BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 VOL. 54 NO. 6 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS: Make plans for spooktacular fun this Halloween . P15
Mystery solved
STACY COY | SENTINEL
Champions For the first time since 2004, the Grantsburg Pirates went undefeated and are Champions of the Lakeland North Conference after their win over the Flambeau Falcons on Friday night. The Pirates were a perfect 9-0, and will open up the playoffs at home against Elmwood/Plum City on Friday. See the full story on Page 17.
Bears might be having last laugh GRANTSBURG—So far, no bear. It has been more than a month since the Grantsburg Village Board made the decision to take out the two nuisance bear who, for the lack of a better descriptor, were terrorizing families with small children on Jackson Ave and E. Harrison St. in Grantsburg. The plan was for Wildlife Services personnel to put out bait, monitor those sites to be certain the bears are feeding there, establish a pattern and come in to take them out. “There have been baits set out to attract the target bear but those animals have not come in yet,” Steve Hoffman, wildlife biologist with the DNR, explained. “The baits that have been hit are being hit by other bears.” No word was available at press time on any updated plans. By Todd Beckmann, Sentinel.
Meth conspiracy leads to prison MADISON—Jerry Kong ssearch of the vehicle, officers loc Vang, 37, Burnett County, cated a baggie containing approxiimately 13 ounces of methamwas sentenced by U.S. District p Judge James D. Peterson to phetamine, packaging material c 120 months in prison, to be folconsistent with drug distribution, d lowed by four years of superdigital scales, and a Glock .40 caliiber pistol magazine containing vised release, for his role in a e conspiracy to distribute metheight live rounds. Vang had the G amphetamine. Glock .40 caliber pistol on his persson. Vang previously pleaded guilty to possession with inJudge Peterson indicated on tthe record that Vang deserved a Vang tent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine significant sentence of 10 years and knowingly and intentiondue to the “devastating impact ally possessing a Glock .40 caliber pistol methamphetamine has on people.” in furtherance of that drug trafficking U.S. Attorney Vaudreuil praised the crime. outstanding cooperation among all law In 2012, an Organized Drug Enforce- enforcement agencies involved in addressment Task Force led by the Federal Bu- ing the problem of methamphetamine use reau of Investigation and comprised of fed- in northwest Wisconsin. eral, state, and local investigators began In addition to the Federal Bureau of Ininvestigating the importation and distri- vestigation, the Task Force included Polk, bution of methamphetamine in Polk and Burnett, and Washburn County Sheriffs’ Burnett counties. Departments; the St. Croix Valley Drug On March 30, 2015, Vang’s vehicle was Task Force; and the St. Croix Tribal Police stopped by law enforcement. During a Department.
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GRANTSBURG—The Sentinel’s front page story last week regarding unknown explosions generated quite a bit of lip service and at least one “confession.” “Some guy had seen the paper, said he figured it was him making the unknown noise so he wanted to call and let us know,” Jeff Schinzing, Chief of Police in Grantsburg, reported. The source of the loud, explosion-like noise turned out to be tannerite. On-line sources identify tannerite as a binary explosive, a combination of two relatively stable powders that, when mixed, form an explosive powder, not unlike gun powder. The tannerite is marketed primarily for making exploding targets for firearms practice. “The guy said he wasn’t doing anything wrong and he wasn’t — it’s perfectly legal,” Schinzing continued. “Plus, he was using it at the gun range, where it ought to be used.” According to Wikipedia, the tannerite manufacturer recommends using no more than a half-pound of the mixed composition at once, for safety reasons. It was reported, however, this guideline is not always followed and the product can be readily purchased in larger amounts. “The man who called said he was using twopounds of the substance at a time — that might account for the window-rattling explosions people reported,” Schinzing concluded. By Todd Beckmann, Sentinel.
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