Country Messenger 05.27.2020

COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020

Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

VOL. 37 NO. 04 www.countrymessenger.com $.75

NEWS : Marine sex offender ordinance. PAGE 2

Scandia offers bars fee relief

BY KYLE WEAVER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SUBMITTED

Marine Memorial Day parade

The taverns of Scandia are getting some local relief.

In response to business impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scandia City Council last week refunded $465 worth of liquor license fees to the city’s three on-sale bars: Meisters Bar & Grill, The Brookside Pub, and The Scandia Creamery.

The amount returned equals an 11week proration of the businesses’ $2,200 annual license fees.

“We don’t have many ways to support our businesses,” said Mayor Christine Maefsky, who proposed the idea. “But this is one thing we can do.”

City Attorney Eric Sherburne advised the council that the action was legal.

“The city doesn’t have unfettered discretion when it comes to liquor license fees,” Sherburne said. “But this is OK.” Minnesota’s bars have been closed since March 17 as part of Governor Tim Walz’s Safer At Home executive order.

Bars may begin utilizing their outdoor seating beginning June 1, but remain closed to indoor service.

Marine on St. Croix hosted a parade on Memorial day to honor American veterans that began at Oakland cemetery and ended downtown in front of the Marine General Store. Leading the parade are (L to R) Andy Creager, Charles Anderson and Scott Kromer.

Other business:

Library gets creative with summer event planning

BY DAN JOHNSON MESSENGER INTERN

The local library in Marine on St Croix, Minn., is an exemplary model for creating community. Despite it’s small size, the volunteer-run library sponsors numerous events throughout the year for all ages. It’s not just a place to read books — it’s a place to share stories.

With the ever-developing Coronavirus situation, Ruth Willius, Marine Library board member and chair of the children’s program committee, is finding ways for the library to continue supporting the community.

The library is well-suited for

intimate groups, clubs and wedding receptions — not for social distancing. With the popular Science/Art Camp cancelled, along with weekly Story Time and other events, Willius has her children’s program team brainstorming fresh ideas.

Thankfully, the library’s fourth annual Summer Reading Incentive Program isn’t going to be cancelled so easily.

“We can do this,” Willius said.

“Because kids should read, and read, and read, and so we’re doing it online.”

Megan Lapos, a volunteer on the children’s program committee, is helping transition the program to a virtual space using the library

website. Instead of dropping off their reading ballots in a jar at the library, participants will submit their reading lists online.

Every week, four names will be drawn as winners, two for younger children and two for older children, with gift cards to local businesses as prizes. Usually, Marine Library accepts donated gift cards, but this year they’re buying their own to support local businesses amidst lockdown-induced financial strains.

Another innovation in the program is the updated prizes. In previous years, the library rewarded lucky winners with gift cards and SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 2

• The city’s auditing firm, Schlenner Wenner & Co, gave a presentation and issued a “clean” opinion of the city’s finances.

• The council approved a staffing policy revision that will allow city workers who are injured on the job to use their paid sick or vacation leave in lieu of accepting worker’s compensation, which pays a reduced wage.

• The council selected Swanson Haskamp Consulting, LLC to conduct a review and rewrite of the city’s development and zoning codes for a fee of $27,750. The review is required by law as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update.

• The council approved an agreement with Washington County that provides the city up to $8,000 to be used for municipal recycling program expenses in 2020. A contract with the Washington Conservation District for technical services was also approved.

The next Scandia City Council meeting will be held June 3 at 6:30 p.m.

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LIBRARY: Summer events FROM PAGE 1

coupons for group-oriented experiences like certain Mall of America venues, climbing centers and Wild Mountain ski area. Due to social distancing guidelines, these options are unavailable. “We’re limiting that type of thing, because it would not be safe,� Willius said.

Instead, all the prizes are for small local businesses in order to help prevent virus spread.

The program begins on June 1 and will continue until the end of August. It’s open to all young readers.

As library plans develop cautiously alongside changing community health guidelines, Willius is considering an outdoor “blanket bingo� event, where families gather around the park gazebo and play bingo using loud speakers – staying six feet apart. “Last year we did it and it was phenomenally successful,� Willius said.

The children’s committee is also hoping to put together book-related activity packages for kids.

Another difficulty for the library has been maintaining the adult programs. The adult program committee maintains an array of successful programs – but they’re all group-oriented. The library offers frequent group activities for writers, poets, film enthusiasts and all kinds of hobbyists to connect with each other. These types of programs are on hold until alternative events can be planned and organized.

The self-isolation restrictions have brought out the best in creativity in the last few months, and the Marine Library is no exception. To keep communities connected, they’ve hosted their own radio show, River Radio. The weekly show will continue until the end of May, and may return again at a later time.

The library’s bookshelf-lined aisles may be empty and quiet, but their community spirit and innovative outreach is quite the opposite.

As of May 23, curbside pickup at the Marine Library has been available, and strategies to safely reopen the library are being discussed.

Visit us online:

Marine begins deďŹ ning sex offender residency ordinance

BY LESLIE MACKENZIE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

At its May Council meeting, city council members of Marine on St. Croix voted to disallow registered sex offenders from moving into the community pending the development of a sex offender residency ordinance.

The need for a moratorium, or an ordinance, had not previously been discussed at a Council meeting, so community members were likely unaware of what was being voted upon, or the intent of a future ordinance.

The legislation was introduced by council member Charlie Anderson, a homicide detective for the City of St. Paul, in response to a recent incident in Stillwater.

A level 3 sex offender previously convicted for possession of child pornography, moved to a residence within blocks of a middle school, a K-8 Catholic school, an ECFE facility, and three churches. “City officials in Stillwater felt blindsided,� Anderson said. “Many people think there are regulations in place (about where sex offenders can live) at the state level, but there are not. This is decided at the local level. Stillwater didn’t have any mechanisms in place to control the situation. I would not want to see Marine in the same situation that Stillwater is in without have had a proactive conversation.�

The ordinance being considered for Marine would be tailored specifically to people designated as high-risk Level 3 sex offenders convicted of non-familial sexual contact with a minor, or of possession, production or distribution of child pornography. “I am not proposing a one-sizefits-all solution,� Anderson said. “I think this is a more evidence-based approach.�

In fact, Anderson believes it has the potential to become a model ordinance that other communities may look to in future.

In addition to being tightly targeted, it is likely that the proposed ordinance will restrict a registered sex offender to a residence (owned or rented) more than 1,500 feet away from a school, preschool, daycare center, public park or church with children’s’ programming.

Those already residing in the community before the moratorium or ordinance is put in place are grandfathered in. Anderson knew of no sex offenders currently residing in the community.

Also, a person returning to the community to live with parents is banned by the moratorium but may not be by the ordinance.

Anderson explained that this situation is usually handled differently. “I think this is a very reasonable approach to safeguarding the interest of children for the public good,� Anderson said.

DNR to phase reopening campgrounds in June

COUNTRY

.com

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will reopen its campgrounds at state parks, state forests and recreation areas in a phased approach beginning June 1. Gov. Tim Walz announced that public and private campgrounds may reopen beginning June 1, if they create a Preparedness Plan and follow State of Minnesota campground guidelines PDF. “We look forward to welcoming overnight visitors back to DNR-managed camping and lodg-

ing facilities in June,� said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “Our staff are already out conducting assessments of campsite conditions and preparing to receive visitors. We will open as much as we can on June 1, but this will be a phased process based on staffing and safety considerations.�

State parks and recreation areas are like small cities that need to have all of their infrastructure restarted in order to reopen. This includes water, sewer, power,

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Ninety municipalities in Minnesota and many communities across the country have adopted residency restriction ordinances.

Some of those ordinances have been challenged and thrown out by the courts.

According to the Star Tribune, a class action lawsuit was filed in February against the City of Apple Valley for an ordinance that made 90 percent of its residential properties out-of-bounds to registered sex offenders returning to the community.

The moratorium places a oneyear ban on residency for people convicted of a “designated sexual offense� or who are required to register as a predatory offender or designated a Level 3 sex offender (most likely to reoffend). The moratorium language listed a variety of sexual offenses against a victim under the age of 16, as well as child pornography offenses and indecent exposure.

While the moratorium gives the Marine City Council a year to develop an ordinance, Anderson hopes to have the language of an ordinance finalized in a month or two.

When asked if he was concerned about legal challenges like those in the pending Apple Valley case, Anderson said he believed their ordinance was too broad. “If you are going to put that much (housing) off-limits, it had better be for a very small, well defined group,� he said.

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roads, trails and buildings. During the Stay at Home Order, the DNR limited its on-site parks and trails workforce to only those employees most critical to support day-use activities, to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and allow time for critical public health preparations across Minnesota. While this was necessary to protect public health, as a result the DNR now has a lot of work left to do to prepare campgrounds and lodging for overnight visitors.

While more details

will be available in the coming weeks, the DNR generally plans to open sites as soon as they are ready. Dispersed camping in state forests is already allowed, and we anticipate the following general timeline going forward: May 22: The DNR will open 75 remote campsites in state parks for use on Memorial Day weekend, most of which had existing reservations.

Another 80 remote sites are expected to be ready

by May 29.

SEE DNR, PAGE 7

MAY 27, 2020

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OBITUARIES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Betty Jane Walquist Betty Walquist of Marine on St. Croix, was born Elizabeth Jane Schmitt Jan. 26, 1929, and died May 7, 2020. She was 91.

Betty grew up in Buckman, Minn., where her father managed the local creamery. She moved to St. Paul after high school and worked at Minnesota Federal prior to her marriage to Bob Walquist in 1955.

Betty happily spent the rest of her life in Marine on St. Croix. She was a full-time mother and bookkeeper for the family business until retirement, after which Bob and Betty became th i ti ttravelers l d lloved to discover off-theenthusiastic and beaten-track attractions during their numerous road trips around the US. When not traveling, Betty loved most of all spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with whom she shared her favorite hobbies – baking, gardening, history, and knitting. For many years, she volunteered in the local community with the Stone House Museum, Marine Civic Club, and Taylor’s Falls Historical Society.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Betty was preceded in death by her husband Robert Walquist; parents, Reuben and Elizabeth Schmitt, brother James Schmitt, and sister Mary Ann Morrill.

Survived by daughters Nancy Miller (Win) and Mary Walquist; grandchildren Ann Cashner (Andrew), Amanda Reynolds (Chad), and Robert Miller (Sarah); great-grandchildren Ben and Joy Cashner and Dylan and Kierian Reynolds; sister Joyce Schirmers, and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was buried May 12 at Oakland Cemetery in Marine on St. Croix. A memorial service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Marine at a future date. Memorials to the Marine Community Library are preferred.

Answers

CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 1. The exact name under which the business is or will be conducted: Sammys Seeds.

2. The address of the principal place of business: 4135 Benjamin Dr. #134, Woodbury, MN 55129.

3. The complete name and street address of all persons conducting business under the assumed name, OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address: Samantha Larson, 4135 Benjamin Dr. #134, Woodbury, MN 55129.

4. I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities, I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath: Samantha Larson.

Dated April 28, 2020.

Filed with the State of Minnesota.

Published in The Country Messenger May 20 and May 27, 2020 CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 1. The exact name under which the business is or will be conducted: OzPot. 2. The address of the principal place of business: 1437 Hallmark Ave. N., Saint Paul, MN 55128.

3. The complete name and street address of all persons conducting business under the assumed name, OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address:

Oz Apothecary LLC, 1437 Hallmark Ave. N., Saint Paul, MN 55128.

4. I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities, I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath: Cheyenne Moseley.

Dated March 20, 2020.

Filed with the State of Minnesota.

Published in The Country Messenger May 27 and June 3, 2020 CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333

set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath: Cheyenne Moseley.

Dated April 28, 2020.

Filed with the State of Minnesota.

STATE OF MINNESOTA WASHINGTON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court file Number: 82-CV-20-1905 Case type: Harrassment

Published in The Country Messenger May 20 and May 27, 2020

Notice of Filing Order Briana Alice Jacoby 6298 Upper 46th St N Oakdale, MN 55128

NOTICE OF TOWN BOARD MEETING TOWNSHIP OF MAY WASHINGTON COUNTY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of May will be conducting their monthly board meeting virtually on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to submit public comments to the Town Clerk/Treasurer by Noon on Thursday, June 4, 2020 via email linda@ townofmay.org or by attending the Town Board Meeting via telephone conference/video conference (the ZOOM invite is posted on the town’s website (www.townofmay.org)).

Tarah Marie Conroy and on behalf of minor children vs Briana Alice Jacoby

You are notified that the following order was filed on May 21, 2020.

Order for Publication (Harassment) Dated: May 21, 2020 Annette Fritz, Court Administrator Washington County District Court 14949 - 62nd St N; PO Box 3802 Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-6263 cc: Tarah Mairie Conroy

Dated this 21st day of May, 2020.

1. The exact name under which the business is or will be conducted: S.T. Mobile Diagnostics.

2. The address of the principal place of business: 324 4th Ave. SW., Forest Lake, MN 55025.

3. The complete name and street address of all persons conducting business under the assumed name, OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address: Sean Tipping, 324 4th Ave. SW, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

4. I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities, I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as

CLUES ACROSS 1. Common request 5. Department in France 10. Fungi cells 14. Famed inventor 15. Hillsides 16. Cold wind 17. La __ Tar Pits, Hollywood 18. Resembling a doddering old woman 19. Geological periods 20. Assists 22. Comedienne Gasteyer 23. Jewish spiritual leader 24. English soccer club 27. Body art 30. No (Scottish) 31. Clumsy person 32. Swiss river 35. Belittled 37. Luxury car 38. Single sheet of glass in a window 39. Monetary units 40. Supervises flying 41. Indian term of respect 42. Breezed through 43. The bill in a restaurant 44. Flower cluster 45. Moved quickly 46. Shooters need to do it 47. High schoolers’ test 48. Split pulses 49. Salts 52. Breaking Bad actor __ Paul 55. Set ablaze 56. Semitic Sun god 60. Nervous system cells 61. Tourist destination Buenos __ 63. A way to bind 64. Behave uncontrollably 65. Feels concern 66. Sportscaster Andrews 67. Subway dwellers 68. Astrological aspect 69. You may take one CLUES DOWN 1. Swedish rock group 2. Serbian

A true and correct copy of this notice has been served upon the parties pursuant to the Minnesota Rules of Civic Procedure, Rule 77.04.

Linda M. Tibbetts Clerk/Treasurer Town of May Published in The Country Messenger May 27 and June 3, 2020

Published in The Country Messenger May 27, 2020

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Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

3. Away from wind 4. Actor Oliver 5. Helps little firms 6. Intricately decorative 7. American state 8. Type of tumor 9. Midway between east and southeast 10. On a line at right angles to a ship’s length 11. Fruit of the service tree 12. Grouch 13. Romanian city 21. Units of loudness 23. British Air Aces 25. Small amount 26. Hem’s partner 27. Turkic people 28. Member of the banana family 29. Liam Neeson franchise 32. Expressed pleasure 33. Inward-directed part of psyche 34. Insurgent

36. Unhappy 37. Gateway (Arabic) 38. Fundraising political group (abbr.)

40. Well-known 41. Satisfies 43. ‘__ death do us part 44. Jailhouse informant 46. French river 47. A cotton fabric with a satiny finish 49. Drenches 50. Clouds 51. Companies need to make them 52. Created from seaweed 53. One’s school: __ mater 54. A type of act 57. Member of Russian people 58. Neutralizes alkalis 59. Monetary unit 61. Play a role 62. Midway between south and southeast

4 COUNTRY MESSENGER

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MAY 27, 2020

It’s all good outside

I

hope you had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

I must admit it snuck up on me this year. I knew on some level it was coming, but between the polar vortex early in the month and figuring out every day life, it sort of knocked me for a loop.

And by the way, the words “polar vortex” shouldn’t be legally allowed to be uttered after January, in my opinion.

But after the weather seemed to get itself sorted last week, a wonderful thing happened: I was able to spend time outdoors without a sweatshirt. I have to tell you, it was pretty, pretty great.

I know we are all hard wired to spend time outdoors and May is about the time it shouldn’t be a to do so. It seems like a Publisher struggle switch gets flipped sometime in the month and the trees get their Tom Stangl leaves, birds sing, flowers bloom and we seem to be safely on our way to summer.

Each year, the timetable is a bit different, but more often than not by Memorial Day it is all safely done.

I really enjoy using my little gas grill and cooking meat as many nights as possible during these magical days. I think it’s a primal thing as well (man make fire, man cook meat), but there few are things more relaxing than sitting in the shade, listening to the birds and working on getting a burger done just right. It needs to be done enough to be eaten, but not overdone so it is a dry hockey puck.

There is a sense of Zen for me as I can turn off the cares of the day and focus on the smells of the grill and trying to catch a glimpse of the birds who are singing in the trees.

Let’s face it, with what we have all been through this spring, we deserve to be able to unwind (responsibly and socially distant) and spending time outside can be the perfect prescription. Working in the yard gives us exercise and purpose, but if I’m looking for a stress break, let me grill some chicken or steak.

I know I can escape with my mind in many different ways. I can read a novel, watch a movie, listen to music or have a conversation with a loved one. It’s easy to do any of these things, but the sensory feel of the shade and a cool breeze can be truly magical.

As an added bonus, I get to enjoy a really good piece of meat with a couple of side dishes when I’m done.

With uncertainty being the buzzword of our times, I find solace in the refuge of my backyard.

Is it a bit naïve? Probably. Have I been a bit thick for taking it all for granted? Absolutely.

By my crude count we have less than 120 days until the calendar tells us it’s time for fall. I think I’m going to do my best to enjoy as much time as possible in the backyard. It’s my new wellness and mental health program.

I just hope I’m able to afford the meat to grill in the coming months.

Oh well, a hot dog will be just as sweet and I can still hear the birds.

Make some sanctuary time for yourself this summer.

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

Paradise

I

wasted most of the day last Thursday.

I can procrastinate with the best of them and for some reason it hit me especially hard last week.

The good thing about newspapers is the work has to get done, one way or another.

It’s like being in school really, there’s no hiding it if you don’t turn your homework in when it’s due. I’ve always liked that about the job, I’m 100 percent accountable for my work.

The bad thing about that, however, is it can sometimes leave me up at one thirty in the morning on a Sunday writing a story that should’ve been done on a Wednesday.

So, I was a little down in the dumps on Thursday after spending the day shuffling around the office and my Editor house thinking about how much I had to do rather than actually doing C.L. Sill it. When 5 o’clock rolled around I thought I could cure my encroaching melancholy with a fly rod. The thought of staying in and working through the evening to catch up was considered, but quickly deemed preposterous and downright irresponsible — it was a gorgeous evening and to waste it in my office would surely be a sin against one god or another. I grabbed a four weight and both the dogs and we walked the 600 yards from my front porch to the upper Kinnickinnic River.

Just south of my house the steep bluff that blocks

the western sky falls away and the country opens up into rolling hills and small dairy farms. It looks like a picture on one of those truck stop postcards that says something cheesy like ‘Greetings from Dairyland USA’ on the front.

As I walked I thought about how lucky I am to live in this place and imagined myself walking back two hours later with a pair of small brook trout on a string over my shoulder like Opie Taylor. I’d cook them up fresh for dinner and know I was living in a secret slice of paradise on the banks of the Kinni.

My first back cast wrapped around a tree branch like a tetherball and the familiar snap of monofilament line giving way followed a few seconds later. I wasn’t a huge fan of that fly anyway, so no harm, no foul. I figured a prince nymph might do the trick.

My rod was resting vertically against a tree, with the line dangling in a U shape as I tied on the new fly.

Just as finished my clinch knot and grabbed the tag end of the line with my teeth to chomp it off, I heard what sounded like a lion chasing a hippo through the woods to my left.

The dogs burst out of the brush chasing each other, raced by me, caught the U shape of the line with their necks and yanked it, along with the fly, out of my mouth. Somehow the hook was pointed in just the right direction to not catch any skin as it went by, but it then caught on one of the dog’s collars and snapped off. I held up the end of my line, once again SEE SILL, PAGE 8

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In memory of my sweet mother, Kathleen Ann (Sullivan) Mulligan

T

he yellowed index cards my mother wrote her favorite recipes on are my most cherished possessions. The ones with more spots and faded words--they were her favorites. They don’t have any value to anyone else. The recipes themselves aren’t anything extraordinary or inventive. They’re simple recipes for sloppy joes, brownies, sugar cookies, calico beans, and spaghetti she tweaked to make them her own. Her recipes are the story of my childhood. My mom. My memories.

Like me, she loved to collect recipes and had loads of them stacked in her cupboards, on her nightstand, and the little table next to her favorite lounge chair. She understood certain recipes hold the power of love and memories. She liked looking for new inspiration or a new recipe that she could bake Wild Chow or cook to “love” on her family and friends.

Lisa Erickson She’d call me, full of energy and life, “Leeska (my nickname), I found this new recipe. It was so amazing, you have to try it!” Food and recipes were one of the many ways we connected deeply. Gosh, I’m going to miss her.

Mothers hold the key to how we become ourselves and who we are. They know time before us and our beginning. When they’re gone, those pieces are lost forever, and we’re left with a puzzle missing pieces.

Many of you reading this think you didn’t know my mom, but you do. Many of the recipes I’ve shared here were hers or a variation of them. There are stories, traditions, and lots of love behind each and every one. They may look like words on paper, but they are so much more if you look deeper.

This was the last recipe my mom wrote down from somewhere or someone—I’ll never know. She knew how to spot a good one.

I Love you to the moon and back, Momma!

Mom’s Parmesan Chicken Serves 6 3 Tbsp. olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup dry breadcrumbs 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tsp. dry basil ¼ tsp. black pepper 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, blend the oil and garlic. In another bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, and black pepper. Cut each chicken breast in half. Dip each chicken piece in the oil-garlic mixture and then the breadcrumb mixture. Arrange chicken in the baking pan and top with remaining breadcrumb mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes until chicken is fully cooked. Serve immediately with a Caesar salad.

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.

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It’s Mushroom Time

I

t’s Memorial Day weekend and the middle of morel mushroom season. I grew up in a family of hunter-gatherers. I think it all started with my dad, Earl McClay Bennett, who moved to Wisconsin in 1949 with 6 of 7 kids in tow. I was the last kid born a week before Wild River Christmas in Trails 1950.

Dad Jim Bennett would come north to Canada, Wisconsin and Minnesota to fish crystal clear waters teeming with fish. In Illinois he raised hogs and became the youngest man to judge swine at the Illinois State Fair. It might have been his love for the outdoors that love grew into a love for Wisconsin and eventually he bought a farm between River Falls and Ellsworth and started a dairy farm. He no longer had to drive for hours to fish.

I remember the day Dad lost a huge musky on Bone Lake and his landing a monster largemouth bass that tipped the scales around 6 pounds near Burkhardt before they pulled the dam and drained the lake. I remember Mom tossing her cane pole in the lake from the boat when she hooked into a big pike. I thought she had lost her mind but she told me, just a little boy, to wait and watch.

That cane pole surfaced and then disappeared many times until finally the pike that pulled it around the lake for 20 minutes floated to the surface exhausted.

I remember my oldest brother Bob growing ginseng in his woods and selling to the Asian Market, sister Jean with the best tasting rhubarb in the area, sister Betty dating a high school fella on a squirrel hunt bringing back a string of bushy tails that would feed us for a week. Brother Dean got us into deer hunting, by finding a deer track on our property back when deer were rare in Pierce County and him wading into Butternut Lake at

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midnight tossing floating Rapalas at walleyes in close, and finally sister Donna catching crappies out of Squaw Lake with her family and telling me to go there in the late 60s and early 70s.

It’s brother Dick, a retired scientist from 3M, who is the Morel Man. He knows more about mushrooms than they know about themselves. His knowledge goes beyond dead elms to accompanying plants, the right slopes, early buttons and the giants that come later.

Dick said, “One day I was out looking for morel mushrooms realizing the best place to find them was near elm trees on slopes. I saw a ravine with 8-10 different sized elms. I spotted 200 mushrooms all over in clusters and as individuals. I moved through the

ravine and all those elm trees had mushrooms.

I had one grocery bag 2/3 full and was afraid it would break from the weight. Back toward the road I found some old apple trees, some dead and some not, but there I found big foot morels growing in the grass. I went home to get sons Eric and Gregg and we picked about 200 mushrooms that day.

Another day west of New Richmond I spotted dead and dying elms along the road and saw the ditch full of mushrooms. In a pasture were more mushrooms growing like dandelions in the short grazed grass.

I called my daughterin-law Donna and she came still in her work dress and we harvested another 200 mushrooms.

That location continued to produce for years.”

Dick also took his

grandson Noah deep into the woods. They had found a great spot and picked a bunch of mushrooms that made the 8 year old smile until they were just about back to the truck. That was when Noah realized the heavy bag he had dragged behind him had a hole and all the mushrooms were gone. They retraced their steps and found the missing mushrooms.

So what is Dick’s secret to finding mother loads of mushrooms? “If you want to find mushrooms you have to be in the woods.”

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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AUTO BODY

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Certified Public Accountants Accounting • Taxes • Payroll • Business Consulting

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AUTOMOTIVE

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LAW OFFICES

WHERE LEGALITY MEETS PRACTICALITY Legal services in the areas of real estate, wills and trusts, probate, business transactions, petroleum.

Office 651-487-1208 (ext. 1) • Fax 651-487-0662 kirsten@libbylawoffice.com • 21060 Olinda Trail, Scandia, MN

LOCAL SHOPS

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Alignment • Brakes • Exhaust • Shocks Plows • Tune-ups/engine diagnostics Keyless Entry and Autostarts • A/C Service 14520 60th Street North Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-0403 • www.fredstireandservice.net

Indoor air quality experts 24 Hour Service 21260 Olinda Trail N.

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Remedies for This and That: bulk herbs and spices, bath and body products, household products, baking products, handcrafted teas and jams, vintage gifts and products made by local and area artists.

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www.scandiaheating.com

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BEAUTY COUNTER Game changing personal care products free from harmful ingredients • Skincare • Cosmetics • Bath & Body • Sunscreen • Family

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Residential - Service - Remodel 12450 Morris Trail N, Marine-On-St. Croix

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INSURANCE

Great Case Discounts

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Your Party Headquarters

INSURANCE GROUP

651-433-5845 • 21190 Ozark Ave N • Scandia, MN STORE HOURS: Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. • Fri. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. • Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

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

trowbridge_plumbing@hotmail.com Mike Trowbridge

651-707-2528 Fax: 651-213-0070

REAL ESTATE

Ross and Adam Brunfelt Your Local Real Estate Agents!

Call us today for a free market analysis of your home!

651.433.3333 • www.TheBrunfelts.com

TRAILERS/REPAIR

Bill Schifsky Custom Trailer Mfg. SINCE 1972

HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS • LIFE • FARM • AND MORE

Open Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Sun. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Phone: 715-256-8286 • Text Line: 715-202-2873 Email: service@crexinsurance.com www.crexinsurance.com

EDUCATION & SCHOOLS

LAWN & SPORT

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Servicing all major brands Lawn & garden, mower service.

A K-6, tuition-free public charter school in beautiful Wilder Forest. We get kids outside, taking learning beyond the classroom!

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14189 Ostlund Trail N., Marine on St Croix MN 55047 info@marineareaschool.org • www.marineareaschool.org

Saturday 8 a.m. - noon Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Aluminum Utility Trailers Mobile Displays • We build Tiny House Trailers 651-257-5340 • www.customtrailers.biz • Scandia, MN

TRAILER REPAIR Axles • Couplers • Wiring • Brakes • Aluminum & Steel Welding

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SCANDIA VET CLINIC HOURS: Monday - Friday • 8 to 5:30 Saturday • 8 to noon

651-433-3666

MAY 27, 2020

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DNR: Campgrounds to reopen at state parks, state forests, recreational areas in Minnesota FROM PAGE 2

June 1: The DNR anticipates having about 20-30 of its campgrounds within state parks, recreation areas and forest campgrounds ready to open, with limited services. Some lodging options, such as camper cabins and yurts, will also open on June 1. In general, visitors can expect that water systems will be turned on, grounds will be maintained, and vault toilets/porta-toilets will be available. However, some value-added services may not be ready or available at that point, such as showers and contact/ranger stations.

June 8: The DNR will reopen another 20-30 campgrounds and lodging facilities, the rest of its remote campsites, and many of its contact/ranger stations.

June 15: The DNR plans to have the rest of the campgrounds open and most areas with full services. The Mary Gibbs Café at Itasca State Park, some nature stores, and ancillary buildings, such as fish cleaning facilities and picnic shelters with reduced capacities, will be reopened where possible.

Campers should come prepared with their own hand sanitizer, cleaning

wipes, paper towels, toilet paper and other supplies for use at their campsites and available bathrooms.

The DNR will leave the following facilities and amenities closed until further notice: beaches, pond-pools, housekeeping cabins, visitor centers, group centers, fire towers, large-group facilities (such as amphitheaters), group tours and other scheduled interpretive programs.

Minnesotans are encouraged to use the following guidelines to minimize potential points of virus transmission: Travel as directly to destination as possible, and minimize stops along the

way.

Attempt to bring all needed supplies with you.

If you do need to stop for gas or supplies, wear a cloth face covering.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching common surfaces (gas pumps, door handles, shared bathrooms, etc.).

Do not travel if sick.

Visitors are advised to check the DNR’s COVID-19 website for the latest information about facility status and reopening timelines.

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

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102 Services

Home/Office

FREE: Rocking chair to rock in, recliner to recline in, kitten for companionship. 715294-3644.

Problems with your car insurance? Tickets? Accidents? Been canceled? Call Noah Insurance for help at 715-294-2017.

THE SUN HAS YOUR office supplies – File folders, labels, register and other tapes, envelopes of many sizes, copy paper by ream or sheet and much more. Let us help you today, 108 Cascade, Osceola.

715-294-2314.

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

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Scandia Garage Doors offers Residential & Commercial service and installation with integrity behind every door! 612-3007736.

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

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

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

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While supplies last! Call 855/332-0464

NEED SOME CASH! Sell us your unwanted gold, jewelry, watches & diamonds. BBB A plus rated www.GetGoldGeek.com/mnna Request your 100 percent free, no risk, no strings attached appraisal kit.

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WANTED: ALL 1970S MOTORCYCLES Running or not. Titled or not. Prices will fall soon. Sell now while prices are high! Call Dan at 612/720-2142

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DONATE YOUR CAR truck or boat to Heritage For The Blind. Free 3-day vacation, tax deductible, free towing, all paperwork taken care of 844/220-9501

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

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

Lakes Free Church

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

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.

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,

8 COUNTRY MESSENGER

MAY 27, 2020 www.countrymessenger.com

SHERIFF’S REPORT City of Marine on St. Croix

MAY 13

need in the 14000 block of 223rd was reported.

At 2:11 p.m. a civil matter in the 21000 block of Ozark Court was reported.

At 4:50 p.m. a disturbance in the 18000 block of Layton was reported.

At 7:44 a.m. a 911 call was abandoned on Oak Knoll.

MAY 12

MAY 16

At 2:54 a.m. a scam was reported in the 16000 block of Scandia Trail.

At 6:56 a.m. public assistance was needed in the 21000 block of Ozark Court.

At 8:52 a.m. a driver in the 19000 block of Olinda was stopped for a traffic violation.

At 4:13 p.m. harassment in the 14000 block of 209th was reported.

At 5:51 p.m. a person was reported missing from Oakhill and Olinda.

At 7:26 p.m. a 911 line was abandoned in the 20000

MAY 11 At 3:34 p.m. a driver in the 1000 block of Broadway was stopped for a traffic violation.

At 2:22 p.m. a medical need on Elm was reported.

City of Scandia

MAY 10 At 3:32 p.m. a disturbance was reported in the 14000 block of Oakhill Lane.

MAY 11 At 1:40 a.m. a driver on St. Croix Trail and 235th was stopped for a traffic violation.

At 10:20 a.m. a medical

block of Odell.

At 7:27 p.m. a 911 line was abandoned in the 22000 block of Kirk.

At 7:31 p.m. an officer assisted another agency on Scandia and St. Croix Trails.

At 7:55 p.m. a driver in the 11000 block of Scandia Trail was stopped for a traffic violation.

MAY 13 At 2:16 p.m. public assistance was needed in the 16000 block of O’Brien.

At 2:47 p.m. a driver on Manning and Scandia Trails was stopped for a traffic violation.

At 4:03 p.m. a fire was reported in the 19000 block of Meadowridge.

At 4:26 p.m. a 911 line was abandoned in the 14000 block of 237th.

MAY 14 At 9:32 a.m. a driver on

Olinda and 185th was stopped for a traffic violation.

At 11:14 a.m. a civil matter in the 19000 block of Maxwill was reported.

At 5:55 p.m. a medical need on Olinda and 185th was reported.

At 8:54 p.m. welfare was checked in the 16000 block of O’Brien.

At 10:45 p.m. a disturbance in the 13000 block of Oakhill was reported.

MAY 15 At 7:36 a.m. a civil matter in the 19000 block of Maxwill was reported.

At 8:43 a.m. a complaint about an animal on 181st and 182nd was received.

At 11 a.m. a civil matter in the 14000 block of Scandia Trail was reported.

At 12:48 p.m. a medical need at 16000 O’Brien was reported.

MAY 16

Spotlight on Area Businesses Scandia Heating & Air Conditioning Scandia Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing quality service, repair and installation for over 45 years. Scandia Heating works on all makes and models. Whether it’s a furnace, boiler, in-floor heating, geo thermal, heat pump or garage heating, they have you covered.

At Scandia Heating they believe in customer service and practice it every day. From standing behind repairs, to installing brand new systems, Scandia Heating has the knowledge and experience you need to give you peace of mind year round.

“System tune-ups should be done on a yearly basis,” owner JR West said. “We want to catch the small problems before they become big ones.”

Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule a service call, he noted.

Scandia Heating tries to make each new “We provide 24 hour repairs, 7 days a week, installation as pleasant of an experience as possible. including after hours emergency service. We try our Contact Scandia Heating & Air Conditioning at best to provide same day service during busy times 651-433-5167, or stop by the office at 21260 Olinda of the year. During peak season we don’t go home Trail N., Scandia. until the work is done.”

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Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township

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At 9:49 a.m. a complaint about watercraft at Big Marine Lake was received.

At 12:20 p.m. public assistance was needed on Scandia and St. Croix Trails.

At 6:54 p.m. an officer assisted another agency at Big Marine Lake boat landing north.

At 8:09 p.m. an animal bite in the 20000 block of Manning was reported.

At 9:13 and at 10:59 p.m. an alarm sounded in the 18000 block of Norell.

At 11:29 p.m. suspicious activity in the 21000 block of Ozark was reported.

Town of May

MAY 10 At 9:01 a.m. public assistance was needed in the 14000 block of Ostrum.

MAY 11 At 11:05, 12:06, and 12:16 p.m. park complaints were received from Square Lake Trail and Norell.

At 1:05 p.m. a scam was reported in the 13000 block of 170th.

At 3:33 p.m. a 911 line in the 16000 block of Norell was abandoned.

At 7:22 and 8:27 p.m. parking violations in the 12000 block of Arcola occurred.

At 7:30 and 8:31 p.m. trespassing on Arcola Bridge occurred.

MAY 12 At 8:43 a.m. a complaint about an animal in the 12000 block of Manning was received.

At 7:44 p.m. a complaint about an animal in the

13000 block of 170th was received.

MAY 13 At 8:03 p.m. suspicious activity in the 13000 block of Ozark was reported.

MAY 14 At 6:02 a.m. a complaint about an animal in the 15000 block of Paul was received.

At 7:34 p.m. a complaint about a watercraft on Big Carnelian was received.

At 8:21 and 9:41 p.m. two incidents of trespassing at Arcola Bridge occurred.

MAY 15 At 11:10 a.m. an alarm sounded in the 14000 block of Square Lake Trail.

At 7:12 p.m. a fire on Square Lake Trail and Partridge was reported.

At 7:59 p.m. a disturbance on 136th and Partridge was reported.

8:42 p.m. trespassing at Arcola Bridge was reported.

At 10:17 p.m. a medical need in the 12000 block of Morris was reported.

MAY 16

At 11:55 a.m. public assistance was needed on Otchipwe and Square Lake Trail.

At 1:21 p.m. a complaint about a watercraft on Bass Lake was received.

At 2:57 until 3:30 p.m. six complaints about the park came from the 15000 block of Square Lake Trail.

At 9:31 p.m. a 911 call in the 11000 block of 180th was abandoned.

SILL: Paradise FROM PAGE 4

fly-less.

“Ah forget it,” I said, although the exact translation may have been a bit less printable.

I dropped my rod and pack by the trail and decided to try my luck looking for some mushrooms instead.

A little while into my walk I spotted something on the ground up ahead and discovered it was a trekking pole in almost perfect shape. My luck was turning around.

As I bent down to grab it, my lab, Bruly, rounded the corner of the trail with a giant gash in her chest and a flap of skin the size of a post-it note drooping down past her elbow. If you’ve ever seen a baseball that’s come apart at the seams with a piece of leather that flops every which way when you throw it, that’s what it looked like. She, of course, was completely oblivious and zoomed up the trail like nothing was wrong.

“Oh, for the love of God,” I said.

I’ve gotten pretty used to cuts like this on my dogs.

When they’re outside as much as we are they’re bound to tangle with a few barbed wire fences, which is exactly what she’d done. This one was particularly nasty though so I figured we’d better call it a day. I walked home with no fish, no mushrooms, a $15 Wal-Mart trekking pole and a $150 vet bill.

I thought about grabbing some superglue and patching Bruly up myself to save some cash, but the last time I tried to do that I glued my hand to my English Setter. The next morning I drove her up to the clinic and forked over the money.

As we drove home I laughed and thought about my dad. He says my brother and I only remember the negative things about our childhood because when we sit around and tell stories, they’re always about major and minor disasters — broken bones, bloody noses and vacation meltdowns. He’s right, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Tragedy almost always turns to humor over time, and humor makes the world go round.

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