COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018 VOL. 35 NO. 33 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
SCANDIA TAXPAYERS: 2019 levy news. PAGE 2
Self-appointed caretaker keeps little library in working order BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
On first glance, it looks like a box of crayons fit for a giant. Upon closer inspection, the brightly colored box holds not crayons, but books. The Little Free Library that popped up near the Edward Jones office Marine in early 2017 has charmed many residents. Among them: Dick Boulet, the tiny library’s self-appointed repairman. It started with one small repair. “Our library was designed by elementary school children and built by high school kids, then auctioned
SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER
Jonathan Muehleck, a fifth grader at St. Croix Catholic School, first approached the town board in October with the idea for a sign in Marv Schroeder Park.
New sign for cleaner park in May Township
SEE LITTLE LIBRARY, PAGE 2
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
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The Little Free Library that popped up near the Edward Jones office Marine in early 2017 has charmed many residents. Among them: Dick Boulet, the tiny library’s self-appointed repairman.
A young May Township resident is taking action to encourage visitors to keep the town’s park shipshape. Jonathan Muehleck, a fifth grader at St. Croix Catholic School, approached the town board in October with the idea for a sign in Marv Schroeder Park.
Muehleck noted he had cleaned up litter in the park as part of his school’s service marathon. “I noticed there was quite a bit of litter,” he said in October. “So I would like to make a sign saying, ‘Please keep the park clean and litter free.’” The board was encouraging, offering tips for readability and asking for a mock up before the sign was made.
Now finished, Muehleck brought the sign to the board’s Dec. 6 meeting. Board members John Pazlar, John Adams, Chair Bill Voedisch and Clerk Linda Tibbetts thanked Muehleck for his efforts with a round of applause. Because the pavilion is under reconstruction, town officials SEE TOWNSHIP, PAGE 2
Two states, many stories, one shared heritage St. Croix Heritage Area seats board A group working to promote the St. Croix region’s story as one of national significance has seated its first formal board of directors and is launching new programs in 2019 to benefit the St. Croix watershed. In 2019, North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area will
provide an online calendar for events sponsored by regional businesses, historical societies, chambers of commerce, arts groups and other organizations. It will support and expand the St. Croix Master Watershed Stewards program and will launch a watershedwide speakers bureau, among other activities. Generous contributions from the Whitson Foundation, the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, and the Polk Burnett Electric Cooperative as
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well as individual donors are helping NWW reach its goals on behalf of the region. The NWW board will oversee the effort to designate the St. Croix watershed of Minnesota and Wisconsin a national heritage area. The designation will underscore the region’s unique landscape and contributions to American history. A volunteer group has been working for several years to document and gain support for status
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as a national heritage area, a federally recognized title that requires Congressional approval. In telling the region’s stories, NWW will highlight the histories of Native American tribes, the evolution of a sustainable lumber industry, and the immigrant experience. These stories convey the significance of the St. Croix watershed within the broader SEE WATERSHED, PAGE 7
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