Cabin break-in suspect facing 20 charges
JUNE 22, 2011 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3
Errant trail camera provides lead to arrest
by Greg Marsten Leader staff writer BALSAM LAKE – A series of local cabin and shed break-ins believed to be tied to a lone rural Balsam Lake man has been uncovered, thanks to a lone trail camera and solid investigative police work. Authorities have tied a string of nine break-ins to Scott M. Peterson, 31, who was taken into custody recently and arrested. He was served with a laundry list of a total of 20 criminal charges on June 17, including 10 felony burglary charges, eight misdemeanor theft charges and both a felony and misdemeanor
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Stoneking resigns from county board
by Gregg Westigard Leader staff writer BALSAM LAKE – Polk County Supervisor Diane Stoneking resigned from the county board effective Wednesday, June 22. Stoneking has represented District 16 since 2006. She said her home had been on the market and sold suddenly. Stoneking is moving back to the Twin Cities. County board Chair William Stoneking Johnson will now appoint a new supervisor to serve until next April. In a statement to the county board, Stoneking said it has been an honor to have been elected. She said the county is in a much better situation than when she was first elected and said she can report that the county is moving in a positive direction. District 16 includes most of Garfield and the southern half of the Town of Balsam Lake. Stoneking won a contested election in 2006, defeating Marlin Baillargeon, and was re-elected unopposed in 2008 and 2010. She is currently the chair of the Human Services Board and serves on the property committee.
Osceola man loses life in motorcycledeer crash
SOMERSET - An Osceola man lost his life in a motorcycle-deer crash Monday afternoon, June 13. Craig Vick, 50, was driving his 2004 Harley-Davidson east on Polk/St. Croix Road about a mile east of Hwy. 35 in the Town of Somerset when the accident occurred. The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 4:18 p.m. about the accident. According to a sheriff’s report, Vick was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Croix County medical examiner. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Responding to the scene were the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, the Somerset Fire Department and Lakeview EMS. It was the fourth traffic fatality of 2011 in St. Croix County. - with information from Pierce County Herald
Scott M. Peterson
drug charge. The list of victims goes back to last October, but the bulk of the burglaries is thought to have occurred this May, at a total of nine cabins or storage sheds. According to the criminal complaint, Peterson is alleged to
have gone to the nine locations in several local municipalities during the early hours of the day, and used a pry bar or screwdriver to gain access. The items he is alleged to have stolen include everything from guns, TVs, an ATV, gasoline, cameras, tools, a generator, electronics, hunting and fishing accessories, to bug repellent, battery-powered thermal socks, even several tree-mounted trail cameras. Ironically, it was a trail camera that Peterson missed during the burglary of a rural Cumberland location on May 19 that was his ultimate undoing. That trail camera apparently showed two pictures of Peterson’s red S-10 Chevy Blazer, with unique gray graphics, door rust and black wheels - but no license number.
They also discovered an errant cigarette butt that was believed to be his at one of the burglary locations. But tracking the perpetrator down was not an easy task. It took heads-up police work to find that truck, which authorities knew very little about, except the model, color and that it had some rust and certain graphics. However, a deputy noticed a similar vehicle parked at a rural Balsam Lake farmhouse several days later. That discovery led to a stakeout and eventual search warrant, where some of the stolen booty was recovered, as well as methamphetamine and some drug paraphernalia. When confronted, Peterson eventually admitted to the series of burglaries and said he was
working alone. He is now apparently cooperating with police, and has notified authorities to the location of many of the stolen items, much of which had since sold. Some of the burglaries go back as far as last October, but most of the break-ins occurred this May. Peterson was charged on June 17 with a total of 20 criminal charges, 10 of them felonies. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance before Judge Molly GaleWyrick on July 11. Because he has a no previous criminal record and is cooperating with authorities, he remains free until that court appearance. If convicted on all counts, Peterson faces the potential for up to 210 years in prison and over $330,000 in fines.
Addition planned at Schaffer Manufacturing
Ground breaking set for July 1
MILLTOWN — Schaffer Manufacturing of Milltown has completed plans on a 20,000-square-foot addition and will hold a ground-breaking ceremony Friday, July 1. Several Polk County businesses assisted with the floor plans for the addition to the 58,000-square-foot facility. Schaffer Manufacturing is a contract manufacturer of metal products. The company supplies parts, assemblies and weldments domestically and abroad to customers in the construction, mining, agriculture, recycling, top-water dredging and snowremoval industries as well as others. A significant portion of the new facility will be to accommodate one of its main customers,
Schaffer Manufacturing in Milltown will break ground July 1 for a new addition. The construction will add 20,000 square feet to the current 58,000square-foot facility. — Photo by Mary Stirrat who makes equipment for mines and quarries. Its primary use will be to house and assemble large projects, as well as increase
Cushing bank robbed at gunpoint
Left in red GM pickup, FBI assisting with investigation
by Greg Marsten Leader staff writer CUSHING – Polk County authorities are continuing to sift through details, video and eyewitness accounts of a bank robbery that occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, at the U.S. Bank branch in Cushing. There were no other customers in the bank when a masked gunman entered the bank and ordered the employees to the floor. The robber then helped himself to the tellers cash drawers and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. While the robber was masked, he is described as a white, adult male of average height, with a thin build. He was brandishing a handgun, which was believed to have been real.
capacities for additional fabrication workstations. The potential local job creation is estimated to be between seven and 10 new employees. Schaffer Manufacturing currently employs 58 people. The building will be constructed by Northwest Builders Inc. of Rice Lake, with financing by Sterling Bank of Luck. Barry and Steve Schaffer will be hosting a ground-breaking ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, July 1. Several local and regional government officials will attend the ceremony. Schaffer Manufacturing is located at 109 Industrial Ave. in Milltown. — Mary Stirrat with information submitted by Schaffer Manufacturing
These “boys” are loud
The man left the scene in what is likely to be a mid-1990s model year red Chevrolet or GMC full-sized pickup, possibly with a silver stripe or trim on its side and with some body rust. Polk County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Steve Moe said they are going over surveillance tapes and witness accounts to garner more information as the investigation continues. He also confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also involved. “We’re asking for any information the public may have,” Moe said. Moe said they may be releasing surveillance photos in the coming days, and asked that anyone with information on either the vehicle used or the suspect in the armed robbery calls the sheriff’s office at 715-4858300. There is a reward available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man involved.
4:30 P.M. MONDAYS is the deadline for Leader copy
Early copy for July 6 issue: Due to the Fourth of July holiday schedule, our deadline for the July 6 issue will be 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 1.
It wasn’t a marching band or fire truck siren that made this young paradegoer hold his ears but rather the antics of the Wild River Boys, who fired their shotguns as they acted out the killing of a skunk. The hillbilly act from Burnett County evokes smiles and laughter throughout the summer at local parade appearances. This scene took place on Hwy. 35 during the annual Family Days parade, Sunday, June 19. More Family Days coverage in Currents. - Photo by Gary King