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SPORTS: Two Amery wrestlers champions at Conference Meet PAGE 22
February primary will narrow field for state Supreme Court justice
Polk Co. grapples with heavy flu numbers
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Health officials stress vaccination and extra hand washing efforts THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2222 BY JESSICA 33, DE LA CRUZ
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A primary election will be held Feb. 20 to narrow a field of three state Supreme Court candidates. In the primary, voters will choose between Madison-area attorney Tim Burns, Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet and Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock. Incumbent Michael Gableman announced in June that he would not run for re-election in 2018. Profi les of the three candidates appear below in alphabetical order by last name. The two with the most votes will appear on the April 3 ballot.
As with the national and statewide trends, Polk County Health officials say we’re in the midst of a particularly brutal flu season. But just how bad will it get? The answer could be up to us. Polk County Public Health Director, Bonnie Leonard, is hopeful that we’ve seen the worst of it for this year, but there’s no way to be completely sure until May. Symptoms of the flu include cough, fatigue, body aches, runny nose, sore throat and fever. Public Health Departments only track hospitalizations associated with the flu or flu-like illnesses, but those numbers are up significantly this year. As of SEPTEMBER 33, 2222 Feb.THURSDAY, 1, 2018 Polk Co. reported 27 flu hospitalizations, VOL. 131 NO. compared to193 atwww.moraminn.com this time last$1.00 year, and 1 the year
SENTINEL BURNETT COUNTY
Tim Burns Tim Burns has campaigned on a platform of protecting voters’ rights, workers’ rights, land and water, small businesses and farms.
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Meerit Lierse (left) and Jude Ingham (right) were crowned Snow Week Queen and King during a Snow Week dance held Saturday evening at Amery High School. The week of student festivities culminated in a talent show on Friday, and a sizable donation to the local food pantry. More photos on page 40.
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Clayton will post Chief position BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The Clayton Village Board met Feb. 5 to discuss options for police coverage in the Village after March 31, ultimately voting unanimously to proceed with interviewing potential chief candidates. The board weighed two recommendations from the Village’s Police Commission: Hire a new chief and return to the fulltime chief and part-time officer coverage that existed prior to
September of 2017, or enter into a long-term contract for services with the Village of Clear Lake for coverage less than 40 hours per week. Clear Lake has provided Clayton with 24 hours per week of police coverage on a short-term contract basis since September, when then Clayton Police Chief Grant Pickard was placed on paid administrative leave after criminal charges of misconduct in office and sexual contact with a subordinate employee. Clayton’s part-time officer
was simultaneously placed on paid leave and remains in that status, leaving Clayton without any officers on duty. The two recommendations approved by the commission were presented to the board Monday evening. Village Board members also separately received a personal letter from Police Commission member Leif Ringstad, recommending just one of the options. In his letter, Ringstad strongly advocated for hiring a new police chief, with the
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It’s anyone’s guess how this flu season will stack up from year’s past. Polk Co. Public Health officials indicate that the flu season began earlier this year. But if February stats compared to previous seasons are any indication, Polk Co. could be in for extremely high flu totals by May 1.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
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