FREE PRESS MESSENGER AMERY
TUESDAY, JANUARY33, 15,2222 2019 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
VOL. 131 122 NO. 19 30 www.theameryfreepress.com www.moraminn.com $1.00 $1.00
SPORTS: Henningsgard scores 100th hockey goal P 16
Granica grabs goals and games
Kuchta, school district reach agreement
COUNTRY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
Serving Marine-on-St. Croix, Scandia, May Township BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
VOL. 131 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.00 BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Basketball legend Larry Bird once said “A winner is someone who recognizes their God-given talents, works their tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish their goals.” This quote easily describes Amery High School student Madelyn Granica. This senior basketball player isn’t just accomplishing goals; she is crushing them and breaking school records along the way. At the beginning of last Friday’s girl’s basketball game against the Osceola Chieftains, Granica was honored for recently breaking the school’s records of rebounds and scoring for the sport. Granica’s achievements will now hang high on the gymnasium wall with other Warrior record holders. On Dec. 18, she became the program’s all-time leading rebounder in a 50-36 victory over Middle Border Conference Rival New Richmond. This was a record previously held by 1996 graduate, Melanie Christenson. Next, on Jan. 4, Granica overtook the title of Amery girls’ basketball’s all-time leading scorer from 2009 graduate Taylor Luke and led her team to a 64-48
SENTINEL
FREE
BURNETT COUNTY
APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS
Madelyn Granica credits her parents Carl and Heather for igniting her interest in sports at a young age.
victory over Somerset. She started Friday evening with 1589 points and 828 rebounds. Granica played a tough game that night adding to her stats and adding another win, defeating the Chieftains 58-54. “Breaking the scoring record was definitely a goal this year. After last year I knew it was in reach, so it was something I strived for. The rebounds ended up being a nice surprise,” said
Granica. With 10 games left in the regular season she shared that her intentions for the remaining season include scoring in pressure situations and just keeping the team strong. She said, “We are going to go far.” Her favorite part of the year so far has been the success of the team as a whole. “The games that have been close we have pulled off besides Prescott,” said
COUNTY ST FREE
ISANTI-CHISAGO
Amery District Administrator James Kuchta and the Amery School District have reached an agreement of release and retirement, according to an announcement by the district following a closed session meeting Jan. 9. Kuchta, who has been on paid leave since Nov. 9, will remain on the district payroll until June 30. According to Amery School Board President Chelsea Whitley, either side may nullify the Kuchta THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222before it becomes agreement VOL. 131 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.0018. official Jan. The release from the district said “We, the Amery School District Board of Education, have accepted the official retirement of Mr. Jim Kuchta from his position as district administrator effective June 30, 2019. Mr. Kuchta will be on a leave of absence until this date. “We thank the employees and residents of our school district for their patience as this matter has been resolved. Please note that throughout this process the Amery Board of Education has been driven by a commitment to the due process rights under the law reserved for all Amery School District employees. “The Board of Education values above all else the education of Amery’s students. Towards that end, it will always be the aim of
FREE
R
SEE GRANICA ON PAGE 2
SEE KUCHTA ON PAGE 2
Bowman Leather opening in Amery this spring
THE SUN BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Once the sold sign went up a few weeks ago in the former Ida Mae’s building on Amery’s Keller Avenue, rumors starting spreading like wild fire about businesses that could possi-
bly be calling the main street building home. It was recently announced that the space is the new home of Bowman Leather. Owner Catherine Olsen shared that she and her husband Greg are very excited about their new adventure. They previously had their leather
business in Ramsey Minnesota. When their shop flooded, they decided it was time to sell the home they had lived in for 24 years and make their Balsam Lake cabin their full time residence. The couple started looking into retail spaces available in the area for their leather business and Catherine said,
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
“We just fell in love with the Ida Mae’s building.” They are currently working out of the garage of their Balsam Lake home and hope to have their space open in Amery the beginning of March as they are working on renovating the location and removing the
VOL. 131 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.00
“New” Patient Special
Dr. Rollyn Lee Dr. Heather Marks
Come in for your new patient Exam & X-rays and receive our Forever White - Teeth Whitening Membership “FREE”
(Some restrictions may apply)
1030 River Place Drive Amery, WI 54001 Phone: 715-268-2103 Fax: 715-268-7729 www.river-place-dental.com
Expires February 28, 2019
Call today to schedule 715-268-2103 (Please mention New Patient Offer when you make your appointment) NEWS 715-268-8101 editor@theameryfreepress.com
ADVERTISING 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
SEE STORE ON PAGE 2
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
HOURS: Monday-Thursday 8-5, Friday 7-4
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-268-8101 dstangl@theameryfreepress.com