BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019 VOL. 57 NO. 29 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
CHOO CHOO: Big Boy 4014 rolls through Pine City and Baldwin P6
Driver’s BAC was almost twice legal limit JONATHAN RICHIE SENTINEL EDITOR
Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency last week following the first round of storm. He also activated the National Guard to help in the areas
The driver from an accident in April attempted to flee police down a highspeed chase eastbound on Highway 35/70 had a blood alcohol concentration almost twice the legal limit. Michael D. Friel, 61 of Finlayson, Minn. led authorities on the chase where he allegedly was driving in excess of 90 mph. He eventually drove over the roundabout in Siren and crashed on the opposite side. Friel was transported to a Minnesota hospital and died seven days later. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner autopsy report said the cause of death was an accident due to complications from injuries sustained in a single motor vehicle crash. The Wisconsin Department of Justice office did return the toxicology report of Friel. His blood alcohol concentration results came back at .136. The legal limit is .08 and with Friel almost doubling that, he was initially charged with driving while intoxicated. Those charges were dropped following Friel’s death. The Wisconsin State Patrol also reconstructed the accident. Sybers said the reconstruction confirmed to Siren PD what they believed happened. The Hennepin County Medical
SEE STORM, PAGE 14
SEE ACCIDENT, PAGE 2
KAYLA CASEY | SENTINEL
One family farm was struck hard by the storm Sunday evening. Their roof was torn off of their home, their barn ripped to pieces, and their silos just barely still standing. See more storm photos on page 14.
Luck hit hard by storm The National Weather service confirmed on Monday that it was a tornado that went through Luck on Sunday night. According to the National Weather Service, the EF1 tornado touched down for 5 miles
with 90 mph winds. Polk County was still cleaning up from last week’s storm when another came rolling through the area. Polk-Burnett Electric Co-op said the storm left about 3,000 residents with-
out power. By Monday afternoon the number of co-op members without power had gotten down to 18. Those members were mostly in the Luck/ Bone Lake region of Polk County.
Art activities incorporated into Gandy Dancer Days HARRIET RICE
The arts will play an important part in Gandy Dancer Days 2019, starting with the arts and crafts fair on Saturday, August 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Some of the locally handmade and homegrown item for sale include maple and birch syrups, whipped honey, jams and jellies, nature photography, greeting cards, wooden garden signs, purses, bottle cap
magnets and para-cord bracelets. There’s beaded jewelry, knitted and crocheted items, baby quilts, aprons, slippers, cutting boards, and wreaths. Come early for the best selection! In addition to the show, two more Saturday arts activities are scheduled: an outdoor painting exhibition and a free children’s half-day “make-and-take” art camp. At 9 a.m., Webster wildlife artist Jim Springett will display his
NEWS 715-463-2341 editor@burnettcountysentinel.com
canvases on the grassy area next to the Moonglow Cafe on west Main Street in Webster. In addition to his exhibition, he will set up an easel and start a painting at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to view his display, watch an original painting come to life as he works, and register to win the finished art. Springett started wildlife painting in 1991. He’s participated in SEE ART, PAGE 2
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HARRIET RICE
Jim Springett, a wildlife artist from Webster, will be exhibiting his paintings and creating an original work for Gandy Dancer Days Saturday, Aug. 10, on Main Street in Webster next to Moonglow Café from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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