BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020 VOL. 58 NO. 24 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
EARTH DAY: Friends of Gandy Dancer Trail planning annual clean up of trail P12
Results come in six days later
Evers closes 40 State rec areas in southern Wisconsin The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is modifying its state park operations on a case-by-case basis to maintain the safest environment for visitors and staff. In Northwest Wisconsin Gov. Knowles State Forest remains open. Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Clam Lake State Wildlife Area, the Gandy Dancer State Trail and Straight Lake State Park in Luck and Interstate Park in St. Croix Falls also remain open for the time being, according to the WDNR. In Douglas County Bruhle River State Forest, Pattison State Park and Amnicon Falls State Park are still open and free for the public. Due to unprecedented crowds, litter, vandalism and the need to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff, Gov. Evers has directed the WDNR to close 40 Wisconsin State Parks, Forests and
JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Recreational Areas starting April 10. Several parks have had record attendance recently. For the weekend of April 4-5, High Cliff had an estimated 16,457 visitors, Lapham Peak had
‘We must all do all that we can to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.’ an estimated 11,168 visitors, Kohler-Andrae had an estimated 8,469 visitors, Devil's Lake had an estimated 7,647 visitors, Richard Bong had an estimated 3,884 visitors, and Mirror Lake had an estimated 2,870 visitors. Harrington Beach had an estimated 3,639 visitors for the weekend and has had more than 5,600 estimated visitors so far for the month of April.
SUBMITTED
Turkey youth hunt success Dane Lozier, 12, of Grantsburg was able to get this fine turkey over the weekend during the annual youth hunt. He was helped in the woods by his mentor Don Vendela.
SEE PARKS, PAGE 2
Six days after votes were cast in the Spring election they were counted. In Burnett County there were changes in county, village and school board races. All results are unofficial until the canvass which is set for Wednesday morning. In County District 4, incumbent Jeremy Gronski was defeated by Ramona Moody for the seat that covers the Town of Anderson, the Northwest corner of Trade Lake and the southern half of the Town of Grantsburg. Gronski received 89 number of votes compared to 109 for Moody. Grantsburg Village board had three seats up for election. Incumbents Greg Peer and Caylin Muehlberg won their re-election and Leo Janke won the third seat on the village board. In Webster, Bill Summer was elected to the village board. He takes the seat of Sarah Casady, who did not seek re-election. Siren School board was another contested race on the ballot. SEE RESULTS, PAGE 3
11 individuals charged with taking Tribal casino funds, includes former Tribal Council members WEBSTER–Former St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Tribal Council Members Stuart Bearheart, Carmen Bugg, Elmer “Jay” Emery, Crystal Peterson, and Lewis Taylor, along with tribal employees Duane Emery, Leva “Dino” Oustigoff, Neil Oustigoff, Jeff Taylor, and Kate Wolfe Taylor, and former contractor Lawrence Larsen were individually charged in
the St. Croix Tribal Court on March 26, 2020 with embezzlement and receipt of improper disbursements from the profits of the Tribe’s casinos. The charges relate to wrongdoing first uncovered in a Notice of Violation issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission in April 2019. The NIGC, the federal agency that regulates tribal gaming, alleged that nearly $1.5 million
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dollars of funds had been taken by individuals at the expense of tribal resources, in violation of the laws and regulations that restrict how casino revenues can be used. The lawsuits filed in the St. Croix Tribal Court allege the defendants used their connections with Tribal and Casino leadership to request payments from the Tribe’s casinos. In some cases, the Tribe alleges
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the defendants received thousands of dollars in travel advances without providing documentation that the trip occurred, failed to return unused amounts, and sought reimbursement for the same trips from other tribal programs. In other cases, the Tribe alleges the defendants received payments for various projects that never materialized. The Tribe seeks a return of all unlawful
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payments, damages, and for the defendants that are members of the St. Croix Tribe, a declaration that they are ineligible to run for Tribal Council in the future. A complaint is an accusation, and all defendants are presumed not responsible until found liable by the Tribal Court.
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