Amery Free Press December 24, 2019

AMERY

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2019 VOL. 123 NO. 30 www.theameryfreepress.com $1.00

Kids who deliver kindness

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

Amery second-grade students have been running a kindness campaign in hopes their thoughtfulness will spread like wildfire across the community.

Second grade instructors Jen Melberg, Lynette Wentz, Clare Halverson, Jennifer Komanec and Brittney Miller gave a presentation on the project as part of the “Spotlight on Education” portion of December’s meeting of the Board of Education.

Melberg explained she came across a website listing 10 random acts of kindness and shared it with some of her students last year. One of her students starting writing letters to both people she knew well and as well aquaintances, wishing them well and asking them to spread kindness.

At the end of the 2018/2019 school year, some of the second-grade students used brightly colored chalk and wrote positive wishes on the sidewalks in front of Lien Elementary for their classmates to view as they journeyed off to summer vacation.

Melberg saw that another school’s first-graders had a Kindness Club and she and her fellow teachers agreed this was something that should be implemented into their second grade classrooms in Amery.

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Second grade students, Levi Page, Frances Vierkandt and Raymond Sullivan are shown working on military care packages .

Their mission is to spread kindness throughout the school, in their families and community.

Each month the second-graders participate in different acts of kindness, some big gestures and some small. The instructors feel the importance is that their students understand how it feels when they do a kind deed without getting something in return.

When asked what kindness meant to them, one second-grader answered, “If it is a big deal or a small deal, you always need to help.” Another kept her sentiments quite simple when she added, “Kindness is spreading joy.”

They have been reading books with messages of kindness and have done various projects including writing random positive

notes and posting them on lockers of schoolmates, decorating kindness bookmarks, brushing snow off cars and painting Rocks of Encouragement. These rocks were small stones decorated by the children with affirmations of goodwill. They placed them in various areas around town to be found by people during the Amery Fall Festival weekend.

During “Socktober” students collected socks for people who were in need of them. Another project was their assistance to the Amery High School FCCLA with Military Care Packages. Donations were made from all families at Lien Elementary School.

32 total boxes were sent to

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Willow Ridge resident and Vietnam veteran, James Sigsworth, is shown with a quilt given by Legion Post #169 .

Quilts gifted to those have given to their country

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

Soldiers and quilts could have a few things in common. They can both be proud to show their true colors, they can be strong but soft and they can always scrap together when times are tough.

The two were brought together Friday December 20, when representatives from Amery’s American Legion Post #169 brought hand made quilts as a thank-you to

SEE KINDNESS, PAGE 2

SEE QUILTS, PAGE 2

Rochester shares Love of the Land II at Farm Table

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Gregg Rochester is shown with one of his pieces of bicycle art that is displayed at Amery’s Farm Table.

Take a moment to step away from the frigid winter air and step into Amery’s Farm Table to be warmed by the work of local artist Gregg Rochester. Love of the Land II is a current show featuring paintings by Rochester. He feels the artwork on display through January, is a good representation

of what he does. “I am a landscape painter and I take my inspiration from the land. I was raised in Wyoming and South Dakota and I painted some of that landscape, but I am especially attracted to the Wisconsin landscape because rolling hills that are depicted in some of my artwork. I also love the fields and woods,” he said.

Rochester explained something unique about his artwork is that

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he does not have any representations of humans in his paintings.

He said, “You do not see buildings or telephone poles. I try to keep it very void of human stuff because I think there is a very profound effect that being outside in the pure landscape has on us. It is a healing effect and a balancing effect. So if we riddling it with human SEE ROCHESTER, PAGE 28

Dr. Rollyn Lee Dr. Heather Marks 1030 River Place Drive Amery, WI 54001 Phone: 715-268-2103 Fax: 715-268-7729 www.river-place-dental.com HOURS: Monday-Thursday 8-5, Friday 7-4

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QUILTS: First Lutheran quilters and Legion Post #169 give warm gifts to veterans CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Veterans living at Willow Ridge, Golden Age Manor and Amery Memory Care. The blankets were made by the quilters from Amery’s First Lutheran Church.

At Willow Ridge, Bill Pierce, Mark Jacobson, Jerry Olson and Steven Scheidler from the American Legion presented the quilts to residents along with a card that read, “For defending our freedom…you have given yourself in so many ways. We appreciate you more than words can say and we thank you for defending the country that we love.”

Pierce represented the United States Navy; Jacobson the Air Force; Olson and Scheidler the Army. They presented quilts to Veterans from each of those branches.

Receiving quilts were Duane Beaudot, a machinist in the Navy for two years; Asa Steen a veteran of the Air Force; James Sigsworth of the U.S. Army who was Infantry during the Vietnam War from 1967-1969; Darwin Litzell, a veteran of the Navy; Charles Frank, also a Navy veteran; Mervil Heins of the Army Reserve from 1962-1969; David Javis, a Medic Corpsman in the Navy; Walter Monson, a Corporal Airborne Paratrooper with the Army from 19441946; Charles Pahr, a WWII 3rd Class Carpenters Mate with the U.S. Army; Raymond Mork, who was a Army Corporal in

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Veterans receiving quilts, front row L-R: Raymond Mork, James Sigsworth, Charles Frank, Darwin Litzell, David Javis, Mervil Heins, Charles Pahr and Duane Beaudot. Handing out quilts, back row L-R: Jerry Olson, Steven Scheidler, Mark Jacobson, Bill Pierce and Wanda Johnson.

1953-1956 during the Korean War. He was an Infantryman who drove jeep for superior officers, worked in commissary and trained officers in radio communications and Keith Crowe who served in the Navy from 1954-1956 as a Petty Officer stationed in Norfolk, who maintained weaponry on the ship “Randall.”

Stories were swapped between all of the veterans about the places around the world they served, ships they manned and rifles they shot.

It was a morning that honored camaraderie between the soldiers gathered together.

Wanda Johnson was there representing the quilters from First Lutheran Church. “It is an honor to be here with you people who all served so valiantly. If it weren’t for you, we would be here, so thank you very much.

We quilt once a week and we try to make as many as we can. We usually send them overseas, but this year we decided we wanted to keep them APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS local, so we did. We hope Jerry Olson from Amery’s American Legion Post #169 is shown with members of they keep you nice and First Lutheran Church’s quilting group. The ladies worked hard throughout the warm,” she said. year to make quilts that were given to area veterans last week for Christmas.

Polk county keeps ‘status quo’ for board compensation

BY MATT ANDERSON EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM

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Mrs. Miller’s second grade class is shown with small rocks that were painted with kind words and placed around Amery for community members to find.

KINDNESS: Hopes of seeing ripple effect of kindness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

troops overseas. Eight of those boxes were sent to Lien family members. One student said her favorite part of assisting with packages was “putting the toothpaste, the mouthwash and the food in there to help them survive.”

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. They have received thanks from a local business owner who found a rock and family members have noticed a difference at home

as their students have been more willing to lend a helping hand.

They have been hearing back from soldiers with thankfulness for receiving the notes and packages.

An Amery resident said she has noticed kids holding the door for her. The teachers say they love that the word is spreading and kindness is getting passed on.

Wentz said, “The kids are talking, they are using vocabulary, they are practicing kindness

and when they practice it, they learn it and are making new habits and we are truly seeing that in lots of different ways.”

The pupils want to send out the message to “Be kind and pass it on.” They are all excited to continue to spread the joy. One young lady shared she intends to keep smiling at everyone she sees.

Another said, “Even after second grade, I will still put money in the red kettle.”

The Polk County Board of Supervisors kept the “status quo” when fixing their compensation for the next four years at the Dec. 17 meeting. The board discussed two options, ultimately deciding that the first, with a minor change in language, would be implemented by a 10 to 4 vote in the April 2020 term.

The first of two options discussed was to keep the existing resolution with minor changes to the language.

The resolution for board and citizen committee member compensation currently states that each supervisor will be compensated $100 dollars “as a per diem for each County Board Meeting, Committee of the Whole, and Standing Committee meetings attended” and that “each Supervisor shall be entitled to receive mileage and travel expenses in accordance with Polk County’s Travel Policy as if they were County employees.”

The only recommendation made to the board was to change the language of “per diem” to “per meeting” and to “clarify that mileage is only paid for traveling to approved meetings/conventions that are out-of-county.”

The second of the two options discussed would have set a $5000 annual salary to cover all meeting requirements including county board and SEE COUNTY BOARD, PAGE 10

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HOW TO REACH US: Our offices are located at 215 Keller Ave. S. We are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every weekday. Call: (715) 268-8101 or fax at (715) 268-5300, or visit www.theameryfreepress.com.

TO SUBSCRIBE: dstangl@theameryfreepress.com The Free Press is mailed to the homes of subscribers for delivery every Wednesday. One year subscription in Polk, Burnett, St. Croix and Barron Counties is available for $30, two years is $58.

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Online subscriptions are available starting at $5 per month.

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Ukulele players play tunes at Mall of America Amery’s Ukulele Circle of the Good Neighborhood strummed uplifting music to holiday shoppers at the Mall of America Thursday, December 19.

DECEMBER 28 27th Annual John Legut Memorial Cup The 27th Annual John Legut Memorial Cup will take place Saturday, December 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Amery Ice Arena, 1065 River Place Drive, Amery.

Enjoy a great hockey game with Amery Alumni and help raise funds to award educational scholarships. Hockey Alumni interested in playing please contact Andrea Legut at andrealegut@yahoo.com or 715-781-0710.

Tom Stangl, Publisher April Ziemer, Editor Pam Humpal, Advertising Manager Jamie Stewart, Classifieds Nicole Gagner, Production Manager Cathy Nelson, Graphic Design Diane Stangl, Circulation/Office The Amery Free Press (ISSN 107486898) is published weekly by Sentinel Publications, 215 Keller Ave. S., Amery, WI 54001. Periodicals postage paid at Amery, WI 54001. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Amery Free Press, P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI 54001

Free Holiday Open Skate

JANUARY 1 First Day Hike Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Activities: First Day Hike, Hike, Outdoor activity Location: Straight Lake SP Join park staff in a 1 mile hike around Rainbow Lake to kick off the new year. Light Refreshments and a fire will be provided by the Friends of Interstate Park at the Rainbow Lake Shelter. 2020 Vehicle Admission Stickers will be available for purchase. Meet at the Straight Lake Picnic Area Parking Lot.

PLACING AN AD: phumpal@theameryfreepress.com classifieds@theameryfreepress.com Display advertising must be in the Free Press office by 12 p.m. Monday.

An advertising representative will gladly assist you in preparing your message. The Tab ads must be in the office by 12 p.m. Friday.

EVENTS: Send to editor@theameryfreepress.com or submit online at www.theameryfreepress.com.

DECEMBER 29 It’s time again for Amery Youth Hockey’s Free Holiday Open Skate! Sunday, December 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. there will be free skates, free admission and free cider at the Amery Hockey Rink. Watch Amery Youth Hockey’s Facebook page for more details.

Skates available on first come, first served basis.

NEWS ITEMS: editor@theameryfreepress.com Send by Monday at 12 p.m. to be considered for publication.

Contents copyright. No reproduction without permission of publisher.

Active member

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Making memories and gingerbread houses During a fun activity at Lien Elementary, 4-year-old Skylar Chelberg is shown loading her gingerbread house up with frosting and candies with help from her great-grandfather, Jon Buss.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Bremer to schedule an appointment.

parents. Bring your own ball; enter through North doors. No fee. Sundays through March 15 from 1:30-3:30 p in the Middle School gym.

Open Gym for Families

JANUARY 16 Empty Bowls Clear Lake Empty Bowls (Soup Supper and Ceramic Bowl Sale) will be Thursday, January 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Clear Lake High School commons.

JANUARY 10

ONGOING

Blood Drive

Basketball for Youth and Families

There will be an Amery Community Blood Drive located at Bremer Bank in the American Red Cross Bus on Friday, January 10, 2020 from

Open Gym for boys and girls grades 4-12. Families are encouraged to participate together. Younger children are welcome when accompanied by

Open gyms are a chance for kids and families to bounce a ball, shoot some hoops, play catch or just run around and be active together. For families with children of all ages.

Parents/Guardians must stay in the gym with the children.

Select Sundays: Nov 17, Dec 1 & 15, Jan 5 & 19, Feb 2 & 16, Mar 1 from 1:30-3:30 p in the Intermediate School – enter through the doors facing the NORTH parking lot. No fee – just show up! Sponsored by PowerUp.

Rumble Jumble Open Gym Open Gym for toddlers and

preschoolers to run, burn energy, and have fun. Balls, scooters, mats, and other gym equipment available. Parents/ Guardians are expected to stay in the gym. Child care providers welcome. No fee – just show up. Tuesdays through March when school is in session from 11 -11:45 a. Intermediate School.

Sponsored by PowerUp.

Pickleball - Open Gym Join us on Wednesday nights to play the fastest growing recreational sport in the nation.

Wednesdays through March (closed Dec 25 & Jan 1) from 6-8 p in the High School. No fee – just show up.

Share your event Mail your events to: Amery Free Press P.O. Box 424 Amery, WI 54001 You may also email items to editor@theameryfreepress. com, FAX items to 715-268-5300, deliver them in person to our office at 215 Keller Ave. S. in Amery, or submit the event online at www.theameryfreepress. com.

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DECEMBER 24, 2019

Calendar confusion?

BY TOM STANGL FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

W

e are in the home stretch for the holidays now. Less than a week until we get to spend time with family and friends.

After that it’s a hop, skip and a jump to the new year 2020 and the new decade.

But is it the new decade?

It depends on who you ask.

I came across an interesting article written by Joe Rao of the Farmers’ Almanac, who says the new decade should begin a year Publisher from now on Jan. 1, 2021.

Rao says Jan. 1, 2001 opened Tom Stangl the 21st century and the start of the new millennium “just as the year 1 A.D. marked the beginning of the Christian era.” The author believes the wild parties of Dec. 31, 1999 were a year too soon.

Sorry, Prince, I guess you were wrong too in your hit song “1999.”

In the article, Rao places the blame on two men: Dionysius Exiguus, also known in some reference works as “Dennis the Short,” and the Northumbrian monk Bede, also known as the “Venerable Bede.”

Dionysius was born in what we now call Romania around the year 470 and was the first to suggest counting the passage of the years from the date of the birth of Jesus Christ; the beginning of the anno Domini (which means “Year of Our Lord” in Latin) era, or A.D. “According to the contemporary historians of the time, Jesus was born during the 28th year of the reign of the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Rao writes. “There is, however, considerable confusion about exactly when Augustus’ reign began, so the year Dionysius called 1 A.D. was not accurately placed in history; in fact, most religious scholars now think that Jesus might actually have been born several years earlier.

“When Dionysius finished his computations, he figured that the year Christ was living in was 525 A.D. But he never bothered to number the years prior to Christ’s birth.

“We would have to wait until 731 A.D. when the Venerable Bede popularized the anno Domini era in Anglo-Saxon England and extended the counting of years before the birth of Christ – the “B.C. era.”

Most unfortunately, however, Bede did not account for the year zero in his calculations. So 1 A.D. was immediately preceded not by a 0, but by 1 B.C.” Rao looks to an elevator to make his case. “As an analogy, think of going into a building in which the ground floor is listed not as the first floor, but as the lobby. So the first floor is actually one flight above you.

“So if you were to go into an elevator located in the lobby and wanted to go 10-flights up, you would actually end up on the ninth floor (if you were to assume that the lobby as the “zero” floor).

“But if you assume the lobby as the “first” floor and went 10-flights up, you would end up on the tenth floor.

“In essence, on our calendars, 2021 is the equivalent of a “first-floor lobby,” and after going up ten flights (or years), we’ll arrive at the tenth floor.

Or in this case, the year 2030—when that decade ends.”

I’m still confused, how about you?

I hope the holiday season isn’t confusing for you. Make the time to spend with friends and family. It’s the best gift of all.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@theameryfreepress.com, telephone 715-268-8101 or write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI, 54001.

Time to take a stop at the appreciation station

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

I

t is usually around Thanksgiving time when you hear people mentioning all of the various things for which they feel thankful. I really do try throughout the year to remind myself of all of my blessings, but it can be hard in life to take the time to reflect upon those things.

When you are caught up in average everyday life; running kids to activities, trying to figure out what to have for dinner (when it seems like Editor you have already April Ziemer had spaghetti three times this month) and keeping up on household chores, it does not leave much free thinking time.

So sometimes these moments of clarity come at odd times. I was running last minute holiday errands around Amery last week and driving home I had a moment of complete thankfulness.

During my outing I had stopped to pick up more tape and bows for giftwrapping. Based on the line at the store, everyone else in town was doing the same.

One checkout was open and the cashier was calmly, swiftly and happily chipping away at the line.

When my turn was finished, I turned to her and told her that I knew she and her co-workers work especially hard this time of year

and that I appreciated their warm smiles during the long holiday hours.

While driving away, I started thinking about the people in this town of whom I truly depend. The cashiers and the stockers at the grocery store, those who check me out at the gas stations, the cooks and waitresses at Amery’s restaurants and the bartenders who pour me the occasional glass of wine.

I think there are many times people in these service businesses are overlooked. I would like to take this opportunity to say how truly thankful I am for each of them. It is certainly not always easy to work these jobs. Sometimes it can be a challenge to live the “customer is always right” motto, but I feel the small businesses that make up this town are filled with employees who truly do a great job.

I think this time of year can be especially difficult. It is a busier time of year and while some customers might radiate the spirit of the season, it is probable that for every one smiley elf-like character you wait on, there are two Grinches.

One thing I really like about this time of year, is getting to see the faces of the college kids that are working back in town. When you live in a small community, you really feel like you get to know students who are working part-time jobs at local business throughout their high school career. Eventually the time comes when they head off to college and it is really nice to see those familiar smiles when they reappear over Christmas break.

Usually I use this column space to share with readers my random thoughts, the antics of my family, current area events or newspaper editor frustrations. Rarely, if ever, do I ask readers for anything. They say if you are going to ask for something, have it be something really good, right?

So here is my wish: When out and about this season (or anytime of year) take time to tell the people who assist with your everyday transactions “thank you.” Better yet, if you think someone does a good job, express it to him or her.

If you think they are exceptional, make sure to let the business owners who employee them know.

When you see a familiar face of one of Amery’s own, home from college, working to pay for their next semester of school, ask them how they are doing. Let them know you miss seeing them around town and wish them well in their endeavors.

Too often we are caught in the hustle and bustle of life to take a moment to say anything at all, but I really think acknowledgement is something that never goes out of style. Not only does a kind word go a long way, but also I firmly believe that showing appreciation can change someone’s day, maybe even their life.

I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you, and look forward to readers sharing their thoughts in return.

Feel free to email me at editor@ theameryfreepress.com, write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery WI. 54001 or I can be reached by phone at 715268-8101.

LETTER GUIDELINES The Amery Free Press encourages readers to share their viewpoints of community issues by writing Letters to the Editor.

Submit your letters via email to editor@ theameryfreepress.com, by mail to the Amery Free Press, P.O. Box 424 Amery, WI 54001, or by fax to 715-268-5300.

We reserve the right to edit for accuracy,

clarity, libel, and civility.

General letters to the editor are limited to 400 words or less. Readers may submit one letter for consideration every 30 days.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and phone number (address and phone number will not be printed). Anonymous letters will not be

published. Only letters originating from writers who live, have lived or work in the Amery Free Press circulation area or have some other relevance to the community area will be published. Special rules apply to election-related letters.

For questions about policies on letters contact the editor at 715-268-8101

OPINION

DECEMBER 24, 2019

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CAPITOL REPORT

Lawmakers, public divided over bill that punishes students who disrupt free speech Lawmakers and the public appear largely divided over the necessity of a bill that would require mandatory punishments for any University of Wisconsin student who “materially or substantially disrupts the free expression of others.”

Members of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities split along party lines over whether the bill would have a “chilling effect” for campus free speech or be a protector of it.

Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, criticized the bill as “a bad solution in search of a problem” and worried the mandatory punishments in the proposal would cause students to hold back on expressing themselves freely out of fear of retaliation.

AB 444 would suspend UW students for a minimum of one semester after a formal investigation and disciplinary hearing found them responsible for two offenses. Students would then be expelled after a third charge. Rep. David Murphy, R-Greenville, also introduced an amendment that would expand the bill’s policy to Wisconsin Technical College System campuses.

“You are choosing to limit what people would even say in a public forum, because they’d be so afraid of being disruptive that they wouldn’t even challenge

someone who deserves to be challenged,” Shankland said at the hearing on Dec. 12. “They will not even engage in civil debates, because they will not have time to run around with definitions of “material,’ ‘substantial’ or ‘disruptive.’”

But the bill’s co-author Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, fired back, saying the language is meant to only go after students who are outright harming or disrupting others to the point where their constitutional freedoms are infringed upon.

“Free speech ends when you limit the free speech of others,” Kapenga said. “It doesn’t matter the ideology.

The point is we’re protecting your ability to speak, regardless of what’s on your mind. We’re ensuring that 100% of speech is heard.”

While all agreed the goal is to protect First Amendment rights, Shankland and the Democrats were steadfast in their assertion that the bill could “backfire tremendously.” Democrats also criticized the timing of the public hearing for taking place during final exams week on many campuses, making it difficult for students to come out to the hearing and voice their opinion.

Shankland told Kapenga the conservative think tank Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty even

THE POSTSCRIPT

The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Copyright © WisPolitics.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Caleb the Christmas Tree I went with my parents to get a Christmas tree.

All the trees were wearing hangtags shaped like bells and all the bells had hand-lettered names on them. At first, I assumed these trees were spoken for and the names indicated the person who had reserved the tree. Then I realized that, no, the The names were for the Postscript trees.

This was a fancy Carrie Classon place and apparently, when you spend as much as this store was charging for a tree, the tree came complete with a name. Actually, for what they were charging, I’m surprised the trees didn’t come with at least a two-year degree from a Vo-Tech college. Still, they were lovely trees, I must admit. We immediately spotted a Balsam Fir named “Howard,” and the wind was so chill I was fully prepared ready to pile Howard on top of the car and call it a day.

But tradition insisted we make something resembling a hunt and so we reviewed the rest of the trees lined up in the windy parking lot until we came to one that seemed to have near perfect shape: not too bushy, an attractive leader at the top, no straggly branches at the bottom, and just the right height.

There was only one problem: the tree was named “Caleb.”

“Mom, Caleb is not a good name for a Christmas tree.”

“No, it really isn’t,” my mother agreed.

We both studied Caleb silently. There was no denying that Caleb was an attractive tree.

“Maybe we could rename him,” my mother suggested, as we strapped Caleb to the roof for the short drive home.

My dad got out the metal tree stand

declared opposition to AB 444 because of its mandatory punishments. The Delafield Republican said that while he took into consideration the opinions of everyone, he and his fellow lawmakers were the ones elected to make policy, “not the organizations.”

The UW System Board of Regents is currently in the process of drafting an amendment to administrative code with similar language. Murphy pointed out that the UW System’s amendment originated after the freedom of expression bill began circulating the Legislature in the previous biennium.

Any final bill or administrative code amendment would need the governor’s approval. Gov. Tony Evers voted “no” on the proposal when he sat on the board as superintendent of public instruction. And a spokeswoman for the governor previously said his opinions on the matter “haven’t changed” since assuming office.

which is old and a little rusty and will never be replaced because you can’t buy one like it anymore. He pounded the tree down onto the stake in the middle of the pan and tightened the screws. He raised the tree into a standing position and its branches slowly relaxed, showing off its full splendor, then he wrapped it in a few strings of lights.

“Do you think that’s enough lights?” my mother asked my husband, Peter, (who is the least likely to have an opinion on the subject) and Peter declared that there were plenty of lights.

Then my mom pulled out the ornaments and wondered aloud where many of them came from and how long we have had them. We don’t remember.

Except we know the little fellow in the canoe used to be holding an oar until my dad carved a tiny paddle for him (because what was he doing with an oar in a canoe?) And my mom remembers the ornaments she brought back the year they visited the Holy Land. But what about the sled that had my dad’s name on it and the year: “1982”? It is a mystery—as is the angel made of pinecones and the tiny skiers holding tiny skies and the surprising number of mice in Christmas attire.

“You could have dressed up a whole string of them you caught under the sink this week!” I suggested to my mom (a thought she did not seem to care for).

There were a few glass balls hung to fill in the empty spaces and the whole process was finished in what seemed like no time at all.

“I think Caleb looks very nice!” my mother declared.

And, while I still thought it was a wildly inappropriate name for a Christmas tree, Caleb had somehow managed—as is often the case this time of year—to embody the Christmas spirit exactly.

Till next time, Carrie

Thoughtful community helps others Are you ready for Christmas yet?

Is a common question asked this time of year. This last weekend thanks to a large group of caring and generous people in our community from First Lutheran, Our Saviors, Redeemer. East Immanuel, Balsam Lutheran, Neighbors United, St. Joseph’s, New Life and Journey Church, along with Dental Arts, Riverplace Dental, Family Restaurant, WAPO Bible Camp, Carlson SV, Lions, Girl Scouts and School Clubs (along with help from many individual families)

208 children from 84 families have something under the tree and are a little more ready for Christmas.

It is so inspiring to know as we hustle around getting ready for Christmas, our community is thinking of how to help others! A special thank you also to Dick’s Market and Ulrich Farms for providing a ham and gallon of milk to each family. Merry Christmas to all!

The Secret Santa committee

Congratulations to our winners . . .

• Willow Macholl, age 7, Amery, Coloring Contest Winner • John Lucente, Amery, $100 Gift Certificate for Coat Drive

Thank You to the community for your generous donations to our 7th Annual Coat Drive.

We had a wonderful turnout for our coloring contest and enjoyed all the fantastic entries.

201 Keller Ave. S, Amery, WI 715-268-8142 www.LampertLumber.com

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RECORDS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

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Polk County Circuit Court

Amery Police Report 12/13/19-12/19/19

APPEARANCE DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2019 Anthony J. Amman, 78, Balsam Lake, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Sarah Jane Backlin, 19, Frederic, operating left of center, $213.10.

Tyler H. Barber, 25, St. Croix Falls, vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt, $10.

Nathan A Barr, 30, Rockford, IL, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $183.30.

William Michael Beeves, 44, Osceola, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Keane William Bjorkman, 41, Somerset, speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph), $200.50.

Hunter Bowman, Star Prairie, shoreline zoning violation, $452.50.

Owen Kenneth Carlson, 16, Somerset, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Thomas Michael Caron, 44, Taylors Falls, MN, possess marijuana on state land, $263.50.

Judith A. Clark, 66, Frederic, speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), $225.70.

Jeffrey Scott Clemons, 52, Frederic, operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance, $10.

Jeffrey Scott Clemons, 52, Frederic, fail/slow vehicle-passing stop emergency vehicle, $263.50.

Peter Cosentino, 70, Balsam Lake, place, use, hunt wild animals with bait (<5 gallons), $343.50.

Anthony Jon Cronick, 20, Osceola, speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph), $200.50.

Neil Stuart Decker, 24, Minneapolis, MN, speeding in 55 mph zone (25-29 mph), $250.90.

Lucas John Eggert, 39, Amery, exceeding speed zones, etc. (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Mitchell Erickson, Star Prairie, shoreline zoning violation, $389.50.

Harrison Michael Fickbohm, 22, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Harrison Michael Fickbohm, 22, vehicle ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liability for failing to stop at accident scene (hit and run-property adjacent/hwy), $200.50.

Marian Eleanor Fryer, 80, Amery, unreasonable and imprudent speed, $213.10.

Isaac Lee Fultz, 18, Luck, exceeding speed zones, etc. (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Alfonso O. Gonzalez, 37, St. Paul, MN, speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph), $200.50.

Alfonso O. Gonzalez, 37, St. Paul, MN, operate w/o valid license (1st violation), $200.50.

Sandra Kay Hipkins, 47, New Richmond, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Sandra Kay Hipkins, 47, New Richmond, operating while suspended, $200.50.

Brandon Lee Hostrup, 19, Luck, display unauth. vehicle registration plate, $238.30.

Brandon Lee Hostrup, 19, Luck, operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance, $200.50.

Fernandez Mourod, 33, Clear Lake, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Michael James Kirk, 38, Big Lake, MN, place, use, hunt wild animals with bait (<5 gallons), $343.50.

Joseph John Kleschult, 38, New Richmond, operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance, $10.

Joseph John Kleschult, 38, New Richmond, unsafe passing on right, $232.

Samantha M. Knutson, 27, Amery, failure of operator to notify police of accident, $389.50.

Samantha M. Knutson, 27, Amery, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Kelly Jo Kobs, 31, Clayton, driving too fast for conditions, $213.10.

Jaron Drake Koehn, 18, Barron, vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt, $10.

Jaron Drake Koehn, 18, Barron, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Troy Michael Kuhn, 45, Amery, operating while revoked (forfeiture 1st), $200.50.

Annie Elizabeth Leonard, 30, Deer Park, speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), $225.70.

James Walter Lindner, 54, Amery, exceeding speed zones, etc. (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Aaron Joseph Littlefield, 37, Turtle Lake, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Dalton James Lyons, 21, Somerset, trap without license, $242.90.

Dalton James Lyons, 21, Somerset, fail/check traps and remove animals, $263.10.

Jack Anthony Lyons, 53, Somerset, place material-feed/attract wild animals, $343.50.

Jack Anthony Lyons, 53, Somerset, trap without license, $242.90.

Jack Anthony Lyons, 53, Somerset, possess/loan/ borrow anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, $303.30.

Michael James Martinsen, 57, Somerset, improper transfer of approval or permit, $303.50.

Cathy Jean Morelli, 52, Osceola, OWI (1st), $937.50 Cathy Jean Morelli, 52, Osceola, operating w/ PAC>=0.08, <0.15 (1st), $937.50.

Jenna Rae Mosay, 33, Luck, operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance, $200.50.

James Xou Moua, 43, Brooklyn Park, MN, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Chase Michael Mrotek, 20, Hayward, operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance, $10.

Brian Todd Nelson, 43, Osceola, place, use, hunt wild animals with bait (<5 gallons), $343.50.

Connor Matthew Orf, 21, Turtle Lake, speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), $225.70.

Robert Michael Pearson, 18, Osceola, speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), $225.70.

Arvid I. Peters, 55, Somerset, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Donald A. Peterson, 65, Balsam Lake, place, use, hunt will animals with bait (<5 gallons), $343.50.

Brett Michael Peterson, 20, Amery, speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Brady Eugene Pigman, 16, Clear Lake, vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt, $10.

Richard Albert Randall, 46, Milltown, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Richard Albert Randall, 46, Milltown, possess open intoxicants in mv-driver, $263.50.

Adam J. Reed, 47, Centuria, illegal loaded/uncased cocked crossbow in/on vehicle, $217.90.

Jamison Ashley, 37, Star Prairie, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Helen Marie Richie, 56, Hudson, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Christian Michael Salsbury, 27, Osceola, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Aaron Douglas Sarchet, 26, Amery, OWI (1st), $937.50.

Aaron Douglas Sarchet, 26, Amery, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Mark Allen Schimke, 59, Forest Lake, MN, failure to keep vehicle under control, $213.10.

Drew Richard Schnell, 34, Amery vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt, $10.

Justus Javon Sizemore, 23, Frederic, speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), $225.70.

Amber Jennifer Springer, 29, Dresser, failure to yield right of way, $187.90.

Nicholas C. J. Stesniak, 23, Clayton, operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance, $200.50.

Nicholas C. J. Stesniak, 23, Clayton, non-registration of vehicle - auto <10,000 lbs., $175.30.

Robert Joseph Svoboda, 65, Centuria, place material-feed/attract wild animals, $343.50.

Howard Donald Trcka, 56, Afton, MN, exceeding speed zones, etc. (11-15 mph), $175.30.

Jason Jim Tyler, 38, Frederic, operating while suspended, $200.50.

Michael Lynn Vanderwerf, 29, Luck, speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph), $200.50.

Jerry Voll, 67, Brooklyn Park, MN, speeding in 55 mph zone (1-10 mph), $175.30.

Ethan Adam Yeske, 53, Turtle Lake, illegal loaded firearm (not handgun) in motorized vehicle, $258.10.

Randall Cole Zeroth, 29, Woodville, illegal loaded firearm (not handgun) in motorized vehicle, $258.10.

Get the whole story when you read the Amery Free Press

12/13/19, 03:20 a.m., Assist other agency 12/13/19, 08:33 a.m., Animal control call 12/13/19, 09 a.m., Abandoned vehicle report 12/13/19, 09:38 a.m., Assist other agency 12/13/19, 10:23 a.m., Motor vehicle accident 12/13/19, 01:16 p.m., Animal control call 12/13/19, 05:27 p.m., Suspicious activity 12/14/19, 10:30 a.m., Assist citizen 12/14/19, 03 p.m., Assist citizen 12/14/19, 03:29 p.m., Suspicious activity 12/14/19, 06:32 p.m., Juvenile call 12/14/19, 07:21 p.m., Suspicious activity 12/14/19, 08:37 p.m., Assist other agency 12/15/19, 04:59 a.m., Welfare check 12/15/19, 06:10 a.m., Mental health call 12/15/19, 07:49 a.m., Assist EMS 12/15/19, 06:42 p.m., Warrant arrest 12/16/19, 10:18 a.m., Juvenile call 12/16/19, 11:24 a.m., Motor vehicle accident 12/16/19, 12:30 p.m., Juvenile call 12/16/19, 06:20 p.m., Assist other agency 12/17/19, 11:06 a.m., Hit and run motor vehicle accident report 12/17/19, 09 p.m., Animal control call 12/18/19, 12:40 a.m., Assist other agency 12/18/19, 09:36 a.m., Juvenile call 12/18/19, 10:54 a.m., Assist citizen 12/18/19, 02:32 p.m., Suspicious activity 12/18/19, 05:34 p.m., Mental health call 12/19/19, 06:18 a.m., Animal control call 12/19/19, 06:58 a.m., Animal control call 12/19/19, 09:26 a.m., Mental health call 12/19/19, 11:21 a.m., Harassment complaint 12/19/19, 01:10 p.m., Restraining order violation report 12/19/19, 06:10 p.m., Assist citizen 12/19/19, 11:30 p.m., Assist other agency

ARRESTS: Adam B. Kromrey, 43 of Dresser. OWI third, Possess Open Intoxicants In MV, Fail to Stop at Stop Sign Maxwell LeCaptain, 22 of Amery. Polk County Warrant

Polk County arrests Kyle Allan Phillips, 28, Hudson, was arrested December 13 for 3 St. Croix County felony warrants, a Pierce County misdemeanor warrant, obstructing an officer and operating while revoked.

Heather Lee Williamson, 19, Centuria, was arrested December 14 for possession of methamphetamine.

Brandon Lee Hostrup, 19, Luck, was arrested December 14 for domestic batter and domestic disorderly conduct.

Coby Lee Russel, 18, Frederic, was arrested December 14 for disorderly conduct.

Austin T. Eckard, 24, Menomonie, was arrested December 14 for possession of methamphetamine.

Heather Lee Williamson, 19, Centuria, was arrested December 14 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lance Daniel Dewuske, 55, Osceola, was arrested December 15 for disorderly conduct.

Adam B. Kromrey, 43, Dresser, was arrested December 13 for OWI (3rd), open intoxicants and failure to stop at stop sign.

Michael Paul Lamb, 40, Osceola, was arrested December 11 for trespassing and a warrant.

Joseph Lester Kohls, 46, Star Prairie, was arrested December 10 for a Department of Corrections warrant.

Gale Robert Field, 50, Chippewa Falls, was arrested December 14 for 2 out of county failure to appear warrants and a probation warrant.

Emily Ann Sweeney, 39, Chippewa Falls, was arrested December 14 for an out of county failure to appear warrant and and out of county warrant for contempts for child support.

Janelle Elizabeth Lundmark, 39, Centuria, was arrested December 14 for a Polk County failure to appear warrant.

Cody D. Jantz, 31, homeless, was arrested December 14 for a Department of Corrections hold.

Maxwell Carlton LeCaptain, 22, Amery, was arrested December 15 for a failure to appear warrant.

YESTERDAY’S NEWS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

7

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95 Years Ago January 1, 1925 Bound Over to Circuit Court For Auto Theft J. W. McKinzie who was brought back from Humbolt, Ia. last week charged with stealing a Ford car belonging to P. L. Wilhelm of this city was given a hearing in Judge Roberts court Tuesday and was bound over to the spring term of circuit court.

Bail was fixed at $1,000, which he was unable to furnish and will be a boarder at the sheriff’s hotel until spring.

90 Years Ago December 19, 1929 Make Amery the Christmas City Amery residents are having electrically trimmed threes placed on their lawns in greater numbers than ever before and this coupled with the beautifully decorated and brilliantly lighted store windows make Amery the Christmas City of Northern Wisconsin.

If you do not place an electrically lighted tree on your lawn or porch, place wreaths and Christmas candles in Yesterday’s your windows during the News holiday week Diane Stangl and thus do your bit toward making Amery the City Beautiful.

Amery’s Community Tree Huge Success Santa Claus was greeted at the community tree in this city by a record-breaking crowd.

The streets literally overflowed with old and young who came in to greet the Saint of Yuletide, not one went away empty handed and everybody was happy.

There is some talk already of next year’s celebration and it is probable that the occasion will be a thriller, with Santa, reindeer and everything.

Robin Makes Winter Home in Amery A. M. Hughs came to this office Monday with the statement that a robin had been making his winter home in some shrubbery back of his residence since early fall, and was still cheerful and happy. We haven’t seen the robin, but “Al” has an excellent reputation for honesty and although it is “some story,” I believe that the robin is there.

85 Years Ago December 27, 1934 Request for Plow Dropped for Now The request that a snowplow be permanently stationed in Amery made by the Amery Community Club, has been dropped, but only temporarily, members of a committee appointed to see Highway Commissioner Matt Miller, said after a conference with him.

Mr. Miller told the committeemen that a centralized service

It’s Christmas morning!

This great image was used in the 1915 Holiday Edition of the Amery Free Press. Hope all your Christmas wishes come true. “Merry Christmas!”

Acts of vandalism took place at the Little Falls School while the yeggs removed a radio from the Wagon Landing School in addition to the gifts.

A car belonging to Patricia LaBrandt, Centuria, was broken into as it was parked on highway 35 near the Tipperary road. The owner had gone to get help after a tire had gone flat.

Taken from the car were a car coat, auto robe, alarm clock and other small items.

T & P Construction reported that a gas space heater and some tools were taken from their construction site. The theft was noted on Thursday.

Richard Pearson, Balsam Lake, listed a logging chain and wrench as missing from his tractor. The articles were on the tractor as it was parked in the woods for logging.

Yeggs continued on their spree on Saturday night, as they entered four cabins in the town of Sterling.

Letters to Santa… could be given by stationing all plows at Balsam Lake and have them start out from there each time a snowstorm came along.

He said his department would experience great difficulty if a plow stationed at Amery broke down and a crew had to break through the drifts from Balsam Lake to repair it. The committee felt that Mr. Miller was giving excellent service for the five plows he had. Two more, however, are badly needed, Mr. Miller said, to cover “blind spots,” or places that are not now plowed.

The committee pointed out however, that improved service might be brought about by stationing one or two plows here, and setting up a service station for the plows in Amery. They felt that this should be taken up some time in the future.

Mr. Miller told the committee members that if it would result in better service, plows would start out an hour earlier in the morning if necessary, to better service Polk County.

80 Years Ago December 28, 1939 Floyd Fouks Saves Lives of 5 Children Floyd Fouks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fouks, formerly of Deer Park, was a hero last week in saving the lives of four young people who were about to drown.

He saved three of them from a sure death and pushed the fourth onto the ice as they broke through.

Floyd, with Herbert Brusletten and his sisters, Irene, Gail and Loretta and Marshall Walsted, had been skating and were enroute home crossing the lake 6 miles northeast of Deer Park, when the ice broke, plunging five of them into 5½ feet of water.

Marshall was pushed as the ice broke and he got wet, waist high. Floyd, 6 feet 3 inches tall, stood in the water up to his chin and with the help of Marshall,

saved the other three from a watery grave. Loretta had gone ahead of the others on the small lake or she too might have experienced the same narrow escape.

Had it not been for Floyd’s height and cool head all might have drowned. They went to the Fouks home a short distance away and after getting on dry clothes, were taken to their homes, not much the worse for their experience.

The Brusletten children’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brusletten, and Marshall lives with his mother on a nearby farm. The youngsters range in age from 13 to 20 years and all agreed that Floyd deserved a medal for his cool handling of the situation in such an emergency.

Skating Rink Open Amery’s new skating rink on North Twin lake was opened to the public Christmas day.

Lights were turned on Wednesday evening. The rink will be lighted until 11 p.m. each day except on school nights when the lights will go out at 10 p.m.

The rink is kept in good condition and there is a good warming house on shore.

70 Years Ago December 28, 1949 Mystery Blast Rocks Area Where were you about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21? Why? Because there’s a small matter of a not-too-small concussion to be solved, which had its origin in the Range community.

At first the entire community was alarmed with many residents in Amery (including this reporter) feeling the shock from the impact of whatever it was.

Visions of guided missiles from Russia, meteors or some atomic blast raced through the minds of the people.

Don LaMere, busy in the barn at the time, thought for a moment that the silo had exploded, but upon dashing outside he discovered a column of smoke

rising from a spot in the woods on the late Frank Vinz farm and the barn and silo still very much intact. Richard Breault, fishing on the river at the time, felt the ice quiver from the concussion.

It was reported that one neighborhood lady was knocked from a chair as she hung up clothes on a high line.

Walter Yeske at the Joe Gallant farm, closest to the blast, made the discovery of the spot where the explosion had occurred. He stated that Frank Vinz, previous to his death, had placed a box of dynamite in the woods, apparently for future use.

Evidence around the scene has proved rather conclusively that it was a box of dynamite for pieces of wood and tin were scattered throughout the area.

But it must have been a heavily loaded box from the damage done to the trees in that spot.

All the trees were charred and one small one was broken off and hurled through the air.

A pine tree some 80 feet away was completely stripped of branches and needles on the side facing the blast for about 15 feet in the air.

But the hole in the frozen ground was the most amazing of the entire affair. It measured about four feet across and penetrated the earth only about a foot in depth. How the dynamite was set off remains the only mystery and it probably will never be solved.

60 Years Ago December 24, 1959 Schools Are Targets for Area Thefts Shades of the unchanged Scrooge hit this area of the county as thieves entered two rural schools last Wednesday night and took gifts that students were making for their parents.

Sites of the break-ins were at the Little Falls School and the Wagon Landing School.

“I have been a pretty good boy and I hope you will bring me some nice gifts for Christmas.

This is what I’d like. Choose from them. I am six years old” 1. Skates, size 1.

2. Horse that holds file, comb, toothbrush and clipper.

3. Filling station, 3 stories high.

4. Bedroom slippers.

5. Train accessories.

6. Jet rocket plane.

7. Army atomic cannon.

8. Skyliner convertible.

9. Telephone truck.

10. Police radio.

11.Science set and telescope.

12. Snippy scissors.

Bobby.

Dear Santa, I want a Tiny Tears Dolly, a Doll House, Doll High Chair, Doll Stroller.

Love. Peggy Morrison.

P.S. – I am four years old.

Dear Santa, I want dishes, nurse kit, Dolly, Puppy, Candy and Game for Christmas.

Love, Debbie Morrison.

P.S. – I am five years old.

55 Years Ago December 31, 1964 “Burning of the Greens” Scheduled for Jan. 10 Residents of this community are being asked to dispose of their Christmas trees and greens to provide fuel for the annual “burning of the greens.”

Sponsored by the Amery Community Club, the event is slated for the city skating rink starting at 7 p.m., on Sunday evening, Jan. 10. Refreshments will be served to young and old during the traditional burning ceremony.

City crew members will make a collection of trees and green on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 4 and place their contributions on the curbs. Persons wishing to bring theirs to the event may deposit them adjacent to the city rink back of the A & W Root Beer stand.

8 AMERY FREE PRESS

SPIRITUAL

DECEMBER 24, 2019

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AREA CHURCHES AMERY CONGREGATIONAL, 201 N. Harriman Ave. Barry Schaefer, pastor Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day - Office Closed.

Thursday, December 26: 9:30 am Senior Dining Hall Open; 5:30 pm Women’s Bible Study; 7 pm Money Management.

Friday, December 27: 9:30 am Senior Dining Hall Open.

Sunday, December 29: 10 am Worship/Noisy Kettle; 11:15 am Pot Luck.

Monday, December 30: 9:30 am Senior Dining Hall Open; 7 pm Boy Scouts.

Tuesday, December 31: 6:30 am Men’s Bible Study; 9:30 am Senior Dining Hall Open; 10 am Bible Study.

AMERY FREE LUTHERAN, 1 mile west of golf course on CTH F, Eric Christenson, pastor, www.ameryflc.org Every Sunday: 9 am Sunday School; 10:15 am Worship Service; 6 pm Small Group Bible Studies in homes.

Wednesdays: 9:30 am Small Group Women’s Bible Study in home; 7 pm Youth Group.

Call the church office for details 715-268-9218.

APPLE RIVER COMMUNITY, 942 US Hwy. 8, Amery Justin Hosking, pastor Sunday: 9:30 am Sunday School for All Ages; 10:15 am Coffee and Fellowship; 10:30 am Morning Worship; 7 pm Sunday Night Live (A potluck of music and entertainment).

Monday: 6:30 pm Women’s Bible Study.

Tuesday: 5 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

Wednesday, December 31: 5 pm Soup & Game Night.

BALSAM LUTHERAN, 1115 Mains Crossing, Amery, Dan Watland, pastor 507-459-1141, Church 715-2689291, www.balsamlutheranchurch.org.

Sunday worship 10:15 am. Holy Communion 2nd & 3rd Sundays.

Sunday, December 29: Elim 8:30 am Holy Worship; 8:30 am Confirmation Class; 9 am Sunday School; 9:30 am Fellowship Time; 10:15 am Holy Worship; 12 pm Private Use of Fellowship Hall.

CENTERPOINT, 740 Maple Drive, St. Croix Falls (High school) Dick Enerson, pastor Sunday: 10-11:15 am Worship celebration; Children’s church (SuperKidz) age 4-5th grade; Nursery (KidzKorner) birth-3 years.

Cell Groups (small group Bible studies) offered throughout the week.

CHURCH OF CHRIST, New Richmond Jack Philips, Evangelist, 715-497-7596 Sunday: 9 am Bible Study; 10 am Worship.

Wednesday: 6:30 pm Bible Study and Devotions.

CLEAR LAKE UNITED METHODIST, John Hazen, pastor Sunday: 8:30 am Worship.

DEER PARK UNITED METHODIST, John Hazen, pastor Sunday: 11 am Worship.

DERONDA LUTHERAN, 1239 65th Ave., Amery Lori Peper, pastor 715-268-9577 Wednesday, December 25: 9:30 am Combined Christmas Day Worship with Communion at Little Falls.

Sunday, December 29: 8 am Deronda Worship; 9:30 am Little Falls Worship; 11 am Trinity Worship.

Monday, December 30: Newletter Articles Due. Tuesday, December 31: 9 am Parish Staff Meeting at Trinity.

See our website for up-to-date scheduling www.derondachurch.net.

EAST BALSAM BAPTIST, 1816 108th St./CTH I, Balsam Lake www.eastbalsam.org 715-857-5411 Sunday: 9 am Worship service; 9:30 am Children’s Church.

Tuesday: Women’s Ministry; 9 am Bible Study.

EAST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN, south of Amery on Hwy. 46 then west on 20th Ave., Kathy Pennington, pastor Sunday, December 29: 9:30 am Education; 10:30 am Worship.

EAST LINCOLN ALLIANCE, 735 70th Ave., Amery 715-268-2350 www.eastlincolnalliance.com Eric Danielson and Randy Schussman, pastors Sunday: 8:45 am Prayer Meeting; 9 am Coffee and Fellowship; 9:30 am Worship service. Child Care and Discovery Land for children are provided during Worship service.

Small groups meet throughout the week. Contact the church office for further details.

Recharge for Middle and High School students, 6 pm every Wednesday.

EL SALEM BAPTIST/TWIN FALLS CHRISTIAN CENTER, Dresser, Darryl R. Olson, pastor Sunday: 9:30 am Sunday school; 10:35 am Worship; 6 pm Sunday evening.

Wednesday: 7 pm Bible Study.

ELIM LUTHERAN, Range, Dan Watland, pastor Sunday: 8:30 am Worship.

Holy Communion 2nd and 3rd Sundays.

Council 3rd Tuesday at 6 pm FAITH LUTHERAN (ELCA), 301 1st Ave. East (across from public beach on Co. Rd. I) Balsam Lake, 715-4853800, Diane Norstad, pastor Sunday: 9:30 am Sunday worship; Communion first and last Sunday.

Wednesday: 6:15 pm Christian Education; 7 pm Worship; 7:30 pm Youth Group.

FAITH LUTHERAN (ELCA), 134 Prentice St. S, Clayton

Margaret Grant, pastor Sunday: 9 am Sunday school; 9:45 am Worship; 10:45 am Fellowship.

Men’s Bible Study 2nd Sunday 6 pm Mission Quilting Tuesdays 9 am Wednesday evening service 7:15-7:45 pm FIRST LUTHERAN, 240 Elm St., Amery Tim Bjorge, pastor Sunday, December 29: 9 am Worship, No Sunday School.

FIRST LUTHERAN (LCMC), 811 South Ave. W, Clear Lake www.firstluthclearlake.com, Bryan S. Anderson, pastor Wednesday, December 25: 10 am Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion; No Confirmation.

Sunday, December 29: 8:30 am Contemporary Worship; 9:30 am Fellowship; No Sunday School or Choir; 10 am Traditional Worship; 11 am Fellowship.

Monday, December 30: 7 pm Evening Grace Circle at Church.

Tuesday, December 31: No Quilting or Prayer Shawl.

FIRST PRESYTERIAN, 719 Nevada St., St. Croix Falls Barbara Anne Keely, pastor Sunday: 10:15 am Coffee and Fellowship; 11 am Worship.

FOREST UNITED METHODIST, John Hazen, pastor Sunday: 9:45 am Worship.

FULL GOSPEL LIGHTHOUSE, Graytown Merlin Burton, pastor Sunday: 10:30 am Sunday school; 11 am Worship.

GEORGETOWN LUTHERAN-ELCA, 877 190th Ave. Co. Rd. G, Balsam Lake (Fox Creek) 715-857-5580, serving@georgetownlutheran.net, Pastor Diane House Sunday: 9:15 am Sunday school; 10:30 am Worship; Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday.

GRACE LUTHERAN - WELS, 460 4th St., Clear Lake, Ellery W. Groth, pastor 715-491-4330 Sunday: 10:15 am Worship.

Thursday: 10 am Bible Class.

HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX, 511 1st St., Clayton, 715948-2493, htoc@amerytel.net, Chris Wojcik, pastor Sundays: 9:30 am Divine Liturgy.

HOLY TRINITY UNITED METHODIST, 1606 165th Ave., Centuria, on CTH I between Balsam Lake and Centuria, Yul Kwon, pastor Sunday: 8:30 am Worship and Sunday School.

IMMANUEL EV. LUTHERAN (LCMS), 124 E. Church St., Clayton, lmmLCLCMS@centurytel.net, 715-541-2955, Gregory Becker, pastor Sunday: 9 am Divine Worship.

Wednesday: 6:30 pm Family Christian Education; 7:30 pm Confirmation.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN, 65th Ave., rural Clayton, Mar-

garet Grant, pastor Sunday: 8:30 am Worship.

Wednesday: 6:30 pm Family Christian Education; 7:30 pm Confirmation.

JOURNEY CHURCH, 131 Broadway St., Amery, Derek Downs, Lead Pastor, 715-268-2223, www.journeychurch.city, office@journeychurch.city Every Sunday: 9 am Worship Service; Nursery for ages 0-3 is offered. Kids Zone Children’s Church ages preschool-4th grade will meet downstairs during the sermon! No Sunday School during the summer.

2nd Sunday of the Month: 6-7 pm Praise and Prayer Night (Except June 12 & July 10) Mondays: 8:30 am Moms In Prayer.

Wednesdays: 8:30 am Women’s Bible Study in the Teen Center.

Thursdays: 8:30 am Prayer Group. Open to anyone with a heart of prayer!

Saturdays: 7 am Men’s Bible Study (Meets in the Teen Center).

LITTLE FALLS LUTHERAN, 1272 44th Ave., Amery, Lori Peper, pastor 715-268-9577 Wednesday, December 25: 9:30 am Combined Christmas Day Worship with Communion at Little Falls.

Sunday, December 29: 8 am Deronda Worship; 9:30 am Little Falls Worship; 11 am Trinity Worship.

Monday, December 30: Newletter Articles Due. Tuesday, December 31: 9 am Parish Staff Meeting at Trinity.

See our website for up-to-date scheduling www.littlefallschurch.net.

LIVING WORD CHAPEL, 2746 Hwy 64, Forest, Senior Leaders Sean & Libby Higgins, 715-265-4810, we.are. living.word@gmail.com, www.livingwordchapel.com Sunday: 9 am Breakfast and Fellowship; 10:15 am Service; Nursery and Children’s Church Available.

Wednesdays: 6 pm The Study; 7 pm Prayer.

Weekly Local Home Groups MENNONITE CHURCH, 1681 6 1/2 St., Co. Hwy. P North, Almena, 715-357-3321 Sunday: 10 am Sunday school, all ages; 10:45 am Sunday worship service; 7:30 am Sunday evening service.

MOE LUTHERAN (ELCA), 451 30th St., Clear Lake Sunday: 10 am Fellowship; 11 am Worship; Potluck lunch 2nd Sunday.

Men’s Bible Study 2nd Sunday 6 pm.

Women’s Bible Study 2nd Thursday 1:30 pm.

NEW LIFE COMMUNITY, Amery, Craig Jorgenson, pastor Sunday: 10 am Worship.

Tuesday: 6:30 pm Prayer.

Wednesday: 6:30 pm Youth.

SEE AREA CHURCHES, PAGE 9

Preparing for the New Year

AmTec

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40 NIV

241 Venture Dr., Amery Phone 715-268-8146

T

he start of a new year is an ideal time for quiet and prayerful reflection about our lives. What have we experienced in the previous year, and what have we accomplished?

What were our successes, and how might we build on them in the year to come? Conversely, where did we fail, and how might we repair those failures, or at least avoid them in the new year?

Surely all of us would benefit from a more faithful prayer life and a commitment to treat our fellow man with more kindness. New Year’s resolutions are notoriously short-lived, despite good intentions. The gyms which are full of eager exercisers in January are often half empty in February. One way to improve the odds that we will follow through on our resolutions is to ask God for help in keeping them. As the psalmist advises, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1 NIV) Ask God for help in keeping your resolutions, and consider offering them up to God. It may also help to track

These weekly church messages are contributed by the following:

Carlson SV CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 301 Keller Ave. S., Amery 715-268-7999

Amery Free Press

your progress in a diary, a notebook, or on your phone or computer. Keep your resolutions simple and realistic and realize that you’re probably going to slip up occasionally on things like dieting and saving money, so don’t fret about occasional slip-ups. Finally, if there are things you want to do but dread doing, such as exercise, try to pair them with something you enjoy, like listening to music, or give yourself a reward, such as allowing yourself to watch your favorite show after exercising.

–Christopher Simon

Your Comunity Newspaper for over 125 years 215 S. Keller Ave., Amery Phone 715-268-8101

SPIRITUAL

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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AREA CHURCHES CONTINUED OTTERCREEK CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, Glenwood City Civic Center, Jason Taylor, pastor Sunday: 10:30 am Worship; Children’s church, childcare provided.

Wednesday Night Prayer.

OUR LADY OF THE LAKES CATHOLIC, Balsam Lake Father Eugene Murphy, pastor Masses: Saturday 6 pm, Sunday 8:30 am.

OUR SAVIOR’S LUTHERAN, 217 Deronda St., Amery Keith Ruehlow, pastor Wednesday, December 25: 9 am Christmas Day Service.

Thursday, December 26: 8:30 am Bible Study.

Sunday, December 29: 9 am Worship with Holy Communion.

Tuesday, December 31: 1 pm Quilting.

PRAIRIEVIEW COVENANT, 1396 210th Ave. (2 miles north of New Richmond on 65) Tim Coyer, pastor, www.prairieviewchurch.net Sunday: 9 am Sunday School; 10 am Worship, Nursery care available; Coffee/fellowship after worship service.

Wednesday: 6-7:30 pm Family Night, Worship/Groups for all ages.

REDEEMER LUTHERAN, 600 S. Keller Ave., Amery, Tom Hahn, pastor Saturday, December 28: 9 am Choir Practice.

Sunday, December 29: 9:30 am Christmas Cantata; 10:30 am Fellowship.

REEVE EVANGELICAL FREE, Jct. Barron CTH K & A, Clear Lake, www.reevechurch.org Sunday: 9 am Worship service; 10:15 am Fellowship Time.

Wednesday nights: 6:30-7:30 pm Adult Bible Study and Prayer; Kids Club, Jr. & Sr. High Youth Group (Sept.-May).

A variety of small groups (AA, men’s & women’s) are also held throughout the week.

ST. BARNABAS EPISCOPAL, 365 5th St., Clear Lake, Rev. Geri E. Sola Sunday: 9:15 am Sunday school; 10:15 am Worship.

Holy Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday at 10:15 am.

Morning Prayer 2nd and 4th Sunday at 10:15 am.

ST. CROIX UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP, 201 N. Adams, St. Croix Falls www.scuuf.org Sunday: 10 am First three Sundays.

ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC, Clear Lake, Fr. John Long, pastor Mass: 8 am Wednesday.

Mass: 8 am Thursday.

Mass: 8:30 am Sunday.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC, 1050 Keller Ave. N, Amery, Father Eugene Murphy • 715-268-7717 • stjosephamery.org Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day-Offices Closed; 8:30 am Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes; 10:30 am Mass at St. Joseph.

Friday, December 27: 9 am Communion Service.

Saturday, December 28: 4 pm Mass.

Sunday, December 29: 10:30 am Mass.

Tuesday, December 31: Offices Closed; 6 pm Mass at St. Joseph.

ST. JOHN LUTHERAN, Forest, John Wilman, pastor Wednesday, December 25: 8 am Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion at St. John’s.

Friday, December 27-Saturday, December 28: Pastor’s Day Off. Sunday, December 29: 8 am Worship; 9 am Fellowship.

Tuesday, December 31: No Bible Study.

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN, Deer Park, John Wilman, pastor Wednesday, December 25: 9:30 am Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion at St. Paul’s.

Friday, December 27-Saturday, December 28: Pastor’s Day Off. Sunday, December 29: 9 am Fellowship; 9:30 am Worship.

Tuesday, December 31: No Bible Study.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST, 76 20th Ave., Clear Lake, John Redlich, pastor 715-645-2230; Head Elder Paul Hasman 715-671-3697 Saturday Services: Adult and Children’s Bible Study 9:30 am; Church 11 am Midweek Service: Wednesday 7 pm Call Head Elder for location in winter months.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, 644 S. 6th St., Barron, Chapel 715-537-3679 Bishop Kenneth Konesky 715-719-0283 Sunday: 10-11 am Sacrament Meeting; 11:10-Noon Priesthood, Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School.

TRINITY LUTHERAN of Garfield, 1578 85th Ave., Amery Lori Peper, pastor 715-268-9577 Wednesday, December 25: 9:30 am Combined Christmas Day Worship with Communion at Little Falls.

Sunday, December 29: 8 am Deronda Worship; 9:30 am Little Falls Worship; 11 am Trinity Worship.

OBITUARIES Monday, December 30: Newletter Articles Due. Tuesday, December 31: 9 am Parish Staff Meeting at Trinity.

See our website for up-to-date scheduling www.trinitylutheranchurchofamery.com.

UNITED COVENANT, 348 5th St. NW, Clear Lake, Dan Pearson, pastor Sunday, December 29: 10 am Worship Service; No Sunday School.

Tuesday, December 31: 8 am Prayer Time.

UNITED METHODIST, GLENHILLS PARISH Marybeth Scow, pastor Emerald UMC: 8:30 am Worship with Sunday School.

Glenwood City UMC: 9:45 am Worship with Sunday School.

Downing UMC: 11 am Worship with Sunday School.

WEST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN, ELCA, 447 180th St., Osceola, Pastor Matt Saarem, Interim Pastor, www. westimmanuel.org Sunday, December 29: 9:30 am Worship; 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship.

WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP, Clear Lake Patricia and Harlen Wienke, pastors Sunday: 10 am Worship.

Tuesday: 9 am Healing Rooms by appointment.

Wednesday: 7 pm Adult Bible Study.

OBITUARY

Doris Elaine Bjornstad Doris Elaine Bjornstad, age 88, of St. Croix Falls died peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2019 at Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing.

Doris was born in Freeborn, Minnesota on August 44, 1931 to Ray and Adeline ((Jensen) Larson. She gradu uated from Freeborn High S School in May 1949.

Doris was united in marrriage to Kenneth Bjornstad o on November 18, 1949. They llived in Freeborn, Minnessota until 1955 when they m moved to Eureka Center, W Wisconsin. Here they built a house and had a gas stattion on Highway 87. They enjoyed traveling, camping and playing cards with friends. For many years the family spent fourth of July camping at Two Harbors, Minnesota.

In 2000 Doris moved to Forest Heights Apartments in St. Croix Falls. Here she met many new friends where playing cards and quilting were activities in the community room. Recently she moved to Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing in St. Croix Falls.

Memorials preferred to First Lutheran Church, Cushing, WI, Divine Therapy, Davita Dialysis, Interfaith Caregivers.

Doris is survived by her four children, Carol (Alec) Cuper, Vern (Carol) Bjornstad, Keith (Cheryl) Bjornstad, Terry (Robyn) Bjornstad; brother, Gene (Lila) Larson; sister, Shirley Weiss; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and friends.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Adeline Larson; husband, Kenneth Bjornstad and brother-in-law, Bud Weiss, and granddaughter, Amy Bjornstad.

Funeral services were held 11:00 am, Saturday, December 21, 2019, at First Lutheran Church, Cushing, WI. with a visitation 1 hour prior to the service.

Interment was in Cushing Cemetery. Arrangements are with Grandstrand Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.

Obituaries are posted online each week: theameryfreepress.com

Dorothie Lillian Mueller Dorothie Lillian Mueller, age 101 of Amery, Wisconsin died peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2019 at Willow Ridge in Amery, Wisconsin.

Born in South Dakota, on October 17, 1918, the y youngest of 8 children, she llived with her family on the ffarm until her teen years w when she moved to St. Croix F Falls Wisconsin where she m met a handsome ice salesm man, Larry. They fell in llove and married on Novemb ber 27, 1942 just before he w was sent overseas with the U US Army. During the time h he was overseas, their first d daughter was born, and Dorothie and Linda lived with Dorothie’s older brother Jim who was at the time the Polk County Sheriff.

Dorothie helped at the jail, feeding prisoners and accompanying female prisoners when they needed to be transported.

Two more children were born to this union after Larry returned home from service. They lived in Centuria for a short time before moving to Amery where they raised their children. After retirement they moved to Montana for a short time to satisfy their longing to be close to the mountains they so loved.

They moved back to Wisconsin in 1976.

Dorothie was proudly a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Amery for 55 years, and the bowling league where she and her teammates won many awards. She loved doing crossword puzzles, playing 31, and bridge, which she did well into her later years, but most important to her was her family and was happiest when they were ALL together.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Larry, parents, Willits and Julia Moore, brothers, James (Katherine) Moore, Arthur Moore, Robert (Patricia) Moore, sisters, Arvilla (Art) Gretschmann, Jessie (Mark) Teeters, Adeline (Sid) Heitema and Geneva (Bert) Reed, son-in-law Arlan Lee and son -inlaw Keith Gullickson.

Dorothie is survived by her children, Linda Kay (Arlan) Lee, Larry (Angie) Mueller, and Rhonda (John) Jeske, grandchildren, Julie (David) Adams, Tammy (Jeff) Winchell, Scott Lee (Jena Johnson}, Jeff (Gina) Mueller, Michelle (Gabe) Cessna, Brian (Kristin) Gullickson, Melissa (John) Barthman, great grandchildren Kyle, Christopher, Jennifer, Ryan, Jake, Mitchell, Cory, Isabella, Addison, Declan, Keira, Kenidy, Ava, Abby, Cameron, Jordan, Tylor, Helen, Charlie, Collin, Makaylin, Ashlee, Mitch, Matthew, Sondra and 9 great great grandchildren.

The Pallbearers are the 7 Grandchildren, Julie Adams, Tammy Winchell, Scott Lee, Jeff Mueller, Michelle Cessna, Brian Gullickson and Melissa Barthman.

Funeral services will be held at Amery Congregational Church on Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 11:00 am, with visitation one hour prior to service. Interment will follow the service at the Amery Cemetery.

To sign an online guest book and view a video tribute please visit www.williamsonwhite.com Arrangements were entrusted to the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 222 Harriman Avenue North Amery, Wisconsin.

POLK COUNTY PLATBOOKS $42.00 each

at the Amery Free Press

Call Nicole at 715-268-8101 or email ngagner@theameryfreepress.com with corrections or additions to the church pages.

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AMERY FREE PRESS

DECEMBER 24, 2019 www.theameryfreepress.com

DEATH NOTICES

Buddy Carlson

Roger Allen Olson

Beverly R. Engebretson

Buddy Carlson, age 92 of Deer Park, died on Friday, December 20, 2019 at his home in rural Deer Park.

Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from Georgetown Lutheran Church in Georgetown Township. Burial will be at the Georgetown Cemetery at a later date. Visitation for Buddy Carlson will be 1 hour prior to services at the church.

For further information and to sign on line guest book, please visit www.williamsonwhite.com.

Arrangements are being made with the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Amery.

Roger Allen Olson, age 85 of Amery, died on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Willow Ridge Health Care in Amery.

Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 from United Covenant Church in Clear Lake, WI. Burial will be at the Amery Cemetery.

Visitation for Roger Olson will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday at the Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery and 1 hour prior to services at the church.

For further information and to sign on line guest book, please visit www.williamsonwhite.com.

Arrangements are being made with the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Amery.

Beverly R. Engebretson, age 81 of Clear Lake, died on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Golden Age Manor in Amery.

A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 28 at United Covenant Church in Clear Lake. Visitation for Beverly will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 27 at the Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home in Clear Lake and 1 hour prior to service at the church on Saturday.

There will be an Eastern Star Service on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Arrangements are being made with the Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home in Clear Lake.

‘Santa’s helper’ nears 50 years in the suit

BY MATT ANDERSON EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM

“At least two of the kids that sat on my knee then, I have their grandkids doing it now,” said Rick Anderson, dressing as “Santa’s helper” for nearly five decades. “I was 16 walking in the store looking for Christmas presents when I saw a one-size-fits-all Santa outfit, and it all started from there.”

Taking only one year off from dressing as Kris Kringle, Anderson has nearly reached 50 years of pictures, handing out candy canes, and hearing Christmas wishes from boys and girls. He’s attended countless area events, frequently seen at the Holiday Stroll in Amery or reading Christmas stories to kids at the Deer Park Library. He’s also attended The Art Barn and School Christmas programs in Osceola as well as many charities, nursing homes, and other venues.

After all that time and so many events, one might think that he would tire out, but 49 Christmases have yet to slow down his enthusiasm for the role.

“Wherever I could, I liked to do a lot of it,” Anderson says. “It definitely wears you out a little bit, but there’s no definite timeline when I’ll stop. It’s the little things.

I like talking with the kids, and the parents. Some of the other Santas just wave, and say ‘Merry Christmas,’ but I like to really talk to them. Little things like that make their day.”

It would be easy enough to sit and listen to Christmas wishes and send the kids on their way, but Anderson makes it a point to keep those kids off the “naughty list.”

“One of the first things I say - and this always makes

their eyes go wide – I say, ‘how come you didn’t clean your room this morning?’” Anderson says. “You know I get all of them with that! Or I’ll say, ‘you know, Santa doesn’t like it when you argue with mom and dad when it’s bedtime. You have to listen to your parents so I can keep you on the nice list!’ I have a lot of parents thank me because I actually sit and talk with the kids.”

Though the role of Old Saint Nick hasn’t worn Anderson out, his outfits certainly have. Starting from his very first outfit at 16 years old, five outfits, and four beards in total have been replaced after decades including a bag made by his wife, Judy, that he still carries to this day. In fact, the first time Rick and Judy met, he was in outfit.

“Just a couple of years ago, we were talking to somebody about how I got started doing this and Judy said to me, ‘Wait a minute, you were in Swenson’s?’ and I said, ‘yeah?’ Well, It turns out she saw me there with her mom and dad in 1969, but she was too embarrassed to say hi. It took till 1975 before we got together.

She didn’t know who I was then, and I didn’t know her either.”

From meeting his wife dressed as “Santa’s helper,” to helping countless parents keep their kids off the naughty list, Anderson certainly has a passion for the Christmas season. With his 50th year on the horizon, and a reluctance to pack the suit away, it’s safe to assume that he will reach his “golden anniversary” next year.

“It’s been a wonderful time doing it, and I just enjoy doing it,” Anderson says. “Christmas is just my time of year.”

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Rick Anderson, shown with Ryann Mizejewski, has dressed as “Santa’s Helper” for 49 years. With the ambition and passion he has, it’s likely that 2020 will be his 50th year in the suit.

COUNTY BOARD: County Board pay system debated for upcoming year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

sub-committee meetings. An additional $1000 would be added for supervisors who become a member of an organization that holds multiple meetings outside of the county. The travel policy would govern approved out-of-county travel upon informing the board of the intention to travel, and attending a meeting to request permission from the board Chair.

Second Vice Chairperson, John Bonneprise, spoke first on the matter stating his belief that the first option already in place is working and fair overall.

“I think we’re under a very fair system,” he said. “I think it’s very fair paid per mile and per diem at $100 dollars…

In 16 years of being on the county board I think it’s the fairest system we’ve had.” Bonneprise then made a motion to “keep the status quo” with the two amendments to the language from per diem to per meeting and maintain the IRS reimbursement rate for travel.

After a second to the motion, further discussion was continued by members of the board including supervisor Chris Nelson, who opted for the second option

MATT ANDERSON | THE SUN

New Economic Development Director, Terry Hauer, introduced himself to the board of supervisors stating that he was “excited to start this new position” and that he looked forward to meeting everyone.

and salary-based compensation.

“To me, I think a fairer system would be if we all had a base pay,” he said.

“We have some supervisors making $2800 dollars a year, and we have supervisors making over $10,000 dollars a year. Why does that happen? I think if

you take the average mileage paid, and you take the average of what all of us make then the county can just cut that same check every month.”

In regards to mileage compensation, Nelson continued, “If you’re going to travel around the county, you should take a county vehicle. The county taxpayers paid for the vehicles, they’re already insured, they’re sitting out back, and we should be using them.”

While some conversation continued for a short time, the motion was called into question and a role call vote was made with 10 voting yes and 4 voting no for the first option of compensation.

The resolution was adopted with the two aforementioned amendments.

OTHER BUSINESS The new Economic Development Director, Terry Hauer, introduced himself to the board of supervisors stating that he was “excited to start this new position” and that he looked forward to meeting everyone. The board later appointed Hauer as a voting member to ITBEC for the remaining term to August 2020.

The board passed a resolution to adopt the 2020-2024 Polk County Out-

door Recreation Plan. The plan is set to assess the recreation system in Polk County and evaluate further needs, goals, and projects for the next four years. Submission of the report to Wisconsin DNR gives Polk County eligibility for Federal and State Aids and allows the general public, non-profits and other foundations to use the document for private efforts in developing outdoor recreation facilities.

A vote passed for a change in language in the Polk County Smoke Free Air Ordinance that would now include vaping and any “electronic delivery device” of vaping products to be included in the ordinance.

Kraemer Company was the contractor awarded the custom crushing two year contract for the Polk County Lime Quarry after bids were opened for contractors Dec. 5. Some discussion from the board was made regarding hours of operation with some stating that the quarry should be opened on Fridays and was ultimately left to Vince Netherland and Emil “Moe” Norby to discuss and set hours appropriately.

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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COOKING WORLD Tidbit: Laughter is the sunshine of the soul. (Anonymous) Carolyn C l Lumsden L d These macaroons are a cookie/ 715-483-9738 candy just in time for Christmas

baking.

CHOCOLATE MACAROONS Melt together: 1/2 c. butter 1 square baking chocolate (unsweetened) Add and cream mixture: 2 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla Add and beat in, one at a time: 4 eggs Combine and add to the above: 2 c. flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt Cover bowl and chill then roll into small balls, then roll into powdered sugar.

Put on greased/sprayed cookie sheets. Don’t flatten the cookies. Bake at 375˚ for about 15 minutes. If you wish, roll in powdered sugar again. Store in air-tight containers.

Muffins are good any time. These contain cranberries.

CRANBERRY MUFFINS Cream: 4 T. butter, softened Gradually add while mixing: 1/2 c. sugar Add and cream well: 2 beaten eggs Combine: 2-1/2 c. flour 2-1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt Add and combine: 1 c. fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternating with 1 c. milk.

Put batter into 12 greased/sprayed or lined muffin cups. Bake at 400˚ for 25-30 minutes or until done (toothpick test).

Crush enough cornflakes to make 1/2 c. Mix the cauliflower into the cornflakes.

Add to the above and mix in: 1/2 c. chopped green bell pepper 1/2 pound diced cooked ham 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese Put into 1-1/2 quart buttered casserole dish.

Spread on top: 1-1/2 c. sour cream Bake at 325˚ for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with paprika.

Serves 4-6.

This is a vintage German dish. If you like beans and sauerkraut together, try this casserole.

LAYERED GERMAN BEAN BAKE Put into a 9x13" baking dish: 2 cans (16 oz. ea.) pork and beans with tomato sauce Spread on top: 1 can (16 oz.) sauerkraut, drained Put on top of sauerkraut: 1 pound Franks, sliced diagonally, (or cocktail wieners).

If you wish, add ketchup on top.

Bake at 425˚ for about 25 minutes or until beans are bubbling and franks are lightly browned. Serves 4-6.

Tips: Never thaw meats at room temp. Plan ahead and thaw in refrigerator.

When you have leftovers in refrigerator, go by this rule. “If in doubt, throw it out.”

The holiday season is busy but always remember to thoroughly clean any boards/counters where raw meats have been cut or placed.

SUNDAY

Cut a piece of wax paper so it is 9x15" in size.

Spread 1 c. nuts, chopped (pecans or walnuts) onto the wax paper, leaving 1” around all the edges.

Heat together until butter has melted: 1/4 c. butter 1 c. evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed) Combine in pan, cook and stir until sugar is dissolved, stirring often: 1 c. sugar 1 c. light corn syrup 1/4 tsp. salt 3 T. cocoa (baking) Cook mixture to soft ball stage (244˚).

Pour the milk mixture slowly into the above and stir but keep the mixture boiling. Bring the mixture back to the soft ball stage again.

Remove from heat and stir in: 1 tsp. vanilla Pour mixture over all the nuts. Let sit 15 minutes.

Starting with the long side, roll up mixture like a jelly roll. Wrap in the wax paper and then use more wax paper to be sure all is covered. Store at room temp. until firm.

Cut into 1/4" slices. Makes about 4-1/2 slices.

Arrange on a pretty plate and serve.

SUBMITTED

A survey on the uses of the Polk County Recycling Program is available online at www.co.polk. wi.us/recycling starting Wednesday, December 18, 2019 thru Friday, January 10, 2020. This survey has been put together by the Polk County Recycling Department for the purpose of gathering public opinion on recycling needs for Polk County.

Since 1990, Wisconsin law bans the disposal or incineration of many recyclable materials. Wisconsin law also mandates that local governments ensure recycling is available to all residents. The Polk County Recycling Center has collected tons of recyclables that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. Polk County recycling program continues to see an increase in material at our collection sites. Recycling material is still in demand and with the increase in material there is an increase in costs. Funds are needed to support sorting equipment, trucking costs, and larger bins.

The recycling center is the drop-off location where trucks deliver and unload recycling bins.

These items are then separated, bailed, and shipped to companies to re-use the material. There is a growing need and cost savings as we continue to re-use material and ship to companies throughout the US. Polk County offers recycling bin drop-off locations throughout the county for all residents and visitors including recyclables #1 & #2 plastic bottles/jugs, corrugated brown cardboard, newspaper, magazines, office paper, glass jars/bottles, tin, and aluminum can all be dropped off at bin locations.

The Recycling Center on Hwy 8 in St. Croix Falls is also a drop-off location for items such as electronics, appliances, mattresses, light bulbs, and tires for a fee.

For further information, contact Tina Riley – Office Manager of Facilities & Recycling Department at (715)485-9294 or email polk.recycling@co.polk. wi.us

Get your local news in the Amery Free Press MONDAY

TUESDAY

This candy roll will be the hit of any gathering.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL NUT ROLL

Polk County Recycling Survey

WEDNESDAY

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

THURSDAY

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TBD Amery Boys Ice Hockey at Barron 6:30 pm Bingo at the VFW Hall

TBD Amery Boys Ice Hockey at Barron 9 am Clear Lake Girls Basketball Tournament at Menomonie 9:30 am Amery Wrestling Invitational at River Falls 9:30 am Clear Lake Wrestling Invitational at River Falls 12:30 pm Clayton Boys Basketball vs Prairie Farm, Siren 2:15 pm Clayton Boys Basketball vs Solon Springs, Turtle Lake 4 pm Clayton Boys Basketball vs Bruce

TBD Amery Boys Ice Hockey at Barron 12:30 pm Clayton Boys Basketball vs Prairie Farm, Solon Springs 2:15 pm Clayton Boys Basketball vs Flambeau 7 pm Amery Wrestling Invitational at River Falls 7 pm Clear Lake Wrestling Invitational at River Falls

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6:30 pm Bingo at the VFW Hall 7:15 pm Amery Boys Basketball at Unity 7:15 pm Clear Lake Boys Basketball vs Solon Springs

5:45 pm Clear Lake Boys Basketball at Northwood 7 pm Amery Boys Ice Hockey vs West Salem 7:15 pm Amery Boys Basketball vs Barron 7:15 pm Amery Girls Basketball at New Richmond 7:15 pm Clear Lake Girls Basketball at Northwood 7:15 pm Clayton Girls Basketball at Turtle Lake

10 am Golden Age Manor Family Council Meeting in the Sun Porch 3 pm Amery Boys Ice Hockey vs Reedsburg

*All events marked with an asterisk are located at the Amery Community Center.

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1:30-3:30 pm Basketball Winter Rec for Youth & Families at Amery Middle School gym (through March 15)

7 pm Indianhead Barbershop Chorus meets at the Polk County Government Center in Balsam Lake

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December 25, 2019January 4, 2020

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FRIDAY

SPONSORED BY:

This recipe uses leftover cooked ham.

HAM AND CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE Parboil 1 medium head of cauliflower, divided into larger pieces (about 7-8 minutes), then drain well.

Amery • 715-268-7161 Member FDIC

For All Your Communications Needs 715-268-7101

265 Griffin St. E, Amery Phone (715) 268-8000 www.amerymedicalcenter.org

12 AMERY FREE PRESS

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

www.theameryfreepress.com

AMERY AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY Storytime: (10:30 am) Wednesdays, weekly; resumes Jan 8 (no storytime Dec 25-Jan 1). All ages. Stories, music, action rhymes, and a craft! Drop-in program; no registration.

Family Game Night: Thursdays, Jan 9; Feb 13; Mar 12 (5:00 pm) at The Village Pizzeria. Meet us at the Village Pizzeria to play board games for folks of all ages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; kids to adults â&#x20AC;&#x201C; families and singles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all are welcome! Drop-in event; no registration needed.

Homeschool Club: (9:30 & 10:30 am).

2nd Friday, monthly. All ages. 9:30-10:30 am: Stories for younger kids. 10:30-11:30 am: Teen/Tween activity. Drop-in; no registration.

Board Games for Kids & Teens: Did you know we have a selection of board games always available for kids, teens, and families to play in the library?

Check the Exploration Lab in Youth Services and the game shelf in the Young Adult area and find a game to play!

Teens: New furniture has arrived in the Teen area so you can hang with friends, work on a project, or play a game. Let us know what you think of the new space, and be sure to answer

the question on the white board! Do you have comments or suggestions for the Teen space? Drop a note in the box.

Exploration Lab: Build, explore, and discover in the Exploration Lab in Youth Services. From Strawbees to Magnatiles, and Magnetic Poetry to insect specimens, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to keep kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; minds busy!

Baby/Toddler Zone: New puzzles and toys have been added to the Baby/ Toddler Zone! Stop in today and let your little one explore sensory balls, transportation puzzles, soft building cubes, and more.

New Books!: Our New Books Bin (below the big bulletin board) showcases the newest additions to our picturebook and early reader collections. And the New Books Display in our J-Room house the newest additions in juvenile nonfiction, fiction, and graphic novels. Stop in today and find a new favorite title.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and Baby Book Bees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; These ongoing early literacy initiatives encourage families to establish a strong foundation of reading in young children. Visit the library to sign up for the program that is right for

Frozen road law takes effect Thursday in northern Wisconsin SUBMITTED

Law affects log haulers, transport of road salt/sand in Zones 1 and 2. Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frozen road law takes effect Thursday, December 19 at 12:01 a.m. for the regions designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as Zones 1 and 2. It means that effective Thursday, the frozen road law will apply to roughly the northern half of Wisconsin. The frozen road determination for the southern portion of the state will be made once conditions warrant.

The frozen road law allows heavier loads for trucks carrying peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise (not including woodchips), and salt and sand for winter maintenance for a period of time determined by weather conditions.

WisDOT and county highway personnel monitor temperature forecasts, along with frost tubes - liquid-filled devices under pavement - to help determine when roads are adequately frozen to accommodate heavier loads.

The declaration is issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to a depth of at least 18-inches,

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Jeff Young, Amery 715-529-1419 cell 715-948-2229 fax

allowing the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds on vehicles with a minimum of five axles (from the normal 80,000 pounds). Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required in Zone 1, however, vehicles must be legally licensed at 80,000 pounds to handle the increased weights. The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority. Also, higher weights may not be transported on any highways or bridges specifically posted for lower weight limits.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Motor carrier/truckerâ&#x20AC;? section of the WisDOT website contains comprehensive information impacting commercial motor vehicle operators including weight restriction programs and frozen road declaration. Customers can also check a recorded message on the Frozen Road Hotline at 608/266-8417. Haulers with specific questions can contact WisDOTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oversize/Overweight Permits Unit at 608/266-7320.

Get your local news in the Amery Free Press

your child.

The Cake Pan Library is here! Did you know the Amery Area Public Library has a cake pan library?! Browse our selection and check out a pan for your holiday or celebration needs. All pans come with information and recipes or suggested websites. Available for 2 week checkouts, and you can place a hold, too!

Winter Reading & Hygge Challenge!

Join the Amery Area Public Library for a challenge designed to help us all get through the winter with more happiness and coziness in our lives! Starting Thursday, January 2, 2020, pick up a Bingo Card and work your way through it until the last day of February. Win little prizes with every â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bingoâ&#x20AC;? completed and also get a raffle ticket each time to enter to win a grand prize! Grand Prize drawing will take place on March 1, 2020. Happy Hygge-days!

Books and Brews: Thursday, January 2nd at 6:30 PM at Amery Ale Works. We will discuss the book, When Life Hands You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger.

Next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book will be ready for checkout. Join us for some great food and drink and even better conversation!

Chef Peter Kwong: Saturday, January 11th, 11 AM at the Amery Area Public Library. Chef Peter Kwong will be here for a cooking demonstration and will discuss his brand new book, Have You Eaten? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the great stories and amazing food! Free event, no registration required.

Family Game Nights @ The Village Pizzeria in Amery: Beat the winter blues and join Erin and Heather at Village

Pizzeria for lots of games and fun. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet Thursday January 9th, Thursday February 13th, and Thursday March 12 from 5-7 PM. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the chance to enjoy an evening with your friends and family while checking out the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awesome selection of games.

Book discussion group The Friends of the Library Book Discussion Group meets on the third Monday of the month at 1:30 PM. The title for January is Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman .

Book sales â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Friends of the Library Book Sale will be held on Thursday, January 2nd from 4:00-6:30 PM. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Friends of the Libraryâ&#x20AC;? may shop early (from 3-4). The Book Sale will also be held Saturday, January 4th from 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM. Friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Friends of the Amery Area Public Library Foundation meets on the third Monday of the month at 4:30 PM. Meetings are open to all members and to the public.

E-books, e-audiobooks and digital magazines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Your MORE library card gives you access to the Overdrive collection of e-books, e-audiobooks, and streaming videos; the Freading collection of e-books; and the Flipster downloadable magazine collection.

Check out the website â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Check out the library website at amerylibrary.org, or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ amerylibrary.

Hours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Library hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:00 PM, and Saturday 9:00 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2:00 M

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COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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ARNELL MEMORIAL HUMANE SOCIETY Each year the Arnell Animal Shelter receives letters from adopters (or from the adopted pet) who remember us during the Holiday Season. We so appreciate their heartfelt messages of Love and Compassion for Animals. We thought we would share a couple of them with you.

Adopted Cat Spot writes: My name is Spot. I was adopted from Arnell Memorial Humane Society last year. I was the featured kitten in the newspaper a week before Thanksgiving. My Dad saw me and sent Mom to come to get me. You see, My Dad is in his 70’s and only has one leg and is in a wheelchair. He had almost given up on everything until he found me. Three months after my adoption, the Doctors at the VA couldn’t believe the attitude change and six months after that, even his physical healthy had improved. A LOT! I’m good company and an excellent helper to Mom too! We do Yoga and Hide & Seek every morning just to get our day started. I have lots of toys, a mega tower by the patio window, given to me by other members of the family. It’s in a prime location for sunshine and watching over the neighborhood. I eat gourmet food and treats and have the run of the house. Life is good and I am King. I pay them back by taking care of both of them with love and devotion.

We are a family.

Mom and Dad want to encourage older, retired

folks to adopt a cat. We are a purrfect match! They are no longer working, a little lonely with lots of time and patience. Some Seniors are very active, like Mom. Some are not and don’t always feel so well, like Dad. Some are in between. We felines can “roll” with all of those. We are very companionable and very adaptable with much less trouble. I want to point out two things: 1.) We don’t need a lot of room. 2.) We use litter Boxes. No cold and dangerous outside trips for

our parents! Or, my Mom walks me on a leash and takes me to the park in my stroller in nice weather.

As I said, “Life is Good!” The three of us Thank You for a job well done and for making our lives SO much more joyful. Merry Christmas. Sincerely, Spot the King, Boss and Caretaker.

Adopter Judy writes: Thank you for bringing Walter the English Setter into our lives, He is wise and kind and playful – what we should all be.

The Miller Family sent a message: It’s now been 10 years since we adopted “Pogo” from Arnell Humane Society – and not a day has gone by that we don’t think of him. We lost him to cancer in 2013 but those four years with him are still so treasured! He was a dog in a million and remembered, not just by us but by friends and family who loved him as well.

So every year when we get your annual newsletter it’s so heartwarming to see all of the dogs (and cats) who have brightened other people’s lives – and all because of all the hard work you guys do all year and the love you provide these animals when they need it most.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, Arnell Memorial Humane Society, 185 Griffin St East, Amery.

SELF HELP GROUPS Advance Directive Workshop. Who would make your healthcare decisions in the event you are unable to? How would this person know what decisions you would want made? Learn more about Advance Directives and how to complete them. Free Advance Directive Workshop will be held the first Wednesday of the month from 10-11 a.m. Wisconsin and Minnesota Advance Directives will be available. Call St. Croix Regional Medical Education Services at 715-483-0431 or 800-642-1336 ext. 2431 to register.

Alanon/Alateen (for family and friends of alcoholics) meets Thursday nights 7-8 p.m. at First Lutheran church, Amery. 715-268-8362.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Monday 7 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m., Thursday 7 p.m., Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m., Sunday 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 217 Deronda St., Amery. 715-781-4380 Jason.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Clear Lake Community Center, VFW Room 123. Richard 715-554-7277, Teresa 612-636-3244.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets Monday at noon B.B., Thursdays 10 a.m. at Parkview Methodist church, Turtle Lake. Contact Mike 715-986-2457.

Alzheimer’s Support Group. First Wednesday of the month 10 a.m. at Amery Senior Center. Last Tuesday of month 1 p.m. at Good Sam Nursing Home. Sharlene Bellefaille 715-635-6601.

Baby & Me. Weekly play and discussion hour for parents and their infants (birth to 12 months).

Wednesdays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Amery Hospital & Clinic, BirthDay Suites Waiting Room. Join at any time.

No charge.

The Baby Bistro: Breastfeeding Support Group.

This free support group encourages, helps and supports women before, during and after breastfeeding. Led by a certified breastfeeding counselor, who is also a registered nurse and a mother of four, attendees learn from, share with, and support other mothers who are breastfeeding. Pregnant women who are considering breastfeeding are strongly encouraged to attend. Every Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Amery Hospital & Clinic, Boardroom, 2nd floor. No fee, no registration required, just stop by.

Breast Feeding Support Group. All nursing mothers and babies are invited to participate. Group meets the second Thursday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. and the fourth Thursday of the month from 6:30-8 p.m. at St. Croix Regional Medical Center. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant will facilitate the group. Call 715-483-0431 or 800-642-1336 ext. 2431.

No charge.

C.H.A.D.D. (Children with Attention Deficit Disorder). Parent support group meets the fourth Monday of each month at Firstar Bank board room, Cumberland, 7 p.m. For information call Pat Skinner at 715-822-8422 and leave message.

Cancer, Grief & Depression Support Group. A

support group to allow people to talk about their experiences with cancer, grief and depression as well as share mutual support to one another. Second Tuesday of every month at Amery Area Community Center at 1 p.m. You can join at any time and it is free and open to the public.

Cancer Support Group meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Amery Public Library at 6 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser. Contact Barb at ADRC of NW WI at 877-485-2372 for more information.

Christian Based Cancer Support Group meets Wednesdays the third Wednesday of the month at the Amery Public Library meeting room at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome! For more information call 715-268-6957.

Compassionate Friends, Tri- County Chapter meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. First Lutheran church, Clear Lake. This group offers support and understanding to families who are grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause. For more information call 715-263-2739 Domestic Violence (DV) and Sexual Assault (SA) Support Groups and Services. Polk County - S.T.A.R.S. (Surviving Trauma Advocacy Resource Group) Monday 4-5 p.m. in Amery, Tuesday 6-7 p.m. in Osceola, Wednesday 2-3 p.m. in Milltown and Thursday 6-7 p.m. in Milltown. Domestic Violence Education Class every other Wednesday from 10-noon in Milltown.

Burnett County - Monday 4-5 p.m. 715-349-7272. Barron County - Thursday 5:30-6:30 p.m. 715-651-4969.

For more information call CRA 715-825-4414 or the 24 hour crisis line 1-800-261-7233. All groups are held every week unless noted. Child care is available with some groups. Ask your facilitator prior to the group meeting.

Early Stage Alzheimer Support Group. For the diagnosed person and their caregiver. Challenges in early-stage dementia will be discussed, along with therapeutic benefits of family involvement. Sponsored in part by the American Alzheimer’s Association. Meetings are free of charge and open to the public, held at the Amery Centennial Hall the first Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Call 715-268-6605 to register.

Epilepsy Foundation of Western Wisconsin. Call 1-800-924-2105.

Family Child Care Professionals Network. Meets the third Thursday of each month. Contact Beth Neely at 715-483-1482 for more information. All family child care providers are welcome.

Families and Parenting. Milltown Parenting Group meets Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m., Milltown Family Group has dinner from 5-5:30 p.m. and F.U.N. from 5-6 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information call CRA 715-825-4414. All groups are held every week unless noted. Child care is available with some groups. Ask your facilitator prior to the group meeting.

Farm Crisis. Information on financial, mental health, legal, job retraining resources. Call 1-800-942-2474.

Golden Age Manor Family Council meets the first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. in the east wing sunporch. GAM is Polk County’s longest operating longterm healthcare facility. The Family Council’s goal is to enhance the lives of the residents beyond what the staff normally does.

Grief Share. Have you lost someone close? Grief Share is a Christian based, non-denominational seminar/support group program that will be meeting at Centennial Hall in Amery every Monday at 1 p.m. For information call Bruce 715-268-2176 or 715-268-8360.

GriefShare, a non-denominational special help seminar and support group for people experiencing the loss of a loved one is being held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The church is located at 1050 Keller Ave. N. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics. Seminar sessions include “Is This Normal?” “The Challenges of Grief,” “Grief and Your Relationships,” “Why?” and “Guilt and Anger.” For more information call St. Joseph Catholic church at 715-268-7717.

Head Injury Support Group. Closed head injury, stroke, aneurism or traumatic brain injury which affects your daily living? Learn to cope with your disabilities, provide insight and camaraderie. Second Friday of each month 2-3:30 p.m. Frederic Public Library. Contact Julie Martin 715-327-4474.

Memory Cafe. Do you or your loved one have memory concerns or early signs of dementia? Join us at the Amery Memory Cafe where individuals with memory concerns and their care partners, family and friends can laugh, learn and stay connected in a safe atmosphere.

The Memory Cafe meets at the Amery Area Community Center the 3rd Thursday of each month from 1-2:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Barb at the ADRC of NW WI at 877-485-2372. Memory Cafe is free to attend, and coffee and snacks are provided.

Moms in Prayer International. •Two or more women who meet regularly to pray for their children, their schools, their teachers and administrators. •Mothers, grandmothers or anyone who is willing to pray for a specific child and school. We meet at the Journey Church, 131 Broadway St., Amery, Mondays from 1:302:30 p.m. Contact Jen at 715-268-2223 with questions. (only meets during the school year.)

MOPS and MOMsnext (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a group for moms and their kids. Every mom who is pregnant or has a child at home is welcome, accepted, and challenged to meet her potential.

Better moms make a better world! For more info go to clmops@hotmail.com.

PEPTalk - P(arents)E(ncouraging)P(arents)... exists to encourage, support, and build up a community of homeschool families in Polk County, Wisconsin. We welcome all types of homeschooling families to check

us out! PEPTalk activities happen throughout the month. For more information contact Jenn Dueholm, jenndueholm@yahoo.com or Wendy Dietrich, thedietrichs@amerytel.net. Like us on Facebook under PEPTalk.

Polk County Parent-To-Parent Coaliton, a network for parents of children from birth through adulthood who have disabilities or other special needs.

For more information about meetings and advocacy support, contact Lynne 715-472-2002.

PREGNANT. Need help? Our tests and help are free and confidential. 715-755-BABY (2229). Osceola Life Care Center.

Student Assistance Program is for students in the Amery school district who may be having personal or family problems. Strict confidentiality is followed except in cases of danger to self or others. Call 715-2680303 for middle school S.A.P. members or 715-2680214 for high school S.A.P. members.

TEENS—Talk before you run. Trained counselors will listen. 1-800-491-8336 or 715-235-8882.

TEENCARE. Where teens get help fast. 1-800-4918336.

TOPS Club meets Tuesdays 3:30-5 p.m. at the Balsam Lake Municipal Building (under the water tower), Balsam Lake. Contact Sheila 715-857-5892 or just come to a meeting. TOP’s mission is to support our members as they take off and keep off pounds sensibly.

Tutors: Free tutors are available to anyone who would like help studying for GED, English as a Second Language (ESL), or with basic skills in reading or math. Call 715-405-7323 to be matched with a local tutor.

Weight Loss Club meets Thursdays 8-9 a.m. Our Savior’s Lutheran church, 217 Deronda St., Amery. Bonnie Timm 715-268-2980.

Western Wisconsin LYME Education and Support Group meets: fourth Thursday of the month (April through October) at 7 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran church, 217 Deronda St., Amery. (No meetings November through March). Meetings are free of charge and open to the public. For info call Ann 715-268-2856, Paula 715-268-2035, Bonnie 715-268-9557, Sue 715268-6687.

Women’s Spiritual Growth Group meets each Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at 931 Pine St., St. Croix Falls.

Yoga for Addiction Recovery Y12SR is a 12 step based discussion and yoga practice that is open to anyone and everyone dealing with their own addictive behavior or affected by the addictive behavior of others. All A's are welcome. Great Blue Yoga, 113 Keller Ave N 54001, 6:45 p.m., Tuesdays.

Call Nicole at 715-268-8101 or email ngagner@theameryfreepress.com with additions or corrections.

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AMERY FREE PRESS

DECEMBER 24, 2019 www.theameryfreepress.com

The gift of warmth for the Holidays SUBMITTED

‘Tis the season of giving, and what better way to thank a local volunteer, than to give her a new furnace! Countryside Plumbing and Heating, Inc. of New Richmond has teamed up with Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems to honor individuals that do “whatever it takes” to make a difference in their community by awarding a local hero with a free high-efficiency Bryant furnace as well as installation in their home.

In 2015 Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems began the Community Heroes program and describes it as "A way to honor local heroes who make a difference in their community. There is no one definition of what makes a hero, but most tend to be unsung quietly doing amazing work for the improvement of their community. Heroes demonstrate how people with passion and determination can use their life to make a difference. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and not all Heroes wear a cape or even a uniform. They might be your neighbor, your colleague, your friend or someone that you see is making a positive impact."

Nominations were received through early November and then a panel of judges was assembled of local officials from New Richmond. This year there were five nominations received, so the panel judged the nominations based on five criteria on a scale of 1-5.

Once the scores were tallied, a winner was decided upon. Since 2015, the program has recognized over 100 heroes across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Upper Michigan.

The winner of this year's Community Hero Award selected from a field filled with deserving nominees is Lori DeBoer of Clear Lake.

DeBoer is the 3K lead teacher at the New Richmond Area Centre, married to Warren and the mother of three children. She is currently the general leader for the Forest Timberwolves 4-H club in St. Croix County as well as a recognized 36-year 4-H volunteer leader in the county.

DeBoer’s volunteerism shines through in the vari-

ous committees and roles she holds and her passion and giving it your all can be seen in a portion of the nomination sent in for the Community Hero award, “Lori DeBoer is simply amazing.... She gives of herself 100 times over before doing something for herself. Lori is a 30+ year 4H leader and volunteer for St. Croix County. She is the general leader for the Forest Timberwolves 4H club which is one of our larger clubs in the county. The task of general leader involves setting up monthly meetings, keeping track of each members projects and getting them ready for the fair, setting up community volunteer projects, educational activities, club events and so much more that I probably don't even know about!! And beyond the 4H club leader role, she is also on the county fair board, St. Croix Valley PRCA rodeo committee, St. Croix County Livestock Committee, county 4H leaders council and also a state planning committee for American Spirit educational trip, all of which are volunteer commitments.

And her time.... everyone's time is so valuable these days and she gives of hers so freely. She chaperones trips cross country, making sure that 40+ youth are safe both mentally and physically while learning of our country's history. Lori's hours spent donating her time for all of the volunteer groups is tremendous.

During the county fair, she camps there for days before the fair even starts until after it is done to make sure everything runs smoothly and all animals and exhibits are taken care of on the fair grounds and taken offsite safely. Lori's care and compassion for the youth of our county is unbelievable. She strives to make sure these kids in the 4H organization all go away with educational growth as well as the understanding of achievement through volunteerism and working with others.”

DeBoer started with the 4-H organization as a child member and graduated from being a member and then continued in the program as she felt it was such a wonderful organization that offers so much, she felt she had to return the favor and give back. Her time given to the program on a weekly basis, matches the

SUBMITTED

Pictured left is Cindy Croes, Countryside Plumbing and Heating Communications and Marketing Manager, and Lori DeBoer, recipient of the 2019 Bryant Community Hero Award of a new furnace as well as installation.

hours that some people put into their daily job … and these hours are given after a full days work. DeBoer’s passion for the 4-H youth program is summed up in her statement, “If we don’t support our youth, we have nothing to complain about when they don’t succeed.”

Countryside Plumbing and Heating, Inc. is proud and humbled to honor all past and current Bryant Community Heroes in giving the gift of a free Bryant furnace during the holiday season in hopes of spreading a little joy… and warmth. To nominate someone you think is deserving of this honor, make sure to go to www.bryantcommunityheroes.com in May 2020 once nominations are once again open. There are so many unsung heroes in our communities, so be a voice for them and nominate someone you know for next year’s program.

Customer Appreciation

ONE DAY SALE Despite our best efforts to sell them all, we find ourselves with some left over half and full page ads. These ads are perfectly fine, unused and ready to get your message out, but need to be sold. To do so, we are offering a one day sale.

Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 • 9-3 Contact Pam or Jamie for more information 715-268-8101

Thank you for your past and future business!

Publication Baldwin Bulletin ($6.50 col. inch Full Rate)

Bargain Bulletin ($9.00 col. inch Full Rate)

Amery Free Press ($8.00 col. inch Full Rate)

Burnett County Sentinel ($8.00 col. inch Full Rate)

The Sun ($7.25 col. inch Full Rate)

Country Messenger ($7.25 col. inch Full Rate)

1/2 Page BW $175

1/2 Page Color $245

Full Page BW $340

Full Page Color $400

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To qualify for this extraordinary offer, all full and half page ads must run between January 15, 2020 and February 28, 2020. Not valid with contracts or any other offers. Ads do not qualify for repeat discounts.

Digital boost is $25 per week per ad and included in the pricing.

BURNETT COUNTY

COUNTRY

BALDWIN

BARGAIN

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AND OUTDOORS

AMERY FREE PRESS

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Warriors ice cold versus New Richmond

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amery's boys basketball team scored just 12 points in its home gym on Dec. 20 against New Richmond as it fell to 0-6 on the season with a 12-69 loss to the Tigers.

Wyatt Luchtenburg was Amery's Leading scorer with six points that came on two field goals and two free throws. He also recorded a team-high four steals.

Charlie Flanum, Kenny Lepak and Jason Oft each added a field goal to round out the Warriors' scoring.

Luke Julson pitched in five rebounds, and Mikey Kurschinski tallied four boards.

Amery shot just 19 percent from the field and was 0-for-7 from three point range.

New Richmond (4-1) was led by Joey Kidder with 17 points, Jacob Parent with 13 points and Cooper Eral with 11 points.

Quade places fourth at Barron Invite

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mason Quade led the Turtle Lake/Clayton wrestling team at the Dec. 14 Barron Invitation by placing fourth in the 113 pound weight class.

Quade (2-2) opened with 12-3 major decision victory over Cory Popham (4-4) of Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg/Siren. He also pinned Noah Christianson (5-5) of Hayward in 5:48 to advance to the third-place match where he was pinned by Bradyn Glasspool (10-1) of West Salem/Bangor in the first period.

Skyler Findley (3-2, 220 pounds) placed fifth.

He recorded a 1:30 pin against River Falls' Nathan Ottom (2-2) in the first round and finished with 2:33 pin against Jacob Morgan (5-5) of Hayward in the fifth-place match.

Damon Galatowitsch (2-2, 138 pounds) finished in seventh place, opening with a 1:08 fall over Nathan Rymarkiewicz (2-2) of Flambeau and finishing with a 1:17 pin against Zach Servais (5-4) of West Salem/Bangor.

TEAM SCORES River Falls 323, West Salem/Bangor 287, Ashland 252, Osceola 243, Luck/Frederic/ Grantsburg/Siren 198.5, Barron 187, Clear Lake 175, Lakeland Union 156, Hayward 137, Unity 71, Flambeau 69, Turtle Lake/Clayton 54, Cornell/ Gillman 39, Bruce 21

CINDY LUEHMAN

Junior Jason Oft jumps in attempt to stop two of the 69 points scored by the New Richmond Tigers.

Oh what a healing Wound Healing Center

Your new partner in care Jolleen Nichols, DNP-AGPC, Family Medicine

Clear Lake Clinic 357 Third Avenue, Clear Lake, WI

amerymedicalcenter.org

715-263-3100

When you’ve been dealing with a wound for 30 days (or much longer), it’s a great feeling to have a team of experts and the latest technology on your side. We heal chronic wounds – from diabetes, post-radiation, post-surgery and bed sores – to everyday injuries. No referral required.

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16

SPORTS

AMERY FREE PRESS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

www.theameryfreepress.com

Warrior boys hammered

by Baldwin-Woodville

Clear Lake boys roll over Clayton

score in double figures while Jason Oft and Wyatt Luchtenburg shared the scoring leadership roles for the Warriors (0-5) with 10 points each.

Luchtenburg also led the team in rebounds (six) and assists (three).

Oft was also the team leader in blocks (two) and steals (one).

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amery's boys basketball team suffered its fifth straight loss of the year on Dec. 17 when it fell 39-78 to Baldwin-Woodville at home. The Blackhawks (3-3) had four players

Luke Julson contributed nine points, five rebounds and two assists.

Also scoring for Amery were Charlie Flanum (four points, four rebounds), Dayton White (two points, five rebounds), and Kenny Lepak (two points, two rebounds).

Ashtyn O'Bryan scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds and three blocked shots to lead the Clear Lake boys' basketball team to an 82-19 victory over Clayton (0-4) in Clear Lake on Dec. 19.

O'Bryan was one of five double-digit scorers for the Warriors (5-1) that night. Brayden O'Bryan pitched in 11 points and five rebounds. Will Fitzer tallied 11 points and three assists. Adam Loenser posted 10 points, three assists and two steals. And Riley Peterson amassed 10 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.

Also scoring for the Warriors were Brett Bensen (eight points, three rebounds, two steals), Angel Guillen (six points), Alex St. John (four points, five assists), Tyson Blanchard (four points, six rebounds, five assists, one block), Jarrett Marlett (two points, seven rebounds) and Ethan Kirk (two points, three rebounds).

Peterson scores 22 in win over Luck

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CINDY LUEHMAN

CINDY LUEHMAN

Dayton White swipes the ball and regains control for Amery.

He had two points and ďŹ ve rebounds against the Blackhawks.

Wyatt Luctenburg sneaks in for a lay-up in the Warriors battle against Baldwin-Woodville. He lead the team in rebounds.

With a 56-45 victory over Luck on Dec. 20, the Clear Lake boys basketball team earned its second three-game winning streak of the season.

The Warriors (6-1) received a game-high 22 points and three blocked shots from Riley Peterson who was complemented by a 17-point, 10 rebound, five steal and three assist performance by Tyson Blanchard.

Also scoring for Clear Lake were Alex St. John (five points, seven rebounds), Ethan Kirk (four points, two rebounds), Brett Bensen (two points, four rebounds, two assists), Jarrett Marlett (two points, four rebounds), Ashtyn O'Bryan (two points) and Alex Burbach (two points).

Luck was paced by Gage Johansen with 18 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, three steals and three assists.

Centennial Blasts Stars, 9-1

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Monson posts game highs in steals and assists in win over Blackhawks

A road trip to Blaine, Minnesota, on Dec. 19 ended with a 1-9 loss for the Western Wisconsin Stars girls hockey hockey team as it took on a power packed Centennial squad.

Centennial (7-4) opened the scoring less than 2 minutes into the game and then rattled off another five unanswered goals in the second period to build a 6-0 advantage heading into the final stanza. It then added three more goals in the third period to extend the lead to 9-0.

The Stars (3-4-1) finally got on the board with a power play goal by Ellie Brice that was assisted by Alise Wiehl in the final minutes.

Centennial outshot Western Wisconsin, 42-17.

Lauren Sobczak tallied 33 saves.

rebounds in the effort. Lydian Monson provided solid backup with nine points, six rebounds and game highs in assists (five) and steals (three).

Morgan Brotzel also scored nine points.

Other Amery (4-1) scorers were Julia Engebretson (eight points,

Get the whole story in the Amery Free Press

ALLEN CARLSON

Mariah Waalen swoops in for two of her six points scored in the win against Baldwin-Woodville.

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amery's girls basketball team earned its fourth victory of the season on Dec. 16 with a 49-28 win over Baldwin-Woodville.

Ella Schmidt scored a game-high 15 points and also posted eight

ALLEN CARLSON

Ella Schmidt pushes through the Blackhawks to score two of her game-high 15 points.

nine rebounds), Mariah Waalen (six points, two rebounds), and Drew Granica (two points, three rebounds, four assists, three steals).

B-W (2-6) was led by Maddy Jensen with nine points and five rebounds.

SPORTS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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Warriors hold SCC to 8 points

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

"Dominant" doesn't even begin to describe the Amery girls basketball team's performance on Dec. 19 at St. Croix Central High School as the Warriors completely shut down the Panthers (0-6) in a 52-8 shellacking.

Morgan Brotzel led the Warriors offense with 14 points while Lydia Monson ensured Amery (51) maintained possession of the ball, collecting 11 rebounds and four steals along the way. Brotzel also grabbed two steals.

Stars fall to No. 2 Eau Claire

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Western Wisconsin Stars girls ice hockey team traveled to Somerset on Dec. 17 and lost 1-3 to the second-ranked Eau Claire Area Stars in a game where they were outshot, 31-17.

The Stars (3-3-1) claimed a short-lived first period advantage when Maddie Johnson opened the game's scoring at the 11:01 mark.

She was assisted by Erin Huerta and Bailey Williams.

Just 54 seconds later Eau Claire (8-0) responded with a goal by Abby Jochimsen.

Then the Stars took the lead 4:42 into the second period as Lauren Carmondy scored short handed and unassisted.

The Stars added a third period insurance goal nearly 7 minutes into the third period on a power play.

Stars goalkeeper Caitlyn Erickson finished with 28 saves.

SQUIRT HOCKEY

Julia Engebretson and Drew Granica each dished up four assists the keep the offense pushing forward, and Mariah Waalen posted 12 points as the game's second leading scorer.

Also scoring were Ella Schmidt (nine points, six rebounds), Engebretson (seven points, seven rebounds), Grace Carlson (three points, two rebounds), Monson (three points, three assists), Granica (two points, two rebounds, two steals) and Anna Ganje (two points, three rebounds, two assists).

ALLEN CARLSON

Drew Granica plays an exceptional offense game in the victory over the Panthers.

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Amery Ice Arena was a tough place to be for the Warriors on Dec. 21 as the River Falls Wildcats came to town and handed Amery a 1-3 loss with a late surge.

The Warriors got off to a strong start, scoring 2:46 into the contest as Mac Smith scored a power play goal on an assist by Jackson Henningsgard.

"This was a game we should have won," said Amery Coach Tim Henningsgard.

"We have been so successful on the power this season.

With a major power play in the second, we only accumulated three shots. We PAM HUMPAL | AMERYFREEPRESS should have scored a Mac Smith (27) and Jackson Henningsgard couple of times here (12) attempt to keep the Warriors early lead. and put the game out of reach."

River Falls' Tye Kusilek had been flagged for checking from behind at the 9:55 mark of the second period, but the Wildcats (3-5) ended up scoring the only goal of the period on a power play of their own at the 16:56 mark after tripping penalty on Miles Troff.

Then River Falls' Joe Stoffel scored back to back goals just over 3 minutes apart late in the third period to tip the balance in favor of the Wildcats.

"It was pretty disappointing to give up two goals in the last five minutes to lose," Coach Henningsgard said. "We pride ourselves in winning the third periods and in the last three games, that just hasn't happened."

Overall, River Falls outshot Amery, 24-19, including 10-6 in the third period. Ethan Mork finished with 21 saves.

Amery's boys' hockey team defended its home ice on Dec. 17 with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Somerset Spartans.

"We always play close games with Somerset," said Amery Coach Tim Henningsgard.

"Both teams play very hard against each other, and it is always fun to compete against them."

The Warriors (6-2) took the early lead when Jackson Henningsgard scored 4:30 into the game.

Somerset (3-5) tied the score 5 minutes later on a power play.

Amery regained the advantage 9:36 into the second period as Pake Brown took advantage of a power play opportunity.

Once again the Spartans returned fire, knotting the score 13:44 into the third period.

"We killed off a major penalty to begin the third period and never regained the momentum of the game," Coach Henningsgard said after a checking from behind penalty on Brown. "Credit Ethan Mork with keeping the game close when we struggled."

Grady Martin scored the game winner 1:50 into the overtime period on another power play as Jackson Hen-

Sunday December 22 vs Chippewa Falls

KIM HENNINGSGARD

Jackson Henningsgard protects the puck from the Spartans to lead to an exciting overtime win.

ningsgard and Mac Smith assisted.

"Our boys are very confident on the power play," Coach Henningsgard said. "Knowing we were starting the overtime with the man advantage, we knew we had to end it in the first two minutes."

Somerset's Antonio Gomez had been charged with a tripping penalty as time expired on regulation play.

Overall, Somerset outshot Amery 34-23, including 14-1 in the third period. But Amery took the only two shots in overtime.

Jackson Henningsgard finished with one goal and two assists. Smith tallied three assists, and Grady Martin posted a goal and an assist.

Mork finished with 32 saves.

Amery wrestling tops Prescott, 47-27

AMERY 2 CHIPPEWA 1

Goals–Ella Robertson, Gavin Lindsay Assists–Gavin Humpal, Owen Henningsgard, Leo Jensen Saves–Van Anderson 17

BY BRETT HART CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AMERY 1 CHIPPEWA 3

Goals–Gavin Humpal Assists–Owen Henningsgard Saves–Van Anderson 17

Amery Hockey outlasts Somerset with overtime win

Wildcats slingshot past Warriors, 3-1

ERIK PAULSON

Sam Kelling takes down Prescott’s Bennie Olson.

Amery's red-hot wresting team picked up a 47-27 victory over Prescott on Dec. 19, but got a lot of help along the way as the beneficiary of five Prescott forfeits.

In truly wrestled matches, the Warriors won three of eight.

At 106 pounds, Sam Kelling earned a 15-0 technical fall over Bennie Olson. Jordan Penard won the 138-pound match with a 56 second fall over Matthew Lynes. Then Walker Ingham pinned Alex Holt in 1:30.

Prescott put up a good fight in its non-forfeited matches, winning five matches - two by pin.

18

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DECEMBER 24, 2019 www.theameryfreepress.com

2019 wettest year recorded for Wisconsin, Midwest MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin and the Midwest recorded their wettest year ever in 2019 since record-keeping began in 1895, climatologists said.

More than 43 inches of rain and snow fell across nine states in the Midwest through November. That breaks the previous record set in 1993 by 2 inches, according to data from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.

Climatologist Mike Timlin told Wisconsin Public Radio it’s been wet all year.

“September and October, in particular for the fall, were wet all across the Upper Midwest,” Timlin said. “Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan — all four of those states were in their top 10 percent wetness for September. And, then, they were all in the top 10 percent of wetness for October as well.”

The amount of rain and snow across the Midwest is about 25% above normal, Timlin said.

Wisconsin received 41.75 inches of precipitation through last month. The amount of rain and snow so far this year broke the previous record of 40.09 inches set in 1938, according to Steve Vavrus, senior scientist with the Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“One of the remarkable things about this year is that it hasn’t just been one part of the state that’s been socked. It’s been everywhere,” Vavrus said.

Four of Wisconsin’s top five wettest years have taken place in the last decade — three of them in the last five years (2019, 2018 and 2016).

Both Vavrus and Timlin said the amount of precipitation is consistent with scientists’ projections on climate change.

“What we’re really seeing in the Midwest so far is a whole lot more of the bigger rains,” Timlin said. “We’re seeing a lot of heavier rains.”

Audit: Wisconsin school safety plans follow best practices

BY SCOTT BAUER ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin school safety plans adequately cover most safety guidelines and procedures, according to an audit released Wednesday that took a fi rst look at a $100 million grant program.

The Legislature in 2018 created the school safety grant program within the state Department of Justice after a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle killed 17 at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

Then-Gov. Scott Walker signed the program into law days after thousands marched in Madison, Milwaukee and across the country to demand gun control. Walker and Republicans who control the Legislature, in creating the school safety grants, said gun violence wasn’t the right focus.

The money was used by schools to make a variety of improvements, including installing electronic door locks, cameras for surveillance and

monitoring and video intercom systems.

State law requires schools to submit safety plans to the Wisconsin Department of Justice covering what to do in emergencies, such as an active shooter. As of April 2019, more than 61% of schools had submitted 779 school safety plans, the report by the nonpartisan Legislature Audit Bureau found. Nearly all of those plans, 85%, contained adequate safety guidelines and procedures for at least six of seven school safety situations like attacks in school, fire and weather-related emergencies, the audit said.

However, some school safety plans have relatively little information about how to handle certain situations, the audit found. The report said only about half of plans reviewed had guidelines and policies for non-classroom emergencies.

The audit also said only about half of plans had guidelines for parentstudent reunification and many of those plans were not detailed.

The audit reviewed nearly 19%

of the grants awarded by the state Department of Justice and found no problems with how the program was administered. The 1,325 grants totaling $94.5 million were awarded to school districts, private schools, independent charter schools and tribal schools across Wisconsin.

The $5.5 million remaining will be used by the Justice Department to support school safety initiatives, including grants for adolescent mental health training.

The audit also surveyed more than 1,200 school administrators and 521 law enforcement agencies to ask about school safety. Respondents from both the schools and police organizations said they were satisfied with various aspects related to school safety, including cooperation in creating the safety plans and administration of the grant program.

State Sen. Rob Cowles, co-chair of the Legislature’s audit committee, said the review of best practices will help schools to refine and improve their plans.

Former sheriff’s deputy charged with burglary JEFFERSON, Wis. (AP) — A former Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy is charged with burglarizing the homes of people who were away at family funerals.

According to a criminal complaint Janelle Gericke, 29, entered the homes of people who were listed as relatives of the deceased in local obituaries when they were attending services. The complaint lists at least a-half dozen incidents in which she tried to enter homes in 2018 and 2019, although Gericke is charged with a single felony count of burglary.

The Journal Sentinel reports that in February 2018, one victim’s doorbell camera caught Gericke entering and leaving a home in Watertown while the owner was at a funeral. It said Gericke left behind a note that read she was picking up “stuff” from a Facebook marketplace transaction but the items weren’t by the door. The complaint says a checkbook was missing from the home.

More than a year later, investigators said they were able to pull a fingerprint from the note that

matched Gericke’s.

The sheriff’s office says as soon as Gericke became a suspect in the burglary investigation, it was turned over to the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation. Gericke was fired in July.

Gericke’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Wisconsin’s Gov. Evers says state is open to refugees MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers said Wednesday that Wisconsin will continue welcoming refugees to the state, joining several other governors to make such an announcement since President Donald Trump gave states and counties the power to reject refugees.

In a letter to the Department of State, Evers said Wisconsin has “a rich history of opening its doors” to people of all backgrounds and has done so for more than 16,000 refugees in the past two decades.

Evers, a Democrat who defeated Republican Scott Walker last year, also criticized the Trump administration for creating “an overly cumbersome and inappropriate process” for agencies involved in refugee resettlement, and said its policies risk discouraging immigration that’s essential to the state’s economy.

Trump this year approved a plan that limits the U.S. to take in no more than

18,000 refugees in fiscal 2020, far below previous levels. He also signed an executive order that lets local officials refuse to accept them.

Despite Evers’ declaration Wednesday, Wisconsin counties could still vote to refuse refugees, though there was no indication any were considering it.

North Dakota’s Burleigh County, which includes the capital Bismarck, l ast week set a limit on the number it would accept.

Wisconsin took in 472 refugees in fiscal 2018, the most recent data posted by the state Department of Children and Families. They came from counties including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and many others.

The numbers show a sharp drop in recent years. The state took in 1,003 refugees in fiscal 2017 and 1,719 in fiscal 2016.

In all three years, by far the most came from Burma and settled in Milwaukee County.

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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AMERY AREA COMMUNITY CENTER Memories are something remembered from the past. Memories are what we hold dear after a loved one has passed. For me memories are the important things to make during this holiday season, they are going to last a lot longer than those gifts that you give! Each year in our family at Christmastime, we try to do something special with our kids instead of giving a ton of gifts, yes, they still get gifts, just not as many! What are the memories that you hold dear this time of year?

2020 Memberships are due by December 31st. Stop in and See Jen or Amanda to pay your dues and update your information.

• Are you looking for a place to host your holiday party for work or family?? Did you know for the cost of $150 (as a member) or $200 (for non-member) you can rent the Amery Area Community Center for birthday parties, weddings, or anniversary celebrations, even end of life celebrations? This cost includes the rental of the main hall and use of commercial kitchen.

We will also work with profit and nonprofit organizations to help with the perfect meeting place. Call 715-268-6605 for available dates.

• Do you volunteer around our community? Did you know that by telling us your volunteer hours it helps gain grant dollars by showing how active

our members are? Please email Jen at aaccjen@ outlook.com or call 715-268-6605 with your hours each month, thank you!

• Circuit Breaker Members, every month you pay your $10 you will get a punch on our new card and after you have paid for 5 months you get 1 month FREE! That means you will receive 2 FREE months per year! This is our way of saying your health is important to us!

• Did you know we have all kinds of greeting cards for sale here? They are twenty-five cents per card and sympathy cards are one dollar. Stop in and check out our variety!

• Like us on Facebook! Share our postings the more people that know what activities we have happening the better! Search Amery Area Community/Senior Center

• Want to get a complete workout in just 30 minutes?

Do you enjoy walking on a treadmill? Get all of that for just $10/month if you are a member of the Amery Area Community Center. Our hours are 7am-4:30pm M-Th & 7am-3pm on Fridays. There are no contracts to lock into and no hidden fees.

Come down and check us out!

• We always have people asking if there is anything we need here at the Center. We can always use things like stamps, cards, toilet paper,

cleaning supplies & baking supplies. We also take rummage sale items all year long.

• Tuesday December 17th Pool winners were Gary Snelling in first, Mary Fisher took second, Jerry Fisher placed third, Dean Elken took fourth, and Al Frank took the consolation prize.

• Wednesday December 18th Bridge winners were Shirley Klopotek taking first, John Nelson placed second, Frank Segerstrom took third and Ruth Ann Riley placed fourth.

• Thursday December 12th Pool winners were Gary Snelling in first, Mary Fisher placed second, Dean Elken took third, and Al Frank took fourth and Sue Albright took the consolation prize.

Congratulations to all!

Amanda Fisk, Director Jen Tyman, Assistant Director

Check out our e-edition online at: theameryfreepress.com

Gracious grant for library The Friends of the Amery Area Public Library Foundation recently received a generous grant

of $900.00 from the Amery Area Community Foundation to support organizational activities. The

funds will aid Friends volunteers at the Amery Area Public Library in more efficiently organizing the Friends Book Store, which offers monthly sales of donated books, magazines, and DVDs on the lower level of the library.

The monthly book sales support the Friends of the Library’s goals of placing books in the hands of everyone, and of raising awareness of the library’s role in our community. Since 2015, the monthly book sales have brought in over $30,000, which has supported library projects, equipment and activities, as well as community activities in schools and through summer programs.

For more information about the Friends organization, visit either of these links: https://www.amerylibrary.org/ friends-of-the-library/ https://www.facebook. com/The-Friends-of-theAmery-Area-Public-LibraryFoundation-866652320141360/

SUBMITTED

Pictured: Ed Flanum, Chair, Amery Area Community Foundation and Doug Drake,Treasurer, Friends of the Amery Area Public Library Foundation.

NEED CASH NOW? Apply By Phone Loans up to $5,000 Installment Loans & Title Loans Flexible Monthly Payments Flexible Finance (in Walmart’s parking lot) 2161 US Hwy. 8 • St. Croix Falls

715-483-5008

Under New Management

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free at 800-6699777. The toll free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 800-927-9275.

EAU CLAIRE GUN SHOW Menards Expo Center Proceeds go to Take a Kid Hunting Foundation’s CAMP NEAL

5150 Old Mill Center, Eau Claire, WI

December 27, 28 & 29, 2019 Fri 3-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-3pm $8 (14 & Under FREE) 608-752-6677 www.bobandrocco.com

FOR SALE

416 Baker St. W • Amery, WI • MLS #5335331

$139,900 Great investment opportunity! Upper/lower duplex with 2 bedrooms in each unit.

Clair Gille, Realtor® Cell 715-554-0583 • Office 715-483-3833

20 AMERY FREE PRESS

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

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Amery and Westfields hospitals attain Green Master status SUBMITTED

Amery, Wis. – The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has named Amery and Westfields hospitals as 2019 Green Masters within its Green Masters Program. Recognizing sustainable actions by businesses from across the state of Wisconsin, the Green Masters program works to identify businesses that have taken at least one action within each of the nine pillars of sustainability. Participants in the program receive recognition for their sustainability accomplishments and develop ideas for future sustainability actions.

Highlights of recent and ongoing sustainability efforts at Amery and Westfields include: AMERY HOSPITAL & CLINIC • First hospital in the world to become a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

• On-site community garden.

• 18 percent reduction in the amount of plastic bottled beverages sold. Aligned with efforts to decrease single-use plastics.

• Implemented a single use medical device reprocess-

ing program.

• Saved 391,000 gallons of water through sustainable landscaping practices and other water conservation projects.

WESTFIELDS & CLINIC • Partnership with New Richmond High School AgriScience class. Purchasing tilapia from the school’s aquaponics program to serve in the cafeteria.

• On-site farmers’ market and community garden.

• Hosted a community electronics recycling event with TechDump. Collected and recycled 2.18 tons of TVs, computers, and other e-waste.

• 34 percent spend on local and sustainable food and beverages.

• 28,000 kWh produced from on-site solar panels and through community solar garden subscription agreement.

The Green Masters Program is an objective, points-based recognition and assessment program that enables Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies that are on the road to sustainability. The program

is part of HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. Westfields Hospital & Clinic serves western Wisconsin with primary, acute, emergency and outpatient health care services. For more information, visit westfieldshospital.com.

has established three levels of participation: Green Apprentice, Green Professional, and Green Master. Each year at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference, the current top 20 percent of companies that applied during the calendar year are identified and recognized as the Green Masters level companies.

“The Green Masters Program is a tool for businesses to assess and grow their sustainability programs, to benchmark against their industry and to receive a certification recognizing their achievements in sustainability,” says WSBC’s managing director, Jessy Servi Ortiz.

ABOUT AMERY HOSPITAL & CLINIC Amery Hospital & Clinic is part of HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. Amery Hospital & Clinic is a non-profit critical access health care facility, with additional clinic locations in Clear Lake, Luck and Turtle Lake, Wis. offering primary, acute, emergency, outpatient and specialty health care services. For more information, visit amerymedicalcenter.org.

ABOUT WESTFIELDS HOSPITAL & CLINIC Westfields Hospital & Clinic

Happy New Year!

Jade Mortensen Grade 4

Dine with us New Year’s Eve! on Beautiful Pike Lake Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019

6 entrees to choose from Serving at 4 p.m.

Dinner Reservations Recommended

Call us about your parties before or after Christmas

Friday - Fish Fry & Prime Rib Saturday - “Featuring” Prime Rib

ABOUT THE WISCONSIN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s (WSBC) mission is to advance sustainable principles and practices forward through the power of business. We support businesses and sustainability professionals through an array of programming, education, resources and tools and are a catalyst for businesses looking to integrate sustainability into the fabric of their organization and be a force for good. We are a network of businesses integrating sustainability into business operations at a time when the business case for sustainability (defined in terms of people, planet and profit) has never been stronger. Find us on the web at www.wisconsinsustainability.com

Get your local news in the Amery Free Press Happy New Year!

We love to hear from our subscribers, advertisers and readers. Here are the many ways you can contact us: Mail: Amery Free Press, Box 424, Amery, WI 54001 Phone: 715-268-8101 FAX: 715-268-5300 Email: Tom Stangl: tstangl@ theameryfreepress.com April Ziemer: editor@ theameryfreepress.com

Aubrey Koch Grade 4

FAMILY DENTISTRY

Dental Arts 404 Wisconsin Ave., Amery 715-268-7177

Open Dec. 31 8am-Noon • Closed Jan. 1, 2020

On Pike Lake, Amery, Wis. One mile north of Amery on Hwy. 46, 1/2 mile west on Cty. Rd. H

715-268-8774

Cora Lambert-Nihiser Grade 2

Jim’s Auto Repair Jim and Pat Ellefson Wanderoos 715-268-2917

Pam Humpal: phumpal@ theameryfreepress.com Jamie Stewart: classifieds@ theameryfreepress.com Diane Stangl: dstangl@ theameryfreepress.com Nicole Gagner: ngagner@ theameryfreepress.com Our office is located at 215 Keller Ave. S. We are open from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Monday - Friday

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DECEMBER 24, 2019

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AMERY COMMUNITY EDUCATION The NEW Community Ed catalog with winter/ spring offerings will be in the mail and available around town by the end of January. Watch for it!

Pre-register and learn more through Amery Community Ed online at www.amerysd.k12.wi.us or by calling 715-268-9771 x220.

with the children. Select Sundays: Jan 5 & 19, Feb 2 & 16, Mar 1 from 1:30-3:30 p in the Intermediate School – enter through the doors facing the NORTH parking lot. No fee – just show up!

Rumble Jumble Open Gym sponsored by PowerUp

Basketball Winter Recreation for Youth and Families: For boys and girls grades 4-12. Families are encouraged to participate together. Younger children are welcome when accompanied by parents. Bring your own ball; enter through North doors. No fee.

Sundays through March 15 from 1:30-3:30 p in the Middle School gym Open Gym for Families sponsored by PowerUp: Open gyms are a chance for kids and families to bounce a ball, shoot some hoops, play catch or just run around and be active together. For families with children of all ages. Parents/Guardians must stay in the gym

for toddlers and preschoolers to run, burn energy, and have fun. Balls, scooters, mats, and other gym equipment available. Parents/Guardians are expected to stay in the gym. Child care providers welcome. No fee – just show up. Tuesdays through March when school is in session from 11 -11:45 a. Intermediate School.

Pickleball - Open Gym: Join us on Wednesday nights to play the fastest growing recreational sport in the nation. Wednesdays through March (closed Dec 25 & Jan 1) from 6-8 p in the High School. No fee – just show up.

Play and Learn Parent-Child Group provides an opportunity for children to interact with their parents

and other children their age. Each session includes group activities, free play time, and supervised child time while parents are led to discuss parenting strategies, dilemmas, and everyday happenings. Winter session 10 Mondays, January 6 through March 2 from 10-11:30 a. No fee but pre-registration is required by calling 715-684-4440 beginning at 9 a on Dec. 16. Do not register through Comm. Ed.

SLEEPING BEAUTY presented by Prairie Fire Children’s Theater & Amery youth. The Golden Age of Hollywood comes to life in this over-the-top version of the classic tale. Set on a movie set in the 1930’s, everything that can go wrong does! For Amery youth in grades 3-8. 74 children will be cast. No charge to participate. Auditions Jan 6 from 3:30—5:30 p. Practices Jan 6-10 from 3:25-7:45 p depending on role. Performances Jan 10 at 7 p and Jan 11 at 10:30 a. Tickets $6 in advance or $7 at door to cover show expenses.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Spencer Chovan Grade 4 SUBMITTED

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Congratulations to Karina Zimmerman, the most recent graduate of the Amery Area Public Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program! And a big shout out to Karina’s family for reading 1,000+ books!

General Contractors Steel • Commercial • Residential New & Remodel Construction

Happy New Year!

P.O. Box 152 • 702 Clayton Ave. W. Clayton, WI 54004 Phone 715-948-2811 Fax 715-948-2456 www.berghammerbuilders.com

Isaac Thayer Grade 4

Reid Lauterbach Grade 1

Happy New Year!

The Law Firm of Williams and Davis Attorney Nicholas V. Davis

Please join us for your New Year’s Eve Celebration!

DINNER SPECIALS AVAILABLE

Attorney Daniel E. Firkus

CRIMINAL, TRAFFIC, PERSONAL INJURY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY DIVORCE, CUSTODY, BANKRUPTCY* www.wisconsintriallaw.com • inquiry@wistriallaw.com 715-268-8901 314 Keller Avenue North • Amery, WI 54001 *We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

325 N. Keller Ave. Amery, WI 715-268-7010

HOURS: Mon.-Thurs.

11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sun. 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

22 AMERY FREE PRESS

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

www.theameryfreepress.com

Holiday Greetings to everyone’s family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS or if you are reading this after December 25, HAPPY NEW YEAR! The holidays are a wonderful time of year to enjoy spending time with family and friends. The past couple of weeks have been very busy for me (just like everyone else) as we prepare for Christmas. I have had the opportunity to attend Church Christmas Programs where my grandkids have been sharing the message of Jesus birth. The Humpal kids in the programs were 3 shepherds and also, Baby Jesus…very proud Grandma moments. Another proud and fun Grandma moment the last week or so was taking the grandsons Christmas shopping for their parents and siblings. They were very good shoppers as they picked out just the right presents. Grandma time is AWESOME! Once again, thank you to the kids in grades Pre-K through 4th for sharing their drawings with the Amery Free Press and our readers in last week’s and this week’s papers. They were all wonderful masterpieces!

Also, thank you again to the families who decorated and lit up their homes/yards for Christmas. I thoroughly enjoy viewing the homes as I travel around town and the Pounding countryside.

The Amery Hockey Association is the hosting the 27th Annual John Legut Pavement Memorial Cup on Saturday, December 28, at 7:30pm. The Amery hockey Pam Humpal alumni will hit the ice…but hopefully not too hard! It’s always fun to see the old, or should I say, graduated skaters as they come back for this annual game. Proceeds from the night will go towards scholarships for graduating seniors.

Also happening at the Amery Ice Arena this weekend is the FREE Holiday Open Skate on Sunday, December 29, from 4-6pm. There will be FREE admission, FREE skate rental, and FREE cider. Come join the fun!

The Amery Free Press office will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24 and 25, for Christmas.

Our next issue is published on Monday, December 30.

Deadlines for that issue will be Thursday, December 26, at 4pm. The Amery Free Press office will be closed

on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year’s.

Cherish the times with your family and friends each and every day, give them a little extra hug this holiday season, and be very thankful for all your blessings!

Each year I publish the following recipe as a wonderful reminder of how we all should live our life each and every day…

RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2 cups of Friendship 4 cups of Love 2 cups of Forgiveness 3 cups of Loyalty 3 spoons of Tenderness 5 spoons of Hope 6 quarts of Faith 2 barrels of Laughter Take Friendship and Love and mix them with Tenderness.

Blend thoroughly with Loyalty, add Hope and Faith. Sprinkle with Forgiveness. Serve daily with abundant SUBMITTED Laughter.

A very cute and meaningful banner.

Here’s to a wonderful 2020…Happy New Year to you and your family!

SUBMITTED

Rory as Baby Jesus.

WATERSIDE BAR & GRILL 1342 Lone Pine Lane • Amery • on Lake Wapogasset

New Years Eve

SUBMITTED

Graeme as a shepherd.

SUBMITTED

Our shepherds – Bentley & Gavin along with their cousin Willow as a star.

Celebration

Happy New Year!

Join us for a night of dining, dancing and music with DJ Sky!

Music, Dancing & Games from 8pm - 1am

Special Dinner Menu:

(includes choice of potato and dinner salad)

• Prime Rib (King & Queen Cut) • • Spectacular Jumbo Shrimp Scampi or Cajun Style • • Waterside Special Double Chicken Breasts • *Free glass of champagne & dessert with every meal*

Reservations Recommended 715-268-5005 Party Treats • Drink Specials • Free Prizes Drawings • Games • Give-A-Ways Free Champagne at Midnight Free Late Night Nacho Buffet

Regan Granica Grade 4

Happy New Year from . . .

Lehney Paulson Grade 4 HOLIDAY HOURS: Dec. 31, 5 a.m.-11 p.m. • Jan. 1, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

1101 Cornwall Ave., Amery 715-268-7676 Closed www.amerychevrolet.com Jan. 1

FREEDOM VALU CENTERS

237 Keller Ave. S., Amery 715-268-8957

COMMUNITY

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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We are incredibly thankful for your support and friendship. Our staff extends warm wishes to you and yours during the holidays and we look forward to continuing to serve you in 2020.

Early Deadline: Thur., Dec. 26, 4pm Closed: Dec. 24, 25 & Jan. 1 AMERY

215 Keller Ave.S Amery, WI 54001 Phone 715-268-8101 Fax 715-268-5300 tstangl@theameryfreepress.com www.theameryfreepress.com

Hayden Andersen Grade 4

Katelyn Yeske Grade 4

Brandon Swank Grade 4

Brooke Johnson Grade 4

24

SPORTS

AMERY FREE PRESS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

www.theameryfreepress.com

...improve upon during the new year!

We’ve written up a list of things to...

Newspaper Fun! www.readingclubfun.com

Kids: color stuff in!

Annimills LLC © 2019 V15-50

A New Year Around the World

1. In ______ it is a time to pray, think about the old year and forgive (in the fall).

2. People in ___________ hang straw rope on their doors to ward off evil spirits; eat tasty rice cakes.

3. In __________, schools are closed. People use New Year’s Day to 4 rest from the parties and fireworks they went to the night before!

Russi 4. In __________, people decorate with colors: yellow China a for happiness, red for love, white for health!

5. In __________, the “first footer” – the first person to come 10 through your door in the new year – brings good luck!

6. In __________, during the festival of Songkran, people splash water on each other for fun. Some even use elephants to spray water (April).

7. In __________, parades are held with fireworks and dancing “dragons.”

8. In __________, people celebrate for 6 days with parties, fireworks and dancing.

9. In the __________, people wear polka dots and eat round fruits for good luck; streets are lined with bright lanterns.

10. In the __________ people watch a giant crystal ball drop at the stroke of midnight. People promise to better themselves in the new year.

11. In ___________, heads of households go door to door to wish neighbors well. Kids get sweets wrapped in colorful paper.

12. In __________, people release a flower-filled boat for the ocean goddess, Lemanjá.

Where in the World?

If I plan my trip right, I might be able to celebrate the New Year in many Fill in the name of countries and try the country where some many foods!

New Year foods include: 1. fresh apples dipped in honey, challah bread, chicken soup

20

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R __ __ __ L __ __ __ 2. fish (to increase riches), white cabbage (silver money), carrots (gold) G __ __ __ M __ __ __ Y __

My New Year’s resolution is to start a reading club with friends.

3. boiled eggs, caviar, smoked meats, soup, tea R S S __ __ __ __ __ __

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Canada

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Many people all over the world ring in the New Year on the 31st of December at midnight.

Some ring in their new year in a different season. Read my clues to learn about new year celebrations. Fill in the puzzle!

4. boiled beef, venison, corn soup, doughnuts, cookies, breads C __ __ N __ __ D __ __ 5. wheat noodles, thick vegetable soup, fish, white rice with red beans A __ __ A __ __ __

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13. In __________, the President addresses the country; people make toasts; exchange gifts.

14. In ______ it is a joyful time, lasting about 12 days.

There is a reading of the Koran at home. There are lighted candles. A leaf for each family member shows life and growth (March).

Midnight Sights!

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Fit the words into our poem:

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When clocks strike midnight oh, what a __________!

On New Year’s Eve Father Time will __________, toasts People will sing, Year church bells will __________, The party hosts sight will all give __________, We think how fast sed the year has __________, pas Time’s on the wing, watch what the future will __________, We give a cheer, in comes Baby New __________!

ANSWERS FOR NEWSPAPER FUN ON PAGE 26.

Looking For Sponsorship Opportunities?

Welcome to ‘Newspaper Fun’ – a weekly learning & puzzle feature aimed at young readers.

To advertise, please contact Pam at the Amery Free Press 715-268-8101 • phumpal@theameryfreepress.com

ENTERTAINMENT

DECEMBER 24, 2019

www.theameryfreepress.com

Please come celebrate

Clarice Johnson’s

80th Birthday January 4, 2020 1 pm - 5 pm Ken’s Keyboard

East Farmington, WI

FOR SALE Hearthstone Wood Burning Stove 1.9 cu ft • Like New

$400

715-530-4082

PUPPIES FOR SALE Lab/Springer Cross for forty years

715-246-7651

Amery VFW 730 N. Wisconsin Ave., Amery

BINGO

Every Thursday Progressive Jackpot 6:30 p.m. Your share is over $1,700

Bar Open 4 p.m.-? Thursdays & Fridays HAPPY HOUR 4-6 p.m.

Only $1.50 beer during Happy Hour (Reg. $2.25)

27th Annual

John Legut Memorial Cup Saturday, Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m.

AMERY ICE ARENA 1065 RiverPlace Drive, Amery

Enjoy a great hockey game with Amery Alumni and help raise the funds to award educational scholarships.

Admission $3 adults, $2 students, 6 & under free

Your support is appreciated for this effort.

Hockey Alumni interested in playing please contact Andrea Legut andrealegut@yahoo.com, phone 715-781-0710

*Holiday Special* Buy a $50 Gift Card and receive $5 for you . . .

We love to hear from our subscribers, advertisers and readers. Here are the many ways you can contact us:

Alison Emerson Grade 4

Mail: Amery Free Press, Box 424, Amery, WI 54001 Phone: 715-268-8101 FAX: 715-268-5300 Email: Tom Stangl: tstangl@ theameryfreepress.com April Ziemer: editor@ theameryfreepress.com Pam Humpal: phumpal@ theameryfreepress.com Jamie Stewart: classifieds@ theameryfreepress.com

Chicken Fajita $10

Classic Margarita $3 Room for Private Parties

Diane Stangl: dstangl@ theameryfreepress.com Nicole Gagner: ngagner@ theameryfreepress.com Mexican Restaurant & Bar 337 Keller Ave. South, Amery, WI 715-268-9801 www.garibaldismexicanrestaurant.com OPEN: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Real Authentic Mexican Food Daily Food Specials

AMERY Hwy. 46/Keller Ave.

Our office is located at 215 Keller Ave. S. We are open from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Monday - Friday

CLOSED Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Jan. 1

+ Co. Rd. F

AMERY FREE PRESS

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www.theameryfreepress.com

DECEMBER 24, 2019

Thank you for reading the Amery Free Press! Our deadline for next week’s paper (December 31) will be Thursday, December 23 at 4 p.m.

CAUCUS NOTICE Village of Clayton

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village of Clayton will hold a caucus on Monday, January 6th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Municipal Building located at 133 Clayton Avenue East for the purpose of nominating candidates for the following offices: Office Incumbent Village Trustee Scott Donath Village Trustee Cassie Robinson Village Trustee LuAnn Scharmer Village Trustee (1-yr. term) VACANT NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an election will be held in the Village of Clayton on Tuesday, April 7th, 2020. The term for Village Trustees will begin on April 21st, 2020 (the third Tuesday in April). All terms are for two years unless otherwise indicated.

Given under my hand and done in the Village of Clayton on this the 23rd day of December, 2019.

David Fall, Village Clerk-Treasurer WNAXLP

TOWN OF LINCOLN Plan Commission

STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT POLK COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Raymond Anthony Wears Notice to Creditors (Informal Administration) Case No. 19PR83 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1. An application for informal administration was filed.

2. The decedent, with date of birth May 20, 1957 and date of death November 7, 2019, was domiciled in Polk County, State of Wisconsin,

Stephanie Marciniak, Town Clerk – 715-268-4747 Published December 24, 2019 – Amery Free Press

WNAXLP

The following New applications have been filed with the Clear Lake Village Clerk: CLASS B Beer & CLASS C Wine Application: Stephanie & Larry Tiberg, “Westside Café LLC”, 955 Hwy 63, Clear Lake, WI 54005.

This license application will be presented to the Clear Lake Village Board at its regular meeting on January 7, 2020 at 7 p.m.

BY THE COURT: Jenell L. Anderson Probate Registrar November 29, 2019

Albert Bannink Village Clerk Village of Clear Lake

(December 24, 31, January 7)

WNAXLP

WNAXLP

A New Year Around the World Where in the World?

1

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Note: Agenda items may not be taken up in this order.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR FERMENTED MALT BEVERAGE AND WINE: Village of Clear Lake

NEWSPAPER FUN ANSWERS (Puzzles on page 24)

December 30, 2019 Meeting Agenda A quorum of the Town Board may be present The Plan Commission for the Town of Lincoln will hold their monthly meeting on Monday, December 30, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Town Hall -661 85th Street.

1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Verify Meeting Notice 4. Approve Agenda 5. Approve Previous Minutes 6. Public Comments 7. Reports of Chair/Commission Members 8. 2 Lot Certified Survey Map for Eunice Johnson 9. Chapter 13: Commercial Non-UDC Electrical Ordinance 10. Fire District Discussion 11. Set Date & Agenda for Next Meeting 12. Adjourn

with a mailing address of 924A Wisconsin Lane, Amery, WI 54001.

3. All interested persons waived notice.

4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is March 13, 2020.

5. A claim may be filed at the Polk County Courthouse, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, Room 500.

Sidney P. Jones 1097 Baker Ave Amery, WI 54001 715-491-2938

I __ S __ R __ A __ E __ L 1. __ G __ E __ R M A __ N __ Y 2. __ __ __ R __ U __ S __ S __ I __ A 3. __ C __ A __ N __ A __ D __ A 4. __

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Midnight Sights! by Chitter and Chatter

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When clocks strike midnight sight oh, what a __________!

On New Year’s Eve leave Father Time will __________, People will sing, ring church bells will __________, The party hosts toasts will all give __________, We think how fast passed the year has __________, Time’s on the wing, bring watch what the future will __________, We give a cheer, Year in comes Baby New __________!

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F A T HER TIM E

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Your best source for community information

215 S. Keller Ave. Amery, WI 54001

715-268-8101 theameryfreepress.com

Call today for your No Cost Consultation!

715.268.8109

www.KristoOrtho.com

Amery | Baldwin | New Richmond | River Falls

Giving You Something To Smile About!

Certified Public Accountants Accounting • Tax • Retirement Services 433 3rd Ave, Clear Lake, WI • (715) 263-4111 • OverbyFinancial.com 338 S Washington St, St. Croix Falls, WI • (715) 483-3782

“We Are Always Accepting New Patients!”

*TIMOTHY T. SEMPF JASON W. WHITLEY *ERIK M. BERGMANIS Attorneys-at-Law

David P. Doroff, D.D.S. Thomas P. VanSomeren, D.D.S. Amy G. Ott, D.D.S. FAMILY DENTISTRY

404 Wisconsin Ave. | Amery, WI 54001 715-268-7177 www.amerydental.com Office Hours Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00

Christopherson BYRNES LAW OFFICE Eye Clinic 123 Keller Ave. N, Amery, WI 54001 Mon, Tues, Wed Fri 8-5, Thurs 9-4 341 Keller Ave. N Amery, Wis. 54001 715-268-2020

*Licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Rollyn P. Lee, D.D.S. Heather Marks, D.D.S. 1030 River Place Drive, Amery Ph. 715-268-2103 www.river-place-dental.com

Call to advertise your business in this space 715-268-8101

314 Keller Ave. N., Ste. 200 Amery, WI 54001 715-268-6130

amerylaw.com

715-268-5000

Brian D. Byrnes

Richard A. Davis, CPA Dirk A. Prindle, CPA Margo A. Rosen, CPA Roger Van Someren, CPA Abby L. Williamson, CPA Cathy A. Gille, CPA, MN Adam P. Honl, CPA Susan L. Hartman, CPA 301 Keller Ave. S, Amery WI Business: (715) 268-7999 Fax (715) 268-4161 www.carlsonsv.com

CLASSIFIEDS

DECEMBER 24, 2019

AMERY FREE PRESS

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,ĞĂůƚŚ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ^ƉĞĐŝĂůŝƐƚ ; , ^Ϳ ĐĞƌƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ͘

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ǁǁǁ͘ĐŽ͘ƉŽůŬ͘ǁŝ͘ƵƐ

Committee approves Wisconsin state, UW employee pay raises Wisconsin and state employees.

The panel also rejected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ proposal to set the state minMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A bipartisan com- imum wage at $15 on a unanimous vote. It mittee of legislative leaders on Wednesday didn’t vote on a contract for the Wisconsin unanimously approved a 2% pay raise in State Patrol that would extend a retroaceach of the next two years for University of tive 2% pay raise for existing employees and increase starting salaries by 23%, from about $44,000 to about $54,000.

Democrats supported the $15 minimum wage and the trooper contract, but didn’t have the votes to overcome Republican opposition in the Joint Committee on Employment Relations.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a member of the committee, said he would likely The Amery Free Press is seeking a freelance support a starting pay raise for reporter to help report the news of our troopers in the high single digits, community. If you have a knack for seeing but not above 20%.

“There’s just concerns of an beyond the obvious and a well-developed increase of over 20% in one cycle sense of curiosity and enjoy sharing stories, is a little richer than the state of this might be a great fit for you.

Wisconsin can afford,” Vos said to explain his opposition.

Send resume and writing clips to: Vos said he hoped the Evers administration and troopers could April Ziemer, Editor, The Amery Free Press, negotiate a deal to that effect.

P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI 54001 A patrol contract could be voted Email: editor@theameryfreepress.com on at a later date, but the committee must approve any deal before it would take effect.

The School District of Turtle Lake Chad Thompson, a master troophas an Employment Opportunity available er in the patrol based in Wood for the following position, County, who is also president of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement beginning July 1, 2020: Association, testified that the patrol was having a hard time recruiting and retaining troopers because of the pay.

“We have a lot of issues just covThe School District of Turtle Lake is seeking an ering basic shifts,” Thompson said. inspired and collaborative leader to apply for our Democrats criticized the comDirector of Special Education position. This person mittee for not voting to approve will ensure that children with disabilities receive the trooper contract and said they appropriate services, plan, develop, implement and hoped Republicans would take up evaluate appropriate SPED programs and follow a deal early next year. There are all applicable laws. Qualified candidates must have about 370 troopers in Wisconsin. knowledge of special education laws and procedures “The starting pay is not competand will be required to participate in development, itive with just about anywhere,” implementation and evaluation of individual and Democratic Assembly Minority school-wide educational related interventions and Leader Gordon Hintz said. conduct functional behavioral assessments as well The troopers deal was to cover as develop and implement behavior management 2017-2019. They did not have an programs, collaboration with principals, counselor and agreement between 2015 and 2017. superintendent. This position builds partnerships that The 2% general salary increases support student learning, well-being and opportunities for state and university employees while using problem-solving techniques to address was approved in the state budget and resolve concerns or problems. The position is this year, but the committee had to responsible for working with our principals to hire and sign off before the changes could supervise all special education staff, DPI reporting, take effect. The first 2% raise will budget preparation, analysis of data and encouraging be in January, with another 2% in innovation. This is a part-time position for 35 days per 2021. school year. The School District of Turtle Lake does

BY SCOTT BAUER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reporter

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical mental, emotional or learning disability.

Applicants may apply through WECAN or by submitting Resume, Cover letter, Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts to: School District of Turtle Lake Kent M. Kindschy, Superintendent 205 Oak Street North | Turtle Lake, WI 54889 kkindschy@turtlelake.k12.wi.us The School District of Turtle Lake is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.

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28

AMERY FREE PRESS

DECEMBER 24, 2019 www.theameryfreepress.com

ROCHESTER: Artwork will be on display at Amery’s Farm Table through January CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

influences, our eye tends to pull to those things instead of to the land itself.”

When asked if he feels he has always been an artist, Rochester said he thinks he has. “I come from a family of artists. My grandfather and my mother were artists, so I have always been around it.”

He said early on he tried other expressions such as music, writing and silver-smithing, jewelry and pottery. It wasn’t until he was 40 years old that he started painting.

Before dabbling in painting, Rochester was a clinical psychologist who had attended Dakota Wesleyan University, receiving a B.A. in English and psychology. He received graduate degrees in clinical psychology from Indiana University.

Rochester said he started “goofing around” with hand painting clothing. “I have always enjoyed seeing artistic things on T-shirts and found there were things I wanted to see on them, which I hadn’t yet.

I found out how to use fabric paints and do that and I started trying all kinds of things. I was painting everything from a landscape to a portrait of an old man. I actually started to do some commercial work with it too, working with Coldwater Creek for awhile.”

Rochester recalled a conversation with his mother where she told him, “You need to quit with this clothing crap and start painting paintings.”

He said she set him up with a wonderful artist who trained him everyday for a month. “Of course I did not paint the way that he did, but he trained me in a lot of the elements. That was what launched it. Within three or four years it took off.”

Clothing has not been the only non-traditional form of painting Rochester has worked on. He has painted on furniture and bicycles. His bicycle art was displayed at Farm Table a few years back in a show entitled, “Le Tour D’Art.” He said, “I just thought one day it might be kind of fun to paint a bike. And then I thought, ‘This

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Gregg Rochester has shown work at at gallaries across the country and feels the Farm Table is a really great space for displaying his artwork.

is cool, I think I’ll do another… and another.’” The Farm Table purchased one of the colorful bicycles and has it on display in the building.

He has done several bike-painting seminars in Toronto, Canada. “Somehow or another they found me on the Internet. There is a bicycle contorcium for people who are into biking. They asked if I would come and teach them how to paint their bikes and I said I would give it a shot.

That grew into about five or six more of them. They all did really interesting custom paint jobs on their bikes. The key was teaching some that had no idea about painting, but had to work with what they could do.

Some of those turned into very interesting designs.”

He still dabbles in a variety of art forms. “My grandfather’s art was interesting. He painted whole walls. He did murals of birch forests in people’s homes and was really well known for it. I do some of that kind of thing too. I have a wall in my basement that is all done in Lake Superior stones and driftwood. So I occasional do some mosaic sorts of things too.”

He does custom artwork for

people as well. People have commissioned him to paint the farms they grew up on. “But custom does not mean I will paint a picture of their motorcycle. I still have to have the license to paint what I do,” he said. He said a big share of his business is commission work, but it isn’t always specific.

“They might say they want a scene in a certain size, with certain colors and I come up with something.”

Rochester was once honored as “Wisconsin Artist of the Year”, by TOSCA (Theater, Opera, Shakespeare, Culture & Arts), a Minneapolis-St. Paul publication. His landscapes

grace the walls of hundreds of homes, workplaces, public buildings, and health care settings, including the office of Senator and Presidential candidate, George McGovern, in the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service.

Rochester has enjoyed the multiple times he has had his work display at the Farm Table. “This is a really fabulous gallery because it is spacious and can handle big paintings.

The light is great and you can have enough space between the pieces,” he said. His work was also featured at a Farm Table hosted book signing of “Loved and Loving, A Guide for Prayer,” written by award-winning authors Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and Marie Schwann, CSJ. The book’s cover art was taken from a painting by Rochester and an original painting used for the cover was display at the signing event.

Rochester’s work is available to be viewed during anytime the Farm Table is open. If interested in buying any piece of artwork, people can let a staff member know. He has cards available there if people would like to contact him about having custom work done.

APRIL ZIEMER | AMERY FREE PRESS

Gregg Rochester takes his inspiration for his artwork from the land and is attracted to Wisconsin’s rolling hills.

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