a Republican and Nelson, a Democrat, share the honor of consulting the creators of the 20-year-old program and in lending it honor via their reputations.

Where should the state end its quest for acquiring and preserving wild and recreational properties throughout the state? That's a tough question to answer. Perhaps never.

But one thing is clear - through its work, the stewardship program offers opportunities to save agricultural land and forests - and undoubtedly serves to keep and make Wisconsin one of the more natural and outstanding places to live, work and play.

Not to mention a national leader in land conservation.

All editorials on this page by editor Gary King

Cooperative: an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services

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 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

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

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

A Tip of the Hat Editor’s note: This week we inaugurate a new feature: "A Tip of the Hat." We will use this section to "tip our hats" to persons who deserve recognition and thanks for what they do to make our community the good place it is. Give us a hand. Call us at 715-327-4236 and tell us who you think we should honor with "A Tip of the Hat."

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

Peggy Ingles chairs the Burnett County Relay for Life and serves as a resource on the Relay for Life Task Force for Wisconsin. As county chair last year, she helped the Relay raise $77,600 to battle cancer, an increase of 59 percent from 2005.

And as part of the task force she helped successfully lobby Congress to increase funding for the National Institute for Health. She also works with the Burnett Historical Society's Kids Store at Christmas at the Forts. Friends say she is creative, has a phenomenal enthusiasm for the Relay mission and is very unselfish, "always out there doing something for someone else."

The views expressed on these pages do not necessarily represent the views of ICPPA board members or employees

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

L e a d e r

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L e a d e r Views from across the S t a t e WIAA’s photo policy steps over the limit

F

or as long as anyone can remember, Wisconsin newspaper photographers have covered high school sports during the regular season and on into the annual tournaments.

Their photos have documented the feats of the thousands of boys and girls who play their hearts out for the honor of their communities and high schools.

And for as long as anyone can remember, proud moms and dads, grandparents and friends of those athletes have asked newspapers for reprints of the pictures that appear in the paper -- and in recent years on the newspapers' Web editions -- to keep with their other precious high school keepsakes. As a service that is popular with readers, most newspapers gladly provide those reprints.

Most charge a nominal fee for the pictures to recoup their costs while some contract with a vendor who specializes in reprinting photos to take the burden off the newspaper's staff photographers.

But, alas, greed raises its ugly head. The leaders of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association are demanding this all change. The association, which was formed by Wisconsin public schools more than 100 years ago to regulate and monitor high school sports in the state, is claiming that it now has the rights to any commercial use of photos and video from WIAA tournaments.

To that end, it has sold those rights to two private companies and arrogantly informed the state's newspapers that they must "cease and desist" making their photos available outside of their editorial product. And if the newspapers don't? They'll be denied credentials to future tournament games.

In other words, according to the WIAA, if The Capital Times publishes a series of pictures either in our print or Web edition of Madison Memorial basketball players scrambling for a ball against a tournament foe, we can't sell reprints of those pictures to our subscribers when they ask for them.

Instead, they will need to visit a Web site of the vendor to whom WIAA has sold exclusive rights and hope that vendor has similar photos and, hopefully, at a reasonable price.

After newspapers began questioning this ridiculousness, the WIAA did offer to allow papers to make their photos available for regional and sectional tournaments if they pay a $100 fee that would presumably be divided between the WIAA and its exclusive vendor. Even at that, state tournaments would still be off limits.

A $100 fee for a small weekly to follow its basketball team to the state tourney undoubtedly would be more than it would ever sell.

Meanwhile, parents would be deprived of getting that photo in the hometown weekly of their son or daughter doing the high school proud.

Aside from the questionable legality, there's something vile about a nonprofit organization formed by public schools to help administer sports for the most part performed in public facilities and supported by public money turning over exclusive photography reprint rights to a private company. That's thumbing your nose at the very people who chronicle the achievements of our young athletes through the thick and thin of every season, not to mention the parents and friends of those athletes who might want a picture they saw in the paper or on its Web site.

Perhaps it's time that the school districts of this state start taking a closer look at the direction in which the WIAA has been heading in recent years and the high-handed approach that is straining its relationships in many areas. Is this $6 million-plus organization really that much in need of more money?

As George Stanley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said last week, "Maybe the WIAA, as a nonprofit association, should stick to regulating varsity athletics."

That, indeed, is the only reason the WIAA is here. - Dave Zweifel, Capital Times, Madison

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9

F O R U M

C o m m u n i t y Why am I a poser?

My take on judgment

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V O I C E S

judge you. In fact, the only way anyone gets anywhere is by being judged.

I hate that every word that leaves my mouth is judged, but I know that I judge people, too.

I try hard not to judge people, I tell myself, I'm just as bad or good as they are, and they are probably thinking something bad about me, too.

Honestly, I can't even imagine a world without judgment; things would be drasticalElizabeth ly different. We wouldn't be where we are now: if a certain scientist didn't judge — as in Otto critique — the strike of a lightning bolt, we wouldn't have electricity, for example. So, although it can sometimes sting, judgment isn't always negative.

Thank you for reading, and judge my writing honestly; I look forward letters to the editor judging my writing.

hy am I a poser?”

Why are you a poser? Psht!

You're a poser 'cause of the clothes you wear, 'n' you're a poser 'cause you dyed your hair.

You're a poser 'cause of the things you say, 'n' you're a poser 'cause of the songs you play.

You're a poser 'cause of who you date, 'n' you're a poser 'cause you're never late.

You're a poser 'cause--” “I'm not a poser! I like the clothes I wear and the color that I dyed my hair.

At least I think about what I say and I find meaning in the songs I play.

I don't get how I'm a poser 'cause of who I date and what's so wrong with never being late?”

Bystanders: “Ooooo, burn!”

I wrote this poem one day when I heard someone call my friend a poser. Their conversation went along the lines of this poem, and I felt that if I wrote it, others would definitely relate. A teen's definition of a poser is something along the lines of a wannabe or a fake.

But, more importantly, the poem is about being judged by others; everyone in the world has faced this since they were in their mother's womb. So, I began to ponder the nature of judgment…

Doctors judged how large you would be and whether you were a boy or a girl. Then, in school, teachers judged how smart you were and how you behaved. Your parents judge you, and your friends judge you. And possible employers and co-workers

Editor’s note: Siren middle-schooler Elizabeth Rae-Jean Otto calls writing and art her "passions;" "They define me and provide my mother with topics for bragging," she says.

In return, her mother often inspires her work. Liz also gleans material from her four siblings and father.

Academically, Liz finds herself drawn to Holocaust research. She says that beginning last year, she felt hooked on "learning of the magnitude of the Jews’ suffering and their triumph." She also likes to explore the fascinating Mexican holiday called "Day of the Dead," listen to the band Panic! At The Disco, sing in choir, play her clarinet, star in Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre productions, visit the Siren Skate Park and the Lightning Video Arcade and shop.

Teacher Jodi McLain commented on her student’s writing, saying, "It’s rare to find such compassion and intensity in a writer as young as Liz. I think the public will be intrigued by her work." The 14-year-old is the daughter of Lisa Anderson and Ron Otto.

E-mail us @ the-leader@centurytel.net

Fo l l o w t h e L e a d e r.

You can subscribe online @ www.the-leader.net

S t a f f

C O R N E R

a treat taped to it.

When my son came home from his Valentine's Day party at school, he opened his large Valentine envelope he made out of ell Valentine's Day has come and construction paper and looked through all gone, and now that it's over, I thought the Valentines inside. He reminded me of I would share some thoughts. the excitement I had as a kid. He opened While you may have your own coneach one and read whom it was from. If clusions about this holiday and its origin, here there was a treat, he would undo the tape to is yet another theory about how it all began. separate it from the card, and put that in a While in church a couple of Sundays back, I pile.

Tammi special learned the story of St. Valentine, who perI must say that times have changed Milberg though since I was a kid. Now cards come formed secret marriages because the Emperor Claudius II of Rome did not believe married with washable tattoos in them, which he men made good soldiers and prohibited marwas thrilled to find. I think I would have riages taking place. St. Valentine, the romantic priest enjoyed that as a kid too! he was, performed these marriages anyway in secret.

Conversation hearts with printed sayings have When Valentine's actions were discovered, Valentine changed as well. Whatever happened to the simple was sentenced to death. phrases of “Be Mine,” or “Call Me” or “Luv You”?

While in prison, it was believed that Valentine fell in Now they say, “IM Me,” “Fax Me,” “E-mail Me,” “Text love with a young girl who came to visit him. Before Me.” his death, legend says he wrote her a letter, which he Excuse me? Seriously, is it necessary to upgrade the signed “From your Valentine.” I am no expert, but my candy hearts to the times? Do elementary kids even guess is he was put to death Feb. 14, which would be know what that means? Maybe they do, but I am conthe significance of the date. fused. Maybe it's the old-fashioned part of me coming Intriguing, and it's better than the theory that the out. holiday was invented by the greeting-card industry, or Anyway, for those of you who didn't get conversaretailers to drum up business. While Valentine's Day is tion hearts with messages this year, it may be someintended, marketed, (whatever adjective you want to thing to look for next Valentine's Day. As the future put there) for couples to celebrate, it is for kids too. changes things and technology advances, we never Who can forget making those Valentine card boxes in know what we may be reading on a candy heart next. elementary school and spending a Saturday afternoon I would have to say my personal favorite is the smiley filling out valentines to a list of your classmates? Then, face. there's the Valentine's Day party in the afternoon, when you open your cards, and if you are lucky, find

Now that it’s over

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PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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

It s not us Grantsburg teachers are not the reason for higher property taxes. Property taxes used for public schools are the result of the state-funding formula for school districts. This formula is strictly controlled to limit revenues. The schoolfunding formula is called “revenue limits.”. A school district can exceed its revenue limits only by a public referendum – a vote of the taxpayers. It is not dependent upon whatever settlement is reached between the school board and the teachers. The Grantsburg teachers would like the taxpayers to know that we have proposed a contract settlement that is $6,000 less than the board’s offer, and our offer was rejected.

Fact: The Grantsburg School District mill levy has decreased from 19.69 mills in 1993 (before revenue limits) to 8.23 in 2005-06 (the most recent year available from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, or DPI). If your property taxes are increasing, it is the result of either higher property values due to outsiders buying property at inflated rates and driving up property values, or other sources such as county, town or village taxes.

Fact: Teacher compensation in Grantsburg as a percent of total instructional expenditures has decreased slightly since 1993 according to the DPI (47.2 percent to 46.9 percent). Teacher compensation is not the reason for increased costs in the district.

Fact: Grantsburg teacher salaries are in the lower half when compared to 13 other school districts in the area. Seven of those districts (including Grantsburg) have 100 percent of their insurance paid. Out of those seven schools, Grantsburg is the lowest in starting salary and ranks in the middle on the highest salary.

Any settlement reached in the current negotiations will have absolutely no effect on your property taxes. On the other hand, it will certainly have an effect on the quality of teachers the school district is able to attract and retain.

Respectfully submitted by the following Grantsburg teachers: Sue Helene, Jill Gloodt, Miriam Newby, Mark Johnson, Janice Teigen, Kathy Casper, Dan Bell, Matt Berg, Cindy Johnson, Billie Rengo, Pam Anderson, Josh Watt, Nancy Daniels, Peggy Preissing, Julie Erickson, Kristen Nelson, Julie C. Lee, Brenda Hinrichs,

Bridget Nevin, Jay Gilhoi, Sally Craven, Barb Anderson, Darlene Marczak, Stan Marczak, Grachia Solie, Kris Surbaugh, Jake Levings, Keith Lehne, Steve Johnson, Penny Curtin, Mary Michiels, Bill Morrin, Christine LePage, Kathy Bowers, Sharon Johnson, Ron Nevin, Wendy Hoefs, Valerie Gunderson, Paul Huskamp, Richard Graves, Lucy Myers and Bruce Teigen

Dialogue, not attack I was surprised at the response from Russell Hanson, of Cushing, regarding my husband’s column in the Leader regarding anti-war protesters. In the column I did not see any attack on the protesters. It was only pointed out that we never see any protesting against the vicious attacks by the terrorists.

My husband has received e-mails stating there has been no proven documentation of any war veterans being spit upon, including Vietnam veterans. I know personally of one that was spit upon. When my brother returned from Vietnam, he made the mistake of wearing his uniform. He was spit upon by several protesters at the Los Angeles Airport. My brother was terribly shocked, and he is not a liar.

Let’s have a dialogue regarding the war and not attack each other.

Bonnie Anderson Frederic

GAM responds

We would like to respond to the recent article in a local paper regarding GAM and the pizza parties and Christmas gifts.

For many years, we received an apple, a nice healthy gift. In recent years, we received a yearly planner, (6”x3-1/2”) and yes, a pen attached to it with GAM printed on the planner. The thought being helpful for work schedules.

The pizza party was after our annual state survey. This is done to show that we are appreciated for our dedication to GAM residents and their families.

To many of us, pizza parties and Christmas gifts are not a priority for working at GAM. We are there for residents. “We care” has been a personal motto for many of us. We receive more love from the residents and their families. We have been told by the state surveyors the feeling of warmth and caring is quite evident in the dining room at coffee time. We are family!

Area news at a glance

from area newspapers Advocate surprised at lack of outrage

RICE LAKE - Nearly a year after the fact, Rice Lake resident Jo Pelishek is still amazed by the community’s response to the death of 7-year-old Angellika Arndt. Arndt suffocated while in a face-down control hold used to subdue her behavior at the Rice Lake Day Treatment Center last May. “I am so frustrated and amazed at the lack of outrage that I think should be there,” said Pelishek, who is a family advocate for families with children with mental health/emotional/behavioral disorders.

“The community remained silent, unwilling to or not knowing how to deal with the issues involved,” Pelishek said.

Pelishek said families tell her they think that the fact that Arndt had mental health concerns came into play—and they feel even further isolated. “One parent told me, ‘If this had been a ‘typical’ child in one of our schools, I think the community would have been out-

raged,’” Pelishek said. But there’s not enough awareness or understanding of children with mental health /emotional/behavioral issues, she said. Pelishek and her husband, Rick, are the adoptive parents of two children with a variety of special needs. In their case, that means children diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, severe reactive attachment and mood disorders. They take Arndt’s death personally. “It really bothered me that there were no flowers for Angie,” Pelishek said referring to the usual custom of placing flowers at the site of a person’s death. “Other situations in town elicited community response,” she said. “This did not.” On Friday, March 2, Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic, which owned and operated the now closed center, will be sentenced for homicide under the patient abuse statute. Social worker Brad Ridout, 29, of 20 E. Evans St., Rice Lake, will be sentenced for misdemeanor negligent patient abuse. – Rice Lake Chronotype

We all enjoy pizza and a gift, but when it is not given in the true sense of appreciation, it is not a gift.

We receive many hugs and are especially remembered by the residents and their families during the holidays. Coworkers have brought in oranges and treats; the community has been active in showing their support for GAM. We are often told by families “thanks,” for being there and doing your job. Families state they are glad there are people like us, because they cannot always be there, and couldn’t do the type of work we do. This kind of appreciation is truly a gift.

Karen Hornick – 30 years of service Linda Lee, Joan Maxon, Christine Wilson, Shirley Ruff and Joan Talmage Amery

Not a business I’m writing in response to the information that Patricia Schmidt reported to the Luck trustees.

I work at Golden Age Manor, and it’s one of the top nursing homes in the state. Patricia makes it sound like we have pizza parties on a regular basis.

We have a yearly state survey, and employees work very hard to maintain good care for our residents.

Gary rewards us with a pizza party. Is that so wrong? We didn’t receive a Christmas gift as the public was made to believe. We did receive a small pocket calendar to keep our schedules on.

We do work in a facility with three different shifts and part-time employees.

Polk County workers also received a calendar, much more expensive then GAMs. I know that GAM can’t afford to be spending money this way. Golden Age Manor did make money in prior years for the county. That money was never made public. GAM was built as a service to Polk County, not a business.

Sandy Yeske Amery GAM employee

Earth s core An interesting observance by Boyd Sutton and his take on Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.”

First of all, may I make note that Sutton is a fine writer and citizen, however misdirected. He has however taken a political stand that is up to scrutiny.

He speaks of global warming and buying more efficient lightbulbs. This may have small benefits and is commendable.

I would like to propose a different slant on things regarding global warming.

The Earth has an elliptical route around the sun rather than a true circle.

Also, it is directed by interplanetary pull by other planets and the moon, so its direction is not always on the same route, thus affecting its distance from the sun. Also, the Earth has a little bounce in its revolution caused by an imbalance in its curvature. Kind of like an extra wheel weight on your front tire of the car.

Al Gore surmised that the cattle in the U.S.A., with their flatulence problem, are responsible for global warming.

This, added to our use of SUVs for transportation, brings us to where we are responsible for the rise in global temperature of .07 degrees in the last 100 years.

Now, if we use this as a guideline and go back less than 10,000 years, we can maybe blame the hairy mammoth and the millions of buffalo for their intestinal problems and defecation for melting the glaciers.

What we may want to do is look to the Earth’s core and speculate on the vol-

canic action in the center, with approximately 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the center and constant volcanic action.

Note Mt. St. Helens, Yellowstone and 3,500 miles in the bottom of the Pacific alone. Note atolls around Hawaii.

I suggest the center of Earth cooling slightly, and the exterior warming slightly. A simple heat transference the powers that be wish to exploit in their favor.

I don’t blame them for seeking the power and control. Can you blame me for attempting to point it out?

An interesting point – It appears Al Gore and I have the same I.Q. through no fault of his or mine.

There was an effort by certain factions to make this “dummy” president. When the elite shows leadership, I may follow, but not until then.

Bruce Muehlhauser Cushing

Trickle down All taxes trickle down. I got a kick out of the headline in Sunday’s Daily Tribune. The headline stated, “Tax might trickle down.” Businesses have only one real source of income and that is money from the consumer. As Alan Greenspan stated in May 2003, “Businesses don’t pay taxes, only people pay taxes.”

An honest politician will tell you that businesses don’t pay taxes. Other politicians just want your money. If they can get you to believe that businesses should pay their fair share, they just took you, hook, line and sinker. Where do you think businesses get their money? Do they have a magic drawer to pull money from? Do they print it off their computers?

Consumers pay all business expenses.

Profit is a residual; it’s what’s left over after paying for expenses. Consumers not only have to pay for business taxes, they also have to pay for all of the costs of tax preparation. General Electric recently paid $50 million for a new tax program. Consumers had to pay for that.

If you wish to shoot your economy in the foot, tax business, if you wish to put the brakes on your economy tax capital gains. This should be common knowledge in a country with a capitalist economy. Taxing business is simply a money-laundering idea.

The FairTax will provide a clear, simple tax system. The FairTax replaces the income, payroll, corporate, gift, estate, capital gains, and self-employment taxes with a national retail sales tax.

Individuals will have no federal tax forms to fill out. Most businesses will have no tax forms. Retailers will have a postcard to fill out each month. This card will have one question, “How much did you sell to final consumers?”

Visit www.fairtax.org for more information.

Al Ose Regional Director WI, IA (volunteer) Americans for Fair Taxation Wisconsin Rapids

Lot of company Perhaps Jews, Muslins and Christians all pray to the God of Abraham. In fact, they do. Perhaps Norman Jensen has never read with any understanding the words of Jesus Christ: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man (no one) comes to the Father but (except) by (through) me.” Perhaps he has never been taught any better. And perhaps he has an awful lot of company.

Respectfully, Joslyn M. Wurst Osceola

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 11

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Grantsburg teachers press for contract Health insurance remains sticking point

by Carl Heidel GRANTSBURG - Teachers from the Grantsburg schools turned out in number at a Feb. 12 board of education meeting. More than 30 of them came for the second time in recent weeks to press for a contract.

Three of the teachers addressed the board with concerns shared by all the teachers. But before they spoke, Dave Dahlberg, a member of the board's personnel committee, read a prepared statement that identified health insurance as the primary issue of contention in current contract negotiations.

(Editor's note: The statement is printed in its entirety in Letters to the Editor.)

"We like it here. We want to stay," teacher Bill Morin tells the Grantsburg School Board as he expresses his concern that teachers will feel it necessary to leave the district because of lagging contract negotiations.

With the insurance premium for health insurance for a family now at $19,197 per year, the question is not so much whether the teachers will bear part of that cost, but rather how they will contribute their share. The school board is proposing a contract in which teachers would make "a 4-percent insurance premium contribution."

The counter proposal from the teachers is for a flat-rate contribution.

The teachers argue that a percent con-

tribution coupled with the minimal salary increase offered by the board would wipe out any salary increase for experienced teachers who are at the higher end of the wage scale. Whatever raise they would receive would be less than what they would have to pay for insurance, and their overall wages would actually be reduced if the board's offer is accepted. They argue that a flat rate contribution would not have this effect.

Regardless of what issues separate the two sides, however, comments from the teachers during and after the meeting suggested that the need for a satisfactory resolution of the negotiations is growing more urgent.

Several factors contribute to this urgency. First, the conflict between the two sides is escalating. For one thing, within the past week the debate has moved from the negotiating table to the media with both board and teachers releasing statements explaining and defending their bargaining positions.

Also, within the past two weeks, teachers have begun to "work to rule."

This means that they will perform only contractual duties and will not offer any volunteer services to the schools or the students beyond responsibilities specified by contract. Use of this tactic indicates increased tension between the bargaining parties.

But there are other indicators of time running out. Comments by teachers during and after the meeting indicate that some teachers within the Grantsburg system are now beginning to consider employment elsewhere.

"We like it here. We want to stay," said teacher Bill Morin. But he suggested that teachers are either taking steps to leave or are considering such a move because of the lack of a contract.

Rising levels of frustration among the teachers also point to increased urgency to finish the contract. "It's mysterious why these people have a hard time negotiating my contract," said teacher Linda Benge as she expressed her frustration with the board's negotiating team.

Morin shared his frustration, too. "We work really hard for you guys (the board)," he said. The implication of his comments and those of Benge was that the board did not, in Benge's words, "value the teachers who have done such a marvelous job educating my children."

Steve Johnson, another teacher,

Faces of teachers attending Monday evening's school board meeting in Grantsburg tell the story of their weariness with the current state of contract negotiations between the board and the teachers. - Photos by Carl Heidel

Other teachers listen as Linda Benge encourages the Grantsburg Board of Education "to continue negotiating with the teachers." expressed his frustration with the failure of the board's negotiating team to accept the teachers' latest contract offer.

"The teachers offered a contract $6,000 less than that offered by the board." His comments echoed the frustration of other teachers who couldn't understand why the board would not accept a proposal that would save the schools money over a two-year period.

Yet another factor that puts pressure on both sides to complete negotiations is the fact that other negotiations are coming. Unless the current discussions extend terms agreed to beyond the

2005-2007 school years, negotiations for the contract for the 2007-2009 school years must begin soon.

In other business the board - rejected a petition to alter the school district's boundaries; - accepted a bid of $13,162.77 from Burnett Plumbing for a hot water heater for the high school; - approved an amended contract for services with CESA for the next school term.

Webster schools OK 4-year-old kindergarten

by Carl Heidel WEBSTER - Monday night the Webster Board of Education gave their approval to a 4-year-old kindergarten that the district has been considering.

With this support, the new program will begin this fall.

Elementary principal Jeff Walsh reported that as many as 32 students may be enrolled in the class initially.

Superintendent Jim Erickson comment-

ed that this was "sufficient interest" to warrant approval for the program.

A preliminary financial analysis suggests that the startup costs for this new kindergarten will run between $87,000 and $106,700. Projected revenue will cover $37,600 of that cost with the balance coming from district funds.

Erickson had some good news for the board in another matter. He reported that the official pupil count taken the

Damaged mailboxes

by Sherill Summer BURNET COUNTY - Twenty-four mailboxes were damaged last Thursday night, Feb. 15, stretching from townships of Trade Lake, Lincoln and Meenon. All of the mailboxes were struck with a blunt object, leaving marks resembling pipe threads on a metal pipe.

Some of the mailboxes were damaged

while the suspects were in a vehicle, but other mailboxes were damaged while the suspects were out of the vehicle.

Footprints left at some of the sites suggest at least three persons were involved. Empty Pepsi and Michelob Light cans were observed along the trail of damaged mailboxes. The incident remains under investigation.

Correction Brandy Horstman, director of administration at Burnett County Restorative Justice was formally a deputy court administrator in Mille Lacs County, Minn., not the court administrator as mentioned last week in a story. She worked there for five years before coming to Burnett County Restorative Justice.

second Friday in January showed the addition of six more students since the official count last fall. The current student enrollment of 744 is an increase of 10 compared to enrollment figures from the 2006 January count.

In another item, after lengthy discussion board members approved a cooperative sports agreement with the Siren schools for interscholastic baseball and softball teams. Terms of the agreement

still need to be worked out, but the board's action clears the way to offer a sports program to the two schools together, that neither of them would be likely to be able to offer alone.

In other business the board: - approved the business club field trip; - accepted the resignation of Scott Hoefs from the head baseball position; - and tabled consideration of a staff contract for a school psychologist.

Worship seminar scheduled SIREN–The Siren Assembly of God Church is hosting a worship seminar with worship leader and trainer Dan Adler. Adler is originally from the Siren area and is the leader of Heart of the City Ministries Worship Band.

The event is Saturday, Feb. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lunch break from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Persons in attendance are asked to provide their own lunch. The event is at the Siren Assembly of God Church at 23811 Hwy. 35 in Siren.

The seminar is intended for anyone

involved with a worship team, church choir, or anyone from a congregation that loves worship and wants to understand more fully its importance.

There are eight churches participating in bringing Adler to the Siren area.

Dan and his wife, Sandy, have been married and ministering together since 1984. They have two children, Danielle and Ben, and live in Minneapolis, Minn. For more information about Dan Adler, visit the Web site www.heartofthecity.org. –submitted

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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Butterfly House to go before city council Transitional home for women gets plan commission nod

by Tammi Milberg ST. CROIX FALLS–On Feb. 13, the plan commission for the city of St. Croix Falls met and passed a motion for consideration by the city council of a conditional-use permit for a transitional home at 336 N. Washington St. The city council will review the planning commission’s recommendation and vote on the issue at the Feb. 26 regular meeting.

Denise Gunderson and Doreen Rivard requested the conditional-use permit for a transitional home for women, and the property is currently zoned R2, single-family residential.

The plan commission’s recommendation is to grant the conditional-use permit for one year, to be reviewed and renewed at that time.

The transitional home will be called the Butterfly House and would provide a quality, affordable, accessible, soberliving environment for recovering drugand alcohol-dependent individuals.

The Butterfly House would incorporate a 12-step recovery program that will accommodate up to eight women.

Serving as a bridge linking women seeking recovery from alcohol and drug dependency, from a treatment program to the broader recovering community.

The average length of stay will be from six months to one year for women 18 and older, and guests of the Butterfly House will be called residents. A public hearing took place at the plan commission level on the conditional-use permit and the public comments were in support of the operation.

The house will require basic living responsibilities of residents including practicing daily spiritual disciplines, working a full-time job, completing daily and weekly household chores, sharing in all responsibilities promoting the orderly management of the house, participating actively in 12-step recovery meetings, working closely with a sponsor, participating in frequent recovery meeting service opportunities and participating in all house meetings and activities.

The rules for residence include no use of mood-altering chemicals, no physical violence or threats of violence and no smoking in the building.

The following acceptance criteria for residency in the house include: women age 18 and older, willingness and motivation to participate in a 12-step recovery program, being in recovery from drug or alcohol dependency, being sober and chemical free for a minimum of 30 days, or be a direct transfer from a recognized recovery setting, willingness and ability to hold a full-time job, obtaining employment within two weeks of moving to the house, being

The Butterfly House at 336 N. Washington St. is a proposal by Denise Gunderson and Doreen Rivard who are requesting the city council grant a conditional-use permit to operate the 12-step sober-living environment for women over the age of 18. –Photo by Tammi Milberg mentally and physically able to meet personal needs, being able to commit to all financial obligations of the house and committing to participating fully and positively in the mutual management of the house.

It is expected the program will reach capacity within the second month of operation. Residential fees are estimated at $450 per month for a six-month to one-year stay.

SCRMC expansion plans presented to city Dentistry looks to move to Hwy. 35

by Tammi Milberg ST. CROIX FALLS–The plan commission reviewed plans for the St. Croix Regional Medical Center expansion at the Feb. 13 meeting.

The proposal is a $5.1 demolition and new construction project for the medical center. The expansion plan was presented to the plan commission by Lenny Libis, CEO of SCRMC, and Brian Heinz, Elliot Architects.

Libis stated the proposal is to tear down the old building on campus and replace it with a new one. The 1954 building is one-story, and that would be demolished and replaced with a threefloor building, including a basement, ground level and second floor.

This concept would replace the old operating rooms, or OR facility, and recovery areas with ORs and recovery areas comparable to what a person would find in more current hospitals.

“We are also moving the face of the hospital to State Street,” Libis stated.

“We are seeing more traffic through there than on Adams Street.”

Heinz stated the overall goal of the medical center is to improve the image of the hospital and provide a surgical suite that is up-to-date.

The OR facility currently has three operating rooms. There will still be three ORs that will be updated and a footprint for a fourth OR will be constructed for future growth.

Libis stated ORs are expensive to build and that the capability of adding a fourth OR to provide for future growth and needs will be included with the

footprint in this construction project.

“This will go a long way,” Libis said to the commissioners. “We are going to build the building strong enough for a helipad. We don’t have the money now to build one, but want to locate it to the new building in the future. We have an average of 74 lifts a year, and it would cut down transport time by 10 minutes to have it on site.”

The commission recommended the expansion plans to the Feb. 26 city council meeting for approval.

In other business, Amin Uddin, DDS, inquired about locating his dentistry at the Gordon Fox, aka Fox bluffland property on Hwy. 35, near the old salt shed property where the new skateboard park is to be built.

Uddin stated he is in the preliminary phases of seeking a larger building for his dental practice, and the current loca-

tion at 110 N. Washington Street is not large enough to accommodate the future growth for the dental clinic.

Uddin stated he has spoken with Gordon Fox, and the property is the most attractive option he and his wife have come across for relocating. Uddin wanted to know the procedure, if there were zoning changes or issues that need to be solved before moving forward in investigating the option.

Mayor Brad Foss stated that there are some drainage issue with that property and that the skateboard park and right of way for the Ice age Trail is also involved. He suggested the commission meet for a walk-through some time during March and get a hands-on feel for the property. They can then work with Uddin on what needs to be done.

NPS seeks public input for St. Croix River camping plan ST. CROIX FALLS– The National Park Service has released a camping management plan and associated environmental assessment that identifies the agency’s preferred alternative for managing camping on NPS-administered lands along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway between St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls and Stillwater. At present, there are few restrictions on camping in this popular reach of the National Scenic Riverway. The plan has been developed in response to concerns about human waste, shoreline and island erosion and protecting the rights of private landowners along the riverway.

An open house will be held at the Interpretive Center at William O’Brien State Park in Marine on\ St. Croix, Minn., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6. There will be a short

presentation at 7 p.m. to present the preferred alternative, point out differences among the alternatives, and describe the next steps in the decision-making process. During the meeting, the public can look at maps showing the proposed location of designated campsites and other information about the camping management plan. National Park Service staff will be on hand to discuss the proposed actions and answer questions. William O’Brien State Park is along Hwy. 95 approximately 1-1/2 miles north of downtown Marine-on-St. Croix. Watch for the entrance on the west side of the highway; signs will direct you to the Interpretive Center.

The NPS preferred alternative is Alternative 3a: designated campsites, designated backwater campsites, overnight boat tie-ups, and overnight use pass. Actions included in the pre-

ferred alternative include limiting tent camping to designated campsites, establishing group size limits, and requiring carry in, carryout or onboard toilets. All overnight users would need to be in possession of an annual overnight use pass which would be available free of charge. The purpose of the pass is to ensure that all overnight users are aware of applicable rules and regulations and their purpose. A camping permit or reservation system, with associated fees, may be implemented in the future if camping demand warrants it.

The preferred alternative is not a final agency decision; rather it is an indication of the NPS preference at this time.

A final decision on the alternative will be made by the NPS following public review and comment on the document.

Implementation will be phased in over a period of a few years.

Follow the Leader

The document is available for review at the Riverway Headquarters in St. Croix Falls, and on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/sacn/parkmgmt/publicinvolvement.htm. It is also being distributed to public libraries in St. Croix Falls, Osceola, Somerset, and Hudson and Taylors Falls, Marineon St. Croix, and Stillwater in Minnesota. A limited number of hardcopies and electronic copies on compact disc are available from the National Scenic Riverway. To request a copy, call Kevin Iverson at 715-483-2273.

Written comments may be sent to the Superintendent, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, 401 Hamilton Street, St. Croix Falls, WI, 54024, Attention: Jill Medland. Comments may also be emailed to jill_medland@nps.gov. The 30-day comment period will end on March 31. –from the National Park Service

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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District plans to reduce reserve fund balance

Budget cuts of $200,000 are goal for 2007-08; First possible staff cuts approved

by Gregg Westigard FREDERIC – The Frederic School District is planning to reduce its fund balance or reserve fund goal to $600,000 for the 2007-08 budget. Even with this lower fund balance, the district will need to make $200,000 of reductions in expenses for the coming year. The plan to lower the fund balance and reduce costs was presented to the school board

by district administrator Jerry Tischer at the monthly board Monday night. The board raised no objection to Tischer’s plan.

Tischer and board President Kay Friberg sought the advise of Glenn Meier and Larry Stotz before deciding to lower the balance from the previous $1 million level, which was 15 percent of expenditures. Meier, the district’s banker, said the balance should be at least 10 percent of expenditures or $600,000. Stotz, the district’s auditor, suggested a reserve of at least one month’s operating cost, again about $600,000. If the district is short of funds on hand while awaiting revenue distributions, it needs to have a reserve avail-

able to pay bills.

Friberg said there are a lot of unknowns in the future budget. He noted that a strong fund balance strengthens the district’s ability to obtain short-term operating loans. He also said that the board had the option of rebuilding its balance at a slower rate, cutting expenses by $100,000 instead of $200,000 and rebuilding the reserve over a three-year period.

The board approved the first tentative staff cuts Monday as it starts to reduce expenditures. One 7-12 special education teacher will be cut, leaving two teachers. Tischer said the number of special education students has been on the low side and won’t go up. The board

is also cutting a half-time teacher in business education. High school principal Ray Draxler said that cut will not be good for the program and will result in the elimination of computer education classes. Draxler said this would be an unfortunate loss for the district but knows he must go along with it.

The district must finalize staffing cuts

by April 15.

Tischer reported that the district has so far spent $40,000 less than last year, comparing Jan. 31 figures. With roughly half the school year over, the district has spent 42 percent of its budgeted costs, down from 44 percent at this time last year. The school fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

Ziegler and Clifford survive primary Low turnout in Burnett and Polk

by Gregg Westigard STATEWIDE – Annette Ziegler and Linda Clifford won the Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election contest Tuesday and will face each other in the

spring general election April 3. The winner of that contest will replace Jon Wilcox on the state’s highest court. With roughly 85 percent of the results reported statewide, Ziegler had 58 percent of the votes and Clifford had 26 percent.

Joseph Sommers received 16 percent of the vote and was eliminated from the race.

New NAPA Store

Burnett and Polk counties had a very low turnout for the election. There was only one primary contest in the area aside from the court race. That was a primary in the Clear Lake School District. A total of 370 persons voted in Burnett County and 688 in Polk. In two Burnett County towns, only five votes were cast. If the three election judges each voted, that means only two other persons showed up during the polling

Clear Lake primary

by Greg Westigard CLEAR LAKE – In the only local primary in the area, voters in the Clear Lake School District chose Sheri Overby and Gregory Heinbuch to be the candidates for an open seat on the school board. Robert Moe finished third and was dropped from the race. The winner of the April 3 general election will

replace Bert Peterson who is retiring after 24 years on the board, 20 of them as board president.

The votes Sheri Overby 47 Gregory Heinbuch 44 Robert Moe 24

Identity theft feared at State Capitol MADISON - Officials are urging more than 100 state lawmakers and legislative aides to monitor their credit after a report containing their Social Security numbers was stolen.

The employee who lost the information was carrying it with her to work on at home when she stopped off at the gym. She left the data in her car, which was broken into, along with other vehicles in the same lot.

Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch was among the 109 people whose information was stolen. He says he’s already taken steps to monitor his credit given the sensitive information that was lost.

He says there’s no question that it’s possible that there is a great deal of information that a criminal could use to vio-

late a lot of individual’s personal identities and privacies. He says they’re taking steps individually to make sure that isn’t going to happen, but he says it’s something that they need to prevent in the future.

Huebsch says the legislature is still weighing its options for how to prevent this in the future. He says there are no plans to punish the worker who lost the report, who was a victim of theft.

Wisconsin Rapids Assemblyman Marlin Schneider was also among those affected. Schneider wants Gov. Doyle to issue an executive order prohibiting employees from taking such information home with them. Doyle says he’ll look into the situation. – Wisconsin Public Radio, Shawn Johnson

Local results Ziegler Clifford

Sommers

Burnett County 144 166

60

Polk County 326 219

143

Gathering to discuss “green city” AMERY – Mayor Harvey Stower has issued an invitation to city and area residents to attend a gathering which would explore Amery becoming a “green city.”

Stower said, “Our city has done much to attempt positive conservation practices. However, we would like to see what we might do to advance ideas already put into practice by Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn and other communities.”

Napa Auto Parts opened Monday, Feb. 12, in Milltown at the old fire hall by the grocery store. Shown with store manager Travis Ogilvie, right, is employee Jacques Ogilvie. Not shown is owner Chad Ogilvie. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. –Photo by Mary Stirrat

hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kathleen Kolar, a member of the Amery Redevelopment Authority, has been appointed to chair the Green Group. She will also chair the Earth Day/Arbor Day events for Amery.

Kolar said, “This doesn’t mean we need more parks but a proactive rather than a reactional approach to issues facing the area.”

Inquiries may be directed to city hall at 715-268-7486. – from the city of Amery

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F R E D E R I C • G R A N T S B U R G • L U C K • S T. C R O I X F A L L S • S I R E N • U N I T Y • W E B S T E R

Area wrestlers off to state tourney!

Rikkola will represent SCF at the Kohl Center following their top-three performances at the Division 3 section tournament in SCF. A couple of wrestlers came just shy of making the Madison meet as Michael Lamirande and Shawn Castorena each took fourth.

On a team loaded with talent, Bruns emerged as a dark horse wrestler for the Saints of late. He won the 112 title at the Unity the week before. On Feb. 17, he earned a third-place finish to advance on to state.

Bruns had been pinned in the semifinals by Jay Plemon (47-2) of Park Falls, but Bruns wrestled his way into third.

He earned a 7-3 decision of BlairTaylor’s Reed Waldera, and he beat Ladysmith’s Cole Dennis in a 16-5 major decision in the third-place match. Bruns remained in third following a loss to Mike Kanyelis of Cornell-Gilman in their second-place match, 9-4.

During the season, the Saints sophomore had been wrestling at 119 pounds, but Saints coach Dan Clark moved him down to 112 for the final stretch of the season.

“When you come down to 112, it makes a big difference,” said Saints

Unitys Dustin McKinney earns first trip to state and Devon Hoyt makes another

by Matt Blumkin ST. CROIX FALLS – Unity’s Devon Hoyt and Dustin McKinney have seen their hard work of the past 3-1/2 months earn them a trip to Madison.

Both took second in their respective weight classes at the St. Croix Falls Division 3 sectionals on Saturday, Feb. 17, and they’ll hit the mats against Wisconsin’s best at the Kohl Center on Feb. 23-25.

Hoyt’s day nearly reached another climax in addition to advancing to state as he nearly took out Greg Sonnentag (461) of Caddott. Yet, mistakes in the 119pound semifinals against Sonnentag cost him a 3-2 decision.

“I think that was a great match for him,” said Eagles coach Mark Ferguson.

“In the past, I think Devon’s had a difficult time realizing how good he (Sonnentag) really was. We basically had him beat for five minutes. We know we can beat that kid.”

Hoyt had a 2-0 lead on Sonnentag for most of the match, but the one-time state champion and two-time runner-up found a way to capitalize on Hoyt’s mistakes near the end. Hoyt had previously lost to Sonnentag at the Northern Badger finals in December.

He can get another shot at Sonnentag at the state tournament, but he will have to get past defending 112 state champion Andrew Dahl (41-4)cof Cashton.

Hoyt’s first match will be against Brandon Karl of Stratford (32-7).

Ferguson sees Dahl, Sonenntag and Hoyt as the stop three wrestlers in the state for 119 at Division 3.

“They’re one-point away from each other,” said Ferguson. “It depends on who steps it up on Friday.”

Hoyt came back after the Sonnentag loss to down Matt Jansen of Ladysmith in the consolation semifinals in a 16-0

Justin Rikkola of St. Croix Falls will be one of three Saints competing at the WIAA Division 3 Individual State Wrestling Tournament in Madison Feb. 2224. Rikkola won the 103-pound weight class at the SCF sectionals on Feb. 17 to advance to state for the first time in his career. – Photo by Larry Samson techincal fall. He followed up that effort stays after practice and does drills for with a 9-6 decision of St.Croix Central’s half an hour to 45 minutes. His work Curtis Hinkel and Justin Schienebeck of ethic has brought him to this level.”

Park Falls 8-6. The win over He also noted that Hoyt follows such Schienebeck earned Hoyt a second- a routine as well, and both could be place finish. Hoyt won his matches in found in the weight room lifting before small margins since there was no need school too. They even worked out for an to score points for the Eagles at the indi- hour in the morning before coming to vidual sectional tournament.

SCF for the tournament.

“We went as far as could go after that “They’ve put in a lot of hard work for kind of wrestling,” said Ferguson about 3-1/2 months in preparation for the the Sonnentag match. “We he just had to event,” said Ferguson. make sure we won.”

McKinney took care of a key oppoDustin McKinney has made sure to nent right away at sectionals with an 8put for the effort necessary to wrestle 2 decision over Hurley senior Tim his way to state as a freshman. He did- Mattson (41-7). McKinney won the n’t have an easy road either as he start- match by getting takedowns and being ed out the season 0-2, but he has gone on his feet.

36-7 since in a competitive weight class.

In his following match, McKinney “He got a rude awakening to high built a six-point lead against Cornellschool wrestling,” said Ferguson. “He Gilman’s Andrew Provo-Phelps, and he held on despite giving up unanswered points the rest of the way for a 6-3 win.

He had beaten Provo-Phelps two previous times during the season.

Then, McKinney ran into Fred Freeman of Phillips (40-2). Freeman had control initially, but McKinney fought against him in a 6-1 decision. McKinney took second place by virtue of his win over Mattson earlier in the day.

McKinney will have a first-round match against North Crawford-Seneca’s Devon Kamier (19-5) on Feb. 22. The winner will take on Matt Kiel (36-4) of Roncalli.

“Dusty is on the good side of the bracket,” said Ferguson.

Zach Osborn-Gurtner (19-5) also represented the Eagles at the match, but Chad Denzine (24-15) of Phillips pinned him in the second period of their quarterfinal match.

Unity’s Devon Hoyt trying to break free of Caddott’s Greg Sonnentag in one of the big matches of the day. Hoyt had a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Sonnentag (44-1) rallied for a 3-2 victory. – Photo by Matt Blumkin

Three for Saints ST. CROIX FALLS – Wrestling on their home mats, three Saints earned a trip to Madison.

Dustin Raygor, Jake Bruns and Justin

See State, next pg

Extra Points

••• WEBSTER – Tigers baseball coach Scott Hoefs resigned on Feb. 1. Hoefs had coached the Tigers for two seasons. The position has not been filled yet. Siren and Webster may co-op for baseball and softball starting in 2007-08 after the Webster school board approved the measure on Monday, Feb. 19. The West Lakeland Conference and the WIAA will also need to approve the co-op. – Matt Blumkin with information from Carl Heidel ••• MADISON – Emily Brookshaw, a one-time Webster student, stopped 27 shots and allowed two goals as the Bemidji State Beavers fell to No. 2ranked Wisconsin on Feb. 16. The Beavers women’s hockey squad lost 20 in the first meeting, but the Badgers dominated the second game on Feb. 17, 6-0. Brookshaw knotted 34 saves in the contest. – Matt Blumkin ••• MENOMONIE – Webster alumna Char Edwards has helped UW-Stout women’s basketball top the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association this season. Edwards scored four points and stole the ball twice as Stout downed UW-La Crosse 72-68 on Feb. 17. Edwards has averaged 4.9 points per game this season, and she has 29 steals so far. Stout will be the No. 1 seed in the WIAC tournament as they face UW-Oshkosh on Feb. 19. – Matt Blumkin ••• BEMIDJI, Minn.

– Nancy McConkey, a former Webster student, had 14 points and four boards in her final home game as a Beaver. The Bemidji State women’s basketball team fell at home 90-83 to conference foe University of Mary on Feb. 17. They wrap up the regular season at Upper Iowa and Winona State on Feb. 23-24. – Matt Blumkin

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 b l u m k i n @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t o r m s e e g e r @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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State/continued It did for Bruns at sectionals. Next, he will have a tough match at state on Feb. 22 against Dustin Schemmell (45-5) of Marshall. If he wins, we will advance to wrestle Dylan Schroeder (40-4) of Mineral Point.

Fellow sophomore Justin Rikkola will also be among the Saints contingent at Madison as he won the 103 title Rikkola won it on a 10-4 decision over Bruce’s Bubba Gudis. Rikkola had lost Gudis earlier in the season.

Clark had said, Jake Bruns “103 was a very tough weight.”

Rikkola met the challenge nonetheless beating three wrestlers with at least 30 wins or more. He beat Colton Ocker (3016) of Park Falls in the quarterfinals and Ryan Capouch (31-6) of Blair-Taylor in the semis.

With a section championship, Rikkola will have a bye on the tourney’s first day. He faces the winner between Cedar Grove’s Nick Wendt (42-8) or Amherst’ Seth Krogwold (32-3) on Feb. 23.

Reaching for state. Unity’s Dustin McKinney battling Cornell-Gilman’s Andrew Provo-Phelps in a 6-3 decision. McKinney secured second-place at 125 pounds with that win. – Photos by Matt Blumkin Raygor (45-0) will have the challenge of going unbeaten as he enters the state tournament. He won the 152 title at sec-

tions in addition to toughing it out through injury.

In his semifinal match, Raygor had a

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9-2 on Glenwood City’s David Ashleson when he suddenly got his leg twisted.

Raygor, laying on the mat, winced in pain, but he returned to finish the match in a 9-6 decision.

Later in the day, he pinned Shell Lake’s Kyle Vanderhoof in the second period of their championship match.

Raygor will face the winner of Weston’s Sam Brandt (35-7) and Cedar Grove’s Joe Brunton (32-8).

“It’s doable for him,” said Clark about Raygor making a title run.

His brother, Joe, did not make it as far since St. Croix Central’s Luke Van Beek upset him in the quarterfinals.

145 Raygor (38-5), a freshman, had aspirations of going to state; a 4-2 doubleovertime loss to Van Beek ended that run.

“Anything can happen,” said Clark.

“This tournament has the most upsets because kids are fighting to get to state.”

Saints grapplers Isaac Bont, Jordan Beauvias, Justin Holmdahl and Mike Castorena also wrestled at sectionals but fell shy of state or placing in the top four.

Spooner ends road for Luck wrestlers Russel Harr and Robert Hansen lose to tough competition at the sectional meet in Spooner

by Marty Seeger SPOONER – The road for the LuckFrederic-Grantsburg team ended in Spooner last Saturday, Feb. 17.

Russel Harr, 189 pounds, and Robert Hansen (125) advanced from their matches at the regional meet in Frederic the week before to compete at Spooner.

According to coach Chris Bartlett, Harr knew that he needed to beat Jake Filkins of Prescott (27-11) in order to make it.

“He had wrestled him twice before.

He wrestled him tough into the third period before getting pinned,” said Bartlett.

Harr pinned Dustin Wozniak of Stanley-Boyd/Thorp in his second match of the tournament, but lost in his third and final match to John Schoen of

Luck-Frederic-Grantsburg’s Robert Hansen wrestling against Bloomer’s Jordan Eder at the Spooner sectionals on Saturday, Feb. 17. Hansen had a short season (1-0), but he advanced at regionals to reach Spooner. – Photo

by Karen Traynor

Neilsville/Greenwood by tech fall over.

Schoen had only two losses on the season, and Harr finished the tournament in fourth place.

“He wrestled well and is already looking forward to next year,” said Bartlett.

Robert Hansen will also be back next year for LFG, but faced some tough competition last weekend at Spooner.

Hansen lost his first match by pin to Jordon Eder of Bloomer and lost again in the second round to Andy Mullins of Mosinee by tech fall over. Both wrestlers Hansen lost to advance to the state tournament which will be held this weekend at Madison.

“They both gave 100 percent,” said Bartlett. “I told them to go out there and leave everything on the mat. You don’t want to look back and think you held back. You never know; it could be your last match. An injury could take their senior seasons away.”

Bartlett is already looking forward to next season, and is hopeful that more kids will participate. The team is losing only two seniors this season, in comparison to the nine senior wrestlers they lost last year.

Three Cats finish in to 20 at state meet Four Chisago LakesSt. Croix Falls skiers wrap up season at state meet

by Matt Blumkin BIWABIK, Minn. – Three Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls Wildcats finished in the top 20 of the Minnesota State Alpine Ski Meet on Thursday, Feb. 15., at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn.

“All the kids skied hard and fast,” said Wildcats Coach Dan Raedeke. “It was fun to watch.”

Senior skier Dominick Raedeke came in 12th place with a time of one minute, 9.51 seconds. Dan Sandgren, also a senior, took 17th in 1:11.45. On the girls’ side, sophomore Simone Raedeke had a 19th-place finish at 1:34.22. Sarah Bottjen fell during her second run of the

Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls skier Simone Raedeke came in 19th at the Minnesota state meet. – Photo by Dan Raedeke

day and couldn’t finish. Bottjen had been in third place for the first run with a time of 38.19. Yet, the senior skier has many other memories to look back on.

“The three seniors were sad to see it end; they were proud of what they accomplished,” said Coach Raedeke.

“Simone as a sophomore was also sad to see it end. She enjoyed Dan Sandgren skiing with so many great seniors and is looking forward to next year.”

The Wildcats girls’ team will return all but one skier while the boys’ team will graduate seven seniors.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 17

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Vikings beat Bruce, anticipate Clayton Coach Troy Wink gets first-ever playoff win Frederic 59, Bruce 45

by Marty Seeger BRUCE — The Vikings ousted Bruce handily on Tuesday night to advance to the regional semifinal game against Clayton. Frederic went into Bruce as the No. 5 seed, while Bruce filled the No. 4 spot, and according to coach Troy Wink the game was definitely in the Vikings favor.

At one point during the first period, the Vikings took the lead and never gave up that lead. It was 15-8 Frederic after the first quarter, but Bruce pulled to within one. That’s when Viking senior, Kathleen Jerry stepped in with a couple of big 3-pointers to give Frederic the edge they needed to pull the lead apart.

“It kind of gave us that extra shooter we were hoping to get,” said Wink, who added that the three’s played a huge part in turning the game around.

Other turning points in the game included Melanie Chenal’s 17 points, along with her nine of 10 free throws.

Ali Lake had a good night as well with 15 points and five of seven free throws.

As a team the Vikings shot well from the line shooting 19 of 27, with nine coming in the fourth quarter.

Kelly Wondra controlled a solid offense at point guard, and Becca Anderson had nine assists. Erin Schmidt was also solid with a team high of eight rebounds.

Wink said that one of the goals on the night was to keep Bruce from the foul line, and the Vikings accomplished that by only allowing the Red Raiders to shoot a total of 10 free throws.

This is Frederic’s sixth win in a row, and in coach Wink’s seven years as head coach he had never been able to win a playoff game until now, so the team’s win against Bruce makes it even more special.

“It was due, and we were ready to take the next step, and we’re very happy we did that,” said Wink.

The next game will be a tough matchup against the No. 1 seeded Clayton Bears, who also rank as the No. 1 team in the state for Division 4.

“We’re going to come out firing, that’s for sure,” said Wink. “We’ll give them a battle and give them all we got.”

Grantsburg 52, Webster 27 GRANTSBURG — The Pirates piled on a lot of points in the first quarter and walked easily past Webster Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Grantsburg took a 16-3 lead in the first quarter, and held Webster to three points until halfway through the second period. Miranda Kammeyer led the Team Unity Prescott

1 2 3 4 8 6 9 7 25 11 21 16 Individual Statistics Unity 2s 3s FTM/A Cola Hickethier 2 0 0/0 Tina Edgell 2 0 0/2 Allie Peterson 0 0 0/0 1 0/0 1 Brianna Schmid Brianna Bielmeier 1 0 2/2 Andrea Thompson 3 1 2/3 0 0 0/0 Lindsay Turner Becca Milligan 0 0 2/2 Cailin Turner 0 1 0/0 9 3 6/9 Totals

F TP 2 4 2 4 1 0 1 5 1 4 1 11 1 0 1 2 0 3 10 33

Prescott Charette Morris Most Krenz Hovel Vogl Lytle Hei Jilk Carlson Totals

F TP 1 30 2 14 1 5 0 8 1 2 2 6 0 4 0 2 0 2 1 0 9 73

2s 8 4 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 24

3s 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

FTM/A 2/3 0/0 1/2 0/0 0/2 2/6 2/4 0/0 0/0 0/0 7/17

F 33 73

Coach Troy Wink gives the Frederic basketball team a pep talk during their game against Bruce Tuesday, Feb. 20. - Photo by Tiffany Glinski

Webster’s Beth Baer (L) and Chelsey Bereiter (R) try to wrestle the ball from Lindsey Hedlund in Tuesday night’s regional game. - Photo by Marty Seeger charge in the first period with six Grantsburg Thursday night.

The Cardinals fell behind 19-2 after points, and Mollie Bjelland added four to go along with team high of 17 points. the first period and couldn’t seem to get Kammeyer added 13 total points, and momentum going after that.

“Boyceville demonstrated great athIngrid Ames and Megan Finch conleticism, execution and basketball I.Q.,” tributed eight points each.

The Tigers couldn’t get much going, said Luck coach Marty Messar. “They but remained scrappy throughout the are a very talented team and simply game. Beth Baer led the team with 11- overpowered us.”

Taryn Pilz led the Cardinals with points and Samantha Hogle added four.

Webster ends their season with a con- eight points on the night, and Megan ference record of 3-9 and an overall Hacker added four. Luck finishes the record of 3-17. season with an overall record of 1-20.

Grantsburg will go up against Boyceville this Thursday, Feb. 22 at Siren 84, Lac Courte Oreilles 17 Boyceville in the regional semifinals.

SIREN – Blue and green often don’t match.

Boyceville 62, Luck 15 The Siren Dragons (green and white) BOYCEVILLE — The Bulldogs han- won easily in a mismatch over the Lac dled Luck with ease on Tuesday, Feb. Courte Oreilles Eagles (blue and yel20, and will face the Pirates of low) in their regional quarterfinal Team Luck Boyceville

1 2 3 4 5 4 4 2 19 12 14 17 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A Luck Britta Giller 1 0 0/0 Melissa Jenssen 0 0 0/2 Megan Hacker 2 0 0/0 Sarah Petersen 0 0 1/2 Krystal Stage 0 0 0/0 Brittney Danielson 0 0 0/0 Taryn Pilz 4 0 0/1 Totals 7 0 1/5

F TP 2 2 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 0 4 0 1 8 9 15

Boyceville Julie Brewer Kaitlin Klaustermeier Stephanie Steinberger Carissa Walsh Katie Zavodny Teralyn Sutliff Nicole Nusberger Kayla Bird Caitlin Williams Ashley Stalker Brittany Stewart Kelsie Klaustermeier Totals

F TP 0 9 0 3 0 2 1 14 1 5 1 10 1 9 1 3 1 3 0 4 2 0 1 0 9 62

2s 3 0 0 7 1 5 4 1 0 2 0 0 23

3s 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 2/4 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/2 1/3 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 4/9

F 15 62

1 2 3 4 Team 5 2 0 10 Lac Courte Oreilles Siren 41 16 17 14 Individual Statistics Lac Courte Oreilles 2s 3s FTM/A Tienna Crowes 1 0 0/0 Kaleena Dust 0 0 0/0 Stephanie Gouge 1 3 2/4 Rachael Fleming 1 0 0/3 Kayeigh Edley 0 0 0/0 Chelsea Jenkins 0 0 0/0 Mugzy Schlender 0 0 0/0 Stephanie Colbo 0 0 0/0 Totals 3 3 2/7

F TP 1 2 1 0 2 13 4 2 4 0 1 0 2 0 5 0 20 17

Siren Lauren Howe Jennifer Mitchell Caitlin Flanigan Courtney Daniels Jena Coyour Janey Emery Brittany Jaskolka Kim Lindberg Amanda Peterson Lynn Renberg Totals

F 0 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 1 0 14

2s 3 1 6 0 1 3 2 1 3 1 21

3s 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

FTM/A 0/1 1/3 5/5 0/1 0/0 2/2 2/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 14/20

F 17 88

TP 12 8 25 3 5 11 7 3 8 7 88

game, Tuesday, Feb. 20.

“It’s frustrating,” said Dragons coach Jon Ruud about playing this sort of game with the temptation to take it easy.

His team kept up the intensity though as they put together a 40-0 run during the first quarter. They won’t find this kind of mismatch any more.

“The next game is going to be tough,” said Ruud. “Both Drummond and South Shore are physical. We have to bring our ‘A’ game.”

Yet, the Dragons have been looking up with a recent win over Northwood (10-10), 47-37, at home. They beat Prairie Farm 80-24 on Feb. 13 prior the Northwood contest, and they’ve won five of their last six games.

“I’ve been happy with the past couple weeks,” said Ruud.

With the easy win over LCO in a game that lasted less than 1-1/2 hours, the Dragons also had some rest in preparation for their next opponent.

“We needed that,” said Ruud.

Drummond comes in 9-11 overall from the Indianhead Conference, which includes 4-ranked Hurley (20-0) and No. 15-ranked Mellen (16-3) as of Feb. 19. Drummond beat South Shore, 43-39, in the first round.

The winner between the Dragons and Lumberjacks will travel to Webster for the regional finals on Saturday, Feb. 24, against either Northwood (10-10) or 2seeded Solon Springs (9-9).- Matt Blumkin Prescott 73, Unity 33 PRESCOTT – Against a tough Prescott team, Unity’s season turned to dust on Fat Tuesday - a day early.

“We ran into a buzz saw last night,” said Eagles coach Chuck Holicky.

“Prescott is a very talented team, and they shot the ball extremely well.”

Cardinals sophomore star Kaycee Charette torched the Eagles with 30 points. Andrea Thompson led the Eagles in scoring with 11 points with most coming after the Cardinals buried the Eagles in a 25-8 hole.

“We didn’t give them many easy looks, and they were able to bury it from anywhere on the floor,” said Holicky.- Matt Blumkin Team Webster Grantsburg

1 2 3 4 3 9 7 8 16 15 11 10 Individual Statistics Webster 2s 3s FTM/A Samantha Hogle 1 0 2/3 0 0/0 Amanda Alberg 1 0 0/7 Kathryn Krause 0 Chelsey Bereiter 0 1 0/0 1/6 0 Beth Baer 5 1/2 0 Rose Koepecky 1 0 2/2 0 Katie Thill 0 0/0 Smallwood 1 1 6/20 9 Totals

F TP 3 4 3 2 0 4 0 3 2 11 3 0 2 1 0 2 13 27

Grantsburg Abbey Vaksdal Sarah Wald Miranda Kammeyer Mollie Bjelland Megan Finch Ingrid Ames Amanda Huehn Stephanie Jensen Jade Johnson Lindsey Hedlund Laura Skifstad Totals

F 1 1 0 4 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 17

2s 1 1 5 7 3 4 0 0 0 0 1 22

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 3/4 3/3 2/5 0/2 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 8/14

F 27 52

Team Frederic Bruce

TP 2 2 13 17 8 8 0 0 0 0 2 52

1 2 3 4 15 13 13 18 14 15 8 8 Individual Statistics 3s FTM/A 2s Frederic 4/6 0 0 Kelly Wondra 3 0 1/4 Erin Schmidt 5/7 0 5 Ali Lake 0/0 2 0 Kathleen Jerry Becca Anderson 2 2 0/0 0/0 0 0 Lisa Chelmo 9/10 0 4 Melanie Chenal Totals 14 4 19/27

F 4 0 0 1 3 1 3 12

TP 4 7 15 6 10 0 17 59

FTM/A 0/2 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 4/4 4/4 8/10

F 0 3 3 0 4 3 5 18

TP 0 16 0 2 0 15 12 45

Bruce Courtney Baker Hope Villiard Brittany Hill Lynne Granica Kacee Berthold Brittany Gerber Sami Atwood Totals

2s 0 5 0 1 0 4 4 14

3s 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3

F 59 45

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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Blizzard chop Tomahawk, fall to Pines said Norman.

They also had the inspiration of the Blizzard boys’ squad to draw from.

They watched the Blizzard beat Spooner 6-5 for their first-ever playoff win on Feb. 13, and their fall to No. 1 seed Superior on Feb. 15.

“They’ve been able to see what kind of excitement this really is,” said Norman.

Lady Blizzard notch 12 goals and win firstever playoff game Lady Blizzard 12, Tomahawk 0 Northland Pines 3, Lady Blizzard 1

by Matt Blumkin SIREN – Teams treat playoffs as a new season, and the Lady Blizzard got off to fresh start on Feb. 16 with a 12-0 drubbing of Tomahawk for their first-ever playoff win.

“Last year, we were in Tomahawk’s shoes,” said Lady Blizzard coach Greg Norman. “”We don’t want to feel like that again.”

The Lady Blizzard lost their firstround playoff game in a blowout loss last year.

Against Tomhawk, senior forward Mandie Ramstrom got the puck rolling with the first goal, and she finished with six goals for the Lady Blizzard. They rolled 12-0 with strong puck handling.

“It just kept getting better and better,” said Norman about his squad’s puck handling. “That’s something we’ve been working on all year.”

The Lady Blizzard kept the puck in the Tomahawk zone for most of the game, and Tomahawk seldom got a break away on offense. They built a 2-0 first-period lead despite jitters early on.

“They came out pretty nervous at the beginning,” said Norman. “They couldn’t pass the puck real well.”

Things took off for the Lady Blizzard in the second period as they poured on five more goals by three different players. Seven different players scored in the

More excitement EAGLE RIVER – The Lady Blizzard kept that excitement going into their second playoff game against Northland Pines on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

“The girls played an awesome game,” said Norman.

In a back-and-forth contest, the Lady Blizzard took an early 1-0 lead less than minute into play. NP struggled back into a 1-1 tie after two periods. Then, NP took a 2-1 lead at 11:45 in the period.

They secured the win with another goal late in the period.

With a 10 freshman and a sophomore, the Lady Blizzard can have more excitement to look forward to next season.

Team Tomahawk Lady Blizzard

Mandie Ramstrom (34), Allie Briggs (36) and company celebrate after their second goal of the game. The Lady Blizzard cruised to a 12-0 win for their first-ever playoff victory. Their season came to an end at Northland Pines on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in a hard-fought battle. – Photos by Matt Blumkin game.

“I was glad all the seniors scored because it was one of their last games,” said Lady Blizzard junior defenseman Sasha Chell.

Beside’s Ramstrom’s six goals, Rachel

O’Brien and Samantha Thompson each had goals in the final period.

They will leave behind a program that has won only five games in its two-year history, but they won a playoff game.

“It just keeps building and building,”

1 0 2

2 0 5

3 0 5

F 0 12

Scoring First Period – 1, LB, Mandie Ramstron (Camilla Sogaard, Shannon Steiner), 3:40. 2, LB, Ramstrom (Allison Briggs),14:55.

Second Period – 3, LB, Ramstrom (Rachel O’Brien, Steiner), 3:31. 4, LB, Casey Crawford (Cody Crawford, Torah Pope), 4:13. 5, LB, Steiner (Briggs), 7:15. 6, LB, Ramstrom (O’Brien), 9:41. 7, LB, Ramstrom (Briggs), 16:59.

Third Period – 8, LB, O’Brien (Steiner, Kendra Spurgeon), 3:29. 9, LB, Cody Crawford (Pope, Casey Crawford), 16:59. 10, LB, Samantha Thompson (Randi Hunter), 6:59. 11, LB, Spurgeon (Alex Lonetti), 11:54.

12, LB, Ramstrom (Thompson, O’Brien), 16:06.

Goalies Saves – LB, Chelsea Hunter (11). T, Kate Nelson (46).

Blizzard’s journey halts at the lakeshore Wisconsin hockey powerhouse Superior too much for Blizzard Superior 11, Blizzard 1

by Matt Blumkin SUPERIOR – “What’s in a name?”

Superior has been the dominant high school hockey program in Wisconsin for years with 14 state titles. The WSFLG Blizzard, in their second year of WIAA hockey, got a taste of what they can build toward on Thursday, Feb. 15, in the regionals at Superior.

“Like I told the kids, the game was more of a celebration of a great season and winning 15 games,” said Blizzard coach Greg Sears. “It was our second season and Superior isn’t a bad place for it to come to an end.”

The Spartans controlled the puck throughout the game, keeping it in the Blizzard zone constantly, and Blizzard goalie Justin Hughes turned in a stellar night in goal as he faced an onslaught of shots by the Spartans. He stopped 28 shots on the night.

“We knew Justin had to play well, and Team Blizzard Superior

1 0 3

2 0 4

3 1 4

F 1 11

Scoring First Period – 1, S, Cole Lundgren (Pat Dalbec), 7:04.

2, S, Tim Smith (Nate Hendry, Brian Pierpont), 3, S, T. Smith (Pierpont), 16:31.

Second Period – 4, S, Hendry (Dalbec, Pierpont), 3:29. 5, S, Mike Plummer (David Smith, Matt Bombich), 5:46. 6, S, D. Smith, 10:53. 7, S, Pat Dalbec (Brian Crawford, Bombich), 16:20.

Third Period – 8, S, Noah Gilbertson (Lundgren), 1:56. 9, S, Lundgren (Pierpont), 6:40. 10, S, Crawford (Bombich, Dalbec), 8:50. 11, S, Dalbec (Wade Berkseth, Crawford), 13:24.

Goalies Saves – B, Justin Hughes (28). S, Kyle Johnson (11).

Blizzard goalie Justin Hughes just misses a shot by Superior’s Brian Crawford as he scored the Spartans’ 10th goal. The Blizzard fell to Superior 11-1 in the regional playoffs, which ended a successful season. They went 15-6-1 overall with a playoff win against Spooner on Feb. 13. – Photos by Matt Blumkin

he did in the first, but they were too much and shot the puck well,” said Sears.

The Blizzard got their men in front of the Spartans on defense, and they checked them. Yet, the Spartans often scored at will. The first goal game at 9:56 into the first period on a shot by Cole Lundgren, and the Spartans followed up with a couple more goals as the Blizzard came away down 3-0 after one period.

“They played real nervous in the first period, and I thought we hung with them in the first,” said Sears. Their shorthanded goal at the end of the first was the back breaker.”

Meanwhile, the Blizzard seldom got established offensively and made shots on goal. Kevin Mossey threatened to score off a pass from Ben Anderson during the first period, but the Spartans goaltender caught the puck in time.

Garrett Bennett fired a shot during the second period, but it got stopped. Then, Ethan Hayes later had a shot deflected and the Spartans capitalized with a shorthanded goal. Hughes had his hands full in net with 11 saves during the period.

Hayes would later spoil the Spartans’ shutout bid with an unassisted goal.

In their second year of WIAA hockey, the Blizzard finished 15-6-1 having won their first playoff game against Spooner on Feb. 13. They’ve gone 25-17-1 in their brief history. Such accomplishments can help the Blizzard make a name for themselves in WIAA hockey.

“They have built a hockey program and a new tradition in two season,” said Sears. “I’m real proud of my kids and all the hard work they have put in and couldn’t be happier with how the season went.”

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FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 19

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More scenes from Blizzard playoff hockey

S

Lady Blizzard senior forward Samantha Thompson Tomahawk couldn’t keep up with Lady Blizzard senior for- Blizzard defenseman Jamie Robb swooping in for the puck. The Lady Blizzard controlled ward Mandie Ramstrom as she scored six goals in the checks a Spartan. possesion throughout the game. game.

Ethan Hayes scored the lone goal for the Blizzard to avoid the shutout. The Blizzard have not been shut out in their last 43 games.

Knights of Columbus free-throw contest

Josh Meyer (19) chasing down the puck while Cameron Hughes (7) gets up from being tripped by the Spartans.

FREDERIC - The Knights of Columbus district free-throw contest held in Frederic on Feb. 16. The district includes Councils from Frederic, Balsam Lake, Webster and Spooner. Winners move on to the Dioscean level at Ladysmith on Sat., March 17.

Representing the district were District Deputy (L) James Otto and Grand Boys (L to R): Age 10, Andrew Schrooten, Webster; Age 12, Jacob Girls (L to R): Age 10 Jenni Holdt, Luck; Age 11, Marissa Elliott, Webster; Sargent, Webster; Age 11, Jacob Age 12, Carley Emery, Siren; Age 13, Rachal Salas, Webster; Age 14, Ashley Onstad, Grantsburg, inset. Not Guevarra, Siren. Shown also are District Deputy (L) James Otto and Grand Shown: Age 13, Justin Decorah, Knight David Rudolph.

Girls runners-up at district include (L to R): Age 10, Aleah Heinz, Webster; Boys (L to R): Age 10, Andy Graham, Spooner; Age 11, Gavin Anderson, Age 11, Allie Hodgkins, Spooner; Age 12, Jenna Christianson, Unity; Age 13, Spooner; Age 13, Rush Hicketheir, Unity; Age 14, Brent Myers, Grantsburg. Crystal Donahue, Unity; Age 14, Kali Campbell, Spooner.

Not pictured Austin Hochstettler, 12, of Spooner.

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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Siren sends Northwood packing The Eagles managed to outscore the Pirates in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough. Chad Strilzuk led the Eagles with 17 points, and Chris Bugg and Matt Goulet added 11 points apiece.

Trent Bonneville led the Pirates with 18 points, and Pavlik had 14 on the night. Grantsburg finishes their regular season with a conference record of 7-4, and an overall record of 10-9.

Grantsburg will play Cumberland on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in regional semifinal action, and Unity will host Spring Valley.

Derek DJock piles on 19 points under the boards to give Siren the edge over the Evergreens Siren 57, Northwood 50

by Marty Seeger SIREN — The Dragons ended a sixgame losing streak with a solid win over Northwood last Friday, Feb. 16.

Derek D’ Jock led the charge early in the first quarter with eight of the Dragons’ 10 points, but Northwood didn’t go away easy in the second quarter. After a nice jumper from the outside

by Travis Freese, Northwood answered back with a long 3-pointer to give them an 18-15 lead. Siren turned the ball over on a steal on the next play and Northwood was back in business.

The Dragons quickly rebounded when Jordan Decorah hit a big 3-pointer to tie the ballgame at 20 with just under a minute to go. Decorah then attempted to steal the ball back and drew a foul that sent him to the foul line. After sinking both, Siren regained the lead 22-20 at halftime.

In the third period, Siren battled back-and-forth early, but pulled away with a couple of big plays under the basket by D’ Jock to force Northwood to take a time-out. Adam Daniels landed his first two points of the game after the time-out, and D’ Jock added two, but Northwood continued to nip at their heels with a big 3-pointer from Reese Stariha. Siren held a 32-26 lead after Stariha’s three, but Decorah answered back with a three of his own.

Cremin took a steal to get an easy bucket all alone and give Siren an 11-point lead with just under three minutes to go in the third, but Northwood added another three to keep the score close going into the fourth quarter.

The Dragons came out in the fourth with a lot of fire from Daniels, who had

Derek D’Jock had a big night for Siren in their win over Northwood last Friday night. - Photos by Marty Seeger 10 points in the quarter. But Northwood threatened Siren’s lead Luck 59, Clear Lake 53 with three more 3-pointers, which CLEAR LAKE — The Luck boys helped them cut the lead as close as two pulled out a nice win in nonconference points with under two minutes to go. action against the Clear Lake Warriors Siren stalled the game with some on Monday, Feb. 19. quick passes across the perimeter but Brennan Olson led the team with 20 forced a turnover. Siren stepped up points and seven rebounds, and Cody some stiff defense to get the ball back, Richert had 16 points with six while Daniels took the ball to the basket rebounds. On defense, Travis Pilz to draw a big foul. Daniels sunk both, helped the team with six steals. giving Siren a 54-50 lead with just Luck will battle Colfax in their first under a minute to go. game of the playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. On the next possession, Decorah 27 at Luck. came up with a game-changing block under the basket, and got fouled in Webster 59, Frederic 39 return. Freese would get an easy layup WEBSTER — The Vikings kept it moments later to seal the deal on the close for much of the first half last Dragon victory, while the team held off Thursday, Feb. 15, but Webster’s freeNorthwood from scoring in the final throw shooting in the fourth and Brian two minutes of the game.

Gibbs’ 22 points made a big difference.

Siren will host St. Croix Falls in their Frederic center, Steve Lake, ran into final regular season game on Friday, foul trouble during the second quarter, Feb. 23., and play at Drummond for the but managed to stay foul free for the regional semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 27. rest of the game.

That wasn’t the case for Jake Schmidt, Ben G. Anderson, or Zach Anderson, who fouled out in the fourth, giving Webster a chance at the foul line, going 19 of 31, and 13 of 17 in the fourth quarter alone.

Frederic will play Turtle Lake in the regional semifinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Jordan Decorah had 12 points in the game against Northwood last Friday.

Team Unity Grantsburg Unity Chris Bugg Chad Strilzuk Justin Bader Matt Goulet Ryan Flaherty Merrill Leoso Totals

1 2 3 4 14 13 15 7 13 16 20 11 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A 4 1 0/0 6 1 2/3 2 0 1/2 4 1 0/2 0 0 0/0 1 1 0/0 17 4 3/7

Grantsburg Brenton Thompson Ben Larson Shawn Pavlik Tyler Myers Tim Josephson Jason Jensen Tyler Larsen Trent Bonneville Totals

2s 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 9 20

3s 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 5

FTM/A 2/3 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 3/4 0/0 0/0 5/8

F 49 60 F 2 1 3 1 4 4 15

TP 11 17 5 11 0 5 49

F TP 1 4 2 5 0 14 0 6 1 2 0 9 1 2 1 18 6 60

Team Northwood Siren

1 2 3 4 5 15 12 18 10 12 19 16 Individual Statistics Northwood 2s 3s FTM/A Reese Stariha 2 3 0/1 Derek Denninger 1 4 1/1 Kevin Brisky 2 0 2/5 Joe Martin 0 0 1/2 Zach Haynes 4 1 2/3 Thomas Ross 0 0 0/0 Kevin Pagorek 1 0 0/0 Totals 10 8 6/12

F 5 1 1 3 0 2 2 14

TP 13 15 6 1 13 0 2 50

Siren John Anderson Bobby Smith Jordan Decorah Ryan Keith Travis Freese Adam Daniels Keith Cremin Derek D’Jock Blake Hall Totals

F 1 1 3 0 0 3 4 1 1 14

TP 0 2 12 2 4 12 6 19 0 57

2s 0 1 1 1 0 5 3 7 0 18

3s 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 4/4 0/0 0/0 2/2 0/0 5/7 0/0 11/13

F 50 57

Grantsburg 60, Unity 49 GRANTSBURG — The Pirates came out ahead last Thursday, Feb. 15, against the Eagles in a close first-half battle.

Grantsburg held a one-point lead going into halftime, but opened up a 13-point scoring spread in the third.

With Shawn Pavlik notching two 3pointers and Tyler Myers and Jason Jensen contributing four points apiece, Grantsburg was able to break open a better lead.

Team St. Croix Falls Luck

1 2 3 4 8 11 6 11 19 15 15 12 Individual Statistics St. Croix Falls 2s 3s FTM/A 0/2 0 2 Jacob Larcom Daniel Roach 1 0 2/2 Trygve Chinander 1 1 0/0 1/2 0 1 Allastant Knuckles Cory Gebhard 2 0 2/4 Charles Schmidt 1 0 0/0 2/2 0 1 Eric Thorstad David Lund 1 0 0/0 Francis Fossum 2 0 0/2 0/0 0 1 Greg Kadrmas Totals 13 1 7/14 Luck Brennan Olson Mike Christensen Travis Pilz Cody Richert Mitchell Klatt Tyler Petersen Adam Wallin Totals

2s 7 4 5 3 2 5 0 26

3s 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2

FTM/A 1/2 0/0 0/3 0/0 0/0 1/4 1/2 3/11

F 36 61 F TP 4 4 0 4 0 5 1 3 0 6 1 2 0 4 1 2 1 4 2 2 10 36 F 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 13

TP 15 8 10 12 4 11 1 61

Luck 61, St. Croix Falls 36 LUCK — The Cardinals took care of the Saints on Friday, Feb. 16. The points were spread throughout the team with Brennan Olson leading with 15 and Cody Richert with 12, and Travis Pilz with 10.

Luck held a 19-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, and didn’t stop adding points to the board.

For the Saints it was a mix of points contributed by nearly every player.

Cory Gebhard led the team with six points, while Jacob Larcom, Daniel Roach, Eric Thorstad and Francis Fossum added four points.

The Saints will play St. Croix Central in the regional semifinal on Tuesday,

Jake Schmidt (L) and Steve Lake (R), fight for the ball in last Thursday’s game against Webster.

Tiger senior Mitchell Elliot looks on in the background.

Team Luck Clear Lake

1 2 3 4 11 25 12 11 9 6 22 16 Individual Statistics Luck 2s 3s FTM/A Brennan Olson 9 1 1/2 Mike Christensen 2 0 0/3 4 0 3/7 Travis Pilz 2/3 2 6 Cody Richert Mitchell Klatt 1 0 2/2 2 0 0/0 Tyler Petersen Adam Wallin 0 0 0/0 Totals 24 3 8/17 1 2 3 4 6 8 8 17 15 23 12 9 Individual Statistics Frederic 2s 3s FTM/A 4/5 0 4 Steve Lake 0/0 0 Nolan Neumann 1 Jake Schmidt 3 0 3/4 1/1 0 2 Ben G. Anderson 0 0/0 1 Zach Anderson Kyle Swenson 2 1 0/1 0/0 0 1 Kanan Hackett 1 8/11 14 Totals

F 59 53 F 5 4 1 1 3 3 2 19

Team Frederic Webster

Webster Peter Walsh Brian Gibbs A.J. Holmquist Mitchell Elliott Paul Olesen Brian Thill Alex Main Kevin Ingalls Totals

2s 0 7 2 0 3 3 1 1 17

3s 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

FTM/A 0/0 5/6 2/2 1/2 4/7 5/11 0/0 2/2 19/30

TP 20 4 11 16 4 4 0 59 F 39 59

F TP 3 12 3 2 5 9 5 5 5 2 4 7 2 0 25 39 F 4 1 2 0 5 3 0 3 18

TP 3 22 6 1 10 11 2 4 59

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 21

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Girls games prior to regionals hold Northwood to 25 points for most of the third quarter, but the Evergreens would tie it again at 28 with under three minutes to go. Siren held a 31-29 lead after the third.

Janey Emery shined through for the Dragons in the fourth period to give the Dragons a more comfortable lead.

Northwood got as close as four points, but Siren held them off by stalling the game to chip away at the clock.

Vikings end regular season successfully, teams wrap up the regular season Frederic 62, Webster 30

by Marty Seeger WEBSTER — The Viking girls stretched their winning streak to five over Webster Thursday, Feb. 15, ending their regular season with a 14-6 record.

The game remained close in the first period with solid defensive pressure from Webster. Frederic held a slight lead in the first until Samantha Hogle, along with Amanda Alberg forced a trap and a steal at midcourt. Hogle attempted the first layup and missed, but Alberg was there to put it back in and give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.

It didn’t last long, as Erin Schmidt drew a foul to earn a trip to the line, sinking one to tie the game back at eight with just over two minutes to go in the quarter. The Vikings stepped up their pressure in the latter part of the first and took a 12-8 lead into the second quarter.

Beth Baer would get the first two points of the second quarter, but it was all Vikings after that, with Anna Tesch and Ali Lake adding four points and Mel Chenal contributing five to lead the Vikings with 18 points in the quarter.

The Vikings took a 22-10 lead with just under three minutes to go in the quarter, and stretched the lead 30-14 at the half.

The Vikings continued to pile on the points in the second half, and strolled on to take the win and end the season in commanding way. Lake continued to score well, leading the team with 12 while Chenal added 10. The rest of the Vikings team stepped up considerably as well, with Kelly Wondra adding eight points, Schmidt and Becca Anderson with seven, and Tesch and Michelle Owens had six each.

“We played a very good game. Solid

Siren’s Janey Emery powers to the basket in last Friday night’s game against Northwood. Emery led the Dragons with 16 points. - Photos by Marty Seeger on defense and had our offense running Northwood in a tight game last Friday, pretty good. I am happy to end the reg- Feb. 16. The Dragons had a little trouble ular season on a good note,” said getting shots to fall in the early stages of Vikings coach Troy Wink. the first quarter and the game remained tied going into the second quarter.

Grantsburg 50, Unity 28 Caitlin Flanigan opened the second GRANTSBURG — The Grantsburg quarter with a big 3-pointer, but the No. girls came out on top against the Eagles 3 seeded Evergreens fought back with a on Thursday, Feb. 15, ending their reg- three from junior Taylor Fellbaum. ular season with a near-perfect confer- Northwood quickly pulled ahead with ence record of 11-1, and an overall 14-6 the lead 19-13, but Siren came back with record. under two minutes to go in the half, Mollie Bjelland led the Pirates with 17 and Dragon junior Jennifer Mitchell points, and Megan Finch added 14. drew a foul to go to the double bonus Grantsburg was slow to start in the first line to bring Siren within one just before period with only three points, with the end of the second half.

Unity taking a 6-3 lead after the first.

Flanigan again came out firing in the The Pirates fired up in the second with third with a 3-pointer to tie the game 22 points and didn’t look back. back up at 24. Siren would eventually Siren 47, Northwood 37 SIREN — Siren pulled

past

Frederic’s Erin Schmidt (14) and Kathleen Jerry (32) attempt a trap on Webster’s Beth Baer in last Thursday night’s game.

Team St. Croix Falls Luck

1 2 3 4 12 10 9 3 8 6 17 0 Individual Statistics St. Croix Falls 2s 3s FTM/A Meghan Johnson 1 0 1/3 Annie Confer 2 0 0/0 Jenny Benoy 1 1 0/1 Marissa Campeau 4 0 1/2 Megan Yunker 1 0 2/2 Sasha Bryant 4 0 1/3 Brittany Petznick 0 0 0/0 Totals 13 1 5/11

F TP 1 3 1 4 0 5 2 9 4 4 3 9 1 0 12 34

Luck Britta Giller Briana Stage Megan Hacker Sarah Petersen Brittney Danielson Taryn Pilz Totals

F TP 4 3 2 7 0 9 2 4 4 6 3 2 15 31

2s 1 2 3 2 3 1 12

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 1/2 3/6 3/3 0/0 0/0 0/0 7/11

F 34 31

Siren guard Kim Lindberg draws a foul along the baseline to go to the foul line in last Friday night’s game against Northwood.

Team Frederic Webster

1 2 3 4 10 12 7 8 10 11 10 16 Individual Statistics Northwood 2s 3s FTM/A Ashlee Blegen 0 0 0/1 Brenna Balcsik 0 0 0/0 Taylor Fellbaum 1 1 2/2 Jamie Murray 0 0 0/0 Ashley Albano 3 1 6/11 Erin Okonek 0 0 0/1 Shauna Ruud 6 0 2/4 Alicia Block 0 0 0/0 Totals 10 2 10/19

F 2 1 3 1 3 2 0 5 17

TP 0 0 7 0 15 1 14 0 37

1 2 3 4 12 18 15 17 8 6 4 12 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A Frederic Kelly Wondra 2 0 4/6 1/4 0 3 Erin Schmidt Anna Tesch 2 0 2/2 Ali Lake 5 0 2/3 0 2/2 1 Kathleen Jerry Becca Anderson 2 1 0/0 Michelle Owens 3 0 0/0 0 0/0 1 Lisa Chelmo Jenny Murphy 0 0 0/0 Melanie Chenal 3 0 4/5 22 1 15/22 Totals

Siren Lauren Howel Jennifer Mitchell Caitlin Flanigan Jena Coyour Janey Emery Brittany Jaskolka Brynn McBroom Kim Lindberg Amanda Peterson Totals

F 1 0 4 2 3 3 1 1 1 15

TP 2 1 10 5 16 6 2 1 4 47

Webster Samantha Hogle Amanda Alberg Kathryn Krause Leah Janssen Chelsey Bereiter Shonne Stoll Beth Baer Rose Kopecky Katie Thill Totals

Team Northwood Siren

2s 0 0 1 2 5 2 1 0 2 13

3s 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

FTM/A 2/2 1/2 2/5 1/3 6/10 2/4 0/0 1/2 0/0 15/28

St. Croix Falls 34, Luck 31 LUCK — The Cardinals came close to taking a win away from the Saints on Friday, Feb. 16, but a scoreless fourth quarter kept them from ending the regular season victorious.

“The unlucky Cardinals failure to score in the last quarter lost us a golden opportunity to end our disappointing season on a positive note,” said Cardinals coach Marty Messar. “Our excellent play in the third quarter was offset by our poor execution in the last quarter.”

The Cardinals fell five points back after the first period, but regained a two-point lead at halftime. The Cards took a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get it done as the Saints piled up 10 unanswered points to take the win.

“We obviously haven’t learned how to win, and down the stretch I think we played tight, trying not to lose instead of playing to win,” said Messar.

Megan Hacker led Luck with nine points, and Briana Stage added seven.

Sarah Petersen led in rebounds with 10, while Brittney Danielson had seven.

According to Messar, Sasha Bryant was a key factor to the Saints victory.

Bryant had a strong presence on the inside and scored nine points along with Marissa Campeau, who also had nine. The Cardinals finish the regular season with a 1-19 record, and the Saints end the regular season 8-10 overall.

F 37 47

2s 1 2 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 9

3s 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

FTM/A 0/0 4/4 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/2 2/3 0/0 2/3 9/12

F 62 30 F 0 2 0 4 1 3 0 1 5 3 19

TP 8 7 6 12 4 7 6 2 0 10 62

F TP 3 2 3 11 1 2 0 2 2 2 0 1 4 8 1 0 5 2 19 30

1 2 3 4 4 8 10 6 3 22 15 10 Individual Statistics Unity 2s 3s FTM/A 0 0/0 1 Nicola Hickethier Allie Peterson 1 0 0/0 Lindsay Turner 1 0 0/0 Brianna Schmid 1 0 1/2 Andrea Thompson 2 1 0/0 Tina Edgell 1 0 0/0 Briana Bielmeier 1 0 0/0 Cailin Turner 0 1 0/0 ?

0 0 1/2 ?

2 0 0/0 Totals 10 2 2/4

F TP 0 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 7 1 2 2 2 0 3 0 1 1 4 15 28

Grantsburg Abbey Vaksdal Miranda Kammeyer Mollie Bjelland Megan Finch Ingrid Ames Amanda Huehn Stephanie Jensen Vanessa Kleiss Lindsey Hedlund Laura Skifstad Totals

F TP 0 3 0 8 1 17 0 14 2 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 5 8 50

Team Unity Grantsburg

2s 1 4 7 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 19

3s 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

FTM/A 1/2 0/0 3/5 1/2 0/2 0/0 0/2 0/0 1/2 3/4 9/19

F 28 50

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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Grantsburg, SCF to compete at sectionals After a busy season, area gymnasts are ready for their next event

by Marty Seeger GRANTSBURG — The Grantsburg gymnasts are getting set to compete at the sectional tournament in River Falls, which will be held on Friday and Saturday.

The Pirates are coming off of a busy couple of weeks. On Feb. 6, they competed against Hudson on parents night, and at Rush City, Minn., Feb. 8, followed by the Ashland Invitational on Feb. 10.

At their meet against Hudson, the

Pirates scored a season high of 122.55 points. Jamie Lund took third place on the vault with 8.7 and placed fourth overall with a season high of 32.50.

Maarja Anderson placed fifth on the vault with a season high of 8.4, and Michelle Lund placed fifth all around with a season best of 29.675. Megan Branstad received her first 8.0 scoring with an 8.05 in the floor competition.

Other gymnasts recording season-best scores were Jessika Ilgen on uneven bars with 7.35, Senja Melin on floor with 7.80 and Samantha Omen on floor with a 7.0.

In Rush City, the team continued to improve with another season-high score of 123.575, and placed fourth at the Ashland Invitational. Jamie Lund was the top performer, making the podium twice in a three-way tie for fourth on the beam with 8.6, and tied

for fifth on the vault with 8.35.

“I was really pleased with their performance this week,” said coach Kathy Lund. “Our vault scores were not where I expected them to be on Saturday, but the scoring was low throughout the meet on vault. The gymnasts stayed focused on what they need to do and we hit many individual and team season bests this week.”

The Pirates will be participating in the sectional tournament this weekend against Medford Area, Mosinee, Park Falls, River Falls, St. Croix Falls, Ashland and Lakeland.

Grantsburg has competed against many of the teams in the tournament.

According to coach Lund, the top two teams at sectionals advance to the state competition, and the top five from each event along with the top three allaround finishers advance to state.

Individuals compete in the evening on Friday, Mar. 2, and the team competition is held on Saturday, Mar. 3, in Madison.

Saints gymnasts to sections ST. CROIX FALLS – With a young team, sectionals will be an opportunity for the Saints to build on the future.

Coach Dawn Schmidt has four underclassmen to work with Kayla Cross, Priscilla Castorena, Jenna Brousil and Kelsey Willow. She also anticpates having all four back next season. – Matt Blumkin

Boys Basketball Pairings 2007 Division 3 Boys Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Tues., Feb. 27

Thurs., Mar. 1

Sat., Mar. 3

Bye

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Tues., Feb. 27

Thurs., Mar. 1

Sat., Mar. 3

Glenwood City )#1,

Bye

@ Glenwood City

Eau Claire Regis )#1,

TBA

@ TBA

Grantsburg )#5, @ Cumberland Cumberland )#4,

2007 Division 3 Boys Basketball Regional

TBA

Spring Valley)#5,

Grantsburg/Cumberland

@ Unity

Unity/Spring Valley

Unity )#4, @ Amery

Luck )#3, @ Luck

@ Ellsworth St. Croix Central )#3,

Luck/Colfax

@ St. Croix Central

Colfax )#6,

St. Croix Central/SCF

St. Croix Falls )#6,

@ TBA

Boyceville )#7, @ Webster Webster )#2,

TBA

@ TBA

Elk Mound )#7, @ Prescott

Boyceville/Webster Prescott )#2,

2007 Division 4 Boys Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Tues., Feb. 27

Thurs., Mar. 1

Sat., Mar. 3

South Shore )#1, @ South Shore Lac Courte Oreilles )#8,

Semifinals

Finals

Tues., Feb. 20

Thurs., Mar. 1

Sat., Mar. 3

Clear Lake/Weyerhaeuser

TBA

@ TBA

Siren )#5, @ Drummond Drummond )#4,

2007 Division 4 Boys Basketball Regional

@ Clear Lake Weyerhaeuser )#8, @ TBA

Elk Mound/Prescott

Quarterfinals Clear Lake )#1,

South Shore/LCO

TBA

TBA

Frederic )#5,

Siren/Drummond

@ Turtle Lake Turtle Lake )#4,

Frederic/Turtle Lake

@ Webster Shell Lake )#3,

@ Rice Lake Birchwood )#3,

@ Shell Lake

Shell Lake/Bayfield

@ Birchwood

Bayfield )#6,

Northwood )#7, @ Solon Springs Solon Springs )#2,

Birchwood/Prairie Farm

Prairie Farm )#6,

@ TBA

TBA

@ TBA

Bruce )#7, @ Prescott

Northwood/Solon Springs Clayton )#2,

TBA

Bruce/Clayton

Sunday’s International Ice Racing competition on Balsam Lake

The few that joined the ice-racing competition on Sunday, Feb. 18, were in good spirits This car didn’t look like much, but it was the front-runner for despite the chilly weather. This weekend another race will be held at Isanti, Minn., on much of the race on Sunday.

Long Lake. - Photos by Marty Seeger

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FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 23

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Tournament time!

LEFT: Lynn Renberg of the Siren Dragons taking a shot. The Dragons womped Lac Courte Oreilles 88-17 in the Division 4 regionals on Feb. 20. Blizzard defenseman Jamie Robb checks a Spartan in the Blizzard’s 11-1 loss to Superior in the regional playoffs on Thursday, Feb. 15. – Photos by Matt Blumkin

2007 Division 4 Girls Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Tues., Feb. 20

Finals

Thurs., Feb. 22

Siren )#1, Siren 88-17 La Courte Oreilles )#8,

Sat., Feb. 24

2007 Division 4 Girls Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Tues., Feb. 20

Thurs., Feb. 22

Clayton )#1,

Siren

Clayton 65-18 Prairie Farm )#8, @ TBA

Finals Sat., Feb. 24

Clayton

TBA

@ Clayton

TBA

Frederic )#5,

Drummond )#5, Drummond 43-39 South Shore )#4,

Drummond

Frederic 59-45

Frederic

Bruce )#4, @ Cumberland

@ Webster Birchwood )#3,

Northwood )#3, Northwood 64-26

Northwood

Birchwood 66-54

Birchwood

Turtle Lake )#6,

Bayfield )#6,

@ TBA

Shell Lake )#7, Solon Springs 79-26 Solon Springs )#2,

TBA Weyerhaeuser )#7, Clear Lake 49-46 Clear Lake )#2,

Solon Springs

2007 Division 3 Girls Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Tues., Feb. 20

Thurs., Feb. 22

Finals Sat., Feb. 24

TBA

Clear Lake

2007 Division 3 Girls Basketball Regional Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Tues., Feb. 20

Thurs., Feb. 22

Colfax )#1,

Finals Sat., Feb. 24

Eau Claire Regis )#1,

@ Colfax

TBA

@ Regis

Cumberland )#5, Glenwood City 50-38 Glenwood City )#4,

@ Clear Lake

TBA

St. Croix Falls )#5,

Glenwood City

St. Croix Central 37-30 St. Croix Central )#4,

St. Croix Central

@ Amery Grantsburg )#3, Grantsburg 52-27

@ Hudson Spring Valley )#3,

Grantsburg

Elk Mound 37-34

Webster )#6,

Elk Mound

Elk Mound )#6,

@ Boyceville

Luck )#7, Boyceville 62-15 Boyceville )#2,

TBA

@ Prescott

Unity )#7, Prescott 73-33

Boyceville Prescott )#2,

2007 WIAA Boys Hockey Playoffs Regionals Tues., Feb. 13

Thurs./Fri., Feb. 15-16

Prescott

2007 WIAA Girls Hockey Playoffs

Sectionals

Regionals

Tues., Feb. 20

Thurs./Fri., Feb. 15-16

Sectionals

Superior )#1,

Tues., Feb. 20

Sat., Feb. 24

Superior )#1,

Superior 11-1

Superior

Superior 2-1

Spooner )#9, Blizzard 6-5

TBA

Superior

Rhinelander )#5,

Blizzard )#8,

Hayward 3-1

Blizzard )#8,

Hayward

Hayward )#4, Superior 4-2

@ Superior Lady Blizzard )#3,

Amery )#5,

Lady Blizzard 12-0

Lady Blizzard

Tomahawk )#6,

Amery 6-5, OT River Falls )#4,

Amery

Northland Pines 3-1 Northland Pines )#2,

Northland Pines

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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The Burnett County Bulldogs wrestled at St. Croix Falls on Sunday, Feb. 18. They took 1st place as a team.

Pictured are Coaches, Jake Nichols with his son, Joel Glover, and Tory Jeske. The bulldogs pictured from top to bottom are as follows: Brett Anderson 3rd grade, 3rd place, Austin Swenson 5th grade, 1st place, Corey Peterson 5th grade, 3rd place, Joshua Glover 4th grade, 1st place, Joseph Gaffney 5th grade, 2nd place, Colin Jeske, Kindergarten, 1st place, Elliot Swenson, Kindergarten, 1st place, Luke Anderson, Kindergarten, 1st place, Dakota Schultz, 2nd grade, 1st place and Tristan Brewer, 4th grade, 1st place. Not Pictured are Ricky Clark 1st grade, 3rd place, Ramsey Clark, Kindergarten, 2nd place, Cody Byers, 1st grade, 3rd place, Lane Johnson, Kindergarten, 1st place, Elijah Northquest, 2nd grade, 1st place, Landon Johnson, Kindergarten, 1st place, and Nick Britton, 5th grade, 2nd place, Joshua Glover 4th grade and Ricky Clark 1st grade both received the fastest pin trophy for their grade. The Bulldogs will wrestle Mar. 3 as a team in Luck.Photo submitted

A

R E A Hacker’s Lanes

Sunday Afternoon Mixed Standings: Storm Chasers 31, Hot Shots 29, Underdogs 29, Spare-Us 29, Gems 24, Flame Throwers 22, Sandbaggers 21, Misfits 11.

Men’s games: Kenny Erickson (Storm Chasers) 223, Shane Nyland (Hot Shots) 222, Thoeny Gardner (Underdogs) & Scott Morrison (Gems) 217.

Men’s series: Kenny Erickson (Storm Chasers) 620, Scott Morrison (Gems) 619, Shane Nyland (Hot Shots) 612.

Women’s games: Gail Linke (Storm Chasers) 191, Edla Meyer (Sandbaggers) 184, Barb Morgan (Flame Throwers) 178.

Women’s series: Gail Linke (Storm Chasers) 536, Edla Meyer (Sandbaggers) 493, Barb Morgan (Flame Throwers) 459.

Team games: Storm Chasers 886, Gems 855, Hot Shots 844.

Team series: Storm Chasers 2610, Hot Shots 2439, Flame Throwers 2422.

Games 50 or more above average: Paul Carlson (+55, +56), George Nutt (+55), Thoeny Gardner (+72), Kenny Erickson (+76, +62).

Series 100 or more above average: Kenny Erickson (+179), Paul Carlson (+126).

Sunday Night I No Tap Mixed Standings: No Names 28, Packer Backers 26, Jeff’s Team 25, Long Shots 24, The JC’s 22, Late Comers 18, Happy Corners 18, Knaubers 14.

Men’s games: Don Swanson (PB) 276, Chuck Kruse (JC) 268, Gene Hansen (JT) 266.

Men’s series: Don Swanson (PB) 783, Chris Rowell (NN) 704, Chuck Kruse (JC) 690.

Women’s games: Jan Kruse (JC) 234, Debbie Swanson (PB) & Linda Richter (LS) 220, Sheila Hansen (JT) 219.

Women’s series: Debbie Swanson (PB) 572, Jan Kruse (JC) 560, Wendy Knauber (K) 549.

Team games: The JC’s 850, Packer Backers 831, Jeff’s Team 829.

Team series: Packer Backers 2339, Long Shots 2283, Jeff’s Team 2253.

Monday Afternoon Retired Standings: Eagles 16, Nite Hawks 9, Badgers 8, Swans 7.

Men’s games: Dick Coen (Nite Hawks) 195, Max Simon (Swans) 181, Roger Messer (Eagles) 180.

Men’s series: Dick Coen (Nite Hawks) 548, Roger Messer (Eagles) 515, Tom Johnson (Nite Hawks) 511.

Women’s games: Thelma Hendricks (Nite Hawks) 188, Carol Phelps (Eagles) 179, Lila Larson (Badgers) 161.

Women’s series: Thelma Hendricks (Nite Hawks) 475, Carol Phelps (Eagles) 460, Lila Larson (Badgers) and Lucy Hansen (Eagles) 440.

Team games: Nite Hawks 649, Eagles 599, Swans 577.

Team series: Nite Hawks 1927, Eagles 1745, Swans 1720.

Monday Night Ladies Standings: Adventures 30, The Bottle Shop 29, House of Wood 25, Mane Attractions 22, Hacker’s Lanes 21, S&C Bank 18, Radio Shack 15, Miller Chicks 8.

Individual games: Kathy Josephson (S&C) 214, Nancy Anderson (HL) 195, Merry Yates (HL) 193, Linda Giller (S&C) 193.

Individual series: Merry Yates (HL) 547, Nancy Anderson (HL) 541, Julie Hall (MA) 507.

Team games: Hacker’s Lanes 696, S&C Bank 654, Mane Attractions 639.

Team series: Hacker’s Lanes 2028, Mane Attractions 1871, S&C Bank 1703.

Tuesday Youth (2 games) Standings: J.K.A. Bowlers 11, King Pin 11, LAM Bowlers 10, The Pin Heads 8, Pin Patrol 7, Rock Hard Bowlers 6, Frederic Bowlers 4, Strikes “R” Us 3.

Boys games: Logan Hacker 194, A.J.

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Walsh Brenizer 162 & 153.

Boys series: Logan Hacker 333, A.J. Walsh Brenizer 316, Jordan Bazey 267.

Girls games: Avery Steen 111 & 104, Alicia Sund 84.

Girls series: Avery Steen 215, Alicia Sund 167.

Team games: LAM Bowlers 473 & 420, J.K.A. Bowlers 356.

Team series: LAM Bowlers 893, J.K.A. Bowlers 690, The Pin Heads 577.

Tuesday Classic Standings: Hacker’s Lanes 72, Great Northern Outdoors 58.5, Bottle Shop 57.5, Hog Wild 48, Yellow Lake Lodge 46, Oddballs 37, Ward Lake Services 26, Pioneer Bar 20.

Men’s games: John Bytnar 264, Don Hughes 238, Ron Skow & Ed Bitler 236.

Men’s series: Ron Skow 683, John Bytnar 647, Ed Bitler 635.

Team games: Great Northern Outdoors 671, Hacker’s Lanes 669, Hog Wild 613.

Team series: Great Northern Outdoors 1933, Hacker’s Lanes 1874, Hog Wild 1744.

Tuesday Late Mixed Standings: Pumpkin Heads 35-14, McCurdy Farms 27-22, RTs 25-24, Rat Pack 24-25, Packer Backers 23-26, Rock and Bowl 13-36.

Men’s games: Chad Brugman 237, Randy McCurdy 213, John Bytnar 211.

Men’s series: John Bytnar 599, Randy McCurdy 594, Chad Brugman 582.

Women’s games: Tiffanie Tretsven 183, Rose Burnham 181, Jennifer Brugman & Audrey Hermensen 156.

Women’s series: Rose Burnham 440, Sharon Holt 436, Tiffanie Tretsven 426.

Team games: Packer Backers 774, McCurdy Farms 716, Pumpkin Heads 653.

Team series: Packer Backers 2122, McCurdy Farms 2000, Rock and Bowl 1790.

Splits converted: 5-7: Tony Hach.

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies Standings: Pioneer Bar 5-43, Frandsen Dairy 2-35, All Around Gals 2-34, Crazy Ladies 4-27, Hacker’s Lanes 3-20.

Individual games: Margie Traun (AAG) 167, Char Sandberg (PB) 166, Bonnie Fjorden (HL) & Myrna Beckman (CL) 163.

Individual series: Char Sandberg (PB) 465, Margie Traun (AAG) 449, Liz Johnson (HL) 439.

Team games: Pioneer Bar 754, Hacker’s Lanes 740, Frandsen Dairy 714.

Team series: Pioneer Bar 2113, Crazy Ladies 2035, Hacker’s Lanes 2027.

Wednesday Night Early Men Standings: Skol Bar 21, Lewis Silo 18, Parker 17, A-1 Machine 15, Cummings Lumber 15, Jack Pine Trading 12, Pioneer Bar 11, Bye 3.

Individual games: Bruce Gravelle (P) 278 & 247, Buck Hanson (PB) 246.

Individual series: Bruce Gravelle (P)726, Buck Hanson (PB) 661, Mark Bohn (SB) 645.

Team games: Parker 986, Lewis Silo 978, A-1 Machine 965.

Team series: Parker 2821, Lewis Silo 2799, A-1 Machine 2653.

Thursday Early 3-Man Standings: K-Wood (4.5) 57, Frontier Trails (9) 52, Wikstrom Construction (11) 47, CenturyTel (8.5) 45, Hell Raisers (11) 43.5, Fab Four (2) 41, Full Timers (2) 41, Grindell Law Offices 39.5.

Individual games: Lydell Larson (FrT) 266, Don Hughes (KW) 226 (x2), Tom Vilstrup (CT) 225.

Individual series: Lydell Larson (FrT) 643, Don Hughes (KW) 634, Tom Vilstrup (CT) 616.

Team games: Frontier Trails 614, KWood 605 & 583.

Team series: K-Wood 1738, Hell Raisers 1668, Grindell Law Offices 1667.

Consecutive strikes (5 or more): Jim Wikstrom (WC) 6x-224, Don Hughes (KW) 5x-226.

Games 50 or more above average: Lydell Larson (FrT) 266 (77), Jim

Wikstrom (WC) 224 (52), John Hickey (FF) 220 (50).

Splits converted: 2-7: Dave Hall. 4-5: Lydell Larson. 6-8-10: Joel Struck. 6-7: Tim Lundmark. 5-10: Dennis Leider, Laryn Larson. 5-7: Len Knauber, Ken Tonsagen.

Thursday Late Standings: Wardlake Services 22-6, Stotz & Company 17-11, Hog Wild BBQ & Grill 14-14, Johnson Upholstery 11-17, Fisk Trucking 10-18, Hansen Farms Inc. 10-18.

Individual games: Dale Frandsen 256, Gene Wynn Jr. 235, Norm Hansen 234.

Individual series: Dale Frandsen 669, Kenny Baillargeon 612, Gene Wynn Jr. 610.

Team games: Wardlake Services 1018, Stotz & Company 913, Johnson Upholstery 908.

Team series: Wardlake Services 2868, Stotz & Company 2603, Hansen Farms Inc. 2417.

Friday Night Ladies Standings: Meyer’s Plus 38, The Leader 35, Tin Cup Promotions 31, 4-Season Travel 30, Brad’s Ringneck 29, Skol Bar 28, Hole in the Wall 27, Bye 6.

Individual games: Linda Richter 199, Cara Holicky 190, Kathy Underwood 187.

Individual series: Cara Holicky 552, Linda Richter 527, Kathy Underwood 520.

Team games: Brad’s Ringneck 665, The Leader 655, 4-Season Travel 612.

Team series: Brad’s Ringneck 1931, The Leader 1862, 4-Season Travel 1711.

Games 50 or more above average: Sam Richter.

McKenzie Lanes Saturday Night Mixed Standings: Fisk Trucking 32, Eureka Bombers 29, Tiger Express 26, Happy Campers 25.5, The Whippersnappers 23.5, Roller Coasters 23, The In-Laws 23, The Eagles 22.

Men’s games: Gene Braund 252, Roger Fisk 246, Gene Braund 243.

Men’s series: Gene Braund 664, Roger Fisk 601, Gordy Johnson 584.

Women’s games: Louise Clark 194, Kim Delaney 192, Janelle Johnson 175.

Women’s series: Louise Clark 507, Janelle Johnson 487, Kim Delaney 470.

Monday Madness Standings: Scottay’s Trucking 36, State Farm Ins. 36, Pepie’s Gals 28, Peper Tire & Align. 28, Frederic Larsen Auto 27, Osceola Plumbing & Htg. 24, McKenzie Lanes 23, Alleycats 22.

Individual games: Barbara Benson 212, Debbie Swanson 183, Sally Spanel 178.

Individual series: Barbara Benson 539, Sally Spanel 507, Debbie Swanson 502.

Team games: Alleycats 615.

Team series: Frederic Larsen Auto 1716.

Monday Night Ladies Standings: McKenzie Lanes 25, Wolf Creek Log Furniture 24.5, Metal Products 24, Sam’s Carpentry 23, Milltown Appliance 21, Edina Divas 19, Bont Chiropractic 13, Jericho Trucking 10.5, Individual games: Dana Amundson 204, Betty Wilson 192, Cindy Castellano 190.

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Individual series: Cindy Castellano 519, Shirley Wilson 512, Betty Wilson 506.

Team games: Metal Products 1041, Wolf Creek Log Furniture 992.

Team series: Metal Products 2887, Wolf Creek Log Furniture 2859.

Tuesday Early Mix Standings: Gutter Gals 20, Lane Crashers 18, Still Standing 12, The Gumegu’s 12, 2 Stooges & Princess 6, Bye 0.

Men’s games: Erv Lehmann 207, Roy Davis 204, Alex Ambrozik 194.

Men’s series: Alex Ambrozik 550, Erv Lehmann 542, Roy Davis 491.

Women’s games: Dawn Metcalf 175, Jan Lehmann 171, Lonnie Curtiss 167.

Women’s series: Jan Lehmann 488, Dawn Metcalf 431, Lonnie Curtiss 409.

Team games: Still Standing 520.

Team series: Still Standing 1439.

Tuesday Women’s Day Standings: Kassel Tap 84.5, Gutter Dusters 84.5, Custom Outfitter 73.5, Country Gals 73, A-1 Machine 71, B&H Builders 64.5, Hauge Dental 58, Bye 35.

Individual games: Audrey Ruck 193, Denise F. Donaghue 193, Jane Smith 190.

Individual series: Audrey Ruck 540, Jane Smith 535, Denise F. Donaghue 534.

Team games: Kassel Tap 807, Gutter Dusters 795.

Team series: Kassel Tap 2334, Gutter Dusters 2324.

Tuesday Night Men Standings: Hack’s Pub 40, Glass Bar 36, Steve’s Appliance 36, Dream Lawn 34, McKenzie Lanes 30, Greatland Trans. 29, Nel-Lo-Hill Farm 28, The Dugout 23.

Individual games: Rick Johnson 258, Rick Fox 256, Norm Hansen 248.

Individual series: Darren McKenzie 722, Norm Hansen 717, Rick Fox 685.

Team games: Dream Lawn 1099, Steve’s Appliance 1036.

Team series: Dream Lawn 3099, Steve’s Appliance 2980.

Wednesday Early Mix Standings: Lite House 44, Tri-County Imp. 43, Hendrick’s Motor 39, Holiday Stationstores 34, Fox Den 29, Fox Den II 28, Larsen Auto Frederic 20, Cutting Edge 19.

Men’s games: Ben Cox 224, Mike Welling 222, Alex Ambrozik 213.

Men’s series: Ben Cox 623, Alex Ambrozik 608, Mike Welling 605.

Women’s games: Jeanne Kizer 183, Janice Fox 164, Amy Eibs 147.

Women’s series: Jeanne Kizer 448, Janice Fox 442, Shannon Cox 418.

Team games: Lite House 642, Hendrick’s Motor 626.

Team series: Lite Houe 1798, TriCounty Imp. 1753.

Wednesday Night Men Standings: Dalles Electrical 46, Tiger Express 44, McKenzie Lanes 40, Harvest Moon 32, Reed’s Marina 28, Davy’s Construction 24, Hanjo Farms 22, Embroidery Plus 20.

Individual games: Dan Peper 265, Mike Oryan 248, Bill Swenson 247.

Individual series: Mike Oryan 690, Rollie Davison 672, Sam Leggitt 658.

Team games: McKenzie Lanes 1098.

Team series: McKenzie Lanes 3089.

Thursday Women Standings: K.C. Electrical 42.5, Hauge Dental 37.5, Eagle Valley Bank 35, Century 21 34, Balsam Lake Hardware 25, Hack’s Pub 23, RiverBank 23, Deer Lake Block 20.

Individual games: Jackie Patterson 196, Denise Donaghue 191, Brenda Lehmann 190.

Individual series: Denise Donaghue 515, Jackie Patterson 488, Brenda Lehmann 484.

Team games: Eagle Valley Bank 1044.

Team series: Century 21 2818.

Black & Orange Early Birds

Standings: 10th Hole 23-13, Black & Orange 18-18, Gandy Dancer Saloon 1620, Log Cabin Store 15-21.

Individual games: Marion Obszarny (10th) 169, Jackie Grimes (B&O) 168, Carol Gullickson (GD) 165.

Individual series: Jackie Grimes (B&O) 440, Marion Obszarny (10th) 427, Peggy Rodacker (10th) 418.

Team games: 10th Hole 863, Gandy Dancer Saloon 818, Log Cabin Store 798.

Team series: 10th Hole 2483, Gandy Dancer Saloon 2388, Black & Orange 2324.

Monday Night Men Standings: Bruce’s Auto 19-9, Pope’s Construction 19-9, Larry’s LP 17-11, Parker 15-13, Glass & Mirror Works 1315, Vacant 1-27.

Individual games: Richard Morse (G&M) 211, Chris Olson (L) 199, Mark Holmstrom (BA) 187.

Individual series: Richard Morse (G&M) 540, Chris Olson (L) 532, Dave Greener (P) 505.

Team games: Glass & Mirror Works 905, Larry’s LP 881, Bruce’s Auto 878.

Team series: Glass & Mirror Works 2678, Larry’s LP 2563, Pope’s Construction 2548.

TNT Ladies Standings: Cashco 20-12, Flower Power 18-14, Larry’s LP 18-14, Wild Bill’s 8-24.

Individual games: Jennifer Kern (L) 202, Evelyn Engebretson (FP) 179, Cheryl Hansen (WB) 161.

Individual series: Jennifer Kern (L) 553, Cheryl Hansen (WB) 434, Laurie Forrest (C) 422.

Team games: Larry’s LP 660, Cashco 653, Flower Power 650.

Team series: Larry’s LP 1961, Cashco 1885, Flower Power 1843.

Wednesday Night Men Standings: Lions 21-7, T&P Tree Service 19-9, 10th Hole 14.5-13.5, Cashco 13-15, Northview Drive Inn 1216, Black & Orange 11.5-16.5, Lynch Mob 11-17, Blasters 10-18.

Individual games: Gerry Vogel (10th) 211, Monte Rinnman (C) 191, Jack Witzany (L) 189.

Individual series: Monte Rinnman (C) 538, Jack Witzany (L) 506, Kevin Swanson (B&O) 495.

Team games: Lions 949, 10th Hole 918, Blasters 916.

Team series: Lions, Lynch Mob, 10th Hole.

Games 50 or more above average: Gerry Vogel 211 (+52).

Thursday Night Ladies Standings: Riske Dick’s 26-6, Pour House 21-11, Black & Orange 19-13, Hole in the Wall 12-20, Ben Ott Construction 10-22, Check Services 824.

Individual games: Jackie Churchill (RD) 255, Tooter Barnes (PH) 197, Audrey Pardun (H) 184.

Individual series: Jackie Churchill (RD) 570, Angie Olson (CS) 493, Jennifer Kern (B&O) 491.

Team games: Riske Dick’s 794, Pour House 747, Check Services 697.

Team series: Riske Dick’s 2088, Pour House 2064, Check Services 2023.

Consecutive strikes (5 or more): Jackie Churchill 7.

Games 50 or more above average: Jackie Churchill 255 (+103).

Early Risers Standings: Hole in the Wall 34, 10th Hole 33, Gandy Dancers 26, A+ Sanitation 19.

Individual games: Sheila Anderson (10th) 196, Marion Obszarny (10th) 184, Phyllis Myers (A+) 183.

Individual series: Celia Leehe (HITW) 467, Diane Wilson (HITW) 462, Angel Paulzine (HITW) 454.

Team games: Hole in the Wall 644, Gandy Dancers 585, 10th Hole 571.

Team series: Hole in the Wall 1834, Gandy Dancers 1590, 10th Hole 1580.

L

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PREPS

A

D

OF THE

NAME: Kathleen Jerry SCHOOL: Frederic YEAR: Senior COMMENTS: The Vikings had a great night against Bruce on Tuesday, Feb. 20, with the help of Kathleen Jerry, who stepped up when Frederic needed it the most. Jerry hit a pair of back-to-back 3Kathleen Jerry pointers in the second period just as Bruce was closing Frederic’s lead to one point. Coach Troy Wink said after the game that the 3-pointers turned the game around in a big way, which helped the Vikings win their first playoff game in a long time.

“Kathleen’s back-to-back three’s were huge,” said Wink. “It kind of gave us that extra shooter we were hoping to get.” – Marty Seeger

E

S

R

Going up?

P

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LEADER SPORTS S C O R E B O A R D

WEEK

NAME: Jake Bruns SCHOOL:St.Croix Falls YEAR: Sophomore COMMENTS: This Saints 112-pounder escaped attention being part of a loaded wrestling team this season. Yet, Bruns has garnered attention of late as he took third at secJake Bruns tionals to advance to state. Bruns won 112 at the Unity Divison 3 regionals on Feb. 10, and he won three of five matches on Feb. 17 in SCF to secure a third-place finish. Saints coach Dan Clark had moved Bruns down from 119 to 112.

“When you go from 119 to 112, it makes a big difference,” said Clark. It for Bruns as he will represent the Saints along with Justin Rikkola and Dustin Raygor in Madison. – Matt Blumkin

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 25

BOYS BASKETBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Luck Webster Unity Grantsburg St. Croix Falls Frederic Siren

Scores

Conf.

10-1 9-2 7-4 7-4 3-8 3-9 0-11

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Overall 16-3 16-2 11-8 10-8 6-12 8-11 3-15

Team Siren-x Grantsburg-x Frederic St. Croix Falls Webster Unity Luck x- conference champions

Coming up

Friday, February 23 St. Croix Falls at Siren, 7:30 p.m.

Grantsburg at Webster, 7:30 p.m.

Unity at Luck, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 27 Division 3 Regionals (#5) Grantsburg at (#4) Cumberland, 7 p.m. (#6) Colfax at (#3) Luck, 7 p.m. (#7) Boyceville at (#2) Webster, 7 p.m. (#5) Spring Valley at (#4) Unity, 7 p.m. (#6) St. Croix Falls at (#3) St. Croix Central, 7 p.m.

Division 4 Regionals (#5) Frederic at (#4) Turtle Lake, 7 p.m. (#5) Siren at (#4) Drummond, 7 p.m.

BOYS HOCKEY Standings 15-6-1

Scores

Thursday, February 15 WIAA Regionals (#1) Superior 11, (#8) Blizzard 1

Overall 17-3 14-6 14-6 8-11 6-14 3-17 1-19

Thursday, February 15 Grantsburg 50, Unity 28 Frederic 62, Webster 30 Friday, February 16 Siren 47, Northwood 37 St. Croix Falls 34, Luck 31 Tuesday, February 27 Dvision 3 Regionals (#3) Grantsburg 52, (#6) Webster 27 (#2) Boyceville 62, (#7) Luck 15 (#4) St. Croix Central 37, (#5) St. Croix Falls 30 (#2) Prescott 73, (#7) Unity 33 Division 4 Regionals (#1) Siren 88, (#8) Lac Courte Oreilles 17 (#5) Frederic 59, (#4) Bruce 45

Coming up

Thursday, February 22 Division 3 Regionals (#3) Grantsburg at (#2) Boyceville, 7 p.m.

Division 4 Regionals (#5) Frederic at (#1) Clayton, 7 p.m. (#5) Drummond at (#1) Siren, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 24 Division 3 Regional Finals Grantsburg/Boyc. vs. Glenwood/Colfax, 7 p.m. (at Amery) Division 4 Regional Finals Frederic/Clayton vs. Birchwood/Clear Lake, 7 p.m. (at Cumberland) Division 4 Regional Finals Siren/Drummond vs. Solon Springs/Northwood, 7 p.m. (at Webster)

Coming up

GIRLS HOCKEY

End of season for Blizzard

Lady Blizzard

WRESTLING Coming up

Thursday-Saturday, February 22-24 Division 3 Individual State Wrestling Tournament at Madison, all day (St. Croix Falls, Unity)

Standings 4-16-1

Scores

Friday, February 16 WIAA Regionals (#3) Lady Blizzard 12, (#6) Tomahawk 0 Tuesday, February 20 (#2) Northland Pines 3, (#3) Lady Blizzard 1

Coming Up

GYMNASTICS Coming up

Conf.

11-1 11-1 8-4 6-6 3-9 3-9 0-12

Scores

Thursday, February 15 Grantsburg 60, Unity 49 Webster 59, Frederic 39 Friday, February 16 Siren 57, Northwood 50 Luck 61, St. Croix Falls 36 Monday, February 19 Luck 59, Clear Lake 53 Cameron 60, Unity 44

Blizzard

West Lakeland Conference Final Standings

End of season for Lady Blizzard

Saturday, February 24 Division 2 Sectionals at River Falls, 12 p.m.

(Grantsburg, St. Croix Falls)

St. Croix Falls played host to a Division 3 sectional tournament on Feb. 17. The Saints made themselves at home with three advancing to state.

Fans packed the gym to watch wrestlers from 27 teams compete. – Photo

by Matt Blumkin

Erin Schmidt of Frederic looking for a shot against Webster on Feb. 15.

Frederic will take on Clayton, ranked No. 1 in Division 4 basketball, on Thursday, Feb. 22, in the regional playoffs. – Photo by Marty Seeger

www.the-leader.net

Despite his sterling 15-1 performance this week, the Swami remained determined and philosophical. “I always expect to reach my peak at tournament time, just as a finely tuned basketball team reaches theirs,” he said. “If I’m not at my best by the end of February, then they wouldn’t call me the ‘Prediction King’, now would they?” This week’s near-perfect record gives the King an overall accuracy mark of 138-25, or 85 percent.

THE SWAMI Readers continue to be amazed at the closeness of the scores he predicts.

“People say any rank amateur can predict a point spread,” the Swami added. “But I forecast the actual score, and usually with uncanny precision.”

Next week the proficient and pugnacious prognosticator lets his e-mailers take over the column.

The Swami

PREDICTS

Boys games Grantsburg 51, Webster 47: With the No. 2seed safely tucked away, the Tigers allow the Pirates to sneak up on them.

St. Croix Falls, 48 Siren 41: Two struggling teams

stage a not-so-epic battle.

Frederic 55, Weyerhaueser 40: The Vikes just miss a .500 regular-season mark.

Luck 60, Unity 47: Not too long ago the Cards program was struggling mightily. Friday night they can cut down the nets.

Tournament games Luck 61, Colfax 53: Colfax is no slouch according to Dunn-St. Croix pundits.

Webster 55, Boyceville 36: Some consider Boyceville among the worst division 3 teams in the state.

Cumberland 60, Grantsburg 44:The Beavers have played tough competition all year long.

Turtle Lake 54, Frederic 50: Turtle Lake has the one big scorer, and he’ll be the difference.

Girls tournament games Siren 53, Drummond 36: Not quite the breather some expect.

Boyceville 66, Grantsburg 40:The perennial powerhouse Bulldogs get their rematch with undefeated Colfax.

Siren 44, Regional Final Opponent 40: The conference co-champs find themselves in Spooner again.

Clayton 62, Frederic 36: The Vikes finish with 15 wins. And even better days lie ahead.

He answers all e-mails and can be reached at predictionking@yahoo.com.

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

O UTDOORS INTER- COUNTY LEADER

ATVs • BIRDING • BOATING • CAMPING • FISHING • HIKING • HUNTING • RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

The tradition of sturgeon spearing

Hello friends, Every once in awhile I write a column on how not to get what you are after.

This might be one of those weeks, as I write about a truly excellent Mark time I had trying to Walters spear a sturgeon on Lake Winnebago with OUTDOORSMAN’S three of my friends JOURNAL from Baraboo.

I met Jon Hillmer, Grant Luce and “The Russian” two years ago while covering sturgeon spearing and camping on the lake.

Last year Jon Hillmer and I put up my make-shift deer shack on the lake, cut a hole to throw a spear through and had fun. This year The Russian, name changed to protect the innocent, and Grant Luce joined us, and we had fun.

Friday, Feb. 9 High 12, low –6 Bad luck came with regularity and in several forms at the start of this trip.

First, my 6-year-old daughter came down with the flu before I left and became sick all over my head and chest. By the trip’s end, I had that flu.

Second, while dropping a deer head off at Field and Stream Taxidermy in Coloma to get a skull mount done, unknown to me, my trusty golden retriever, Ice, jumped out of the topper of my truck. Ice has never done this before, and I did not realize he was gone until three stops and three hours later while waiting at Smitty’s Oar

Mark’s outdoor buddy Ice. Ice is Mark’s companion on many trips. – Photo submitted House in Fon du Lac. I was waiting for my comrades from Baraboo, who were running late, and I figured I should check on the old boy.

Pure panic took over when I realized he was not with me and could be anywhere between Smitty’s and Necedah.

My spearing comrades had a bit of bad luck as well when they made a wrong turn coming from Baraboo and ended up in Waupaca.

John Schmitt, owner of Field and Stream Taxidermy, had my runaway hound, so that problem was solved.

Our next situation came in the form of trying to set my shack up which is 22 feet by 8 feet, complete with lodging for four and two spearing holes. We were short on daylight, it was very cold, and strong winds were making holding the individual walls up very tricky, especially since a big part of the job was done by two of us.

The story gets a little wilder when

Jon Hillmer and The Russian were setting up Hillmer’s portable spear shack about 300 yards from us. Unknown to Mr. Hillmer who was inside the shack, The Russian had fallen into lake Winnebago through the very hole they were going to try to spear a sturgeon out of the next morning. Lucky for The Russian that Mr. Hillmer noticed him bobbing like an apple and holding onto the shacks trailer. The Russian does not know how to swim much less doggy paddle, and his longtime friend scooped him out of the water to spear another day.

A couple hours after dark all of our work was done, there was heat and lights in the shack, and we all talked about what an absolutely crazy day we each had.

Saturday, Feb 10 High 20, low 6 Anyone that has really observed the sport of sturgeon spearing is more than likely aware of what a great mood everyone is in, especially after the season closes at 12:30 p.m. each day.

Believe it or not we did not get a sturgeon this morning, much less see one, but we were not alone, as several thousand other spearers joined our ranks.

Not the kind of guys to let a little adversity get us down, we headed over to Smitty’s Oar House and joined ranks with, what seemed to be, hundreds of other brothers and sisters of the ice.

It is not hard to tell a sturgeon spearer after hours. Even though they are in a 70-degree environment, most are still dressed for 20 degrees below.

Other giveaway signs of a brother or sister spearer are an almost-constant smile and full understanding that you will listen to each other’s story about not spearing, much less seeing, a dinosaur from the deep.

Doug Jesse, who drove from Baraboo just to hear our victory stories, and Joey Dutscheck with his good buddy Ben Renke, joined our group.

Dutscheck and Renke are good friends of mine and used detective-like instincts to first find our shack, and then when we were not in it, figured out how to find us.

We ended our day with venison on the grill that tasted exactly like lighter fluid; after each person took a taste they politely declared they were not very hungry.

I am not fibbing when I say other than the lost dog, Waupaca debacle, shack setup in frustration or Russian in the water, we truly had a blast.

Can’t wait till next year!

Sunset

Brought to you by the following sponsors:

Butch’s Northwest Archery Bowhunting league Week 6 A&H Taxidermy: 612 Knoop Construction: 606 Gronning’s Tree Service: 605 Whitetail Lodge: 592 A&H Country Market: 569 White Birch Printing: 566 Century 21 Siren: 554 Melton Sandblasting: 554 Bank of the West: 534 B&B Disposal: 529 Bulldog Taxidermy: 491 Dill Weeds: 489 Theoutpostmall.com: 487 Becky’s: 486 Big Mike’s Sport Shop: 484 The Shop: 460 Snags Sports Bar: 443 Gluek: 402 Women’s Teams Wild Bill’s: 457 Chicog Pub: 407 Bass Lake Inn: 348 Father son-daughter team Glennco Transmission: 570 Dan King Agency: 536 Boom Truck Service: 447 Weis Guys: 411 Juniors Lipsie Pines: 476 Husband & wife teams Bluegill Bar: 575 Sportsman’s Headquarters: 522 Scenic View Campgrounds: 502 Audie’s Barn Board Crafts: 490 Larsen Chev: 466 Parson’s Auto Body: 353 Traditional Teams Shell Lake Pharmacy: 393 Peterson Construction: 376 C&J Sport Shop: 327 Wishful Thinking: 317

Yellow Lake pike

On track...

Anglers itching to get a head start on some open-water fishing this season should take note of the early catch-and-release trout season that begins at 5 a.m. on Saturday, March 3.

If temperatures remain mild and snowfall amounts are low, anglers will be able to fish rivers and streams as they would in the spring, butmelting snow and runoff can make early-season fishing difficult, so pay attention to stream conditions before heading out. – Marty Seeger

•••

Fishing has been slow across the Leader Land area, and due to the long stretch of cold weather, many anglers have opted to stay indoors.

But those who have the luxury of a heated shanty are still out and about, and according to Big Mike’s Outdoor Sports, the crappies are feeding along with bluegills on the Clam and Viola. There’s no specific time either. Fish have been feeding at all times throughout the day. – Marty Seeger

•••

Cottontail rabbit hunting is still open, but hunters will want to get a jump on the season soon. The season closes on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the northern and southern zones.

Mink trapping season will also be closing on Feb. 28, in the northern, central and southern zones. – Marty Seeger

•••

Kiel Bereiter caught this 16-pound, 29.5-inch pike on Yellow Lake Sunday, Feb. 18. - Photo courtesy of Wild Bill’s Sporting Goods

The Kinnickinnic Chapter of Pheasants Forever is holding it’s 20th anniversary banquet on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Coachman Supper Club in Baldwin. Doors open at 5 p.m. The banquet features a live and silent auction with games and raffles. Some of the prizes include a purebred Lab puppy, guns, Polaris ATV, 50cc dirt bike and much more.

Tickets are still available. For more info call 715-760-1723 – Submitted

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 27

EXELAND - A pipeline oil spill in northern Wisconsin will have permanent monitoring wells to track groundwater contamination. The spill occurred during construction of a pipeline between Superior and Whitewater.

The groundwater contamination has not seeped into drinking water

Oil spill contaminates 64 tons of soil

wells except for a rural hunting shack’s water supply. Department of Natural Resources hydrogeologist John Sager says 3,000 barrels of crude oil spilled on Feb. 2, and since then pipeline operator Enbridge has recovered 2,600 barrels and dug out 64 tons of contaminated soil. He says the groundwater in the

area of the spill has been contaminated, so permanent groundwater monitoring wells will be installed at the site, so assessments can be made about water quality and how far the contamination has spread into the groundwater.

Sager says the spill on the northern Rusk County line with Sawyer County

will get long-term attention. The U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety is also investigating the oil spill. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Mike Simonson)

Burnett County sheriff’s report Accidents Town of Rusk, Feb. 16: Larry E. Judd, 58, Spooner, was issued a citation for operating an ATV while intoxicated after ending up in the Spooner hospital after crashing his ATV on an area lake.

Town of Siren, Feb. 15: Cheryl T. Hoffman, 39, Cushing, was southbound on

Round Lake Road when a dog ran into the road. Hoffman ended up in the ditch on top of a barbed-wire fence. The dog ended up without a scratch.

Warrant arrests/other arrests Town of Swiss, Feb. 17: Janine J. Cowle, 32, Danbury, reported a domestic battery.

Kim A. Parenteau, 51, Danbury, was arrested and issued a citation for domestic battery.

Town of Meenon, Feb. 15: Jeromy M. Lambert, 22, Webster, was arrested on Burnett and Washburn counties warrants.

Village of Grantsburg, Feb. 15: Paul C. Knoll, 37,

Grantsburg, reported a domestic battery. DeAnne E. Lange, 38, Grantsburg, was arrested for criminal damage to property and domestic battery.

Town of Webb Lake, Feb. 19: Ted Hagen, 48, Danbury, reported a disruption at his home.

Shawnna L. Hagen, 42, Danbury, was arrested and issued citations for possession

Burnett County criminal court William J. Beddo, 19, Siren, underage drinking, alcohol assessment, $249.00.

Kenneth G. Cairns, 46, Webster, issue worthless check, $101.00 restitution, $249.00.

Luke A. Hansen, 21, Grantsburg, issue worthless check, $248.00.

Kimberly D. Cain, 23, Danbury, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Desiree G. Brewer, Cumberland, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Jean G. Bradshaw, 30, Danbury, obstructing an officer, $249.00.

Daniel C. Herbst, 39, Clear Lake, battery, $500.00.

Jacob A. Durand, 21, New Richmond, disorderly conduct, $249.00.

Teana M. Corbine, 25, Hertel, OAR, 90 days jail time, $88.00.

Roger J. Peterson, 45, Grantsburg, operating while revoked, 90 days’ jail time, $88.00.

Burnett County warrants Ronald A. Muellner, 52, Blaine, Minn., warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 14.

Kelli J. Nelson, 33, arrest warrant – complaint, Feb. 16.

Bradley R. Reinhardt, Webster, warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 14.

Joshua J. Reuter, Frederic, warrant - failure to appear, Feb. 12.

Scott E. Smith, Webster, warrant – failure to appear, Feb. 14.

Burnett Co. marriage licenses Wallace A. Stellrecht, Dewey and Mary D. Keenan, Dewey, Feb. 14.

Debbie L. Janke, 46, Frederic, OWI, $894.00, alcohol assessment, 10 days’ jail time, license revoked 12 months.

Peggy S. Skold, 47, Siren, OWI, $1,020.00, alcohol assessment, 20 days’ jail time, license revoked 16 months.

T & T Transport Inc., Danbury, violate class A Hwy. limits, $1,787.24.

Jeremy M. Cotton, 29, Cottage Grove, Minn., reckless driving, $367.00.

Susan L. Johnson, 43, Cottage Grove, Minn., reckless driving, $375.00.

Clayton M. Hendicks, 18, Osceola, speeding, $233.89.

Sherri A. Taylor, 30, Danbury, OWR, $395.00.

Siren police report Village of Siren, Feb. 12: Joseph C. Hubbell was arrested for drinking on a no-drink probation.

Town of Siren, Feb. 14: Donald R. Osborne, 41, Bethel, Minn., was arrested on a Burnett County warrant.

Village of Siren, Feb. 12: Paula L. Guinn, 33, Bloomington, Minn., and David M. Kjellsen, 49, Northfield, Minn., were removed from a Siren motel as they earned the status of unwanted persons.

Town of Meenon, Feb. 13: Brandon Thompson, 19,

Webster, was notified that he will be charged with theft if an item is not returned.

Town of Siren, Feb. 14: James Matrious Jr., 42, Hinckley, Minn., was issued citations for OWI, OAR, unsafe lane deviation, mandatory seat belt, and resisting. He was taken to Burnett County Jail.

Village of Siren, Feb. 17: Matthew K. Weber, 46, Cumberland, was cited for speeding.

of THC, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.

Other incidents Town or Wood River, Feb. 17: Larry I. Price, 58, Frederic, reported fishing equipment taken from his ice shack on Big Wood Lake.

The incident remains under investigation.

Town of Trade Lake, Feb. 17: James C. Morten, 70, Grantsburg, reported a burglary to his ice shack. The incident remains under investigation.

Town of Trade Lake, Feb. 17: James C. Morten, 70, Grantsburg, reported a burglary to an ice shack owned by Steve Eggers, Prescott. The incident remains under investigation.

Town of Trade Lake, Feb. 17: Robert A. Melin, 31, Frederic, reported a burglary to his ice shack. The incident remains under investigation.

Town of Trade Lake, Feb. 17: David R. White, 46, Centuria, reported yet another burglary.

Miscellaneous copper was taken this time. The incident

remains under investigation.

Town of West Marshland, Feb. 14: John Vodacek, 52, New Auburn, reported a 100-lb.

L.P. tank and copper piping stolen from his cabin. The incident remains under investigation.

Town of Grantsburg, Feb. 15: Charles W. Bistram, 41, Grantsburg, reported a snowmobile trailer, boat and trailer was taken from his Grantsburg home.

The incident remains under investigation. Town of Oakland, Feb. 15: Benjamin D. Ott, 32, Webster, reported someone removed an oil plug from a Kawasaki Mule causing the engine to seize up when it was started.

The incident remains under investigation.

Town of La Follette, Feb. 2: Marvin Mottl, Shell Lake, reported a 100-gallon L.P. tank, generator, chain saw, deer stands and other items missing from a cabin. The incident remains under investigation.

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Notices

Notices Follow the Leader

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 29

PAGE 30 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 31

S T A T E

H E A D L I N E S

Harsdorf announces launch of statewide “co-op care” for farmers Health care cooperative legislation authored by Harsdorf goes statewide MADISON – State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R – River Falls, joined the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives and the governor in announcing the launching of a new statewide heath insurance purchasing cooperative to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. The cooperative will be called the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin and is dedicated to serving Wisconsin farmers and agribusinesses.

Harsdorf authored legislation to facilitate the creation of health care cooperatives in 2003.

“The No. 1 concern for farm families statewide is access to affordable health care coverage,” said Harsdorf. “The Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin is an exciting partnership between private providers and agribusinesses to stabilize rates and expand coverage for farm families. It is especially important for our rural communities where health care is increasingly hard to

afford and access.”

Harsdorf noted that similar health cooperatives are springing up in regions of the state to supply affordable health care to small businesses and the selfemployed. Healthy Lifestyles in Green Bay, Co-Op Care in Southeast Wisconsin, and an emerging Physicians Health Cooperative are successes where local groups banded together to create health care cooperatives.

“There is great potential for cooperatives to make health care more affordable and accessible,” said Harsdorf.

“Self-employed and small businesses are already banding together in regions of the state to increase their buying power and leverage preventative care initiatives. Taken together, cooperatives can lower costs while maintaining choice, without burdensome government intervention.”

As a cooperative, FHCW will be owned and governed by its farmer and agribusiness members. A membership deposit fee is required upon entry for three years. Roll out of the program statewide will occur throughout 2007.

Cooperatives allow pooling to facilitate benefits often not realized by those with

State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf joins Gov. Doyle and legislators to announce the launch of a new statewide health insurance purchasing cooperative for farmers and agribusinesses. – Photo submitted health insurance today, including coverage for 24-hour care, wellness programs and prescription drugs. By spreading risk and encouraging prevention, FHCW seeks to avoid high rate increases that limit affordability for farmers.

More information about FHCW can be learned by calling the Co-Op Care hotline at 1-800-539-9370 or visiting www.farmershealthcooperative.com. submitted

Rep. Hraychuck escorts governor to podium for budget address MADISON – Rep. Ann Hraychuck, DBalsam Lake, was selected to escort Gov. Jim Doyle on Feb. 13 into the Assembly chambers for his 2007-2009 biennial budget address.

“I was honored to escort the governor on such an important occasion,” said Hraychuck. “It is a tradition to select a freshman legislator for this role and with 21 new legislators this session, I feel privileged to have been chosen.”

The budget will now go to the joint committee on finance where it will be discussed and debated over the next several months. Once the budget bill is approved by the committee, the Assembly and Senate will vote on it, which will likely happen in early summer.

“Now is the time for public debate on how Wisconsin is going to prioritize funding over the next two years. It is critical to remember that we have only

started this process, and between now and the final version of this budget there will be many necessary discussions with constituents and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle,” said Hraychuck.

The governor outlined a set of clear funding priorities, including maintaining the state’s commitment to fund twothirds of all public school costs, provide tax credits to help families pay for health care premiums, child care and college tuition, and ensure that every child has access to health insurance.

Rep. Hraychuck looks forward to hearing from constituents about their views on the proposed budget. You may contact her by calling toll-free 1888-529-0028 or via e-mail at rep.hraychuck@legis.wi.gov. – from the office of Rep. Hraychuck

Rep. Hraychuck and Gov. Doyle walking to the Assembly chambers.

–Photos submitted

Dems plan next move

Group of governor’s legislative escorts (L to R) Rep. Ann Hraychuck, Rep. Terry Moulton, Gov. Jim Doyle, Sen. Russ Decker and Sen. Carol Roessler.

WAUSAU - Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey says Democrats are planning their next move after the U.S. Senate failed to pass the nonbinding resolution opposing the president’s troop surge in Iraq.

Two days after the U.S. Senate blocked a vote on the nonbinding resolution, Democrat Dave Obey told an audience in Wausau that the war is in the Republicans’ hands. He says Iraq policy will not change until there is so much pressure on the Republicans in the Congress that they finally walk down to the White House and say to the president, “Mr. President, the jig is up.”

The Democrats’ next move will be a resolution that keeps the president from using troops that have been in Iraq for more than a year. Obey says the meas-

ure would indirectly, but effectively, block the surge. He also says he’s trying to add language to it about Iran. He says they want to have language in that resolution which says the president cannot attack Iran without a vote of the Congress.

Obey says if the president does come to Congress, he hopes the Congress will say “no.” He says it is going to take a generation for the U.S. to “dig out” in terms of world opinion from what it did to itself by attacking Iraq. He says if the U.S. attacks Iran, he thinks “the world is gonna say we’re nuts.”

The longtime incumbent made his comments in a series of news conferences in Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield . – Wisconsin Public Radio (Glen Moberg)

Oil spill contaminates 64 tons of soil EXELAND - A pipeline oil spill in northern Wisconsin will have permanent monitoring wells to track groundwater contamination. The spill occurred during construction of a pipeline between Superior and Whitewater.

The groundwater contamination has not seeped into drinking water wells

except for a rural hunting shack’s water supply.

Department of Natural Resources hydrogeologist John Sager says 3,000 barrels of crude oil spilled on Feb. 2, and since then pipeline operator Enbridge has recovered 2,600 barrels and dug out 64 tons of contaminated soil. He says the groundwater in the

area of the spill has been contaminated, so permanent groundwater monitoring wells will be installed at the site, so assessments can be made about water quality and how far the contamination has spread into the groundwater.

Sager says the spill on the northern Rusk County line with Sawyer County

will get long-term attention. The U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety is also investigating the oil spill. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Mike Simonson)

PAGE 32 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 21, 2007

DNR Secretary Scott Hassett told community leaders about the state budget plans last Wednesday. – Photo by Regan Kohler

DNR secretary visits Spooner to talk about stewardship $105 million proposed to support purchase of lands for outdoor programs

by Regan Kohler SPOONER – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett traveled across the northwestern part of the state Wednesday, Feb. 14, to tell citizens about the 2007-09 stewardship plans.

Hassett stopped in Spooner that day, at the Tommy T. Thompson State Fish Hatchery, to talk to community members about renewing the 10-year stewardship fund. This fund gives local assistance to outdoor recreation programs. Hassett said Gov. Jim Doyle is proposing $105 million annually, to support purchase of such lands now.

“I hope this makes its way through the legislature as is,” Hassett said. “We think now is the time to make a run.”

Hassett said that recreation and land prices are going up.

“We need it now more than ever,” he said.

In the north, Hassett said, there are huge tracts of land and statutory limits on what one can own. The lands open to recreational uses would be maintained rather than acquired through a grant, Hassett said. He added that half a million acres have been bought with such funds in the past, including urban trails.

“We’ve done some incredible things with the fund,” Hassett said. “There’s something there for everybody in stewardship.”

According to Hassett, changing demographics are making outdoor recreation different than it was years ago. Hassett said a lot of programs are geared toward youth, as in this age of technology more children are into staying indoors with electronics than playing outside. However, Hassett said, Wisconsin doesn’t have as much of an issue with this as other places.

“We’re doing pretty well in Wisconsin in bucking the national trends,” he said.

Hassett told the audience that Wisconsin is lucky to have a supportive governor, and one thing that is happening is that a provision for no fishing and hunting fee increases should go through in the budget proposal.

With the stewardship money, Hassett said 74 percent would go toward nonpoint programs on issues like pollution and manure runoff into trout streams.

“That program has traditionally been underfunded,” Hassett said.

He said more money will be going toward invasive species programs, too, though 90 percent of Wisconsin’s water bodies are free of these harmful species.

The money is best spent on continuing to prevent this, he said.

Hassett gave the audience a questionand-answer session, to which many asked questions about the DNR’s work with the legislature and what they are doing for ethanol production, trout

streams and beaver dams, among other things. Hassett touched on the potential for ethanol-based energy from corn as a gold mine.

“I think we have a neat niche in Wisconsin [for ethanol],” he said.

Hassett also touched on nature-based recreation expansion. Randy Strickland, Northwest Badgers Soccer, said they are looking for new land for soccer fields in Washburn County, and have some ideas for the site. Strickland asked about improvements on the potential site, to

which Hassett said his instincts lean toward traditional recreational uses and that organizations like this one can find other funding. However, Hassett added, this is just his opinion.

Members of Sawyer County were also at the meeting, and said the county is happy with the proposed budget, especially since wetlands violations are going up.

Fire sparks arson talk, but chief says not to panic

by Regan Kohler SPOONER – Several fires in the last week led residents in Spooner to question if there was a case of arson going on, but Fire Chief Darren Vik said that it is mostly speculation.

A Friday, Feb. 16, fire at the Evergreen Town Hall may have been suspicious, Vik said, but it is still under investigation, so he couldn’t comment on it.

“There’s a lot of talk in town,” he said of the fires.

One fire occurred Monday, Feb. 19, in a Springbrook residence, but Vik said it wasn’t a cause for anyone to worry about arson.

Vik said many people have been wondering what is going on, but at this point all incidents are still under investigation.

Lion in winter

Albino gobbler

Darlene Walkosz of Grantsburg sent this photo of an albino turkey passing through with the flock which stopped at her squirrel feeder to snatch a few grains.

This lion greets visitors to the Chateau St. Croix Winery & Vineyard on Hwy. 87, north of St. Croix Falls. A building created in the image of a European estate is seen in the background. – Photo by Sherill Summer

‘Follow the Leader’

Feb ruar y 21, 2007 • 2 nd Se c t i on B• I nter-Co unty Le a de r

Currents N O R T H E R N

THE LEADER’S COMMUNITY NEWS

A review of his “many lifetimes”

Walter Johnson celebrates his 100th birthday

by Carl Heidel FALUN - Judging by appearances, Walter Johnson is a kindly, elderly gentleman. His 100 years of life have left him a bit stooped when he stands; the hair is snow white; hearing “isn’t what it used to be;” and the brilliant blue eyes no longer see well enough to read.

But “Walter’s 100-year review,” read at his 100th birthday celebration at the First Baptist Church of Falun last Saturday, reveal how much those appearances conceal. In what Johnson describes as his “many lifetimes,” he has compiled a life story that most people would, indeed, need several lifetimes to complete.

The list is a long one. He was a bank messenger, an arborist, a wilderness traveler who kept the Model T running with tin from a tobacco can, a logger, a farmhand, a sheep herder and a businessman dealing in lumber products.

Along the way, Johnson dismantled and moved a hydroelectric plant from Superior, Neb., to Grantsburg. He blew up an island impeding water flow in the Yellow River at Danbury. And he and his wife of 65 years, Ella, were instrumental in arranging a program and facilities to serve the needs of developmentally disabled adults in Burnett County.

All of this was in company with teaching English to Swedish immigrants who taught him contemporary Swedish in return, serving on the town of Daniels Board of Supervisors and the Falun and Grantsburg school boards, restoring a church, and teaching and serving as superintendent of the Sunday school at the First Baptist Church of Falun.

Throughout all these adventures, Johnson developed and fed a hunger for learning, and he was largely self-taught.

During his childhood he roamed the

The incident with the Model T and the tobacco can tin came when he and two others took off through the wilderness forests of Maine while traveling between jobs. When the car’s engine stopped in the middle of nowhere, the tobacco can yielded a strip of tin that was fashioned into a bushing on the timer shaft to get the car rolling again.

The Depression was unbelievably severe for Johnson, so when he heard of jobs on a sheep ranch in Wyoming, he headed west with a friend. After a series of adventures, they arrived at the ranch as “the boys from the East.” They followed the herd of ewes and lambs, led them to food and shelter by day, protected them from coyotes at night, and slept on the ground in a canvas sleeping bag.

Returning from the West, Johnson began his career as an arborist. He did tree surgery of various kinds, and patched up trees that had suffered all kinds of damage.

It was nothing for Johnson to be in the tops of the trees, 70 feet up. When the crowds gathered below to watch, he and his fellow workers would entertain them with aerial stunts.

But the story Johnson loves to tell is the one about blowing up the island in the Yellow River. He was working with the Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company, and because of a prolonged drought, not enough water was coming downriver to the company’s hydroelectric plant at Danbury. The problem lay with a small island about two miles upSee Johnson’s page 2

Walter and Ella Johnson shared 65 years of marriage. - Photo submitted.

woods and began to learn about the trees and plants in the bogs, swamps and highlands. From that beginning he learned the common and scientific

Johnson greeted friends and well-wishers at his 100th birthday celebration last Saturday. With him is his daughter Joann. - Photo by Carl Heidel

names of thousands of shrubs and trees, and eventually published a booklet cataloging and describing the trees of Burnett County.

He taught himself elements of physics.

Knowledge of lines, pulleys, levers and wedges was essential in many of his lines of work with trees.

His children love to tell stories about his unusual abilities with mathematical calculations. He would figure the cost of a grocery bill in his head before the clerk could tally it on the cash register, and if there was a discrepancy between the two results, Johnson’s figures always proved to be correct. And in the days before high-speed calculators came on the market, Johnson could figure sums in his mind faster that some pretty sophisticated adding machines.

Johnson loved to read and devoured information of all kinds. He has been a lifelong learner, and one of his regrets in recent years is that failing eyesight has made reading difficult or impossible.

Individual segments of Johnson’s long life have stories of their own. He walked to school in Falun, 2-1/2 miles. When it became “unpatriotic” during World War I to speak anything but English in the schools, problems arose. Most of the students came from Swedish-speaking homes, and when the teachers decreed that any student speaking Swedish would have to leave the school, only two children remained. Johnson was not one of them.

This photo from 1947 shows Johnson “out on a limb” doing his work at the top of the tree. - Photo submitted.

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Johnson’s/from page 1 stream that was impeding the flow.

Johnson suggested blasting the island away with dynamite, and company officials gave him the go-ahead. He figured that one large charge would do the job, and drove to St. Paul to get the explosives, a half ton of dynamite. For the return trip he put a sign on the truck that read “High Explosives.” “As I drove home, it seemed that most of the traffic gave me a wide berth,” he said.

The explosion that Johnson eventually touched off knocked pictures from the walls in Danbury homes and revealed that the island was actually the remains of a log dam built at the time of early logging activity in the region. When these final logs were removed, water flowed freely.

Now after 100 years, the Johnson saga moves on. On the day of his birthday party he indicated that he was already

Johnson’s handiwork as an arborist saved many a tree down through the years. This one needed extensive repair from him. - Photo submitted

four days “into my next century,” but he said he wasn’t sure he wanted to live another hundred years.

He doesn’t need to. He’s already lived several lifetimes.

From Balsam Lake to the Solomon Islands Local man recalls cable work during WW II

by Julie Holmquist MILLTOWN - Virgil Jensen of Milltown still remembers sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge in 1942 on his way to war.

“Well, I’ll see you when I get back,” Jensen told another man on the ship.

“I won’t make it back,” the man told Jensen.

“Why?” Jensen asked him.

“He never did make it back,” Jensen said. “I always thought I would make it out of the war, but I never dreamed I’d make it to 86 years old.”

The retired Osceola business owner left Balsam Lake in July, 1942, when he was 22 years old and ended up serving in the 233rd Signal Operations Company. That company eventually became part of Company B of the

Virgil Jensen of Milltown has a photo of some of his pals from his days serving in World War II. – Photo submitted 88th Signal Battalion Special.

“General Griswold said we did such an especially good job, he called us special,” Jensen recalled.

Jensen laid telephone wires between the island to provide communications between the army divisions.

His first stop was Guadalcanal.

“If was pretty much taken care of then,” he said. “We were bombed, but we weren’t in the front lines there.”

Jensen at one time was able to warn General O.W. Griswold of the 14th Army Corps about Communists on one of the islands.

“We were on the island of Luzon in a town called Conception. We had a crew there. One of the Filipinos could speak English and told me not too stay too long because the Communists were there.”

Jensen told General Griswold, and the crew left in the morning.

The young solider ended up working with telephone wires because another recruit, who worked in civilian life as a telephone technician, asked him to join his area.

The work, Jensen said, “came pretty easy to me. I enjoyed it.” He served as wire chief on Luzan, an island in the northwest Philippines for one year.

Although Jensen said he “didn’t really have it bad,” during the war, he still retains injuries from being bombed.

“I got hit bad. I’d been on duty 36 hours, and the guys were trying to wake me up to go to the foxhole.”

But he didn’t make it. The bomb was falling straight down, and when it does that, Jensen said, “you don’t hear it.”

Fortunately, the bomb “went into some muck,” but the repercussion threw Jensen, snapping his neck.

“I still have problems with it,” he said, noting he still has constant bad headaches due to the injury.

“Two of our guys got killed that night up the street,”

he recalled. “The Japanese were trying to hit the airstrip, but they were falling short.”

Mother Nature also shook the soldiers over there. It was Christmas morning, 1943, on Bougainville Island when the troops woke to a surprise.

“I woke up and I thought somebody was shaking my bunk,” Jensen said. Others ran to foxholes, and one of the men said, “it looked like the trees were walking.”

The unusual shaking was an erupting volcano.

“It wasn’t real bad,” Jensen said. “It only erupted once.”

Laying and splicing cable for communications sometimes made Jensen and the other soldiers targets.

“There were some Japanese that dug into the volcano and they had a cannon on rails,” Jensen said. “They would come out and shoot at us. One time it hit one of our wires, and we had an awful time getting that back together.”

The memory of returning to the states late in 1945 after three years in the Solomon Islands, the Philippines and Tokyo, Japan, is still sharp in Jensen’s memory.

Heading out of Tokyo Bay, the small ship Jensen was on hit bad weather.

“Oh golly,” he said. “The ship listed so bad. We were having pork chops and potatoes and peaches, and everything was sliding on the floor. The food was all over the floor. It was a mess. We had to clean it up with shovels. We almost tipped over.

“I looked out one time and had to look up to the waves,” he said.

The ship made it through, however, and Jensen still remembers a special Thanksgiving Day, 1945 in Seattle.

“I had my first real turkey again, and I hadn’t had fresh milk (overseas),” he said. “I think I drank a gallon of it.”

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FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 3

Writers’ Corner Water, Water, Everywhere, Anywhere

by Iris Holm My older daughter never met a drop of water she didn’t like—unless it was dishwater. When she was a baby she’d scream when taken out of the bath water. As a toddler she would spend as much time as allowed in the bathtub with a metal cup and measuring spoons. Perhaps that was a precursor to her “Martha Stewart Tendencies” as she grew older.

While still in the high chair, she could spend a long time “finger painting” with only one drop of spilled milk or juice.

It was cheap entertainment for the both of us.

I have a picture of her still in diapers and feeling a steady drip of water from a leaky outdoor faucet. What a delight!

She loved little puddles and, when she was outside by herself, she wouldn’t miss one, especially if it had a thin coat of ice to be smashed by a good stomp of her little foot. With or without rubber boots.

About the time she was in third grade, she was always wet when walking to or from school in the fall or spring, despite protective footwear. The teacher would call to report the problem and by then I had had enough of her wet, icy clothing. I insisted she leave her boots at home since they weren’t helping to keep her dry anyway. There were tears and lots of protests, but miraculously she came home dry.

A few years later, weather conditions were such that the ground was frozen so that the sudden snow melt had no where to go except to accumulate into large puddles. Our

neighbor’s garden was in a low place, so that year several feet of runoff had to be investigated. Without my knowing it, she wore her father’s huge four-buckle overshoes to see how far she could go without water going over the tops. Not far. She came slogging home with her boots full and blamed me for not letting her wear his fishing hip boots. She’d have drowned.

When it came to swimming, she behaved like a fish and became a lifesaver at an early age. Eventually she taught her children to swim as well.

Whenever possible she has lived near the water. Puddles at home. A brook in New Hampshire. In retirement, on a golf course pond in Florida. She swims every day and then enjoys more water as she tends to her gardens.

This year she even enjoyed water at Thanksgiving, as she spent that holiday on a cruise ship with LOTS of water all around. She’s happy.

Writer’s Corner contest LEADER LAND – Do you have a fish tale to tell? The Writer’s Corner is looking for the best fish story to feature in May 2 issue, just before the fishing opener. If we receive several good stories, we will run a series during May. So sharpen your pencil and send or e-mail your stories to the Leader office. If you e-mail your entry, put Writer’s Corner in the subject box. Stories should be 800 words or less and be submitted by April 2.

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 theleader@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

T h e v i e w f r o m Here My funny Valentine Paul Hindsight, the only reader who writes me with any regularity, sent me a little love letter that arrived on Valentine’s Day that read, “You’re getting a little heavy, dear fellow. Time to lighten up a bit. You should take a page from that Wayne Anderson who writes for the Steve same rag as you. Now that guy is funny.

Maybe you could get a little of that back Pearson and forth thing going with him like you did with ol’ Cap’n Dee. Some of his humor might rub off on you. Go for the laughs before you lose the few readers you have left, including me.”

Hmm, strong stuff, I thought, but worth considering. So I made a call to the Leader office to get Mr. Anderson’s itinerary for the day knowing that he is a reporter as well as a columnist and was likely to be on the job. “Well,” said a Bonnie or Connie who answered, “the only thing he’s covering today is actually tonight - the Habitat for Humanity Valentines Dinner and Dance in Siren.” I hung up and went right to the Leader Web site to catch up on Wayne Anderson’s recent columns. Turns out he wrote a real side-splitter in the Feb. 7 edition about the Bush follies in Iraq. Maybe Hindsight’s right, I thought. This guy knows how to use a sardonic sense of humor to reach his readers. I could take a lesson from that.

I called and reserved a ticket for the dinner where I arrived at precisely six o’clock that night, Wayne Anderson’s photo from last week’s paper in hand. After shoveling down the delicious main course, I got up to walk the room hoping to spot Mr. Anderson, whom I’d never met. It didn’t take long - he was stationed at the dessert table, pencil and paper in hand, jawing with someone who looked familiar from behind. I watched as he took a plate of bread pudding and then one, no, make that two of the little dessert tarts. Don’t interrupt, I thought, as I realized the person he was talking to was the venerable Gil Hoel, president of the local chapter of Habitat. Wayne’s on company time. Better to position myself between him and the rest room.

Sure enough, moments later Wayne Anderson was walking toward me, on his way to the boys room. “Mr. Anderson,” I said, stepping into his path. “ I wonder if I could have a couple minutes of your time.” “Do I know you?” he said in a hearty, jocular voice. “I’m a fellow conservative columnist at the Leader,” I said, introducing myself. “Oh, yes,” he said, and a broad smile crossed his face. “The serious one.” I’ve come to the right place, I thought. This guy can help me lighten up like Hindsight said I should.

“I read your last column,” I said. “You sure know how to use that tongue-in-cheek humor. I love the part about the

peace activists hiding the terrorists. Great stuff. Me, I would have said something about how Bush’s war has created a whole new generation of terrorists, etc., etc., but you used sense of humor to get at the same thing. And the part about the terrorists’ table manners, that was rich. Well, actually, all the food imagery was great. The ‘plate of phony baloney,’ that’s good stuff. Talking about your favorite drag movie, right on the mark.” By now we were both howling this guy sure can toss out the one-liners, I thought.

“Yeah,” Wayne said, or something like that. “You know, some people actually think if the U.S. pulled out of Iraq tomorrow [I’m paraphrasing now], everything would change.”

“Must be the 18 percent who still support Cheney,” I said.

“Are his numbers that low?” Anderson asked, suddenly serious. “Why that’s - that’s scandalous. No wonder we’re in such deep doo doo,” he concluded, half a smile crossing his face.

“Not so fast,” I said. “Now I can’t tell if you’re serious or joking. I mean, Cheney’s the one behind this whole misguided, disastrous policy. Besides, you and I know the U.S. won’t be leaving Iraq anytime soon with 13 permanent bases being built.”

“There you go again,” Wayne said, chuckling. “I mean, my eyes were glazing over when you started in with all that heavy talk. Half of writing a column is acting. You’ve got to keep ‘em guessing. Never let the readers pin you down, back you into a corner.”

“I guess you’re right,” I conceded. “I’ve let it hang out a little too much lately. Time to pull back in, play it closer to the vest.”

“Yep, he said, “always remember that without your readers, you have no column. If you can’t keep ‘em coming back to the trough, you’re done. So, good fellow, you’ve got to give ‘em what they want. Me, I try to lay it out so the more savvy among my readers will get the joke, and the rest can take from it what they want.”

That was pretty much it for our conversation. Oh, we laughed about the trumped up spitting reference - more of that good, old phony baloney - and him being “ready to sound the charge and lead a few good men into battle,” but mostly Mr. Anderson, who I found to be totally approachable and highly engaging, shared his recipe for tongue-incheek humor. As we parted, I complimented him on his willingness to give his e-mail address to readers and mentioned Hindsight’s suggestion that we correspond with each other. “Feel free to e-mail me any time,” he said. “It’s been coming in about 8 to 1 in support of my last column. Funny thing is, when you use humor, people respond that way from all places on the political spectrum.”

“Yep,” I said, “funny thing, all right,” and we had one last, long belly laugh.

Lioness Club hosts party for residents FREDERIC - The Frederic Lioness Club hosted a Valentine/bingo party for the residents of Sunrise Apartments which is located by Coon Lake.

There were about 10 residents that came to play bingo and won big bucks and had a good time. Refreshments were served

by Lioness members and after the residents left, the club held their monthly meeting. If you would like more information about the Frederic Lioness Club and their activities, please call President LaVonne Boyer at 715-327-4915. - from the Frederic Lioness Club

Drs. Jacobson and Turcott attend Academy CUMBERLAND – Lee R. Jacobson, OD, and Jennifer Jacobson Turcott, OD, recently attended the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry held in Denver, Colo. The theme of the meeting was Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Practice: A Lifetime of Eye Care. Highlights of the meeting included nearly 300 hours of continuing courses and scientific presentations. More than 4,000 optometrists, vision-care professionals, vision scientists and optometry students from around the world attended this prestigious meeting.

“American Academy of Optometry annual meetings are recognized as presenting the latest in research and information on patient and vision care. Optometrists and vision scientists who attend the American Academy of Optometry annual meetings are truly interested in professional and personal growth,” said Joe Yager, president of the Academy.

Dr. Jacobson and Dr. Turcott see patients in Frederic and Cumberland. – submitted

Taylors Falls Historical Society meeting to be held TAYLORS FALLS, Minn. – The Taylors Falls Historical Society invites you to attend the New Members Night program meeting on Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m. at the Taylors Falls Memorial Community Center. If you’ve been thinking of joining the society, this is your opportunity! A single membership is only $15 per year! Current TFHS members are encouraged to bring a new friend to this meeting. The society is planning an evening of good oldfashioned fun and wants everyone to bring their favorite board game(s), playing cards, etc., and play with other members and new friends. Card tables will be provided, as well as refreshments of popcorn, snacks and root beer. This meeting is open to all ages, and all are encouraged to join! Membership forms will be available if you choose to join. Questions, please contact: Sally Barott, TFHS president at 651-2574773 or e-mail: sallybarott@aol.com. - submitted

The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

River Road Ramblings The Indian scare of 1878

by Stanley Selin Note: This story is another version of the “Indian scare at Alabama,” published previously.

There was an Indian scare among the Trade River Valley settlers in the summer of 1878. This was a new experience for most of these immigrant pioneers, but was not uncommon in the history of white settlements during this time. An underlying reason for apprehension was the wide disparity between the lifestyles and expectations of white Europeans and Native American Indian tribes. Indians tended to share the abundance of nature with each other, using only what they needed, while the white men regarded any material goods or lands they had acquired as their own private property. Another reason was the sudden intrusion by Europeans onto lands where the Indians had been living for centuries. Also, there were stories still being told of the Indian uprising in the neighboring state of Minnesota in 1862, and the wellknown account of Custer’s last stand in Montana in 1876.

This area of Wisconsin had two Indian tribes, the Sioux and the Chippewa. The Chippewas were generally friendly to the early settlers, and many of them

August Cassell (1848-1945) came to Trade Lake in 1869, and homesteaded 40 acres in Section 15 of the township. He later moved to Wood Lake and served on the Burnett County Board.

Olaus Gronlund (1844-1927) holding his granddaughter Jeanette in 1918. He came to Laketown in 1870, and acquired a knowledge of English very early which was a great help to other Norwegian settlers in the area. He was also active in local government, holding several public offices over the years. became good friends. They would trade goods like caps and vests made out of skin for food items, such as ground corn, garden produce, meats and baked breads.

The following story was told to Jeanette Gronlund Renno about her grandfather, Olaus Gronlund. He was one of the first settlers to emigrate from Norway to this area, homesteading on land east of Long Lake in Atlas. At this early time, Gronlund was living in a dugout cave in his pasture. One night, he was making a meal of johnnycake or corn muffins. All of a sudden, a large Indian walked into his dugout and pointed to a big butcher knife hanging on the wall.

Gronlund did not want to give him the knife, so he offered him corn muffins instead. The Indian insisted he wanted the knife, so finally relented and gave him the knife, whereupon the Indian took Gronlund by the shoulder and pushed him up the steps of the dugout and made him walk down to the lake near the Indian mounds. There the Indian had killed a deer with a bow and arrow. The Indian then proceeded to skin and cut up the deer. When finished, he cut off a hind quarter and gave it to Gronlund along with his knife!

During the summer of 1878, a man came riding a

collected by Russ Hanson horse from the Trade Lake area to the north, telling the farmers to find protection because the Indians were coming their way. Everyone thought the Indians must be on the warpath. Stories tended to circulate fast and have more details added when passed from person to person. The settlers were very afraid and felt vulnerable because of the rumors being told that Indians had been to some places and stolen things, and even killed some white people. So the farmers got together and decided to go to Cushing with their families and wait out the Indians. One farmer took the big, black cookstove that his wife was cooking supper on with the fire still in it, and put it on a lumber wagon, and headed for Cushing. Many others followed on horseback with a few of their clothes, important papers and other belongings. On the way, an axle broke on the wagon with the big, black cookstove and a wheel came off.

They quickly cut down a small, bushy tree and placed it under the broken axle, and then dragged the wagon the rest of the way to Cushing. There were a lot of people already there waiting for the Indians. They formed a large circle, hoping to protect themselves.

They waited all night, but no Indians ever came. It turned out to be a false alarm. The Indians had traveled farther west toward Wolf Creek. There, the Sioux warriors were waiting, and a battle took place between the Sioux and Chippewa. Many were killed on both sides, but the Chippewas prevailed and drove the Sioux toward the west.

The Sioux never came back to fight again. August Cassell tells the following story: “The Indian scare was in the summer of 1878. I was then a member of the county board with Kanute Anderson and D. L. Tomas. We, on the county board, telegraphed the governor in Madison that the Indians appeared to be threatening, and he sent two high-ranking army officers to inspect the county. We went with them to Wood Lake where the Indians were holding their dances.”

“Tomas was married to an Indian woman and could speak Chippewa. He and Trader Carlson from Trade Lake came with us to be interpreters for the governor’s men. The Indians assured them that they had not intended to hurt anyone and that they were very sorry there had been false rumors. As proof of their friendly attitude, they all sat down and invited the governor’s messengers to smoke the peace pipe (calumet), which they did.” This was the last time the peace pipe was used, according to the record. Note: The above account is based on a story as told to Jeanette Gronlund Renno of Atlas, as well as excerpts from the Swedish book “Historiska Skildringar” (Historical Sketches), written by L.J. Ahlström in 1924.

The Leader is a cooperativeowned newspaper

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 5

Musical history of our family The following story was written by Deniece Peterson Noe in her English 9 class in 1961: Music has its place in the history of most communities. My dad’s family should be included in the musical history of this community.

The first musical instrument they ever had was a German–style accordion. This was about 1923. My Uncle Johnny played it. Several Italian-style accordions followed. The first piano accordion was bought in 1930.

In 1925, Daddy sent to Sears for the first violin. He paid $10 for the complete outfit, including an instruction book. The second violin was bought from Edward Johnson for $35. We still have it on the top shelf of the closet. Daddy’s mother had seven uncles in Sweden who each played the violin, so a liking for music came naturally.

My Uncle Eric played the drums. He paid $30 for a second-hand drum set.

Their first guitar was a cheap, wooden one. Then they bought a metal guitar with a built-in resonator.

My Uncle Herbie played it.

Addie Danielson played piano with them to begin with, and later on, Dorothy Johnson played.

Their first public dance was at the Old West Sweden Hall. The one that burned down. They also played at Squirrely Beach when the hall was just a floor without a roof or walls. They played at house parties in Clam Falls, West Sweden and Lorrain townships. Herbie and Johnny also played at PTAs around this area.

Before the R.E.A. came through, they used a sound system powered by a gasoline-engine driven generator.

They played for 50¢ to $1 a piece, and many times they played for nothing. Now musicians get $10 a piece. During the depression, admission to a dance was 25¢ for the men and the ladies got in free. Now each person has to pay 75¢ admission.

Daddy sang with the orchestra at first and in later years, Johnny and Herbie sang together, as they still so. They sing many Swedish songs.

Daddy quit playing in 1932 and Johnny and Herbie took accordion and guitar lessons in Duluth for a while.

After Eric and Dorothy were married, they split into two orchestras. The Merry Makers and The Peterson Brothers.

The Peterson Brothers had Florence Blomgren (pianist) and George Marek (drummer) of the Wood Lake area with them for several years. For a while a Hawaiian, Bernard Dorais, played the Hawaiian guitar with them.

In about 1940, the Peterson Brothers broke up and

went to work in Duluth.

The Merry Makers continued playing around here. Joe Chasinsky played accordion with them for a while. As their daughter, Rosie, grew older, she sang with the Merry Makers.

She also played the saxophone and accordion with them, and Bernice Jimmy Glokzin played the saxAbrahamzon ophone with them too. Rosie married a musician, Bill Brunkow, in 1958. He plays the trumpet and the bass horn. The four of them played at the Fireman’s Dance at the Frederic Roller Rink a few years ago.

The Merry Makers retired soon after Rosie moved to Georgia where Bill was stationed in the army.

For the Luck Winter Carnival this year, Dorothy, Eric, Johnny, Herbie and a friend, Lloyd Houck, played for the old-time dance at the high school. My sister and I were privileged to go along and hear our aunt and uncles play. We enjoyed their music very much and so did a lot of other people.

(Note: The above story was given to me a long time ago, and is just one example of all the good stuff I’ve saved through the years).

BEHIND THE

SIGNPOST

Uses for Alka Seltzer® Clean a toilet. Drop in two tablets; wait 20 minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.

Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two tablets.

Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four tablets and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three tablets down the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

(Note: It’s a funny thing, but I always thought Alka Seltzer® was a remedy for indigestion).

Until next week, Bernice

May 12 marks the 12th anniversary ACS Run/Walk FREDERIC – The Frederic American Cancer Society Run/Walk Finish Line date has been set for Saturday, May 12. On this day, you can put on your athletic shoes and walk in the fight against cancer.

“The American Cancer Society Run/Walk Finish Line is a terrific event,” says ACS staff partner, Shary Shouse. “This event is a pledge-based noncompetitive walk/run and awareness event that everyone, including cancer survivors and their family and friends, can celebrate the reality that cancer can be beaten.”

The event is also a chance for the community to rally together and support cancer survivors while raising money to eliminate cancer in the future. It is a great opportunity for fun and fitness for the whole family.

“For many participants, crossing the finish line means accomplishing a goal and winning,” Elvira Schmidt, chair of the Frederic Finish Line event stated.

“The American Cancer Society is reaching for our ultimate goal of finding a cure to eliminate all cancer.”

There is plenty of time to sign up as a participant or volunteer. “This is our opportunity to invite everyone who has been impacted by cancer to come together in a warm, positive, upbeat atmosphere, “ said Schmidt.

Anyone who would like to be on the ACS Finish Line Committee or part of a team, is invited to the Kick Off

on Thursday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the downstairs dining hall of Pilgrim Lutheran Church.

This year registration will be at the Birch Street Elementary School from 8-9 a.m. with the walk beginning from the school at 9:15 a.m.

The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing the suffering from cancer through research, education advocacy and service. For more information call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit our Web site at www.cancer.org.,or Elvira Schmidt at 715-653-2684 or Shary Shouse at 1-800-947-0487. - submitted

Follow the Leader.

Wisconsin Interstate Park news

ST. CROIX FALLS – 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. For more information, call Julie at 715-483-3747. – from Interstate Park

Do you remember ?

Compiled by Bernice Abrahamzon

50 Years Ago People were invited to dance to the music of Whoopee John at the Frederic Rec on Feb. 15.-Another February special at Carlson Hardware, Frederic, was a household broom at 99¢.-There were 159 heart deaths in Polk County reported for 1955, the latest date for which such vital statistics were given.-Holstein breeders heard dairy specialists, George Werner and Vic Burcalow, speak on Feb. 13 at the annual meeting held a the Centuria High School.-Ernie Bengtson of Lewis and Ervin Sederland of Clam Falls bought Elmer Huser’s truck line, including two trucks and the franchise.- A notice to dog owners said, “All dogs running loose will be destroyed.” It was signed by the village council of Frederic.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, were lamb steak at 45¢ lb., beef liver at 2 lbs. for 49¢ and tuna fish at 29¢ a can.- Readers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press enjoyed reading the next-door neighbor column written by Earl Chapin.-Mr. B.T. Smith, Grantsburg, headed the Easter Seal campaign in Burnett County.-The Siren basketball team defeated Solon Springs, 49 – 31.-Murriel Lind of Siren, won the D.A.R. award.-A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Broberg on Feb. 10, at the Frederic Hospital.-Reports came in from the Little Butternut 4-H, the Wood River Beavers 4-H, the McKinley Vikings 4-H, the Super Pipers 4-H and the Webster Super Strugglers 4-H clubs.

40 Years Ago

Girls vying for the title of Princess at the Luck Winter Carnival were Pam Erickson, Jeanette Hendricks, Wendy Pautsch, Eileen Hansen, Crystal Cook, Pamela Gross, Lana Anderson, Mary Dolny, Julie Adams and Linda Ericken. Ten in all. The reign of the 1966 queen, Marnie Johnson would end Feb. 9, when a new one was selected.-Don Schwartz bought Nielson Motor Co., Luck.-The Polk County Draft Board made no February calls.-Thieves visited schools at Osceola and Dresser.-A fish and shrimp fry was held every Friday at Oak Grove, Webster, at a charge of $1.25.-Valentine specials at the Frederic beauty shop were a $20 permanent wave for $12.95, a $15 permanent wave at $9.95, a $12.95 permanent wave at $8.95 and a $10.50 permanent wave at $7.50.-The film “Murderous Row” was playing at the Auditorium Theatre, St. Croix Falls, starring Dean Martin and Ann Margret.-Amery Federal Savings and Loan Association marked its 31st year. The president and director was F.H. Scholl. Other officers were Ed Hillestad, Ralph Pennington, F.A. Sylvester, Theatre Isaacson, R.M. Houger, Reuben Christensen and Harry Pomeroy.-Paul Giel, WCCO sports director, was invited to speak at the Siren Athletes Banquet on April 1.

20 Years Ago

Obituaries included Arnold Stanson, John Oiyotte, Adelle Hughes, Virginia Schmieg, Anna Stellrecht and Bennie Anderson.-Readers were asked to vote for the Danbury design to be used as the emblem for the Danbury Diamond Anniversary.-Chairman Iver Jorgeson was unopposed as chairman of Laketown Township.-Salvage work began at the Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church following its fire.-Candidates for Miss Luck were Lisa Berg, Dawn Holdt, Michelle Bolleau, Polly Dawd, Mae Johansen, Becky Coen, Laurie Lindell and Jennifer Hendricks.-It was moving day at the Leader with the five-unit Harris press ready for production Monday in its new location.-Obituaries included Harry Hansen, Arthur Gilhoi, Clara Hanson, Christine Delin, Robert Mathias and Maurice Hanson.-Work continued on the West Denmark Lutheran Church.-Postmaster Jane Wilcox retired Feb. 2, after 40 years of service in the Siren post office.-Roger Danielson declined nomination as a candidate for re-election as chairman in the Town of Trade Lake.-Webster Lionesses honored outstanding members Shirley Heath and Sharon McNeal.-Burnett County highway commissioner, Ed Strese, retired after serving 39 years with the county’s highway department.

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Chill out on global warming Global warming is a hoax?

“Global Warming, as we think we know it, doesn’t exist,” wrote Timothy Ball, in a Canadian newspaper.

Dr. Ball is the first Canadian ever to earn a Ph.D. in climatology, and is a retired professor of climatology at the University of Winnipeg, where he taught for 29 years. He authored the book “Eighteenth Century Naturalists of Hudson Bay,” and is a founding member of the Friends of Science.

In an exclusive interview with the Inter-County Leader, from his home in Canada, Dr. Ball explained his alternative views on manmade global warming.

“Believe it or not, Global Warming is not due to human contribution of Carbon Dioxide (CO2),” he wrote. “This in fact is the greatest deception in the history of science.”

And with that recent challenge, the debate on global warming got hotter.

And Dr. Ball’s name shot around the world in searing controversy.

Global warming: True or false?

People are sounding alarms about global warming: famous scientists, former vice presidents, Hollywood actors, local columnists.

We all want to know if the hoopla is true or false—or is it something in-between. Is it manmade doom for all mankind? Or is it something naturally occurring, something we don’t need to get all fired up about?

“Let me stress,” Dr. Ball wrote. “I am not denying the phenomenon (global warming) has occurred.” Our climate is always changing. And global warming is for real, he said. But it is not like the hysterical hype being shouted by extreme-environmental activists today.

Indeed, the Earth has warmed and cooled naturally for eons. Remember the dinosaurs? They roamed the Earth when it was hot and steamy. Remember how the first people got to Wisconsin?

They bundled up and walked across the Bering Straight during the Ice Age. The Earth has warmed and cooled countless times since God put his finish-

ing touches on creation.

Today’s global warming is just nature taking her natural course, again.

Carbon dioxide is our friend A lot of scientists and politicians say manmade CO2 is the nasty culprit global causing warming. They say car and factory pollution is the major Wayne Anderson cause of CO2. And they put any greenhouse effect right in man’s lap. Dr. Ball, and other renowned scientists, say man is unfairly in the hot seat regarding CO2.

In fact, CO2 is our friend.

“CO2 is absolutely essential to life on Earth,” said Dr. Ball.

“In fact, it’s more essential to life than oxygen is, because without CO2 the plants die—and without the plants there is no oxygen.”

Listening to the debate on global warming, you’d think evil man was the major creator of CO2. Not so: Mother Nature is.

Most of our CO2 comes from a variety of natural sources: organic matter, volcanoes, microorganisms, the oceans.

And if you take all the CO2 in the atmosphere, only 0.5 percent is manmade, said Dr. Ball.

What? Man is only responsible for a teeny 0.5 percent of all the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere! And we are being blamed for all the global warming?

“It is unbelievable rubbish,” said Dr. Ball.

WRITE from West Sweden

Global warming versus global cooling Remember global cooling? It was the scientific fad in the –’70s. Newsweek

Magazine did a historic story in 1975, telling us of the “ominous signs that the earth’s weather patterns have begun to change dramatically,” and the impending “drastic decline in food production.”

Great reporting—too bad none of it proved true.

It is true that temperatures did decline from 1940 to 1980, said Dr. Ball. So we did have a little global cooling then. But “by the 1990’s temperatures appeared to have reversed,” he said. So now we’re having a little global warming. It’s the natural cycle of climate change.

And the cycle keeps cycling. “The global temperature trends now indicate a cooling,” said Dr. Ball.

“The Russians and the Chinese who I worked with…are predicting we are going to be in a mini ice age by the year 2030,” said Dr. Ball. “The world’s preparing for warming, and it’s cooling.

In other words, we’re going exactly in the wrong direction.”

Stop the voices There are renowned scientists on both sides of this debate. Some like it hot, some don’t. But what’s really alarming about this debate is the censorship. If you like it hot, you’re cool. If not, you’re fired.

The governor of Oregon wants to fire the “state climatologist” because he thinks global warming is “a result of natural variations.” That kind of thinking is not politically correct. So he’s burned at the stake.

I spoke with Jeff Jacoby, op-ed columnist for the Boston Globe. He’s taking fire now. He had the gall to write a column called: Chicken Little and global warming.

You remember Chicken Little, who ran around yelling, “The sky is falling!”

Turns out, it never did.

What Jacoby did do was take an honest, well-researched look at alternativescientific views on global warming. “A journalist’s job is to check it out,” he said.

He checked it out, wrote his Feb. 9 piece, and all hell broke lose.

He immediately took fire from his distinguished colleague, Ellen Goodman.

She denounced him—and others like him.

“Let’s just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers,” she wrote.

“I’m a friend of a Holocaust survivor,” Jacoby said. “Reckless comparisons to Holocaust deniers are shameful.”

It’s a war It’s a war out there with global warming.

“You know somebody asked me when global warming became a battle in the culture wars?” he pondered. “My answer was, when people on one side began to try to silence opinions on the other side, not really to disagree with them or argue with them—but to silence them.”

Those who have the power and want the purse demand silence from the opposition.

“There are an awful lot of people who have a great deal invested in not only the belief that global warming is taking place, but that it is caused by the sins of mankind,” Jacoby said.

There’s a lot of money in globalwarming research. There are lots of votes to be had standing on a politically correct platform. Money and power: the eternal couple.

I’m no scientist. I don’t know for certain if manmade global warming is fact or farce. Either way I won’t stop being environmentally friendly. I will keep using efficient lightbulbs and consider buying a hybrid car. I even want to put a person on Mars. Doing the right thing for its own sake is right.

I’m a journalist. What I do know is I fear censorship. I do know political correctness has run amok. And when politics takes control of science, global warming is the least of all our worries. …

You can like it hot or cold with Wayne Anderson at: wayneanderson@centurytel.net.

Burnett Community Library The Burnett Community Library is recruiting persons who would like to join the Friends of the Library group. They meet at 9 a.m. the second Thursday of the month beginning again in April. The Friends explore fundraising for the library several months of the year, except during the winter.

Who are the Friends anyway? They are residents of Burnett County, or visitors to the area who have varied interests, but who share a common love of books and libraries. They are men and women who enjoy promoting and supporting the library by working to make it the best it can be. Financial support

memberships are available for those interested in providing only financial support.

What do the Friends do for the library?

They raise funds for the Burnett Community Library to purchase books, equipment and materials not available through the regular library budget.

Fundraising activities include organizing book sales, hosting an annual literary luncheon for the community and more. The group has raised money toward our projected library addition. We are still in need of a lot more money for the building project, so a number of fundraising events will need to be

planned, thus the Friends need more people to help. In April, a fundraiser breakfast will be held at the Moose Lodge on a Sunday morning from 8 a.m. until noon. If there are any questions or you would like to join the group, please call the library at 715-866-7697. We are open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Books in print – on order: “Sisters” by Danielle Steele, “Plum Lovin’” by Janet Evanovich, “Obsession” by Jonathan Kellerman, “Pursuit of Happiness” by Chris Gardner, “Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards, “Family

Bake sale at bank Customers at the U.S. Bank and Bremer Bank were greeted by tables of chocolate dainties prepared for sale by the Siren Covenant Women. Many local and church organizations benefit from the proceeds of funds raised by this group. Pictured are Leona Wilkie and Gerlyn Erichsen. – Photo submitted

Tree” by Barbara Delinsky, “Natural Born Charmer” by Susan E. Phillips, “High Profile” by Robert Parker, “Alexandria Link” by Steve Barry, “I’ve Heard That Song Before” by Mary Higgins Clark and one by Clark titled “Ghost Ship” for ages 6-10. This is the first juvenile book Mary Higgins Clark has ever written.

Books on back order are: “Wild Fire”

by Nelson DeMille, “Sun Kissed” by Catherine Anderson, “Obsession” by Karen Robards (available in April), and “Everybody’s Normal ‘Til You Get To Know Them” by John Ortberg.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 7

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Engagement

Happy Tails Await

Wickstrom/Shaffer Barry and Debbie Wickstrom of Cumberland would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jamie Lee to Jamie Ryan Shaffer, son of Dave and Debi Stouffer, of Cumberland. Jamie Lee currently teaches first grade in Punta Gorda, Fla., and Jamie Ryan is working at Mission Valley Country Club in Venice, Fla. A March 31 wedding is being planned with a sunset ceremony on Casperson Beach in Venice, Fla. - submitted

Siren Senior Center

349-7249

Barb Munger

Sorry folks, I promised you a rest for a few weeks, but certain people from the center informed me that they wanted to be heard from, so I am back.

Well, not really back physically, but in word. Actually I am down in not-so-warm Texas, but still better than what you have up there. After arriving in Blackwell, Okla., the first morning, the weather report announced that the schools would be closed as it was 28 degrees (above zero). See what hardy folks we are from up north?

It has been chilly all week in Dallas but it promises to be nicer next week and maybe we will get a few rounds of golf in before we head north again.

Now to the local news: Twenty-six people joined the Siren 500 card players on Wednesday. The winners were, Arvid Pearson, Anka Oleson, Gerry Vogel and Dorothy Cronquist. We had the pleasure of two new players, Lorraine Van Gilder and Dr. Neil Olson. Marjorie Nyberg treated the players to gingerbread cake.

Winners at Spades on Friday were Anka Oleson, Gerry Vogel, Arvid Pearson and Dwaine Bentley. I understand they had a feast of treats as Marjorie Nyberg brought a cake; and anonymous angel, chocolate bars; Inez Pearson, cheese and crackers and Marie Bentley, cookies.

Thanks everybody! They also had 26 peo-

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ple that turned out and they had the pleasure of meeting Jim Bly’s granddaughter and Ella, who is Anka Oleson’s mother, who joined in. Remember we play cards every Wednesday and Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

Our fourth-graders will be visiting on Monday, Feb. 26, at 12:15 p.m., so all you senior friends put that on your calendar.

We want to thank our friends for the nice Valentines that they made, and Donna Tjader delivered to the center for their senior friends. We will be discussing the agenda for the trip to the Cities that the children are treating us to see the play “Huck Finn” on March 15.

The Dining at Five dinner will be held on March 1. Shirley is serving corned beef and cabbage and all the fixings. You may call 715-349-7249 and make reservations or stop in and sign up.

The volunteer tax preparers will be at the center every first and third Thursday of the month until April. It is on a first-come, firstserve basis, beginning at 1 p.m.

Three bags of instructions for canvas needlepoint have been donated to the center. If anyone out there is interested, please stop in and help yourself.

Dime-bingo is played every Tuesday at 1 p.m., so bring your dimes and come and have some fun.

Siren

Sounds like spring might be right around the corner, at least according to the TV weathermen. Our weather is supposed to be warm enough this weekend and next that it can melt what little snow we now have. We might just as well start thinking about what to plant in our gardens instead of any winter projects or activities. This warm weather just might bring out those big black critters into our bird feeders a little earlier this year.

Hope for a cure. The Northwoods Crossing Events Center will host Longaberger Basket Bingo on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m., but the doors will open at noon. Tickets are $20, with special bingo and raffles extra.

Tickets are available at the Burnett County Sentinel or pick them up at the door. Monies raised will be donated to the American Cancer Society for the Burnett County Relay for Life. For more info call 715-463-2344. This event is sponsored by the Burnett County Sentinel and the Pink Ladies.

Sympathy to the family of Vernon Friberg who passed away Feb. 6.

Bev Beckmark

The Splash from the Past water skip and radar run will be held on Sat., Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Yellow Lake. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the gate. Racers can register on Feb. 24, at 7 a.m. at the Yellow Lake Bridge at the Lodge.

Congratulations to sixth-grader Michael Conrow and eighth-grader Jessica Joy Morris for being chosen Siren Schools students of the week.

Don’t forget this weekend is the Cream of the Crop of Fishing Contest. The Siren Lions is holding it on the Clam Lake Narrows Saturday, Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a lot of activity going that day as well as many, many great prizes to be won. So come on out and enjoy the day and maybe even win a prize or two.

Art and Bev Beckmark spent Saturday evening in Chetek at the birthday party for their great-granddaughter, Emily Taft. She just turned 1 year old on Feb. 19.

The Siren Methodist Church congregation enjoyed a potato bake dinner Sunday after service put on by the U.M.W. ladies.

Nelson is a 1-year-old, neutered male with a soft gray tabby and white coat. Nelson is a character, playful and handsome. He has a big purr that settles in when you can get him to stay in one place.

February is spay and neuter month.

There are many ways you can contribute to this effort, starting with spaying and neutering your own pet.

It is hard to believe that in this enlightened age, many people still are ignorant about the value of spaying and neutering their pets. They are sometimes under the misconception that their pet needs to have one litter before spaying her. There are no medical facts to support this thinking. In fact, early spaying will eliminate the risk of uterine and ovary cancer and spare you the agony of “heat-cycle mania.”

If you want your kids to witness the miracle of birth, rent a video. Just one cat can produce 420,000 cats in seven years. The result of not spaying or neutering is the overwhelming petoverpopulation problem facing humane societies across the nation.

Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized each year due to a lack of good homes. People think that because they are able to find good homes for their pet’s babies, they are not contributing to the problem. Not true.

Those placed puppies and kittens will Hello, Fritz here! Aroooo, what an exciting week! No sooner had I wagged the last of the bulldog puppies out the door when another litter arrived! Although this time they brought their mom with them. Honey, the mom is a medium-sized, yellowLab mix, probably about 4 years old.

Her seven puppies are tiny, black-andwhite newborns, just a few inches long. Honey is thankful for the safe, warm bed and food the angels gave her here so she can take good care of her pups.

Valentine joined us last week too, she’s a golden-retriever mix, about 2 years old. The guardian angels who brought her in said someone pushed her out of a truck at the Grantsburg grocery store and drove away! How could a human be so mean, especially when Valentine is such a sweetheart?

She was understandably upset but I told her only the nicest humans come here to adopt, and that she’d soon have a better home.

Speaking of nice humans, here’s a happy tail worth sharing! The angels told me about Jaden Cook who had

Nelson perpetuate the problem in their new home. For every kitten placed in a good home, another cat loses its life in a shelter or pound.

It can be hard to find the extra funds required for this needed surgery. The cost of everything seems to be on the rise these days. Consider it your contribution to a humanitarian cause in your community. Heat cycles continue with unwavering regularity. To put off that spay or neuter to another day will undoubtedly lead to another litter of unwanted pups. February is spay and neuter month.

Arnell Memorial Humane Society, 85 Griffin St. E, Amery 715-268-7387 or visit our adoptable pets online: www.amhs.petfinder.com her 11th birthday recently. She celebrated by giving a piano recital but instead of gifts for herself, she asked people to donate money for the shelter!

Arooooo, Fritz three tail wags and a round of slobber NEWS FROM kisses for Jaden!

Woof, I’m so fired up about this wonderful young girl I almost forgot the rest of the news here!

Travis is a young, black-and-white terrier mix that joined us recently. The angels all want to take him home with them, he’s such a doll. They say he looks just like a terrier but might end up a medium-sized dog. My old friends Ralph, Sheba, Snoopy and Jackson are still here with me, too.

They all say hello and that you should come visit! Have a great week and enjoy the warmer weather.

With your help HSBC is saving lives, one at a time. www.hsburnettcty.org

YOUR SHELTER

St. Croix Valley Senior Center February 15 was our general meeting and potluck lunch. We were entertained before and after lunch by the Scandia Community Band. Very good dance music and Janice Mevissen led us in the singalong. It was a fun time.

The Tuesday afternoon domino winners were: Janice Mevissen in first place, Martha Lundstrom in second place, Deloris Benson in third place. 500 card winners were: Jim Anderson in first place, Ron Flostrand in second place, Muriel Randelin in third place and Vern Lundstrom in fourth place.

Tuesday evening we had a Valentine potluck with games following. A great time was had by all.

Dottie Adams

Practices to good-heart living are: Kindness: as an antidote for mean-spiritedness.

Do the small things that can make another person’s life a little easier. Forgiveness: as an antidote for anger. Let go of old grudges and resentments; release the anger; be forgiving. Chocolate: as the symbolic antidote for restoring joy, leisure, pleasure and sweetness to life. Engage in playfulness and relax. Each of these counteracts stress and opens you up to more laughter.

Thursday evening card winners were: Lonnie Jones in first place, Bob Norlander in second place, Cliff Qualle in third place and Olga Young in fourth place.

Have a great day!

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Lewis

653-4281 LaVerne Leep joined family members on Friday at the home of Jenny and Krist Midbrod at Somerset to celebrate the fifth birthday of son, Ethan. It was complete with helium balloons and trick candles that refused to go out.

The choir sang a special number during Sunday’s service with singers wearing special hats. It was also Mission Sunday so an extra collection was accepted along with the regular Sunday collection. Cupboard cookies and coffee were enjoyed.

Quite a few Lewis church members attended the Sunday potato bake at their sister church, the Siren UM church. Kerry Brendel was liturgist at Sunday’s service at Lewis.

Robin Peterson was the hostess at last Wednesday’s UMW meeting at church. The group, once again, decided to pay for four bunches of daffodils for daffodil Sunday.

JoAnn Gibbs is, once again, in charge of daffodil orders

and a sign-up sheet is in the church dining room.

The group also decided to earmark the March special gift to purchase much-needed supplies for the church kitchen, etc.

Since President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12, and President George Washington’s birthday were combined, Monday was officially Presidents Day, a legal holiday. Did you forget and go to the mailbox anyway?

(Disappointed huh?) Tuesday was a heavy mail day then.

The Lenten season it fast approaching, which means a heavy and meaningful schedule for pastors and parishioners. Watch for future schedules with extra speakers.

Best wishes to Mabel Sutton and Dorothy Golckzin at the Frederic Care Center. Dorothy has been undergoing therapy and expects to return home this week. Mary Ulick has been a longtime resident there.

June Moline of Capeside Cove is back in the hospital at

Bernice Abrahamzon Grantsburg. Best wishes to her. Hello, too, to Emma Jensen at Capeside.

Esther Schallenberger of Golden Oaks, accompanied her son, Lloyd, and his sister on a trip to Mississippi, returning last week. She met a grandson, Lloyd IV, and a granddaughter, Ashton, down there.

Get-well wishes to Terri Pearson who underwent a medical procedure Friday at Regions Hospital. Wishing her a good recovery.

Special prayers for Kathy Krantz out Indian Creek way, who is facing a medical problem.

Sheila Staples and Rick Abrahamzon went to Hutchinson, Minn., on Sunday for a special bird show.

No school last Thursday afternoon, Friday or Monday for Siren due to special events scheduling.

Not much news is still not much news.

Webster Senior Center There was a lot of activity at our center this week with the daily nutrition meals, pool and cards. On Wednesday, Burnett County Aging Director Lois Taylor and Nutritionist Sara Frye met with members of the county nutrition project council at the Webster senior site, with those attending were Eldora Brown, Mert Kisselburg, Mary Klar, Betty Trudeau, Dee Trautman, Jerry Oachs, Cora DeJong, Helen Johnson and Ann Kallman. Our site manager/cook, Deb, furnished homemade cinnamon and caramel rolls that everyone enjoyed with their coffee and juice.

Deb also prepared a roast turkey, pork and ham dinner with cherry cheesecake for dessert that was enjoyed by 37 diners at the party. Deb also gave out prizes for those dressed in Valentine’s Day attire.

There were 14 dime bingo players after lunch and they all enjoyed a variety of tasty goodies, too. Fay Russ informed us after dime bingo that she had her first greatgrandson born earlier in the day to her granddaughter, Melodie Sears, in Houston, Texas. Congratulations Grandma Faye!

On Thursday morning I drove to St. Paul, Minn., and my daughter, Connie Geiger, and I comparison shopped at 10 business places, looking for area rugs for my new wood floors. We enjoyed eating lunch at the Wild Onion Restaurant, St. Paul. On Friday we went back and I bought four rugs from just two places, and my aching back and legs made me wish I could have made up my mind the day before. We then enjoyed eating lunch at Moose County in Lilydale, Minn. Unusual names for restaurants, but the food was delicious. Elden was enjoying the peace and quiet at home where he was watched over by daughter Heather.

The Webster Lioness Club met at the Webster Community Center on Thursday evening for snacks and refreshments and held their monthly meeting. LeeAnn Mulroy and another representative from the Safe and Stable Families program were there with a presentation, and the Lioness Club donated $600 to this very worthy cause. They

468-2520

also voted to donate $500 to the Webster Senior Center to be used towards their project of stripping, sandblasting and sealing the exterior of the building. The senior center is hoping that others will donate towards this project since it will cost the seniors in excess of $2,000.

The Webster Senior Center lunch and bingo party was well attended on Saturday afternoon with 44 people attending. They all enjoyed the lunch and everyone went home with a prize, and some luckier ones with more than one. We were very appreciative of having Jerry Vogel be the bingo caller.

Dr. John and Tammy Ingalls were presented with a pink rose on Sunday morning at First Baptist Church, Webster, in honor of granddaughter Ella Bonny Jacobs born on Feb. 15, to their daughter Leah and John Jacobs of Eden Prairie, Minn. Ella weighed in at 7 lbs., 6 oz. and just missed being a Valentine’s Day baby by 40 minutes. Congratulations Grandpa and Grandma!

Don’t forget, red hatters, that the next Ravishing Rubies Red Hat Luncheon will be held at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the Wild Waters Sports Bar & Restaurant, Main Street, Danbury. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Lucille Chelmo, our leap-year baby, in your purple birthday hat.

Our gratitide is extended to Gladys Beers for donating candy for the Valentine’s Day party; and Don and Abby Brand and the Siren Senior Center for coming to our rescue to complete in two weeks time (69 hours total) a very difficult puzzle, a photo mosaic by Robert Silvers entitled Christ From Dead Sea Scroll. This puzzle has been in the process of being worked on for more than four years, and was a gift to Margel Ruck from her daughter Lynn and husband Jim Shaw of Geneseo, Ill. Won’t they be surprised!

Our get-well wishes and prayers continue to go out to Patty McLaird, Kathy Beyer, Abby Brand, Mary Heier, Bill Foote, Millie Hopkins, Ray Hammerschmidt, Arlene Clendening, Norma Martin, Arvilla Voltattorni and Charlie Smith.

Dewey - LaFollette

Hank and Karen Mangelsen visited Marlene Swearingen Wednesday afternoon. Later they called on Sue and Roger Mrosyak.

Donna and Gerry Hines returned Wednesday from Vadnais Heights, Minn., where they visited their daughter, Brenda and Tim Sweet and family for several days.

Marlene Swearingen went out to eat with Lida and Don Nordquist Wednesday evening. Later they played some cribbage and Marlene stayed overnight.

Judy Albee was a Saturday supper guest of Beverly Brunclik.

Karen and Hank Mangelsen hosted a family get-together Saturday to help Larry Mangelsen celebrate his

Karen Mangelsen

birthday. Sunday afternoon they family members gathered at the home of Jake and Holly Mangelsen to help their daughter, Hannah, celebrate her sixth birthday.

Jim Toll called on Judy Albee Sunday afternoon.

Judy Albee visited Mike, Jeanne and Helen Taczala Sunday evening.

Remember to check out Acorn Pantry at The Shops at the Lodge in Siren this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23, 24 and 25. It’s the grand reopening under new owners, Holly and Jake Mangelsen. There will be specials and prizes each day.

I’ll never forget Snoopy - the stuffed toy that one of my daughters received when she was a very small child.

Snoopy was her most precious possession. She had other toys that cost much more, but none was more greatly loved. Snoopy was hugged and dragged everywhere, and in time he became incredibly dirty. Cleaning was a major problem because the stuffing would come out and he would be restuffed and sewed up. In the end he became a bundle of tacky, dirty rags, but how he was loved! We tried to replace him, but a new Snoopy was just not the same and was abandoned. We are God’s “rag toy.” Although we have been dirtied and damaged by sin, to him we are precious beyond measure. When we put our faith in Christ as our savior, he looks at us and says, “You’re Mine!” - “I love to dwell upon the thought that Jesus cares for me; it matters not what life may bring - he loves me tenderly.”-Adams. “We are loved, and he will never let us go.” - Romans 8:35-39. See you at the center!

Fran Krause

Orange

LaVonne O’Brien

On Thursday, Jack and Jeri Witzany witnessed their son, Mike, being sworn in for his law license by a Minnesota State Supreme Court judge in St. Paul, Minn. They also spent Friday with Mike, and then they visited Patty and Mike Kringen and family at Big Lake over the weekend.

Ethel Daniels and Ellen Hartshorn had lunch with Maxine and Helen Stone last Monday. On Tuesday they visited Iola Rachner and John Nagy. Kent Krause visited Maxine on Wednesday.

John and Reeny Neinstadt visited Bud and Betty Flagstad Saturday. The men attended the gun show in Minneapolis, Minn.

Mark and Deanna Krause watched the Wisconsin Badgers BB team play the Minnesota Gophers at The Barn Wed. evening.

Kathryn and Bryan Krause were among the Baptist SIGN youth group that attended a Christian Youth Conference at the Target Center Friday night through Saturday.

Allyson Krause was home from UW Stevens Point for the weekend. She attended a freinds going away party and had lunch with Grandma Fran on Sunday.

The Orange 4-H Club had their monthly project meeting Wednesday at Webster Elementary.

Fran Krause attended the Sarah Circle at Bethany Lutheran Wednesday afternoon with Hazel Keppen as hostess.

Frederic Senior Center

Ardyce Knauber

Luck Senior Center Winners of the Luck Winter Carnival raffle were: first place – Elliot Olsen, $50; second place – Shirley Lund, $25.

Mary Klar

The center served roast beef sandwiches, ice cream, coffee and pop. We did a pretty good business considering we did not have the roast beef sandwiches advertised in the newspaper ad. The bright-colored posters did the trick. Our appreciation to all who donated pies and worked.

Wouldn’t have been so successful without you.

Don’t forget and please come to our monthly potluck on Saturday, Feb. 24, at noon. Salle Bachmann, RN, and Marcia Spies, LPN, will be our guest speakers. They will be talking about foot and nail care. They will answer any questions you have. They will also tell about weekly clinics and home appointments. This should be a very informative meeting. Please come and bring a dish to pass. It’s nice and warm inside the Luck Senior Center! All seniors welcome.

The winter is getting milder and Saturday we had a good number out for our Saturday birthday and share-a-lunch.

Everyone enjoyed playing bingo, cards and our afternoon birthday cake along with other goodies.

Monday spade winners were: Jim Bly in first place, Clifford Potter in second place, Vi Luke in third place and Bob Larsen in fourth place.

Wednesday pokeno players, as always, had a good time starting at 1 p.m.

Thursday, certified nurse providers did foot and nail care.

Their business is called Feet First Inc. Those who participated were very happy with the results. They will be at our center on March 22, at 9 a.m. Contact Trudy McClintock, R.N. at 715-327-4423 for any questions.

500 cards were played on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

The winners were: Jim Bly in first place, Arvid Pearson in second place, Don Wick in third place and Inez Pearson in fourth place.

Friday pokeno was played.

We wish to express our sympathy to the family of Vernon Friberg. Vernon enjoyed coming to the center for our Saturday dinners and we enjoyed having him.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 9

Frederic 1907

Postcards were two for 25 cents – you could purchase them from the Star office. Scheldrup & Olson advertised in their weekly ad “Do You Drink Coffee?”

Mr. G. Power gave demonstrations on the coffee. The four kinds of coffee featured were: Palace Ankola, Palace Frence Cup, Palace Crowned and Palace Holland, from Palace Teas and Coffees of St. Paul, Minn. The company, one of the largest and oldest importers and guaranteed to comply with not only the National Pure Food and Drug Law, but also with the minor laws of all states.

Auctions were quite popular – one such auction was for two days. Dr. F. Gust Barck, Prop. was selling his two homes, etc., under casual terms: Free lunch and refreshments both days. A farewell speech last day. Mattson was the auctioneer.

The Big Cash Store (Perra & Cruzen) from their ad were featuring ladies coat prices from $4.98 to $48.50, childrens: 98 cents to $8.50. Manufacturer of the coat was non-equal Garments of Milwaukee.

W.L. Mumford has been hired by the month to work for Gilliskii & Nelson, and took possession of the L. Sund Shop Tuesday. He will do all the blacksmithing for that logging concern this winter.

The residence near the Heading Mill, occupied by M. M. Potter, was somewhat damaged by lightning last Wednesday evening. We understand Mrs. Potter was thrown from her chair, but beyond a shock, was not injured.

The culverts for the Coon Lake Dam arrived last weekend and are being put into place.

The baseball team will give a big dance in the village hall, Saturday evening, Sept. 28. Music by Trudeau’s Orchestra, proceeds for the benefit of

the team.

It will be the same tomorrow as it is today, and the next month as it was yesterday, always good. market day was always held on Mondays.

Auctioneer’s Betty services free. CommitFenton tee: Dr. F. H. Turner, G.H. Marsden and HISTORICAL Morris E. Yager.

The digging of the VIGNETTES water works is now being done by the day. Mr. Gifford has quite a number of the pipes laid, ready to cover.

A dance will be given in Svea Hall at West Sweden, Saturday, Oct. 5, to celebrate the close of the threshing season.

All are invited.

C.A. Carlson has taken the contract to install a complete system of hot-water heating in the First National Bank building. An expert is here from the city this week taking out the old hot-air furnace preparatory to installing the new system.

Lightning struck D.P. Butt’s house a week ago. Mr. Butts estimated the loss at $7.

The First National Bank of Frederic will award prizes for the best corn exhibits at the bank. Contest is open to all farmers of Polk and Burnett counties.

Watch for rules of contest next week.

For second-degree manslaughter, you were sent to the state penitentiary at Waupan to serve four years of hard labor.

Potatoes brought into the Star weighed 1-3/4 lb. each. They were raised north of the village on H.W. Coburn’s land. Miss Maesel Wagner has been engaged to teach the school recently made vacant by Mrs. Van Valken-

Carlson home burgh’s resignation. Mrs. Van Valendburg has taken Miss Newman’s place.

Miss Stella Newman took over the position of Mr. F.J. Curtiss who resigned.

Lindhart & Skillman will be in town with their gasoline saw rig the latter part of the week. If you have wood which you want sawed, it will pay to see them. The North Star Rebekah Lodge No. 203 will observe their second anniversary on Friday evening by giving an oyster supper and dance at Odd Fellows Hall. The Royal Neighbors will give a series of card parties every third Wednesday evening of each month during the winter season at their camp rooms. Prizes will be given and a small charge will be made for lunch.

Soo Line, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railways is offering a coupon money book worth $60, to be used for fare on trains at 2 cents a mile, sleeping or parlor cars. In dining car, excess baggage and baggage storage. On sale at all ticket offices on the Soo Line.

New Year’s Ball was held at the village hall, given by the Frederic Glee Club, with songs during the intermission. Turkey and goose supper at the Frederic Hotel.

The postmaster and the rural carriers are wearing uniforms.

The large body of ice in the flowage of the dam, between here and Nevers moved out the past week, without doing any damage. Two gates at the Nevers Dam gave way Friday, and it was thought that it might cause trouble, but the water was high. All gates had to be opened. The ice moved out slowly and was several days breaking up, so the channel was not clear until Monday.

A crew of men were on hand to keep logs, ice, etc., on the move and to keep any damage from being done to the power house. – from Betty Fenton, Director of Public Relations, Frederic Area Historical Society

Births

Robert Walker and Heather Gaylord of St. Croix Falls proudly announce the arrival home of Jack Tezazu Walker, born July 14, 2007, in Hosanna, Ethiopia. Jack joined his siblings, Sarah, David and Lauren on Feb. 10, 2007.

••• Born at St. Croix Regional Medical Center: A girl, Gabriella Star Pecore, born Jan. 8, 2007, to Patricia and Matthew Pecore, Centuria. Gabriella weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A boy, Thomas Warren Fuglsang, born Jan. 9, 2006, to Tonya and Brian Fuglsang, Dresser. Thomas weighed 6 lbs., 13 oz.

••• A boy, Nelson David Wilcox, born Jan. 11, 2007, to Joseph and Brooke Wilcox, Amery. Nelson weighed 5 lbs., 13 oz.

••• A boy, Isaiah David Engstrand, born Jan. 13, 2007, to David and Michelle Engstrand, Grantsburg. Isaiah weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz.

••• A boy, born Jan. 16, 2007, to Nicholas and Leah Steek, St. Croix Falls. Baby boy weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz.

••• A girl, Lillian Rose Anderson, born Jan. 16, 2007, to Tom and Kari Anderson, Luck. Lillian weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz.

•••

A girl, Liddy MacKenna Kabat, born Jan. 18, 2007, to Dionne and Robert Kabat, Shafer, Minn. Liddy weighed 8 lbs, 9 oz.

••• A girl, Catilin Rosa Marie Flores Pastrana, born Jan. 18, 2007, to Nicole and Maunzio Flores Pastrana, Osceola.

Catilin weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A boy, Jacob Charles Sinn, born Jan. 23, 2007, to Andrea and Charles Sinn, North Branch, Minn. Jacob weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Jackson Harold O’Geary, born Jan. 24, 2007, to Larry and Marty O’Geary, Centuria. Jackson weighed 7 lbs.

••• A girl, Fiona Faye Adelle Burton, born Jan. 24, 2007, to James and Ashley Burton, Webster. Fiona weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A girl, Mary Margaret Burns, born Jan. 24, 2007, to Bernadette and William Burns, Luck. Mary weighed 8 lbs., 7 oz.

••• A girl, Payton Kay Doornink, born Jan. 25, 2007, to Chad and Jennifer Doornink, Grantsburg. Payton weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz.

••• A boy, Stan Thomas Graf, born Jan. 26, 2007, to Dustin Graf and Melissa Ash, Amery. Sean weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz.

••• A girl, Kylie Lorraine Van Vleet, born Jan. 30, 2007, to Denise Biedler and Brian Van Vleet, St. Croix Falls. Kylie weighed 9 lbs., 7 oz.

••• A boy, Micah Riley Harrison, born Jan. 31, 2007, to Jamie Mosay and Michael Harrison, Frederic. Micah weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz.

••• A boy, Andrew Thomas Sanders, born Jan. 31, 2007, to David Sanders and Mindy Juleen, Luck. Andrew weighed 6 lbs., 5 oz.

•••

A girl, Carli Christine Linngren, born Jan. 31, 2007, to Angela and Jason Linngren, Taylors Falls, Minn. Carli weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz.

••• A girl, Kaylee Elizabeth Burstad, born Feb. 2, 2007, to Patrick and Alycia Burstad, Amery. Kaylee weighed 8 lbs., 14 oz.

••• A boy, Anders Lewis Waterworth, born Feb. 2, 2007, to Nathan and Leanne Waterworth, Osceola. Anders weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz.

••• A boy, Hunter Steven Carlson, born Feb. 2, 2007, to Jamie and Craig Carlson, Milltown. Hunter weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Matthew Christopher Phelps, born Feb. 3, 2007, to Christopher and Meghan Phelps, Center City, Minn.

Matthew weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Liam Daniel Swenson, born Feb. 5, 2007, to Brandon and Lydia Swenson, Dresser. Liam weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz.

••• A girl, Kaitlin Pearl Carlson, born Feb. 5, 2007, to Teresa and Curtis Carlson, Chisago City, Minn. Kaitlin weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A girl, Gretchen Schaffer, born Feb. 7, 2007, to David and Monique Schaffer, Comstock. Gretchen weighed 5 lbs., 15 oz.

••• A boy, Dylan James Reed, born Feb. 7.

2007, to Robin Kelly and Adam Reed, St. Croix Falls. Dylan weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz.

••• A girl, Ann Lynn Gould, born Feb. 8, 2007, to Kim and Josh Gould, Amery.

Ann weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz.

••• A boy, Evan Donald White, born Feb. 11, 2007, to Kristin Jensen and Jason White, Luck. Evan weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz.

•••

A boy, Theodore Joseph Severance, born Feb. 11, 2007, to Denise Wojciechowski and Joe Severance, St. Croix Falls. Theodore weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A boy, Logan Douglas Bender, born Feb. 12, 2007, to Tanika and Larry Bender, Shafer, Minn. Logan weighed 6 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Kaden Michael HallgrenDraves, born Feb. 13, 2007, to Kathryn Hallgren and Josiah Draves, Eureka.

Kaden weighed 9 lbs., 1 oz.

•••

The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

Engagement Brua/Nagel Pete and Colleen Forster of Balsam Lake and Jack and Dee Brua of Eau Claire and Elmer and Deb Nagel of Luck and Cathy and Dan Larson of Bloomington, Minn., are proud to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Ashley Brua and Kirk Nagel.

Ashley graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in education and is presently employed as a teacher.

Kirk is employed at Shafer Contracting.

The couple resides in Milltown.

A March 31 wedding is planned at Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake.

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Dresser Public Library Dresser Public Library is located at 117 S. Central Ave., Dresser, WI 54009. The Dresser Public Library Board of Trustees holds its monthly meeting on the last Monday of each month at 6 p.m.

Library hours Monday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday noon–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–noon and 1–7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Federal income tax forms are available at the library. The Internet is a great source for downloading additional forms you need for only 5 cents per copy!

Three Internet computers: You must physically present a MORE library card to library staff and library fines must be under $10 to use a computer.

begin at 10:30 a.m. Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays, crafts and more!

Focus on: “Driver-Zed” is a CD produced by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Targeting teen drivers, this interactive risk-management training program helps young adults manage the risks and master the road. Fasten your seat belts for a fun ride!

Contact the library at 715-755-2944 which is our telephone and FAX number e-mail us at or www.dresserpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Our Web site, www.dresserpubliclibrary.org. also has information about story times, days closed, reference links, library policy and much more.

Story time Lapsitter and preschool story times

Amery Public Library Library notes: The Friends of the Library Book sale will be held on Feb. 23 and 24 during library hours. If you would like to help at this sale, there is a sign-up sheet at the circulation desk. We need workers for setup on Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Story time will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. Everyone is welcome for songs and stories. The Friends of the Library book group will meet on Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. to discuss “Empire Falls” by Richard Russo.

We have lots of copies of this book, so join us for exciting book talk. The Great Stories book group meets at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 to discuss “The Bean Trees” by Barbara Kingsolver.

The Teens READ book group meets to discuss a science fiction novel called “Archangel Protocol” by Lyda Morehouse on Feb. 26. Join us from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. if you are a teen, for a light snack and book discussion.

The Otaku Club meets every Tuesday to discuss Japanese manga and anime.

Stop in and check out this teen-led group if you are a teen.

Remember that the Amery Public Library has tax forms, Federal, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Stop in and pick up what you need. We are not tax experts, but we will help you find the right form.

The History Group books have arrived, so if you are interested in reading about the Exploration of America in a group led by Professor Herb Cederberg, the group will meet in March, April and May and read three books. Call the Amery Public Library if you are interested in this discussion group at 2689340.

Library hours: Mon. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Centuria Public Library Decadent chocolate It’s always Valentine’s Day if you bake up a recipe made with chocolate. So if you missed Valentine’s Day, here is a great simple recipe to make to impress your significant other or friends with a special treat.

Candy Bar Brownies 1 9” X 13” box brownie mix (any brand will work) 1 container chocolate frosting (any brand will work) 6 Milky Way or Snickers candy bars Mix brownie mix per directions on box - then add three of the candy bars that have been diced into small squares.

Place in 9” X 13” pan and bake as directed. When brownies are cool, spread on chocolate frosting. After frosting has been applied, dropped the remaining three candy bars that have been diced into small squares all over the top of the baked and frosted brownies.

This recipe is rich and begs you to keep eating more. If you like baking, but want simple recipes like the above, come to the Centuria Public Library and check out the book “Brownie Mix Bliss”

by Camilla Saulsbury. This book contains over 175 decadent chocolate recipes that can be made using a basic, purchased brownie mix as the main ingredient.

Helping your child Do you have a second-grader? If you do, maybe you are curious about how he/she is doing in second grade and just what you can do to help you child succeed. An excellent book available at the Centuria Public Library is “How is My Second-Grader Doing in School?” by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and Dottie Raymer. This book is a rich resource which provides a wealth of fresh and simple ideas and activities that parents can use at home to help their child succeed in school. It shares with the reader what to expect your child to learn in second grade along with how to help your child learn. The author of this book gives the following suggestion as a

great math game that can help develop mastery of addition facts. The game is called SUMS. To play the game you need two pair of dice. Give everyone playing the game a piece of paper and have them write down the numbers one to 12. Players take turns rolling the dice. On each turn, the player may cross out either the sum of the dice or any combination of numbers that equals the sum. For example, a player who rolls a three and a four can cross out three and four, or seven, or one and six, or two and five. Each number may only be crossed out once. When a player cannot play, for example, the player has already crossed out one through seven they are out of the game and the sum of the numbers not yet crossed out is their score. When everyone is out, the player with the lowest score wins. For a more difficult variation of the game, you can write down one through 18 and use three die.

New books arriving New book additions to the collection at the Centuria Public Library are: 1. “Because She Can” by Bridie Clark 2. “Black Monday” by R. Scott Reiss 3. “Damage Control” by Robert Dugoni 4. “Hell Hath No Curry: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery” by Tamar Mayers 5. “Manhunting” by Jennifer Crusie New books on CD are: 1. “The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers”

by Lilian Jackson Braun 2. “Stalemate” by Iris Johansen 3. “Plum Lovin’” by Janet Evanovich 4. “Exile” by Richard North Patterson 5. “Thirteen Moons” by Charles Frazier 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 on Saturday.

Clear Lake Public Library

Osceola Public Library Open house Join us as we celebrate Freedom to Read week at the libraries Meet, Greet and Eat, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 3 - 7 p.m.

Dr. Seuss story time Dr. Seuss story time will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28, 4 p.m.

Book discussion Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m. Nine short stories. Multigenre assortment of quality short stories written in the last 80 years. Copies will be available at the

circulation desk of the library.

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.

50th birthday celebration The Cat in the Hat 50th Birthday Celebration will be held Friday, March 2, 3 – 5 p.m.

In celebration of Read Across America Day and the 50th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat,” the Clear Lake Public Library is having a party.

The entire family is invited to join us for games, activities, stories and food.

Book group The Clear Lake Public Library book group will meet Monday, March 5, at 7 p.m. to discuss the book “Snow Falling on Cedars” by David Guterson. This book won the American Booksellers As-

sociation Book of the Year Award. All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served.

February is Food For Fines Month at the Clear Lake Public Library. For every nonperishable food 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.

Story time Story time is every Thursday at 10 and 11 a.m. Come hear stories, play some games and color.

The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

Milltown Public Library

Amery Public Library

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 11

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Balsam Lake Public Library 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. Please join us for this funpacked hour.

Book Lovers Group This group gets together monthly to share favorite authors and books. Group will meet again on Wed., March 7, at 3 p.m.

Knitting group Join us for an evening of knitting and crocheting. Beginners encouraged and welcome, lessons will be given. Bring a project or start a project here. Good conversation and helpful hints are guaranteed. We meet every other week. On Monday, March 5, 6:30 – 8 p.m. we will meet again.

Book club Our newest book is “Shadow Divers.”

The true adventure of two Americans who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II, by Robert Kurson.

“Kurson's “Shadow Divers,” about the divers exploring a sunken shipwreck off the New Jersey coast, is a gripping account of real-life adventurers and a reallife mystery. In addition to being compellingly readable on every page, the book offers a unique window on the deep, almost reckless nature of the human quest to know." —Scott Turow, author of “Reversible Errors.”

Friends of the Library Friends of the Library book sale last Saturday was a great success. Many books found new homes, and we still have a good start for our July book sale.

We will still take donations. Friends Group will meet again on Wed., Feb. 28, at 1:30 p.m.

Hours Balsam Lake 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: balsamlakepl@ifls.lib.wi.us Web site www.balsamlakepubliclibrary.org.

Frederic Public Library Try it – you’ll like it!

The Thursday Morning Reading Group will meet Thursday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss “House of Sand and Fog” by Andre Dubus III, an Oprah choice novel.

The evening book group will meet March 15, at 7 p.m. to discuss “All the Pretty Horses” by Cormac McCarthy.

Copies of the books are available at the library, and new members are always welcome!

Tax forms are available The basic tax forms are here, including the Wisconsin homestead credit and rent certificate schedules. We will also be happy to download other tax forms from the Web for you.

Story time Wednesday mornings Story time is open to all young children accompanied by their caregivers.

Please join us Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 10:30 a.m. for 45 minutes of activities and stories by Ezra Jack Keats, who wrote many children’s books including “The Snowy Day.”

Library hours at a glance Regular library hours are Mon. 10 a.m.

- 7 p.m.; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The library is closed on Tuesdays.

Remember the community food shelf Next time you come to the library, be sure to bring some nonperishable items for the local food pantry – we all need to help keep the shelves stocked.

How to contact the library Frederic Public Library, 127 Oak St. 715-327-4979.

West. fredericpl@ifls.lib.wi.us.

Milltown Public Library We are wireless Bring your laptops to the Milltown Public Library and enjoy our new, 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 two story times every Tuesday. The morning story time begins at 10 a.m. Can’t make it in the morning? We will repeat the pro-

gram at 6:30 p.m. 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.

F o l l o w t h e L e a d e r

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Officials warn against manure spreading MADISON — Spreading manure on farm fields between now and spring is extremely risky, with current frost and ice conditions creating an even higher potential that manure will runoff and potentially enter lakes, streams and groundwater, university, agriculture and water quality officials warned Feb. 14.

They urged livestock farmers who have manure storage facilities to avoid spreading manure, regardless of whether it’s liquid or solid. Farmers who don’t have the storage and spread manure daily should spread only on those fields with the absolute lowest risk of runoff possible.

“The bottom line is, spreading manure — regardless of the type — from now until the ground thaws is extremely risky,” says Dennis Frame, who directs the University of Wisconsin Extension’s Discovery Farms Program, which conducts research on a diverse group of Wisconsin farms to determine the economic and environmental effects of various best management practices. An alert issued Feb. 14 to livestock producers can be found at: www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org/ new/index.htm.

Discovery Farms research suggests

that applying manure is typically riskiest before and during snow melt, typically during February and March. The risk is even greater than usual this winter for several reasons, Frame says.

Statewide, the snow has not insulated the top layers of soil, leaving soil pores plugged with ice and unable to absorb melting snow that would pick up manure spread on fields. Additionally, the brief warm up that occurred throughout much of the state a few weeks ago compacted the snow and caused an icy layer to form. Manure applied on top of this icy layer is likely to run off with snow melt.

Finally, it’s been so cold lately that manure applied in recent weeks hasn’t been able to break down, leaving high amounts of ammonium-N, increasing the possibility of ammonia entering lakes and streams and causing fish kills. Frame says farmers who absolutely have no choice but to spread should choose fields with slopes of 2 percent or less, and which have the greatest amount of crop residue, according to Gordon Stevenson, who leads the Department of Natural Resources runoff section.

To protect lakes and rivers, farmers

should also stay as far away as possible from lakes and streams and areas of fields where water concentrates during rain or thawing, Stevenson says. To avoid groundwater impacts, farmers should steer clear of areas with shallow soils and stay as far away as possible from nearby wells, sinkholes or exposed bedrock.

A good nutrient management plan identifies the least risky areas for winter spreading and includes the proper application techniques to minimize runoff.

Farmers can get help in developing these plans through their local land conservation staff, says Jim VandenBrook, with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

“Farmers are some of Wisconsin’s best and most enduring stewards of our land and waters,” he says. “We know that they want to do the right things, and conditions this winter support spreading manure only if you absolutely have to.”

Stevenson stresses that runoff events may still occur even if farmers do so only on low-risk fields. If runoff happens, the key is to minimize the impacts.

“Immediately report runoff events to DNR using the 24-hour spill hotline: 800-

943-0003,” he says. Failing to report and take actions to minimize the damage from an accidental spill is illegal.

By promptly reporting such events, DNR can quickly mobilize staff who are trained and experienced in taking measures that can reduce impacts to water quality.

Farmers should also have an emergency plan in place to address such instances, Stevenson says. Contact local UW-Extension or county land conservation staff for help in developing an emergency response plan.

Knowing the equipment you have and who to contact can help avoid serious water-quality impacts, Stevenson says.

By working together, farmers, DNR, DATCP and county staff have been able to avoid serious water-quality impacts.

More information on preventing manure spills, emergency spill plans, and other topics can be found online at: www.manuretaskforce.wi.gov/resources.html>. — from Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 13

Art is a second career for Win Herberg CENTURIA - Nestled in a valley off Long Lake, outside of Centuria, sits a white farmhouse. Once the basement was a tucked-under garage for cars, but now the space is an art studio. A potter’s wheel and a pink wicker chair occupy one part of the studio. Five-gallon buckets of glaze fill another part. Then, there is the kiln and tables loaded down with a variety of pottery. Winifred Herberg grew up in this house, and she is back again. She is the one responsible for kicking the cars outside and bringing the pottery studio in.

Art is a second career for Herberg.

Although she has been interesting in pottery for a long time, she was busy teaching junior high English in Osseo and raising a family. As it happens though, eventually her children left home, and she had time for an occasional commu-

The potter’s wheel and pink wicker chair found in Herberg’s studio.

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nity-ed pottery class. Later she began creating pottery on her own and transported the fragile, unfired pottery to Luck where her niece had a kiln, hoping most of it would make the road trip without breaking. Her niece passed on techniques on how to load a kiln. Seven years ago, she retired after 31 years of teaching and had still more time for pottery. Now she has a kiln of her own and is a potter in her own right with students of her own.

She started selling her pottery when she opened the Orchard House Gallery, south of Centuria, six years ago with her partner, Kelly Green. The Orchard House Gallery sells a variety of local art, including Herberg’s pottery, but being a businesswoman doesn’t effect her pottery much. Although Herberg does finds herself replacing some pieces that sell, much of her pottery remains one of a kind, as Herberg enjoys creating new pieces, following new ideas rather than reproducing pieces that sold.

It is easy to see that Herberg enjoys developing new ideas, because she makes a wide variety of pottery. Nature is a big influence, and the shapes and textures of nature often find their way into the pottery. At times she cuts the clay slab into leaf shapes, curling the ends just so to capture some of autumn’s landscape. She has made bowls from slabs of clay that she has wrapped Winifred Herberg with a wide variety around the bark of a tree. Various shalarea. – Photos by Sherill Summer low dishes and tiles are made by pressing leaves, pine needles or birch bark patches and bear figurines. Probably her into wet slabs of clay, and she is developmost unusual pottery are her low-standing a new procedure where she can ing vases. Many of them have a shallow transfer the most delicate of leaves into bowl that holds the water, along with the wet clay. seashells and what not, and out of the Other types of pottery Herberg has bowl rise tubular pieces of different created are shallow nesting bowls that length. The different length pieces are are more square than round, long oval great for displaying flowers with differplates with glazes applied in rectangular ent stem lengths – an interesting idea.

of pottery she makes in the Centuria Currently Herberg’s pottery can be seen at an emerging artist show at the Space in New Richmond through March 2. For directions and hours, visit www.thespaceforcreativity.com., or call 715-246-3180. You can also find her pottery at the Orchard House Gallery when it opens up again in May.

Winter week at Frederic

ABOVE: (L to R): Crissy Chenal, Chelsea Chute, Ashley Heine, Traci Lundeen, Dawn Hardlander, Tricia Nelson, Kristen Anderson, 2006 Queen Kayla Laqua, 2006 King Randy Carlson, 2007 Queen Kathleen Jerry, 2007 King Ariel Chung, Bryan Knauber, Chad Wondra, Travis Clausen, Nott Suwan, Perry Anderson, Aaron Hedlund and Michael Elrod.

LEFT: 2007 Winter Week Queen Kathleen Jerry and 2007 Winter Week King Ariel Chung. – Photos submitted

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Capeside has new king and queen

by Sherill Summer SIREN – Emma Jensen and Harry Rudisell will reign over Capeside Cove Good Samaritan Center this coming year after being chosen the new king and queen by fellow residents, staff, volunteers and family. The new king and queen were crowned at Capeside’s annual Valentine’s dance and will represent Capeside in Siren’s Fourth of July parade.

The coronation was one of many festivities that day. Music, provided by Play’ne County Band, food and a visit from Siren’s other royalty were also enjoyed by all who attended the dance.

Capesides’s queen, Emma Jensen, and king, Harry Rudisell, pose with Siren’s other reigning royalty. Back row (L to R): Courtney Daniels, Jennifer Mitchell, Lynette Renberg and Sarah Shafer. Front row: Emma Jensen, Courtney Coy and Harry Rudisell.

Activities director, Dawn Fern, is also a dance instructor in Siren. She clearly enjoyed dancing the afternoon away with Capeside’s residents. Here she is shown dancing with Dorothy Olson.

Play’ne County Band provided the music for the Valentine’s dance. Play’ne County Band has provided music at Capeside on the last Thursday of every month for five years.

They graciously stepped in to provide music for the dance when the musician who was scheduled to play became ill.

Della Smythe is dressed in red for the Capeside Cove’s Valentine’s dance. Della’s husband, Ed, is a volunteer at Capeside. Shown behind Della is Dorothy Majsterek.

Photos by Sherill Summer

Glenn Hunter helped out with percussion during Valentine’s Capeside’s dance.

A Siren princess, Courtney Daniels, and Little Miss Siren, Courtney Coy, visit with Helen Gilfillan.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 15

New Ice Age Trail segment certified BARRON COUNTY - The National Park Service has certified four miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail stretching on either side of the Barron-Rusk county line south of Birchwood.

The federal agency’s certification means that the trail portion meets standards for trail quality, user safety and minimal environmental impact.

“The trail should be up to standards set forth in the Ice Age Trail handbook for design, construction and maintenance put out by the National Park Service,” said Nancy Frank of Prairie Farm, northwest region field coordinator for the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation.

Hikers on the newly certified portion of premier trail in the Murphy Flowage area of the Blue Hills will see National Park Service trail emblems at trailheads and along the trail.

Certification implies environmental protection of the trail according to uses described by Congress when it established the National Scenic Trail system.

The trail segment runs from Bolger Road to Finohorn Road.

Recently, the section of newly certified trail was dedicated in a ceremony at the Ice Age Trail cross on Bolger Road, west of its junction with Hwy. F and east of 25th Avenue.

County forest officials from Barron and Polk counties and Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation staff and chapter representatives were on hand to put up the official trail emblem.

County forest administrators Paul Teska of Rusk County and Jack Nedland of Barron County cut the ribbon to officially open the trail in the forests under their stewardship.

The trail emblem was installed by Jim Kurz, chapter coordinator for the Ice Age Trail’s Blue Hills Chapter, and Dale Crisler, chapter co-coordinator for the Superior Lobe Chapter.

Field coordinator Frank cited the contributions of local volunteers and emphasized the pioneering effort and 30 years of trail building by Adam Cahow, professor emeritus at UW-Eau Claire.

An area adjacent to this segment, eastward along the Ice Age Trail, is scheduled for a large-scale trail-building project in June. The IAPTF’s mobile skills crew, a

group of volunteers, will work with other interested local citizens and volunteers from across the state to upgrade and re-sign the loop trail north and south of Hemlock Creek.

Volunteers of all ages and talents are encouraged to participate in trail development, promotion and also working to feed the trail crews that may number up to 150 workers.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a nonmotorized foot trail that extends along the terminal moraine of the most recent glacier in Wisconsin more than 10,000 years ago.

The trail winds its way across the glacial topography of Wisconsin for more than 1,000 miles and passes through Barron and Rusk counties. A portion of the newly certified segment was previously designated as a wayside point on the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. – submitted

Banks of Polk County donate daffodils POLK COUNTY - For over 25 years, Polk County banks have been supplying clients in Polk County hospitals and rest homes with yellow daffodils from the American Cancer Society. Also receiving daffodils are Polk County Meals on Wheels and Polk County Senior Dining sites.

This year daffodils will appear on March 5, compliments of these Polk County banks: The RiverBank, Osceola; The

RiverBank, St. Croix Falls; Bank of Turtle Lake; U.S. Bank, Cushing; U.S. Bank, Frederic; Eagle Valley Bank, St. Croix Falls; S & C Bank, Amery; S & C Bank, Balsam Lake; S & C Bank, Centuria; S & C Bank, St. Croix Falls; Rural American Bank, Dresser; Rural American Bank, Luck; Bremer Bank, Amery; Bremer Bank, Frederic; Citizens State Bank, Clayton. – submitted

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Luck midwinter concert The third- and fourthgrade students from Luck performed in the mid-winter concert on Thursday, Feb. 15. The 3rd-grade students presented a program entitled, “Bugs” – which detailed the joys of going to a picnic from the bugs’ point of view. The 4th-grade students presented a program entitled, “Bones” – where a night custodian accidentally knocked over the science department’s skeleton and had to put it back together again before classes the next morning. – submitted “Bones” (Paul Byl, Connelly Helms, Reilly Giller, Amanda Richey, Mallory Chermack, Kalley Lunsmann, and Katie Pfaff) sing the song, “Think-A-Think,” during the fourth-graders “Bones” portion of the Luck Elementary School’s Midwinter Concert.

Shoulder bone (Reilly Giller) sings the solo, “I’m A Broken Bone” as Nerve (Jenni Holdt), Knee Bone (Paul Byl), Nerve (Angela Gore), and Nerve (Antonio Morales) listen during the fourth-graders “Bones” portion of the Luck Elementary School’s Midinter Concert.

Coach Tendon (Trent Strapon) complains that the Muscles (Trevor Dexter, Krystal Zuniga, Sarah Huro, Jamie Preiner, and Kim Dem) are too weak to do anything because the bones are all disjointed during the fourthgraders’ “Bones” portion of the Luck Elementary School’s Mid-Winter Concert.

“Insects” Taylor Juleen, Brittany Donald, Brianna Thompson, Noah Mortel and Andrew Larson show off their antenna during the third-graders’ “Bugs” portion of the Luck Elementary School’s Midwinter Concert.

Insects Nicole Dittbrenner, Taylor Hawkins, and Alaura Lemeiux sing a bug song during the third-graders’ “Bugs” portion of the Luck Elementary School’s Midwinter Concert.

Photos submitted

UW-Superior offers Early Childhood Education seminar SUPERIOR — The University of Wisconsin-Superior Center for Continuing Education/Extension is offering the Early Childhood Education seminar, Obesity and Diabetes in Children. Participants may earn five contact hours or 0.5 Continuing Education Units, and may also register to take the course for 0.5 graduate or undergraduate credits.

Obesity and Diabetes in Children will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at UW-Supe-

rior’s Rothwell Student Center Ballroom. The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presenters from St. Luke’s Hospital: Karen Johnson, RDLD, received her dietetics degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Julie Drake, RN, BSN, CDE, has been a registered nurse for 26 years and a certified diabetes educator since 1998.

Topics include: Unlocking the Mys-

tery of Childhood Nutrition. This session will provide you with an introduction to normal nutrition for children, nutrition and exercise/activity, and obesity and eating disorders. Demystifying Diabetes. During this session you will learn how glucose and insulin metabolism is altered in the diabetic patient and common problems that can occur and how to handle them.

Cost of the seminar is $30 for those

who preregister, and $35 for on-site registrations for the noncredit option. To register or for more information about this seminar or academic credit, please contact the UW-Superior Center for Continuing Education/Extension at 715-394-8032 or 800-370-9882. Register online for this workshop at: http://www.uwsuper.edu/community.

— from UW-Superior

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 17

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS

Area legislators talk tech at WITC NEW RICHMOND – Rep. Ann Hraychuck, Balsam Lake, Rep. John Murtha, Baldwin, Rep. Kitty Rhoades, Hudson, and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf recently visited with faculty at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College about issues facing the technical college system. Topics included training, how WITC graduates stay to live and work in this area, funding the tech college system in the future, the tech colleges relationship with the state’s university system, tuition reciprocity with neighboring states and more. The legislators all indicated support of the technical colleges, with several feeling that education needs to be a nonpartisan issue. Kelly Sylte, instructor for WITC’s administrative assistant program, invited the legislators to campus to speak in a roundtable discussion. Also attending was Gayleen Farrier, New Richmond, a WITC student and president of the Student Government Association.

WITC New Richmond offers more than 35 programs and awards two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas and a variety of

(L to R): WITC instructor Kelly Sylte, Rep. Ann Hraychuck, Rep. Kitty Rhoades, Rep. John Murtha, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, WITC student Gayleen Farrier and Campus Administrator Joe Huftel. – Photo submitted short-term certificates. In addition, WITC offers flex labs, online and other distance-learning opportunities, and provides customized training and tech-

nical assistance to the business and industrial community. The college has four campuses, including Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake and Superior. The

college’s Web site is: witc.edu. - submitted

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS Academic news Michelle Deanna Mahlen graduated Dec. 22, 2006, with honors from the University of Wisconsin, Superior, with a bachelor of arts degree in English and a history minor. Mahlen also received certification in secondary education and is pursuing a career in teaching. She is a 2002 graduate of Webster High School where she was class salutatorian. Mahlen is the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Mahlen of Danbury. - submitted

••• PLATTEVILLE – University of Wisconsin-Platteville has announced its dean’s list for the 2006 fall semester.

The attached list consists of the students who were named to the list.

Frederic Jacob A. Friberg, Joanna J. Haas Webster Jonathan D. Quenzer

ACT podcast provides financial aid information NATIONWIDE — Parents and students who want to know more about financial aid, now have the option of listening to tips from a college financial aid professional on ACT’s student Web site.

Prep Talk is a free podcast that covers a number of college planning topics. Parents and students can listen online or download the program to computers or MP3 players. In the latest podcast — on financial aid — Cathy Wilcox, senior associate director in the office of student financial aid at the University of Iowa, answers questions families want to know about filing for financial aid and working with a college financial aid office.

Her advice will help guide students regardless of the

college or university they’re considering.

Other editions of Prep Talk cover topics such as taking the right courses for college, preparing for the ACT, visiting a college campus and planning for college. To hear the podcasts, go to http://www.actblog.org/podcasts.php.

ACT is a not-for-profit organization that serves millions of people in schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies with programs and services that have one guiding purpose — to help people achieve education and workplace success. For more information about ACT, visit www.act.org. - submitted

Luck School District kindergarten registration scheduled LUCK – Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, are eligible to enter kindergarten this fall for the 20072008 school year. To register your child, please call the Luck Elementary School, 472-2153, ext. 108, by Friday, March 2. Kindergarten registration is scheduled for Friday, March 9. Parents need to call the school to register their child and receive a specific appointment time.

Additional information will be sent through the mail.

– submitted

Staff members participate in decorating contest SIREN – This contest displayed the artistic abilities and dedication that staff members have for Siren Schools. The bags were decorated in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The elementary students voted for the best bag throughout Valentine’s Day. The first-place winner was Mr. Imhoff’s Ladybug Bag, second place was Mrs. Sower with the Chicken Dance Bag, and third place was Mrs. Gudmunsen with the Valentine Log Cabin Bag. This contest showed the staff members creative abilities and how to have fun with the friendly competition.

The following members participated in this contest: Ms. Vergin, Mrs. Sower, Mrs. Walsh, Mrs. Berg, Mrs. Tinman, Mrs. Stiemann, Mrs. Treichel, Mrs. Borchsenius, Mrs. Lund, Mrs. Schrooten, Mrs. Flanigan, Mrs. Bakkum, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Gudmunsen, Mr. Imhoff, Mrs. Yourchuck, Mrs. Swanson, Mrs. Erickson and Mrs. Raschke. - submitted

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 19

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS Students learn basic skating skills

DRESSER – Dresser Elementary physical education classes have teamed up with Skatetime School Program to bring an exciting and innovative physical education program to its students. Students are learning basic skating skills during regular gym class right on the gym floor.

The skating unit was implemented because of its emphasis on lifetime activity.

Skating provides a variety of benefits, which include balance, coordination, motor skills, and a top-rated cardio-respiratory workout. Students were also learning basic skating skills such as starting, stopping, forward skating, backward skating, cornering, and a number of safety tips for being a smart skater.

The students have been improving each and every day that they put the skates on, it has been a fun and exciting time in physical education at Dresser Elementary. – Photos submitted

Frederic kindergarten students honor Frederic bus drivers A big thank-you song and a song about how to ride the school bus was sung for the bus drivers at the Frederic Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Then the students had “coffee time” with the drivers, they shared doughnut holes, orange juice and lots of hugs. The drivers shown are “Big G” – Gene Olson, Elmer Nagel and Kenny Wicklund.

Other drivers are Ruth Lenz, Geoff Fenton and substitute drivers are Willis Mc Lain and Erestine Hoffman, not in the photo. “Our bus drivers are awesome!” - Photo submitted

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS Dresser celebrates the 100th day of school

Each year the kindergarten classes at Dresser Elementary School celebrate the 100th day of school, which was Feb. 7. Each student practices counting 100 items of their choice at home and then brings their “project” to school for display. This year was very exciting, with the creative efforts put forth by students and their parents, who helped them. One hundred percent of the kindergarteners participated in the project this year. The collections this year included: deer shed points, a clock made out of pop tops, a bird collection, a book written and illustrated with 100 people inside and many others. The students did a fantastic job. The collections are on display at Dresser Elementary. – Photos submitted

Unity celebrates speed week UNITY - Students in Debbie Petzel’s third-grade classroom spent a week learning about physics. Students read “The World of NASCAR,” a Reading A-Z book, worked on Web sites to help them learn about physics, chose a Daytona 500 NASCAR driver and built their own race car.

Students designed and constructed their own race cars to learn about the concepts of aerodynamics, friction, drag and how vehicles are designed to be fast and efficient.

They constructed a race car according to the following rules: 1. All components of the race car must be materials that are edible for humans, with the exception of four standardlength wooden toothpicks; 2. All cars must have four separate wheels; 3. The race car should be no larger than 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm.

A race was held on Feb. 15 and prizes were given to the fastest and best-designed cars. - submitted

Brandon Koethe and his Big Cheese Race Car. Brady Lowe won fastest-race car.

Cole Garvey won best-designed race car.

Photos submitted

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

OBITUARIES Zachary “Mouse” C. Wolfe

Phyllis Marie Martin

Roscoe Churchill

Zachary Curtis Wolfe was taken suddenly on Feb. 14, 2007.

Zachary was born two months early on August 21, 1999. He couldn’t wait to come out and see the world! He fought very hard his first month of life and overcame many obstacles. Zachary grew in leaps and bounds and was a living miracle. Zach moved to Milltown when he was 2 months old and was immediately loved by all. He attended Headstart in Frederic in 2003, and in 2004 he began his school years attending Luck Elementary. He met many new people and made many friends, and was a very proud big brother to “Peanut” in 2004 and “Jenna Bo-Benna” in 2006. Zach was a Cub Scout, played T-Ball, and enjoyed the LEAD program, playing his PlayStation with friends and stepdad Dan, riding bike, fishing, swimming, planting flowers with Mommy and having sleepovers with his “Nana.”

There was never a minute that “Mouse” (his Mommy’s nickname for him since birth) didn’t feel unimaginable and tremendous love from all who knew him.

Zachary was preceded in death by his grandfather, Delmar Wolfe; and Aunt Lynda Burbey.

Zach is survived by his mother and stepfather, Melissa (Missy) and Danny (Dan) Horky; his younger brother, Colton (Peanut); baby sister, Jenna; GreatGrandma B, Judie Wolfe (Nana), Jerry and Toni Horky; aunts and uncles, David and Janan Wolfe, Scott and Tammy Horky, Wendy Horky; cousins, Curtis Jones, Caylissa Wolfe, Anna and Heidi Horky; and numerous other relatives and special friends. He was very loved and will be very missed and never forgotten.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Milltown Lutheran Church in Milltown. Visitation was held Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Rowe Funeral Home in Luck.

The Rowe Funeral Home, Luck, was entrusted with arrangements.

Phyllis Marie Martin, Frederic, died Feb. 14, 2007, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., after a brief illness. She was 79 years old.

Phyllis was born in Polk County on June 12, 1927, the daughter of Henry and Ruth Knieff.

She was quite taken with Floyd Martin, the turkey farmer (and airplane pilot) from across the road, so she married him in 1947. They spent most of the next 40 years dairy farming and raising their five children in the Clam Falls area.

After Floyd’s death in 1988, Phyllis lived in a house they built together by Grass Lake. She spent the last five years as a resident of the Frederic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She is survived by children Diane Martin (James Hudson) of Madison, Nancy Danielewicz of Frederic, Arthur (Kristan) Martin of Frederic, Julie Martin of Frederic and Anders Martin of Milwaukee; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters, Gretchen (Roger) Johnson of Amery and Polly (Michael) Klein of Wooster, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen, in 1937 and brother David in 2001.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Frederic Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Greg Lund officiating.

The Rowe Funeral Home, Frederic, was entrusted with arrangements.

Roscoe Churchill of Ladysmith, known as “a grandfather of the environmental movement,” died Friday, Feb. 9, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. He was 90 years old.

The retired school principal and former Rusk County supervisor dedicated over 30 years to fight open-pit copper mining in the area. He, along with his late wife Evelyn, was a founding member of the Rusk County Citizens Action Group formed to fight a proposed open-pit copper mine in Ladysmith, during the 1970s.

He later rallied against the proposed Crandon mine and had a hand in drafting the original legislation that became the 1998 Wisconsin Mining Moratorium Law, setting a strict performance standard for mining permits.

Funeral services were Friday, Feb. 16, at the First Church of Christ, located at 701 Menasha Ave. in Ladysmith. Pastor Donn Schroeder and Pastor Ramon Hunt will officiate. There will be a one-hour visitation prior to the funeral service.

A visitation will also be held at the Nash-Jackan Funeral Home in Ladysmith on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. A Fond Farwell memorial will be held on Friday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m., following the funeral at the Stefan Pavilion at the Grant Town Shops south of Ladysmith on Hwy. 27. There will be songs, sharing of memories, dedications by Native tribal members and a special Eagle Feather Ceremony to honor Roscoe and Evelyn’s dedication to protecting the earth.

Selma Utoft Grumstrup Selma Utoft Grumstrup died Feb. 17, 2007, at the United Pioneer Home in Luck. She was 87 years old.

Selma was born Oct. 4, 1919, on the Henriksen Century Farm in West Denmark, Luck Township. She was the daughter of Niels Henrik and Else Marie Henriksen.

Selma first attended Little Butternut Public School and the West Denmark Danish Summer School. She graduated from Luck High School in 1938 and attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. Following college, Selma studied nursing at Eitel Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., becoming a registered nurse in 1943.

Selma is survived by her husband of 62 years, Erling Grumstrup of Luck; brother, Kristian Henriksen of Luck; five children, Phillip Grumstrup (Birte) of Black Hawk, S.D.; Paul Grumstrup (Mary Lou) of Fallon, Nev., Judith Grumstrup-Scott (Thomas Scott) of Woodland, Calif., Karen Grumstrup of Chicago, Ill. and Katherine Grumstrup (Michael Bing) of Minneapolis, Minn.; seven grandsons; four granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

Selma was preceded in death by her parents and by sisters Elin Strandskov and Anna Sandlin.

Selma’s full life was enriched by a dedication to family, church and community. She expressed her love of nature through gardening, flower arranging, hiking, and camping. She was an avid reader and an accomplished seamstress.

A celebration of Selma’s life was held Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the West Denmark Lutheran Church. The family requests that memorials be made to either the West Denmark Lutheran Church or the Community Referral Agency, Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Please send memorials to Kathy Grumstrup, 2901 Benton Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55416.

Gilbert “Gib” Held Gilbert “Gib” Held, age 77, a resident of Danbury, died on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, at the Spooner Health System.

Gilbert W. Held was born on June 1, 1929, at the family home in St. John, Ind., to parents Jacob and Mary (Moeller) Held. Gib served two years in the United States Army during the Korean War where he held the rank of sergeant. After the war, he returned to the plumbing trade and where he would continue for a total of 55 years working on residential and commercial projects. On April 4, 1964, he was united in marriage to Anita Huppenthal in Dyer, Ind. The couple lived in Dyer for the first three years of their marriage and then moved to Schererville, Ind., until 1989, when Gib retired, and the couple moved to the Webb Lake/ Danbury area. Gib was a member of the Plumbers Local 210 in Merrillville, Ind., enjoyed fishing and hunting, and will be remembered as a hard worker who could fix many things.

Gib is survived by his wife, Anita; son, Joe (Sarah) Held of Roseville, Minn.; brothers, Leroy Held of Cromwell, Ind., and Elmer Held of Dyer, Ind.; sisters, Mary Jane Matthews of Schererville, Ind., Ann Zuckowski of Hebron, Ind., and Rosella (Kenneth) Throgmorton of Hammond, Ind., and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Gib is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William, Aloyiou and Norbert; sisters, Florence Dust, Sylvia Van Denburg, Alvina Kretz and Delores Held.

Interment will be at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, with military honors.

The Dahl Funeral Home in Spooner was entrusted with arrangements.

Charles E. Fahland Charles E. Fahland, Clam Falls Township, died Feb. 10, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, St. Croix Falls. He was 93 years old.

Charles grew up in Clam Falls Township at the family farm. He graduated from the Frederic High School.

After graduating he went to college at River Falls for two years. He was a truck driver for a few years before coming down with polio when he was 30. His rehabilitation training was to become a watch maker. It was not long before he decided that was not what he wanted out of life. He decided to send out several resumes for work in the Twin Cities.

He was hired by Remington Rand Corp. in the Twin Cities, he worked in engineer research and worked on a computer that is now at the Smithsonian Institute. He worked there for 20-plus years. He retired from there, and he and his wife, Beverly, moved back to Wisconsin to live at their summer home in Clam Falls Township.

They would travel to Arizona for the winter months, every year. He and his wife lived a very full and happy life in their retirement.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; father, Allen; mother, Anna; two brothers, Arthur and Christian; and one sister, Martha.

Charles is survived by his son, Mark, of California; four sisters, Edith of Michigan, Janet of Minnesota, Mary and Dorothy of Clam Falls Township; and several nieces and nephews.

There is no memorial service planned at this time.

Anyone wanting to make a contribution, should make it to a memorial or charity of their choice. This would be more enduring.

Alta I. Anderson Alta I. Anderson, age 89, of Spooner, formerly of Webster, died at the Spooner Health System Hosiptal on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007.

Alta was born on Dec. 11, 1917, at Tracy, Minn., to Robert and Antonia Radke. She grew up in the Jackson community near Webster, attending the Jackson School.

She married Barney Anderson on June 5, 1948. The couple lived in their home on Austin Lake since 1948, until moving to Spooner in the summer of 2006. Alta worked as a sales clerk at Kaufman’s General Store in Webster.

Alta was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Webster.

Alta is preceded in death by her husband; son, Robert G. Campes and 13 brothers and sisters.

Alta is survived by her daughter, Emily (Richard) Durand of Spooner; two grandchildren, Julie (Craig) Cable of Spooner and Jon (Jennifer) Durand of Clear Lake; six great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Webster, with Pastor John Siedschlag officiating. Music was provided by pianist, Joan Wilhelm, and soloist Karen Rivers. Casket bearers were Ben Richter, Luke Richter, Lee Richter, Emmie Crotteau, Craig Cable and Jon Durand. Burial was at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spooner.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home of Webster was entrusted with arrangements.

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 23

OBITUARIES

CHURCH NEWS

James “Jim” Clair Hanson

Valentine’s Day celebrated at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

James “Jim” Clair Hanson, 69, of Wascott, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minn., surrounded by his family.

James was born March 26, 1937, in Webster, to the late Joseph and Clara (Malone) Hanson. James was raised by Harold and Clara Malone.

James married Josephine Marie Castle on Jan. 1, 1977. They enjoyed 30 great years together. Jim loved the outdoors and lived life to the fullest.

Jim was a production manager for Seagate Technology for 20 years and retired to Wascott in 1996.

Jim loved spending time with family and friends.

Among those who survive and gratefully shared his life are his wife, “Jo” of Wascott; three daughters, Sharon (Ben) Johnson of Hinckley, Minn., Kimberly (Doug) Stellick of Bloomington, Minn.,

Laura Klitzke of Webb Lake; two stepsons, Rory Ramsey of Anoka, Minn. and Rob (Deedee) Ramsey of Burnsville, Minn.; 15 grandchildren, Heather, Kyle Stellick, Ashley, Ronald Johnson, Jovanne, August, Alicia Klitzke, Karon and Scott Tolifson, Amber, Cory, Aarich, Rainier Ramsey, Laura, Nathan Humenik; three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Angelina Klitzke, Nicholas Tolifson, one brother, Gene (Marilyn) Hanson of Sun City, Ariz.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23, at the Brown Funeral Home in Minong. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Jim will be deeply missed by his family and by all those who know him.

The Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Minong is entrusted with arrangements.

FREDERIC – There was a good turnout at Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Valentine’s Day, celebrating love and families.

There were several young students that entertained guests with their musical capabilities. Their various talents included piano playing, playing the guitar, singing and playing the violin. The confirmation students, seventh- and eighth-graders, had the honor of serving the meal and taking care of cleanup detail. Everyone looked forward to the dessert buffet while having a sing-along.

The children sang many of the songs they had learned in Sunday school, and

they performed such enthusiasm. The Valentine celebration was complete with two songs of love by Larry and Dori Garske.

The skit of “Dirty Dan Returns” was performed by various people from the audience, and was definitely a hit with their antics and “hamming” up their parts.

For more information about up-andcoming events at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, go to the Web site www.pilgrimlutheranfrederic.com or call the church office at 327-8012. – submitted

Florence E. Anderson Florence E. Anderson, 91, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the tender care of Golden Age Manor, Amery, where she had lived since Oct. 1988.

Parents were Lloyd and Olga (Schmidt) Pilgrim. Florence’s husband, Kermit, preceded her in death on Dec. 5, 1998.

They made their home for 56 years on their beloved 40-acre farm east of Dresser, mere miles from the almost-adjacent farms where they were born and raised.

Florence faithfully received orders from Kermit’s customers for delivery of fuel and other services over the years, and they retired in 1981. Florence was an excellent gardener, raising peonies and a bumper crop of raspberries each season.

Florence’s other great love was for her children, Larry and Faye, to whom she unfailingly gave her strong encourage-

EDLING FUNERALHOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

ment. She enjoyed learning and also advocated for her family’s education.

She is survived by her son, Larry (Joan) Anderson, who live near Cushing; daughter, Faye (Charles) Daellenbach, who live in Albany, Ore.; five grandchildren who spent many happy hours on the home place, Jeff (Dessy) Anderson, Kim Anderson, Brian (Julie) Daellenbach, Keith (Amy Marie Young) Daellenbach, Julie (Gary) Dallenbach Huber; five great-grandchildren still hearing stories Picture (L to R): Hattie Koball, Riley Anderson, Mara Erickson, Austin about “Grandma,” Michelle, Kevin and Micah Daellenbach and Alexander and Kurkowski, Noah Koball and Brennan Koball. Not pictured was Hanna ErickFaye Huber. son on the piano and Mya Rivera on the guitar. – Photo submitted Services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m., at the Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls. Interment will be at Bethesda Lutheran Sand Lake Cemetery. Memorials to Golden Age Manor.

WEBSTER – Feb. 21, Ash Wednesday, ducted on Wednesday evenings, beginThe Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix marks the beginning of the Lenten serv- ning at 7 p.m. Prior to the worship servFalls, was entrusted with arrangements. ices for the Christian Church, the period ice, soup and sandwich suppers will be of preparation leading up to the obser- provided by the members of Our Revation of Holy Week, which starts on deemer and Trinity Lutheran CongregaEDLING TAYLOR April 1. tions. Services will focus on the hidden Our Redeemer service on Ash glory of the cross.

FUNERALHOME 387 State Rd. 70 Wednesday will include the imposition The members of Our Redeemer Grantsburg, WI of ashes, a tradition carried on for cen- Lutheran in Webster and Trinity (715) 463-2994 turies in Christian worship services. The Lutheran in Danbury, invite you to join placing of ashes on each worshiper’s them for worship every week and exhead gives emphasis to the sorrowful as- tend a special invitation during the pect of the Lenten season.

Lenten season. – submitted Midweek Lenten services will be conJoseph Buck and Archie Mosay.

She is survived by her husband; sons Alex Tirado and Nicholas Mosay; sisters, Sheila Mosay and Karrie Hernandez; brother Kevin Mosay; father and mother; Delores A. Suchy, Webgrandmother, Violet Buck of Stillwater, ster, died Feb. 12, 2007, in Minn., and numerous nieces and Duluth, Minn. She was 68. nephews, as well as other relatives and She was born Sept. 26, friends.

Funeral serices were held at the Word 1938, in Pequot Lakes, of Life Fellowship Church, Clear Lake, Minn.

She is survived by her on Feb. 15, with Pastors Harlan and Pat Weinke officiating. Interment was held at husband of 21 years, Robery Suchy; her chilthe Balsam Lake Cemetery.

The Kolstad – Rowe Funeral Home of dren, Shawn (Robin) Centuria was entrusted with the arrange- Lundblade of Frederic, Kerry (Scott) Carey of East ments.

Bethel, Minn., Cindy (Bob) Stevens of Waconia, Minn., Sandy (Gary) Graziani of Phoenix, Ariz., and Robin Suchy of Minneapolis, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; and 14 siblings.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Bernice, Jean and Patricia; and brother, Richard.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Piquot Lakes, Minn.

Our Redeemer Lenten services set

E

Hollylea M. (Mosay) Tirado Hollylea M. (Mosay) Tirado, 40, of Balsam Lake, died Feb. 12, 2007, at the United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

Holly was born on July 15, 1966, in St. Croix Falls, the daughter of Kenneth and Deloris Mosay. Holly grew up in the Balsam Lake area most of her life, attending and graduating from Unity High School.

She attended Bethel College and UWRiver Falls. The St. Croix Casino employed her for many years, until she moved to Morristown, Tenn., for a short while.

Holly was united in marriage to Heladio Tirado on Dec. 30, 2006.

Holly was preceded in death by her brother Kendall Mosay and grandfathers

Delores Arlene Suchy

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

CHURCH NEWS

Don’t tempt me

I had to stop my van on the highway the other day to wait for an eagle that swooped down and landed right in front of me. It grabbed a freshly killed rabbit in its talons and took off for the treetops.

Although we often equate eagles Sally Bair as majestic and beautiful—they’re even mentioned in the Bible—eagles aren’t always nice. I met a PERSPECTIVES man outside by a lake one day, who expressed anger because eagles were stealing the loon eggs. There would be no baby loons that summer in that lake.

All birds or animals of prey use every opportunity to steal or kill. Like thieves, they lie in wait and then pounce. There is a thief we humans need to watch out for, too—the devil.

Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that (you) may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus is speaking about a wolf that attacks sheep. He teaches us that he is the Good Shepherd who protects his sheep, laying down his life for them.

We are like sheep, living in a dangerous world.

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions is to lure believers away from God. Satan even tempted Jesus with fleshly desires, power, and the desire for possessions.

We also face temptations. What we think and do has great consequences for our soul and spirit. Whenever we turn away from the Good Shepherd, we become vulnerable to the wiles of Satan—our enemy.

That’s when he will strike. That’s what we must avoid.

But just as Jesus relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, and on the Word of God, we too can resist the devil’s temptations. The devil is strong and mighty.

His kingdom is of the air and of the world. But God, whose Kingdom lives in those of us who make him Lord and Savior, is stronger and mightier. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

(Philippians 4:13) It’s important to keep our eyes, ears, and hearts attuned to our Shepherd’s voice. He does not want to lose any of his sheep. Why would we want to leave his side anyway? He is faithful, caring, watchful, and loving. His death on the cross proved that.

Lord, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Forgive us when we’ve strayed from your care. Give us strength and wisdom this day to avoid the enemy who is after our soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mrs. Bair may be reached at sallybair@gmail.com

ETERNAL

Ruby Wells Ruby Wells died Feb. 14, 2007, at the age of 95, at Washington Terrace Nursing Home.

Ruby was born Dec. 27, 1911. For the last 6-1/2 years, Ruby lived in Ogden, Utah, with her daughter, Patricia, and son-in-law Jeremy. The last three years Ruby resided at Mountain Ridge Assisted Living, where she met many new friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy. She is survived by her children Yvonne (George) Cutler, Bozeman, Mont., Donna (Jack) Berggren, Las Vegas, Nev., Sharon (Don) Bearl, Surprise, Ariz., Patricia (Jeremy) Taylor, Ogden, Utah and son Joe (Linda) Wells, Siren.

Ruby will be cremated and sent back to Wisconsin, where she will be interred with her late husband at the Veterans Memorial Wall in Spooner.

Limits

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine (or teachings) of Christ, hath Part 7 in a series not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If I’m not attempting to be judgmental or tell there come any unto you, and bring not this people how to drive, but why is it that so doctrine, receive him not into your house, neimany people ignore the speed limit? As I ther bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth thought about what we have discussed in him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” my weekly articles, the comparison between Garret (2 John 1:9-11) drivers and this week’s topic continued to Some have believed that that can add, subDerouin tract go through my mind. or make substitutions in God’s Word.

Most people have no problem believing Can you simply paint a new number on the THE that there is a God and that Jesus was His speed limit sign or take it down if you don’t son who came down to earth, and that He PREACHER’S like it? Through the scriptures God has told us has authority over man in religious matters. what is right and what is wrong. He has told Similarly, everyone knows that we live in a us told us how to get right and how to stay country with different governmental offices, right. He has told us that we can’t add, subincluding the department of motor vehicles (DMV), tract or change what is written just because we don’t and that they have authority to post driving laws and like it or don’t agree. “I marvel that ye are so soon reregulations. moved from him that called you into the grace of Most people believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another (of Word and that it contains thoughts that are profitable Christ’s. But one completely different); but there be for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Likewise, no one some that trouble you, and would pervert (corrupt or thinks that the speed limit signs on the highway were distort) the gospel of Christ. But though we (the aposput up without authority from the DMV, or that their tles), or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel purpose is not meant for our safety. unto you than that which we have preached unto you, In (1Cori 4:6) Paul writes, inspired by God, the he let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now desires that we “might learn not to go beyond the again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you things which are written;” He wrote a similar phrase than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” in (1Cori 1:10); “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the (Galatians 1:6-9) God has the authority to set limits for name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the our lives, next week we will discuss how important it same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; is for us to respect those limits. but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same If readers have questions or simply wish to know mind and in the same judgment.” Paul is teaching that more about the Church of Christ, we invite you to call we can end religious division and be united if we 715-866-7157 or stop by the church building at 7425 would think alike, speak alike, and act alike. What W. Birch St. in Webster. Office hours are Tuesdays does he suggest we use as a guide? What road sign through Fridays 9 a.m.-noon. Sunday Bible class bedoes he suggest we should pay attention to while we gins at 9:30 a.m., Worship is at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdrive through life? The Scriptures! The Word of God! day evening class is at 7 p.m.

PEN

Area piano students to perform in recital ST. CROIX FALLS – On Sunday, Feb. 25, area piano students will be performing in a recital at Bethesda Lutheran Church, rural St. Croix Falls. The recital will begin at 2 p.m.

At the recital, annual performance awards will be presented to students for participation in studio activities and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association programs. The WMTA provides opportunities for young musicians to perform and be critiqued by certified judges. In March, the theory and performance activities are held at the District Level at UW-River Falls, and in May, the Badger State Competition will be held at Viterbo University in La Crosse. Students participat-

Bethany blesses young drivers

(L to R): Travis Freese and Jamie Kopecky received a special blessing from the congregation of Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren at the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday, Feb. 18. The two students earned their driver’s license this year, along with Colleen Foote, Jessica Owens, Matt Strese and Cody Mattison, who were recognized at the 8 a.m. service. Bethany celebrated this important milestone with its youth by presenting a key ring to each young driver and sharing a prayer for protection, wisdom and safety on the roadways. Pastor John Clasen’s sermon for the day focused on grace and encouraged Christians to lift up others through kind words and actions. Bethany holds worship services every Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with fellowship activities for all ages on Wednesday evenings. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 715-349-5280. - from Bethany Lutheran

ing in the WMTA programs earn points and achievement recognition. WMTA also sponsors many other programs which will encourage students to grow and perform in their music studies, as well as develop lifetime skills.

Students from Grantsburg, Balsam Lake and St. Croix Falls will be performing at the recital. Their teacher is Gretchen Hellie of St. Croix Falls.

Hellie is a certified adjudicator for the WMTA and has recently been nominated to the chairman position for the High School Young Artists program for the WMTA. The public is cordially invited to attend. - submitted

FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 25

CHURCH Confronting an alcoholic requires careful maneuvering Q: My husband drinks excessively. Aside from getting help for my family, what should I do specifically for him? How on earth am I going to get him to go to Alcoholics Anonymous or some similar treatment program? He is deep in denial and couldn't make a rational decision to save his life. How am I going to get him to cooperate?

DR. DOBSON: You're right about the difficulties you face. Begging won't accomplish anything, and your husband will be dead before he admits he has a problem. Indeed, thousands die each year while denying that they are alcoholics.

That's why Al Anon teaches family members how to confront in love. They learn how to remove the support systems that prop up the disease and permit it to thrive. They are shown how and when to impose ultimatums that force the alcoholic to admit his or her need for help. And sometimes, they recommend separation until the victim is so miserable that his denial will no longer hold up. In essence, Al Anon teaches its own version of the "tough love" philosophy to family members who must implement it.

I asked Bob, a recovered alcoholic, if he was forced to attend Alcoholics Anonymous the program that put him on the road to recovery. He said: "Let me put it this way. No one goes to AA just because they've nothing better to do that evening. Everyone there has been forced to attend initially. You don't just say, 'On Monday night we watched a football game and on Tuesday we went to the movies. So what will we do

on Wednesday? How about going over to an AA meeting?' It doesn't work that way. Yes, I was forced forced by my own misery. My wife, Pauline, allowed me to be miserable for my own good. It was loving duress that moved me to attend.”

Though it may sound easy to achieve, the loving confrontation that Dr. James brought Bob to his senses was a deliDobson cate maneuver. I must re-emphasize that families should not attempt to implement it on their own initiative.

Without the training and assistance of professional support groups, the encounter could degenerate into a hateful, vindictive, name calling battle that would serve only to solidify the drinker's position.

Al Anon Family Groups and Alcoholics Anonymous are both listed in local phone books. Also to be found there is a number for the Council on Alcoholism, which can provide further guidance. For teenagers with alcoholic parents, there is Alateen. Teens can go there and share without their parents' permission or knowledge, and it's free.

••• Q: If a man and woman really love each other, won't that hold their marriage steady when the storms come?

DR. DOBSON: Not necessarily – and certainly not if you are thinking of love as a romantic feeling. Feeling wonderful about each other does not make two people compatible over the long haul. Many couples

FOCUS ON THE

FAMILY

assume the excitement of their courtship will continue for the rest of their lives. That never occurs! It is naive to expect two unique individuals to mesh together like a couple of machines and to remain exhilarated throughout life. Even gears have multiple cogs with rough edges to be honed before they will work in concert.

That honing process usually occurs in the first year or two of marriage. The foundation for all that is to follow is laid in those critical months. What often happens at this time is a dramatic struggle for power in the relationship. Who will lead? Who will follow?

Who will determine how the money is spent? Who will get his or her way in times of disagreement?

Everything is up for grabs in the beginning, and the way these early decisions are made will set the stage for the future.

Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, P.O. Box 444, Colorado Springs, CO. 80903; or www.family.org. Questions and answers are excerpted from “The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide” 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; 816-9326600.

Brought to you by:

Pilgrim Lutheran Church Frederic

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

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FEBRUARY 21, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 27

Students of the Week FREDERIC

Lexi Domagala has been chosen Frederic Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in fifth grade and the daughter of Brad and Paula Domagala. Her favorite subjects are math and reading, and she is involved in band, playing the flute. She was selected because of her positive attitude and willingness to help everybody and everything in her class. She works hard and cares about how things get done.

Jordyn Siebenthal has been chosen Frederic Middle School’s student of the week. She is in seventh grade and the daughter of Terry Siebenthal and Lisa Knauber. Jordyn is an A student, on the honor roll and in art and band. She is very conscientious, with a pleasant personality and works well with others. She is involved in volleyball and enjoys drawing. Her future plans include becoming an artist or veterinarian.

ST. CROIX FALLS

Cody Gruel has been chosen Frederic High School’s student of the week. He is a sophomore and the son of Ray and Lynn Gruel.

Cody is respectful of teachers, has a good sense of humor and work ethic. He is involved in FFA, football, track and baseball. His hobbies include skateboarding and snowboarding. Cody plans on going to college or taking over his dad’s business.

LUCK

Olivia Nielsen has been chosen as Luck Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in second grade and the daughter of Steven and Joelle Nielsen. Olivia works very hard and always does her best. She likes to read books and ride her bike. Her favorite class in school is music.

Geoffrey MaidenMuller has been chosen Luck Middle School’s student of the week. He is in sixth grade and the son of Mary and Paul MaidenMuller. He reads extensively and has a vast background of knowledge. Geoffrey has a wonderful sense of humor and a unique perspective on life. He is involved in band, basketball, LEAD and chess club. He enjoys reading, playing on the computer, listening to music and riding bike.

Sawyer Brice has been chosen St. Croix Falls Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in first grade and the son of Shannon and Matthew Brice.

Sawyer has a younger sister. He enjoys recess and phy. ed because he likes to play and have fun. He enjoys going to his grandma’s because she has a lot of land, and they go four-wheeling. Sawyer also likes to go to the movies. He is a polite boy and an all-around good student.

SIREN

Emily Smith has been chosen Luck High School’s student of the week. She is a junior and the daughter of Mike Smith and Nancy Webster-Smith. Emily has received an academic letter and is part of NHS. She is a hardworking student who has many talents. She is kind to those around her and willing to help others. She comes prepared for class and contributes well to discussions. She is in NHS, drama and works part time at the Luck Golf Course. She is in soccer, track and tennis.

Doug Krueger has been chosen Siren Elementary’s student of the week. He is in third grade. Doug has a positive attitude about his homework. He enjoys reading.

His favorite class is gym. Doug is helpful in class. He enjoys playing with his friends during recess.

GRANTSBURG

Hayden Peterson has been chosen St. Croix Falls Middle School’s student of the week. He is the son of Chad and Pauline Peterson. He has a brother named Cooper. Hayden also has a cat named Scardy. His hobbies include hockey, snowmobiling and 4-wheeling. Hayden enjoys gym. Hayden is a very pleasant, cheerful person to have in class.

He always makes us smile. His favorite foods are applesauce and habinero sauce.

Nathan McConnell has been chosen Grantsburg High School’s student of the week. He is a sophomore. Nathan partakes in the after-school program teaching piano, FCCLA, forensics, Link Group and International Club. His hobbies include reading, piano, racquetball and playing croquet and horseshoes.

WEBSTER

UNITY

Nicole Moretter has been chosen Webster Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in third grade and the daughter of Rohn and Sharon Moretter. Nicole is an excellent student. She is always willing to help with any project that her class is doing. She enjoys reading and art. Her classmates enjoy her positive attitude and friendly smile.

Tatum Kline has been chosen Unity Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in fourth grade and the daughter of Edward and Carol Kline. Tatum is an outstanding student, both academically and socially. Tatum has unbelievable study skills and does her best on all of her assignments. She is always kind and considerate to her classmates and adults.

Saints forensics team has great year in competition ST. CROIX FALLS–The St. Croix Falls forensics team is off to its best year in quite awhile, winning the UW-River Falls Tournament this past weekend by a resounding 18 points. Fifteen teams participated in the annual tournament.

The top winners for the team include the group interp entry of David Lund, Mary Ryan, Jo Oldenburg, Brenna Martens and Paige Marek for their performance of Travel Guide; Eric Roush for his farrago entitled "Food," and Charles Schmidt for his demonstration speech on golfing. Second-place trophy-winners include Mary Ryan in poetry, Meghan Smith in solo acting, Sarah Perzyk in farrago and Ali Greelee in storytelling.

Third-place winners include Katie Burns-Penn in Farrago, Kaelie Ward in solo acting and Kelsey Douglass-White in poetry. Placing fourth were the group interp team of Trygve Chinander, Katie Weinberg, Emily Thayer, Greg Kadrmas and Allastant Nuckles, Peter Weber in radio speaking, and Ryan Stark in extemporaneous speaking. Fifth-place finishers included the group interp team of Steve Tucker, Abby Swenson, Kaelie Ward, Kelsey Douglass-White and Sarah Perzyk and Jenny Benoy in four-minute speech.

The team fared well at the UW-Eau Claire meet on Feb. 3 as well. The team placed fifth out of 20 teams. Katie BurnsPenn placed first with her farrago on revenge. The group interp team of Jo Oldenburg, Brenna Martens, Mary Ryan, Molly Kalmoe and David Lund placed third. Radio speakers Sarah Andrewson and Sara Palmer placed third and fourth.

The group interp team of Kaelie Ward, Abby Swenson, Gabby Nuckles, Steve Tucker and Paige Marek placed fourth,

The Speaking Saints are off to a strong start in the forensics season. The team placed second, fifth and first in the first three tournaments. Pictured with some of the trophy winnings (back row) are: Charles Schmidt, Trygve Chinander, Greg Kadrmas, David Smith, Steve Tucker, David Lund, Eric Roush, Dan Roach, Peter Weber, Annie Confer and Jenny Benoy. Middle row: Kaelie Ward, Tashina Martinson, Kelsey Douglass-White, Allastant Nuckles, Ali Greenlee, Sarah Perzyk, Ian Virchow, Zach Nelson and Ryan Stark. Front row: Meghan Smith, Sharanda Whittaker, Emily Thayer, Molly Kalmoe, Brenna Martens, Jo Oldenburg, Paige Marek and Katie Burns-Penn. Missing from photo: Isaac Bont, Eric Thorstad, Mary Ryan, Mark Hendrickson, Sara Palmer, Sarah Andrewson, Katie Weinberg, Abby Swenson, Gabby Nuckles and Brittany Petznick. –Photo by Tammi Milberg and the group interp team of Emily Ryan, Brenna Martens, Jo Oldenburg, Schmidt and Brittany Petznick qualifyThayer, Allastant Nuckles, Trygve Chi- David Lund and Molly Kalmoe placing ing as finalists in demonstration, Isaac nander, Katie Weinberg and Greg Kadr- second, the group interp team of Steve Bont placing fourth in solo acting, Isaac Tucker, Greg Kadrmus, Emily Thayer, Bont and Eric Thorstad placing fourth in mas placed fifth.

In its first outing of the season, the Allastant Nuckles and Trygve Chinander duo, and Sarah Andrewson finishing as a Speaking Saints placed second in placing third, the group interp team of finalist in radio speaking. –from SCF medium-sized teams at the Berlin Invita- Kaelie Ward, Paige Marek, Abby Swen- schools with information provided by Peggy tional. The team’s top placers included son, Gabby Nuckles and Kelsey Dou- Ryan Katie Burns-Penn in farrago winning glass-White placing fifth, Dan Roach second, the group interp team of Mary placing fourth in demonstration, Charles

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- FEBRUARY 21, 2007

Coming events

FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY/21 Dresser

• Fish Supper, 5-6:30 p.m., at Bethesda Lutheran Church. Ash Wednesday worship service follows at 6:45. Everyone welcome.

Siren

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5-6:30 p.m. at the senior center. Contact Ellen Jepsen, 715-472-2877 or use 715-294-3750 as contact for other areas.

THURSDAY/22 Frederic

Siren

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

• 12th-annual Equine meeting, registration 5:30 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m., meeting 7:30 p.m. Topics: Colic & West Nile, RSVP 800924-0588 or 715-463-2536.

• Chamber of Commerce meeting, 7 p.m.

Promoting Frederic, open to the public. Call 715-327-4836 for more info.

WEDNESDAY/7

Osceola

Frederic

• Polk County Community Forum, 7-9 p.m. at the intermediate school. Call 715485-8600 for more info.

• Blood pressure screening at Bremer Bank, Frederic, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sponsored by Bremer Bank.

• Polk County Democrat meeting, 7 p.m., at Adventures Restaurant. Come at 6 p.m. and join us for dinner.

Siren

• Skywarn training, 6:30 p.m. at the gov’t. center, Rm. 165. For more info, call the Emergency Mangement office 715-3492171.

Hertel

• Washburn & Burnett counties deer management meeting, 7 p.m. at St. Croix Tribal Clinic, 715-635-4091.

New Richmond

FRIDAY/23 Baldwin

• New Product Expo at Value Implement, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., huge indoor equipment display, 715-684-3259.

• Coffee hour, 10 a.m. at the Lutheran church. Everyone welcome.

Luck

• Alzheimer’s & Other Dementia Support Group, 4 p.m., at Capeside Cove, 715-3492292.

• St. Croix Valley Job Fair, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at WITC, 715-426-0388.

Coming event items are published as a public service. Items must be submitted by 10 a.m. on Mondays to be assured of publication in that week’s issue.

THURSDAY/8 Frederic

• American Cancer Society Run/Walk Finish Line committee meeting, 5:30 p.m. in the Upper Fireside Room at Pilgrim Lutheran Scott Jorgensen of Hayward captured this bald eagle as it claimed a whitetailed Church. Anyone interested in helping with the deer for its meal that day. Jorgensen is the son of Liz Petersen of rural Frederic. - walk is invited.

Photo submitted

Frederic

• Pokeno, 1 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

THURS. - SAT./22-24 Cable/Hayward

• 34th-annual American Birkebeiner Ski Races, 715-634-5025.

Hinckley, Minn.

• Crex Meadows Chapter of Ducks Unlimited fundraising banquet, 5 p.m., at The Experience. Call 715-689-2923 for more info.

Somerset

• 3rd-annual Ice-Fishing Contest, on Bass Lake. Preregistration 9 a.m. Contest noon-3 p.m., 715-247-2323.

Webster

FRI. - SUN./23-25

• “Splash from the Past” Waterskip, 9 a.m., Yellow Lake, 715-866-7888.

• Gun Show, at the community center. Fri. 5-9, Sat. 9-5 & Sun. 9-3. Call 608-752-6677 for more info.

SUNDAY/25

Barron

FRI.-SAT./23 & 24 Amery

• Friends of the Library Book Sale at the library, during library hours.

Webster

• 4th-annual Voyager Village Winter Carnival. Call 715-259-3910 for more info.

FRIDAY/23 Frederic

• Pokeno, 1 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

St. Croix Falls

• Wild Turkey Seminar, 7-9 p.m. at St. Croix Outdoors. Call 715-483-9515.

Webster

• AARP Tax Aide help, 1-4 p.m. at the senior center.

Amery

• 13th-annual Pike Lake Ice-Fishing Contest, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 715-268-6231 or 715-2688774 for more info.

• UW-Badger Band at the high school gym, 3 p.m. 715-268-9771, ext. 220.

Frederic

• Coon Lake Classic Ice-Fishing Classic, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 715-529-0913.

WEDNESDAY/28 Frederic

• Pokeno, 1 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

Osceola

• Senior Citizen potluck, noon at the club, 1 p.m. program, dessert & coffee.

• Open house at the library, 3-7 p.m., 715294-2310.

MARCH

THURSDAY/1 Frederic

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

Luck

• ALPHA Celebration Dinner, Video & discussion, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Faith Fellowship. For info contact Pastor Maggie at 715-825-3559.

FRIDAY/2 Balsam Lake

St. Croix Falls

• Eagles Father/Son Wrestling Challenge IV, 7 p.m. at Unity High School.

Siren

• Bingo & Spaghetti Dinner, Fundraiser for River Valley Hockey Midget team at American Legion Post 143, 5-7 p.m., with bingo until 8 p.m.

• Ladies only Oscars Gala, 5-11 p.m. at Holiday Inn Express, 651-465-3004.

• Hope for a Cure, Longaberger Basket Bingo at Northwoods Crossing Event Center.

Doors open at noon, 1 p.m. start. Call 715-4632341 for more info.

Webster

St. Croix Falls

SATURDAY/3 Cushing

SAT.-SUN./24 & 25

• Benefit Jam for Sandy Samuels, noon-?, 715-866-4956 or 715-866-8031.

• Benefit for Jordynn Gittins, 4 p.m. at the community center.

• 24th-annual Gun Show at tech college, Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m, Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 1-800-5217463 for more info.

MONDAY/26

Danbury

Pine City, Minn.

SATURDAY/24 Amery

• Todd Breault Memorial Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner 5 p.m. Call 715-268-6262 for more info.

Centuria

• Booya Feed, silent auction, fundraiser at New Wine Church, 4-7 p.m.

Frederic

• Senior Center noon potluck lunch, bingo begins at 1:30 p.m. for cards, pool or fellowship.

Luck

• Senior Center monthly potluck dinner, at noon. Guest speakers are Salle Bachmann, RN & Marcia Spies LPM, on foot and nail care.

Siren

• WSA Kid Pro Ice (Kiddy Kat) races, on Crooked Lake.

• Paper Capers Scrapbooking & Card Making Day, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at high school commons, preregister at 715-349-7244.

• 9th-annual Whopper Lions Fishing Contest, Clam Lake Narrows, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 715349-2400.

Amery

• Polk County Community Forum, 7-9 p.m. at the middle school library. Call 715-485-8600 for more info.

Frederic

• Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

Osceola

• Polk County Genealogical Society meets, at the library. Call 715-294-3447 for more info.

TUESDAY/27 Luck

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5-6:30 p.m. at the senior center. Contact Ellen Jepsen, 715472-2877 or use 715-294-3750 as contact for other areas.

Spooner

• Turkey Hunter Education Clinic, 6:30 p.m. at the Ag Center. Call 715-635-4091 for more info.

Webster

• Food & Friends Community Dinner, 5-6 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

• Cozy Corner Trails Inc. Annual Booya & Raffle, noon to 5 p.m.

Frederic

• 10th-annual Bridal Open House, 1-4 p.m. at the Rose Garden. Call 715-327-4281 for more info.

Luck

• Ice-Fishing Contest on Big Butternut Lake, for Bryce Hacker Memorial Scholarship Fund, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 715-825-3314 for more info.

Milltown

• Women’s Retreat, at the Lutheran Church, 8:30 a.m., registration, 9 a.m., retreat begins.

Featuring Pati Kachel, a salt-of-the-earth storyteller.

• 12th-annual Equine meeting, registration 5:30 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m., meeting 7:30 p.m. Topics: Colic & West Nile, RSVP 800-9240588 or 715-463-2536.

FRIDAY/9 Rice Lake

• “Going Green: Bio-energy Opportunities for Northwest Wisconsin at WITC, 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. Call 715-537-6250 for more info.

SATURDAY/10 Siren

• St. Patrick’s Day celebration, St. Paul Winter Carnival Royalty at Capeside with Valentine K and Q at about 11:30 a.m. followed by parade at 2 p.m.

TUESDAY/13 Luck

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5-6:30 p.m. at the senior center. Contact Ellen Jepsen, 715472-2877 or use 715-294-3750 as contact for other areas.

WEDNESDAY/14 Siren

• Cholesterol & Diabetes Screening, call for apppointment, 715-349-2140.

THURSDAY/15 Luck

• ALPHA Celebration Dinner and Video & discussion, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Faith Fellowship.

For info contact Pastor Maggie at 715-8253559.

SAT.-SUN./17 & 18 Rice Lake

• Rod & Gun Club Gun Show, at UW gym.

Sat. 8:30-5, Sun. 8:30- 3.

TUESDAY/20 Clam Falls

• Coffee hour, 10 a.m. at the Lutheran church.

Everyone welcome.

Frederic

• American Cancer Society Run/Walk Finish Line team chairpersons Kick-Off meeting, 5:30 p.m., at Pilgrim Lutheran Church dining room. Registration forms will be available. For more info contact Elvira Schmidt at 715-6532684.

Luck

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5-6:30 p.m. at the senior center. Contact Ellen Jepsen, 715472-2877 or use 715-294-3750 as contact for other areas.

TUESDAY/27 Luck

• Lions Club Ice-Fishing Contest, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at South Bay Landing on Shell Lake.

• Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 5-6:30 p.m. at the senior center. Contact Ellen Jepsen, 715472-2877 or use 715-294-3750 as contact for other areas.

MONDAY/5

FRI.-SUN./30-1

• Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

• Gun Show at Trollhaugen Convention Center. Friday 5 - 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 715-483-9190.

Shell Lake

Frederic

TUESDAY/6 Clam Falls

Dresser