BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 VOL. 54 NO. 27 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY - HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY - HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Theft charges filed in Bethany Lutheran case SIREN—A summons was issued Tuesday for a Grantsburg woman to answer to three counts of theft from a business setting in excess of $10,000. According to the criminal complaint filed by the district attorney’s office, Dorothy A. White, 61, formerly employed as treasurer for the church, allegedly wrote checks to herself, in the amount of $83,000, without authorization. In an interview with the Burnett County Sheriff’s Department in January, White admitted to having a gambling problem. She said she first started taking money from the church in 2013 to cover some personal bills, but then used the money to gamble. The funds were taken from the church’s checking account, the church’s savings account as well as a mission investment fund. An initial apperance for White has been set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 23. Each count, each a Class G Felony, is punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
TODD BECKMANN | SENTINEL
Easy to be green Mike Pherson (left) and Duane Yuhala were amongst the revelers for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Siren on Saturday. More photos on Page 28.
One person’s chicken coop is another person’s church BY TODD BECKMANN SENTINEL
Pastor Peter Johnson
GRANTSBURG —Listening to Z.Z. Top during communion, listening to a pastor with a pink mohawk, sitting in love seats and couches instead of pews and gathering in a former chicken barn for Sunday service might not be the traditional church experience but in a nutshell its what Chicken Coop Church brings to the table. The first question has got to be the
NEWS 715-463-2341 todd@burnettcountysentinel.com
Biking the ‘Kizer’ •Bicycle club proposes new trail BY TODD BECKMANN SENTINEL
mohawk. “I did it once to have fun a couple years ago,” Pastor Peter Johnson admitted. “I liked it and it has stayed. It’s actually taken on a life of its own and is now what I’m known for.” There’s no doubt it’s a conversation piece. Before getting into ministry, Johnson had been in pavement maintenance/road construction but there’d always been a calling to serve —
SIREN—Bicycle enthusiasts have a reason to rejoice after the Lake Country Pedalers bicycle club petitioned the county’s natural resources committee to allow them to create a bicycle trail in the Kizer Lake Wildlife Area. “The first year we’d like to create almost three miles of trail and add two primitive campsites,” Bill Summer, club member and proprietor of the Cog and Sprocket Bike Shop in Webster, told committee members. “Our four year plan includes creating two to three more miles of trail each year and adding two primitive campsites.”
SEE CHURCH, PAGE 7
SEE BIKE, PAGE 8
ADVERTISING 715-463-2341 sales1@burnettcountysentinel.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-463-2341 office@burnettcountysentinel.com
NEWS & ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT NOON