BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 VOL. 58 NO. 17 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
FIRE TOWER: A piece of Grantsburg’s history is dismantled and shipped away. P6
Out on bond, selling meth JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Zach A. Grandy, 19, has been charged with four felony counts including possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and two counts of felony bail jumping. He has also been charged with possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia, both are misdemeanors. According to the criminal complaint, arrangements were made for Grandy to sell a teener (1.75 grams) of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. The complaint states that Grandy was already out on bond which requires the defendant not to commit any new crimes. The Burnett County Sheriff’s office worked with members of the Polk County Sheriff’s office for this controlled buy. On the day of the controlled buy, officers set up around the Grace Baptist Church. Authorities watched Grandy allegedly enter the parking lot and was subsequently placed in handcuffs. At this point officers located the suspected methamphetamine and made their way to the house Grandy had exited before going to the church. They secured the house at 319 James Avenue in Grantsburg SEE GRANDY, PAGE 2
Turnover costs adding up JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Over the last couple of years Burnett County has spent over $100,000 just on turnover costs for social workers, according to county officials. County Administrator Nate Ehalt said Burnett
County loses three to four social workers every year. “This is a state-wide issue and its happening in a number of states,” Ehalt said. “There’s a shortage of social workers and they aren’t just leaving the county because of workload or pay.” According to Ehalt, the
SENTINEL PHOTO
Burnett County officials have worked over the last few years on ways to keep social workers at the County, but turnover continues to rise.
SEE TURNOVER, PAGE 2
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
Plenty of fish under the ice The Siren Lions held their annual ice fishing contest on Clam Lake on Saturday. Officials said there was over 20 inches of ice on the lake even though temperatures reached into the 40s on Saturday.
Bird crisis reinvigorates conservation coalition WISCONSIN DNR
With North American bird populations plunging 30% over the past 50 years, and one in five Wisconsin birds at risk of extinction, a state bird conservation coalition is rebooting with new energy to stem declines
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and enhance critical habitat statewide for birds. The Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership - formerly the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative - is getting a new look. The Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership has hired well-known bird expert
and environmental scientist, Tom Prestby, to help maximize benefits for birds at 93 sites designated as Important Bird Areas or IBAs. Prestby, an environmental scientist with GEI Consultants in Green Bay, will be identifying conservation opportunities
in five to 15 high-priority IBAs and identifying strategies for launching bird conservation partnerships there. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Conservation Program is SEE BIRD CRISIS, PAGE 2
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