Leader|may 21|2008

Leader

W E D N E S D AY, M AY 2 1 , 2 0 0 8 • V O L U M E 7 5 • N O . 3 9 • 3 S E C T I O N S • 8 , 0 0 0 C O P I E S • S E C T I O N A

WEEKEND WATCH: • Area Memorial Day services • Tribute to Troops @ Cozy Corner • Frederic Depot & Museum opening • Art sale @ Luck • Forts Folle Avoine opening @ Webster • Arts Alive on 35 @ Siren • Community garage sale @ Siren See Coming events and stories

INTER-COUNTY

Serving Northwest Wisconsin

$1

Graduation glee

Death under investigation

30-year-old Cumberland man found unresponsive at Burnett County home PAGE 3

Committee orders stop to AmeryDresser Trail aid Volunteers may open trail

PAGE 7

Pool inspection this week

Frederic staff member Jeff Carley to retire PAGE 15

CURRENTS

Frederic honors its finest See story, inside

SPORTS

Vikings, Pirates navigate way to Regional finals Inside this section

Excited Grantsburg graduate Emily Prazak gets a congratulatory hug from her proud mom, Bonnie after the graduation ceremony Sunday. From the expressions on their faces, they both seem to be saying, “We did it.” Emily, was one of four graduating seniors who held a 4.0 gradepoint average all through high school. More photos in Currents section. - Photo by Priscilla Bauer

O ne l uc ky c ow b oy Prognosis is good for 2-year-old Tres Daniels after being kicked in the head by a horse WEBSTER – Two-year-old Spencer (Tres) Daniels was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital on Monday, May 19, after being kicked in the face by a horse.

His mother, Virginia Daniels, said that one minute he was playing with a truck as she was cleaning out horse stalls, the next minute he was in a horse pasture, behind a horse.

Although Virginia was calling Tres out of the pasture, she was

not able to do so in time and witnessed him knocked head over heals by the kick.

Tras was knocked unconscious and Virginia called 911 at 11:33 a.m.

Although Tres' gums and lips were separated and required surgery to reconstruct them, there were no broken bones, no swelling in the brain and no teeth lost.

The doctor remarked that he was extremely lucky to survive the injuries the way that he did.

Tres is expected to make full recovery, although he may need additional surgery. – Sherill Summer

Spencer (Tres) Daniels – Photo submitted

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Leader

Tr i bal p ol ic e de m ons t r at e h ove r c r af t

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.

MANAGER Doug Panek dougpanek@centurytel.net EDITOR Gary B. King, Editor gbking@centurytel.net STAFF Nancy Jappe njappe@centurytel.net Tammi Milberg tammi@centurytel.net Marty Seeger mseeger@centurytel.net Brenda Sommerfeld brendals@centurytel.net Sherill Summer the-leader@centurytel.net Gregg Westigard greggw@lakeland.ws Carl Heidel cheidel389@centurytel.net Priscilla Bauer the-leader@centurytel.net EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Raelynn Hunter rael@centurytel.net

Firefighters attending the Northwest Fire Association meeting at Frederic last Thursday evening were treated to a demonstration of the St. Croix Tribal Police Department’s new hovercraft. Lt. A.J. Kangas of the St. Croix Tribal Police Department was present to demonstrate and answer questions about the craft and said it is available for use to the departments who need it for rescue missions.

Frederic Fire Chief Brian Daeffler, who hosted the association’s meeting, arranged for the demonstration. – Photos by Lori MacKean

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

Subscription concerns: subscriptions@centurytel.net Advertisements: addept@centurytel.net Deadline for ads and copy: 10 a.m. Tuesdays

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 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thurs. & Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

715-483-9008 Fax - 715-483-1420

How to subscribe: The Inter-County Leader [ISS No. 87509091] is published weekly. Subscription prices are $32/yr. in Polk and Burnett counties; $36/yr. in Barron, Chisago, Washburn, St. Croix counties; $39/yr. anywhere in the United States $22/yr. for servicemen or women; $22/yr. for students or schools (9 months). Payment is needed before we can start the subscription. No refunds on subscriptions. Persons may subscribe online at www.the-leader.net, write us at Inter-County Leader, Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837, or stop by one of our three offices.

Hous e f ir e The Webster Fire Department was called to the Webster home owned

by Tony Eastman, Sunday, May 19, at around 7:30 a.m. The fire department was able to save the structure, however, there is considerable smoke and damage to the interior.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

– Photo by Sherill Summer

Cou rt a ppe a ra nc e

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

An award-winning newspaper Member

• National Newspaper Association • Wisconsin Newspaper Association

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

Site chosen for memorial to area veterans

Kyle Huggett briefly appeared during his initial appearance at the Burnett County Courthouse on Wednesday, May 14. The courtroom was full and TV cameras were recording his appearance before Judge Michael Gableman. Huggett’s defense attorney Craig Mastantuono communicated by telephone.

Huggett, who is charged with second-degree intentional homicide in the January shooting death of John Peach at Huggett’s residence near Danbury, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday, July 16. – Photo by Sherill Summer

Link trial begins WASHBURN COUNTY – A major family business dispute is going to jury trial at the Washburn County courthouse next week.

Link Snacks has been the largest private employer in the area. John E. “Jack” Link and his sons, Troy and Jay, have been the shareholders in the company, which has its headquarters and meat production plant in Minong. They also own multiple businesses in the area, which include auto and recreational vehicle dealerships.

In 1995, according to reports, Jay Link signed a buy-sell agreement to sell his shares upon his exit from the company. A decade later, Jack and Troy Link sued him to sell his shares, after he began starting his own business, Jerky Snack Brands, in Minong, according to an article in Business North.

The shares are valued in the high millions.

The matter was taken to court after, according to the Business North article, Jay Link challenged a provision in the buy-sell agreement which put in a clause for no competition. Judge Eugene Harrington rendered the no-compete provision unenforceable in a February 2006 hearing.

A jury trial was ordered to settle the dispute, and it begins Tuesday, May 27, at 8:30 a.m. Pretrial conferences are being held all this week, with a motion hearing on Thursday, May 22, at 1 p.m. – with info. from Business North

OSCEOLA - The Osceola Historical Society, with the support of the VFW, American Legion and Osceola Village Board, will build a memorial to area veterans.

“The site chosen is the eastern end of the Millpond Park, where the sounds of the Osceola Creek, the trees and vegetation create a natural meditative and respectful setting,” states a news release sent by Ramona Paulson, chairperson of the Veterans Memorial Committee of the Osceola Historical Society.

The memorial will memorialize veterans from all parts of the area.

Construction will begin with a 30foot-wide base encircling a colored star. On the base will be mounted three flagpoles, visible from Hwy. 35.

In addition there will be a sign on Hwy. 35, directing the public to the memorial.

Later a natural granite monument will be added. It will have one polished surface on which to engrave the names of area military personnel who died in service to their country.

All servicemen and women may be honored by the purchase of a brick, to become part of the memorial site.

The bricks will be sold for $100 each and the funds raised will be used toward the project. Forms are available from John Jenkins (johnj10846@aol.com) and will soon be available in area businesses.

Additional donations may be made to the Veterans Memorial Fund at the RiverBank of Osceola. - with submitted information

www.the-leader.net

Briefly SIREN – A press release from the Siren School District this week states that the school board accepted the resignation of high school English teacher Christy Garibaldi at an emergency board meeting held Monday, May 19. Garibaldi, who began work for the district in 2004, resigned from her contract due to personal reasons and the resignation is effective immediately.

••• FREDERIC - For those who wish to help Marty Niles, II, the Frederic graduate and well-known area athlete who is fighting a brain tumor, there are fundraisers being organized. Persons may donate to the Marty Niles Family Fund at Bremer Bank in Frederic; attend a benefit spaghetti supper at Frederic Schools on June 20, attend a benefit supper at Pheasant Inn in Siren Aug. 16 or take part in a raffle sponsored

by South Fork Sporting Club (information at www.closeencountersbowhunts.com click on Marty J. Benefit). Niles has been hospitalized since being airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, April 13, after a brain tumor burst, causing a blackout and coma. He is beginning to recover but has a long way to go before being released form the hospital, according to one family friend. - with submitted information ••• POLK COUNTY - The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has announced its continued participation in the 2008 Click It or Ticket and Over the Limit, Under Arrest campaigns over the 2008 Memorial Day weekend. In 2007, there were 13 traffic crashes over the Memorial Day weekend.

Nine crashes involving personal injury and four involving property damage. In this same time period, sheriff’s deputies issues 37 citations to motorists on Polk County roadways. Sheriff Tim Moore asks motorists traveling on Polk County roads this weekend to take the time to fasten their seat belt, slow down and not drink and drive. “With the Safe Ride program available in Polk County, there is no reason to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you are impaired,” he noted. - with information from Polk County Sheriff’s Department ••• CORRECTIONS: Phil Knuf should have been mentioned as a volunteer in the article about the Frederic ACS Run/Walk in the May 14 edition of the Leader. Mary Ellen Ruhn’s name was misspelled in the same article. In the article on the Luck CS Run/Walk it should have been Marlys Hedberg who raised $510, not Marilyn Hedberg.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3

S e x o f f e n d e r n o t i f i ca ti o n h e a r i n g

Ann Cartman, Department of Corrections field supervisor for Polk and Burnett counties, hands out paper and pencils so that questions about Thurston Crutchfield’s release into Meenon Township could be written down. Twenty citizens appeared at the community notification at the Meenon Town Hall on Thursday evening, May 15. Basic information on Crutchfield’s past and the location where he will be staying was provided, as was information on the different monitoring systems. This is the second time Crutchfield, 69, is being located to the area. He was convicted in 1982 of first-degree sexual assault in Burnett County. Much of the information provided at the notification hearing can be found at Wisconsin’s sex offender registry Web site – http://offender.doc.state.wi.us.

Photo above by Sherill Summer

Death under investigation BURNETT COUNTY - The death of a 30-year-old Cumberland man is under investigation this week.

According to a news release from the St. Croix Tribal Police Department, Joseph Michael Turner was pronounced dead at the Spooner hospital Tuesday morning, May 20, after being found unresponsive at 26968 Bearheart Drive in the town of Rusk.

Preliminary investigations reveal nothing suspicious about the death.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine exact cause of death.

The news release states that at approximately 12:30 a.m. the St. Croix Tribal Police Department was notified by Burnett County Sheriff’s Department disatch of an unresponsive male subject.

A scene from old Franconia.

FRANCONIA, Minn. - The Franconia Sesquicentennial Committee will sponsor Walking Tours of the Franconia Old Village on Saturday, June 21. Reservations are required to partake in this event, hosted by historian John Jackson. At one time, 500 residents called the old village home, working as blacksmiths, lumbermen, bartenders and in other occupations of the day. Learn who they were, where they worked, how they played and why they left. The cost is $5 due the day of the event.

To reserve your place on this walking tour, call them at 612-810-8581, e-mail them at franconiatwpmn150years@yahoo,com, or visit the Pioneer Family display at the Franconia Town Hall on Memorial Day between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – submitted

Inter-County Leader

Our 75th year

Thurston Crutchfield

Woman airlifted after bike-car collision SIREN - A woman riding her bicycle to work Wednesday morning, May 21, was struck by a car and sustained serious head injuries.

Carol Claude was on her way to work at DSI when the collision occurred at the intersection of Hwys.

35 and 70 at the south end of Siren.

Claude was transported by ambulance to Burnett Medical Center and then airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., for further care.

The person who was driving the vehicle that struck Clause was not known at press time.

A family member said doctors expect Claude to recover from her injuries. Gary King with information from reporter Nancy Jappe

Officers of the tribal polie department responded to the scene along with North Memorial Ambulance personnal and local first responders.

Turner was transported by ambulance to Spooner Health Systems where he was pronounced dead. = Gary King with information from St. Croix Tribal Police Dept.

The first issue of the Inter-County Leader was printed in 1933

Some of the stolen property recovered by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department during its investigation of stolen copper wiring and area burglaries. See story at right. - Photo from Polk County Sheriff’s Dept.

Copper thefts, other burglaries solved by sheriff’s department POLK COUNTY - Four rural Frederic men and one rural Luck woman face charges in connection with the theft of copper wire, cash and guns.

Charles Kurkowski, 40, Patrick Kurkowski, 18, Troy Kurkowski, 29, Schmidt, 18 and Erlitz, no age given, face several charges in connection with the thefts.

During an ongoing criminal investigation into copper power line thefts and burglaries in northern Polk County, deputies used informants who taped conversations with suspects.

According to the criminal complaint, Brandon Schmidt was recorded saying he and Kristina Erlitz burglarized the Clam Falls bar. Erlitz allegedly crawled through a window and let him in.

Together they stole approximately $850 and split the money, according to the complaint.

Erlitz, in a separate interview, said she also burglarized the G-Spot Bar in Burnett County the same evening.

The complaint states she also admitted taking what she knew to be stolen copper - burned and in buckets - to a Hugo, Minn. salvage yard for Schmidt.

She said she did this for Schmidt approximately 10 times between January and March of this year.

Schmidt - in a Mirandized, taped interview May 13 - admitted to two other burglaries in which he said Erlitz was an active participant in. These burglaries were at 290th Avenue where they cut a lock on the door and entered - and another one on 290th Avenue where they took a .22-caliber rifle.

Charles Kurkowski, in an interview with authorities the next day, confirmed there were many nights when Erlitz, who lived with him at the time, would leave with Schmidt and be gone for a “lengthy amounts of time.”

Police executed a search warrant at Charles Kurkowski’s residence on 300th Avenue after a deputy saw a stolen power line in plain view. More than 1,000 feet of commerical grade overhead power line was recovered from his property. The complaint states Kurkowski was “uncooperative” and said he did not know how the power line got on his property.

Kurkowski’s nephew, Troy Kurkowski, told authorities that he and his uncle went to a vacant home on 260th Avenue and broke in, and the two of them cut the copper tubing and wiring out of the basement. The wire was taken to a Hugo salvage yard to be sold.

Troy Kurkowski told authorities he cut overhead power lines at a residence at 15th Street and Patrick Kurkowski was with him. Patrick admitted to two other cases of felony damage to property in which overhead power lines were taken. He also admitted to being with Schmidt during a burglary to a cabin on 330th Avenue, from which they took copper from inside the cabin.

Interviews, according to the complaint, also turned up the theft of two guns from an old farmhouse in southern Polk County by Troy and Charles.

Schmidt faces charges of possession of meth, possession of THC and felony bail jumping.

Erlitz faces charges of two counts of burglary, armed burglary (party to), felony damage to property (party to).

Troy Kurkowski faces charges of burglary to building/dwelling and theft of movable property.

Patrick Kurkowski faces charges of felony damage to property, possession of meth, burglary and possession of stolen property.

Charles Kurkowski faces charges of armed burglary, burglary, damage to property and possession of stolen property. - Gary King with information from Polk County Sheriff’s Department

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

B U R N E T T

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

Webster schools forced to revise 2007-2008 budget

by Carl Heidel WEBSTER - Caught between falling revenues and rising costs, the Webster Schools Board of Education adopted a revised 2007-2008 budget when it met Monday evening. Even with the revision, expenditures could exceed revenues by $230,000 by the end of the fiscal year.

According to Superintendent Jim Erickson, rising fuel costs of approximately $20,000 account for a large share of the increase in expenditures. A decrease in federal dollars accounted for the largest amount of revenue loss, nearly $43,000 in the form of impact aid.

The revised budget balances $56,394 of lost revenues with an equal reduction in planned expenditures. With the revised budget adopted, the board went into executive session to determine how to distribute the cuts in expenditures.

After deliberation, the board decided to make staff reductions to balance the new budget. According to Erickson, the teaching position for art instruction K-8 will be cut by 25 percent. As a result, Dawn Schultz, who presently holds that position, will teach only K-6, and high school art teacher Kim Kriegel will add art grades seven and eight to his teaching load. “That way we will have professional, qualified teachers teaching all art classes,” said Erickson.

One retiring staff member will not be replaced, and another retiring staff member will be replaced only half time.

Judy Bilden’s Title I teacher position will be eliminated upon her retirement

position. A final decision will not be made, however, until the board can consider route changes.

In other business, the board: • approved the school forest education plan; • awarded a one-year teaching contract to Jessica Monarski for teaching kindergarten to fill in for a teacher on

leave of absence; • approved Scott Hoefs as junior high softball coach, and Shannon Steiner and Samantha Hogle as his assistants; • approved Rhonda Erickson and Patricia Nefs as part-time cooks for the summer school; • and approved Lynn Stubbe for the position of 4-year-old kindergarten aide.

Dawn Schultz, presently K-8 art teacher in the Webster schools, gave board members her arguments for not reducing her position in the budget revision process. this year.

Karen River’s school psychologist position will become half time when she retires. Erickson said that the board decided to work through the CESA consortium to share a school psychologist half time with another school district.

In a preliminary move, the board has tentatively decided to eliminate a bus

Olivia Main (L) and Kelsey Tretsven (R), Webster High School forensics students, entertained the school board Monday night with their rendition of the Abbott and Costello routine “Who’s on First” that they performed state forensics finals. - Photo sby Carl Heidel

Wisconsin case highlighted as part of a nationwide telemarketing sweep FTC announce operation Tele-PHONY MADISON — A Wisconsin case was highlighted this week as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s sweep targeting telemarketing fraud. The case, prosecuted by the Eau Claire County District Attorney Richard White and Assistant Attorney General John Greene of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, involved an extensive three-year investigation and criminal prosecution of fraudulent charitable telephone solicitation practices engaged in by a group of Eau Claire businesses operated by Duane Kolve.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection also participated in the investigation of the case.

In the Kolve case, potential donors were led to believe that their donations would be put to good use right away for charitable purposes such as purchasing needed safety equipment for law enforcement officers, funding children’s burn camps, providing housing assis-

tance to homeless veterans and financially assisting disabled firefighters and law enforcement officers.

In reality, the charities for whom Kolve’s companies were raising funds received only pennies on the dollar.

Eighty-five percent of the donations raised went to fraudulent telephone solicitation businesses run by Kolve.

Individuals who ran the claimed charities located in Louisiana, California and Wisconsin took further amounts of the donated sums, leaving behind only between 35 cents and $2.92 of every $100 donated, which was then actually utilized for the charitable purpose.

Kolve was convicted of racketeering earlier this year based upon his ownership or control of telephone solicitation businesses which fraudulently obtained over $10,000,000 in donations to claimed charities from over 450,000 separate donations during the period of 2002 through 2005.

At the time Kolve was convicted, Attorney General Van Hollen noted that “nationally, criminal prosecutions of individuals engaging in this extreme fraud are infrequent. But this conduct is criminally culpable, and civil remedies

may not adequately deter this conduct and punish this wrongful behavior. I would like to think that this successful criminal prosecution will encourage prosecutors and regulators from other states to fully consider criminally prosecuting these extraordinary fraudulent practices so that individuals like Kolve will not be able to simply sidestep civil penalties, re-incorporate their businesses in a new name, and reinitiate their fraudulent practices.”

The Federal Trade Commission, together with more than 30 law enforcement partners from the United States and Canada, announced the results of Operation Tele-PHONY at a press conference at the FTC’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The sweep includes a range of cases targeting telemarketing fraud such as pitches for advance-fee loans and credit cards, supposedly free gifts and prize promotions, medical prescription drug plans, tax rebates, magazine subscriptions and low-cost household products.

Operation Tele-PHONEY is the biggest sweep of telemarketing fraud cases ever coordinated by the Federal Trade Commission, with more than 180

actions being announced. It is a comprehensive attack on telemarketing fraud by the FTC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Service, state Attorneys General and the Competition Bureau in Canada.

The commission also announced a new consumer education campaign that includes a Web site (www.ftc.gov/ phonefraud) and other materials designed to help people avoid becoming victims of telemarketing fraud.

The Who’s Calling? campaign encourages consumers to recognize the signs of telemarketing fraud, report fraud to the FTC and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and register phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.

You can report phone fraud to the FTC online at FTC.gov or by phone at 877-FTC-HELP or to the Wisconsin Consumer Protection Hotline at 800422-7128. - from DATCP

Film project benefits local venues MILWAUKEE - John Dillinger’s legacy as a bank robber actually seems to be helping put money into the coffers of groups who are often looking for financial help – the state’s historical societies.

Director Michael Mann’s film biography of the gangster, “Public Enemies,” has relied heavily on authentic-looking locations across Wisconsin. One of them is the former Second Ward office of First Wisconsin Bank in Milwaukee. The 95year-old building – which now hosts the

Milwaukee Historical Society – was halfway through a five-year, $7.5 million renovation when Mann’s scouts picked it as a location.

The society’s executive director, Bob Teske, says the generous location fee the crew paid was just the beginning. He says the society had repaired two of the scagliola columns that surround the atrium of the building, at a cost of $15,000. He says the filmmakers restored another six in preparation for filming on site, as well as a good deal of

other repair work that brought the total to over $100,000. Teske says that’s money the society didn’t have to fork out, and the craftsmanship was topnotch.

Rick Bernstein of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Field Services Program adds that as long as people remember a movie, they can also remember the sites where it was filmed and visit them, something known as “heritage tourism.” He says this is a form of tourism that really feeds into

the whole historic preservation ethic, and he says people who are heritage tourists generally stay longer and spend more money than the average tourist.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Historical Society’s Bob Teske says they’re trying to host the local premiere of “Public Enemies” next year, to help raise more money and publicity for their efforts. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Brian Bull)

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MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 5

P O L K

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

National Trails Day and community river clean up just around the bend ST. CROIX FALLS–National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7, is just around the bend and brings an all-day assortment of community events. This year, community opportunities extend one more day, with a River Cleanup on June 8.

Sponsored by the St. Croix Falls Park and Recreation Committee, River Clean Up brings people together to spend a day working to care for the St. Croix.

Participants may launch personal or rented canoes 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from either the Wisconsin or Minnesota Interstate Park canoe launch areas. Both Eric’s Bike and Canoe Rental and Taylors Falls Canoe and Kayak Rental offer discounted canoes to those intending to pick up trash and will provide return transportation from Osceola Landing (cannot carry personal canoes.) Trash bags and friendly conversation from area park rangers along the riverway will be pro-

vided.

“It’s a fitting day for a community river cleanup,” says organizer Amy Klein. “Wisconsin Interstate Park has its open house so park admission is free and the kickoff week of National River Cleanup sponsored by the American Rivers organization is in progress.

We’ll be participating along with tens of thousands of volunteers taking part in hundreds of cleanups across the country to remove trash from local rivers and streams.” Learn more about National River Cleanup at www.American Rivers.org/cleanup. Contact Klein for more information, 483-9542.

City of Trails 5K and trail run events cover every age from 2-92. Fitness and kids is an essential combination and the Baby Mammoth Kids One Mile starting at 8 a.m., gets kids off on the right foot.

All races follow beautiful wooded courses along segments of the Ice Age

trails and finish via Gaylord Nelson Riverwalk to the Overlook Deck in downtown St. Croix Falls.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.scfwi.com or picked up at the St. Croix Falls City Hall. All races start at St. Croix Falls Middle School with registration opening at 7 a.m.

Run/walk racing events are designed and organized by the National Trails Day Committee.

All race participants, plus a corps of volunteers, will simultaneously race and participate in the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Mammoth Walk with all races courses designed to include sections of the Ice Age Trail. The Mammoth Walk, celebrating the Ice Age Trails 50th anniversary, starts at the western terminus of the Ice Age Trail on the Pothole Trail in Interstate Park at 7:30 a.m. and will continue throughout the day with chapters all across the state

participating to cover the entire 1,200mile trail. Contact Dean Dversdall, 715472-2248 for information or to participate in the Mammoth Walk.

Everyone is invited to enjoy additional National Trails Day events: Croix Valley Wooly Mountain Bike Race, www.woollyrace.com, Cache St. Croix, a GEO cache event sponsored by the St. Croix Falls Park and Recreation, the Ice Age Trail Anniversary potluck held at Lions Park at 2 p.m. and Ice Age Trail volunteer guided hikes beginning at 3 p.m. at Lions Park.

A complete list of events and information can be downloaded from www.scfwi.com. Klein says, “It’s a great chance to get the entire community together to celebrate what an awesome place this is to live.” – submitted

Fairgrounds needs major electrical work New highway building may be five years out

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE – The Polk County Fairgrounds has a major amount of electrical needs in the coming year, including some projects that are recommended for completion this year. A five-year plan may be developed the highway building issues. These were two of the topics discussed at the property committee meeting Monday, May 19, after work on development of the AmeryDresser Trail was rejected (see separate story).

The property committee and the fair board have been in a long discussion about needed improvements at the county fairgrounds in St. Croix Falls, including electrical improvements. A series of emergency repairs were made last year that were identified as just the start of the requirements. Monday, supervisor Neil Johnson, the county board’s nonvoting representative to the fair board, presented a list of electrical needs.

“The list covers 95 percent of the expenditures that will be needed over

the next five years to fix the electrical problems,” Johnson said.

The five-item list includes a new service to the north campground, service for the new milk parlor, lighting for the area west of the new milk parlor, new service to meet the needs of a camping group that will rent the grounds in 2009, and electric service for the carnival. The first three items were identified as needing to be addressed this year. Local electrician Rick Yunker prepared the list and explained it to the committee.

Yunker has worked as a consultant to the fair board and has been hired to do projects at the fair in the past.

Johnson said this list is a piece of a five-year plan the fair board has been working to develop at the urging of the property committee. He said some past projects have been temporary fixes to make short-term repairs because there was no long-range plan. The fair is supposed to pay the costs improvements while the county pays for the upkeep of the buildings. But Johnson said the fair does not have the funds for the large capital needs.

“I get nervous about investing in the fair,” Supervisor Russ Arcand said.

“The county has no control on what

happens there. They run their budget and then come to us when they want more.” Arcand has been pushing for a five-year plan for the fairgrounds.

The committee directed property director Debra Peterson to obtain bids, including all options, for the five items so the committee has some idea what expenses the fair and the county might be facing.

Highway building The property committee is responsible for all county building needs and repairs, including issues at the 1937 highway building. While several immediate air quality and safety problems are being addressed now, the committee still has a long list of concerns at the building.

“Where does the committee want me to go next?” Peterson asked the committee. “Do we fix it up for the short term?

Do we look at a new building?”

Peterson said an immediate concern is finding a warm storage shed before next winter to replace the north shed that was vacated and closed because of mold issues. She said she has also looked at alternate office space to lower the health risks for the employees but has not

found an alternate space.

“The direction on these issues, including a new building, rests with this committee,” Peterson said. “We can get input from the Highway Department but we must make the recommendations.”

“We don’t know where to go from here,” county board Chair Bryan Beseler said. “I have met with Tonya, Deb, Steve [referring to the heads of the Finance, Property, and Highway Departments].

My theory is we need to develop a five to ten year plan with all parties involved.”

2008 goals Peterson presented at list of 2008 goals for committee discussion. The top goal is to develop a plan to either renovate the old highway facility or construct a new public works facility. Next is to continue recycling efforts in parks and at special events. The third is to update the recreation plan. An added goal is to work with the fair on the longrange plan and electrical needs. And dropped is the goal of developing the Amery to Dresser walking trail.

The committee agreed with the revised list.

Molly Rushfeldt crowned Honey Queen POLK/BURNETT COUNTIES – A new queen has emerged this spring, inaugurating a sweet reign in Polk and Burnett Counties.

Molly Rushfeldt, 17, was crowned the new Honey Queen of the Polk-Burnett County Bee Association Thursday, May 15.

This is her first elected post, and as the queen she will go around the counties educating and representing the interest and goodness of beekeeping, both as a hobby and commercially.

This may be her first official assignment, but she is no stranger to beekeeping.

“I began keeping bees at the age of 7,” she said. “In the beginning I had two colonies. And now I own 118.”

When she is not in her apiary she is attending Amery High School, where she is a junior. After high school, she plans to study psychology at Crown Molly Rushfeldt (center) is joined by the members of the Polk-Burnett County Bee Association, who crowned her College, a private Christian school in Honey Queen Thursday, May 15, at their monthly meeting at the Balsam Lake Government Center. – Photo by Wayne Minnesota.

Anderson Until that day, her royal mission is to enlighten her community about the the advantages that go along with hav“It’s a very relaxing hobby,” she said.

Rushfeldt is available to speak at any wonders of beekeeping. ing honey bees in the area.”

“And it helps with pollination with venue. To schedule a free appearance “I hope to promote honey and bee She cites two reasons why people apple trees and gardening, increasing call 715-294-4431 or 402-689-3617. - subproducts,” she said. “And to teach and should consider keeping bees. your yield of fruits and vegetables.” mitted educate people about honey bees and

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

B U R N E T T

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

4.9mm bees experiment in Wisconsin

by Wayne Anderson BURNETT COUNTY – Size matters in beekeeping, especially when it comes to deadly mites.

Tracheal mites often wreak devastation in a bee colony. To date, the mite, first found in the U.S. in 1984, has destroyed hundreds of thousands of hives and cost beekeepers more millions in dollars.

Wisconsin beekeepers, like Kevin Karge of Falun, are not immune to the harm of tracheal mites. The life and death question is how to stop them. Beekeepers know chemical treatments are only mildly effective in combating these microscopic parasites.

Now Karge and other beekeepers across the nation are trying an alternative to killing the mites. Their novel approach is to simply shut them out.

“When I did some research, I found how resistant the bees were in eliminating the tracheal mites,” said Karge. “That’s what got me interested.”

Tracheal mites attack bees by entering a small breathing space near the thorax. Once inside they lay their eggs in the opening, blocking the bee’s ability to breathe and spreading disease.

Karge is participating in an experiment of downsizing bees. In this experiment, they are shrinking the bees instead of the kids.

The size of an average bee is 5.4 millimeters. But Karge and others are shrinking their bees to 4.9 mil-

limeters. They accomplish this by growing their bees in smaller comb cells.

By shrinking the size of the whole bee they are also shrinking the size of the bee’s breathing space, where the mites enter. “It’s just small enough to keep the tracheal mite out,” Karge said.

This method is another way of combating an agricultural problem without using poisonous chemicals.

“It sounds like a wonderful idea,” said Jane Larson, public information officer, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The state is uncertain how many beekeepers are experimenting with smaller bees. But, “in theory it sounds like a great idea,” Larson said. “I think it is something we will be watching.”

Among national researchers, opinions vary on the effectiveness of small-size bees combating tracheal mites.

“The consensus now is really mixed,” said Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine and a beekeeper. “There’s a group of people who swear by it…and there’s a group of people who swear at it.”

But from the scientist’s point of view, “this is still pretty new,” Flottum said. “It certainly looks like it may have some promise.”

Smaller 4.9mm bees on hive frame with queen cell.

Beekeeper Kevin Karge, of Falun, with new 4.9mm experimental bees. – Photos by Wayne Anderson

B U R N E T T C O U N T Y H E A D L I N E S

Property committee orders stop to Amery-Dresser Trail aid Reveres prior action, volunteers may open trail

by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE – Polk County will not be involved in opening the AmeryDresser Trail for public use. The property committee of the county board has voted to spend no money on clearing the abandoned railroad bed for use as a foot trail.

The committee also removed trail development from the list of 2008 goals for parks department director Debra Peterson. The actions, at the committee’s meeting Monday, May 19, reverse a directive from the prior committee to aid in the trail development.

The motion to spend no county money for physical expenses on the trail was made by Russ Arcand and seconded by Joan Peterson. It passed by a unanimous voice vote with support from Larry Jepsen, Bryan Beseler and Mick Larsen.

The motion replaces a motion passed by the property committee on March 24, which authorized and directed Debra Peterson to “inform the DNR of the county’s willingness to cooperate on the development of a nonmotorized trail”. Larsen had supported that motion which was moved by former committee members Jeff Peterson and Marv Caspersen. Arcand was not present when the March 24 resolution was voted on.

The goal removed from the 2008 list of objectives for Debra Peterson had said, “Work with DNR, LOG Group to develop Amery to Dresser for a walking trail.” She is now limited to spending minimum staff time on trail issues.

Three members of the property com-

mittee, Arcand, Jepsen, and Joan Peterson, spoke out against county involvement in opening the trail for nonmotorized use. Their comments came after Tim Miller, DNR park, trail, and recreation manager, told the committee that the trail could open to foot traffic once it was cleared. He said that state codes allow trails to be open for basic uses, such as walking, with only a letter of agreement. The DNR owns the trail and would work with the county to operate it.

“I am totally opposed to the county working on the state trail,” Arcand said.

“There is no budget for the work. No one has called me to support using taxpayers money on this. Will the state reimburse us for our work? Why are we even involved in this?”

“This use of the trail won’t benefit the majority of the county,” Jepsen said.

“The expenses aren’t reimbursable.

People who call me say the trail should not be opened if it not motorized. The users should put up the money. The county should spend zero on the trail.”

“This brings nothing into the county,” Joan Peterson said.

Debra Peterson said that the county’s involvement on clearing the trail would be minimal. She added that the county does maintenance work on the Gandy Dancer and Cattail Trails, using snowmobile funds.

Ed Moersfelder, Garfield, told the committee that the trail support group was ready to help open the trail, offering volunteer labor and equipment, and will help find grant money for trail development.

Any future work on the trail which runs from Amery to a point east of Dresser will needs to be done by volunteers working directly with the DNR. Miller told the Leader that the DNR is now studying how to proceed.

Woodley Dam permit hearing cancelled Petitioners withdraw request

by Gregg Westigard POLK COUNTY – Polk County may soon be able to take the next steps to remove the Woodley Dam on the Apple River at Hwy. 8. A hearing on objections to three permits for the removal has been cancelled, at the request of the petitioners. The hearing would have been held on June 3 at the Polk County Justice Center.

Preparations for the hearing had taken place last Thursday, May 15, when the parties to the case held a prehearing conference by telephone. On the following day, Friday, May 16, Glenn Stoddard, attorney for the groups contesting the permits, told the parties that his clients had decided to “voluntarily withdraw and dismiss their petition” for the hearing.

Any other persons who have objections to the permits can still appear at the justice center at 8:30 a.m. on June 3.

The Polk County corporation counsel and a representative from the DNR will be available to listen to people and the judge for the case will be available by telephone.

The Wisconsin DNR granted a set of permits to the county for the dam and river work for a year, April 11, 2007, after a series of public hearings. The permits were for riprap work on the banks and bed of the river, dredging of the river, and construction of a snowmobile bridge over the river to replace a crossing now in use.

Two groups, the Apple River Association and the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited, requested a hearing on the permits. After a year of negotiations, that hearing was scheduled for June before an administrative law judge.

If there are no more objections to the permits, the county will be able to proceed with the next steps to start work on the actual projects. Those steps might include assuring that the funds for the project are still available and that the bids for the work are still current.

The funds include federal and state grants, a promise of $125,000 from the snowmobile groups to build the bridge, and about $335,000 in county money that has been held in reserve. The property committee will review the project at its first meeting after the June 3.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

L e a d e r

We b Po l l

Last week’s poll results

Total votes: 32

I’ll be attending a garage sale this weekend for:

47% 15 votes 9%

3 votes

9% 34%

3 votes 11 votes

Fun Deals Both fun and deals I don’t care for garage sales

F O R U M The heart of EMS

This week’s question: Are your plans for a Memorial Day trip changed by gas prices?

1. Yes 2. No 3. I had no plans

To take part in our Web poll, go to www.the-leader.net and scroll down to the lower left hand corner of the

J o e H e l l e r

hat can be said about EMS volunteers that hasn’t been said already?

WThis is National EMS Week, a time to recognize and thank the local citi-

zens who invest their time physically - and emotionally- to helping people in serious need of help.

As a community, here in Burnett and Polk counties, we have put in place the highest quality EMS care available , 24/7. It took several years and advances in technology and building of resources - but we have arrived.

We are 100 miles from the nearest major trauma centers in the Twin Ports, Twin Cities and Eau Claire - but the care provided by EMS in cooperation with outstanding local medical centers has simply raised our quality of life.

Local, skilled EMS services has improved our chances of survival and recovery when illness and injury occur.

Is it costly in financial terms?

That depends on your point of view. Compared to what?

EMS encompasses emergency physicians, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, First Responders and the teachers provided through medical centers and tech schools such as WITC. But at the end of the day it’s our friends and neighbors who volunteer to learn the skills and place their own lives on hold to be ready to respond to an emergency, who remain the heart of rural emergency care.

The reward for them usually boils down to the comaraderie of being part of a special group of people - and an indescribable feeling of helping people in their most dire hour of need.

The reward for us is the peace of mind that comes through their dedication to be there at any time of day or night.

Thank your local EMS volunteers.

Add to the Memorial Day experience

Day programs in Burnett and Polk counties are steeped in tradiM emorial tion. You feel comfortable attending them because – despite the formal-

ity that is a natural part of the ceremony – there's a familiarity in the service and the people who faithfully show up year after year.

And there are subtle differences, sometimes marked by the backdrops or ceremonies themselves. There are bridges at Grantsburg and Taylors Falls but with vastly different impacts. The stillness of Memory Lake versus the rushing waters of the St. Croix River.

There's the steep climb to the ceremony in the cemetery at St. Croix Falls and the gentle slope down to scenic Coon Lake at Frederic. The Scouts doing their part at Webster, the Badger Boy and Girl give speeches at Luck. The holiday traveler traffic provides background sound at Webster and you can almost hear your patriotic heart beating as you wait for the gun salute to explode in the quietness at Lewis Cemetery.

Most of us faithfully attend our own community's service and for good reason. For many of us, there's a family connection.

But if you dare attend more than your usual Memorial Day service this year, take a trip to Spooner on Sunday, the 25, and attend the service at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The sights and sounds of Memorial Day are inspirational in an equal, if not different, fashion than what many of us here in Northwest Wisconsin are used to. There's an Army brass band. A bagpiper. Huge flagpoles display the American and state flags, along with those of each military branch as well as the POW/MIA flag.

For those who remember the groundbreaking for that cemetery on a rainy fall day on somewhat of an indistinct piece of muddy ground, the cemetery today is somewhat of an engineering wonder.

The cemetery is located just off Hwy. 53, three miles south of Spooner. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m.

Take your kids there.

Nice touch

W h e re t o Wr i t e

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

Governor Jim Doyle 115 East, State Capitol Bldg.

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

Washington, D.C. 20515 or Wisconsin office: Federal Building Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 842-5606 Rep. Ann Hraychuck 28th Assembly District State Capitol, P.O. Box 8942 Madison, WI 53708 Phone: 608-267-2365 Toll free: 888-529-0028 In-District 715-485-3362 rep.hraychuck@legis.state.wi.us

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

Senator Sheila Harsdorf 10th Senate District State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-7745 • (715) 2321390 Toll-free - 1-800-862-1092 sen.harsdorf@legis.state.wi.us

Rep. Mary Hubler 75th Assembly District Room 7 North, State Capitol P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 or 1966 21-7/8 St. (Hawthorne Lane), Rice Lake 54868 (715) 234-7421• (608) 266-2519 rep.hubler@legis.state.wi.us

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold SDB 40, Rm. 1 Washington, D.C. 20510 or 1600 Aspen Commons Middleton, WI 53562-4716 (608) 828-1200 senator@feingold.senate.gov

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

aving the state's "top cop" drop into our backyard last week for a roundH table discussion of law enforcement issues was impressive.

In fact, anytime a top state official makes the journey from Madison to Northwest Wisconsin, it offers us an opportunity to remind them face to face of our own unique - and sometimes not-so-unique – challenges.

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen can now put some faces with names here in Burnett County, courtesy of Rep. Hraychuck and Sen. Harsdorf, who hosted the roundtable held last Wednesday at the Burnett Government Center in Siren.

We've had visits from our attorney general before, including formerAttorney General Jim Doyle, who now is our governor, but the actual sitdown, public question and answer meeting offered a nice touch.

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl 330 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

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

All editorials on this page by editor Gary King

Providing local news to Burnett and Polk counties since 1933

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

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MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9

Thin skinned I find it hard to believe that anyone could be so thin skinned that they would take offense at seven short, harmless sentences in a newspaper.

Evidently, Mr. Ayers bleeds easily. I thought Mr. Muehlhauser’s opinion was well-stated. He also is a published author, and I would recommend his books to anybody.

Walter Lundeen Frederic

More nursing homes I have had the experience of just returning from being in a swing bed (temporary bed in a hospital until other care can be arranged) at the hospital in Grantsburg. I fell and broke my right hip, and was taken by ambulance to Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

When I was released from the hospital in Rice Lake, where there are no swing beds and with no other care beds available anywhere nearby, I was transferred to the swing bed in Grantsburg.

This was how I got my full view of how short we are of places for people to go who need somewhere to be for more recovery before they can go home.

All of Burnett County and other surrounding counties have got to wake up and start planning how we can get more nursing home beds to take care of the people. Our baby boomers already are entering the age for joint replacements.

We have a tendency to think, “Oh, well, someone else will do it.”

We need it started now, with what help any of us can give. Let’s share ideas and get going so people in the very near future will have a chance at a place to recover.

Charlotte Flygstad Siren

Letters The Leader welcomes letters to the editor.

Diverse and varied opinions are welcomed.

Letters are subject to being edited for length, taste and/or clarity, and we urge writers to be brief and limit their letters to 500 words or less.

Writers must provide their name and give their complete address and phone number. Content that will cause letters to be rejected include: Crude language, poor taste, disrespectful comments regarding a group’s or individual’s ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation or race; other incendiary language or personal attacks.

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

Town of Garfield’s postponed annual meeting was held May 15 and attended by a small group of residents. The postponement was due to the town clerk of Garfield’s sudden resignation and the 2007 financial report wasn’t completed.

Because we live in an area where town meetings are not reported in the local media, we as residents must attend the monthly meetings to be informed as to what is happening. We cannot depend on published agendas, as they aren’t posted until 24 hours before the meeting. The ordinances passed (laws effecting us) aren’t even published in the media for all to read.

We need to find a way to get the town news printed as news in local media.

Issues discussed at the annual meeting included various ways the board can fill the remaining term of the clerk (until the April 2009 election). On a short-term basis, the treasurer and board members have assumed the clerk duties until a permanent arrangement is made. An interim clerk appointment will be made by the board, so if you live in the town of Garfield and need a parttime job and have experience in data processing and financial computer programs you might want to contact a board member for more information and a job description.

I am a retired town clerk and would say that applicants should be able to practice time management (doing minutes and processing reports immediately upon receipt) and never procrastinate with accounting matters. The entire board needs to be informed monthly of the spending year to date in each budget line so they can approve the expense vouchers and know they are within the yearly budget they have setup.

Interesting to note that according to the 2007 annual statement the total disbursements were $2,835,681 and the receipts were the same of course. This figure included the levies for all the taxing districts. Just Town of Garfield disbursements included $145,975 in general expenses, $357,317 in highway expenses and $362,128 for WAPO Lake Park.

We commend the town board for their hours of work last year, but we as residents definitely need to show more interest in what is happening within our town government.

Rose Grandt Amery

B a c k i n "# $$ 1933 was also a time of economic concern when it came to transportation cost. This ad from Frederic Auto Sales told consumers they could “get the most from motoring at the lowest cost per mile,” by purchasing a new Chevrolet for $445 to $565.

With gas at 10 cents a gallon it all sounds too good to be true today.

The Inter-County Leader • 1933-2008 • 75 years

Keep the caring

We moved to Osceola in 1971 from Oshkosh – part of that large metro from Milwaukee to Green Bay. It was a cultural adjustment. I couldn’t run out at 10 p.m. and pick up some glue for a school project. Couldn’t even order in pizza at that time. However, we soon came to treasure our good fortune.

As friends asked about this small town, we had a lot to say.

• Here, if you fall down on the street, someone will stop to pick you up. They will likely even know your name and call your family.

• Here, if your car suddenly quits running on the Main Street, someone will help you push it out of the way and give you a ride to where you need to go.

• Here, when you walk down the street, you are likely to meet people you know and who call you by name.

• Here, people remember who you were and your contributions to the community as well as who you are today.

• Here, groups of men and women gather for coffee in the morning in the local restaurants and coffee shops and talk about mutually remembered times as well as current times.

• Here, we live among friends.

This kind, caring, united community is what we came to know as the real treasure; worth far more than any conveniences offered by major metro areas.

These actions are evidence of the principles our community hold dear. In each, someone made a choice.

Those choices are what create this community.

Losing our nursing home will not only force the residents out of this caring community of friends they know and who know them. Losing our nursing home will also impact the kind of community we are. It will be a loss that can never be made whole again.

Please choose to keep Osceola as the caring community we all cherish. Please choose to help. Write to your local government officials, join with your faith group or other affiliations to express support. Be prepared to help with service if you are asked.

Karla Jenkins Osceola

Ruby’s Pantry As we continue to be faithful at Home and Away Ministries, we find ourselves with a watchful eye on fuel prices.

Today in Ruby’s Pantry we used $350 of fuel, likewise this past Saturday and another $500-$600 the three previous days. I know you understand this as each person who drives a vehicle in America is facing tremendous adjustments on how their money is spent.

Unfortunately, many families are forced to make the adjustment of less food, which really means not enough or not enough nutritious food. The good news is that today we picked up over 3,200 gallons of milk. Tomorrow we will have food shelves and other organizations pick up a portion of it and we will distribute about 1,050 gallons in Hinckley, Minn., on Thursday night as they will have about 350 families come to food distribution.

This past week we had distributions in Siren (400+), Moose Lake (252), Forest Lake (150) and North Branch (360). That is nearly 1,300 families in five days. If you have never personally attended a distribution I would encourage you to do so. It is a life changing experience.

Little do we understand the struggle involved in many people’s lives today with the present economic climate.

In June/July we will welcome a ministry team of about 25 people from Mexico being led by the staff leader from the first time we ever went to

Mexico, Agustin and Jodi Baeza. They will be spending a total of about four days in the area, stopping here on the way to Canada and on the way back.

We will play host to them to make their trip a blessing for them and the people they minister to while they are here.

Hopefully, many of you will get an opportunity to meet them and hear about how God is working in Mexico.

Thank you for your generous financial donations. Without the support of our faithful financial partners we could not be do any of this.

In the Grip of God’s Grace, Lyn Sahr Executive Director Ruby’s Pantry North Branch, Minn.

Positive influence Times are very tough right now, for most everyone. There are so many things to be worried about, the economy and the war to name a few. If it impacts us adults, how does that impact the youth in our community?

We would like to see a positive influence on our community. We believe that can happen! Milltown is looking to build a skate park. Fundraising efforts have begun, and some local businesses have started to pledge funds, but there is still a lot to do! This is an expensive project, but will benefit the youth greatly.

It will give them a safe, designated place to ride their bikes or skateboards, instead of in parking lots, sidewalks or streets. They will be staying active and in shape. Most importantly, if efforts are great enough, they will see that a community can come together for a common goal, even in the worst of times.

There are a number of youth in the community who are willing to work hard to help raise money for this project so as to use as little taxpayer money as possible. They are looking for help from anyone who is interested! There is an account set up at AnchorBank for anyone who is willing to donate.

Let’s pull together for the youth in Milltown and surrounding communities to show them that we are willing to try and make a safe, comfortable environment for them! Any questions or concerns can be directed to the village of Milltown and or Ben Wheeler.

Ben and Deanna Wheeler Milltown

Without warning What could they be thinking? I can’t get the image of the three Siren town administrators, sitting with crossed arms and stern expressions, reprimanding the local police officer for writing parking tickets on illegally parked vehicles “without warning.” Just exactly which laws do they feel should not be enforced “without warning” – murder, armed theft, shoplifting, speeding, midblock U-turns?

My point being that the law that I learned clearly states that yellow lines mean “Don’t Park Here” for some very good reason – fire department/emergency vehicle access, handicap access, pedestrian crosswalk. If you choose to break that law, you should receive a ticket – yes, without warning Dennis Parker Danbury

More letters, next page

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

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

L e a d e r Army whistle blower: Palestine hotel on target list in Baghdad than five years have passed M ore since the invasion of Iraq, since President Bush stood under the

(illegally and unconstitutionally, she thought).

Said Kinne: “(W)e were listening to journalists who were staying Amy in the Palestine Goodman Hotel. And I remember that, s p e c i fi c a l l y because during the buildup to ‘shock and awe’ ... we were given a list of potential targets in Baghdad, and the Palestine Hotel was listed. (P)utting one and one together, I went to my officer in charge, and I told him that there are journalists staying at this hotel who think they’re safe, and yet we have this hotel listed as a potential target, and somehow the dots are not being connected here, and shouldn’t we make an effort to make sure that the right people know the situation?

And unfortunately, my officer in charge ... basically told me that it was not my job to analyze ... someone somewhere higher up the chain knew what they were doing.”

She said the officer in charge was Warrant Officer John Berry.

Kinne’s account directly contradicts the official line of the U.S. government.

On May 2, 2003, Colin Powell, then Secretary of State and a former general in the Army, visited Spain. He said of the Palestine Hotel: “We knew about

“Mission Accomplished” banner on that aircraft carrier. While these fifth anniversaries got some notice, another did not: the shelling of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad, by a U.S. Army tank, on April 8, 2003. The tank attack killed two unembedded journalists, Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk and José Couso, a cameraman for the Spanish television network Telecinco. Couso recorded his own death. He was filming from the balcony and caught on tape the distant tank as it rotated its turret and fired on the hotel. A Spanish court has charged three U.S. servicemen with murder, but the U.S. government refuses to hand over the accused soldiers. The story might have ended there, just another day of violence and death in Iraq, were it not for a young U.S. military intelligence veteran who has just decided to blow the whistle.

Adrienne Kinne is a former Army sergeant who worked in military intelligence for 10 years, from 1994 to 2004.

Trained in Arabic, she worked in the Army translating intercepted communications. She told me in an interview this week that she saw a target list that included the Palestine Hotel. She knew that it housed journalists, since she had intercepted calls from the Palestine Hotel between journalists there and their families and friends back home

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the hotel. We knew that it was a hotel where journalists were located, and others, and it is for that reason it was not attacked during any phase of the aerial campaign.”

If Powell was telling the truth, then why was the hotel included on the list of targets that Kinne says she read in a secure e-mail? Or was he just parsing words by saying it wasn’t a target during the “aerial campaign”? Kinne also revealed that the military was spying on nongovernmental organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the International Red Cross, listening in on these groups – also illegal – and justifying the pretense on the grounds that they might by chance report on a cache of weapons of mass destruction, or their satellite phone might get stolen by terrorists. She also received and translated a fax from the Iraqi National Congress, the CIA-funded group of Iraqi exiles who were funneling false information about WMDs to the U.S. government in order to bolster the case for war. The intel was considered highvalue and was sent directly to the White House.

Kinne has shown great courage and taken great risks to bring these revelations to light, to blow the whistle. She follows in the tradition of Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. Ellsberg has called on government workers to blow the whistle: “It’s a great, great risk to have the amount of secrecy we do have right now that enabled the president to lie us into this war and is heading us toward

f r o m

Feeling fuelish George W. Bush was absolutely right.

In his January 31, 2006, State of the Union speech, he acknowledged that America “is addicted to oil which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.” And Americans are clearly feeling the pain of that addiction as gas prices continue to climb with no end in sight. Last week, I crossed the $50 mark on a fill for the first time.

Predictably, politicians are trotting out all kinds of temporary fixes in hopes of winning votes. Gas tax holidays, increased windfall profits taxes and drilling in protected, environmentally sensitive areas are just a few. But experts say the rapid rise in prices was unavoidable, a “perfect storm” resulting from higher worldwide demand for oil, volatile markets in the Mideast and a falling dollar. The days of cheap oil are clearly over, but I can still see the Pure Oil sign with a 29.9 underneath like it was yesterday.

With all the emphasis on OPEC and Middle East oil supplies, it’s surprising to learn that we get more oil from our neighbor to the north than any other supplier. If you’ve traveled across western Canada, you’ve probably seen the occasional oil pump out in the middle of a rolling wheat field, but about a third of Canadian oil is coming from the far north where it is being extracted from something called tar sands. Even the name kind of gives you the willies.

This oil doesn’t come bubbling up from the ground Jed Clampett-style, but is removed from layers of sand and clay that some have likened to cookie dough. The process is expensive, but when oil prices rose above $50 a barrel, it became profitable, and today a booming business exists some 650 miles north of the U.S.-Canada border in an area formerly known for its woods, water and wildlife. By 2016, production is expected to exceed that of Venezuela.

F O R U M

Goodbye, walleye.

Along with this development has come a host of health and environmental problems for residents of the far north.

The air smells like hot tar, fish in the rivers have developed shiny, wart-like Steve blisters and cancers Pearson and other diseases are on the rise. In an article by Tom Knudson last December in the Duluth News-Tribune, David Schindler, an ecology professor at the University of Alberta, says, “Nothing on this planet compares with the destruction going on here. If there were a global prize for unsustainable development, the oil sands would be the winner.” Not the kind of prize you want to win.

Bringing oil to the gas pump has always been a dirty business, even before you consider the effects of burning that oil. In the U.S., where there are nearly a million oil wells in 33 states, oil and gas extraction releases a whole host of toxic chemicals including mercury, benzene and arsenic which are injected into the wells to increase the output.

These releases are exempted from the federal laws protecting the air and water, and oil well operators are not required to provide an annual report of toxins released as other industries are.

Can you spell special interest?

But, like any addict, we want more while knowing full-well the effects this substance we crave has on the overall health of the planet. Driving less would bring down demand and lower prices, but that hasn’t happened yet. And industry analysts keep looking for the tipping point, the price at which

H e r e

American’s driving habits will change.

Some suspect that $4 a gallon is the magic number, a seeming inevitability in the near future. I think $3.50 was the breaking point for me.

I loved it, I admit, when the speed limit went to 70 on the interstate. Why, you could fly (on four wheels) into the Cities in less than two hours from central Burnett County doing the allowable 5 mph over the speed limit. A great deal it was. It made those city lights seem so much more, well, accessible.

But suddenly, with oil at upwards of $120 a barrel, it began to seem kind of fuelish. I began to look for ways to soften the blow. It became a kind of game.

How many miles could I squeeze from a gallon of gas?

My wife came home one night and said change the air filter - it’ll give you a 10-percent increase in gas mileage.

Did it. The Car Talk guys said keep that tire inflation at the recommended maximum limit. Done. The research said 55 really is the optimum speed for fuel efficiency. So I moved over into the slow lane. I listened to a guy on talk radio who said he could make the most of every gallon by slowing for turns well in advance, accelerating gradually and feeling when it was time to shift. I tried it.

And a funny thing happened. 30 mpg became 32 mpg became 34 mpg, and I just eeked out 36 mpg on the last tank. By my figuring, that was a 20-percent increase in fuel efficiency, kind of like dropping the price of a gallon of gas from $3.60 back to $3. I like that.

It’s not the total solution, but until another perfect storm comes along, the kind that brings together high tech, consumer dissatisfaction and a strong dose of political will that results in a new way of getting from point A to point B, it’ll do.

a war that will be even more disastrous in Iran. And this is the time for unauthorized disclosures, which are the only kind that are going to tell us the truth about what’s happening, and they should be done, in my opinion, on a scale that will indeed risk or even ensure that the person doing it will be identified.”

The brother of Couso, Javier, has tirelessly pursued justice for his brother, traveling globally to make the story known and pushing the case in the Spanish courts. Kinne’s revelations created a stir in Spain, where the jurisdiction of the case against the three U.S. Army members is being challenged.

The video of Kinne’s disclosures was downloaded and quickly translated for presentation the next day to the court in Madrid.

The Bush White House, we now know, used retired generals with ties to the Pentagon and to military contractors to deceive the U.S. public.

Unembedded journalists in Iraq were a thorn in the side of the Pentagon spin masters. Might that April 8 attack been a message to them? Thanks to former Army Sgt. Adrienne Kinne, we may be closer to finding out.

Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on 650 stations in North America. Her third book, “Standing Up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times,” was published in April 2008. Her column is sponsored

by The Gathering in Burnett County.

Letters

Continued from previous page

Sex and our youth I was disappointed at the small number of parents and concerned adults that attended Pam Stenzel’s talk on sex and the youth culture, this past Wednesday evening, May 15. Are we aware that the STD rate has gone up 500 percent in the last 10 years in our country? Do we care that it has and is affecting the youth in this valley? We can’t deny that there have been rapes, teen pregnancies, abortions and yes, STDs in our very own area. This is a great community that still has a small town feel, but let’s not be fooled into thinking we are immune from the insults and injuries that result from premarital sex. For more information on what Stenzel talked on, you can see www.pamstenzel.com.

Judith Mickelson Dresser

Resolution Resolution of the citizens’ steering committee for preservation of the Simenstad Nursing Care Unit Whereas: Unless a viable and financially sound solution is found within the next 30 days, the Simenstad Nursing Care Unit is being closed by its license holder Ecumen and building owner Osceola Medical Center, forcing the residents from their homes.

Whereas: That closing will cause the loss of more than 50 jobs, along with opportunities for training prospective nurses and aides.

Whereas: The residents of NCU, along with their peers and predecessors, helped to create this community with all the amenities we enjoy today.

Whereas: We, along with many others, feel that the care of the elderly in our

See Letter, next page

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 11

"% t h S e n a t e D i s t r i c t Senate hits snooze button on budget repair With the state of Wisconsin facing a $526 million budget shortfall due to a national economic slowdown, state government was faced with one of three decisions: raise taxes, cut spending, or borrow.

After Senate Democratic leadership first proposed tax increases and new spending, they ended up passing a budget repair bill that resorts to using the taxpayer’s credit card. With fiscal alarms sounding, the Senate majority hit the snooze button, delaying making real decisions

about state government spending.

Worse yet, the final budget repair bill actually increases spending!

New taxes on health care and job providers, as Senate Democrats originally sought, were forSheila tunately rejected.

Harsdorf Tax increases would spell disaster for our state’s economy and working families, already dealing with a faltering national economy. As

importantly, health care affordability is challenging enough without adding new taxes that would be passed on to patients.

However, the solution to delay state aid payments to local governments and borrow more money to make ends meet is fiscally irresponsible. It may be easy and buy time, but it will simply delay making the hard choices. And, while the choices get more difficult, the costs become higher as our bond rating goes down and we mortgage our fiscal future. While working families are budgeting to make ends meet, Senate leadership continues to drive up our future obligations.

In the past, including when I served on the legislature’s budget writing committee, we set priorities to cut state government spending first and came up with $864 million in state agency reductions while cutting the structural deficit nearly in half. However, Senate leadership’s tax-first mentality has rejected reining in the size of state government. We need reforms that put the taxpayers first, such as public employee health care reform. Substantive change in Madison is going to require bold leadership and experience that can take us in a different direction.

Area Ne ws at a Glance $2 million shortfall BARRON COUNTY - With Barron County facing a 2009 budget shortfall nearing the $2 million mark, county officials are looking to better understand just what all of their deficit reduction options are. Although some of the penny-pinching routes are likely to be unpopular, county administration recently released a document that estimates how much potential savings might be realized by using various costcutting measures. One method that the county board has supported in the past includes making sure county operations are running as efficiently as possible.

Some techniques identified by county administration for increasing efficiency include consolidating departments, not refilling positions and changing how the county approaches health insurance. Consolidating a few departments could save the county between $50,000$175,000, according to the released estimates. Specific proposals include fully combining the child support department with Barron County Health and Human Services and merging the forestry and recreation department with another department. Other changes at the forestry and recreation department could include contracting out for forester services and establishing an automated park reservation system.

Another route for saving money in the county’s 2009 budget could be to delay maintenance and projects. Vehicle replacements at the sheriff’s and highway departments equate to more than $1 million combined. Projects slated for next year include replacement of the

Letter/from previous page community is a mutual concern of citizens, governments, business and health care entities.

Whereas: Our community is defined by the principles for which we stand, evidenced by the choices we make.

Wi make the following resolutions: Resolved: We appeal to all businesses, churches, community organizations and individuals to take responsibility for keeping the nursing care unit open by contributing letters of support to newspapers and by submitting ideas and suggestions to the steering committee.

Resolved: We urge all government entities and leaders to step forward quickly, taking an active part in solving this, our community problem.

Resolved: We call upon Osceola Medical Center to take advantage of the groundswell of community support for this issue by expanding their efforts to retain the L.O. Simenstad Nursing Care Unit in Osceola.

Steering committee contacts Jerry Viebrock John Jenkins Karla Jenkins Osceola

Moon Lake Dam and nearly $100,000 in maintenance/repair/improvement work at county facilities. Some options mentioned in the deficit reduction document, yet likely to meet more political resistance, include new taxes and staff layoffs. Instituting a vehicle tax could bring the county an estimated $240,000 per year, according to county administration. A new kind of resort tax could also boost the county’s budget, but that would require special legislation. Staff lay-offs equate to savings of $50,000 per position, on average, if including benefits. – Barron News-Shield Body of missing woman found SAWYER COUNTY - The badly decomposed body of Taylor County mother of four, Jean Viken, 39, missing since Jan. 29, has been found northeast of Hawkins with multiple gunshot wounds. Taylor County Sheriff Bruce Daniels said there are “several persons of interest” in his homicide investigation. “We will not comment further as to the identities of those individuals.

Evidence recovered, information received, and the location where Jean’s remains were found further reinforce involvement of these people,” said the sheriff. Forensic medical specialists had on Monday confirmed that human remains found Saturday are those Viken. Viken’s remains were found by two trout fishermen in an area about 10 miles north and 2.5 miles east of Hawkins. Initial indications were that clothing at the scene was consistent with what police believe the woman was wearing when she disappeared.

Forensic analysis of those items was undertaken. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, along with numerous other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are involved in the investigation. Foul play was suspected by authorities in early February even before Viken’s van was found on Lake Road and Forest Road 163 in Ashland County near the border with Sawyer County. When Taylor County deputies received what Sheriff Daniels described as “a call for service related to the whereabouts of Jean A. Viken” on Jan. 30, they noted there was a pan on the kitchen stove that appeared to have been cooking for a lengthy period of time. – Ladysmith News Surprise gift NEW RICHMOND - Lynn Forrest couldn’t believe the surprise gift he received in the mail May 3. Inside a registered letter from Atlanta was a Navy dog tag he’d lost more than 40 years ago. “I was kind of shocked,” said Forrest, who owns and operates Forrest Bobcat Service in New Richmond. “I didn’t remember losing one, but that was a long time ago. I got out my old dog tag and there was only one.”

Military service people are given two tags when they enter the armed forces.

Turns out Forrest’s dog tag was among

a handful of tags dug up at a mountain site near Da Nang, Vietnam. Tiffany Seyler, a research chemist with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, brought the tags home after a recent trip to Vietnam. She contacted military officials, who agreed to mail the tags to the last known address for each soldier.

Holding the small metal plate in his hand, Forrest admitted that the dog tag held little real significance to him. “But it matters to my wife, Nila,” he said.

“She really was excited to have this come all the way from Vietnam. We’ll need to get a chain for it.” The surprise gift did serve to bring back Forrest’s memories of his war experiences, good and bad. As best as he can recall, Forrest lost his dog tag during the Tet Offensive, a turning point in the Vietnam War that occurred in 1968. “I was the senior corpsman in the area,” he said. “I lost four of our five corpsmen in one night. I sent one home in a body bag, one lost a hand and one lost a foot.”

Forrest was assigned to a small village near Da Nang, where he would treat military personnel and civilians. “It was kind of a remote place,” he recalled.

“Part of the year you could get to us by truck, but most of the year you had to go by helicopter or boat.” Forrest still has a hint of regret in his voice about how abruptly the Vietnam War ended.

“We had that war won,” he said. “But Congress defunded it and put us out of business. We were just doing clean-up work and we were defunded.” After his discharge from the military in 1974, Forrest returned to his hometown. He worked at Andersen Windows for 21 years, then retired. He now works with his bobcat business. – New Richmond News (rivertowns.net) Motivational speaker charged PINE CITY, Minn. - A report of a shooting Thursday, May 15, in Isanti resulted in accusations of attempted murder, criminal sexual conduct and assault. Russell James Simon Jr., 45, of Isanti, was arrested and charged with nine felonies by the Isanti County Attorney’s Office. They include two counts of first-degree premeditated attempted murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder; two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct; two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of possession of a firearm while being a felon convicted of a violent crime. Simon appeared in an Isanti County courtroom on Friday, May 16, where he was formally charged. Bail was set at $1 million without conditions and $600,000 with conditions, according to the Minnesota Court Information System. Around 1:47 a.m. on May 15, Deputy Matthew Petz was dispatched to 313th Avenue Northwest in rural Isanti on a report of gunshots fired there. While traveling to the residence, Petz and other officers came across Todd Raymond Paulson, who was

walking on 313th Avenue toward Minnesota Hwy. 47. Paulson said he had been at the 313th Avenue residence after drinking with Simon at local restaurants. He said Simon was living at the house with a woman and her 9-yearold son. Upon their return, Paulson said Simon and he got in a fight over domestic issues, according to Isanti County Investigator Chris Janssen. After some time had passed, he said Simon grabbed a firearm and began to shoot at Paulson and the woman. The two tried to escape, but only Paulson made it out through the garage door, leaving the woman and her son inside. Paulson also said he heard more gunshots coming from inside, but did not know if the other two had been injured. Around 2:43 a.m., officers created a perimeter around the residence. Hostage negotiation was attempted, but was unsuccessful. Forceful entry was made by the law enforcement teams shortly thereafter.

Simon was found laying in bed with a .380 automatic handgun next to him. He was detained without incident. The woman and her son were found without serious injury, although it appeared a bullet had grazed the woman’s arm.

Despite being a convicted felon, Simon’s occupation involves giving motivational speeches at schools across the country. His Web site, www.russellsimon.com, claims he has talked to more than 250,000 kids about drug and alcohol usage, violence and addiction.

He calls his program “10 Seconds Can Change Your Life Forever.” – Pine City Pioneer School consolidation eyed RICE LAKE - Chetek School Board members approved a motion to study the feasibility of consolidation with the Weyerhaeuser School District at a Monday night, May 12, joint meeting of the districts. Weyerhaeuser superintendent Chris Nelson said, “We expect and anticipate that we’ll see a loss of 60 students by 2012. Financially it will be impossible for the Weyerhaeuser School District to stay open.” This is the second meeting between the two districts.

Chetek superintendent Al Brown said that declining enrollment is typical in more than half the districts in Wisconsin. “We’re all facing the same issues,” he said. Weyerhaeuser voters rejected a referendum for operational and maintenance funding by five votes on April 1. The Weyerhaeuser board voted to return to a referendum in a special election to be held on Tuesday, June 3. Voters will be asked to approve dollar amounts to cover operational expenses for each of the next 3 years: $468,119 for 2008-2009, $648,119 for 2009-2010, and $688,119 for 2010-2011.

Bruce and Ladysmith-Hawkins are planning a joint session with Weyerhaeuser on Wednesday, June 4, at the Bruce High School. The Bruce District also experienced a recent failed referendum. – Rice Lake Chronotype

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

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County board approves new position and creation of long-term-care district and declares temporary moratorium on signs and billboards

by Nancy Jappe SIREN – The Burnett County Board of Supervisors, at their May 15 meeting, by a vote of 13-8, approved the creation of a new county position of account services coordinator, defeated a change in Burnett County Standing Rules and approved 11-county consortium creation of a long-term-care district and appointment of district consumer appointees. The board also approved a resolution declaring a temporary moratorium on putting up any new signs or billboards.

The new account services coordinator would serve as the primary backup for the county’s financial and humanresources systems, and would be responsible for finance functions in the absence of the financial manager, and human resources in the absence of the human resources generalist.

County administrator Candace Fitzgerald told the board that she has two employees in her department who are no longer able to manage their

Harry Patneaude, the newly elected supervisor for Burnett County District 21, was finally seated at the May 15 county board meeting.

Patneaude won election by just three votes against incumbent Clifford “Larry” Main, and he could not be seated until the deadline for Main to continue his appeal of the vote count had passed. workload by themselves. She said that she has employees who are not taking vacations and are working 300 to 400 more hours than they should be during the year in managing the county’s $22 million budget.

“It isn’t for me,” Fitzgerald said. “We have taken on an additional workload.

The highway and human services departments had been managed outside (our department) before. It is important for you to recognize the contribution and hard work, and say it is time we support these individuals before they walk out the door.”

Supervisor Chris Sybers mentioned the new financial system and problems that are still going on. “Things should be error-free before it gets to (the financial manager’s) office,” he commented.

Creation of long-term-care district The county board approved the creation of a long-term-care district by a consortium of 11 counties (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn). Kate Peterson, director of Burnett County Health and Human Services, said that the cost to the county will be $10,000, the 22-percent maximum counties offering the Family Care program for the first time are allowed.

Appointed as consumer nominees to the district governing board were: Jeff Keiffer, Mark Novotny, Terri Stoner, Sue Zieke and Mike Linton.

Leon Moe, a resident on Round Lake, urged the Burnett County Board of Supervisors to not stop at the ordinance against invasive species aquatic plants like Eurasian milfoil, which was passed by the board in April. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Moe commented. - Photos by Nancy Jappe “My concern is that we have no backup if this person isn’t around,” Ed Peterson said.

“For this position, do we need to staff 2,080 hours a year (with benefits) or could we address the person in other areas?” Supervisor Gene Olson asked.

Supervisor Eldon Freese suggested contracting out services for a six-month period. He doesn’t feel that the county needs another full-time person.

“There are two individuals who are overworked,” said Supervisor Gerry Pardun. “They are dealing with personnel and confidential materials. We need to have a person in a position who can alleviate some of the work of both and be a backup.”

Gary Lundberg questioned the time spent by these individuals in doing their jobs. He spoke of holding department managers accountable for the workload. “As long as there is someone else checking problems, they will never be solved,” Lundberg commented. He suggested hiring someone on the director level to be responsible for the county’s accounting operations, citing the right person with the right credentials who can put proper procedures in place.

“We need someone not involved with the daily operations, but with time for thinking ahead,” Lundberg said.

Supervisor Norm Bickford called for a roll-call vote. Thirteen of the supervisors voted in favor of the new position; eight supervisors (Olson, Bickford, Sybers, Lund, Lundberg, Patneaude, Schinzing and Freese) voted against the position.

County board chairman Phil Lindeman commented on the spirited debate that went on, saying that it was done while maintaining respect for one another.

Doyle applies veto pen to budget MADISON - There’s not much of a chance that the legislature will override any of the vetoes Gov. Jim Doyle made to a budget repair bill late last week.

Doyle used his veto pen to scrap a proposal lawmakers from both parties passed that would delay a $125 million school aid payment. He also scaled back a plan to refinance tobacco payments and restored money set aside for a driver’s license security program.

To make up the difference, Doyle cut state spending by an additional $200 million. Republican Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch says his members support that. He says Assembly Republicans will not be overriding any

vetoes that reduce the governor’s ability to cut spending. He says if Gov. Doyle has put in the opportunity to cut even more spending, he’s sure Assembly Republicans would support that and not try to override those.

Huebsch says he’s more concerned with the governor’s decision to use $100 million out of the state’s transportation fund to balance the books.

However, even if Republicans wanted to override that move, their margin is small in the state Assembly and Democrats control the state Senate. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Shawn Johnson)

Moratorium on signs/billboards Supervisor Mary Falk explained that it is necessary to place a temporary moratorium on new signs/billboards because the county is looking at creating a sign/billboard ordinance. The county has no sign/billboard ordinance at the current time. The committee found out recently that St. Croix County has such an ordinance, and they want to customize that ordinance for use in Burnett County. Falk said it will take a couple months to do that.

The proposed moratorium would be in effect for up to six months, or until regulatory controls are in effect.

“We believe this is a very common thing, especially when we are working on a plan for a sign ordinance. This will give the county time to put together an ordinance that meets the needs of Burnett County,” Falk said.

Discussion on aquatic invasive species Leon Moe from Round Lake urged the county to do more than just pass the ordinance controlling the spread of aquatic invasive species like Eurasian milfoil. Moe described the efforts of the lake association, mentioning a lack of coordination and cooperation from the DNR and that no specific plan on what could be done was offered by the DNR. “Why is it the responsibility of the lake association in not only taking the lead but bearing the financial burden?”

Moe asked.

Supervisor Maury Miller talked about the work done on the lake on which he lives, Ham Lake, and the contribution of $250 that 90 percent of the property owners on the lake made that is helping in controlling the milfoil on that lake.

Miller spoke in favor of contributions made by DNR personnel who personal-

Kate Peterson, director of Burnett County Department of Health and Human Services, talked in favor of the creation of a long-term-care district and the appointment of consumer advocates to its governing board during the county board meeting Thursday, May 15.

ly came out and identified areas that needed spraying.

“I think a lot of the burden is on the lake association. I would encourage anybody to see the DNR as the best resource we have got,” Miller commented.

“We have put in a lot of effort and not seen a lot of result,” Moe said.

County board still to approve standing committees The county board defeated a resolution to eliminate the county board from the approval process for board standing committees. That would leave approval of board standing committee in the hands of the county board chair and the county administrator.

“I feel the board has the responsibility to have a say in who is going to be on committees,” Supervisor Eldon Freese said. “Are we giving away checks and balances?” Bickford asked, adding, “We have to think about this.

“The board is involved in choosing the committees along the way. I don’t see it as a problem,” Emmett Byrne commented.

Gerry Pardun referred to evidence in the past wherein administration had been leading in one way or another. He saw nothing wrong in simply asking for board approval of the committee membership.

Tweet/Shafer engagement Paul and Cathy Tweet, Frederic, with great joy announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer, to John Shafer, son of Gary and Kathy Shafer of Spring Valley.

Jennifer received her master’s degree in special education from UW-Superior, and John received his bachelor’s degree in environmental technology from UW-River Falls.

The sacrament of holy matrimony will be received in June 2008.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 13

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Village needs to tighten belt, too, says taxpayer

by Sherill Summer WEBSTER – Village resident Laurel Stusek read a written statement to the Webster Village Board during the regular May meeting on Wednesday, May 14.

She stated that she does not approve with charging nonprofit organizations such as churches public fire protection fees on the water bill since these nonprofit organizations are important to the community. She also does not approve that each lot, whether it was buildable or not, is charged a flat fee for public fire protection, nor does she approve of the way the public fire protection was presented to the public. She was told that the amount raised on the water bill would be taken off the tax rolls and now has learned that this was false.

She also disagrees that the village needs more subsidized housing and feels that the price for lots in the Smith Pines Development should be reduced so that they are sold and placed back on the tax roll. She also wondered what the village board was doing to encourage new businesses.

She ended her statement, “Everyone has to tighten their belts, including villages. I believe all organizations need to be fiscally responsible and remember that money they are using does not come from the government. The government collects the money from the taxpayers and should be prudent with the money or we all will go bankrupt.

That may mean cutting back on some of the services, freezing wages and staying within the budget.”

munity center exterior was approved if they agree to complete the project four weeks from start date.

Other action Jack Hedricks was offered an arrangement where the costs of hooking his newly constructed buildings to sewer and water would be assessed over a 10year period.

“No bikes or skateboards on sidewalks” will be painted on sidewalk

Walsh receives Excellence Scholarship Laurel Stusek appeared before the Webster Village Trustees at the May board meeting to voice several concerns. – Photo by Sherill Summer No action on housing No action was taken on the affordable housing proposed by Indianhead Community Action Agency since it was mistakenly left off the agenda. It will be discussed at a property committee meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 27, at 7 p.m. The village must approve the proposal at that date if Indianhead is to apply for funding by the June 1 grant deadline.

Lions donates village The Webster Lions Club donated $1,500 for the skateboard park and to purchase playground equipment that will be placed along the Gandy Dancer Trail.

Bid for painting A $7,895 bid from Custom Design and Paint of Danbury to work on the com-

Retiring personnel positions filled Grantsburg School Board votes to approve new staff

by Priscilla Bauer GRANTSBURG – When the Grantsburg School Board approved retirement requests earlier this year from teachers and other staff with long careers in the district, they began the process of replacing those positions. At the board’s May meeting, the board voted to approve several of the positions.

The board approved a full-time contract for Adam Sturgis as the elementary physical education instructor.

Sturgis will replace PE teacher Sue Helene, who has worked for the district for 34 years.

Kelly Schilling was approved for the full-time special education teacher position replacing veteran teacher Kathy Bowers, who retires after a 35-year career.

The board also approved the hiring of Laura Lerud to replace food service director Kathy Wistrom, who retires after 27 years of service.

In other board business: Jess Byers, Grantsburg School’s technical director, answered questions from the board on a consideration bid for two mobile computer labs. The labs will serve both the middle school and high school. Byers explained to the board lack of available space at the schools to set up another stationary computer lab made the mobile lab plan the best solution in meeting district needs. Byers said the 66 laptop computers would be kept on carts and moved to classrooms as needed.

ramps along Main Street.

Two temporary class B liquor licenses were approved for Webster Lions and the sportsman’s club.

Open book is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by board of review from 6 to 8 p.m.

June’s regular village board meeting was moved from the usual second Wednesday to Monday, June 9, at 6 p.m.

The board approved a bid from CDW-G for the 66 laptops with the lowest bid of $66,000. Byers said he has worked with the company on previous projects with good results. Also included in the mobile lab package are 66 copies of Microsoft office 2007, two carts and two laser printers with a wireless print server. The total cost for all equipment will be $70,520.

When the board asked how long it would take to get the mobile labs in place, Byers said he hoped to have them running before the end of the school year. Byers also commented on the status of the school’s wireless system and said it was almost complete.

Elementary Principal Katie Coppenbarger praised Byers and his staff for how quickly they had installed the new computers in the elementary computer lab. “They’ve done a phenomenal job,” said Coppenbarger, who went on to tell the board Byers and the tech staff had also completed the installation of the lab’s old computers into the classrooms in record time.

The board’s transportation committee reported they are continuing contract talks with the district’s bus drivers.

The board also reviewed a number of first readings on policy items including Title I parent involvement and student selection, homeless youth, service learning, blogging, bullying and unpaid staff leave absences. The board will continue policy items discussion at their next meeting. Jeff Bush, Insight School of Wisconsin executive director, reported on the district’s virtual school’s policy manual which has undergone some changes due to the recent virtual school legislation passed earlier this spring by the Wisconsin Legislature.

The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation 2008 Excellence Scholarship was presented to Peter Walsh, a student from Webster High School, in Menomonie, at a recognition luncheon hosted by U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl on Saturday, April 5. The Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated academic potential, outstanding leadership, citizenship, community service, integrity and other special talents. Each year the Herb Kohl Foundation awards 100 students throughout Wisconsin with $1,000 Excellence Scholarships. Since it was established in 1990, the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation has awarded $6.4 million to Wisconsin students, teachers and schools. – submitted

St. Croix Falls grad receives first call as associate pastor ST. LOUIS – On Tuesday, April 22, James Huenink, a 1999 graduate of St. Croix Falls High School, along with 133 candidates for the pastoral ministry and five deaconess candidates, received his first call to serve in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod during a worship service held on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Huenink was called to serve St. James Lutheran Church in Chicago.

Huenink will be ordained and installed into the Office of Holy Ministry at St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago, on Sunday, June 15, during the 9 a.m. worship service. Prior to ordination, Huenink will preach at the 9 a.m. worship service at his home congregation, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in St. Croix Falls, on Sunday, June 8. A special “Sending of the Candidate” liturgy will be included in the service. The public is invited to attend.

Huenink earned a bachelor of the arts degree from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, and a master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. The master of divinity degree is the academic degree that most students who desire to be pastors, missionaries or chaplains in the LCMS receive. The traditional route to earning the master of divinity degree includes two years of coursework at the seminary, followed by a year of vicarage (internship), concluding with an additional year of

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James and Kristan Huenink. – Photo submitted coursework back at the seminary. In addition to the three years of study at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Huenink also studied during the 2005-2006 academic year at Westfield House, the seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, in Cambridge, England. Upon returning to the States, he served as vicar at St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago, where he also received first call to be associate pastor.

Huenink is married to Kristan (Skow), a 1999 graduate of Unity High School, and is the son of Jeff and Janet Huenink, St. Croix Falls.

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

P O L K

C O U N T Y

H E A D L I N E S

Frederic Citizen of the Year honored Frederic honors its community leaders and celebrates those who make the area great FREDERIC – Many local residents gathered at Hacker’s Lanes Friday night, May 17, to honor some of their neighbors who have been community leaders in making the community a great place. The Frederic Area Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards at the dinner.

Honored this year were Citizens of the Year Dave and Jane Pederson, Business of the Year Bean’s County Griddle, Volunteers of the Year Delores and Eleanor Duncan and Founders Reuben and Ruth Wedin.

Community residents reunited with many old friends and neighbors who returned to Frederic for the evening of sharing and reminiscing. Dr. Brad Harlander was the host for the night and Mr. Morgan provided the music.

Jane and Dave Pederson, Citizens of the Year “Jane and Dave are incredibly sensitive to the needs of the people around them,” Dr. David Ammend said about his friends. “They are very modest about what they do, but they are thoughtful and generous in a thousand ways to our community. They are always thinking of others.”

The list of their services is long. Dave donated the services of his trucking company to move the Frederic library three times. He transported help to the victims of hurricane Katrina. He received a special thanks for providing the trucking of food for Ruby’s Pantry which is now serving 400 local families.

Sylvia Hanson said the two are involved in many volunteer efforts but never want credit. They just want to make the world a better place, she said.

“All of you raised me,” Dave told the crowd. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for accepting me into your community,” Jane added.

Bean’s County Griddle, Business of the Year “You can’t ask for a better place to eat, and the employees say you can’t ask for a better place to work,” Duane Wisse said about Bean’s.

Vonnie and Bean Anderson have operated the restaurant for 28 years, feeding the community. Brad Harlander said the two have been active every year in chamber activities and started the charity golf event.

Wisse said Bean’s is the friendly gath-

Walt Wedin has just published a Dave and Jane Pederson were honored as Frederic Citizens of the Year. book of his reminiscences growing They shared the evening with their triplets, Karl, Grant, and Mary Jane, and a up in the Frederic area, and how that prepared him for a live of teaching special friend Mya Rivera. – Photos by Gregg Westigard and travel. ering place for the community where a Reuben and Ruth Wedin, Many of the family returned Friday to great relationship with the customers Community Founders share thoughts on the value of growing “Reuben and Ruth Wedin were a piomakes everyone feel welcome. up in the Frederic area. Carolyn Wedin Vonnie and Bean thanked the com- neer family who raised a family that retired from a career as a college profesmunity said they never expected to be went out and served the world,” Lenora sor and author to return to the family still doing this when they started in Cummings said. homestead in Trade Lake. She now The early residents of the Swedish 1981. They are now joined at Bean’s by leads Frederic Community Education the next generation, their children Sean community at Trade Lake worked hard Her brother, Walt, retired after a classes. as farmers and raised eight children. and Stephanie. career as an agronomist, traveling the The two, with grade school educations, world teaching the use of land for grazencouraged those children to be indeDelores and Eleanor Duncan, ing.

He shared his just published book pendent and to learn. They all went Volunteers of the Year of thoughts, “A Foraging Journey,” with “Delores and Eleanor posses a special through the local schools and went on the crowd. quality, they have the hearts of true vol- to get their degrees. unteers,” Father Dennis Mullen said.

“They put aside personal judgments.

With a smile and an understanding word, they give encouragement and dignity to those they help.”

Two sisters from Clam Falls who married two brothers, Eleanor and Delores are involved in countless activities.

They are active at every Ruby’s Pantry and volunteer at the nursing home.

Mullen said they always know the people’s needs and how to assist. He called them “sisters of Christ.”

Eleanor and Delores live next to each other at Duncanville at the edge of Frederic where they raised their families. Besides their volunteer activities, both worked for many years at the Frederic schools. Delores was a cook who fed many of the guests present when they were students. Eleanor Eleanor Duncan (L) and Delores Duncan (R) are two sisters who married worked many years as a school custodibrothers, and have lived their lives as volunteers serving the community. an.

Sean, Vonnie and Bean Anderson have operated Bean’s County Griddle for 28 years. Now the next generation, son, Sean, and daughter Stephanie, are joining them as they feed the community.

Mr. Morgan provided a evening of old-time music for the community celebration.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 15

Expenses possibly steady for current, coming year Pool inspection this week, Jeff Carley to retire

by Gregg Westigard FREDERIC – The Frederic school district may end the current school year slightly under budget and have a small increase in expenses for the next year.

The financial projections were presented at the monthly school board meeting Monday night, May 19th.

Other items on the agenda were the coming swimming pool inspection and the announcement of the retirement of long time teacher Jeff Carley.

Administrator Jerry Tischer told the board that the district is on track to finish the fiscal current year, which ends June 30, very close to budget. He said that each account is positive, with three accounts (technology, operations, and maintenance) coming in below budget.

The first draft of the expense budget for the coming 2008-09 shows a proposed total cost of $6,006,104, almost the same as the current year budget.

The biggest change is a decrease in elementary teaching expenses due to staff reductions for kindergarten and grades one and three. The reductions will come if a requested waiver in teaching ratios, under the SAGE program, is approved.

The largest expected expense increase will be fuel costs for transportation.

Tischer pointed out that a preliminary budget must be approved before July 1st but that budget will be a working draft until November when the final levy must be approved. He said that the revenue side of the budget is not exact at this time and that lower revenues

could lead to a need to cut costs. Tischer noted that the budget depends on approval of the requested class size waiver. Rejection of that waiver could add $130,000 to the expenses.

Food service costs are rising sharply this year, food service director Judy Shafer reported. She noted that the cost of milk has gone up two cents a small carton and the price of flour has tripled (the district bakes its own bread). The board may raise the cost of school lunches at the June meeting.

The future of the pool should become clear this Friday. The district has contacted Polk County Environmental Health Specialist Brian Hobbs to look at the pool. Hobbs has contacted a pool specialist with the State Health

Department in Madison. Hobbs will meet with the school board Friday morning at 10 a.m. to share that persons recommendations on what repairs the district might need to do before opening the pool for the coming season.

EMTs honored for saving life

Carley to retire Jeff Carley will retire at the end of the school year after 36 years of teaching and serving the students. Carley teaches 7th and 8th grade English and has been involved in many school academic and athletic programs. High school principal Ray Draxler said that he and Carley started teaching at Frederic the same year. The board accepted the resignation with gratitude for his work.

Draxler reported that the prom activities went well and the year book is being distributed now, on schedule. He thanked Kelly Hopkins for a good job getting the year book project on track.

Draxler said that graduation ceremonies will be next Sunday and noted that only 35 of the 72 original students who started in this class as kindergartners are still here.

“It indicates how mobile our society is,” he said.

Elementary principal Kelly Steen said that students are enrolling at a good rate for summer school. There will be two sessions, June 22 through July 3 and July 30 through August 10. She noted that participation for the second session will depend on the status of the pool.

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

The city of St. Croix Falls gave an award to Josh Rau, Life Link III EMT and Jared Cockroft, St. Croix Falls Police Officer, for saving a boy who was unresponsive at the Holiday Inn Express swimming pool. Issac Cook was the little boy, who, with his mother, attend the presentation of the award. He gave them each a card with his picture on it, and he wrote a little saying, “Thanks for Saving My Life.” It is EMS Week. The following Life Link III 972 of St. Croix Falls, employees are pictured in recognition of EMS Week: Beth Anderson, EMT; Jeff Asher, medic; John Deal, medic; Joe Elkin, medic; Jeff Frederick, EMT; Wes Halvorsen, medic; Jeff Hartman, EMT; John Joswiak, medic; Bobby Keopple, EMT; Amy Klemenhagen, EMT; Brandon Lyksett, medic; Leslie Moltzer, EMT; Jessie Nelson, EMT; Joshua Rau, EMT; Lisa Robbin, Medic; Kurt Schultz, Medic; Lori Spengler, medic; Matt Stremer, EMT; Kellen Teig, EMT; Scott Tillotson, medic and Ted Trudeau, EMT. – Special photo

Burnett County civil court Elizabeth A. Hallas, 18, New Hope, Minn., inattentive driving, $173.40.

Heidi L. Rikkola, 36, Grantsburg, speeding, $113.00.

Bradley R. Huser, 40, Webster, speeding, $280.50.

John F. Vix, 33, Danbury, disorderly conduct, $249.00.

Brian L. Sternquist, 34, Grantsburg, trespass to dweling, $249.00.

Tony Kurschner, 43, Pine City, Minn., operate left of centerline, $198.60.

Patrick H. Stuart, 32, Danbury, operating while suspended, $186.00.

Jeffrey R. Dittel, 28, Cottage Grove, Minn., OWI, $730.00, alcohol assessment, license revoked seven months.

Wendy L. Phillips, 26, Rush City, Minn., OWI, $665.50, alcohol assessment, license revoked six months.

Chad R. Giller, 34, Frederic, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Amy L. Parker, 22, Siren, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Christine M. Arntson,

D.O.B. not given, Webster, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Larry J. Kolve, 36, St. Croix Falls, issue worthless check, $249.00.

Gay C. Neuman, 52, Grantsburg, operate without valid license, $186.00.

John Burdette, 51, Webster, illegal shining of deer, elk or bear, DNR licensee revoked three years, $2,080.00.

Adam Michael Swartz, 21, Cumberland, obstructing an officer, $500.00.

David R. Hubbell, 19, Siren, intentional killing of dogs, $110.60.

Robin E. Parsons, 21, Webster, disorderly conduct, $249.00.

John E. Paulson, 43, Siren, disorderly conduct, two-year probation, $88.00; operating while revoked, two-year probation, obtain valid driver’s license, $88.00.

Penny L. Nelson, 36, Cumberland, disorderly conduct, one-year probation, no consumption of alcohol, alcohol

assessment, $88.00.

Joshua D. Johnson, 28, Wyoming, Minn., theft of movable property, nine-months’ jail sentence, theft of movable property, nine months’ jail sentence – concurrent.

Christopher L. Caple, 43, Frederic, theft – business setting, one-year probation, $1,400 restitution, $88.00.

Charles H. Peterson, 48, Frederic, operating while revoked, $413.00.

Heather R. Richison, 29, Otsego, Minn., operating after revocation, 10-day jail sentence, Huber release granted, $413.00.

Elizabeth A. Hallas, 29, New Hope, Minn., possess drug paraphernalia, one-year probation, license suspended six months, alcohol assessment, $88.00.

Kyle D. Rufsholm, 20, Siren, possession of THC, one-year probation, license suspended six months, alcohol assessment,

www.the-leader.net

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Pilgrim Lutheran Church youth choir performed

Good Samaritan prom held

Pictured is the youth choir of Pilgrim Lutheran Church (L to R) – Emily Amundson, Riley Anderson, Kinzie Matz, Hannah Erickson, Hattie Koball, Brennan Koball, Zane Matz, Noah Koball, Austin Kurkowski (hidden) and Zach Schmidt. - Photo submitted FREDERIC – The youth of the church conducted the entire worship service Sunday, May 18, which was Holy Trinity Sunday/Youth Sunday and the picture shows some of those students who participated.

Prelude music was performed by several students who played piano solos, while other students sang and played the guitar and others played solos on their flutes. All students participated in a one-act musical entitled “The Missing Angel.” The confirmation students read the lessons and the prayers of the church. The Sunday School teachers were recognized for their dedicated teaching and all were given lovely viola plants to plant in their gardens.

Special speaker was Barbara Solsaa from Lutheran

Social Services who gave the sermon centering on “Serving Christ” and that people are to love another.

She also elaborated on the many services LSS provides, and she indicated they have been in existence for the past 125 years.

Everyone is invited to join Pilgrim for Sunday morning worship services, which begin at 9 a.m.

The Sunday school students are off for the summer and will resume classes about the first of September.

For more information call the church office at 715327-8012 or go to their Web site www.pilgrimlutheranfrederic.org. – submitted

Good Samaritan Society – St. Croix Valley celebrated senior prom on Friday, May 16. Residents and families attended the fun event. The theme for this year’s prom was “A Time for Us.” The ladies dressed in prom gowns and the men dressed in formal attire, all donated by staff and people in the community.

Pictured above are Queen Pat Abney and King Ken Hanson. They enjoyed the live music played by the Little Falls Music Makers. The food was catered by the Good Samaritan dietary staff. – Photo submitted

WITC receives top marks NORTHWEST WISCONSIN — Each year, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College surveys graduates to find out how well their degree or diploma prepared them for their career. The results reveal an impressive record of academic excellence and valuable career perspective. The trend continues as WITC has recently released the results from its 2006-2007 Graduate Follow-up Survey.

“The results confirm to WITC administration, faculty and staff that the college is providing skilled workers that are prepared for a wide range of career challenges to area employers,” said Jennifer Kunselman, WITC’s research and planning coordinator.

The survey showed that 98 percent of the graduates said they were satisfied with the training they received at WITC. Additionally, 93 percent of the graduates were hired within just six months of graduating – 74 percent of those employed were able to start

their career in an occupation related to their training.

Of those employed, 80 percent are working in Wisconsin – 68 percent are working in the 11-county WITC district. The average starting salary was $30,507 annually.

“That’s one of our strengths,” said Chuck Levine, WITC president. “Our graduates get jobs, and they stay and work in Wisconsin.”

The six-month study of 2006-2007 graduates included 1,629 graduates who completed associate degree and technical diplomas at WITC campuses and learning center. Out of that total, 1,397 graduates responded to either the mailed questionnaire or the follow-up telephone contact, creating a response rate of 86 percent.

“WITC values the results of this study because it reveals an impressive track record of academic excellence in our graduates,” Kunselman said. “The data

also provides valuable career outlook information for future graduates as well as prospective students.”

For a copy of this report or specific questions about how the survey was conducted, please call the Office of Research and Planning at the WITC Administrative Office at 800-243-WITC or visit witc.edu/gradfollowup.

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College serves the educational and career needs of more than 28,000 residents of Northwestern Wisconsin each year. With multiple campuses, WITC offers career-focused associate degree programs, technical diplomas, short-term certificates, customized training, and a wide array of courses for personal or career enrichment. WITC is a member of Wisconsin Technical College System. For more information, call 800-243-WITC or visit www.witc.edu. – from WITC

Eleven counties form long-term care district NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN — Eleven counties in Northwest Wisconsin have now passed resolutions creating a single district that will provide the state of Wisconsin’s Family Care services to seniors and adults with physical or developmental disabilities who meet functional and financial requirements.

Under state law, a long-term care district is created by the counties, but operated independently of them.

The counties partnering to create the district, and the new managed-care organization that will deliver the services, are Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn.

An 18-member governing board appointed by the counties will oversee the organization that will replace the long-term care programs now run by county human services departments. The members have been meeting as an interim council for the past eight months, receiving board training and developing policies and bylaws. Expected to begin in March 2009, the managed-care organization will serve 3,000 consumers, employ 200 people and contract with hundreds of providers throughout the region.

The first official meeting of the board of directors of the Northwest Family Care Collaborative will be held on Monday, June 2, at the Ramada Inn in Hayward,

starting at 9 a.m. Board members will be recognized then formally organize to adopt bylaws and elect and seat board officers. Local legislators and other public officials have been invited to attend. This is a special opportunity for the public to meet the members of the board.

The public is welcome to all board meetings held the first Monday of every month at the Ramada Inn in Hayward at 9 a.m. For more information about Family Care and the new managed-care organization in Northwest Wisconsin, go to www.nwfamilycare.com.

— from Family Care

Remember to report prevented and failed acreage to FSA MADISON — With cold and wet conditions slowing spring planting across Wisconsin, the Farm Service Agency reminds producers to timely report any prevented or failed acreage to their local office.

The reporting of prevented or failed acreage to FSA will ensure compliance with current farm programs, and possible eligibility for future disaster programs.

Prevented planting acreage, or acreage that could not be planted because of wet field conditions or other natural disaster, should be reported to FSA within 15 days of the final planting date of the crop. This includes crops covered by crop insurance or the Noninsured Assistance Program and crops without insurance coverage. Final planting dates vary among counties and crop types. Producers should contact their local FSA office or crop insurance agent to verify final planting dates for all crops.

If a producer misses the reporting deadline for prevented planting, they may still report prevented planting acreage, as long as the disaster condition may be verified by a field visit.

Failed acreage should be reported to FSA before plowing up the failed crop and replanting. Form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, is used to report prevented or failed acreage and may be completed by any producer with an interest in the crop. For crop losses on crops covered by the NAP producers must contact their local FSA office within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent.

Producers with crop insurance should contact their local agent when losses occur and before destroying the crop.

To ensure eligibility for current farm programs, producers need to report all crop acreage to FSA before

July 15. Acreage reports are required for program eligibility and mandatory for producers who participate in the FSA programs such as the Direct and CounterCyclical Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Commodity Loans, Loan Deficiency Payments and the Noninsured Assistance Program.

Farmers may revise FSA crop reports free of charge.

Any crop report revision, however, must be reported before harvesting the crop or plowing it up to allow time for a field spot check.

After the July 15 reporting deadline, producers will be charged a minimum late filing fee of $46. Acreage reports may be revised at any time without a late filing charge as long as the crop may be verified in the field. — from FSA

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 17

Col. Pearsall receives awards SHELL LAKE - On May 17, Col. Jay Pearsall relinquished command of the 192nd Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va. After the change of command, a retirement ceremony honoring Pearsall's 27 years of service was held. During the ceremony, he was awarded the Legion of Merit — First Oak Leaf Cluster — and the Virginia Distinguished Service Medal. In addition, the governor of Virginia bestowed on Pearsall the rank of Brigadier General of the Virginia Militia, effective July 2008. Pearsall’s flying career includes 3,600 hours in all versions of the F-16 and 70 hours in the F-22A. Pearsall and his wife, Debbie, will be leaving Virginia and moving to their residence on East Lake Drive in Shell Lake. Pearsall is the greatnephew of Carrie Pearsall Jacobson, buried in the Shell Lake Cemetery.

Debbie is the daughter of Wes and Judy Rasmussen, who have a summer residence on Shell Lake and the niece of Mary Lee and Donn Dinnies of Shell Lake. — from Hometown News

Photos submitted

One pleads guilty to charges of burglary

by Regan Kohler WASHBURN COUNTY — Steven C. Kincaid, 17, Spooner, pled guilty to three charges of burglary and theft within Washburn County Monday, May 19, at the courthouse.

Kincaid and Corey S. Groehler, 18, Spooner, were charged with multiple burglary and theft offenses that occurred this past winter, around December and January, of businesses and a residence in the county. Kincaid originally faced six counts of burglary to a building or dwelling, and one of theft of movable property between $2,500 and $5,000.

Monday morning, Kincaid's attorney, Michael Cohen, offered a waiver of

Carrie Pearsall Jacobson, Shell Lake resident, in earlier days.

Col. Jay Pearsall.

rights form and a plea agreement from his client to Judge Eugene Harrington.

Kincaid pled guilty to a felony count of burglary on or around Jan. 10 in Shell Lake, a modified charge of criminal damage to property and a modified charge of a misdemeanor theft. The other four burglary counts, which were felonies, were dismissed by Harrington.

Kincaid's sentencing will be Monday, June 23, at 3:30 p.m. If convicted, the maximum penalty he could face is a $25,000 fine and 12-1/2 months of imprisonment.

Groehler has set a status conference for Monday, Aug. 11, at 3 p.m. He also faces six counts of burglary and one of theft.

Early copy requested FREDERIC/ST. CROIX FALLS/SIREN — In observance of Memorial Day, the InterCounty Leader newspaper offices will be closed Monday, May 26. The deadline for any news articles and advertising will be 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23, for the Wednesday, May 28, edition of the Leader

After 63 years, World War II veteran receives medals SHELL LAKE — Walter H. Bell, 90, resident of the Shell Lake-Barronett community, received his World War II medals 63 years after he was discharged from the military. Bell was discharged in 1945, as the war ended.

In August 2007, Kathleen Lehmann, veterans service assistant for Washburn County, was listening to Bell talk about his enlistment in the military and that he used to carry a small copy of his discharge papers in his wallet. It had gotten worn and he did not have it anymore.

When Lehmann returned to her office she made a reduced copy of Bell’s discharge paper and laminated it

for him.

After further discussion, Lehmann discovered that Bell did not have his medals from the military. She filled out the necessary forms for him to sign and Bell’s son, Terry, sent them to St. Louis, Mo. In March 2008, Bell received all of his medals and a few others that were a surprise to him.

Terry Bell is in the process of getting a shadow box for his father to display the medals, his discharge papers, a picture of him in his uniform and a place for a folded American flag. — submitted

Mama and baby

Wolf population remains steady STATEWIDE - A report that the grey wolf population in Wisconsin may be leveling off may not quell the push for a wolf hunt.

The Department of Natural Resources estimates there were between 537 and 564 wolves in Wisconsin during the winter. That number is based on aerial tracking of radio- collared wolves, snow track surveys by the DNR and volunteers and sightings by the general public.

The population estimate is similar to one the previous winter, so the DNR says the growth in wolf numbers may be leveling off due to a new form of skin disease and perhaps fewer new wolf pups.

The new report comes just weeks after people at spring game hearings voted for the state to begin taking a look at a wolf hunt. An early backer of the ballot question, Dennis Chitko of Armstrong Creek, says he wants to learn more about the DNR’s wolf count before commenting in depth, but he says he hopes the state does push ahead with a wolf harvest.

The DNR Board is scheduled to talk about the game hearing results at its meeting next week in Milwaukee. - Wisconsin Public Radio (Chuck Quirmbach)

This mother bear is watching over her sleeping cub after she and her three yearlings took refuge in this cottonwood on the Mark Knoop farm near Shell Lake. “We heard some noise out by the birdfeeder that night, and when the sun came up, we found what the dogs were barking at,” Knoop said. — Photo by Larry Samson

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Burnett County Sheriff’s report Arrests Town of Meenon, May 14: Lance A. Johnson, 19, Siren, was arrested for domestic disorderly conduct.

Other incidents

Town of Wood River, May 12: Robert J. Dougherty, 72, Grantsburg, reported a vehicle missing from property. The incident is under investigation.

Town of Oakland, May 14: Scott A. Tilseth, Webster, reported a 13-inch TV, showerhead and sump pump taken from residence. The incident is under investigation.

Town of Webb Lake, May 17: Michael L. Schilling, 51, New Berlin, reported an air compressor, three rod and reels, tackle box and all contents, lawn mower, battery charger and propane tank taken from a cabin. The incident is under investigation.

Town of Daniels, May 13: David M. Chenal, Frederic, reported a 700-foot roll of wire, components from a welder,

generator, transformer and copper components from two transfer switches were missing. The incident is under investigation.

Burnett County civil court Wilson Mutual Insurance Company vs. Douglas A. Louge, St. Paul, Minn., $1,770.01 Capital One Bank vs. Ardith A. Kurowski, Grantsburg, $1,985.86.

Dakota Bluff Financial LLC

vs. Bronson Fischer, Frederic, $2,887.84.

LHR Inc. vs.

Dave Stromberg, $3,234.16.

Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Co. vs. Max C. Gorkiewicz, Grantsburg, $869.07.

Burnett Co. marriage licenses Christopher M. Studeman, Jackson, and Jennifer L. Owczynsky, Jackson, May 15.

Matthew L. Olson, Swiss, and Sarah E. McCormack, St. Anthony, Minn., May 15.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 19

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I N T E R! C O U N T Y L E A D E R

P O R T

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

Frederic and Grantsburg onto Regional finals Frederic 6, Shell Lake 3

by Brenda Sommerfeld FREDERIC – The Frederic Vikings softball team advances onto the regional final game on Thursday, May 22, after their 6-3 win over Shell Lake on Tuesday, May 20.

This was the Vikings second time against the Shell Lake Lakers. The first time they met was on April 21, when they fell to the Lakers 10-1. Frederic was not going to let it happen again.

“It started off a little rocky,” coach Erin Hansford said. “They didn’t give up, they battled the whole way.”

Frederic had good pitching on their side this time around. Erin Schmidt started out the game pitching the first four innings. Schmidt had five strikeouts, two walks, no hits and three runs on four errors.

“I think one of their runs was probably deserved, but I think it probably should have been 6-1 if the girls weren’t making errors,” Hansford commented.

Chrissy Chenal took the mound in the fifth to strikeout out four, with no hits or walks. Two runners did, however, reach base on errors.

After the first inning, the teams were tied, 1-1. Lisa Chelmo scored for Frederic on a passed ball, and Shell Lake scored from an error, getting the runner to third, leading to a fielder’s choice getting out the batter at first.

The Lakers scored another in the second, but Frederic came back to lead 3-2 after the top of the third. Chelmo was brought home by Melanie Chenal’s triple. Chenal came in right behind her after a fielding error.

Shell Lake tied it once again in the bottom of the third, 3-3, by errors from the Frederic defense.

Both teams went scoreless until Frederic got three in the seventh to advance on in the tournament. Krysta Laqua, Schmidt and Chelmo each scored on errors from Shell Lake.

Extra Points

Frederic’s Chrissy Chenal catches Shell Lake runner out at first base during their regional game on Tuesday, May 20. – Photo by Larry Samson Melanie Chenal was the only Viking to have an RBI. Chelmo, Chenal, Schmidt and Laqua each got one of the four hits accomplished by Frederic.

Grantsburg 6, Glenwood City 1 GRANTSBURG – Frederic wasn’t the only team to advance or to win with six runs. The Grantsburg Pirates won their

regional game, 6-1, against Glenwood City on Tuesday, May 20.

“It’s always nice to get that first tournament game done,” coach Don Bjelland said. “Put that one behind and go on to the next.”

Bjelland didn’t feel his team played as well as they have in the past, when they made a few fielding errors.

“That’s not like us,” he said. “We really work hard on defense.”

The only run to be scored by Glenwood City happened in the seventh inning from a defensive error.

With Michelle Lund pitching the first six, she had 10 strikeouts, two hits and two walks. Heather Davison took over for the seventh, getting one strikeout, two hits and the run from an error.

On the offensive side, the Pirates wailed those hits, getting seven total.

Three Grantsburg girls walked, and Sarah Wald was hit with a pitch.

“I’m a coach that wants to hit, hit, hit,” Bjelland commented. “With this team, if someone else doesn’t get the at bat, someone else will pick it up. That’s what you look for in any good team.”

One run was scored in the first inning to start them off, three in the third and the final two in the fifth.

Amanda Durand went 2-3, scoring one RBI. Tiffany Meyer brought in two runners, while Annie Palmquist and Cody Crawford each got one runner in.

Michelle Davidsavor and Ingrid Ames each also got a hit off the Glenwood City pitcher.

••• BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State freshman and former Grantsburg pitcher Jamie Lund recently completed her first year on the Beavers softball team. Lund pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the University of Mary (Bismark, N.D.) on May 3 in the Sun Northern Intercollegiate Tournament.

She Jamie Lund pitched 36.2 innings in 17 appearances and had the lowest ERA on the team (3.13 conference and 4.39 overall) to go along with a 1-3 record and 12 strikeouts. Asked about her first collegiate year of pitching, Lund said "All the hiiters are good and if you miss your location they will hit it hard." Bemidji State posted a 6-23 record overall. All home games and most outdoor practices were cancelled due to snow. Marty Seeger with submitted information ••• LEADER LAND – WIAA baseball playoff games boadcast on WXCE 1260 AM will be Cumberland at Amery on May 22 beginning at 5 p.m. The Solon Springs or Birchwood game at Luck can be heard at 5 p.m. on May 27.

••• MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Brewers games featured on WXCE 1260 can be heard on the following dates: The May 22 game between the Brewers at Pittsburg begins at 6 p.m. The May 23, 24, 25 and 26 series between the Brewers and Washington begin at 6 p.m., 6 p.m.

12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. respectively. The Atlanta at Milwaukee series on May 27 and 28 can be heard both nights at 7 p.m.

••• MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Twins games featured on WLMX 104.9 FM can be heard on the following dates: The May 22 game with Texas at Twins begins at noon. The Twins at Detroit series on May 23, 24 and 25 can be heard at 6 p.m., 6 p.m. and noon respectively. The Twins at Kansas City games on May 27 and 28 can be heard both nights beginning at 7 p.m.

••• LEADER LAND – Local sports tidbits to share? Please contact the Leader by 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to go in Extra Points! – Marty Seeger and Brenda Sommerfeld ••• LEADER LAND – Leader Sports strives to follow the college careers of area athletes. If you know of an athlete who will be playing collegiate sports in 2008 and hasn’t been mentioned, send us an e-mail and we’ll take it from there. – Marty Seeger and Brenda Sommerfeld

Grantsburg’s Amanda Durand is tagged out at home by Glenwood City’s catcher after a mix-up by the runners between second, third and home base.

– Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld S PORTS RE S U LTS DEADLI N E S: WE DN E S DAY - MON DAY: 1 p.m. the following business day. TU E S DAY: 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Missed deadlines mean no coverage that week!

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

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

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Grantsburg beats Luck to conference crown Battle for crown extends to eight innings Grantsburg 9, Luck 6

by Marty Seeger LUCK – The Cardinals had one last shot. In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, and two men on, Mitchell Klatt came up to the plate and blasted a three-run homer to left center to even the game at six apiece. It was a game you might expect from two teams who’ve been battling it out all season long; trying to keep the top spot in the West Lakeland Conference.

With Grantsburg losing their first game of the season to conference contender St. Croix Falls just five days earlier, it evened the playing field for one final hurrah to see who would come out on top in the West Lakeland. In the end Grantsburg held on, but it wasn’t without a fight.

The Pirates came out ready to hit as they managed four singles in the first inning from Dylan Marone, Kevin Johnson, Trent Bonneville and Thane Larson. They only picked up one run in the inning, but they showed hitting power early, which is something that hasn’t been a stronghold with the Pirates for much of the season.

Luck evened the score at one in the bottom of the second after Klatt singled and stole second. With smart baserunning, Klatt capitalized on two passed balls and scored the Cardinals first run of the game. Luck had trouble getting their bats going, and Klatt’s single would be the only Luck hit until late in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Grantsburg scored a go ahead run in the third, which began as a leadoff single from Marone. Bonneville also singled, and Jamie Robb hit a smash to left field for an RBI double to give Grantsburg the one-run lead.

Luck tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth inning on two costly errors on the Grantsburg defense. A single to center by Jordan Gross eventually brought the Casey Hatten home, but Grantsburg ended the inning without further damage on a heads up double play from Bonneville, the Pirates shortstop.

With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, the Pirates loaded the bases with a leadoff single from Jake Ryan fol-

Grantsburg’s Dylan Marone slides in to home safely despite a tag from catcher Jordan Gross. – Photo by Marty Seeger lowed by a walk from Ben Larson and an error on a bad throw by Luck. Kevin Johnson singled to bring in a pair of runs and another Luck error in the inning eventually led to a Pirates 5-3 lead. Grantsburg scored again in the top of the seventh off another pair of costly errors from the Cardinals defense, but Klatt’s three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, it was a whole different ballgame as teams headed into extra innings.

The Pirates three runs in the third came off of a pair of errors on the Luck defense, yet Thane Larson knocked a double down the left field line to score two runs. A third run came on a single from Robb. While the Cardinals got a one out single from Jamison in the eighth, the inning soon ended as Cody Richert hit into a double-play ball right at pitcher Thane Larson, who threw Gross out at first for the game-ending double play, crowning the West Lakeland Conference champion Pirates.

Cumberland 9, Unity 4 CUMBERLAND – The Eagles baseball team played at Cumberland on Tuesday, May 20, but took a little time to get things going according to coach Matt Humpal.

“We were really excited to play at one of the best ballparks in our area,” Humpal said. ‘We just couldn’t quite take that energy and turn it into positive results until later in the game.”

Cumberland took a 9-0 lead after scoring four in the first, and two in the second and third innings, as well as one

Saints lose to Central in second round St. Croix Central 6, St. Croix Falls 2

by Marty Seeger HAMMOND – The Saints played hard but ended their season in the second round of the WIAA regional tournament on Tuesday, May 20.

“We played alright,” said Saints coach Melissa Petersen. “We had a couple errors that gave them a couple of runs. We had a little trouble hitting holes, but came up with a couple nice defensive plays. It was a really good game. The girls tried really hard all the way to the end, never giving up. This was a great bunch of girls to work with.”

RIGHT: Saints Megan Yunker gets low for the ball during a previous game this year. – File photo by Marty Seeger

Unity’s Seth McKenzie catches a pass from pitcher Ryan Flaherty during a past game this season. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Saints outfielder Marcus Campbell scoops up a ball during their game against Grantsburg Thursday, May 15. – Photo by Marty Seeger in the fourth inning. Unity scored three runs in the sixth and another run in the seventh. Ryan Flaherty and Eric Goulet led the Eagles with two hits apiece, and Cory Tunheim had a hit with two RBIs. Bruce 6, St. Croix Falls 5 ST. CROIX FALLS – The Saints took it to nine innings against the state ranked Bruce baseball team on Tuesday May, 20. The Red Raiders remain undefeated at the top of the East Lakeland Conference Standings with the win.

“We had plenty of opportunities offensively and defensively to close this game out,” said Saints coach Paul Randolph.

Matt Vold, Gus Koecher and Trygve Chinander led the Saints in hits with two apiece. St Crox Falls had a 1-1 tie going after the first inning before Bruce took a 4-2 lead after the first inning. The Saints tied it back up in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Chinander and Ben Anderson single. Bruce had three errors in the inning, and eventually got a go ahead run in the top of the sixth.

The Saints tied up the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Cory Gebhard and the game resumed to the ninth inning. Bruce hit two doubles in the ninth to get the go ahead run and the win.

“We battled hard for all nine innings,” Randolph said. “It was a difficult game to lose.”

Randolph said the team shifted its attention to their playoff game slated for Tuesday, May 27, which will be played at SCF between the winner of the Somerset/Osceola game this Thursday.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 21

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Luck comes out on top at regionals third place Webster, and the fourth place Clear Lake Warriors.

For Grantsburg it was Derek Sando leading with an 87. Connar Goetz and Tony Folk tied for the second spots on the team with both shooting 89.

For Webster it was Dan Erickson and Scott Stromberg who both shot scores of 90. Coach Jeromie Voeltz exclaimed after the meet that it was one of the best rounds that the team has put together all season long.

Grantsburg and Webster moving on with Luck to sectionals

by Marty Seeger LUCK – The wind was raw, and the greens were fast, but the sun held just enough warmth to give area golfers the energy they needed to complete what everyone deemed a difficult day of golf.

“The scores we did on the back were good scores, and it usually plays us a little tougher,” said Luck coach Rick Giller, who’s team is headed back to sectionals in Cadott next Tuesday, May 27.

But it was a disappointing day from the regional champion Cardinals perspective, as none could argue that anyone really had a good day of golf.

“On this course here I think it should have been a little better. I think each kid on the front should have been at least

Grantsburg's Brad Berner chips the ball at the Regional Golf tournament in Luck tuesday.

Prescott golf regional PRESCOTT – Results from the golf regional in Prescott featuring teams from St. Croix Falls and Unity were unavailable at press time. Check next week's Leader for results.

The regional champion Cardinals will be moving on to the sectional meet next Tuesday, May 27, at Whispering Pines in Cadott. Grantsburg and Webster will be following suit. Pictured (L to R): Dylan Fultz, Carson Giller, Kody Erickson, Noah Thatcher, Travis Close and coach Rick Giller. – Photos

by Marty Seeger four strokes better,” said Giller. “Five” he added after a short pause.

The front is typically easier for all of the Luck golfers, and Giller says the kids know it. But there’s always room for improvement, and the Luck boys know where they’ll need improvement over the next week.

“Swing harder,” said senior Travis Close, who closed out the day with the best team score, which was a 79.

Others agreed, including Noah Thatcher, who said they’ll be saving a better performance for next week.

Others like Dylan Fultz, who scored an 82, said he’ll be looking to improve on putting, and short game. Agreement on improving on all facets of the game, were certainly in order for everyone involved. It was mentioned by Giller that out of about 55 golfers, only one managed to land the ball on the green on hole one.

While Grantsburg had similar difficulties, the team finished in second place and will be moving along with

Webster golfer Dan Erickson on the green in an earlier golf outing. Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Regional Tournament (5-20-08) Luck Golf Course Team Scores Place Team Score 1st Luck 323 2nd Grantsburg 359 3rd Webster 364 4th Clear Lake 378 5th Glenwood City 383 6th Colfax 395 7th Frederic 421 8th Cameron 426 9th TL-Clayton 463 10th Siren 554 21 Top Individual Scores Name Score School Travis Close 79 Luck Noah Thatcher 80 Luck Kody Erickson 82 Luck Dylan Fultz 82 Luck Carson Giller 84 Luck Taylor Hayes 85 Cameron Derek Sando 87 Grantsburg Connar Goetz 89 Grantsburg Tony Folk 89 Grantsburg Dan Erickson 90 Webster Scott Stromberg 90 Webster Mitchell Elliott 91 Webster Bryce Goodmenson 92 Clear Lake Chris Galetka 92 Colfax Lewis Mau 93 Colfax Andrew Rassbach 93 GC Karl Weber 93 Webster Jake Smith 94 Clear Lake Lance Winegar 94 Clear Lake Tony LaMere 94 Grantsburg Brad Berner 94 Grantsburg

Conference golf at Turtleback in Rice Lake

All-conference golfers that competed in Rice Lake on Thursday, May 15 are back row (L to R): Derek Sando Grantsburg, Tony LaMere - Grantsburg, Kyle Christensen -St. Croix Falls and Dave Berner - Grantsburg. Front row: Connar Goetz - Grantsburg, Josh Yunker - St. Croix Falls, Blake Yunker - St. Croix Falls, Dylan Fultz - Luck, Travis Close - Luck, Kody Erickson - Luck, Noah Thatcher - Luck and Carson Giller - Luck. - Photo submitted

Saints spoil Pirates undefeated season

St. Croix Falls toppled the Pirates on Thursday, May 15, ending the pirates undefeated season. Despite Grantsburg's loss, they were able to hold on to sole possession of the conference crown. Playoff action begins this week for area baseball teams. For a complete game story from the Saints versus Pirates battle see page 25 of sports. - Photos by Marty Seeger

Conference Tournament (5-16-08) Turtleback Golf, Rice Lake Team Scores (12 schools) Place Team Score Conference 1st Luck 310 West 2nd St. Croix Falls 324 West 3rd Grantsburg 336 West 4th Birchwood 358 East 5th Clear Lake 361 East 6th Webster 391 West 7th Unity 392 West 8th Frederic 400 West 9th Cameron 404 East 10th Flambeau 422 East 11th Turtle Lake 441 East 12th Bruce 450 East 21 Top Individual Scores Name Score School Travis Close 74 Luck Carson Giller 74 Luck Kyle Christianson 78 St. Croix Falls Blake Yunker 79 St. Croix Falls Cody Erickson 80 Luck John Mikl 82 St. Croix Falls Noah Thatcher 82 Luck Connar Goetz 82 Grantsburg Zach Burch 83 Birchwood Taylor Hayes 83 Cameron Tony LaMere 83 Grantsburg Brad Berner 83 Grantsburg Jake Smith 84 Clear Lake Dylan Fultz 84 Luck Josh Yunker 85 St. Croix Falls Lance Winegar 86 Clear Lake Sam Bengston 87 Unity Derek Sando 88 Grantsburg Tony Folk 88 Grantsburg Keatin LeBrocq 90 Birchwood Bryce Goodmanson 90 Clear Lake

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

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Many local track athletes advance to sectionals

Siren’s Sarah Howe, Frederic’s Samantha Nelson and Megan Anderson placed first, second and third respectively in the 1600-meter run at the Webster regional competition. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld AJ Holmquist, Webster, qualified on the pole vault event to move onto the sectional meet to be held in Colfax on Thursday, May 22.

– Photo by Larry Samson

Siren’s Kendra Jones did not place in the shot put but will move on in discus after getting farthest with 98 ft., 7 in. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Tony Larson, Grantsburg, placed fourth in the high jump, accomplishing 5 ft., 6 in. – Photo by John Reed

Ben Estell, Webster, placed fourth in the triple jump event at the regional meet. – Photo by Larry Samson

Frederic’s Kelly Wondra took first in the triple jump and third in the long jump in Webster. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Unity’s Chad Strilzuk placed second in the long jump at the Amery Regional meet on Monday, May 19. – File photo by Marty Seeger

Travis Freese, Siren, watches as his discus throw lands him fourth place at Webster. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 23

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Webster boys & Frederic girls teams win in Webster

Luck’s Nick Morgan placed first in both the 100-meter dash and the 200meter dash during Monday’s regional meet. Siren’s Damian Hubbell received fourth, advancing him to sectionals.

Division II Regional Meet (5-19-08) Amery High School Boys Team Results Place Team Points 1st Osceola 214.0 2nd Somerset 98.0 3rd Amery 96.0 4th Ellsworth 71.0 5thT Unity 64.5 5thT Prescott 64.5 7th St. Croix Central 40.0 8th St. Croix Falls 29.0 9th Baldwin-Woodville 21.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 110-Meter hurdles - 2. Dan Livingston, U, 17.14;.

Pole vault - 4. Dylan Hendricks, U, 10-00.

Long jump - 2. Chad Strilzuk, U, 20-03.75.

Triple jump - 3. Lance Peper, U, 39-11.

Shot put - 3. David Lund, SCF, 43-02.5.

Discus - 1. David Lund, SCF, 122-03; 2. Joe Swanson, U, 121-05.

Division III Regional Meet (5-19-08) Webster High School Boys Team Results Place Team Points 1st Webster 192.0 2nd Frederic 164.0 3rd Clear Lake 91.0 4th TL-Clayton 66.0 5th Luck 50.0 6th Shell Lake 37.0 7th Siren 35.0 8th Prairie Farm 25.0 9th Glenwood City 22.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 100-Meter dash - 1. Nick Morgan, 11.78; 3. Tyler Calabria, F, 12.21; 4. Damian Hubbell, S, 12.31.

200-Meter dash - 1. Nick Morgan, 23.36; 2. Brian Thill, W, 23.99; 3. Tyler Calabria, F, 24.36.

400-Meter dash - 2. Brian Thill, W, 53.97.

800-Meter run - 1. River Karl, F, 2.01.42; 2. Bryan Krause, W, 2.06.33; 3. Ben Anderson, F, 2.07.71; 4. Brian Gibbs, W, 2.09.17.

1600-Meter run - 1. Peter Walsh, W, 4.26.89; 2.

River Karl, F, 4.33.17; 3. Jack Taylor, W, 4.47.43; 4. Ben Anderson, F, 4.47.54.

3200-Meter run - 1. Peter Walsh, W, 10.05.85; 2.

Nick Krinke, W, 10.24.86; 3. Jack Taylor, W, 10.40.27; 4. Ben Nelson, F, 11.00.09.

110-Meter hurdles - 1. Zach Anderson, F, 16.60; 2. Tony Peterson, F, 17.21; 3. Nolan Kriegel, W, 18.24.

300-Meter hurdles - 1. Zach Anderson, F, 44.19; 2. Kyle Swenson, F, 44.67; 3. Ryan Brickle, W, 44.80; 4. Tony Peterson, F, 46.77.

4X100-Meter relay - 1. Frederic, 46.87 (Matt Alden, Peter Carlson, Tyler Calabria, Perry Anderson); 3. Webster, 48.86 (Dan Pope, Ben Estell, Mitch Huser, Trevor Fontain); 4. Siren, 50.56 (Jace Carter, Jacob Stiemann, Jeremy Wikstrom, Travis Freese).

4X200-Meter relay - 1. Webster, 1.37.25 (Jules Zappa, Chaz Heinz, Quentin Johnson, Dan Pope).

4X400-Meter relay - 1. Webster, 3.34.22 (Chaz Heinz, Brian Gibbs, Quentin Johnson, Brian Thill); 4. Luck, 3.48.49 (Wally Rich, Nick Morgan, Landon Strilzuk, Taylor Horsager).

4X800-Meter relay - 1. Webster, 8.28.82 (Peter Walsh, Brian Gibbs, Asa Olson, Quentin Johnson); 2. Frederic, 8.33.08 (Ben Nelson, Kyle Swenson, River Karl, Ben Anderson).

High jump - 2. Zach Anderson, F, 5-07; 4. Brian Thill, W, 5-05.

Pole vault - 1. AJ Holmquist, W, 11-00; 3. Wally Rich, L, 10-00; 4. AJ Walsh-Brenizer, L, 9-07.

Long jump - 2. Kyle Godfrey, W, 18-02; 3.

Landon Strilzuk, L, 18-01; 4. Tyler Calabria, F, 17-10.

Triple jump - 2. Zach Anderson, F, 39-06; 4. Ben Estell, W, 37-08.

Shot put - 1. Josh Johnson, W, 48-07.75; 3. Seth Stoner, S, 42-10.

Discus - 1. Josh Johnson, W, 154-07.5; 2. Cody Gruel, F, 132-04; 3. Jordan Lubich, W, 125-11; 4.

Travis Freese, S, 123-07.

Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld Division II Regional Meet (5-19-08) Hayward High School Boys Team Results Place Team Points 1st Hayward 159.0 2nd Spooner 120.0 3rd Park Falls 78.0 4th Northwestern 74.0 5thT Cumberland 65.0 5thT Ashland 65.0 7th Grantsburg 58.0 8th Phillips 49.0 9th Barron 33.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 200-Meter dash - 2. Lukas Olson, G, 23.32.

800-Meter run - 1. Shawn Pavlik, G, 2.03.58.

1600-Meter run - 2. Shawn Pavlik, G, 4.38.87.

4X200-Meter relay - 2. Grantsburg, 1.37.27 (Lukas Olson, Brandon Mogel, Tony Larson, Jason Jensen).

4X400-Meter relay - 4. Grantsburg, 3.42.93 (Brandon Mogel, Jason Jensen, Tony Larson, Lukas Olson).

High jump - 2. Shawn Pavlik, G, 6-00; 4. Tony Larson, G, 5-06..

Division III Regional Meet (5-19-08) Webster High School Girls Team Results Place Team Points 1st Frederic 176.0 2nd Clear Lake 125.0 3rd Glenwood City 68.0 4th Webster 66.0 5th TL-Clayton 63.0 6th Prairie Farm 56.0 7th Siren 52.0 8th Shell Lake 49.0 9th Luck 14.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 100-Meter dash - 1. Sage Karl, F, 13.81; 3.

Candace Buck, F, 14.04; 4. Shaina Pardun, W, 14.40.

200-Meter dash - 1. Sage Karl, F, 28.17.

400-Meter dash - 1. Calla Karl, F, 1.03.39.

800-Meter run - 1. Kathryn Krause, W, 2.32.16; 2. Calla Karl, F, 2.35.05; 3. Megan Anderson, F, 2.37.37.

1600-Meter run - 1. Sarah Howe, S, 5.43.78; 2.

Samantha Nelson, F, 5.47.61; 3. Megan Anderson, F, 5.48.37.

3200-Meter run - 1. Sarah Howe, S, 12.36.99; 2.

Samantha Nelson, F, 12.39.49.

100-Meter hurdles - 1. Morgan Denny, L, 18.87.

300-Meter hurdles - 3. Beth Baer, W, 55.18.

4X100-Meter relay - 1. Frederic, 54.07 (Candace Buck, Tanesha Carlson, Kelly Wondra, Sage Karl); 4. Siren, 59.57 (Kelley Wampfler, Catrina Luna, Ashley Bjornstad, Myia Schroeder).

4X200-Meter relay - 3. Frederic, 2.00.72 (Tanesha Carlson, Kendra Wells, Amanda Blok, Allison Anderson).

4X400-Meter relay - 2. Webster, 4.29.02 (Debbie Faught, Kathryn Krause, Alyssa Main, Shaina Pardun); 3. Frederic, 4.41.76 (Kendra Wells, Annie Kackman, Amanda Blok, Allison Anderson).

4X800-Meter relay - 1. Frederic, 10.40.20 (Calla Karl, Megan Anderson, Sarah Knauber, Samantha Nelson); 2. Webster, 10.48.95 (Kayce Rachner, Kathryn Krause, Debbie Faught, Aimee Rinnman).

High jump - 1. Amanda Blok, F, 4-08; 2. Beth Baer, W, 4-07.

Pole vault - 4. Shaina Pardun, W, 7-05.

Long jump - 3. Kelly Wondra, F, 14-05.

Triple jump - 1. Kelly Wondra, F, 31-06; 2. Jade Johnson, F, 31-02; 4. Candace Buck, F, 30-01.5.

Shot put - 3. Alex Puetz, F, 30-04.25; 4. Allison Anderson, F, 29-09.75.

Discus - 1. Kendra Jones, S, 98-07; 3. Daphne Hubbell, S, 89-09; 4. Anna Tesch, F, 83-03.

Webster’s Peter Walsh beat Frederic’s River Karl in the 1600-meter run during the regional meet in Webster. Walsh placed first with Karl in second.

For a while they stayed very close.

Frederic’s Kendra Wells hands off to Allison Anderson in the 4X200-meter relay at the Webster regional meet on Monday, May 19. This relay team took third place, advancing them to the sectional meet.

Division II Regional Meet (5-19-08) Hayward High School Girls Team Results Place Team Points 1st Hayward 152.0 2nd Park Falls 112.0 3rd Northwestern 103.0 4th Ashland 89.0 5th Cumberland 83.0 6th Phillips 68.0 7th Spooner 37.0 8th Grantsburg 32.0 9th Barron 15.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 1600-Meter run - 3. Angela Gaffney, G, 5.56.38.

High jump - 2. Megan Finch, G, 5-00; 3.

Kortney Morrin, G, 5-00.

Division II Regional Meet (5-19-08) Amery High School Girls Team Results Place Team Points 1st Ellsworth 156.0 2ndT Osceola 143.0 2ndT Somerset 143.0 3rd Amery 78.0 4th Baldwin-Woodville 65.0 5th Prescott 45.0 6th St. Croix Central 33.0 7th Unity 30.0 8th St. Croix Falls 4.0 Area individuals advancing to Sectionals 200-Meter dash - 3. Samantha Ince, U, 28.14.

Webster’s 4X800-meter relay team took second place right behind the Frederic team.

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

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Saints beat Bulldogs in extra innings St. Croix Falls 4, Boyceville 1

by Marty Seeger BOYCEVILLE – The Saints took Boyceville into extra innings during the first round of regional action last Thursday, May 15. The win put the Saints into the regional semifinal game against St. Croix Central on Tuesday, May 20.

“It was awesome to have such a big win,” said assistant coach Kelli Kurkow.

“The girls were very excited.” Kurkow.

Boyceville took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning with the help of a pair of two-out singles from their third baseman and centerfielder. The Saints answered back in the top of the third inning after Swenson beat a throw to first from the Boyceville shortstop.

Then, with two outs, junior Vicky Houliston smacked an RBI single, and although she recorded the third out of the inning, Swenson managed to score and tie the game.

It wasn’t until the eighth inning that

Saints Racheal Hansen scoops up a ball, getting a Boyceville runner out.

– Photos by Marlys Kruger/Dunn County News the Saints were able to get on the board again, but with two outs in the inning, Megan Yunker came through with a single. Senior Kelsey Douglass-White followed Yunker with a single of her own and the Saints found themselves in the middle of an eighth-inning rally. Abby Swenson smashed a two RBI double, followed by an RBI bunt from Kim Culver.

“Kim Culver came up with an excellent bunt and scored Abby,” Kurkow explained.

The final out of the inning came on a fly out to center, but not before the Saints put three more runs on the board to take the 4-1 lead.

The Saints worked a 1,2,3 inning in

A Saint slides into second base.

St. Croix Falls Kelsey DouglassWhite sprints for first base. the bottom of the eighth to seal the victory, and had a lot of help from pitcher Amanda Larson. She worked eight innings and faced 32 batters, gave up five hits, six walks and struck out eight.

There was no one person who stepped up,” Kurkow said. “We just played a really good game. We didn’t have an inning filled with errors, we played hard defense, and we hit the ball well.”

Vikings slide easily by Winter Frederic 16, Winter 1

by Brenda Sommerfeld FREDERIC – The first round of regionals was a breeze as Frederic blew

by Winter, 16-1, on Thursday, May 15.

Erin Schmidt pitched three and Chrissy Chenal two and neither gave up any hits. Schmidt struck out six and walked six, while Chenal struck out five with no walks.

Winter only scored their run because of walks and field errors in the top of the third.

Besides the one inning, the game was Frederic’s, with eight hits and 16 runs scored off three different pitchers from Winter. Four runs in the first, four runs in the third and eight runs in the fourth brought this game home for the Vikings in five innings.

All but one Frederic girl got one hit throughout the night. Melanie Chenal, Vanessa Neumann and Krysta Laqua each brought in three runs for the team.

Frederic’s Alex Lonetti slides home past Winter’s pitcher at their game on Thursday, May 15. – Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld

The Viking team meets with coach Erin Hansford on the pitcher’s mound after they won their first regional game.

Viking Erin Schmidt crosses home plate as Winter’s catcher waits for the ball.

Alex Lonetti slides to third while the ball slips from the third baseman’s glove.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 25

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Siren-Webster ends season in Barron Luck and Unity’s seasons also end Barron 8, Siren-Webster 0

by Marty Seeger BARRON – The Siren-Webster softball team fell to Barron last Thursday, May 15, in the WIAA regional semifinals. Baron took an early 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning, and kept the Siren-Webster bats at bay by allowing just one hit. Catcher Jamie Kopecky

Siren-Webster’s Michelle Gibbs pitched against the Barron team on Thursday, May 15. – File photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Luck’s Melissa Jenssen pitched many games for the Cardinals.

– File photo by Brenda Sommerfeld recorded the team’s only hit, which came as a single in the sixth inning with two outs.

“Our strengths for the season were we played very good defense and our pitcher threw strikes,” said Siren-

Webster coach Scott Hoefs. “On Thursday we didn’t make some plays that we normally would have made earlier in the year.”

Barron led the third inning off with a homer and eventually scored two more runs with the help of a single and a triple.

Michelle Gibbs pitched six innings for Siren-Webster and faced 30 batters with one strikeout and two walks, and gave up six hits. Siren-Webster finished with an overall record of 2-10 and a conference record of 2-9.

Unity’s third baseman and catcher stand ready as a Glenwood City batter steps to the plate. – Photo submitted Birchwood 6, Luck 2 BIRCHWOOD – The Luck softball team ended its season in Birchwood in the first round of regional action. The team finished with a 4-5-conference record and 5-9 overall. Luck got on the board in the first inning with a single from Taryn Pilz. Melissa Jenssen also singled, and Krystal Stage grabbed the RBI with a bases loaded walk. But the Cardinals would only get a single run until the seventh inning.

“We played okay, but just couldn’t seem to get the runs in when they were there,” said Luck coach Aimie Jorgenson.

The Cards made an effort to come-

back in the seventh inning when Jenssen hit a one out double. Stage walked and Aalyssa Holdt hit a hit an RBI single, but the inning soon came to an end, as well as the Cardinals season.

“I’m proud of the girls for a much improved season overall. Hopefully we continue in this direction,” Jorgenson said.

Glenwood City 7, Unity 0 GLENWOOD CITY – The Eagles ended their season in Glenwood City in the first round of regional play last Thursday, May 15. Unity finished the season 3-6 in the conference and 5-8 overall.

Saints end Pirates winning ways Osceola/Somerset game at St. Croix Falls on May 27 beginning at 5 p.m.

St. Croix Falls’ coming together at just the right time St. Croix Falls 8, Grantsburg 3

by Marty Seeger ST. CROIX FALLS – The Saints are coming together with perfect timing as the playoffs are set to begin the week of May 22. On Thursday, May 15, St. Croix Falls took the Pirates perfect season away, improving their record to 6-4 in the conference and 9-7 overall. Coach Paul Randolph has been working on improving the lineup for much of the first half of the season, and their win over Grantsburg appears to show the solidity of the team.

“It wasn’t until about four games ago that we finally figured out what our order should be, because we’ve got a lot of young kids here,” Randolph said.

“Where should we play them?

One example of that is freshman right fielder Marcus Campbell, who strictly played right field the entire year for the Saints, but got the chance to both bat and play right field Thursday against the Pirates. Campbell went 2 for 2 with two singles in the game.

“He proved to us in practice he’s ready to come in here and make something happen,” Randolph said.

But Campbell wasn’t the only one making it happen for the Saints. Three others including Cory Gebhard, Gus Koecher and Will Ball each had a pair of hits in the game.

Grantsburg also had their share of hits. The Pirates hit 11 off of Saints pitcher Matt Vold and took a 1-0 lead at the end of two innings. Jamie Robb singled in the second and with two outs

Grantsburg third baseman Jake Ryan lays down a tag on a Saints runner.

– Photo by Marty Seeger Austin Eskola hit an RBI single. Jake Ryan Also singled in the inning.

Then in the third the Pirates took a 30 lead over the Saints with help from a lead off walk from Dylan Marone.

Kevin Johnson doubled, and Trent Bonneville hit an RBI single, with Thane Larson launching a sac fly to left field. It would be all Grantsburg would get however, as the Saints surged on offense in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Coach Randolph credited some key communication between his pitcher, Vold and catcher Jake Larcom on the defensive side of the game.

“I’m real pleased with our pitcher, but I’m also real pleased with how our catcher handled it, he called some good pitches for him and called a good game behind there,” Randolph said.

The Saints came to within one run

after the third inning before tying the game in the bottom of the fourth and eventually taking the lead. Jake Larcom led the fourth off with a single to left field and with ne out Josh Larcom drove in the Tying run with an RBI single.

Campbell singled and Ben Anderson hit an RBI single as well. Then with two outs Vold drove in a run with a single and Koecher knocked in 2 RBIs with a single. Ball drove in the sixth run of the inning and the Saints left the fourth inning with an 8-3 lead, which is where it stayed.

“The kids came into the game thinking ‘we’re going to win this game,’” Randolph said. “We’re getting better, we’re just getting better.”

The Saints drew a No. 2 seed in the Div. 2 WIAA Regional Tournament.

They will play the winner of the

Unity 15, Frederic 1 BALSAM LAKE – The Eagles used solid pitching and a handful of Frederic errors to take the easy win on Thursday, May 15.

“Aaron Schmidt pitched very well tonight. He gave us a great chance to succeed by throwing strikes and not walking anyone,” said Unity coach Matt Humpal.

Schmidt pitched five innings and faced 19 batters, allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts. The Eagles scored the 15 runs on eight hits with Dennis McKinney leading the team with two hit along with one RBI. Unity scored six runs on four hits in the first inning, and scored six runs on three hits in the fourth.

Ryan Flaherty, Schmidt, Derek Jorgenson and Brady Flaherty each had hits for the Eagles, and each had two RBIs in the game.

Nolan Neumann and Ben Ackerly had the Vikings only two hits of the game. Ackerly scored in the fourth inning after Trae Gehl reached base on an error.

Luck 14, Siren-Webster 12 WEBSTER – The Cardinals kept it close with Siren-Webster on Thursday, May 15 in conference play. Jordan Gross and Mitchell Klatt led the team with two hits apiece. Klatt and Harry Severson-Dickinson both had three RBIs. “Colin Svoboda did a fine job in relief for the save,” said coach Wayne Severson-Dickinson.

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

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Eagles reign over TL-Clayton

Area teams pack in games before regionals Thursday Unity 12, TL-Clayton 1

by Marty Seeger CLAYTON – The Eagles took a commanding win over the Central Lakeland Conference champion TL-Clayton team Monday, May19. Aaron Schmidt and Justin Bader both homered in the game as the Eagles piled on eight hits.

“On a rainy night, we came to play with great attitude,” said coach Matt Humpal. “Like most teams, we play our best when we are relaxed and having fun.”

Brady Flaherty and Derek Jorgenson led the Eagles with two hits apiece and Luke Nelson, Bader and Jorgenson each had two RBIs. Ryan Flaherty pitched four innings and faced 13 batters while having eight strikeouts and allowing one walk. He gave up just two hits and one earned run. Luke Nelson also took to the mound for the Eagles, facing six batters and fanning one. He gave up two hits in two innings of pitching.

Most of the Eagles runs came in the sixth inning after TL-Clayton walked three and Schmidt reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Jorgenson and Brady Flaherty both singled in the inning, and Brady Flaherty was left stranded on third after moving around the bases on two passed balls. The Eagles will play host to Boyceville in the first round of regional action on Thursday, May 22, starting at 5 p.m.

Luck 12, Shell Lake 0 SHELL LAKE – The Cards baseball team shut out Shell Lake on Monday, May 19, courtesy of pitcher Harlan Opitz, who also had two hits in the game. Harlan pitched five innings and gave up just two hits, four walks and

Cardinal Jamison Gross connected with hit against Cameron. - Photo by Marty Seeger

Unity's Dennis McKinney creates some dust on a slide against the Vikings Friday.

Unity's Eric Goulet takes a big cut against Frederic in a game played last Friday, May 16. - Photos by Brenda Sommerfeld struck out 12.

“He pitched a fine game,” said coach Wayne Dickinson.

Jamison Gross had three hits to lead the Cardinals in the win.

Cumberland 6, Frederic 1 CUMBERLAND – The Frederic baseball team added another loss on Monday, May 19, to Cumberland, 6-1.

Trae Gehl scored the one and only run for Frederic in the second inning, being brought in by a single hit by Matt Norsten.

This one tied up the game with Cumberland’s one in the first, until Cumberland kept adding more in the fourth, fifth and sixth to take it home. – Brenda Sommerfeld Unity 9, Frederic 7 FREDERIC – After Frederic lost to Unity on Thursday night they got a rematch on Friday, May 16 with homefield advantage. Despite a big comeback in the final inning, Unity won this one, too. This time Unity ended it 9-7.

“Playing Frederic on back-to-back nights, it was tough for our guys to stay focused for seven innings,” Unity coach Matt Humpal said. “One bad inning made this a close game.”

Humpal did credit Frederic for the

Luck's Harlan Opitz nearly beat the throw from a Cameron infielder last Friday evening. - Photo by Marty Seeger comeback in the seventh inning.

Unity’s big play of the night was Cory Tunheim’s grand slam hit in the sixth, bringing in the four runs for the inning.

This gave Unity the 9-2 spread before the bottom of the seventh.

Frederic came up to bat. Bryan Meyer and Matt Norsten were both walked to first. With Andrew Kurkowski’s single, Nolan Neumann’s triple, Ben Ackerley’s single and Trae Gehl’s single, Frederic scored in five runs before their third out in the inning.

“Ryan Flaherty started the game and finished the game when it got tight,” Humpal said. “He earned both the win and the save on the night.”

The third out for the Vikings during that seventh inning was a one of

Flaherty’s seven strikeouts of the game.

– Brenda Sommerfeld Luck 8, Cameron 6 LUCK – The Cards jumped out to an early lead over Cameron last Friday, May, 16 in nonconference play, yet the Comets came back to tie a Luck 6-0 run.

With the help of Jamison Gross and Harry Severson Dickinson’s two hits and three RBIs, along with Mitchell Klatt’s two RBIs the Cards were able to hold on.

But it was Harlan Opitz’ home run in the fifth inning that broke a 6-6 tie.

Casey Hatten came in to relieve starting pitcher Colin Svoboda to record the save. – Marty Seeger

Island City favors Saints Saints end weekend as Island City tournament champs St. Croix Falls 9, Prairie Farm 7

by Marty Seeger CUMBERLAND – The Saints stretched their overall record to 11-7, and were crowned champions of the Island City tournament held in Cumberland last Saturday, May 17.

Their first win of the tournament came with a 9-7 victory over Prairie Farm, where the Saints gave up six runs in the final inning, but were able to hold on to the victory.

“Our team did a great job of getting the lead and made our opponent chase

us,” said coach Paul Randolph, who believed that it was the first time the Saints were able to win the Island City tournament.

St. Croix Falls had four doubles and a triple against the Panthers, and were tied 1-1 after two innings of play until the Saints opened up their hitting in the third. Marcus Campbell hit a leadoff double, Ben Anderson singled and, after a Cory Gehard walk loaded the bases, Matt Vold blasted a triple good enough for three RBIs. The team scored another four runs in the fourth inning before the Panthers brought the Saints hefty lead back to within two runs, but the Saints held on.

“Our young team is learning how to win,” said Randolph. “The most impressive thing is that they are expecting to win. We tell them that if they compete hard for seven innings the

score takes care of itself.”

Anderson, Koecher and Campbell led with two hits apiece, with Vold and Koecher leading in RBIs with three apiece.

St. Croix Falls 5, Cumberland 4 CUMBERLAND – The Saints were down by a run until the third inning against Cumberland in the championship game of the Island City Tournament. Marcus Campbell got things going in the third with a lead single. With two men on and two outs, Gus Koecher hit an RBI triple, to help the Saints get an eventual one-run lead.

Jake Larcom and Trygve Chinander singled in the fourth inning to help the saints grab two more runs, and in the top of the fifth Gus Koecher led with a single. With one out, Larcom doubled for the Saints fifth and final run of the

game, but Cumberland would threaten that lead in the bottom of the fifth.

“The Cumberland players certainly behave like they have won a lot over the years,” said coach Paul Randolph.

“Even though we had a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, Cumberland took advantage of some well-placed hits in the outfield and put runs on the board to close the game.”

The Saints totaled seven hits with Koecher and Larcom leading with two apiece. Ben Anderson pitched six innings and gave up just three hits while facing 29 batters. He walked four and had three strikeouts.

“We certainly had our moments and strung together hits with stolen bases,” Randolph said.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 27

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Junior Golf Camp being offered at LGC

LUCK – A junior golf camp designed for boys and girls new to the game of golf is being offered at the Luck Golf Course. The four week program will hold sessions on Sunday afternoons from 3-4 p.m. on June 8, 15, 22, 29, and July 6, 13, 20 and 27. There will be one class each week for ages 8-12 and one for ages 13-17. Class sizes are limited to six students from each age group for a good student to teacher ratio.

Instructors will be 2008 Luck High School graduates Nate Nelson and Kody Erickson. Both are noted members of the Luck golf team and have three years of team experience. Both have also

A view from the picturesque Luck Golf Course. - Photo submitted

Kody Erickson

Nate Nelson

enrolled at the Phoenix campus of the San Diego Golf Academy, and the twoyear program begins this fall. The academy educates and trains young golfers who desire a career in the golf industry.

Week one of the Junior Golf Camp

will focus on classroom instruction regarding on-course behavior and etiquette, as well as hands-on instruction for basic grip, golf stance and swing characteristics.

Week two features a 15-minute class-

room review of week one and a 45minute on range instruction of week one skills.

Week three includes 10 minutes of class review on week two question, and a 50-minute range practice. Then on week four there will be a 10 minute class review, 20 minutes on range practice and 30 minutes playing two of the par three holes, as well as complimentary driving range use for the rest of the day.

The cost is $20 per student. That includes classroom instruction, range balls, club use, on course playing opportunities and a free 7-iron for each student upon graduation. Advance registration and payment is required.

Contact director Fred Rose for more information at 715-472-2939. – Marty Seeger with information from Luck Golf Course

Nelson claims first player-of-the-year event FREDERIC – Cool temperatures and blustery conditions challenge golfers in the Red, White and Blue Open at the Frederic Golf Course recently. Ben Nelson managed the difficult conditions Sunday at the Frederic Golf Course to narrowly hold off Jon Anderson’s to claim the 2008 Red, White, and Blue Open. His net score of five under par, 67 was one shot better than Anderson, and two shots clear of Thomm Smith and Daryl Bazey. In the women’s division,

club manager Joan Spencer narrowly held off Jean Taylor to claim the title.

The event was the first installment of the newly formed player-of-the-year race being held this season at the Frederic Golf Course. For this event, players were required to play six holes from the red tees, six holes from the white tees and six holes from the blue tees.

The season-long competition is a series of events in which players earn

points based on their gross and net score. The Red, White and Blue Open was the first of six player of the year events. The Frederic Best Ball, Sunday, June 8, is the next event. Anyone interested in participating contact the Frederic Golf Course at 715-327-8250 for more information. – submitted

Ben Nelson

Junior Golf Camp begins soon at FGC FREDERIC – The Frederic Golf Course will be hosting a Junior Golf Camp on June 9, 10, 11 and12, for ages 7-14. The camp will start at 8 a.m. each morning and go until 10 a.m. On the first Monday, June 9, it is asked that golfers arrive by 7:45 a.m. in order to get

PREPS

organized. FGC will be accepting the first 60 golfers who sign up, with goals being focused on the skills of golf as well as to have fun.

Beginning each day at 8 a.m., instructions on golf rules and etiquette, proper grip and stance, and the basics of the

OF THE

NAME: Josh Johnson SCHOOL: Webster YEAR: Senior COMMENTS: Webster senior Josh Johnson dominated both the boys shot put and discus at the Division 3 Regional in Webster on Monday, May 19. Johnson had a distance of 48 ft. 7-3/4 in. in Josh Johnson the shot put, and threw 154 ft. 7-1/2 in. during the discus event. In the discus he was over 12 ft. further than the second-place finisher and over four ft. ahead of the second-place finisher in the shot put. – Marty Seeger

WEEK

NAME: Sage Karl SCHOOL: Frederic YEAR: Freshman COMMENTS: Frederic freshman Sage Karl made tracks at the Division 3 Regional track meet in Webster on Monday, May, 19. Karl took first place in the 100 and 200 meter dash with times of 13.81 Sage Karl and 28.13 seconds respectively. Karl was also played a part in the 4X100-meter relay in which the Frederic girls took first place. The relay team included Karl, Candace Buck, Kelly Wondra and Tanesha Carlson. – Marty Seeger

Conference champs Luck golfers with their conference championship trophy (L to R): Dylan Fultz, Travis Close, Carson Giller, Noah Thatcher and Kody Erickson. Photo submitted

golf swing will be the items of focus.

Golfers will be put into groups of ability and then will rotate from one station to another. The full swing, pitching, chipping and putting will be covered.

The cost is $25 per person, but no more than $50 per family. The first 60

golfers to sign up will be accepted.

Frederic Golf Course is located on 905 Wisconsin Ave, Frederic, WI 54837. For more information contact the Frederic Golf Course at 715-327-8250. – submitted

Aquafina Baseball results SIREN – A pass, hit and run competition was held at Siren Ballpark in Siren on May 13. The following participants qualified for the sectionals.

Age 7/8 All-Around Champion Pitch Champion Hit Champion Run Champion

Name Kyla Melin Kyla Melin Kyla Melin Kyla Melin

Town Luck Luck Luck Luck

Score 309 75 100 134

Age 9/10 All-Around Champion Pitch Champion Hit Champion Run Champion

Name Parker Steen Taylor Hawkins Parker Steen Parker Steen

Town Luck Luck Luck Luck

Score 425 78 288 137

Age 11/12 All-Around Champion Pitch Champion Hit Champion Run Champion

Name Ben Kurkowski Ben Kurkowski Ben Kurkowski Trent Strapon

Town Frederic Frederic Frederic Luck

Score 885 375 272 297

Town Luck Luck Luck Luck Luck

Score 802 300 300 342 313

Age 13/14 Name All-Around Champion Avery Steen Pitch Champion Zach Kuechenmarston Avery Steen Hit Champion Brodie Kunze Run Champion Brodie Kunze

A sectional pass, hit and run competition will be held at Erickson Park Ball Fields in La Crosse on Sunday, June 8, with registration beginning at noon. - submitted

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

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Oh no, Rice Lake Speedway rained out again

by Ed Reichert RICE LAKE — Unbelievable.

Incredible. Depressing. Even bizarre.

Any of these adjectives would and could describe the racing luck that the Rice Lake Speedway has been having this spring. For the sixth consecutive time, the scheduled season opener was rained out Saturday night when the scattered storms that had been skirting the area most of the day hit just as the track was being rolled in for hot laps.

This time the speedway did get closer to actually throwing a green flag for competition with over 90 cars having signed in to race, and the packing activity started before the rains and wind picked up and everyone was left scrambling for shelter.

The seventh attempt to start the 2008 racing season will also mark the first special event of the year at the speedway.

Doubleheader racing will hopefully be featured to honor the Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, May 24, a regular event is scheduled featuring all six classes that normally compete at the Rice Lake Speedway including the late models, modifieds, super stocks, midwest

modifieds, street stocks and pure stocks.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with race time being 6:30 p.m. Crystal Pierz Marine and Bud’s Tool and Party Rental will sponsor the program.

On Sunday, May 25, it will be the Miller Lite Bonus Bucks night at the track with the drivers running for extra cash.

The late models will be going for a top prize of $1,600, the modifieds will be racing for $850 to win, the super stock winner will receive $650, the midwest modified victor will cash a check for $360 dollars, the street stock titleist will pocket $300 and the pure stocks winner will take home $150.

Gates will open at 3 p.m. with the draw cut off for drivers being 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m. Regular admission prices will prevail with adults paying $12 and $25 the charge for pit admission.

Defending champions include Darwin Brown, Tito Viltz, Shane Halopka, Jason Forehand, Steve Arpin and Duane Mahder.

For more information on the Rice Lake Speedway, visit the Web site at www.rlspeedway.com.

2008 Division 3 Softball Playoffs Tues., May 20

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2008 Division 2 Spring Baseball Playoffs Th e highest seeded team, in any pre-sectional game, serves as teh host school and will be disignated teh home team fliip in t he sectional and stat e tournament games. through regionals. The home t eam is det ermined by coin fl

Regionals Fri., May 23

Tues., May 27

Sectionals Tues., June 3

Wed., May 28

* All games are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted Hayward (#1)

WIAA State Tournament June 11 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #2 approx. 6 p.m.

@Hayward

Northwestern (#5) @Siren-Webster, May 22

@

Siren-Webster (#4) Spooner (#3) @Spooner

Rice Lake (#6)

@Ashland Ashland (#2) @Barron, 11 a.m.

Barron (#1) @Barron

Cumberland (#5) @Amery Amery (#4)

@

Osceola (#3) @Osceola Somerset (#6)

@St. Croix Falls

@Bruce 4 p.m.

St. Croix Falls (#2)

The highest seeded t eam will host through the regional fi fin nal game, unless their fi fie eld is u navailable or unplayable. If the lower seed’s fi fie eld is playable they will host . If t he lower seed’s fi fie eld is also unplayable an alt ernat e sit e can be used if agreeable to both teams. Games should not be postponed if a playable fi fie eld is available.

Regionals Thurs., May 15

S

Thurs., May 22

Sectionals Thurs., May 29

2008 Division 3 Spring Baseball Playoffs The highest seeded t eam, in an y pre-sectional game, serves as teh host school and will be disignated teh home t eam through regionals. The home team is determined by coin fl fliip in the sect ional and st ate tournament games.

Regionals Fri., May 23

* All games are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Tues., May 27

S ectionals Tues., June 3

Wed., May 28

* All games are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted Grantsburg (#1) @Grantsburg

Unity (#5) @Glenwood City Glenwood City (#4)

Grantsburg (6-1)

WIAA State Tournament June 6 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 approx. 3:30 p.m.

Glenwood City (7-0) @Grantsburg

TL-Clayton (#7) @St. Croix Central St. Croix Central (#2)

@St. Croix Central

Glenwood City (#6)

fie eld, 11 a.m. @Marshfi

Arcadia (#1)

Elk Mound (#1)

Arcadia (11-0 (5)) Regis(#5)

Osseo-Fairchild (4-1)

@Whitehall Whitehall (#4) Prescott (#3)

SV-Plum City (5-3) @Arcadia

@ Chetek Colfax (#6)

SV-Plum City (#2)

2008 Division 4 Softball Playoffs Tues., May 20

Thurs., May 22

Sectionals Thurs., May 29

Northwood (#1)

@Birchwood Birchwood (#4)

@N orthwood

Northwood (10-2)

Winter-Lac Courte

TL-Clayton (#7) @St. Croix Central St. Croix Central (#2)

The high est seeded team, in any pre-sect ional game, serves as teh host school and will be disignated teh home team through regionals. The home t eam is det ermined by coin fl fliip in the sectional and stat e tournament games.

WIAA State Tournament June 6 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #3 approx. 11 a.m.

S ectionals Tues., June 3

Wed., May 28

Birchwood (6-2)

Luck (#1)

@Birchwood Birchwood (#4)

@Northwood

WIAA State Tournament June 11 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #2 approx. 10 a.m.

@Luck

Solon Springs (#5)

@

Shell Lake (#3) Frederic (16-1 (5)) @Shell Lake

@Shell L ake, May 22

Frederic (#6)

Frederic (6-3)

Shell Lake (#2)

@N orthwood Northwood (#2)

@L uck (w/U nity)

@Bruce, 11 a.m.

Glidden-Butternut (#1)

@Glidden

Dummond (#5) @Mellen 4:30 p.m.

Mellen (#4)

Tues., May 27

* All games are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Frederic (#3) @Frederic

@Bruce 4 p.m.

2008 Division 4 Spring Baseball Playoffs Regionals Fri., May 23

* All games are at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Luck (#5)

@Osseo-Fairchild Osseo-Fairchild (#2)

Th e highest seeded team will host th rough the regional fi fin nal game, u nless their fi fie eld is unavailable or u nplayable. If the lower seed’s fi fie eld is playable they will host. If the lower seed’s fi fie eld is also unplayable an alternate site can be used if agreeable to bot h teams. Games shou ld not be postponed if a playable fi fie eld is available.

Regionals Thurs., May 15

@

Chetek (#3)

Prescott (18-0 (5)) @Spring Valley

@Elk Mound

@Fall Creek Fall Creek(#4)

@Arcadia

@Prescott Mondovi (#6)

@St. Croix Central St. Croix Central (#2)

@Arcadia 1 p.m.

Osseo-Fairchild (#5)

@

@Clayton, May 22

St. Croix Central (6-2)

St. Croix Central (10-4)

@Arcadia

@Grantsburg

TL-Clayton (#3)

St. Croix Falls (4-1)

St. Croix Falls (#6)

Boyceville (#5)

WIAA State Tournament June 11 - Semi-finals Sectional #1 vs. Sectional #2 approx. 1 p.m.

@Unity, May 22 Unity (#4)

Boyceville (#3) @Boyceville

Grantsburg (#1)

Hurley (#1) Glidden-Butternut (4-0)

@Hurley

Glidden-Butternut (#5)

Mellen (10-0 (5))

@Bayfi fie eld Bayfield (#4)

@Glidden 4:30 p.m.

@

Solon Springs (#3) @South Shore 4:30 p.m.

Drummond (#3)

Solon Springs (11-1 (5))

South Shore (#6)

@Hurley Hurley (#2)

Hurley (28-0 (5))

@Mellen

@Luck (w/Unity) Mellen (#2)

@Bruce 4 p.m.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 29

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Grantsburg U19 girls soccer team wins two in Pine City, Minn.

The Grantsburg U19 girls soccer team won two games in Pine City, Minn., on Saturday, May 17. The first game was, 8-1, against Pine City and the second, 4-2, versus Hayward. Here they scored one of their goals against the Hayward goaltender. – Photos submitted

Aimee Van Tatenhove looks to pass against Pine City.

Haley Larson dribbles the ball down the field.

Grantsburg’s Justin Diffee goes up against a Hayward player.

LEADER S P O R T S S C O R E B O A R D BASEBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings Team Grantsburg Luck St. Croix Falls Unity Siren-Webster Frederic

Conf.

9-1 8-2 6-4 5-6 2-10 0-10

Overall 10-1 16-2 10-8 7-7 2-10 0-14

Scores Thursday, May 15 Unity 15, Frederic 1 St. Croix Falls 8, Grantsburg 3 Luck 14, Siren-Webster 12 Friday, May 16 Unity 9, Frederic 7 Luck 8, Cameron 6 Saturday, May 17 St. Croix Falls 9, Prairie Farm 7 St. Croix Falls 5, Cumberland 4 Monday, May 19 Luck 12, Shell Lake 0 Cumberland 6, Frederic 1 Tuesday, May 20 Bruce 6, St. Croix Falls 5 Grantsburg 9, Luck 5 Cumberland 9, Unity 4

SOFTBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Scores

TRACK & FIELD Coming up

Thursday, May 22 3 p.m.

Frederic at Colfax Sectional Luck at Colfax Sectional Siren at Colfax Sectional Webster at Colfax Sectional 4 p.m.

St. Croix Falls at Medford Sectional Unity at Medford Sectional Grantsburg at Medford Sectional

Falun Church League

Coming up

Conf.

10-0 8-2 3-7 4-5 3-7 1-8

Tuesday, May 27 9:30 a.m. Luck at Cadott Sectional Grantsburg at Cadott Sectional Webster at Cadott Sectional

SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL

Thursday, May 22 5 p.m.

Boyceville at Unity Frederic at Shell Lake Northwestern at Webster

Team Grantsburg Frederic Siren-Webster Luck Unity St. Croix Falls

GOLF

Coming up

Overall 15-0 13-3 6-10 5-9 3-10 2-9

Thursday, May 15 Frederic 16, Winter-Lac Courte 1 St. Croix Falls 4, Boyceville 1 Barron 8, Siren-Webster 0 Glenwood City 7, Unity 0 Birchwood 6, Luck 2 Tuesday, May 20 Grantsburg 6, Glenwood City 1 Frederic 6, Shell Lake 3 St. Croix Central 6, St. Croix Falls 2

Coming up

Thursday, May 22 5 p.m.

St. Croix Central at Grantsburg Frederic at Northwood

Team Faith Lutheran Calvary Covenant Siren Assembly Falun Churches Webster Baptist Frederic Free Trade Lake Baptist West Sweden/Zion Lutheran Trade Lake Baptist Living Hope/Grace Siren Covenant/Bethany

Overall 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-0

Area Scores

Faith Lutheran 23, Frederic Free 7 Calvary Covenant 12, Trade Lake Baptist 7 Siren Assembly 22, West Sweden/Zion Lutheran 1 Falun Lutheran 15, Trade River Free 0 Webster Baptist 14, Living Hope/Grace 13

Siren Ballpark Men’s League Team Church League Team Pour House II Chell Well Sundown Hole in the Wall Fur, Fin & Feathers Pour House I Century 21 Da Crew Gjonnes Construction

Overall 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

Area Scores

Church League Team 22, Fur, Fin & Feathers 14 Pour House II 20, Pour House I 15 Chell Well 20, Century 21 4 Sundown 20, Da Crew 0 Hole in the Wall 19, Gjonnes Construction

Pictured (L to R): Hannah Rod, Aimee Van Tatenhove and Haley Larson stick together to get the soccer ball to their side of the field.

Summer basketball for Luck’s Petersen Luck’s Tyler Petersen is among the Division 4 North All-Stars who will play in the 31st-Annual W i s c o n s i n B a s k e t b a l l C o a c h e s Association All Star Game at the UW-Fieldhouse in Madison next month. As fate would have it, one of Petersen’s teammates on the North squad will be Josh Regal, who played on the Suring team which the Cards faced in the state tournament back in March. Game day for Petersen is June 21 with the Division 4 North-South squads tipping off at 12:30 p.m.

The last local boys to be named WBCA all-stars were Grantsburg’s Conner Graves and Aaron Goepfert in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

J o h n R y a n

THE SPORTS

PAGE

“Every cloud has a silver lining; The glass is half full” Sure, we’ve had a lousy, cold spring but crummy weather has its positive side. Following are some of those hidden benefits: • Usually we’ve had to mow lawn at least three times by now, wasting valuable time and resources in the process. Thus far this spring, most people have cut their grass only once.

• You don’t need to feel guilty about sitting inside in your easy chair watching a TV baseball game.

• When summer suddenly arrives and only half the spring chores have been completed, you can throw the incomplete checklist away. No one will notice the difference. (Has anyone ever noticed, anyway?)

• In three weeks the days begin to shorten, more noticeably after the Fourth of July. Visions of cocooning indoors with a good book while sitting next to a crackling fire are dancing in our heads.

• Garden plants aren’t growing, but neither are the weeds.

• There should be a zucchini shortage.

• If you’re utilizing your basement for living space, you don’t need to turn on your costly, energy-hogging dehumidifier.

• Fewer fish are being caught, leaving more for the rest of us after other would-be anglers have thrown in the towel.

• With fewer tourists out and about, the bakery doesn’t run out of long johns or glazed donuts.

• Its less than six months until radio station KQQL out of the Twin Cities area will begin playing its “All Christmas music, all the time” format.

• We have yet to hear air-conditioning dependent citizens plaintively bleating: “Oh my gosh, its too hot.” or “I can’t stand this humidity.”

• There will be fewer cases of swimmer’s itch.

• Agriculture is the backbone of Wisconsin and even nonfarmers will be in suspense, wondering if the corn crop will make “knee high by the Fourth of July”. (In a guest prediction, the Swami said: “No way.”)

• Due to the cool evening temperatures, more road-killed deer are being processed for meat.

• See? Things aren’t as bad as they seem. “Optimism is denial, so face the facts and move on.”

This week’s trivia exercise is a reprise of the always popular “match the past or present area baseball Town Team legend with the area team to which he is most notably connected”.

1) Sam Bearhart 2) Tom “Hurricane” Guzy 3) Ted Gerber 4) Ryan Schmidt 5) Walt “Josh” Jensen 6) Al Peer 7) Tyler Pilz 8) Bud Holmes 9) Tim Widiker 10) Trevor Todd 11) Howard Flamang 12) Kirby Brunclik 13) Mike Drost 14) Chad Gibson 15) Harold Hills Answers: 1) McKinley 2) Frederic 3) Grantsburg 4) Siren 5) Webster 6) Cushing 7) Osceola 8) Danbury 9) Webster 10) St Croix Valley 11) Minong 12) Brill 13) Haugen 14) Grantsburg 15) Danbury

PAGE 30 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

O UTDOORS INTER! COUNTY LEADER

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

Down to the last minute

I drove east toward Zone 37, excited to be heading out for an afternoon turkey hunt and a muchneeded nap. It was only a couple of hours past the paper Marty deadline, and after Seeger spending a sleepless night and morning hashing out the The week’s edition, it was Bottom Line time to escape.

Turkey hunting can be one of the greatest times to catch up on sleep, especially if the weather is cooperating. As it turned out, Wednesday afternoon was windy and warm, which made for perfect napping conditions.

After plopping down on the edge of shaggy alfalfa field and giving a few light purrs and yelps, my eyes grew heavy.

As the peacefulness of the afternoon settled in, an alarming gobble shot off from a distance. Sleeping suddenly took a back seat, and for the next couple of hours I sat in waiting, as two gobblers worked their way to my position.

In a way I was disappointed with the thought that my season would soon end. The weather predictions for the weekend sounded promising, and although its nice to tag out on a bird early, its can be just as much fun to hunt an entire season and not get anything at all.

Both gobblers appeared in a field no more than 200 yards away. Knowing they could see the decoys, I let them gobble occasionally, and slowly work their way through the stubble of a cornfield, two fence lines and pasture before they eventually disappeared. It would be only a few short minutes before they entered the field I occupied; or so I

thought. The gobblers avoided me that afternoon, even though they had a clear path to the field and eventually worked their way to just under 50 yards behind where I sat. Turkey hunting is like that sometimes.

On the bright side, I had an entire Thursday morning to hunt, as well as Saturday and part of Sunday if needed.

In the end it proved that I’d need all the time I could get.

On Thursday morning, May 8, my friend, Neil, tagged along to call and videotape the hunt. It turned out to be what we considered one of the best turkey-hunting mornings on record.

Gobblers surrounded us, but the two birds that eluded me the night before, avoided our setup once again, even though we could clearly see them walking casually through the woods. At one point during the morning, a big gobbler came to within 25 yards of where we sat. The bird came in a blind spot to where, for some reason, I couldn’t see.

Neil could have had an easy shot, but I never heard, nor saw a feather.

The hunt lasted until just before noon without success, and with work schedules, we wouldn’t get back to the woods until Saturday morning. On Saturday, we set up in the area where two gobblers avoided us twice before, and amazingly they managed to do it again. It was a frustrating hunt, but a blast nonetheless. We hunted hard Saturday, sitting for two hours, moving to the next spot, and repeating it over and over again. I reluctantly passed on a jake knowing there were others in the woods, it was difficult not to just take the first opportunity and end the hunt at that time, but the hunt was going so well that I don’t think either of us really wanted it to end.

Late in the afternoon, after hopping to different properties and coming up empty, we decided to venture back to where the action had been the past two mornings. Knowing that other hunters would not be in the area, we decided to make a move on a gobbler we watched strut with a hen for the better part of an

Plenty of quality hours were spent chasing gobblers during the fourth season of 2008 spring turkey season. The bird weighed 25 pounds with a 9-1/4-inch beard and had 3/4inch spurs. - Photo by Vickie Seeger hour. The terrain favored a perfect sneak toward where the gobbler was strutting, and in less than 30 minutes we snuck in close through a light drizzle to where the gobbler had been.

After coming over the ridge and finding nothing, it appeared as though the birds had given us the slip. That’s when I heard Neil whisper excitedly.

“There he is, he’s right there…shoot.”

The hen flew off, but the gobbler was no more than 30 yards away. The only problem was that I couldn’t see him, and when I finally did, the bird was on a flat run through the woods. I took three shots before he flew off. When all went silent, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh, pout or just look off into the

woods in amazement, wondering how the gobbler could avoid such a rain of lead. There were plenty of “how did you miss” words afterwards, and that bright blue head stuck with me for the rest of the evening, but the next morning, I shrugged it off and took to the woods alone for one last venture.

The previous days had been filled with sunshine–perfect turkey hunting weather. Mother’s Day morning was altogether different, with 30 mph gusts, cold light rain and a thick overcast that sucked any cheery light from the sky. It wasn’t a joyous or comfortable morning, but birds still gobbled from a long ways off. After shivering for the better part of an hour and hearing birds slowly drifting away from my location, I decided to move early and head off to where the gobbler I missed flew off the day before.

Moving so early in the morning is risky. At least that’s what experiences in the past have taught me. But with little time to hunt in the morning on the last day, it was a move worth taking.

The same gobbler from the day before (or so I believe) happened to be strutting with a hen in the field when I snuck around the corner. I stuck a hen decoy as close as I could get, and watched and listened through wind and rain, occasionally catching the sound of his gobbles.

I hadn’t even made a call when a hen started clucking near my decoy, apparently catching me move. But it turned out to be just what was needed to get the attention of the gobbler in the field.

At 7:10 Sunday morning, the hunt was officially over. Sometimes it pays to hunt even when the weather stinks.

Turkey hunting can take minutes, hours or days, and I’m glad it took a few days. It afforded me more time in the woods, and another great story for the memory bank. Perhaps another will unfold during the final week, which is set for May 21-25.

Musky waters opening up May 24 in northern region MADISON – Whether you’re hoping for a trophy musky or just some musky action, anglers anticipating the May 24 northern zone musky season opener have plenty of waters to choose from.

“Wisconsin has 711 lakes and more than 1,600 river miles that support musky,” says Tim Simonson, the Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist who chairs the agency’s musky team. “And about 90 percent of those waters are in the northern region.”

On top of that, nearly 50 percent of the northern waters are Class A or premier musky waters which can provide some of the best trophy-or-action musky fish-

ing in the nation.

Trophy or Class A1 waters are best known for their ability to produce musky 48 inches and longer.

“The waters that are known trophy producers will often have lower musky populations, resulting in less angling action, but in return, they also have a higher potential to put out that big fish,” says Simonson. “Your best bet is to look for the larger and deeper, clearwater lakes or large flowages.”

Action or Class A2 waters are best known for providing the most consistent angling.

“Action waters will provide faster fishing, but the chances of reeling in a

big fish are lower, although it does happen,” says Simonson. “Action waters are normally smaller, shallower lakes with abundant vegetation.”

Classified musky waters aren’t set in stone and you still could find yourself with a trophy fish in action waters. A list of Wisconsin’s musky waters and their classification is available on the DNR Web site.

Anglers who do plan on heading out for the northern musky opener might want to heed the advice of DNR Regional Supervisor Steve Avelallemant and head for warmer water.

“Water temperatures in most of the lakes are in the low 50s which is fairly

cool for this time of the year,” says Avelallemant. “Some muskies are still finishing up spawning in the largest and deepest lakes. The best action will likely be seen using smaller baits fished fairly slowly. Concentrate on shallower areas such as bays and flats where the water is a little warmer.”

The northern zone musky fishing season is open from May 24 to Nov. 30 and includes inland waters north of Hwy. 10. Current regulations for most waters are a daily bag limit of one and a minimum length limit of 34 inches. - from the DNR

McKenzie fishing contest coming to Deer Lake BALSAM LAKE – Now is the time to preregister for the fifth-annual Neil McKenzie Youth Fishing Contest that is set to take place on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

All youth and their families are welcome to participate. Guides, boats and equipment will be provided if needed, and meals will be provided. There is no charge to participate in the event, but

those who wish to join in the fun will need to preregister by contacting Joyce McKenzie at 715-646-2060 or Ann and Dave Hraychuck at 715-485-3362. You can also e-mail the Hraychucks at hray-

Read Leader Outdoors!

chucks@centurytel.net.

The event is sponsored by the family of Neil McKenzie, and the Polk County Sportsmen’s Club. – Marty Seeger

Polk County Sheriff’s report Accidents May 2, 2:23 a.m., Sterling Twp., Hwy. 87, .2 mile south of Evergreen Avenue, Kimberley J. Anderson, 44, St. Croix Falls, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 87. Unit 1 passenger tires traveled onto the gravel shoulder. Unit 1 over-corrected and went into the westbound ditch and entered a pond, becoming submerged.

May 6, 11:37 a.m., village of Clear Lake, South Avenue West at Third Place, #1—Paul J. Derostier, 49, Clayton; #2— legally parked vehicle owned by Brian G. Peterson, Knapp; Unit 1 backed up onto South Avenue West. Unit 2 was legally parked on the south shoulder on South

Avenue West. Unit 1 backed into unit 2, causing damage to unit 2.

May 9, 7:33 p.m., Osceola Twp., 195th Street, .1 mile north of 90th Avenue, Keith M. Swanson, 21, Amery, attempted to negotiate a curve at the end of 90th Avenue where it curves northbound and becomes 195th Street. Unit 1 took the curve by cutting the corner then driving too wide as it began to straighten northbound.

Unit 1 left the roadway on the east side of the road, appeared to overcorrect and then lost control and crossed the road where it entered the ditch and got stuck. Driver was processed for OWI. Witness stated the vehi-

Burnett County deaths Harold L. Babcock, 91, Swiss, May 3.

cle was operating at a high rate of speed prior to the crash.

Driver cited for operating while revoked and unreasonable speed.

(Driver received a minor injury and was transported by EMS/safety restraint use unknown.)

Other incidents May 4, Daniel A. Ferris, Lake

Elmo, Minn., reported the theft of his 2003 Triton 20’-long pontoon trailer, with double axle, from his property located at Silver Lake Court, RR Turtle Lake.

May 6, a large amount of electrical wiring and fuses were stolen the Range feed mill; victim, Larry J. Lentz, Ridgeland.

May 7, Thomas Huhlt (no

Burnett County warrants Jeffrey R. Butler, 29, Eau Claire, warrant – failure to appear, May 14.

Anthony M. Duclon, 19, Rice Lake, warrant – failure to appear, May 14.

Dustin J. Gustafson, 20, Eau Claire, warrant – failure to appear, May 14.

Agnes J. Helsper, 49, Hayward, warrant – failure to

appear, May 14.

Ryan S. Moltzer, 34, Osceola, warrant – failure to appear, May 14.

Brent S. Petersen, 23, Siren, warrant – failure to appear, May 12.

Anthony E. Reynolds, 41, East Bethel, Minn., warrant failure to appear, May 12.

address given) reported that his Craftsman brand joiner was stolen from his property, RR Amery.

May 7, a theft of gasoline occurred at the 46 Store, Balsam Lake.

May 10, Michael R. Lenahan, Forest Lake, Minn., reported an attempted burglary to an outbuilding located on his property in rural Frederic.

May 10, Curtis R. Johnson, Hudson, reported the theft of his 100-pound LP tank from his

property located on Evergreen Avenue, RR St. Croix Falls.

May 12, Gabriel Guevara, Star Prairie, reported there was a burglary to his cabin located in rural St. Croix Falls and some vandalism had been done.

May 13, Thomas J. Eder, RR Amery, reported a burglary had occurred to his residence.

Several football memorabilia/ sports figures had been taken.

E-edition - this complete issue is online now. www.the-leader.net

PAGE 32 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Notices

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 33

Siren police report May 7: Steven G. Mielke, 56, Danbury, was cited for speeding at 5:57 p.m. on Hwy. 35/70 and South Shore Drive.

May 13: Rebecca M. Swenson, 36, Siren, was taken to Burnett County Jail at 1:40 a.m. on a charge of domestic disorderly conduct. Her sister, Andrea Jo Villani, 26, Frederic, was taken to BC Jail on a war-

rant from Polk County.

At 7:16 p.m., Kyle D. Davis, 37, Webster, was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 at Ellis Avenue.

May 14: Murray L. Kuhnly, 47, Siren, was cited for nonregistration of a motor vehicle at 7:09 p.m. on Hwy. 35 and D’Jock Street.

May 16: Daniel Patrick Fuchs, 18, St. Michael, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Hanson Avenue at 5:25 p.m.

May 18: Geraldine Andrews, 58, Webster, was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue at 4:35 p.m.

At 5:02 p.m., Lori A. Putz, 47, Arlington Heights, Ill., was cited for speeding on Hwy.70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 7:06 p.m., Charles F. Wells, 71, Oberlin, Ohio, was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue.

At 9:38 p.m., Kevin G. Laumeyer, 47, Dresser, was cited for domestic battery following an incident where a female was hurt at the Siren Holiday Station.

During the month, two incidents involving juveniles at Siren School were referred to juvenile social services.

PAGE 34 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Notices Subscribe online @ www.the-leader.net

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 35

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Notices

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Notices

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Bu r n e t t C ou n t y L a w E n f or c e me n t M em o r i al S er vi c e

Burnett County law enforcement officers from various departments are shown standing in formation at the Burnett County Law Enforcement Memorial Service honoring Burnett County’s three fallen officers. Deputy Paul Gramer was killed in a head-on accident while on the way to a police call in 1968.

Grantsburg Police Chief Richard Schinzing died from a heart attack after he had been chasing burglars down the street of the village in 1974. Deputy Allen Albee was shot on a street in Webster while on duty in 1991.

Glenn Gramer and Jeff Shinzing caryy a wreath they placed next to the fallenofficer memorial at the Burnett County Government Center. Both are sons of fallen police officers.

RIGHT: St. Croix Tribal color guard was in perfect formation during the playing of taps during the Burnett County Law Enforcement Memorial Services.

Sen. Ann Hraychuck of Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District was the main speaker at this year’s memorial service. Hraychuck has a personal connection to April 19, 1991, when Burnett County Officer Alan Albee was killed and Polk County Officer Michael Seversen was injured in a Webster shooting.

At the time, she was working at the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and told the audience that she struggled with the speech because she wanted to make it meaningful for this day of remembrance.

- Photos by Sherill Summer

Fa m il y o ut i n g i n G r a nt s bu r g

A Leader reader in Grantsburg took these photos last Saturday, May 17, from her dining room window. – Photos submitted

PAGE 40 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - MAY 21, 2008

Remembering Our Fallen Veterans Memorial Day services

Memorial Day is a time to honor and show our appreciation for our country’s fallen wartime heroes. From the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom and the eras in between., hundreds of thousands of American men and women in uniform have selflessly A&H and Jackson given their lives protecting our freedom. This Memorial Day, take a 8:30 a.m., Wood Lake Cemetery 9:15 a.m., Sacred Heart Cemetery, few moments to reflect on the courage and patriotism of these A&H proud Americans, and voice your appreciation for their efforts and 10 a.m. at Jackson Cemetery. the continued efforts of today’s dedicated troops.

Atlas

8:30 a.m., Union Cemetery

Burnett County VFW #1256

9 a.m., Viola Lake Cemetery 9:30 a.m., St. Croix Reservation, 11:30 a.m., Danbury Cemetery

the program.

Program speaker will be Sheriff Dean Roland. The 2008 poppies girls are: Emily Stiemann and Abby Kosloski.

St. Croix Falls

American Legion Post #143 in St. Croix Falls will hold the following Memorial Day programs: Monday, May 26, 9 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery and 10 a.m. at St. Croix Falls Cemetery.

Captain Josh Carlisle will speak at both programs. Potluck lunch at the Legion Hall at noon.

Sterling

American Legion Post 269 and Dresser/St. Croix Falls VFW Post 4186 10 a.m., Cushing Cemetery 11 a.m., Wolf Creek Cemetery

Wolf Creek Cemetery Memorial Day program, lunch and cemetery walk.

Program is at 11 a.m. with lunch and walk to follow.

Sterling, Eureka and Laketown Historical Society will host a cemetery walk at the Pioneer Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Frederic

Taylors Falls

Cushing

7 a.m., pancake breakfast for Legionnaires, Auxiliary, members and friends, American Legion Post #249 8:30 a.m., Union Cemetery, Trade Lake 8:45 a.m., Zion Lutheran, Trade Lake 9 a.m., Mission Cemetery, Trade Lake 9:20 a.m., Coon Lake, Frederic 9:45 a.m., Zion Lutheran, Bone Lake 11 a.m., Maple Grove Cemetery.

Speaker: Pastor David Almlie, Zion Lutheran Church, Trade Lake and Grace Lutheran Church, West Sweden Music: Frederic High School band, Patty Burns, director.

Carl Linnell Post 392 American Legion and Chisago County Post #1678 VFW 9 a.m. at Franconia Cemetery, 10 a.m. at Taylors Falls Cemetery, March to Interstate Bridge, 11 a.m. Salute to Maritime Dead, 11:30 a.m. Almelund Cemetery. Dinner will be served at the Almelund Church. All veterans are urged to take part in these programs.

Webster

10 a.m., Oak Grove Cemetery

Grantsburg

Brask-Fossum-Janke American Legion Post #185 and Auxiliary 10 a.m., meet at Legion Hall for walk over Memory Lake bridge and military honors for those lost at sea. Then, walk to Riverside Cemetery for Memorial Day ceremony.

Hertel

The Memorial Day program at Hertel Lakeview Cemetery is Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. sharp. All are welcome.

Indian Creek Post #396

9 a.m. at McKinley, 9:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi, 10:15 a.m. at Lewis, 10:45 a.m. at Clam Falls, 11 a.m. at Clam Falls Flowage and 11:30 a.m. at Lorain.

Luck

The Luck American Legion Post #255 will hold Memorial Days services on Monday, May 26, 10:30 a.m. at the Luck High School. The public is welcome.

Milltown

American Legion George W. Melby, Post #254 will remember their beloved at Memorial Day services.

9:30 a.m., South Milltown Cemetery 10 a.m., Milltown Cemetery 10:40 a.m., North Valley Cemetery 11 a.m., New Home Cemetery 11:20 a.m., Pleasant Valley Cemetery 11:40 a.m., Granum Cemetery 12:30 p.m., Bone Lake Cemetery United VFW Post 6856, Milltown, will hold Memorial Day services on Monday, May 26, 2:45 p.m., at the Post.

Lunch will follow the service.

Siren

Military honors will be at the following places: 9 a.m., Burnett County Government Center 9:30 a.m., Mudhen Lake Cemetery

Over the rainbow

After the rains let up last week, a colorful rainbow lit the sky. - Photo

by Carl Heidel

10 a.m., West Sweden Cemetery There will be a Memorial Day program at the Siren High School auditorium at 11 a.m. with military honors at Siren Cemetery immediately following

‘Follow the Leader’

Currents N O R T H E R N

May 21 , 200 8 2nd Se ct io n B Int e r-C o unty Lead er

News and views from the Northwest Wisconsin community

Mission in Malawi, Africa to begin

by Brenda Sommerfeld FREDERIC – Since 1998, Jim Renno, Luck, has made several trips around the world for his Teach All Nations ministry.

He will be going to the town of Chigamula in Malawi, Africa, in July and be taking along friend and fellow teacher Bob Elrod, Frederic.

“I asked him to go with me to Africa because God told me to ask him,” Renno explained. “We really try to be led by God and work with the people that God shows me to work with.”

Renno and Elrod had worked together 30 years ago at a plant in Dresser and in the past couple of years reconnected after not seeing each other for 20 years.

After contemplation and inquiring with his employer about being gone for weeks, Elrod decided to take the chance to go to another country.

“I said I need to take a step in my faith, do something in my faith and see what it’s like in another part of the world,” said Elrod. “See what God does with people in another part of the world.”

Renno is spending time teaching Elrod his way of teaching so they can leave for the trip approximately June 30.

“What we do, what Bob will be watching me doing and he’ll learn to do is that you just take somebody cold and just become their friend first,” said Renno. “I strongly believe in becoming their friend and then sharing the gospel with them, not sharing the gospel and then trying to make them my friend.”

After bypassing the churches, finding people and becoming friends with those people, Renno’s method of teaching the gospel is through chronological Bible teaching.

He follows the main story line through the Bible, skipping what is not part of that story.

Bob Elrod (LEFT) will accompany Jim Renno of the ministry of Teach All Nations to Malawi. They will teach individuals through a chronological Bible teaching. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld “I tell them ‘You’ll know I’m telling you the truth if what I’m teaching, telling you what it really means and helping you put that together, keeps making sense to you, then you’ll know I’m telling you the truth,’” Renno said.

The teaching is oral, because many people do not have access to books.

“The original teaching even back when the apostles were walking was all oral.

Nobody read, it was all verbal,” Elrod added. “The great sense part of the

chronological approach is starting from the beginning. Everybody around the world has some concept of a god or the god so we start from there.”

This current teaching trip will be a short one, just a little over two weeks, being Elrod’s first trip. It is Renno’s follow-up to the teachings he has passed on to pastors in Malawi.

This will be Renno’s sixth trip in Malawi.

This follow-up teaching will be held with two English-speaking individuals, a pastor with five churches and a woman who lives in the village of Chiwaya.

The pastor has started three more churches since Renno was there the last time, and is continuing to start ones. The pastor also holds Bible classes where he is training his own people to pastor the churches.

The woman, from Holland, has been living in Malawi for the past 10 years and has learned the language. For all these years, she has been trying to reach out to the women of Malawi. After trying many different methods, Renno said she was very frustrated but still felt a calling to the women. Renno and his

im Renno and Bob Elrod will spend their time in Chigamula, which is 15 miles outside of the second largest city in Malawi, Blantyre. wife taught her their ministry for seven weeks.

“Now that everything makes sense, she’s teaching the Bible that same way to other women in Malawi, so they can make sense of it too,” Renno commented. “They’re all excited because they’re starting to understand the Bible.”

They’re teaching others inside and outside the village.

“That’s why this number is so small.

Its only two people but they’re extremely valuable and affective,” Renno said. “We also believe the best ones to reach the Malawians are other Malawians. We don’t try to teach the people, we reach the people God points us to so they can teach them in their own language.”

This trip to Malawi is going to cost money for airfare, ground travel, food and housing. Other expenses include passports and several shots and medications they need to go into Africa.

Elrod will be hosting a garage sale at his residence at the end of this month to help with some of these expenses.

Teach All Nations is a nonprofit organization, supported by donations. If you would like to donate or find more information about this ministry, visit www.teachallnations.net.

Downtown Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi.

Jim’s students and some Youth with a Mission: Malawi staff pose for a picture.

Jim Renno tells Bible stories in a home.

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

Ag on the Lawn

Luck students raise awareness of agriculture LUCK – On Tuesday, May 13, the Luck FFA chapter hosted Ag on the Lawn at the Luck school. Ag on the Lawn is to raise awareness to agriculture.

The members of the FFA chapter put on a little petting zoo. Many students brought in farm animals and farm machinery. Not only did the community get to pet all the animals but they got free ice cream, cheese and milk. The Luck FFA Alumni planted a soybean test plot, a corn maze for Halloween, and a sweet corn plot for the Luck FFA. The FFA would like to thank the following sponsors for all their support and donations: Wayne’s Foods Plus, Van Meter’s Meats, The Luck FFA Alumni, Burnett Dairy, Kwik Trip of Cumberland, Jeff’s Small Engines, The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Jerry Halverson and the Luck Fire Department.

Jerry Halverson had his horse perform a variety of tricks during Luck’s Ag on the Lawn.

During Luck’s Ag on the Lawn Day, Kasey Johnson watches as Clara the Cow (a.k.a. Cassie Johnson) waves to the camera.

FFA President A u s h l e a n a Branville joins members Aaron Norlund and Aaron Sorenson in preparing the concession stand for customers at the start of Ag on the Lawn Day at Luck Schools on Tuesday, May 13.

Kasey and Kelly Johnson take a break from answering children’s questions to Luck’s Ag on the Lawn Day.

L E F T: F r e s h m a n Alyssa Hutton shows off the horse she brought to Luck’s Ag on the Lawn Day. – Photos submitted

Senior Ryan Johnson checks out the cab of Jeff Gackle’s tractor during Luck’s Ag on the Lawn Day.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 3

These submissions are by two of the seven Siren students who were winners of the Scholastic Writing Award contest

Day of the Dogs, Silenced

by Hunter Wikstrom (seventh grade) The Puppies It was dark out when someone asked, “Where is Emma?” Emma is our playful black lab who loves to fish. Emma can actually catch fish in her mouth. She has been known to stand in the water for hours at a time waiting for a fish to come sliding stealthily across the lake’s bottom (or so it thinks). Just then Emma’s jaws will snap, and she’ll pull her snout out of the water holding a fish! So when we couldn’t find Emma that night, we naturally we searched down by the lake. Suddenly we heard small, soft whimpering.

We followed the whining all the way to our old boat, which lay overturned. After we hoisted it over, we found Emma with eight tiny black and yellow lab pups. Two puppies weren’t breathing; they were like animals waiting for their prey. Mom lifted one and Jeremy the other.

Then my dad and I carried the puppies to our garage (which is luckily heated). We quickly made a nice area of soft blankets in a kid’s pool. Mom and Jeremy stroked the lifeless two. This brings warmth so they can survive. The yellow lab revived quickly, but the black lab didn’t show any signs of life.

Then our neighbors arrived. Our friend Rod knew what to do right away. He grabbed the puppy and cradled him. Then he slowly swung his arms back and forth gracefully. After a few minutes, the puppy let out

PoCo Penners The PoCo Penners meet the second Friday of the month at 2 p.m. at the county boardroom in the government center in Balsam Lake. Contact Brenda Mayer at 715-485-3571 or Iris Holm 715284-3174 for more information. - submitted

no dog to jump up into the car to play, and no dog to bring us a baseball full of slobber that he had been chewing on. There seemed only to be a never ending silence.

Writer’s Corner

The Alaskan Catch air and breathed like the rest.

After the puppies were settled, we went inside and to bed. The next morning we found eleven puppies!

In the end we hope all our puppies are happy and healthy and making their owners happy and healthy, too. That would make the effort to keep them all alive worth every minute.

Jack Jack was always a playful dog. My brother was two years old when he first got him. He called Jack “Bite You,” because puppies like to give you a little bite now and then. Jack was strong and healthy throughout his life. He didn’t care for care for swimming, but loved pontoon rides with the family. During them, he would bark at passing birds, and we would laugh. But one day after school there was a depressing silence in the car. It was bone chilling just guessing why everyone was so quiet. Finally Mom told us the horrible news that Jack had died.

Mom fumed about the Vet: “They didn’t even try to save Jack,” she said. They just looked at him and said, “There is nothing we can do. He was injured too long.’“ We had taken him in when he was limping, but it wasn’t his leg that was hurt. I wondered if we could have saved him maybe if Jack would have showed signs of sickness. Mom never did tell us how Jack died. You could practically hear your heart beat it was so quiet on that ride home.

The next day I saw Jack’s empty bed. I knew I would never forget about him. I questioned myself again, Could we have saved him?

Jack did not greet us home from school. There was

by William Haines (eighth grade) The tug launching me out of my seat.

Reel buzzing in the air, enormous splashes on my face of freezing, exhilarating rain.

Biggest salmon on the wall, proudest person of them all.

What am I? Flung across water Then I hit and splash.

I dive Deeper and deeper until I feel a slight tug.

A large fish Pursues me, Then I slow And let him swallow.

I’m yanked, Then back at shore.

What am I?

Northwest Regional Writers The Northwest Regional Writers meet at 1 p.m. the second Friday of the month either in Frederic or Grantsburg. Each month we have a topic to write about and read to the group. The following writing was read at the last meeting. Call Mary Jacobson at 715-349-2761 for more information about the organization.

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

May is Older American Month STATEWIDE – Mavis called to get a ride to the clinic and grocery store because she no longer drives. Interfaith Caregivers provided a volunteer to transport her so she could keep her appointment and do her shopping.

The 86-year-old widow needed a little help with her spring yard chores. A high school class went to rake. They left with an ice-cream treat and good memories of

being able to help someone.

Interfaith Caregivers recognizes May as Older American Month. Our mission: Volunteers helping seniors and adults living with disabilities to remain independent.

There are no income eligibility requirements. Donations are appreciated. Interfaith Caregivers can provide services such as local transportation, short-term

respite care, friendly visits, shopping and errands, minor repairs, business help, cancer treatment and dialysis rides, etc.

They work cooperatively with the Aging Department of Polk County who provides help such as Senior Driving, Meals on Wheels and medical transportation. We also work with The Haven, which is available at various locations in Polk County for those with

Alzheimer’s, to provide services to the elderly and disabled.

If you need a little help, a ride, companionship, or are willing to volunteer to help, please call our Interfaith Caregivers office at 483-9263. - from Interfaith Caregivers

"Between Fences" holds quilt show CLEAR LAKE – Gratitude is extended to Anne Kusilek of Prairie Farm for all the hard work she put into the quilt show on May 3 and 4, sponsored by the Clear Lake Library, for the Smithsonian “Between Fences” exhibition. There were over 150 quilts entered into the show, including many antique and vintage ones with their accompanying stories.

A total of 10 categories were placed and judged. Congratulations go to the winners of each category which were: John Harvey – Youth, Small Hand Quilted – Carol Streif, Large Machine Quilted – Mary Wolff, Best Antique/Vintage – Caroline Olson, Home Décor – Bev Getchel, Clothing and Accessories – Betty Nyseth, Large Hand Quilted – Ruth Hubinette, Small Machine Quilted – Carol Streif, Small Tied – Nancy Kalbow, Large Tied – Colleen Johnson.

Carol Streif’s Small Hand Quilted also won Best of Show.

There were many door prizes which were donated by businesses and people from the area. The grand prize was a queen-sized quilt donated by Anne Kusilek, Sew Country Quilt Shop of Clear Lake, and the Ruffled Rooster Quilt Studio of Clear Lake and made by

Carol Streif’s Small Hand Quilted won Best of Show and First in Class during the “Between Fences” quilt show on May 4. – Photo submitted Anne Kusilek, Lisa Inlow, and the Clear Lake fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade ele-

mentary classes. It was won by Noreen Falde of Spring Valley.

Other prizes were: a book donated by Finely Finished Quilting of Prairie Farm - won by Jan Bauer of Luck; a book donated by The Catena Shop of Clear Lake - won by Donna Waech of Grand Rapids, Minn.; fabric donated by River’s Edge Quilt Loft of Hayward - won by Patti Anderson of Rice Lake; a fat quarter pack donated by Elly’s Sheared Sheep of Chetek - won by Juanita Seidl of Amery; a gift certificate donated by Coffee, Tea and Me of Clear Lake - won by Bill Hawley of Baldwin; a pattern pack donated

by Doodlestein Designs of Prairie Farm won by Bob Swanson of Eau Claire; a pattern pack donated by Doodlestein Designs - won by Marion Gust of Deer Park; a thread sampler donated by River’s Edge Quilt Loft of Hayward won by Barb Huset of Dallas; a book donated by Finely Finished of Prairie Farm - won by Judy Colett of Phoenix, Ariz.; a tote donated by the Clear Lake Public Library - won by Kathy Novitzke of Amery; a tote donated by the Clear Lake Public Library - won by Diane Paulsen of Prairie Farm; rolling cooler donated by the Clear Lake Public Library - won

by Angie Dorsey of Clear Lake. Congratulations to all our winners! – submitted

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

River Road Ramblings

collected by Russ Hanson

by Stanley Selin The Bass Lake photo shown below was provided by Janice Streed Olsen, who obtained it from the collection of Virginia Stellburg Gronlund. The Trade Lake No. 5 photo taken in 1933 was provided by the late Eunice Hallquist Petersen.

Trade Lake School No. 5 Students - Lower Room - 1933. Back row (L to R): Dorothy Oberg, Evelyn Neuman, Lola Hastings, Amy Ryss, teacher, Alexis Volberg, Elaine Lundquist, Eunice Hallquist and Eva Jean Geophert. Middle row: Dahlberg, Arlette Oberg, Milfred Anderson, Earl Nelson, Gloria Johnson, Walter Lindberg, Colin Erickson and Marion Andeson. Front row: Verona Neuman, Virginia Eckberg, Janet Bjornberg, Anita Eckberg, Glenn Melin, Vera Sjoberg, Velda Larson, Elaine Larson and Joyce Anderson.

Bass Lake School Students – Oct.10, 1929. Note: Students names are listed starting from front to back in each row. The first row is on the left, closest to the wall. First row: (L to R): Blanche Selander, Mildred Beiderman, Joseph Beiderman, Norman Ryss and Joseph Ecklund. Second row: Hazel Thompson, Virginia Stellburg, Milton Ryss, Ellwood Bonneville, Violet Thompson, Opal Westrom and Violet Christopherson, teacher. Third row: Edith DeBoer, Darrell Bonneville, Reidar Beiderman, Marvin Ryss, Bennie Ryss, Florence Beiderman and Bernice Selander. Fourth row: Marjorie Stellburg, Florence Swanberg, Paul Johnson, Walden Christensen, Russel Ryss and Lawrance Hoglund. Fifth row: Delanore Anderson, Marvin Burns, Hazel Lindquist, Donald Jensen, Donald Johnson, Gladys Ryss, Bob Anderson and Eleanor Beiderman. Back row: Vernon Ortendahl, Norma Jensen, Delores Christensen and Evelyn Ortendahl.

Not pictured: Ruby Ortendahl.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 5

The Way Things Were in 1940

by Shirley Olson (Oct. 6, 1990) Many country homes were still without electricity.

Kerosene lamps kept us out of the dark.

Our radio had a 6-volt battery. We could listen to the morning wake-up by Clellan Bernice Card, Helen Trent, Jack Armstrong and the All-American Abrahamzon Boy, Ma Perkins, Major Bowes talent show and others. Cedric Adams was on the 10 p.m. news.

The pantry was gradually being recycled into a bathroom. Then we got kitchen cupboards.

The summer kitchen was used to keep the heat out of the house in the summer. At the Berg’s, the summer kitchen was recycled into a home for Mae and Louie and Ma Berg.

Ice boxes were kept cold in ice that the ice man brought in big chunks. There was a pan in the bottom where the water dropped, and you had to remember to empty it before it ran over! A lot of farmers had their own ice houses and ice was cut during the winter at a nearby lake. The ice was brought home on a horse-drawn sled, put in a building close to the house and buried with sawdust hauled from a local sawmill.

The well pit and basement were also used to keep food cold. No frozen food was available during the summer. In the winter, a box was set outside in nature’s freezer.

There was lots of canning of summer vegetables and meat, or storing in the basement or root cellar.

Chickens were butchered, cleaned and eaten within a few hours.

Boughten bread was 18 cents a loaf, and an ice cream cone was 5 cents, candy kisses 2 cents, and a surprise in a package called “guess what” for 2 cents.

Pennies had a lot of value.

Houses were heated with wood. Most wood was cut with a one-man saw. A few people had an engine from an old car mounted on a four-wheeled wagon, with a buzz saw hooked to the engine with a bolt.

There was little inside plumbing. Water was pumped out of the ground into a bucket. A few had a cistern under the house that caught and held rain water and a cistern pump in the kitchen. A well-worn path led to the “little house out back.” Most had two holes, one small for the children with a step convenient for them. The Sears Roebuck and Monkey Wards catalogs were recycled for toilet paper, and apple-orange-peach colored tissue wrappings were a luxury.

In the house was a wash stand. There was a washpan, soap dish, a bucket of water with an enameled dipper to fill the pan or for a drink. A slop bucket took care of the used water. It was on the floor next to the wash stand.

A wood box stood close to the kitchen stove, which had many uses. The top was used for cooking. A teakettle was always on top heating, and could also be used for a humidifier when needed. I remember Mom would take the lid off the teakettle and put the bowl of sugared pancake syrup to melt. It was also handy when carrying hot water. The oven was dualpurpose, with its door open for heating and closed for baking. A warming closet or shelf was above.

Saturday night was bath night. Hot water came from the teakettle or the reservoir which was attached to the stove. The oldest child had the privilege of bathing first – and I was number eight! I can’t remembered if the water ever got changed, hot water was

BEHIND THE

SIGNPOST

added as needed.

Monday was wash day. Sunday night, extra water was pumped by hand into buckets, carried inside and poured into the wash boiler which was put on top of the wood stove. Early Monday morning, when the fire was started, the lids were lifted off and the boiler was slid over the open fire. The white clothes were boiled in the hot water. A stick was recycled from a broom handle and flattened on one end, then used to fish the hot clothes out of the boiler into a pail and poured in the washing machine. The first washing machine that I remember was powered by child labor.

A stick handle was pulled back and forth to make the dasher go around. It was shaped like a three-legged milk stool upside down. The wringer had a crank on it that was turned by hand. There were two round tubs (one had been used Saturday night for baths) for the rinse water. Mrs. Stewart’s bluing from a bottle was put in one rinse water. Clothes were hung outside on the line, even in the winter. They might freeze dry. They were taken into the house and hung upstairs. Most everything had to be ironed. Our irons were named “sad irons” and were heated on the kitchen stove. We had an old newspaper on the end of the ironing board for testing the irons so they were hopefully clean and the right heat.

I don’t remember special dog food, but I remember Mickey always had a pancake in his mouth after breakfast. We had a lot of oatmeal and pancakes. I can’t remember that we had boughten dry cereals, but Corn Flakes came first, then Wheaties.

Our rent was $5 a month. Dad got $1 a day for taking care of the Grantsburg dump. Dad also cut pulpwood. I got a penny a stick for peeling pulp. Dad bought a 1930 Model A Ford for $50. Gas was 18 cents a gallon.

Almost every Sunday was family (friends includes) get-together day. Mom baked a pork roast and baked beans, and made homemade ice cream from cream skimmed from the milk we bought from a farmer a half-mile from the edge of town.

Summer was for ball games and picnics. Card games and music the year round. Inez and Dad on the fiddle, Mae or Beth at the organ or piano, Doris on the accordion, Lyle on the guitar or banjo – and our dog, Mickey, sang along. Christmas Eve at Grantsburg was special. Everyone got lots of gifts. The tree touched the ceiling. Gifts were wall to wall. Santa Claus always came to our house.

Now, 50 years later, as I write of these memories, I remember how happy we were as a family. But most of all, how happy we still are, and so happy to share these moments with everyone, especially with our own families.

And, as in the words of a song we all enjoyed: “Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink…

The years go by, as quickly as a wink.

Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.”

(Note: The above story is reprinted from the book “May I Say Something?” published by the Northwest Regional Writers in the summer of 1993.

The 1940s are remembered with great fondness now, especially the music.s Shirley is now a resident of the Care Center in Frederic.)

Until next week, Bernice

Grantsburg Elementary School to hold Title 1 spring schoolwide review GRANTSBURG – Parents and guardians of Grantsburg Elementary students are invited to attend the Title 1 spring schoolwide review at the Grantsburg Elementary School beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

The purpose of the meeting is to review the Title 1 program goals and assessments. The results of the parent survey sent out earlier in the school year will be given and there will be a review of the 2007-2008

schoolwide plan. The 2008-2009 plan will be presented and parents will be asked to give input and make recommendations.

A question and answer time will follow and refreshments will be served.

Parents ideas are welcome and needed!

For any questions, please call the Title I coordinator, Bridget Nevin, at 715-463-2320. - submitted

Check out the Leader’s new e-edition @ www.the-leader.net

Do you remember ?

Compiled by Bernice Abrahamzon

50 Years Ago Baler twine at Frederic Feed and Flour was $7.15 per bale.-Plans were for flying saucers to drop prizes in Siren as a tourist promotion.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, included cut wax or green beans at 10¢ can, Spry at 89¢ for a 3-lb. tin, carrots at 2 bundles for 19¢ and pork roast at 49¢ lb.Open house was planned at the Dallas House, SCF, on June 6-7.-A wedding dance was set for Saturday, June 7, given by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pinney (Mary Lou Chapman) at the Indian Creek Hall.-The Bloodmobile was coming to Polk County June 16-19.-Nelson for Governor Club was formed in Polk County.-Over 600 attended annual meeting of REA at Centuria.-Special flour prices at Frederic Farmers Co-op Exchange were 50-lb. Occident at $3.39, 25 lbs. Occident at $1.75 and 50 lbs. Pillsbury at $3.39.Father’s Day specials at Hagberg’s Federated Store, Frederic, would include wash and wear shirts at $5, putter pants at $1.99, straw hats at $1.99 and men’s swim trunks at 99¢.-Chester Fremont, Frederic, had a large ad for insurance.-Jolly Stan and his 10-piece orchestra would be at the Dunham Ballroom June 14.-Unity District voters decided to retain Jorgenson site.

40 Years Ago Specials at the Clover Farm Store, Frederic, were Gaines Meal (for dogs) at $2.79 for a 25-lb. bag, corn flakes at 2 18-oz. pkgs. at 79¢.-Top Ten Frederic High School class of 1968 were Jill Hansen, valedictorian; Diane Martin, salutatorian; Leroy Anderson, Donna Sederlund, Deborah Dversdall, Richard Panek, Leota Hackett, Betty Gustafson, Paul Annett and Larry Hedlund.-Carol Freeberg, Lewis, graduated with honors from Wisconsin State University-Superior.-Laurie Fischer was a 1968 graduate from Ripon College.-Karl’s Tavern, Siren, was for sale.-Frederic grads were planning for June 9 commencement program.-The Cushing Baseball Club announced Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, June 2, 1968, at 2:15 p.m., in Cushing Ballpark.-The movie “Bonnie and Clyde” was playing at the Auditorium Theatre, SCF.-Frederic golfers won the Luck Regional.-A Memorial Day weekend dinner was being served at Yellow Lake Lodge, Thursday, May 30.-The June special at Our Own Hardware, Carlson Hardware, Frederic, was teakettles at $1.89.-Grand opening of the Frederic Café was set for May 31, with apple or pumpkin pie at 15¢ plus hamburger and French fries at 50¢.

20 Years Ago Obituaries included Agnes Ulick, Fred Jorgenson, Ida Brask, Sylvia Johnson, Kenneth Petersen, Olga Brabec, Ceone Benzer.-Wendy Anderson, granddaughter of Charlie Anderson of Frederic, was married to Dino Fabbri of Italy in a royal palace in Morocco in March.-John Glockzin, Frederic fire chief, had a “No Burning” notice in the Leader newspaper.-The Frederic FHA received honors at state conference.-Jennifer Wisse, Frederic, received a $5,000 scholarship at Drake University for the 198889 year.-Timberland Hills possible site of Nordic Combined National Championship.-David Pauls, Assemblyman and William Berndt said the Legislature’s property tax relief is a farce.-Frederic forensic students who rated high at Madison on April 22 were Heather Schmidt, Jennifer Wisse, both received the gold awards with a perfect score of 25; Kelly Grindell and Kate Sjodin with bronze awards; Dori Moek and Jeanene Gackle all-state award (silver).-Many grass fires due to dry conditions.-Forts Folle Avoine had the benefit of money when Burnett County received $388,000 grant for the trading post site.-Retiring grade school administrator, William Plath was honored at Dairyland picnic.

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Hi, everybody! Blacky here from Humane Society of Burnett County. I cannot believe it is nearing the end of May already. It has felt more like the spring that wasn’t, rather than spring. I’m still dreaming of going to the beach and fetching sticks and swimming around.

I did have a pretty fun day last week, Blacky though. It was my birthday! Yep, I’m 4 years old now! To celebrate, I got some special treats and a long hike and lots of play time. That was fun. I YAPpenings also got a couple of things I didn’t necessarily want: A few of those icky woodticks and a few new gray hairs around my muzzle.

I’m told they make me look distinguished and handsome (the gray hairs, not the ticks), but I don’t know. Does anyone know if there’s such a thing as Just For Dogs, to cover up gray hair? I also went on a road trip to the vet for my annual shots and a checkup. I’m not crazy about getting poked with needles, but I stood still and didn’t knock anyone over. My brother cried like a puppy, and he’s twice my age! I laughed at him, but he was not too amused. What a grouch.

Speaking of needles, that got me to thinking about something. A lot of the dogs that arrive at the shelter are there because they have somehow gotten lost or decided to go on tour and get picked up and brought to the shel-

SHELTER

ter. You wouldn’t believe how many dogs do not have a microchip implanted in them! If you don’t know much about microchips for dogs, I’ll tell you. They are tiny, about the size of a grain of rice, and are injected under a dog’s skin, between the shoulder blades. They have a number on them that is registered in, in... Microchip World, I guess, that is associated with that particular dog.

Any reputable shelter, vet clinic or other animal care facility should have on hand a scanner that they can use to scan a stray dog and track down its owner. Tags are good to have, but they can fall off. A microchip will stay with your dog forever. You can have your vet insert a chip, or the shelter folks can do it right here, too. I have one, but I’m not telling you my secret number.

There are some new faces here at the shelter this week for me to tell you about. This week, the cats outnumber the dogs! Mia-Sophia is the mama cat to the kittens I mentioned last week. She would like a home and some peace and quiet, she said. She’s had enough kitten antics and wants out. Petie, Rangoon, Tai-Tai and Silky are her kittens; two boys and two girls. They’re pretty rambuncious at 8 weeks old. Also, there’s Muffin who is a female shorthair kitten. She is a ball of energy and likes to ambush people’s legs when they walk past.

Tinkerbell, Blossom, Smokey and Tippy are still here as well. In the dog department there are five faces. Energy and Cindy are still awaiting homes. They are both young, sweet dogs and are full of affection. New is Brady. He

Siren

349-2964

I finally got to see the smallest of the birds in my backyard on May 11, as well as several male orioles.

After being in the same house for over 40 years and feeding birds there, I guess they decided I had moved to a new house. They would just scout around the neighborhood and find the old bird feeder lady, and find me they did. Each one of the many kinds of birds are once again busy eating out of my feeders, even a few new ones. The scarlet tanager and the beautiful red-headed woodpecker are seen. Once again, birds are busy picking up the scraps of yarn for nests, all is well in my bird yard.

The Forts Folle Avoine Historical Society will have their opening weekend on May 24 and 25 for those who enjoy visiting. There will be tours on both days with a pancake breakfast on Sunday, May 25 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Food and Friends Community dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 27, at the Siren Covenant Church from 5 to 6 p.m. This is a free meal, but donations are

Bev Beckmark

always welcome. Come early, as the food goes fast.

Sympathy to the family of Donald J. Bensing who passed away May 6.

Coming up on Saturday, May 24, Edina Realty of Siren will be grilling brats in their Siren office parking lot for all their old customers as well as those who might be in need of them in the future. Stop in, grilling is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coming up on June 9 is the 13th-annual golf tournament at the Siren National Golf Course, west of town with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Prizes on every hole, plus many more great prizes. A steak dinner follows the tournament at Kris’ Pheasant Inn. Price is $65 per person, but call soon as it is filling up. For more information cal 349-5755 or 349-5402.

June 14 has been set for this year’s 24th-annual Dairy Breakfast, held this year at the late Howard Kopecky Farm, just south of Siren on Hwy. 35. All proceeds go to the Ag Association Scholarship Fund. Breakfast is adults $5 and kids 6 to 12, just $3.

Birth announcements Born at Amery Regional Medical Center A boy, Travis Stewart Munson, born May 8, 2008, to Mari and Andrew Munson, Star Prairie. Travis weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz.

••• A boy, Remington Mathews Thompson, born May 9, 2008, to Kristi and Travis Thompson, Amery. Remington weighed 6 lbs., 4 oz.

••• A boy, Camden Alexander Davis, born May 9, 2008, to Melanie and Calvin Davis, Turtle Lake. Camden weighed 8 lbs.

••• A girl, Makaelyn Amy Ankrum, born May 10, 2008, to Kimberly and Daniel Ankrum, Amery. Makaelyn weighed 8 lbs., 3-1/2 oz.

••• A boy, Jaden Mitchel DeMarre, born May 13, 2008, to Kelli Doolittle and John DeMare, St. Croix Falls. Jaden weighed 9 lbs., 4-1/2 oz.

••• A girl, KarlyAnna Gail RaeLynn Parmeter, born May 13, 2008, to Jessica Hagen and LeRoy Parmeter, Tripoli, Iowa. KarlyAnna weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz.

•••

Born at St. Croix Regional Medical Center: A boy, Everett Lester Hafenstein Johnson, born May 5, 2008, to Julie Hafenstein and Justin Johnson, Centuria.

Everett weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz.

••• A girl, Katrina Annabelle Adams, born May 6, 2008, to Stuart and Heidi Adams, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Katrina weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz.

••• A boy, Frederick John Nelson, born May 7, 2008, to Stephanie and Stephen Nelson, Frederic. Frederick weighed 8 lbs., 14 oz.

••• A girl, Tanysna Jade Lightfeather, born May 11, 2008, to Amber Merrill and James Lightfeather, Lewis. Tanysna weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz.

•••

A girl, Charlie Anne Murphy, born May 11, 2008, to Daniel and Jacqueline Murphy, Forest Lake, Minn. Charlie weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz.

•••

Frederic Senior Center Ardyce Knauber

Monday spades was played with the following winners: Norma Nolan in first place, Eleanor Bonneville in second place and Netha Polson in third place.

Tuesday whist was enjoyed.

Wednesday pokeno players as always enjoyed their games and fellowship time together.

Thursay, May 15, 500 cards was played at 6:30 p.m. with the following winners: Arvid Pearson in first place, Arnie Borchert in second place, Lola Hinschberger in third place and Tim Abrahamzon in fourth place.

Friday pokeno games were enjoyed.

Our weekly early morning coffee time is always enjoyable. We will be enjoying our outdoor patio area as we have a new patio rug.

Saturday food and fellowship and games as always had a good buffet style dinner. We always have a dessert cake made by our Clareese Marek. Each Saturday she makes a different kind of cake so we wait for the surprise.

Bingo, card games and afternoon refreshments were enjoyed.

The pool players are really skilled at their game and are always a lot of un.

Bernie Kurkowski donated a beautiful tray of petunias.

We will be planting our flowers this week. We are looking forward to our school friends to help us.

Remember you are welcome to visit us and enjoy the activities that we offer.

We have our Memorial Day potluck at noon on Monday, May 26, with spades to follow and bingo if desired.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and honor our military.

is a shepherd/husky mix and is around 4 years old, we figure. He is a nice boy and likes to play with other dogs, too. Kane is a 6-month-old pup that was surrendered because of dog allergies in his household. That’s too bad.

He knows some commands and has lived with children.

He’s a jumper, but he also likes to cuddle and be close to people. Storm is a stray, neutered black Lab that was found in the Devils Lake area recently. Do you know anyone missing a dog fitting this profile? Finally, there’s Rose. Rose is a cutie. She is a black Lab pup, under a year old. She’s a playful girl and very sweet. Rose was found in the vicinity of CTH X near Webster.

I have to end this week with a short list of stuff we could use. Two bigger items are a weed trimmer and a plastic storage shed. Smaller items include cat litter, puppy food, kitten food and topical flea and tick treatment. Also, the office needs a printhead for their printer (no, I did not break it). Anyway, it is for an HP Officejet Pro K550 Black and Yellow. If you can help out with any of these items, it would sure be appreciated. Also, don’t forget about the fundraiser coming up next weekend. It is our Wine and Cheese Tasting Event at the Trade Lake Winery on Saturday, May 31. I’ll remind you of all the particulars in next week’s column again so you don’t forget. Think spring, everybody, and I’ll see you here next week!

HSBC is saving lives, one at a time. www.hsburnettcty.org 866-4096.

Dewey - LaFollette 468-2940

Karen Mangelsen

The Memorial Day program at Hertel Lakeview Church will be Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. sharp. All are welcome.

Judy Albee visited Roger and Sue Mroszak on Tuesday evening.

David Lester was a Thursday overnight guest of Maynard and Ronda Mangelsen.

Bunnie Johnson spent several days with Don and Lida Nordquist.

Several friends and relatives surprised Bill Taubman on Saturday evening in honor of his 70th birthday. Happy birthday, Bill!

Andrea and Rob Williamson and son Michael were Saturday evening visitors of Maynard and Ronda Mangelsen.

Joel Ebert was a Sunday afternoon visitor of Roger and Sue Mroszak.

Nina Hines, Donna Hines, and Lida Nordquist attended a bridal shower at Nancy Hagen’s in honor of Karly Heise, the fiancée of Chris Harrison. Chris is the grandson of Lawrence and Nina Hines.

Gerry and Donna Hines were in Minneapolis, Minn., and attended the dance recital of their granddaughters.

Maynard and Ronda Mangelsen visited Mike and Nancy Longhenry on Sunday afternoon.

Clam River Tuesday Club will meet Wednesday, June 4, at the home of Dixie Andrea, at 1:30 p.m.

A speedy recovery is wished to Judy Leonard who had knee surgery at St. Croix Falls on Monday.

Luck Senior Center Another snowbird arrived – welcome back Warren Kirk!

I wasn’t at the center much last week, just Tuesday.

The bank (Rural American) served on Wednesday, and Ellen Jepsen and Betty Bohn served for me on Thursday.

I went with the Thrivent bus tour to the Fanny Hill Playhouse in Eau Claire. Thanks Ellen and Betty for all your help.

The monthly birthday potluck get-together will be Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m. Please note day and time change.

We will be starting our summer hours in June, June 3, to be exact. We will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., until further notice. We are also planning on having a movie day once a month. Keep reading the Luck Senior news for more details.

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Until next week, keep smiling!

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 7

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Kids fishing contest to be held SIREN – The Siren Lions and Lake Country Riders are holding their annual, free, kids fishing contest on Sunday, June 8, at the Clam Lake Wayside, four miles east of Siren on Hwy. 70. Registration will be at 8 a.m., with the contest at 9 a.m. to noon.

The contest is for children between the ages of 2 and 17. Age categories are 2-5, 6-9, 10-13 and 14-17. There will be trophies for biggest sunfish, bass, crappie, northern and walleye, along with door prizes for all registered kids. There will also be free hot dogs and pop at the weigh-in. The pop is provided by Bernick Cos. This is Wisconsin Free Fishing Weekend, so no fishing license is needed for residents and nonresidents on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8.

For info, call 715-349-2400. – submitted

E-edition - this complete issue is online now. www.the-leader.net

653-4281

Lewis

Bernice Abrahamzon

Congratulations to Kaylene Johnson, daughter of Karen and Calvin Johnson, who was confirmed Sunday by Pastor Tom Cook at the Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church. She is our newest member at Lewis.

The family served a beautiful sheet cake and beverage after the service.

The Morning Reading Club met Thursday at the Frederic Library to discuss the book “Montana 1948” written by Larry Watson.

Congratulations to our 2008 graduates. Wishing them successful and interesting lives. Open houses are held in their homes, churches, etc.

Nice to have visitors in church on Sunday including Bob Wellemeyer, relatives of Phil and Sylvia Schaetzel.

Bob is a college friend of Sheila Staples and Rick Abrahamzon. The lady who gave the electric organ to the Lewis Church, Laurel was also there. We also had other guests present.

The UMW met last Wednesday at the Lewis church.

The May gift of money was designated for the Frederic

Cancer Walk.

Goodies were served after the Sunday service, and we are glad our guests stayed to enjoy that, too.

We are still distributing leftover items from our early rummage sale in May. Gratitude to those helping.

The June church letter is in the hands of our church secretary, Kelly.

Bushes are beginning to bloom along roadsides. Ah, spring. Wrens are back and also mourning doves.

Marsh marigolds on the church altar.

Welcome back to Glenna Hauger of Siren. Another snowbird accounted for.

Years ago your correspondent saw birds flying in a tight circle. That was a rare treat to see them performing. A bird lover told me that is called kettling (as in kettle). No day is wasted in which you learn something – and something new.

Brandi is an 8-week-old, female, medium-hair torbie. Sounds exotic, doesn’t it? A torbie has a combination coat marking of the striped tabby and the orange highlights of the tortoiseshell. This little kitten has it all. She is playful and adorable. She and a few other kittens have recently become available Arnell in our adoption room. Brianne is a Humane light grey tabby with mittens, ButSociety tons is an orange tabby male. Also available are Swedie, a calico, Spice, a mitted torbie and Spud, a mitted grey tabby. All of our kittens have had their first vaccines and are ready and anxious to rip it up in a new home.

The Annual Arnell Humane Society Garage Sale is happening on Saturday, June 21, the first day of summer. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and it wouldn’t be such a great success without the fantastic donations that make it so popular. So, animal lovers, save yourself the trouble of putting on a garage sale

for yourself and donate your lightly used, still desirable, useful items to the animal shelter. Your donated items are tax-deductible and will help raise money for homeless animals.

Be creative and consider all options of donation. We will gladly sell your boat, lawn furniture, tools, pet supplies, art, appliances or housewares. We want our sale to be a huge success and would appreciate items that have not already been passed up at an earlier sale.

Due to space restraints, we also can’t accept TVs and clothing. Donations are accepted at the shelter at 185 Griffin St. E. in Amery during business hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, or by appointment.

Arnell Memorial Humane Society, Amery, 715 2687387 or visit our adoptable pets online: arnellhumane.org

HAPPY TAILS

AWAIT

BURNETT COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Burnett Community Library I would like to tell everyone about the books for all school-age children that are on display at the Webster Public Library. I want to encourage these books for summer reading material. Last week, I had mentioned about Burnett Community Library having been awarded the “We the People” Bookshelf Collection Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association. I said I would list the books with the theme, “Created Equal.” They are as follows: Kindergarten to grade 3 “The Ugly Ducking,” by Hans Christian Andersen “The Gettysburg Address,” by Abraham Lincoln “Pink and Say,” by Patricia Polacco “Pink and Say,” by Patricia Polacco (translated by Alejendra Lopez Varela) Grades 4 – 6 “Elijah of Buxton” by Christopher Paul Curtis “Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence,” by Russell Freedman “Lincoln: A Photobiography,” by Russell Freedman “Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom,” by Virginia Hamilton “Lyddie,” by Katherine Paterson “Lyddie,” by Katherine Paterson (translated by Rosa Benavides) Grades 7 – 8 “Saturnalia,” by Paul Fleishman “Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott,” by Russell Freedman “Abraham Lincoln the Writer: A Treasury of His Greatest Speeches and Letters,” edited by Harold Holzer “Breaking Through,” by Francisco Jimenez “Breaking Fronterizos: Breaking Through Spanish edition,” by Francisco Jimenez

Grades 9 – 12 “Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution,” by Natalie S. Bober “That All People May Be One People, Send Rain to Wash the Face of the Earth,” by Nez Perce Chief Joseph “Flowers for Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes “Flores Para Algernon,” by Daniel Keyes (translated

by Paz Barroso) “Lincoln’s Virtues: An Ethical Biography,” by William Lee Miller “Amistad: A Novel,” by David Pesci A committee of professionals has been organized to discuss the feasibility of doing a school play on one of the above books next fall.

Four volunteers are needed to help with the different groups in the months of July and August at the Webster Public Library from 1 – 2 p.m. on Tuesdays.

All four reading levels are encouraged to come and join in on the reading for that day which will be taken from one of the books for their individual reading groups. This all begins on July 8. Hope to see many there. Any questions, please contact Maxine at the Webster Public Library by calling 866-7697 or e-mailing Maxine@webster.nwls.lib.wi.us.

New arrivals are “The Forbidden,” by Beverly Lewis “The Front,” by Patricia Cornwell “Glimpses of Heaven” by Trudy Harris, RN “Sundays at Tiffany’s,” by James Patterson “The Hollow,” by Nora Roberts “Odd Hours,” by Dean Koontz “Phantom Prey,” by John Sandford “Winter Study,” by Nevada Barr

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER 866-4334 Another new week at the center and a chance for Harold Peterson, Bob Gleason and Gene Johnson to get in a few more games of pool. We are always happy to see our center being used. Our pool table is also available for any ladies interested in playing. It would be nice to see a weekly ladies pool team get started. If anyone is interested, give me a call at 866-4334. It must be about time, too, for the men to be planning a pool tournament. How about it guys?

We are happy to welcome back our friend, Pete Neubauer, who recently returned home after spending the winter months in Mission, Texas.

Margel Ruck, Olive Gehrke, Gladys Beers, Theresa Gloege and I enjoyed a business trip to Duluth on Tuesday. Of course, it is always nice to be able to use the Senior citizen discount cards for lunch at the Old Country Buffet, too. Lynn Kern was happy to have her parents visit and help her celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday, Lynn!

Sixteen ladies had fun playing dime bingo at the center on Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed the refreshments furnished by Gladys Beers.

The Webster Lioness Club met at the Webster Community Center on Thursday evening for their monthly dinner meeting that was catered by Emily’s. Other evening activities in the village were the Relay For

Webster Senior Center Life of Burnett County annual survivors and caregivers reunion dinner held at Grace United Methodist Church. Olive Gehrke of Balsam Lake was spending the week visiting her daughter, Margel Ruck, and they both attended the dinner with me. It was a very delicious meal prepared and served by church committee members. Everyone enjoyed the entertainment provided by Dave Czaja and his concertina. The program was by Schary Shouse telling the American Cancer story, and Karen Humphrey gave a cancer update and information on the Relay for Life scheduled for Friday, June 13, at the Webster High School track arena. Afterward, Margel, Olive and I joined Gladys Beers and Theresa Gloege at the senior center for our usual Thursday evening of golf cards. Rod Hopkins, Harold Peterson, Pat O’Brien, Gene Johnson, Dave Wardean and Ken Hayes had a good time playing pool but they had to go without snackies as the ladies had all been busy earlier and had no time to make goodies. “Too bad, so sad!”

Sorry guys!

I got off easy this weekend for not having to cook for myself as I was a guest of Harold and Maxine Peterson for dinner at their home on Saturday evening, and a guest of Margel Ruck on Sunday night.

Margel and I had fun playing a couple of games of Hand and Foot cards, but we won’t discuss the scores, will we, Margel?

Amery Senior Center

by Kari Fladwood, Director What a beautiful day it is today! I’m writing this on Thursday, and it is in the upper 60s, the sun is shining, a perfect spring day! We got the dock in at Mom and Dad’s on Mother’s Day weekend (I love you, Mom!) and now I’m ready to sit on the dock and watch all the sunfish.

It has been busy as usual here at Centennial Hall – with a lot events coming. The Amery Area VIP Group (visually impaired persons) will be here on Thursday, May 22, at 1:30 p.m. On Friday, May 23, is Wii game night, playing pool, Wii, Yahtzee, darts and whatever else anyone wants to play. That starts at 6:30 p.m.

We decided to combine a couple of fundraisers, and we will be holding our Plant Sale, Bake Sale and Rummage Sale all in one this year! This will be held on Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5, and we will be having refreshments as well. It will be a packed place – our garage is nearly full of all kinds of treasures! If you would like to help out either of those days, please give us a call.

Our brat stand at Dick’s Market is coming up.The first one of the year for us is always exciting, it is a sure sign that summer is almost here. This will be on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31, please stop by and

say hi.

There is still room on the bus going to Treasure Island – we have a limited amount of seats, so if you want to go, you might want to pay for your seat today. The cost is $10 and the bus leaves on Thursday, May 29.

We also still have room in our digital photography class – Jerry Boucher will be the instructor. This is on Mondays, June 2 and 9, and the cost is $20 for the two classes. He’ll be able to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about digital cameras!

Congratulations to Val Hansen who won first place in this week’s pool tournament! Carl Johnson came in second, Paul Seidel was third and Mary Fisher was fourth. Jim Thorn came in first at Wednesday bridge, with Rachel Shay second, Sandra Thorn third, Mary Delougherty fourth and Connie Carlson fifth. Wendell and Ginny Anderson hosted the 500 card party with the help of Paul Seidel. Kim Rosen came in first, Ken Johnson was second and Marg Kallefig and Paul Seidel won the door prize!

Don’t forget we are closed on Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. Have a very safe holiday weekend!

God bless you all.

Mary Klar

Special thanks to the owner of The Granary, Webster, for giving a large packet of 10 percent off storewide discount coupons to the seniors to use during the month of May; Dave Wardean for repairing the kitchen stove and mowing the lawn; Pete Neubauer – juicy red Texas grapefruits; Jeanice Braun – puzzles; and Faye Russ for two Scrabble games.

Our get-well wishes and prayers go to Harold Peterson’s daughter, Renae Peterson of E. Bethel, Minn., Ruby Radke, Sam Williamson, Adelaide Johnson, Jan Cutler, Sue Becker, Jeremy Gronski who is a patient a Mayo Clinic, and Mary Garbe who is trying for a second kidney donor from within her family. Our sympathy and prayers also go out to Harold Peterson and family in the recent passing of his brother, Bob, of Grisham, Ore. Dr. Raymond Benson who was the former president of the American College of Surgeons went to Guatemala City in 1976 after a giant earthquake struck there, to help meet the physical needs of the sur-

vivors. While there he shared with others that he was not only a doctor but also a Christian. He enjoyed his work as a surgeon, but said that his higher calling was to witness to others about his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through his medical skills. The Bible tells us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” This doesn’t mean that we must go to foreign lands to preach, but to talk to our next-door neighbors and people we meet in our everyday life and share God’s word. It is not our responsibility to be concerned how people will respond to our sharing our faith with them, but what people will do with the message you have given them. “Hurting souls are everywhere – we must not pass them by; Jesus longs to touch their lives, so let us heed their cry.” – D. Haan. “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.” John 12:26. See you at the center!

Fallout from unhealthy relationships can be costly A growing body of reChildren from stable-cousearch suggests that the costs ple families are also less of unhealthy, unstable couple likely to experience teen relationships can be surprispregnancy, or to suffer from ingly high. In the workplace depression or sleep-related alone, it is estimated that 30 health problems. percent of sick time is taken Healthy couple relationfor marital or relationship ships can benefit the comdistress rather than physical munity in a number of Marilyn illness. important ways, but espeWork loss associated with cially in the workplace.

Kooiker relationship problems transStudies show that employlates into a loss of approxiees in stable relationships mately $6.8 billion per year have lower rates of absenfor U.S. businesses and inteeism, a greater work comdustry. One study found that mitment, higher levels of in the year following a diproductivity, and lower rates vorce, employees lost an avof job turnover. erage of 168 hours of work UW-Extension family livBurnett County ing educators are developtime.

Family Living ing educational programs Although divorce is a private decision, its consedesigned to help individuals Agent quences are not. Recent and couples acquire behavestimates put divorce costs to iors, skills and communicastate and federal governments at $33.3 tion patterns that research finds billion annually. These estimates in- support good relationships. clude costs related to children’s poor “It’s important to note that research academic performance, drug use, med- does not prescribe marriage as a soluical services, lost productivity, family tion to difficult issues,” says Kooiker. support and mental health services.

“But couple and marital relationships “On average, children in families can benefit from some ‘how to’ inforwhere two adults are in a healthy, sta- mation, some effort and the investment ble relationship are more likely to per- of time.” form better in school, and have fewer “The goal is to provide education emotional and behavioral problems,” that can improve relationships, espesays Marilyn Kooiker, University of cially before they start to spiral downWisconsin-Extension Family Living ward,” she says.

Agent in Burnett County. “These chilFor more information about building dren are less likely, on average, to en- stronger relationships or local educagage in risky sexual behavior, criminal tional programs, contact Marilyn activity, or to abuse drugs, alcohol or Kooiker at the Burnett County Extentobacco.” sion office, 349-2151.

FOCUS ON FAMILY LIVING

Organic dairy and beef pasture walk set EXELAND – The Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D Council and the Northwest Wisconsin Graziers Network are co-hosting a dairy pasture walk Thursday, May 29, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Steve and Ann Kormann Farm, 1950 CTH C, Exeland, in Sawyer County. Topics will include sustainable farming systems, crossbreeding, out-wintering, low-cost milking parlors, dairy and beef grazing, and organic dairy production.

To reach the farm from Exeland, located just east of the junction of Hwys.

48 and 40, follow CTH C about eight miles west, cross Hwy. 48, and then go north 1.5 miles to the farm on the right side. You can also follow Hwy. 48 from Exeland west about seven miles until

you reach CTH C going north. From Rice Lake, go about 30 miles east on Hwy. 48 to CTH C, and then go north.

From Spooner, take Hwy. 70 east about 30 miles and go south on CTH C. From Hayward, take Hwy. 27 south to Hwy. 70, go east to CTH C, and then south.

Watch for pasture walk signs.

For more information contact Otto Wiegand or Kevin Schoessow at UWEXSpooner 715-635-3506, Bob Brandt at PriRu-Ta RC&D 715-748-2008, Lynn Johnson at NW Graziers Network 715268-8778, Tim Jergenson at UWEX-Barron 715-537-6250, Ryan Sterry at UWEX-Polk 715-485-8600, or Aliesha Crowe at UWEX-Rusk 715-532-2151. submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 9

The railroad Going back into the past, an item in The Standard-Press, on Nov. 14, 1962: A couple months ago, the Soo Line revealed that it planned to seek permission from the Public Service Commission to close its agency here, an announcement that met with strong protest from people and business places in St. Croix Falls. Consequently, a hearing was held here some weeks ago by the P.S.C. and we’re now waiting to hear from the commission.

We stopped up at the Soo Line depot the other day, to talk with Agent V.D. Bovee, curious as to the various duties of a station agent. He was typing out a report – one of the many forms required of him – and the telegraph key was clicking away on his desk.

The telegraph, by the way, had been missing from the depot here for many years – it had been taken out years ago when one of the earlier agents developed trouble with his hands that prevented his using it and all telegraph messages in the meantime had been relayed from here by phone to the Dresser agent.

Mr. Bovee asked the company to reinstall the telegraph, not only because he thought it would be more convenient, but also, he says, “I just missed having the telegraph.”

He has been a station agent since 1936, and, except for one year with the Great Northern, he has been with the Soo Line all that time. He worked at Minneapolis, then came to Centuria in 1944. In 1958 he transferred to the Amery station for one year before coming to St. Croix Falls.

Hi lives at Centuria with his wife (who is a teacher there) and 15-year-old daughter, and a son is away at college.

It came naturally to “Dodd” Bovee to become a station agent, since his father was one in his hometown in northern Minnesota, and he learned telegraphy from his brother who worked as an agent in Duluth.

“I’ve always felt,” Mr. Bovee told us, “that a good description of our job would be ‘go-between’ for the railroad company, express company and telegraph comRosemarie pany, on one hand, Vezina and the public we serve, on the other Braatz hand.”

The train comes in on the spur track here, he tells us, from its regular Sponsored by the run between the Twin Cities and St. Croix Falls Historical Society Superior, up to four times a week, with carloads of freight or with empty cars to be loaded with shipments out of here. Shipments out of St. Croix Falls, by the way, may be of logs, ties, lumber or manufactured items, for example.

The majority of the freight shipped in regularly is for the lumber companies.

And when the Soo Line said that it might close the agency here, one of the lumber company managers said, “Without the services of an agent, we might as well stop operating.”

Recently, Mr. Bovee mentioned, many carloads have been for Northern States Power Co., which is building a new power line between here and Osceola.

Logs 85 feet long come in from Canada (after a stop-over at New Brighton for creosoting), and there are insulators from New York, wire from Illinois. It’s the agent’s job to figure out where all these materials can be unloaded in a convenient place.

The freight cars pull right up to the lumber company warehouses along the track, to unload the shipments of building material and the agent must be on hand to “spot” the cars – that is, to see that the individual cars are pulled up to the proper unloading dock.

The agent gets information by tele-

A ST. CROIX TALE

graph, about the incoming cars so that he can find out in advance from the patrons where they prefer to have the cars spotted for unloading.

He must keep a record of the arrival and departure of each train and relay that information on to the train dispatcher at Minneapolis. He must also report by telegraph to the car distributor at Minneapolis the initials and numbers of car loads received, so as to know where the car is to be sent after unloading. “Some of the cars,” Mr. Bovee explained, “are billed to other points for loading and some return to their own line or to other ‘foreign’ lines.” A foreign line, he tells us, would be in this case, a railroad other then the Soo. The agent makes up freight bills for each carload and collects the money.

And if any damage is found on the newly arrived freight, he must report it and handle the claim.

All shipments of less-than-carload size of freight and express are brought in here or shipped out via two Soo Line trucks that operate Monday through Friday between Minneapolis and Rhinelander.

The station agent must also handle the billing on these shipments, collecting freight or express charges, and handling any damage claims.

Mr. Bovee told of a sidelight on this duty that happened last February after Harold Brenizer of the Evergreen Fur Farms, had shipped a crate containing two live mink to Illinois. They left here in the Soo Line truck and were transferred to the passenger train in the Twin Cities enroute to Chicago. While they were being transferred at Chicago, an employee of the express company evidently stuck a finger into the crate and one of the mink set his teeth into it.

As a result, the mink were impounded at Chicago for 21 days to determine if they were rabid. But the Illinois man who was waiting for the mink to arrive threatened to refuse the shipment if it was detained too long, and if the mink were not in good condition, because he needed them for the

breeding season which was only a few weeks off.

It took considerable correspondence between the Illinois man, Mr. Brenizer and the express company, with Mr. Bovee as go-between, before the mink were forwarded… in time, and in good condition.

Agent Bovee also has taken on the duty of delivering the express locally, since Mrs. Mabel Patterson retired from that job.

And, of curse, he receives and sends Western Union telegrams. He mentions that incoming telegraph messages (depending on the contents) are often relayed by phone locally since it would be impractical to personally deliver them around the rural area or to neighboring towns such as Almelund, Shafer, and Cushing. Often, he tells us, he has to receive these Morse Code telegraph messages in a foreign language, or in a special “code language” such as large companies might use.

“We keep a separate set of books for railroad business and express business as they are two individual companies,” he says. “We have tariffs quoting transportation charges for both companies and these must be kept up-to-date.”

“For instance, a short time ago we had a dog to be shipped via express to Florida. The express tariff quoted the rate as double first class for an animal in a crate. Another tariff governed by federal and state laws required a health certificate from a veterinarian to accompany the shipment. I also had to issue a livestock contract, a copy of which went with the animal. The crate had to be shipped with a watering can and food pan.. I fastened the dog food onto the outside of the crate and filled out a form of instructions regarding the care of the dog enroute and this also was attached to the shipment.

The last passenger train came to St. Croix Falls in June, 1961, and in 1990, the depot was demolished after years of neglect and vandalism.

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Milltown Public Library Summer reading program Catch the reading buzz at the Milltown Public Library this summer, starting Friday, May 30. Kids 18 and under can win awesome prizes by registering for the summer reading program. The more you read, the more you can win.

Every Friday we’ll give away valuable gift certificates to local businesses, and at the end of the summer we’ll hold a grand prize drawing for an i-Pod and other exciting prizes to be announced later. Also, every participant who turns in 10 reading record sheets will get a cool T-shirt. There will also be a weekly contest called “Who wants to be the next entymologist?”

Summer reading program events: Free admission • Friday, May 30, 4-6 p.m.: Beekeeper Paul Ekblad will talk about his favorite insects (and provide some tasty treats) at 4:30 p.m. Fantastic Face Painter Dottie Zens will decorate Summer Reading program participants also. This is also your first chance to sign up for the reading contest. Come for as little or as long as you’d like. Stock up for a fun summer!

• Thursday, June 12, 7 p.m.: Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and Butterflies with Randy.

• Tuesday, July 1, 7 p.m.: Love and Langer Magic Show • Thursday, July 10, 11 a.m.: Bruce the Bug Guy • Saturday, Aug. 2, 1 p.m.: “A La Carte” puppet show by Circus Minimus Gamers club Take the bus to the library, or get a ride

from your parents, and play with the new Wii until 7 p.m. This is only open to high school and middle school teenagers who have a library card with under $10 in fines.

Book club The next gathering of the Milltown Book Club will be Monday, July 7, at 7 p.m. This is a forum for everyone to talk about the books they love and hate, recommend books, and share their passion for reading. At our July meeting, we’ll spend some time talking about books that involve water. Refreshments will be provided.

We are wireless Bring your laptops to the Milltown Public Library and enjoy our free, fast, wireless Internet access.

Story hour Milltown Public Library offers story time every Tuesday at 10 a.m. yearround. Story times are free and are designed for children under 6 and their caregivers. Each story time lasts 30 to 45 minutes and includes time to browse and check out books.

Hours Library hours are Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed The library will be closed Monday, May 26, in honor of Memorial Day.

St. Croix Falls Public Library Calling all vegetable gardeners Share the Bounty: a hunger prevention project Share the Bounty is a way for gardeners to share their extra produce with families in need. Seeds are available at the library.

Plan now for summer reading events! Catch the Reading Bug! Our Adult Summer Reading Club will kick off soon! Pollinate your mind Memorial Day through Labor Day. Check out all the new material in the MORE system and grow with some fun summer reads!

Catch the Reading Bug – summer reading programming begins Tuesday, July 1, 3 p.m. – next one on Thursday, July 10, 6 p.m. – after that, every Wednesday evening, 6 p.m. through Aug. 13.

The Friends of the Library will also be holding book sales this summer – Saturday, June 14 and Wannigan Days, July 18 and 19. We are accepting donations of gently used newer titles for these sales.

Saturday Talk About the Book Club The book club will meet on Saturday, May 17, at 9:30 a.m., at the Buzz. The current selection is “The World Without Us,” by Alan Weisman. A study of what would happen to Earth if the human presence was removed examines our legacy for the planet, from the objects that would vanish without human intervention to those that would become long-lasting remnants of humankind.

Friends of the Library Wednesday, May 28, noon meeting in the library. Check out the library Web site and explore the links – Go to www.stcroixfallslibrary.org Story hour Listen to stories, create great art and have fun with other kids and parents every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.

Hours, contact The library is open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. every day except Saturday, 10 a.m.

– 1 p.m. Closed on Sundays. 715-4831777.

Centuria Public Library Regular library hours Monday: Noon - 5 p.m.; Tuesday: noon - 7 p.m.; Wednesday: noon - 5 p.m.; Thursday: noon - 7 p.m.; Friday: closed;

and Saturday: 10 a.m. - noon.

Osceola Public Library

Frederic Public Library Library closure Please note that the library will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. Memorial Day activities Looking for meaningful ways to mark Memorial Day weekend? Friends and families will certainly be gathering for their own celebrations, but take some time to learn about Memorial Day by accessing its history and symbolism on the Web site http://www.usmemorial day.org/. A great site for family activities is found at http://www.educationworld.com/holidays/archives/memori al_day.shtml, a Web page that promotes education through a variety of Internet resources. You’ll find everything on this site, from the history of this holiday, to listening to taps, to making a patriotic flag cake for your family celebration.

Catch the Reading Bug Registration begins Monday, June 2, for the annual summer reading program, which is open to all children aged preschool through middle school. In addition to weekly activities, three special free Saturday family programs have been booked: Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m., at the library, The Bug Show with Bruce the Buy Guy, a hands-on program including live cockroaches, millipedes, tarantulas and scorpions; Saturday, July 26, 1 p.m., at Coon Lake Park, the Bassmeister visits with Fishing for Laughs, a program offering ventriloquism, puppets, balloon animals, and fishing techniques; and Saturday, Aug. 23, 1 p.m., at the library, nationally known juggler Jason Huneke will amaze us with his comedy and manipulation routines.

Mark your calendars for these special dates, and be sure to register for the summer reading program in order to complete your checklists and win cool prizes.

Join us for Fun Time Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to story time Wednesday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m., when we will be having Fun Time! Story time will take a break June 4, and the Frederic queen

candidates will be special guest readers June 11 and 18.

Ice Age Trail display Dean and Cora Dversdall recently assembled the display of the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail for the library lobby. The exhibit depicts the 1,000-mile footpath that runs through Polk County and celebrates the legacy of the ice age. The library hosts the exhibit through National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7. Stop in to view this fascinating display and pick up information to help you plan your Ice Age trail hike.

The book groups read all summer The Thursday morning reading group meets Thursday, June 19, at 10 a.m. to discuss “A Thousand Splendid Suns,”

by Khaled Hosseini, the long-awaited novel after his first acclaimed title, “The Kite Runner.” The evening book group also meets Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m. to talk about “Atonement,” by Ian McEwan, the story of a young girl who tells a lie that irrevocably changes the lives of her family. The book groups meet all summer, so why not join us for some cool refreshments and stimulating conversation? You can join the groups anytime.

Friends of Frederic Library thrift sale The Friends group will be hosting a thrift sale during Family Days on Friday, June 20, at the former Dollar Store, to raise funds for library materials. The group welcomes new or used items in good condition, but will not accept clothing or used computer equipment.

For more information, please contact the library.

Friends of Frederic Library meeting The Friends group will meet Thursday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

Hours and information Frederic Public Library, 127 Oak Street West.

715-327-4979, e-mail fredericpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Regular hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dresser Public Library Dresser Public Library is located at 117 S. Central Ave., Dresser, WI 54009.

The Dresser Public Library Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meeting Jan. 28, at 6 p.m., at the library.

grams and more. All 11 libraries are here to help families stretch their income and at the same time provide educational, recreational and cultural materials for you. Come on in and check us out.

Library hours Monday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday noon5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–noon and 1–7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

New books New books are arriving weekly for all ages. Stop in and spend some time browsing for these new books as well as old favorites.

Coming up Lapsitter and preschool story times meet each Thursday from 11:30 – 11:30 a.m. Join us May 15 for spring stories, songs, fingerplays, crafts and more. This will be our last story time until summer reading begins on June 10. Sign-up sheets are available at the library to register your child for this “buggy” series of programs!

Free: This wonderful word describes, with few exceptions, the services provided by the 11 libraries in Polk County.

Free library cards, free reference materials, free books and magazines, free audioboks, free DVDs and videos, free Internet service, free story times, adult programming, summer reading pro-

Contact the library at 715-755-2944 which is our telephone and fax number or e-mail us at www.dresserpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Our Web site, www.dresserpubliclibrary.org has information about story times, days closed, reference links, library policy and community information.

Frederic Public Library

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 11

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS Amery Public Library With the gas prices soaring many people are considering vacations that they can do that are closer to home. The following nonfiction books about Wisconsin may give you some ideas. The books have recently been added to the collection at the Amery Public Library: "Wisconsin Day Trips," by Mary Bauer "Horsing Around in Wisconsin: The State’s Best Stables, Barns,and Trails for Lessons and Training," by Anne M. Connor “Wisconsin Hometown Flavors: A Cook’s Tour of Butcher Shops, Bakerie, Cheese Factories & Other Specialty Shops,” by Terese Allen "Great Weekend Adventures: Favorite Getaways, Festivals and Events," by Wisconsin Trails "Mammals of Wisconsin," by Stan Tekiela "Fish of Wisconsin," by Dave Bosanko "Gentle Hikes: Northern Wisconsin’s Most Scenic Lake Superior Hikes Under 3 Miles," by Ladonna Tornabene, Melanie Morgan and Lisa Vogelsang "Great Wisconsin Winter Weekends,"

by Candice Gaukel Andrews "Abundantly Wild : Collecting and Cooking Wild Edibles in the Upper Midwest," by Teresa Marrone "Wisconsin Korean War Stories," by Sarah Larsen "Biking Wisconsin: 50 Great Road and Trail Rides," by Steve Johnson "Native People of Wisconsin," by Patty Loew "Wisconsin Garden Guide," by Jerry Minnich "Swiss in Wisconsin," by Frederick Hale "Swedes in Wisconsin," by Frederick Hale "Danes in Wisconsin," by Frederick Hale "Got Murder? The Shocking Story of Wisconsin’s Notorious Killers," by Martin Hinz Library notes: Story time will be held

at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings.

Everyone is welcome for songs and stories.

The Summer Reading Program Catch the Reading Bug will begin on June 9 at the Amery Public Library. Stop in and pick up a brochure at the circulation desk. Kids can sign up on June 9 or any other day throughout the summer. Don’t let your kids lose those hard won reading skills over the summer.

Friends of the Library Book Group needs members. They meet on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.. Pick up a copy of the month’s book at the circulation desk and join us for book talking throughout the summer. The book for June is “Winding River,” by Jeff Weir a story of a young Wisconsin attorney starting a practice in the north woods.

Teens Read Book Group will meet on June 30, to discuss “A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.” Pick up a copy at the circulation desk and join us if you are 13 or older, college kids come and join us for the summer if you like. We meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m with snacks and drinks.

Otaku Club meets from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday nights for teens and older who like manga and anime. Stop in and check it out.

The Amery Public Library will be hosting a story time at Cattail Trail Days at 1 p.m. at the trail head June 7. Friends of the Library will be selling a new Tshirt to support the Amery Area LibraryThe Next Chapter.

Thanks to Laurie Otis/ Loretta Nacey who graduated from Amery High School Class of 1950, for her fine program introducing her new novel, “The Amarantha Stories. “Copies are available to check out now at the library.

Hours: Monday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Wednesday 10 .m. 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Balsam Lake Public Library Friday, June 13 Comedy juggling duo “In Capable Hands” brings fall-down funny entertainment to Balsam Lake Public Library.

Steve Russell and Kobi Shaw provide big laughs and eye-catching skills to audiences all over the world and will be at the Balsam Lake Library Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m. to kick off the start to summer reading. Everyone welcome – please join us for this fun filled evening.

Story time Story time is at 11 a.m. every Wednesday here at the library. All ages are welcome to join us for stories, crafts, music and snacks.

Book club “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak.

This is a story told by Death. An interesting point of view, perhaps, but as it is set in Germany during World War II, perhaps it is entirely appropriate. It is also a story of a young girl, who in spite of having a life that no one would wish on anyone, still manages to have glimpses of pleasure through many small things, including the few books that she manages to acquire (or shall we say, steal). Book club meets Wednesday, June 18, at 3 p.m. – everyone welcome.

New books “Phantom Prey” by John Sandford, “Comfort Food” by Kate Jacobs, who also wrote “Friday Night Knitting Club.” ”Plague of Doves” by Louise Erdich, “Hollywood Crows” by Joseph Wambaugh, “Secrets” by Jude Deveraux, “Skeletons at the Feast” by Christopher Bohjalian, “Front” by Patricia Cornwell, “Twenty Wishes” by Debbie Macomber. “Odd Hours” by Dean Koontz. Nonfiction, “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Meth Addiction” by David Sheff, “Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch and “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life” by Sophie Uliano.

Book sale Balsam Lake Library annual book sale will be Saturday, July 5, during Freedom Fest Days. The library will gratefully take donations of books, videos and DVDs until Thursday, July 3.

Balsam Lake Public Library, (under the water tower) at 404 Main St., Balsam Lake. Hours are Monday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. E-mail: balsamlakepl@ifls.lib.wi.us Web site www.balsamlakepubliclibrary.org.

Luck Public Library

Luck Public Library Preschool story hour is coming to a close. Wednesday, May 28, will be our last program for the summer. We will resume the program again in the fall.

Beginning in June, the library will begin the Summer Reading Program. The theme this year will be Catch The Reading Bug. Hope to see you there.

Knitting circle at the Luck Library is held every Wednesday at 4 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. Come join in - sit, knit and relax.

Computers For Seniors is held every Tuesday from 11 a.m. – noon. This is a

no-stress opportunity to private time with a computer, a bunch of other seniors and an instructor. Stop by. You may just get hooked.

Luck Book Club meets Monday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Luck School. Go in the north doors. We will be discussing “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.

Hours: Monday 1 – 5 p.m., Tuesday 1 – 8 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 1 – 8 p.m., Friday 1- 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon.

Clear Lake Public Library Wednesdays, 28: Knitting and crocheting class beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the library meeting room.

Saturday, May 24: Planting of the Clear Lake Area Community Garden; “Between Fences” closes.

June 27: Annual Friends of the Library Book and Plant Sale.

June Summer Reading Schedule Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 12, 10 a.m. - Discover the Senses.

Wednesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 19, 10 a.m. - Explore the

Universe.

Wednesday, June 25, 6:30 p.m. - Underwater Adventure.

Thursday, June 26, 11 a.m. at the Clear Lake Elementary School - In Capable Hands Juggling Duo. Regular library hours Monday: Noon - 7 p.m.; Tuesday noon - 6 p.m.; Wednesday 3 - 9 p.m.; Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Friday: noon - 5 p.m.; and Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

We can be reached by phone at 715-2632802 or by e-mail at clearlakepl@ifls.lib.wi.us.

Osceola Public Library Book discussion “White Noise,” by Don DeLillo will be the book discussed on Tuesday, May 27, 6 p.m. A lethal black chemical cloud floats over their lives, an airborne toxic event unleashed by an industrial accident. The menacing cloud is a more urgent and visible version of the white noise engulfing the Gladney family – pulsing with life, yet heralding the danger of death. Join in the discussion.

Catch the reading bug We’re gearing up for a fun-filled Sum-

mer Reading Program. Keep your eyes peeled for weekly family events, crazy performers and live creepy crawly animals in the library!

Hours, contact Our hours are Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our phone number is 715-294-2310, and our Web address is www.osceolapubliclibrary.org.

Polk County Library Federation Polk County Library Federations Books-By-Mail Summer Reading Program If you are unable to participate in the Summer Reading Program at your local public library, you can register for the Polk County Library Federation’s Books-By-Mail Summer Reading Program.

The program runs June 9 – Aug. 22.

Call the Polk County Library Federation to register.

Your books will be mailed to you. The books are checked out to you for four weeks. Mail the books back to The Polk County Library Federation and we will

send you more.

We will select books for you the first time. You will receive a catalog with your books so you can request titles for your next order.

Every one who participates will receive a prize at the end of the program.

For further information, contact the library at 715-485-8680. The director is Colleen Gifford, assistant director/ youth services is Molly Kessler, and the library clerk is Stephanie Fansler.

The Polk County Library Federation is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

We’re online @ www.the-leader.net Milltown Public Library

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

It's time to donate blood again FREDERIC - Students 16 years old have expressed interest in donating blood at local blood drives, and as of March of this year, the state of Wisconsin now allows 16-year-olds to donate blood with written parental-guardian consent.

This is new and exciting development here in Wisconsin, as it was an accepted policy for some time in other states.

Community and personal support by donors is special for a program such as blood drives as there is no other source.

Thoughtful and caring participation of each blood drive, directly helps others with health problems and new research.

The demand never stops, and in fact is increasing, older donors are now no longer able to donate. Donors feel good when they donate blood with the knowledge they are helping others.

Donating blood is a safe and sterile procedure using single-use needles and supplies. They ask that you support your student’s willingness to give blood, and ask that you offer encouragement. Becoming a blood donor is a personal and

natural decision, and they understand you may be somewhat apprehensive about taking this step. Additional information and forms will be available from Ethan Bergstrom, Frederic High School Blood Drive chairperson. The Frederic High School does hold their own drive each year in January. The Frederic Legion Auxiliary #249 sponsors two drives each year spring and fall and also sponsors of the school blood drive.

The spring blood drive will be held at St. Luke’s Methodist Church at the corner of Hwy. 35 and Linden Street. The date for this year’s drive will be Thursday May, 29, from 1 to 7 p.m. and Friday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Frederic Legion Auxiliary is a small group now, and they appreciated the continuing assistance and support they receive from the community and all the caring donors. They look forward to seeing all the good people who make these programs work so well. – Submitted by Dorothea Jensen, Blood Drive chairman for American Legion Auxiliary #249, Frederic

SCRMC recognizes EMTs during Emergency Medical Services Week ST. CROIX FALLS – The brave men and women who serve as emergency medical services providers are often first on the scene of a disaster, a motor vehicle crash, or other event that may place them in a hazardous environment. “The members of EMS teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills,” said Mary Erickson, R.N., SCRMC director emergency services.

“It’s important that we take the time to honor these front-line medical responders for often going above and beyond the call of duty to save lives, even while sometimes risking their own.”

The 35th-annual Emergency Medical Services Week, May 18–24, publicizes and honors the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving serv-

ices on medicine’s front line. Even though EMS is a vital part of every community, recognition of its contribution is often lost. “As emphasized by this year’s theme—Your Life Is Our Mission—access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury,” said Erickson.

St. Croix Regional Medical Center would like to give special recognition this week to all the EMS services—North Ambulance, St. Croix Valley EMS, Unity Area Ambulance, Northland Ambulance Service, Lakes Region, LifeLink III, and the Osceola and Amery EMS services— who stand ready to provide life-saving care for everyone in our community. submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 13

EMS Week theme is "Your Life is Our Mission" FREDERIC/LUCK - This year the Emergency Medical Service’s Week theme is Your Life is Our Mission. This statement was chosen to recognize the commitment that emergency medical personnel make to the communities they serve. The individuals who make up your local ambulance provide a vital public service. Their services provide access to quality emergency care that can dramatically improve the survival and recovery rate of anyone that experiences a sudden illness or injury. Because of their dedicated support of the villages of Frederic and Luck and the surrounding communities, Northland Municipal Ambulance Board of Directors would like to thank the following members for their hard work and dedication: Emergency Medical Technicians: RaeAnn Allen, Sue Ames-Lillie, Judy Anderson, James Baker, Chris Bertch, Lonna Coddington, Mike Fralick, Deb Fredericks, Brent Hostrup, Lori Hostrup, Brent Johnson, Luke Knauber, Vern Knauber, Jeff Lanhart, Lisa Lehrke, Carissa Marsh, Jennifer Mikl, Cherrise Miller, Linda O’Donnell, Dawn Ogilvie, Tony Peterson, Kelly Pool, Josh Rau, Leanne Richter, Sharon Riedman, Lisa Robbin, Tiffany Steele, Alissa Steiner, Jim Tinman, Andy Tyler, Kurt Vail and Tracy Vail.

Drivers: Will Bartlett, Tony Carter, Andy Chartrand, Wes Cockerham, Jordan Coddington, Ken Hackett, Kevin Jensen, Sherman Lillie, Jeremy Lindner, Stuart McWilliam, Brian Michael, Kirk Miller, Roger Miller, Todd Miller, Scott Nargis, Dennis O’Donnell, DJ Pederson, Brian Randal, Ken Ruhn, Pete Runnels and Chad White.

First Responders: Northland First Responders, Leonard Knauber, Sherman Lillie, Everett Marsh, Janet Marsh, Luck Rescue, Luck Police Department, Frederic Police Department, Cushing First Responders and Milltown Rescue.

The above mentioned EMTs and drivers make up the crews of both Frederic – 975 and Luck – 974 ambulances. These members donate over 52,000 hours of their time to fully staff and operate the ambulances. This does not include hours that are spent in training every year to keep current with licensing requirements. In the past year, in addition to regular training, members took incident command training that will enable them to assist with emergency prepared-

Northland Municipal Ambulance crew. – Photo submitted ness and disasters. Some of the EMT’s have taken additional training to become paramedics and intermediate technicians in order to advance the level of care available in our area. These individuals have the capability to start IVs prehospital and give advanced medications. We can also do EKGs in your homes with new equipment that was purchased through our fund-raising efforts.

NLMA has two major fundraisers each year. The smelt fry in Luck is held every April, and a chicken and corn dinner in Frederic, which occurs in August. The hours spent to organize and operate fundraising events are also not listed in the time donated by our volunteers.

These events are largely supported by generous donations from local businesses and individuals who donate money, products or services. The money that raised is used to purchase equipment for use on the ambulance. This year they purchased two Zoll heart monitors, an AED, two laptop computers and various other items. In 2008 the goal is to raise enough funds to purchase CPAP devices for each rig which will help patients with breathing difficulties, and also have the capability to transmit EKGs over the phone to the waiting emergency room staff.

There are many times when our first

responders are the first to reach and treat the patients that they are called for. Of course, there are also times when family members or bystanders are the first on scene begin care by helping to calm a patient that is injured or by providing first aid or CPR that may help to save someone’s life. Studies have shown that more victims of cardiac arrest survive if a bystander intervenes and performs CPR, buying the person time until a defibrillator can be applied.

There are several things that all community members can do to help with any medical emergency. First of all call for help. 911 is always available 24/7! Be prepared to tell the dispatcher the following information: 1. The location of the emergency (with names of crossroads or streets). 2. The telephone number of the phone you are using to make the call. 3. What has happened to the person that you are calling about. 4. The person’s age if known. 5. Whether the person is responsive and breathing. 6.

What is being done to help the person. If you can provide this information it will help greatly!

It is also vital that the dispatcher can see your address, whether it is your fire

number or your house number. Make sure that your fire or house number is always visible. Many times house numbers are impossible to see from the street when it is dark outside. Please have a working light that will illuminate your house number, and make sure that it is large enough to be read. Keep grass or weeds trimmed from around your fire number. Make sure that you have given clear directions to your home to the dispatch center in your county. All of these suggestions will enable emergency agencies to respond to your location as quickly as possible.

When you call 911 you want, and expect, trained emergency professionals to take care of you. Twenty-four hours a day – seven days a week. Emergency medical services are a community effort.

That’s why you should consider becoming an Emergency Medical Technician.

There will be an EMT basic class starting Aug. 25, at the Luck High School. This class will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings. If you are interested in registering for this class, please contact Lonna Coddington at 715-3275766 or Lori Hostrup at 715-472-9111.

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

Katy King's newest book is out, the third in the Brigid series

by Nancy Jappe VOYAGER VILLAGE – Burnett County author Katy King has done it again. Her eighth book, and third in the Brigid series, just came off the press. King will be selling the newest book, “Brigid and Books, Ballet and Bullets,” her other books and wildlife photographs she has taken in the Art Alive on 35 show at the North Wind Art Center on Hwy. 35/70 north of Siren Saturday, May 24.

King’s fascination with the life that might have been led by a young Irish girl, Brigid, prompted her to write the first book in the Brigid series, “Brigid and the Red Hat Rebellion.” Actually, King started out to write the story of Brigid’s grandmother, but found the character of the young Brigid to be much more interesting.

The first book details Brigid’s early life in Ireland, her desire to marry an older man at the age of 14 to get away from a drunken father and, four years later, finding herself widowed, the mother of a young daughter, in Dublin with a job cleaning a library and worried about increasing discrimination against working women.

In “Brigid, Babies, Books and Bee Balm,” Brigid has been remarried to a fellow Irishman, Michael, who is studying to be a doctor. As newlyweds, she, Michael and her 4-year-old daughter, Patty, came to St. Paul, Minn., in 1937. They bought a huge Summit Avenue mansion that was being sold by the city to recoup back taxes.

“The building seems sound,” Michael commented, “but restoring it would be a monumental task.” Monumental or not monumental, Brigid and her friends did restore the mansion, turning it into a boarding home for a wide group of friends.

Two children were born to Brigid and Michael, and they “brought in the New Year of 1941 with dandelion wine and reminiscing in our living room.” That New Year’s celebration ended with the plea, “Please don’t let our loved ones go to war!”

“Brigid and Books, Ballet and Bullets,” the third book in the Brigid series by local author Katy King, just came off the press. King is the author of eight books, starting with “The Attic Was an Unused Room,” a novel about five generations of Wisconsin women; three books about the adventures of Pauline Johnson, a Wisconsin woman crippled by strokes; “Grand Jete: Three Who Leap” written with Nancy Jappe; and three books about Brigid, an Irish woman living back in the 1930s and 1940s. – Photo submitted

In the introduction to the third book in the series, King wrote: “World War II pulled in Brigid’s husband, Dr. Michael Tierney, and four other men from their household. It called on Brigid to work in a defense plant; it demanded her money (for war bonds), her sugar and even her bobby pins and toothpaste tubes.

She successfully met many challenges at the factory, and relished the good pay (after a few months, she earned $44.60 for a 48-hour week). But she hated the war, the necessary war, the war that gave back only three of the five men. One of the three lost part of a leg and turned to alcohol to calm his guilt; another became catatonic. “‘Brigid and Books, Ballet and Bullets’ is about the ‘home front’ in St. Paul during the war,” King went on.

“President Roosevelt mandated equal wages for men, women and Negroes working at defense plants, which created tension and even race riots in some places. This valuation also planted and nurtured the seeds for the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Liberation, the American Indian Movement …”

“Katy King’s book, a continuation of her Brigid series, is well researched; her portrayal of Irish immigrants living in St. Paul during World War II is realistic and evocative of the social changes occurring during that time,” commented Mary Jacobsen, Webster, one of King’s manuscript readers. “With many men away at war, the women show great strength as they cope with shortages, rationing, family life and factory work previously reserved for men.

“We admire their spirit, humor and creativity in meeting the new demands in their lives, and honor their success in the struggle for equality with men in the workplace. We feel the love and joy they share with each other and their children,” Jacobsen continued.

“Brigid, the main character who tells this story, is delightful, someone you’d love to meet for tea and talk.”

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 15

Central Burnett County Fair coming soon WEBSTER – The Central Burnett County Fair scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, through Saturday, July 5, in Webster is fast approaching.

You may need to think about getting more information before the events occur. Rules for the horse showdeo, horse pull, truck and tractor pull, and demo derby may be obtained by calling the contact listed below. Preregistrations for all fair entries are required and due Friday, June 20 to the address listed in the fair book. If you don’t already have a fair book, you can pick one up at area banks, Burnett County Library in Webster, UW-Ext. Office at the Burnett County Government Center in Siren, Burnett County Sentinel, Grantsburg Public Library and Kozy Kitchen in Grantsburg.

Horse enthusiasts will want to come to the fairgrounds on Wednesday, July 2. The horse showdeo is set for 6 p.m. Only youth just out of third grade through adults will be allowed to ride. This showdeo is open to the public participation. All riders are required to wear an approved helmet and must show their horse’s proof of negative Coggins’ test to the showdeo coordinator before unloading. Questions regarding the horse showdeo may be directed to Angie Smith, 715-866-4454, evenings. The mighty power of the horse will be on display at the horse pull in the grandstand that evening at 7 p.m.

The truck and tractor pull is scheduled for Thursday, July 3, starting at 6:30 p.m. Pit registration starts at 4 p.m. There will be two new classes added to the tractor pull. The additions are the 9,500 and 10,500 super stock tractor

class. For rules or more information regarding the truck pull, contact Renelle Sears at 715-8668261, evenings or for the tractor pull, contact Charles Strabel at 715-246-7826, evenings.

Saturday evening at 7 p.m. will be the demo derby. Cars must be registered between 4:30 – 6:15 p.m. There will be a 1980 and newer fullsized car class in addition to the regular fullsized car class. The ladies are invited to run against the men. Participants are encouraged to bring along their tools and spare parts – you just might need them. Guaranteed payout will be equal to or greater than $2,500. For rules contact Sears at 715-866-8261, evenings.

Make sure to check out all the other activities while at the fair. There is judging of exhibits to watch and it is always fun to take a chance at the Webster Lions Bingo. Midway rides will be

by Stipes Shows; wristband specials are Thursday and Saturday between noon and 5 p.m.

Stipes will also be running rides following the Fourth of July parade. Throughout the days, many food and drink vendors are available. Be sure to support the area’s 4-H program by stopping by the 4-H food stand and having some of Judy’s famous potato salad. There is music for everyone at this year’s fair: The Older than Dirt Band will be playing Wednesday night, 7:30 - 11:30 p.m.; a DJ will be there Thursday night from 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. and again on Saturday evening from 6 – 9 p.m., in the beer garden. A street dance with Green Stone Ridge will be performing live in the street on Saturday from 9 p.m. – midnight.

Be sure to Catch the Fun at the Central Bur-

nett County Fair, a tradition since 1917. - submitted

AAA predicts fewer Memorial Day road trips STATEWIDE - A motorists group predicts a decrease in holiday travel this Memorial Day weekend, nationally and statewide. Pam Moen of AAA Wisconsin says the record-high gas prices and a weak economy are behind the one percent drop.

She says people simply don’t have the kind of discretionary money to travel this year as they have had in previous years. She says almost everyone is spending more than $50 to fill up their vehicle now, and if that fill-up occurs two to three times a week, it’s taking “a serious chunk” of discretionary money.

Moen says that of the 12 percent of Americans who still plan to travel next weekend, many will stay closer to home to save gas money. She says this may end up being good news for Wisconsin tourism. She says they’re hoping that people in Wisconsin and the surrounding Midwestern states may actually end up choosing vacation destinations here in the state over Memorial Day and this summer.

AAA’s data also shows spikes in the cost of rental cars, hotels and airfare. Moen says this is the first year since 2000 to show a drop in Memorial Day travel. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Jesse Boyett-Anderson)

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

Summer fun at Wisconsin Interstate Park ST. CROIX FALLS – Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the summer season at Wisconsin Interstate Park. Whatever outdoor activities you enjoy, you’ll find that a variety of recreational opportunities await you at the park.

Interstate Park has two campgrounds with a total of 85 family campsites, and a primitive group camp that accommodates 60 people. Advance reservations are recommended and can be made by calling toll-free 888WI-PARKS (888-947-2757). Visitors may picnic in several different areas of the park. Picnic tables and grills are available as well as open shelters that can be reserved for group picnics. There is an excellent swimming beach and Beach House at scenic Lake O’ the Dalles.

The best way to discover all that Interstate has to offer is by hiking some of the nine miles of trails found throughout the park. Scenic overlooks provide the hiker with views of the spectacular scenery, while along the way Interstate’s abundant wildlife, wildflowers and birds may be seen.

To enhance your visit to the park, join the naturalist for a nature program. Summer naturalist programs are offered beginning Saturday, May 24, of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Explore the trails, ponder the potholes or hear the colorful history of the St. Croix River valley during a guided hike or activity.

The Junior Ranger and Wisconsin Explorer program offers another opportunity for adults and children (grades K and up) to learn about nature together. Activities are clearly described in the free Junior Ranger and Wisconsin Explorer booklets, available at the park office and the Ice Age Center. Children completing at least half of the activities will receive a free iron-on wildlife patch.

At the Ice Age Interpretive Center, open daily, visitors can view exhibits to learn about the frozen history of Wisconsin and the gifts of the glacier. In the auditorium a 20-minute film, “Night of the Sun,” tells the story of glaciation in Wisconsin. The film is shown daily upon request. Shop for a souvenir in the Glacier’s Gifts gift shop in the lobby.

The park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. A vehicle entrance sticker is required. Daily stickers are $7 resident and $10 nonresident. Annual stickers are $25 resident and $35 nonresident. If you have a second

vehicle at home, a second annual sticker can be purchased for half price. National Park Service passes are also accepted. For more information call the park at 715483-3747.

Naturalist programs at the park Saturday, May 24 2 p.m. - Junior Ranger. Free booklets with fun activities for parents and their children entering grades K-3.

Meet the naturalist at the Ice Age Center.

2:30 p.m. – Wisconsin Explorer. Free booklets with fun activities for parents and their children entering grades four and up. Meet the naturalist at the Ice Age Center.

4 p.m. – A Billion Years on the Pothole Trail. Meet at the Pothole Trail sign.

8 p.m. – “Sun-Sational” Secrets of Eagle Peak. Hike to the top of Eagle Peak to watch the sun set and learn the secrets of the Peak. Meet at the Eagle Peak Trail sign in the Pines Group Camp.

Sunday, May 25 10 a.m. – Program to be announced. Call the park at 715-483-3747 or check the program schedule upon arrival.

2 p.m. – Watchable Wildlife Around Lake O’ The Dalles. Join the naturalist for a one-mile walk around scenic Lake O’ the Dalles. Discover what makes the lake unique and watch for signs of the wildlife that live there. Meet at the lake side of the Beach House.

7 p.m. – “The St. Croix: A Northwoods Journey.”

The National Park Service invites you to attend a presentation of a new film about the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Filmed throughout the seasons, and narrated by nationally acclaimed artist Peter Thomas, “The St. Croix: A Northwoods Journey” merges moving currents, wildlife and history with the voices of those who are inspired by the beauty and solitude of the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers. Designated as one of the original Wild and Scenic Rivers in 1968, this thin ribbon of protection today offers a mixture of incomparable scenery, recreation and remarkable landscapes. This 18-minute film will be shown in the auditorium of the Ice Age Center.

Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day 10 a.m. – Molten Lava and Melted Ice: The Gee Whiz Geology of Interstate Park. Meet the naturalist

at the Pothole Trail sign.

1 p.m. – Program to be announced. Call the Park at 715-483-3747 or check the program schedule upon arrival.

Upcoming events Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8 – Free Fishing Weekend. No fishing licenses required in Wisconsin.

All other rules and regulations apply.

Saturday, June 7, National Trails Day Watch for information listing specific events, times and locations.

Sunday, June 8, State Parks Open House Day. Free admission to all Wisconsin State Parks. Interstate Park is located in St. Croix Falls on Hwy. 35 just 1/2-mile south of Hwy. 8. For more information call Julie or Barb at 715-483-3747.

Model rocketry demonstrations set GRANTSBURG – The Burnett County 4-H Aerospace Project and the Wood River Beavers 4H Club will host a public demonstration of Model Rocketry on Sunday, June 8, at the Grantsburg Airport as part of the Big Gust Days festivities. The first launch is scheduled for 2 p.m., weather permitting. The 4-H members will be testing their recently constructed rockets as well as presenting a demonstration flight lineup that is slated to include launching rockets from 6 inches to 6 feet tall.

Anyone interested in rocketry is invited to come and watch or be part of the action by helping with tracking, recovery or record keeping. Model rocket enthusiasts are invited to bring rockets and engines and participate by launching it at our state-of-the-art launch facilities. All models brought to the launch must pass the range safety officer’s inspection as they fly under the directives of their partner, the National Association of Rocketry. Those wishing to participate should arrive earlier than the first scheduled launch.

The many demo flights hopefully will include multistage flights, cluster engines, TV camera payloads as well as boost glide and unconventional recovery systems. Adult 4-H volunteer members will launch some larger scale rockets powered by F and G engines with flights to a mile high possible. Exact lineup will be dictated by weather conditions. Some common engines should be available for purchase.

For more information, call Craig Bowman at 715-463-2684 or 715-220-6459. - submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 17

Siren graduation held The stage party for Siren graduation included (L to R) school board members Dayton Daniels and Michelle Renberg, both of whom had daughters in the 2008 graduation class, graduation speaker Chad Gibson and District Administrator Scott Johnson.

Johnson pointed out that members of this class were among the first students he met when he came to the school five years ago. “I can assure you and your community that you have some fine young adults entering adult years tonight,” he commented. Gibson used words of wisdom from Winnie the Pooh in his address. “Think of who you identify with (among the Pooh characters),” he told the class, “and treat others as you want to be treated.”

Jennifer Mitchell, president of the Siren High School Class of 2008, was the emcee for the graduation ceremony Friday, May 16.

Class flower: White rose Class colors: Midnight black and emerald green Class motto: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different,” – Coco Chanel

Siren School Board member Michelle Renberg was on stage to present the diploma to her daughter, Lynette.

Photos by Nancy Jappe

Courtney Daniels (L), valedictorian for the Siren High School Class of 2008, and salutatorian Britteny Muus, are shown as they prepared for the graduation ceremony Friday, May 16. “We have nothing to fear; support is all around us … Take a deep breath, push open the doors and see what these hallways have prepared us for beyond high school,” Daniels said in her address to the class. “We are irreplaceable because we are all different in our own ways,” Muus commented as part of her salutatorian address.

Siren graduate Kyle Malm winced in anticipation of pain as class advisor Renae Peterson pinned a rose on his graduation gown prior to graduation Friday, May 16, in the Siren School auditorium.

Siren School Board President Dayton Daniels had the honor of presenting a high school graduation diploma to his daughter, Courtney, valedictorian for the Class of 2008.

Siren honor student Elizabeth Daniels presented a rose to her mother, Julie, during graduation Friday, May 16. Elizabeth is the youngest of four Daniels daughters, and the last daughter to graduate from Siren High School, her father, Lee’s, alma mater.

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Grand Friends program held SIREN – One Monday every month the Siren Senior Center hosts Donna Tjader’s fourth-grade class. Tjader and her students make the four-block walk to the center throughout the school year to spend time with their grand friends. Each student is matched up with a senior with whom they share an activity, do a craft project and play games. At the end of their time together, everyone enjoys treats provided by the seniors.

Tjader started the program 25 years ago with her second-grade class and the seniors at Capeside Cove Nursing Home.

When the new Siren Senior Center was built after the tornado, it presented an opportunity for her students to meet another group of seniors.

For the last two years, Tjader has been teaching fourth grade, so this is the second time for some of her students to come to the center.

The seniors have looked forward to the arrival of the fourth-graders and enjoy the time spent with them. Tjader feels the Grand Friends has been a valuable program, and hopes it will be continued after her retirement this year. – submitted

In honor of the last visit to the senior center this school year, everyone was treated to DQ cake. Picture (L to R): Neil Oustigoff Jr., Don Brand, Abby Brand and Doug Krueger. – Photos submitted

Donna Tjader’s fourth-graders treated the seniors to a demonstration of tinikling. Keeping rhythm was Michell Dalsveen, while Kaci Tolzman and Emily Stiemann danced between the bars.

Share the Bounty

Frederic High School students help package Share the Bounty seeds. Share the Bounty is a hunger prevention project that offers free vegetable seeds to backyard gardeners and in return asks that they donate half the produce to food shelves or to WIC - a nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children. Free seeds are now available at all Polk County libraries. Pictured (L to R): Ryan Johnson, Jarvis Warwas, Laura Richter, Jordan Warwas and Kelsey Dahm. – Photo submitted

Fourth-graders Kaci Tolzman and Allie Webster are pictured with the springbouquet craft project the students made for their grand friend Corinne Root.

Daniels honored for 50 years of membership

Don Daniels (L), a member of the Lund-Brown American Legion Post #132, Siren, received a certificate of appreciation for 50 years of continued membership in the Legion. The certificate was issued by the national headquarters, and was presented by Post Commander Lyle Johnson during the post meeting Thursday, May 15. – Photo submitted

Check out the Leader’s new e-edition @ www.the-leader.net

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 19

Grantsburg graduation

Seniors sang for the last time as part of the Grantsburg High School choir during Grantsburg’s commencement program Sunday. The choir sang two selections, their beautiful performance of “Bridge over Troubled Water” struck a cord with many in the audience.

Grantsburg seniors Nichole Staples and Jeanne Reis smiled happily, diplomas in hand, as they take their final march at the close of the school’s graduation ceremony Sunday.

Grantsburg Schools Superintendent Joni Burgin greeted graduation guests and congratulated the class of 2008 at Grantsburg’s commencement exercises Sunday afternoon. – Photos by Priscilla Bauer

Valedictorian Khrystyne Lindgren was feeling the emotion of the afternoon during the commencement exercises at Grantsburg High School Sunday. In a touching moment, Lindgren was so overcome she needed to pause during her speech to regain her composure before continuing.

As her classmates look on Alison McKinley wiped joyful tears from her face.

McKinley was one of several Grantsburg seniors who became teary-eyed during the commencement exercises last Sunday held at Grantsburg High School.

School board members Cindy Jensen and David Ahlquist listen intently as Dr. Andrew Johnson, a 1976 Grantsburg graduate, gave the keynote address to graduating seniors at the commencement exercises Sunday, May 18. Johnson attended the University of Wisconsin River Falls where he earned All-American honors in wrestling and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music and speech. He taught second grade in River Falls, and was the head wrestling coach at River Falls High School from 1983-1986. He went on to teach in elementary schools in the Twin Cities area and also spent three years working in the Grantsburg School District as the gifted education coordinator. Johnson earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in Literacy Education in 1997 and is currently working at the University of Minnesota, Mankato, as a full professor and chair of the department of special education. He is the author of eight books and over 30 academic articles. Johnson told the graduates to find something to do in life they enjoyed and told them we all have failures in life, Grantsburg Superintendent Jodi Burgin gives graduate Lukas Olson the traand failure is not always a bad thing because of what we learn from our failures. ditional tassel turn at the commencement program Sunday.

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Burnett Relay for Life gets under way Survivors’ dinner begins event

by Carl Heidel WEBSTER - Cancer survivors filled the fellowship hall of Grace United Methodist Church in Webster last week Thursday to share a dinner and celebrate their progress. The Survivors’ Dinner was an upbeat gathering, a show of mutual support, an affirmation of the determination to defeat the dreaded Big C..

This annual event is the first in Burnett County’s Relay for Life, the cancer walk that raises funds each year for cancer research and treatment. The benefits from these dollars impact all regions of the Burnett County Community.

Nurtured by the good food prepared by members of the church, and moving to the concertina music of Dave Czaja, the crowd, estimated at 95 persons, shared stories of compassion and hope. “You give hope,” said keynote speaker Karen Humphrey, “hope that we will find the cure.”

Pictured are faces and scenes from the event.

For more information about the Relay for Life see their Web site at www.events.cancer.org/rflburnettwi.

Dave Czaja had the crowd singing along with him as he played some of the old time favorites.

The survivors T-shirt for this year carries the upbeat themes of the relay.

Karen Humphrey, a volunteer for the Relay for Life in Hudson and a member of the American Cancer Society Wisconsin Task Force, delivered the keynote speech.

“I walk for all of you,” she told the survivors.

Survivor Brenda Jackson

Rhonda Parker was part of the church crew feeding guests Thursday evening, May 18.

Photos by Carl Heidel Survivor Nina Wickland Survivor Linda Jolly

LEFT: Survivors Priscilla Bauer and Priscilla “Penny” Fornengo

Survivor Mervin Monkholm

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21

Boat racing on Trade River

by Wayne Anderson BURNETT COUNTY—A fleet of colorful, elite yachts raced down Trade River Sunday, May 18, in miniature.

Children of the Wood River Christian Fellowship celebrated in this fourth-annual boating event.

The kids built their own boats out of all kinds of material. And then they were set afloat on the rapid river for about a 50-yard stretch to the finish line.

Church members Kevin and Kim Karge, of Falun, hosted the sporting event at their home.

“It helps the kids with good sportsmanship and creativity,” said Tracy Andrewson, children’s ministry director.

“And it’s an opportunity for parents to

work with their kids.”

The competition was judged in two categories, speed and creativity.

The winners of the race were: First place: Jonah Novick, of Rush City, Minn.

Second place: Abigail Novick, of Rush City, Minn.

Third place: Nate Karge, of Falun The winners for creativity were: First place: Isabelle Maslow, of Grantsburg Second place: Nate Karge, of Falun Third place: Zack Maslow, of Grantsburg For more information on the children’s ministry, call: 715-463-2792.

Kevin and Kim Karge set up the boats, preparing to turn them loose down the Trade River on Sunday, May 18. – Photos by Wayne Anderson

The winners proudly hold up their plaques after the big race on Sunday, May 18, at Trade River.

Children ready their colorful yachts to race down Trade River on May 18.

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Prayer shawl ministry active in Polk County Balsam Lake group has distributed 200

by Tammi Milberg BALSAM LAKE–If you have not heard of the prayer shawl ministry yet, prepare to be educated. The reporter visited with one woman who makes them, and happens to be a former teacher the reporter.

Just like teaching about music and singing, Brenda Mayer provided an education about prayer shawls.

“Prayer shawls come from Jewish traditions,” Mayer began. “It is an old Jewish custom, which is becoming very popular today.”

Mayer said that the first mention of prayer shawls is in the book of Deuteronomy 22:12 and Numbers 15:37-40: “Speak unto the children of Israel and bid them that they make fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord.”

A prayer shawl was worn by Jewish men not just for prayer, but at all times.

The prayer shawl ministry takes the tradition of the prayer shawl and expands a bit on the idea.

“It is a knit or crocheted shawl approximately 20 feet by 60 feet or 30 feet by 80 feet–there’s no standard size. It represents God’s arms wrapped around you and tells the person who receives one that people are praying for you,” she said.

They are given to anyone who may be in need of prayer including high school graduates as they go off to college, women awaiting the birth of a baby, or someone who has suffered illness or loss and is in need of prayer.

Pictured are women from Our Lady of the Lakes who currently make prayer shawls. Left to right: Elizabeth Germain, Brenda Mayer, Margaret Maier, Lucy Kaiser, Anne Yourchuck, Ramona Tauer, Jan Bauer, Fr. John Drummy, Carol Tourville, Marie Lindahl and Sue Kellog. Missing: Rose Mason, Georgette Murphy, Marion Eldredge and Marion Rymkus. – Special photo Our Lady of the Lakes women are knitting prayer shawls and are distributing their 200th shawl this week. It all started when Mayer took a knitting class at the Balsam Lake Library in 2007. She had been crocheting since fifth or sixth grade because her mother had taught her. Now, a retired schoolteacher, she took up the class at the library by Loretta Kallevig in 2007, who started a white prayer shawl and introduced the idea to Mayer.

“She started this white shawl and was-

n’t happy with it and I took it, and started it over and gave it away,” Mayer said. “After I did that, I thought why couldn’t we do this in town? I started a meeting in May 2007 and five ladies showed up, and I explained the prayer shawls and they thought they could help. Now we have 14 women making shawls.”

The church has a supply on hand at all times and people can take one for someone in need and sign out where it goes, so the ladies keep a record of where they

are going. Mayer said she felt the ladies who make these shawls deserve some recognition. It takes approximately 18 hours to make one shawl, plus the material to make them, which is all done on their own. They meet occasionally, but the women knit on their own in their own time, purchase their own materials and make sure the church supply is filled so they can continue to reach out to the community.

“The satisfaction we get in return are hugs, thank-yous, and tears,” Mayer added. “In November we had 30 shawls on hand. In one week, I handed out nine shawls. It is sad to see so many people in need, but as a group, we are glad to be of service. We have become very good friends and have a common cause.”

Persons can and have donated financially to supply these ladies with yarn. A prayer shawl on average is $9 worth of yarn depending on the kind used and size of the shawl. Some shawls are made of fleece and those are a bit more in price.

Patti Dee has a special-needs student who attends a school in Roseville, Minn.

She has given away 15 fleece shawls to students at that school.

Mayer said she took the prayer shawl ministry information to a convention in Superior last June, and prayer shawl ministries have been started in Birchwood, Hammond, River Falls and Medford. The information is a booklet with a definition of a prayer shawl, directions on how to knit them, and prayers to put with the shawls. Each recipient gets a card that explains the prayer shawl ministry and has a prayer included for the person.

Anyone interested in the prayer shawl ministry can contact Brenda Mayer, 510 First Ave W, Balsam Lake, WI 54810, 715483-3571.

The women who began the prayer shawl ministry for Our Lady of the Lakes in the summer of 2007: Lucy Kaiser, Anne Yourchuck, Ramona Tauer, Brenda These are some examples of the prayer shawls that are distributed to perMayer, Carol Tourville and Rose Mason, along with Fr. John Drummy. –Special sons in need of prayer. – Photo by Tammi Milberg photo

Shy songwriters forum hosted by Lamar LUCK – In recognition of the many singer-songwriters in the St. Croix Valley, Lamar is hosting its first songwriters forum with open mics in June and July, onstage performances at the fifth-annual Lamar Music Festival Aug. 15-17, and a seminar on the Business of Songwriting with singer-songwriter Kurt Jorgensen.

The forum is intended to give area songwriters performance opportunities, support them in cultivating a songwriters community, honor their work and nurture their talent.

The songwriters forum is an outgrowth of the past four Lamar Music

Festivals, which have featured local professional songwriters and upcoming talent along with national acts. “We’ve got so many amazing songwriters in the area,” says Bruce Bjork, committee chair, an accomplished musician himself. “It’s exciting to bring them together and to give them a chance to be heard.”

Jorgensen, with six CDs and winner of multiple Minnesota Music Awards, will offer the seminar on the Business of Songwriting on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 4 p.m., open to all participants in the songwriter open mics. Following the seminar, selected songwriters will be onstage

at the festival from 5-7 p.m. The Kurt Jorgensen Band, which plays nationally and has a dedicated dance-loving regional following, headlines the Saturday lineup at the festival at 8:30 p.m.

Open mic performance opportunities for songwriters are scheduled for Café Wren in Luck on Friday, June 13, from 79 p.m. and Shane’s on Main in Stillwater, Minn., on July 31 from 7-9 p.m. In order to guarantee a space, registrations must be sent one week prior to the open mic.

Songwriters may also sign up the night of their choice on a first-come, firstserved basis. Only 10 performers will be

heard at each venue. Registration is $10 and includes the songwriters open mics, participation in the Business of Songwriting seminar, and admission to the Lamar Music Festival. For more information, contact Bruce Bjork at 715-4833630.

The Lamar Music Festival is supported by the Wisconsin Arts Board, the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation, and area businesses and individuals.

Registrations for the forum can be found online at www.lamarcommunity.org or on-site at each of the open mics. - submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 23

Festival Theatre presents...

As Leade Land readers learned last week, Festival Theatre is moving into production mode for the start of their 19th theatre series and the hugely popular Broadway musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which opens on June 19. A cast of six actors under the direction of Marilyn Mays will bring Charles Schulz’ famous Peanuts characters to life through songs, dance and vignettes. Each week one of the cast members will be featured in this Inter-County Leader exclusive.

Thomas Rusterholz will be performing the role of Schroeder in Festival’s opening production of “Charlie Brown.” Thomas began his acting career in the second grade when he played the Dormouse in a River Falls Community Theatre production of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Rusterholz has lived his entire life in River Falls. He recently completed his sophomore year at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical

Thomas Rusterholz Theater. Recent credits include: “Urinetown,” “A Flea In Her Ear,” and a student directed production of “Charlie Brown.” - submitted

Summer concerts draw near at Festival Theatre ST. CROIX FALLS – Festival Theatre’s 2008 concert event schedule includes a family matinee concert in honor of Father’s Day weekend and two members of the Minnesota Guitar Wizards on stage during Wannigan Days weekend in July.

Making his annual pilgrimage to St. Croix Falls in June is legendary singing cowboy Pop Wagner who will perform a Saturday matinee concert on June 14, at 2 p.m. A special package has been created to include an 11:15 a.m. Taylors Falls riverboat cruise with box lunch, followed by the concert. Family concert prices are $7.50 for youth and $12.50 for adults. The combination of box lunch boat cruise and concert is $24.50 for youth and $29.50 for adults.

On Friday, July 18, Dakota Dave Hull and Phil Heywood will perform a 7:30 p.m. concert as part of the 2008 Music Series. The duo will play two full sets and join the audience afterward for social hour in the Mezzanine Café. This will be a night for journeying through a wide range of music genres along with the wit and storytelling of two gifted guitarists who defy strict categorization.

Their concert will meander along the pathways of jazz, ragtime, folk, vintage pop and bluesy swing. Festival Theatre subscribers may use their Flex Passes for this event, otherwise tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Additional concerts making up the 2008 Music Series include: Jared and Noni Mason on Sept. 6, Tim Sparks and Michael Young on Sept. 27, Robert

Pop Wagner, Dakota Dave Hull, Phil Heywood. - Photo submitted Robinson on Oct. 18, Claudia Schmidt on Nov. 8, Ann Reed with Dan Chouinard on Dec. 6, and Monroe Crossing with two concerts on Dec. 20.

Subscriptions can be purchased yearround, offering great savings with Flex Pass ticket packages that can be used for both the music series and theatre series.

Early reservations are highly recommended as concerts often sellout at Festival Theatre. For more information, to order tickets or join the Festival Theatre mailing list, call 715-483-3387 or 1-888887-6002. You may also send an e-mail to boxoffice@festivaltheatre.org or order tickets on the Web at www.festivaltheatre.org. Festival Theatre is located in downtown St. Croix Falls at 210 North Washington Street. - submitted

Vaseline glass, the glass that glows POLK COUNTY - Sandi and Gordy Hibbs are collectors of the vaseline glass that glows. No, these are not the vessels that petroleum jelly is packed in but a very unique type of glass that actually glows under ultraviolet light. They are pictured with a 1900-era decanter from Czechoslovakia.

The Hibbs, who have been collecting this special glass for about 20 years, will explain the production and history of vaseline glass at the Polk County Historical Society on Tuesday, May 27.

Join them at 7 p.m. in the community room at the Balsam Lake Justice Center and experience these treasures. Refreshments will be served. submitted

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Real Estate/Garage Sale

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 25

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Polk-Burnett Leadership Academy students graduate

The 2008 Polk-Burnett Leadership Academy graduates pose with state Rep. Ann Hraychuck after receiving their diplomas. Rep. Hraychuck was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony held on May 13 at the Lodge at Crooked Lake. The academy graduated 15 members in the nine-month course, which presented information and guest speakers focusing on leadership training, community involvement and development, and the role of local and state government.

Leadership Academy graduates are back row (L to R): Dan Peterson, Jeff Thielke, Bonita Liggett, Delene Berger, Karen Krupa, Sarah Rollman, Charlie Falk, Sue Sopiwnik, Shelly Moen and Rep. Hraychuck. Front row (L to R): Mary Jo Parnell, Doug Stubbe, Priscilla Bauer, Joyce Stanchfield and Peggy Moore. Not pictured: Patty Draxler. – Photos by Priscilla Bauer An excited Charlie Falk holds up his diploma after receiving it from Leadership Academy instructor, Polk County Resource Agent, Bob Kazmierski and Rep. Ann Hraychuck. Falk, a Grantsburg High School senior, was the youngest member to graduate from this year’s Leadership Academy class.

Joyce Stanchfield, Shelly Moen and Peggy Moore presented their plan for a new Burnett County Veterans Park in Siren, Wisconsin at the Polk-Burnett Leadership Academy graduation ceremony held at the Lodge at Crooked Lake on May 13. The graduates were pleased to announce that the plan they drafted is already coming to fruition, as Stanchfield and Moen proudly showed in a photo display of the new park.

RIGHT: Polk-Burnett Leadership graduates Karen Krupa and Sue Sopiwnik presented their end of course class project at the Leadership Academy’s graduation ceremony held on May 13 at the Lodge at Crooked Lake. Leadership members made group presentations on community needs projects each group had chosen, then made implementation plans as to how to make them happen.

Krupa and Sopiwnik, who each work in the field of nonprofits, presented a plan for making the public more aware of what nonprofits are, what they offer and how to contact them for help.

Webster Arts and Crafts Extravaganza this weekend

Handmade rustic lamps are among the products made by more than 120 vendors to be at the Webster Arts and Crafts Extravaganza at the elementary school Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Photo by Harriet Rice

Earth Arts members attend opening of “Celebrate”

Earth Arts members Jerry Bouchér, Judy Hostvet/Paulson, Tiffany Meyer, Laura Tiede, Julie Adams, Sally Klergard, John Bailey, Sandy Cormican, and Bonnie Haugen, attended the opening of “Celebrate” at The Space in New Richmond on Friday, May 17. In the background is a painting by Julie Adams. For information on upcoming Earth Arts activities go to www.earthartswi.org. – Photo submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 27

Valedictorian announced at Grantsburg High School GRANTSBURG – Grantsburg High School is pleased to announce Khrystyne Lindgren as the valedictorian for 2008. Lindgren has the distinction of having a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average all four years of her high school career.

This year Grantsburg High School had four students with a GPA of 4.0 This is the first time this has happened. Alyssa Ryan, Emily Prazak and Maarja Anderson also have GPAs of 4.0. The valedictorian policy was used to award this honor to Lindgren.

Valedictorian policy from the handbook reads: The Grantsburg School District recognizes the top achieving academic student with the honor of being designated as the valedictorian. The valedictorian is the student with the highest numerical/ cumulative GPA in the class who has met all graduation requirements as specified in the student handbook. The second ranking student will be designated as the salutatorian. Any courses which were retaken for a higher grade will not count for purposes of being recognized as the valedic-

torian or salutatorian.

In the event of a GPA tie, the following hierarchal structure will determine the top academic student.

1. The highest number of advanced placement classes on the student’s transcript.

2. The total number of credits.

3. The student’s ACT score. The first level to consider was the number of credits each student had accumulated during Khrystyne Lindgren their high school careers.

Lindgren is very involved in the school and in the community, setting a positive example for others.

Within the school community, Lindgren is in the band, a manager of the volleyball, basketball and track teams all four years, a member of our student Link group, a member of the Grantsburg National Honor Society, has been a mentor for the incoming freshman, and for the past three years she has been a summer school teacher, assistant with kindergardners. One of Lindgren’s greatest strengths is her willingness to help others. Outside of school, Lindgren is active in her church by singing in the church choir and being a Sunday school teacher.

In addition to her extracurricular activities, Lindgren loves to learn new and exciting things and be with her friends.

Lindgren will be attending the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. this fall. She will be going into the premed program, and her plan is to become a pediatrician.

On Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m., Lindgren delivered the welcome speech at the graduation ceremony. - submitted

WITC - Rice Lake awards $40,000 in scholarships NEW RICHMOND - Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Rice Lake recently held their spring scholarship reception, and awarded scholarships to 60 students, ranging in amounts from $100 to $1,000. Another 30 high school students will be awarded WITCRice Lake scholarships at their respective awards ceremonies, for a total of $40,000 in scholarships to be used for fall semester 2008.

The WITC Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization, provides support to promote, develop and expand quality education and services of WITC and encourages the success and achievement of students, faculty, staff and alumni. The foundation, established in 1978, awarded over $100,000 in scholarship monies districtwide in the past year.

Jensen graduates RICE LAKE — Darren Jensen graduated from WITC Rice Lake on Friday, May 16, in the supervisory management program. He is the son of Duane and Elaine Jensen of Clam Falls. Jensen was an honor student who volunteered his time and effort to give presentations for WITC Health Services at Rice Lake, Ashland, Superior, and New Richmond campuses on the dangers of methamphetamine and other addictions.

Jensen is a five-year member of Shell Lake Full Gospel Church, and is currently a volunteer chaplain at the Washburn County Jail. Under the direction of his pastor, Jensen will become a licensed minister in 2009 and will continue to bring the Gospel and hope to those incarcerated in prison.

Jensen is currently seeking employment locally, but plans to work for Alaska Native Corporation Doyon, Limited, in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the near future. — submitted

The WITC-Rice Lake spring scholarship recipients, followed by their program area and scholarship they received, are: Amery – JoAnn Scribner, associate nursing, American Legion.

Frederic – Knowl Douglas, auto maintenance, William Charles Jones; Carissa Marsh, wood technics, Derrick Construction; Anastasia Smith, administrative assistant, Leah and Sam Rigler.

Osceola – Kipp Hinz, Dairy Herd Management, LBC (anonymous).

Shell Lake – Thomas Garcia, Mechanical Design, Rice Lake Golden K; Aaron Jensen, IT Network Specialist, WITC-Rice Lake IT. Spooner – Matthew Mulligan, mechanical design,

Friends of Mechanical Design; Nancy Oostdyk, accounting, Homeshield Education Achievement; Keri Wagner, therapeutic massage, United Ostomy Association NW-WI Chapter.

Webster – Hailey Krenzke, barber/cosmetology, Rice Lake Opportunity Builders.

WITC serves the educational and career needs of more than 25,000 residents of northwestern Wisconsin each year. As one of four campuses in the district, WITC-Rice Lake offers more than 30 one- and two-year programs, technical diplomas, customized training, and a wide array of courses for personal or career enrichment. For more information, call 800-243-WITC or log onto witc.edu. – from WITC

Walsh receives Excellence Scholarship MENOMONIE – The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation 2008 Excellence Scholarship was presented to Peter Walsh, a student from Webster High School, in Menomonie, at a recognition luncheon hosted by U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl on Saturday, April 5.

The Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated academic potential, outstanding leadership, citizenship, community service, integrity and other special talents.

Each year the Herb Kohl Foundation awards 100 students throughout Wisconsin with $1,000 Excellence Scholarships. Since it was established in 1990, the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation has awarded $6.4 million to Wisconsin students, teachers and schools. – submitted

Siren Park has new park hosts RV campers Richard Groves and Pat Busch arrived Monday afternoon, May 13, for their summer job as park hosts at Crooked Lake Park, Siren. The two are fairly new full-time RV’ers, and spent the 2007 summer season working at Heartland RV Park in Hermosa, S.D. Their first day on the job here, Thursday, May 15, was spent cleaning up the park.

They love being on the shore of Crooked Lake, and commented on how beautiful the park is. As it looks now, the two, and their dog, Elsa, will be at the park until sometime in September. - Photos by Nancy Jappe

Check out our new e-edition @ www.the-leader.net

St. Croix Falls graduate elected to Lawrence University honor society APPLETON – Elise Pfaltzgraff, a 2005 graduate of St. Croix Falls High School, has been elected to Lawrence University’s chapter of Mortar Board, a national honor society that recognizes outstanding leadership, scholarship and service to the academic community. A junior at Lawrence, she is the daughter of Dr. George and Allyson Pfaltzgraff, formerly of St. Croix Falls, now living in Hampton, Iowa. - submitted

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

WITC Rice Lake business students win national awards RICE LAKE — Nine students from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Rice Lake returned from the five-day Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Reno, Nev., with some impressive awards in individual and team competitions. The students were eligible to compete in various events that they had qualified for at the state level.

“I was proud to see that our WITC business students not only excelled at the state level, but also made a strong showing in the national competition, as did Wisconsin as a whole. It speaks well of their education, their determination to succeed, and their potential to have outstanding careers in their fields,” said Deb Miller, WITC - Rice Lake BPA Club advisor.

Thousands of secondary and postsecondary students from throughout the nation participated in the competition.

Two- and four-year colleges compete in separate categories. WITC was represented by Ashland, New Richmond and Rice Lake campuses. Highlights for

Students participating in Business Professional of America National Leadership Conference were back row (L to R): Krista Bethke-Peterson, Jennifer Fankhauser, Bryan Zimmerman, Joshua Gifford and Kerrie Zimmermann.

Front: Heidi Zellmer, Lisa Roberts, Sara Vennie and advisor Deb Miller. — Photo submitted WITC - Rice Lake participants included first-place finishes by Jennifer Fankhauser and Kerrie Zimmermann.

WITC-Rice Lake students that participated were: Krista M. Bethke-Peterson, Sheldon, finalist in integrated office ap-

Whittenberger takes third at ICDC ATLANTA, Ga. – Zachary Whittenberger, a member of Delta Epsilon Chi, a student organization for Chippewa Valley Technical College Marketing and Management students, recently traveled to the International Career and Development Conference and took third overall.

The conference took place April 12 - 15 in Atlanta, Ga. Whittenberger received third place in the restaurant and food service management category which consisted of one written exam and one business simulation role play. Based upon his scores in those events, Whittenberger received a medal for being an overall finalist in his category. He also received a medal for having the highest score on the competitive role play. All overall finalists were then asked to compete in another busi-

ness simulation and all event scores were added together to round out the top ten in each category. Whittenberger received another medal for placing in the top 10 and earned a plaque for third place. Only the top three students in each series category received a plaque. To take part in ICDC, students must finish in the top three in their home state conference.

Whittenberger was the 2007 champion in his category at ICDC. Whittenberger is a 2005 graduate from St. Croix Falls High School. Whittenberger was also a member of the DECA chapter led by Tracie Crowley, business teacher at St. Croix Falls High School. He is the son of Bob and Kay Whittenberger of St. Croix Falls. He is the grandson of Chuck and Pat Whittenberger and Rosemary Zuck of Ladysmith. – submitted

plications; Jennifer N. Fankhauser, Weyerhaeuser, first place in advanced office systems and procedures; Joshua D. Gifford, Rice Lake, finalist in financial analyst team; Lisa L. Roberts, Luck, finalist in management, marketing and human resources; Sara J. Vennie, Dallas, finalist in advanced accounting, third place, banking and finance; finalist, financial math analysis, second place in management, marketing and human resources; Heidi S. Zellmer, Spooner, finalist, medical office procedures; Bryan W. Zimmermann, Sand Creek, finalist – financial analyst team; Kerrie A. Zimmermann, Sand Creek, first place in banking and finance, finalist in financial analyst team, second place in insurance, finalist in financial math, finalist in management, marketing, and human resources; and Debra Statz, Spooner, finalist, accounting.

The mission of BPA is to contribute to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and technological skills. - submitted

Moore honored by Thrivent Financial Local financial representative named to Pinnacle Council MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Cris A. Moore, FICF, FIC, CLTC, RMA, senior financial consultant of Luck, a financial representative with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has qualified for the organization’s prestigious Pinnacle Council.

In order to qualify for the Pinnacle Council, Moore demonstrated outstanding sales and service to members.

Fewer than 125 of Thrivent Financial’s 2,600 financial representatives qualified for the Pinnacle Council. Moore has been with Thrivent Financial and its predecessor organizations for 16 years and has been recognized for his performance 16 times. – submitted

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 29

OBITUARIES John W. Richards

Vicki R. Peterson

Richard J. Hacker Sr.

John William Richards, age 66, of Rush City, Minn., died May 4, 2008, at Fairview Hospital in Wyoming, Minn., after a short illness.

Johnny was born Feb. 9, 1942, at home in Wood River Township, north of Alpha. He attended grade school at North Fork and Falun. After the family moved to the Twin Cities, Johnny graduated from North High School in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1960. He enlisted in the Army in 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1964.

Johnny loved all sports and excelled at most of them, especially baseball and softball. He enjoyed fishing and took many trips to Canada with his buddies. He retired in 1997 after many years of employment with the U.S. Post Office.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Gladys Richards, and brother, Clifton.

He is survived by his daughter, Tammy; sister, Jan (Chet) Nickel; nieces, Patty Richards and Stacy (Goob) Coy and grand-nephews, Seth and Sawyer Coy. Interment was at Fort Snelling Cemetery.

Vicki R. Peterson, 51, died May 15, 2008, at her home in Frederic, with all of her family around her.

Vicki was born Jan. 18, 1957, to John and Grace Tschumperlin of Frederic. She attended and graduated from Frederic High School. Upon graduation, Vicki married Arlen Peterson of Frederic on June 28, 1975.

Vicki and Arlen built a home and lived near Spirit Lake where they were blessed with two children, Erin and Eric. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens and spending time on their houseboat.

After moving into the village of Frederic in 1994, Vicki started new flower beds at her new home with the help of her oldest granddaughter, Andrea. It gave Vicki great joy to be able to teach her granddaughter the fun of flower gardening.

She enjoyed morning coffee with friends downtown in Frederic and spent the afternoons at her sister Patty’s for coffee and conversation with family.

In 1994, Vicki was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and underwent extensive treatments to put this in remission. This cancer came back three times, and the last time was accompanied by an aggressive form of lung cancer. Even with extensive radiation and chemo treatments for this new form of cancer, she was not able to beat this one.

Vicki was preceded in death by her mother, father and her oldest brother, John Jr. (Jack).

Vicki is survived by her husband, Arlen; her daughter, Erin (TJ) Peterson; her son, Eric Peterson; granddaughters, Andrea and Samantha; grandsons, Austin, Jon and Ayden; her sisters, Carol (Pete) Mangelsen, Kathy (Keith) Lindquist, Dorothy (Bruce) Hughes, Patty (Lloyd) Knecthel; her brothers, Charlie (Mary) Tschumperlin and Gary Tschumperlin; many brothersin-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held at Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic on Tuesday, May 20, with the Rev. Greg Lund officiating. A luncheon was held after the service at the Countryside Inn, north of Frederic. Interment will be at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner.

The Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic was entrusted with arrangements.

Richard J. Hacker Sr., 79, resident of Cushing, died on May 18, 2008, at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center.

Memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 22, at 2 p.m., at the First Lutheran Church in Cushing with the Rev. Amy Hessel officiating. The family will gather at 1 p.m. to greet friends at the church.

A full obituary will follow in a later edition.

The Rowe Funeral Home, Luck, was entrusted with arrangements.

Lauren Harold Dodge Lauren Harold Dodge, age 80, of Luck, died May 15, 2008, at the United Pioneer Home in Luck.

Larry was born on April 9, 1928, in Mankato, Minn., to Harold and Julia Dodge. As the oldest son of nine siblings, the Great Depression and WWII shaped Larry’s formative years. He joked that when his mother served ping-pong sized hamburgers for supper to their large family, he and his brothers would cry, “Not marbles again!”

These experiences shaped the personal value of simplicity that later defined Larry’s adult life.

Larry served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp from 1946-1947. He was stationed in Tokyo and the post war devastation he witnessed there spawned a commitment to working for global peace and justice. This ethic carried him from the slums of Columbia to the post-colonial struggles of Uganda to the barrios of Mexico and dozens of countries in between.

Larry was a graduate of St. Agnes High School, received a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. and a MA in communications from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Larry started his journalism career in advertising for the Forest Lake Times in 1955, eventually becoming editor-in-chief for the Twin Cities Suburban Newspapers and later doing free-lance public relations work for many years.

Larry married Lois Eleanor Nelson Price on June 20, 1959, immediately becoming stepfather to her four children. Larry and Lois eventually increased their brood by four more. In 1963 Larry joined the Association for International Development in Patterson, N.J., a volunteer organization of Catholic laypersons. In 1967 Larry and his family moved to Kampala, Uganda, and under the sponsorship of A.I.D., he researched the development of the local press and trained journalists and indigenous clergy in effective media utilization.

Larry and Lois created a “Noah’s Ark” farm in Grantsburg. He and Lois lived in the Dorea Peace Community in Amery, and later the Anathoth Catholic Worker Farm in Luck. They also worked for six winters in Mexico for the Cuernavaca Center on Dialogue and International Development.

Larry is survived by his wife, Lois Dodge, his children, Christopher, Connie, Jesse, Elizabeth, Judy, Jon and Josh and their partners; 26 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, his siblings, Lily Tyler, Eloise Dodge, Marv Dodge, Harry Dodge and Gordon Dodge and their spouses; countless nieces and nephews and many friends.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents; his son, David Price, his granddaughter Bella Dodge, and his siblings Will Dodge, Jerry Dodge and Gary Dodge.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 23, at the West Denmark Church in Luck. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larry Dodge Memorial Fund, c/o West Denmark Church, 2478 170th Street, Luck, WI, 54853.

Mary J. Anderson Mary J. Anderson, 84, Siren, died May 13 at New Richmond Meadows in New Richmond.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster.

Pauline H. Stengel Pauline H. Stengel, 86, of Brooklyn Park, Minn., formerly of Webster, died May 14 at the Golden LivingHillcrest of Wayzata in Wayzata, Minn. Graveside services were held May 20 at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Webster with Pastor Arnie Enslin officiating. The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home of Webster assisted the family with arrangements. A complete obituary will appear in next week’s Leader.

Thomas S. Nilssen Jr. Thomas S. Nilssen Jr., age 83, of Clear Lake, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at the Amery Regional Medical Center.

Thomas Steen Nilssen, Jr. was born in Clear Lake, on Jan. 7, 1925, the son of Thomas and Beth (Robinson) Nilssen.

He was baptized at home and at the First confirmed Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Tom grew up in Clear Lake and graduated from high school in 1943. After graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Tom was honorably discharged from the military in 1946, and soon attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. He then entered business with his father T.S. Nilssen, Sr. and operated Nilssen Hardware, Plumbing and Heating. On June 11, 1950, he was married to Georgine C. Hallen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Clayton. Together they made their home in Clear Lake and raised four children, Jill, Julie, Thomas III, and Kari. Tom assumed ownership of Nilssen Hardware in 1963 and operated it until 1973 when he sold to the Isaksons. He then went to work for Petrolane, Inc. in Amery, as a district manager for their LP gas operation. Tom worked there for three years before moving on to Andersen Window Corp. in Bayport, Minn. He retired from Andersen’s in 1990.

Over the years Tom has been very active in the Clear Lake community. He served on the Clear Lake Board of Education from 1950 to 1963, where he helped consolidate seven districts into one, began the Dollars for Scholars”program, and took part in three major building projects. Tom then served on the Clear Lake Village Board from 1963 to 1974. During that time he chaired the Clear Lake Park Project and helped secure grants for industrial development. He was also a founding member of the Clear Lake Lions Club, the Clear Lake Golf Course, and the Clear Lake Civic and Commerce, serving in all capacities and offices in those organizations. He also served on the Board of Directors for West Cap, the Clear Lake Industrial Development Corporation, the Apple River Memorial Hospital in Amery, and the Clear Lake Museum. Tom also served three terms on the Polk County Board. He was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, serving on the church board and participating in Bible studies. He was a member of the Clear Lake American Legion and was active in Boy Scout Troop 130, where as a young man, attained the rank of Eagle Scout. In his spare time, Tom enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing and was an avid reader. He also enjoyed writing articles for the Clear Lake Museum Chronicle.

He and Georgine had recently moved to River Bend in Amery.

He is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Nilssen III; and his parents.

He is survived by wife, Georgine Nilssen of Amery; daughters, Jill Nilssen of Edina, Minn., Julie (Stephen) Nilssen-Cobb of Excelsior, Minn., and Kari (Mark) Erickson of Milaca, Minn.; grandchildren, Torin, Anika and Jorgen Erickson and Ian Cobb; sister, Betty Ann (John) Smith of Mission, Texas; and many relatives, family and friends.

Funeral services were held at First Lutheran Church in Clear Lake on Monday, May 19, with Pastor Bryan S. Anderson officiating. Cindy Nelson was organist.

Special music was provided by Ann Allison, Kristin Hays, Allison Halvorson and Jane Kinney.

Casket beares were Charles Clark, Ray Smith, Pete Cogbill, Jan Weiss, LaMoyne Emerson Sr., Virgil Wilson, Michael Johnson and Tim Wyss.

Interment was at Clear Lake Cemetery in Clear Lake.

Military honors were provided by Clear Lake Area Veterans Honor Guard.

The Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home, Clear Lake, was entrusted with arrangements.

PAGE 30 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

OBITUARIES Jeanette Mildred Erickson Larson Peterson Jeanette Mildred Peterson, 90, of Grantsburg, died on April 20, 2008.

Jeanette was born Dec. 31, 1917, to Evald and Hilda Erickson.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Helmer Larson; sisMargaret (Erickson) ter, Lehman; brother, Edward Erickson; half sisters, Elsie Skogland, Ethel Brookway, Violet Skoglund, Astrid Erickson, Winifred Everhoy; half brothers, Hjalmer, Helmer, Ragner and Herbert Erickson; niece, LaVerne Lisdahl; nephews, Chester and Roger Olson and her second husband.

She is survived by one sister, Edith Sutherland of Superior and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Branstad on April 24.

Ardis Gail Swift Ardis Gail Swift, age 77, a resident of Minneapolis, Minn., died Jan. 16, 2008, at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Siren, with visitation from 1 – 2 p.m.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

Marita A. Hallquist Marita A. Hallquist, 85, of River Falls, died on Monday, May 19, 2008, at the Peter and Ellen Johnson Residence, a hospice facility in Madison.

A complete notice will run in an upcoming edition of the paper.

Contact Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services of River Falls for service information.

Patrick A. Harvey Patrick A. Harvey, resident of Luck, died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at the age of 58. He was born March 3, 1950.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 19, at Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, with Pastor Andy McDaniel officiating.

Rowe Funeral Home of Luck was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Allen Ernest Foltz Allen Ernest Foltz, Frederic, died May 14, 2008, at the age of 81.

Allen was born March, 19, 1927, in Frederic, to Oscar and Anna Foltz.

Allen went to Frederic School until ninth grade, when he was needed at home to farm. He later got his GED. Allen went into the Army in Missouri in 1948 and was discharged on medical leave one year later.

He then came back to the family farm in Frederic where he met and married Catha Taylor on Oct. 16, 1953.

He had many jobs including repairing wells, farming, working at McNally’s in Grantsburg, as well as crop farming in Colorado with his uncle. The family then bought a place on Clam Falls Dr. in Frederic.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Annie; and sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Delbert Melin.

He is survived by his wife, Catha; sons, Guy Foltz and wife Carolyn, Floyd Foltz and Wayne Foltz; grandson, Guy Foltz Jr. and wife Jenna; and great-grandchildren, Austin and Kyla.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 17, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Frederic, with Pastor Arveda “Freddie” Kirk officiating.

The Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Randy McCurdy

Louise Viola Anderson

Randy McCurdy, 54, of Eureka, died Saturday, May 10, 2008.

Randy was born Jan. 11, 1954, in St. Croix Falls.

Randy was the fifth of six children born to Carl and Grace McCurdy.

On Sept. 27, 1975, Randy was married to Linda Gudmunsen in Cushing. To this union, three sons were born. The family made their made two miles south of Cushing until 1985 when, upon his father’s retirement, Randy took over the family farm, two miles west of Eureka, which he and Linda farmed until his death.

Randy loved being outside whether it was for farming, hunting or fishing he deeply enjoyed it.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents; his oldest sister, Gail Heichel and a younger brother, Billy.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; their sons, Travis, Trevor and Tryn and Tryn’s fiancé, Beth Skinner; and his grandsons, Austin and Bryce; brothers, Gary (Margaret), Richard (Sharon); and sister, Mary Rezak (Bob) and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held at First Lutheran Church in Cushing with Pastor Amy Hessel officiating.

Music was provided by Shawn Gudmunsen and Carol Medchill.

The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.

Louise V. Anderson, 91, former longtime resident of Milltown, died at the Willow Ridge Nursing Home in Amery on Thursday, May 15, 2008, with her family at her side.

Louise was born on July 19, 1916, in St. Paul, Minn., to parents, Catherine (Koneczny) and Louis Leo Luty.

Louise was married on Aug. 2, 1937 to Harold B. Anderson in Minneapolis, Minn.

Louise attended school at the Blake Lake School in Georgetown Township, Polk County. After her education she worked as a waitress in St. Paul, Minn., at her uncle’s Greek Restaurant where she met her husbandto-be. She also worked as a nurses aide at Miller Hospital in St. Paul for several years and as a cook at Washington High School in St. Paul.

Louise and her husband Harold retired to the Milltown/Balsam Lake area after many years of working and residing in St. Paul.

Louise is survived by her children, Roger (Barb) Anderson of Amery and Wayne (Darlene) Anderson of Seattle; grandchildren, Mark, Sandi, Tracy, Eric and Quinn; great-grandchildren, Brooke, Britney, Katelyn, Ryan, Lauren, Shawn and Raven; step-grandsons, Jerud Udelhofen and Joe Udelhofen; and step-granddaughter, Jen Roeser; brothers and sisters, Melvin Luty, Agnes Wenzel, Vera (Paul) Solberg, Louis (Nancy) Luty, Barbara Reske, Harold (Delores) Luty, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Catherine Luty; husband, Harold on Dec. 26, 1975; daughter, Carol Jean McGuffin; sisters, Clara Pnewski and Catherine Luty; brothers, Hank and Gerald Luty.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, May 20, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake. Father John Drummy officiated with Audrey Ruck and Pam Garvey providing music. Luncheon was served following the mass.

Pallbearers were her family members; Mark Anderson, Tracy Anderson, Sandi Williams, Travis Williams, Brooke Brown and Britney Brown. Honorary pallbearers were Katelyn and Ryan Anderson.

Louise was laid to rest next to her husband Harold at the Wallingford Cemetery in Wallingford, Iowa, on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria was entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Albert L. (Junie) Doriott Albert L. (Junie) Doriott, 73, a resident of Webster, died May 3, 2008, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

Junie was born May 13, 1934, in Oakland Township, Burnett County, to Albert L. and Clara Doriott. Junie married Marilyn Studeman on March 28, 1953, in Pine City, Minn.

He logged, drove pulp truck for over 35 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and playing with his great-grandchildren.

Junie was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Vernon, Lyle and Gordon; three sisters, Mary, Bertha and Loretta.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Webster; children, Carol (Vern) Nottom, Michael Doriott and Richard Doriott, all of Webster; sister, Marcelia Studeman of Webster; brothers, Donald (Shirley) Doriott, Darrald (Karen) Doriott, both of Webster; grandchildren, Tammy (Eric) Peterson, Troy Moser, Leland (Erica) Doriott, Tracie (Craig) Peterson, Tabatha Mitchell, Amanda (Jason) Warwas, Katie Doriott; 15 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held May 6, at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, with Pastor Cindy Glocke officiating. Interment followed at Orange Cemetery in Oakland Township. Casket bearers were David Doriott, Gary Doriott, Glenn Doriott, Kevin Doriott, Mark Doriott and Vernon Buskirk. Honorary casket bearer was Tyler Thompson.

The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.

Lorraine L. McKnite Lorraine L. McKnite died Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at Golden Age Manor in Amery. She was 87 years old.

Lorraine was born June 2, 1920, at Nye, to William and Minnie Nehring. She attended East Lake School.

On May 29, 1942, she married George McKnite. She was a homemaker all of her life. Lorraine enjoyed the outdoors, wildlife, fishing, reading and her family.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; brothers, Merril Sr., Ernest, Alec, Edgar and Fred; and sister, Esther Hilpert.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly (Ed) Ellis of Amery; granddaughter, GeorgeAnn (Charlie) West of St. Croix Falls; grandson, Michael (Amy) Ellis of Luck; nieces, Elaine Leisch, Janice Gentzkow, Marilyn Nehring and nephew Merril Nehring Jr. Funeral services were Monday, May 19, at Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser, with Intern Doug Andersen officiating. Interment Pleasant Prairie Cemetery.

The Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, was entrusted with arrangements.

Keith Herbert Lindstrom Keith Herbert Lindstrom, Osceola, died May 11, 2008, at the Osceola Medical Center after a courageous battle against cancer.

Keith was born to Herbert and Ruella (Mielke) Lindstrom on Aug. 14, 1946. He graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1964 and married Karen Lunde in 1966. Keith joined the United States Air Force in 1964 and served as a military police officer in Texas, Mississippi and then overseas in Turkey. He received an honorable discharge in 1968. After his service time, Keith and Karen moved back to the Osceola area to raise their two children, Brenda and Brent.

When his children were very young and again later in his life, Keith worked for different trucking companies including Glendenning, Consolidated Freightways, Madison Freightways, Wayne Transports and Saia Trucking. Keith also spent 20 years working as a deputy sheriff/jailer/dispatcher for Polk County. He also was the chief of police in Star Prairie for 12 years.

Keith was active with the Shriners when his children were young and helped open the Shrine Circus as “Wimpie” the clown saying “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, welcome to the St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus.” Keith obtained his private pilots license and enjoyed flying as a hobby along with deer hunting at his cabin in Cushing. Keith also enjoyed camping, traveling and talking on his cell phone.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; niece, Stephanie Wettig and other family members.

Keith is survived by his wife of nearly 42 years, Karen Lindstrom; daughter, Brenda Lindstrom of Star Prairie; son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Jennifer Lindstrom of Roberts; granddaughter, Carissa Kay Holdt of Star Prairie; sister, Karri (Don) Goodroad of Seattle, Wash., Lyle (Lori) Goodroad of North Branch, Minn., Chris (Pam) Goodroad of North Branch, Minn., Kristin (Mark) Salzman of New Brighton, Minn., Tom (Ara) Wettig of Woodbury, Minn., Jen Holmquist of River Falls and Michael Holmquist of La Crosse; extended family, Patty and Bill Larson and family, Karen and Kim O’Neill and family, Roger and Ginny Rassier and family, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

A reflection of Keith’s life was held at Grandstrand Funeral Home on May 14, with the celebration of Keith’s life at West Immanuel Lutheran Church on May 15, with Pastor Rexford Brandt officiating.

The Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, was entrusted with arrangements.

MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 31

CHURCH NEWS First or last?

Read Your Bible?

This past winter, when I put corn out for the deer each day, we would wait to see who came first.

Usually it was a huge doe with a small, late-spring fawn. They ate leisurely, unless the “three sisters” came to feed. Then Mama would Sally Bair stomp her front feet or kick her back legs or shove the sisters away, fighting for the right of her baby PERSPECTIVES and herself to finish eating. It usually took some time, as the three does persisted in trying to jockey into first position before running into the woods to wait until Mama and Baby were finished. Later, after the three had taken their turn, a lone doe or young buck would show up to eat. Occasionally a large, older buck appeared, causing all others to scatter.

Following the deer were red squirrels, which chased the blue jays away. But the smaller critters even tried to horn in around the hooves of the deer when they could get by with it.

It was fun to watch this scenario play out, because the antics of wild critters mirror those of us humans sometimes—always trying to be first or best or prettiest, always trying to get the most.

Jesus, aware of this human character flaw, tried to teach his disciples lessons about being the last instead of the first—showing humility and unselfishness.

Jesus’ example of washing the disciples’ feet is one of the best illustrations of humility and service. Other examples include Jesus’ commands about going the extra mile for someone in need, loving our enemies, and blessing our persecutors.

One day his disciples had a dispute over which one would be the greatest in God’s Kingdom. Jesus set a little child next to him and told the disciples, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

For he who is least among you all will be great.”

(Luke 9:48) In God’s kingdom we don’t have to jockey for first position, because anyone related to God is great, even the “least” of his followers. By God’s kingdom standards, someone who is unkempt in appearance, poor in material wealth, or different in behavior is as important to God as anyone else. Now, that’s a sobering thought we should consider every time we’re tempted to think too highly of ourselves or to judge others.

Lord, may I never jockey for an exalted position in your Kingdom, in this life or in the next. I ask in the name of Jesus, my humble King. Amen.

(Mrs. Bair may be reached at sallybair@gmail.com)

ETERNAL

ing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that (John Quincy Adams) - “So great is my leads to salvation through faith which is in (reverence) for the Bible that the earlier Christ Jesus. (2 Ti 3:14-15) my children begin to read it the more It is God’s Word that has the Power to confident will be my hope that they will Save! It is the lack of God’s Word which has prove useful citizens of their country and always destroyed the people of God – respectable members of society. I have (Hosea 4:6) It is the lack of continuing in for many years made it a practice to read God’s Word that allows someone to fall Garret through the Bible once every year.” away; even someone who has tasted the (Patrick Henry) - “The Bible is worth Derouin Word, who has been enlightened and been a more than all other books which have partaker of the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 6:5) ever been printed.” (Charles Dickens) THE THIRD -BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF “The New Testament is the very best GOD’S WORD TO… COMFORT PREACHER’S book that ever was or will be known in THROUGH THE “HOPE” IT GIVES - For PEN the world.” whatever was written in earlier times was writThese famous men learned from their ten for our instruction, so that through perseown experiences how valuable the Bible verance and the encouragement of the Scriptures could be in their lives. What value can the Bible we might have hope. (Romans 15:4) COMFORT play in your life? Why should you make reading it THROUGH THE “HAPPINESS” IT GIVES – How part of your daily life? blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the FIRST - BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF GOD’S wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the WORD TO SAVE – Therefore, putting aside all filthi- seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the ness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility re- LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. ceive the word implanted, which is able to save your He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, souls. (James 1:21) God’s Word saves us by produc- Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not ing faith in Jesus. Without faith it is impossible to wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalms please God or be saved. (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24) 1:1-3) Note how this happiness comes; in daily In fact, in John 20:30-31 we are told that the Word of Bible reading, “day and night”! COMFORT God was written in order to produce such saving THROUGH THE “PEACE” IT GIVES – Those who faith love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes SECOND – BECAUSE GOD’S WORD SAVES them to stumble. (Psalms 119:165) US - BY KEEPING US SAVED - “I know that after Have you developed the habit of Daily Bible my departure savage wolves will come in among you, Reading? If not, Why not? If we do not develop the not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves good habit of daily Bible reading... Time on this men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away earth will one day catch up with us and we will the disciples after them. (How do we avoid them?) have spent our lives on this earth without fully re“Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and alizing and utilizing the benefits provided by daily day for a period of three years I did not cease to admon- reading of God’s Word. Let us be like the psalmist ish each one with tears.”And now I commend you to who said; I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds God and to the word of His grace, which is able to great spoil. (Psalms 119:162) build you up and to give you the inheritance among all If readers have questions or simply wish to those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:29-32) When God’s know more about the Church of Christ, we would Word has brought you to an understanding of sal- like to invite them to call 715-866-7157 or stop by vation… it not only continues to help you grow… the church building at 7425 W. Birch St. in Webster. but it also helps work as an ANCHOR to your faith. Sunday Bible class begins at 9:30 a.m. and worship It is this anchor of the soul, which keeps us sure and begins at 10:30 a.m. We also meet Wednesday steadfast, in the hope of our salvation. (Hebrews evenings at 7 p.m. Office hours are Tuesdays 6:19) Paul frequently spoke of the value of God’s through Fridays, 9 a.m. - noon.

Word. Now these things …were written for our instruction… Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. (1 Co 10:11-12) …continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, know-

Bethany recognizes its graduates

SIREN – The congregation of Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren recognized its high school graduates from the class of 2008 at 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday, May 18. (L to R) are: Travis Freese, Cody Mattison, Matt Strese, Alysha Alden, Jessica Owens, Britteny Muus, Jamie Kopecky and Colleen Foote. Each graduate received a handmade quilt from the Bethany quilters and a personalized memory book from Wanda Flanigan. Kopecky, Muus and Foote were also recipients of a Bethany scholarship to continue their education. Bethany holds Sunday worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 715-349-5280. – from Bethany Lutheran Church, Siren

Confirmation held at Faith Lutheran Church

The confirmands are shown back row (L to R): Trevor Thompson, Seth Odegard, Pastor Mike Soppeland, Jake Lee and Gavin Meyer. Front row: McKenzie Ryan, Kortney Morrin, Emily Swenson and Tiffany Meyer. – Photo submitted GRANTSBURG – On Sunday, April 20, eight youth were confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg. At the morning communion service, each confirmand and their family were invited to come to the altar where special prayer was offered and communion received.

Faith Lutheran Church invites all to

worship each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Services can be heard live each Sunday on WCMP 1350 AM. If you have any questions about any of the programs at Faith Lutheran Church, please contact them at 463-5388 or check out their Web site at www.myfaithlutheran.org. - submitted

PAGE 32 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

CHURCH NEWS Widow’s new relationship upsets children Q: My husband died three years ago, leaving me to raise my son and daughter alone. For the past year, I have been dating a wonderful man who has three kids of his own. We have recently begun to talk about marriage, which really excites me. I have a major concern, however, that my children are not in favor of the relationship, even though Bill has been very good to them and quick to include them in many of our activities. I know Chuck and Laura miss their father and don't want to give up his memory, but I need companionship and this is definitely a good thing. How should I handle this situation?

DR. DOBSON: If you love Bill and he loves you, I think you should press forward with your marriage plans – especially if you have made it a matter of prayer. I do need to tell you unequivocally that the blending of your two families will not be easy. I have seen fewer than five "reconstituted families" in my professional career that didn't experience major adjustments and struggles. The myth of the "Brady Bunch" just doesn't happen. There are highly predictable points of conflict that must be anticipated and dealt with early in the relationship. One of them is the situation you've described, where the children of one parent refuse to accept the new stepparent. These problems can be sorted out, but you must set your mind to doing it.

•••

Q: My husband, Joe, tells me he feels suffocated in our marriage and wants out. What should I do? How should I change my relationship with him?

DR. DOBSON: Though I realize it may be the most difficult thing you've ever done, the only promising option at this point is to open the Dr. James cage door and set Joe free! Gather Dobson every ounce of courage and self respect you can muster and have a serious talk with him along the following lines: "Joe, I've been through some very tough moments since you decided to leave. My love for you is so deep that I just couldn't face the possibility of life without you. To a person like me, who expected to marry only once and to remain committed for life, it is a terrible shock to see our relationship begin to unravel.

"Nevertheless, I have been doing some intense soulsearching, and I now realize that I have been attempting to hold you against your will. As I reflect on our courtship and early years together, I'm reminded that you married me of your own free choice. I didn't blackmail you or twist your arm or offer you a bribe.

It was a decision you made without pressure from me.

Now you say you want out of the marriage, and obviously, I have to let you go. I can no more force you to stay today than I could have made you marry me.

"So, if you never call me again, then I will accept

FOCUS ON THE

FAMILY

your decision. This entire experience has been painful, but I'm going to make it. You and I had some wonderful times together, Joe. You were my first real love, and I'll never forget the memories that we shared."

Slowly, unbelievably, Joe will see the cage door start to rise. He has felt bound to you hand and foot for years, and now you've set him free!

"But there must be a catch," he's likely to think. "It's too good to be true. This is just another trick to win me back. In a week or two she'll be crying on the phone again, begging me to come home. She's really weak, you know, and she'll crack under pressure."

It is my strongest recommendation that you prove that your husband is wrong in this expectation. Let him marvel at your self control in coming weeks. Only the passage of time will convince him that you are serious.

••• Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995 (www.family.org). Questions and answers are excerpted from "Solid Answers" and "Bringing Up Boys," both published by Tyndale House.

COPYRIGHT 2008 JAMES DOBSON INC., DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; 816-932 6600.

Brought to you by:

Siren Assembly of God Siren

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MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 33

PAGE 34 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

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MAY 21, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 35

Students of the Week GRANTSBURG

FREDERIC

Sonny Chelmo is Frederic Elementary’s student of the week.

Sonny is in the sixth grade. He is the son of Gordon and Angela Chelmo. Sonny enjoys playing football and basketball with his friends. Sonny plans on entering the army after he graduates.

Erik Stoner has been chosen Frederic Middle School’s student of the week. He is in eighth grade and the son of Steve and Terri Stoner. Erik contributes to class discussion and is willing to help classmates. He is involved in choir, bell choir, band, football, basketball, track and baseball.

Erik enjoys video games, sports and reading. His future plans include college.

Orianna Tesch has been chosen Frederic High School’s student of the week. She is a junior and the daughter of Dr. Steve and Brenda Tesch. Orianna has a pleasant personality with a positive attitude.

She is a good worker who gets along with and is respectful of others. Orianna is involved in forensics, AODA, FACT, student council, basketball and track. She enjoys snowboarding, golfing and movies.

She plans to attend college.

Bryce Roufs has been chosen Grantsburg Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in first grade and the son of Brent and Brenda Roufs. Bryce is an excellent student who is respectful and responsible. He has a great sense of humor. Bryce enjoys phy. ed. when it’s outside, and art. He likes to play with his dog and his brother.

Lena Ueke-Foster has been chosen Luck Middle School’s student of the week. She is in seventh grade and the daughter of Donna and Rob Wright. Lena does her best and always has a smile on her face to brighten anyone's day. She is involved in Girl Scouts and basketball. Lena enjoys taking her dog for walks.

Grace Jenson has been chosen Luck High School’s student of the week. She is a junior and the daughter of Tony and Mary Jenson. Grace is a very conscientious student who is polite and hardworking. She is involved in music, piano, dance and tennis. Grace enjoys being outside, dancing, working with music and scrapbooking. She plans to go to college for medicine or dance and move to the Twin Cities.

Noah Berg has been chosen St. Croix Falls Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in third grade and the son of Matt and Becky Berg. Noah has one older brother, Mitchel, in fifth grade.

Noah is very interested in science, but also likes math. He studies and collects dragonflies and also has a collection of fossils and rocks. Noah also likes to play video games and read. He wants to become a scientist.

Shay Johnson has been chosen Siren Middle School’s student of the week. He kicks it into gear, academically speaking, when the going gets tough. Shay has an upbeat attitude, great sense of humor and gets other kids pumped up. He is the kind of energetic personality that makes middle school fun.

Montana Pranke has been chosen St. Croix Falls Middle School’s student of the week. She is in fifth grade and the daughter of Mary Ann Pranke. Montana is a very conscientious student and a hard worker. She is friendly, very pleasant and always willing to help out. Montana enjoys biking and shopping with her mom. She has two sisters, two brothers and a cat named Keasha. Montana loves horses.

WEBSTER

SIREN

Kaylee Tolzman has been chosen Siren Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in fourth grade and the daughter of Chad and Denae Tolzman.

Kaylee is a wonderful student and citizen who shows her respect for learning by listening and following directions. She is attentive, offers creative insight and completes her work with enthusiasm and discipline. Kaylee is a respected friend and gets along with everyone, going out of her way to help others.

Trent Bonneville has been chosen Grantsburg High School’s student of the week. He is a junior. Trent is always willing to try new ideas and participates in class. He is easy going, accepting of others, inclusive of others, flexible and a great role model in class. Trent is involved in baseball, basketball and football. He enjoys fishing and hunting. Trent plans to go to college in the future.

The greatest influence in his life is his grandfather.

ST. CROIX FALLS

LUCK

Jack Johansen has been chosen Luck Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in second grade and the son of Kyle and Heather Johansen. Jack is an excellent student who always does his best. Jack’s favorite subject in school is phy ed. After school, he likes to play outside.

Matt Hamann has been chosen Grantsburg Middle School’s student of the week. He is in eighth grade and the son of Donald and Theresa Hamann. Matt has really worked hard this year and made great improvements in his academics. Matt’s interests include basketball, football and hunting.

He is a pleasant person and is well liked by everyone.

Samatha Will has been chosen Siren High School’s student of the week. She is a sophomore and the daugther of Wendy Ortez. Samantha is a hard working, conscientious and jovial student. She likes to read, listen to music, play softball and attend her church youth group. Sam was involved in the musical, “The Music Man.” She plays softball. Sam plans to go to college for cosmetology.

Congratulations students on a job well done!

Brady Hughes-Lepinski has been chosen Webster Elementary School’s student of the week. He is early childhood and is learning to be a good citizen.

He is learning life skills like sharing, being kind and following rules in the classroom and on the bus. Brady knows many kindergarten skills like colors, shapes and numbers.

Alexandria Holmstrom has been chosen Webster Middle School’s student of the week.

She is the daughter of Tami Buskirk and Robert Holmstrom.

Alexandria gets along with her peers and sets a good example of behavior in the classroom.

She loves the outdoors and likes to hunt and fish. She enjoys volleyball, softball and football.

Alexandria plays baritone in band and likes to draw.

UNITY

Margaret Butler has been chosen Unity Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in first grade and the daughter of David and Kim Butler. Margaret is an exceptional student that has an incredible drive and desire to learn. Her excitement and enthusiasm is loved by all around. Margaret excels in all areas in academics and is always willing to help others.

Danielle Tonnar has been chosen Unity Middle School’s student of the week. She is fifth grade and the daughter of Les and Michelle Tonnar. Danielle has a positive and cheerful attitude. She is always friendly with others and her teachers. Danielle is working very hard to keep up good grades.

Todd Nutter has been chosen Unity High School’s student of the week. He is a senior and the son of Mike and Kim Nutter of Milltown. Todd has an outstanding commitment to serving his community. He volunteers at the fire department, Unity Ambulance Service and at school. Todd is always willing to help others and demonstrates exemplary character. He plans to pursue firefighting/paramedic training at CVTC.

PAGE 36 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- MAY 21, 2008

MAY

THURSDAY/22 Amery

• Hand/foot cards, 12:30 p.m., at the senior center.

Balsam Lake

• American Red Cross First Aid classes at the Polk County Red Cross Office, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Coming events

Frederic • Pokeno played at the senior center, 1 p.m.

Osceola • Senior Citizens Club, Inc. will picnic and play bingo at their monthly noon potluck in the shelter in Oakey Park. If inclement weather, meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church. Call 715-294-3670 or 715-294-2289 for more info.

St. Croix Falls

• Friends of the Library meet at the library, noon.

Frederic

THURS. & FRI./29 & 30

• 500 cards at the senior center, 6:30 p.m.

• Support group for people with bipolar disorder and depression at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m. Call 715-327-4436 for more info.

Frederic

• Bloodmobile collections at the Methodist church, Thurs. 1-7 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 715485-3025.

THURSDAY/29

Luck • CPR/AED Awareness class at the Luck School, 6-8:30 p.m.

Amery

• Men’s pool, 9:30 a.m., at the senior center.

Osceola

Exeland

• Polk County Democratic Party meeting at Rocky Waters, 7 p.m. Dinner (order off the menu) at 5:30 p.m.

• Organic dairy & beef pasture walk, 1950 CTH C - Kormann farm, 1-3 p.m., 715-6353506.

St. Croix Falls

Frederic

• Exercise, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo, 11 a.m.-noon; crafts, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 500 cards, 6:30 p.m., at the senior center.

• 500 cards at the senior center, 6:30 p.m.

• Support group for people with bipolar disorder and depression at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m. Call 715-327-4436 for more info.

FRI. - SUN./23-25 Siren

• Men’s slow-pitch tournament at the ballpark.

Grantsburg

Webster

• Farm Bureau hosted meeting on carbon credit trading program at Crex Meadows Visitor Center, 1 p.m., 800-261-3276.

• 25th-annual Webster Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Show at the elementary school, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 715-349-7499.

FRI. - MON./23-26

The sun worked hard to stay out, slicing through the storm clouds over the weekend. – Photo by Brenda Sommerfeld

Luck

Siren

• Café Wren’s Garden & Art Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

• Arts Alive on 35, presented by Burnett Area Arts Group, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at North Wind Arts, 715-349-8448.

• Class of 1998 reunion at the Pour House, 7:30 p.m., 715-689-3147.

Siren

• All-village garage sale.

FRIDAY/23 Amery

• Bingo, 1 p.m., at the senior center.

Frederic • Pokeno played at the senior center, 1 p.m.

SAT. & SUN./24 & 25 Danbury

• 2nd-annual Tribute to the Troops Fundraiser, details at Cozy Corner Inn, 715-2443041.

Webster

Webster • Otis-Taylor Legion Post 96 Annual Pancake Breakfast at the community center 7-11 a.m., 715-349-8215.

SUNDAY/25 Duxbury

• Volunteer Fire Department annual breakfast at the town hall, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Frederic • American Legion Post 249 pancake breakfast at the Legion Hall, 6:30-10 a.m.

• Forts Folle Avoine opens for the season, 10 a.m. Saturday. Sunday is the wild rice pancake breakfast, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 715-866-8890.

MONDAY/26

SATURDAY/24

• Memorial Day, spade cards at the senior center, 1:30 p.m., following potluck dinner.

• Friends of D.D. Kennedy meet for a potluck at noon with a meeting to follow at the D.D. Kennedy Environmental Center, 715-483-3979 or 715-483-9738.

• United VFW Post 6856 Memorial Day Service at the post, 2:45 p.m., with lunch following.

Amery

Frederic • Depot/Museum opens for the season. Hours are 11 a .m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays.

• Work day for McKenzie Creek segment.

Meet at parking area on CTH O, 2-1/2 miles north of CTH W. at 10 a.m., 715-472-2248.

• Food, fellowship & games at the senior center, noon.

Frederic

Milltown St. Croix Falls • Senior center closed for Memorial Day.

Webster • Otis-Taylor American Legion Auxilary 96 Memorial Day Dinner at the community center, 11 a.m.

Wolf Creek • Wolf Creek Methodist Church’s annual Memorial Dinner, at noon.

TUESDAY/27 Amery

Luck • Month birthday potluck at the senior center, 6 p.m.

St. Croix Falls

• Pool tourney, 9 a.m. & 500 card party at 6 p.m., at the senior center.

• Exercise, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo, 11 a.m.-noon; crafts, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 500 cards, 6:30 p.m., at the senior center.

Balsam Lake

THUR. - SUN./ MAY 29-JUNE 1

• Vaseline Glass Display at the Polk County Historical Society meeting, 7 p.m. at the Polk County Justice Center.

Frederic • Pray and Walk, gather at Zion Lutheran Church, 8:30 a.m., 715-472-2062.

• Whist played at the senior center, 1 p.m.

Milltown

Roberts

• Good Neighbor Days.

FRI. & SAT./30 & 31 Webster

• Interfaith Caregivers rummage sale at the community center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 715-866-4970.

• Bloodmobile collections at the Lutheran church, 12:30 -6:30 p.m., 715-485-3025.

FRIDAY/30

St. Croix Falls

• Adult clogging 10:15 a.m. & tiny tot clogging at 10:55 a.m., at the senior center.

• Exercise, 10-11 a.m.; Skipbo 11 a.m.-noon, 500 cards & dominos, 12:30 p.m., at the senior center.

Siren

• Foods & Friends community dinner at Siren Covenant Church, 5-6 p.m.

• Burnett County Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m., in Room 162 at the government center.

WEDNESDAY/28 Balsam Lake

• Farm Bureau hosted meeting on carbon credit trading program at the government center, 6 p.m, 800-261-3276, 715-485-8600.

Centuria

Amery

Spooner • Farm Bureau hosted meeting on carbon credit trading program at Ag. Research Station, 9 a.m., 800-261-3276 or 715-635-3506.

SATURDAY/31 Frederic

• Food, fellowship & games at the senior center, noon.

Trade Lake • Wine & cheese tasting fundraiser for Humane Society of Burnett County, 4-8 p.m. at Trade River Winery, 715-866-4096 or www.hsburnettcty.org.

• Bloodmobile collections at Fristad Lutheran Church, 12:30- 6:30 p.m., 715-485-3025.

Mares drawing chosen for 2008 Freedom Festival Artistic Design contest A drawing by Unity sixth-grade art student Danielle Mares was chosen for the 2008 Freedom Festival Artistic Design Contest. For the past five years, the Balsam Lake Community Club has been selling Tshirts and can coolers with a different design on it as one of their largest fundraisers of the year. This is the first year the community club has used designs from Unity students. Danielle’s design was chosen from over 100 different entries from second semester art students in grades 6-8. About 300-400 T-shirts will be made, as well as can coolers. These items will be sold beginning this week at different Balsam Lake businesses and during Freedom Fest, which runs from July 3-6. Pictured are community club President Chris Nelson, Danielle, middle school Principal Elizabeth Jorgenson and middle school art teacher Craig Zipperer.

– Photos by Marty Seeger