BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020 VOL. 58 NO. 30 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
DESIGN AN AD: Local fifth graders design ads for area businesses. P15-22
‘This needs to be done in person’ Court struggles during teleconferencing JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Burnett County Judge Melissia Mogen ended a felony sentencing hearing in Siren because of technology issues. She also stated the magnitude of the charges demand an in-person hearing. “This is a serious matter,” Mogen said during the Zoom call that was replayed on YouTube. In a Zoom conference call hosted by the Wisconsin Court System. “This is a big deal and this is not working.” Michael Denn was first arrested in early 2018 and is still waiting to be sentenced in his felony case. He was facing multiple felony counts including possession of methamphetamine. Mogen was frustrated with technology issues and the seriousness of the offense. On the Zoom cal, Mogen was having trouble seeing and hearing all participants.
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
A wreath being laid at Mudhen Lake Cemetery to commemorate fallen soldiers as part of a ceremony. More Memorial Day photos on pae 28.
Honoring those who have fallen The Last Monday in May is reserved for honoring members of the United States Armed Forces that have died while serving their country, we call it Memorial Day. The federal holiday has been observed for over 100 years and no matter what is
going on in our world Americans always find the time to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. On Monday people all over the county and country celebrated Memorial Day by attending parades, ceremo-
nies and memorials to honor those no longer with us. Ceremonies went forward from Hillcrest Cemetery in Blaine to Grantsburg’s Riverside Cemetery, people gathered and paid their respects. Attendees were asked to practice social distancing,
and some wore protective masks. The Lund-Brown Post #132 & Auxiliary American Legion asked people to leave their porch lights on Memorial Day “to pay their respects to our fallen heroes.”
SEE DENN, PAGE 2
Benge retiring after 21 years KAYLA CASEY SENTINEL STAFF
After 21 wonderful years at the Grantsburg School District, Linda Benge has made the decision to retire to make more time for family as a grandbaby is on the way. For her last year teaching choir at the Grantsburg High School, it certainly has not been normal due to COVID-19. Benge has had to adapt to teaching
choir online and she has said that the whole ordeal has been quite interesting. “I miss singing horribly, it’s very sad not to be able to sing with kids, but it’s really fun to talk to them.” Benge explains that she can hear everyone’s voice separately through this online teaching. Her choir has been running around 80 kids for the last few years, and in a group that large, she said she would usually hear from a
very small percentage on any given day when they were in the choir room. “Because some kids would just come in and do what they are supposed to do and are quiet and leave and you never really know what they are thinking, and it’s hard in a forty-minute class to making one-on-one contact with 80 kids.” She said it has been very fun for her SEE BENGE, PAGE 3
SENTINEL PHOTO
Benge received ‘Teacher of the Year’ from the Grantsburg Rotary Club in 2019.
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