Leader|jan 3|2007 use

INTER-COUNTY

‘Follow the Leader’

January 3, 2007 2 sections • Vol. 71 • No. 19 8,000 copies

Serving Northwest Wisconsin

Since 1933

A citizen’s guide to caucuses

© 2006 Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association

1

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SECTION A

New year, new look

Residents to decide who will be on April ballot Page 5

Charges filed in beating Two teens accused; charges against third person are dropped Page 3

Even a white birch tree looks gray when surrounded by fresh snow that began falling on the last day of 2006 and created a new look for the new year in what has been a mostly snowless winter season thus far. - Photo by Gary King

Faith’s Lodge is top local story of 2006 Groundbreaking marks beginning of hope for grieving families

by Gary King BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES - With the turn of several spades of dirt and the release of butterflies, Burnett County became the future home of what may be one of the most unique philanthropic efforts in the area, if not the state.

The July groundbreaking for Faith's Lodge on 80 acres of land north of Webster, a joint effort of Mark and Susan Lacek and The Ronald McDonald House Charities, is our top local story of 2006.

Faith's Lodge will offer a retreat for families who have lost children or have children in a crisis medical situation.

The Laceks' first daughter, Faith Ann, was stillborn and over time, in searching for ways to deal with their grief, they came up with the idea for Faith's Lodge. The Laceks chose to visit someplace quiet following their loss and chose Canoe Bay in Chetek.

See Top 10 stories, page 2

Mark and Susan Lacek welcomed friends and members of the public to the groundbreaking for their dream, Faith’s Lodge, at a July ceremony. At left, Joann Christenson, one of the founders of the Ronald MacDonald House in the Twin Cities, looks at a model of Faith’s Lodge - Photos by Nancy Jappe

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

SPORTS Local stories of 2006 reviewed

S E R V I N G

B U R N E T T

&

P O L K

Countdown of the top 10 local sports stories of 2006

Page 17

C O U N T I E S

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

Top 10 local stories of 2006/from page 1 "I could feel myself starting to heal in that setting with the beautiful nature, peacefulness and solace," said Mark Lacek, a successful entrepreneur who built the Lodge at Crooked Lake in Siren. "It did something for us and our hearts, and we asked ourselves 'What if we could do this for others - recreate the whole experience for a family who has lost a child?'"

The facility is expected to be completed by the summer of this year. A Web site, www.faithslodge.org provides more information on the project.

The choosing of the Faith's Lodge groundbreaking as the top local story in Burnett and Polk counties in 2006 echoes 2005's top story of "giving back," which outlined community efforts to help people who suffered at the hands of Hurricane Katrina and rallied to help a family who had lost a child and raised funds to treat troops in Iraq to shoeboxes full of items they would appreciate.

Following are stories that rounded off our top 10 local stories of 2006: 2. Siren native Molly Engstrom turns Olympian. This is not only a Top 10 story for sports locally but also for news. There was a palpable pride in Siren and the surrounding area as Engstrom took to the ice for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team as they competed in Italy and earned a bronze medal for the United States. Siren residents gathered at Kris’ Pheasant Inn and the Pour House as if they were preparing to watch the Packers play another Super Bowl. Excitement only mounted when Molly came home and graciously greeted her familiar and new fans.

3. Butterknife House Project a success. This is story that really began in 2005 and ended in success in 2006. Brian and Enid Johnson led members of the greater Frederic community to Biloxi, Miss., in January to begin building a house for a couple who lost their home to Hurricane Katrina. Amazing grace is not just a song title. This was one of the more inspiring local stories tied to a national story that may ever be published in the Leader. The couple whose home was rebuilt visited Frederic during its Family Days celebration and took part in activities, thanking nearly everyone they came in contact with. A followup story is in the works and will be published in the Leader later this year.

INTER-COUNTY

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

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4. The sentencing of former Siren auto dealer Tony Andrews. The former owner of Siren Auto Sales was sentenced in August in federal court to five years in prison, ordered to make restitution of $110,045 to 13 customers and placed on five years’ probation after previously pleading guilty to mail fraud.

Anthony H. Andrews, 52, of Webster, received funds from several customers that he said would be used to pay off the outstanding loan balance on the cars that he took in trade. Instead, Andrews failed to repay the loan but would falsely certify on Wisconsin Department of Transportation title applications that lien had been paid off. DOT would then issue him a new "clean" title for the car he took in trade.

Andrews derived $1.2 million in funds from customers, according to court documents.

5. Accidental death of child at clinic.

A 7-year-old girl died in May after she was put in a restraining hold at a Rice Lake Clinic. Angellika Arndt was a patient at the Rice Lake Day Treatment Center, one of several clinics owned by Northwest Counsel- Angie Arndt ing and Guidance Clinic based in Frederic. Charges were filed against the clinic and a 29-year-old worker, who is alleged to have caused Angellika’s death as he laid over her in a hold the clinic has used in the past.

The Hennepin County medical examiner in Minneapolis ruled Angellika’s death was a homicide caused by “complications of chest compression asphyxiation” leading to “cardiopulmonary arrest while restrained by another person.” No contest pleas were entered by the clinic and the worker. The clinic was closed.

6. Hwy. 8 development gains momentum. A new Super Wal-Mart opened its doors and construction work progressed quickly a mile away on a new Menards store in 2006. Rumors circulated of a Target Greatland store opening up between the two, or in some nearby location on Hwy. 8. The movie theatre downtown moved into the vacated Wal-Mart Store, upgrading from five screens to eight. A Tractor 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 Jeanne Daniels 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

One of the more inspirational stories of 2006 was a reunion between Pia Sass and the EMS personnel who helped her when she was injured in an accident June 18, 2004. Northland Ambulance 974-Luck was first to respond to the accident on CTH I in the town of Georgetown. Sass, center, was struck by a Ford Explorer while riding her bike. The specialists who treated Sass said that the initial care she received from Northland Ambulance services saved her life and enabled her to have movement. John Novak, the driver of the Explorer, was found guilty of reckless driving — causing great bodily harm. Sass was found by two fishermen, and was in a coma for three months, suffering head, neck, and other injuries. Shown with Sass and her partner, Kristin Lockhart (to the right of Sass) are the members of Northland who responded to the scene. From left are Leanne Richter, Teresa Larson, Sass, Lockhart and Mike Fralick. - Photo by Mary Stirrat Supply store occupies the other half of the former Wal-Mart store. This is an ongoing story with future chapters likely to get either more complex or simpler as local governments sort out the best avenue to take regarding infrastructure and planning.

7. “Scrappy’s Law.” Approximately 50 people and 20 dogs gathered this summer in Frederic for a rally supporting "Scrappy’s Law." Scrappy was a puppy owned by Lisa Lee of Frederic. Lee came home one day in June to find Scrappy with his throat slit. The death of the dog led to criminal charges against her former boyfriend and an “Scrappy” organized effort to push for state legislation that would extend domestic abuse restraining orders to protect the victim’s pets. That type of legislation was approved in Vermont in April of this year. The new law allows Vermont judges to include instructions on the care and custody of pets in abuse prevention orders. More information about the push for Scrappy’s Law has been posted on a new Web site: scrappyslaw.tripod.com.

8. Progress in the battle against meth.

A few years ago meth was the No. 1 story in the year in review countdown.

In 2006 statistics showed the local battle was being won. Two factors - a law that prevents the sale of over-the-counter cold medicines which contain the main ingredient of meth - pseudoephedrines and public awareness. “We’ve had no meth labs in 18 to 24 months,” reported

The Inter-County Leader is a qualified newspaper for the publication of legal notices, meeting the requirements as set forth in Chapter 985.03 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Every government official or board that handles public money should publish at regular intervals an accounting of it, showing where and how each dollar is spent.

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OFFICES Frederic

P.O. Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837 (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

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

Siren

24154 State Road 35, Siren, WI 54872 (M-W, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Thurs. & Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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

St. Croix Falls

Box 338, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 (M-W, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thurs. & Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

715-483-9008 • Fax - 715-483-1420

Polk County Sheriff Tim Moore in August. Moore said meth was a problem that could not be solved through arrests - only through education and awareness.

Ann Hraychuck 9. Voters seek - and get - change.

Eight-year state Rep. Mark Pettis was defeated by Ann Hraychuck in the November general election, the difference being approximately 300 votes. A nationwide trend of unrest with Republican President George Bush and his handling of the Iraq War has been pointed to as a factor in the Democratic sweeps in the election. In April, Polk County voters changed the membership of its county board with the major overhaul for the third-consecutive election.

St. Croix Falls Mayor Lee Uhrhammer was defeated by Brad Foss in the April election. Tim Moore, appointed to replace Ann Hraychuck as sheriff of Polk County when Hraychuck resigned to prepare for a bid for state Assembly, was elected in November and incumbent Polk County District Attorney Karen Olson was defeated by Dan Steffen.

The changes ended the unique but somewhat brief rarity of the county having three females in top law enforcement positions – sheriff, district attorney and judge.

10. Computer scandal. Who cannot love a city that offers such character and color in architecture, scenery, history…and politics? It seems another year couldn’t pass without an interesting and colorful episode involving St. Croix Falls City Hall. Synopsis: Concerns over suspicions of spyware being installed on the city administrator’s computer led some tense moments between the mayor and administrator. Strange emails. A police report filed. And when the council, in an effort to settle the matter, sent the computer off to a Chicago company for data recovery and analysis, it got lost in the mail, taking a detour between Centuria Post Office and Chicago but ending up in Chicago eventually. The story had all the elements of a John Grisham thriller but without an ending, really.

Contenders for the top 10 included the shooting of a Grantsburg man by police during an early-morning standoff at his home in the village in October; the

See Top 10 local stories, page 3

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3

Teacher pleads not guilty to possession of pornography SIREN - James R. Wichmann, 47, Grantsburg, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a not guilty plea to one class D felony count of possession of child pornography during his arraignment Dec. 15 at the Burnett County courthouse.

Wichmann, a fourth-grade teacher at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Elementary School in downtown St. Paul, Minn., was arrested Thursday, Oct. 5, after the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department applied for and executed a search warrant of Wichmann’s home based on information they received from a contractor building a fireplace in his home.

According to the criminal complaint, the contractor at Wichmann’s home was turning off a stereo that had been left on and noticed a red folder next to it that contained images of young girls involved in sex acts. He informed Burnett County officials that the girls appeared to be about 10 to 12 years old,

and according to the complaint, there were at least 200 photos in the folder.

The contractor further informed the questioning officer that a number of the photos looked Wichmann as though they had been digitally altered to place a young girl’s face on the pornographic photos and appeared to be yearbook photos of some type.

Based on this information, a search warrant was applied for, granted and executed.

During the search, the officers and investigators recovered the red folder and it was found to contain multiple

images of child pornography as described.

Also seized at the scene was a U-3 Kingstone Data Traveler jump drive from the defendant’s vehicle, which was also on the premises. A subsequent search warrant and inspection of this jump drive revealed numerous images of child pornography.

Wichmann arrived home during the execution of the search warrant and was greeted by Sheriff Dean Roland and Burnett County Investigator, Ron Wilhelm. They introduced themselves to the defendant and explained why they were there.

Wichmann stated at that time that he knew about the images and confirmed that they belonged to him, and that they were of a very personal nature. He further explained that he never touched any of the girls involved in the photos and that they were simply part of a fantasy, which he has never acted out.

Wichmann was placed under arrest

for possession of child pornography and spent the night in the Burnett County Jail. He was released the next day on a $1,000 signature bond. He was also placed on paid administrative leave from his position at the Wellstone Elementary School.

Following the entry of Wichmann’s not guilty plea, Judge Gableman, due to a factual basis of this case, bound the matter over for trial.

If, in the future, Wichmann is found guilty of this crime he may be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than 25 years or both.

Wichmann’s $1,000 signature bond continues until his next court appearance scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26, at 3:45 p.m., at the Burnett County courthouse. - Jeanne Daniels with information provided by the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department and court records. Photo courtesy of the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department.

Man faces OWI felony charges after rolling truck with toddler inside POLK COUNTY - A 25-year-old Clear Lake man started New Year’s Day facing felony drinking and driving charges.

Adam W. Olson was arrested just five minutes into the new year on Jan. 1 after he allegedly rolled a truck into a waterfilled ditch while driving with his 3year-old son.

According to authorities, Olson first denied driving the truck, saying his girlfriend was driving, and that he had

Minnesotans arrested for worthless checks POLK COUNTY - Two White Bear Lake, Minn., residents were arrested for issuing worthless checks last Wednesday after they fled from a store employee trying to block their van from leaving the store’s parking lot.

Yolanda U. Godbott, 35, and her husband, Vincent Moorman, 38, face possible charges in Polk County for issuing worthless checks at Lake Country Cheese & Liquors on various dates in December.

Last week they entered the store around 2:47 p.m. after Godbott’s check was turned down at Maynard’s BP convenience store.

At Lake Country Cheese & Liquors, a store employee recognized them, and they left the store, heading for their Ford van. But a store employee tried to block the couple from leaving by driving the company pickup in front of the van.

According to the police report, Moorman rocked the van back and forth several times, driving over the sidewalk and escaping the parking lot.

A St. Croix Falls police officer stopped the van on Hwy. 8 at Glacier Drive in St. Croix Falls.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s report, Godbott had already written bad checks at Lake Country Cheese & Liquors on Dec. 11, 12 and 21. The checks were drawn on the Unity One Federal Credit Union in St. Paul, Minn., but the account had been closed in Nov. 2005.

Authorities reported that they found carbon copies of eight checks in Godbott’s checkbook and her phone number was different on each check.

The couple issued checks to Lake Country Cheese & Liquor for $99.66, $178.12 and $163.24, saying the first two times that the liquor purchases were for their wedding. – with information from Polk County Sheriff’s Department

been drinking, but that he drank two or three hours prior to the crash.

Olson later told authorities that he did drive the truck into the ditch and that he had to kick windows out of the truck to free himself and his son.

Polk County Sheriff’s Department officers found the truck in the ditch at 120th Street and 105th Avenue. Officers

reported that the truck apparently went through the T-intersection. As the officers were waiting for a tow truck, they reported that a “reckless” truck passed by.

Deputies then stopped the vehicle at 1127 105th Ave., half a mile east of the crash site. Adams was a passenger in that truck, and had apparently taken his

son to the home of his girlfriend’s relative.

Olson has two prior operating while intoxicated convictions. He is also facing charges of operating after revocation of a driver’s license and obstructing an officer. – with information from Polk County Sheriff’s Deparatment

Two men charged in Osceola battery Charges against third man dismissed POLK COUNTY - Two men face charges in Polk County after allegedly battering two people with bats and pipes in their Osceola trailer home Dec. 21.

Anthony J. Piel, 19, Milltown, and Cody W. Eaton, 17, Osceola, both face misdemeanor battery charges.

Matthew L. Coon, 20, Luck, was also arrested Dec. 21 and initially charged with disorderly conduct, battery and criminal trespass to dwelling as well as bail jumping, but all charges against

Coon were dismissed.

According to the police report, the victims told the Osceola police officer that a “friend” had shown up at the victims’ trailer house, trying to get them to “go hang out.”

Victims reported that Eaton then entered the house and stared hitting the male victim with a bat and punching and kicking him. While this was happening, Piel allegedly entered the home with several other males and joined in kicking and hitting the male victim.

The male victim’s housemate was in the bedroom, according to the police report, and saw what she believed was a bat or a pipe being used to hit her

housemate.

She stated that she started to scream at the men to get out and told police that Piel came at her with a pipe and attempted to hit her with it, and later she was slammed to the ground.

A search of the vehicle after the suspects were arrested turned up a weapon believed to be used in the alleged battery: a glass beer bottle attached to a sock and wrapped with duct tape.

Eaton is scheduled for a court appearance Jan. 18. Piel’s initial court appearance is Jan. 16. – with information from Polk County Sheriff’s Department

Historical Society names top 10 state stories MADISON- In 2006 Wisconsin saw major political changes, tragic school violence, continuing upheaval over the war in Iraq, advances in science, amazing feats of athleticism, and controversy over changes to the state’s Constitution.

Continuing a year-end tradition begun in 2003, Wisconsin Historical Society staff has identified history-making news stories of 2006 and selected the top 10 with a Wisconsin connection.

Please join us in reflecting on the events and issues that made headlines in 2006.

Top 10 local stories of 2006/from page 2 passing of a elementary school building project referendum at St. Croix Falls in April - after three unsuccessful attempts; the election mixup in the town of West Sweden when some voters were handed the wrong ballots in the county board supervisor election; and the awarding of $394,000 to a Grantsburg couple whose apartment was mistakenly entered by local police in a 2002 meth raid.

Midterm elections realign state politics Wisconsin voters shifted state political power, giving Democrats control of the state Senate, 18-15, and leaving Assembly Republicans with a slim 52-47 margin of control. Young voters, ages 18 to 29, may have made the difference, turning out in larger numbers than in any other state but Montana. Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle was re-elected for a second term, and Sen. Judy Robson was elected state Senate majority leader — the first female Democrat to hold the position.

School violence rocks two Wisconsin communities Fifteen-year-old Weston High School student Eric Hainstock shot and killed his school’s principal, John Klang, in Sept. 2006 in Cazenovia. The teen is charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide. Only a few days before, a school shooting was averted at Green Bay East High School when a student alerted the principal to the plot planned by two teens.

Wisconsin Communities Vote to Bring Home the Troops Residents in 24 of 32 communities approved referenda in April 2006 to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. Another 10 communities, including Milwau-

kee, voted in favor of troop withdrawal in November. At year’s end, 3,000 U.S. soldiers had lost their lives since the war began in 2003 — 66 from Wisconsin.

Controversial issues brought to the electorate Efforts to re-establish the death penalty after 153 years and to constitutionally define marriage were brought to the voters in November 2006. The death penalty referendum, a nonbinding vote meant to advise the Legislature on future actions, passed. Voters also approved a constitutional ban on gay marriages and civil unions that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Stellar year for University of Wisconsin-Madison sports Three UW teams won national championships during the 2005-2006 school year, a school record. Men’s ice hockey won its sixth national championship, and the women’s ice hockey team won its first-ever national title — the first time that both titles have been won by the same school in the same year for Division 1 NCAA hockey (and featuring brother-sister pair Adam and Nikki Burish as players). UW women’s lightweight crew won its third-straight Intercollegiate Rowing Association title. The

See Top 10 state stories, page 6

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

Wisconsin traffic deaths in 2006 lowest since 1998

A total of 709 people died in state traffic crashes during 2006

STATEWIDE – With 709 fatalities in 657 traffic crashes, Wisconsin ended 2006 with 92 fewer deaths than in 2005 when 801 people were killed in 700 crashes and the lowest number of fatalities since 1998 when 628 traffic crashes claimed 709 lives. Traffic fatalities in 2006 also were 89 fewer than the five-year annual average of 798 deaths, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The preliminary estimated fatality rate of 1.18 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2006 is an all-time record low. The previous low of 1.26 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel was set in 1998.

“Although it is tragic that too many people died in traffic crashes last year, the significant reduction in fatalities from the previous year is encouraging because it shows that more motorists are making responsible driving decisions. For instance, three out of every four motorists in Wisconsin now use their seat belts, which is an all-time high,” said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. “Motorists deserve credit for making 2006 the least-deadly year since 1998 because their behavior is the main factor in preventing fatal crashes. However, to maintain this lifesaving trend in 2007, even more motorists will need to slow down, buckle up and drive sober.”

In addition to an all-time high of 75-percent seat belt use in Wisconsin, several other factors - including effective and well-coordinated law enforcement mobilizations and traffic safety media campaigns - contributed to the decline in fatalities, according to

Collins.

“People are getting the message that law enforcement agencies are cracking down on drivers whose behavior could hurt or kill themselves or someone else on the road,” Collins said.

The downward trend in fatalities during 2006 became apparent in late summer. “The monthly fatalities in August through December ranked among the 10 lowest for that month since World War II,” Collins explained. “Record-high gas prices in the summer slightly reduced traffic in parts of the state and probably moderated speeds on rural two-lane highways, which often are the most dangerous roadways. Yet the downward trend in monthly fatality totals even when gas prices fell in the fall.”

Included in the preliminary 2006 traffic death toll were 93 motorcycle riders, eight bicyclists and 57 pedestrians. In 2005, there were 92 motorcycle riders, 14 bicyclists and 42 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes.

The number of fatalities for 2006 will not be final until spring to account for delays in reporting, revisions in the cause of death, and deaths in 2007 resulting from injuries suffered in crashes in late 2006.

The year ended with December designated as the sixth-safest month of December in terms of traffic deaths since World War II. In December, 50 people died in 48 crashes, which was 16 fewer traffic deaths than in December 2005. During the Christmas holiday, from 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24, to midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 26, six people were killed in six crashes.

Note: Although far too many people still die needlessly each year in Wisconsin traffic crashes, fatalities

Spring enrollment still open

RIVER FALLS – Applications are still being accepted for spring semester 2007 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

“We expect about 275-300 new students, most of whom are transferring from other educational institutions,” said Alan Tuchtenhagen, executive director of enrollment services. “This may well be a record newstudent enrollment for spring term. Our location, affordability and broad array of academic programs makes us a very popular choice for transfer students.”

Tuchtenhagen says it is common for individuals to enter the University between terms during an academic year. “Some students are just starting their college career, others are changing institutions and transferring,” says Tuchtenhagen. “But there are also many students who have been out of school for some time

and have decided that it is time to go back to school to finish their degree and enhance their employability.”

Students can take either a full-time or part-time schedule of classes. Registration is Jan. 18 and classes start Jan. 22 for all new, incoming students including transfer students. Students must be admitted before registering. On-campus housing is available as is financial aid for those who qualify.

For information on undergraduate admission, contact the admissions office at 715-425-3500 or e-mail admit@uwrf.edu. For graduate school admission and a list of graduate courses, contact the outreach and graduate studies office, www.uwrf.edu/ogs or call 715-425-3256, 800-228-5607 or e-mail outreach@uwrf.edu. – from UW-River Falls

YEAR 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

FATALITIES

FATAL CRASHES

763 795 645 703 706 739 759 721 709 744 801 764 805 836 784 801 709

672 675 579 616 616 656 656 631 628 674 718 684 723 748 714 700 657

were much higher from the 1960s until the 1980s when drunken driving and seat belt laws were strengthened.

• 1960 through 1963 - more than 900 traffic fatalities each year.

• 1964 through 1973 - more than 1,000 traffic fatalities each yea r -1972 was the deadliest year in terms of traffic deaths in Wisconsin history with 1,168 fatalities.

• 1973 through 1981 - more than 900 traffic fatalities each year. – from Wis. DOT

Noncredit language classes offered RIVER FALLS – If you’ve always wanted to speak Italian or Spanish, here’s your chance. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is offering noncredit language classes for adults beginning in February.

The classes are held in the early evening with convenient, free parking close to class. Classes meet weekly for six weeks beginning with Spanish I on Feb. 6, Italian on Feb. 7, and Spanish II on March 27.

In Italian for Travelers, participants will learn basic Italian expressions and practical vocabulary and receive cultural and travel insights. “This relaxed, interactive class of conversation and role playing will help you develop the confidence you need to enjoy a full Italian experience abroad,” said Cynthia WellsO’Malley, UWRF outreach program manager.

Participants are introduced to the language in Spanish I and can opt to continue their lessons in Spanish II. The classes are practical and proficiency-based and include a blend of culture, vocabulary and grammar presented in a relaxed atmosphere.

Advanced registration and payment of $85 is required for each class and maybe be done online or by mail. A complete list of courses, course descriptions and online registration information is available at http:/www.uwrf.edu/ogs or can be obtained by calling at 715-425-3256, 800-228-5607 or e-mailing outreach@uwrf.edu. – from UW-River Falls

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 5

TF ups snow-removal fee, swears in new council member

by Julie Holmquist TAYLORS FALLS – The Taylors Falls City Council approved an increased sidewalk snow-removal fee Tuesday night during a special organizational meeting for 2007.

The council set the fee schedule for the new year, increasing the sidewalk snow-removal fee from $35 to $50.

“We’re hoping this helps people to remember to clear their sidewalks in a timely manner,” said Mayor Mike Buchite.

New council member Zara Kinnunen was sworn into office with Vice Mayor Ross Rivard and Mayor Buchite, who were both re-elected.

Kinnunen filled the seat left vacant when Jim Schoonmaker decided not to run for re-election.

Kinnunen will serve with Buchite as the fire services liaison, and will also be the council member liaison for the finance and administration department. Other liaison appointments remain the same, with Rivard and Larry Julik-Heine on public works, John Tangen on fire services, Buchite and Tangen on personnel, and Buchite as the chamber of commerce liaison.

Kinnunen will also serve as the council representative on the Heritage Preservation Commission. Joe

Stein was appointed to the full-time planning commission seat left empty when Kinnunen joined the city council.

The council also added the Inter-County Leader as an official newspaper for the city. The city currently uses the Chisago County Press in Lindstrom, but the council decided to add a second official newspaper for 2007.

Clerk Jo Everson noted that the Press has not been able to send a reporter to the council meetings, whereas the Leader and the Ledger have provided regular coverage.

“Chisago is in the county and is on this side of the river, but the other papers are more local,” said council member Julik-Heine.

The council discussed switching each year between the Leader of St. Croix Falls and the Ledger of Balsam Lake as an additional official newspaper, and drew names for the 2007 appointment.

The council also approved several department requests for end-of-the-year budget transfers. The administrative fund balance of $9,987.44 will go toward two new computers ($5,000) with the remainder going into the city’s general fund.

The balance of $15,407.67 in the contingency fund,

$6,566.82 from the election fund, and $2,590.03 from the fire department fund balance will go toward new fire-truck payments. The election fund balance had been allocated for new equipment that wasn’t needed.

The general government building fund balance of $13,163.73 will mostly go into the general fund, except for $5,000, which the council decided to transfer to the community center fund.

“We drained that pot with the painting and repairs (of the community center),” Buchite noted.

Rivard suggested sending about $8,000 of the government-building fund into fire-truck payments, but the other council members didn’t agree.

Buchite reminded the council that the city auditors recommend a healthy cash reserve. Increasing the general-fund reserves to a six-month operating cash balance is one of the 12 goals and priorities set by the council for 2007.

A few other city fees were also increased when the council set the fee schedule including certain charges for public-works equipment and the fireworks license fee.

The next Taylor Falls City Council meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8.

A citizen’s guide to nominating caucuses

Residents to decide who will be on April ballot

by Gregg Westigard BURNETT AND POLK COUNTIES- Residents in most villages and towns will soon get to decide who will run for their boards in the April election. Candidates for half of the six trustee seats on each village counsel and for village president will be nominated by caucuses during January. In addition, the towns will fill their elected positions.

Every voter living in a village or town can take part in the caucus but many caucuses have a low turnout.

In some cases, less than a full slate of candidates is nominated.

Caucuses must be held between the first and last Tuesday in January. In 2007, caucuses may be held from Jan. 2 through Jan. 30. Citizens gather at a designated time, choose a chairperson for the meeting, and nominate persons to be placed on the April ballot.

Villages have six trustees who serve a two-year term, so half the trustees are elected each year. The term of village presidents are also up this year.

Towns elect a town chair and two supervisors, each of whom serve two-year terms. (An exception is found in Alden and Clayton. These towns each have four supervisors and elect two each year.) Many towns also elect the town clerk and treasurer, although these offices are sometimes being changed to appointed positions.

Nominations take place in two ways. A common method is to use paper ballots to place a name in nomination. An alternate method is spoken nominations.

Nominees present can remove their names from consideration. A person does not need to be present to be nominated.

If the nomination process produces the number of candidates allowed for the ballot, for example six names for three trustee seats, a motion can be made to accept the nomination list as the final list. When more than the maximum number of candidates are nominated, a vote is held to narrow the list to the allowed number.

Two candidates can be selected for each position.

In villages, three seats are open, so six candidates can be nominated by the caucus. If more than six persons are nominated, a ballot is taken. Each person present votes for three nominees, and the six persons with

the most votes win a place on the April 3 spring election ballot.

Persons do not need to be present to be nominated, but all nominees must accept the nomination within five days of notification of the caucus results. If a candidate declines the nomination, the ballot spot remains empty.

Cities and some villages and towns use nomination papers to select candidates. Candidates in those places had been filling for office in December. That nomination period ended Tuesday, Jan. 2. A list of those nominees will be reported next week.

Village caucus dates (villages not listed use nomination papers). Call village office for time and place Balsam Lake – Wednesday, Jan. 10 Centuria – Monday, Jan. 15 Clayton – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Frederic – Tuesday, Jan. 30 Luck – Wednesday, Jan. 3 Milltown – Monday, Jan. 15 Grantsburg – Monday, Jan. 8 Siren – Thursday, Jan. 4 Webster – Wednesday, Jan. 10

Two challengers file for Frederic School Board

April ballot has six names for four seats

by Gregg Westigard FREDERIC – Two challengers, Shari Matz and Becky Amundson, have filed to run for the Frederic School Board in the April 3 election. Also on the ballot are

four incumbents, Kay Friberg, Terry Taylor, Scott Nelson and Lee Jensen. Filings closed Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Four of the five seats are on the ballot this year due to the fact that two present board members were appointed to fill vacancies. Nelson and Jensen were appointed last fall to replace David Pederson and David Ammend after the two resigned during the summer. Persons appointed to fill vacant school-board

seats serve only until the next election. Friberg and Taylor are completing three-year terms.

The six candidates will be listed together. Voters may vote for up to four candidates. The two persons with the most votes will serve three-year terms, the third-place candidate will complete a two-year term, and the fourth-place candidate will serve one year.

Town caucus dates for Burnett and Polk counties

Call town clerk for time and place

Polk County Alden – Apple River – Tuesday, Jan. 23 Balsam Lake – Tuesday, Jan. 16 Beaver – Tuesday, Jan. 30 Black Brook – Monday, Jan. 8 Bone Lake – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Clam Falls – Wednesday, Jan. 10

Clayton – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Clear Lake – Monday, Jan. 8 Eureka – Thursday, Jan. 11 Farmington – Monday, Jan. 15 Garfield – Saturday, Jan. 13 Georgetown – Saturday, Jan. 27 Johnstown – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Laketown – Tuesday, Jan. 16 Lincoln – Thursday, Jan. 11 Lorain – Thursday, Jan. 18 Luck – Tuesday, Jan. 9 McKinley – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Milltown – Monday, Jan. 8 Osceola – uses nominating papers St. Croix Falls – Sterling – Monday, Jan. 15 West Sweden – Tuesday, Jan. 23

Eureka to nominate new slate

Correction

by Gregg Westigard Burnett County Anderson – Saturday, Jan. 13 Blaine – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Daniels – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Dewey – Saturday, Jan. 13 Grantsburg – Monday, Jan. 8 Jackson – Monday, Jan. 8 LaFollette – Saturday, Jan. 6 Lincoln – Saturday, Jan. 13 Meenon – Monday, Jan. 8 Oakland – Roosevelt – Saturday, Jan. 20 Rusk – Tuesday, Jan. 9 Sand Lake – Tuesday, Jan. 30

Present town board retiring

EUREKA – The residents of Eureka will be nominating a new slate of candidates when they gather for their nomination caucus next Thursday, Jan. 11. The town clerk has told the Leader that the current town

Scott – Saturday, Jan. 6 Siren – Thursday, Jan. 11 Swiss – Wednesday, Jan. 10 Trade Lake – Saturday, Jan. 6 Union – Wednesday, Jan. 17 Webb Lake – Saturday, Jan. 6 West Marshland – Wednesday, Jan. 10 Wood River – Saturday, Jan. 13

chair and both supervisors announced that they will not be seeking re-election this April.

The caucus, to be held at 7 p.m. at the Eureka Town Hall on Hwy. 87, will be nominating new candidates for the three positions. All Eureka town voters can participate in the caucus. – Gregg Westigard

In the article titled “Old Cars…” in the Dec. 27 issue of the Leader, the first sentence in the last section should have read “Some people have said that the highway department needs a new building.” The sentence as written presented opinion and not fact. – Gregg Westigard

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

Tickets to be issued for lack of booster seats STATEWIDE - Starting this week, people driving their kids around without booster seats could face tickets. To help poor families get safety seats designed for older children, communities in Wisconsin are applying for grant money. It comes from the federal government, which encouraged states to pass the law.

Until now, warnings were given during a six-month grace period after the booster law went into effect in Wisconsin. State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf says more than 100 warnings were issued according to state transportation records. He says officers on the street are reporting that they discover this violation when they make a traffic stop for something else.

Booster seats help prevent injuries from ill-fitting seat belts meant for adults. The booster is designed for children between the age of 4 and 7 who are less than 80 pounds. Patty Dickey of the Wisconsin Information Network for Safety says there’s a wide range in prices. She says a backless booster can be had for as little as $15, but a highback booster can cost as much as $60 or $70.

The Wisconsin Information Network for Safety has started taking grant applications from local government agencies which want to give away booster seats to those who can’t afford them. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Shamane Mills)

Top 10 state stories of 2006/from page 3 UW men placed second and the women fourth at the 2006 NCAA Division 1 National Cross-Country Championships. The Badger football team had its first-ever 11-win regular season, tying a school record for wins in a season and helping to seal Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for rookie head coach Brett Bielema. And, on Monday, Dec. 18, Coach Bo Ryan’s basketball Badgers made history after defeating then No. 2-ranked Pittsburgh, moving them up to fourth place in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and fifth in the USA Today-ESPN poll. Before that the team had never been ranked higher than sixth in the AP poll.

Thousands march for immigrant rights Thousands of residents marched and rallied in cities across Wisconsin, nearly 70,000 in Milwaukee alone, in the spring to push for immigration reform that would provide a pathway to citizenship. Marchers protested a bill by Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner that would tighten border security and make an illegal immigrant’s presence in the country a felony.

E. Coli outbreak kills one In September, Wisconsin was hardest hit in an E. Coli outbreak linked to bagged spinach grown in California.

The bacteria killed one Manitowoc woman and sickened at least 49 others.

High Gas Prices Lead to Surge in Alternative Energy Initiatives As gas prices soared to well above the $3-per-gallon mark, Wisconsin

moved forward to develop new energy technologies, including ethanol and other biofuels. Gov. Doyle launched Wisconsin’s “Declaration of Energy Independence” intended to make Wisconsin a national leader in alternative energy research.

Lead in stem cell research More than 80 researchers are exploring the potential of stem cells at UWMadison and WiCell, the home of the National Stem Cell Bank. In January 2006, Wisconsin scientists announced that they had grown two new stem cell lines, and last spring the Wisconsin Institutes of Discovery received a $150 million public-private investment to advance stem cell research in Wisconsin.

Brett Favre returns; sets record Throughout the early months of 2006, Brett Favre’s impending decision whether to return for another season as the Packers’ oft-celebrated and sometimes maligned quarterback kept Wisconsinites focused on their beloved “Pack.” And, despite tough going that included multiple losses on the nearsacred turf of Lambeau Field, Packer fans continued to support their team.

Then, on Sunday, Dec. 17, in an ugly, but hard-fought 17-9 win over the Detroit Lions at Lambeau, Brett Favre made NFL history by surpassing Dan Marino’s all-time record for most completed passes. - from Wisconsin Historical Society

Vets hospitals look at smoking issue MADISON - A handful of hospitals around Wisconsin are smoke-free, both indoors and out. Veterans hospitals have resisted such a change, but now there’s an indication they may be relenting.

One reason hospitals in Wisconsin ban smoking is image. After all, they’re supposed to promote good health, not bad habits. Hospitals for veterans are also concerned about tobacco-related illness, but they’re hamstrung. It’s estimated that 34 percent of U.S. vets smoke, and they’re given special protection to do so. A federal law in effect since 1985 requires VA facilities to provide a place to smoke on hospital grounds.

Now, five hospitals in the country are being temporarily exempted. One of them is the VA hospital in Madison.

Nathan Geraths is its director. He says the hospital itself is completely smokefree and their next push is to have a smoke-free campus.

Geraths says one quarter of patients at the veterans hospital he oversees have problems linked to smoking, but efforts to limit tobacco at the Madison VA have been controversial. Geraths recalls the first effort two decades ago: a store within the hospital stopped selling cigarettes. He says that was considered a “monumental, earth-shattering effort,” and the thought was the store might collapse without the revenue from cigarettes. He says that didn’t happen and the store survived.

Ten years later, smoking within the entire hospital was banned, with the exception of the psychiatry department.

Now that exemption has been removed and the hospital will be experimenting with a completely smoke-free campus.

In the pilot project with Madison are four other veterans hospitals, located in Minneapolis, Memphis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Shamane Mills)

A r e a N e w s

Renewed interest in old murder case

BLOOMER - On Monday, Dec. 18, the Bloomer Advance got a call from Channel 13 NewsCenter reporter Mark Povolny, asking about photos from a story in the Bloomer Advance in 1959. According to Povolny’s news story, that ran Dec. 18 at 10 p.m., “Investigators in Chippewa County are now taking another look at a murder from 1959. The case involves a woman shot to death near Bloomer at a cabin.” Of course the original photos taken for the newspaper story are long gone, but Povolny decided to bring a cameraman up to Bloomer and film the yellowing pages of the 1959 “yearbook” that feature pictures of murder victim Ruth Martin, her cabin on Marshmiller Lake and the state crime units mobile lab. Povolny’s segment continues, “51-year-old Ruth Martin was shot in the head at her cabin on Marshmiller Lake northeast of Bloomer in 1959. To this day, her murder remains unsolved. Now Chippewa County Sheriff Doug Ellis has asked state investigators to take another look at the evidence.” According to the NewsCenter 13 story, Chippewa County came across the Martin case while moving some evidence around. As of the 18th, the Cold Crimes unit had been in contact with Chippewa County investigators, but no evidence had been sent to Madison for re-examination. Forty-seven years ago, on Thursday, April 16, 1959, the Bloomer Advance reported that Mrs. Vyron Martin was shot early Thursday evening, April 9. The paper stated, “Mrs. Martin’s nude body was found by her husband upon his return from a Teamsters’ Union meeting...” The newspaper account goes on to explain that police found her clothes neatly folded at the end of the couch. She was shot in the head with a .22-caliber pistol or rifle, no murder weapon was ever found, and therefore the coroner ruled out suicide. Investigators cleared Martin’s husband as the killer, and the few other leads they had led nowhere. Current sheriff, Ellis, asked the department of criminal investigation to look over the case files and evidence because he says advances in forensic technology may turn up new leads in the case. – Barron News-Shield

Carnegie lauds heroes of 2004 tragedy

RICE LAKE - Two survivors and three victims of the deer hunting shooting in November 2004 have been awarded the Carnegie Medal. The medal is given by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Fund Hero Commission to civilians who risk their lives while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Awarded the medal were survivors Lauren Hesebeck of Rice Lake and Carter Crotteau of Haugen. Awarded the medal posthumously were Jessica Willers of Green Bay, Allan Laski of Haugen and Dennis Roux of Rice Lake. They join 25 others across the nation who were announced as recipients last week. Other recipients include people who saved others from fires, drownings and assaults. The awards stem from the Nov. 21 incident near Birchwood in which Chai Soua Vang killed six Rice Lake area deer hunters in the woods in Sawyer County. Killed were Bob Crotteau, 42, Crotteau’s son, Joe, 20, Al Laski, 43, Denny Drew, 55, Mark Roidt, 28, and Jessica Willers, 27. Vang also tried to kill Terry Willers and Hesebeck.

According to a narrative written as part of the awarding of the medals, the conflict erupted about noon on Nov. 21 between Vang and the hunting party. Vang, at the time a 36-year-old truck driver from St. Paul, was told that he was trespassing on hunting land owned by Terry Willers and Bob Crotteau. Vang, armed with a rifle, opened fire on the hunters, wounding Terry Willers, Drew and Hesebeck, and killing the Crotteaus and Roidt. Although a vehicle was available, Hesebeck remained at the scene to tend to Terry Willers and Drew. At the party’s nearby cabin, Carter Crotteau, 18, who was the son and brother of two of the hunters who were killed, was alerted by radio to the shooting and, despite not knowing the assailant’s whereabouts, responded by all-terrain vehicle with Willers’ son, Brandon. They evacuated Terry Willers from the scene, Hesebeck again elected to remain with Drew, stated the award narrative. “Hearing her father’s voice on a radio transmission, Jessica M. Willers, 27, surgical technician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay, and Allan James Laski, a lumberyard manager, also members of the hunting party, set out to the scene from the cabin on an all-terrain vehicle. En route, they too were shot and mortally wounded by the assailant. The assailant reappeared at a point near Hesebeck and saw that he was alive. He fired again at Hesebeck, then fled. Two other members of the hunting party, Dennis Roux, 63, a retired union officer, and Drew’s brother, arrived shortly in a pickup truck and took Hesebeck and Drew to safety, Roux tending Drew in the truck’s bed, stated the narrative. Willers required hospital treatment for his wound, and he recovered. Drew, also hospitalized, died the next day of his injury. Hesebeck was hospitalized for treatment, including surgery, of a shoulder wound, and he recovered. Those who are selected for the Carnegie Medal, or their survivors, become eligible for $5,000 grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance. Since the medal was founded in 1904, 9,053 medals have been awarded. About 20 percent of the medals are awarded posthumously. – Rice Lake Chronotype

Logrolling champ injured in Iraq explosion

HAYWARD – A National Guard member from Hayward serving in Iraq was seriously injured in a roadside bomb explosion Wednesday, Dec. 20, north of Baghdad. JR Salzman, the son of Darrell and Bonnie Salzman and a six-time Lumberjack World Championships logrolling champion, lost his right arm below his elbow in the explosion of an improvised explosive device when shrapnel came through the window of his vehicle north of Baghdad near the Anaconda military base. Two others in Salzman’s unit were also injured in the explosion. Salzman is a member of Alpha Company of the 135th Airborne Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard based in Rochester and has been in Iraq since March. Salzman’s mother said that JR is allergic to morphine; after being injured, he was in the field for 45 minutes without pain medication until he was airlifted to Baghdad. There, he underwent two surgeries and from there was flown to the Army base in Germany. Salzman was then flown to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington , where he arrived on Sunday, Dec. 24. He was evaluated on Dec. 25. On Tuesday, Dec. 26, his parents and girlfriend Josie traveled to Washington to see him. His mother carried a big box of cards and letters written to JR by students at Hayward Intermediate School, where Bonnie is a teacher’s aide. In a Dec. 21 message on his Web site “Lumberjack in a desert,” which he posted while being flown to Germany, Salzman said, “It is hard for me to tell you all this, but I was hurt by an IED here. My right arm has been amputated below the elbow. My left arm has four working fingers. My legs are fine, so I can still logroll!” - Sawyer County Record

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7

Burnett Community Library news 15th Anniversary The public library in Webster will be having an open house on Saturday, Jan. 6, to celebrate 15 years of providing service to the community. The open house will be during the regular Saturday hours of the library; which is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and visit and share in cake and refreshments.

Plans are tohave all past library board presidents here for picture taking, as well as the current board president and board members.

Burnett Community Library became official as a public library on Jan. 2, 1992. After becoming part of the Northern Waters Library system, and the hiring of a library director, it was official, and the library was then in good standing with the state of Wisconsin and its minimum requirements. Maxine Peterson was hired as the library director and began work on Jan. 2, 1992, and is director to this day.

Peterson remembers the first of many things to get replaced. The front desk was a small white, and poorly puttogether desk. If one wasn’t careful, the whole thing would have fallen over. It was replaced with a beautiful desk that has served the library will for many years now. There were cement blocks with rough wooden shelving strung across the blocks. These were placed under the window area facing the Sturgeon Street side. Those too, were replaced with good-quality, nice-looking wooden shelves. More shelves were to be added as time went by, and each added more quality to the library. The inventory and the assets, in general, have kept climbing to make the library what it is today.

Even though it is much in need of more space and materials, this library has come a long way, and it grew much faster than a lot of small-town libraries had in only a 15-year period. This community can be proud of its local public library and what it will continue to do for many years to come. The library is here to be of service to you, the people of this area, providing inter-library loan service, along with other libraries in our system and outside of our system, all throughout Wisconsin and also out of state. If there is a book or other format not provided at the local library, all one has to do is request it from another library and the material will be delivered by a state delivery van service. The services provided besides inter-library loan are: photocopy/fax, high-speed public-access Internet, online databases, e-books and online catalog.

Special programs are: Friends book club that meets at 10 a.m., the last Tuesday of the month, to discuss the book of the month. The Friends of the Library fundraising group meets the second Thursday of the month. Story time is held each Wednesday, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Friends of the Knit Wits craft group meet each Thursday in the library from 10 a.m. to noon, to share stories and craft ideas. They enjoy themselves each and every week, and even continue the day by having lunch together somewhere afterwards. Now doesn’t that sound like a lot of fun!

You, the community, are the reason the library is here and continue to be here. Come and join in for the 15thanniversary celebration on Saturday, Jan. 6, during open house at the library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

L e a d e r

We b Po l l

This week’s question: New Year’s resolutions?

1. Not this year 2. Spend more time with family 3. Lose weight and/or stop smoking 4. Get control of my finances 5. I never keep them so I don’t make any

J o e H e l l e r

F O R U M

Editor’s Notebook

T

To the new guard

here are new faces around us in 2007.

Some faces may be familiar but their roles have changed. They are now in positions of leadership.

As the new year launches, we wish those who find themselves in new higher profile, more challenging roles - all the courage and strength they will need to carry out their new orders.

We have a new state legislator for Burnett and Polk counties and a new district attorney in Polk County. There are those starting their first full year in positions at the head of domestic abuse shelters, humane societies, police departments - positions under scrutiny and responsible, mostly, to the public at large.

You know who you are.

It’s been said that with experience comes more wisdom and skill and that experience comes with grace through listening. A lost art? Not at all. Those who got to their new positions must have had some listening skills along the way.

So here’s to your new challenges. Don’t forget to listen to those you serve.

And then...don’t forget to act.

Some advice for the new year - for what it’s worth.

To the new laws

N

ew laws were ushered in by the new year.

Wisconsin doesn’t necessarily have the best of them, but it seems to be keeping pace with other states in the art of lawmaking.

We’re one of eight states where thieves will find it more difficult to defraud its victims beginning this year. New “security freeze” laws are aimed at making sure thieves can’t open new accounts under victims’ names.

In other “crime and punishment” legislation, Wisconsin lawmakers performed an outstanding service to its citizens by requiring law enforcement agencies to record all interrogations of felony suspects, with either video or audio. Another important step against wrongful convictions. And it can’t hurt the justice system in terms of prosecution, either.

In 2007, Wisconsin will be one of just two states (the other being Illinois) to have laws prohibiting concealed weapons. Nebraska and Kansas - the other two holdouts - have now climbed on the concealed-weapons bandwagon.

Our state began work a few years ago on new anti-bullying laws for school districts following television station broadcasts showing examples of out-ofcontrol bullying on some playgrounds in the state. We’re hoping Wisconsin follows examples such as South Carolina where schoolyard bullies will face tougher tactics in 2007. The state will require every school district to expand anti-bullying policies to protect students not just from physical harm but also from cell-phone and e-mail harassment.

Some other new laws that should have everyone thinking: - In Michigan, the location of illegal meth labs will be posted online.

- Social Security numbers in two states become more secure in 2007. In Arkansas, it will be illegal to display the number or require someone to send it over the Internet - unless it is encrypted. In Maryland, employers cannot print any part of their employees’ Social Security numbers on a paycheck or stub.

- Illinois inmates with self-inflicted wounds will have to pay their own medical bills.

- Beginning in 2007, gift cards in Kansas will have to be good for at least 5 years.

- California passed the country’s first-in-the-nation law to protect student journalists from censorship by public colleges or universities.

- Pistol-packing judges in Kansas will be able to carry concealed weapons into their courtrooms.

Good laws? Bad laws? Voters can be the judge. But obviously, lawmakers are taking their jobs seriously.

W h e re t o Wr i t e

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper printed in Frederic with offices in Siren and St. Croix Falls. Board of directors: Vivian Byl, chairman; Janet Oachs, Merlin Johnson, Harvey Stower and Charles JohnPanek. son. Manager: Doug Opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily represent the opinions of the board or management.

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper formed in 1933.

T h 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. Mark Pettis 28th Assembly District State Capitol, P.O. Box 8953 Madison, WI 53708 or 3984 St. Rd. 70, Hertel, WI (608) 267-2365 or 1-888-529-0028 rep.pettis@legis.state.wi.us

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

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 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) 2662519 rep.hubler@legis.state.wi.us

Senator Robert Jauch 25th Senate District Room 19 South State Capitol P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 E-mail: Sen.Jauch@legis.state.wi.us

L e a d e r

Senator Sheila Harsdorf 10th Senate District State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-7745 • (715) 2321390 Toll-free - 1-800-862-1092 sen.harsdorf@legis.state.wi. us U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold SDB 40, Rm. 1 Washington, D.C. 20510 or 8383 Greenway Blvd.

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

Washington, D.C. 20510 senator_kohl@kohl.senate.g ov 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

i s

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JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9

L e a d e r F O R U M C o m m u n i t y V O I C E S

Views from across the

State

Child sexual abuse survivors need your help

Raise tax to snuff out smoking habit

Raising the state's cigarette tax is a good idea for a pack of reasons. But we have no faith that the extra revenue will be used as intended.

Normally we would oppose any new tax.

However, the possible benefits are too great in this case.

The Healthy Wisconsin Committee, appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle, recommends boosting the tax by $1 per pack to raise about $277 million a year and fund health care coverage for about 160,000 residents. The group suggests using the money to expand the state's Medicaid program, which covers the elderly, disabled and low-income people; and to create a reinsurance pool for catastrophic care claims so insurance is more affordable for small businesses. Expanding Medicaid would generate another $378 million in federal matching funds.

The tax increase would help many state residents keep New Year's resolutions. It would encourage an estimated 34,000 adults to quit smoking and keep about twice that many kids from the addiction.

The tax boost would save millions in preventable health care costs, much of which Wisconsin taxpayers now bear, Wisconsin Hospital Association President Steve Brenton says.

However, our main concern is spending the money the right way. Doyle says he would support the increase only if the money is reserved for smoking-related illnesses and programs to prevent smoking and to help smokers quit.

But Doyle is part of the problem. He has swiped an estimated $1.1 billion from the state's transportation coffers-supposedly segregated funds-to pad other spending.

Before Doyle took office, the state was awarded a $6 billion settlement from the tobacco industry, and part of it was supposed to help snuff out smoking. It quickly went up in smoke as our elected leaders frittered it away for a fraction of its long-term value to

fill budget deficits.

If the state can create an ironclad guarantee that the money from a higher cigarette tax would be used as proposed, we would support it wholeheartedly. But if such an assurance exists anywhere, we'd like to know of it. The track record for our elected officials lacks credibility. They've shown time and again that they're addicted to spending supposedly segregated funds elsewhere. - Janesville Gazette

I

tried to commit suicide, more then once on some s I have worked the past five years with vicoccasions. These children do not always have tims of violence, it amazes me how many access to services and support, they feel alone, children are sexually abused each year. and the legal system takes so long. This is not In 2005, Burnett County had 36 child sexbecause the parents fail to give them what they ual abuse referrals; three children per month, need or are bad parents; this is an emotional traualmost one a week and these are only the ones we ma for their child and that affects each child difknow about! National studies show that 500,000 ferently. children are sexually abused each year in this Victims of child sexual assault may carry the country and in 85 percent of the cases, the perpehorrors of their experiences with them their entire trator is known to the victim.

LeAnn lives. Many children suffer from post traumatic Child sexual abuse is at an all-time high. Sexual Mulroy stress disorder. Long after the event, the experiabuse by a family member or trusted adult hapence continues to take priority in the thoughts, pens to nearly one of four girls, and one out of six emotions, and behavior of children and adults. boys, before they reach their 18th birthdays. Every child is vulnerable to sexual abuse, regardless of age, sex, Low self-esteem, drug addiction, anxiety disorders, eating religion or community. The age, sex, religion and social disorders, depression, and relationship problems can result. They feel shame, guilt, anger, sadness, isolation and status of the predators also knows no boundaries.

Burnett County has had several serial predators in recent fear. It is important that children are believed if they tell years. Predators groom the children for sexual assault. someone about the abuse. If they are not believed and are The grooming process includes building trust and doing simply dismissed, they will probably never tell again. favors. One man in the county had four victims, several They will remain victims forever.

The Safe and Stable Families program of Burnett County more had moved out of the area before he was charged.

His victims were all young boys, ranging from 12 to 16 would like to start a new support program for child victims years old. He would groom the boys by having the cool of sexual abuse. We are asking for donations from the complace to hang out. He would offer cigarettes, alcohol, let munity to help start this program. This group is intended them drive his car when they were not old enough, and to help participants get further knowledge and underwatch pornography. Why would these children tell when standing of the effects of sexual violence in their lives. In a this predator let them do anything they wanted, they trust- safe, supportive environment, group members will have an opportunity to talk, share experiences, ask questions, give ed him, and he had this information on them?

Another man in the county preyed on young girls. There and receive support and encouragement. Some sample were three girls ranging in age from 10 and 11 years old. topics may include: information on how to build a positive His way of grooming included fixing up their bikes for support system, strategies for coping, how to begin healthem. He would do repairs and paint them so they looked ing, self-esteem and empowerment, as well as address each better. Who would not trust the nice man who fixes bikes participantís personal goals. The group size will depend on the number of children attending; there will be two at no charge?

Some predators abuse the children in their home. One licensed therapists working with the children. We would recent Burnett County man sexually abused his stepchild like to see group sizes at approximately 10 children. There for at least seven years. After he served his time, he preyed could be as many as four groups of children, boys ages to on another child in the community, less than a year from 13 and boys over 13 and the same groups for girls.

Please help us in our effort to help heal the child sexual his release. One man preyed on his grandchild, two others on their stepchildren. Take a look at the National Sex abuse victims of our communities. If you would like more Offender Registry and see who is in your area, you might information, have us speak to your organization, or to make a donation, call LeAnn Mulroy at 715-349-5545. be surprised.

Editor’s note: LeAnn is a Frederic High School graduate with The hardest thing for me when going to court with these sexual abuse victims is their feelings of hopelessness and associate degrees in alcohol drug counseling and as a paralegal. pain. It can take years for a sexual assault case to be fin- She works full time as the Burnett County Crisis Intervention ished, leaving the victim with years of revictimization. I Coordinator for Community Referral Agency/Welcome Home have cried on the courthouse floor with a young girl when shelter, working with victims of domestic/sexual assault and a jury found her abuser not guilty for lack of evidence. She child abuse. She works part time as the Burnett County Safe and just sobbed, “Why didnít they believe me?” It is hard for Stable Families Coordinator, working with community individuher to understand that it was not that they did not believe als and organizations to provide resources and support for comher, but there just was not enough evidence. Several other munity needs. She volunteers as the Burnett County Coordinatyoung victims in the county have tried to dull the pain by ed Community Response Coordinator and holds positions with the Siren Ball Park Inc., the Siren Athletic Association and does cutting themselves. This physical pain takes away the foster care. She lives in Siren with her two children, Haily, 14 emotional pain that they have every day. Several have and Caleb, 11.

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with relatives for the holidays, and I saw a business sign that reminded me of Ole and Lena grocery bills alone kill me. If I jokes: Ole Transmission & want to have a piece of chocoBrakes. late for an evening reward, I “Hey look,” I said. “A Norhave to hide it under my pilwegian name!” low or the ravenous hordes Then I thought for a minute. will find it.

We were in a Hispanic area, My husband and I have also where more than half the popbeen positive parents, accordJulie ulation speaks Spanish, and ing to the magazine’s gurus. where buying lefsa is an Why? Because we don’t Holmquist impossibility. We had to bring have a portable DVD player the lefsa from Wisconsin for for the family van. (We save the California Christmas meal. our money for fun stuff like new matThe word was Ole (pronounced Ohtresses and a furnace part that costs LAY), Spanish for hello. $500).

My family howled with laughter, According to the article, no DVD especially my older teens. I’ll never live player in the van allows for more fami- that one down, and no DVD player ly interaction on car trips. made it all possible.

Yes, with two talkative kids and two Our cheap family ways have also older teens who would rather be else- made me a friend to Mother Earth, where, we definitely have interaction. according to the magazine article.

Sometimes it’s very loud. Sometimes Leaf blowers apparently create noise I’ve longed for a portable DVD player, pollution, burn fuel that harms the but my low-tech loving husband says earth and have actually been banned in no DVD player means more car trip some areas. memories.

We’ve never owned one. My husband Just recently, we were taking a car trip isn’t one of those perfect lawn people in southern California after staying and I’m just happy if the crabgrass is

Low-tech, on a budget, and trendy

f you eat your evening meal at home and don’t have a DVD player in your car, you may be more cutting edge than you think.

After reading magazine articles over my vacation, I was pleased to see that my low-tech, cheap ways are healthy and apparently environmentally friendly. Yeah man, I’m cool.

It’s good, too, because I was beginning to feel like a definite geek, especially after staying at a relative’s million dollar home outfitted with plenty of giant plasma TVs and lots of high-tech gadgets.

My family actually eats our evening meal together, after I cook it. OK, most of them eat it, and if they don’t, they can get their own peanut butter sandwich.

According to a recent U.S. News and World Report on 50 Ways to Improve Your Life, eating at home is healthier than eating out because restaurant food is apt to have more trans fats than home-cooked meals. Little did I know how trendy I am. I just don’t have money to eat out with four kids. The

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mowed.

The icing on the cake was U.S. News & World Report’s article on how to improve your mind. Declare a tech-free day once a week, it advised.

Wow. I’d hate to see my mind if my life were more high tech. It’s bad enough now.

Our house is in the dark ages, you see. We don’t subscribe to cable television or have satellite TV or anything extra, televisionwise. And I just bought one of those pay-as-you-go cell phones.

(Although my time ran out a month ago and I still haven’t purchased a new card for it. I’d rather have expensive chocolate.)

Being as trendy as we are, my husband was way ahead on this tech-free day. He declared computer-free Sundays in 2006, which annoyed the four children.

We discovered, however, that more family games and other no-screen activities occurred on No Computer Sunday.

So if you feel behind tech-wise, or don’t have enough money for eating out or for the new Wii computer game, don’t despair. You’re trendy. You’re healthy. And you’re improving your mind.

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A change in course?

President Bush has now come to the conclusion that there needs to be a sizable increase in our military forces.

Those skeptics out there, who do not comprehend the complexities of this brilliant military mind, probably don’t realize that he has the vision to conceive concepts few others would even dream of.

With his determined and steadfast leadership, nothing is unachievable.

Based on the success of his domestic initiatives, think of the possibilities he could come up with for prosecuting the war in Iraq: outsourcing of military operations; privatizing strategic war planning; guest-soldier recruiting; a faith-based defense budget — the possibilities are endless.

Of course the cost of bringing our military up to the strength levels needed will require countless more billions of dollars. So, where’s the money to come from? Not to worry. Our president will solve that problem just as he has with all other appropriations — more tax cuts!

Paul G. Jaehnert Vadnais Heights, Minn.

Lyme meeting scheduled A newly formed Wisconsin Lyme Disease Action/Support Group of Western Wisconsin will be meeting on Saturday morning, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m., at the East Lincoln Church in Amery.

Our program will include viewing a DVD on loan to us from the Forest Lake, Minn., Lyme Support Group; “Co-infections of Lyme Disease.” This should be of great interest to each of us, as we continue to gain more knowledge of this often-times debilitating disease – a disease affecting so many of us living in the St. Croix Valley area.

Please feel welcome to join us on Jan. 13, as we gather together with relatives, families, friends and neighbors.

Our meetings last approximately 11/2 hrs., and refreshments will be served following the meeting.

East Lincoln Alliance Church is located on CTH J, just three miles east of

Real reform demands banning Frankenstein Veto Last session Gov. Doyle pieced together 20 random words within 752 words of the state budget to create an altogether new sentence that was never approved by the state Legislature, which allowed him to expend $427 million in state taxes beyond what was authorized. Numerous budget items were creatively transformed by the governor into a $427 million slush fund taken directly from the transportation fund. I coined that action the Frankenstein Veto.

Our initiative to ban the Frankenstein Veto is a reaction to the governor’s abuse of his partial veto authority in 2005. Today, we have a huge deficit in the transportation budget in part because of the governor’s transfer of $427 million. This veto made a mockery out of the legislative process and resulted in the first passage last session of a measure to ban its future use. Such a measure must pass in two consecutive legislative sessions before going to voters for approval.

Democracy 101 outlines that the executive branch cannot single-hand-

L e a d e r F O R U M Letters t o t h e e d i t o r Amery and CTH F, which is located at the S. Keller Avenue stoplight. We look forward to meeting you.

Ann Krisik and Tanya Carlson Amery

For citizen consideration 1. Let’s ask Burnett and Polk county board leaders what their thoughts are on downsizing? Please ask them.

2. Do they want to do it or have the citizens do it?

3. In Burnett County, property-owning nonresidents make up 51 percent–plus of the taxpayers. Is a democracy a majority rule with minority rights ? Taxation without representation? Something does not seem to be proper here.

Suggestion: 1. Downsize the boards from Burnett, 21 to 13, Polk, from 23 to 15.

2. County board members no longer represent districts, they are all large supervisors. They now care about the entire county just like town supervisors do.

3. The county chairman is the top vote-getting; this new process should get a greater involvement of the voters.

This also gets candidates to take a stand on county issues and allows the voter to hold them accountable.

4. With less supervisors, that allows for concerned citizens to serve on committees.

5. Each county board needs seven advisors for input and these seven come from the presidents of the lake associations. These folks care about the land, air, water and wildlife. These folks are a blend of resident and nonresident property owner/taxpayers.

Do we live in an area that is a government of, by and for the people?

What are the thoughts of other readers?

Rich Hess Trade Lake

edly appropriate funds. Most people understand this principle. Yet, the Frankenstein Veto is as preposterous as it is disconcerting. I take a copy of the veto with me when I travel my Senate Sheila district to show Harsdorf people firsthand its absurdity. I find that citizens, Democrat and Republican alike, agree that this is an abuse. You can see the veto online at www.harsdorfsenate.com.

An early test of new Senate leadership will be if they take action to ban the Frankenstein Veto. In the past and present, nearly everyone has agreed that such use of the partial veto in this form is an abuse.

As a gubernatorial candidate in 2002, Gov. Doyle supported such a ban, stating that “I don’t think you should be able to go in and take a word out there and a word out here and create a whole new sentence.” That is exactly what he did in 2005 after being elected governor.

The new Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Judy Robson, was a co-author of an identical bill to ban the Franken-

Kudos

Kudos to Elizabeth Otto’s column last week for stressing the importance of academics and keeping sports in a proper perspective. Well written, and I couldn’t agree more with many of her ideas. As a sports fan, I want to read as much as possible about the local sports scene, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious about who the best students are or who are the best musicians, drama students and or art students. Coaches probably have more practice at promoting their athletes, but that should not exempt teachers from sending local newspapers stories on exceptional students who are contributing to their school or community outside of the sports world.

Garth Olson Osceola

Duty to speak up Observing the actions of the Luck Village Council, it is hard to remain silent, especially after reading the report of the council meeting printed in the Dec. 13, 2006, Leader. I thought their duty was to look after the entire village – not just the small portion that is now Main Street.

Yet, here we read of them using their official positions to try and shovel money into the pockets of a certain business, and perhaps their own pockets. To me, this “takes the rag off the bush.”

The Bible tells us, several times, to “show no partiality.” Yet it seems to be alive and used by our village council.

The money derived from the council’s action will help their special friend with his own personal needs. Contrast this with Wayne’s, where they recently gave a party for the entire area. Hundreds upon hundreds of people tasted just about every food you could mention.

Many young people were helping with the party. No doubt a chance to earn a few dollars. Wayne’s also helped to raise a nice sum for the local food shelf recently, yet to my way of thinking, the council treats Wayne’s like dirt.

The list continues, rather than enforce their parking restrictions, the village removed the signs, and no doubt lifted the restrictions, though I’ve seen nothstein Veto in 1991, along with three other Senate Democrats.

This reform is not abstract, either.

Legislators are now contemplating higher registration fees and higher gas taxes to pay for the hole in the transportation fund created in part by the Frankenstein Veto. In other words, taxpayers are going to end up paying, and the 132 lawmakers elected by Wisconsin citizens did not even have a voice.

Capitol columnist Matt Pommer recently indicated efforts to ban the Frankenstein Veto were dead with a new Democrat controlled state Senate, even though no sources were cited. He is obviously anticipating a return to an era where partisanship trumps good public policy. He also wrongly stated that such a ban would eliminate Wisconsin’s gubernatorial partial veto authority. By banning the Frankenstein Veto, we would end absurd abuses, while still allowing Wisconsin’s governor to have the most powerful veto authority in the nation. A Wisconsin governor could still delete whole sentences and write down appropriations.

Historically, Wisconsin’s governor has had the most expansive veto authority in the nation. When thenRepublican Gov. Tommy Thompson omitted letters in words to create new

ing reported. Apparently the wrong people were violating because no arrests were reported. Oh yes, they did nail one poor joker who parked by his business one summer night. No snow removal involved. He must not have been one of the Good Ol’ Boys.

We are threatened with fines if we blow grass clippings or leaves on the streets, yet they allow a local firm to conduct business on the sidewalks and streets, nearly blocking them so as to create a very dangerous situation. Do they rent this street, or is it more of the Good Ol’ Boys?

The list could go on.

Don’t bother to tell me “If you don’t like what we do – go elsewhere.” I used to think we lived in a democracy and if you see things you feel are wrong you have a right, and a duty, to speak up.

Respectfully, Ellis Richter Luck

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words, there was a bipartisan vote to ban the Vanna White Veto. I joined a handful of my Republican colleagues in voting to ban it. Today efforts to ban the Frankenstein Veto are a logical extension of our ban of the Vanna White Veto. I believe Senate Democrats that have voted and supported efforts to ban the Frankenstein Veto will do so again when given the opportunity.

Finally, I recall a memorable exchange last session on the Senate floor when the Frankenstein Veto ban was passed under first consideration.

Sen. Tim Carpenter, a Democrat, asked then-Majority Leader Dale Schultz, a Republican, if he promised to take action even if the gubernatorial election went to a Republican. Schultz promised to take action regardless of the outcome of the governor’s race, because it was the right thing to do.

Carpenter then voted in-favor. It was a good question. Now, the ability to answer that question and determine the tone of this legislature is with Senate Democrat leadership. The votes are there in the Legislature, and the public deserves the ability to have a system of governance that does not make a mockery of our democracy.

Reform is needed now.

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A final lap around 2006: Top 10 stories Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., where he will ski for their team in 200708. Katelyn also plays volleyball for Valley Christian School in St. Croix Falls in addition to skiing.

“Stuff like this happens,” said Seth following the news. “I’m trying to be grateful for the time I had on the team.”

The Wildcats ski team went on to win the Northwest Suburban Conference for both the boys and girls teams. The boys team also won sections and reached the state meet.

A look back at the 10 biggest stories for 06

by Matt Blumkin LEADER LAND – Looking back at some of the biggest stories of 2006 last week, it was clear that 2006 had a lot of significant events.

The following 10 stories here were judged the most significant of all. A local athlete won a medal in the Olympics, area athletes and teams climbed to new milestones, a fiveschool hockey co-op debuted and a couple of longtime coaches said goodbye.

These events make 2006 especially memorable for the area.

Kothlow reaches state again as Luck-Unity tennis improves!

After reaching the state tennis tournament as a freshman, Unity’s Stephanie Kothlow certainly could have been predicted to make headlines again in 2006. In addition, the Eagles tennis team, co-oping with Luck, also put together some headline-making play with a 3-0 start in the Middle Border Conference after not winning a conference match in 2005.

They also played the MBC’s powerhouse teams in Amery, BaldwinWoodville and Osceola closely in 4-3 losses. The Eagles did this despite injuries, which mixed up their lineups including doubles.

“Our doubles teams had to step up and play in tougher positions, and they all came out ahead,” said Eagles Coach Jack Sondreal.

Their third doubles team of Jenielle Deiss and Angela Berthold stepped up with a 7-2 record (through Sept. 14).

Paige Andrews (6-6) and Lexi Kothlow (9-3) also posted .500 or better records through Sept. 12.

As the season progressed, Stephanie reached a 22-0 mark before suffering her first loss at the section tournament on Oct. 5. Her loss came to Mary Roop of La Crosse Aquinas, 3-6, 2-6, in the championship match, but Kothlow still advanced to state.

“I was kind of relieved,” said Kothlow about returning to state.

Then, she won her first match ever at the state tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sarah Frankiewicz of Shorewood before falling in the next round to Rachel Vrabec of Appleton Xavier, 3-6, 5-7. Frankiewicz had a 19-7 record going in because of Division 1 and 2 competition.

“Stephanie did not take her for granted, and it paid off,” said Eagles Coach Jack Sondreal. “Frankiewicz chased down every shot and hit it back.

Stephanie stayed patient, found her comfort zone and handled the match well.”

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Blizzard’s WIAA debut a success!

The year 2006 brought the first edition of WIAA hockey to the area with the Webster-Siren-Frederic-Luck-Grantsburg Blizzard taking the ice for the 2005-06 season.

With a successful WAHA program in Grantsburg, and Frederic’s and Webster’s prior co-op with Spooner, the

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Wes Wegner takes state long jump title!

Siren senior Wes Wegner won the long jump at state track on June 2 and became the fifth Dragon ever to win a title in an individual event.

“Coming in, I didn’t expect to be [state champ], but it was awesome actually doing it,” said Wegner.

His record-setting 22 feet, five inches on his third jump secured the state title.

He also broke the school record in the long jump during the preliminaries when he had a jump of 22-3.

Wegner had earned sixth place the year before with a jump of 20 feet 8-1/4 inches. Though he stood at the six-tier podium last year, it was nothing like being first for him.

“I thought it was fun standing on the podium getting sixth last year, but it was overwhelming standing there for first with everyone cheering,” said Wegner.

The village of Siren welcomed him home in the evening following the state meet, and he rode around town the fire truck, a tradition for champions returning to Siren.

The Grantsburg Pirates claimed their first state softball title in 2006 when they beat Lancaster 6-2 in 12 innings. It ranks as one of the top five stories of 2006. – Leader file photo by Matt Blumkin boys Blizzard team made a splash immediately with a 10-10 regular season record.

They put together a six-game winning streak early in the season and held a 6-3 record on home ice. Ethan Hayes led the team in scoring with 41 points and Cameron Hughes at 38. With those two and more firepower this season, the Blizzard have hit the ice skating with a 7-2-1 start.

They most recently pulled out a 5-4 overtime win over Duluth, Minn., Central when Hughes put in a game-winning goal, and then they split a pair of games at their own holiday tournament.

On the girls end, Lady Blizzard Coach Greg Norman began building a program with few girls that had hockey experience, and he had few numbers.

“Some of the girls had only played hockey for a couple of years, and other had never played,” said Norman.

“Luckily, we had five girls that played most of their lives.”

They had 12 players including one goalie to start the season, and they added another player by Jan. 27, which gave them enough for three lines.

Their co-op grew between seasons with several girls attending hockey camps and 24 players coming out for the team for the 2006-07 season. They also picked up their first-ever home win when they defeated Hayward, 8-4, on Dec. 5.

MSHSL sends Kinzers to the warming house During the shortest month of the year, February, the Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls ski team found themselves shorthanded.

Seth and Katelyn Kinzer, two of their

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top skiers, had been removed from the team due to the Minnesota State High School League’s ruling that CL-SCF must follow the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s rules regarding home-schooled students SCF athletes participate. The MSHSL allows home school students in Minnesota to compete for their local high schools.

The Kinzers reside in Wisconsin, but they were allowed to compete previously because former Wildcats Coach Charles Strantz received approval from the MSHSL to allow Isaiah Kinzer, Seth and Katelyn’s older brother, the opportunity to compete in 1999.

“The situation has always been that (way); back in 1999, we got permission,” said Chisago Lakes athletic director Perry Aadland.

Yet, a Minnesota high school ski coach discovered that Seth and Katelyn were from Wisconsin and home schooled, so the coach contacted the MSHSL to have them removed. Consequently, MSHSL Executive Director David Stead told Aadland to remove the Kinzers from the team.

“It seems very close-minded to insist on applying Wisconsin standards to a sport that the WIAA doesn’t even offer, instead of applying the guidelines Minnesota has where the competitions are taking place,” said Debbie, Seth and Katelyn’s mother.

The family sent letters to the MSHSL during the year to appeal the ruling, but they were turned down. Yet, they didn’t give up hope.

“God will work through it,” said Debbie.

Seth and Katelyn continued to ski for the Sport Hut Race Team in U.S. Skiing Association races. Seth, who graduated from high school in 2006, will attend St.

Coyour,

Weinberg points!

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1,000

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Siren’s Abby Coyour and St. Croix Falls’ Katie “the Kid” Weinberg both hit 1,000 career points for their respective basketball teams during 2006.

Coyour, a senior, hit the 1,000-point mark when she scored 24 points at Frederic on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Her coach, Jon Ruud, gave her the game ball that following Friday at home against Grantsburg.

“I wrote on the ball I gave her, ‘she will never be replaced and always be missed,’” said Ruud. “That says it all.

She has been a great player for us for four years.”

Coyour had been a leader and offensive threat for the Dragons during that span. She helped lead them to 58 wins at time of reaching the 1,000-point career mark, and she helped them to a pair of sectional appearances.

“She can post up, she can hit at the free-throw line and attack, she can shoot the 12-15 footer,” said Ruud. “Those are the parts of her game that have come along. She’s done a great job.”

Weinberg hit the 1,000-point mark two weeks later on Feb. 21, but she made the mark a class earlier as a junior.

Weinberg scored her final six points for reaching 1,000 by hitting a pair of threes when they routed Webster, 55-28.

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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!

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She had 27 points in the game.

“As a junior, it’s phenomenal,” said Saints Coach Angie Maternowsky.

“That doesn’t happen. Usually, it’s the end of your senior year, and you’re lucky to get it if you get it.”

Weinberg helped lead the Saints to the West Lakeland Conference title and a trip to the regional semifinals before losing to Somerset. In key games during the season, she posted 45 points against Grantsburg, a team that finished third in the conference race. She also hit a lastsecond three to send a game at Siren into overtime when they beat the Dragons, which put them in the driver’s seat for the conference title.

Besides, Weinberg and Coyour hitting 1,000 points, Luck’s Britta Petersen also hit the mark earlier in the 2005-06; she accomplished the feat in December of 2005. Petersen is now a member of the UW-Stevens Point women’s basketball team.

Saints wrestlers send three to state, four reach 100 wins Just as things are heating up for the St. Croix Falls wrestling team this season, fans can look back at 2006 with excitement too.

The Saints sent three wrestlers to Madison for the state tournament, and they had four wrestlers reach the 100win mark. In addition, they won conference and regionals.

Michael Lamirande (215 pounds), Dustin Raygor (145) and Cory Strom (140) advanced to state after each placed in the top three of their weight classes at sectionals in Ladysmith.

“It’s a really big accomplishment,” said Lamirande. “It shows all the work I put in the weight room.”

Lamirande accomplished the feat in just his second year of wrestling. Four Saints wrestlers also accomplished the feat of 100 career wins.

Kyle Swanson hit the mark in January; Strom, Justin Holmdahl and Raygor followed suite. Holmdahl and Raygor both reached 100 as juniors.

“It’s pretty good to do it your junior year,” said Holmdahl.

Raygor also tied the Saints all-time win record with his 122 win at the Northern Badger on Dec. 29. In addition, Raygor won his weight class, becoming the 10th Saint to win a title at the Badger.

Unity’s Devin Hoyt also hit the 100win career mark at the Northern Badger on Dec. 29, and he had reached the state tournament for the second time in his career back in March. Dennis McKinney also represented Unity at the state tournament, and he did so as freshman.

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Frederic track and cross country finish strong while other runner make the Kutz Frederic continued their boys track and cross-country prowess in 2006, and Grantsburg’s Sean Kutz and Webster’s Peter Walsh made some big tracks as well.

The Vikings finished seventh at the state track meet on June 2, and they finished sixth at the state cross country meet on Oct. 28.

“That’s probably one of the higher places Frederic’s ever gotten,” said track Coach Troy Wink of their finish at state.

“I was talking to Mr. (Bob) Chubb, the old (track) coach, and he said that he thinks that’s the most points (26) they’ve ever scored.”

River Karl gave the Vikes a point boost at state, which he also did at sectionals when they won in Colfax. Karl took second the 1600-meter run at the state meet.

Kevin Mossey stepped up big for the Vikes at the state cross country meet when he took sixth to make the podium

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Siren native Molly Engstrom (right) skating over to congratulate teammates following a goal. Engstrom played as a defenseman for the U.S. Women’s hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics. She helped the U.S. win the bronze medal with a win over Finland. Engstrom played sports for the Dragons and then transferred to Culver Academy in Indiana to play hockey. Then, she starred with the Wisconsin Badgers. – Photo courtesy of USA Hockey at state. Mossey had just missed it with Siren’s athletic director for four years a seventh-place finish in 2005. before retiring in 2005 due to her med“This is just awesome,” an elated ical condition. Beyond that, she influMossey told the Leader’s Marty Seeger enced many lives as a coach and teacher. following the race. “I was pushing for “She had a very special way of bringthat podium the whole time, and I ing out the best in everyone and made couldn’t be happier. It’s my best time you feel that nothing was impossible,” ever.” said Shanda Henk (Tschumperlin), a Meanwhile, Kutz flirted with a state former student of Wisse’s. title as he came just seven seconds shy While Jane coached gymnastics at of Zachary Wilhelmy of La Crosse Frederic, Duane, coached girls and then Aquinas to take second place in the state boys basketball for the Vikes. Then, he meet. Kutz had also finished third in the coached at Siren after a brief hiatus. At Division 2 3200-meter run at the state that same time, Jane had been asked to track meet, and he took seventh in the be the athletic director while she taught 1600. at Siren.

“I think I ran a much harder race in “She told me ‘if you’re going to be in the two mile than I did the mile hanging the gym, then I might as well be the back and just kind of passing one by one A.D.,’” Duane recalled. as the race went on,” said Kutz.

In his final season at Siren, Duane Webster’s Peter Walsh also made a won his 300th game when the Dragons strong showing among area runners beat Luck in February. Besides winning during 2006. He took fourth in the Divi- 300 games, Wisse also guided the sion 3 3200 at the state track meet, and Vikings girls team to five-straight conhe earned a fifth-place finish in the 1600. ference championships during the 1970s At the state cross-country meet he took and several section tournament appearseventh, just behind Mossey. ances.

“He dedicated many hours to a game he loved to be a part of, and he’ll truly Jane Wisse passes on, be missed,” said Vikings Coach Ben Duane Wisse retires Nelson, who played for Wisse at Frederwith 300 wins.

Jane Wisse, 58, a gym- ic in the 1990s. nastics pioneer in the area, Both Duane and Jane have left a lastsuccumbed to her battle with cancer on ing mark on high school sports, athletes, March 27, which came just weeks fol- students and many men and women in lowing the retirement of her husband, and from the area.

Duane, from coaching high school basketball.

Pirates take state soft“Jane put in so much time to the sport ball title! of gymnastics,” said Denis Sinclear, “We’re back, and we’re who coached St. Croix Falls gymnastics loaded,” one would read from 1985 to 1998. “Her contribution to on the Grantsburg Pirates the sport of gymnastics in this part of softball shirts, which the team donned the state will never be matched.” at the 2006 WIAA State Softball TournaShe coached gymnastics at St. Croix ment in June.

Falls and Frederic, and she brought They made their return trip to state a Frederic’s lone team state title in any successful one by downing defending sport when her Vikings won the 1992 state champion Poynette 5-1 and knockstate championship. She also served as ing off unbeaten Lancaster 6-2 in 12

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innings for the state title. The Pirates had completed a near-perfect season with a state championship after running through the regular season almost untouchable.

They also rebounded from their last appearance at state in 2004, where they lost and went home right away. In 2005, they fell to St. Croix Falls in the regional finals and had to wait another year.

“We didn’t just want it for ourselves,” said Pirates outfielder Whitney Johnson. “We wanted it for each other…”

The Pirates played like that throughout the season, which included a streak of 120 unanswered runs. They never lost a game following a loss in their second game of the season in Stillwater, Minn.

They also played in a conference that featured a Luck Cardinal team that reached the Division 4 sectional finals and SCF team that made the Division 3 regional final where the Pirates avenged their 2005 loss to the Saints. The Pirates next pulled out a pair of wins at sectionals to advance to state.

Then, the Pirates broke open a 2-1 game against Poynette in the state semifinals with three runs in the sixth. They did the same in the end to Lancaster when they scored four runs in the 12th inning to break a 2-2 tie.

“We just had to keep hitting, and sooner or later they’d fall apart,” said Pirates pitcher Jamie Lund. “That’s what I was thinking throughout the whole game.”

Lund and Mollie Bjelland struck out and shut out opponents all season long, and Bjelland even had a perfect game going through six innings of the championship game. They could also hit tough hitters at every spot in the lineup, and they frequently scored in doubledigits until the section tournament.

The junior and senior softball players also had plenty of state tournament experience with trips to state in volleyball too (2003 and 2004). Unlike their three trips before, they came out on top this time around.

“Poise is a big part of it, and these guys are driven to be successful,” said Pirates Coach Don Bjelland. “They’ve been in four state championships, and they finally won one that they can take home the first-place medal (from).”

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Molly Engstrom skates with Olympic team!

Siren native Molly Engstrom reached the pinnacle of a journey that has led her from the ice ponds Burnett County to the Olympicsized ice sheet of Turin, Italy, the site of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Engstrom competed with the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team, and she earned a bronze medal when she helped the U.S. down Finland 4-0. The U.S. had overcome a 3-2 semifinal loss to Sweden, and Engstrom had battled back from an ankle injury to play in the Winter Games.

“So the reality of it, I just made the team, for the second time,” said Engstrom during the Games.

Not only did the former Wisconsin Badger star see limited minutes, she nearly had to go home. She even had to sacrifice walking in the opening ceremonies to ensure her ankle would be healed enough to skate for the Red, White and Blue.

“I think I’ve aged 10 years in the last four weeks, and it was a very humbling experience,” she said to crowd at Siren’s Lodge Center Arena in early March after the Games.

Yet, she plans to get back up again to skate for Team U.S.A. in 2010 at Vancouver, British Columbia. She is currently competing with the U.S. at their holiday camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., and finishing school at the University of Wisconsin.

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Blizzard hockey holiday results Blizzard boys pull win over Park Falls, lose tiebreaker in double overtime against Depere

by Marty Seeger SIREN — After defeating Park Falls 5-2 in the first game of holiday tournament action on Thursday, Dec. 28, the Blizzard boys faced a very different Depere team the following night in the championship.

The Blizzard dominated Park Falls on Thursday night as they peppered Joshua Olson with 54 shots on goal, while Justin Hughes absorbed 13 shots on goal by the Cardinal offense. Park Falls went on to play Spooner on Friday night but lost 5-3. Depere beat Spooner 5-1, advancing them to the Friday night matchup against the Blizzard.

Ethan Hayes led the team against Park Falls with two goals and two assists on the night, but despite the effort, Thursday night’s effort wasn’t as intense as the effort in Friday night’s matchup against Depere.

“Even though we lost this game (against Depere), I think we gave a better effort. Last night against Park Falls we couldn’t finish, we outscored them, but we couldn’t get those key goals. It

Coach Greg Sears was happy with how Blizzard tender Justin Hughes played at the net. Hughes had 12 saves against Park Falls and 27 against Depere. should have been an 8-0 game last night,” said assistant Coach Tim Bennett after their tie-breaking loss to Depere in the championship game.

According to Blizzard head Coach, Greg Sears, the WIAA holds a holiday tournament policy that does not allow a game to count as a win or loss if it goes beyond the first overtime. Since the game was still tied 3-3 after the first overtime, the game will count as a tie.

“I was not happy with the tie,” said Sears. “I thought we were the better team and got outplayed.”

With a 2-1 lead heading into the third period, Depere came alive in the final minutes to tie the game at two. Just 43 seconds after the first goal, Depere forward Anthony Cantalupo landed another goal to give the Voyageurs their first lead of the game.

With the change in pace, it seemed as though Depere held the upper hand, but Blizzard forward Josh Meyer landed his first goal of the game just five seconds after Depere took the lead to even the score at three, sending the game into overtime.

Extra Points

Ethan Hayes, Cameron Hughes and Ben Anderson celebrate Hughes’ first goal of the night against Park Falls. - Photos by Marty Seeger Throughout the game, both goalies endured an equal amount of shots, with Justin Hughes taking 35 and Matt Rukamp taking 31 for Depere.

“We came out a little flat in the first period, and then I thought after that we outworked them,” said Bennett. “Overall it was an entertaining game, unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”

Despite the loss, Bennett said that the game was a good gauge for the Blizzard, who have two tough games ahead against Pine City and Amery.

“We’re already halfway through the season, and Amery and Pine City have been doing well, so we’re looking forward to those games,” said Bennett.

Lk. of the Woods 7, Lady Blizzard 2 MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — The Lady Blizzard lost the first game in tournament play to Lake of the Woods, Minn., on Wednesday, Dec. 27. The game was the first of three played in Moose Lake, Minn., during the holiday week.

••• GEORGETOWN, Texas – Former Webster student Char Edwards had five points, two boards and one steal for UW-Stout in their 65-60 win over McMurry University on Dec. 28. The two schools competed at the Southwestern University Tournament. The next day Edwards scored all four of her points as Stout built a 25-7 lead during the first eight minutes of their romp over Southwestern, 73-45. She also had three boards in the contest.

– Matt Blumkin ••• LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Local hockey stars Molly Engstrom of Siren and Emily Brookshaw of Webster have been training and competing at the U.S.A. Hockey Women’s Holiday Hockey Camp. Brookshaw and Engstrom played on opposing teams with Brookshaw on the white team and Engstrom on the blue team. The camp ran from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 with practices and scrimmages every day.

They concluded the camp with scrimmages on New Year’s Day and one on Jan. 2. – Matt Blumkin with information from USA Hockey •••

Dickenson, N.D. , 4, Lady Blizzard 2 MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — The Lady Blizzard fell to Dickenson, N.D., Thursday, Dec. 28, at the holiday tournament in Moose Lake, Minn.

According to Coach Greg Norman, the girls were ahead 2-1 in the first period, but fell 3-2 after the second period, and couldn’t get a score in the third.

Moose Lk., Minn., 4, Lady Blizzard 1 MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — Despite keeping the game at a 1-1 tie after the first period, the Lady Blizzard fell in their third game of the Moose Lake, Minn., holiday tournament to Moose Lake Friday, Dec. 29.

Blizzard Coach Greg Norman commented that he thought the girls played well. The Blizzards only goal came from Mandie Ramstrom, with an assist from Camilla Sogaard, while goalie Chelsea Hunter posted 16 saves on the night.

Ben Anderson skates past Park Falls defenders in an attempt at the goal during the second period of last Thursday night’s game.

Team Depere Blizzard

1 0 1

2 1 1

3 2 1

F 3 3

Scoring First Period – 1, B Ethan Hayes, 13:59(pp) 2, DP Kody Hanson 2:36, Second Period – 3, B Garrett Bennett (Hayes) 10:08 (pp) Third Period – 4, DP Chase Austin, 11:06, 5, DP Anthony Cantalupo (Brent Kakwitch, Brian Huisheere) 11:49 6, B Meyer 11:54 Second Overtime: 7, DP Dryden Lepp (Kyle Smitts) 2:35 Goalies Saves – B, Cameron Hughes (27).

DP, Matt Rukamp (31).

Team Park Falls Blizzard

Blizzard forward Kevin Mossey bounces a Depere defenseman off the boards in the third period of the Blizzard’s final tournament game last weekend. - Photos by Marty Seeger

1 1 2

2 0 2

3 1 1

F 2 5

Scoring First Period – 1, B Cameron Hughes, (Ethan Hayes) 5:18, 2, B Josh Meyer (Hayes) 13:13, 3, PF Jeff Litvinoff (Joel Schmocker) 14:57 Second Period – 4, B Travis Close, 6:05, 5, B Hayes (Meyer) 9:24 Third Period – 6, B Hayes, 14:26 (pp) 7, PF Ross Hilgart (Tyler Lemke) 15:43 Goalies Saves – B, Cameron Hughes (12).

PF, Joshua Olson (49).

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Raygors and Saints reach lofty heights Saints 152 pounder wins weight-class title as SCF goes fourth at Northern Badger tournament

by Matt Blumkin RIVER FALLS – Dustin and Joe Raygor have a wrestling mat in a loft in their barn at home for practicing at their convenience.

“They wrestled up there almost all summer,” said Jerry Raygor, Dustin and Joe’s father.

Some of their teammates come over to wrestle as well, and that opportunity has helped the Saints shoot for loftier goals this season.

“I think if everybody works really hard, we have a really good chance of going to team state and doing good down there,” said Dustin.

He has reason for such confidence as the Saints took fourth as a team at the annual Northern Badger Wrestling Classic, the largest tournament in Northwest Wisconsin.

In addition, Dustin won the 152pound weight class with a 6-5 decision over Luke Friemoth of NeillsvilleGreenwood.

He wrestled his way through four matches on the way, and he scored early in the finals and held on to win.

“He’s smart, he knows where to go, he bailed out of there and gave up a two-takedown,” said Saints Coach Dan Clark. “It was a good tournament for him; a good tournament for all the kids.”

Joe also put together a solid first appearance at the Northern Badger

Saints 152-pounder Dustin Raygor tied the Saints’ all-time win record and won the 152-pound championship match of the Northern Badger on Friday, Dec. 29. Raygor defeated Neillsville-Greenwood’s Luke Friemoth (left) for the championship. He also became the 10th Saint to win a Northern Badger championship, and he tied the Saints all-time win record at 122. – Photos by Matt Blumkin with a fifth-place finish at 145. He defeated Matt Mohn of BaldwinWoodville in a 15-3 decision.

Overall, the Saints have been improving, though several Saints found themselves in the wrestle-backs early on.

Michael Lamirande, Isaac Bont, Justin Holmdahl, Justin Rikkola and Jake

Bruns all placed in the top 10 of their respective weight classes.

That’s still far different from the team that stumbled at Ellsworth in their first tournament of the season. They took eighth out of 10 teams despite nine wrestlers finishing in the top six.

“We’re progressing a lot as every

match goes on,” said Lamirande. “We still haven’t peaked yet.”

They’ll get a big test next against Clear Lake, which had two wrestlers in the finals at the Badger. Yet, their talent doesn’t stop there.

“They’ve got about six kids that are pretty tough,” said Clark.

Unity’s Devin Hoyt reaches 100th win!

Hoyt falls short against unbeaten state champion

by Matt Blumkin RIVER FALLS – Devin Hoyt has hit the invisible target on the wrestling mat 100 times and counting.

“I used to just shoot,” said Hoyt referring to his wrestling style. “I know what I’m going to do now.”

The Eagles’ 119-pounder earned his 100th career win on Friday, Dec. 28, at the Northern Badger Wrestling Classic.

His milestone came thanks to the development of his wrestling style. He came of age as a sophomore at the 2005 sectionals and has earned two trips to state since.

“He used to just go out and be comfortable in any situation, but we have been working on him to wrestle his own match instead of just being comfortable with someone else’s style,” said Eagles coach Mark Ferguson. “He has developed a style and a planned match rather than just wrestling.”

Hoyt recalls reaching that point at sectionals in 2005 when he beat secondseeded Keith Klink of Arcadia (32-8) in an 8-7 decision. Hoyt had come into the tournament seeded low as a sophomore. He advanced to the championship to fall in a major decision to Albie McKinney of Luck (40-0), who now helps out the Eagles wrestling team occasionally.

With a second-place finish at section-

Devon Hoyt of Unity receiving his second-place medal at the Northern Badger Wrestling Classic on Friday, Dec. 29. Hoyt earned his 100th career win on his way to the championship match for 119 pounds at the Northern Badger.

Hoyt downed River Falls’ Andy Rhoads for his 100th career win, but he fell to Cadott’s Greg Sonnentag in the championship match. Sonnentag had been a state champion as a sophomore and runner-up as junior, and he had a 22-1 record going in. Hoyt came into the match 13-0 on the season. He injured his elbow in the match after trailing just 3-2 after the first period of the championship match. Hoyt may wrestle at the Eagles’ next meet in New Richmond on Saturday, Jan. 6.

als, Hoyt advanced to the state tournament for the first time; he made another trip in 2006. If he makes it this season, he will be the first Eagle since Joe Mabry to make state three times.

The Eagles had the benefit of Hoyt transferring from Amery after his freshman year where he went 17-7. Hoyt came to Unity for the smaller class size since Amery classes normally average 27 students while Unity averages 12.

“We were happy to get him here as a sophomore,” said Ferguson.

Since coming to Unity, Hoyt has won 30 matches or more each season. He posted a 32-14 record as a sophomore and 39-7 as a junior. This season, he bolted out to a 13-0 start before losing in the finals of the Northern Badger.

Hoyt has also moved up in placing each season at the Badger. He took fifth as a sophomore, third as a junior and second this time around.

“It just shows you can improve every year,” said Hoyt.

Hoyt defeated Andy Rhoads of River Falls in the Badger semifinals to claim his 100th career win. Yet, win 101 would have to wait for later when Greg Sonnentag of Cadott (21-1) defeated him by a pin at 3:20. Hoyt also injured his elbow in the match and may miss the New Richmond Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 6.

After taking second at the Badger, he hopes to see the same sort of improvement at state following a round-one exit when Josh Plate of Brillion pinned him.

cont. next page

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Hoyt also has come up big in statelevel tournaments as he took second in his first time wrestling at a Greco state tournament in the summer of 2005.

Hoyt credits his much of his success to teammates Dustin McKinney and Zach Osborne. He said they help correct him on his moves at practice. Coach Ferguson has also been a large help for Hoyt.

“He’s given me confidence I didn’t know I have,” said Hoyt.

That confidence has helped him reach 100 wins, and he has half a season ahead to do more. It has rubbed off on the team too.

“He’s shown dedication and leadership this season,” said Ferguson.

McKinneys finish in top 10 Eagles 125-pounder Dustin McKinney earned a seventhplace finish at the Travis Rikkola Northern Badger, and Dennis McKinney (130) took eighth.

Dustin won a 5-2 decision over Andrew Provo of Phelps. He had reached the quarterfinals of the championship bracket before losing to Adam

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the trip and came up with their 189pounder, Cayle Byers winning his weight class. Three other Chugiak wrestlers finished in the top three of their classes. Another out-of-state team had competed at the Badger before when a former Baldwin-Woodville coach brought his team from Arizona.

Unity’s Dennis McKinney fell to Durand’s Matt Hartmann in the seventhplace match for 125 pounds. – Photos by Matt Blumkin Strobel of Marshfield.

Dennis also fell in the quarterfinals against Ben Poppe of Cadott on a pin.

He took his first consolation match with

an 8-3 decision over Chugiak, Alaska’s, Zach Baldwin. Yet, McKinney dropped his last two matches to finish eighth.

A team from Chugiak, Alaska, made

A little Luck in River Falls Travis Rikkola finished in 11th place as the lone place-winner for the LuckFrederic-Grantsburg Cardinals.

“He did pretty good,” said St. Croix Falls wrestler Justin Rikkola, Travis’ brother. “He hadn’t wrestled for a few years.”

The Cardinals sophomore had not wrestled since his eighth-grade year, and he had success then. He took fourth at the middle school state tournament.

Rikkola pinned River Falls’ Brad Hetchler in a minute, 51 seconds. He had won his round match in a 13-9 decision over Corey Hodowonic of CornellGilman. He got bumped to the consolation bracket in a loss to Josiah Yeager of Caddott. Things looked down for him the next day when he lost two consolation matches, but he bounced back to win the 11th-place match.

“He was back to his own ways,” said Cards Coach Chris Bartlett. “He was doing some shooting this time.”

More scenes from the Northern Badger!

Saints 145-pounder Joe Raygor trying to put Baldwin-Woodville’s Matt Mohn on his back. Raygor won the match 15-3 for fifth place in his first Northern Badger. (BELOW) The Saints took fourth at the Northern Badger Wrestling Classic. Dustin Raygor, Joe Raygor, Michael Lamirande, Isaac Bont, Justin Holmdahl, Justin Rikkola and Jake Bruns all placed in the top 10 of their respective weight classes.

Isaac Bont of St. Croix Falls wrapped up Prescott’s Matt Feriancek in the 171-pound seventh-place match. Bont won the match, 3-1.

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Vikings downed by Bears 67-50 The Saints mustered a total of 23 points in the first half and only 10 points in the second. Jacob Larcum led the team with nine points. Trygve Chinander contributed eight points, and led the team in assists with three.

Clayton inches away from Frederic slowly in the second half Clayton 67, Frederic 50

by Marty Seeger FREDERIC — The Vikings battled the Bears closely in the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 2, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Bears offense in the second half.

“I was really pleased with the guys effort,” said Vikings Coach Ben Nelson.

“They played hard, left it all out on the court, and did everything we asked of them, they just didn’t execute some things in the second half.”

In the first half, Vikings point man, Jake Schmidt, fired away with 10 of the team’s 15 points in the first period.

Schmidt also posted three steals on the night to go along with his team high of 16 points.

Other high scorers for Frederic included Kyle Schmidt with 11 points, and Steve Lake added 10 points to go along with seven rebounds. Zach Anderson contributed seven points, and Ben G. Anderson delivered five assists.

Webster 62, Shell Lake 38 WEBSTER — The Webster boy’s continued their hot streak and stretched their wins to eight in a row with their win over Shell Lake Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Paul Olesen led the team with 17 points, while Brian Thill added 15 and Brian Gibbs contributed 13 points. Webster held the Lakers to seven points in the second and third quarter.

Kyle Swenson backs Clayton’s Corey Chilson against the baseline in Tuesday night’s game. The Vikings played a solid first half but couldn’t make the adjustments they needed to pull away in the second half. - Photo

by Marty Seeger Webster 54, Bruce 38 CLAYTON — The Tiger boys took their first win of the Clayton Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 28, against the Chieftains.

Brian Gibbs led the team with 16 points, and Paul Olesen and Brian Thill scored 13 points, and Thill shot well from the line, shooting five for eight.

Jake Schmidt led the Vikings with 16 points and three steals in Tuesday night’s game against Clayton. Photo by Marty Seeger The Vikings held a tight lead going into the second period, and it remained that way until the final seconds of the second period. With 10 seconds left, Clayton’s Corey Chilson drew a hard foul under the basket to go to the line, where he put both free throws in to give Clayton a 29-28 lead at the half.

“In the first half I though we executed really well, but in the second half they made some adjustments and we struggled more offensively,” said Nelson.

The Vikings struggled to get points on the board in the third period, scoring only seven points and allowing the Bears to score 15.

Nelson commented that the Bears deserved a lot of credit for their performance. Clayton shot nearly perfectly from the line sinking 14 of 16 shots with most of them coming in the first half.

Frederic bounced back in the fourth period with 15 points but couldn’t keep Clayton’s offense from hitting some key outside shots that allowed them to stretch their lead.

Frederic has a tough couple of games ahead as they face Luck on Friday, Jan. 5, and host Webster Tuesday, Jan 9.

Webster 59, New Auburn 35 CLAYTON — The Tigers ended the Clayton Tournament with a win against the Trojans Friday, Dec. 29, to total a seven-game winning streak.

Brian Gibbs added 16 points to the team’s total of 59, and Kevin Ingalls wasn’t far behind with a total of 14 points. Brian Thill also had a good night with 12 points. The team held New Auburn to only 11 points in the first half, while producing 31 in the second half.

3 4 2 1 5 6 17 7 15 16 22 6 Individual Statistics New Auburn 2s 3s FTM/A 3/7 2 2 Zach Bailey 0 1/2 John Farrel 4 Mike Farrel 0 1 0/0 3 0 0/0 Caleb Trowbridge 0 0/0 Jordan Super 2 Totals 11 3 4/9

F 35 59

Team New Auburn Webster

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

2s 1 5 1 2 0 6 7 0 22

3s 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 4

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

F TP 3 13 2 9 0 3 1 6 2 4 8 35 F 0 1 1 5 4 0 1 0 12

TP 2 16 2 7 3 12 14 3 59

2 3 4 1 3 10 13 12 14 20 11 9 Individual Statistics Bruce 2s 3s FTM/A Karl Gerber 2 0 0/0 Ryan Gerber 0 0 1/2 Michael Lew 5 0 0/2 Aaron Ewert 1 0 0/0 David Hengelholz 4 2 2/2 Dalton Atlwood 2 0 1/2 Totals 14 2 4/8

F 38 54 F TP 1 4 0 1 1 10 0 2 2 16 4 5 8 38

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

F 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 4 11

Team Bruce Webster

2s 0 2 0 3 5 4 1 2 17

3s 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 5

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/4 5/8 0/0 0/0 5/12

TP 0 16 0 6 13 13 2 4 54

SCF 71, Int. School (Minn) 28 GLENWOOD CITY — Greg Kadrmas led the Saints to their first and only win at the Glenwood City Tournament with a near-perfect game against the International School of Minnesota, Friday, Dec. 28.

Kadrmas, a 6’ 4” junior, scored 21 points while shooting five for five free throws and 10 rebounds. Daniel Roach also scored big with 15 points and six rebounds. Trygve Chinander led the Saints with 11 assists. Daniel Roach added 15 points and produced eight steals in the game.

Ellsworth 65, St. Croix Falls 33 GLENWOOD CITY — The Saints led Ellsworth after the first period 1412, but the Panthers held on to beat St. Croix Falls in Glenwood City in the second tournament game on Friday, Dec. 29.

Team Shell Lake Webster Shell Lake Jake Mcquade John Cusick A.T. Pederson Sam Gronning Tony Mikula Luke Gronning Totals

1 2 3 4 13 7 7 11 14 17 19 12 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A 2 0 0/0 0 0 1/3 0/0 1 0 2 3 0/0 4 0 2/4 0/2 4 0 13 3 3/9

Webster Peter Walsh Brian Gibbs Nick Wolfe A.J. Holmquist Quentin Johnson Paul Olesen Brian Thill Kevin Ingalls Totals

2s 0 2 1 2 1 8 6 3 23

3s 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 5

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/2 0/4 0/0 1/6

Team 1 2 3 4 St. Croix Falls 16 20 21 14 Int. School (Minn.)

9 12 6 1 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A St. Croix Falls Jacob Larcom 0 0 4/4 Daniel Roach 5 0 5/9 2 1/2 2 Trygve Chinander Charles Schmidt 1 0 0/0 Allistant Knuckles 1 0 1/3 0 0/0 0 Eric Thorstad David Lund 4 0 1/1 Francis Fossum 3 0 0/2 5/5 0 8 Greg Kadrmas Totals 24 2 17/26 Int. School (Minn.)

Austin Guyette Casey Ingison A.B. Alison Zade Whitman Charlie Marsmith B.J. Coleman Totals

2s 0 0 3 2 0 2 7

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 3/4 3/5 0/0 8/12 14/21

F 38 62 F 3 1 3 2 2 3 14

TP 4 1 2 13 10 8 38

F 3 1 3 0 0 5 0 2 14

TP 0 13 2 4 2 17 15 9 62

F 71 28 F 3 0 2 0 2 5 3 3 1 19

TP 4 15 11 2 3 0 9 6 21 71

F TP 2 0 1 0 5 9 4 7 5 0 2 12 19 28

Paul Olesen takes a quick shot in Tuesday night’s game against Shell Lake. Olesen led the team with 17 points and the Tigers won easily 6238. - Photo by Larry Samson Team St. Croix Falls Ellsworth

1 2 3 4 14 9 6 4 12 19 17 17 Individual Statistics Unity 2s 3s FTM/A Jacob Larcom 3 0 3/3 Daniel Roach 0 0 0/0 Trygve Chinander 1 2 0/0 Charles Schmidt 1 0 0/0 Eric Thorstad 0 0 0/0 2/2 0 2 David Lund Francis Fossum 2 0 0/2 Greg Kadrmas 2 0 0/0 2 5/7 11 Totals

F 33 65 F TP 5 9 2 0 1 8 3 2 2 0 1 6 3 4 3 4 20 33

Team Clayton Frederic

1 2 3 4 13 16 15 23 15 13 7 15 Individual Statistics Clayton 2s 3s FTM/A Derek Stesniak 2 0 4/4 Corey Chilson 7 1 4/4 Derek Effertz 1 1 0/0 Jordan LaBlanc 6 0 2/4 Ryan Zemke 2 0 4/4 Jordan Anderson 1 3 0/0 Totals 19 5 14/16

F 2 1 1 2 2 3 11

TP 8 21 5 14 8 11 67

Frederic Steve Lake Jake Schmidt Ben G. Anderson Zach Anderson Kyle Swenson Kanan Hackett Totals

F 2 1 1 4 3 3 14

TP 10 16 3 7 11 3 50

2s 5 8 1 2 4 0 20

3s 0 0 0 1 1 0 2

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

F 67 50

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 17

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Marinette 48, Webster 37 EAGLE RIVER — Webster lost the second game of the Eagle River Tournament to Marinette Friday, Dec. 29.

Samantha Hogle, Amanda Alberg,

Chelsey Benson and Beth Baer all pitched in with eight points, while Chelsey Bereiter added five to the total.

Webster 43, Shell Lake 19 WEBSTER — The Tigers picked up the tempo in their win against Shell Lake Tuesday, Jan. 2.

“This was a solid team win for us,” said Coach Greg Widiker. “The girls took a big step up overall tonight. A month ago this would have been anyone’s game, but tonight the girls controlled this one for all four quarters.”

Widiker also noted that Samantha

P ACKERS -V IKINGS

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OAPBOX

Next: Favre’s retirement party?

The Packers showed up to play against the Bears last Sunday, and really showed that the Bears might not be the team everyone thought they would be. Even though the teams had nothing to lose, it was still a little shocking to see how much the Bears struggled. The Packers defense really stepped up and ended the season on a high note, but at the same time the offense still has a ton of work to do in order to prepare for next season. The Packers still had a major difficulty scoring once they reached the red zone, which is something they’ll need to work on as well. Despite the Packers win against the Bears, it was perfectly clear that the focus was weighed heavily on Brett Favre’s decision to retire. Even though Favre was tearyeyed at the end of the game, it really doesn’t tell us anything. Even John Madden was confused during and after the game. At first he said Farve was definitely coming back, and after the game he said he was done. His guess is as good as any.– Marty Seeger

R E A Hacker’s Lanes

Tuesday Classic (End of 1st half)

Standings: Yellow Lake Lodge 139, Hacker’s Lanes 136.5, Great Northern Outdoors 127, Bottle Shop 116, Pioneer Bar 93, Hog Wild 84.5, Oddballs 75.5, Ward Lake Services 57.5.

Individual games: Reed Stevens 268, Ed Bitler 244, Don Hughes 236.

Individual series: Reed Stevens 698, Ed Bitler 691, Gene Ackland 634.

Team games: Hacker’s Lanes 657, Yellow Lake Lodge 642, Bottle Shop 638.

Team series: Bottle Shop 1796, Yellow Lake Lodge 1789, Great Northern Outdoors 1729.

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies

Standings: Pioneer Bar 7, Frandsen Dairy 5, Hacker’s Lanes 5, All Around Gals 2, Crazy Ladies 2.

Individual games: Kathy Sandberg (PB) 182, Laur Fisk (PB) 177, Diana Erickson (PB) & Betty Schardorff (HL) 169.

Individual series: Kathy Sandberg (PB) 490, Laur Fisk (PB) 468, Marge Peterson (CL) 468.

Team games: Pioneer Bar 742 & 714, Hacker’s Lanes 712.

Team series: Pioneer Bar 2141, Hacker’s Lanes 1996, Frandsen Dairy 1970.

Wednesday Night Early Men

Standings: Pioneer Bar 43, Parker 37.5, Jack Pine Trading 36, A-1 Machine 34, Skol Bar 34, Cummings Lumber 33.5, Lewis Silo 32, Bye 6.

Individual games: Bryce Daeffler (JT) 255, Ken Koehler (A-1) 246, Curt LaPre (CL) 239.

Individual series: Bryce Daeffler (JT) 649, Mike Erickson (PB) 621, Ken Koehler (A-1) 595.

Team games: A-1 Machine 1018, Pioneer Bar 937 & 915.

Team series: A-1 Machine 2771, Pioneer Bar 2665, Lewis Silo 2652.

Thursday Early 3-Man

Standings: Fab Four (11) 69, K-Wood (8) 55.5, Frontier Trails (9) 54, Wikstrom Construction (5) 53, Grindell Law Offices (2) 50, CenturyTel (7) 48, Full Timers (4)

Next: Offseason, draft!

Goodbye 2006 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes have a new year to look forward to now and dismal season to put behind them.

With the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers’ disaster at the Insight.com Bowl and Coach Glen Mason’s firing, the Vikes season ended against the St. Louis Rams on the year’s last day like a silent whisper. They fell to the Rams, still trying to get a playoff spot, 41-21 at the Metrodome. The Vikes at least improved their draft placing with a 6-10 record versus a 7-9. They have lots of work ahead of them: get a franchise quarterback, beef up the offensive line, add a player or two for the secondary and get some receivers. Yet, the Vikes really had sufficient talent, but its going to take much more than offseason aquisitions. I think Brad Childress should get another season to coach the Vikes, but it had better be alot better.

Otherwise, he will end up packing his bags as Mason just did. – Matt Blumkin

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Thursday Late (12/21/06)

Standings: Wardlake Services 36-24, Stotz & Company 35-25, Hansen Farms Inc. 31-29, Fisk Trucking 29.5-30.5, Johnson Upholstery 26.5-33.5, Hog Wild BBQ & Grill 22-38.

Individual games: Dale Frandsen 247, Norm Hansen 226, Lydell Larson 215.

Individual series: Dale Frandsen 648, Lydell Larson 616, Steve Baillargeon 609, Ole Baillargeon 608.

Team games: Wardlake Services 976, Hansen Farms Inc. 975, Johnson Upholstery 910.

Team series: Hansen Farms Inc. 2770, Wardlake Services 2718, Stotz & Company 2538.

Thursday Late (12/28/06)

Hogle had the best second half of her career. Hogle scored all 11 points in the first half to lead the Tigers victorious.

Amanda Alberg also had a good night with 10 points and Beth Baer added eight.

Unity 16, Clayton 62 CLAYTON — “They are an excellent team,” said Unity Coach Chuck Holicky of the Clayton basketball team. “Their overall team speed was more than we could handle. It's obvious that those kids play ball more than just NovemberMarch.”

The Eagles were able to break the fullcourt pressure, but had difficutly playing at the Bears level of speed, and were forced to turn the ball over before making it across half court. – Marty Seeger

Standings: Stotz & Company 38-26, Wardlake Services 37-27, Fisk Trucking 32.5-31.5, Hansen Farms Inc. 32-32, Johnson Upholstery 28.5-35.5, Hog Wild BBQ & Grill 24-40.

Individual games: Dale Johnson 275, Dale Frandsen 258 & 259, Ole Baillargeon 243, Steve Baillargeon 235.

Individual series: Dale Frandsen 751, Steve Baillargeon 666, Ole Baillargeon 636, Dale Johnson 625.

Team games: Wardlake Services 967, Stotz & Company 925, Hansen Farms Inc. 920.

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1 2 3 4 11 14 20 20 3 5 8 8 Individual Statistics Oconto 2s 3s FTM/A Jill Manzetti 7 0 2/2 Jackie Heroux 2 1 2/2 Holly Feldman 3 0 0/0 Chelsea Shermen 0 0 1/2 Jenna Manzetti 5 2 7/8 Debbie Young 4 0 2/2 Totals 21 3 14/16

F TP 2 16 2 9 3 6 0 1 0 23 1 10 8 65

Webster Sam Hogle Amanda Alberg Chelsey Benson Chelsey Robinson Chelsey Bereiter Beth Baer Katie Thill Totals

F TP 1 6 2 11 4 0 1 0 0 5 3 2 3 0 14 24

2s 2 3 0 0 1 1 0 7

3s 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

FTM/A 2/4 2/2 0/1 0/0 3/4 0/0 0/0 7/11

Beth Baer attempts a layup on Tuesday, Jan. 2. The Tigers won the game handily by a score of 43-19. Photo by Larry Samson

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1 2 3 4 5 4 6 4 12 12 11 8 Individual Statistics Shell Lake 2s 3s FTM/A Ashley Anderson 3 0 0/0 Kara Spears 0 0 2/2 Steph Clark 0 0 2/2 Sara Marshall 0 0 0/2 Hanna Christ 1 0 0/0 Nikki Scheau 0 0 0/0 Annie Dunham 1 0 0/2 Ayla Melton 2 0 1/3 Totals 7 0 5/11

F TP 1 6 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 2 3 0 3 2 5 5 13 19

Webster Sam Hogle Amanda Alberg Chelsie Benson Chelsey Robinson Kathryn Krause Rose Kopecky Beth Baer Katie Thill Chelsey Bereiter Totals

F 2 1 5 2 1 1 0 0 1 13

2s 5 4 0 2 0 0 4 2 2 19

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

FTM/A 1/4 2/2 0/0 0/3 2/5 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 5/14

Webster Sam Hogle Amanda Alberg Chelsey Benson Chelsey Bereiter Beth Baer Katie Thill Totals

F TP 4 8 3 8 2 8 0 5 0 8 2 0 11 37

McKenzie Lanes Monday Madness (12/18/06)

Standings: Scottay’s Trucking 12, McKenzie Lanes 11, Osceola Plumbing & Heating 10, State Farm Ins. 8, Peper Tire & Alignment 8, Pepie’s Gals 6, Alleycats 6, Frederic Larsen Auto 3.

Individual games: Sally Spanel 239, Barbara Benson 186, Jeanne Kizer 186.

Individual series: Sally Spanel 621, Barbara Benson 505, Janelle Wilson 489.

Team games: Osceola Plumbing & Heating 655.

Team series: Osceola Plumbing & Heating 1911.

2s 3 4 1 0 4 0 12

3s 0 0 1 1 0 0 2

FTM/A 2/3 0/0 3/6 2/2 4/10 0/0 11/21

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E S U L T S

Tuesday Early Mixed (12/19/06)

Standings: The Leader 7, 4-Season Travel 5, Skol Bar 4, Meyers Plus 4, Hole in the Wall 3, Brad’s Ringneck 3, Tin Cup Promotions 2, Bye 0.

Individual games: Gail Linke 210, Mary Young 192, Cara Holicky 190.

Individual series: Edla Meyer 511, Mary Young 497, Bonnie Zbleski & Cara Holicky 491.

Team games: Brad’s Ringneck 703, Meyers Plus 638, Skol Bar 628.

Team series: Brad’s Ringneck 1877, Skol Bar 1821, The Leader 1812.

TP 11 10 0 4 2 0 8 4 4 43

F TP 2 9 4 0 2 22 2 4 6 3 0 2 4 1 13 48

Standings: Edina Divas 81, Sam’s Carpentry 62, McKenzie Lanes 60, Wolf Creek Log Furniture 59.5, Metal Products 59, Milltown Appliance 58, Bont Chiropractic 54.5, Jericho Trucking 46.

Individual games: Dana Amundson 227, Louise Clark 203, Toni Sloper 198.

Individual series: Dana Amundson 591, Louise Clark 540, Kelley Hill 539.

Team games: McKenzie Lanes 1027, Edina Divas 1022.

Team series: Edina Divas 2975, McKenzie Lanes 2867.

Friday Night Ladies

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1 2 3 4 12 15 8 13 18 1 14 4 Individual Statistics Marinette 2s 3s FTM/A 1 2/2 Amanda Strutz 2 0/0 0 Brooke Hoppe 2 Amanda Nielsen 9 0 4/7 Brianne Benesh 2 0 0/0 0/2 0 Monica Smalls 3 Sabrina DeGaynor 1 0 0/0 Kasey Morphy 0 0 1/2 1 7/13 19 Totals

Monday Night Ladies (12/18/06)

Team series: Stotz & Company 2715, Hansen Farms Inc. 2681, Wardlake Services 2578.

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Team Shell Lake Webster

Team Marinette Webster

O W L I N G

46, Hell Raisers (6) 40.5.

Individual games: Ed Bitler (KW) 259 & 258, Mike Sullivan (WC) 257.

Individual series: Ed Bitler (KW) 727, Mike Sullivan (WC) 674, Don McKinney (FF) 650.

Team games: K-Wood 663, 616 & 593.

Team series: K-Wood 1872, Fab Four 1695, Wikstrom Construction 1620.

Consecutive strikes (5 or more): Tim Pederson (FF) 5x – 227.

Games 50 or more above average: Mike Sullivan (WC) 257 (+57) Splits converted: 3-10: Dave Grindell, Simon Nelson, Kerry Cook.

4-5: Dave Grindell. 3-6-7-10: Brian McBroom, Barry Anderson. 5-7: Tim Pederson, Simon Nelson, Chuck Hahr, Laryn Larson. 2-7: Dave Hall.

R Team Oconto Webster

Girls basketball highlights

Oconto 65, Webster 24 EAGLE RIVER — The Webster girls basketball team played Oconto in their first of two games at the holiday tournament in Eagle River.

Amanda Alberg led the team with 11 points, and the team made seven of 10 free throws, but had trouble scoring in the first half with only eight points.

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Standings: Gutter Gals 14, 2 Stooges & Princess 12, Lane Crashers 12, Still Standing 6, The Gumegu’s 4, Bye 0.

Men’s games: Roy Davis 213, Gene Braund 211, Alex Ambrozik 210.

Men’s series: Alex Ambrozik 567, Gene Braund 564, Tim Katzmark 539.

Team games: Still Standing 544.

Team series: 2 Stooges & Princess 1530.

Tuesday Ladies (12/19/06)

Standings: A-1 Machine 13, Country Gals 12, Custom Outfitter 11, B&H Builders 10.5, Gutter Dusters 6.5, Hauge Dental 6, Kassel Tap 5, Bye 4.

Individual games: Helen Leggitt 209, Norma Thompson 204, Annette Norlander 201.

Individual series: Norma Thompson 593, Annette Norlander 554, Kelley Hill 544.

Team games: Country Gals 797, A-1 Machine 794.

Team series: A-1 Machine 2335, Custom Outfitters 2323.

Tuesday Night Men (12/26/06)

Standings: McKenzie Lanes 8, Dream Lawn 6, Hack’s Pub 6, Nel-Lo-Hill Farm 4, Steve’s Appliance 4, Greatland Trans.

2, The Dugout 2, Glass Bar 0.

Individual games: Jim McKenzie 268, Michael Hill 247, John Gerhman 245.

Individual series: Darren McKenzie 679, Rick Fox 672, Jerry Prokop 647.

Team games: Nel-Lo-Hill Farm 1024, McKenzie Lanes 1016, Dream Lawn 997.

Team series: McKenzie Lanes 2990, Dream Lawn 2880, Glass Bar 2745.

12/19/06 Individual games: Bob Rettler 267, Donny Potting Jr. 255, Ryan Hopkins 246.

12/19/06 Individual series: Bob Rettler 687, Donny Potting Jr. 671, Roy Price 656.

12/19/06 Team games: Dream Lawn 1081, The Dugout 1072, Glass Bar 1070.

12/19/06 Team series: Dream Lawn 3022, The Dugout 3002, Glass Bar 2994.

Wednesday Early Mixed (12/27/06)

Standings: Lite House 8, Hendrick’s Motor 8, Holiday Stationstore 6, Fox Den 6, Fox Den II 2, Tri-County Implement 2, Larsen Auto Frederic 0, Cutting Edge 0.

Men’s games: Merlin Fox 263, Todd Wagner 235, Bob Berg 231.

Men’s series: Merlin Fox 683, Todd Wagner 638, Darrell Hendrick 580.

Women’s games: Shannon Cox 188, Patty Walker 180, Jeanne Kizer 178.

Women’s series: Shannon Cox 500, Janice Fox 496, Patty Walker 472.

Team games: Holiday Stationstore 644, Fox Den 642.

Team series: Holiday Stationstore 1848, Fox Den II 1845.

12/20/06 Men’s games: Mike Welling 268, Darron Nelson 234, Scott Lessman 224.

12/20/06 Men’s series: Mike Welling 760, Merlin Fox 634, Darron Nelson 610.

12/20/06 Women’s games: Amy Eibs 201, Janice Fox 195, Patty Walker 168.

12/20/06 Women’s series: Janice Fox 536, Amy Eibs 500, Patty Walker 450.

Wednesday Night (12/27/06)

Standings: Harvest Moon 8, Tiger Express 8, Reed’s Marina 8, Dalles Electricians 6, Embroidery Plus 2, Davy’s Construction 0, McKenzie Lanes 0, Hanjo Farms 0.

Individual games: Brandon Winge 256, Dennis Kindem 255, Dan Flaherty 246.

Individual series: Jim McKenzie 659, Brandon Winge 659, Dan Flaherty 654.

Team games: Harvest Moon 1070.

Team series: Harvest Moon 3064.

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

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A nifty 7-0 mark during the holiday period brought our hero’s overall record to 49-8 or 86 percent. (NorwayLuck score not available at press time.)

“It looks like another blockbuster season for me,” the buffalo plaid-clad Swami said modestly THE SWAMI We d n e s d a y morning when he stopped in the Leader office with this week’s forecast. He also noted how much he appreciates hearing from players, coaches, and fans, but added with bemusement: “They often gloat when I predict their team to lose, but they win, yet I never hear from them when I predict them to lose and they lose,” he added.

Eagles.

Frederic 51, Webster 27: It will be a rough week for the Tiger girls.

Girls games Siren 66, Webster 30: The Dragons keep rolling toward that conference title.

Webster 55, Frederic 44: This will be eight straight for the black and orange.

The Swami

PREDICTS

Frederic 60, Luck 26: The Vikes add number three to what will be at least a six-game winning streak.

Grantsburg 63, St. Croix Falls 33: The Pirates will have no trouble with the Saints.

Butternut 45, Unity 30: The Midgets are struggling this year but will top the

All of the events you cant pack into the top 20!

Matt

You may be tired Blumkin of reading it already, but 2006 was a good T H E year.

There were many other stories up for consideration for the top 20 stories of 2006, and it’s time to recognize some of those and others.

I’m grateful, first of all, to the many coaches, athletes and parents that help make the sports news that appear on these pages every week. They make doing this worthwhile.

There were many worthwhile stories and highlights to mention from 2006, so here’s a look at some of them.

One might call this “the fastest two minutes in print” or however long it takes to read this.

Webster native Jarrod Washburn played his first season with the Seattle Mariners following his signing in December of 2005 away from the Anaheim Angels where he helped win a World Series in 2002. Unfortunately, Washburn posted a losing season in the great northwest and the Mariners struggled.

Annie Lindstrom, a St. Croix Falls student and former Saints gymnast standout, also traded places and competed with the Flyaways Gymnastics Club in Forest Lake, Minn. She took third at an amateur state meet in Minnesota during 2006.

Former Frederic students Keegan and Riley Karl competed in a half iron man competition during the summer.

Meanwhile, former high school base-

END ZONE

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Boys games Luck 60, Frederic 40: The Cards win going away.

Grantsburg 58, St. Croix Falls 43: No Saints magic in the Pirates’ gym this year.

Webster 55, Siren 39: Another comfortable win for the Tigers.

Prairie Farm 58, Siren 43: The Panthers have a decent team this year.

Grantsburg 57, Unity 47: Surprisingly, the shorthanded Eagles give the Pirates a tussle.

Luck 70, St. Croix Falls 47: Another typical day at the office for the leagueleading Cards.

Siren 55, LCO 42: In the past, LCO has been known to be one of the worst teams in the state, but they have two wins this season.

He can be reached via e-mail at predictionking@yahoo.com ball players in the area competed with the new Siren Steelers amateur team, and the Grantsburg Honkers won the 2006 amateur baseball state championship.

Former area hardwood stars competed at the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game during the summer. Aaron Goepfert of Grantsburg, Abby Couyor of Siren and Britta Petersen of Luck all represented the area.

The summer of 2006 also brought a first to the area. An American Youth Soccer Organization soccer team made up of high school athletes from Webster, Grantsburg, Osceola and other area schools became the first Wisconsin team to compete at the AYSO National Championships in Chicago.

Could it be the beginning of WIAA soccer in Leader Land?

Grantsburg continued their dominance in baseball and volleyball in the area with both teams winning conference championships and reaching the sectionals. Pirates baseball standout Aaron Berner also made the WIAA All-State first team, and Pirates volleyball and softball star Mollie Bjelland will try her hand at two sports at NCAA Division II Winona State next school year.

A couple of area athletes have been competing at the NCAA Division I level during the past year. Megan Kalmoe of St. Croix Falls completed her senior season with the University of Washington crew team, and she tried out for the U.S. rowing team in the fall. Former Grantsburg student Pad Judd ran track and field and cross country for the Mississippi State Bulldogs last year, and he will be doing the same in 2007.

Of course, I could go on; I figure that’s why there’s a whole year needed to tell a year’s stories. I’m excited to see what 2007 has in store, and I hope you are too!

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LEADER SPORTS S C O R E B O A R D

St. Croix Falls 44, Luck 32: The Saints earn a much-needed victory.

Grantsburg 59, Unity 24: The Pirates won’t admit to looking ahead to their Jan. 30 Siren rematch.

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BOYS BASKETBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Luck Unity Grantsburg Webster St. Croix Falls Frederic Siren

Scores

Conf.

2-0 3-1 2-1 1-1 1-1 1-3 0-3

Thursday, December 28 Glendwood City Holiday Tournament St. Croix Falls 71,.Interntl School (Minn.), 29 Clayton Holiday Tournament Webster 54, Bruce, 38 Friday, December 22 Glenwood City Holiday Tournament St. Croix Falls 33, Ellsworth 65 Clayton Holiday Tournament Webster 59, New Auburn 35 Tuesday, January 2 Shell Lake, 38 Webster 62 Clayton 67, Frederic 50

Coming up

Friday, January 5 St. Croix Falls at Grantsburg, 6 p.m.

Webster at Siren, 7:30 p.m.

Luck at Frederic, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, January 8 Siren at Prairie Farm, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, January 9 Webster at Frederic, 6 p.m.

Lac Courte Oreilles at Siren, 7 p.m.

Grantsburg at Unity, 7:30 p.m.

Luck at St. Croix Falls, 7:30 p.m.

BOYS HOCKEY Blizzard

Standings 7-2-1

Scores

Thursday, December 28 Blizzard 5, Park Falls 2 Friday, December 29 Blizzard 3, Depere 3

Coming up

Friday, January 5 Blizzard at Pine City, Minn., 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 9 Blizzard at Amery, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING Coming up

Thursday, January 4 Turtle Lake-Clayton at LFG, 7 p.m.

Clear Lake at St. Croix Falls, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 6 New Richmond Invitational, 9 a.m.

(Luck-Frederic-Grantsburg, Unity) St. Croix Falls at Chetek-Prairie Farm, TBA

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Overall 8-1 6-2 3-2 4-1 3-4 4-5 1-4

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Siren Grantsburg Webster Frederic St. Croix Falls Unity Luck

Scores

Conf.

4-0 3-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 1-4 0-3

Overall 6-1 4-2 5-4 5-3 2-5 1-7 1-6

Thursday, December 28 Eagle River Tournament Octono 64, Webster 24 Friday, December 29 Eagle River Tournament Marinette 48, Webster 37 Tuesday, January 2 Shell Lake 19, Webster 43

Coming up

Friday, January 5 Unity at Butternut, 5:30 p.m.

Webster at Siren, 6 p.m.

St. Croix Falls at Grantsburg, 6 p.m.

Luck at Frederic, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, January 9 Grantsburg at Unity, 6 p.m.

Luck at St. Croix Falls, 6 p.m.

Webster at Frederic, 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS HOCKEY Blizzard

Standings 1-8-0

Scores

Wednesday, December 27 Lake of the Woods 7, Blizzard 2 Thursday, December 28 Dickenson N.D. 4, Blizzard 2 Friday, December 29 Moose Lake Minn., 4, Blizzard 1

Coming Up

Thursday, January 4 Menomonie at Blizzard, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 5 Blizzard at Northland Pines, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, January 9 New Richmond at Blizzard, 7 p.m.

GYMNASTICS Coming up

Thursday, January 4 Rush City, Minn. at Grantsburg, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 6 St. Croix Falls at Superior, 7:15 p.m.

ALPINE SKIING Coming up

Thursday, January 4 Coon Rapids, Minn. vs. CL-SCF, 5:30 p.m. (at Trollhaugen) Tuesday, January 9 Blaine, Minn. at Chisago Lks-St. Croix Falls, 5:30 p.m.

Mitch and Andrew Henke, the sons of former Luck standout, Linda Berg (Henke) faced each other on the NCAA courts for the first time on Dec. 29.

Andrew (fourth from the left) plays for Air Force, and Mitch (second from right) plays for Santa Clara University. They are pictured with their parents, Linda (third from right) and Brad (second from left), and other family members. Air Force won 78-48. – Photos by John Medina, SCU athletics

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 19

Polk County sheriff’s report Accidents

Dec. 19, 3 a.m., Milltown Twp., 1429 210th Avenue, JEFFREY S. WALTER, 28, Centuria, states he cannot remember the accident. From evidence at the scene, it appears that the vehicle entered the driveway at 1429 210th Avenue, westbound, and then struck a water hydrant. The vehicle then drove southbound through a yard and back onto 210th Avenue, eastbound. Driver was later found to be asleep in the vehicle around 4:30 a.m. Driver was not intoxicated. Driver cited for failure to report an accident to police.

Dec. 19, 3:40 a.m., Clayton Twp., Hwy. 63 at 60th Avenue; #1 – RALPH A. AMBROSE, 56, Prairie Farm; #2 – DONALD L. COOK, 31, Barron. Unit 1 was stopped at the stop sign on 60th Ave. and Hwy. 63. Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on 60th Avenue. Unit 2 was traveling northbound on Hwy. 63. Unit 1 pulled out into the intersection, failing to yield right of way (cited for such) to unit 2.

Dec. 21, 12:40 p.m., Farmington Twp., 50th Ave, .2 mi. E. of Cherry Drive, #1 – SCOTT M. LINDGREN, 36, Hudson; #2 – MARK E. SCHULTE, 51, Osceola. Unit 1 was westbound on 50th Avenue. Unit 2 was eastbound on 50th Avenue. Driver of unit 1 lost control of unit and started sliding sideways into the eastbound lane of 50th Avenue, hitting unit 2. Driver of unit 1 states he does not know how he lost control and does not remember the accident but did admit to being the driver. Driver of unit 2 cited for operating a motor vehicle too fast for conditions. Both drivers were not wearing safety equipment and sustained serious injuries/transported by EMS. Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m., Osceola Twp., Hwy. 35, .4 mi. N of CTH. S. South; #1 – CHERYL LYNNE PETERSON, 49, Circle Pines, Minn.; #2 – MARIA C. SABAN, 35, Dresser. Unit 1 was traveling south on Hwy. 35. It was snowing and the roads were slippery and slush-covered. As unit 1 began to slow, going downhill, her vehicle began to slide.

She then began to spin out of control. The vehicle began to slide backwards. The vehicle traveled left of center, directly into the path of unit 2, which was traveling north. The driver of unit 2 stated she had seen unit 1 lose control and was almost stopped when she was hit.

Dec. 21, 4:23 p.m., Apple River Twp., Hwy. 8, .65 mi. E. of CTH E, BRENDA E. KUEHL, 53, St. Paul, Minn., was traveling westbound on Hwy. 8.

Unit 1 lost control due to weather conditions, causing unit 1 to collide with the north ditch and then a tree.

Dec. 21, 6:05 p.m., Luck Twp., Hwy. 35, 1/8 mi.

S. of 290th Ave., DONNA M. TIETZ, 43, Frederic, was northbound on Hwy. 35. It lost control just

south of 290th Avenue. Vehicle spun 180 degrees and entered the ditch backwards. Vehicle rolled onto its side and came to rest. Driver said she was OK but could not get out. Driver was backboarded and asisted out by 975 and Frederic Fire. (Driver received minor injuries/transported by EMS/wearing safety equipment).

Dec. 22, 3:35 a.m., Sterling Twp., River Road, .50 mi. W., of CTH G, TARA J. NELSON, 18, Cushing, was southbound on River Road, swerved to miss a deer, entered the west ditch, hit a tree, spun 180 degrees and came to final rest facing north. Driver sustained injuries (not wearing safety equipment), no EMS. Dec. 22, 9:18 a.m., Osceola Twp., CTH Y, .25 mile E. of Horse Lake Lane, ASHLEY N. KLINE, 18, Dresser, was traveling westbound on CTH Y, approaching the curve to the north when the rear of unit 1 began turning counterclockwise. Vehicle struck edge of ditch before sliding down the embankment. Unit 1 flipped over onto its roof and came to rest with the front of the vehicle facing south. Driver was injured (no EMS/no safety equipment worn). Driver cited for operating after suspension and failure to wear seat belt.

Dec. 22, 3:45 p.m., Balsam Lake Twp., 160th St., .5 mi. N of Hwy. 8, CORY J. DANIELSON, 20, Luck, was northbound on 160th St. when the vehicle left the road, striking the east ditch. The vehicle continued northbound in the east ditch before striking a culvert attached to the driveway at 1348 160th Street. Driver was cited for failure to notify police of an accident and a seat belt violation.

Dec. 22, 9:30 p.m., Apple River Twp., Hwy. 8 at CTH H, ERIC D. SWAN, 45, Balsam Lake, Polk County Deputy Sheriff, was on duty, traveling westbound on Hwy. 8, when he reacted to a vehicle that was southbound on CTH H, going to run the stop sign. The squad car sideswiped the highway sign post in the median.

Dec. 24, 3:47 p.m., Clear Lake Twp., Hwy. 63 at 60th Ave., #1 – MARY J. BARTLEY, 50, Hastings, Minn.; #2 – DANIELLE M BASHER, 30, Clear Lake. Unit 1 was northbound on Hwy. 63. Unit 2 was eastbound on 60th Ave. Unit 2 slowed but did not stop for the stop sign. Unit 2 did not see unit 1, failed to yield and began to cross the intersection.

Right front corner of unit 2 struck the left front corner of unit 1. Unit 1 broke the post for the stop sign at the northeast corner of the intersection. Driver and passenger, STACEY L. NOGY, 42, Hastings, Minn., sustained minor injuries (no EMS). Both subjects were wearing seat belts.

Dec. 25, 12:29 p.m., Balsam Lake Twp., Hwy. 8, 10’ S. of Hwy. 46 N; #1 – ERIC M. SJAARDA, 24, Plymouth, Minn.; #2 – RHALEN A. MERTZ, 46, Beulah, N.D. Unit 1 was traveling east on Hwy. 8.

Burnett County sheriff’s report Accidents

Town of Oakland, Dec. 28: Jared H. Schowalter, 18, Webster, was southbound on Park Road near Lake Street at 9:16 p.m. when he drove his vehicle into a ditch and struck a tree to avoid a northbound truck operating in his lane. His vehicle, a 1993 Chevrolet truck, sustained moderate damage. The driver received a citation for nonregistration of the vehicle at the scene.

Town of Meenon, Dec. 29: Zachary R. Quigley, 16, Webster, was northbound on Old Hwy. 35 at 9:45 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle on the snowy road. His vehicle spun around and the front end entered the ditch. The 1994 Chevrolet pickup landed on its side in the ditch and sustained minor damage.

Town of Siren, Dec. 29: Jennifer R. Mitchell, 16, Siren, was northbound on Soderberg Road at 1 p.m. According to the report, the driver said she was traveling 25-30 mph. She indicated she slowed down to negotiate a curve and noticed slush on the road. She stated in the report that no matter what she did, the car would not turn and continued to go straight. The 2000 Saturn left the roadway on the left shoulder, went down the embankment and rotated 90 degrees to the driver’s side and came to a rest in the south fork of the Clam River. The vehicle sustained moderate damage.

Town of Siren, Dec. 29: Lance B. Denotter, 22, Webster, was northbound on Hwy. 35 at 11:43 a.m. and spun out on the slushy road surface. The 1996 Buick Regal entered the southbound lane, continued into the west ditch and overturned onto the passenger side. The vehicle sustained moderate damage.

Town of Daniels, Dec. 31: Valeri M. Zart, 27, New Richmond, was eastbound on Hegge Road at 5:44 p.m. According to the report, the driver stated her dash lights and headlights suddenly and without warning turned off causing the driver not to be able to see the stop sign at the intersection of Hegge Road and Range Line Road. The driver tried to stop, but slid across the snow and ice-covered surface of Range Line Road. The 2002 Chevrolet Impala ended up in the east ditch and sustained minor damage.

Warrant Arrests/Other Arrests

Village of Webster, Dec. 23: Kenneth G. Cairns, 46, Webster, was arrested on a warrant at 8:35 p.m. on Main Street in Webster.

Town of Scott, Dec. 22: Scott J. Goucher, 40, Webster, was arrested on a warrant at 9:21 p.m.

Town of Daniels, Dec. 25: Gerald T. Ferguson, 56, Shell Lake, was arrested on a warrant out of Polk County at 7:34 p.m. He was transported to the Burnett and Polk county line where custody was transferred.

Town of Dewey, Dec. 30: Michael R. Hessler, 44, Spooner, was arrested at 10:32 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear.

Town of Siren, Dec. 29: Mary Kay Bakke, 43, Webster, and Ritchard K. Cook, 45, Siren, were arrested at 11:47 a.m. for no-drink probation violations.

Town of Siren, Jan. 1: George D. Reynolds, 39, Siren, was arrested at 5:22 a.m. for battery following a fight that occurred at the Last Call Bar.

Other Incidents

Town of Sand Lake, Dec. 26: Robert V. Jonas, 59, St. Paul, Minn., reported a burglary at 2:15 p.m. According to the report, the trailer, which belongs to his brother, James Jonas, was burglarized around Thanksgiving. The south door to the trailer, according to the report, had been forced open and the inside had been rummaged through.

Nothing inside had been damaged and a detailed list of stolen items will be provided to the sheriff’s department. A witness who lives nearby stated he believed the suspects drove a small car or a compact truck. The incident remains under investigation.

Village of Siren, Jan. 1: Siren Township Supervisor, Bert Lund, 63, Siren, reported at 2:54 p.m. the theft of two 3-foot tall orange colored plastic hazard cones and two high-water road hazard signs from Starr Road and Polansky Road on New Year’s Eve. The scene was investigated and revealed one set of large truck tire tracks. The incident remains under investigation.

Burnett County deaths 3.

Delores J. McFetridge, 76, Siren Village, Dec. Earl J. Larson, 89, Siren Village, Dec. 5.

George L. Pearson, 88, Siren Village, Dec. 7.

Shirley A. Marten, 70, Oakland Township, Dec. 16.

Frank Chesnik, 95, Grantsburg, Township, Dec. 13.

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper.

It was in the left lane and going to turn north on Hwy. 46. Unit 2 was traveling west on Hwy. 8 approaching the intersection. As Unit 2 approached, the driver of unit 1 began to make his turn. Unit 1 struck unit 2 with its front driver’s side.

Unit 2 was struck near the front driver’s wheel.

Unit 1 was pushed slightly back. Unit 2 began to rotate. Unit 2 spun into the north ditch and came to rest. A passenger in unit 1 was injured (no EMS/wearing seat belt), DAYLE D. POTTER, 18, Blaine, Minn. The driver of unit 2 sustained serious injuries (wearing seat belt) and was transported by EMS. Three passengers in unit 2, MEGAN A., age 16; BRENDEN A., age 13; and MARY ANN MERTZ, age 44, all of Beulah, N.D., sustained minor injuries (all wearing seat belts) and were transported by EMS, also. Unit 1 driver was cited for failure to yield right of way.

Dec. 25, 12:40 p.m., St. Croix Falls Twp., 180th Street, 1,000’ N, of CTH I, RACHAEL S. SCHMID, 18, Centuria, was northbound on 180th St. from CTH I. Driver lost control due to the icy roadway, entered the left/west ditch. Vehicle went over a field drive and struck a group of trees. Driver sustained serious injuries (wearing seat belt) and was transported by EMS. Dec. 25, 8 p.m., West Sweden Twp., 180th St., .5 mi. N of 330th Ave., COREY J. KESS, 24, St. Croix Falls, was traveling northbound on 180th St. north of 330th Ave. The driver hit the brakes for an animal and the vehicle left skid marks on dry road.

Vehicle collided with the east ditch, overturned and came to rest facing southwest, upside down.

Driver was cited for failure to report accident to police, imprudent speed and seat belt violation.

Dec. 26, 6:44 p.m., Lincoln Twp., Cameron Bridge Drive, .5 mi. E. of Hwy. 46, KATIE F. KUHL, 23, Amery, was eastbound on Cameron

Bridge Drive and attempted to negotiate the left curve to go northbound. Vehicle slid off the curve on icy surface. Front of the vehicle struck a tree.

Other incidents

Dec. 2, CHRIS WILMOT, Osceola Twp., reported mailbox vandalism.

Dec. 14, JEREMY J. PARKER, St. Croix Falls, reported a burglary occurred to his residence on Dec. 13. Numerous compact discs and DVDs were stolen.

Dec. 19, ALLEN E. SCRIBNER, Milltown Twp., reported hit and run damage to a water hydrant in his yard.

Dec. 22, EDWARD H. NIHISER, Garfield Twp., reported the theft of vehicle parts, bulk tank, electrical wiring and copper tubing from his property.

Dec. 26, TERRY V. BRUST, Centuria, reported the theft of two portable ice-fishing houses, Vexlar fish locator, gas-powered/four-stroke ice auger and numerous fishing equipement, Sterling Twp. Dec. 26, RUSSELL E. JOHNSON, RR Dresser, reported hit and run damage to a fence on his property.

Dec. 26, ROLAND A. HALL, Osceola Twp., reported the theft of his Australian blue heeler dog.

His neighbor, SEAN O’BRIEN, also reported the theft of his 2-year-old black Labrador in the same time frame. An older, red pickup truck was seen in the area at the time the dogs were found to be missing.

Dec. 27, mailbox vandalized at the HEIDI L. VIEBROCK residence, Osceola Twp. Dec. 28, several mailboxes were vandalized on 160th Street in Milltown Twp. Two of the property owners were TROY D. CHRISTENSEN, Centuria, and AUDREY RUCK, Balsam Lake.

Burnett County civil court Wells Fargo Bank Wisconsin, N.A. vs.

Linda A. Lovegren, judgment of $361.50 and return of 1999 Jayco Travel Trailer.

Discover Bank vs.

Joann Berg, Danbury, judgment of $3,967.05.

Americredit Financial Services, Inc. vs.

Katherine A. Miller, Siren, judgment of $399.60 and return of 2003 Dodge Ram.

Northwest Wisconsin Anesthesiologists SC vs. Mary Melton, Shell Lake, judgment of $533.

Capital One Bank vs. James G. Dittmar Jr., Danbury, judgment of $971.38.

Citibank vs. Robert J. Hayes, Danbury, judgment of $3,079.35.

Capital One Bank vs. Ricky Pardun, Danbury, judgment of $2,189.76.

Cottonwood Financial Ltd. vs. Kendra L. Miller, Webster, judgment of $937.

Burnett County marriage licenses David D. Kastner, Apple Valley, Minn., and Deanna V. Bell, Dewey, Dec. 22.

John D. Langevin, Grantsburg, and Katelynn M. Hansen, St. Louis Park, Minn., Dec. 27.

Howard J. Reid, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Shirley A. Haseltine, Dewey, Dec. 28.

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 20

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

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

Burnett County criminal court Dale R. Polaski, 43, Webster, guilty of operate snowmobile while intoxicated, $627.

Shawn D. Bird, 35, Webster, guilty of operating while under the influence, $793, order for assessment, eight-month license revocation to run concurrent to any prior suspension.

Jason L. Pierce, 24, Webster, guilty of operating while under the influence, $730, order for assessment, seven-month license revocation to run concurrent to any prior suspension.

Elijah Daniels, 51, Grantsburg, guilty of resisting or obstructing an officer, 90 days in jail, $88.

Brian L. Alden, 38, Webster, guilty of resisting or obstructing an officer, 30 days in local jail with time served, $88.

John P. Polski, 19, Webster, guilty of resisting or obstructing an officer, one-year probation imposed, 136 days in jail stayed pending successful completion of probation, must earn HSED or GED, $88.

Gregory E. Hollon, 24, Grantsburg, guilty of battery, one-year probation withheld, $163.

Chelsea R. Lindmeier, 21, Danbury, guilty of causing injury while operating with PAC, $1,083, order for assessment, 60 days in local jail, 18-month

license revocation to run concurrent to any prior suspension, restitution to be determined.

Chad M. Shires, 35, Siren, guilty of operating while under the influence, $894, order for assessment, 10 days in local jail, 12-month license revocation to run concurrent to any prior suspension.

Donald G. Shabaiash, 44, Duluth, Minn., guilty of operating while intoxicated, $1,184, prison sentence of five years consisting of three years of confinement followed by two years of extended supervision, eligible for the Earned Release Program.

Christy R. Hovey, 32, Frederic, guilty of reckless drivingendanger safety, $367.

Anthony M. Armato, 28, Siren, guilty of two counts of posses/loan/borrow another’s license, $577.60.

Timothy F. Baxter, 46, Shell Lake, guilty of failure to stop at stop sign, $321.60.

Leah B. Jacobs, 25, Rochester, Minn., guilty of passing in a no-passing zone, $198.60.

Joanne T. Anderson, 72, Plymouth, Minn., guilty of speeding, $160.80.

Jared P. Carlson, 26, Shoreview, Minn., guilty of speeding, $160.80.

Charles A. Wolsky, 66, Rochester, Minn., guilty of speeding, $280.50.

Nicole M. Chute, 21, Grantsburg, guilty of disorderly conduct, $249.

Amber M. Chute, 18, Grantsburg, guilty of disorderly conduct, $249.

Christopher L. Anderson, 31, Siren, guilty of speeding, $501.

Jeffrey Z. Wold, 43, Brooklyn Center, Minn., guilty of speeding, $160.50.

Real Estate/ Notices

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

Notices Employment

PAGE 23 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 3, 2007

O UTDOORS INTER- COUNTY LEADER

ATVs • BIRDING • BOATING • CAMPING • FISHING • HIKING • HUNTING • RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

2006 and beyond

Hello friends, This week I am writing my annual year in review column and going a step farther with my idea on starting a hunting, fishing and camping Mark organization for kids.

Walters The yet-to-benamed kids group OUTDOORSMAN’S will focus on bringing adults that participate in the above activities together with kids or young adults that would like to take part in these activities. My plan is simple, at the end of this column I will put out my e-mail address. Those of you that are interested in helping start an organization like this in your neck of the woods send a short e-mail, try to understand it may be awhile before I get back to you. If you could, it would be beneficial if I also received a phone number.

Last January, I took my then 14-yearold stepson Travis up to Bear Mountain Lodge near Negaunee, Mich., where he shot his first Russian boar with a bow and arrow. It was that experience that really touched off my idea for seriously building an organization that can realistically help kids get into the outdoors that through this column could be statewide and

JOURNAL

Adam Wilson and Kevin Kustief enjoyed trout fishing with Mark on the Rush River in Pierce County. Photo submitted beyond. As most of you may remember, last winter was another thin-icetype of ice season, which for a guy in my line of work could cause early cash-in on the life insurance policy.

Last February, I put my canoe in at Trempealeau, on the Mississippi River, and canoed down river four miles while trailing a loaded Otter Sled with camping and ice fishing gear. When I hit some backwaters that I was looking for, I began pulling both the canoe and sled on thin ice until I reached a location I had fished 10 years earlier.

I built camp in the dark and was fishing northern pike the next morning at first light. That day I had the best northern pike fishing of my life includ-

ing icing and releasing a 40-inch gator that has me thinking I must return.

Last March, I went on my first-annual coyote hunt with my good buddy, Scott Darnell, from Necedah. Scott and I backpacked for two days, taught ourselves how to call coyote, slept outside in 10-degree weather without a tent and truly had a blast. Scott, I don’t know if you’re in or not this year, but I am.

This trip is another example of where an adult could take a young outdoorsman or woman along after they had shared some experiences together.

Once this club gets rocking and rolling, I predict the adults are going to be having just as much fun as the kids.

Last April, I went down to Missouri turkey hunting with my buddy Pete Hagedorn who owns Chimo Lodge near Red Lake, Ontario. Pete Hagedorn has been one of my lifelong mentors.

When trout fishing opened in May, I camped on the Rush River in Pierce County with Kiril Kustief and many of his family members for two days of fishing and comaraderey. There is a traveling trophy that goes to the person that catches the biggest trout each May. If I fish with the Kustief gang again, I want that trophy and the bragging rights that go with it.

The Rush river trip is another one centered on lots of youngsters having fun in the outdoors.

Every June since I graduated from high school, it’s north of the border to Shultz Lake with friends and family where we experience the total getaway,

which only a fly-in trip can guarantee.

This year we had three kids and three adults along on an adventure that was guaranteed to be a blast for everyone involved.

I have only mentioned the first six months of the year and am out of space.

My friends, the ball is in your park!

Believe it or not, the kids group I am writing about is about to be born.

Some day we can all remember when I first wrote about this guaranteed winwin idea and smile. For now, it’s time to meet and greet. I will be looking for your responses, communicate back with you and together we will build an organization centered on simple experiences. Bringing seasoned outdoorsmen and women together with kids that want to have a chance to do the same but have no guidance in that direction. It does not matter to me if you are 46 years old, just experiencing an empty nest and would like to help someone out or you’re 65 and would like to pass on some of your skills while your still in the game.

We will focus on simple experiences at first and go from there.

The entire state of Wisconsin, every community or area could take part in this. I will look forward to your responses, and get back to you, this can and will happen. I can be reached at sunsetoutdoors@tds.net.

Please be patient on replies!

Sunset P.S. Look for an update in this column by late February.

Brought to you by the following sponsors:

Illegal whopper

On track...

“The action has been pretty decent all around,” says Mike Hendrickson at Big Mike’s Outdoor Sports in Siren. Hendrickson said that big northern have been coming in lately, with the biggest weighing in at 19 pounds 3 ounces out of Yellow Lake. Big Sand was another lake producing some big pike, and good numbers of walleye.

Walleyes have been coming out of the Clam flowage in 5 and 6 feet of water, with small suckers and shiners a foot off the bottom. On Yellow Lake expect walleye in 8-12 feet of water. Hendrickson said that he’s weighed a good number of walleyes from these lakes between 7 and 10 pounds.

Bluegills are starting to pick up a little bit. Last week Hendrickson said that gills were being caught in 20 foot of water, 8 to 12 feet below the ice. If you’re looking to take the kids out, Hendrickson said that Doctor Lake has been hitting well. There are lots of small fish, but enough to keep the kids busy.

Despite the heavy rain this past week, Hendrickson said that the ice has been decent, with an average of 9 inches on the Clam, and 8 on others. He advises that people should be careful on some area lakes that have springs and rain runoff. – Marty Seeger

•••

According to the DNR, fall turkey hunters registered a preliminary estimate of 11,926 birds during the 2006 fall season, which is a slight increase from the 2005 harvest of 10,591 birds. In 2007, fall turkey hunters will have an extended season that will correspond with the early bow season. This year the fall season will run from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15. Permit applications will not be due until Aug. 1, 2007. – Marty Seeger

•••

Due to a lack of snow, the Moonlight Ski and Snowshoe Event has been cancelled for Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary. – Marty Seeger with information from Karen Kress

•••

Archers seeking to fill their freezer with some last-minute venison still have time before the season closes this Sunday, Jan. 7. – Marty Seeger

•••

A 49-inch musky was taken out of season below the Rice Lake Dam on Dec. 22, at 2 a.m. It was caught with a spoon/daredevil with a summer rod in open water. — Photo submitted

The Yellow Lakes and River Association’s Fourth-Annual ice-fishing contest has been cancelled due to poor ice conditions. The contest was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13. – Marty Seeger

•••

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 24

“Light ‘em Up If You’ve Got ‘em” contest returns to Frederic FREDERIC – Stop the presses. After a five-year sabbatical, the always-indemand Light ‘em Up If You’ve Got ‘em – holiday lighting awards, have returned to honor the faithful in Frederic who go the extra mile to express their illuminated recognition of the Christmas season.

Leader Land regulars will remember the four previous awards announcements dating from 1997 to 2000. The Frederic Chamber of Commerce began sponsoring a real lighting contest, and to avoid confusion, and reduce the chance of receiving any bribes, the unauthorized contest committee took what meager funds they had stashed in a cream can under the north water tower, and went south.

Flash forward to Christmas 2006. No official Frederic lighting contest was announced, so after a period of Internet communication around the globe, the surviving charter members of the clandestine, judging committee found time to return, it only briefly, to once again offer commentary on the efforts of the season. Presented here for your inspection, the 2006 Light ‘em Up If You’ve Got ‘em holiday lighting awards.

Traditional – Just light. No figures, no blinking, no icicle lights. Bonus points for C-7 bulbs. Just like Norman Rockwell painted it.

First place: Doris Stotz. One tree, C-7 bulbs. Understatement is what tradition is all about.

Second place: Jim and Janice Schott.

Again, just that little splash of colored light says it all.

Third place: Virginia SouthardClausen. Basic lighting that looks good in front of a brick background. Nothing that could not have been done in 1924.

Contemporary – Holiday scenes, illuminated icons, blinking lights, icicle

roof outlines, plastic-framed beasts with lights.

First place: Terry and Janet Larson.

Really turning up the volume this year, this display, tastefully expanded each year, has taken on a life of its own. Serious contenders for a lock on this category for years.

Second place: Kevin and Brenda Link. Very detailed use of lights, featuring one of Frederic’s classic houses.

Concrete procedural organization.

Third place: Greg and Kaye Heine.

Previous winners. The use of both sides of the house. The spotlights shining up through the birch trees. Timeless.

Freestyle – Anything goes. Animation, soundtracks, unorthodox objects, state-of-the-art technology. This is where inflatables rule, and even displays of questionable significance have a chance.

First place: William and Karen Kelly.

Out of control. The most inflatables, the many lights, the most slogans. Probably have grease fittings on the electric meter. Worth the drive to see this one.

Pimp my Christmas!

Second place: James and Judy Menke. A tremendous first-year effort by new owners. More candy canes than one can count. Good use of a big lot.

Third place: Dave and Mary Richter.

The Hwy. 35 location makes this Frederic’s signature display. Although the updates have been minor over the years, the location says it all.

Director’s discretionary awards Dave and Andrea Wondra. Previously awarded as the longest string of lights (on a fence), this display has to have the biggest voltage drop on record. It is amazing that the bulbs on the end even light up.

Kirk and Peggy Miller. They had the only display noticed with a sound

An example of traditional Christmas lighting in Frederic. - Photo by Gary King track.

Rich Rohan. Another display of just C-7 bulbs, but outlined garage doors do not outscore a tree.

Gary and Sherrie Gjonnes. Clever separation of secular and nonsecular elements on opposite sides of the yard.

This is the way to have both kinds of Christmas. Nothing is worse than having a manger scene with the baby Jesus looking up at Santa, a gingerbread man, Snow White, a few dwarfs and a rake.

Jeff and Pat Carley. Taken to task in previous attempts by notable sports scribe, John Ryan, for using goose decoys in Christmas displays as an unfair, late-season hunting ploy, the Carleys this year have a simple tree display that rated a respectable fourth place in the traditional slot.

Tom and Joan Funne. Yet another well-preserved example of Frederic architecture nicely lit up for Christmas.

The handcrafted reindeer stayed on the

alley side for some reason.

St. Dominics Catholic Church gets recognition for repairing the bell tower and bringing back the hourly carillon music that was missing for many years.

Ed and Mary Ellen Bechtel are noted for the unique use of globes suspended about the yard, good job here.

Mark and Marilyn Engelhardt are given special recognition for the bestanimated display. Only visible for a quick glance by passing traffic, it didn’t go unseen.

Disclaimer – The unauthorized Light ‘em Up If You’ve Got ‘em holiday lighting awards are totally unofficial. Permission has not been granted by anyone. The results are not intended to be misconstrued as having any value whatsoever. There are no actual prizes to be awarded and very little, if any, historic significance will be granted to anyone who is deemed a winner. – submitted

St. Croix Falls Scholarship Foundation Chili Cook-Off ST. CROIX FALLS — Whether you eat chili or can cook it, Tuesday, Jan. 9, is a day for chili lovers to gather at the St. Croix Falls High School to raise money for St. Croix Falls scholarships to graduating seniors.

There are 25 entry spots available and businesses, clubs, families and individ-

uals are invited to join. Five quarts of chili are a minimum to participate, but more is appreciated to have enough to go around to a hungry crowd.

Teams must furnish a slow cooker, serving utensils, banners, appropriate and unique setups.

The grand prize is naming rights to a

$500 scholarship to be presented at the awards ceremony in May. If you do not cook chili, but want to eat it and vote for your favorite, all you need to do is show up and purchase a $5 meal ticket. Families pay $20.

The event runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m., prior to the SCF vs. Luck boys varsity

game in the gym.

A quilt raffle will also be held during the event. For more information contact Andrea Swiontek 651-257-7501 days or 715-483-3428 evenings. — submitted

Polk officials sworn in

Polk County Circuit Court Judge Molly GaleWyrick (right) swears in elected officials for Polk County at a special ceremony Tuesday morning. Shown (L to R) are Clerk of Court Lois Hoff, County Treasurer Amanda Nissen, Register of Deeds Laurie Anderson, Sheriff Tim Moore and District Attorney Dan Steffen.

- Photo submitted

‘Follow the Leader’

Jan uar y 3, 2007 • 2 nd Se c t i on B• I nter-Count y Le a de r

Currents N O R T H E R N

THE LEADER’S COMMUNITY NEWS

It was a hot one

The heat of the summer of 2006 had Anja and Greta Erickson, ages 5 and 3, dipping into the horse trough usually utilized by their pony, Buckshot, shown in the background. The girls are the daughters of Sylvan and Lisa Erickson of Dresser. Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees for three straight days in July, and the triple threat of heat, drought and wind raised the potential for wildfires to dangerous levels. The drought severity going into August in Burnett and Polk counties made it one of the driest summers on record. - Photo submitted

2006: One more look back Part II of the Leader’s annual year in review BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES - Last week we reviewed January through June of 2006.

We finish off the review this week with a look at the remainder of the year - big headlines and small. - Compiled by Tammi Milberg

July

The Fourth of July was celebrated in Webster with a parade.

The skatepark in Siren, a $150,000 value, was dedicated to the parents of Mike Myers, Andrew and Cecile Myers, who provided much financial support to Mike Myers’ vision.

Kendra Nelson was crowned Miss Balsam Lake during the Freedom Festival Celebration.

Siren celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade, bed races and the crowning of Miss Siren 2006, Jennifer Mitchell.

Danbury celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade, and the fire department held O’Days, a benefit in memory of fireman John O’Konski who lost his battle with cancer June 13.

A new duck slide was welcomed by swimmers at the Frederic pool.

The Fourth of July was celebrated in St. Croix Falls on the overlook deck with music by the St. Croix Valley Christian Community Choir.

St. Croix Falls students selected to participate in the Bench Project, a community-partnered arts project with the Phipps Center for the Arts, worked on the project at the Franconia Sculpture

Park.

Osceola’s L.O. Simenstad Airport held a ground-breaking ceremony for a new construction project.

Luis Robles, 31, Minneapolis, Minn., was found in the St. Croix River, near Osceola when he attempted to swim across the river, with his family, and drowned.

A mother bear and her three cubs were frequent summer visitors of Dick and Darla Bibeau’s home, west of Frederic.

The Central Burnett County Fair was held in Webster with ATV pulls, a demo derby and horse pulls as main attractions.

Centuria celebrated Memory Days, and Jennifer McMeekin was crowned Miss Centuria.

Wannigan Days were held in St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls as a sister city celebration with Darryl and Joyce Nelson as St. Croix Falls grand marshals and Lloyd and Mary Rivard was Taylors Falls grand marshals. Alexandra Radinzel was crowned Miss St. Croix Falls.

A 76-year-old New Brighton, Minn., woman, Elizabeth Abu-Azzam, lost her life in a vehicle crash on Hwy. 8, west of CTH H in Apple River Township, when she overcorrected her vehicle and crossed the centerline hitting a truck driven by Dick Johnson, 50, Amery.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s recent report indicated the population of Polk County increased 7.3 percent from 2000 to 2005, placing it in the top 10 counties in Wisconsin to increase population.

The Woodley Dam issue and sale of the site came before the Polk County Board of Supervisors, and the DNR approved plans for the removal of the dam, which was to begin later that summer.

See Year in review, page 2

Molly the Olympian

Siren graduate Molly Engstrom reached the pinnacle of a journey that has led her from the ice ponds of Burnett County to the Olympic-sized ice sheet of Turin, Italy, the site of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. See Top 10 stories of sports. - Web photo

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

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The Taylors Falls Princess was all decked out for the 100-year anniversary celebration of the Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours Company in the summer of 2006. - Photo by Tammi Milberg

Year in review/from page 1 The Gaylord Nelson Memorial sign placed at the Riverwalk near the new National Park Service Headquarters was unveiled with the dedication of the new headquarters opening. Walter Mondale was a keynote speaker at the event remembering Nelson and his role in creating protections for the National Wild and Scenic Riverway.

The village of Dresser announced it would not participate in Polk County’s Economic Development Corporation and would not invest $1,476 of the village’s budget to participate as a result.

The city of Taylors Falls updated and finalized the revisions to their comprehensive plan, a process that has been ongoing for two years.

Unity Elementary Principal Meredith Johnson resigned, and the school board approved the hiring of Elizabeth Jorgensen as the middle school principal.

A new welcome sign in Luck was built by Jennifer Roberts as a Girl Scout project. She was presented with a letter

New twist

of appreciation from the village thanking her for her service to the community.

Unity Schools settled on a $900,000 referendum for building improvements to go to vote in the September primary.

The ballot mix-up in District 2 for Polk County Supervisor had its day in court with disputed viewpoints being aired, and an anticipated decision by Judge Molly GaleWyrick to come in August.

Fire dangers grew in Burnett and Polk counties as the dry summer put several burning bans in effect and resulted in suspensions on burning permits.

Arling “Ole” Olson put in his bid for Polk County Sheriff.

The Rev. Myron Carlson of Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg announced his plans for retirement after 37 years with the church.

Luck celebrated the Lucky Days celebration with bed races, a parade, yo-yo competition, the In and Out of Luck Run and more.

Luck woman, April Hershfield-Johnson, raised money for a trip to South Africa to help end world hunger. She is a food service director with Osceola Schools and was one of 20 food service

See Year in review, page 9

A select group of students in St. Croix Falls participated in a public art project called the Bench Project at Franconia Sculpture Park. The project was coordinated by The Phipps Center for the Arts in partnership with the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation. From top: Henry Klein, Daniel Horn, Sabrina Ogren, Madison Neuman, Kody Hibbard, Amy Klein, Evan Gorres, Noah Hedlund, Ben Hedlund, Anastasia Shartin and Howie Lindahl. - Photo submitted

Honoring Nelson

Five years after the June 18, 2001, tornado that struck southern Burnett County, Gil Hoel found himself with new responsibilities that took him from small-town rural Wisconsin to helping prepare for and respond to worldwide disasters, even going as far as the South Pacific island of Palau. He was featured in a Leader Currents story by Nancy Jappe in July entitled “Tornado twists career path for counselor.” - Photo submitted

The Gaylord Nelson Memorial sign placed at the Riverwalk near the new National Park Service Headquarters was unveiled with the dedication of the new headquarters opening. Walter Mondale was a keynote speaker at the event remembering Nelson and his role in creating protections for the National Wild and Scenic Riverway. - Photo by Julie Holmquist

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 3

Writers’ Corner Compulsions

by Audrey Stensvold When I was young and first married, I helped drive tractor, lift and load hay bales and mow them away, helped fill the corn planter and carried pails of milk to the bulk tank...anything to help get the work done faster. My neighbor ladies, all a generation older than me, said, “You’ll pay for all that hard manual labor someday. That is meant to be man’s work. ”Growing up, I was taught there was no such thing as man’s work or woman’s work, rather farming was a family operation. But still I kept on and then took on nursing as well which is more lifting.

Now I begin to see what they meant, as parts of my body begin to rebel and want to shut down or stop working all together. Which brings me to my “poor hurting feet” and milking the very last drop of Capzasin from the tube, worth its weight in gold because it allows my feet to carry me around all day. And it is not just getting the last drop out of Capzasin tubes that I obsess about, but tubes of toothpaste, salve, hand cream, Blister and any thing else that comes packaged in containers.

I have this undeniable urge to lay lotion bottles on their sides and then pound them on the inside of my hand and even stick my little finger up to swirl it around the inside of the neck to see if I can possibly extract a little more, to be sure I don’t waste even a tiny smidgen. My husband gets very upset and tells me to “throw that empty bottle away and take a new one!”

And catsup bottles, I have this driving need to stand the nearly empty one upside down on the new one to drain out the last little bit.

Then there are recently outdated “best used by” items. My son won’t touch anything that has been outdated. It’s as if one day past the date on the container it automatically turns to poison. When I was young, we never had the luxury of having our food “dated” for us.

So my mind simply won’t accept the fact that it can be good one day and not the next because of some numbers on the package. I would rather think that I can tell by look or smell if it has turned bad. So I have this quiet but firm voice inside me that admonishes me not to be wasteful.

And what about cereal? I feel reluctantly compelled to use it down to the last dregs until the box is empty – something that really annoys my husband. He hates that fine meal-like cereal in the bottom of the box. But short of sifting the last of the cereal through a strainer to separate it from the “chaff,” I have yet to find the perfect way to do dispose of this fine meal.

Then there are little packets of Splenda, sugar and powdered cream. I have this urge to tear off the top and empty the substance appropriately but then, to be sure it is well-used, I have to crinkle up the packet with forefinger and thumb on each side and shake it again to assure myself that it is indeed empty.

There are empty reusable glass jars. They are good for canning jelly, horseradish. I can’t throw them away!

And how about disposable baggies? Can you really discard them after they have been used as a food saver and don’t even look like they have been used? I very reluctantly throw away those that have held raw meat or onion or something that the plastic may retain the flavor of. Do you close your eyes and throw them away or do you perhaps wash them and reuse them, like I do?

I also have a large collection of left-hand plastic gloves. The right one always wears out when the left one is practically like new. I don’t know why I save them. It is not as if I will suddenly become left-handed.

After all, they are still good.

I don’t like to picture myself as selfish, greedy and ungenerous but would rather attribute my compulsions to hearing my mom say so often in the Depression years, “We better hang onto this as we never know when we might need it!”

Submissions should be typed, double-spaced on one side only of 8 -1/2 x 11 white paper, leaving a minimum of 1-inch margins all around. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted. Submissions should be no more than 800 words.

Submissions may be delivered to The Leader’s offices in Frederic or Siren, mailed to Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837 or e-mailed to the-leader@centurytel.net. We prefer e-mailed copy. If hand-delivered or mailed, please write "Writers’ Corner" somewhere on the front of the envelope. If e-mailed, please use "Writers’ Corner" as the subject and include the submission as body text of the e-mail. No attachments, please. Your submission to Writers’ Corner grants The Leader one-time rights to publish the item in the weekly newspaper. The author retains the copyright and all future publication rights. The Leader may edit submissions for grammar and punctuation, clarity and length. If you have any questions about this new feature, please contact us at the-leader@centurytel.net or call 715-327-4236. - Editor

ETC.

SIREN - The public is cordially invited to the Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency support group meeting of the Northern Lights Alphas (satellite of the Alpha Pack). The group mission is to offer support to those in the Wisconsin area affected by A1AD with the goal of also bringing about awareness in the local community. It will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, between 6:30 and 9 p.m. at the Burnett County Government Center in Room 165, 7410 CTH K (2 miles North of Siren on Hwy. 35) Siren. Judy Parker is the support group leader for this area. There is handicap parking and wheelchair access. There are also 15minute parking spots available for longer parking at night located close to building.

Food and refreshments that evening will be hosted by ZLB Behring. To attend, please RSVP Judy Parker at 715-653-2666 or e-mail sjparker@centurytel.net – submitted

Free college financial aid info session to be held RIVER FALLS – A free information program on financial assistance for attending college will be offered at UW-River Falls on Monday, Jan. 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the new University Center on campus. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The event, geared toward parents and high school seniors, is free and open to the public.

Participants do not have to be planning on applying or enrolling at UWRF to attend, as the program is designed to meet the needs of any student who plans to continue education after high school.

Family members are also encouraged to attend. Among the topics to be covered are the types of federal and state financial aid programs, how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, how awards are made, and the costs to attend college. You will also be able to submit questions to financial aid experts.

A scholarship raffle will be held for high school seniors; winners must be present to win.

For more information, contact the UWRF Office of Financial Assistance at 715-425-3141 or e-mail finaid@uwrf.edu. – from UW-River Falls

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

River Road Ramblings

by Nina Borup Malmen When our pioneer forefathers arrived from various parts of Europe there was very little regard to sanitation or hygiene. Most of the families were cared for without the aid of a doctor.

People had their own remedies passed down from mothers and grandmothers.

Among the popular home remedies was the use of turpentine with a mixture of goose grease or lard to alleviate a heavy chest cold. The chewing of a piece of bacon rind eased many sore throats, cobwebs were used to ease the flow of blood, and the application of flax seed for infected sores. They

collected by Russ Hanson

Medical Memories

Back row: Midwife Ida Fors Floodman Bjorklund, 70 years old, Alma Marie Bjorklund Anderson, 29 years old holding her daughter, Willmette Anderson Jenson, 3 months, Axel Ferdinand Bjorklund. Front: Marie Anderson Malmen, 6 years old, Leslie Anderson, 27 months and Elsie Anderson Lockert, 3-1⁄2 years old. – Photo courtesy Nina Malmen

Dr. Barck of Trade Lake learned to care for their wounds and set their own broken bones.

Contagious diseases were not a major problem because the pioneers led such isolated lives. However, between the years of 1800-1850 epidemics wiped out thousands of lives due to the rapid arrival of immigrants and the growth of the cities. The attitude was, “every man for himself–the strong will prevail and the weak will perish.”

Dr. Arveson of Frederic

The women assisted each other when the children were born. The word “midwife” was defined as a woman trained by experience to help women in childbirth.

Among the well-known midwives in Burnett and Polk counties was Ida Caroline Fors Bjorklund. She was born on Oct.18, 1842, in Bjornlunds, Sodermanland, Sweden. In 1864 she was confirmed at a Lutheran church also at this location. She was united in marriage to John Anderson in 1865. Born to this union were three children. Ida’s second husband, Axel Bjorklund was born in Bjorkvik, Sweden. He arrived in Boston on July 16, 1881, and came directly to the area of Trade Lake. He operated a shoe repair shop out of their home. He repaired many pairs of shoes for the people who were living in this community.

As the frontier developed, villages such as Grantsburg and Frederic were fortunate to have the talents of a doctor. Some of them had offices in one room of their home or on the second floor above a harness shop, a hardware or grocery store.

During the first half of the 1900s, Drs.

Swanson, Barck, Turner, Hoffmeier and became well-known Fremstad throughout the area.

The first Municipal Frederic Hospital at Frederic was completed in 1916.

This hospital was built by Drs. R.G. Arveson and John Diamond.

In addition to serving the community during regular office hours, a doctor also served by making house calls at any hour of the day or night. Horses were used for transportation and a buggy or cutter (sleigh), depending on the time of the year. In case of an emergency, a doctor would often ride horseback.

The Grantsburg Hospital was constructed in 1930. This brick building was just a few blocks north of the intersection of Hwys. 70 and 48/87. In 1958 ,plans were made to construct a new hospital and doctors offices. A 53-bed extended care unit was added in 1967.

Most of the early doctors maintained their profession without any assistance. Dr. Fremstad, who was located in Grantsburg, was the exception. His wife, a graduated midwife, was an aide to her husband and attended the needs of many at all hours.

Grantsburg Hospital

Some form of nursing has been practiced for thousands of years. During early Christian times, noblewomen, including the wives of emperors, helped to care for the needs of the ill people in ancient Rome.

Nursing as we know it today began in the 1850s with the work of the English nurse, Florence Nightingale, who was the founder of modern professional nursing. The two main groups of nurses are professional nurses and practical nurses.

Medicine has moved rapidly ahead since the 1800s. Research has brought cures for many medical problems.

Antibiotic drugs have become a weapon against tuberculosis and other diseases. The development of lightweight materials have provided doctors a way to replace damaged body parts.

The terms country doctor and general practitioner have nearly faded from our vocabulary. A quick review of the “Yellow Pages” of any phone book will reveal the caption physicians, under which are listed the titles of cardiology, chiropractors, cardiovascular, dermatology and so on and so forth! Many of the names listed are those of females.

When I was born on the Roberts Homestead way back in 1934, my grandmother, Emma Noyes Roberts, was the midwife, nurse and doctor.

Seven weeks later, Dad stopped at the courthouse in Grantsburg and reported my birth. My birth certificate is a penny postcard mailed from Madison on Sept. 8, 1934. My parents names are misspelled; however this certificate of birth has always served its purpose.

Between the ages of 10 and 16, I mowed, with a heavy, push-type lawn mower, my grandparents huge lawn during the summer months. Whenever my grandmother tried to pay me for my services, my mother would intervene with an emphatic “No!” After all my Grandmother Roberts had brought me into this world and had never charged anything for her services.

Yes, times have changed.

Additional photos from the Selin collection

Frederic Hospital 1916

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 5

Senior moments

Karen O’Connor is a sought-after speaker, writing consultant and award-winning author of 40 books.

She will inspire you with her comforting, humorfilled message of letting go and trusting in God to be your strength – affirming that life is filled with wonder, promise and adventure, regardless of age. Karen and her husband have five children and live in California.

She wrote the two new books noted below, published by Guideposts.

The Hereafter “My preacher said, ‘At your age, you should be thinking about the hereafter.’ I told him I do it all the time – in the living room, bedroom, the kitchen, den and basement – I ask myself, ‘Now what am I here after?’” – “Help, Lord! I’m Having a Senior Moment.”

“I went shopping a few weeks ago and waved to my friend Marie standing inside the front window of Macy’s. I smiled and ran to greet her – but when I got close, I realized I had been grinning at a mannequin!” – “Help, Lord! I’m Having a Senior Moment.”

“Hello”…Anyone!”

“When Alice answered the phone she didn’t recognize the caller’s voice. ‘Who’s speaking?’ the caller asked. Alice’s mind went blank. Finally, Alice blurted out, ‘Just give me a minute…’ The two women had a good laugh, got to talking and actually became friends.” – “Getting’ Old Ain’t for Wimps.”

“In a restaurant ladies room, I noticed spray cans in a basket. How nice of management, I thought as I reached for a can to spritz my hair. Oh, no! It was too late when I saw Pledge across the can. I returned to my table with that unmistakable ‘lemon-fresh’ scent.”

I received an ad for the two books, and I am tempted, but our house is already listing with the weight of too many bookcases.

The author, Karen O’Connor, says, “Beneath the humor, there are beautiful, poignant lessons for us all.”

From time to time, I have my senior moments, when I can’t remember someone’s name. I phone a senior friend and ask, “Do you remember the name of the lady who lived on the corner near Hwy. 35?

Try as we can, neither one of us can remember. Later, it comes to me, and I think, “Oh, of course!” But it is maddening.

Also published by Guideposts is a collection of humor with a number of authors contributing their best. The book title is “You’ve Gotta Be Kidding!”

Did you hear the one about the… …man who went to the priest and said, “Father I want you to say a Mass for my dog.”

The priest was indignant, “What do you mean, say a Mass for your dog?”

“It’s my pet dog,” said the man. “I loved that dog, and I’d like you to offer a Mass for him.”

Bernice Abrahamzon

BEHIND THE

SIGNPOST

“We don’t offer Masses for dogs here,” the priest said. “You might try the Methodists down the street. Ask them if they have a service for you.”

As the man was leaving, he said to the priest, “I really loved that dog. I was planning to offer a million-dollar stipend for the Mass.” And the priest said, “Wait a minute. You never told me your dog was Catholic.” – Brennan Manning Words of wit & wisdom…

“I like the laughter that opens the lips and heart, that shows at the same time the pearls and the soul.” – Victor Hugo

If you’re not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.” – Martin Luther “If you want to give God a good laugh, tell him your plans.” – Yiddish folk saying “Laughter is the sound of heaven.” – Gary Stanley “God gave us this capacity to be tickled way deep down inside. And y’know what? You don’t have to be happy to laugh. You become happy because you laugh.” – Barbara Johnson “Give me a sense of humor, Lord.

Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some happiness from life, And pass it on to other folk.” – Chester Cathedral You’d think I’m an agent for Guideposts Books if I continue in this vein. I do have quite a few of them, as they come in sets.

My New Year’s resolutions I will: • Remember to mail my letters after I write them • Give away some of my books • Update my address book • Take more pictures and organize our photography books • Throw away stuff no longer pertinent • Get rid of clutter! (The bane of any writer’s life.)

• Try some new recipes • Listen more and talk less • Go to the hair salon more often than twice a year • Go more places and do more things.

Bernice

Do you remember ?

Compiled by Bernice Abrahamzon

50 Years Ago Polk County banks would pay 2-1/2-percent interest on certificates of deposit.-Santa came to Lewis Dec. 22, with treats.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, included Jell-O at 6 pkgs. for 49¢, lg.

Pkg. of Ritz crackers at 35¢ and grapefruit at 10 for 49¢.-Specials at the Grantsburg Feed Co. included cob corn at $28 a ton, shelled corn at $1.15 a bushel and Doughboy poultry feeders at $1.-The Christmas story according to Luke was printed on the front page of this newspaper.-Several readers wrote on “What Christmas Means to Me,” including Larry Annett, Elaine Teigen, Jim Johnson, Doris (no last name given), Tom Fishcer, LaVerne Rutherford and Gordon Olson. They were all eighth-graders.-N.J. Larsen, 87, Millltown pioneer, died at Amery.-Maynard Anderson, Frederic of the Frederic Association of Commerce, gave $5 checks to the top winners in the fourth-annual Christmas coloring contest, including Myrna Corner and Keith Mortenson, both of rural Frederic.-Twenty-four other checks were mailed out to participants.-Typing paper was $1.19 a ream at the Leader office.-A New Year’s Eve dance was held at the Milltown Theatre building, sponsored by the Milltown Commercial Club, with music by the Falconaires.-In the Sports Highlights column, Ole Findreng pinch-hitted for Elmer Hallmant.

40 Years Ago Members of the Northwest Regional Writers toured the Burnett Co. Historical Museum in Dec., located at the Siren Airport building.-Specials at the Clover Farm Store, Frederic, included bacon at 69¢ lb., oranges at 69¢ dozen and giant-size Oxydol at 69¢.-Obituaries included Blanche Gruel, Lyle Caldwell and Florence Morse.-Officers elected at the Clam Falls Lutheran church included trustees, Floyd Martin and John Smith; decon, Robert Nelson; parliamentarian, Alvin Ehlers; head usher, Leo Anderson. The pastor was Reinhart G. Pedersen.-Bernice Abrahamzon wrote weekley book reviews for this newspaper.-The Ben Franklin Store, Frederic, had a two-page broadsheet ad on Christmas specials, including that wonderful candy.-Remember chocolate covered cherries at 46¢ box? Real bridge mix at 47¢ lb. and turtles at 47¢ lb.?-West Sweden taxpayers would see a tax increase in tax rate.-Miss Sandra Wallin was a speech therapist for schools in Northern Wisconsin near Ashland.-Last rites were held for Dan Java, who died in Vietnam, at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, Frederic.-Specials at route’s Super Market, Frederic, included bananas at 9¢ lb., raisins at 2 lbs. for 89¢ and sugar at 10 lbs. for 89¢.Frederic Co-op specials included chocolate drops at 29¢ lbs., cake mixes at 4 for $1; and Co-op coffee at 2 lbs. for $1.29.-Gary Wenthe, Siren, was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

20 Years Ago The new pastor installed at Zion Grace Lutheran parish was Russell Graef.-On his first time ice fishing, 10-year-old Jeff Lang of Clam Falls caught a 9 lb., 14 oz. walleye on big Clam Lake near Siren.-The newly formed South Fork Sportsmen’s awarded members, Bob Weinzierl of Frederic with two trophies at a special buck party held at the Clam Falls Tavern. He had shot the largest buck, 161 lbs., with the biggest rack of 10 pts.-Obituaries included Bernadette Glockzin, Albert Holmberg, Nila Parks, Doris Swenson and Elmo Wilson.-Willis Erickson, outgoing president of the Danish Brotherhood Lodge of Luck, received a gift for his years of service when members held their Christmas party.-John and LuRene Soderberg of West Sweden celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Aug. 28, and their photo was published in Dec. issue of this newpaper.The January luncheon of the Northwest Regional Writers would round out the Club’s 20th year. The club met Jan. 10 at Countryside Inn, Frederic.

Brought to you by

OLSEN & SON

Serving the community since 1882

Siren Drug Store Pharmacy Phone 349-2221 • Fax 349-7350

Tom Moore, Owner Tom Giswold, Pharmacist

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

Christmas comes early for Amery Regional Medical Center ARMC receives $1.6 million AMERY - Amery Regional Medical Center received a $1.6 million check from the Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation on Dec. 19. The generous donation was a part of a $2 million grant that was awarded to ARMC last May. The medical center was to receive $400,000 a year over the next five years to help with the development and construction of the new health care facility. However, to the cedical center’s delight, Christmas came early.

“When I received the check in the mail, I was astonished. You can’t imagine my surprise and gratitude,” stated chief executive officer of Amery Regional Medical Center, Michael Karuschak, Jr. The $2 million grant from Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation provides ARMC with funds needed for the completion of the new facility located at 265 East Griffin Street in Amery.

The 120,000-square-foot facility with an estimated cost of $36.5 million is scheduled for completion September 2007. The 28-acre lot, purchased last May, will include additional clinic exam rooms, 25 private inpatient rooms, an expanded emergency care area as well as increase space for surgical services, laboratory and

Pictured (L to R): Michael Karuschak, chief executive officer of ARMC and Dr. Craig Johnson, chief medical officer of ARMC, in front of the future site of Amery Regional Medical Center. – Photo by Pam Humpal

radiology services including a fixed MRI scanner.

Additional amenities such as a chapel, expanded parking, educational spaces and a dining area will also be a part of the new facility.

To aid in the development of the new health care facility, ARMC started an internal fundraising campaign in November. The campaign’s purpose is to raise funds which will help implement four special features at the future facility. These features include plants for the rain gardens instead of seeding these areas, installation of the green roof, additional furnishings for the chapel including a water feature, and a walking path along the Apple River for the community.

The dedical center wants to raise $665,000 for the implementation of these projects. Of this amount, the goal for the internal fundraising campaign has been set at $350,000. The ARMC Foundation has already donated $100,000 to the fund drive leaving a balance of $250,000 being requested from employees, management, members of the medical staff, the board of directors and ARMC volunteer partners. – submitted

Pi Kielty to debut “The Mad Tales” AMERY - Wisconsin writer Pi Kielty will debut his new release “The Mad Tales” at a book party on, Saturday, Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts in Amery. Kielty worked on the short stories, poem and essay in his first published book for over six years. “It took that long to find the courage to reveal some of these to

strangers,” Kielty said.

The first major book release by The Cepia Club of Osceola, “The Mad Tales” has received acclaim by other writers.

“So often in our lives people have no empathy for those in pain. These tales strive to bridge that gap,” commented Michigan author Bradley Simpson.

Featuring fiction on Kielty’s genre of

alternative realism and the auto-horrific, the book began distribution the week before Christmas.

The public is invited to “An Evening Affair with Pi Kielty” on Jan. 6, at the Northern Lakes Center located at 113 Elm Street. Following Kielty’s 7:30 p.m., reading of selections from the book, Scalding Hounds will provide

live music entertainment. The book party will include food and a “freeminds, free-market bazaar” of other artists and causes sharing their works and wares. For more info call The Cepia Club at 715-268-2963. - submitted

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 7

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER 320-2423933

Cloverton - Markville

Written for last week

Christmas is coming. Time flies with the prep work and plans for the holidays. Evelyn Johnson is having everyone (19 family members) at her house for Christmas Eve dinner. I suppose later that night as they sleep, they won’t have visions of sugarplums dancing in their head, but rather of sardines all lined up in a bed. The weekend previous, her daughters showed up to cut Christmas trees on her property.

The weekend before Christmas, Pete and Emma Fornengo visited grandson Pete, wife Stacy, and kids Luke and Emma. But for Christmas day they get to stay home instead, and enjoy the arrival of their kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, associated boyfriends, girlfriends and whoever else can still slip in the front door.

Dave and Sandy Drake went to Anoka, Minn., for Christmas, to daughter’s, Patti Erickson, son-in-law Dave, and grandson Josh. Granddaughter Gracia and hubby Joe will meet them there. Dave has been hand-digging a small basement under his house.

Bev and Ed Carlin had their family in for Christmas on the Dec. 16. Bev’s dad, her sister, and kids all showed up, except Dale, who had to stay in Nebraska because he could not get time off from work. All had a fun time. John Fornengo took one look on TV at the snowfall in Denver, had visions of the Halloween storm here in 1991, and decided to have all the family over to his and Robin’s place rather than travel somewhere else.

Darlene and Pete Merimonti will he heading to Hudson for Christmas. They expect a crowd of 30, but before they get there, they will stop for second breakfast at Pete’s son Jim’s house. On Dec. 20, they got a surprise phone call from Pete’s cousin who lives in the Yukon, way out in the middle of nowhere. It took Ma Bell one heck of a long time to find him and install that new phone line. Just prior to Christmas, they will visit Darlene’s mom, age 102, who is running circles ‘round the other “kids” in the rest home.

Jim and Helen Allen are heading out to son Mark’s house in Blaine for Christmas, and other son Jeff will meet them there for a cozy family get-together. Meanwhile, Jim and Esther Vink are going to hop on over to Bruno to Daryl and wife Sandy’s new house. Christmas came early to Pam and Leon Berg’s, as their daughter and her spouse were up Dec. 17 to exchange gifts.

Frank and Mary Schaaf went shopping in Duluth on Dec. 20, confirming that one really can shop until they drop. Frank says he’s giving his new knee one solid workout. Jerry and Shirley Blokzyl stopped by to help them recuperate on Dec. 21, and then they’re off to get Louise Torrez and Lois Schaaf for even more revelry on Christmas Day. Bad news: Dave and Toni Royer recently had to put down their dog, Lilly, due to a severe case of porcupine quills. Good news: they are hosting the family gathering for Christmas, which should help cheer them up. Ed and Jan Proffit are going to Jan’s mom’s place in Mora for Christmas.

They report that Alfred is still doing well, even though he doesn’t remember that he is. Recently, cousin Donny stopped by to show them pictures from his cabin up by Kingsdale. The pictures showed a huge moose in his yard, with an estimated span of 5 feet.

Patty and I will see my brother, Bill, from Virginia Beach, sister, Barb, and husband, Larry, from Orlando, Fla., and sons, Luke

Bob Brewster

(now a family of five) and Tim from Dec. 27 to Dec. 31.

Written for this week

A new year, and naturally, a time to reflect on the year gone by; to be thankful for what we have, and make plans for the future. It seems everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Gordy and Carol Hasledalen are especially grateful for obvious reasons. Carol is doing fine after her surgery, and has a doctor’s appointment for Jan. 2 and Jan. 10. For several days around Christmas, they went to Plymouth to Gordy’s mom Dolly’s place, and exchanged gifts with that side of the family. Gordy’s New Year’s resolution is to win the lottery in 2007. When he accomplishes his goal, we hope he remembers his friends and neighbors.

On Christmas Eve, Dolores Schirmer heard a helicopter coming in very low, and thinking it might be Santa because of no snow, ran to the window to open the sash, in anticipation of a big holiday bash. Did she get a new vacuum cleaner so dearly missed, or some other item from her long list? Her hopes were dashed, expectations faulty, as she learned right away she had been very naughty. You go, girl!

On her trip abroad, Fran got her elephant ride in the last remaining rain forest in Thailand. While she has been gone, Dave has been hitting the dinner circuit quite heavily, being at Bob and Patty’s on Dec. 20, Marty and Jerry Pearson’s on Dec. 21, with family members Mark and Leda’s (along with Nick) on Dec. 22, at Dave and Jan Schnell’s on Dec. 25, and this week at Jan Streiff’s. Oh Fran, don’t leave again – it’s hard to sit by and watch Dave do this to himself.

Jan Streiff went to Becky Lourey’s retirement party at the casino. It was wellattended, with many smiling faces and good cheer. She also made a trip to the Twin Cities for a haircut, and visited with old friend Barb Gunter. Don and Marlene Mishler were over at Evelyn Johnson’s for dinner on Christmas Eve, and then out to the casino for dinner the next day. They said a lot of people were out and about during the holidays.

Mel and Eleanor Elliot had the family in for Christmas. Eleanor went to get her mom Mabel Burson on Friday, Dec. 22, and took her back home on Dec. 26. It was nice to get together for more than one or two days. They went to Julie’s for Christmas Day. Eleanor says it’s too early to make a New Year’s resolution.

All of the Coveaus got together for a good time at Peg and Clint’s this year, with Jimmy, Denny, and Kenny’s families all there. That red, glowing object in the east, as seen from downtown Markville, is Clint’s burning barrel suffering the mound of wrapping paper that was left over after everyone went home.

Jerry and Shirley Blokzyl had five Christmases all in one year – one at each of their children’s, plus another “hunter’s party,” traditionally held in late November, but later this year. Meanwhile, Clara Lilly had a hot meal at a hot party at son Mike’s, for Christmas. Prior to this, on Saturday, the pre-pre-party was at Larry and Sherry Matrious’s place, with the pre-party at Eugene and Rudy’s in Roseville, Minn.

Can you image what would happen if the Blokzyl’s, Clara, and Dave Baker all traveled together?

We’re on a roll, so as the new year unfolds, keep the holiday spirit in mind wherever you are.

Hi Folks, Fritz here from Humane Society of Burnett County.

Woof and slobbers to all the angels who dropped off food and supplies for us this past week, especially puppy food. I have puppies coming out of my ears and there’s always one under paw!

This past weekend eight more puppies arrived, they are only 3 weeks old. The angels had to take them home because they are bottle fed! I’m not sure I have toes to count high enough but I think this brings the puppy count up to 18.

Aroooo!

Beside all the puppies that are waiting for fur-ever families there are plenty of adult dogs too. Jack and Honey are 3year-old Jack Russell terriers and woof are they energetic! They run around bouncing and spinning so fast, I almost toss my dog biscuits watching them play. Buddy is a medium-sized, young, shorthair dog and he sure is sweet, he just wants someone to take him on a few hikes and curl up on the couch with.

My friend Patch is a pretty retriever or spaniel mix with lots of bounce and kisses for everyone.

We sent a couple friends off with new

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families this week.

Hailey, the hound puppy went to Minnesota to live with some nice humans and another hound just like her!

And Bella, the small Labmix, I’m pretty sure Fritz she was helping drive the car as she left with NEWS FROM her new mom. What a great way to start 2007 for these justadopted friends of mine!

Well, 2006 has ended and I sure am thankful to all the angels who blessed our shelter with supplies, money and volunteer time. I know it takes a lot of humans doing a little bit each to keep the roof over my head and the food bowl filled. Thanks!

I hope your new year is filled with good treats, long naps in a warm bed and many happy hiking trails.

With your help HSBC is saving lives, one at a time. www.hsburnettcty.org

YOUR SHELTER

Siren Senior Center

The Siren Senior Center ended on a happy note with two very successful potluck dinners shared by the community.

The dinner on Dec. 24 brought out 43 people and our New Year’s Eve dinner had 53 people attending. We feel very fortunate that we are able to accommodate these large numbers of attendees, with room to spare.

The Dining at Five dinner will be served Thursday, Jan. 4. If you haven’t made reservations call Shirley at 715-349-2845 to see if she will arrange to feed a few more.

At this date, the center isn’t planning anything outstanding. We will have our senior monthly meeting on Jan. 16, at 9:30 a.m. This is also the day that we celebrate all of the January birthdays.

We have two birthday girls that we know of for sure, Marjorie Nyberg and Corrine Root. You don’t have to have a January birthday to celebrate, just come for lunch and share our birthday cake.

We will start the new year off with our

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friends from the fourth grade on Jan. 30.

Remember we are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. stop in and have a cup of coffee and something sweet if you like.

We have dime bingo every Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. and cards on Wednesday and Friday.

Our Wednesday 500 card players were the largest that we have ever hosted – 30.

The winners were Sylvia Heavey, Roy Magnuson, Don Heavey, Dorothy Cronquist and Jeanne Dodendorf. Friday Spades winners were Millie Hartshorn, Myrna Thomas, Dorothy Cronquist and Lloyd Nelson. Myrna Thomas treated the Friday bunch to some of her cookies.

Our sympathy to Phyllis and Bob Gideo on the loss of their grandson on Dec. 27.

It is hard to lose a member of your family but even harder to lose one of the younger members.

Wishing all of you the very best healthy and prosperous new year.

Dewey - LaFollette Karen Mangelsen

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On Dec. 18, Cheryl Gozdzialski, Pat and Jerry Bahrke, Chuck and Peggy Busch, Ilene Giddings, and Lyle and LaVonne Stock were guests at the home of Judy Albee. The 40th-wedding anniversary of Chuck and Peggy was celebrated.

Jeanne Graber, Joan Petz, Cheryl Gozdzialski and Judy Albee had lunch together on Dec. 20 to celebrate Christmas.

Judy Albee was a supper guest of Dick and Deb Schlapper Dec. 22.

Donald Albee, Duane and Kathy Albee, and Judy Albee were Christmas Eve supper guests of Beverly Brunclik.

Judy Albee was a Christmas Day dinner guest of Don, Charlene and Charlie Strabel. That evening Judy joined Donald Albee at the home of Beverly Brunclik to play cards.

Hank and Karen Mangelsen visited Marlene and Bruce Swearingen Tuesday afternoon and were supper guests there.

Karen and Hank Mangelsen were

Wednesday and Thursday visitors of Jake and Holly Mangelsen and family, and April and Dave Close and family.

Melba and Don Denotter called on Hank and Karen Mangelsen Friday evening.

Saturday visitors of Don and Lida Nordquist were Joleen, Richard, Rick, Robb and Randi Funk and Karen and Hank Mangelsen.

Sunday dinner guests of Ronda and Maynard Mangelsen were Hank and Karen Mangelsen, Jean, Terry, Justine, Brin, Bria and Brice Williamson and David Lester.

Donna and Gerry Hines hosted a card party New Year’s Eve. Guests were Sue and Roger Mroszak, Karen and Hank Mangelsen and Lida and Don Nordquist.

Beverly Brunclik was a New Year’s Eve guest of Judy Albee, and she stayed overnight. They enjoyed themselves playing cards and several other games, and going on a nice drive New Year’s Day.

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER 653-4281

Lewis

This Sunday on Jan. 7, the United Methodist Men will sponsor a pancake breakfast. It is open to the public.

Freewill offering. Good food and good conversation welcome.

Pastor Mike and Candy are now residing in their own home north of Siren. They have the same phone number as always. Candy is preaching every Sunday at the Methodist church in Odanah. Wishing them happiness in their brand-new home.

LaVonne Boyer served Christmas goodies and fruit following the Sunday worship service. LaVonne has served as liturgist for the month of December. Robin Peterson will be liturgist in January.

No mail on Sunday, as usual; no mail on Monday, (holiday); no mail Tuesday (National Day of Mourning). Pity the mail carrier on Wednesday, playing catch-up with the backload.

Real-estate tax notices were in the mail during the holidays. You know that old card-playing saying, “Read ‘em and weep,” which has to translate into “Read ‘em and pay ‘em” (at least half by the end of January).

In a discussion the other day among friends, the remark was made, “The CRD needs money. The public library needs money. The township needs money.” And someone said, “That’s ‘cuz nobody has any.”

Best wishes to LouAnn Gackle, who is scheduled for

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therapy now. Wishing her good progress in her recovery.

Best wishes to LeRoy Jones who spent several days in the heart unit at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital. He underwent a surgical procedure and is now home recuperating, feeling better.

Bernice Abrahamzon had a Christmas story in last Wednesday’s issue of the The Country Today, published in Eau Claire.

The annual meeting of the Inter-County Co-op Publishing Association will be held this coming Saturday, Jan. 6 at Hacker’s Lanes, Frederic, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Stockholders, remember to return your reservation cards.

Members of the NW Regional Writers will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 at the Jade Dragon, Grantsburg.

No assignment. Bring a story to tell or read and a good appetite. Order off the menu.

The agenda for all the meetings of the Indianhead Rock and Mineral Society has been made out for 2007 and mailed to members so they can plan accordingly.

LaVerne Leep visited at the home of Carol and Lee Mangelsen on Sunday as Ethan and Emmy Mitbrod of Somerset were staying with their grandparents, while Jenny and Krist celebrated New Year’s.

How about all that rain? Water standing all over as the ground is frozen so it can’t sink in. What a strange winter it is!

Siren

There seems to be a mistake made by Mother Nature in our weather this year, either that or she has a war going with Old Man Winter. For some reason, whenever he comes around dropping a little of the white flakes he carries in this winter bag, her temper flares up and she melts everything in sight. Maybe we will be going from fall, right into spring this year and forget all about winter and the fun some people have in all that white stuff.

Polk-Burnett Electric is now taking applications for their Co-ops Citizen Scholar awards. For applications, go to your high school guidance counselor. These scholarships are open to any senior whose family is a member of PolkBurnett Electric. Your applications are due Jan. 26.

Congratulations to middle-schooler Jessica Sanders and junior Justin Smith in being chosen Siren school’s

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students of the week.

Don’t forget the Siren/Webster blood drive is today, Wednesday, Jan. 3, from 11:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Siren Covenant Church.

There’s a new young lady residing out on Waldora Road these days. Little Emma Grace Peterson arrived to stay at the home of Danny and Karla Peterson on Dec. 26, weighing in at 8 lbs., 3 oz., and 19-1/2” long. Proud grandparents are Niles and Marge Peterson and Dick and Mary Nelson.

Congratulations to first-time grandma Nancy Jappe, grandson Mitchel David was born on Christmas Eve to Chris and Cathy White, Nancy’s son in California.

My wish for all my readers is for a year of good health and happiness.

Orange

John and Reeny Neinstadt spent the Christmas holidays with Sand and Lamar Johnson and family at Cadott.

Natilie Bray was on call for the Grantsburg Hospital.

On Saturday, Jack and Lavonne O’Brien entertained 23 family members for Christmas. Christmas Day guests were Pat and Nancy O’Brien and Mike and Tylyn.

Mike Witzany, Betty Kulbeck and Elaine Paulus spent Christmas Day with Jack and Jeri Witzany.

The Brad Peterson family spent Christmas Eve with the Jim Taylor.

The Dean Petersons are spending the Christmas vacation here. They and Maxine Stone attended Christmas Eve services at the Methodist Church.

Brian Stone and family, Dylan, Lauren, Bryce and friend Pat from Borger, Texas, are spending the week here.

Many relatives and friends attended the open house at the Brad Peterson home Dec. 29 to celebrate Maxine

Bernice Abrahamzon

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Stone’s 97th birthday party. Congratulations, Maxine!!

Christmas Eve guests at the Mark Krause’s were Naomi Glover, daughter Ellen and family and Fran Krause. Christmas Day the Steve Amends, Kent, Nancy, Leslie and Fran Krause were guests of Tom and Marge Ammend at Spooner. Mark Krause’s were at Glovers.

Karen and Jerry Hintz, Cassie and Karl came for the holidays Dec. 26 and had the Krause get-together on Dec. 27 at Fran Krause’s with Mark and Kent’s families.

Allyson Krause attended a four-day Intervarsity Christian Conference at St. Louis, Mo. Kathryn Krause and the WHS girls varsity basketball team participated in a tournament at Eagle River Thursday and Friday.

Bryan Krause was in the boys JV basketball tournament at Clayton on Thursday and Friday.

Happy New Year to all.

St. Croix Valley Senior Center

Dottie Adams

Our January birthdays are Loreen McFaggen, Don Benson, Carol LeVasseur, Peg Fry, Fern Dumke, Janet Len Rios, Evelyn Podeszwa, Jeanne Thomfohrda, Carol Olson, Olga Young and Deloris Benson. We wish you all a very happy birthday.

Dec. 26 domino winners were in first place Deloris Benson, in second place George Meixner, in third place Ione Meixner. The 500 card winners were in first place Laurice Lambert, in second place Don Benson and in third place Elroy Petzel.

Enthusiasm – catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles to watch you burn. Now that the weather has cooled, come and sit a spell. Bring your friends in for a cup of coffee and relax. It’s been a busy holiday time.

Dec. 28, Thursday evening 500 card winners were in first place Carol Van Buskirk, in second place Elroy Petzel, in third place Phil Mevissen and in fourth place is Bernice Olson.

Wishing you well for 2007.

Births Born at Indianhead Medical Center:

A boy, Jacob Russell, born Dec. 18, 2006, to Kristin and Rob Phernetton of Siren.

••• Born at Amery Regional Medical Center

A boy, London Charles Olsen, born Dec. 25, to April Olsen and Robert Trinka, Amery. London weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz.

••• A boy, Elliott Cole Roberts, born Dec. 27, to Melissa and Andrew Roberts, Milltown. Elliott weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz.

••• A girl, Kadence Brooke Martin, born Dec. 27, to Audrey and Ty Martin, Wheeler. Kadence weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Gavin Robert Gale, born Dec. 28, to Tonya and Jerome Gale, Clayton. Gavin weighed 8 lbs., 12 oz.

•••

Frederic Senior CenterArdyce

Knauber

The holiday season had wonderful warm weather, which made it easy to get around. The center was closed Christmas Day, so no spades were played.

The gals played pokeno Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday night 500 card winners were: first, Ellie Richter; second, Nina Vold; third, Jim Bly and fourth, Marlys Borchert.

Saturday Share-A-Lunch, as always, we had a buffet dinner followed by bingo and cards.

Our New Year’s Day special dinner to celebrate Jan 1, 2007. Spades was played at 1:30 p.m. The winners were: first, Donald Hevey; second, Lloyd Nelson and third, Elinor Bonneville.

Monthly meeting will be Friday, Jan. 5, at 1:30 p.m. All members urged to attend.

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 9

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Year in review/from page 2 directors across the country to be part of the School Nutrition Professional Delegation of People to People Ambassadors to go to South Africa in November.

Temperatures in the area soared well above 100 degrees, impacting farmers with crop loss from the heat and drought.

Tony Grimm announced his bid for Polk County Sheriff.

Dean Roland announced he would seek another term as Burnett County Sheriff.

David Peterson announced he was resigning from the Frederic School Board indicating he felt the board was not properly noticing meetings, among other grievances cited in his resignation letter.

A 17-year-old woman from Pine City, Minn., fell asleep and crashed her car in the yard of a Cushing residence when her vehicle crossed Hwy. 87 and hit two trees, causing the car to roll onto its roof next to a home. Katrina Erickson was saved by wearing her seat belt according to authorities and only sustained minor injuries.

An attempt to repair a substandard dike in the Straight Lake State Park, near Bone Lake, failed causing a flash flood washing away over 10 feet of soil and gravel in places and sweeping trees downstream.

The Forts Folle Avoine held the Fur Trade Rendezvous Days in Danbury.

Gary and Mary Erickson of Luck shared stories of their healing gardens.

The local couple lost their son, Todd, his senior year in high school after a headon collision, in 1999, and have invested their time in creating beautiful gardens to help them heal from their loss.

The D.D. Kennedy Park, near Balsam Lake and Lake Wapogasset, was the site for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new environmental center.

The Daniels Town Hall was placed on the National Historic Register. It was built in 1898.

The Polk County Fair began at the end of July, wrapping up the month of weekend parades and festivities for that month. Theresa Piemonte was chosen as 2006 Fairest of the Fair.

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car show and more.

Voyager Village Players presented “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

Siren native twins, Donald Parker and Marian Parker Peterson, celebrated their 80th birthdays together at the old Parker farmhouse, just west of Siren on Swenson Road. The current homeowner opened the house to the Parker twins and their family for the occasion.

Hunters Memorial Park was dedicated in Rice Lake to the six hunters killed Nov. 21, 2004.

Pam Klatt, Luck, was selected to appear on the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune.”

Football practice began in Leader Land, and it was anybody’s guess how the season would fair for local high school teams.

Webster native and Bemidji State goalie, Emily Brookshaw, tried out for the under-22 U.S. National Team to play against Canada.

Saints grappler Joe Raygor took first place in the National Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament in Green Bay. A report from the state indicated a projected drop in meth cases, which meant good news for local agencies fighting the battle against meth.

S.N.O.W.S. snowmobile and watercross of Frederic donated money to save the Frederic pool.

The Fairest

August

Lansdale School in Balsam Lake hosted Pioneer School Days demonstrating and reminiscing about school in the days of the pioneers.

The Burnett County Citizen Patrol was out and about for the National Night Out held at Crooked Lake Park in Siren.

The city council for St. Croix Falls approved moving toward the Holiday building downtown option as a possible new library for the city.

Pete Nusbaum took part in his first school board meeting for St. Croix Falls schools as the new high school principal.

The city of St. Croix Falls had a water ban in effect due to dry conditions and it was lifted after some rain fell over the area, but restrictions for watering were still in effect.

Sid Bjorkmam was honored for his 50 years of service on the Polk County Fair Board.

Unity Schools hired Wayne Witwan as the new elementary school principal.

Ed Collins announced his bid for Polk County Sheriff.

An early-morning storm left trees uprooted and overturned in parts of northern Burnett County, causing residents to speculate if the devastation was the result of yet another tornado in the area.

Debbie Petzel, a Unity third-grade teacher, received an award from WisDOT in recognition of her creativity of using aviation to inspire and challenge students to reach for their dreams.

Siren celebrated SummerFest with a water show, pie eating contest, classic

Theresa Piemonte of Osceola was crowned Fairest of the Fair at the Polk County Fair in August. Photo submitted

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Hwy. 8 visitor

A truck, 16-feet wide and 200-feet long, made its way down Hwy. 8 from Cameron to St. Croix Falls in mid-August. Due to its weight, the truck, hauling a large industrial dryer, had to slow to 5 mph at bridges and overpasses and traveled in early-morning hours to avoid causing traffic jams.- Photo courtesy Wisconsin DOT The city of St. Croix Falls was cleared of open meetings law violation allegations brought forward by Kennedy Inc., following a ruling from the appellate court. The city was still ordered to pay the Kennedys $1 million in damages from a previous ruling indicating the city breached the contract with Kennedy Inc. during a 1995 development project in the city’s industrial park.

The village of Dresser welcomed a new part-time officer Ryan Marx, who was hired to assist the full-time village officer Ryan Haass.

The Lamar School annual fundraiser music festival took place at the old school site in rural St. Croix Falls with all types of music and musicians and food.

Webster celebrated Gandy Dancer Days, and Leighann Flatten was crowned Miss Webster.

Charles E. Lewis Days was celebrated in Lewis with a parade and car show despite the rain that fell that day.

2006 St. Croix Falls graduate Shawn Weinberg left to serve in the San Lucas Mission in Guatemala from August to December.

Dresser Lions held the fifth-annual Classic Car/Truck show on Main Street.

Award-winning journalist Terry Fiedler died at the age of 47. Fiedler was born in Hudson and lived for several years in Grantsburg. He wrote for the

Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Burnett County was presented with the sheriff’s department and jail budget with an increase of zero for 2007.

The St. Croix Falls City Council approved a request for the school to hold the homecoming parade downtown on Main Street like it used to be years ago.

Jeff Timmons retired after serving 28 years as the director of the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department.

Clint S. Mosay, 21, Webster, pleaded guilty by reason of mental defect to first-degree reckless homicide in the stabbing death of a Hertel woman.

Burnett County Airport Manager Lloyd Arnold explained the short-term and long-term improvements planned for the airport to the public at a meeting.

The issue of the District 2 Supervisor seat was resolved by Judge Molly GaleWyrick, who indicated Fred Grimm would serve the term as appointed interim until an election in November would be held for incumbent William Johnson IV and challenger Kay Friberg.

Gas prices soared, and many Wisconsin residents traveled across the river into Taylors Falls for the cheaper gas prices, causing some traffic backup at the intersection of Hwy. 8 and Hwy. 95 in the city.

See Year in review, page 14

Feed mill facelift

The renovation of the former Frederic Farmer’s Cooperative lot revised the landscape of downtown Frederic. The Frederic Fire Hall was also renovated and expanded in 2006. - Photo Gary King

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They left us in 2006 BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES - The following people have left us in the past year. They are listed by month according to when their obituaries appeared in the paper.

Ruth Ann (Martin) Schaff, David T. McKinley, Beatrice Lucille Wikstrom, Helen Rose Anderson, Milo Edward Anderson, Frances H. Hagstrom, Larry A. Sveback, Josephine B. Peper, Lorilie Ann Thompson, Elaine Marian Olson, Ilene L. Keys, Ila V. Blood, John F. Hacking, Frank Melvin Heilig, Esther L. Otis, Dorothy Buecksler, Lowell Hoffman, Elaine Della Mishler, Irene Marie (Brunclik) Pratt.

January

Avis “Lorraine” Morris, Emma C. Rogers, Melvin H. Rand, Charles R. Hulteen, Elsie Skow, Charles A. Larson, Marian Evelyn Engdahl, Irma M. Thompson, Marvin C. Chipman, Robert W. Bailey, Charles A. (Chuck) Larson, David Swingle, Charlotte Dudley, Wallace C. Baxter, Thomas A. Peterson, Ainard E. Leef, Virginia D. Grushus, Clarence S. Kellberg, Angela M. Roen, Richard Grimsgard, Eunice Matson Muirhead, Ralph Amundson, Lydia M. Reynolds, Frances A. (Swenson) Kulbeck, Vergie Lois (Dahlman) Nelson, Margaret A. Yurik, Jean F. Miller, Marion Phyllis Volker (Rasmussen), Mildred Glassel, Karen Marie Blanding, Evelyn Marie Elmerson, Lillian Eva Julia (Paulsen) Miller, Arvid Prose.

February

Allen “Al” Lester Alden, Tony David Sweep, Eliza Martin, Gerald A. (Jerry) Perron, Mark Allen Scott, Alois “Ollie” Stoeberl, Levi Olaf Olson, Signe (Skold) Williams, Walter Gullickson, Richard A. (Dick) Christensen, Charles J. Mossey, John P. Schmidt, Laura Jean Milner, Patricia Janish, Lois Jean (Neal) Simons, Harry J. Anderson, Antoni (Tony) Michael Zurawski, Bessie A. Green, Alice E. Rivard, Harlen M. Zehm, Doris M. (Lind) Emerson, Gretchen Mattson (nee Kringle), Clara Agnes Elliott, Virginia M. Larrabee, Alice F. Swanson, James D. Mikkelson, Fred B. Riegel, Lois Marie Hills, Steven Haukland, Ronald H. Weichelt.

June

Dave Swingle of Webster died Jan. 1 at the age of 61. Swingle, or “Swing” as many would remember him, spent the last 20 years of his life committed to the betterment of the Webster community. He served as the Burnett County coroner and Webster School Board member. He organized the Webster Athletic Association and was a social worker at Northwest Passage, a facility aimed at helping young people find their way. - Photo submitted

Howard L. “Sonny” Clemmons Jr., Charles R. Hulteen, Ruth Jessame Palmer, Lorraine Emelia Wieser, Kendell Dean Fougner, Shirley A. Peterson, Dorothy A. Sadowski, Edith L. Gloege, Theodore R. Johnson, Marilyn G. Paulsen, Gladys A. Williamson, Harold L. Wallich, Marion E. Gustafson, Faith Geradine Giles, Orda Lucille McKibben, Irene Marie Carlson, Mark W. Miles, Robyn C. Nelson-Shannon, Nancy Turany, Rev. Richard G. Sweitzer, Virgil S. Sutton, Clementine R. Olin, Donna Faye Lundmark, John “Johnny O” O’Konski, Regina (Jean) Plomski, Kathrine Marie Walsten Peterson, Alice Giller, Aster Adeline Bystrom, Mamie B. Lund, Carol May Keopple, Harold Malmberg, Kenneth C. Swenson, Genevieve I. Henderson, LeMoyne W. “Cooky” Cook, Beverly Jane Gallop, Robert Laier.

July

Siren’s man-about-town, Jens Rasmussen, wasn’t hard to miss at six foot one, ramrod straight, shock of white hair, wearing a plaid work shirt, looking for a familiar face, out in all kinds of weather. Rasmussen died in March this year at the age of 95.

May F. Grushus, Ruby Freeberg, Morris E. Johnson, Christine J. Larsen, Ethel Frederic native William McAbee Dziekciowski. died as the result of a accident while snowmobilng in the Bayfield area on April Feb. 18, 2006. He was 35 years old.

Earl Brenizer Jr., Pastor Gordon Langlis, Helen Peterson, Marjorie Jackson, Willard Francis Meyer, Michael March Stella “Blythe” Bejlovec, Carl Andrew Sheerin, Richard J. Rothbauer, Matosky, Carol Mae Dickinson, Arlene Evelyn Gruener, Helen Frances E. Peterson, Norman Harold Menke, Johannsen, Henry W. “Hank” LamMarie Grace Voss, Lydia Christiansen, phere, Betty Korhonen, Lucy J. “SkinEllen Barbara Hess, Lucille Peck, away” Wasner, Dorothy A. HammerArdyce Elaine Larsen, William schmidt, Myra A. Preston, Clyde W. McAbee, Lois Hulda Schjenken, Evelyn Campbell, Dominic C. “Bob” Daniels, Marie Anderson, Franklin R. Mattson Byron “Pete” Harry Nelson, Denise Sr., Janet “Jan” J. Smith, Helen L. Donaghue, Carol Norelius, Erving C. Rogers, Stanley “Chuck” Richison, Doty Sr., Cora Jessie Peterson, Raynold Audrey E. Johnson, Clifford F. Johnson, LeRoy Norling, Doris Moslet, Beverly David Gordon Morrison, John Carl Bearheart, Edith Pearl Corbin, Margaret Peper, Gerald C. Dahl, Christine J. Carlson, Grace Elizabeth McCurdy, Larsen, Gloria Augusta Swanberg, Ann Marie Van Doorne, Amy Olinda Malachi Sanchez, Grace Jeanette Thorsen, Philip R. Chock, Nels J. (Mitchell) Yeager, Florence E. Skow, Vir- Hansen. ginia Fagnan, Vincent C. Carr, Cecilia E. May Neidermire, Donald W. Talmage Sr., Clara Mary Pnewski, Roberta J. MulJens P. Rasmussen Jr., Leah Joy Clausen, Erlice Alma Wallich, Evelyn Albee, roy, Verne Carl Anderson, Anita Faith Peggy D. Coggins, Verna M. Berg, Carl Moore, Stanley Gustafson, David T. McCurdy, Robert L. Davis, Marlys R. McKinley, Hunter Alan Conrow, Leo Freer, Grace Eleanor Stark, Betty J. Ben- Arthur Grim, Paul (Bardy) Van Pelt, nett, Raymond G. Spores, Vernon Goldie Genevieve Matson, Burnell G. Rehbein, Harriette S. (Rund) Hyslop, Hanson Sr., Viola Elizabeth ChrisJane Darlene Wisse, Edward R. Kneath, tensen, Maurice “Frenchy” Belanger, Merle I. Maiden, Helen Ann Dammer,

Jerry L. Ekberg, Lynn Rae (Peper) Ryan, John Evans Boughton, Roy Eldon Glunz, Marchelle (Marcy) Kurtz, Maxine L. Johnson, Jessie H. Lunsman, Alfred B. Gullickson, Lester Harry Briese, Luverne E. Larsen, Russell Walfred Linden, Russell H. Freer, Doris E. Hanson, James Herman Maack, Harold “Buzz” L. McCann, Sandra M. Nelson, Charlotte M. Olson, Joseph H. LaMirande, Belva Ingred Hunter, Elsie Anderson, Larry L. Hanson, David M. Patten, David S. Carlson, Josephine A. Jacobson, Raphael W. Kosloski, Stanley F. Johnson, Donald “Buzz” E. Callaway, Maribel I. TenEyck, Derrell Johnson, Robert Alfred Vilstrup.

August

Robert A. Burch, Brenda Lee Cobb, LeRoy W. Elfstrom, Mark Craig LaBarre, Dale V. Johnson, Harris G. Lee, Robert G. Morey, Luretta Kuhl, Eugene Richard Johnson, Keith Dueholm, Eunice Olive Babcock, Joanne Mary Johnston Susens, Myrna Caroline Swanson, Louis “Buck” R. Workman Jr., Ray Curtiss Ogren, Angeline Giles Espelian, Margaret I. Olson, Shirley Ann Williams, Betty Lou Bloom, Margaret “Peggi” Brimacomb, Reba Louise Minnick, Kyle Flowers, M. Aileen (Owens) Gresham, Charles R. Ek.

A memorial service for 43-yearold Kyle Flowers, Grantsburg, was held Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Grace Baptist Church, Grantsburg. His body was discovered Thursday, Aug. 29, by his bicycle in a ditch on Hwy. 48/87 south of Grantsburg.

September

Mildred Rasmussen, Susan E. Larsen, Vernon Joseph Peter Arens, Carl Bernard Moline, Charlotte Marion Herberg, Clarence F. Rother, Sara M. Brunberg, Neva May Baker, Frances Marjorie Berg, Melody Teresa Machala, George W. Taylor, Florence C. (Skow) Magnuson, Dorothy Opal Hacken, Kathryn Carol Hicks, “Duke” Harry E. Moyer Jr., Elizabeth “Betty” (Sventek) Starr, Jacqueline Mae McMahon, Doris R. Ronningen, Connie I. Hill, Duane Allen Schwarztrauber, Thomas E. Hickox, Bernice G. Butler, Florence D. Kucharski, Stephan L. Schrankel, Vera Arlene Sperry Jackson, Jaxon J. Larrabee.

October

Ricky L. Anderson, Phyllis E. Coen Sandstrom, Raymond E. Spafford, David J. Staples, Doris Milner, Philip Gerber, Ruth B. Fox, Thomas Eugene Gotfredson, Frances Pearl Clark, Pastor Laurence “Larry” Day, Jerry S. Sorensen, Donald L. Corty, Ronald G. Wilkins, “Barney” Marvin S. Anderson, Donna Godzik, James A. Clendening, Thomas Casey, Cora L. Seman, Lloyd O. Belford, Ralph Lee Lefler, Robert “Bobby” D. Johnson, Robert (Jack) Geske, Margery Ada (Ericson) Hogman, Lila J. Weber, Anfred F. Swenson, Priscilla Williams, Wilmar Osmund Williamson.

November

E. Evelyn Janssen, Harold Edward Robinson, Julia A. Hayes, Jill Nelson, Emil William Chartrand, Bobbie Gerald Schilling, Virginia “Ginny” M. Tourville, Dennis D. Hansen, Darlene Gladys Nieman (Yunker), Duane Pratt, Terri Ann Dowling, Francis Ralph Rickford, DelRay L. Larson, Edward J. Rodenkirch, Madeline Fuller, Dolores “Mama D” L. Reuter, Bernard John Hoen, Opal V. Johnson, Frances E. Wright, Michael Smith, Kermit A. Anderson, Frederick Lieder, Edna M. Swanson, Elmer L. Zach, Rudolph “Rocky” Schwartz, James A. Casey, James Oliver Nelson, Ronald L. Wilhelm, Catherine V. Hill, Della Victoria Bair, Harold E. Robinson, Victor H. “Herb” Larson, Arnelia J. Carlson, Bonnelyn Kay Knechtel, J. Robert (Bob) Shutt, Lila E. Ness, Vernice E. (Peterson) Sund, Kenneth Nahkala, Harold E. Erdmann, Gloria Dahl, Lucille H. Otterholt, Marion Julett Friberg, Neal Joseph Fellrath, Arthur E. Peterson, Genevieve A. Newcomb, Ival W. Paulus, Wilbur D. Erickson, George Kenneth Schlagenhauf, Delores A. Steies, Clarence Wagman, Dallas P. Fees, Helen E. Warden.

December

Everett Keller Chaplin, Amy L. Treise, Leona Kelley, Arthur “Art” Peterson, Patrick K. Melin, Forrest A. Anderson, Emma Larson, Mavis Newcomb, Cindy Jewell, Charles Arthur Radke, DuWayne “Duke” Cairns, Herbert G. Bremel, Gerald Wayne Johnson, Earl J. Larson, LaVerne R. Dietmeier, Marilyn June Brockway, Myron “Bud” Nelson, Lucille Viola Prose, I. Kathyrn Elliott Miller, Ruth Emma Cornwall, Warren O. Erickson, Russell Joseph Johnson, Goerge L. Pearson, Allen D. Young, Gregory Allen Lamson, Martha Marie Petersen, David L. Swanson, Jeanne L. Hills, Lawrence (Larry “Bear”) A. Riegel, Delmar M. Benson, Muriel “Kitty” Ebersole, Charles R. (Dick) Fields, Opal Randall Olson, Gordon Dail Stage, Robert “Bear” Johnson, Shirley “Babe” Ann Marten, Marjorie Ruth Hunter.

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 11

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Crowned!

Our community ambassadors

Miss Frederic Julia Haas, daughter of John and June Haas. - Photo by Gary King

Miss Grantsburg Megan Branstad, daughter of Peter and Kayleen Branstad.

- Photo by Gary King

Miss Centuria Jennifer McMeekin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McMeekin. - Photo by Gary King

Miss Balsam Lake Kendra Nelson, daughter of Chris and Kelly Nelson. Photo by Marty Seeger

Miss Milltown Tiffany Larson, daughter of Mike and Janis Larson was crowned by 2005 Miss Milltown Megan Johnson. - Photo by Gary King

Miss St. Croix Falls Alexandra Radinzel, daughter of Brad and Jennifer Radinzel. - Photo by Tammi Milberg

Miss Luck Alyssa Mellon, daughter of Richard Mellon and Rudi Mellon. - Photo

by Tammi Milberg

Miss Webster Leighann Flatten, daughter of Fred and Georgeann Flatten. - Photo by Nancy Jappe

Weather or not...

The grass was greener in December (left) than in July (right) as duffers Thomm Smith and Randy Ries headed out on to the Frederic Golf Course, Dec. 15.

Above, July brought the need for an ice-cold slushy at Century Memory Days. - Photos above and at right by Gary King. Photo at left by Mary Seeger

Miss Siren Jennifer Mitchell, daughter of John and Rosie Howe and Greg and Tara Mitchell. - Photo

by Tammi Milberg

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

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Hit us with your

Best shots Readers submitted some of the best photos we published in

Former Frederic resident Orv Volkmann submitted this photo of a sign in a small town in southern Minnesota.

Scott Hoffman submitted this photo of Hans Hansen, getting some “egg on the face” during the egg toss event at Cushing Fun Days.

Best engagement shot: Tracie Breure and Ryan Hall of Osceola framed themselves as they announced their September wedding at Bone Lake Lutheran.

This painted butterfly hatched indoors Oct. 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren as part of a creation unit studied

by Sunday school children. - Photo by Joan O’Fallon

Good manners are required at the Dick and Darla Bibeau home just west of Frederic. The Bibeaus submitted this photo in July of a bear at their welcome mat just a few feet from their patio

State Sen. Bob Jauch unveiled his talent for photography with a showing of some of his best shots at Madison in 2006.

Tim Tjader of rural Siren shared this photo of a bobcat he photographed in his backyard He lives in the town of Daniels on Hwy. 70.

Submitted by the Polk County Library Federation, “Caleb and Friends” promoted summer reading.

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 13

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and from our own 2006 photo files...

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It was just another day at the beach for a member of the Danbury Fire Department’s dive team as he took a break during the action of the second-annual Splash From the Past watercross event held on Yellow Lake in February. More than 2,500 people turned out for the event. - Photo by Gary King

A family portrait. - Photo by Gary King

Eight-year-old Cory Rullman of Spooner visited the Siren Craft Fair in September and appeared to have been swallowed whole by this bass carved by Matt Halverson of Chain Reactions in Frederic. - Photo by Jackie Thorwick The Summerfest Waterski Show at Crooked Lake in August. - Photo by Gary King

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

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2006: Year of the albino

More reports and photos of albino animals showed up in the Leader in 2006 than ever before. Albino deer, which occur in every 43,000 births, seemed common in Burnett and Polk counties. Shown clockwise: Nate and Tiffany Steele, of rural Frederic, captured an albino deer on digital film; John Reed, of Amery, focused on an albino in southern Polk County; firefighters from Jackson and Scott fire departments in Burnett County rescued an albino doe and her buck fawn from Pine Lake; DNR warden Jesse Ashton with an albino shot near Clam Falls - a violation of state law; an albino red squirrel showed up at the bird feeder of Shirley Beecroft of rural Frederic recently; and this spike buck albino joined another deer on property in the town of Eureka in Polk County. The ablino doe and her buck fawn were released and later seen by area residents Lucy Basler and Dave and Nancy Growe. The Leader thanks its readers for contributing their photos.

Year in review/from page 9 The Webb Lake Community Club celebrated their 34th year as an organization who donates to local charities, schools and fire departments while helping elderly and those living alone in the community. The club has donated over $140,000 to charities in 34 years.

Cushing celebrated Fun Days with egg toss games, turtle and frog races, and a kiddie parade.

Danbury hosted the sixth-annual Oktoberfest celebration with food, music and sauerkraut, of course.

Daniels Plumbing and Heating in Siren celebrated 50 years in business.

Polk County Jail volunteers were hon-

ored with a special dinner and appreciation night.

Former Charlotte Hornet and Minn.

Golden Gopher basketball player Kevin Lynch spoke at Unity High School to Unity and Luck athletes about making positive decisions.

With enrollment and revenue down, the school district of Frederic faced the start of the 2006-07 school year with a deficit budget.

Charles L. Juleff, 21, Clayton, died from an explosion when a metal pipe he was cutting for his demo derby vehicle exploded. The matter was under investigation, and the pipe Juleff was cutting

was believed to be a pipe bomb.

Suzanne M. Welland, 39, was killed from stab wounds, and her estranged boyfriend Peter G. Whyte, 49, was stabbed in Welland’s Apple River cabin.

Reports indicated the stabbing was a result of a brawl.

Former Siren car dealer Anthony H. Andrews, 52, Webster, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud. He was ordered to pay restitution to 13 victims in the amount of $110,045.

A 7.8-mile resurfacing project of Hwy. 46 between Milltown and Balsam Lake began.

Jennifer Campbell, 40, Frederic, was injured when a tire cap from a semi came loose and rolled into the path of her motorcycle on CTH I near Balsam Lake.

The St. Croix Tribal Dancers entertained folks at the Wild Rice Powwow in Danbury.

Luck woman, Debbie Wickstrom, walked in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day. Grantsburg held the demo derby and parade and Burnett County Agricultural Society Fair.

See Year in review, page 15

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 15

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Pandemic exercise

Year in review/from page 15 Webster High School senior Greg Stanton shared his experience of attending seven weeks at a soccer camp in the country of Paraguay.

St. Croix Falls Police Chief Paul Lindholm announced he was leaving the city to take a sales position with Johnson Motors.

The body of a man found in the ditch near Hwys. 48 and 87 was identified as Kyle Flowers, Grantsburg, who had recently been listed as a missing person.

John Siebenthal, 59, Frederic, was arrested for allegedly firing shots into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment window on Aug. 29, in Frederic.

September

Osceola hosted its annual Wheels & Wings and Community Fair events and the ArtBarn hosted Art Explosion.

Frederic held the second-annual hotdish competition to raise money for the depot.

Danbury native Preston Gatten celebrated his 90th birthday, and shared his memories of World War II and his service in the U.S. Navy.

Secretary of State Doug LaFollette visited the Straight Lake State Park in Luck during his trip to Polk County.

St. Croix Falls Schools broke ground for the elementary building remodeling and addition project.

Jeff Halverson purchased the Seasons on the St. Croix building on St. Croix Falls’ Main Street and announced the reopening of the restaurant the Dam Bistro with his takeover of the business.

Cassie Thompson, Luck, traveled to the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., to try out for “American Idol,” the reality TV series in which young singers try to become a star.

Leader reporter Mary Stirrat traveled with her family to Slovakia to meet more of her father’s family still living there.

Frederic elementary students celebrated Patriot Day on 9/11 with a program and parade.

St. Croix Falls schools approved locating the alternative school off campus.

Jack Rydeen was appointed by the St. Croix Falls city council as the acting police chief.

Chad Stenberg was appointed to the Unity School Board to fill the vacancy left by Eric Turner.

Scott Nelson and Lee Jensen were appointed to the Frederic School Board.

Kirby dies

Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett died March 7 after a stroke. He was 45. Kirby Puckett sightings were a common occurrence in the St. Croix Falls and Osceola area after the well-loved Minnesota Twins player bought a house on Deer Lake about seven years ago. Sherm Leske of Dresser became acquainted with Puckett after inspecting the house he bought. Leske ended up with a new friend and fishing partner. “All his competitive nature really stood out no matter what,” Leske recalled. “If you caught two fish and he caught one, he’d say a phrase like ‘I haven’t really stepped up to the plate yet.’ Then he’d get that real big smile on his face.” - Photo by John Ryan

the Nurses Vickie Lunceford and Jan Moddrell go over assignments in assessing incoming patients during a pandemic simulation in October at Siren. - Photo by Gary King

Construction begins on new hospital

Construction began in 2006 on a new Amery Regional Medical Center, a 120,000-square-foot facility scheduled for completion in September 2007. Photo by John Reed The Burnett County Jail report indicated the prisoner count housed in the jail for August was down from the previous year.

A result of the September primary narrowed the field for Polk County District Attorney down to Dan Steffen, who won the primary against incumbent Karen Olson, meaning Steffen would be on the ballot for the November election.

Dick Larson, 72, Grantsburg, has planted 30 acres of food plots in Crex Meadows and was seeking additional funding to help with the plantings.

“Tom Sawyer” was presented by 55 Luck students.

Amery held their annual Fall Festival celebration.

Unity celebrated homecoming and king and queen were Jake Hauth and Lindsay Turner.

Burnett, Washburn counties and the St. Croix Tribe received a grant for $149,000 from the state for funding drug and alcohol abuse treatment and prevention programs.

Siren celebrated Harvestfest with children’s activities, a scarecrow contest and food served at the senior center.

The St. Croix Valley Health Care Foundation named Dr. Arne Lagus as the Health Care Advocate of the Year.

Ashley Gelking, Frederic student, returned to high school a year after undergoing a double-lung transplant.

Homecomings were held at Luck, Siren and Grantsburg schools.

The St. Croix Falls library celebrated its 85th birthday.

The Hwy. 35 road construction from Webster to Danbury was nearing completion providing motorists with wider lanes and passing lanes.

The mill rate for Siren School hit a 30year low, which was good news for taxpayers.

The Polk County Sportsmen’s Club dedicated a memorial plaque near the public fishing pier at Half Moon Lake in Milltown in memory of the late Charlie Anderson.

county-operated nursing home.

Amery High School student Kelli Ann Elmer, 16, lost her life in a car accident north of the intersection of Hwy. 65 and CTH F in Garfield Township.

Grantsburg resident, Michael Radmanovich, 41, was shot and killed by police in a standoff when he refused to put down his weapon.

A Minnesota teacher and Grantsburg resident, James Wichmann, was arrested after authorities located child pornography images in his residence.

Fred’s 80th

October

St. Croix Falls teacher Abbie Thill won a financial literacy innovation award.

Webster, Unity and St. Croix Falls schools geared up for homecoming.

Oak Forest Retreat Center opened near Frederic.

A Mass Epidemic drill was planned for Siren.

Balsam Lake Village opted out of the county library program.

Former Dodge County Sheriff, Edwin E. Nehls, 73, died in a vehicle crash near Turtle Lake.

An 18-year-old teller at the Stop-a-Sec convenience store in Cushing was shot in the face with a pellet-style handgun by an armed robber.

Frances Clark, 34, Frederic, lost her life in a rollover vehicle accident.

Polk County Deputy Tamara Larson was injured when she was responding to a call near Unity School and a pickup truck turned in front of her squad car.

Andy and Norma Nelson, Frederic, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Fire prevention week was observed at Nelson School in Grantsburg and St. Croix Falls Elementary School.

Amery Regional Medical Center’s construction of a new facility that began in May continued as scheduled. The $36 million project is expected to be completed in Sept. 2007.

The city of St. Croix Falls found some relief to water woes by getting well number three back online, producing water.

Vandals were arrested for damage to the Granite Ledge housing development in Taylors Falls, Minn.

Community service to the Sand Lake Town Hall by inmates of the Burnett County Jail received high praise.

Frederic graduate Grant Norman had a guest appearance on the TV series “Law and Order.”

Grantsburg’s levy for the school district was reported to be up 14 percent.

Polk County Board Supervisor Patricia Schmidt sought input from her constituents regarding Golden Age Manor,

Fred Brancel returned to Whispering Pines in August to celebrate his 80th birthday with family and friends. The Methodist missionary and Christian activist just released from federal prison after a protest in Georgia, came back to the camp he served as director from 1977 to 1988. Tshala Mwengo (shown at right) met Brancel when Brancel was a missionary in Zaire. - Photo by Gregg Westigard Milltown Community Club hosted the annual Pumpkin Fest celebration.

The Merth family, Webb Lake, asked for answers as to why their dog, Maxx, was shot by police.

Green Bay Packers legend Fuzzy Thurston was visiting Shell Lake.

Thurston played during the Vince Lombardi Championship era.

The proposed Polk County Levy for 2007 was estimated at $17.4 million.

Webster residents Lila J. Weber, 79, and Edward K. Peplinski, 80, perished in their home as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Nine of 23 Polk County supervisors walked out of a meeting when Dennis

See Year in review, page 23

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Luck Public Library

Amery Public Library Book review

“Leap Days: Chronicles of a Midlife Move” by Katherine Lanpher. In 2004, Katherine Lanpher left the Twin Cities where she had lived for over 20 years, where she had worked, where she had married, where she had prospered and at last divorced. After the divorce a new opportunity came, an opportunity for her to work on the new “Air America Radio” show, the Al Franken show. She took the leap, leaving behind her friends, house, job, and ex-husband.

A neophyte New Yorker, Katherine learns to do new things. She learns how to ride the subway, hail a taxi, change her appearance, forget her ex-husband and figure out what she will be when she grows up.

Lanpher is a good writer dealing with the many problems facing women at midlife.

Library notes

Congratulations to several Amery organizations that cooperated to give a bag of information to the new babies born in 2007 at the Amery Regional Medical Center.

The babies will receive a knitted hat, a book bag, a board book and information on reading to infants. The organizations that cooperated in this venture were The Amery Women’s Club, The Friends of the Library, The Amery Community Foundation, The Amery Lion’s Club and Amery

Regional Medical Center Volunteer Partners. What a wonderful gift to a newborn baby! We hope that all the babies and parents will stop in at the library and take advantage of all the things the Amery Public Library has to offer.

Friends book group

The Friends of the Library book group will meet on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. to discuss “Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time” by New Auburn author Michael Perry. Pick up a book at the circulation desk and join us.

Great Stories Club

The Great Stories Club meets on Jan. 15 to discuss “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd at 4:30 p.m.

Teen activities

The Amery Public Library Otaku Club meets every Tuesday at 5 p.m. for teens who love anime and manga. Teens Read Book Group meets on Jan. 29 to discuss “Invisible” by Pete Hautman. Join us if you are a teen for snacks and book talk from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Library board

Dresser Public Library, 117 So. Central Avenue, 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., Thursdays 10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Three Internet computers are up and running! You must physically present a MORE library card to library staff and library fines must be under $10 to use a computer.

New adult books

The year is ending with many great new books for everyone! Barbara Taylor Bradford fans will be pleased to continue the saga of the illustrious Harte family from “Woman of Substance” in Bradford’s newest book, “The Ravenscar Dynasty.” If you enjoyed newcomer Leann Sweeney’s “Dead Giveaway” and “A Wedding to Die For,” you will definitely like this next Yellow Rose Mystery, “Shoot From the Lip.” “Sassy Texas heiress Abby Rose has seen plenty of hard luck stories in her work as an adoption PI. But consulting on a lifestyle makeover TV show will introduce her to an alternative- and deadlyreality…”

New young adult books

Jonathon Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion in “Ptolemy’s Gate” as the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel and Kitty converge once more. For the first time, we will learn the secrets of Bartimaeus’s history and glimpse into the Other Place. Together the threesome face treacherous magicians, a complex conspiracy and a rebellious faction of demons.

New Easy Readers

Shelley Moore Thomas’ Good Knight series continues with “Take Care, Good

Food for Fines has been extended!

Due to the popularity of this program we have extended it until Saturday, Jan. 6.

For every nonperishable food item you bring in, the Luck Library will take $1 off your overdue fines. Now is the time to clear away those overdue charges ad give to the food shelf as well. Start the new year with a clean slate and feel good about it. Gratitude is extended to all of those who have participated in this food drive and to those who have contributed even though they had no fines. More than 230 items have been given so far.

Educator’s workshop

An Educator’s Lapbooking Workshop has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Luck Library. Special guest and educator Maria Potvin will share her secrets and help you learn how to creatively construct this wonderful assessment tool. Bring your examples and ideas. There will be time to share and swap ideas.

Is it a journal? Is it a scrapbook? Just

The Amery Public Library Board will meet on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. at the library.

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 Book group The Clear Lake Public Library book Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. group will meet Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. to discuss “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.

Knight.” Who will take care of the wizard’s cats while he is away? “We will!” say the three adorable dragons. But who will take care of the dragons? The Good Knight, of course! “Three Cheers for Tacky” is a wonderful audiobook for little ones.

Tacky’s newest adventure is sure to please! Call the library if you need assistance placing a hold on any of these books from your home computer! We will be happy to help!

Story time

Lapsitter and preschool story times begin Thursday, Jan. 4, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays, crafts and more!

Knitting, crocheting

Lisa Inlow, library staff member, is setting up knitting and crocheting classes to be held at the library. If you would like to learn either one of these arts please call the library at 715-263-2802 to join the classes.

New books

- “What Stinks?” by Marilyn Singer: Hold your nose, but keep your eyes open as you read about the smelliest, most disgusting things in nature.

- “Black? White! Day? Night! A Book of

Milltown Public Library

Story hour

Preschool story hour will resume Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. Join us for stories, games, activities, and lots of fun.

Hours

Luck Public Library is open Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Our phone number is 715-472-2770.

Opposites” by Laura Vaccaro Seeger - “Why Pandas do Handstands and Other Curious Truths About Animals” by Augustus Brown - “Weight Loss Confidential: How Teens Lose Weight and Keep it Off and What They Wish Parents Knew” by Anne Fletcher - “The Best Life Diet” by Bob Greene Story hour

Story times are being held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m.

We read books, make a craft and eat.

Hours

Monday: noon - 7 p.m.

Tuesday & Friday: noon - 5 p.m.

Wednesday: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Milltown Public Library

Focus on 2006!

Dresser Public Library has been a very busy place this year. More than 19,760 items have been distributed through our door to MORE library users in 10 Wisconsin counties. More than 5,000 visitors entered our door making use of a wide range of services including the Internet, making photocopies, doing reference work, being tutored, requesting materials from many states, using the MORE Online Catalog to place holds on items and checking out a multitude of materials.

Gratitude is extended to everyone who has contributed to these achievements. It has been a pleasure for the Dresser staff to assist you all in making 2006 a year of terrific reading, viewing, listening and learning! Happy New Year everybody!

Contact the library at 715-755-2944 which is our telephone and FAX number or e-mail us at www.dresserpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Our FAX is for library business only. Our Web site also has information about story times, days closed, etc.; the site can be accessed via www.dresserpubliclibrary@org. The reference site, “Ask Away” is now available through this address.

what is a lapbook anyway, and why would I want to use it with my students? A lapbook is a project book that fits in a child’s lap. It is a complete collection of information from a particular unit or area of study.

It is organized (usually) in a file folder folded in a shutter fold. It contains everything that student knows about the subject in an attractive, creative and fun display. It can be used not only as an assessment tool but also as a review technique and a great way to share with others what your students are learning.

Clear Lake Public Library

Library Hours

Dresser Public Library

Name of Library

Food for Fines

Knit and crochet

Join the most exciting group in Milltown at the library on the first and third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. Experts and beginners are invited! If you’re in the middle of a project and are looking for help or just fun conversation while you finish that sweater, hat, mitten or whatever, please join us for the next meeting on Jan. 4.

Beginners are invited – free lessons will be provided!

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 program 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 checkout books.

Book club

Milltown Book Club is reading “Love in the Time of Cholera,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The book discussion is open to the public and will be held on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Guests and new members are always welcomed.

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.

Clear Lake Public Library

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 17

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Centuria Public Library

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the Centuria Public Library. Over the last year, many new books, videos and other library materials have been added to the Centuria Public Library collection. The library has the latest best sellers to choose from along with many new children’s picture books to check out and read. You are invited to come into the library and see all of the new items.

Now that the new year has started, the Centuria Public Library will be adding more items as the year progresses. Add stopping in at the Centuria Public Library to your errand list and check out the most recently added library books, videos and other materials.

A New Year’s challenge

How much reading do you do in a year?

Do you keep track of the number of books that you read? Proudly, Laura Roettger, a loyal patron of the Centuria Public Library, came in and shared that she read 100 books in the year 2006. An avid reader, Laura has read all of the books by James Michener, John Steinbeck, and Ernest Hemmingway along with many other prominent authors. Do you have a personal reading goal - Laura does - she is challenging herself to a repeat of 100 books in 2007!

Helping your child

Idea #1 - Making progress is a great goal for 2007 and that is the aim for every parent when they are helping their child with learning new skills. A great tool for helping your child with beginning math skills is using all of those free calendars that can be gotten at various businesses for free at the beginning of each year. The calendar squares can be used for practice writing the numbers and matching the numbers. Simply have your child copy the number for each day in the square that

corresponds with that particular day.

Another activity is to have your child practice cutting by cutting one calendar into the squares following the lines and then matching those squares to another calendar and pasting it in place.

A fun activity is to take the picture on the calendar, cut it into various shapes to make a puzzle and then practice by putting the puzzle pieces back together to make the picture again. This is an inexpensive, creative way of using up all of those extra calendars we get for 2007.

Idea #2 - The library is a perfect place to visit with your child to encourage growth in developing reading skills. The following activity is one that can be used with the ABC picture books that are available at all libraries. These books are a great tool to start teaching beginning reading skills because they help develop the foundations of phonics by using pictures and words that begin with the same letter and they are visually stimulating, helping to maintain a child’s attention.

To begin, you will need a detailed ABC picture book. Have the child observe as much detail as possible. Next, select just one page and say the word for an item depicted on that page. The child then needs to find something else on that page that begins with the same letter as the word that you said. Take turns, paying close attention to the letters and sounds as you read the book together. (Taken from “365 Phonics Activities” by Sandra Fisher, et. al.)

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.

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS Luck Community Education To register for classes, call Barb Kass at 715-472-2152, ext.

103, or WITC at 1-800-2439482, ext. 4221 or visit the WITC Web site at http://www.witc.edu, click Adult Evening classes, Registration for Spring, 2007, locate the class and register online.

Ongoing classes: Chess Club Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5 p.m., in room 207. For information contact Lydia at rennicke@centurytel.net.

Judo Club Fridays, 6:30 p.m. in the wrestling room. For information contact Lydia at rennicke@centurytel.net.

Guitar Riffs at the Riff Factory Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. New classes start monthly! Fee: $45.

Dust off that guitar and learn some tunes at the Riff Factory in Luck. Luck Community Ed is partnering with the Riff Factory to offer group guitar lessons to new students at a special introductory rate. All materials supplied, bring your own guitar. To register, call Barb Kass.

Reader’s group Monday, Jan. 29, “The Historian” by Kostova Feb.: “Cry the Beloved Country: March: TBA April: “Saving Fish from Drowning” by Amy Tan Readers meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Luck elementary media center. New members are always welcome to this lively and informal discussion group.

Please use the north entrance to the school. For other dates and book titles, people with email addresses may send an email to Sue Mattson at smattson@lakeland.ws, or call the

Community Education Office.

Luck Youth Cross-country Ski League: Ages 8+. Sundays, Jan. 7, 14 and 21, 1-3 p.m. Skis are available. Call 715-825-3837 to sign up, give shoe size and get directions to the Paul and Karen Pedersen farm.

More Spanish with Senor Johansen Mondays, Jan. 8Feb. 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cat. #42-802-405, Class ID 26775.

Fee: $38.80/$4 for seniors 62+.

Instructor: Dean Johansen.

Photo Editing: What to do with those holiday pictures?

Mondays Jan. 8 and 15, 6:30-9 p.m. at the high school shop classroom. Cat. #42-103-493.

Fee: $21.40/$4 for seniors 62+.

Insturctor: Gloria Adrian.

Mailing Labels Monday, Jan. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cat. #42-103448. Fee: $8.35/$4 seniors 62+.

Instructor: Amy Aikin.

Basic Welding Tuesdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 13, 6:30-8 p.m. at the high school shop. Cat. #42-442420. Fee: $25.75 plus nominal supply fee. Instructor: Al Koltunski.

Beginning Quilting: Quick Crazy Quilt Tuesday, Jan. 9, 610 p.m. Fee: $25 + $8 pattern and cost of fabrics. Instructor: Debbie Hill.

The Four Keys to Inspired Living Thursdays, Jan. 11Feb.1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fee: $55 for the series or $19 per course/seniors $49.50/$17.

Instructor: Vicki O’Day. Learn to Cross-Country Ski Saturday 13, 1-2:30 and 2:30-4 p.m., at the Karen and Paul Pedersen farm, 1662 240th Ave., near Luck. (Please call Karen/Paul, 715-825-3837 on the morning of the Jan. 13 to be sure there is enough snow.)

Fee: $10. Instructor: Paul Pedersen. Some loaner equipment may be available for those needing skis and boots.

Understanding Property Taxes Monday, Jan. 15, 6:308:30 p.m. No fee, but registration is appreciated at least one week in advance. Instructor: Bob Clifton.

A People’s History of the United States: The Narrative of History and the Historical Novel Mondays, Jan. 15-Feb. 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Place TBA. Fee: $10. Instructor: Carolyn Wedin.

Computer Shortcuts Tuesday, Jan. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class ID 27022, Cat. #42-103-448.

Fee: $8.35/$4 seniors 62+.

Instructor: Amy Aikin.

Write Right Now: Writing a Life Thursdays Jan. 18-Feb. 22, 4-6 p.m. Class ID 27023, Cat. #42-801-402. Fee $10.

Instructor: Carolyn Wedin.

Knitting: Fair Isle Hat Thursday, Jan. 18, 6-10 p.m. Class ID #42-815-408. Fee: $12.70 plus materials. Instructor: Judy Kastelle. Call for supply list, Barb Kass.

Intermediate Quilting: Curves Ahead Saturday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Class ID 26935, Cat. #42-304-435.

Fee: $21.70/$4 seniors 62+. Instructor: Bev Getschel.

It’s soccer time again! AYSO soccer is gearing up for another great year. You can register at soccer.org or at any of the three school locations: Luck, Monday, Jan. 29, 6:30 – 8 p.m.; Frederic, Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30 – 8 p.m. and Unity, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Volunteers are needed. No experience necessary, we will train you.

Frederic Community Education

Osceola Community Education Registration forms can be picked up at the district office.

Questions – Call 294-2127 ext.

407 or ComEd@osceola.k12.wi.us.

Tae Kwon Do - martial art Nov. 1 to spring. Wed. Classes will be held in the OES gym.

6:30 - 7:15 p.m. ages 5-11, 7:30 - 8:15 p.m. for ages 12-adult.

Trollhaugen Ski Program.

Mondays. Winter months for students grades 5 - 12. Forms available at the Osceola Schools.

Grantsburg Community Education Trips Feb. 5 – Tom Sawyer Play.

Feb./March?? – Mystery Dinner and Show – This is a guaranteed side slapper and a great value. Bring your honey and have a wonderful evening. It’s guaranteed you will have a great time. Live dangerously, it will be fun! Cost: $30. Leave Grantsburg 5 p.m.

March 16 – Fanny Hill to see “Don’t Hug Me” - Cost: $59 – matinee. Leave Grantsburg: 9:30 a.m. (coach, meal, show).

March 21 - April 1 – Hurricane Katrina Relief Trip- $260 (includes coach, meals and lodging). Travel with a church from Stacy, Minn., down to the New Orleans area to help some families who have fallen through the cracks. This is a once-in-alifetime chance to make a difference in someone’s life. Guaranteed to make a difference in your life too!

Saturday, March 31: “Beyond the Cross” 2000 years ago, one man altered the course of history. Join in for an incredible Easter experience. This inspiring musical production is hosted

by Lowell Lundstrom. Journey

back in time when Jesus transformed the lives of ordinary people, one person at a time. Leave Grantsburg: 9:30 a.m. Includes coach, meal, and show. Lunch will be eaten on the way down.

April 20 – Gaither Give it Away Tour Target Center - $70. Firstclass seats, a meal and coach are included. Leave Grantsburg at 2:30 p.m. and eat on the way at a Country Buffet, and then go to Target Center for a 7 p.m. show. Don’t wait. This event is sure to sell quickly.

June 27 – Munsinger/Clemens Rose Gardens and Shopping – Leave Grantsburg at 8 a.m.

Join in as we visit this special garden and rose garden in St. Cloud, Minn. A must-see for anyone in the area, WCCO says. Spend the rest of the day shopping in the St. Cloud Mall.

Lunch is on your own. Cost: $35.

July 14 – Midwest Scrapbookers Convention Join in as we travel to the Rivercentre in St. Paul for this scrapbookers extravaganza. Booths, ideas, projects, and how-tos galore as you spend the day taking in all

that you can. Lunch is on your own. Leave Grantsburg at 8 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Cost: $15 (for coach bus) Show and meal on own.

Aug. 27 – Minnesota State Fair – Cost: $15 for coach. Fair entry on own. Leave Grantsburg at 7 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Have a ball at the great Minnesota get-together. Make it a family event. Children are welcome.

November 2007 – Christmas in Sweden Our special tour guide, Suzy Retzer, leads a visit to Stockholm as she is dressed in her Christmas finery. This 12day visit will be an informal, intimate visit to a beautiful European city. Visit many of the top tourist attractions as well as many unique activities . For a brochure, give Cindi a call.

Approximate cost: $2,500 (actual cost not available at this time).

To register for classes, contact Cindi Throngard, Grantsburg School District, 715-463-5165, ext.

160 or e-mail to cthro@grantsburg.k12.wi.us.

To register call Ann Fawver at 715-327-4868, e-mail fawvera@frederic.k12.wi.us, online go to www.witc.edu “Search and Register for Courses,” or call WITC at 800-2439482, ext. 4221.

Cross-country Skiing Saturday, Jan. 13, beginner basics will be from 1 - 2:30 p.m. and introduction to skate skiing will be from 2:30 - 4 p.m. Register by Jan. 9. Fee: $10.

Cross-country Skiing Workshop WITC: #42-807-416, Monday, Feb. 5, 3 - 6 p.m. Fee: $12.70/$4 Sr. 62+.

Skiing for Youth WITC: #42-807-416. Classic skiing for youth age 6-12, Monday, Feb. 5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Fee: $8.35.

The Narrative of History and the Historical Novel WITC #26815, #42-808-401.

This course will use as an historical basis Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.” Anyone with questions or concerns (or suggestions) is invited to contact the instructor, Carolyn Wedin, at carolynwedin@centurytel.net or 715327-8463, Mondays, Jan. 15 Feb. 19, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Fee: $30.10/$4 Sr. 62+.

Write right now!

WITC #26814, #42-801-402.

Designed to assist writers in projects they are working on, as well as to introduce interesting writing exercises. Mondays and Tuesdays, Jan. 16 - Feb. 20, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Fee: $30.10/$4 Sr. 62+.

Flannel Raggy Quilt WITC #26810/#42-304-435.

Tuesdays, Jan. 16 - 30, 6 - 8 p.m. Fee: $17.05/$4 Sr. 62+.

Photography WITC #26817/ #42-203-405.

Thursdays, Feb. 1 - 22, 7 - 9 p.m. Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+.

Sign with Toddlers WITC #25885/ #47-533-405.

Learn sign language and add fun and entertainment to your stories, songs and activities.

Mondays, Feb. 5 - 19, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Free (through WITC grant).

Knitting for all skill levels WITC #26803/ #42-815-408.

Mondays, Feb. 5 - 26, 6 - 8 p.m.

Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+.

Felted Children’s Hats and Mittens WITC 42-815-408. Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6 - 9 p.m. Fee: $12.70/$4 Sr. 62+.

Carving Workshop A one-day workshop will be set for late January. In the class you will have the opportunity to carve a character in Scandinavian flat-plane wood carving style. Watch for details in

upcoming weeks.

Weight Room Training for Women WITC #27001/#42-807-408.

Tuesdays, Feb. 6 - 27, 4 - 6 p.m. Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+.

Mimi’s 2007 Creative Memories Workshops $5 RSVP with Mimi if you’d like to attend, 715-327-8122, Saturday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 10. Also this winter watch for: quilted jacket, computers: Independent projects, Mosaic stained glass suncatcher, creative stamping, preschool tumbling, sign for youth and with your preschooler, introduction to Norwegian, Prairie Fire Theatre.

Ongoing Activities Open Ice Skating for Families At Frederic’s skating rink, located east of the elementary school.

Rink and warming house open daily from 8 a.m. 10 p.m. Families are responsible for supervising their children– rules are posted at the rink.

Men’s Basketball League Frederic High School Sundays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. $1 fee/time.

Open Weight Room For public use at the high school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7 - 8 a.m. and 3:30 - 5 p.m. No fee.

Winter Walking

Siren-Webster Comm. Education Driver’s Education Course (Age 15+). Siren School, Jan. 24 – Feb. 13, M-F, 6-8 p.m. Fee: $75. For more information and to register, please call the CE Office at 715-349-7070.

Siren H.S. Gym: Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Siren VB begins Monday, Oct. 16; Webster H.S. Gym: Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. Webster

Volleyball.

G.E.D./H.S.E.D. and Basic Skill Classes. WITC Center located at Frederic H.S., Room 106 Tues., Wed., Thurs. from 14:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Kessea Karl, Coordinator 715-327-4223.

English as a Second Language. Burnett County Literacy Group provides personal tutor-

ing for persons age 16 and up.

For information call 715-8668444 or Lyle Johnson at 715349-8081.

Winter Hall Walking for Adults. Siren and Webster High Schools: Weekdays 7-8 a.m. Please check in with office staff in each building to get a school pass to wear while you walk in the building.

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JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 19

OBITUARIES

Ella E. Demulling

Alice Von Rueden

Ella E. Demulling, 95, of Osceola, died at Good Samaritan Center with family by her side on Dec. 30.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren; daughter, Helen Lamb; son-in-law, Travis Lamb Sr.; granddaughters, Becky Lynn Bantz and Lynnette Lamb; great-grandson, Roy Donald White; and numerous brothers and sisters.

She is survived by children, Marvin (Lois), David (Kathy), and Irene (Bob) Bantz; 18 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 4, 2 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, Osceola. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church.

Burial will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Farmington. The Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, was entrusted with arrangements.

Alice Von Rueden died on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at the Pine Health Care Center in Sandstone, Minn. She was 84 years old.

Alice was born on July 23, 1922, in Ogema Township to Agnes and John Grady Linehan. She was the youngest of a family of eight. She attended school in Ogema and Danbury.

In 1948, she was united in marriage to Charles Von Rueden and has been a resident of Hinckley, Minn., thereafter. Alice owned and operated the Vons Café (The Beanery) in 1955 and 1956. She was a member of the American Legion 0388 for 57 years, and was also a member of the V.F.W. 4118, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (St. Theresa’s Circle) and the Pine County Health Care Auxiliary. She taught religious instruction at St. Patrick’s. Alice served as president of Rosehill Cemetery for several years and was involved with the senior dining site and called bingo there. Alice was also a licensed foster provider and provided care for Frank Stipe.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband; brothers Conrad, Edward and Emmett; sisters Mary Steinert, Julia Tate, Correne Lewis and Ellen Delmore.

She is survived by her four children: Kathy (Gary) Langenback of McGrath, Minn., Linda (Robert) Troolin of Duluth, Minn., Charles (Cathy) Von Rueden of Duluth, Minn. and Rhonda Kirchmeier (Jim Lincoln) of Hinckley. Minn.; 11 grandchildren; eight greatgrandchildren; sister-in-law Ann Linehan of Hinckley, Minn., and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Firday, Dec. 29, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hinckley, Minn., with Father Kelleher officiating. Music was provided by Corrilla Callendar and Ruthann Linehan. Casket bearers were Robert Troolin, Gary Kirchmeier III, Joseph Von Reuden, Dan Vander Wyst, Edward Linehan and Jerry Steinert. Honorary castket bearers were Tom Tate, Ken Lewis, Jerry Lewis, Mike DeMoss, Fritz Steinert, Mike Linehan, Jacob Lincoln, Terry Linehan and Frank Stipe. Burial was at Rosehill Cemetery, Hinckley, Minn.

The Tatting-Methven Funeral Home, Hinckley, Minn., was entrusted with arrangements.

Jean A. Klint Jean A. Klint, 86, Webster, formerly of Mankato, Minn., died on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at Capeside Cove Good Samaritan Center in Siren.

Jean is survived by two sons, William (Kaaren) Klint of Texas and Donald (Dorothy) Klint of Webster; two daughters, Carole (Ronald) Witty of Pennsylvania and Kathleen (Richard) Fenzel of Grasston, Minn.; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Klint; parents; two sisters and two brothers.

Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at the Woodland Hills Funeral Home in Mankato, Minn.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

Norman Oscar Nelson Norman (Andy) Oscar Nelson, age 85, a resident of Frederic, died Dec. 30, 2006, in the Amery Hospital. He was born Jan. 16, 1921, in a log house on land homesteaded by his parents, Oscar and Martha Nelson, and resided in the Frederic community his entire life.

Andy attended Woodville High School for one year, and graduated from Frederic High School in 1939. He is still remembered for being a pitcher on the high school baseball team, and also the Clam Falls town team for many years.

He was united in marriage to Norma Lindh on Oct. 11, 1941, residing on the family farm in Lorain Township. In 1945, they moved to West Sweden Township and farmed until 1954. During this time he also drove school bus for Frederic Consolidated Schools, and in 1948, drove a group of FFA students to California for an extended field trip.

A member of Operating Engineers Local 139 since 1959, Andy operated heavy equipment for Peterson Construction for 17 years. He later operated Nelson & Nelson clearing business with his son, Simon. Additionally, he operated a stump-grinding business.

Following retirement in 1993, Andy remained active plowing snow and later restoring over 25 vintage tractors. He also enjoyed gardening, repairing equipment and playing cards.

Andy was preceded in death by three brothers: Chester, Robert and Russell.

Andy is survived by his wife of 65 years; daughter Lynn (Bradley) Cronk of Oxford, Ohio; son Simon (Mary) of West Sweden; brothers Vernon and Lyle (Wally); grandchildren: Ben Nelson, Leah Nelson (fiancé Brad Bulver), Anna (Randy) Antonich, Joseph Nelson, Margo Cronk Underwood (C. Smith), Jason (Julie) Cronk, Ryan (Kelli Jane) Cronk; five greatgrandchildren; special nephew, Wally Nelson, Godson Rick Peterson and many nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbors and friends.

A memorial service was held on Jan. 2, at the Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Frederic.

The family requests memorials be directed to Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Frederic.

Harriet L. Bjork Harriet L. Bjork, 82, St. Croix Falls, died Dec. 28, 2006.

She was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Plentywood, Mont., to Andrew and Anna Dahl.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; husband, John N.; son, Eric; granddaughter, Allison.

She is survived by children, Jackolyn (Curtis) Wallace, Bruce (Julie), Heather (Jim) Hoops, Rebecca, Jonathan (Pat); grandchildren, Kristin (Ezra) Hale, Angela (Seth) Hayden, Nathan (Stefanie) Weidall, LeAnn, Lars; step-granddaughter, Carol (Marshall) Hepner; great-granddaughter, Harriet.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the United Methodist Church, St. Croix Falls. Memorials to the United Methodist Church, St. Croix Falls. Private interment was at the St. Croix Cemetery.

The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

John B. Joyce John B. Joyce, age 60, of Grantsburg, formerly of Philadelphia, Pa., died at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn., on Monday, Dec. 25, 2006.

John was born on Oct. 3, 1946 at Philadelphia, Pa., to Bruce and Rosalie Joyce. He was raised in Philadelphia, married Laurie L. Brunner on Feb. 15, 1965, at Chesterfield, S.C. They lived in Philadelphia, Pa., until May of 2005, when they moved to Grantsburg.

John is preceded in death by his parents and son, John Joyce Jr. He is survived by his wife; daughter, Pamela (Thomas) Hillman of Grantsburg; son, Benjamin Joyce of Grantsburg; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at the Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home at Webster, with Pastor Dan Slaikeu officiating. Honorary casket bearers were: Benjamin Joyce, Thomas Hillman, Vincent Fiorilli and Andrew Eaton. Cremation followed the services.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home of Webster was entrusted with the arrangements.

The Inter-County Leader.

Your community newspaper.

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EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

CHURCH NEWS The vine is our connection

Harpists perform for Bethany congregation

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How do we, as Christ’s followers, produce Sally Bair this kind of fruit?

John 15:1, 4-5 says: “I (Jesus) am the true vine, and my father is the PERSPECTIVES gardener. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

As branches connected to a grapevine receive support, nourishment, and life from it, we too receive that from Christ, the true vine. God chose us to bear much fruit: love, joy, peace, etc. But we cannot bear fruit unless we choose to abide in him. To abide means to adhere to, cling tenaciously to. It’s all about intentionally spending time with Christ and committing our lives to his will and purposes rather than to our own.

Why is it so difficult to intentionally abide in Christ? Perhaps because we want to “do” things for him more than we want to “be” with him. Perhaps because we don’t like change, even within ourselves.

Perhaps we’re too easily distracted by our busy lifestyles. Or perhaps we end up producing our own fruit. But that results in self-glory and honor and pride in what we’ve done. If done only for our own sake, all of our involvement in church programs or philanthropic organizations will do us no good.

It’s good to feel needed, to be thanked for our efforts. But what if we sign up for kitchen cleanup at church, or volunteer to scrub floors at the homeless shelter and never receive a word of thanks? If done for Christ rather than for ourselves, praise from others won’t matter.

It will simply be an added blessing. It is impossible for a grapevine branch to produce grapes unless it remains firmly and healthily attached to its vine. So, too, is it impossible for us to bear abundant fruit for Christ unless we abide in him.

Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve done good works for the sake of self-importance. We want to serve you, bearing much fruit, for the sake of your glory rather than for our own. We admit we cannot do anything apart from you.

We vow today to abide in you and we thank you that you give us sustenance, support, and life. Amen.

(Mrs. Bair may be reached at sallybair@gmail.com)

ETERNAL

Bonnie Cain and Olivia Kopecky performed carols for the congregation of Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren Dec. 31, the first Sunday after Christmas. Cain is the director of youth and family ministry and Kopecky is a seventh-grader from Webster.

Earlier in the service, Pastor John Clasen delivered a message about kindness, taken from the day’s second lesson in Colossians 3:12, which read, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Sunday’s Gospel was taken from Luke 2, and told the story of 12-year-old Jesus, who stayed behind in Jerusalem after Passover. The Bethany congregation gathers to worship each Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with fellowship activities for all ages on Wednesday evenings. A special Epiphany bonfire will be held Saturday, Jan. 6. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 715-3495280. – Photo from Bethany Lutheran Church

Funds used for Fristad Scholarship fund

(L to R): Kathy Glunz, scholarship committee member, recipients Courtney Antonson and Ian Hinck, and Al Arndt, scholarship committee member. – Photo submitted

Elmer “Bud” G. Smith Elmer “Bud” G. Smith, 77, Shell Lake, died Dec. 29, 2006, at Spooner Health System Nursing Home.

He was born Aug. 9, 1929, in Trego, to Dean and Della (Smith) Smith. He was married in Northwood, Iowa, on March 10, 1966, to Dorothy Furchtenicht. Elmer was a farmer for 30 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Elmer was preceded in death by daughters Kathleen (Dale) and Tammy Schaefer; brother Albert; and sister Betty Schmidt.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, Shell Lake; children, Judy (Orlan) Richardson, Clovis, Calif., Terry (Connie) Smith, Trego, Pamela (Robert) Abner, Cameron, Richard (Kathy) Smith, Brill, Kevin (Laurie) Smith, Shell Lake, Theresa (Jeff) Brunslik, Cameron, Rodney (Brenda) Smith, St. Croix Falls, Ken (Shannon) Smith, Shell Lake, Trudy (Brian) Meister, Shell Lake, Jerry (Tricia) Smith, Turtle Lake and Tania (Jim) Milton, Shell Lake; 35 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Art (Darlene) Smith, Trego, and Raymond (Gurine) Smith, Lampson; sisters Ethel (Wilfred) Sandridge, New Glarus, Mary Lou (Paul) Ryan, Belleville, and Fran (Ken) Zimmerman, New Glarus.

Funeral services were held Jan. 2 at Faith Lutheran Church, Spooner, with the Rev. Brent Berkesch officiating. Burial was in Shell Lake Cemetery. Pallbearers were Kevin Smith, Rodney Smith, Ken Smith, Jerry Smith, Brian Meister, Jeff Brunslik, Dan Schaefer and Jim Milton. Honorary pallbearers were Pete Simonet, Joe Gargulak, Howard Furchtenicht, Art Smith, Raymond Smith, Paul Ryan, Wilfred Sandridge and Ken Zimmerman.

The Pockat Funeral Home, Shell Lake, was entrusted with arrangements.

John Larson left the majority of his estate to the three churches that shaped his faith walk. Fristad Lutheran Church has used these funds for camperships, youth gatherings and now post-secondary scholarships. This award is not based on need or academic achievement but is an expression of the value of integrity and character and the love of the

recipients from their community of faith. The first college scholarships were presented to Courtney Antonson, a pre-pharmacy student at U.W. – Eau Claire, and Ian Hinck, a digital cinema major at DePaul University, on Christmas Eve morning. – submitted

OBITUARIES

Clarence (Tubby) R. Carlson

Clarence (Tubby) Roger Carlson, 59, of Frederic, died Monday, Dec. 25, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, after a lengthly battle with lung cancer.

Clarence was born Aug. 19, 1947, in Amery, to Donald and Ruby Carlson. He served in the United States Marine Corps from July 1967 to May 1968, in which he did a tour of duty in Vietnam.

On Sept. 7, 1982, Clarence was united in marriage to Cheryl Ann Swanson.

Clarence is survived by one brother, Bill (Yvonne) Carlson; three stepchildren, William Swanson, Gary (Wendy) Swanson and Erick Swanson; six grandchildren, Brittni, Kelsi, Daniel, Jade, Joshua and Jacob.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and one sister, Betty.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Williamson Funeral Home in Amery with the Rev. Marion Adams officiating. Music for the service was provided by Cassie Hansen.

The Williamson Funeral Home, Amery, was entrusted with arrangements.

JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21

Family, friends sacrificed when focus is solely on career Q: I've always thought a man should be willing to work and sacrifice to reach his goals. I've heard you say "cool the passion and postpone the dream." That isn't the way I was taught.

DR. DOBSON: There's nothing wrong with having passion and a dream. It should, however, be kept in balance with other valuable components of your life – your family and your relationship with God being chief among them.

Let me illustrate that need to keep the various components of our lives in perspective. I read an article in the Los Angeles Times about a man named J.R. Buffington. His goal in life was to produce lemons of record-breaking size from the tree in his backyard. He came up with a formula to do just that. He fertilized the tree with ashes from the fireplace, some rabbitgoat manure, a few rusty nails and plenty of water.

That spring, the scrawny little tree produced two gigantic lemons, one weighing more than 5 pounds.

But every other lemon on the tree was shriveled and misshapen. Buffington is still working on his formula.

Isn't that the way it is in life? Great investments in a particular endeavor tend to rob others of their potential. I'd rather have a tree covered with juicy lemons than a record-breaking but freakish crop.

Wouldn't you? Balance is the word. It is the key to successful living ... and parenting.

Husbands and wives who fill their days with never-ending volumes of work are too exhausted to take walks together, to share their deeper feelings, to

CHURCH

understand and meet each other's needs. This breathless pace predominates in millions of households, leaving every member of the family frazzled and irritable. Husbands are moonlighting to bring home more money. Wives are on their own busy career track. Their children are often ignored, and life goes speeding by in Dr. James a deadly routine. Even some grandDobson parents are too busy to keep the grandkids. I see this kind of overcommitment as the quickest route to the destruction of the family. And there simply must be a better way.

Some friends of mine recently sold their house and moved into a smaller and less expensive place just so they could lower their payments and reduce the hours required in the workplace. That kind of downward mobility is almost unheard of today – it's almost un-American.

But when we reach the end of our lives and we look back on the things that mattered most, those precious relationships with people we love will rank at the top of the list.

If friends and family will be a treasure to us then, why not live like we believe it today? That may be the best advice I have ever given anyone – and the most difficult to implement.

So keep your dream and your passion. Work hard to achieve the success you crave. But don't let it become a 5-pound lemon that destroys the rest of your crop. You'll regret it if you do!

•••

FOCUS ON THE

FAMILY

Q: When parents need help with sex education, who do you think should provide it?

DR. DOBSON: It is my strong conviction that churches believing in abstinence before marriage and in lifelong marital fidelity should step in and offer their help to families sharing that commitment.

Where else will moms and dads find proponents of traditional morality in this permissive day? There is no other agency or institution likely to represent the theology of the church better than the church itself. It is puzzling to me why so few have accepted this challenge, given the attack on biblical concepts of morality today.

A few parents who enroll their children in private schools are able to get the help they need with sex education. Even there, however, the subject is often ignored or handled inadequately. What has developed, unfortunately, is an informational vacuum that sets stage for far-reaching programs in the public schools that go beyond parental wishes, beginning in some cases with kindergarten children.

••• Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, P.O. Box Colorado Springs, CO. 80903; or 444, 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.

Brought to you by:

Siren Assembly of God Siren

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

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JANAURY 3, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 23

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Year in review/from page 15 Radcliff, town of Osceola, stepped to the podium.

The Day of Unity ceremony was held in Burnett County to remember domestic-abuse victims.

The Forts held the annual Museum of Terror for Halloween.

St. Croix Falls students heard about the dangers of Internet child predators from a special agent with the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty visited the city of Taylors Falls on his rounds of Chisago County.

Burnett County accepted Burnett Medical Center’s tax-exempt bonding proposal for the medical center’s expansion.

Melissa Wink, 39, Amery, lost her life in a one-vehicle accident.

Unity School approved a $8 million levy.

November

Election results were in, and incumbent Rep. Mark Pettis was defeated by challenger Ann Hraychuck for assembly.

The St. Croix Falls theatre building, currently the Festival Theatre/library, was officially placed on the historic register.

Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Jim Holperin visited Siren.

The mill rate for St. Croix Falls dropped to $5.18.

Webster schools held a musical extravaganza.

Lori Pardun was sworn in as a trustee for Luck Village.

Kay Friberg was elected as District 2 representative on the Polk County Board defeating William Johnson IV, incumbent, during a new election after the April election was left undetermined by a ballot mix-up.

Veterans Day was observed at local schools and Legion Posts.

Luck schools celebrated National Community Education Day. Luck school presented “Lies I Told My Grandfather.”

Ronald McDonald visited Siren Elementary students.

Burnett County Board of Supervisors approved a budget of $22.6 million.

Brian Vanthof, 28, Grantsburg, was sentenced to 30 months of prison after being convicted of slitting the throat of his ex-girlfriend’s puppy.

Burnett Medical Center held a health fair.

Webster welcomed a new business, Northwoods Boxed Meats.

The city of Taylors Falls prepared for the annual Lighting Festival celebration and named Amy Frischmon the Royal Lady of the Village.

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To school in style

School bus design usually offers more function than style, but the latest models offer a sleek alternative to the styles of past decades. This is one of two new models purchased by the St. Croix Falls School District. - Photo by Gary King grocery store building.

Jason Miller was hired by the Siren with stadium seating.

Hunters Crest, a proposed residential Police Department as a part-time offiCharges were filed against Northwest cer.

Counseling and Guidance Clinic when development for Taylors Falls, was Brian Kolve was sentenced for the hit- a 7-year-old girl, Angie Arndt, died given the thumbs down by the planning and-run accident a year ago injuring after being restrained by a staff member commission and would go back to the drawing board for consideration. horse and buggy driver Steve Litzkow, at the Rice Lake location.

The city council for St. Croix Falls St. Croix Falls.

Grantsburg village approved the 2007 The Super Wal-Mart in St. Croix Falls budget with the tax rate increasing 1.28 approved a downsized version of rehabilitating the wastewater treatment was the site of overnight campers on percent. the eve of the release of the new A citation was issued in the amount of facility by renovating the existing site Playstation 3 game system. $317.50 to the hunter responsible for and acquiring only one property, reducAn eight-point albino deer was shot shooting an albino deer in the McKen- ing the cost.

The stoplight for the Menards store in by a hunter opening weekend in the zie Creek Wildlife Area during the gun McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area during deer season. The hunter could also be St. Croix Falls was installed.

Webster Schools look at the possibiligun deer season. fined up to $2,100 depending upon ty of adding 4-year-old kindergarten.

Unity third grade performs “Char- what a judge will decide in court.

The village of Milltown approved the lotte’s Web.” Holiday concerts were held at local 2007 budget with an increased levy.

“Happy Daze” was presented at schools.

A wildfire burned 14 acres of field just Grantsburg.

Plans were unveiled for a new off Clam Falls Drive.

Hal Erdman’s Christmas tradition of library/museum in Luck. decorating his yard for Christmas was memorialized by family, friends and the Siren community after his death Nov. 24.

A bar fight in Wanderoos ended with rifle shots and two arrests including Matthew Paulzine, 39, Osceola, and Jesse Hubred, 23, Wanderoos.

Derek Mosay, 21, Luck, pleaded not guilty to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle when he allegedly drove a van over Mike Ellis, 45, of Round Lake, resulting in Ellis’ death.

New road

December

Santa made appearances in local towns including Centuria, who held a Cozy Country Christmas Parade welcoming St. Nick.

Christmas was celebrated at the Forts.

Lisa Hobbie, manager of the Northwoods Best Western and the Experience in Siren, was the winner of a HarleyDavidson Fat Boy motorcycle and $609,000 from the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake.

The movie theater in St. Croix Falls opened its doors on the hill in the old Wal-Mart store, featuring eight screens

Tribal graduates

Twelve members of the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe completed academic requirements for graduating with associate degrees from the lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College in 2006. It was the largest number of St. Croix graduates since LCOOCC established an outreach site on the St. Croix reservation in Hertel. - Photo submitted.

Construction crews removed barrels and opened the new lanes of Hwy. 35 in Burnett County to normal traffic flow in late September. The $6.5 million project reconstructed 7.5 miles of Hwy. 35 between Webster and Danbury. Photo by Jeanne Daniels Grantsburg Village looked at a proposal for 30 units of rental housing.

The village of Frederic hired a new police chief, James Severude.

School bids for St. Croix Falls came in lower than anticipated which was good news for the board of education.

Taylors Falls council approved monies to drill a test well at Furuby Road.

A liquor license for Wayne’s Foods Plus to open a liquor store was denied by the village board of Luck for the third time since Dec. 2002.

Siren elementary students presented “The Polar Express.”

Results of a study on Golden Age Manor, the county-owned nursing home in Amery, were released with recommendations that will be reviewed in January by the Polk County Board.

Preliminary nonrenewal notices were sent to some teachers at Siren schools.

Frank Taylor was hired as the new police chief of the St. Croix Tribe.

The Burnett Dairy Co-op located in Webster announced it would be closing its doors Dec. 31.

The city of St. Croix Falls looks at a new library option of locating it on city property behind Main Street as opposed to locating it in the Holiday

A Webster couple searched for answers to the poisoning and shooting of their dog.

Another candidate shortage is expected for the Luck Village Board.

St. Croix Falls Middle School students spent their last day before winter break at Trollhaugen in Dresser skiing and tubing.

Second glance

A pink cow greets motorists from the front yard of a northern Burnett County resident. - Photo by Carl Heidel

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 3, 2007

JANUARY

THURSDAY/4 Frederic

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

Everyone welcome.

FRIDAY/5

Coming events

Amery

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.

SATURDAY/13 Amery

• A Student Art Exhibit, 7:30 p.m. at the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts. Stendent artwork from the Clear Lake Public Schools. Exhibit will extend through Jan. 31.

• How We Used to See Things, 7:30 p.m., at the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts. A presentation of historical stereo-views by Ralph Weber.

• Booster Club Annual Spaghetti Dinner, 5-7:30 p.m., during the Frederic/Luck basketball doubleheader at the high school.

• American Red Cross CPR Classes, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Polk County Red Cross Office. Preregistration is requested. Call Terry Anderson at 715-485-3025.

SATURDAY/6

• Cold Creativity Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Unity School. Join in for a day of dynamic workshops, delightful exhibitors, food by Café Wren and creative play. For more info call Tanna at 715-825-2101, ext. 3510.

Frederic

Balsam Lake

Frederic

• Potluck, noon at the senior center.

Bingo begins at 1:30, or cards, pool or fellowship. Please bring a dish to pass or a monetary donation.

Frederic

• Annual meeting of the Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association, 10:30 a.m., at Hacker’s Lanes.

• Potluck, noon at the senior center. Bingo begins at 1:30, or cards, pool or fellowship.

Please bring a dish to pass or a monetary donation.

SUNDAY/7

MONDAY/15

• VFW Post #4186 & the Ladies Auxiliary All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast, 8 a.m. noon, at the hall.

• Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

Dresser

Frederic

Later this month, Frederic will host its annual sleigh parade at the high school grounds off Hwy. 35 just north of Frederic. The Jan. 20 event will begin at noon, • Pancake Breakfast, at the Memorial United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. according to organizer Liz Petersen. A freewill donation will be taken during the parade to help defray advertising expense and awards with half of it going to a Sponsored by the Men’s Group. cause. Last year it was for Steve Litzkow of St. Croix Falls, who was involved in a vehicle-buggy accident. This year proceeds will go to Marnie Housel of SpoonFrederic er, a young, single school teacher and lifelong horse person. She was in a car • Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the accident in June that left her in a coma for two months, and she is on a long road senior center. Everyone welcome. to recovery and still not living at home. - File photo

Lewis

MONDAY/8

TUESDAY/9 Amery

• Fiber Arts Group meets, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bremer Bank. All knitters, weavers, spinners and other fiber enthusiasts are welcome. Call Linda for more info at 715-263-2692.

THURSDAY/11

FRIDAY/12

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

Everyone welcome.

• Friends of NW Regional Writers, meet for meal at 11:30 a.m. at Jade Dragon.

Frederic

Grantsburg

www.the-leader.net

TUESDAY/16 Clam Falls

• Coffee Hour, 10 a.m. at the Lutheran church. Goodies served. Everyone welcome.

THURSDAY/18 Frederic

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

Everyone welcome.

SATURDAY/20 Amery

• A Young Performers’ Concert, 7:30 p.m. at the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts. An evening of selections highlighting the talents and abilities of local young musicians.

Ford remembered fondly by those in state politics MADISON - Former President Gerald Ford is being remembered fondly by those in Wisconsin politics.

Ford died Tuesday at age 93.

The director of one of Wisconsin’s government watchdog groups says Ford helped bring the country together after the Watergate scandal. Wisconsin Common Cause’s Jay Heck got his start in politics volunteering for Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. Heck thinks Ford’s decision to pardon President Richard Nixon likely cost him that election.

But Heck says Ford helped the country heal some pretty serious wounds that existed in the 1970s. He thinks most people viewed Ford kindly, no matter what their political affiliation.

He says Ford had that decency that many politicians seemed to have at that time, where partisanship stopped at the end of the day, and one could still be friends with somebody in the opposite party without trying to tear them at all times.

Heck says he thinks a lot of that has been lost since that era.

A Wisconsin state assemblyman who did volunteer work for the Ford White House says the former president understood the fine details when it came to public policy.

Appleton Republican Steve Wieckert went to school at American University in Washington, D.C., during Ford’s presidency. He says that put him in a position to volunteer at a Conference on Inflation Ford chaired.

Wieckert and his classmates were also called on from time to time to fill an audience when a lesser-known foreign dignitary would visit the White House.

Wieckert says Ford will be remembered as an allAmerican president who was an Eagle Scout and a great football player. But Wieckert says he was impressed with Ford’s grasp of the issues. He says Ford had a good in-depth understanding of policy and could explain things. He says it was inspiration to know that someone in government was that in charge and that aware of all the different policies and the nuances.

Ford was the nation’s longest-living former president. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Shawn Johnson)