AMERY
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 VOL. 128 NO. 3 www.theameryfreepress.com $1.00
Meet the Amery Allies BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
SUBMITTED
The top sketch depicts the new Bremer building from Keller Avenue, looking south. The bottom depicts the structure from the corner of Keller Avenue and Baker Street. Not shown is the additional parking and two-lane drive thru on the building’s west side.
New Bremer structure gets green light from city BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The bank sitting on the corner of Keller Avenue and Maple Street in Amery has seen various changes throughout the years. The structure
itself and the name have seen some variations. Now Bremer Bank will call a different corner home-Keller Avenue and Baker Street. Earlier this month, members of the Bremer design team unveiled their plan for the new building at Amery’s
City Council meeting. The bank is proposed be built where the current Toftness Chiropractic building sits. Dave Anderson, a member of the development team working on the new
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”-Margaret Mead You may have recently noticed a group standing in various places around town, holding signs. This newly formed group has decided to go by the name: the Amery Allies. Group member Lindsay Potter said, “The Amery Allies group is a growing collection of volunteers and community members from the Amery area who are uniting to raise awareness for racial justice, an end to police brutality and the cultivation of a welcoming and diverse place for all. The group expresses this mission through regular demonstrations, donation drives and community events for solidarity and education.” Participant Kathleen Hobert said after the murder of George Floyd a group started talking about what could be done to make a difference in their own community. “We held a protest in downtown Amery and then a group of
SEE BREMER, PAGE 2
SEE ALLIES, PAGE 10
Man shares bear incident in hopes of helping others BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
An Amery man who recently faced the tragedy of losing their family pet from a bear attack is hoping that by sharing his story, others will not go through the same pain. Thursday, June 4, Steve Schmidt pulled into his driveway on the outskirts of town
around 4:30 and found their family’s dog, Molly, waiting inside the house for her late-afternoon walk, like she did every weekday for as long as Schmidt can remember. “She was a routine freak that could tell time like a clock and this walk was routine for us along with our lunch walk and our after supper walk,” said Schmidt.
Numerous times a day, Schmidt would walk 11 ½ year-old Molly through a short path in the woods behind their home and up to a clearing where he kept a walking path mowed for the English Springer Spaniel. During the afternoon of June 4, Schmidt said, “We reached the top of a hill just 40 yards away from the house in a
Your healthcan’t-wait partner NEWS 715-268-8101 editor@theameryfreepress.com
ADVERTISING 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
lightly wooded area. Molly was 20 feet ahead of me when she suddenly ran off the trail into the woods. I looked ahead of her to see what she was after but I didn’t see anything. I suspected it was a chipmunk or a squirrel because she loved to chase them constantly.” Molly disappeared from his SEE ATTACK, PAGE 2
SUBMITTED
2020 grad Ella Schmidt poses for a commemorative photo with Molly.
Some things really can’t wait – including important screenings and treatments. Your health is our top priority. We’re here and ready to care for you, safely. video visits | in-person visits | phone visits
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-268-8101 dstangl@theameryfreepress.com