Leader
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Beyond the books
Not your average beauty pageant Currents, p. 13
Currents, p. 12
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WED., FEB. 23, 2011 VOL. 78 • NO. 27 • 2 SECTIONS •
Message to legislators
Petition to downsize county board filed
Grantsburg youth loses life in ski slope accident Services this Thursday for Trent Stellrecht, 12 PAGE 2
Snow removal costs up 58 percent in Polk Several “perfect storms” make job challenging PAGE 3
Kortney Morrin gets her grand See
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Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to provide color printing this week, but you can still see every photo in color by going to our e-edition at www.theleader.net and clicking on “e-edition.” You can access this week’s edition free by using the following information: USERNAME: free PASSWORD: leader
St. Croix Falls schools closed as some teachers leave to join protest; support for teachers surfaces at school board meeting PAGE 7
Pending certification of signatures, vote could come this April or April of 2012 PAGE 3
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The Electronic Edge Why the e-edition?
Marie Knutson, a para-educator from Amery and vice president of the Northwest United Educators, was one of an estimated 400 to 600 public workers taking part in a protest rally in Rice Lake last week, fighting for public workers rights to collective bargaining. Knutson is no stranger to union activities, she is serving as an ESP at large director with the National Education Association. - Photo by Larry Samson
Standoff with the governor continues
More protests scheduled locally; state Assembly begins considering governor’s bill
by Gary King MADISON - In one short week, a proposal by Wisconsin’s newly elected governor to offset daunting state budget shortfalls has taken over the local, state and national political arenas. Gov. Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill includes a proposal to sharply curtail collective bargaining rights of some public employees, including teachers. The proposal has created one of the largest standoffs in Wisconsin’s political history. And, as of Tuesday, similar battles with public employees unions spread, with Republican-dominated Legislatures in Indiana and Ohio pressing bills that would weaken collective bargaining, prompting
thousands of protesters there to march on Capitol buildings in Columbus and Indianapolis. President Obama last week weighed in on the debate, calling Walker’s bill “an assault on workers.” If Wisconsin’s state lawmakers approve Walker’s proposal, the effects
See Standoff, page 4
Local impact
Area superintendents respond to questions on Gov. Walker’s proposed budget - its impact on staff and future budgets
BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES Gov. Walker's proposed Budget Repair Bill has attracted nationwide interest, sparked in part by the protests against the bill launched by
See Impact, page 4
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INSIDE
Letters to the editor 8-10A Sports 13-20A Coming Events Back of B Behind the Signpost 5B Obituaries 17-19B Students of the Week 23B Outdoors 21A Town Talk 6-7B Copyright © 2011 Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association Frederic, Wisconsin
The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper • Since 1933