Country messenger 02 01 17

COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017

Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

VOL. 33 NO. 40 www.countrymessenger.com $.75

VINTERFEST: January thaw ends just in time for hockey and snow kubb, see photos PAGE 7

Comp plan volunteers bring range of experiences

Marine postal clerk to retire

BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

The banter across the counter at the Marine on St. Croix Post Office is jovial, kind, and one of the things Patti Leko, the office’s retiring clerk, predicts she’ll miss most upon retiring.

Leko, who has worked for the United States Postal Service for 24 years, has been stationed in Marine the entire time.

“They tried to get me out a few times,” she says of the USPS. “They wanted to downsize. The town fought it, and I fought to stay here.

“The post office has been good for me,” she continues, “and the patrons are phenomenal. That's why I fought to stay.”

The carriers moved to Scandia about five years ago, the Postal Service's attempt at cutting trucking costs, and Leko describes the Marine office as "a one-person show." Though she oversees operations there, she never became a postmaster.

“I'm still a clerk,” she explains.

“I didn't ever want to go any higher than that. I like the interactions as a clerk, and didn't want the stress and headache of the postmasters.”

BY KYLE WEAVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER

Patti Leko behind the counter at the Marine Post Office. After 24 years at the Marine station, Leko’s last day is this Friday, Feb. 3.

Leko said she’s thrived on hectic times, such as Christmas, and said the major challenge has been keeping revenues up when few people traveling on Highway

95 know the post office is tucked right around the corner.

“People don't realize there's a SEE POSTAL CLERK, PAGE 2

SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 2

Scandia students ‘fill buckets’ with kindness and respect Scandia Elementary students have been hard at work each week “filling each others’ buckets” with words and acts of kindness through their Bucket Filling program.

The program is based on the book, “Have you Filled a Bucket Today?”

by Carol McCloud, and promotes the concept that if people do and say kind things to others, they fill their bucket and make them feel good. If people do not do kind things, they “dip” into others’ buckets and make them feel bad.

Anytime a teacher sees a student fill another’s bucket, such as helping another student with their work, saying a kind word, or helping clean up someone else’s spill, the student is presented with a popsicle stick with their name on it. They then are able to take it to the office

A farmer, a businessman, a lake association member and an environmentalist walk into Scandia: That isn’t the opening subject line of a joke told by the Meister's Coffee Bunch, but it is a good start toward describing the city’s newest advisory committee.

The Scandia City Council last week selected four city residents to serve on its Comprehensive Plan Committee from among more than a dozen applicants.

John Herman, Julie Ruddy, Dominic Mitchell and former council member Dan Lee will serve on the advisory committee.

Prior to selecting the four citizen members,

the council agreed to select people who had experiences to represent the aforementioned four spheres of interest.

Each of the four citizens selected has experiences in more than one.

Herman, a 15-year resident, holds a juris doctorate degree from Harvard, owns a legal and economic development advisory firm, and has served on the St. Croix River Association Board.

Ruddy is a 40-year resident who currently works as director of art production for Fallon Worldwide advertising and is a former business owner in Scandia.

Lee owns a hobby farm and is a former owner of a commercial building restoration business.

Mitchell is a programs manager for St. Paul

Board to seek Wilder campus for Grove Elementary

BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

After looking into three potential facilities to house Grove Elementary, the future Marine Area Community School (MACS), the school board decided Jan. 21 to pursue a site in May Township’s Wilder Forest.

The board plans to begin lease negotiations with the Wilder Foundation for the campus facility formerly occupied by Concordia Language Villages.

SEE WILDER, PAGE 2 SUBMITTED

Scandia Elementary School’s December bucket fillers.

and drop it into a silver bucket.

Each week, Scandia Principal Julie Greiman, reads off the names on the sticks on the school’s television station, Scandia Elementary News Network.

Students also receive a certificate, a photo NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com

of themselves on the school’s station and a star on the Bucket Filling bulletin board with their name on it.

The program has helped contribute to Scandia’s positive climate while also unofficially enforcing the IB Learner Profile and ADVERTISING 651-433-3845 sales@osceolasun.com

the 10 attributes that students should develop throughout their years at Scandia: caring, thinkers, balanced, principled, open-minded, inquirers, risk-takers, communicators, knowledgeable and reflective.

PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com

COURTESY OF THE WILDER FOUNDATION

The Marine Area Community School Board decided Jan. 21 to pursue a campus in May Township’s Wilder Forest, at the site of the former Concordia Language Villages.

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Messenger wins three awards The Country Messenger was recognized with three awards last week at the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual convention.

The paper took first in its circulation category, Weeklies up to 1,500, in the categories of Business Story and Arts and Entertainment Story.

The Messenger placed second in Government/ Public Affairs Reporting in a slightly larger pool, Weeklies up to 2,500.

The business story, “Wood, working,” was a feature about Scandia resident Ben Johnson, who makes furniture from reclaimed wood through his business, Would That Could.

A judge commented that the piece was “well written and holds the interest of the reader. A great story of how a business owner got his start ….”

Franconia Sculpture Park artist Paul Howe

was featured in the story that won the Arts and Entertainment category.

The article, “Hard work, and no one gets to do it,” examined Howe’s 2015 sculpture, “Getting the Hang of It.” “This was easily the best-written of the bunch,” wrote the judge, “a compelling look into the artist, what drives him and what influenced his work.”

Finally, “Muskies in Big Marine?” followed

the fight of locals in Scandia and May Township to keep the Department of Natural Resources from stocking Big Marine Lake with muskellunge.

“An in-depth look at an intriguing topic that is region-specific,” wrote the judge. “The writer conducted thorough research and presented the information in an interesting fashion.”

The Country Messenger was honored to receive the awards.

WILDER: School board decides to pursue site in forest FROM PAGE 1

The language camp ended school year programming at the site after Wilder announced plans to sell the property in 2014.

“There’s no commitment by either party yet,” MACS Board Chair Kristina Smitten said of the deal, “but we’re focusing on that for delivering the educational program.”

Smitten described the site as “perfect for children to dive deeper into place-based learning,” with access to the natural environment, local history, art and opportunities for civic engagement.

If negotiations are successful, the board will hold an open house this spring before asking the

school’s 204 applicants to submit enrollment information.

“We want to let them visit the campus and meet the teachers,” Smitten explained.

The board hopes to post position descriptions for the school administrator and seven teacher positions Feb. 1 and begin interviews in March.

School board members plan to meet with the May Town Board Feb. 2 to answer questions and begin to build a relationship with township officials.

MACS officials met with the Stillwater School Board Jan. 19 to discuss the potential for collaboration.

No specific plans were arranged, but Smitten noted that the MACS

Board is “striving for a positive relationship with District 834.”

She added: “We’ll continue to work with them to find areas of collaboration. We believe it’s best for our students and all community members if we can find ways to work together.”

Start-up grant The MACS Board submitted its application for a Charter School Program (CSP) Grant on Jan. 24.

The federally funded grant helps charter schools handle start-up costs.

“We finalized the CSP Grant for startup funding and turned it in yesterday,” Smitten reported last Wednesday. “We submitted it to the Department of Education and will hear back in early March.”

Watch your step!

Ice-prone walkways dangerous in Marine and elsewhere

BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

It’s been two years since Bill Masche, a normally active Marine resident, spent the bulk of his winter indoors, waiting for his ribs to heal. He’d broken seven of them when he fell on a patch of ice in December 2014.

“I do a lot of walking,” he said, “usually about four or five miles around Marine. That morning I was headed through the village. I walked past the General Store, the city hall and the bridge. At the end of the bridge the sidewalk stops and there’s a perpetual pool of water.”

The water had predictably turned to ice, but it was hidden that morning by a dusting of snow.

Quite suddenly, Masche, then 63 years old, found himself flat.

“I did a crash fall,” he said. “I didn’t have time to catch myself. It happened that quick. I fractured seven ribs, went to the emergency room and spent the night in the hospital. Then they sent me home because there isn’t much they can do with ribs. I spent the next three months sleeping in a chair.”

In January, he wrote the Marine City Council, hoping to start a conversation about what might be done to prevent water from pooling in that place.

“I tried to be respectful but firm about the fact that there’s always water there,” he explained. “It’s a pathway people take because the sidewalk ends — and then, there’s the puddle.”

And that’s not the only walk in town that could use repair, Masche added.

“The city guys do a great job,” he said, “… (but) the pathways and walks in Marine are uneven, and they’re not marked. There’s no handicapped accessibility, there are no truncated domes (a textured ground surface at intersections to help blind pedestrians navigate) … These are very simple, not very expensive things cities have been required to do to protect people.”

Masche recalled asking the council to think

COUNCIL: New members on comprehensive plan committee FROM PAGE 1

Public Housing Agency who also holds a law degree from the University of St. Thomas.

The four citizen members will be joined on the committee by Mayor Christine Maefsky and one appointee from each of the city’s four other advisory committees.

The committee will be facilitated by the city’s engineering firm, Bolton & Menk, through a series of pop-up meetings and other public hearings over the next two years.

As required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, the city must final-

ize and submit a comprehensive plan by Dec. 31, 2018.

Once enacted, the plan serves as a long-term strategy for the city’s development codes, parks and trails, transportation, housing and economic development concerns.

Other committees, appointees The council appointed Jan Hogle to a five-year term on the city’s Planning Commission. Hogle is a former commission member, last serving in 2015. The council also appointed Craig Pittman to

Complete Accounting Services for individuals and businesses

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the city’s Wastewater Advisory Committee.

Councilman Jim Schneider was chosen to serve as Acting Mayor.

Other business: • The council approved an ordinance regulating the spreading of septage, limiting the practice to the city’s agriculturally zoned areas with larger lot sizes.

• The council approved a set of development code changes that limit exterior storage and parking of unlicensed and recreational vehicles.

• The council granted a franchise agreement to Frontier Cable.

• The council designated The Country Messenger as its official newspaper for 2017. The council also renewed service agreements

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with TKDA, the city’s planning firm, and with Schlenner Wenner, for the city’s annual financial audit.

• The council approved a wage step increase for City Treasurer Colleen Firkus, who will make $20.72 per hour.

• The council approved a letter of support for the Big Marine Lake Association’s application for a Washington County grant to combat Eurasian water milfoil on the lake.

• The council accepted the retirement of firefighter Ron Boesel. Boesel served the department for 28 years, most recently as training captain.

The next Scandia City Council meeting will be held Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m.

• Providing exceptional customer service • Respecting our patients’ time • Educating our patients, not lecturing • Providing high quality dentistry • Utilizing the most advanced materials • Creating a friendly, home-like environment • Making our patients’ comfort a priority • Caring about the well being of our patients • Helping our patients achieve the healthiest, most attractive smile possible

SEE ICE, PAGE 6

POSTAL CLERK: FROM PAGE 1

post office here,” she says. “We do need the revenue because the Post Office does look at our overall cost. But patrons have put the word out and I've seen more new faces in because of it.”

One of her favorite parts of the job?

“Being at the window and a little kid will come in,” she says. “They're always kinda shy. So I'll ask them, ‘Are you helping your mom or dad or grandpa?’ If they say yeah I'll say, ‘You know helpers get stickers.’ So when they walk away they have a sticker and they can't wait to come again.

“They're our future customers and employees,” Leko continues.

“After awhile you see them smile going out the door and then you see them smile coming

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back in. It's been a lot of fun.”

Leaving her post will be bittersweet, says Leko, but she and her husband of almost 40 years, Bill Leko, have plans.

"We're going to throw stuff in the back of the pickup truck and go,” she says. “Not look at a calendar, not look at a clock.”

Leko's last day is Feb. 3. After that, Marine residents will honor her years of dedication with a retirement party (details below).

Patti’s Retirement Party WHEN: Fri. Feb. 3 at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Brookside Bar & Grill (140 Judd St.) DETAILS: Locals celebrate Leko’s decades of cheerful service to the community.

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FEBRUARY 2

The Vet’s camp is located at 11300 180th St. N, Marine on St. Croix.

“Decolonizing” American Education: a Fulbright Scholar’s journey in India

FEBRUARY 18

Join Paul Creager on Thurs, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Marine Village Hall for a multi-media presentation about his unique approach to curriculum, which is ultimately a complete revision of the school experience acheived by infusing community-based, civic engaged digital storytelling for students. Paul is a teacher and curriculum/ media arts coordinator at Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul as well as co-founder of the Marine Film Society, and director of the Square Lake Festival.

For more information, go to MarineCommunityLibrary.org/events/ calendar, PaulCreager. com and videovolunteers.org.

FEBRUARY 4 Family Snow Fun Bring your little one for fun in the snow at Warner Nature Center!

Geared towards families with young children, we will do a craft, try out snowshoeing, and end with a campfire. Sat., Feb. 4, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Warner Nature Center (15375 Norell Ave N). There is a fee. FFI or to register contact Rosanne at 651-433-2427 ext. 10.

Kick-sledding & Cocoa Join Warner Nature Center for a fun afternoon using Norwegian “sparks” or kicksleds!

Ridden with the same kicking and gliding motion as skiing, kicksleds provide a fun outdoor experience during the winter. After we try out the kicksleds, we will warm up by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa.

Sat., Feb. 4, from 2-4 p.m. at Warner Nature Center (15375 Norell Ave N).

For all ages. $7 WNC Friends/SMM members; $10 nonmembers. FFI or to register contact

Marine Area Community School Board of Directors Meeting

The Marine Area Community School (district 4254) will hold its monthly board meeting on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marine Village Hall (121 Judd St, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047). All community members and parents of potential students are invited to attend. The agenda will be posted on their website: www.marineareaschool.org.

FEBRUARY 25 Oscar Short Film screening

GENE DI LORENZO | COUNTRY MESSENGER

Womens March on Washington — Minnesota A crew from Marine and the surrounding area stood out at the Jan. 21 Women’s March in St. Paul with a custom-made banner.

Rosanne at 651-433-2427 ext. 10.

Vintage Snowmobile Event Stillwater Snowmobile Club’s 4th Annual “The Older The Better” Vintage Snowmobile Event will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Withrow Ballroom & Event Center, 12169 Keystone Ave North, Withrow, MN 55038.

Vintage sled and Best Outfit registration: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; sled judging: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1:00 p.m. will be a vintage sled ride to the shelter and back. Trophies, cash raffle, and door prizes.

There is an entry fee per sled.

Admission is free for spectators.

Twelve trophies will be awarded. Food and drinks available for purchase. Cash raffle will be drawn at 3:00 P.M. and trophies awarded at 3:15

P.M. Visit stillwatersnowmobileclub.org/ for more details.

FEBRUARY 10 Evening Owl and Snowshoe Hike Join us from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for an exciting evening exploring the woods of Warner Nature Center under the full moon.

Meet our resident barred and Eastern screech owls before heading out on a snowshoe night hike (conditions permitting) calling to the owls of Warner’s woods. Please note: We will hike if snow levels are too low for snowshoeing. There is a fee.

For further information or to register contact Rosanne at 651-433-2427 ext. 10.

FEBRUARY 11 MacPhail Center for Music comes to Marine Bring your children to

an adventure in music and play with MacPhail early childhood music specialists.

Through hands-on musical play activities, families will experience the magic of music’s impact on learning and reading readiness. Together we will sing, rhyme, read, move and create! Sat., Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m. in the Marine Village Hall (121 Judd Street).

Registration is required, opens Jan. 1.

Limit of 20 children.

Ages 1 month to 5 years.

Free!

For info, go to: marinecommunitylibrary.org/ events/calendar.

Dog-Sledding Warner Nature Center is partnering with the Samoyed Association of Minneapolis/St. Paul for a unique opportunity to spend time with beautiful furry Samoyed dogs.

The day will begin with a short program inside

the Trailside Museum followed by a meet and greet with the dogs and a dogsledding experience (conditions permitting) for small children (40 lbs. or less). The event is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is free, but you must register by phone before Thursday 2-9-16. FFI or to register contact Rosanne at 651-433-2427 ext. 10.

Vintage Snowmobile Show, Swap & Ride The Big Marine Lake Association, along with the Vet’s Camp on Big Marine Lake, is holding the second annual Vintage Snowmobile.

Included will be 8 classes of show snowmobiles, trail ride on the lake, bonfire, food and beverages plus trades and sales of used snowmobiles. A raffle will be held, all proceeds going to Big Marine Lake Association in it’s fight against invasive species.

There is a fee per sled.

Spectators free.

The Marine Community Library and Marine Film Society are hosting the annual Oscar Short Film screening as a fundraiser on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Marine Village Hall. Tickets are on sale through Brown Paper Tickets. Go to the library website for information: marinelibrary.org.

ONGOING Stillwater support group for families

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) sponsors free support groups for families who have a relative with a mental illness. Led by trained facilitators who have a family member with mental illness, the support groups help families develop better coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences.

The group meets on the first and third Mondays of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Stillwater Library, 224 Third St. N., in Margaret Rivers Room A. Please use the Third Street entrance and free parking ramp.

FFI: Call Marie or Bob at 651-770-1436.

Are you caring for a person with memory loss? Would you like more help?

The University of Minnesota is examining the effects of remote health monitoring for people with memory loss and their family members.

Learn more about participating in this free study by contacting Professor Joe Gaugler at 612.626.2485 or gaug0015@umn.edu.

Visit http://eneighborstudy.org to learn more

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FEBRUARY 1, 2017

Rocking free speech “You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free your mind instead” Lyric, “Revolution” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

W

hat can the Beatles teach us about the First Amendment, one of our most precious, least understood and most taken for granted freedoms?

I had the privilege of seeing a performance of Freedom Sings, a program of rock, pop and soul music that illustrates how music and free speech changed the world.

Ken Paulson, former editor of USA Today and President of the First Amendment Center, has assembled a cast of solid studio musicians who performed last Thursday at the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual convention.

Dez Dickerson, the original guitarist with Prince and the Joe Wooten, solo artPublisher Revolution; ist and keyboardist for the Steve Miller Band; Bill Lloyd, a country Tom Stangl hit-maker with Foster and Lloyd who wrote songs for Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride and Hootie and the Blowfish; Jonell Mossner, the lead singer of the New Maroons, with Ringo Starr on drums; Jason White and singer songwriter who has written hits for Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood and Jessie Wooten, an innovative drummer based in Nashville performed a set of music that was interspersed with history.

It was a great show.

Paulson explains that the group normally performs on college campuses, using music to illustrate how free speech has and continues to be a force for change in our nation.

For those of my generation, hearing songs like Crosby Stills Nash and Young’s “Ohio,” a response to the shooting of four unarmed college students at Kent State in 1970, was great fun, but learning the back story was even better. David Crosby explained that the group’s single “Teach Your Children” was climbing the charts in May of 1970, just before the shootings. Neil Young wrote “Ohio,” a strong protest, against the war in Vietnam and its expansion into Cambodia, the group recorded it and within a week, pulling their single “Teach Your Children” in favor of “Ohio.” Crosby said that this never could be done today, due to business concerns. The leadership of the record label had the courage to make the change.

Paulson explained that censorship of music generally revolves around sexuality, drugs and language. The Everly Brothers’ 1958 hit, “Wake Up, Little Susie,” was banned in many areas because of the sexual implications of the lyrics. It went on to be a hit and is now seen as what it was – an innocent song about a boy and girl who fell asleep at the drive-in.

Perhaps the most touching story was about Sam Cooke. Cooke wrote and recorded “A Change is Gonna Come” after being denied a room at a motel in New Orleans because he was black.

Cooke was murdered in 1964 and never got to see his song become a civil rights anthem and eventually be used by candidate Obama when he sought the presidency.

Free speech can change the world, but it must be protected.

SEE STANGL, PAGE 5

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We are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday. Call: (651) 433-3845 or fax at (651) 433-3158.

TO SUBSCRIBE: office@osceolasun.com The Country Messenger is mailed to the homes of subscribers for delivery every Wednesday. One year

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bill to fine protestors On January 24 a bill passed in committee to institute a penalty to citizens who exercise their right to protest. HF 322 would allow our state

government to file suit against any protester arrested by police and make them pay for public safety response costs incurred during the protest above and beyond existing statutory fines.

The representative from Elk River who sponsored the bill pointed to the expense that the state has incurred with recent demonstrations including Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March

in St. Paul. He proposes that police can arrest anyone involved in those marches and make them pay for the expenses of the whole group.

SEE LETTERS, PAGE 5

Tangling with early season trout

T

he snow was coming down heavier than I had expected, even building up on my shoulders. I noticed a minute drift running down the entire length of my 9-foot fly rod. Slush was forming around the rod's eyes as I stripped in line. I flicked the heavy weighted nymph upstream into the deep run in the middle of the fast water again, stripping in line to keep the strike indicator coming in at the same speed as the water coming my way. Suddenly the strike indicator sank; I lifted my rod and felt weight and strength on the other end.

As soon as the nice brown realized it had been fooled, it cut out of the run. It shot passed me like a rocket and was 20 yards downstream in a Wild River flash. I changed the angle of my rod and turned the fish to regain line.

Trails The trout continued its fight but I was able to work it into calm water and Jim Bennett net the foot long brown trout. The colors were amazing and I relished the

moment of the early catch and release trout season.

The snow continued to fall as I met my son Josh at the bridge on this famous Wisconsin trout stream.

Once back in the water, even with snow becoming heavier, I struggled to stay focused. The moving water and snow covered rocks were affecting my equilibrium. My gaze was distracted by the winter beauty as I tried to focus on my strike indicator even though I prefer to fish without one. The strike of a fish changes all of that and focus is regained. Wax on, wax off Grasshopper!

With the right combinations of the correct nymphs, Josh and I started to become better anglers on this extreme day in the stream. I like extreme challenges.

With bead heads, scuds and heavy nymphs we found fish. Fooling fish was easier with a good looking fly.

Josh’s talent as fly tier has made us both better trout anglers. That was evident when I asked him how many trout he had taken--he had lost count.

On this day I might have taken 15 trout and I know SEE BENNETT, PAGE 5

LETTER GUIDELINES Letters to the Editor are published with priority given to letters that are concise (350 words or less) and exclusive to our newspaper, from readers in our general distribution area.

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Save money with homemade protein bars

I

t seems everywhere you look someone is promoting healthy living and healthy eating. Working out or exercising is a major part of being healthy and the way we eat really affects the results of exercising, especially if you are strengthening muscle. Protein in a huge part of muscle recovery after a big workout.

I will admit eating healthy can be a chore. I love vegetables, but I hate cutting them up—so I do it once a week so I can just grab and go from the fridge. Eating enough protein is not as easy because I don’t like precooked meats.

A few years ago, I started eating Wild Chow store-bought protein bars, but experimented with making my own.

Lisa Erickson My early attempts were not appealing, but I switched from bean flours to protein powder.

I had to tweak the recipe a couple times, but finally they tasted great and they passed the picky teenager test!

My goal for the protein bars was to make them as healthy as possible with a small amount of sugar, high protein and keep the cost down (store bought protein bars are expensive). The store bought bars, on average have about 290 calories, 10 g fat, 21 g sugar, and 2 g fiber per serving. My bars ended up with 182 calories, 13 g fat, and 14 g sugar, and 6 g fiber per serving. I did my happy, healthy recipe dance!!

To increase the fiber and add some healthy omega-3 fats, I used chia seeds. You can skip them if you want, but I think they add a nice extra healthy touch!

They are easy to make and they don’t need to bake—just mix and press. Melt some chocolate for the top and that is it. Happy workouts and recovery!

Ideas to consider in Scandia

BY KYLE WEAVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

News reporters never speak during meetings.

It is a basic tenet of journalism that we are observers, not actors, and therefore speaking during a meeting in a way that would influence an outcome is simply a no-no.

That being said, we do have our own viewpoints and, from time to time, a trusting editor will give us a forum in which to express them.

So without further adieu, here are a couple of suggestions I hope the people of Scandia and the folks on the new Scandia City Council might give consideration.

versation. But when a bigger group of city residents is in attendance— usually to hear a particular topic of interest—the warm bodies in the room seem to deaden the acoustics and occasionally create competing noise. Hearing the discussion becomes more challenging. Ironic, no? Through no one’s particular fault, when there is more interest in city governance, there is less ability for its governors and constituents to communicate. For a person with reduced hearing ability, I imagine it would be even more difficult. Bottom line: I would encourage the council to take up this project again.

Council Chamber audio

Televised meetings

In 2016, the Scandia City Council had budgeted $8,000 for a handful of improvements to its council chambers, most notably to install an audio system. The system would have provided microphones on the council dais and podium, and amplification thereof in the audience area.

When the new city administrator arrived, though, funding priorities necessarily shifted, and the project appears to have been benevolently forgotten. Things happen. I get it.

To be sure, the need is still there.

As a tenured audience member at council meetings dating back to before the city’s incorporation, the recurring complaint I hear among people in the back of the room is that they can’t always hear what is being said at the dais. I am blessed with great hearing and ordinarily have no trouble picking up the con-

Another issue resolved, for better or worse, in 2016 was the city’s involvement with the Forest Lake Cable Commission. Scandia opted out of its partnership with Columbus and Forest Lake and, as such, will no longer have a stake in the local cable access channel. One consequence of this action seems to be that the cable channel will no longer be televising city meetings.

To date, no council discussions have been held regarding what, if anything, the city plans to do about this.

I believe it is to the public’s benefit for the city to find a suitable way to film and broadcast its meetings, perhaps via a webbased service. It would likely cost little for the city to begin filming the meetings themselves and live streaming them, especially given that the city recently improved the city hall’s internet infrastructure.

If the previously discussed audio system were already in place that sound could be routed right into the broadcast.

It would be beneficial for public, press and council alike. City residents without the physical ability (or the schedule) to leave their homes can still keep up with what the city is doing. As a reporter, I have been occasionally unable to attend a meeting on behalf of The Country Messenger. But using the LATV-10 films, I have still been able to provide coverage and/or sometimes to double-check a quotation. Council members, likewise, would continue to have a clear record of what they heard and what they said. Accountability for all parties would prevail.

Rink roof

My last suggestion is more, let’s say, indulgent.

As a lifelong hockey player and fan, I have a fondness for outdoor ice rinks. I’ve skated on Scandia’s rink several times and have a particular affinity for it. I also appreciate the wisdom in its being used during the summer months as a skateboarding venue.

My suggestion is to put a roof over the rink.

In the summer months, this would keep rain off the pavement, keeping the surface dry and the puddles out, thus keeping the kids skating longer. A roof would provide shade during the hottest days, expanding the rink’s usefulness as an event space during Taco Daze, SEE WEAVER, PAGE 7

Lisa’s Protein Bars Serves 6 2/3 cup protein powder (vanilla flavor) or one scoop provided by manufacturer 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 1/4 cup natural peanut butter, plus 2 Tbsp. (no sugar added) 2 Tbsp. light agave syrup 1 Tbsp. chia seeds 1/4 cup dark chocolate, 60 % cacao, also known as bittersweet In a bowl, combine protein powder, oats, and chia seeds; stir to combine. Next, add peanut butter and agave; stir until the mixture is fully combined. If using a food processor, too, pulse only 3-4 times.

Spoon mixture into small pan (like a 5x9 loaf pan) and press into the bottom.

In another small bowl, carefully melt chips in the microwave, 8-10 seconds at a time. Stir between each time you microwave, until chips are melted.

Spread chocolate to cover the bars. Allow chocolate to set; cut into 6 bars.

Lisa Erickson is a food columnist who loves adventure and food. You can find more recipes at www. wild-chow.com or email her at wildchowrecipes@ gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 4

Whether you are conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, this is a frightening threat to our democracy. If the bill passes, it means that if you are pro-choice or pro-life, pro-immigration or anti-immigration, proTrump or anti-Trump, you can be fined thousands of dollars for just participating in a protest march. Our right to protest is fundamental to our citizenship as Americans. This bill

moves us in the direction of an authoritarian state.

Although we tax payers share the burden of the expense of these marches, I think of it as a good investment as an insurance policy against totalitarianism. If you agree, please let Rep. Bob Dettmer and Sen. Karin Housely know soon before it is voted on in the Minnesota House and Senate.

Thank you, Brian Wicklund Marine on St. Croix

BENNETT: Early trout FROM PAGE 4

that Josh had taken twice that many and he told my why. I needed to mend my line better and keep things tighter when I cast upstream so I keep the drift looking more natural. But on this day I was enjoying the extreme. The snow coming down hard enough to change our surroundings was capturing too much of my attention.

The world around me was vanishing in a white covering. It was a good excuse.

Watching Josh take fish after fish I felt more like a struggling Jeremiah Johnson crawling through the water on my hands and knees. Josh was the red painted Indian chief astride his horse with a long stringer of fish hanging down to the water. When I yelled out to him, “Johnson,” he looked up at me and I knew that he knew what I meant.

Jim Bennett is an outdoorsman who lives and worked in the St. Croix River Valley and can be reached at jamesbennett24@gmail.com.

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715-294-2111 | MyOMC.org

6

COUNTRY MESSENGER

FEBRUARY 1, 2017 www.countrymessenger.com

SUBMITTED

Scandia students embrace Martin Luther King Jr. Day In an effort to promote a more peaceful and equitable world, Scandia Elementary students in Laura Frericks’ third grade class participated in activities surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17. Students watched a video about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and why he wanted to see change in the world, while also diving into how to make that change in a peaceful and nonviolent manner. Frericks’ class then participated in writing their own “I have a dream” statements for three separate areas: country, community and world. Pictured above is third-grader Alexis’ “I have a dream” statement project.

TERESA HOLMDAHL | COUNTRY MESSENGER

MNA Convention Kelly Appel from the Grantsburg Sentinel Newspaper thanks honored guest speaker Patty Wetterling at the 2017 Minnesota Newspaper Convention in Bloomington on January 27.

The Country Messenger took home three awards (see page 2) for this year’s Better Newspaper Contest.

ICE: Dangerous walkways in winter, watch step

Tried.

FROM PAGE 2

about doing an asphalt overlay in the area where he fell, and emphasized that he offered to help.

But he didn’t hear anything back.

“I didn’t get as much as a thank you for your email,” he said.

“I thought it would be a quick fix. It’s not that big a deal to fix if you’re patching asphalt somewhere else. I didn’t take the route of accusing, or say, ‘I’m going to get a lawyer and sue you.’ It was a very calm letter. …

I was offering to help and thinking they would at

Tested.

True.

Every issue.

Oýering you more than just the news.

least reply.”

Marine representatives did receive the letter, according to Mayor Glen Mills, and has planned repairs throughout the city.

“The City of Marine on St. Croix City Council did review and discuss Mr. Masche’s letter at an open council meeting and is aware of the conditions of the sidewalks and roads in the city,” he said. “There is a timeline in place for repair and/ or replacement; however these repairs cannot all be done at once due to the significant cost involved.”

Drain and Sewer Line Cleaning Sewer Line Thawing High Pressure Jetting Septic Tank Cleaning & Repairs Lift Station Pump Repairs Sewage Treatment System Installation Full Service Excavation

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651-464-2082 www.olsonsinthepink.com

While Masche isn’t the only one concerned about ice in Marine, others believe the city’s sidewalks are no more treacherous than elsewhere.

“The streets are slanted and they bring water, debris and ice in front of the businesses,” said Andy Kramer, former co-owner of the Marine General Store. “It’s a safety concern about the state of the streets and sidewalks.”

But Dick Boulet, who slipped and fell in Marine earlier this winter, disagreed.

“I did fall,” he said, “but I could have fallen anywhere.”

Boulet, a retired firefighter of 32 years, noted that he was impressed with the city’s rescue team.

“The morning I fell and called 911, the Marine rescue squad responded in minutes and took the best care of me that I could expect. Hats off to Marine on St. Croix. I’m thankful I was in the village when I fell.”

He added: “There is a plan. A small community like this doesn’t have millions of dollars to do all the streets at once.”

The timeline for repairs is laid out in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, a fairly large document that is available for review at the city office during regular business hours.

The section of Judd Street, along with sidewalks where Boulet fell, is scheduled for repair in 2018.

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

COUNTRY MESSENGER

7

www.countrymessenger.com

GENE DI LORENZO/EVAN JOHNSON

‘Howie DoDat’ the Gnome (also known as Mark Peterson, from Forest Lake) entertains the crowd at the Lions Pancake Breakfast.

WEAVER:

GENE DI LORENZO

Hockey teams competed all day during the 2017 Scanley Cup Tournament.

Ideas to ponder FROM PAGE 5

SH OT

etc.

In the winter months, sun is the enemy of ice.

With a roof, rink flooding could begin earlier without competition from el sol. The ice would be more durable during warm, sunny days and it would likely last longer into the spring. Plus, the city’s Zamboni would have less snow to remove and would endure less wear-and-tear as a result. Best of all? It’s still an outdoor rink.

Funding is, of course, the biggest hurdle. I have no idea what it would cost, but a simple, open-sided pole shed couldn’t be that much, could it? Perhaps a public-private partnership between the city and the Scandia-Marine Lions could look at this? I feel it’s a project worth examining.

The COUNTRY

Kyle Weaver is a freelance journalist and outdoorsman who lives in the St. Croix River Valley.

He can be reached at swsman28@yahoo.com.

GENE DI LORENZO/EVAN JOHNSON

STANGL:

Mark Peterson from Chisago City competed in this year’s Kubb Scramble Tournament.

Free speech FROM PAGE 4

With the division, obfuscation and mistrust in our world, I know my job in news is more important than ever.

I will do my best to make sure our papers tell the whole story.

We all should demand no less.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@theameryfreepress.com, telephone 715268-8101 or write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI, 54001.

Thanks for reading; I’ll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.

GENE DI LORENZO/EVAN JOHNSON

Amalya M. from Isanti, 6 years old, getting ready for the 2027 Scanley Cup Tournament.

Larry and Gwen Roden at Night Market in Malacca, Malaysia, Jan. 8, 2017.

8

COUNTRY MESSENGER

FEBRUARY 1, 2017 www.countrymessenger.com

Restoring Bone, Moody lakes with watershed approach

received a $78,028 Clean Water Act Section 319 grant, and will also contribute $29,293 in local funds from the district’s capital improvement fund.

In addition to protecting downstream lakes and rivers, project staff anticipate that the wetland enhancements will improve habitat for waterfowl and wildlife in the area. The project will be completed by the end of March.

BY ANGIE HONG WASHINGTON CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District broke ground last Friday on a $536,605 wetland restoration project in southern Chisago County that will ultimately improve water quality in Moody Lake (Chisago Lake Twp.) and Bone Lake (Scandia). The project will serve as an example for how to work at a watershed scale, as well as how to target water quality improvement projects to get the biggest bang for the buck.

The district began a five-year project to improve Bone and Moody lakes in late 2010 when it harvested more than 23,000 pounds of carp from Bone Lake and 3,600 of small bullheads from Moody Lake. In 2012, the district installed low-velocity fish barriers to prevent rough fish from migrating in and out of the two lakes. Last year, the district installed a winter aeration system in Moody Lake to prevent winter fish kills and help keep the bullhead population in check.

This year’s wetland improvement project will keep 445 pounds of phosphorus out of Moody Lake each year, which is 80 percent of the reduction needed to nurse Moody back to good health and

For more information about the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District, visit www.clflwd. org or call (651) 395-5850.

SUBMITTED

Mike Sorensen and Jessica Lindemyer from the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District collected soil samples from the wetlands last summer.

prevent excessive algae growth.

Though Moody is a small lake, only 34 acres in size, it is located at the headwaters of the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake watershed. From Moody, water flows downstream to Bone Lake, Comfort Lake, the Sunrise River, and eventually the St. Croix River. Several years ago, the watershed district completed a multi-year diagnostic study to identify the biggest sources of nutrient pollution for Moody Lake and prioritize the most cost-effective practices and best locations for

Answers

lake improvement projects.

Water monitoring conducted in 2014 identified the northwest portion of the Moody Lake watershed as a phosphorus hotspot. Though only 25 percent of the water flowing into Moody Lake comes from that area, it supplies 66 percent of the phosphorus. The district realized that three wetlands in this area were sending large amounts of phosphorus downstream into the lake. The discovery was surprising because wetlands usually act like kidneys, helping to filter out excess nu-

trients and pollutants.

These three wetlands, however, had become super-saturated with phosphorus and were no longer functioning like a filter.

To restore the Moody Lake wetlands, the watershed district will excavate and remove nutrient-rich sediment, plant buffer strips to protect the wetlands from erosion and runoff pollution, and install a fence around the two northernmost wetlands to limit cattle access. A refurbished cattle crossing will be installed to allow cattle to travel through the wet-

CLUES ACROSS 1. Baseball team 5. Hymns 11. Actor Jared 12. Fragrance 16. __ Von Bismarck, Iron Chancellor 17. Nordic God 18. Weighed down 19. Coppola’s mob epic 24. Nanogram 25. Famed street artist 26. Identifier 27. 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet 28. In addition 29. Micturated 30. Shock 31. Accept 33. Allotment 34. Eras 38. Emerges 39. Cape Verde capital 40. __, United Arab Emirates capital 43. Small amount 44. Back of the foot 45. Pakrit language 49. Home of “60 Minutes” 50. Condemn 51. Ailed 53. Elevated railroad 54. Rebelliousness 56. Ancient Greek city 58. Clothing company (abbr.)

59. Member of the cabbage family 60. Softens or smooths 63. Mass of coagulated liquid 64. Problems 65. Irish Republic CLUES DOWN 1. Dress 2. Deadly 3. Says aloud 4. PT Anderson film “__ Nights” 5. Teacher (abbr.)

land without trampling the vegetation, and the cattle will also have access to water in a feedlot, which is not part of the wetland. The landowner with the cattle has also worked with the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District to prepare a managed rotational grazing plan for his property.

The Moody Lake wetland improvement project will be paid for in large part by a $429,284 Clean Water Grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, as part of the Legacy Amendment. In addition, the watershed district

6. Anesthetized 7. Anno Domini (in the year of Our Lord) 8. __ and behold 9. French young women (abbr.)

10. Scorch 13. Notre Dame 14. Express disapproval 15. Cars need these 20. Not off 21. Unit of mass 22. You 23. Concealed 27. Parent-teacher organizations 29. Approximately 3.14159 30. Chinese conception of poetry 31. Satisfaction 32. College degree 33. Formerly Ceylon: __ Lanka

Angie Hong is an educator for East Metro Water - www.mnwcd.org/ emwrep - which includes Brown’s Creek, Carnelian Marine - St. Croix, Comfort Lake – Forest Lake, Middle St. Croix, Ramsey Washington-Metro, Rice Creek, South Washington and Valley Branch Watersheds, Cottage Grove, Dellwood, Forest Lake, Grant, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Newport, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, Stillwater, St. Paul Park, West Lakeland, Willernie and Woodbury, Washington County and the Washington Conservation District.

Contact her at 651-3308220 x.35 or angie.hong@ mnwcd.org.

34. Effeminate 35. Something to solve 36. Horses like these 37. Intelligence organization 38. Blood type 40. Exhibition 41. Poisonous plant 42. Aluminum 44. Possesses 45. Penetrate with a sharp instrument 46. Ring-shaped objects 47. Speaks at church 48. Form in the mind 50. Selectors 51. Probability of default 52. 2001 Spielberg film 54. Where to get a sandwich 55. Newts 57. Modus operandi 61. Exists 62. Politico-economic union

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

COUNTRY MESSENGER

9

www.countrymessenger.com

A free press for a free people

F

ree press. Free people.

The words, centered on a program last week at the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual convention, jumped out at me.

The pairing of the press and the people likely resonated because I’d just left a session at which experienced and accomplished journalists had discussed the predicament American news outlets are facing.

Our recently inaugurated president has accused established news organizations of producing fake news, or in the cases of CNN and the New York Times, of actually being fake news (whatever that means).

The journalists I’d been listening to at the MNA convention, each of whom had won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting, were concerned.

Editor How are journalists to handle a Suzanne Lindgren leader who spouts mistruths and then accuses news outlets of conspiring against him when they cite the facts?

The implications are frightening.

Over the weekend, a man who has studied despots around the world made a point via the president’s favorite platform, Twitter.

“Attacks on legitimate media that holds power to account is a routine precursor to the rise of authoritarianism,” tweeted Brian Klaas, who is a fellow at the London School of Economics and author of “The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy.”

Klaas elaborated on this idea in an analysis he

wrote for Vice. “(Trump’s) early strategies and style mimic authoritarian governance around the world — strategies I’ve seen firsthand in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa,” he wrote. “This does not mean that Trump is a despot or will become one.

But it does mean we should worry.”

The press and its role — to question, to check, to get the facts before passing the story along — are vital at this moment.

The easy way out would be not to live up to that necessary standard of truth, to simply repeat the presidential message of the day as though they were the sheep in Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”

Whether or not CNN and the New York Times are your news outlets of choice, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that they are not fake news organizations. Some of you might disagree.

Like it or not, here in rural America, we are at the front lines of this debate.

Trump can lambast the media, and journalists can continue to examine his words, sorting fact from fiction.

We are the real people who can have this conversation.

Those of you who don’t believe the mainstream media can be trusted, do you take the president’s claims at face value or do you look for an outside source to corroborate the information? What are your trusted sources for news?

I welcome your responses to this editorial column at editor@countrymessenger.com.

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AREA CHURCHES Ascension Episcopal Church

Forest Hills United Methodist Church

Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church (LCMS)

Osceola United Methodist Church

St. Joseph Catholic Church

214 North Third Street N, Stillwater (651) 439-2609 • www.ae-church.org Rev. Marilyn Baldwin Rev. Buff Grace, Rector Rev. Brenda Hoffman Mindy Boynton, Christian Ed/Youth Nancy Whipkey, Music Sunday: 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, no music 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist, with music

Hwy. 97 at County Road 34 S.E. Forest Lake (651) 464-5249 Pastor: Rev. David Werner www.foresthillsumc.net 10:15 a.m. Sunday worship

25402 Itasca Avenue Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-462-3535 / lordofthelakes.org Pastor Craig Bertram Regular Worship 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Communion First and Third Sundays 9:00 a.m. Coffee Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Class

306 River Street Osceola, WI (715) 755-2275 osceolaunitedmethodistchurch@gmail.com Sunday: Worship 10 a.m.

Fellowship at 11 a.m.

490 Bench St., Taylors Falls, MN (651) 465-7345 Sat. Mass 5:30 p.m.

Sun. Mass 7:30 a.m.

Maranatha Assembly of God

Lake Elmo (651) 430-9950 5900 Lake Elmo Avenue N. (Hwy 36 & County Road 17) Pastor Jon Neitzel, Teen Pastor Greg Hamm Children’s Pastor Karen Hynes Sunday Worship and Childrens’ Church 9:30 a.m. Nursery available.

Saturday Worship and Children’s Church, 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Teen Service 7:00 p.m.

The Baha’i Faith For information about Baha’i Faith or times and places of meetings call (651) 433-3686.

Christ Lutheran Church 150 Fifth Street, Marine (651) 433-3222, office ext. 10 Pastors Joel Martin and Hannah Bartos Sunday Worship 8:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

Kid’s Church during 9:45 service.

Wednesday Life Night schedule: Community Supper at 5:15 p.m.

Faith formation classes for all ages at 6:30 p.m.

Elim Lutheran Church Scandia (651) 433-2723 www.elimscandia.org Senior Pastor Scott Westphal Associate Pastor Meredith McGrath Sunday Worship: Sunday Worship: 8 and 9:30 am in the Sanctuary Christian Education for all ages at 8:45 a.m.

Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) Forest Lake (651) 464-3323 886 North Shore Drive Pastors: Rev. Philip Peterson, Rev. Paul Brown Sunday Worship: Traditional, 7:45 & 9:00 a.m.

Praise Service: 10:30 a.m.

Grace Church 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola Pastor Mark Barlow Amy Germain, Day Care Bety Greydanus, Office Manager “The Cure for the Common Church” e-mail: info@gracechurchosceola.com www.gracechurchosceola.com or call (715) 294-4222 or (715) 755-3454 Sunday: Praise and Worship Service 9 a.m. with Children’s Church Adult Bible Study 10:45 a.m.

Children’s Sunday School 10:45 a.m.

Christian Child Day Care Monday-Friday 5:30 am – 6 p.m.

Hosanna Lutheran Church (ELCA) Living, loving and serving as Jesus did... so that all may know him.

9300 Scandia Tr. N. Forest Lake (651) 464-5502 www.hosannaforestlake.net Linda Friesen, Lead Pastor Jen Collins, Associate Pastor Sept-May Worship Schedule Sunday 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

In Great Hall (lower level) Wednesday (thru Apr) 6:00 p.m. in Garden Chapel (upper level)

Lakes Free Church www.lakesfree.org Lindstrom (651) 257-2677 29620 Olinda Trail N. Senior Pastor Richard Stanghelle, Associate Pastor Jason Carlson Sunday Worship 9 & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 9 & 10:30 a.m.

10963 Lake Blvd. (Hwy 8) Chisago City (651) 464-3131 Pastor Bill Headley Worship service 10 a.m.

Wednesday Clubs 6:30 p.m.

Osceola Community Church 2492 Education Dr., Osceola, WI Larry Mederich, Pastor (715) 417-0608 • www.occconnect.org Sunday Worship 9 a.m. with provided Nursery Kids Church 9:30 a.m.

Meeting in home groups throughout the week. Call for details, 715-294-4332.

Osceola Medical Center Spiritual Care

2600 65th Avenue, Osceola, WI www.myomc.org/specialtyserv_1chapel.php 715-294-5645 fax: 715-294-5712 email: alan.hagstrom@myomc.org Chapel open daily for meditation.

River Valley Christian Church

St. Croix Falls United Methodist Church Upper St. Croix Parish 300 N. Adams St. • (715)-483-9494 Pastor Carolyn Saunders Pastor MIke Brewbaker Sunday Service 10 a.m.

St. Croix Valley Friends Meeting Stillwater (651) 439-7981 Seventh Day Adventist Church, Fifth & Laurel Streets Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. Childcare available.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Franconia (651) 465-7345 Sunday Mass: 9:30 a.m.

Father Frank Wampach Three miles north on Hwy. 95 from Hwy. 97. West on Redwing 1/4 mile.

St. Joseph Catholic Cluster Osceola (715) 294-2243 Rev. Andy Anderson Saturday Mass: St. Joseph’s, 4 p.m.

St. Anne’s, Somerset 5 p.m.

Sunday Mass: Assumption, East Farmingon 8:30 a.m.

St. Anne’s, Somerset 8 & 10 a.m.

St. Joseph’s, Osceola 10:30 a.m.

Call for weekday mass and reconciliation schedules.

Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS) Osceola (715) 294-2828 300 Seminole Avenue Sunday Worship: 9 a.m.

Sunday School/Bible Class: 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday worship: 7 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church Stillwater (651) 439-7400 www.trinitylc.org • 115 North Fourth Street Pastors: Dan Poffenberger & Stephanie Vos, Saturday Evening Worship: 5 p.m.

Sunday Worship: 9 a.m Traditional; 10:30 a.m. The WALK Contemporary Worship Children’s Learning, Sunday 9 a.m. and on Wednesday 6 p.m.

Wednesday 7:15 p.m. “The River” Youth Worship

10

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FEBRUARY 1, 2017 www.countrymessenger.com

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

INSURANCE

NOAH INSURANCE GROUP THE ORIGINAL PRETTY GOOD GROCERY Open Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Osceola • 715-294-2510 877-571-9315 Stillwater • 888-430-6624 www.noahinsurancegroup.com

Visit us online:

To advertise in the Business Builder: 13 week minimum Call 651-433-3845 for more info.

COUNTRY

.com

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

COUNTRY MESSENGER

11

www.countrymessenger.com

Conservation District seeks summer apprentices Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is currently accepting applications for young adults, ages 18-25, for summer apprentice positions in 33 Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Minnesota. Apprentices will spend their summer working alongside natural resource professionals to learn hands-on skills in managing soil and water resources.

Responsibilities vary by site and may include communicating with landowners, creating educational materials, inspecting and monitoring sites, preparing reports and other conservation-related activities.

The Washington Conservation District apprentice will be based at The Conservation Center office in Oakdale, Minn.

Apprentices will serve as AmeriCorps members and receive a monthly living stipend of $1,355 as well as an education award of $1,528 to use towards qualifying education and student loan expenses. Educational credits may be arranged by the apprentice. The service term runs from May 16 to August 11, 2017.

Those interested may get more information at www. conservationcorps.org/apprentice-academy and complete an application online at conservationcorps.org/apply. The application deadline is March 3, 2017.

The summer apprentice program is funded through the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund and LCCMR.

Register for beginner fly-fishing weekend for youth-adult pairs Developing a rhythm of smooth casts over a peaceful stream and catching fish may be goals for the beginner fly angler, but an experienced instructor can help turn initial flailing into finesse.

Registration is open for an event that teaches the basics of fly-fishing to pairs of youths and adults, from evening on Friday, June 2, to afternoon on Sunday, June 4, near Lanesboro.

“The youth and adults are both beginners, so they can struggle and laugh and grow together,” said Deb Groebner, a regional specialist with MinnAqua, an educational program of the Minnesota Department of

N R Naturall Resources.

“Fly fishing lets you catch a variety of fish species and after this

l h participants i i class the will be ready to fish on their own in lakes, ponds and streams.”

To participate, youth must be 11 to 17 years old as of June 2, and each youth-adult pair must have less than 10 hours of fly-fishing experience between them.

The registration fee includes meals, lodging, guiding services, equipment and additional materials. Sponsorships to offset registration fees may be available from angling and conservation organizations. This event is limited to 20 youthadult pairs.

Apply online at h t t p s : // w w w . s u r v e y m o n k e y. c o m /r/ YAM_ FlyWkend2017.

For more information, contact Groebner at 507359-6049 or deborah. groebner@state.mn.us.

PHONE: 651-433-3845 | FAX: 651-433-3158 23

107

Free Items

Home/Business Cleaning

HAVE SOMETHING TO give away? Run three weeks, nonbusiness related for FREE. Must be from the area. To place an ad call 715-294-2314.

102 Services Custom Furniture refinishing, stripping and repair. Do it right, reasonably. The Cellar Door, Taylors Falls, 651-465-5551.

Erickson piano service. Bryan Erickson Tuning-RegulationRepair 715-463-5958 \ 507-475-2584 Problems with your car insurance? Tickets? Accidents? Been canceled? Call Noah Insurance for help at 715-294-2017.

454 Storage Rent

HOUSE CLEANING. Reasonable, dependable, weekly or occasionally. References.

Local in Marine/Scandia area. 651-4333025.

154 Full Time EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Daniels Plumbing & Heating in Siren, WI is seeking qualified and experienced professionals.

Immediate openings for a WI licensed journeyman plumber and an HVACR technician are available. Competitive wage and benefit package offered. Call for details or apply in person. 715-349-5533

Farmington Mini Storage: For all your storage needs. Now offering climate controlled units. 10x10, 10x15, 10x20, 10x25. Now accommodating 5th wheelers, boats and campers.

715-2943078 or 1-800-2828103.

For Sale

Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

COUNTRY

NEW BUILDING SITE For Sale - 1 and 105 acres. Country lots – Osceola Dresser area.

715-755-3377

COUNTRY

MINI-STORAGE SPECIALS: Only $25 security deposit. Three sizes available. 7'x10', 10'x20', 10'x24'. Call today for specials.

715-755-2947.

Verhasselt Construction, 3 miles north of Osceola on Hwy. 35.

RESUMES copied for free if you have been laid off and looking for work. Stop in at The Sun, 108 Cascade, Osceola.

300

FIND US ONLINE!

Clinic Nurse Supervisor Full time - 1.0 FTE (80 hours a pay period).

Hours of work are Monday - Friday between 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. with occasional Saturdays.

Primarily in Mora with the flexibility to travel to Hinckley and Pine City as needed.

Current Minnesota RN License.

Previous leadership experience, competency demonstrated in direct patient as well as team leadership. Current registered nurse licensure in the state of Minnesota, BLS, ACLS (within 1 year).

Apply online at www.firstlighthealthsystem.org FirstLight Health System 301 Highway 65 South Mora, MN 55051 320-225-3612 EOE

The City of Marine on St Croix is accepting applications for the position of Assistant City Clerk.

This position reports to the City Clerk and is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks which include, but are not limited to; utility billing, accounts payable and receivable, quarterly newsletter, Minute taking and other duties as assigned. Applicant must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, and Quicken. Previous local government experience a plus. This position is part time, 25 hours per week plus some evening meetings. The pay range is $17 - $20 per hour, DOQ. Full job description is available at the City office or on the City website.

Resumes will be accepted until noon on Friday, February 3 2017, and can be mailed to PO Box 250, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047 or emailed to mosc@midconetwork.com.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

MISCELLANEOUS

GATEHOUSE MEDIA is looking for a hands on general manager to lead its publications in beautiful Devils Lake ND. The Devils Lake Journal is a 5-day community newspaper and The Country Peddler is the premier shopper in the Lake Region, covering 7 counties. The successful candidate must have advertising sales and sales management experience and be able to operate independently. They will be responsible for driving print and digital revenue through new account acquisition, maximizing key revenue initiatives and coaching and developing staff. If you have a successful track record and are ready to lead your first newspaper or if you’re ready to work for a great company with tremendous opportunity, this might be the position for you.

Send your resume to Jesse Shockley at jshockley@gatehousemedia.com.

The Devils Lake Journal /Country Peddler are part of Gatehouse Media LLC, a national company that operates daily, weekly and niche publications and websites in 21 different states (see our website at wwww.gatehousemedia.com)

RAILROAD VEGETATION CONTROL: Full-time traveling opportunity, 60-80 hours/week, $12-$15/hour starting, meal allowance, paid lodging & benefit package. RAW, Inc. in Cooperstown, ND 888/700-0292 info@rawapplicators.com www.rawapplicators.com

STOP OVERPAYING FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS! Save! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! Call 877/210-2257 Promo Code: CDC201725

HELP WANTED - DRIVERS CDL A DRIVERS $7,500 sign-on-bonus. Medical benefits on day 1 & earn $65k+ in your first year!!! Guaranteed pay. Profit sharing, 401k with company match & more!

Email mnhr@mclaneco.com or call Kalen now! 262/504-1617

MISCELLANEOUS OUR HUNTERS WILL pay Top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a free Base Camp Leasing info packet and quote.

866/309-1507 w w w. B a s e C a m p L e a s i n g . c o m

GOT KNEE PAIN? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace - little or no cost to you. Medicare patients call health hotline now! 800/755-6807 DISH TV – BEST DEAL EVER! Only $39.99/mo. Plus $14.99/mo Internet (where avail). Free Streaming. Free Install (up to 6 rooms).

Free HD-DVR. Call 800/297-8706 DONATE YOUR CAR truck or boat to Heritage For The Blind. Free 3-day vacation, tax deductible, free towing, all paperwork taken care of 800/439-1735

ONLY $279 to reach a statewide audience of 3 million readers! 1-800-279-2979

12 COUNTRY MESSENGER

SHERIFF’S REPORT

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

www.countrymessenger.com

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

JANUARY 22

JANUARY 20

At 1:44 p.m. an alarm was sounding at Ostlund’s Marine Garage.

At 7:20 a.m. a medical need on Langly Court was reported.

At 9:25 a.m. a suspicious vehicle on Lofton, south of Highway 97, was reported.

At 3:57 p.m. theft was reported on Mayberry Trail.

At 5:44 p.m. a report of a reckless driver on Scandia and St. Croix Trails was reported to the State Patrol.

JANUARY 23 At 1 p.m. a complaint about a driver on Blue Heron Lane was received.

JANUARY 26 At 1:43 p.m. a referral for child protection came from Paul Avenue.

January 27 At 8:18 a.m. extra patrol was request for Pine Street near Elementary School.

JANUARY 21 At 7:32 p.m. intoxicated parties were reported on Bone Lake.

At 11:18 p.m. property

damage was reported on Perkins Avenue.

JANUARY 22 At 6:57 a.m. a medical need was reported on Manning Trail.

JANUARY 24 At 5:19 p.m. a disturbance was reported at M.R. Welty Homes.

JANUARY 26 At 9:13 a.m. an accident on Oakhill Road and Olinda Trail was reported.

At 10:49 a.m. license plates were found on Manning Trail.

At 1:56 p.m. a right of way was blocked on Mayberry Trail.

At 4 p.m. a driver on Olinda Trail was stopped for speeding.

JANUARY 27 At 4:29 a.m. a suspicious vehicle on 220th Street was reported.

At 12:04 p.m. an animal concern came from Meadowbrook Avenue.

At 1:35 p.m. a driver on Olinda Trail was stopped for speeding.

At 2:02 p.m. a referral for child protection came from 180th Street.

Town of May

JANUARY 20 At 8:34 a.m. a complaint about a driver on Manning Trail, south of 170th Street, was received.

JANUARY 21 At 8:15 a.m. a person was reported missing on Manning Trail.

JANUARY 22 At 1:46 a.m. a medical need was reported on Paragon Avenue.

JANUARY 28

JANUARY 24

At 6:24 p.m. a driver on Scandia and Olinda trails was stopped for driving after revocation.

At 7:38 a.m. an injured deer on 124th and St. Croix Trail was reported.

At 3:30 p.m. a deer tag was issued on St. Croix Trail and 152nd Street.

At 9:24 p.m. a rolling domestic was reported on 177th Street.

At 9:42 p.m. a medical need was reported on Morgan Avenue.

Spotlight on Area Businesses

JANUARY 25 At 12:30 a.m. a driver on 170th and Manning

44 Years of Satisfied Customers!

Is your furnace surviving the winter?

was stopped for expired registration, failure to transfer title, no proof of insurance and faulty taillight and exhaust.

JANUARY 26

At 11:41 a.m. identity theft was reported on 142nd Street.

JANUARY 27

At 8:35 a.m. a deer tag was issued at Warner Nature Center.

JANUARY 28

At 12:09 a.m. a driver on St. Croix Trail and 124th Street was stopped for speeding, driving after suspension, and on a warrant for arrest.

At 1:31 p.m. suspicious activity was reported on 170th Street.

At 4:27 p.m. a 911 call came from Sheffield Lane.

JANUARY 29

At 5:30 a.m. a directed patrol for speed was in place on Manning and Lynch Road.

FIND US ONLINE!

Call us at 651-433-5167

COUNTRY

21260 Olinda Trail North • Scandia, MN www.scandiaheating.com

SH OT 44 Years of SatisÀed Customers!

Scandia Office • 651-433-5753

140 Judd St. • Marine on St. Croix

21260 Olinda Trail N.

651-433-1112

651-433-5167

HOURS

www.scandiaheating.com

Sun - Thurs 11 am - 11 pm, Fri - Sat 11 am - 11 pm or later

Call us for a quote!

JoAnn Buse & Jane Dreyer

651-433-5845 21190 Ozark Ave N Scandia, MN

Financial Advisor

41 Judd Street Marine On St. Croix, MN 651-433-1776

Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.

12450 Morris Trail N Marine-On-St. Croix

651-433-4500

COUNTRY

Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

P.O. Box 96 Scandia, MN 55073 Phone: (651) 433-3845 Fax: (651) 433-3158 www.countrymessenger.com

Certified by M.P.C.A.

www.olsonsinthepink.com

COUNTRY

STORE HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 9:00 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Fri. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. • Sun. - Closed

WANT PERSONAL LOCAL SERVICE? LET’S TALK Heidi Gemuenden, AAMS®

The

Member SIPC

Advertise your business in

THE LOCAL FOCUS!

Forest Lake • Assistance on Insurance Claims • Courtesy Cars/Rental Cars SERVING THE AREA SINCE 1978

“Where Quality Comes First”

651-464-6477

• Reach Customers on a weekly basis • Full color on the highly visible back page of the Country Messenger • Includes a one week feature, highlighting the special details of your business Call 651-433-3815 or email sales1@osceolasun.com

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