Country Messenger 04.22.2020

COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020

Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

VOL. 36 NO. 52 www.countrymessenger.com $.75

COLUMN: Jim Bennett's turkey hunting troubles. PAGE 5

‘Unholy Communion’ Local author pens first novel

BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

St. Croix Valley and is managed

by Denise Douglass of Saint Croix Falls, Wisc. Douglass is what is known as a Chinese medicine doctor, who studied traditional Chinese medicinal techniques like acupuncture, herbal medicine and medical message.

These and other practices are called ‘Qigong,’ and Douglass’ background in them made her aware of COVID-19 long before most Americans.

“My school of training in the US started to get really desperate pleas for masks from Chinese colleagues in the first week in February,” she said. “And then I watched this travel around

As a general rule, dentists have boring lives.

Fill a cavity here, quick root canal there — all done in a beige office that’s walls are decorated with photos from a yearly beach trip to Florida and punctuated by the incoherent chatter of a man with tooth-whitening foam dripping down his chin.

The perceived monotony of a life spent staring at teeth takes on an entirely different shade however, when said teeth are attached to an unrecognizably disfigured human body.

Thomas Rumreich spent 16 years as the forensic dentist for the St. Paul medical examiner, in addition to running his own clinic in Forest Lake, Minn.

“My job there was to determine the identity of individuals who, let's just say, could not be visually identified,” Rumreich said. “It was intense, it was also extremely interesting.”

Rumreich was also certified in forensic photography and photographed many abuse cases in the area over the course of his career. Following his retirement, Rumreich thought he’d try his hand at writing, and using his experience in the crime world, recently published his first novel.

‘Unholy Communion’ follows the lives ‘Unholy Communion’ is the first novel written by Thomas of a sexual abuse survivor who hunts Rumreich. down and murders Catholic priests known to have abused children, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department investigator who’s tasked with following the case.

The investigator’s name is Chris Majek, and Rumreich said as the story progresses Majek’s personal struggle with the case becomes almost too much to bear.

“As the murders occur, the investigation begins to reveal things (Majek) really doesn’t want to recognize,” Rumreich said. “He doesn’t want to deal with what he has discovered.”

SEE MASKS, PAGE 2

SEE NOVEL, PAGE 8

SUBMITTED

Jason and Laura Swanson cut fabric to make masks for area hospitals as part of a group organized by Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser, Wisc.

‘What you can do for your country’ Local groups make masks for essential workers

BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

If you laid every facemask sewed by ‘Covered with Care’ from end to end starting at the front door of the Osceola Medical Center, you could make it all the way around the building and back inside before you ran out.

The community organization started making masks for healthcare workers and other essential employees in late March and has now donated over 5,000 masks to those who need them most.

The group is made up of women and men from both sides of the

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Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser, Wisc. has made over 400 masks for essential workers

Marine Film Society receives grant for 2020-21

BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM

The Marine Film Society in Marine on St. Croix, Minn. has received a grant from the Metro Regional Arts Council for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

The society is operated by Paul Creager and Gayle Knutson and has been hosting screenings of documentary films in the Marine town hall for

seven years. The films they show are all either made in Minnesota or have a connection to the state and the surrounding area. Creager said the screenings have grown substantially since they began and are a great community bonding event.

“We pushed the idea of the film series with the notion that it was going to look great and be really well organized,” NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com

SUBMITTED

he said. “They’re very special and one of a kind.

You cannot just watch it on YouTube — you have to be there.”

The Marine town hall is a large part of the allure to the film series.

The building is the oldest functional town hall in the state and was built in 1888.

“There have been modest updates but for the

Paul Creager and Gayle Knutson at a screening put on by the Marine Film Society.

SEE GRANT, PAGE 2

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GRANT: Marine Film Society documentaries FROM PAGE 1

most part the town hall is a snapshot of 1888,” Creager said. “It’s a very unique and inspiring space and I think that’s a part of our experience.”

The Metro Regional Arts Council grant is awarded each spring, and the Marine Film Society has received the grant six out of the seven years of their operation.

“We never take it for granted,” Creager said. “Grant writing is like intellectual gambling. You’re shaping an idea and seeing if people think it’s a winner.”

Creager and Knutson use the grant money in part to pay the filmmakers for the right to screen their projects, something that’s unusual in the film circuit world.

“It’s really rare that you get any money for screening your film,” Knutson said. “So we pay our filmmakers to come in and it’s great for them. I don’t know an indie filmmaker who isn’t in debt or could use a little money.”

They also oftentimes pay to have the filmmakers travel to the screening and speak after the film.

Knutson said this gives the audience

a completely different experience.

The society recently screened a film called ‘Risking Light,’ a film that partially focuses a Minnesota woman who becomes close friends with the young man who murdered her son as a result of gang violence.

They got to know each other while he was serving his prison sentence and became next-door neighbors after he was released. “(After the film) I introduced the filmmaker, and then I introduced the mom and the man who murdered her son, and they came walking up the aisle,” Knutson said. “That’s what makes this different and really powerful.”

Creager said they hope to raise an audience for each film they screen and in turn promote the survival of the art form. He compared the notion to the principles of conservation.

“People will protect wilderness areas if they understand wilderness areas,” he said. “The same goes for Minnesotans and the arts. If we build an audience for an art form, that audience will more likely protect it, and maybe even propel its growth.”

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Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser is offering kits to make masks for essential workers.

MASKS: 'Covered With Care' organization FROM PAGE 1

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Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

P.O. Box 96, Scandia, MN 55073 • 651) 433-3845 office@osceolasun.com • www.countrymessenger.com $PHULFD¶V 1HZVSDSHUV LV D QDWLRQDO DVVRFLDWLRQ VXSSRUWLQJ MRXUQDOLVP DQG KHDOWK\ QHZVSDSHUV LQ RXU ORFDO FRPPXQLWLHV )LQG RXW PRUH DW ZZZ QHZVSDSHUV RUJ RU IROORZ XV RQ 7ZLWWHU #QHZVSDSHUVRUJ RU RQ )DFHERRN #DPHULFDVQHZVSDSHUV

the world with growing concern.”

On March 12 Douglass shut down her office in St. Croix Falls and wellness clinic in Edina, Minn. and “I was thinking how we could do better,” she said. “And the words of John Kennedy kept coming to mind.”

The former president’s famous “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country” inaugural address stuck in Douglass’ head. She started thinking about what she could do to help, when a nurse Douglass knows mentioned St. Croix Regional Medical Center was short of masks.

Douglass called a few friends who sewed professionally and created a Facebook page to help organize the effort.

They gathered supplies and set out to create a community of sewers to help the short-supplied hospitals in the area.

Douglass and her crew created mask kits and made them available to pick up for any sewers who were interested. Volunteers would pick up the kits, put them together and return them to a drop off point without ever having to come in close physical contact with anyone. Each kit is capable of making 10 masks and Douglass’ group made 250 kits initially. When those were gone, they made another 180 kits, plus 45 kits that only included the elastic pieces that are so essential to masks but are in such short supply. She also estimates they’ve received 500-800 masks from community sewers who didn’t pick up kits but used their own materials.

They’ve supplied masks to St. Croix Regional Medical Center, Osceola Medical Center and Amery Hospital, as well as area nursing homes, grocery stores and other essential businesses. Douglass is managing the group, but said it’s the women sewing and donating supplies who deserve the credit.

“I’ve done some organizing in the past,” she said. “And I’m a much better organizer than I am a sewer.”

‘Covered with Care’ is only one of many organizations in the area that has taken up mask making. Sonya Sampson is a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser, Wisc. who has also formed an organization to help make and donate masks. Their process has been much the same as ‘Covered with Care.’ They made kits and established a pick up and drop off location at the church.

“It’s working out that we don’t have to have human contact,” Sampson said. “We’re just getting this mission accomplished outside of the building.”

Peace Lutheran has donated to St. Croix Regional Medical Center and Osceola Medical Center, but has also given masks to Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minn.

Sampson has been sewing since she was very young and runs a custom sewing and alterations business in addition to her full-time job as the manager of Treasures from the Heart in Osceola, Wisc.

“This time of year I’m typically doing prom dresses and wedding gowns,” she said. “But there’s not as much of a need for that right now.”

Much of the material for the masks has been crowd-sourced.

“People have been digging through their sewing stash and their craft rooms and finding things,” she said. “Every couple of days someone will drop off fabric or elastic on my front step.”

Sampson and her group hasn’t run into supply shortages yet, but has had to think outside the box in order to keep making masks.

“It’s been a very creative process,” she said.

“All the craft and fabric store ran out of elastic immediately. So we’ve been doing everything from cutting elastic off of fitted sheets to using hair binders. Everybody has a little stash of something they haven’t used in years, so they seem to be cleaning out the corners right now.”

Sampson said each mask takes about five minutes to sew. It’s not at all a complicated process, and she encourages anyone with a sewing machine to join the cause and help out.

“If you’re set up to sew and you’ve got a machine that’s working for you,” she said. “They’re a piece of cake.”

The medial centers in the area have all expressed their gratitude to the groups doing the sewing. Matt Forge, the CEO of Osceola Medical Center said the donated masks make a big difference.

“These masks have been incredibly helpful and fit right in with the safety measures we’ve implemented,” he said.

“These wonderful people are not only helping us here, but they’re also helping our neighbors at home who may use them during the course of this pandemic.”

APRIL 22, 2020

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PUBLIC NOTICES STATE OF MINNESOTA WASHINGTON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court File Number: 82-PR-20-1464 Case Type: Informal Probate NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS (WITHOUT A WILL) In re the Estate of DARRIN DION GOULD, Deceased TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is hereby given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative has been filed with the Probate Registrar. No will has been presented for probate.

The application has been granted.

Notice is also given that the Probate Registrar has informally appointed the following: Tamara Gould, 14045 237th St. N., Scandia, MN 55073, as Personal Representative of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as Personal Representative, or may object to the appointment of the Personal Representative. Unless objections are filed pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the Court Administrator within four (4) months after the date of this Notice, or the claims will be barred.

Pamela Kreier Probate Registrar April 7, 2020 Annette Fritz Court Administrator April 7, 2020 Published in the Country Messenger April 15 and April 22, 2020

NOTICE OF BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION TOWNSHIP OF MAY WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRTUAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the Board of Appeal and Equalization of the Town of May, in the County of Washington, State of Minnesota, will meet for the purpose of reviewing and correcting the assessment of said Real Estate. All persons considering themselves aggrieved by said assessment, or who wish to com-

plain that the property of another is assessed too low, are hereby notified to appear at said meeting, and show cause of having such assessment corrected. No complaint that another is assessed to low will be acted upon until the person so assessed, or his/her agent, shall have been notified of such complaint.

The meeting will be held via telephone/video conference via Zoom. (https://zoom.us/j/4189026313).

Dated this 1st day of April, 2020.

Linda M. Tibbetts Clerk/Treasurer Town of May Published in the Country Messenger April 22, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE TOWN of MAY WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA Ordinance No. 2020-01 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MAY TOWN CODE MODIFYING THE TOWN’S STANDARDS FOR RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL BUSINESS PERMITS Section 1. Findings WHEREAS, the Town of May authorizes Small Business Permits on residential property as an interim use provided that the use is clearly secondary and incidental to the residential use; and WHEREAS, the Town of May finds that general retail uses and other such activities that draw the general public to residential property is inconsistent with the non-commercial character of the Town, as stated in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan; and

Section 2. Code Amended Section 402.03.C is hereby added to read as follows:

CITY OF SCANDIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

C. Uses Permitted. All business uses permitted via a Small Business permit shall be secondary and incidental to the primary residential use. General retail sales are prohibited with the exception of seasonal livestock sales provided: a. Seasonal “Sales” are limited to two events per year not to exceed four days per event.

NOTICE is hereby given that the Planning Commission of the City of Scandia will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 beginning at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following: Request by Jeff Holker for Variances to reconstruct a residential structure at 12140 196th Street North, Scandia, Minnesota.

a. The total amount of livestock offered for sale shall not exceed the amount of domestic farm animals/ livestock permitted on the property

by Section 705.19.B.

The property is more specifically described as follows:

a. “Sales” shall mean the pickup of previously ordered and paid for items, and no walk-up sales are allowed.

Anyone wishing to express their opinion on this proposal will be heard at the public hearing. Given the current protocols for social distancing during the Covid 19 situation, the meeting will be held via online video and phone conferencing. Submit written comments concering this application to mail@ ci.scandia.mn.us. To participate in the online meeting, call City Hall at 651-433-2274 by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 to register for the video conferencing. This notice is given pursuant to the Development Code of the City of Scandia. Contact City Hall for information about this request during office hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except holidays.

Section 3. Effective Date This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law.

Section 4. Severability If any part of this ordinance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, this shall not invalidate any other section, provision or part thereof.

BY ROLL CALL VOTE OF THE MAY TOWN BOARD: ADAMS YES; PAZLAR YES; VOEDISCH YES; THIS ORDINANCE IS HEREBY ADOPTED THIS 2nd DAY OF APRIL, 2020.

Lots 1 and 2, Block 2, Beckstrom Addition, Washington County, MN

SUBMITTED

Brenda Eklund Deputy Clerk

Spanish Influenza victim

Dated: April 15, 2020 Linda M. Tibbetts Town Clerk/Treasurer

Published in the Country Messenger April 22, 2020

Published in the Country Messenger April 22, 2020

WHEREAS, notwithstanding the above, the Town of May finds that certain activities related to Small Businesses dealing with agricultural may be deemed consistent with the rural character of the Town. Such uses may be found acceptable by the Town Board, and these activities may be permitted and yet limited in nature, so as to not conflict with the rural residential character of the Town; and

In response to the Sun’s April 15 article about the Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918, Colleen Swanson sent us this photo of her great uncle Guy LaRue, who passed away from the virus in January 1919 at the age of 16.

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AREA CHURCHES Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, all gatherings of 10 or more are being curtailed. Please call to see if church services are being held in some capacity.

Ascension Episcopal Church 214 North Third Street N, Stillwater (651) 439-2609 • www.aechurch.org Rev. Marilyn Baldwin Rev. Daniel V. Pearson, Interim Rector Mindy Boynton, Christian Ed/Youth Nancy Whipkey, Director of Music

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

Elim Lutheran Church Scandia (651) 433-2723 www.elimscandia.org Senior Pastor Scott Westphal Associate Pastor Meredith McGrath

Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) Forest Lake (651) 464-3323 886 North Shore Drive Pastor John Klawiter

Forest Hills United Methodist Church Hwy. 97 at County Road 34 S.E. Forest Lake (651) 464-5249 Pastor: Rev. David Werner www.foresthillsumc.net

Grace Church 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola Pastor Mark Barlow “The Cure for the Common Church” e-mail: info@gracechurchosceola.com www.gracechurchosceola.com or call (715) 294-4222 or (715) 755-3454

www.lakesfree.org Lindstrom (651) 257-2677 29620 Olinda Trail N. Senior Pastor Jason Carlson, Associate Pastor Stephen Moore

Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church (LCMS) 25402 Itasca Avenue Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-462-3535 / lordofthelakes.org Pastor Craig Bertram

Maranatha Church Chisago Lakes Campus 10963 Lake Blvd. (Hwy 8) Chisago City (651) 257-8605 Pastor Bill Headley

Osceola Community Church

Hosanna Lutheran Church (ELCA)

2492 Education Dr., Osceola, WI Larry Mederich, Pastor (715) 417-0608 • www.occconnect.org

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

Osceola Medical Center Spiritual Care

Lakes Free Church

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.

Osceola United Methodist Church 306 River Street Osceola, WI (715) 755-2275 osceolaunitedmethodistchurch@gmail.com

River Valley Christian Church 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

St. Croix Falls Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 201 North Adams St., St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 Rev. Kelli Clement www.scuuf.org

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

St. Croix Valley Friends

Meeting Stillwater (651) 439-7981 Seventh Day Adventist Church, Fifth & Laurel Streets

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Father John Drees Three miles north on Hwy. 95 from Hwy. 97.

West on Redwing 1/4 mile.

St. Joseph Catholic Church 490 Bench St., Taylors Falls, MN (651) 465-7345 Father John Drees

St. Joseph Catholic Cluster Osceola (715) 294-2243 Rev. Andy Anderson

Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS) Osceola (715) 294-2828 300 Seminole Avenue

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

4 COUNTRY MESSENGER

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APRIL 22, 2020

The same, but different We'll meet again Don't know where, don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day Keep smiling through Just like you always do 'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away — lyric, “We’ll Meet Again” by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles

T

hat tune, popular during World War II, has been finding its way into my head lately. The classic torch song was written in 1939 as the war escalated in Europe.

My late father Arved (aka “The Chief”) used to listen to a local radio station Sunday mornings after church and before dinner. Sponsored by and announced by a used car dealer, songs like “We’ll Meet Again” that were popular with the greatest generation were played in between announcements of anniversaries, birthdays and of course, used car listings.

The Chief loved the show because he heard songs from his youth, got caught up on people Publisher he knew and was able to give his family opinions on the merits of Tom Stangl the cars on the dealer’s lot.

I may have mentioned this before, but I was known as a bit of a wiseacre in my youth. I believe I received a double dose of the sarcasm gene from my parents. In those days, I let many things go directly from my brain to my mouth, so I was quick to tell the Chief how lame I thought the “Car Tunes” program was.

Like many things in the past, as I age I can better understand my parents now.

I know the social distancing we are doing now is best for everyone. On an intellectual level, I get it.

On an emotional level, like many of you, I struggle with isolation from friends, family and loved ones.

Music has a way of expressing sentiments more effectively than words. Songs can leave powerful memory markers to a place and time. I’m sure each of you have a song or two that evokes a memory when you hear it today.

I can only imagine how the people felt when going through the separation of military service during World War II. The uncertainty, the longing and the real worry of death must have been stressful beyond description.

On top of that, the folks who fought the battles of the homefront had to deal with shortages of food and clothing as well as uncertain employment.

Many worked long hours producing items for the war effort, others did what they could by gathering scrap materials to be recycled or planting victory gardens.

While I realize the current situation is far less serious than World War II, there are parallels.

As a self-absorbed baby boomer, I now once again have a very small inkling of what it was like for my parents and grandparents and what they went though.

I find solace and strength from this realization. I understand, I can and will, get through whatever is coming in the weeks and months ahead.

I encourage you to do the same.

It will be a sunny day when this has passed, and it WILL pass.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@theameryfreepress. com, telephone 715-268-8101 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.

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HOW TO REACH US: Our offices are located at 108 Cascade Street, Osceola, WI 54020.

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

What’s in a name

W

hen I was a kid I had a friend who loved chocolate.

I mean every 10-year-old loves chocolate, but this was an obsession. He’d steal away during Cub Scout meetings or sleepovers to raid back pantries and candy jars in search of anything that even slightly resembled chocolate.

The kid’s name was John Duncan, but when my dad discovered John’s obsession, he christened him ‘Hershey.’ The name stuck, so much so that when he came up to bat during high school baseball almost a decade later the announcer would call out, “now batting, number three, Hershey Duncan.”

I was always jealous of the nickEditor name, mostly because I didn’t have one. My dad was a master of nickC.L. Sill names and handed out more than a few to my friends growing up.

But for some reason I never got one, from Dad or anyone else, and ever since I’ve pined for a good nickname. I make that point because it has to be good. A bland nickname lingers on the end of your tongue like a shot of bad whiskey. But a good nickname is something to behold. Everything has to fit. Not just the meaning, but the syllables and the cadence. When it all comes together, it’s like finding the last piece of a puzzle. The name Hershey Duncan just sounds right with the world.

I think I love nicknames so much because I grew up in a town full of them. Fort Calhoun had about 800 residents when I was a kid, and my family had lived there since the late 1940s. Everyone knew everyone, and anyone my dad’s age or older who’d been around town a while had a nickname.

There was Sloan and Senator, Speed and Whip — Lap Dog, Smokey, Tall Drink, Ernie, Bobby the Brain, Mote, Smooth and Beet Farmer, among many others. My dad’s name is Bruce, but all anyone around town called him was Rooter.

There was something so comforting about the kindness in an unseen voice saying “Wha’ do ya know Rooter?” when you were in line with Dad at the ice cream store or in the passenger seat while he was filling up his tank at the Quick Pic. “Oh, not much” was the standard answer, and a B.S. session that usually lasted between 15 and 45 minutes would commence. It felt good to be known, and to know so many others.

I think that comfort is partially why Dad gave out so many nicknames when I was young. Some of my favorites were a friend whose last name was Mink who Dad called Muskrat and another with an unruly mop of curly, bleach blonde hair. His name was Sparky, because he looked like he’d stuck his finger in a light socket.

I’m not sure why I never got one. Perhaps the opportunity just never presented itself or perhaps I SEE SILL, PAGE 7

LETTER GUIDELINES Letters to the Editor are published with priority given to letters that are concise (400 words or less) and exclusive to our newspaper, from readers in our general distribution area.

All letters are subject to editing for grammar and clarity and must contain the undersigned’s full name and their address and daytime telephone number for verification. (Addresses and phone numbers will not be printed.)

Letter writers must live, work or have another connection to Country Messenger’s coverage area. One letter per author may be

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Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication.

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Letters may be emailed to: editor@countrymessenger.com no later than noon Friday the week preceding publication.

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The Country Messenger (USPS 005-172) is published weekly by Sentinel Publications, 108 Cascade Street, P.O. Box 248, Osceola, WI 54020. Periodicals postage paid at Osceola, WI 54020. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Country Messenger, P.O. Box 96, Scandia, MN 55073.

Tom Stangl, Publisher C.L. Sill, Editor Eric Buelow, Graphic Design Elise Bourne, Advertising Barb Wetzel, Office Assistant Carrie Larson, Circulation Manager Rick Brandt, Delivery

APRIL 22, 2020

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Counting down COVID-19 lock down one piece of cheesecake at a time

L

ast week, I almost missed Easter. I was busy trying to “keep” busy so I wouldn’t worry about what was going on in the world. I painted, cleaned, raked, sorted, and washed everything in sight. My house has never been so clean.

In the process, I forgot about Easter. When I did remember it—on Saturday, I quickly went to the store and bought some Easter candy—forgetting that my family doesn’t really eat candy anymore.

The week leading up to Easter, I planned a nice day with a lovely dinner with a gourmet cheesecake for dessert. It’s hard to keep the days straight when everyday feels like a Twilight Zone. I find myself asking “What day is it?”

I pulled myself together Easter and made the cheesecake Wild Chow morning and the lasagna, but completely forgot about the candy. It’s still sitting Lisa Erickson in the closet with the Easter baskets.

The cheesecake was a huge hit and was gone within a couple days. It left us wanting more.

Just because there is no reason to celebrate, doesn’t mean you can’t make a wonderful dessert.

The best part about cheesecake is it freezes** well, and you can cut it ahead of time and thaw it one piece at a time.

This recipe may be the dessert that gets you

A

SEE ERICKSON, PAGE 7

THE POSTSCRIPT A little stir-crazy

I

t’s safe to say everyone is getting a bit tired of this.

My parents, both in their eighties, were going stir-crazy in Florida. They missed their house in the woods and so they filled the RV with food and water and drove 2000 miles north. I was worried about them, naturally, but they only left their RV to fill up with gas and are now in their home up north and a lot happier. My mom explained how Columnist they were able to make it in record Carrie Classon time.

“Usually, your father would want to stop at every Waffle House along the way. But they were all closed!”

I could tell this was not entirely bad news, as far as my mother was concerned.

I read advice columns every day and this enforced closeness is putting a lot of strain on relationships. Couples are discovering annoying habits in their loved one, habits that might have gone undetected for months or even years but now have come to light and— given enough stress or boredom— suddenly become sufficiently aggravating to write to an advice columnist.

Readers write in because their partners are messy cooks or they breathe too loudly or they interrupt them when they are trying to work. It seems there are a lot of folks wondering what the heck they ever saw in their beloved in the first place. There’s a lot of tension out there.

The advice columnists counsel patience. “Don’t do anything rash in these times.”

“Assume that you might be a little over sensitive and try to be more tolerant.”

I suspect this is good advice even in the best of times.

My husband, Peter, is a good person to be in isolation with. He has good habits and leaves me alone to write and, unlike me, he doesn’t get wound up over nothing. About the only thing that ever bothers me is, very occasionally, Peter snores. He tells me to wake him up when he does and I try. But that’s when the trouble starts.

Peter starts to snore and I nudge him. “Honey, you’re snoring,” I tell him.

Peter stops snoring. There is a long pause. Peter is thinking this over, I can tell.

“I don’t think so,” he finally decides.

Then he falls back to sleep.

A few minutes later, I nudge him again.

“Honey, you’re snoring again.”

“Well… wake me up!” Peter says, sounding a little exasperated.

respond to any loud noise. We use that to pinpoint where the birds are without exposing ourselves to the flock and the abundance of eyes that can spot even the most wary stalker. After the shock gobble from the Tom Turkeys that same boss hen let the world know she was there. I’m sure the entire flock was following her right up the hill above us, now less than 75 yards away.

We quickly set up two portable blinds no more than 3 feet tall but enough to hide our movements and blend with our surroundings. Gloves and face masks were put on and calls were laid out next to us as we got ready to match skills with the wary hens and distracted gobblers. In the distance several SEE BENNETT, PAGE 7

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Till next time, Carrie

Carrie Classon’s memoir is called, “Blue Yarn.” Learn more at CarrieClasson.com.

Furnace Air Conditioning Fireplace

What could go wrong?

s soon as we stepped out of the car we heard gobbling. Not just one gobbler but several. I looked over at Brady, my 11 year old and he was smiling. Next came the loud yelps from a hen turkey followed by more gobbles that rattled through the calm morning. We seemed to have picked the right spot for this mentored hunt. The sun had been up for an hour and the turkeys had left their roosts Wild River and flew to the cow pasture. Brady had Trails decided that getting up at 6 a.m. was early Jim Bennett enough for him.

We had done a few practice walks covering putting on his vest with his push call, water, sandwich, candy and binoculars packed and ready. Next was slipping his small portable blind around his shoulder along with his low rider turkey chair and pad. Finally, he got out his youth 20 gauge Remington shotgun that he loaded with some 6 shot like the shells he used to pattern his shotgun. He was dangerous up to 35 yards.

We began a short hike to find the right spot and get set up.

The turkey flock was only 200 yards away so our hike was quick, using a hill to stay below the turkey convention.

I didn’t know that as we walked towards the turkey some of them were walking towards us. I found that out quickly after I blew a few loud rips off the crow call I use to get shock gobbles. Hot gobblers will shock gobble

“I just did.”

“Huh.” Peter sounds doubtful, then falls back to sleep again. We can have this conversation several times a night.

I know I have it easy. An old college buddy of Peter’s is married to a woman who grew up quite poor.

Having enough of the essentials on hand has always been more important to her than to most people and so, understandably, having enough toilet paper is a pretty big deal.

She had a fairly good supply, enough to get through a few weeks, when her husband (who was going a little stir-crazy) took all her toilet paper and hid it in the garage.

“Where is all the toilet paper?!” she asked in alarm.

“I traded it for a case of wine,” he told her.

I don’t know how long he kept up this charade, and I don’t know if his wife will be writing into the newspaper or not, but I’m pretty sure this is exactly the kind of behavior the advice columnists would advise against.

For my part, I’m feeling mighty grateful. Last night, Peter was snoring. I let him snore.

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SILL: Nicknames

ERICKSON: The best New York style cheesecake FROM PAGE 5

FROM PAGE 4

had one that was better left unsaid in front of me. Either way it never hampered my affection for nicknames.

And anyhow, like they say, giving is always much more rewarding than receiving.

When I was in high school I started calling an underclassman I used to rib ‘Frank.’ I don’t know why, it just worked. Pretty soon everyone, including our band teacher, called him Frank.

Ten years later I was covering a school board meeting for a newspaper in Nebraska and ran into his dad. I’d long since forgotten about the nickname, but he brought it up right away and said his son’s nephew still calls him ‘uncle Frank.’

The crowning achievement of my nickname giving belongs to a great friend of mine I met at a weekend-long WWII reenactment (A story for another day). I’d forgotten my watch at home and Jim Freund, who I’d never met before, happened to have one. I spent all weekend asking him what time it was and by the time Sunday rolled around, he was forever named Jim “Tick Tock” Freund.

I took friendship for granted when I was growing up, but cherish it as an adult. I try to emulate my father in any way I can, and the warmth and kindness of my friendships mimic what I saw dad have when I was a child.

I think about that every time I see Jim, and say, “Wha’ do ya know Tick Tock?”

“Oh not much,” comes the answer, and the B.S. session commences.

C.L. Sill can be reached at editor@ osceolasun.com.

through the next month of COVID-19 lock down.

The Best New York Style Cheesecake Serves 32** 3 lbs. of cream cheese 1 ½ cups of sour cream 1 ½ cups of sugar 3 eggs 1 Tbsp. vanilla 1 tsp. of almond extract 1 tsp. salt 2 cups Golden Oreo cookies (vanilla flavor) 1/3 cup butter, melted 2 cups frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries or raspberries) ½ cup sugar 3 Tbsp. cornstarch

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Coat a 10-inch spring form pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with a 10-inch round of parchment paper; set aside.

In a bowl, combine the crushed cookies and butter.

Press into the bottom of the prepared springform pan and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix half the cream cheese until soft and smooth with a hand mixer or a stand mixer; for about 3-4 minutes. Add half the sugar; continuing to mix. Add remaining cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add remaining sugar and the

salt. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add the vanilla and almond flavoring. Pour into prepared crust and bake for 1 hour.

Open the oven door and allow cake to cool slowly—if you skip this step, you may end up with a large crack in the center. It doesn’t affect the cake but may not look as pretty. Cool completely and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until cool.

until ready to use.

After cake is completely cold, run a knife around the outside edge of cake before removing the outer sides of the spring form pan. Carefully slide, with parchment paper, onto a serving platter. Slice, plate, and top with a spoonful of berry sauce and serve immediately. **Cheesecake can be frozen. Cut before freezing for individual servings.

To make the sauce: In a saucepan, combine the frozen berries with the sugar and corn starch.

Cook over medium heat until thickened; about 5-6 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Refrigerate

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.

BENNETT: What could go wrong?

FROM PAGE 5

cock pheasants cackled as a big rooster and several hens erupted from the grassland and flew over the hill. Geese were sounding all around us and mallards and wood ducks cut through the calm morning air from pond to pond. Another yelp came over the hill top as a response to Brady’s call. The boss hen was leading the entire flock right into our set up. What

could go wrong?

That’s when I heard the farmer’s tractor start up. He could have gone north, east or south to any other parcel of his farm but you’ve already figured out which way he went. In seconds the turkeys’ plans changed from boyfriend/girlfriend to flee and fly away. They could have flown to the land I had permission to hunt or land that didn’t allow hunting. I’m thinking you have that one figured out too.

Brady simply looked at me and said he had a ball on his 3 hour tour of turkey tactics and was ready to go home for second breakfast. That sounded pretty good to me.

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

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

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APRIL 22, 2020 www.countrymessenger.com

SHERIFF’S REPORT City of Marine on St. Croix

APRIL 10 At 10:37 p.m. a fire on Nason Hill Road and St. Croix Trail was reported.

City of Scandia

APRIL 5 At 2:18 p.m. suspicious activity in the 10000 block of Scandia Trail was reported.

At 2:45 p.m. a neighbor dispute in the 18000 block of Layton was reported.

At 3:50 p.m. suspicious activity in the 10000 block of 191st was reported.

At 4:37 p.m. property damage in the 18000 block of Layton was reported.

At 6:22 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 13000 block of Oakhill Road was received.

APRIL 6 At 7:37 a.m. an alarm sounded in the 21000 block of Ozark.

At 6:04 p.m. an ordinance violation in the 14000 block of Oakhill was reported.

APRIL 7 At 9:03 a.m. suspicious activity at Wind in the Pines Park was reported.

At 12:17 p.m. a medical need in the 14000 block of 230th was reported.

At 3:02 p.m. an animal bite in the 12000 block of Oakhill was reported.

At 8:02 p.m. suspicious activity in the 16000 block of 199th was reported.

APRIL 8 At 8:51 a.m. a complaint about an animal in the 22000 block of Olinda was reported.

At 10:49 and at 11:05 a.m. gas drive-offs in the 14000 block of Scandia Trail were reported.

APRIL 9 At 12:12 p.m. theft from a motor vehicle was report-

ed in the 21000 block of Ozark.

At 3:53 p.m. a medical need in the 21000 block of Manning was reported.

APRIL 10 At 6:16 a.m. a medical need in the 14000 block of 223rd was reported.

At 8:32 a.m. a child custody issue in the 13000 block of 188th was reported.

At 8:49 a.m. a medical need in the 14000 block of 223th was reported.

At 2:12 p.m. property damage at Wind in the Pines Park was reported.

At 2:51 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 13000 block of Scandia Trail was received.

At 3:39 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 12000 block of Oakhill was received.

At 6:17 p.m. motorist assistance was provided on Manning and Scandia Trails.

At 9:09 and 10:38 p.m. complaints about noise in the 18000 block of Layton were received.

APRIL 11 At 10:04 a.m. welfare was checked in the 21000 block of Pomroy.

At 12:29 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 13000 block of 182nd was received.

At 1:07 p.m. a medical need in the 21000 block of Pomroy was reported.

At 1:08 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 15000 block of 220th was received.

At 1:37 p.m. an animal bite in the 13000 block of 182nd was reported.

At 9:43 p.m. a medical need in the 19000 block of Quinnell was reported.

Town of May

APRIL 5 At 8:39 a.m. a complaint

about burning in the 10000 block of 169th was received.

At 7:26 welfare was checked in the 14000 block of St. Croix Trail.

APRIL 6 At 1:12 p.m. an alarm sounded in the 14000 block of Manning.

At 4:38 p.m. an officer assisted another agency in the 13000 block of Norell.

At 6:38 p.m. a complaint about an animal on Square Lake and St. Croix Trails was received.

At 10:53 p.m. a driver in the 14000 block of 170th was stopped for a traffic violation.

APRIL 7 At 4:27 a.m. a medical need in the 12000 block of Manning was reported.

At 4:30 p.m. trespassing on the Arcola Bridge was reported.

At 4:59 p.m. a complaint about dumping in the 14000 block of Old Guslander was received.

APRIL 8

Spotlight on Area Businesses Olson’s Sewer Service & Olson’s Excavating Service Olson’s Sewer Service and Olson’s Excavating Service LQ their 6 WK year RI business DUH thankful to have the opportunity to keep WKH community “In the Pink� for so many years.

Olson’s offers a full range of excavating services for new home construction and site development for new business, as well as for expansion projects. Additionally, Olson’s provides sewer and drain line cleaning and repairs for home sewer lines, municipal sewer lines, septic tanks, lift station tanks and pumps.

Olson’s Sewer Service and Olson’s Excavating Service provide year-round service for commercial, residential, and municipal customers throughout the Metro, Chisago, and Isanti counties.

Call Olson’s for service at 651-464-2082 or send email inquiries to info@olsonsinthepink.com. Additional information available at www.olsonsinthepink.com.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING OUR COUNTRY

Heidi Gemuenden, AAMSÂŽ Financial Advisor

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

Member SIPC

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At 11:21 a.m. a scam was reported in the 10000 block of 170th.

At 6:54 p.m. watercraft assistance was needed at

Big Carnelian Lake boat landing.

APRIL 9 At 11:36 a.m. and 3:52 p.m. a dangerous situation and then a homicide were reported on 120th and Norell.

At 6:06 p.m. motorist assistance was provided on Manning and 170th.

APRIL 10 At 3:43 p.m. a scam in the 12000 block of Panama was reported.

At 3:43 p.m. internet crime was reported in the 12000 block of Queens Way. At 9:32 p.m. a fire on 177th and May Avenue was reported.

APRIL 11 At 5:15 a.m. a medical need in the 14000 block of 130th Street Lane was reported.

At 3:27 p.m. public assistance was needed in the 14000 block of Ostrum.

At 4:04 p.m. public assistance was needed in the 15000 block of Ostrum.

At 4:37 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the 14000 block of Old Guslander.

AT 5:53 p.m. a medical need in the 16000 block of Kimbro was reported.

NOVEL: Rumreich’s ďŹ rst FROM PAGE 1

Rumreich’s experience with this kind of tragedy doesn’t stop at his career in forensics. He was abused as a college freshman at the Catholic St. John’s University in St. Joseph, Minn. He said this story is ripped right off the front pages of newspapers across the country that continue to discover sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church that go seemingly unpunished. “If you’re Catholic I’m sorry if I’m offending you,� he said. “But it is reality.�

It’s clear Rumreich still harbors resentment toward the Catholic Church, justifiably so. But while the novel may pull on some of his personal experience, Rumreich makes it very clear that this is not at all his story. “This book is not about me,� he said. “But I do write from a pretty good understanding of what this abuse does to a person, especially a young person.�

The interpersonal conflict of the reader makes this novel worth reading. The killer can take on a vigilante-esque persona and be seen as the good guy, hunting down only those who do evil. But at the end of the day he’s still committing murder. “I have thought about if this was really happening, would it be justified,� Rumreich said. “The wound is deep. I am fortunate to have survived with minimal collateral damage, but there are those that don’t.�

Rumreich spent five years writing ‘Unholy Communion.’ He began by attending a writing class and speaking with an editor about the idea for his book. “She thought it was a fantastic idea, then went on to tell me that 99 percent of people who sign on to start a book never finish,� he said. “So I took that as a dare and got busy.�

As most novels do, ‘Unholy Communion’ went through countless drafts and changes throughout the creative process. “By the time I got done I’d written five different novels,� he said. “Where I would get half way through it and then change directions and have to go back to the beginning and start over.�

The book was finally published by Beaver’s Pond Press in St. Paul and has been available on Amazon since April 5. Rumreich said he has no grand illusions about profiting from the book, and is donating all proceeds to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, an organization based in St. Cloud, Minn.

It took a lot of long days and sleepless nights to finish the novel. ‘Unholy Communion’ is not a story for the lighthearted and Rumreich sometimes felt vulnerable writing it, but said he’s proud of his accomplishment. “There were times when I thought in doing this, I was going to upset some of my friends,� he said. “But this is life. Like I said, it’s ripped right off of the pages of the local newspaper.�