BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018 VOL. 56 NO. 19 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS: Set your clocks ahead one hour before retiring Saturday night.
Webster woman charged with 8th OWI JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
W STACY COY | SENTINEL
CHAMPS! The Webster Tigers hold up the Regional championship plaque after defeating the Grantsburg Pirates on Saturday night to take the title. The Tigers continue their quest to the State tournament this Thursday against Clear Lake. See full story on pages 15 and 17.
Nix state treasurer position? Question goes to voters. SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@ OSCEOLASUN.COM
Wisconsin residents will have the chance to vote this spring on whether to eliminate the state treasurer position. The referendum question will be included on the April 3 ballot, asking voters whether to change the state constitution and add new language eliminating the office. The question also includes language designating the lieutenant governor as the treasurer’s SEE STATE TREASURER, PAGE 2
EBSTER––A Webster woman has been charged with operating while intoxicated, 8th offense, a class F felony. Police believe she was under the influence of prescription medications. Mary K. Bakke, 54, Webster, was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, a class I felony, possess/illegally obtained prescription, a misdemeanor and possession of narcotic drugs, a class I felony. According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 19 Webster Police Department received a call about a possibly impaired driver north bound on Highway 35. The caller said the vehicle was “driving all over the road.” Mary K. Bakke Webster Police Chief Mike Spafford was dispatched to the scene and was advised the vehicle had pulled into the Minit Mart in the Village of Webster. The vehicle allegedly hit another vehicle in the
New Year, same caseload issues for courts JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
GOVERNMENT CENTER–– Two months into the new year and Burnett County is already seeing a rise in felony crimes. The Burnett County Clerk of Court along with other numerous departments gave their monthly report to the Public Safety committee last week. “We ended 2017 with 102 more felonies than 2016,” said Burnett County Clerk of Court Trudy Schmidt. “In the first two months of this year, we’ve had 53 felonies. Last year, the count was 47.” Schmidt added that, “these
felonies are the bad stuff like meth and other drug issues we’re facing.”
‘The question is: what can we do? I think the best option is to put pressure on the state.’ Don Taylor Board of Supervisors Chairman She then brought up Washburn County Circuit Judge Eugene Harrington, who has
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been pushing the state for more public defenders. Schmidt said Harrington’s message applies to Burnett County also. “These public defenders need to be qualified attorneys and I don’t know that we’ve had many of those,” Schmidt said. “We’re working hard to get someone here.” Schmidt explained that public defenders are coming down from Superior to handle Burnett county cases. She added that Spooner doesn’t have many lawyers. Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Taylor asked Schmidt about what are the feasible
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