W A S H B U R N C O U N T Y
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INSIDE
April 10, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Vol. 124, No. 34 • Shell Lake, Wis.
We e ke nd w atch • “Antigone” at Erika Quam Theatre • Cut-A-Thon fundraiser at Birchwood • Rummage/garage sales at area churches • Country classic music at Haugen See Events page 8
75¢
“Out of This World”
Local band ready for LaunchPad Page 4
SPORTS Spring sports season is under way See page 12-14
U.S. Sen. Johnson tours local business
Camping units now legal on some lots
Liquor license for Peggy’s Place
Page 11
BREAKERS
Showing the grace of a 16-year-old figure skater, Katy Cannon electrified the crowd with her finale to her solo routine. More photos on page 2. – Photo by Larry Samson
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SPOONER — State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and state Reps. Nick Milroy, D-South Range, and Stephen Smith, D-Shell Lake, will join area school district administrators to discuss the potential impact of Gov. Walker’s state budget proposal on public education in Washburn County on Friday, April 12, from 3:30-5 p.m., at the Spooner High School Media center. Administrators from Washburn County school districts will participate in the meeting. Citizens are encouraged to attend as well. The northern lawmakers hope to learn from administrators how the governor’s budget, which defunds public education, will impact their ability to provide quality education for their students. Public school budgets have been squeezed for years leading to damaging budget cuts. The governor’s plan to freeze spending for public school children, while dramatically increasing funds for private school kids, has been soundly criticized across the state, and the lawmakers will share the bipartisan condemnation of the plan as well as discuss alternative spending plans they have proposed. “We know that the citizens of Washburn County support their schools and are concerned about educational policies that treat northern children as less equal than children who go to a different school or live in other parts of the state,” the lawmakers added. “We strongly encourage anyone in the community interested in learning more about the current state of our area school districts and about how the governor’s proposal will impact these districts, to attend this event.” — from the offices of Jauch, Milroy and Smith
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by Gregg Westigard Register staff writer SHELL LAKE – Camping units are now legally allowed at some Shell Lake residences. The city council approved a change to the zoning code at its monthly meeting Monday, April 8. The issue was the only item on the agenda that drew public comment. The council also approved a liquor license for Peggy’s Place. Other agenda items ranged from water meters to a skate board park. “At least 65 city residents are now a hundred percent legal,” council member Ken Schultz said when the camping units item was approved. The city will now allow a single camping unit, including a mobile recreational vehicle, on a residential lot. Formerly none were allowed at
residences and the various campers around the city, whether stored for the winter or the unit of a visiting guest, were all illegal. But while not allowed under the zoning code, that code was not enforced. The change in the code, first proposed at the March 11 council meeting and reviewed at a public hearing April 3, was approved by a 6-0 vote with Terry Leckel absent at that part of the meeting and Schultz voting present since he owns one of the units in question. Two residents spoke on the issue. Arlo Thorsness said he has had a camper on his lot since the 80s. He said it is used by guests for sleeping when the house is full. Thorsness said he had asked, in the past, if the camper was permitted and was told it was OK. Mike Pesko said there were other ways to make the change and asked for a delay to work something else out. Council member Andy Eiche said there are other zoning issues that should be reviewed in-
See City council, page 3
One vote matters
Close races in Washburn County
by Gregg Westigard Register staff writer SHELL LAKE – Your vote counts. Several races in Washburn County were decided by five or fewer votes in the April 2 election. Josh Buckridge received a total of five votes to win a seat on the Shell Lake city council running as a write-in candidate. In the Shell Lake School Board election, Steven Naglosky received 379 votes and Mary Ann Swan received 375 votes. Those four votes mean that Swan will serve the remaining year on a vacated seat while Neglosky takes a full three year term. Things were even closer in the Hayward School District. The vote was Lynell Swanson 945, Greg Neff 943 and Derek Hand 943. Lots were drawn to give the second seat to Neff.
Other election notes In the village of Birchwood, Morris Gillett ran for both village president and trustee and won each seat. He will continue as village president, leaving a vacant seat on the village council that will be filled by appointment at the May council meeting. Fred Schluter tried to retire from the Spooner City Council and did not file his nomination papers last December. In the following three months no candidate came forward to run for the open position. Schluter ended up receiving 42 write-in votes for the Ward 3 council seat and says he is willing to accept the position. Many incumbents decided to retired this year but only three were defeated. In the Town of Minong, both supervisors lost their seats. Tony Tubbs defeated incumbent James Smith 110 to 104. For the other seat Rick Gottschalk defeated incumbent Ed Slavick 113 to 97. The third change was in the Town of Stinnett where longtime clerk Barbara Love was replaced by Kathryn Parks, 35 to 20.