FREE PRESS MESSENGER AMERY
TUESDAY, JUNE 21,33,2016 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2222
VOL.131 120NO. NO.1952 www.theameryfrepress.com VOL. www.moraminn.com $1.00 $1.00
LOCAL: ‘Music on the River’ opens with record numbers PAGE 18-19
St. Croix Crossing marks construction milestone
COUNTRY
Serving Marine-on-St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
SENTINEL BURNETT COUNTY
CONTRIBUTED
Sally Albers (left) and Heidi Clausen (middle) present one of several State Competition awards to Amery’s Meikah Dado. Meikah was the first participant in Amery FFA history to win two individual State Titles and one group State Title.
Amery continues strong FFA tradition with several State championships uate Rylee Black, who became the 7th Amery grad in 12 years to be elected a Wisconsin State FFA officer. Amery won State Championships in three out of the seven speaking contests, and State Championships in five separate contests that will be going to Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana in August.
Parliamentary Procedure team members Deanna Meyer, Max Johnson, Jenesis Gustafson, Michaela Erickson, Dylan Clausen, Emma Curtis and Alli Hoyer did very well at the competition. Dylan Clausen and Michaela Erickson tied for 1st for the Written exam for Parliamentary Procedure contest. Dylan became the
COUNTY ST
FREE BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ
EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Wisconsin’s State FFA Convention was held in Madison June 13-19, with 18 Amery participants in attendance. Congratulations to the following students, past and present, for the accomplishments: Congratulations to Amery grad-
STILLWATER, Minn. – St. Croix Crossing THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222 bridge deck construction at Pier 9 near MinneVOL. 131land NO. 19 is www.moraminn.com $1.00 sota complete. Crews placed the final precast concrete segment in the bridge deck construction sequence on June 10. Meanwhile, bridge deck construction continues at Piers 8, 10, 11 and 12 on the St. Croix River and at Span 14, which stretches from Pier 13 to the east abutment on the Wisconsin bluff. The contractor anticipates completing stay cable installation at Pier 8—closest to Minnesota land—by the end of June. Bridge deck construction at this pier location is anticipated to be complete by mid-July. Other St. Croix Crossing bridge construction highlights are: Crews will have placed up to the ninth eastbound and westbound segments in the bridge THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222at both Piers 10 and deck construction sequence VOL. 131 NO. www.moraminn.com 11 by the19end of the week of$1.00 June 13. SEE RIVER PAGE TWO
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ISANTI-CHISAGO
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View of Piers 8-11 (right to left) at the new Stillwater bridge crossing the St. Croix River. The ringer crane sits in the foreground on a barge. Photo from June 14.
Born from summer boredom, Pickleball’s popularity hits home
THE SUN BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Until pickleball courts were installed in Amery’s South Twin Park just a few years ago, many locals had never heard of the odd-sounding sport. Pickleball is a game that almost anyone can play, and one of North America’s fastest growing sports. It’s only 50
years old, and got its name from a dog named Pickles. Unlike the origins of many ancient games, pickleball’s modern story is just as unromantic as that. Three Seattle area dads in 1965, whose children were bored with their usual summertime activities, cut some paddles from plywood and sent their kids off to a local badminton court to hit a ball
around. And as it caught on, a dog named pickles loved to chase the ball around too. In essence, the game hasn’t changed much since 1965. Pickleball combines several sports. It’s played with oversized ping-pong paddles, on a badminton-sized court, and players volley a plastic whiffle type ball back and forth like in tennis. There’s no dog. But you
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
can bring one, if you want. Today, pickleball enthusiasts can be found worldwide, and the stakes are high. There’s a USA Pickleball Association, high-performance pickleball racquets and equipment, corporate sponsorships, and even international-level competition. Pickleball is a BIG deal. SEE PICKLEBALL PAGE TWO
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
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Your new partner in care Hershel Zis Weisberg, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
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