BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018 VOL. 56 NO. 13 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
PIGSKIN PREDICTIONS: Enter big game guesses for chance to win football bucks. P12
Ten year-old referred for felony arson charges JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
SIREN––A 10 year-old has been referred to Social Services with charges of arson to a building, obstructing an officer and harboring or aiding felons for the destruction of evidence. The possible charges stem from a fire at the Siren Trailer Park on the night of Jan. 10. Burnett County Dispatch paged the Siren Fire Department for a home that was fully engulfed in flames at the Siren Trailer Park at 8:22 p.m. Siren Police Sergeant Aaron Bentley was on duty when he heard the call. Bentley arrived on the scene and saw everyone staying at the trailer had been safely evacuated. He secured the scene and made initial contact with Brett Frank Jr., who was living in the home belonging to Kari Eberley and Todd Plaster. Frank said he was putting the kids to bed when he began smelling what he believed to be burnt matches. He went into the front bedroom, where he thought it
A fire at the Siren Trailer Park destroyed this home on the evening of Jan. 10. All four children escaped safely along with the adult that was watching them.
GMS on brief lockdown Tuesday
School board approves resource officer in Siren School
JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
GRANTSBURG––The Grantsburg Middle school was under a brief lockdown for 15 to 20 minutes on Tuesday around noon, according to Principal Bill Morrin. “The school went to lockdown after we were notified of a situation that could potentially endanger students and staff,” Morrin said He explained that the main goal was to make sure the staff took care of the students. He added that all staff and students followed procedures for a lockdown. “No one entered the building and no one in the building was in immediate danger,” Morrin said. The Middle School put a message on their Facebook directed to the parents. “MS Parents: Earlier today, GMS went into a lockdown. This situation was based on a precautionary event brought to the attention of the Middle School office. Students and staff followed the appropriate procedure. There was no imminent danger to staff or students during this lockdown.”
SEE ARSON, PAGE 2
JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
SIREN––The heavy onslaught of snow on Monday evening did not stop the Siren School board from having their monthly meeting. The board met and approved Chief Sybers request for a resource officer in the school after a short discussion. The school board voted, with no opposing votes, to have a Siren Police Department officer in the school for 9 hours a week at $20 an hour. The board has budgeted the position for $3,426 for the remainder of the school year. Members of the board said St. Croix Tribal Chief of Police Frank Taylor would also like to come in, but has to run it by the
NEWS 715-463-2341 editor@burnettcountysentinel.com
ADVERTISING 715-463-2341 sales1@burnettcountysentinel.com
tribal council before any further decisions can be made. Siren School Board member Mark Pettis said this could be a slippery slope. “I just have a concern paying for police service,” Pettis said. Koball said that Sybers role would be to have lunch with the kids and establish relationships with the students that could be incredibly valuable in the future. “Any time the students see Sybers in the hall, they know something is wrong,” Koball said. “We’re trying something here to show the police officers in a different light.” Koball added that a simple lunch with a police officer could have an enormous affect on how that student see’s the police.
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-463-2341 office@burnettcountysentinel.com
“We have serious issues,” said School Board President, Peggy Moore. “We need to try something.” Pettis said what if this becomes a full-time thing. He gave a hypothetical about a business that is constantly calling police and asked Sybers if they would get an officer stationed at their business. “There’s a backside to that and doesn’t apply to schools,” Sybers said. “We can write a citation to that business or tavern, for too many calls. We can also cut that business’s license for excessive calls.” Siren School Board member Rhonda Highstrom said the difference may be little at first, but SEE SCHOOL BOARD, PAGE 2
NEWS & ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT NOON