Amery Free Press 125th Anniversary Edition
Amery, Polk County, Wis.
Volume 123 No. 9
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Local newspaper marks 125 years! It’s often been said that newspapers record the first draft of history for a community. For over 125 years, the Amery Free Press has been doing just that, on a weekly basis. The paper’s small but mighty staff celebrated that milestone this week, with an open house, and a special-edition vintage cover. The paper began on June 4, 1889, when C. B. Dodge beganw publishing the first newspaper in Amery called the Amery Echo. He discontinued issuing it by the end of that year. The Amery Free Press arrived on the scene in 1892 and was published for a few years by M. S. Frissell. Early in the 1900’s, it was purchased
The Free Press Staff—Front (left to right) Diane Stangl, Bette Elmer, Jaime Stewart, Pam Humpal, (back) Jessica de la Cruz, and Tom Stangl.w
by B. R. “Barney” Atwood, who served as its editor and publisher until 1935. In that year he formed a partnership with Robert A. Broad, which lasted two years,
with Broad purchasing the Atwood interest. Broad continued to publish the newspaper until October 1, 1942, when he leased the business to Palmer H.
Fairgrounds grandstand will likely fall BY SUZANNE LINDGREN
Voting against further structural evaluation of the fairgrounds grandstand, the Polk County Board of Supervisors has voted in effect to demolish the building and construct of a new one. A committee tasked with investigating whether to repair or replace the 1909 structure had proposed hir-
ing a consultant to determine restoration costs. The evaluation itself might have cost as much as $21,000. “There’s a big group that wants us to exhaust those possibilities to see if it’s feasible to restore,” committee chair Larry Jepsen told county board members last week. “We need more information from the experts. …
A harness pull at the Polk County Fair, circa 1940s, with spectators in the 1909 grandstand. The Polk County Board rejected further structural evaluation of the structure, in effect opting for demolition and reconstruction.
What do we have to do to the building so the insurance company would provide coverage?” Others on the board felt they had already had their answer. “I think there’s enough information in the original research from (architecture and engineering firm) SEH to say it’s time for the grandstand to leave,” said board member Brad Olson of Clam Falls. “No matter how much we spend we’d lose the top five rows — that’s 20 to 25 percent of the seating. … Where are those 350 or 400 people going to go? … I’d hate to see it go but I’ve sold cattle I’ve hated to see go. I’ve gotten rid of vehicles I’ve hated to see go. The worst thing you can do is hold onto something too long.” Balsam Lake board representative Chris Nelson SEE GRANDSTAND PAGE 19A
www.theameryfreepress.com $1.00
WCCO visits the ‘City of Lakes’
Sondreal, an employee of the firm. In April, 1943, Sondreal purchased the newspaper. During the Sondreal era the publishing business went from handset type to computers, from hand-operated presses to offset and automated newspaper handling. The paper called several downtown locations home, including a now vacant lot across from Bremer Bank, and an office in what is now Chet Johnson Drug. It moved to its present location in 1972 when Sondreal purchased the former Iverson Implement building and converted it into a newspaper office, stationery store, commercial printing plant, and SEE ANNIVERSARY PAGE 9A
BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ
It was just two days that was more than two months in the making. But to the residents and businesses featured during WCCO TV’s final ‘Goin’ to the Lake’ segment of the summer, it was a brush with fame that doesn’t often happen in this small town. And it was worth every second of exposure. Amery got quite a bit of airtime, including scenes of downtown and interviews with many local business owners. Between the segments filmed for television, and others posted on social media, WCCO fans got a glimpse of some of the best of what Amery has to offer.
News anchors Ali Lucia and Mark Rosen began their visit just before noon on Thursday, with a pontoon ride around Amery’s North Twin and Pike Lakes, courtesy of Jason Whitley and Dan Lien. It would seem that even mother nature came out to welcome them, as the pair witnessed a heron, loon, eagle, and SEE WCCO PAGE 2A
Polk County birds test positive for West Nile Virus State and county health officials today announced that two dead crows have tested positive for West Nile virus in Polk County. These are the first birds that have tested positive for the virus this year and Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene performed the laboratory test. Although very few mosquitoes actually carry the virus, dead birds act
as an early warning system for West Nile virus. Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile virus (WNV) by feeding on infected birds, then potentially transmit the virus by biting animals or people. A bird that tests positive for WNV alerts health officials that the virus is present in an area of the state. Statewide surveilAn ad from May of 1930
SEE VIRUS PAGE 2A
Racing and homing pigeons to be featured Racing and homing pigeons will be among the featured exhibits at this month’s Earth Eco Fair, held at the Clear Lake Park on Saturday, August 26, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m. Pigeon enthusiast Richard Althoff will
speak with attendees about his pigeons, which include the champion racers of the Red Cedar Racing Pigeon Club. According to Althoff, homing pigeons have the rich heritage of service during wartime and are credited with saving
hundreds of lives by delivering urgent messages during times when electronic and radio communication could easily be disrupted. Today, Althoff says that racing pigeons offer the same SEE PIGEONS PAGE 2A
Visit amerymedicalcenter.org to find the perfect care for you and your little bump.
NEWS 715-268-8101 editor@theameryfreepress.com
ADVERTISING 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-268-8101 phumpal@theameryfreepress.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-268-8101 dstangl@theameryfreepress.com