PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - OCTOBER 3, 2012
Wildfires/from page 1 1952,” said Jay Riewestahl, DNR ranger. “People are out working, hunting, recreating and cutting firewood, and they need to know to use caution when it comes to causing a wildfire.” All burning permits have been canceled, Riewestahl said. The DNR and local firefighters responded to two fires on Saturday, Sept. 29, including a fire that started when local cabin-owners parked in a grassy area in the Town of Sterling just north of 28th Avenue. The muffler was hot enough to ignite the grass, the fire consuming the vehicle. The owner of the car called 911 and the DNR, and Cushing Fire Department responded. The 1 p.m. fire consumed two-tenths of an acre. “The fire would have been bigger, but there was a wind from the north and that pushed it toward the driveway which held it on two sides,” Riewestahl noted. As DNR firefighters were heading back to their station in Grantsburg at approximately 3 p.m., they were called to a second
fire at 24288 La Ra Road in the Town of Wood River. A hunter had rebuilt a deer stand and burned the old boards out in the woods. Despite the fact a fire ring was used, the fire burrowed under the ground and surfaced, consuming about one acre. A neighbor who smelled smoke called the fire in to authorities. Riewestahl said there is no soil moisture, and actually no morning dew the past few days. He said even if the area gets rain later this week, it would only help the dryness situation for a day or two. “We’ll take all the rain we can get,” he said. “But we know it’s going to be shortterm relief.” He reminded those venturing out into the woods to be careful where they park and to extinguish any campfires completely, using water.
A firebreak is created using a tractor during a wildfire last Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Town of Wood RIver. - Photo courtesy DNR
River of love/from page 1
The Staples home is located along the banks of the St. Croix River in Danbury.
Sander Staples and wife, Rita Joy, smile as they display the wedding ring lost for nine years in the St. Croix River at their home in Danbury. The ring was found in a clam shell (photo lower left) that Rita Joy had gathered to make jewelry. - Special photos
found one more ring to place on his finger. Fast forward to Sept. 23 of this year. Rita Joy was cutting underbrush along the river’s edge when she saw pretty clam shells scattered under the river’s shelf edge. She picked up about eight shells ones that raccoons had apparently dined on, and kept them to make shell jewelry. She came across a tightly packed, partially opened clam shell, and while she was washing it out she noticed a shiny object. After cleaning all the dirt from inside the shell, she discovered the object was her husband’s long-lost wedding ring. Sander was mowing lawn over at his brother’s home, not far away. She went over there and shouted for him to shut the mower off. “He asked why,” Rita Joy said. “I told him I needed to take his (substitute) ring
off so I could wash it. He did, and then I said, ‘now close your eyes and hold out your hand.’” She slipped the original wedding ring on his hand while saying, “With this ring I thee re-wed you for the next hundred years.” She said her husband opened his eyes and was amazed and a bit bewildered. “He said, ‘what the ... where did you find my ring?’ and I said it came back to where it first belonged. He was nearly in tears.” The couple renewed their love and commitment again that day, said Rita Joy, who said it was the “grace of God and the safety of the clam,” that such a miracle could occur. “It really was a happily-ever-after story, just as our love for each other has been for 22 years,” she said. - Gary King
through Gaylord Nelson park to National park visitor center just north of The Overlook. 1 p.m. - Kids fun shows and games, animals & magic at the Overlook. Randy the Frog Guy and Normonzo. 2 p.m. - Pie eating contest at the new Dalles House Bakery & Coffee House. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - SCF Public Library birthday party: an ice cream and cake social and kids activities. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Art exhibit reception party: National Park Visitor Center. 5 p.m. - Happy hours, wine tastings and after parties at downtown restaurants & bars. 7:30 p.m. - Historic Festival Theatre show, “Playing with Fire.” All day - Music at The Overlook by Harmonics Jazz, The Bluegrass Bandits, Thea Ennen and more. • SCF Senior Center’s famous benefit pork-chop-on-a-stick stand.
• SCF Lions Club games. • Kids face painting all day at “With August” store. • SCF royalty caramel apple and cider booth • Parents of the elementary saints annual Bake sale plus other vendors and nonprofit groups. • Bergmann’s pumpkins stand. Go to the sales at the downtown shops and stores. • Franconia Sculpture park’s kids handson art-wheel swirl-station 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Food by GF Goodies, Grecco’s, Dalles House, Sir Smoke A Lot, Love ‘n Grub Grill and others. Friday: Senior center garage sale and bake sale. 7:30 p.m. - Festival Theatre show. Sunday: Cyclova’s mammoth gravel bike race & tour de taste • 2 p.m. - Festival Theatre show. - with submitted information
Autumn Fest/from page 2 community partners than ever before and is poised to have great weather and a big turnout.”
Schedule of events: Saturday
9 a.m. - Free Community 5k Wellness Walk. Meet at the Overlook. A scenic walk to Snap Fitness. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Falls Chamber of Commerce annual juried art fair. 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. - Xcel Energy guided hydroelectric dam tours. 10 a.m. - SCF Farmer’s Market at SCF Public Library parking lot. 10:30 a.m. - Snap Fitness kids scavenger hunt. Get exercise and clues at downtown shops. 11 a.m.-3.p.m. -Annual pumpkin painting contest. St. Croix Falls Wineries & Grille. Noon - Pet and pet owners parade. Costumes welcome. Meet at the Overlook.
Live music on The Overlook deck will again be part of this year’s Autumn Fest celebration. - Special photo Free. 12:30 p.m. - Street hockey tournament (RVHA) on Main Street. 12:30 p.m. - Self-guided river walk